Town Histories Adams Alexandria Antwerp Brownville Cape Vincent Champion Ellisburgh Henderson Houndsfield Le Ray Lyme Lorraine Orleans Philadelphia Rodman Rutland Theresa Watertown Wilna Worth Aboriginal Traces.— In Rodman are still discernible traces of the Indian occupation. Near the residence of Edward Dillon (formerly Jared Freeman, and so marked on the accompanying diagram) is an interesting aboriginal work. It is located on lot No. 1, on the farm of the late Royal Fuller, in a gently sloping field near a small tributary of Stony creek. A plan of this work was made in 1850 under the direction of Mr. Freeman, who was familiar with it when every part was distinctly visible, and the following description was then made: It consists of a double bank, with an intervening crescent-shaped space, and a short bank running down to the stream. The latter may have been the remains of a beaver dam, or a covered way to the water. Beaver dams were common on the stream, but this had not their general appearance. Within the enclosure there was plowed up a large quantity of corn, which was found scattered over an area of about one rod by eight rods. It appeared as if charred by fire or exposure to the elements. This spot must have been an immense cache, or place for concealing corn. In all several hundred bushels were revealed by the plow. Charred corn was not found elsewhere, though adjoining fields furnished large quantities of stoneware and earthenware fragments. Just inside the enclosure is a large bowider of gneiss rock, in which may be seen two or three broad yet shallow depressions, doubtless worn by grinding stone implements. These smooth depressions were twelve inches across, and from one to two inches deep. No other part of the mass presented a like smooth surface. Directly upon the mound stood a pine stump three feet in diameter. Another description of the same work made about the same time is as follows: The work occupied a high oval-shaped hill, one side of which was very steep, while the other descended gently to the level ground. An embankment extended in a semi-circular form around that part of the hill which was not naturally protected. Originally the embankment was more than six feet high from the bottom of the trench, but now a slight depression alone remains. Formerly there was an avenue leading to the westward, but this is no longer traceable. A huge bowlder is at the base of the hill, and in it are several depressions, with several grooves, indicating use for sharpening tools by rubbing them to the required edge or form. (“ Aboriginal Monuments of New York. by B. G. Squier, published in 1849 in Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge.) Traces of this work are yet visible by darker colored streaks of earth, and a richer hue to vegetation, and the locality is known as “fort hill.” The stone bowider, with its depressions, still remains as a monument to the aboriginal occupation. There are the remains of another ancient fortification on the farm of Albert Heath, on lot No. 25 in Rodman. This work is situated on the north bank of the north branch, about half a mile above the confluence of that stream with Sandy creek. The position seems to have been selected with much care, and was well adapted for defensive operations. It lies upon a point of land elevated about twenty feet above Sandy creek, with a marsh in the rear, out of which flows a small stream of water. This stream works its way through a ravine, about ten feet deep, into the north branch. The work itself was about 90 rods in circumference, and enclosed about three acres of land. The soil has been under cultivation about seventy-five years, and but few traces of the works now remain, though its general course may be determined by a richer and more luxurient shade to the vegetation. The usual Indian relics have been found strewn over the ground (which were exhumed by the plow), such as skinning knives, broken pottery, pipe bowls and stails and the other et cetera of such encampments. Some of the pipe bowls found were quite finely carved with images of animals, birds and fish. Human bones have also been exhumed from this place. A deposit of white sand and clay is found in the marsh which is thought to have been used in the manufacture of pottery. It is said that under the roots of a large maple in this enclosure was dug up the bones of a man of great stature and furnished with entire rows of double teeth. There was a tradition many years ago of money having been buried in this fort, resulting in considerable digging for its discovery, some persons coming from a distance for that purpose. Aside from its defensive position, this place was well calculated for an Indian encampment, as Sandy creek at this point was in early times plentifully stocked with salmon, it not being an infrequent occurrence to take a barrel of this fish from one hole. The accompanying diagram is a fair representation of this work, and was made in 1802 by Rev. John Taylor while on a missionary tour through the Black river country. Civil History.