THE TOWN OF WINFIELD
ADDRESS by HON. MYRON A. McKEE of RICHFIELD SPRINGS, FORMERLY of WINFIELD
Delivered Before the Herkimer County Historical Society, March 14, 1903.
In attempting to give for the benefit or entertainment of others
a recital of matters that were of interest to me fifty years ago I am
forcibly reminded of my own advancing years and the fact that although
in much of my feeling and appreciation of the pleasant features of life,
I seem to feel unreasonably young, still in my physical bearing and in
the estimation of others I must be classed with the "Old Men."
The undertaking of such a recital of happenings and customs of fifty years
ago, is made more difficult by a consciousness that many of the
intervening events are already "Ancient History" and except such as have
been of a very general interest already long forgotten. The personality
of active men in the events of the County at that time is unknown to
most of the people of the present day, and he should be well prepared
who would hope to describe, briefly and entertainingly the happening in
which so many distinguished and able men of former times took an active
part.
Had I the foresight or the disposition to make a record of passing
events which I have witnessed or have known by credible hearsay, I would
now be in possession of the, to me, most interesting data of Herkimer
County. Very much of the best and most interesting history of county has
been allowed to go un-recorded, and the gathering is now difficult, of
the materials for a limited but consecutive statement of how people
lived in their daily lives, without Electric Cars, without Steam
Transportation, without Electric Light, without the Telegraph, without
the Telephone, without Gas, without Kerosene Oil, and without Coal, to
omit a vast number of things which we of the present day consider
indispensable to our living and earning a living. Surely it would have
sorely frightened our grandparents, and perhaps our parents, to see a
car moving rapidly without visible means of propulsion, or with an ear
to a receiver to hear a familiar voice known to be miles away. I do not
attempt to give you good history, but on the other hand fear that I must
be tedious to those who never had the privilege of knowing the
personality of many who were important factors in the county and county
affairs of half a century ago.
I say hail to you and God speed you in your endeavors to preserve what you can and from different sources, and
perhaps a historian may yet arise who will bring together the different
fragments and compile a record that will be well worth preserving.
My recollection, as it appears to me, now, goes back with some clearness,
at least as to some events, some fifty years, and perhaps the old School
House and District School should have a place in my memory. The
District Schools of the town were then under the supervision of a School
Inspector, a most useful and important officer in those days; chosen
from the most intelligent and best educated of the town, and they
rendered faithful and efficient service. The best remembered of those
who held that important office, were William McLaughlin and William
Stuart, and later Prof. Leroy Bliss. Perhaps there could be no decided
improvement upon the system while the schools were under a separate town
system, and there certainly could be no improvement upon the men
selected in our town. I went to school early, in what was then the Red
School House in district number 3 on the turnpike in East Winfield. I
have no recollection of thinking the school house small, but now when it
is made larger by one fourth its former size, it seems to me to be very
small indeed, and I wonder how so many pupils were ever gotten into the
room at one time, or how once in and seated, order and comparative quiet
could have been maintained, and good instruction given. In winter time
the number in regular attendance was over one hundred and sometimes
there were one hundred and thirty. Probably the arrangement of the
seats was economical of room, though not according to the modern ideas
of seats in a school room. A desk was placed against the wall at the
proper height all around the room except some few feet at the door.
Immediately in front of this desk was a bench on which the older
scholars sat, usually facing the wall that they might use the desk for a
rest for their slates and books. A lower seat in front of this was used
by the smaller scholars, thus making a continuous row of two seats
nearly all around the room. You can easily see that such an arrangement
was economical of room, as the scholars sat close together when there
was a large attendance.
