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1615-

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-OF-

if

ONONDAGA COUNTY,
NEW

YORK.

=WITH^

ilUnstralians

md

l|i0gra^Hical ^ketchc^

iro

t_^==0F^==2>_

SOME OF

ITS

PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.

>-

By PROFESSOR W. W. CLAYTON.

I=T7BX,XSHEX> BIT X). MlJ^SOIfr

Syracuse,

N".

&

CO.,

Y.

-1878.Tiuair. Smith

-^^i

.^ ^

'j'i;

'

^'

&

Bruce. Printers. .Journal Otticf.

^"'
'

-^i

^\-i<

.Syr.uiisi'.

N. Y.

F"iM

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

PAGE
;

rortraits of Dr. Elijah Park, and wife.

Cbas. W. Hoyt,
" Albert Becker,
Ilesidence of Jas. Becker, (with portraits)
'*
"
'
Luther Baker, "

between

360, 861

"

360, 361

Joseph Thomas,
Avery F. Palmer,

between

I'ortrait of
'

"

360, 361
360, 361

facing

362

363, 363
362, 363

Itesidence of Homer Case, (with portraits)

Portrait of Lewis O. Hill,

362,

facing

.'163

398

Residence of Myron Bangs, Fayetteville,

Ambrose

'

" Wellwood.

Clark, (With portraits)

residence of Sam'l J. Wells,

Hotel and Residence of E W. Woodward',
Portraits of
"

"

"

Residence of

Illustrious

and Eunice Remington,

E. A. Coe, iwith portraits)

of Silas Bell, (with portraits)

MANLIUS.
St. John's School for Boys,

^Id

Homestead

'esidence of

Homestead

of

Wm.

David

365

facing

T. Avery,

between

(with portraits)

and residence

366, 367
366. 367

Collin, (with portraits)

of A. H. Avery. Sr.,

Jr.

364

between

....
...

between

"

the late

Reuben H. Bangs, (with

(double page)

Residence of Vliet Carpenter, (with portraits)

Portraits of David

Miller and wife,

Elbridge, Emerson, Julius C.
S.

and Mason

Kinne.
370

Residence of Rufus R. Kinne, (with portraits)

Seth O. Palmiter,

370

POMPEY.

371

Residence of David Hibbard, (with portraits)

372

Portrait of Daniel (iott,

Portraits of Abraham Northrup and wife.
Homer Case's Monument, Pompey Cemetery,

373
374

portraits)

between

Portrait of Robert Dunlop,

Residence of Robert Dunlop,
Residence, etc. of Warren C. Brayton,

'

368. 369

Residence of Anson Smith,

facing
"
" Dr. Judson H Graves,
''
and Farm Views of D. W, Grldley, (double page)
between Sro,
Residence of Edward French, (with portraits)
facing
*'
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Fayetteville,
"
Kesidence of Chas. II. Cole. with portraits)
I

367

368,

of A. H. Avery,

DE WITT.

facing

F.esidence of the late C. E. Sooville, (with portraits)

r;esidence of Curtiss Twitchell, (with portraits)
"
' Mrs. Ann Mable,
"
"
' Ambrose S. Uabie,

'.

Seymour and Nancy Pratt,

Beach and Frances Beard,

Residence of
374. 375

Ju.stin F. Gates,

Portraits of Elijah and

Maranda Weston,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

IV

PAOE
Jonathan White,
B. B.

Schenck, M.
Norton,

facing
T>.

between

Lyman

Dr. J. E. Bilts.

318. 319
320, 321

fai'ing

313

331

Juilge Otis Bigelow.

$S

WilBoii Family,

'a

FrcJerick W. Fenner.

!43

John Halsteil,
John Van Derveer,
Harvey H. Rtiss,
Henry Datoll.
Horace B. Bingham.
Moses Wormuth,
George Eoker,

between
"

3-2,

Willis C. Pish,

Reuben B. Bangs,
Ambrose Clark,

m
!3J
:!3I

m
m

Isaac Connley.
M. H BIynn, M. D.,
Capt. Valentine Dunham,
David H. Hoyt.
Samuel H. Stanton,
I. Tyler Frisbie,

Homer Ca!^e.

32S

:ao

Moseley Dunham,
French Falrchild,
Samnel Emmons,
Hon. Asa Eastwood.
Oreamus Johnson,

3:J0

Nathaniel Cornell,
Russel Foster,
Col. Qabriel Tappai:
Stewart Scott,

facing

between

.341

Beach Beard.

Edward French.
,

Silas Bell,
B.

W. Woodward,

Robert Dunlop,
Rufus K. Kinne,
Dairy Farm of W. C. Brayton,
David S. Miller,
The Kinne Family,
Doniel Gott,
Dr. Hezekiah Clarke.
Elijah Weston.
Abraham Northrup,

351

352
352

Willis,

Cole",

Vllet Carpenter,

George W. Card,

Hon. Samnel

.)62

.)M
!54
.i5tf.

357

....
....

MISCELLANEOUS.

.W3

between

37

Graves, M.D..

Collin, Sr

Roster of Soldiers,
List of Citizens

of

who

36>
3S!

!M3

:m

James L. Niles,
James H. Kedway,
Warren Kinney,
Myron Hillyer,

362,

Allen H. Avery,
J.

36t

363, 36;1

.343

3-17

Xiles,

Sfid,

C. E, Scoville,

David

Alfred

J.

Charles M.

Sfil

360,36:

Wells,

Eli A. Coe,

342, 343

J.

387

340, 341

between

Samuel
Judson

assisted in the publication of

Onondaga County with Personals,

360, 3i',

360,

David llibhard,

340

340, 341

facing

COarles W. Hoyt,
Albert Becker.
James Becker,
Joseph Tbi'mas,
Avery F. Palmer,
Luther Baker,
Morris Baker.

:a5

328. .389

PJtCB

between

Dr. Elijah Park,

INTRODL'CTION.
tempting to compile a History of Onondaga
the writer

is

aware of the interest and

well

to the

botV

H'ect

.iciaga

historian

has always been a

in the prehistoric period, before

man

.he white

ui

:ni.

to its territory,

it

penetrated the solitudes of

ries

becan.c

Nations and when the Jesuit

or Five

-lois

theatre

I'ne

was

Confederacy that of

re of a great Indian

.o.>;.

it

events

61

its forests,

which the

in

among them missions and

establishing

the forests of Canada, then on the Straits

in

first

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, and

entering

along the Mississippi, the

finally

Wabash and

licans of the

Northwestern vW.?rness was called

Sault Ste. Marie, which

ecclesiastic of the

was proclaimec'

attendeJ by

^^as

and near, ana by

tribes far

the

Red Repub-

In 1641, a great convention of

Ohio.

it

trading posts

officers

to the

both

New

government of

at

all

the

"ivil

and

France

ciV.''d

assembled tribes that they

two leading nations of Europe became directly

were placed imder the protection of the French

it.terested.

nation.

The French and

North America

tion of

The

the English began the coloniza-

jea!(

and

nsies

them

in

lies

planted
settling

the

'

Continent.

-jntinent

had the ad

of

access to

_. .'Jf

lli

nificent
.n a

Not only were the vast multitudes

World were

to the

Lake Michigan.
of

dusky warriors,

trans-

Sichems and braves there assembled brought into

The French, by

alliance of friendship with the French, but Perot,

in

Gulf of Mexico,

paddled
visited

them

in a

the

bark canoe by friendly Pottawattomies,

Miamis

and secured from

at Chicago,

similar conditions of friendship

While

all

this

was going

and

alliance.

on, the Iroquois or Five

most direct means of

Nations, the most powerful confederation of Indians

the cou'n.iy, and to the rich

on the continent, were holding the ground between

the

valleys and prairies of the Great

few years they had ascended the St.

e to the

Upper Lakes

sissippi

and descended

had crossed over to

it

to

they had explored the vast

the Gulf of

fertile

regions

tht Alleghanies and Texas, and

every tribe from the Gulf of

St.

Lawrence

to

the

English and the French

from the Hudson to Lake Erie

it,

reaching

not as neutrals,

although they sought at times to preserve a sort of

but as enemies of the French and

neutrality,

visited

mately as friends and

French had wantonly provoked their

allies of

The French avowed

the deliberate purpose of

all

this territory,

and of

confining them to the narrow strip of country along

the Atlantic coast.

In this

scheme of empire they

sought the friendship and alliance of the Indian

They

first

secured the friendship of the

Hurons and Algonquins of the North and West,

forming an

alliance with

of the Iroquois, tribes

The

hostility at

They were

by

the hereditary enemies

whom

the latter had beaten

back beyond the lakes and held

dination.

ulti-

the English.

the beginning of the colonization of Canada

keeping the English out of

New

the State of

in

York, the Long House, as they called

Mobile

Bay.

tribes.

agent of

the

Perot,

great council at Green Bay, on

Old

across half

Nicholas

which had long made

of the Mississippi, which f^ows

1671,

Talon, the Intendant of Canada, convened a similar

period.

the Northwest, within a few miles

if

of the triL

same

Lawrence, whose waters head

St.

the great

rivalries

New

ie

at nearly the

In

in

awe and

so antagonistic to the

along the northern border of

New York

subor-

French

that

Lake

Ontario and the Niagara River could not be navigated by them, and for

many

years their only avenue

INTRODUCTION.
West

of access to the

by the Ottawa River,

lay

French,

failing in ecclesiastical

through which they paddled their bark canoes to

to the arbitrament of war.

Lake

invaded by

Nippissing, crossed over to French River,

by which they descended

The

first visit

Onondagas had

Lake Huron.

to

its

origin in the necessity for con-

whose geographical position

ciliating the Iroquois,

between the English and the French, and whose

strength and prowess

war,

in

arbiters of the destiny of

made them

in the struggle.

the mission of

tlie

religious,

having

the natural

which ever nation they

chose to assist

Those who regard

Jesuits in this country as purely

for its

exclusive object the conver-

sion of the heathen to Christianity, mistake very

gravely

its

impor^ and character.

a polititori^ligious significitnce.
tenr'

j'lje

Cnurch

dominion

of the

extend

to

had evidently

It

Not alone

to

e.\-

Church, but through the

power and

the

dominion

France, came these zealous, devoted and

of

self-sacri-

to the wilds of

Loyola

ficing disciples of Ignatius

North America.
In

Onondaga

mission-field

their

important on the Continent.

paratively easy to

make

was

For, while

t;-.e

most

was com-

it

friends and converts of

'.he

unbiased tribes of other sections of the country,

here they had a strong, wily,
a

magnanimous
Other

ciliate.

foe,

to

though often

contend with and to con-

were

tribes

skillful,

less

dominating

the

Iroquois were the proud lords of the domain, the

Resides, at

Onondaga,

there was that in the situation which

made the

heroes of a thousand battles.

work of the Jesuits vastly important.

center

of

Nations,

This was the

the Confederacy or League of the Five

the

Capital,

at

which

all

their

great

National Councils were held, where the sachems

a. id chiefs,

from the Hudson to the Niagara, assem-

bled to attend to the business of State, where the

national policy and

the great questions of peace

all

and of war were decided.

If,

therefore, the Five

Nations were to be influenced and brought over to

an alliance with the l^rench against their English
enemies, where could
as at

Onondaga,

confederacy

in

his

known

struggle

Mohawks and

of the Jesuits to the

be so well accomplished

the heart and capital of their

French.

the

as the

1759 culminated

in

colonial

power

"

in

r*

Thrice was

this

came

tht

7.,

Old French War,"

\\\

the downfall of the French

America

in

diplomacy,

the Iroquois fighting on

the side of the English and turning the scale agains'

the

common

foe.

has been seriously doubted by some

It

best statesmen and casuists whether the

would have been

colonists

French without the

and whether,

to

abl<^

which they rendered,

0.

country mi^

this

be a part of the French dominions.

Certain

and advantage of

their great strength, skill

turned against the English, the fate of

would have been

ver)' r!iftere"^t

Nor has Onondaga been

tral

location

part

less

the State of

civil division of

-i'

assi'-fa"

the absence

in

<-<-

*"

in the

great

X\

from what

ii

noted as an oi^.

New

State of which

"ren-

is

Ltt'

her connection with the great ?ines of com-

munication both of the early and more

'

it

"^cf

times

.ures

her peculiar topographical and geologica

the variety and richness of her resourr

ductions
'.alents

and, above

.juished

and reputation of her eminf

Empire

interior of the

.en,

when

be formed ami

Onondaga men,

its

policy

<ud Nation
n)d

directed,
'-p

at the bar, on the bench

and

fields of enterprise

in

the

;ariy time,

the cf.:"'acter of this great

to

have

ics in

State.

pro-

id

the character,

all,

rendered her one of the most noted

had

Her

York.

the halls of leg

bore a conspicuous part, and rendered the

Onondaga famous throughout the

country,

were the great advocates and projectors of

Canal

that great State enterprise which, cc

ing the early stage of the country's progress

which

was begun and completed, eclipsed

it

marvels of the oldest nations of Europe,

who

believed

the

in

undertaking, so

far

in

all

in

the

The men

practicability of this

great

advance of the rest of their

fellow-citizens that their ideas

were regarded as the

.'

This made Onondaga a famous

dream of visionary enthusiasts and treated with

locality,

not only

during the period of the Jesuit Missions, but equally

famous during the wars which followed, when the

derision

who

Legislature,

first

first

brought the subject before the

explored and surveyed the route,

and who stood by the enterprise

till it

was

finally

INTRODUCTION.
crowned with success, were men of Onondaga
their identification with

by

name

the

Onondaga became noted

resources

piineral

The

Lime.

her

and

Salt,

the land.

an early time

for

this

were

locality

the French and English colonies

Europe more than two hundred years

in

her

Gypsum, and Water-

Springs of

Salt

known throughout

at

and

work made

this great

Onondaga famous throughout

of

ago.

After the Revolution, their fame attracted hither

and

visitors

settlers,

and

development

their partial

The

historian.

the

War

of the Rebellion

attempted

has

The

had access
Relations

Clark's

Onondaga

of the United States

man's Jesuits

made
it

in

discovery of water lime in America was

first

Onondaga

in

was needed

at a period

for the

the construction

consequence,
forward to
materials at

permanent locks and culverts

in

completion, and has since had the

hand

become

and,

work went

1819 that great

to

keep

it

as noted

permanent

in a

first

discovery of

United States was made

in the

Canal

Erie

of the

Here, too, the

repair.

since

from

its

most opportune, when

in

state of

gypsum

1792, which has

and valuable as the famous

covers

history
all

York

1875

contained in

pages

the following

the ground over which

we have thus

Canada

Park-

New

France; Parkman's

Davidson

&

Stuv^'s His-

New

Geological Reports of the State of

New York

Turner's History of the Holland

Transactions

Society

and

Local, County

Agricultural

State

the

of

Civil

List

State Census for

Town

Records, Maps,

Pamphlets, Files of Newspapers, and various other

documents of

we have

For

a local character.

consulted the

local matters

Pompey Re-union and Van

Schaack's History of the Village of Manlius.

For valuable assistance we are indebted to Hon.

George Geddes, not only for material.! and sugges-

history,
&c.,

in various portions of the general

embodied

tions

plaster of Paris.

The

Purchase

New York

America; Champlain's Journal;

in

tory of Illinois

Bancroft's History

Smith's

in

The

we have

Colonial and Do'^umentary Histories of

New York

Old Regim^

population.

the

of

compiling this volume are the Jesuit

in

grown

sixty thousand

history not hitherto

sources of information to which

History of

more than

in

most valuable and interesting features of the work.

Charlevoi.x's

a center of

Onondaga

of

been added, forming one

formed the nucleus of flourishing villages which have

into

Record

Military

but for the matter on geology, agriculture,

drawn from

his

valuable Report published in

cursorily glanced, giving each step of the progress

the Transactions of \he State Agricultural Society

of the county in detail from the earliest discoveries.

for

The

plan of our work, of course,

is

very different

1859 to Moses Summers, Esq., of the Onondaga

Standard, for aid in the use of books and papers,
;

have condensed the history of the Indians into

and the History of the 149th Regiment to Col. J.

M. Gere, Col. Jenney, Major Poole, Gen. Sniper,

three or four chapters, adding considerable original

Capt.

from that of Mr. Clark's two volumes.

While we

W.

Gilbert,

and others,

in

Tract, the Salt Interest, the Civil Record, and other

ments from

this

matters,

we have extended
deemed

of most importance, far

beyond

entirely

of the City of

original matter,

also

Syracuse

is

almost

embracing the inception

and progress of industries and institutions which

county engaged

Messrs.

Wilkinson, Hon. Thomas

Gardner, Esq.,
country.

history of the regi-

the late war.

in

acknowledge indebtedness

W. Leavenworth,

anything that has yet been published.

Our History

We

Estes, Gen. Richardson,

making up the

the history of the Military

matter,

Lieut.

J.

G.

to

Hon. E.

Forman and Alfred

Alvord,

and others, both

the

in

George
city

J.

and

kindly assisted us

Many clergymen have

when

with data for the History of the Churches, and

Mr. Clark published his Onondaga, such as the

prominent Masons and Odd-Fellows have court-

either did not exist or were in their infancy

Libraries, Manufactories, Banking, Railroads, and

societies.
eously aided us in the histories of their
to local history
is hoped that this contribution

the various Industrial and Commercial interests of

will

Public Schools, Churches, Institutions of Learning,

the

modern

city.

Also

in

the various

Towns

of the

County, the histories have been brought down from

the point

where they had been

left

by the former

It

be the means of

rescuing

much

historical

perish.
material from oblivion that would otherwise

Records are

liable to

be destroyed

stances they are very imperfectly

in

many

kept many
;

in-

of the

INTRODUCTION.
most important events of daily occurrence

community
their

way

are never recorded at

into the daily papers

all

and

if

files

in

every

they

find

are kept,

there are usually no duplicates of the same, and the

likelihood that they will be preserved

as

is

one

against a thousand compared with a book of history

in

which these

distributed

much

of the most valuable part of our

memory

who

preserves these valuable

traditions from perishing, and

of those

commits them

to the

hands of the descendants of our worthy pioneers

in

an authentic and readable form,

office to

No
ties,

is

doing

a,

kind

present and future generations.

one but he who has attempted

such historical collections,

of readers.

history exists only in the

knowledge and e.xpericnce put upon

Surely he

record.

and events are gathered up and

among thousands

Moreover,
local

facts

interesting

even

materials.

is

to

compile

aware of the

difficul-

now, attending the collection rf such

The meagreness

of the records and the

who have been

witnesses of the events or partici-

incompleteness of the best recollections that can be

pators in them.

And

elicited, are

the stage of action.

some

early settler,

these are rapidly passing from

Scarcely a week passes but

whose experience reached back

to the beginning of our present

institutions,

improvements and

and whose memory was replete with

interesting facts and incidents connected with the

country,

Happy

is

numbered no more among the

for the interests of local history if

living.

such

citi-

zens had been interviewed, and the contents of their

to

constantly compelling the local historian

modify his plan or to leave

ted.

it

imperfectly execu-

Links are wanting which the utmost labor

and research cannot supply.

scious of this fact,

we have

While
striven

painfull)-

to

make

con
the

following pages as accurate and complete as possible

under the circumstances, and we submit our humble

labors to the indulgent criticism of the public.

CONTENTS
HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY.

PAGE

INTROPVCTIOX
Chapter

Chapter XX.Onondaga

1 Early

ler's

Discoveries Claims of different Nations Xew

Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter

York under Dutch Rule First Colonial Assembly The

Revolution and Progress of Settlement Vestward.

....
....

Chapter H. History of the Military Tract,

Chapter III. Interesting Early Records Town Meetings Formation of Counties prior to Onondaga Organization of
Onondaga County.
OaAPT>R IV. The Iroquois Confederacy.
Chai'T' ft V The Onondaga Indians and the French War Detween
The English and French Count Frontenao"s Invasion
f

Onondaga,

etc..

......

Chapter VI. The Iroquois and the English The Onondagas in

the French War English and German Missions among
the Onondagas Schools Treaties, etc.,
Chapter VII .Migration of the Onondagas Location of their various

........

Salt,

15th Regt. X. Y. Vols

Regt., continued The 101st Regt.,
XXIV.-The laad N. Y. Vols.,
XXV.-Tbe 12iM X. Y. Vols., continued,

.....
.....
......

of the Salt Springs,

with Statistics,

'

'

'

'

'42
81

258
2Ctj

an
2K.-J

.i<f<

Lysander,
Van Bhren.

315

Clay,

332

327

:J37

Spafford,
'

''

'
'

"

TuUy,
La Fayette.

.359

355-

Manlius.

'iti-'i

Fahius.
De Witt,

'

Otisco,

344
.348-

Pompey.

'

Residence of John Moore,

Portrait of Henry Shattuck.
" J C. Woodruff.
'
" Lyman Clary, M. D
" Hon. Joshua Forman,(steeli
,

142

Gen. E. W. Leavenworth, (steel)

M. Wieting, M. D.,
' Rev. E. O. Haven, D. D., LL. D.,
Syracuse University Boildings, (double page)
Martin's Block,
Residence of John Eastwood.
Portrait of L. H. Ridfield, (steel)
"
" Horace White, (steel)

144

The White Memorial

81

SYRACUSE.
facing

135
ise
140
141

hesidence of John Greenway,

'ortralts of W M. Clarke and wife,
\. G. .Salisbury and wife.
(steel.)

tl

Cicero.

"

"

Wilkinson,

3ST
*c..

Ono.idaga County Poor-House,

i.-'hn

215

"

facing title page.

facing
5

Clinton Square,
Residence of Patrick Lyn^h,
Eo trait of Gen. A. P. Granger.
Parley Howlett,
"
" George Stevens,

203

ILLUSTRATIONS.

167

]T

Marcellus,
Skaneateles.
Eibridge,
Camillus,

"

"

152

Onondaga.

....

148

149

between

131

of Sallm,
' Geddes.
'

12T
.

HISTORIES OF THE TOWNS.

Town

........

Penitentiary,

N. Y. Vols., continued,

135

Commercial Interests,
Masons. Odd-Fellows.

etc.,

(Froutice.i.

118

122

150

4fl

ber-Clearing Land Pictures of Pioneer Life Productions of the County,

Chapter XVII. Comparative Statistics Influential Agriculturists-County Agricultural Societies The present Joint
Stock Company General Agricultural Statistics ol the
County,
ti-s
Chapter XVIII.Judicial and Executive Officers under Herkimer
County Onondaga County Civil List Military Organization-Population of the Couuty from 18(J0 to 1(^75,
75
Chapter XIX. County Poor House and Insane ."isylum County
Penitentiary State Asylum for Idiots,
SI

l.S5ih

JIl

194

Pompey, N. Y.
!Plau of Onondaga County.
Court House, Syracuse,

Cavalry,

XXVIII.-The 14<ith X. Y. Vols., continued,

XXIX. The 185th N. Y. Vols.,

XXX.-The

96
lOS
107

XXVI The 125d N. Y. Vols., continued 15th

XXVII. -The 149th X. Y. Vols.,

91

'.

Banks.
Manufactures,

Chapter XII. History of the Salt Springs, continued, with tables

showing amount of Salt made since 17^,
Chapter XIII. Topography of Onondaga County,
Chapter XIV. Geology of Onondaga County,
Chapter XV. Geology, continued,
Chapter XVI. Agriculture Classiflcation of SoilsClimate Tim-

Pratt's Falls.

Press.

and Manufacture of

....

XXIIL 12th

Si

88

XXII The

iuiis,

etc.,

Education,
Syracuse University,
Churches.

of their Residence in each Lo-

Chapter XI History

Battery,

Railroads,

C'eapter VIII. AntiquitiesRelies of European Intercourse with

the Indians The Monumental Stone of 1520, discovered
in Pompey Other curious Relics,
Chapter IS Internal Navigation The old Canal Origin of the
Eiie Canal Part taken in it by Eminent Men of Onondaga Counly--Its Completion and Advantages,
3
History of the Courts Erection of the County BuildChapter

XXI. Jenney's

CITY OF SYRACUSE.

........

Town Sites Period

But-

Introduction

23

cality,

in the War of the Rebellion Capt.

Company Pettit's Battery,

ICO. 151

J.

...

Building,
Portrait of Hamilton White, (steel
" X. F. Graves, (steel
" D. P. Wood, (steel
i

fac

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

II

PAbE

tm

(aciug

Portrait of E. F. Rice,
" Hon. D. Pratt, (Meeli
" William C, Kuger. steel)
'
Elizur Clark, isteel)
'
C, T. LoDgstreet. (Steel)
Empire State Jlills .Iacot> AmosA Sons.

lietween

212,

-.'13

1,

,i:i

,J14,

-iVi

Hi.

41.'.

facing

311)

Portrait of Jobii Orceiiway,

am

View of GreeuTBj'8 lirewiry.

Portrait of S, P, Pierce,

"

219

Wm.

"

JoliD Crouse, isteelj

'

Hon, Peter Burns,

Hotace Bronson,
Johnbou Hall,

"

'

"

"

A. Cool!,

i-U

yao

(steelj

iSO
831

833

Coiintv Mill! Association Depot,

Portrait of Capt. Oliver Teall, isteel)
'
" George J. Gardner, (eteel)

Onondaga

'

'

MajorGeneral Jolm J. Peck,

Rufus Stanton,
Hon V. W. Smith
Hon. Dennis McC'artliy,

"

"

Robert Gere.

'

"

"

"

JM

iiv

James M.

C.

84T

(Sleel)

849
2,i0
8.V3

Ellis, isteel)

Tallmnn,

isteel

255

850

H. X. Wliite,

848

841

846

Besidence of Jacolj Aniux, iwitli portrait)

Portrait of Mrs. Ann M. T. Rtdfleld, (steel)

a-io

SALIXA

8M

facing

Residence of John Padilock,

Portraits of John Paddock and Wife,

85S
868

Portrait of B. Burton,
Portraits of Miles Adams and Wife.

865

GEDDES.
Portrait of Dr.

facing

W. Porter;

-iiyl

OXONDAGA.
Residence of J. W. Parsons, iwltli portrait,!
Portrait of Hon. Abner Cliapuian,
Portraits of John F. and Minerva Clark,

facing
Ijetween

Portrait of Leonard P, Field,

Portraits of Jeremiah Everrinjjham and wives,
"
*
Horace Hitohiiigs and wife,
'*
"
'"
" Moses Fowler

872, 273

878, 873

facing

873
874

between

"

274, 875

274,875

Theophilus Hali
E B.Bradley
Portrait of George T. Clark, M.
"
" W. W, Newman.
"

871

878

facing

875
876

I>

between 876,877

Portraits of Charles Carpenter and wife.

876, 877

Residence of George Hull,

87, 879

Portraits of George Hall and wife,

"
'
"
Volney King "

878. 879

facing

Residence of Austin G. WyckofI, (with portraits)

"
''
"
" Jerathmael Hunt.
Portraits of David Chafee and wife,
"
Ransel S. Kenyoii and wife,

879
881

between

iSi. 883

e, 883
facing

383

MARCELLUS.
Marcellus Wuulen Mills L. Moses, (double page)

between

884, 885

between

288,!

SKAXEATELES,
Residence of the
Portrait of

lale Julius Earn,

Judge Hezekiah

Earll,

...
.

Residence of A. J. Earll with portraits, (double page)

Darvel Mills, Property of Thomas Morton, (double page)
Portrait of C. Pardee,
Portraits of D. C. Thornton and wife,
Thomas Morton's Mills, at Mottville, (double page)
Draycott Paper Mills, (double page)
Residences of W. T and F. G. Weeks,

....
.

F. A. Sinclair's I'nion Chair Factory, (double page>

Portraits of F. A. Sinclair and wife.

Portrait of Benoni Lee, (steel)

ELBRIDGE.
Residence of Tliomas W. Hill, vith
Portrait of Hon. Luke Banuey
(

"

"

iiKitrails'

CUauncey B Lniid,
" Hon, John D. Hhoades,
" James Rodger,

'

...

Portraits of Dr. Titus Merriraanand w(ic.

Portrait of T. K Wright,
"
" John A. Stevens,
"

"

Ezekiel Skinner,

28C,

Pla/L

of

p CO.

\Aii^ldin{
C

HISTOEY
OF

New

Ono^'daga County,
CHAPTER

discovered the southern-most cape of the United

I.

Early Discoveries Claims

OF Different Nations New York under
Dutch Rule First Colonial Assembly

States.

General History

The Revolution and Progress of Settlement Westward.

THE

County

tion

history
into a

of

is

of

Onondaga

as a civil organiza-

of comparatively recent date.

this

locality,

remote period, and

however,
is

extends

Tlie

back

intimately connected

The English meanwhile were

ized

There are evidences

that this region of country was visited by Europeans a hundred years before the Pilgrims landed
at Plymouth Rock, almost a century before the
Dutch settled the New Netherlands, and eightyeight years before Quebec was founded by the
French.
The monumental stone discovered in
Pompey, bearing date 1520, carries back our local
continent of North America.

our own

liundred and fifty-seven

time,

making

were

forty-five

to a period

their

when

discoveries

years from

the Spaniards
in

Florida,

and

years before the founding of St. Augus-

brief review of the early discoveries will be

less

than

decade

after

the

discovery of

America by Columbus, the diflerent maritime powEurope were engaged in active competition

ers of

for the prizes of the

New

World.

Spain, actuated

by the greed of gold and the lust of conquest, seized

upon the rich treasures of the Montezunias, and
after conquering and plundering Mexico and South
America, took possession of Florida and of that portion of the Northern Continent .bordering on the
Gulf of Mexico. The first Spanish colony in North
America was planted at St Augustine, Florida, in
1565, about

fifty

Henry VH,

In 1498, Sebastian Cabot,

nent of North America.

the coast

explored

returning,

from Newfound-

land to Florida.
In

50 1,

the

Portuguese explored nearly the

whole coast of North America.

the prize of the Newfoundland
French of Normandy and Britany sent

Attracted by
fisheries, the

thither their sailing vessels as early as the begin-

ning of the sixteenth century.

From

years after Ponce de

Leon had

this point

they discovered the Island of Cape Breton and gradually passed westward into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

To Jacques

Cartier, a

French mariner of St. Malo, be-

longs the honor of having discovered and

the River St. Lawrence.

panse of waters on
1534, he gave

it

St.

the

The

its

named

broad ex-

Lawrence Day, (August

name

and ascended the

of Orleans.

Sailing up

of

10,)

that distinguished

river as far as the Island

following year he explored

the ancient Indian town of Hochelaga,

proper in this place.

In

from

letters patent

AuthorJohn Ca-

idle.

accompanied by his son, Sebastian, set out on a voyage of discovery to America.

He struck the sterile coast of Labrador, June 24,
1-497, ^"d was the first European to see the Conti-

saint,

tine.

by

not

bot, a Venetian,

with the earliest discoveries and settlements on the

history three

Yoek.

it

to

now Mon-

The French under Champlain, founded QueOne year earlier the English colobec in 1608.
nists had made their first permanent settlement at
treal.

Jamestown, Virginia, and in 1620 the Mayflower

landed another colony at Plymouth Rock, destined
have an important influence

to

in

the settlement

and institutions of the country for all time

These two colonies were the successful
all

for

to

come.

rivals of

others of every nationality, in that competition

empire which has made their descendants the

masters of North America.

Meanwhile the French had

also

explored

the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

New England

and New York.

EmuEngland and Sixain, Franof France, had sent upon a voyage of ex-

coasts of

lating the enterprise of

cis

I,

ploration the distinguished Florentine mariner,

John

Verrazzani.

This

America

524, sailed along the coast a distance of

in

persevering

twenty-one hundred miles

navigator

in frail vessels

visited

and

safely

returned to report his success to his sovereign.

The Dutch
Henry

East

Company

India

employed

Hudson to seek a northern passage to

In a mere yacht he ventured among the

India.

northern

icebergs,

the

skirted

North

of

coast

the Dutch and English colonists, whose plantations

had been devastated by the Raritans and their

and whose

allies,

lives

position of the friendly

selves in a protracted struggle with the royal

defended and successfully maintained their rights

and liberties.
ly

October,

In

lor the

1683, the

Province of

of a Governor,

consisted

House

elected by the jjcople.

America, and

climate of

knowledge of the baneful

to

territory

York.

On

Cabot

embraced

a portion

the State of

in

and

New

the ground of the discoveries of Sebas-

in

i49S.was based the English claim of ter-

French claimed a portion of the

eastern Atlantic coast on the ground of the discoveries made by Verrazzani
and Holland l.nid claim
;

the

the country

from Cape Cod to the southern

shore of Delaware Bay, basing her right upon the
discoveries of Hudson,
this

made

September, 1609.

in

thrice-claimed region

the actual possessors and gave

New

Netherlands.

They

Dutch be-

the
it

planted

the
a

name

fort

on

Manhattan Island in 1614, antl in 1623 made settlements at New Amsterdam and Fort Orange. For
a

time on

amicable terms with

the Indians the

and security, but the cruelty

one of the four colonial Governors,

colonists lived in peace

of

Keith,

awakened the
colony

with

fires

of revenge and threatened the

extermination.

Restricted

in

their

and desirous of the privileges and liberties

accorded the neighboring English colonists, the
rights,

Dutch

seventeen members

French enemies on the

and delays of the Governors

with

their

timidity

tune was averted before treaties were annulled by

eleven degrees in width extending indefinitely

westward

of

It

and

of into.\icating

account of the foregoing e.xplorations

of the

Of
came

the

of Ten,

them he imparted a

eiTects

discoveries, three nations laid claim to

to

Council

of Representatives of

conflict

session.

its

the sagacity and activity of Schuyler and Fletcher

On

ritory,

held

brought the English into contempt with their fierce

allies, the Iroquois, on the west
but the misfor-

liquor.

tian

In
north,

Assembly

Colonial

first

New York

perjjctuates his

and opened a trade with the Indians. From them

Hudson obtained corn, beans, pumpkins, grapes
and tobacco,
products indigenous to the soil and

Gov-

Repeatedly defrauded of their means, they

raised revenues under their own officers and stout-

ernors.

America, and sailing

up the noble river which

name, cist anchor in the stream

had been saved by the interMohawks, soon found them-

settlers refused to contest

in

The changes and

the winter of 1693.

tions

England extended

in

and occasioned an event of vast importance in its

bearing on the future of the State. The circumstances of the hanging of Leisler and Millbourne,
so familiar to many, opened a
people,

them

to a voice in their

prietors

in

The antagonism thus

Capital.

Hailing with satisfaction the change of masters,

and

at a

com-

privileges.

fostered kindled to a flame

upon the breaking out of the Revolution, and under the appellations of Whig and Tory the people
were arranged in nearly equal numbers.
During the Revolution, eastern New York was

The

the scene of various severe struggles.

defeat

Americans on Long Island was the commencement of a period of gloom and depression
but the surrender of Hurgoyne at Saratoga inspired a hope and a resolution which never ceased
till the close of the war.
With the arrival of peace
and freedom from foreign influence, and during the
of the

cessation of internal dissensions,

many changes of ownership,

yielding to the English,

command, and the province received the name of Nkw Yokk.

The settlement
at New Amsterdam was changed to the same name,
and Fort Orange to Albany, the present State

who aimed

plete usurpation of popular rights

Sleuyvesant, reluctantly
his

of large tracts of land, with aristocratic

tendencies and pretensions,

areas of land were

resigned

chasm between the

new land entitled

own government, and pro-

whose hardships

supremacy with the

naval expedition of Admiral Nichols, sent out by
the Duke of York in 1664
and the warlike
;

revolu-

to the royal province

ceiving grants of land

westward

to find

and

in lieu

settle

many

soldiers re-

of bounties, proceeded

upon their

tracts.

Large

bought, and sometimes after

the proprietors or com-

panies oflfcring liberal terms, invited settlers, laid

out counties and towns, and founded villages and
hamlets, which have grown into
and populous.

At

the

Western

close

of the

New York

cities

important

Revolution, Central

was a wilderness

and

but the

^
i

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

march

of armies

made known

and the forays of detachments had

the future promise of this hitherto un-

and companies, the State and the

general Government, immediately took steps, as
policy and duty seemed to dictate, to acquire imtrodden region

mediate ownership.

and the amendments offered by the committee of

the wliole, and thereupon came to the following
resolutions
" That eighty-eight Battalions be enlisted as soon
as possible, to serve during the present war and
that each State furnish their respective quotas in
the following proportions, viz.:
:

conclusion of that peace by which American

The

him to lay before Congress. Congress then took

into consideration the report of the Board of War,

Independence was acknowledged secured no terms

Their ancient
England's savage au.xiliaries.
possessions, by the treaty of 1783, passed into the
hands of the United States. The new Government
desired to consolidate a peace with the Six Na-

New Hampshire

to

Three

Massachusetts Bay

Rhode

Battalions.
"

... Fifteen

"

Two

Island

Eight

"

Four
Four
Twelve

"

Delaware
Maryland

One

"

Eight

"

Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina

Fitteen

"

Commissioners, and his three associates, such other

persons as should be deemed necessary, who were
authorized to proceed to form a compact with the

Georgia

and

tions,

this

to

New York made

an

act,

April

The

ex-officio of

Governor

the Board of

selected was Fort Stanwi.x.

meeting
Congress took action in
But pending the
the matter, appointing Oliver Wolcott, Arthur Lee
and Richard Butler, Commissioners to make a
This brought the
treaty with the same parties.
general Government and State into conflict
the

place

general

Pennsylvania

provision for a treaty, by passing

George Clinton, President

Indians.

New York
New Jersey

end the General Assembly of

1784, associating with

6,

Connecticut

Government maintained

its

prerogatives,

and, by the Commissioners appointed, concluded a

treaty with the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, Octo-

This treaty ceded a large portion of

Western New York. By a treaty with the

September 12, 1788, the

lands known as the Military Tract were acquired.

Onondagas,

concluded

"

Nine

"

Six

"

One

"

" That twenty dollars be given as a bounty to

each non-commissioned ofificer and private soldier
who shall enlist to serve during the present war,
unless sooner discharged by Congress.
"That Congress make provision for granting
lands in the following proportions to the officers and
soldiers, who shall so engage in the service, and
continue therein till the close of the war, or until
discharged by Congress, and to the representatives
of such officers and soldiers as shall be slain by the

enemy.

ber 22, 1784.

land in

"

Such lands to be provided by the United

and whatever expenses shall be necessary

"

States

procure such land, the said expenses shall be

paid and borne by the .States, in the same proportion as the other expenses of the war, viz

to

CHAPTER

To
To
To
To
To
To

II.

History of the Military Tr.act.

our
INdown

ment

introductory chapter

we have brought

title to

the Military Tract.

the County of Onondaga.

tract of land

may

The

history of this famous

in

enlisted

in the

Army

Continental

Revolution.

The

during the

following

is

War

from the journal of Congress, dated as above

" Congress then resolved itself into a committee
of the whole to take into consideration the report
of the Board of War and after some time the
President resumed the chair, and Mr. Nelson reported that the committee have had under consideration the report from the Board of War, and have
made sundry amendments
which they ordered
;

ofificer

100

"

Generals and Brigadier Generals, as follows

To a Major General
1,100
To a Brigadier General ..... 850
At the close of the war, in 1783, the

mak-

an extract

a Lieutenant
an Ensign

By an act of the 12th of August, 1780, Congress

made provision of land bounties for Major

ing provision for the bounties of the soldiers to be

of the

Major

a Captain

also

properly begin with the action of

Congress on the i6th of September, 1776,

and soldier

That

portion of the State was afterwards organized into

500 Acres.
450
400
300
200
150

a Lieutenant-Colonel

Each non-commissioned

the thread of events to the extinguish-

of the Indian

a Colonel

of the State of
to

New

Acres.
"

Legislature

York, took action with regard

these promised bounty lands, not only with a

view of discharging the aforesaid engagement of

Congress, but, in consideration of the virtue and
patriotism of the troops of

New

York, to add there-

to a large gratuity of State lands.

The

is

dated March 27, 1783.

lowing

It is in

resolution

Duane, and
the words fol-

of the Senate was introduced by Mr.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

8
"

Resoh'fd

therrforty

if

>

Asscmhlv concur

of

the honorable, the House

That besides the
i
\.

herein,)

bounty of
laturc will

Previous to the date of the above extract the

Legislature

March

had

State

of the

by an act passed

20, 1781, further provided for the raising of

and Brigadier (icncrals now serving in the line of

the army of the United States, and being citizens
of this State
and the officers, non-commissioned
officers and privates of the two re};inicnls commanded by Colonels Van Schaick and Van Cortlandt
such officers of the regiment of artillery
commanded by Colonel Lamb, and of the corps of
sap|)ers and miners, as were when they entered the
;

troops to complete the line of this State in the ser-

and two regiments to

be raised on bounties of lands and for the further
United States

vice of the

defense of the frontier of the State.

granted by these

last

The

land

mentioned acts being bounty

service, inhabitants of this State

designated
by any act of Congress subsecpient to the l6th of
September. 1776; all officers recommended by
Congress as persons whose depreciation on pay
ought to be made good by this State, and who may
hold military commissions in the line of the army
at the close of the war
and the Rev. John Mas"t)n
antl John Gano. shall severally have granted to
all

The

such of the non-

commissioned officers and privates of the said last

mentioned two fnr|)s as are credited to this State
as part of the troops thereof;

lands ; those granted as provided

above being gratuity lands.

officers

original acts granting these lands

and from time

sequently

To
To
To
To
To

a Ciijoncl

..

a Lieut Ctjloncl
a Majtjr

authorized to direct the Surveyor General to lay

many townships

out as
for

such purposes as

in

will

i^foti's

Every non-commissioned
cer and private

"

"

local
"

"

townships of six miles sqnarc

township shall be divided into 156 lots of
150 acres each, two lots whereof shall be reserved
;

thai each

the use of a minister or ministers of the gospel,

and two lots for the u.sc of a school or schools: that

each |)erson above described shall be cntitleil to as
many such lots as his bounty and gratuity land as
aforesaid will admit of; that one-half the lots each
I>erso;i shall be entitled to shall be improved at the
rale of five acres for each hundred acres, within
five years after the grant, if the grantee shall retain the jjosscssion of such lots
and that the said
bounty antl gratuity lands be located in the district
of this State reserved for the u.se of the troops by
;

'

An

Act

to |)revcnt grants or loca-

of the lands therein

2Sth day of July, 1782.

mentioned, passed the

" Rfschfti. That His Excellency the

Governor
be requested to communicate the.se resolutions in
such manner as he shall conceive most proper.
' Resolved. That
this House do concur with the
Honorable, the Senate, in the lat preceding resolutions.

of

'

Mr John Lawrence and Mr.

copy of the preceding resolution

Ordered, That

H'

irry a
rice to

granting certain lands

will

permit, and be

the Ilonorahle, the Senate."

numbered
and the

last inclusive

offi-

shall he laid out in

tions

circumstances

from one progressively to the

500
That the lands so to uc gr.inted as bounty from
the United States, and as gratuity from the State,

an act entitled,

for

tioned, passed the iith day of May, 1784; which

townships shall respectively contain 60,000 acres
of land, and be laid out as nearly in squares as

'

for

'An Act

the act entitled,

"

r.ooo

such persons who are or

promised to be given as bounty lands by the laws

of the State, and for other purposes therein men-

"

Mate

all

"

2,000

the claims of

"

satisfy

tracts of land set apart

contain land sufficient to

be entitled to grants of land by certain concurrent resolutions and by the eleventh clause of

500 Acres.

4.250
2,500
2,250

Captain and a Regimental

Surgeon each
... 1,500
Each of said Chaplains.
.2,000
Every Subaltern and Sur-

were sub-

modified and

shall

of land, to wit

a NFajor General
a Brigadier General

time

to

amended, till finally, it was ordered by an act

passed February 28, 1789, " That the Commissioners of the land office shall be, and they are hereby

them the following quantities

for in the extracts

Commissioners of the Land Office shall likewise

designate every township by such name as they

deem proper.'
By the same act

shall

"

was ordered " That the Surveyor General, as soon as maybe, shall make a map
of each of said townships, and each township shall
be sub-divided on such map into one hundred lots,
as nearly square as may be, each lot to contain 600
acres, or as near that quantity as may be
and the
lots in every township shall be numbered from one
it

to the last, inclusive, in numerical order."

After such

map had been made and

the Surveyor General's

office,

and

in

deposited in
the office of

the Secretary of State, the Commissioners were ordered, to " Advertise for six successive weeks in one

more newspapers printed in each of the cities of

and Albany (whereof the newspaper
published by the printer to this State, if any such
or

New York

there be, shall be one,) requiring

to grants of

all

persons entitled

bounty or gratuity lands, who had not

already exhibited ihcir claims, to exhibit the

to the

Commissioners on or before the

first

same

day of

January, 1791."

By

the

same

persons to

act

whom

it

was further ordered

that " All

land shall be granted by virtue of

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

peared that persons applying for bounty or gratuity
and had received from Congress the bounty

and who are entitled thereto by any actor

resolution of Congress, shall make an assignment of
his, or her proportion and claim of bounty or
gratuity lands under any act or acts of Congress to

linquish their claim to such lands, then the

the Surveyor General, for the use of the people of

missioners were to reserve for the use

This being done by the said parties, it

was provided that for lands thus assigned an equal
number of acres were to be given by the State, and
so far as possible in one tract and under one

of the

this act,

this State."

"

patent,

Provided

the

same

does

not

exceed

also further provided that the lands to be

was

granted by this act be actually settled, for every

six hundred acres that may be granted to any person or persons within seven years from the first of
January next after the date of the patent by which

such lands shall be granted

and on

failure of

such

settlement, the unsettled lands shall revert to the

The

people of this State."

"

ordered

To

be

in

letters patent

were

such words and forms as the

Commissioners shall direct, and shall contain an exception and reservation to the people of this State
of all the gold and silver nti?ies!'

By an
"

act

passed April

That the quantity

o'ififty

1790,

6,

acres in
,

it

was ordered

one of the corners

of the respective lots to be laid out in squares of

600 acres, shall be and are hereby subjected to the

payment of the sum of forty-eight (48) shillings to
the Surveyor-General, as a compensation in

full for

marking, numbering

and expenses in
and surveying each of the said lots and in every
case where the said sum of forty-eight shillings, or
any part thereof, shall remain unpaid for the term
of two years next after the issuing of the respective
his services

patents,

it

shall

be and

is

promised by that body, or

State one hundred

acres

which such person was entitled

ticularly in which part of such

was

part
"

they failed to re-

in case

each

in

Com-

the people
lot

hereby made the duty of

sell the same at public

vendue and the money arising from such sales
shall be applied in payment of expenses of such
survey."
And in case a surplus of money was in
the hands of the Surveyor-General, after paying
such expenses, it was to be applied to the payment
of expenses in laying out and making roads in the

the Surveyor-General to
;

lot

such reserved
the term

rise to

States Hundred]'' so frequently applied to sections

The Land Commissioners

consisted of

"His Ex-

cellency, the Governor, or person administering the

government of the State

time being, the

for the

Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly,

the Secretary of State, the Attorney-General, the
Treasurer and Auditor thereof, the presence of
three being necessary to form a quorum."

At

a meeting of this

Secretary's

Saturday,

Commission held

the City of

in

office

the 3d day of July,

New

at the

York, on

1790, there

Geo. Clinton, Esq., Governor,

Lewis A. Scott, Esq., Secretary,

Gerard Bancker, Esq., Treasurer,
Peter T. Curtenius, Esq., Auditor.
" The Secretary laid before the Board maps of
the surveys of twenty-five townships made by the
on each of
Surveyor-General, Simeon DeWitt
respectively
were
townships
which maps the said
;

sub-divided into one hundred lots as nearly square

as possible, each lot containing six hundred acres

whereupon the Board caused the townships and

lots therein to be numbered according to the law,
and designated them by the names of distinguished
men,

as follows

Township, No.
"

Lysander,
Hannibal,

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

7
8

Cato,
Brutus,
Camillus,
Cicero,
Manlius,
Aurelius,
Marcellus,

"

"

"

"

"

township were reserved and were to be assigned,

" One for promoting the gospel and a public school

10

"

"

II

"

"

12

Scipio,

or schools, one other for promoting literature in this

"

"

13.

Sempronius,

and the remaining four lots to satisfy the

surplus share of commissioned officers not corresponding with the division of 600 acres, and to compensate such persons as may by chance draw any
lot or lots, the greater part of which may be covered

"

"

14

"

"

15

Tully,
Fabius,

"

"

"
"

"

16
17

Ovid,
Milton,

"

19

Homer,

"

20

"

21

Solon,
Hector,

act of

February

28,

1789, six lots in each

State,

with water."

The

act of

1780 provided

"

That whenever

it

ap-

were

present. His Excellency,

"

said tract."

By an

to

designating par-

This gave

located."

of

of land in the Military Tract.

one-quarter of the quantity of a township."

It

land,

"

Pompey,
Romulus,

Locke,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

lO

Township No. 22
"

'

"

"

should be considered fraudulent.

Drydcn,

claimants were posted up

in alphabetical

24
25..
26

Virgil.

the Clerk's offices both at

Albany and Herkimer,

Cincinnatus,

distinction

townships, as the town of

Pompcy

first

more

for the

Junius.

between a town and a township

A township on the
should here be kept in mind.
Military Tract, was a particular parcel of land laid
In our
out, containing certain one hundred lots.
early organization a town often embraced several

The

included

inspection of

full

The Courts

less a subject of litigation.

had served, were obliged,

to eject

some

After settlements increased, for the

Reservation.
sake of convenience, the same territory has been

towns of Pom-

pcy, Lafayette, Fabius, Tully, Truxton and Preble,

including a part of each of the towns of Otisco,
The same may be reSpalTord and Onondaga.
marked of other towns and townships on the Mili-

On

of

the 1st of January, 1791, the Commissioners

proceeded to determine claims and to ballot for each

Ninety-four persons drew lots
individual's share.
in each township.

One

lot

was drawn

the sup-

for

New York

port of literature in the State of

one

was assigned near the centre of each township for

the support of the gos|>el and (or common schools
the remaining lots went to satisfy the surplus shares
of the officers,

and

compensate those who by

to

chance might draw lots covered with water.

The equitable adjustment of these land claims

Soldiers

com-

considerable expense,

At length the inhabibecame so com-

titles.

Tract

Military

the

with these continued and vexing

wearied

pletely

at

contentions that, in 1797, the residents of the several townships heartily and unanimously united in
petitioning the Legislature to pass a law authoriz-

ing a s|5cedy and equitable

putes relative to these

upon

tary Tract.

but became

lawless squatter, or quietly to yield

tants

into the

lot

ing to take possession of the lots for which they

their hard earned

|>erio<ls,

parties interested,

all

Scarcely a

these contested claims.

more or

of

mode

act

Robert

appointing

passed,

of settling

An

titles.

all

dis-

was there-

Yates, James

Kent, and Vincent Mathews, a Board of Commissioners with

full

power

to hear,

examine, award and

to any
and all the military bounty lands. The Governor
was authorized to fill all vacancies in this Board.
From the record of the awards made by the Onondaga Commissioners, the name of James Kent does

determine

all

disputes respecting the

titles

not at all appear in their transactions.

Most of the
awards of 1798 9 are signed by Vincent Mathews
and James Emmott, later ones by Vincent Mathews

and Robert Yates, and some cf those of 1801 and

1802, by Messrs. Mathews and Emmott and Sand-

was a source of continual embarrassment and perplexity to the Commissioners and to the real

ers Livingston.

owners.

after a laborious investigation, their exertions final-

In August, 1792, the Board

finding

it

necessary

of Commissioners,

order to comply with the

in

ly

They proceeded

to the work,

and

brought these vexed and lingering contentions to

a close.

grants of bounty lands, lately directed by law to be

made

to

the

Hospital

Department

and others,

caused township No. 27, and the lots therein respectively to be numbered agreeably to law, and the

township to be designated by the name of Galen.

In January, 1795, there still appeared to be several
unsatisfied claims for military^bounty lands,

and the

twenty-seven townships being already disposed

the

Hoard resolved

that

the

of,

This was

subsequently named Sterling, and satisfied

all

the

remaining claims.
In January, 1794, an act had been pasjed, on account of the many frauds committed respecting the
title to these military lands, and to prevent fraud in

made and

all

deeds and

conveyances

executed prior to that time to be deposited

with the Clerk of the County at Albany, for examination, and

all

Interesting Early Records

such as were not so deposited,

III.

Town Meetings

Formation of the Counties Prior to Onondaga Org.xnization qf Onondaga Col'ntv.

THERE

Surveyor-General

should lay out another township. No. 28.

the future, requiring

CHAPTER

locality

cluded

in

are

some

interesting records of this

during the period

in

which

Montgomery and Herkimer

from

1772 to 1794.

man

Flats

In

it

was

in-

counties,

1788 the District of Ger-

was divided, and all that part of the

State of New York lying west of a line drawn
north and south across the State, crossing the Mohawk River' at "Old Fort Schuyler" (now Utica)
was erected into a town called Whitestown, in honor
of Judge White, who had settled at Sadaquate
(Whitesboro)

in

1784.

Montgomery contained

In

1786,

the

order in

overflowed with business relating to

Fabius and Tully and a large part of the Onondaga

divided, at dirtVrent

The names

Ulysses,

23

"

county

of

a population of only fifteen

'

_j

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

thousand and fifty-seven, and the State of New
York only two hundred and thirty-eight thousand
eight hundred and ninety-six.

At

this period

the

town of Whitestown contained less than two hundred persons. The same territory now contains
The wonderful transition by
several millions.
which, in three-fourths of a century, this immense
forest has

been converted into

like the illusion of a

nessed

progress.

its

dream

We

fruitful fields,

to those

seems

who have

wit-

can hardly trust the evi-

dence of our senses when we look back and see

with what rapidity villages and cities have sprung
into existence, and mark the increase of roads and
railways over the path of the wandering savage.
The first town meeting for the town of Whites-

town convened at the house of Capt. Daniel White,

on Tuesday, the 7th of April, " agreeable to warning," and adjourned to the barn of Hugh
White, Esq., " it being more convenient," at which
time and place they proceeded as follows
in said town,

" 1st.

Chose Col. Jedediah Sanger, Supervisor.

Blodget, Town Clerk.
Chose Elijah
3d.
Chose Amos Wetmore, first Assessor. 4th. Chose
5th.
Chose
James Bronson, second Assessor.
Ephraim Blackmore, third Assessor," &c.
The second town meeting was held at the barn
of Needham Maynard, in the town of Whitestown,

2d.

on Tuesday, the i6th of April, 1790.

Supervisor,
Colbraith was chosen

Col.

William

and

Elijah

Town Clerk. In 1791, Jedediah Sanger

Ashbel Beach, Town
was elected Supervisor
Ebenezer Butler, afterwards of Pompey,
Clerk
Collector
James Wadsworth, of Geneseo, Trueworthy Cook, of Pompey, Jeremiah Gould, of SaProbably " Highlina. Overseers of Highways.
ways " in those days in Central New York were
literally " few and far between."
It will convey
idea
widespread
character
of the municsome
of the
"
"
town to reflect that some
ipality then called a
of the officers chosen to manage its internal affairs
lived near Utica, others in Pompey and Salina, and
Blodget,

a third at Geneseo.
In 1789 the county of Montgomery was divided,
forming Ontario county west of a north and south

drawn across the .State through Seneca Lake

two miles east of Geneva. Onondaga county then
lay unformed in the western portion of Montgomery. Herkimer county was taken from Montgomery and organized in 1791. It included all the
country west of Montgomery, north of Otsego and
Tioga and east of the county of Ontario. The town
of Whitestown was divided into three towns. Whitesline

town extended west from

its

eastern limits as far as

the present west line of Madison

county.

town of Mexico included the eastern

The

half of the

II

Military Tract, and the town of Peru

The town

the western.

Mexico was bounded east by the eastern boundary of the Military Tract and a line drawn
north from the mouth of the Chittenango Creek
across Oneida Lake to Lake Ontario, south by
Tioga county, west by the western boundary of the
townships of Homer, Tully, Camillus, Lysander and
Hannibal, of the said Military Tract, and north by
Lake Ontario.
The first town meeting for the town of Mexico
was legally appointed to be held at the house of
Benjamin Morehouse, (near Jamesville, this county.)
The town of Peru was bounded north by Lake Ontario, east by the town of Mexico, south by Tioga
county, and west by Ontario county. The first town
meeting was directed by law to be held at the house
of Seth Phelps, in what is now the town of Scipio,
Cayuga county. There are probably no records of
these town meetings extant.
The poll for the first general election for Whitestown was opened at Cayuga Ferry, then adjourned
to the house of Benjamin Morehouse (near Jamesville,) thence to Rome, and finally closed at Whitesof

boro.

The

following extract from Dunlap's Daily

Ad-

dated Philadelphia, 26th of July, 1792, may

be interesting as showing what was thought of the
vertiser,

prospects of this locality at that period

"Gentlemen who

reside on the Military lands in

the county of Herkimer, inform us that that tract
of country contains a very great proportion of rich
land, well watered and timbered, that there is al-

ready a considerable number of settlers there, and

that it bids fair to people as rapidly as any part of

America. That sixteen bushels of salt are daily

manufactured at Major Danforth's works at the
Salt Springs, and that Mr. Van Vleck, formerly of
Kinderhook, is erecting other works at the same
that
place, for carrying on the like manufactory
;

now

there for five shillings per bushel

that it weighs about fifty-six pounds per bushel,
and is equal in quality to that of Turk's Island.
That the salmon fishing in that country must become an object of great improvement, as that fine
fish (the salmon) abounds in their rivers and lakes
That it is not uncommon for a
in spring and fall.
party to spear twenty or fifty in an evening, from
The lands sell in
fourteen to thirty pounds each.
general at from one shilling to three shillings per
acre, but some have sold as high as from eight to
twelve shillings per acre."
salt

sells

The genealogy
formation of

After the

of the different counties up to the

Onondaga

Duke

of

is

as follows

York had superceded the

Dutch Government, in 1683, the Province of New

York was divided into twelve counties, viz Albany,
:

Dutchess,

Richmond,

Kings,
Suffolk,

New

York, Orange, Queens,

Ulster, Westchester, Dukes

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

12

and Cornwall. In 1768, Cumberland was added,

and Gloucester in 1770. These two last were afterwards yielded to New Hampshire, and finally became a part of Vermont. In 1693, the counties of

Dukes and Cornwall were surrendered to MassaIn 177;, the county Tryon was formed
chusetts.
from Albany, and in 1784 changed to Montgomery.
In

Ontario county was formed of

1789,

that

all

drawn
Seneca
through
State
across
the
south
and
north
Lake two miles east of Geneva. Herkimer county

Montgomery county west

part of

of a line

was taken from Montgomery and organized in 1791.

It included all the country west of Montgomery,
and Tioga, and east of Ontario

north of Otsego
county.

In 1794 the CouNTV of Onondaga was erected

from the western part of Herkimer, and included
the
all the Military Tract, which now embraces all

counties
daga,

Cayuga. Seneca, Cortland and Onon-

ol

Tompkins

that part of

all

lying north of a

line drawn west from the head of Seneca Lake to

the southwest corner of Cortland county, and all

Oswego county

that part of
river.

was

It

finally

torial limits in i8iC>,

lying west of

reduced to

its

Oswego

present terri-

by the detachment of Cayuga

1799. Cortland in 1808, and Oswego in 1816.

Tompkins was taken from Cayuga and Seneca in

in

18

7,

At

and

Wayne

the

time Onondaga county was

from Seneca

in 1823.

originally or-

into eleven towns, viz

was divided
it
Tompey. Manlius. Lysander, Marcellus.
Ulysses, Milton. Scipio, Ovid. Aurelius and Romu-

ganized,

Homer,
lus.

south by the great lakes, to the Mississippi on the

west, thence east to the Santee, and coast-wise back
to

the

TiiK Iroquois

Extent

and

The OxoNnACAS Their

Position as keepers of the Sacred
Tires Their Character. Tradi-

OF Government

Council
tions AND Customs.

AT

the time of the earliest European discov-

eries in

braced
the

in

this locality, the

territory

Onondaga county was the

nation

of Indians from

whom

now em-

chief scat of
it

that is, the territory of New

Long House
York extcniling from the Hudson to Lake Eric,
'"

"

yet they extended their power and influence far be-

yond these limits and held' the tribes both of the

East and the West in subjection.
Says Smith, in his History of New York
" When the Dutch began the settlement of this
country, all the Indians on Long Island and the
northern shore of the Sound, on the banks of the
Connecticut, Hudson. Delaware an3 Susquehanna
livers were in subjection to the Five Nations and
acknowledged it by paying them tribute." The
French historians of Canada, both ancient and
modern, agree that the more northern Indians were
driven far back to the west and northwest by the
" The Ho-demartial prowess of the Confederates,
no-sau-nee occupied our precise territory, and their
council fires burned continually from the Hudson to
Our old forests have rung with their
the Niagara.
war shouts and been enlivened with their festivals
In their progressive course they had
of peace.
half the Republic and rendered
round
stretched
their names a terror nearly from ocean to ocean,
when the advent of the Saxon race arrested their

I'ow-

KK of TIIK Eivk Nations Kokmation oftheik

I'ECULIARITIKS OF THEIR FoKM
CONFF.DKKAt:V

Central

fertile land,

and prepared the way

the final extin-

for

guishment of the fires of the Confederacy."*

The Five Nations have been called by some the
" Spartans of the Western Wilderness," by others,

IV.

Confederacy

Iroquois

of the

territory

combined with a temperate and healthy climate, than any other tract of
And their power and
equal extent on the globe.
dominion extended far beyond these geographical
Although they occupied, as their
boundaries.
proper home, what they metaphorically termed the

career,

CHAPTKR

The

Hudson.

possessed more

derives

its

the

'

Romans

the

in

New World

;"

their warriors

prime of the Confederacy, were noted

their valor
"

0/ the

for

and their far-e.xtended conquests.

At one

period," says Schoolcraft, "

we hear

the

sound of their war cry along the Straits of St.

Marys and at the foot of Lake Superior; at another under the walls of Quebec where they finally
defeated the Hurons under the eyes of the French.

They
They

put out the

eradicated

Gahkas and

fires

of the

the

Susquchannocks.

placed the Lanappes, the Nanticokes and

Eries.

They
Muncecs

great Iroquois Confederacy, or League of the Five

They put the

under the yoke of subjection.
Metoacks and Manhattans under tribute. They

Nations, whose dominion included a vast extent of

spread

name.

This powerful nation was the central

country, and
all

who

domain

the

held the ascendancy over nearly

the tribes of North America.

actual

in

extended

from

At one time
the Sorrel

their

River,

the

England.

terror

They

of

their

name

all

over

New

traversed the whole length of the

Appalachian Chain, and descended

*L(icr> un the Irixjuoi)

American

Review.

like the

enraged

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

megalonyx on the Cherokees and
Smith encountered their warriors in
the settlement of Virginia and LaSalle on the dis-

living

covery of the Illinois."*

character and assumed the

yagisho and

clouds to teach them

Catavvbas.

to

among them

Hi-a-wat-ha was sought

made them

the umpires in the contest

of the French for dominion in the West.

Their

political

importance was enhanced by their con-

quests.

"

in

Not only

New

northern

some supremacy
as the Kennabeck,

did they claim

England, as

far

and to the south, as far as New Haven, and were

acknowledged as absolute lords over the conquered
Lanappe the peninsula of Upper Canada was their
hunting ground by right of war
they had exterminated the Eries and Andasties, both tribes of
;

their

own

one dwelling on the southeastern

family,

banks of Lake Erie, the other on the head waters

of the Ohio
they had triumphantly invaded the
;

West

tribes of the

as far as Illinois

their warriors

had reached the soil of Kentucky and Western

Virginia
and England, to whose alliance they
;

steadily inclined, availed herself of their treaties to

encroach on the empire of France in America."!

Precisely at what period the confederacy between

the tribes was formed

thinks

it

was

is

not known.

ably early in the fifteenth century.

the

Onondaga

Mr. Webster,

interpreter, says this great league of

confederation was arrived

before the whites

became

at,

about two generations

traders with the Indians.

From

Mr. Clark has a different opinion.

manency

affairs,

and

the

lars,

he

the stability

uniformity

of their religious beliefs

is

pagan

of their

from other Indians

in

ceremonies,

important particu-

inclined to the belief that their federa-

tive existence
tion.

the per-

of their institutions, the injtricacy of their

civil

diftering

Schoolcraft

must have had

much

longer dura-

All their traditions agree that the union was

effected on the

banks of Onondaga Lake where the

village of Liverpool
It is well

known

origin of their

is

now

situated.

and ultimate destruction seemed to be the

consequence either of bold resistance or of quiet
slain

confederacy, as

most

At

submission to the enemy.

man

few words.

moment

this trying

and no

for advice,

states-

have given better counsel

of to-day could

''Become a united people

conqtier your enemies.

in as

and yon

Dispatch runners

in

will

all

di-

rections and notify the chiefs of a grand council to

be held on the banks of the Oh-nen-ta-ha, (Onondaga Lake.) I shall sit in council with you." The
council fires had been kindled three days, but the
venerable Hi-a-wat-ha had not made his appearance.

On

approaching

his cabin

had

he was found

The

choly state of mind.

man

old

in

told

a melan-

them he

forebodings, and that he had concluded

evil

not to attend the Great Council.

had determined not

But the chiefs

to deliberate in council

without

the presence of Hi-a-wat-ha, and he was finally pre-

upon

vailed

accompanied

go,

to

b\'

his darling

an only daughter, twelve years of age. On

the approach of the venerable wise man, a general

child,

shout of joy resounded through the assembled host,

and every demonstration of respect was paid to his
presence.

As

he landed and was passing up the steep bank

towards the council ground, a loud sound was heard

mighty wind. All eyes were instant-

like a rushing,

turned upwards, and a dark spot was seen rapidly

descending from on high among the clouds. It
ly

grew larger and larger

was descending with

The utmost

midst.

as

it

neared the earth, and

velocity

fearful

all

Hi-a-wat-ha sought safety by

uncovered
daughter

coming

their

to await the

but the venerable

flight.

He

gravely

and besought his

approaching danger with be-

silvered

his

into

confusion prevailed throughout

the assembled multitude, and

head,

resignation, at the

same time reminding her

of the great folly and impropriety of attempting to

prevent or obstruct

that these tribes attributed the

his divine

of Hi-a-wat-ha, a

man there was an alarm caused by the

sudden approach of a ferocious band of warriors
from north of the great lakes. Many had been

comparatively recent date, prob-

at a

name

agent, confirmed the statement.

Their geographi-

the soil and

While he was

having thrown aside

very wise

to cultivate

be united, happy and prosperous.

Such had become the Iroquois the conquerors

and terror of all the surrounding tribes by the
force of their energy and by the principle of confederation.
The French computed the number of
their warriors, in 1660, at between two and three
thousand, and a later census, taken by an English
cal position

how

13

Great

Spirit.

No

the designs or wishes of the

sooner liad his resolution become

of

fixed

and

their chief national blessings, to the supernatural

bird,

with a long and pointed beak, and widespread

well

interposition of Ta-oun-ya-wat-ha.

the

presided over streams and fisheries.

ago

this deity

came down irom

*Schoolcraft3 Notes.

f Bancroft. .History United States.

as

his

deity

who

long time

place in the

wings,

his last

words uttered, than an immense

came down with

mighty swoop'and crushed

His darling daughter

the beautiful girl to the earth.

has been killed before his eyes in a marvelous man-

and her destroyer has perished with her.

was found on examination that the creature in
ner,

It
its

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

>4

descent had completely buried

its

beak and neck up

was covered with a

body in the ground. It

plumage of snow white, and ever)- warrior
as he advanced plucked a plume from this singular
bird with which to adorn his crown, and from this
incident the braves of the Confederate Nation forto its

beautiful

of the plumes of the white

military ornament
appropriate
most
heron
while on the war path.
In despair and dejection Hi-a-wat-ha remained
three days and nights prostrated on his face on the

ever after

made choice

as their

ground, and while every one participated in his

afflictions, no one seemed inclined to approach or
distract his entranced state,

and the Indians, almost

" You, Onondagas, who have your habitation at

the 'Great Mcuntain,' and are overshadowed by its
crags, shall be the third nation, because you are
greatly gifted in speech and mighty in war.
" You, Cayugas, a people whose habitation is the

'Dark Forest! and whose home is everywhere, shall

be the fourth nation, because of your superior cunning in hunting

"And

you, Senecas, a people

Such was the name

The French called
the Dutch name for them was

given them by the English.

them the Iroquois ;

Maquas, while they called themselves Mingoes ; all
meaning United People. They were known to the

resolved that nothing should be attempted without

the voice of the wise man, and a suitable person

was thereupon dispatched to sec if he breathed.

words

Ho-see-noke was directed to

his merry heart, to whisper kind

After

lived

his ear

in

and

him from

call

much ceremony and

English as the Five Nations

Tuscaroras
the

reverie.

his

persuasion, he recovered

so far as to converse, and after several messages had

Si.x

Nations.

he arose and desired fcod. He was afterwards conducted to the presence of the council, when all

They

with precision

foretell

their future destiny.

could
Vari-

ous schemes were proposed to repel the enemy.

Hi-a-wat-ha listened
of

all

in silence

were concluded.

briefly alluding to his

the threatened

He

own

invasion,

till

then

speeches

the

spoke.

After

calamity, he referred to

and proposed that

they

should reflect for a day on the speeches that had

After the expiration of the time they

been made.
again met,

when

the wise

man

thus addressed them

Friends and Brothers \ou have come many

of you a great distance from your homes you have
convened for one common purpose, to promote one
common interest, and that is to provide for our
common safety. To oppose these hordes of northern foes by tribes, singly and alone, would prove
We can make no progress
our certain destruction.
"

way

we must

unite ourselves into one

of brothers.
Our warriors united
would surely repel these rude invaders and drive
them from our borders. Let this be done, and we
are safe.
You, the Mohawks, sitting under the shadow of
the 'Great Tree,' whose roots sink deep into the
earth, and who.se branches spread over a vast country, shall be the first nation, because you are warthat

in

common band

and mighty.
You, Uneidas, a people who recline your bodies
against the 'Everlasting Stone' that cannot be
moved, shall be the second nation, because you give
like
"

wise counsel.

the adoption of the

The Onondagas occupied the central position in

"
the " Long House a term by which they denoted
their possessions from the

man who

till

1712, after which they were called

in

passed between the assembled chiefs and himself,

eyes were turned towards the only

the

live in

league of the Five Nations.

but
despairing of a council, were about to depart
a few of the leading chiefs consulted together, and

Finding that he
arouse him by

who

open country and possess much wisdom, shall be

the fifth nation, because you understand better the
art of raising corn and beans, and making cabins."
" You five great and powerful nations must unite
and have but one common interest, and no foe shall
be able to disturb or subdue you."
Immediately upon this was formed the celebrated

Hudson

to the Lakes.

Onondaga,
and the key of the council house, where all the
chief councils of the Five Nations were held.
The
Mohawks held the east door and the Senecas the
west door. The confederacy was governed by hereditary chiefs whose claims were subjected to the deciskept the sacred council

ions of a national council.

Thus

fires

the aristocratic prin-

was brought into subjection

ciple

When

the

hereditary

chief

at

to the democratic.

demanded

office,

if

found unworthy, he must give place to the next in

order.

In council they were a pure republic, the

veto of one chief being sufficient to defeat a meas-

Each canton or tribe was independent its

men was freely voted in war, or refused,
without complaint from other cantons.
Thus was
guaranteed to each tribe its independence and
security, and to each warrior his equal rights, while
general power was conceded to the confederacy in
ure.*

quota

of

Canassatego, one of the chiefs,

Commissioners of Pennsylvania, Virginia
and Maryland " Our wise forefathers established
union and amity between the Five Nations. This

all

national matters.

said to the

made

us formidable.
This has given us great
and
authority
weight
with our neighboring nations.
We are a powerful confederacy, and by observing
the same methods our forefathers have taken, you
will acquire fresh strength and power
therefore I
counsel you, whatever befalls you, never fall out
with one another."

has

Schoolcraft.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

At the formation of the confederacy, the famous
A-TO-TAR-HO presided unequalled in war and arts,
his fame had spread abroad and exalted the Onondaga tribe to a preeminent position. His name
was " Like that of King Arthur of the Round Table,
or those of the Paladins of Charlemagne, used as
an exemplar of glory and honor," * and became
:

the

The

of office of the Presiding Chief

title

right

Onondagas to furnish a presiding officer for

the league was conceded, and is still possessed by
them. To the Mohawks was awarded the Te-ka-raof the

ho-ga, or Chief

War

Captain.

The Great Council

has always consisted of six members, each nation

having one except the Senecas, who were allowed

of their great numerical
powers
strength.
Its
were merely advisory, aiming
to arrive at harmonious results by interchange of

two,

consideration

in

No

opinion without formal vote.

penalties could

power exerted beyond that of Opinion.

was first required this once
obtained, its authority was absolute
each tribe
acting through its representative, who was first
informed as to its views.
These decisions were in
fact clothed with all the power of the most popular
expression of the whole confederacy.
" A government like this gave to the orator, who
by his eloquence could sway his people, a vast
influence, and we find that many men of note have
be

inflicted or

A unanimous decision

appeared

among them,

since they

with more learned races of men,

came

in

contact

who were abun-

dantly qualified to conduct their negotiations, and

have reflected as much renown on their nation as

their bravest warriors." f
De Witt Clinton says of
the speech of Garangula to the French General,

De

Barre

la

" I believe

it

impossible to find in

all

the effusions of ancient or modern oratory a speech

more appropriate or convincing.

respectful

and while

irony,

imagery,
place

profession

it

it

in

it

it

Under the

veil

of

conveys the most biting

abounds with

rich

and splendid

contains the most solid reasoning.

the same rank with the celebrated speech

of Logan."

The

books.

single instance of

sufficient.

It

is

power

its

will

be

given by Hon. George Geddes on

the authority of Mr. Webster,

among

who

many years
woman of that

lived

the Onondagas, and had a

Always foremost

appeared contented and happy,

the chase, most active in the

in

dance, and loudest in the song."

Mantinoah was
name. One morning he said to his friend, " I
have a vow to perform. My nation and my friends
his

know that Mantinoah

you

to

be

will

My friend, I wish

true.

Webster consented.

go with me."

After a

pleasant journey of a few days, enlivened with

fish-

ing and hunting, they came in the afternoon to a

place that Mantinoah said was near his village, and

where he wished to invoke the Great Spirit. After

a repast, and a pipe had been smoked, Mantinoah
said " Two winters have gone since in my village,
in the fury of anger, I slew my bosom friend and
:

The

adopted brother.

my

chief declared

brother's blood, and

must

me

My

die.

guilty of

execution

was deferred for two full years, during which time I

was condemned to banishment. I vowed to return.
It was then I sought your nation
it was thus I
won your friendship. The nearest in blood to him
;

slew, according to our customs,

The time

expires

when

is

the avenger.

the sun sinks behind the

topmost boughs of the

trees.

am

ready.

My

we have had many a cheerful sport together;

our joys have been many our griefs have been few
friend,

When

you return to the Ononthem that Mantinoah died like a true

brave of the Cayugas tell them that he trembled
not at the approach of death, like the coward pale
My friend, take
face, nor shed tears like a woman.
look not sad now.
dagas,

tell

my

belt,

rifle,

will

my

come

not death

my hunting pouch, my horn, my

my friendship. Soon the avenger

knife,

as tokens of

the Great Spirit calls

farewell."

Mantinoah

fears

Vainly Webster urged him

A short period of silence, and a yell is

Mantinoah responds. The avenger appears
and takes the hand of his former friend, now his
victim.
Mutual salutations follow, with expressions
of regret made by the executioner, but none by the
doomed. The tomahawk gleams in the air, not a
muscle moves, nor does the cheek of Mantinoah
blanch
folding his arms on his breast he receives
the blow.
As if by magic a host appears, the song
of death is sung, and the solemn dance or death
march is performed. Webster is invited to the
village, where he is hospitably entertained, and when
ready to return is accompanied by a party of Cayto escape.

heard.

young man

ugas to his home.

Thus powerful was

tribe for a wife.

"

unwritten law of this wonderful people had

a power unequalled by any statutes ever recorded

in

He

particularly.

IS

of the

Cayugas came

to the

Onon-

dagas and claimed their hospitality. He lived among

them two years, attaching himself to Webster
* Schoolcraft.
f Hon. George Geddes.

the

unwritten

law of the

Iroquois.
It is

for

we

not easy for us to understand this people,

know but little of their peculiar springs of

They had their religion, which the white

people who came amongst them called their superstiaction.

If superstition

tion.

be,

it

principle that governed

understand their ideas

what standard

to

was nevertheless the

it

of their history,

state,

woman, made

And

we but
we should know by
Whoever has learned

them.
fully,

judge them.

much

knows

prisoner,

was never

he did not

.iilopt

ihcm

nation can say this with truth

Schoolcraft

Mr.

acquired

examine

says

he

Wh.it nthcr

understand

and learn
it

the

how

it

necessary to

is

law of descent.

bird, or other object in the

animal kingdom.

were

clans, or original families,

The

eight, distinguished

respectively by the totems of the wolf, the bear, the

the deer, the beaver, the falcon, the crane

turtle,

The law of marriage re(|uired

marry into families or clans whose totem
was different from their own. A wolf or turtle
male could not marry a wolf or turtle female. This
and the plover.

them

to

interdict of consanguinity, preserved the purity of

the blood, while

it

enlarged and strengthened the

of relationship between the clans

Owing

to

and protecting

their

that there always

hunting and taking

to

by the son of his sister,

or by some direct or remote descendant of the
maternal line. The man who, by inheritance, was

was obliged,

the proper age, to submit his right

whole canton. Incapacity was

always and without exception recognized as a valid
to a council of the

objection to approval.

Each canton had

various

assistant

The war

its

eight principal chiefs and

chiefs,

who were

civil

officers.

chiefs derived their

consequence from their

success in war
they rose up as the exigencies of
the nation demanded, and sustained themselves by
;

their cap.icity.

All

military

.services.

failure.

Thus

males were bound to render

was the penalty of

full, and all
war parties consisted of volunteers. Each warrior
supplied and carried his own arms and provisions.

The

Disgrace

the ranks were always

enlistment consisted

dance.

mocr.icy controlled by

The

in

simply joining the war

.The government was

its

in

fact

a pure de-

martial spirit.

Iroquois have been charged with

*Hoa. Gcor|c Geddci.

was

making

life

the

women

daily in his

than

men

in

spent long dreary seasons in

furs,

when brought home,

who sold them
avails made such pro-

which,

of their wives,

standing silently by and not uttering a word.

men, women and boys cultivated the little

fuel.
Koth in the
and national systems, the women had great

old

patch of corn and gathered the

social

power and influence. The matrons sat in council,

and had a right to propose a cessation of arms.
There was a male functionary, an acknowledged
orator, whose duty it was to speak for the women.
Schoolcraft describes the social character of the
" In the lodge he is a mild, considerate
man, of the non-interfering and non-scolding species.
He may, indeed, be looked upon rather as the guest
of his wife, than what he is most unjustly repre-

Indian thus

sented to be, her tyrant, and he

often only

is

known

as the lord of the lodge by the attention and respect

he walks away.

case of his death he would be succeeded by

at

To

vision for the rest of the family as they could, the

men
The

but

on arriving

His

the traders, and with the

her temper

to the office of chieftainship,

hunting grounds from

were more

The men

the tribes.

she shows to him.

entitled

widely from ours.

true, differed

a chieftain's son could not succeed him in office,

in

lived

between

the warrior was assigned the duty of hunting food

the limitation of descent to the line of the female,

his brother, or failing this,

it is

division of labor

hands, and such were the hazards he encountered

Each canton was

divided into distinct clans, each of which was distinguishcil by the name and device of some quadruped,
their

the sexes,

became the property

to

power and fame,

The

they

while

beasts of burden,

would brain

Iroquois

the

of

its

women

lives of indolence.

inroads of the enemy.

.'

that,

their

indelicately

into his family, but

women

never enslaved or outraged

government

pity,

savage

lie tortured and killed his prison-

her infant child.

ers, if

did

that, in their

approached by him. who. without

tie

51

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

l6

is

He

is

man

rufHcd.hc smiles.

of few words.
If

he

is

If

displeased

It is a province in which his actions

acknowledgehcr right to rule, and it is one in which
his pride and manliness have exalted him above

the folly of altercation."

The

wife

owned

all

the

arms only belonged to the husband. The

family were hers, and when war or the chase had
made the father a victim, she, who had always been
With the Iroquois
at its head, kept it unbroken.
war was the business of life, and the pursuit of an
enemy on the war path, or hunting the wild beasts
of the forests, were the only employments that men
could engage in without subjecting themselves to
the loss of rank, and the liability of being called
women.
The central tribe was the seat of government, and
here all the general councils were held and the
property

policy of the nation settled.

The

first

we know

of

swayed the sceptre of an

empire twelve hundred miles long and eight hundred
wide.
The means of free and rapid transportation
of armies was to these savages the same advantage
that it is to the most artificial state of society.
Around the shores of Onondaga Lake the councils
deliberated, and when once the plan of the camthis people, they here

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

afloat, and
Lawrence, the Adirondack

CHAPTER

paign was arranged, the canoes were

soon

far

down

the

St.

heard the war whoop of the

tains."*

trembling

"

Men

mounGeorgian Bay the

Or on the banks of
Huron felt the weight

Or launching

on

barks

their

of the

of their power.

the

waters of the

Susquehanna, soon on the shores of Chesapeake

Bay they dictated terms to their enemies. Fort

South Carolina, afterwards the residence

of John C. Calhoun, was one of their stations,
from which they waged inveterate war upon the
Catawbas and Cherokees. The Iroquois nation
could bring to battle more than two thousand warHill,

in

riors of their

own

blood, besides levies of the tribes

Their policy

they had subjected.

quered enemies was

in

regard to con-

like that of ancient

Rome

they

were converted into allies rather than slaves, and

having been fairly conquered in war, after a brave

were counted as younger brothers,

resistance, they

worthy

by the side of their conquerors and

to fight

share their glory.

"They reduced war

to

a science, and

their

all

movements were directed by system and policy.

They never attacked a hostile country till they had
sent out spies to e.xplore and designate
points,

vulnerable

its

and when they encamped they observed the

17

V.

The Onondaga Indians and the French

Chamamong the
Onondagas Wak between the English and
the French Count Frontenac's Invasion of
Onondaga The Peace Commissioners before
Onondaga Castle.
plain's Invasion

Jesuit Missions

AT

the

commencement

of

French settlements

in

Canada, a conflict arose between the French

and the Five Nations which lasted one hundred and

fifty years.
This conflict was wantonly provoked
Champlain,
the Governor of New France, who
by
espoused the cause of the Adirondack Indians against
the Iroquois who had driven them from their former
homes in Northern New York. When Champlain
built his fort at Quebec in 1608, he found the Adirondacks occupying that vicinity, whither they had
fled for safety from their fierce and powerful conquerors, the Five Nations.
Champlain had shown
the Adirondacks the magical effects of his French
guns, and had led them to believe that with such
new and destructive weapons a few Frenchmen and
Indian

could

allies

make an easy conquest

Accordingly,

old enemies.

Adirondacks with

in

Frenchmen

his

of their

1609, he joined the

to

invade the

greatest circumspection to guard against surprise.

country of the Iroquois, and on the lake which

Whatever superiority

bears his name,

of force they might have, they

never neglected the use of stratagem, employing

all

To

the crafty wiles of the Carthagenians.

pro-

duce death by the most protracted suffering, was

among them by

sanctioned

general

immemorial

usage." J

The Europeans,

mercy

instead of teaching

to

and by every temptation they

become even more cruel, as they became

their characters,

were led

the

first

saw the

time, the Iroquois

the report of

fire

flash

and heard
won-

Defeat followed, and

arms.

dering and dismayed at the murderous

efl^ects

of the

strange weapon, they retreated to their fastnesses

these men, encouraged and fostered the worst points

in

met two hundred of these Indians.

Both parties went on shore for battle, and then, for

to

in the wilderness.

This was the

interview of the Iroquois with

first

white men, and their

first

knowledge of them was

obtained by meeting them as enemies on a

field of

demoralized and vicious by intercourse with the

battle.

more learned but

Colonial

Emboldened by his first success, Champlain with

his Frenchmen and four hundred Huron allies,
renewed his attack upon the Iroquois in 1615. This

1745, passed an act

time he invaded the country of the Onondagas.

chusetts

first

less principled " pale face."

gave twelve, then

one hundred pounds

Legislature of
for giving a

New

reward

forty,

for a scalp.

York,

in

for scalps

and

The

in 1746, a

Massafinally

governor of

the Colony, not only paid for two scalps of French-

men

in

money and

fine clothes,

three Indians that brought

but thanked the

them to Albany, and

promised " Always to remember this act of friendship."
American scalps were received and paid for
in English money by the officer in command at
Maiden, in the war of 18 12.

On

the 9th of October,

1615, a fishing party of

way to Oneida Lake were surThese invaders had made

prised and captured.
their way up the St. Lawrence to the lower end of
Lake Ontario, where, hiding their canoes, they
They took
struck across the wilderness on foot.
men,
four
women,
three
boys and a
captive "Three
They then marched forward, and says Chamgirl."
Onondagas on

plain, in his

their

account

"

On

the 10th of October, at

* Meaning of the word "Onondaga."

three o'clock in the afternoon,

f Hon. George Geddes.

fort of

JDeWitt

little

3*

Clinton.

the enemy.

When

we

arrived before the

approached with

my

detachment, we showed them what they had

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

18

As

never before seen or heard.

soon as they saw

us and heard the balls whistling about their ears,

they retired quietly within their

fort,

them their killed and wounded. We

upon the main body, having five or

carrying with
also
six

fell

back

wounded,

tinction

of French dominion in North America.

Truces were made, but they were only of short

The Iroquois armed with powder and
ball by the Dutch and English, were seen on every
battle field thenceforth, until on the Plains of Abra-

duration.

plain, in the

midst of his French and Indians, was

ham, Onondaga chieftains shed the blood of the

French as freely as did Wolfe, while vengeance was

wounded

two places by Onondaga arrows, and

glutted.

one of

whom
in

died."

After a six day siege,

Cham-

Bancroft

.Says

"

Thrice did Champlain

ingloriously retreated, being carried in a " basket of

invade their country, until he was driven with dis-

wicker work, so doubled up and fastened with cords

grace from the wilderness.

he was unable to move

that

"

winter was passed by Champlain

before he was able

The

to get

long and dreary

among

back to Quebec.

location of the fort which

"
in

for

many

S. Clark, the antiquarian

years.

When investigators are ready to abandon

conflict with the record, rather than to

theories

abandon

facts conflicting with their theories, they will experi-

ence no difficulty whatever in finding an Indian

town site, answering in every essential particular the
description and illustrations of Champlain.
" Certain facts must sooner or later be accepted as
conclusive, in narrowing the limits in which we
should seek for the exact location one is, that the
east branch of the Limestone is the dividing line
absolutely between the historic and pre-historic
town sites of the Onondagas: and that Champlain's
narrative contains internal evidence in statements
of fact, unquestionable, that the fort was within a
few miles, at least, and south of Oneida Lake.
Champlain, beyond any question, passed through
Onondaga county, and attacked the stronghold of
the Onondagas, but the location of this stronghold
:

not so easily found.

" I had the honor of reading a pajier on this subject before the HulValo Historical Society, and the
New York Historical Society, early in the present
year, in which I ventured to put my.self on record
is

on

and objective point, and

designaleil a well-known Indian town site in the
northeast corner of the town of Fenncr, in Madison
county, on the farm of Rufus H. Nichols, on what
this question of route,

known as the mile-strip, about three miles cast of

Perryville, as the home of the Onondagas at that

is

period, and as being the identical position of the

fort

attacked by Champlain."

General Clark has examined this locality and

made a drawing of it, corresponding in all essential
particulars with the drawing and description given

The situation is a peculiar one, the

the form of a hexagon, being in the angle of

by Champlain.
fort in

The Five Nations

return attempted the destruction of

Though

New

in

and under the eyes of

its

governor openly intercepted convoys destined

for

its

The

Quebec.

allies,

I'rench authority was not confirmed

by the founding of a feeble outpost at Montreal,

and Fort Richelieu at the mouth of the Sorrel
River scarcely protected its immediate environs.

The
lay

Iroquois warrors scoured every wilderness to

it

more waste.

still

Depopulating the whole

country on the Ontario, they attained an acknowl-

edged superiority over New France. The colony

was in perpetual danger, and Quebec itself was
besieged."

From

these straits the French sought to relieve

themselves by the missionaries of a religion whose

precepts they had so wantonly violated, and in 1642,

Father Jogues, commissioned as an envoy, was

hospitably received by the Mohawks and gained an
"

opportunity of offering the friendship of France to

the Onondagas."

Thus

the

first

Frenchman came

with the sword, the second with the cross.

The history of
among these

aries

the action of the Jesuit missiontribes

is

but a constant repetition

of cnobling exami)les of self-sacrificing devotion to

the great cause of converting the savages to Chris-

No

hardship was too, great, no sufferings

martyrdom itself was welcomed, and
when one missionary was consumed by the fires of

tianity.

too severe,

the savages, another stood ready to take his place.

Father Jogues was murdered by the Mohawks at

Caughnawaga,* in Montgomery county, but he was
followed by more than a score of others during the
next

fifty

years.

Taking advantage of a temporary peace between

the Iroquois and the French, Father Simon Le
Moyne appeared as a missionary to the Onondagas

He

says in his Relation

"

On

the i-th

a stream which forms both the inlet and outlet of a

in

pond

day of July, 1654, I set out from Montreal and cmbarked for a land as yet but little known, accompanied by a young man of piety and fortitude who
had long been a resident of that country." On the
5th of August he had nearly finished his journey,

and which, in connection

with the streams, surrounded it on all sides, enablintr
in front

of the

fort,

the Indians to put out the

fires

by wliich Champlain

tried to destroy their work.

These attacks of Champlain upon the Iroquois

provoked a war which ended only with the ex-

1654.

*lncluJcd now in the corporJtion of (he

%'illjgc

J
'

I'rance.

repulsed, they continued to defy the pro-

and

vince

Champlain attacked

has been a matter of controversy

Says Gen. John

the flurons

'

of Fonili.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and says

"

We

ing the principal

persons on the

me

traveled four leagues before reach-

Onondaga village.
way who kindly

passed

many

saluted me, one

19

It was only the Mohawks, he said, who wished to

darken the sun, rendered glorious by our approach,
and to fill the sky with clouds.

quarter of a league from

The mission founded this year by Chaumonot

and Dablon was the original mission of St. John the
Baptist, and according to the topography of Gen.

harangue

John

calling

cousin.

great credit.

scattered

welcome, the
experienced

me

as

my

their chiefs,

all

told

them

" I

entered the village with a

which

like of

among

had never before

the grand council

savages."

assembled by the chiefs

he says,

At

and joy were my companions, and that I

war among the distant nations. Two

chiefs addressed

on

named

and distinguished persons.

that peace

and another

relations.

the village I began a

solemn and commanding tone, which

in a

me

families

many

never had so

gained

another uncle,

brother,

in the

Huron tongue.

by nations, tribes, families and individuals, which

to no small number.
This I was enabled

ishing as

it

Father Le

notes,

and

was novel."

Moyne

to

them

On

then the chief town of the Onondagas.

was

The mis-

sionaries several times refer to their "chapel," but

mean by this their place of worship,

one of the principal cabins of the In-

they probably
fitted

up

dians.

in

It

does not appear that they had any regu-

Holy Mass was celebrated by Fathers Chaumonot

and Dablon upon an altar in an oratory made in the

opened the council by a public prayer

my

Indian Hill," two

miles south of the village of Manlius, which

cabin of Ondessonk,

knees, in a loud voice in the

do from

"

lar

amount
to

was located on

At

astonished them exceedingly by mentioning them

all

S. Clark,

it

was

as aston-

the i6th, returning.

The

chapel at this period.

cabin of Teotonharason, one

first

of the

sacrament of

women who

came from Quebec with the missionaries, on Sunday, November 14, 1655.
She was a woman of
the Onondagas, highly esteemed for her nobleness

and wealth.

She made a

ligion, instructed all

public profession of re-

connected with her household,

from the

and eagerly demanded baptism for herself, her

mother and daughter. She taught the prayers of
the Roman Catholic Church to her people, and was

Quebec."

a sort of deaconess of the primitive church of the

salt

was made two hundred and

twenty-three years ago.

In the Relation of Father

Onondagas. (Relation, 1655.) On the 28th of

November, being the first Sunday in Advent, was
held the first celebration of Catechism in one of the
principal cabins, probably the one above referred to.

manufactured the
a European,

some

sea,

This

first

discovered the salt springs and

first

Onondaga

" as natural,"

of which

sample of

we

salt

he says,

shall

ever
" as

carry to

made by

Le Moyne, seventh of August, 1654, he says

baptized a young captive taken from the Neuter
nation, fifteen or sixteen years old, who had been
instructed in the mysteries of our faith by a Huron
convert.
This was the first adult baptism made at
Onondaga. The joy I experienced was ample com" I

pensation for

all

past fatigues."

became missionaries to the Onondagas in 1655, and

" were received with the strongest proofs of friendis

The account

of their

journey and experience

given in the Jesuit Relation of Father Francis

Le

Mercier, the Superior of the Mission of Que-

bec.
tive,

"On
" as

the 5th of November," says the narra-

we continued our

route, a chieftain

of

note called Gonateragon met us a league from his

cabin,
to

welcomed our

arrival,

remain with his people.

the head of our

little

and kindly invited us

He

appears from the Relations that the

first

re-

quest for a French missionary settlement on the

banks of Onondaga Lake came from Ondessonk,
the great chief of the Onondagas, who said to
" We request you to select on
Father Le Moyne
:

Fathers Joseph Chaumonot and Claude Dablon

ship."

It

placed himself at

company and conducted us

state to within a quarter of a league of

in

Onondaga,

where the "Andeiis" of the country awaited us.

Having seated ourselves beside them, they set before us their best provisions, especially pumpkins
baked in the ashes." Then a speech of welcome
was made by an aged chief, who deprecated war,
and said that even the young men were for peace.

the banks of our great lake a convenient place for a

Place yourself in the heart of

French habitation.

our country, since you have possessed our inmost

There we can go for instruction, and

from thence you can spread yourselves everywhere."
The location of St. Mary's of Ganentaha was
selected the year following by Fathers Chaumonot
and Dablon. Says the Relation, under date of Noaftections.

"

vember

9,

visited

the salt spring, which

1655

This day

for the first time,

is

we

only two leagues

from here, near the lake Ganentaha, and the place

chosen for the French settlement, because it is in
the center of the Iroquois nations, and because we
can from thence

visit in

canoes various

localities

upon the rivers and lakes, which renders commerce

and commodious. Fishing and hunting in-

free

crease the importance of this place, for besides the

various kinds of fish that are taken there at different
seasons of the year, the eel is so abundant that a

"

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

20
thousnnd arc

man

.soniL-imic^

spcarcd by a single fisher-

a nijjht, and as for the

in

game which docs

not

through the winter, the pigeons gather in the

spring in such numbers that they are taken in nets
fail

in great

good

The

abundance.

salt is

fountain from which very

made, intersects a meadow surrounded

by a wood of sujxrrior growth. From eighty to a

hundred paces from this salt spring is another of
fresh water, and both flow from the same hill

The

Mission of

added

St.

months

several

for

to the

faith

.'

We

and the anticipations of the

dissentions crept into the

At

minds

you see

have not ceased

all

our village ap-

this winter to

all

go

and be instructed.
welcomed in all our cabins
visited them to teach.
You cannot
doubt our dispositions since we have made you such
a solemn present, with protestations so public, that

crowds

in

to the chapel to pray

You have been

when you have

we

cordially

are believers

On

"

preference of
it

all

the

youn^ men

difficult to

for the chase,

Dab-

obtain guides to conduct him

back to Quebec. "At last," he

mined upon saying nine masses

says, "

we

to St.

John the

deter-

Haptist, the patron of this mission, in order to ob-

where

was dark to us.

lichold how contrary to our exjicctations, and to all
human appearances, without knowing how it was
done or by whom, immediately after the ninth mass,
I set out from Onondaga, accompanied by two of
the principal young men of the village and by several
others, whom doubtless St. John inspired to engage in this enterprise and journey. Thus the
chief of the escort was named Ste. Jean Haptiste.
tain light in a business

he being the
full

first

all

adult of the Iroquois baptized in

health."

Dablon and

canoes for Onondaga. On their departure from

port they were cheered by the acclamations of a
great multitude

who had gathered on

the shore,

all

regarding them with compassionate and trembling

many

victims destined to the flames or

to the fierce rage

rapids

of

canoes

La Chine, they embarked

on their

flag of beautiful

name

in

twenty

white cloth was

" Jhsi's,"

which a
band of Mohawks on the rapids recognized and
painted in large letters the

The Onondagas

accosted the voyagers.

Mohawks
and

received the

with curses, reproached them with treason

robbery, seized

their

canoes and arms and

whatever was best of their equipments,

in

retalia-

having been robbed by the same party a

few days before. Without other incident of imtion

for

portance, they pursued their journey, and on the

I

ith

of July, at 3 o'clock, arrived on the shore of

Lake Ononilaga,

which had been selected

house by Fathers Chaumonot and

at the spot

for their mission

Here many of the old men and chiefs of

Onondagas awaited them. The Te Deum was
chanted and holy mass celebrated in gratitude for
their friendly reception.
On the 17th they commenced the erection of their dwellings and a fort
Dablon.

account of the season of hunting, and the

lon found

posed of four nations, French, Onondagas, Senecas,

a few Hurons, embarked in shallops and

and

and torture of the Iroquois. They

arrived at Three Rivers on the 20th of May, and
on the 8th of June, havon the 31st at Montreal
ing abandoned their shallops on account of the

said they. " since

it

the 7th

hearts as so

continually

some of the principal individuals of the canton,

and it was resolved that Dablon should proceed to
Quebec for a rtcnforcement to strengthen the hearts
and hands of the missionaries. The Onondagas
earnestly desired that the French should come and
make their settlement on the site selected for St.
Mary's of Ganentaha. " Why do you not come at
prove

On

of May, 1656, these missionaries with a force com-

John the Haptist prospered

of

once,"

Broar. and Brother Bourgier, to found the

Mission of St. Mary's of Ganentaha.

proselytes were

missionaries were raised to the highest pitch.

length doubts and

Ambrose

his guides crossed

Oneida Lake on

the

for their soldiers.

The

location of this fort and mission house

was
on the east shore of Onondaga Lake, on lot 106 in
the town of Salina, where the embankment and
outlines of the fort were plainly to be seen by the
early settlers.

The

well in

which they drew their water

that vicinity
still

bears the

out

of

name of

the " Jesuits's Well."

For a while the mission was quite prosperous

other missions branched out from it among the
Cayugas and Senecas the second year the increasing interest required the enlargement of the chapel
the missionaries entertained hopes of the sjieedy
conversion of multitudes of the Indians. Hut while
;

the ice on the 6th of March, 1656, and proceeded

by the usual northern trail to the mouth of Salmon
River, whence he reached Montreal on the 30th

they were indulging these fond anticipations, the

Father Chaumonol remained

Onondaga, and the

following summer was joined by Father Claude

gas to enter into a conspiracy

Dablon, Father

friendly Indian,

I.e

at

Mcrcier, the Superior, Father

Reni Mesnard, Father Jacques Fremin,

13rother

renewal of border wars e.xcited the slumbering ven

geance of the Moliawks, who induced the Onondathe French mission.

The

for the

plot

destruction of

was revealed by a

and the French escaped by the

lowing ingenious method

fol-

:;
:

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Being forewarned of the intended massacre, they
had prepared to escape in the night, if they could
avoid exciting the suspicions of the Indians, by
means of several light boats which they had secretly

The

in the storehouse of the mission.

constructed

opportunity was furnished them by the ingenuity of

a young man, very
chief,

who

much

a favorite with the head

feigned to have a dream that the chief

The

far

Frenchmen had shipped their boats and were

away beyond their reach. In the morning they

supposed the French had

foundly as themselves, and

been sleeping as proit

was not

until

they had

examined the premises that they discovered that

If the missionaries
their intended victims had fled.
had been alone in the work in which they were engaged, they would at all times have been safe in the
hands of the savages, but the rival governments of
France and England continually thwarted their endeavors and rendered the lives of all at times inse-

The

"

be gathered

France could not

convents were insecure,

in safety, the

Le Moyne, who had been driven from

Mohawks, once more appeared and was

the

received with affection by the Onondagas.

England came

ensued.

When

Mohawk

the

conspiracy had died away and

the Onondagas becoming

sorry for having given

the French reason to doubt their sincerity, and

feel-

ing the loss they had sustained in driving them

away, the principal chief sent an invitation to them

again
1665, a

to

establish

number

of

themselves

French

among them.

families returned,

In

under

In 1684, the Five Nations met the

governors of New York and Virginia at Albany,

and the sachems returned

Duke

York over

of

Governor of Canada, meantime, with six hundred

French soldiers, four hundred Indian allies, four
hundred canoes, and three hundred men for a garrison, started for Onondaga.
But the army suffered
from sickness, and after arriving on the soil of the
Onondagas, he was constrained to sue for peace.

The English

desired the Five Nations to take ad-

and exterminate the French.

But such was not their policy they desired to play
one party oft" against the other, while they themvantage of

this situation

chief proudly said to the

"

Yonnondio

An Onondaga
New York

have willed

so

it

our master.

Gar-a-kon-tie,
tian Indian.

says of him

who was a converted and truly ChrisFather Le Mercier, in Relation 1667,

"

As

he,

[Father Julian Gamier,] had

declared to them [the Onondagas,] that he could

not remain alone and without a chapel, Gar-a-kon-tie,

that famous captain of

whom we

have spoken before

in preceding relations, resolved to gratify

utmost of

his

built a chapel,
to

wishes.

fact,

and immediately

Quebec

who had long

In

to visit the

in a
after

him

to the

we

was

to take

reason.

say

because we

dwell

we

we

are free

are brethren

I will

go

to

my

you

call

we must

father, for

us

take

he has

my

gate and desires to speak words of

We

will

embrace peace, instead of war

the ax shall be thrown into a deep water."

la Barre,

is

the world gave us the

To De

the French commander, the chief said

you that you have left under ground

which
has so often been dyed with the
the hatchet
our children and old men
blood of the French
had carried their bows and arrows into the heart of
your camp, if our braves had not kept them back
our old men are not afraid of war we will guide

" It is well for

English to our lakes

we

are born free

we

the

undertook a

depend neither on Yonnondio nor Corlear." Dismayed, the proud Governor of Canada accepted a

desired to see this great and good

pal object of his visit

to

we

it is

few days he

Governor of Canada,

man, so obliging towards the French.

come

for ten

neither the one nor the other

He who made

land on which

of

Corlear (the English Gover-

nor) has long been our brother, but

care of ourselves.

here established was that of Ste. Jean Baptiste.

The chapel was built in 1666 by the famous chief,

Convoy

French Governor) has

(the

years been our father

the Indian fort and village which stood in the vicin-

mission

arms of the

to nail the

their castle, a protection as they

thought against the French, an acknowledgment, as

the English deemed, of British sovereignty."
The

subjects

The

New

Netherlands.

the guidance of the missionaries, and settled near

ity of the present village of Jamesville.

Peace

into possession of the

selves held the balance of power.

cure.

voyage

New

harvests of

and many of the inhabitants prepared to return to

France. In moments of gloom it seemed as if all
must be abandoned. True, religious zeal was still

among

all that was set before them, and the

consequence was that they often became gorged and
stupefied.
So it was on this occasion. The feast
was prepared all had eaten to surfeiting the young
man played on his guitar to soothe them into the
profound slumber that was soon to follow.
In a little while they were all asleep, and before they awoke

the

In 1669 the French and the Iroquois were again

active.

they should eat

he wished to conduct

own country."*

at war.

the custom of the

feast, after

whom

of the Fathers,

into his

rule of politeness required that

must provide a general

Indian nation.

some

21

One

princi-

away with him

disgraceful peace, leaving his Indian allies to the

tender mercies of the Iroquois.

* Clark's Onondaga,

p.

190.

"

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

22

After the establishmciii

oi

I'ort

Niagara by the

In 1694, the great chief, De-kan-is-so-ra, visited

New

to make terms of peace with the French.

The Count de Frontenac, then Governor, refused to

French, Louis XI\' wrote to the Governor of

France

many

capture as

to

of the

bodied

able

Iroquois as he could and send them to France to

work in the galleys as slaves, saying, " Uo what
you can to capture a large number of them as prisoners of war, and ship them to France."
By open
hostilities no captures could be made, and Lamberville, the missionary among the Onondagas, was
unconsciously employed to decoy them into the fort

Montreal

treat with the

Five Nations, e.xccpt on conditions

that they would exclude the Knglish entirely from

on Ontario.

Accordingly, being invited to nego-

This the Onondagas rewhereupon Frontenac resolved

to put the whole power of the French in requisition
and by one decisive blow bring them to terms.
In 1696, he mustered the whole force that France
could furnish and the province could raise, together

tiate a treaty,

they assembled without distrust, and

with such Indian

were

seized, put in irons, hurried to

Quebec and

thence to France, where the warrior hunters of the

Five Nations who used to roam from Hudson's Hay

were chained

to Carolina,

to the oar in the galleys

This was

of Marseilles."

in

1687.

What

did the

outraged Iroquois do with this missionary, the unwitting tool of tyrants

while the old

men

.'

Bancroft says

Lamberville to their presence.

reason,' said

an aged

"

Mean-

Onondagas summoned

of the

'

W'e have much

ene
my, but we know thee too well thou hast betrayed
us, but tre.ison was not in thine heart
fly, therefore, for when our young braves shall have sung
their war song, they will listen to no voice but the
chief,

'

to treat thee as an
:

swelling voice of their anger.' " Trusty guides conducted the missionary through by-paths into a place

who

counsel of Gar-a kon-tie, the same chief

John the
Bancroft

Onondaga

built

chaj^el for the mission of St.

"

Generous barbarian e.xclaims

your honor shall endure, if words of mine

Baptist.
;

fused to consent

can preserve the

memory

of your deeds."

The

to,

allies as he could enlist, and after

two months spent in the trip, arrived with his flotilla
on Onondaga Lake, the second of August. The
paraphernalia of the army made a grand display.
" Banners were there," says Hoffman, "which had
been unfurled at Steenkerk and Landen.and rustled
above the troops that Lu.xemburg's trumpets had
guided to glory when Prince VValdeck's legions were
borne down beneath his furious charge. Nor was the
enemy that this gallant host was seeking, unworthy
those whose swords had been tried in some of the
hardest fought fields of Europe.
They had bearded
a European army under the walls of Quebec, shut
up another for weeks within the defences of Montreal, with the same courage which half a century
after vanquished the battalions of Dieskau on the

shores of Lake George.

The French,

This noble forbearance was due to the

of security.

the second

trading in their territory.

daga Lake
finally

in

with their

two

allies,

passed up Onon-

divisions, skirting both shores,

landing at the cast end, sword in hand.

the third of August, they constructed a fort and

a garrison of [40

This

baggage.

men

fort

and

On
left

guard their batteaux and

was probably at the place now
to

Onondaga Chief Haas-kou-au.n,

called

at

The cannon and artillery equipments

were hauled across the marshes, and they encamped
Their movements had been
at the Salt Springs.
discovered by scouts and were fully known at the

at once appeared
Montreal at the head of twelve hundred warriors,

demanding

as a .satisfaction the restoration of the

and spoils and the abandonment of the fort

Four days were given the French to
decide. Said the haughty chief, " Our warriors propose to come and burn your forts, your houses,
chiefs

Niagara.

at

your granges, and your corn, to weaken you by

famine, and then to overwhelm you."
The terms
were accepted by the French, the restoration of
the imprisoned chiefs conceded, and the whole
country south of the lakes rescued from the dominion of Canada.
In the course of events New York

owes

Green

Point, or at the site of St. Mary's of

Ganentaha.

Onondaga

villages.

No assistance could

was idle. The Onondagas, therefore, resolved to

bend before the storm they could not face. On the
night of the 3d of August, 1696, the French army
saw the light of immense fires in the south. The
Indians, adopting the tactics of Moscow, were destroying their

own

property, preferring this

present northern boundary to this exhibition of the power and valor of the Five Nations.*

defence to direct resistance.

All but a

"

its

corner u( the County of Onondaga

drained into the St. Lawrence, and but for these

is

little

Indians must have formed a part of Canada.f

1 Bancfut't,
f

p.

431.

Hon. Gcorfe GcJJci Report, 1859.

be obtained

from the English, and resistance to such a vast army

When

mode

of

the French ar-

rived on the ground, Frontenac says they found

the cabins of the Indians and the triple palisades

which circled the fort entirely burnt." It has since

been learned that it was in a sufficiently strong state
It was an oblong flanked by four reguof defence.
The two rows of pickets which
lar bastions.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

with them to Montreal several of the Onondaga

touched each other were of the thickness of an ordinary mast, and

other palisade

at six feet distance outside stood an-

of much

smaller dimensions, but from

The corn

forty to fifty feet high.

"

gas, in their fields, stretching

of the

two leagues from the

Ononda-

from a league and a

fort,"

cut

wanton destruction long. In accordance with their

custom they must give the enemy due notice that
vengeance would not be delayed. A brave old warrior volunteered for this honorable duty, and died
without a groan amidst the tortures of the savage
allies

of the French.

"

When

a savage, weary of

gave him some cuts of a knife," " I

thank thee," he cried, " But thou oughtest to comLearn, French dogs and
plete my death by fire.
his harangues,

ye savages, their allies, that ye are dogs of"dogs

and curious spectacle, to see many

hundred men surrounding a decrepit old warrior,
striving in vain, by tortures, to draw a groan from
him."

barren victory of Frontenac resulted in great

of Canada, the fields were

left

away the

Although the French, from this time forward, made

the most strenuous efibrts, through diplomacy and
Five Nations over to their

religion, to gain the

and

failing in that,

for the English,

who

ancy over them and

gradually gained the ascendin

militia

uncultivated, and a

originated

French.

Policv of
English
English Towards the Five Nations
The Onondagas in the French War
Their Status in the Revolution and the
War of 181 2 English and German Missions
Later Missions
among the Onondagas
Schools Treaties.
Iroquois and the

THE

treaty of Ryswick, which made peace between the English and the French, was signed
September 10, 1697. Soon after this, French com-

Onondaga

Castle.

Peace was made, to the great satisfaction of the

" Nothing could be more terrible than
French.
this last war
the French ate their bread in con;

No man was

house, of ever returning to

sure,
it

when

again.

out of his

All business

and trade were often suspended, while fear, despair

and misery blanched the countenances of the
wretched inhabitants.*
* Clark's Onondaga,

p.

283.

tribes of the

Five Nations

the partiality of the latter for the

At length

the English, penetrating farther

commerce to
them against their

THE

fear.

in

into the country, extending trade and

CHAPTER VL

tinual

mas-

earliest and strongest influence of the Engwas exerted over the Mohawks, who lived in
immediate proximity to their settlements on the
Hudson hence the Mohawks were most hostile to
the French and were often in open war upon their
frontiers while the more western tribes were quietly
listening to the Jesuit Fathers within the sound of
Niagara, in the forests of Cayuga and the villages
Many a conflict between the Moof Onondaga.

of provisions in Onondaga.

missioners appeared before the

their

The

hawks and the other

due time became

lish

famine ensued that pinched quite as hard as the lack

The

in-

had employed the best

New
France
for their subjugamilitary resources of
tion, yet they steadily adhered to their friendship
terest,

voix, " a strange

injury to the French, for by taking

which brave men always command.

Before the peace oi Ryswick, in 1697, the Indians of the Five Nations had become the allies of
the English. In 1689, they had met the representatives of the English colonies, the Governors of
New York and Virginia, in council at Albany, and
had formally pledged to them peace and alliance.

ters.

remember what ye ought to do when ye will be in

the same position that I am." " It was," says Charle-

The

They were received with every mark of reand were treated with that consideration

chiefs.

spect,

was completely
up by the soldiers. " Not a single head remained," and " the destruction was complete."
The Onondagas, of course, could not brook this
half to

23

The Commissioners

took

the diff"erent tribes, and assisting

common enemies, gradually gained an ascendancy

over them, and an alliance was formed with the

United Five Nations which remained an indissoluble bond of union through all the conflicts and wars

which followed, not only till the downfall of French

power in Canada, but till England herself surrendered her possessions in America to her colonies.
The English gained their ascendancy over the Iroquois, not by levying war, but by commerce and
assistance, in the first place,
tion

and the

arts of peace.

and then by negotia-

From

this

time the

Five Nations recognized themselves as subjects of

Great Britain and were at war or peace, as suited the
policy of the governing nation.

Among

the earliest English travelers in the Iro-

Greenhalgh, who
Albany on the
from
westward
commenced a journey
Mohawks,
the
visited
He
28th of May, 1677.*
and
Senecas,
and
Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas
and
situation
describes minutely in his journal the

quois

country was Wentworth

* Chambers'

Political

Annals of the United Colonies, London, 1780

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

24

The Onondagas he

strength of each nation.

" situated

on a

hill

that

each side extending

is

very large, the bank on

two miles, all

planted."
This

least

itself at

cleared land whereon

found

the corn

is

traveler furnishes the following census of the " fight-

ing

men"

Senccas, i.oco;

is

towards erecting a

The

dagas.

fort

fort in

was not

Onon-

the country of the

built

till

house, however, was erected at

1727.

Oswego

trading
1722,

in

Onondagas, 350: Cayugas, 300;

under the administration of Governor William Bur

The design of the occupancy of this position
net.

total, 2,150.

was

of the respective nations

Oneidas, 200

go River, as the most suitable site. The King of

England, in 1701, had given five hundred pounds

Mohawks 300

to frustrate the

purpose of the French to con-

English colonies to narrow limits along the

In the manuscripts of Sir William Johnson there

fine the

a census of the northern and western

sea coast by a chain of forts extending from

from the Pludson to the Mississippi, taken

Indians
in

1763,

to Louisiana

and

it

Canada

would also give the English

which the Five Nations appear numerically as

follows: Mohawks, 160 Oneidas, 250; Onondagas,
150; Cayugas, 200: Senccas, 1,050; total, 1,610

command

warriors.

greater importance to the interest of the English.

in

In 1700, Robert Livingston, Secretary of Indian

Onondaga, and reported to the Earl

of Belmont upon the proper policy for the English
affairs, visited

to adopt in

regard to the Five Nations.

vised that missionaries should be sent

and

that forts should be constructed

for their protection against the

posed to locate a

ad-

among them,

and garrisoned

French.

He

pro-

confluence of the Oneida

fort at the

and Seneca Rivers.

He

June of that year, Dckanhead of an embassy, visited Albany

complaining that the French " will not take the
hatchet from their hands" unless the Five Nations
In

nissora, at the

And he said, " All of us here are

resolved to have a Protestant minister at Onondaga,
the centre of the Five Nations, as soon as one can

submit to them.

be sent to

us."

The Governor promised

the mis-

sionary, and that the bible should be translated for

their use.

and proposed that they should send two

or three of their sons to be educated at the expense

of the King.
The Indians replied that they loved

the

King and were determined

of

Lake Ontario and the route

of the

French by the Oswego River into the heart of the

No

Ifoquois country.

establishment could be of

When, therefore, the trading house was erected at

Oswego it highly exasperated the Canadian authoriand they immediately inaugurated a counter

ties,

moveifient in erecting a trading house at Niagara.

The Baron De Longueil

Onondagas

visited the canton of the

person to secure the consent of the

in

and by misrepresentation

chiefs,

partially succeeded.

But the other Iroquois nations declared the action

Onondagas void, as the country in which the

at work belonged solely to the Senc-

of the

French were

The French, however,

cas.

in

and through

persisted,

the influence of the Jesuit, Joucairc,

who succeeded

keeping the Indians quiet, completed their work

Governor Burnet, unable

Niagara.

at

plish

anything

He

1727.

built

it

erected the fort at

almost wholly

The Governor

expense.

that he sent a

mand

else,

at his

accom-

Canada was so incensed

written order to the officer in comof

to evacuate the fort at once.

officer did not,

to

Oswego in
own private

The English

however, comply.

to continue firm to

In the war which followed between the French

his religion, adding that they had refused

educate the boys," said the chief, "that is a subject not under our control
it belongs to the women

and the English, the defence of the fort at Oswego

was entrusted to the Onondagas. When Sir William Johnson called for them they were ready and
At Niassisted in winning the glory he acquired.

entirely."

agara.

him and

to receive the Jesuit priests.

"As

to the offer to

At
the
Col.

Earl of Helmont promised

to build a fort in their country.

Montreal and Quebec, they participated in

the great engagements which decided the question
and
of empire between the French and English

selected as the engineer to explore

on the

and

the French possessions east of the Missis-

this council the

Onondagas
Romer was

the country and

fi.x
upon a site for the fort. The
Indians agreed to furnish two hundred men to
work
upon it, and to furnish corn, venison, and other
pro-

visions for the

workmen. Four young Onondagas

were selected to accompany Colonel Romer in
his

exploring expedition.

Onondaga

Colonel

country, and passed

Romer explored the

down till he came to

the Oneida River, but found no suitable place

to
locate a fort.
They finally decided upon the ledge
called

Kagnewagcage, near the mouth of the Oswe-

all

St of July,

1761, after the

war had closed

fallen into the hands of the English, upwards of forty of the sachems and warriors of the
Onondaga nation met Sir William Johnson at Os-

sippi

had

wego, to receive the medals sent to

by General Amherst.

The

all

their chiefs,

chiefs, in a formal ad-

dress, took that occasion to remonstrate against the

ill
treatment many of their people had received
from the traders and soldiers at the posts during the
war. and the cxhorbitant prices of goods charged

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

by the traders. Sir William promised to reform
abuses and furnish them plenty of powder and ball,
which proved very agreeable to the chiefs.
In the war of the Revolution these Indians steadily adhered to the friendship which had been so long

the Onondagas, were there

cemented between them and the English, and were

the faithful allies of Great Britain throughout that

settled

memorable struggle. Mr. Clinton says that in the

war of the Revolution the Five Nations contributed
"They hung
to the aid of the British 1,580 men.
scythe of death in the rear of our settle-

like the

ments, and their deeds are inscribed with the scalping knife and the tomahawk, in characters of blood,

on the

fields of

Wyoming

and Cherry Valley, and

on the banks of the Mohawk."*

The chastisement we
Nations was

On

invoked.

inflicted

as terrible as their

upon the Five

cruelties had

own

the 21st of April, 1779, Colonel

Van

Schaick surprised the Onondagas and destroyed

and munitions of war,

their village, provisions

ing twelve and taking thirty or forty prisoners.

destruction of their property was complete.

kill-

The
The

same year the campaigns of Sullivan carried war

and famine to the Cayugas and Senecas, effectually
breaking the power of the Iroquois.
The Mohawks
fled to Canada with Sir William Johnson.

The

treaty of peace with

England gave us the

chain of the great lakes as our northern boundary.

No

was made respecting these

They consequently found themselves in the

stipulation whatever

tribes.

condition
their

conquered people

of a

in

the hands of

enemies who had become highly exasperated

at their dreadful cruelties.

York evinced

a disposition

their territory, but wiser

Through

prevailed.

The

Legislature of

to e.xpel

them

all

New
from

and more humane counsels

the

influence

of

Generals

Washington and SchuyJer they were saved from

total ruin.
The treaty made at Fort Stanwix in
by
commissioners
of the government and the
1784,
Indians, secured
all

sufficient

the tribes, except the

reservations of land to

Mohawks who had gone

to

But this treaty appeared hard to the

Indians, who had gone into the war at the command
of a government they felt bound to obey, and that
had so shamefully neglected them in the final setCanada.

tlement.

After this their prowess was gone, and

their martial spirit entirely broken.

Some

of

them

Western Indians in the wars under

St. Clair and Wayne, being led by Brant,
the great captain of the Five Nations
and when

assisted the

Harmar,

to bleach

Wayne

the Americans,

turned the victory in favor of

Ohekungh and Oundiaga,

CUrk's Onondaga.
4*

chiefs of

the latter

left his

bones

on the plains of the Miamis.

After this noted victory, the Onondagas clearly

saw the

folly of

cherishing any longer a hostile dis-

position towards their immediate neighbors.

down

quiet,

in

They

determined to submit with

fortitude to their fate.

During the war of 18 12, when our Niagara fronhad become a scene in which the tomahawk
and scalping knife were playing their part, General
Peter D. Porter called on the remnant of this people
for a force that might be successfully opposed to the
Canadian Indians. A council was held to which all
the tribes were invited, and all came except the
Mohawks. It was resolved to aid the United States
tier

with

all

their force.

Five Nations, the

By the ancient usage of

Mohawks were to furnish

the

the

Commander-in-Chief, but, as they had left the conit was necessary to depart from the usage

federacy,

and

elect

one

in general council.

until the celebrated

settled

Debate ran high,

Sa-goy-a-\vat-ha (Red Jacket)

the matter by proposing Hog-a-hoa-qua

He accepted
an Onondaga chieftain.
the post, and died at Chippewa, having received his
His
death wound while bravely leading his people.

(La

Fort,)

dying words were expressive of his gratification at

having been placed at the head of his nation and
having done his duty there. The braves of the
of the Onondagas gathered around the prostrate
hero, and exclaimed in their

the great chief! the brave

It

remains now

later missions

The

own language, "Alas,

the brave

!"*

to consider the English and other

among

these people.

Jesuit missions began sensibly to decline

after the year 1700.

About

this

time the English

themselves in planting Protestant

The Earl of
Christianity among the Five Nations.
proposed a
York,
New
of
Governor
then
Belmont,

began

to interest

Onondaga, and King William

sent over a set of plate for communion service and
But this plan
furniture for the proposed chapel.
fort

and a chapel

at

was interrupted by the death of the King in 1702,

and was renewed by Queen Anne, who became a
zealous patron of missions

among

the Five Nations.

This good queen ordered the erection of a chapel

among the Mohawks and contemplated a similar

work among all the Five Nations. The Mohawk

Fort
chapel was built of stone, and was erected at
chapel
the
presented
queen
Hunter in 17 10. The

communion set, bearing the follow"The gift of Her Majesty, Anne, by

with a solid silver

the gallant

25

ing inscription
France and Irethe Grace of God, of Great Britain,
:

as aid to

Gen. Brown,

received his last words while acting

their language.
to the Indians, he understanding
orders
to carry

* Webster

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

26

Chapel of the Mohawks."

engraved
for the Onondagas,
was
A
never
to have reached
but, from some cause, it seems

land,

QuEHN,

to her Indian

similar service

On

destination.

its

arc

scr\'ice

still

das.

mission in

ally

Portions of the

1712.

use at the

in

Mohawk

Canada.

Among the Onondagas, missions

were established

by the Moravians or United Brethren, in 1750.

Heckwalder, the Indian historian, says " The most
remarkable occurrence of 1750 was the journey of
:

Bishop CammcrhofT and Brother David Zcisberger

to Onondaga, the chief town of the Iroquois. They
set out from Bethlehem" (Pennsylvania, where they

had founded a mission in 1740,) "on the 14th of

May, having obtained a passport from the Governor
of Pennsylvania, requesting

Government

British

On

all

moved

Mosame

the plate presented to the

hawks was the date

from him the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel.

At the commencement of the Revolution he re-

the subjects of the

to forward their undertaking.

the 19th of June, they reached

Onon-

his family to Stockbridge, Mass., for safety,

among

while he continued his mission

the Onei-

His influence over them contributed materisecure their neutrality, and in several
instances, their friendship and service, during the
In 1779, he was Brigade
Revolutionary struggle.
to

Chaplain with General Sullivan

in his

Indian cam-

paign, and was chaplain to the garrison at

Messrs

Schuyler and other posts.

Gorham,

Western

large purchasers of land in

Fort

Phelps and

New

York, deeded him two thousand acres of land for

his valuable services, situated in township No. 7,
Mr. Kirkland was a native of Norwhich town he was born December
I,
74 1. He was one of the most widely useful and
influential among his class of devoted and self-sac-

Ontario county.
wich,

Conn

in

Out

pioneer missionaries.

rificing

of his " Plan of

The account goes on to say that the Bishop

and his associate were received at the great council

grew
Academy, which was incorporated early in 1793, and in 18 10 became Hamilton
College. Mr. Kirkland endowed the Academy with

as the deputies of the Church of the United Breth-

valuable donations of land.

daga, situated

in

very pleasant and beautiful

country and consisting of

towns or

five small

vil-

lages "

Permission was granted them to keep their

ren.

Onondaga one or two years to learn

the language of the people. The Brethren returned
missionaries at

spend the winter

to

Bethlehem, and the year

in

lowing appeared again

whom

among

fol-

the Onondagas, by

they were very cordially received and lodged

Education

for the Indians," projected in 1792,

the Hamilton Oneida

He was a man of unbounded benevolence and hospitality. He loved the

Indians and was loved by them most sincerely in
He

return.

died in the 78th year of his age, Feb-

ruary 28, 1808, and was buried

in the chief's house.

Episcopal Church

for

Onondagas

All things went prosperously

about a year, when, on account of trouble and

war, acting upon the advice of the council, they

returned to their homes.

brother

named Charles

The

Frederick.

chief,

Can-

NAS-SK-T.\-GO, adopted him as his son, and he had

great influence with the Onondagas.

an eminent Onondaga scholar.

In

He became

1768,

he wrote

and completed two grammars, one in English, the

in German, adapted to the Indian language, a

other

copious dictionary of

German and

Indian, contain-

ing seven quarto manuscript volumes of more than

seventeen hundred and seventy pages of writing,

and

1776 he published a spelling book, other primary books for learners, and Juvenile devotional
in

books.
or that

We
it

continued

The

find no permanent fruits of this mission

was ever re-established, although feebly
for several years.

mission of Rev. Samuel Kirkland

among

the

Oneidas began in August. 1766. Mr. Kirkland remained among them for over forty years. During
this

time his influence spread

country, and

many

of

all

who

the

to

all

over the Iroquois

the different tribes learned

a private ground

called the attention of the

subject

of religion,

was Mr.

Eleazer Williams, lay reader, catechist and school-

master among the Oneidas.

In 1754, Zeisbcrger returned to his post with a

in

near his residence in Clinton.

The first person connected with the Protestant

several of the
first,

Onondaga

chiefs,

By

the request

of

he visited that nation

He says in his
on the 31st of March, 1816.
"They gave me no time to refresh myself,

journal

but hurried

me

oft"

to their council house, to hear,

The words of Him who dwells in

as they
"
These visits were followed by Rev.
hhavai'
Timothy Clowes, Rector of St. Peter's Church,
Albany, who pn the 18th of July, 1816, preached
said.