— During the months of April and May, 1796, Benjamin Wright surveyed the boundaries of the eleven towns, and at the same time briefly noted the natural physical features of each. As is well known, the present town of Rodman was then distinguished as township No. 8 of the Black river tract, concerning which Mr. Wright wrote as follows: “The north line of this town is very fine soil, and in general pretty level; some hills and some gentle ascents, all of which are very fine. It is well timbered with maple, bass, ash, elm, beech, birch, butternut, and some few hemlock, which are near the banks of the streams. There is some pine on this line, but not plenty. On the east there is a pretty good country, excepting it is cut in pieces much with the streams, all of which make large gulfs, which are from 40 to 150 feet deep. On the south line is a pretty good country, very finely watered with streams. The timber in general is maple, beech, bass, elm, hemlock, spruce, ash, birch, soft maple and some iron wood. On the west line there is very fine land,, which is timbered as the east. The north branch of Big Sandy creek. passes through this town, near the N. W. part, and makes very fine intervales along its course. This is a tine mill stream, and has a sufficient quantity of water for all seasons. There are also some other streams, which run through this town, on which are fine mill seats. Some pine timber on this town, but not in abundance.” More than a hundred years have passed since Benjamin Wright and his assistants made this survey and description of old township No. B, and while the configuration of the land surface has not since materially changed, Rodman of to day presents few indeed of its old time natural features. The ever active hand of man has wrought many changes during this century of history, and has developed the resources of the town to almost their fullest extent, but all subsequent examinations have shown that the conclusions of surveyor Wright were reliably correct. The northern portions of the town have proven to be excellent lands for all general agricultural pursuits, while the southern localities are less productive and not as easily cultivated. The valuable forest growths have substantially disappeared, yet the town still contains fair timber tracts. As is fully narrated in another chapter, the town now called Rodman was originally a part of the historic Macomb purchase, and of that portion thereof afterward known as the Black river tract, the proprietors of which caused the survey and description to be made for the purposes of facilitating settlement. In the general division of the towns among the owners (August 5, 1796), No. 8, with 1, 4, 5 and 10 (or Rodman, Hounsfield, Champion, Denmark and Harrisburgh), were apportioned to Richard Harrison and Josiah Ogden Hoffman, commonly mentioned in history as Harrison & Hoffman, under whom this town was settled through the agency of Silas Stowe, of Lowville; These proprietors were tenants in common until May 1, 1805, but later on an instrument was executed, “securing certain interests of Hoffman to Thomas L. Ogden and Abijah Hammond, and on January 5, 1810, Hoffman conveyed to Harrison his interest in the towns” (N-os. 5, 8 and 10). In 1802 Simeon De Witt published a survey and map of New York state, east of the pre-emption line, in which he designated this town as Orpheus. In 1801 the proprietors caused the town to be resurveyed and divided into fifty-six lots, which, in turn, were subdivided into quarters and offered for sale to settlers at an average of $3 per acre. In the spring and summer of 1801 agent Stowe induced settlement in the town by Anson and Ebenezer Moody, Jonathan, Noah, Asa and Aaron Davis, Simeon Hunt, Benjamin Thomas and William Rice, all of whom built log dwellings, cleared small parcels of land for crops and thus prepared the way for the arrival of their families. The wife of Ehenezer