It is easy to believe that the teacher must be a
person of good "governing" qualification or no order or progress in
study could be possible. In some of the classes recitation in concert
was of necessity the order, otherwise it would not be possible for all
to have an opportunity to recite during the day. Slates and slate
pencils were used hardly one in forty being so extravagant as to carry a
lead pencil though indeed we sometimes made a real lead pencil by melting lead and running it
in a crack in the floor; it partially served the purpose though never so
dark and plain as a lead pencil that we could buy at the store. Among so
large a number in one small room it would be natural to suppose that
without good order, the hum of so many studying, the occasional shifting
of seats, the movement of slates, the noise of writing on a slate with a
slate pencil, and so many of them, the recitations, the constant call
upon the teacher, "please will you mend my pen," would make intolerable
confusion. Really the old time school teacher was a person to be
remembered with a wholesome respect. The perfect control of so many,
imparting instruction impartially to all, and mending half a hundred pens
daily, quill pens, for they had no other, would make one think
now-a-days that he was leading rather a "strenuous life." Spelling had to
be done by individual effort, all spelling at that day being oral, and
woe to the unhappy one who may have inherited a dislike for set forms of
words in common use. For a good speller it was about the happiest hour
of the day, and the old time spelling schools were intensely
interesting. Indeed they may be so at the present time, but some of us
are older and may have forgotten how to spell some words, I am sure we
have forgotten the catch words, or they have been partly changed. The
place where these spelling schools were held was the school house; the
hour of meeting, "early candle light;" and it was a candle light, and
tallow candles at that. Frequent contests between neighboring schools
added zest to the exercise and proud indeed were the winners. Debates
also were frequently held in the school house and all important subjects
discussed. The most successful debating society was in Cedarville and
very properly so when such men as Rev. M. C. Brown, Rev. S. B. Loomis,
Levi Smith, William Hosford, A. D. Fish and the Beckwiths as principal
disputants, debated measures of interest in an able and interesting
manner. The singing schools, also usually held in the school house,
were quite as enjoyable as any of the functions held in those days. In
district number 3 they were taught by Mr. Hubbard of Exeter, and Mr.
Symonds and Mr. Washburn of Litchfield. For two winters a very large
singing school was taught in the ball room of Hickox's Tavern on the
turnpike, by Dr. Thomas Hastings, then of Clinton. Indeed, Dr. Hastings
was leader of the choir of the Congregational church at East Winfield
for some two years, and it was while the singing was under his direction
that he that was afterwards Rev. Dr. Simeon North, president of Hamilton
College, was ordained to the ministry in that place, and the singers
were much elated when he said that he thought the music on that occasion
was the best and most inspiring that he had ever heard.
The town of Winfield, or that part of the town of Litchfield that was afterward
taken to form the town of Winfield, was originally settled by people who
had come thence from the town of Litchfield, Connecticut. Among them
were the Braces, the Eldred, Crosbys, Knights, Leachs, Hatfields,
Harwoods, Browns and Merchants and Stewarts and Stuarts. The southern
part of the town of Winfield, formerly a part of the towns of Plainfield
and Richfield was settled for the most part by people from Vermont and
Massachusetts, among whom were such men as Jonathan Bartlett, Larkin
Smith, Thayer, Palmer, Chapin, McLaughlin and Day. My father came from
Vermont as a school teacher, afterwards taking a wife from the Eldred
family, and buying a farm from Joab Willis. Generally these early
settlers had the advantages of good education which those states
afforded, and they brought with them as is seen to this day, in their
descendants, sturdy principles, and from the earliest days, a superior
order of mind and culture was characteristic. The town, formed from
parts of Litchfield, Plainfield and Richfield was named in honor of
General Winfield Scott, then one of the heroes of different wars, and
the first settlements were on the higher lands in the north and south
parts of the town. Later, when the Cherry Valley and Manlius turnpike
was laid out it traversed the more central part of the town, and
thereafter the tendency of the population was to locate upon or near the
turnpike. It was also called the Third Great Western Turnpike, the
First Great Western leading from Albany being north of the Mohawk; the
second being south of and near the Mohawk and the third being generally
located on the high land south.
In my recollection the turnpike was much
used, great loads of all kind of produce being drawn over it to Albany
and goods for the merchants in the interior being drawn back. It was
customary for teamsters to carry their own provisions and provender for
their teams. The charges for such, at the taverns being very moderate,
not more than one shilling and six pence for lodging and hay. Great
droves of all kinds of animals, required for the city, cattle, sheep,
swine and even turkeys were frequently to be seen.
