Craft Masonry in Oneida County, New York - Onondaga and ...

emoved to Albany, N. Y., engaging as steward in the old “Stone Hotel,” the leading house there at that time, and the popular resort
of the Assemblymen and other magnates of the Capitol. While here, he married Huldah, a daughter of John Russell, a prominent
business man of that city. His wife ere long died, leaving him one child, a daughter, who in time married George Merrifield, of Sam!
Lake. At the hotel he developed great energy and business ability, and thereby attracted the attention of Judge Sanger, of New
Hartford, the great land agent, who was a frequent guest of the hotel, but more particularly by his courage and skill in the following
adventure:
During the winter, when the river was frozen over, a passage was readily affected on the ice; but in the spring, when the ice was
softened by the thaws, it would become unsafe and impossible to cross until the final “breaking up,” when boats could be used. This
unsafe period sometimes lasted several days. During such a period in the spring of 1801, a prominent banker there found it
important to send a package of money across the river to Greenbush, but could find no one who would brave the perilous
undertaking, although he freely offered one hundred dollars for its accomplishment. The generous offer coming to the ears of young
Gardner, he promptly tendered his services, which were accepted. Procuring some long, lithe, strong “hoop-poles,” he strapped
them to his body under each arm, the ends projecting fore and aft, and taking a strong pike-pole in his hands, with which to leap
over air-holes or weak places in the ice, or pull himself out, if he should break through, the hoop-poles projecting out to catch on the
ice and prevent his sinking in such an event, and securing the package on his head, he was ready for the perilous passage. An
immense crowd gathered to witness the exploit, to which he boldly advanced and which he successfully performed, the vast
gathering of citizens greeting the safe return with rounds of cheers for the hero of the hour.
Judge Sanger, who witnessed the exploit, was at that time in need of a man to take charge of the Paris Furnace, then in course
of erection at what is now Clayville, and with his keen insight into character, at once selected young Gardner for the responsible
position, who, with his characteristic promptitude, accepted the offer. Reaching New Hartford, he mounted a horse, and at once
proceeded up the valley to the furnace. Beyond Sauquoitthe road led along the high ground through the Bently neighborhood,
thence turning abruptly to the east down into the valley, where the furnace was located. During the last part of his route he was
forced to dismount and jump his horse over the fallen trees. Reaching the site at last, the massive frame of the huge building burst
upon his view like a gaunt spectre, it having been raised and thus far completed under the supervision of “Judge” Eliphalet
Sweeting, who at once resigned command to the new cotuer. They pushed forward the work with great energy, completing it before
fall, both sleeping on a horse-blanket during the summer, and when “she went into blast,” “Judge” Sweeting took the position of
founder, in which he was greatly skilled, and was considered the best judge of iron ores in the country, hence his sobriquet of
“Judge.” Colonel Gardner Avery assumed the general financial management and direction of affairs, and the furnace grew to be one
of the most important enterprises in the interior of the State.
In 1817 he founded the Lenox Furnace, which added greatly to his duties, driving back and forth, superintending both. In addition
to both these extensive furnaces he was the superintendent of the old Seneca Turnpike from Utica to Canandaigua, which
compelled him to go over the road once each month to settle up with the gate-keepers. With a spirited span of horses bought for him
in Delaware county by ‘Squire Barnett, attached to a light wagon for those days, made by the old wagon-maker, Brainard, he would
make the trip and return in five days, bringing with him the silver in large saddle-bags. These he faithfully guarded with a brace of
pistols, queer old flint lock weapons, now in possession of his grandson, E. B. Avery, as treasured relics, while made from some of
the silver his son James has a large spoon much prized by him.
While on one of these trips two important events took place at home. Among the many men in his employ was one named Smith,
a stranger, who, although he did his work well, seemed ignorant and stupid. It was afterward, however, ascertained from his fellow
workmen, that he was a keen, well educated man, and the stupidity was assumed for some purpose. Taking advantage of the
absence of the Colonel, he stole one of his best horses and fled, and no trace of him was ever found The same night of his flight,
the sawmill opposite the Avery residence was burned, old Uncle Thompson, the sawyer, who slept in the mill, perishing in the
flames. It was generally accepted that the old man, who sometimes “took a little too much,” had blunderingly set the mill on fire, but
looking back through the vista of years, circumstances favor the probability that the “stupid” Smith gained his confidence, and
ascertaining that he had some funds hoarded up, robbed and murdered him, and, firing the sawmill to cover up his crime, mounted
the stolen horse and made his escape.
After the Colonel had got well established at Paris Furnace he purchased a farm—where Crook now resides, near the
cemetery—-brought forward his father and family from their eastern home and placed them on the farm, where they resided many
years until advanced in age. Then he built them a house in the yard near his own residence, the better to look after them, where
they passed their declining years in comfort and happiness. United in life they were not separated a day in death, dying within
sixteen hours of each other. December 27, 1831, he, aged 81 years, and his wife—Amy Newell—aged 76, having lived together 59
years. The old gentleman was a soldier of the Revolution and served through the whole war.
In the building of the Presbyterian Church in the spring of 1811, Colonel Avery and other influential members desired! It to be
erected at West Sauquoit, but they were outvoted, and a site selected just east of the residence of the late Wm. Knight, where the
foundation was laid, on which the sills were placed and the framing well under way, when, presto!’ in the dull, gray breaking of a
spring day morning, the road opposite the site suddenly swarmed with teams and men. The Furnace Company teams, some dozen
or more, Theodore and Alyn Gilbert, the dam builders, about as many more, Captain Bacon, John Butler, and others, who favored a
change of base, swelled the wagon-train, all under the direction of the energetic colonel, who was a born leader, and in a twinkling,
and before the opposition could be rallied against them, the timbers and foundation stones were loaded up and carted over to West
Sauquoit, and ere night the “bee” had relaid the foundation and placed the sills thereon, and the building went up on the new site.
He and John Butler—the oldest pioneer of the western hillside—ever afterward were the leading influential members of the society,
and accorded the post of honor by the congregation, (the large square pews right and left of the pulpit,) which they have ever since
occupied with their families or descendants. Soon after coming to- Paris Furnace, he married Betsey Sage, of New Hartford, and in
1810 built his residence, now occupied by his son, Hon. Eli Avery.
In the year 1822 he erected a carding and fulling mill on the east side of the road opposite and a little below the present site of
the Empire Woolen Factory. When the railroad was constructed the old building was removed to make room for the trestle work
(since filled up) where the railroad crosses the creek to enter the village, which passes over the site of the old carding mill.
The Paris Furnace was the pioneer manufacturing enterprise of the valley, and attained a volume of business of great magnitude, its
potash kettles and hollow ware and other products being sent to all parts of the State then being settled* Their main market,
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