Moody came in September of this year, and was the first white woman in the town. Her son, Walter Harrison Moody, born a few months later, was the first white child born in the town; and the death of that son, three years afterward, was also the first event of its kind in Rodman. Proprietor Harrison had previously promised a gift of a hundred acres to the first child born in the town, and afterward conveyed fifty acres to Ebenezer Moody, though not till after the child’s death. The Moody family were for years prominently connected with local history, but the name now has few representatives in the lccality. William Rice, one of the pioneers mentioned, built the first saw mill in the town, in 1804, and the first grist mill in 1806. Both were on Sandy creek, but at just what point is not now accurately known. Mr. Rice was otherwise associated with the pioneer history of Rodman for about fifteen years, when he removed from the town. Simeon Hunt passed his days here, and died about 1830. He kept a public house and is remembered as a very pious man and worthy citizen. He was a member of the first religious society formed in the town. Of the brothers Davis, of which there were four, recollections are meagre, yet as pioneers they are deserving of at least a passing mention in these annals. They came from Salem, Mass. Noah, Asa and Aaron after. ward removed to the western part-of the state, but Jonathan spent his life in Rodman. George L. Davis, of Watertown, is the grandson of Jonathan Davis. After this primitive beginning the way for more rapid settlement was prepared. In 1801 passable roads were built along both sides of Sandy creek, one of them extending north to Burrville (Burr’s Mills), thus affording easy communication with the settlement at Watertown. About the same time a road was opened to Adams, from which direction came a majority of the settlers. Among the arrivals in 1802 were Timothy Greenly, Reuben Smith, Daniel Todd, Thomas White and Ariel Edwards, all prominent persons in early Rodman history. Greenly came from Litchfield, N. Y., and paid eighteen shillings per acre for 2,669 acres of land in the southeast part of the town. These lands were not considered as good as those further north, but pioneer Greenly made a substantial improvement, and was a prominent man in Rodman until his death, February 19, 1852. Todd and White were neighbors, living on Sandy creek. David, Daniel and Enoch L. Todd were sons of pioneer Daniel Todd, The latter built a tannery on the creek in 1806, and was both tanner and shoemaker. White was founder of the little hamlet on Sandy creek, in the northeast part of the town called Whitesville, and for several years acted as sub-agent for Mr. Stowe. He removed from Rodman in 1810. Edwards came from Haddam, in Connecticut, and settled on lot No. 14. He died in 1853. He was twice married and raised a large family of children, several of whom became prominent in the southern part of the county. Reuben Smith was a New Hampshire Yankee, and an enterprising, go ahead settler. He settled on the south side of the creek, just below the Fassett bridge, where he built a dam, saw mill and other buildings. He was grandfather to R. Z. Smith, present supervisor of the town. In his family were ten Sons and daughters. One of the prominent settlers in 1803 was William Dodge, an old revolutionary patriot, and one of the founders of the Congregational church in Rodman. In his family were eight children. John Peck came from New Hampshire the same year and settled on lot No. 15. John Fassett and Caleb Woodward also came in 1803, the former from New Hampshire, and the latter, a Scotchman, from Herkimer county, though an earlier resident of Dutchess county. Jonathan Wyman, Ziba Buell and Jesse Wright made settlements in Rodman about 1805, and possibly some of them as early as 1804. This year also undoubtedly witnessed the arrival of still other settlers, though no present record informs us just when the purchasers of land in that year actually came here. The land agency books show that in 1804 contracts for land were made by about fifteen prospective settlers, and among them were a number of names well known in Rodman in later years. They were Aaron Moody, Jesse Smith, Horace Townsend, Joseph Nichols, Nathan Whitman, Arnold Stone, Titus King, Joseph Dana, Avery Woolworth, Thaddeus Case, Leonard Farwell, John Vaughn, Joshua Tinney and Leonard Barker. Among the purchasers in 1805, whose names appear qn the record, were