Turkeys in large
flocks were not bad to drive, except that in the after part of the day,
if they neared an orchard, the turkeys were apt to take to the trees and
no one could stop them; their day's march was ended. However, they were
early to start in the morning and probably accomplished a fair day's
journey in the day. The third great western turnpike, leading out of Albany,
was laid out four rods wide, and six rods wide through the villages.
This was necessary from the frequent droves and the large amount of travel.
The road was worked the full width, that it all might be used. One of
the most interesting and exciting sights in those days was the passage
of the great four horse stages, usually loaded with passengers and at
full speed. Then, as now, the roads in that part of the town were good,
being well graveled and not very hilly; and it was the custom to 'make
up' time, on the good roads in that section, so that we were often
treated to the sight of a great coach, loaded inside and out with its
four or six horses coming down the road at a full gallop, a sight well
worth seeing at the present day. Then the drivers would pull up at the
post-office with a flourish and within a very few inches of where they
intended. I spell Driver with a capital D. for to us they were as much
heroes as is the engineer of today of a fast train. Many and
interesting their exploits, and the safety of their valuable cargo was
always uppermost with them, and they had to make time if possible, in
all kinds of weather and all conditions of the roads. Time was valuable
then as now, and when the old Pioneer Line of Stages from Albany to
Buffalo, "through in six days," had made that time for some years, a new
line was established, the Telegraph Line, "through in four days," and
"passing the principal points of interest by daylight," just as the
Twentieth Century Limited now advertises the time from New York to
Chicago reduced to twenty-four hours.
The Congregational Church of West Winfield was organized in the north part of the town, in 1797 and the
church edifice built in 1800 on what has long been known as Meeting
House Green. Later it was moved to nearer the center of the town, and
placed near Hickox's Tavern, on the turnpike. In 1876 it was again
moved, this time to West Winfield, where it now stands, a little
modernized perhaps but not really improved, for no arrangement of seats
can equal the original rectangular pews, especially for the delectation
of the small boy on the occasion of a donation visit and oyster supper,
and many would willingly pay the highest price they ever paid for a
meal, if they could have one of the old fashioned oyster suppers, and
have the oysters taste as they did then.
While the Congregational Meeting House was situated near East Winfield it was the favorite place
for all large meetings. The building was about forty-five feet by sixty
and had galleries on either side, and across the end opposite the pulpit,
and a large audience could be comfortably seated. That meeting house
and the Universalist Church at Cedarville was somewhat celebrated for
having had many noted speakers in the interest of the abolition of
slavery in the land. Such speakers as John R. Caswell, who illustrated
his addresses with a slave, purchased in the south brought north and
freed, and used as living and veritable evidences of the truth as he saw
it, Gerrit Smith, Abby Kelly Foster, Wm. Lloyd Garrison, Wendell
Phillips, "Ossawattamie Brown" and others thrilled vast audiences for a
small town, with their eloquence. It is not easy at the present time to
enter into the spirit of those occasions, but they were very exciting
for all in those days, irrespective of political belief.
Under the direction of Dr. Thomas Hastings of sacred memory in music, a fine
orchestra was organized, and I can but believe at this date that it
really was fine. If my memory serves me right, there were two violins
or fiddles as they were called, three flutes, two clarionettes, a bass
viol and a double bass, and two or three horns. It is needless to say
that after the usual very long sermon of those days the musical part of
the service was the most interesting to the small boy. I remember
thinking and wondering if that music was not like that in the great
choruses in the time of David.
