Awhile back I found this wonderful article about the building of the LaFarge Mansion. This was the home of a French landholder who bought land from the State comptroller for taxes in what is now the Town of Orleans in Jefferson County, N. Y. The item was found in the Watertown Daily Times - June 28, 1930. As you will see, the article's text switched to become one about the Hunneyman Family Reunion. Two reasons why I'd like to present the article here: First, the builder of the Mansion is an ancestor to four beloved nieces and nephews. Secondly, because my Grandfather Archibald Hasner and my Grandmother Minerva Sweet Hasner, lived in this huge home, according to an article which will also be posted in this section. You must come back to read about the ghosts! The URL is alson on my homepage.

Also, please refer to "Reunions - Past -- Those About of My Ancestors' Friends and Neighbors" for an article about Elida Hunneyman Williams where she, too, tells about the LaFarge Mansion.

HE HELPED BUILD OLD LA-
FARGE MANSION
WAS A NATIVE OF ENGLAND

Came to America to Work For
John LaFarge in 1832--Two of
His Grandchildren Still Living

Theresa, June 28. -- When John LaFarge began to think about building a fine mansion on the hill just outside the village of Lafargeveille, he began to wonder what carpenter he could secure to do the fine work upon the mansion. He thought of several who might qualify but in the end his thoughts went to a certain man he knew who resided in England and who was skilled in making the great doors the mansion needed, the spiral stair-way and other fine pieces of work. So a letter was dispatched to George Hunneyman of Canterbury, Kent, England, urging him to come to America and do the work. The invitation not only told of work on the proposed mansion to be built by LaFarge, but also that the country was new and other fine buildings must in the course of time be constructed. The offer seemed to be so attractive that George Hunneyman, after talking it over with his wife, decided to undertake the journey across the sea to the new country. He would go alone, as he had none too much money to spend for the passage, and, besides it might be that the work would not continue and the country might not be all the letter indicated it was. Also, if the opportunity was good he could earn money to send back and bring the family over.

So all alone he started out, after bidding his wife and three babies a fond good bye.

George Hunneyman was 28 when he started for America. He was born May 23, 1804, in Canterbury, Kent, England. Two years after George Hunneyman was born there was born nearby, it was Fevershas, Kent, England, a girl named Mary Rose, and George fell in love with his girl when he was in his teens and married her when he was 20, the marriage taking place Sept. 19, 1824.

When George Hunneyman left for America there were three children left behind, George R., Mary Ann and Eliza. The father landed in America Sept. 27, 1832, and went as soon as possible to the spot where he was to be employed by Mr. LaFarge. He found the work all he expected and the country seemed to offer greater opportunities than he dreamed of. So he wrote home to Mary to have patience and he would soon have the money to pay her passage and that of the children over. Mr. Hunneyman was employed by Mr. LaFarge for four years. After he had been a little over three years at work in America he had enough to bring over the rest of the family and Mary and the three children landed in America May 27, 1836. For a time he resided near where he was employed, but later found time to have another home. The family came in time to have a home on the Plessis-Lafargeville road, a place now known as the White farm.

Another son, William H. Hunneyman, was born in the town of Clayton, June 29, 1840. But probably we had best follow the line of George Rose Hunneyman, the eldest son of George Hunneyman, the carpenter. He was born in Fevershas, Kent, England, Sept. 10, 1826, and came as we have noted with his mother and the other two children in May, 1836, when he was ten years old. Later he fell in love with Catherine House, born in Theresa, March 19, 1851. The daughter, Elida Hunneyman, born March 22, 1852, in the town of Alexandria, married Adelbert Williams, Nov. 1, 1875. Mr. Williams died very suddenly at his Plessis place a few years ago. He was a successful man of that place and director of the Redwood National Bank. It was from Mrs. Williams, now 72, that we obtained the family history. Some of the other Hunneyman children we might mention are: George A., born in Alexandria Oct. 19, 1853; Byron R., born in Alexandria March 12, 1855; Adelphia, born in Alexandria Nov. 11, 1857; Edward W., born in Alexandria Aug. 22, 1860; Emma A., born July 17, 1862; Kate Adell born Nov. 19, 1864.

Mrs. Williams says that her Grandfather Hunneyman used to say he could not remember the time they did not have family reunions in England. Only they used to have them on Christmas Day with yule-log and plum-puddings and the like. As soon as he got his family over with him in America he observed Christmas in the same way. The increasing family kept it up, going to some home each Christmas day. About 15 years ago the family had grown so that there was hardly a house large enough to hold them and in cold weather you have to be inside a house. So the plan was changed to summer reunions.

At the reunion Thursday, which was held at Crystal lake in the pavilion, there were two present who are the grandchildren of the George Hunneyman who came from England to do the fine carpenter work on the Lafarge mansion. The two were: Mrs. Elida A. Williams and George A. Hunneyman, both of Plessis. One is 79 and the other 78.

The family gathering this year at Crystal lake was not as large as in some years. The younger members crowded the bathing beach in the forenoon and the older ones told of former days. At noon the family gathered about the long table in the pavilion and found out that the art of cooking seemed to be improving in the family. In the afternoon the business meeting was held. Due to measles the family of the secretary was quarantined in at home, but others supplied needed information. The officers elected were: President, Clarence Marsh; vice president, F. E. Williams; secretary, Mrs. Clark Williams; treasurer, Clark Williams. The business committee consists of the following: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hunneyman, Virgil Reynolds and Merill (sic) Hunneyman.

Those attending were: Mrs. Elida Williams, George Hunneyman, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Williams, Arlena Williams, Gladys Williams, Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Reed, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Reynolds, Virgil Reynolds, Harold Reynolds, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hunneyman, all of Plessis.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hunneyman, Merle Hunneyman, Mrs. Charles VanDresar, Mrs. Laura Simpson, Margaret Beebee, Catherine Beebee, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Hunneyman, all of Redwood; T. S. Rowell of Carthage, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Marsh, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Marsh, Lois Marsh and Leda Marsh, all of Lafargeville; Mrs. Albert Bickelhaupt and Bethany Jane Bickelhaupt of Theresa.

Return to Clippings Index

Return to Shirley Farone's Homepage