the surnames Mead, Wright, Lamson, Hawks, Pierce, French, Buell, Freeman and Westcott, several of whom are still recalled by the descendants of pioneers, but all of whom cannot now be accurately located in the town. Through the same means, and having access to important papers and records, the names of still other settlers may be recalled, though not perhaps among the pioneers. However, all are believed to have been in Rodman previous to the closing years of the war of 1812—15. In this connection may be mentioned Asa Cooley, a prominent figure in early town history; the Gates family in the west part of the town; also Stephen Cook, John Burton, John Butterfield, Nathaniel Harrington, Jacob Heath, the Priest family (Joseph, Job and Solomon), Willard M. Winslow, Aipheus Nichols, Judge Abel Cole (in the assembly in 1818), Nathan Strong (in the assembly in 1832), William Sill, James Loomis, Roswell Blanchard, Bazabel Gleason, Cyrus H. Stone, Luther Eastman, Beloved Rhodes, Nathaniel Crook, Peter Yandes, Isaiah Post, Richard I)ye, George Thomas, Calvin Clifford, Enoch Murray, Eliah Russell, Caleb Woodward, Zachariah Walsworth, Abel Loveland, Timothy Underwood, D. Eastman, Abijah Kellogg, Stoddard Eastman, Nathaniel Tremain, Amariah Babbitt and Gren Kellogg, In the same manner may be reca.lled and mentioned Nathaniel Nichols, Nathan Whitman, Lyman Lawrence, Thomas Harrington, James Wright, David Corey, John Hackett, Reuben Tremain, Ebenezer Blackstone, Aaron Loomis, Bernard Warren, Titus King, Luther Woodworth and Heman Swift, all of whom were settlers of the period and’ identified in some way with the early history of the town. Among their cotemporaries, and just as earnest and devoted in the work of settlement and development, were Winslow G. Tracy, Daniel Field, William A. Flint, John Burr. Harry Wagoner, Joseph Pratt, James Ralph, Alanson Cummings, Charles Palmeter (or Parmeter), Alvin Buck, Ansel Brainerd, Samuel Kelsey, Benoni Edwards, Return Russell, Philo Booth, Asa Hill, John Glass, and still others whose names are worthy of mention but have been lost with, long passed years, the period of which we write being all of four score years ago. Among the prominent early families was that of which Moses Washburn was the head. He came from Stafford, Conn., and settled on the farm afterward occupied by Squire Strickland, in the southwest part of the town. His Sons were Jacob, Moses and Roger, and his daughters Phebe, Eunice, Triphena and Betsey. John R. Washburn, county superintendent of the poor, is the grandson of Moses Washburn, the pioneer. Not one of the pioneers remain to tell the story of early life and history with its vicissitudes and hardships, its pleasures and comforts, for with these early developers of the region all was not privation and struggle for existence, In their primitive and frugal way the pioneer families enjoyed the good things of life, but their greatest pleasure was in laying a firm and lasting foundation for the benefit of their children and descendants. The names of many of those mentioned indicate New England birth and parentage, and some of them to be of Puritan descent. Such was the case. The land agents drew largely upon New England’s population in settling the Black river townships, and Rodman was not an exception to the rule, Between the years 1803 and 1806 the lands of township No. 8 were settled rapidly, and in the next year Rodman contained 236 legal voters, having requisite property qualifications. In the same year the neigh boring town of Rutland also had 236 qualified voters, these towns thus standing in the lead in this respect in the county. At that time Watertown had only 231, and Hounsfield 226, legal voters. In view of the large number of inhabitants thus indicated, it was not surprising that a new town should be created from the mother territory of Adams. Organization.