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Early Years in Smyrna 
 
 an( 
 
 Our First Old HomeWeek 
 
 BY 
 
 GEORGE A. MUNSON 
 
 (^-^^^5^5 
 
 1905 
 
 Chenango Union Presses 
 
S^'\ 
 
 26 '06 
 
ASA WILBUR. 
 
A SONG OF THE HILLS. 
 By Clinton Sgollard. 
 
 By special permisssion of the Author, and of Robert Webster Jone«, 
 Editor of the Household, Minneapolis, Minn. 
 
 The green hills, the clean hills, without a 
 stain upon them, 
 When little vernal whispers breathe, and 
 woodsy attars pass — 
 When all the glory of the spring's rekin- 
 dled life is on them, 
 Thie beauty of the burgeoned boughs, 
 the glamour of the grass. 
 
 The fair hills, the rare hills, what sight 
 hath blither seeming. 
 Than they reveal when summertide sets 
 seal upon the earthi — 
 The meads below them gleaming, the sky 
 above them dreaming, 
 And not a tune save those that throb 
 with melody and mirth! 
 
 The old hills, the gold hills, with orient 
 autumn o'er them — 
 The autumn with her wonderloom 
 whereto she turns her hand, 
 And low, straightway upon them and 
 about them and before them 
 A web no mortal skill may match, not 
 e'en in Samarcandl 
 
 The glad hills, the sad hills— how joy and 
 sorrow blended 
 Engirdle evermore the paths where boy- 
 hood's feet have clombl 
 Ah, how affection clings to them, and will 
 till life is ended. 
 The grand hills, the free hills, the dear 
 hills of home 1 
 
r/I '.•?.'• h?,'. !,c\ />r.'I i.-7.'. i,~,'. i,-T.'. I.'?J. !.•'.'.'. !.'?,'. !.'".'• f.'T,\ /.u.\ /,•'.'.'. /.•?.'. /.•?.'. /.-T.'. /.u,'. /.•?.'. /•"•! fy, 
 CC:'•:CC:'•h'^^;'•>Ji'^:'^:i^'^:'•>,^'■^'•:i.^'•■i^^^^^^M 
 
 Early Years in Smyrna 
 
 The inhabitants who first peopled our hills and valleys, were 
 Oneida Indians, with an occasional member of the Tuscarora 
 tribe, though it is said that in the early days there were traces of 
 still another race who lived here before the red men came, but if 
 so it was many centuries ago. 
 
 It is also well known by all that the early history of the In- 
 dian race comes to us only in legends and traditions, and their 
 most interesting stories of love, courtship, hunting, warfare and 
 other matters are not the most reliable. 
 
 The tribe of Oneidas referred to were descendants of the 
 Onondagas, and was organized two hundred and forty years be- 
 fore the signing of the Declaration of Independence at Philadel- 
 phia. 
 
 They were noted as a quiet and inoflFensive race, and were 
 good friends of the Colonies during the days of the Revolution. 
 
 In the history of our neighboring town of Sherburne, written 
 by the late Joel Hatch, Esq., (All honor be to his memory) he 
 told us the "Valley of Chenango" had from time immemorable, 
 been the "red men's hunting and fishing grounds," and that they 
 continued it as such, "until agricultural improvements had ban- 
 ished the deer, the wolf and the bear from the valley." 
 
 Indian relics have been found within our own borders, and 
 there is no question but that our town furnished as attractive 
 resorts as any. Most surely no more alluring places could have 
 anywhere been found for either hunting, fishing or trapping than 
 
 7 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Pleasant Brook, Cold Brook, Wolf Gorge or the Quaker Gulf, 
 and "Nigger" Hill to be seen for many miles away, has always 
 been the gunner's paradise. Many will remember the Antone 
 family who once lived on the Bonney place just west of our vill- 
 age also Peggy, the good wife, who trudged around through all this 
 section of country with her bundle of handsome baskets which 
 always found a ready sale. Many of the boys of by-gone days 
 will remember Old Abe Tuschnuck with his famous bow and 
 arrows, shooting pennies and securing all he could hit at a certain 
 distance. Bands of traveling Indians were frequent visitors at 
 the old Munson distillery, and while their visits usually caused 
 consternation and fear among those employed at the still, they 
 always departed within a few hours, peaceably and with no mo- 
 lestation. Occasionally a half dozen of the leaders would be 
 invited to dinner at the old log house of the proprietor and they 
 were always courteous and civil. Companies of Indians were 
 also said to have visited frequently a small distillery kept by one 
 George Bixby, an early resident, whose house was the site of the 
 present house of Walter Sexton and whose distillery was but a 
 few rods north on the same side of the road. Here they were 
 wont to camp, with their squaws and pappooses, on the hill near 
 by for days at a time. 
 
 Clark, in his history of our county, states that on one occasion 
 fifty Indians came down the Chenango River in canoes, to visit 
 a party of Indians who resided at an Indian castle below the 
 present village of Norwich, and it is stated by others that they 
 were frequently to be seen going up and down the river in canoes 
 during the early settlement of the valley. 
 
 The headquarters of the Oneidas was near the site of the 
 present city of Rome, then called Fort Stanwix and later Fort 
 Schuyler, and that was the point of portage from the Mohawk 
 River to Wood Creek, at Oneida Lake, and by this route pas- 
 sengers then journeyed to Oswego and Montreal. 
 
 The handsome Oneida Lake, so well known by all the people 
 of this and surrounding vicinities, was as well, if not better, known 
 
 8 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 by the Indians, in the days when this entire section of the 
 country was their home. 
 
 In those days the village of Vernon was known as the "Place 
 of the Fox," Clinton the "White Field,' Oriskany as the 
 "Oriska," the St Lawrence as the "River of Islands," and Ni- 
 agara as the "Thunder of Water." 
 
 The Indian Camp, near the handsome Smyrna Falls, on the 
 west bank of Cold brook, which is still remembered by a few 
 of our old residents, was a famous resort for our Indian brethren, 
 and here they were welcomed from all the country round, and 
 their visits numerous. Here, some fifty years ago, the squaw 
 of the camp was stricken with consumption, and in the early 
 hours of a calm September morning, a horse and wagon was 
 secured, and she was taken northward to die and be laid at rest 
 among her own people. 
 
 At her departure, the occupants of the camp each left in a 
 different direction, forever deserting the camp, the last home of the 
 Indians in our town. 
 
 The State of New York, named in honor of the Duke of York 
 of England, was established in 1777 and its first constitution 
 then adopted. 
 
 Chenango County, taken from Herkimer and Tioga Counties 
 was organized March 15,1 798. It takes its name from the hand- 
 some river which flows through it, Chenango, an Indian name 
 meaning beautiful and we can truthfully say it was happily and 
 rightfully named. It is twenty-five miles long and twenty-eight 
 miles wide. Herkimer and Tioga counties were taken from Mont- 
 gomery county, then known as Tryon county. Chenango county 
 therefore traces her lineage back to Montgomery, the original 
 Tryon county, so famous in revolutionary history. 
 
 Smyrna known as the Eighth Township of the Governor's 
 Purchase, or Chenango Twenty Townships, was taken from Sher- 
 burne, March 25, 1808, and first named Stafford, but the name 
 was changed April 5th of the same year to Smyrna, named it 
 is said from the Ancient City of Asia Minor. 
 
 9 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Its early history is somewhat connected with that of the town 
 of Sherburne, yet its history forms no inferior part in that of 
 our county or state. Much of it is lost forever, as its early 
 history, so well known by our early settlers and pioneers, who 
 have long since passed away, is now only known by what 
 is remembered from the lips of the early inhabitants handed 
 down to their decendants, who are now but few. 
 
 It is a matter of much congratulation today that the larger part 
 of our town history has been placed on paper and can be read by 
 the present generation, thereby securing a knowledge of the lives 
 and character of our early pioneers, which are worthy of example. 
 Our origiwal inhabitants came from New England, ftad Mas- 
 sachuserteJA Rhode Island sending a goodly number, but Con- 
 necticut the most. They were mostly men of strong minds 
 and determined wills, and usually reliable and trustworthy. 
 
 With them came their puritanic ideas which were strictly fol- 
 lowed and even at the present their good example and influence 
 may be safely traced in the lives of their descendants. 
 
 Our first settlers were Joseph Porter and wife, who came here 
 from Conway, Mass., in August, 1792. They located on the pres- 
 ent Chapman farm, long known as the Talcott farm, where a log 
 house was erected and where they began the settlement of the 
 town, then Sherburne. 
 
 A few months after their arrival Mrs. Porter sickened and died 
 and was buried on the farm by the side of an Indian family, and 
 while the place is known, her own grave can not now be identi- 
 fied. Soon after her decease Mr. Porter sold his farm to Joshua 
 Talcott, forever reserving the grave of Mrs. Porter. Discouraged 
 and disheartened Mr. Porter moved westward and never again 
 returned to the town. 
 
 THE SECOND FAMILY. 
 
 The second family in town was Joseph Tobey and wife, who 
 reached here March 3, 1793. With them came the late John P. 
 Tobey, then three years of age. It is related that on arriving at 
 Pleasant Brook which was very high on account of a spring 
 
 10 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 freshet, Mrs. Tobey sat down on a log and wished that she 
 might die. She had left a comfortable home for a hut in the 
 wilderness and what wonder was it that she thus murmured. 
 
 The 7th of May following Jerusha Tobey was born, the 
 first white child born in the town. 
 
 Mr. Tobey settled on the east end of the Talcott farm, but 
 after a year or two removed to the farm now occupied by his 
 great-great-grandson, Edmund P. Tobey. Joseph Tobey and 
 wife are buried on this farm. 
 
 John P. Tobey, son of Joseph Tobey will be well remember- 
 ed by many of our people as well as his devoted wife, Temperance 
 Wing Tobey, whose labors were not confined to her own family 
 or to her own church or community as many poor boys and 
 girls at Five Points Mission at New York could testify during 
 the days of her health and usefulness. 
 
 Edmund P. and John F. Tobey, sons of John P. and Tem- 
 perance Tobey, both now deceased, were former well known and 
 respected citizens, and like the father and mother, faithful mem- 
 bers and earnest workers in the Methodist Church, and in fact 
 the entire Tobey family are members of that organization. A 
 daughter is Mrs. Antoinette Brown now of Hesperia, Mich. 
 
 The former married Lucy Pope, and to them was born one 
 son, Charles S., now of Norwich, whose wife was Nettie, the 
 youngest daughter of the late Alonzo L Bennett, by whom were 
 bom three children, Merton L., who married Grace Whitcomb 
 of Norwich, and Maud, who became the wife of Clarence Cran- 
 dall also of Norwich, and Edmund P., who married Lucy Conley, 
 who as has been stated still remains upon the Tobey farm. 
 
 John F. Tobey married Miranda Tuttle but early in the 
 seventies they moved to Delphi, Onondaga County, where they 
 spent their last remaining days. 
 
 Harriet L, the little five-year-old daughter of Edmund P. 
 and Lucy Conley Tobey, has the distinction of being a great- 
 great-great-granddaughter of the original purchaser of that 
 farm. 
 
 11 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 David Wilber, Joseph Billings and Joseph Collins joined the 
 settlement in 1793, the first named coming from Dutchess County 
 on foot, his wife and little son on horseback. He first purchas- 
 ed a farm, which he soon traded for a hotel, soon after selling 
 this and buying the farm so many years occupied by his son 
 Piatt Wilber, who became a prosperous farmer and influenced 
 citizen, in late years becoming a leading member of the Metho- 
 dist Church of Smyrna and one of the chief promoters of the 
 plan to improve and remodel the church edifice in the year 1871. 
 Wesley D. Wilber, a grandson of David Wilber, is now the owner 
 of the farm, residing near by. The little son on horseback was 
 Thompson Wilber, the father of the large and well known 
 Wilber family so long residents of our town, a family looked 
 up to and respected by all, and one which had many warm 
 friends in our community. 
 
 Of Thompson Wilber' s family there were eleven children, as 
 follows: Harlo, who became a physician; Orlando, a prosperous 
 farmer; Mira, who married Owen Manwaring, Clarissa, the wife 
 of A.D. Sargent of Norwich; Harriet, the wifeof Thomas Morris; 
 Jane, a maden lady; Elijah, a long time respected citizen of 
 Earlville; Talcott who married the oldest daughter of the late 
 Solomon Brown; Cortland, a school teacher, who lost his life 
 by drowning; Charles, who spent the most of his life on the 
 Wilber farm, his wife Lavina, the daughter of the late Simon A. 
 Chapman, a most estimable woman by whom were two sons 
 now grown to manhood; Cortland A., now a resident of Bing- 
 hamton, and Victor A., a citizen of Yellville, Ark. Charles 
 was an extensive dealer in cattle and sheep and favorably 
 known through all this section. 
 
 Asa Wilber was a popular citizen, and like his brother Charles 
 an ardent Republican and a leader of his party in the^town. He 
 married Mary, a daughter of the late Francis E. Dimmick, by 
 whom were two children, Arthur, who was taken from them by 
 death in his fourteenth year, a sad loss to his parents, and Lillian 
 R., who still survives them making her home with her uncle 
 Duane D. Dimmick of Earlville. 
 
 12 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Mr. Wilber was a hard working man and also like his brother 
 an extensive dealer in cattle and sheep. 
 
 He was an excellent business man holding many otfices of 
 trust and was supervisor of the town of Smyrna more years in 
 succession than any other man, with the possible exception of 
 the late Andrew Shepardson. Not one of this once large and 
 prosperous family now resides here, all having passed on to the 
 great beyond. 
 
 John Billings of Somers, Tolland County, Ct., bought one 
 thousand acres of goverment land for his children in the north 
 part of the town but did not come here in person. His oldest 
 son, Joseph W., was bom in 1773, and when he became of age 
 married AbilPomeroy of his native town, and during the following 
 winter ( 1 794) immigrated to Smyrna with his sister Betsey 
 and her husband Joseph Collins. 
 
 They came with a yoke of oxen, two cows and a sleigh load 
 of goods. The cows, causing much annoyance by running into 
 the woods, were finally put ahead of the oxen and made to as- 
 sist in drawing the load. Arriving here they settled on the hill 
 west of the creek, as they feared to locate in the valley on ac- 
 count of fever and ague, a disease in those days much to be 
 dreaded, usually atfecting newly settled regions. 
 
 Billings was said to have been handy with tools, could fix 
 wagons, shoe horses, and do almost any kind of work. 
 
 At tirst they built a log house which was superseded by a 
 framed structure in 1812, a portion of which is still standing, and 
 also a small grist mill on the site of the present saw mill, and as 
 the nearest mill was in Oneida County, nearly forty miles away, 
 they did quite a business for their neighbors and friends until 
 a larger mill was built at the village- It is stated that the bolt 
 through which the flour was sifted, was the result of the 
 handiwork of Mrs. Collins, and while no doubt the color of the 
 flour was not the very whitest, nor its quality the tinest, we 
 are willing to guarantee its sweetness of taste was never surpass- 
 ed, by that of any flour made by any modem appliances. 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Later in life Billings became a prosperous farmer and also a 
 Captain in the State Militia. He attended church at Sherburne 
 West Hill, but never seemed to have a home interest in the 
 new church at Smyrna, though his wife united with the same. 
 
 Their children were Joseph, Timothy, Lauren, Diana, Harlow, 
 Pomeroy, Amanda and Abi. The first three settled in Western 
 New York then a wilderness. Amanda married Julius Wood, of 
 whom more will be written later. Harlo was the last member 
 of the family to live at the old homestead which is now owned 
 by George S. Record. 
 
 Among the sons of John Billings, the original purchaser of 
 the Billings farm, was John, the father of John F., who built the 
 cobble stone house on the Earlville road, and among his daugh- 
 ters were Betsey, who married Joseph Collins, and Flavia 
 who became the wife of John Parsons. Among all the numerous 
 Billings family once in our town, now only remain J. Munroe 
 Billings, a long and much respected citizen, his son Edwin S. 
 Billings and his grandson, Robert H, Billings, a great-great-great- 
 grandson of the original purchaser. Eloise M. Briggs, a daughter 
 of WiUiam P. and Emma Billings Briggs is a great-great-great- 
 granddaughter of the said original purchaser. Joseph Collins 
 and wife settled on the present Brooks farm, a clothier who built 
 a cloth dressing establishment on Cold Brook just below the pres- 
 ent saw mill. The ruins of the old flume are still discernible. 
 
 They were frugal, industrious people, much interested in 
 church and society affairs, greatly respected by all. 
 
 Their children were Betsey, Grace, Warren, Myron, Marcia, 
 Loren, Levi B., Alonzo and William, each growing up under 
 the teachings of parents who firmly believed in the old puritanic 
 doctrines and all seemed to profit by their thorough discipline, all 
 having a deep regard for all things pertaining to the moral and 
 spiritual welfare of the community. 
 
 They were said to be a musical family and William became 
 a preacher. 
 
 The name of Levi B. Collins stands out most prominently to 
 the people of our time, as his whole life was spent among us, a 
 
 t4 
 
DEA. LEVI B. COLLINS. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 christian man of sterling character, faithful to his church and 
 community, a musician of rare ability and a most excellent 
 citizen, a deacon and choir leader in the Congregational Church 
 for many years and a very successful teacher of music in this 
 and adjoining towns for more than sixty years. 
 
 Levi B. Collins was born in Smyrna, February 27, 1810, 
 and on March 20, 1834, married Evaline Ransom of Skaneateles, 
 a sister of the late James O. Ransom, a former citizen, rearing a 
 large family of children, though but three remain in town; 
 Genora, the oldest, greatly respected by all; Loren, who married 
 Mary, a daughter of the late Horatio N. Powers and Harvey, 
 whose wife was Jennie, a daughter of our former esteemed citizen, 
 William H. Congdon, and they have an interesting family of five 
 children— two sons and three daughters. Of the rest, who have 
 removed from the town, we mention Janett, the highly esteemed 
 wife of the late Herbert M. Dixon, now at Maiden, Mass. Adelia, 
 wife of our former townsman, Hendrick Goodrich, now of Elm- 
 wood, Illinois; Ida, who married Lewis E. Purdy of Sherburne, 
 their family consisting of one daughter, Evelyn, and three stal- 
 wart sons— Harvey, who resides at Minneapolis, Minn., and Clyde 
 and Reuben who remain at home. 
 
 Myron and Levi are both worthy scions of the family, the 
 former who first married Anna Hunt, and at her decease Ruth 
 Reynolds, a daughter of the late Van Rensselaer Reynolds, and at 
 her decease her sister Julia, (Clarence, his son, married Flora A., a 
 daughter of Casher and Amelia Taylor and they have two young 
 sons and an infant daughter, the older son named Myron, who 
 we trust will live to ever hold up the high standard of good cit- 
 izenship established by the grandfather from whom he is 
 named.) 
 
 Levi, the youngest of the family, has been well and favorably 
 known here and at Sherburne for many years, and at present is a 
 prominent business man in the latter place, where he is held in high 
 esteem. He married Edith, a daughter of the late Richard Buell, 
 and they have one young son named Earl. 
 
 tS 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 The death of Deacon Collins took place July 8th, 
 1887, his excellent wife surviving him till June 19, 1894, when 
 she was called to her reward. They sleep their last sleep in 
 the old West Burial at Smyrna, where many others are laid, 
 whose life work, like theirs, was passed in the promotion of the 
 welfare of the entire community. 
 
 The following song was a great favorite of the late Deacon 
 Levi B. Collins, and often sung at the Congregational Church, 
 where Mr. Collins was a most efficient leader of the choir for 
 many years It was also sung on many occasions by the Dixon 
 and Collins Quartette. The memory of this song will awaken 
 many thoughts of sacred associations to scores of people who 
 have listened to it in the days "gone by." 
 
 MEMOKIES OF GALILEE. 
 
 Each cooing dove and sighing bough, 
 
 That make the eve so blest to me, 
 Has something far diviner now, 
 
 It bears me back to Galilee. 
 
 Each flowery glen, and mossy dell, 
 
 Where happy birds in song agree, 
 Thro' sunny morn, their praises tell, 
 
 Of sights and sounds in Galilee. 
 
 And when 1 read the thrilling love, 
 
 Of Him who walked upon the sea, 
 I long, oh, how 1 long, once more, 
 
 To follow him in Galilee. 
 
 Chorus. 
 Oh Galilee, Sweet Galilee, 
 
 Where Jesus loved so much to be. 
 Oh Galilee, Blue Galilee, 
 
 Come sing that song again to me. 
 
 Hon. Isaac Foote was the son of Daniel Foote, of Colchester, 
 Conn., where he was born January 4, 1746. He was educated 
 in the common schools of that town, and in his early puritan 
 
 16 
 

 '^Ji':i^^^>cj^^'^7T 
 
 /rj-r. 
 
Our First Old Home JVeek 
 
 home received that sound but plain elementary instruction 
 and that religious training which fitted him for a long life of 
 practical usefulness, of strict integrity, and the most consistent 
 piety. He was a soldier of the Revolution and before leaving the 
 place of his birth, became a member of the Congregational 
 Church. In 1794 he moved to Smyrna, (then Sherburne,) 
 where he located on a farm and where he resided nearly fifty 
 years, until his death on February 27, 1842. 
 
 The farm is now known as the Sternberg farm, and the log 
 house he built was but a few rods north of the present farm 
 house. 
 
 Mr. Footc was a tanner, currier, and shoemaker by trade, and 
 had a log tannery a few rods north of his house. 
 
 In his new home his energy, discrimination, practical judg- 
 ment and amiable disposition, found ample room for exer- 
 cise. He did much to promote the welfare of the settlement, 
 and the improvement of the country, by assisting to open roads, 
 establish schools, organize churches, and lend a helping hand to 
 many an immigrant in distress. He was not a strong partisan 
 but had pronounced political opinions, his first votefor President 
 being cast for George Washington, his last for William Henry 
 Harrison. 
 
 He married Mary Kellogg, of Colchester, Ct., May 31, 1768, 
 and her death occurred November 19, 1826, at the ageof eighty- 
 twa 
 
 Eight children were born to them but only six lived to 
 maturity, these were Mary, Margaret, Isaac, Amasa, John and 
 Hiram. 
 
 Mary married Joseph Adams of Hamilton, a school teacher, 
 and a Deacon of the Second Congregational Church on Sher- 
 burne West Hill, until its dissolution. Margaret married Henry 
 Cady of Monson, Mass. Amasa settled on a farm just south of 
 the present Sternberg farm, a deacon of the Congregational 
 Church at Smyrna, frequently elected Supervisor and Justice of 
 the Peace of his town, later in life removing to Hamilton. 
 
 t7 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 John was eleven years of age when the family came to 
 Smyrna. He studied law, and became an eminent lawyer and a 
 Solicitor in Chancery in the District Court of the United States. 
 
 Isaac 2nd, came with his father to Smyrna, in 1 794, when 
 nineteen years of age. He helped his father to clear the greater 
 part of his farm, and at the age of twenty-six his father gave 
 him a part of the farm, now owned by the Mulligan Estate, long 
 known as the Powers farm, where he commenced life for him- 
 self, working two years in clearing the land, building a small 
 frame house, and soon after marrying Harriett Hyde of Lisle, 
 N. Y. When he went to get married he rode one horse and led 
 another for the use of the bride on their wedding trip. At the 
 age of twenty-one he was chosen Collector and Constable of 
 Sherburne, holding those otfices six years in succession. At the 
 age of twenty-three he was appointed Under Sheriff of the 
 County, and was elected High Sheriff for three years, beginning 
 1810. In 1817 he was chosen agent for Daniel McCormick, 
 who was joint owner with James Lawrence of New York City, 
 for one-half of the town of Smyrna. He was also agent 
 for other land holders, and at one time had in his care some 
 thirty thousand acres of land in Smyrna, Norwich, Plymouth 
 and Columbus and was said to have stood like a rock between 
 the settlers and the landholders. 
 
 Isaac Foote 2nd was said to have been a man of great be- 
 nevolence, not giving grudgingly, but from the conviction that 
 it was a christian duty. Later in life he sold his farm and 
 moved to Hamilton and thence to Norwich where his death 
 occurred in February, 1859, at the age of eighty-four years, Li. 
 wife surviving him but a few months. 
 
 There were seven children as follows: Justin, Harriet, Charie 
 Henry, Daniel, Elizabeth, and Samuel Isaac. The latter l! 
 came one of our most excellent citizens. He removed in lati 
 years to Norwich where his declining years were spent, an 
 where his death occurred in 1883. To his letters, published i 
 the Chenango Tribune in the winter of 1882, we are indebiec 
 
 18 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 for much of this very interesting data concerning the Foote family 
 in Smyrna, a family standing high in the church, and in the 
 community for many years, whose worthy descendants are now 
 gone from among us. 
 
 His son, Frederick H. Foote of Binghamton, and wife, and 
 his sister Margaret, of Norwich, were most welcome guests at 
 our Old Home Week Banquet, on the evening of August 9, 1904, 
 and to him we are indebted for the silhouette photograph of his 
 great-grandfather, Hon. Isaac Foote, which appears with this 
 sketch of the family. 
 
 Simeon Rexford was born at Barkhamsted, Ct., May 7, 
 1776, and in the spring of 1794 came to Smyrna, where he 
 bought land in the north part of the town, and built a house 
 for a home for his father's family on the lands still known as 
 the Rexford farm. 
 
 He returned to his home at Barkhamsted in the fall and 
 early in the spring of 1795, with his father's family, he moved 
 to the new home, then almost a wilderness, where they after- 
 wards resided. Here Simeon became a prosperous farmer, and 
 a leading man in the town, but in later years became blind, 
 never recovering from the malady, his death occurring at the 
 homestead December 31, 1857. He was four times married, 
 his first wife being Weltha Carver of Smyrna, and his second 
 Bersheba Taylor of Vermont, by whom was born Joseph T., a 
 good natured citizen, an excellent story-teller, and a most 
 successful pedagogue of his day, spending his later years in the 
 state of Illinois, still later in Northern Michigan where his death 
 *; fcurred some ten years since. 
 
 His third wife was Milly Carver of Sherburne, and by her 
 'cre born Francis K., and William D., the former studying 
 •'?dicine in the office of Dr. N. B. Mead from April 1, 1833, to 
 \ay, 1836, taking in the meantime a course of lectures at Fair- 
 i.-!d Medical College, where he graduated in February, 1847. 
 n June of that year he moved to Ypsilanti, Mich., and on the 
 l-Uh of that month entered into a partnership with Dr. Richard 
 
 \9 
 
B Morse and so continued till the year 1850, when he left the 
 pission and engaged in the mercantile business cont,nu,ng 
 the same until he retired in favor of his three sons. He was 
 one of the founders of the enterprising city o Vps.lant, and 
 for many years one of its most prominent and foremost ahzens. 
 He died at his Ypsilanti home nearly ten years ago. 
 
 William D. was born in Symrna, and married Eliza Potter, 
 of Sherburne, both now deceased. Mr. Rexford was a success- 
 ful farmer and a good business man, having the respect of al 
 :iolZlm. Their children were Sidney D., who marr.ed 
 Cynthia a daughter of Benjamin Lyon of Sherburne now 
 dec" s d; Loverna C, who became the wife of Nathan Eldndge 
 bv whom onedaughterwasborn, Mabel, nowthe much esteemed 
 Snev M. O. VanKeuren of Little Valley, New York; 
 M y E. who married Russell, a son of Henry 11. W.lcox, to 
 whom were born three children, one daughter, Vern.e, who 
 marrTed Henry Kinyon, and two sons, Sidney, whose home .s m 
 Kansas, and Henry, who remains at home. 
 
 Frank D. Rexford married Cornelia A. Foreman of Delh., 
 N Y and retains the homestead, so long in the Rextord narne. 
 Thev'have three children, Frank A., holding at present an ex- 
 Illent^ mon in the Erasmus Hall High School at Brooklyn, 
 NY Harry D. of EarlviUe and one young daughter, Agnes. 
 
 simeon Rexford's fourth wife was Betsey Merrell, a sister of 
 the wife of John Munson. 
 
 . Allen a cousin of Simeon Rexford, was born at Barkhamsted 
 a., September 9, 1819, marrying Almira Hart, of th=a pi 
 moving'to Sherburne, and thence to Smyrna, and n la er year^ 
 h.r\, tn Sherburne where his death occurred Dec. 5, 187S. He 
 Itawrto do firmer and a good citizen, his farm bemg the 
 
 present farm of Christopher C. Kmyon. 
 
 Among their children were Lovisa, the '^teemed wife o the 
 late YTeNorthrup, Adaline H.. who married the late W.lhamE. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Howd, of Barkhamsted, and Electa, the only remaining member, 
 of the family, now residing in Sherburne village. 
 
 The Willcox Family were descendants of Edward Willcox 
 of Acquidneck, Rhode Island, who was said to have conducted 
 at one time a trading post at Naragansett, with Roger Williams, 
 the famous founder of the Colony. Hopson Willcox and his 
 son Lillibridge Willcox, came to Smyrna on horse back from 
 Exeter, Rhode Island, in the early summer of 1795. They 
 selected land enough for five farms on the River Road between 
 Smyrna and Earlville, but when they arrived at the Land office 
 in New York with the money, they learned that part of this 
 land had been sold, so they took up what was left on the River 
 Road, which was enough for three farms. They then returned 
 to Rhode Island. 
 
 In the year 1798 Hopson Willcox with his four sons, Russell, 
 Lillibridge, John and Hazard came and settled upon the land 
 taken up in 1795. Hopson Wilcox and his two sons Russell 
 and Hazard took the farms on the River Road, and his two sons 
 Lillibridge and John took the farms on the hill northwest of 
 Smyrna village. His son Robert came later from Rhode Island 
 and purchased of a Mr. Guthrie, the first settler, the farm where 
 his grandson, Robert, now lives. 
 
 Upon his farm on the River Road Hopson Willcox and his 
 wife died, the former in the year 1 822 at the age of 83 years. 
 Their children were Robert, Russell, Lillibridge, John, Hazard 
 and Betsy. The sons of Robert were Thomas, Hazard, and 
 Samuel, the first of whom was the father of Jonathan Willcox; 
 the second, the father of the late Robert H. Willcox, and the 
 third the father of Robert and Calpherna Willcox, who still 
 reside upon the homestead. 
 
 Of Robert H. Willcox it can be said he was a man of strict 
 honesty and integrity, and a most excellent citizen. His wife was 
 Mary M., a daughter of Jesse and Zeruah Ferris. They had 
 four children, all now living except Hazard, who passed away in 
 
 2t 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 the fall of 1 884, leaving his wife, Cornelia, a daughter of the 
 late Rensselaer Potter of Cazenovia, and one daughter, Arzelia D., 
 to mourn his loss. Dorcas married Dwight L Sweet; Samuel 
 married Ella, a daughter of the late Smith Calkins, and they 
 reside with their family in the city of Binghamton. Jesse M., 
 the youngest, married Clara, a daughter of the late Henry Holley, 
 and there was born to them one son, Burt H., who died when 
 but two months of age. 
 
 Mr. Willcox spent several years in conducting creameries, 
 first at Avon, Ct., next at Schuylerville, N Y., afterwards at 
 Lee, Mass., and later at Hinsdale in the latter state, and was said 
 to be a first class butter maker. He is now connected with the 
 general store of Willcox & Preston in this village. 
 
 Russell was the father of the late Henry H. Willcox, who 
 married Marion, a daughter of James Purdie, who still survives. 
 By honesty and integrity he became one of our most worthy 
 citizens, and had the confidence and respect of all. His farm 
 was well tilled, and one of the best in the Chenango Valley. 
 
 Lillibridge married Anna Hoxie, of Rhode Island, and settled 
 on the farm now owned by his grandsons, a little over a mile 
 northwest of Smyrna Village. Here after a well spent life their 
 deaths occurred— his in 1853, at the age of 80 years and that 
 of his wife in 1858, at the age of 77 years. There were seven 
 children, Thomas L, Susannah, Samuel, Russell, Lavina, Anna 
 and Orville. Thomas L. was born September 21, 1803, in a 
 log house which stood a little north of the site of the present 
 handsome and commodious house which adorns the place. 
 Here he spent his boyhood days, and received what education he 
 could from the common schools of the day. He married Catha- 
 rine B. Stover, a daughter of William Stover, to whom were 
 born four children, a daughter and three sons, the former, Anna 
 E., who married Benjamin Cone of Columbus, where her death 
 occurred some twenty years since. The oldest son, Arthur L, 
 lives in the house where he was born, having married Delphina, a 
 daughter of James H. Dimmick, a respected citizen of Plymouth, 
 N. Y. 
 
 22 
 
THOMAS L. WILLCOX. 
 
MRS, THOMAS L. WILLCOX. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 The two younger sons, Stephen K. and William R., own the 
 original Willcox farm, which has been much improved, and 
 become widely known. The former has charge of the farm, 
 and has been a breeder of choice White Leghorn fowls, since 
 the year 1872, exhibiting his birds and winning premiums in 
 New York City, Washington, Pittsburg and all the leading cities, 
 and shipping eggs and fowls to nearly every point in the United 
 States, as well as to Canada, Trinidad, Germany, Ireland and 
 South Africa. He was formerly a breeder of fine Devon Cattle, 
 but now breeds Holstein-Friesians. He is also a breeder of 
 Cheviot sheep, and continues to breed his fine strain of White 
 Leghorns. Mr. Willcox is a member of the American Devon 
 Cattle Club, American Cheviot Sheep Society, and also the 
 Holstein-Friesian Association of America. He has held various 
 otfices in the town, and was for two terms the efficient Treasurer 
 of Chenango County, receiving handsome majorities at each 
 election. 
 
 Of William R., the youngest son, more will be found at the 
 close of this article. 
 
 Thomas L. Willcox became a most excellent citizen, holding 
 a number of town offices to the satisfaction of all. In politics 
 he was a Democrat, until the Free Soil movement was advanced, 
 when he became a member of the Republican Party, always 
 afterwards affiliating with that party. 
 
 In earlier years he was a Captain in the State Militia, and 
 was always at his post on general training day. No man ever 
 lived in Smyrna who had more friends or was more esteemed 
 than Thomas L. Willcox. His death occurred January 13, 
 i884, and that of his wife May 14, 1904. Both rest in the 
 family lot in the cemetery at Sherburne West Hill. 
 
 Susannah Willcox married Stephen Knowles. There were 
 no children, excepting one adopted daughter, Charlotte A. 
 Buckley, a woman most highly esteemed by all who have made 
 her acquaintance. She is now an octogenarian, passing her last 
 remaining days with friends at Canastota, N. Y. 
 
 23 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Samuel and Russell Willcox died when they were young men, 
 and Orville's death came when he was but six years of age. 
 Anna married Harlow Billings, and they had three children. 
 Susannah D. was a most excellent woman of strong christian 
 character, once a leading member of the Methodist Church, and 
 an ardent worker in the Sunday School of that Church, and 
 who was very much missed at her decease. She was a kind 
 sister to her brother Pomeroy T., who still survives her. Samuel 
 R., was a bright scholar, and graduated from the Eclectic College 
 of Medicine, of Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 23rd of May, 1857, his 
 untimely death occurring a year or two later at Norwich, where 
 he had a large and lucrative practice. John, was the father of 
 the late John and Gardner Willcox. who will both be remem- 
 bered by nearly all our older citizens. 
 
 John Willcox was bom on the hill northwest of Smyrna 
 and spent his whole life in the town, no citizen being better 
 known or more respected. At the age of seventeen he began 
 the cabinet and undertaking business here, as an apprentice to 
 Josiah Hayward, whose business he bought out at the age of 
 twenty-one years, conducting the same for over sixty years or 
 until his death in January, 1898. He was a kind, obliging and 
 good natured citizen, friendly to all, and his companionship was 
 sought after by his numerous friends. In politics he was a 
 Republican, but he never allowed political prejudice to interfere 
 with personal friendship. His wife was Sarah, a daughter of 
 Anson Brooks, born September 5, 1878, (her mother Sally 
 Brown born January 3l, 1794.) There were born to them 
 three children, Avaline and Etta J., now both of Chicago, the 
 former marrying Gardner Wilson, now deceased, the latter 
 becoming the wife of Carlos L. Shepard of Joplin, once a resi- 
 dent of Smyrna, now deceased, to whom were born one daugh- 
 ter, Agnes L. Her second husband, also now deceased, was 
 David A. Preston of Chicago, and there was bom to them one 
 daughter, named Esther. Walter G., the only son, was bora 
 here in 1859, and has remained here since his birth. He married 
 Alida, a daughter of Charles Hartwell, and they have one son, 
 
 34 
 
JOHN WILLCrX. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Fred H., now a student in the Massachusetts Institute of 
 Technology, at Boston. Mr. Willcox still conducts his father's 
 business which has become very successful. 
 
 Gardner N. Willcox, his brother, was also a good citizen 
 and a prosperous and well to do farmer, his death occurring in 
 1869. His wife was Genora, the oldest daughter of the late 
 Deacon Levi B. Collins, and there were four children: Gardner, 
 the oldest, whose first wife was Sarah L., a daughter of Abel 
 Comstock, by whom were three sons and one daughter, Abel C, 
 now at Cornell University, Ralph C, at the Ithaca High School, 
 Clarence, who remains at home, and Sarah L., who makes her 
 home with her grandfather, Abel Comstock. His second wife 
 was Ida L., a daughter of the late Zephania Dix, and there was 
 one daughter, Alice. His third wife is Cora, a daughter of our 
 townsman, Julius S. Barber. 
 
 Hazard was the father of Hazard Willcox, and grandfather of 
 Melvin Willcox, who now resides at the homestead on the 
 Earlville Road and also of the late Dr. O. B. Willcox of Earl- 
 ville. 
 
 Betsey married a man named Curtis and raised a family of 
 four children, one of whom, Mrs. Swift, living in Brooklyn, N. 
 Y., visited Smyrna a few years since, but the writer has been 
 unable to secure any further data regarding that branch of the 
 family. 
 
 It has been our intention to write but little concerning the 
 present generation, leaving that for some future writer, but in a 
 few special cases, we have deviated from the rule, when we have 
 deemed that the occasion demanded it, and we are sure it will 
 be most satisfactory to our readers, and that we will voice the 
 sentiment of the entire community in making mention of the 
 rise and rapid growth of one of our young men, born among us, 
 esteemed by all, primarily educated in a little brown school 
 house not far from our village, a most worthy scion of the 
 family whose founder was Hopson Willcox, and whose respected 
 father and mother, if living to-day, would well be proud of 
 
 25 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 their youngest son, a great-grandson of the founder of the 
 family in Chenango County. 
 
 We refer to our friend and former townsman, William R, 
 Willcox, some four years since chosen Park. Commissioner, by 
 Hon. Seth Low, Mayor of New York, whose term of office gave 
 him an enviable reputation as a most capable official, and who 
 about a year since was appointed Postmaster of New York by 
 President Theodore Roosevelt, an office which he is now tilling 
 most acceptably to the entire city. We can perhaps best refer 
 to him in the language of a New York newspaper, in an article 
 published very soon after his appointment. 
 
 "William R. Willcox, the recent selection of President Roose- 
 velt to succeed the late Cornelius Van Cott as Postmaster of 
 New York City is the youngest incumbent who has ever held 
 that office. ' The new Postmaster was born in Smyrna, Chenango 
 County, New York, in 1863. He obtained his education in the 
 State Normal School at Brock port and at the University of 
 Rochester. After his graduation he served as principal of the 
 Webster Academy and in the Spring Valley High School. In 
 1889 Mr. Willcox was graduated with high honors from the 
 Columbia Law School and was admitted to the Bar in 1890. 
 About this time he became interested in Sociology and Political 
 and Economic matters, and wrote several articles on these subjects, 
 and devoted much time and energy in work among the boys on 
 the East Side. 
 
 "Mr. Willcox's first appearance in the political field was in 
 1900 when he became the Republican candidate for Congress in 
 the Thirteenth District against O. H. P. Belmont, and it was at 
 this time he made the phenomenal record of reducing the 
 Democratic majority from seven or eight thousand to three 
 thousand. 
 
 "In 1901 Mayor Low appointed Mr. Willcox as Park Com- 
 missioner and for two years he served as President of this 
 Board. The work of establishing playgrounds for children was 
 first undertaken during Mr. Willcox's administration, and in 
 
 26 
 
WILLIAM R WILLCOX. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 this work he was closely associated with Joseph A. Riis and 
 other prominent East Side workers. During his entire term as 
 Commissioner he was known as the man who "does things," 
 and in no way was this so well proven as when on March 8th, 
 1903, Commissioner Willcox, with forty laborers and a squad 
 of policemen raided the contractor's strongest outpost in Bryant 
 Park and destroyed the obnoxious stone crusher which was 
 being operated by the subway contractors in defiance of repeated 
 warnings from the Department, thus restoring Bryant Park, City 
 Hall Park and Union Square to their normal conditions as 
 public parks. Mr. Willcox was also intrusted with unusual 
 responsibilities in the direction of large expenditures pertaining 
 to the construction of the Public Library in Bryant Park, the 
 addition to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the extensions 
 of the American Museum of History." 
 
 The new Postmaster is a member of the Union League, 
 Century, Alpha Delta Phi, Republican, and the N. Y. Yacht 
 Clubs, the Bar Association and Chamber of Commerce. About 
 a year ago he married a daughter of William F. Havemeyer. 
 
 Cousins of the Hopson Willcox family, who also settled in 
 Smyrna, were Robert, who lived near Upperville; Thomas, who 
 was the first settler on the farm known as the Munson Jersey 
 Farm, recently owned by the Munson Brothers, and Jonathan, 
 who lived and died in Norwich. Other distant cousins were 
 early settlers in Lebanon, Oxford and other places in Central 
 New York. 
 
 William Stover came to Smyrna from Dutchess County 
 very early, probably about 1 796, purchasing two lots near Dark 
 Hollow where he lived until his death. He was a very popular 
 man holding at various times nearly all the offices within the 
 gift of his townsmen and it is said that when he was Supervisor 
 of the town, town meetings were always opened with prayer. 
 He was a conscientious man of strong convictions, with deep 
 and ardent piety. For many years he was a prominent and 
 leading member of the Methodist Church, contributing largely 
 
 ti 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 to its support. He was strongly opposed to the taking of 
 collections in the church on Sunday, it being to him a desecration 
 of the day. He said he would prefer to pay all the bills himself 
 rather than take a collection. Being unable to induce the church 
 to discontinue the practice, he withdrew and built a "Meeting 
 House" on his farm, styling the same a Reform Methodist Church 
 and here until his death he was in the habit of meeting with his 
 own family and as many neighbors as might come, usually in 
 sufficient numbers to fill the house. The services were conducted 
 in the usual manner, he himself usually preaching unless some 
 traveling minister was present when he was invited to preach 
 the sermon, those present joining in congregational singing. 
 
 Mr. Stover was twice married. His first wife, Elizabeth 
 Hollenbeck, died in 1806. His second wife was Betsey El wood, 
 by whom there were the following children: Susan, who married 
 Russell Willcox; Lydia, the wife of Alfred Seymour, formerly of 
 Norwich, who removed later to Roscoe, Illinois; Benjamin, 
 whose home was at Roscoe, 111., and who died in 1883, at 
 Nordhoof, Cal., to which place he had gone for health; John 
 A., an eccentric individual and a bachelor, now deceased, whose 
 home was the present Anthony Chapman farm in Smyrna; 
 Catherine B., who married the late Thomas L. Willcox, and 
 Richard E., a leading and well to do citizen, who held various 
 town offices, to the satisfaction of all his townsmen. He was a 
 strong man in the Methodist Church, of which he was a most 
 substantial member. It was through his influence as much as 
 that of any other member that the church was remodeled in the 
 summer of 1871, and it was during the years immediately fol- 
 lowing that the church saw its most successful period. 
 
 Richard E. Stover married Philura P. Keeler, and there 
 were born two sons both of whom have kept up the high stand- 
 ing of the family. William E., born in Smyrna nearly forty- 
 six years ago, has always been held in the highest esteem by all 
 our people, and still resides here. He was a Justice of the Peace 
 for many years, Supervisor of the town from February, 1892, 
 
 28 
 
BENJAMIN STOVER. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 till February, 1901, and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors 
 in 1898 
 
 Burt W., his younger brother, bom some thirty-six years 
 ago, spent his younger days in this town, later attending school 
 at Phillips Academy, at Andover, Mass. He married Jessie, daugh- 
 ter of George Nash of Poolville, and a few years later was 
 appointed Deputy County Clerk of Chenango County, under 
 County Clerk Jay G. Holmes. This position he held for 
 several years and made many friends. He is at present manager 
 of the Palmer House at Norwich, and as a landlord is very 
 successful. 
 
 Richard E. Stover and wife are both deceased. The death 
 of the former occurred suddenly in the summer of 1873, being 
 caused by a falling limb in the woods on his farm near Dark 
 Hollow. He survived his wife some four years. 
 
 Thomas Rex Tracy, youngest son of Thomas and Lucy 
 Sprague Tracy, was bom in Lenox, Mass., October 23, 1770, 
 being the seventh of a family of nine children. In 1777 his 
 father died of smallpox in the Revolutionary Army, thus throw- 
 ing the care of a large family upon the widowed mother. About 
 1 780 Ebenezer, the only brother enlisted in the service, leaving 
 Thomas, a boy not yet in his teens, the only male member of 
 the household. March 1, 1792, he married Lydia Williams, of 
 Washington, Mass., and settled on a portion on the homestead. 
 There were mmors of richer lands in the then far west, in the 
 valleys of Chenango and Chemung in Central New York, and 
 following the example of many others, he sold his farm in 1796, 
 and moved to Sherburne with an ox team and a single horse. 
 Their entire household belongings were loaded into the cart with 
 the mother, who accompanied them, while the wife with true 
 yankee grit, made the journey on horseback, with her baby on 
 her lap. 
 
 He had previously purchased lands about two miles south of 
 where the village of Smyrna now lies, and thither he w-nt, with 
 his family, and while they of necessity endured the privations 
 
 29 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 and hardships incident to settlement in a new country, they were 
 neither discouraged nor disheartened. Game was plenty and 
 being a good shot, he easily furnished his family with plenty of 
 meat, and in the line of peltries, not a small portion of their 
 bedding and clothing was secured from the surrounding forests, 
 while the rich soil gave vegetables, and grain quite equal to the 
 demands. Here his first wife died, in 1805, and in 1806 he 
 married Abigail Sage, of Norwich, and soon after moved to 
 Plymouth. There were born to them four children, of whom 
 Harriet, the older, became the wife of William Stover. His 
 second wife died at Plymouth in 18 13. In 18 17 he married 
 Lydia Bell, of Pharsalia, and soon after moved back, to his old 
 home in Smyrna, where he continued to reside until he removed 
 to Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1837. 
 
 The children of this last marriage were as follows, all born 
 in Smyrna: Joseph Rex, who married Hannah Burdick, was 
 a visitor at our old home week gathering, and though eighty- 
 four years of age was hale and hearty, and one of those most 
 interested in the proceedings on that occasion. His reminis- 
 cences were most interesting to all present and he was most cor- 
 dially greeted. (Mr. Tracey's death occurred at his home in To- 
 ledo, after a short illness, in January, 1905.) Isaac married 
 Sarah Norton and William married Susan Harrington, of Sher- 
 burne West Hill. William was well and favorably known in 
 this vicinity, being a leading member of the Odd Fellow fratern- 
 ity in Chenango District. Lydia and Ruth both died during the 
 year 1834, and Mason passed away in 1851. 
 
 Thomas Rex Tracey was said to be a model of physique, 
 standing six feet one and one-half inches in height, erect, broad 
 shouldered and strong of limb. He made no profession of relig- 
 ion but usually attended the Congregational Church. Living in 
 those days when religious excitements were numerous and sensa- 
 tional manifestations frequently seen, his strong mind was not 
 easily led astray by any such so-called revelations. He took a 
 lively interest in everything pertaining to the state or nation, and 
 
 30. 
 
RICHARD E. STOVER. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 was in his way an active politician, but always for principle and 
 not for personal preferment. Nevertheless he served as a Justice 
 of the Peace for several years in Smyrna, and was Postmaster 
 at Bowling Green, Ohio, at the time of his death, December 
 31, 1841. 
 
 Apollos Allen with his family came from Gill, Mass., in 
 1798, settling on a large farm, a portion of which is now the site 
 of the present village of Smyrna, and building a log house where 
 the so-called Eastman house now stands. His son, Chester 
 Allen, who was but three years of age when the family ar- 
 rived at their new home, became an excellent citizen, well and 
 pleasantly remembered by many present day residents. He was 
 a faithful member of the Methodist Church, joining that socie- 
 ty when it was only a circuit station. Later he joined the Re- 
 formed Methodist Church, of which William Stover was at 
 the head, and afterwards the First Methodist Church in Smyrna, 
 becoming one of its leading members. 
 