'

and administered the

eht't/i

sacrament.

children of the Onondagas.

He

baptized

In July,

1817,

they were visited by Mr. Eleazer Williams, Rev.

Wm. A. Clark and Rev. Ezekiel G. Gear. Baptism

was administered by Rev. Mr. Clark to fifteen, and

Mr. Gear conby Rev. Mr. Gear to four ox five.
among
the
Onondagas
tinued to preach frequently
so long as he lived

at

" the

Hill "

Indians

fre-

quently came there for public worship and brought

their children to be baptized in presence of the
congregation.

Several couples were also married

publicly in the church.

Others,

among whom was

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

one principal chief, were publicly baptized, and
these were all confirmed at Oneida, on some occasion when the church there was visted by Bishop
Hobart.

Onondaga Reservation, at an
expense not exceeding three hundred dollars. The
sum of two hundred and fifty dollars was annually
appropriated for a term of five years, for the payschool house on the

was at the instance of Mr. Gear that a school

was opened at Onondaga by one of their own people
Mary Doxtator, who had been educated by the
Quakers at Philadelphia, and had opened an industrial school at Oneida, in which she taught the
Indian women how to sew and spin and to weave
This lady was induced by
blankets and coverlets.
Mr. Gear to attempt the same among the Onondagas, which she did with considerable success in
1820.
She died two or three years after the opening of her school, among the Onondagas, her own

ment

people.

lies

It

This Episcopal missionary work ceased among

Onondagas with the retirement

the

of Rev. Mr.

Gear, and they were without religious instruction

till

the Methodists founded a Mission at Oneida in

Occasional

1829,

held

among

the

were from

services

Onondagas with but

this

little

time

success,

"

Pagan Party."
nation
were
opposed to the
The head men of the
establishment of schools and churches among them,
and it was not until the year 1 841, that anything like
At this time
a regular organization was formed.
nine members joined a class formed by Rev. Rosman Ingals, who had been appointed a missionary
The communion
to the Oneidas and Onondagas.
on account of the influence of the

vv^as

administered at

Onondaga

Castle

after

the

form of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and from

the 1st of August, 1842, the

ing every third Sunday.

cured and

were held

fitted
till

Onondagas had preach-

In 1842. the natives pro-

up a building

1846,

when

the

in

new

which services

school house was

and became also the sanctuary of religion.

Rev. Daniel Fancher officiated, preaching three

built

Sundays each month.

of Mr.

Fancher's ministry,

municants increased

commencement
number of com-

After the
the
In

rapidly.

184S, at which

time a new and commodious church was erected^

costing over a thousand dollars, there was not less

than

si.xty

In

who

received regularly the bread of

1845, a very

respectable

lady.

life.

Miss Mary

Hitchcock, was induced to open a school on the

Reservation exclusively for Indian children.

efforts

Her

were unwearied, and attended with measur-

able success, the school being supported mainly by

contributions of benevolent

white

patrons.

boarded herself and kept the school

building.

in the

She

church

In April, 1846, an act was passed by the

Legislature authorizing the Indian

Agent

to be built and furnished a suitable

and

to cause

sufficient

27

of teachers'

wages and other expenses.

The

following year a school house was completed and

school opened under favorable auspices by Mr. L.

Whitcomb.

B.

In

Rosman

1849, Rev.

charge of the school.

The

Ingals had

were of
Super-

district officers

the Indians, assisted by the Agent,

Town

who managed the school

with benefit to themselves and credit to the nation.
The Indian children are bright, and in many

intendent and Teacher,

branches show as much aptitude

cans

Ameri-

to learn as

but the chief hindrance to their education

in their unwillingness to attend school.
Not
;

more than

half the

number

of suitable age are found

in attendance.

The Onondagas made

the following treaties with

New York

the people of the State of

First

The

treaty

of

Fort Schuyler (formerly

Fort Stanwix) made by the commissioners on behalf

of the State, His Excellency, George Clinton,
Governor, William Floyd,

Hommedien,

Ezra L.

Richard Varick, Samuel Jones, Egbert Benson, and

Peter Gansevoort, Jr.,
wherein the Onondaga

nation ceded to the State of

New York

their

all

lands in said State, except the Reservation bounded

Beginning

at the southerly end of the

where the river or stream, on
which the Onondagas now have their village, empties
into the said lake, and running from the said place

as follows

salt lake, at the place

of beginning

east

three miles

thence southerly

according to the general curve of said river until

shall

intersect a line running east

and west

distance of three miles south from

said

it

at the

village

thence from the said point of intersection west nine

miles

thence

course above

northerly

parallel

the

to

second

mentioned, until an east line

strike the place of beginning

will

and thence east to

the said place of beginning.

The

cession in this treaty was

made

in considera-

money and
one thousand French crowns
two hundred pounds in clothing at the price which
the same cost the people of New York.
in

tion of

treaty made at Onondaga by John

Second
Cantine and Simeon DeWitt, November 18, 1793,
wherein the Onondagas ceded to the State a portion of their Reservation comprised in two tracts

described in the treaty (Clark's Onondaga, vol. i, p.

The State paid the Indians four hundred
353.)

and ten dollars as a perpetual annuity

for this por-

tion of their Reservation.

Third K

treaty held at

Cayuga Ferry, by

Phillip

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

2a

Schuyler, John Cantinc, David Brooks and John

Richardson, July 28, 1795, wherein the above

annuity was changed to a perpetual annuity of eight

dollars, and the Onondagas also ceded their

hundred
right

the

in

and one mile of land

Salt Springs

around the same, together with a half mile tract of

land between the northern boundary of the ReservaIn this transaction the

and the Salt Springs.

tion

State paid the Indians five hundred dollars for their

right in the Salt Springs,

and two hundred dollars

the half mile of land, with an annuity of one

hundred bushels of salt to be delivered annually on
for

the

first

day of June

in

Fourth Ai a treaty made at Albany, February

25, 1817, the Onondagas sold and conveyed the

known

them in former reser\-aOnondaga Residaue Resenation"

This land

as the

lies cast

of the present Reservation con-

one hundred

sisting of twenty-seven lots of from

and fifty to one hundred and sixty acres each,

amounting in all to about four thousand acres. One
thousand dollars was paid down, with an annuity of
four hundred and thirty dollars and fifty bushels of
salt.

I-'i/lh

On

the

ith of February, 1822, at a treaty

more
the Onondaga

held at Albany, they sold eight hundred acres

of their land, from the south end of

Residence Reservation,

hundred

sum

for the

of seventeen

dollars.

CHAPTER

point unerringly to the conclusion, that this

was the

position occupied previous to that on Indian Hill,

probably from about 1620 to 1650.

line

This migratory

can be continued indefinitely, step by step, to

the east and north, extending along the eastern ex-

Lake Ontario to the St. Lawrence. In

Madison county we find the point apparently, whence
tremity of

the Oneidas branched

oflf

from the Onondagas, and

in an eastand northerly direction, finally settled down at

Oneida Castle, at about the same period that the
Onondagas were in the Onondaga valley.

Another period of

fifty

years introduces us to a

series of facts that cannot possibly be reconciled

with a supposed residence in either the valley of

Onondaga
find

it

In 1750

or at Jamesville.

Onondaga Lake

we

find their

1700 we
on the Ikitternut creek, and eight miles from

castle five miles from

in

Onondaga Lake. We rrow come to authorities in

like manner making it twelve miles from the Mission site of St. Mary of Ganentaha on the cast side
We will examine a few of
of Onondaga Lake.
these

facts,

and,

if

possible, by

period of 1650, solve this

In 1654 the

new

going back to the

Onondagas were

visited

by Le Moyne

by way

of Techiroguen, at the foot of Oneida Lake,

and by Chaumonot and Dablon in the succeeding
Dablon returned the next
year, by the same route

ice,

Migrations of the Onondagas Location of

Period of their
TiiKiK Various Town Sites
RrsiDKNCK in Kach Locai.itv.

careful study of their journals develops the fact

that

Onondaga then was

ten leagues or twenty-five

miles from Techiroguen by

was

five

way

of regular

trail

short leagues or twelve miles from the

JOHN CLARK, Auburn, who has

GKN.
devoted much time
antiquarian research

mission site of St. Mary's, and was six short leagues

respecting the aborigines of this county, has shown

to Dablon's journal.

of

to

conclusively that the

Onondagas were

a migratory

people, and that they occupied tliffercnt portions of

beginning with
most easterly settlement, just prior to the beginning of the historic period, or about the year
1620, we shall follow General Clark in the inverse
order of his argument, and note the points at which

our territory at different periods,

their

he locates the homes

of the

Onondagas

at difl'erent

periods.

the Limestone

an

we

find other

town

sites indicating

earlier occupation, but of like character

nitude as those to the west.

of these

from Oneida Lake, or about

is

the one found on

The
lot

and mag-

jnost important

twenty-three, on the

fifteen miles,

In 1G77, while living in the

same

according

position, they

by Mr. Greenhalgh, an English trader,

who finds them occupying a ver}' large town, consisting of about one hundred and forty houses,

were

visited

hill, with banks on each side, between

which the town extended at least two miles, all
He
cleared land and on which corn was planted.

situated on a

also says they were thirty-six miles from the Oneidas'

After crossing the valley of the east branch of

'

difficulty.

March from Onondaga, crossed Oneida Lake on the

and thence took the usual trail to Salmon River.

VII.

S.

swinging around by successive removals

"All that certain

tract of land reserved for

tions

This contains about ten acres of land and

was originally enclosed by a stockade. All the facts
ties.

erly

each year forever.

following described lands, viz

Onondaga and Madison coun-

dividing line between

town and

fifteen miles

from Oneida Lake

says

the town was not stockaded, and makes no mention

Taking all these distances, and applying

the scale to the map, we find that they cut each
other at a point two miles south of the village of
Manlius, on what is known as "Indian Hill," beof a

fort.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

29

tween the west and middle branches of Limestone

This position is fifteen miles from Oneida
twelve
miles from St. Mary's of Ganentaha,
is
Lake,

near being consumed,")

and thirty-six miles from the residence of the

Oneidas in 1677, and ten leagues or twenty-five

Castle by water except you go around by Kane*

*
*
enda,"
and "that Kaneenda is eight

miles from Techiroguen, at Brewerton.

miles from their Castle."*

Creek.

careful

examination

De Witt

of

Clinton's,

Schoolcraft's and Clark's accounts of this locality

warrants

the conclusion that here, in

fully

was the home

of the

ing the period of their greatest prosperity.

was the

original site of the Mission of St.

Baptist, afterward

Here

west.

Hurons

it

removed to

Here

John the

their residence further

was, that Garakontie

prayers

to

1650,

Onondagas, and occupied dur-

called

by the sound of a

bell,

of civilization

first

in

sachems of the nation in their

own tongue, much to their astonishment, mentioned
them all by nations, tribes, families and individuals.
Here Chaumonot the next year, with his fascinating
and fervid eloquence, carried the
Italian voice
council bodily on a wave of unqualified admiration,
that led them to declare that he was almost the
to the assembled

equal of an Indian orator.

others,

we

find

In this valley as in the

towns of minor importance extend-

ing as far south as Delphi, of the same general character as the main one at Indian Hill,
ticles of glass, copper and iron,

all

miles from

Here we have two

given

points

furnishing ar-

showing European

and from the general character of the

relics showing a residence of about the same period,
and by the same people but as compared with more
western towns they show distinctly an earlier age
intercourse,

Onondaga Lake, the other

from Oneida Lake.

"recommend

1700,

the

building

plements increasing, and that of metalic articles

mens

here find speci-

of pottery with beautiful designs of ornamen-

tation, indicating that

they had attained a high posi-

tion in the ceramic arts.

In going forward half a century,

we

find a condi-

tion of historical fact, entirely inconsistent with the

Onondaga Valley all writers

speak of them as being in the
and five miles from Onondaga

idea of a residence in

since about 1720,

Onondaga

Valley,

fort

miles from their Castle, their landing place

70 1,

Lake, while previous to that time they represent

when

receive Mons. Mar-

recour at Kaneenda, eight miles from their Castle." J

Romer, an English engineer,

Col.

1700

visited

them

to select a suitable place for building a fort,

made

map

to

was supposed
lately

accompany his

to

have been

been discovered

in

report,

lost,

in

1700:

"The

Robert Livingston says

Onondagas (who must

in

and

which hitherto

but fortunately, has

Museum,

the British

copy of which I have on this map the main town

is located on the east side of Butternut Creek as
;

plainly as lines could designate

J.

tofore mentioned, while on his

way

it.

Martin Mack, the Moravian Missionary hereof the

Mohawk

way

to

Onondaga by

Valley, says, in his journal, un-

der date of August 20, 1752, at " noon some In-

Onondaga, met us. We then

where many posts were standing,
from which we concluded that a town must have
stood there formerly. The old Seneca told Brother
Zeisberger, that when he was a child eight years of
age, Onondaga stood on this spot, but was burned
by the French. In the afternoon between four and
five o'clock we arrived at Onondaga."
Sir \Mlliam Johnson while on his way from the
dians, belonging to

came

to a place

in his journal,

un-

June iS: "The Cayugas sent two

messengers from Onondaga who met Sir William at
the place where formerly the Onondagas lived about
of

five miles from

ilieir present

habitation.

Afterward

arrived at Onondaga and from thence removed his

camp to the site of Onondaga Lake about five miles

from their Castle, for the convenience of being near

his batteaux which brought the presents and proviMany other authorities can be adduced,
sions. "

showing that the chief town or Castle, at this period

was five miles east of their subsequent location in Onondaga Valley, eight miles from Kaneenda, and si.x-

them as eight miles from the lake, or from Kaneenda

at its southern extremity.

at

their journal in June,

in

"The Onondagas would

East to Onondaga in 1756, says

We

of

Kaneenda, a fishing place of the Onondagas eight

der date

east.

eight

sixteen miles

Again, Robert Livingston and

historic or stone age, the percentage of stone im-

we move

dis-

others, as commissioners, in their report in April,

of occupation, and a nearer approach to the pre-

decreasing, as

one

Bleeker and others say

the original pioneers

Here Le Moyne,

tances furnished from

the

reared the cross in the midst of

barbarous people.

nearer than sixteen miles of their

they came from hunting from Lake Ontario."! James

1654,
with a single companion, courageously entered as
an embassador to negotiate a peace, and speaking
this

cannot come

speedily, the fire-wood that is

*
*
^^d "you

the

fragments of which a hundred and fifty years afterwards, were turned up by the plow to bear witness
to the fact, that at this point

leave their Castle

*Col. Hist.
Hist.
f Col.

ix.

iv.

649.

J Col. Hist.

iv.

655.

J Col. Hist.

vii.

891.

133-4.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

30

teen miles from Oneida Lake, but those already pre-

sented arc deemed quite sufficient to demonstrate be-

yond the

possibility of question that the

at this period

was

in the valley of

main

village

Butternut Creek

These distances center on the

M. Atkins, east of the Reservoir on lot

south of Jamcsvilic.

farm of Mr.

number three. An examination of Clark's History

of Onondaga will show this to be the location of a
Indian

very large

found

in great

and

tion

town, where relics have been

abundance, indicating Indian occupa-

Euroi>ean

The

intercourse.

was

place

visited at an early date by DcVVitt Clinton, School-

and others and

craft

fully described.

The most

im-

portant fact developed was the remains of a stock-

ade

of singular construction

fort

in

the form of a

parallelogram, with bastions at the angles, enclosed

by a double row of cedar palisades placed close to

each other, and outside of these another row several
feet distant, the

whole enclosing about ten acres of

work was found some thirty rods

1680 to 1720, as history says they rebuilt on the

same ground, and the ne.\t spring planted the same
this was the
fields laid waste by their enemies
;

home of
man and

orator

men
Onondaga

the equal of any of the great

As

of his race, living or dead.

Valley, so in this,

we

the

in

find evidences of

detached

hamlets and small towns to the south, occupied

when

it

was considered

safe to settle at a distance

from their stronghold.

We next find the homes of the Onondagas in

Onondaga Valley from 1720 to 1790.
John Hartram an English trader, in company
with Lewis Evans, visited the Onondagas in 1743,
Shikellmy and Conrad Weiser, as guides,
coming from the south by way of Owego. Bishop
Cammerhoff and David Zeisberger, Moravian missionaries, visited them in 1750, coming from the
with

south through the Cayugas' country.

A detached

land.

the great Dekannissore, the warrior, states-

Zeisberger

afterwards

among them,

resided

distant to the northeast, on higher ground, probably

learned their language, was adopted into the turtle

used as redoubts, and connected by a covered way

clan,

with each other.

It will

be remembered that Frontenac,

1696,

in

invaded the Onondagas' territory with a large army

of

French and Indians.

of

Onondaga Lake, and

porary

fort for

He landed

on the east side

after constructing his

tem-

the protection of his batteau.x and

marched up the Onondaga Valley in

two lines of battle, and on approaching the stronghold of the Onondagas, found it abandoned and
supplies, he

Frontenac described the

burned.

fort as "

long, flanked by four regular bastions, with

an ob-

two rows

and was highly esteemed and honored by the

Onondagas, and as an especial token of confidence,

Grand Council deposited

the

many

comprising

belts of

&c., in the Mission

its

entire

wampum,

House and

constituted him sole

keeper of those important records.

Godfrey, Rundt, and

J.

archives,

written treaties,

Henry Frey,

Martin Mack, were com-

panions of Zeisberger, and accompanied him up the

Valley of the

Mohawk,

the latter

named gentleman

writing the itinerary of the journey.

Several of

those gentlemen traveled from Albany to the Gene-

and from Pennsylvania

see,

Lake Ontario, and

to

of pickets which touched each other, and were of

have

the thickness of an ordinary mast, and at six feet

outside, stood another row of palisades of

observations.

much

tend a general council, and mentions the fact of the

distant

smaller dimensions, but from forty to

fifty feet

Charlevoix describes the same as " a rec-

high."

tangle, with four bastions, surrounded by a double

palisade,

flanked by redoubts, with fence formed

of poles from forty to

fifty

feet

high."

One

evi-

left

interesting and valuable accounts of their

Sir William

town being

Johnson

five

visited tli^m in 1756, to at-

Onondaga Lake. He
them in the same

miles from

constructed a stockade

fort for

year, located about half a mile south of the village

of

Onondaga

Valley, on the west side of the creek,

dently taking his view from the enclosed work, the

other from the enclosing one, but both agreeing
substantially with each other, and with the descrip-

the remains of which were

ties

agree in their general descriptions of the coun-

tions of Clinton, Schoolcraft

try

and

and Clark.
The dcscrijjtion of Frontenac and Charlevoix, of
this very remarkable and peculiarly constructed
work, so exactly in accordance with the remains
found by the early settlers, if examined with care,
cannot

any unprejudiced mind that

on this identical spot stood the famous citadel of
the Onondagas in 1696, abandoned and burned by
them on the approach of the French.
Here was the home of the Onondagas from about
fail

to convince

first

still

settlers entered in 1790.

standing

when

the

All of these authori-

occupants, and describe the towns as

its

consisting of a series of hamlets located on both

Onondaga Creek, and extending for three

down the valley. Many of them contwo or more families, and rarely were more

sides of

miles up and
tained

than four or

five

near each other, the intervening

spaces being occu|)ied by great patches of high grass,

bushes,

fruit trees, peas,

dian corn.
point,

The

beans, and large fields of In-

Council House, occupying a central

was about eighty

feet in length

by seventeen

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

in breadth, with a

width through

common
center.

its

passage way
Bartram,

cended both the east and west

hills,

in

six feet in

1743, as-

and mentions

the fact of their beitig covered with timber to the

top, but makes no mention of an upper town, while

Zeisberger in 1752 speaks of a lower town, and the

small village
upper town on Onondaga
(Tiatachtonti) was located about four miles south of
Hill.

many

the main town, where

apple trees were in

bearing at that date.

change

affairs

until the

continued without ma-

campaign of 1779, when

all

these towns were destroyed in the expedition of

Col.

Van

From about 1720

Schaick.

to the reservation, this valley

moval

until the re-

was the home

Here reOundiaga and other illustri-

of this central nation of the Confederacy.

sided Canassetago and

who

ous names,

their history

is

accessible that

flourished during this period

so well
it

of the Butternut Creek south of Jamesville, on the

farm of Mr. O. M. Atkins, Lot No.

The Mohawks

will

known and

but

authorities are so

be a waste of time to dwell

1654 as on the south side of the river,

while Charlevoix indicates it by name as on the
in

map published in 1744.

St. Mary of Ganentaha was

north side on his

In 1656

very

difficult

to unravel the tangled mysteries of

Here was erected the

daga Lake.

Catholic chapel in the State of

Frontenac,

in

New

first

Roman

York, and here

1696, constructed a stockade fort, for

the temporary protection of his supplies and batteaux, while

engaged

in

his expedition against the

Onondagas and Oneidas.

ing place,

existed

at

the

A fishing village

or land-

southern extremity of

Onondaga Lake, called by the Indians Geneata, the

same as the lake, but by the' English called Keneenda

retain the English spelling

tion to distinguish

it

and pronuncia-

from the French Mission

site

called Ganentaha.
It

appears, from the foregoing statement of facts,

abundantly conclusive that the Onondagas occupied

the site of the Indian fort and village on Lot 23, on
the dividing line between the counties of

Onondaga

and Madison from about 1620 to 1650 at " Indian

Hill" between the west and middle branches of
;

Limestone Creek, about two miles south of the

village of Manlius,

from 1650 to 1680

The Cayugas,

their peculiar migrations.

also drift-

ing in a generally southern direction, have

left

their

footprints as easily to trace from point to point as

are the tracks of the school-boy in the newly fallen

snow.

The Senecas

also migrated on a definite line at

when the Fries were subjugated,
and
an early day,
carried their colonies to the extreme western limits

At

of the State.

the time of Sullivan's campaign

in

framed houses, had over-

fine

and immense

fields

of Indian

Their villages were numbered by the score,

some of them of large dimensions, and containing

corn.

great

numbers

of people.

CHAPTER

VIII.

Relics of European Intercourse

The Monumental Stone
Indians
the
WITH
OF 1520 Discovered in Pompey Other Curi-

Antiquities

ous Relics.

located

106 in Salina, on the north shore of Onon-

lot

from

and no writer has been bold enough

to attempt the indentification of any of the sites
mentioned in our early history and yet it is not

flowing granaries

on

drifted

tions previous,

Such have been the homes or principal villages

other subordinate villages, misof the Onondagas
sionary, fishing and trading stations, existed in different localities, as at an early day Techiroguen, an
Indian fishing village, on the Oneida river, at the
outlet of Oneida Lake, on the site of the present
This was a regular crossing
village of Brewerton.
place of the great north and south trail. Le Moyne

the mission of

manner have

in like

point to point within the historic period and genera-

they were living

it

from 1680

1790.

longer on this part of their history.

mentions

3,

1720; and in the Onondaga Valley, where they

were found by the earliest settlers, from 1720 to
to

This condition of
terial

31

in the valley

is

evident from relics discovered in various

ITparts of this county that European intercourse

much more

with the aborigines was

general at an

early period than history gives any account of, or

than has commonly been supposed. One of the

most noted places where these remains have been

found is at " Indian Hill," some two miles south of
the village of Manlius, on land formerly owned by
Isaac P. Jobs, now the property of John Hatch.
This is the place where Gen. John S. Clark, the antiquarian, locates the home of the Onondagas from
about 1620 to 1650. The whole length of the elevation bearing evidence of having been inhabited,
from one hundred
is nearly a mile, and the width
to one

hundred and

fifty rods.

82 1, a brass medal was discovered near this

It was without date
place by Mr. John Watson.
Louis XIV, King,
of
figure
a
was
it
of
On one side

In

of France and Navarre

represented a

field

on the reverse side was

with three fleur de

lis

sup-

name of
porting a royal crown, surrounded by the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

32

was about the size of a Spanish pistarccn and had been compressed between
dies.
The characters and letters were quite disThis relic passed into the possession of Hon.
tinct.

present by him to

Samuel

large chain

&

Naif Lanfar

Co.

It

Mitchell.

When
settlers,

ground was first cultivated by the early

gun-barrels, sword blades, hatchets, clay
this

pipes, cop|)cr kettles, brass chains,

beads of glass,

and nose jewels, lead

balls, iron gate hangings, copper coins, tools for working wood and iron, and many other articles used only
by civilized men, together with human bones, were
pewter

plates, finger rings, ear

frequently found on or near the earth's surface.

There was a

circular fort here, from

dred to three hundred and

fifty

three hun-

chief.

was found encircling it, over which one

hundred and seventy-eight concentric circles had
formed, representing as

many

years' growth.

was discovered with three distinct

cuts of an ax imbedded beneath one hundred and
seventy nine years' growth. Subtracting one hunhemlock

large

tree

dred and seventy-eight from 1815, the time

these examinations were made, and

the

1637, as

date

feet in diameter,

some distinguished Indian

In that neighborhood a basswood tree was cut down

and an ineffectual attempt made to split the first
Upon examination a
twelve feet of it into rails.

time when

when

we have

the

marks are

these

supposed to have been made, at which time it is

reasonable to suppose the neighborhood was in-

with one narrow gateway.

habited by Europeans.

In 1801, Mr. John Hatch plowed up three musThe stocks were decayed
kets and a blunderbuss.

David Williams at one time plowed up the skeleton of a man, and found with it a small brass kettle
filled with corn and beans in a tolerably good state
The kettle was used in his family
of preservation.

and the muzzles flattened, as

Nearly

ax.

if

with the head of an

the gun-barrels

all

had their

found

muzzles thus flattened, indicating that

it

was prob-

ably done to prevent them from being again useful

enemy.* The guns usually

were of a heavy make, with bell-shaped

the hands of an

in

found

The

muzzles, apparently of English manufacture.

domestic purposes several years.

Mr. Hinsdell, of Pompey, had at one time in his
possession three vises, one of which was very large,
for

jaws

the

weighing

alone

was beautifully engraved

all

forty-one

pounds.

It

over with representa-

copper coins were French, but so corroded that the

tions of dogs, bears, deer, squirrels, fishes, birds,

marks and dates could not be deciphered.

and was altogether a very beautiful specimen of

workmanship. Another, a hand vise of excellent

Clark,

"

who

published his history

At every plowing something new

light.

chain,

Not long since

two and a half
wide, was found.

a curiously
feet

in 1849,

says:

is brought to
wrought brass

long and one inch and

Its appearance was as

had recently been subjected to the action of

a half

if it

fire,

and the most prominent parts newly polished. A

curious brass image was recently found there,
probably a part of some Romish priest's collection."

Contiguous to this place was an extensive burying ground covered with graves of men, women
and children. The skeletons were usually found
buried

in

sitting posture facing the cast, with

some domestic
the

thigh

weapon of war between

Trees of two hundred years

utensil or

bones.

growth once stood over these graves.

Near David Williams', Pompey, one mile from
" Indian Hill " was another place of considerable
importance called "The Castle." In 1815,3 brass

was

quality,

Manlius

Boylston, a silversmith, of

sold to Mr.

village,

business there.

who used

;//rj/

it

while he continued in

of brass kettles wasalso found

by Mr. David Hinsdell, the largest of which would

hold two pails full and the smallest about three

Some

pints.

of the smaller ones, being well pre-

served on account of the protection afforded by the

larger ones outside, were used in Mr. Hinsdell's
and Mr. Weston's families for several years.

case of surgical instruments,

much corroded

was found by the side of a human skeleton

probably the first physician and surgeon ever in
Pom])ey. Among the relics positively known to be

by

rust,

French, are several brass crescents bearing the in" Hot de France et Dim"
They were

scription

probably used

for

large corn hills

nose and ear jewels.

were abundant near

all

Rows

of

the places

bearing evidences of occupancy, and were distinctly

medal was here found, on one side of which was an

traceable by the early settlers.

equestrian image with a drawn sword, and on the

other " William Prince of Orange," with a crest or

Most of the grounds mentioned had undoubtedly

been scenes of hard-fought battles, of which the
Indians had preserved unpleasant traditions, for such
was their abhorrence of scenes enacted here that
never, except in a few rare instances, could they be

coat of arms.
liam Prince of

The

date was obliterated, but Wil-

Orange

flourished in 1689, and had

been quite conspicuous

some years
*

previous.

CUrk'i Unoaitft,

in the aflairs of

New York

This medal may have been a

vul. i, p.

156.

induced to

visit

ing ground.

the spot near the old fort and bury-

They turned from

it

with a sort of

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

shudder, exclaiming, "Oie-qneh sa-he-eh

'Tis

the

field of blood!'

The most

singular and interesting relic yet dis-

locality, is the monumental stone

found by Mr. Philo Cleveland on his farm about the

ite,

It

consists of a stone, apparently gran-

oval shaped, about fourteen

inches

by

long

waters of the Susquehanna, as

way

it,

1520.

and the words and date, Leo X De

This stone is now in the Museum of

the Historical Institute at Albany, and

admitted to be an authentic

shows that

is

universally

The

relic of antiquity.

was three hundred years old

of
its
discovery
fifty-seven years have
at the time
since elapsed hence it carries back the date of the
earliest European occupation of this locality to
three hundred and fifty-seven years beyond our
own time. That this stone was left by some European who was a Roman Catholic, and had accurate
knowledge of the history of that Church, is evident,
and it is equally clear that it was left by some
it

but

to
is

the

may account

Pompey.

This

Spaniards

the grace

(^or

will) of

God, sixth year of his pontfi-

The words De Lon,

cate.

or initials L.

of the person buried, as the stone

is

some

S., as

name

read them, have been taken to be the

sepulchral

Leo X, by
or initials

undoubtedly a

Mr. William Raskins, who was the

in Lafayette)
first

who

died during an adventurous

journey through the wilderness, a hundred years

before the Jesuit missionaries found their

huts of the Indians.

on the stone

is

Whether

an Indian or a

does not concern

us,

way

to the

the cross engraved

Roman

Catholic cross,

neither does the question as

Masonic

to his belonging to the

fraternity,

sup-

posed by some to be indicated by a rude emblem

on the right hand corner of the stone the only
:

points of importance being the date and the accuracy

of the historical knowledge which

Leo

was crowned pope

it

in 1514,

reveals.

Pope

and hence 1520

would be the sixth year of his pontificate. The

most probable explanation of this ancient relic is,
that

some Spanish adventurers

mines had penetrated

one of them dying,

this region

his

in

quest of silver

from Florida, and

companions erected

this

simple memorial to mark the place of his burial.

There is a tradition
were covered with

that the shores of Lake

Ganentaha
shone in

a bright substance that

the sun (crystalized salt) and that the Indians, then

ignorant of the nature of this substance, reported

* Clark's Onondaga, 2

s*

vol., p.

263.

their

it is

true,

fifth

inhabit13,

(now

informed Mr. Clark, that on

plowing the lands, almost every variety of imin 1792,

plement used in agriculture and the common arts

was found in that neighborhood. They consisted
of knives supposed to be of French manufacture,
axes, with the English stamp, gun-barrels,

them with

rock.

some

of

a portion of the stock remaining, quanti-

of musket balls

pump

hooks, a spy glass, trammel

In one instance a large quantity

was plowed up by the

The remains

entire, also anvils

side of a

of a wheel-barrow, with the iron

and

vises, unfinished gun-barrels

and gun-locks, indicating that the art of making

these had been carried on, hand saws, files and
fragments of church bells.

monument, placed there to mark the lonely

grave of some one

supposition,

ant in the township of Pompey, on lot No.

hooks and chains.

inscription has been interpreted

is all

relic as this singular stone.

ties of ship spikes,

The

below

for their finding

were the only Europeans at that

who could have left such a

sons residing in the place, would certainly have

other relics of a similar antiquity.

it

quite as rational as any other, inasmuch as

transient visitor, for a colony, or even several. perleft

supposed,

period on the continent

it

may be

direction, or to discover the lake in the valley

the inscription of a tree in the center with a serpent

date on

be

quite likely that they would ascend to the height

of land to find the water courses in the opposite

them, which

Lon VI,

to

it

is

twelve inches wide and eight inches thick, bearing

coiled around

who, supposing

came here in search of it and passed down

the Oswego River.
If they came here by the
silver,

covered in this

year 1820.

this fact to the Spaniards,

33

On

this

ground the graves were arranged with

great regularity, side by side, in rows of ten or

fifteen rods in extent.

In the vicinity were other

groups of graves, but not in regular order. Upon

examination the bodies appear to have been enclosed

wooden or bark boxes. In one grave was found

two glass bottles. In plowing, fragments of glass
bottles, earthen and China ware, and a stone, cut in
imitation of a watch, were found.
in

On

Butternut creek south of Jamesville in the

town of Lafayette, (formerly lot 3 in the town of

Pompey) on the farm of Mr. O. M. Watkins, are the
remains of an ancient fort and burying ground. The
land here formerly belonged to Mr. Isaac Keeler.

When

he settled here the

an opening of about

fifty

site of

the old fort was

acres, bearing grass with

clumps of plum trees and a few scattering trees of

Mr. Keeler left some of these
the natural forest.
plum trees standing and cultivated them, and found
that they yielded very excellent

fruit.

On

this

open-

ing was paraded the first regiment of militia organized in the County of Onondaga, commanded by
Major Moses De Witt. At that time the outlines
It had been
of the fort were distinctly traceable.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

34

enclosed with palisades of cedar, and contained about

The plan was that of a plain
ten acres of land.
parallelogram divided across the shortest

way

in

the

middle by two rows of palisades running east and

The space bctsvccn the rows was about
west.
At the northwest corner was an
twelve feel
isolated bastion

and embrasure.

This spot has been idcnliticd by General Clark as

the home of the Onondagas from 1680 to 1720. and
the spot on which stood the famous citadel burned by
the Indians on the approach of Frontenac's army in
After the French invasion they returned
1696.

and

upon the same

rebuilt

spot,

and the next spring

planted the same corn fields which had been laid

waste by their enemies. The situation of this ancient fort

nearly a

was on an elevation gradually rising for

mile in every direction, and at the time of

occupancy several hundred acres of land in the

must have been cleared giving to the garSays Clark in his
rison an extensive prospect.
Onondaga " Here in ancient times have undoubtedly been marshaled with nodding plume and ratits

vicinity

tling cuirass, the troops of the

French side by

side

with the dusky Onondagas, singularly contrasting

their polished European weapons with the hickory
bows and flint arrows of their allies."
Among the relics found upon the site of this
fort and in its vicinity, was a portion of a brass
dial plate, engraved in Roman characters with
the numerals from one to eight, a brass compass
bo.x minus the needle, another more beautifully

wrought, having on one side a representation of our

Saviour and on the other Mary, the mother of Jesus,
a balance beam eighteen inches long, a lead, oval

shaped

crucifix,

an iron horse shoe,

steel corked,

three elongated nail holes on each side, the

ship, probably, of some
shield,

with

workman-

Canadian blacksmith, a brass

sword blades, sword guards, fragments of

sword blades, gun

locks, saws, surgical instruments,

bracelets of brass three inches broad and highly orna-

mented, and many other

relics indicating

the pres-

On

of ancient occupancy by the French.

originally the

lot 81,

farm of Squire Munro, was a fort

ground back of Mr. Munro's

was
square, except on the west
house.
was
curved a little outward, and
side, where the line
when examined by the first settlers in 1793, the
ditch and embankments were covered with heavy
timber.
It enclosed about an acre and a quarter of
ground, having a gateway on the west side about
A very singular fact was obtwelve feet in width.
served by the early settlers, viz: That the ground
in this vicinity, and in some other parts of the town,
was literally covered with pitch pine knots, which
lay strewn on the ground apparently in the same
order in which they had fallen with the trees. Hundreds of wagon loads of these knots have been
gathered for the purpose of making torches for
This is singular, as
fishing in the Seneca River.
but one pitch-pine tree was known to the early settlers to exist in the town, and that was left standing

situated on the high

This

for several

fort

years on account of

its

singularity.

Northwest from the fort above mentioned, about

one mile and a half, on what has been called the Purdy
lot, is

situated Fort Hill, containing another of these

ancient works of

much

larger dimensions, having an

area of about four and a half acres and

ments, when
It is

On

first

embank-

discovered, about three feet high.

situated on the highest elevation in the town.

ground was disinterred an oaken chest in a

state, which upon examination was found
to contain a quantity of silk goods of various colors.
The folds and colors were easily distinguished, but
this

decayed

moment's exposure to the air, the fabrics

crumbled to dust. Several copper coins were found
with the silks which were deposited in some museum
The discovery of these arin Albany or New York

after a

ticles

On

occurred about the year 1800.

lot 84,

farm

of Mr. Caleb Brown, about forty rods south of the

town of Elbridge, was a circular fort

which covered about three acres of ground. Pieces
of timber were found here having upon them marks
road, in the

There are evidences

In a well about fourteen feet deep,

which bore evidence of having been timbered up,
was found a quantity of charred corn of the variety
called Virginia corn and in another fort on the site
of Mr. Brown's house and garden, including a portion of the highway, were found evidences of a

this

blacksmith

ence of the French and the Jesuit missionaries. In

1813, Mr. Isaac Keeler felled an oak tree near the
fort in which was found a leaden bullet
covered by a hundred and forty-three cortical layers,
probably lodged there from a gun as early as 1667.

site of the

that light cannon were used at

and other similar places of fortification. On
the land of Mr. Samuel A. Keene was plowed up
an iron bombshell about the size of a six pound
ball, weighing two and three-fourths pounds.
Can-

non

balls of small size

have been found

of iron tools.

In the town of Elbridge were numerous evidences

cinders,

The French, undoubtedly, had

charcoal, &c.

a trading post or

missionary station in this neighborhood at an early

time, no written record of which has been preserved.

In the town of

in the east-

ern part of Pompey.

shop, such as

Salina, on

lot

106,

is

found the

ruins of an old fortification, probably that established

in

connection with the Mission of St. Marys of

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Ganentaha, founded

When

1656.

in

white

the

people came to settle in the neighborhood of Salina,

ground was covered with small trees, apparently a second growth, which had sprung up after the
mission was abandoned. Judge Geddes, as reported
by Mr. Clark, says: "In the summer of 1797,
when the Surveyor-General laid out the salt lots, I
officiated as deputy-surveyor, and when traversing
the shores of Onondaga Lake, I found between
this

Brown's

pump works and

old stockade, which

Our

Liverpool, the traces of an

surveyed and made a

map

of.

opinion was, from the truth of the right angles,

and other apparent circumstances, that

French work.
by."

fine spring of

was a

water rises near

The map made by Judge Geddes

Surveyor General's

it

is

in the

Albany, but a cut of

office at

the fort appears in Clark's Onondaga, page

147,

second volume.

On

ground have been plowed up bras3 kettles, gun barrels, musket balls, axes, grape shot, and
In 1794, the ditch was
a variety of other relics.
this

and some of the palisades were

half an acre
of land, and from its location was a place of beauty,
Cultivation and time
convenience and strength.
have removed all traces of its existence. There
was an ancient burying ground at Green Point.
When the first settlers came to the town of Onon-

easily to be traced,

The work embraced about

standing.

daga the pickets of an old fort were still standing

and places visible where others had stood. At
the corners were evident marks of a chimney and
fire places, and also the ruins of a blacksmith shop.
Cinders and a variety of tools belonging to the
trade have at different times been plowed up, among
which was a large and excellent anvil. Major Danforth

once received a

letter

from an old Frenchman

stating that he would find in the bank of the creek

not far from his (Danforth's) house, a complete set

Search was made

in

excavating for the cellar of the Judge's

Webster told Judge Strong that

the Indians had a tradition that in one of their battles with the French in the Hollow, which had been
in 18 16.

protracted and severe,

wounded

to this spot,

Among

the French removed their

and here buried such as died.

the most interesting relics of antiquity

discovered in

this

county

the

is

Dutch medal,

so called, described by Mr. Clark in the following

passage

"

In July, 1S40, was found on the farm

by an angel on the wing, stretching forward with its

hand, looking down upon those below with a
resolute, determined and commanding countenance.
Far in the background is a lofty ridge of mounleft

Just beneath and

tains.

away

in

the distance

this

overhangs a slight curtain of cloud or smoke.

village and the mountains are scatter-

Between the
ing trees, as
the forest

if

an opening had just been made in

nearer are seen various wild animals

sporting gaily. In bolder relief are seen Europeans,

in

the costume of jDriests and pilgrims, with staves,

exhibiting by their gestures and countenances hilarity,

gladness and joy, winding their way up the gentle

ascent towards the mountain, decreasing

in size

the place of departure, until lost from view.

them

are wheel

carriages

On

the right

intermixed.

from

Among

and domestic animals,

is

a fair representation

of a cottage, and a spacious commercial warehouse,

against which are leaning sheaves of grain.

whole

is

Dutch

The

surrounded by the following inscription

in

Gehe aus deinem Vatter land,

b.

and

bottom across, Lasst Hier

of the sun shining in meridian splendor, casting

Diegvter.

In this locality have been found every vari-

ety of Indian implement

flint,

arrow heads, spear points,

stone axes,

etc.,

and here

also several

is

seen an Indian village or town, towards which the

angel is steadily and earnestly pointing. Above

after-

light.

ot

Mr. William Campbell, by his son, on lot No. 3, Lafayette, a silver medal about the size of a dollar and
nearly as thick. On one side is a device surmounted

on the west part of the farm

the top, on the border of a steep gulf and parallel with it, apparently a work constructed for

knives of

exhumed
residence

M., XII., v.

wards occupied by Gilbert Pinckney, in the town

of Onondaga, could be seen a trench about ten
rods long, three feet deep and four feet wide at

defence.

the premises of Judge Strong there was an old

French burying ground, and several bodies were

them,

tools.

but they have never come to

1798,

On

for

of blacksmith's
In

35

I,

On

at the

the opposite side there

is

a figure
its

noontide rays over a civilized town, represented by

churches, stores, dwellings, &c., with various domestic animals and numerous persons engaged in husbandry and other pursuits. In bolder relief stand
Europeans in the costume of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, engaged as if in animated and
joyful conversation and greetings, and by various
On the
attitudes manifesting happiness and joy.
is represented a section of a church, at the
door of which stands a venerable man with head
uncovered, with his hands extended as if welcoming
these persons to a new and happy habitation. This

burial places

were known to the early settlers. In

1815, on the farm of Joseph Forman, at Onondaga
Hollow, was plowed up an oaken pail containing
about four quarts of leaden bullets, supposed to

right

have been buried during the Revolutionary war.

side

is

surrounded by the following inscription

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

36

Vkd Dv
V. 2,

Soli-t Ein Seeges Seyn,

b.

and acruss the bottom as follows

Mos..

Siewiedek.

The

interpretation of the

first

out from thy country and

truly a blessing.

On

side

is

Get thee

thou shall be

friends,

the reverse side, which should

Leaving thy goods behind

The
thee, God will restore them to thee again.
to
the
refer
right
on
the
figures
and
small letters
and
2d,
ist
verses
St book of Genesis, XII chap.,
be read

connection

in

CHAPTER

xii.,

Gott Ginr

IX.

Internal Navigation The Old Canal Origin OF THE Erie Canal

Part Taken in it by
Eminent Men of Onondaga County
Its
Completion and Advantages.

THE

system of internal navigation

old

origi-

nated by Mr. Christopher Colles, of

York,

New

1785, and completed under the auspices of

in

the Western Inland

Lock and Navigation Company

which inscription on the medal was taken from

those verses in the Dutch Hiblcs.

year 1800, was a great work for

in the

around Little Falls on the

It is in this

God

chapter that

callcth

Abraham and

its

day.

It

consisted of the construction of a canal and locks

ing of a canal from the

Fort Stanwi,\) to

Wood

Mohawk
Mohawk

River, the open-

Rome

at

(then

Creek, connecting thence

him with a promise of Christ promiseth

him the land of Canaan in a vision, to which he
departed with his kindred and friends and servants

with Oneida Lake, and the improvement of naviga-

and there builded an altar unto the Lord.

pany,

blesseth

"This medal must have been none other than

one given by his countrymen, in Fatherland, to a
devoted missionary, with a party of followers, intending to spend their days in America, the land
of promise, the fruitful

who

Canaan

of

modern

times,

in the goodness of his heart, bent on doing the

work of
wandered

his

divine

master,

at

some

early

day

into the wilds of the Ononilagas, set up

Abram,i and left this

memento of his mission in the hands of some
Neophyte, which by some unaccountable circumBethel

the cross (the

stances has been buried

but

now comes

to

of

we know

light to

not

how

long,

prove to us that the

people whose
as
sincerely
was
regarded
by the
spiritual welfare
Dutch as by their more ostentatious neighbors, the
It is much to be regretted that on this
French.
and all other medals there is no date whereby to
This
establish their particular-period of antitjuity.
is by far the most singular and interesting relic of
the kind which has come under our notice, and goes
aborigines of our country were a

positively to establish the hitherto doubtful point,

to wit

The

early establishment of missionaries

by the Dutch among the Onondagas."

The suggestion of Mr. Clark in a foot note that

tion in the

Oswego and Seneca

The Com-

Rivers.

order to complete this work, borrowed of the

in

State in 1796, fifteen thousand pounds, and in 1797,

two
is

hundred and

now known

ties

dollars.

some

What
locali-

the remnant of this ancient improvement,

is

which
It

thousand

fifty

as the " Old Canal" in

into disuse

fell

was

in

its

when

the Eric Canal was built.

day a very useful impro%ement and

aided greatly in the settlement and development

of the resources of Central

Many

and Western

New

York.

a pioneer and his family were conveyed over

thoroughfare to their

that old

new homes among

the lakes and sylvan seclusions of the western wil-

many

a cargo of

merchandise was shipped

derness

over

and freight of produce sent

it

the growing population and

ampler and more extended

to market,

till

commerce demanded

facilities

for transporta-

tion.

From 1807 till after the war of 18 12-14, the project of a new canal connecting the navigable waters
of the Hudson with Lake Erie was extensively agiThe origin of the idea of this magnificent
tated.
enterprise is attributed to Gouverneur Morris, who
in a

conversation with the Surveyor-General, Simeon

DeWilt, in 1S03, remarked: " Lake Erie must be

tapped and its waters carried over the country to
the Hudson."

So great was

the interest of the people of

Onon-

medal may have been a relic of the Zeisberger

1750, is worthy of weight as being

daga in this proposed canal, that in 1807 they elected

Judge Joshua F'orman to the State Legislature with

probably the true solution of the problem.

Tlic presentation of medals to the Indians was

express reference to his introducing the subject be-

undoubtedly a very common practice among the

missionaries and traders.' A valuable cross of gold
was several years ago found in the west part of

for the

this

Mission of

Pompey, and was sold

upon it the significant "
Jciui

Hominum

for thirty dollars.

I.

had

He

was a man eminently

qualified

work, and by his able and indefatigable supthe measure from its very inception, did
of
port

more than any other man to bring it to a successful

consummation. While in the Legislature in February, 1808, he secured the passage of a joint reso-

H. S."*

Salvitor, or Jetui Savior of

It

fore that body.

Men.

lution ordering a survey

and the appointment of a

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

committee of both houses, consisting of Messrs.
German, Hogeboom and Forman,
of the House, and Messrs. Taylor, Nicholas and
Ward of the Senate. This committee being pre-

joint

Gold, Gilbert,

Oswego

disposed in favor of the

route, left

op-

it

with the Surveyor-General to either adopt

tional

any other route he might deem proper. The

was that tliree routes were surveyed and reported upon by the Engineer, Judge James Geddes,
whose connection with the survey of this great en-

37

between Lake Oneida and Lake Ontario second,

the Niagara River route
and third, an interior
route, without descending to, or passing through,
;,

Lake Ontario.
In comparing the Ontario with the interior route,
the report was strongly in favor of the latter.
In

that or

addition, Mr.

result

inspection a canal route from

terprise

River, and thence to the waters running east to the

Seneca River, and gather all the information in his
power for the prosecution of the great work, should

On

briefly as follows

is

1808, a law

the iith of April,

was passed

authorizing the Surveyor-General to draw upon the

Treasury of the State

such an amount as might

for

the Legislature think best to provide for it.

The
report was favorable on the practicability of an interior route from Lake Erie
and it is worthy of re;

be required to prosecute the survey contemplated

mark

by the joint committee, not exceeding

followed

sum

the

of six Itiaidred dollars

was appropriated

that

and

in

the whole

this

was

for the first exploration

survey of the grand Erie Canal

Upon

all

and

this the

Surveyor-General appointed James Geddes, Esq., of

Onondaga, to make, the survey, and in his com-

and

mission

instructions

these remarks

As

"

Geddes, makes

Mr.

to

the provision

expenses of this business

country

effectual exploring of the

made

for

the

not adequate to the

is

for this purpose,

examine what may

appear to be the best route for a canal from Oneida
Lake to Lake Ontario, in the town of Mexico, and
take a level and survey of it also whether a canal
cannot be made between the Oneida Lake and
you

will,

the

in

place,

first

OsYvfego

by a route

Oswego

River, so as to avoid those parts along

where

it

will

part

in

the west of the

to

it

be impracticable to make a good

Geddes was directed to examine by

Lake Erie to Genesee

that

Judge Geddes' plan and route were mainly

in

the final location of the canal*

country from the Seneca River,

ley, to the

the

Mohawk

Hudson

River

at

in the

The

Cayuga Val-

Rome, and thence to

known as to leave

River, was so well

no apprehension of insuperable

Thus

difficulties.

by the operations of 1808, through the instrumentality of the true men of Onondaga, the fact was
satisfactorily established that a canal from the Hudson River to Lake Erie was not only practicable,
but practicable with uncommon facility, f In Jan-

uary, 1809, in

company with William Kirkpatrick,

member of Congress from Oneida county.

Judge Forman waited on President Jefferson and
then

informed him that

in

view of his proposition

to ex-

pend the surplus revenues of the nation in making

roads and canals, the State of New York had explored the route of a canal from the Hudson River
to Lake Erie, and had found it practicable
and
when Mr. Forman had laid all the estimates, plans
surveys, descriptions and anticipated advantages
before Mr. Jefferson, and portrayed its commercial
prospects and the advantages which would accrue
to the United States as well as to the State of New
" It is a
York, the President very coolly replied
splendid project, and may be executed a century
;

navigation.

The

next object will be the ground

between Lakes Erie and Ontario, which must be

examined with a view to determine what will be the

most

eligible track for a canal

Lake

from below Niagara

your means

will admit of it,

would be desirable to have a level taken throughout the whole distance between the lakes."
The
Surveyor-General refrains from instructing Mr.
Geddes to make an interior survey, because of the

Falls to

Erie.

If

it

insufficiency of the appropriation for that purpose.

" Mr. Geddes' expenses
Mr. Clark says in a note
exceeded the appropriation by seventy-five dollars,
:

which sum was afterwards allowed by the Legislature, so that the whole engineer's expenses for this

Why,

said he, " here is a canal of a few

by General Washington, which, if
completed, would render this a fine commercial city,

hence.

sir,"

miles, projected

which has languished for many years because the

small sum of two hundred thousand dollars necessary to complete it cannot be obtained from the
general government nor from individuals and you
talk of making a canal tliree hundred and fifty miles
through a wilderness.
It is little short of madness
;

exploration cost the State of

hundred and seventy-five

made by the State which,

will

New York

only six

dollars,

an investment

for profit

and importance,

probably never be exceeded."

The

Mr. Geddes entered with zeal and earnestness

upon

his duties,

and

1809 submitted his report

in

of three different routes

the

first,

to think of

communication

it

at this day."J

favorable and satisfactory reports of Judge

* See Biography of Hon. James Geddes.

\ Clark's Onondaga.

\ Hosack's Life of Clinton,

p.

347.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NKW YORK.

38

1810 the appointment by the

Legislature of a Hoard of Commissioners comjwsed
of Gouvcrncur Morris, Stephen Van Rensselaer

Gcddcs secured

DeWitt

Clinton.

in

Simeon DeWitt. William North.

Thomas Eddy and

Peter H. I'ortcr, to

whom

were

afterwards added Robert R. Livingston and Robert

These gentlemen were instructed to explore the inland navigation route, and they reported
The next point was to
favorably the next year.
Fulton.

obtain a competent engineer to lay out the Erie

Where

Canal.

should

there was not a suitable

great

the

plish

America

in

Supposing
to accom-

applied through

they

task,

apply

they

man

an

American gentleman at London for the services of

William Weston, then considered the most accom-

maximum

plished engineer in Euroi^c. oflering as a

salary seven thousand dollars a year."

Mr.

Weston's engagements were

thought proper to decline.

In this

Gcddcs and l^cnjamin Wright,

sultation and agreed to

Commissioners and
jirovidcd

that

he

dilemma James

Esqrs., held a con-

go before the Hoard of Canal

ofi'er

they would

F'ortunatcly,

such

to survey the canal route

give

them

their confidence.

The proposition was accepted, and they were engaged on a salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year.
" It

may

be considered,"

says Clark,

" a

fortunate

large meeting ol the citizens of Onondaga county

was held at the Court House on the 23d of February,
1816.
A preliminary meeting had been previously
held at which Judge Forman had been appointed a
committee to prepare a memorial to the Legislature.
This memorial was read by Judge F'orman at the
meeting, and approved by acclamation. A com-

mittee was appointed to circulate

Canal Commissioners.

Hecatisc, from

adding the chairman and secretar)' Signed,

Jasper Hopper, secreJames Geddes, chairman
thousand
names were subscribed
Over three
tary.

daga

than a year."

to this memorial.

the work, the Commissioners, in March,

made a report "That tio7f sound jmlicy demanded that the canal should be made by the State
of New York on her own account."
The war of
1

81

2,

1812 caused a susjicnsion of the project

sion of the Legislature in

1816, at

till

the ses-

which time a

memorial was presented to tlie Legislature, signed

by more than one hundred thousand jiersons from

New York

and the counties through which the pro-

posed canals should pass, calling upon

to pass laws to prosecute the
* Mr.

Wolon

cost of the canal, covering

Of

this

members

hid luncjrnl the route and lock* of (he Old Canal

Wood

Creek,

in

Company around
I7tl.

Little Fallt

I'ur

and from

all

possible contingencies.

charged the State of

it

$2,500,000

New York

the United States with

the State of Ohio.

with

$2,500,000

New

1,000,000; the City of

York and counties contiguous to the canal, $2,000,000 and private stock holders, $2,000,000.
;

The

Legislature authorized a loan on the credit

of the State of a million of dollars, and the section

Rome

first to

to the

Seneca River was

fixed

upon as

be commenced.

In 1816, Judge

Geddes made another report of

the state and general view

of the country from

Cayuga Marshes, and

Henjamin Wright, Esq upon the same subject from
the Cayuga Marshes to Rome, and thence through
The attempt made
the Mohawk Valley to Albany.
Hlack Rock Rapids

to the
,

to

enlist

State of

Congress

in

1817 again

failed

and the

New York was

thrown upon her own

thorough examination was made of

the route, and revised estimates placed the cost of

the entire canal at five millions dollars.

The

The

route

levels

and

surveys of the previous year were reviewed

In

was divided

into

three sections.

order to test their accuracy and correctness, Mr.

Geddes started from a jjoint near the west end of

Oneida Lake, and taking the lake on a still day as
a level, carried a line of levels up to the canal line
on the long level east of Syracuse, and thence
working eastward laid off sections on the canal
line. Mr. Wright, starting from a point cast for the
east
level

(he inland Lock and Navigatian

Fort Stanwii to

its

work without delay

The memorial, which was drawn up

with great ability, contemplated $io,cxX),ooo for the

resources.

After another ineffectual attempt to enlist Congress in

ments, the jieople of this frugal

for less

the

in two instances, where a French and an Irish

gentleman were employed in subordinate stations

from

the lirie and Champlain Canals were Americans,

neers and the great expense attending their move-

except

the ostentation usually displayed by foreign engi-

and republican
country would have bccf>mc discouraged, and it is
more than jjrobable the work would have been
abandoned or at least indefinitely deferred. It is
worthy of remark that the engineers employed on

throughout the

Gideon Wilcoxon, Camillus

Jonas C. Haldwin,
Kellogg,
Salina
Lysander Ashbel
John Leach,
Sylvanus Tousley, Manlius;
Harnet
Cicero;
Mooney, Hannibal Daniel Wood, Pompey Marcus
Adams, Fabius Ashel Rouiuly. Spafford Garret
Van Hoesen, TuUy and Joshua Forman, of Onon-

circumstance that Mr. Weston did not accc])t the

offer of the

it

county, consisting of Daniel Kellogg, of Marcellus

end of Oneida Lake,

in

like

manner

carried a

along the line of the canal westward, and the

Commissioners remark, that when the

Wright had been

carried to the place

level of

Mr.

where Mr.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Canal, was $8,273,122.66, and is considered one of

the most stupendous and magnificent works of this
or any age.

Geddes had terminated his line, the levels of these

engineers, which embraced a distance of
nearly one hundred miles, differed from each other
This result exhibits
less than one inch and a half
in the engineers a degree of care, skill and preci--

daga, the

sion never exceeded.

moters of the undertaking

two

The

contract was dated June 27, 181

first

soon

contract

menced

after.

Rome

at

The

7.

The

was under
The excavation was com-

of the middle

remaining part

section

with appropriate ceremonies, July

contract was given to Judge

John Richardson, of Cayuga. " It is perhaps," remarks Clark,* " a singular coincidence that the first
1817.

4,

movement

first

the halls of legislation relative to the

in

made by

Erie Canal, was

that the

neer of

Onondaga, that

given

and the

tor

to,

first

contract was

Onon-

several years a resident of

whom

of

all

the

ground broken by a contrac-

first

who had been

daga, and

member from Onondaga,

made by an engi-

exploration was

first

had been Judges of our coun-

courts and members

Onondaga County."

of the Legislature

ty

from

39

If the canal

men

has benefited the people of Ononof

Onondaga were the

principal pro-

in all its incipient steps.

was Judge Geddes, of Onondaga, who traversed

New York, and gathered
all the materials and reported all the facts upon
which statistics were based, and Joshua Forman, of
Onondaga, who from the beginning was the uncompromising, unflinching defender and eloquent advocate of the great work
and it was not until after
these men had labored long and faithfully in the
cause, that the giant intellect and master mind of
DeWitt Clinton was aroused to a sense of the importance of this magnificent undertaking. These
two men of Onondaga, from the beginning to the
end, were intimately connected with the work, in
It

the wilderness of Western

with

fact, identical

labored

it

and indispensable

and

faithfully

effectually

to

it.

They

throughout

reported ninety-four miles completed on the middle

Judge Geddes as an able engineer. Judge Forman as

the unwavering promoter of its utility.
These two
men furnished more solid information relative to the

section from Utica to the Seneca River, including a

canal than

Governor Clinton,

in his

lateral canal to Salina.

annual message of 1820,

By

the opening of this por-

Onondaga County
were more fully ascertained and developed. Her
salt, gypsum and lime found their way to a ready
tion of the canal, the resources of

market, and

produce of the agriculturist an

the

outlet, affording

more ample remuneration

for labor

new and vigorous impulse was given

advancement and

among

the

position she

is

which placed

prosperity,

Empire State

counties of the

first

there

selfish

her

tion above

all

cates of the
ber, 1825

work

actively

But with a devocommissioners and advo-

faltered not,

a period of

finally, in

eight years and four

from the time of beginning

to the

till

world that the waters of

nected with those of the

Novemmonths

was proclaimed
Lake Erie were conit

Hudson

River, without

one foot of portage, through one of the longest canals in the world
and the cost, according to the

but an idle dream, a delusion, a

books of the Comptroller, including the Champlain

p.

6i.

false,

unfeasible

project.*

The

fathers of this stupendous

work should be

forever venerated for their perseverance in over-

coming the opposition they had

to

contend against,

both from individuals and from the infancy of the

means of making the enterprise a success.

must always admire genius struggling against
fate, with a lofty and enthusiastic purpose which
scorns all defeat, triumphs over all obstacles and

We

conquers even

fate itself, in

the contest.

few

miles of aqueduct constructed by the wealthy eastern nations in the height of their prosperity have
called forth our admiration as a great achievement.

But what nation

in

its

youth has ever had the

courage to undertake three liundred andfifty miles of

canal, without having even an engineer of their
own till the event developed and brought him forward, equal to the great task

.'

It

has been truly

And
said that great occasions produce great men.
be
to
was
work
the
When
it was so in this case.
done, and foreign assistance could not be procured,
the men were found, on the spot where the enterprise was to be undertaken, able and willing to carry
it

on

to its

* 2 Onondaga,

they took

country they had to penetrate and to depend upon

the enterprise.
praise, the

Till

for the

engaged to defeat the further progress of the work.

Many argued that the income of the whole canal
would not equal the cost of the part already completed.
Local feelings had to be combatted, prejudices overcome, indignities borne, and every species
of contumely and perverseness encountered by the
supporters of

others put together.

all

the whole matter was considered by most

her

were not

men

men

it,

Notwith-

destined long to enjoy.

standing these favorable results

wanting narrow minded and

to

hold of

The

first

grand consummation.
ground broken on the Erie Canal

* I Clark's Onondaga,

p.

63.

in

the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

40

county of Onondaga, was by Mr. Elias Gumaer,

tion of water lime to the construction of cisterns

in

Esq., took

Oliver Teall,
the town of Manlius.
several contracts in the eastern part of the county.
Messrs. Northrupand Dexter, and Jeremiah Kecler,
built a section or

The

Lewis, of Binghamton. built the locks.

locks were built of Elbridgc sandstone.

first

Commis-

and masons had no idea that the

Onondaga limestone could be cut for facing stones
then
for locks, so little was this valuable material

sioners, builders

understood.
let

in,

for

a long time

it

would not flow farther east on the Syracuse level

It all disappeared in a bed
than the Stone Bridge
however, was after
difficulty,
This
of loose gravel.
The first boats
well.
went
a while remedied, and all
wide walking
with
used were the Mohawk boats,
boards

for poling

Oliver

up the Mohawk River.

Tcall was

appointed

the

first

Superin-

Erie Canal, and Joshua Forman,

Collector office at Syracuse.
;

The leveling instrument used by Judge Geddes

one used
in surveying the Erie Canal was the same
superintendthe
under
by Abraham Hardcnburgh,
William Weston, the celebrated English
" Old
engineer, when he surveyed the route of the
It was made by David RittenCanal "in 1788

ence

of

house, of rhiladclphia, and

is

now

in

the possession

of Hon. George Geddes, of Camillus.

One circumstance which greatly facilitated the
successful completion of the Erie Canal was the

Okganizatios of Colkts First Court of Common Pleas Courts Undf.r Herkimer Cou.ntv
Jurisdiction First Judges and OfficersFirst Grand and Petit Jurors Erection of

County Buildings.

IN

1794. after the Military Tract had been set

from Herkimer, and organized into a coun-

ofT

ty

by

itself.

Common Pleas and of General

Peace were established by law.

Courts of
the

Sessions of

These courts were ordered

the

first

Mondays

in

year, at the house of

May

limestone was burnt and

of the lime delivered to the contractors on

While Onondaga was included in Herkimer councourts were held in the church at Herkimer
\'illage till other provisions were made by the LegisHenri Staring was appointed first
Col.
lature.
He was a man of remarkable honesty and
Judge.
Many
integrity, though of limited education.
told
of
his
manner
are
of
adanecdotes
amusing
Michael
Myers
was
one
justice
of
his
ministering

To their astonish-

and

filled

many

In 1793, one term of

directed to be held at Whitestown, at such place as

article

of export

from this county.

To Mr.

Canvass White, who spent much time and means

in testing its qualities, is due the merit of bringing

cement into general use.

the mason work on the canal was

this valuable
all

After 1819,
laid in

water

lime.

may be
Parker, who

well to record the fact that Mr.

the Eighth

Ward

It

resided on the old

County, and the

of

Syracuse,

Obediah

first

who

ShcrifT. Col.

William Colbraith. the

ever served a process

He was

in

the Mili-

humored man,
He had seen some ser-

a jolly, good
fun.

title

as

subsequent to that war.

Before a Court House was erected in Onondaga

and criminal prisoners were ordered

in the jail of Herkimer County until
a jail could be provided in the County of Onondaga.
The first court held in the County under the organization was in General Danforth's corn house,
County,
to

civil

be confined

now

in

first

a gold

first

for the applica-

SherilT

a militia officer

received

medal from the American Institute

court held under

vice in the Revolution, but had acquired his

of Lodi,

flat

first

Judge Staring presiding, assisted by Judge White.

The late Judge Piatt was then Clerk of Herkimer

and withal a lover of

an

The

this provision was in the late Judge Sanger's barn,

vestigation which resulted in the discovery of the

so famous as

while the

Herkimer county.
the court for Herkimer was

tary Tract.

now

offices of note

Military Tract was a part of

ment, they found on experiment, that it would not

This led to an inslake like ordinary quicklime
hydraulic properties of the lime,

each

ty,

the court should direct.

the middle division of the canal.

in

Patterson, in the town

one week.

on exposure to water, and was, therefore,

A kiln
unsuitable for culverts and aqueducts.

stantial

some

and November

on

town of Scipio, commencing with the first named.

Mr. Patterson then kept a tavern at Onondaga Hollow, which at that tmie was a part of Manlius.
These terms were to be held only for the space of

associates,

common

to be held alternately

Reuben

moment, in this locality,

of water lime, or American Hydraulic Cement.
The first works of masonry on the canal had been
done with common quicklime, which proved unsubdiscovery, at an opportune

sup|)osed to be of

X.

of Manlius, and at the house of Seth Phelps, in the

first

tendent of the
the

CHAPTER

Hazard

two through Syracuse.

After the water was

about the year 1830.

Monday

Present, Seth Phelps,

in May, 1794.
Judge; John Richardson, Silas Halsey and
William Stevens, Judges. Moses De Witt, Esq..

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

was appointed Judge of Onondaga Common Pleas
Thomas R. Gould and Arthur Breeze
were the only lawyers then present, not one at that
time having established himself in the County.
The first Court of Oyer and Terminer for the
County of Onondaga, was held at the house of Asa

Grand Jury Ozias Burr, foreman James Geddes,

Ephraim Webster, Bethel Cole, Robert Earll, John

not present.

Danforth, Esq., (afterwards

the

of July,

2 1st

Reuben

1794.

Curtiss, Joseph Leonard, Levi Jerome,

David Green,
John Lamb, William Rice, Jonathan Coe, Joseph
Cody, Peter Lawrence, William Cobb, Irad Smith.
No bills of indictment found at this term.

Hon. James Kent, judge, held the next Circuit

house of Seth Phelps, Scipio, June 12, 1798,
assisted by Seth Phelps, William Stevens, Seth
Sherwood, judges of Common Pleas for Onondaga

Patterson's,) on

Present,

Hon. Egbert

at the

Benson, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of

New York, assisted

by Seth Phelps and Andrew Englis, Justices
of Oyer and Terminer and General Jail Delivery
Lawyers were in atfor the County of Onondaga.
tendance at this court from Whitestown and Herkimer. The grand jurors were as follows
Comfort
Tyler, Isaac Van Vleck, Elias Fitch, Moses Carpenter, William Ward, Jonathan Wilkinson,
Cyrus
Judicature for the State of

County.

Cayuga County was set off in 1799. The first

in Onondaga after this was held at the house
of Reuben Patterson, June, 1799. Present, William
Stevens, first judge, assisted by Elijah Rust, James
Geddes, Orris Curtiss, James Keep and Jeremiah
Court

Kinne,

Sieur

Curtis, Victory S. Tousley,

41

Gould, associates.

Amos

houses in Onondaga
Reuben Patterson's,
Samuel Tyler's and John Adams'
from 1794 to
1805, when the Court House at Onondaga Hill was
Courts were held

at different

Henry Moore, James Geddes, Ryal Bingham, Reuben Patterson. " Judge Benson made an
eloquent charge to the Grand Jury." The only bill
of indictment found was against James Fitzgerald

so far completed as to allow of the Courts being held

and battery with intent to rob Andrew

McCarthy. The Petit Jurors on this first criminal

any other house,

Stanton,

Hollow, viz

to render

In

M.

it

Wood

the prisoner guilty.

locate

missioners

was sentenced by the Court to two months' imin the Herkimer jail.
The Court fined
nineteen petit jurors twenty shillings each, four grand
jurors and two constables each the same sum. John
Stowell, William Goodwin, Perry Brownell, justices
of the peace, were each fined thirty shillings for ab-

The

house of Reuben Patterson, June

14, 1797,

assisted by Seth Phelps, William Stevens,

Asa Dan-

at the

the court room and

and Comfort Tyler, judges and justices of

Oyer and Terminer for the County of Onondaga.

for

new

the

building.

The

floor

and seats were put

till

the

jailor's

in

it

commencement

of

to feel able to finish

dwelling.

The Com-

with a Mr. Sexton, of New Hartford, to do the

mason work; and Mr. Ephraim Webster was to

furnish

the

brick for

the chimneys.

The

room and dwelling were completed during

son.

court

that sea-

After a year or two, preparations were com-

menced

for building the

cells of the jail.

con-

with Roswell and Sylvanus Tousley,

forth

* Clark.
6*

and closed

missioners contracted with Mr. Abel House to do

the carpenter work inside, leaving out the cells, and

Court

in 1802,

Previous to raising the

The county then began

1804.

ne.xt Circuit

make room

and the courts held there

John A.
Sheaffer, William Goodwin, John Stowell, Cyrus
Kinne, Hezekiah Olcott, Daniel Keeler, Ryal Bingham and Ozias Burr. John A. Sheaffer was indicted
for forgery.
He forfeited his recognizance, and left,
Hon. Egbert Benson held the

This was done

House, a temporary

il-

(estreated.)*

them

trees to

following absent justices of the peace

shillings

for the

square was at that time covered with a heavy growth

In order to have the use of the Court
of timber.

Onondaga County Common

were severally fined thirty

Court House.

Webb and Thaddeus

house the people of the Hill collected together and

made a " bee " for the purpose of cutting away the

Present Hon. John Lansing, Judge of the

Pleas.

at the

were appointed Commissioners

Mr. Bostwick's contract.

the house of Seth Phelps in Scipio, 7th September,

Phelps, John Richardson, W'

uncomfortable

close the house.

next term of the Circuit Court was held at

liam Stevens, Judges of

adjourning to

The Comat Onondaga West Hill.

commenced by contracting with William
Bostwick of Auburn to put up the frame and en-

sence.

1795.

for

the weather was so inclement as

purpose of erecting a Court House and Jail for the

county of Onondaga. It was determined by vote to

He

Supreme Court, Seth

if

801, Elihu Lewis, Jabez

prisonment

The

Danforth's,

therewith the legislative provision

were John Brown, William Linsley, Thomas

Morgan, Henry Watkins, Benjamin De Puy, Nehemiah Smith, Isaac Strong, John A. Thompson,
Noah Olmsted, Isaac Bailey, William Stevens, and

Thomas Ozman, who found

Asa

for assault

trial

tract was made

shilof Manlius, for the iron work, at a price of two
18
in
10.
finished
were
cells
The
lino-s per pound.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

42

In 1804 the county of Oneida had completed a

the town of Whitcsboro, to which the
jail in

the village of Salina presenting to the county a

full and unincumbered title to the property, consist-

criminals of this county were transferred till the

Onondaga county jail was finished, the Legislature

ing of not less than three acres, and $1,000.

county

The

an

passed

having previously

act

the right to use the nearest

Onondaga

jail at

Hill

was

granting

this

Forman

jail.

Onondaga

of

powered to borrow $20,000, in two annual installments of $10,000 each. In the spring of 1829, the
bids were received, according to the plans and

ated for the

afterwards, by the people

The

Hill.

and dwelling of the

jail

The

separating them from each other.

hall

jailor, a

cells

jtlank, fastened

were

together

constructed of heavy oak

with wrought iron spikes. The doors were made
of like material, having a rhomboidal aperture in

the center through which to pass the food, and to

In the rear of the cells

give light to the prisoners.

were grated windows.

The court room was reached by a stairway leading from the hall. The judge's bench was directly
in front of the entrance to the court room and was
The whole cost of
constructed in a circular form.
This court house and
the building was Sio,ooo.
jail

year

were used

for

The

iS.!9

the purpose designed

first

jailor

till

the Commissioners.

John
Wall obtained the contract for building the Jail,
which was erected by him early in the year 1S29.
The cells in this Jail were of the strongest kind.
After it was taken down, they were placed in the
basement of the new Court House on Clinton
Square.
L. A. Cheney and Samuel Booth obthe
contract for doing the mason work on
tained
the Court House, and David Stafford for doing the
It was erected and enclosed in
carpenter work.
The following year it was finished by Mr.
1829.
Wall and ready for occupation by the courts. The
cost of the buildings was upwards of $27,000.
specifications

was appropri-

story

first

made and to contract for the erection of

The County Treasurer was also em-

the buildings.

some years

with power to cause plans and specifica-

tions to be

wooden building

fifty feet square, two stories high, with a square

It was not
roof pitching four ways to the eaves.
this finishing touch was done by
at first painted

subscription,

At

this meeting the Building Commissioners were appointed

John Smith, Thomas Starr and Samuel

The

The

Mr.

was of stone, fifty feet square and two

high, with a hall and stairway in the center.

Jail

stories

the

was James Beebc, a

of

south half contained the

jailor's dwelling,

the

Mrs. Victory

north half the cells for prisoners, the second story

His successor was Mason

Butts, father of Horace Butts, who was jailor after
the removal of the county buildings to Syracuse.

above these being devoted to cells for debtors,

The Court House was of brick,
witnesses, &c.
si.xty feet square and two stories high, fronted on
The
the west side with a row of large columns.

revolutionary soldier, and father

of

Birdseye, of Pompcy.

John H. Johnson,

Esq., also acted as jailor there for

first

several years.

In 1825,

movements began

to

be made

in

1825 succeeded

through the Legislature

that place.

buildings at

for

in

getting a

the retention

The

bill,

Jail

the

to erect a

within the corporate limits

seat

bill

of the

summer

at the

tion
jail

for their erection.

side opposite the landing of

was abandoned in 1850, after the erecof the I'cnitentiary, and the removal of the
Jail

prisoners to

were used

Court House and

in

that

institution.

New

Coi;rt

House.

House, but they

all failed

of the old building by

make the necessary arrangements

At the meeting there was a great

materials

new Court House.

were made

Attempts

from time to time to change the

Syracuse House to take into

The

the construction of the work-shops of

the Penitentiary and in the

In

consideration the selection of a site for the proposed

buildings, and to

was on the south

The

of 1828, the Supervisors met, in pur-

suance of law,

in

the stairway.

however, was

of Syracuse.

apart-

petit juries

vetoed by Governor Clinton, but the project did not

In 1827 a law was enacted authorizing the
sleep.

Board of Supervisors

into four

halls

each corner, for the use of grand and

and other purposes. The Court Room
occupied all of the second story, except the landing
of the stairs and two petit jury rooms. The Judge's
ments, one

for the

removal of the county buildings to Syracuse, which

had grown to be the largest village in the county.
The people of Onondaga Hill strongly opposed the
measure, and

was divided by

story

5th of January,

when

1856.

site

of the Court

until after the destruction

fire,

on the morning of the

The

expectation that was

the site between the two villages

deal of discussion and a wide difference of opinion

entertained

This was
site of the buildings.
by taking a vote, which resulted in
placing the county seat midway between the villages of Syracuse and Salina, in consideration of

was selected, that business would naturally center

around the Court House, was never realized, and

relative

to the

finally settled

hence
]

it

was not accessible to the public.

however, was submitted

convenience,

The
to

in-

about

COUffT HOUSE, SYRACUSE, Onond/

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

twenty years, before any serious attempt was made
to

change the

proposition
effect that

any
be

lot

to the Board of Supervisors to the

he would build a good court house on

the

in

designated,

veyance

General Granger submitted a

site.

heart

the

of

city

consideration

in

him of the

old Court

that

of

might
con-

the

House

43

exchange (with Colonel Voorhees,) of the present

Court House site for the lot on Clinton Square
can be effected, this Board will order the exchange."
Upon motion of Mr. Barrows, T. C. Cheney, Elizur
Clark and Bradley Carey were appointed a committee " to prepare plans, specifications and estimates

and

for a

^20,000 in cash. But his offer received little favor

During the session of
at the hands of the Board.

ing."

Court House, and report at a future meetAt a meeting of the Board on the 28th of
April, the committee submitted their report, show-

the Board in 1853, the subject was again introduced

by Hon. Sanford C. Parker, Supervisor from Van

onel Voorhees for the exchange of

Buren,

to

who proposed

site

a resolution that the county

should unite with the city

in

dimensions

the erection of an

Court House,
But the subject was
not further considered till the meeting of the Board
in December, 1855, at which time Mr. Midler, Super-

edifice of sufficient

for a

Clerk's Offices, City Hall, &c.

ing that they had

made

favorable terms with Col-

and recom-

lots,

mending a plan previously submitted to the Board,

drawn by Mr. H. N. White, architect, of this
city.

They estimated

the cost of the building, on

the plan proposed, at 38,000, including old material.

In preference to brick, they recommended

visor from DeW'itt,

Onondaga limestone, as " most appropriate and

much more durable." This report was signed by

the "

the entire committee and favorably received by the

moved a resolution to instruct

Committee on Court House and Clerk's Office

examine and report to this Board the expense of

building a new Court House, and what the premises
where the old one stands will sell for." This resolution was adopted without objection.
The comto

members

The

of the Board.

question of changing

the site was then submitted in a resolution offered

December, when it was adopted by a vote of fifteen

Board of Supervisors, and the following committee appointed
T. C. Cheney, Luke
Wells and D. T. Moseley. Mr. Wells subsequently

by Mr. Palmer, which was carried almost unanimously, only one member voting in the negative.
The plan of the building presented by the committee was then adopted, and Messrs. Slocum, Johnson
and District Attorney Andrews, directed to execute
papers for an exchange of sites with Col. Voorhees.
The next day Timothy C. Chene}', Luke Wells and
D. C. Greenfield, were appointed a committee to
superintend the erection of the building and HoraAt a subsequent meeting
tio X. \\'hite, architect.
of the Board in June, the proposals for the erection
of the building, advertised for by the commissioners, were opened, and the contract awarded to
Messrs. Cheney and W'ilcox at $37,750, the con-

declined to serve, and Mr. Patten, of Salina, was

tractors to have the material of the old court house

in his place.
This committee was
making a majority and a minority report
the latter by Mr. Moseley, against a change of location, being adopted by the Board.
Thus the matter
stood, when the burning of the old Court House on

and jail. Mr. Cheney thereupon resigned his place

as Commissioner, and Elizur Clark was appointed
The cut stone work of the
to fill the vacancy.

mittee, consisting of T. C.

and Joel

Cheney, E. A. Williams,

Fuller, proceeded to discharge the duties

imposed upon them by the Board, and on the 7th of

December submitted their report, recommending
the appointment of a committee of three to exam-

new Court
House, and plans and estimates for its erection.
This report was laid on the table till the 14th of

ine and report upon a suitable site for a

to nine of the

substituted

divided,

the 5th of February, set the question of a

ing at

rest.

The Board was

new

called together

build-

on the

13th of February, and a committee consisting of

T. C. Cheney, George Stevens and William F. Gere

was appointed to report at the next meeting. The

Board met again on the 14th of April, when a majority of the committee
Messrs. Stevens and
Cheney
reported in favor of changing the Court
House site and the erection of a new building. Mr.
Gere was in favor of the old site, and was sustained
by the Board upon the vote being taken. On the
following day the Board adopted a resolution offered
by Mr. Chapman, of Onondaga, " that if an equal

building

was

let

Spaulding

&

to Messrs.

Coburn

by the contractors

to

Messrs.

Pollock, the carpenter and joiner

&

work

Hurst, and the iron work to

&

Cole.

The

finished and occupied in 1857.

It is

Messrs, Featherly, Draper

building
a beauti-

was
ful and substantial structure of Onondaga grey limestone, a credit to the county and an ornament to the
city.

The County

Clerk's

Office,

a fire proof brick

North Salina street, corner of Church,

was erected by the County in 1814. It contains
rooms for the Surrogate, Supervisors, Superinbuilding, on

tendent of the

Poor,

collection of valuable

therein on

file for

etc.,

together with a large

documents and records placed

preservation.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

44

CHAPTER

The Salt Springs History of their DisEarly Manufacture of Salt

covery
on the Subject The
Legislation
State
Salt Springs Reservation Methods and
Statistics of the Salt Works Analysis of
THE Water and Source of its Supply.

The

existence of salt springs at

or Onondaga, was known

advent of the

Lake Ganentaha,

to the Indians before the

Europeans, but

first

An

allusion

made

is

does not ap-

it

pear that they knew the use of them

in

" salt

the springs, or

to

taught by

till

Le Moyne,

the Jesuit Missionary, Father

lake

"

We

in

arrived at the

August

1654,

entrance of a small

we

half-dried basin

large

16,

tasted the

water of a spring of which the savages dare not

drink, saying there is a demon in it which renders

We

be a fountain of salt water

from which we made salt as natural as from the sea,
a sample of which I shall take with me to Quebec."
it

foul.

found

to

it

This act of Father Le Moyne's exorcised the

demon, to whose dominion the superstition of the
natives had given over the salt springs, and thenceforth

Onondaga

salt

came

into

use

Indians of this region of country.

among

the

Says Clark

common

the

Mud

in

use

in the habit of bringing small quantities to

Albany

along with their furs as a curiosity." At this period it

was to be found in the huts of the Indians, the

women

manufacturing

and sending

it

it

to (.Quebec

for sale.*

Some

years before this Sir

WilHam Johnson had

obtained a conveyance from the Indians of a tract

of land one mile in width adjoining and including
the entire

" salt lake."

On

account of the loyalty

of Sir William and his son, Sir

John Johnson,

to

the English, this and his princely estate on the Mothe Revolutionary period.

he fastened his canoe, pointed to

a hole apparently artificial, and said there was the
village of Salina,

salt."

Thus was Mr. Tyler introduced to the salt springs.

The same season he was joined by Major Asa
Danforth, who carried a large iron kettle on his head
from Onondaga Hollow to the springs at Salina,
and the two together made salt, suspending the

by a chain to a pole supported by two crotched

When they had
the ground.
hid
the chain and
supply,
they
made a sufficient
kettle in the bushes, to keep them safely for future
In this way all the salt was made which was
use.
kettle

stakes driven into

manufactured during the

first

year at " Salt Point."

In 1789, Nathaniel Loomis came by the way of

Oneida Lake and River with a few kettles, and dur-

ing the following winter

dred bushels of

salt,

State acquired

common

springs, in

made from

which sold

five to six

hun-

one dollar a

for

an ownership

in

the salt

with the Indians, and in the

tract of land adjoining them,

known

as the

Onon-

daga Salt Springs Reservation, by the treaty of

Fort Stanwix, concluded September 12, 1788. This
treaty stipulated that the salt lake and the lands for
one mile around the same, should forever remain
for the

common

benefit of the people of the State

New York

and of the Onondagas and their posThe two

terity, for the purpose of making salt.
races thus became tenants in common of the salt
The white men at once took
springs property.
of

possession at Salina and

was not until several years after the Revolution

that the fame of these salt springs began to attract
settlers, and that attempts were made by Americans
to develop and utilize their resources.
Comfort Tyler was the pioneer in this enterprise,
which has since assumed proportions of such im-

ture of salt.

* Letter of Judge Bowker, quoted by Hon. George Geddes.

easterly into a pass

After passing over the marsh>

Creek.

hawk were forfeited during

It

lake,

'

The

was

an Indian guide to the

w^ith

mouth of Onondaga Creek,

bushel.

salt

went

taking along an iron kettle of fifteen gallons capaciwhich he placed in his canoe, and started out of

among

Onondaga

given

is

family

ty,

the Delaware Indians, and by that time traders were

" In 1770,

the springs

first visit to

The

then overflowed by about three feet of water, and

steering towards the bluff of hard land, since the

on the shores of which are several salt springs, the

borders of which are always covered with very fine
Father Le Moyne, in an account \of his
salt."
says

ingly

foun-

return to Quebec, under date of

"

wanting salt, obtained

about a pound from the Indians, which they had
made from the springs on the shores of the lake.
They oflTered to discover the water to us. Accordas follows

called

by Father Jerome Lallamant, who visited

" The Onin 1645, and who says
ondagas have a very beautiful lake called Ganentaha,

Onondagas

His account of his

In

1654.

tains,"

the

1788, he was shown the

and
in May of that year
spring by the Indians,
made in about nine hours thirteen bushels of salt.

mense magnitude.

XI.

1794,

work

lake.

"

The

they owned

men

the manufac-

Judge James Geddes constructed a

a mile or more to the southwest of
or what was properly the head of the

In
" salt

that point,

commenced

Indians took exceptions to

this,

saying

one half of the water, and the white

the other

half,

and as the whites had taken pos-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

session on their side of the lake, they should keep
away from what they called the Indian's side. This

grew

into a difficulty threatening an attack on the

and store

lots

The

lots.

45

State fixed the duty on

salt at four cents a bushel, and for this tax gave, in

the

place, a large lot

first

running down close to the

part of the Indians.

springs, for the purpose of putting the salt

too far with his

thereon, and running up to the brow of the

Judge Goddes had proceeded

work to be willing to give it up as

a peace ofiering, to conciliate the wrath of his red

Presents were ofiered and conciliatory
neighbors.
speeches made

them

to them, to induce

to surren-

seemed unavailing. The Inder peaceably, but

dians desired the presents, but at the same time felt
unwilling to compromise what they considered their
right to the side of the lake which the Judge had
Finally, a happy method of solving the
occupied.
problem struck one of the chiefs " Let us," said
he, " adopt this pale face into our tribe, and then
all

being one of

he

us,

will

have a right to make

salt

on our side of the lake." The proposition was

unanimously adopted, and Judge Geddes had the
name Don-da-dah-gwah conferred upon him, by
which the Indians ever after addressed him. Thenceforth

he made his

salt

in

Reservation, entered into another treaty at

Cayuga Ferry,

in

which they ceded their right ab-

solutely to the sovereignty of the State of

New

This treaty was the foundation of the Con-

York.

hill,

with a frontage upon the bluff sufficient for a dwelling house and store.

And

to

each owner

it

gave a

fourteen acre marsh lot and a five acre pasture

lot,

under a lease for seven years, and a right to roam

anywhere over the entire ten square miles for fuel,
without any cost to themselves save cutting and
hauling, for the manufacture of salt, or for any other
purpose for which fuel or timber was desired.
In addition thereto the State built a sort of wharf

down on

creek that comes into the lake, for

little

the batteaux that should engage in the distribution

of the salt to
also, in

Oswego and

The

other places.

order to avoid the necessity of large works,

which would be required by individuals

in,

State,

while waiting

for its sale,

to store salt

erected storehouses and

All this was the equivawhich the State gave the manufacturers for the
four cents charge of duties.*
The Salt Springs Reservation, we have said, included the city of Syracuse and the towns of Gedstored the salt in them.

peace.*

In 1795, the Indians not being satisfied with the

arrangement whereby they held a common interest
in the

works

lent

The amount

des and Salina.

of lands sold

by the

State out of this Reservation up to and including

stitutional prohibition against the sale of the Salt

1846, was over $250,000 worth, the State reserving

was regarded as a particular bargain and agreement on the part of the State of New
York to so exercise its power over them as never to
depart from its rights and interest in them, and to

use them

from time to time, under the Constitution of 1846,

which says they shall not decrease the acreage which

Springs, because

it

for the benefit of

the entire people of the

State.

The

bargain was consummated

by giving the

royalty on the salt water.

facture of

that purpose for lands which

the

within

lake

its

boundaries, and containing about ten square miles.

It

takes in the city of Syracuse, the town of

Geddes

and the town of Salina, with the e.xception of nine

and a half lots added

the town of Manlius.

The

to the

town of Salina from

it

in 1797,

sending a surveyor to run out a portion of it into

and placing it under a superintendent. William

lots,

Stevens was appointed

June

20, 1797,

the year 1801.

tion into

marsh

* Hon. Otorgc

the

and held the

first

office

The surveyor
lots,

exchanged lands which were not suitable for

were adapted thereto,
and have thus increased the acreage from 550 to
1.

100 acres.

The

into the treasury

State at the

same time has put

between S40,ooo and 50,000, as

the difference in value in favor of the State arising

froiTi

such exchange of lands.t

In 1S67, salt works were

to the State, to
lation in the

make room

removed

at a large profit

for the increasing

pasture

Superintendent,
till

laid out

Gcddet, Report, 1859.

balance be held

the reserva-

pression, the State will no doubt realize a

dwelling

1873, salt

works were removed from the Third Ward of the

These
city and other lands substituted for them.
lands are good property a considerable portion of
them have been sold by the State, and should the

his death, in

lots, salt lots,

popu-

Third and Fifth Wards of Syracuse.

Also, by an act of the Legislature in

State took formal possession of

lands

manu-

the

has heretofore been devoted to the manufacture of

salt,

the north end, including

in

In addition thereto, the State has

150 bushels of salt annually.

The Salt Springs Reservation, as delineated on

at

outlying

the State has given the deeds reserv-

salt,

ing this royalty.

Indians S 1,000 in money, an annuity of S700, and

the map, is about three and a half miles wide at the

extreme south end, about three-quarters of a mile

In

which would probably not be needed

profit

on them.

till

after the present financial de-

The Syracuse

Solar Salt

* Addren of Hon. Thomai G. Alrord, 1876.

handsome

Company
tIbU.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

46
and the

Onondaga

late

Company,

Salt

in 1872, dis-

posed of forty acres of vats to the State, situated on

State lands in the Third Ward of Syracuse, in ex-

change

moved

under the

for lands

They

their works.

hill,

which they

to

re-

arc holding about forty

acres outside, granted them by the State, so that as

the city encroaches ufjon their private land imme-

under the

diately

hill,

where

ated, they can eventually

their vats arc

remove them

now

situ-

to the lands

two thousand bushels the first year, and an additional five hundred for each year thereafter, which
be ready to meet the demands of citizens of
this Slate. Theblock-house, which in 1794 had been
constructed for defense, was converted by the State

was

To

William

came

brought the

first

Salina.

to

caldron kettle for

posit in the store-house,

salt.

latter in

Van

company with Moses Dc Witt,

Vleck.

in 1793,

erected an arch with four kettles, and supplied the

demand for the whole surrounding country.

The " Federal Company " was formed in 1798, its

members being Asa Danforth, Jedediah Sanger,
Daniel Kcclcr, Thomas Hart, Ebcnezer Butler,
Eli-sha Alvord and lezekiah Olcott. This company
1

erected a large building capable of containing thirtytwo kettles set in blocks of four each. In this man"

block " which has ever

applied to a salt

manufactory where the

ner originated the term

since been

water

is

Part of the "

boiled in kettles.

Federal

Works" were subsequently hired by Dioclesian

Alvord. The pump-house was then out in the water,
and Mr. Alvord had

The

first

certificates

man to man like bank bills."

The manufacture of salt continued

passed

from

to increase as

and lakes connected with Onondaga Lake furnished

facilities for transportation in summer, and in the

used by Jeremiah Gould and William

The

and these

history,

certificates of de-

and

I'haris

Mr. Aaron Bellows came that year and

established a cooper shop for the manufacture of
The first kettles set in arches were
salt barrels.

ture of

The Superintendent gave

Mr. Orman
the manufac-

Thomas Orman, Simeon

Gilchrist

"

the surrounding population became more numerous,

some of it finding a market in Canada. The rivers

return to our history of the manufacture of

In 1792,

Clark, in his

into a public store-house.

says

held under the State grant.

salt.

to

to take a boat in order to reach

it.

laws regulating the manufacture of salt

were passed in 1797, the State then assuming the

control which it has never relinquished. The State
demanded for the rent of land and the use of water,
four cents a bushel for all the salt made, and required that ten bushels, at least, should be made in
Provision was made that
every kettle or pan used.

any lessee should not use all the water there

might be on his lot, the surplus could be conveyed
to his next neighbor, and so on, till all the water was
The powers given to the Superintendent
used.

winter, sleighs

came from

the counties to the south,

bringing farm produce to exchange for

time soon came

store

all

when

The

salt.

the Superintendent could not

the salt made, and so in March, 1798,11

was provided by law that the manufacturers might

account on oath for the quantity manufactured and
they were allowed to pay rent according to the
capacity of their works, at the rate of two cents per
month for every gallon of the capacity of their pans
or kettles, and were released from the charge of
Fifty six pounds was fixed
four cents per bushel.
weight
of
a
bushel
of salt.
as
the
upon
In 1799, another law was passed, going more into
;

details,

even determining the number of hoops on

the barrels, the kind of timber they should be

of,

made

the seasoning of the barrels, and directing that

they must

be water-tight.

weigh, deduct

The Superintendent

then brand the

and put on the price per bushel
which he judged the salt to be worth, and then
brand the name on the wood. This salt, if it went
away by water, was to be shipped from the public
wharf, under a penalty of five dollars for every
bushel not so shipped. The Superintendent was
required to provide bins to keep each manufacturer's
salt in, until it was inspected.

was

to

the

tare,

weight and quality

like minute regulations, continue

and when their rigor has been lessened,
has been due to the fact that the magnitude of

These, or the

in case

to govern,
it

the business has

made

it

impracticable to enforce

and the law entered into minute details in

were
regard to the whole business of making and packing
The maximum price was fixed at six cents a
salt.

them.

bushel to citizens of the State, and the manufacturer

the Salt Springs, has been the secret of its success in

the public storehouse, or

an economical point of view, as afTording a larger

must surrender
could be

revenue to the State than any other State property,

managed on difterent principles. The jiolicy of

cent per bushel

conferring the whole authority on the Superintend-

was exacted by the State for storage, and the Superintendent was to take care to have always in store

ent and making him alone responsible for the entire

full,

must either put the

if

he kept

it

in his

salt in

own

building, he

the keys to the Superintendent.

sold on the leased premises.

No

One

salt

worthy of note that the almost absolute

power conferred bylaw upon the Superintendent of
It

is

management

of the interest, has proved in the case

; :

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Onondaga

of the

as

cessful,

Salt Springs exceptionally suc-

compared with every other State

in-

terest.

by the State were

and a half cents a bushel, the deapply the revenue thus derived to the

raised to twelve

sign being to

extinguishment of the debt on the canals.

rate

remained

till

when the

1834,

This

duties were re-

and so continued till

when
they have been one
April 20, 1846, since
This was intended to be sufficient
cent a bushel.
duced

to six cents a bushel,

to pay for superintendence, digging wells, pumping

and conveying the water to the manufacturers, and
other expenses of the works incurred by the State.

Since the reduction of the duties to

bushel,

from

to turn the wheel.

the following revenue has

the

General

manufacture of

Fund

From 846 to
1

of the State
i

salt,

one cent a

been derived

and paid into the

Z^^, net reve-

1857, to be

de-

by

solar

are

now covered with

639,509 72

tures
re-

duction of duties in 1846.

Expenditures for the same

3,402,971 49

202,054 99

period

nual product

1846
Total net revenue since 1825

$3,200,916 50

3,540,22622

In addition to the above direct revenue, the salt

interest has paid to the

State in canal tolls about

three-fourths of a million dollars.

over $70,000.
salt in

various

In 1875,

it

paid

The manufacture and handling

ways employs about

of

four thousand

The

interest of Syracuse, like

salt

manufacturing

interests, has

had

its

its

severest

trial in

1857,

many

other

seasons of pros-

when

It

passed

the general

financial panic paralyzed the business of the country,

Onondaga

Then, and

for several years

from

suffered

the want of
method of putting it upon
the market.
Says Hon. Thomas G. Alvord
" Gentlemen from Buffalo and Oswego would come
here and buy our salt. They would give us their
thirty days, ninety days and four months paper.
They would take the salt and use it for ballast on
their grain vessels, and when they got to their
salt

destination, they would

sell it for

dump

what they could

the salt on the dock

get.

If their

venture

was a good one, we got our pay, if not, we

were the losing parties. The result was that we
were at the mercy of these men." The manufacturers put their capital and their wisdom together
and got out of the difficulty in i860 and 1861.
The period of greatest prosperity was during the
war of the Rebellion. The largest annual producin grain

were, indeed, during the years from

1867 to 1 87 1, being an average yield per annum for
the four years of 8,612,865 bushels. But the prices
tions of salt

men.

The law of 1799 required the Superintendent to

make an annual report to the Legislature. To this
valuable provision we are indebted for much information and

vats for solar salt, and the anbetween two and three million

is

bushels.

and
to

salt

This was the origin of a

mode of manufacture which has since become
general, and has exercised an important influence
on the entire salt business. Hundreds of acres
evaporation.

a regular and systematic

13,603 01

tures

Net revenue from 1825

blocks at Salina.

an experiment to be tried for the production of

after,

Net revenue above expendito

in the salt

was passed requiring the Superintendent to lay out two acres of land and lease the
same, free of duty if he thought proper, to induce
a law

181 2

especially of the West.

ducted
$6,603 01
Also expenditures previous
to March i, 1857
7,000 00
Total deduction and expendi-

Revenue from 1825

In

through
$ 653,112 73

in

Syracuse, to do service

perity and of comparative depression.

nue
Deficit

This brook, through the enterJudge Forman and others, was conducted
the way from what is now the eastern part of

prise of
all

1817 the duties levied

In

47

many

of the important

improvements

which have been made from time to time. We

learn from one of these reports that in 1806, 159,071
About this time a great
bushels of salt were made.
advance was made by the construction of a block
During
of ten kettles by Hon. John Richardson.
Mr. Kirkpatrick's administration the well at Salina
feet square to the depth of

were not equal to those ruling from 1862 to 1865,

when, on account of the war, foreign salt was almost
wholly excluded from the country.

About

the

commencement

of the war, salt water

abundant quantities in the valley

of the Saginaw, about midway between the salt
springs of Syracuse and the great West, which had
become the principal market for Onondaga Salt.

was discovered

in

was dug out twenty

The

thirty feet.
Each manufacturer had his own pump,
worked by hand, and water carried in spouts to his
works. In 1810, water power was first used to raise
the brine, Yellow Brook being brought in a canal

or four years, the competition being scarcely suf-

latter,

however, went on prospering for three

During this time the

volume of salt made here was largely increased
many new manufacturers went into the business

ficient to affect the

market.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NKVV YORK.

48
prices ranged high, and
prosperity.
terest here

ment

to

in

the

Onondaga Lake,

depth of from qne hundred

and find the brine in a deposit
of gravel resting upon a hard pan, (impervious to
water,) which seems to form the floor or bottom of
our salt basin. All beyond this is mere conjecture.
Eminent geologists, who have devoted much time

tide of

full

the

Godcrich, Canada, very

at

oil

astonishment of the experimenters

themselves, resulted in striking a fountain of

salt

and purest known in the

country, standing 92 and 98 degrees of the salthe

water,

at Kincardine,

850

feet

twenty

from which our brine

derived

is

neath the mountains or

Then

deep, and found the same result.

believe,

uniformly arrived at the conclusion that the source

miles north of Godcrich,

five

to the

feet,

to the investigation of this subject, have,

strongest

In a short time they struck another well

ometcr.

hundred

to four

Hut just at this juncture the salt inmet another impediment. The experi-

of boring for

much

seemed

all

veyed

to the points where

buried deep be-

is

south of

hills

we

find

and conby subter-

us,

it

they sank a well at Clinton, twelve miles south of

ranean currents of water which have passed through

Godcrich. 1,200 feet deep and found water equally

the salifcrous material and dissolved

They sank another

strong.
five

miles south of Godcrich, 1,400 feet deep, where

they have gone 101

feet into a solid

of the belief that there

mass of rock

salt.

Of

course these discoveries, together with

the cheapness of labor and fuel in

is

neath

Oiwndaga Lake a

which

is

deposited nnmcdiately be-

valley

mass of rock

solid

we

find

He

our brine.

analogy between these and the

springs in the

salt

and those

and have almost entirely excluded the latter from

Canada, where before large quantities were sold.

chief reason for adopting this theory

Onondaga manufacturers
quality and

condition

to not only

it

its

produc-

and Godcrich

salt,

and

to find

manufactured

at

Syracuse.

jjcrscvcrance, and wise

of the

is

to the source of the supply of these salt wells

speculation has existed.

letter to

At

Hon. George Geddcs, published

We only know that

"

we

The

t'ollowing itaicmcnt

in

hat found

one-fourth of a
is

quite

this distance there is uniformly a bold

till

it

is

to settle

down, and

in this

formed and preserved.

would be deposited
shore

1859,

way

the

Otherwise,

to

the

in

center

a uniform

of

manner from the

Hon. George

the lake.

Geddes has given us from the soundings of

bordering upon
lali

to

the sediment which has been accumulating for ages

in a

penetrate the earth in

ihowi where (he Onandj|a

from any solution

gradually dissolved, allows the loose and alluvial

abrupt bank

Hon. Thomas Spen-

alluvial deposits at various points

>

sides from one-eighth

deposit above

former Superintendent of the Salt Springs,

lake,

which is
bank at such a uniform distance from the shore,
seemed to Mr. Spencer unaccountable unless it
marks the outline of a bed of rock salt, which, as it

salt.'

As
much

the peculiar
of the

you reach the center of the lake,

about sixty feet deep. This precipitous

measure accomplished.
Hy the combination of capital and the reduction
of the cost of labor and fuel, there has been
of late years a great saving in the manufacture of

says

all

of notice aside

found

Kut his

of this problem.

afl'ord

very gradually

com-

panies, has been in a great

cer,

worthy

is

and precipitous bank where the water is from fifteen

to twenty feet deep.
Beyond this the water deepens

the salt

This, by the energy,

management

is

shallow.

markets where the

transportation will be most favorable to

is

mile from the shores the water of the lake

so as to be able to conijiete with the Saginaw

tion,

may

On

the salt put upon the

of

England, in both of which the brine

immediate contact with the salt rock.

which

improve the

market, but also to cheapen the cost of

Virginia,

the valley of the Weaver, near Liver-

formation of the shores and bottom

has been the eflort of the

it

in

pool,
in

salt

alludes to the

of the Holston, in Southwestern

For several years past

the Canadian and Saginaw salt has been a formidable rival to Onondaga Salt in the Western markets,
salt interest in this locality.

Since this competition,

is

being gradually dissolved and flows to the

points where

the

Canada and Mich-

have had a tendency greatly to depress the

igan,

This

it."

the general opmion, but Mr. Spencer himself was

well at Seaport, twenty-

the following report

iti

market lince 1867

this lake

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

At 500

feet from shore. ... 3.5 feet depth

"
"
700 "
6
"
"
"
"
"
740 "
23
"
"
"... 25
"
"
760 "
"
"
"
"
800 "
27
"
" 860
"
"
"
"
32.5
"
" Q20
"
''Q ^
"
"
"
"
"
In the middle of the lake. .55
Opposite a point two miles from the east end of
the lake, the water is sixty-five feet deep in the midAt Liverpool, three miles from the east end,
dle.

ing in solution earthy matter, never deposits

the form we now find the bottom of this lake.

"

Convenience has thus far caused all the drilling

water to be made around the lake, and the
lesson taught by every experiment has been that
there is no strong salt water to be found out of the

alluvium in the valley.

feet,

and

Ten

gradually.

this depression

We

or fifteen feet

which has been precipitated from the

water, and this marl lies on sand and clay with some
strata of gravel. Every boring that has been made
lake

is

marl,

within this basin gives this general result, the only

variations being in
strata,

the

thickness of the several

not in their character.

The

well near the

road that crosses the beach at the head of the lake

was intended to be the middle of the valley. The

tube was sunk 414 feet through the following strata
White and beach sand
34 feet.
Blue clay
100 "
Light-colored clay
48 "
Sand, coarse enough for mortar. 209 "
Clear gravel
6 "
"
Quick sand
11

Cemented gravel

"

Red clay
Red clay (hard)
The bottom of this

"

"

the surface of the sea.

well

is

nearly

At 134

fifty feet

not only a deep but an ancient valley.

a large part of the excavation has

been

below

was

This

The fact
show that
filled

since

the general emergence of the sea, and that a large

part of the alluvium has been taken

by the present

This timber and the

many other specimens encountered from time to
time by the drills, were probably brought into the
lake by some of its tributaries.
However this may
water courses into the valley.

be, the

marl and clay which

lie

above the timber

it

has

now

a level bottom surrounded by steep banks of marl,

clay

and sand,

is

only to be accounted for by a sub-

sidence of a large part of the bottom, and that such

subsidence

is

salt that lies

caused by the gradual dissolving of

under

it.

It is certain that

*Hon. George Geddes, Report, 1859.

7*

.*

question."

Dr. Englehardt then considers the opinions of

geologists entitled to the greatest weight, on ac-

count of their

have been deposited by the waters of the lake.*

Mr. Spencer supposes that the fact that

encountered in a state of perfect preservation.

is

salt since 1797 from salt wells, amounting up to the

present time to 250,000,000 bushels to which we
must add at least 50,000,000 for loss incurred in the
various manufacturing processes by leakage, making
a grand total of 300,000,000.
The number of wells
sunk from time to time to produce this large amount
cannot be less than 200, at an e.xpense of at least
;$750,ooo.
The question therefore naturally arises,
and it is a most important one, in regard to our salt
industry, from whence does this large amount of
salt come, which would cover over a surface of
120,000,000 square feet one foot high with solid
salt
It certainly was not stored up in the ancient
valley of erosion, below our feet, in the form of
brine.
Therefore it must occur in the solid form as
a bed of rock salt.
Up to date very few attempts
have been made to ascertain the actual source of
our brine. The first was made in 1838, when the
State sank a well at Salina 600 feet deep, of which
the Superintendent in his report for 1839 says
Passing through the immense mass of red and
blue shales and the limestone (Niagara) below, it
terminated in the protean group (Clinton.) Whatever may be its source it is well observed by the
learned geologist of this district, in his last annual
report, that it is only to be sought in a southern
direction from which all the waters naturally flow.'
The Salt Company of Onondaga sank, in 1867, a
well at Liverpool 715 feet deep, which, according to
Prof Goessman, passed through 82 feet of alluvium,
279 feet of red and green shales, 33 feet of calcarious shales, 106 feet of limestone formation, and
These
finally 215 feet of various veins of shales.
are the only two attempts ever made to solve this
'

feet a cedar log

of finding timber in this deposit goes to

" The natural sources of all salt supplies

are
either rock salt, salt springs, salt lakes, or finally,
the ocean.
At Syracuse we have derived all our

by

approached very
of the bottom of this
is

the thicker the allufor strong water.

take the following extract from the Report of

Dr. F. E. Englehardt, Chemist for the Onondaga
Salt Springs, made in 1877:

is fifty-five feet,

that the deepest place exceeds the shallowest

And

vium the better the prospect

be the general depth.

only ten

it'in

for salt

and many soundings prove

Once away from the
foot of the abrupt bank, and the bottom is so level
the depth

this to

49

water hold-

to the question

scientific

acquirements, in reference

touching the source of the Onon-

and finds them generally agreeing that

the supply is derived from a mass of fossil or rock
salt, situated under the hills to the south of the

daga

salt,

"

Would

be
have
more economical on the part of the State to
this subject thoroughly examined by the State
Geologist, and if found correct, dig a test well for

lake basin, and asks

it

not, therefore,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

so

the purjx)sc of either finding the salt rock, or at

least saturated

brine, thus avoiding the necessity

new

wells year after year, in proportion

of sinking

as the older ones

Our

salt

become

useless

works with an abundance of saturated

brine, could produce at least 15,000,000 bushels of

which would in less than ten years return to

the State in duty all the expense incurred in such
an undertaking. Our salt industry would revive
salt,

we

could then successfully enter our old markets

and compete with our

rivals."

CHAPTKK

XII.

Salt Springs Continued Process 01 ManuFACTLKE

CONSTKUCTION OK THE VVeLLS
Pump Works
Solar Salt
Dairy Salt
Table Showing the Amount of Salt Made

Since 1797.

THE

salt

works of Onondaga are divided into

four districts, viz

pool and Gcddcs.

in

Syracuse, Salina, Liver-

The amount

of salt inspected

each and the aggregate amounts

1S76 are shown

PUco.

in the following table

for the
:

year

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and passes off without being decomposed. It is
It cryswithout odor color white or transparent.
talizes in cubes from its solution in water, and when
;

formed by rapid but quiet evaporation from the surHot and

face, it forms hopper-shaped crystals.
saturated solutions,

when

tions, agitated

by

frequently give

cooled,

long, slender, square prisms.

Formed

hot solu-

in

boiling, the crystals are very small

of the two sections

SI

when they

are joined together.

dowel of cast iron, three inches wide is

into the ends of the sections, holding them

circular

let

together firmly, and excluding

In the

joints.

all

water from the

place a cast iron tube, three

first

wooden section. This

sharp at the lower end, having the inside enlarged for a few inches up, leaving
feet in length, is joined to a

piece of iron tubing

is

and broken into irregular shapes. When rosin,

soap, butter, or any oily substance is added to the
brine, it will not form crystals, but by evaporation

the outer diameter fourteen inches, to correspond

with that of the wood.
These sections are set up

deposit the salt in exceedingly fine grains.

When

a tube has sunk

made

of iron, with a valve at

moisture from the

usually attracts

pure this attraction

The

is

very

Salt

when

but

air,

slight.

process of manufacture consists in removing

the water by evaporation, and at the

same time

ting rid of the impurities held in solution.

boiled salt this

is

accomplished by

first

get-

In the

precipitating

the oxide of iron in the cisterns connected with the

works.

Unless

have a reddish
cipitation

this o.xide is

removed, the

The alum used

color.

improves the grain of the

finer

and causing

lime

is

it

making

salt,

The

to drain well.

salt will

for its preit

sulphate of

precipitated as the point of saturation

is

approached, by pans placed in the bottoms of the

kettles into

which

it falls

boiling of the water.

and

The

is lifted

out during the

bitterhigs, as

they are

which are thus removed, are almost pure

gypsum.
called,

In the year 1830 the

first

iron tubes

were sunk

with a view to procure water from a greater depth.

At

sixty feet brine

was found from twenty-five to

thirty per cent, stronger than at the old wells.

Very

soon many tubes were sunk, and for a long time

the salt water was raised by

pumps through

all

these

perpendicularly, and by a press forced into the

down

take hold of and

When

the surface.
drills are

section

used to cut

made of

of the tube

up.

calibre

is

The

press that

is

and
These

sections of eight feet long, eight inches calibre,

turned in a lathe to a uniform thickness.

such that at the very end

drills

used

simple

is

heavy pieces

supported by strong posts, connected

of timber

This platform

met, sharp
of the lower

which have springs

placed on one side of their stems and edges which
point outwards from the springs, holes may be cut
through rock large enough to allow the tubes to
Various tools are called into requisition to
pass.
reach down and grasp the substances and to overcome the obstacles encountered, which would require
drawings for their illustration.
dimensions, and by using

with a platform through

The manner of drilling and tubing salt wells

somewhat as follows
The old tubes
used by the State were made of sugar maple logs, in

is

The shape

nearly equal to the outer

is

tubes,

has been

lower end, will

hard material
it

cast iron

its

its

the contents of the tube to

lift

ervoirs from

and then forced up and accumulated in reswhich it flows in wooden pipes to the
various manufactories.
These pumps are driven by
water taken from the canal, or in cases where the
water power cannot be applied, by steam engines.
For many years the State was paid by the bushel
for pumping the water, but afterwards all the expenses were merged in the one cent a bushel.
Several
companies at present own private wells and do their
own pumping.

soil.

enough for another

section to be added, the press is withdrawn and the
section put on, and again the press is applied. This
process is continued as long as the tube can be sunk
without removing the earth that is inside. When
this point is reached, which is sometimes sixty or
seventy feet below the surface, the drills are introduced, and by first cutting the earth fine, a bucket
far

is

which the tube passes.

loaded with stone, so that

it

will

when the heavy iron screws passing through

the beam are turned down on the yoke which
The rods to which the drills are
presses the tube.
attached are made of iron in sections of convenient
not

lift

These drills are lifted

engine,
and let fall by
steam
worked
by
a
by ropes
cutting
and
crushing by
device,
means of a simple

length connected by screws.

their weight whatever

is

well thus obtained

Formerly

was pumped

way.

connected by wooden

is

pump which

tubes with
it

in their

sucks up the water.

directly from the

bottom

But the
of the well to the distributing reservoir.
difficulties in the way of having perfectly tight
pipes

were hard

to

overcome, and the

sections were cut off square, at the ends, and a recess

suction

turned into the timber on the outside to receive a

band of iron ten inches wide and one- fourth of an

method of "flooding" the pipes allowed the suction

to draw in fresh water at every leakage, reducing

inch thick, which

the strength of the brine.

is

to rest

on and confine the ends

remedy

for this evil

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

52

The

was vetoed by the Governor.

Legisla-

was suggested by Mr. Gcddes

in

an elaborate article

repairs

published

in

the Transactions of

ture then, at the instance of the Superintendent,

on

the salt interest,

New York

the
"

State Agricultural Society for 1859.

Now," says Mr. Geddes,

"

stroke of the

every

pumps

reciprocating, double-acting force and suction

has to overcome the inertia of the whole column of

water from the bottom of the well to the distributing

reservoir. This inertia is so great in long pipes that

pumps produce

the

vacuum

at

every stroke, and

an inward pressure of the atmosphere

thus there
of fifteen pounds to the square inch, which drives air,
is

or

when the

pipes arc flooded, water into every pore

and crevice of the pipes. Lifting pumps at the

wells, moving slowly, with long strokes, would do

appointed a joint committee to

unanimously reported

able,

appropriation to the

in

favor of a special

of $23,000, to furnish

new water wheel, and the necessary machinery

and fi.\tures to bring into use the new wells which
had been sunk. These wells are now in operation
furnishing a superior quality of brine.

of the machinery,

Of
were

of the strain

amount

and remedy the present evil."

This suggestion of Mr. Geddes is now pretty
Rotary and plunge steam
generally carried out.
pumps have been placed at most of the wells, by
which the brine is lifted to the surface, whence it is

away with much

the 316 blocks on the Reservation, only 106

capacity for manufacture exceeds

that the present

15,000,000 bushels annually.

It is

throughout the
of

wooden

They

ones.

arc

made

in

place

often

in sections

screwed together by

or twelve feet in length and

sockets at the ends of the sections.

bolts through

The

now used

apparatus for sinking them

nearly the

is

same

wooden tubes.
of the Legislature, embodying a few

as that formerly emjjloyed for

By an act
new provisions, passed

April

1859,

15,

all

the pre-

vious laws relating to the manufacture of salt on

the

Onondaga

Salt Springs Reservation, were con-

The
made some amendments to

solidated and codified.

act of

1859,

relating

the duties and

and conferring upon

Legislature of 1873, passed an act appropriat-

so as to furnish a better quality

requires a working capital of fully half that

this,

to carry

it

Salt

SoL.AK

on successfully.
is

the

name given

to

made without

the use of artificial heat.

2,

181

in

which is
A law was

that

passed

authorizing the Superintendent of

the Salt Springs to lay out two acres of land and

lease the same, free of duty
to induce an

tion of salt

ably the
salt

if

he thought proper,

experiment to be made

by

first

solar evaporation.

movement

in

for the

produc-

This was prob-

the direction of the solar

works, but nothing practical seems to have re-

sulted therefrom

till

1822,

per bushel

when Judge Forman

pro-

for all salt

number

Cape Cod.

They brought Mr. Stephen Smith,

The

an expert

1875

Syracuse, and he was

the locality which seemed

strongest water.

solar evaporation for

of years.

wells,

in

made by

Judge Forman in comwith

Isaiah
Townsend,
Esq went to New
pany
Bedford to investigate the method of manufacturing
solar salt from sea water as it was then carried on

a given

new

pursuance of thislawsank
in

millions of dollars, and the business in addition to

of water.

These are good

and 72 degrees of the salowas hoped that an appropriation would be

to indicate the

in

of fixtures and awarding a bounty of three cents

to

ing $20,000 to be expended in sinking

and 1876, seven wells

Onondaga have

the provisions of the

chiefly

oath to his deputies and employees.

in

Salt Manufacturers of

cured the passage of a law authorizing the erection

the Superintendent the power to administer the

Superintendent

The

fixtures alone an investment of not less than four

1866,

act of April 25,

salaries of subordinate officers

The

with proper

effort on the part of the manufacturers and a wise

sum

Iron tubes for sinking wells are

no exaggeration

may be reached

to say that this limit

patronage on the part of the State.

works.

1876, showing

operation during the year

in

drawn through the pipes to the distributing reservoirs by the pumps stationed at the pump houses.
This improvement was inaugurated under the
administration of Hon. Vivus W. Smith, first at
Salina, and has since been generally adopted
salt

the salt works

visit

and report upon the condition and wants of the salt

This committee met in Syracuse on the
interest.
17th of February, 1876, and after a thorough investigation, with a view to recommending such action
by the Legislature as might be deemed most advis-

at

in this

kind of manufacture, with them to

made the agent

of the

Onon-

daga Company, and Judge Forman of the Syracuse

Company, and the two proceeded to erect the

wells yielding brine of 71

necessary fixtures for the manufacture of coarse or

meter.

solar salt.

made
wells

It

to enable the

useful by

Superintendent to render these

connecting them with the

pump

house, and thus supplying the works with improved

water, but a

bill

for that

object and for general

At

this

time the Salina Canal terminated at the

south edge of the village of Salina.

man

Judge For-

took Governor DcVVitt Clinton to Salina to ex-

amine the

situation,

and

to see

how

the canal might

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

be extended to Onondaga Lake and

power

as a water

The

works.

made

machinery

to drive

available

at the salt

following year this plan was carried

This grand improvement

into successful operation.

the

cost

about Si, 800 an acre, which

is

which are

fully

met by the cheapness

facture

by the

State.

invented which grind

structures for the manufacture of solar salt

Well drained

The

long parallel rows of shallow wooden

consist of

wide and supported by

vats, sixteen or eighteen feet

many

what are

into
salt

The rows

small posts.

deep rooms, lime rooms, and

called

They

rooms.

of vats are divided

are arranged in various ways, as

the shape of the ground or the fancy of the owner

may

Com-

In the works of the Solar Salt

dictate.

pany, the water

is

drawn

directly from a distribut-

ing reservoir into the deep rooms which are about

The water runs

a quarter of a mile long.

the

and is then carried

into the next parallel string by wooden pipes.
It runs the whole length of this string back to
opposite the place where it was introduced then
again it is sent into another and another of these
strings, and having been thus exposed to the
sun and wind, in a shed of perhaps ten inches deep
" string,"

whole length of the

in

an

ordinary season will yield about 3,000 bushels of

salt.
The cost and space required are disadvantages

method of elevating brine was made at the

expense of the Onondaga and Syracuse Salt Companies, under the direction of Judge Forman
but
the fixtures, aqueduct, &c., were afterwards bought
in the

S3

when once the works

Formerly

common

this salt

manu-

of the

are in operation.

was kiln-dried and ground

in

flouring mills for dairy purposes, at con-

more recently mills have been

with'out any drying by fire.

siderable expense, but

in

it

the store-house,

it is

put through

the mills and ground to any desirable fineness for

more than one

dairy or table use at a cost of not

cent a bushel.

In a document presented to the

Constitutional Convention in

Hon. George

1S67,

Geddes, then Superintendent of the Salt Springs,

reported six mills for the grinding of

and valued

James

P.

as follows

owned

salt,

Raskins' Mill, estimated to be

worth

$40,000
40,000

John W. Barker & Co's Mill

Henry B. & Wilmot E. Burton's Mill
Timothy R. Porter's Mill
Ashton Salt Company's Mill
H. White's Mill

16,000
16,000
16,000
10,000

and sixteen

feet

wide, for a whole mile,

itself of its o.xide of iron,

has increased

has rid

it

its

strength

from 70 to 84 degrees of the salometer, and is ready to

be carried into the lime room, where it deposits its
It is kept running along these
sulphate of lime.

rooms in a thinner sheet till the small cubes of salt

Saturation is now complete and
are seen forming.
all

The

the impurities are precipitated that can be.

water thus concentrated and freed from the lime

and iron, is drawn into the salting rooms, where
pure

salt

crystalization

in

having a coarse

the form of hoppers and cubes.

There yet remains

moved

deposited,

rapidly

is

in the brine after the salt is re-

more soluble than the salt, viz

About one-third of all
the deliquescent chlorides.
impurities

the

im-

expected to yield

fifty

required for precipitating

the vats

are

purities.

The whole

field is

bushels to the cover of sixteen or eighteen

The word
roofs

ways

which

"

cover

in fair

to allow the

"

is

feet.

derived from the moveable

weather are shoved

off

on

sun to reach the water.

lateral

These

covers have been adopted as the standard of measure,

and

in

speaking of a

salt field,

many covers. Space is

when off the vats and also

so

strings to cart

away the

it is

said to have

required for the covers

salt.

for roads

An

between the

acre of land re-

quires sixty covers, costing about $30 each.

Thus

$138,000

Total,

The first, fourth and fifth are the

now used for grinding dairy and table
Haskins

Mill, enlarged

nal

capacity,

Salt

Company.

Mill,

is

to

times

four

ones

only
salt.

The

its

origi-

operated by the Excelsior Dairy

This and the Ashton Company's

and that owned and operated by Mr. Timothy

R. Porter, are of

sufficient capacity to grind all the

dairy salt required for the market.

The " Factory Filled," or Dairy Salt, is made

from both solar and common salt by a patent machine process whereby not only mechanically mixed
impurities are removed, but also the small quanti-

obnoxious chlorides of calcium and magnesium are decomposed in a very careful manner.
The largest factory filled establishment, the property
ties of

of the Excelsior Dairy Salt

Company,

is

at Salina,

and known under the name of " Excelsior Mills."

They consist of two immense wooden structures
with about five acres of flooring.
The salt is crushed between two sets of stones to
the proper size, and gradually fed into two patent

washing machines, wherein the

salt

moves

in the

opposite direction to the chemically prepared saltbrine employed, and becomes, by repeated washing

with the fresh salt-brine, perfectly purified.

After proper drainage the salt is dried in large repowerful blast of hot air
volving iron cylinders.

carries

the moisture into the chimney.

The

ex-

engine
haust steam from the hundred-horse power

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

54

serves for concentrating the salt-brine employed in

washing the salt. The dried salt is now elevated

10 the upper floors, where five sets of stones are in
constant motion grinding it to the desired fineness,
while a suction blower removes the dust.
There is one other mill of about the same capacity situated in Gcddae, owned by the Ashton Dairy

Company, in which the

same way as in the " Excelsior
Salt

The
is

salt

is

made

in the

gratifying to the friends of the home article, as

showing a larger percentage of the pure chloride of
sodium or salt, and a less aggregate of impurities
in the two samples of Onondaga salt than in either
of the eight samples of foreign salt analyzed."

The

leases of lots, with

made at Onondaga
being made to many an-

Government and other authorsalt, the tests made by

the Butter and Cheese E.xchangc of New York
prove the superiority of the F. F. salt made at
Syracuse over any other, as is shown by the foltion of the General

In regard to the dairy

VVatei

Insoluble matter
Sulphate of lime.
Sulphate of magnesia
Chloride of calcium
Chloride of magnesium

Sulphate of soda
Chloride of sodium

The Superintendent

English.

Onondaga.

0.7880
0.0564

0.6280
0.0264
O.7217

1.2272

00769
00473
0.0591

0.0346

977598

98.5242

99.9674

999822
Hon.

of the Salt Springs,

A. C. Powell, appends the following remarks

"This report is of especial interest at

when the old prejudice against the use

this

of

time

home

beginning to give way, because it emanates

from an association which has never been accused

salt is

of any special partiality for Onondaga salt, but, on

the contrary, from their local and commercial
training, have been inclined to defend the use of
In fact so far have their prejuthe foreign article.
dices governed them that in making contracts with
dairy farmers for their butter and cheese, they have
frequently inserted a clause binding them to the use
This entailed upon the farmer
of the Ashton salt.

an additional expense of from one to one and a half

Many of the farmers
dollars upon each sack used.
doubting ihc necessity of these requirements and
restive under their enforcement, unless there was
good reason for it, demanded of the association an
authoritative opinion as to the comparative value of
The only relithe ditVerent brands used by them.
able proof was the scientific test, and the matter
was accordingly given in charge to two analytical
chemists of high standing in the city of New York,
who entered upon their duties without any conference with parties at Syracuse, and without any

knowledge of the localities where the several

samples were prepared. These were given them by
numbers and not by name, and the result was the
above report, which I have copied in their own
This report is certainly
language and figures.

<8J4.
!!<(.
1''!-.
1

' ( -

ISiV.
IS'.

ly.i.
Mil.

861.

iMh.
86s.

iM/i
iSft;.

iS/jX.

869.
I7C.
ITI.
8:.

1871.
IB74.
1875.
7*i

Onondaga
is

number

of

Salt Springs

the date of the

first

the Superintendents and their

respective terms of ofBce

Dale.

lowing uiaUrsis

at the

Mills."

alyses furnished from time to time under the direc-

ities.

a statement of the

is

made

since June 20, 1797, which

purity of the various salts

unquestioned, reference

following

bushels of salt

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

CHAPTER

county of Onondaga

geographical

center

of

is

nearly

the

State.

in

It

the
is

bounded north by Oswego, east by Madison, south

by Cortland, and west by Cayuga county.
Its
general form

having

is

that of a rectangular parallelogram,

lines in

its

pictured before him.

Hillside, mountain top,
wide valleys, lakes framed with forests and fields
of living green, meet his gaze from the top of every
eminence he passes. If he sees little of the grandlies

Xni.

Topography of Onondaga County.

HE

55

conformity with

eur of rock-ribbed mountains, he is greeted with

landscapes more mild, and of a softer tone, that
bespeak more fitting residences of men, and he is
delighted with the reflection that, of
there

is

the cardinal

all he sees,
nought but combines the useful with the

beautiful.

points of the compass, the northeast corner being

somewhat rounded by Oneida Lake and the southwest by Skaneateles Lake.

From north to south
the average width
twenty-si.x miles

of 459,229 acres.

is

thirty miles,

from east to west

having an area exclusive of lakes

The county is divided into the

towns of Lysander, Clay, Cicero, Elbridge, Van

Buren, Salina, DeWitt, Manlius, Camillus, Geddes,
Skaneateles, Marcellus, Onondaga, Pompey,' SpafLaFayette, Tully, Fabius, and the City

ford, Otisco,

of Syracuse.