— The creating act was passed by the legislature March 24, 1804, at which time the number of inhabitants was estimated at 350. The territory of the town included township No. 8 and a part of No. 9, of the Black river tract, then otherwise known as Orpheus and Handel, as designated by Simeon De Witt’s map, but they were, in fact, a part of Adams, the latter having been created from Mexico, April 1, 1802. In 1808 township No. 9 was annexed to Lewis county and was erected into a separate town by the name of Pinckney. The original name of this town (Rodman) was Harrison, so called in honor of its proprietor, Richard Harrison, a lawyer of eminence in New York city and the owner of several vast land purchases in the northern part of the state. However, from the similarity of the names Harrison and Harrisburgh, both Black river towns, on April 6, 1808, the name of the new creation was changed to Rodman, and so called in allusion to Daniel Rodman, of Hudson, N. Y., who was clerk of the Assembly in 1808—9, when the change was made. Within its present limits Rodman contains 25,208 acres of land; and as good land for general agricultural purposes as can be found in the Black river tract, except, possibly, certain small stony areas in the southern portion. Butter and cheese have for many years been the chief staple products, indicating this to be an excellent hay and grass region (in which respect it is doubtful if the county has a better town), but at the same time in the thoroughly cultivated localities potatoes, corn, oats and other cereals yield abundantly and profitably. The lands bordering on Sandy creek are especially fertile, some of the farms ranking among the best south of Black river. The land surface is quite hilly, and is considerably broken by the deep ravines of Sandy creek and its branches, Fish and Gulf creeks. The soil generally is a stony, gravelly loam, a character in a measure indicated by the presence of at least three sulphur springs, but the latter are of no special importance among the natural features of the town. The first town meeting was held March 5, 1805, at the house of Simeon Hunt. The officers then elected were as follows: Thomas White, supervisor; George H. Thomas, town clerk; Osias H. Rawson, Cyrus Stone and William Rice, assessors; David Nichols, Simeon Hunt and Calvin Clifford, commissioners of highways: Peter Yandes. collector and constable; Jonathan Davis and Robert Stewart, poormas. ters; George H. Thomas and John Fassett, fence viewers; Simeon Hunt, pound. master. Previous to the meeting for the election of officers, and on November 4, 1804, the inhabitants assembled in a special meeting to elect three persons to represent the town at a conference held at Denmark to discuss the new county project. The committee appointed comprised William Rice, Cyrus Stone and Sim eon Hunt. The record contains the proceedings of a meeting specially called for February 8, 1806, to elect three justices of the peace, and Titus B. Willard, Titus King and Jonathan Davis were chosen. This may have been the way in which the inhabitants expressed their preference as to the persons whom they would have serve in the office, but at that time justices were appointed by commission from the governor. The records also indicate a disturbed feeling in the town during the years preceding the war of 1812, when the embargo laws went into effect. Of course the inhabitants were seriously affected by the restrictive provisions of the law, for pot and pearl ashes were then among the chief productions of the locality. On January 12, 1807, a meeting was held and William Rice, Cyrus Stone and Ebenezer Moody were appointed a committee to represent the town at a convention held in Watertown, at the house of Joseph Clark, “on the 13th inst., to take into consideration the military situation of the county.” The records further disclose incidental action by the town during the period of the war, and while this territory was not threatened with British invasion the same patriotic feeling existed here as elsewhere. All able bodied men were among the enrolled militia, and some of them saw service at Sackets Harbor and elsewhere on the frontier. Notwithstanding the depression of the period, Rodman continued to grow in number of inhabitants and industries. As early as 1810, there were 214 families in the town (Township No. 9 had previously been set off) and the inhabitants numbered 1,277. At that time there were four grist and six saw mills, a fulling mill, a carding mill, and three dis. tilleries. There was no regular meeting house, yet a Congregational society was in existence and held services in the school house, Ten years later the inhabitants numbered 1,735, and 7,890 acres of land were cleared and under cultivation. The industries then included seven grist and eight saw mills, three fulling mills, two carding machines, six asheries, and five distilleries. The farmers of that period raised large quantities of wheat and corn and considerable rye. They had no market for their surplus product, and the erection of ‘several distilleries along Sandy creek offered