Town of Marcy History

Sincere thanks to Cathy VerSchneider for this submission!!

Brief Sketch of Town of Marcy

     The first settler in what is now the town of Marcy was John Wilson, who removed from Windsor, Vermont in 1793. He settled on a farm about one half mile from the nine mile creek near where the Utica airport is now located. He built a small log house and cleared several acres of land. He was taken ill and died in the fall of the same year he settled. Mr. Wilson wa one of a family of ten children, son of Thomas Wilson, an Irish emigrant, who settled in Connecticut and later removed to Vermont. Eight sons joined the Continental Army and took part in the long struggle for independence. In the year 1794 James Wilson, brother of John came to Marcy and soon built a log home and cleared a farm about one mile north of Oriskany. The same year Isaac and Jacob Wilson located in town.
     Among the early settlers were the Carey and Camp families all choosing homes along the river and near each other. Anthony W. and Jonathan Wood came from New Hampshire and settled in 1816. William Mayhew Sr. about 1820.
     About 1812-15 a plant was started in the northeast part of the town for manufacture of window glass. This industry lasted but a few years, owing to the discovery in the neighborhood of Oneida Lake of a better quality of sand and the business was transferred to that locality. The glass made here had a green tinge.
     The first cheese factory was built in 1862 by Levi Tanner, A.W. Wood and Charles Ashby on the Tanner Farm now the home of Camp Healthmore. The same year another was built by David Wilcox and Amos Potter. A corn mill was located on the North side of the Rome-Utica state road on Snake Hill. At this mill corn was hulled.
     In the list of principle taverns, Rice's, nine mile creek is mentioned, this tavern was patronized by the pioneers who drove to the "salt springs", as the section of Onondaga Lake used to be called, for their yearly supply of salt. Not every householder went but a few in the settlement were selected or offered to go for salt. If not portioned out carefully they were completely out of salt until such time that another expedition could be made to the "salt springs." This was also the stopping place for the stage coach and mail. This site is now the business place of George Spink, a short distance west of the nine mile creek on the state road.
     About 1892 the boundary line on the north was changed and the village of Stittville "moved" from the town of Trenton to Marcy. Lock 20 of the Barge Canal located near the southern boundary calls many visitors who seldom would think of the courage of the early pioneers who came less than one hundred and fifty years ago to an unbroken wilderness.

 Interesting Incidents 1832-1932

     At the first town meeting held in the Town of Marcy, in the County of Oneida, and State of New York, at the school house near Samuel Camps, (now known as District No. 3) in said Town, on Tuesday the first of May, 1832, pursuant to an Act of Legislature of said state, Incorporating said town, entitled "An Act to divide the Town of Deerfield in the County of Oneida," passed March 30, 1832.
     Isaac Bronson, Esquire, a Justice of the Peace, residing in said Town presided and called the meeting to order, Milton Dyer being appointed Clerk. By-laws were fixed and officers elected. John Newell was the first Supervisor. He resigned before the year was up, and Samuel C. Baldwin, was elected to succeed him.
     Governor Marcy called upon Supervisor Baldwin at this time and the Town was therefore called the Town of Marcy. Town meetings were held at William M. Mayhew's for several years. One or two Town Board Meetings were held a year, to elect officers and fill vacancies. Resignations were presented from every office throughout the history.
     The following officers were duly elected in 1832: For Supervisor, John Newell, later S.C. Baldwin to take his palace; clerk, Milton Dyer; assessors, Samuel C. Baldwin, Dan P. Cadwell, Harvey Foot; commissioner of roads, John F. Allen, Nathan Kent and Joe L. Hale; collector, John Cavana; school commissioners, Hazen E. Fox, Horatio N. Cary and Jeremiah Sweet; inspectors of schools, Jonathan Sweet, James Dikeman and Ezra Simmons; overseers of the poor, Samuel C. Baldwin and William Potter; constables, Joseph Ward, George W. Miller, John Cavana, Phineas Sherman Jr.; sealer of weights and measures, Anthony W. Wood; justices of peace, William R. Miller, Ezra Simmons, Coonrad Raymer; pound masters, Samuel Camp, George H. Champlin and Hezekiah Chamberlin.