Most

of the surface of this county slopes to the

north and

is

drained into the River St. Lawrence,

but the summit of the highlands that divide the

waters that flow north from those that run south,

and find their way by the Susquehanna River to the

sea, is within this county, though near the south

boundary

but a small part of the whole area being

drained to the south, and that chiefly in the towns

of Fabius and Tully.

About
county

known

the south
slope of

The
the

surface of the

and barely rolling enough to permit

This flat land constitutes a part of what
as the " great level," which extends along
side of Oneida Lake to the base of the
the spurs of the Alleghany Mountains.

Erie Canal runs along the south side of this

level land.

canal,

That part of the county lying south of

constituting about three-fifths

of

the

embraced within the northernmost spurs

comparatively broken in its surface.
A traveler crossing Onondaga county from east to west, or from
west to east, if his route is on the plain, north of
the highlands, will meet only slight hills and
hollows, or rather mere undulations crossing his
course, and streams that have their surface nearly
whole,

is

of the mountain ranges, being uneven and

level

with the surrounding land.

be across the line of the

into

slope of the highlands

all

is

divided into five

having a general north and south

direction.
The most eastern of them enters the
town of Manlius from the east and extends north to
the Erie Canal.
The second ridge lies between
Limestone and Butternut Creeks, and forms the
highlands of Pompey, part of those of Manlius,
LaFayette and DeWitt. The third range, between
Butternut and Onondaga Creeks, comprises the

highlands of the central part of LaFayette, the

west part of DeWitt, and the east portions of Tully

and Onondaga, and extends to the city of Syracuse.
The fourth range, between Onondaga and Nine
Mile Creeks, comprises the highlands of Otisco,
the west part of Tully, LaFayette and Onondaga,

and the east parts of Marcellus and Camillus. The

fifth range, lying between Nine Mile and Skaneateles Creeks,

and Otisco and Skaneateles Lakes,

comprises the highlands of Spafford, the west parts

of Marcellus and Camillus, and the east parts of

of the whole

is flat

drainage.
is

two-fifths

The

distinct ridges,

hill

slope,

But

if

he

will

his route

descend

deep valleys, whose dividing ridges are

many

miles apart, and he will have one constant succes-

Skaneateles and Elbridge.

The

summits of the valleys between these

in the towns of Pompey, Fabius and

ranges are

Tully, or south of the county line.

peaks of the ranges of

hills

pey, Otisco and and LaFayette.

drain

these

valleys

to

The

highest

PomThe streams that

are in Spafford,

the south,

are

the head

branches of the Tioughnioga River, one of the

Limestone and
tributaries of the Susquehanna.
Butternut Creeks unite their waters and flow into
the Chittenango, a few miles before that stream en-

Oneida Lake. Onondaga and Nine Mile

Creeks run into Onondaga Lake. The Skaneateles
crosses into Cayuga county just before it discharges
Seneca River
its waters into the Seneca River.
Cross Lake,
from
enters the west part of the county
ters

flowing between the towns of Elbridge and Lysan-

and along the northern bounds of Van Buren

and Geddes, to within less than half a mile of Onondaga Lake, where it receives the outlet of that
der,

and rendered pleasant by ever-recurring points of

body of water then turning north, it runs along

the west line of Clay to Three River Point, where
At this place the
it receives the Oneida River.

observation, from which the

combined waters take the name of Oswego River,

sion of toilsome

descents and ascents, enlivened

most splendid scenery

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

56

which empties into Lake OnUrio

in

CHAPTER

the city of

Oswego.

These various streams and bodies of water, with

their tributaries, arc so evenly distributed over the
is wonderfully well

XIV.

Ci-iNTON Group
Geologv of the Cou.ntv
Niagara Limestone Onondaga Salt Group
Water-lime Group Oriskanv Sandstone.

surface that the whole county

supplied with water for use and with power to drive

machinery. Seneca River has a dam giving a fall
at

of

Haldvvinsville

eight

and

feet,

another at

ONONDAGA presents more features of

inter-

any other county

est to the geologist than

of the State, or, perhaps, any like extent of country

the United States.

rocks range east and

Phoeni.v. either of which would give sufficient

power for a large manufacturing town. The several

in

streams that flow through the valleys in the south

part of the county, fall, on an average, not less

lowest being at the northeast corner of the county,

than eight hundred feet

machinery, and at the

and the most recent

Of

after they arc of sufficient

in driving

be useful

size to

west

at the southwest.

Onondaga Salt Group, Water-lime Group,

Oriskany Sandstone, Onondaga Limestone, Corniferous Limestone, Seneca Limestone, Marccllus

stone,

of the Limestone, Butternut and Chittenango make

Many
the valuable water power at Bridgeport.
branches
beautiful waterfalls are formed by the

Shales, Hamilton Group, Tully Limestone,

streams as they flow down the

principal

sides of the ranges of hills to the

most noted of the cascades

as Pratt's

at

to the southwest, crossing

Falls.

Such

is

a general outline of the county of

When

daga.

who now

it

was

first

by the race of men

.seen

it

its soil and manage its vast inwas covered with one dense forest of

growth, excepting the few

had subjected

natives

Onon-

cultivate

dustries,

giant

Genesee
and the lower measures of the Ithaca Group.
These rocks are best observed by commencing
the northeast corner of the county and moving

Slate,

The

valleys.

known

is

rude cultivation.

their

to

the

fields that

the

New York

northeast corner of the county, the united waters

of the

system of rocks, there outcrop

county, the Clinton Group, Niagara Lime-

the

this

in

Its

the order of succession being constant

their outcrop nearly at

right-angles and in line of the greatest dip of the

stratification.

The

starting point will be

Group outcrops

Lake, where the Clinton

of the journey, Skaneateles Lake.

of the starting point above tide

is

Oneida
the end

The

elevation

369

feet

highest point passed over, Ripley Hill, the

the

summit

contrast between that primitive condition and the

between Skaneateles and Otisco Lakes, and the

highest land in the county, being 1,982 J feet above
tide.
The distance, in a direct line from Oneida

present cultivated state of the country.

Lake

What

a series of struggles with the wilderness

with savage unsubdued nature,

is

and

implied in the

to Ripley Hill,

The
"Through the deep wilderness where scarce
Can cast his darts, along the winding path
The Pioneer is treading. In his grasp
keen

Is his

That

ax, that

the sun

wondrous instrument,

and cities. He has left

The home in which his early years were passed,
And led by hope, and full of restless strength,
Has plunged within the forest, there to plant
His destiny. Beside some rapid stream

He

fields

rears his log-built cabin.

Of Winter

feller

When

the chains

Nature, and no sound

Disturbs the echoes of the dreary woods,

Save when some

Then

stent cracks sharply with the frost

merrily rings his ax, and tree on tree

Crashes to earth ; and when the long, keen night

Mantles the wilderness in solemn gloom,

He

beside the ruddy hearth, and hears

sits

The fierce wolf snarling at the

Or through the lowly casement
Gleam like a burning coal."*
* Alfred

B. Street.

dip of the system of rocks in this direction,

very nearly twenty-si.\ feet to the mile, giving

for the distance

is

thirty-two miles.

852

feet.

greatest in a line a

It

little

is

west.

very uniform, and

west of southwest, while

the general line of the outcrop

like the talisman transforms

Deserts to

is

is

is

These rocks were deposited

nearly cast and

in that vast

sea

that once overspread this part of the Continent,

of

them being sedimentary and

filled

with

all

evi-

dences of an abundant animal life. When they

were lifted above the sea by those vast internal
forces that were constantly

changing the form of the

crust of the earth, they were tilted from the level

position in which they had

been deposited.

The

point of greatest upheaval being far to the northeast

of this county, only part of one of the slopes

comes

under our observation.

The

hills rise in

a direction opposite to that of

The

cabin door.

the dip of the rocks.

sees his eye

thirty-two miles, over si.xtecn hundred

surface rising, in the

tom of our lowest rock falling

more than eight hundred and
tion of these formations

in the

feet,

the bot-

same distance

fifty-two feet, a sec-

would show a wedge 2,465

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

feet thick at the

to

varying thickness of the different strata.

the

The

southwest end, regular on the lower

but on the upper broken by unequal steps, due

side,

surface waters run

derneath flow

in

northerly, while those un-

the opposite direction.

Springs

are not to be looked for along the unbroken line of

sharp, angular grains,

gray."*

also greenish

or greenish

on the Medina sandstone, which

on the gray sandstone of Oswego,

It rests

turn rests

in

is

57

" which,"

Emmons,

according to

" is identical
with

the gray, thick-bedded sandstone of the

Hudson

River

series."

the outcrop of the rocks, but in the sides of the

much

of the drift which covers the north part of

various valleys that cut this slope,

the county.

at,

or nearly

at,

right angles, or on the north sides of such valleys

Any

as are parallel with the line of the outcrop.

The

These rocks

Clinton Group

nia and Canada.

In

is

furnish the material for

found

this

in

Ohio, Pennsylva-

State, according to Mr.

attempt to procure water by flowing artesian wells

Hall,

would probably prove unsuccessful.

The rocks that outcrop in this county once extended

Niagara Limestone. Resting on

Group, and next in order, we find

over the present surface far to the north, but by the

Limestone, so called from its being the rock which

forms the famous cataract of that name. In Onon-

action of glaciers and water, they have been broken

it is

not more than eighty feet thick.

down, ground up, and strewn along the valleys that

daga

have been scored out across the line of their present

than at the west.

those with which they connect, far

outcrop, and

beyond the southern limits of the county and State.

This point will be more fully discussed hereafter, a
description of the rocks being first necessary.

Clinton Group.
rock

is

known

The northernmost and lowest

as the Clinton Group.

the counties east and west of

It is

seen in

underlies

this,

the

and appears on both

" This
sides of the west end of Oneida Lake.
whole north
group

is

line of this county,

characterized by

marine plants."*

The

its

iron ore beds

and

its

iron appears in this county,

only in small quantities, the rock being covered with

alluvium except at a few points.

observe

it is

The

best place to

There the shale appears along the bank

The
of the outlet and in the hill in the village.
north part of the towns of Lysander, Clay and
Cicero lies on this rock, and the soils of these towns
are to some extent made up of the materials of
which

it is

county

composed.

Prof

Emmons

says of

it

that

most interesting feature " consists in the rapid

in the strata which enter into its formation,
and which taken together form a most heterogeneous assemblage of materials
for this reason the
group was called in an early stage of the survey,

a thin rock, thinner at the east side

It crosses the east line of the

is

at Bridgeport,

ango Creek and

power.

forming a bar across Chitten-

thus

creating

valuable

outcrops at various places

It

mill

the town

in

of Cicero, and on Mr. Whiting's farm, where it is

extensively quarried for the valuable building stone
it

aftbrds,

presents a surface of fifteen acres,

it

but thinly covered with

soil.

It

has been used to a

limited extent for burning into lime.

are

respectively

three

seven,

The

layers

and four

three

thin

and

The whole thickness at Whiting's is

The seams are frequent, making the

of no value.
feet.

quarry easy

fourteen,

Below these the courses are

inches thick.

near the west end of Oneida Lake, at

Brewerton.

this

the Clinton
the Niagara

to

work.

This stone has been quarried at several other points

its outcrop to the west line of the county.

along

The most

important openings are north of Baldwinsvilleand near the northwest corner of the town
of Lysander.
This rock contains " some geodes,
lined with rhombic crystals of carbonate of lime,
and gypsum, in small globular accretions, at Whit" It differs

much

its

ing's quarry."!

changes

ance here from the western geodiferous limestone of

the lower falls of the Mississippi that it would hard-

the

Protean

layers

sandy

Group.

The

formation consists of

and beds composed of green, blue and brown,

and

argillaceous

shales,

alternating

with

greenish brown sandstones, conglomerates on pebbly beds,

and

oolitic iron ore.

These

different kinds

of material rapidly succeed each other.

of this formation which are

The

parts

most persistent are the

green shales, whose color, however, inclines more
to blue than green where they have not been exposed
to weathering.
The sandstone, which is rather
harsh, in consequence of the preponderance of
* Vanuxum.
8*

ly

so

be recognized as the same rock,

be traced almost uninterruptedly

route

marks the termination

of the State Reports, and

but

division,

it

measure of a

distinct

era

whose importance cannot be

in

in its appear-

if it

in

Red

The lower

western

of the Ontario
is

upper

the

geological

history,

well estimated. "J

The Onondaga Salt Group rests on

limestone.

could not

its

the Niagara

part of this formation

is

the

upon which, and in some cases mingling with it is placed the Green Shale, the two conEmbraced within the
stituting the whole group.
Shale,

Green Shale are the Gypsum

beds, and

micular, or porous lime rock.

This group

* Emmons.

^ Vanuxum.

the veris

very

Emmons.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

58

extensive, reaching from

quite across the State.

New York

Hudson River

near the

Gypsum masses

Ail the

of

hundred, have been dotted over the surface of the

western part of this formation like hay cocks in a

On-

meadow. The largest one is north of the valley of

Nine Mile Creek. The Erie Canal passes around it

ondaga ami Cayuga counties.

The Erie Canal runs near the line of division
between the Red and Green Shales for the whole

on the south and the Central Railroad on the north.

It is two hundred feet in height, containing about
a thousand acres of drift, and so level is the plain

The

on which it stands, that a canal without a lock

might surround it. These drift hills also abound
in the district embraced by the Green Shales, but

Western
flows

are found in

width of the county.

the canal and
nearly

it,

and from

the salt water used for making salt in

all

based on the

all

level

south of the

Red

district

it

north of

Niagara outcrop,

is

Shale, while the slope

reaching from the canal to the Water-lime range^

on the south,

principally

is

The average

Shale.

made up

width of the

of the

Green

Red Shale

is

about seven miles, that of the Green about three.

The Red

computed from the dip and

three hundred and forty-one feet thick

Shale, as

elevation,

is

at the line of

Lake

the

Erie Canal south of

Onondaga

the surface of that lake being very nearly

three hundred feet above the Niagara limestone.

generally covered with

It is

gravel, sand,

composed of lime,
made up mostly of

drift,

and small stones,

the Medina sandstone, and the gray sandstones of

Oswego county, with occasional beds of clay.

The RtuI Sha/c is described by Prof Emmons
properly a

rcti

as

marl, soft throughout, except a few

to pieces

and cannot be employed

poses of construction.

covered with

own

Wherever

debris.

it

at all for pur-

crops out

it is

He

determined that
one hundred grains of the most sandy part, and the

same amount

its

of the softer kinds, were

in the following

proportions

Sile.x

and alumina
625
Magnesia
5.75
Carbonate of lime
10.25
Phosphate of alumina, and phosPero.xide of iron

phate of peroxide of iron

Organic matter

places this

0.40
O-So

"

i.oo

99.50

99.25

6.CX3

Red Shale

so soft that

is

in others,

its

of a blue cast, intermingle for a few feet

The

in thickness.

the salt group

color of this upper measure of

its whole thicksometimes nearly white, then drab, but

ness, being

is

variable through

its name from the prevailing green.

name would be the Gypseous Shales, as the

has received

it

term Green Shales

is

sometimes applied

to portions

In the Gypseous Shale large

masses are found that Prof Eaton called vermicular
lime rock. This rock is essentially calcarious, strongly resembling porous or cellular lava.
In color,
it is a dark gray or blue rock, perforated everywhere
of the Clinton Group.

with curvilinear holes, but very compact between

These holes vary from microscopic

the holes.

irregular,

They

and communicate

in

to

are generally very

most instances with_

each other.

The resemblance
lava

is

perfect

of no small part of the rock to

but the structure of the cells leaves

into thin layers

The

origin.

were disposed

that parts of the rock

which project into

cells

cells,

show

separate

to

evidently

discovery in this rock of those forms which are due

different colored

common

showing that a soluble saline minit, had acquired shape in the rock,
and had subsequently been dissolved, leaving a cav-

to

salt,

eral

had

ity

or cavities."*

e.xisted in

vertniciilar rock

and eddies in those surges

which beat down and ground up these rocks,
numerous conical shaped hills, generally somewhat
to

yellow colored,

is

shales and slate."*

Owing

some

green, and

red,

the

it

having thin strata of clay between

Nowhere has a fossil been discovered in

layers of sandstone and

with

the

the result of the simultaneous forming of the rock,

and of a soluble mineral, whose removal caused the
cells in question.
This view is confirmed by the

or a pebble, or anything extraneous, except a few

thin

determined,

no doubt as to their mineral

is in layers,

them.
it,

1498

0.14
4.50
O.48

extensively manufactured into brick

sand

Marly.
68.86

0000

Water

some

half an inch in diameter.

Sandy.
-.6S.25

In

combined

size.

Gypseous or Green Shales, Containing the

Beds of Gvj'SU.m. Immediately upon, and united
with the Red Shales, we find the plaster-bearing.
Green Shales. The line of division is not well

A better

thin strata of sandstone near the top, but even these

fall

the transported stones which cover them have a

greater proportion of granite boulders of large

whirls

in thickness,

and
ner

appearing on James

at various
;

but

its

There are two masses of

this

one low down, of about twenty

other places

thickness

is

street,

the upper mass

not uniform.

feet

Syracuse,
is

thin-

In tne lower

longer from north to south than from east to west,

mass, on James street, are some specimens of crys-

and differing

talline

* Vanuium.

in sire

from a few acres to several

character, being serpentines, the action of

Vanuxum.

II

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

crystallization

having been

local,

producing selenite

and

quality,

is

sold on the

59

bank

of the canal,

some-

sometimes erroneously called mica.

Between the two layers of vermicular limestone
are the hopper-formed masses. Perhaps these hop-

valuable quarries are worked in the town of Camil-

per-formed rocks possess more interest for the geol-

Mile Creek exposes large masses.

The whole

ness of the gypseous shale

feet.

any other part of the group; because they

ogist than

much importance

duced,

it

before

the

asserted,

is

to the industry

These forms are pro-

of this part of the State.

by the

hardening of

crystallization of salt

clay.

The

supposition

being that while the whole mass was in the form of

mud, having a large quantity of dissolved salt mixed
with

it,

the

(in precisely the

salt,

solar salt,)

manufacture

process of the

observable in the

was attracted

same manner

particle to particle,

become

had

full

cracks

of

in

the

railroad cutting along the valley of

One hundred

295

Nine
thick-

which

1.03

vegetable matter, and 5.50 saline.

Prof Emmons
gives an analysis of the water of Mr. Geddes' well
is

Fairmount, which receives

at

seam

its water throuch a

vermicular lime rock, as follows

in the

One

quart evaporated slowly to dryness, the

last

part of the process being performed in a platinum

of

capsule, gave

Solid matter

pro-

is

very

grains in six ounces of rain water,

yield, of the debris of the shale, 6.53, of

and

assumed the form of a hopper, the mud filling

up; then, by the action of water falling
it
on the surface and percolating through the mass
that

The

lus.

are supposed to furnish proof of the origin of the

salt water, of so

Some

times, at less than one dollar per ton.

S.72

Organic matter

1.44

Saline

7.25

"The

water of the Hydrant Company,

which

supplies Syracuse, contains forty grains of saline

cess of drying, the salt

matter to the gallon.

down upon

sodium and calcium, sulphates of lime and alumina,

the

was dissolved and carried

more compact strata below, and by

the dip of the strata carried into rather than out

the

No

hill.

other

common

of,

soluble mineral present-

ing similar forms, and the fact that all our saltwater
is found below, and near these hopper-formed rocks,
The absence of
give great force to this theory.
salt around these hopper-formed rocks is accounted

by their being so near the surface that the rains

must long ago have carried it away. If an e.xcavation were made further south, where the overlying
rocks are thick enough to protect the salt-bearing
for

rocks from the

action of water, undissolved salt

Prof

Emmons

gives the composition of the hop-

per-formed masses as follows

Water of absorption

.56

500

Organic matter
Silex .__
Carbonate of lime
Alumina and protoxide of iron

34-5<5

43 06
13-36
i.oo

Sulphate of lime

Magnesia

2.17
99,71

Besides the minerals described as being

in,

we have yet to mention the

This valuable mineral is found in
the upper parts of the Salt Group,

various places in

throughout the
quarried in

whole county.

It

the towns of Manlius,

is

extensively

DeWitt, On-

The largest
and Elbridge.
openings are in the town of DeWitt, north east
from Jamesville.
found in masses
It is here
more than thirty feet thick, of an excellent
ondaga,

Camillus

of thechlorides of

The

springs that are

discharged from these rocks deposit

few

are

fossils

tufa.

Only a

found in the upper part of

the

Gypseous Shales. Prof Hall assigns the rocks

composing the salt group to a mud volcano that
was " charged with saline matter and corroding
acids which would alone destroy all organism."

Vanuxum

says

the salt

that

group as a whole

presents the same order of saline deposits, includ-

ing iron, observed

evaporation

is

in

the salt vats

carried on.

The

first

where

solar

deposit in the

ferruginous, being red oxide of iron, and

is

staining of a red color whatever

it

falls

upon

next deposit which takes place is the gypsum

third is the common salt, the magnesian and

the
the
cal-

cium chlorides remaining in solution. The group

shows first a thick mass, colored red with iron, being its Red Shale above which are the gypseous
masses towards the upper part of which are the
the sulphate of magnesia exists above
salt cavities
;

the whole of these deposits, its existence there being manifested by the needle-form cavities.

Water

and

belonging to this shale,

beds of gypsum.

with some organic matter."*^

vats

might be found.

It consists

of rocks.
all

lar

lime

is

It rests

127 feet thick.

in

the

name given

to the next

group

on the Gypseous S/iales, and is in

The lower measures are irregu-

their formation, having

uneven beds, with

This part of the rock

layers of varying thickness.
to which purpose it
fences,
is used mostly for farm
is

well adapted, resisting the action of frost, and

being so thin as to require little skill in laying, makThat

the most durable fence known.
inoit
^ Emmons.

OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

HIST DRY

Oo

making cenicnt is on the top, and contwo layers from three to four feet thick.
" Color drab, dull in its fracture, and com|X)sed of
minute grains with usually but few lines of division.
The up|)er of these courses burns more easily than
When burned, it is ground fine and
the lower.
one part of lime to from two to
mixed with sand
part used for
sists of

according to

six parts of sand,

speed with which

Owing

set.

it is

brick

it

any other substance but sand, for

ing water from springs. Such is

i)ipcs for

conduct-

strength that a

its

cylinder of pure cement and sand, six inches in diam-

one inch

eter, of

calibre, buried three feet in

the

ground, after some years became closed at the lower

end, and the pipe sustained the pressure of a

The

of water forty feet in height.

column

best practical

of this lime for

The

stone

when burned
water when

must not slake on the application of

ground, the cement must set quickly on being wet
keep its form under water, and harden till it becomes
It is sometimes inas hard as a well burnt brick.
jured by being burned too much, and very often it
Mr. Delafield says of
is not ground fine enough.
;

water lime: "If

it

it

slake, but

will

amount of

contains twenty per cent of clay,

cement.

will also

If

it

contains an

clay equal to thirty per cent

it

will

not

a first quality of lime."

sive exposure of water-lime

the village

of"

in large quantities.

it

Onondaga Valley and

in the

The

miles.

give any degree of energy required

bear even twenty per cent of argile

lime

that

mon

and meagre lime

is,

that

per cent of argile.

which

is

will

immersed
is

it

medium

mean between com-

The Onondaga Water-lime

simply an impure lime, having clay enough

make

all

it

along for

small outliers, in

some

seous group, but

in

On

cipitous.

places, extend over the gyp-

many

places the outcrop

is

pre-

the whole, perhaps, the average width

of land on the outcrop

not

is

more than

a quarter

of a mile.

Okiska.w Sandstone.

This

next above the water lime,

which

is

which

rock,

lies

of variable thickness

county, owing to the uneven surface upon

in this

it

At Manlius

was deposited.

it

is

but a few

inches in thickness, while to the southwest of the

Onondaga Valley it is seven feet, and at

Rock there is only a trace to be seen. Again it

village of

Split

thickens, and on the road from Elbridgc to Skaneateles

it is

about thirty

with some

quartz sand, such as

The

this stone
in

fossils

in

is

medium

sized

derived from the primary

are interesting, and

the State Reports.

may
Some

be
of

from the Skaneateles quarries was used

constructing locks

when

the Erie Canal was

made, and was found to wear very

in

This sandstone,

feet thick.

exceptions, consists of

well.

It is

first

used

the vicinity of the quarry for various structures.

CHAPTER

lime, the

pulverant, and

is

becomes solid, immediately, when

into water."

also found in

quarry, where

the quantity

one hundred of

lime does not slake, the mixture

when moistened,

It is

Rock

take from five to fifteen

When we augment

to forty parts of clay to

Common

But-

mill.

only additional localities necessary to

found represented

will

exten-

mention are the crossing of Nine Mile Creek and

Skaneateles Creek, over the rocks. The width of
surface underlaid by water-lime varies constantly

rocks.

lime

Split

face of the precipice

Sanzin, in his work on Civil Engineering (p 20) says

" Being master of the proportions of hydraulic lime,

we can

The most

about a mile south of

Manlius, at Brown's saw

slake well, nor heat, but forms an excellent cement."

:

is

ternut Creek, below Jamesville, near Dunlop's mill,

tests for persons unskilled in judging of the quality

cement, are

lower layers

accretions of a silicious nature, and there-

all

make

fore

appears

used with stone or

is

from

form

the construction of cisterns, and without

in

"The

contain a large proportion of ordinary lime, free

exposes

to its proi)erty of preserving its

and hardening under water,

"falls" in Limestone Creek.

and the
cement should

quality

its

desirable the

'

in

it

XV.

Geologv Continued Onondaga Limestone

COKNIFEKOUS LiMKSTONE SeNECA LIMESTONE
Makcellus Shales Hamilton Group
TuLLV Limestone Genesee Slate Ithaca

Large quancement arc manufactured from

our rocks and sent in barrels wherever required.
There are some courses of this group known by
the local name of blue lime, which being too pure in

stone, reaching in a well defined wall across the

lime for cement, are burnt for quick lime, and are

county, and easily traced from the Hclderberg near

also used

Albany

to

tities

fossils

it

resist the action of water.

Gkoup.

of hydraulic

(or

found

in

building purposes.
it,

Six varieties of

are represented in the State Re-

LIMESTONE. The

the ascending order

to

Lake

recognized by

its

the

About three-fourths

of a mile south-

west of the village of Manlius, this rock forms the

lime1

fossils, its

structure and toughness.

smooth encrinal stems wiuinites

found only in this rock

next in

Onondaga

This rock may be easily

gray color, crys-

Erie.

many

is

talline

ports.
Localities.

ONONDAGA

in

the State

" It

abounds
which

lavis)
;

some

in
is

of these

II

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Corniferous

stems are about an inch in diameter, and usually

In almost all cases
they are over half an inch.

by Prof Eaton

they are replaced by lamellar carbonate of lime."*

from

At
it is

Split

Rock, where

twenty-four feet thick.

water and

extensively quarried,

is

it

power

Its

frost

to resist the

and

strength

action of

air,

ability to

sustain great weight without crushing

the ease with

which

its

may be worked

it

of texture and soundness, giving

its

worked into elaborate mouldings, (the Court

House in Syracuse presenting a sample of this
render it the most valuable stone for
quality
The Rochbuilding of any known in this country.
ester Aqueduct and other principal structures on
the enlarged Erie and Oswego Canals in this
;)

have been made from

vicinity,

this stone.

It is

used

and presenting a

appearance when so polished as to bring

beautiful

out the fossils perfectly.

It is

generally nearly pure

lime, and when burned, will, in the process of slaking,

so increase in bulk that two parts become five.
Its analysis

by Lewis C. Beck, gives

Carbonate of lime
Oxide of iron

99-30

Insoluble matter, (sillica and alumina.)

slaked lime

of purest white.

is

forms terraces in some places, in others

presents

its

The

Rock

at Split

the surface

is

is

810

feet

above

places covering, and extending

of,

tide.

Very

to,

little

in

name

local

is

gray

and forming part

The

lime.

vertical joints of this rock are

E.,and
into

S. 55 to

convenient

shows

slight

The lower

tain

black

of

most

the perpendicular precipice before referred

The

"

top of the precipice

exposed, the overlying rock

to.

directions of the

N. 33 to 35 degrees
dividing the benches

57 degrees E.,
size for working.

The

surface

scratches, running north and south.

ledges of the limestone frequently con-

pebbles

admits of no doubt.
identity with the

whose

When

water-worn character
fractured they

show

sandstone nodules or accretions

CoRNiFEROUs LiMESTONE. Next above, and lying on the Onondaga, are the Corniferous and
Seneca Limestones, which are divided in the State
Reports merely because the upper measures have
fossil

The

Stmphoinena Lincata)

not found

below.

between the Helderberg series

and the next above is determined by these fossils.
line of division

* Vanuxum.

the upper, or what

Seneca limestone, is
Marcellus, showing vertical

called

is

and giving nearly

joints

lime furnished by

square

The

corners.

courses at the top of the quarry are about seven

inches thick and

immediately below the Black

lie

down they are thicker. The Corniferous limestone may be traced by its outcrop all
the way through the county, the top of the rock
Shales

lower

sometimes barely covered with

earth, presenting

plateaus which slope to the south and west in the

Near Manlius village, west of

Onondaga Hill, these plains

direction of the dip.

Jamesville, and north of

are widest.

The

general width of this exposure of

Corniferous and Seneca Limestone

At

a mile.

Split

Rock

With

and is forty feet thick.

Helderberg division.

Marcellus Shales

849

is

it

is

the

less than half

is

feet

above

tide,

terminates the

it

name given

to the
" It

under the action of water and frost. The silicoargillaceous matter predominates over the calcari-

There

ous.

is

The

mineral acids.
highly charged

lime to

sufficient

effervesce with

lower part of the rock

with

lime than the

contains small particles of coal, and

tions have been
this

made

mineral

valuable

in

it

in

in

is

more

upper."*

many

It

excava-

the hope of finding

sufficient

quantities

to

These excavations are

the mining
no longer made, and the general spread of geological knowledge has taught the public' that there is
no hope of finding coal in this rock in remunera-

make

profitable.

tive quantities.

Its peculiar fossil is the Marce/ltis

Goniatite, which, with

some

others,

in the State Reports.

It also

abounds

is

represented
in oval bodies

which are impure limestone, the

materials of which were deposited along with the
shaly matter but, in consequence of the play of
called

Seftaria,

the calcarious part separated from the

oreat mass of shaly matter, and the molecules combined to form the bodies under consideration. Duraffinities,

found in the Oriskany sandstone."*

The

not pure, especially the lower layers

by its color and by exhaling a

is characterized
bituminous odor when rubbed. It is a slate, thinbedded and easily broken, and disintegrates rapidly

precipices

one of the Green Lakes.

is

.40

whole thickness. The

are, the one at Split
two most marked
Rock, and the other northwest of Jamesville, near

perpendicular walls for

this rock

black rock that rests on the Helderberg range.

This rock
it

or horn stone in nodules

flint

in parallel layers.

.20

99,90

The

containing

extensively quarried at

ing

as a marble, bearing a hfgh polish,

to this limestone
survey of the Erie Canal,

in his

evenness

capability of be-

it

its

arranged

name given

the

is

6i

process of drying, the argillo-calcarious

and cracks, forming thereby septa,
shrinks
matter
filled by infiltration, either
subsequently
which are
of barytes or stronsulphate
the
or
calcite

ing the

with

tian."t

At

*Emmons.

Manlius, a black limestone, from

\

five to

Emmons.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

62

found in the midst of the shales.

weathered out into extremely rough masses, so

ten feet thick,

It is

is

who worked

that the persons

"chawtd rock'.'

Its

usually called

it

composition docs not

difl'er

when

value and im()ortance

masses make the true

There
Manlius

is

known

is

it

in

that these

Roman Cement.*

It

is

At Marcellus

quite local.

sink holes exist in the underlying stones,

which portions of the upper masses have

This shale

is

fallen.

Onondaga County

said to be thicker in

than anywhere else, forming throughout the base of

the next group, between which and the one

under consideration no well defined

The

has yet been observed.

now

line of division

Marcellus Shales, in

addition to lime, contain carbonate of magnesia.

between the rocks denominated in the

State Reports Marcrllus and Hamilton Shales, is not
easily determined except by an examination of the
As we ascend the sloj)e the rocks become
fossils.
more sandy, lose their color and slaty character,
until we find ourselves upon those which arc in the

The

line

containing very

main
magnesian matter.
IIamii,to.v Group.
silicious.

calc.irions or

"This group abounds

in fos-

such as shells, corals, trilobites, fucoids,

sils,

York

in

is

(The

rocks.

sented

it

the most prolific of

characteristic

the State Reports.)

Hudson

to

Lake

Erie,

and a

of marine origin.

few plants resembling those

organic remains

the

little

It

all

the

In

New

ones are repre-

extends from near

and consists of

shale, slate

and sandstone, with endless mixtures of these maThey form three distinct mineral masses as
terials
to kinds, but not as to superposition or

arrangement,

though generally the sandy portion is in the middle

This rock, with the Marcellus
group."*
Shales, covers a large part of the county south of
the Helderbcrg range, appearing in the towns of

of the

Manlius.

Pompcy. Onondaga, Marcellus, Skane-

atcles, SpalTord, LaKayette, Otiscoand Tully.

The

own

they are denuded of their

vegetation

In

debris,

many

places

and as a result

comparatively stinted.

is

The Tfi.LV Limesto.nf. rests on the Hamilton

Group and marks the line of division between it and
This rock varies from fourteen
the Genesee Slates.
twenty

to

the rock about a mile west of

/iiii/( in

village.

numerous
into

ma-

from that of the Septaria, and w ill increase

terially

it

are exposed in steep precipices.

feet in thickness.

an impure,

It is

fine-

grained limestone, "dark or blackish blue, breaking

owing

into irregular fragments,

to the particles of

carbonate of lime separating from a mixed mass of

It makes a good but not white
innumerable points.
most
southern mass of limestone
It is the
lime."*
There are two fossils wholly peculiar
in the State.

to

it

the Cuboidal

Atrypa, and the Tully Ortliis

which are represented in the State Reports. This

rock is seen on the west side of the Delphi \'allcy
and at Tinker's Falls, near the county line, " where
the water flows over the rock about fifty feet, which
projects ten or

The

it.

at various points
it

takes

On

name.

its

It

also appears

the town of Tully, from which

in

the west side of the valley

Onondaga Creek and

of
it

beyond the shale beneath

fit'teen feet

usual fossils are present."

in

the vicinity of Vesper,

has been burned for lime.

It

underlies nearly the

whole of the town of Otisco. The valley of Otisco

Lake cuts it, the outcrop being seen on both sides

About

of the lake.

a mile south of Horodino, in

the town of Spaflbrd,

which stone

The

for

presents a bold wall from

it

lime and building has been taken.

outcrop

line of the

easily traced along the

is

east side of Skaneatclcs Lake, from this point

the county line

underlies and

is

makes the

floor of

Cortland Valley

The most

a great distance south.

till

This rock probably

passed.

for

northerly point

which it appears is in the northeast corner of the

town of Otisco but from the elevation of the town
of Pompcy, it must underlie a considerable portion
at

of that town, although

cannot be seen.

it

all

it is

The

so covered with soil that

Tully limestone terminates

those deposits in which calcarious matter forms

an essential

part.

The

thickness of the Marcellus and Hamilton Shales,

by computing the dip, is fy()\ feet. The top of the

Ge.nesee Slate resting on the Tully limestone, underlies and forms the hills and most of the

group, at a point east of and near Skaneatclcs Lake,

The two points from which
feet above tide.
1
is

soils in the

this calculation

is

made,

one of

them being near

83 of the town of On-

the north east corner of lot

ondaga, the other on the east side of Skaneatclcs
are distant from each other sixteen and a
Lake,

half miles in a direct line.

braced in this distance

is

The whole

ning nearly north and south, and

every stream that flows

Vinuium.

surface em-

cut into deep valleys run-

down

at the crossing of

the slopes, the rocks

south part of the towns of Pompcy, Fabius,

Vanuxum

Tully, Otisco and Spaflbrd.

rock.that

it is

an argillaceous

says of the

mass, which, with

fissile

great propriety, might be termed in English local

geological phraseology, a iud rock.

The few

fossils

it

contains are represented in the State Reports.

It

may

readily be

known by

formation and position,

its

black color, slaty

being between the Tully

limestone and the sandstone flags of the base of

the Ithaca group.
Vanuxum.

II

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The Ithaca Group

is

formed from

as

it,

of the highest

in

But

Onondaga county.

the last formation that

is

description

requires

giving

of

a small portion of the soil

merely appears on the tops

it

Vanuxum

hills.

the geology

describes

it

as " a

mass of hard, coarse shale and sandstone, dark in

color, often brown after exposure, owing probably
characteristic fossil is found
to manganese."

near,

south

but

the

Corners,

the

of

Intcrsiriate

cou^ity

line,

Above

represented in the State Reports.

rocks, but

the

beyond the

Chemung,

Scott's

at

Strophomena, which

is

these

of this county, rise

limits

Old Red Sandstone. Con-

Catskill,

glomerate and Coal Measures,

all

representing a

having a dip that goes to

show that the whole belongs to one upheaval from
the sea, in which these rocks that furnish the

northern outcrop, and

material for our soils were formed during those vast

periods

which

time

of

employed

Marl and Tufa.

for supply-

now surround man's happy

ing the comforts that

dwelling places.

Supreme Being has

the

up these resources

in storing

Marl

is

a carbonate of lime

which has separated from its solvent in water, the

particles
from cohering
preventing its
latter
and allowing them to subside
ous mud.

many

It is in

in the state of calcari-

cases constantly depositing

On the
from water holding lime in solution."*
north side of the Helderberg range there are extenbeds of marly tufa that are due to the dissolvOn the
ing of the calcarious rocks of that group.
sive

south side marl

is

two deposits of marl, which separate three deposits

muck, with stumps and roots chiefly of tamarack
and balsam."* Southeast of the village of DeWitt,

of

excavating for the

in

found in various places, due to

canal feeder, stumps were

found some feet below the surface, showing that a

forest had been destroyed by some rise in the water,
caused perhaps by a

dam

The

of driftwood.

trees

died and decayed to the surface of the water, the

stumps being preserved by the water.

In time
filled up with alluvium, and again there
was a forest of cedars. In the swamp north of the
the pond

canal, in the

town of Van Buren, there

tensive deposit of marl, and

it

found

is

an ex-

is

in various

other places, in some cases pure enough to

make

valuable lime, and in others so mixed with earth as

be merely a calcarious

to

clay.

There are many places south of the Helderberg

range where the springs deposit calcarious matter
in the form of tufa.
These masses are constantly
increasing as the water flows over them, and casts
off" leaves and
parts of trees around them.
Calcarious

"

63

found

tufa is

along

all

base of the

the

Helderberg range wherever a spring flows

out.

Below the gypseous rocks it is seen in large masses.

These rocks being permeable to water, this fluid
becomes charged with lime, and when it appears on

The

deposits

the towns of Manlius,

De Witt

the surface the tufa

numerous

in

and Camillus.

"

are

deposited.

is

Along Nine Mile Creek

it

has

the crystalline character of alabaster, showing successive layers also, and in quantity suitable for the

smaller purposes for which that beautiful substance

used when polished."!

Ferruginous

water percolating through limestone gravel that has

been transported from the Helderberg group. The

is

southern deposits are inconsiderable when compared with the great northern beds which extend,
nearly unbroken, from east to west across the coun-

northeast of Syracuse in quite an extensive deposit,

ty.

The

principal localities of marl,

due to drift de-

with hydrate of iron,

is

tufa,

stained

found two and a half miles

on land formerly owned by Mr. Wheeler. There

another and similar one on Nine Mile Creek

is

below the village of Marcellus.

These deposits of

In

ferruginous tufa, and a small one of bog ore, on

both these towns marl has been fashioned into the

the Oneida River, are due to the decomposition of

rocks containing iron, or are derived from the soil

the towns of Fabius and Tully.

posits, are in

form of brick, dried and burned into lime, making a

lakes of Tully are con-

by the agency of decomposing vegetable matter.

In the town of Fabius, on Limestone Creek, there
quantity of tufa, showing the three
is a large

The

varieties,

very superior article for finishing walls, and selling

at

about twice the price of lime burned from the

common

The

limestone.

stantly depositing marl.

waters that supply

these lakes run through pebbles of limestone and

are thus charged with calcarious matter,

twig or obstruction

crusts

every

Cicero

Swamp

is

that

a bed of lake marl.

which
it

in-

meets.

Onondaga

and Cross Lakes have many feet of it all over their

beds.
The railroad, as it approaches the tunnel east

by the excavation, a section

showing in the ditch, clay. End

of Syracuse, exposes,
of great interest, "
* Vanuxum.

called,

the

earthy, solid or horsebone, as

it is

and the ferruginous.

Peat, or Muck, is found in great abundance in

The conditions necthe swamps and low grounds.
moisture,
permanent
are
essary for its production,
impermeable
marl,
with a subsoil of either clay or

formed of successive growths of

vegetation which have died and become brown or
It is spongy and retentive o f water, and by
black.
to

water.

* Vanuxum.

It

is

^'''<'-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

64

successive growths has raised

bed, so that

its

appcats in mounds and hillocks.

this is aided greatly by deposits

some

In

it

localities

of tufa constantly

forming beneath it. Usually the surface is soft,

yielding to pressure and trembling when walked

town of

In the

upon.

Clay, in this county, are

while the

hills

have

soils

formed principally from

the decomposition of the shales that underlie them,

constituting a

soil

that would best be

classed as

loam.

The

drift

of the northern part of this county

derived from the rocks which outcrop

is

here and

extensive beds of peat, which, judging from experiments recently made by Mr. James M. Hart, promise

from those which are seen farther to the north.

The Medina sandstone contributes largely to the

be of great importance as fuel. An analysis

of a si)ccimcn of compressed peat, from the works
of Mr. Hart, made by Francis E. Engclhardt, I'h. D.,

soil, in

to

Chemist

for the Salt

Company. Syracuse,

1877, gave the following result

Moisture

cxjx:llcd at

212 Fah't

Volatile matter

March,

--

Of

above

1,300.

the peat c/iarcoal, also

Mr.

made

Hart,

at

Engelhardt gives

Ur.

the works of

the

following

analysis
F'i.xed

silica

soil,

which arc so

that they are comparatively

by the water, and are retained

The

the use of plants

in

the southern valleys, and therefore wheat

duced

in

them with

in a letter to

Dr.

profit.

Emmons,

the

soil

lime of the Helderberg

range constitutes the principal part of the

gravity was found to be, after the esair,

combined with

feldspar and mica

52.84

100.00
sjiecific

The decomposing

of the granite give alkalies to the

for

10.37

The

find also considerable portions of

12.17

2462

Ash.

cape of the moist

granitic rocks.

unafl'ected

Fi.xed carbon

in

which we

drift
is

of

pro-

The late David Thomas,

says

Generally it is good wheat land as far south as

the detritus from our limestone formations has been
abundantly spread. The current thai swept over this
country took a southerly direction, and wherever the
slate rocks were exposed to its action, a portion of
them became mixed with the soil thus, near such
"

.- 67.20
32.80

carbon

Moisture, volatile matter and ash

localities,

the

soil is less

calcarious and less favorable

The drift from our rocks grows less and

we go south, and as it grows scarcer, the
fragments have become more worn and rounded in

to wheat.
less as

100.00

CHAPTER

their progress, giving a less and less proportion of

About twenty miles south
the diluvial formation.

XVI.

Classiiication of Soils
CliAgkiculturk
mate Timber Clearing Land Picture of
Pioneer Life Productions of the County.

THE

soils

are

the basis of agriculture, and

therefore require

first to

be considered

in

any

North of the Erie Canal,

in Onondaga county, the sandy and clay soils prevail.
The sand predominates in some districts, in others
treatise

on that subject.

the clay, while in larger areas they arc mi.xcd in the

proportions best calculated to keep the

soil

from

being too heavy and tenacious, on the one hand, or

This desirable
too loose and friable, on the other.

combination

is

known

as loam, and

of a large portion of the drift

soil

is

the character

in

the northern

part of the county.

In a belt lying along the south side of the canal

and extending to the Marccllus Shales, there is less

of drift and the soil is more directly due to the decomiwsition of the underlying rocks of the

salt

group and the I Icldcrbcrg range. These soils come

under the head of clayey loams. The rest of the
county to the south is divided by valleys and ranges
of hills, whose general course is north and south.

The

valleys are covered with drift

and alluvium,

of the Pennsylvania line every trace of our rocks

disappears.
The people residing on the Susquehanna used to supply themselves with lime by gathering and burning small fragments of rounded
stones from the shores, much of them not larger
than gravel, and which doubtless were swept from
this district."

Of
"

the formation of soils Dr.

The

composition,

Emmons

says

the structure and position of rocks, have an important bearing

on the discussion of the formation of soils. Each
of the groups respectively impart to the overlying
soils some of their distinguishing characteristics,
liability to solution,

and in a good measure make them what they are.

Transporting agencies modify them by intermingling soils that have originated from rocks that are
Unless the beds of drift
to be found at a distance.
are deep, it will be found that the underlying rocks
give a stronger character to the soft materials than
is usually supposed.
Limestones are liable to a constant loss of materials by the solvent properties of
rain water, which holds carbonic acid in solution.
This is favored by rough and uneven surfaces on
which water will stand. Polished surfaces are acted
on but little. The shales and slates disintegrate
rapidly- water and frost arc the agents."

Of

the

wearing down of silkious limestone, or

calcarious sandstones, he says

"The

lime dissolves out, leaving the sand on the

surface, which falls ofiand leaves a new surface, from

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

which the lime is dissolved and the sand falls. The
dissolved lime, however, does not all pass into and remain in the soil, but is carried down and forms, very
frequently, with other materials, a hard pan, or puddling stone, or concretions, the lime acting as a
In other instances it percolates into and
cement.
through the rocks and forms stalactites, veins or

Lime
other deposits.
the same manner that
this

element

is

is

removed from the

soil in

from the rocks

Thus
removed by vegetation and the
it

is

ordinary action of rain water."

extracts, with

These

what

to the formation of soils,

else has
is

it

judged

been said as
be suffi-

will

Onon-

cient for a general description of the soils of

The composition

of the rocks from

daga county.
which they are formed being given in the Geology,
it is thought that a careful study of their constituents, with some practical discrimination on the part
of farmers, with reference to drift
tions, will

certainty,

enable them

what

their lands

and

alluvial forma-

know, with

to

usually

favorable to the

is

although considerable

cultivated,

difference of temperature

is

shown

in the

same

sea-

son within the limits of the county, on account of

different degrees of elevation.

The

differences, for

example, between the average temperature of

Pom-

pey Hill and that of Onondaga Valley, has been

shown by observations taken at the academies of
during a period of sixteen

years, to be 4.34 deg. Fah't.

The

difference in alti-

tude between the two places being 1,343

effect of elevation

feet,

the

on temperature would be equal

one degree of the thermometer to each 309J

feet, which agrees substantially with what has been
to

claimed by Coffin and others.

The

effect of this elevation

was

practically illus-

September, 1859, the

coldest day for the season ever known here. Everything throughout the high portions of the county
trated

on the 15th day

of

was destroyed by frost, while it was observed by

those descending into the valleys that tobacco and
corn were comparatively uninjured.
not always as severe on

Pompey

Hill

The

frost is

as the tem-

perature would indicate, on account of the free

cir-

which sometimes prevents damage

to crops when those in the valleys are touched and
injured.
The year referred to above was an exceptional year, and yet little damage was done to crops
culation of

air,

except in the highest portions of the county.

" In the

Unlike the pioneer

the

settlers of

broad and

already cleared prairies of the great West, the

of the county

the respective places,

with-

of,

growth and perfection of the fruits, vegetables and

cereals

was trifling. The outer ends of

the corn leaves were touched as by a breath of fire,
but the husks of the ears were safe, and the crop
went on to maturity. On the great level north of
the Erie Canal, except in a few localities, the crops
were scarcely affected, and the ameliorating influence of Oneida Lake, combined with diminished
elevation, was a perfect protection to vegetation on
its borders.
Every other large body of water did
good service to the farmers that morning. In the
vicinity of Skaneateles Lake, lima beans were the
only vegetables touched.
month elapsed before
we had another such a cold night.
" The length of the summer season in the
State
generally, reckoning from the first blooming of the
apple trees to the first killing frost, is 174 days.
In Onondaga it is 17410 180, thus giving us three
more summer days than the average of the State,
while Long Island has twelve and a half more, and
St. Lawrence twenty-two days less than the average
of the State."
effect of the frost

sufficient

are composed

out special analysis.

The Climate

65

"

was
found that the leaves of unharvested tobacco showed
slight injury, which grew less and less as the elevation diminished.
Below the Helderberg range the
town of DeWitt," says Mr. Geddes,

it

first

farmers of Onondaga county encountered a forest of

giant growth, from whose dominion a portion of
the

soil

had

labor, with

to be

redeemed by hard and persistent

many accompanying

privations, as pre-

liminary and necessary steps to making

and

At

their families a subsistence.

ration

was worn out

in this

it

yield

least

them

one gene-

sturdy battle with the

giant forest, in felling the trees, burning them as

cumberers of the ground, splitting them into

and in making clearings and improvements
cient for comfortable

homes for the next generation.

The men who encountered

heroes of that age

rails,

suffi-

the

the

forest

were the

pioneers of civilization,

the founders of new States.

It

required a hardihood

and a perseverance which we of this generation

can hardly appreciate.
In some portions of this
county the timber never would have been cleared
away never could have been but for the fish in
the waters and the game with which the woods
abounded. These aided the pioneers and afforded
them subsistence till they could raise a living from

the

soil.

Let us follow the pioneer as he selects his home

the wilderness and erects his rude log cabin.
The opening made in the woods at first is such only
as is necessary to supply the logs for his cabin and the
in

browse for his cattle. He has come a long journey

with an ox team, and brought with him a cow, a
couple of pigs and a few sheep. These, with a
bed, two or three chairs, a pot and a kettle, and a
few other indispensable articles

for

house-keeping,

few and scanty, constitute his outfit and the bulk

of his worldly wealth.

peeled elm bark

his

The

roof of his house

scanty window

is

is

of

oiled paper,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

66
for glass is a luxurj-

new

to the

halves of

which has not yet found

The

settlement.

split logs,

the door

its

floor of his cabin

is

made of

way
of

is

hewed

three

for no saw mill

There arc yet no
Miles and
roads, no bridges across the streams.
nearest
is
his
forest
dense
miles away through the

plank

no boards are

to

be had,

within accessible distance.

is

This

neighbor.

is

the spot which the pioneer has

in which to car\-e out his future fortune.

The
Against what fearful odds is he battling
trees which cover his estate with the growth of
centuries arc to be attacked and cleared away, and

chosen

.'

the land

is

to

be paid

for.

The

task surely

is

'

Take another view of him. Forty-five years are

supposed to have elapsed since we saw him first
commencing his wilderness home. Not only is his
home, but the homes of

his neighbors

around him,

are in a well cultivated and rich section of farming

country.

He

debt.

His lands and tenements are free from

has added to his primitive possessions,

and secured lands for his sons, if not at home, in

some one of the Western States, where they are
also to

become pioneers

of

new

He

settlements.

has flocks and herds.

The

surplus produce in his

granaries he

sell

or keep, as he chooses.

He

able to

is

a forehanded, independent farmer,

is

having

herculean one, but he has a stout heart and a strong

founded and worked out his own fortune by long

arm.

years of

year or two pass away and

we

see the im-

provements which have been made. Our pioneer

has chopped down and cleared a few acres. The
front is fenced with a new rail fence, and a brush

Near the
Here

fence protects the ends and the rear.

house

is

a small patch cleared for a garden.

patient

and

persevering

things have changed on

his

As

industry.

premises and

his

in

home, so have they improved in the whole neighborhood around him. There are fine cultivated fields,
thrifty orchards, tasty and substantial farm buildings and neat cottages.
The farms are well fenced

The

and neatly kept.

mower and

plow, the cultivator,

steel

he has raised some vegetables during the season,

which have supplied the first delicacies to his cabin
A crop of corn, pumpkins and potatoes has
tabic.

have taken the place of the

old implements with which the pioneers began farm

been raised among the charred and blackened

where there are schools, churches, telegraph, express

but the distance

is

logs,

so great to a mill, the quantity of

the

life.

reaper,

prosperous hamlet has sprung up near by,

and post

offices.

This hamlet, moreover,

is

a rail-

corn so small that he can carry on horseback, or the

road station, affording a market, and through which

the time consumed in going with his oxen and sled

trains pass daily to

so great, that he has extemporized a contrivance for

centres of

A mortar
dug
out
in
a
hard
wood
been
log,
and
has
a pestle
suspended to a spring-pole, and in this the corn is
being pounded to supply the needs of the family,

converting his corn into coarse meal.

except on

extraordinary occasions

bread, from the small

great cost,

is

amount of

when wheaten

flour

procured at

used as a luxury.

and from the great

commerce and

Such has been pioneer life and progress in the

New York generally, nor is the sketch we
have drawn less truly a picture of early settlement
in Onondaga county.
State of

The

forests

which the farmers in a few generawere originally dense, and

tions have thus subdued,

Large forests of white

grew in the north part of the county, the
stumps of which, on account of their resinous
pine

to have the appearance of careful

management,- thrift, and even comfort. Various
crops arc growing on many acres of cleared land.

properties, last for ages in the soil.

lands

so rude, begin

payment has been made on the property.

lie

has a neat framed barn

built, a well, provided with

curb and sweep, and a garden enclosed by a picket

fence.

look into his fields shows a large increase

have reached

The improvements of
his, so that he can now

out looking up.

ized,

A school

district

his

neighbors

look out with-

has been organ-

and a comfortable log school house appears in

A framed bridge spans the stream

the distance.
in

place of the primitive one built of logs.

pioneer,

or

we may venture

Captain of

militia.

Justice of the Peace.

to

assume,

and

the timber generally heavy.

But look again at our pioneer. Ten years are

supposed to have passed away. The premises, late

in his stock.

cities

intelligence.

is

Our

either Colonel

Supervisor of the town or

This disadvan-

tage, however, to clearing the land,

for

iinother

in
is

direction.

The

is

compensated

soil

of the pine

usually so light and porous on the surface

that the

stumps may be

lifted

a perfectly sound condition by

machine.

out of their beds

means

in

of a stumping

This valuable invention enabled the peoand the northern portion of the coun-

ple of Cicero

ty to clear their otherwise valuable

and beautiful

farms of the persistent incumbrance of pine stumps

which for years had rendered them unsightly and
seriously interfered

many

with

their

cultivation.

For

years the road between Syracuse and Brewer-

ton was lined on both sides with these stumps set

up on edge
posed

of,

for fences.

Since they have been

dis-

the people of that section have as fine and

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

beautiful farms as are to

be found

any portion of

in

the county.

The

area of the pines in

chiefly in

Onondaga county was

grew even above the

White cedar abounded

a few scattering trees

limestone.

swamps north

cornifer-

the

in

Helderberg range, and

of the

in

among the pines in the southern

Hemlock was very plenty in almost every

small quantities

swamps.

part of the county, but

ly

most abundant

making

for building, fencing, for

used

the north-

in

This valuable timber has been extensive-

ern half

salt barrels

and the construction of plank roads. Tamarack,

two varieties of spruce, hickory, white-wood, basswood, maple, beech, and white and black oak, have

Wheat. Previous

of a variety of wheat then litesteemed, the Mediterranean, which, on trial, escaped the ravages of the insect. At once this
tle

wheat was

another near

it

land

gave 154 feet of

owned by Wheeler

Truesdell.

Some very

were found in the

low lands north of the canal, and scattered among
One of
the scrub oaks of the Gypseous shales.
them at Fairmount was saved when the other
large white oaks

timber was cut away, but deprived of

ings,

surround-

its

soon died, and of consequence was cut down.

it

The stump was

five feet in diameter,

and

forty feet

somewhat eliptical, the

diameters measured four feet six inches,

above, where the trunk was

respective

and three
nearly

feet ten inches.

progress of improvement has swept

The

all

now remains
coal

away

the original forests, so that not enough

to

meet the demands

The

for fuel.

mines of Pennsylvania are now largely drawn

salt, and

demand

it is

for seed,

and has since come

has gradually improved on the

of the county, till the flour made
It

natural wheat soil

from

They grew on

in

into general use.

chaff"

logs.

Onondaga

was the substitution

Along the south side of the Gypseous shales

were some pine trees of uncommon dimensions.
Near the northeast corner of the town of Camillus,
one was cut down that measured 230 feet as it lay
saw

to the year 1846,

county produced wheat of the best quality, and in

such quantities that it was the great staple and the
crop from which the farmers expected to realize
their profits.
In that year the midge destroyed the
crop, and opened the eyes of the farmers to a danger they had not anticipated. The first remedy

been prevailing timber in this county.

on the ground

State Agricultural Society for 1859, in

is elaborately treated by Hon.

which the subject

George Geddes.

the northern portion, although they were

found along the base of the Helderberg range, and

ous

New York

67

perhaps equal

in quality to that of

the red

wheat formerly raised. Since the ravages of

the midge began, more spring wheat has been raised
than formerly.
ty,

portion of the lands of the coun-

the upper measures of the Hamilton group and

Genesee

the

slates,

represented

in

the town of

Spaffbrd, are best adapted to spring wheat, while

Camillus and the lands situated on the shales of

the Salt group, are best adapted to the production
of winter wheat.

Meadows and Pastures. Over

thirty per cent,

of the improved lands of this county are devoted to

pasture, and over eighteen per cent, to

Red

meadow.

and red-top are sown and culpasture and hay.

It is very rare that

clover, timothy,

tivated for

any other grass seeds are sown, but in most of the

meadows and pastures which have stood a few
years, white clover, spear grass, Kentucky blue
grass, orchard grass, &c.,

make

their appearance.

In ordinary seasons, good farming will secure not

less

than two tons of hay to the acre, and

this

can

be cut and properly taken care of for about $2.00

upon, not only by the manufacturers of

per ton.

inhabitants of the city of Syracuse and adjoining

Tobacco. The cultivation of tobacco as a crop

was commenced in this county by Chester Moses
and Nahum Grimes, both of the town of Marcellus,
They joined in hiring a man from Conin 1845.
In 1846,
necticut who was skilled in the culture.
Salina,
the
town
of
Nearing,
then
of
Col. Mars
raised ten acres, and soon others were engaged in a

villages,

From

but also by the farmers.

the

lands," as

first

settlement of the county the

"

oak

they have been called by the farmers,

have been proverbial

for their

ability to

produce

All that tract of land once covered with

wheat.

oak and hickory,

is

the true wheat land

the beech

and maple lands are best adapted to pasturage, and

the pine lands are generally well suited both to grain

and grass.

We

have not space

to introduce here the interest-

ing discussion of the clover plant as related to the

agriculture of the county,

the analyses of clover

and clover ash furnished by Prof.

others

Emmons

and

but refer the reader to Transactions of the

The census of
way in raising this crop.
1855 shows that in the preceeding year 471 1-8

small

acres were raised in the county, yielding 554,987

pounds, or an average yield of 1,178 pounds to the
acre.

It is

thought that

this

crop pays a better

on suitable ground, and when skillfully

handled, than any other raised here. The production in 1859 was estimated by Mr. Benjamin Clark

profit,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

68

of Marcellus, as amounting

value to $150,000, of

in

the leading agriculturists of the State, both theo-

and

retical

$10,000 worth in Skancateles, $20,000 worth in

Buren, $10,000 worth in Lysander, $8,000
worth in Manlius, $5,000 worth in Camillus, $4,000

more prominent

worth in Geddes, $8,000 worth in Salina. 6,000

worth in Elbridgc, $8,000 worth in Onondga. and
the remainder divided among the other towns.
In 1870. the census gave 1,255.400 pounds of

Vale

Van

tobacco raised in the county, distributed

towns as follows
Clay, 123.039;

Geddes, 3,900

Camillus. 51.770

among

the

Cicero, 7,638

DeWitt. 38,016; Elbridge, 2,808;

LaP'ayettc, 475

Lysander, 465.585

Onondaga,
Marcellus. 45.293
1 22.1 51
10,500; Pomi)ey, 37,295; Salina, 31.550; Skancateles, 33.150; Van Hurcn, 266,640.
Manlius,

CHAPTER
Comparative

Statistics

Agricultural

Society

He was

XVII.

Influential

Aoki-

native of

The

10, 1767.

date of his settlement in Marcellus

was September, 1795,

Oneida county.

valuation, the aggregate value of her farms being

is

exceeded only by Monroe,

Oneida, Westchester, and St. Lawrence counties,

whose farms are valued respectively at 42,047,759,

$40.21 1.650. $39o05.S35. and $38.3W.743The county of Onondaga has the largest' amount
of

money

invested

farm buildings other than

in

The

dwellings, the aggregate being $4,798,545.

counties which come

nearest this

spectively, Dutchess, $4,718,928

345

Oneida, $4,571,453

amount

as following

it

county, and in

practically as a pursuit,

all

arc re-

Orange, $4,631,and St. Lawrence, $4,-

Of

this

amount

Onondaga county contributed $3,667,933. while she

was the fourth in the number of acres plowed,
namely, 19.340 acres. She was the fourth county
1

also

in

bushels.

Indian corn, her product being

The

894,723

In the yield of oats she was only exceeded

by four counties
counties

in

whole section of the State,

this

the

largest

number

of

were Steuben. 80,617 LivWashington, 63,359; Ontario,

fleeces of wool in 1875

68,832;
60,219; Genesee, 47.779; and Onondaga, 41,956.
All these counties cut fewer fleeces than in 1855,

ingston,

although the weight of the fleeces

is

in

each county

its

is

He contributed some

State Agricultural Reports and the leading agricul-

Mr. John

Ellis, father of

of Syracuse, was the

103. in the

James M.
to

first

Ellis, Esq.,

introduce

merino

In 1796 he settled on Lot

sheep into the county.

town of Onondaga.

About 1802 or

1803,

he purchased of Col. Humphrey, of Connecticut, two

bucks and two ewes, of the pure merino stock

which Col. Humphrey had imported from Spain,

paying $1,500 for the four head. Mr. Ellis bred
these sheep extensively on his farm and laid the
foundation of wide improvement in the stock of
fine wooled sheep throughout the country.
After
his death, Mr.
fine

flocks

James M.

Ellis continued to breed

sheep on the farm formerly

of these

his father,

till

1854.

Mr. Davis Cossitt, of Onondaga

been an extensive breeder of

Hill,

has also

merino sheep, and

has at present a very fine flock.

Timothy Sweet was one of the earliest and best

known farmers of the county. He emigrated to
Pompey in 1794, reaching what is now the " Old
Homestead " on the 28th of January, where within
days Kneeland Sweet was born.
Within
months after his arrival Mr. Timothy Sweet
was elected to the office of fence viewer, and at the
next town meeting to the office of Commissioner
In this capacity he labored for many
of Highways.
three

years,
in

early citizens

some of

and assisted

in

the original town.

nent,

increased.

This county had among

is

the

eight

the State.

cutting

it

in

of the ablest papers and articles of his day to the

the farm products of the

State in 1875 were $121,187,467.

and

securing the passage of the law for the benefit of

owned by

gross sales of

Hartford,

himself to

claimed that the improvement of agriculture

222,099.

The

New

Mr. Bradley devoted

a scientific study of farming theoretically, as well

counties of

the State having farms of the highest cash

This

having spent several

after

years as a minister of the gospel, in

tural journals.*

$37,251,541.

Haddam, Conn where he was born June

County.

five

He was

of M. A. at the age of twenty-three.

agricultural societies in 1819.

Socie-

one of the

Dan

a graduate from

the class of 1798, and received the degree

Agricultural
ties Thk Present Joint Stock Company
General Agricultural Statistics of the

is

Hon.

first

due more to his influence than to that of any other

man. Indeed, this may be sakl of the State at
large, inasmuch as he was chiefly instrumental in

cuLTUKisTs County

ONONDAGA

county

the

of

or

earlier

part than the President of the

of Marcellus.

Bradley,
in

None took an

practical.

which $25,000 worth was produced in Marcellus,

* See

if

laying out most of the roads

He

soon became a promi-

not the leading, farmer in the town, and

Hiitsrjr

of Mucellui.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

one of the

in

first

the county.

In

1803, he pur-

chased of Dr. Mordecai Hale, of New York City,

two cows of Mr. Livingston's importation. These

were of the best short-horned stock of that day.

From 1800 to 1817 he was the most prominent
farmer in the county,

'

more land and producAbout

tilling

ing the most grain, cattle, horses and sheep.

this

time he divided his property

among

his children

He

the State.

much

has devoted

and

having
j

contributed articles on various branches of agricul\

ture to the Country Gentleman, the

ing

New York

His able

and other journals.

Tri-

Thus

topography, geology

the

the State.

resources

of

the

In 1 85 3 a new law was passed, allowing county

agricultural societies to purchase and hold real es-

Mr.

Geddes as a member of the State and local AgriSocieties, has ever been an earnest and
efficient worker in behalf of all measures calculated
to promote the agricultural interests of his county
and State.
Enoch Marks, of the town of Camillus, was for

director or

the

Agri-

'

had been passed by which a large fund was ap-

on condition that she

The first meeting was held on the 4th

May, 1819, at which a constitution was'adopted
and the following officers chosen, viz Dan Bradley,
President ;^Squire Munro, Martin Cossitt, Augustus
Wheaton, Vice-Presidents Job Tyler, RecordingSecretary
George Hall and A. Yelverton, Corresponding Secretaries
Leonard Bacon, Treasurer
H. L. Granger, Auditor
L. H. Redfield, D. W.
tural society.

Supreme Court

than ten

by

ballot.

members

to

of their district, these societies

might also obtain an order for the sale of a part or

An amendment to
the whole of their property.
April
the act was passed
13, 1855, by the provisions
of which the number of directors was changed to
si.x, two of whom were elected each year for a term
Any person could become a life
of three years.
the

payment

to report annually

of a

sum

not exceeding

to the State Agricultural

So-

ciety.

Under

these acts the

tural Society

ary, 1856.

Onondaga County Agricul-

was reorganized on the 25th of Janu-

The

following report

Daify Standard oi January

"

353.

less

and severally
due from the society contracted
while they were in office, if suit should be commenced within one year of the time when due.
Each society formed under these acts was obliged

of

p.

have not

elected annually

liable for all debts

should raise an equal amount and form an agricul-

* Re-union and History of Pompey,

at least one
and each town,

$10, and the officers were jointly

Onondaga county became

application of two-thirds of their

member by

propriated for the benefit of agricultural societies

entitled to 1^300 of this fund

each town

who should be

directors,

Upon

was formed at OnonDuring the sesthe spring of 18 19.

throughout the State.

for

'

sion of the Legislature of the preceding winter an

act

manager

village or city society should

;

cultural Society of the county

in

Each

county and union society should have

her citizens stimulated movements for the benefit

first

in their articles of incorporation, and

no other purposes. Town and other societies
might hold real estate to the amount of 10,000, and

poses set forth

personal property to the amount of $3,000.

do with the introduction of

improved stock. In the fruit and nursery business,
the name of Alanson Thorp is as prominent as any
in the county.
He founded the nurseries on West
Genesee street, known as the Syracuse Nurseries.
The rich soil of Onondaga and the enterprise of

The

per-

for

to

of agriculture at an early period.

amount not exceeding $25,000, and

tate to an

sonal property not exceeding $1,000, for the pur-

years prominently connected with agricultural

daga Hill

and Rufus Cossit.

reorganized, the society continued to exist,

and

cultural

much

Pettit

but did not meet the expectations of its founders.

In 1 84 1, it received an appropriation of $\%o from

agriculture, than can be found elsewhere.

matters, and had

179) for the reorganization of the

more complete view of

county, together with the methods and history of

many

and was soon practically

Onondaga County Agricultural Society" The

Trustees named in the act were, James L. Voorhees, David Munro, Harvey Baldwin, Sanford C.
Parker, George Geddes, Willis Gaylord, Henry F.
King, Grove Lawrence, Aaron Burt, Oliver Teall,

George

Society for 1859, contains a

into decay,

the 9th of April, 1838, the Legislature passed

the result of his survey of the county, pub-

lished in the Transactions of the State Agricultural

its

On

an act (Chap.

report, includ-

biine,

fell

"

attention to the

scientifically,

the society

the leading agriculturists of this section of

subject both practically

Forman, O. W. Brewster, Committee on Publication.

The first Fair was held at Onondaga Valley,
November 2, 1819; an address was delivered by
the President, and premiums amounting to over
^200 were awarded. Fairs continued to be held
with more or less success for about six years, when
abandoned.

and retired from active life.*

Hon. George Geddes, of Fairmount, has been

among

69

Agricultural Society.
Onondaga County

ing of the

is

taken from the

28, 1856:

The

Annual Meet-

Agricultural Society

..

NEW

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY,

70

was held

January 25,

at the City Hall in Syracuse,

The President, Mr. Wotxlruff. called the

1856.
meeting to order, and appointed Messrs. Seth
Hutchinson, V. V. Nottingham and B. J. Cowles a
Committee to examine applications for Premiums
'
"
*
*
*
on farm crops.

The Committee on

Reorganization reported that

they had prepared the necessary papers, &c.,and

the Society proceeded to the election of the follow-

Prtsiiifnl.

Sc[\nrc M.

\sf I'tce-Ptesitiait.
\'icc-Presiiiait.

2ti

Hrown, Elbridge.
Vcrry H. Hinsdcll. Clay.

H.

J.

H. D. Didama, Salina.
Treasurer. VV. R. Strong, Syracuse.
Year.

Danvin L.

tetn.

The

following officers were then chosen, to-wit

President V.6\\an\ A. Powell, of Syracuse.

Edward B. Judson, of Syra-

First I'ice-Prestiieul

H. Agan,

of Syracuse.

7><viJnr Warren C. Brayton, of DeWitt.

V^ice-Pkesioents from Towns and Wards
Cicero, Addison
Camillus, Theodore F. Rhodes
Thomas
H.
Scott; DcWitt,
Clay,
Loomis
J.
Hiram K. Edwards; Elbridge, James Brown;
Fabius, Orel Pope
Geddcs, Thomas Andrews
Lysander, DeWitt C.
LaFayettc, Russell King
Marcellus, Robert
Manlius, Charles Peck
Toll
E. Dorchester: Onondaga, Aaron Henderson;
Otisco, Hicks Redway; Pompey, Major Berry;
Terry
Skaneatcles, E. H,
Salina, Frank W.
Adams Spafford, Justus N. Knapp TuUy, Samuel
Van Buren, Augustus W. Bingham First
Willis
Second Ward, C. Fred
Ward, John Eastwood
Fifth
Third Ward, Hiram Kingsley
Herbst
Ward, William A. Sweet Sixth Ward, John R.
Whitlock Seventh Ward, James M. Ellis; Eighth
Ward, Alvah W. Palmer.
;

DIRECTORS.

Two

rooms of the Milk Association. Present Joseph

Alvord, W. H. H. Gere, Sidney
J. Glass, E. B.
Absent Wm. H. Gifford.
Lewis, and John Wells.
Mr. Glass was, on motion of Mr. Alvord, appointed chairman, and P. H. Agan secretary fro

Cowles, Otisco.

Secretary.

One

YORK.

cuse.
Secretary V2^.t\cV.

ing officers

1:;

..

,.

Pickard,

Thomas W.

Hill.

Years.]. G. Kendall, Alfred Cobb.

Three Years.
Morris Beard, John R. Strong.

Delegates to the State Society at Albany, Febru-

ary 14, 1856

Vivus W. Smith,

Horace White,
J. M. Munro,

J.

E. Marks,
C. A. Baker,
J. C. Woodruff,

H. D. Didama,
M. Compton,
Moses Summers,

Davis.
S. M. lirown,
E. D. Cobb,
Luther Baker,
D. C. Munro,

J. S.

J.
J.

Dean

Table showing Number and

in Onondaga County, at

Thomas Hutchinson.
J.

Garrison,
N. P. Eaton,
J. M. Strong,
George B. Sceley,
John Moschcll,

Charles W. Ilovey,
Caleb Brown,
George Atwell,
B. J. Cowles,
Joseph Breed,
Richard Adams.

D. T. Mosely,

Society, although

east of the

it

CIVIL DIVISIONS.

Onondaga Creek adjoining the

The F"air Grounds were sold January 19,

James Munro, trustee and agent for the
subscribers to the fund, and have since been cut up
success.

1866, by

into lots.

ciety

were held

Fairs of the State Agricultural Soat

Syracuse

in 1841, in

1849 and

in

Camillus
Cicero
Clay
De Witt
Elbridge
Fabius

Geddes
La Fayette
Lysander
Manlius
Marcellus.

Onondaga

1858.

The

present County

'5

Agricultural

Society was

It is a
organized on the 9th of February, 1878.
joint stock Company, incorporated under the general

law with the following Board of Trustees

Joseph J. Glass, W. H. H. Gere. William II.
Gifford, John Wells, Earl B. Alvord, Sidney Lewis.
The capital stock of the Society is Sicx3,cxx), divided into shares of 5 10 each.
The Trustees of the Society met Feb. 9, at the
:

185

12

261

..

74
3

473
459
306

Skaneateles
Spafford .....
Syracuse.
Tully
Van Buren.

651
234
535
79
34"
263
10
148
256

Total....

6,001

Otisco

Pompey
Salina
.

..

390
452
246
228

purchased Fair

Danforth,and expended considerable money

fixtures and premiums, was never a financial

The Annual

Farms by Towns,

the Census of 1875.

NUMBER OF FARMS

plot of
in

Size of

G. Hinsdcll,

Hamilton White,

I.

P. H. Hinsdell.
Smith Ostrom,

N. H. Noyes,
D. Stewart,

Grounds

G. K. Truair,
Toggitt,

W.

The above

llawicy,

9
25
26

:,

'o

4
8

29

88..

"9

56
128
168

71

8S

72'..

49
39

81

35
109

40
44
'

74
82

31

25

72

104

83..
99 J
M, I
91..

>o
119
70
"43
46

7'

136

116

98..
74..

'o

33
52
34
9*
23

39
34

49
39

18

42
20

84
43
66
36

25

14

30

31

7
5!

57
27

8[

70

4
7

19

59

96
169
74
74
33
97
102

169 ..
76..
75-23

114

'?::

10

2!

20

23

41
92

70..
86..

81 415

614 1311 1,873 '698 9

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Table showing by Towns

Area

the
;

Farm Lands

of

Stock and of Implements the Area

daga County. Census of 1875.^

IN FARMS.

Of Farm

Of Farms.

other than
Dwellings.

Other.

nt
j
Ot tipols and
i

Of

BuUdings

CIVIL DIVISIONS.
Woodland.

Buildings, of Live

PRESENT CASH VALUE,

Unimproved.
Improved.

Farm

and the Amount of Agricultural Productions of Onon-

of Crops,

AREA OF LAND

the Value of Farms, of

71

Stock.

Implements.

Cost of Ferti-Amou't of Gross

Saks from
Uzers bought
-^

j,^_^^ .^ ^^^^

,3,^8

Acres.

Camillas
Cicero
Clay
De Witt
Elbridge
Fabius

Geddes

La Fayette

Lysander
Manlius
Marcellus

18,033
19,460
23,286
16,205
18,001
20,648
4,521
19,863
31,584
24,550

Otisco
j

Pompey

'

Salina

Skaneateles
Spafiford

City of Syracuse...

240
3,445
2,563
1-597

Dollars.

Delia

Dollars.

251,645
244,475
325,000
240,185
221,025
154,640
112,425
208,780

73,960
93,079
106,201

141,485
441,381
109,630
327,895
172,580
33,320
122,425
221,725

210,879
245-315
268.318
190,232
185,156
170,955
74,270
192,562
382,037
303,409
186,311
344,166
132,323
361,186
86,470
219,310
171,867
13.825
113,885
205,295

37,251,541 4,798,545

4,057.771

1,404,987

2,0-0,135
2,079,027
2,485,143
2,336,025
1,920,935
1,179,280

386
3,299
3-999
2,077

1,342
2,487
2,263

1,669,475
2,871,645
2,895.182

7,067

1,993

35,07S
14,591
35,278
6,642
20,929
16,298

4,266
3,100
5,136
282

878
670

1.576,942
4-351-440
990,834
2,719,8x9

416

TuUy
Van Buren

2,337
5,043
3,076
1,626
1,870

Dollars.

681
180

Onondaga

Acres.

12,586
18,483

5,769

2,569
2,747
10

1,158

864,300

359,440
389,005
263,430
458,054

428

944,348

3,608
801

2,163,935
1,113.446

270
334

257,500
891,950
1,880,180

2,581

2,259

SI

54.425

25,224

Dollars.

Dollars.

199,312
179,613
261,805

787
146
691
383
943

81, 545

192,1 10

874

178,117
136,010
60,821
169,234
292,198
238,963
144,654
431,076
105.143
306,232
110,230
214,137
145,758
10,945
93,792
207,783

23,473

3,677,923

61,979
40.955
24,640
62,285
92,840
89.977
65,361
161,413
46,500
108,363
30,805
97,384
65,428
7-530
29,415
65,052

16

34
146

700
1,348

665
9,314

60

200
1,235

4,780

854
153
144

Total

373-516

Ake.\ in Pasture.

CIVIL DIVISIONS.

In 1874.

BARLEY.

GRASS LANDS.

AREA PLOWED.

Hay

Area Mown-.

produced

In 1875.
In 1874.

In 1875.

1874.

Grass
Seed

P7*'"''-

875.

1874.

Produced.
1874.

S74.

.875.
I

Acres.

Camillus
Cicero
Clay
De Witt
Elbridge
Fabius

6,336
5,659
8,665
5.390
6,394
3,557
1,498
6,295

Geddes

La Fayette
Lysander
Manlius
Marcellus
Otisco

Pompey
Salina
Skaneateles
Spafford
City of Syracuse.
Tally

Van Buren
Total

'

6,012

4,939
6,267
5.912
5. 148
4,424
10.028

4,934
6,268
5,721
5,145
4,365

4,148
9,994
2,207
7,735
5,175

7.793
5.525

5.560
6.154

9,553
6,370
5-455
8,626
4,226
11.396
1,649
5,516
5,981

227
3,018
6 596

216

84

90

3,135
6,216

118,984

119,340

7,97o
6,109
12,200

Onondaga

Acres.

Acres.

S,6i8
8,550
5. 131
6,990
3.760
1.459
6,450
9,221
7,864
6,228
11,643
4,556
10,584
2,389

9,8 11
'

Acres.

9.-933

993

965

5,721

5-615

9,693
6.279

S.660
8,46s
4.271
11,542
1,628

3,554
6,519
8,368
5,o9
3.279
6.566
1,029
S.299
7,050
6,822
3,856
9,200
3,416
10,181
1,739
5,207

4837

4,336
4-591

4,272
4,457

153
3,213
3,257

111,69s

110,537

98,55+

'

Bushels.

Aa'es.

3.249
6,719
8,489
5,060
3,242
6,563
1,053
5-046
6,853
6,829

3.723
9,118
3,287

9.777
1,744
4,941
4,845
135
3,264
3,127

97,064

Acres.

Acres.

1.538
27
I 10

5.330
8,996
11,336
6,770
4.422
7,986
1,734
6,567
10,038
9,504
4 945
12,954
4,535
13.187
2,566
6,380
6,403
193
4,074
4.361

590

1.242

281

26

333
336
267

89
148

132.281

5,727

242
1.950

16

1.564
132
102

225

521

31
770

564
816
516

838
877
739

42

74
843
321
120
67
272
383
154
323

1.034

186
164

1,055
1,429

Bushels.

32,289

458
2,036
2,618

40,494
4,050
3.190
15,118
13,317
18,262

13,820
26,609
7,027

307

535

1,291

2,125
6

33,67s

821

1,299
1,057

18,704
17.742

298

414

3.439
5.967

10,395 14889

261,215

739
20
124
239

500

NEW YORK.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY.

72

Table showing by Towns

the Value of Farms, of Farm Buildings, of Live

the Area of Crops, and the Amount of Agricultural Productions of Onon-

the Area of

Stock and of Implements

daga County. Census of 1875.
;

Farm Lands

(Continued.)

AUA.

RYE.

OATS.

INDIAN CORN.

LAT.

AllBA SOWK.

Area.

AUA.

Produced.

Pmluccd.

Prodocnl.

Produced.

CIVIL DIVISIONS.

ilH

Camillus
Cicero
Clay
I)e Witt
Elbridge
Fabius

Geddes

i7}.

It74.

|74.

l7J

Aam.

Aero.

Bmhtlt.

Acm.

Acitfc

46
319
412

29
187
41 (J

179
107

129

LaFayette
Lysandcr
Manlius

143
331
276

Marccllus

231

Onondaga

372

Otisco

Pompey
Salina
Skaneateles
SpalTord
City of Syracuse
Tully

Van Buren
Total

1,541
1,601

1,676

7.0S3

1,919

'.895
'.427
1,627

>.f'4S

461

204

24s

2,3

89
19

703
4.729

>3

2.45^

1,012

3
240
279

5.00s
3.434

2.770
2,030

178
719

77
129

6,036
3,100

679

41

12

300

278

120
126
101

4,ioy

".740

040

1,650
'.839

443
276
1. 1 06

1,181

2.935
2.210
1.326

2,217

2.59'

547

"."3

49'
1,366

478

480

1,626
5o

243
2.S4

".57'

'.752

99

596

722

94
34

2,217
1.469

324

33
37'

2.053

2.254

5.

I1T4.

54.890
46.722
55.087

83S'3
55.859
18,830
10,380
36,744
104,561
58.857
42,636
76,508
18,202

It74.

75.

Acre*.

Attn.

"74.

>74.

17I.

Acm.

BoibcU.

J2

44.607
79.'25
96,400
66,702

'.444
2,52'

'.339
2.370

3.075
1,872
1,644
2,006

3067

396

343

2,886

3.'32
2,811
2,718

72,637
'4.463
9'.4'7
92.124
87.284

1,711

5'. 748

3.721
2.307

120,924
63.116

3.9601

124472

'5

629;

176

1,868
1.497
2.073

2,948
1,681
1,666

3.7'3
2,015

45694

3.943

'4.755
57.213
20,141
1.363
'0,783
81,985

568
1,808

2,109

1,7961

'.9'2

57.777

38
'.572
2,071

37i
.8o3|

2,131

262
126

53.726,

19,009
56,085

141

'.3

-'5

55.4'7
71,600

100
9

167
10

'63
22
6

'7

30

136
271

1874.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Table showing by Towns

the

Stock and of Implements

daga County.

Census of
HOPS.
Area.

CIVIL DIVISIONS.

73

Area of Farm Lands the Value of Farms, of Farm Buildings, of Live

Area of Crops, and the Amount of Agricultural Production's of Onon;

the

1875.

(Continued.)

P0T.\T0ES.
Area.

TOBACCO.

APPLE ORCHARDS.

.
..
..

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

74

Tadle showing by Towns

the Value of Faims. of Farm Buildings, of Live

Agricultural Productions of Ononthe Area of Crops, and the Amount of

the Area of

Stock and of Implements

Farm Lands

daga County. Census of 1875. Continued.)

i

DAIRY PRODUCTS.

Tin

IONS

jcanoM. Yui>.

i7.

Cilv.

Cow!,

11

Nl Mti

Hn
CIVIL DIVIS-

Kr

MOM MllK

T.

V4

WAV

Bultcr

MVT ToFaC-

1I74.

7$.

made Chccx

ia ^"'i'**

TOUY.

mU m

nutle Milk
market.

I7.

1*74.

1S74.

Pousdi.

PoumI*.

CaDoDS.

.1

Camillus
Cicero
Clay
De Witt....
Elbridge
Fabius
.

LaF.iyette

Geddes
Lysander
Manilas

Marcellus.

Onondaga.

Otisco

Pompey
Salina
Skaneateles.
Spafford
.

Syracuse
Tully
Van Buren.
.

Total

Number.

256

Number. Nambw.

Nnnbcr. Nonber.

Number. Number. Number. Number.

Number.

;;
:

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

CHAPTER XVni.

THE

following were judicial and executive

cers

1794, while

Herkimer county

for

Onondaga was

from

1791

offi-

to

county
Henri Staring, First Judge and Justice of the
Peace Michael Myers, Hugh White and Abraham
Hardenburgh, Judges and Justices of the Peace
John Bank, Patrick Campbell, Jedediah Sanger,
Amos Whitmore, William Veeder, Alexander Parkman and Ephraim Blackman, Assistant Judges and
a part of that

Justices

of the

Peace

Seth Phelps, Moses

Asa Danforth, Edward Payne and

Witt,

Justices of the Peace

Jonas Piatt, Clerk

De

others.

William Colbraith, Sheriff;

DeWitt, Surrogate

Moses

John Post and Daniel White, Coroners.

In 1793, for Herkimer county, were reappointed
Seth Phelps, Asa Danforth, Moses DeWitt, J. L.
Hardenburgh and Silas Halsey, Assistant Justices
and Justices of the Peace.
Judges of Onondaga County from 1794 to
1878.
Seth Phelps, First Judge Silas Halsey,
John Richardson and Moses DeWitt, Judges and
Justices of the Peace, 1794; William Stevens,

Asa Danforth, Judge, 1797 William

Judge, 1795
Stevens, First Judge, 1799; Elihu Lewis, Ebenezer
;

Asa Danforth, Judges and

Butler,

Dan

Peace;

1802;

Judge,

1804

Justices of the

John Ballard,
Vredenburgh, Judge,

Bradley, Judge, 1801

William

J.

of the Peace,

1808

1805

Lyman

bury,

worth, Judge, 1850, appointed vice

resigned; Israel

dent in Onondaga county

November

elected

Syracuse,

1859

185

4,

eight

for

First Judge,

Wattles and Warren Hecox,

Jonathan Stanley, Squire Munro,
Levi Mason and James Webb, Judges, 1819
Nehemiah H. Earll, First Judge John Mason,
George Pettit and James Sisson, Jr., Judges, 1S23
1818

O.

Nehemiah H.

George
Pettit, Martin M. Ford, Otis Bigelow and John
Smith, Judges, 1828
Samuel L. Edwards, First
Judge, 1831; John Watson, Judge, 1833; Otis
Bigelow, David Munro, George Pettit and James M.
First

Earll,

Pratt,

1847

7,

re-

Hon. LeRoy Morgan,

1.

November

elected

years,

November

reelected

5,

8,

1867, for eight years,

Hon. James Noxon, Syracuse, elected November,

1875, for fourteen years from January

The

Supreme Court

old

prior to the Constitution of

1846, had one Chief

born G. Jewett, of Skaneateles,

in

Hon. Free-

1845.

Court of Appeals. The

of Appeals who have been

the

Judges of

1876.

i,

of Judicature, existing

Justice, a resident of this county, viz

Judges of the Court

of this count}' are as follows

Hon.
Freeborn G. Jewett, Skaneateles, two years, elected
June 7, 1847 Hon. George F. Comstock, Syracuse,
residents

November

elected

Syracuse, elected
expire

December

Hon. Daniel
the

from January

Bradley,

Squire Munro, Roswell Tousley and Wil-

James

Hon. Daniel

Syracuse, for four years, elected June

Dan

Joshua Forman, First Judge, 1813

Reuben Humphreys, Judge, 1814; Jacob R. DeWitt, Squire
Munro, Amos Tousley and John TenEyck, Judges,
;

R. Lawrence,

J.

Spencer, Judge, elected,

7,

1853

May,

Hon. Charles Andrews,

1870,

fourteen

years, to

31, 1884.

of

Judge,

1828

Hon. LeRoy Morgan,

Court, were ex officio

Pratt and

Supreme

Judges of the Court of Appeals, the former from

January i, 1S50, to January i, 185 1, and the latter
i,

1866, to January

i,

1867.

United States District Court. Northern

The following have been
District of New York.

1815

1850;
Richard Woolworth, Judge, elected 1854; Henry
Riegel, elected 1S62, reelected each subsequent
term and present Judge of the County Court.
Judges of the Supreme Court. The following have been Judges of the Supreme Court resi-

Justices

liam J. Vredenburgh, Judges

Jonathan Stanley
and Ozias Burr, Judges, 1809; Jacob R. DeWitt,
James Geddes and Sylvanus Tousley, Judges, 1812

Judges,

Amasa H. Jerome, Judges

Kingsley,

James R. Lawrence, Judge, 1847; Richard Wool-

Reuben HumDan Bradley, John Ballard

Judge
and William J. Vredenburgh, Judges and Justices
First

Reuben Humphreys, Judge

phreys,

Grove Lawrence, First Judge, 183S;

Nathan Soule, Oliver R. Strong, Lyman H. Mason
and Johnson Hall, Judges
Daniel Pratt, First
L.
Judge, 1843 John
Stevens, George A. StansAllen, Judges

Judicial and Executive Officers under Herkimer County Onondaga County Civil List
Military Organization
Population of
THE County from iSog to 1875.

75

officers

of this

Court,

resident

in

this

County

Joseph F. Sabin, United States Commissioner,

1850; James R. Lawrence, United States District
Attorney, 1850; Harry Allen, United States Marshal.

The

first

Deputy-Marshal was Peter Way,

William Cahill, appointed in his stead.

B. Davis No.xon, United States Commissioner, appointed Oct. 22, 1867; William C. Ruger, United
deceased

Commissioner, appointed July 8, 1858;

Daniel F. Gott, Register in Bankruptcy, appointed
May 10, 1867; A. Judd Northrup, United States
States

Commissioner, appointed March 22, 1870; Daniel

F. Gott, United States Commissioner, appointed
April

2,

1872; William

pointed April

7,

1874.

J.

Wallace, Judge,

ap-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

76

Slkrugatks fuk Onondaga Culntv kdm 171^4TO 187.S. Moses Dc Witt, 1794; Thomas MumThaddcus M. Wood, 1800; George
ford, 1795
Hall, 1803; Mcdad Curtis. 1810; George Hall,
i8n James Porter, i8ii Freeborn G. Jewett,
i

John Fleming, 1831; Isaac T. Minard,

1840; David D. Hillis, 1844; Isaac T. Minard,

1824;

1847

L. Harris Hiscock, 185

1855

1863

Amasa

II.

min

F. Colvin, appointed

B.

Walters,

elected

Vicard Slocum, 1852; Edwin P. Hopkins, 1S55

tory J. Birdseye, 1858; Elijah S. Payne, 1861
;

Members of Congress from Onondaga County

and the District of which it was part, from
1802 TO 1878. The Colonial Congress was entitled

Theodore L. Poole, 1S67;

Edgar E. Ewers, 1870 Charles A. Hurd, elected
November, 1873 died before entering upon the

Carroll E. Smith, 1864;

to

Charles E. Hubbcll, elected at

1873;

Thomas H.

present

Dorastus Lawrence, 1835 Elihu L. Phillips,

Heber Wcthcrby,
Frederick Benson, 1841
1838
1844; Joshua C. Cuddeback, 1846; William C.
Gardner, 1849; Holland W. Chadwick, 1852;
;

James M. Munro, 1855 George L. Maynard, 1858;

Byron D. Benson, 1861 Jarcd C. Williams, 1864;
DeWitt C. Toll, 1S67 William Evans, 1870 Davis
Cossitt,* 1873 John J. Meldram, elected November,
;

tSjC)

present

Treasurers of Onondaga County from 1794

to 1878. Appointed by the Board of Supervisors
Moses Carpenter, May 27, 1794; Jacob R. DeWitt,
1799; Jacobus DePuy, October i, 1805 Oliver R,
:

* The

official

final

ligiMlurc of

"

t'l."

the family, ipelled their

Mr. Cowitt ihowi

that he tpclli hii

name

Hit father, Rufiu Couit, and other membera of

name with one

si.\,

final

"t."

in

entitled

the

first

to

and

to

New

York.

In 1802, the

Chenango were

was elected to represent the district. Of the same

Congress, Hon. Silas Halsey, of Cayuga, formerly
a Judge of Onondaga County Courts, was also a
member.
In the loth Congress, Hon. Reuben Humphreys,
of Onondaga, represented the Thirteenth District
Hon. John Harris, of Cayuga, formerly Sheriff of
Onondaga county, was a member from the Fourteenth

District

and

Hon. William Kirkpatrick,

Superintendent of the Onondaga Salt Springs, rep-

Hon. Eri Tracy

nth and

represented the Sixteenth District in the

12th Congresses (1809 to 1813.)

In 1813-14, in

the 13th Congress, Hon. James Gcddes represented

the

new

^Nineteenth) composed of the

Onondaga and Cortland.
In the 14th

district

counties of
with two

number

resented the Eleventh District.

Sherifl".

After the adop-

formed into one Congressional District (the Ninth>

and were entitled to one member.
In the 9th Congress, Hon. Eri Tracy of Chenango,

Jonas
Earll, 1S09; Elijah Rust, 1813
Jonas
1814; llezekiah L. Granger, 1818
Earll, 1819; Luther Marsh, 1823; Lewis Smith,
1826; John H. Johnson, 1829; Johnson Hall,

still

counties of Onondaga, Tioga and

was

members were allowed

Robert

York.

second Congresses, from 1789 to 1791. In 1792, a

new apportionment was made under which ten

Sheriffs of Onondaga County from 1794 to

1878.- John Harris, 1794 Abiather Hull, 1796;
Comfort Tyler. 1797; Elnathan Beach, 1799;
Ebenczer R. Hawley, 1801 Elijah Phillips, 1805
Earll,

of the

New

Constitution, the

seats from this State

bent.

delegates from

si.\

tion

incum-

1876

27,

Bradley,

December

elected

Rhoades, elected, 1838; Charles T. Hicks, 1841

Vivus W. Smith, 1846; Rufus Cossit, 1849; Bern-

1832

elective

November,

vacancy,

fill

January

special election,

Gould,

November, 1851, entered upon his office

Barton M. Hopkins, elected
1S52
1,
Patrick H. Agan, November,
November, 1S54
1857 Henry W. Slocum, November, i860; Dudley
Park Wheeler, NovemP. Phelps, November, 1863
ber, 1866; George H. Gilbert, November, 1869;
Robert
Charles W. Ostrander, November, 1872
Hewitt, elected November, 1875, present Treasurer.

Tyler,

Scott, elected,

1844;

George

Phares

December 9, 1848
Treasurer, January i, 1849: Columbus C.

1799; Jasper Hopper, 1802; George

W. Olmsted, 8 10 Jasper Hopper, 1811; Truman Adams, 1818 Daniel Mosely, 1823 Reuben
L. Hess, 1826; Alanson Edwards, 1835: Elijah

December,

to

duties of his office

November, 1842

County.

11,

Clekks of Ononiiaga County from 1794 to

Benjamin Lcdyard, appointed, 1794 Com1878.
fort

November

by the people, in 1846, since when the following

Cornelius M. Brospersons have been elected
nan, elected November, 1846; entered on the
resigned
duty of his office January i, 1847,
December 9, 1848 Wheeler Truesdell, appointed

1869, reelected each subsequent term and present

incumbent. No Special Surrogates have ever been
in this

resigned

1809

5.

1830; Moses S. Marsh, appointed November 12,

declined November 13, 1830; Hezckiah Strong,
Benjaappointed November 13, 1830, died 1842

November, 1845.
The office of County Treasurer was made

Jerome,

Samuel D. Luce, 1859; Oscar L. Sprague,

De Witt C. Greenfield, 1S65 Cyrus Sweet,

appointed

Strong, October

Congress (18 15-161 Victory Birdseye was Represen15th, James Porter; i6th, George Hall
17th

tative

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and

8th, Elisha Litchfield

19th,

Luther Badger

Jonas Earll, Jr. 22d, Freeborn G.

and 25th, William Taylor 26th,
23d,
24th
Jewett
Nehemiah H. Earll 27th, Victory Birdseye 28th
20th and

2ist,

30th and 31st, Daniel

and 29th, Horace Wheaton
[In 1822 Onondaga was a district alone, till
Gott.
;

was made a joint district with Madison county, and entitled to two members.
In 1842
district, as it now stands ;]
it was again a single
32d and 33d, Daniel T. Jones; 34th and 35th,
36th and 37th, Charles B.
Amos P. Granger
38th
and
39th,
Thomas T. Davis 40th
Sedgwick
and 41st, Dennis McCarthy 42d and 43d, R. Hol44th and 45th, Frank Hiscock.
land Duell
1832,

when

it

Member

from Herkimer

zation of

77
After the organi-

in 1792.

Onondaga county,

was a joint district

with Herkimer, and Jedediah Sanger represented the
two counties in the House in i794-'95. There was
no return for Member of Assembly for either Herit

kimer or Onondaga for the years 1796 and

1797.
Comfort Tyler and Silas Halsey were Members for
Onondaga in 1798 and 1790. In the latter year
Cayuga was taken off, and Ebenezer Butler elected

Onondaga county

also Member in 1800; Asa

and 1802; John McWhorter and
John Lamb, 1803 James Geddes and John Mc
Whorter, 1804: William J. Vredenburgh and John
for

Danforth,

1801

Ballard, 1805
Jasper Hopper and William J.
Vredenburgh, 1806; Ozias Burr and Squire Munro,
1807 Joshua Forman and John McWhorter, 1808
Jacobus DePuyand Barnet Mooney, 1809 Jacobus
DePuy and Barnet Mooney, iSio; Jasper Hopper
and Robert Earll, 181 1 Jonathan Stanley and
;

State Sen.^tors for Onondaga County from

At the time of the adoption of the
1799 TO 1878.
first Constitution of the State of New York in 1777,
Tryon county was entitled to six members of
Assembly and the State was divided into four
Senatorial Districts.
The Western District was
composed of the counties of Albany and Tryon,

Barnet Mooney,

and six Senators were annually chosen from the body

Smith and Moses

1813; Moses Nash and Barnet Mooney,
1814; He'zekiah L. Granger and James Porter,

of the freeholders of the State for the term of four

1815

As

years.

the population of the country increased

various alterations were made, and Senators were

1812

Isaac

Nash,

Truman Adams,

and Nathan Williams,

George Hall
Gideon Wilcoxon,

Elijah Miles,

1816

James Webb, Asa Wells and Elijah Miles, 1817

David Munro, Abijah Earll, Asa Wells and James
Webb, 1818; David Munro, Henry Case, Nathan

chosen

at large for

the Western District.

But

it

seems that Senators were not over punctual in their

attendance from the western part of the State.

Williams and Elisha Litchfield, 1819 Lewis Smith,

Jr., Henry Seymour and Henry Field,
1820; Jonas Earl, Jr., Lewis Smith, George Pettitand
;

From the Journal of the Senate we find the following members in attendance from Onondaga up to
1822 :* Moss Kent, 1799 Jedediah Sanger, 1800;
;

Joseph Annin, (Cayuga)

Asa Danforth, 1803 (none from Onondaga

William
1802

Stewart, 1801

county from 1806 to 1815

;)

Henry Seymour,

18 16,

and '19; none in 1821 and '22.

(After
the change of the Constitution in 1822 the State
was divided into eight Senatorial Districts.
The
'17, '18

Jonas Earll,

Deming, 1821
James Geddes, David
Munro, Josephus Baker and Sylvester Gardner,
1822 Victory Birdseye, Timothy Baker, Samuel
L. Edwards and Harrold White, 1823; Samuel L.
Edwards, Timothy Baker, George Pettit and Matthew Van Vleck, 1824 James R. Lawrence, Moses
Kinne, James Pettit and Erastus Baker, 1825 John
G. Forbes, David Willard, Freeborn G. Jewett and
Chauncey Betts, 1826; Daniel Mosely, Chauncey
Betts, Charles Jackson and Aaron Burt, 1827
Timothy Barber, Aaron Burt, Daniel Baxter and
Gideon Frothingham, 1828 Lewis Smith, Samuel
R. Matthews, Johnson Hall and Herman Jenkins,
Jonathan

composed

Onondaga, Cayuga,
Seneca and Ontario counties, after which we have
the following Senators from Onondaga)
Jonas
was

Seventh

of

1823; Victory Birdseye, 1827; Hiram

F. Mather, 1829; Samuel L. Edwards, 1833;
Elijah Rhoades, 1841
James Sedgwick, 1845.
Earll, Jr.,

George
and
James Munro,
1852, 'S3, '54 and '55
James Noxon, 1856 and '57
John J. Foote, 1858 and '59; Allen Munroe, i860,
'61, '62 and '63
Andrew D. White, 1864, '65, '66
and '67 George N. Kennedy, 1868, '69, '70 and
'71
Daniel P, Wood, 1872, '73. '74 and '75
Dennis McCarthy, 1876 and '77, present Senator.
Members of Assembly for Onondaga County
FROM 1794 TO 1878. Michael Myers was elected a
(Senators under the Constitution of 1846)

Geddes,

1848, '49, '50

;

'51

Clark's Onondaga, 397.

1829; Johnson Hall, Dorastus Lawrence, Thomas

Brown, 1830; Thomas J.
J. Gilbert and Timothy
Gilbert, Otis Bigelow, Elisha Litchfield and J. H.
Parker, 1831
Elijah

W.

Miles

Curtis

W.

Bennett, Elisha Litchfield,

and Ichabod Moss, 1832;

Asa

Eastwood, Elisha Litchfield, Myron L. Mills and

Oliver R. Strong, Horace
Gabriel Tappan, 1833
;

Wheaton, Jared H. Parker and Squire M. Brown,

1834; George Pettit, John Wilkinson, Sanford C.
Parker and David C. Lytic, 1835 Sanford C. Parker, John Wilkinson, David Munro and Daniel Den;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

78
ison, 1836;

Nathan Soule, Wm.

Porter,

and Daniel Denison, 1837

Pettit

and John I. Furbcck, 1873 Thomas G. Alvord.

George Barrow and Charles Simon. 1874 Allen
Munroe, Carroll E. Smith and C. Fred. Herbst,

George

Jr.,

Phares Gould,

James R. Lawrence and Azariah

Smith, 1838 James R. Lawrence, Azariah Smith,
Pharos Gould and James L. \'oorhees, 1839; \"ictory
Birdseyc, Azariah Smith, James R. Lawrence and
Phares Gould, 1S40; Moses D. Burnet, David

Victor)' Birdseyc,

Thomas G. Alvord, Carroll E. Smith and

1875
C. Fred. Herbst. 1876; Thomas G. Alvord. Samuel
;

Constiti;tion

E.

Convention of

Dennis McCarthy, Julius C. Kinnc and Lake

1845;

Lake

I.

Teft.

Julius

Kinnc,

C.

Alonzo Wood and Elihu L. Phillips. 1846 Manoah

Pratt, William Henderson, John Lakin and Joseph
Prindlc, 1847; Curtis J. Hurd, Thomas Spencer,
Horace Hazen and James Little. 1848; Joseph J.
Glass, Myron Wheaton, Joseph Slocum and Samuel
Hart, 1849; James Little, Benjamin J. Cowles,
Elias W. Leavenworth and Harvey G.Anderson,
1850; Demosthenes C. LeRoy, John F. Clark,
Lyman
George Stevens and Daniel Denison, 185
Stevens
and
Tallman,
George
Norton, William E.
John Merritt, 1852 Alonzo Case, Samuel S. Kneeland, Daniel P. Wood and Isaac V. V. Hibbard.
James M. Munro, Milton A. Kinney. Daniel
1853
P. Wood and William Richardson. 1854; James
M. Munro. William J. Machan. Dudley P. Phelps
Irvin Williams.
and Joshua V. H. Clark, 1855
James Longstreet, lUirr Burton and Jabez Lewis.
;

Victory

Birdseye,

Parley

Howe. Amasi Case. Asa Eastwood.

Thomas G. Alvord,
Members of the
Hon.

1872:

Hon. Frank

1867:

Hon. Charles Andrews.

Teft.

1822:

Convention of 1846: William Taylor. Elijah

Rhoades. Cyrus H. Kingsley. David Munro.

1843 ; Elisha Litchfield, Scth Hutchinson, Thomas

David PresG. Alvord and Warner Abbott 1844

'78.

Delegates to the Convention to Revise the

Munro, William Taylor and William Fuller, 1841

William Taylor, William Fuller, David Munro and
John Spencer, 1842: Thomas McCarthy, Charles
R. Vary, Benjamin French and Thomas Sherwood.

ton,

Holbrook 1877

Willis and Josiah G.

Hiscock,

Hiscock, Hon.

L. Harris

Patrick Corbett.

Commission
and Hon.

Constitutional

W. Leavenworth

Elias

Daniel Pratt.
Rf.gf-nts

members

of the

State

University.

The

members,
Hon.
are appointed for life, unless they resign.
as
Secretary
of
Leavenworth,
State,
was
Elias W.
ex officio member of the Board in 1854 and 1855.
He was appointed a member permanently Feb. 5,
Orris H. Warren,
i86i,i'/<r<f Jesse Buell, deceased.
of this Board, except ex

officio

D. D., appointed a member of this Board, vice Dr.

George, resigned. April 11, 1877.

Other State Officers.

Hon.

Thomas G.

1856; John D. Uhoades, Sidney Smith, Elias W.

Leavenworth and Charles M. Meade, 1857 James
Frazee, Thomas G. Alvord and Levi S. Holbrook,
Luke Ranncy. Henry W. Slocum and Orin
1858

Alvord. elected Lieutenant Governor Nov.

8,

Speaker of the House of Assembly. June

1S64;

26, 1858,

and Jan 5. 18G4.

Hon. E. W. Leavenworth, elected Secretary of
State Nov., 1853.

Hon.

Daniel

Attorney

elected

Pratt

General

Aylsworth,

Jeremiah

1859;

Emerick,

Austin

Myers and Philetus Clark, i860; Jeremiah Emerick, Austin Myers and Abner Chapman, i86r
Frederick A. Lyman, Thomas G. Alvord and R.
Nelson Gere, 1S62 James M. Munro. Elizur Clark
and Joseph Breed, 1863 Albert L. Green, Thomas
G. Alvord and Conrad Shoemaker, 1864; Albert
L. Green, Daniel P. Wood and Harvey P. Tolman,
Luke Ranncy, Daniel P. Wood and L. Har1865
ris Hiscock, 1866; Daniel P. Wood, L. Harris Hiscock and Samuel Candee, 1867; Augustus G. S.
AUis, Luke Ranncy and Hiram Eaton, 1868
James V. Kendall, Moses Summers and Miles B.
Hackctt, 1S69; Thomas G. Alvord, Nathan R.

Nov.

4.

1873.

Gen. Henry A. Barnum elected State Prison Inspector Nov. 7, 1S65.

John M. Jaycox elected Canal Commissioner
Nov. 4, 1857 Reuben W. Stroud Nov. 4. 1872.
;

TetTt and Gustavus Sniper,

vord.

1870; Thomas

Peter Burns and Gustavus

Thomas G.
Sniper, 1872;

Alvord,

Wm.

Sniper,

G. Al1871

Burns and Gustavus

H. H. Gere, George Raynor
Peter

Speaker of the

Hon. Elisha Litchfield elected

Assembly Jan.

House of
Hon. Vivus W. Smith, State Appraiser, appointed Jan. 24, 1872. vice Samuel North.
1844.

2,

Supervisors of Onondaga
meeting of the Board of
County.
was held at the
county
Supervisors of Onondaga
house of Asa Danforth, in the town of Manlius. on
First Board of

1794. The

first

The

Wednesday, May 27,1794

persons composed the Board

Ovid

following
Silas

named

Halsey, of

Benjamin Boardman, of Romulus Ezckiel

Comfort Tyler, of Manlius
;

Crane, of Aurelius
of

Scipio

Moses

De

Witt,

of

John
Pompey. Not present Wyllys Bishop, of Milton
and William
Robert McDowell, of Ulysses
Stoyles,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The towns of Homer and
Stevens, of Marcellus.
Lysander were not then organized.
The accounts of the Board were kept in pounds,
shillings,

pence and farthings,

1794, the

In

the year 1798.

till

valuation of property in the

total

The

county was ; 19,479.

total tax

raised

was

1797 the Board of Supervisors

Total inhabitants, 1,759 total
gave the following
,2'/i.i'j-i\d.

In

;g

In 1799, after

146,679.37.

Cayuga was set off, the population was 1,036.

In December, 1795, the Board of Supervisors met
in Scipio,

then included in Onondaga county.

following report of their action

The

copied from an

is

manuscript in the possession of Mr. James

Gould, of Syracuse, which is among other old

original

W.

and valuable

relics

preserved by his father,

one of the pioneers of Onondaga

"

vent any aspersions of injustice of being taxed unequally by those having that part of duty to perform in society.
" The Board also recommends to Assessors that
they completely make out their list of assessments
by the first of May, as the law directs, so that the
Supervisors may be enabled to proceed on their
business at their first meeting, and save the county
cost.

valuation of property,

who was

Resolve of the Supervisors at their

Meeting in Scipio."

" Resolved, That the following recommendations

be transmitted to the different towns in this county
by their respective Supervisors, viz
Whereas, The Supervisors of the county of Onondaga have many inconveniences by the various
modes taken in the different towns in assessing the
ratable property in the county, have thought it a
duty to recommend to the assessors of each respective town next to be chosen in said town, a mode of
taking the valuation of property which appears to
us the most eligible in our local situation, desiring
this to be publicly read at the next annual town
meeting, which uniform mode will render the next
Board of Supervisors, our successors in office, more
capable of doing justice in levying taxes in our in-

"And

we also recommend to the towns

mode of granting a bounty on
and render the reward of each man in his
further,

to adopt a uniform

wolves,
exertions for the destruction of these animals.
Therefore, with submission, we think a reward of
forty shillings, in addition to the bounty allowed by
the county, to be adequate for the bounty of each

wolf

The Board submits the above recommendations

the consideration of the several towns in the
county of Onondaga.
" By order of the Board.
"

to

Comfort Tyler,

Estimate as follows

Improved

lands

of

medium
20s. per acre.

quality

Working oxen

of

medium
;^i6

quahty

Cows of a medium quality

Young cattle of three years

old

20s.
and under
;^io
Horses of a medium quality
40s.
Colts three years old and under
20s.
Hogs that will weigh 100 weight

Negro men
Negro wenches

^0
^0

Grist Mills

;^SO
;^30

Saw

mills

per yoke.
per piece.

per year.
per piece.
per year.
per piece.
per head.
per head.
per piece.
per piece.

And

those articles of an inferior and superior

and other ratable property in
like proportion.
"The Board further recommends to the consideration of the different towns the following mode in
making the assessment, viz: That each person hold"

quality, in proportion,

ing ratable property shall give in to the Assessor a

list of his or her ratable property or estate, in writing, agreeable to the request of the Assessor,
which will be an avoucher to the Assessor, and pre-

Clerk.

"Scipio, December 20th, 1795."

Supervisors for 1878.

fant state, viz

79

Camillus

Sidney

H. Cook,

Jr.

Jacob W. Coughtry.
Cicero Nelson R Eastwood.
DeWitt Josiah G. Holbrook.
Clay

Elbridge

Fabius

Alfred

D. Lewis.

Newell Rowley.

Manlius Anson Smith.

Marcellus Robert E. Dorchester.
Onondaga James C. Rann.
Otisco Henry W. Hotchkiss.

Geddes N. Stanton Gere.

Lysander J. T. Skinner.
LaFayette George W. Mclntyre.

Pompey Marshal

R. Dyer.

Salina George Bassett.

Skaneateles John H. Gregory.
Benjamin McDaniels.
Spafiford
Tully Ellis V. King.
Van Buren Augustus W. Bingham.

First

Ward

Thomas

Nicholson.

Second Ward Michael Kohles.

Third Ward William H. H. Gere.
Fourth WardJohn Rombach.
Fifth Ward Egbert Draper.
Sixth Ward George W. Chase.
Seventh Ward William C. Anderson.
Eighth Ward H. Wadsworth Clarke.

County Officials, 1^,7^Miscellaneous.

Gardner, NavaJustices of Sessions Martin L.
George W. Hill, Otisco.
rino
;

District
winsville.

Attorney Nathaniel M. White, Bald-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

8o

A. J. Dallas, Syracuse S. M. HigMemphis; Jonathan Kneeland, South Onon-

Coroners
gins,

J.

Zenas

School Commissioners

Collamer

James W.

Van Keuren,

A. Jones, Pompey

Richard W.

McKinley,

Hooper, Geddes

Robert

Jordan.

Superintendent of the Poor

Henry H.

Loomis,

Syracuse.

Jared

C.

Bingham

X.

Superintendent of the Penitentiary

Williams, Syracuse.

Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

14, 1877.

To the Board of Supervisors of Onondaga County :

Your Committee on Equalization would beg
leave to present their final report, as embraced in
the following table, showing the aggregate corrected
valuation of the several towns of the count}' and the
city of Syracuse, upon which is apportioned the State
and county la.\, which, together with the town ta.\,
makes up the aggregate tax to be raised in the
Your committee would
several towns and the city.
therefore offer the following resolution and recomits

Resolved, That the aggregate tax set opposite the

several towns of the county and city of Syracuse,
as exhibited in the table accompanying this report,
be levied and assessed upon the taxable property of
the towns and city respectively, as their proportion
of the State, county and town tax for the year
Respectfully .submitted,
1877.
Wm. C. Anderson,
A. Van Vleck,
HOLBROOK,
M. R. DVER,
J. G.

N.

P.

Eastwood,

W. H. H. Gere,
Committee.*

* Valuation and Taxation of the Real and Personal

TOWNS.

Estate

ot"

Captain

Jr.,

Orris

Curtiss,

Lieutenant

James

Clark, Ensign.

In March, 1794, the following appointments were

made

adoption

A. W. Bingham,
O. F. SouLE,

Report of the Committee on- Equ.m.iz.-vtio.v,

Passed by the Board of Supervisors Decem-

mend

Bailey, Syracuse.

BEK

daga.

Loan Commissioners
Maxon, Elbridge.

Mr. Kendall moved that the report be accepted

Carried, as follows
and the resolution adopted.
AvES Messrs. Sherwood, Coughtry, Eastwood,
Holbrook, Van Vleck, Rowley, N. S. Gere, Kendall,
Mclntyre, Smith, Comstock, Niles, Dyer, Bassett,
Earll, Willis, Bingham, Avery, Mason, W. H. H.
Gere, Rombach, Soule, Chase, Anderson, Rose
25.
Nays Messrs Dorchester and Weston 2.
Military Organization for Onondaga County 1791. On the 8th of March, 1791, the following appointments were made for Herkimer, in
Major J. L. Hardenburgh's battalion, General VolCaptains Moses DeWitt,
kert, Veeder's Brigade
Benjamin Dey and Roswell Franklin Lieutenants
Jacob Hart, Hezekiah Olcott, Joshua Patrick and
Ensigns Samuel Lackey, Asa DanJosiah Buck
forth, Jr., Nathan Walker and James Alexander
David Holbrook, Surgeon.
Patrick Campbell was appointed Brigadier-General for Herkimer, Oct 9, 1793.
In the same year
Moses DeWitt was appointed Major Asa Danforth. Major.
First Company: Hezekiah Olcott
Captain; Jeremiah Gould, Lieutenant; Comfort
Tyler, Ensign.
Second Company Asa Danforth,

Onondaga county
Major John L. HarSolomon Buell, Captain,
Light Infantry Noah Olmsted, Lieutenant Jonathan Brownell, PInsign.
Majors DeWitt and Danfor

denburgh's Battalion

forth's Battalion

Jeremiah Jackson, Captain, Light

Infantry; Jonathan Russell, Lieutenant

tis,

Sier Cur-

Ensign.

On

the 8th of April, 1795, Othneil Taylor, Esq.,

was appointed Commandant of a Brigade, comprising the counties of Onondaga and Ontario, with
the rank and title of Brigadier General.
A troop

the County of

Onondaga

for the

Year 1877.

PENITENTIARy. SrMcusf.OnoNDAG* Co

H Y

Ononoaoa County Poor Hou^l.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

was

organized

8i

Brigade in

a select committee consisting of the following gen-

1795, and Walter D. Nicholls, appointed Captain.

tlemen
George Pettit, Hezekiah Strong and
Charles H. Toll." The committee embodied in
their report the following charges for the county
poor during the years from 1823 to 1826 inclusive
Aggregate charges for the yeari823
$2,459 ^^
The like for the year 1824
2,560 98
The like for the year 1825
3,973 66
The like for the year 1826
5,767 47

of horse

the

in

said

In 1796 the Governor organized several

ments

The

in

new

regi-

the Counties of Ontario and Onondaga.

commanded by Major Dan-

battalion hitherto

was made a regiment, comprising the town-

forth

ships of Hannibal, Lysander, Cicero, Manlius,

Pom-

pey, Fabius, Solon, Cincinnatus, Tully, Virgil, Ca-

Sempronius, Locke, Dryden, and the Onon-

millus,

Asa Danforth, LieutenantCommandant Hezekiah Olcott, first Ma-

Reservation.

daga

Colonel,
jor

Joshua Wickoff,

Thaddeus M. Wood, second

and Colman Keeler, Cornet in Cap-

Lieutenant

Lieutenant
tain

troop

Nicholl's

horse,

of

General Taylor's

Danforth's

ant-Colonel

Major

regiment, viz

in

Hezekiah

Asa Danforth,

Lieuten-

second
Major
John Ellis, Adjutant Elijah Rust, Paymaster Jabez Hull, Quartermaster William NeedWalter Colton, Surgeon's Mate
ham, Surgeon
Lieutenant
Comfort Tyler, Captain
Butler,
Jesse
Elijah Phillips,
Nehemiah H. Earll, Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Caleb Pratt,
Captain
John Lamb
Samuel JeCaptain William Cook, Lieutenant
Robert
rome, Captain, David Williams, Captain
first

Jr.,

Earll, Captain, etc., etc.

The

population of the county in 1800, 7,698

1810, 25,987;

67,911

1830, 58.973; 1840,

1865,92,972; 1870,104,183;

1820, 41.497;

1855,86,575

1875, 112,186.

(For

Increase of charges from 1823 to 1824, $10,114

from 1824 to 1825, $,1412.68; from 1825 to 1826,
total increase in three years, $3,307.65.
$1,793.83

>

full

This showed the disadvantage of not having suitable provisions for the poor.
The committee in
view of all the circumstances recommended that
" the

Board

do

avail

visions of the act entitled

brigade, appointed March, 1797.

The following oflScers were appointed

Olcott,

Josiah Buck, second Major

first

tables of population and other statistics,

see statistical department of this work.)

themselves

'An

of

the

pro-

act to provide for the

estabhshment of County Poor Houses, passed November 27, 1824." The following resolutions were
adopted
''Resolved, That the sum of two thousand dollars be forthwith raised in the county of Onondaga
towards purchasing a site and erecting a county
Poor House."
"Resolved, That the members of this Board be
a committee to examine, investigate and enquire as
to the best location in said county for the said Poor
House, and report their opinions and views on the
subject to a future extra meeting of the Board."
At the annual meeting of the Board held at the
house of Z. Rust, on the 28th day of November,
1826, it was
"Resolved, That it be and is hereby determined
that it will be beneficial to the said county to erect
a county Poor House."
" Resolved, That a copy of the above resolution
be signed by the President and Clerk of this Board,
and be forthwith filed with the Clerk of the said
county."

Elisha Litchfield,

CHAPTER

James Webb,

XIX.

County Poor House and Insane Asylum

County Penitentiary State Asylum for

Idiots.

House
THE Onondaga County Onondaga
Poor

lum are situated upon

and Asy-

Hill

about

two miles distant from the city of Syracuse. The

It contained
site contains
36^ acres of land.
originally about 145 acres,

being part of

lot

No. 87

in the town of Onondaga, and purchased by the

county of Josiah Bronson in the year 1826.
The following is from the minutes of the Board

of Supervisors

at

a meeting

held

November

24,

1826:
" The Board of Supervisors of the County of
Onondaga having taken into consideration the propriety of erecting a County Poor House, appointed

At

President.

Clerk.

the next meeting of this Board,^held at the

house of Z. and G. Rust, in. the town of Onondaga,

on the second Tuesday in January, 1827, present
all the members except Charles Jackson, of LaFayette, propositions were received of farms for sale
to the

Board of Supervisors

for

county Poor House

purposes, in the towns of Manlius, Pompey, and

many other localities in the county. The Board

adopted the following resolution

" Resolved,

That the location of the County Poor

shall be within ten miles of the Court

House."
committee was then appointed consisting of
Russell Chase, Hezekiah Strong, Charles H. Toll,
Fisher Curtis and George Pettit, to examine a farm
Lot
offered by Mr. Josiah Bronson, being part of

House

or more at
87 in the town of Onondaga, 100 acres

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

82

$20.00 per acre, and report upon the same at the

next adjourned meeting.

On

the ninth day of February, 1827, the Board

at the house of Z. and G. Rust.

The
committee reported favorably upon the farm oiTered
by Josiah Bronson, and the Board resolved to accept

met again

the same, " containing about 145 acres, at the price

of $18.00 per acre."

same year one wing of the Poor House was enlarged

and a story added

to

it,

a cost of about $8,000.

at

In 1871, the carriage and hay barn, 32 by 76 feet,

with stone basement, was built to supply the place
of the one previously destroyed by

fire.
This barn
was erected at the very moderate cost of $1,550.
A great improvement was made in the whole
general appearance of the premises the road in
front was elevated and graveled
side-walks were
built, and rows of beautiful shade trees planted.
;

" Resolved,

That the Board of Supervisors will

pay Josiah Bronson the sum of $500 on taking a
deed, and the residue in two equal annual installments with interest, amounting to about S735 each
to be secured to said Bronson by mortgage, and the
said Supervisors take upon themselves to pay the
State mortgage, amounting to about S640.00, and
the said Bronson reserves the wheat now on the

Asylum

until April

present

incumbent, Mr. Ambrose Sadler, assumed

ground."

charge.

Hezekiah

Fisher

Strong,

and George

Curtis

were appointed a building committee, with

instructions to " build a house not exceeding 60 feet
in length and 36 feet in width, two stories above the
Pettit

cellar or

which

basement,

shall not

all

of stone, and the expense of

By

exceed $2,500.00."

a resolution

passed at this meeting, Oliver R. Strong, Daniel

Mosely, Truman Adams, Azariah Smith and James

Webb, were appointed Superintendents of the Poor
House. The building committee were instructed

and other outbuildings not exceeding in the whole $300.00.

Hezekiah Strong, Fisher Curtis and George Pettit,
were appointed a committee to raise the funds necto

build

the barn 42 by 32

feet,

essary to erect the buildings.

The Poor House was completed on

Our space will not

December, 1827.

enter into a detailed account of

all

century

manner

both

in

allow us to

the changes and

improvements which have been made

half

the 17th of

in

the last

and in the
and the insane.

the buildings

of taking care of the poor

This important interest has kept pace with other

improvement in the county, and has of late years

commanded

increasing attention and interest.

The

main building of the present Poor House was

erected in

1854.

In

i860 the

stone build-

first

Asylum was erected. Extensive improvements were made during the years from 1866
ing for

the

Mr. Warner being elected to the

intendent, appointed Mr.

who had charge

keeper,

ist,

Knapp
of the

1875, at

office of

Super-

his successor as

Poor House and

which date the

The Annual Report of the Superintendent, H.

H. Loomis, Esq., for the year ending November 9,
1877, shows that the receipts from all sources, including an appropriation by the Board of Supervisors of $18,000, was $23,072.86, and the total disbursements, $19,579 17. The amount of cash on
hand was $3,493.69, and the amount of supplies,
Estimated amount necessary to meet
$1,725.00.
the current expenses of the Poor House and Asylum
for the

ensuing year, $16,000.

The number

institutions

chai'itable

county

is

children

of

fifty-three.

now

in

the different

who are supported by the

Of these 24 are in the On-

ondaga County Orphan Asylum, 15 in the St.

Vincent de Paul Orphan Asylum, and 14 in the

House of Providence.
The number of persons
130; 90 of

whom

in

the Poor

House

is

Of

are males and 40 females.

the 117 in the Insane Asylum, 47 are males and 40

females.

The number admitted

during the year

their

is

49

own expense

per week being paid

to the

Asylum

26 have been maintained at

or that of their friends, $2.00

for

their board

and care

10

have died, 34 have been discharged, and one has

absconded during the year.

The

following table shows the causes of depend-

ency of all persons received

during the year

at the

County House

to

1873, under the

administration of Mr. C. C.

Warner, who had charge of the Institution during

the years referred to, and to whose economical

management and

indefatigable labors

the people

Under his
county are much indebted.
administration the Reservoir for the supply of the

of

the

county buildings with water was constructed

1867, at a cost of $4,000.
built

of stone, 32 by 76

height,

was

built,

costing

In 1868, a
feet

new Asylum,

and three

about

in

stories in

$16,000.

The

Intemperance direct
Vagrancy
Indigent and Destitute
Lunacy
Sickness

Old Age
Debauchery
Bastardy
Blindness

Lameness
Idiocy

64
127
S3

42
3
10
13

4
6
6

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The

products of the Poor

House farm during the

past season have been as follows

duced the Board to change the site to Block 116 in

what had previously been the village of Salina,
where the Penitentiary now stands.
This block
was purchased of the State and a patent issued
-
u
r
u u- tn
1.
**^"''"^'' '^'""'' ^^ "'' Excellency, Hamilton iMsh,
Governor, on the 4th of February, 1850.

Twenty-five tons of hay, 22.2 bushels of beets, 75

bushelsofonions 15 biishels of tomatoes 41 bushels
ofcarrots, 48 bushels of apples, 95 bushes of wheat,
950 pounds of butter, 2,500 pounds of beef, 20
hogs, and 1,000 head of cabbages.

The

following

is

statement of expenses

On

in-

in

the spring

the 8th of January, 1851, the following resolu-

tion.moved by Mr. L. Harris Hiscock, was adopted:

curred and the income realized from the farm of

William Moore 20 acres) rented

83

^f^olved. That the Onondaga County Penitenis completed within the necessary meaning of
the Act of April 10, 1850, and that the Board of
"

tiary

EXPENSES.

Rent

S250 00
75 00

Seed

Supervisors have

S325 00
Potatoes, 1303 bushels.. _S52i 20
"

224
^50

Oats,'

"

56 00
52 50

11^

Profits

00
39 00

Cornstalks
Oat straw
Hay, 3 tons

15

Legislature, the

3000
realized....

lowing words

"The

'

^ '^^ ^""^

-$394
^

/O

On

the 4th of December, 1849, Messrs. Robert

Upham

and T. C. Cheeney, a comwhom was

mittee of the Board of Supervisors to

referred the subject of the county

reported a

jail,

plan for a penitentiary, to be built upon the center

where the court house and jail then

The main building was to be 75 by 50 feet
stood.
and four stories including basement, with one wing
100 by 50 feet, having one row of windows and four
The whole number of cells was to
tiers of cells.
It was estimated that the entire cost would
be 96.
of the

be a

lot

little

less

The Board
ber, 1849,

than S20,ooo.