 Ruth Allen, a sister of Chester, married Thomas Sweet, 
 father of the late Leroy C. Sweet, and Marsena, a brother, mar- 
 ried Hannah, a daughter of John Percival, a volunteer in the 
 Revolutionary army from Lee, Mass. Their son, Samuel 
 P., was born in Smyrna in 1814, and with no advantages save 
 the common schools, established a wide reputation. In his early 
 years, he taught the school at Sherburne Four Corners, later ris- 
 ing rapidly to distinction, filling many responsible positions, 
 serving as County Clerk of Livingston County, N. Y., ed- 
 itor and proprietor of the Livingston County Republican, assist- 
 ant editor of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, and at one 
 time was connected with the Chenango Telegraph, in company 
 with the late Hon. B. Gage Berry, of Norwich, 
 
 Noah Wood, of Somers, Ct., bought at Enfield, in that 
 state, on the 17th day of December, 1798, a tract of land in 
 Chenango County some two miles below the present village of 
 Earlville, known for many years thereafter as the Wood 
 farm. Noah married Ascnith Calkins, of Somers, a woman of 
 
 31 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 sterling character, who governed more than a generation in hon- 
 esty and integrity, as she had the entire care of her nine children, 
 the oldest being only sixteen years of age when the father died. 
 The present house was raised July 3, 1812, and Mr. Wood's 
 death occurred next day from apoplexy. Of their children, 
 Noah, who became a resident of Syracuse,, N. Y., and Asen- 
 ith, now deceased, were born in Connecticut. Julius was 
 born in Smyrna in 1 799, growing to be a man of true Christian 
 character, whose principles were deeply inculcated in the 
 minds of his children, and reached out to those with whom 
 he came in contact. For many years he was a Deacon of 
 the Congregational Church of Smyrna, of which he was a leader 
 and the last original member. In politics he was a strong 
 Republican, one of the first to espouse the cause of anti-slav- 
 ery in which he was followed by all his sons. 
 
 He- married Amanda, a daughter of Captain Joseph Billings^ 
 who became a fond wife and a devoted mother, whose memory 
 will be always revered by her children as well as by all who 
 knew her. Of their ten children, Devolson, the oldest, after 
 leaving the village school, graduated at the Normal School at Al- 
 bany, and afterwards finished a course with high honors at 
 the Institute of Technology, at Hobokcn, N. J. As an instruc- 
 tor, writer and author he was widely known, and was no doubt 
 the most distinguished scholar who ever went out from Smyrna. 
 In 1859 the University of Michigan conferred upon him the de- 
 gree of Master of Science. The same year he received the 
 degree of Master of Arts from Hamilton College, at Clinton, 
 N. Y. . 
 
 Hudson A. was an instructor in the same school, with 
 his brother, also an author of several text books. He was a 
 member of the 61 st Regiment, in the War of the Rebellion, 
 and after its close was frequently called upon to deliver interest- 
 ing talks to many different encampments of the Grand Army of 
 the Republic. His beaming face, always so pleasant to those 
 whom he met, showed out his abundance of good nature, and he 
 
 33 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 was true to the principles taught him early in life. He 
 gave much of his time, to the betterment of the Chinese in New 
 York City, and spared no pains to do good in helpfulness 
 to many others. He died at Mt. Vernon, N, Y., September 
 28, 1903. Pomeroy died a few years since on the farm left him 
 by his father, and where he lived for many years. Helen, 
 the oldest daughter, married O. L. Munn of Chicago, who was a 
 teacher all his early life, later a produce dealer in Chicago 
 and spending his last years at Flushing, Mich. Amelia married 
 David L. Buell of Union City, Mich., and Abi married Ira Buell 
 of the same place, and both are now deceased. Celia A. 
 became the wife of N. A. Beecher, a teacher and extensive nurs- 
 eryman of Flint, Mich,, who very ably represented his district 
 for four years in the Michigan Legislature. Emogene H. mar- 
 ried Warren Hicks, a farmer and teacher at Waumego, Kansas, 
 and Frank, the youngest son, also resides at that place, and 
 like his brothers, has taught many terms of school and has long 
 been interested in Sunday School work. 
 
 The grand children of Julius Wood have nearly all retained 
 the time honored principles of that worthy family, helping to fill 
 the list of teachers, missionaries, preachers and workers in the 
 cause of humanity. None of this prosperous family (except 
 Julius, the son of Pomeroy) are now residents of Smyrna, 
 but though gone from among us, the influence of the family has 
 not been lost on the community. 
 
 The Talcott Family. In the year 1799, the last year 
 of the Eighteenth Century, the Talcott family of English descent 
 came to Smyrna, and the descendants have ever since been resi- 
 dents of the town. Joshua Talcott, who was born at Bol- 
 ton, Ct, in 1776, bought the farm of Joseph Porter, our 
 first settler, their log house standing in the center of a two hun- 
 dred acre timber lot. The only way out of it was by 
 a blazed trail, but as soon as a road was laid out a more 
 comfortable and commodious house was erected. Mr. Talcott 
 was known as one of the best citizens of the town, upright 
 in his dealings with his fellow townsmen and was held in the 
 
 33 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 highest regard by all. He married Sarissa Taylor, of Vermont, 
 and eight children were born to them, all of whom now are de- 
 ceased. Julia married and moved to Joliet, 111., where her 
 death occurred at an advanced age; Sarissa became the wife 
 of the late Smith A. Cleveland, an honored and respected 
 citizen of New Hartford at the time of his death; Olive married 
 Eli Felt, a son of Asa Felt, one of the early settlers of 
 North Carolina, carrying on an extensive cotton plantation; 
 Henry P. was a worthy citizen of Wellsville, Steuben 
 County, settling there in 1843; Joshua, Jr., was born in Smyrna 
 in 1808 but passed away in the vigor of his manhood in his 
 23rd year; Sally A. was an invalid and a great sufferer, spending 
 the most of her life at the old homestead but later moving 
 to Joliet, where her death occurred at the home of her daughter 
 in 1874. Three of the children passed away in their early years. 
 
 Leman H. succeeded his father upon the homestead and 
 by additional purchases became possessed of a large and valuable 
 farm. He was twice married, his first wife being the ac- 
 complished daughter of Obadiah Spencer, an early resident 
 of the town and a sister of the late Woodbridge Spencer. Her 
 death occurred some two years after the marriage leaving an in- 
 fant daughter, now our greatly esteemed friend and neighbor, 
 Mrs. Ann Talcott Chapman, wife of the late S. S. Chapman, 
 the only remaining member of the Talcott family in the town. 
 All our citizens will sincerely hope for her a long life and a 
 most pleasant one, and that all her remaining years may 
 be spent in the town of her nativity. Her only child and 
 son, William L. Chapman, now grown to manhood, lives near 
 the old home with his most excellent wife, Mary L, 
 a daughter of Bradley Wilcox of Earlville, and he is a most 
 worthy scion of the family, having earned the highest re- 
 gards from all with whom he is acquainted. 
 
 Mr. Talcott subsequently married Aurora, a daughter of Phi- 
 lo Holcomb, an early resident of the town of Plymouth, an 
 excellent woman, affectionate, neighborly and sympathetic, 
 always ready to render aid in cases of sickness and suffer- 
 
 34 
 
LEMAN H. TALCOTT. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 \ng. Leman was a popular citizen, a man of most strict 
 integrity, perhaps best known among members of fraternal 
 circles in which he had many friends. He was a member 
 of Smyrna lodge, No. 116, I. O. O. F., and was said to 
 have been installed as treasurer of that organization for thirty 
 consecutive terms. He was also a member of Sherburne Lodge, 
 No. 444, F. & A. M., and Harmony Chapter, No. I5l, R. A. M., 
 of Norwich, and also Norwich Commandery, No. 46, K. T., 
 of Norwich. His death occurred December 9, 1895, at the 
 age of 85 years. His funeral was conducted by Sherburne 
 Lodge, F. & A. M., all the above organizations acting as escort. 
 
 Joshua Talcott died at the homestead January 8, 1867, 
 at the age of 90 years. Nearly all the family are buried 
 in the Talcott lot in the West Burial Ground at Smyrna. 
 
 Harvey Talcott, a brother of Joshua Talcott, and also 
 an early settler of the town, built the house so long known 
 as the Sweet homestead in this village. An enterprising citizen, 
 he entered the mercantile business in the Elmore building, now 
 the Hayward house, continuing there until 1837, when he 
 built the store used many years by the Dixons, and con- 
 ducted his business in that store until his decease in 1848. He 
 was also the owner of several farms in this vicinity and 
 was one of the first trustees of the village of Smyrna, and 
 instrumental in its incorporation. His wife was Mary Wal- 
 lace and they both came from Connecticut, the family consisting 
 of several children, among them Dwight, who moved to Chica- 
 go and became at one time closely interested with Potter Palmer 
 and Hutchinson in real estate and live stock business in 
 Chicago's early days; Philura married Benjamin Hart well, 
 an excellent citizen of our town for many years, concern- 
 ing whom more will be found in another portion of this volume; 
 Amelia C. married our former well-known and respected towns- 
 man Leroy C. Sweet; Mary married James O. Ransom, once in 
 business in the present Nearing store. Two sons survive 
 them at Hammondton, N. J. — Harvey and Frank, who will 
 be pleasantly remembered by many. Maria married the late Na- 
 
 35 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 than P. Wheeler of Norwich, N. Y., and later of Chica- 
 go; and Charlotte married Thomas Miller. They are both 
 living at Chicago, their husbands being now deceased. 
 
 We regret our inability to give a more extended notice 
 of this interesting family so long residents of the town. 
 
 ISAAC Bills came from Bennington, Vt., in 1800 with 
 Lucy Dix Bills, his wife, a cousin of General John A. 
 Dix of the regular army and later Governor of the State 
 of New York. They built a log house on their new farm, 
 then a wilderness, now known as the Niles farm near Upperville, 
 and lived and died there, he having reached the age of 88 
 years, she the age of 86. Of the family were five daugh- 
 ters, each living more than their allotted three score years 
 and ten, as follows: Miranda Dix, Lucy, the wife of the 
 late Rowland Teflft, both of whom died at St Charles, 
 Mich. ; Artheusa Ames, Elvira Niles and Emily Niles whose death 
 occurred at the original Bills homestead some three years 
 ago. The homestead is now occupied by Wells and Burt Niles, 
 who are grandchildren of the original purchaser. 
 
 The Simons Family is one of the oldest in our town 
 and the descendants have been well known. They came 
 here about the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, bring- 
 ing with them a high standard of character and sterling integrity. 
 Joseph Simons was born at Lebanon, Windham County, 
 Connecticut, on the 23d of May, 1757, where he grew to maturi- 
 ty and married. Soon after he came to the new country of New 
 York settling on the present Simons farm, which has since been 
 in the family name, and is now owned by a grandson, J. 
 Bennett Simons, a life-long resident of the town. 
 
 The old Simons log house was located not far from the pre- 
 sent farm house, on the site of the fine apple orchard now upon 
 the place. In 1807 Mr. Simons represented the County of 
 Chenango in the State Legislature, filling the office to the 
 satisfaction of all his constituents, and was elected Supervisor of 
 the town in 1809, the year following the division of the 
 
 36 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 town of Sherburne, and the interests of the new town were said 
 to have been most excellently cared for, to such an extent that 
 always thereafter he was held in the highest esteem by all his 
 townsmen. He was twice married, and had one son, Cyrus, 
 born August 5, 1779, who married Nancy, a daughter of Jared 
 Bennett, born December 21, 1800, and who died at the Simons 
 homestead December 24, 1891, in her 9 1st year. 
 
 Of their children, Wells was born October 11, 1824, and 
 died in his nineteenth year. Obed C was bom May 11, 1829. 
 He married Diadema Walker and both are still with us at a good 
 old age. Their only child and daughter is Flora W., the wife of 
 our townsman, Lynn F. Williams. Jared B. was born June 19, 
 1831, and still retains the ownership of the original Simons 
 farm. His first wife, Cordelia E., a daughter of the late Gard- 
 ner Butts, left one son, Merton C, who with his wife and fam- 
 ily remain with the father upon the farm. His second wife was 
 Mahala Fradenburg, by whom are one son and two daughters. 
 Hoyt W., of Falls Village, Conn., and two daughters, Alice and 
 Grace, the latter the wife of William Ryan, of Oxford. Jerome 
 Simons was born May 31, 1833, and married Phoebe Williams 
 of Sherburne. Both are now deceased. One son was born to 
 them, Cyrus Wells, who with his family of four children resides 
 at the old home in Smyrna village. Parthena was born June 
 15, 1838, and married Tilly Harrington. They are now re- 
 spected residents of our village. A son and a daugnter once 
 graced their home, but are now deceased. Olive Simons was 
 born June 2, 1827, and married Augustin Pier, a leading citizen. 
 Both are now deceased. Many of the Simons family rest in the 
 East Burial Ground in this village. 
 
 Elder Comfort Record removed over a century ago from 
 Rhode Island to Smyrna, where he made his home during a long 
 and useful life of eighty-two years. He was a plain mkn of the 
 primitive style, a preacher of the Baptist persuasion, who could 
 both earn his bread by skilled labor and feed his flock wim the 
 Bread of Life. Specimens of his handiwork, and memories of 
 
 37 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 his sermons, are among the carefully cherished treasures of those 
 who, in childhood, regarded his stately form and pleasant face 
 and voice with admiration and reverence. He was a "Comfort" 
 indeed to those enjoying his visitations on festive occasions, or 
 in the hour of bereavement, at the homes where his genial pres- 
 ence was ever welcome. The late pastors Corey and Earle, of 
 the Baptist church in Smyrna, both of whom became noted 
 evangelists later in life, very gladly in the early days availed 
 themselves of the wise counsel of "Father Record." 
 
 Mr. Record was a staunch Whig, always casting his vote for 
 the candidates of that party. He had one daughter and a son, 
 and after the death of his wife his declining years were spent 
 with his son, J. Sheffield Record, who reared a family of five 
 sons and two daughters. One of them was William C, a life 
 long and respected resident of our town, whose death occurred in 
 October, 1904. He is survived by his wife, a sister of the late 
 Clinton G. Sherman, and one son George S., who with his fam- 
 ily remains upon the farm. Other children of Sheffield Record 
 wereAdoIphus and Frank, both once well known here, Robert, a 
 member of the 61st Regiment, N. Y. S. V., in the war of the re- 
 bellion, now at Otselic with his family, and Orlando W., the 
 youngest son, a successful teacher at Smyrna Union School in 
 the sixties, and later at Norwich Academy, now a well to do 
 citizen of Thayer, Kansas, His wife was Emma, the youngest 
 daughter of the late Rowland Teflft. 
 
 Chester Hammond came to Smyrna very early, settling 
 on the farm once known as the Brooks farm, now owned by 
 Walter Gardner. Here he lived many years, a leading citizen, 
 and one of the original members of the First Congregational 
 Church, doing more to build up and sustain that organization 
 than any other man, and a deacon of that church from its first 
 formation until he removed from the town. After selling his 
 farm, he moved to Union City, Michigan, then a new state, and 
 at once took a leading position, organizing a new Congrega- 
 tional Church, which has since been known as a daughter of 
 
 the Smyrna Church. 
 
 38 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 With his broad, enterprising spirit, he soon found his way to 
 the hearts of the people in that vicinity, and was elected Judge 
 of the Court, for which his talents and impartiality eminently 
 qualified him. He filled many offices of trust and profit in the 
 state of his adoption. He had six sons and three daughters of 
 whom one son and one daughter were buried in Smyrna. 
 
 Of the sons, Charles G., the eldest, made a national reputa- 
 tion. Henry L. was an eminent clergvman and married Jane, 
 a daughter of the late Dr. Nicholas B. Mead, for many years a 
 leading physician of Smyrna. Andrew T. was many years 
 cashier of one of the largest banks of Hartford, Ct,, where he 
 died many years ago, and no doubt all the Hammond family 
 are now deceased. 
 
 Next west of the Hammond farm, the one long owned by J. 
 Monroe Billings, was settled by Joseph Eccleston, said to be a 
 good citizen, a kind neighbor, and excellent farmer, rearing a 
 large family and later moving to Cortland. 
 
 The Sweet Family. Just west of this farm, was the 
 Sweet farm, until recently owned by one of the descendants of 
 the original owner. John Sweet settled on this farm very early, 
 though concerning him or his family we are able to learn but 
 little. At his decease the farm was occupied by his son 
 Thomas Sweet, said to have been a prosperous farmer, accumu- 
 lating a considerable fortune. He married Ruth, a daughter of 
 Marsena Allen, with whom he lived a life of usefulness, and at 
 its close both were laid at rest in the old family burying ground 
 upon the farm. They had one son, Leroy C. Sweet, born Octo- 
 ber 19, 1825, who became a leading citizen, always standing 
 for the interests of the town and community in which he resid- 
 ed, endearing himself to all by many acts of neighborly kind- 
 ness. In politics he was a Democrat and a prominent leader of 
 the party in the town and county. 
 
 On February 16, 1847, he married Amelia C, a daughter of 
 Harvey Talcott, a most estimable woman, a faithful wife, and a 
 fond mother. She was always interested in matters pertaining 
 
 39 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 to the welfare of her native town and its people, always remem- 
 bering and seemingly much enjoying referring to old residents 
 and friends, and whether they were in adversity or prosperity, 
 interesting herself in their welfare. Probably no other person 
 knew of the whereabouts of as many old Smyrnaites as did 
 Mrs. Sweet. 
 
 The death of a young daughter, Kittie, during the fifties, and 
 of the oldest son, Thomas H., a young man of most brilliant 
 promise, whose death took place on June 19, 1868, in his twen- 
 tieth year, saddened the hearts of this worthy couple for many 
 years, and their sorrow was never fully effaced. Mr. Sweet's 
 death occurred June 27, 1886, and that of his wife January 5, 
 1903, and both are buried in the cemetery at Sherburne West 
 Hill. 
 
 They are survived by two sons and one daughter. Dwight 
 L. is a staid and sturdy citizen, his wife being the only daughter 
 of the late Robert H. Willcox. They have one daughter, Kate 
 A., a graduate of Norwich High School, and later a graduate of 
 the Boston School of Physical Training, now a successful 
 teacher of that art at East Orange, N. J. 
 
 Their son, Clinton R., a most excellent young man, closed 
 his earthly career on the 11th day of May, 1893, in his nine- 
 teenth year. His death was a sad and lamentable loss to the 
 family and friends. 
 
 Fred. Allen Sweet, the youngest son, is an extensive dealer 
 in cattle and who resides at the Sweet homestead. He married 
 Adellah, the youngest daughter of Franklin D. Coy, now de- 
 ceased, and they have one son, Franklin Leroy, now in his 
 eighteenth year. Congratulations are now in order for Mr. 
 Sweet and his new wife, Miss Maude Cashman, the oldest daugh- 
 ter of our village merchant, the happy event that joined them 
 taking place at the home of the bride on the evening of Septem- 
 ber 27th. 
 
 Mary A., the daughter of Leroy and Amelia C. Sweet, married 
 Irving J. Colwell, a son of Spencer Colwell of Sherburne, and they 
 
 40 
 
LEROY C. SWEET. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 have one young son, Howard, and an infant son, Robert. Their 
 home is in the city of Auburn, this state. 
 
 Francis Reynolds owned a small house and lot nearly 
 opposite the Sweet farm, where he lived many years, passing 
 away at a good old age. Among his numerous children were 
 the late Van Rensselaer Reynolds, an excellent farmer and 
 worthy citizen of Sherburne Hill. Harriet, the oldest daughter, 
 married Wilson Youngs, a well to do farmer of the town of Ply- 
 mouth, who later lived at Smyrna village; and Jane, a maiden 
 lady, who lived many years in Smyrna where she had many 
 friends. 
 
 Benjamin Reynolds settled on a farm south of the Sweet 
 farm, living there many years previous to his death. He was a 
 Quaker of the Hicksite persuasion and a kind hearted neighbor 
 respected by all. Among his children were Oliver, a long time 
 resident of our town, who spent his latter days in Sherburne; 
 and Calista, the youngest daughter, who first married a gentleman 
 named Willcox, and after his decease, became the wife of the 
 late Francis E. Dimmick. 
 
 Arnold Briggs settled on the farm south of the Benjamin 
 Reynolds place, and was said to have been one of the best citi- 
 zens of the town and none was more highly respected. A lead- 
 ing member of the Society of Friends, adorning his profession 
 with a well ordered life, he was a kind neighbor having great 
 sympathy for all in affliction. He had six children as follows: 
 Marvin the oldest, who married Orel Allen, a noble woman, a 
 sister of the late Chester Allen and of the mother of the late 
 Leroy C. Sweet; Myron, who married Phila Ackley, a daughter 
 of Samuel Ackley, a respected settler of that neighborhood, 
 spending the most of his life in Smyrna, but later buying the old 
 Lathrop place in Sherburne, where he and his wife passed the 
 remainder of their days; and Ruth, who married a gentleman 
 named Race, of Sherburne, who died in the prime of his life. 
 Mrs. Race, together with her sisters, Lavinia and Averena, who 
 married Benjamin Stover, made their home in Smyrna for 
 many years. They were faithful members of the Friends Church 
 
 41 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 and were highly respected and most excellent neighbors as the 
 writer can truthfully testify. 
 
 RUFUS Briggs settled on the farm south of Arnold's farm, 
 and like his brother was a leading and worthy member of the 
 Society of Friends, living and dying on the farm where he first 
 settled. He was three times married and had fourteen children, 
 all now deceased. His farm is now owned and occupied by 
 Edgar L. Close. 
 
 George Bixby owned the farm south of the Rufus Briggs 
 farm, on which he built a small distillery as has been before 
 stated. Mr. Bixby was a jovial old gentleman, kind hearted and 
 generous, and was missed when he afterwards sold his farm to 
 Isaac Foote and Jethro Hatch and moved to Cattaraugus 
 County. 
 
 Samuel Carver was one of the earliest settlers in the town, 
 settling on a farm on the hillside, east of the present Bailey 
 farm, still known as Carver Hill. 
 
 Charles Kelsey settled on a small farm adjoining the Car- 
 ver farm, and was said to have been a very kind and generous 
 neighbor, having several children. The farm was later pur- 
 chased by Thomas Gooch, who died there at an advanced age. 
 He was said to have been a fine, portly old gentleman, a Quaker 
 and one of the best of neighbors and friends. At his decease 
 his heirs sold the place to Roswell Reynolds who resold it to 
 other parties, and it is now included in the farm of Henry Bailey 
 now of Norwich. 
 
 Samuel Ackley settled on the farm now owned by Nelson 
 Cole. He built one of the first saw mills in town, which was 
 greatly appreciated by the early inhabitants. It stood beside a 
 small brook which had its rise on the Rufus Briggs farm, and 
 was fed mainly by a cold spring. His mill pond was stocked 
 with speckled trout and in its pure, cold water they rapidly mul- 
 tiplied, growing to an extremely large size. The same brook 
 has ever since been a favorite place for trout, and retaining the 
 name of "Ackley Brook." Mr. Ackley sold his farm to Thomp- 
 son Fisher, and it is now the property of Floyd W. Brooks. 
 
 42 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Samuel Kelsey, a brother of Charles, settled on a farm 
 south of and adjoining the Ackley farm. He was a good neigh- 
 bor, an earnest christian man and a member of the Baptist 
 Church of Smyrna. He was elected Justice of the Peace for 
 many years, and finally sold his farm and moved to the western 
 part of the state. He had six children. Julius Kelsey the only 
 one to remam in the town, was engaged in the grocery business 
 for many years, subsequently purchasing a hotel and continuing 
 in that business until his death in the spring of 1864. The old 
 building still stands, a relic of the past, a quaint old structure. 
 Only a few will remember it when it was a hostelry, and recall 
 its weather beaten sign, "J. Kelsey, Inn." In this building in the 
 forties was "Washington Hall,'' and in the sixties and seventies 
 the same rooms were used by the Odd Fellows and Good Tem- 
 plars. Here in the days gone by elections were held, and on 
 such occasions occurred the old time wrestling matches, and, in 
 the road in front, the games of old-fashioned base ball, which 
 will be most pleasantly remembered by the boys and young men 
 of those days. 
 
 Mr. Kelsey married a daughter of Hial Hart, a worthy citi- 
 zen, who, from his occupation as a carpenter and joiner received 
 the title of "Boss Hart." They had several children, of whom 
 Corinthia, the oldest, married Ralph Pendleton. They now re- 
 side at Lawrence, Kan. Gertrude married a gentleman named 
 Martenis and they reside in Denver, Col. Devillo is still a re- 
 spected citizen of Manlius, N. Y., and Denison died in Chicago, 
 in the summer of 1904. Julius, the youngest son, was a soldier 
 in the war of the rebellion, being a member of the 6lst N. Y. 
 Infantry. He was killed in battle, 
 
 Sarah P. Hart, a daughter of Hial Hart, and sister of Mrs. 
 Kelsey, was a much esteemed lady once well known in our 
 community. She was a prominent member of the Congrega- 
 tional Church, and a strong supporter of that Society. In her 
 will she left a bequest of $500, the interest on which was to be 
 used in caring for and keeping up the West Burying Ground at 
 Smyrna village, where herself and her family, as well as the 
 
 43 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 family of Julius Kelsey, are laid at rest. A fine Scotch granite 
 monument marks their final resting place. 
 
 Among others who settled in Smyrna, were John Parsons, 
 who married Flavia, a daughter of John Billings. He bought 
 lot number one in the town, the same falling to his son Alfred 
 Parsons, who became a most influential and substantial citizen 
 of that part of the town. The same premises are now owned 
 by his son, John R. Parsons. 
 
 Alpheus Hall purchased the farm now occupied by his 
 youngest grandson, William P. Hall, whose father, Solomon 
 Hall, was an excellent farmer citizen, a strong Democrat of the 
 old school, ably representing Chenango County in the New 
 York Assembly of 1845. 
 
 Luke Hall came from Connecticut, settling on the farm in 
 the north part of the town, known later as the Hall farm, the 
 property of his son, Erastus G. Hall none of whose excellent 
 family are now residents of this town. Of the family, John 
 and Fred are residents of California; Seth, a prosperous nur- 
 seryman of Illinois, and Esther resides at Preston, this couniy, 
 the wife of Zanoni Boyden. 
 
 Joseph Matthewson was born in Connecticut, and moved 
 to Smyrna in the spring of 1805. He married Betsey Allen, a 
 near relative of Col. Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame, and to 
 them were born nine children. George W., the oldest, married 
 Electa, a daughter of the late Seymour Isbell of Smyrna, and in 
 later years became proprietor of a grist and saw mill, and also a 
 large acreage of land in the town. His later years were spent 
 in the town of Otselic, where he enjoyed the confidence of all 
 his townsmen. Their children were Charles G., who was once 
 a prosperous farmer in our town; another son, Andrew, and a 
 daughter named Sabria. 
 
 Another son of Joseph, was Charles, so long a resident of 
 Upperville, but now deceased. In his day he was a prosperous 
 farmer and good citizen. His first wife was Eliza A. Tobey, by 
 whom were born two sons, Otis G., of Malta, 111., where he is 
 
 44 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 prosperous and enjoying life, and retains a lively interest in his 
 old home town and its people. Also Albert, born in Smyrna 
 early in the fifties, now a resident of the State of Kansas. The 
 Matthewson family, were people of high standing in our com- 
 munity, and had the respect of all who knew them. 
 
 The Munsons are of English descent and trace their ancestry 
 to Thomas Munson, who was born in England in 1612; came 
 thence as a young man to Hartford, Ct.; was a soldier in the 
 Pequot War, and later moved to New Haven, where he was one 
 of the founders of that colony and city. Among various offices 
 he held, was that of Lieutenant, and later Captain of the Stand- 
 ing Army of New Haven Colony. 
 
 His descendants were among the foremost in settling and civ- 
 ilizing that portion of the country previous to the Revolution, and 
 many of the Munson descendants entered that conflict, partici- 
 pated in its hardships and struggles as officers or privates, and 
 were among those who greatly rejoiced in the final success of 
 the American forces. 
 
 The death of Thomas Munson occurred at New Haven, May 
 7, 1685, and he was buried in the yard, (now the "Green,") 
 near the old First Church, of which he was one of the original 
 and foremost members. The old yard has long since been 
 cleared away and the slab of sandstone that marked his last 
 resting place has been removed to the old Grove Street Ceme- 
 tery, not far away. It bears the following inscription, still leg- 
 ible : 
 
 THOMAS MVNSON, 
 
 AGED 73, Deceased. 
 
 The 7th of 5th Mo., 
 
 1685. 
 
 John Munson came from Barkhamsted, Ct., with his family 
 in the spring of 1809, settling on the present Munson home- 
 stead where he built a log house, just northwest of the site on 
 which the old house stood that was taken down some fifteen 
 
 45 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 years ago. His lands then included nearly all of those north of 
 the present village of Smyrna, and also the Hutchinson and 
 Allen mills, on Pleasant Brook, to which he not long after added 
 a distillery. He conducted this business very successfully till his 
 death, December 13, 1827, at the age of 42 years. Mr. Munson 
 was one of the leading men in the town in his day, holding, 
 among other offices, that of Justice of the Peace for many years, 
 his decisions usually meeting with the approbation of all the par- 
 ties interested. 
 
 He married Sally, a daughter of John Merrell, of Barkham- 
 sted, Ct. She was of Highland Scotch descent, a woman ad- 
 mired by all who knew her. She passed away at the Munson 
 homestead, January 29, 1862, at the age of 76 years. Two 
 daughters came with them to the new settlement. Hannah, the 
 older, in later years became the wife of Jonathan Shepardson, 
 and died at the home of her only son, Andrew Shepardson, No- 
 vember 14, 1877, in her 72d year. Eliza, the younger, married 
 Phillip Mead of Washington county, this state, whose home was 
 for many years the farm of the late Thomas Purdie, now owned 
 by Clarence Moore. She died at the home of her daughter in 
 Smyrna village March 11, 1884, in her 76th year. 
 
 Eliza's children were John Munson Mead, the only son, who 
 died at Lisle, N. Y., in the spring of 1852, at the age of 24 years; 
 Sarah J., who married John Button of Milwaukee, Wis., and 
 died November 3, 1875, at her home in Smyrna, in her 44th 
 year. To them were born two sons, John M., now a resident of 
 Rochester, N. Y., a railroad engineer by occupation, and George 
 E., the younger, who passed away at the home of his aunt, Mrs. 
 Butts, in Sherburne, in the fall of 1891, in his 28th year. 
 
 Amanda Mead Butts was born in Smyrna, in 1829. Her first 
 husband was Albertus Merritt, of Milwaukee, Wis., by whom two 
 sons were born, James the older, and Albert the younger. 
 Father and sons are now deceased. Her second husband was 
 the late Gardner Butts, of Smyrna, once well known here as a 
 leading farmer and citizen. His death occurred in Smyrna vil- 
 
 46 
 
ALBERT MUNSON. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 lage in the spring of 1880. Mrs. Butts died at her home in 
 Sherburne, August 7, 1898, in her 69th year. 
 
 Albert Munson, the only son of John and Sally Munson, 
 was born in Smyrna, January 4, 1811, at the Munson Home- 
 stead, now the home of his oldest son John H. Munson. As a 
 boy he attended the district school at home, and later spent a 
 few years at Utica, at one time holding a position in the Post 
 Office in that city. In later years he was in the employ of his 
 uncle, Alfred Munson, then a prominent manufacturer of that 
 city. The death of his father and the burning of the mill and 
 distillery caused him to return home to the assistance of the 
 family. 
 
 The distillery was never rebuilt, but the grist mill was re- 
 erected in 1836 by the Munson estate, when he and his brother- 
 in-law, Jonathan Shepardson, took charge of the business, the 
 latter continuing with him till his death in the spring of 1842. 
 After his decease the business was successfully conducted by Al- 
 bert till his death in the spring of 1880. 
 
 In those days the vicinity was a wheat growing section, and 
 flour from this mill went all through the surrounding country; 
 and though rolls and purifiers had never been dreamed of, yet 
 the flour was considered of excellent quality, and "Munson's Su- 
 perlative Flour," was a well known commodity. "Mother's 
 Bread" is frequently mentioned at the present day, but it should 
 be remembered that father's flour was also needed to produce 
 the genuine article. 
 
 In May, 1846, Albert Munson married Hannah, daughter of 
 George Merrell, of Barkhamsted, Ct., who brought from her New 
 England home the highest conceptions of morality and religion, 
 inherited from parents richly imbued with the same and from 
 teachings of many generations preceding them. Her death oc- 
 curred in Smyrna, November 29, 1870, at the age of fifty-one 
 years, and that of the only daughter, Sarah E, the wife of the 
 late Frank H. Dimmick, October 29, 1879, in her 3 1st year. 
 Were we to be asked to place an inscription upon the monu- 
 
 47 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 ment which marks their final resting place, none to us would 
 seem more appropriate than the one inscribed upon the old Mer- 
 rill monument in the graveyard at Barkhamsted, dedicated to 
 the mother and grandmother. It reads, "Beloved in life, lament- 
 ed in death, she hath left a good nam«, which is far better than 
 riches." 
 
 Mr. Munson was a man well liked by all, whose life was 
 spent in his business; and though usually quiet and reserved, his 
 circle of friends extended to all the surrounding towns. He be- 
 longed to that class of men, among whom were John Willcox, 
 Thomas L. Willcox, and Benjamin Card; nearly the same age, 
 none just alike, yet all self-made, and as they grew into each 
 other's confidence and esteem, they grew also into the honorable 
 respect of all their townsmen. In politics he was what might 
 be termed a Jacksonian Democrat, but was never an office seek- 
 er. He cast his first vote for President in 1832 for Andrew 
 Jackson, his last in 1876, for Samuel J. Tilden. His death oc- 
 curred on the 28th day of May, 1880, at the age of 69 years. 
 
 The old Munson Mill with its two old fashioned run of 
 French Buhr mill stones, well known for many miles around, 
 was burned on April 24, 1888, and has never been rebuilt. The 
 old dam has been nearly washed away, and there is little left 
 save the ruins of its foundations. The mosses have gathered 
 upon what remains of [he old wooden water wheels; the walls of 
 the old mill are fast crumbling away; bushes and weeds grow 
 over the old fireplace once used in the old distillery, but as in the 
 days gone by, the rocks are still there, the brook still flows, and 
 the sound of its murmurings and ripplings, as among the rocks 
 it takes its peaceful course, will ever bring fond recollections and 
 tender memories to the mind of the writer as does no other spot 
 on earth. 
 
 Samuel Northup was born in September, 1792, at South 
 Kingston, R. I. His father, with his family of six sons and one 
 daughter, came to a new home on the Susquehanna a mile or 
 two below Otego, in 1802, where his boyhood passed. He was 
 
 48 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 apprenticed to Harmon Treadwell to learn the carpenter's trade 
 and came with him to Smyrna in October, 1810, stopping the 
 first night at Roger Case's, in the old house once occupied by the 
 late William C Record, now used as a barn. Remaining there 
 he attended the district school the first winter, but as there was 
 only a small amount of building at that time, he went on to 
 Canada with his employer and another, where they found more 
 work. They had one horse which they rode alternately, walk- 
 ing with their tools on their back between rides. They hastily 
 returned to Smyrna on the eve of the war of I8l2, and Smyrna 
 was henceforth his home. He purchased his time of Treadwell 
 before he was of age, and started life for himself. January 20, 
 I8l9, he married Rachel Rexford, whose father, Joel Rexford, 
 came to Sherburne from Barkhamsted, Ct., with his family in 
 1808 and they began their home life March 20, I8l9, in a part 
 of the house now the property of Cortland L. Ferris. While 
 living here he built a part of the house known as the Dixon 
 house now owned by Ellis McCotter. 
 
 In winter seasons when building was dull he made house- 
 hold furniture, which had a ready sale, showing his skill as a me- 
 chanic. He later lived upon the Guthrie — Munson place, and built 
 the house which was burned in the spring of 1876. This place 
 was exchanged with Elder Comfort Record in April, 1826, for his 
 farm, and here he began farm life. In future purchases he increased 
 his farm to 220 acres, the same now owned by Lynn F. Williams. 
 In politics Mr. Northup was a whig, and faithful to that party un- 
 til the organization merged into that of the Republican party. 
 He was said to have served his town in every official capacity 
 from constable to supervisor. Accustomed to hard work from 
 a boy, he seemed to enjoy it, and was known as a peacemaker 
 among his neighbors and friends, saving many lawsuits and quar- 
 rels by his friendly advice. He was a regular attendant and sup- 
 porter of the Congregational church; his life was successful and 
 full of usefulness until its setting sun, which faded away June 
 17, 1871, in his 79th year. His wife, surviving him fifteen 
 years, passed away April 24, 1886, in her 89th year. 
 
 49 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 The children were Yale, Emily, Rachel and Martha. Yale mar- 
 ried Lovisa, a daughter of Allen Rexford, by whom were four 
 children. Mary and Emma are both deceased. The former be- 
 came the wife of the late Dr. A. J. Purdie of Otselic, by whom 
 were three daughters and one son; and the latter married Wil- 
 liam E. Tyler, now of Lebanon, who with his two sons and 
 three daughters survive her. Sarah and Addie, the younger 
 daughters, are residents of our village and are held in the highest 
 esteem by all. Yale Northup was always interested in public af- 
 fairs and was one of the first railroad commissioners of the town 
 after the construction of the New York and Oswego Midland 
 railroad. He also held various other offices, adhering strictly to 
 the principles of the Republican party, and always anxious for 
 its success. His best place was as an election officer, for which 
 he was usually chosen and mistakes were scarcely ever found 
 when he was Chairman of the Election Board. Mr. Northup 
 died December 5, 1890, in his 69th year, having survived his es- 
 timable wife five years, her death occurring June 22, 1885, in 
 her 64th year. 
 
 Rachel Northup married the late Benjamin Barber, of Nor- 
 wich, where she still resides; Emily married Henry C. Mann, of 
 Hamilton, and is now a respected resident of that village; Mar- 
 tha still remains with us, a most worthy descendant of the fam- 
 ily, a maiden lady respected by all, much interested in church 
 work, a faithful and conscientious member of the Congrega- 
 tional Church in this village. It is most earnestly hoped by all 
 who know her, that she may long remain with us. 
 
 Richard Lawson was pressed into Burgoyne's army, with 
 two cousins in England, while away from home attending 
 school, and without being allowed to visit their homes before 
 going into the service, were hurried away and came over to fight 
 against the Colonies at the beginning of the war of the Revolu- 
 tion. At the close of two years, having served faithfully the 
 mother country, they asked for their release but were told they 
 must remain another year, and at the end of the third year they 
 again asked for an honorable discharge, but were this time in- 
 
 50 
 
YALE NORTHUP. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 formed that ihty must remain till the close of the war. Soon 
 after this they deserted to the American army, and enlisted in 
 that cause for which act they never heard again from their 
 friends or home. 
 
 Richard Lawson married Jerusha Carver, first living in 
 Chautauqua County, in Western New York, but afterwards 
 moving to Earlville, where both died and are buried in the cem- 
 etery in that village. To them were born six children, among 
 them Samuel C, a life-long citizen of Smyrna, who came, at 
 four years of age, to live in the family of Russel Case, then a 
 prominent citizen here. In 1829 he married Aurelia, a daughter 
 of Peter Merritt, and by the marriage were seven children, each 
 growing up in the esteem of relatives and friends, filling places 
 of usefulness in other homes. They were Jerusha, Jennie, Net- 
 tie A., Sylvia, Ellen, Richard M. and Frank M. Jerusha mar- 
 ried Abel Curtis of Madison; both arc now deceased; Jennie mar- 
 ried Orange E. Loomis, a progressive farmer of Hubbardsville, 
 N. Y., where they have a pleasant and attractive home, and with 
 her is her sister, Nettie A., who is kindly given a home among 
 them. They have an interesting family and always have a kind 
 word for the old home and their old neighbors and friends. 
 Sylvia married Eugene A. Covey and spent her last days in 
 sunny California, in a home she most dearly loved, with her 
 husband and three children, her daughter now deceased. She 
 was a writer of marked ability, both of prose and poetry. Her 
 most notable work perhaps, "Aunt Beck's Army Life," was pub- 
 lished during the civil war. Of the beauty, flowers and fruits of 
 Los Angeles, her home, and Catalina Island, where she often vis- 
 ited, she never wearied telling, and her letters describing those 
 interesting resorts, were always anxiously looked for and most 
 welcome to their recipients. Richard M. married Amelia Pud- 
 ney, of Sherburne, and was always a popular and good natured 
 citizen, industrious and persevering, and for many years an 
 obliging clerk in the store of Dixon Brothers in this village. He 
 passed away at Utica several years since, leaving the wife and 
 family to mourn his loss. Frank M. married Ellen Adams, of 
 
 51 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 DeRuyter, and has a family of grown up children. He still 
 lives to enjoy life and to hold in sweet remembrance the good 
 old days in Smyrna. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Lawson passed away some thirty-five years 
 ago, and with their daughter Ellen, the first wife of our towns- 
 man Nathan Eldridge, sleep their last sleep under the large ever- 
 green tree in the East Burial Ground. 
 
 Elijah Lawson, a brother of Samuel C, married Asenith 
 Dunn, a daughter of Timothy and Mehitabel Dunn, the former 
 a hero of Stony Point in the Revolution. To them were born 
 several children, among them being Laverna, who married Rus- 
 sel Loomis, of Brook field, N. Y., both now deceased. Other 
 children were Delina and Samuel D., both of whom passed the 
 most of their lives in Smyrna. Delina, now deceased, was blind 
 for many years, and Samuel D. is nearly so. Mr Lawson is a 
 companionable neighborly citizen well liked by all, and is spend- 
 ing his remaining days with his oldest son, Frank D., on Sher- 
 burne West Hill, where his especial attraction and source of en- 
 joyment is in entertaining and caring for a young granddaughter' 
 to whom he is much attached. 
 
 Timothy Leonard, a soldier of the Revolution, came to 
 Smyrna from Massachusetts about the year 1812, and died here 
 in 1830. His family was as follows: Nathan, who was drowned 
 in Vermont in 1809; Susan, wife of Anson Johnson, who died 
 at her home near Oneida Lake, in 1850; Abiel, whose death oc- 
 curred in 1878 at Lebanon, where he had spent the most of his 
 life; Stephen, who spent many years on Smyrna Hill, moving 
 to Pennsylvania, where he became a minister of the gospel, dy- 
 ing in 1867; Amanda, wife of Peter Leversee, who died in 
 Smyrna in 1883; George, who lived unmarried to an advanced 
 age and died in Pennsylvania in 1883; and James, who lived in 
 Smyrna until middle life, then moved to Pennsylvania in 1883, 
 where he married and soon after died in the year 1886. 
 
 Joseph, known in Smyrna as Barney Leonard, began his mar- 
 ried and business life in the Foote neighborhood, afterwards mov- 
 
 52 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 ing to Smyrna village, where he started the first shoe shop and 
 tannery in the town, continuing in the business until he moved 
 to Michigan, where he died in 1875. Of his children, Joseph C. 
 left Smyrna in 1844, and moved to Union City Michigan, where 
 he resided until his death in 1893. He occupied a prominent 
 position in the business afifairs of that town, holding many offi- 
 ces and serving one term in the State Senate. James T. was 
 never married. He spent many years of his life in Massachu- 
 setts, as a manufacturer of woolen goods until he was burned 
 out, when he went to Michigan where he entered the mercantile 
 business, which he continued until his death in 1874. Deloss 
 Leonard married Mary Ann Gates and lived on a farm in 
 Smyrna, the present Tuttle farm, until 1856, when he moved to 
 Union City, Mich, where he still lives, in his 85th year. Mr. 
 Leonard owns a fine farm and much other property in that en- 
 terprising place, and is one of its most prosperous and well-to-do 
 citizens. He is a very courteous old gentleman, devoting a good 
 share of his time to travel, and has frequently visited relatives at 
 his old home, where he is always welcome. He was an interest- 
 ed visitor at our old home gathering last August and seemed to 
 very much enjoy the occasion. He will be welcome here and all 
 will hope he may be spared to visit us many times again and 
 that his remaining days may be spent in happiness and com- 
 fort. 
 
 Enos Tuttle came from Colbroolc, Conn., to Sherburne 
 about 1812, settling on Church Hill in that town, removing to 
 Smyrna Hill about the year 1815. His home was near the 
 present home of G. Bert Tracy. There was a large family of 
 children as follows: Daniel, Sally, PoUy^ Urana, Susan, Theana, 
 Anson and Stephen. 
 
 Daniel, the oldest, was said to have been sent back to Col- 
 brook on foot to avoid being drafted in the war of 1812, mak- 
 ing two of these trips before the war was ended. He was fond 
 of telling of stopping at a farm house for dinner on one of those 
 journeys, where there were twenty-one boys in the family, in- 
 cluding ten pairs of twins. Daniel married Diana Bartlett and 
 
 S3 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 settled just west of the present Tracy place. They had eleven 
 children, Gilbert being the only one now residing in the town. 
 Our venerable friend has long been one of the fixtures of that 
 part of the town, is interested in church and town affairs and a 
 most worthy citizen. We hope tor him and his excellent wife 
 and family many years of enjoyment and usefulness. 
 
 Anson Tuttle married and many years resided on the farm 
 once known as the Robert Ferris farm, now occupied by his 
 grandson Ziba L. Tuttle, whose father, Charles O. Tuttle, resides 
 at Earlville. Susanah, one of the daughters, married Michael 
 Hassett, who for many years resided on Smyrna Hill. Both are 
 now deceased. A son, Ozro, resides in the city of Binghamton 
 with his family, and the daughter, Satie, is now the wife of 
 Frank Rickard, and they have one son, Harry. 
 
 We can truly say that the Tuttle family since their advent 
 into our town, have stood high in the estimation of our people, 
 seemingly always interested in the good and welfare of the com- 
 munity. 
 
 THE CLEVELAND FAMILY. 
 
 "The honor of ^ name 'tis just to guard, 
 They are a trust but lent to us, which we take, 
 And should, with reverence to the donor's fame, 
 With care transmit them down to other's hands." 
 
 Cities and towns, like people, are born and pass through pe- 
 riods of development and growth, but it is the character of the 
 citizen that gives an honorable or dishonorable name. The in- 
 fluence of the Puritan fathers and mothers has been and will 
 continue to be felt from Maine to Mexico and from ocean to 
 ocean, and no less will that of those who have given character 
 to Smyrna, whose names we cherish and take pride in, and who 
 lived up to their highest conception of duty to God and man, 
 never shrinking from anything the sense of right or honor or 
 self respect impelled them to perform. 
 
 Physical, mental and moral courage led them in their en- 
 deavor to make the forests yield to their will and the soil furnish 
 
 54 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 food and clothing for themselves and families. It is a law of 
 heredity that the offspring inherits the qualities, capacities, tastes 
 and tempers, in some degree, of their ancestors. In early life 
 General Grant never bothered to let the world know that he 
 came of good stock, but as the years advanced he desired that it 
 be known that his forefathers were of some account, and began 
 his memoirs by an explicit showing that he was of colonial de- 
 scent. So when we write a biography of the Cleveland family 
 we search the records and find that the name is of Saxon origin 
 and was borne by a family before the Norman Conquest, and 
 that Moses Cleveland came from Ipswich, Suffolk County, Eng- 
 land, in 1635, the muster roll of the Woburn Militia showing 
 him to be thirty-five years of age. Moses became a freeman in 
 1643, to become which a man was required to be of Godly walk 
 and conversation, at least twenty years of age, and to take an 
 oath of allegiance to the government of Massachusetts Bay 
 Colony. 
 
 Israel Cleveland, of Smyrna Hill, was a descendanc of Moses 
 Cleveland in the sixth generation, his father being named Albro. 
 His mother, Sarah Angell, was a daughter of Israel Angell, of 
 Providence, R. I., who at the very beginning of the trouble with 
 the mother country took an active part from May 3, 1775, to 
 January 1, 1781. He was with the Revolutionary army during 
 the terrible winter of 1777-8 at Valley Forge, took a conspicuous 
 part at Monmouth and was the subject of special mention in a 
 letter to Governor Greene, of Rhode Island, written by Gen. 
 George Washington. Colonel Angell received a gold medal 
 from General Washington, and also one from General LaFay- 
 ette. These facts will make his descendants eligible to become 
 Sons and Daughters of the Revolution. 
 
 The ancestor, Thomas Angell, came to America with Roger 
 Williams and received from him a grant of land in 1636. Israel 
 Cleveland was born in Scituate, R. I., November 16, 1792, and 
 while a young man left Rhode Island for New Berlin, N. Y.^ 
 where he married Sally Alcott Tuttle in 1814, and about the 
 year 1819 moved to Smyrna and settled upon the farm which 
 
 55 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 has since been known as the Cleveland farm. Nine children 
 blessed their union, two dying in infancy. Smith Angell was 
 born January 19, I8l8; Seth Palmer, March 15, 1820; Alexan- 
 der, March 14, 1822; Washington LaFayette, December 21, 
 1825; Polly M., January 22, 1828, and Roxana M., August 26, 
 1830. To the last named we ar". greatly indebted for the most 
 interesting sketch of the Cleveland family. 
 
 Lysander Cleveland was born October 15, 1832. Some of 
 the family were teachers and engaged at different times in the 
 village school and Mrs. Ferguson continued to teach at her new 
 home in Paxton, III, until past sixty years of age. Seven of 
 the grandchildren became teachers, thus choosing the occupation 
 in which the grandmothers had been successful years before. 
 The children inherited good constitutions, good habits and in- 
 domitable energy and perseverance. In politics they were patri- 
 otic and in religion they were orthodox. Influence is silent but 
 irresistible; the noblest contribution, the richest bequest which 
 any man can leave to his family or his country, is a good char- 
 acter. 
 