the means of converting the surplus into whiskey, a readily salable commodity, and then an article of diet and refreshment on nearly every family table. Among the early owners of distilleries on the creek were Hiram Slocum, Asa Davis, W. J. Nichols and C. W. McKinstry. At the present time the town has not one distillery, while the saw and grist mills number not more than four or five. In 1820 nearly 18,000 yards of domestic cloth was made in families in the twon, but it is doubtful if in the past year so much as a single yard was manufactured. However, as otherwise indicating the growrh and changes in the population in Rodman, recourse may be had to the census report, from which is taken the following facts: In 1810 the population was 1,277; 1814, 1,484; 1820. 1,755; 1825, 1,719; 1830, 1,901; 1835, 1,798; 1840, 1,702; 1845, 1,694; 1850, 1,784; 1855, 1,752; 1880, 1,808; 1865, 1,654; 1870, 1,604; 1875, 1,466; 1880, 1,517; 1890, 1,287; 1892, 1,220. The greatest population was attained in 1830, after which for a period of about thirty years there was a gradual though not material decrease in number of inhabitants. Beginning about 1865 there was a marked decline which has been continuous to the present time; and it is a fact, if the census reports are reliable authority, that the number of inhabitants now in the town is less than in 1810. This condition is in a meas ure accounted for in the fact that during the period of early history there were numerous small farms in the town, which in later years were joined with other parcels and owned by husbaudmen who worked on a larger scale, and in fact were compelled to do so to secure the best results. There are in Rodman at this time about sixty farmers owning and working tracts of more than 130 acres, and some of them between 200 and 300 acres in extent. Therefore the greatest material loss to the town has been in number of inhabitants rather than in established agricultural pursuits. In this respect Rodman has not suffered more seriously than other towns similarly situated. During the period of its history, there have been established within the limits of the town several hamlets or trading centers, principal among them being Rodman, Unionville and Whitesville, located from west to east along Sandy creek. The other settlements are Whitford’s Corners (West Rodman, sometimes called Toad Hollow), in the west part, near the Adams line, and Tremaine’s Corners, in the southeast part of the town. Rodman village is located on Sandy creek just below the mouth of the Gulf stream, as commonly known, and is the most important of the settled localities of the town. About 1803 Simeon Hunt built a log house at the point where these streams unite, and opened it as a tavern, thus establishing the trading point. The settlers, however, in making improvements were not at all influenced by the action of others who preceded them and built wherever the best opportunity offered. Thus the store which Michael Henster and Joshua Priest opened (about 1809) was located on Dry Hill, near what is now called Dillon’s Corners. It was at this place that Nathaniel Harrington laid a wager to lift a hogshead of whiskey with two men seated upon it, and readily accomplished the feat. About 1810 Nathan Strong built a grist mill at Rodman, near where the present mill stands. He operated it for many years and then sold to Moses Slaughter. The next owner was 0. M. Cooley, who bought the property in 1861, and in 1879 sold a half interest to Egbert Cooley. In 1881 the mill was burned. Then the Rodman milling company was organized, rebuilt the mill and have ever since operated it with a fair degree of success. The officers are O. M. Woodward, president; 0. R. Porter, secretary and treasurer. In 1840 Joseph Brown built the Rodman tannery, which was soon afterward bought by Hiram Herring and by him operated until his death, in 1881. The Hiram Herring tanning company succeeded, but two years afterward sold to Levi Washburn. The buildings were burned about 1888. These industries, and others up and down the creek, had the effect to draw considerable trade to the village, and thus established a business center of some prominence in early years. Now, the grist mill, the cheese factory and one or two small industries comprise the manufacturing interests, while the surrounding farming country contributes to maintain the village stores. The merchants are Paul Bauhi, E. M. Bullock and W. J. Wyman, general stores; E. A. Cooley, grocer and