The great bell used to be rung as is now
the Angelus Bell, at morning, noon and night. It was also rung or
tolled at the time of the death of anyone in the neighborhood. The
community living scattered apart, were thus in a short time informed of
the probable death of any known to be seriously ill. The bell would be
rung for a short time, time to give notice and then tolled slowly if an
aged person had died, more quickly if the death was that of a young
person, and then the age would be struck, stopping at the end of every
ten strokes, and in this manner could be easily counted. While
perfectly proper and perhaps natural to use some such method of
announcing deaths, it seemed to strike one with awe as something almost
supernatural. After the removal of the church edifice to West Winfield
it was still used as a public hall for proper entertainments, and is to
this day. Such as Theodore Tilton, Schuyler Colfax, Benjamin K. Bruce,
Fred Douglass, Henry Ward Beecher, Mary Livermore, Adele Rankin, Lillie
Devereux Blake and many other distinguished speakers have addressed large audiences in
the town. In fact, the good citizens of the town, in the early days
were intensely interested in the current events, and always paid a good
speaker the compliment of a good audience and good attention, and to
this day, that small town is able to successfully maintain a good course
of lectures each winter season.
Up to the forties, the east part of the town seems to have had the larger part of the population, but a Mr.
Walker, seeing the advantages of a water power, in the west part, built
some mills, and for a time that part of the town was known as Walker's
Mills. The mills brought some business to that locality, and other
industries were installed, and West Winfield became the principal part
of the town. Col. David R. Carrier, who had been associated with
Benjamin Carver in a store and distillery at East Winfield, established
a store at West Winfield, and other enterprises followed. A plank road
was built from Utica, another was built south, opening up a good
territory to be supplied, an Academy was incorporated, a bank organized,
and West Winfield prospered. While these good things were enjoyed by
West Winfield, East Winfield and other equally well favored towns, as to
natural features, gradually languished and died commercially. West
Winfield grew and attained its growth, as to numbers of population. The
water power was not sufficient for any great enterprises, and there is
only a tannery, a very large and good one nevertheless, a small boot and
shoe factory. It is an important station on the Delaware and Lackawanna
and Western Railroad chiefly because it is central to a large territory. The
citizens however, keep up their interest in the school, and
maintain several literary clubs, and live happily.
After Col. Carrier moved to West Winfield, Mr. Carver continued the store for a while at
East Winfield but finally sold out and moved to Mohawk, where for
several years and until his removal to Chicago he was the shrewd and
able president of the Mohawk Valley Bank, of which Francis E. Spinner
was the cashier. The building in which Mr. Carver had his store is now
used as a horse barn, but the house in which he lived is used as a
residence, and looks from the outside as it did when Samuel Remington
took his bride thence. The distillery business at that time probably
was profitable, as all who were engaged in the business seemed to amass
wealth. There was another distillery in the north part of the town,
owned and conducted by Ebenezer Morgan. Mr. Morgan became a man of
means, and when the Herkimer County Bank in Little Falls was organized
took some stock and was made vice president. Mr. Morgan was a shrewd
man and knew how to accumulate and save property, but he would hardly
pass a creditable examination in penmanship at the present day. It is
related of him that some bills or circulating notes of the bank were
sent to him to sign as vice president, and the place where he was to
sign marked, and that he signed them top side down; it is also said that
it made little difference, as no one could tell which side of his
signature ought to be uppermost.
In 1869 I entered the employ of the First National Bank of West Winfield of which institution Col. David R.
Carrier was president. Col. Carrier was a most genial gentleman of the
old school, and he had a fund of anecdotes seldom equaled among men of
my acquaintance. It was his usual custom to come into the bank once in
each half day and he often had some interesting incident of earlier
years to relate. It now seems to me that I must have been culpable that
I did not transcribe them in permanent form. One related to General
Spinner and his signature.
It seems that while in Washington upon a certain occasion during war times, while at breakfast, at Willards
Hotel, Gen. Spinner observed Col. Carrier, and as he never forgot a
citizen of Herkimer County whom he had ever met, he spoke with him
asking if he could do anything for him, and incidentally if he would
like to visit the different departments. He asked Col. Carrier to come
around to his office and he gave him a letter to the provost marshall,
then Col. Porter. Upon presenting the letter, Col. Porter entered into
conversation with him in the course of which he asked about affairs in
the section where he came from. Interested in his answer, he asked what
part that might be; "the same as the writer of that letter" answered
Col. Carrier, "who wrote that letter and who signed it" asked Col.