Decem-

adopted the report of the above commit:

chairman.
Rfsohed, That Mr. Church, of Lysander, Mr.
Dunlop, of DeWitt, and T. C. Cheeney, of Syracuse, be appointed commissioners to superintend the

erection of said building.

Resolved, That said commissioners and the
County Treasurer be empowered to loan a sum of
money necessary for the erection of said building.

not e.xceeding
S20.000, to be deposited in the
County Treasurer's office."
The plan of the committee was carried out with
the exception of locating the building on the Court

House grounds. The delay in moving the Court

House to its present location and other causes in-

section whereof

is in

the

fol-

county of Onondaga

Jail of the

shall be,

*'

Y'^'^l'
l^^ ^'fn^u"
and '"'^Tr'-/"
said Penitentiary
said county,
shall be

of

the purposes of a jail of said county

and the Superintendent of said Penitentiary, appointed by the ]?oard of Supervisors, shall be the
Jailor thereof, and have the custody and control of

used

for all

persons while confined therein, as the Sheriff

^f^^^W county might have were this law not en^-

all

^''section

This act

7.

take efiect immedi-

shall

ately."

! the rules and by-laws adopted January

9, 185 1,

provided that three inspectors shall be appoint-

\[ jg

gj by the Board of Supervisors,

assembled,

who

shall

meeting now

in

have the supervision of the

penitentiary and the entire control of

cial

of Supervisors, on the 7th of

and passed the following resolutions

"Resolved by the Board, That a work-house or
Penitentiary be erected in the county in pursuance
of the plan submitted to this Board at its present
session by the committee of which Mr. Dunlop is
tee,

f
tiary

first

^^j

Onondaga County Penitentiary.

Dunlop, Cyrus

and that so much of the resolutions of the

Board of Supervisors of last year as confers any
power to officer and organize said Penitentiary on
the Commisioners of the same, be and the same is
hereby rescinded."
In January, 85 1, a special act was passed by the
act,

INCOME.
Corn,

power to officer andorganize

under the loth section of that

full

said Penitentiary,

concerns and operations, and

furnish

all

shall

all

its

finan-

purchase and

the necessary supplies for the Peniten-

one of whom shall hold his office for one

year, one for two years and one for three years from
tia^y,

j^g

first

^^^^.
^

day of January, 185

^^

^,^,^,1

of one

^,^,^^ j,^^
1

principal

1.

"The

said

Peni-

management
c.
f and a
Superintendent

^^^^rol and

keeper or

Board of Inspectors, subject to the authority establishcd by law and the rules and regulations
adopted by the Board of Supervisors for its govern^^^^^ ^^3,, ^^ ^ physician to the peniten^^^^^
.
.
ic
tiary. to be appointed, and Im compensation fixed

by the Board of Supervisors.

The Board then proceeded to the election of
with

the

following

^^^^^ ^^ ,33qj
Superi>,lede>it-]ostY>h A. Yard,
///j/rr/c^rj Lyman Norton, James V.

Kcnil.nll.

officers

of the

Penitentiary,

^^^^^j^^ ^1^^ ^.^^^

Aaron

Brinkerhoff.

P/ij'sician James Foran.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

84

The

was

Penitentiary

originally erected, substan-

The

tially

the addition of one wing in 1864.

portion of the

building was re built and other improvements

subsequent to the

The

made

which occurred during the

fire

terrace

in

a southwesterly direction from the city.

They

are

The

institution.

Inspectors

Messrs.

William Austin and Timothy

Hough in

The grounds

their an-

State

1877,

who

exclude applicants

to furnish

is

The
who

by-laws of the
are epileptic,

from

is

Asylum

insane or

greatly deformed.

taking and working a

for

facilities

Asylum

are of a teachable age and condition

seven to fourteen.

number

include

of education or training to the idiots of the

Hesidcs the great moral advan-

increased

Asylum

of the

hence the customary age of admission

the erection of additional buildings for

female prisoners.

large

town of Geddes, and

object and design of the

means

tages which would obviously result from this policy,

the

fifty-five acres.

The

H. K. King,

nual report to the Board of Supervisors for

recommend

about

practical success of the

demonstrate the

to

upon

bold

road Depot.

such as

is

accommodate

about a mile and a quarter from the Syracuse Rail-

present condition of the Penitentiary, after

an experiment of twenty-seven years,

fully

stand

buildings

just west of the city line in the

late war.

The

structure was meant to

first

150 pupils. Successive additions from time to time

have now doubled its original capacity.

the same as at present, with the exception of

The

of long-term prisoners from adjacent

education and training to which the pupils

counties and from the State at large, would greatly

are submitted has reference mainly to developing in

increase the profits of the institution and enlarge

them a capacity

the revenue which

it

might be made

Already, besides paying

county.

pay to the

to

all

expenses

for

The

for

to farm

and the boys

ness depression, the profits of the Penitentiary have

three simple trades.

The

Hums &

The

done by the

report of the present Superintendent, Mr.

J. C. Williams, shows that the total income for the

year 1877 was 538,620.85, and the total expendi-

Paiancc

in favor

net

profit

of

the

Institution

12,190.86.

Dr. H. B. Wilbur has held the

tendent of the

Total

Jail of the

and

county
is

is

kept

in

the Peniten-

simply a house of detention.

are ever confined in this department

who

are

undergoing sentence on conviction. No work is

required of the jail-prisoners, but such as choose to

work with the penitentiary-prisoners are permitted

to do so, subject to the rules and regulations of the

The New York State Asylum for

The New York

State

Asylum for

was open

ed

in

in

October of that year

at Albany.

1851.

It

for the

Idiots

Idiots.

was found-

admission of pupils

in buildings leased for

the

the end of four years

The

completed

first

it

was removed

building erected for

in 1855,

where

it

now

its

stands.

to Syra-

use was

The

cost

was about 70,000, not including the land

which was given by the citizens of Syracuse.

of this

CHAPTER

oflfice

of Superin-

foundation.

XX.

in the War of the Rebellion

OuTiiURST OF Patriotism at the Beginning
OF THE War t'lRST Enlistments of Volunteers Captain John G. Butler's Company
Pettit's Battery.

Onondaga

which had been threatened

by the South, was precipitated by an attack
upon P'ort Sumpter, on Sunday, April 14, 1861.
late civil war,

On Monday

following

Abraham

Lincoln called

for

75,000 volunteers to aid in suppressing the rebelSimultaneously war meetings were held all
lion.
over the Northern

purpose

cuse.

its

THE

Penitentiary.

At

Asylum from

of persons in confinement during the year

tiary building,

None

is

pupils.

1,264.

The

inconsiderable portion of

Superintendent of Public Instruction.

number

No

members, consisting of the Governor, Lieutenant

Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller and

of the Institu-

Items to the amount of $785 to

2,975.86.
from
the above balance making the
deducted
be

tion ?

and garden work and two or

The Asylum is under the general control of a

Board of Trustees, eight of whom are appointed by
the Governor, and the remaining five are ex officio

Jones.

tures 25,644.99.

and the

the work in the asylum and about the grounds,

con-

tractors for the penitentiary labor are Messrs. Frazer.

useful occupation

are trained to household occupations

girls

the past year, and in a season of considerable busi-

reached the net surplus of $12,190.86.

some

formation of correct habits.

were raised

in

patriotic spirit

States.

In this county

almost every school

needed no urging

flags

The

district.

such was

its in-

tensity that violence actually threatened the few

open

sympathizers with the South, who, not yet aware of

the spirit of their neighbors, dared openly to express

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

sentiments of sympathy with secession.
while the voices of

outburst of

general

men

of

all

all

In a Httle

such were hushed

loyalty

parties, with but

their political differences in

the

in

and patriotism

and

few exceptions, forgot

common
the country.
The

view of the

and Cortland furnished eight companies of the

2d Regiment of Ira Harris Light Cavalry, recruited
in September and October, 1864.
In infantry, besides the full regiments, this

portion of

t-he

44th

danger which seemed to threaten

flag of the Republic had been ruthlessly assailed
and the very existence of the Nation was imperiled

the 75th, 1861

by armed treason and

spring.

In such a state of

rebellion.

made

North for deit was by the

authentic announcement that Maj. Anderson's little
garrison at Charleston had surrendered, and that a
rebel flag waved from the ramparts of Fort Sumpter, awakened the most intense excitement and
called forth a response which, for promptness and
alacrity, has never been equalled in the history of
things the appeal

to the loyal

fenders of the Union, accompanied as

any nation.
in this locality was much the
was throughout the Northern States
generally, except, perhaps, that it was more intense

The excitement

same

as

it

8S

New York,

the 86th,

county furnished a

mustered

i86i

The 193d Regiment was

86 1.

in April, 1865,

Thus

it

will

be seen

loist,

partly raised here

and the 194th, mustered

the complete regiments

1861

in, in

and the

that, besides

in,

the same

the filling of

made up from

this county,

was going on briskly here from the begining to the end of the war.
Indeed, it began before
the war broke out, and continued so long as a man
was needed to complete the last great struggle with

recruiting

the Rebellion

in

Richmond

front of

in 1865.

We

have no means of determining the exact number of

men furnished to the Government, first and last, by
this county, but the aggregate will no doubt approximate 10,000 men.
The county raised about
1,000 men over and above her quota.

the strong anti-slavery sentiment of a large portion

of the people being kindled into a flame by the

first

overt act of hostility on the part of the South.

The

Captain Butler's Company.

The

tour of the Ellsworth Zouaves through the

county of Onondaga was behind no other portion

of the Empire State in the promptness with which

country in i860, awakened an unusual degree of

military enthusiasm.
Zouave company was im-

men and sent them forOne company had been

mediately thereafter formed in Syracuse, of which

she furnished her quota of

ward

to the seat of war.

Syracuse by Captain John G. Butler before the beginning of the war, in iS6o, and was sent

formed

in

on immediately after the attack upon Fort Sumpter

and formed a part of the 3d New York regiment,
which participated in the first battle fought for the
defense of the Union.
Immediately upon the call
for the 75, 000 men in April, 186 1, the 12th Regiment
was raised and sent to the front, to engage at once

Then

in active service.

ment made up
fall

of

1861

followed the loist, a regi-

Onondaga men, in the

then the I22d Regiment in the

partially of

summer of 1862 this was followed in less than a

month by the 149th Regiment, and this again by
the 185th, in the summer of 1864.
The 15th and
;

22d Cavalry were respectively raised and sent from

this county.

Besides these Jenney's and Pettit's

and a considerable portion of the ist

Regiment of Light Artillery were furnished from

Batteries

this

county

in 1861.

The 3d New York

mustered into the service

Cavalry,

August, 1861

in

the

loth Cavalry, December, 1861

the 12th Cavalry,
November, 1862; the 20th Cavalry, September,
1863
and the 24th Cavalry, organized at Auburn
and mustered in January, 1864, were in part made
up by men from Onondaga county. Also part of
;

the 9th

New York Heavy

Artillery.

This county

John G. Butler was Captain, Samuel Thompson,

1st Lieutenant, and Edwin S. Jenney, 2d Lieutenant.
The company was composed of about forty young
men of some of the best families in the city.
Immediately after the fall of Fort Sumpter, the
company tendered its services to the Government,
and was at once recruited by Capt. Butler and Lieut.
Jenney to the maximum number of JJ, officers
and men, and became Company D of the 3d regiment, N. Y. Vols.
Before

Jenney

it

was mustered

recruited

into

another

the service Lieut.

company

in

County, of which he became captain.

Oneida

This was

or-

same regiment. The

only other Onondaga County man in this company
was Mr. Leon H. Ballard, its 2d Lieutenant.
Captain Butler's company was organized with
John G. Butler, Captain C. H. Burdick, ist Lieutenant Jay M. Wicks, 2d Lieutenant and was the
first company organized in Central New York upon
ganized as

Company

of the

the breaking out of the rebellion.

Both Butler's and Jenney's companies proceeded

about the middle of April, 1861,

to the barracks at

Albany, where the regimental organization was

completed, thence to New York, where, after a brief
encampment at the Battery, the regiment was ordered to Fortress Monroe and incorporated with

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

86

actual battle of the war, being

Succeeding the battle of Big Bethel the companies were kept at Fortress Monroe till after the
battle of Bull Run, when the regiment was ordered

Gen Butler had taken comMonroe at the head of 15,000

stopped at lialtimore and assigned to garrison duty

They had immediate e.xperiser\'icc, the famous movement on

Gen. Butler's army.

encc

in

active

Big Bethel, the

ordered June

mand

first

9, 1861.

Fortress

at

raw but gallant

soldiers.

It

had been decided that

no offensive movement should be made prior to the

24th of May the day after the farce of voting to
I

ordinance of secession of the State of

ratify the

Government having apparently reno Union soldier should, on that day,

at Fort

Potomac, but was, however,

of the

Mc Henry.

In October, 1861, Captain Jcnney, being authorized to recruit a battery of light artillery,

On

the

the 4th of February, 1863, Captain Butler

to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the

was promoted

tread the soil of Virginia, save within the narrow

147th

limits, or immediately under the frowning walls of

So Gen. Hutler soon found
Fortress Monroe.

in

New York

Volunteers, organized at

Oswego

September, 1862, of which Andrew S.Warner

On the 24th of February, 1863,
was Colonel.
Butler

ten or twelve thousand confederates in his front,

Lieutenant-Colonel

under command of Gens. Huger and Magruder,

both recently of the regular army, with earthworks
and batteries, well mounted with powerful guns

rank of Colonel of the

manded

from the spoils of the Norfolk Navy Yard.

discharged on

General Hutler found his position so cramped by

left

regiment.

Virginia I the
solved that

Army

to the

in

the

field

health compelled him

was promoted to the

he com-

regiment, which
with

distinction

to leave the army.

surgeon's certificate of

till

failing

He was
disability,

November 5, 1863.
The Adjutant-General's

a reconnoissance in force with a view of capturing

report says of the 3d

This regiment was organized at AlIt was mustered into
bany, X. v., for two years.
States
United
May 14, 1S61.
the
of
service
the
were
members
mustered
out on the
The original

the rebel position nearest to him, at Little Bethel.

expiration of their term of service.

May

The regiment was

May, 1863,

the pro.ximity and audacity of the rebels, that he

resolved upon enlarging his circle,
seized and fortified

the

James River.

and to that end

Newport News, at the mouth of

the Qth of June he ordered

On

The camp here was found

Pierce, in command of our

deserted, and General

regiment

"

reorganized in

21, 1863.
for

pushed on to Big
where
further,
they found MaBethel, seven miles

three years, and finally mustered out in accordance

gruder strongly posted with i.Soo rebel infantry

General Tierce, who had

1865."

force

behind his breastworks.

never seen a shot

fired

small arms in an open

fire,

his balls

actual war, planting his

field

opened an

ineffectual

burying themselves harmlessly

rebel earthworks.

four hours

in

in

the

This action was kept up about

necessarily

with considerable loss on

enemy.
was
made
by a
Finally, a more determined assault
part of our infantry led by Major Theodore Winthrop. Aid to General Butler, who was shot dead

our side and

little

or none on that of the

while standing on a log, cheering his

men

to the

charge.

and Jenncy's companies, composing the

of the regiment, and being the
second
in
rank, volunteered and were sent
fourth and ninth
forward as part of the storming party in this first
Butler's

division

engagement of the war, and lost in proportion to

They are
any other troops engaged in the battle.
mentioned in the reports for gallant conduct. The
enemy's position was protected in front by a stream
of water which made a successful assault impossible.
Our total losses in the advance and attack were
about 100 men, while the rebels report their loss at

one

killed

and seven wounded.

with orders from the

War

Department, August

18,

They were engaged in the following battles Big

Bethel, Fokt Wagnek, Bermuda Hunokeds,
PETEKSriURG, F"OKT GiLMER, ChAPIn's FaRM, FoRT
:

F'lSHEK, WiLMINGTO.N, N. C.

Jay M. Wicks, who went out as 2d Lieutenant,

was promoted to ist Lieutenant February 26, 1862,
and to Captain, October 4, 1S62. He died, of wounds
received in action, October 27, 1864.
Charles H. Burdick, ist Lieutenant of same company, resigned February 4, 1862.

Leon H. Ballard, 2d Lieutenant in Capt. Jcnney 's

company, resigned September 25, 1861.
B.vTTEKV B, First Regiment New York Light
Artillery, known as I'ettit's Battery, was raised
at Baldwinsville and composed chiefly of Onondaga
It was mustered into the State sercounty men.
Baldwinsville,
August 24, 1861, and into the
vice at
service of the United States at Elmira, August 31,
1861.

On

the vicinity of

The

Washington it was the first batmounted, and remained in camp in

its arrival in

tery to be fully

record of

Washington till the spring of 1862.

engagements during the war is as

its

follows

;;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

87

Warrenton Jimction, Va., March 28, 1862.

Fair Oaks, F., June 1-28, 1862.
Peach Orchard, Va., June 29, A. M., 1862.
Savage Station, Va., June 29, P. M., 1862.
White Oak Swamp, frt., June 30, 1862.

out with Battery, June 23, 1865.

Second-Lieutenant, John Gibson, rank from October 14, 1863
assigned from Battery H, Decem-

Malvern

ber

Hill,

July

f'^r.,

r,

promoted

Va.,

Fredericksburg,

Utiitcd States Ford,

May 1-3, 1863.

May 6, 1863.

lorsville

service,

Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-3, 1863.

Va., November 30, 1863.
Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864.
North Anna, J a.. May 23, 1S64.
Tolopotomoy, J^a., May 29, 1864.

June

to First-Lieutenant, Sepmustered out on expiration of

November

service,

16, 1S64.

September
;

1862

10,

wounded

mustered out on the expiration

September 27. 1864.
;

First-

Chancel-

at

of term of

Quartermaster, Joel B. Frisbie, returned to ranks,

1S61

3,

Sergeant,

February

28, 1865

August

discharged,

DeWitt M.

Lieutenant, October

2-3, 1864.

Second

1S64; First-Lieutenant,

20,

wounded

1862.

12,

Ferine, promoted to

at

Gettysburg

mus-

tered out with Battery, June 17, 1865.

term of service the

original number, except the veterans, were mustered
out, and the organization composed of veterans and
expiration of

the

1S64

27,

December

Petersburg, Va., June 16-20, 1864.

Hatcher's Run, Va., October 27, 1864.

On

promoted

Lieutenant, April 29, 1863

f^^.,

frt.,

Second-Lieutenant,

Mine Run,

Bethcsda Church,

mustered

First-Sergeant, Joseph B. Slauson, promoted to

November 3, 1862.
November 17, 1862.
Va., December 12-17, 1862.

Chanccllorsville, Va.,

1863

15,

tember
term of

frt.,

Snicker's Gap, Va.,

Falmouth,

1864

9,

1S62.

September i, 1862.
Antietam, Md., September 15-17, 1862.
Charlestoivn, Va., October 19, 1862.
Centcrvilley

December

to Captain,

its

Sergeants John M. Stephens, died, date unknown Harvey Cox, wounded at Chanccllorsville,
fate unknown
Rufus B. Freeman, died July 25,
1862
Guy W. Plumley, died March 2, 1862
;

The regiment was

recruits retained in the service.

mustered out by batteries

finally

War

an order from the

ing mustered out

The

June

in accordance with
Department, Battery B be-

18,

1865.

with the record of promotions, &c.

Captain, Rufus D. Pettit, rank from

Captain,

command

May

August

2,

29,

30, 1863.

M. Rority, temporarily assigned

J.

July

to

1863, killed at Gettysburg.

First-Lieutenant, Albert S. Sheldon, rank from

sioned, resigned

Thomas O'Shea,

October

29,

not commis-

rank from

Pettit,

86 1, promoted to First-Lieutenant

discharged April 29, 1863.

Second-Lieutenant, Robert E. Rogers, rank from
27, 1862,

November 12, 1861, promoted to First-Lieutenant

March 6, 1863, promoted to Captain, December 30,
1S64, mustered out with battery

Second-Lieutenant,
April

1862

I,

24,

1862

23,

1864

service,

1863

1863

B.

June

18, 1865.

Hall,

rank

assigned to Battery A,

promoted

to First-Lieutenant,

from

December
February

mustered out on expiration of term of

October 31, 1864.

promoted

assigned to

Edward H.
;

Thomas Coyne, wounded

and

prisoner

at

paroled

ranks January 31,

to

May

with rank from

1864; discharged

i,

at the

Anthony Huyck, promoted

ber

14,

1862

First-Sergeant,

to Sergeant,

December

Decem-

24,

1862

discharged at the expiration of service.

ber

I,

S. Attix,*

promoted

to Sergeant,

Septem-

1862.
J.

Hooker, hurt by carriage

November

burg, returned to ranks

Edward

P.

Lockwood,* returned

i,

at Gettys-

1S63.

to ranks

October

19, 1862.

Abiram W. Mathews,

died at home.

Stephen Barber, died May 4, 1862.

George L. Elliot, returned to ranks May

i,

1862.

Second-Lieutenant,
from January 4, 1862
9,

Isaac

taken

Corporals James A. Skinner, promoted to

Quartermaster-Sergeant April 26, 1S62 declined
commission as Second-Lieutenant August 12, 1S64,

Andrew

17, 1862.

Second-Lieutenant, Walter D.

February

C.

1863.

Abram

16, 1S64.

First-Lieutenant,

I.

Chancellorsville

Chanccllorsville

at

expiration of service.

August 29, 1 861, promoted to Captain, July 27,

1863, wounded at Gettysburg, discharged December

August

transferred to

wounded

Robert Maitland, returned

following were the officers of Pettit's Battery,

1861, resigned

Charles H. Gates,

Underbill, rank

assigned to Battery B, June

August 26,
Battery A, September 18, 1863
to First-Lieutenant,

Robert R. Ramsey.*

James

Galligher.

Michael Galligher,* returned to ranks.

John McSorley,* returned to ranks January

i,

1863.

Allen

January

F.
i,

Mallory,*

1863

bugler,

wounded

Thomas McLaughlin,*
* Veterans

retained in the service.

returned to ranks

at Gettysburg.

bugler.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

88

Hendrick S. Wheeler,* artificer.

Alonzo C. Ketchum,* artificer, returned

to ranks.

Sylvester P. Slade,* wagoner.t

CHAI'TKR XXI.
"

Its

Jenney's Battery,"
its

Organization with
of

New York Artillery Sketch

THE Third

History.

THE

New York

order that,

known

and organized

On

Independent Battery,

as " Jenney's Battery,"

was

Syracuse by Capt. Edwin

Captain Jenncy had
iS6i.
fall
of
in
the
S. Jenney
outbreak
of the war
very
service
at
the
entered the
raised

While at Palace Garden Barracks the battery

was uniformed and furnished with rifles and the
men were thoroughly drilled in infantry tactics, in
necessary, they could perform such

if

service until the battery should be equipped.

Tenth

popularly

Shortly after, he repaired to New York and lay at

Palace Garden Barracks some weeks, previous to
going to the front. The Lieutenants of the company were Alex. H. Davis, Gustavus F. Merriam,
Paul Birchmeyer and James D. Outwater."

the 2

St

of February, 1862, the Battery pro-

C,

ceeded to Washington, D.
with the rest of the

and the next day,

regiment, which

had now

it

in

joined,

marched across the Potomac

to

Fort Cor-

coran on Arlington Heights.

he and Captain John G. Butler being the first to

organize companies in Central New York immediAs Captain
ately after the fall of Fort Sumpter.
of

Company

I,

3d Regiment,

he had seen enough

of

New York

war

Volunteers,

to induce a decided

preference for the light artillery branch of the serand becoming weary of the inactivity of garvice
;

rison duty at

Fort McHenry, to which his regi-

ment had been assigned

after

the battle of Big

Bethel, he obtained leave of absence, returned to

and received authority from the Govartillery.

He soon
succeeded in raising the minimum number, and his
command was mustered into the United States service as "The lOth New York Independent Bat-

New York

ernor to raise a battery of light

Here the battery remained with the regiment

encamped, doing
drilling
until

in

March

to join

garrison

infantry

and

25th, 1862,

duty and constantly

heavy

artillery

when orders came

tactics,

to

march

They

Burnside's expeditionary army.

ar-

rived at Annapolis the next day, and, on the 28th,

embarked on the steamer Fulton for Hatteras Inwhere they arrived, joining Burnside's fleet on
the 30th, and landing at Newbern, North Carolina,
on the 2d of April, 1862. For some time Captain
Jenney and Captain Morrison, of Battery B, were
engaged in equipping and drilling their respective
let,

Batteries.
" By the
ceived their

of July, these Batteries had rearmament.

Both had a mi.xed lot
B had two twenty-four pound howitzers,
of guns
(brass*, two twelve pound howitzers, (brass,) and
two twelve pound Wiards, ( cannon and rifled ) F
had two iron six pounders, two iron twelve poundHorses were obtained
ers, and two howitzers.
principally from the baggage wagons of MassaThe old Bay State sent her
chusetts regiments.
ist

full

tery."

In Hall's "
tion

is

Cayuga

in

the Field

spoken of as follows

"

this

organiza-

men was
and vigorous efforts of
Captain Edwin S. Jenncy, a young lawyer in
Syracuse, whose private purse furnished hundreds
"

Of

this

number

a full battery of 142

raised through the patriotic

The Captain rented the

of dollars for the work.
upper stories of a large building on Salina street.
He made Syracuse blaze with his banners and
placards, and quickly gatheretl a band of the very
It was his intention to
best intelligence and blood.
go into the army of the West, into which he had
been led by friends to suppose he could be sent.
He found, however, that he was required for the
of the Potomac, where, at that time, a rule
existed that light artillery should be united into
battalions, consisting of one regular and three
volunteer batteries, commanded by the Captain of
the regular battery. This entailed a sacrifice of
independence and gave no chance of promotion.
He consented, therefore, to an order of the State
authorities to attach him to the 3d New York

army

As such he was mustered

Artillery, as Battery F.'
Lieutenant J. R.
iSlh, 1861, by
in, December
Brinklc, 5th United States Artillery, at Syracuse.
'

Vcterini

regiments into the

Men

See Appendix.

with everything complete.

3d artillery. By the first of November,

however. Battery F was fully equipped with a
complete armament of six Wiard rifled twelve
of the

pounder guns.
" The summer and fall of 1862 were spent in drilling the several companies in their respective roles
as light and heavy artillery, in the perfection of the
line of fortifications and in the ordinary routine of

*
camp duties.
" With
only an occasional skirmish with the
enemy until November of that year."*

From

that time during

most of

battery was kept actively at work.

its

service the

From

the 3d to

was with the army in its

march upon Tarboro. While no battle occurred
during this march, the discipline and fortitude of
the loth of that

month

retained in the lervicc.

rotter of Enliited
f For

field

number

of her troops were in Burnside's

army and their splendid teams were appropriated,
as the emergency requiring them arose, to the use

large

* Ciyuga

in the

Field.

it

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the

command were

constantly tried by the severity

of the march, frequent skirmishes and the constant

necessary in

alertness

enemy.

the

near presence of the

nothing else was accomplished by this

If

expedition,

it

was of great educational advantage

the troops, for they were veterans ever

After

December nth,

this, until

had a resting

On

spell.

to

after.

the

that day, leaving only a

army began the

This expedition was planned
of the Potomac.
General Hal-

march on Goldsboro.
in aid of the

Army

the same locality told them the story.

momentary

lull
then a cheer rang along the
an advancing shout, and the enemy's lines
wavered and in a moment gave way and every man
sought his own safety in flight while the battery
its fire

dred of the enemy sheltered themselves below the

river

bank and were captured.

treating, for
fired the

death

far as

pos-

create a diversion in favor of General BurnIf

side.

was supposed that

it

expedition

this

would fight in three successive days three battles

and two of them among the severest of the war,
considering the number of men engaged, no mistake
was made, for the battles of Kinston, Whitehall
and Goldsboro are its history. It is not within the
scope of our history to give the details of this

march nor

of these battles.

and

the severe ones,

The

first

two were

both of them Jenney's

in

upon the bridge, now crowded by the

retreating enemy, with fearful effect.
Several hunturned

crossing the Rappahannock, all the available forces

at Newbern, should advance to Goldsboro, N. C.,

sible,

fire in

There was

line,

leck ordered that simultaneously with Burnside's

destroy the railroads and bridges, and so

new musketry

out in quick succession, and a

command

garrison at Newbern, the

small

89

At Kinston the point

was the bridge crossing the river, and

The enemy

in

re-

the purpose of delaying our pursuit,

bridge with turpentine thus torturing to

many

of their unfortunate

The

wounded.

work of removing their charred remains occasioned

more delay than extinguishing the flames, which was
quickly done with the artillery buckets.

One

section of the Battery under

command

of

New

Lieutenant Frederick Dennis, with the 3d

York Cavalry, followed and harassed the retreating

enemy until night, but the Battery had been too
badly crippled by the loss of

make up more than

hastily

At

o'clock

brought

men and

horses to

a section for pursuit.

the next morning, however, having

in reserve

men

horses and disposed the

reference to the vacant places. Battery

with

marched

Battery distinguished itself

out in the placeof honor with the advanced brigade.

of our attack

Conrad Ring, the bugler, bore the colors, in place

Dunlap whose horse had been shot under
him and who had lost a leg the day before, while

owing to the long range of its guns, this battery

was at first placed upon a hill in the rear of our
advancing troops, to fire over them and thus aid
advance.

their

however, with

The enemy

held

stubbornness

terrible

ground,

their
;

an almost

of poor

others

filled

the places of the poor fellows

as well as their
elated

own

left

with the honors of yesterday's battle, well

when
hand to hand fight raged for hours
was discovered that the enemy was being
it
reenforced by troops coming to their left flank,
Jenney's Battery with two infantry regiments was

prepared

ordered to hastily proceed to our right and cut off

following morning our cavalry engaged the

such reenforcements

if

woods they came

thick

Passing through

possible.

into the

open country too

late to effect their object,

but with the bridge and

The

intermediate country had

enemy

full in

view.

been drained by large trenches which seemed im-

moments conferwho commanded the

passable to a battery, but after a

ence between Gen. Hickman,

flanking brigade, and Capt. Jenney, the order to

advance was given, and the Brigade

columns (the infantry

other)

moved

well

known
known
12*

The

to our

was such that

not

across

until the battery

of the enemy.

this

in

two

parallel

one and the battery

at double quick

the trenches and

made

in

the

in the

and gallop through

field.

No

halt

was

was within cannister range

Wiard guns was

report of the

The position of the field

movement upon the flank was

army.

to our troops until the

Wiard guns rang

behind

yet the Battery marched out

for the

arduous duty

still

before

it.

That night the army encamped within three

miles of Whitehall, which it was necessary to pass
by the route taken,

to reach Goldsboro.

opposite this village.

speedily

came

up.

The main body

The artillery was

Early the

enemy
army

of our

sent to the

and infantry being used mainly as

battle of " Whitehall " was fought.
the
and
a support
" Gloomy woods clothed both banks of the river,
except on the south side, where a large clearing had
been made among the trees, forming a sort of
amphitheatre. The ground sloped steeply to the
The enemy was on the north bank in the
river.
woods, 6,000 strong, under General Robertson, with
Reaching the open
artiflery in intrenchments.
front, the cavalry

ground, General Foster halted the infantry regiments to allow the passage of the artillery, which,
receiving orders to come to the front with all speed,
spared neither lash nor spur, and came thundering
battery.
into the open ground on a run, battery after
light guns,
having
those
reported,
they
as
fast
As
" and " K," and Belger's, were ranged
viz " F," "
the line of battle, near the base of the slope,
:

along

ll
HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK,

90

the heavy guns, those of " E " and " I " near the
Battery B was not in the fight. As fast as
top.
they came into position, our guns opened fire on
the woods, gunboat and the rebel battery, and for
two hours and over poured shot, shell and cannistcr

them steadily.
beyond experience.

into

The cannonading was

It

seemed

ous peal of deafening thunder.

bled under the sound.*

furious

be one continuThe ground trem-

to

The enemy had ten or more heavy guns in their

Upon our side were full thirty cannon but they were all field pieces. The exposed
intrcnchments.

and close range rendered the battle at

once an artillery duel which continued until
the enemy's guns were almost wholly disabled,
hillside

when our

infantry advanced to the river

quickly dislodged the enemy.

ment one of the guns

During

bank and

this

engage-

of "Jenney's Battery," too

month.

promotion and on the

tinguished gallantry during the whole action.

with his section to the most exposed position in the

silence one

to

seemed
special

particularly

mention

of

the enemy's guns which

damaging

for the

he accomplished that

to us,

courage and

and received
with which

skill

result.

After this battle the army again marched on and

the next day, reaching the goal of the expedition,
fought the battle of Goldsboro.
time, Battery F was held
men, with many draught

in

Here, for the

first

the reserve, short of

horses supplying

the

places of drilled ones

left on the field, and with

ammunition exhausted, excepting a few rounds of
cannister.
The battery could no longer be of

service and, the fighting over, the

the

Beaufort,

C, ready

field

men

gladly

left

and turned again toward the base of

supplies.

When the artillery came off the field to take

place in the column, the troops greeted it with
cheers regiment after regiment waved their caps
and flags enthusiastically and made the welkin
ring with stormy hurrahs.
Here come Jenney's
Wiards three rousers for him,' they would shout
as that battery came by and so on to the last.
No
general orders from headquarters could have better
"

its

'

worth of the services of our artillery

than this spontaneous and cordial outburst on the field of the battle*"
testified to the

in the field

The army reached Newbern on

* Cjyugi

in the Field.

for

embarkation.

event, however, his authority

the

War

Before

was revoked by

Department, and he was ordered

ceed with his corps to South Carolina, to aid

to proin

the

capture of Charleston.
In obedience to this order the

uary 30th, snugly aboard a

fleet

army was, by Janof about

fifty

ves-

and on the 31st set sail reaching Hilton Head

during the first week of February.
sels,

Maj. Jenney, reluctant to surrender the

was permitted

command

accompany it and
retained command until July following.
By this
The guns and
expedition Battery F was divided.
gunners with only horses enough to draw them
were taken, the

Newbern

until

rest of the

to

battery remaining at

the next winter,

when

it

joined the

South Carolina.
main portion of the
This detachment, however, was furnished with
two guns and, as a section under Lieutenant Clark,
battery in

Lieutenant Dennis, who had succeeded Lieutenant Davis, during the hottest of the fight was sent
field

recommended for
made a

of January was

this

of his battery,

Previous to this march Lieutenant Davis had

been promoted to Adjutant of the regiment. His
duty in that position at no time of the day called
him to the front yet he advanced into the fight
with his old battery and served with it with dis-

ist

Major in the regiment.

Immediately after the return of the army an expedition was planned by General Foster to take
Wilmington. To that end during the month of
January following he moved the iSth Corps to

severely tried by the rapid firing, burst into four

pieces.

In recognition of the gallant conduct of

the battery, Captain Jenney was

the 20th of the

rendered efficient service

the period of

its

in several

actions during

detention in North Carolina.

Upon the arrival of the battery in South Carolina

encamped upon St. Helena Island where it
was
it
remained inactive until April ist.
General Foster, upon his arrival, found nothing
in

readiness for operations against Charleston and

returned at once to North Carolina, whither most

army soon followed him. Battery F, howwas detained by General Hunter and served
during the rest of the war in South Carolina and
of his

ever,

Florida.

The

1st

of April,

1863, the

battery

received

marching orders and was transported to F'olly

Here it was incorporated into Vogdes'
Island.
brigade, Major Jenney becoming chief of artillery
and chief of staft', and also retaining command of
Work was commenced at once fortifyhis battery.
ing the northern end of the island with the view of
storming and capturing Morris Island which lay
near and next north of Folly at the mouth of
Harbor, its capture being necessary
storming of Sumpter and capture of CharlesThis work having been accomton from the sea.
plished with great difficulty and under the almost
Charleston
to the

constant

fire

of the enemy's artillery and

infantry

from Morris Island, only 400 yards away, on the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

At daybreak the artillery opened
upon Morris Island while Strong's brigade in
small boats crossed the inlet under a terrible fire
and stormed and captured the works upon the
southern end of Morris Island.
To Battery F was assigned the duty of defending
9th of July, 1S63.
fire

fire of the enemy from

This work was so well done that
twenty-four of their rifle men were found dead in

the crossing troops from the

their rifle pits.

the pits.

General Strong

and attempted
northern end

to

advanced his brigade

Fort Wagner

the

of

Island

once

at

capture

at

the

by storm, but was

twice successively repulsed, July iSth.

was necessary and was at once comDuring this siege ^Battery F, now commanded by Lieutenant Birchmeyer, was always in
siege

menced.

He occupied these positions until September, 1864, when, upon the recommendation of
the Citizens' Committee, he was commissioned
Colonel of the 185th Regiment, then being organpartment.

ized at Syracuse, and immediately

Monroe

the time the boat was fired upon she was stopped
by a draw-bridge suddenly shot across the canal by

who had taken possession of it, and the

company, about 70 in number, arising from
the cover of a hillock fired upon the boat. There
were four officers and ten men on the deck, sitting
rebels
rebel

bravery in the trenches.

tory.

upon Folly Island until

April, 1864, and during this time it was by no
means inactive.
In April, 1864, the battery went to Beaufort, N.
C, where its camp remained until September 5,
1864, when it was ordered to Florida.

to Fortress

to obtain leave

and turn over his office to his successor. He returned by the way of the Dismal Canal and was
on the little steamer Fawn, which was fired upon
and captured by a company of rebel marines.
At

boat,

battery remained

went

from the Commanding General to accept such promotion.

This leave was
granted and he was ordered to return to Newbern

the extreme advance, pushing ahead as the intrenchments were dug until September 6th, when the Fort
was taken.
Lieutenants Birchmeyer and Van Housen were
especially commended by the commanding General
for their bravery and untiring exertions, and John
Conway, Riley Fancher and Matthias Thyson were
presented with medals by the government for

The

9*

or lounging without apprehension of danger and not

more than twenty feet from the muzzles of the

Of this party, ten out of the fourteen
were killed or wounded Major Jenney being one of
the fortunate ones.
There was no opportunity for

rebel guns.

as there was not even a pistol on the

which was then passing through friendly terriThe prisoners were marched to Elizabeth

resistance,

City, about forty

miles distant.

Major Jenney succeeded

Captain to parole him.

in

In the morning

persuading the rebel

The parole being duly

While at Beaufort the spirit of the battery

was well tested in the battles of John's Island
and Bloody Bridge, in both of which it main-

circumstances of his capture and parole

tained

Government and hastened home

On

its

early reputation.

the 14th of September the battery arrived at

Jacksonville,

November

where

29th,

it

when

Carolina, to cooperate

remained
it

in

camp

and was mustered out.

In July, 1863, Major Jenney was compelled to

and assume his duties as Major.

He

proceeded to regimental headquarters at Newbern, N. C, where he was soon made Judge Advoafter

immediately reported the

to

the

to attend to the or-

ganization of his regiment.

again returned to South

Ashapo and others of less importance. It moved

with Sherman to Raleigh and then returned to
Charleston, S. C, where it turned over its guns
and equipments to the Government, and in the
month of May, 1865, returned home to Syracuse

and shortly

He

Island.

CHAPTER

under General Foster with

During the campaign which followed, it fought in

the battles of Honey Hill, Dereauxheck, Camden,

cate

Roanoke

until

General Sherman, then marching to the sea.

leave the battery

signed

Jenney pretended to return by the same route he

had come, but instead of doing so, went to the
river, and capturing a small boat made the best of
his way down the river and across the Sound to

Provost Judge of the De-

XXII.

The Twelfth Regiment New York Volunteers

Organization March to the Front
Blackburn's Ford Bull Run The Peninsular Campaign Yorktown Hanover Court

House.

THE

2th Regiment

New York

Volunteer In-

fantry was the first organized in Onondaga

county and among the first formed in the State at

the outbreak of the rebellion.

On Monday

after

on
the ever-memorable Sunday, April 14, 1861,
was
regiment
the
which Sumpter was fired upon,
filled,

It

enlisting in the State service for

was organized

as follows

two years.

-;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

92

Field and Staff Officers Ezra L. Walrath,

James L. Graham, Licut.-Coloncl John

Colonel

Louts, Major

Griswold, Quartermaster

Roger

Edmund

Adjutant;

Silas Titus,

W.

Pease,

B.

Sur-

geon George H. Todd, Assistant Surgeon George

H. Root, Sergcant-Major
Charles
Sedgwick,
Quartermaster-Sergeant
Robert C. Daly, DrumMajor Spencer Eaton, Fife Major.
;

Line Officers Company A Morris H. Church,

Captain Ira Wood, Lieutenant Charles B. Randall,
Ensign
Porter R. Alger, Abraham Fredendoll,
:

Abram

Farnic and John Cross,

3d and 4th

ist, 2d,

William B. Patterson, George W. Pratt,

Charles K. F"urman,Jr.,and Harrison Wagfjoner, ist,

Sergeants
2d, 3d

and 4th Corporals

Company B

Daniel Reiyea,

Drummer.

Jacob Brand, Captain

Peter
Strauss, Lieutenant
P.
Spanier,
Ensign
John
Michael Auer, Julius Hintz, George Boiteu, and
:

Max Fix, Sergeants Michael Welter, Jacob Simmon, Albert Hoft'mann.and John Dauer, Corporals
;

Moritz Schwarz, Drummer.

Company C Dennis
:

Lieutenant

Randall,

Drummer Seth H. Kingsley. Fifer.

Company K
Augustus J. Root, Captnin

Britton,

Town, Lieutenant

liam P.

Wil-

Lucius Smith, Ensign

Samuel D. Sudden, Charles F. Rand, James F.

Taylor and Thomas Tangey, Sergeants Samuel
McChesney, William P. Jones, James P. Taylor
and Joseph L. Hunt, Corporals Albert A. Mead,
Drummer Francis M. Lincoln, Fifer.
;

Driscoll, Jr., Captain

John

George W. Cole, Captain: George

Albert M. Wiborn, Ensign
Edward Pointer, James Giberson, Thomas Bartlett
and Silas Carpenter, Sergeants
Charles Coon,
Lester C. Herrick, Augustus H. Wilkins and Jetierson Button, Corporals Randolph Phillips, Drummer Alvin Harder, Fifer.
Company I
Henry A. Barnum, Captain
Hamilton R. Comb, Lieutenant Edward Drake,
Ensign
Andrew V. Urmy, Randall McDonald,
John H. Phillips and Joab W. Mercer, Sergeants;
William F. Johnson, Dexter Smith, John H. Leonard and Asabel W. Smith, Corporals
Willett

Company

Truesdell, Lieutenant

James

Stanton, Ensign

P.

The regiment

left

Syracuse

May

1S61, for

2,

Elmira, and was there mustered into the United

May

Michael Foley, George Travis, John Lighten, and

John Carroll, Sergeants Richard J. Wright, James

ing

Lewis, William Stanton, and John R. Bailey, Cor-

Washington,

Hiram Foote, Drummer.

Company D George W. Stone, Captain Lucius
C. Storrs, Lieutenant
George Snyder, Ensign
Origcn S. Storrs, Charles W. Greene, John M.

from Rochester, June 2d, and after quartering a few

days at Caspari's House, went into camp on East

porals

Couch, and

Davis

Jones,

Sergeants

Webb, John Muldoon, Charles H.

Albertus

Henry

Davis, and

Jay F. Bates, Drummer.

Company li Jabez M. Brower, Captain Frederick Horner, Lieutenant; Samuel J. Abbott, EnShirley, Corporals

sign

Richard

N. Booth, Frank

W.

Clock, Cort-

and Thomas J. Behan, Sergeants

Mabinc, Byron Gilbert, Hiram G. Howland and Daniel W. Barker, Corporals
Charles A.
Clark

land

Abijah

P.

Taylor,

Drummer.

Company F

Milo

Gleason, Lieutenant

W. Locke, Captain

William

Stephen D. Clark, Ensign

Edwin R. Dennis, Charles

Watson E.
Kinne, Sergeants Jacob Van
Wells,

S.

Hart and Erastus P.

Alstync, George W. Blackman, Handley Lamb and
James Harroun, Corporals John Robinson, Drummer Seth S. Thomas, Fifer.
;

Company G
Joseph C. Irish, Captain John
H. Johnson, Lieutenant
Erskine P. Woodford,
Ensign George F. Ballou, Oliver T. May, Levi J.
:

Irish

Rush

and

Parkhurst,

Sergeants

Irving

H. Light, Francis A. Darling and

Eliakiam Winchel, Corporals
Jay H. Roberts,
Drummer Sylvester Edwards, Fifer.

Tuttle,

John

States service for three months,

its

in

company with

Receiv-

13.

uniform and equipments at Elmira,

the 13th

it left

New

for

York,

Capitol Hill.

July 15, the regiment was ordered across Chain

Bridge into Virginia, and was the first to be under
fire at

the

Blackburn's Ford on the iSth, preliminary to

first

Bull

this regiment,

our

men

Run engagement.
having command

as skirmishers,

was the

Lieut. Randall of
of about twenty of
first to

attack the

enemy. George N. Cheney, a private of Company

A, was the first man killed. In this engagement
six of the I2lh Regmient were killed and thirteen
wounded.

The movement of the Union forces under Gen.

McDowell (directed from Washington by Lieut.
Gen. Winficld Scott commenced on Tuesday July
1

i6th.

The advance column, under Gen.

Tyler,

bivouacked that night at Vienna, four and a half

miles from Fairfax Court House, rested next morn-

Germantown, two miles beyond Fairfax,

and on Thursday at 9 o'clock, A. M., pushed on
through Centerville, the rebels retiring quietly before it.
Three miles beyond Centerville the rebels
were found strongly posted at Blackburn's Ford,
ing at

on Bull Run

force, a spirited

past one P. M.

der the

and, on being pressed

by Tyler's

engagement ensued,

about

The

immediate

at

half-

rebels were in heavy force un-

command

of General

Long-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

street.

The

attacking force on our side was Sher-

man's Battery, under Captain Ayres, supported by

Colonel
the

B.

J.

I2th

Richardson's brigade, consisting of

New

York, the

ist

Massachusetts, and

the 2d and 3d Michigan infantry.

In this engagewere nearly equal 83 on our side

and 68 on that of the enemy. Considered as a reconnoissance in force it might be termed a success.

ment the

The

result

rebel

losses

demonstrated that the main body of the

in position along the wooded valley

army was

Run, halfway between Centerville and ManAs this

assas Junction, and proposed to remain.
experience
of
the
12th
Regiment
in
was the first
actual fighting, and as the campaign of Bull Run
was a memorable one, it may be well to introduce
here a few facts respecting the general engagement.
The following is substantially the account given by
Greeley, in his American Conflict, p. 539-43
of Bull

by

93

column 15,000 strong, composed of the 2d

and the 3d (Heintzelman's) divisions,

(Hunter's)

which, starting from their camps a mile or two east

and southeast of Centerville, were to make a considerable detour to the right, crossing

Cub Run, and

then Bull Run, at a ford known as Sudley Spring,

three miles above the Stone Bridge
thus turning:
;

the rebel

and rolling

up on the center, where

it
was to be taken in flank by our ist division
(Tyler's), crossing the Stone Bridge at the right
moment, and completing the rout of the enemy.

The

left,

5th division

terville,

Miles')

it

was held

in reserve at

Cen-

not only to support the attacking columns,

but to guard against the obvious peril of a formidable rebel advance on our left across Blackburn's
to Centerville, flanking our flank

ing our munitions and supplies,

line of retreat.

Ford
movement, capturand cutting off our

The 4th division (Runyon's) guarded

" General McDowell's army being concentrated

around the ridge on which Centerville is situated,
on the i8th and 19th of July, the intention was to
advance on the rebels posted along Bull Run and
between that and Manassas Junction on Saturday,
But delay was encountered in the recepthe 20th.
tion of subsistence, which did not arrive till Friday

our communications with Alexandria and Arlington,

During Saturday, three day's rations were

distributed, and every preparation made for moving
Meantime,
punctually at 2 o'clock next morning.
Beauregard, maintaining an absolute quiet and inoffensiveness on his front, and fully informed by
spies and traitors of every movement between him
and Washington, had hastily gathered from every

But our raw troops had never been brigaded prior

to this advance, and most of their officers were
so that there was a
utterly without experience
delay of two or three hours in the flanking divisions
reaching the point at which the battle was to begin.
Gen. Tyler, in front of Stone Bridge, opened with

all the available forces of the Confederacy, including 15,000, or nearly the full strength of Johnston's Army of the Shenandoah, and had decided to
assume the offensive and attack our forces before
General Patterson could come up and join them.
Had our advance been made on Saturday, as was
originally intended, it would have encountered but
had
two-thirds of the force it actually combatted
it been delayed a few hours longer, we should have
stood on the defensive, with the immense advantage
of knowing the ground and of choosing the position whereon to fight.
Such are the overruling
casualties and fatalities of war."

his artillery at half-past 6 a. m., eliciting

night.

side

Bull

Run afforded
command

batteries to

so screened

good position

for planting

the roads on the opposite side,

by the woods and brush as

to

be neither

seen nor suspected until the advancing or attacking

column was close upon them. This fact explains

and justifies Gen. McDowell's (or Scott's) order of
To menace the
battle, which was briefly as follows
rebel right by the advance of our ist division on the
direct road from Centerville to Manassas Junction,
while making a more serious demonstration on the
road running due west from Centerville to Groveton
and Warrenton, and crossing Bull Run by the Stone
:

Bridge.

The

real or

main attack was

to

be made

its

foremost regiment being about seven miles back

from Centerville.

The movement
menced

of our forces

was

at half-past 2 o'clock a. m.,

should have been opened at

all

to have comand the battle

points at 6 a. m.

no reply

and it was three hours later when Hunter's advance,

under Colonel Burnside, crossed at Sudley Spring.
His men, thirsty with their early march, that hot
July morning, stopped as they crossed to fill their
Meantime, every movement of our forces
canteens.

was made manifest

to

Beauregard, watching them

from the slope two or three miles west, by the

clouds of dust which rose over their line of march
and regiment after regiment was hurried northward
;

by him to meet the imminent shock. No strength

was wasted by him upon, and scarcely any notice
taken of, our feint on his right. But when Burnside's brigade, after crossing at Sudley, had marched
a mile or so through woods down the road on the
right of Bull Run, and come out into a clear and
cultivated country, stretching thence over a mile of
was
rolling fields down to Warrenton turnpike, he

vigorously opened upon by artillery from the woods

infantry also.
in his front, and as he pressed on, by
Continuing to advance, fighting, followed and sup-

was soon
ported by Hunter's entire division, which
crossed
having
Heintzelman's,
by
left
on
its
joined
our atdown,
further
and
later
little
the stream a

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

94

hours

marching and fighting, hungry,

and continually encountering fresh

tacking column reached and crossed the Warrenton

thirteen

road from Ccntcr\illc by the Stone Kridgc, giving a

thirsty, weary,

hand

rebel troops, without seeing even a

all

to

Sherman's brigade of Tyler's

division,

and

but clearing the road of the rebel batteries and

regiments, which here resisted our efforts, under

the immediate

Here

ston.

command

of Gen. Joseph E. John-

Griffin's Battery, which, with Rickett's,

had done the most effective fighting throughout,

was charged with effect by a rebel regiment, which
was enabled to approach it with impunity by a mistake of our officers, who supposed it one of our own.
Three different attacks were repulsed with slaughter,
and the battery remained in our hands, though all
the horses were killed.
At 3 p. m., the rebels had
been driven a mile and a half, and were nearly out
of sight, abandoning the
to our

Warrenton road

entirely

Gen. Tyler, on hearing

victorious troops.

and

rapidly toward

its

rear, firing

on them from under

and cries to be

Two or three of our regiments reand then broke, rushing down to the Run.
Johnston again ordered Ewell to advance and attack,
coiled

which he
(

was received by the 2d Brigade

) with so rapid and spirited a

did, but

Colonel T. A. Davis

fire

of grape and cannister that he precipitately re-

treated.

There were
daylight

still

when the

more than three hours of good

saw our routed right rush-

rebels

ing madly from the

back

enemy

in his front,

after a severe struggle,

checked by a heavy

until

teries

driving

them

and steadily advancing

fire

of artillery from bat-

on the heights above the road, supported by

a brigade of rebel infantry strongly posted behind

breastworks.
A gallant charge by the 2d Maine
and 3d Connecticut, temporarily carried the buildings behind which the rebel guns were sheltered,
but the breastworks were too strong, and our men
recoiling from their

ing

down

the

fire,

across Bull

seem

field, like

have taken

to

frightened sheep, yet

amounted to nothing. They came

Run, preceded by their cavalry, and
deliberate though

rather

drawn up in good
order along the slope west of Centerville, and eagerBut they appear to have
ly expecting their advance.
been aware that their victory was a lucky accident,
and they did not choose to submit its prestige to the
distant survey of the 5th division,

fray.
Our 5th division, constitutnow became the rear guard of our

chance of another
ing the reserve,

left,

mov-

army, and remained

the shelter of the

bluft",

when, under peremptory orders from Gen. Mc-

deflected to the

Run under

their shots

innumerable.

their pursuit

to assail the

fresh

their right, extending

seeming by

cover, and

Early's

woods on

man's, and

Run

Elzley's and

stricken.

jjanic

battalions filled the

the guns of Hunter on our right, had pushed Sher-

soon after Keyse's Brigade, over the

company hurrybecame suddenly dismayed

their support,

ing to

in position

commenced

till

after midnight,

covering the efforts of Capt. Alexander's Pioneers

Dowell,

its

deliberate retreat to the

remove the heavy abatis whereby the rebels had

obstructed the road up from the Stone Bridge.
This had at length been effected, and Schenck's
brigade and Ayres's battery of Tyler's division
were on the point of crossing the Run to aid in com-

environs of Washington.

Although the retreat

Run, was a panic-

stragglers and spectators

pleting our triumph.

ton on that fine Sunday to witness the battle, yet a

to

But the
of actual

rebels, at first

outnumbered

at the point

had been receiving reenforceday, and at this critical moment.

collision,

mcnts nearly all

General Kirby Smith, who had that morning left
Piedmont, fifteen miles distant, with the remaining
brigade of General Johnston's army, appeared on
the

field.

hosts, but

Cheer

after

cheer burst from the rebel

now so downcast,

ment rushed

as this timely recnforce-

to the front of the battle.

General

Johnston had been heard to exclaim but a moment

"
before to General Cocke, " Oh, for four regiments
!

His wish was answered.

front,

almost instantly

fell

Smith,

in

riding to the

from his horse wounded.

Colonel Arnold Elzley promptly assumed

command

of his brigade, and rushed forward, backed by the

whole reassured and exultant rebel host, who felt

that the day was won.
Our soldiers, who had been

from

it

the

battle

field

of Bull

stricken flight on the part of a considerable

number

of raw and undisciplined troops and a multitude of

portion of our

army

out of Washing-

good order.

retired in

Major Berry, our chief

"

who went

Says

of Artillery in the battle

The army having retired upon

Centerville,

was

ordered by General McDowell in person, to post the

artillery in position to cover the retreat.
The batteries of Hunt, Ayres, Tidball, Edwards, Green and
the New York 8th regiment (the latter served by
volunteers from Wilcox's brigade) 20 pieces in all,
were at once placed in ])osition and thus remained
till
12 o'clock, p. M., when orders having been received to retire upon the I'otomac, the batteries
were put in march, and covered by Richardson's
brigade retired in good order and without haste, and
early next morning reoccupied their former camps
on the Potomac."
;

The

2th Regiment during this expedition was

brigaded with the

ist Massachusetts and the 2d

and 3d Michigan, under command of Col. J. D.
Richardson. On Monday, the 22d of July, they

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK,

returned from Bull Run, as rear guard of the re-

son, Lieutenant-Colonel

treating army, and on the 24th occupied a portion

jor

of the

camp

of the 8th Militia at Arlington Heights,

where they remained a few days and then encamped

upon the flats near the Long Bridge turnpike. On
the 13th, they removed to Fort Albany and relieved
the 25th New York Militia, and thence on the 30th
to a

of the Arlington House, and con-

camp south

structed

Fort Craig

fortifications

one

of a continuous line of

On

from Alexandria to Chain Bridge.

August
Captain Barnum, were

the evening of

wards Upton's

companies under
detailed on picket duty to26, three

and had a

Hill,

the rebels lasting nearly

lively skirmish

day.

all

with

They were

pulsed by the rebels to Ball's Cross Roads.

re-

Ser-

geant-Major Estes and private Hitchcock were

wounded, the latter mortally, and Fred. Darby, of

Company D, taken

On

prisoner.

tember, a general advance was

the 27th of Sep-

made upon Upton's

and the 12th Regiment established permanent

in which they remained till early in the month

Hill,

camp

of February.

On

the 3d of February, 1S62, the regiment was

consolidated with the

called, a

Weeks

New York

12th

Militia, so

body of 550 recruits raised by Henry A.

New

in the city of

Up

York.

to this time

Regiment had been about nine months in

service, and through losses in the field and sickness
had been reduced to 450 officers and men. When
General McClellan was at this time making up the
Armv of the Potomac, this remnant of the 12th
Volunteers was to be left out and kept for garrison

the

2th

duty in the defences of Washington, to serve as

heavy

under command of Lieutenant-Col-

artillery

onel R.

M. Richardson.

Colonel Richardson did

not feel satisfied with this idea, and being desirous

that another regiment should be put in

active ser-

he obtained leave of absence, went

York and found Henry A. Weeks with 550

vice at the front,

New

to

recruits, called

arrangements

the

12th

New York

Militia,

made

for the consolidation of these recruits

with the remnant of the 12th

on condition that Mr.

New York Volunteers,

Weeks

should be Colonel of

new regiment thus relinquishing the command

his own regiment in order to effect the new or-

the
of

ganization.

In the consolidation the ten companies of the

1

2th

tia

Regiment were reduced

furnishing

New York

five.

The

Volunteers,

to five, the 12th Mili-

companies of the 12th

which retained their orI and K, offi-

95

Henry A. Barnum, Ma-

George W. Watson,

Alger, Quartermaster

Adjutant
Porter R.
A. B. Shipman, Surgeon
;

Todd, Assistant Surgeon. The officers

rendered supernumerary by the consolidation were
mustered out of the service. Most of them reen-

George

B.

and

listed,

in

other organizations attained consider-

able distinction during the war.

On

13th of March,

the

Army

organized the
the

1862, Gen.

of the Potomac.

McClellan

At

brigade, consisting of

field's

the

I2th,

companied the Army of the Potomac under Gen.

McClellan to the Peninsula. They were engaged
in the siege of Yorktown, daily furnishing a large
detail of men to work in the trenches, and on the
14th of April, engaged in a sharp skirmish with
the rebels who had attacked our picket lines.
On the 4th of May, General Magruder evacuated
Yorktown with his forces. McClellan had been
thirty days in front of the works, and was intending
to open the siege on the 6th of May, but he found,
two days earlier, that Magruder had abandoned his
works, including Yorktown, during the preceding
While
night, and had retreated up the Peninsula.
the pursuit of the rebels was prompt and energetic
under Stoneman and Hooker to Williamsburg,
where Hooker's

division

withstood 30,000 of the

rebel force during an entire day without reenforce-

ments. General McClellan remained at Yorktown

supervising the embarkation of Franklin's, Butter-

and other troops, including our 12th New

York Regiment, for West Point, whence they
moved up the Pamunkey River and thence across
Here the
to New Bridge on the Chickahominy.
Regiment was in the 3d Brigade, under
1 2th
field's

Genera! D. C. Butterfield,

John Porter

On

service.

ist

Division (General

commanded by General

Morrell's) Sth Corps,

on the Chickahominy, near New Bridge. The 4th

Michigan (Colonel Woodbury) waded the stream and
assailed and drove off a superior rebel force, losing
but 8 men in all, and taking 37 prisoners, of
whom 15 were wounded. Directly afterwards Gen.
Fitz-John Porter, commanding the 5th Corps, on
our right, was ordered to advance from New Bridge
via. Mechanicsville to Hanover Court House, in

and render secure Gen. McDowell's

by Captains Root, Randall,

Wood, Truesdell and Coombs. The field officers
were Henry A. Weeks, Colonel
R. M. Richard-

expected junction from Fredericksburg.

Fitz-

and so remained throughout the

the 24th of May, fighting commenced

order to

respectively

17th and

New

York, the i6th Michigan and the 83d

Pennsylvania regiments and thus organized ac-

44th

ganizatione were companies A, G, H,

cered

that date

2th Regiment was attached to Gen. Butter-

at 3 A.

facilitate

M May
,

27, in

advance, under Gen.

Starting

a pouring rain, our cavalry

W. H. Emory, had

reached, at

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

96

noon, a point two miles southward of the Court

House, where the road forks

to

Ashland, and where

under Gen. McCall.

reser\'es,

This force which

had recently been sent down to rtenforce

now been

Gea

the

McClellan, and had never

shooters speedily coming up, they were deployed by

were posted on advantageous ground across Beaver

Dam Creek. The supporting corps of Gen. Porter

enemy were found in position to bar our further

progress. The 25th New York and Berdan's sharpGen. Emory, with a section of Benson's battery, and
thus advanced slowly towards the enemy until re-

consisted of Morrell's

enforced by Gen. D. C.

this series of battles

Hutterfield, with four regi-

ments of his brigade, when the enemy was charged

and quickly routed, one of his guns being captured
by Col. Lansing's 17th New York. The cavalry,
Benson's battery, and Gen. Morrell's infantry and
artillery, keenly pursued the fugitives while Marbrigade

tindales's

advanced on
the

enemy

his brigade

the
his

in

with

Ashland

of

section

artillery,

road, pushing

front, until

back

ordered to reform

and move up the railroad

to the

Court

lars,

till

in action,

Division and Sykes's Regu-

about 27,000 men.

Prior to the opening of

Gen. Robert E. Lee had sucthe chief command of the Rebel Army,

ceeded to
and had cautiously concentrated about 70,000 men
on the Chickahominy. The movement on Mechanicsville was to have been made early on the morning of the 26th of June, at which time the batteries

on the southern bluff of the Chickahominy were to

open fire. But the rebels were delayed by the nonStonewall Jackson, and did not attack our

arrival of

lines

till

i'.

His advance had been discovered

m.

House. One regiment having taken that course. Gen.

Martindale was left with but two and a half regiments

three hours before, so that our pickets were called

and one section of Martin's battery, when he was

attacked by a superior force and compelled to maintain the unequal contest for an hour.
Meantime
Gen. Porter, at the Court House, learning that his
rear was thus attacked, faced his whole column
about and moved rapidly to the rescue, sending the
13th and 14th New York, with Griffin's battery,

Mechanicsville

directly to Martindale's assistance,

pushing the 9th

in before

it,

and the regiment and battery holding

fell

back, fighting, to the strong po-

sition held by the Pennsylvania Reserves, and Por-

This brought the reserves and

ter's (5th) corps.

5th corps into action against the great body of the

under the two Hills and Longstreet,

which came rapidly on attempting to turn our left
flank, but were repulsed with
fearful carnage.
" Night," says Greeley, "fell on a decided and anirebel force

Massachusetts and G2d Pennsylvania, through the

woods on the right to take the enemy in flank,

though the fighting did not cease

while Butterfield with the 83d

the rebels remained

in force

still

Our

further to the right, and completed the rout of the

that

was less than 400, while

must have been many times

iGth

Pennsylvania and

Michigan hastened through the woods,

enemy.

Their

loss is stated

by Gen. McClellan at
wounded, one

prisoners, including

730
pound howitzer, many small-arms, two railroad
trains, and their camp at Hanover Court House
captured and destroyed.
Our loss was 53 killed
and 344 wounded.
The rebel force thus defeated
consisted of Gen. Branch's division of North Carolina and Georgia troops, estimated at 9,000 strong.

2,CXX) killed,

12

mating

success

our mainly

of

green
till

soldiers,

after dark,

total loss in this affair

of the

larger

troops

rebels

and when near the close of the battle, fresh

came up to relieve the exhausted reserves,

they refused to give place, but, replenishing their

ammunition, lay down on their arms

encounter of the morrow."

On

to await the

the 27th, before daylight, an order from Gen.

McClellan (^who had learned, meantime, that Jackson

was approaching,) directed the evacuation

of our

strong position and a retreat to Gaines's Mill.

CHAPTER

XXIII.

Twelfth Regiment Continued MechanicsviLLE Retreat Ackoss the Chickahominy

Flank Movement to the James Malvern
Hill Harrison's Landing Second Bull
KuN Antietam Fredericksburg Return
Home List of Promotions
The ioist

Regiment.

OUR

Corps returned to camp at Gaines's

and on the 26th of June were ordered

Mill,

up to Mechanicsville to support the Pennsylvania

and

not far from our front.

This

was a very difficult movement to effect, as the rebel

attack was renewed a few minutes afterwards. Still,
the enemy was repulsed, though our men were retiring at the same time, Meade's, Griffin's, Reynolds' and Morrell's commands moving steadily off
the

field,

as

if

on parade

our dead

all

wounded and arms brought away, with

buried, our

the loss of

no caisson, hardly a musket, by a little after 7 a.

M., leaving the rebels unaware for the moment that
there was no longer an enemy before them. Before
noon the splendid retreat was completed each
regiment and battery had taken the new position
;

assigned

it

at Gaines's

Mill,

our brigade (with the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

I2th Regiment,) under

command

of Lieiit.-Colonel

Richardson, forming the extreme

left,

resting on

97

Meagher's brigades of the 2d corps

could reach the

field,

but, before they

the rebels, rallying

all

their

the Chicivahominy.

forces, just at sunset,

after

noon on the 27th, the rebels arrived

new position. A. P. Hill, who had
been awaiting Jackson's arrival, opened the battle
Sykes's regulars received him with heroic
at 2 p. M.
They were staggered and temporarily
bravery.
At this juncture, Longstreet, D. H.
repulsed.
Hill, Jackson and Ewell, came into the battle, with
a general advance from
the whole of Lee's forces
right to left was ordered and made, under a terrific
fire of cannon and musketry from both sides.
General Porter had a strong position on the side
of a ravine formed by a small creek and screened
in part by trees and underbrush, with Morrell's and
Sykes's divisions in front, and McCall's forming a
His cavalry, under P.
second line behind them.
Cooke,
in
the
valley
of the ChickaGeorge
St.
His
hominy, watched the rebels in that quarter.
siege guns, which had been withdrawn across the
Chickahominy during the night, were planted in
battery on the right bank of the stream, so as to
check the advance of the rebel right and prevent
their turning our left.
He could have presented
a formidable covering of abatis on his front and
right, had he been supplied with axes, but these
were unaccountably wanting.
His request for
them to General Barnard reached McClellan too

right and

of our

with mutual carnage, and capturing several of our

guns.

Soon

in front

He

late.

received

finally

some without

handles,

and while these were being supplied the opportunity

for

using axes was past.

for

His

first call

on McClellan

reenforcements likewise miscarried.

was made

at 2 p. m.

when Slocum's

His next

Division of the

6th Corps was ordered to his support, arriving on

the

field

at

after

3:30,

our position

had

been

stormed our entrenchments

driving back their brave defenders

left,

"General Porter, seeing

called

into

action

his infantry beaten,

now

reserved and remaining

artillery, and thus bringing at once some 80 guns
into action, was covering the retreat of his infantry
and dealing fearful retribution on their assailants,
all

his

whose advance was suddenly checked

Cooke, without orders, undertook

when Gen.
charge with a

to

battalion of cavalry, the right flank of the rebels

advancing on our left, and still covered in good part

by woods. This charge being met by a withering
fire of musketry, amidst the roar of a hundred belching cannon, resulted in instant rout the frightened
horses, whether with or without the consent of their
riders, wheeling abruptly and crashing through our
batteries; leading our gunners to suppose, for the
moment, that they were charged by regiments of
;

"To

rebel horse."

this alone," says Fitz-John Por-

ter, in his report, "is to

hold the

field,

and

be attributed our failure to

all our guns and

to bring off

wounded."
" In another moment the cheering shouts of
French's and Meagher's men were heard, as they
advanced rapidly to the front.
Rallying behind
these two fresh brigades, our wearied, decimated
regiments advanced up the hill, down which they
had recently been driven, ready to meet a fresh
attack, had one been attempted.
But the enemy,
perceiving that they were confronted by fresh combatants, and not knowing our force, halted for the
night on the field they had so hardly won."*

During the night our

were withdrawn

forces

across the Chickahominy, leaving 19 guns on the

battle field and three run off the bridge into the

stream.

Our

losses in this action have been esti-

mated at 6,000 killed and wounded Greeley foots

them up to " hardly less than 8,000 men," the rebels
Our
losing probably "about two thirds as many."
I2th Regiment lost heavily, among whom were
Captain Truesdell, severely wounded, also Captain
;

assailed

in

force

at

every point, and after McCall's

Division had been ordered up to support our sorely

pressed front.

So urgent and instant was the

pressure that Slocum's Division had to be divided

and thrown by brigades and even regiments to the

where the need of aid seemed greatest.

Reynolds, with one brigade of McCall's Reserves,
having reached the front and driven the enemy

Crombie, Lieut.

points

before him, hearing

test

on his

where

left,

the noise of

moved immediately

his assistance

a terrific conto that point

seemed necessary.

the battle raged for hours

And

thus

repeated charges on

our lines being repulsed, but fresh brigades advancing promptly to replace them, until our wasted reg-

having exhausted their amunition, were

obliged to retire and replenish it. Porter, though he
had lost Httle ground, telegraphed to McClellan for

iments,

reenforcements,
.3*

tally

S.

A. Estes, Lieut. Fisher, mor-

Lieut. Barton, killed

severely wounded in the

Quite a large number (144)

Lieut. Paul A. Oliver,

scalp,

but not

fatally.

of this regiment were

and taken prisoners.

McClellan having now determined on a flank

killed

movement through White Oak Swamp to the

James, our regiment followed the next day to Savage's Station, crossed White Oak Swamp on the
29th of June, and on Tuesday, July

gaged

in the battle

of Malvern

Hill.

ist,

were en-

The

rebels,

as soon as they had discovered McClellan's movements, crossed the Chickahominy and pu rsued after

who ordered forward French's and

Greeley, vol.

ii,

p.

57.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

98

Without recounting the

him.

and hard-

battles

ships of this march, the terrible conflict of the 30th

of June, in which a portion of our army was en-

gaged on the road leading from New Marlcct to

Long Bridge, we shall follow more directly the fortunes of the 2th Regiment, which reached Malvern
Hill at 9 o'clock a. m., June 30th.
Gen. Porter,
with his corps, had been delayed in crossing White
Oak Swamp, and hence did not reach Malvern Hill
The entire wasted and
till the time above stated.
way-worn army had been concentrated on the battle ground on the ist of July, the rear guard arriving that forenoon, closely pursued by the converg" The an.xiousdays and
ing columns of the rebels.
the consleepless nights of the preceding week
stant and resolute efforts required to force their
forty miles of guns and trains over the narrow,
wretched roads which traverse White Oak Swamp
their ignorance of the locality, and exposure to be
ambushed and assailed at every turn, rendered this
1

men

retreat an ordeal for our

long to be remem-

bered."

day before the

battle,

and selecting his position,

left

orders with General Barnard to post the troops as

they arrived, while he went

gunboat Galena

down

the river on the

to select a position at

posed to terminate his

retreat.

sumed considerable time

in

which he pro-

The

rebels con-

getting into position

and bringing up the artillery necessary to respond

At length
to our heavy and well placed batteries.
the battle was opened by D. H. Hill's division at 3
p. M. on our left, and directly in front of that portion of
our army in which the 12th Regiment was stationed.
order of our troops

is

thus described

" Porter,

with Sykes's and Morrell's divisions, held our

Couch's division

with

Hooker,

forming

next,

left,

Kearney and

then

Heintzelman's corps

these Sedgwick and

next

to

under Sumner,
with Smith and Slocum, under Franklin, on our
right

wiiile

Richardson,

McCall's shattered Pennsylvania Re-

serves and our cavalry were posted

in

the rear, near

Batteries above, batteries along the

the river.
of the

hill,

rendered the attack

little less

brow

than mad-

Yet, as we have said, the attack on Porter's

ness."
Corps was made at 3 i". m under general orders to
break our lines by a concentric fire of artillery, and
then " charge with a yell " on our entire front
with columns of infantry, which should rush over
,

our defences, as they did in the final assault at

Gaines's Mill, and drive our fugitive army into the

James.
spirit,

Regiment was taking position. Major Henry A.

liarnum was wounded by a rebel shot, the bullet
passing through the

left hip, inflicting

a very

criti-

and dangerous wound, which kept him many

months out of the service.

cal

After the

break our

first fruitless

lines, a

enemy

attempt of the

to

considerable pause ensued during

which both sides were getting ready

battle of the day.

The

for the

main

sheltering woods enabled

the rebels to form their columns of assault within

hundred yards of our

a few

At about

batteries.

M., when
the attack was renewed, they
6
emerged upon a full run, and rushed upon our lines
I".

recklessness of their withering

in utter

ing

fire,

assault-

such desperation, that Sickles's brigade of

in

Hooker's division, and Meagher's brigade of Richardson's division, were ordered up to the support of

Porter and Couch, who now held our right front,

which Jackson was charging furiously
but not
one of our guns was temporarily captured or seriously imperiled throughout the fight.
The loss of
;

General McClcllan had reached Malvern Hill the

The

unsupported by the general advance which had

been ordered, was hurled back with heavy loss.
At the opening of this action just as our 12th

The
amidst

was made with great

carnage, and for some time

infantry attack
fearful

raged along nearly our entire line

but Hill, being

the rebels

our own

and

is

supposed to have been treble that of

in this battle

missing.

over 10,000

killed,

wounded

Gen. McCiellan reports the aggre-

gate losses of his army in the seven days fighting,

from

Mechanicsville

1,582

killed,

total,

15,249.

to

Harrison's

Landing, at

7,709 wounded, and 5,958 missing;

After the battle of Malvern Hill, our regiment,

together with the army, removed to Harrison's Land-

on the James River. The rear guard moved

into camp on the evening of the 3d of July, and the
army was at rest, after their hard fighting and
marching.
During the night of July 31st, Gen.

ing,

F'rench, having been sent by'

Lee with 43 guns,

to

Bar stealthily on the south

side of the James, opened a fire on our camp and
vessels, whereby 10 of our soldiers were killed and
Our guns were brought to bear upon
15 wounded.
him and he fled before daylight. His cannonade
lasted only about half an hour.
This is the only
incident of any importance that occurred while in

approach

camp

Harrison's

at this point.

Left Harrison's Landing on the 14th of August,

and came down the river, halting at Yorktown,

camping on the same ground occupied by our
regiment during the siege.
General Porter was
under orders to halt the advance here but intercepting a letter informing him that the enemy were
concentrating rapidly on Pope with intent to crush
him before he could be rccnforced, he took the re;

PnSTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

on to Newport News, which
he reached on the i8th, having marched sixty miles
On the 20th he embarked his corps
in three days.
sponsibility of pressing

on transports to Aquia Creek, whence they were

sent by rail to Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg.
the Rappahannock, joined Pope's

Moved up
and

participated in the

August

army

second battle of Bull Run,

30, 1862.

Porter,

on arriving

at the scene of action,

was

down the
Warrenton turnpike and attack the enemy, who in
that quarter were greatly superior in numbers. The
ordered, (supported by King,) to advance

result

was hurled back in

The rebels pursued eagerly and joined

was

that Porter's corps

confusion.

of Sharpsburgh,

99

and on the

17th

of

September

participated in the battle of Antietam.

Lee had crossed the Potomac

into

Maryland with

a portion of his army, leaving the remainder of

it

on the south side menaced by a considerable force

under General Miles at Harper's Ferry.
The
intent of McClellan was to follow and
conquer that portion of Lee's army in Maryland,

obvious
while

was separated from

it

its

reenforcements, and

then send forces to the rescue of Harper's Ferry,

before the rebels on that side of the river should

compel

surrender and evacuation.

its

thwarted this object.

But delays

After two severe battles in

the passes of South Mountain, Lee's army in Mary-

battle along our entire front, struggling desperately

land reached Antietam, where the most advantage-

overwhelm and turn our left, where Schenck,

Milroy and Reynolds, reenforced by Ricketts,

ous position was selected.

to

unequal

maintained

the

afternoon.

Porter's

and pushed
good service
likely

to

to

their

that

prove

contest

was

corps

support,

for a

throughout
rallied,

the

reformed

rendering

such

time the attack seemed

successful.

But our

advancing

be

mowed down by

the

cross-fire of four batteries

from Longstreet's

left,

soon

troops

began

to

which decimated and drove them back in confusion.

Jackson, seeing them recoil, immediately
Longstreet supported it,
ordered an advance.
pushing forward his whole command against our
At dark, our left had been forced
center and left.
back considerably, but still stood firm and unbroken,
and covered the turnpike, which was our only safe

That night the retreat began by

order of Gen. Pope, and was pursued quietly and in
good order, until his whole army was drawn back
within the intrenchments along the south bank of
the Potomac, covering the approaches to Washington, when Pope resigned and was succeeded by Gen.
line of retreat.

Harper's Ferry

fell,

and

army was soon on the ground

at Antietam, making it necessary for McClellan to
fight the entire rebel army at that point, strengththe whole of Lee's

ened and elated by their success at Harper's Ferry.

When our army advanced in sight of Antietam,
the whole rebel force was there, save A. P. Hill's
"

division.

The regiments and

brigades,

hitherto

so ostentatiously paraded, seemed to have sunk into

the

earth

and nothing but grim and frowning

were seen covering each hill-crest, and

trained on every stretch of open ground whereby
our soldiers might attempt to scale those rugged
batteries

steeps."
"

The

of the

struggle was inaugurated on the afternoon

i6th."

On

the

17th the great battle was

fought, the details of which

here, save so far as

we cannot

enter into

to indicate the position of the

Porter's Corps was in our center,

1 2th Regiment.
holding the road from Sharpsburg to Middletown

and Boonsborough, and remained unengaged east

of the Antietam Creek till late in the afternoon
two brigades of it were then sent to support our
six battalions of Sykes's regulars were
right
the bridge on the main road, to drive
across
thrown
off the rebel sharp-shooters, who were annoying
WarPleasanton's horse-batteries at that point
ren's brigade was detached and sent to the right and
;

McClellan.
In this battle the

Among

12th

Regiment lost heavily.

Henry A. Weeks,

the wounded were Col.

that day had commanded a brigade

Capt.
Root and Lieut. Behan. The muster of the regiment next morning showed only 106 men, one staff
officer and six line officers.
The brigade went into
the fight with over 1,500 men, and came out with

who on

only about 600.

rear of Burnside, leaving with Porter only about

3,000 men.

Burnside's corps

held our extreme

into

opposite the lowest of the three bridges crossing the Antietam. At i p. m., he charged with
the 51st New York and 51st Pennsylvania, and

ened by the addition of the 20th Maine regiment,

took the bridge. At 3 p. m., under peremptory orders, he charged up the heights, carrying them
handsomely, some of his troops reaching even the

on a field, and
moving across into Maryland, passed up via Frederick City and across South Mountain to the vicinity

But now, just as victory

seemed about to smile upon our arms, A. P. Hill's
division (which had been ordered from Harper's

On

the night of September 2d, our brigade went

camp at Arlington Heights, near the site of

the old camp occupied by the 12th Regiment, the
previous winter.
Here the brigade was strengthas fine a regiment as ever appeared

left,

outskirts of Sharpsburg.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

100

Ferry that morning, and had started at half-past 7

came upon the field, and covered by a

o'clock

all

charges of the enemy, and drove it back in great

Gen. Rodman, who commanded our
confusion.
The enemy rallied
mortally wounded.
left, fell

no

with great

charged

till

redoubled their

spirit,

down

confusion

and
the

checked by the

creek.

Our

vanced and

day

the

front

in

charged

artillery

fire

of artillery,

and drove our men in

toward Antietam, pursuing

flank,

hill

of our batteries across the

fire

on the

reserves,

left

bank,

our batteries redoubled their

now adThe

fire.

rebels wisely desisted without attempting to carry

the bridge and retired to their lines on the heights,

"

as darkness put an end to the fray.

indecisively, the bloodiest

In killed
report, the

ment.

and wounded, according

enemy

Thus

closed,

day America ever saw."

"^d

lost 13,533

'"

own

to their
^'^'^

engage-

McClcllan makes his entire loss in this batof 12,469 men. Speaking of the whole

tle to consist

series of

engagements

in

Maryland, he reports, 13

guns, 39 colors, upwards of 15,000 stand of small

arms, and more than 6,000 prisoners, as the trophies

which attested the success of our arms in the battles

of South Mountain, Crampton's Gap, and Antietam.
Not a single gun or color was lost by our army
19th of September,

the

our division was

Shcphcrdstown Ford,
where they met the enemy and were driven back,
taking shelter in the canal from which the water had
been drawn ofli", and which afforded an e.\cellent

ordered across the river

at the

breastwork already constructed to our hand.

After

the short engagement here, our brigade was ordered

to

the Antietam Iron Works, to guard the ford

across the river

Regimentbeing

Companies

and G, of the 12th

Guard of Sharps-

detailed as Provost

burg, under Lieut. Estes of

Marshal.

William

P.

Company G,

as Provost

Cobbitt was here killed by the

accidental bursting of a shell picked up on

Antietam

the

upon the approaches from Fredstone wall, so strong that

fatal

make an impression upon it. shelbrigade of the enemy in the very front of

artillery could

tered a

the storming column.

Against such impregnable

defences our brave soldiers were thrown across to

than those

Braver men never smiled at death

who climbed Marye's Hill that fatal day

their ranks

plowed through and torn to pieces by

meet

their fate.

even in the process of formation

heavy cost they had reached the foot
of the hill, they were confronted by a solid stone
wall, four feet high, from behind which a rebel brigrebel

batteries,

and when

ade of

infantry

Never did men

lessly,

mowed them down

fight better or die, alas

like
I

grass.

more

nth

Irish brigade,

New

and 88th

composed

of the 63d, 69th

York, the 28th Massachusetts, and

Pennsylvania, which dashed

itself repeat-

edly against those impregnable heights, until two-

when the
its number strewed the ground
remnant fell back to a position of comparative
safety, and were succeeded, as they had been supported, by other brigades and divisions, each to be
thirds of

exposed

in its turn to like pitiless, useless,

hopeless

Thus

the fight was maintained

till

after dark,

by divisions
numbers, on ground

assault after assault being delivered

advancing against twice their

where

treble the force

was required

for the attack

hundred rebel
cannon posted on heights which our few guns on
that side of the river could not reach, swept our
men down from the moment they began to advance,
that sufficed for the defence, while a

and where they could do nothing but charge, fall

and die. Not to go into details of this terrible days
fighting, we may say here that our loss was not less
than

15,000 to

wounded and

that

of the

rebels

taken prisoners.

5,000, killed,

Night mercifully

or the

Antietam Iron Works,

Throughout the 14th and 15th the two armies

facing each other, Lee strengthening his

our regiment was removed to Stoncman's Switch

stood

on the Fredericksburg and Aquia Creek Railroad,

about four miles from Fredericksburg, and remained
Burntill December 13th, 1862, the day on which

defenses and awaiting a renewal of the attack.

side

made

his

fruit-

than did most of Hancock's corps, especially

Meagher's
the

at

closed the scene of carnage.

battle-field.

From Sharpsburg,

carefully trained

ericksburg, while a

slaughter.

during these battles.

On

girdleu

with batteries rising tier above tier to their crest,

our extreme left,

had sustained repeated

heavy fire of
which during

These heights were

or five miles below.

memorable, but

fatal

attempt to cross

and storm the fortified heights of Fredericksburg.

Pontoon bridges had been laid across the RappaLee, with an army
hannock to effect this object.
fully 80,000 strong, was stretched along and behind
the southern bluffs of the Rappahannock from a
point a mile or so above Fredericksburg to one four

He

was probably aware that such was Burnside's intention, from which, however, he was finally dissuaded,
and decided to rccross his entire army on the night
Only a few pickets and some ammuniof the I5lh.
tion were left in Fredericksburg, and '* not a gun
was abandoned as a trophy of this ill-starred
advance on Richmond." Our pontoons were all
The I2th Regiment lost
taken up and brought off.
heavily, among others, several commissioned officers

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The regiment

lay

all

night the day of the battle

and the next day among the dead and wounded,

after the cessation of the battle of the 13th, no
movement being made in the army whereby they

charged August s, 1862; Chas. C. Murphy, Surgeon, rank from December 31, 1862, mustered out
at expiration of term of service. May 17, 1S63
George B. Todd, Assistant Surgeon, rank from May
7, 1 86 1, resigned October 7, 1S62
John L. Eddy,
Assistant Surgeon, rank from November 3, 1862,
mustered out at expiration of term of service. May
George V. Skift". Assistant Surgeon, rank
17, 1863
from August 22, 1862, mustered out at expiration
of term of service, May 17, 1863
C. S. Percival,
Chaplain, resigned October 20, 1861
Henry P.
Barton, Chaplain, rank from October 21, 1861, resigned April 20, 1862 Morris H. Church, Captain,
rank from May i, 1861, resigned September 21,
1861 Ira Wood, Captain, rank from September 21,
1861, resigned October 14, 1862; Thomas H.
Behan, Captain, rank from October 16, 1862,
mustered out at expiration of term of service,
May 17, 1863; Jacob Brand, Captain, rank from
May I, 1861, resigned October 25, 1861
William Huson, Captain, rank from February 3,
1S62, mustered out on expiration of term of service. May 17, 1863
Dennis Driscoll, Jr., Captain, rank from May i, 1861, discharged February
William Fowler, Captain, rank from
1862
3,
February 3, 1862, discharged February 3, 1863
George W. Stone, Captain, rank from May i, 1861,
William H. Hoagland, Capresigned July 9, 1S61
tain, rank from February 3, 1862, killed in action
at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13,1862
James
A. Bates, Captain, rank from December 14, 1862,
discharged April 11, 1864; Joseph Hilton, Caprank from April 11, 1S64, not mustered;
tain,
rank from May i, 1861, disJ. M. Brower, Captain,
charged Febuary 3, 1862 Paul A. Oliver, 2d Lieutenant, rank from February 3, 1862, promoted to
;

On

could get out of their position.

lOI

the retreat

they were the last to reach the pontoon bridge, and

were upon it as it was cut loose from the Fredericks-

burg shore by our engineers.

After the retreat from Fredericksburg, our regi-

went back to its old camp at Stoneman's

Switch, and on the 27th of April, 1863, at the time
of the advance of Hooker on Chancellorsville, orders came for them to return to Elmira and be musBeing two years men,
tered out of the service.
The three years men from
their time had expired.

ment

New York

City, formerly consolidated with the 12th

Regiment, were organized

into

companies
Henry A.

five

forming a separate battalion under Col.

Weeks, and remained in the service. The 12th

Regiment reached Elmira in a few days, and were
mustered out on the 17th of May, 1S63.
Official Record of the I2th Regiment.

The

following

motions of the

is

the

official list

2th Regiment

and

line of pro-

May

term of service Benjamin A. Willis, Colonel, commissioned February 27, 1864, "ot mustered James
L. Graham, Lieutenant-Colonel, rank from May 7,
Robert M. Rich1861, resigned June 19, 1S61
ardson, Lieutenant-Colonel, rank from June 19, 1861,
Augustus J. Root,
resigned February 6, 1863
Major, rank from September 22, 1862, promoted to
Lieutenant-Colonel, February 13, 1863, mustered
out on expiration of term of service. May 17, 1863
John Lewis, Major, rank from May 7, 1861, killed
by fall from his horse, October 21, 1861 Henry A.
Barnum, Major, rank from October 25, 1861, promoted to Colonel 149th N. Y. Vols., September 22,
1862 Henry W. Rider, Captain, rank from February 3, 1862, promoted to Major, February 27, 1864
Silas Titus, Adjutant, rank from May 13, 1861,
promoted to Colonel I22d N. Y. Volunteers, August 28, 1862
George F. Watson, Adjutant, rank
from February 3, 1862, mustered out at expiration of term of service. May 17, 1S63
Edmund
B. Griswold, Quartermaster, rank from May 13,
1861, resigned September 6, 1861
Porter R.
Alger, 1st Lieutenant rank from September 21,
1 86 1, promoted to Quartermaster February 27, 1862,
brevet Major N. Y. Vols., mustered out on expiration
of term of service. May 17, 1863
Roger W. Pease,
Surgeon, rank from May 7, 1861, resigned August
28, 1861
Azariah B. Shipman, Surgeon, rank from
September 13, 1861, resigned May 23, 1S62 Chas.
L. Hubbell, Surgeon, rank from April 2, 1862, dis;

7,

George W.
1861, resigned September 26, 1861
Snyder, Colonel, commissioned October i, 1S61,
Henry A. Weeks, Colonel, rank from
declined
February 3, 1862, mustered out on expiration of

Ezra L. Walrath, Colonel, rank from

1st

Lieutenant,

May

transferred

1864,

June

2,

May

I,

30, 1S62, to Captain, April 4,

to 5th Regiment, N. Y. Vols.,

1864; Milo

W.

Locke, Captain, rank from

1861, resigned November 14, 1S61

James
Cromie, Captain, rank from February 3, 1862, discharged April 7, 1863 Joseph C. Irish, Captain,
;

rank from May i, 1861, resigned September 3,

Charles B. Randall, 2d Lieutenant, rank
1861
from May, 1861, promoted to Captain, September
mustered out at the expiration of term
25, 1861
George W. Cole, Capof service, May 17, 1863
tain, rank from May i, 1861, transferred to 3d N. Y.
;

Cavalry, September 20, 1861 George Truesdell, 1st

Lieutenant, rank from May 13, 1861, promoted to
Captain October 20, 1861, resigned December 2,
1862; Michael Auer, 2d Lieutenant, rank from
February 22, 1862, promoted to ist Lieutenant,
December i, 1862, mustered out on expiraPeter
tion of term of service, May 17, 1863
;

from
May r,
Lieutenant, rank
1861, promoted to Captain, December 26, 1862,
mustered out on expiration of service, May 17, 1863
Henry A. Barnum, Captain, rank from May i, 1861,
Strauss,

ist

to Major, October 29, 1861, promoted to

Colonel of 149th N. Y. Vols., September 22, 1S62;
Hamilton R. Combs, ist Lieutenant, rank from
May I, 1861, promoted to Captain November 11,
Edward Drake,
1861, resigned October 27, 1862

promoted

1st Lieutenant,

rank from October

i,

1861,

promoted

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

102

December i, 1862, Brevet Major, N. Y.

mustered out at expiration of term of service,

to Captain,

Vols.,

May 17, 1863 Cortland Clark, ist Lieutenant,

rank from October 16, 1862, mustered out on expiration of term of ser\icc. May 17, 18G3
James A.
Boyle, 1st Lieutenant, rank from February 3, 1862,
mustered out on expiration of term of service,
May 17, 1863 James Randall, ist Lieutenant, rank
from May i, 1 861, discharged February 3, 1862;
Richard J. Clark, ist Lieutenant, rank from February 3, 1S62, mustered out on expiration of term of
ser\'ice. May 17, 1863
Lucius C. Storrs, ist Lieutenant, rank from May i, 1861, resigned October 23,
Henry C. Burton, ist Lieutenant, rank from
1861
VVm.
Feb. 3, 1862, killed in action June 27, 1862
P. Walton, 2d Lieutenant, rank from Feb. 3, 1862,
promoted to ist Lieutenant, Oct. 29, 1862, discharged Sept. 26, 1863 Joseph Hilton, 2d Lieutenant, rank from June 20, 1862, promoted to ist Lieutenant December 26, 1862, transferred to 5th N. Y.
Frederick Homer, ist LieutenVols., June 2, 1864
ant, rank from May i, 1861, resigned July 30, 1861
Samuel J. Abbott. 2d Lieutenant, rank from May
I,
1861, promoted to ist Lieutenant August 27,
William F.
resigned September 20, 1861
1 86 1,
Gardner, ist Lieutenant, rank from February 3,
1862, resigned May 18, 18G2; William Glcason, ist
Lieutenant, rank from May i, 1 861, discharged February 3, 1S62; James A. Bates, ist Lieutenant,
rank from February 3, 1862, promoted to Captain
December 26, 18G2, discharged April 11, 1S64;
Henry A. Downing, 2d Lieutenant, rank from February 3, 1862, promoted to ist Lieutenant December 26, 1862 John H. Johnson, ist Lieutenant,
rank from May i, 1861, resigned October 10, 1861
Stephen A. Estes, ist Lieutenant, rank from Sep;

tember 21, 1861, promoted to Cai^tain October 30,

1862; Oliver T. May, 2d Lieutenant, rank from
March 20, 1862, promoted to ist Lieutenant October
1862, to Captain 149th regiment, March 26,
Edward Pointer, ist Lieutenant, rank from
May I, 1S61, not mustered Thomas Gaffney, ist
30.

1863

Lieutenant, rank from September i, 1861, resigned October 23, 18G2; John P. Stanton, 2d
Lieutenant, rank from May i, 1861, promoted
to 1st Lieutenant December 26, 1862, resigned
William P. Town, ist Lieutenant,
April 15, 1863
rank from May 1, 1861, resigned August G, 18G1
William G. Tracy, ist Lieutenant, rank from August
S. Dexter
6, 1 86 1, discharged February 3, 18G2
Ludden, 2d Lieutenant, rank from September 3,
1861, promoted to ist Lieutenant November 10,
1862, mustered out on expiration of term of service,
May 17, 1863 William S. Woods, 2d Lieutenant,
rank from June 27, 18G2, promoted to ist Lieutenant April 29, 18G4, transferred to the 5th N. Y.
Vols., June 2, 1864; George W. Cartwright, 1st
Ulysses
Lieutenant, resigned November 5, 1861
D. Eddy, 2d Lieutenant, rank from September 20,
March 17, 18G2 Abraham Fred1 86 1, discharged
dendall, 2d Lieutenant, rank from March 17, 1S62,
resigned October 13, 18G2; Abram Farnie, 2d
Lieutenant, rank from October 13, 1SG2, mustered
out on expiration of term of service. May 17, 18G3
John P. Spanier, 2d Lieutenant, rank from May i,

1861, resigned December 27, 1861

Charles E.
Gould, 2d Lieutenant, rank from February 3, 1862,
resigned October 13, 1862 John M. Scannell. 2d
Lieutenant, rank from October 13, 1862, resigned
April 13. 1863 Robert J. Ellis, 2d Lieutenant, rank
from April 11, 1863, not mustered; Ellis Smith,
2d Lieutenant, rank from February 3, 1862, resigned
November 4, 18G2; Christopher Eddie, 2d Lieutenant, rank from November 5, 1862, mustered out
at the expiration of term of service. May 17, 1863
George Snyder, 2d Lieutenant, rank from May i,
1861, resigned October 25, 1861
I'rank W. Clock,
2d Lieutenant, rank from September 21, 1861, resigned March 19, 1862; Edward M. Fisher, 2d
Lieutenant, rank from May 17, 1862. killed inaction
at the Chickahominy June 27, 1862; Stephen D.
Clark, 2d Lieutenant, rank from May i, 1861, discharged I'cbruary 3, 1862 John L. Mease, 2d
Lieutenant, rank from December 14, 1862, dismissed November 17, 1863; William Thompson,
2d Lieutenant, rank from November 20, 1863,
transferred to the 5th N. Y. Vols. June 2, 1864
Erskinc P. Woodford, 2d Lieutenant, rank from
May I, 18G1, resigned December i, iSGi Frederick O. Waters, 2d Lieutenant, rank from September 22, 1862, mustered out on the expiration of
term of service May 17, 1863 Charles S. Coon, 2d
Lieutenant, rank from October 20, 1 861, discharged
February 3, 18G2; George Boitcau, 2d Lieutenant,
rank from December 3, 1862, mustered out on expiration of term of service, May 17, 1863
Andrew
Urmy, 2d Lieutenant, rank from October 22, 1861,
resigned February 22, 1862; Dexter Smith, 2d
Lieutenant, rank from October 27, 1862, mustered
out on expiration of term of service. May 17, 1863
Lucius Smith, 2d Lieutenant, rank from May i,
1 86 1, resigned September 3,
1S61
John B. P'oote,
2d Lieutenant, rank from October 22, 1862,
mustered out on expiration of term of service. May
Gustavus Webber, 2d Lieutenant, rank
17, 1863
from December 18, 18G2, resigned February 2,
18G3
John Corncy, 2d Lieutenant, rank from
January 28, 1863, mustered out on expiration of
;

service,

May

17, 1863.

Regimental Flag of the Twelfth

New

York.

In the

list

of regimental flags presented to Gov.

Fcnton

at

Albany, we find the following memorial

of the colors of the 12th

"

National Flag,

silk.

Regiment:
Presented to the regiment

by the ladies of Syracuse, May 2, 1861, and carried

by the regiment through every service in which it
was engaged.
" The regiment was organized at Syracuse in the
spring of 1861.
It was engaged in the battle of
Blackburn's Ford, and at ist Bull Run was in the
reserve. After spending several months in building
and grading forts in front of Washington, it was sent
to the Peninsula, and was subsequently engaged in
the seige of Yorktown and in the battles of Hanover
Court House, Gaines's Mill, Savage's Station, White
Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, 2d Bull Run and ist

Fredericksburg.

It

returned

to the State in the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

spring of 1863, at the expiration of

term of

its

service."

103

tenant George B. French, rank from September

9,
1863, not mustered Amos M. Scranton, on records
;

Represented

at the

presentation by Col.

Henry

of

War

Department, not mustered, discharged Feb-

A. Weeks.

ruary 22, 1862.

The One Hundred and First Regiment New

York Volunteers was raised in the Counties of

Fenton

Onondaga,

New York

and Delaware.

It

was

or-

In the catalogue of flags presented to Governor

ganized at Hancock, N. Y., to serve for three years,

and was mustered into the United States service

It
from September 2, 1861, to February 28, 1862.

was consolidated with the 37th New York Volunteers, December 24, 1862, and the officers mustered
out of service.

The

regiment from Onondaga

of this

officers

County were Lieutenant Colonel Johnson B.

Captain
Brown, discharged November 7, 1862
Gustavus Sniper, of Company C, promoted to
Major on the organization of the regiment at Hancock, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel November
29, 1862, and mustered out at the consolidation,
December 24, 1862 Assistant-Surgeon David B.
Van Slycke, promoted to Surgeon, October 23, 1862,
;

Captain
and mustered out December 24, 1862
James F. O'Neil, rank from October i, 1861, dis;

May

charged

31,

1862; Captain George

W.

Her1862, discharged Febru-

Albany

at

after the war,

tion of the colors of the loist

"I National Flag,

men-

find this

with original

This

staff.

was presented to the regiment by the Union

Defence Committee of New York City. It was
borne in the battles of Seven Pines, (May 31 and
June I) Peach Orchard, Savage's Station, Chickahominy, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross
Roads, Malvern Hill, Groveton, Second Bull Run,
Chantilly and Fredericksburg."
flag

The regiment was sent forward from Hancock,

N. Y., to Washington in March, 1862, and was for
some time on duty in and about Washington.
was also engaged in garrison duty for some time
Fort Lyons, seven miles south of Alexandria.
fore

engaging

in the

above enumerated,

it

first

It

at

Be-

of the series of battles

was organized

as part of Bir-

ney's brigade, Kearney's division and Heintzelman's

corps,

and arrived

at

the service.

It received a

gallantry from Gen.

Captain Peter
mustered out December 24, 1862
McLennon, rank from December 5, 1861, mustered

have also

was

Oaks

Fair

just at the close of

The regiment was one

the battle.

rank from March 31,

Captain Peter Ohneth {Brevet-Major
ary 22, 1862
rank
as Captain November 24, 1861,
N. Y. V.,)

rick,

silk,

we

Regiment

of the best in

high compliment for

its

Kearney the night before he

killed at Chantilly.

In his report after the bat-

tle

of Fredericksburg, Brig.-Gen. Berry said

out

December

24, 1862

Lieutenant Orrin F.

ist

Plumb, rank from November

out

December

24,

1862

1861, mustered

14,

Lieutenant James H.

ist

Bradt, rank from October 25, 1861, promoted to

ist Lieutenant Thomas
Captain October 29, 1862
K. Brown, rank from October 22, 1861, mustered

loist

" I

mention the good conduct of the

York Volunteers, Col. Chester com-

to

New

They nobly performed

manding.

their duty dur-

on the night of the

retreat.
This regiment, though small in numbers,
did good service, and its conduct, together with
that of all its officers, was unexceptionable."
ing the fight

also as pickets

out

December

24,

1862

Lieutenant Monroe C.

ist

Worden, rank from October

C,

ington, D.

mustered

April 25, 1862

rank from

Noble,

liam

ist

7,

1861, died at
ist

Lieutenant Wil-

November

Lieutenant Orlando

1862, not

16,

Rowe, on

J.

War

Department, not commissioned,

resigned January 31, 1862; 2d Lieutenant William
H. Warner, rank from December i, 1861, promoted
to 1st Lieutenant October 29, 1862, mustered out
2d Lieuat the consolidation, December 24, 1862
records

of

tenant Silas H. Hinds, rank from June, 1862, mustered out

December

24, 1862

Listman, rank from

2d Lieutenant

November

Adam

24, 1861, resigned

July 24, 1862; 2d Lieutenant George Pfohl, rank

from July 25, 1862, mustered out December 24,

1862
2d Lieutenant Henry D. Ford, rank from
;

December
1862,

15,

1861,

promoted

ist

mustered out December

Lieutenant Oct.

24,

1862

CHAPTER XXIV.

Wash-

3,

2d Lieu-

The One Hundred and Twenty-Second New

Organization March
York Volunteers
TO

THE

Front

South

Mountain

An-

tietam.

THE

I22d Regiment

New York

Volunteer In-

fantry was one of the regiments furnished by

under the call of the President for 300,000
State
the
men in the summer of 1862. The war for the sup-

pression of the Rebellion was just beginning to

develop the magnitude of its proportions, and to

must put forth its manly energy

Republic from
in good earnest, if it would save the
The issue
destruction.
dismemberment, anarchy and

show

that the North

upon the Peninsula for the capture

with doubt.
of Richmond was being surrounded
of the struggle

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

104

when on

the 1st of July, the President called for

On

300,000 additional troops.

the subjoined

"This appeal

which

of

able to maintain

an extract

is

is

to the State of

New York:

it

of the State into regimental districts, correspond-

the

senatorial

districts,

At

with a

rendez-

the same authority,

same time and by

a committee was appointed in

each

the Senatorial

camp

to

in

each.

district, called

whom was given

the

War Committee,

the general charge and direction

of affairs in their district in regard to the raising

and organization of

troops.

In

Onondaga county, composing

trict,

the following gentlemen were

the 22d Dis-

named

as the

Hon. Charles Andrews, Hon. Grove

Lawrence, Hon. Dennis McCarthy, Hon. Elias W.
Leavenworth, Hamilton White, Esq., Hon. Austin
Myres, Hon. Thomas G. Alvord, L. W. Hall, Esq.,
Hon. Thomas T. Davis and Col. J. Dean Hawley.
On the I5lh of July, 1862, the above committee
held a meeting and organized by the election of
Hon. Charles Andrews, President, and L. W. Hall,

Committee

resolution

was passed requesting the inhabit-

ants of the various towns of the county to appoint

a committee of three in each town

junction with them.

Webb, 2d Lieutenant.
Company C was organized from the towns of
Manlius and DeWitt, at Fayetteville, August 14,

Also a resolution was passed

call

an

extra session of the Legislature forthwith, to insure

uniform action as regards the bounty to be offered

The committee

resolved to hold a ses-

Company D, from

had

failed.

Pope's army, by his bold advance to

14,

Cossitt,

1st

Lieutenant, and

Company E was

were looking anxiously

to see

whether the foiled, yet powerful. Army of the Potomac, would be brought up in time to his assistance,
or whether he would be able to fight his way back

Luther, 2d

organized in the city of Syra-

the Lieut. -Colonelcy of the regiment, ist Lieuten-

Horace H. Walpole, was promoted to Captain

E, and Jacob Brand was appointed 1st

Company

Lieutenant, vice Walpole, promoted.

Company F was mainly from

the town of Mar-

and was organized August

being driven back, though not without able and galresistance, to the defences of Washington
pco|)le

P.

Davis

August 15, with Augustus W. Dwight, as

Captain
Horace H. Walpole, 1st Lieutenant, and
Henry H. Hoyt, 2d Lieutenant. On the 22d of
of August, Captain A. W. Dwight was promoted to

Moses, Captain

the

Edward

cuse,

cooperate with McClellan, was imperiled, and was

while

the towns of Onondaga, Spaf-

with Cornell Chrysler, Captain

cellus,

lant

Mead, 2d Lieu-

J.

Lieutenant.

of

Richmond

Joseph E. Cameron,

Otisco and the city of Syracuse, was organized

ford,

Hall, at half past seven o'clock, until further notice.

against

Arthur

tenant.

ant,

this time the expedition

Nims, Captain

Lieutenant, and

1st

sion every evening at the Mayor's office in the City

At

Alfred

with

to act in con-

requesting the Governor of the State to

volunteers.

August

Esq., Secretary.

the President, could reach the front.

was under such circumstances as these that

the War Committee, in the summer of i862,"called
upon the people of Onondaga for further enlistments.
The first response under this call was the
It was raised in one
I22d Regiment, N. Y. V. I.
month, enlistments fairly commencing on the 20th
of July and the rolls closing on the 20th of August.
The first Company (A) was filled at Baldwinsville, from the towns of Lysander and Van Buren,
August 6, with Joshua B. Davis, Captain
Alonzo
H. Clapp, 1st Lieutenant: and Herbert S. Wells,
2d Lieutenant. Captain Davis was promoted to
Major, August 16, 1862, and was succeeded in the
command of the company by J. M. Brower, formerly a Captain in the 12th Regiment, N. Y. V.
Company B was filled August 14, from the
city of Syracuse and the towns of Geddes, Cicero
and Clay, with Webster R. Chamberlain, Captain
Charles G. Nye, ist Lieutenant, and William J.
It

office of the State a circular directing the division

to

a successful defensive until the

preparing and sending forward, in response to the

call of

Three days after the appearance of the above

appeal, there was issued from the Adjutant-General's

vous

it

reenforcements which the great loyal North were

is

Let it come to every fireside. Let

to each citizen.
the glorious example of the Revolutionary period be
Let each feel that the Commonour emulation.
wealth now counts upon his individual strength and
influence to meet the demands of the Government.
"The period has come when all must aid. New
York has not thus far stood back. Ready and more
than willing, she has met every summons to duty.
Let not her history be falsified nor her position be
lowered."

ing

All

was only a question of time

whether our armies already in the field would be
clearly perceived that

the day following.

Governor Morgan issued a proclamation

with what means he had within his reach.

George W.

15,

with Lucius

Piatt, ist Lieutenant,

and James Burton, 2d Lieutenant.

Company G, from the town of Elbridge, was organized August 15, Harrison H. Jilson, Captain;
Drayton Eno, ist Lieutenant, and Peter A. Blossom,
2d Lieutenant.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Company H, mainly from
Morton L. Marks,

town of Camillus,

the

organized August 15th, James

M. Gere, Captain;

Lieutenant, and Oscar F.

ist

Swift, 2d Lieutenant.

Company

organized August

16, John M. Dvvight, Captain

Morris H. Church, ist Lieutenant, and Lucius A.
Dillingham, 2d Lieutenant.

Company K,

chiefly from the

Skaneateles and the city

August

Noah

19,

towns of Tully and

of Syracuse, organized

B. Kent, Captain

Lieutenant, and Frank

1st

Justin

Howard,

M. Wooster, 2d Lieu-

tenant.

The organization was completed and the regiment

mustered into the United States service, at Syracuse,

August

with the following

28, 1862,

staff officers, viz

members

of the regiment or

their friends.

Taking a

special train, the regiment arrived in

City on Sunday night, where they spent
the next day in receiving their arms and
accoutre-

New York

from Syracuse and Salina, chiefly,

I,

gotten either by the

105

field

and

rank from August 31, 1862

Augustus H. Dvvight, Lieutenant-Colonel, rank
from August 28, 1862 Joshua B. Davis, Major,
rank from August 28, 1862; Andrew J. Smith,
Adjutant, rank from July 26, 1862
Fiank Lester,
Quartermaster, rank from July 24, 1862 Nathan
R. Teft, Surgeon, rank from July 24, 1862 John
Silas Titus, Colonel,

ments, and at 4.30 p. m. the next day, went by boat

to Perth Amboy, and thence the same day
to Baltimore.
They lay
more alongside a

all

night in the depot at Balti-

train loaded with

wounded

sol-

diers from Pope's battle-fields in Virginia.

This first
sight of the sad contingencies of war affected
their

nerves more seriously than did afterwards the battle-field itself

The following data, from the notes
of Col. J. M. Gere, furnish us with a knowledge
of

some

of the further movements of the regiment

Wednesday, Sept. 3. Rode to Washington, where
they heard that Pope had been defeated at Chantilly
and that Lee was crossing into Maryland. Slept
that night in the barracks near the depot, and the

O. Slocum, Assistant Surgeon, rank from

August

Edwin A. Knapp, 2d Assistant Surgeon,

14, 1862
rank from August 19, 1862
L. M. Nickerson,
Chaplain, rank from August 28, 1862.
;

It

was expected that the regiment would remain

camp over Sunday, and thus give

friends an opportunity to visit them
in

departure

to

the

of

seat

war.

many

their

before their

But,

contrary

was announced that

they would leave on Sunday morning.
Much
excitement was created in camp and among the
to

expectations,

their

friends

it

the soldiers

of

outside.

Before daylight

next day marched through the streets of Washington to Long Bridge, supposed to be on their way to

Fort Pennsylvania

Long

at

But they were halted

for drill.

Bridge, and their

drill

proved

to

be of

quite a different character.

That night they slept

on the grass on the bank of the Potomac the next
day marched back through Georgetown to a quarter
of a mile above Chain Bridge, where tents were
issued and camp pitched.
The next day, in light
marching order, joined the column moving to the
;

front.

The regiment was

brigaded with the 65th and

and the 23d and 61 st Pennsylvania regiments, under command of Brig. Gen.

67th

New York

John Cochrane, of Couch's

division,

and joined the

The campaign

they began to gather around the enclosure and at

brigade at Orfutt's Cross Roads.

sunrise not less than three thousand people were

three weeks up to Antietam was a severe one to the

on the ground, pressing eagerly to gain admittance

raw and inexperienced troops. At South Mountain, after a day of severe marching, they came up
just in time to see Slocum's splendid charge up the

to their friends, while

hundreds of the soldiers were

pressing from the inside,

and make their

anxious to get together

all

of

arrangements and say their

good-byes before separating.
It was well that, on

heights above Crampton's Pass, but not to take

such an occasion, military stringency should yield to

the battle-field, from which the dead had not yet

the dictates of affection and friendship, and there

been removed, and halted

little

was time enough

for a visit,

intervene

the

for

three hours would

part in

it.

The

next morning they marched over

for the night

about four

miles beyond.

camp

his

left,

army had been marching up the

from Washington, with the Potomac on
in three heavy columns, the I22d being in

permission was given for the gates to

be opened and the people let in.
As the guard fell

the

left

column next the

view of

before

the

case being laid

Colonel Dwight,

This

time for departure.

who was

before Lieutenant-

the chief officer in

at that time,

back, the

crowd surged

in

through the gate, while

the soldiers within rent the air with

Then

their cheers.

followed for two or three hours a free inter-

mingling and

and

finally,

the

parting

words and salutations, which were not soon

14-

for-

McClellan's

country

river.

At

this time, those

of Lee's forces which were north of the river were

scattered in several bodies, threatening and dem-

onstrating upon the State of Maryland.

His forces

upon the south bank of the Potomac were pushing the attack upon Gen. Miles at Harper's Ferry,
who, while he held his strongly

fortified position,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

io6

was keeping Lee's army

and

divided,

at the

same

time acting as an obstacle to the withdrawal of

Lee's forces from Maryland, in case it should be-

come necessary for him to retreat.

The interest of the Union Army

lay in attacking

and crushing the detached portions of Lee's army

north of the Potomac, while Miles held his position
at Harper's Ferry, and having done this, to reach
Gen. Miles in time to relieve him. On the other
hand, the interest of the rebel army was to delay
the Union forces, so that they could overpower or
compel the surrender of Miles at Harper's Ferry,
and then concentrate their whole army against
McClellan in Maryland. This they actually accomplished ihrongh the fall of Harper's Ferry and the
battle

of Antietam,

although

the results of the

campaign were far from being flattering to the Confederate cause.

That portion of Lee's army already

in

Maryland

had occupied South Mountain, a range of hills running southwestwardly across Maryland to the Poto-

mac

east of Harper's Ferry, the principal passes of

which they had

Gen. McClellan, learning

fortified.

of Lee's plans through a general order discovered

at Frederick,

enemy

pushed on

in pursuit,

encountering the

stronghold's at Turner's and

in their

rebels were repulsed with heavy loss.

Gap

the loss to the

enemy

killed

in

Cramp-

resistance, the

ton's Gaffs, where, after desperate

At Turner's
and wounded

was about 2,000 and 1,500 prisoners, while at

Crampton's our trophies were 400 prisoners, one
gun and 700 small arms. These battles were fought
on the I4lh of September, by Gens. Meade and
Hooker, of the right, and Gen. Franklin commandCould
ing the left wing, of McClcllan's army.
Franklin but have realized how precious were the
moments, he was still in lime to have relieved Harper's Ferry.

He was

but

si.\

surrendered at eight o'clock

As

already stated, our

miles distant

it

On

i6th,

the

where

it

lay all

Gap

to

day on the

and while there heard of the surrender of

Harper's Ferry.

The advance

of our forces from South Mountain

towards Antietam began to be made on the morn-

who overtook

at

rebel cavalry rear-guard, charged

routed

it,

IJoonsborough the
it

with

spirit,

and

capturing 250 prisoners and two guns.

Richardson's division of Sumner's corps followed,

pressing

march

the

Here the

village of Sharpsburg.

little

entire

rebel force under Lee was soon concentrated. Richardson halted and deployed on the right of the road

leading in from Keedysville

Sykes, with his divis-

came up and
Gen. McClellan

ion of regulars, following closely after,

deployed on the

left

of that road.

himself with three corps

came up during the

.m., and making a
4

in all,

Hooker moved

evening.

at

p.

long detour, crossed the Antietam out of sight and

Turning

range of the rebel batteries.

length

at

he came to an open field with

woods in front and on each side, when he halted
and formed his lines Rickett's division on the left
Meade, with the Pennsylvania Reser\'es, in the
sharply to the

left,

center

while Doubleday, on the right, planting his

guns on a hill, opened at once on a rebel battery

that had begun to enfilade our center.
By this
time it was dark and the firing soon ceased. The
of

infantry

the

opposing

lines

lay

down

for the

night within half musket shot of each other.

At

daylight ne.\t morning (Sept.

171 the battle

Meade's left and the right of

Rickett's line became engaged at nearly the same
moment, the former with artillery, the latter with
while a battery was pushed forward beinfantry

opened

earnest.

in

yond the woods directly in Hooker's front, across a

plowed field, to the edge of a cornfield beyond it,
before night

destined

Twice during
taken and

lost,

and the third time

our forces and held.

most

be soaked with blood.

day was this cornfield

to

that bloody

On

it

was taken by

this part of the field the

terrible fighting of the

of these charges, the 34th

day was done.

New

Jn one

York, which had

moment, while attempting a mafire, was almost literally cut

and the 15th Massachusetts, which went
to pieces
into the action 600 strong, was speedily reduced to

broken

at a critical

neuver under a terrible

;

During the battle of Antietam the I22d Regiment

was not engaged in actual fighting, but their division
(Couch's) had been ordered to the left to outflank a
supposed flanking movement of the enemy. Greeley
in his American conflict, referring to this movement,
says " Gen. Couch's division, 5,coo strong, had
evidently
been sent away towards Harper's Ferry
through some misapprehension
and only arrived
Some of the oflficers
at a late hour next morning."
say they returned to the battle-field on the night of
However, the difference is immaterial.
the 17th.
:

ing of the 15th of September, led by Gen. Pleasanton's cavalry,

posted in force across Antietam Creek, in front of

134in

15th, after

passed up through Crampton's

about four miles beyond,

it

morning.

ne.\t

I22d Regiment was

neither of these engagements.

the battle,

when

'

eagerly

on that afternoon, and,

after a

of ten or twelve miles, discovered the rebels

September iSth and 19th were spent upon the

and on the 20th Couch's division (including the I22di marched to Williamsport, where,
after some skirmishing, they drove oft" the rebel
battle field,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

cavalry under Stewart, which had crossed the Poto-

mac at this point. Here private Hunn, the first man

wounded in the regiment, received a flesh wound in

One man

Company

was wounded.
The regiment remained here two days, and on the
23d went into camp in a pleasant clover meadow at
Downsville, where they received shelter tents and
remained under drill about two months. Major Jos.
E. Hamblin, of the 65th New York (afterwards MajGen.) being detailed by Gen. Cochrane, commander of the brigade, as the drill-master. He was
very competent, and under his excellent drill the
regiment soon became one of the most efficient in
the leg.

in

107

sharp-shooters (Barksdale's) and had posted his ennot less than 80,000 men in strong in-

tire force of

trenchments along the heights for two miles up

and down the river in the rear of the city. Gen.
Sumner, with the advance corps of our army, had
arrived on the 7th of November, and on the 21st
had summoned the city to surrender. The inhabitants had mostly abandoned the place

the sharp-

shooters had been driven out by the shells of Burnside from the

heights of Falmouth and by an in-

fantry raid across the river in

boats,

toon bridges had been successfully

and the pon-

Such was

laid.

when our army began

the state of things

to

pour

the army.

across on the night of the loth of December.

October i8th and 19th, Saturday night and Sunmarched 28 miles up the river to Hancock.
On the 2 1st, left Hancock and marched (most of the

Fredericksburg on that memorable 13th of Decem-

day,

distance by night) eight miles

Run

the river to

two weeks at Indian

Spring, returned to Downsville, and the next day
marched as wagon-guard, crossing the Potomac into
Virginia at Berlin on the 3d day of November.
Cherry

and

down

after lying

CHAPTER XXV.
The One Hundred and Twenty-Second Regi-

Fredericksburg BurnMud Expedition Chancellorsville

Gettysburg Rappahannock Station
Sandusky, Ohio Re-organization of the
ment, Continued
side's

Army under

ON

Lieut.-Gen. Grant.

the 8th of November, 1862, Gen. Burnside

superceded Gen. McClellan

the

Army

after

in

command

of

of the Potomac, and immediately there-

planned his campaign to move upon Rich-

mond via Fredericksburg. The I22d Regiment

was now in the left grand division of the Army of
the

Potomac (Franklin's),

Cochrane),

3d division

ist

brigade (Gen. John

(Gen. D. A. Couch), 6th

commanded by Gen. W.
and joined the march towards Freder-

corps (Sedgwick's), then

F. Smith
icksburg,

New

November

10,

halting

till

the 15th, at

two days to Stafford

Court House, and in four days to Belle Plaine and
thence to Fredericksburg. Pontoon bridges had
been laid opposite the city and also two miles below, on the night of the loth, by our engineer
corps, and troops were then crossing.
Our brigade
lay near the bank of the river at Franklin's Crossing during the night, and crossed at 4 a. m., on the

nth

Baltimore,

of

thence

in

December.

Gen, Lee, having learned of Burnside's purpose,

had occupied Fredericksburg with a brigade of

The attempt

of Burnside to storm the heights of

must ever remain as the darkest, bloodiand most fruitless sacrifice of our brave soldiers
during the whole war. Lee, with 80,000 troops,
was posted behind his breastworks for miles
ber, 1862,

est

along the bluffs.

In and before Fredericksburg
were the grand divisions of Hooker and Sumner,
numbering 60,000. While 300 rebel guns were
advantageously placed on every eminence, and
raked every foot of ground by which they could be
approached, Marye's

Hill, directly in

the rear of

the city, and in front of our storming column, was

defended by an impregnable stone

wall, four feet in

was posted Barksdale's brigade

Our heavy guns were mostly on
of rebel infantry.
the north side of the river where they could hardly
Our storming column consisted
reach the enemy.
chiefly of Hancock's and French's corps, in which
height, behind which

Meagher's
dashed

It

nable

Irish brigade suffered the severest losses.

strewed

repeatedly against those impreg-

itself

heights
the

official report,

until

ground.
says

two-thirds

of

its

numbers'

General Meagher,

in

his

led into the action only 280 appeared on parade next morning." Says the cor"That any
respondent of the London Times:
mortal man could have carried the position before
which they were wantonly sacrificed, defended as it
was, it seems to me idle for a moment to believe.
But the bodies which lie in dense masses within
forty yards of the muzzles of Colonel Walton's guns
are the best evidence what manner of men they
were who pressed on to death with the dauntlessness of a race which has gained glory on a thousand
battle fields, and never more richly deserved it than
at the foot of Marye's Heights on the 13th day of
"

Of

the 1,200

December, 1862."
Franklin's grand division on the left, had crossed
about two miles below the city, his whole force
numbering about 40,000, and having assailed the
Meade's and
right of the enemy, with heavy loss in

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

io8

Hooker's divisions, were unable to carr>' their

Meade's division alone lost 1,760 men out
works.
of some 6,CXX5 engaged. Three repeated charges

were made

at this point to take a rebel battery and

although the fighting was terrible and the loss of

life great, no particular advantage was gained on

And

either side.

days

in

one of the bloodiest

so ended

placed well to the

left

in support of the Pennsylvania Reserves, was under

heavy artillery fire four hours and had four men

wounded.

Monday, December 15. Recrossed the Rappahannock at night and went into camp near Falmouth, where the regiment remained doing ordinary
camp and picket duty till January 20, 1863.
Marched in Gen. Burnsidc's famous
January 20.
"

mud

in

Fords, above

cutting

Saxton's Junction,

burning bridges, &c

telegraphs,

every opportunity, and

fighting at

railroads,

thence towards Richmond,

harrassing by

was calculated, would now be retiring on Richmond. This order was issued on April 13.
The rains and the swollen river caused the delay
recall of the
cavalry,
of the army, and the
efl'ected
a
crossing
already
of
the
Rappawhich had
hannock
the main army did not move till the
morningof the 25th, our I22d Regiment and brigade
it

marching

at

p. m., in

the 6th (Sedgwick's) corps,

carrying pontoons to Franklin's Crossing two miles

The I22d were engaged

Fredericksburg, while, at the same

Brook's division had crossed in boats and drove off

Gen. Wadsworth, commanding
the rebel pickets.

direction, a feint of crossing

was

seven

to

motion on the 20th of January.

but at 10 o'clock,

and during the

p.

ne.xt

torrents, taking the frost

enemy

in

that

be made at the

miles below.

Sedden House,
preparations were perfected and
or

six

fall,

Court House, capture Gordonsville, and then pounce

on the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad near

below Fredericksburg.

time, to attract the attention of the

fair,

Fitz-Hugh

This movement contemplated

force at Bank's and United States'

campaign."

a crossing

strike

Lee's cavalry (computed at 2,oco) near Culjiepper

every means the retreat of the rebel army, which,

the annals of the war.

Our I22d Regiment was

Orange and Alexandria Railroad,

His

army put in
The morning was
his

and sleet began to

day rain poured down in
all out of the ground and

rain

all

night in laying the pontoons.

Before daylight

the advance of Reynold's division, and Sickles's

force,

3d

now apparently ready to cross in

3d corps was ordered to move silently

being

corps,

the

and rapidly

to the

United States' Ford and thence

pontoons were
up and sent to Banks's Ford.
Reynolds,

to Chancellorsville, while part of the

taken

making

after

as great a display as possible,

and ex-

and baggage, into

impossible to
was
that
it
inextricably
so
the mud
in
mud and distwo
days
move. After lying there
comfort, order was given to return to camp, and all

changing some long shots with the rebels in front,

followed on the 2d of May, raising Hooker's force
at or near Chancellorsville to 70,000 men.

made their way back as best they could. The

movement was intended to have been made under

was

letting the

army

trains, artillery

cover of night, but, on account of the impediment

*of the storm and mud, daylight revealed them hopelessly floundering in

view of the enemy, who, though

they immediately guarded the fords, were not

fool-

Gibbon's division of the 2d corps, 6,000 strong,

mained
rebel

Falmouth, to guard our camps and

stores.

at the

re-

crossing (Franklin's) in front of the

works, covering the withdrawal of Sickles's

(3d) corps and Reynold's division, after the feint of

crossing at that point, and remained

ish enough, had they been able, to squander their

men and animals in an attempt to assail our stalled

May

and struggling

to

forces.

left at

Sedgwick's (6th) corps, with our I22d Regiment,

At

2d.

this date

till

Saturday,

an order was received

for

Rappahannock and move

Chancellorsville.
That night

the 6th corps to cross the

join

Hooker

Gen. Hooker having assumed command of the

Army of the Potomac on the i6th of February,

after skirmishing

1863, devoted the following two months to improv-

themselves

at

they crossed the river at the lower crossing, and

Hooker dispatched Stoneman, with most of

cavalry up the north side of the Rappahannock

up through Fredericksburg, found

on Sunday morning in front
of Marye's Heights before the fatal stone wall where
fell so many of our brave soldiers on that memorable 13th of December, 1862. To protect themselves
from the rebel fire, which opened upon them from
the fortifications, they moved back to the edge of
city before daylight, and were joined by Gibbon's
division crossing from Falmouth, raising Sedgwick's
Meanwhile, the rebel
force to nearly 30,000 men.
troops still remaining in this quarter had been con-

with instructions to cross at discretion above the

centrating on Marye's Hill, where they had several

ing the discipline, perfecting the organization, and

During this time

our I22d Regiment was engaged chiefly on picket
Hooker soon had an army equal in numbers
duty.
and efficiency to any ever seen on this continent,

exalting the spirit of his men.

nearly
10,000,

100,000 strong,

and

its

its

artillery not

cavalry 13,000.

Being

less

than

at length

ready,
his

at 3 o'clock

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

guns

in position,

with the bridges

while a canal covering- their

all

by

of carrying the hill

One attempt

assault.

the enemy's rifle-pits at the foot of the

pulsed

left,

taken up, increased the difficulty

hill

to clear

was

another, and a successful assault, was

re-

made

II A. M. by three storming columns of Gen.

Howe's (2d) division under Gen. Neill and Cols.
Grant and Seaver, carrying the lower work and
Marye's Hill with little loss and scarcely without

at

being checked

in their

advance, and capturing 200

In carrying the rebel front line Capt.

prisoners.