jeweler, and A. C. Hughs, hardware. The hotel, the Washburn house, is kept by M. G. Wilson. The public buildings comprise the Con gregational and Methodist Episcopal churches and the district school. The Rodman union seminary was one of the old and well known institutions of the village and town, and one which, in its way, was the source of much good to the people. The frame building, two stories high, was erected in 1840, and stood on land which was conveyed in trust to the trustees of the Harrison society, for the purpose of a school by the heirs of Nathan Strong. The structure was built by voluntary subscription, and cost about $1,200. On December 8, 1840, the name Rodman union seminary was adopted, and thirteen trustees were appointed to control its affairs. For several years the institution was maintained as a select school, but later on the increasing advantages of the ‘common school system had the effect to diminish the attendance at the seminary and cause its ultimate downfall. Union lodge, No. 397, F. & A. M., of Rodman, was organized March 24, 1824, with forty-three members, and Levi Heath, master; William P. McKinstry, senior warden; Philo Parker, junior warden. Mr. McKinstry was the second master, but in 1827 the lodge was dissolved on account of the masonic troubles of that period. The jewels and other lodge property were distributed among the members. After the period had passed the lodge was revived and resumed work under the old name and number, but the records covering this time (previous to 1860), are not to be found. In August, 1860, a reorganization was effected under the designation of Rodman lodge, No. 506, F. & A. M., which from that time has been one of the most worthy institutions of the town. The members now number 104 persons. Since 1860 the masters have been Hermon Strong, Orson M. Cooley, Arnold C. Hughs, George C. Parker, John R. Washburn, John N. Parker, Richard M. Maloney, Julius B. Lyon, S. S. S. Spink, Chester W. Snow, Oliver R. Porter, Delbert J. Washburn, Lewis F. Richmond and P. W. Simmons. The Congregational church and society of Rodman is one of tile oldest religious organizations in the county, dating its history to the primitive meetings for worship held as early as 1802, when Rev. Mr. Woodward, a missionary worker from the east, was in tile field. On September 22, 1805, the society was formed by Rev. Ebenezer Laselle, of Watertown. The original members were Reuben and Laura Tremaine, Aaron an’d Sally Loomis, William and Lydia Dodge, Nathaniel Nichols, David Cory and Nathaniel Crook. No regular services were held until 1808, when the Rev. David Spear was employed to preach for the society. He was installed as pastor in September, 1809, and served in that capacity until the fall of 1865, a period of fifty-seven years. The Harrison society was organized in connection with this church July 17, 1809, Reuben Tremaine, James Loomis, Asa Davis, Simeon Hunt, Jonathan Wyman and D. Eastman being the first trustees. In 1815 the society caused a neat frame meeting house to be built in the village. On April 24, 1834, the Harrison society changed its name to the Congregational society of Rodman. A new church edifice was built in 1850, and was dedicated in March, 1851. The building was substantially remodeled in 1877. The present number of members is eightynine. The pastor is Rev. John Kincaid. The Sunday school was organized in 1820. Its membership now is 152; E. J. Rider, superintendent. The Methodist Episcopal church of Rodman dates its history to the year 1804, when a class was formed, including in its membership Ebenezer and Anson Moody, Richard Dye, John Fassett, Thomas White, Alpheus Nichols, Ebenezer Blackstone and Peter Yandes. Early meetings were held in log school houses, and also in John Fassett’s dwelling. Among the earliest Methodist preachers to visit the town were Isaac Puffer, George Gary, Elisha Wheeler, Lewis Whitcomb and John Dempster. In 1829 several classes were formed and a circuit was organized in the town. In 1847 the first meeting was held in Rodman village, in the old red school house which stood on the site of the present school building. In that year a meeting house was begun, and was finished in 1849. In March, 1848, the first Methodist Episcopal society of Rodman village was regularly organized with Elam Cooley, Hiram Buell, Winson D. Allport, James W. Brown, Alanson Kinney, Isaac Jenks, Almanson Tibbitts and Truman Tuttle, trustees. In 1876 the church edifice was