Utica Independent Infantry Company prepares for war: This week in Mohawk Valley history

Frank Tomaino
·5 min read

1812, 211 years ago

Off to war

"Gather 'round, boys," shouts Capt. William Williams. "I've just learned that President (James) Madison has asked Congress for a declaration of war against Great Britain. It means we will begin to drill twice as hard to be ready if we are asked to join the national army."

Williams, Utica's foremost printer and publisher of the "Utica Patriot and Patrol" newspaper, is commander of the Utica Independent Infantry Company. He was its adjutant when it was formed as a local militia four years ago. It drills often, has fancy uniforms and a band of musicians. It is in great demand for area parades and holiday celebrations. Beginning this week, though, it is preparing for war.

(On June 18, Congress voted to go to war and the War of 1812 began. Much of the country opposed the decision, however, especially the New England states. This was reflected in the congressional war vote -- 79 to 49 in the House of Representatives and 19 to 13 in the Senate.

By 1925, the Foster Building had stood for more than 50 years on the southeast corner of Genesee Street and the Erie Canal in downtown Utica. Then the canal was abandoned, filled in, paved and named Oriskany Street. That meant that the north side of the building (on the left) now faced speedy motor vehicles instead of slow-moving canal boats. Business at stores on the building’s ground floor dropped and eventually the building was torn down. It had been built in the mid-19th century by Thomas Foster. At one time, the building’s top floor offices were the homes of doctors, lawyers and the state Department of Labor. In the second half of the 20th century, the site was occupied by the Boston Store, the area’s largest department store.

(England's Orders in Council had given British ships the right to not only blockade American ports -- really aimed at cutting off essential American supplies to France -- but also the right to board American ships at sea and pressing into British service any "suspicious looking" American sailor. Ironically, two days before Congress declared war, the British Parliament repealed the Orders in Council. Communications being what they were in 1812, however, Congress did not know about the repeal when it voted.

(A fire in Utica in 1831 destroyed all records of the Utica Independent Infantry Company. We do know, however, that in the winter of 1813, the federal government called a local militia into federal service and that more than 60 members of the Utica Independent Infantry Company — including a 20-year-old Theodore S. Faxton, later the founder of Faxton Hospital — volunteered for duty and were attached to the 134th Infantry Company.

(When a British attack on Sackett's Harbor, on Lake Ontario, was expected, the 134th was ordered to leave Utica and head north on a cold, snowy day. A volunteer later wrote: "Within 30 hours of being called, we were on our way in sleighs for the Harbor." There were no reports later of any battles or casualties.)

More: Later known for illustrations, Saturday Globe began without: Mohawk Valley history

More: How Savings Bank of Utica was born: This week in Mohawk Valley history

More: WWI nurse returns home as Utica hospital head nurse: This week in Mohawk Valley history

1923, 100 years ago

Babies on parade

Nearly 15,000 spectators jam the Parkway in Utica (today the Memorial Parkway) to witness the Observer-Dispatch's first annual Baby Parade and Contest. More than 600 babies and children are judged on looks and costumes.

Among the winners are Olwen Marne Edwards, of Yorkville, and from Utica, Florence Violet Price, Charles and Albert Amacher, Margaret Schiffer and Margaret Roth.

1948, 75 years ago

Top bowlers

The Hotel Utica No. 1 team takes second place in the state Women's Bowling Tournament with a 2,634 total — only two pins behind the New York Central Railroad team from Albany. The Utica team: Gertrude Gerling, Sue Frey, Gladys Hartjung, Jane Murphy and Rose Roemer.

1973, 50 years ago

MVCC in Rome

Oneida County takes the first steps toward creating a permanent branch campus of Mohawk Valley Community College in Rome. It currently has temporary facilities at Griffiss Air Force Base.

Clinton Central School wins the annual Center State Conference girls track and field championship. Record breakers are Mary Harrigan with a 63.8 in the 440-yard run, and Janice Miller with 6:03.8 in the mile. Beth Shephard wins the high jump with a leap of 4 feet, 11 inches.

1998, 25 years ago

Memorial monument

The village of Whitesboro dedicates a memorial monument in the village park honoring veterans who lost their lives in wars after the two world wars — including in Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. Village Trustee Margaret Stephenson leads the drive to raise $5,000 for the 5-feet-high, 6-feet-long monument.

The Utica Glengarries — a women's organization at the Utica Curling Club — elects Roberta Trosset as its president. Other officers include: Ylva Cortright, vice president; Marianne Clark, secretary, and Linda Whitney, treasurer.

2013, 10 years ago

Agreement OK'd

The Oneida County Board of Legislators approves — 16 to 13 — a historic agreement with the Oneida Indian Nation that gives the Nation the exclusive right to host casino gambling in Central New York.

It also gives the state and county a share of the Turning Stone Resort Casino's slot machine profits. The state will get 25% of the take from slot machines, or $50 million of the Nation's estimated $200 million total. Oneida County will get 25% of that or $12.5 million a year.

County Executive Anthony Picente says "there is great opportunity here, but also a lot of questions." Questions include how the estimated $12.5 million the county is expected to receive as its share of slot machine revenue will be budgeted and audited.

Jerry Kraus is appointed executive director of the Stanley Center for the Arts. He is a popular local radio personality, former Utica councilman and public relations director of the Stevens-Swan Humane Society.

The Clinton Historical Society elects Robert Tegart as its president. Other officers include: Barbara Owens, vice president; Mary Byrd, secretary; Daryl Chesebro, treasurer; and directors Faye and Frank Cittadino, Paul Frey, Fran Lallier, Diane Parish, Barbara Decker, Ceil Gilbert and Eric Genalo. William Rudge is given an "award of merit" for his "outstanding effort as program chairman for 20 years."

Trivia quiz

I'll give you the "firsts," you give me the U.S. presidents involved: (1) who was the first president to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis? (2) the first who was a Rhodes scholar? (3) the first newspaper publisher elected president? (4) the first to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. (Answers will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln demanded detailed reports from the battlefields. One day, Union Army Gen. George McClellan sent the following sarcastic message to Lincoln: "We have just captured six cows. What shall we do with them?" An angry Lincoln replied: "Milk them."

This Week in History is researched and written by Frank Tomaino. E-mail him at ftomaino221@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica infantry prepares for war: Mohawk Valley history