Church was wounded by a case shot. In carrying

the hill about goo men were killed and wounded in
The I22d was in the supporting
eleven minutes.
column and passing over the hill, turned to the
right,

division of the
little

city, to ascertain if the

there.

enemy were

who had been

Hill,

below the

still

in force

guard the place,

soon convinced him that there had been but little
to

left

reduction of the rebel strength in that quarter, and

some careful skirmishing, in which three of

after

the I22d were wounded, he withdrew again to the

north side of the

in

front of a forti-

enemy and two

Snicker's Gaps, east of Winchester.

in

about a mile came

was ordered

to carry,

June

and

promptly, losing nine killed and wounded.

it

Hooker threw over Gen. Howe's

6th corps (containing the I22d) a

occupied by a force of the

guns, which the regiment

did

June 3. Lee began to put his forces in motion

up the southern bank of the Rappahannock, preparatory to the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania.
The movements were carefully screened
from the observation of our army. On the 6th,

river, June 13.

June 14-18. Marched to Fairfa.x Court House.
June 2 1st. Firing within hearing at Adlie and

and

fied hill

109

Marched

14th.

the night, and at

Sedgwick having carried the heights, reformed

and leaving Gibbon at Fredericksburg,
moved out on the Chancellorsville road. Our regi-

to the front

camped for
went on picket

to Centerville,

p. m.,

June

on the old Bull

25,

Run

battle ground.

ment moved with the other troops at i p. m., about

The fortified position
four miles to Salem Church.
of the rebels here was unsuccessfully attacked.
The enemy, reenforced by about 30,000 men,

June 26. Marched to near Drainsville

(27),
marched at 4 o'clock a. m., and crossed the Potomac
at Edward's Ferry, eighteen miles distant, at 4 p.m.
(28) marched toward Frederick City, just skirting
Sugar Loaf Mountain (29) marched all day northwardly and (30) marched si.xteen miles to near

flushed with victory from Chancellorsville, assailed

Manchester, Maryland.

his brigades,

us in return, and for about two hours the battle

Our

raged furiously.

held their

forces

Towards night the

own

at all

July
the

and the

joined

I22d was thrown to the extreme right front of our

night,

points.

position,

which they held

all

battle

lulled,

night.

Monday, May 4. Morning broke, and Sedgwick's

was fast becoming critical. The enemy
were in force on his front, and feeling around his

left,

back towards the heights of Fredericksburg.

Should Hooker remain inactive, the brunt of fighting

the whole rebel

He

army was imminent.

his chief during the day,

several dispatches from

evincing a very uncertain state of mind.

the

enemy moved

flank,

in

received

force, striking

At

p.

m.

Sedgwick in
river, and

and pushing him down towards the

during the night over

it

at

of hardly less than 5,000

In this

movement

the

Bank's Ford, with a loss

men.

enemy attempted

to cut off

our forces from the river, but their effort was successfully resisted.

New York

bridge was laid by the 50th

(engineers) and the corps recrossed the

Rappahannock

in the course of the night, the

Regiment, holding the bridge-head

enemy till
recross.

By

the morning, being the last to

the 8th, the regiment occupied a

woods, called Camp

and nearer the river than the old one.

camp
east

3 o'clock in

in a pine

I22d

in the face of the

new

Shaler, further

Heard
at

that the

ist

corps

had struck

and that battle was

Gettysburg,

started at sundown, and after marching

(thirty miles,) arrived

upon the

field

at

all

and went immediately into the front

On the 3d of July, from 8 till 1 1:30 a. m., the
line.
I22d Regiment was at the right under General
Geary, of Slocum's corps, and lost heavily, but
The 149th Regiment was at
defeated the enemy.

p.

position

I.

enemy

M. of the 2d,

left side of the I22d through part of the fight.

Slocum, who commanded the right wing of our
army during the battle of Gettysburg, had been

the

crowded back from his rifle-pits on the night of the

2d of July, and on the morning of the 3d, in the
action just referred to, he had advanced and retaken
them, but not without a fierce struggle which lasted
over three hours. Two Onondaga Regiments, the
149th and the I22d, had the honor of participating
this achievement, under one of Onondaga's
honored sons as commander of the right wing of
the army General H. W. Slocum. In front of their
The
position that morning fell 1,200 rebel dead.
taking
field,
battle
the
on
spent
following day was

in

care of the wounded.

When

the rebels retreated

our brigade followed to Middletown, and thence

across the mountain to Funkstown, arriving on the
14th,

where they found the

rebels

strongly posted

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

no

behind breastworks, and so sheltered by a piece of

wood, that our artillerj' could not be brought to bear

upon them. Some 90 men of the brigade volunto chop down the timber, though right in
front of and exposed to the rebel guns, that the
and at work they
artillery might have full rake
went with axes, keeping their rifles by their side
but in the morning, when the attack was to have
been made, it was found that the enemy had gone
Our army followed them four miles
in the night.
teered

to

Williamsport,

capturing

rear-guard,

their

re-

Potomac and arriving at Warrcnton

where they remained till Septem24th,
about July
ber 15th thence to White Sulphur Springs, camping at Stone House Mountain, till October i, when
they started at 11 a. M.and marched all next day
crossing the

in a

3d,

heavy rain, reaching Catlett's Station on the

where our brigade remained guarding the station

October 13.
Warrenton Junction, and

o'clock

m.

a.

lay in

and the flank of our army moving

and the next day marched to Centerville

This moveto
the front on picket duty.
and went
caused
have
been
by
the
enemy's
ment appears to
at 3 A. M.,

moving around our right flank and threatening

They had
our communications with Washington.
pushed for Centerville with the intention of
occupying the

fortifications

attack them

there, e.xpecting that

but on arriving in front

of the position, they found three of our corps in

possession of the

Judging that our trains

works.

must be just behind, the rebels turned sharp to the

right, and found them where they expected, moving
alongside of the railroad track under the escort of

The highway was

the 2d corps.
the railroad

as they were

up,

The

jumped over the

and with their

were

in

artil-

down

the

splendid position, from which they re-

pulsed the attack handsomely, inflicting heavy

This affair is known as Hristow Station.

loss.

tober 20.
ton,

Marched

to

Baltimore and Warren-

sending the enemy across the

camp near Warrenton

till

November

river.
7.

mile

Lay

hill

a good

rested and carefully formed, and our skir-

off,

mish lines gradually advanced to the river both

above and below the enemy's works. Just before
sunset

was decided

it

works could be
moment's delay

that these

carried by assault, and without a

arms,

Regiment

I22d

the

wounded.

In ten

out of 23 officers,

losing

13 killed and
minutes the 6th Maine lost 16
and 123 out of 350 enlisted men,

three of their veteran

Captains lying dead, with

Lieutenant-Colonel Harris, of this regiment, and
Major Wheeler, of the 5th Wisconsin, severely

wounded.
also

Adjutant

heavily. Col.

lost

being

ginia,

Gleason

former,

The

of the 12th Vir-

Two

of his

culonels

The whole achievement was

the river.

and

rebels

Gen. Hayes surrendered, but

killed.

afterwards escaped.

two brigades numbering

of

the

of

"Clark,

Russell, were also wounded.

Lieut.

swam

the work

than 3,000 men.

less

The charge was made with fi-\ed bayonets without

firing a shot.
Our command of the ford was comand Lee

back

to Culpepper that
and across the Rappahannock the ne.xt day.

plete,

force
;

left

fell

moved to Brandy Station about Novemcamp on the 26, (Thanksgiving Day)

crossed the Rapidan at 8 A. M.

the

river

Mine Run,

night,

remained across
marching and fighting more or less to
till

December 2d, when they recrossed

Mine P'ord and returned to

the Rapidan at Gold

their old

camp

ment remained

Brandy Station, where the

at
till

regi-

the 3d of January, 1864.

At

Marched four miles north of CenOctober 16.

terville and took position, awaiting the enemy.
October
Considerable fighting for two days past.
towards
Gainesville.
enemy
the
OcPushing
19.

New

were halted behind a

station, our troops

Our

lery at the head of the column, pointing

road,

ber 10

troops of this corps immediately

railroad bank,

to the left, to seize and occupy the

Heights of Fredericksburg and accordingly, sent
forward Sedgwick, with the 5th and 6th corps, at
daybreak, November 7, from Warrenton to Rappa>
hannock Station, where the rebels had strongly fortified the north bank of the river, covering their
pontoon bridge.
Arriving at noon opposite the

of

left

struck the train, they likewise struck the 2d corps

in flank.

marked

movement

and as they

just at the

coming

that

permission, by a rapid

limbers, three caissons, 1,600 prisoners, 2,000 small

northward. Towards night the brigade moved to

Kettle Run, a mile from Hristow Station, arriving

we would

Meade sought

one

mile cast of the junction through the day, to protect our trains

the only important collision

in

retreat,

our brave soldiers dashed forward to the charge,

carrying the position, capturing four cannon, six

marched

line of battle

tage
his

to

for ten days.

At

The rebels having retired south of the Rappahannock, after having chased our army almost up
to Washington, and having gained a decided advan-

in

for

this date the brigade broke camp and started

Sandusky, Ohio, via Washington and Wheel-

ing, West Va., arriving at Sandusky January 13.

The I22d Regiment quartered in the town, the rest

of the brigade on Johnson's Island guarding 2,600

rebel prisoners.

three

months,

They remained
until

April

13,

back to Virginia, arriving at

at Sandusky just
when they started
their old camp at

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Brandy Station with three regiments of the brigade
April 19

1864, was summoned from the West by telegraph,

and on the 8th of March repaired to Washington
to receive his commission and instructions, as com-

mandant of all the Union forces. The residue of

March and nearly the whole of April were devoted
to careful preparation for the campaign
against
Richmond. The Army of the Potomac, still commanded immediately by Gen. Meade, was completely reorganized, its five corps being reduced to

(2d).

commanded respectively by Gen. Hancock

Warren (5th), and Sedgwick (6th).
Maj.

Gens. Sykes, French and Newton, with Brig. Gens.

Kenly, Spinola and Sol. Meredith, were relieved

Washington for orders. Gen. Burnwho had been reorganizing and receiving

and sent
side,

large

camp near Brandy Station

Our brigade is rear-guard and is with
the wagons of the corps.
At about 11 p. m.,
marched eastward and went into camp at Gold Mine
Ford.
At the ford we found the entire wagon
Left

1864.

4,

at daylight.

Gen. Grant having been appointed by Congress

Lieutenant-General of the Army, February 24,

three,

May

Ill

to

accessions

his

to

(9th) corps in Maryland,

trains of the army,

and slept

May

and they were then crossing the

spread our blankets on the ground

We

Rapidan.

daylight.

till

Did not cross the river until late in the

afternoon, when we marched about two miles and
encamped, still being the wagon-guard. A battle
was in progress all day in front of us, continuing
5.

late at night.

till

impossible to learn anything

It is

definite.

Friday, May 6.
We were awakened at midnight,
and leaving the wagons behind us, marched several
miles to the right and took up line of battle.
Crossed over a portion of the battle ground of yes-

saw many of the dead. The battle

commenced at daylight but at this hour (6 a. m.)
we have taken no part. Word has come that we
shall soon make a bayonet charge.
2 o'clock p. m.
terday, and

crossed the

Potomac March

army, though

2d,

and joined Meade's

the formal incorporation therewith

was postponed till after the passage of the RapiThis junction again raised the positive or
dan.
fighting strength of the

army

to considerable over

100,000 men.

minutes,

In the reorganization this spring, the old 3d division

was broken up and divided between the

ist

and 2d divisions, our brigade being attached to the

1st division as

the 4th brigade, and the 3d division

of the 3d corps transferred

6th corps

of the

division

Attempted the charge and failed. We advanced

twenty rods and halted, took what cover we could
and opened fire. Continued firing about twenty

Regiment belonged

to
;

our corps as the 3d

so that

now

the I22d

to the 4th brigade, ist division^

6th corps.

when both

however, kept up

up

sides ceased

regiment

to this time in the

lost

Captain Dwight, wounded

the

knee, not

supposed

Expedition to the Shenandoah

Valley
Petersburg List of Promotions
THE James

Fifteenth Cavalry.

THE

brigade and division of which

it

was a

part,

during the campaign of the Wilderness and up to

the sanguinary battle of Cold

Harbor,

is

given in

the following extracts

from the Diary of Major T.

L. Poole, of Geddes,

which recorded each day's

till the time
he was

events

as

they transpired

wounded and
diary were

left

made

stirring scenes

the army.

at the

wounded
been
of

in

my

The

front, in

notes of this

the midst of the

which they describe, and

will

the zest of personal interest to our narrative

add

the

in

early in the

killed

command

(was killed)

to

126th

At

6:30

our works,

Lieutenant C. B.

at 8 o'clock,

missing, and

my color-guard,

and

have since

Corporal Isaac,

suppose him killed

is

Ohio regiment

p. m.,

in

Clark,

Dwight, wounded

of the company.)

remain at present, 2

privates

wounded severely
Company A, wounded in the

fatal)

breastworks a few rods

leg below

left

Corporal F. Patterson, of

D, belonging

is

the

in

be serious

to

leg; (Captain

morning

company,

The

history of the I22d Regiment, with the

losses

both

Brooks,

Lieutenant Wilson, of

ment, Continued
Campaign of the Wilderness
Battle of Cold Harbor
South of

Our

one man

officers

shoulder (proved

The One Hundred and Twenty-Second Regi-

are,

and men wounded. Besides these

15 are missing, and we have reason to suppose some
of them are killed or wounded.
My company (I)

and 41

Howard and

CHAPTER XXVI.

our skirmishers,

during the day.

fire

also

are

our rear

Company

wounded.

now

building

and so matters

p. m.

the rebels

made an

in front, right flank

and

attack upon

rear, the attack

being made by Gordon's division. Our regiment

and the entire brigade were driven back in great
confusion and with heavy

loss,

many

of our regi-

and wounded and others falling

and being taken prisoners. The extreme right,
consisting of our division, was driven back and

ment being

killed

completely broken to pieces, being

left in

fragments

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

1 1;

in

woods.

the

seeking to

We

retreated

such that we found

but

impossible.

it

two miles,
panic was
Captain Clapp

rjcarly

men,

the

rally

the

and myself finally got half a dozen of our regiment

together, and as we had our regimental flag, it gave
and with our little band wc
us a rallying point
Other small squads were
started back to the front.
;

found, and

wc soon had

only had three

men

quite a force together.

my own company

in

out of 30.

went back a quarter of a mile or so,

Here we were
as wc went.
strength
gathering
Walpole,
Capt.
Dwight,
joined by Lieut. -Col
more
of our
si.x
Lieuts. Hoyt and Wells and five or
men. Col. Upton, of the 121st New York, took
command of our division what was left of it) and

Our

force

soon formed a line of

battle,

N. V.

Island regiment (67th

We and the
1

Long

ist

consisting of about

men, were made the second line. At 1 1 p. M.

we were attacked in force, but we drove the enemy
back easily. At about o'clock r. m., we moved to
the right again, and lay down behind a battery and
rifle-pits.
I have no idea what the loss of our regiforty

ment

is,

but

it

is

very great.

Capt. Piatt, Lieut.

Ostrander and Lieut. Luthur, are wounded.

Capt.

Hall arc missing, and are

J. M. Gere and Lieut.
probably in the hands of the rebels, and I presume
Proved
Luther and Ostrander are both prisoners,
i

true.)

think our entire loss so far will be nearly

or quite 2,000.
rals

belonging to

of nine sergeants and corpo-

Out

my

color-guard, only one

is

with

was the only mounted man present, turning to ride

to the rear to bring up reenforcements, rode directly
into the line of the enemy, who had moved round to
our rear, and emerging from the woods, fired into
our backs. Gen. Shaler was taken prisoner. The
rest kept on with their charge and drove the enemy
to near the position where the engagement had begun, the rebels in the rear following and firing into

The

the backs of the charging squad.

chargers

upon them, scattered their line and

made their way back to the road from which they
had started. At this point no other troops were
visible, no one was in command, and by common
consent each went to look for his regiment. In
half or three-quarters of an hour, the rebels were
heard cheering up through the woods. There was
with us one stand of colors belonging to a Maine
regiment this was planted in the road, and in a
minute about 150 men rallied around it facing the
enemy. Raising a yell, they charged the on-coming
then turned

brigade of rebels with such fury

that

(probably

squad was only the advance of a

thinking the
heavy charging column) they broke and ran, and
little

were pursued a mile,

till

they joined a larger body

of the rebel army.

In the squad of 500, there were a good

many

of

Regiment in the 150 were Col. Dwight,

Adjutant Tracy and Capt. Gere, of the officers, and
The efi"ect of the charge
a number of the men.
was to completely neutralize the enemy's advantage
the I22d

to the right.

me.
Col.

J.

M. Gere,

and taken prisoner

who was Captain

at

of the

i22d,

the time of the action just

some personal recollections of the

time the division was broken into pieces in that ennarrated, gives

gagement.

He was

in

one squad and Major (then

all broken up in

At night our men had mustered about 60, under

command of Colonel Dwight. and had made their
way

to the left,

this early

the woods, and of course had different experiences.

brigade,)

Johnston, he says, had formed in our rear and Gordon's division was drawn up across our right flank,

corps.

where the I22d Regiment was, on the extreme right

of our infantry, with only the 22d New York cavalry to the right of them. At night Johnston opened
fire in our rear and Gordon charged our right flank,
driving in our skirmish line and striking our cavand as the rebels kept pressing and breaking
alry
the attack swept down till it struck the
right,
our
12 2d, which was driven back to the left about a
Here Gen. Shaler made a rally
quarter of a mile.
with about 500 men, fronting to the right and charging Gordon as he came up within a dozen rods.
The enemy stood till our line was within two or
As
three rods of them, and then broke and ran.
the 500 rushed to the charge, Gen. Shaler, who
;

lay in front of the lines

and battery of the 2d corps (not knowing that the

2d corps was there,) until about 2 o'clock a. m. At

Lieut. Poole in another, as they were

)

where they

hour the rebels (supposed to be Gordon's

to make an attack upon the 2d

came up

The

little

company

lay

still

till

the rebels

were within close range when they all discharged

their pieces with such effect that the enemy was
repulsed and hastily retreated, supposing that the

musketry which burst thus suddenly and

unexpectedly upon them was but the precursor of
an attack by a large body of the Union army. The
2d corps had made ready to oi)en upon the enemy
with artillery, but fortunately for our little squad in
volley of

front of their batteries, they

had heard the volley

and the rebels retreating and withheld their fire.

In one of these isolated situations, while attempting to break out through the enemy's lines on the
right. Adjutant Tracy and Captain Gere were taken
prisoners, as already referred to in Major Poole's
diary.
The former remained a prisoner about one

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

month, while the

latter

was kept about

months

six

command

rebel prisons, and finally escaped from

in various

the prison at Columbia, South Carolina, in

company

Spottsylvania.

May

Soon

7.

after daylight, the rebels attacked us

once more,
but we drove them back, our battery doing us great
Adjutant Tracy is missing and is supservice.
posed to be wounded and a prisoner.

me

has detailed

my company.

has taken

men have

of

as Adjutant, and

At

in.

8 a.

where we lay quietly

in, moving towards the

all

M., fell

left

At

day.

9:30

and marching

this

We

Directly in our front the charge was-

we were finally driven back with

heavy loss. The charging column consisted of the
Sth and 6th Maine, the sth Wisconsin and r4th and
successful, but

again to the right about two miles and occupied

rifle-pits,

and haversacks, and started forward.

going on.

moved

m.,

commenced

knapsacks

to

took place at about 6 o'clock, and lasted some forty

minutes.
could hear but not see what was-

Lieut. Wilkins

Lieut. Hall and a squad

come

just

battle

morning and up

The Long Islands and our own regiment have

moved into some rifle-pits to the left. The charge

Dwight

Col.

The

early in the

time (4 p. m.,)
has raged with terrible fury.
Fortunately for us,
we have not suffered much along our portion of the
line, and our brigade has not been harmed.
Orders have come.
The Chasseurs have taken

with Captain Horace H. Walpole, taken prisoner at

Major Poole's Diary Continued.

of the regiment.

"3

p.

56th New York regiments.

They took 1,500 prisoners and a battery of four guns the guns, however, they were compelled to leave.

all

night.

May

Passed

8.

through Chancellorsville and

About

took the road to Spottsylvania Court House.

May

noon our advance met the enemy and engaged

During the afternoon we supported a batthem.

the

Our regiment went

II.

Sharp picket

out on picket to

day.
Lost five
men, wounded also Capt. Walpole, supposed to
be taken prisoner. He had given me orders early
left.

firing all

moved into some breastworks,

with
the
6th
Maine and 1 19th Pennsyltogether
Here lost one man. At 9 p. m., were atvania.
tery,

and

at 5 o'clock

morning to advance the left wing, which I

had charge of, and at the same time directed the
right wing to advance.
We drew upon us a heavy
fire, and Walpole has not been seen since
He was
in the

had been no general engagement

loss up to this time has

tacked, but there

Our entire

during the day.

been 130 less than 30 of them prisoners. Gen.

A. Shaler and Gen. Seymour are among the latter.
The Chasseurs (65th N. Y.,) and ist Long Island
Capt. Tracy,
(67th N. Y.,) have lost very heavily.
Chasseurs) and Capt. Cooper, of the

(of the

Island, are both killed,

wounded

May

and a number of

either shot or

Long

officers are

for

Moved

the

at daylight to the line,

we were exposed

to the

this

time officers and

but

all

loss.

men have behaved

worn down with

Up

May

marches,

During Mon-

continued fighting and loss of sleep.

day night we were attacked three different times by

the enemy.
off

than

duty and eight

self.

Some

gone, but

am

Tuesday,

almost

We

am.

and many are worse

sick,

have about 200

officers,

men

left

besides the colonel and

of the best

men

his es-

till

12.

We

Wells to

returned to

the morning and

daylight.

Our brigade

fell

in

at

daylight and

for

my-

of our regiment are

100 decided to go

in,

and accordingly, attached our-

some

hardly have time to think about them.

selves to the 2d corps, and

May

breastworks which had been taken by Hancock this

morning. Here we remained till late in the after-

morning that we,

10.

Orders came

in conjunction

at 2 o'clock this

with our entire force

would advance upon the enemy at daylight.

Daylight came, however, and we did not move.
During the afternoon Col. Dwight was sent back to

in front,

hospital sick

and worn

out,

noon, fighting hard

all

went forward

into

day.

Just behind us was a spot so exposed to the rebel

that no
fire from their breastworks in front of us,

and Capt. Walpole took

|

IS*

made

marched off to the left. Early this morning. Gen.

Hancock, with his (2d) corps, made a grand charge
on the enemy's lines and was successful, capturing
5,000 prisoners, including three Major Generals
and about 20 cannon. In going through a piece of
woods, our regiment, which was in the rear, was
We were exposed to a
cut off by another column.
also
to rain which lasted
heavy musketry fire, and
all day.
We could find nothing of our brigade, and
as we were near the front, our little band of about

to

splendidly

fatigue, hard

and was taken

to report to him, sending Lieut.

command of the left wing.

place we had started from in

remained

enemy's shells

and sharp-shooters, but met with no

are

me

take

upon an open plain supporting a battery.

afternoon

lines

prisoner, and

cape from Columbia prison. South Carolina.) The

right wing of our regiment was relieved at night.
Captain Clapp now assumed command and sent

and lay
Gen.
John Sedgwick, commanding the 6th corps, was
During the
killed this morning by sharp-shooters.
9.

(Was taken

prisoner.

both regiments.

in

went through the

soldier could live there a

moment.

One

section of

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY.

114

came down on

a battery, two guns and caisson,

run to occupy this spot, with a view of shelling out

when

the rebels about thirty rods in front of us,

and every man and horse

they were fired upon

made desperate attempts

works and

men

About 4

night set
Friday,

the

o'clock

We

May
The

relieved,

was
and as

wounded

in

fallen

our hands.

immediately, and

line of the

soon reached the skirmish

enemy.

Col.

Dwight rejoined us this morning from the hospital

and Captain Cossitt from a sick-leave. Gen. Meade
published an order this morning which

read to the

regiment, announcing that so far we had been successful, capturing 18 cannon, 22 colors and 8,000
prisoners.

o'clock at night,
to the

left,

these pits

when we

fell

all

in

day and until two

again and marched

Gen. Hurnside.
Crossing the Po River and

to the support of

Saturday,
skirmishing.

May
No

14.

After crossing the stream,

battle.

threw up breastworks, and our regiment, detailed

Heavy
for picket duly, immediately went out.
rains for three days,

impeding the progress of the

Monday, May
picket duty.

Our regiment

16.

May

17.

to the rifle-pits, but

false

relieved from

alarm brought us

nothing came of

it.

Soon

and took up our line of

of the army, where we
right
extreme
march to the
May 18. Found that our
arrived about daylight.

after dark we

fell

in quietly

corps formed a line of battle, column-by-divisions,

appearances indicating that a charge in that form

Our brigade was

was contemplated.

sent to the

extreme right and flank, as a guard against a flank

movement by the rebels. The Chasseur's and
Long Island regiments are on picket and we on re-

So matters stand at 9 o'clock, a. m. The

charge was attempted and failed, and in the afternoon we were marched back to our former position.
Here we remained till daylight. May 19. Early in
the morning moved to a new position still further
on the left, where we were busy all day building
breastworks. An attack was made near night upon
serve.

our right flank and

ture of

our wagon

rear, the object

trains.

little

repulsed.

Our

easily

with 16 pieces of

being the cap-

Moved about

1 1

o'clock,

p. M., to the support of the 2d corps, which was

engaged with the enemy. The battle was over be-

About

rear.

an attack a

dark, the rebels

to the right of us,

position

At

artillery.

which was

is

strongly posted

p.

and marched again to the

Halted at HoUaday's
night.

m, ordered to
marching

fall in,

left,

all

for

breakfast,

thence to Guinea's, a station of the P'redericksburg

and Richmond Railroad, distant from the latter

We

place about 45 miles.

can hear cannonading

in the direction of Bowling Green, towards which

our advance is making. Remained here in camp at
the farm on which is the negro hut in which Stonewall Jackson is said to have died after his wound at
At 6 p. m., moved again, marchChancellorsville.
ing about five miles, when we encamped, and remained till 9 o'clock, A. M Monday, May 23.
,

May

Marching

23 and 24.

sion occupied on the 25th

donsville Railroad, which

for

about a mile

we crossed

May

the

day.

Our

divi-

tearing up the Gor-

in

was

all

eft'ectually

destroyed

and on the 26th marched

night and until 2 o'clock

less than

army.

all

20.

made

rifle-pits

in

Engaged in building breastworks.

Portions of the army engaged with the enemy.
About 9 a. m marched ofi" to
Saturday, May 2
Found the entire army moving
the extreme left.

May

back on picket to the

but few

rebels during the night had

remained

for

we were

skirmishers were sent out

We

we encamped

the ground, and

Halted near the position

in the same direction.
occupied on the 20th, and half our regiment sent

lost

Our brigade moved and ocwe had occupied the day

13.

we reached

the remainder of the night.

carnage around us

back, leaving their dead and

Our

rebels

drive us out of our

found the rest of our brigade.

in

cupied the same

before.

to

succeeded.

partially

ourselves, but

fearful.

The

Not one escaped.

instantly.

killed

fore

NEW YORK

p.

m.

of the 27th,

Pamunkey River

at

all

when

Hanoverton,

twenty miles from Richmond.

29.

Our

division

marched several miles

bearing to the north, and finally halted about a mile

south of Hanover Court House

At

this point the

column was attacked by rebel cavalry.

The 67th New York and four companies of the
I22d were deployed as skirmishers and remained
The column counterhere all night undisturbed.
marched, and taking the direct road to Richmond,
marched about two miles and then halted. Marched
rear of the

again

in

the afternoon taking another road towards

Richmond, formed a line

and rested for the night.

May

of battle in a dense

woods

was kept up all

About
midnight we left our station and moved to the left,
marching till noon, June ist, and arrived at Cold
Harbor.
Here we met our cavalry which had been
engaged in a severe battle the day before, and skirmishing was still going on. Our corps immediately
31.

day and

formed

in the

in

brisk skirmish fire

afternoon we were shelled.

line of battle

which moved

to our

and relieved the cavalry,

left.

We

are

less than ten

Richmond and about two miles from

Savage's Station. About 2 o'clock p. m., the enemy
miles from

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

which we replied
The enemy had a good range
and killed and wounded a large number.
Captain
Clapp and 20 men of our regiment were on picket

opened on us with

artillery, to

with three batteries.

During the
were
formed
corps

duty.

artillery duel the

6th and

in line of battle four lines

the I22d being placed

The

in the fourth line.

i8th
deep,

three

were composed of the 2d Connecticut

which never till now
had been under fire, having been in the defences at
Washington. It was a three-battalion regiment of

front lines

Heavy

fine

Artillery, a regiment

At

looking men, under Col. Kellogg.

M. orders

came

an open

field a

6:30

p.

enemy. We passed over

then through a pine grove

to attack the

few rods,

about 20 rods, and the balance of the way over open

fields,

the entire distance being less than half a

mile.

As we emerged from the woods

fire and our men commenced

opened

The enemy's

fire

The

dropping.

being too severe for the 2d Con-

necticut, they broke

ing through our

the rebels

up

lines,

in great confusion, retreat-

so that

we became

the front

Connecticut was over 400,

including the Colonel, who was a brave officer and
line.

fell at

loss of the 2d

the head of his regiment riddled with rebel

bullets.

Our line continued to advance in good

we had reached within thirty rods of
works, when an order came to fall back to

order until
the rebel

the rear, but before the

a small ravine in

could be obeyed the rebels had

order

discharged their

Out

heaviest fire fearfully thinning our ranks.

of

"5

vance holding and bivouacking on the ground it had

gained at a cost of 2,000 killed and wounded.
The
main body of the army having arrived the day following, and

Grant and Meade being now at Cold

was resolved that the rebel lines should
be forced on the morrow.
The two armies held
much of the ground covered by McClellan's right
under Fitz-John Porter, prior to Lee's bold advance,
nearly two years before, Gaines's Mill being
Harbor,

it

directly in the rear of the confederate center.

At
made along our
and was repulsed by the enemy
slaughter.
Twenty minutes after

sunrise on June

whole
with

front
terrible

the assault was

3,

shot was fired, fully 10,000 of our men

were stretched writhing on the sod, or still and
calm in death, while the enemy's loss was probably

the

first

more than 1,000

and when some hours later

Gen Meade to each corps commander to renew the assault at once, the men simply and unanimously refused to obey it.
They
knew that success was hopeless, and the attempt to
little

orders were sent by

murderous hence they refused to be sacrino purpose. Our losses in and around
Cold Harbor were 13,153, of whom 1,705 were
killed, 9,042 wounded, and 2,406 missing.
Among
these were quite a large number of brigadier-gengain

ficed

it

to

erals, colonels

and

field

and

line officers.

General Grant now decided

to cross the

Chicka-

hominy far to Lee's right, and thence move across

the James to attack Richmond from the south.
Having established his headquarters and depot of

Lieutenant
140 men, 75 were killed and wounded.
Wooster, of Company G, killed Lieut. T. L. Poole,

supplies

wounded

destroyed the Weldon railroad and gradually tight-

sulting

in the side

the

in

loss

and

arm and shoulder,

left

his

of

arm.

re-

The regiment

returned to the ravine and threw up breastworks

on the crest of a small ridge.

During the night the

army arrived at Cold Harbor.

Thus far Major Poole's diary. A few notes may
be made of the general history of this action.
Cold Harbor is on four cross roads a short distance
rest of the

southeast of the

Chickahominy.

On

the 31st of

May, Sheridan, with his cavalry, had seized and

roads, on which the 6th
corps, moving in the rear from our right to our left,
was immediately directed, reaching it next day
{June I,) just before Gen. W. F. Smith, with 10,000
men detached from Butler's army and brought
around by steamboats to White House, came up and
held the focus of these

took position on the right.

by an order from Meade

The two were met

here

advance and attack the

army in their front, with a view to forcing a passage
of the Chickahominy.
The attempt was made, reto

sulting as

we have described

the rebels

still

above.

Night

fell

in possession of their works,

with

our ad-

ened

his

at

City

Point, he

invested

Petersburg,

cordon of forces around the rebel defences

of Richmond.
in front of

Our regiment remained

Petersburg

till

in the

army

they were sent with the

August, 1864, to Fort Stevens, at Washington, and thence with Sheridan upon the famous
Shenandoah Valley campaign. Sheridan had been
6th corps

sent,

in

August

2,

1864,

to

take

command

the

of

Middle Department, including Washington, Maryland, Pennsylvania and the Shenandoah Valley.

The

battle of Winchester, in which our regiment

and the 6th corps were engaged, was fought August
" I saw," says Gen. Grant, in his report, "that
19.
Go
two
words of instruction were necessary
but
"
Sheridan
went
in.
them,
and
So he gave
in

'

'

The

rout of the

army

following

enemy was
till

complete, our victorious

dark, close upon the heels of the

fugitive foe, gathering

up prisoners and

spoils of

war, as they hurried through Winchester in utter

In this battle our army
rout and disintegration.

took 3,000 prisoners and five guns, and our

about 3,000, including several generals.

loss

was

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

ii6
Early

fell

charged Jan. 23, '65 Augustus W. Dwight. Lieut.

Col., rank from Aug. 28, '62, promoted to Col. Feb.
28, '65, killed in action near Petersburg, Va., Mar.
Horace H. Walpole, Capt., rank from
25,
65
Aug. 15, '62, promoted to Lieut. Col. Feb. 28,
James M. Gere,
'65, mustered out June 23, '65
Capt., rank from Aug. 15. '62, promoted to Lieut.
Col. April 22, '65, with rank from March 25, '65,
(Brevet Col. N.Y.Vols., mustered out June 23, '65
Joshua \i. Davis, Major, rank from Aug. 28, '62,
(Hrevct Lieut. Col N.Y.Vols., discharged Jan. 15,
'64
Jabez M. Brower, Capt.. rank from Aug. 6,
'62, promoted to Major Feb. 2, '64. killed in action
Oct. 19. '64; Alonzo H. Clapp. ist Lieut., rank
from Aug. 6, '62, promoted to Capt. Nov. 13. '63,
promoted to Major Dec. 2, '64, died June 23. '65
Morton L. Marks, 1st Lieut., rank from Aug. 15,
62. promoted to Capt. Veb. 10. '64. to Major. Aug.
Andrew J. Smith, Adjutant, rank from July
2, '65
26, '62, promoted to Capt. Nov. 10. '62, Hrevet
Major and Col. of U. S. V.,) discharged June 6,
'65
Morris H. Church, Adjutant, rank from Oct. 8,
'62, promoted to Capt. Mar. 5, '63, discharged Jan.
15, '64; Osgood V. Tracy, 2d Lieut., rank from
Dec. 3, '62, promoted to Adjutant Mar. i. '63, to
Capt., Oct. 15, '64, mustered out June 23, '65;
Robert H. Moses, Adjutant, rank from Sept. 17,
P'rank Lester.
'64, mustered out June 23. '65
Quartermaster, rank from July 24, '62, promoted to
Capt. Jan. 14, '63, discharged Dec. 23, '64 John
S. Cornue, Quartermaster, rank from Dec. 3. '62,
(Brevet Capt. and Major U. S. V.,> mustered out
June 23. '65 Nathan R. Tefl't. Surgeon, rank from

Fislicr's Hill, eight miles south

back to

of Winchester, regarded as the strongest position

Sheridan followed sharply, allowing

in the Valley.

'

but two days to intervene between his first and

second victory. The 6th corps led the advance on

the front, and the I22d Regiment was the first in the
enemy's works, where the vigorous attack broke the

more

rebel center, and rendered the victory even

Opequan, as

decisive than that at Winchester, or

is

more commonly

it

Here our army took

called.

i,ioo prisoners and l6 guns.

At Cedar Creek (October

our regiment was

i8i

at the turning-point of the battle, first turning the

enemy

came
engagement we lost

back, as Sheridan, in his famous ride,

up behind

In this

their line.

about 3.000, the rebel loss being

fact.

Early's force

was

In

heavier.

still

virtually destroyed, so that

there was no longer occasion for further fighting in

Our

the Valley.

were afterwards returned

forces

to Petersburg.
It may be well here to sum up the losses of our
regiment during the year. The campaign of 1864
was entered upon by the I22d Regiment with 26

men for
year were 26 among

and 400

officers

casualties for the

enlisted

and 318 among the enlisted men.

No

especial disaster, but steady service

all

The

duty.

the officers

one day of
the lime at

the front.

March

afternoon at the

Dwight being
of the

2d

They were engaged

1865.

25,

left

killed

of Squirrel

by a

were

of April they

the morning

the

in

brigade which broke through Lee's

lines,

having

p. M.,

forcing

Lccback

line
till

army

to its surrender at

into Petersburg, cut-

oft' the South Side Railroad and compelling the

They followed
immediate evacuation of Richmond.

Lee's

'62,

ting

in the pursuit of

24,

storming

been under arms all night and on the picket

and were afterward engaged through the day
o'clock,

the

in

Level Road, Col.

On

shell.

Edwin A.
resigned April 8, '(54
Knapp. Assistant-Surgeon, rank from Aug. 19, '62,
promoted to Surgeon May 27, '64, mustered out
June 23, 65 John O. Slocum, Assistant-Surgeon,
rank from Aug. 14, "62, promoted to Surgeon 121st
N. Y. Vols., July I, '63 Charles B. Fry, AssistantSurgeon, rank from July 30. '63, not mustered;
James Sanders, Jr., Assistant-Surgeon, rank from
L. M.
Sept. 30, '64, mustered out June 23, '65
Nickerson, Chaplain, rank from Aug. 28, '62, musLucius A. Dillingham, 2d
tered out June 23, '65
Lieut., rank from Aug. 16, '62, promoted to ist
Lieut., Nov. 10, '62, to Capt. Feb. 10, '64, musHerbert S. Wells. 2d
tered out June 23, '65
from Aug. 6. '62, promoted to
Lieut., rank
July

Ap-

pomattox Court House, and

a lively

march

to Ikirksville,

week, and then marched

now

in the clutches

of

Sherman.

Lieut.,

1st

Jan.

14,

'64,

to

Capt.

Sept.

30,

'64,

Y. V. mustered out June 23,

'64
Webster R. Chamberlain, Capt., rank from
Aug. 14, '62, resigned P'eb. 24, '63, (Brevet Major
N. Y. V.) David A. Munro. ist Lieut., rank from
Dec. 15, '64, promoted to Capt., Aug. 2, '65 Alfred
Nims, Capt., rank from Aug. 14. '62, resigned Dec.
Stewart McDonald, 2d Lieut., rank from
23, '62
Aug. I, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. Nov. 19, '64, to
(Brevet Major N.

days and a half to

gap on Johnston's army,

in four

Danville, to stop the last

in Danville,

two days rest, had

where they remained a

after

After a month

they returned to Richmond, were re-

viewed through its streets by Gen. Halleck. and

sent thence to Washington, where the 6th corps was
Receiving the
reviewed by itself by the President.

same day for home, and were

June 27. 1865.

finally

from Aug.

discharged

Official Record of the 1220 Regiment, with

List of Promotions.
1

Silas Titus,

Col., rank from

Aug.

31,

1862, dis-

Cornell Chrysler, Capt., rank

Davis
discharged Feb. 28. '63
Cossitt. 1st Lieut., rank from Aug. 14. '62, promoted to Capt. Mar. 5. '63.1 Brevet AlajorN. Y. V.)
discharged Dec. 15. '64; Dudley G. Shirley. 2d
Lieut., rank from Oct. 3. '63, promoted to ist Lieut.
July 6. '64. discharged Nov. 26, '64; Francis Calahan. 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. I. '64, promoted to

Capt, Sept.

orders for mustering out June 23. they started the

15, '65

14, '62.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

1st Lieut. Dec. 7, '64, to Capt. Jan. 17, '65, discharged May 15, '65 Joseph S. Smith, 2d Lieut,,
rank from Sept. 19, '64, promoted to ist Lieut.
Samuel P. CarJan. IS, '65, to Capt. June 16, '65
rington, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. i, '64, promoted to 1st Lieut. Dec. 7, '64, to Capt. May
Lucius Moses,
II, '65, mustered out June 23, '65
Capt., rank from Aug. 15, '62, discharged Feb. 24,
'6^
George W. Piatt, ist Lieut., rank from Aug.
15, '62, promoted to Capt. March 5, '6^, discharged
Edward P. Luther, 2d Lieut., rank
Oct. 25, '64
from Aug. 14, '62, promoted to ist Lieut. Mar. 5,
'62, to Capt. Dec. 7, '64, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.)
discharged Feb. 6, '65
Theodore L. Poole, 2d
Lieut., rank from Mar. i, '63, promoted to ist
Lieut. Feb. 10, '64, to Capt. Feb. 15, '65, with rank
from Feb. 6, '65, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.) discharged May 15, '65
Charles B. Clark, 2d Lieut.,
rank from July 28, 'St,, promoted to 1st Lieut. July
8, '64, to Capt. March 8, '65, mustered out June 23,
'65
Harrison H. Jilson, Capt., rank from Aug, 15,
;

died at Relay House, Md., Oct. 8, '62

Robert
H. Moses, 1st Lieut., rank from May 23, '64, promoted to Capt. Aug. 2, '65
Martin Ryan, ist
Lieut., rank from Dec. 17, '64, promoted to Capt.
March 25, '65, mustered out June 23, '65 John M.
D wight, Capt., rank from Aug. 16, '62, (Brevet
Major, N. Y. V.) discharged Sept. 17, '64
Noah
B. Kent, Capt, rank from Aug. 19, '62, discharged

'62,

Oct.

2, '63

from Dec.

Andrew W.

'62,

3,

Wilkin, 2d Lieut., rank

promoted

to

Lieut. Nov. 13,

1st

Capt. Dec. 24, '64, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.)

mustered out June 23, '65
James B. Hall, 2d
Lieut., rank from Mar. 6, '63, promoted to ist
Lieut., July 4, '63, Capt. Sept, 17, '64, discharged
George H. Gilbert, 2d Lieut., rank
Jan. 8, '65
from Feb. 9, '6^, promoted to ist Lieut. Oct. 24,
'6^, (Brevet Capt., N. Y. V.) discharged May 24,
'64; Francis M. Potter, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug.
I, '64, promoted to
ist Lieut. Sept 19, '64, muster
revoked Feb. 9, '65
Samuel C. Trowbridge, 2d
Lieut., rank from Aug. i, '64, promoted to ist
Lieut., Feb. 28, '65, (Brevet
Capt., N. Y. V.)
mustered out June 23, '65
Charles G. Nye, ist
Lieut., rank from Aug. 14, '62, resigned Feb. 10,
'63; William Webb, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. 14,
'62, promoted to ist Lieut. Feb. 25, '6^
Francis
M. Wooster, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. 19, '62,
promoted to ist Lieut. Mar. 5, 1S63, killed in action
at Cold Harbor, Va., June i, '64
Amasa Chase,
2d Lieut rank from Sept. 19, '62, promoted to ist
Lieut. Mar. 6, '65, mustered out June 23, '65
Joseph E. Cameron, ist Lieut., rank from Aug. 14,
'62, resigned Dec. 3, '62
James Burton, 2d Lieut.,
rank from Aug. 15, '62, promoted to ist Lieut. Jan.
I4,'63, discharged Sept. 19, '6^
Martin L.Wilson, 2d
Lieut., rank from Dec. 3, '62, promoted to ist Lieut.
Nov. 13, '6^, died of wounds received in battle of
the Wilderness, June 19, '64 John V. Simms, 2d
Lieut., rank from Oct. 9, '63, promoted to 1st Lieut.
July 8, '64, killed in action near Winchester, Va.,
Sept. 19, '64
Curtis L. Rich, 2d Lieut., rank from
Dec. 31, '64, promoted to ist Lieut, June 16, '65,
mustered out as ist Sergt., Co. F, June 23, '65
Alexander Tome, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 25,

'63, to

117

promoted to ist Lieut. June 23, '6s, mustered

June 23, '6s Michael Donovan, 2d Lieut,
rank from Mar. i, '6s, mustered out June 23, '65
Jacob Brand, ist Lieut., rank from Aug. is, '62,
resigned Feb. i, '64; Henry H. Hoyt, 2d Lieut,
rank from Aug. is, '62, promoted to 1st Lieut May
1 1, '63,
killed near Petersburg, Va., June 21,
'64;
George G. Gilson, 2d Lieut, rank from June 21,
'64, promoted to 1st Lieut. Dec. 30, '64, mustered
out June 23, "es
Guy J. Gotchis, 2d Lieut, rank
from Dec. 3, '62, promoted to ist Lieut. Mar.
s,
'63, discharged May 26, '64; Drayton Eno, 1st
Lieut., rank from Aug. 15, '62, resigned Dec.
3,
'62
Adolph Wilman, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. i,
'63, promoted to ist Lieut. Sept 3, '63, discharged
July 7, '64; Hiram A. Britton, 2d Lieut rank from
Sept. 9, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. Feb. is,
'6s,
mustered out June 23, '65
Ruell P. Buzzell, 2d
Lieut., rank from Sept. 3, '64, promoted to ist
Lieut. Feb. 15, '6s, mustered out June 23,
'6s
Otto W. Parrisen, ist Lieut., rank from Jan. 15,
'64. discharged Sept, 22, '64
Justin Howard, ist
Lieut., rank from Aug. 19, '62, discharged Oct. 4,
'63
Dennis Murphy, 2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 6,
'65, promoted to 1st Lieut. Mar. 25, '65, mustered
out June 23, '65
Merrick C. Smith, 2d Lieut.,
rank from May IS, '6s, mustered out June 23, '6s
George A. Wait, 2d Lieut rank from Oct 24, '63,
not mustered; Arthur J. Mead. 2d Lieut., rank
from Aug. 14, '62, discharged Sept. 29, '63 William H. La Rue, 2d Lieut., rank from Dec. 29, '62,
discharged Sept. 29, '63
John W. Taylor, 2d
discharged Oct. 11,
Lieut., rank from Mar. i, '6^
'6s,

out

Charles

W.

Ostrander, 2d Lieut., rank from

May 2S, '63, (Brevet ist Lieut., N. Y. V.,) discharged Mar. 10, '6s Charles A. Eaton, 2d Lieut.,
rank from Mar. 10. '6s, mustered out June 23, '6s
George E. P'isher, 2d Lieut., rank from June 20, '6s;
mustered out June 23, '6s Geo. H. Devoe, 2d Lieut.,
rank from Feb. 6, '6s, mustered out June 23, '6s Thos.
H. Scott, 2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 6, '6s, musCharles H. Eldridge, 2d
tered out June 23, '6s
Lieut., rank from March 6, '6s, mustered out June
Gates D. Parish, 2d Lieut., rank from
23, '65
Robert
Dec. 31, '64, mustered out June 23, '6s
Ealdon, 2d Lieut., rank from June 20, '63, mustered
Peter A. Blossom, 2d Lieut.,
out June 23, '6s
rank from Aug. 13, '62, resigned Dec. 3, '62 Morris E. Wright 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. i, '63, discharged Sept. 28, '63 Oscar F. Swift, 2d Lieut.,
rank from Aug. 13, '62, resigned Dec. 3, '62 William G, Tracy, 2d Lieut., rank from Nov. 3, '62,
Daniel F. Hammell, 2d
discharged July 28, '63
Lieut., rank from Aug. i, '64, discharged May 31,
George H. Casler, 2d Lieut., rank from Feb.
'63

'6s

6, '6s,

mustered out June

23, '65.

The Fifteenth Cavalrv.

The isth New York Cavalry was organized

Syracuse, to serve three years.

which
ties

it

of

The companies

at

of

were raised in the coun-

was composed
Onondaga, Ontario,

Orange,

Oneida,

Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Erie and Tompthe

It was mustered into the service of
kins.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

ii8

United States from August 8. 1863, to January 14,

It was consolidated with the 6th New York
1864.
Cavalry, June 17, 1865, and the consolidated force
designated the 2d

The

New York

Provisional Cavalry.

following are the dates of the mustering in of

the respective companies

Co.
Co.
Co.
Co.
Co.
Co.
Co.
Co.
Co.
Co.
Co.

A Michael

Auer, Capt.. Aug.

8,

1863

Putnam, Capt., Aug. 8, 1863.

Higclow, Capt.. Aug. 8. 1863.
Orson R. Colgrove, Capt., Aug. 26, 1863.
George M. Kilicott. Capt., Aug. 15. 1863.
L. F. Hathaway, Capt., Aug. 26, 1863.
Wallis M. Hoycr, Capt., Aug. 26. 1863.
John F. Moshell, Capt., Sept. 5. 1863.
Scth J. Steve, Capt Nov. 30. 1863.
John S Hicks, Capt., Oct 15.1863.
Marshall M. Loydcn, Capt, Jan. 20, 1864.

This regiment was an important one to Onondaga

county and the city of Syracuse, inasmuch as it
saved the draft pending
being made

in 1863.

It

was slow

in

up, but late in the year Col. Richard-

son succeeded

in

securing an order from the

B Thomas G.
C Jcttcrson C.

E
F
G
H

Clark, Commissary, rank from Jan. 6. '64, discharged

by reason of consolidation, June 17, '65 Burritt N.
Hurd, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 5, '63. promoted to
1st Lieut. Dec. 29, 1863. promoted to Capt. Nov. 9,
'64, mustered out on expiration of term of service,
Dec. 12, '64 John F. Moshell, Capt., rank from
Sept. 5, '63, transferred to 2d Provisional Cavalry,
June 17, '05 William F. Weller, ist Lieut., rank
from Dec. 26. '63, promoted to Capt. June 17. '65,
with rank from June 8. '65. transferred to 2d Provi-

War

sional

Cavalry June

17. '65

Joseph LaBeff.

ist

Lieut., rank from July 24, '6}, discharged Nov, 30,

'63
Edgar N. Johnson, 2d Lieut., rank from Nov.
;

promoted to ist Lieut. Feb. 15. '65. dicharged by reason of consolidation June 17, '6$
William P. Shearer, ist Lieut rank from July 30,
'63, missing since Oct. 30. '64
William Stanton,
2d Lieut., rank from Oct 14, '64, promoted to ist
Lieut. Feb. 15, '65; Edgar L Miller, 2d Lieut.,
rank from Oct. 14, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. Mar.
9, '65, transferred to 2d Provisional Cavalry. June
Joseph Herron, ist Lieut., rank from Sept.
'7> ^5
Edward Pointer,
28, '63
5. '63. discharged Dec.
2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 12, '65, transferred to 2d
Provisional Cavalry, June 17, '65
Lorenzo Hatch,
2d Lieut., rank from Oct. 14. '64. killed in action;
James Holahan, 2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 12, '65,

9, '64.

Department granting a bounty of S300 to each enlisted man, which had the effect to secure the quota
required and save the draft, which had been orThe rolls were sent
dered, from being executed.
in to the War Department, and upon their examination it was found that the quota of the district was
an order was immediately sent for the
full, and
draft to

The

be stopped.
officers of the 15th

Cavalry from Onondaga

county were

Robert M. Richardson, Col., rank from Jan.

6.

Augustus J. Root,
resigned Jan. 19. '65
Lieut-Col., rank from Sept. 16. '63, killed in action
April 8, '65; Michael Auer. Capt., rank from July 24,
'63, promoted to Major Nov. 9, "64, discharged Mar.
Wood, Major, rank from Sept. 16, '63.
6, '65
J. H.
discharged April 14, '65; F. Mann, Adjutant, rank
from May 22, '64, discharged by reason of consoliEdward R. Trull, Quarterdation, June 17. '65
master, rank from June 12, '63, discharged by reaIsaac O. Fillson of consolidation, June 17, '65
more. Chaplain, rank from April 25, '64, not musThomas G. Putnam, Capt., rank from July
tered
30. '63. discharged by reason of consolidation. June
17. '65; Jefferson C. Higelow. Capt.. rank from
Aug. 30. '63, discharged bv reason of consolidation,
June 17. '65; George N. Truesdell. ist Lieut., rank
from Jan. 6, '64, promoted to Capt. June 17, '65,
Orson R. Colgrove, 2d
with rank from May 8, '65
Lieut., rank from July 30, "63, promoted to Capt.
Nov. 30, '63, mustered out on exijjration ol service,
Dec. 24, "64 Charles G. Hampton, 2d Lieut., rank
from Oct. 5, '63, promoted to Capt. April 11, '65,
with rank from Feb. 13, '65, discharged by reason
'64,

transferred to 2d Provisional Cavalry. June 17. "65

F^razer. 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 25. '65,
discharged June 28. '65 John Gallagher, 2(1 Lieut.,
rank from Feb. 12, '65, transferred to 2d Provisional
Levi Kraft, 2d Lieut., rank
Cavalry June 17, '65
from Oct. 5, '63, discharged Dec. 11, '63; Peter
Boehm, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 3, '6^, discharged
by reason of consolidation, June 17, '65
Anthony
Dever and Emory Ornisby, 2cl Lieuts., on records
of War Department, not commissioned.
;

John W.

The

isth Cavalry participated in the following

Lynchburg, Hunter's
and engagements
raid) 1864; New Market, (under Sigel)
1864;
Winchester, July 10, 1864; Piedmont (near Stancapture of Martinsburg, and the series of
ton)
battles

battles about Petersburg, resulting in the capture

of Lee's

Army.

CHAPTER

June 17, '65 George M. Eliicott,

Aug. 13, '63, promoted to Major,
'65,
rank from June 9. '65, discharged
with
June 17.
by reason of consolidation, June 17, '65 Cortland
of consolidation,
Capt., rank from

XXVII.

The One Hundred and Fortv-Ninth New

York Volunteeks Okganization Camp at

Bolivar Heights Chancellorsville GetLosses of the Regiment

TvsuuRG
Last
E.xpekience in the Army of the Potomac.

One Hundred and Forty-Ninth New

THEYork
Volunteer Infantry
was

full

regiment of Onondaga County men, organized at

Syracuse, and mustered into the United States service

September 18,1862.

Henry A. Barnum,

for-

merly Major of the Twelfth New York, was Colonel

John M. Strong, Lieutenant-Colonel Abel
;

G. Cook, Major; Walter M. Dallman, Adjutant;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Moses Summers, Quartermaster James V. KenSurgeon Horace Nims, Assistant Surgeon
Arvine C. Bowdish, Chaplain. The comRev.
and
;

dall,

were organized under the

panies
officers

A Solomon

Company

Samuel Bonner,

Company B

Captain; Philip Eckel,

bach.

line

Captain

Light,

Mathevv West-

Lieutenant;

ist

2d Lieutenant.

cott,

following

Nicholas GrumLieutenant

ist

;' Ja-

cob Knapp, 2d Lieutenant. Company C James

Lynch, Jr., Captain Edward D. Murray, ist LieuCompany
tenant William Savage, 2d Lieutenant.
;

D J.
ist

Forman Wilkinson, Captain

Lieutenant

Park Wheeler,
William M. Mosely, 2d Lieuten-

Company E

ant.

Ira

B Seymour,

Captain

Company F

Townsend, Captain

Lieutenant

Company

Thomas A.

H Robert

Or-

ist

H. Graves,
Lieutenant The;

Company G

odore E. Stevens, 2d Lieutenant.

E. G.

F. Hopkins,

Judson

Henry H. Burhans,

Captain

Edward

son Coville, 1st Lieutenant;

2d Lieutenant

Byron A. Wood,

Benedict, 2d Lieutenant.

Ohio
L. Palmer, ist Lieutenant; Thomas Merriam, 2d
Company I David J. Lindsay, CapLieutenant.
tain
George K. Collins, ist Lieutenant John T.
Company K James E. DoBon, 2d Lieutenant.
ren, Captain
John Van Wie, 1st Lieutenant
Benjamin F. Breed, 2d Lieutenant.
E. Hopkins, Captain

Company A,

composed of
Jewish citizens, organized in the Synagogue Company B was a solid German company, and Company C consisted of Irish, with but few exceptions.
of this regiment, was

At

the time of

wounded

at his

organization. Col.

its

home

through the hip by a

in the city,
rifle ball

Barnum

lay

having been shot

while doing gallant

Major of the Twelfth Regiment at the

battle of Malvern Hill.
He was, however, elected
Colonel of the Hundred and Forty-Ninth, and
joined his regiment at Fairfax in Januaiy, 1863.
service as

On
and

the 23d

of September,

Forty-Ninth regiment

Syracuse, i

rojite for

National Capital

left

tober.

No

White, at

whence they were ordered

Pleasant Valley

in

Camp

Hundred

the general rendezvous at the

Harper's Ferry via Frederick

camp

1862, the

till

city,

to

and occupied a

about the 30th of Oc-

incident of importance occurred while

here except an expedition a few miles

camp life by two raids towards Charlestown and

Winchester, and taking their first lessons in those
of

foraging expeditions for which the regiment sub-

sequently became famous.

In the absence of Colonel Barnum, Lieutenant-

Colonel Strong had

here the

command

down the

of the regiment, but

was obliged to resign in consequence of a dangerous illness, and the command

devolved upon Major Cook, a youthful yet energetic
and competent officer the regiment was attached
latter

to General Geary's division,

star as

emblem

its

and assumed the white

December

of military glory.

the depth of a Virginia winter, they broke

10, in

camp

Bolivar Heights, and marched to Fairfax

at

The Quartermaster, who was also

who has furnished

Station.

scribe of the regiment and

the
the

materials for this history of the 149th, refers to one

camp

or two expeditions from

ist

119

at this point

towards

" a locality

which calls
as
vivid
up
recollections of an ocean of mud and the
hardest kind of fare."
After spending a dismal
Christmas and New Year's in this fearfully muddy
region, on the 28th of January, they marched
through the memorable Dumfries mud to Aquia
Creek where the regiment was comfortably quarDumfries, speaking of

it

camp

tered in an old

tifully

located and a

by a German

just vacated

The camp

regiment of engineers.

here was beau-

labor soon sufficed to

little

make it a model of neatness and taste. But the

place was unhealthy fever soon broke out in the
camp and the ranks were rapidly thinned by its
On the 15th of February the regiment
ravages.
;

moved
tion,

to a

where

more healthy
it

remained

location at Brook's Sta-

till

the stirring events of

them from camp life and

idleness to meet the enemy, on a field which
though hotly contested, was disastrous to the
They broke camp
regiment and the Union cause.
called

Chancellorsville

and marched towards Chancellorsville on the 9th of

The battles in and about ChancellorsApril, 1863.
ville were fought on May 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th, 1863,

May

the heaviest engagement being on Sunday,

The Union

forces

met with

3d.

a severe defeat, and the

149th suffered their share of the disaster.

On Sunday, May 3, in the great battle in which

Slocum's corps

men

were

was engaged, nearly 4,000 of

2th)

disabled,

including

three

of his

and the loss of about forty men

who enlisted in an Engineer regiment encamped in
the vicinity.
On the 31st of October they were
ordered to Louden Valley, where they remained long
enough to construct comfortable quarters, but were

Berry and Whipple killed,

division commanders
and Gen. Mott of the New Jersey brigade wounded.
Says Greeley, " the ground was lost by misfortune
or bad generalship, not by lack of valor or endur-

not permitted to enjoy them, being soon ordered to

ance

Bolivar Heights, at

Saturday,

river to Knoxville,

remained

till

Dec.

Harper's Ferry, where they

lOth,

relieving the

monotony

his

in

our soldiers."

May

2d,

As

an evidence of

Pleasanton,

time to get his batteries

in

in readiness

this,

on

order to gain
to

sweep the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

I20

ordered Major
Keenan, of the 8lh Pennsylvania, to charge into
" I will," was the
the woods at whatever cost.

on-rushing masses of the rebels,

calm, smilinj; reply, althou};h he well understood

that the order
later

was

Ten minutes

his death-warrant.

he was dead and a large part of his regiment

around him.

lay bleeding

gave the

deal death

But

time to get

artillery

this gallant action

in

readiness and to

and destruction into the rebel ranks.

In front of these batteries, on that memorable day,

fell Stonewall Jackson mortally wounded.
His loss
was the greatest yet sustained by either party in
the fall of a single man.
The day was probably lost to the Union army
because Gen. Hooker could not send aid to Slocum, he having been stunned by a rebel shot striking the " Chancellorsvillc House," against which he
had been leaning, so that when the message came
to him from Gen. Slocum he was unconscious and
So testified Slocum before
could not attend to it.
the Committee on the Conduct of the War.
On Monday, the 4th of May, in the forced retreat of Sedgwick's division, about 5,000 men were
Hooker gives the total loss in the series of
lost.
battles while across the Rappahannock at no less
than 17,197 men, as follows:

Sedgwick's (6th) Corps

"
Slocum's 12th)
"
Couchs'(2d)
"
Reynolds' 1st)

4.601
2,883
2,025

"

Howard's (nth)
Meade's (5th)

The

-4.039

"

2,508

"

699

&c

Cavalry,

rebel

150

was 18,000

loss

Gen.

Pa.xton killed

and Gen. Heth wounded.

In these severe battles the 149th participated,
receiving

crated

it

its

first

baptism of blood, which conse-

to the national

fought.

Gettysburg.

cause thenceforth to the

The

engagements began on the

till
the 3d.
Gen. Huford,
with a division, arrived first at Gettysburg June 30,
and encountered the van of the rebel army, under
Gen. Heth, of Hill's corps the rebels were driven
back on the division, and in turn drove our forces.
At this moment the advance division of Reynolds
(isti corps, under Gen. J. S. Wadsworth, coming
in from Emmitsburg, at the familiar sound of volleys, quickened their pace, and rushing through the
village drove back the rebel van, seizing and occu1st

of July and

lasted

pying the ridge that overlooks the place from the

Gen. John F. Reynolds arrived with
northwest.
22,000 men,

ist

and

ith

army corps

while

Wads-

was forming his advance division, 4,000

strong, Reynolds went forward to reconnoiter and
was shot by a rebel sharp-shooter. Gen. Doubleday,
arriving half an hour later, assumed command, falling back and occupying Seminary Ridge, just west
of the village, where the ist and nth army corps
were soon drawn up in line of battle. Howard,
ranking Doubleday, assumed command, assigning
worth

nth corps to Schurz. Here the struggle was

renewed with great spirit, our men having the better position and the best of the fight.
At o'clock
the

p.

M.

Ewell's corps

came

rapidly into the battle,

arriving from York, Rhode's division assailing the

292

Sickles' (3d)

one of the most sanguinary battles of the war was

Ith corps in front, while Early's struck hard

The

right flank.

on

its

corps were outnumbered and put

falling back in disorder to Gettysburg,

under heavy rebel fire, mingling and obstructing
each other in horrid confusion in the streets. The
debris of these two corps, which half an hour before
marched proudly through the streets, now fell back

to rout,

with scarcely half their number to Cemetery Hill,

leaving their dead and

Thus ended

wounded

in the

the

day's fight, July

hands of the

close of the war.

enemy.

Major Cook was severely wounded in the foot and

the command devolved upon Captain May, who had

the rebels not seeking to renew the contest.

recently been transferred to the 149th from the old

town, ten miles away, and did not hear of the battle

2th regiment.

ing

command

in

He was a gallant

officer,

and assum-

an emergency, proved himself

fully

returned to

its

old

camp

at

Aquia

soon received orders to remove to a posiFalmouth, but the order was immediately
changed to a lively pursuit of Lee, who, meantime,
had invaded Maryland and Pennsylvania. Marching
over their old track through Dumfries, P'airfax,
Creek.

It

tion near

known
enemy at

Leesburg, Frederick City, and

they at length encountered the
Gettysburg, on the borders of Pennsylvania, where
other well

localities,

this

or the death

engagement Meade was

of Gen.

Reynolds

till

at

p.

i,

Taneym.

He

immediately sent Gen. Hancock to command, ordering him to turn over his (2d) corps to Gibbon.

competent.

The regiment

During

first

Hancock

arrived on the field just as the broken ist

and nth were retreating in wild disorder through

the village, hotly pursued by the triumphant foe.
The 149th, in Geary's division of Slocum's (12th)
corps, was in advance and reached Gettysburg soon
Gen. Hancock. Slocum, outranking Hancock,
assumed the chief command.
During the night our army was all concentrated
after

before Gettysburg, e.xcept Sedgwick's (6th) corps,

41

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

121

(15,400 Strong) which was at Manchester, 30 miles

our army, three had been severely handled.

Meade, in view of this fact, and because

the rebels were in full force, resolved upon fighting
The line was drawn up in
only a defensive battle.

least half their effective

distant.

The

order:

following

the

12th

corps

(General

Gen.

which had been recently

strengthened by Lockwood's Marylanders, 2,500

losses

raising

to

it

little

Sickles' (3d) corps held the

left,

men

10,000

opposite Longstreet,

cannon

rifle-pits,

looking towards Gettysburg and Early's division,

sides

but

menaced

right,

and by

The

also

right

by Johnson's division on the

Hill's corps, facing the

who

had thrown forward

in

his

his eagerness to

corps from half to

three-quarters of a mile in the immediate presence

Meade remonstrated

of half the rebel army.

but

before the mistake could be remedied, Lee, seeing

the advantage, ordered Longstreet to attack Sickles

with

his

all

might,

and

Slocum,

position, should

while
facing

Hill,

Ewell should
the

apex

assail

of

our

menace, unless our troops

only

should be withdrawn to reenforce either the

left

or

the right, in which case he should charge through

The position which Sickles had taken

line.
was commanded by the rebel batteries posted on
Seminary Hill in front, and scarcely half a mile dis-

our

At

tant.

the

order to attack, a line of battle a

mile and a half long swept up to his front and

crushing him

back with heavy loss, and

struggling desperately to seize Round Top, a hill
to his left which Meade regarded as vital to the
A fierce and bloody struggle ensued,
situation.
flanks,

Humphreys, on the

right of Sickles,

with one of

Sykes's divisions, being attacked in front and flank

and beaten back with a loss of 2,000 out of 5,000

men. A division of the 12th corps was thrown in
on the enemy's front, which turned the scale they,
in turn, were repulsed with heavy loss, falling back
;

to their

and leaving our line as

Meanwhile, the
place it.

original position

Meade had intended

to

The

withdrawal of a division from Slocum had enabled

Ewell to attack our right wing with a superior force,

all

battle

their losses.

opened July

3d, on our right

the
sent to relieve Sickles' corps, having re-

division

turned, Slocum pushed forward to retake his lost

and did it after a sharp conflict. Both

were reenforced, the rebels with three fresh

brigades under Pickett,* and our side by the arrival of

left.

2d was brought on by the

battle of the

temerity of Gen. Sickles,

fight,

its

this

Doubleday's corps, held the face of Cemetery Hill

touching

1st, and Brig.

had been killed;

and was out of the fight our total

hour were scarcely less than
20,000 men
and none were arriving to replace
them.
They had suffered heavily, but had reason
for the
hope that to-morrow's triumphs would

richly repay

(2d) in our center,

(Sykes's), with

5 th

corps,

ball,

up to

Hancock's
what was left
of Howard's (nth), reenforced by 2,000 VermontReynold's (ist), now
ers under Stannard, and
supported

by the

over

Zook, of Sickles'

Sickles, of the 3d, had had his leg shattered with

a

strong,

Reynolds, commanding the

ished.

Slocum's) held our extreme right, facing Johnson's

division of Ewell's corps,

At

strength had been demol-

Every preparation was

Sedgwick's corps.

made for the grand decisive battle.

The battle of the 3d of July opened with the
most brilliant artillery duel on record. The rebels
had massed a battery of
in front of

15

heavy guns on the hill

line, and on Cemetery

the centre of their

Meade's headquarters, the Union

numbering about 100 guns was stationed;
and all was in readiness for action. "There was a
pause of anxious expectation, fitfully broken by
spirts of firing here and there, while the rebels were
finishing their preparation for the supreme effort
which was to decide this momentous contest." At
length at i p. m., the signal was given and the batHill, in front of

artillery

teries

on the rebel side opened their throats of fire

two hours the hill, just over the crest of

which was Meade's headquarters, was gashed and
seamed by round-shot and torn by bursting shells,
Gen.
while 100 guns from our side made fit reply.
for nearly

Doubleday

Com"They had

said in his testimony before the

mittee on the Conduct of the

War

our exact range, and the destruction was fearful.

*
*
and
Horses were killed in every direction

number of caissons were blown up." This

cannonading was but the prelude to a grand infantry charge, and was designed by the rebels to
Our side was
disorganize the opposing forces.
quite a

ready

for

it;

our infantry,

according to orders,

crouched behind every projection and lay concealed

in every hollow, awaiting the onset, when they
should spring up at the right

moment

to

meet the

but he gained no decided advantage, only crowding

advancing columns of the enemy. The signal was

given, and from behind the rebel batteries emerged

a part of the line back and seizing a few

columns of infantry

rifle-pits.

So ended the day of the second of July.

Night closed with the rebels decidedly encourOf the seven corps composing

aged and confident.

16*

in

line of battle three or four

miles in length, preceded by a cloud of skirmishers

and supported by lines of r eserves. On they came
* See 122d Regiment.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

122

Hancock's center and in the direction of

and upon the entire front westward to
Round Top. The charge was made in three lines

prisoners

batteries,

with additional

which was

lines

as captured

Potomac, with 41 flags and 13,621

many

them wounded

of

24.978 small

arms were collected on the field. The confederate

loss was about 18,000 killed and wounded.
Returning in pursuit of the rebel army, the chase

the object of

wings,

called

the main force from being

to prevent

only claims three guns

this side of the

against

our

He

23,186.

the charge, directing their main force

to

swiftly

They came with such resistless sweep

places they seemed to lift up
some
that in
and push back our lines. Hancock was wounded.
Gibbon succeeding to the command. Ikave officer

led the 149th for the fourth time through Frederick

As

were

flanked.

Ford, on the

walked along the

fire

line

approached

height, he

its

to reserve their

and renewed his orders

Rappahannock

the

August, and remained

On

the

camp

i6th of September, they

Raccoon Ford, and on the i8th the

at

Ellis

at
in

division

was ordered out to witness the execution of two

deserters the last of their experience in the Army

to his

The rebels, three lines

They were in point blank
deep, came steadily up.
From thrice si.x
At last the order came
range.
smoky flame,
of
thousand guns there came a sheet
The line literally
a crash, a rush of leaden death.

men

ist of

several weeks.

the tempest of

They reached

City.

fire.

of the Potomac.

CHAPTER XXVHI.
The One Hundred and Forty-Ninth with
Shkrman The Atlanta Campaign Lookout

melted away, but there came the second, resistless

The instant was too brief to allow our men
still.
to gather themselves for

came

the sweeping torrent

Up

to the rifle-pits,

across them, over the barricades, the

momentum

of

penetrated to the

fatal
its

marked

its

They

line.

point.

to

track with corses straight

hail

AFTER the

exposed themselves

man, and

down

From

regiment threw down

ments

the

ments

On
from

its

arms, and, with colors at

field

smaller detachments did

brigaile

brought

in

800. taken in as

requires to write this sentence.

sion took 15 stand of colors.

On
and

the
last

field

of Gettysburj;

little

battle

its

corps.

till

the close of the war.

the 29th of September, 1863, they started

Healton Station for the Southeast, and via

to repel

On

an attack of rebel cavalry.

the

short but bloody

was crushed the

ous, but the

killed

was

first

night of their occupa-

The Union

tion of the valley.

forces

149th suffered severely

their

brave and

gallant

were
;

victori-

among

the

Color-Bearer,

Lilly, who was fatally wounded in the

and died at Ikidgeport, Alabama, a few days
afterwards.
This victory was one of the most im-

William C.
battle

share towards the grand

portant events of the war, as

for

victory.

it

effected an entrance

our army into the valley and

finally

enabled us,

by the capture of Lookout Mountain, to open a

communication with the Union forces at Chat-

states our losses in this series of battles

wounded, and 6,643 missing,

(mainly taken prisoners on the 1st of July; total,

and decisive battle was fought,

about midnight of the

first

on the soil of the North. The 149th

had the proud consciousness, under their brave
officers, and a gallant son of Onondaga, Gen. Slocum as chief commander in the first days' engagement and commander of the right wing during the

at 2,834 killed, 13,709

army

divi-

sive victory

Meade

of the 20th

over.

it

great attempt of the rebels to gain a deci-

battle, of contributing their

command

2Sth of

Webb's
time as

was

to the

this

October they started for the front, reaching

Wauhatchie
Valley on the first of November.
the
and division experienced one of
regiment
Here the
the very few night attacks of the war, and a

Gibbons' old

The

and

Nashville reached Murfreesboro on the 7th of Oc-

All along the

the same.

ith

tober, just in time to be ordered into the intrench-

head, rushed over and surrendered.

corps

change of organization, the fortunes of

149th were identified with Sherman's move-

the

of

fire

2th

promoted

their

to the enfilad-

guns on the western slope of

Cemetery Hill, and that exposure sealed their fate.
The line reeled back, disjointed, and in an instant
was in fragments. Our men were just behind the
guns.
They leaped forward upon the disordered
mass but there was little need for fighting now. A

ing

battle of Gettysburg, the

were consolidated, forming the

20lh army corps, commanded by Gen. Hooker, and
was sent south under Gen. Sherman. Gen. Hooker
resigned in front of Atlanta, and Gen. Slocum was
1

storm of grape

way from man

into

tions.

the charge, the mere machine-like strength of their

combined action, swept them on. They were upon
the guns, were bayoneting the gunners, were wavBut they had
ing their flags above our pieces.

and cannister tore

Entrance

Atlanta Fall
ofSavannah March THROUGH THE Carolinas
Surrender of Johnston List of PromoMountain

a second effort, and on

tanooga,
I

who were

suffering for

want of

supplies.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and would have soon been obliged to retreat, and
thus lose an important objective point on the
route to the heart of the Rebel Confederacy.
A
lodgment being effected in the valley, the regiment
and division remained encamped in the vicinity of
Kelley's Ford, near the Tennessee River and under
the frowning shadow of Lookout Mountain.

November occurred the celebrated

"Battle above the Clouds." The advance was led

On

the 24th of

149th, which

by the

added

already

to its

well-

established fame
rebel colors,

by the capture of four stand of

and a number of prisoners, arms and

ammunition.

The

following letter, written on the spot,

truthful

is

and graphic description of the battle and

of the position of the 149th

"The advance was

by the troops of General

The men comGeary's division of the 12th corps.
menced ascending the mountain over a mile from
led

the front, and, regardless of the rebel picket fire, a

was formed leading from the base of an almost
perpendicular ledge of rocks, on the left, to our own
picket line, about three-fourths of the distance
down the mountain. Three lines were formed, the
2d division leading the advance and the 149th ocWhen the order
cupying the left of the first line.
to advance was given, our men started forward with
a cheer over the rugged sides of the mountain,
totally regardless of any obstacle in their way and
almost ignoring the sharp fire of the rebel infantry,
who attempted to stop their progress. With an
line

123

camping ground at the base of Lookout Mounwhere they remained till after New Year's,

old

tain,

1864, enduring severe hardships and almost starvation, in consequence of the impossibility of for-

warding supplies. During this period the 149th was

complimented by a public delivery of their captured
rebel flags to Gen. Hooker and after being almost reduced to starvation were removed to Stevenson and
;

remained

till

spring

The

paign.

in

preparation for the next cam-

stay here was a season of comparative

ease and festivity rations plenty, supplies abundant

and labor light. The few inhabitants treated them
kindly.
Capt. Park Wheeler was detailed to " keep
hotel," and proved himself no unworthy landlord of
;

Among

Home."

" Soldiers'

the

the attractions

which rendered the stay in Stevenson pleasant to

many of the 149th was the presence of ladies, the
wives of several of the

officers,

who, during this

season of quiet, visited their husbands and friends

at

camp

Mrs.

Col. Ireland, Mrs.

Surgeon Kendall,

Mrs. Capt. Wheeler and others, whose presence lent

a

charm

camp

to

not

life

elsewhere e.xperienced

during the war.

May

1864, began the

2,

movement

famous Atlanta campaign.

in the

of the troops

Their progress

was first intercepted at Resacawhere the rebel force

under Johnston was concentrated and had burned

Howard

the bridge across the Coosawattee River.

had entered Dalton on the heels of Johnston's force

and had pressed him down to Resaca. Sherman

enthusiasm which knew no bounds, they rushed

over hills and through gorges, climbing towering
rocks, dashing through brushwood
and fallen
timber, and scarcely stopping even to take prisoners.
They swept over the side of the mountain
and around its frowning front with the rapidity and
force of the whirlwind, completely overcoming and
conquering every obstacle, both natural and artificial, which attempted to impede their progress.
" No military achievement of this or any other
war, e.xceeded, for dash and daring, personal bravery,
contempt of extraordinary obstacles and complete
and perfect success, this charge of the 2d division
around the point of Lookout Mountain.
The rebel
forces were literally swept from the mountain side,
driven from fastnesses and intrenchments they had
considered impregnable, captured in their strongholds, and every vestige of their power swept before
us like leaves before the autumn gale."

of Villanow Mill Church, Nickajack Creek, Burnt

The battle of Lookout Mountain was followed by

an immediate advance of the whole army, in which

Pumpkin Vine Creek,

the 149th bore an active part.

December, another severe

resulted in

fight

On

the second of

took place, which

the capture of the valley of the Ring-

occupancy by the Union forces, with

149th as Provost Marshal of the
captured town.
The campaign ending with the

gold and

an

its

officer of the

capture of Mission Ridge, our njen

fell

back to their

at

once set on

foot

flanking

movement

to

Johnston made a counter movement by attacking Hooker and Schofield on his

drive

him

front and

out.

He was

left.

defeated in the bloody con-

which ensued. Hooker driving the enemy from

hills, taking four guns and many prisoners.
The rebels retreated across the Oostenaula during
the night, and our army entered Resaca in triumph
test

several

next

morning.

From

this

time

triumphal entrance into Atlanta,

series

of skirmishes,

battles

the

to

final

was a constant

and active

military

For nearly one hundred days and

operations.
were constantly under fire, passing
men
nights our
through the
Hickory,

thrilling

Calhoun,

experiences of the

Dallas,

Cassville,

Paices' Ferry,

battles

Kingston,

Chattahoochee

River, Ackworth, Marietta, Big Shanty and Kene-

saw Mountain.
The most severe and disastrous battle of the
campaign in which the 149th were engaged was
at Peach Tree Creek on the 20th of July, 1864,
where a partial surprise was effected, and almost in
an instant of time the regiment lost 19 brave and

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

124

generous soldiers, among whom were Col. C. B.

Kendall and Capt. D. J. Lindsay, both as gallant
officers as ever drew a sword in defence of their

During

this

campaign Gen. Hooker resigned

his

position at the head of the corps, and Gen. Slocum,

who had commanded the old I2th corps, was appointed to the command of the 20th arriving just
;

in

time to accompany

the triumphal entry into At-

on the 2d of September. The losses of the

I4f)th during the campaign amounted to 34 men
But the obkilled, 138 wounded and 10 missing.
jective point was gained and the regiment was one
lanta,

of the

first

command

of

to the colonelcy.

"

the interesting incidents of the

election for

President.

few

but

The

exceptions,

Honest Old Abe," showing

sire to

camp

at

vote of the

was

cast for

that they had

"swap horses while crossing

no de-

the river," as

Mr. Lincoln predicted would be the verdict of the

American

Slocum moved out of Milledgeville simulwith Howard's advance from Gordon,

corps.

taneously

and concentrated at Sandersville, driving out a small

party of Wheeler's cavalry thence he followed the
;

Railroad, breaking

Central

which he crossed

people.

After the refitting of the troops and sending the

it

up

Louisville,

at

camp where some thousands

had long endured

diers

Sherman was
them, and

Atlanta was the voting of the soldiers at the Nowith

on Milledgeville, which was entered without opposiSherman thus far accompanied the 14th
tion.

from Sandersville to Savannah, was a great prison

Col.

hall.

General, leaving the 149th under the

149th,

Slocum's wing, advanced by

Covington, Madison and Eatonton, concentrating
149th, with

Ireland,

Major Grumbach, promoted

vember

the

the 3d brigade, died shortly after

and hoist the Stars

to enter Atlanta

entering Atlanta, and the command devolved upon

Col. Barnum, promoted to the rank of Brigadier

Among

led

to the Ogeechee,
and thence kept
north, striking out towards the Savannah.
At Millen, on the Central Railroad, half way

and Stripes upon the public

who commanded

Kilpatrick

of the infantry.

The

country.

Judson

Gen.

Williams.

S.

cavalry, which careered in front and on either flank

reaching and

intent on

for this

of our captured sol-

unspeakable privations.
liberating

purpose sent forward Kilpatrick

enemy took the alarm and

removed the prisoners. Kilpatrick being harrassed
and kept back by skirmishes with Wheeler's cavwith his cavalry; but the

Our army

alry.

on their march

visited this prison

after the prisoners

The 20th

had been removed.

army corps, (Gen. Slocum's,) including the 149th,

was the first to reach Savannah. It passed Morgan's and Carlin's divisions encamped about ten
miles out, and hastened on to the city.

On

the loth

Savannah was completely beleaguered, and Fort McAllister was that day carried
by storm. Hardee, with 15,000 men, evacuated the

sick and lame to the rear, the commissary wagons

were loaded with hard-tack, coffee and sugar, and
trusting to their own energy and perseverance to
subsist upon the country, on the 16th of November
the army left Atlanta, to plunge out of sight and

of December, 1864,

hearing into the heart of the Rebel Confederacy.

observed by our pickets, as the night was dark and

The famous
mined

"

upon.

march

to the

lixpcrience

sea " had been deter-

proved

Sherman

that

had not overestimated the abundance of supplies in

the country through which the army was to pass,
nor miscalculated the capacity of his
their

full

share of the

men

necessaries of

to obtain

life.

The

marching of an army composed of 60,000 infantry

and 5,500 cavalry through an interior country of
such e.\tent was a scene probably never witnessed
before, and must have been an astonishing spectacle
to the people of the country through which they
Thousands of negroes, sometimes in torchpassed.
light processions, followed the army " on the road
The army was formed into two grand
to freedom."
The right led by Gen. O. O.
divisions or wings
Howard, comprising the 15th corps. Gen. P. J.
Osterhaus, and the 17th, Gen. Frank P. Blair; the
left, led by Gen. H. W. Slocum, comprisingthe 14th
corps. Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, and the 20th, Gen. A.
:

city

on the night of the 20th, escaping across the

He was un-

Savannah River on a pontoon bridge.

Under cover

windy.

of

fire

which he had kept up

the day previous, he had destroyed the

and two iron dads.

sion, the
flag

sion

troops

Navy

now took

^'ard

posses-

149th being in advance and raising the

on the

The

Our

dome

of the City Hall.

taking of Fort McAllister by Hazen's divi-

was

brilliant

achievement.

While

the

steamer sent by Gen. Foster and Admiral Dahlgren,

to communicate with our army, was hesitating

whether or not to approach the fort, at that moment

Hazen's bugles sounded the charge when his division rushed over torpedoes and abatis, through a
shower of grape, up to and over the parapet, and
after a brief but desperate struggle, McAllister was
ours.
Her garrison of 200 surrendered, having 40
or 50 killed and wounded to our 90.
Among the
spoils were 22 guns and much ammunition.
Fort
;

McAllister
17th,

fell

on the 13th of December; on the

Hardee was formally summoned

to surrender

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the city on the 20th, the bombardment of the city
commenced, and on that night Hardee evacuated,
moving his force towards Charleston.
;

The 149th was

stationed as

Provost Guard of a

portion of the conquered city, and in this capacity

had a season of relaxation and rest from the fatigues

of the campaign, mingling in the social life of the
A loyal
city and enjoying balls and other pastimes.
newspaper was printed and edited by a member of
After
the 149th during their stay in Savannah,
provisions
supplied
with
and
clothing,
being
and
leaving the city in charge of another corps, they
were again on the march, and reached Sisters'
Ferry with great difficulty on account of the floods
and

next

impassable condition of the

to

roads.

After some detention they crossed the Savannah

River on pontoons and entered the State of South

Carolina.

Along

torpedoes,

which exploded and severely injured

their route the rebels

had buried

The march through South

several of the regiment.

125

been assailed by Johnston with the entire rebel army.

The divisions of the right wing were ordered at
once to move on rapidly to the assistance of the
outnumbered left. Slocum had encountered Dibbrell's cavalry, which he was driving, when he ran
headlong upon the whole Confederate force, the two
leading brigades of Carlin's division being hurled

back upon the main body, with a loss of three guns

and their caissons. Slocum thereupon very properly stood on the defensive, showing a front of four
and throwing up

divisions,

Kilpatrick

came

slight barricades, while

left.
Here our
withstood six assaults from Johnston's army
inflicting heavy loss with our artillery, the enemy

into action on the

left

having brought up

little

or none.

Johnston had

hurried to this point by night from Smithfield, ex-

pecting to crush Slocum before he could be supported, but he was mistaken.

Night

fell

without

giving him any ground, and before morning Slocum

got up his wagon train, with

having become exceedingly wet, the swamps flooded

its guard of two diviHazen's division of the isth (Logan's)

corps, came up on the right, rendering his position

and the river high and

secure.

Carolina involved unusual hardships

the weather

swift.

North Carolina, was reached on the

Here the enemy halted three
of
March,
1 2th
1865.
days, completely destroying the United States
Arsenal and the costly machinery which had been
brought here from Harper's Ferry at the time of its
Fayetteville,

capture by the rebels in 1861.

Sherman's movements from

this point

were very

sions, while

The enemy

Slocum awaited the

entire right wing.

not risking further attacks,

arrival

of

Howard

with the

In the night Johnston retreated

on Smithfield and Raleigh, so precipitately as to

leave his pickets and his severely wounded behind.
Our total loss here was 191 killed, 1,108 wounded,

and 344 missing, in all 1,643. We buried here 267

rebel dead, and took 1,625 prisoners, many of them

army was concenHardee from Savannah and

trating in his front
Charleston, Beauregard from Columbia, Cheatham
from the Tennessee, with considerable force drawn

wounded.

from North Carolina and her seaward defences un-

passed through the tar regions of North Carolina

and burned a number of rosin manufactories, they

An immense

cautiously made.

der Bragg and Hoke, with Wheeler's and

ton's cavalry,

making up

40,000 men, mostly veterans, under the

of the able and

wary Joe Johnston.

longer answer to

move

Hamp-

a force of not less than

as

hitherto

command

would no
our columns
It

must be kept well closed up, the corps within easy

supporting distance, on peril of surprise and disaster.
True to his favorite policy, Sherman, on the
15th of March, pushed four divisions of his left
wing, covered by Kilpatrick's cavalry, directly northward to Averysboro, as a feint on Raleigh while
Slocum's train, his two remaining divisions, and the
;

moved by various roads nearly east,

Sherman
towards Goldsboro, his true destination.

right wing,

No further resistance being made,

on to Goldsboro, where

much

Slocum, approaching Bentonville, had

white soldiers.

From Goldsboro

Their clothes

the troops containing our regi-

where they arrived

on the 14th of April. While here news of the surrender of Lee and his forces to Gen. Grant at
Appomattox reached our headquarters and was
hailed with tumultuous rejoicing by the whole

ment were marched

to Raleigh,

demonstration was made towards Johnprudent commander, he also, after

ston, but
surrendered, and the
negotiations,
formal
some
great

his attention.

was reclothed,

149th, for having

were also worn and tattered, so that, as remarked

by their Quartermaster, " fat, ragged and saucy,"
was a more apt description of them than any other
combination of words in the English language.

when

again challenged

to the satisfaction of our

ored troops than

army.

left

our army moved

rested and

were so blackened and begrimmed with the smoke

and cinders as to resemble more a regiment of col-

was on the left with Slocum, including the 149th,

but had ridden across to the right wing, intent on
reaching Goldsboro and meeting Gen. Schofield,
the sound of guns on the

it

like a

The

civil

war was

order, "

On

at

to

an end.

Richmond "now much more

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

126

'65

was heard through the ranks, and our army moved

forward, reaching the " Rebel Capital " on the loth
of May, passing in review through its principal
From Richmond to Washington, they
streets.
passed through Chickahominy swamp and over their
old stamping grounds, crossing the Rappahannock
at United States Ford, and pausing a few moments
on the field of their first battle at Chancellorsville.
A rapid march brought them to Alexandria, whence
they were moved across the Potomac to Washing-

Oct.

149th soon returned

of the

warm welcome of
generous people, who had watched
receive

to

the

Albert

'62,

9,

ton and soon after mustered out of the service.

The remnant

W.

Phillips, Assist.-Surgeon, rank from

resigned Nov. 24, "63
Arvine C.
Bowdish, Chaplain, rank from Sept. 18, '62. (Brevet
Solomon
Major, N. Y. V. 1, resigned Sept. 3. "63
Light, Capt., rank from Aug. 30, '62, resigned Jan.
Oliver T. May, Capt., rank from Jan.
17, '63
17. '63, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.'i mustered out
June 12, '65 Jacob Knapp, 2d Lieut., rank from
Sept. 2. '62, promoted to ist Lieut. April 4, '63, to
Capt. Aug. 2, '64, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.),
mustered out June 12, '65 James Lynch, Jr., Capt.,
rank from Sept. 4, '63, resigned F^cb. 15, '63 Thos.
GatTncy. ist Lieut., rank from April 24, '63, promoted to Capt. Oct. 31, '64, resigned June 3. '65
Morris K. Baker, ist Lieut., rank from April 12,
'64, promoted to Capt. June 7, '65, mustered out
June 12, "65 J. Forman Wilkinson, Capt, rank
from Sept. 4, '62, resigned Dec. 7, '62, Brevet Ma-

easily executed than at the beginning of the warr

home

a grateful and

their career in

Park Wheeler, ist Lieut., rank

from Sept. 4, '62, promoted to Capt. Dec. 30, '62,
resigned Aug. 7, '64 (Brevet Major N. Y. V.);
Oliver L. F. Brown, 2d Lieut., rank from Dec. 7,
'62, promoted to ist Lieut. June I, '64, to Capt.
Oct. 31, '64, Brevet Major N. Y. V.,i mustered
Ira B. Seymour, Capt rank from
out June 12, '65
Sept. 5, '62, (Brevet Major U. S. V.,) mustered out
June 12, '65 William Pullen, 2d Lieut., rank from
May 3, '63, promoted to ist Lieut. Aug. 12, '63,
to Capt. June 7, '65, (Brevet Major, N. Y. Vols.,)
mustered out June 12, '65 Judson H. Graves,
Capt., rank from Sept. 8, '62, resigned Oct. 23, '62
Theodore E. Stevens, 2d Lieut rank from Sept.
8, '62. promoted to ist Lieut. June 10, '64, to Capt.
May 1, '65, (Brevet Major U. S. V.), mustered out
June 12, '65 Eben G. Tosvnsend, Capt., rank from
Andreas CasSept. 9, '62, discharged Feb. 4, '64
Geo.
sard, Capt., rank from April 20, '64, declined
G. Truair, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. 9, '63, pro-

jor N.

It is not too
the army with pride and satisfaction.
much to say that the 149th had as varied an experi-

ence and made for themselves as honorable a

record during the war of the rebellion, as any volunTheir dead
teer regiment in the Union service.

Y. v.):

honored graves, and their living, many of

them, have won that respect, both in military and
civil afiTairs, to which their merits and sacrifices
sleep in

justly entitle them.

Official Recokd ano List of Promotions of

THE 149TH Regiment.

Henry A. Harnum.Col., rank from September

promoted

'62,

to Hrig.-Gen.,

May

3i,'65

17,

Nicholas

Grumbach, Capt.. rank from September 2, '62,

promoted to Major August 2, '64, to Lieut. -Col.
May II, '65, to Col. June 7. '65, (Brevet Col.,
U. S. V.,) mustered out June. 12, '65; John M.
Strong, Lieut. -Col., rank from September 5, '62,
Abel G. Cook. Major, rank
resigned March i. '63
from Sept. 8, '62, promoted to Lieut. Col. March i,

to 1st Lieut. July 14, '64, to Capt. April 22,

Brevet Major N. Y. V.,1 mustered out June 12,
'65
Robert E. Hopkins, Capt., rank from Sept.
10, '62, promoted to Major Feb. 29, '64; Orson
Coville, 1st Lieut., rank from Sept. 5, '62, promoted
to Capt. F"eb. 29, '64, mustered out June 12, '65,
(Brevet Major N. Y. V.); Thomas Merriam, 2d
Lieut., rank from Sept. 10, '62, promoted to ist
Lieut. Aug. 14, '63, to Capt. July 14, '64, (Brevet

moted
'65,

Hrevet Col N. Y. V.) discharged July 2C, '64

Charles H. Randall, Major, rank from March 17,

'63,

'63,

promoted

action

Lieut

to Lieut.-Col.

June

5, '63,

killed in

Edward U. Murray, Jr., ist

July 20, '64
rank from Sept. 4, '62, promoted to Capt.
4, '63, to Lieut.-Col. July 20, '64, mustered
;

March

Henry H. Hurhans, ist Lieut.,

out June 12, '65
rank from Sept. 8, '62, promoted to Capt., Nov. 24,
'62, to Major May 11, '65, mustered out June 12,
'65
Walter M. Dallman, Adjutant, rank from Aug.
'62,
(Hrevet Major, N. Y. V.) discharged Mar.
29,
15, '65; Bela P. Hitchcock, Adjutant, rank from
Mar. 15, "65, (Hrevet Capt., N. Y. V. ), mustered

Major N. Y. V.,) mustered out June

out June 12, '65

'

'

Henry
resigned March 17, '63
F. Adams, Assist.-Surgeon. rank from April 2, '63,
(Brevet Major, N. Y. V.) mustered out June 12,

David

Moses Summers, Quartermaster,

19, '62,

from Sept.

12, '65

killed in
Lindsay, Capt., rank from Sept. 12, '62
Alexander
action near Atlanta, Ga., July 20, '64
McKinstry, 2d Lieut., rank from Jan. 13, '63, promoted to 1st Lieut. May 15, '63, to Capt. July 20,
'64, discharged May 15, '65
James E. Doran,
Capt., rank from Sept. 17, '62, discharged Feb. 5,
'64; Charles E. Coville,*Capt.. rank from Mar. 29,
Samuel Bronner, ist Lieut.,
'64. not mustered
rank from Aug. 30, '62, resigned Feb. 8, '63 Mathew
H. Westcott, 2d Lieut., rank from Aug. 30, "62,
promoted to ist Lieut., March 4, '63, (Brevet Capt.
N. Y. v.). discharged Feb. 5, '64 William Wills,
1st Lieut., rank from March 16, '64, mustered out
June 12, '65 Philip Eckle, ist Lieut., rank from
Sept. 2, '62, discharged Dec. 21, '63, (Brevet Capt.
N. Y. V.
John F. Wheeler, 2d Lieut., rank from
May 7, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. June 7, '65, Bre;

rank from Aug. 28, 'C2, promoted to Capt. and A.

HamQ. M. July I, '64, (Brevet Major, N. Y. V.)
ilton D. Borden, Q. M., rank from July i, '64,
(Brevet Capt., N. Y. V.) mustered out June 12, '65
James V. Kendall, Surgeon, rank from Aug. 22,
'62, (Brevet Lieut.-Col.. N. Y. V.) mustered out
June 12, '65 Horace Nims, Assist.-Surgeon, rank

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

vet Capt. N. Y. V.,) mustered out June 12, '65
John B. Foote, ist Lieut rank from Feb. 15. '6t
George W. Phillips, 2d Lieut., rank from
declined
Aug. 7, '64, promoted to ist Lieut. April 22, '65,
William W. Mosely, 2d
mustered out June I2, '65
Lieut., rank from Sept. 4, '62, promoted to 1st

May 11, '63 Elisha

Houghkirk, 2d Lieut, rank from March 15, '65,
promoted to ist Lieut. June 7, '65, (Brevet Capt.
Edward F.
N. Y. V.,) mustered out June 12, '65
Hopkins, ist Lieut., rank from Jan. 30, '64, resigned
Sept. 14, '64; Nicholas Cooney, ist Lieut, rank
Philip Hiorsh, ist
from Dec. 22, '64, declined
Lieut., rank from March i, '65, (Brevet Capt.
Y.
William Gleason,
v.), mustered out June 12, '65
1st Lieut rank from Nov. 25, '62, resigned May 25,
ist
Lieut., rank from May
'64; Joseph Gay,
11, '65, (Brevet Capt. N. Y. V..) mustered out
June 12, '65 Byron A. Wood, ist Lieut., rank
from Sept. 9, '62, resigned Dec. 6, '62
Willis
S. Barnum, 1st Lieut., rank from Feb. 7, '6^, Brevet
Capt. N. Y. V.) resigned May 24. '64 John H.
Patterson, 2d Lieut., rank from July 3, '64, promoted to 1st Lieut., Aug. 7,'64, (Brevet Capt, N. Y.
Ohio L. Palmer, ist
V.) mustered out June 12, '65
Lieut., rank from Sept. 10, '62, resigned June 24,
'6^
George H. Diety, ist Lieut., rank from Aug.
28, '65, (Brevet Capt. N. Y. V.) mustered out June
Lieut. Dec. 30, '62, discharged

George K.

Brevet Commissions Issued by the Governor

TO Enlisted Men of the 149TH Regiment.
^a'/k.
Sergeant,
Q. Sergeant,

Name.
Brevet
John W. Vaugh
2d
Dudley D K. Marvin, 2d
Augustus P. Brown,
2d
Joseph F. Thomas,
2d

Rank.
Lieut

William Fehrenz,
George W. Chase,

Lieut.

Private,

Private,

George

Sergeant,

rank from
Sept. 12, '62, (Brevet Capt. N. Y. V.) resigned April
24, '64; John Kohl, 1st Lieut., rank from June 7,
'65, (Brevet Capt. N. Y. V.) not mustered
John
Van Wie, 1st Lieut., rank from Sept. 17, '62, reBenjamin F. Breed, 2d Lieut,
signed Jan. 13, '63
rank from Sept. 17, '62, promoted to ist Lieut. May
;

Sergeant

12, '65

rank from July 3, '64, not mustered, (Brevet ist

Lieut. N. Y. V.) Andreas Cassard, 2d Lieut., rank
from March 24, '64, declined Franklin Sours, 2d
Lieut., rank from April 20, '64, not mustered
Jacob
Schwartz, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 28, '65, not
mustered, (Brevet ist Lieut. N. Y. V.
David Gere,
2d Lieut., rank from June 7, '65, not mustered,
(Brevet ist Lieut. N. Y. V.) Adolphus
J. Fi.x, 2d
Lieut., rank from June 7, '65, (Brevet ist Lieut N.
Y. v.), not mustered Milton E. Miller, 2d Lieut.,
rank from Mar. i, '65, mustered out June 12, '65
George P. Frost 2d Lieut, rank from Jan. 7, '65,
not mustered, (Brevet ist Lieut. N. Y. V.)

Collins, ist Lieut.,

127

Private,

2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d
2d

Sager,

I.

Com'sary Sergt., Henry L. Purdy,

Oliver Ormsby,

Private,

Howard

Sergeant,

B. Sloan,
William Cross,

Sergeant
Sergeant,

Lieut.

Lieut
Lieut

Lieut
Lieut.

Lieut
Lieut.

Lieut
Lieut
Lieut

William Cahill,
Medals of honor were awarded by the Secretary

of

War

to the following

3, '63,

killed in

action at

May

Chancellorsville

Kappesser

Front of Petersburg Destruction of

Winter Quarters
the Weldon Railroad
Battle of Hatcher's Run
Attack on
Fort Steedman.
in

Private, Peter

The One Hundred and Eighty-Fifth New

York Volunteers Organization Arrival

CHAPTER XXIX.

N. F. Potter

Private, Philip Goettel.

3,

Burnett E. Miller, 2d Lieut., rank from Oct

14, '63, promoted to 1st Lieut. Jan. 6, '64, mustered
out June 12, '65
Joseph Seymour, Jr., rank from
Feb. 8, '6s, discharged Aug, 9, '6^
Philip M.
Sours, 2d Lieut., rank from June 3, '64, not mustered
William Savage, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept.
Fred'k O. Waters, 2d
4, '62, resigned Mar. 29, '63
Lieut., rank from Aug. 12, '63, not mustered Abram
H. Spore, 2d Lieut., rank from Dec. 7, '62, resigned
Mar. 3, '64 Harvey Siver, 2d Lieut., rank from
Mar. 29, '64, mustered out June 12, '65
Edward
F. Hopkins, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 5, '62, promoted to 1st Lieut. April 4, '64 mustered out June
12, '65
Jacob Waling, 2d Lieut., rank from June
7/65, not mustered, (Brevet ist Lieut. N. Y. V.)
Lucius W. Ramsey, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 15,
'65, mustered out June 12, '65
Thomas A. Benedict, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 9, '62, resigned
Dec. 6, '62 David R. Wilson, 2d Lieut., rank from
June 14, '64, not mustered, deserted
Francis
Becker, 2d Lieut., rank from June 7, '65, not mustered, (Brevet ist Lieut. N. Y. V.)
Z. Carter Patten, 2d Lieut., rank from Feb. 23, '64, resigned July
5, '64; George H. Deitz, 2d Lieut., rank from July
ist Lieut. April 22, '65
5, '64, promoted to
John
T. Rowe, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 12, '62, resigned Dec. 12, '62
Joseph A. Davis, 2d Lieut.,
rank from Dec. 12, '62, killed in action at Chancellorsville May 3, '63
William O'Reiley, 2d Lieut.,
'63

First Lieutenant,

THE

185th was the fourth complete regiment

of volunteer infantry from

raised

of

late

artisans,

sional

men.

the

in

largely

and

profes-

farmers,
It

was

Onondaga county,

war, and composed

mechanics
its

peculiar fortune to

be

mustered into the service when hard fighting had

which continued with little interruption
The 185th was organized
to the close of the war.
to be done,

as follows

Field and Staff

Gustavus
Colonel
John Leo, Major

Officers Edwin S. Jenney,

Sniper, Lieutenant-Colonel
;

Mudge,

Byron

Adjutant

Charles
W.
G. L. Newcomb, Assistant SurCrarey, Surgeon
geon Chester W. Hawley, Chaplain.
Stephen O. HowLine Officers Company
ist Lieutenant;
Bander,
F.
Ephraim
Captain;
ard,

William

Gilbert,

Quartermaster;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

128

William A. Brooks, 2d Lieutenant. Company B:

William A. RofT, ist
Listman, Captain
ComLieutenant John Herron, 2d Lieutenant.
pany C
Henry D. Carhart, Captain
John T.
Hostler, ist Lieutenant; Charles J. Rector, 2d
Lieutenant.
Company D
Daniel N. Lathrop,
Captain; Theo<lore M. Barber, ist Lieutenant;

John

the

Weldon Railroad

Company E

L. Kinf^sley, 2d Lieutenant.

Robert F. Bush, Captain Robert C. Rorepaugh, ist

Lieutenant
Pembroke Pierce, 2d Lieutenant.
Company F: John W. Strowbridge, Captain AnHarrison Givins,
drew J Lyman, 1st Lieutenant
Albern H. Barber,
2d Lieutenant. Company G
Captain
Hiram Clark, ist Lieutenant
Daniel
;

for the

purpose of

army stationed about Petersburg with

of the rebel

Henry

move on

destroying the track, to prevent the communication

Weldon.

their base of supplies at

used by the enemy

in

This road was

transporting supplies from

North Carolina nearly up to our lines, whence they

were wagoned around our left to Lee's camps. The
expedition consisted of Warren's 15th corps, Mott's
division of the 2d corps and Gregg's mounted divi1

2d Lieutenant.
Company H
Daniel
Captain
Stephen S. Jordan, ist LieuStephen R. Hitchcock, 2d Lieutenant.
tenant
Company I Jarcd F. Abbott, Captain H. Wadsworth Clarke, 1st Lieutenant; Jacob M. Doran, 2d
Lieutenant.
Company K
Abram H. Spore,
Captain Cyrus A. Phillips, ist Lieutenant Lewis
S. Edgar, 2d Lieutenant.
Minier,

Christler,

They moved down

sion.

the railroad as far as the

Meherrin, across which to Hicksford

the

rebels

were driven, while the road was effectually destroyed

down to that point some twenty miles.
The

track

was taken up and the

heated and bent

rails

This regiment was organized at Syracuse and

mustered into the service September 22, 1864. On
the 23d they left for City Point, where they arrived
t/rf

F"ortress

Monroe on

the 30lh, and were that

night ordered into action, an attack being

the Union forces

at

Warren

Station,

made on

where a

On

ment was assigned

to the First Brigade, First Divi-

Army

the 4th of October the regi-

Corps

The

Commander.

Gen.

division

was

S.

Warren, Corps

commanded by

and the brigade by Gen.

Sickles.
The regiment moved on the 4th from
Warren Station to Poplar Grove Church, where
they went into camp and remained till Sunday the
i6th.
On Saturday, October 8, an attack was made
by the rebels and the 185th was ordered to supGen. Charles

Griffin,

port Gen. Aycrs, in

9th corps.

repulsed.

No

while in

camp

fight

command
ensued

in

of a brigade of the

which the rebels were

further incident of interest occurred

here, e-xcept the capturing of a rebel

spy by one of the pickets of the 185th.

He was

map of the whole

and defences from City Point to the
e.xtremc left, extending over twenty miles.
The
map was concealed next his person. He offered
money to be allowed to escape but was tried by
court-marshal and shot by order of Gen. Warren.
October 16. The brigade and division moved to

an engineer and had a complete

Union

mense amount of
captured

lines

the

185th

im-

was

bore a

On

the 12th of December, they

at the

Gurley House near Warren

part.

went into camp

The

rebel supplies at this point

this expedition

in

conspicuous

The snow,

and rain were terrible

and on the march, without preparations to withstand the inclemency of the weather, the regiment
suffered severely
one man, being compelled to
march, fell out by the way and was never heard of
Station.

sleet

light

skirmish ensued.

sion, Fifth

they could not again be used.

so that

afterwards.

Here the

He

probably perished.

went into winter quarters, conin a dense pine forest and

clearing the ground, so that not a stump remained,
division

structing their

in

camp

an incredibly short time.

by order of Gen.

Griffin,

The Quartermaster,
men to raid

detached 125

into the country to secure materials for the officers'

This was successfully accomplished and

due time neat and comfortable quarters were
erected, which were occupied till the 5th of P'ebru-

quarters.
in

ary, 1865.
feet

During the winter a large church

sixty

long was built of pine logs hewed on the inside,

which made a comfortable place of worship. It

was roofed with tent-cloth furnished by the Chris-

Commission

tian

a platform

one end

at

for the

preacher was built of some of the pine lumber obtained on the raid

and seals were constructed of

hewed pine slabs set upon legs. Here Sergeant

Brcgg was killed by rebel guerrillas shot through

with five bullets and stripped of his clothes.

The

Road in front of Petersburg

Here the officers of the 185th
camp.

the Squirrel Level

and went into

presented Colonel Jenney with a horse.

On

the

move was made on the South-side Railroad,

where an engagement occurred in which three men
After the battle they
of the 185th were wounded.
returned to the same camp on the 29th of October.
On the 3d of December the army was ordered to

27th, a

health of the regiment during the winter was excel-

Gen. Warren here sent an invitation to Col.

lent.

Sniper and staff to make him a

his headquarters, in

compliment

vices of the 185th

on a

visit to

On

Col.

New

Year's

call

at

to the gallant ser-

Jenney was then absent

the east.

the 4th of February, 1865, orders were re-

ceived to be in readiness to march at a moment's

warning, and on Sunday morning the 5th, before

daylight, our forces

were ordered

to

move

in the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Run and on the afternoon
same day occurred the second battle of HatchRun, lasting till next day, in which the 185th

direction of Hatcher's

stantly, steadily

forward

of the

ceased the enemy was

er's

masters of the

Two men
Company C

suffered severely.
killed

one

Company

in

B,

had

his leg

wounded

in

Company

were

Capt. John Listman,

the thigh so badly that

in

be amputated close to the body

to

Major Bush taken prisoner and sent

We

cealed from

ment

(the

composed

first

brigade,

of his regi-

New

198th Pensylvania) and the iS5th

York, was hastily ordered forward to relieve the 2d

This division, composed

and commanded by Gen. Ayers,

division of the 5th corps.

largely of regulars

a regular

army

officer,

occupied a position

front

in

was an open field,

upon the opposite side of which were one or two
small buildings and a sudden declivity in the ground,
of a piece of woods.

front

its

enemy and answering

occupied by the
of an

In

the purpose

Gen. Ayres' division had

intrenchment.

here suffered terribly.

As

along the road through

wounded from

the woods,

this division

we met the

being borne back by the

some hastily bandaged, others with

some besmeared with
undressed, gaping wounds

hospital corps

blood, others pallid as

though

in the

grasp of death.

moved

off.

An

field

Ayers' division

occasional shot developed the near

presence of the enemy, but the fight there seemed

We

when unmain

line.

them only by the intervening under-

He

was sent

to

during most of
of one of

The

its

Libby

its

prison,

and the regiment,

subsequent service was deprived

best officers.

brigade was warmly

Griffin for its gallant service,

earned, for seldom

commended by Gen.
and

its

praise

was

fairly

had a single brigade accom-

plished so important results at so small a sacrifice.

After this engagement the regiment went into

camp

Hatcher's Run.

at

after the battle, Colonel

Here, on the second day

Jenney took

At

his departure

the time he was commis-

sioned as Colonel of the regiment he was Major

of the 3d

New York

Artillery and acting as Provost

Judge of North Carolina

the enemy, as

Newbern and

Notwithstanding the

a paroled prisoner he

in as Colonel of the regiment,

into the

had, after

has been stated in the narrative

of "Jenney's battery."

was

at

promotion, been taken prisoner by

notice of his

ment
the

retired to the

brush, he was captured with a squad of his men.

blanched cheek.

As we moved upon

we

that he

the

out of speaking distance from his regiment, con-

was a trying ordeal for our men a severe test of

their courage
even the bravest pushed forward with
It

were

After the engagement Col. Jenney sent Major

Bush to reconnoiter our right Bank and station
pickets
in performing which duty, when scarcely

from the regiment.

our brigade marched for nearly half a mile

slackened,

We

retained our position until evening

middle of the afternoon, however, the

Col. Sickle,

firing

gone.

Many brave fellows fell, but the loss was slight

compared to that which must have occurred if the
enemy had not at once been driven from the field.
der cover of darkness

commanded by

The

field.

Libby Prison.
Among the privates a considerable number were
wounded.
During the early part of this engagement the
185th Regiment was held in reserve.
About the
to

129

field.

He

fact

had been mustered

and taken the regito obtain an im-

expected

Rut while he regarded himself

as bound by his parole, the War Department was
of the opinion that the officer who captured and
mediate exchange.

had scarcely moved from flank into

terrific fire was opened upon
us by the enemy.
Our brigade commander was
one of the first wounded and as he was carried off

paroled him had sufficient authority to capture, but

who

In this situation Col. Jenney remained during

He enhis term of service with the regiment.

to

be over.

line,

however, before a

the field sent his staff to report to Col. Jenney,

was thus

left in

command

of the brigade.

Jenney appreciated the danger of attempting to hold his open position against an enemy
substantially covered, and instantly ordered the
Col.

brigade forward.

The

No command

brigade

moved

in excellent

It
charge was given.
would have probably been dangerous to do so, as

form.

the

to

enemy were upon both our

necessary to keep the

flanks and

it

was
For-

troops well in hand.

ward went the brigade, through the smoke and

against the bullets.
It was the work of a few
minutes only.
There was no wavering con-

17*

none

to parole,

and that Col. Jenney was therefore

to be regarded as an escaped rather than

a paroled

prisoner.

deavored to induce the Secretary of

him

War

to relieve

from the responsibility of his situation by

mak-

and
ing an order declaring that he was not paroled
War
ordering him upon duty, but the Secretary of
refused

to

do so

lest

an embarrassing precedent

might thus be established.

situation
His only relief from this unfortunate
accordand
service,
the
from
to be to retire

seemed

resignation about the

ingly he had forwarded his
had been
resignation
This
of January.

mfddle

discharging
accepted, and an order honorably

him

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

30

from service had been received by Gen. Griffin just

At

before the last cni;agement.

his request,

how-

had been retained by the General until the

advance then contemplated had been made, and

ever,

it

now was delivered to him.

Upon the morning of his departure
was formed

in square,

in

the regiment

a short speech, praising

the regiment, highly complimenting Col. Sniper,

and reluctantly saying farewell.

Col. Sniper was immediately promoted, and comthe regiment during the remainder of

manded

its

service.

The regiment remained in camp at Hatcher's

Run till March 29, 1865, when the grand movement
for the closing struggle of the rebellion

was made.

the 25th of March, the division was ordered out

before daylight, at 3 o'clock, a. m.. the rebels having

On

made an

assault

upon Fort Steedman, near City

stated in the order that an attack

It was
Point.
was probably being made along the whole line, and
that a general engagement was imminent, which

General Lee, foreseeing clearly the

proved true.

of

it

The

and swept the

battle

o'clock

p.

army

of an

the midst

in

rallied

and the command turned

over to Lieut.-Col. Sniper

The result was that instead

cuttmg our army in two as they had intended,
they had divided their own and isolated a portion of
or failed to respond.

lasted

field,

after

till

Our

of foes.

forces

capturing 2,000 prisoners.

About

nightfall.

an attack was made on the extreme

M.

where the 185th were on the right of the 2d

corps and in the thick of the fight. A terrible
The ground
battle soon raged along the entire line.
was soon covered with the dead and wounded,
left,

among whom

The

several of the 185th.

fell

rebels

The reports of
were driven back with heavy loss.
the battle make the loss about equal on both sides

2,500 besides the 2,000

camp

by

After the battle our soldiers returned

our army.
to

rebel prisoners taken

Hatcher's

at

Run and remained

the

till

29th of March, at which date Gen. Grant had de-

termined to advance the

left

wing of

the 28th, orders were received to

ne.xt

Three divisions of the

morning.

On

his army.

move

at 3 o'clock

Army

of the

James, now commanded by Gen. Ord, being

with-

drawn from the banks of the James River, where

it

speedy downfall of the Confederate cause, unless

averted by a prompt concentration of his remaining

had menaced Richmond, and brought over to the

V\'arren's (5th)
left of our lines facing Petersburg.

blow delivered thereby on some

and Humphreys' (2d) corps moved quietly out

southward till they had crossed Hatcher's Run,
when, facing northward, they advanced cautiousSheridan was on
ly, feeling for the enemy's right.
extreme
left
at
the
head
of
nearly
our
10.000 cavalry, acting under orders directly from Gen. Grant.
The 9th (Parke's) and one of Ord's divisions were
left to hold our extended lines under the command
of Gen. Parke all dismounted troopers being ordered
to report to Gen. Benham, who guarded our im-

forces,

and a

telling

one of our encircling aimies, which were

ably crushing out the

life

now

prob-

of the Rebellion, resolved

by an attack on his
lines before Petersburg and Richmond. This attack
was made on Fort Steedman, nearly east of Petersburg, where its success would have cut our army

to anticipate Grant's

in

initiative

two and probably compelled a hasty reconstrucand works thereby open-

tion to recover our lines

ing a door for the unassailed withdrawal of the rebel

army southward by the most direct route to unite
with that of Johnston, and thus overpower Sher-

The assault was delivered by Gordon with

two divisions all the disposable rebel army of Virginia being collected just behind the assaulting
man.

column and held in hand as a support. Gordon

His
charged at daybreak on the 25th of March.
across
the
narrow
space
sepainstantly
rushed
men
rating the confronting lines, and pouring into Fort
Steedman, which was held by the 14th New York
Artillery, completely surprised and captured the
The guns, whereof three batteries were
garrison.
taken by the rebels, were instantly turned on the
adjacent works of Fort Haskell, next to Fort Steed-

man on

the

left.

failed to rush

Here

their

triumph ended. They

forward and sieze the crest of the

mense depot of supplies

Humphreys
Vaughan Road
left,

its

crossed
;

at

City Point.

Hatcher's

Run

Warren, moving further

in

the

rear of the charge were either not ordered forward

at

the

to

the

crossed four miles below (the stream here, since

Gravelly Run, being Rowanty

moved up the Quaker Road, to strike
Boydton Plank Road Sheridan moved nearly

junction with

Creek,) and
the

south to Dinwiddle Court House, where, at

5 p. m.,

Warren's corps alone, enany

serious
resistance
on this day, the
countered
Continuing their march till about 2 o'clock,
29th.
he halted

for the night.

Farm and were there met

A fierce engagement ensued.
by the enemy.
During the action our forces were being repulsed,

they arrived at Quaker

the 2d division retreating in great disorder,

Gen Chamberlain,

in

command

when

of the ist briga.de,

rode up to the Colonel of the 185th, saying

ridge behind the forts.

The 20,000 men whom Lee had massed

"

For

God's sake, Col. Sniper, can you save the day with

your regiment

?"

The

Colonel replied

"

General,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

I

can try."

He

immediately formed his regiment

The balance

in line of battle.

of the brigade, con-

sisting of the 189th Pennsylvania,

had shared

in

the

185th to stand the ground alone.

retreat, leaving the

They were ordered to charge the enemy. The

charge was made with great spirit over an eminence,
where they met the advancing columns of the rebels
in pursuit of our retreating forces, and, making a
desperate charge, hurled back the foe, but with
great loss to our gallant regiment.

wounded were 180

all

The

the officers of

killed

some

Warren's right

to strike the enemy's left flank.

Before these well-timed charges the enemy recoiled,
taking refuge behind his intrenchments along the

White Oak Road, and losing heavily in prisoners.

Meantime Sheridan had advanced to Five Forks
and had fought the rebels from there to Dinwiddle
Court House and back one of the most brilliant
actions of the war.

and

of the

companies were either killed or disabled so that

there were not line officers enough to command the

CHAPTER XXX.
One Hundred and Eighty-Fifth Regiment

regiment.

This charge lasted scarcely more than half an

was one of the most desperate and imThe

portant in its results of any during the war.
aim of the rebels seemed to be to shoot down our
William Tyler, of Company D, was Colorcolors.
He was shot first. The
Bearer of the regiment.
colors were then seized by a private, who was imPrivate Benjamin Wilson, of Commediately shot.
then
seized
and bore aloft the fallen standpany D,
Then
ard, but was instantly shot and wounded.
Private Herman Rice, of Company B, sprang forward and raised the colors, but the arm which lifted
them was immediately pierced by a rebel ball, and
Col. Sniper being dismounted in
they again fell.
hour, but

the

thick

it

charge, seeing the colors drop,

of the

rushed forward and seized them, and whirling them

above

his

head, shouted,

"Men

of the

185th, for-

ward
A wild yell was sent up from the ranks,
and rushing forward with their gallant leader, the
day was won. After the engagement the general
officers complimented Col. Sniper in person upon
the gallantry and valor of his regiment in that terrible charge, and said that they had saved the day.
!"

March 30th and

While the Union forces

31st.
were driving the rebels, several minor engagements
occurred.
Warren had pushed forward skirmishers
on his left to seize the White Oak Road beyond the
rebel right, and had ordered Ayers to advance
Winthrop's brigade through the woods to support
the effort.
At half past 10 a. m., Lee dealt him an
unexpected and staggering blow, striking Ayres
heavily in flank and rear, hurling his division back
on Crawford's, which likewise broke.
For a
moment there was a prospect of another Chancellorsville.
But behind these two stood Griffin's
division, well posted in more open ground, whence
it refused to be driven.
It held its ground against
the rebel advance

formed behind
offensive.

it,

till

the routed divisions rallied and

enabling Warren to assume the

Humphreys

sent in Miles' division

on

i.^i

Continued Battle of Five Forks Bombardment OF Petersburg Lee's Telegram

to Jeff. D.a^vis Evacuation of Richmond
Flight and Capture of the Rebel Army
Return Home of the Regiment
List of

Promotions.

THE

battle of Five Forks,

memorable

of the great

one of the most

campaigns which

was begun on Saturday, April

I, at about 3 p. m., and continued without cessation
of firing till Sunday morning at daylight.
Nearly
the entire force on both sides was engaged.
The
5th corps was on the right and in the hottest part
closed the rebellion,

of the contest.

The

rebels were strongly intrenched

and fought with desperation, knowing their

depended on the battle. Adjutant Mudge, of

fate

Col.

was severely wounded in the arm,

which resulted in the permanent loss of its use, and
several officers and privates were killed and wounded.
Sniper's

During

staff,

this battle 4,022 rebel prisoners

Greeley, speaking of this battle, says

were taken.
'

The Con-

federates, facing their foes in each direction, stood

bravely to their arms.

In a few minutes

Ayers' division burst over their flank intrenchments

taking 1,000 prisoners while Griffin struck their
;

refused flank in the rear, capturing 1,500

more

and

Crawford, resisted only by skirmishers, pressed

for-

ward rapidly

to the

Ford Road, running northward

from their center, precluding the retreat towards

Lee and then turning southward on that road,
;

came

rapidly

our
front

down upon

cavalry

and

all

right,

their rear, taking four

guns

the time sharply assailing their

and

at length

charging over their

intrenchments, as Ayers and Griffin, having turned

their left out of its works, bore down upon its re-

newed

enemy

front,
in

hurling

disorderly

all

that

flight

remained of the

westward,

charged

and pursued for miles by our cavalry, until long

after dark, and until our prisoners exceeded 5,000
while our total loss this day (April i.) was about
;

1,000.

At

this cost Lee's right

stantially demolished.

wing had been subkilled was Brig.

Among our

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

>32

Gen. Frederick Winthrop, Colonel of the 9th New

York, and cousin of Major Theodore Winlhroj),

watch the

streets,

stretching

away

was now ordered

with two divisions of infantry to Gravelly Church,
some miles towards Petersburg, to reopen his com-

and believe that the capital of the Confederacy,

so peaceful, so apparently secure, was in a few hours
to be the prey of the enemy, and to be wrapped in

killed at

Big

munication
Griffin's

Bethel."

with

own

the

division

Griffin

of

(now

Bartlett's)

the

Richmond was evacuated

supported

McKinzie's cavalry, which had pushed northward

up the Ford Road to Hatcher's Run. As darkness
set in, our

guns

position

in

opened from right

to

making

left,

set fire

morning, April
outer

line,

2,

on

our

the

signal

carrying with the 9th corps the

but being intercepted by an inner line

on

his

left,

Wright,

force.

The

rebels

hands.

The

soldiers

who

first

entered the

mond's fall had been flashed across the loyal States,

and was soon confirmed by telegrams from President
Lincoln, then at City Point, and from the Secretary
of War at Washington. Petersburg was evacuated
simultaneously with Richmond, and so noiselessly

left,

behind them, which he could not

own

city under Gen. Weitzel, Monday morning. April 3,

Before noon of that day the news of Rich1865.

and predicted
more decisive triumphs at hand. Parke and Ord
assaulted the rebel works at daybreak on Sunday
achieved

victory just

that night.

with their

city

Union

struction by

the night lurid

with a bombardment that proclaimed

the

to

"
!

flames were quenched before producing utter de-

front of Petersburg

in

artillery or troops,

the infernal horrors of a conflagration

army, while

rest

unvexed by

into the quiet, hazy atmosphere,

that our pickets, scarcely a stone's throw from the

abandoned lines, knew not that the enemy were movThe

ing till morning showed that they were gone.
rebel government, with its belongings, had passed

with the 6th corps, supported by two

dawn, drove everything before him up to the Boydton Road, on which,

wheeling to the left towards Hatcher's Run, he
divisions of Ord's, charging at

down the

railroad several miles north of Petersburg

swept down the rear of the rebel intrenchments,

capturing many guns and several thousand prison-

to Danville,

halted,

and whither Lee hoped

to follow with the rest of his

army, and thence form a

Meantime Ord'solher division had forced the

enemy's lines at the Run, and now Wright and Ord
swung to the right, pressing on Petersburg from the
west, while Humphreys, to the left, with Hayes'

junction with Johnston in

North Carolina.

ers.

and Mott's divisions of the 2d corps, having stormed

came up with two divisions,
left.

Thereupon the

curred, in

On

My lines are broken

^ust be evacuated

train,

in

Richmond

three places.

The message reached Davis at

when he quietly read it and retired.
1

a. m. in
It

church,

produced a

profound dread and apprehension of the impending

fate

of

the city.

" Men, women and children

whispering with white

lips,

fall

the

of

terrible revelation

the calm of that beautiful spring

preparing to cross the Appoit was

Here a sharp engagement took place.
The attack,
Brig.-Gen. Theodore Read was killed.
Lee
however, arrested the march of the enemy.
crossed the Appomattox on the night of the 6th,
Farmville, as

matto.x.

'

and his rear guard had just crossed and set fire to
the bridges at dawn on the morning of the 7th, when
the second corps (Humphreys') which had now
taken the lead, rushed up in time to save the bridge
on the wagon road.
crossed, capturing

18

Over this Barlow's division

guns which had been aban-

they were attacked by a portion of our forces, and

upon

again retreated on the night of the 7th to AppoHere they were overtaken on
mattox Station.

to burst in

Sunday morning.

" It was difficult to believe it.

To
Says Pollard
spring
sky
of
that
beautiful
the
calm,
up
to
look
day, unassailed by one single noise of battle, to
:

at Paine's

come, they

come."

This was a

advance of his infantry,

or,

lip to lip

Richmond

foe, thej'

in

doned by the rear guard of the rebels in their hasty

The rebels halted and intrenched themretreat.
selves four or five miles north of Farmville, where

rushed from the churches, passing from

the news of the impending

moving

Ord,
four guns and a large number of prisoners.
on the same day, reaching out from Jetersville,
struck the head of Lee's advancing columns at

rebel lines

this evening."

which our arrhy took 1,400 prisoners.

Gen. Davies struck Lee's

the 6th of April,

Cross Roads, and destroyed 180 wagons, capturing

"

Here

before the surrender, oc-

defending Petersburg on the south were assaulted

by Gibbon's division of Ord's corps, which carried

by storm two strong and important works Forts
Gregg and Alexander. This shortened our besieging lines, and weakened the rebel defence of the
city.
Lee, seeing that Petersburg must soon fall,
telegraphed to Jeff. Davis at Richmond at half-past
10 A. M.. on Sunday, April 2

it

the last important battle

a redoubt in his front,

closing in on their

where

Sunday the 9th by our main

force.

Griffin

and

Ord, with the 5th,24lh,and one division of the2Slh

corps, by a forced march, reached Appomattox Station about daylight in the morning.

Greeley gives

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

133

the following account of the situation, when the two

armies confronted each other for the last time as

ericksburg, and arrived at Arlington Heights on

the 13th, at 8 o'clock a. m., after a tedious all-night

belligerents

march.