enlarged and repaired. The village church forms a part of a circuit of M. E. societies, and is perhaps the strongest of the three. The total membership is 160, with three probationers. The pastor is Rev. Henry Ernest. Unionville, or Zoar, is a small hamlet on Sandy creek, about a mile above Rodman. In the present history of the town it is of little note, but three-quarters of a century ago was a place of some consequence. In this vicinity Howe Nichols built a grist mill as early as 1809. In the same locality, also, and about a mile above the settlement, was the old Reuben Smith saw mill and potashery. In early days this hamlet could also boast of a hotel, a small cabinet shop and two stores, but for the last twenty-five years the place has been without either of these interests. The last merchant was Isaac Sheuillier. Whitesville (East Rodman post-office), is the name of a hamlet in the the extreme northeast corner of the town, and was named in allusion to Thomas White who settled here in 1802, and in the next year built the first grist mill in Rodman. White was sub-agent for the sale of lands in this locality, and the prominence he thus gained, together with the convenience of his grist mill, led to the settlement. The old Benjamin Stiliman tavern was built on the creek road below this place, near where Win. Dodge now lives, probably as early as 1812, and was a famous resort in its day. The early town meetings were held there. At what time or by whom a store was opened is not known, but one has been kept in the vicinity many years. The present merchant and postmaster is S. R. Moore. The saw mill and hotel here were owned by W. D. Waite, who was accidentally killed in the mill in the spring of 1897. In this part of the town a Methodist society was organized, and at Boynton’s corners, below the settlement, the old meeting house was built about 1829. About twenty years later the Rodman village society withdrew and built a house of worship at their village, whereupon the class in the Whitesville locality also took steps to build for themselves. The old edifice was out of repair, and in 1858 a new structure was erected at this village. This church is a part of the Rodman circuit. Tremaine’s Corners is a post hamlet in school district No. 10, where a cheese factory has been operated several years. The place is without other industries or business interests. A Methodist class has been in existence here for some time and forms a part of the Rodman circuit. Meetings are held in the school house. In the western part of the town, on the creek south of the locality known as Whitford’s corners, also as West Rodman and Toad Hollow, is tile Moses Slaughter grist mill. It was here that the so called Union company began making and distilling whiskey about 1828. A set of stones were placed in the building and grinding was done. Later on the distillery part was changed into a tannery by Joseph Davis, and both were run by him about ten or twelve years. In 1865 another “run of stone” was added. Mr. Slaughter was the next owner. The mill is not run continuously. Among the ether early industries were Heath’s saw mill, and Abram Burr’s cloth mill which was carried away by high water. The West Rodman cheese factory was started in 1870 by A. H. Heath. The only factory now in this part of the town is the North Rodman, of which Fuller; Dillon & Sill are proprietors. Among the proprietors of cheese factories twenty and more years ago were A,. H. Heath, Anson Miller 0. G. Heaton (1864). The old butter makers on a large scale were C. C. Vrooman, Milan A. Fassett, E. L. Simmons and H. C. Spencer. Supervisors.— Thomas White, 1805; Jonathan Davis, 1806—9; Enoch Murray, 1810— 11; Samuel C. Kanady, 1812—13; Abel Cole, 1814; Nathan Strong, 1815—30; William M. Winslow, 1831—32; Ora Cooley, 1833—36; George Gates, 1837; Nathan Strong, 1838; Thomas Waite, 1839—40; Ora Cooley, 1841; Henry C. Strong, 1842; Herman Strong, 1843; Henry C. Strong, 1844—45; William Sill, 1846; Dennis M. Waite, 1847; Benjamin F. Hunt, 1848—49; Alanson Tibbitts, 1850; George Gates, 1851—52; Ora Cooley, 1853; John Pauling, 1854; Gaines Tremaine, 1855; William Gilbert, 1856; Ora Cooley. 1857; Oliver C. Wyman, 1858-59; Nathan Strong, 1860—63; Hiram H. Taylor, 1864—65; Oliver C. Wyman, 1866—67; William Christie, 1868—72; Orin D. Hill, 1873—74; George A. Gates, 1875—78; J. R. Washburn, 1879—82; Simeon H. Gates, 1883—84; William J. Wyman, 1885—90; Harrison S. Dean, 1891—95; Reuben Z. Smith, 1896—99.