Porter; upon being informed he ordered an escort at once but Col.
Carrier thought it singular that an important officer of the United
States Government, in Washington, should not know a signature so well
known throughout Herkimer County, and so soon well known throughout the
world, perhaps no less for its curiously convoluted characters than for
the well known upright character of the writer.
Col. Carrier told me many interesting incidents concerning the early customs in the town. He
said that the elections were formerly held on three days, the first
Monday of November or February, and the Tuesday and Wednesday following.
That it was the custom to choose one man to preside at all meetings held in the
interests of the town, perhaps following the customsof some eastern states, and that
that man was called the moderator. That on the Monday of an election the moderator and town clerk would
take the ballot box to one part of the town, say the north part, and
with the Justice of the Peace residing in that part hold an election,
the three acting as a Board of Inspectors, the next day they would take
the ballot box to another part, say the east part of the town and hold
an election there, the third day, Wednesday, hold an election in the
remaining part of the west part, when all the Justices of the Peace in the
town would meet with the town clerk, and canvass the votes of the three
days.
From this method of holding elections on three days, commencing on
the first Monday, came the wording of notices when elections came to be
held and completed in one day, "The Tuesday following the first Monday."
The man who served longest as Moderator, was Esquire Keith or Captain
Keith as he was called. He was a man of fine presence and an excellent
presiding officer. Another man who had peculiar qualifications which
were recognized, was Schuyler Fisher, who was a model Clerk, and was
Town Clerk for many years, and was Clerk of the Church as long as he was
able to attend meetings and generally was clerk of any meeting at which
he might be present, if a clerk was needed. He was a man of good
attainments, clear headed in all but one particular; he believed he
could produce perpetual motion and he made many machines for that
purpose, but without success, and the nearest approach to that end was
himself, as he was a man of very quick motions and he was never still,
but was the most active man I ever saw.
Before the turnpike was abandoned, it was well cared for, being divided into divisions as
railroads are divided into sections, each division being in charge of a
superintendent, and he generally performed his duty faithfully and well.
Two men and two horses and a cart, plough and scraper and necessary
tools were kept on the road all the time, going over the division, from
one end to the other, and doing such work as was best for the
maintenance of the road and keep it in good condition at all times.
After the building of the Utica and Schenectady Railroad some travel was
diverted to the Mohawk Valley, but not enough to make any appreciable
difference in the travel over the turnpike. The Railroad was a single
track road, and the trains were not then run by a dispatcher, but each
train was given a certain time for starting, and for passing any given
point, but there was no other provision, except that if two trains were
to meet at a certain point if one had not arrived, the other was to wait
five minutes and then proceed. A train five minutes behind was to wait,
but they did not always do this.
One of the worst accidents occurred at the curve between Herkimer and Ilion, caused by a head on collision. I
remember the building of the plank road between Ilion and Cedarville.
Before that was built the roads from the south, led over Elizabethtown
Hill or over the hills in Litchfield; either way was bad for a large
part of the year, and a large load could not be drawn up the hills.
Cedarville was and is about one thousand feet higher than Ilion, and the
hills on either side of the "gulf" were very steep. It remained for
Eliphalet Remington to make possible a reasonable solution of the
problem as to how to bring the great amount of travel and trade from
Cedarville to Ilion. His idea was to build a plank road between Ilion
and Cedarville following the stream, and thus having a uniform and
comparatively easy grade. Through Mr. Remington's energy and liberality
a company was organize and the road was built. The road, built at an
expense of two thousand dollars a mile proved to be of great benefit to
Ilion and the Mohawk Valley, as well as a great convenience to those
living at Cedarville and at places south; stimulated in part by the good
road, but chiefly by the enterprise of the Remingtons who gave
employment to many skilled mechanics, Ilion took on a new growth, and
without doubt has exceeded all expectations of the earlier citizens of
the village. I remember when a white tavern stood on one corner of Main
Street, the principal and at that time the only street leading south,
and there was a watering trough or tub in the center of the meeting of
the two streets. I remember also when Eliphalet Remington made a
personal guaranty, to Dean Richmond, then President of the N. Y. Central
R.R. that at least three passengers should take the cars at that station
daily, if one train each way would stop at the station. He never had
any deficiency to make up, and the station has proved to be of great
convenience to thousands.