 Jared Bennett and Parthena West, his wife, moved from 
 Saybrook, Ct., to German Flats, Otsego County, about the 
 year 1804; and a few years later moved to Smyrna Hill, set- 
 tling on the farm now owned by Lucy Palmer, where they lived 
 and died. A carpenter by trade, he built a log house a little 
 south of the present Bennett homestead, (on the Cleveland farm) 
 which he also built, and where the late Alonzo Bennett was born 
 and where he lived and died. Towards the close of the Revolu- 
 tionary war Jared Bennett enlisted as a private in the Com- 
 missary Department and remained there until the war ended and 
 peace was declared Of his family of five children, his oldest 
 son, Dudley Bennett settled near his father's home. The latter 
 will be remembered by many of our people as an old-fashioned 
 man with quaint customs and ways, a good neighbor, and a man 
 with many friends. Nancy Bennett married Cyrus Simons, a 
 large number of whose descendants have always resided here. 
 
 56 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Alonzo Bennett married for his first wife Betsey Hyde, by 
 whom he had one daughter, Angeline, now deceased. Mrs. Ben- 
 nett's life was of short duration, and not long after her death he 
 married Julia, a daughter of Edward Briggs, by whom he had nine 
 children. Only one son and three daughters now remain. 
 
 A sister of Mrs. Bennett is Mrs. Samantha Willcox, who 
 still resides in our village, where she is passing her remaining 
 days, a faithful member of the Methodist Church. She has 
 many friends in the community. Her husband was Charles 
 Willcox, who died here in the late sixties. Her only daughter is 
 Adellah J., now Mrs. Anthony Volmer, the mother of a large fam- 
 ily of sons and daughters. Robert G., the only son, resides at 
 Whitesboro, Oneida County, with his wife, formerly Anna Sa- 
 bin, of Plymouth. Their son and daughter each married. 
 
 Father Bennett, as he was always known both in the church 
 and community, was a most worthy member of the Methodist 
 Church, and a leader as well as a strong supporter of that so- 
 ciety. His children were trained in the way of the faithful, and 
 have all retained their father's and mother's deep regard for the 
 church and its work. Their three daughters are Fannie, the 
 greatly esteemed wife of James P. Knowles; Elizabeth, the re- 
 spected wife of the late Lysander Cleveland, and Nettie A., the 
 wife of C. Sumner Tobey, now of Norwich. The only living son 
 is Warren, whose home is now at Minneapolis, Kansas. Wil- 
 liam, the youngest son, whose wife was Ida E., the only sister of 
 Lynn F. Williams, passed away in the pride of his early man- 
 hood in the winter of 1879, in his 22d year. He was the main 
 support of his aged parents and was greatly missed at the Ben- 
 nett home. Among the sons was Rev. Edgar L. Bennett, bom 
 in Smyrna, where he spent his boyhood days. At the commence- 
 ment of hostilities he enlisted in the 5th New York Heavy Ar- 
 tillery in the war of the Rebellion, where he remained until its 
 close, a faithful soldier. He afterwards became a most excel- 
 lent school teacher and later entered the ministry of the Metho- 
 dist Church, where he became a man of prominence. Obliged 
 to baffle with many disappointments and discouragements, he 
 
 57 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 finally resigned from the ministry, his last charge being the Che- 
 nango Street Church in Binghamton. His untimely death oc- 
 curred at the Tobey farm on Smyrna Hill, on the 2d of October, 
 1898. He is survived by his invalid wife, Latie E., a daughter 
 of the late Orlando Bennett, and a young daughter Lois, both of 
 whom have the sympathy of all. There are two sons, Ralph, 
 the older, one of the business managers of the Binghamton 
 Press, and Bert, also engaged in business in that city. 
 
 Father Bennett was an invalid for many years, many months 
 bereft of reason, but was most faithfully cared for by his es- 
 teemed wife, daughters and grandchildren, and when the sum- 
 mons came for this worthy couple to "come up higher," they 
 were ready to go, though greatly missed by all. 
 
 Wyram Bartlett came from Connecticut very early in 
 the century. The place where he settled was probably not far 
 from where his sons were afterwards located. His wife was 
 Phoebe Palmer, and there were twelve children, all born pre- 
 vious to 1800. Among them were Diana, who married Daniel, 
 the father of Gilbert Tuttle; Oliver W., who lived on the pres- 
 ent Clayton Bartlett farm, with two sons, James and Devolson; 
 Patrick W.,who lived in a log house a little south of the above 
 named farm, blessed also with twelve children as follows: Henry 
 C, now living on the Earlville road, father of our townsman 
 Ervin H. Bartlett; Sanford, once well known here; Ezra, Willis, 
 whose wife was Emma Close, a daughter of our former citizen, 
 the late Lewis Close; Albert, Clinton, Julia, who married Wes- 
 ley Tallett; Caroline, the respected wife of the late Levi Rickard, 
 mother of our friend and citizen, Frank D. Rickard; Delina, the 
 wife of Ambrose Parker; Serepta, wife of George Stewart, and 
 Elizabeth the wife of our former citizen, Cortland L. Ferris, re- 
 siding at Oriskany Falls. 
 
 Patrick W. Bartlett and family later occupied the present 
 Randt farm. 
 
 George C. settled and lived for many years with his family 
 on the present Eugene Gibson farm. His wife was Mirandi, a 
 
 58 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 daughter of the late Alfred Miles of Otselic, to whom were born 
 nine children. Among them were LaFayette, now deceased, 
 father of Emerton I. ; Homer and Clayton, the latter of whom 
 has purchased the Bartlett farm; Alfred now deceased; Nathaniel 
 now of Sherburne; Clark W.,of Oxford, also deceased; George 
 C, of Otselic, and Nathan whose death recently occurred at the 
 home of his sister, Abbie D., the wife of the late Lawrence B. 
 Cleveland, whose home is now in Smyrna, and who is the only 
 member of the family left in town. She has one son, Herbert 
 B., and one daughter Mabel, now the wife of John E Widger. 
 
 Hezekiah Bidwell was a native of Connecticut, coming 
 early to the farm later known as the Henry H. Willcox farm, 
 moving from there to the farm owned by the late Pomeroy 
 Wood, when Eleazur, so long a respected resident of our town, 
 was but six months of age. In later years he moved to West 
 Smyrna, where the family has since resided, and where his death 
 occurred in 1848. 
 
 Eleazur married Sally Partridge, a native of Wilburham, 
 Mass., the Partridge home being the present Tuttle homestead. 
 
 Mr. Bidwell was a kind-hearted old gentleman and had a 
 warm place in the hearts of his townsmen. He was a Democrat 
 of the old school, interested m his party and faithful to its prin- 
 ciples. His death occurred at his home a number of years since, 
 at a ripe old age. 
 
 The only remaining member ot the family now in the town, 
 is Alfred T., who still resides at West Smyrna. Hosea, many 
 years a respected citizen of the town, is not far away, but lives 
 in the neighboring town of Lebanon. His son Charles, now a 
 useful citizen of that part of the town, still resides at the Bidwell 
 homestead with his family. 
 
 In I8t6 and 1818 a number of Boss families came from 
 Rhode Island to Smyrna. 
 
 Jabez Boss married Sarah Brayton, of South Kingston, 
 R. I., in 1780. He served in the 2d Regiment of Rhode Island 
 
 59 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Infantry in the Revolution and was at the battle of Trenton and 
 Princeton. Their union was blessed with ten children, as fol- 
 lows: David, Charles, Perry, Jesse, Solomon, Benjamin, Jere- 
 miah, Mary, Fannie and Waty. David bought land in the town 
 of Catherines, Chemung County, and wrote home he was going 
 to join Commodore Perry's forces on Lake Erie. He was never 
 heard from afterwards. Charles fell from the mast of an ice 
 sloop on the Hudson River and was killed. Perry and Jesse 
 went to sea when young and did not return, Solomon studied 
 tor the ministry in the Baptist Church but falling in love with a 
 handsome young Quakeress, Catherine Knowles, he united with 
 the Friends and married her in I8l3. In 1816 they came to 
 Smyrna, bringing one child. He bought land near the center of 
 the town and lived there twenty years, clearing up the farm and 
 living in prudence and prosperity. The same farm is now owned 
 by Hugh Knowles. Eight children were born to them, of whom 
 only one, Thomas G. Boss, of Sherburne, survives. Thomas 
 spent his boyhood in Smyrna. When the war of the Rebellion 
 broke out he enlisted in the I6rh Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry. 
 He was twice severely wounded; once in the battle near Atlanta, 
 Ga., when he was reported killed. His wound was caused by 
 a bullet through his face, above the roof of his mouth, from 
 which he has suffered ever since. He still survives in his 73d 
 year, and desires us to say for him: 
 
 "It beats all how these old veterans hold out when they get 
 a large pension, and live on toast and tea." 
 
 The descendants of Solomon and Catherine Boss were nine 
 children, twenty-three grandchildren, and forty-four great-grand- 
 children, of whom about sixty are still living, dotting the conti- 
 nent in an almost direct line from Brooklyn, N. Y., to Portland, 
 Oregon. Solomon was for many years Overseer of the Poor, 
 but finally refused to vote or hold any office because the Consti- 
 tution recognized slavery. 
 
 Benjamin Boss with his wife and one child, (James R. Boss) 
 his father and mother and brother, Jeremiah, and their sisters 
 
 60 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 came to Smyrna in I8l8. A few years later Benjamin bought 
 a farm a little west of his brother Solomon on which for many 
 years stood a beech tree, said to be the exact center of the town. 
 Adding to his first purchase twice or thrice, he was tinally the 
 owner of 195 acres of land. Benjamin was a very exemplary 
 member of the Friends Society and a highly respectable citizen. 
 In politics he was a strong Whig and a great admirer of Henry 
 Clay, voting for that noted Statesman in the election of 1844, 
 and as he walked away from the polls remarking: "I will never 
 vote for another slaveholder." 
 
 Following his father, his son, James R Boss, occupied the 
 farm for many years, He was a man of excellence, and with 
 decided opinions and was an exemplary member of the Friends 
 Society, in which he was always interested. He was chosen 
 Railroad Commissioner of the town, which office he held until 
 his death. The farm is now owned by his son, Charles E. Boss, 
 a teacher of prominence in Hackensack, N. J. The farm has 
 been greatly improved and has now a thrifty appearance. 
 
 Jeremiah M. Boss was almost fifteen years of age when he 
 came to Smyrna. He worked many years as a farm hand on 
 the Willcox flats, later buying land west of his brother Benja- 
 min and then selling the same to his brother and locating in 
 West Smyrna where he united with the Free Will Baptist 
 Church. He again sold out and moved to St. Lawrence county, 
 and finally made his home in Hudson, Mich. One of his sons 
 was a railroad engineer; another, James, died in Chattanooga of 
 pneumonia, while a member of the First Michigan Engineers, 
 in the war of the Rebellion. 
 
 Waty Boss was well known in Smyrna and vicinity many 
 years, as a most capable and successful nurse. She will be re- 
 membered by many of the present generation. It will be seen 
 that the history of the Boss family in Smyrna forms a very in- 
 teresting part of this volume. 
 
 The Brooks Family came from Connecticut to Otsego 
 County, N. Y., but the family records have been destroyed and 
 
 61 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 neither the name of the father or the date of their immigration is 
 at present known. Thomas Brooks, the oldest son, the first judge 
 of Otsego County, was a graduate of Dartmouth College in the 
 year 1787, and a number of his descendants were also graduates 
 of that institution. 
 
 John Brooks located on the farm east of Smyrna, once the 
 Hammond farm, now owned by Walter Gardner, in the year 
 1820. He was a conscientious man of excellent character, liv- 
 ing a long and useful life and raising a family of two sons and 
 one daughter. 
 
 Seneca Brooks moved to Brookfield, where some of his de- 
 scendants still remain, and Horace, not many years ago well 
 known in this vicinity, lived on the old homestead till middle 
 life, when he moved to Smyrna village, carrying on the cooper 
 business, his home being the present Towner homestead which 
 he built. He lived to a good old age leaving his wife, a sister of 
 the wife of the late Leman H. Talcott, and an adopted daughter, 
 Icie, who became the wife of Frank J. Stanton. A young 
 daughter, Jennie L, passed away early in the sixties, loved and 
 missed by all who knew her. 
 
 Clarissa Brooks married Henry Bailey of Otselic, the father 
 of Henry Bailey our former citizen. The latter, with his most 
 excellent wife, Angeline Sprague, are making their home at 
 Norwich, N. Y., with their youngest daughter, Nellie, now the 
 wife of Horace L Short, a prosperous business man of that en- 
 terprising village. 
 
 With John Brooks came also his brother James, with his 
 family of four sons and three daughters. H**. brought his house- 
 hold goods, two yoke of oxen, six yearling heifers, one ox cart 
 and one covered wagon, settling and living a number of years 
 on the farm next west of the old Bliven farm, now known as 
 the Calkins farm. At the time of the great tornado which 
 swept through that part of the town, all of the trees on the place 
 were blown down, which discouraged the family so much that 
 they left the farm and moved to the farm in Sherburne, now 
 
THOMAS BROCKS, 
 
Our F irst Old Home iVeek 
 
 owned by Henry Lathropr~r^;7i;^.i^^^hey moved to the 
 h.ll farm sim ,n possession of a grandson, Deloss C Brooks 
 
 Of the sons. John and Gales lived and died in Sherburne- 
 W,l am ,n Hamilton, and Thomas, so many years well and 
 mos avorably known in the town, lived on the h'omesteTd wi h 
 his father until they bought of John Tefff, the farm below 
 where Deloss Brooks now resides. Thomas m r led Melis'a R ' 
 a granddaughter of Judge Thomas Brooks of Otsego County a 
 most e.ce lent woman, respected by all who evfr knew tr 
 
 L hrfnH r 'v "P"^"" "■"^™ ^"^ » ■^"^'^'^f"! farmer, and 
 both he and his wife were faithful members of the Cone e^a 
 taa Church of Smyrna, and among the strongest TupS 
 of that organization. Both are now deceased, but are surv"ved 
 by three sons, Floyd W. and Deloss C, well k^own resident of 
 Smyrna, and Dealton S., who now resides at Newton Fait N 
 
 ancel si rTn'sh °l' """' ^''""^'^ ^- "°* '" '"^ '"^'^^ 
 ance Dusiness in Sherburne, and two daughters Mav M who 
 
 became the wife of Dr. H. S. Turner, of' Krg Pa' I„d 
 Florence A., a most successful High Sch^l teacher 
 
 Deloss married Mary Miller, of Sherburne, and they have 
 
 X^t '"■,°f*'"; ^•' ""* '"^ *'f^ °f Willard C Bradley 
 of Babylon, L l„ and Bessie J., who remains with her parerts' 
 Paulina Brooks married Abijah Allen, and moved to cK utau-' 
 
 Z^:t "' ''''' "'-™'' N^h-iah Squires, ^ndoon 
 afte died leaving one son, James P. Squires, many years a 
 worthy citizen of the town, recently deceased. Lucy marri d a 
 gentleman named Beach, and also moved to Chautauqua Coun 
 y returning a few years after. Some of herdescendants a e 
 still living in Poolville and Lebanon, Madison County. 
 
 Henry Knowles and family of South Kingston R | 
 moved from Oriskany in the spring of ,821, into a small lo^ 
 house on the site of the old homestead on Smyrna Hill now 
 owned by his grandson, Henry K. Peckham. Here he s^dl 
 large family and became well known for his generosity ^ 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 ability, and rare integrity of character. He was also widely 
 known as an able preacher in the Society of Friends. 
 
 Later in April 1826, his younger brother Benjamin R. 
 Knowles with his mother and two sisters moved up from Rhode 
 Island in a one horse wagon, with Paris G. Holley, who drove 
 an ox team with a horse for a leader. He settled in a log house 
 where now stands the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. Marga- 
 ret Tracy. He was known as a man of quiet, peaceable dispo- 
 sition, honest in business and upright in character, a most wor- 
 thy example of the sturdy quaker stock from which he sprang. 
 His oldest son is still a resident of our town and adheres strictly 
 to the principles taught him by his worthy ancestors. We refer 
 to our respected townsman, James P. Knowles. The younger 
 son, Joseph, became an honorable minister of the Friends 
 Church, his death occurring in the prime of his life, a loss to the 
 church and community which was deeply mourned by all. His 
 faithful wife who survived him for a number of years, took up 
 the work of her devoted husband and became a faithful and in- 
 teresting preacher. 
 
 She was called to her reward on the 26th of April, 1904, and 
 is survived by one daughter, Priscilla, now the wife of Herbert 
 P. Smith. 
 
 Daniel Knowles came to Smyrna from Rhode Island pre- 
 sumably in the early twenties, but it is not known where he first 
 settled. His wife was one Polly Hoxie of Rhode Island. They 
 had three children, as follows : Roxie, who became the second 
 wife of the late Harlow Billings; Eliza, the wife of George 
 Sherman, and John Hoxie, who married Polly Kenyon. once 
 well and favorably known by all our citizens of thirty or more 
 years ago, occupying for many years the present Knowles home- 
 stead on the Earlville road, whose son, Robert H. Knowles, a 
 well-to-do farmer and one of our best citizens, still remains at 
 the homestead, the only descendant of this family now residing 
 in the town. We very much regret we have no more data re- 
 garding this well known and respected family. 
 
 64 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Paris G. Holley, an honored and useful citizen, settled 
 early in the south part of the town on the farm known long af- 
 terwards as the Holley farm. Among his children were Ann, an 
 invalid who for a long time was a resident of this village; Lyn- 
 dall, whose first wife was Charlotte Nearing, and his second wife 
 Celia Foreman, of Delhi, N. Y.; Alanson, who moved from 
 Smyrna with his family early in the sixties, Benjamin, whose 
 home was at Momence, 111., and Stephen, father of Susan, 
 wife of the late Thomas Mowers. All the family are now de- 
 ceased, except Burt W„ a son of Henry, who now resides at 
 Norwich. 
 
 Nathaniel P. Smith, in March, 1821, with only a little 
 change in his pocket, took his ax upon his shoulder, and with a 
 yoke of oxen and a log chain, walked from Brookfield to 
 Smyrna, a distance of eighteen miles, leaving his wife and fam- 
 ily at home. Hearing of a tract of land for sale near the pres- 
 ent site of the little settlement of Upperville, he invested his small 
 amount of money in securing a claim on fifty acres of land, on 
 which was a dense forest. With the assistance of neighbors he 
 built a small log house on the newly acquired premises and lived 
 there for two months alone, feeding his oxen on browse and a 
 little poor hay he had secured from a neighboring settler. He 
 began by burning charcoal in pits and later made potash, and 
 having cleared a small patch of land, planted corn and potatoes. 
 In June he was joined by his wife and children and in a few 
 months purchased fifty acres more, and later fifty acres more on 
 which he built a handsome frame house. The family then con- 
 sisted of the husband, wife and eight children. Harriet married 
 Alexis Hemenway, and both of them will be pleasantly remem- 
 bered as old-fashioned kindly neighbors and most excellent peo- 
 ple, greatly esteemed by all who ever knew them. Susannah 
 married William Northup, also well and favorably known in the 
 community, and later at her husband's decease became the sec- 
 ond wife of the late Yale Northup. Jane A. spent the most of 
 her life in teaching, but her latter years were spent in Smyrna, 
 
 65 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 where her death occurred in the fall of 1862. Henry G. mar- 
 ried Sarah J. Hunt, of Lansingburg. Both passed away at Mus- 
 catine, Iowa, where nearly all their lives had been spent. Charles 
 married Eliza Bourne and lived for many years at Smyrna. 
 The latter years of their lives were spent at Otselic, where they 
 died at a ripe old age. Mary H. married Joseph S. Porter, 
 and their home was at Troy, N. Y., until the decease of Mr. 
 Porter, when she returned to Smyrna, and not long after mar- 
 ried Hoxie Collins of Brookfield, and has since resided there. 
 John C. married G. Latie Carpenter and their home was in New 
 York city, until his death June 29, 1862. George married Mar- 
 tha Briggs, and both are still with us, and our citizens, one and 
 all, will hope for a long and pleasant life for each. Both are 
 worthy of the esteem in which they are held by their many 
 friends and their pleasant home, on Smyrna Hill, is always a most 
 hospitable one for all. 
 
 Nathaniel P. Smith, the father, passed away at his home on 
 Srnyrna Hill on June l3. 1880. 
 
 EZEKIEL Tefft and Amy Willcox Tefft, his wife, came to 
 Smyrna January 1, 1822, the former having been bom in 
 Rhode Island about the middle of the eighteenth century, and 
 the latter in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1764, coming to America with 
 her parents. Their children were Susan, who died while very 
 young; Stephen; Nathan, who followed a sea-faring life and was 
 a mate on a privateer in the war of 1812, the last ever heard of 
 him when he sailed for the British coast in I8l5; Huldah, who 
 became the wife of Gardner James, spending the most of her 
 life in Smyrna, where she died at an advanced age in the early 
 seventies, and Ezekiel, who came up country about the year 
 1822, but moved to Ohio in 1830. 
 
 Rowland B. Tefft was born in Richmond, Washington 
 County, this State, May 25, 1807. He was married March 13, 
 1834, to Lucy Bills, who was born in Smyrna, March 14, 1810. 
 Mr. Tefft became a prominent citizen, a thorough business man, 
 a speculator in cattle and sheep and later in lumber. He pur- 
 
 66 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 chased a tract of timber land at St. Charles, Mich., and with his 
 family moved there in the summer of 1871. There he spent 
 his remaining days, passing away on the 1 6th of April, 1891, 
 his wife following him November 12th of the same year. As 
 old residents of Smyrna, they will be remembered as most 
 kindly neighbors, winning the highest regard of all who made 
 their acquaintance. The family consisted of three sons and two 
 daughters. Arethusa became the wife of Alonzo Faucett, now of 
 Waterloo, Ind. Emily, the younger, is the wife of Orlando M. 
 Record, of Thayer, Kan. Henry C, a twin brother of Emily, is 
 a prosperous citizen of St. Charles, Mich. Charles B., now liv- 
 ing in Swan Creek township, Mich., is engaged in farming but 
 was formerly in the lumber business. He served in the war of 
 the Rebellion from August 13, 1862, to June 10, 1865, as a 
 member of Company F, 114th Regiment, made up mostly of 
 Chenango County soldiers, and was wounded six times during 
 his three years of service. R. Dexter Teflft, a bright student, was 
 in early years a successful teacher in Smyrna Union School, later 
 an attorney at law in Auburn, Ind., where his death occurred 
 November 20, 1902. John G., the youngest, now lives with 
 his family in St. Charles, his occupation being that of a civil 
 engineer. All the children were born in Smyrna. 
 
 Samuel Teflft, a son of Ezekiel and Amy Teflft, came to 
 Smyrna in 1820, his wife being Ann Brown, a sister of the wife 
 of the late Alfred Willcox. He reared a large family and fol- 
 lowed various occupations at one time having charge of a canal 
 boat on the Chenango canal. Later he was a well known stage 
 driver whom many old residents will remember, as well as the 
 old coach which brought the only mail to Smyrna, arriving at 
 about one o'clock in the morning, leaving Utica at about four 
 o'clock on the afternoon before. Mr. Teflft's stage formerly con- 
 nected with the main stage at Waterville, later at East Hamilton, 
 and when the railroad reached our neighboring village of Sher- 
 burne, he made that trip until the opening of the New York & 
 Oswego Midland railroad brought the mail to our own door, 
 which was November, 1869, thirty-six years ago. 
 
 67 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Many will remember the old stage horn as it used to announce 
 the arrival of the stage and mail, and though the latter was not 
 distributed till 8 o'clock the next morning it was eagerly sought 
 after as it is at the present day. These were the days when a 
 railroad through our town and handsome valley, was but a 
 dream. 
 
 The Collins Family— a Quaker family who took an ac- 
 tive part in the maintenance of their church and did their part in 
 building up and carrying out all that was good for our town and 
 community, was the Collins family, who migrated from Hop- 
 kinton, R. I., in 1800, to Rensselaerville, Manor of Rensselaer- 
 wyck, in Albany County. They had with them their two 
 daughters Susan and Mary, known in later years as the Collins 
 Sisters, whose home was a most hospitable gathering place for 
 members of their church and others as well. They were most 
 excellent neighbors and were always ready to minister to the 
 wants of the needy or distressed. The oldest was then four 
 years of age. Remaining there fifteen years, during which time 
 two more daughters and four sons were born to them, they 
 moved to a farm near the Capron Cotton Mills, near the vil- 
 lage of New Hartford, and here Isaac B. Collins was born De- 
 cember 18, 181 5. The next year they moved to a farm between 
 New Hartford and Utica, where the youngest son, Henry, was 
 born February 15, 1819. The first summer on that farm, 1816, 
 was terribly cold and it was said there was frost or snow every 
 montn of that year. It was declared by the neighbors that the 
 Quaker broad brim hats overshadowed the entire neighborhood, 
 and prevented the sun from shining on the earth to give it its 
 proper heat. The family again moved to a place west ot New 
 Hartford, called Middle Settlement, and after three years there, 
 on the first day of April, 1822, came on to a hill farm in the 
 good old town of Smyrna. 
 
 Of this Collins family, the father, William, was born in 
 Hopkinton, R. I., January 10, 1770, and died at Smyrna, Au- 
 gust 6, 1857. His wife whose maiden name was Anna Fish, 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 was born at North Providence, R. 1., April 17, 1774, and died at 
 Smyrna, April 6, 1868. All the family are now deceased, and 
 all are buried in the old Quaker ground, abouc one and one-half 
 miles south of this village, excepting William, once a resident of 
 our village, who died in New Jersey; Henry, whose death took 
 place at Klingly Lake, and Isaac B., who died at the home of his 
 son, Charles, at Norwich, March 7, 1905, in his ninetieth year. 
 
 Isaac B. Collins was the sole survivor of the family, and 
 honored and esteemed by all who knew him. As a resident of 
 Smyrna, he was one of our influential citizens, holding many 
 offices of trust, and taking a great interest in political affairs 
 whether in the town, county, state or nation. An ardent whig, 
 casting his first vote in 1836, for Henry Clay, the whig candi- 
 date for President, and continuing his affiliations with that party 
 after it merged into the Republican party. He was an excellent 
 school teacher; had a remarkable memory, and was stern and a 
 fine disciplinarian, as many of his old scholars among whom 
 was the writer, can easily testify. He removed to Norwich some 
 thirty years ago but kept up a lively interest in the town in 
 which he had so long resided, and when met upon the Norwich 
 streets where he had become a familiar figure, never failed to 
 ask for matters of interest concerning the old home town. But 
 a few months before his decease he was able to write to the 
 writer, in a plain, legible hand, nearly all the facts connected 
 with this sketch of the Collins family. 
 
 Seymour Isbell and his wife, Lois Nearing, came from 
 New Lisbon, Otsego County, to Smyrna, about the year 1823. 
 Four children, all now deceased, were born to them as follows: 
 Elmer; Nirum, who married Mary Hartwell; Electa, who mar- 
 ried George Matthewson; Abigail, who became the wife of S. C. 
 Hay ward; and Lina, who became the second wife of the late 
 Gardner Butts. The latter had one son, our respected friend 
 Daniel G. Butts, who was born here some fifty-four years ago, 
 and has always resided here. He has taught school many terms 
 and has been a successful pedagogue. He married Susan New- 
 
 69 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 comb, and they have two children; Wallace, who married Fran- 
 ces Burton, and now resides in Sherburne; and Sarah, who mar- 
 ried Clarence Tennebrook. They have two young sons and 
 make their home in this village. 
 
 Jonathan Shepardson, of Welsh descent, whose parents 
 came from Attleboro, Mass., was born in Plymouth, this county, 
 receiving such education as could be obtained in the common 
 district schools. He married Hannah, the oldest daughter of 
 John and Sally Munson, of Smyrna, and one child was born to 
 them; Andrew, who first saw the light at the Munson home- 
 stead, December t5, 1828. As a youth he was a clerk in the 
 store of Harvey Talcott at Smyrna, and in later years found em- 
 ployment in the Munson Mill. In 1836 he entered into part- 
 nership with Albert Munson, which was successfully continued 
 till his death on the 16th day of May, 1841, in his 36th year. 
 
 Andrew, the son, attended the district school until he was 
 fifteen years of age, and then entered the store of Webster Mer- 
 rell, later spending a year at Clinton and Cazenovia. He after- 
 wards engaged in business at Earlville, but returned to Smyrna 
 in 1858. A capable and competent business man, he found no 
 difficulty in securing employment in most any line, holding va- 
 rious offices which he was exceedingly well qualified to fill. More 
 concerning Mr. Shepardson's political career will be found in the 
 toast "Our Public Men" which appears in another part of this 
 volume. 
 
 His wife was Emma, a daughter of John and Mary Dalmon, 
 genteel English people, and by her were four children, the young- 
 est Albert L., a young man of brightest promise, who passed away 
 in the spring of 1882, at sixteen years of age. The oldest son, 
 Walter A., is a prominent farmer in the town of Otselic, and at 
 present is the efficient County Clerk of Chenango County. His 
 wife is a daughter of the late Ery W. Stokes, and they have one 
 son, E Stokes, now fifteen years of age. 
 
 Mary E., the only daughter, married Edward P. Lyon of 
 
 70 
 
ANDREW SHEPARDSON. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Brooklyn, N. Y,, and they have an interesting family of four 
 children and a pleasant home in the City of Churches. 
 
 John W., the only representative of the family now in town, 
 was born here forty-six years ago, and ably takes his father's 
 place as a prominent business man. He is our present Super- 
 visor, recently re-elected by a large majority, and like his father, 
 an ardent Republican, standing high in the councils of his party, 
 He retains the agency of the New York, Ontario & Western 
 Railroad Company, succeeding his brother, Walter A., in the 
 spring of 1878. It will thus be seen that the agency has been in 
 that family since the opening of the road, in November, 1869, a 
 continuous succession of thirty-six years. Mr. Shepardson mar- 
 ried Maria B., a daughter of Charles W. PerLee, and they have 
 two children. Alice M., the older, married John T. McGovern, 
 of New York, and Charles A., the younger, is a stenographer 
 and typewriter in the General Offices of the Lehigh Valley 
 Railroad Company in New York. 
 
 Andrew Shepardson died at his late home in Smyrna village, 
 April 21, 1903, at the age of 75 years, having survived his wife 
 some twenty-five years, she having passed away January 8, 1878, 
 in her 47th year. 
 
 The Calkins Family in America are descendants of one 
 Hugh Calkins, who was born in Wales, in 1600, and who died 
 in the town of Norwich, Conn., in 1690. The family were said 
 to have been represented in the Indian, Revolutionary, War of 
 1812, Mexican, Civil and Spanish- American Wars. Its earliest 
 American ancestor was born in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, 
 Wales, in 1600, and was said to have been descended from an 
 ancient and long line of that name, one of whom, William Col- 
 kin (as it was spelled in the very early days), lived in the time 
 of King John, 1200, and was unquestionably one of those who, 
 sword in hand, extorted the great Magna Charta from Revolu- 
 tionary King John, at Runningmede, June 15,1215. One of 
 his direct descendants, David Calkins, married Sally Wilbur, by 
 whom were three children. Smith Wilbur, Eliza and Mary. 
 
 71 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Smith Wilbur was born in Smyrna, December 25, 1820, and 
 married Fannie E. Willcox, born in Smyrna, March 9, 1825, and 
 there were five children, as follows: Hannah A., who married 
 Hoyt W. Kinney, they having one son, Charles E., who now re- 
 sides at Washington, D. C Charles L., well known here where 
 he has many friends, who married Delia Knapp, and they have 
 two children, Bert and Edward, and their home is at Palmyra, 
 Wis. Sarahette, married Edward M. Dakin, and they have two 
 daughters, Lena A., who married Warner A. Gibbs, and Maud 1., 
 who with their mother, reside in Washington, D. C. Ella F., 
 married Samuel, a son of the late Robert H. Willcox, for some 
 sixteen years a successful engineer on the Delaware & Hudson 
 Railroad, residing in the city of Binghamton. Their children 
 were Charles, now deceased; Mary, the wife of B. H. Nelson, a 
 private banker in that city, and Harry, who is now in business 
 in that city. 
 
 Edward A. Calkins married Delia Munger, and his death 
 took place in 1894. AH of the children of the above Smith W. 
 and Fannie E. Calkins were born in Smyrna, where they each 
 grew to maturity. Mr. Calkins died in the winter of 1887, and 
 he is still survived by his wife, who makes her home with her 
 daughter, Mrs. Willcox, in Binghamton. 
 
 Eliza Willcox married a gentleman named Graves, and Mary 
 Willcox, Nelson Ackley, but there is no further data concerning 
 them or their families. 
 
 Benjamin Card was born in Rhode Island in 1803, and 
 moved to Lebanon with his parents at four years of age. When 
 he was twenty- one he came to Smyrna and bought a tract of 
 land on which he cleared a place and built a home, which but a 
 few years since was standing in the lot southwest of the present 
 Card saw mill. He added to these lands from time to time un- 
 til he had nearly four hundred acres. He built a large saw mill 
 on his premises, and built up an extremely large business which 
 he conducted many years. Hale, hearty and ambitious, he was 
 not afraid of work and he had the confidence of all who knew 
 
 12 
 
BENJAMIN CARD. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 him. Some ten years after he came to Smyrna, he married 
 Polly Dye, of Lebanon, by whom he had one son, Alonzo, who 
 still survives. Mrs. Card lived but five years after their mar- 
 riage, and a few years later he married Ann Enos, of Rensselaer 
 County, and there were born to them seven children, only two 
 of whom remain in town. Clayton G. resides at the old Card 
 homestead. He married Lovisa E. Littlefield, of Grafton, N. Y., 
 and they have one daughter, Mary, now the wife of our towns- 
 man, Charles E. Coy. Enos M., is a resident of Utica, his wife 
 being a daughter of the late Daniel Parker, of Otselic. They 
 have one son, D. Parker, a graduate of Bellevue Medical Hospital, 
 New York, who now holds a fine position in Bellevue Hospital, 
 in that city; and one daughter, Mattie, now the wife of Starr P. 
 Sternberg. Their home is on the former Nearing farm, south 
 of the village. 
 
 Benjamin Card finished his earthly course July 31, 1895, at 
 ninety-two years of age, having survived his wife nearly five 
 years, she having passed away February 19, 1890, at the age of 
 seventy-four. 
 
 Trowbridge Shepard was born in Stockbridge, Mass., 
 February 5, 1805. His parents were born in Scotland in 1783, 
 emigrating to the old Bay State. Trowbridge was married twice, 
 his first wife being Nancy E. McKay, of Glasgow, Scotland, 
 who died January 28, 1837, leaving five children to mourn her 
 loss, two of whom died in infancy. The remaining were Elnora 
 M., who died at Colfax, Wash., March 22, 1900; Willis, who 
 died in Iowa in 1890; and Andrew Jay still living at Stevenson, 
 Wash., to whom we are indebted for this sketch of the family. 
 
 His second wife was Nancy E. Moore, of Paris Hill, Oneida 
 County, who died at Carthage, Mo., February 14, 1883. From 
 this union were seven children, among them Elvira E., Alonzo C, 
 Clementina A., Geraldine A., Carlos L, and Ida E. All are de- 
 ceased but the latter, who now lives at Guthrie, Oklahoma. 
 
 Mr. Shepard came to Smyrna at twenty years of age, at first 
 following the cooper's trade, then for three years studying med- 
 
 73 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 icine, and after that entering the drug business, which he after- 
 wards followed. He was fatally kicked by a horse, which he 
 was trying to extricate from a burning barn at his home in 
 Smyrna village on the night of August 26, 1862, a fire many of 
 our older citizens will remember. Two of his sons, Alonzo C. and 
 Andrew J., enlisted as soldiers in the civil war. The former 
 joined the New York Zouaves, and died at the Soldiers' Home 
 ait Dayton, Ohio, in May, 1866, and the latter was a member of 
 the First New York Light Artillery. 
 
 The Shepard family left Smyrna in the sixties for a new 
 home, leaving many friends here, where they were well and fa- 
 vorably known and much respected. The old Shepard drug 
 store, which many will remember, was the old Comstock drug 
 store, which was destroyed by the fire of 1900. 
 
 Peter Merritt, of Barkhamsted, Ct., married Sylvia Mer- 
 rell, and they moved to Smyrna in the spring of 1827, becom- 
 ing well and most favorably known in this vicinity. There 
 were bom to them eight children, as follows: Aurelia, who be- 
 came the wife of Samuel C. Lawson; Emeline, who married 
 Joseph Rexford; Edwm, who was County Clerk of Cook 
 County, Illinois, when Chicago was but a swamp, and a small 
 settlement; Elizabeth, who married Asa Cash, of Buffalo; Ruth, 
 who married Edwin Jaynes; James and Jeanette, who lived for 
 many years in Buffalo; and Albertus, whose home was at Mil- 
 waukee, Wis. 
 
 John Percival settled on a farm some three miles west of 
 Smyrna, near the present farm house of Hoxie Tefft. 
 
 Obadiah Spencer bought the farm now owned by Charles 
 Bellinger, the same owned in former years by Smith Calkins, now 
 deceased, and the same year Stephen Parker bought the farm 
 now owned by Deloss Brooks. 
 
 In 1803 Jesse Hutchinson and Apollos Allen bought 
 lot number fifteen, comprising the present site of the village of 
 Smyrna, also the west half of lot number sixteen and were prob- 
 
 14 
 
Our First Old Home IVeek 
 
 ably the first settlers on the site of the village. They sold their 
 milling; interests to John Munson in the spring of 1809. 
 
 Benjamin Paul came from Westminster, Vt., in 1803, and 
 settled on the William Fields farm, now known as the Ball 
 farm. 
 
 Noah Coleman a native of Connecticut, settled early on 
 Smyrna Hill, on the farm known for many years as the Cole- 
 man farm, and in a log house a little to the north of the present 
 farm house, rearing a large family of children. Among them 
 were Nathan, Charles, Orrin and Marvin, the latter a member of 
 the 6 1st Infantry, N. Y. S. V.; and Lucy, who became the wife 
 of the late Abram D. Ferris. 
 
 John Enos was born at Block Island, and in the later years 
 of his life moved to Rensselaer County. He married Mary Mor- 
 rison and to them were born eight children. Charles was once a 
 prosperous citizen of our town. Leonard became an excellent 
 millwright and in his day was not surpassed as a mechanic, 
 doing much of the work in his line for many years at the Mun- 
 son Mill. Ann Enos married the late Benjamin Card. The 
 Enos home was the old Faulkner place in the northwest part of 
 the town, the house having been taken down several years 
 since. 
 
 John Crumb, a son of Daniel and Lucy Crumb, of Rhode 
 Island, came to Smyrna when a young man. He married HuU 
 dah, a daughter of Elam and Anna Parsons, becoming well-to- 
 do, frugal and industrious, and is well remembered by many of 
 the present day. There were born to them five children, two 
 boys and three girls, as follows: Daniel who enlisted in the 
 war of the Rebellion, was a member of the 61 st New York In- 
 fantry, dying in the army in 1862; Henry, still a respected citi- 
 zen of the town, was also a soldier, serving faithfully all through 
 the war, in the 114th Regiment. Maria married Marion Dye, 
 now deceased, and subsequently became the wife of a gentleman 
 named Hibbard. Lucy became the wife of Russel N. Willcox 
 and now resides at the old homestead. Louisa married Jacob 
 
 71 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Carncross, who was a member of the 6lst New "York Infantry, 
 receiving an honorable discharge, and re-enlisted in Bat- 
 tery A., 4th Regiment U. S. Artillery. He is now deceased. 
 The father of Jacob Carncross was Lewis Carncross, who came 
 from the Mohawk Valley, and married Elizabeth Reese, by whom 
 there were five children, and after the death of his wife was re- 
 married to Mrs. Mary Vaine. Mr. Carncross died in 1878, in 
 his 76th year. 
 
 Samuel Wilson was born at Hancock, Mass., in 1792, the 
 year the settlement of the town began. His father was John 
 Wilson, and his mother, Mary Gardner. He married Sabrina L. 
 Gardner, whose d'^ath occurred June 23, 1840, in her 29th year. 
 The husband and one son, Gardner, survived, the latter becoming 
 the husband of Avaline, the oldest daughter of the late John 
 Wilcox. Samuel Wilson afterwards married Annette Clark, of 
 New Lebanon Springs, and to them were born one son, William 
 C, who spent his early days in Smyrna, becoming a young man 
 whose social qualities made him warm friends. He moved in 
 later years, with his mother, to the place of her nativity, and 
 both are now deceased. 
 
 Samuel Wilson was a genteel gentleman of the old school 
 and a man most highly esteemed by all who made his acquaint- 
 ance. The Wilson home was a most pleasant and hospitable 
 place for all. The handsome grounds, with their flowers and 
 shrubbery, are pleasant recollections of the older inhabitants, and 
 the removal of the family from our town was a matter of much 
 regret. Mr. Wilson's death came after a long illness, on the 3 1st 
 of August, 1874, in his 83d year. 
 
 Benjamin Hartwell was born at North Norwich, Septem- 
 ber 29, 1804, and was a son of Ebenezer Hartwell. At eighteen 
 years of age he was apprenticed to learn the hatter's trade of 
 Thomas Merrell, of Sherburne Four Corners. Later he moved 
 to Greene and still later to Smyrna, where he married Philura, a 
 daughter of Harvey Talcott, an early resident of Smyrna, and 
 they became respected and honored among the people of the 
 
 76 
 
SAMUEL WILSON. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 town. Their home was always most hospitable. They had 
 two children, a son who lived six years, and a daughter, Mary, a 
 most estimable young woman, beloved by all, who in later years 
 became the wife of Billings Wheeler now of Norwich, and moved 
 to that place in the early sixties, where her death occurred not 
 long after. Mr. Hartwell was one of our best and most respect- 
 ed citizens, a kind hearted neighbor, and a friend to all. 
 
 Many will remember with pleasure the large and well stocked 
 trout pond on his premises, a source of pleasure to himself, and 
 which he was very fond of showing to his numerous friends. 
 Feeding time for the trout was always a source of much enjoy- 
 ment for all the young people, as well as old, in the community. 
 In 1870 he gave up farming and moved to Norwich, where he 
 and his most excellent wife spent their remaining days at the 
 home of Mr. Wheeler. Mourned by many, Mr. Hartwell passed 
 away in September, 1884, in his 80th year; and his wife in 1887, 
 in her 74th year. Both rest in Mt. Hope cemetery at Norwich. 
 
 John F. Pudney was born at Salisbury, Ct., in 1798, and 
 removed with his father to Sherburne in 1810, marrying Polly 
 A. Church, who was born in 1800. They resided in the town 
 of Sherburne the balance of their lives, he dying in Earlville, 
 August 9, 1856, aged 58 years, his wife in Sherburne, January 
 28, 1872, in her 72d year. There were born to them eight chil- 
 dren. Among them was Deloss W., well and favorably known 
 in this vicinity, who was for a few years a resident of our town, 
 but who spent the remaining years of his life at his home just 
 across Pleasant Brook on the Sherburne road, being always 
 known as a good natured kindly neighbor and an excellent citi- 
 zen. Deloss was bom in New Berlin, now a part of Sherburne, 
 March 7, 1819, and married Julia A. Abbott, of Fabius, N. Y, 
 moving to the farm now known as the late Ervin Sprague farm. 
 By her was born, at this farm, one son, Walstene D., none other 
 than the genial, companionable gentleman, who is always much 
 interested in our town and its people, who is always welcome 
 among us, and whose happiest moments are spent in his none 
 too frequent visits to Smyrna, the home of his birth. Mr. Pud- 
 
 77 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 ney has risen to distinction and has made for himself a name, 
 having ably represented his district in the Ohio Legislature. He 
 is now a legal representative of the Lake Shore and Michigan 
 Southern Railway, and his home is at Cleveland, Ohio. 
 
 Deloss married for his second wife, Nancy C. Hubbard, a 
 sister of the late Demas Hubbard, Jr., and by her were born 
 three children. George P., now the only one residing in the 
 town, is a successful lawyer with an excellent practice, and has 
 served two terms as District Attorney for Chenango County, in 
 a very acceptable manner. He married Kate M. Gardner, of 
 Sherburne, by whom two children were born; Gardner W., who 
 died in his ninth year, March 3, 1898, and Bessie, now a student 
 at Syracuse University. 
 
 The Hunt Family— Among those who first came to Smyrna 
 was the Hunt family, who came from Connecticut. Two 
 brothers, Joseph and Lymelus settled on Smyrna Hill. Joseph 
 had nine children, as follows: Lester, Laura, Lydia, Lucius, Ed- 
 win, Melinda, Henry, Daniel and Dency; and also forty-six 
 grandchildren. Lester married a Noathout; Edwin married Ade- 
 line Ladd; Daniel married Polly Dutcher; and Dency married 
 John House. These all moved to Illinois. Henry married Ade- 
 line Tisdale and moved to New York city. The rest married 
 and stayed in Smyrna. Lucius remained at the homestead, mar- 
 ried and had a family of nine children. George, many years 
 well known here, married Mary Jane Dixon, and their children 
 are all now living at Norwich; Emily married William V. Brand, 
 (his second wife.) Caroline, remains single, an excellent nurse 
 and a woman with many friends. Melinda married Henry 
 Beekman, her home being at Cazenovia, Madison County. 
 Anna was the first wife of Myron Collins, and a most excellent 
 woman; Dency was the second wife of Wells Sexton. She was 
 a pleasant, social and good natured lady, much esteemed by the 
 many who made her acquamtance. Mary became the wife of 
 Epenetus R. Bassctt, a native of Madison County. They were 
 most excellent neighbors, as we can truly testify. They have 
 five grown up sons, among them being Alton, now a resident of 
 
 78 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Oswego; Lucius, a resident of Belknap, Iowa; Ellis A., of Ed- 
 meston, and Charles H., of Moosup Valley, R. I., all with fami- 
 lies of their own. Harvey Hunt married Celia Smith. 
 
 Lymelus had six children, two moving to Watertown, an- 
 other to Illinois, two dying when quite young, the other staying 
 on the homestead. 
 
 It is related that on one occasion, one of the sons, not as 
 strong as the rest, who was accustomed to do errands for the 
 family and neighbors, was sent to mill with a large grist on his 
 horse's back, the path being marked by blazed trees. He was 
 obliged to wait till night for the grist, and on his return found 
 that the spring freshet had washed away the bridge over Pleas- 
 ant Brook. (This bridge stood in the same place as the one re- 
 cently washed away, and it seems there were bridge troubles in 
 other days.) He made the horse swim the stream, but lost near- 
 ly all the meal, so that all the neighbors had for a number of 
 days, was what was saved and divided up among them. The 
 Hunts were said to be Connecticut Blue Law Presbyterians, lay- 
 ing aside the week's work on Saturday night, to be resumed 
 again on the going down of the sun on Sunday. They were 
 truly excellent citizens, and some of the best people who ever 
 resided here. 
 
 The Ferris Family— Among the early settlers in the west- 
 ern part of the town, were the four Ferris brothers, Robert, Jo- 
 seph. Benjamin and John. The first named lived on the place 
 now owned by Ziba Tuttle, the house standing some eighty rods 
 south of the present farm house. He had three sons, Jesse, 
 Aaron and Silas, the first of whom married Zeruah Decker, to 
 whom nine children were born. Ann married Aaron L. Ferris, 
 of Bedford, Mich. Nathaniel was a well known and greatly re- 
 spected deacon of the Congregational Church, and took a great 
 interest in the Sunday School. He is survived by his three stal- 
 wart sons, Cleveland N., Cortland L., and Leland L., each with 
 families of their own. The oldest son of the former, is Frank, 
 now a resident of Norwich, a fireman on the Ontario & West- 
 
 79 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 ern road, and one of the victims in the recent flood disaster at 
 Wood's Corners, who luckily escaped with his life. Warren, 
 the younger son, is also a resident of Norwich. 
 
 Cortland has one son, Harry N., born here some twency-five 
 years ago, now in business with his father at Oriskany Falls, N. 
 Y. Leland has three children, Leo, a bright youngster, a young- 
 er son and an infant daughter. He has recently purchased the 
 old Sweet farm, and is one of our prospering farmers. Other 
 children of Jesse Ferris were Caleb, the father of William Ferris, 
 of Sherburne; James; Abram D., father of Morell E., who now 
 resides at Earlville with his family; George, the father of Court- 
 ney E., so long a resident here, whose wife was Lepha, a daugh- 
 ter of the late Ziba Tuthill. These were among the best of citi- 
 2ens, and also worthy soldiers in the War of the Rebellion. 
 
 Courtney E., the last mentioned, married Carrie Kellogg, of 
 Norwich, and they have four daughters, Edith, the wife of Jesse 
 H. Packer, now of Canajoharie, N. Y., and Harriet, Adelaide 
 and Helen, all born in Smyrna, where they have many friends. 
 They are now located at Berwick, Pa., where Mr. Ferris is en- 
 gaged in business. 
 
 Elizabeth F., wife of the late Alexander Cleveland, Mary M., 
 wife of the late Robert H. Willcox, and Lucina, wife of Wells 
 Tallett, of Otselic, were each most excellent women and held in 
 the highest esteem by all who knew them. The only remaining 
 member of the family is James M., once well and favorably 
 known here, now a resident of Frederika, Iowa, 
 
 Joseph Ferris married Sally, a sister of "Baby" Wood, nick- 
 named on account of his immense weight, which was said to 
 have been at least four hundred pounds. Their home was the 
 present farm of Franklin D. Coy, on the opposite side of the 
 road. His son Ziba built the original Coy home and died there 
 the 14th of April, 1865, the day that President Lincoln was as- 
 sassinated. There were two daughters. Ruth, who married 
 Smith A. Cleveland, and Thankful, who married Dwight Wil- 
 ber; also an adopted daughter, who married Charles O. Tuttle. 
 