"Sheridan was with

House, when the

By

charge.

his

his cavalry near the

Army

Court

made its last

who were in

of Virginia
order, his troopers,

dismounted, giving ground gradually

while showing a steady front, so as to allow our
weary infantry time to form and take position.
This effected, the horsemen moved swiftly to the
right and mounted, revealing lines of solid infantry
in battle array, before whose wall of gleaming
bayonets the astonished enemy recoiled in blank
despair, as Sheridan and his troopers, passing
briskly round the rebel left, prepared to charge the
white flag was now
confused, reeling mass.
waved by the enemy before Gen. Custer, who held
our cavalry advance, with the information that they
Riding over to Appohad concluded to surrender.
line of battle,

mattox Court
Gen. Gordon,
ties, with the
then pending

House, Gen. Sheridan was met by

who requested
assurance

a suspension of hostilithat
negotiations were

between Gens. Grant and Lee

for a

capitulation."

Hiram Clark

mand

last

of Company G, in the 185th regiment,

man killed in the war. He had com-

of the skirmish

line at

Appomatto.x before
was be-

the surrender, and while the flag of truce

ing borne

in,

camp

in

at Arlington

the grand review in the City of

till

ington, on the 23d of

May, 1865, when the

WashPresi-

dent reviewed the entire army.

Returning to camp
after the review, they remained till they were mustered out of the service on the 30th day of May, a.
D., 1865.
Leaving Arlington at 3 p. m., on the
31st,

they met with a grand reception of citizens on

way home, at Geneva, N. Y., and arrived in

Syracuse on the 3d day of June, where a committee
of their fellow-citizens were in readiness to give
their

On

them a welcome home.

Camp

White, they were paid

Major

Littlefield,

the loth of June, at

off

and discharged by

Paymaster.

Official Record and List of Promotions of

THE 185TH Regiment.

Edwin S. Jenney, Col., rank from Sept. 19, '64,

discharged Feb. 3, '65
Gustavus Sniper, Lieut.
Col., rank from Sept. 17, '64, promoted to Col.
Feb. 14, '65, (Brevet Brig.-Gen., U. S V.) mustered
Theodore M.
out with the regiment May 30, '65
Barber, ist Lieut., rank from Sept. 19, '64, promoted
to Capt., Jan. 3, '65, to Lieut.-Col. Mar. 30, '65,
mustered out May 30, '65 John Leo, Major, rank
from Sept. 19, '64, died of disease Dec. 3, '64;
Robert P. Bush, Capt rank from Sept. 24, '64,
promoted to Major Dec. 3, '64, mustered out May
Byron Mudge, Adj't, rank from Sept. 7,
30, '65
William Gilbert, Q.
'64, mustered out May 30, '65
M., rank from Sept. 2, '64, mustered out May 30,
'65
Charles W. Crary, Surgeon, rank from Sept.
17, '64, mustered out May 30, '65, (Brevet Lieut.Gilbert \. Newcomb, AssistantCol., N. Y. V.j
Surgeon, rank from Sept. 26, '64, mustered out
May 30, '65 William M. Bradford, Asst. -Surgeon,
rank from Sept. 26, '64, mustered out May 30, '65
Chester W. Hawley, Chaplain, rank from Oct. 10,
Stephen O. Howard,
'64, resigned April' 29, '65
Capt., rank from Sept. 2, '64, mustered out May
30, '65 (Brevet Major, U. S. V. ); John W. Strowbridge, Capt., rank from Sept. 7, '64, mustered out
May 30, '65 Albert H. Barber, Capt., rank from
John ListSept. 13, '64, mustered out May 30, '65
man, Capt., rank from Sept. 17, '64, mustered out
May 30, '65 E. M. Bander, ist Lieut, rank from
Sept. 2, '64, promoted to Capt. Feb. 3, '65, not mustered, died April 15, '65; W. A. Rapp, ist Lieut, rank
;

The correspondence had begun between the

two generals on the 7th of April, and the capitLieutenant
ulation was completed on the 9th.
was the

They remained

Heights

was struck and

completely disem-

He

was buried under

a chestnut tree near Appomattox Court House.
He was a noble officer and much beloved by his
boweled by a rebel

shell.

regiment.

After the surrender, the i8sth, with some other

regiments, were detailed to take charge of the rebel
prisons and to collect the rebel
of

war

arms and munitions

and were thus occupied

for four

or five

days.

The arms and ammunition were

sent to

Burksville.
Among them were 52 brass cannon,
very fine pieces, which had been dismantled and

buried

by the Confederates on the

field at

Appo-

mattox.

The Union

forces,

except the 2d corps, were

ordered towards Danville to assist Gen. Sherman,

The

and were sent forward to Burksville.

after three

days

in

camp, were ordered

to

185th,

Wilson's

from Sept. 17, '64, promoted to Capt. May 11, '65,

Henry D. Carhart,
mustered out May 30, '65
Capt., rank from Sept. 19, '64, died before muster
'64'
John T. Hostler, ist Lieut., rank from Sept. 19,
U.
Capt.
(Brevet
'64,
Dec.
Capt.
to
24,
promoted
S. V.,) discharged June 2, '65, (Brevet Major U. S.
Daniel L. Lathrop, Capt, rank from Sept. 19,
V.)
Capt,
'64, mustered out May 30,'65; David Chrysler,
rank from Sept. 19, '64, mustered out May 30, '65
Jared T. Abbott, Capt, rank from Sept. 19, 64,
;

Station on the South-side Railroad, where they re-

mained
ordered

camp till the first of May, and were thence

to move to Manchester, across the James

in

from Richmond.

On

the 5th of

May

they received

marching orders for Alexandria, started on Saturday morning, the 6th, and that day crossed the Pa-

munkey River on pontoons

ling

passing through Bow-

Green, they crossed the Rappahannock at Fred-

mustered out

May

30,

'65

Abram

Spore, Capt.,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

34

rank from Sept. 19. '64, mustered out May 30, '65
Daniel Minicr, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 13, '64,
promoted to ist Lieut. Feb. 3, '65, killed in action
March 29, '65 Andrew J. Lyman, ist Lieut., rank
from Sept. 7, 64, mustered out May 30, '65 Hiram
Clark, 1st Lieut., rank from Sept. 13, '64, killed in
action April 9, '65
Henry H. Kelsey, ist Lieut.,
rank from April 27. '65, mustered out May 30, '65
Pembroke Pierce, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 17,
'64, promoted to ist Lieut. May 11, '65, mustered
out May 30, '65
Herbert C. Rorepaugh, ist
'64, mustered out
Lieut., rank from Sept.
17,
May 10, '65
F. Augustus Schemerhorn,
2d
Lieut., rank from Dec. 23, 64, promoted to ist
Lieut. Jan. 23, '65, mustered out May 30, '65
Lewis Edgar, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 19, '64,
promoted to ist Lieut., Dec. 24, '64, mustered out
May 30. '65 Stephen S. Jordan, ist Lieut., rank
from Sept. 19, '64, discharged Feb. 27, '65 Jerome
C. Gates, 2d Lieut., rank from Dec. 4, '64, promoted
to 1st Lieut. Mar. 30, '65, mustered out May 30,
'65
H. Wadsworth Clarke, 1st Lieut., rank from
Sept. 19, '64, (Brevet Capt. X. Y. V.
mustered
;

1,

out

May

Hamilton, 2d Lieut., rank from April 27, '65,

mustered out May 30, "65
Harrison Givins, 2d
Lieut., rank from Sept. 7, "64, discharged Dec. 28,
'64; A. A. Abbott, 2d Lieut., rank from April
27,
'65. resigned May 22. '65
John L Isaacs, 2d Lieut
rank from Feb. 3, '65, mustered out May 30, '65
John Hcrron, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 17, '64!
mustered out May 30, '65 J. W. Mercer, 2d Lieut.]
rank from April 27, '65, mustered out May 30, '65
Warren L. Winslow, 2d Lieut., rank from" May 19,
'65, not mustered
Charles G. Rector, 2d Lieut.,
rank from Sept. 19, '64, (Brevet Capt. U. S.
v.,
mustered out May 30, '65
Henry Q. Kingsley, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 19, '64, died of
disease Mar. 31, '65 Norman W. Smith. 2d Lieut.,
rank from April 27, '65. mustered out May 30, '65
Stephen Hitchcock, 2d Lieut., rank from Sept. 19,
'64, not mustered, commission revoked
Daniel L.
Baker, 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 21, '65, mustered
out May 30, '65
Jacob M. Doran, 2d Lieut., rank
from Sept. 19, '64, discharged Mar. 20. '65 Hiram
Wiard. 2d Lieut., rank from Mar. 20. '65, mustered
out May 30. '65
B. H. Smith, 2d Lieut., rank
from Mar. 20, '65, not mustered Frederick H.
Bremen, 2d Lieut., rank from April 27, '65, not
;

30, '65

Cyrus A.

Phillips,

ist

Lieut.,

rank from Sept. 19. '64, not mustered, commission

revoked Thomas S. Wallace, ist Lieut., rank from
Dec. 23, '64, not mustered, failed to report to regiment; William A. Brooks, 2d Lieut., rank from
Sept. 2, '64, discharged Mar. 20, '65
William H.
;

mustered.

Private A. Everson, of this regiment, was awarded

medal of honor by the Secretary of War.

HISTORY
OF THE

CITY OF SYRACUSE
INTRODUCTION.

wealth,

THE

City of Syracuse

of the

New York

York, and

From its
State,

is

it

the county seat of

is

Oswego
Delaware, Lackawanna

center, there are the

and Syracuse division of the

and Western, the Syracuse, Binghamton and New
York, the Syracuse Northern and the Syracuse and

Chenango Valley

railroads, lending their trade

and

commerce, together with the Erie and Oswego

The growth of the city has been remarkacanals.
considering the condition

when the

of things

in

this

was a dismal
and unhealthy swamp, and there were no roads nor
other means of communication with the outside
world.
The few huts then planted in the wilderness have given place to palatial residences, grand
locality sixty years ago,

site

and imposing business structures, elegant churches

and broad and spacious streets and avenues.
every hand

may be seen

private

grounds,

On

a wealth of architectural

and elegance of public and

beauty and a profusion

lawns,

parks,

cultivated

trees,

shrubbery and flower gardens, which contrast strikingly with the rude
fifty

years

past.

and straggling hamlet of even

From

a small

village

of about

hundred inhabitants, Syracuse has emerged

into a city of nearly sixty thousand people.
It is
interesting to trace the history of such a city from

three

its

beginning, and to note

gress,

holds

till it

its

different steps of pro-

has attained the eminent position

to-day

among

the

The

Onondaga county.

has also received the appropriate name of

Besides the Central Railroad,
City.
its

Original Site of the City.

New

central location both in the county and the

which cuts through

ble,

refinement, of our

situated on the line

Central

the

social

Central Railroad, a very

over three hundred miles from the city of

little

and

civilization

country.

centers

it

of commercial

"

Walton Tract."

fifty

was known as the

original site of Syracuse

It

consisted of two hundred and

acres of the Salt Springs Reservation, sold by

Abraham Walton

purchased by

1804, and

act of the Legislature in

June of that year, for the sum

of six thousand five hundred and fifty dollars, or
about twenty-six dollars and twenty cents an acre.
The land was located and surveyed by James Gedin

under the direction of the Surveyor-General,

Simeon DeWitt, and the proceeds applied to the
improvement of a portion of the old Seneca Turnpike, running from lot No. 49 in Manlius to lot No.

des,

38 in Onondaga. The boundaries of this tract appear from the old maps of Syracuse to have been
laid out

owing

by Mr. Geddes

in

a very irregular form,

to his attempt to avoid the

however, he was unable to do.

swamp, which,

considerable

portion of the land lay under water most of the year.

In the advertisement for the sale of the land

it

announced that the tract contained a good mill

was
site.

was so low and swampy that certain parties

at Salina and Onondaga Hollow ridiculed the idea.
This aroused the Surveyor-General, and putting a
spirit-level in his gig he drove all the way from
But

it

Albany to Syracuse to personally inspect the

premises and put the question of the water power
at rest.

Judge Geddes was employed

survey

of the mill site,

tion of

how

and

it

is

to

make

the

a curious illustra-

small a circumstance will often change

the whole current of a man's life, when it is remembered that this single use of the Surveyor-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

36

General's spirit-level by Mr. Geddes was the incit-

ing cause which led him

and engineer

to

become the surveyor

of the Erie Canal.

First Acting Treasurer of Syracuse.

The Commissioners to receive and disburse the

money arising from the sale of the Walton Tract
Moses Carpenter and John
Mr. Geddes was appointed Treasurer, but

were James Geddes,

Young.

on account of

absence from home during the

his

construction of the road, Mrs. Geddes acted in his

place, paying out the

mother of

came

money upon

the orders of the

woman, Mrs. James Geddes,

Hon. George Geddes of Fairmount, be-

Thus

contractors.

the acting treasurer in the

first financial

trans-

actions relating to Syracuse.

First Tavern

in

cause to be erected within a certain specified time

a suitable building for a tavern or house of enter-

tainment

white child born

of

accommodation of travelers. Mr.

in 1804, upon laying out lots
sold to Henry Rogardus for the con-

sideration of $300, half an acre of ground, binding

him

erect within

to

house

for a tavern

and

reasonable time a suitable

to

keep or cause one

to

half acre included the

Dr.

frame house

Jonathan Fay settled near

tavern

in

by

1806.

It

forty-five feet

in 1815.

on the Site of Syracuse.

Besides the trading house of Ephraim Webster,

vvhich had been established on the west bank of

Onondaga Creek,

known

with
as

the

a short distance south of

lake,

at

place

"Webster's Landing,"

persons had erected log cabins

in
in

its

near

in

the

building

is

1808.

Rufus

Salina

Street

standing on

still

the east side of the street just south of the bridge,

and

occupied by Mr. David Ouinlan as a private

is

residence.
in 1805

This, or a house built by Mr. Walton

1806, for

or in

some of

his

mill hands, a

may still be seen near the railroad

West Genesee street, is ]-)robably
south
of
crossing
the oldest building now remaining in Syracuse.
portion of which

Sale of the Walton Tract.

portion

of

the

Walton Tract was

Michael Hogan and Charles

common
time,

with

and

the

was transferred

it

\\'alton,

to

From

$9,000.

in

181

sold to

held

it

in

for some
some unimportant changes,
Forman, Wilson it Co., in

8,

these proprietors

David Kellogg and

passed into the hands of

William Sabin,

who

proprietors

original

finally, after

8 14, for about

who

sold

it,

in

1823, to

Henry Eckford, the celebrated ship-builder of New

In May, 1824, the tract was transferred to
York.
the Syracuse
$30,000.

Company

The company

for

the

consideration

of

consisted of Messrs. Wil-

McBride. The tract was deeded in trust to Messrs.

Moses Burnet and Gideon Hawle)', and from that
time village lots were extensively sold.

con-

subsequently
1786, several

the vicinity of

where Mr. Bogardus built his hotel, before the original tract had been purchased by Mr. Walton. The
full names of these parties have been unfortunately
lost, but some of them given by Mr. Clark are as
follows: Mr. Hopkins in 1797, and Mr. Butler in
The cabins of these pioneers were located
1799.
west of the Oswego Canal bridge, near a
spring north of the late General Granger's residence.
In the Spring of 1800, Calvin Jackson became a
a little

The

1.

House

erected a small

liam James, Isaiah and John Townsend, and James

First Cabins

fluence

1807.

in

the site of the Old Court

be

was a wooden building,

on the ground, and two
Mr. Bogardus was succeeded by Mr.
stories high.
Burlingham in 1808, by Joseph Langdon in 1810,
by James Ingalls in 1812, and by Sterling Cossit
his

Swan

Salina Street bridge.

of the pres-

ent Empire Block, on which Mr. Bogardus erected

at

William Lee and Aaron Cole, the first blacksmiths,

opened a shop in 1805. In the same year Amos
Stanton, father of Rufus Stanton, located near the

thirty-five

Jackson, late a resident of the

the Reservation.

it

The

kept.

site

Mr. Jackson was

as Salina.

John J.
town of Onondaga, and formerly Indian Agent

for the

a village,

Syracuse, outside of that part

the father of

Walton, accordingly,
for

in

known

formerly

it

bridge in 181

Although the avails of the sale of the Walton

Purchase were required by the act of 1804 to be
appropriated to the improvement of a road, as above
mentioned, there was a stipulation in the terms of
sale making it obligatory upon the purchaser to

south of

little

where the Central Railroad crosses Genesee street.

Here, on the 28th of December, 1800, was born
Albion Jackson, supposed to have been the first

Stanton kept a tavern

Syracuse.

house a

resident, building a small log

First Pork Packing Establishment.

At

&

the lime Forman, \N'ilson

Co.,

purchased

the Walton Tract, they erected a large slaughter

house

in a fine

wards General
street.

scale,

grove in the rear of what was

Granger's

lot,

north of

Here they packed beef and pork on

continuing the business

till

after-

Church
a large

During

18 17.

the war of 1812-14, they had a heavy contract for

supplying the army with these

articles.

Second Survey of Syracuse.

In the spring of 1819,

Owen Forman,

a younger

brother of Judge JoshuaForman, and John Wilkin-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

son, Esq., father of J. Forman and Alfred Wilkinson, bankers of this city, then a young lawyer,

came down from Onondaga Hollow, under the

direction of Judge Forman, to lay out the Walton
Tract into village lots. The old .survey of Mr.
Walton was entirely disregarded, except so far as
the original boundary lines of the tract were con-

cerned.
But so undefined were the ancient landmarks that it was with extreme difficulty that they
ascertained with any degree of certainty the old
Although they had an excellent
starting point.

made by Judge Geddes

description of the tract,

the time of the original survey, yet

that, but

for a certain

tioned, the

as

lines

plum-tree

began

"

it

is

thought

survey

their

the

in

five to ten acres each.

Eakly Na.mes of the Village.

In the infancy of the Salt City

name

the
"

for

it

seemed

The

South Salitia."

difficult

it

was

called

The

Salina, however, not being received

with general approval, was after a time changed to

"

Milan" which name

it

bore

an attempt to ob-

till

was one already

and the name was
by Judge Forman. Subse-

tain a post-office revealed that there

name

of that

in

the

State,

to " Corinth "

changed

quently for several years, the place went by the

name of " Cossit's Comers," from Sterling Cossit,

who succeeded Mr. Ingals in the hotel. In 1820,
the village was named " Syracuse," by John Wilkinson, Esq., the

Postmaster.

first

The Original Clearing.

When

the second survey was

and Wilkinson

in

18 19, there

ing in the village.

It

tree,

concentric circles, which had grown over them in

as many years since the balls had been placed there

by the hand of some one

a date at which the French had established colonies

and missions in this valley.

Handsome Harry

On

Warren

On

may

the north side of the canal the

Onondagas gathered here

" In 1795, a feud

were killed.
The last victim of this deadly
was an Onondaga called Handsome Harry.
He had been followed by a party of Cayugas from
Tuscarora and back, and was overtaken at the sand
bank, afterward the property of Mr. Henry Young,
situated not far from the Syracuse Pump House.
When he found his pursuers hard upon him, he
made no effort to escape, but quietly kneeling down,
bared his bosom and was instantly shot dead with
Handsome Harry was reputed the handan arrow.
somest man in his nation. He was buried on the
spot where he fell, and two favorite sisters for a
long time daily visited his grave and mourned his
sides

strife

Syracuse

When

in

the western part, and in the east-

ern portion, cedar and pine.

i8

in 1819.

Judge Forman removed

8 19, he occupied a house a

send Block.

At

this

little

to

Syracuse

in

west of the Town-

time there were only two

over the dry portion of the ground, most of the

street

which Syracuse is now situated was

heavy timber and thick un-

maple

broke out between a clan of the

Onondagas and another of the Cayugas, which

raged fiercely.
At intervals several parties on both

and

Church

derbrush, the prevailing kinds being hemlock, birch

soft

convenience of trade,

the rest of the dry ground

originally covered with

and

for

and were here met by the Cayugas. The bones

which have been disinterred in this locality show
that feuds broke out between portions of these
tribes, and that in the conflicts which ensued many
of the Indians were slain.
An incident connected
with one of these feuds has been preserved by tradition, and is worthy of record.

frame houses in the village, beside the hotel. Log

houses and plank and slab cabins were scattered

not be amiss to remark in this place, that

the valley in

Onondaga Creek, in the

Webster trading house, was col-

lected at an early time quite a large Indian village.

clear-

being a pine grove interspersed with oak bushes.

It

the west bank of

vicinity of the old

extended from the canal near

street,

of an Indian

death with the deepest sorrow."*

was but a small

clearing extended as far back as

east to

Reminiscence
Feud.

made by Forman

Clinton street, south to Fayette street and east to

street.

familiar with the use of

Subtracting 152 from 1808. leaves 1656,

fire-arms.

Warren

hundred
which had been deposited in a box cut in the
and covered with one hundred and fifty-two

bullets

tavern built by Mr. Bogar-

dus was called the "South Salina Hotel."

name South

At

that proved satisfactory.

out of the village

laying

first

it

tree a foot and a half, they found nearly one

men-

therein

month of June, and after a fortnight of hard labor

the village was again laid out, so far as related to
That portion not included in
the Walton Tract.
the village was laid out into " farm lots " of from

to find a

Young and others cut down a large

hemlock tree over four ft. in diameter, for the purpose
of hewing it into timber.
After cutting into the
In 1808, Mr.

run could not have

originally

They

been traced.

"

at

37

latter

canal.

some

tenanted by laborers on

having been

The
fifty

pasture of Judge

Forman

the

ran back

rods and east to Salina street, most of

being a pine grove.

commenced where

Another

the Syracuse

and was accessible by a

* CUrlc'i Onondaga.

it

lot of twenty acres

House now

set of bars

stands,

opening into the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

138

where the

lot

door of the hotel

front

This

Salina street.

was used as

lot

now opens on
a pasture

till

swamp of those days, can form

conception
no just
of the impassable condition in

place of the dreary

1820.

which the roads then were

So dense was the forest about Syracuse in 1819,

that two young ladies, the present Mis. E. VV.
Leavenworth and Mrs. M. D. Hurnet, in taking a
morning stroll over Prospect Hill, became bewildered among the thick brushwood and lost their way.
They rambled about till the day was far spent, and

In

Such was the

Foiman and
Syracuse

ing before them but

no

At

length, late in the afternoon, they found themselves

the

in

Lodi

of the

vicinity

Locks, where they

recognized familiar ground and were able to

way home

their

The

We

in safety.

Rendered Health v.

have spoken of the unhealthfulness of Syrastage of

history.

its

It

was so

less a

state of things amidst

was no easy task

which Judge

to build a city in a

as Syracuse then was.

Indeed,

it

was

herculean undertaking than the building

mud

of Chicago in a sunken

Lake Michigan.

prairie

on the shore of

Both, however, have been suc-

and furnish an illustration of

what human energy and enterprise can accomplish
cessfully accomplished,

the face of obstacles apparently insurmountable.

in

Site of Syracijse

in the early

cuse

make

fall.

his associates laid the foimdations of

It

swamp such

obliged to pass the night in the wilderness.

the spring and

was in the winter when they were perfectly frozen

and covered with a good body of snow."*

strength and courage almost exhausted, with noththe dreary prospect of being

in

when they were endurable

the only time

fact

To

Forman it was
something must be done to improve the
health of the place, or his plans would fail.
Acthe foreseeing mind of Judge

clear that

very sickly during a considerable portion of the

year that probably it never could have been per-

cordingly, in the winter of 1821-2, he procured the

manently settled had not the foresight and sagacity

of Judge Forman prompted him to lake measures

izing the

swamp and

to secure the draining of the

An
is

related of a Mr. Merrill

house
the

marshes.

instance illustrative of the sickness of the place

who

built

a small frame

the vicinity of Mr. Bogardus' hotel about

in

year

the

there was so

latter

much

building

was

but

erected,

sickness in the neighborhood

passage

ol

a law, in connection with an act author-

lowering of

map

of the

swamp and marsh about

sum necessary
The Judges of

to

that

the

object.

were authorized
of

1817

was very fatal. Dr. Hasset, was the

physician and did a vast amount of medical business among the suflerers on the works, nearly all of
whom were sick with malarial diseases peculiar to
ing

fever

the locality.

The

of the village at that time

site

"

has been described as a

approached
'

gridiron

cated

'

the

dreary waste of swamp,

by means of

only

along

All

roads.

beautiful

F'ayette

famous shooting ground

'corduroy'

where
Park,

for partridges

is

and

now

lo-

was then a
and rabbits,

and in the lower places were plenty of mud turtles

In the spring the water
and swamp rattlesnakes.
did not usually subside sufficiently to allow people
to

pass

with any

degree of comfort

till

May

or

June, and those going from Onondaga to Salina

were obliged to pass round on the high grounds
east of Syracuse, over by-roads which were cut in

every direction

through

the Reservation for the

purpose of collecting wood in winter for the salt

person passing over the present imworks.

proved streets and solid highways leading in and

out of the flourishing city which has taken the

efl'ect

County Courts

to appoint three discreet free-hold-

the Erie Canal, from

1820. the prevail-

be raised to

estimate of the

ers of the County,

to

the villages

was to be designated the route of several ditches and drains through

the swamp and marsh lands, with an accompanying

of Salina and Syracuse, on which

became discouraged and pulling down his

house moved it away. During the building of
that he

Onondaga Outlet, by which

Land Office were to draw

the Commissioners of the

who should assess the amount

money necessary to be raised on the owners of

the lands contiguous to the drains, in proportion as

they were supposed to be benefited by the same.

In case of the non-payment of any assessment, the

lands after being advertised four weeks, could be

redeemed within six

months, with ten percent interest and cost, the sale
was made absolute and unchangeable. The law
sold for payment, and

if

not

allowed the citizens to construct their

own

ditches

on their own lands, according to rules prescribed by

down on the
map.
In case they would not, the Commissioners
were authorized to build them and charge the owners with the cost of construction and collection.
This law was considered at the time highly
arbitrary, but it was the only feasible method
by which the lands could be drained and the locality
the Commissioners and the plan laid

rendered healthy.

The

great advantages resulting

from the improvement, soon reconciled

the

means employed.

all

parties to

This has since been regarded

by thousands who have enjoyed its benefits as the

wisest and most beneficent measure ever adopted in
* CUrk'i Onondiga.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

connection with Syracuse. The effect is thus de"In the summer of 1822,
scribed by Mr. Clark
:

the lands were brought under subjection by drain-

assumed an

place

the

ing,

air

of healthfulness,

disease and sickness kept at a distance, a

marked
difference was manifest at once, confidence was
placed in the future, and the past was quickly forSince

gotten.

draining of these lands they

the

have been as healthy as any in the country."

Judge Forman has justly been esteemed
founder of the village of Syracuse.

the

After an ab-

sence of five years, he returned on a

to the

visit

and was everywhere received with demonstrations of joy and respect.

Every voice
cheered him as the founder of a city and the beneThe citizens of Syracuse
factor of mankind.

Co., (from

New

York,) November, 1823 William

& Walbridge, saddlers and
furnishers for the trade, 1824;
J. Vanderheyden,

committee,

their

Smith, Harvey Baldwin,

consisting

Amos

of Stephen

P. Granger, L.

H.
and

Malcolm, 1823; Haskell

Mead &

Davis,

Dowd, 1824

jeweler, 1824;

chants,

A. N. VanPatten, and H. & W.

Hiram Judson, watchmaker and

&

H. Hyde

Co., forwarding mer-

These are the

1824.

principal

pioneer

merchants who established business in the village

of Syracuse prior to the completion of the Erie
Canal.

Since this important era merchants have

that it would be impossible to

become so numerous
follow them in detail.

city in 1831,

through

139

The Empire Block.

The
called

hotel built

the

by Bogardus was

"Mansion House."

patched up establishment, with

was torn away

to

make room

for

In

many

years

1845, the

its

old

outbuildings,

for the present

Empire

Redfield, Henry Newton, John Wilkinson

Moses D. Burnet, availed themselves of the opportunity to present to him a tribute of the high respect

This block was finished in 1847, by John

H. Tomlinson and Stephen W. Caldwell, of Syracuse and John Thomas, of Albany.
On its comple-

and character,

Mr, Tomlinson became sole owner. Mr. Tomlinson was killed by a railroad accident at Little

and esteem entertained

for his talents

in consideration of his devotion to their interests

and

The

settlement of the village.

in the early

plate,

an elegant silver pitcher, bore the inscription

"

Tribute of Respect, Presented by the Citizens of

Honorable Joshua Forman,

Syracuse to
the
Founder of that Village." On the opposite side
was a device representing the friendship of the
city, of two hands united in fraternal grasp
above
this the word " Syracuse," and below, the date
;

"1831."

Early Merchants.
Sidney Dole and Milan C. Taylor, the owners and
occupants of the

mill, in 18 14,

opened the

store

first

Their store was next

merchandise.

general

of

west of that afterwards kept by William Malcolm.

&

The

firm of

tract

on the Erie Canal in 1817, were the success-

Northrup

ors of Messrs.

business

till

&

Dole

1821.

Dexter,

who had

a con-

Taylor, and continued in

Amos

In that year General

Granger came down from

Onondaga

Hill

P.

and

established himself as a dry goods merchant on the

the present Syracuse Savings

site of

At

ing.

this

cuse, except
this

time there was no other store

in

two or three small groceries.

Build-

1822

Kasson

ceries,

July,

1823

Henry W. Durnford,

drugs and medicines, 1823

block was then sold at auction,

changes became the property of

Colonel James L. Voorhees, in 1850.

The Syracuse House.

The lot on which the Syracuse House stands was
purchased by Messrs. Buell & Safford, who began
the erection of the "Syracuse Hotel" about

Gibson, then for a long time by

&

Gilbert

&

P.

N. Rust, Esq.,

Knickerbocker in

Townsend Block was erected in 1842; Market

(now City) Hall in 1845 Granger Block in 1844,
burned in 1849, rebuilt in 1866; Globe Building in
i846-'47
Malcolm Block, in 1847 Bastable Block
in 1849, rebuilt '" 1 863-' 64; Corinthian Block in
;

1853-

gro-

John Rogers

1820.

While the building was in progress Mr. Safford was

killed by a fall from a scaffold.
The property then
passed into the hands of Mr. Eckford, who completed the hotel in 1822.
It was three stories high,
and the first brick building of any considerable
dimensions erected in the village. For several years
it was kept by Mr. James Mann.
After the Syracuse Company came into possession of the premises,
the house was rebuilt, and has since been enlarged
and improved to its present ample dimensions and
style. At the time of the rebuilding it was named the
" Syracuse House" after which it was kept by Mr.
George Rust, then by Daniel Comstock and H. T.

1848.

Hermans, dry goods, groceries and hardware,

G. M. Towle, commission and forwarding,
April, 1823; George Davis & Co., general merchandise,

The

after several

From

&

1823

Falls in 1848.

and

who was succeeded by

Mr. Henry Newton opened a store

Archy Kasson, hardware, 1822

tion

Syra-

time for two or three years merchants multi-

plied rapidly.
in

Bank

Block.

in

Wieting Block and Hall were erected and finished

On the 5th of January, 1856, one of
i849-'50.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

I40

the coldest days during the winter, this block was

the

burned to the ground. Dr. VVicting at once took

measures for its rcerection, and soon completed a
The new hall was
larger and more elegant block.
December,
1856. eleven
dedicated on the 9th of

months

the destruction of the former build-

after

Montezuma."

arrived at Syracuse on the

This boat was built and fitted

It

of April, 1820.

St

up by

company

First Postoffice

The

and fourteen

seventy-si.\ feet long

arrival

created

great

Postoffice in the village

1820; John Wilkinson,

the whole contents of the

on his shoulder, without the necessity of returning for another load, he waived his
objection, and the postoffice was fairly installed in
the office of the first newspaper in Syracuse.
letter bo.\es, &c.,

Sale of State Lands.

In 1822 a considerable portion of the

It

was parceled out

and sold to individuals. Several of

these lots were taken by Messrs. Kellogg & Sabin,
and eventually passed into the hands of the Syrainto small lots

cuse Company.
site of the city,

large

portion of the

now covered

with

present

costly buildings,

was included in these sales, the land being purSuch were the
for mere nominal prices.
which
now
on
stand stately
street
on
James
lots
finest
residence
probably
the
avenue in
mansions
chased

the city

together with

cemetery.

a large tract including the

These brought

at

eighteen to thirty dollars an acre.

of Fayette Park sold for

si.x

the sale from

The

lands east

dollars an acre.

General Granger took several

banks of the canal

lots in the

swamp

now

to

its in-

The

canal was

to Utica, ninety-

four miles, and at once business received a

new and

vigorous impulse.

Independenxe
"

The

Day 1820.

4th of July, 1820,* was a glorious day for

Syracuse.

The

canal was in practical operation,

the prospects of the future city began to brighten

day dawned upon a land heretofore

It was hailed as a day of joy,
a swamp and bog.
Invitations had been e.vfestivity and rejoicing.
a

most

the

brilliant

the

friends of

the

to

the

State, particularly in

throughout

canal

Western

District.

Thousands of guests from the surrounding counties

came to witness the novelty of canal navigation,
and

whom

men

Some

the day.

to celebrate

tinguished

in

of the most dis-

the State were present,

were Governor Clinton and

suite.

among

General

VanCortland, Myron Holley, Thomas J. Oakley

and John C. Spencer. Judge VanNess adjourned
the Circuit Court then in session at the Court
House, and the Court and Bar attended in a body.

Thaddeus

The

Wood,

Esq., presided on the occasion.

was read by N. P. Randall, Esq.,

and the oration delivered by Samuel Miles Hopkins,
Esq., to more than two thousand people.
The
numerous procession was formed in front of Mr.
Cossit's tavern, escorted by the Salina band. They
declaration

proceeded to the pine grove directly

guests,

fine buildings.

was not without

Montezuma

navigable from

him on condition that he would clear

This was done at great
the land immediately.
expense the same season and put into a crop of
Most of this ground is now covered with
wheat.
to bid against

Townsend

Block.

The

in

the rear of

platform upon which

were seated the orator, the reader and distinguished

was under a large spreading pine, which has

long ago bowed

its

towering head to make way

for

the rapid and substantial improvements which have

since been made.

This was the

first

celebration of

our national independence at Syracuse, and those

was another

sale of State lands,

embracing the lots in the vicinity of the old Court

House, and on other portions of the Reservation.

First Packet-Boat at Svracuse.

first

of

It

speculation to tests of experiment.

the

The

Its

near Lodi, between the canal and turnpike, at ten

Citizens agreed not
dollars and fifty cents an acre.

In 1828 there

was

hushed the hostility of opponents of

the enterprise and strengthened the more timid
visionary theories yielded to simple fact, and wild
fluence.

tendcd

Onondaga

Salt Springs Reservation was sold under the direction of the Surveyor-General.

It

wide.

Hundreds

excitement.

of the benefits of the canal

mail matter, bo.xes,

office,

feet

witness the wonder, and this practical illustration

was established
Esq, PostWilkinson
used
said
that
Mr.
to carry
It is
master.
parties
whom
and
deliver
it
to
he
the mail in his hat
met about the village. For some time the office
was kept in General Granger's store, when, for
greater convenience, it was deemed advisable to
move it to John Durnford's printing office. Mr.
Durnford at first objected on account of lack of room,
but when he found that Mr. Wilkinson had brought
first

in February,

Montezuma from

of gentlemen at

a model furnished by Col. Comfort Tyler.

anxious spectators lined the

ing.

old

"

packet-boat on the canal was

who wre

number

it

James Street
In 1824

named

present

among

her proudest

days."

*x

James

Clirk't Onondaga,

street
p.

98.

in 1824.

was only an Indian

trail

Gen. Amos P. G-ranqer was born in Siiffield, Hartford Co.,

He removed to Manlius, Onondaga County, in 1811,
and entered upon mercantile pursuits at that place. About 1820
he removed to the village of Sj'racuse, and became one of the

Shortly after his return from

Whigs

Auburn he was

elected

by the

He

Conn., 1789.

liberal

and one of the most active promoters of the busiFor a number of years subsequent to
his removal to Syracuse he was a merchant, his store standing on
He early
the ground occupied by the Syracuse Savings Bank.
invested largely in real estate, the rise in the value of which made

was an active and useful member. His voice and vote was always
on the right side. He was an effective speaker.
If lack of earlj' education had deprived his phrases of scholastic
finish, it could not divest them of a sharp incisive power, which is
oftentimes more effective than polished oratory. One incident
characteristic of his courage and self-reliance to meet opposition
in other ways than by reason and force of words is related.
A

first

residents,

ness interests of the place.

him one of
The first
on March

wealthiest citizens.

its

election of officers of the village of Syracuse occurred

and Joshua Forman was chosen president,

Herman Waldridge,
and John Rogers as trustees.
In the "War of 1812, General
Granger raised a company of militia, and proceeded to Sacket's
with

Amos

Harbor.

3,

1825,

P. Granger, Moses D. Burnet,

He

continued in the militia service after the war, rising

through successive gradations to the rank of general, which was

his distinguishing title through life.
He was often honored with
positions of trust by the citizens of Syracuse. One very marked instance of this was his selection to deliver the reception address on the

memorable occasion of Gen. Lafayette's visit to Syracuse, in 1825.

General Granger was always an active, energetic, and enthusiastic politician.
He was a member of the Whig party, and was

among the very

first in

the country to protest against the aggressions

of the slave power, and to divine that a

isting parties

new

organization of ex-

must take place before they could be successfully

resisted.

Elected a delegate from

Onondaga County

to the

anti-Nebraska

convention held at Auburn, in October, 1853, of his

he offered the following resolution

own

volition

That the Baltimore platforms adopted by the Democratic and Whig

and in direct violation of the sentiments of
majority of th's State, we, Whigs and Democrats, hereby repudiate for the

Resolved,

national conventions, without authority,

a vast

past, the present, anil the future.

This and three other resolutions offered by General Granger

were unanimously adopted by the convention, and formed the
basis on which was ;iftcrwards erected the Republican party of this

To General Granger, as much as to

any other one man, the Republican organization owes its existence.
State, if not of the nation

of this district to the Thirty-fourth Congress.

Virginia bully, a congressman, attacked him in a public conveyance in Washington.

The attack was made by a young and
vigorous

man upon

one much advanced

in

years

but his years did

not diminish the ardor of the general, who, strong in his principles
of freedom, offered to "waive his age," and try physical results

with a scion of Virginia chivalry.

Since 1858, General Granger occupied no

official position,

but

was strong in his advocacy of true political ideas. Through the

war he was an enthusiastic and outspoken advocate of the Union
During the campaign of 1864, though suffering from
cause.
paralysis, he attended the Union meetings, that he might show
by his presence the feelings of his heart. General Granger was
for half a century a consistent

member

of the Protestant Episcopal

There was no layman so well read as he in the history

of that church. Upon coming to Syracuse he was, in 1826, one of
the first to organize a parish there, and attempt the erection of a
church.

small wooden church, he being at the time of its completion, as

he often related, " the only solvent man in the congregation, and
himself with only a dollar or two in advance." General Granger

was among the

first

vestrymen, and was warden of the same for

over thirty-five j'ears.

In the year 1813 he married Miss Charlotte, daughter of Benjamin Hickcox and IluUlah Holmes, of East Haddam, Conn. She was
born in Hampshire Co., Mass., in the year 1790, and has survived
her husband some eleven years, being now in her eighty-eighth
year, possessing at that age an active mind and great energy of
body. She united with the Episcopal church as early as 1825,

and has been a consistent member of the same

years.

General Granger died Aug. 20, 1806.

for

some

fifty-three

-/*'

Plintu.

The subject uf ihi.s sketch was born in ibo town ot" SliaftsHe wil-* seeoml wm, in a Cainily ot"
bury, Vt., June 1, ITSl.
five sons and three daughters, of I'arley llowlett and Barsiieba
Parker, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter a native
of Connecticut.
The family of Howlett is descended from Parley llowlett,
one of three brothers (the other two naim-d William and John)
who emi;rniled from Kngland in the shi| " Mayflower," and
landiMl at Plymouth Kock, 16J0.
His fatlier eaini' to ( )iioiidafri County with his family, and
wttleil in the town of ()nondaj;a, in the year ITU", on one of
the hills of that town now bearing his name, jiurclixsed land,
and was one of the pioru'en* of this county, and died in ISO!^.
Parley spent his minority clearing; lan<l anil farming, receiviiif;
but in early life he bea Very limited education from books
came so inured to self-reliance and habits of industry as to nuike
his subseijucnt years a worthy record in the history of Onondiifra County.
At tlic a<n' of twenty-three yesirs he purchased one hundred
acrcH of land, and be-ran clearinf; the same.
To this purehiise,
in IH14, he addeil some two hundreil aeri'S more, very nearly the
whole id" which he cau.sed to be cleared, and. after the .salt interest iH'fian, he cau.sed the tindMT to be cut into wood, hauled
the wihhI to (ieddes, and used it in the manufacture of .H:dt.
He
;

early en;;a;;ed in the s<dt business

first nsin;; eiirhl

kiltlebloeks,

al\cTwards usinjr si.xtecn, and Hubs4M|uently ihirty-two kettlcbloeks.

it

down

He was the first man who shipjied .salt west, boat in;;
the ()swc;:o river, thetice by the lake, drawin;; it with

teams around the

found a market first at Silver Creek,

utlerwards Kric, Pa., and Ashtabuli, ( )hio, and sub.scijuently at
Cleveland
exehanjiin;; his sjdt for horses and cattle, he drove
them liack to this county. After two years he killed his cattle and
packed the meat for the eastern market.
After the canal wius
finished he packed his meat in Synicu.se, his packint;-lious<' bein;;
located ojiposite the present way-locks in tlie city.
He .shipped
the first beel' and pork in barrels, by the Krie canal, that was
sent cast from ()ni>iida<;a County.
;

falls;

The

1*3

llonlii

.V

CiirUM, 8>niflMC.

'^oes back so
country lie passed throiiLdi with
his stock in returning; home, that he related p:Lssin;_' throuiih
twenty-five miles of woodland, by marked trees, from one clearing;
to another.
His whole life was spent in active business until
within a few years of his death.
He lived and died on the farm
he had purcha.sed in 18(17.
He was liberal in his views of educational interests, and ;,'ave larj^ely for the snjiiKirt of the .Miiiic.
In jKililies he was identified with the Anti-Ma.sonie party,
with the Wliij: party, and U|>oii the formation of the Hepnbliean
party became a warm sup]nirter of its principles; and .so oppo.sed
was he to the principles of slavery that, Ufion the breaking; out
of the Hebellioii in 18(1(1, that fjuestion st-cmed to occupy his
whole attention, and he desired that the war should never be
ended nnlil that institution was abolished, but he only lived

history of Mr. Howlett's operations wirst

far in the early .setlliinint of the

until

May

1>>,

IStJl, just at the bepnnin;: of the war.

In the year 18(15, July 21, he married Miss

a native of Connecticut, but of this
inarriajre.

llonilio

c<mnty

at

Phebe Robbins,
the time of the

To them were born eleven children Solomon K.,

Myron P., Latitia E., Jane M.. Parley L., Alfred
:

(;.,

C and Jerome Howlett, six of

and Alfred A. desires by this sketch and
portrait above to jilaee upon the pa^es of history a few facts relatin;; to one of ()iionda;.;a's pioneer active business men.
Parley Howlett was no ordinary person. He was a man of i|uiek
apprehension and siroii;; convictions, frank and fearless in their
e.\pre,ssioii. and energetic in carryin;; them out.
He possi-ssed
A., Celestia S., Daniel. Francis

whom

are

stroll;;

common

businctts.

now

livinj;

.sense in ;;reat

Was .sn;:uini'

abundance,

uncommon

in his temjieranieiil.

and

.sapicily in

lio|K'ful

ready

and siroii;; to overcome the difficulties in the way of

Hclf-iiiade men. and admirably fitted by the pos-s^-ssion of lliesi'
He was a ;;ooil
i|Unlities to fi;;lit the battles of a pioneer life.
nei;;lilMir and a warm friend.
He commanded the rexpect of his
fellow-eiti/.ens, and was thre<> times a candidate of the old Wlii;;
he failed not
party for the office of hi;;li sheriff of the county
iiir the want of |>ersonal popularity, but only beeau.se the Democnitie party in those early ilays was larp'ly in the a.sceiideney.
to nie't

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

leading over the hills to what was then Foote Settle-

now

ment,

the

first

eye of the lonely wayfarer on that

was not

trail

gladdened by the sight of the lordly and

now give

residences which

The

gate on the plank road.

in

The only object

trail

list

Our space

will

of officers further.

not allow us

They

be

will

the records of the village and city.

palatial

was the dwelling house of Major

Burnet erected that year by Rodney Sargents, of
Auburn this house stood on a slight eminence
occupied by the late residence of Major Burnet. It
fronted towards the south and had a sort of temthis

found

Early Lawyers.

so grand and aristocratic

an appearance to this fine avenue.

on

welfare of the village.

to follow the

141

John Wilkinson, Esq., was the first lawyer

He came to the place in 1819, and

in

racuse.

Sy-

a few

years after built an office on the corner now occupied by the Globe Hotel.
The office was twelve

porary road leading directly to the

The house then

the Erie Canal.

tow-path

on

stood far out of

town and the only avenue of approach for teams

was by the tow-path and the private road.
Persons
reach
it
by
taking
could
the
foot
trail
and
on
beating across throu h the underbrush.

Progress of the Village.

The

Syracuse was a mere hamlet of a

till the completion of the
This work was a new era in the pro-

village of

few hundred inhabitants

Erie canal.

gress of the village, from

which

act

its rapid growth

was incorporated by
of the Legislature April 13, 1825, the same year

of

the

may be

The

dated.

village

completion of the canal, with

powers granted to

the

The

like incorporations.

usual

charter

was amended in 1829, and again in 1834, increasing the power of village officers, regulating water
In 1835, the bounds
works, fire department, &c.
of the original village were considerably enlarged.
In 1839 3nd in 1841, there were further amend-

ments of the charter, so as

to enable the trustees to

hold real estate for the purposes of a village ceme-

which was subsequently laid out and beautiThe charter was also further amended in
1842 and in 1845, ^^ ^^he improvement of water
works, to empower the trustees to borrow money on

tery,
fied.

the credit of the corporation, to purchase a lot for

a market and other public buildings, and

for other

purposes.

Municipal Officers

At

the

first

election for village officers

charter, held at the

3,

Village Government.

1825, Joshua

school house in

Forman,

Amos

under the

Syracuse

May

Granger, Moses

P.

D. Burnet, Heman Walbridge, and John Rogers,

were elected Trustees Joshua Forman was chosen
President
James Webb, Alfred Northam, and
;

Thomas
Clerk

Spencer,

Assessors

John Durnford, Treasurer

John
;

Wilkinson,

Daniel Gilbert,

Justice of the Peace, presiding.

The Trustees proceeded

districts, to

organize a

fire

once to lay out road

department, to purchase
at

engines and apparatus, and other things for the

by fourteen

feet,

and Mr. Wilkinson was heartily

ridiculed for putting his office out in the

was then, although the

location

is

now

field,

as

it

in the heart

of the city.

Mr. Wilkinson was long identified with the growth

and progress of the village, holding many offices
with honor and distinction. When railroads were
first put in successful operation, he closely investigated their workings and principles and entered
largely into railroad affairs.
He was for several
years President of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad,
and by his influence succeeded in having the workshops of that road located at Syracuse. He was
afterwards President of the Michigan Southern
Railroad, and under his skillful management that
road became one of the best in the Union. In 1824
he built a residence a little south of his office where
he resided till he built his fine residence on James
street.

The

next attorney after Mr. Wilkinson, vyas AlNortham, Esq., in 1824. Then came Harvey
Baldwin and Schuyler Strong, Esqs., in 1826, and
were soon followed by Messrs. Wheaton and Davis,
Hon. E. W. Leavenworth, Hon. B. Davis Noxon,
Hon. James R. Lawrence, and others who came
with the removal of the Court House from OnonHon. George F. Comstock was a law
daga Hill
student herewith Messrs. Noxon and Leavenworth

fred

and began

his legal practice

among

the early

mem-

Hon. E. W. LeavenHon,
Joshua Forman was
in
1827.
worth came
with
Mr. Wilkinson,
contemporary
also a lawyer,
was with his
period
early
but his office at that
Hollow.
He was
partner, Mr. Sabin, at Onondaga
bers of the Syracuse Bar.

made Judge

of the Court of

Common

Pleas in

Other early lawyers of Syracuse and the

18 1 3.*
County were Grove Lawrence, John H. Hulburt,
Daniel Gott, D. D. Hillis, George H. Middleton,
Henry J. Sedgwick, William J. Hough, John Ruger,
John G. Forbes, and J. W. Nye.
Of the above list all are deceased except Hon. E.
W. Leavenworth and Judge George F. Comstock.
The following have also been members of this
Bar, and have died within the past 24 years
* See Biography of Judge Forman.

Fin-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

142

M. King, Thomas T. Davis, Z. C. Foot, N. B.

H. S. Fuller, William J.
Dodge, Col. A. W. Dwight, Barnard Slocum, Richard Raynor, Col. C. M. Randall, Frank Wooster,
S. L. Edwards, Jr.,D. J. Mitchell, John A. Clark,
Henry Horton, Cyrus R. James, D. Redfield, John

lay

upon the

Smith, James Barrett,

less injured.

J.

Miles,

John

Malloy,

Gardner, A. Coats,

Charles C.

Outwater,

Bates,

"The
was

Northrup,

V. M.

beyond description men, women and chilnone knew the extent of

in horror
the calamity, and all were anxious to learn the fate
Quickly some three thousand
of their friends.
persons were gathered, anxiously looking for those
whom they most regarded. Very soon lamps were
brought the wounded were carried oft", filling the
the dead were sought
air with sighs and groans
and found, many of them so disfigured that they
could be recognized only by their clothes or the
For a long time small
contents of their pockets.
groups of persons could be seen with lights in all
horrible

Jr.,

directions, carrying either the dead or the wounded

The next day the village was
to their homes.

Baker, L. Harris Hiscock.

The

dren screaming

M. Smith, Nelson M.

Clinton

instant the e.xplosion took place, the air

with fragments of the building, bits of

filled

John Callamer, John L Ncwcomb, Thomas A.

Smith, J. R. Lawrence, Jr., J. W. Loomis, Fred H.
Gray, A. C. Griswold, D. G. Montgomery, Leonard
H. Lewis, S. Rexford, J. J. Briggs, O. J. Rugcr,
C. M. Brosnan, E. Butler, R. S. Corning, A. J.
Henderson, Z. L. Beebe, J. F. Sabine, George
Murphy, Robert F. Trowbridge, Andrew J. Lynch,
H. E.

and several buildings were more or

lumber, &c., which lighted up the heavens with the

brightness of day but in a twinkling it was total
the explosion had extinguished every
darkness
The scene at the moment was
particle of fire.

Q. A. Johnson, E. A. Brown, John Huning, G. D. Z. Griswold,

E. A. Clapp, John H. Brand, H. H. Hitchcock,
P.

floor,

shrouded in mourning the stores were all closed

and business suspended. On Sunday the unfortunate victims were consigned to the tomb amidst
the sympathies and tears of an afflicted com;

following attorneys have been in practice in

R. H. Gardner, James
Syracuse 24 or more years
S. Leach, Le Roy Morgan, Daniel Pratt, Hamilton
Burdick, C. B. Sedgwick, Thomas G. Alvord, Israel
:

W. Leavenworth, B. Davis No.xon,

George F. Comstock, Daniel F. Gott, William C.
Rugcr, M. C. Mcrrinian, G. W. Gray, J. L. Bagg,
H. C. Leavenworth, H. Ricgel, N. F. Graves, S. N.
Holmes, D. Coats.

munity."

S. Spencer, E.

Incorporation of Syracuse as a City.

The

rapid growth of the village in population and

importance induced the discussion of its incorporaMeetings were held during

tion as a city in 1846.

that and part of the following year without arriving

I

The Powder

On

E.xplosion.

the evening of Friday, August 20, 1841, oc-

curred an event ever memorable to the people of

shop on the tow-path side of the Oswego

where
twenty-five kegs of powder had been
Canal,
which
exploded with terrific eflfect and
stored, and
with the sad consequences described.
A gloom

whole

village,

and sadness

"The

Considerable difference of opinion existed

the inhabitants as to the extent of territory

Some were

for

having

entire Salt Springs Reservation

only the village of Syracuse.

At

it

others

several spirited

meetings the subject was warmly discussed, and

re-

suited in the plan of uniting the villages of SyraI

cuse and Salina, under one city charter with the

name

of the latter.

passed

December

The
14,

act

of incorporation

1S47, (Chap. 475,

Laws,) and defined the limits of the

was felt for more

man upon the deck of

efiect of the explosion

than twenty miles around.

a packet boat at Fulton, 26 miles distant, heard the
At DcWitt and Jamesville; five miles ofl",
report.
persons were startled from their sleep, supposing
their chimneys had fallen down.
At Manlius, ten
miles distant, the earth trembled, and crockery upon
a merchants shelves rattled for the space of several
seconds, like the ellect of a clap of thunder.
At
Camillus, it was compared to the crash o( falling
At Onondaga, it was supposed to be an
timber.
Although the concussion was tremenearthquake.
dous at Syracuse, the report was not so loud as
might have been supposed. Glass in the windows
a hundred rods distant was broken.
Papers in the
County Clerk's office were thrown from their places

ture.

embrace the

filled

every house and heart, at the terrible calamity.

the winter of 1847,

the question was brought before the Legisla-

the city should include.

joiner's

cast over the

till

when

among

Syracuse the Powder Explosion, which killed 26

citizens, and wounded 10 dangerously, and 43 others
It was caused by a fire originating in a
severely.

was

any definite conclusion,

at

lows
"

was

Session

city as fol-

The

district of

country constituting a part of

town of Salina, and including the villages of

Syracuse and Salina, in the county of Onondaga,

the

within the following bounds, that is to say

" Beginning on the northeasterly corner of Manrunning thence to the northeasterly
lius L.
corner of the village of Salina, thence along the
northerly line of said village of Salina, to the
northwesterly corner of the same, thence southwesterly to the Onondaga Lake, thence along the
southeasterly shore of said lake to the center of
Onondaga Creek, thence southerly along the cent^
of said creek to the line of the village of Syracuse,
thence westerly and southerly along such line to
:

The subject of this sketch was born in the town of OnonOnondaga Co., July 6, 1808. He was the second child in

J.^'i.'-^^T^

He

has been closely identified with that interest.

also carried

daga,

on in the meantime the grocery business

a family of three children of Gerry Stevens and Charlotte Hard,

a manufacturer of potash for three years, and a forwarding

(now

the former a native of Killingworth

latter a native of

Washington

Co.,

N. Y.

Clinton), Conn., the

merchant for four years.

His father came to

been one of great

Until within a few years his

activity,

and his

Onondaga County about the year 1800, and hence was one of

perform his part in contributing

the pioneers of the county.

of which he

From

the historical collection of John L. Barber, of Con-

necticut, it appears that the Stevens'

the

first

removed

to Killingworth in the year

settlers there are the

The

Stevens.

latter of these

Deacon Stevens, and sometimes

There
is

traces his descent,

is little

first

planters

These

1665, and among

through

whom

the subject of this

doubt that one of the ancestors, named Thomas,

Book of Martyrs, who

martyrdom by being burned

suffered

death at Rye, in the county of

to

Kent, England, 1557.

Before George was three years of age his father died, leaving

She was afterwards married

Heberd, a carpenter and joiner,

who

factories of coarse salt in Salina,

built

some of the

and with

whom

his early life learning the trade, attending the

winters,

At

first

manu-

George spent

common

school

and for two terms attended the Onondaga academy.

to

is

New

complete his trade, and while there (1828) he laid a

house-floor

and

Cyprian

to

the age of sixteen he went to Troy, and afterwards to

York

made of lumber matched with tongue and

said to be the first

in the world,

who

laid

man

in the

such a

groove,

United States, and possibly

floor.

On

arriving at age he

returned to his native county, and for the next six years worked
at his trade.

He

then built several

salt

manufactories in Salina,

and was one of the fir.st to manufacture tine salt.

Altogether
he has spent thirty-three years in the manufacture of salt, and
IJied April rth, 1S7N,

his whole

He

since the publication

ol

the uliovo.

to the best interests of the city

citizen in his seventieth

year.
offices

life.

has lived to see the

rise

city,

with

all

of

its

present wealth

He

from a village of three hundred persons.

last

zation as a city,

president of the village before

its

organi-

and since which time he has served several

terms as assessor, overseer of the poor,

and supervisor of the

fourth ward, in which he resides.

In the year 1864 he was elected police justice of the

which

office

he held

life.

city,

until a paraljftic stroke in the year

1867

and

retire

compelled him to relinquish the duties of that

to private

a wife and three children.

has

with that integrity and consideration which has characterized

was next to the

his grandfather, Jeremiah.

life

of responsibility and trust, discharging the duties of the same

had a

son, Josiah, also called

was

have been such as to

efforts

Highly esteemed by his fellow-men, he has held many

and business,

called Captain Stevens, born a.d.

the same spoken of in Fox's

now an honored

names of Thomas and William

1670, and died March 15, 1754, from

memoir

the

names of Thomas and John Stevens.

there appear the

families

came from the county of

Among

Kent, England, to Guilford, Conn.

is

for four years

office

In the years 1851 and 1852 he represented

his district in the State legislature.

In 1852 he became a director

the Merchants' bank, and

has held the office until the present time.

the same

the year previous to his illness.

of the Onondaga

For

salt

He was president of
He has been a director

company from the time of its

organization.

his first wife he married, in the year 1831, Harriet,

daughter of Moses Stebbins, of Springfield, Mass., by

he had two children,

Harriet (deceased),

Henry

Howard

who married A.

of the city of Syracuse.

whom

(died in infancy) and

C. Chase, present postmaster

His wife died

in

183G, aged twenty-eight

years. For his second wife, in 1840, he married Mrs. Lydia P.,
widow of Capt. Joseph Fitch, of New London, Conn., and
daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Barns, of Westerly, R. I., by whom

he has had four children, Alice, George H. (deceased), Joseph

F.,

and Kate.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the south bounds of the town of Salina, thence east
along the south bounds of the town of Salina to
the east bounds thereof, thence northerly along the
east bounds of said town to the place of beginning,
"
shall hereafter be known as the City of Syracuse.'

Ttiesday
elected

in

March, 1848, the following

Section second of the act divided the city into

All that

Onon-

part of the city lying east of

daga Creek and north of Division and Pond streets,

was made the First Ward all the rest of the city
;

lying north of the center of the Erie Canal, was

made the Second Ward the Third Ward included
that portion of the city lying south of the Erie
Canal and west of Montgomery street as far south
as Burt street, thence west of Salina street to the
southern boundary of the city; the remainder of

were

Hon. Harvey Baldwin, Mayor.

Aldermen.

Ward James Lynch,

First

Second

officers

'

four wards, as follows

143

ll'ard

Ale.xander

Elizur Clark.

McKinstry, John B.

Burnet.

Third Ward

William

H. Alexander, Gardner

Lawrence.
Fourth

Ward Henry W.

Durnford, Robert Fur-

the city constituted the Fourth

The

man.
In January,

showed

census was taken which

1849, ^

that the city contained a small fraction less

than 16,000 inhabitants.

Ward.

following certificate of the Clerk of

Mayors of the City of Syracuse.

Onon-

First Mayor, 1848,

daga county shows that an election was held by the

citizens of both villages, for the purpose of ratify-

W. Leavenworth;

ing the charter, on the 3d of January, 1848

Moses D. Burnet
Dennis McCarthy;

Whereas, By the provisions of an act entitled

'An Act to Incorporate the City of Syracuse,'
passed December 14, 1847, an election was held in
each of the villages of Syracuse and Salina, on the
third day of January, one thousand eight hundred
and forty-eight and from the returns made and
filed in the office of the Clerk of the County of
Onondaga by the Trustees of said villages respectively, pursuant to said act, it appears that the whole
number of votes given at said election at the poll
held in the village of Syracuse, was one thousand
of which the whole
eight hundred and forty-three
number of votes having thereon the word Charter
was ten hundred and seventy-two, and that the
whole number of votes having thereon the words
No Charter was seven hundred and seventy-one.
That the whole number of votes given at said
election at the poll held in the village of Salina,
was four hundred and twenty-four of which the
whole number of votes having thereon the word
Charter was three hundred and eighty-five and
the whole number having thereon the words No
;

Lyman
ton

Woodruff; 1853,

1852, Jason C.

"

Harvey Baldwin; 1849, Elias

H. Hovey 185 1,

1850, Alfred

Stevens;

Munroe

Allen

1854,

1856-57-58,

W. Leavenworth

1859, Elias

1855,

Charles F. Willis-

Amos

i860,

Westcott 1861-62, Charles Andrews 1863, Daniel

1865Bookstaver
1864, Archibald C. Powell;
1868, Charles Andrews
66-6"], William D. Stewart
;

1869-70,
Carroll

Charles P.

1873, William

J.

Graves;

1875, George

Grouse

1877-78,

1871-72, Francis

Clark;

Wallace
P.

Hier

1874,

Nathan F.

1876,

E.

John

J.

Belden.

J. J.

'

Postmasters.

'

'

John Wilkinson, 1820; Jonas

Henry Raynor,

1841

William

Earll, Jr.,

1837;

W.

1845

Teall,

'

William Jackson, 1849; Henry J. Sedgwick, 1853

George L.
and 1857; Patrick H. Agan, 1861
Maynard, 1865 D wight H. Bruce, 1871 A. C.
;

Chase, 1876, present Postmaster.

'

'

The Old Mill-Pond.

'

Charter
"

'

was

thirty-nine.

majority of votes at each of said villages

having been thus given in favor of said charter, as
appears from said returns on file in the office of the
Clerk of the County of Onondaga, as aforesaid
I,
Vivus W. Smith, Clerk of said County, in pursuance of the provisions of the Seventeenth Section of Title
of said Act, do make and publish
this statement, and certify that the said act of incorporation becomes a law on the day of the first
publication of this certificate.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set
[l. s.]
my hand and affixed the seal of the said
County of Onondaga, this 5th day of
January, 1848.
:

V.

W. Smith,

Clerk."

First City Officers.

At

the

first

Charter Election, held on the

first

improvement of no little importance to the

city was the conversion of the old mill-pond into
valuable building lots, which are now occupied by

An

substantial manufacturing estabhshments, business

blocks, public buildings and residences.

It will

be

were

remembered that the first dam and mills

by Abraham Walton in 1805. The dam was
constructed of logs across Onondaga Creek at West
built

Genesee

street,

and

at that

time the Genesee Turn-

About a year after its conpike passed over

away by a heavy spring
swept
struction, it was
it.

and another log dam was built at the crossin

ing of West Water street, which was removed
its
in
erected
dam
1824, and a substantial stone
Samuel
place. Then came the stone mill erected by
freshet,

Booth

for the

Syracuse

Company in

1825.

The

mill-

'44

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

pond covered so large

a surface

and was

yearsthecauseof so much sickness

it

was

for

masy

in the village that

West Genesee
are

emptied by tearing away the dam, and

under the administration of Mayor Bald-

Be.njamin

finally

in 184S,

It

consisted of the straightening of

Onondaga Creek and

the

filling

in of

portions of

the mill-pond with earth from Prospect Hill.

The work was carried forward under the adminisMayor Leavenworth in 1849, who had

tration of

(now Regimental) Park

Jefferson

out in about

laid

the center of the ground formerly occupied by the

mill-pond.

The

land then belonged to the State,

and comprised about nine

acres, including the site

of the pond and the neck of land extending to the

to dig a trench two or three feet below the surface,

and while doing so struck upon a line of graves.
On examination they proved to be placed in a direct
line for some twenty or thirty feet, and consisted of

number of bodies. The bones were mostly

decomposed, except the skulls, and among them
were found quite a number of bullets.
Probably
the ground was never used as a permanent burial

quite a

fell in some battle of which,

we have no record and were hastily buried

perhaps,

obtained the consent of the Commissioners of the

here

Land

nence.

sale,

its

on condition

that

it

would bring S9.000 otherwise the sale was to be

null and void.
The land was offered upon this
condition, and at the sale brought over S 16,000.
;

The

center of this

ground

is

fine State Arsenal, while the

now occupied by

the

Binghamton Freight

and Passenger Depots and other substantial structures occupy other portions of it.
The first Arsenal building was erected in 1858,
in which year the site was conveyed to the State.
The cost of the building was S8,ooo the State appropriated $5,000, and Si, 800 was raised by individual subscription.
This building was destroyed
;

by

fire

in

larger and

The

1871.

present building

more ornamental structure

1872 74, at a cost of ?8o,coo

White, Architect.
This building is
in

State Arsenal, and

is

much

was erected
;

Horatio N.

known

as the

the headquarters of the 51st

Regiment. loth Brigade, 6th Division, &c., National

Guard of the State of New York."

BuKViNG Grounds

OAKwoon

Cemetery.

For the following brief sketch of the burying

entitled

"

we

are indebted to a little work

Oakwood," a history of the incorporation

places in Syracuse,

and dedication of Oakwood Cemetery.

The first
white person who was buried within the limits of

1787,
years.

About the year 1845, Joseph Savage, Esq., who

owns the land occupied by this grave, had occasion

place, but these bodies

Office for

stones

Nukerk,

Aged 37

center of

Onondaga Creek. Mr. Leavenworth had

map made. of the land including the Park, and

foot

Died Dec. 7th,

win, the work of improving this portion of the city

was begun.

The head and

street.

standing, bearing the inscription

still

in

the sandy loam of this beautiful

But

it

may be

found other remains

little hillock,

little

emi-

otherwise, as Mr. Savage

in difierent places

on the same

one, the skull of which had evidently

by a tomahawk. A gun, brass kettle,

and pipes were also found from time to time.
Probably the Indians had occupied this spot after
been

cleft

flints

Ephraim Webster established

his trading post here.

The first burials in the village of Salina were

made on ground now known as Lot No. 8 in Block
No.

18,

near the intersection of Spring and Free

They, however, ceased to bury there be1794, and began to make interments on the
ground now embraced in Washington Park, and near
streets.

fore

the spot where

ly

the Presbyterian Church (recent-

removed) was afterwards

Gilchrist, the

members

mother of

built.

Mrs. Nancy T.

Ira A. Gilchrist,

and several

of the families of Dexter and Herring were

here,
Mrs. Gilchrist in 1794.
Burials
were made here also but a few years, when finding

buried

the location too near the dwellings, they began to

bury upon the ridge which runs through Block No.
40, in the rear of the residence of

James Lynch,

Esq., and in the immediate vicinity of that formerly

occupied by the late Alfred Northam, Esq.

was abandoned

This,

when Sheldon Logan,

at that time Superintendent of the Onondaga Salt
Springs, laid out a piece of ground then owned by
too,

in

1801,

the city, and probably within the bounds of Onon-

the State, for a public burying ground.

daga County, was Benjamin Nukerk, who came to

the wilds of Onondaga as an Indian trader with

as such

Ephraim Webster in 1786. He died December 7,

1787, and was buried on a little eminence which
overlooks the Onondaga Lake and its shores, now
embraced in Farm Lot No. 310, lying directly in

and perhaps some from Block No. 40,

were removed to the new grounds.
Block No. 59
in the First Ward, covers the site of the grounds
laid out by Mr. Logan.

the rear of the

residence of William Judson, on

* See Roiter oi Olficeri eliewhere.

till

It

was used

the year 1S29, and a few of the bodies

buried in Washington Park, including that of Mrs.

Gilchrist,

By an

act

of

the

Legislature passed in

(Chap. 243) Block No. 43 was substituted

for

1829,

Block

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

No.

purpose of a public cemetery.

59, for the

The

as a cemetery.

On motion of General Granger two

were voted at the same meeting for

trustees of the village of Salina, as by law directed,

hundred

removed the bodies from the old ground to the new

the former was sold at public auction, and Block No.
43 has been used as a cemetery from that time to

the improvement

The

the present.

lots are nearly or quite all

taken

up and occupied.
It may be proper to state here that Mr. Isaac
VanVleck, one of the best known among the early
settlers, was buried on Lot 8, Block 13, on what has

(Laws 1835, Chap.

160,)

incorporating Lodi with

Ambrose

to lay out.

S.

Townsend, who died on the 24th of August, 1841,

was the first person buried at Rose Hill. He was
the eldest son of John Townsend,

and grandson

Esq of Albany,
Ambrose Spencer.

of the late

Oakwood.

As

to the act of the Legislature

of the grounds, which the Trus-

tees proceeded at once

been designated the Schouten Lot.

In 1834, previous

dollars

145

to

a cemetery

a large

Rose Hill was never satisfactory

number of the citizens of Syracuse.

The topography was

unfavorable,

more than half

the village of Syracuse, the inhabitants of that lo-

of the surface being a steep side

cemetery upon the hill on

Beech street south of East Genesee, on Farm Lot

and the whole destitute of natural trees

and shrubbery. It was by many deemed incapable
of those high adornments which the public taste
now demands. For these and other reasons an

cality established a small

The

No. 197.

lot,

furnished the land and

an acre of ground, or more

offered

condition

the

that

who then

Oliver Teall, Esq.,

late

held a contract for the

people

if

desired, on

in that vicinity

would

hill,

not easily ac-

cessible,

early desire was manifested

citizens to procure

grounds

by many prominent
cemetery more in

for a

and fence it. About half an acre was enand it has been since mostly occupied, although of late years it has been almost entirely

conformity with the higher cultivation of modern

taste on the subject.
Accordingly, as early as 1852
and the years immediately following, a number of

abandoned as a burying place.

meetings were held and the subject of a new

cemetery was fully discussed. Committees were
appointed for the purpose of thoroughly examining

clear

closed,

The

first

burials within

the limits of what was

formerly the village of Syracuse were

now enclosed

in

Block No.

and Fayette

tion of Clinton

made on

land

105, near the intersecstreets.

They

did not

probably exceed twenty or thirty in number, and

the citizens ceased to bury there previous to

When

the village

was

laid

out by Messrs.

Forman and John Wilkinson, and

of the same,
set apart for

1819.

Owen

map made

no spot of ground seems to have been

a cemetery, and from 18 19 to 1S24, all

were made at Salina, Onondaga Hill, or Onondaga Hollow. The first person buried in what
is now designated the "Old Cemetery" was Mrs.
burials

Eliza Spencer, the

who

cer,

first

wife of

Hon. Thomas Spen-

died on the 2d day of April, 1824.

the village passed into the hands of the Syracuse

After

Com-

pany, they probably set apart this piece of ground

for

a cemetery

till

and

it

continued to be used as such

84 1.

On
in

Hill Cemetery, containing a

fraction over

twenty-two acres, were purchased of George

F.

Leitch, by the Trustees of the village in compli-

ance with a vote of the citizens.

opposition to the purchase

count of
reasons,

its

There was much

of this ground, on ac-

nearness to the village and for other

and a second meeting was called, hoping

would reconsider their decision.

that the citizens

majority, however, voted in favor of

time,

it

a second

and the property was purchased and

19*

the locality best adapted

all

directions and finding

in all

respects to the pur-

These committees carefully performed their duty and the unanimous conclusion was finally reached, that the hundred acres
of land best fitted for all the purposes desired was
that now embraced within the limits of Oakwood.
The persons who most particularly interested
poses of a rural cemetery.

themselves at
Dillaye,

this

time were Messrs.

Charles B.

Sedgwick, John

Henry A.
B.

Burnet,

Robert B. Raymond, Charles Pope, Hamilton

White, A. C. Powell, C. Tyler Longstreet, Israel
Hall, John Wilkinson, Allen Munroe and E. W.
Leavenworth.

No

immediate action was taken with regard

laid

out

to

the purchase of the grounds, and in the midst of

other pursuits of more pressing personal interest,

the 1st of July, 1841, the grounds embraced

Rose

the vicinity of the city in

it

was delayed till the summer of 1857, when the subwas again revived by Messrs. Hamilton White,
Bagg, Lewis H. Redfield, C. Tyler LongL.
J.
street, A. C. Powell, John Wilkinson and Henry A.
The papers were drawn up preparatory to
Dillaye.

ject

the organization of an Association

the terms of

the purchase of the grounds were verbally agreed

upon,

when

the whole subject was suddenly put to

by the great pecuniary revulsion of that year.

A final and eventually successful effort was again
made in the summer of 1858, principally by Messrs.
rest

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

146

White and Leavenworth, which was continued with

little interruption till the summer of 1859.
Having

that at Salina, having been

Council having resolved to

arranged with Charles A. Haker, Esq., for the purchase of the front twenty acres, and with Henry

arations for the

Raynor, Esq.,

early in October,

the balance of the ground, the

for

object to which attention

was

directed was the

removal of the Jamesville Plank

Road from the

It became nec-

first

bounds of the proposed cemetery.

essary to procure the consent of a majority of the

stockholders,

afterwards of a majority of the inhab-

itants residing

on the cast and west road crossing

the said Plank

Road near

road was to be changed,

its first

gate, to

next of the

which the

Supervisors

and Commissioners of Highways of the town of

Onondaga, in which town the road is situated and
finally,

Road

to procuic a right

across the

and Dr. David

of

way

for said

S. Colvin.

and with much

aid from Mr. Baker, these several objects were successfully attained, and all serious obstacles removed,
effort,

except the raising of the necessary funds for the purchase.

To that important service Hon. A. C.
Powell for weeks devoted a large portion of his
time, and with such aid as he had from Messrs.

Hawley, White and Leavenworth, succeeded early

in

August

amount in subtwo and three years with

raising the necessary

in

scriptions, payable in one,

interest.

On

the 15th of August, 1859, the subscribers to

of

J.

P.

Haskins, John

"

Thus,

C.

Powell,

Austin

Porter,

C. Powell, Vice-President:

Allen Munroe, Secretary, and Hamilton White, Treasurer.

At

the

same meeting a

resolution

was adopted,

on motion of Mr. Alvord, instructing the officers of

the association to purchase of Messrs. Baker and

Raynor the lands now embraced

in

the terms theretofore agreed upon, viz

the twenty acres

Oakwood on
:

?9,5CXD for

bought of Mr. Baker, and

;$iS,ooo for the seventy-two and seventy-nine one
hundredth acres, bought of Mr. Raynor.
Agreeably to such resolution, the purchase was made and
in front,

the papers exchanged

Oakwood

of

on the 5th of September

thereafter.

All the lots in Rose Hill Cemetery, and also in

in

the

difficulties

and disajipointments,

words

following

at length, after nearly ten

years of delays,
after the project

had been more than once abandoned, and our hopes

all but extinguished, this lovely spot of ground was
repose of our dead to be
and hallowed in our memories
while we live, by a thousand sacred and tender recollections, and to be the beautiful resting place of

secured

for the

visited,

admired

final

our bodies when

summoned

to our final home."

grounds are the most beautiful and admirably adapted to the purposes of a rural
cemetery of any in the country, and the art dis-

We

may add

to

that the

decoration and the rich and costly

in their

will well

repay

the stranger for a

visit

Oakwood.
Dedication.

W. Leavenworth, Arch-

Myers, Allen Munroe,

Robert G. Wynkoop Thomas
G Alvord, J. Dean Hawley. On the following day
a meeting of the trustees was held at the office of
Hon. E. W. Leavenworth and the following officers
were chosen E. W. Leavenworth, President A.
ibald

Timothy R.

New

or sixty

pamphlet from which we have selected

its account of the

little

Association of Oakwood, and elected the following

Hamilton White,

fifty

the matter for this history closes

monuments

Daniels, Esq., an accom-

859-' 60.

The

played

Crouse, John Wilkinson, E.

prep-

the grounds, and

of

men, commenced
work and continued it till the month of December.
The first person buried at Oakwood was Mrs.
Nellie G. Wilkinson, who died on the 6th, and was
buried on Tuesday, the 8th day of November, 1859
The first monument of any kind erected within
the bounds of the cemetery, was that of James
Crouse, Esq., on Section No. 13, during the winter

the fund met at the Mayor's office and organized the

trustees

made immediate

improvement

York, with the aid of

progress

After a year of laborious

Common

the north eight acres

plished landsdape gardener from the city of

Plank

lands of Charles A. Baker, Esq.,

sell

of the former, the Trustees

Howard

and the

sold,

On

Tuesday, the 3d day of November, 1859, the

grounds were dedicated with appropriate ceremonies to the sacred [uirpose of a resting place for the

dead.

The Hon. Wm.

J.

Bacon, of Utica, deliv-

ered the Address, Alfred B. Street, Esq., of Albany,

the Poem, and Rev. John Pierpont, of Boston, and

Mrs.

Thomas

spectively an

T. Davis, of Syracuse, furnished re-

Ode and

Hymn

for

the occasion,

which was one of deep interest to the people of

Syracuse, many thousands testifying their appreciation of the importance of the object attained by
their presence on the ground.
The day, which was
lowery and threatening in the morning, became
bright and beautiful and one of the plcasantest of
the season.

The exercises, including the opening address by

Hun. E. W. Leavenworth, President of the Cemetery Association, and the oration by Hon. William
interesting and
J. Bacon, were all exceptionally
appropriate, but

we have space only

for the

Hymn

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Thomas

of Mrs.

Poem

T. Davis, and the

of Mr.

Alfred B. Street, which deserve a place in the more

permanent records of the city and county, as among

some of the finest specimens of our mortuary literature,

Air

Pleycl's

DAVIS.

T.

Hymn.

Flow'ry chaplets fondly twine

Where our

keep

Mark

Yields to the

But not

pallid stone

Death survives,
and Life arise.

Shed not then the frenzied

tear

Rear the marble

till

Blended with

This

Home
Home

Life shall be

The

eternity.

members

of the Syra-

cuse Musical Institute, under the leadership of H,

Mayor Leavenworth's

the conclusion of

dress, Alfred B. Street, Esq., of Albany,

ad-

pronounced

the following exquisitely beautiful and appropriate

POEM
O'er

life's

Dance

to

fresh springtide,

glad music through perennial flowers

when hope points ever on,

No blossom scentless, and no color wan
O'er stately manhood, when the mountain tread
;

far prize that stars the

crag o'erhead

O'er trembling age, when, worn with

toil and woe,

gloom below
Darkens a shade, mysterious, cold and black,

It turns

from

light

above

to

waves,

it

into

bloom

leafy

its

showers

of the priceless fount

precious gold

the matchless

to life

upon her breast,

Weep

dead.

thy green landscapes shall Affection stray,

the wild tear, with softened sadness pray.

Within the glen, as murmurings

fill

voice shall seem to whisper, "

the green

With the

hill

top

the tree,

Come

me

with

whence the sight

is

fraught,

purple sheen.
until the

Pierces where distance hangs

Tell that the soul, with
its far limit

its

gaze

tender haze

onward pointed

eye,

only in the sky.

grassy dingle and the leafy dell

Shall tremble sadly to the tolling bell

Where now wide

solitude wraps slope

and glade

Shall carved memorials of the dead be found

Where daring, loud at every danger laughs

Where strength securely rests on future years

Breathing their solemn eloquence around.

Here, shall the son, in some prone trunk, descry

For winds

"
!

hand hath wrought;

mount, meadow and ravine.

rich painting Nature's

Woodland and slope,

The city's white, the water's
And the dim mountain tops,

Finds

spread

Mantling the flowery as the wintry track ;

Brooding where joy its diamond goblet quaifs
;

loving arms should fold our last and longest rest.

Through

The

gem

more precious grainy stem

And thus, oh lovely Oakwood, shalt thou

Thy sylvan chambers, for the slumbering

And
the blithsome hours

O'er bounding youth,

Seeks the

Her

when

to sing

of the tree that sheds

Yea, as we woke

the

the prairie sea

wrecked mortality.
pyramid, though mocking Time,

For the new garland wreathed by vernal hours

;

N. White, Esq.

At

to

heart whose course was run.

air his

For warbling Spring

;

o'er the dead,

hymn was sung by

flowers to twine.

with flowers the dreamless head

Calmly wait

its fairest

That, touched by God's own finger, gave us birth

Where to the resurrecting sun and rain
The seed but perishes to live again
Where nature hides her life in Winter's gloom

Robe in light the pall, the bier ;

Yonder see the shining shore
Where our loved have gone before
Crown

sight,

That stateliest, mightiest, most august of graves

But not in such drear, weltering vastness spread
Should Christian hands consign the Christian dead.
But to the earth, the warm, the steadfast earth.

not the realm of Death alone

shall die,

frame depart.

The urn funereal, nor the sun sublime.

Nor boundless air, nor yet the waste of

Life but sleeps, while

Death

lights the

sad memory wends,

oft

On the grand crag the

And the red roamer of

lost
No fear nor gloom
Shrouds the portals of the tomb
Death revealed immortal day
When the rock was rolled away.

Grave and crypt and

The land that trod through Deluge-ooze its way,

Gave to the pyramid its mummied clay.
The purple skies of Art and Song inurned
The sacred ashes sacred fires had burned.
The Parsee offered to his God, the Sun,

loved and lost shall sleep.

Loved, not

But though the soul that

Where

and love with tender hand

Guard and deck this Silent Land
Cypress arch and willow wreath
Shade the sacred sod beneath ;
Sun and starlight gild the shrine,
vigils

votary cheers

its

Lingers thought's tenderest, love's divinest light;

Hallowed by suffering, it remains a shrine

Life

Angel hosts, your

wealth, pleasure, each

Death is that shade, inexorable Death,

With ever-lifted dart at all of mortal breath.

The darkened dust is sacred to the heart.

Around the spot that wraps the dead from

HYMN.
BY MRS. THOMAS

Where fame,

147

to pipe to

dancing sun and shade,

;;

;;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

148

The

sire

he saw

Here, shall the

The

some green

pine, survey

had claimed its prey

the mother again shall see

stately son, ere death

Here,

The

completeness die

in life's
sire, in

in the flower,

laughing child that perished at her knee

Here, the weird wind shall with long, melting moan,

Mingle

And
Of

its

sadness with the mourner's own.

the drear cloud, low brooding,

seem a part

the dark sorrow hanging on the heart

Here,
Shall

splendor of the sun

too, the joyful

the

tell

life

and

the loved

lost

hath won.

And warblings sweet, the landscape's ear that fill

Of those glad strains the sounding heavens that
Summer shall here hold green and leafy time,
Emblem of those that perished in their prime
Autumn shall shower its wreaths upon the air.

thrill.

Sign to the living also to prepare

Winter

spread

shall

in fierce

Great type of death,

its

But oh, glad thought

Nature

shall

bound

in

Bid with her rapturous

Type of

and frowning might.

chilling robes of white

in

Spring's triumphant reign

radiant joy again,

Death's horrors

life

that glorious truth

flee.

Man's Immortality.

Population of Svracuse.

The

following statement

Syracuse
Directory

for

of the population

of

taken from Boyd's City

is

'

Wards.

May, 1877,

MALES.

FEMALES.

TOTAL.

Pliotos. by
V. KiiilgiT.

W.

S-

to -Ce( ^r~^

William Mctcalf Clurke was burn

He was tlie
Co., Mass., Ajiril 3, 1800.
ClarlvB, wlio

was

tile

iii

Liinesboro, Berkshire

lifth .son

of Dr. Hczeldah

son of Dr. Jolin Clarl<e, of Lebanon, Conn.;

son of Moses Clarice, of Lebanon, Conn.

son of Daniel Clarke,

son of Hon. David Clarke, who came to

America in 1639, from Warwickshire, England, and settled at
Windsor, Conn. By both his paternal grandparents he is descended, in the seventh generation, from Simon Huntington, of
England, whose sons, Christopher and Simon, Mr. Clarke's ancestors, settled at Saybrook in 1633, and finally at Norwich, Conn.
His mother, Lucy Bingham, was a daughter of the Hon. Moses
of Colchester, Conn.

In this line lie is in the seventh

an early settler of Hartford, Conn.
By his maternal grandmother he is descended, in the eighth
generation, from Michael Metcalf, who came from England in
1637, and settled in Dedhain, Mass.
One of the paternal great-grandmothers of Mr. Clarke was
Elizabeth Edwards, second daughter of Kev. Timoth}' Edwards,
of Windsor, Conn., who married Colonel Jabez Huntington; and
one of his maternal great-grandmothers was Abigail Edwards,
sixth daughter of Kev. Timothy Edwards, who married William
Bliss, of

Springfield, Mass.

generation from

Thomas

Bliss,

Q)/Ciyy K-

April 9, 1810. She was a daughter of John Tyler, of Harford, son

son of Capt. John Tyler,
of Deacon John Tyler, of Ararat, Pa.
of Attleboro, Mass. son of Ebenezer Tyler, of Attleboro, Mass.
son of Samuel Tyler, of Mendon, Mass.; son of Job Tyler, the
emigrant ancestor, who was born in 1019, and came to America,
;

and

settled in

By her

Andover, Mass., about 1640.

paternal grandmother she

is

de.scended, in the eighth

from Eev. Peter Thacher, of Salisbury, England,

His son. Rev. Thomas
rector of Saint Edmond's, in that city.
Thacher, came to America in 103.5, and became the first minister
of the old South church, Boston. Mrs. Clarke's mother was Polly
generation,

Wadsworth, daughter of Epaphrus Wadsworth, formerly of

Litchfield,

In this line she

Conn.

generation, from Hon. William

descended, in the seventh

is

Wadsworth, who emigrated from

Cambridge, Mass., and afterwards

Joseph Wadsworth,
of " Charter Oak" fame. By her maternal grandmother she is,
in the eighth generation, from Thomas Catlin, who emigrated
from England, or Wales, as early as 1644, and settled in Hartford,
Conn. The Catlins are of French origin. Mrs. Clarke received
a good education, and was preceptress at one time in the Cazeno-

England

in 1632,

in Hartford,

and

Conn.

settled in

also

from

his son, Capt.

Metcalf; both sisters of President Jonathan Edwards.

via high school, and also in the Manlius academy.

Mr. Clarke emigrated with his parents to

Onondaga County, arriving at Pompey Hill Nov. 2, where they
occupied the " Squire Wood House." The next year they moved
on a farm lying ten miles east of the hill. Mr. Clarke's early
educational opportunities were quite fair, and he improved them
to the utmost.
In 1815 he obtained a clerkship in Col. Camp's
store, at Trumaiisburg, N. Y., whose confidence in him was so

In 1838, Mr. Clarke was appointed deputy county clerk. In

1841 was elected clerk of Syracuse, and the same year was appointed collector by the board of trustees. In 1843-44 was a
member of the firm of Clarke & Sloat, in the marble business.

In the year

180.5,

great that he often intrusted

cult duties.

He

him with

the execution of very difB-

then went to Ithaca, and engaged as clerk until

1, 1819, when he returned home, and pursued his studies at

Pompey academy. Some time later he made a trip to Kentucky,

Jan.
the

where he experienced religion, and united with the Concord Presbyterian church, Nichols county, in April, 1827.

He

taught school

most of the time while there.

In April, 18i!8, he returned to Pompey, traveling a distance of
700 miles.
In the year 1829 he was elected school commissioner
of the town of Pompej- by the anti-Masonic party. The winters
of 1880, 1831, and 1831! were spent in teaching the district schools
of Lafayette Square, Camillus Village, and Pompey Centre.
From the spring of 1832 to 1837 he was employed in mercantile
houses at Manlius, principally that of Messrs. E. & H. Rhodes.

While

became acquainted with Clara Catlin Tyler, whom

June 7, 1836, at Harford, Pa., where she was born

there he

he married

In 1850 became a co-partner of Lyman Kingsly, in the sash and

blind business, which he continued three years. On Jan. 1, 1869,
was appointed chief clerk of the searching department, which
In 1806 he purchased a
position he held ten consecutive years.
residence, with fourteen acres of land, in Onondaga Valley, about

two and a half miles from the city of Syracuse, whore he now
His son, Henry Wadsworth, is civil engineer and surresides.
born in Harford, Susquehanna Co., Pa., Nov.
Syracuse,
of
vevor
6, 'l837.
Frances Amelia, his daughter, was born in Syracuse,
Mr. Clarke is a
Dec. 0, 1839, and now lives with her parents.

man

of excellent habits, neither

nor smoking.

chewing tobacco, drinking liquor,

aim to stop, in his humble way,

It has been his life's

He has identiBed himself with the

the spread of intemperance.
way that he has
great moral and .social ideas of his time in every
which
have been
offices
intricate
and
been able. In all the many
their duties with
intrusted to him, he has invariably discharged
He is still enjoying good health, and is
ability and integrity.
consciousness of
his declining years in the sweet
pa.ssing

having

away

led

an upright and consistent

life.

rtiolc*. b]r

N. 8. Bowdiib, Syraciuc.

^
ALBERT
The

subject of

wore

Hi' wits the younj;ast of three

Salisbury and Sarah

HODS of Sylvester

whom

sketch was born in Woodstock, Oneida

tliin

Aug. 23, 1H13.

Co., N. Y.,

nalivf.s

of

auionj; his relatives,

G.

liis

spent his

of

cjirly life

died wlien he was only

liavinj;

fatlier

F. Gleason, both

He

Ma.s.f:ichu.<(!fts.

At about the a^e of seventeen he conceived

three years of a^e.

^^n^cyfi^

*^

^A.x^sLfi.

SALISBURY.
more than ordinary executive

men

ability,

and many of the business

of the city to-day look back with honor to the faithful

teacher

who

first

gave them an insight to the road to wealth and

In the year lSt!4 he entered the

prosperity.

Army

Rebellion as additional paymaster United States volunteers for

the department of the south, with the

title

of major, and was

the idea that an education was necessary to meet the future,

mustered out a brevet colonel, Oct. 21, 1807, by

and

General Grant, K. D. Townsend being

rcKoiviKl

means

if jKKwible

jiecuniarily,

working

llrre his time

for his boanl.

activity, but

he advanced

Fompey and

White.-iborci,

engage

teacher

its

obitacles 80

common

Aei-ordiii^iy, without

to obtain one.

he entered the academy

in

so

ra]>idiy

that he

district

to self-made

About the year 1830 he came

at

succi'ssive gradations

until, uj)on the erection

he was elected as the

office

he enjoyed

the same

he

in

his studies, both at

was enabled afterwards to

.schoiils.

Thus he

nu't

the

to Syracuse,

ro.se in

opened

a jirivale

]iulilie

sclustl,

the i-steem of the people

city,

superintendent of schools, which

for .some three years,

office for .several terms,

and suKmNpiently held

and either

;ls

teacher or super-

intendent was connected with the schools of the city until 18ti4,

a period of nearly thirty years.

fatigable worker, possessing

In this labor he was an inde-

marked

Returning

to Syracuse,

and agent of Auburn

year and a

half,

and

Returning again
mostly

in ((uicl at

own

home.

he spent the balance of his

ability as

an instructor, and

make

.solicitous

its

principles, a

life

society better.

and

cnt<'ry>ri8C

lie died April 29, 1874.

Tallman and Clarissa Vrooman, of Onondaga County.

still

time of writing this sketch.

man

of publicity, but stood

Oct. 12, 1842, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of

was born Feb. 10, 1818, and

one

Salisbury was identified with the

.^Ir.

prominently identified with every good work

On

for

change of the State administration.

eily.

of a retiring nature, never

tending to

of

adjutant-general.

jussisljint

which position he held

prison,

until the

to his

command

he received the appointment of warden

Republican party, an ardent supporter of

men.

of the village of Syracu.se into a

first

Ifill,

was a constant round of

school, subs4-(|uently obtained a position in the

and by

PouijH'y

of the

She

John
She

survive-s her luLsband at the

early

became a member of

the Presbyterian church at Castleton, Ontario county, and in

1840, coming to

church of this

Syracuse, united with

city,

now

culled

the

Congregational

Plymouth church.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

149

to exercise the rights

the valley of Furnace Brook, in the town of

Onondaga, were selected for the supply of water.
The water was conducted from these springs by

this act

aqueducts to a large stone

ino- five

house ten

dollars a year, a boarding

dollars,

In case Mr. Teall failed

and a tavern ten dollars.

and powers granted him by

within one year from the date thereof, they

were to revert again to the trustees of the village

which they did, and were again conveyed to the said
;

Oliver Teall, his heirs and assigns, for a period of

by an act passed April 22, 1834.

thirty-five years,

Nothing was further done

(Laws, 1834, Chap. 151.)

till

March

amendment

29, 1842, at which time an

to

in

distant from each, which

daga

to a tavern or

voir,

hotel.

Under

this

amendment Mr.

pipes or
1843,

pump

Teall began the con-

water-works.

struction of his

The

and brought water

wooden

village from the

to the

springs situated at the foot of the

street,

first

1842, or early in

logs were laid in

above Lodi

hill

on Blocks No. 404 and No.

Subse-

504.

quently Messrs. Ira Seymour and Aaron Burt were

associated with Mr. Teall in the water-works, the
firm being Teall, Seymour and Burt till 1849, or till
sometime prior to the formation of the new com-

pany.
the 15th of April, 1849, the present WaterWorks Company was incorporated by special act of

On

the Legislature under the

name and

style

Syracuse City Water-Works Company.

of the

The

orig-

inal incorporators were Oliver Teall, Ira Seymour,

John Wilkinson, Hamilton White and Robert Furman.

The act of incorporation was amended April 8,

(Laws 1851, Chap. 104,) requiring the Company to supply water on certain terms to the Common Council of the city for extinguishing fires and
1851,

other purposes.

Again,

it

1853, (Laws, 1853, Chap.

was amended March

35,)

22,

so as to allow the

increase their capital stock from ^60,000

deem adto such an amount as the Directors might
increased
such
visable not exceeding $150,000,
The
stock to be divided into shares of $$0 each.

Company to

amendment, passed February 6, 1855, (Laws

Board of Di1855, Chap. 16,) conferred upon the
rectors the power to establish rules and regulations
prefor the use of water from their works so as to
serve the same from waste, and to impose such

third

penalties as they should see proper for the violation

of said rules and regulations, not exceeding in any

case the

sum

were passed

of

fifty

dollars.

in 1864, 1865,

Olher amendments

and 1877.

In 1849 the Company constructed a system of

The springs
water-works described as follows
:

feet

deep

it

street)

and terminating on the high ground.

length of this aqueduct was about a mile, and

The

and forty dollars

about eighty rods

and constructed of substantial masonry. The well

was on Lot 89, in the town of Onondaga. From
this well there was a main culvert or aqueduct laid
towards the head of the Cinder Road (West Onon-

the former acts was passed, (Laws 1842, Chap. 108,)

allowing Mr. Teall to charge ten dollars a year for
supplying water to a private family, twenty dollars
to a boarding house,

well,

was seventeen

was constructed of masonry two feet square inAt the termination was a large open reser-

side.

capable of holding 3,000.000 gallons of water,

from which the water was conducted down the hill
through brick culverts and stoned wells to a point
where a log aqueduct of nine inches bore conveyed
it

through Onondaga street

Fayette Park, and

to

thence to the railroad in Lock street, where

nected with the aqueducts before laid.

it

con-

In 1853, the first iron pipe was laid 852 rods,

extending to Salina, around Fayette Park and on
reservoir of 107 feet head above
James street.

the Erie Canal at Salina

street,

and of 1,500,000

gallons capacity, was also constructed during 1853.

This large reservoir on Onondaga Hill was commenced in 1862, and finished in 1865. During this
latter year

an additional distributing reservoir was

constructed on Lot No. 89, town of Onondaga.

Without attempting to follow the history of these

works more in detail, we may say that the Syracuse

City Water Works are located southwest of the
being obcity in the town of Onondaga, the water
and from
Brook
tained from Springs, from Furnace
at Ononis
Onondaga Creek. The main reservoir
daga Hill, covering 19 acres, forty feet deep, and

by Furnace Brook.
ing Reservoirs one

fed

There are two Distributfeet head, and the

of 165

canal
other of 107 feet head, above the level of the
head)
feet
lower,
(107
The
at Salina street.
is

supplied

by springs, and

in

dry weather by

water pumped from Onondaga Creek

Works. Two pumps are employed,

Pump
ington

at the
viz

Pump

a Holly

Worthof 3,000,000 gallons capacity, and a

capacgallons
Duplex Engine of 10,000,000

These pumps are connected with the

The water
reservoir by a 30-inch cast iron pipe.
the mains
reaches the city by gravity pressure

ity

daily.

respectively
connecting with the reservoirs being
in diameter.
inches
and
24
inches
12
10 inches,
employed,
For fire purposes, steam engines being
at the street
hydrants
by
supplied
the water is
at the middle of the
corners, and in some instances
blocks.

^liAjAl uCnxt M*n^

'

SKETCH,

'

JOHN WILKINSON

Vr>,. />

111

.;,-

^cv

>

T,., ...,

Wilkinsu:;

whose
John Hancock,
son was not seventeen years
arms resounding through the

In addition to the casual refere'

to the

and services

life

Mr.

ot

o!

nection with the history of the city and county in

old wb-

which he took so early an

extended memoir would

ini.ounced

more than
Mr.

forty years ot

and

indiist'iai

>

many

int

n of In

ol

harbor,

these prisoners,

'iose decks
.L

impetus, tending to ensure the prosp=rity of

the

in

Syracuse.

may be

It

IdW with

said of

and tongue and pen

service of the city he

truth.

and

the

i'iack

in

onville.

After

ith

im-

ter

the

I,:

pai.

)rsome

>.:

lived there nine

'

Wilkinson of Harper'

'nciL

.'

Durham, England.
Lord Fairfax, leader of
wJiile serving his King

:moved
yens, and

i';

to Trov

ues(.eii

by
by the

lays
.

crueltie--

years
the fourth

died by

care

i,.:.

create.

He was

the

in

to lives

in

By

e.

and

proofs

a tamiiy trained

He

:.

iter the

tht

scot

.1':

first

enterpnst^s to which he gave the

city,

..

onestly

slo'.

'

left behn
and wisdom, in
and honor

of li-

none

his city

counTy, and has

his ability

the Revolution which

'

devc'

social

'

'

held a place

'A .Ikinson

married,

Tower,

leth

iic

was born, September

iul^jectoi this sketch

^afterwards

Duke

of

the

Ne

His estates were sequest-

Marston Moor.

battle of

ered by Parliament, but be

In February, 1799, John Wilkinson, the father,

v forces,

v.

Ir

left his

home

one

in

the then wilderness of

He

performed the long and toilsome

-foot,

leading a cow.

'

Lord Fairfax, and permitted

In the Register's office at

may

as follows, and

gether with

.-

Durham

be seen

still

Durham 1645-47.

in

t^

all

his

th'

sledge drawn bv a

"

season he h

.V

"'

La^'-

w
new worla, ham.g

'''

Troy, to create

in

ilis

bd

'

Cc

wife and
1

At

his arrival in the

from
Utile in

lb

;o

work
as
.ss

'

'.

settled

in

T' -

Island.

iV

; /

'

lie

First

.;ivcd
..;

a sunnier

it

u.i iiis

t!'

proved,

than

shores.

its

hterally

;;

farm which

still

hew

grave

if'.-, years,

while building a barn.

~
..

upon a

.nd for a 'arm in

Lanchester, officer in arms,

On

ones, to-

nc lovely lake of

ley on

joi.

lit! le

nods, rode

new

York.

,.

rer;

:">

He
in the

year il^-

that colony,

a loe house,

in

the

nmUt

of ?

"^at

forest

Until

was Jo.
kinson

His

fifth

June

.,

mamcu

8th,

..

.^.^..

-t-i

was Daniel Wilkinson, who was born

1703, in the town of Smithfield, part of

child

of the present city of Providence.

oltaneateles.

mother, not daunti a by the additional

buraen entailed upon herself in her struggle with
the wilderness for the support of four children, by
the loss of her son's help upon the farm, or by the
s

Daniel Wilkin-

to the

scheme, determined to give

afforded and to

son married Abigail Inman, September 22, 1740.

expense incident

His seventh child was named John Wilkinson, born

him the best education the country

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH,
November
December

JOHN WILKINSON.
In addition to the casual references already
to the

life

and services of Mr. Wilkinson,

made

in con-

nection with the history of the city and county in

which he took so early and important a part, a more

extended memoir would seem to be necessary. For

more than

forty years of active

and professional

life,

Mr. Wilkinson held a place second to none in the

industrial and social development of his city and
county, and has left behind him abundant proofs of
his ability and wisdom, in a family trained to lives
of usefulness and honor a large fortune accumulated
in buildings which adorn his
slowly and honestly
city, and in many enterprises to which he gave the
;

first

impetus, tending to ensure the prosperity of

Syracuse.
It

may be

him with

said of

truth, that his

hand

and tongue and pen and pocket were always at the

service of the city he named, loved and helped to

John Wilkinson married,

1782,
Tower, whose
mother was a cousin of John Hancock.
This John Wilkinson was not seventeen years
old when the clash of arms resounding through the
civilized world, announced the Revolution which
13,

1758.

Elizabeth

the birth of the new Republic.

He
entered the service of his country soon after the
signing of the Declaration of Independence.
By

preceded

the fate of war he was captured and confined in the

notorious Jersey Prison Ship in

New York

Harbor,

The records of the sufferings of these prisoners,

who were densely crowded between the close decks
and even

in the noisome hold, where they died by

have only been surpassed in former days by
the Black Hole of Calcutta, and later, by the

scores,

cruelties of
Libby Prison and Andersonville.
After nine months he was exchanged, but with im-

paired health, which was only restored after the

descent from Lawrance

After his marriage he lived for some

Cumberland, R. I.
In 1790 he removed
to Troy, N. Y.
He lived there nine years, and

Wilkinson of Harperly House, Lanchester, County

there the subject of this sketch was born, September

Durham, England. This ancestor was captured by

Lord Fairfax, leader of the Parliamentary forces,
while serving his King under General Cavendish,

30, 1798.

care of years.

years

create.

He was

the fourth

Duke

in

New

in

In February, 1799, John Wilkinson, the father,

home in Troy, to create for himself a new

left his

New

Castle) at the decisive

one

in

His estates were sequestered by Parliament, but he himself was released by

Lord Fairfax, and permitted to go to New England.

He

performed the long and toilsome journey on

(afterwards
battle of

of

Marston Moor.

In the Register's office at

as follows,

and may

still

Durham

be seen

Lanchester, officer in

His wife and

leading a cow.

gether with

all

his

little

York.

ones, to-

household goods, rode upon a

At

the record reads

sledge drawn by a yoke of oxen.

"

season he had been attracted by the lovely lake of

Sequestrations

Durham 1645-47.

in

foot,

the then wilderness of Central

Lawrance Wilkinson of
arms, went to New England."

On his arrival in the new world, having little in

common with the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay,

Skaneateles and had selected the land

home

for his family,

and

also, as

farm in

for a

the midst of the forest one mile from

Thither he came, and set to work

a sunnier

its

literally to
it

shores.

hew

proved, a grave

by whose party he had been ruined and expatriated,

for himself; for

he settled in Providence, Rhode Island.

He
from injuries received while building a barn.
was buried on his farm which still remains in the

There
First Book of

name may still be seen in the "

Records" as signed by himself in the year i6so-'5i,
as one of the original founders of that colony.

his

He

married Susannah Smith.

His third

child

was John Wilkinson, born March 2, 1654. John Wilkinson married Deborah Whipple, April 16, 1689.
His fifth child was Daniel Wilkinson, who was born
June 8th, 1703, in the town of Smithfield, part of
of the present city of Providence.

Daniel Wilkin-

son married Abigail Inman, September 22, 1740.

His seventh child was named John Wilkinson, born

he died

in

less

than three years,

family.

Here
filled

in a log house, in the

midst of a great forest

with game, John Wilkinson grew up.

Until

the age of twelve he went to school at Skaneateles.

Then his mother, not daunted by the additional

burden entailed upon herself

in

her struggle with

the wilderness for the support of four children, by

the loss of her son's help upon the farm, or by the

scheme, determined to give

him the best education the country afibrded and to

expense incident

to the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Onondaga. It was the
was thirteen miles
it
and energy
perseverance
With
a
home.
his
from
performed
week
every
mother,
he
worthy of such a
Monday
every
over
this distance on foot, walking
Sunspend
morning and returning Friday night to
Part of the time he was
day with his mother.
accompanied by the late Hon. Asher Tyler, of
Elmira, whose parents resided in the adjoining town
send him to the Academy

at

nearest classical school, but

One

of Marcellus.

three other

winter, he, with

The supplies of
boys, kept house in Onondaga.
provided by
were
potatoes,
pork
and
corn meal,
each

back

and his share was carried on his

in turn,

the toilsome thirteen miles which lay between

all

home and

his

studies

his

this

in

fashion, he attracted the notice of the

Forman, then the great

patron

principal

man

the

of

member

in his family.

he studied

Hon. Joshua

Academy, and

admitted
the

to

who

extract

an

Syracuse,

by Mr.

in

in this

con-

in

difficulty that

they

was with the greatest

found, with any degree of certainty, the starting
point of the original survey. The survey was comlabor.

Part of

the 'Walton Tract' was laid out into village lots,

and the remainder into farm lots of from five to ten
acres.

After the completion of the survey, Mr.

Wilkinson built an office on the corner now occupied by the Globe Hotel, and commenced the
Mr. Wilkinson was heartily
practice of law.
ridiculed

That

for

location,

putting his office out in the

now forming

fields.

the business center of

a flourishing city, was then out of town.

" In
in

February, 1820, a postoffice was established

Syracuse, and

Postmaster.

In

Mr.
1825,

Wilkinson was appointed

when

the

first

election for

was held, Mr Wilkinson was elected

Wilkinson
has since held several offices
Clerk. Mr.
of profit and trust, with honor and distinction.

village officers

King.

a Railroad

He was for several years President of the

Syracuse and Utica Railroad, and by his influence
succeeded in having the work-shops of that road
built at Syracuse, thus adding the hardy population of the Fifth

Ward

to

our

He

city.

now

is

the

President of the Michigan Southern Railroad, and

under

his skillful

the best in

management
the Union.

that road

now one

is

Mr. Wilkinson

great favorite with the traveling public, and

is

is

loved

and respected by all railroad men, who would do

anything for him."
As a lawyer, Mr. Wilkinson occupied a promi-

years, and later,

accomplished without the severest labor. The old

lines and marks of the tract were nearly obliterated,

weeks of hard

now emphatically

He was

'

after several

is

"

Peter

1819,

pleted

and

many

Cheney, published

it

post-

for

John Wilkinson, in company with

Owen Forman, a brother of the Judge, came here
from Onondaga Hollow, and, under the direction of
Judge Forman, proceeded to layout the 'Walton
This survey was not
into village lots.
Tract

and

common

roads, he entered at once largely into railroad aflairs,

late

September, 1819, and was

C.

an instant their immense advantages,

The

from the " Reminiscences of

T.

in

ultimate supercedence of the

and

Cutwater, Esq., was associated with him

1857:

"In

hending

Forman

settled in Syracuse.

not be inappropriate to quote

It will

nection

the bar

lawyer

first

profession.

he
and a

after

clerk,

In the law office of

his

arduous

of the county, and the

graduated he became Mr. Forman's

and Sabin

railroads were first successfully put in operaMr. Wilkinson closely investigated their workings and principles, and his gigantic mind compretion,

of

school.

pursuing

While

When

nent place at the Onondaga Bar.

As

James L. Bagg, Esq

counsel

and advisor he had few equals and no superior.

The general estimate of his probity and wisdom

was abundantly proved by the number of estates
entrusted to him as executor, administrator, or trusIn his later years, he derived much satisfactee.
tion from the fact that all trust funds committed to
him had been increased in amount and enhanced
in

value while

in his

hands.

Mr. Wilkinson was a director

in

the

Onondaga

County Bank from its organization in 1825, until its

He was also President of the Bank of Syraclose.
cuse, which he, together with the late Horace White,
Esq., organized in 1838, on the passage of the gen-

Banking Law, and so continued till his death.

Both of these banks were managed with prudence
and were exceedingly profitable to their stock-holdBoth have now been closed, all the men who
ers.
organized them having passed away.
eral

At Albany, February

John Wilkinson
Of eight
children born to them, six are now living.
Joshua
Forman and Alfred Wilkinson are in business under the firm name of Wilkinson & Co., as bankers,
on the site where their father's office stood and
A rare instance of permawhere they were born
nence in our mobile country. Maria H. Wilkinson
married Mr, F. C, Welsch, and lives in Baden-Baden,
Germany. Theodosia Burr Davis Wilkinson married Joseph Kirkland, and lives in Chicago.
John
and Dudley Phelps Wilkinson live in Chicago, and
are among the leading merchants of that city.
Mr. Wilkinson was appointed Postmaster Feb.
24,

1825,

married Henrietta Wilhelmina Swart.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

1820,

24,

which was announced

Register, as follows
"

new

common

Personally, in

life.

Postoffice

and John Wilkinson,

been

has

Esq.,

of this village

established

at

the town of Salina,

in

appointed Postmaster.

and

name

of Corinth

Mr. Wilkinson remained

in

office

till

July 26,

While President of the Syracuse and Utica

following railroads, viz: the

to

be a

contractor within the meaning of the statute, and

was therefore compelled to resign one office or

the other. With that wisdom which characterized
every action of his life, he gave up the postoffice,
and permanently retired from active politics.
In 1834 and 1835 he was elected Member of
Assembly from Onondaga County, and occupied,
while in that body, the position of Chairman of an
the Incorporation

Rival lines being under construction for the pur-

the sea-board, Mr. Wilkinson

command

never

to

failed

the attention of the House.

His great

effort

was

a speech

delivered April

2,

son then enunciated as a principle

is

now

the settled

policy of the State.

the keenest anx-

which he had a much greater interest than one

solely a line of which he had been a
projector, constructor and manager, and he recognized the necessity of so improving the line from
Albany to Buflalo, then managed by seven different
companies, as to enable it to compete successfully
with

1835, in opposition to the State aiding in the conWhat Mr. Wilkinstruction of the Erie Railroad.

felt

iety lest business should be diverted from the line

of dollars

but spoke rarely and only upon

River, the Buf-

pose of connecting the granaries of the West with

in

business in his charge, or on that of which he was

Hudson

and State Line, the Oswego and Syracuse, and

the Rochester and Syracuse. The two railroads last
named he projected, organized, and may be said to
have built, as he was the Chairman of their Construction Committees.

panies.

able debater, he never wasted time

Rail-

the direction of the

in

falo

and Alteiation of Banking and Insurance Com-

Therefore he

Central

lawyer and a railroad man.

he was held by the Postmaster-General

On

New York

After the organization of the

road he was also prominent

viz.:

and per-

Railroad, he was appointed counsel to that company,

Railroad Company, which was carrying the mails,

important committee,

his family

sonal expenses.

1840, when, as President of the Syracuse and Utica

complete master.

of the stock-

a compliment which he richly deserved both as a

previously established in the State."

Though an

all

the enhanced value of his stock, but his

in

salary as President never paid

was necessarily changed,

there being a Postoffice of the

in forensic display,

with

holders, he received his reward in large dividends,

Syracuse formerly Corinth,

The name

Onondaga

the

in

future rivals.

its

He

found that the

line be-

tween Syracuse and Rochester could be shortened

twenty-four miles and six hundred feet of grades
could be eliminated by building a railroad on the
This project of course enline of the Erie Canal.

countered the most vigorous opposition from the

residents of Auburn, Geneva, Canandaigua, and

It was during his second year that the bill was

passed which changed his life from one purely pro-

lesser places on the

In 1836 the
to one of active business.
Syracuse and Utica Railroad Company was char-

stockholders of the two companies owning the line

Their opposition ceased when they
via Auburn.

fessional

In the following year,

tered.

when

its

organization

was completed and the construction of that road beassured, he was unanimously chosen by his
The road was
associate directors as President.
it was built for
The
fact
that
opened July 4, 1839.

became convinced
est,

and that

Old Road, as well as from the

that Mr. Wilkinson

was

in earn-

under the general railroad law, ad-

came

vocated by him for this very purpose, a direct railroad between Syracuse and Rochester was inevitaThe two companies then accepted Mr. Wilble.

$200,000 less than the capital stock subscribed for

the purpose of building it, is a striking commentary
upon the capacity and integrity of Mr. Wilkinson.

kinson's

It is

when

needless to say that from that hour

the road was

merged

into the great

till

1853,

New York

Central Railroad, he had the absolute confidence of

the stockholders.

by great study, unremitting attention, untiring vigilance and a watchful eye which nothing could es-

He made

of

consolidation

with

new
The

the

Direct

to build

the

road.

consolidation of

between Albany

all

the railroad companies

and Buffalo into the great

York Central R. R. Company,

New

closed one epoch in

Mr. Wilkinson's active and useful career and before

turning to other occupations, he resolved to allow
himself that rest which he had so richly earned.
;

His management of a railroad was characterized

cape.

plan

Railroad the consolidated company

this

thought and gave to

it

railroad

his

sole care

and

the fourteen best years of his

To

visit

Europe had been

a long cherished hope,

and he availed himself of this opportunity to bring

After a ycnr of tr.ivcl. all the advanto fruition.
it

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

tages of which his disciplined and wcll-slorcd mind

him

fitted

to appreciate, he returned to his country

and his home in the spring of 1854, ready

for both, his renewed strength.

Among

other

positions tendered

to

spend

presidency of the Michigan Southern and Northern

He

filled

this office with his characteristic fidelity and ability

During that time he built nearly
for two years.

two hundred miles of railroad, including the Detroit,

Monroe and Toledo

Railroad.

In the last years of his

Haute, Alton

&

St.

life,

he operated theTerre

Louis Railroad,

in

itself

It

of Joshua

name suggests

should be called Forman Lake,

in

honor

Forman.

life he showed a solicitude that

was almost pathetic that young people should start
right, and he was never in their company without

In Mr. Wilkinson's

him was the

Indiana Railroad, which he accepted.

projected reservoir an appropriate

own

his

trying to give help in the right direction.

him

to see

them

treat lightly the great

It

pained

advantages

remembering the many

weary miles he had walked to attain his education
and if, as the old Hindoo said, " Man is man's
mirror," we do well to hold up the mirror of Mr.
of later times, doubtless

Wilkinson's

life

to

young men

just entering

two years as Trustee and Receiver. He

returned it to its owners a reorganized Railroad, all
His
interests having been protected and cared for.
to
acknowledged
was
this
instance
management in

which wait on industry, integrity and zeal.

His noble mother, believing that knowledge
power, resolved that he should possess the key

be a great financial success.

After the death of Capt. Oliver Teall, he became

seen, the best education in her power, at

name

for

President

of

the

adopted the plan

Syracuse
for

people

in

its

they

may

we have
how great
ever knew.
Her

He

wisdom

Few

cess and she was rewarded by living to witness

hundred feet above

there is stored up for their
five

self-sacrifice

From

is

to

treasure-house, and gave him, as

from

it

on

see the rewards

water

the

into a reservoir.

Syracuse know that

unlock

it

Water-Works.

collecting

sprmgs and small streams

their career, that in

no one but herself

was, that laid the foundation of his sucit.

the age of sixteen he fought the battle of

only weapons

them, on Onondaga Hill,

use in Wilkinson Lake 150,000.000 gallons of water,
or forty-three days' supply, at the present rate of

life

consumption.
Mr. Wilkinson was engaged upon this work at
His plan embraced
the time of his sudden death.
the construction of other reservoirs when they

Never was the promise better exemplified. " Be

faithful over a few things and I will make thee
With care and fidelity
ruler over many things."

should become necessary.

devolved upon him and gained the confidence of the

The water-works company have since tried two

systems of pumping, and are now contemplating
the rcadoption of what may be called the Wilkinson

community

plan by the construction of another reservoir to

If this should be done,
hold 300,000,000 gallons.
it

will

confirm the wisdom of his judgment.

For

this

unaided, his

the

perseverance

and determination which he had learned amid the

privations of pioneer

he, in his youth,

life.

had discharged every duty which

in which he lived, until at last they

were eager to thrust their most precious possessions
upon him for safe keeping.
Perhaps the best eulogy upon him is the simple
testimony of a neighbor a life-long friend and
" He was an honest man."
staunch supporter
:

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Horace Wheaton, Thomas J.
Gilbert, Elihu L. Phillips and Aaron Burt, were
the
citizens of Syracuse and Onondaga County
rest were Utica and Albany men.
The Syracuse and Utica Railroad Company were
required by law to pay to the President and Directors of the Seneca Road Company the amount of
damages which the said road company might sustain by the construction of the railroad, and also
to pay toll to the Canal Commissioners on all
freight, other than the regular baggage of passengers, carried by the railroad during the season of
canal navigation. The Schenectady and Utica Railroad was absolutely prohibited in its original charter
from carrying any freight. This prohibition was removed by act of March 7, 1844, and the Schenectady
and Utica Road was allowed to carry freight during
the suspension of canal navigation by paying the canal
commissioners such tolls as would have been paid
on the goods had they been transported by the Erie
Canal. This opened all the roads to freight through
to Buffalo, subject to the same conditions as those
imposed upon the Schenectady and Utica Railroad.

W.

Miles

Bennett,

Prior to the removal of the prohibition on

the

Schenectady and Utica Railroad, freights had been

to some extent carried through from Schenectady to
Utica on sleighs in winter, and transferred to other

by

points west of Utica

rail

but very Httle freight

reached Syracuse by the Utica Railroad

March

7,

after

till

1844.

Oliver H. Lee, of Syracuse, was the engineer in

the construction of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad,

and was appointed the

The

Superintendent.

first

original board of directors consisted of the following

named gentlemen

John Wilkinson, President.

Charles Stebbins, Vice-President.

Vivus W. Smith, Secretary.

David Wager, Treasurer.
Horatio Seymour,

Oliver Teall,

James Hooker,
Aaron Burt,
Irad Hawley,
Holmes Hutchinson,
John Stryker,
John Townsend,
Samuel French.
Between the
their
first

is

engines were single-drivers, with small

position to

to

it

tie

beneath.

Upon

the scantling, parallel with the inner edge, a bar of

iron two inches wide and

thick was spiked.

three-fourths of an inch

Occasionally a

bar-end came

endangered the safety of passengers by

being thrust up through the car-floor.
The first

loose and

and others

flat

iron

This

was the " cow-catcher." In winter a large wooden

plow was placed in front of the engine. The first
track was soon superceded by an eight-by-eight
wooden rail, along the center of which was placed
strap-iron the same width and thickness as that at
Iron rails were supplied in 1S41, and
first used.
steel rails in 1872,

The Syracuse and

Utica Railroad was opened in

1839.

In locating the depots and route through Syracuse, certain conditions were required of the

company by a resolution prepared by Hon. E. W.

Leavenworth, President of the village, and offered
that the
to the Board by Captain Putnam, viz
railroad company should construct a sewer along
the track on Washington street from the stream
known as Yellow Brook to Onondaga Creek, and
should plant trees along both sides of Washington
These constreet as far east as Beech street.
the
company.
The rows
by
performed
ditions were
Washington
on
East
street
of trees now standing
company,
and
they
are those planted by the railroad
form a pleasant and agreeable shade. The sewer
constructed by the railroad company was the first
of any importance in the village, and contributed
largely to the draining of the swamp between Sa:

and Lodi,
also required to purchase cer-

tain portions of the blocks on each side of the

depot, so as to make sufficient space for the building

day and this, and

marked contrast. The

and the

clear the track,

bars bent forward and sharpened at the ends,

The company was

track consisted of six-by-six scantling, fastened

and spiked

wheels

in

and an alley-way along side of it.

and the space now left where the
cated

is

known

to the ties by L-shaped chairs placed outside the

rail

trail

under the cab, which consisted of a roof hung

around with oil cloth during winter.
The weight
of the locomotive was from four to six tons.
The
first cars had four wheels.
The conductor came
along outside the compartments, which had two
seats each, and collected the fare.
In 1843, the
cars had no projection over the platforms, and were
low and ill-ventilated.
It was quite a step in advance when locomotives with four-drivers were
placed upon the road, but even then there were no
pilots
some had two splint brooms set in front just

lina street

railroads of that

equipments, there

iSi

This was done,

old depot

was

lo-

as Vanderbilt Square.

Direct Road.
from Syracuse to Rochester, composed
Auburn and
of the Auburn and Syracuse and the
a crooked
over
Rochester railroads, was 104 miles
of
attention
In 1849 the
route with heavy grades.
called to the
Mr. John Wilkinson and others was

The

line

;;
;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

152

more direct and level

between Syracuse and Rochester, and, with

necessity of constructing a
railroad

that object in view, they organized the Rochester

and Syracuse Direct Railroad Company. The surveys were made by O. C. Childs and showed that a
level railroad could be constructed

shorter than the old

twenty-two miles
In 1S50 the three com-

line.

name of the Rochesand Syracuse Railroad Company and the Direct

Road was built in the ensuing years under the direcpanies consolidated under the

ter

James Hall, engineer, and opened in 1853,

at the same time of the general consolidation forming the New York Central Railroad.
tion of

Oswego and Svkacuse Railroad.

The Oswego and Syracuse Railroad Company
was formed April 29, 1839, and the route was surveyed during the summer of that year.
The Company was

fully

Thomas
Syracuse

organized March 25, 1847, with the

Directors
John Wilkinson,

Board of

following

T.
;

Munroe, Horace White,

Davis, Allen

Carrington, Luther Wright, Syl-

F. T.

Oswego Holmes
Hutchinson, Alfred Munson, Thomas F. Fa.xton,
Utica Samuel Willets, New York
Rufus King,
Albany. The first officers were
Holmes Hutchvester Doolittie, Alvin Bronson,

inson, President

F. T. Carrington, Secretary

ther Wright, Treasurer.

The

1848.

It

is

1871

since which time the Presidency has been

Syracuse was erected

New

York.

in 1877.

SvRACLSE, Chenango and

The

New York

Railroad.

and directors of

original incorporators

this

road were James P. Haskins, Elisha C. Litchfield,

Henry TenEyck, John W. Barker, Dennis McCarGeorge F. Comstock, Hiram Eaton, John Greenway, James J. Belden, S. D. Luce, J. I. Bradley,
J. M. Wieting, Alfred A. Howlett.
J. M. Wieting
was elected President. The articles of association
thy,

were

April 16,

filed

S 1,000,000.

The

1868, the capital stock being

road was partly opened in 1872,

and finished in 1874 length 42 miles.

Harlow W. Chittenden succeeded J. M. Wieting
as President.
The present officers are A. A. Howlett,

J. S.

Henry TenEyck, Vice-President

Sherman, Secretary.

President

Lu-

New York Railroad.

Schem-

Through a controlling interest in the stock, the

road came under the management of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company in
December, 1870. The new passenger depot at

Syracuse Northern Railroad.

This road was chartered

thirty-five

Syracuse, Binghamton and

the second organization, Jacob M.

held by Samuel Sloan of

road was opened in

and a half miles

in length.
In 1872 it came under the management
of the Delaware, Lackasvanna and Western Railroad Company, by whom it is still operated.
October,

Under

erhorn was President, and Orrin Welch, Syracuse,

Secretary.
Then T. B. Fitch was President till

stock

The

in

1870 with a capital

were Allen
Munroe, E. W. Leavenworth, E. B. Judson, Patrick
Lynch, Frank Hiscock, John A. Green, Jacob S.
Smith, Horace K. White, Elizur Clark, Gerret
Doyle, Syracuse
William H. Carter, Brewerton
James A. Clark, Pulaski Oren R. Earl, Sandy
of $1,250,000.

directors

The Syracuse and Binghamton

Railroad

Com-

pany was organized August

general law passed in 1S50.

13,

The

1S51,

under the

original directors

Munroe Secretary, Patrick H. Agan

Treasurer, Edward B. Judson
Engineer, A. C. Powell. The road is 44 miles to its
President, Allen

Creek.

Hamilton Murray, D. C. Littlejohn, OsHorace White, James R. Lawrence, Thomas

were,

wego

B. Fitch, Syracuse

Lewis, Binghamton

Homer

Stevens, Cortland

Forks

Alanson

Carley,
Marathon
Henry
John B. Rogers, Chittenango
Dunlop,
Jamesville.
Henry
;

Robert

Stevens, President

Daniel S. Dickinson, Hazard

Jedediah Barber, Israel Boies,

Clinton

F.

Paige, Secretary

the R.,

7,

1871.

It

1875.

PROGRESS OF EDUCATION.

Horace White, Treasurer W. B. Gilbert, Superintendent and Engineer for the construction of the
road.
The road was opened through, October 23,
It was sold October 13, 1856,
1854.
on foreclosure of mortgage, and reorganized April 30,
1857, under the title of the Syracuse, Binghamton
and New York Railroad, its present title.
In 1858,
the company was authorized to purchase the Union

W. &

O. R. R., and was

was purchased by the
Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad Company, by which corporation it is now managed, in
intersection of

opened Nov.

Railroad to the canal at Geddes.

the road from Geddes to Binghamton

The
is

length of

81 miles.

Early Schools of Syracuse.

The

progress of education in the City of Syra-

cuse forms a very interesting chapter of

With the

earliest

its history.

settlements schools began to be

taught, and before there were any districts or public

school houses, private buildings and even

salt

blocks were appropriated to the uses of education.

which speaks well for the old " Salt

Pointers," that their whole attention was not abIt is

a fact

Residence of JOHN

MOORE, Jio]29WEST

Genesll ST.SrftAcuse, NY

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

sorbed in salt making, but that one of their number at least, a Mr. Conner, could divide his time

between

and the instruction of the

this occupation

new settlement

children and youth of the

in useful

Mr. Conner kept the earliest school of

which we have any account in a salt block at Salina,
and at the same time carried on the occupation of
knowledge.

boiling

He made

salt.

his school a very useful

popular one, securing for

"

High School," and

title

and

of the

Onondaga Hollow.

of Syracuse, and in the

town of

in the First

was proba-

Salina,

now the Salina

Ward. The date of

bly District No.

organization

its

It was commonly known

house" and stood on what
was afterwards the southwest corner of Washington
Park. When first built it was on a line parallel with

in 1805.

as the "old red school

Park, then Salt street, and fronted to the east.

were

seats

The

arranged at first to face the wall, but afIn the center of the

terwards to face the teacher.

room stood

elevated upon a platform

a large stove

common, intersected by tenter and Salt streets. Near

the center of the ground was a deep pond which
seemed to be fed by a living spring. Here geese
and ducks and children dabbled in summer, while
Originally, the Park

with sand.

filled

the frozen

surface

in

was

winter afforded an excellent

In 1839, the school house was taken

skating park.

down, the pond

filled

up and the four quarters

the present fence was placed around

of

In 1847

the Park indicated by a horizontal guard.