The southern part of the county was at all
times fully alive to questions of National Policy, and was well known
for the interest of the people in the condition of the slave. The
attitude was one rather of opposition to the extension of slavery than
of disturbing existing conditions, though I have heard that there were
several stations of the Underground Railway in the town where runaway
slaves were kindly treated and helped on their way to Canada and freedom.
In those days many public speakers who have since achieved a national reputation for eloquence,
have addressed large audiences in Winfield and Cedarville. Those days
are now so far past and conditions have so changed that it is almost if not
quite impossible to fully enter into the spirit of those meetings.
The temperance cause also very early had strong support in that section, and
the Washingtonians were an important and interesting organization, that
did much for the cause of Temperance. It is very doubtful if there has
since been any better element in the temperance work. Before the
"forties" it was customary for all to keep strong drink on hand, and it
would have been an unheard of breach of etiquette if the minister calling,
should be allowed to depart without a 'hot toddy.' Spiritualism also
had its advocates, and hardly had the news come that the spirits of the
departed were communicating with their friends on earth in Rochester,
than their presence in Winfield was made known by mysterious rappings,
which none but the finer organisms could interpret satisfactorily. The
American party had its advocates too, and although never gaining much
strength in Winfield, still in the county there was sufficient strength
to elect a County Judge and a Member of Assembly, on the American or
Know Nothing Ticket. "Put none but American on guard" was the telling
battle cry, more effective then than it could possibly be in these days
of perhaps a little more enlightenment. We had in our town and at
Cedarville, temperance speakers, abolitionist speakers, know-nothing
speakers, lectures upon Chemistry, Physical Culture, Phrenology,
Homeopathy, Hydropathy and some others.
I have some recollection of the songs used in the Harrison Campaign, the songs were so stirring and so
in accord with the popular sentiment of that part of the county that the
songs remained long after the candidates in whose honor or otherwise
they were composed and sung had been elected or defeated. "Tippecanoe
and Tyler too" was a taking refrain and was not forgotten even years
after the hero of Tippecanoe had passed away and Tyler had succeeded to
the Presidency.
I have a misty recollection of shouting for Polk and
Dallas and of hearing that other refrain and incentive to a scrap,
"James K. Polk of Tennessee, the biggest fool I ever see." I remember
somewhat of the presidential election when Franklin was elected, and
more of the campaign when the "Pathfinder" Col. John C. Fremont, the
pioneer of Republican candidates made such a dashing and gallant
struggle against James Buchanan. Col. Fremont, famous for his
explorations in the West and his interesting love affair, and wedding
with Jessie Benton, created more enthusiasm than I had ever before known
in politics, and I counted it great good fortune once to see Col. and
Mrs. Fremont and his dashing Chief of Staff, Major Zagoni, and in my
eyes they were all that I had supposed them to be. I was also one of
the many who gathered In Utica to see Abraham Lincoln on his memorable
journey to Washington, to enter upon his arduous duties as President and
will never forget the calm, earnest, good look of that brave man.
In addition to the few names I have mentioned, of persons who have been men
of influence for good in Winfield, might be named, Alonzo Wood, Walter
Palmer, Dr. Loomis Warner, Dr. James M. Rose, Green Thomas, Samuel A.
Green, Peter Morgan of West Winfield, and Dr. Nathan Spencer, Nathan
Harwood, Ira Hatfield, Dean and Alfred Burgess, Giles and H. D.