 80 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Benjamin married Lydia, a daughter of Joseph Hunt, and 
 aunt of the late George Hunt, and settled on the farm known as 
 the William Sprague farm. They had four sons: Fox, who was 
 deaf and dumb, Myron, Sidney and Norman, and two daughters, 
 Harriet, who married a gentleman named Glazier, and Serena, 
 who became the wife of the late Gilbert Stanton. 
 
 John Ferris lived over the hill to the southwest on the farm 
 now owned by Emmet Brown. He had one son, Austin, a kind 
 hearted citizen, who lived upon the farm nearly if not quite all 
 his lifetime, and died there some thirty years ago. There were 
 also two daughters. One married James Cox, of Plymouth, 
 the other Luther P. Blair, a former well known citizen of this 
 town. 
 
 Deacon Gardiner James Kinyon, one of the early settlers 
 of Smyrna, was born near West Greenwich in the state of Rhode 
 Island, January 7, 1 797, being one of six children, nearly all of 
 whom in later years became residents of the state of New York. 
 When Gardiner was about seven years old his father, after a 
 brief sickness, died, and it became necessary for the family to be 
 separated. At this time some neighbors and friends of the fam- 
 ily were about to move west to join settjers in the state of New 
 York and, after much anxiety on the part of his excellent Chris- 
 tian mother, it was decided that Gardiner should be taken with 
 this company to the settlement in Sherburne, Chenango County. 
 He was hastily gotten ready and came with them to Sherburne 
 Hill where he was placed in the family of Rev. Joshua Knight, 
 pastor of the church there. Here he remained until he was four- 
 teen years old, at which time he was apprenticed to Mr. Hial 
 Hart, who lived in Smyrna village, to learn the trade of carpen- 
 ter and joiner. He served an apprenticeship of seven years, or 
 until he was of age, and the next day commenced business on 
 his own account and met with commendable success. 
 
 On September 26, 1822, he was married to Miss Grace Col- 
 lins, oldest daughter of Joseph Collins, a highly respected woolen 
 manufacturer who lived anii carried on business about two miles 
 and a half north from Smyrna village. His residence still stands 
 
 81 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 and is now the property of Deloss Brooks; and the old factory 
 unti recently, siood not far away. Soon after the marriage he 
 moved to U^ca, then a thriving village, but while there suffered 
 "virdy from fiver and he remained but a short penod returnmg 
 to Smyrna and continuing to work at h.s trade. 
 
 In 1829 and 1830 he purchased a farm on the Sherburne 
 J one mile east of Smyrna village. Here he hve for over 
 twenty years conducting his farm and giving more or less atten- 
 Co his trade Here two of his five children were bom and 
 hereall griwto manhood and womanhood, attending school 
 and church for the most part in Smyrna village. 
 
 in the spring of 1848 he bought a stock of merchandise and 
 the Ire formerly occupied by Harvey Talcott, deceased, and 
 aking his two eldest sons, Loren C and James Hervey, in o 
 corlpany with him, carried on a thriving business, contmuing in 
 company w th one or both of these sons till near the tirne of his 
 deT nTnever aspired to public favor or accepted public office. 
 TT;. «f. he became a Christian and united with the church, 
 hU na:e nd^hSis wife being among the ^rst fifty names 
 
 i::;r"^;;'r^:LrcSiaSrip:^ 
 EmS^j-rrrorof^rc^h^^^^^^^ 
 
 r^sponsTe to the call of duty. He was not a great man, but he 
 ""^i: Tst rSuiltfor himself a house in the village of Smyrna, 
 
 tillhisdeathonFebruary 17, 1857. 
 
 James H. Kinyon succeeded him in business and remained 
 with tteamily until i860, when they ^U disposed of their in- 
 Te ests in Smyrna, and moved to Wilhamsport, Pa. Here Mrs. 
 G^^^e Kinyon! the' mother, died in 1868, beloved and lamented, 
 at the age of 71 years. 
 
 All the family are now deceased but the youngest son My- 
 ron t/wuSs in Pawt^^^^^^ of Rhode island, 
 
MYRONlT. KENYON. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 and to him we are indebted for the interesting matter concerning 
 the Kinyon family once so well and so favorably known here, 
 Mr. Kinyon is a true Christian gentleman, who honors and re- 
 spects his noble ancestry, whose life is but a reflection of the lives 
 of his sainted parents long since gone before. Mr. Kinyon re- 
 tains a deep interest in his native town, and is still an occasional 
 and a welcome visitor to the old home. He was a promi- 
 nent figure during the observance of Old Home Week in 1904, 
 preaching an able sermon in the tent meeting on the evening of 
 Old Home Sunday, in which he most earnestly admonished his 
 hearers to hold fast to the religion of the fathers. At the ban- 
 quet he gave a most interesting address, responding to the toast, 
 "Our Musicians." 
 
 Horace Newell and family came from Lewis County, N. 
 Y., in the winter of 1829, settling on a farm northwest of Smyrna 
 village, in the Reynolds district, remaining there sixteen years, 
 moving in the spring of 1845 to Dark Hollow, where they lived 
 one year. They then moved to Sherburne, near the Four Cor- 
 ners, where they resided eight years and where Mr. Newell buried 
 his second wife, Mary Boyd. In 1861 he married Phoebe Ca-^ 
 boon, of Norwich, and bought a small place at North Norwich, 
 where he died on the first day of August, 1876, aged 78 years. 
 
 The Newells trace their ancestry back to 1635, when three 
 brothers came from England, to Lynn, Mass. Nathaniel Newell 
 came to Windsor, Conn., settling on land twenty miles north- 
 east of Hartford, in 1 772, receiving his deed under the reign of 
 King George the Third. The original deed is now in the pos- 
 session of Winifred Jaynes, of Collinwood, Ohio, in a good 
 state of preservation. The descendants of Nathaniel Newell are 
 now living on the original farm, and this Nathaniel Newell had 
 five sons and one daughter. Asa, John, Charles, Nathaniel, 
 Daniel and Love. 
 
 Nathaniel, the father of Horace Newell, Sr., had five sons 
 and two daughters; Horace, Warren, Nathaniel, Amherst, Anson, 
 Betsey and Moriva, their mother being Betsey Dewry, of Leba- 
 non, Ct. Horace married Diadema Wood, of Somcrs, Ct., in 
 
 83 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 1820, by whom were born nine children, as follows: Horace J., 
 Orrin W., Otis, Mary, Marvin, Maria B., Harriet, Loren D. and 
 Frances, all now deceased except Orrin W., now of Sunnyside, 
 Wash,, who has kindly furnished this sketch, and Horace J., 
 now well and favorably known as a resident of Sherburne. 
 
 Orrin W. married Martha Lord, of Pitcher, to whom were 
 born five children, lUini H., Ida D., Celia E, George E. and 
 Winnie L. The first named died September 10, 1876, in his 
 23d year. Ida married L. Austin, of Walla Walla, Wash., and 
 they have two sons, Clarence and Frederick N. Celia married 
 A. F. Randolph, of Sunnyside, Wash,, and they have two daugh- 
 ters, Grace and Blanche, and one son, Stanley. George E. mar- 
 ried Myra B. Bassett, of Plainfield, N. Y., who died in Baltimore, 
 Md. His second wife was Bertha Cramer, of Wisconsin, to 
 whom was born one son, George E., Jr. George E., Sr., is a 
 very prominent physician at Buena Vista, Col. Winnie L. mar- 
 ried W. H. Jaynes, of Collinwood, Ohio, and they have two 
 daughters, Mabel and Edna, and one son, Lee. Mary married 
 for her first husband, Robert Drummond, of Sterling, Scotland, 
 (uncle to the late Henry Drummond) by whom she had one 
 son, who died in youth. Her second husband was Rev. William 
 Parry of the Free Methodist Church, now also gone over the 
 river. 
 
 Horace J. Newell married Jennie Smith, of McGraw, Cort- 
 land County, by whom were born two children, one dying in 
 infancy, the other. May, who married our former townsman, 
 Lynn D. Willcox, now of Sherburne. His second wife was 
 Cleopatra Willey, by whom were born three children, all now 
 deceased except Florence, who a few months since married Wal- 
 ter P. Faulkner, of Sherburne, and they now occupy the Newell 
 farm making a pleasant home for the father who remains with 
 them. His third wife, also now deceased, was Almira Dexter. 
 
 Loren D. was a member of the 114th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., 
 and was killed in the battle of Winchester. Harriet married Al- 
 bert Lord, of Taylor, by whom were six children; Mary married 
 
 t4 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 a gentleman named Powers, of South Onondaga, N. Y., and 
 Frances married Albert Wynn. Nathaniel Newell married Dia- 
 dema Wood, of Somers, Conn., whose mother was Mary Dim- 
 mick of that place, related to the Eber Dimrnick family else- 
 where mentioned in this volume. We have not space to men- 
 tion all the different members of this most interesting family, 
 but it is one of the largest of any mentioned, though now scat- 
 tered to all parts of the country, and the descendants of the fam- 
 ily have a high standing in the different sections wherever they 
 are located. 
 
 James Purdie and family, natives of Paisley, Scotland, came 
 from Norwich, England, to New York Mills, Oneida County, in 
 the spring of 1827, and in the fall of 183 1 moved to Smyrna, 
 onto the farm known as the Purdie farm, now the property of 
 Clarence Moore. Mrs. Purdie was Margaret Lisle. Mr. Purdie's 
 death took place at this farm December 29, 1839, in his 71st 
 year, and that of his wife September 21, 1857, in her 82d year. 
 Their children were Alexander, father of the late Dr. A. J. Pur- 
 die, a successful physician of Otselic, N. Y.; James, whose death 
 occurred some seventy years ago; Thomas, who married Abi- 
 gail Burgess, and was a long time resident of our town, residing 
 on the old Purdie farm. Of the children of Thomas and Abigail 
 were Theodocia, now the wife of George Jenness; Thomas J., 
 now deceased, whose wife and young son now reside in New 
 York; Ellen J., now deceased; and James L, also deceased, who 
 married for his first wife Emma Green, by whom was one son, 
 James L. S., now in business in this village, and for his second 
 wife Esther, a daughter of the late Erastus G. Hall. 
 
 Samuel Purdie died in 1891, in his 87th year, and Margaret, 
 who married Benjamin R. Knowles, died October 10, 1893, in 
 her 86th year. John, married Dorcas Williams. Other 
 members of this family were: Priscilla; Marion L., who mar- 
 ried Henry H. Willcox, and who still survives him, greatly es- 
 teemed by all, in her 97th year; and Jane, who married Collins 
 Stanbro, of Brook field. 
 
 Simon C. Hayward, whose father was Benjamin B. Hay- 
 
 8S 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 ward, and whose mother was Sally A. Rice, of Scockbridge, 
 Mass., came to Smyrna in 18)2, at the age of sixteen. He mar- 
 ried Abigail, a daughter of Seymour Isbell, by whom were four 
 children, only two surviving as follows: Sarah J., who first 
 married Algernon, the oldest son of the late Alonzo Bennett, and 
 after his decease, became the esteemed wife of our respected 
 townsman, Abel Comstock; and Mary D., who married Isaac 
 D. Wade, a vteran of the Civil war, now deceased, by whom 
 was one son, Frank D., who passed away in early life. Mr. 
 Hay ward's death occurred June 1, 1889, and he was survived by 
 his wife till April 23, 1903. 
 
 Gardner Stanbro was born November 1, 181 3, at Plain- 
 field, Otsego County, and on August 29, 1832, was married to 
 Diadema Caswell, of Exeter, in the same county. On April 1, 
 1833, they moved to Smyrna, where they afterwards resided, 
 living sixty-seven years together. Mr. Stanbro's death occurred 
 November 4, 1903, his wife surviving him but six weeks. Mr. 
 Stanbro, in his day, was one of the foremost and most promi- 
 nent men in our town and, with his wife, excellent entertainers 
 and their home was always most hospitable. He established a 
 tannery and successfully continued the same until failing health 
 compelled him to withdraw from active business. In connec- 
 tion with the same he also conducted a boot and shoe shop, and 
 even in later years, did nearly all his own work in that line. A 
 man of strong principles, generous and kind to all, especially to 
 those in trouble, he was liberal in supporting churches, consider- 
 ing them a necessity for the good and welfare of the community. 
 Later in life he was a member of the Congregational Church in 
 this village. In politics he was a Democrat and was many 
 times chosen as a delegate to the County and State Conventions. 
 In 1858 he was a candidate for Member of Assembly, making a 
 strong run in spite of a large opposition majority in the county. 
 There were four children, all now deceased except Julia D., who 
 became the wife of the late Dr. F. D. Beebe, of Hamilton, who 
 still lives to enjoy the esteem and respect of all who know her. 
 Levi G. married Lucy, a daughter of the late Benjamin R. 
 
 86 
 
EBER DIMMICK 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Knowles, and to them were born two children; Gardner married 
 and is in business at Atlanta, Ga.; and Margaret, the wife of G, 
 Bert Tracy, residing on Smyrna Hill, with one young daughter, 
 Lucy, and a young son. Sabrina married James P. Willcox, 
 son of the late Henry H. Willcox, to whom were born two chil- 
 dren, Hadwen P., now a successful physician at Central Square, 
 Oswego County, and Harriet, now the wife of William P. Briggs, 
 of Norwich, and they have one son, William, now in his tenth 
 year. 
 
 Eber Dimmick was born in Stafford, Tolland County, Ct., 
 March 18, 1794, the oldest of a family of nine children born to 
 Ephraim and Polly Saxton Dimmick, none of whom are now 
 living. In 1818 he married Rosetta, a daughter of Captain Jesse 
 Foote, of Stafford, and was the father of five children; Frances 
 E. Dimmick born January 23, 1819, who married Calista Rey- 
 nolds Willcox, April 26, 1851, both now deceased; there was 
 born to them one son, Cyrus E., an exceedingly bright young 
 man, the pride of his parents, whose untimely death occurred 
 in his twenty-first year, in the spring of 1873. Cyrus Foote 
 Dimmick, born January 26, 1822, died March 18, 1851, from 
 an injury received from trying to stop a runaway team ; Mary 
 R., born December 3, 1825, married Asa Wilbur September 27, 
 1847, and died July 15, 1892; Emily C, born February 28, 
 1829, married Addison Taylor, of Pitcher, March 19, 1857, died 
 February 7, 1889, and Duane D., born October 2, 1836, 
 
 Eber Dimmick came to this county in 1820, and settled in 
 the town of Plymouth, Chenango County. Five years later he 
 moved to Hamilton, and soon after that to Sherburne. In the 
 spring of 1833 he moved to Smyrna, where he lived until his 
 death August 10, 1876. He was one of the pioneers of the 
 Methodist Church in Smyrna, with which he united at an early 
 day, and remained faithful through life. He was very active in 
 building the first M. E. Church of the town, and was always one 
 its most influential members. A kind and affectionate husband 
 and father, a man of strict integrity, and an earnest advocate of 
 Anti-Slavery and Anti-Masonry as well, did not hesitate to ex- 
 
 87 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 press his views on those subjects at any time and place. He was 
 called upon at different times to fill various town offices, Super- 
 visor, Justice of the Peace, and minor offices, and in 1840 repre- 
 sented Chenango County in the New York State Legislature, to 
 the greatest satisfaction of all his constituents. 
 
 The history of the Dimmick family can be traced back 
 through thirteen generations, to Sir John Dymoke, who held 
 the title of King's Champion, and as such officiated at the Coro- 
 nation of King Edward 11, of England; and until the present 
 time that title has remained in the family, descending to the male 
 heir, in each generation, the present holder of the same being 
 Frank Seman Dymoke, of Scrivsby Court, Holmcastle, Eng- 
 land. Later some of the younger sons emigrated to America, 
 where their descendants now live, some spelling their names 
 Dimock, others Dimick, and still others Dimmick. 
 
 The first account of the Dimmick family in this country was 
 in 1630, when Thomas Dimock and Joseph Hall, received from 
 the Crown of Great Britain a grant of land which is now the 
 town of Barnstable, Ct. The best known and most influential 
 remaining member of this excellent family, is Duane D. Dim- 
 mick, who was born here October 2, 1836, spending his boy- 
 hood days here, and in 1861 enlisting in the 44th New York In- 
 fantry, (Ellsworth's Avengers,) serving two years. He is a re- 
 spected resident of Earlville, where he has been Village Clerk for 
 ten years, and a Justice of the Peace of the town 'of Hamilton 
 for fourteen years and it is saiJ he has never had a decision ap- 
 pealed. Mr. Dimmick is also much interested in Grand Army 
 matters and is a leading member of Stephen Weaver Post, G. A. 
 R., of this village. His wife was Amelia E. Bacon, and they 
 have one daughter, Gertrude A., now the wife of Rev Fred. S. 
 Smith, of Bernardston, Mass. 
 
 The Nearings were of German descent. Henry Nearing 
 came from Brook field, Ct., to Otsego County, in the very early 
 days of 1800, having a family of eight sons and five daughters. 
 Philo Nearing, one of the sons, came to Smyrna in the spring of 
 1835, and located on the farm recently known as the Alfred Tay- 
 
 88 
 
FRANCIS E. DIMMICK. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 lor farm, his death occurring in 1862. He had three sons and 
 four daughters, as follows: Marcus E. left Smyrna, when a 
 young man, spent his life in the western part of state and died 
 at Wellsville in February, 1891; another son, Addison, died in 
 the Civil war; Charlotte A. married Lyndall Holley, their home 
 being the old Holley farm until later years when they moved to 
 the village, where they resided until her decease June 28, 1883; 
 Jane C. married Alfred Taylor, a well-to-do farmer who came 
 from Plymouth. Of both Mrs. Holley and Mrs. Taylor it may 
 be truthfully said, theirs were lives of usefulness and earnestly 
 devoted to the interests of the Methodist Church of Smyrna, of 
 which they were most faithful and sincere members. Lois M. 
 Nearing married Seymour Fairman and now lives at her only 
 daughter's, Mrs. S. F. Charmell, at Wellsboro, Pa. Myra mar- 
 ried William Taylor, of Pitcher, and still survives him. Perci- 
 val D. Nearing married Clara, a daughter of Richard D. Taylor, 
 and purchased the old Foote farm one mile south of the village. 
 He became a prosperous farmer and cattle dealer, rising to prom- 
 inence in the town and county. In 1891 he sold his farm and 
 moved with his family to Middletown, N. Y., where he has be- 
 come well and favorably known. They have three daughters, 
 Florence, the older; Fanny, now the wife of W. W. Reade, a 
 resident of New York city; and Persis, the youngest, the wife of 
 Charles A. Dienng, of Philadelphia, Pa. Eloise, the second 
 daughter, was an invalid for several years, and died at the Near- 
 ing home some eighteen years ago. 
 
 Horace T. Nearing the only member of the family now re- 
 siding here, has reached the age of 89 years, and is respected by 
 all his neighbors and friends, who try to cheer and brighten his 
 last remaining days. His family, now all deceased, will be 
 pleasantly remembered by all. Annotte, the oldest daughter, be- 
 came the wife of William P. Hall; Ellen, the younger daughter, 
 the wife of C. Dever Stokes; Marshall E, the only son, married 
 Diana Widger, of Oxford, both now deceased, and the only 
 grandchild is Mrs. Frank Campbell, of Earlville, the only daugh- 
 ter of William P. Hall. 
 
 89 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Simon Taylor was a British soldier, becoming a prisoner 
 by the surrender of Burgoyne's army October 7, 1777, coming 
 to the town of Plymouth, this county, about the year 1805, 
 where his death took place April 4, 1834, at the age of 78 years. 
 Richard D. Taylor, his son, married Laura Harrington, Decem- 
 ber 14, 1823, and moved to Smyrna, onto the farm generally 
 kno>vn at present as the Byron Wells farm. In later years he 
 moved to the present Robbins place, where their deaths occurred. 
 Like his worthy sire the son was a man of strict integrity and 
 sterling character, becoming not only a leading man in the town, 
 but with his worthy wife very influential in the Methodist Church 
 of which they were both earnest members. Politically he was 
 an old school Democrat, and though his party was in a large 
 minority in his town, he many times headed his party for town 
 offices. 
 
 His daughter, Pamelia, married Cyrenus M. Briggs, a worthy 
 farmer citizen, now deceased, and there were three children, Wil- 
 liam P., the oldest, now of Norwich, whose first wife was Minnie 
 E, a sister of Lawrence B. Cleveland, and there was one 
 child, a daughter, Minnie C, now the wife of Charles P. Knight, 
 of Binghamton; Charles R., of Apulia, N. Y., with his wife and 
 interesting family of five children at Apulia, N. Y., and Clara E., 
 the wife of our former citizen, John C. Smith, now of Chitte- 
 nango, N. Y. Mrs. Briggs* second husband was Rev. James Er- 
 win, now deceased, whose early years were spent in preaching 
 the gospel to the people of Northern New York, before the for- 
 ests were cleared away, and when the different charges were 
 sometimes far removed from the larger settlements and only 
 reached on foot or on horseback. Mrs. Erwm is still living, a 
 devoted mother, and an earnest Christian woman, ever faithful 
 to her family and her church, always true to the interests of 
 those around her, whether rich or poor. Clara, as has been 
 stated, married Percival D. Nearing, Addison married Emily, a 
 daughter of the late Eber Dimmick, becoming a resident of 
 Pitcher, this county. Alfred, as has also been stated, married 
 Jane C. Nearing, and was one of our prosperous citizens, in pol- 
 
 90 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 itics a Democrat, alive to the interests of his party. Of this 
 most excellent family, we desire to mention the oldest son, Ar- 
 thur A., whose small stature did not deter him from obtaining a 
 good education. His scope could not be hemmed in by the lit- 
 tle hills of Smyrna, and in the early seventies he wended his 
 way by steamer to California, and found a new home in one of 
 the most delightful valleys in that whole state, in the handsome 
 city of Santa Cruz. Here he has made for himself a name, and 
 is the editor and proprietor of the Santa Cruz Daily and Weekly 
 Surf, and a leading citizen of the place. Fred P., the second son, a 
 worthy and most conscientious young man, became a prosper- 
 ous minister in the Wyoming Methodist Conference, his sad and 
 lamentable death occurring at Wells Bridge, Otsego County, 
 where he was located, in the summer of 1879. Frank R., the 
 third son has always been a resident of our town, and is now lo- 
 cated at the village where he has a successful harness and wagon 
 business in the Fagan building. His wife was Ella P., the adopt- 
 ed daughter of the late Charles G. Dixon, and they occupy the 
 old Dixon homestead. Alfred Burt, the youngest son, is a resi- 
 dent of Palmyra, this state, and has a family of his own. 
 
 Benjamin Barber resided in Smyrna some seventy or more 
 years ago, a man most useful in the community, a decidedly 
 christian character whose strong influence for good was espec- 
 ially felt. He was a son of a minister of the same name in 
 Richmond, R. I., and he indeed honored his revered parents. 
 Both Mr. Barber and his esteemed wife were many years devot- 
 ed members of the Baptist Church in Smyrna, and their hospi- 
 table home was always open with a warm welcome to the stu- 
 dent preachers of those days. Of their children, the three sons 
 were endowed with fine mechanical skill which they very suc- 
 cessfully improved. James S., the oldest, moved to Illinois 
 early in the forties, and engaged in the grain and lumber busi- 
 ness after which for twenty years he was in trade in the city of 
 Philadelphia. Eight years ago he returned to Norwich, mak- 
 ing his home with his aged sisters. The younger son, George, 
 -spent several years in Illinois and Pennsylvania, but the most of 
 
 91 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 his life was in the latter state and in Michigan, extensively en- 
 gaged in the building and lumber business, where he died Octo- 
 ber 5, 1903. 
 
 The one especially known and remembered in this vicinity, 
 was Benjamin Barber, Jr., who, about the year 1850, began 
 clerking in the drug store of Trowbridge Shepard in this village, 
 and later in a book store in Watertown. He will be best re- 
 membered by his connection with the old book store on South 
 Broad street, at Norwich, now conducted by E. L. Nash. Like 
 his father, a devoted Christian man, he was greatly missed and 
 mourned by all who knew him, when his death occurred in 1886. 
 The daughters, Mary, (who has recently passed away,) and 
 Agnes, were the stay of their parents in their declining years, 
 filling their lives with usefulness along various lines of benevo- 
 lent and religious work, which most surely has entitled them to 
 the respect and commendation of all. It is said that when the 
 Baptist Church was moved from the hill northeast of the village, 
 Benjamin Barber, Sr., who was an excellent carpenter, had the 
 contract for the work and also for the re-modeling and improv- 
 ing of the building which was done at that time. Mr. Barber 
 was also successor to Gardner & Talcott in one of the most im- 
 portant industries of Smyrna, seventy years ago, the manufac- 
 ture of Linseed oil, a business involving extensive travel with a 
 team to collect the flax for the production of the genuine article 
 which painters in our day would be very glad to obtain. After 
 a few years the mill was burned causing a very heavy loss to the 
 owner, who re-built the same, and not many years later sold the 
 plant to William Faucett, returning to the mercantile business 
 which he followed till the year 1853, when he moved to a farm 
 in Norwich. The site of the old mill was that of the old cheese 
 box factory on the present Widger place. 
 
 Another Barber family, a complete sketch of which we very 
 much regret we are unable to obtain, was that of Joshua, who 
 married Isabel Sprague, whose sons, Horace and Sprague were 
 well-to-do and respected by all, the former marrying Cynthia 
 Sutliflf and living all his life in Smyrna, and the latter marrying 
 
 92 
 
AUGUSTIN PIEFk. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 and locating in Otselic, where his death took place not many 
 years ago. Julius S., the son of Horace was born in Smyrna, 
 and married Delphernia, a daughter of the late Alfred Willcox, 
 and there were born to them a son and a daughter, Jesse D., 
 who married Nellie, the oldest daughter of Wellington A. Gra- 
 ham, and Cora, who is now the wife of Gardner N, Willcox, as 
 has been before stated. 
 
 AUGUSTIN Pier was born in Otego, Otsego County, N. Y., 
 February 8, 1820, coming to Smyrna when but sixteen years of 
 age, where he afterwards resided excepting four or five years 
 spent in Auburn, this state. His father was Heman Pier, born 
 at Great Barrington, Mass., and his grandparents John and 
 Phoebe Pier, the latter a daughter of Joseph and Betsey Tobey, 
 who were ihe second family in Smyrna. His first wife was 
 Olive, a daughter of the late Cyrus Simons, by whom one 
 daughter was born, Millie, the esteemed wife of Horace Sexton, 
 now of Sherburne. His second wife was Sarah Rusk, of Au- 
 burn, N. Y., and to them a daughter came, but was taken from 
 them at the age of seven years, in the winter of 1865, an event 
 which saddened the lives of this worthy couple for many years. 
 Mr. Pier's death occurred on March 19, 1898, at his home in 
 this village, his wife still surviving him, a most estimable woman, 
 making her home with Mrs. Sexton. 
 
 Augustin Pier was an honest and an upright citizen, a plain, 
 painstaking man, doing his best at whatever he undertook. He 
 was always an ardent Republican, holding for many years the 
 office of Justice of the Peace besides many minor offices. In 
 rhe village he was many times elected trustee, and was several 
 times its honored president. He was also for many years a re- 
 spected member of the school board, always taking a deep inter- 
 est in the success of the school, and usually did what he thought 
 best for the interest of the taxpayers of the district. His busi- 
 ness was formerly farming, but in later years he was a prosper* 
 ous boot and shoe maker at the village. His remains were 
 buried in the East Burial Ground in this village. 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 The Dixon Family— One of the best known families in 
 their day in the town, was the Dixon family; of Scotch-Irish de- 
 scent, who moved here from Sherburne in the spring of 1837, 
 the grandfather moving to the house now occupied by William 
 L. Chapman; the father purchasing the house and lot so long 
 afterwards known as the Dixon homestead, now the property of 
 our genial postmaster, Jonathan W.JBoynton. The grandfather, 
 Major Joseph Dixon, was born in Rutland, Vt., in 1754, becom- 
 ing an officer in the Revolutionary Army, taking part in the bat- 
 tle of Bunker Hill and also at Yorktown, when Lord Cornwallis 
 surrendered. At the close of the war he married Mercy Ray- 
 mond, and moved to Manchester, and later to Sherburne, where 
 he was said to have accumulated a considerable fortune. Their 
 home was for many years that of the late Levi N. Smith, on 
 West Hill, one of the finest farms in the vicinity, which still fur- 
 nishes many "attractions in summer for the Dixon family, most 
 favorite of all perhaps might be mentioned Buttermilk Falls. 
 Mr. Dixon died at his home on the 18th of May, 1839, in his 
 85th year and sleeps his last sleep in the old part of the burial 
 ground at Sherburne West Hill. His third son, John Milton 
 Dixon, was born in Sherburne in 1801, becoming a farmer and 
 an extensive dealer in live stock, and was said to have been well- 
 to-do. He married Mary A. Sutphen, of Cherry Valley, and the 
 following children were bom to them: Charles G. married Per- 
 sis, a daughter of Solomon S. Hall. At sixteen years of age 
 went to New York city and entered the mercantile business, re- 
 maining there twelve years, thence going to Detroit for one year, 
 thence a year at Chicago, three years following at St. Louis, 
 thence returning east becoming a member of the firm of Dixon 
 Brothers, which partnership lasted three years, and after that re- 
 maining in the employ of the firm until October, 1872, when he 
 again became a member of the firm, with which he continued 
 till his death March 18, 1882. Mr. Dixon was a member of 
 Sherburne Lodge, No. 444, F. & A. M., Chenango Chapter, No. 
 253, R. A. M., and Norwich Commandery, No. 46, K. T. 
 Through all his life he was held in the highest esteem by all who 
 
 94 
 
HERBERT M. DIXON. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 knew him. Mary J., the oldest daughter, in early years a school 
 teacher, was a most estimable woman, those qualities which 
 made the children love and cling to her extending to her whole 
 life. A most faithful member of the Congregational Church 
 she was always much interested in that church and its work. 
 She married George Hunt, a son of Lucius Hunt, and to them 
 were born five children, all prospering, retaining many of the ex- 
 cellent qualities of their parents. Flora, the oldest, married 
 Oscar G. Bell, now of Norwich; Charles H. married Jessie, a 
 daughter of Francis G. Stanton, and there is one son, Howard; 
 Merton L. and J. Williston are both married and in business at 
 Norwich, and Maud, the youngest daughter, a graduate of the 
 Norwich High School, is married and resides in Minneapolis, 
 Minn. Rexie V., like her sister Mrs. Hunt, spent the most of 
 her life in Smyrna, in her early life a school teacher, invariably 
 giving the best of satisfaction, becoming also a most faithful 
 member of the Congregational Church, and a teacher in the 
 Sunday School, for many years having in her charge a class of 
 young boys, who were closely drawn into her confidence and 
 esteem. In character she was modest and retiring to a fault; 
 yet always studying to relieve the wants of those around her, 
 and make others happy, as was fully shown in her many years' 
 care of her aged and respected mother. Her death occurred Feb- 
 ruary 28, 1868. 
 
 Carrie Dixon Copeland was bom April 13, 1841. Her girl- 
 hood was spent in and around Smyrna. She graduated from 
 Temple Grove Institute, Saratoga, N. Y., in June, 1862, adopted 
 teaching as her life-work, being Preceptress of Montrose Semi- 
 nary, Pennsylvania, a number of years, also teaching in the Pub- 
 lic Schools of Rosemond, 111. Miss Dixon was married to Mal- 
 colm H. Copeland in Smyrna, December 10, 1866, moved to 
 Illinois, and from thence to Arkansas a few years later, where 
 she and her husband taught together, finally founding Siloam 
 Academy, at Siloam Springs, Ark. The family moved to Col- 
 orado in 1888, where Mrs. Copeland passed away in 1896, after 
 
 95 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 a life spent in doing good deeds and cheering lonely lives. Mrs. 
 Copeland was very active in church work, singing in the choir 
 at different times, teaching Sunday School classes, not only in 
 her own denomination, but also in Mission Sunday Schools. 
 Her classes were generally in the primary department or young 
 men, in both of which departments she was most successful. 
 She devoted much time to temperance work in the W. C T. U., 
 organized Loyal Legions and conducted several Demorest Medal 
 contests. She was one of the Charter members of the Woman's 
 Relief Corps, being instrumental in its organization at Durango, 
 Col. Mrs. Copeland was a woman of wonderful adaptability, 
 gaining the sympathy and love of all with whom she came in 
 contact, high or low, rich or poor. 
 
 Herbert M. Dixon, best known of all this famous family, 
 was born in the house known as the Russell Harrington house 
 on Sherburne West Hill, on August 7, 1836. At ten years of 
 age he began working on a farm and when he was fifteen, en- 
 tered the store of Loren Kenyon at Smyrna village, as clerk, re- 
 maining there a few years when he entered the employ of C. H. 
 and N. P. Wheeler, of Norwich. He returned to Smyrna in 
 1858, opening a branch store in the interest of the above firm. 
 In i860, Mr. Dixon in company with John S. Blackman bought 
 out the Wheeler interest, and were in business one year under 
 the name of Dixon & Blackman, when the latter's interest was 
 purchased, and in the spring of 1866 his brothers Charles G. and 
 M. C. became his partners under the firm name of Dixon 
 Brothers, the same lasting three years under a limitation 
 of co-partnership. In the spring of 1872 Charles G. again 
 became a partner, continuing until the death of the latter in 
 the spring of 1882, after which he continued in business under 
 the same name, alone, until he sold out to E. L. Whitney in the 
 spring of 1896. This country store in a farming community 
 in its palmy days did an enormous business, excelling many 
 larger stores in much larger towns, and its annual sales some 
 years reached one hundred thousand dollars. The business was 
 affected by the hard times in the early nineties and this was the 
 
 96 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 reason of its sale to Mr. Whitney as above stated. Mr. Dixon 
 married Janet A., daughter of Deacon L. B. Collins of singing 
 fame, and the estimable wife and two grown up sons are doing 
 active christian work, following closely in the footsteps of the 
 revered husband and father. At sixteen years of age, Herbert 
 M. Dixon united with the Congregational Church in Smyrna. 
 He was an active worker in the church and Sunday School until 
 his death, serving as clerk and trustee, and for twenty years 
 Superintendent of the Sunday School. For forty-two years he 
 was Superintendent of the Mission Sunday School at Upperville. 
 He was deeply interested in all christian work, and was a mem- 
 ber of the County Bible Society, District Sunday School Associa- 
 tion and of both the State and National Congregational Home 
 Missionary Societies, 
 
 At his decease the following resolutions were adopted by the 
 Congregational Sunday School, which were voiced by the en- 
 tire community: 
 
 Whereas, Our all wise Heavenly Father has called our brother, 
 Herbert M. Dixon, after more than forty years of service in the church 
 militant, to enter the rest of the church triumphant. Therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That we bear willing testimony to his earnestness in 
 striving to extend the Lord's vrork by every effort in his power and in 
 his conduct before the world ; by the untiring zeal with which he gave 
 himself to the work of Christ in the Cfrurch and Sunday School, having 
 served the school more than a score of years as superintendent, and as 
 a faithful teacher and ever faithful helper 
 
 Resolved, That words fail to express the loss to us of his leader- 
 ship in song, of the cheerful words, the helping hand, the watchfulness 
 toward every good word and work, which marked all his life with us. 
 
 Resolved, That to his family we extend our most loving and tender 
 sympathy, and commend them to the Father of all, praying that they 
 may be upheld by the same faith and trust that were so long the stay 
 and support of our beloved brother. 
 
 Resolved, That these resolutions be placed on the minutes of the 
 Sunday School, and that the same be furnished the papers for publica- 
 tion. 
 
 Joseph W. Dixon was born November 17, 1833, and came 
 with his parents to Smyrna in the spring of 1837 and, as he ad- 
 
 97 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 vanced in years attended the village school, then so-called "Acad- 
 emy." In later years he engaged in a store at Earlville, where 
 he staid until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to 
 St. Louis and entered the dry goods establishment of B. L. Hard- 
 ing & Co., then a prosperous firm in that city. Remaining 
 there twenty-one years he became well versed in the dry goods 
 business, and returned to Smyrna, where he engaged with the 
 firm of Dixon Brothers, continuing in their employ until the 
 business was sold to E. L. Whitney, as before stated. Mr. Dixon 
 afterwards lived a retired life, but always kept up a great interest 
 in the welfare of the town, always remembering old friends and 
 faces whom he was glad to meet. At his decease in the sum- 
 mer of 1903, a familiar and pleasant face was missed from 
 among us. 
 
 Almenzo K. Dixon was born at Smyrna, September 20, 1838, 
 and attended the village school until he reached the age of fif- 
 teen years, when he went to learn the tinner's trade of Denison 
 A Kelsey, in the building now used by Edwin S. Billings as a 
 residence. He was lacer in the employ of Horace T. Nearing, 
 commencing in the building now used hy the Smyrna Press, and 
 later in the Sutliff and Dimmick stores. He started in business 
 in his own name in the spring of 1866, in the store occupied by 
 him so long, a business which was most successful, and which 
 showed the ability of Mr. Dixon as a business man. He was 
 clerk of the town for many years, always obliging, but never 
 seemed to aspire to a higher office. Mr. Dixon married Corne- 
 lia, a daughter of Benjamin Lyon, of Sherburne, and there were 
 two children, Herbert S., now a successful physician in Brook- 
 lyn, N. Y., and Mary, wife of Clarence C. Riggs, of Walling- 
 ford, Ct., with whom he has a pleasant home, surrounded by a 
 group of happy grandchildren. Mr. Dixon sold his business in 
 the fall of 1890, to William W. Lyon and Cortland L. Fer- 
 ris, the former a long time faithful employe. The business is 
 now conducted by Lyon & Son. The delay in our publication 
 enables us to chronicle the re-marriage of Mr. Dixon to Mrs. 
 Kate Hudson Barber, the oldest daughter of our former citizen, 
 
 98 
 
/ 
 
 , 
 
 1^ 
 
 r 
 
 ALMENZO K. DIXON. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Joel L. Jaynes, which occurred at East Syracuse on the 25th of 
 July, a matter of congratulation from all old Smyrnaites. 
 
 Mortimer C. Dixon was born November 18, 1843, and as a 
 boy also attended the village school, in his seventeenth year en- 
 tering the academy at Homer, N. Y., which he attended two 
 years, returning to his home in 1862. Not many months later 
 he enlisted in the 15 7th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., serving till the 
 close of the war. In the service he was on the staff of Brig. 
 Gen. Schinnelfenny, in Virginia, and Gen. Stewart L. Wood- 
 ford, and others in the department of the South. After his re- 
 turn home he again entered the employ of his brother, Her- 
 bert M. Dixon, and in 1866 became a member of the firm of 
 Dixon Brothers, with his brothers C. G. and H. M., which co- 
 partnership closed in the spring of 1869. After that he contin- 
 ued in the employ of the firm, with the exception of a few 
 months, until the business was sold to Mr, Whitney. Mr. 
 Dixon's first wife was Ellen C, a daughter of William and 
 Nancy Sprague, of Smyrna, by whom one daughter was born, 
 Elizabeth, now the wife of William J., a son of Abel Comstock, 
 with whom he makes his home. He was one of the organizers 
 and a charter member of Stephen Weaver Post, G. A. R,, and 
 also its first Adjutant. His second wife was Anne Meyers, by 
 whom they have one son, Harry M., a "chip of the old block," 
 who is now married and lives in Buffalo, N. Y., and is Assistant 
 Engineer of the Frontier Telephone Company of that city. 
 
 Sarah S. Dixon, the youngest of the family spent her early 
 days at home, and also became a school teacher, winning many 
 friends among her pupils, who still remember her with pleasure. 
 She too, was a consistent member of the Congregational Church, 
 and also a faithful teacher in the Sunday School. She retains a 
 great interest in the town of her birth and its people, and is al- 
 ways welcome at her old home town. In the summer of 1876, 
 she married Erastus C. Billings, and they have two sons, John 
 and Walter, both graduates of Colgate University. The present 
 home of the family is at Syracuse. 
 
 99 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 The Dixon family was an exceptional family, not only much 
 interested in church work, but also most excellent citizens and 
 kindly neighbors, their kindness reaching out to the whole town- 
 ship where any deed of love could be extended. They were ex- 
 cellent singers, and there is scarcely a home in the town where 
 their sweet musical voices have not helped to soften the pangs 
 of mourning, and given hope to the aching heart. Not one of 
 this most excellent family remain at present in the town. 
 
 William V. Brand was born at Brand's Corners, near 
 Stonington, Ct., and married Huldah Tefft of that vicinity. 
 William V., Jr., so long a resident of our town was born at the 
 same place, June 22, iSll, and came to Lisbon, Otsego County, 
 when he was ten years of age, and was there bound out until he 
 was sixteen. He then went to Brookfield, Madison County, and 
 there learned the blacksmith trade, remaining there till he was of 
 age, and then in 1839 moving to Smyrna, where he remained a 
 few years in the Rexford district, then moving to Smyrna vil- 
 lage where he conducted the same business, soon after moving 
 to the present Weaver place, and then to the farm now owned 
 by his grandson, Benjamin C. Brand, where he lived the remain- 
 der of his life. His wife was Mary Sherman, by whom two 
 sons were born, both life-long residents of the town. Daniel C, 
 the oldest, now deceased, married Calpherna, a daughter of Ben- 
 jamin Card, to whom were born two sons, Benjamin C, now 
 living at the farm, and Daniel E., an exceedingly bright young 
 man, a successful school teacher, highly esteemed by all who 
 knew him. He married Elizabeth, a daughter of Solon Hum- 
 phrey, his death occurring December 30, 1896, leaving the 
 young wife and a host of friends to mourn his untimely death. 
 N. Jerome Brand married Adaline, also a daughter of Benjamin 
 Card, and they have one son, now a resident of Sherburne. Mr. 
 Brand has held various offices to the satisfaction of his constitu- 
 ents, and is one of the leading farmers of that part of the town. 
 
 Henry Keller, of Dutch descent, came from Root, Mont- 
 gomery County, in 1839, a section of the state replete with sto- 
 
 too 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 ries of ghosts and goblins, firmly believed by the people of those 
 days, and Mr. Keller was no exception to the list. He was a 
 most excellent man, honest, frugal and industrious, and his 
 friends were numerous. He married Mary Lasher, of that vicin- 
 ity, by whom were six children, all surviving except Lydia, the 
 youngest daughter, recently deceased, who married Alton D. 
 Root, now of Dayton, Ohio. Those remaining are Peter, re- 
 siding at Afton, N. Y. ; Mary, the wife of the late Henry Mead, 
 of Scranton, Pa.; Jane A., the wife of Rev. Alfred Eastman, of 
 Lestershire, N. Y. ; George, now residing at Sherburne Four Cor- 
 ners, known for a kindly heart, and as a goodly neighbor, and 
 Margaret, the much esteemed wife of the late Arial Fowler, a 
 man well known, honored and respected by all. He was an 
 earnest member of the Methodist Church, one of its best class 
 leaders and church workers, whose death was sincerely mourned 
 by all when he passed away in the winter of 1901. One son, 
 Frank W.,the idol of his parents and a boon to his companions, 
 passed away in his early manhood in his nineteenth year on the 
 1 5th of April, 1876, while a student at Colgate Academy, a thor- 
 ough scholar and a young man bidding excellent promise for 
 the future. Mr. Keller and his wife and Mr. Fowler and son 
 Frank, are laid at rest in the East Burial Ground in this village. 
 
 John M. Preston was born in the town of Preston, this 
 county, on the 22d day of September, 1810, being the youngest 
 of ten children. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in the Home 
 Guards of Chenango County, and was one of the detailed guards 
 at the execution of Dennison at Norwich in the year 1833. In 
 1839 he married Julia F. Latimer, of Smyrna, at her home near 
 the town line between Smyrna and Plymouth, the officiating 
 clergyman being Rev. D. A. Shepard, then of the Methodist 
 Church of this village. After their marriage they moved to Ox- 
 ford, remaining there till the year 1846, when they returned to 
 Smyrna where they afterwards resided, in the same house into 
 which they first moved. There were born to them three children, 
 Mary H., recently deceased; Henry J., who served in Company 
 F, l57th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., in the Civil war and was killed 
 
 101 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 at the battle of Chancellorsville, in May, 1863, and J. Orville 
 who still survives, occupying the same house in which he was 
 born. John M, Preston became one of the early members of 
 Smyrna Lodge, No. 239, I. O. G. T., organized in the fall of 
 1867, and throughout its existence was one of its leading and 
 most active members, and was Lodge Deputy of the county for 
 many years, and intimately associated with many of the temper- 
 ance reformers of his day, among them John B. Finch, G. D. 
 Scrambling of the Living Issue, and many others. He was the 
 first man to cast a Prohibition vote in the town of Smyrna, be- 
 ing obliged to cut the ballot from a newspaper, as at that time 
 there were no ballots printed for that party. His death occurred 
 in 1893 at the age of 83 years, and he was buried in the tamily 
 lot in the East Burial Ground; the oldest son, Henry, resting on 
 the battle field at Chancellorsville. 
 
 Another Wilber family in our town, though not related to 
 the Thompson Wilber family, was that of Benjamin, who mar- 
 ried Laura, a daughter of Joseph Hunt, among whose children 
 were Isaac, so many years a resident of the town, whose wife 
 was Eliza Stone, by whom were two children, a son and daugh- 
 ter, who still reside here. ClitTord B., with his family, are at 
 Upperville; and Augusta became the wife of Henry Crouch, a 
 prosperous farmer of Smyrna Hill, where they now reside with 
 a large and interesting family, several grown to manhood and 
 womanhood. 
 
 Still another Wilber family, was that of which Samuel was 
 the head, whose son, Benjamin, was once a respected resident 
 but now deceased. His daughter was the wife of the late Mar- 
 sena Stebbins, and his sons were Emmons L., now a hotel man, 
 a resident of Kentucky, and Charles, now a resident of Norwich. 
 A daughter of Samuel, named Hannah, was born in Smyrna, 
 and still resides here, living at present with Mrs. William L. 
 Chapman. 
 
 - John Sprague and Fannie West, his wife, whose grand- 
 father was a native of Connecticut, came to Smyrna in the early 
 
 102 
 
JOHN M. PRESTON. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 forties, settling in the Northup district. They were a well-to-do, 
 industrious and respectable family, who always had a high stand- 
 ing in the community. Of their family were Peter, who mar- 
 ried Electa, a sister of the late Benjamin Conkey, by whom were 
 several children. Among them were Thomas, now of Sidney, 
 N. Y., whose wife was Rachel Messenger; William, now of Ith- 
 aca, whose wife was Mary Ellsworth; Cynthia, who married 
 Isaac Collier, a soldier of the Rebellion, and John and Hannah 
 who reside in town. Ervin H. married Martha Champlin, and 
 was in later years an honored deacon of the Congregational 
 Church of which his wife and family were faithful members. 
 Their only son, Hiram, died in his sixteenth year; Mary, who 
 married Robert Vanderhoof, and her young sister, Katherine, 
 now reside in Ithaca. Two other brothers were Warren and 
 Hiram, and the three other sisters were Sabra, Fanny and Mar- 
 cia, the latter the only remaining member of the family is now 
 over eighty years of age, beloved and respected by all who 
 know her. 
 
 George Humphrey was born at Canton, Ct., July 23, 
 1782, and in 1803 married Candace Case, of Canton, a most ex- 
 cellent woman, highly esteemed for her many good qualities, 
 who lived but a few years after their marriage. His second wife 
 was Avis L. Woodford, of Burlington, Ct., who survived her 
 husband but a few years. When Mr. Humphrey was a young 
 man he went on a voyage to the West Indies, where he was 
 taken prisoner in the Algerian war, but liberated in a few months 
 after peace was declared. He served in the War of 1812, and 
 was in the New London campaign. Like other members of the 
 family he was of large stature, and had good intellectual abili- 
 ties, and a remarkable memory, being able to repeat any lengthy 
 article in prose or poetry, after hearing it read once. He was also 
 an excellent musician, composing several pieces of music. He 
 died in New Hartford, Ct., where he had resided, December 6, 
 1836, in his 54th year. George Humphrey, his son, came to 
 Smyrna in February, 1839, on foot, and was eight days on the 
 road from Canton, staying here long enough to purchase the 
 
 103 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 present Humphrey farm and then returned to his native town 
 for his family, which he moved at once to the new home with a 
 team of horses, bringing his household goods. His wife was a 
 sister of Rev. Sidney Mills, a former popular preacher at the 
 Congregational Church in Smyrna. She died in 1839, leaving 
 four small children, and in October of the same year he married 
 Louise M. Webb, of Otselic, by whom six children were born, as 
 follows: Estella, Theron, Henry, Edwin, Francis and Solon, 
 the latter remaining on the old homestead with his son, Charles, 
 who married Francis Tuttle. They have a young daughter, 
 Ruth, the pride of the whole family. Mr. Humphrey, 2d, was 
 said to have retained many of the father's characteristics. He 
 resided at New Hartford, Ct., and also at Canton, that state, be- 
 fore he moved to Smyrna. His death occurred in Smyrna, at 
 the homestead, August 13, 1883, in his 79th year. 
 