     Overseers of Roads were: Amos Cleaver, Isaac McNeil, William Hix, Joseph Ward, William Woolcutt, WIlliam Clark, William Potter, Elisha Robbins, Ezra Shattock, S.E. Buel, Joshua Hamilton, Thomas Carr, Richard Ratcliff, Able Moulton, Moulton Miller, Thomas Evans, Eliphalet Johnson, John Huchinson, Simon John, Richard Richards, George H. Champlin, William Seavy, Harvey Foot, Stephen Northup, William Mills, John F. Allen, David Roberts, William Baird and James H. Hannaha.
     As Road Taxes were worked out, little money was involved for the same. In 1836, $14.00 out of $15.00 raised were spent on roads. In 1838, resolved that #130 be spent if necessary, on Camp Bridge over the Mohawk River. Down through the record bridges were the largest items. In 1843, the Overseer of the Poor was instructed to hand all money in his hands over to the Road Overseer in charge. In the year 1846, 202 votes were cast. Some splendid penmanship is exemplified in the early records. In 1855, $1000 was raised for Road Work.
     In 1862, a call came for 600,000 volunteers by the President, 25 being the quota for the Town of Marcy, $10 was raised for each volunteer from the Town.
     In 1864 a resolution was passed to raise $300 for each volunteer. This was later raised to $1000. It was voted that the Town Board of the Town of Marcy, proceed to Issue Town bonds of said town, not to exceed seventy-four thousand dollars, in such sums as the Commissioner of War Loans shall require, recorded Aug. 15, 1864. With 1865 high waters, bridges carried away.
     In 1868 it was resolved "that we do not accept of any additional territory to the town, that includes any expensive bridges," and in 1872, $4000 was raised for roads and bridges. In 1874 bridges were damaged by storms. In 1885 $30 was raised for the Poor Fund. In 1890 Election District was divided. In 1892 the first road scraper was obtained. Michael Van Hatten was Commissioner in Charge.
     In the year 1894, telephone matters entered the Town, 1896 John W. Potter was elected Supervisor and held the office for eleven consecutive years. In 1906, the first meeting was held in Grange Hall. In 1907 to and including 1911 the Town Clerk's office was located at the same residence as in 1930-31-32. In 1910, $10 per mile was allowed on 68 miles of Town roads. In 1906 the first State Road in the Town was under construction on the River Road, 1911 the Stittville Sewer District was created. In 1914, the first Town Building was erected for town tools on Fox Road and the first stone crusher was purchased.
     In 1917 a new bridge was erected over Nine Mile Creek at Stittville. In 1921 occurred the death of Supervisor T.O. Jones, 1922 the first roller was purchased, 1923 the first truck was purchased, in 1925 Stittville Lighting District was created, in 1928 a large safe was purchased, in 1929 a tractor wa purchased, in 1930, it was voted to purchase Stittville Canning Factory for a Town Building, in 1931 the first snow plow wa purchased ant the Marcy Fire Department was created.
     All down through the records, the same names appear several times for the different offices, it being quite common that I.J. Evans and Frank Ritchie appear as members of the Town Board at the same time.
     The following Supervisors were elected from 1832 to 1932 respectively: John Newell, Samuel C. Baldwin, Milton Dyer, Conrad Raymer, S.C. Baldwin, Nathan Bronson, J.A. Dickiman, Hazen E. Fox, Clark Potter, Jeremiah Sweet, Amos C. Hall, Clark Potter, James F. Dikeman, David Babcock, William H. Hale, David Babcock, Clark Potter, E.T. Marson, James Cavana, Henry Edie, George R. Robbins, Ebenezer Lewis, Michael VanHatten, William C. Clark, D.T. Jenkins, Charles Edie, James Cavana, Charles Edie, David Jenkins, William Marson, to fill vacancy John M. Wood, William E. Jones, A.L. Edie, Thomas Watkins, M. M. Mayhew, A.E. Morgan, John Pugh, M.M. Mayhew, C.H. Clark, J.W. Potter, Thomas Parry, D.J. Grace, L.J. Evans, T.O. Jones, Rice Franklin, Fred Deck, Lewis T. Ritchie, J. Brayton Fuller.
     The Town Clerks elected from 1832-1932 respectively were: Milton Dyer, C.F. Camp, William M. Mayhew, David Babcock, Frank Moulton, WIlliam R. Hale, Amos C. Hall, A.C. Hall, Evan Evans, William Hale, J.B. Haye, Roderick D. Potter, William E. Jones, Charles J. Edie, Charles E. Edie, John Cavana, Robert P. Hughes, William Cavana, A.L. Edie, Edward W. Ratcliff, J.R. Pugh, Edward Richards, William Morris, Charles Hutchingson, T.N. Grace, S.T. Jepson, George Ratcliff, Geo. T. Thomas, E.W. Edie, George Wright, E.M. Marson, W.L. Edie, D.J. Grace, E.M. Marson, R. Bruce Williams, George Meyer, Henry Adams, Hugh Pugh, J.D. Fuller, E.M. Barnard, W.D. Marson, Carl ????, Fred E. Bogart, C.R. Seavy.
     The present Town Board is: J. Brayton Fuller, Supervisor, C.R. Seavey, Clerk; Justices of the Peace, I.J. Evans, John R. Williams, Frank Ritchie, George Augar; Collector, Alvin Jones; Board of Assessors, George Whittaker, Frank Horne, H.W. Bushnell; Town Superintendent of Highways, Norton Millington; Welfare Officer, Fred J. Ulrich; Constables, Richard Pugh, George Spink, William Burton, Claude Whittaker, Ernest Rosecup; School Directors, Lewis T. Ritchie, A.W. Gates; Attendance Officer, John J. Rahn.
     The population in 1920 was 1191, in 1930 it was 2602 this includes the State Hospital. There are 215 farms with a total acreage of about 20,000 acres in the township.
     The following men in town held count and state offices: Edward T. Marson, Side Judge of County Court; David Gray, Assemblyman; Edward M. Marson, Assemblyman; Fred Hazard, County Judge and J.B. Fuller, Assemblyman.

Oneida County Farm and Home Bureau

     The Oneida County Farm and Home Bureau Association was organized in 1912 as the Oneida County Farm Bureau. In the fall of 1926 Miss A. Ruth Jones took the position of manager and is serving at the present time.
     The people of the Town of Marcy have led in this movement throughout its existence, several of its prominent citizens serving on the board of directors at various times. A considerable number of boys and girls who started junior work when it was carried on by the Farm Bureau back in 1913 and 1914 and now prominent farmers and homemakers in the town and occupy important positions in their community.