Some

house worth

At an

recording.

early

day some

rough young men and

There was a teacher by the name of Isaac VanTassel, a pious man, from Onondaga Hollow, who
was determined to becomeaminister and had asked
the Presbytery to educate him, but they had refused
to do so on account of a certain impediment in his
However, he said he would preach, and
speech.

boys were taught here.

finally did

Maumee
plot

preach, becoming a missionary to the

Indians.

had been formed

Under

his

administration,

to resist his

had punished a young man

to insurrection and revolt.

authority.

for swearing.

He

in the

morning he

to-

had some

intimation of what was going on, and as he

house

He

This led

Five or six banded

gether to put him out of the school.

left

the

to Mrs. Dioclesian

said

whom he boarded " You need not be

me home earlier than usual," and
He left,
explained to her his apprehensions.

Alvord, with

into the plot, came forward

manly way confessed and apologized for
the whole transaction.
She predicted that he
would come to something, which was verified in the

and

in a

well

known

future career of this distinguished poli-

Mr. Van Tassel,

also,

missionary, and died

cessful

was afterwards

among

a suc-

Maumee

the

Indians about 1847.

Another teacher of

He

of punishment.

pen knife and strop

a later day had a novel

was wont

it

to

mode

take out

his

vigorously, and then ask the

delinquent scholar whether he would be bled or

be struck with the ruler. Of course, each frightened urchin always chose the latter.
This was

At

carried on successfully for sometime.

length a

brother and sister put their heads together to

cumvent the wary

Having

teacher.

cir-

loitered or

been detained without good excuse, and anticipating punishment, the sister advised the brother that

when

up and the usual choice submitted, he

The pen-knife
should say he preferred to be bled.
of the teacher was again whetted in a very dramatic
manner, the child's sleeve rolled up and the solemn
called

" I choose to be bled," said the boy.

This answer overturned the teacher's gravity, and

question put.

he

let the boy go.

While upon this subject of novel punishments

we

will

teacher

it.

reminiscences are related of this old school

to his

the Bible

who had been drawn

School, situated

i,

not been able to ascertain, but the school

house was built

room to put it in order, she

open with the passage marked
" Rid me and deliver me from the hand of strange
children."
His prayer was answered. At noon
he informed Mrs. Alvord that Dean Richmond,
found

tician.

public school within the present limits

first

we have

the dignified

was well patronized by the

it

people of Salina and

The

it

and upon going

153

relate another instance.

who

It is

said of a

taught a select school not far distant,

more
Her method
extraordinary than those referred to.
of disgrace was nothing so common as a dunce
that she adopted a

block or a
nails,

of punishment

mode

fool's cap,

but a

salt barrel

the nails pointing inward.

still

pierced with

Into this barrel

the refractory child was put, and a heavy piece of

if the

iron from the stove laid over the top, so that

little

offender in durance

vile tried

found, like the Apostle, that

it

to

resist,

was hard

he

to kick

against the pricks.

Within the memory of many now living there

was but one school house in the village of Syracuse,
that was a low square frame building, with a roof
resembling an inverted mill-hopper, standing

in a

pine grove on the north side of Church street, upon

Railroad
the lot next east of where the Northern
building
brick
a
by
occupied
is
The site
crosses.
became
then
and
No.
school
4,
which was afterwards

surprised to see

a church, and

then

shop.

is

now converted

This was the

first

into a blacksmith's

school house built in the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

'54
village of Syracuse,

For

1820.

and was probably erected about

of years it was used as a

number

school house, meeting house, town

and

hall,

for

almost every kind of a public gathering.

was taught here by

in Mr.

In the winter of 1821, school

Hiram A. Deming, who

now book-keeper

is

Grecnway's brewery. Webster's Spelling Book,

Daboll's Arithmetic and Morse's Geography were
then
"

the

principal
"

boarded round

The

te.xt-books.

among

teacher

Blackboards,

his patrons.

globes and other apparatus had not been thought

of, and the young idea was taught to shoot without

"departments."

the advantage of "grades" and

Forman, including the

present Mrs. E. W. Leavenworth, and others well
known, were pupils in this school when Mr. DemMr. Deming was born in
ing taught in 1821.

The

family of Judge Joshua

Stillwater. Saratoga

Syracuse
served

in

man

County,

He

1820.

Deming

After Mr.

kept a while by William

Welthia

to

remarkably well pre-

for one of his years, being almost an

octogenarian.

the Fourth

came

1779, and

in

is

Ward

Ann

K.

Blair,

the school was

now

residing in

of the city.

Lathrop, widow of the late Edward

Alien, Esq., of Auburn, taught a select school in a

the Misses Chamberlain.

It

was with

difficulty that

a suitable room could be found for a school, and Dr.

Mather Williams erected for the purpose a tempo,

rary frame building on Water street near the corner
of Clinton, which, as one of the juvenile attendants
expressed it, " was without any lining," being neither
Here taught Mrs. Humphrey,
ceiled nor plastered.
a niece of the late

Holland Johnson, who afterwards

married Mr. Montgomery, law partner of Harvey

On

Baldwin.

the approach of cold weather this

structure proved uncomfortably airy, and

Captain

up a room over his woodstreet,

which was soon dubbed
Mongomery
on
house

Putnam

"

finished

Montgomery

and

fitted

Among

Institute."

the teachers here

were Miss Richardson, niece of Mrs. Elam Lyndes

and afterwards wife of Zaccheus Newcomb, and Miss
Alexander, sister of the late Mrs. Harry Alexander.
Following these were the Misses Newton, from Massachusetts (afterwards Mrs. Volney Cook and a sis1

Stevens, whose husband was the

ter of Mrs.

first

Miss Fitch, from

Globe Hotel
landlord
Trumansburg Miss Collins, sister of Mrs. Reuben
L. Hess, and assistants; Miss Laurie, from Whites'
boro, and Miss Gould, from South Carolina.
of the

At

this period the standard of education

was well

building furnished by Capt. Joel Cody, in the rear of

advanced, the higher mathematics, French, Latin,

the present First Baptist Church for many years,

Her school was the first select
beginning in 1826.

drawing, painting and music being taught

school taught in Syracuse.

extent

In 1830 a Miss Guthrie

a

in
It

taught a private school

building then called the " Wheeler

House."

stood on the corner of Salina and Center streets

what is now the First Ward.

During six months of the year 1835, Hon. Geo.
F. Comstock taught a select school in the upper
story of a yellow building which stood on the site
The Judge was
of the present Bastable Block.

in

then pursuing his law studies with

Messrs.

Noxon

He was elected Inspector of

and Leavenworth.
Schools for the town of Salina in 1837.

A
lina

name

school called by the fanciful

Institute

"

was established

in

cf the " Sa-

It

site of the

never had any char-

is still

standing, on

school

for

girls,

day,

introduced by Miss

Amelia Bradbury, who numbered among her pupils

many heads of prominent families now living in the

city, who cherish gratefully and afiiectionately the
memory of her conscientious, tender counsels, and
who owe to her advanced views of education the
stimulus

towards that higher culture which has

them to adorn responsible positions in life,

and to become useful, reliable and intelligent women.
The school of Miss Bradbury was located on Montgomery street. Lot 8, Block 113, the same lot on
which the house built by Horatio N. White now
fitted

stands.

ing which stood where McCarthy, Sons

wholesale store

now

it

stands, on the corner of

Co.'s

Wash-

ington and Clinton streets.

From September,

Madame A.

J.

1847, to June,

1861, the late

Raoul, one of our old inhabitants,

She was an

school flourished for several years

taught a select school in this

present Presbyterian Church, cor-

complished teacher of music and French lessons,

days of Syracuse the chief select

principally,

was

city.

ac-

the last of which she continued to give to a few

ner of Park and Prescott streets.

In the early

study of the sciences to any

later

Miss Emily Chubbuck, afterwards Mrs. Adoniram

Turtle street between Park and Salina streets.

A young ladies'

The
a

Judson, wife of the famous missionary to Burmah,

taught a select school at one time in a small build-

and was properly only a select school.

At different times Mr. Lcavitt, D. C. LeRoy and Dr. Jas.
Forham were connected with it as teachers. The

on the

at

some time

ter

building occupied by this school

was,

Miss

the village of

Salina at quite an early day, and was for

a popular and useful sthool.

Collins' school.

in

that

taught by

pupils

till

infirmities

1872, (she died

in

1875,)

when growing

brought to a close a longer term of years

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

consecutively devoted to teaching trian probably has

been given by

many

teachers in Syracuse.

was ob-

large tract of land in the locality, a charter

in

1835.

was donated by Mr. Baldwin, and, under many

now occupied

couragements, the building

lot

dis-

the

as

Orphan Asylum, on Lodi Hill, was erected and

completed for the Academy, which was supplied
with competent teachers and supported by the beneof

factions

Orrin

The

founders.

its

Mr. Kellogg,

New

of

Principal

first

was

York, who was succeeded by

many years since a Professor

At one period, the late A.

Root, for

Hamilton College.
Salisbury,

who became

the

first

Clerk of the Board

of Education of the City of Syracuse,

cipal.

in

G.

was

its

Prin-

His qualifications as a teacher were only

equalled by his love for the vocation, and the

years of conscientious performance of

its

many

duties in

connection with the establishment in Syracuse of

At

the present system of Public Schools.

day in the existence of the Academy,

ducted by Joseph A.
part of which period

it

a later

was con-

Allen and Oliver T. Burt,

was

removal to a more

after its

But the Academy did not prosper.

into

After

operation, jealousies in reference to

were awakened,

enterprise

in

regard

to

it
it

public

schools was aroused, district school houses sprang

up and soon attracted the sympathy and patronage

The cause of education profited by
of the public.
the

efforts of the

founders of the Academy, but

they were, and continued to be, the losers, so that

the

Academy was

designed by

its

finally

abandoned, and the house

originators to subserve the cause of

education providentially became the

helpless orphan

to this act

and April

3,

appropriating public
schools, the

Session

1799.

money

sum then

April

1796,

6,

was the

It

to the use of

set apart

AmendMarch
act

first

common

being hventj thou-

sand pounds out of the surplus revenue of the State,

to be divided among the different counties, and the
sum assigned to each county was to be apportioned
by the Supervisors to the several towns according
to the number of taxable inhabitants therein
the
;

Supervisors

being also required to raise by tax

in

each town, for school purposes, a sum equal to half

the

amount

of the public

county should be

entitled.

money
The

which each

to

portion

of the

twenty thousand pounds assigned to the County of

Onondaga was one Itundred and seventy four pounds,

which was Onondaga's first public school fund. It

would be interesting to know what portion, if any,

was appropriated

of this
at

what

town of Salina, and

no records extant that

in the

date, but there are

can furnish the information.

The
known

first district

as No.

i,

organized was undoubtedly that

now

the Salina School

the districts were formed

in

after

which

numerical order, as the

town became settled and new schools were required

meet the wants of a growing population. At

to

central location.

went

10, 1797,

(i8th

1795.

9,

Clinton, Esq., Governor.)

ments were made

Through the exertions of Messrs. Aaron Burt,

Harvey Baldwin and Oliver Teall, who owned a

Academy

passed April

Laws George

Syracuse Academy.

tained for the Syracuse

Schools,"

155

home

of the

and the abode of charity.

the time of the city organization, the schools existits limits were as follows: In the First
Ward, there were Nos. 1,8, 15 and 16. In what is
now the Second Ward there was none. In the
Third Ward was No. 4, occupying the building now
used as a blacksmith's shop, on Church street. In
the Fourth Ward was one, known as No. 5, now the
Prescott School, (organized Jan. 26, 1839,) on Lock
In the Fifth Ward was one, occupying a
street.
The
little old wooden building, since removed.

ing within

Sixth

Ward

Fayette

contained one, called No.

street.

In

the

Seventh

6,

located on

Ward was

the

Putnam School, on the corner of Jefferson

In the Eighth Ward was
streets.
Montgomery
and
present

Common Schools before the City Organization.

The common

No.

schools existing prior to the city

organization were

all

formed and

maintained as

schools of the town of Salina, under the general

school laws.
Salina,

Neither the charter of the village of

adopted

in 1824,

Syracuse, in 1825,

nor that of fhe village of

made any change

of the schools within their limits

in the status

they were from

and continued to be till 1848, common

town of Salina.
The first legislative action on the part of the
State in behalf of education was the passage of an
act entitled " An Act for the Encouragement of
the

first,

schools of the

ID, situated

on East Fayette

street.

In these schools there were, at the time of the city

We

have no
organization, 35 teachers employed.
statistics of the school population, attendance, expenditures or other items.

Public Schools Under the City Government.

The

incorporation of the city of Syracuse

in-

"

An

augurated a new era in educational affairs.

"
Act in Relation to the Public Schools of Syracuse
was passed April 11, 1848. This act, with some
slight

amendments,

is

the

public school system of the

basis
city.

of the
It

present

provided for

"

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

156

by

the appointment

the

Common

Mayor and

Council, of two Commissioners of

common

Johonnot,

Miss Delia

No. 16

from each ward, to be divided into two classes, one

of which should hold office one year and the other
two years from the date of the first appointment,

No.

4
4

thereafter,

that,

Earll, Assistant,

N.

Stanton, Principal,

P.

Mrs. Stanton, 2d Department,

"
Miss Palmer,
R. R. Stetson, Principal,

act

was amended March

ii,

"

15

"

45

Stetson, ist Department, '

"
Miss M. A. Clapp. 2d "
Miss J. A. VanDenburg, 3d D'pt."

16

Mrs.

T/iird

March

1865,

No.

and it is so arranged that the even wards

one year and the odd wards the ne.xt, thus
giving the Board only four new members each year.

20

T/iird

Ward Hiram Putnam

Daniel Bradley
/vr/// IJ'(7r</ Oliver Teall*

C. A.

Wheaton

"

"

"

"

Principal,

7 Miss

1st

ist

"

15

"

i8

$50

"

18

"

15

"

18

J.

7 Miss

S.

7 Miss

R. C.

M.

Co.x,

3d

Newman,

4th

"

"

"

"

M. Winchell, Principal,
12 Miss A. Barker,
Department,
12

J.

18
18

35

'

1st

12 Miss

H. Kingsley, 2d

"

15

"

18

Other teachers were appointed from time

to time,

as the exigencies of the schools demanded, and every

made to advance the standard of qualification,

and make the schools an honor to the city. As the
population increased, new buildings were erected, in
some cases, rented, old buildings improved and enlarged, new districts formed and new lots purchased
effort

and

William Clark was elected President of the Board,

Miss A. Bennett,

Ass't.,

were appointed by the Mayor and Common Council,

who met at Market Hall mow City Halh April 21,
1848, and after choosing Hiram Putnam and R. A.
Yoe, President and Secretary, fro tern., proceeded
to draw for their respective terms, as follows
2 years.
First Ward William Clark
"
J. P. Babcock
"
2
Second Ward James Noxon
"
i
C. M. Brosnan

Salary, $35

Hannah Burnet,

W. W. Newman, Principal, Salary,

E. E.Williams,
D'pt.,
D'pt.,
7 Miss E. Williams,
Brooks, 2d Department,
7 Miss

No.

the act, eight Commissioners

of

18

Ward.

B. Beal, Principal,

J.

18

Fourth Ward.

elect

In pursuance

6 Miss

26, 1866, and March 27, 1868.

By one of these amendments, one Commissioner
is now elected annually from each ward for two

years,

15

Salary, $48
"
18

ist

of everything relating to the public schools.

The

'

Second Ward.

one Commissioner should be

ward
annually.
The Commiselected from each
sioners so elected and holding till their successors
are chosen and qualified, constitute the Board of
Education of the city of Syracuse, who have control

and

Salary, $35

Principal,

Jas.

16

schools

built upon, to

meet the wants of the continually

increasing

number

but declined to serve, whereupon Hiram Putnam

The Board

has never been wanting

was elected

larged views and self-sacrificing in the cause of pub-

At

in his place.

the next meeting of the Board, April 26, 1848,

A. G. Salisbury was chosen Clerk, and

fixed at

The

$500

his salary

a year.

Board, upon

education

lic

efficient

citizens,

organization, adopted the

its

following resolutions

the city who uses intoxicating liquors as a beverage

or who is addicted to the use of tobacco."
" Resolved, That the President of the Board give
public notice that the common schools of the city
will be opened free to all the children of the city.

should be said to the credit of the

without a single noted exception, that they

measures of the Board calculated

The

citizens of the Central City

appreciation of public education by the

money they have

tial

appointment of

teachers in the diflerent schools and wards of the

city,

and their respective

salaries,

per month

Lewis Cornell,

Principal,
"

8 Edward
15 I.

Smith
B. Brigham,

* Rnigncd, and

place filled by

"
T. B.

Fitch.

Salary,
"
"

amount

of

and elegant school houses.

These appear

in

monuments to the people's

some instances the building

every part of the city as

and

liberality.

In

enormous

penditure for several consecutive years

ex-

the years,

from 1868 to 1875.

In 1868, the May School building was erected

for instance

First Ward.

No.

their

cheerfully paid to provide substan-

The

first

the

advance

have shown

of these costly structures required an

shows the

in all

to

and perfect the public schools of Syracuse.

zeal

roll

for.

of en-

the officers have been faithful and

it

FiKST Teachers Appointed by the Board.

following

men

in

have heartily and cheerfully cooperated

just

" Resoked, That the Board of Education will not

employ any teacher in any of the public schools of

and

of children to be provided

^35
35

30

a cost,
the

including furniture, of ^20,oco.

High School building was completed

including

lot,

of ^lOO.COO.

at

In 1869,
at a cost,

In 1870. the Franklin

School building was erected at a cost, including

lot,

'

riioto. liy Bonlji

&

Curti^s, S\racusc.

HENRY SHATTUCK.
Ansel Shattuck, the father of the subject of this sketch, was
born in Deerfield, 3Iass., Aug. 10, 1789, and settled in Pompey,
Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he died, Feb. 8, 1849, in his sixtieth
year. He was a well-to-do farmer and contractor for public works.
He built the Erie canal through Little Falls. He married Rachel

Florida), Adelbert, Henry, and Frank.

who was born June

March 10, 1872.

IG, 1844,

All, except Alice A.,

died quite young.

Mrs. Dorr died

Bump,

After residing in Jamesville for about six years he moved to

Syracuse, and continued in public office until about the year 1801.
From that time on for several years he was engaged in buying and

viz.,

selling real estate,

of Pompey. The result of this union was nine children,

Henry, Electa, Almira, Loron, Chester, Hiram, Caroline O.,
Adaline M., and Angeline. All are now living, except Hiram and

Adaline.

Henry was born

Sept. 13, 1811, in the

town of Pompey.

His

were passed on his father's farm, and his limited education was obtained in the common schools of his native town.
At the age of fifteen years he came to Syracuse, where ho learned
and followed the brickmaker's trade for about seven years. On
April 28, 1831, he was united in marriage to Mehetabel, daughter
earlier years

Knapp, of Pompey. She was born Nov. 18, 1804. She

died Dec. 7, 1840, leaving two cliildren, viz., Mary Ann, born
Jan. 1, 1832 (married Erasmus S. Hungerford, of De Witt); Cornelia, born Nov. 22, 1834 (married Edward H. White, of Syracuse).
After his marriage he settled in Jamesville, town of De
Witt, and engaged in the business of hotel-keeping. After residing there about two years he was elected constable, and from tliat
of Jesse

time for thirty years he

Iield

the oflBces, at different times, of con-

On March

23, 1842,

There were born to them

A. (married George

In 1826, Mr. Shattuck enlisted in a company of light infantry

by General Granger. Was elected fourth corporal. Was
captain four years, and was appointed colonel of the 176th Kegiment of Infantry by Gov. Silas Wright, July 26, 1845, which
raised

position he held for three years.

Politically he has always been a staunch Democrat,

and in

re-

Presbyterian, and has been for several

the Fourth
years a consistent member and a liberal supporter of
Syracuse.
Presbyterian church of
While a resident of Jamesville he was school trustee for several
the
contributed largely to the educational interests of
ligious sentiment

years,

is

and

town.

The numerous and important

official

positions held

by Mr.

five children,

M. Dorr,

must pronounce

he married Sarah F., daughter of Dr. Silas

Alice

city of Syracuse.

sufficiently attest tlie

Shattuck, both by election and aiipointment,
regarded by his
been
has
he
which
with
respect and confidence
every trust committed
fellow-citizens and when we consider that
has been intelligently, faithto his care, whether public or private,
he is in the enjoyment of
fully, and honestly discharged, and that
all who know bim, we
of
respect
and
confidence
the undiminished

and deputy United States marshal, and all these positions he filled not only with great credit to
himself but to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the town
and county.

stable, deputy-sheriff, under-sheriff,

Park, of Lafayette.
namely, Mehetabel,

and in the manufacture of salt, having owned

and worked two blocks.
Since 1862 he has built and sold a large number of houses in the

of

bis a u.seful

and successful

life.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

In 1871, the Madison School building
and furniture cost the city ;g20,ooo.
In 1875, the
Salina School building, which had been built in
i860 and burned, was rebuilt at a cost, including
of ^30,000.

In addition to this in 1870,

the
Genesee,
Salina and Seymour
1872,

furniture, of $17,000.
1

87 1 and

School buildings were enlarged at an aggregate cost

Here

of $20,000.

expended
lic

of six years for pub-

we

If

leave off the re-

building of the Salina School building in 1S75,

then be $190,000 expended

We

years for school houses.

in four

it

consecutive

venture the assertion

that few cities of the size of Syracuse can

show

as

good a record.

Most

of the other school buildings in the city are

in

value,

including

lots,

from $12,000 to $30,000.

is

as follows

buildings, $570,000; total, $726,000.

Present Number of Schools.

The public school system of this city comprehends sixteen schools and school buildings, as fol:

West Genesee and Wallace

School, corner

Salina School, First Ward, between Center and

the

Court

High School required

four

but

years,

Ward, corner Park and

School, First

High School.

The High

School was organized in the brick

building, formerly No. 4,

now used

as a blacksmith's

Church street, in 1855. Prior to this there

existed what was known as the " Higher Department," in which the sciences and languages were
shop, on

now known as the Prescott

The High School proved a success

taught, in the building

and an indispensable adjunct of the

public school system of the city.
Besides advancfrom the

start,

course, and providing facilities for fitting students

for college,

it

has been the only source of a sufficient

supply of competent teachers, and the greater share

of the vacancies in the public schools of the city

have been

filled

preference

from graduates of the High School.

is given to these, as being better

qualified as a general rule, than those

who apply

And

the Board to give employment to a large

Townsend and Ash

corner

School,

own

Of

citizens.

ployed in i860,

aho\x\. fifty

number

streets.

School,

and Peters

corner Butternut

bers of the

High

of

the seventy teachers em-

were permanent residents

of the city, and a majority of them had been

Franklin

for

this

has also the double advantage of aftbrding a con-

their

streets.

Townsend

that

has been recently changed by the Board.

stant supply of excellent teachers and of enabling

streets.

Jefferson

three

the Senior two

situations from places outside the city.

streets.

Bear

half,

High

and a half, and the High School three years, to

complete the prescribed course of study. Formerly

The

High

two and a

requires

ing the grade of education to a thorough academic

entire value of school property

Lots, $156,000

lows

years, the Junior

School House.

good buildings, ranging

The

Primary, Junior, Senior and

The Primary Department

the grand total of $207,000

is

in the short period

school buildings alone.

will

ments, viz
School.

157

mem-

School.

First Graduating Class.

streets.

corner

Genesee School,

Genesee

and Wallace

streets.

Prescott School,

Lock

May

School,

School,

street near Willow.

Seymour

Seneca

of the

first

graduates from the High

School in 1856, are as follows

Rossiter

Clinton School, Lodi street near Hawley.

Seymour

The names

street near

street

West.

between Otisco and

Samuel L. Comstock,
Arinda L. Adams,
Ellen A. Evans,

TuUy.

H. Wadsworth Clarke,

Raymond,

Osgood V. Tracy,
Catharine B. Poole,
Ellyette

W.

Casey,

Ellen V. Bowen.

Grace Street School, corner Grace and Ontario

streets.

Montgomery

School,

Montgomery

street

between

Adams and Jackson.

Putnam School, corner Montgomery and
son

Jeffer-

School,

Adams

street

between Grape and

Orange.
Irving School, corner Fayette and Irving streets.

Madison

School,

corner Madison

and

Spruce

streets.

Grades.

The

responsible and useful situations.

class

streets.

Adams

Since then a large number have completed the

prescribed course of study and have gone forth with
the honors and benefits of the school to fill various

schools of the city are graded in four depart-

of

graduates

consisted

of

Last
21

3'ear the

persons

young gentlemen and 14 young ladies. Most of

the young ladies had pursued the studies of the
Teacher's Class, with a purpose of teaching in the
city schools, provided they should be able to pass
the necessary examination, and openings should

occur offering them situations. The opportunities

which this class presents to those who purpose to

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

IS8

make teaching

a profession, are

compared with those of

when nothing but

very valuable as

a quarter of a century ago,

common

smattering of the

branches was expected of one offering their services

as a

common

The members of

school teacher.

class have spent four years

in

the

this

High School,

in

tering in the sun, and from

beautiful view

this high

environs and romantic scenery.

its

we have

elevation a

obtained of the surrounding

is

already said, was completed in 1869, at a

The

cost, including lot, of 100,000.

building

length of the
width 96 feet.
On the
Central Library Department,

123 feet and

is

its

addition to the course in the Senior School, which

first

floor

more than an equivalent for the entire acquirement for a teacher of only a few years since, where

with

its

they have pursued the higher mathematics, lan-

Board of Education, and a department

guagesincluding Latin, French and German

with a thorough review of the English, the natural
sciences, and mental and moral philosophy.
In

the

of teachers,

addition to this, they have received, during the last

located the

year of the course, daily lessons

the higher grades of education are pursued.

is

in at least

one of

city,

This building,

with the

is

the

valuable

of books,

collection

spacious and commodious

On

drawing.

art of

this,

for classes in

second floor

the

Central Senior Department, with

and above

together

office of the

its

is

the

competent corps

on the third

High School Department

floor,

proper,

is

where

Ward-

the subjects taught in the ward schools, having in

robes and water-closets are supplied throughout the

view a perfect understanding of the principles of

various rooms, with every convenience necessary to

these subjects and the best method of developing

children's

minds

act of the Legislature the

is

made

High School

is

to participate in the distri-

bution of the Literature Fund. This law applies to

all High Schools in the State which conform to the

requirements of the Board of Regents, and

them

a higher character, placing

ing with

The
annual

all

it

gives

them on equal

foot-

other academic institutions.

admissions to the High

;

one class enters

in

September and one

from abroad, and pupils not regularly

schools, are received into the
trial

examination, which,

if

in

the public
a

admits such

During the year 1876,

157 Regents' Certificates were granted, making 80

per cent, of the attendance at the High School Regents' pupils, a larger percentage of the enrollment

than at any former period.

The whole number

en-

was 372, the average number

belonging being 275, and the average daily attendance 264.
rolled duriug the year

High School Building.

tions of the city.

It is in

the

modern

classical style

of architecture, three stories high above the base-

ment, of red pressed brick with Onondaga gray

hmestone trimmings, the style being exceedingly

ornate' and imposing.
A fine cupola crowns the
summit of the structure, capped by a gilt globe glit-

fine cabinet of rare

The conveniences for educapurposes possessed by the High School are

second to no similar institution in the country, and
tional

head of a system of public schools of

which the citizens of Syracuse may justly be proud.
the

fit

Bust of Samuel

May.

J.

In July, 187s, the bust of Rev. Samuel J. May^

executed by Miss Isabella Gifford, of Syracuse, was

purchased by subscribers friendly to that object and

presented to the Board of Education, to be placed in
the Central Library

Room

of the

High School

build-

The committee of presentation consisted of Wm,

Brown Smith, N. C. Powers, Mrs. Oliver T. Burt,
Mrs. R. W. Pease, E. B. Judson, Dudley P. Phelps

ing.

and

J.

L. Bagg.

cation from

the

On

the reception of a communi-

foregoing committee, the Board

passed a resolution accepting the bust, and appointed a committee consisting of Commissioners William A. Duncan, President of the Board of Education,

to

This building is beautifully situated on West

Genesee street in one of the most picturesque por-

sophical apparatus.

in

persons into the school, conditioned upon coming

forward at the next Regents' examination, to try for
his " Regents' Certificate."

Gymnasium, together with

few

High School upon

satisfactory,

style, in

geological specimens, and a valuable set of philo-

is

School are semi-

February, upon the Regents' examination.

is

modern

placed under the visitation of the Regents of the State

University, and

done by patent steam radiators of the most

keeping with the character of the
the
building,
furniture of
which is neat, attractive
and substantial.
Here also is to be located the
which

High School and State University.

By an

In the basement are

comfort of the pupils.

the

located the furnaces for heating the entire building,

them.

in

Hon.

J.

W.

Barker and Hon. John J. Grouse,

for the proper ceremonies.

make arrangements

Arrangements being completed, the transfer was

made September 18, 1875, and the bust placed in
the middle alcove of the Central

Library, in front

of the main entrance.

One

of the daily papers thus speaks of this in-

teresting occasion
"

The arrangements

complete.

for the

ceremonies were very

commodious platform was erected

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

across a portion of the front of the building, and
the lawn in front, made damp by the heavy rains,
was covered with boards.
" Large offerings of flowers, vines and evergreens
gave the platform a charming appearance, and refleeted esthetic culture, and the e.xercises were conducted in such a happy manner as to win the admiration of the large concourse of people.
Promtnently upon the platform, which was occupied by
the Board of Education, the speakers and ofliciating gentlemen, together with a chorus of High
School students under the direction of Professor
Ballou, stood the work of which the city was soon
to become possessed, veiled from the view of the
.1
A
a
spectators by the American
flag.
"The attendance was large, filling the space in
front of the building upon the sidewalk, while the
The assemblage
street was crowded with vehicles.
embraced, besides a large number of prominent
citizens, many educators and students in art and
literature, and all of the professions were well represented.
Almost all classes and conditions of society were present.
The absence of Miss Giftbrd
was universally regretted, particularly by those who
were aware of the fact that she was obliged to forego the pleasure of the event in consequence of severe
Had she been present, the speakers and
illness.
the assemblage would have given her a most cordial greeting.
1

The

presiding officer,

by Rt. Rev.

commenced by appointing

J.

After prayer

L. Basg, Esq.

F. D. Hunting^ton, followed

by the

re-

delivered the address, portraying in eloquent Ian,,

,..

u
.
J character
and

fM
Mr. M
May,

and giv&
work
art
which
appropriate
encomiums
of
the
of
ing
truage
o the

'^

i; Senior Grade, 6;

Grade,
,,,1

life

of

.7'

High School,

Junior Grade,

Schools of

^'''^

as follows

Ungraded

17;

Schools,

which schools are kept.

in

containing schools

Schools

16; Primary
2

Evening

Grades, 6

all

teachers

"""'''^'' ^

^^'^ teachers, 10

in all

the schools....207

female teachers, 197; regular

teachers, 206

special teachers,

i.

Number
r

of persons in the citv between the ages of

'
16 1:1:2
g^d 21

wru^i
VVrioie

number
1

of

"1

"
T~".
iv-^iaicitu
retristered
in

pupi
k '^s
1

,,

all
an

schools

the
mc

8,820

Average number belonging to all the grades, 6,624

Average daily attendance in all the schools.. 6,228
Average per cent, of attendance on number belong

u^'r'-'
Number
of sittings
...

in all the schools

8,222

Cost per Pupil on Daily Attendance.

^''

^"'t'fn-graded schools, S16.27 ungraded

all schools, $16.17
incidentals in
;

schools, S12.49;
all

schools, ;^4.5I

ses,

entire cost

including

all

e.xpen-

S20.68.

Whole amount expended

as

peating of the Lord's Prayer, Rev. C. D. B. Mills

t>

Statistics 1876

-mi
Number of/,,,
buildings

exercises were

159

schools

for

jg.g

in

the city in

Si-'i;o^' 81

^o^'*'^

^^ Education, 1878.

Commissioners ist Ward, Edward E. Chapman

pd Ward. Peter Knaul 3d Ward, John W. Barker; 4th Ward, Henry E. Warne: 5th Ward. Wm.

t-i
/-.u m?
.1 7th
.u
A.Duncan;
oth Ward. uHiram r>
R. /-m
Olmsted;
;

Wg^d, Martin A. Knapp 8th Ward, John H.

Durston.
President, John W. Barker
Clerk and
Superintendent, Edward Smith,
Standing C.7w;//Aw E.xecutive Com'rs W. A.
Duncan, E. E. Chapman, and H. R. Olmsted. Fi'^
t/-u
wr \ ^^
j
nance Com rs tt
E. E. Chapman, W. A. Duncan and
h. E. Warne. Teachers Com'rs H. E. Warne.
Peter Knaul and E. E. Chapman. Library- Com'rs
H. R. Olmsted. M. A. Knapp and W. A. Duncan,
;

some

so faithfully represented "

of his choicest fea-

Rev. S. R. Calthrop, with appropriate re-

tures."

marks and a poem written for the occasion, then

,,

^u
.
u
D
J
r c-j
the u
formally presented
bust to the Board of Edu^
cation. Misses Hanchett and Barnes unveiling the
c

..

'

likeness as the last words were spoken.

was looked upon lovingly forthe first time by many
present, and the skill of the young artist found
.
n
^
President
strong commendation in many remarks.
^
r
J
Duncan then received the gift and promised to
place it in the Central City Library, where it could
be daily seen by the children Mr. May loved so
well.
They would certainly prize it for two reasons-as a work of art and as a most fitting memorial of one who was a sincere friend of education.
Mr. Duncan introduced President White, of Cornell University, who gave a glowing tribute to the
Accepting the bust in becharacter of Mr. May.
- This
half of the Board of Education, he said
bust will endure as a memorial of Mr. May's charbeautiful
It

,-

acter

for the

11

serene face will

benign influence which

will

for

.
.u
years radiate that

1-

cause some to take up

again the good work he loved so well."

Course of Study Com'rs

Warne and Peter Knaul.

H. Durston, H. E.

J.

High School Com rs

m
a
i'
ir r> /^t
j i
ir t~>
Knapp, H.
R. Olmsted and J. H. Durston.
M. A.
.

^^^^^^

Knaul.

Regulations and Printing Com'rs

H. Durston, M. A. Knapp.

Peter

J.

Earlv Libraries
The

first

circulating library, called the " Parish

Library," was

formed by the exertions of Rev.

clergyman in St. Paul's

Palmer Dyer,
Church, which then stood in the center of the
Mr.
triangle now known as the Granger Block.
officiating

Dyer's interest in the youth of the village led to the

step, and to a careful selection of books suited to
time furnished by
aa ai
at one
u
luum was
needs
A room
n
nccus.
/
" R^dfield. Esq.. for the accommodation of
the Library, who. with Mr. Dyer, had chief charge
their
^""-"^

L-

v.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

i6o

its circulation.
After doing a good work it was
removed by Mr. Redfield to the Academy, in the
library of which it was merged.
Madame A. J. Raoul at one time circulated
books to the villagers. Then came the " Syracuse
Library and Reading Room Association," of which

of

Thomas A. Smith,
Librarian, having

Esq., at one

not the

president of the Franklin

first

stage of

and

organization, and was a most zealous

its

efficient friend in the

days of

growth.

Syracuse during these days was not without aspi-

Library

Here the late Thomas T. Davis,

gave evidence.
Zaccheus Newcomb, (for many years a resident of

Public lectures were

later. Wing Russel, James

Judge No.xon,i Judge North, (now of

Waterloo, N. Y.,i and

mow

rooms on the
corner of Salina and Washington streets, by gentlemen of note from abroad, and " Readings " by Mrs.

and

Fanny Kcmble

tory before appreciative audiences.

given before the Association

at

Here

Butler.

its

time

for the first

in

Xo.xon,

the Pacific Coast,) C. B. Sedgwick,

At

debt,

and

a later period the Association got in

The

broke down.

finally

Hon. E. W. Leavenworth, Captain Putnam,

Clary, and others, who opened a library at
Clary's

house or

When

office.

the

present

of

which was

the

made

the bulk of the library

the

the project

eft'orts

till

resulted in an

it

who

appeal

interested to contribute books,

This apwas made at the close of a lecture delivered at

Market Hall (present City Halll by Dr. Mark Hopkins, then President of Williams College, and the
citizens were notified that they would be called upon the following day for contributions.
Accordingly, the next morning, two lads, taking Mrs. R.'s

papers, periodicals, shells, minerals, &c.

peal

large

clothes

basket,

containing a

"

beginning,"

made, before they finished, a pretty thorough canOne of these lads was Daniel
vass of the place.
Fiske, now one of Cornell's corps of Professors, and
the popular Librarian of

that

institution.

The

Edwin Smith, now practicing law at Kennebunk Port, Maine, was a nephew of the beloved
The gleaners met
teacher. Miss Amelia Bradbury.
with good success, and the heavily laden basket
was many times emptied of its contents. One of
the most valuable donations was a complete set of

other,

" Stillman's Journals," from

Stephen Smith, given

upon the condition that the subscription should
It is to be hoped that this work
always be kept up.
fell into appreciative ownership at the late sale of
that Library.

Dr. Plenry Gregory, then rector of St.

by Miss

its

A. M. Redfield, Mrs. E. F. Wallace,

Mrs. Dr. Clary, Mrs. M. J. Lewis, (now of Chicago, Mrs. Charlotte Lawrence, Mrs. Lucy B. Putnam, the Misses Redfield, Messrs. R. W. Washburn,
)

(for

twenty years or so confidential

charge

officer in

&

San
M. Storer, Thomas A. Smith,
W. H. H. Smith, H. N. White, J. L.
Co., at

Francisco, Cal.,) Rev.

into existence as the

of a few leading citizens,

fruits of

agitated

all

Among

Bradbury.

of the express interests of Wells

"Franklin Libkakv and Institute."

being made to

also gained quite a popularity.

noted of these was organized

bury,) Mrs.

it.

The Franklin Library came

wings of ora-

their newly-fledged

Dr.

1,200 volumes to the institution,

some time

for

connected with

D. Dillaye,

Dr.

" F'ranklin

Library and Institute" was formed, they

The most

S.

members were those whose

memories are dear to many hearts
Miss Clarissa
Smith, Miss Caroline Towne, (niece of Miss Brad-

Library con-

1,200 volumes, was purchased by

sisting of about

others, tried

Reading Societies

Syracuse was heard the music of Ole Hull's charmed

violin.

weakness and

its

rants to literary fame, as the popularity of the lyceums

rooms, which he rendered attractive by a fine collection of hot-house plants.

if

Institute and Library, served as such at a very early

time acted as

law office in the

his

Church,

Paul's

E.

J.

Foster,

Bagg and D. P. Phelps.

About 1844 was formed the

"

Society for Mutual

members

the officers and

of which
were each assigned a branch of natural science, and
in rotation furnished each an original Essay at each
weekly evening meeting, with natural specimens for
illustrations, which were supplemented by information contributed by all the members upon the topic
Instruction,"

under discussion
the

members met

street,

and the

in the

last

The first year

School House on Church

the evening.

for

year in A. G. Salisbury's school

room, near the old Congregational Church, (now

Convention Block,) on

Genesee

Fiast

ber" afterwards reported the

first

delivered by Prof Agassiz on

country, in

New York

filled

for information

acquired as a

is

"

mem-

course of lectures

first

landing

this

in

that position had

member of the "SoThe " record " of its

Mutual Instruction."

organization

he wrote to a friend that he

it not been

could not have

ciety for

This

street.

Society was of great benefit to many.

here copied from a large turtle

shell,

one of the members by a friend

of congenial tastes, from Canandaigua Outlet

which was sent

to

Officers.

Seoctar) A.

President

(Teacher

till

Rev. Sanluel

July

G.
i,

J.

May Etymology.

Salisbury

1864

Conchology.

Paymaster

at

New

Or-

I'hoto.

In tracing out the early surroundings of some of our best repremen, we often find that chilling adversity companioned

sentative

and that hard labor

their youth,

filled

their early years.

Fre-

quently the only school attended was that of experience, where

severe masters taught severer lessons.

These reflections have arisen from hearing the reminiscences of

one of our most esteemed citizens, Jason C. Woodrufl", a man
whose name is associated with the most exalted ideas of probity and
morality.

Born

parents, he

was

in

New

Haven, Conn.,

left fatherless ere

His mother, thrown upon her

in

1800, of

American

the completion of his second year.

own

resources, with a family of help-

ones, struggled along, giving them a home and providing

ways and means for their physical needs with that wonderful power
which mother-love only evinces. Unable to send her children to
school, she imparted to them such elements of education as her time
less little

allowed, taking time always, however, to impress upon

value of honesty and truthfulness.
a slight

boy

trusted.

earnest, unobtrusive,

As an evidence

lected by Messrs. Prescott

of merino sheep,

among

hardly imported,

of this

them the

Jason, at the age of nine, was

it

known as a boy who could be

may be stated that he was se-

& Sherman, of New Haven, to take charge

the

first

ever imported into this country,

were smuggled, and that at an

immense cost. For four years this boy herded and sheltered them
from harm, earning the good opinion of his employers by hig zealousness and reliability.
At the end of that time he was employed
by the same firm in unloading salt, and for two years he thus earned
his daily bread.
At the age of fifteen he entered a tannery with
either, as they

the intention of learning the trade, but his desires in that line
to a

summary end by reason of

his falling into a vat;

came
so he

sought that unfailing resource of American boyhood, " working

on a farm." The year 1816 was thus passed.

The only regular instruction ever received was during the next
when he attended the village school. Being now nearly

winter,

seventeen years of age, another trade was determined upon, and

the laborious one of blacksmithing chosen.
This he faithfully fol-

lowed for

five years, at

Great Barrington, Mass., under a master

At

the end of his apprenticeship his capital

exacting but just.

consisted of a
robe,

thorough knowledge of his business, a limited wardand eight cents. With this he started out in quest of a home

and independeuce. Varying fortunes attended him on his way

from one village to another, as he worked as a journeyman, until
at last his erratic steps led

At

this

him

to Utica, in the fall of 1822.

time a feeling of intense excitement existed, owing to the

opposition line of stages

Utica and the west.

which were about

to

be put on between

Naturally a lover of horses, young Woodruff

became much interested in the debates as to the superiority of the

running stock of the new line. He succeeded in getting his name

placed on the
that to

by Bonta &

CurtiBs, Syracuse.

of drivers, and so well did he impress the owners,

the honor of driving the first stage out of

list

him was given

Utica on the rival

line.

His urbanity and

strict attention to busi-

a valuable man, and he was, within a few

months, sent to Canandaigua to take charge of that end of the
Pour years was thus spent.
line.
In his journeyings he had visited the town of Salina, and, like

made him

ness soon

many
make

to
others, seeing its prospective greatness, he determined
He bought out the livery of Philo Rust in
his home.

it

combined with that of staging,

which latter he continued until superseded by railroads. In 1826
Mass. They
he married Miss Amanda Johnson, a native of Lee,
having lost
have two surviving daughters, Charlotte and Harriet,
His wife, who is yet living, has
four sons and two daughters.
sense of the
through these long years been a helpmeet in every
1826, and carried on the business,

word.

Fortune began

upon this earnest suitor, and, as year

he entered new fields of labor, each of which
Mr. Woodruff held the surplus water-power of
by right of lease from the State, on which he

to smile

after vear passed on,

gave good return.

the Syracuse level,

few rods
immense flouring-mill five stories high.
mill, and its destruction
distant Mr. Haskins had a salt-grinding
mill, valued at thirty
by fire involved the loss of Mr, Woodruffs
was discouraging ; but taking new heart

erected an

thousand dollars. This

he went on determined

to labor,

strengthened by the sympathies

meeU misfortune.
ever extended to an honest man who
duties of bank-manonerous
the
fulfilled
From 1831 to 1837 he
In 1852 the people
system.
ager under the United States banking
he did
the office of mayor, which
of this city called him to fill
with singular purity and fidelity.
society of this
He has twice been president of the agricultural
known in the
successful
most
county, one of the years being the
vice-president of the
as
served
also
He
history of the association.
He is still actively engaged in the
State agricultural society.
a
successfully earned on for half
has
he
which
livery business,
strong in
vigorous,
and
robust
About the middle height,

century.

are in their prime.

physical health, his mental faculties
advance the interest of the
In all things which tend to materially
mover and has given
prominent
a
been
ever
has
industries he
farther than hollow
much
so
goes
that substantial aid which
manner,
in speech, reserved in
Reticent
lips.
wordy
promises from
examines
carefully
who
man
a
eTmpresses the observer as being

he

no

bc^i-in.'S of a subject ere

lightlychange his views.

Christln.' For

who doe
reaching a decision, and one
of an earne
is a bright example

He

been a -nsisteat
thirty years he has
twenty-foui o

church.-during
the First Presbyterian
i's

filled

of the board
the position of president

member
which ho

of trustees.

ii"5r:M:^iT

cl-a.ry,

Porlupi there is nu mfto in Sjrraotue whoM name fKlli mure pleaaanUj

upon the eftr thkn dnea the one whirh prrcedei thif Article.
For furtv-rit^ht yenri leading phvfician in (hii vicinilv. and intimately
ronnectrd with the nidrat familiei of thccitr, br hii untirinfc cfTurU and

Judicium course of prarlior he won

eateem o( the

fur

himielf an onviahle poiition in the

waj a well-tn-do farmer, who

had

fcave hi aoii the bent edueatiunal

At the

in that localilr.

afce

of fuurtecn vear*.

Hii father

pervaded

(hi*

father in

aji*ited

hiii

lef^ea in

that localitjr

meanwhile, a educational pnviwere limited, he upeut hif evcnini^ii in cluao atudy*

wurkinR the farm

therrb)r fitting himvelf to

ajmume the dutirs of a

aj>

ithould bo availablo

teach(*r at the early

and uarful

At the age of twenty-one a tempting

in nftcr-vrnra.

ulfor tu

cmbnrk

Clary waa prominently identified with

Karly in

be waa a trustee of the First Presbyterian ehurch, but aomo

life

that church until bis death.

city he

always

aa officer
in bis

felt

for

many

years, always ready to render

any acrrieo

power, professionally or otherwise.

He was

a trustee and vice-president of tbo Syracuse savings bank froa

New England Society, ho

and afterwards elected pn'sident.
Greatly interested in tbo security ami preservation of the re-oords of tho
early history of Onondaga County, he was one of the most active and
ita

One of

organisation.

the founders of the

in the

mercantile

earneit in the organisation of tbo

what should

Pionecra' Association, and one of

officers

life.

ita

from the beginning.

In politics, Dr. Clary in his early

days waa a Democrat, and

highest

sense

would be one
his taatea, and

through

life.

accordance with

in

of

a deep interest, some of which be was connected with

and counselor

belipf that, aa a physician, his field

which be could be

in

member

In the various charitable institutions of tba

and acting upon the

the day:

of the Measiah"

(Unitarian), and waa trustee aa well aa an active and earoeat

His prclilection for a profession

won

"Church

thirty years ago liecame aaauciated with the

of view, called for a pernmncnt de-

be his occupation in

of iU IomI

wafl the first vice-president,

buiinesM, which at the time seemed for bi^ interrfit in a pecuniary point

cision on his part as to

many

institutions.

ago

mind with a knowledge of fuch

of nevrntrrn, a wril aa utoring bt

branches

m<Bopatbio Medical Society, in 18M; being one of the original members of

the American Institute of Homcsopatby.
During his long and useful life

adrantages

when a general

rommunitv that "the west" was the " promincil land/'

he aeournpanieil bin parcntji to Huron Co., Ohio, where the family Mettled
upon an almont untmprovrd farm. Here fur the ipaee of three vear* be
frelinK

the New York 6ute Uonttopatble Medtcd

American Institute of Homceopatby, in 1854; iW
Onondaga Homiropathio Medical Society, in 1S03: the Now Central Ho*
1951

Society, in 1^53; the

in Syracuse, Dr.

citifcnti fcrnrraMjr.

Dr. Clarjr wa Inirn in Derrflcld. Mai>., on Feb. 11. IA03.

tu Im*

imi.id.

Moilical Society, in

very had

in Iti

continued aa aneh

When, however, slamade such gigantic stridot

of the mofit service to his fellow-

that the action of the Deraocratle

man, he adopted the medical pro.

party seemed to be governed by

feiii>n, anil

odioe of

soon after entered the

Manter. Klyria, Ohio,

I>r.

its int4>rest,

wher he remained two years.

Subsequently he returned to his

same,

at

He

grad-

the Berkshire

Outside

with diatinction.
after,

with a view of select

IS:i:i,

professional duties, he vinitrl

then

an

latter place,

b-a^ling place,

hr

and removed

to (be

|A7ft.

it

reaulled in breaking

down

own personal interest, %n be supposed at the time, lioing

Onondaga County Medical Sooiely (allopathic).

then president

of the

new

it>stem he continued to practieo unlit the c|i>se of his

the fact that most of (be families in wbirb be bad pmcticed for

ami
years went with bim

in this

change was a most gratifying testimonial of

the confidence repopcd in him.

His election to the presidency of the following medical societies waa a

esteem in which bo waa behl by the me^lical

Onondaga Medical

making comfortable bomw

them.

sanguine
I

in tbc superlative

Kver cheerful and

'/

intentions

parsed

degree

reliant on

of

the

tbe

Creator
life

wof

busy round of duty, whtob. while benefiting others, did not

lca\e himself unrewarded.
He was ever a close student of bis prufeuloo
in n

and kept puce with the ailvancemenis of the age, possessing strong powers
of application and n well balanced mind.
Always self reliitnt, he bad a happy faculty of drawing out others, whiok,
with fine conversational powers and bis largo fund of information, roodortd

him a most agreeable companion to all.

He was best known in this community as a physician, though always
looked up to as a man of power and ideas. Of a truly sympathetic nature^
he made the joys and sorrows of his friends bis own, receiving their oooAdenco but to retain it. His cheerful countenance and disposition made
his presence in the sick-room, in no ordinary way, a source of consolation
to his pationtj>,

by

all classes

and tbo tondor remembrance

in wbi<:b bis

memory

is

bold

clearly shows that he not only enjoyed, but waa eminently

entitled to the

name

of friend.

May, 1830, Dr. Clary married Miss Fanny Ware, of Deerfleld,

Mass. She was l>orn May 10, 1806, and still survives. They had three
In

sufficient lostimoninl of the

profession: the

for tbo working claMM

upon lands in the city, some of
which were purchased at an early
day, and which were sold on eafy

suitable

towards bis creatures, bis

n large practice

the deep rooted prejudice* uf ninny years and his final iidoptiou of the
homcpopathie nystem, unpopular with the community at large iind against

life,

few years of bl>

last

he built a large number of hoasas

good

to test the eflUcacy of the remedies.

I'nder this

;/c/iriv

Faithfully carrying out his undertaking,

his

During (be
life

In temperament, Dr. Clary was

Dr. Clary entered the aehoul of medicine a^i on allupntb, but in 1810
the clainm of homaMipatby wore preaiied upun bim with no ntucb force by
an old friend and convert (Dr. Uull, of New York city), that he was in-

duced

for

left

I,

terms,

where, with the excepliiin of a short time spent in Virginia,

ho remainetl until bis death, June

first

and

tbo city

li

ward of Syracuse), where be rnnninrd until IK36,

when, perceiving that Syracuse waa
b.-

as the " College lot," which

farms.

active

back, he finally located in Salina,

to

back Ml

purchased tbo tract of land

known

anl
growing place; the thought, however, of expatriating himself and
living under ony other form of government than a republican ime, was
su distasteful and objoctionablo Ibnt
he gave it up, and subucquonlly
making bis way through the Slates
of Ohio and Pennsylvaniaon borneN. Y. (now the

Dr.

he subdivided and sold out in small

neriously of locating at St.

Catharine'^,

profession.

bis

real estate, and. as far

in

Canada, and at one time thougbi

juile

of

Clary was quite an extensive denlor

ing a place in which to enter upor

bis

general political welfare.

Medit-al Odloge, Pittsfiold, Mass..

Soon

an active Free-MlloT,

any desire for political preferment,

though at all times active in politics and deeply interested in tho

Dr. Williams, meanwhile support-

uated afterwards

as

Personally he never indulged

studied for two yvnrf in the office of

ing himself by teaching.

first

la

be broke loose from tbo

afterwards as an earnest Kepublicaa.

New Knglund. and

former home in

tlio

supportcrsof that institution and

Sooioty^ in 18-li

the First Central

ohiblrcu, two of
(lolt,

whom

of Syracuse,

are living,

0. Ware

Clary, and Mrs. Daniel F.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

war of the Rebellion

leans in the

Auburn

at

Superintendent

Prison.)

W.

Treasure}-

H. Scram

er in No. 7 Public

New York

Geology.
Removed

School.

(A
in

teach-

1847 to

city.)

A. Bradbury

Miss

Animalcule.

(Principal of

Ladies' Seminary in Syracuse.

Died Sept.

I2th, 1850.

Mrs. A. M. Redfield Radiates.

Miss Mary Allen

Female Seminaries

now Mrs. King,

Dr.

Anthropology.

Florence, Ga.

Mr. Stetson
Public School

is

(Removed

teacher.)

Ichthyology.

(Teacher at No.

died in 1848 or '49, at Syracuse.)

Joseph A.

Academy.
M. Burr

of
;

of Rochester.

Stebbins

in 1848, to

(Principal

Rochester and Syracuse

Physiology.

Dunlap

Rev.

Conchology.

at

Allen

Meteorology.

Herpetology.

(Teacher

in

Dr. T. D.

west

to

Washburn Entozoa.

Illinois.

Mr. Stanton

New York

(1848 removed

(.')

(A

resident of Geddes, and

stant attendant at the sessions of the Society.

conIn

1848 teaching in Buffalo. Wa afterwards Secretary of State of New York.)

District School Libraries.

Circulating Libraries were connected with the
District Schools

from an early time, and were con-

tinued in the organization under the City Charter.

In the Superintendent's report for
the following
is

"

No

1857,

we find
money

equal amount of public

doing more good to the community than that

expended

purchase of books for the District

There are nine of these libraries, so

in the

Libraries.

distributed over the city as to be conveniently accessible to

every one.

The

aggregate number of

During the year (1857)

This extensive
20,000 volumes have been drawn.
reading, principally by the pupils attending the
schools, but largely by others, cannot fail to have
the

volumes

is

4,620.

an important influence in forming the tastes and

habits

of

those

who

thus devote

their

leisure

hours."

Valuable as these libraries were, they were nevertheless attended with many serious disadvantages,
being scattered in so

many

separate collections, and

the increase of duplicate volumes incurred a large

unnecessary

expenditure.

Library.
This library was opened to the public on the first
of May, 1855, in which year it was enlarged by
the
addition of two hundred volumes of standard works.
the High School building was completed in
1869 it was transferred to its present well-arranged
and spacious appartments on the first floor of that
building.

The

much

circulation,

for

Central Library
as

for

is

intended, not so

collecting

standard

books of reference, and keeping them where they

may be conveniently consulted. Nevertheless, it
has a Circulating Department, free to all citizens
above ten years of age.
The Reference Department is open to all persons above the age of four-

The Library is under the direction of the

Board of Education, and is conducted by a competent Librarian and Assistant, under a stiict yet
liberal system of rules and regulations.
teen.

We

give the following comparative statistics of

the Central Library, from 1867 to 1876, inclusive
:

(Printing in

1848)

in

The Central

When

Members.

Young

i6i

When

the plan

of a

Central Library was adopted, these duplicate vol-

umes were sold from time to time, and the standard

works of value placed in the Central collection.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

l62

Present Librarian, Hon. Richard Woolworth.

order entered in their minutes," to divide and locate

the library in two suitable places west of Albany,

sity.

basing the division on "all duplicate volumes and

such others as the said judges shall think proper."
The places selected were Rochester and Syracuse.
Judges George F. Comstock and Nicholas Hill, then

appropriations of the State and an annuity of about

made

of the Court of Appeals,

the division of the

The

at

Syracuse

is

kept in suitable rooms at the Court House, the Librarian being appointed by the Regents of the Univer-

of the Library consist of occasional

Since

$1,500.

it

has been located here, the num-

ber of volumes has been nearly or quite doubled.

The number of volumes is now a little over lO.OOO,
and the Library contains many rare and choice books

found elsewhere,

not

books, and the libraries were founded.

Library of the Court of Appeals

The funds

its

complete

in

Among

sets.

interesting and valuable collections are the Stat-

Magna

utes of England, complete and perfect, from

Charta ijune

down

121 51

15.

to the present time.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HON. JOSHUA FORMAN.
Joshua Forman was born in Pleasant Valley, in
the county of Dutchess, and State of New York,
His parents were
the 6th of September. 1777.
Joseph and Hannah Forman, who, previous to the
Revolution, resided in the city of New York.
the breaking out of the war and the ajiproach

Upon

of the British to that city, Mr. Joseph

Forman

re-

where the subject of this

At an early age he evinced a
learning in which he was en-

tired to Pleasant Valley,

sketch was born.

strong desire

couraged by

for

In the

his friends.

fall

of 1793 he en-

tered Union College, at Schenectady, and in due

Directly after his
time was graduated with honor.
collegiate course was completed, he entered the
law oflicc of Peter W. Radcliffe, Esq., of Pough-

He
where he remained about two years.
then went to New York city and completed his
law studies in the office of Samuel Miles Hopkins,

kcejjsic,

Soon

Esq
course,

he

the

after

married

a daughter of the

professional

Margaret Alexander,

Hon. Boyd Alexander, M.

Glasgow, Scotland.

Forman removed

of his

close

Miss

to

In

Mr.

o|-)ened

a law office, where he began early to manifest his

public

sjiirit

and enterprise.

and straightforward course in

the practice of his profession, he soon became distinguished as a lawyer, and by his talents and gentlemanly deportment, became familiarly known

By

his integrity

throughout the county.

The

subject of the Erie

Mr. ForCanal became a theme of deep interest.

man of
and
as
a
speaker
public
a
talents
as
man's
influence

and character eminently

him
moving the matter.

to be the individual

who

distinguished

should be foremost in

Accordingly

in 1807, a

cordial support of a large majority of the

electors

Onondaga county. He brought forward in the

House of Assembly the ever memorable resolution,
which alone would render his name immortal,
directing a survey to be made " of the most eligible

of

and direct route of a canal, to open communication

between the tide waters of the Hudson and Lake
Mr. Forman had studied the subject of
Erie."
He had
canals as constructed in foreign countries.
well considered the advantages that would accrue
to the United States and the State of New York,
if this important work should be completed, and
had prepared an estimate of the cost of construction, based upon statistics of the Languedoc Canal.

The
for

And

was adopted.

resolution

years

he was
and was

for this

called a " visionary projector,"

asked a hundred times if he ever expected to live to

to which he uniformly
see his canal completed
;

P., for

spring of 1800,

the

Onondaga Hollow, and

was got up, headed by John McWhorter. a

Democrat, and Joshua Forman, a Federalist. This
ticket was carried with trifling opposition.
It was
headed " Canal Ticket," and as such received the

ticket

Union

answered, that " as surely as he lived to the ordinary age of man, he did
to prepare the public

as

many more

to

that

meet

it,

not Joshua

forward the subject as he did,

ceive

might take ten years

undertaking, and

it

for the

accomplish

Had

would be done."

mind

who would have had

it is

nevertheless,

Forman brought
not easy to con-

the moral courage to

the ridicule of proposing in earnest,

considered

so

wild

it

measure.

what was

During

all

the

times of darkness, discouragement, and doubt, he

boldly stood forth, the unflinching champion of
feasibility, utility,

pletion.

On

and worth,

till

the day of

its

its

com-

the occasion of the grand canal cele-

bration, 1st of

November

1825,

Judge Forman was

~t tit

/7^^^<^^^-^

S^mMl Sn'f^'^

/V^^^^^^-'^>>'

SYRACUSE, N Y

HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

64

of Gov.

Van Burcn, submitted

mittee of the Legislature then

Act.

a law, and

relieved the

It

and

it

is

may be

safely

known

com-

his plan to a

At

in session.

suggestion of the Governor, he drew up a

became

in

the

bill

which

as the Safety

Fund

embarrassment of the State,

affirmed that that no system

practice on this side

the Atlantic, has better

In 1829-30, Judge
of land in

Forman bought 3,000

acres

He

Rutherford Co., North Carolina.

took up his residence at the village of Ruthcrfordton,

greatly extended

boundaries, established a news-

its

paper, and was considered the most enterprising

1831, after an

Forman

visited

absence of

five years,

He

Onondaga County.

Judge

for that

purpose, presented a valuable set

of silver plate, in the form of a pitcher

bearing this inscription

lets,

si.\

gob-

'rribiih-

Syracuse,

83

1845,

ing that
cuse,

it

remained with him

it

till

fel-

the year

to his daughter, the wife

W. Leavenworth,

of Syracuse, remark-

constituted a part of the history of Syra-

and that

after his death there

In 1S46, this venerable

man

it

should remain.

revisited his former

and found in each a full,

hearty and honest welcome. A public dinner was
tendered him at the Syracuse House
then the
friends of his earlier years

which was attended by

Moses D. Hurnct, Hon. George Geddes, Lewis H.
Redfield, Amos R. Granger, Harvey Baldwin, and
most of the prominent citizens of the village and
many from the adjoining country. Hon. Moses D.

great hotel of the city

Burnet presided.

DeWitt

of

Clinton, pages 342 to 357,

Clark's History of Onondaga, Vol. 2d, pages

;

see also " Genealogy of the Leavenworth

69

tu

Fam-

the United States," pages 257 to 264.

ily in

GEN. ELIAS

LEAVENWORTH.

VV.

Elias Warner Leavenworth was born at Canaan,

Columbia county, N. V., December 20, 1S03.
His
father removed from Canaan to Great Barrington,
Mass., when he was three years old, where his early
life was spent among the beautiful hills and valleys

Early developing an eager taste for

He

Parker of Albany.

North Carolina, Judge Forman

when he presented

of Gen. E.

life

for his relations to the city of Syracuse, see

in

the year

Hudson Academy, then under

took with him this token of the gratitude of his

it

Hosack's

and

Daniel Parker, father of

Hon. jfoshua Forman,

fomuier oj that Village.

low citizens, and

Syracuse.

knowledge, he was placed

{Clasf-ed /lands.)

to the

his return to

at

For a fuller and more detailed account of Judge

Forman's relations to the Erie Canal, see Dr.

of Berkshire.

of Respfct.
by the
Cilizens of Syracuse

On

and

J'rcsttitfii

Leavenworth, and now repose

beneath the shades of Oakwood, the beautiful rural

was every-

where received with unqualified demonstrations of

joy and respect, and every voice cheered him as the
founder of the city and the benefactor of mankind.
The citizens of Syracuse, through their committee
appointed

W.

daughter, Mrs. E.

90

individual in that part of the State.

In

From Syracuse Judge Forman retired to his

mountain home in the milder climes of the sunny
South, and passed away at the village of Rutherfordton, on the 4th of August, 1S48.
His remains were
removed from Ruthcrfordton, at the request of his

cemetery

stood the test of experience.

formal address of congratula-

tion on account of the great success of his early

labors and the remarkable fulfillment of his hopes

and predictions was made by the Hon. Harvey Baldwin, which was replied to in behalf of Judge For-

man

being then unable to articulate distinctly on

account of a paralytic shock by his son-in-law. Gen.
(^he

Leavenworth. Gen. Amos R. Granger, Hon. Geo.

Geddes, Lewis H. Redfield and several other gentlemen addressed the party in a very happy manner.

tory studies, in

Esq

at

from

part,

the present Judge

also,

city.

Amasa

pursued his prepara-

under Erastus C. Benedict,

Great Barrington,

New York

1819, at the

the care of the Rev.

tered Williams College, as a

State Senator

1873

in

In the

fall

of 1820, he en-

Sophomore

well pre-

pared, and remained there one year, and then

of the

uated in 1824, and took his second degree

On

en-

Sophomore was elected a member

Phi Beta Kappa Society in 1823
was grad-

tered Vale as a

in

1827.

the 20th of September, 1824, he began the

study of law

with William CuUen

Bryant,

practicing at Great Barrington, and on the

then

i6lh of

May, 1825, entered the Law School at Litchfield,

Conn.
In January, 1827, he was admitted to practice in all the courts of

On Monday,
Great

Connecticut.

the I2th of November, 1827, he

Barrington

for

gence, at sunset, on

Syracuse, arriving, by
the following Saturday.

left
dili-

He

was admitted in the Common Pleas as an attorney

and counsellor at the February Term, 1828, on the
motion of Gen. James R. Lawrence and in the
Supreme Court nearly two years later at Albany,
at the October Term, 1829, as an attorney, and as
;

counsellor in 1833.

On

reaching Syracuse, he studied and practiced

with Alfred Northam, Esq., until February,

when he formed

1829,

a partnership with the late B.

<_A9t_:y^e VA.
SYBACUSE.N.r.

il^-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Davis Noxon, Esq., which continued with various

members
doned

of the family

until

his profession, entirely

1850,

when he aban-

on account of the state

In the great campaign

of 1840 he
had contracted bronchitis by constant public speakof his health.

ing to large audiences.

came somewhat

In 1850, his condition be-

and although enjoying probably the largest and most lucrative practice in the
critical,

the Spring of 1849, Mr.

Mayor

i6s

Leavenworth was elected

Under his administration and

by his efforts, the Armory Park was laid out and
became city property. In the Fall of the same year
of the city.

he was elected a member of thi Legislature to repwas chairman of the committee on the Manufacture of Salt and a member

resent the city district

from his profession and turn his attention to other

Committee on Railroads and also drew up

and had passed a bill on the subject of Salt.
(Laws of 1850, Chap. 374, p. 794.) He also car-

pursuits.

ried through the

central part of the State, felt constrained

Rest and care

for

to retire

two or three years and abstain-

of the

Committee of the Whole and pro-

cured the passage of a

bill

improve the naviga-

to

tion of the

Seneca River.

and other pursuits having engaged his attention, he

drew up and

carried through a

never returned to the practice of law.

tion

ing from public speaking, fully restored

his health,

In January, 1S32, he was appointed a Lieutenant

Regiment

of Artillery in the 147th

in the
tillery

of Infantry, and

same year was appointed Captain

in the same regiment.

of the Ar-

In 1834, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of

the 29th Regiment of Artillery, and in the following year was appointed Colonel of the same regi-

In the

same year he

bill for

Washington's headquarters

of

the preservaat

Newburg.

In a series of able speeches, he defended the Goverthe celebrated "

nor's veto in

Mason Will

Case,"

was mainly through his efforts that the veto

of Governor Fish was sustained in that long and
and

it

fiercely contested discussion.

In

General

i849-'50.

Leavenworth was one

Building Committee

the

of

of

the

First

Pres-

ment. In the Fall of 1835, he was nominated at

the Whig County Convention as one of the four
members of Assembly from Onondaga County.
But the county was hopelessly Democratic, or he

byterian

In
would not have consented to be a candidate.
1836, he was appointed Brigadier-General of the

the committee, the brown stone Gothic Church, one

Brigade

7th

Trustee

of

Syracuse

was President

'40,

1S37, was elected

In

of Artillery.

In

village.

of the

1838-39, and
In

village.

1839, ^^^

Society.

wished to build a brick church, after some of the

Grecian styles of architecture.
By his efforts,
aided by those

State, at the

Whig

While President of the village from 1838 to 1841,

the Board opened, or extended many of the streets
which are now the principal business ones in the
In 1838, he drew up a resolution which was
city.

Asylum

means

Square

of procuring

the rows of trees which

of the railroad from

city

in

for the

and the

first

Washington

Beech

city
still

line

each side

street to the heart of the

public sewer, which

street,

Vanderbilt

from

still

the creek to

During

term as Secretary of State, he was very

his

for

improvements to be made throughand through his efforts the State

Idiots was removed from Albany to

Syracuse.

As

Secretary of State, he was

ex-ofificio visitor

the charitable institutions of the State,

of

and saw the

want of some superior investigating and

supervising power over the Trustees of the various
institutions. He accordingly drew up a bill entitled
great

An

Lemon

ported or assisted by the State, and to city and

county poor houses, and to create a board of visitors

to discontinue

act in relation to charitable institutions sup-

vil-

for the

bill

by

a contract with the

that

what is now known

In the same year he was instruas Fayette Park.
mental in securing to the city that beautiful Park
which is now the pride of the Seventh Ward. In
part oi the road running through

In the Fall

"

In the winter of 1839, while President of the

lage, he drew up and procured the passage of a

make
Seneca Turnpike Company,

Secretary of

State Convention.

extends

street.

to enable the trustees to

Fitch, one of

of 1853 he was nominated for Secretary of State,

almost without opposition, and was also elected.

out the State,

the

B.

votes of being nominated for

eight

of the village.

Thomas

In the Fall of 1851, he lacked only six or

cured.

active in causing

elected

It

of Mr.

of the finest ornaments of the city, was finally se-

Supervisor of the old town

was the first election at which the Democrats had
been beaten for twelve or fifteen years was reelected
In 1846 and '47, was again President
in 1840.
of Salina.

majority of the committee

same," which was introduced into the Senate

substance the
In
Hon. Mark Spencer.
was passed by the Legislature, May 23,
bill
In 1855
1867, when he again drew the bill.

he was elected a corresponding member of the

American Historical and Geographical Society of
the city of
the

New

New York
England

and, also, the

Historical

and

same

year, of

Genealogical

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

i66
Society of Boston.

worth was again

In the

of 1856, Mr. Leaven-

fall

the

to

clecteii

Legislature

was

Chairman of Committee on Canals and a member

of the Committee on Hanks also, Chairman of the
Select Committee of one from each Judicial District on the Equalization of State Tax.
As Chairman, he drew up a bill, which was subsequently
;

passed, entitled, "

among

An

act to equalize the State

the several counties

established the Board of State Assessors.

drew up and introduced the

to provide

of

entitled,

bill

the investigation

for

in

fires

certain

cases

"

ta.x

the State," which

in

He also
" An act

into the origin

also

many

other

member

elected

44th

of the

25th Congressional

the

District,

Cortland, but declined, at an

tion in

Congress from
Onondaga and

early day, a reelec-

a letter to his constituents setting

forth

There are many other public positions which he has filled with credit and ability,
which the want of space will not permit mentioning.
Mr. Leavenworth at present holds the following
the reasons.

positions

President of the Syracuse Savings Bank,

President of the Syracuse City Water- Works

Com-

pany, President of the Syracuse Gas Light Company,

President of

Oakwood Cemetery.

Historical Society of Central

President of the

New

York, Secretary

party complexion, politely laid the nomination over.

and Treasurer of the Cape Cod Coarse Salt Company, a Trustee of the Onondaga County Orphan
Asylum, a Trustee of the Syracuse Home Association for Old Ladies, a Trustee of the First Presby-

Mainly through the

terian

bills of

equal importance.

In the winter of 1858,

Governor King nominated him

to

the Senate for

State Auditor, but the Senate, being of a different

efforts of

Mr. Hamilton White,

Mr. Leavenworth and

Church, since July, 1837,

State

the finest cemeteries in the State.

versity of the State of

In the spring of

1859 he was again elected Mayor of the city. In

the fall of the same year he was again nominated
for

the office of Secretary of State, but was defeated

by a small majority of from 1,000 to 1,500 votes,

in a total of 600,000, mainly through the efforts of
Erastus and James Brooks and the Know-Nothing
party, on account of their hostility to Governor

Seward

of

whom

he was a

warm

friend.

In the

Trustee of the

Asylum for Idiots, a Director in the Syracuse,

Phtenix and Oswego Railroad, a Regent of the Uni-

858-9, the Association of

Oakwood was formed, which gave to the city one of
in

Few men have

Leavenworth.

New

York.

led busier public lives than

Gen.

Possessing a fine education, com-

bined with highly respectable natural

abilities,

his

services and talents for forty years past have been in

constant demand, wliethcr as a legislator, a states-

man

or a jurist.

He

has

left

of his character and tastes

indelibly the impress

upon the

the city in which he resides.

institutions of

Kind, sympathetic,

winter of i860, he was appointed by the Legislature,

one of the Board of Quarantine Commissioners and
was chosen President at its organization.
In the

generous and humane, he daily practices these lovely

summer

utable to his astonishing energy, and an endeavor to

same year he was President

of the

of the

Republican State Convention assembled at Syracuse to select delegates to the National Convention
at Chicago.
On the 5th of February, 1861,
Gen. Leavenworth was chosen one of the Regents of
the University
and in 1872 was appointed by the
;

Governor and the Senate, one of the commissioners

amend the State Constitution.

In February,
86 1, Mr. L. was nominated to the position of Commissioner under the Convention with New Granada,
and was duly confirmed by the Senate.
to
1

In

the

fall

of

1874, Gen.

Leavenworth

was

christian virtues

moves.

The

which create sunshine wherever he

great secret of his success

discharge to the best of his

is

imposed uj^on him.

75 years, he does

man

at the

more hard work

attrib-

every duty which

ability,

Now

is

advanced age of

than, perhaps, any

Syracuse, as can be seen by the numerand responsible positions which he now

holds. Age, instead of enfeebling his intellect, adds
increasing lustre to his experience and wisdom.
other

in

ous, arduous

Few men

in the State

would adorn any public posi-

tion with a richer experience or finer ability.

For a fuller account of Gen. L. see the

worth Genealogy, 1873."

"

Leaven-

was

manikin, and with the assistance

born in the town of Springiieid,

Otsego Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1817.
His paternal grandfather, John

of kind friends he accomplished

was a native of
was a classical
Standal, Prussia

to the subjects of

subject of this sketch

The

his desire,

of

Wietiiig,

C.

family

the

taught

member
a

of

Soon

ring

on the side of the colonists

was in the battle of SaraAfter the war he married,
toga.
taught a classical school at Greenbush, N. Y., and later was pastor
of the Jjutheran church of Minden
and Osquake far twenty-two years,

States.

enlisted

the

sixtieth year of his age.

His lectures increased in pop-

town of Minden,
Jlontgomery Co., N. Y., Oct. 30,
1790; was a tanner and currier in
the early part of his career, and
subsequently a merchant, and died
in

in

the

the city of

ularity

{%.%.

lent

his death.

eldest son in a family of four children,

is

and

the only surviving one.

at

He

received sufficient education from the district and private schools,

he became a teacher.

After

that age, unaided pecuniarily, he spent the next four years in

teaching winters and attending school at the Clinton Liberal In-

and working on the farm summers.

During the following year he assisted in the preliminary survey
for the New York and Erie railroad.
At the age of twenty, in
the year 1837, he came to Sj'racuse, and engaged as an engineer in
the construction of the Syracuse and Utica railroad, which position he filled for some six years.
In the mean time he surveyed
Rose Hill cemetery, and graded many of the streets of the thee

stitute,

village of Syracuse.

During these years he was an almost constant student of the

It was also about this time
that he conceived the idea of leading a professional life, and began
natural sciences and mathematics.

Hiram Hoyt,

Through the pecuniary misfortune of

health, John M. was compelled not only

of Syracuse.

his father

to

and

his poor

meet the obstacles of

himself at this time, but also to provide for the support of

the rest of the family, which he did, with the pride of a devoted
Bon,

down

to the

death of those

who gave him

birth.

In the spring of 1843, while a student of medicine, he was

by the lectures of Dr. Austin Flint, then lecturing in
Syracuse with a manikin.
John M. resolved to purchase the
attracted

instructed

the

willing,

of

became
one of the most successful and
research,

courses of lectures

life for

a student,

as

and

popular lecturers of the age.

He gave over one hundred

was of English descent,

and was born April 5, 1792, in
Washington Co., N. Y. She died May 30, 1872. Her father was
a Revolutionary soldier, and was a pensioner for many years before

the study of medicine with Dr.

wa.s

public

a branch to the trunk

scientific

settled in the State of P.hode

so that at the age of fourteen years

rest,

in

for a period of

masses,

came from Manchester, England,

John M. was the

time

some twenty
years, more or less, he excited
the curiosity and educated the
and

Syracuse in the

the time of the writing of this sketch

whole

when not

speaking or

His mother, Mary Elizabeth

Manchester, was a descendant
from a family of that name who

Island

his

occupied,

year 1856.

and

received

taining.

His father, Peter Wieting, was

born

after

he

Prom time to lime, as his means

would admit. Dr. Wieting added
to his manikin other manikins,
skeletons, models, and paintings,
and such other illustrative apparatus as was calculated to render
his lectures instructive and enter-

1817, in

he

began lectuhis diploma

to practice medicine.
His lectures were given mostly in the
New England and Northern

Vienna over one hundred years ago) came to America

while a young man, about the
time of the Revolutionary war

17,

himself

health.

classical

school in

and died Feb.

confining

anatomy, physiology, and the laws of life and

scholar (and another

and started on a tour

lecturing,

in

the

city

and vicinity during

these years to crowded houses.- His pure, intellectual efforts on
these occasions are said to have been very successful, and have
placed him on record as a thorough master of the subjects before
of

Boston

him.

economy in his earlier life. Dr. Wiamanagement and his natural business ability,
secured a competence which places him beyond the apprehension
of want, and owns one of the finest and most valuable blocks in
In politics, he has never been a
the city, called Witting block.
Inured

to the necessity of

ting has, by judicious

very zealous party man not solicitous of public

with the Republican party.
;

He was

the

first

president of the

office

Chenango Valley

identified

railroad,

connected with any public enterprise.

Dr. Wieting, in the strictest sense of the term, is a self-made
man, endowed with that self-reliance, perseverance under diffithe greatest
culties, endurance of body and mind, resolution, with
firmness and consideration, worthy of emulation by the young men
but has been very

little

of to-day.

In the year 1875, Dr. Wieting, with his wife (whose maiden
Elizabeth Plumb, born in Homer, N. Y., a
granddaughter of Hon. Samuel Plumb, and on the mother's side

name was Mary

Pacific
daughter of Colonel Cooley, of De Ruyter), visited the
leading countries of
coast, Japan, China, Ceylon island, India, the
after an
Africa and Eurojie, returning to his native country

world.
absence of one year, and making a trip around the
information
In this tour he added to his already large stock of
and was a
neither reading or literary research will acquire,

what

character of other
discriminating observer of the customs and
traveled.
peoples in the countries through which he

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

THE SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

The

history of the inception and establishment

of this Institution was given

A.

J.

31,

an address by Rev.

Phelps, on the occasion of the laying of the

corner stone of the

1

in

87

1.

Haven and

It

"

Hall of Languages," August

has been

approved by Chancellor

others as a sufficiently accurate history

of the University, and as such

it is

here introduced,

with a few slight alterations.

Like many other great and noble enterprises,

the Syracuse University seems not to have been
the result of plan or concert, but rather, as we then
thought and still believe, a sort of intuition or inspiration which came upon several minds almost simulThis enterprise, in its inception, contaneously.
templated the removal of Genesee College to Syracuse, and the first tangible expression within our
knowledge, looking in this direction, was a note
from Professor J. R. French, which was received in
reply to a communication we had made to him, in
the month of January, 1866, declining to cooperate
with him in the proposed plan to raise Centenarj^
funds for the endowment of Genesee College, on
the ground that its location was quite too uncentral and ineligible to meet the demands of our educational interest in the great Empire State, and
strongly urging the imperative necessity of a first
class college, under the patronage and supervision
of our denomination, in some central position in
which our people from all parts of the State might
feel a common interest and where they might invest with better promise of grand results.
To these sentiments Dr. French promptly responded, and fully committed himself in favor of
the removal of Genesee College from Lima to some
more eligible location. Almost instantly after the
receipt of this note we learned of an incidental conversation occurring only a few days before, between
Rev. E. Arnold and Professor Bennett. The spirit
fell first upon the former, and the latter soon caught
the inspiration, and as quick as thought there appeared screws under the sills, a locomotive on the
track, and the time honored college seen trembling
for its journey.
At almost equal date Dr. Lore
might have been seen in his sanctum, listening to
this topic, when suddenly he replied by placing in
the hand of his friend a half column of " proof," on
the removal of Genesee College, and the two
agreed that the intuition or inspiration, which ever
it was, must be good.
The next fact of interest time will allow us to
note, was the first college convention, called under
the auspices of a centenary meeting at Elmira, and
held at Syracuse, April 12, 1866.
This convention
of representatives of five central and western conferences, took action decidedly favoring the enter-

and adopted measures for its advancement.

During the same month Black River and Oneida
conferences took harmonious action, and constituted
their visitors to Genesee College, Commissioners to
confer with the Trustees and negotiate for the removal of the College to some central locality in the
prise,

State.

167

At the annual meeting of the Trustees, held at

Lima June 27, 1866, the Commissioners being presand representing their several Conferences, the
Trustees responded in substance that, the Genesee
and East Genesee Conferences concurring, we deem
it best that Genesee College should be removed
to
some more central location in the State on condition
that two hundred thousand dollars, irrespective of
grounds and buildings, be raised by the Conferences
east of Cayuga Lake, to equal two hundred thousand dollars to be furnished by the two Genesee
Conferences.
ent,

(Rev. E. O. Haven, D.

D,

LL.

Immediately after this action of the Trustees, the

Commissioners issued a call for a convention of
Laymen and Ministers from Black River, Oneida,
and Wyoming Conferences, which was held at SyThis Convention indorsed
racuse July 26, 1866.
the basis agreed upon by the joint meeting of Trustees and visitors, and recommended that Syracuse
and other eligible localities should be canvassed, to
ascertain what inducements would be offered to locate the college in their midst.
At the session of the Genesee Conference in the
autumn of 1866 this whole plan was, with great
unanimity, indorsed, whereupon the Trustees took
measures to secure the passage of an act by the
Legislature of i866-'67, legalizing the removal of
Immediately thereafter parties entered
the college.
upon the authorized canvass in several localities.
In Syracuse private interviews were held with
several distinguished gentlemen, by whose advice
and cooperation a preliminary council was called,
and thereupon a private note was prepared, as fol-

lows

" Syracuse, March 5, 1S67.

to meet several of our
requested
are
Sir You
citizens at the office of the Salt Company of Onon-

"

daga, Thursday,

March

21, at

seven

p. m.,

to attend

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

i68

an adjourned meeting for consultation in regard to

a matter of great public interest.
Yours, etc
,

William D. Stewakt, C. T. Longstkeet.

Gkokge F. Comstock, Chas. Andkkws,
E. W. Leaven woKiH,
T. B. Frrcii,
A. D. White,
C. Tallman,
A. MUXKOE."
This note was addressed to one hundred or more
of the most wealthy and influential of our citizens.
The convention thus called was largely attended
and of marked interest. After brief addresses by
Lore, A.

Phelps and others, without the

from members or ministers of our
own denomination, the convention took measures to
secure the bonding of the city for the promotion of

Dr.

least suggestion

this enterprise.

Whereupon Judge Comstock was

requested to draft an enabling

tion issued a public call
citizens of Syracuse.

foi-

bill, and the convenmass meeting of the

This meeting convened the following week at the

City Hall.
The gathering was large, enthusiastic
and harmonious. The proposed bill was presented
by Judge Comstock, which provided for bonding
the city for the sum of $ICX),0C)0, conditioned on
the establishment of a college in Syracuse or immediate vicinity with endowment of $400,000, independent of city bonds. This bill was approved by
the convention with great unanimity and at once
forwarded to our representative at Albany, and immediately passed the Legislature and became a
law.

During this year, 1866, which was observed as

the Centenary of Methodism, subscriptions were
secured on many of our charges in furtherance of
this object.
In this work. Rev. J. B. Foote, A. M.,
and Rev. D. D. Lore, D. D., and others were
specially active and successful.
In the spring of '67, Black River and Oneida
Conferences fully ratified these preliminary proceedings, elected college commissioners and api)ointed
Rev. J. D. Adams, Rev. James Erwin and Rev. A.
B. Gregg, agents to raise funds for this enterprise.
Meantime volunteers among whom Rev. C. P. Lyford, Rev. L. Arnold, and others, were jirominent,
operated with marked success in securing subscriptions and

awakening

interest in favor of this

movement.

The Conference of 1868 reaffirmed their confidence in the enterprise and reappointed commissioners and agents to further the cause.
From the first the Trustees of Genesee College
have been true to the faith, and have done all in
power to consummate this noble work.
Failing to secure the passage of the desired bill
for the removal of the college in the legislative session of '66 and '67, they renewed their etforts the
following year, and procured the passage of an "enabling," or rather a disenabling, act, authorizing the
Trustees to remove the college, leaving to Lima
Semrtjary all the real estate of the college and
75,00^ of its cash endowment. The removal was
opposed by the citizens of Lima who secured from
the court an injunction upon the Trustees.
This
was a day of darkness to our enterprise. Still the
their

overhanging clouds were not utterly dark. The

hearts of the masses and the open liberal hands of
the people were with us. The pledge of S 100,000
from Syracuse, and $125,000 on subscriptions,
leaving only $75,000 to be raised to meet the proportion of our Central Conference, with assurances
from the West that the required balance should be
timely met, shed some light upon our darkness.
Still the persistent opposition of interested parties
at Lima, the disabilities of the so-called " Enabling
act," and the legal restraints of an injunction upon
the Trustees, made the timid falter anri even our

agents

faithful

in

mid-season

thought

it

wise to

turn to other means of livelihood, and some of the

people began to talk of defeat.
But the original
and abiding friends of the enterprise who never so
much as thought of defeat or mortification, only
talked of a " change of base."
In the midst of this peril, in the darkest hour of
the dark day, one who spoke the sentiments of the
many, with almost prophetic assurance, exclaimed,
"
shall see in due time a magnificent university
towering up on some of the high lands of our Central City, standing there a living record of constancy and perseverance, a blessing to the great State
in which we live, a perpetual honor to the church
we represent, and an imperishable monument to the
praise and glory of the great head of the church.
God hasten the day when the vision shall be real."
Thus, while many were disheartened and paralyzed by murmurings of coming evil, others were
looking and hoping, praying and planning, when almost as if by magic the air was vocal, a voice from
the center echoing from the West and the East,
from the South and the North, cried let us have a
convention j^^reaf Melltpdist State Convention.
Let us come together and deliberate upon great issues that concern the church and the State especially let us combine the wisdom and strength of
the people and take some new step which shall put
our great educational interests beyond peradven-

We

ture.

In the order of Providence, the auspicious day

appeared.
On the 22d day of February, 1870, the
Convention came, and the able utterances and wise
deliberations of many distinguished men, with the
skillful supervision of the President, Rev. J. T.
Peck, D. D., made it a great occasion in more reWhile it conserved in a high despects than one.
gree other interests vital to religious and social life,
it was the day-spring to our long cherished project
of establishing on some prominence of our beautiful city, halls of science and letters, to rejoice our
own hearts and make glad and elevate the generations to

The

come

was greatly intenby the passage of the following resolution

" Resolvcii, That this State convention of the M.
E. Church of New York, approves of the plan to
establish without delay, in the city of Syracuse or
its immediate vicinity, a first-class university, and
that we recommend that immediate measures be
taken to raise at least $500,000 to endow the universified

sity."

interest of this convention

ttt: ft

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

But the grand climax was reserved until name
name was announced with magnificent subscriptions for the university, inspiring and electrifying the people beyond measure. Perhaps no better
description can be given of this hour of thrilling interest and prophetic history, than is set forth in the
following abstract of the published proceedings of
After the close of the several able
the convention.
and stirring speeches on this subject, Dr. Jesse T.
Peck arose, evidently impressed with the historic
significance of the occasion, and said " I have heard
after

it

said that talk will not build a college, but that

money

will.
I propose that you instruct Brother
Ives to stand here on the platform and see how
much can be raised here and now. All in favor of
The proposition was unanimously
this say aye "
approved, and Rev. B. I. Ives came forward and
" I liked that brother's speech over yonder,
said
and about the last thing he said was, Send us
:

'

Here I am, and I am after you."

Brother Ives.'
Mr. Ives asked for two hundred thousand dollars
from the audience.
The first subscription was in the following words
and read by Rev. Dr. Lore
"I will be one of four to subscribe $25,000 each,
making g 100,000, towards endowing four professorships, when the University to be located at Syrawith the
cuse, is legally and practically established
understanding that I with my good wife, appropriate
:

the savings of a life-time to the payment of this subscription and make arrangements for any balance
which may be unpaid at our decease, to be paid from
Jesse T. Peck."
our estate.
F. H. Root, Esq., proposed to pay the interest
on twenty-five thousand dollars for five years. E.
Remington pledged to pay twenty-five thousand
dollars as soon as circumstances permit, which will
Rev. J. F. Crawford pledged twenty-five
flfe soon.
Hon. George F. Comstock
thousand dollars.

pledged the interest of twenty-five thousand dollars

Additional subscriptions were then
made, in sums varying from ten thousand dollars to
one hundred dollars, and amounting in the aggregate
to one hundred and eighty-one thousand dollars.
for ten years.

Though

these figures partially depreciated so as to

leave a real footing of about $160,000, still this was
the grand breeze which set our stranded bark adrift
and turned her prow towards the glorious harbor.
This goodly craft, so suddenly emerged from jeopardy, the convention christened " The Syracuse
University" and at once proceeded to elect the fol-

169

Wyomitig Conference: Rev. H. R. Clark, D. D.,

Rev. D. W. Bristol, D. D., Hon. H, G. Prindle.
Black River Conference: Rev. J. S. Bingham,
Rev. S. R. Fuller, A. M., Hon. 'Willard Ives.
Troy Conference: Rev. J. T. Peck, D. D., Rev.
J.
E. King, D. D., Rev. Bostwick Hawley, D.D.,Prof.
H. Wilson, A. M.
Neiu York Confere7icc : Rev. M. D'C. Crawford,
D. D., Professor Alonzo Flack, A, M., Philip Phillips.

Neiv York East Conference : Rev. George Lansing

Taylor, A. M.. John Stephenson, Esq,, John H.
Ockershausen, Esq.
City of Syracuse: Judge G. F. Comstock, Rev. E.
Arnold, Hon. Charles Andrews, W. W. Porter, M.
D., T. B. Fitch, Esq.
The Board convened immediately after the convention, and organized under the general law, electing Rev. J. T. Peck, D. D., President of the Board,
Rev. D. D. Lore, D. D., Secretary, and T. B Fitch,
Esq., Treasurer. An executive committee was also
elected, consisting of Rev. J. T. Peck, D. D., Rev.
D. D. Lore, D. D., Hon. G. F. Comstock, T. B.
Fitch, Esq., Hon. C. Andrews, Rev. A. J. Phelps and
Rev. E. Arnold at a meeting held in April, 1870,
Rev. E. C Curtis was elected General Agent for the
University, and in the month of September last,
the Board unanimously selected the beautiful grounds
where we are standing, as the site for our Syracuse
University, and appointed a committee to supervise
the grading of the grounds and the erection of the
Hall of Languages.
Our distinguished Agent, Rev. E. C. Curtis, with
the self-sacrificing and masterly cooperation of the
President of the Board, Rev. Dr. J. T. Peck, has
been eminently successful and the people have reAnd while it might be impracticasponded nobly.
;

make special reference to every

we are constrained to record one

liberal offer-

ble to
ing,

of the noble
the gift of the St.

acts of the Hon Remingtons,

This property was purchased at a
Charles Block.
cost of $120,000, and freely bestowed, one-half upon
the University and one-half upon the College of

Missionaries and other church purposes. This and

other free-will ofterings of the people have advanced
our assets to a very encouraging amount.
While it appears that but little more than half of
the old Genesee College subscriptions have been
transferred, still independent of the "-College of
Missionaries," which is no part of the University,
we have now on hand in bonds, subscriptions and

E. S. Janes, D. D., of
E. Fenton.
Genesee Conference: Rev. Thomas Carlton, D. D.,
Rev. A. D. Wilbor, A. M., F. H. Root, Esq., J. N.
Scatchard, Esq.
East Genesee Conference : Rev. J. E. Latimer, D.
D., Hon. D. A. Ogden, A. M., David Decker, Esq.,

With this amount

other property, over $550,000.
secured, and with the flattering prospect of increased
subscriptions, the trustees at their meeting in May
last, judged it e.xpedient to open the college the
present season, and accordingly proceeded in due
time to elect the following faculty, viz
Rev. Daniel Steele, D. D., Vice-President, Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy.
John R. French, A. M., LL. D., Professor of

Ezra Jones, Esq.

Central New York Conference: Rev. D. D. Lore,
D. D., Rev. A. J. Phelps, Rev. B. I. Ives, Rev. J.
F. Crawford, E. Remington, Esq.

Mathematics.
Rev. Wesley P. Codington, A. M., Professor of
Greek Language and Literature.
Rev. J. J. Brown, A. M., Professor of Chemistry.

lowing

Board of Trustees.
At Large: Rev. Bishop
Hon. Reuben

New York

'

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

I70

Rev. Charles W. Bennett, D. D.. Professor of

History and Logic.
Heman H. Sanford, A. M., Latin Language and
Literature.

George F. Comfort, A. M., Modern Languages

and Esthetics.
Professor J. P. Griffin was elected Clerk, Librarian
and Registrar.
And on this 31st day of August, 1871, it has
been our distinguished privilege to witness the impressive ceremonies of inaugurating the faculty.
And now we stand at the base of what promises to
be an imposing structure, whose history must be
penned by other hands and in other times.

"We

are here to lay the corner stone of the

Syracuse University. This is the day towards which
many longing, praying, hoping hearts have looked
The Lord be praised, the day
with intense desire.
The long night of fear has passed the
has come.
morning beams fall on our cheerful faces and the
precious sunlight shincsbrightly on our glad, rejoicliut the full day is not yet.
The
ing hearts.
May heaven
meridian glory waits for the future.
grant that the coming history may be exceedingly
transcendant as compared with the past, and that
many redeemed, purified and thoroughly furnished
scholars may pass out over the threshold here to be
laid, to grace and honor the church and the world,
and to stand up in the last great day and call the
Syracuse University blessed."
;

The above sketch

brings

down

the history of the

Syracuse University to the laying of the cornerstone of the " Hall of Languages," August 31,
It should be added that in April, 1870, a
87 1.
general agent had been appointed, and in Septem-

hands of forty-one Trustees who

Institution in the

are

named

for the

the instrument, with power to provide

in

The By-

appointment of their successors.

Laws

of the University ordain that nine trustees

shall

be appointed

six

who

pal

Church

" at large,"

members

are not

comprising

at least

of the Methodist Episco-

that twenty-seven shall represent the

Methodist Episcopal Conferences

of

the

State

be chosen by the Alumni

that three shall

that

certain State officers shall be cxofficio representa-

government, while the Chancel-

tives of the Stale

lor of the University

is

made

the representative of

the Faculties.

The Trustees

1877 are classified as follows:

for

E.\-Officio.

His Excellency, Lucius Robinson, Governor of

His Honor, William Dorsheimer, Lieuthe State
;

tenant-Governor

Hon. Neil

tendent of Public Instruction

Gilmour, Superin-

J.

Hon. Sanford E.

Church, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals;

Rev. E. O. Haven, D.D., LL.

Chancellor of

the University.

Elected by the Boakd.

Rev. Benoni I. Ives, Auburn, term expires 1878
Hon. George F. Comstock, LL. D., Syracuse, 1878
John Crousc, Esq., Syracuse, 1878; Rev. Bishop
;

Jesse T.

Peck, D. D., Syracuse, 18S0;

James

J.

Belden, Esq., Syracuse, 1880; Alfred A. Howlett,

ber of the same year, the ground selected and put

under contract for grading. After extensive correspondence and frequent interviews with prominent
educators

in

regard to the buildings, architects were

Esq.,

Syracuse,

Syracuse, 18S2

Elected

nv

the Alumni AssocrATiON.

Prof James H. Hoose, A. M., Ph. D., Cortland,

term expires 1878;

Elmira, 1880; Prof.

mittee proceeded to erect the " Hall of Languages,"

Elmira, 1882.

which was completed and occupied

College grounds, which are ample for

in 1875.
all

The

present and

prospective needs, are situated upon the eminence

at

the southern extremity of University Avenue,

and command a fine view of the city and lake and

the surrounding country to a wide e.xtent.
Alexander Winchell, LL. D., was chosen Chancellor of the University in June, 1872.

resignation,

D.,LL.

D.,

June
late

24,

Upon

his

1874, Rev. E. O. Haven, D.

President

of the

Northwestern

University, was unanimously elected Chancellor and

President

of the

College of Liberal Arts, and at

once accepted and entered upon his

official duties.

Trustees.

The
March

Charter of the University bears the date of

25, 1870.

It

places the

government of the

Charles Andrews,

B. Fitch, Esq., Syracuse,

1882.

submit plans, and that of Horatio N.

White, Esq., of this city, being accepted, the comto

invited

Hon.

1880;

Thomas

J.

D. F. Slee, A. M., Esq.,

J.

D.

Steele,

A. M., Ph. D.,

Officers of the Board.

President, David Decker, Esq.
dent,

Hon. George

F.

First Vice-Presi-

Comstock, LL. D.

Vice-President, Francis H. Root, Esq.

Second

Secretary,

Treasurer,
Rev. D. W. C. Huntington, D. D
Jonathan C. Chase.
Executive Committee E. O. Haven, George F.
;

Comstock, Thomas B. Fitch, John Crouse,

Porter, J.

J.

W. W.

Belden.

General Aj^entRcv.

V..

C. Curtis,

727 Irving

street.

OniECTS OF THE UNIVERSITY.

the natural outgrowth
the large body of
by
of a conviction entertained

The Syracuse University

people interested in

its

is

administration, that

should have such an institution under

they

their control,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

New

not far from the center of the State of

York.

I.

Like nearly all universities, ancient and modern, it

has been founded and is largely controlled by people

common

who

are united by a

it is

intended to promote the highest welfare of

religious purpose,

The

students, physical, mental and moral.

and
its

convic-

II.

III.

171

The College of Liberal Arts.

The Medical College.
The College of Fine Arts.

The

College of the Liberal Arts which went into

is intended to offer a curriculum

operation in 1871,

of study which shall serve as a

was needed was often

expressed in Conferences and Conventions, and
finally in 1870, embodied itself in a resolution in a

means of broad and

symmetrical general culture to those who pursue it,
and shall also place them in possession of those
fundamental facts and principles which underlie the

large State Convention, to

methods of

tion that such an institution

'

establish without delay

immediate

in the city of Syracuse, or its

The

University.

vicinity, a

city of- Syracuse, in its corporate

capacity, presented

for

purpose one hundred

this

thousand dollars, and the managers of the enterprise, in return for

this

have secured an ad-

favor,

ditional property of at least four

and also provided

dollars more,

hundred thousand

in their

charter for

composed of some of the

a Board of Trustees, to be

chief officers of the State, and also largely of persons

therefore,

all

successful business.

thorough

It constitutes,

introduction

advanced

to

scholarship, and the intelligent pursuit of the prac-

business of

tical

life,

as well as a fitting preparation

study of any of the learned professions.

for the

Recognizing the diversity of tastes and of

ulterior

purposes on the part of persons seeking a

liberal

culture, four distinct courses of study have been

provided, each of which,

believed, will secure

is

it

once freedom from sectNot wholly under

what may be styled a truly

liberal education.
These are the Classical Course,
The Latin Scientific Course, the Greek Scientific
Course, and the Scientific Course.
It is desired

the control of either the State or the Church, but

that each of these be brought to such a status as to

not committed particularly to one religious denom-

ensure

ination, so as to

at

arianism in politics and religion.

responsible to both,

it

will

positive excellences that

endeavor

to cultivate the

each would ensure, and

avoid the exclusiveness, or evils of any kind, that

to the diligent student,

imply a similar amount of preparatory and collegiate

study.

The Medical

might follow a bondage to either. An intention to

accomplish this end will explain some of the peculiarly liberal provisions of the by-laws adopted by

Faculty

the Trustees.

chiefly to

may

It

be well to note that the pledge to the city

of Syracuse

to obtain, additional

to the

one hun-

dred thousand dollars, at least four hundred thou-

sand
fifty

dollars,

has been

fulfilled.

beautiful site of

acres has been purchased, high and salubrious,

overlooking the

city,

rounding country

Onondaga Lake, and the

sur-

an elegant and spacious building

tion

is

months

is

The

The

of the collegiate year are devoted

instruction by lectures and demonstra-

The

of recitations.

last

term, how-

optional with the student.

College of the Fine Arts, which went into

operation in
liberal

Its

of instruc-

the next five months chiefly to instruction

by the method
ever,

in 1872.

field

correspondingly varied and extensive.

is

first five

tions

College was opened

unusually large, and the

1873,

is

intended to afford a broad and

culture in the field of esthetics.

struction, accordingly,

is

The

in-

not restricted to exercises

art,

nor even the acquisi-

tion of the especial theories

and principles of the

building for the Medical College, near the heart of

fine arts, but embraces, with

both these ends, the

and a productive endowment fund of about one hundred thousand

dollars has been secured.
More money has been
conditionally pledged by some of its friends, and it is
confidently hoped that within a short time it will be

pursuit of a well-balanced course in

for the Colleges of Liberal

Arts and of the Fine

Arts has been completed

the

city,

has been obtained

placed beyond pressing want.

good and substantial

Thus, situated as

near the center of the State, with

are determined that

it

shall

many

friends

religion,

it

small,

and

fulfill

founders.

Three Colleges are

:

The

at present organized

and

in

Libraries of the University offer very desi-

rable facilities
it is

for

reference and general reading,

a leading object of the University to en-

means of

this class as rapidly as possible.

donation of $5,000 within the year 1876 has been

judiciously expended in enlarging the General Library.

Colleges of the University.

operation, viz

Libraries.

while

its

those gen-

art.

large

the purposes of

all

plished artists, art-critics, and appreciators of fine

and

will continue to receive donations, large

manipulations of

eral studies tributary to the formation of accom-

be a permanent founda-

tion of the best culture in science, philosophy, art

and

it is,

who

in the

The library

of the

Medical College

is

kept

With the General Library, in

at their building.
the Hall of Languages, is connected a reading room

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

172

which, with the Library,

one

till

M., daily,

p.

open from nine

is

except Sundays.

A. M.

The room

Prof, of Phys., Pathology and Hygiene

John Van
Duyn, M. D., Prof of General. Sj^ecial and SurgiEdward B. Stevens. M. D. Prof, of
cal
Anat.
Mat. Med. and Therapeutics Charles E. Rider,
M. D., Prof, of Opthalmoiogy and Diseases of the
Ear Hervey B. Wilber, M. D
Lecturer on InWilfred W. Porter, M. D Prof of Obstetsanity
rics and Diseases of Women
William T. Plant,
M. D., Registrar, and Prof of Clinical and F'orensic
Medicine Roger W. Pease, M. D Prof of Operative anil Clinical Surgery
Alfred Mercer, M. D.,
Prof, of Minor and Clinical Surgery; J. Otis Burt,
M. D., Prof, of Diseases of Children and Dermatology Miles G. Hyde. M. D
Adjunct Prof of
Anatomy Wm. Manlius Smith. M. D., Prof, of
Bot. and Adjunct Prof of Mat. Med,
J. Wiltsie
Knapp, M. D Demonstrator of Anatomy David
M. Totman, M. D Demonstrator of Anatomy
Brace W. Loomis, M. D., Instructor in Chemistry.
;

is

provided with a large supply of periodical literature.

MUSKUMS.

The

University

is

possession of Ward's com-

in

College series of casts of geological speci-

plete

mens, which are handsomely mounted and exhibited.

The Curator

of the State Cabinet of Natural His-

James

tory, Prof.

LL.

Hall,

the State Legislature, selected and sent to

it

a large

specimens from the duplicates

series of geological

D., has, by direction of

State

of the

The

Cabinet.

private collection of

the

Zoology and Botany,

of Geology,

Professor

consisting of several thousand

paleontological,

is

specimens, chiefly

also placed at the service of stu-

dents.

The Medical
seum formerly

College

the property of the

This collection

College.

possession of the

is in

is

partment of Pathology, and

is

Geneva Medical

First year, 9

amply

second year, 2

third

year, 8

College of Fine Arts.

proviiied with

means

The

College of the Fine Arts has several thousand

Faculty

of the Materia Medica.

of illustration

1877.

total, 38.

extensive in the de-

the

and chromolithographs
procured in Europe and America, together with a
sufficient number of plaster preparations and copies
to answer the demands of the course of instruction.
photographs,

Stiitknts

Mu-

engravings

COLLKGE OF LlllERAL ArTS.

1877.

Rev. E. O. Haven. D.D LL. D Chancellor

George F. Comstock, A.M., Dean of the Faculty,
and Prof of Esthetics and History of Fine Arts
Archimedes Russell, Prof, of Architecture Joseph
.

Lyman

Silsbee.A. M.,Prof. of Architecture Henry

Allewelt. Prof of Decorative Art
Sanford
Thayer, Prof, of Painting
George K. Knapp, Prof,
Ward V. Ranger, Prof of Pliotograof Painting
phy E. Ely Van De Warker, M.D, Prof of Artistic Anatomy
Peter H. Stuart, Prof of EngravWillis De Haas,
ing
D., Lecturer on Early
;

B.

Faculty xi'jy.

Rev. E. O. Haven, D. D, LL. D., Prcst. and

Prof of the English Language and Literature John
R. F^rench, LL D., Prof of Mathematics, and Sec'y
Rev. W. P. Codington. A. AL,
of the Faculty
Prof, of Greek and Ethics
Rev. John J. brown,
A. M.. Prof, of Chemistry and Physics; Rev.
Charles W. Bennett, D. D.. Prof, of History and
Logic, and Librarian
Heman H. Sanford, A. M.,
Ph. D Prof of the Latin Language and Literature;
George F. Comfort, A. M.. Prof, of Modern Languages and Esthetics
Alexander Wincheil, LL.
D., Prof, of Geology, Zoology and Botany
John
Durston, A. M., Ph. D., Adjunct Prof of Modern
Languages W. Locke Richardson. A. M.. Instructor in Elocution
Frank Smalley. A. M., Assistant
;

American Art and Archeology.

Students

1877.

Senior Class, 3
Class,
tute,

23

Sophomore
Normal Art Insti-

Junior Class, 7

Freshman

Class, 5

Total, 46.

CHURCHES OF SYRACUSE.

Prof, of Nat. Science.

Class, 33
Total, 149.
;

earliest religious

to the organization religious services

Junior Class, 26; Sophomore

Freshman

Church. The

organization in the village of Syracuse was the pres-

ent First Baptist Church, organized in

Siii<hnts i8jj.

Senior Class, 21

Baptist Churches.
First Baptist

Class,

46

Unclassified 23

1877.

Faculty

Rev. E. O. Haven, D. D., LL. D.. Chancellor

John Towier, M. D., Prof, of Chcm. and To.xicology
Frederick Hyde, M. D., Dean of the Faculty, and Prof of Prin. and Pract. of Surg.
Henry
;

82

1.

Previous

had been held

more or less constantly for about two years. Messrs.

James B. Moore, Thomas Spencer and Samuel Edwards were

College of Medicine.

chiefly instrumental in sustaining meet-

ings.

The preaching was mostly supplied by students

from

Hamilton,

Baptist

Theological

Seminary,)

among whom was Jonathan Wade, who,

sailed from Boston to

in

Burmah, and became a

1823,

faithful

missionary

in that land of

darkness.

Darwin Didama, M. D., Prof, of Prin. and Pract. of

Med. and Clinical Med. Nelson Nivison, M. D.,
;

Meetings were held

the erection of the

in several private

first

dwellings

till

school-house, which was then

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

granted for religious services on Sundays.

At

this

permanent place to meet in, a correspondence was opened with the Seminary at Hamilton, and arrangements made for regular preaching.
Those interested in sustaining divine worship at
Syracuse, were to provide a good horse and saddle,
to become the property of the Seminary, and every
time, having a

Sunday

one year a student would be sent to

for

Syracuse to preach.

tor of the church

till

173

when he fell a vicHis successors have been

July, 1832,

tim to Asiatic cholera.

Rev. Orsamus Allen, August 29, 1833, to October

20, 1834; Rev. Stephen Wilkins, November
1834,
to

December, 1837

Rev. John Blain, 1837 to 1841

Taggart, December, 1841, to Au1847; Rev. Robert R. Raymond, 1847 to
Rev. A. G. Palmer, 1852 to 1855
Rev.

Rev. Joseph
gust,

1852

W.

J.

happened that Mr. Moore had just purchased

payment therefor
bushels of salt at one dollar a bushel.
The

Backus, D. D., 1857 to July 1862

Rev. E. W.
Mundy to March, 1864; Rev. John James Lewis,
1867 to 1869
Rev. E.A. Lecompte, 1869 to 1874;
Rev. S. Hartwell Pratt, 1874 to November, 1875

friends of religion at Syracuse at once thought of

succeeded by Rev. Charles E, Smith, the present

S.

so

It

a fine horse and saddle, giving in

sixty

Mr. Moore voted with the others that

that horse.

the animal had a providential call to go to Hamilton,

was devoted to the interests

education and religion, while conveying preachers

and
of

for a

long time

it

to the places of their

appointments.

pastor.

The Church enlarged the old building in 1839,

and continued to occupy it till 1848, when having
obtained another

Cody, a

Worship having been regularly sustained in the

some months, the subject of church
organization was considered.
On the 12th of January, 1 82 1, thirteen persons met at the house of

school house for

little

thereon a

new

lot

in

exchange with Capt. Joel

east of the original site, they erected

brick edifice, of the

Roman

Ionic order

of architecture, 132 by 70 feet, at a cost of ^15,000.

The

spacious and attractive structure stood

gust 23, 1859, when

till

Au-

was consumed by fire, and,

report made by Mr. Harris, the

it

Mr. Braddick Dart, related their Christian experi-

in the

ences, and agreed to call a council of brethren from

lot incumbered
by the devoted efforts of
pastor and people the ruins were soon repaired, and

different
to

churches to advise with them

forming a Baptist Church.

thirteen were

in

reference

The names

of the

David Johnson, James Wilson, Thos.

Spencer, Alvin Walker, Rufus Cram, Benjamin G.
Avery, Wyllys Brown, Braddick Dart, Polly Walker,

Rhoda Wilson,

Eliza Spencer,

Hannah

the

to

its

full

value."

Still

the present beautiful edifice rose out of the ashes of

the former temple, and was dedicated, entirely free

from debt, November

The membership

Fish,

and Sally Dart.

On

language of a
church had " only a rubbish-covered

i,

of this church on the

January, 1877, was 391

6th of February,

1821, a council was

convened in the only school house then in the village, and advised the brethren and sisters in the
village and vicinity to unite and sustain public worship as a Church of Christ.
On the following day
the thirteen persons named met and organized a

non-resident,

and

i860.

32

iiomales,28i
belonging

to

first

of

females; 42

the

German

Mission.

The German

Mission was commenced under the

auspices of the First Baptist Church, in the Second

Ward,

of Syracuse," and appointed the place and time for

was purchased and a chapel

In November,
Hoefflin
became the mission1875, Rev Reinhard
On the 28th of June, 1877, this mission was
ary.

public worship.

organized into

For the greater part of the first year, preaching

was sustained by the New York Baptist Education

Rev. Reinhard Hoefflin, Pastor.

church, to be

known

as the " First Baptist

Church

Society.
After his graduation at Hamilton, Rev. J.
G. Stearns performed pastoral labor for six months.

In June, 1823, Rev. Nathaniel J. Gilbert was appointed the missionary of the Hamilton Missionary

in 1862.

The First Gerinati Baptist CImrch of Syracuse,

above referred

Church.

and Franklin

first

streets.

Rev. Nathaniel Gilbert continued the

faithful pas-

set

The
oft"

32 members

to this church.

The Mission was established in 1862.

The Central Baptist Church. This church

house of worship of the

church, which stood on the spot now occupied by
the Universalist Church, corner of West Genesee
of the

now

has a German Sunday school.

This church has also a Mission under the name
of " Hope Chapel," corner of Wyoming and Tully
streets.

the erection

to are

It

was stationed at Syracuse, He united

with the church and became its pastor June, 1824,
and the first year of his ministry was signalized by
Society, and

lot

erected on Lodi street near Ash.

was

originally a small colony of the P'irst Baptist

About 1850, under the ministry of Rev.

Mr. Pinney, a small chapel was erected on East
Genesee street, which in that year or early in 185 1,
was cledicated by Rev. Dr. John Dowling, father of
their late pastor, Rev. George Thomas Dowling.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

174

Sen'ices continued to be held here under different

pastorates,

Montgomery
pleted
liddy,

street,

corner of Jefferson, was com-

and occupied in 1869. Rev. Dr. H.

was at that time pastor, and had been

some time
torate

the chapel of the present church, on

till

September

till

He

previously.

continued

the pas-

in

main

In 1872 the

1873.

i,

J.

for

church edifice was finished, at a cost of $75,CXX),

The
all of which was paid or amply provided for.

incredibly short period of time after the calamity

(which occurred at 20 minutes past 9 o'clock,) the
space about the church and the space leading thereto
were thronged with a mass of people swayed by
one common impulse, and that the noble one of

giving aid to the victims.

" The work of extricating the unfortunate was
carried on quietly, calmly and systematically, and
as the living, one after another, were released,
grateful prayers of thankfulness arose from loving
hearts whose fears were so happily dispelled
but
as the dead were by reverent hands brought out
into the quiet night, sharp cries of despair and
agonizing appeals for assistance under this heavy
weight of woe, pierced the still air of the summer
;

building
tions

is

fine

structure of brick, with projec-

Onondaga

of

and has a seating

limestone,

capacity for 700.

On

the

first

of September, 1873, Rev.

Thomas Dowling, assumed

charge.

George

The church

and Sunday school were exceptionally prosperous

under his ministry.
Here we are called upon to record an experience
of extreme trial through which the church passed

night.

As the church bell tolled the hour of midnight,

the remains of the last victim were removed from
the wreck."
"

The number

on the evening of June 23, 1874, the sad memory

of which is still fresh in the minds of thousands,
and which will never be forgotten by those whose

or less injured.

were the victims of the terrible calamity.

On the evening referred to a large assemblage had
gathered in the parlors of the church, in the second
story, on a festival occasion, where also was to have

peared

friends

been given a

The

children.
ly

" Little
floor

Olde Folks' Concert " by the

of the parlors was insufficient-

supported by iron rods which connected with a

wooden

truss

under the

roof,

and while

height of the enjoyment of the festivities

evening, at the

moment

of danger, the floor

fell,

in

the

of the

of the least consciousness

carrying with

it

the ceilings,

the timber and the furniture, and precipitating old

and young,

in a helpless,

confused mass, to the un-

occupied portion of the building below.

the words of the

Church

"

Memorial

"

To

quote

published by the

Suddenly, as when a flash of lightning darts

from a clear sky, or a dark and terrible chasm appears where but a moment before was solid ground,
"

a crash is hoard, the floor sinks, the ceiling falls,

into utter darkness, amid shivered beams and
stifling plaster, broken furniture and twisted gas

down

pipes, old men and maidens, young men and chilFor a

dren, are hurled in inextricable confusion.
moment a silence awlul in its intensity reigned,
and then groans of agony, shrieks of terror, wails
of mortal fear, anguished cries for help, arose in one
great chorus from the struggling, bleeding, dying
mass of humanity. Among the first to extricate
themselves was the young and devoted pastor. Rev.
George Thomas Dowling. Me ran through Mont-

gomery street to Fast Genesee, and thence to No.

Engine House. An alarm of fire was struck and
I

the engines appeared, but happily the horrors of

The
fire were not added to the awful catastrophe.
Within an
police were promptly on the ground.

The

in this fearful disaster was

hundred and forty-five were more

killed

fourteen, while one

sad event cast a gloom over the entire city

churches were draped, and

at

half-mast.

many

in

Suitable

services were conducted on

the

places flags ap-

commemorative
Sunday following

(June 281 in many of the churches, in which offerings of appropriate flowers combined with words of

sympathy and

fitting

music

in

shedding a deep and

hallowed influence over the assemblages which a

common

sorrow had brought together.

Most

of

the pastors spoke feelingly and eloquently on topics

suggested by the

The

late disaster.

Central Church held memorial service morn-

ing and evening at Wieting Opera House, from the

we gather the following

The Opera House was heavily draped with

published accounts of which

"

Drapings were fesblack and white interwoven.

tooned across the windows under the gallery, around
the front of the gallery, and around the ceiling,
while others were fastened at either corner of the
ceiling and extended across the hall, each crossing
The platform prethe other under the chandelier.
sented an appearance which was touching to the
Many willing hands must have given
hearts of all.
Besides the well
sad service in its arrangement.
arranged drapery, the floral offerings told a story in
Across the foot of the
a language of their own.
platform were numerous bouquets, placed upon pedestals about two feet in height, and trimmed with
On the drapery in front of the
cedar sprigs.
preacher's desk was a large and heavy wreath of
white flowers clinging to evergreens, and upon the
desk were two magnificent crowns, made of white
carnations and white roses. At the rear of the jilatform, and standing prominently in view, was a massive cross of smilax studded with white carnations,
which seemed almost to sparkle like diamonds in a
crown.
It was the height of about eight feet, and
well proportioned.
The appearance of the Opera
House was very impressive."

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

services were not less

The

and the combined

so,

never be forgotten by the large assemThe music was of the

blies who witnessed it.
and
tender
character.
solemn
Rev. Dr.
most
effect will

Dowling preached in the morning, and the pastor,

Rev. George Thomas Dowling in the evening, sermons full of eloquence and pathetic allusions to the
sad memories of the occasion, and of hopeful and
of the

anticipations

cheering
pastor

future.

Said

the

175

cepted, and

it
was announced that the Central
Church would meet there on Tuesday evenings.

After the accident the Trustees resolved that the

Chapel

portion of the building which

(that

fell)

should be reconstructed in a manner which would

render it perfectly safe, beyond the shadow of a
doubt.

They, therefore,

built five brick piers

on

substantial stone foundations, capping

and from these carried up

stone,

iron

them with
columns to the

top of the building, supporting the interior chapel

" We learn at such times as these that all the

From all parts of our land
world are brotliers.
there have come words of condolence and love.
From Chicago, and New York, and Philadelphia,
and Brooklyn, and Providence, from the North and
South, and East and West, we have received the
We are praying for you.' From the
message,
sister churches of our city has come the message,
'We are praying for you.' From the noble band
of men who occupy the pulpits of our city, has
come the message, We are praying for you.'
" God bless them, as we cannot, and I know that
when those books shall be opened, He who noteth
the giving of a single cup of water to a thirsty
'

work

also

by ten other brick

The audience room,

piers, besides the stone

The Chapel

walls in the basement.

is

77x40

feet.

parlors and every part of the

building which sustained injury, were renovated and

repaired.

special

committee then examined and

reported upon the safety of the building, July 29,

1874.

The Church, notwithstanding

befell

it,

the calamity which

has been very prosperous.

'

Rev. Mr. Dowling resigned the pastorate in Auand was succeeded by Rev. E. J. Goodspeed, D. D., present pastor, October i, 1877.
gust, 1877,

not forget their sympathy for us, in this

child, will

Presbyterian Churches.
First Presbyterian Church. This

hour of our deepest need."

Letters of Condolence

We
The

have only space

for

pastor of the First

Lecompte, wrote

mid Sympathy.
a few words of these.

Baptist Church, Rev. Mr.

'

of Trustees of the University passed

sympathy and condolence for the

city, the church and the friends of the afflicted sufferers, which were unanimously adopted by a rising
resolutions

of

vote.

The

Ministerial Association, upon the "intelli-

gence of the heart-rending

disaster," passed resolu-

tions tendering the afflicted pastor

the

sympathy and

section 24,
tion of

all

his people all

4, of

of the city passed similar

that, in

accordance with

the City Charter, the condi-

the churches and public buildings in the

city should

upon as

and directed
title

and

aid in their power.

The Common Council

resolutions,

be

thoroughly examined and reported

Church

under the name of

First Presbyterian Society of Syracuse," elect-

ing the following Trustees Dec.

Our deepest sympathies and

may be comforted."

Heman

Day,

Slocum.

14,

1824: Moses

prayers, that you

Plymouth Church tendered the use of their lecture room to the afflicted Society, which was ac-

Walbridge, Joshua Forman and Joseph

Their

latter part

house of worship, built in the

was dedicated on the second
January, 1826, Rev. Dirck C. Lansing,
first

of 1825,

Thursday in
D., of Auburn, preaching the dedication sermon.

D.

The

stood exactly opposite the present

first edifice

one on Fayette

street,

on the corner occupied by

was presented
and others.

The

to

&

and the ground

the society by William James,

the store of D. McCarthy

Co.,

organization of the Church

was effected

in

1826 by the following committee of the Onondaga

Ministers, Hezekiah Woodruff,
Presbytery, viz
:

Hutchins Taylor, Ralph Cushman and WashingElders, Joseph W. Brewster, Wilton Thatcher
liam Eager and Harry Mosely the number of
;

Frederick
members uniting being twenty-six.
Pliny
Elders,
and
Chapman,
Edward
Phelps and
Dickinson, Deacon.

John Watson
Auburn
TheoAdams, then just graduated at the
logical Seminary, was installed pastor. Dr. Adams'

On

to their safety.

Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, formerly pastor of the

Reformed Church in Syracuse, telegaphed
"

"The

organization

its

D. Burnet, Miles Seymour, Rufus Moss, Jonathan

We warmly bid you welcome to a place in our

house of worship, and to a participation in our religious services on all occasions, not only until you
shall have recovered from your present calamities,
but so long as we shall have an organized existence
for the advancement of the cause of the Master."
The Board

commenced

first

the 28th of June,

1826, Rev.

and only pastorate continued till his death on

Meanwhile the growth of

the 4th of April, 1850.

numbers and influence kept pace with

and rapid expansion of Syracuse.
remarkable
the
the church in

HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NIW YORK.

176

The

present church edifice, corner of Salina and

Fayette streets, was completed and dedicated No-

was designed by the Trustees

and Building Committee to anticipate the future
growth of the city, and was at the time of its erection by far the finest church building in all this

vember

24, 1850.

region

of

New

It

The

coimtry.

York, was the

celebrated

The

architect.

mittee consisted of Henry GifTord, Elias

worth,

Thomas

B.

Fitch,

The

Albert A. Hudson.

Lcfevcr,

Huilding

W. Leaven-

Zebulon Ostrom and

cost of the church,

in-

lot

church, (a very small

and character

sum

considering the style

and $10,000

of the building)

for

im

Canfield.

The most

noted meeting ever held in this church

was that of the General Assembly of the New
School Presbyterian Church in 1861.
Rev. Dr.
Condit, of Auburn, was Moderator.

The church

of

Com-

and some later improvements, was $60,000; ^10,000 was paid for the lot, $40,000 for the
cluding

the other in the spring of 1866, under the pastorate

of Dr.

has

under

School which was founded

In January,

i860.

in

Edward Townsend presented to the society a deed (or a lot on Monroe street, upon which
immediately afterwards, Messrs. \V. H. VanBuren
1863, Mr.

and T. B.

same

F"itch erected a

chapel and presented the

prosperous and

that

portion of the

as a gift to the church

useful school

is

conducted

in

city

Wakd

provements during the pastorate of Dr. Canficld.

The old church in which Dr. Adams preached so
long, during his first and only pastorate, was torn

of the century. In September, 1803, the

down

terian

April, i8$o, and

in

is

it

a singular coincidence

that the last piece of timber was

very day of the Doctor's death,

ordered

he and

that

centered so

many

removed on the

as

if

it

church,

the old

had been

which

in

sacred memories, should go to-

gether.

From

June,

December

1850, to

8,

1851, Rev.

Charles McHarg, of Cooperstown, was pastor.

His

resignation was reluctantly accepted by the church,

character, fine culture and commanding
had rendered him a favorite with the congregation and community.
his

for

abilities

The church was then

two and a half years,
field
I,

commenced

without a regular pastor for

Rev. Sherman Bond Can-

till

his long

and

useful pastorate,

Dr. Canfield's influence

1854.

made

May

itself felt

from the beginning, and was, under Divine Provi

dence, a growing power for good to the church and
the city.

He

resigned

in

health

being the cause of

his

lungs had become impaired.

at the residence of

March. 1S71.
the morning

He
;

in

resignation.

He

ill

His

died in St. Louis,

Rev. C. D. Nott.on the 5th of

had preached for Dr. Nott in

the afternoon

he became

ill

and

died about 12 o'clock at night.

First

year and a half elapsed without a settled pas-

during which the church was supplied chieHy

from Auburn.
On the 17th of May, 1872. Rev.

tor,

The

Presbvtekian Church.

his-

tory of this church goes back almost to the beginning

sermon was preached

Sickles, from

He

Kinderhook.

first

Presby-

by Rev. Mr.
had been sent out

at Salina

as a missionary by the Dutch Church, and passing

on his way to Fort Brewerton,

Finding an
stopped over night at Trask's tavern.
uncongenial company there, he asked in the mornthrough

ing

if

Salina

there

was not a

religious family in the place

He was directed to
upon the family, he
found that they were the jiersons for whom he had
in the
a package sent by friends at the east,
course of conversation he asked if he could not hold
He was
religious service somewhere that evening.
The apreferred to Aaron Bellow's cooper shop
pointment was made, and in the evening the house
was crowded. It was a good meeting, and such singThere was no more preaching in the \i\acc for
ing
two or three years, and then only occasionally.

with

whom

Isaac

Van

he could lodge.

Vleck's.

Calling

October, 1870, after a

ministry in this church of over si.xtecn years,

Mission

charge a

its

In iSio, a Presbyterian

Church was organized

at

Onondaga Hollow, in connection with residents here,

under the name of the "United Church of Onondaga Hollow and Salina" Rev. Dirck C. Lansing
was the pastor. The Salina portion of the members
consisted of nine. The only place of worship was the
school house, which had been built in iSo5,butwas
not in existence when Mr. Sickles preached in the
cooper shop.
Mr. Lansing continued to preach to
Previous
the United Church till February 2, 18 14.
Ale.vander, had

autumn of 1812, Rev. Caleb

moved to the Hollow and taken

installed November 19, 1872.

He has since
rendered acceptable service to the church, and is

charge

Academy

the present pastor.

occasionally

Dr. Nelson Millard was called.

He

accepted, and

was

Among

the seasons of interest enjoyed by this

church may be mentioned two noticeable revivals

one under the pastorate of Dr.

Adams

in

1832, and

to

this,

in

of

the

the

in

that

Alexander, although never a pastor

|)rcached,

and

after

place.
at

Mr.

lime preached to the people of Salina.

Mr.

the Hollow,

Lansing's

Under

his

ministry the Sunday School was formed in 18

16,

Sunday School

in

although this was not the

first

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the place, Mrs.

Mary A. Porter having

previously

The

pulpit was then supplied for about two years by

Rev. Dr. Condit, of Auburn, when Rev. Lewis H.
Reed, to whom we are indebted for most of this his-

opened a Sabbath School in connection with a day

school which she was teaching, in which she was
assisted by Mrs. Phebe Spafford and Mrs. S. Alvord.
This was one of the earliest Sabbath Schools, not

his

only in this part of the country, but generally, for

Chicago.