Alexander, William Barnes, Almond Crandall, Henry Clark, John Crowell,
George Round, Deacon Stephen Jones, who in anti-Masonic times told a
committee from the church that he was an old man and in all probability
should never again visit his lodge on account of his age, but that he
should never withdraw from the order of Free and Accepted Masons, and
that they might go along and expel him from the church if they wanted
to. Jonathan Jones, Jonathan Bartlett, Emery Bartlett, Jared and Harry
Green, Jacob Leach of East Winfield, Sanders Dodge, Anthony Williams, a
lineal descendant of Roger Williams of Rhode Island, Emer Angell,
Bernard Crim, George and Loring Tillson, Charles Brown, Joel Merchant of
Chepachet, Levi Smith, Abijah Beckwith, Alonzo and Amanser D. Fish. The
Eastons, Holcombs and Hosfords of Cedarville, and so many others that we
while young were taught to look up to with respect on account of their
integrity and sound principles, all these have left an enduring impress
upon their descendants and successors in that good town and many who
have found their line in places remote always turn with affection to the
town of their birth and early love. I am blessed with a good memory or
fairly so, but I do not remember all, and some have been a long time
dead, and it is a far call.
A little in evidence of the fact that the
town of Winfield has been a good nursery of citizenship, and perhaps
somewhat of business, may be in an inspection of the names of some who
have been native to the town or have lived in the town for a time,
chiefly in youth, when the best impressions are made. Benjamin Carver,
for some time president of the Mohawk Valley Bank, H. D. Alexander,
cashier of the same, Dean Burgess, president of the same, James B Rafter, president of the
same, and a trusted lawyer of acknowledged ability, Alexander W.
Haslehurst, cashier, and now president of the First National Bank of
Herkimer, Clarence McCreery, cashier of the same. George A. Hardin, who
arrived at the highest distinction as a jurist, and financier, vice
president and manager of the National Herkimer County Bank, Ebenezer
Morgan, one time vice president of the same, George Tuckerman, whom
Winfield claimed, president of the Ilion Bank, B. Frank Carver, at one
time cashier of the Ilion Bank, and it is possible that I have even now
overlooked some, the list is large and respectable. No defalcations nor
mis-management, but in each case the administration has been admirable,
even in very adverse circumstances.
Among lawyers where will be found any more worthy of confidence and trust? After Judge Hardin, Charles
Burrows, Charles J. Palmer, K. E. Morgan, James Conkling, James B.
Rafter, mentioned before, Charles Bell, John D. Beckwith, Charles D.
Thomas; have I left out any? In business, Charles R. Huntley, now like
K. E. Morgan and our Billy Baker, occupying positions of the greatest
responsibility in larger cities, like Buffalo and Chicago.
I would like to pay a fitting tribute to the old West Winfield Academy. My paper is
already too long and the Academy like Fairfield Academy deserves
especial mention. I am of those who believe that the old academies
fulfilled an important mission in the educational interests of the state
if not even in the economy of the state. West Winfield Academy, like
Fairfield Academy and Whitestown Seminary, gave the best instruction in
a through manner, and their graduates who like to honor those most
excellent institutions are legion. While the Union Free Schools are
under good management and make it possible for all to obtain a fairly
good education, the academies of a generation ago brought out and
encouraged the best there was in such as attended.
Source: "Papers Read Before the Herkimer County Historical Society Covering the Period From September 1902 to May 1914, Volume 3"
Compiled by Arthur T. Smith, Secretary of the Society
Citizen Press, Herkimer, 1914
Myron McKee's reminisicences were prepared by volunteer Dick Nabinger. Dick's namesake family came
to Herkimer County in the mid-19th century:
"My family search in Herkimer county centers around Nabingers with side trips to Miller and any other
connections that I come across. My great grandfather, Jacob C. Nabinger married an Emma G. Miller in Herkimer Co.
somewhere. Jacob came to Herkimer sometime between 1849 and 1852 when he was five years old with his father
Andreas. I have the bare information back to Germany but only a bare start and hope to find more in Herkimer
County." Dick Nabinger
Back to Town of Winfield Page
Back to Herkimer/Montgomery Counties GenWeb
Back to New York State GenWeb
Created: 6/1/00
Copyright © 2000 Dick Nabinger/ Martha S. Magill
All Rights Reserved.
|