 Charles Pentecost, eldest son of Philip and Mary Pente- 
 cost, was born in Westbury, Summersetshire, England, in 1794, 
 and lived there until he was twenty-one, when he married Jane 
 Carter, of Pennard, England, and soon after moved to Bristol, 
 where they lived for fifteen years. In December, 1830, with his 
 wife and seven children he sailed for America, reaching New 
 York March 3l, l83l, having been three months on the ocean. 
 Thence they went to Albany, where they resided one year, and 
 selling his farm came to Smyrna in 1843, and purchased the 
 old Sutliff farm. Here he lived till September, 1867, when he 
 was called to his final reward, his wife surviving him some five 
 years. Among his numerous family of sons and daughters 
 were William, of Seattle, Wash. ; Edwin, of Los Angeles, Cal. ; 
 John, of Norwich; Mrs. Ann Pier, of Conneaut, Ohio; Mrs. 
 Matilda Turner, of Oneida; Mrs. Ellen Kenyon, the first wife of 
 our respected townsman, Deloss Kenyon; Charlotte, the es- 
 teemed wife of Warren Stanton, and Miss Jane Pentecost. The 
 latter two are the only survivors of the family. Mr. Pentecost 
 was reared a devoted Quaker and was much interested in the 
 welfare of that church. 
 
 104 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Amos Stanton, born near Stonington, Ct., in 1773, mar- 
 ried Sabra Palmer, of Penobscot, Me., and moved to Brook field, 
 N. \,, in 1795, where they raised a family of nine children. 
 They later moved to Otselic, becoming a leading family in the 
 town, also devoted members of the Methodist Church of that 
 place. In politics Mr. Stanton and all his sons allied themselves 
 to the Whig party, the former living to see the birth of the Re- 
 publican party but not to vote the ticket, the latter all becoming 
 active members of the party. Of this large family two of the 
 sons became residents of Smyrna, Edward A., and Gilbert C. 
 Both were born in Brookfield, the tormer moving to Otselic in 
 1834 and thence to Smyrna early in the forties. He settled 
 near the site of the present Free Will Baptist Church, afterwards 
 buying land farther east and, building the house in which Isaac 
 Ballou now lives. In 1851 he moved to Union City, Pa., with 
 his family, excepting the two older sons, James and Warren, the 
 former marrying Abigail, the daughter of the late Hon. Demas 
 Hubbard, both now deceased, the only remainmg descendant of 
 the family being Frank J. Stanton, the oldest-son, well and fa- 
 vorably known, most especially as "Stanley - Starr," an elocu- 
 tionist of no ordinary ability, and a dramatic actor who has ad- 
 vanced far beyond the most sanguine expectations of his many 
 friends. Edward J. Stanton, the younger brother, was a good 
 natured young man, free hearted and friendly with all, meeting a 
 sad death on the Ontario & Western railroad some ten years 
 ago, leaving a wife and young son to mourn his loss. Warren 
 Stanton, the younger brother of James, is still a worthy resident 
 of our town his home being the well known Pentecost farm 
 and his wife a daughter of its former owner. Gilbert C. Stan- 
 ton was born in Brookfield in 1808, and settled in Otselic in 
 1834, where he raised a large family. His first wife was Susan- 
 nah Dutton, of Otselic; his second, Serena Ferris, of Smyrna. 
 Among the children were Francis G., who was born in Otselic 
 in 1838 and married to Jerusha Hills of Smyrna. He held va- 
 rious offices of trust, standing high in the community in which 
 he has so long resided. A. Palmer Stanton moved to the town 
 
 105 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 of Smyrna, but remained only a few years. Edwin F. moved 
 to Smyrna in 1869, and after a few years residence here moved 
 to Plymouth with his family, where he still resides. He was a 
 member of Company I, ll4th Regiment, N. Y, S. V., and served 
 until the close of the war. He was wounded by one of General 
 Early's pickets, at the beginning of the battle of Cedar Creek. 
 Charles H. Stanton, best known perhaps of all the family, was 
 born at Otselic in 1837, rising rapidly after reaching his ad- 
 vanced boyhood, an ambitious scholar, becoming exceedingly 
 popular. In 1861 he enlisted in the 6lst Regiment, N. Y. S. V., 
 but was discharged after only a year's service on account of 
 poor health. In 1863 he married Lucy, a daughter of Franklin 
 Glazier, of Pharsalia, moving soon after into the town of 
 Smyrna, near Ireland's Mills. Here he held various offices, 
 among which was Supervisor, and in 1884 moved with his fam- 
 ily to Plymouth, where he has since resided. He represented 
 Chenango County as Member of Assembly in the New York 
 Legislature of 1892-3. 
 
 Alfred Willcox was the son of Henry and Eunice Will- 
 cox who came from Rhode Island. He had two sisters and a 
 brother named Hamilton, a Baptist minister stationed at West 
 Smyrna in 1842-3. He married Louisa A., a daughter of Peleg 
 and Anna Brown, who came from Stonington, Ct., with a fam- 
 ily of six children, all once well known here. They were as fol- 
 lows: Lorenzo, Orlando, Andrew, Julia A., who married Sam- 
 uel Tefft, the well known stage driver, spoken of elsewhere in 
 this volume; Louisa, the wife of Mr. Willcox as before stated, 
 and Adaline, who was the first wife of the late William Wilbur. 
 Alfred had a family of eight children, five boys and three girls, 
 among them Devolson, the oldest, who was a soldier in the War 
 of the Rebellion, and in later years became the husband of Be- 
 thia Willcox, whose first husband was Ensign Briggs. DeForest 
 A. married Sylvia T., a daughter of James Scarritt, and a sister 
 of Nelson J. Scarritt, learning the miller's trade at the Munson 
 Mill, residing here for several years, removing to Sherburne, en- 
 gaging for a while with the old firm of White, Gridley & Co.» 
 
 106 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 of that village, and later to Earlville, purchasing the old Felt 
 mill, which he remodeled into a first class and up-to-date flour- 
 ing mill and where he became a prominent citizen. He was Su- 
 pervisor of his town for several years and held several other im- 
 portant offices. After the fire of 1887 in that village he was 
 instrumental with many others in helping to remodel that vil- 
 lage into its present up-to-date appearance. His health failed a 
 few years later and his death occurred at Wayland, Steuben Co., 
 in the winter of 1901, his wife surviving him but two years 
 when she also passed away at the same place. Delano, the old- 
 est, was exceedingly fond of music and began playing a small 
 drum when only nine years of age. His father, an excellent 
 musician, and one of the best fifers in Central New York in his 
 day, noticing the musical ability of his son, helped with his fife, 
 and with the help of other boys in the neighborhood, marshalled 
 a boy band, five drummers and one fifer, all about the same age. 
 That boy organization, with its organizer, will be pleasantly re- 
 membered by citizens of forty years ago, and they were called 
 far and near to furnish music on many different occasions. The 
 fifer was Willie Enos, a brother of Leonard S., now of this vil- 
 lage, and Franklin Bonney, now deceased, was also a member 
 of the band. In the summer of 1861, the dread disease diphthe- 
 ria, entered that neighborhood and two of the little band were 
 taken away the same day, Willie Enos, the fifer, and Delano 
 Willcox, the little drummer. At the funerals the bearers were 
 the living members of the band, dressed in their white and red 
 uniforms, and it was a sad and not easily forgotten day when 
 their little forms where borne away to be seen no more. Three 
 of those boys are still living and members of the Coy martial 
 band, Franklin D. and George F. Coy, and Solon Humphrey. 
 
 Alfred Eastman, who in later years attained prominence 
 in our community as a most excellent citizen and a leader and 
 influential member of the Methodist Church, was born near 
 Qinton, Oneida County, July 3, 1832, his father's name being 
 Amasa, his mother's Catherine. Of the family were seven boys 
 
 107 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 and one girl, the last two being twins, of whom Alfred was one. 
 Both are still living, the only remaining members af the family. 
 At three years of age his parents moved to Morrisville, Madi- 
 son County, and shortly before his seventeenth birthday he came 
 to Smyrna, and began to learn the tailor's trade of William Kel- 
 logg, with whom he remained four years and then formed a 
 partnership with the late James O. Ransom and entered the 
 clothing business. The same year he married Jane A., a daugh- 
 ter of Henry Keller, who came here from Montgomery County. 
 In 1853 he moved to Augusta, where he conducted a temper- 
 ance hotel for eight months, and then moved to West Eaton 
 where he again engaged in the clothing business. It is stated 
 that during his residence at Augusta the proprietor of the hotel 
 offered to stock the same with a full supply of liquors and give 
 him one-half the proceeds, but Mr. Eastman's reply was "No, 
 sir, 1 will not sell liquor if you will give me the hotel and your 
 farm besides," an answer characteristic of ihe man through his 
 whole life. In 1857 he returned to Smyrna moving into the 
 Congregational parsonage and opened a tailor shop over the Kin- 
 yon store, the next spring moving into the house so long known 
 as the Eastman home, where they remained over thirty years. 
 In 1851 during a revival of religion conducted by Rev. Ephraim 
 Brown there were two converts of which Mr. Eastman was one, 
 and the same year he united with the Methodist Church and has 
 ever since been a most faithful member, serving as class leader 
 for over thirty-one years and superintendent of the Sunday 
 School for eighteen years. He was greatly missed when he took 
 up a new field of labor as a preacher in the spring of 1887. In 
 that year he preached in the Free Will Baptist Church at West 
 Smyrna, and the year following supplied that church and also 
 the church at Otselic Center. Since then he has supplied the 
 following Methodist churches: Oakland, Pa., l889-'93; Haw- 
 leyton, N. Y., '95-'97; Uniondale, Pa., '98-'01; South Canaan, 
 Pa., '02-'04. He retired from the work at the close of the pres- 
 ent conference year on account of age and failing health, and is 
 living in a home of his own in the village of Lestershire. Mr. 
 
 108 
 
ALFRED EASTMAN. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Eastman and his most excellent wife and family will always be 
 welcome among the people of Smyrna, with whom they have 
 spent the most of their lives and where their influence has al- 
 ways been on the side of right and humanity. Two children 
 were born to them; Nettie A. who became the wife of Rev, Fred 
 P. Taylor, and Clarence, an infant son, who died at the age of 
 one year, and is buried in the East Burial Ground, his grave a 
 tender spot, where the affections of the family will never cease 
 to be drawn. Lottie Warner Eastman, an adopted daughter of 
 thirty years ago, whose mother was Miss Lottie Wilbur once 
 a resident here, makes her home with the family and has become 
 hke one of them. 
 
 Joshua Hemenway was born in New Salem, Mass., Octo- 
 ber 17, 1780, and was married to Rebecca Harrington in 1802, 
 coming to Sherburne the same year. They had six children, 
 among them Delia H., who married John Kershaw, of Sherburne. 
 Amanda and Alexis L., with the parents moved to the northwest- 
 ern part of Smyrna about the year 1840. Alexis taught the dis- 
 trict schools for several years, both before and after his marriage 
 to Harriet Smith in 1842. In 1847 he bought the farm owned 
 by a Mr. Wood, which was ever after their home and where 
 they always resided till their death, the former passing away 
 January 22, 1895, the latter on April 22, 1896. They were 
 honored and respected in the town where they were well and fa- 
 vorably known and had many friends among every class. Both 
 were consistent and worthy members of the Free Baptist Church 
 of West Smyrna. To them were born six children, all sharing 
 in the respect and good will of their parents, and they were as 
 follows: Lucinda, now deceased, who married Richard A. Har- 
 rington; Arzelia, the respected wife of A. L. York of Brookfield, 
 N. Y.; Esther, the wife of the late Bertillian Healy of Sherburne; 
 John A., who lived with his parents upon the farm and was an 
 honest and industrious young farmer, whose death occurred in 
 the prime of his manhood at the age of thirty-one years; and 
 Mary who became the esteemed wife of John D. Frair, present 
 
 109 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 postmaster of Bonney at West Smyrna, their home being the 
 old Hemenway homestead, where Mr. and Wrs. Frair moved to 
 care for her aged parents in their declining years. 
 
 Rowland B. Crumb was born in Rhode Island, near Ston- 
 ington, and like many others in that vicinity as he advanced in 
 years, became desirous of improving his surroundings and better- 
 ing himself in this world's affairs, and not having room in that 
 section, which was not the best for farming, and having heard 
 of the increased facilities offered in the state of New York, then 
 a great wilderness and considered a western country, moved out 
 to the new country, coming first to Preston, Chenango County, 
 later moving to Pharsalia, and on March 1, 1844, reaching 
 Smyrna Hill and locating on the Bliven farm. He remained 
 there four years and then moved to the Conkey farm where he 
 resided nineteen years, then moving to Lebanon, where he spent 
 nearly all the remainder of his life. He became the head of a 
 large and successful family, a frugal and industrious people, and 
 his descendants are some of our best citizens. He was married 
 three times, his first wife was Sally Lanphere, by whom five 
 children were born. Harriet, who married Garritt Brown of 
 Pharsalia; William, who became a member of the 10th New 
 York Cavalry in the War of the Rebellion, and later moved to 
 LeSeur, Minn.; Sally, who married Captain William C. Bliven, 
 so long and so well known in Smyrna, later the proprietor of 
 the Noyes House, now the American Hotel at Norwich, still 
 later marrying Orange Booth of Candor, N. Y., where her death 
 occurred; Lucretia, who moved to Osage, Iowa, and Rhoda, 
 who married Charles Wood of Pony, Neb., a former respected 
 resident of our town having been brought up on Smyrna Hill. 
 (Mr. Wood's former name was Higgins, but when he became of 
 age he adopted the name of Wood.) 
 
 Mr. Crumb's second wife was Alzina, a daughter of Deacon 
 Elisha Crandall, who had previously married Justin Skinner, by 
 whom three cliildren were born to her: Charles, who was 
 killed in the battle of Fredericksburg; Hiram, whose whereabouts 
 
 110 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 have not recently been known, and Sarah, now the esteemed 
 wife of J. Warren Hitchcock, still residing in the town. They 
 have four sons and two daughters. Among them Frank J., now 
 a successful physician at Masonville, Delaware County, and 
 Bert and Edwin now prosperous pharmacists in Jersey City, N. 
 J. Mr. Crumb's children by this marriage were George W., 
 who married Maria Haskell, by which union there were three sons 
 and three daughters all now living except Hattie, who was an 
 invalid for eleven years, most kindly cared for by her parents, 
 passing away in her twenty-fifth year. The three sons are pros- 
 perous farmers, Arthur J., owning the HartwcU farm west of 
 Upperville; Clayton R., whose home is now the old Barber farm 
 at Upperville, and Charles, who has charge of the old Parker 
 farm just beyond the old homestead. Alzina became the wife 
 of Clayton S. Widger, our present Highway Commissioner, and 
 Ida C. became the wife of Algernon B., a son of the late Lysan- 
 der B. Cleveland, their home being the old Bennett-Cleveland 
 homestead. George has held various offices to the satisfaction 
 of his townsmen and is a leading member of Stephen Weaver 
 Post, G. A. R., having served faithfully in the War of the Rebel- 
 lion as a member of Company C, in the ll4th Regiment. His 
 sister, Jennie Crumb, married Hiram H. Tucker, late of Sher- 
 burne, N. Y., where she now resides. Rollin B. Crumb's third 
 wife was Mary A. Kenyon, by whom eight children were born, 
 among them Dora, who married William R. Borden; Ida, who 
 became the wife of C. J. Etson of Lebanon; Fernando, a physi- 
 cian, also of Lebanon; Charles, a resident of South Dakota, and 
 Simeon, well and most favorably known, whose home is at 
 Norwich, but who has a prosperous wholesale coal business in 
 Boston. 
 
 Michael Stack, a son of Edmund and Nellie Stack, (whose 
 maiden name was Downs,) was born in September, 1816, near 
 Mai Bay, Clare County, Ireland, and came to America in the latter 
 part of the forties, locating at Sherburne, and a few months later 
 moving to Smyrna. He married Mary White of Sherburne, in 
 
 iti 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 1850, a lady who came from the same place in Ireland as Mr. 
 Stack, though they had never met till she came to Sherburne a 
 year or two previous. Mr. Stack became a prosperous farmer, 
 and an excellent citizen, his wife being very highly esteemed by 
 all who made her acquaintance. There were born to them three 
 children, as follows: Ella, now the wife of Timothy J. Sulli- 
 van, who with their young son, Harry, reside at the Stack home- 
 stead, occupied by the family some forty years or more; Edmund 
 J., who was born on Sherburne West Hill some fifty years ago, and 
 married Ella A. Noonan of Schenevus, N. Y., by whom was 
 born one son, M. Leo, a graduate last year of the Clarkson Me- 
 morial Polytechnic Institute at Potsdam, N, Y. After the de- 
 cease of his first wife, Mr. Stack married Miss Marcia Lamb, and 
 they still reside at South Otselic. Mr. Stack owned and con- 
 ducted the Gothic House many years, making it one of the best 
 hostelries in the county, but a few years since sold the same, and 
 now carries on a successful wagon and harness business in that 
 village. As an evidence of his prosperity, we are pleased to note 
 the fact that he was chosen a Director of the Otselic Valley 
 National Bank, which has recently been organized in that wide- 
 awake hamlet. 
 
 John B. Stack spent his boyhood days in Smyrna, attend- 
 ing the village school where he proved himself an earnest stu- 
 dent and excellent scholar. He entered the State Normal School 
 at Brockport in 1876, where he graduated with honor in June, 
 1880. A few years after his graduation he was a very success- 
 ful teacher at the High School at Macedon, N. Y., and in 1887 
 married Ella F. Hickey of that village, and they now have three 
 children, Vincent, Clara and Fred. Mr. Stack and family are 
 now residents of Washington, D. C, where he holds a lucrative 
 government position. Marguerite, the youngest of the family, 
 was also an excellent scholar attending our village school and 
 later graduating at the State Normal School at Oneonta. She 
 is now a successful teacher in one of the public schools of Greater 
 New York. 
 
 112 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 James and Thomas Stack, cousins of Michael Stack, natives 
 of Clare County, Ireland, were once residents of Smyrna, com- 
 ing from Sherburne in the fifties, the former and his family 
 locating in a small house on a portion of the site of the Dr. 
 Lawrence place, and later moving to the present Sprague place. 
 James was a blacksmith by trade, a good workman, and occu- 
 pied several years the building now used by Leonard Towner. 
 He married Bridget O'Rourke and there was a large family of 
 children, nearly all by perseverance and persistent effort becom- 
 ing exceedingly prosperous, far be3'ond the average self-made 
 family. The family moved to Sherburne in the seventies, but 
 have always held the highest regard for their old Smyrna neigh- 
 bors. James and his brother, and excellent wife are now de- 
 ceased, as well as his eldest son, James E. Stack, who died at 
 Oneonta some ten years ago, leaving a widow and four chil- 
 dren. Among the rest were Bartholomew A., now a respected 
 clergyman of St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Camillus, where 
 he has been stationed a number of years and has many warm 
 friends; Thomas, a successful manager of a milk shipping sta- 
 tion at Chenango Forks; Edward, of Brooklyn, foreman of the 
 Lupton Publishing Company; George E., born here and named 
 after the late Dr. George E. Lawrence, at one time Assistant 
 Train Dispatcher of the D., L. & W. R. R. atUtica, and now 
 Treasurer of the Utica Gas and Electric Company of that city; 
 John, now holding an excellent position on the Louisville (Ky.,) 
 Courier Journal; Mary, who married John Macksey of Sher- 
 burne, and to whom we are indebted for the facts in connection 
 with this sketch; Lizzie, who married Wilmer J. Colbourne, now 
 of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, N. Y., and her sister Ella, residing 
 with her; Catherine married Dr. W. F. Gregg, of Camillus, N. 
 Y., where they now reside, and Lucy, is now a successful teacher 
 in one of the High Schools at New York City. 
 
 Appleby King was born in Rhode Island about one hundred 
 years ago, and when a young man came to Norwich, where he 
 married Clarissa Franklin. From Norwich he moved to Pres- 
 ton, and in the spring of 1849 moved to the farm on Smyrna 
 
 113 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Hill, ever since known as the King homestead. Almcn and Hiram, 
 the two older sons, lived nearly all their lives in this town, ana 
 James the only remaining son still resides here. Almon held 
 several offices in the town and was a prominent member of the 
 Baptist Church. Elvira King married Benjamin Conkey, and 
 for many years they were residents of our village, winning the 
 esteem and respect of all with whom they became acquainted. 
 Calvin was perhaps best and most widely known, becoming a 
 successful teacher and later a School Commissioner of the 
 County. He was also at one time a general agent for school 
 books for a New York City firm, and was interested in various 
 ways in many other business enterprises, accumulating at one 
 time a considerable fortune. He was very much interested in 
 church and temperance work, a fluent speaker, and very popular 
 wherever known. His death as well as that of his excellent wife 
 occurred but a few months since at their home at Otselic. 
 
 James Chapman and wife came from Providence, R. I., to 
 Troy, N. Y., where they lived until 1808, when with a family of 
 four children, of whom Simon S. was the youngest, they moved 
 to Plymouth, N. Y. On the second day out from Troy, a foot- 
 stove containing live coals set the straw on fire, and the whole 
 outfit was in danger of being burned when James discovered 
 the situation and threw the stove out leaving it to its fate. Hav- 
 ing two brothers at Paris, Oneida County, he called on them, 
 but was not satisfied to remain there and kept on till he reached 
 Chenango County. His first home here was a log house near 
 the Smyrna line, since known as the Wilson Young farm, but 
 he afterwards bought forty acres in the town of Smyrna and 
 built a log house on the direct road from Plymouth to Smyrna. 
 He was a potter by trade and to help in paying for the farm 
 went to Rome to work in a pottery; leaving home at an early 
 hour on Monday morning accompanied by his son, both on 
 horseback, until they reached Hamilton, when the boy would 
 return home with the horses, and the father finished the journey 
 on foot. James Chapman was a member of the Friends Society 
 and helped in building the first meeting house, and with his wife 
 
 114 
 
Our First Old Home IVeek 
 
 and one daughter are buried in the Friends' Burial Ground. 
 Simon S. Chapman was born in Troy, N. Y., in the year 1806, 
 and was one of a family of fourteen children, coming to Ply- 
 mouth when but two years of age, where he lived until 1853, 
 and then moved to Smyrna. In 183 1 he married Adeline Mes- 
 senger, and to them were born nine children. In his youthful 
 days he was Captain of the Militia, and for years the title fol- 
 lowed him. In 1851 he was chosen Supervisor of the town of 
 Plymouth, an office which he did not ask, his children realizing the 
 event with some pardonable pride when he was called from his 
 slumbers with the announcement of his election. In 1853 he 
 bought the Tracy farm now owned by Frank Hills, occupying 
 the same until his death which occurred in 1888, in his 82d year, 
 survived by his estimable wife who passed away in 1901, in her 
 92d year. The descendants of the Chapman family well repre- 
 sent their honorable ancestry and have always been and still are 
 among our best and most worthy citizens. 
 
 Cyrus D. Abbott was born in Sherburne, August 17, 1829, 
 the son of Daniel and Chloe Wescott Abbott, the former a na- 
 tive of Sherburne. To this couple were born eight children, four 
 sons and four daughters. Their home was on a farm north of 
 Sherburne village, where they resided until the death of the 
 father, leaving the eight children to the care of the mother. 
 Cyrus pursued his studies in the district schools of Sherburne, 
 finally learning the cobblers trade, becoming in time one of the 
 best boot and shoe makers in any of the towns of Central New 
 York. When he grew to manhood he moved to Smyrna village 
 and opened a shop for himself, in which he was very successful. 
 In 1846 he married Louise Deutelleur, of Sherburne, a lady of 
 French descent and said to be of most excellent ancestry. To 
 them were born five children: The oldest was Esther E., who 
 became the wife of Francis E. DeMarse, deceased, and is a resi- 
 dent of Sherburne; John C. married Clara, a daughter of Charles 
 O. Tuttle, now of Earlville, by whom are three children; Louise 
 and William J., both graduates of our High School, and the lat- 
 
 115 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 ter now a student at the Troy Polytechnic Institute, and Ernest 
 C, the youngest; Rose M. is the wife of our friend and life-long 
 resident, J. Orville Preston, their only child, M. Jay, being con- 
 nected with the general store of Willcox & Preston in this vil- 
 lage; Fred G. married Edna Champlin, of Sherburne, and they 
 now reside in the city of Elmira. Cyrus D. Abbott died on the 
 26th day of August, 1871, in his forty-sixth year, and his wife's 
 death occurred on the 25th of June, 1875, and both rest in the 
 West Burial Ground in this village. 
 
 JUDAH H. Cook came from Brattleboro, Vt., when a young 
 man settling in Plymouth, this county. In 1834 he married 
 Sarah Denney a native of North East, Dutchess County, and 
 later moved to Norwich. Mr. Cook was a Jacksonian Demo- 
 crat, always true to his party, an old-fashioned man retaining 
 the customs of the older class of people, and though perhaps 
 somewhat eccentric, was an excellent conversationalist and a 
 great reader enjoying in general the confidence of his townsmen. 
 Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church, and 
 faithful to their trust. Mrs. Cook was a most estimable woman, 
 her Christianity and her life, like the flowers she so much loved, 
 shed a fragrance wherever she went and homes of sickness and 
 sorrow were made happy because of her cheering presence. 
 
 They moved to Upperville in the fall of 1856, where they 
 made their home for many years, no vestige of the same now 
 remaining as the house was burned in April, 1895. Their chil- 
 dren were Sarah, who died at an early age; Cephas B., born at 
 Oxford, who came to Smyrna with his parents, educated in the 
 old Norwich Academy, afterwards teaching several terms of 
 school in Smyrna and Sherburne, and in 1862 moving east and 
 teaching several years at Lakeville, Conn. Mr. Cook was also 
 a Democrat, always taking an active part in politics. His death 
 occurred at Lakeville, Conn., March 20, 1877, and at the time 
 of his death he was a member of the Connecticut Legislature, a 
 School Examiner and a Justice of the Peace. His age was forty- 
 seven. Maria C. was educated in Smyrna and Norwich, teach- 
 
 116 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 ing some thirty or more terms in and around Smyrna with much 
 success, winning the respect of all her pupils which has ever fol- 
 lowed her. She is now the esteemed wife of Smith C Faulk- 
 ner, of Norwich, and they have one son, Clarence, a recent grad- 
 uate of the Norwich High School. (Mr. Faulkner's oldest son, 
 Jesse, born in Smyrna, by his first wife now deceased, also re- 
 sides with them at Norwich.) AH will hope that many years of 
 comfort and enjoyment may be hers. 
 
 George Towner, whose first wife was Sarah Beale, now 
 deceased, came from Sussex County, England, in 1858, and was 
 an expert blacksmith, doing many kinds of work which a ma- 
 jority of those who follow in his line of business are unable to 
 accomplish. Mr. Towner's second wife, now deceased, was Eliza- 
 beth Burton, and there were five children, once well known here. 
 Byron, now deceased; Rosa, the wife of Ira Snow of Waltham, 
 Mass. ; Flora, who married Deloss Seymour of Westmoreland, 
 N. Y. ; Ida, the wife of Charles Baxter of Greene, and Charles, 
 now a resident of the state of Michigan. Mr. Towner's death oc- 
 curred in this village in April, 1867, Leonard, his first son, has 
 since i860 been a resident of the town, excepting perhaps one or 
 two years. He is well known and highly respected by all who 
 know him, and has followed his father's occupation, a faithful 
 industrious laborer at the same. He married Mary Crandall, of 
 Sherburne, and there are living five children; Arthur, the oldest, 
 whose wife was Millie Sabin, now of Syracuse; George B., of 
 Norwich, whose wife was Harriet, the oldest daughter of Arthur 
 L. Harris; Sarah E., who resides at home, and Walter B. and 
 Philip A., who have railroad positions at Sidney, N. Y. 
 
 Nelson Cole for over forty years a respected resident of 
 Smyrna, where he has been a prosperous farmer and worthy 
 citizen, was born in Otselic, February 11, 18 19, and was one of 
 four children. He married Emeline, a sister of Robert Gibson, 
 of Beaver Meadow, and by her were two children. DeEtta, who 
 passed away some thirty years ago, and Dewitt, who lives at 
 home. The mother is now deceased and Mr. Cole has become 
 
 117 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 a feeble old gentleman. His father was Ziba Cole, born at Prov- 
 idence, R. 1., October 8, 1778; his mother Laura Colt, born at 
 the same place January 16, 1793, a sister of the man who in- 
 vented the Colt revolver. 
 
 Brigham \0UNG — Our most famous citizen was no less a 
 personage than Brigham Young, who in later years became the 
 noted Mormon leader. His home here is said to have been near 
 the junction of the Plymouth road and that leading to German 
 Hollow. As a young man he frequently worked for the sur- 
 rounding neighbors, and was not long since remembered by sev- 
 eral old-time residents, and by those who were once attendants 
 at the old Stover "Meeting House" which he usually attended. 
 
 Very many, though never famous, were worthy of mention, 
 an honorable list of men and women of whom much could be 
 written equally worthy of notice with those whose names appear 
 in this volume, but no doubt nearly all have passed from these 
 transitory scenes and are now on the side of the Great Majority. 
 
 That many names are omitted from the foregoing list we are 
 fully aware, but our readers should bear in mind that it is one 
 hundred and thirteen years since the first settlers came into the 
 town, and that there is scarcely left an inhabitant who can re- 
 member back even seventy-five years, and thus it is not surpris- 
 ing that many of our older and most worthy families are not 
 mentioned, a matter of very much regret to the writer. 
 
 Concerning our pioneers, one and all, from reports passed 
 down to the present, we are led to believe they were "good men 
 and true," and it may rightly be said that the present genera- 
 tion may well have a deserving pride in their honorable ancestry. 
 
 "What cares he for the monarch's jeweled crown, 
 For prince or plutocrat, for fame's renown, 
 The turmoil and the strife of endless greed, 
 When honest toll supplies each simple need, 
 He seeks not glory, yet the future years, 
 Weave all their laurels for the pioneers." 
 Its 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 WILD ANIMALS. 
 
 Wild animals were numerous in our town as well as in all 
 the surrounding countrv, and bear, deer, wolves and other ani- 
 mals were frequently seen, and panthers occasionally. Elizabeth 
 Tobey, wife of Joseph Tobey, has told of seeing a wolf near-by 
 where she was washing clothes in the brook south of the old 
 Tobey home, but upon hearing a loud cry the animal disap- 
 peared as suddenly as it made its appearance. Wolf gorge was 
 said to have been at that time a great resort for these animals, 
 hence its name. Bears were very numerous and often attacked 
 young cattle, sheep and swine, and at the Tobey farm was kept 
 for many years a large bear trap made by Mr. Tobey, which 
 helped to rid the vicinity of many of these animals, and when 
 the country was cleared the trap was sent to the western part of 
 the state and in that section helped the settlers rid themselves of 
 the annoying animals. The road to the present settlement of 
 Upperville was for many years known as the "dangerous gulf,'' 
 on account of wild animals. 
 
 Aunt Laura Wilbur, mother of the late Isaac Wilbur, and 
 grandmother of Clifford B. who still resides here, has told the 
 writer of once meeting a bear while in the woods adjoining her 
 home, but looking the animal steadily in the eye he finally 
 sneakfd away without harming her. 
 
 Our esteemed and venerable friend, Gilbert Tuttle, furnishes 
 the following among other reminiscences: "In the fall of 1839, 
 my father, Daniel Tuttle, and family, ten in all at that time, 
 moved on to a place of about forty acres located about one-half 
 mile south of the George Bartlett place, having purchased it as I 
 recollect from the state. There were no buildings, and father 
 and we boys. Nelson, Israel and myself, helped in rolling up logs 
 for our winter residence. We lost one of our oxen, which left 
 us with only one, which we worked for a time alone with a 
 crooked yoke, but after a while yoked the ox with the cow, and 
 in this way completed our buildings. The winter provisions 
 
 tl9 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 were obtained largely by the burning of coal pits, (the coal sell- 
 ing for five cents per bushel,) and the sale of ashes. The lone 
 ox played an important part, harnessed or hitched to a cart or 
 sled as the season demanded, the sled made of two poles which 
 served both for runiers and shafts, the ox traveling in the mid- 
 dle of the road. In this way we always went to the old Mun- 
 son mill for our meal, and I have no recollections of partaking 
 of wheat bread up to this time. There were only little patches 
 of cleared land in all that section, but on father's farm the Bea- 
 vers had made a little cleared ground down by the creek. Dur- 
 ing the winter we boys were compelled to remain within doors 
 quite largely, as our people were unable to provide us boots or 
 shoes, and at this time there were no cook stoves in all that re- 
 gion of country. In the following spring we had an experience 
 with a panther which caused much uneasiness among us for 
 many years. We had heard peculiar noises several times dur- 
 ing the spring, over in the woods similar to the crying of a child, 
 but had never been able to discover the source of these noises. 
 One morning Enos was sent down to see if the coal pits were 
 properly burning and hearing a rattling noise in the brush 
 stopped to see what the disturbance might be, when he discov- 
 ered a large animal on a good sized pole with its claws reaching 
 almost around it. The panther, as it proved to be, started in 
 pursuit, which sufficiently satisfied my brother's cusiosity and 
 he ran towards home for dear life. We saw him running with 
 the panther behind. The animal was proving too fleet for the 
 boy and fast lessening the distance between the two. The dis- 
 tance was not far from the house and the boy began yelling at 
 the top of his voice, and the animal gave up the chase as they 
 neared the house. The news was spread through the neighbor- 
 hood and hunting parties were organized and the panther shot a 
 few miles west of the place. He was a monster and measured 
 seven feet from tip to tip. It was certainly the last panther ever 
 shot in the township, and we believe there is no record of any 
 other being shot here since the organization of the town." 
 
 120 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 The father of the writer has told him that he has frequently 
 seen deer coming over the hill north of the Munson place to 
 water in the little stream a short distance above the lot so long 
 used as a garden, and a large hedge hog was shot by the late 
 Stephen V. Reynolds on his farm in the summer of 1874, and 
 in later days quite recently one was shot on the farm of Hervey 
 Sexton, probably the last of its race in the town. 
 
 TRACY'S BEAR STORY. 
 
 Our old-time resident and home week visitor, James R. 
 Tracy, gives us the following, which cannot fail to interest our 
 readers, known as Tracy's Bear Story, the scene of the fight be- 
 ing the present Stover farm. 
 
 "Upon a midsummer Sunday about the year 1800, Uncle 
 Orrin Van Vleet, a lame man living on the west end of the Sto- 
 ver farm, came to father's door much excited, and told father 
 he had seen a bear enter a hollow tree on the hill over south of 
 the Stover place. My father was a strict Methodist, and it was 
 Sunday, but it would never do to let such a vicious animal es- 
 cape. So taking his gun and telling his hired man to bring an 
 axe, and calling his two dogs they followed Uncle Orrin towards 
 the bear tree. On their way Uncle Stover armed with a pitch- 
 fork, and followed by his hired man with an axe and the two 
 Stover dogs, joined them. The tree was on the side hill on 
 what was afterwards the Thompson Wilber farm, and one-half 
 mile east of Dark Hollow. From signs around the tree the con- 
 clusion was reached that it was a veritable bear's den and that 
 cubs were also within it. It was soon agreed that the cubs 
 should be captured alive if possible, but the bear must be killed. 
 The question was to get at the bear, as the entrance to the den 
 was some sixty feet straight up the tree which had a single stump 
 of a limb some six feet below. The mode of attack agreed upon 
 was this, a beech tree with a thick top standing near the elm was 
 felled against it, and this made a ladder reaching to within about 
 twenty feet of the entrance. Father's plan was to reach the 
 
 121 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 bear's entrance and by throwing things therein to anger her so 
 that she would come out. He threw off his coat and hat and as- 
 cended the branch, an easy task, to the elm. He then had about 
 a dozen feet to climb bear fashion, by clinging to the bark to 
 reach the limb stump under the entrance. By standing upon 
 the limb he could just reach the hole over his head. He took a 
 number of pieces of bark and poked them into the hole and let 
 them fall, and it was not long before Mrs. Bruin came to the 
 door to see what was the matter. Observing who her caller or 
 intruder was she gave an ugly growl and proceeded at once to 
 drive him away. He, aware of her intent, began sliding down 
 the tree and she after him. He soon reached the beech tree 
 and through its branches he could go much faster than she 
 could, and not being able to go down head downwards and also 
 unable to see behind her, the constant climbing of limbs retarded 
 and finally disgusted her, so that she gave up the chase, and 
 very composedly sat down on the limb under her doorway and 
 took a survey of the surroundings. It may be easily imagined 
 that the prospect was not very much to her liking. Five men 
 and an equal number of dogs at the foot of her castle, and her 
 cubs inside was not very pleasant to contemplate. Meantime 
 father had his rifle and prepared to make the shot which would, 
 as he confidently expected, practically end the contest. With 
 thoughts of bear's meat and a feast for all his neighbors, he fired, 
 and the bear, why, she just snapped her teeth and that was all. 
 He then gave her a shot from the other side but with the same 
 result. He planted a third shot upon her shoulder which angered 
 her, and with a fierce growl she wheeled about and re-entered 
 her castle. It was not long before she had the clubs raining 
 down upon her. There was a noise inside, and father was de- 
 termined to see what it was, so grasping the opening with both 
 hands he drew himself up and peered in. Just then Mrs. Bruin 
 poked her nose into the same hole from the inside, and thei^ 
 noses were not a foot apart, when with a defiant snarl she blew a 
 whole mouth full of froth into his face and made a grab for him. 
 Father knew she would be after him and retreated with all pos- 
 
 122 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 sible haste. Bruin, coming suddenly out of her retreat, was 
 obliged to turn completely around before she could begin the 
 chase, giving father a few hitches the start, and it was hitch 
 Tracy and hitch bear, and it was difficult to see which could 
 hitch the fastest. But Mrs. B. had a plan of her own. She had 
 counted them from her perch upon the limb that there were al- 
 ready four men and five dogs on the ground for her to contend 
 with in her retreat to the fastnesses of Dark Hollow, and she 
 had no notion of having the fifth man, and he most aggressive 
 of all, added to the number of her assailants at the beginning of 
 the fight, So, when about twenty feet from the ground she shot 
 herself clear of the tree, passed over his head and reached the 
 ground before him. Of course the dogs charged immediately, 
 the four curs upon the flanks and rear. But father's big mastiff 
 disdained such a mode of fighting, and would meet her face to 
 face. He didn't know that the bear was a past master at box- 
 ing, but soon he found it out, for once within reach she dealt 
 him a terrific blow with her huge paw upon the side of his head 
 which sent him end over end howling at the top of his voice. 
 Jumping up he made a bee line for home, wanting no more bear 
 hunt for him. Meantime the bear was making her best possible 
 time in her flight, with father and the crowd in hot pursuit. But 
 the ceaseless nipping of the dogs at her heels soon angered her 
 and turning she charged back upon them, they in turn running 
 to father for protection, some passing on one side and some on 
 the other, so that the bear was brought straight to his feet. He 
 now thought to end the contest at a single blow with a club, as 
 her head was quite within reach, and there seemed no possible 
 chance for failure, but he soon found that Mrs. B. was as good 
 at fencing as she had been at boxing, for though his cudgel fell 
 like lightning, her head, as if by magic disappeared between her 
 forelegs, and the cudgel struck the ground and she was in full 
 retreat again. The dogs, ever alert and only fearing when her 
 head was turned towards them, at once closed in and before 
 many rods had been passed again engaged her into another coun- 
 ter charge. Father thought to dispatch her this time sure, and 
 
 123 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 again his cudgel fell, but it struck the ground and the animal 
 still in retreat. When the dogs brought her back the third time, 
 father who was beginning to fear ignominious defeat, sprang 
 quickly beside her and his club fell upon her back and broke it. 
 The two hired men who, armed with axes, had hung upon father's 
 heels all through the exciting contest soon dispatched her, and 
 Uncle Stover, older and more portly than the others who had 
 followed, ready to give assistance if required, offered his hearty 
 congratulations at the lucky ending of the contest. The tree was 
 then felled, one of the cubs being killed in its falling. The other 
 v^as captured alive but was too old to be safe where small chil- 
 dren were about, so he was also dispatched." 
 
 ROADS AND RAILROADS. 
 
 The Albany and Ithaca Turnpike was built in the summer 
 of 1805, and considered a boon to the settlers, as it assisted ma- 
 terially in clearing up the section through which it was laid, 
 mostly an unbroken forest, where in many places only blazed 
 trees had marked a path to the newly made settlements. From 
 the east it passes through Smyrna in a northwesterly direction, 
 and it is stated that the one hundredth mile west of Albany was 
 staked at the point where the roads converge from Earlville and 
 Sherburne, one mile east of the village, and the one hundred and 
 first mile, in the road directly in front of the office of George P. 
 Pudney. 
 
 The opening of this thoroughfare was the most important 
 enterprise that occupied the attention of the people of this part of 
 the state, until some thirty years later the subject of a canal to 
 connect the valley with the Erie canal at Utica, became a popu- 
 lar theme that finally culminated in the construction of the Che- 
 nango canal from Utica to the city of Binghamton, on which 
 work was begun in July, 1834, and completed in the month of 
 October, 1836, at a cost of 154,542,107. The new enterprise 
 was hailed with joy by all the people, and its beginning and 
 completion were duly celebrated through all the section to which 
 
 124 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 it extended. It was a matter of much convenience and a great 
 assistance to the people along its line, and fully satisfied them 
 for many years, doing a thriving business, carrying large quanti- 
 ties of grain, flour and other commodities from the cities to the 
 towns, and returning the products of the farms to the cities. 
 
 In spite of its prosperity, the people arose to the fact along 
 in the latter fifties that it was becoming inadequate to meet the 
 requirements of the growing interests of the valley, and from 
 this time on the subject of a railroad was the chief discussion 
 among the people, resulting in the year of 1865 in the organiza- 
 tion of the Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley Railroad 
 Company, its object being the building of a railroad from Utica 
 to Binghamton, some ninety miles to the southward, reaching 
 Waterville, Norwich and Oxford and the other intermediate 
 villages. 
 
 A year or two later the road was constructed, first to Sher- 
 burne, then to Norwich and later to Binghamton, its southern 
 extremity. At the former place the opening of the same was 
 observed with much enthusiasm, and a grand celebration held 
 in its honor, one which has never been excelled or even equaled 
 in our sister village, and the event will still be remembered by 
 many of our older citizens. One of the chief speakers on that 
 occasion was the late honored Horatio Seymour, and it was the 
 last time he was ever heard in the valley. 
 
 The building of this road closed the time honored stage 
 routes from Utica southward, and opened a new era to the in- 
 habitants of all this section of country, and it was not long after 
 the beginning of operations on the railroad that it was discovered 
 that the canal was a loser and was not paying expenses, conse- 
 quently it was not to be wondered at some ten years later, that 
 the State Legislature voted to abandon the canal and discard its 
 use, and while in the latter days there has been some talk about 
 its reconstruction, yet it is not at all likely that it will ever be 
 rebuilt. , ,^ ■ : 
 
 t2S 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Not many years after the railroad was built it was sold to 
 the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, 
 which still controls it, the sale having proven a most profitable 
 investment for the towns as well as for the company. While 
 the road was a great benefit to our own town, yet an event took 
 place in the winter of 1866, which awakened a new interest in 
 the minds of the people of Smyrna, who were desirous for a 
 railroad through their own town. This was the organization of 
 the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad Company, whose 
 track was to traverse the state diagonally from Oswego on Lake 
 Ontario to the great Metropolis, passing through Oswego, Madi- 
 son, Chenango, Delaware, Sullivan, Orange and Rockland Coun- 
 ties, a distance of some three hundred and twenty-five miles. 
 
 Enthusiastic meetings were held in nearly all the towns in 
 aid of the project. They were very largely attended and much 
 interest was shown. The outcome was the bonding of nearly 
 all the towns and villages along the route, our own town falling 
 in line to the amount of $120,000, our people little realizing that 
 it would be nearly forty years before the last dollar of the in- 
 debtedness would be paid. The colossal blunder was made, 
 when, instead of paying a portion of the amount of principal 
 each year, the whole amount was allowed to run for twenty 
 years at seven per cent interest. With no fund on hand to meet 
 the principal at the close of that period, the sum was refunded at 
 four and one-half per cent, with a portion of the principal sum 
 to be due and payable each year, until the whole issue of the 
 bonds should be cancelled, and it is a matter of much congratu- 
 lation that in this year of grace, 1905, the last payment is to 
 be made, ridding the taxpayers of a burden which has come 
 with extreme hardness on the shoulders of very many of our 
 citizens. 
 
 While the debt has been a heavy one for many years, yet 
 now, after its payment, with an excellent road, fine trains, and 
 most excellent accommodations, we firmly believe but few could 
 be found among all the taxpayers who would be willing to have 
 
 126 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 the road removed, even if all the costs of the same could be re- 
 funded. Like all new roads it had its troubles. Its worst trial 
 was in the spring of 1875, when nearly the entire road was 
 abandoned, excepting that portion running from Utica co Sid- 
 ney, which for a few monihs was operated by the Delaware & 
 Hudson Company. This arrangement was of short duration, 
 for in the fall of that year the company was re-organized as the 
 New York, Ontario & Western Railroad Company, and the en- 
 tire road re-opened for business, the same management con- 
 tinuing till the spring of 1905, when the announcement was 
 made of the purchase of the road and its branches by the New 
 York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, a strong 
 and wealthy organization, which augurs well for the future of 
 the road. 
 
 There are branches from Utica and Rome to Randallsville, a 
 short branch from Pecksport to White's Corners, (doing away 
 with the heavy grade from Randallsville to Pratt's Hollow,) and 
 one from Sidney to Edmeston. Another from Cadosia to the 
 coal fields of Carbondale and Scranton, and also one from 
 Summitville to Kingston on the Hudson. It is a matter of much 
 regret that the branch from Norwich to Freeville, which was 
 opened with such fine prospects and continued for a number of 
 years, was finally abandoned, and our sympathy is extended to 
 our neighbors in Plymouth and Otselic, who having issued 
 bonds which must be paid, are still obliged to remain without a 
 railroad, though there is little doubt that in the near future those 
 towns will have a railroad, though whether steam or electric, or 
 from whence or to whence, still remains a problem. 
 
 The first train on the road was run from Oneida to West 
 Monroe to carry hop pickers, on the 29th of August, and was 
 drawn by engine No. 4, "Delaware," (No. 3 was the "Chenango,") 
 with Edwin Williams, engineer, and our old friend and vet- 
 eran James T. Purdy, now of Sherburne Hill, as conductor. 
 The road was opened from Oswego to Norwich in November, 
 1869, and for many months the "blow" of the whistle or the 
 
 127 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 ringing of the bell was a signal for the appearance of old and 
 young on the surrounding hill tops to witness the arrival and 
 departure of the trains. With the first railroad came the first 
 telegraph line through the town, and the first operator Charles 
 W. Head, of Earlville, now deceased, as well as the line itself 
 was a source of much wonder to all the then small boy fra- 
 ternity. The road was completed to New York in the summer 
 of 1873, its terminal being at Weehawken, N. J. With a two 
 cent rate of fare its business is constantly increasing, and its 
 train service compares most favorably with any of the lateral 
 roads of the state, and with the new facilities promised in the 
 future, there seems to be no reason why the New York, Ontario 
 & Western will not some day be one of the leading railroads of 
 the Empire State. 
 
 MILITARY RECORD. 
 
 Hon. Isaac Foote, Moses Ballard and Timothy Leonard, 
 heroes of the revolution, sleep their last sleep in our West Burial 
 Ground, and Timothy Dunne, a hero of Stony Point, and Jared 
 Bennett a young soldier who also faced the British soldiers in 
 behalf of the cause of the American Colonies, rest in our Eastern 
 Cemetery. One hundred and twelve soldiers were furnished by 
 the town for the War of the Rebellion, the number mcluding 
 many of our best young men, and none were braver. 
 
 We are forcibly reminded, especially as each recurring Deco- 
 ration Day moves around and their ranks are seen depleted, that 
 those young men of nearly forty-five years ago, are not only 
 growing old, but fast passing away. 
 
 "Passing away, yes, passing away. 
 Fewer the numbers, day by day, 
 Over the river, with noiseless tread. 
 One by one, go the soldier dead." 
 
 Following is a list of those who enlisted from the town of 
 Smyrna to serve in the United States army during the Civil 
 War: 
 
 128 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 5th New York Heavy Artillery — *Edgar L. Bennett; *Gilbert 
 Wedge; *lsaac Wade; tAdelbert Rose, died on way home; *John 
 McKinney; tJames Ferris, Frederik a, Iowa; William Cashdollar, 
 killed at Winchester; Truman Blindberry, killed at Charleston; 
 tNelson J. Scarritt, Smyrna, N. Y.; Dwight Mygatt, died in 
 Salisbury prison; «lsaac Brooks, Sherburne, N. Y.; tOscar Tut- 
 hill, died on way home; E W. Franklin, died in Salisbury prison; 
 Henry C. Wheeler, Binghamton, N. Y.; Charles Cashdollar, resi- 
 dence unknown; W. D. Pudney, sergeant, Cleveland, Ohio; 
 Clark Tinker, died at Baltimore; tThomas Tracy, died on way 
 home; Philander Benedict, died at Baltimore; *Owen Manwar- 
 ren; Hezekiah W. Pentecost, state of Washington. 
 
 t57th New York Infantry— *Joel L Jaynes; H. S. Mont- 
 gomery, Plymouth, N. Y.; J. H. Collier, Earlville, N. Y.; Na- 
 than Eldridge, Smyrna, N. Y.; M. C. Dixon, New York city; 
 •Charles Hitchcock; *Thomas Russell; tJ. W. Boynton, Smyrna, 
 N. Y.; Richard M. Hall, killed at Chancellorsville: E. F. Law- 
 rence, Wards Island, N. Y.; «George Scarritt; Henry J. Preston, 
 killed at Chancellorsville; *Timothy Taylor; J. Burdette Tay- 
 lor, Otsdawa, N. Y.; *Abram Ferris; Luman Miles, Norwich, N. 
 Y.; *Hiram Cleveland; *Orville Gazley; *Garner Mathewson, 
 Veteran of Mexican War; George Hills, North Norwich, N. Y.; 
 Elisha Bisbee, Smyrna, N. Y.; «Valentine Tefft; Delos Gazley, 
 residence unknown; Horace E. Sprague, North Brookfield, N. Y. 
 
 114th New York Infantry — *Thomas Hitchcock; Isaac Bal- 
 lou, Smyrna, N. Y. ; *George Burlingham; Nathan Tefft, Norwich, 
 N. Y.; Charles Tefft, St. Charles, Michigan; *Joseph Swift; 
 •Ruf us Tracy; *Miles Ireland; *John Cleveland; Henry J. Crumb, 
 Smyrna, N. Y.; George W. Crumb, Smyrna, N. Y.; »Henry 
 Thetka; »Hiram Thetka; John VanDeusen, Beaver Meadow, N. 
 Y.; Adam Rickard, Beaver Meadow, N. Y.; Stephen Weaver, 
 sergeant, killed at Winchester; Isaac Weaver, Sidney, N. Y.; 
 •Charles Shaver. 
 
 6 1st New York Infantry— Capt. Charles H. Stanton, Ply> 
 mouth, N. Y.; •David Campbell; •Daniel Crumb; •William 
 
 129 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Gates; *Byron Reynolds; *Jacob Carncross; Orlando Wedge, 
 residence unknown; Julius Kelsey, killed in battle; Prof, Hud- 
 son A. Wood, died at Mt. Vernon, N. Y. ; Robert Record, Otselic, 
 N. Y.; D. C. Clark, DeRuyter, N. Y.; Seymour Griffin, killed 
 in battle. 
 
 17th New York Infantry — Edward Tracy, Plymouth, N. Y.; 
 Lorenzo Tefft, Norwich, N. Y.; *John Wedge. 
 
 Bates' Battery of Artillery — *James E. McClellan, DeRuyter, 
 N. Y.; Andrew J. Shepard, Stevenson, Wash.; *N. E. King; 
 •Marvin W. Coleman. 
 
 184th New York Infantry — Josiah Miles, Smyrna, N. Y.; 
 John Miles, Truxton, N. Y.; *Caleb Ferris. 
 
 44th New York Infantry — Duane D. Dimmick, Earlville, N. 
 Y.; »John Stine; Alonzo Shepard, died in Soldiers' Home, Mis- 
 souri; McKenzie Shaw, residence unknown; ♦William Beach. 
 
 Other Regiments — *Devolson Wilcox, 35th New York In- 
 fantry; Lieut. Mansfield Yates, 22d New York Cavalry, killed at 
 Baltimore; * Lewis Carncross, 176th New York; *Dudley Wil- 
 cox, 22d New York Cavalry; *Joseph Talbott, 8th New York 
 Cavalry; *Francis Livermore, 8th New York Cavalry; *Silas H. 
 Chapman, 1st New York Mounted Rifles; *William Ellsworth, 
 Co. I, 2d New York H. A. 
 
 The Number of Regiment Unknown — *Joseph Antone, scout; 
 ♦Thomas Antone, scout; *Alvin Hubbard; *Squares D. Tracy; 
 ♦Merritt Shaver; Vernon Worden; Elisha Fredenburg; Nelson 
 Ireland, Austin Swift; Henry Raper; William B. Crumb; Sam- 
 uel Hinkley; *Harvey Roe. 
 
 •Dead, t Prisoner of War. 
 
 SMYRNA VILLAGE. 
 
 The Village of Smyrna was incorporated on the 20th day of 
 April, 1829, and the first Charter Election held at the house of 
 Russel Case, May 4th of the same year. A portion of the law 
 
 130 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 creating the Corporation reads as follows: "The People of the 
 State of New York represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact 
 as follows : "The district of country within the town of Smyrna, 
 in the County of Chenango, contained within the following 
 bounds, that is to say: "Beginning east at the east line of the 
 Union Meeting House lot; thence to Pleasant Brook; thence 
 westerly as said brook turns and winds to the west line of Or- 
 ville Squires' land, including the long bridge across said brook ; 
 thence easterly to the place of beginning, including forty rods 
 wide on the north side of the turnpike road, shall hereafter con- 
 tinue to be known and distinguished by the name of the Village 
 of Smyrna, and the freeholders and inhabitants residing within 
 the same qualitied to vote at town meetings, may meet on the 
 first Monday in May next, at the house of Russel Case in said 
 village, a notice whereof shall be made in writing, signed by a 
 justice of the peace or three freeholders residing in said town, 
 and put up in at least three public places in said village at least 
 five days before said first Monday in May next, and then and 
 there proceed to elect five discreet freeholders residing in said 
 village to be trustees thereof." 
 
 Some changes have been made in boundary lines and other 
 matters, and the village was re-incorporated under the general 
 law in the fall of 1900. 
 
 The first officers elected for the village (1829) were as fol- 
 lows : Trustees, Russel Case, Nicholas B. Mead, George Ham- 
 mond, John Strew and Harvey Talcott; assessors, Benjamin 
 Hopkins, Peter Merritt and John E. Tew; treasurer, Hial Hart; 
 constable and collector, Samuel C. Lawson ; pound keeper, John 
 Wiley; fire wardens, Nicholas B. Mead and Peter Merritt; over- 
 seer of highways, Demas Hubbard. At a subsequent meeting 
 Russel Case was chosen president. 
 
 Its present officers are as follows: President, Abel Comstock , 
 trustees, William W. Lyon, Walter G. Willcox; clerk, Daniel 
 G. Butts; treasurer, James T. Comstock; assessors, Leonard 
 Towner, Frank Rickard, Henry P. Northup; collector, Edwin S. 
 
 131 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Billings; highway commissioner, Dwight Reynolds. It will be 
 seen that Smyrna is one of the oldest incorporated villages in 
 Central New York. 
 
 UPPERVILLE. 
 
 Upperville was the name applied to the little settlement, three 
 miles west of the village, situated on Pleasant Brook near the 
 center of the town. 
 
 In its halcyon days it boasted of an axe factory, the same 
 conducted by Russel Leonard, and later by M. H. Jones, and a 
 grist mill, once conducted by James Scarritt, and still later by 
 Wise Soule, and closing its business career under the administra- 
 tion of the late Edward S. Towsley. The settlement also had a 
 good hotel, once kept by Dewitt C Briggs and later by Charles 
 Matthewson and also a flax mill and other minor business con- 
 cerns. Its glory has long since departed, but it remains a quiet, 
 peaceable community, its moral tone somewhat improved since 
 the advent of the handsome church erected there by the Friends' 
 Society, a very valuable acquisition to the community, and an 
 ornament to the place. It was at the school house just west of 
 the settlement that the late Herbert M. Dixon conducted a Mis- 
 sion Sunday School for forty-two years, and the church is no 
 doubt as much the outgrowth of the little Sunday School as of 
 any other effort put forth in its behalf. The place became bet- 
 ter known to the outside world, when seven years ago, under 
 the administration of the late President McKinley it obtained a 
 post office of the fourth class, and has since had a regular mail, 
 via the Otselic and Smyrna stage line, its present Post Master, 
 Francis G. Stanton, who seems to give universal satisfaction. 
 
 Some four miles from Upperville on the stage line, also on 
 Pleasant Brook, among the broad and fertile fields of that por- 
 tion of the town, is located another post office, Bonney, estab- 
 lished the same date with Upperville, (September 12, 1898,) 
 with our old friend, John D. Frair, as Post Master. It takes its 
 
 132 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 name from Sherman W. Bonney, a life-long and respected citi- 
 zen of that part of the town. Some of the newspaper corres- 
 pondents of that locality insist in claiming as their territory all 
 that portion of the town between Beaver Meadow and Tuttle 
 Hill, and eastward to Smyrna Falls, but they should be careful 
 not to take in the village also, and if they do not attempt to re- 
 move the land no serious objections will be offered. 
 
 "Bonney" actually refers to the little post office which bears 
 its name, and in spite of all claims, our good will and friend- 
 ship will always be extended to all the good people who are for- 
 tunate enough to live in the vicinity of the old "New Meeting 
 House." 
 
 MINING IN SMYRNA. 
 
 Our mining interests have never been very extensive, but yet 
 they are entitled to be mentioned even if they did not make 
 their projector a modern Croesus. 
 
 Ezekiel Evans, a somewhat eccentric farmer conceived the 
 idea along in the early sixties that silver was to be obtained 
 among the many rocks that abound throughout the town, and 
 soon after began operations for obtaining the same by the side 
 of the road near the Stover farm at Dark Hollow. Here he 
 dug numerous pits and was occupied in his endeavors for sev- 
 eral months, but without avail, for though he found samples of 
 rock that somewhat resembled the precious metel, it proved of 
 no value, and the scheme was given up to the considerable loss 
 of the manipulator, who found at last that like Ciold, All is not 
 Silver that glistens. 
 
 The Dark Hollow Silver Mines are still pointed out by the 
 older inhabitant. 
 
 TOWN RECORDS. 
 Our town records were all destroyed by the disastrous fiie 
 which visited our village June 16, 1900, hence we are minu^ 
 
 t33 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 many matters of much interest pertaining to the growth and ad- 
 vancement of the town, as well also as to affairs concerning its 
 people. The first town officers were chosen at a meeting which 
 was presided over by Hon. Isaac Foote, and were as follows: 
 Supervisor, Joseph Simons; town clerk, Jabez Collins; asses- 
 sors, Stephen Parker, Jesse Hutchinson, William Stover; com- 
 missioners of Highways, William Collins, Joshua Talcott, Robert 
 Emmons; collector and constable, Samuel Kelsey; overseers of 
 poor, William Stover, Joseph Collins; fence viewers, Adolphus 
 Hall, Seth Willis, Elias Ladd, Samuel Kelsey, Elisha Stanley; 
 pound master, Gideon Rudd. Our present town officers are as 
 follows: Supervisor, John W. Shepardson ; town clerk, Charles 
 Doll; justices of the peace, George A. Munson, George P. Pud- 
 ney, Stephen K. Willcox, J. Wellington Boynton; assessors, 
 Samuel J. Hopkins, George S. Record, Clayton R. Crumb; 
 overseer of poor, George F. Coy; collector, C. Wells Simons; 
 constables, Austm A. Hecox, Almenzo R. Brown, Elizur Briggs, 
 Fred King, and Frank C. Willcox. 
 
 Our first postmaster was Samuel Hall, who kept the office 
 in the Mansion House, of which he was proprietor, the same oc- 
 cupying the site of the present Methodist Church, and Charles 
 Hammond was his successor, continuing the office in that "tav- 
 ern," with Hall as deputy post master. Harvey Talcott held the 
 office from 1829 to 1841: Elmer Isbell from 1841 to 1849; 
 Milo Sutliff from 1850-53; Beardsley Leavenworth 1853 7; Dr. 
 Nicholas B. Mead 1857-61; Andrew Shepardson 1861-71; dur- 
 ing which time the office was kept in the present Nearing store, 
 and it was here during the civil war, that war matters were dis- 
 cussed, and from the steps in front war news read to those who 
 assembled each morning, and at the close of a battle in which 
 Chenango boys were known to have engaged, many sad mes- 
 sages were received causing deep sadness throughout the com- 
 munity. Dr. George E. Lawrence succeeded Mr. Shepardson in 
 1871, holding the office till the advent of the Cleveland adminis- 
 tration in 1885, when it was transferred to Ery W. Stokes, who 
 held the office till 1889, when William H. Comstock, a soldier 
 
 134 
 
DEMAS HUEBAKD 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 of the War of the Rebellion, wounded severely at the battle of 
 Winchester, and still carrying rebel lead, was appointed to the 
 office, holding the same till Mr. Cleveland was re-elected in 1 892 
 when he was succeeded by Fred. A. Sweet in the spring of 1893 
 holding the same till 1897. J. Wellington Boynton, the present 
 incumbent, was also a soldier of the rebellion, an inmate of the 
 noted Andersonville prison, and received the appointment at the 
 beginning of the McKinley administration and still holds the 
 office. 
 
 Since the organization of the town, the following have been 
 chosen Supervisors: Joseph Simons, 1809; William Stover, 
 1810-20; Joseph BiUings, 1821-22; Samuel Hall, 1824-5-7-8; 
 Joshua Talcott, 1826; Isaac Foote, Jr., 1829-30-50; Amasa 
 Foote, 1831-32; Norman Sexton, 1833-37; Steph-n Anthony, 
 1838-39; Samuel Northup, 1841 ; Dudley Bennett, 1845; John 
 F. Billings, 1846-7; Eber Dimmick. 1848-9; Harlow Billings, 
 1851-52; Rowland B.Tetft, 1853-54; Benjamin Stover, 1855-56; 
 Asa Wilber, 1857-58,1876-82; Demas Hubbard, 1859-64; An 
 drew Shepardson, 1865-73-85; Piatt Wilber, 1874-75; Charles 
 H. Stanton, 1883-84; George P Pudney, 1886-90; William E. 
 Stover, 1891-1900. John W. Shepardson, who holds the office 
 at present, was first elected in the spring of 1901, his present 
 term expiring December 3l, 1906. 
 
 Our town and community have always been noted for its 
 peaceable qualities, hence we have but two lawyers to mention, 
 and though but two in number, they have not been and are not 
 excelled by any. 
 
 OUR PROFESSIONAL MEN. 
 
 Hon. Demas Hubbard, our most noted lawyer, a native of 
 Herkimer County, began practicing here some seventy years 
 ago, and was honored with various offices, the most important 
 ijeing Member of the New York Assembly three terms, ana 
 Member of Congress for one term. He was a good lawyer, anJ 
 when strong arguments were lacking, usually turned the minds 
 
 t35 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 of the judge or jury with one of his excellent stories for which 
 he was noted. 
 
 Francis E. Dimmick, son of Eber Dimmick, a member of 
 the State Legislature of 1841, though not a regular lawyer, 
 doubtless understood law as well, if not better, than many 
 who have made law a profession. He was a justice of the 
 peace in the town for more than a quarter of a century, and 
 his ability was never questioned by those who came within his 
 judicial limits. 
 
 George P. Pudney, our present successful attorney, was ad- 
 mitted to the bar in the winter of 1877, and located here the fol- 
 lowing spring. He was a student of the late Deloss C Atkyns, 
 of Sherburne, We trust he will have no occasion to leave us. 
 He was District Attorney for our county two terms, is a capa- 
 ble and trustworthy lawyer, and his legal opinions considered 
 sound by all the legal fraternity. 
 
 Our physicians have been some of the best and have stood 
 high in their profession. Probably the first was Dr. Samuel 
 Guthrie, who came here from Massachusetts in I8O2, and re- 
 moved to Sherburne in 1811. Nicholas B. Mead came from 
 Washington County. He very successfully practiced his profes- 
 sion till his removal to Quincy, 111., in i860. Among others were 
 William Page and Dr. Asa Babcock. Dr. John W. Fish located 
 here in 1 840 and remained for sixteen years. Then came Dr. 
 Ure, and in 1862 Dr. William H. Stuart, who remained a few 
 months and located in Earlville ; in after life one of the most 
 respected and successful physicians at our neighboring village of 
 Norwich. 
 
 Dr. James E. McLellan, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, 
 whose recent death occurred at DeRuyter, Madison County, 
 where he had a fine practice for many years, was a successful 
 practitioner here for a number of years, a graduate of the Long 
 Island Medical College, and one who established a most excel- 
 lent reputation. He married Harriet, a daughter of the late 
 
 136 
 
DP.. G. E. LAWKENCE. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Samuel Willcox, who with her daughters, Carrie and Mabel, 
 still survive him. 
 
 Dr. Thomas E. Stack, a native of Ennis, Ireland, and Dr. 
 Frank J. Hitchcock, a native of our own town, a graduate of 
 the Medical College at Burlington, Vt., practiced here a few years 
 but have each moved to other localities. 
 
 The best known physician was Dr. George E. Lawrence, 
 who came here from Sherburne with his esteemed family in 
 1854, remaining until his decease in the fall of 1887. A kind 
 hearted, sympathetic man, always visiting rich and poor alike, 
 and one who made very many friends. In serious cases of ill- 
 ness his good wife usually accompanied him, always rendering 
 most valuable assistance, and it is stated that on the happy oc- 
 casions (more or less) of the Stork visits to our various homes, 
 that she was also usually present to assist in the presentation. 
 Very many of those present during Old Home Week would 
 have been too late for the historical address as well as for the re- 
 maining part of the celebration, had it not been for the faithful 
 nursing and gentle dandling of Mrs. Dr. Lawrence. All of 
 us will long remember Dr. Lawrence and his estimable wife, and 
 when they passed away we all knew that a good man and a 
 good woman had been taken from among us. Their only 
 daughter, Mary, a long time resident of our town, is well known, 
 loved and respected by all for many most amiable qualities, now 
 the wife of our hustling citizen, Floyd W. Brooks. 
 
 Edward F. Lawrence, the oldest son, now a resident of New 
 York city, is always welcomed to Smyrna, and never fails to 
 get a rejuvenation from the pure air of his native town and 
 county where he is well known. A genial, social and compan- 
 ionable gentleman whom all are pleased to meet, and who keeps 
 up a great interest in the welfare of his home town. Frank J. 
 Lawrence, born here in the early sixties, where he spent hb 
 happy boyhood days, became a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 
 and there spent the greater part of his life, meeting a sudden 
 death but a few months since, mourned by his wife and family. 
 
 137 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 The graves of the fond father and mother who rest in our 
 western burial ground will ever attract the remnant of this once 
 interesting family to our town. 
 
 Dr. Thurston G. Packer, a native of Jefferson County, this 
 State, came to our town with his family m the spring of 1881, 
 and has since been located here doing a prosperous business, and 
 having the confidence and esteem of his townsmen. His medi- 
 cines and stories are always the most recently discovered, and 
 his medicinal opinions usually found to be correct. 
 
 MERCHANTS. 
 
 Among our merchants may be mentioned James Elmore, 
 our first, who came here in 1802. Joshua Pratt, whose son is 
 now an honored and respected citizen of Sherburne, now in his 
 96th year, was also a merchant here in 1825. Harvey Talcott 
 built the Dixon Brothers store and did a general business there 
 for many years, and after him came Webster Merrell and Giles 
 Cowles, Gardner J. Kinyon, Herbert M. Dixon and later, Dixon 
 Brothers. Of the merchants who occupied the Hayward stc re 
 were Harvey Talcott, Parsons & Monroe, Eber Dimmick, and 
 Kinyon & Isbell. The store on the old Mead place, torn down by 
 Mr. G. P. Pudney, on which site now stands his law office, was 
 occupied by Nathan Sutliff, and its last use was as a feed store 
 kept by Ery W. Stokes in the late sixties. The old hardware 
 store was occupied by Almenzo K. Dixon for some twenty-five 
 years, where a most successful hardware business was conducted 
 until the same was sold to Lyon & Ferris in the fall of 1890, the 
 same being now conducted by Lyon & Son, in the new brick 
 store nearly on the site of the old one. The old building was 
 previously occupied by Eber Dimmick, James O. Ransom, B. 
 Leavenworth, Nathaniel P. Wheeler and Horace T. Nearing, 
 Abel Comstock came here forty-two years ago, purchasing the 
 old Shepard drug store, and the business is now in the hands of 
 his oldest son, James T. Comstock, whose new brick store is a 
 model of neatness. The old store was formerly owned by Trow- 
 
 13S 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 bridge Shepard and conducted as a drug store, who continued it 
 as such until his death in the summer of 1 862, mention of which 
 is made elsewhere in this volume. The present Nearing store 
 was owned and occupied as a store many years by James O. 
 Ransom, by whom it is said to have been built, and since he 
 moved from the town has been in use by several parties, includ- 
 ing Beard Leavenworth, Gazley & Lawrence, George H. Mead. 
 Samuel Lee, L. Boothby, and recently by Mrs. Anna Martin. It 
 is the only store building left by the fire of 1900. 
 
 Among other stores kept here we remember a small one 
 kept by Milo Benedict in the present Widger barber shop, and 
 one kept by Jesse Burlingham, in the present Hay house, who 
 conducted a boot and shoe store therewith. This store was the 
 delight of the small boy, and it was never ascertained which was 
 the drawing card in his business, the long rows of glass cans of 
 tempting candy, or the numberless pairs of stogy boots always 
 on exhibition. The writer well remembers his first pair of boots 
 which were purchased at this store. A store was built in the 
 summer of 1871, by Ery W. Stokes on the corner adjoining the 
 hotel, opposite the Dixon corner, in the rear of which was placed 
 a steam mill. The remainder of the building was occupied by 
 his son, C. Dever Stokes, as a general store. He did a very 
 successful business until his death in the fall of 1880, at New 
 York city, where he had gone to purchase goods. The build- 
 ing was sold in the spring of 1881 to John H. and George A. 
 Munson, who transferred the mill and machinery to the Munson 
 Mill, and the store was afterwards rented by William P. Briggs, 
 King & Preston, M. J. Preston, and still later by Preston & 
 Miner, who were in business there at the time of the fire in 1900. 
 
 HOTELS. 
 
 The first hotel, as has been stated, was the Mansion House, 
 built on the site of the present Methodist church, and kept by 
 Samuel Hall. About the year 1820 Jethro Hatch and Luther 
 Bowen built the hotel on the opposite side of the road, soon 
 
 139 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 after selling the same lo Russell Case, who continued it for sev- 
 eral years and sold it to Enos Merrell. About this time also the 
 old Kelsey hotel was started, merging from a grocery store. 
 The building still stands and, if not an ornament to the place, it 
 stands as a relic of the past. In the early fifties the Merrell 
 hotel was purchased by Ery W. Stokes, a son of Captain Stokes, 
 of Otselic, who conducted it for many years very successfully, 
 and in 1864 or 1865 traded with Charles C. Wilber for the pres- 
 ent Kenyon farm, once the property of Allen Rexford. In a 
 year or two Mr. Wilber sold to William M. Dietz, and about 
 1869 the property was sold to Manson K. Messenger, who owned 
 it till his death in April, 1905. The old hostelry was burned in 
 the fire of 1900, and a new and handsome hotel of modern de- 
 sign now graces the site of the old structure, with all modern 
 conveniences, and is an ornament to the village. The property 
 is now owned by its recent purchasers, John W. Shepardson, 
 Floyd W. Brooks and George A. Munson. 
 
 OPERA HOUSE. 
 
 The Munson Opera House was built in the spring of 1886, by 
 John H. and George A. Munson, its builder being N. Lee Mes- 
 senger, of Smyrna. The building was on Academy street, on 
 lands purchased by Manson K. Messenger, and was large and 
 commodious, holding easily five hundred people, the auditorium 
 being on the ground floor. The upper rooms were used as 
 lodge rooms for Smyrna Lodge, No. 116, I. O. O. F., and for 
 small assemblies. It was supplied with a handsome stage and a 
 full complement of scenery, besides a spacious balcony. It was 
 dedicated November 10, 1886, by a company of Norwich sing- 
 ers under the direction of the late Dr. Linn Babcock, who gave 
 a most excellent concert and were greeted by a crowded house. 
 The occasion will be long remembered by all who attended. The 
 accompanist for the occasion was Mrs. Nettie B. Mitchell, of 
 Norwich, one of the soloists Mrs. Nettie M. Crombie, also of Nor- 
 wich, and Miss Annie E. Parks, of Boston, furnished a number 
 
 t40 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 of excellent cornet solos, all of which were generously applaud- 
 ed. Many noted lecturers and political speakers were heard 
 from its platform, not excepting Belva Lockwood the women's 
 candidate for President. Its entertainments and concerts and 
 social parties were of a high order, seldom seen or heard in a 
 village the size of Smyrna. It was very much missed by all 
 when it met the fate of the rest of the business part of the vil- 
 lage in the calamitous fire of 1900. 
 
 FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The Smyrna Fire Department had its beginning during the 
 year of the incorporation of the village, though but little was 
 accomphshed in the line of a regular organization until Septem- 
 ber 1, 1849, when a company was constituted by the village for 
 the purpose of "putting out fires," as the record reads. 
 
 Protection Fire Company was legally organized June 27, 
 1855, consisting of twenty-four members, their equipment a 
 Silsby hand engine, a hose cart, and five hundred feet of hose. 
 The organization was continued until the building of the present 
 system of Water Works, when the company was no longer 
 needed. 
 
 The Munson Hose Company was organized in June, 1887, 
 consisting of twenty-five members, their equipment a fine Rum- 
 sey hose cart, being presented the company by George A. Mun- 
 son, Esq., who had interested himself in the project, together 
 with hose and all necessary arrangements. Interest in the De- 
 partment is not strong at present but the company is still kept 
 up, the only such organization in the town, it will be hard to 
 maintain a successful fire department, until our citizens see fit to 
 build a proper fire house within the limits of the village. 
 
 THE CONFLAGRATION OF 1900. 
 
 The Village of Smyrna which, as has been stated, is one of 
 the oldest incorporated villages in the central part of the state, 
 
 t4t 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 protected from fires only by small reservoirs of water, and an 
 old-time hand engine, had been especially fortunate in escaping 
 serious conflagrations previous to the year 1900, and while pre- 
 dictions were often made that a reckoning day would be sure to 
 come, yet the inhabitants of the little hamlet, or at least a ma- 
 jority of them, had settled down to the opinion that such predic- 
 tions were idle dreams and that the village would continue to 
 move along in its quiet security. 
 
 June 16, 1900, a day of sunshine and beauty all through the 
 valley and over the hills, was a day long to be remembered by 
 each and every inhabitant. At precisely ten minutes before the 
 hour of noon an alarm of fire rang out from the steeple of the 
 Methodist Church and the trouble was soon located in a rear 
 room of the Comstock drug store. Large volumes of black 
 smoke were issuing out, keeping back all who attempted to en- 
 ter and assist in subduing the flames. To all it was a forerun- 
 ner that a dire disaster awaited the little village such as it had 
 never before experienced. Protection Fire Engine was at once 
 brought out, but though the time-honored machine worked no- 
 bly and well, the supply of water was inadequate, and worst of 
 all the flames were working in three directions. 
 
 Assistance was at once summoned from Sherburne, Earlville 
 and Norwich, and the willing responses were quick and active, 
 though the departments from the first two villages were equally 
 as helpless as our own, on account of the lack of water. Not 
 till the Norwich fire department, which came by special train 
 over the O. & W. R. R., with their tine new steamer reached 
 the scene of trouble were many strong hopes raised for the safety 
 of much of the village. Most surely no firemen ever worked 
 more earnestly nor were any ever more welcome than the Nor- 
 wich firemen on this occasion. Their steamer was taken at 
 once to Pleasant Brook near the tannery bridge and very quickly 
 two streams were playing upon the burning buildings and it was 
 but the work of a few minutes with their powerful machine in 
 the hands of its skillful manipulators to subdue the flames, 
 
 142 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 though leaving a long black line of blackened and smoking ruins 
 to tell the story of the day. The following buildings were 
 burned, the list including every business building on the south 
 side of the main street of the village : 
 
 Comstock drug store, residence and store of Erastus C. Bil- 
 lings, (occupied by Edwin S. Billings as a shoe store), Lyon & 
 Ferris, hardware store, Ferris, Sternberg & Co., (formerly Dixon 
 Bros, store), store of John H. and George A. Munson, occupied 
 by Preston & Miner, Messenger hotel, furniture store and under- 
 taking rooms of W. G. Willcox, the Munson opera house and 
 also the residence of James T. Comstock, (the Dr. Lawrence 
 place), home of William W. Lyon, (the Karr homestead), the 
 Solomon Brown place and the Holley house. The total loss 
 was estimated to be at least $75,000. 
 
 This disastrous fire aroused our citizens from years of leth- 
 argy to the fact that fire protection was needed by the village, 
 and it was an easy matter in the following month of August, at 
 a special meeting, to vote by a large majority a sufficient amount 
 to build a fine system of water works, in which our citizens with 
 scarcely any dissent manifest much pride. The system was 
 constructed in the fall of the same year at a cost of $8,500, five 
 hundred dollars of which was raised, leaving a standing debt of 
 $8,000, for which bonds were issued in amounts of $500 each 
 at 3 t-2 per cent, the first to be due and payable five years from 
 its date, and one each year thereafter, till the whole amount was 
 paid, the last bond to be due in 1910. The water supply is 
 pumped from a well near the railroad station thirty feet deep 
 and ten feet in diameter, with a twelve-horse power gasolene en- 
 gine connected direct to a one hundred and thirty gallon triplex 
 pump, to a concrete reservoir 40x60 feet and twelve feet deep, 
 located two hundred and twenty-five feet above the well on the 
 farm well known as the John Willcox farm. There are about 
 one and one-fourth miles of four and six inch mains with thir- 
 teen hydrants for fire protection, with an average pressure of 
 eighty pounds. At present there are sixty-four water takers, 
 
 t43 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 making an income of about $525, The water is pure and cold, 
 and is not excelled by any in Central New York. 
 
 NEWSPAPERS. 
 
 The first newspaper published in Chenango County was the 
 "Western Oracle", at Sherburne Four Corners, said to have been 
 an octavo sheet containing what little amount of news might 
 then be obtained from the country round about. Its editor was 
 Abraham Romeyn. The next was the "Olive Branch" pub- 
 lished by Phinney Fairchild at Sherburne West Hill, but both of 
 these journals enjoyed only a short career. 
 
 The first paper in our town was gotten out in 1858, and 
 named the "New Year's Call", but only one copy wa^ ever 
 printed. Its contents were a few verses of poetry by the late 
 Sylvia Lawson Covey, and a few miscellaneous matters. Its 
 publisher was James M. Scarritt, of the "Sherburne Transcript," 
 who afterwards became a somewhat noted editor and publisher, 
 conducting at one time the Clyde (N. Y..) Republican, the Mex- 
 ico (N. Y.,) Independent, and later the Hudson (Mich.,) Regis- 
 ter, in which he was very successful, remaining there until his 
 decease not many years ago. Mr. Scarritt was a brother of our 
 friend and excellent citizen. Nelson J. Scarritt, and we very 
 much regret we are unable to give a more complete sketch of 
 this family, one long and most favorably known in the town. 
 George, another brother, was a long-time resident of our town, 
 his home being the present Henry Crouch farm. He moved 
 many years ago to South Dakota, where his death took place 
 some four years ago. 
 
 The next paper in Smyrna was the Smyrna Citizen, started 
 in October, 1875, and lasting some fourteen months. Its motto 
 was "Neutral in Politics, we work by the Golden Rule." Its 
 owner and proprietor was the compiler of this book, and though 
 it was not the largest or perhaps the most interesting of any in 
 the county, yet some five hundred copies were gotten out each 
 week, and if one of our lady poets of that day was to be be- 
 
 144 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 lieved, we are confident it was a worthy journal. We insert a 
 few lines of a "poem" written for the Citizen in 1876. 
 
 "The nicest paper that 1 know, 
 In all this Happy Land, 
 'Tis one 1 love to ponder o'er, 
 And hold within my hand. 
 
 Though small in size, is ever graced. 
 With pages clean and bright, 
 And at the close of every week. 
 We hail it with delight. 
 
 ******* 
 
 It goes its round, of north and south, 
 It flies to east and west, 
 It never wearies or complains, 
 But does its very best. 
 ******* 
 
 Though other papers larger far; 
 Than this, are not complete, 
 The little Smyrna Citi{en, 
 Can many others beat. 
 
 The Chenango Tribune was launched in i he spring of 1881 
 by our old friend, Frank J. Stanton, now of Norwich. It 
 was a decided improvement over its predecessor, an eight page 
 journal, which after a time was enlarged and made a four page 
 sheet. It had a circulation of some six or seven hundred copies 
 and was fairly well patronized by the business men of the town, 
 perhaps the most conspicuous the "Smyrna Mills," in which the 
 excellent qualities of "Munson's Patent Buckwheat Flour" was 
 shown up in glowing terms. After an existence of some three 
 years, the Tribune followed the Citizen and ceased to exist. 
 
 The Smyrna Press was inaugurated in December, 1906, by 
 L. D. Blanchard, who had previously sold the Earlville Stand- 
 ard, a paper which he built up and made a success in every way. 
 An enterprising and thoroughgoing newspaper man, he led oflf 
 with the Press as the best and most ably conducted newspaper 
 Smyrna had ever been possessed of. 
 
 145 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 In 1897 he sold the paper to Wendell S. Phillips who has 
 since conducted it, a clean, wholesome and reliable local news- 
 paper, well representing the interests of the town and its people, 
 having a paid ciruclation of some nine hundred copies, and it is 
 scattered each week to nearly every quarter of the globe. All 
 will sincerely hope that it may be continued for many years to 
 come. 
 
 SOCIETIES. 
 
 The Smyrna agricultural Society was in existence 
 some forty-five or more years ago, and its Annual Fairs were 
 objects of interest to the people of the town and vicinity, and 
 usually largely attended. The Union School building was made 
 use of for a "Floral Hall," and the main Fair held on the Stan- 
 bro lot a few rods west of the present station of the Ontario & 
 Western Railroad. The agricultural exhibits were usually of a 
 high order, and the crowd were generally regaled with sweet 
 cider and generous cards of old-fashioned ginger bread, a pro- 
 duct of those days which we doubt has ever been equalled by 
 any modern cookery. There were no horse trots, and modern 
 fakirs and gamblers had never been heard of. The last fair of 
 the Society was held in the month of September, 1861. 
 
 The First Secret Society in Smyrna was a lodge of Free 
 and Accepted Masons, organized very early in the century, its 
 place of meeting being the chamber of the log house of Joshua 
 Talcott, one of its leading members. The rooms were reached 
 by means of a stairway on the outside of the building. There 
 are no records left of the organization, and whether it was 
 moved to Sherburne in later years, or some other locality, or 
 swept away by the great anti-masonic wave of the thirties and 
 forties we are not able to state. The town has been for many 
 years and remains at present within the jurisdiction of Sherburne 
 Lodge No. 444, of the town of Sherburne. 
 
 Smyrna Lodge, No. 116, 1. O. O. F., was organized Decem- 
 ber 17, 1847, and still survives, one of the oldest lodges in Cen- 
 
 t46 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 tral New York, still having a membership of forty-five. Its 
 first officers were Levi H. Case, N. G. ; Elmore Isbell, V. G.; 
 Francis E Dimmick, R. S.; George C. Mead, P. S. ; Dwight H. 
 Talcott, T.: Milo Benedict, W.; Asa Harrington, C; Leman H. 
 Talcott, 1. G ; Enos Merrell, O. G. Meetings were first held 
 in the upper rooms of the hotel kept by Mr. Merrell, and later 
 in the Kelsey building, and still later in the old Lawson hall, 
 moving from there to the commodious quarters in the Munson 
 Opera House in the fall of 1886. The rooms now used are the 
 ones over the brick store built by the Chenango Loan Associa- 
 tion for E. D. Miner. The organization has been a most worthy 
 institution, and much good has been accomplished by it. Its 
 red letter day was December 17, 1886, when it moved to its new 
 quarters at the Munson Opera House, and its new rooms formally 
 dedicated, on which occasion members from Norwich, Earlville, 
 South Otselic and Eaton lodges took part. The officers on that 
 occasion were Grand Master Edward Whitlock, and Grand Sec- 
 retary James Terwilliger, of New York city, Rev. Leroy C. 
 Hayes, of Norwich, Grand Chaplain, and Past Grand Master 
 George W. Chapman, of Canastota. The banquet in the audi- 
 torium of the Opera House at the close of the dedication, was 
 by far the finest ever served in the town. The fiftieth anniver- 
 sary of the lodge was duly celebrated on the evening of Decem- 
 ber 17, 1897, and largely attended by all the surrounding lodges. 
 
 The present officers of the lodge are as follows: N. G., 
 Henry P. Northup; V. G., Eugene Howard; R. S., George A. 
 Munson; P. S., James P- Willcox; T., William W. Lyon; W., 
 Charles Humphrey; C, Wesley D. Wilbur; R. S. N. G., Clay- 
 ton S. Widger; L. S. N. G., Walter G. Willcox; R. S. V. G., 
 Jesse M. Willcox; L. S. V. G., Edward J. Deady; 1. G., Charles 
 Bellinger; R. S. S., Edwin D. Miner; L. S. S., Benjamin Haz- 
 ard. 
 
 Smyrna Lodge No. 244., A. O. U. W., was organized July 
 9, 1879, with the following Charter Members: James P. Will- 
 cox, P. W. M.; Dwight L. Sweet, M. W.; George P. Pudney, 
 Foreman; William H. Comstock, Overseer; Elbert F. Smith, 
 
 147 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Recorder; Robert H. Knowles, Financier; Alfred Eastman, Re- 
 ceiver; Isaac D. Wade, Guide; Chanley Isbell, Inside Watch- 
 man; Frank J. Lawrence, Outside Watchman. It is still kept 
 up as an organization, though with a decreased membership. Its 
 present place of meeting is the little hall over the Nearing store. 
 
 Stephen Weaver Post No. 576, G. A. R., of Smyrna, was 
 constituted October 30, 1885, taking its name from First Ser- 
 geant Stephen Weaver, of Company F, of the 114th Regiment, 
 a brave and faithful young soldier who was mortally wounded 
 at the battle of Winchester, September 20, 1862, at the age of a 
 little less than twenty-three years. The Post has been prosper- 
 ous and successful, and though its members are fast passing 
 away to the great unknown, it still remains an honored institu- 
 tion. Its Charter Members were: Isaac Weaver, Elbert F. 
 Smith, Josiah Miles, Nathan Eldridge, William D. Warner, Isaac 
 D. Wade, Mott C. Dixon, Nelson J. Scarritt, William H. Com- 
 stock, James C. Lee, Samuel J. Hopkins, George W. Crumb, 
 Thomas H. Mowers, Abram D. Ferris, David B. Russell, Elisha 
 Bisbee, Jerome Snyder, Leonard S. Phillips. 
 
 The officers of the organization elected for the year 1905, in 
 January last, were: Commander, William H. Williamson; 
 Senior Vice Commander, George W. Crumb; Junior Vice Com- 
 mander, Manson K. Messenger, (deceased) ; Surgeon, Nathan 
 Eldridge; Chaplain, Rev. H. ri. Baker; Quarter Master, J. W. 
 Boynton; Officer of the Day, Duane D. Dimmick; Officer of 
 the Guard, Andrew Frazier. 
 
 Good Templars — Smyrna has always been known as a 
 town of strong temperance proclivities, and there has scarcely 
 been a period of more than a few years but that a strong tem- 
 perance society has been in existence. In the forties the Wash- 
 ingtonians, a strong organization held forth in the Kelsey hotel. 
 A flourishing lodge of Good Templars was organized in the same 
 building in 1867, which was a source of much good in the com- 
 munity for several years, causing the reform of several excellent 
 citizens who had long been addicted to the intoxicating cup. It 
 
 148 
 
SERGEANT STEPHEN WEAVER. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 was known as Smyrna Lodge, No. 239, and its public and social 
 meetings and excellent work in various lines will be pleasantly 
 remembered by all who were members in its successful days. 
 
 From this lodge emanated John B. Finch, many years a suc- 
 cessful school teacher in the town and village, who afterwards be- 
 came widely known as a temperance leader, and was at the time 
 of his decease in Boston in 1889 in his thirty-fifth year, Grand 
 Worthy Chief Templar of the world. The Grand Lodge of 
 England passed the following among many other resolutions of 
 respect to the dead leader: "In the loss of our illustrious leader 
 and chief, the world has lost a worthy citizen, and humanity a 
 sincere friend, whose life will be remembered for aye, and whose 
 memory will be enshrined in Templar History for all time." 
 
 Joseph Cook, the noted platform lecturer of Boston, added 
 the following testimonial to his character: "John B. Finch fell 
 dead in Boston, which has seen many historic deaths, but since 
 Warren fell in his early manhood at Bunker Hill, there is no 
 death of a young man more pathetic than that of this reformer 
 and hero. The soil of this city is henceforth the more sacred 
 for having been an altar on which so costly a sacrifice was laid."^ 
 
 A new lodge of Good Templars was organized in our village 
 December 14, 1904, known as Smyrna Lodge No. 71, having a 
 membership of some twenty-five, its present ofrlcers are as fol- 
 lows: W. J. Abbott, C. T. ; Mrs. A. L. Harris, V. T. ; A. L. Har- 
 ris, F. S.; Louise Comstock, Ass't Sec; James P. Knowles, T.; 
 Ernest Abbott, M. ; Avis Campbell, D. M.; Mrs. W. H. Com- 
 stock, Chap.; Henry K. Peckham, L. D.; Abel Comstock, P. C. 
 T.; Nellie Luther, G. ; Justin Hitchcock, S. 
 
 OUR SCHOOLS. 
 
 Smyrna Union School was formed by a union of districts 
 number two and number fifteen in the village, pursuant to an 
 act of the State legislature passed March 19, 1852. The site se- 
 lected for the new building is in the center of the village, very 
 pleasantly located and one of the most attractive in the county. 
 
 149 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 In the fall of 1889 the school was merged into an Academic 
 school to be known as the Smyrna Union School and Academy, 
 of which our citizens have reason to feel justly proud, as the in- 
 stitution compares most favorably with those in much larger 
 villages in the vicinity. It now contains an academic, interme' 
 diate and primary department. 
 
 We copy the following from the last Annual Catalogue: 
 "Smyrna is a pleasant village of about four hundred inhabitants, 
 located thirty-nine miles from Utica on the New York, Ontario 
 & Western railroad. It is a quiet place, and the moral tone of 
 the community is such that parents sending their children to 
 school, may be certain that they will escape many of the tempta- 
 tions common to most larger towns. 
 
 "The school is very pleasantly located in a healthful part of 
 the village, and about forty tine maples and elms add to the 
 attractions of the surroundings. 
 
 "Students will have access to a valuable reference library 
 during school hours, and an opportunity will be atforded each 
 Friday afternoon for members of the school to draw books from 
 the general library. The books are mostly new and comprise 
 the works of our standard authors of history, science, poetry 
 and fiction. Great care has been exercised in selecting the 
 library, and a strong effort will be made to develop in students a 
 taste for the best literature. 
 
 "Parents of the pupils are requested to make themselves 
 familiar with the requirements of the "Compulsory Education 
 Law," and to earnestly co-operate with the teachers and school 
 oificers in preventing unnecessary tardiness and absences of the 
 pupils. 
 
 "The design of the school is to prepare the student for a life 
 of usefulness. The instruction and discipline will be of a char- 
 acter calculated to develop independence and self-control. To 
 this end it is expected that the student will make his desk his 
 place of business, and pursue his work with that earnestness of 
 purpose which is the secret of all true success." 
 
 tso 
 
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
Our First Old Home IVeek 
 
 Its present Faculty are as follows: Principal, Arthur C. 
 Lewis; Intermediate, Miss Antoinette Johnson; Assistant Inter- 
 mediate, Miss Mary E. Wedge; Primary, Miss Estella Wilber. 
 
 The School Board is composed of the following members, of 
 which the first named is the etficient President: George P. Pud- 
 ney, George A. Munson, Abel Comstock, Fred A. Sweet and 
 William L. Chapman; Clerk, Charles Doll; Treasurer, John E. 
 Widger. 
 
 THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 The First Baptist Church of Smyrna was organized Decem- 
 ber 22, 1804, at the home of Joseph Tobey in the town of Sher- 
 burne, (Smyrna then being a part of Sherburne). It was formed 
 by Samuel Barber, Joseph Tobey, Joel Ellis, Freeman Ellis, 
 Elizabeth Tobey and Sarah Ellis, and at this first meeting Joseph 
 Tobey was appointed Deacon, and Joel Ellis, Clerk. Regular 
 church meetings were held by appointment at private houses and 
 school houses until 1832, when they were held in the Union 
 Church built previously by the several denominations. On the 
 22d day of October, 1807, at the home of Joseph Tobey, the 
 Society received formal recognition by sister churches, which 
 had sent delegates for that purpose. 
 
 The first Sunday School was organized in May, 1835, its offi- 
 cers being: A. H. Burlingame, Superintendent; Benjamin Bar- 
 ber, Clerk ; Benjamin T. Lyon, Levi Post and Benjamin Barber, 
 Trustees. In the year 1835, protracted meetings were held, un- 
 der the direction of a committee appointed by the church, con- 
 sisting of Rev. Comfort Record, Deacon Worden and Benjamin 
 Barber. These meetings were held in the Congregational Church 
 and great interest was created in the community, many people 
 making public profession of religion and uniting with the differ- 
 ent churches, thirty-three uniting with this church, which then 
 had a membership of about seventy-five. On March 5, 1836, 
 the church was organized into a corporate body according to 
 the laws of the State of New York, and the first trustees under 
 
 tst 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 such organization were Thompson G. Fisher, Levi Post and 
 Benjamin T. Lyon. The name adopted was "First Regular Bap- 
 tist Church and Society of Smyrna;" the seal were the letters, 
 "B. S." 
 
 In 1837 the meeting house, then located in what is now a 
 pasture on the hill on the Wheeler farm, just east of the John 
 McCotter place, was purchased and moved on to the lot now 
 occupied by the church. After removal the interior was re-con- 
 structed and replaced by new work, the building committee be- 
 ing Benjamin T. Lyon, Stephen Harrington, John Ferris, Thomp- 
 son G. Fisher, Levi Post and Benjamin Barber. Rev. D. G. 
 Corey was pastor from 1836 to 1841, and during the four years 
 of his pastorate one hundred and thirty persons were added to 
 the church membership. 
 
 In 1841 the Plymouth Baptist Church was formed from this 
 church, and rhirty-four members were dismissed for that pur- 
 pose. Rev. A. B. Earle, later a noted evangelist, was pastor in 
 1842 and 1843, and during the time he was pastor, there were 
 forty-five additions to the church. Commencing with the year 
 1835 there was a continuous revival spirit up to 1843, and dur- 
 ing that time there were about two hundred additions, some- 
 thing remarkable in a single church located in a rural commu- 
 nity. At about this time it was one of the largest and most in- 
 fluential societies in this vicinity, numbering among its members 
 some three hundred persons, From 1844 to 18 50, a large num- 
 ber were dismissed by letter on account of their removal to other 
 localities, and a number of exclusions from 1850 to 1860. 
 There was no regular preaching service from 1861 to 1869, and 
 the other services of the church were not kept up, this condition 
 being caused by the depletion of membership by removal and 
 exclusions before mentioned and the decease of many of the 
 leading and aggressive members. In 1869 Rev. H. S. Jones 
 commenced his record pastorate which continued until 1878 and 
 regular services were resumed, the Sunday School being held at 
 twelve o'clock and the preaching service at half-past one, which 
 
 152 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 arrangement was continued until the coming of Rev. Frank Bare 
 rett in 1886, when the services were held as at present; preaghi- 
 ing at half-past ten o'clock and Sunday School at twelve. Fior 
 the first time in the history of the church it commenced to hold 
 Sunday evening preaching service. -jrii 
 
 The church was repaired, re-decorated and refurnished Iffi 
 side in 1885, at a cost of about $1,800, and the re-dedicatidrl 
 took place on the 18th day of November, 1885, v;ith public s^i 
 vices in the afternoon and evening. Rev. Dr. D. G. Core|^ 
 pastor of the church forty-eight years previous, preached at fh'i 
 afternoon service, and in the evening Rev. G. R. Burnsideof 
 Buffalo, also a former pastor preached the sermon. The indebl*- 
 edness incurred for repairs was all provided for with the txcttp^ 
 tion of about $30, which was paid within a few days. A hip- 
 tistry was added to the church in 1891, through the efforts of 
 Rev. J. R. Church, who was then pastor, and in 1895 the first 
 bell was installed, the result of personal work by Rev. Walter 
 Vassar. Since the coming of Rev. Frank Barrett in 1886 tl)e 
 church has been supplied with its pastors from students in Q^lr 
 gate University at Hamilton, and its membership has increa^^d 
 until now it numbers fifty-one bona-fide members. Six ministers 
 have been ordained by the church, viz: Comfort Record, R. L. 
 Wariner, H. S. Jones, Ebenezer Holroid, H. B. Dixon and E.'fe'. 
 Buchanan. As auxiliary organizations it has at the preseixl 
 time a Sunday School, Women's Foreign Missionary Sociely, 
 Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, Ladies' Aid So- 
 ciety, a Children's Band and Cradle Roll. '^' 
 
 SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 
 
 The Friends Society of which we have not been able to f\f4 
 any full or complete record, was organized in 1810, andji 
 church built near the present home of Walter Sexton. A pgrt 
 of the small wood-colored building near the railroad, notfarfrQjjji 
 the old burial ground is a portion of the old edifice. The churpji 
 became divided between the Hick site and Orthodox branclj^s 
 
 153 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 and another church was built nearer the village. It is still stand- 
 ing on the farm of Charles S. Billings, and in this old building 
 for many years the old line members attended First Day, (Sun- 
 day) and Fifth Day, (Thursday) services and no inclemency of 
 the weather kept them at home. Many times they waited in 
 deep solemnity for the Spirit to move, and at other times waxed 
 eloquent as the Spirit directed. As the older members fell out, 
 passing on to their final reward, and the new ones took their 
 places, new ideas were prevalent and the old time service would 
 not suffice for the younger generation, and the day came when 
 the old building with all its sacred associations was deserted and 
 a new church built at Smyrna Village, where services were held 
 for a number of years; but finally to enable it to do a better 
 work, it was removed to Upperville, as has been before stated, 
 and it is now doing an excellent work in that part of the town. 
 
 The days of broad-brim hats and poke bonnets have long 
 since passed away, but the memory of those sainted men and 
 women will ever remain bright to those who knew them, for 
 they were among the noblest models of true manhood and 
 womanhood whose presence ever graced our town. 
 
 As has also been before stated, William Stover built a church 
 on his own farm near Dark Hollow at an early day, known as 
 the "Reform Methodist Church," but generally mentioned as the 
 Stover "Meeting House." The site of the church is still pointed 
 out by the older inhabitant but no vestige of the building now 
 remains. 
 
 THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 
 
 The early history of Congregationalism in Smyrna was in- 
 terwoven with that of Sherburne. The pioneers of both towns 
 came largely of New England Congregational stock, from Con- 
 necticut and Rhode Island. "The fathers assembled for public 
 worship the second Sabbath after their arrival in 1793, and the 
 First Congregational Church and Society of Sherburne was or- 
 ganized July 6, 1794." (Hatch's History of Sherburne.) 
 
 154 
 
FIRST CONGREGATIDNAL CHURCH- 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Though they had no settled pastor or meeting house yet they 
 met regularly and had preaching for a number of years in each 
 other's log cabins or in the open forest, and worshipped God 
 often under great difficulties. 
 
 With the opening of the nineteenth century it was proposed 
 to build a permanent place of worship. The question as to its 
 location proved a vexing and discordant one, and the outcome 
 was two churches, one on Sherburne West Hill, the other near 
 Sherburne village. The site of the former was selected to ac- 
 commodate the people of Smyrna, and this church was com- 
 posed largely of Smyrna people during its history of twenty-two 
 years, 1802-1824. During this time the hearts of some of the 
 West Hill members, especially that of Mrs. Chester Hammond, 
 were tilled with a fresh zeal for God by reading the memoirs of 
 Mrs. Harriet Newell, one of that band of heroic missionaries, 
 and as a result religious meetings were begun in the school house 
 in Smyrna village in the year 1812, and there was a powerful 
 revival of religion in connection with the same. 
 
 The First Congregational Church of Smyrna was organized 
 June 26, 1824, with thirty-one members, twenty-one of them at 
 least uniting by letter from the Sherburne West Hill Church. 
 Services continued to be held in the school house for two years, 
 which was enlarged for this purpose. The frame for a new 
 church was raised in August, 1826, and the house completed the 
 following year. Its first service was a funeral service, held in 
 December, 1827, at the death of John Munson, who had been 
 active in building the new edifice for worship. The church was 
 dedicated January 20, 1828, Rev. Lyman Rexford of Sherburne 
 preaching the sermon on that occasion. In its exterior architect- 
 ure it has never been much changed, and it is adorned by one of 
 the few colonial towers still extant. The bell, one of excellent 
 tone, was mounted about 1840, and it was the old custom to 
 toll the same when a death occurred in the town. This was 
 known as the "passing bell." At first the bell was rung for a 
 short time, then it was struck five for a woman or child 
 
 155 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 dfiM seven for a man, and then the age was tolled by tens till 
 cottipleted. At the close of a funeral the bell was also tolled till 
 iht interment was completed. The two-faced clock was subse- 
 quently purchased by general subscription, and has always been 
 (designated as the "Town Clock." The interior of the original 
 ch|urch was of colonial type, the pulpit standing high between 
 tl}p^ two front doors, which was ascended by a flight of stairs 
 an^ enclosed by a door. A gallery, supported by posts, was 
 ejected nearly around the church except the pulpit end, the choir 
 occupying that portion on the south end directly facing the min- 
 i,^t)Br. Each pew was secured by a door, by which the father or 
 tljf head of the family usually sat. The interior of the church 
 \\[^s remodeled into its present form in 1868, under the pastorate of 
 Ijt^v. Seneca M. Keeler, the choir raising $500 of the amount nec- 
 essary to remodel the same by giving a series of Old Folks' 
 Qjpcerts under the direction of Deacon L. B. Collins. 
 
 ^=^' The following deacons of the chufch often passed the ele- 
 ments to their worshiping brethren and in turn have passed on 
 tjgk drink of the Fruit of the Vine, new with Christ, in his Father's 
 I^ngdom: Chester Hammond, Marsena Allen, Isaac Foote, Jr., 
 William J. Chapman, Julius Wood, Gardner J. Kinyon, Levi 
 BMCollins, Nathaniel T. Ferris, Ervin H. Sprague, Frank W. 
 A,v^ry, Henry H. Hall. 
 
 '5'^' The records of the church display a succession of very elfi- 
 d^nt clerkships, and in this capacity are found George Ham- 
 i^jdnd, Charles W. Chapman, Loren C. Kinyon, Rev. D. F. 
 Jiidson, James H. Kinyon, Rev. M. C. Bronson, Herbert M. 
 Bi^Xon, Mortimer C. Dixon. 
 
 \ ' ' The following ministers of the gospel have served in pas- 
 toral relation to the church: 1824-25, Ezra Woodstock; '26- 
 iS, Luther Clark; '28-29, Charles E. Avery; '31-32, Samuel 
 Manning; '32-34, Elias Childs; '34-39, Sidney Mills; '39-52, 
 L^uel Pomeroy; '53-57, D. F. Judson; '58-60, M. C. Bron- 
 sbri; '60-61, Andrew Huntington; '61-62, Charles Barstow, 
 (became army chaplain 157 Reg't N. Y. S. V.;) '62-63, Archi- 
 
 156 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 bald Crawford; '63-63, Augustus C Shaw; '63-66, John H. 
 Nason; '66-70, Seneca M. Keeler; '70-71, Henry M. Grant; 
 '72-73, Henry Carpenter; '74-84, Charles C. Johnson; '85-86, 
 Quincy J. Collin; '86-88, Clarence F. Swift; '88-92, Lewis F. 
 Buell; '92-96, B. F. Statfard; 96-97, William H. Hunter; '97- 
 98, Henry W. Dowding; '98-99, Mailler O. Van Keuren; 1900- 
 '02, James Chambers; '03-03, T. A. Waltrip; '04, William D. 
 Eddy. 
 
 The historical records of the church show that it has ever been 
 a potent factor in shaping the high standard of morals that has 
 prevailed in the community. Born of missionary enthusiasm it 
 has never been wanting in the zeal for both home and foreign 
 missions. For sixty years the Sunday School has been organ- 
 ized into a Missionary Society and all its contributions go for 
 missionary purposes. An Annual Missionary meeting is regu- 
 larly held and all six of the Congregational benevolent societies 
 are sustained. The musical talent of this church has an unusual 
 record and for fifty-nine years that splendid leader, Deacon L. 
 B. Collins, taught the young people the art of singing, and led 
 the congregation in their worship of song. The Dixon-Collins 
 Quartette, three Dixon brothers, Herbert M., Almenzo K., and 
 Mortimer C, and Deacon L. B. Collins, made the hills of Che- 
 nango County ring with their gospel melodies. In ministerial, 
 educational, legal and commercial sons, the church has also had 
 an excellent record. Among the list may be named: Judge Isaac 
 Foote, first Judge of the Court of Appeals, and first Member of 
 the Legislature from this vicinity; Rev. Orson Allen, and Mar- 
 tha, a daughter of Judge Foote, Missionaries; Rev. Henry Ham- 
 mond an eminent clergyman who organized the First Congrega- 
 tional Church of Detroit, Mich,, now the strongest Congrega- 
 tional church in that city; Col. Charles Hammond, Railroad 
 Magnate and Founder of the Hammond Library of Chicago, Illi- 
 nois; Rev. William Collins, a preacher of the gospel in the 
 State of Michigan; Frank W. Avery, Missionary to the Congo 
 country in Africa; Prof. Devolson Wood, a noted educator, and 
 Hudson Wood, a brother, also an educator. 
 
 157 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 During the four-score years of its history there have been 
 periods of unusual activity, and from 1832 to 1843 there were one 
 hundred and eighty-nine persons received into membership, 
 and in 1848 twenty-seven were received, the list that year in- 
 cluding the names of Myron T. Kinyon, Emily Northup Mann, 
 Rachel Northup Barber, and Genora Collins Willcox, all of 
 whom still survive, the last named now the senior member of 
 the church. In i860 the Mallory brothers held a large revival 
 which not a few will recall as a notable one, which greatly 
 strengthened the church; but perhaps the most powerful local 
 revival in the church was conducted by the evangelist Rev. A. 
 B. Earle in the winter of 1877, when more than forty joined 
 this church alone. It is probable that about this time the 
 church reached its zenith of prosperity, having not far from 
 three hundred members, several of whom were laymen widely 
 distinguished for their piety and business ability. The aggregate 
 membership of the church to date is eight hundred and two, 
 with a present enrollment of one hundred and twenty-seven. 
 Besides these there are a goodly number who are regular wor- 
 shipers and faithful supporters of the church but who have not 
 so far become active members. 
 
 The following auxiliary societies each have a worthy history 
 in connection with the church: 
 
 Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, organized 
 1888. Present membership, thirty-five. 
 
 Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, organized 
 1879. Present membership, twelve. 
 
 Young Ladies Mission Circle, organized 1886. Present mem- 
 bership, twenty-three. 
 
 The "Path Finders" organized 1904. Present membership, 
 eighteen. 
 
 The Church Officers for 1905, are: Pastor, Rev. William 
 D. Eddy; Deacons, William D. Hopkins, Robert H. Knowles, 
 Christopher C. Clapper and Leonard S. Enos; Trustees, Edwin 
 
 158 
 
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH. 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 S. Billings, Dwight L. Sweei, Robert H. Knowles, Loren R. Col- 
 lins and Gardner N. Willcox; Clerk, Miss Anne Martin; Treas- 
 urer, Murray Boyden; Assistant Treasurer, Miss Martha Northup; 
 Superintendent of Sunday School, Leland L. Ferris; Superin- 
 tendent of Primary Department, Mrs. Laura G. Eddy. 
 
 FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 In the year 1816 a Methodist Class was organized at the 
 Tobey farm on Smyrna Hill in a building now used as a horse 
 barn, on the opposite side of the road from the house. It was 
 composed of eight members, as follows: Joseph and Elizabeth 
 Tobey, Lillibridge and Anna Willcox, Huge Cagwin and wife, 
 and a brother named Sebry and his wife, both of whom after- 
 wards joined the Mormons. Its. first minister was Rev. George 
 Densmore, and the charge was on the Lebanon Circuit, and 
 later on the Hamilton Circuit, until the Smyrna Circuit was 
 formed in 1836. 
 
 At a meeting held on April 8, 1836, at which Rev. H. Hal- 
 stead presided and Stephen Leonard was clerk, the Society was in- 
 corporated as the "First Methodist Episcopal Society of Smyrna," 
 and its first trustees were Thomas R. Tracy, John Tobey and 
 Eber Dimmick. This meeting was held in the village school 
 house where the Society then steadily worshipped, but prior to 
 these meetings services were held in private houses. On Novem- 
 ber 9, 1839, John Strew and Maranda, his wife, conveyed to the 
 Society a lot containing one rood and seventeen perches of land 
 on which an old hotel was standing, known as the Mansion 
 House, receiving therefor $450, and the same was fitted up for a 
 place of worship, and used for five or six years, but was torn 
 down in the spring of 1843, and a new church erected costing 
 51,600. It is stated that when the school house was made use 
 of, and before the church was built, the older organizations ex- 
 tended to the new comers a most cordial welcome, the Congre- 
 gational Church being especially obliging and helpful. The 
 church grew and waxed strong in the faith as the years advanced, 
 
 159 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 its facilities falling short of its requirements and additions becom- 
 ing necessary. 
 
 On April 1, 1854, in consideration of the sum ot ;^325 
 Susan Shepard, a member of the church, deeded the Society its 
 first parsonage, now the home of Marion Chapin. In the spring 
 of 1866 the same was sold and the present property on South 
 street was purchased by the church, although a portion of the 
 land has since been sold. For many years the noon class was 
 held in the church and the Sunday school in Lawson's (Pagan's) 
 Hall, near the church, both of which were usually nearly full. 
 In the year 1865 a chapel was erected in the rear of the church 
 at an expense of $400, and in the year 1871 during the pastor- 
 ate of Rev. Samuel Moore, now of Norwich, the church edifice 
 was rebuilt and remodeled at an expense of $5,000, over $3,000 
 of which was raised on the day of dedication, December 27, 
 1871, at which time Bishop Jesse T. Peck, then well known 
 here, preached the sermon from Exodus, 25th chapter and 8th 
 verse, "And let them make me a sanctuary, that 1 may dwell 
 among them." 
 
 Following this there was a large revival and many members 
 added to the church, then the strongest in the community. 
 Those were prosperous days for Methodism in Smyrna, in fact 
 the most flourishing of any period in the history of the local 
 church. The large and handsome bell placed in the belfrey at 
 the time of its enlargement was made at the Meneeley Bell 
 Foundry at Troy, N. Y., and presented to the church by Elizur 
 Goodrich and his sister, Mrs. E. B. G. Lincoln Coombs, both 
 prominent members of the church at the time. Some twenty- 
 five years later the bell became broken, and a new one has taken 
 its place, made at Cincinnati, Ohio, a tine, sweet-toned bell, 
 purchased by several of the young men of the church and society. 
 It was rung for the tirst time for the Christmas services on 
 Christmas Eve, 1897. In the summer of 1895, through the 
 efforts of Rev. S. H. Wood and several members, the seating 
 was changed and the platform removed to the west side of the 
 church, where it has since remained. 
 
 160 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 The following pastors have been stationed at Smyrna, many 
 of whom will be remembered by the present generation: 
 George W. Dcnsmore, I8t7; Daniel Barnes and Russel Down- 
 ing, '18; Wyatt and Chamberlin, 'l9; Ezra Doolittle and Ira 
 Bronson, '20; E. Jones, '21; William Cameron and Joseph At- 
 wood, '22; Isaac Grant and Ezra Doolittle, '23; O. Doolittle 
 and H. C. Warner, '24; William Cameron, '26; E. N. Flint, 
 '27; William Rounds and S. Beach, '30; William Rounds and 
 F. Colson, '31; A. Peck and H. Erckenbrach, '32; B. G. Pad- 
 dock, '33; D. Davis and William Rand, '34; H. Hallstead, '35; 
 C. Starr and A. Brown, '36-37; A. Peck and L. H. Stanley, '38; 
 L H. Stanley and J. Crawford, '39; J. Dcnnison and D. Rose, 
 '40-41; Shank, '42; (Plymouth was with Smyrna from '38 to 
 '41); L Beach, '43-44; William H. Miller, '45; L Beach, '46; 
 William G. Queal, '47^8; M. M. Tuke, '49-50; E. C. Brown 
 and A. Brown, '51; R. S. Southworth, '53; J. Davis, '54; Lewis 
 Hartshorn, '55-56; J. W. Mitchelll, '57-58; Wesley 'Peck, 59; 
 J. Lord, '60; T. M. Williams, '62; William Burnside, '64-65; 
 John H. Hall, '66-67; A. M. Colgrove, '68-69; Samuel Moore, 
 '70-72; A. F. Brown, '73-74; Herbert Fox, '75-76; James L 
 Race, '77-79; O. L. Severson, '79-81; J. L. Wells, '82; L. B. 
 Weeks, '83-85; J. F. WiUiams, '86-88; A. D. Alexander, '89- 
 90; G. F. Ace, '91-92; S. H. Wood, '93-95; H. C Blair, '96; J. 
 W. Davis, '97-99; A. J. NefT, 1900 to September 15, '01; C D. 
 Skinner, September 15, '01, to April 1,'03; G. W. Crosby, April 
 1, '03, to October 30, '04; John F. Jones, October 30, '04, to 
 April 1, '05. Rev. E. B. Quimby is the pastor now located here 
 by the Wyoming Conference. 
 
 We are aware that our venerable friend and Home Week 
 visitor, James R. Tracy, of Toledo, Ohio, now deceased, made 
 a partial claim as to priority in the organization of the church, 
 claiming the same was effected at his old home, now that of 
 Frank Hills, on the Plymouth road, but he was not positively 
 sure he was correct, and from letters received from many old 
 members of the church we are inclined to believe the old gen- 
 tleman was in error and the organization perfected at the Tobey 
 
 161 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 farm as at first stated. It matters not when or where the old 
 church was organized, it is a fact that some of our best people 
 have been its members, and it has exerted a powerful influence 
 for good in the town and community. The old time revivals, 
 the old sermons, the hymns and songs have left lasting impres- 
 sions upon the many who have listened to them in the days 
 gone by. Though Mr. Tracy's version may not be fully correct, 
 we will give a portion of the same a place in our pages, as it 
 will be of much interest not only to the present members of the 
 church, but to all others who read it. 
 
 "Methodism found a home and a name in the town of 
 Smyrna in a very early day. The exact date is not known, but 
 very soon after my father's settlement in the early summer of 
 1816, regular preaching by the "circuit rider" was established, 
 and a Metnodist Class formed at William Stover's house, and 
 there was also another class formed at the residence of John 
 Tobey, on Smyrna Hill, but which was the prior organization 1 
 cannot rell. My father's house was for many years the regular 
 meeting place for the preachers upon the circuit which met regu- 
 larly once in four or six weeks, as the circuit chanced to have 
 two or three preachers, for consultation regarding the general in- 
 terests of the circuit. About the year 183 4 the organization of 
 the Methodist church at the village was effected by the union of 
 the two classes named. Barney Leonard of the Tobey class was 
 appointed leader of the new organization, and John Tobey was 
 one of the stewards. Eber Dimmick was also an active mem- 
 ber and steward and there were three preachers upon the circuit 
 at the time. In order of seniority they were Lyman Beach, 
 Jesse Halstead and William Rounds. 1 well remember the quar- 
 terly meeting held in the village in the fall of 1836, when the 
 Congregational Church was cordially tendered for Sabbath ser- 
 vices, and their minister. Rev. Sidney Mills, cheerfully assisted in 
 the services, especially in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. 
 Uncle Doctor Grant and his good wife, Hannah, were present 
 on the occasion, and he voiced the sentiment of all when he 
 said, '1 never expected to witness such a scene, and the Millenium 
 
 162 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 certainly must be drawing near, for my eyes have certainly 
 seen the coming of His Glory.' Such were the beginnings of 
 Methodism in Smyrna." 
 
 The present officers of the church are as follows: Trustees, 
 Abel Comstock, John C. Abbott, James P. Willcox, Frank Hills, 
 Clark A. Tinker, Edmund P. Tobey; Stewards, James T. Com- 
 stock, John C. Abbott, Ziba L. Tuttle and Arthur L. Harris; 
 Stewardesses, Mrs. William H. Comstock, Mrs, Frank Hills, Mrs. 
 Lucy Tobey; Clerk, Ziba L. Tuttle. 
 
 FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 The Free Will Baptist Church of West Smyrna, was organ- 
 ized in June, I8l9, at Lebanon, but removed to its present site 
 in 1851. It has been exceedingly prosperous, its members be- 
 ing among the very best people of the town, and a source of 
 much benefit to the whole township. It has had an honored 
 list of worthy pastors, its present pastor, Rev. H. H. Baker, who 
 is also a veteran of the civil war, being equally if not more 
 highly esteemed and respected than any among them all. The 
 following is a list of all the ministers who have been called to 
 preach at this church: Caleb Easterbrook, 1819-25 ; Levi Gard- 
 ner, '25-34; Joseph Willcox, '34-43; William C. Byers, '43-46; 
 Eli Card, '46-50; S. D. Gardner, '50-51; Benjamin Rowland. 
 '5l-54;F. H. Hill, '54-57; John Crandall, '57-63; J. W. Brown,' 
 '63-64; S. S. Cady, '64-65, and '81-86; John Wedge, '86-87; 
 Alfred Eastman, '87-89; William Warner, '92-93, (six months); 
 S. S. Mead, '93-97; C. H. Hook, '97-98; George Blackford, 
 '98-99; H. H. Baker, '89-92, '99-05. 
 
 The first framed church was built in 1848, and the new one 
 in 1873. The present membership of the church is one hundred 
 and twenty-five. There was no preaching in the church from 
 1865 to 1867. 
 
 It is unnecessary for us to say that during the past twenty- 
 five years all country churches have suffered seriously by reason 
 
 163 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 of many of the older members passing away, and many of 
 the younger part of the community moving to the larger towns 
 and cities, and we are compelled to say many of those remain- 
 ing showing a great lack of interest in the cause so strenuously 
 labored for by the fathers and mothers long since departed. 
 What may be said of our own town may be also said of others, 
 but we can truly say that thirty years ago Smyrna was the ban- 
 ner Sunday School town in Chenango county. 
 
 We sincerely hope the sound of the church bells will never 
 cease to be heard over our hills and through our valleys, and 
 none of our churches ever be closed, for we firmly and truly be- 
 lieve that their hearty maintenance will ever be for the lasting 
 benefit of the town and its people. 
 
 With our history of the churches we draw our labors to a 
 close and leave our work in the hands of our friends, and in re- 
 viewing the same we are most forcibly reminded of the fleet- 
 ness of time and its constant changes, and that we also are 
 passing away, and that our places will soon be filled by the on- 
 coming generations, for it has been said "Our life is a dream, 
 our days Hke a stream, glide swiftly away." 
 
 The life of the writer has all been spent in Smyrna, the town 
 of his birth, and while fully aware there are better and more at- 
 tractive places up and down our land yet to him none offer 
 more pleasing attractions than the healthful and quiet resorts 
 that abound within our own borders. Never an extensive trav- 
 eler it has been his privilege to look over a goodly portion of 
 our country, and while he has seen the beauties of the landscape 
 from the Pine Tree State to California and its Golden Gate, 
 watched the sun rise from the depths of the broad Atlantic, seen 
 it sink away into the watery bed of the great Pacific, stood on 
 the summit of the Rockies, awed by one of the finest views im- 
 aginable, watched the rolling waves of all the great Lakes save 
 one, and viewed nearly every point of interest in our own New 
 York, the great Empire State, yet, he has looked on all these 
 with but little more satisfaction than when on a summer's day 
 
 164 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 he has looked over the handsome hills and valleys of Smyrna, 
 and old Chenango, or wandered along the brooks and streams, 
 amon^ many attractive places, or sought the solitude of that 
 quiet and romantic resort, pleasing to all who have ever visited 
 the same, our own delightful and fascinating Smyrna Falls. 
 
 Concerning our town and its people much of the past is 
 known and written. Its history equals not a few and excels 
 many in various respects. Its future remains unknown and un- 
 written, but we can only hope that the lives and teachings of the 
 past generations will ever be a strong incentive to righteous acts, 
 in the hearts and minds of those who are to come after them. 
 
 May the memory of the moral and religious lives of the 
 fathers and mothers be a guide and a shield to all their posterity. 
 
 "Before the hills in order stood, 
 Or earth received her frame. 
 From everlasting thou art God, 
 To endless years the same. 
 A thousand ages in thy sight, 
 Are like an evening gone. 
 Short as the watch, that ends the night. 
 Before the rising sun. 
 
 Time, like an ever rolling stream. 
 
 Bears all its sons away, 
 
 They fly, forgotten, as a dream, 
 
 Dies at the opening day. 
 
 Our God, our help in ages past. 
 
 Our hope for years to come. 
 
 Be thou our guard while troubles last, 
 
 And our eternal home." 
 
 t6S 
 
Our 
 
 First Old Home 
 
 Week 
 
 August 7-14, 1904 
 
Our First Old Home Week. 
 
 " Once more among the stately hillsides look, 
 Where flows the limpid stream, called Pleasant Brook." 
 
 The observance of an Old Home Week, or a time in which 
 the many sons and daughters of old Smyrna who, during the 
 earlier and later days of the past, have gone out from among us 
 might re-visit their old homes and mingle together once more 
 with old neighbors and friends, had many times been brought up 
 by our citizens and many plans connected with the same pre- 
 sented, but nothing definite concerning such a gathering was ac- 
 complished until the winter of 1904, when after much talk and 
 much discussion a meeting was called at the office of George P. 
 Pudney, Esq., on Saturday evening, February 27, from which 
 an adjournment was made to the same place on Monday eve- 
 ning following, at which meeting it was unanimously voted to 
 observe an "Old Home Week," the date of the same to be the 
 week of August 7th- 14th, and a committee chosen to formulate 
 a plan for such an observance, consisting of the following gen- 
 tlemen: George P. Pudney, Stephen K. Willcox, William E. 
 Stover, John W. Shepardson, Wendell S. Phillips, William L. 
 Chapman and George A. Munson. This meeting was adjourned 
 to Monday evening, March 14th, when the following officers 
 were chosen : President, George P. Pudney, Esq. ; Recording 
 Secretary, Wendell S. Phillips; Corresponding Secretary, George 
 A. Munson, Esq.; Treasurer, Stephen K. Willcox, Esq. This 
 meeting was adjourned to Tuesday evening, March 22d, when 
 the balance of the committee were chosen, as follows: 
 
 Executive Committee, of which the President, Secretaries 
 and Treasurer were to be a part. John W. Shepardson, Dwight 
 L. Sweet, William E. Stover, Manson K. Messenger, Dr. Thurs- 
 ton G. Packer and William L Chapman. 
 
 At another meeting held at the same place on Monday eve- 
 ning, March 28th, the following Vice Presidents were chosen : 
 
 v69 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Norman Congdon, Abel Comstock, Stephen Robbins, James P. 
 Knowles, N. Jerome Brand, Loren R. Collins, George Bavin, 
 Lynn F. Williams, Avery K. Reynolds, Casher Taylor, Gilbert 
 Tuttle, Francis G. Stanton, Wesley D. Wilbur and Lamando 
 Finch. Other committees were also chosen as follows: 
 
 Finance — William W. Lyon, William H. Comstock, Charles 
 W. Humphrey, George W. Crumb and Fred A. Sweet. 
 
 Invitation — George A. Munson, James T. Comstock, Ed- 
 mund P. Tobey, Frank R. Taylor, J. Orville Preston. 
 
 Music — Gardner N. Willcox, Leland L. Ferris. 
 
 Field Sports — John T. Condon, Walter G. Willcox, Edward 
 B. Lyon, William P. Graham, Frank E. Rickard. 
 
 Early in May following invitations were sent out far and 
 near to nearly every state and even beyond the seas, nearly all 
 receiving them sending back a hasty response, all in warmest 
 sympathy with the project, and hoping for its complete success. 
 
 The following is a copy of the circular invitation issued by 
 the invitation committee: 
 
 OLD HOME WEEK. 
 Smyrna, N. Y., August 7-t4, 1904. 
 
 INVITATION. 
 
 Smyrna cordially invites you to participate in Old Home Week, which 
 will be observed during the week, of August 7, 1904. 
 
 Fully believing that a reunion of old citizens, friends and neighbors 
 will be of much benefit to all, we sincerely trust that there will be a 
 large attendance. 
 
 Sunday, August 7 — All the churches will unite in appropriate services 
 for the occasion. 
 
 Monday evening, August S — Every School District will unite in burn- 
 ing Beacon Fires. 
 
 Tuesday, August 9 — Registration of Visitors. 
 
 Tuesday Evening, August 9— Grand Banquet, with Toasts and Speeches 
 by former citizens. 
 
 Wednesday, August 10 — Grand Reunion and Field Day, including Day 
 Fireworks. 
 
 Wednesday Evening, August 10 — Grand Display of Fireworks. 
 
 It is expected the entire week will be devoted to a general renewal 
 of old acquaintance, and that there will be many family reunions and 
 various other attractions. 
 
 Let it be a week worthy of the occasion. 
 
 170 
 
Our First Old Home IVeeh 
 
 Among the responses were the following: 
 
 Santa Cruz, Cal., July 30, 1904. 
 
 To George A. Munson, Esq.: 
 
 The Old Folks at Home, and the New Generation of 
 Smyrnaites. 
 
 GREETING: — When I received in May the announcement of 
 Old Home Week in Smyrna, and an invitation to attend from 
 Mr. Munson, my boyhood friend, I inwardly resolved to be 
 there. Nothing seemed more desirable to me than the prospect 
 of a reunion with the remaining friends and acquaintances of early 
 days who still linger in Smyrna, or who might journey thither 
 on this occasion. 
 
 For weeks I cherished that dream of prospective happiness 
 and vas very loth to put it aside. But the shaping of events 
 has rendered this impossible. My vocation which makes me 
 responsible for the appearance and contents of a daily paper, is 
 one of the most exacting that our modern complex civilization 
 has yet developed. Time and tide wait for no man, the proverb 
 runs, but time in its demands upon a newspaper man is abso- 
 lutely ruthless. 
 
 The "Good Old Summer Time" brings throngs of visitors 
 and a constant succession of news events in Santa Cruz, which 
 with the incidental attention that must be paid to politics, left 
 me no loop-hole this year out of which I could escape to Smyrna 
 to shake hands with you, mingle a tear with you for the "dead 
 already" and exchange greetings of good cheer for the days of 
 the journey to come. Hence I send these words of "hail and 
 farewell." If perchance there should be an opportunity for their 
 hearing in the busy days of your reunion, you will know that 
 though long severed by time and distance, I am not negligent, 
 nor forgetful of obligations to the land of my birth. 
 
 To do even this requires a brief isolation from my regular 
 routine of work. Perhaps we will understand each other better, 
 if I sketch the surroundmgs from which I write, before 1 let recol- 
 
 171 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 lection bridge the chasm of the years, and thought traverse the 
 width of the continent that separates us. 
 
 Mr. Munson is the only one of my old school fellows or 
 youthful acquaintances who has visited me here. That was in 
 the earlier years of my California life, but he can geographically 
 locate Santa Cruz. 
 
 Knowing that 1 desired to hide myself from the world for a 
 few days the manager of the Big Creek Electric Light and 
 Power Company tendered us the use of his summer cottage, 
 near the power house. This is 18 miles from Santa Cruz in the 
 heart of the Big Creek canyon. Half a mile above is the power 
 station where the "power" from this stream and from another 
 in a neighboring canyon carried through the hill in a tunnel, is 
 converted into electrive energy, to be transmitted 18 miles to 
 Santa Cruz where it propels the street cars, lights the city, and 
 furnishes power for manufacturing. The surplus power is trans- 
 mitted 20 miles further (38), where it performs similar service 
 in the town of Watsonville. Wires are now being strung to 
 many farm houses where electric power propels pumps, churns, 
 feed cutters, wood saws, and banishes the lantern and the lamp 
 from farm life. This stream for which the poverty of the imag- 
 ination of the early settlers left no name but Big Creek, flows 
 about 2,000,000 gallons of water per diem. 
 
 In my Smyrna days we should have as soon thought of 
 measuring the clouds as to measure the flow of Pleasant Brook 
 or the Chenango River. In California the worth of water is 
 more than land and every stream is gauged as accurately as land 
 is surveyed. In this county there are fifty running streams of 
 varying capacity, but their aggregate water rights could not be 
 purchased for half a milUon dollars. 
 
 Their valleys are often little more than ravines (called can- 
 yons in California) as the distance from the Santa Cruz range 
 to the sea is only from twenty to thirty miles. The canyon of 
 Big Creek is a cleft of from two hundred to twelve hundred feet 
 in depth. Run a stream of water through Dark Hollow, and 
 
 178 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 clothe the hillsides with heavy timber and you have a suggestion 
 of the scene. In lieu of Smyrna hemlocks, for evergreens, 
 we have pine, fir, spruce and redwood. In place of the beech, 
 cherry and ash of the Smyrna woods, there are sycamore, laurel, 
 alder, madrone, buckeye and oak. The maple is the only tree 
 in common, but the California specimen is inferior to the sugar 
 maple of Smyrna. In height these trees range from 50 to 250 
 feet and up to 8 and 12 feet in diameter. The aboriginal ani- 
 mals, deer, rabbit and quail, still dispute occupancy with man, 
 and trout would be abundant but for the fact that fishermen 
 are yet more abundant. In this retreat is built the bungalow 
 from which 1 write. Branches of giant oaks overhang its roof 
 and the shade of tall redwoods, and mighty firs falls across its 
 porches. Sylvan simplicity, with "modern improvements," fur- 
 niture to fi[ a parlor, hot and cold water, bath room, twenty-six 
 electric lights, refrigerator, etc., are included. These July morn- 
 ings the first task is to touch the fire in the huge throated fire- 
 place. We have slept under two blankets at night, and revel in 
 a delicious day temperature of from 70 to 85 degrees. In two 
 days perhaps twenty flies might be counted, but nary a mosquito, 
 gnat or wasp. Just now mv recollection runs to the Smyrna 
 picnics drenched by thunder showers, to the stifling nights of 
 midsummer, to the wilted collars and twisted tempers of the 
 summer time, to the perils of choke cherries and milk, and the 
 after consternation of the alimentary region, when gorged with un- 
 der-ripe watermelons, a temptation not to be resisted, when the 
 mercury would clamber above ninety and not come down day 
 nor night. 
 
 I am glad I came up here to write you, for as 1 stood last 
 night by the whirring generators of the power that was pulling 
 cars and lighting houses ten, twenty, thirty, forty miles away, it 
 gave the imagination a strength which helped me to send the 
 current of thought back over the years, and bring before me 
 again faces and places familiar in other days. I shall be in 
 Smyrna on Old Home Week even if not seen. The vision is 
 
 173 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 not the only testimony to the spirit, the physical form not the 
 only evidence of existence. 
 
 ********** 
 
 Our forefathers, a majority of them, came up from Connect- 
 icut a hundred years ago or thereabouts, to better their condition. 
 They succeeded. Most of them were farmers or craftsmen en- 
 gaged in supplying the wants of farmers. For farming purpo- 
 ses the valley of the Chenango and its tributaries was incompar- 
 ably superior to the stone-walled pens called farms in Connecti- 
 cut. The first generation in Smyrna settled their sons and 
 daughters about them. There was land enough and occupation 
 sufficient. The fathers brought up from the Nutmeg State their 
 "steady habits" and by the precept and example, as far as possi- 
 ble they transmitted them. Smyrna has sent one man to Con- 
 gress, and I have heard that one of the Smyrna boys of my 
 youth has been in the penitentiary, but barring these exceptions 
 the sons of Smyrna have done their full share of the world's 
 work and upheld the dignity of American citizenship at home 
 and abroad. In fifty years from the day that the ax was leveled 
 at the virgin forest, the township of Smyrna was all occupied, 
 and the village grown to the limit of its tributary support. For 
 the past half century Smyrna has simply held her own, and sent 
 her swarming sons and daughters out into the world. And the 
 world is a wide one. What tales were told of this wide world 
 before the days of telegraphic service and daily newspapers. 
 
 In those days when every store was a club room, what sto- 
 ries were related by LeGrand Jaynes, Denison Kelsey, "Ben" 
 Holley and Plumb Smith, and others whose identity escapes me 
 now. Great rovers those fellows were, and all of them could 
 draw the long bow. Plumb Smith had been in the Mexican 
 war. LeGrand Jaynes made money enough somehow out of 
 the outside world to build a fine house in Smyrna, and he could 
 tell a story which would put to blush the tales of Gulliver or 
 Robinson Crusoe. Long before Horace Greeley began his ex- 
 hortations to young men to "go West," these travelers and others 
 
 174 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 had fired the heart of many a Smyrna boy to^seek his fortune 
 in che great outside world. 
 
 So Smyrna while not achieving greatness in herself has 
 grown great in the culminated conquests of her sons, who to- 
 day can be found in nearly every state, and some of them over 
 the oceans. 
 
 ********* * 
 
 In the period from l85o to 1880 when Smyrna was most 
 prolific in stocking the country with good citizens, the social 
 conditions in Smyrna were favorable for the development of men 
 of self-reliance, independence of thought and action and honor- 
 able ambition. The population had as yet received but little 
 foreign admixture, the schools were attended by pupils whose 
 parents and grandparents were of the same soil and were taught 
 by kindred only a little larger grown. Teaching district school 
 sufficed in lieu of a college education for a majority of the 
 Smyrna made men and women of a prior generation, and re- 
 sults prove it in no wise inferior as a preparatory to the more 
 costly and fashionable "higher education" of a later period. 
 
 Questions of social importance and questions of state were 
 settled in the country debating societies, and in the open forum 
 conducted in shop and store wherever neighbers did congregate. 
 Among my earliest recollections are those of tierce debates on 
 politics and religious topics in Smyrna stores. Spiritualism was 
 a new thing, and James O. Ransom who kept a store just beyond 
 the residence of John Willcox was its local prophet. My uncle, 
 William Taylor, was a clerk in his store, and my childish fancy 
 was tremendously stimulated by the sanguine enthusiasm of Mr. 
 Ransom. The Spiritualists met in an "upper room" (I think 
 Lawson Hall). Their adherents included the venerable Mr. 
 Hartwell, Paris G Holley and wife, and many other people of 
 prominence in their time. 
 
 Politics singed and sizzled in those days. I vividly recall 
 Woodbringe Spencer, a gentleman of the old school, who was a 
 capitalist by the standard of the times, and being a bachelor de- 
 voted his time to the discussion of public affairs. He was called 
 
 t7S 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 a Copperhead by his opponents and I guess came near deserving 
 the title. The voice of Alfred Glynn was another which could 
 be heard across the street almost any day. He had better ideas 
 concerning public affairs, in his own opinion, than the entire na- 
 tional administration. 
 
 Since I can remember, Smyrna had about 400 voters. Three 
 hundred of them were Republicans, and one hundred Democrats 
 and for more than a generation the count never varied more 
 than ten from these fignres. Yet these 100 Domocrats put up 
 as gallant a fight on general election day and at town meetings 
 as if a victory was in sight and the eyes of the nation were upon 
 them. 
 
 Leroy C. Sweet was the invincible leader of the Democrats, 
 and I have never seen in any part of the country an abler or 
 more faithful party man than he. My grandfather Richard D. 
 Taylor was the standing nominee for Supervisor and would reg- 
 ularly poll the hundred Democratic votes, while the balance 
 were given to Asa Wilber or Andrew Shepardson. 
 
 There were three Inspectors of Election, and as the law re- 
 quired one of them to belong to the minority party, there was 
 one Democrat annually elected. For many years this lone 
 Democratic office holder in Smyrna was my father, Alfred Tay- 
 lor. His colleagues for several years were \ale Northrup and 
 Augustin Pier. Nepotism was strong enough to secure my ap- 
 pointment as one of the clerks of election. In those days the 
 political parties printed their own ballots, of different colors and 
 "stickers" or "pasters" were used for split tickets. Election day 
 was a great day, outside of the sale of molasses candy and gin- 
 gerbread by the small boy whose thrifty marketing backed by 
 the hard work of mother and sisters at home, often brought in 
 forty cents, sometimes sixty, and sometimes a dollar or more. 
 It was pull and haul all day long. Loud words were regarded 
 as the strongest arguments, and tempers often collapsed under 
 the strain. About five o'clock Andrew Shepardson would come 
 in to the polling place, look over the poll list and declare how 
 the vote stood. He often hit it exactly and never missed by 
 
 »76 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 more than three or five. I thought this was a marvelous feat 
 and 1 held Mr. Shepardson in great awe. He was a man of 
 ability, and deserved all the political honors conferred upon him. 
 Leaving my post for a hasty lunch one day, I observed Col. 
 Hall in an excited mood surrounded by a ring of bystanders. 
 Failing to convince, he offered to clinch his argument by bet- 
 ting ten dollars. 1 knew nothing then of Col. Hall's "circum- 
 stances" but the fact that he had ten dollars to risk established 
 his standing in my mind as a man of wealth. While the local 
 ticket varied some from year to year during a generation the 
 name of Francis E. Dimmick always appeared "for Justice of 
 the Peace." Squire Dimmick was a man of strong individuality 
 and talents far above the average of his fellows. Joe Antone, 
 the lone Indian of Smyrna, was a conspicuous figure on election 
 days as long as he lived. He sold bows an arrows, and appar- 
 ently enjoyed the admiring curiosity with which he was regarded 
 by the boys. Standing in a group one day someone asked him 
 his age. He stood erect, broad chested and active. "Seventy- 
 seven" said old Joe, and pointing with a finger to his heart ad- 
 ded "me boy yet." 
 
 Outward and visible religion was ever in evidence in Smyrna. 
 One of the earliest pictures on memories' walls is that of William 
 Lucas under the influence of "the power." "Bill" Lucas as he 
 was universally called had considerable power in his normal con- 
 dition. He was a stout built six-footer with a voice like a bull 
 of Bashan, and when he let himself out to shout Hallelujah, or 
 Glory, he could be heard for half a mile. "Bill" Lucas as an 
 "exhorter" created quite a stir in his time, and a lack of "book 
 learning" did not deter him from "expounding" the Book of 
 Revelations, or tackling the most subtle passage of Scripture for 
 a text. 
 
 In the Methodist Church were two men always to be heard, 
 Alfred Eastman and Solomon Brown, and another, stable pillar 
 of the church, who rarely ever "spoke," Alonzo Bennett. Meth- 
 odism in Smyrna reached its zenith during the pastorate of Rev. 
 
 t77 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Samuel Moore, when the present church edifice was erected. 
 During this period it furnished two young men to the ministry, 
 E L. Bennett and my brother, Fred P. Taylor, both of whom 
 have finished their course. 
 
 In reviewing Smyrna history from this standpoint, the town 
 seems fortunate in having a colony of Quakers among its early 
 settlers. This peculiar people do not proselyte nor evangelize, 
 but they exert an influence deeper and broader than is realized 
 by superficial observation. 1 listened to hundreds of sermoas 
 in the Methodist, Congregational and Baptist churches in 
 Smyrna, yet I doubt if they produced as permanent impressions 
 as services attended in the Friends' meeting house. Sometimes 
 these services were silent, sometimes the voice of wisdom was 
 heard. A quaint philosophy abounded among the Quaker peo- 
 ple. 1 recall an aged broad brim whose name need not be men- 
 tioned, who related one day with great earnestness some inci- 
 dents of his life. "When I was twenty-one years old" he said, 
 "I started out to bring every man to my terms" a pause and he 
 added with a stern humility "but 1 have failed in a number of 
 incidences." 
 
 Another scene comes up to me, when the residence of a 
 Friend was in process of erection. A carpenter employed had 
 made an aggravating, stupid blunder. Human nature and 
 Quaker calm struggled for the mastery. Then he spoke with 
 moderation and vehemence both in his voice "William, thee is a 
 fool." The blundering workman unabashed replied "Then I am 
 noi to blame." "Yes thee is," came quickly from the Quaker's 
 lips, "thee is to blame for not trying to hide it." 
 
 Time and distance has drawn the veil of forgetfulness over 
 many a familiar face of long ago, but as I write these stand out 
 before me as of yesterday the face of "Uncle" Henry Knowles, 
 and the procession of Knowleses and Bosses, and Peckhams and 
 Purdys, which were wont to file silently Sundays and Thursdays 
 into the meeting house yard. In all the earth there were never 
 fresher, rosier cheeks on maidens, nor more limpid and lustrous 
 eyes than were concealed behind those witching Quaker bonnets. 
 
 178 
 
Our First Old Home IVeek 
 
 In mature years and with a fair knowledge of all creeds of 
 Christendom and so-called heathendom 1 find none embodying 
 more practical common sense, more consistent blending of the 
 human and divine, than the doctrines of the Quakers. In the 
 evolution of modern society we have nearly eliminated the So- 
 ciety of Friends and established the Salvation Army. More's 
 the pity. I have heard that the Stover meeting house at the 
 head of Dark Hollow is no more. This free church had a 
 romantic history. Built before my time by a man who didn't 
 believe in Babel towers, as he designated the church steeple, this 
 meeting house afforded a pulpit for predatory preachers of all 
 cults. Keen cut in memory is the meetings held there by a 
 darky preacher named Street, who used to drive up from Nor- 
 wich and hold services on Sunday afternoons. To hear him 
 sing while the hat was passed for collection repaid many for 
 traveling miles. I now hear the refrain. 
 
 "And Mary came a running 
 On purpose for to see 
 
 The Angel says He is not here 
 He's gone to Galilee." 
 
 Revival meetings (I do not speak flippantly) were the chief 
 entertainment of winter evenings. They had to give way for 
 the annual donation party, and to an extent for the singing 
 school. The singing school as taught for a generation by 
 Deacon Levi Collins, was a joint promoter of music and matri- 
 mony. Speaking of Deacon Collins I would, and I believe every 
 Smymaite would to-day, give more to hear old Deacon Collins 
 sing "The Valley of Chenango" than to listen to the most popu- 
 lar prima donna of the age. For the average boy or girl the 
 school exhibition at the close of the winter term was the culmi- 
 nating event of the season. At the first of these affairs of which 
 I was among those present, for want of any other place I was 
 seated on the platform at the feet of Miss Sylvia A. Lawson. I 
 had seen her name signed to pieces of poetry in the Chenango 
 Union, and to my juvenile mind a poet could not be common 
 
 179 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 clay. 1 figuratively as well as literally sat at her feet and stared 
 in open-eyed wonder and admiration at her bright and pleasing 
 countenance. Afterwards I entered journalism through the same 
 avenue by writing "pieces" for the Chenango Union, and I have 
 lived long enough to discover that men and women may write 
 for the newspapers and yet be intensely human. 
 
 ********** 
 
 Smyrna had a fair share of quaint and queer characters. Per- 
 haps no worse rag-a-muffin was ever on earth than "Old Pettis." 
 Clad in rags and filth, and peddling baskets he was one of the 
 most repulsive objects of my remembrance. The appearance 
 and mode of life of "Old Pettis" was not due to poverty but to a 
 perverted mind. 
 
 "Gowdy", a half-wit, was the village butt for many years. 
 Uncle Sam when he was hard pressed for soldiers found another 
 name for "Gowdy" and as Leroy German he was drafted. He 
 was terribly teased about going to war, but when it came time 
 to take the matter seriously a petition was drawn up and signed 
 setting forth that he was mentally incompetent, and he was dis- 
 charged. "Gowdy" took this as a mark of good will and not 
 as a reflection on his cranial capacity. 
 
 Elisha Sprague who owned a farm of two acres at the foot 
 of the "dugway" a couple of miles west of the village, was a 
 philosopher of less repute than Job or Carlyle, yet not without 
 influence upon his day and generation. Elisha and his wife were 
 members of the Baptist church, but for some cause he did not 
 consider that his wife had received proper treatment in the 
 church, and thereafter for years Elisha walked for worship every 
 Sunday to a Free Baptist Church in the town of Otselic, to show 
 the Smyrna Baptists "proper resentment" as he stated. Mr. 
 Sprague was the thrifty owner of a flock of seventeen sheep, one 
 of whom departed this life during a severe winter. The loss of 
 one-seventeenth of his flock was keenly felt, but he met it with 
 resignation saying "1 have a wife and seventeen sheep, them that 
 has must lose." 
 
 180 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 The most useful family ever reared in Smyrna, was the Dixon 
 family, (I speak of a single family, not of tribes like the Collins, 
 the Wilcoxs and the Wilburs,) Charley, Joe, Hub, Menzo, 
 Mott and Sadie in youth, C. G., J. W., H. M., A. K., and M. C, 
 as after designated, Charles G., Joseph W., Herbert M., Almenzo 
 K.. Mortimer C, and Sarah. Considering inheritance and envi- 
 ronment, my experience in life affords me no parallel to the 
 career of the Dixons. When the annals of Smyrna are written, 
 no little part should be accorded to this remarkable family. 
 Herbert Dixon was one among ten thousand. 1 knew him well 
 under many trying and distressing circumstances, and I never 
 knew a man whose eye was more single to the right as he saw it. 
 
 If required to name the most useful man in Smyrna in my 
 time, 1 should reply Dr. G. E. Lawrence. My recollection runs 
 to old Dr. Mead who owned and occupied the only brick house 
 in the village, and to Dr. Devillo P. White who resided in an octa- 
 gon house in Sherburne, but whose "ride" extended to Smyrna. 
 Dr. Lyman and Dr. Owen of Sherburne were also often minis- 
 ters of mercy in our town. By-the-way, in September, in San 
 Francisco, there is to be conclave of Knights Templar. Ten 
 thousand swords and forty bands are to be in procession, but the 
 sight will not thrill me like the voice and attire of Dr. 1. C. 
 Owen did when as Grand Master I heard him conduct the Ma- 
 sonic rites at the first fraternal funeral I ever attended. 
 
 I had thought to revive personal memories and to make 
 mention of relatives and acquaintances, but I am admonished 
 that this paper is too long. My kindred were numerous in 
 Smyrna, and included many noble men and women in their 
 day. One brother, Frank R., one uncle, Horace T. Nearing, 
 and one cousin, W. P. Briggs, are all that remain of the circle 
 of relatives. As I mentally call the roll of acquaintanceship I 
 find most of them absentees. Some are scattered o'er the land 
 but a majority have gone to the Far Country. 
 
 I hope some one on this occasion will embalm the record of 
 the Smyrna boys "who went to war," beginning with Samuel J. 
 Hopkins, one of Lincoln's three months men, and including the 
 
 tst 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 list who afterwards enlisted in Ellsworth's Zouaves, and in the 
 114th and the 15 7th Regiments, N. \. V. 
 
 1 am not forgetful of devoted teachers and pleasant school 
 fellows of both genders. Term after term of public school left 
 little permanent impress, but those of us who were pupils in the 
 Select school taught by Isaac B. Collins, have an experience to 
 be ever gratefully remembered. School Master Collins may 
 have been old-fashioned, but he was fashioned after the model 
 of the true teacher, who imparts instruction and awakens the 
 desire for more knowledge. 
 
 In the school days 1 passed in Smyrna, 1 was in a state of 
 constant admiration of the handsomest boy and the prettiest girl 
 in [he room. It so happened that both were brilliant as well as 
 as beautiful. The boy, "Tommy" Sweet, passed away before 
 attaining his majority. The girl — the girl — this paper is alto- 
 gether too long. 
 
 Arthur A. Taylor. 
 
 North Lakimpur, (Assam) India, July 15, l904. 
 Mr. G. a. Munson, Cor. Sec'y, Smyrna, N. Y.: 
 
 Best Wishes for Old Home Week, with Cordial Greetings. 
 
 Mr. & Mrs. H. B. Dickson. 
 
 Denver, Col., July 31, 1904. 
 My Dear Friends: 
 
 Your kind invitation to the reunion is received. My heart is 
 touched beyond expression to know I am not quite forgotten, 
 and "it is sweet to be remembered." 
 
 Dear old Smyrna friends, 1 love you all, and wish 1 could be 
 with you next week, and join in the festivities of the occasion, 
 but as that cannot be I can only wish you a good time. May 
 God bless you all and keep you near Him. May we so live 
 that if we never meet again in this world, we may be an unbro- 
 ken circle in Heaven. Sincerely yours, 
 
 Gertrude Kelsey Martenis. 
 
 t82 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Enterprise, Oregon, August 1, 1904. 
 To THE Old Home Week Committee: 
 
 You are now gathered from many lands to celebrate the 
 good old days of our youth. It would give me great pleasure to 
 be among you and mingle in vour joyful re- union, but circum- 
 stances hinder my coming. In thought and heart 1 am with 
 you as you go in and out, and may you all find much pleasure 
 in the many hearty hand-shakes. 
 
 Your Old Friend, 
 
 Alfred Dunbar. 
 
 Treadwell, Delaware Co., N. Y., Aug. 5, 1904. 
 Mr. Munson: 
 
 Dear Sir — 1 received a number of weeks ago an invitation 
 "to participate in Old Home Week" in Smyrna, August 7-14. 
 The letter was mislaid or you would have heard from me long 
 before this. It came from an unknown source and 1 knew not 
 whom to address until I found the letter. I wish to thank sin- 
 cerely the sender for it, and were it possible I should be delight- 
 ed to visit Smyrna once more, and meet the few relative's and 
 friends remaining this side the river, and many of them since 
 my recollection have crossed to the other side, but their memory 
 is dear to me still, and will be to the last. Smyrna has been a 
 name dear to me from childhood, it was where my grandfather, 
 Elijah Sexton, a Revolutionary soldier, lived, and died March 28, 
 1839, aged 85 years. Sibyl Spencer Sexton, his wife, died May 
 38, 1808, and their precious remains rest on Sherburne West 
 Hill. My mother, Lovina Sexton, was born in Somers, Conn., 
 August 23, 1 790, and went with her parents in 1 795 to the new 
 home, then Sherburne, now Smyrna, where my mother was 
 married to Herman Treadwell, October 13, 1812. My father 
 was a carpenter by trade and has left it on record, "that he built 
 the fourth framed house in Smyrna," and as my mother made a 
 yearly pilgrimage to that place taking me with her, she always 
 pointed to the house as the one he built and where she com- 
 
 tS3 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 menced housekeeping, when she ^ave one dollar a paper for pins 
 and other things accordingly. While there she always, with 
 some relative visited the cemetery and the old church on Sher- 
 burne Hill, where she and her kindred used to worship without 
 fires in the winter. Then to Cousin Fred and Fanny Sexton's 
 to dinner. My last visit there the church was gone, the ceme- 
 tery well kept, and we hope the dear old soldier's grave there is 
 not forgotten on Memorial day. My mother said when the news 
 came of George Washington's death, he, (grandfather) sat down 
 and wept like a child. 1 have his diary kept by him while on 
 the march from Somers to Boston. 
 
 The late Mr. and Mrs. Levi Collins were dear friends in my 
 father's family, and I have a melodeon bought of him over fifty 
 years ago. Also one of his singing books, and many other re- 
 minders of the good old town from way back. 1 came to the 
 home on the fourteenth anniversary of my parents marriage, and 
 am the only survivor of the family of parents and five brothers, 
 and with poor health or I would have been present in person to 
 meet some friends of former days. When 1 commenced this I just 
 intended to send my thanks and regrets, and never thought of 
 troubling you so much as trying to read this, so please excuse 
 this. I must close wishing all one of the pleasantest gathering 
 of friends Smyrna has ever known, and one that will be long 
 
 remembered. Truly yours, 
 
 Mrs. L. a. Smith. 
 
 Paxton, 111., July 7, 1904. 
 Mr. George a. Munson: 
 
 Esteemed Friend — The invitation mailed June 2d, to join the 
 old friends, neighbors and relatives, in not only a red letter day 
 of social pleasure, but a whole week of red letter days, was duly 
 received, for which accept thanks. 
 
 A reader of the Smyrna Press, I have not failed to notice the 
 generous entertainment planned for those who in the near or re- 
 mote past are fortunate to say: "Smyrna, with its pure air, 
 lovely valleys and towering hills is my native home." 
 
 t84 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 I was cradled on Smyrna Hill, and it was there "I felt a 
 mother's fond embrace and love's honored kiss." I wish 1 could 
 pay a fitting tribute to the memory of the devoted, loving, self- 
 sacrificing parents that cared for me in my helplessness. Over 
 and over agam 1 have said, 
 
 "Backward, turn backward, oh time in your flight, 
 Make me a child again just for to-night." 
 
 I do not ask for that now, but if I could go back and find 
 father, mother, brothers and sisters waiting to give me welcome, 
 I should say of course I will be in old Smyrna during Old Home 
 Week. Now I am like a lone tree of the forest, all else laid low, 
 and the cold speechless marble that marks their resting place, 
 would not answtr to my loving call. 
 
 For over a month we have been trying to decide the ques- 
 tion so as to give you an answer that has stirred the memory, 
 and the events and incidents of the years 1 spent in Smyrna pass 
 as a panorama before my mind. Not only the names of all the 
 families, but the looks, tones, gestures and individual characters 
 are before me. How plainly 1 can see the old log school house, 
 vith the children coming from the north, east, south and west 
 roads, with dinner pails and baskets in their hands. 
 
 Seventy years ago Ruth Ferris taught me to read, and now 
 her children's children are among our college graduates, and very 
 many of the descendants of the hardy pioneers that felled the 
 forests are among the literati of the present day, and as teachers 
 and writers their influence is felt in thousands of homes. 
 
 1 may regret my decision to forgo the pleasure of meeting 
 the few to avoid missing the many when it is too late. I sit in 
 my home, but my mind wanders as 1 read your program, and 
 events crowd thicker and faster upon me. But I must close, I 
 weary you with what was intended to be a few lines expressive of 
 my intense love of old friends and appreciation of the beauty 
 and grandeur of the scenery, the clear sky, health-giving atmos- 
 phere, sparkling streams and almost irresistible charms of my 
 native town. 
 
 1S5 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Since I am not to be with you, I will bespeak the most favor- 
 able conditions of weather. 1 will watch for the glow of the 
 beacon fires and the bright flashes of fireworks, and 1 may say, 
 "Oh, How I wish 1 was there." 
 
 Happy are we in believing, 
 
 "There is a land, upon whose blissful shore, 
 
 There rests no shadow, falls no stain, 
 There those who meet shall part no more, 
 And those long parted, meet again." 
 
 Mrs. Roxana Cleveland Ferguson. 
 
 North Truro, Mass., Angust 4, 1904. 
 My Dear Munson: 
 
 The invitation to Old Home Week at Smyrna stirs a long- 
 ing within us to revisit the scenes of my first pastorate and our 
 first housekeeping, and only the distance keeps me away. 1 re- 
 member so vividly the church and the parsonage, the brass band 
 which I assisted to serenade myself at the reception to the pastor 
 and wife, and above all the hosts of friends we made while in 
 Smyrna. Please accept our sincere regrets that we cannot be 
 present, and our hearty wishes for a successful week. 
 
 Very cordially yours, 
 
 Clarence F. Swift. 
 
 Hesperia, Mich., May 17, 1904. 
 To the President of Old Home Week, 
 
 Dear Sir — I have received the invitation to spend Old Home 
 Week with you and would be very glad to do so, but old age 
 and infirmities will prevent. 
 
 My grandparents, Joseph and Elizabeth Tobey, were the sec- 
 ond family that settled in Smyrna. I remember of grandmother 
 often telling of the trials they passed through the first year of 
 her life there. Born in Providence, R. I., and living in wealth 
 
 186 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 all her early life, it was a great change for her. They came in 
 from Albany with an ox team, and when they reached Pleasant 
 Brook the stream was frozen over, so the ice had to be broken 
 to get the oxen through, and she often told us as she sat on a 
 log waiting for that, she wished that she might die. Now the 
 fifth generation is living on the farm she helped to clear. 
 
 Hoping many of the old settlers may be there, and you will 
 have a pleasant time, 1 will close. 
 
 Antoinette Tobey Brown. 
 
 Muskegon, Mich , August i, l9o4. 
 Corresponding Secretary: 
 
 1 am in receipt of your invitation to attend your Home 
 Week in Smyrna. It would give me great pleasure to do so, 
 but 1 regret that it is impossible. 
 
 In looking over your committee 1 recognize four of my old 
 schoolmates, and it seems a long time ago I was there. 
 
 I trust you will have a pleasant and profitable time, and as 1 
 cannot come will hope in some other years that I may meet 
 you all. Yours most kindly, 
 
 Eva Jaynes Barber. 
 (Now Mrs. Almenzo K. Dixon.) 
 
 Tripoli, Iowa, August 2, i904. 
 Mr. George a. Munson: 
 
 My Dear Sir— 1 hereby send most hearty greetings to all 
 old Smyrna friends, especially the boys and girls of a quarter of 
 a century ago. I wish for all the pleasant remembering of old 
 acquaintance, and happy reunions. 
 
 Most truly yours. 
 
 Wells T. Ferris. 
 
 187 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Wamego, Kan., August 2, 1904, 
 Mr. Geo. A. Munson, and all Smyrna Friends: 
 
 Many thanks for your invitation to attend "Old Home 
 Week," that you have all worked so hard for, and did so much 
 to make a memorable time in the lives of so many. 
 
 My regret is that I am unable to be present to respond. My- 
 self, wife and three children, Edwin t3, Fayette II, and Marce- 
 lia 8, live within one mile north of Wamego, we have survived 
 drouths and floods, and are enjoying God's blessings. All of us 
 are members of the Methodist Church, whose Sunday School 
 Superintendent I have been for eight years. 
 
 For the past two months especially vivid remembrances have 
 passed through my mind, and during home week, D. V., I shall 
 think of you all, and pray for your welfare, and that we may all 
 receive a great spiritual uplift. Trust our own (Julius Wood,) 
 family may be represented directly, and by many descendants. 
 
 Shall be anxious to hear the report of your precious meeting 
 together. 
 
 With best wishes, kind regards, and God's choicest blessings. 
 
 I am very truly yours, 
 
 Frank F. Wood- 
 
 Hamilton, N. Y., August 8, 1904. 
 George a. Munson, Esq., Cor. Sec'y.: 
 
 Dear Sir— Having received an invitation for Old Home 
 Week will say, while it will not be possible for me to be present 
 at the Banquet am proud to say I was born in Smyrna, and il 
 is on record among my papers of the Daughters of the American 
 Revolution at Washington, and my ancestors were among the 
 first settlers in the town, among them Henry and Benjamin 
 knowles, John Browning, and Paris G. Holley, so shall be much 
 interested in all the history of "early days." Thanking you for 
 your kind invitation, 
 
 Very cordially yours, 
 
 Margaret S. Potter Lewis. 
 
 188 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 BfcRWiCK, Pa., August 7, 1904. 
 Friend Munson : 
 
 This is the Old Home Week in Smyrna, and I am glad that 
 it has been taken up there. I hope the results will be so pleasant 
 as to make it a permanent institution for years to come. We 
 regret exceedingly that we are unable to be with you, and wish 
 you to convey our greetings to the many friends who are there. 
 Trusting that the occasion will be one of profit and pleasure to 
 you all, 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 Courtney E. Ferris and Family, 
 
 Lepha a. Dutton. 
 
 Binghamton, N. Y., August 5, 1904. 
 G. A. Munson, Esq.: 
 
 My Dear Mr. Munson — An unusual degree of interest was 
 awakened within me on receiving your kind invitation. 
 
 So many times during the many years that I was privileged 
 to visit professionally Smyrna village, I would see and meet 
 heads or members of many different families. As in almost 
 every community, many of the good fathers and mothers are 
 gone and their children now grown have taken to pursuits in 
 thriving towns and cities outside, or have remained in the good 
 old town and its borderland. 
 
 1 would only be too happy to rneet the acquaintances and 
 their many friends at this time. May Providence favor the 
 occasion from the opening to its closing, fine weather prevail, 
 happiness, joy and pleasure abound, is the prayer and heartfelt 
 wish of my humble self. 
 
 I thank you very much for bringing the privilege of think- 
 ing of the occasion before me, and may God's blessing specially 
 rest upon you and yours in the work which is yours to aid in 
 all its unfojdments and enjoyments. 
 
 Yours very sincerejy, 
 
 Dr. S. Andral Kilmer. 
 
 189 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 BiNGHAMTON, N. Y., July 9, i904. 
 G. A. MUNSON, Secretary: 
 
 My Dear Sir — Your kindly remembrance of me as a resident 
 of your town and an invitation to attend the reunion was re- 
 ceived some time ago, and it gives me great pleasure to ac- 
 knowledge the same. 
 
 Forty-two years ago 1 first came to reside in Smyrna, in the 
 midst of war time, in which 1 afterwards entered, serving three 
 years and two months. 
 
 Many whom 1 then knew have gone over the river. You of 
 the younger generation are filling their places now. Hoping 
 the reunion will prove enjoyable, 1 am, 
 
 Cordially yours, 
 
 Nelson L. Ireland. 
 
 Norwich, N. Y., July 15, 1904. 
 Dear Friends: 
 
 Your cordial invitation to attend your coming festivities is 
 gratefully acknowledged with deep regret that we cannot be 
 present. Brother Sheldon, sister Mary and myself, are the only 
 remaining members of the family of Benjamin and Agnes Bar- 
 ber who had resided in Smyrna thirty-one years when we re- 
 moved to Norwich fifty-one years ago. Our attachment to our 
 native town has always been strong, causing fondly cherished 
 memories. But childhood days have passed away, as has most 
 of the friends we so dearly loved, yet the sacred influence of 
 Christian lives never die, and I wish personally to say that the 
 tenderest ties, the deepest gratitude and highest joy that thrills 
 my soul results from the faithful labors of members of each of 
 the Smyrna churches for my conversion. And soon after leav- 
 ing there under the same sacred influences here, the good seed 
 already sown in my heart burst forth into the new life in Christ. 
 It was the "birth from above," without which Jesus said none 
 can enter into the Kingdom of God. One passage of the sacred 
 word especially, Acts 5:31, which I had heard in the Baptist 
 
 190 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Sunday school in Smyrna when a child, was one of those which 
 the Holy Spirit made etTectual in leading me to Jesus. And to- 
 day I praise Him for the countless blessings of nearly half a 
 century of joyous service as his willing follower, and would say 
 to all the unsaved, "Now is the accepted time, to-day is the day 
 
 of salvation." Joyfully, 
 
 AGNES F. Barber. 
 
 OLD HOME SUNDAY. 
 
 No brighter Sunday ever dawned than that of Sunday, 
 August 7, 1904, a day long to be remembered in Smyrna, and 
 one of much interest to every inhabitant of the town, whether 
 old or young. 
 
 Appropriate services were held in every church in the town, 
 and every seat was occupied, and many old faces were noticed 
 among the different congregations. The author could only be 
 present at one church, so consequently we are able to give more 
 of the program at that church than of the others, but we are in- 
 formed that each church had its share of the interesting services 
 of the day. At the Baptist church, the oldest in the town, Rev. 
 M. S. Richardson the regular pastor conducted the services, which 
 were held in accordance of the observance of the day, and very 
 interesting to all present. 
 
 At the Methodist church services for the occasion were held, 
 and an address given by a former resident. Rev. Alfred Eastman, 
 the pastor, Rev. George W. Crosby, giving a very interesting 
 address consistent with the occasion. The most interesting, per- 
 haps, was the singing of some of the old-time Methodist hymns, 
 which carried the minds of the older portion of the congrega- 
 tion back to the days of primitive Methodism. 
 
 Both the Free Will Baptist at West Symrna, and the Friend's 
 
 church at Upperville, were active in the observance of the day, and 
 
 services in accordance with the program laid out, were held, and 
 
 t9t 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 many old home guests were present. At the Congregational 
 church the house was filled to overflowing, and Rev. W. D. 
 Eddy, the regular pastor, announced that the regular service would 
 be suspended and the morning service turned over to the former 
 members present. He also announced that the historical docu- 
 ments showed that the church had an actual history of eighty 
 years, and an essential history of one hundred and two years, it 
 being practicably the successor of the church on Sherburne West 
 Hill organized in 1802. Rev. Charles C. Johnson, of Clarkson, 
 N. Y., was expected to be present and preach a sermon for the oc- 
 casion, but was unavoidably detained at home, a fact which was 
 very much regretted by all. A male quartette composed of Messrs. 
 Leland L. Ferris, Gardner N. and Walter G. Willcox, and Frank P. 
 Hartwell sang very sweetly, "Home, Sweet Home," and there 
 was scarcely a dry eye among all the people present. 
 
 HOME, SWEET HOME. 
 
 " 'Mid pleasures, and palaces, though we may roam, 
 Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home ; 
 A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there, 
 Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere. 
 
 I gaze on the moon, as 1 tread the drear wild, 
 
 And feel like my mother, now thinks of her child; 
 
 As she looks on that moon, from our own cottage door. 
 
 Thro' the woodbine, whose fragrance shall cheer me no more. 
 
 An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain. 
 Oh, give me my lowly thatched cottage again ; 
 The birds singing gayly, that came at my call, 
 Give me them, and that peace of mind, dearer than all. 
 
 Ghorus: 
 
 Home, Home, sweet, sweet home. 
 There's no place like home, 
 Oh, there's no place like home." 
 
 Myron T. Kinyon, of Pawtucket, R. 1., one of the former 
 influential members of the church, referred in most affectionate 
 terms to the pastor of his boyhood, Rev. Sidney Mills, who re- 
 
 192 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 ceived him into the church in 1848, and he also gave very inter- 
 esting reminiscences of a powerful revival of religion in the 
 church, which occurred during the same year. 
 
 Almenzo K. Dixon recalled the names of twenty-five per- 
 sons who united with the church when he did in 1860. 
 
 Mott C. Dixon, clerk of the church for thirty-six years, re- 
 called with much feeling, the fact that he was one of the five 
 volunteers who went forth from the church to the Civil war, the 
 others being Rev. Charles Barstow, who became chaplain of 
 the 157th Regiment, Walstein D. Pudney, Edward F. Lawrence 
 and Hudson Wood. 
 
 Edward R Lawrence spoke of the tender, almost pathetic 
 impression the striking of the old town clock a moment before 
 had made upon him, and recalled with much vividness the old 
 church before it was remodeled, its galleries, pews, and the high 
 pulpit, also naming the members of the once large and famous 
 choir led by Deacon L. B. Collins for nearly sixty years, closing 
 with a tender tribute to the memory of the late Herbert M. 
 Dixon. 
 
 Hon. Walstein Pudney, of Cleveland, Ohio, paid a tender 
 tribute to his Sunday School teachers, Mrs. Herbert M. Dixon 
 and Martha Northup. The fathers, he said, laid foundations for 
 not only the town of Smyrna, but also for the great west. 
 
 Mrs. Celia C Beecher, of Flint, Mich., cited the fact that 
 several of her father's grandchildren had become ministers and 
 missionaries. Her sister, Mrs. Helen Munn, of Flushing, Mich., 
 was also present, a most interested listener to all the proceedings 
 of the occasion. Both are daughters of the late Julius Wood, 
 whose death in 1873 removed the last of the original deacons of 
 the church. 
 
 J. LaMott Dixon, the oldest son of the late Herbert M. Dixon 
 was present, and made some very interesting remarks, which 
 were listened to with marked attention by all present 
 
 So very interesting was the service that the Sunday School 
 was waived and the meeting continued till one o'clock, when it 
 
 193 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 gave way to an old-time handshaking and general greeting by 
 all present. 
 
 Sunday afternoon was spent by nearly all the old home 
 guests in visiting, and scarcely a house in the whole town was 
 without a visitor from some part of the country, and nearly 
 every state was represented. 
 
 The first gathering in the large tent was a reminiscence meet- 
 ing held at 6:1 5 p. m., and presided over by Hon. Walstein D. 
 Pudney, of Cleveland, Ohio. Prayer was oflfered by Myron T. 
 Kinyon, and very interesting remarks were made by Edward F. 
 Lawrence, Gilbert Tuttle, J. Monroe BilHngs, Almenzo K. Dixon 
 and J. LaMott Dixon, but perhaps the most interesting were by 
 James R. Tracy, the oldest home week visitor present, who told 
 of the rise of the Methodist church, of his own conversion in 
 1834, and of his departure for Ohio in the same year, where, 
 with his father, he settled on the Big Flats of the Maumee 
 River. 
 
 The main service was held in the mammoth tent at 7:30 p. 
 m. The tent was finely lighted with acetylene gas, and present- 
 ed a very brilliant appearance. It was estimated that fully five 
 hundred people were present. The Ninetieth Psalm was read by 
 Rev. M. S. Richardson, of the Baptist church, and prayer offered 
 by Rev. George W. Crosby, of the Methodist church, after 
 which the Male Quartette sang "Old Lang Syne," and then all 
 present joined in singing old "Coronation" and it had been many 
 years since such a grand song had floated on the summer air in 
 the good old town of Smyrna. 
 
 CORONATION. 
 
 " All hail the power of Jesus' name, 
 Let angels prostrate fall, 
 Bring forth the royal diadem, 
 And crown him Lord of all. 
 
 Ye chosen seed of Israel's race, 
 
 Ye ransomed from the fall. 
 Hail him, who saves you by his grace 
 
 And crown him Lord of all, 
 194 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Let every kindred, every tribe, 
 
 On this terrestrial ball, 
 To him all majesty ascribe, 
 
 And crown him Lord of all. 
 
 Oh, that with yonder sacred throng, 
 
 We at his feet may fall, 
 We'll join the everlasting song. 
 
 And crown him Lord of ail." 
 
 Myron T. Kinyon, of Pawtucket, preached an able and 
 touching sermon which was listened to with great attention, 
 after which Mr. Hart well sang in his usual pleasing manner, 
 "Homeland." After this Rev. Alfred Eastman, of South 
 Canaan, Pa., preached an excellent sermon, with his old time 
 energy and power, at the close of which Mrs. Burt W. Stover, 
 of Norwich, who had very kindly consented to be present, very 
 sweetly sang, "There is a land, mine eye hath seen." Rev. 
 W. D. Eddy who had acted as Chairman of the evening in his 
 usual pleasing way, voiced the people's thought in closing, "what 
 our eyes have seen and heard to-day, has paid for all the efforts 
 of old home week." 
 
 Monday was parrially cloudy yet no rain fell during the day, 
 and at sunset it was decidedly cool. Many guests arrived dur- 
 ing the day and the visitor's register showed a fair record. The 
 event of the day and evening was the burning of the many Bea- 
 con fires on the hilltops at 8:30 p. m., and scarcely a hill in the 
 town but was brilliantly illuminated, the light shining out in 
 nearly every direction. "Nigger Hill" to the north, Sweet's and 
 Carver hill to the east, Simons hill to the south, Tobey hill to 
 the west, and over and beyond these the many fires shone out a 
 hearty welcome to the many former citizens within our gates, 
 and the same were seemingly much appreciated by all who were 
 with us on that occasion. 
 
 Tuesday dawned bright and clear, and the weather remained 
 fine throughout the day, as though made expressly for the event. 
 
 195 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 Each incoming train added largely to the list of visitors, and 
 teams from nearly every direction brought their quota to swell 
 the large number of guests to be entertained. 
 
 Early in the morning a gospel service was held in the Metho- 
 dist church, led by Rev. Alfred Eascman, and after this the visit- 
 ors wandered from place to place, calling here and there, seem- 
 ingly enjoying every moment of the long looked for occasion. 
 During the day the visitor's record showed a large increase in 
 the number of names, and it was noticed that a large majority 
 of the visitors kept a close watch on the three mammoth tents 
 which had been erected on the Willcox lot on South street, which 
 early in the day began to present a scene of activity seldom 
 equalled in the village. Caterer Owen, of Utica, was on hand 
 on the first morning train from that city, with a full supply of 
 eatables, and was kept busy with his attendants arranging the 
 tables, and trimming the same for the coming festivities. 
 
 With the incoming of the evening trains the crowd assumed 
 mammoth proportions, and not long after all was in readiness 
 for the event of events in Smyrna, which had been long looked 
 forward to, and most strenuously labored for by all. 
 
 THE GRAND BANQUET. 
 
 The Grand Banquet was to have been given at eight o'clock, 
 bnt long before the time set' the mammoth tents were filled to 
 overflowing, fully five hundred people occupying the chairs pro- 
 vided. Not long after the hour set for its commencement there 
 was a selection by the orchestra, order was restored by President 
 Pudney, and thanks offered by Rev. William D. Eddy, after 
 which the Quartette sang, to the enjoyment of all present, 
 "Cousin Jedediah," and the chorus was very appropriately 
 changed to "Owen, put the Kettle on," dz., etc., 
 
 Next came the banquet, most ably served by the caterer and 
 his attendants, who were assisted by several couples of young 
 
 196 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 ladies and gentlemen, who volunteered for the occasion, the ban- 
 quet and its service exceedingly satisfactory to all. 
 
 MENU 
 
 Mushroom Patties 
 
 French Peas Potato Chips 
 
 Chicken Salad 
 
 Buttered Rolls Olives Pickles 
 
 Neapolitan Ice Cream 
 
 Fancy Cakes, Assorted 
 
 Fruit Coffee. 
 
 After the tables were cleared, cigars passed, and order again 
 restored. President Pudney introduced Hon. William R. Willcox, 
 of New York City, who after a few very interesting remarks, 
 presided as Toast Master. 
 
 The first toast ef the evening, "The Pioneers of Smyrna," 
 was responded to by Rev. Charles C. Johnson, of Clarkson, N. 
 Y., for eleven years pastor of the Congregational church in this 
 village, and it was listened to with marked attention. It was as 
 follows: 
 
 Mr, Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: 
 
 1 count myself fortunate in the privilege of attendance at this 
 celebration of Old Home Week. Tho' not a native of Smyrna, 
 I became naturalized. I lived here long enough to know and 
 appreciate the people and become identified with their intc;icit:>. 
 I rejoice for you that you have inaugurated this commemoration 
 of Old Home memories and scenes. Its influence will not pass 
 away with the occasion. The reflex influence will be most salu- 
 tary. It is the gathering of family clans and brightening of sa- 
 cred memories that beget holier impulses and stronger aspira- 
 tions. 
 
 I am called to speak to you this evening about the pioneers 
 of Smyrna. They came to the then western frontier to estab- 
 lish homes for themselves and their children. They found this 
 
 197 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 country an unbroken forest, save only as crossed now and then 
 by an Indian trail. The surveyor had but just gone thro' the 
 valleys and over the hills with compass and chain, driving 
 stakes and blazing trees. The problem before the pioneers was 
 to wring an existence from the wilderness. It was accompanied 
 by hardship and discomfort. Their occupation to fell and burn 
 the trees preparatory to tilling the soil. The cattle that they 
 drove from eastern settlements browsed on the twigs of fallen 
 trees. Their dwellings at first were constructed of logs with a 
 root made from bark till they could rive out shingles. Thro' 
 the roof protruded the chimney of sticks and mud, or perchance 
 of stone surmounting the open fireplace. Fuel was in super- 
 abundance. Over the logs daily consumed hung the iron crane 
 garnished with pot hooks. The iron bake-kettle kept company 
 with andirons on the hearth. A substantial latch fastened the 
 door on the inside. The door was locked from outsiders by 
 pulling in the latch string. In all simplicity of life the first set- 
 tlers toiled. Every one living within a dozen miles was a neigh- 
 bor. Neighborly kindnesses were the rule. They shared with 
 one another generous portions of freshly slaughtered meat. Log- 
 gings, raisings and husking bees furnished a community of labor 
 and occasions of social life. The spinning wheel and the hand 
 loom were found in many homes. Homespun garments were 
 worn by day and home woven bedquilts covered them at night. 
 Nearly everything used was made by hand. The shoemaker 
 went from house to house making up the family supply of shoes. 
 The tallow dip furnished light evenings and early mornings. 
 Early to bed and early to rise was the universal custom. They set 
 aside suitable land as sites for church and school buildings. Illit- 
 eracy and irreligion were frowned upon. Reading, writing, and 
 the elements of arithmetic were almost considered necessary to 
 citizenship. The Bible was used as a reading book in school. 
 The pioneers were keepers of the Sabbath. They did not abridge 
 hours for they began the Lord's day on Saturday evening. 
 The family altar was well sustained by professing Christians. 
 
 >98 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Honorable, industrious, frugal, keepers of their word, they were 
 a sturdy set and had the courage of their convictions. Those 
 who came first to Smyrna were from New England, mostly 
 from Rhode Island and Connecticut. It is safe to say that if 
 they came not from Connecticut that they came from Rhode 
 Island, and that if they came not from Rhode Island that they 
 came from Connecticut, occasionally stopping over a generation 
 in Dutchess or Otsego counties. They came to possess the land 
 and hold it for a Christian civilization of the New England type. 
 Large families were in order. They were rich in children. Race 
 suicide was not for them. Witness the descendants of Hopson 
 Wilcox, whose five sons with their children and grandchildren 
 so peopled the town, that it might appropriately have been called 
 the "Town of Wilcox," for one could walk on Wilcox land 
 from Otselic to Sherburne. So also David Wilbur, the father 
 of Thompson Wilbur, and I might mention many names, as for 
 instance Joseph Collins, father of a family of singers, John Bil- 
 lings, Joseph Billings, Noah Wood, Joshua Talcott, Simeon 
 Rexford, Samuel Northup, Gardiner J. Kinyon, John W. Brown- 
 ing, John Tobey, Paris Holley, Henry Knowles, John Pudney, 
 Thomas Sweet, Archibald Congdon, John Munson, James 
 Brooks, Ebenezer Hartwell, Judge John Foote, whose blindness 
 at 90 years of age did not prevent him from the privilege of 
 voting at the polls. I might continue the list with names of 
 James Scarritt and Joseph Card, of Philo Nearing and Rowland 
 B. Crumb, Benjamin Lyon and Major Dixon, William Stover, 
 Jessie Ferris and Jonathan Shepardson, But I forbear further 
 mention. If any one here to-night feels slighted because I have 
 not mentioned his grandfather, kindly consider the limits as 1 
 have spoken full time. They were men of whom their posterity 
 are not ashamed. They made the town of Smyrna what it is 
 and has been. Bravely they faced the problems of state and 
 church and society which confronted them. Old-fashioned and 
 out of date they might appear to us if set in our midst to-day. 
 But let us remember that we are the "heirs of the ages" and cer- 
 tainly of their achievements and we hope of their virtues. 
 
 t99 
 
Earlv Years in Smyrna and 
 
 After Mr. Johnson had concluded, Mrs. Stover sang to the 
 satisfaction of all present, "The Song That Reached My Heart," 
 and as an encore, "Little Boy Blue." 
 
 The following toasts, we very much regret we are unable to 
 publish, as they were very interesting to all present, a very pleas- 
 ing part of the evening's entertainment, in fact one of the most 
 interesting parts of the entire week. They were as follows: 
 
 "Our Young Men in the Metropolis," Edward P. Lyon, 
 Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 "Home Reminiscences," Cortland A. Wilbur, Binghamton, 
 N. Y. 
 
 "Smyrna's Soldiers," Hon. Walstein D. Pudney, Cleveland, 
 Ohio. 
 
 "Musicians of Smyrna," Myron T. Kinyon, Pawtucket, R. I. 
 
 "School Day Recollections," Prof. Charles R, Boss, Hacken- 
 sack, N. J. 
 
 The different toasts were interspersed with music by the 
 orchestra, and solos by the singers present, "Way Down Upon 
 the Suanee River" by Mrs. Stover, and the "Grenadier" and 
 "Stein Song" by Mr. Hartwell, which were heartily applauded. 
 
 "Our Public Men" was responded to by Hon. Charles H. 
 Stanton, of Plymouth, and the same appears below, though Mr. 
 Boss was the last speaker of the evening, after whose address at 
 12:30 a. m., the audience arose and led by the orchestra and 
 quartette sang in closing "The Star Spangled Banner." 
 
 OUR PUBLIC MEN. 
 
 By Charles H. Stanton. 
 
 Mr. Toastmaster, Ladies and Gentlemen : 
 
 Lest I weary you I desire to say that when 1 received from 
 your committee the invitation to respond to the sentiment pro- 
 posed, and gave affirmative answer, I had but vague comprehen- 
 sion of the magnitude of the task before me. On turning back- 
 ward the hands on time's dial, to my surprise there was revealed 
 
 200 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 a long list of names of honorable men, all of whom are em- 
 braced in the class popularly known as "public men." 
 
 I assure you I have not been racking my brain to discover 
 how much can be said upon the subject, but rather to discover 
 how little may be said with some semblance of justice to the 
 occasion and also to the honorable men whose enterprise, public 
 spirit and sterling integrity not only aided in giving character, 
 prestige, force and direction to the early institution and enter- 
 prise of your honors placed the town of Smyrna side by side 
 with her sister towns in the county. 
 
 Before proceeding I desire to borrow sufficient of your time 
 to enable me to make public acknowledgment to Isaac B. Col- 
 lins, Esq., a former resident of your town, for valuable informa- 
 tion relating to the subject under consideration. Mr. Collins' 
 eighty years of life, the first fifty of which were mostly spent in 
 your town, gave him the advantage of a personal acquaintance 
 with and knowledge of its public men during that period, and 
 his residence at the county seat since 1867 enabled him to re- 
 main in close touch with his former townsmen down to the 
 present. 
 
 Other sources of information have been county and state 
 records which have been examined with care that no honorable 
 name shall be overlooked. 
 
 Listing the names of these men in the order of time when 
 service was rendered, we find the name of Isaac Foote at the 
 head of the list. 
 
 Mr. Foote was bom in Connecticut and began his public 
 career in his nation and state, having been a delegate to a state 
 convention called to consider the adoption of the constitution of 
 the United States. 
 
 Mr. Foote settled in what is now Smyrna in 1795, having 
 previously purchased a large tract of land in the beautiful valley 
 south of your village. He was elected member of assembly in 
 1 797, and served as one of the members from Herkimer county 
 in the session of 1798, the territory now known as Chenango 
 county being at that time a part of Herkimer. During the ses* 
 
 •01 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 sion of 1 798 Mr. Foote procured the incorporation of Chenango 
 county. *In the year of 1800 Mr. Foote was appointed first judge 
 of the Court of Common Pleas of Chenango county, his commis- 
 sion being dated in November, 1800, and signed by John Jay, 
 who was then governor. 
 
 Judge Foote also served in the state senate in 1802-3-4-5. 
 His personal memoirs tell us that in 1806 he resigned from the 
 office of first county judge and retired to private life. 
 
 The long period of time during which Judge Foote was kept 
 at the front is evidence of the value placed upon his abilities by 
 his fellow citizens. 
 
 Isaac Foote, 2d, son of Judge Foote, held the office of sheriff 
 of Chenango county from 1810 to 181). 
 
 Another prominent family in the early history of your town 
 was the Case family. Russel Case, head of the family, served in 
 the assembly in 1826, and again in 1829. 
 
 Levi H. Case, son of Hon. Russel Case, served a term as 
 county sheriff in about 1840. 
 
 Honorable Demas Hubbard, for many years a resident of 
 your village, was a lawyer by profession. He began his public 
 career in 18)8 as member of assembly, which office he held for 
 three successive terms with credit to himself and general accept- 
 ability. 
 
 In 1864 Mr. Hubbard was elected to congress, taking the 
 oath of office and entering upon its duties March 4, 1865. The 
 period during which Mr. Hubbard served in congress forms a 
 distinct epoch in national history. The surrender of Lee and 
 Johnson, the assassination of President Lincoln, the impeach- 
 ment proceedings instituted against President Johnson and the 
 long and stormy trial which followed, the passage by congress of 
 the fifteenth amendment, the reconstruction measures considered 
 by congress for the new south, rendered Mr. Hubbard's legal 
 attainments and knowledge of public affairs of great national 
 
 * The next Meirber of Assembly to serve in the Stat« Legislature 
 from Smyrna was Joseph Simons, (grandfather of Obed and Bennett 
 Simons, and Mrs. Parthena Harrington,) who served in the years 1807* 
 11.— Editor. 
 
 202 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 value. A successful lawyer, an able statesman, an eloquent, en- 
 thusiastic and impressionable public speaker, Mr. Hubbard held 
 first rank among the public men of his time. 
 
 Eber Dimmick served in the state assembly during the sixty- 
 fourth session. 
 
 Francis E. Dimmick, Esq., son of Hon. Eber Dimmick, for 
 many years an exceedingly capable justice of the peace of your 
 town, also served for several terms as associate justice of the 
 court of sessions. 
 
 Solomon S. Hall, a life-long resident of your town, and head 
 of a prominent family, served in the state assembly in 1845. 
 
 Isaac B. Collins, of whom I have previously spoken, was 
 elected county superintendent of public schools in 1844, and held 
 the office for two years. Mr. Collins held first rank among the 
 prominent educators of his time. 
 
 Calvin King, for many years a popular teacher in the schools 
 of the county, was elected school commissioner in 1857, which 
 office he held for three years. 
 
 Hon. Andrew Shepardson, a lifelong resident of your town, 
 with whom nearly every person in this large audience had a per- 
 sonal acquaintance, was elected to the state assembly in 1870, 
 and served during the ninety-fourth and ninety-fifth sessions. 
 He was elected county clerk in 1875, which office he held for 
 twelve consecutive years. 
 
 The estimate placed upon Mr. Shepardson's services as 
 county clerk is well expressed in the words of another. In con- 
 versation with a gentleman of our county who has for thirty 
 years been familiar with the duties and work of the office, he 
 paid this compliment to the clerk of the county, and said Che- 
 nango county has invariably had good clerks. They have been 
 capable, efficient, painstaking and obliging, and added, from my 
 standpoint, Andrew Shepardson was greatest of them all. We 
 surely believe the opinion justifiable that he was at least the peer 
 of any. 
 
 George A. Munson belongs distinctly to another, because a 
 younger class of public men — all the years of his active life have 
 
 203 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 been spent among you. You know him through and through, 
 and anything I may say of him seems entirely superfluous. His 
 public spirit, his philanthropy, his large heartedness, his helpful 
 sympathy with the unfortunate and distressed, have endeared 
 him to all who know him, and he will be held in grateful re- 
 membrance long years after he has passed from the state of ac- 
 tion. 
 
 Mr. Munson was appointed county clerk in March, 1888, 
 and discharged the duties of the office with credit to himself and 
 acceptability to the public. 
 
 The Pudney brothers, Hon. Walstein D. and George P. are 
 both lawyers by profession, and have both been in public life. 
 
 Hon. Walstein D., whose home has for many years been in 
 Ohio, has served two terms in the legislature of his adopted 
 state. George P. held the office of district attorney of our 
 county for two successive terms, six years. He has also held a 
 state appointment for several years. George, as you well know, 
 is also a useful man in many ways. 
 
 The truthfulness of this statement has been demonstrated in 
 your presence on this occasion. He is not only a capable organ- 
 izer, but also has the ability and skill to set the machinery in 
 motion and cause it to run smoothly, and without jar or friction. 
 He also has credit for valuable assistance in making state politi- 
 cal for his fellow citizens of county. 
 
 The Willcox brothers— Stephen K. and Hon. William R., 
 have both been in public life. They have behind them a noble 
 ancestry which they have not dishonored. The Hon. William 
 R. has for many years resided in the city of New York and is a 
 lawyer by profession. He has for two years held the important 
 office of park commissioner of his city. 
 
 Stephen K. has served two successful terms as treasurer of 
 our county. Of Stephen's astuteness as a politician, most of 
 you have knowledge. 
 
 The name of Walter A. Shepardson, son of Hon. Andrew 
 Shepardson, closes the list of names of men which Smyrna has 
 produced and given to public service. For the information of 
 
 304 
 
Our First Old Home [Veek 
 
 old-time residents of the town who have for many years resided 
 elsewhere, it is proper to state that at the last general election, 
 Mr. Shepardson was called to the office of county clerk of Che- 
 nango county. The record of Mr Shepardson made during his 
 long term of service with out board of supervisors, justifies the 
 prophesy that he will become a worthy successor to his illus- 
 trious father. 
 
 A fitting supplement to what has already been said is found 
 in the statement that these men of whom I have spoken, were 
 and are in the broadest sense self-made men. None of them 
 enjoyed the advantages of great wealth. They had ambitions 
 and aspirations to do something and become something in the 
 world, and they fought life's battle single handed and alone, and 
 won for themselves in a large degree the goal of their ambitions. 
 They held opinions and convictions upon questions of public in- 
 terest and public policy, and they had the courage to back those 
 opinions and convictions by personal effort. 
 
 Their ideal of public duty and public service was the largest 
 measure of good for the largest number, and they wrought not 
 for themselves alone, but for posterity, and sought to give their 
 fellow-man an uplift toward better conditions and a better and 
 happier life. 
 
 In all the walks of life whether public or private, in every 
 position of trust and responsibility, they were faithful, earnest, 
 sincere and true, and they gave to the world the best they had. 
 
 By industry and perseverence guided by correct thought and 
 systematic and well-directed effort, they won for themselves po- 
 sition and recognition, rather than compelled it 
 
 Young men of Smyrna— In the life of active usefulness and 
 public service of this galaxy of strong and self-reliant men who 
 have preceded you, whose personal history and life work 1 have 
 attempted briefly to outline before you, you have an example 
 worthy of emulation, an inspiration to loftiest endeavor. Let 
 this be your inspiration in life as it has been theirs; "give to the 
 world the best you have, and the world will give its best back 
 to you." 
 
 20S 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 MEETING AT THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 
 
 Wednesdav morning was cool, but there was a heavy sky and 
 shortly after eight o'clock a light rain began falling. It checked 
 the arrival of guests but little, for at an early hour the town was 
 full of people as never before and the hospitality of the place 
 taxed to the uttermost to accommodate them. Early in the 
 morning Coy's Martial Band arrived, and strains of old time 
 martial music filled the air, and not long after the Sherburne 
 Military Band was also on hand, and discoursed most excellent 
 music all through the day. Everything and everybody seemed 
 filled with the spirit of the occasion, and once more Smyrna 
 was alive again. 
 
 The exercises of the morning were held at the Congregational 
 Church at 10:30 o'clock, and at that hour the same was filled 
 to overflowing. After music by the bands, President Pudney 
 called the assembly to order, and delivered ihe Address of Wel- 
 come. After which the Quartette sang "Early Days," or *Th« 
 Valley of Chenango," a song which is always pleasing to a 
 Smyrna audience, the singers doing justice to the samc» and be* 
 ing roundly applauded at its close. 
 
 EARLY YEARS. 
 
 (Written by S. B. Marsh for the Old Folks Concert given at Sher. 
 burne in 1863, for the relief of the Soldiers of the War, and sang on 
 many occasions by the famoms Dixon and Collins Quartette of Smyrna.) 
 
 I remember well, in my early years 
 When the people were few, and the country new, 
 How we went abroad in a rough, crooked road. 
 Full of fun and frolic and fears. 
 
 Ob the valley of Chenango, this was the theme. 
 The finest timbered country, that ever was seen. 
 
 I remember well in the forest wild, 
 Where the wigwam stood, of the Indian good. 
 Where bis hunting ground, and his rifle's sharp sound, 
 Was the terror of the white man's child. 
 
 9D( 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Oh the valley of Chenango, the hunting ground 
 Where the rifles sharp cracic went around and around. 
 
 I remember well in the bright moonlight, 
 How the girls and the boys in their youthful joys, 
 Went to singing school, learned to sing by rule, 
 Faw-Sole-Law as their chief delight. 
 
 Oh the valley of Chenango, merry with song 
 
 Where the singing boys and girls, were a happy throng. 
 
 I remember well how the Pilgrims looked. 
 With their old-fajhioned clothes and their fine silken robes, 
 With their broad-brimmed hat, and their warm buflf cap. 
 And their long narrow bonnets untrimmed. 
 
 Oh the valley of Chenango, where the brave men, 
 Dared the long dreary winter, till spring came again. 
 
 I remember well in my childhood days, 
 The old tunes they sang, in my ears how they rang, 
 For they chased one another and the tunes they did bother 
 For they scattered and repeated all ways. 
 
 Oh the valley of Chenango, a fine old place, 
 
 Where the old-fashioned tunes go like running a race. 
 
 I remember well when our fathers died. 
 Where their bodies now lie in a field near by, 
 And their memory sweet, we will oft repeat. 
 As we follow to meet them on high. 
 
 Oh the valley of Chenango, where sainted men, 
 Once lived, now gone, at rest in Heaven. 
 
 The Historical Address was delivered by George A. Munson, 
 Esq., of which modesty will allow us to say but little, though 
 the reporter has said it reviewed the history of the town from 
 even pre-historic lime to the present. It will suffice to say that 
 the address has been mostly merged into "Early Years in 
 Smyrna" comprising the fore part of this publication. 
 
 At the close of the address the Quartette sang "The Old 
 Oaken Bucket," which was most heartily applauded by all 
 present. 
 
 207 
 
Early Years in Smyrna and 
 
 In a very pleasing manner Rev. Samuel Moore, of Norwich^ 
 a former successful pastor of the Methodist Church in this vil- 
 lage, delivered an able and fitting address, choosing as his sub- 
 ject, "The Three Link Golden Chain, Friendship, Home and 
 Heaven," which made a deep impression on the large audience 
 present, and was listened to with marked attention. 
 
 At the close of Mr. Moore's address, at 12:20 p. m., the Con- 
 gregation arose, and led by the quartette, sang apparenty with 
 much feeling, "Home, Sweet Home," and as on the preceding 
 Sunday at this church, tears of joy and of sorrow flowed freely 
 from many of those present, joy at the sight of so many present, 
 who had not been seen before in years, and sorrow for the miss- 
 ing ones, and the improbability of many of those present being 
 seen here again. Rev. W. D. Eddy pronounced the benediction, 
 and the assemblage adjourned for dinner. 
 
 The afternoon was cloudy, though the rain had stopped fall- 
 ing, and the field sports were carried on as per program, the 
 same being of much interest to the younger portion of the crowd 
 assembled. In connection with the games were a tug of war, 
 fat man's race, baby show, potato race, foot race, high jump, 
 broad jump, pie eating contest, a slow horse trot and a fusileer 
 parade, for all of which suitable prizes were awarded. A feature 
 of the afternoon's entertainment was the display of day fire- 
 works, which had never before been seen here, and were a pleas- 
 ing part of the afternoon's program. People filled the streets, 
 visited on corners, in stores, on lawns, in the big tent, in the 
 churches and every available place, till late in the afternoon, 
 when all became aware that the day was drawing to a close, for 
 
 "Be the Day Short, or Never so Long, 
 At Length it ringeth to Even Song." 
 
 Not long after four o'clock, the assembled crowds began to 
 disperse, farewells were tenderly said and good byes feelingly 
 spoken, all realizing that a day long to be remembered in 
 Smyrna, was nearly at an end. 
 
 a»8 
 
Our First Old Home Week 
 
 Many departed for their homes on the afternoon and eve- 
 ning trains, but a goodly number remained over to witness the 
 fine display of fireworks, said to be one of the finest ever seen 
 in the Chenango valley, though a disagreeable rain which set in 
 early in the evening prevented many from witnessing the same. 
 At the close of the fireworks many remained to trip the "light 
 fantastic," but a majority wended their way homeward. 
 
 Every one who attended the observance or any part of it, 
 spoke very highly of the manner in which every detail was car- 
 ried out, and it was deemed by all present a highly successful 
 undertaking in every particular. 
 
 The balance of the week was given over to family reunions 
 and visiting, by those who remained after the event was over. 
 We wish to say in connection with the management of the affair, 
 that the officers, the entire executive committee, and many oth- 
 ers, worked hard to make it a success, were entirely harmonious, 
 and are entitled to much credit for the most successful outcome 
 of our first Old Home gathering. 
 
 THE END. 
 
HK197-78 
 

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