Sunday Schools were

quite

uncommon

that

at

period.

The

tory of the church,

labors here

became

May

i,

pastor.

He

concluded

1868, accepting a call to

His successors have been Rev. John H.

7, 1870, and Rev. Alfred H. Fahne-

Frazee, Jan.

Under the
named ministry about twenty members were
added to the church last spring. The number is
now 143, and the members of the Sunday School
Elders John Hartshorne, James Van Vleck,
150.
stock, Jan. 20, 1875, the present pastor.

first

church edifice of

society was built

this

It was a wooden structure

and dedicated in 1822.
standing on the northwest corner of the Park, and

remained

till

1855.

In 1851 the chapel was built

on Salina street nearly opposite the former

resi-

The Sabbath School

con-

dence of Dr. Didama.

tinued to be held in the church

Then

till

the building was

was removed to the chapel.

After the present brick church was built in 1855,
the chapel was removed to the spot where it now
taken down.

it

last

Augustus G.

S. Allis

Park Church was organized December

consisted of thirty-nine members.

tle,

Hotchkiss became

the separation from the

Onondaga Hollow

Society,

The

24, 1846,

The

first

and

elders

were Robert Furman, John Stewart and Ralph R.

Phelps.
Subsequently Josiah Wright, F. W. Tut-

has since continued to be occupied by the school.

successors of Rev. Mr. Alexander, prior to

and Charles Cushney.

Park Central Presbyterian Church

stands adjoining the church, and, enlarged in 1862,

The

177

Horace B. Yates, Johnson Cowles, and David

at an early day members of the

Of the original members of the church,
but seven now remain in connection with it, viz:

session.

were Rev. Samuel T. Mills and Rev. James H.

Mills.
Under the ministry of the latter the United

beth Phelps, Mrs. Alvira S. Cook, Mrs. Minerva S.

Society was divided, and a separate church formed

Cowles, Mrs. Emily Goodwin, and Mrs. Emily M.

under the name of the

Seymour.

" First

Presbyterian Church

of Salina," Jan. 23, 1822, and the

first

church build-

was dedicated coetaneously

with the organization. Rev. John Brown, D.D.,
ing was erected.

It

preaching the sermon.

On

the 13th of

lowing, Rev. Hutchins Taylor

and continued

his ministry

followed by Rev.
for

till

was

Sept.

Henry Hotchkiss,

March

fol-

installed pastor,
7,

826.

He was

as stated supply,

about one year. During this period a large num-

was added to the church. Rev. Hiram H.

Kellogg next supplied the church from the fall
of 1827 to the summer of 1829, and was sucber

ceeded by Rev. James I. Ostrom, installed June

Under his ministry large additions were
24, 1829.

made

His successor was Rev. Jos.

I. Foot, afterwards elected President of Washington College, but while on his way thither was
to the church.

thrown out of his carriage and killed, July 20,

Rev. Hutchins Taylor was recalled, and re1836.
mained pastor till December, 1 839. Mr. Taylor was
followed by Rev. Jos. Myers, who remained till May,
1844, and was succeeded by Rev. Elias Clark, who
Then came Rev.
supplied the pulpit six months.

Mrs. Bradley Carey, Mrs. L.

W.

Butler, Mrs. Eliza-

The society was organized December 30, 1846.

Ralph R. Phelps and John Stewart, two of the
elders of the church, presided as moderators over

the meeting for organization, and

J. B. Huntington,
Benjamin R. Norton, John Stewart,
Bradley Carey and George Barney were elected the
At the first meeting
of Trustees.
first Board
in the society, of
members
were
enrolled
seventeen
whom only one now remains, Mr. Bradley Carey,

Israel Smith,

who has

faithfully

shared the vicissitudes of the

church from that time to the present.

three others of the original

number

are

Two

still

or

living,

but reside elsewhere.

January

4,

1847, the Trustees

recommended the

erection of a house of worship provided

it

could be

built
^7,000, and on the nth of January, the
society adopted the recommendation, and authorized the purchase of the original lot from the late
for

R. R. Phelps, March 17, 1847, the contract for the

The entire sum specified in
building was signed.
the contract to be paid for the building of the

July 23, 1849,

after which the pulpit was supplied about one year
by Rev. J. J. Slocum. Rev. William W. Newell,

church was ^8,550.

Rev. C. Gold Lee was stated supply of the
church until 1847, when he resigned, and Rev. Wm.
W. Newell was called to the pastorate and installed

D. D., was installed pastor Oct. 20, 1850, and ac-

November

Thomas

Castleton and continued

cepted a
pastorate
1

3*

till

New York City Jan.

being over nine years with this church.

call to

15, i860, his

10, 1847.

cated February

3,

edifice was dediRev. Dr. Newell was

October, 1850, when he

The church
1848.

pastor of the church until

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

178

May

The

resigned, and in August, 1851, Rev. Byron Sunder-

since

assumed the duties of the pastorate, and

Rev.
administered them until January, 1853.
succeeded
Hall
him
in
October,
Samuel
1853.
In January, 1855, the church property was sold
under foreclosure, and by a subsequent arrangement

418, the Sabbath School

land

with the purchasers, came into possession of a

society, organized from the

new

Park Church Society,

under the corporate name of the Park Presbyterian

Society, and in April, 1855, Rev. S. H. Hall was
called to the pastorate

He

following.

and duly

resigned in

installed

in

May

1856, and the church

and society remained without a settled pastor for

some time. Rev. S. T. Reeves was temporary supply
in 1857 for a period of one year.
In March, 1858, the church and society were reorganized

under the name of the Park Central

Presbyterian Church and Society, which

still

name

and commenced

his ministerial labors in

January,

1858, continuing his relations with the church

The

1865.

it

Rev. Mr. Fillmore was elected pastor

bears.

jjulpit

was supplied during the

ing year by Prof. James E. Pierce, of the

until

follow-

Auburn

Theological Seminary.

How

earnestly and faithfully these early pastors

and labored for the prosperity and stability of
the Church, often amidst overwhelming discouragements, is known to all who during those years were
conversant with the affairs of the church. Their

12, 1870.

have gone from

this

present membership is
numbering 515. Many

church to other places, who

hold important positions of Christian influence and

The Church and Society are united,

and
progressive in Christian work.
harmonious
Fourth Pkksuvtekian Church This church,
usefulness.

Park Central Presbyterian, is an outgrowth of

the First Presbyterian Church, of this city, and was
organized under its auspices and in its session room
like the

on the evening of February 2, 1870. A short address was made by Rev. S. B. Canfield, D. D.. who
then read the names of eighty-one persons proposing to unite in forming the organization, si.\ty-two
of

whom

three

from

were

from

the

the

Park

Presbyterian,

First

Presbyterian,
six

the Reformed, one from Plymouth, and

churches outside the

members were

Among

city.

the following

the

Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Hayden, Mr. and Mrs. VVm.

C. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Hough, Mr.

and Mrs. D. S. Hubbard, Mr. and Mrs. Charles

Hubbard, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chadwick, Mr.
and Mrs. Edwin Miles, Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Lathrop, Mr. and Mrs. John Reed, Mrs. C. C. Bradley,
Mrs. Mary Bradley, Mrs. C. M. Barrett,

work and their devotion to the interests of the church and society will ever be held in
grateful remembrance.

Elders, and

Addison K. Strong was elected

He was
pastor and installed in April of that year.
Durdismissed at his own request in April, 1870.
ing his pastorate the church was greatly prospered
and large adilitions were made to the number of its
members. The project of building a new house of
worship was agitated quite earnestly during Dr.
Strong's pastorate, but the enterprise seemed too
great to be undertaken and was for a time deferred.
In

1866, Rev.

May, 1870, Rev. Edward G. Thurber was

During his ministry he has secured
the highest confidence and warmest love of his peoHis encouraging words and e.\ami)le of devople.
In

elected pastor.

tion greatly

forwarded the enterprise of the new

church, the corner-stone of which was

laid

on the

9th of September, 1S72, and the edifice completed

and dedicated on the 24th of June, 1875. The

It has
cost of this church was nearly 575,cxX).
large and complete appointments for the Sabbath
School, social services, and for the weekly prayer
meetings of the church.

Edward

G.

The

present pastor. Rev.

Thurber, has been with the Church

original

toiled

self-sacrificing

from

nine from

Mrs. A.
Esther
Barker,
Mrs.
C.
Smith,
David
Bonta,
L.
S.
H. Starin, H. C. Hooker, Dr. John VanDuyn.

John Reed and Henry C. Hooker were ordained

Edwin Miles, Deacon.
The church first met for worship at Conservatory Hall, corner of Warren and Fayette streets,
Sunday, February 6th, 1870, and organized a Sunday school at the close of the morning services.
In
April, 1870, Rev. John S. Bacon was duly installed
During the year to January i, 1S71, 62
as pastor.
members were added by letter and 27 by profession
Rev. John S. Bacon remained pastor for
of faith.
six years, and was succeeded in September, 1877,
by the present pastor. Rev. Norman Seaver, D. D.,
who came here from an eight years' pastorate of the
First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, N. V.
The present church edifice was begun in 1872,
and dedicated February 27, 1873. It cost ^60,000.
Prcs(;nt membership, 375
attendance at the Sunday school, 380.
Reformed Church. The Reformed Church of
Syracuse, N Y., was organized by the Classis of
Cayuga, March 10, 1848, and consisted of eleven
;

persons,

dismissed

for

this

purpose

from

the

Reformed Churches of Chittenango and Geneva,

and from the First Presbyterian and Park PresbyTheir names are
terian Churches of Syracuse.
Wessel B. VanWagenen, Lavinia VanWagenen,
:

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

VanWagenen, Mary Ann

Cornelia D.

Beardsley,

Pope, Harriet S. Walter,

Burns, Elizabeth

Peter

Mary E. VanRenssalaer, B. C. Vrooman, Susan

Vrooman, Simon V. A. Featherly.
The organization was completed by the election
of W. B. VanWagenen and B. C. Vrooman, Elders,
and Simon V. A. Featherly and Peter Burns,

179

On Sunday

1877,) at an expense of $3,500.

noon, February
destroyed by

Present

3,

1878,

church

the

after-

edifice

was

fire.

membership, 270;

attendance at the

Sunday School, 350. J. C. Mix, Supt. Consistory

Elders, Samuel Bonta, Alphonso W. Blye,
Henry Babcock, E. P. Hopkins Deacons, James
C. Mix, Bradford Kennedy, Rasselas A. Bonta,

Deacons.
In July following the Rev. J. A. H. Cornell was
unanimously called to be first pastor to the new
enterprise, and entered upon his duties and was
The meetings of the society
installed in August.

were held

in

the old Unitarian Chapel, on East

Genesee

street,

erected.

An

during

street

site

following

the

1849, the corner

spring of
edifice

church edifice could be

was secured on James

the

till

excellent

was

laid

by the

late

winter,

and

in

the

stone of the church

Dr. Isaac N. Wyckoff,

of Albany, with appropriate ceremonies.

The Building Committee

consisted of the follow-

$5,000 more was raised

East by the

faithful

Pastor and Elder

A
after

among

the churches at the

and persevering

efforts of the

VanWagenen.

Sunday School organization was perfected soon

Mr. John B. Burnet
the church organization.

being elected as

first

Maltbie C.

Organist

Bab-

Plymouth Church.
was

Syracuse

The Plymouth Church

organized

Thirty-one persons united

September
in

its

these the following only remain

24,

of

1853.

organization.

Of

William E. Abbott, Stephen E. Maltby, Jane A.

Abbott, Grace Scribner, (Mrs. Bainbridge,) Abner

Mary D.

Bates,

C.

Scribner, (Mrs.

Gane,) Susan

Stewart Tallman, M. Waldo Hanchett,

J.

Martha A. Hanchett, Julia A.

Margaret G. Hanchett, Margaret Tall-

Clarissa Tallman,

Tallman,

man.
For

a time the church worshiped in

the edifice

formerly owned by the First Congregational Society

of this city

chase a

lot

location, at

Madison

but measures were soon taken to pur-

and erect a new building. The present

the junction of Onondaga, Warren and

streets,

chapel erected.
the chapel was

was accordingly purchased and the

On

the 25th of February, 1855,

dedicated, and entered for regu-

It soon, however, became manifest

was too small to accommodate the growing
congregation, and in the autumn of 1858, a contract was entered into for the erection of a new
The corner-stone was laid September 24,
edifice.

worship

lar

that

it

fifth

anniversary of the founding of

the church.

On

the 26th of September,

1853,

Rev. M. E.

in 1857.

Strieby received and accepted a call to the pastoral

The church edifice was completed and dedioffice.

May

Rev. M. E. Strieby, after

a pastorate of eleven years, resigned in March,
1864. Rev. S. R. Dimmock succeeded, Julyj, 1864,

The church was now vacant till 1859,

Talmage became its pastor.
DeWitt
when Rev. T.
He remained till February, 1862, when he was succeeded in

of the

same year by Rev. Joachim

Elmendorf, whose pastorate continued till DecemThe next pastor was Rev. Jeremiah
ber, 1S65.
Searle,

mained

who began
till

his

work

was made
Berger,

in

May, 1S66, and

re-

The church was now

when a unanimous call

February, 1868.

vacant more than a year,

moved

Congregational.

1858, on the

Superintendent.

In September, 1851, Rev. J. A. H. Cornell resigned his charge, and was succeeded in May, 1852,
by Rev. J. Romeyn Berry. Mr. Berry's pastorate

ended

Broadhead

cock.

Foster,

John G. Forbes, John B. Burnet,

John A. Robeson, W. B. VanWagenen and James
Noxon.
The structure was completed and dedicated to
the service of the Triune Jehovah, July i6th, 1850,
the venerable Dr. Thomas DeWitt, senior pastor
of the Collegiate Church in New York City, preachThe cost of the church lot was
ing the sermon.
gi,900, and of the edifice $14,000, of which the
Collegiate Church contributed ;?2,ooo, and about
ing gentlemen

Fred. A.

in

March, 1869, on Rev. Martin Luther

till May, 1875, when he re-

who remained
to

California.

The

present

pastor.

Rev.

Evart Van Slyke, succeeded him as stated supply in

April and as pastor in Nov. 1875. The church has
just been repaired and elegantly decorated, (August,

cated in August, 1859.

and resigned September 25, 1868.

Rev. A. F. Beard, D. D., the present
called in April, 1869, and entered upon

June

I.

During the winter

pastor,

was

his services

of 1870, a precious re-

spring the
vival was granted the church, and in the
and to
chapel,
new
build
a
to
people were encouraged
rebuild, enlarge

Chapel was
tor

and beautify the church.

dedicated

November

The New

13, 1870, the pas-

preaching the dedicatory sermon.

The

chapel

furnished, and capable of

is tastefully finished and
persons.
seating about three hundred and fifty

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

i8o

The New Edifice

Ashley, December

room

attractive

is

Rev.
tor

The audience

and very pleasant, and

till

1871, Mr. Hills

Simon Grecnleaf Fuller, who remained rechis death, November 21, 1872.
He died

nine hundred and thirty-seven sittings, besides those

following statistics

we take the

called

Whole number now

James Church
January

held

Lockwood, the present

27.

The

1848,

was organized August

vember, 1870, to June, 1872,

at

53.

Protestant Episcopal Churches.

St. Paul's

Church, was

organized

Amos

Mann,

P.

May

22,

Archy Kasson, James

Davis, Mather Williams,

Granger,

Matthew

W.

Parent Filkins, Othniel Williston and Jabez Hawlcy,

In 1825, a lot of ground was donated
Vestrymen.
to the parish for a

church by the Syracuse

the

Company

in September the frame was raised and enclosed and

It stood on
the building was completed in 1827.
Block,
Granger
by
the
the ground now occupied

and was subsequently sold to the Roman Catholics,

who removed it and converted it into St. Mary's
Church.

14,

Communion

first

earliest

was

19, 1873.

was

service

the chapel built for a

St.

1848;

James' Parish

communicants

Service,

twenty-one.

parishioners were

earliest

Abraham

Wallace,

John Durn1826, Rev. John McCarty, Presiding.

Wardens,
chosen
were
Wright
Samuel
ford and
and

the

Among

in

Paul's Church.

mission of St.

whole number now absent, 34 male members, 14

female members, 232 number admitted from No;

was

circle of

rector,

and settled over the parish January

St.

belonging to the church, 346

study, and

his

friends.

Rev. Henry
for 1872.

in

lamented by a bereaved parish and a large

of the galleries.

From the Church Manual

till
August 21, 1870.
was succeeded by the

continuing

suddenly of apoplexy while

aft'ords

B.

who remained till March

Rev. George Morgan Hills

1848,

1,

1857,

3,

rector,

January,

M. E. Carter, James Terwilligcr, W. E Abbott,

George W. Wilson. (Trustees,) and J. T. Bon, M.
and A. G. Salisbury.

May

10, 1857.

became

the immediatedirection of the Building Committee,

consisting of Messrs. Peter Burns, H. R. Olmsted,

W. Hanchett

Wm.

Rev. Dr. Gregory was succeeded by Rev.

Church was
It was
completed and dedicated March 22, 1871.
built from designs by Architect H. N. White, under
of Plymouth

Bartlelt,

James D.

W. Green,

William

Barent Filkins, Cornelius Shirley, Henry D. Hatch,

Hurst, Nehemiah H. Earll, Dr. I. F. Trow-

Thomas
bridge,

now deceased, with

all

others

who

still

re-

main.

The
1

85

1,

church edifice was commenced

present

completed

in 1853,

enlarged

1866.

in

in

Cost

of chapel 1,400, of church $13,000, of enlargement

(uniting church and chapel in one building,) $10,-

Henry Gregory was Rector from 1848

Rev.
C. C. Barclay in 1857 and 1858,
till 1857,
Dr. Joseph M. Clarke from 1858 till the present
Present number of communicants 300.
Attime.
tendance at Sunday school about 100.

000.

Dr.

Trinity Church. This church originated with

Sunday School, established by St.
A congregation was
Paul's Church in July, 1855.

corner stone of the present St. Paul's Church

was laid July 12, 1841, and the building completed

Trinity Mission

and occupied the following year. The wing portion

of the building was about the same time erected for
a parochial school, which was under the charge of
In 1858 the church was enlarged by
the Rector.

gathered and a chapel erected adjoining the Sey-

870 about $6,000

an e.\tension in the rear, and in
were expended in improving the seats, repainting
and frescoing the interior, which has rendered the

Rev. Dr. Ashley, of St. Paul's, began.the Mission,

and was succeeded by Rev. David E. Ikrr in 1856.
Since then the regular succession of pastors and

audience room very pleasant and attractive.

Rev. J. B.
time of ministry have been as follows
Rev.
N. F.
Linn, one year and eight months

The

Prior to the erection of the

were held

in

first edifice,

mour school building, which was consecrated November 25, 1855, and the parish was organized
March 3, 1856. Rev. William Long, assistant of

services

the school house, and sometimes in

Whiting, two years

Rev. D. F. Lumsden, nine

the building of the First Baptist Church.

The clergymen who officiated previous to the or-

months Rev. J. K. Lewis, four years Rev. S. R.

Jones, two years and a half; Rev. J. E Pratt, pres-

ganization of the parish, were Revs Lucius Smith,

Wilcox, William J. BulkWilliam B. Thomas,

ent Rector, five years.

Augustus L. Converse and later. Revs. John

McCarty, William Barlow, Palmer Dyer, Richard
Salmon, John Griggs, Francis Todrig, Clement M.
Butler, Charles H. Halsey, William Walton, Isaac
Swart, John B. Gallagher and Henry Gregory.

present church was

ley,

Rev.

J.

K.

Lewis,

under whose ministry the

built, is

now

a chaplain in the

United States Navy.

Trinity Church

south of

West

is

street.

wooden building and

situated on
It

Seymour

street,

was erected in 1869,

cost about $9,000.

is

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The

used by this church

bell

Onondaga

Church,

Zion

Hill,

the old bell of

While serving

as

the place of worship for the

founded by Rev.

former attendants

at

Calvary Mission Chapel and

is

Ezekiel G. Gear, in 1816.

About

105 families are connected with the parish

number

the communicants

165,

and the Sunday

school 20 teachers and 150 scholars.

Grace Church.

The movement

for the estab-

others in the neighborhood. Calvary Church is also

the Chapel of St. Andrews Divinity School in

Highland Place, and all its services are under the

immediate direction of the Bishop. The services

now

as

fore

Thomas E. Pattison
held in December in

at half past

on the

the

first

service being

wooden chapel erected

a small

present elegant stone church, on

site of the

The

University avenue, corner of Madison street.

was organized early in 1871, with John V.

Needham and Wells B. Hatch, Wardens and
Arthur Crittenden, John R. Hawkins, Henry A.
The
Leggett and John C. White, Vestrymen.
stone
of
the
church
edifice
was
laid
in
corner
June,
1876, and the building finished and consecrated in
February, 1877. The site is one of the most beauti-

week days at a quarter

and on Sunday at half past 10 a.

held are on

lishment of this church was inaugurated by Rev.

in 1870,

i8i

A. M.,

3 p. m.,

evening.

all

and

bem.,

quarter past 7 in the

at a

basement is to be opened
room every evening. The Sunday
School numbers over 200 children.
part of the

as a reading

parish

St.

Andrews Divinity School.

ful in

dressed
fied

The structure is of blue, roughOnondaga limestone, relieved and beauti-

the city.

by cut stone of the gray variety, and

cluding furniture, organ, &c., ^25,000.

ent Wardens are Elisha

cost, in-

The

pres-

R Howe

and Edgar S.
Mathews Vestrymen, J, C. White, Frank A. May,
John V. Needham, Wells B. Hatch, A. B. Grover,
V. B. Chase, F. L. Smith and W. H. Dimmick.
Rev. Thomas E. Pattison has been Rector from
The number of comthe first, and still officiates.

This

is

dates for

an institution for the education of candithe ministry of the Protestant Episcopal

was opened by Bishop Huntington in

at Highland Place, Syracuse.
The Trustees are, the Rt. Rev. F. D. Huntington,
S. T. D., President ex-officio
Rev. J. M. Clarke,
D. D. Rev. H. Lockwood H. O. Moss, Esq.,
and Hon William Marvin.
Faculty of Instnictioii
Rt. Rev. F. D. HuntingChurch.

It

September,

1S76,

ton, President
J.

Rev. C.

M. Clarke, D. D.

P. Jennings,

Dean

Rev.

Prof Rudolph Wahl.

municants

is

157

Sunday School,

Calvary Church

150.

(Protestant Episcopal)

is

situa-

ted on the corner of Highland and Beecher streets in

Ward

This church began

with a Sunday School opened by Bishop Huntington, in a small house on Butternut street beyond
Farmer, in September, 1873.
The school was soon
the Fourth

transferred

to

of the city.

barn close by, which had been

altered to serve the purpose of a temporary chapel.

The

building was unpainted and uncarpeted, but

Sunday School increased, a

service was held every Sunday evening, and before
the winter a Sewing School was opened on Satur-

the attendance at the

day afternoons.
to

gather members for

and on the 20th of September, 1877,

new permanent structure the
present church
was laid by the Bishop of the Diocese.
This building is of wood, with a large basement of stone it was raised and finished at a cost
of about $2,500, most of this amount having been
several years,

the corner-stone of a

contributed by friends of the church in Syracuse.

first

new church was Morning

celebration of the Holy Communion

service in the

Prayer and the

First Methodist Episcopal Church Previous

to the erection of the First M. E. Church in the village of Syracuse, services were held in the school
house on Church street by Rev, Eben. L. North,
now living at South Onondaga, and Rev. Vincent

M.

Coryell, residing at present in Waverly, N.

on Christmas morning, 1877.

Y.

thought by Rev. E. Arnold, that Rev. E. L.

North organized the first class here about 1830.
It is

The

sometime in September, 1877, addressed

Mr. North, making inquiries and
seeking to get the names of the members of the
first class, but he has received no answer.
writer,

a line to Rev.

Rev. V. M. Coryell preached

the years

1835 and 1836.

in

Syracuse during

In the latter of these

years the church edifice was begun, and was finished

in 1837.

The

The Mission continued

The

Methodist Churches.

regular

succession

of

ministers

in

this

church, as nearly as can be ascertained, has been

V. M. Coryell, 1835 to 1836;

Rev. A. D. Peck, 1837 and 1838 Rev. W. W.
Rev. N. G.Baker, 1841 and
Nind, 1839 and 1840
Rev. Edward Ban1842 Rev. A. D. Peck, 1843
Rev. James Erwin, 1846
nister, 1844 and 1845
Rev. E. E. E. Bragdon, 1847 Rev. H. E. Chapin,
1848 and 1849; Rev. I. S. Bingham, 1S50 and
Rev. Nathaniel Salisbury, 1852 and 1853
185 1
Rev. Hiram
Rev. A. J.Phelps, 1854 and 1855
as follows: Rev.

Mattison,

1856 and 1857

Rev. John B.

Foote,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

I82

1858 and 1859 Rev E. C. Bruce, i860 and 1861

Rev. S R. Fuller, 1862 and 1863: Rev. Wesley
;

Mason. 1864 and 1865

Rev C. P. Lyford. 1866,
1867 and 1868 Rev. J. D. Adams. 1S69. 1870 and
Rev. L. C. Qucal, 1872. 1873 and 1874;
1871
Rev. W. H. Anable. 1875. 1876 and 1877.
;

Nathan W. Rose has been class-leader continwas built in 1837, and

uously since the old church

most of the time a trustee.

William Judson,
David French, C. T. Hicks and F"ather Pease, were
prominent among the old members. An anecdote
is

Father Pease and the builders if the old

told of

church, with reference to the peculiar shaped tower

which,

many

of the early citizens

may remember,

once surmounted the building.

It was a sort of
pyramid built up from a square base and covered
with tin.
Messrs. Judson and Hicks, well known
and enterprising early citizens, had the most to do

number of the membership

considerable

of

church have been dismissed from time to time

to form other Methodist Episcopal Churches in the
this

such as

city

Furman

the Centenary, University Avenue,

Street

and Rose

The

Churches.

Hill

number of members is 455, with a large and

flourishing Sunday School.
The church edifice was rebuilt in 1869 '70 at a
present

cost of $25,000, by extending the front 20 feet and

building two towers.

end of

5 feet

for

Also an addition

at the rear

organ and class rooms.

It is

now

one of the most pleasant and commodious churches

in

the

city.

First

Ward Methodist

Episcopal Church.
Quite early in the nineteenth century Salina was
visited by Rev. Charles Giles, of the Old Genesee
Conference, who,

it

Methodist sermon

is

believed, preached the first

at " Salt Point "

Preaching was

with the original building of the church, and they

occasionally had by passing itinerants, and at length

departed from the plain Methodist style of those

a class

having a

upon the buildThis,

ing.
in the eyes of Father Pease, a genuine
old-fashioned Methodist of the congregation, was a
tower of pride and vanity and an insult to high
heaven, and after protesting against it, he resolved
to invoke the Lord to take it down.
He prayed
days

in

fine tall steeple put

cuinestly against

the steeple.

In a short time

it

was struck with lightning and splintered from top

but the friends of the steeple soon had
to bottom
;

Father Pease still prayed against it. It

was demolished a second time a strong gust of
wind struck it, and carried it entirely from its base,
it

rebuilt.

landing

The

it

in

fragments upon the ground near by.

friends of the steeple did not again rebuild

Whether they

ing against them, or whether

conclusion

that

their

they

came

work was not

but

it is

certain that the steeple

to

the

sufficiently

strong to resist the strain of a tornado,

tain,

it.

believed the Lord was actually work-

is

uncer-

was twice de-

molished, and that the last time, instead of attempting to rebuild

it

as at

first,

the base of the tower

was carried up and finished in the peculiar pyramidshaped dome referred to, and that tower remained
on the church for more than thirty years.

The church was thoroughly

1856, by the devotion of Mr.

mortgaged

his

own

repaired

inside in

David French, who

private property to

make

the

Among

the prominent ministers of this church,

Rev. Hiram Mattison was well known as an anti-

man and

an author of considerable note.

Rev.
S. R. Fuller, died at Watertown. N. Y.
Rev. Dr.
D. Adams, D. D is now at Erie, Pa.
L. C. Oueal is Presiding Elder at Elmira, N. Y.
Rev.

J.

license.

During the year 1840, Mr. Squires, having

awakened some interest, the society petitioned the
Black River Conference to send them a minister

who

should organize a

self

wholly to their village as a pastor.

" Station,"

and devote himThe Conference being held at Pulaski in the summer. Bishop
R. R. Roberts ordained Rev. Ebenezer Arnold and
sent him to Salina, with instructions to organize, if
practicable, the two villages, Salina and Geddes,
Mr. Arnold, after looking
into a pastoral charge.
over the

field,

concluded

attention to Salina.
his ministry,

The

becoming

to

devote his whole

society prospered under

financially self-supporting

the chapel was finished and furnished

a comfortable

parsonage placed at his disposal free of rent class

and prayer meetings earnest and well attended
and a quarterly conference established. In the
space of one year a great change had been cfi'ected,
so that Rev. Mr. Arnold left the parish in a wellorganized and prosperous condition, from which it
;

maintained a steady and vigorous growth.

In 1864 the corner stone of the present church

repairs.

slavery

was formed and a small chapel erected about

1829; which appears not to have been
finished for many years, the society being weak and
making very little progress prior to 1840. at which
date they had the services for a few months of Ezra
C. Squires, a young man holding a local preacher's
the year

was laid, and the building was completed

It is of brick, cost about
and dedicated in 1865.
will
and
scat
$13,000
500 people. The Parsonage
brick
is also a
building, of moderate dimensions and
rather plain appearance.
The Trustees are A. McChesney, B C. Ross. T. Redhead, Hiram Moreedifice

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

W.

G. Richards, John E. Gumaer, Henry

Alexander
Hubbs and David Powers.
Patten,

house,

The

following

the

is

list

of Pastors furnished

J.

by

Bennet, Rev. C. Giles, Rev. A. Robbins, Rev. B.

PhilHps, Rev. I. Turney, Rev. M. M. Rice, Rev.
I.

Rev.

Deefendorf,

D.

Simons,

Cole, Rev. D. Chidester, Rev.

Rev. O. C.

H. M. Church, Rev.

The

essary in view of the location of the Syracuse University in this city, was, during that year, adopted
It was clearly foreseen that, if
and acted upon.
the Methodist denomination of the State of New
York should undertake to found and conduct a

wanted

flock,

Hope

the

Hence

colonization

Methodism

in

and

enlargement of

Episcopal

Syracuse, and the establishment of

the University, had their inception together in the

centenary year, and were undertaken and prosecuted

by the same

The movement

parties.

originated

outside of the local churches, and for a time was

carried on in opposition to their wishes

At

and advice.

the Black River Conference, held in April, 1866,

the presiding Bishop appointed Rev. Ebenezer Ar-

nold to the Fifth

Ward

of Syracuse, with the view

of establishing in that locality a Centenary

Monu-

The

As

" the

ing,

see a

audience

excited

boy

little

cents.
er.

What

'

That's

'

stantly

that for,

is

upon the duties of

down one

up

and

laid

the

church,

too.'

we can
The work

was as bald and barren a charge as was ever

spread upon white paper or read off by a bishop.
But the very next day the appointee was on the
spot and looking for some place to begin work. To
and fro, right and left, over his crude field he wandered, watched and listened,
No familiar face or
voice greeted him.
No one watched or waited for
his arrival, or cared to

know

his voice.

The

next

week he came on again with family and goods. *

Utterly failing to find a place to live

Ward, he furnished

a lodging

in, in

the Fifth

room and joined the

.-''

the
cent,

'Well!

no longer

'

provide for

bub

from

girl

for

is

down two

asked the preachother

'
:

well!'

That's

said the

we have no

say

The

In-

came

side

saying

begun, and the

completion."

its

to

Lord

will

audience went

away profoundly impressed with the assured

suc-

cess of the enterprise.

Shortly after some half a dozen families

cluded

to

State of

enlist

the

New York

expenses

July

church by Rev.

con-

Board of Missions of the

granted ^500 for the preacher's

the lot was purchased for the

16,

A.

J.

Phelps and Rev. Ebenezer

enough to pay their own

and take the deed in their own name,
there being as yet no legal corporation to transact
business.
A subscription was immediately opened

Arnold, who had

money

for

faith

it

men

five

subscribed $1,000, ^750, g200, $200

Then came, by the aid of

the united ministry, a large and successful meeting

in the First

" It

astonished

the church,' replied the boy.

for

little

and $100, respectively.

charge.

girl.

up and march

rise

resolutely to the speakers table and lay

and

new

was

(sitting alone)

faith.

his

boy and

little

ing the question of finance at an evening meet-

situa-

tion at the time of his entrance

among

and the Baptist

it,

preacher and some others were discuss-

the

We

Rev. Mr. Arnold describe the

against

funds contributed towards this

first

mental Church of the Methodist Episcopal

shall let

hall in the center of the

church were three cents by a

funds.

guardianship, must

'

Chapel' was hired for a part of each Sab-

bath."

the denomination assuming

its

occupy a

to

own people decided

preacher,

be greatly liberalized and enlarged.

near the Fifth

but the fear of awakening opposition

city,

University in Syracuse, the local church policy of

itself

hall within or

'

'

There was no

present Pastor.

Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Centenary of American Methodism, which
was fruitful in the inauguration of many new
church movements in the denomination at large,
was the beginning of a new era in the history of
the Methodist-Episcopal church in Syracuse.
The
policy of colonization and expansion, deemed nec-

parsonage and

Onondaga House."

Ward, and only two chapels one owned and fully

occupied by the Protestant Episcopal Church the
other owned by the Baptists and occupied part of
the Sabbaths by a Young Men's Christian Association Sunday School.
This pastor without a

his

Rev.

Ward

in the

next difficulty was to find a place to preach

"

in.

J. A. Graves, Rev. T. B. Shepherd,

Mason,
Rev. O. A. Houghton, Rev. M.
W.
Rev.
Wheeler, Rev. J. B. Foote, Rev. T. F. Clark,

S. Ball,

the First

in

found most of his dinners

Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, Rev.

Rev. T. F. Clark
I. N. Murdock, Rev. C. L. Dunning, Rev. P. S.

B.

pastor in a studio

183

came

Church

the

to

then the First

rescue

the

Ward Church

Presiding

Elder and

Pastors pushed into the country for subscriptions

and, to effect an organization, forty members of the
First

be transferred to the new

forming the " Centenary Church."

Church asked

colony, to aid in

As name

after

to

name was slowly read

over, the eyes

of their pastor were filled with unbidden tears, but

he brushed them aside, and kneeling together they

joined their prayers for the out-goers and the

church which they were about

" It

was

in a

new

to join.

moderate-sized room

in

the second

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

84

story

Pike

of

Block,

January 6th,

1867.

The

tically the dissolving of the old

American Methodism had just struck

One Hundred, the first Sunday of the year one

great clock of

had reached high noon.

ganization of a

young and middle-aged, stood up and covenanted

together in Holy Church Fellowship one in name,
Such was the
one in purpose, and one in heart.
material of the Centenary Church as thus organized,
and of the congregation thereof, that a large Board

prayer and class meetings continued over a year.

Meantime, a spacious church site had been selected,

payment made thereon of 1,400, and over 50
ornamental trees planted. The old church was removed from the hill and converted into a comfortaa

of Trustees, a fine Quarterly Conference, a good

Sunday School,

church and the or-

one, and for the accomplish-

ment of this result, street preaching and cottage

meetings were to be depended upon. The former
was kept up two seasons the first on Geddes,
the second on
Seymour street and cottage

persons, mostly

Fifty

new

able Prayer and Class Meetings,

and Social Societies, were very soon in successful

ble chapel on the rear part of the site,

operation.

ings were held

A subscription of 13,000 being raised, the site

purchased by the two clergymen was fi.\ed upon,

edifice in 1876.

The new

the foundation laid and the building rose rapidly, so

society

was

also organized

of Mr.

Arnold

grafted

has grown with

Annual Conference
in this city in April, 1867, the massive stone work
was nearly completed and the corner stone was

in

The following year the

by Bishop Janes.
church was finished and dedicated, the entire cost

Once

established in the

began

to

being about 37,000.

door labors,

laid

building situated on

The

West

a fine substantial brick

Onondaga.

street near

gather the

complished

Peck, one year and a

requiring

Bishop
years

The

years,

Rev. A.

appointment as

Rev. Manley S. Hard, three and a

till

West

Virginia

Prof.

E.

Church.

On

street preaching

>

tions,

it

was

from the

As

a foundation

a part of his plan to

hill

for

the

commenced

the

city,

pres-

1875, and

in

plain substantial brick

This building

is

which the future

edifice,

will

before

many

years

call

The

present membership

is

loi,

and the Sunday

School, 200.

clergymen have been pastors of

this church: Rev. M. Pierce, Rev. T. B. Shepherd,
Rev. Robert Brewster, Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, Rev.
U. S. Becbe and Rev. Edmund M. Mills, the presfollowing

ent incumbent.

Rose

Hill

M. E. Church.

In

accordance

with the general plan of Methodist Church exten-

Mr. Arnold

sion inaugurated during the Centenary year.

Hill, or the P"ourth
field of

Ward

of Syracuse, was

Rose

made

missionary operations with a view to the

establishment of a church.
nold entered the

field

in

Rev.

Ebenezer Ara most

as any begin-

October, 1873

unpromising field at that time, so far

No
ning or Methodist materials were concerned.
one desired a mission or asked for a preacher to
come among them. There was no vacant hall or

future opera-

remove the church

into the southwest part of the city,

and unite the members with those which might be

It was pracraised up in the new church locality.

the

of

meeting,

into requisition.

The

was then pastor of the Magnolia Street M. E.

Church, which had been organized in i86g and occupied the hill north of the Idiot Asylum.
Some
half a dozen members of this church lived in that
part of the city where he began preaching on the
street corners.

of

It is

growth of the society

Ebenezer Arnold comon the corners of Geddes,

Delaware, Fulton and Davis streets.

portion

this

in

larger place

prospectively intended to be the rear of a larger

l6th of June, 1872, Rev.

menced

and more elegant church

Delaware Street M.

population

structure and cost about 12,000.

this

dedicated in 1876.

W.

P. Codington, to fill vacancy

Rev. Oscar A.
Houghton, present Pastor.
Centenary is one of the most prosperous churches
in the city.
Membership, 450, and a large and
active Sunday School.
Tntstees
A. N. Palmer, President Henry W.
Bannister, Clerk
Thomas Talbot, Robert Patterson, Edward Drake, Aaron Schemerhorn, S. A.
Daniels, J. F. Pease, and E. F". Holden.

Mr Arnold acgood work as pastor from June,

100 members.

ent church edifice was

half

George, D. D., one and a half

transferred to

cottage and out

fruits of his

1872, to October, 1S73.

his

life.

quarters, the pastor

congregation numbering 300 souls,

School of about

Rev. Ebenbeen the Pastors of Centenary Church

czer Arnold, the founder, one year; Rev. Elijah Horr,
Rev. Jesse T. Peck, now Bishop
Jr., three years
till

in a

and vigorous

fresh

new

with an average attendance of 200, and a Sunday

following ministers, in the order named, have

half,

by the labors

1873, and with the members

transferred from the old society, constituted about
40 in number. The new vine thus planted and

that by the assembling of the

It is

where meet-

the erection of the present church

till

school house or even private dwelling accessible.

Residence OF

JOHN EASTWOOD,

CoJ?.SpmN&& BA/?5M,Sys/*cusE,N.>:

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Out-door meetings were resorted to, and, as admission could be gained to iiouses, prayer meetings

were held with

This went on

families.

with scarcely a perceptible gain

ever,

At

for

one year

though hidden, was working

in

the masses.

the close of the second year a society of about

a dozen and

Sunday School had been formed and

were meeting and holding prayer meetings in a

barn loft, preaching still going on to the outside
world in the open

At

air.

the Conference this year

Bishop Andrews recognized the work as a Conference appointment.

During the year 1876, a stronger hold was gained

the church increased
upon public confidence
a lot
a board of trustees was appointed
to 20
a small fund accumusubscribed for a parsonage
lated by contributions of worshipers laid upon the
Bible and an open-air congregation of more steady,
The year followattentive and intelligent hearers.
ing a church site was bought, large enough for a
church and chapel, ;^200 paid on it, and a neat
The congregachapel erected and half paid for.
tion this year numbered about 200, with an average
attendance of 50, and a Quarterly Conference and
Social Society were organized.
Such was the Rose Hill M. E. Church at the
close of Rev. Mr. Arnold's labors, September,
It is deemed on a solid and substantial foot1877.
ing, and gives fair promise of future permanence
and enlargement. The church is a wooden building on Highland street, corner of Douglas, and
;

cost, including

Rev. George

two

W.

lots,

Present Pastor,

^4,000.

till

November

of that year.

In 1871 a Mis-

and Sunday School were organized by Rev.

Jesse T. Peck, D. D., while pastor of the Centension

ary Church, and they were included in the Quarterly

Conference of that body.

In

1874 the Mis-

became a separate charge, and has since been

For the past
regularly supplied by the Conference.
two years Prof Charles W. Bennett, of the University, has been pastor, and was preceded by Rev.
M. J. Wells. The church has a comfortable wooden
sion

edifice

and

is

maintaining a steady growth.

University Avenue M. E.

Church. Located

on the corner of University Avenue and East GenThis society was organized as a branch
esee street.
24*

vate residences.
In 1868, a small chapel

was erected on the corner

of Chestnut and Fayette streets, and in the latter

part of that year the society, having in the

mean-

time increased to a membership of thirty, was organized as a separate charge.

Rev. C. P. Lyford

was appointed pastor while yet officiating as pastor

of the 1st M. E. Church.
In 1869, Rev. T. B.
Shepherd was appointed pastor. While under his
charge the meetings were held in Seager Hall.
It
was during his pastorate that the lot upon which
the present church edifice stands was purchased.

Rev. C.

Lyford was the next

P.

appointed

1S70.

in

During

in charge,

being

ministrations a

his

temporary chapel was erected on the church

lot

and

the present building so far completed as to enable

congregation to hold religious service in the

the

basement

The membership had

of the same.

creased at this time to one hundred and

1872 Rev.

J.

in-

In

fifty.

T. Gracy was appointed pastor, and

December of that year the church was dedicated.

His successor was Rev. D. W. C. Huntington, appointed in 1873, who was followed in 1876 by Rev.
in

Theron Cooper the present pastor.

Rev. A. J.
Presiding
was
the
Elder
during
Phelps
the organization of the church and labored efficiently to ad-

vance

its

The

welfare.

present church was erected

at a cost of $50,000.

The

present officers are Rev. D.

Presiding Elder

W.

Bristol,

D. D.,

Rev. Theron Cooper, pastor

J.

S. Atwell, S. S. Supt.; J. S. Atwell, (term expires

Peck.

E. H. Wormwood, E. A. Huntington,
Trustees
George E. Marsh, Dwight Arnold, Joseph Drawbridge, Frank Frey and Mr. Dillenbeck.
FuRMAN Street M. E. Church The movement resulting in this church was begun in Danforth (a suburb of the city) April 20, 1870, by
Rev. Ebenezer Arnold. Mr. Arnold continued his
labors

I St M. E.
Church, in 1867, with a membership of nine, holding their earlier meetings in pri-

of the

the leaven, how-

185

in

1878,)

(1878,)

J.

R. French, (1878,)

Thomas

Talbot,

Jr.,

H. Whitmarsh,

(1879.) Charles

C.

Brown, (1879,) Cyrus C. Warner, (1879,) John P.

Griffin, (1880,) E. C. Curtis, (1880,) P. H. Curtis,
(1880,) Board of Trustees.

of

members (Dec,

five

1877,)

is

number

present

three hundred and sixty-

Making

Probationers thirty.

hundred and

The

a total of three

ninety-five.

On the 2d
First
Methoof
the
basement
of
meeting
first
held
the
was
Church,
dist Episcopal
for the purpose of organizing the Wesleyan MethoThe organization was
dist Church of Syracuse.
Wesleyan Methodist Church.
May, 1843,

in the

same evening with the following

A. F.
named gentlemen among its members, viz
Green, Dr. A. Bliss, Arthur Hughes, H. I. Fritcher,
Charles Merrick, M. Merrick, P. W. Rice, James
perfected

this

Connell, and James White.

In 1845, a House of Worship was built on the

corner of

Onondaga and

of $2,500, the material

Jefferson streets at a cost

used

in

its

construction

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

86

This edifice has since been enlarged

being brick.

and

The

recently repaired.

following

Pastors with their terms of service

D.

D.,

one year

Rider, three years

P.

of

list

Luther Lee,

Sawyer, one year

R.

P.

is

M. Way, one year

B.

Mar-

and continued in that relation till his death in 1859.

He was succeeded by the present pastor. Rev. Dr.
James A. O'Hara, who assumed charge of the
church on the 4th of July, 1859. Doctor O'Hara
has had a long and very successful pastorate, hav-

Samuel Salisbury, three

Luther Lee, two years D. B. Douglass,
one year Samuel Salisbury, two or three years
A. S. Witeman, four
P. Betker, four years
J.
years T. H. Keniston, two years, (Rev. Mr. Ken-

ing ministered to his church over eighteen years,

iston died during the last year of his pastorate

the congregation of St. Mary's

shall

Frink, two years

years

H.

Foster,

Pastor,

four years, succeeded

Rev.

N.

commenced May

E.

Jenkins,

1877.

ist,

The

S.

by the present

whose

pastorate

following

named

gentlemen have also served the church at intervals

Cyrus Prindle, D. D., L. C. Matlack, Adam
Crooks and H. B. Knight. Among the noted
divines that have been connected with this church
may be mentioned Rev. Luther Lee, D. D., the
:

noted theologian. Rev. Cyrus Prindle, D.

Rev.

Adam

Crooks, since deceased,

all

men

and

of very

marked ability. The present membership numbers

Attendance at Sunday School about 100.
160.

Methodist Episcopal Zion Church,

This church was

organized

on

(^Colored.)

Salina street,

where the present salt office is situated, March 2,

It was originally composed of about fifteen
1837.
persons, among whom were Rev. W. H. Jenkins,
The edifice
Mrs. Gariner and Frederick Jackson.
was purchased March 20, 1837, for about $100.
The first Trustees were Richard Wandal, Frederick
Jackson, Prince Jackson, Francis Jackson and Ambrose Dumbar.

Thomas James, Rev. John Tappen, Rev.

and Rev. J. W. Loguen were
Mr. Loguen, well known
pastors of this church.
as an earnest anti-slavery advocate, and a man of
Rev.

Demmes Kennedy,

influence of both

the

people has become widely

pastor and

the educational and

felt in

charitable interests of the city.

In 1S52, under the ministry of Rev. Father Haes,

which

during

and shortly

undertook

after

became very

large,

the erection of the

Church of St. John the Evangelist, on the corner

Through the aid of
of Willow and Pearl streets.
Hon. Dennis McCarth)', Cornelius Lynch and
others, the church was finished and occupied in 1 854.
In 18
Father Haes introduced the Sisters of
three
of whom came and opened a school
Charity,
Mary's Church.
in the basement of St,
The

now

Sisters have

three schools under the auspices

of the St. Vincent de Paul's Society, viz

The

St.

Vincent de Paul Orphan Asylum and School, situated on Madison street, and the Orphan Asylum

Boys and

for

Home

for

both sexes, situated

The

in

building of the

Old and Infirm People of

the town of Geddes.

Orphan Asylum and School

270 feet long by 50 feet in width, three

stories and basement, and cost $125,000.
The
is

of brick,

school has 12 teachers, 150 orphans, and 300 day

scholars.

The

school

in

Rock road

country

the

is

situated on the

beyond the city limits in the

Split
town of Geddes. The site was purchased by Andrew Lynch for Rev. Dr. James A. O'Hara, in 1867,

who

started

it

just

as an industrial school for boys, un-

der the management of the Christian Brothers, in

came to Syracuse in 1841.

acknowledged
In June. 1868, Mr. Loguen was elected Bishop of

which character it was continued about two years.

Dui^ng the absence of Dr. O'Hara in Europe, the
Brothers abandoned it, and the school was closed.

the African Methodist Zion Church,

About

ability,

in

the

city of

Washington, D. C, and was Presiding Bishop till

1872, in June of which year he was reelected Bishop,
and held the

tember

ofifice

at the

time of his death, Sep-

Patrick Phelan and

eral

ciety,

Mary's Church (first Roman Catholic in the

village of Syracuse) was organized on Christmas Day,
There were then but few scattering Catholic
1842.
St.

the village.

The

first

church building

was purchased of the Protestant Episcopal Society

and removed to Montgomery street,
St. Paul's
It was enlarged and improved
corner of Madison.
Rev. Michael Haes was the first pastor.
in 1848.

Thomas McCarthy,
Sullivan, of the

Gen-

Vincent de Paul Soreestablished the institution under the manSt.

of the Sisters of Charity, as a

Home

for

and feeble of both sexes and an Orphan

Asylum for boys. It is managed by 10 Sisters,
and contains about 100 orphan boys and 40 aged
and feeble persons. There is a farm of 60 acres
which is worked by the inmates. The building is
140 feet long by 60 feet wide, and three stories
the

Catholic Churches.

Timothy

Conference of the

agement

30, 1872.

families in

the year 1872, Messrs.

old

above the basement.

Both these

institutions are very prosperous

and

are outgrowths of St. Mary's Church.

The new Church

building of St.

Mary's

is in

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

process of erection.
In 1874, Rev. Dr. O'Hara
purchased of Hon. Peter Burns a prominent site
for a new church, on the corner of Montgomery

and Jefferson

which he

streets,

now

is

The

gray limestone.

consisting of

four lots, on

erecting a church of

Onondaga

walls are partially

and when completed with

erected,

chapels and pastoral

its

residence, will cost $250,000.

be the finest

It will

piece of masonry in the United States, and

in

one

of the finest situations, being at the intersection of

Should the building be finished

six streets.

mony

design)

it

and

tial

in har-

with the exterior structure (and such

will certainly

elegant

is

the

and mission some four or five years. The next

pastors were Fathers Radigan and Chartier, the latter a Frenchman, who left Canada on account of

some

in

the

whole

Church of

St. Joh.\

the Evangelist.

fol-

the Church of St. John the Evangelist of this city.

The

succession of pastors since has been Father

Mullady, Rev. Michael Hackett, Rev. Morris Sheahan, Rev. James A. Duffy, Father Brown and Rev.

William

J.

Bourke, the present pastor.

Rev. Mr. Bourke was born and brought up

Syracuse, and

is

the

This

The Church

in

native Catholic priest

first

ordained to the ministry in the

country.

Then

rebellion troubles of that period.

lowed Rev. Michael Haes, afterwards pastor of St.

Mary's Church, who was succeeded by Father Guillick, and he by Rev. Joseph Guerdet, now pastor of

be one of the most substan-

church edifices

187

city.

John the Baptist (present

large and elegant brick structure in
of St.

Mary's Church, of
In 1852, the congregation of St. Mary's
this city.
had out-grown its accommodations in the old church,

building)

and Bishop McClosky delegated Rev. John McMenony, Assistant Pastor of St. Mary's, to
begin the erection of the Church of St. John the
Evangelist, on the corner of Lock and Willow
streets.
The building was finished and opened in
Rev.
John McMenony was appointed Pastor,
1854.
and officiated till 1868, when he was succeeded by
Rev. Joseph Guerdet, the present Pastor.
The
parish is a large one, numbering about three thousand people, and Rev. Mr. Guerdet is assisted in the
pastoral charge by Rev. Mr. O'Connor.
The

Park and Court streets.

It will seat 1,500 persons,
was erected and dedicated in 1871, and cost $125,-

church

church

is

is

an out-growth of

St.

an elegant and substantial brick building,

with seating capacity for 1,500 persons, and cost

There

about S6o,ooo.
it,

is

is

a school connected with

which was founded by Rev. Mr. McMenony and

under the management of the Christian Brothers.

Church of

The Church
St. John the Baptist.
John the Baptist is situated in the First Ward.
The first church edifice of this parish (now used as
a school house was commenced and enclosed in
1829 by the exertions of Thomas McCarthy and
James Lynch, and a few Roman Catholics, together
of St.

by

collections

and Syracuse, and

made by Messrs. McCarthy and

Albany and New

was
then Bishop of
Dubois
John
the Diocese of New York, and for the two succeeding years, the congregation being small, was visited
by clergymen only once a month.
The first resident clergyman who officiated in the church was
Rev. Francis Donahue, who was pastor for about
six years, and was succeeded by Fathers Balfe and

Lynch from

York.

their friends in Utica,

Rt. Rev.

Drummond, who in turn gave place

who remained in charge

O'Donnell,

to

Rev. James

of the church

a beautiful and

This

000.

is

commanding

now one

of

at the corner of

site

the

largest

Catholic

parishes in the city and the school connected with

it is

kept

in the old

church building.

The Church of the Assumption, St. Mary's,

Roman Catholic, is situated in the Second Ward
North Salina

on

street,

near
"

Isabella.

Deo

The

old

was called St.

Mary's.
It was a wooden building 30 by 46 feet in
dimensions, surmounted by a spire, and was erected
by the Trustees, John B. Lange, George Miller and
The builder was
1. Afferdick, in the year
1844.
Emerson Thayer, and the lot was purchased of
church bearing the motto

"

Hon. E. W. Leavenworth for $500.

The first Pastor was Rev. P. Adalbert Inama,
O. S. N., who was appointed in 1843 by Rt. Rev.
John McClosky, first Roman Catholic Bishop of the
Following him were the
Diocese of Albany, N.Y.
Rev. Theodore Noethen Rev. P. Flarian SchwenRev. P. Simon Sanderl Rev.
inger, O. S. B.
:

who enlarged
year 1861 commenced

Joseph Raffeiner,
In the

with the liberal donations of their Protestant fellowcitizens in the villages of Salina

is

the semi-Gothic style of architecture, occupying

of

the

Franciscan

Fathers

the

first

church.

the administration

Minor-Convcnticals.

Assumption in 1865,
under their Commissary-General V. R. P. Lapold
Morzygemba, O. M. C, and the Guardian of the
Convent and Pastor of the Church, Rev .P. Norbert
The church was consecrated
Stoller, O. M. C.

They

built the

new Church

of

1867, by Rt. Rev. John Conroy, Bishop of

the Diocese of Albany, and the two towers, containing bells, were finished in 1872 by V. R. P. Fidelis

May

3,

Dehm, Guardian and Pastor

Assumption. The cost of the
$125,000.

of

the

Church

entire structure

of

was

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

88

Church

St. Lucy's

Ward on

Situated

is

the Fifth

in

Gifford street between Niagara and Os-

wego streets. The earliest meetings were held in

the Cook Block, which is erected on the bank of the
Onondaga creek, between Onondaga and Gifford

The

streets.

origin of the church

was owing

in a

members

great measure to the zeal of a few of the

1869 in the church building, Eai

by Rev. Joseph Guerdet. The
original members were about 200, among whom
were Romuald Tanguay. Louis La Branche, Louis

organized in

Genesee

street,

Harnois, Theophile Fournier, Francis Bardo, Aimi

Harnois, Joseph

Gibeau, Peter Loignot and Jean

The church was bought

Duplessis.

of the Central

of the congregation, who, seeing the increase of the

Baptist Society in 1869, and cost, with

Catholic population in that portion of the city, as

ments. Si 1,000.

want of accommodation

well as the

in

the churches

to which the people went, resolved, having obtained

the Rt. Rev. John

the permission of

J.

Conroy,

Bishop of Albany, and the concurrence of nearly

all

the Catholics

of the

Slattery

Patrick

was

ward, to

erection of the church.

commence

President, John

Thomas

F.

Anthony Chryst, Lawrence

Ryan, Charles McFall, Thomas Kendrick, Francis

Murphy, William Michaels and Dan. Moony were
members, was appointed June, 1872, to make
arrangements

for the

Rev.

The present membership

to

70

On August

work.

15,

1872,

The

new congregation.

Prior to 1836, several influential Unitarian

in-

on two
Church on West Genesee

led

different occasions in the

the society.

church

city.

for

the

and the work was pressed forward with

Commins, the builder.

The corner stone was laid by Rt. Rev. Francis
McNierny, the successor of Bishop Conroy, June
22, '73, and the basement of the church was occu-

great zeal by Patrick

pied

for

The

November i, 'y^.
completed December 23,

divine service

of Boston, and Rev.

Barrett,

Mr. Green, of that city or vicinity, preached by

patroness of that

Russell furnished the plans

fami-

had become citizens of Syracuse, but no preaching of that faith had been enjoyed till about 1837,

vitation

of St. Lucy's Church, Syracuse, N. Y.

(First Unitarian

organized by Rev.

was immediately incorporated under the

This
is the first and only church in this country which
There is a certain
bears the name of St. Lucy.
propriety in the name, from the fact that the annals
of the life of St. Lucy tell us that she was born,
lived, and suffered martyrdom in the old city of
Syracuse, Sicily, and was afterward proclaimed

society

was

George W. Hosmer, Dr. Hiram Hoyt, Stephen

Abbott and others, October 4, 1838. The first
Elisha Walter, Joel Owen and
Trustees were
Stephen Abbott.

when Rev. Samuel

Architect

in July, 1870.

about 450, with from 45

The Church of the Messiah,

Congregational Society,)

completed about September 12, at which time the

Rt. Rev. Bishop Conroy appointed Rev. John J.

name

is

U.MTARiAN Church.

lies

Pastor of the

present pastor,

the Sunday School.

in

the digging for the basement was began and was

Kennedy

The

assumed charge

S. Robillard,

J.

improve-

Mass.,) from

Pittsfield,

October, i86g. to April, 1870.

Lynch,

J.

Delany, Secretary, and F"rancis Connelly, H. A.

Duffy, Patrick Halloran,

its

pastor was Rev. Joseph

committee of which

Heilmack, Treasurer,

Auditor, John

the

Quevillon,

The first
who is now in

movement which

to the

by

a society

Rev.

organized

in

resulted in the formation of

Hosmer, of

Dr.

of Antioch

President

Baptist

These eftbrts

street.

College.

The

Buffalo, late

society was

school house on Church

Dr. Mayo's

street, where services had previously been held,

and continued to be held after the organization of

In January, 1839, a small chapel, costing

in

those

times of cheap labor S607. was completed and dediIt stood on East Genesee street opposite
cated.
the present Barton Block.

Rev.

menced
little

P. B. Storer,

J.

his

the

first

regular pastor com-

ministry with the completion of this

chapel, and continued

till

his death,

which oc-

church was entirely

'75, on
which day it was solemnly dedicated by Rt. Rev.

curred March 17,1844.

Francis McNierny.

tees generously proffering the use of the building

The

present membership of the congregation

about two thousand 12,000.

is

The Sunday School

attendance

is

about four hundred and

The church

is

very beautifully decorated with scrip-

tural scenes from both the old

fifty

(450.)

and the new Testa-

ment, as well as some pictures representing the

death, and

life,

coronation of St. Lucy.

St. Joseph's

(French Catholic) Church was

in the First

for

His

Methodist Episcopal Church, the Trus-

that occasion, on

which an able sermon was

preached by Rev. Orville

The

installation took place

Dewey, D. D.

society soon outgrew the dimensions of

its

August, 1840, a committee,

consisting of Capt. Hiram Putnam, John Wilkinson, Esq William Malcolm, Esq Mr. Parley Bas

little

chapel, and

in

and Hon. Thomas Spencer, was appointed to

select and purchase a lot upon which to build a new
sett

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

house of worship.
lot was purchased of the
"Syracuse Company," on the corner of Burnet and
Lock streets, for the sum of $550, to which was
subsequently added the adjoining south lot, pur-

connected.

chased for $450, the whole forming the premises on

" Church of the Messiah " now stands.

desirous

which the

The church was erected at a cost of $5,000, and

dedicated November 23, 1843
the pastor. Rev.

Mr. Storer preaching the sermon, assisted in the

services, which were of a very interesting character,

by several eminent visiting clergymen.

After the death of Mr. Storer, a correspondence

was opened with Rev. Samuel J. May, who, after a

and frank statement of his views on " Christian
doctrine" and " reforms," was called and settled
full

Mr.

over the society in 1845.

May was

an earnest

opponent of slavery, and a zealous and able advocate of liberal and progressive views of education,
and these views he advocated with signal

and
success to the close of his earthly labors.
Such
was his sweetness of temper, his candor, and his
uniform courtesy of demeanor on all occasions that
even his opponents were unconsciously influenced by his sentiments and spirit, and soon became
co-workers with him for the common good of humanity.
As an earnest and unfaltering advocate
of Public Free Schools for the education of the poor
as well as the rich, and for the devoted and self-sacrificing labor which he bestowed on Institutions of
Charity, no man in Syracuse was better known or
more highly respected than Rev. Samuel J. May.
His acknowledged abilities and his noble Christian
character gave him an influence for good which will
long be felt beyond his own immediate church, of
which he was the faithful pastor.

At

ability

the resignation of his pastorate the " Church

of the Messiah," as a tribute of respect and esteem,

generously settled on him an annuity for

died on Sunday, July

2,

He

life.

1871.

same month was formally installed.

enlarged by a rear extention in

The church was

1850.

by the

Church of this city, on account of views

differing widely in several important respects
from
that body and the denomination with which
Baptist

it is

portunity for the free expression of his convictions,

without the hindrance or dictation of any ecclesi-

The call was accepted

on the 4th of April, 1866, and on the 22d Mr.
Mundy preached his first sermon of the " new
astical authority or creed.

departure"

in Convention Hall.
The attendance
was large and the prospect of permanent interest

encouraging.

On the 25th of April, 1866, the Independent

Society was organized with the following Board of
Trustees

President

in a furious gale.

It

propriate services on the 22d of September, 1870,

and the building dedicated on the 2d of July, 1871.

Mr. Mundy conducted all the services of the occa-

May had been

sion.

Rev. Samuel

assist,

but he died on that day, and Mr.

performed the sad

J.

expected to

Mundy

of announcing his death

office

to the congregation.

About one hundred

families are connected with

the society and the congregation

three hundred.
furniture and

The

lot, is

numbers about
church,

property, including

valued

at ;$20,ooo.

This church has had no ecclesiastical connection

no creed or declaration of
with any denomination
faith

on matters pertaining to

article

of

its

faith

is

dividual opinion, and

is

the

agreement

to

W. Mundy

the
its

The

religion.

only

absolute freedom of in-

only article of agreement

disagree, with

is still

courtesy and

pastor.

the old site, at a cost, including

Church of Christ.

organ, of $( 1,000, and was dedicated April 11, 1853.

The Church of Christ (Disciples or Christians)

Independent Church.

The
strictly

first

independent church

extension of a

occupy a

call

to

Rev.

free platform in

Mundy had

was organized

step taken towards the formation of a

in

Syracuse, was the

Ezekiel

W. Mundy

Convention Hall.

to

Mr.

just resigned the pastorate of the First

Rev. E.

upon

Chittenden,
;

was

rebuilt nearly

W.

Harrold

George L. Farnham, Clerk Lyman Stevens, Treasurer Frank Hiscock, George D. Cowles, Z. Lawrence Beebe, George A. Ostrander, William A.
Hawley, Stewart B. Palmer.
Services were held in Convention Hall and in
Shakspeare Hall and the Court House till the edifice of the society on South Salina street was ready
for occupancy.
The corner-stone was laid with ap-

friendship.

tower

was extended on the 13th of

call

March, 1866, by a number of persons who were

of affording Mr. Mundy, or whoever
might officiate as their religious teacher, an op-

In 1852 the roof and walls were demolished

falling of the

The

Rev. Samuel R. Calthrop, the present pastor, accepted a call from the society April 7, 1868, and on
the 29th of the

189

W. A.

at the City

Hall,

February

Belding, Evangelist, officiating.

8,

1863

Thirty-five

persons constituted the original membership, nine

of whom were baptized by immersion, and the re-

mainder received by letter and right hand of fellowThe church obtained its legal organization

ship.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

IQO

under the corporate name

3,

Trustees

"

Church of

Charles Tucker,

June
Board of
B. Garrett and James

being the

following

the

1863,

J.

M. Clapp.
Meetings were held

when

occupied

till

the City Hall

in

the Court

the

till

fall

House was procured and

The church

June, 1864

was
and

edifice

then completed, No. 57 East Onondaga street,

occupied by the congregation.
It is a brick struc-

and cost about S9.000.

ture, capable of seating 450,

Number
247

of persons baptized since the organizadied, 31

number

dismissed by

letter,

33

pres-

members.
W. A. Belding, Feb.
Succession of ministers
A. N. Gilbert, May i_
1863, to May I, 1S65

ent

corner

225, resident

1865, to Oct.

I,

1867

to April 15, 1871

June

30,

1874;

I,

1875

N.

J.

1872

L.

J.

M.

J.

G. G. Mullins, Oct.

M. Atwater, July

John Encell, Sept.

Darzie, July

Streator, Feb.

i,

30, 1871, to

1872, to

1874, to

i,

1876, to Feb.

i,

1867,

1,

May

Nov.

i,

1877

i,

Aylsworth, April, 1S77, present pastor.

J.

the

in

Church

the

of St.

Miihlhauser, of

Presbyterian

First

streets, where
John was organized by Rev.

The

first

forty families.

The

Rochester, in

membership consisted of about

1838.

church officials were the following

George
Lupp, Henry Lammert, John Miller, Mr. Schneider,
George Koenig, Frederick Haas, John Yehling and
Philip Zahn.
first

The
1

84

1,

church was

first

built

and cost about $1,300.

28, 1856, and

December

fire

The

on the present
It

during 1857.

Feb.

F.

April 22,

till

Rev.

25, 1838 to Jan. 1841

W. Reihenberg,
Rev. F. W.
185s
his death. May 20,

Rev. C.

site in

was destroyed by

rebuilt

following have officiated as Pastors

George Julius Kempe, Dec.

1855,

This church has a prosperous Sunday School,

The

Syracuse were held

room of the

session

St. JoHN,

streets.

Church, corner of Salina and Fayette

I,

Union

Butternut and

of

earliest services of this order in

of 1S63,

tion,

Lutheran Churches.
EVA.NGELICAL LuTHERAN ChURCH OF

Christ,"

first

15,

1841,

May

Weiskotten,
1863

to
i,

Rev. C. H,

Thomson, March, 1864, till his death. May 9, 1877

Rev. Leo Koenig, present Pastor, since Sept. i,
;

Eben

Beard, Superintendent.

Universalist Church.
In Sept., 1859, Rev. A.
city

A. Thayer came

1877.
to this

and organized a society under the name of the

Universalist Society of Syracuse," of which

" First

the following

named persons were elected Trustees

Sampson Jacqueth, President David

;

\Vilco.\,Wheel-

Gardner Woolson, John F. Clark, B.

Austin Avery and E. K. Reed. Harry Giftbrd was
In June, i860, a church organizaelected Clerk.
tion was effected, and Rev. Aaron A. Thayer be-

er Truesdell,

came

pastor.

In 1862 the

first

church was

through the indefatigable

a few substantial friends.

the city

built

and dedicated,

efforts of the pastor

It

and

was afterwards sold

to

High School building

and the present

The

present active membership of the church

108, with 275 children

and 43 teachers

Salem Church of the Evangelical AssoNorth America. This church is lo-

ciation OF
cated on

the corner of

Lock and Laurel

Lacker,

Luchsinger and

J.

brick structure, capable

It is a

Sunday School was organized on "Children's

Horace P.
Sunday," (first Sunday in June iSOo.
The " right hand of fellowHall, Superintendent.
I

ship " was given to the children of the school by

the late Rev.

The
tors,

Day Kellogg

Lee, D. D.

following has been

in

Rev. C.

the order

named

W. Tomlinson,

the
:

succession of pas-

Rev.

A. A. Thayer,

Rev. E. C. Sweetser, Rev.

George P. Hibbard, Rev. Dr. J. G. Bartholomew, Rev. George B. Stocking, Rev. Richmond
Fisk, D. D.

Jacob

Blumer.

small church, 22 by 34 feet was built on the

Cedar

present brick edifice was erected

of seating 450, and cost about 28,000.

Dauer,

Sprenger, Mr.

Frederick

corner of Grape and

dedicated in 1870.

streets.

Its earliest meetings were held in a private house

and school house among the German people. The
church was organized in 1S43, '" the house of Mr.
Frederick Sprenger, on Grape street, the original
members being seventeen, among whom were G.

another

site.
In 1869 the society purchased
and erected their present church, corner
of West Genesee and Franklin streets, which was

is

the Sun-

day School.

erected on the
lot

in

about 20,000.

The

The

streets in 1844.

1863, and cost

in

present membership

is

180,

with good attendance at the Sabbath School.

The

following

named

ministers have officiated as

pastors of the church:

Rev.

J.

Riegcl, Rev. L. Jacoby, Rev. M. Laucr,

Rev. Thomas Schneider, Rev. D. Fischer, Rev. M.

Lehn, Rev. P. Alles, Rev. A. Klein, Rev. A. Spies,
Rev. M. Pfitzingcr, Rev.

J. Siegrest,

warlh, Rev. C. F. Schuepflin, Rev.

ler,

and the present pastor, Rev.

J.

Rev. A. Holz-

Thomas

J.

Mil-

Reuber.

The German Evangelical Lutheran

Zion

Chukcii, southwest corner Union and Butternut

seceded from the German St. John's congregation in 1863, and was organized the same
streets,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

year under the pastorate of Rev. Charles Steinhauer,
They held their first
with about ninety members.

meeting on the 31st of October, the anniversary of

German Reformation, and the following meet-

the

Ackerman's

ings in

Hall, in the Fourth

Ward, and

the next year built a frame house of worship, cost-

This church was burned

ing ^16,000.

same

was rebuilt of brick the

in 1867,

and

year, at a cost of

During the rebuilding the congregation was allowed, by the kindness of the owner of
Pfohl's Hall, to meet and hold their services at that
place until the new church was finished and dedinearly $24,000.

cated.

basement for school purposes

and meetings of the society, and is furnished with
a fine organ and two bells.
The first officers were John Steiger, Nicholas
Morgenstern (Treasurer,) Charles Hamerle, John
Goettel, Philip
Schane, George Schane, Jacob

The church has

Some

Schefer, William Rheinheimer, P. Schneider.

of them

are

church.

The

living
first

and

still

congregation, after six years' service, in

left

Present

1869, and

Jacob Walter,
Christian Fridrich, Nicholas Morgenstern, (Treasofficers

urer since the organization

;)

was pastor Rev. P. Lischka,

1859-60; Rev. C. F. Saldon, 1861-70; Rev. B.
Pick, 1870-74; Rev. E. Henckell, the present

John Schane, John

pastor, since 1874.

The present church edifice is built

The old church was destroyed by fire,
regular

St. John's

(German Lutheran) Church,

ner of Butternut and Union streets,

Lutheran Church in the city.

1839, and the edifice erected

It

ing.

frame church opposite the present build-

Church organized

in

1843.

The

first

mem-

were 36 families, some of the heads of whom

were, Mr. H. Gresselmann, W. H. L. Walter,
Peter Miiller, H. Ackermann, H, Lammert and Ch.
Heboid.
The church was built in 1861, and cost
bers

^7,000.

The names and terms

earliest pastors

of service of the

can not be obtained.

From 1852

in

a cost of

The Second Church of the Evangelical

Association of North America, was formed in
It is located

1859.

The

son.

on Grape street corner of Jackwas built in 1856, and cost

edifice (brick

about $4,000.

Jewish Churches.

The Jewish Churches

Congregation

of

M.

Reuben, President

President

dursky,

J.

Grape

street.

Ofificers of the Soci;

E. Goldstein, Vice-

M. Ross, Secretary A. Shay, TreasM. Levi, H. Diamond, A. Am;

Trustees

urer.

of this city are as follows

Beth-Israel, 85

M. Fenberg.

Minister, Rev.

ety

New

Goldinger, and

D.

Solomon.

Harris

Chapman, Sexton.
Society of Concord, Mulberry street.corner of Har-

Organized

rison.

in

841

building erected in 1851,

kenthal, Reader.

in a small

was organized

$ 1 2,000.

Rud. Seibert, Fred. Rothe, Ph. Scholl, Jacob West,

John West, George Raufmann and Phil. Wain.
ternut

cor-

the oldest

is

in 1857, at

brick and cost about $10,000.

(German) Church, corner of Butand Union streets. Earliest meetings held

brick.

with the

documents of the parish.

membership is 300 besides from
250 to 300 belonging to the congregation. Sunday
School, 400 children and 50 teachers.

The

Surbeck, Jacob Gross, Michael Riibel, Nic. Walter,

St. Peter's

of

early records and

the

was succeeded the same year by the present pastor,

Rev. Alexander Oberlander, formerly pastor of the
German Evangelical Church at Rome, N. Y. The
present membership of the church is 250; Sunday
School, 42 teachers and 370 scholars, Jacob Stahal,
Superintendent.

to 1858 Rev. G. Piez

connected with the

pastor. Rev. C. Steinhauer,

191

ident
thall,

Herman

I.

Trustees

L. Leiter, Treasurer.

Lowenthall, G. Falker,

H. Zenner,

S.

H. Danzinger. M. Joel, Sexton.

Adath Jeshuim organized in 1864.
;

brick,
ter.

Building

and cost $5,000. Rev. Jacob Levy, MinisPresident; A.

Officers
S. Rosenbloom,

Leicht, Vice-President;

Obendorfer, Treasurer.

J.

Altman, Secretary; D.

Trustees

Meyer

man, M. Lehmen, T. Wolf, L. Hirch.

Shire.

Bir-

Secretary

G. Barnett,
I.

Rev.

D.

J. Hamburger, PresB. Bronner, Vice-President

L. M. Lowen-

Officers

Weis-

Sexton, Mr.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

192

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
LEWIS

county

REDFIELD.

H.

has lived to see

become an

it

garden, netted with railroads and

attempting to trace the career of Lewis H.

In

Redfield, honorable as

it

at the very outset of the

turing energy

we are reminded

is in itself,

intimate relations

it

to over

sus-

State

mighty and prosperous commonwealth.

It comprehends almost the entire period
of American constitutional history, he having lived
His
under every Presidential Administration.

of this

having borne

father, a soldier of the Revolution,

its

agricultural

with manufac-

population from 15,000

and becoming the

seventh

in

numerical rank of the sixty counties of the Empire

tained to the development of an unoccupied region

of country into

expanding

100,000,

vital

At

and with /Eneas he may truthfully

saw and a part of this I was."

say, "All

the outset his stock for business consisted in

the material supplied by Mr. Bemis and seventy-five

cents

But his best capital stock was

in cash.

own

its

in his

resolute energy and inflexible integrity.

In

was
Eng-

connection with his paper, he opened a book store

in partnership with Mr. Bemis, the business of

who penetrated the Genesee country, " then known as the far West," settled on a
farm of about 200 acres, near what is now the vil-

which he attended to during the day time, and at

night combined in himself the functions of editor,
compositor, proof-reader and foreman.
By strict
economy he paid off his debt to Mr. Bemis and be-

and participated

hardships,

among

the

first

in

its

glories,

of the sturdy band of

New

land emigrants

lage of Clifton Springs, reared a large family,

members

all

of which attained respectable, and

the

some

came

He

a free man.

continued the publication of

of them distinguished social and political positions.

the Register in the Valley until 1829,

The

moved

low

father enjoyed the respect and trust of his

and died

citizens,

at

the advanced age

fel-

of over

ninety years.

his parents

county.

26,

at

1793, being only

removed

to their

Farmington, Conn
si.N

years old

new home

in

when

Ontario

Until he was fifteen years of age his time

was spent on the farm,

many

under the name of the

it

when he

re-

with the Gazette,

Onondaga Register and

"

In 1832 he disposed of his interest,

his schooling being such only

as the primitive character of the district aflforded,

but

Syracuse and united

Syracuse Gazette."

Lewis H. Redfield was born

November

to

it

of his evenings were spent in a diligent

changed

"Argus," and

to the

In the

with journalism ceased.

ter,

published

evidence of his

name was

files

of the Regis-

by Mr. Redfield, may be seen the

industry and fidelity to principle,

and of the manner

many

its

his direct connection

in

which

it

moulded and modified

of the principal events in the local history of

The Register was an

course of reading, by the light of bark gathered

Onondaga County.

His mind craved more stimulating exercise and a wider scope for the development
of its prowess, and with the full permission of his

votion to the National Republican, out of which

from the woods.

father he

became an apprentice

in

the office of the

Ontario Repository at Canandaigua, a journal then

edited by
still

James D. Bemis, and whose publication is

Here he remained for si.\ years

continued.

steadily laying the foundation of that resolute inde-

pendence and manly integrity which in due time

gained him fortune and the respect of his fellow
men.

He

though not a

bitter partizan, consistent in

ardent
its

de-

sprang the Democratic party, and which with both

as editor

and

citizen,

Mr.

acknowledge

his

always pleased to

identification, not only

profession, but also with the craft

He
if

is

was always

Redfield

He was

prominently identified.

with the

of journalism.

undoubtedly the oldest journalist

in

the State,

not in the United States, and although he has

many

claims upon the respect of his fellow-citizens,

yet nothing gives

him more genuine

gratification

had secured the confidence of his employer

to such an extent, that, in the year 1814 when he resolved to strikeout for himself in business, he easi-

than the cordial recognition extended him by jour-

commence with, and began

the publication of the " Onondaga Register," in
Onondaga Valley, with such men as Comfort Tyler,
Thaddeus M. Wood, William H. Sabin and Joshua
Forman to support him in that community. He
has been over sixty years a resident of Onondaga

many acts

ly

secured

stock

to

nalists as the father of the

State

He

newspaper press of the

has been particularly characterized by

of benevolence conferred upon the needy,

of which thereis no record save in their hearts, and no

other record did he desire.

the scope of the press,

is

His
given

just apprehension of
in his

own words

in

the following sentiment which he transmitted to

the Typographical Society of

New York

City, on

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

the occasion of the celebration of Franklin's Birth-

prmter,

day January

business.

"The

1851

17,

mission
to establish civil and
throughout all nations, to strike
off the fetters of the slave, and to set free the consciences of men from clerical bondage and superPress

its

political equality

stition."

On coming

to Syracuse, in addition to publishing

the Register, Mr.

Redfield opened a book store

upon the present site of the Onondaga County
Savings Bank, the business of which he continued
for some twelve years and then retired.
This, tosufficient to place

him beyond

Oliphant, to learn

the printing

After working in Mr. Oliphant's office

for a few years the Free Press,
published by Mr.
Oliphant, ceased to exist, and young Summers
changed his location to the office of the Oswego
Palladium, then published by Mr. John Carpenter,
where he finished his trade. In 1841, Mr. Summers,

then a journeyman printer

search of employment,

in

came to Syracuse, and entered the office of the

Onondaga Standard, then published by A. L.
Smith and Marcellus Farmer.
Mr. Summers was present as a volunteer fireman

gether with his investments in real estate, secured

him a competence

Richard

193

at the terrible

gunpowder explosion

in

Syracuse, in

the apprehension of want.

August,

His health was never robust, though his life has

been prolonged beyond the ordinary span, he being
now in the S5th year of his age.

lieving the unfortunate victims of that catastrophe.

In February, 1820, he married Miss Ann Maria,

daughter of Nathaniel H. Treadwell, of Plattsburgh,

and assisted

1841,

rescuing and re-

in

In 184s Mr. Summers purchased the interest of

Mr. Smith in the Standard office, and the firm be-

came Agan & Summers.

with the paper

in

He

has been connected

the various capacities of journey-

union sprang a family of seven

children, four daughters and three sons.
The

man, publisher and editor ever since 1841. Mr.

Summers was conspicuously connected with the

daughters were

celebrated

From

N. Y.

this

town of Onondaga
and are residents of this city, viz
Mrs. C. T. Longstreet, Mrs. James L. Bagg, Mrs. W. H. H. Smith,
Miss Jane L. Redfield.
Of the three sons, George
Davis was admitted to the bar of this county, having been a student of General James R. Lawrence.
He made an honorable record, both in civil life and
born

all

in the

military operations

in

died in

H.,

lawyer
is

in

Indians.

the

The

Minneapolis, Minn.

Jr., is a

Charles T.,

&

against

member

Lewis

second,

San Francisco.
of the firm of

He

The third,
McCarthy

Jerry Rescue " slave case in Syracuse

on the 1st of October, 1851, and with others was

prosecuted by the United States authorities for the

The

alleged offence.

several years, but no

litigation

trial

In August, 1862, Mr.

149th Regiment

Summers

New York

Mr. Summers

is

Summers

Syracuse.

He was

born

in

known

citizens of

Wexford, Ireland, on

the 1st of January, 1820, and his parents emigrated

to this

country while he was yet an infant.

father,

who was

His

a stone mason, was employed at

various points along the line of the Erie Canal, in

building locks and masonry, and the

lowed the work in

ing in

When
to

its

fol-

process of construction, resid-

Utica, Rochester,

Lockport and Buffalo.

the canal was completed his father removed

Oswego, where the subject of

this

such a very limited education as the

of that day could afford.
in

family

1832, leaving the

exertions of the

sketch received

common

schools

His father died of cholera

dependent upon the

family

mother and young children

for

support.
At the age of fifteen years Moses, the
eldest boy, was apprenticed to the somewhat noted
25*

in

Barnum,

as Colonel.

followed the various fortunes of that

of

three years term

its

The regiment was

Army

into the

Quartermaster of the

Regiment, with Henry A.

of the

one of the oldest residents, and

enlisted in the

was then organizing, and was mustered

regiment during the whole of

has long been one of the best

for

State Volunteers, which

service as Lieutenant and

of service.

HON. MOSES SUMMERS.

was continued

ever took place, and the

prosecution was finally abandoned.

Mr.

Redfield, of Syracuse.

"

the 12th Corps

in

the Potomac,

and

participated

the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.

After the battle of Gettysburg the regiment was

transferred

nth and

with the consolidated

Corps, forming the 20th

Army

12th

Corps, to the south-

western army, then concentrated

in the vicinity of

Mr. Summers was with his regiment in the famous battles of Lookout Mountain,
and in nearly all the exciting battles and skirmishes
During that campaign,
of the Atlanta campaign.
and while in the field, he received a commission
Chattanooga.

from President Lincoln as Capt. A. O. M., U. S.

Vols., and was detailed to the charge of the 2d
Brigade, of which the 149th Regiment formed a
The brigade to which he was attached was
part.

with the 20th Corps on

its

famous

"

March

to the

Sea," and Mr. Summers was among the first of the

troops to enter Savannah in company with Gen.
Barnum who commanded the 3d Brigade,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

194

Savannah Mr. Summers concentrated

In

the

command through Richmond

panied his

Union paper called the " Loyal Georgian."

The first number was issued the next day after the
entrance of the Union troops into the city, and
attracted much attention and interest.
The paper
was continued a few months under the editorial
charge of Mr. Summers, and finally transferred to
Mr. Hayes, a correspondent of the New York Tributie, who desired to make a permanent location in

ington and participated

issued a

Mr. Summers took charge of the

Savannah.

ing offices of Savannah by authority of an

by Major-General John

order signed
Military

Commandant

V\'

print-

official

Geary,

of the Post, and Capt. IraB.

Seymour, Provost Marshal of the city of Savannah.

Mr. Summers left Savannah with his command
on the march through South and North Carolina to
Raleigh, and was in Raleigh when the rebellion

No

1798.

25. Vol.

tion of H. C.

of this pajjerisin the collec-

Van Schaack. Esq., of

December

Manlius, and

bears date "Wednesday,

was

four-page paper,

5,

1798."

It

and

fur-

12 by 14 inches,

nished to subscribers at two dollars per annum.

Western Luminary was published at Watkins'

T/ie

Settlement, in the town of Scipio,

not

know

that

any copy of

it

is

in

1799.

extant.

We do
Whether

was a paper of Onondaga County or not depends

upon whether or not it was first issued before March

it

8th of the year of

its

date

for at that

time Cayuga

County was set off from Onondaga.

The Derne Gazette, established at Manlius, by
Abraham Romcyn in 1806, was the first newspaper
present

Onondaga

printed

within

County.

At that time an unsuccessful eftbrt was

change the name of the village from ManDerne." The paper was continued about

made

to

lius to "

the

limits

of

one year.
in

The Met alii of the Times was started at Manlius

In 1813 its name
1808, by Leonard Kellogg.

was changed to
Times, and it was successively
'The Manlius
issued by James Hcardsley, Seneca Hale, and
Daniel Clark. October 28,181 8, Mr. Clark changed
its

name

to

accom-

to

Wash-

the grand review at the

in

and returned home overland, with a numproperty purchased from the

Government, bearing a commission as Brevet-Major
from President Johnson.
Mr. Summers was elected Alderman of the 6th

Capital,

ber of animals and

Ward

1861, serving one

in

sented the same ward

Supervisors, and in

for

He

He

term.

two terms

also repre-

the Board of

in

Member

i86y was elected

Assembly from the Second

of

District of this County.

holds a commission as Lieut -Colonel and Quar-

termaster

the 6th Division N. Y. S.

in

N. G., on

Wood, and is poSyracuse Daily and Weekly

the Staff of Major-General D. P.

editor of the

litical

Standard, a paper with which he has been connected

in

vaiious capacities for the past thirty-seven years

THE SYRACUSE AND COUNTY

The Leiaiia Gazette, or Onondaga Advertiser, was
the first newspaper published in C>non(laga County.
It was established at Levana, in the town of Scipio,
now in Cayuga County, by R. Delano, July 20,

He

closed by the surrender of Johnston.

printing materials of that city into one office, and

PRESS.
Soon

The Onondaga Herald.

after

it

was changed

to

7 he Times, and continued about three years. June

27,

82

Thurlow Weed became

1,

name was changed

editor,

and the

to

October 27,
The Onondaga County Republican.
into the hands of Laurin Dewey,
it passed

1824,

who changed

it

to

Luman A. Miller
the name was
and
became proprietor

The Onondaga Republican.

soon after

changed

to

It afterwards passed
The Manlius Repository.
into the hands of L. Stilson, and was continued

about

five years.

The Onondaga Flag was published at Manlius a

short time in 1831, by James Fonda.*
'The Lynx was started at Onondaga Hollow in
181 1, by Thomas C. Fay, and was continued about
two years. Thurlow Weed commenced his appren-

ticeship in the office of this paper.

Onondaga Register was established at Onondaga Hollow in 1814. by Lewis H. Redfield, and
was continued till 1829, when it was removed to
'The

Syracuse and united with

paper started
ford

The

in

Syracuse,

in

the

Gazette,

the

1823, by John

consolidated papers took the

first

Durn-

name

of

the
Filti at

Manliut.

thnc

pjpert are

now

poucMion of

J.

C. Smith, Eiq

o{

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Syracuse Gazeiie and Onondaga Register. In 1832
it passed into the hands of Sherman & Clark, who
changed it to
Syracuse Argus, and continued

T/ie

it

about two

years.

The Onondaga Gaceite was established at Onondaga Hill in 1816, by Evandor Morse.
William
Ray, author of the " Horrors of Slavery," and a
poet of

some

time.

In 1821

S.

local
it

note in his day, was editor at one

passed into the hands of Cephas

McConnell, and was changed

to

1827, Vivus W.
Smith became proprietor, and in 1829, he removed
it to Syracuse, and united it with the Syracuse Advertiser, the combined paper taking the name of

The Onondaga

In

yoiirnal.

The Onondaga Standard, September 10, 1829,

published by Wyman & Smith.
S. F., T. A., and
A. L. Smith, W. L. Crandall, and Marcellus Farmer,
were subsequently interested in its publication at
times

different

till

&

hands of Agan

sold his interest to

1848, when it passed into the

Summers. In 1856, Mr. Agan
William Summers. The paper

was continued by Summers

1866,
Co.,

when

by

it

1873, by

Brother

passed into the hands of

whom

Publishing

&

till

was published till the Standard

Company was formed, February 14,

whom

June,

the paper

1846,

is still

by Smith

lishing

is

& Agan,

and was con-

It

About

it was changed to
The Syracuse Gazette and General Advertiser, and
continued till 1829, when it was united with the

year afterwards

Onondaga Register.
The Syracuse Advertiser vidiS started in 1825, by
John F. Wyman and Thomas P. Barnum. Norman Rawson was afterwards connected with it, but
John F. Wyman soon assumed the entire control,
and continued it till 1829, when it was united
with the Journal and its name changed to the
Statidard.

The Salina Sentinel -vidiS started in October, 1826,

what. is now the First Ward of Syracuse, by
Reuben St. John. In 1827 it was changed to
The Salina Herald, and was issued a short time
by Josiah Bunce.
The Courier was published at Jordan a short
In 1832 it was retime in 1831, by Fred Prince.
in

to Salina,

Tlie Constitutionalist.

came

its

In 1835 L. A. Miller be-

proprietor and changed

it

to

The Onondaga Chief. In 1837 it was sold to J.

M. Patterson, and published as
The Syracuse Whig. In 1838 J. K. Barlow became proprietor, and continued it about one year.
The Syracuse American \sz% started at Syracuse
in 1835, by John Adams, and was continued about
one year.
The American Patriot was started in Franklin
Village (now Fabius,) in 1836, by J. Tenney, and
was continued for three years.
The Western State youriuil was started at Syracuse, March 20, 1839, by V. W. & S. F. Smith. In
1844 its name was changed to

The Syracuse Weekly Journal. In 1S47

was published by Barnes, Smith & Cooper, and
in
849 it passed into the hands of Vivus W. Smith.
In 1850 Seth Haight became proprietor and George
it

Terwilliger editor.

In

1853,

1854,

it

Danforth Merrick became proprietor.

was purchased by T.

Andrew Shuman was made

and changed

to

Truair, and

S.

In

editor.

1S55, J-

G. K. Truair bought the establishment, and on the

i.st

of September, 1856,

Anson G. Chester assumed

the editorial control, which position

Company.

paper started in the Central City.

moved

The Onondaga Republican was started at Syrain

1830, by W. S. Campbell.
In 1834 it
passed into the hands of J. B. Clark & Co., audits
name was changed to
cuse

In
started

The Onondaga Gazette was established at Syracuse in April, 1823, by John Durnford, and was the
first

The Salina Courier and Enquirer, but was discontinued after a few numbers.

published.

was revived January i,

now published by the Standard Pub-

tinued three months.

1850, and

i,

it

The Syracuse Daily Standard was

in

July

Summers &

195

about three years.

J.

G. K. Truair

&

Truair, Smith
firm

became

& Co
Co.,

he occupied

has since been published by

It
,

Truair, Smith

till

&

Miles,

April 21, 1876,

Truair, Smith

&

and

when the

Bruce, the present

publishers.

The Syracuse Daily Journal was

established

July 4, 1844, by S. F. Smith, and has since been

continued by the various proprietors of the Journal
establishment.

The Empire State Democrat and Utiitcd States

Review was begun in 1840, by Hiram Cummings,
and continued about three years,
The Onondaga Messenger was started in 1S41, by
Joseph Barber. In 1842, it was changed to
The Statesman, and was continued about one
year.

The Evening Mail, the first daily paper in Syracuse, was published for three months in 1833, by
Vivus W. Smith.
The Morning Sentinel (daily) was started in
January, 1843, by N. M. D. Lathrop, and was continued about a year, when it was changed to

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

196

The Onondaga
a few intervals,

Sentinel,

and issued weekly, with

1850.

till

The Dnnocratic Fn-anan was commenced at Syrain 1844, by J. N. T. Tucker, continued a short
time with James Kinney as publisher and J. N. T.
Tucker as editor, when it was changed t<>
The Syracuse Star. In 1846 it was published by
cuse

Kinney, Marsh

Marsh;

in

&

Barnes

1847-8, by

in

1849-51, by Kinney

Kinney

& Masters.

It

&

soon

1852, S.

hands of George F. Comstock,

Winslow M. Watson, editor. In
Corning Judd became editor and pro-

prietor.

In October, 1853,

The Syracuse Rcieille (daily was started in 1848

by William L. Palmer and W. Summers and was
continued till January 1, 1850, when it was sold to
i

the Standard.

The Free-Soil Campaigner, a campaign paper, was

three months in
1848 by Agan &
Summers.
'The Clay Banner, a campaign paper, was published about the same time from the Journal Office.
published

after passed into the

publisher, and

it

it

to
it

about

a year.

The Syracuse Daily Star was established in 184O,

and issued with the Weekly StaruW 1853, when it
was changed to
The Syracuse Daily Republican, and after being
published about a year, was discontinued.
The Bugle Blast, a campaign paper, was published about three months in 1844, by S. F. Smith.
Young Hickory, another campaign paper, was
issued about the same time by Smith & Farmer.
Presbyterian,) was
The Religious Recorder,
started in May, 1844, by Terry & Piatt.
In 1847,
into
the
hands
Avery
of
& Hulin, who
it passed
(

it

till

'The Crystal

1853.

The Central City

&

Smith
year,

passed into the hands of Barnes,

Cooper, and

when

removed

it

to

was sold
New York.
it

was continued about one

to Joseph McKean and

daily

William

H. Mosely.

changed to
The Syracusean and
in

F. Sleeper, publisher,

was discontinued

School Department, was removed from Albany to

two years by L.

in

W.

and one year by Barnes, Smith

Hall,

when

it

1847, ^"'J published

was returned

to

Albany.

&

Cooper,

it

in

was

Review, and

and John Abbott,

editor.

It

in 1851.

Yorker was commenced in 1S50

and continued only a short time.
Family Companion (monthly was published

'The Central A'ezu

by L.

P. Rising,

continued about two years.

Syracuse

185

The Syracuse Independent was published about

months in 1850.
daily was started in
'The Evening 'Transcript
Washington
Van
Zandt.
by
850
The Archimedian was commenced in 1850; B.

changed it to
At the close of one
The Syracuse Democrat.
year it was sold to William W. Green, and in 1847
to Agan & Summers, and merged in the Onondaga
School jfournal, organ of the State

In

C 'nited States

The Onondaga Democrat was begun in the spring

& West, William L. Crandall,
In 1847, it was sold to John Abbott, who
editor.

'The District

a short

1856 to the Syracusean and Onondaga County Re-

I'he

Standard.

was published

1S50 by

a short time in 1850.

of 1846 by Clark

time in 1849 by Henry Barnes.

monthly) was established
The Syracuscan

three

In 1847,

about three

It continued about a year and a half

The Free School Clarion was published a few
months in the fall of 1849, by William L. Crandall.
The Liberty Party Paper was started July 4, 1849,
by John Thomas, and was continued two years.

viexv.

by L. W. Hail, publisher, and Edward Cooper,

for

B. F.

Johannot.

The Young Ladies' Miscellany was started November 7, 1845, by a committee of young ladies
belonging to the Syracuse Female Seminary, and
was continued twelve weeks.
The Tea' hers' Advocate was commenced in 1846,

Fountain was issued

Ormsby, in 1848.
The Adventist was published three months in
1849, by L. Delos Mansfield.
The Literary I'nicn was commenced April 7,
1849, by VV. W. Newman, J. M. Winchell and Jas.

The Liberty Intelligencer was started in 1845, by

Silas Ilawky, and was continued one year.

editor.

months by A.

The Syracuse Republican, and continued

continued

Impartial Citizen, {semi-monthly was started

1848 by Samuel R. Ward, and was continued

about one year.

passed into the hands

Edward Hoagland, who changed

of

'The
in

The

'Temperance

commenced
'The

in

Protector

semi-monthly

was

1850 by William H. Burleigh, and

Carson League was started

in

185

i,

Thomas

Thomas, editor. It
was continued about two years, when it was removed to Albany.
'The American Medical and Surgical yournal
(monthly) was started January i, 1851, by Potter &
Russell, and was continued till 1856.
'The yournal of Health was published about six
months in 1851, by S. H. Potter.
L. Carson, publisher, and John

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The Onondaga Demokrat (German) was started
September, 1852, by George Saul. In October,
1856, it was changed to
The Syracuse Demokrat, and subsequently to
The Syracuse Union, which was for some time

in

published by John L.

Roehm, and

by Alexander Von

Landberg.

is

and

pro-

prietor.

The Deutsche Republican (German) was issued a

short time in 1852.

The Free Democrat

^2ls started in 1852,

Masters, publisher, and R.

In February, 1853,

it

R.

by

Raymond,

was changed

J.

E.

editor.

to

The paper was owned

The Syracuse Chronicle.

by a joint stock company and edited by R. R.

Raymond about one year, when George Barnes became proprietor. In June, 1855, Samuel H. Clark
bought the concern, and

S.

The Evangelical Pulpit was started

two years.
The Home

was published by

Way & Minier.

(daily,) was begun in 1855

soon passed into the hands of

It

The Syracuse Weekly Courier was

October

&

i,

1856, by F. L. Hagadorn.
it

it

was continued one year.

La Ruche, a French paper, was started in 1852
A few numbers only were
by A. L. Walliot.

In

840.

844, Mr. Robie

from
sold the paper to the General Conference, and
superthe
under
published
that time till 1862, it was
vision of a Publishing Committee, the General
Conference appointing the editors.
in

1862 placed

it

in

The Committee

the hands of the Methodist

In 1872, they moved

of New York.
It is pubSyracuse.
to
Auburn
from
paper
the
the Book
of
agents
Phillips,
&
Nelson
lished by
editor
D.,
D.
Warren,
J. P.
Concern Rev. O. H.

Book Concern

Griffin,

Business Manager.

The American Wesleyan,

(organ of the

Wes-

New

leyan Methodist Church,) was removed from

York to Syracuse January i, 1848, by L.C. Matlack.
In October, 1858, Cyrus Prhidle

became editor, and

was succeeded by Adam Crooks. Rev. D. S.

Kinney is the present editor and publishing agent.
The Juvenile Instructor, (semi-monthly,) is
issued from the Wesleyan office, and is under the

same management.
The Unionist and The Union Herald, (monthlies,)
were issued from The Reformer office.

J.

Halsted

The Onondaga Weekly Courier, which is still

published.
Up to 1873, it was published by D. J.
Halsted & Co., since which it has been published

the

Novem-

to

by The Courier Printing Company.

in

started

In

passed into the hands of D.

Co., who changed

The Seraph's Advocate, (monthly,) was started in

the fall of 1852 by Miss Keziah E. Prescott, and

burn by Rev. Mr. Robie

Hall in

tinued a short time.

jFournal.

The Northern Christian Advocate, (organ of

the M. E. Church weekly,) was established in Au-

W.

P. Winsor, and continued about one year.

The Onondaga Hardshell was started October 26,
1855, and was discontinued after the publication of
the second number.
It is supposed to have been
edited by J. J. Peck and John A. Green, Jr.
The Syracuse Daily Nezvs was started in 1856 by
C. B. Gould, but was discontinued in a short time
The Syracuse Zeitung, (German,) was issued August 15, 1855, by Otto Reventlow, and was con-

ber, 1858,

issued.

L.

The American Organ,

by
H.

In February, 1856,
the editorship of the paper.
the office was burned and the paper merged in the

weekly paper.

Circle

1855, about one year.

W. Arnold assumed

The Evening Chronicle, (daily,) was issued from

the Chronicle office during the continuation of the

January,

in

1854, by Rev. Luther Lee, and was continued about

now conducted

editor

197

The Syracuse Daily Courier was

same time

as

the weekly.

started at

In 1858,

passed

it

into the hands of D.J. Halsted & Co., and its name
was changed to
During the
The Central City Daily Courier.
from it
withdrew
Halsted
campaign of i860, Mr.

and established

At the close of the camThe Syracuse Union.

paign the two papers were united under the name
of

The
The Syracuse Daily Courier and Union.
Syracuse
the
and
dropped,
been
since
last name has
Daily Courier, in common with the weekly, since
Printing
1873, has been published by The Courier

Company.
The Syracuse Sunday Courier is published
every Sunday morning by The Courier Printing
Company.
The Evening Herald
ary

13,

(daily) was started Januwho is still the

Jenkins,
Arthur
by
1877,

publisher.

The Sunday Morning Times was

started in

November, 1876, by Messrs. Fralick, Hitchcock &

H. Perry Smith,
Weed, the present publishers.
editor.
,

August 25, 1872.

Sunday Sun.

It

,.

was established
changed to the
recently
was

The Sunday News,

(weekly,;^

The Commercial Traveler,

organ of the

Com-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

198

mercial Travelers' Association of the State of

New

York, established September, 1875, ^nd published

monthly by the Association.

Skaneateles

1838 by Luther

The

Citizens'

Press was published six months

EofCATiONAL Journal. The BulUtin was established as a medium for educational news, September

Onondaga Hollow
James S Castle.

't was
consolidated with
York State Educational yountal, under
the above name, and is published by Davis, Bardeen

villein 1S36 by

I,

&

In April, 1875,

1874.

The

Xew

Co., C.

W.

Bardeen, editor.

Work

Christian

menced

is

the

title

of a monthly, com-

by the Young
Men's Christian Association, from their rooms, 53
East Genesee street.
April,

1876, and

The Union Gem,

issued

monthly for young

and old readers, established May, 1877.
De Puy &
Scoville, editors and publishers.
The Aurora Brazileira, established December
15, 1875, and owned and edited by J. C. Alves
de Lima. This is a paper for the Brazilians and is
printed in

a literary

the Portuguese language.

much good by
establishing

It is

with

trade

Brazil.

It

goes

Brazilian readers once a month, containing

illustrations of

doing

introducing American customs and

to

American inventions and improve-

ments.

in

i'uion

started as a
June, 1877, and has since been changed

Samuel Gay lord,

is

editor

and proprietor.

the organ of the different temper-

ance associations.

The University Herald

conducted by

changed

is

a monthly paper

to the

Methodist Reformer and removed to

The Fayettcoille Gacette was started by

E. N.

J.

Bachus. about 1839. ^^^ subsequently sold toT. E.

Hitchcock, but it was short lived.

The Fayetteville Recorder was

1S66 by F. A. Darling.

in

In 1874

it

established

passed into

the hands of the Recorder Printing Association,

under whose management it still continues.

The Communist was started

ber 27, 1844, by John A.

at Mottville,

Novem-

as the organ of

Collins,

Skaneateles Community.

the

was

It

continued

The Weekly Southern Onondaga was published

Tully by Frank

P.

was established July

2,

1858, by Joseph A.

published and edited by Joseph A.

Hale

The Baldioinsville Republican was commenced

In October, 1846, it
1844 by Samuel B. West.
passed into the hands of C. M. Hosmer, and was

changed

to

The Onondaga Gazette.

M. Clark,

&

many

In 1848 it was pubHosmer, and afterwards by

(German,)

J.

Hofmann.

Davis, and repurchased

Hofmann

Haywood, who enlarged

purchased by George S.

Son.

The State League was several years published at

Syracuse by Thomas L. Carson subsequently to

tor.

for

years,
it,

who

and

in

the paper.

The Jordan Transcript.

in politics

and has

a circulation of

X.

was

in

1849 by

P.

to

was subsequently
published by Nathan Burrell.Jr., and by Charles B.
Park, who was followed by H. P. Winsor, who has
continued the paper ever since.

independent

it

It

dependent, and well patronized.

It is

to

it

Gazette.

tinued to conduct

ever since.

to J. B.

In 1871,

The Jordan Tribune was started

Becker.
In 1853 it was changed

J.

it

Clark, the present proprie-

was subsequently issued by W. H. Jewett, Philo

In 1849 it passed
Rust and Jonathan Kceney.
into the hands of Harrison B. Dodge, who has conit

sold

1S69 sold

has been recently changed to The Bald-

It

'Li'insville

1858.

The Skaneateles Weekly Democrat was

commenced in 1840 by William M. Beauchamp. It

at

in 1868-9.

in

lished by Sheppard

The Syracuse Central Demokrat,

&

Fayette

at

Utica.

the students of the Syracuse Uni-

versity.

It is still

at

Webb and

about one year.

to a weekly.

The

by E. Russell

Henry DePuy.
The South Cortland Luminary was removed to
Fayetteville in 1839, by Hon. Wesley Bailey, and
its name changed to
The Fayetteville Luminary. It was published
name was afterwards
about three years
Its

The Temperance Union was

monthly

in 1832,

The Tayetteville Times was published

its

many

Pratt.
In 1840 it
York, and soon after discon-

New

to

tinued.

The School Bulletin and New Yokk State

in

was removed

It is

a weekly, in-

The Pearly Fountain (monthly* was published by

about 1,100.

The Xaval Bulletin was issued from the Demo-

Park

&

Cheal, John G.

Cheal, editor, for a short

crat office a short time in 1853.

time at Jordan.

The Minena was a short time published by W.

H. Beauchamp in 1844, but was finally merged in

The Jordan Intelligencer was established in

December, 1876, by Louis B. Lathrop, present edi-

the Democrat.

tor

The Juvenile Repository was also published

at

and proprietor.

pendent

in politics,

It

is

a weekly, strictly inde-

and has a good

circulation.

//cpCu c^^^i^U^^

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

199

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ASA WHITE.
Asa White was born

resign.

Monson, Mass., in the

His educational advantages were such
in

year 1774.
as the common schools of his native State aftbrded.
He early exhibited those traits of character which
peculiarly distinguish business

men.

Inheriting the energy and active habits of his

father,

he soon learned to rely upon his

self-advancement

for

the

in

own

efforts

world, and thus

by

economy and a just appreciation of a good reputation, he became the artificer

of his own fortune and the moulder of his own
In 1798, he emigrated to Homer, N. Y.,
character.
persevering industry,

and

1800 married

in

Miss Clarissa, daughter of

in that town in

Caleb Keep, who had also settled

transactions,

He

the testimony of those best quali-

he was actuated by strict ChrisNor did he content himself with

tian integrity.

His munificence was widely

Hobart College and other less conspicuous institutions were recipients of his gifts, while
this negative virtue.

directed.

the missionary and the needy received his earnest

attention.

was the eldest of

five

children of

19,

1802.

Asa White

and Clarissa Keep.

When

about fourteen years of age he went from

home and became

a clerk for Horace Hill, of

Auburn, N. Y. About two years afterward he was
engaged in a similar capacity in Albany in a store
where his father had an interest. Subsequently
he held the same situation with Jedediah Barber,
of Homer, where, during the ten years of his stay,
he acquired a reputation for business talent unusual
for so young a man.
His health, however, failed and he retired to a
small farm on which he labored for two or three
years
About this time, and when he was thirty
years of age, he became acquainted with the worship and doctrines of the Protestant Episcopal

Church.

They commended

themselves to his

understanding, and on the 12th of April, 1835, he

united with Calvary Church, Homer, N. Y.
Rev.

Henry Gregory, then missionary

At

ing pastor.

at

that place, be-

the next visitation of the Bishop

he received the Apostolic Rite of Confirmation and

was admitted

Holy Communion. From that

subsequent life he was steadfast

to the

time through his

in profession

and

In the year

White removed

to Syra-

cuse where he at once began to take an active part

in business,

lished the

and

connection with others, estab-

which he was
his declining health compelled him to

Bank

Cashier until

in

of

his

and

means

rising generation,

for the

any enterprise

among the

and the establishment of good

He was liberal because he loved to be,

and because he seemed conscious of the perils of
riches, and recognized ll7w it was that gave him
power to get wealth.
He was one of the thirteen Directors of the consolidated Central Railroad Company and associated
society.

with Erastus Corning, at that time the head of the

railway

The

men

of America.

Cotirier

thus of him

and Enquirer

at

that time

speaks

" Horace White, of Syracuse, is a banker, with

keen sagacity, extending and enlarging his operations till he finds himself acknowledged among
He will give the
the front rank of financiers.
Direction, the careful and far-seeing counsel of

man who

has rigidly looked at the passing events

and distinguishing the flash of the moment from the

Himself and his
steady and the enduring light.
They
brother have made good use of their wealth.
are of those citizens of our Western counties, who
emulate the liberality and the enterprise of those
the great city are teaching the world
appreciates intellect, admires art, and
leaning of kindness towards the suffering."

men who

in

that wealth

has

its

In
Clara,

the year

daughter

1831, June 29th, he married Miss

of

Dickson and Ruth

Massachusetts, and the

Andrew

Hall, the former a native of

latter a native of Connecticut.

practice.

1838, Mr.

interests,

looking to the advancement of education

Homer, Cortland county, N, Y., April

of

it is

fied to judge, that

Mr. White gave largely from

subject of this sketch was born in the village

a Vestry-

almost uninterrupted success.

He was connected
with important enterprises for advancing the interests of both the city and the State.
In all moneyed

support of church

HORACE WHITE.

made

of St. Paul's Church, and in 1848 a Warden, a

position which he held at the time of his decease.
His career as a man of business was marked by

1798-

The

In the year 1839 he was

man

Syracuse,

of

They have two sons, Hon. Andrew Dickson

White, President of Cornell University, and Horace
Keep White, one of the representative business
men of the city of Syracuse. His wife still survives at the time of writing this sketch.

HAMILTON WHITE.

that for

Hamilton White was born in Homer, Cortland

County, N. Y., May 6lh, 1807.
He was a son of Asa and Clarissa [Keep] White,

who were among

the early settlers of his native

During his youth the only opportunities

offered him for an education were those of the common schools, which he enjoyed to a limited extent
but his close attention to books while young, coupled
with an unusual self-reliance, enabled him to become
a teacher at the age of si.\teen, receiving the meager compensation of nine dollars per month and
county.

After four terms as a teacher, he entered

board.

upon

with

a clerkship

Messrs. Randall, at Cort-

landville.

Thus

devotion to the interests of his principals, and

consistent attention to

all

the duties of his position.

In iS36Mr. White removed to Lockport, Niagara

County, where he found

in the life

and enterprise

rapidly improving country,

of that

a wider

field

maturing judgment and his

His capital was that only which

previous to and at the hour of

was Director

in

all

the companies

constituting the entire line of railways from

Albany

to Chicago, except the Cleveland

and Toledo.
Hamilton White was eminently a man of public
spirit, and not only ready to follow but to lead in

endowing local and benevolent institutions. He

was one of the few who secured to Syracuse, by
material aid, the location of the State Idiot Asylum,
the prosperity of which he took an active part.

in

He was a liberal patron of the Orphan Asylum and

the Home of the Friendless, to the first of which
he gave for many years his services as Treasurer,
and both of which he remembered in his last hours.
He was also prominent in the Association of Oak-

whose retired and beautiful shade his

ashes repose.
During the rebellion Mr. White was
an ardent and generous friend of the government,
and his liberality in securing the quota of troops
required of his city and district, was unsurpassed,
and was uninterrupted even by his absence in
wood,

opened before him its rugged path, and

bade him rely upon his own energy in surmounting
its obstacles and achieving succe^.
These years
of clerkship were years of strict economy, of faithlife

many years

death, he

his

ful

11

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

200

in

Europe, while seeking the restoration of his impaired

health.

The church

with which he was connected was

many tokens

the recipient of

of his liberality, while

for the exercise of his

with catholic spirit he contributed to the founda-

untiring energies.

tion

and support of other churches and congrega-

he had accumulated by his own economy, from his

tions,

own

public eye in

labor,

but integrity and capacity became his

ruling characteristics, and his sagacious investments

in

the course of two or three brief years, laid the

foundation of that ample fortune which during the

later portion of his life

he administered prudently,

yet liberally and without ostentation.

came to Syracuse and became Cashier

Onondaga County Bank upon the retirement
He continued in this position
of Moses S Marsh.
until January, 1854, when the charter of the bank
In 1S39 he

of the

expired.

During

this entire period, while the

of Directors contained

many

Board

of the best citizens of

here and elsewhere.

rather than
in all the

He

White conducted the

business as a private banker.

The enterprise
own State, as well

of internal

improvement

as in other States of the

in

our

West

and South, engaged his attention. His ripe judgment and high character as a man invited him to
the confidence and councils of

were devoted

men whose

energies

to the construction of important rail-

He

his character.

loved the domestic circle, the

society of his wife and the voices of his children.

surrounding

closing of the old bank Mr.

in all associa-

was characterized by the greatest

modesty and diffidence, for his judgment (expressed
without pretence and generally upon solicitation,)
was almost invariably based upon reasons which
demanded and secured concurrence.
But home was the place in which Mr. White displayed the most attractive and endearing traits of
tions for business

Syracuse, no occasion was ever found by any to

After the

notoriety.

for

He sought to shun the

and to do good secretly
Mr. White's influence

departments of society, and

criticise his official or personal

conduct.

his charity

all

sought to make
it

with

gathering within

it

home

attractive

artificial

the

means

and happy by

adornments and by
of study, the instru-

ments of recreation and the creations of genius in

In 1S63 he was obliged to abandon business
art.
He visited England,
and seek relief abroad.
France, Italy, Egypt and other foreign countries,
and as a careful observer of scenes which lead us
back four thousand years

in

the history of our race,

returned with stores of information and incident,

road lines, while his unvarying success aflbrdtd him

the rehearsal of which was delightful to himself and

ample means of lending material

his interested

The

which he was held by his assosuch enterprises is manifested by the fact

estimate

ciates in

aid.

in

and listening

friends.

In 1864 Mr. White, with his wife and elder son,

visited the

West

Indies, returning in June, 1865.

Hc^^^f^Uf^ctc

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

This, however, did not restore his failing health, as

He

had been fondly hoped by his numerous friends,

but, on the contrary, he gradually grew worse, and

kins, a

in

Randolph

Sarah

1841,

practice, until the year 1844,

when he went to New

York and opened an office at 49 Nassau street, where
he grew into an extensive practice in the course of a

Rich, daughter of the late Gains B. Rich, of Buf-

For years her home was the center of

N. Y.

falo,

an elegant hospitality, over which she presided with

Those who have experienced

the rarest grace.

entered a law partnership with Timothy

Jenprominent lawyer of Oneida Castle, with a

very large practice, where he remained for five years,

and from the beginning, rapidly extending their

died on the 22d of September, 1865.

Mr. White married,

20

few years, but on account of

that

practice in that city,

came

to

ill

health gave up his

Syracuse

every detail the traits of a refined lady, a Christian,

in the year
1849 and opened a law office with Hon. Daniel R
Wood, which partnership continued for some fifteen

an example worthy of imitation.

years,

know how

hospitality,

perfectly she exemplified in

was a peculiar

the needy

She was prominently

to

and her charities were as

unostentatious as they were free.

She died March

To Mr. and Mrs. White were born

whose names are

as follows

children,

six

Thomas

Parish Sher-

Clara Keep, wife of Robert L. S. Hall, of

New York;

Banking Company,"

President from

same

of a bank longer than

Syracuse,

city.

was born

in

Oneida

the third child in a family of eight chil-

New London

Conn., and son of Elijah Graves,

;

but the ancestry traces

Norman Conquest

1066, the

its

The

of English de-

first

ancestor being

Molly Stark

was also a native of Lyme, Connecticut, named by

and connected with Gen. Stark, of Revolutionary
fame.

His father was a well to do farmer, gave his chilnot only the advantages of the common
schools, but educated them in the academies of
dren

list

F. was only 16 years of age he

as a teacher, and spent several years

either as a student or in teaching.

entered

the law office of

J.

Afterwards he

Whipple Jenkins

Vernon, and after a year became a student

at

of

law

with the Hon. Joshua A. Spencer of Utica, where

he remained two years, and was admitted to the bar
of the State in

1840

in

the class with

the Hon,

Smith and others who have distinguished

themselves at the bar of the U. S.

James

C.

26*

the

in

In

politics

office, was elected Mayor of

and has been identified with the

of public
in

1874,

city

Commissioner and

School

for

also

several years as

President of the

Board of Education.
the year

In

Mr.

1873,

Graves with his wife

Japan and several countries of the Eastern Hemisphere, and by land and
sea made a trip around the world, and with a ready
visited

the

Pacific coast,

pen furnished many valuable

ent of the

New York

letters as a correspond-

Observer, Syracuse Courier

and Northern Christian Advocate.

He has been married twice first to Miss Helen
P., daughter of S. Sidney Breese of Oneida county,
For
His wife died July 20, 1844.
June 1st, 1842.
his second wife he married Miss Catherine H.,

sister

Oneida County.
entered the

Syracuse

County,

origin back to the

physician to William the Conqueror.

When Nathan

located at Syracuse.

school interests of the

dren of Benjamin Graves and Molly Stark.

scent

Asylum

solicitous

17, 1S13.

former was a native of Lyme,

any other person

Mr. Graves has been a Democrat, and although not

GRAVES.

subject of this sketch

County, N. Y., Feb.

occupies the

He has been for several years a Trustee of the

Syracuse Savings Bank, and one of the Trustees of
the Idiot

F.

still

position, having been continuously President

Hamilton

NATHAN

of which he has been

organization, and

Howard Ganson,

and Sarah Aphia, (deceased.)

He was

its

Barrett Rich, (deceased;)

Syracuse

Salisbury,

The

discontinuance and the Fourth Na-

till its

Bank took its place, of which he was President until that Bank gave place to the " New York
State

Jane Antoinette, now Mrs.

;

in 1852,

tional

29, 1867.

man

when Mr. Wood retired from the firm. Mr.

Graves has continued the practice of his profession
until the present time.
He was a Director and
President of the Burnet Bank from its organization

character.

identified with the benevolent

of the city,

institutions

Her kindness
of her

trait

now

of his

first

wife,

November

survives, to share with

him the

23,

1845,

who

results of a

life

of active business and labor.

Mr. Graves belongs to the class of citizens who

give stability to the financial status of our country,
and character to society, a liberal supporter of pubenterprise, a safe counsellor, and a judicious
manager of his own affairs. He is unpretentious,

lic

man

of excellent habits and characteristic in-

tegrity of purpose.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

2o:

HON.
Daniel P.

D.

Wood was born

Onondaga county, N.
was next
the year

Y.,

youngest

to the

of Daniel

WOOD.

P.

the town of Pompey,

in

November

5,

Wood

and Sophia Sims.

1800,

came from Berkshire, Mass

settled in the

He

1819.

the family of children

in

He

town of Pompey.

His

father, in

and
was a lawyer and

His mother was also of

He
New Eng-

land stock, but the ancestry, some four generations

back,

came from Jamestown,

lineal

descendant

Loomis, born

London

the

fifth

11,

1638,

She was

Virginia.

generation from Joseph

England about

in

April

in

in

1590, sailed from

the

Ellen and arrived at Boston July

ship Susan and

She

17. 1638.

D.

P.

the

Wood inherited, and has exhibited through

New England traitsof character readiness

to labor and to learn, strength of will, forecast and

sympathy with those movements which have for

end the well being of the country and for their

means the advancing condition of all classes and

their

races.

He worked upon

the farm of his father dur-

ing his earlier years, receiving such education as the

district

school afforded, and acquiring a vigor of

constitution which has since enabled

mental

severest

the

him

to

endure

At about eighteen

labor.

years of age he pursued a preparatory course at

Pompey Academy, and

at

twenty entered Hamilton

College, where he not only disciplined his

close study, but

Wood was

his reputation

expanded

it

mind by

by a wide range of

and capacity.

Chairman of the Committee on ColAcademies and Common Schools, he matured

Wood

Mr.

islature.

that he

In 1865, '(^, '67, he

went to South Carolina,

was elected

to the

Assembly

In
Representative from Onondaga county.
1865-66 he was Chairman of the Committee on
Canals and a member of the Committee on Ways
and Means, and the following year Chairman of

as

the

latter,

positions

ffe

labor.

requiring

almost

ceaseless

defended their interests with honor

In 1861,
to himself and usefulness to the State.
he was one of the party who escorted President
Lincoln on his memorable trip to Washington a few
days preceding his inauguration, and, in 1865. was

Chairman of the Special Legislative Committee

to receive the
city of

remains of President Lincoln

at

New York and conduct them through

In politics Mr.

Wood was

the
the

Whig, but afterwards

Republican upon the formation of that party.

During the late rebellion he was an unswerving

He was

supporter of the Union cause.

in

the organization of the

from Syracuse, raised

knew no

Noxon.

857, on account

returning thence on horseback.

he entered into partnership with Mr.

of over taxation of both body and mind, his health

State.

and studied law in the office of George W. Noxon,

and after being admitted to the bar in 1846, (in
the last class admitted under the old Constitution

attended to his profession dur-

ing the three years following, but in

1844 he entered the law office of Victory

Birdseye at Pompey, and in 1845 came to Syracuse

common

active and

and carried through the act creating the Department of Public Instruction, and was member of the
Committee on Ways and Means, in those days the
most exacting and laborious committee of the Leg-

In

member, and took an

speeches were no slight tribute to

In 1854. as
leges,

reading, graduating from that institution in 1843.

of the State

became so impaired

died November, 1841.

life,

Mr.

efficient part, his

farmer, the latter being his chief occupation.

died in 1838.

and enlargement of the canals, and in the impeachment of Canal Commissioner John C. Mather by
the Committee of Managers of the House, of which

fear

in

first

one week.

nor faltering

very active

regiment that went

His patriotism

keeping up

his patience

lawyers, with that resolution and energy, yet with

and hope, speaking words of good cheer all the

more when the hours were darkest.
In the fall of 1871, he was elected to represent

that integrity of purpose and courteous manner, so

the 22d Senatorial District, composed of Cortland

characteristic of his whole

and Onondaga counties, in the State Legislature.

His record was such that at the end of his first

He met
in

young attorneys
competition with older and more experienced

He was

the barriers

to

life.

City Attorney for three years, from the

organization of the city government

in

that

year and also

in 1854.

till

1853,

and

he represented his

Assembly of the State.

As Chairman of the Committee on Salt,

the Democratic party.

district in the

many

term his renomination was made by acclamation,

and his election took place without opposition by

in

which

In the Senate Mr.

Wood, during

his

four years

member of the Committee on the

Code he brought to the discussions of those subjects his legal acumen and conscientious industry.

and imijortant position of

Chairman of the Finance Committee, which required him to act upon the vast fiscal interests,
claims and necessities of the State, and gave him

In the exciting and able debates on the completion

great weight in determining

interest

of his constituents were largely en-

gaged, and as a

service, held the leading

its

public policy.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

In this capacity he used

the power of his place

all

retrenchment, resisting unjust and un-

in enforcing

worthy claims, fighting extravagance and prodiand relieving the burdens of

gality of expenditure

the people.

Wood

was appointed by Governor

of the Senate, Major
General of the 6th Division, N. G., S. N. Y., comIn 1874, Mr.

the concurrence

Dix, with

prising twelve counties

of the State, viz

Oneida,

Onondaga, Madison, Cayuga, Seneca,

Tompkins, Tioga, Broome, Chenango and

Oswego,
Cortland,

Otsego.

General

Wood was

one of the organizers of the

Onondaga County Savings Bank, and has been a

Trustee of the same since its beginning, and is its
President

present

Trust and

he

is

also

Company

Deposit

with the

identified

of

Onondaga, and

New York State Banking Company as DiHe is President and Treasurer of the High-

of the
rector.

203

land Solar Salt Manufacturing

cuse,

and

is

Company

of Syra-

largely interested in the manufacture of

He is interested as one of the originators

and managers of the Syracuse and Geddes, and
the Genesee and Water Street Railways, and is the
salt.

President and principal manager and largest stockholder of the Metallic Burial Casket Manufacturing

Company

New York

of

city.

In the year, 1848, August 24th, he married Miss

Lora Celeste, daughter

of Silas Smith and Eunice

Bagg, the former from Lanesborough, Mass., and an
early settler of the town of Marcellus the latter
a lineal descendant in the fifth generation of Joseph

Loomis

of Windsor, Conn.

To Mr. and
dren,

Mrs.

Wood

whose names are

have been born

as follows

Wood &

firm of
ceased,)

six chil-

Frank, of the law

Stone, Syracuse Mary Bagg, (deFannie Loomis, (deceased,) Mary Clifton,

;

Cornelia Longstreet, and William Sims, (deceased.)

BANKS OF SYRACUSE.
National Banks

The banking

taken place

interest of this city

is

intimately

identified with the interests of the city itself,

therefore deserves

more than

a passing notice.

latest

statement

official

of

We

son,

present officers and

resources,

beginning

First National Bank.

1

863,

C.

T.

is

other by

Longstreet, James

The

death.

of E. B. Jud-

Belden, Jacob

J.

Crouse, Orlin Mead, John Crouse, C.

B. Sedgwick,
Dennis McCarthy and D. Edward Crouse.

The

E.xecutive

sists of three

Committee

members

when

for the year

1877 con-

of the Board, Messrs. E. B.

management falls upon the Presigentleman who has been connected with the

active every-day

the national banking system was

dent

adopted, the Secretary of the Treasury requested

banking interest of the

gentlemen of financial repute to meet him

in consultation at Washington.
Among these
gentlemen were Governor English, of Connecticut,
and Mr. E. B. Judson, of this city. The consulta-

whom

certain

tion over, Mr.

Judson came home, and immediately

the

reference

owing

to

papers,

still

certain

the

delays

fact

in

bank

is

No.

6,

the transmission of

remains that the First Na-

Bank

of Syracuse was the second one organUnited States.

The original capital of the bank was placed at
^100,000; this has since been increased 10^250,000.
Upon effecting the organization Mr. Judson
became President, and Mr. George B. Leonard,
ized in the

Cashier, and no change in the official

has since occurred.

management

Indeed but two changes have

in

and to

connection with

Mr. Judson has

this city for twenty-nine years,

He

the manufacture of lumber and iron.

still

in

car-

on the manufacture of lumber there, as he has

ries

this

made

coming from Constantia, where he was engaged

for forty years,

Although

city ever since 1851,

again

Merchants National Bank.

Bank

in Syracuse.

is

been a resident of

took measures for the organization of a National

tional

the

now comprised

Judson, John Crouse and Jacob Crouse, but the

with the

In

city,

Board of Directors

give a brief historical review of the various banks,

including their organization,

the directorship, one caused by re-

the

and

accordance with the purpose of this work,

shall, in

in

moval from

and

in this city

he

is

interested in

The management of the business of the Bank, however, reMr. Judson was also one
quires most of his time.
of the original incorporators and Vice-President of
the Merchants Bank, now the Merchants National
the manufacture of iron, salt and glass.

Bank, of this city, one of the organizers of the

Trust and Deposit Company of Onondaga, a director of the Bank of Syracuse, and one of the organizers of the " Salt Springs Bank," and for some
Resigning the latter position, he
years its Cashier.

ii
HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

204

to Oswego to take charge of the Lake Ontario

Hank owned by bankers throughout the State
place which his financial abilities well fitted him to

went

fill.

The

following

is

bank made on the

the

first

official

statement of this

of October, 1877

Resources.

Loans and Discounts

588,659 23
536 54

Overdrafts

United States Bonds

to secure circu-

278,000 00

lation

6,800 00

Other Stocks, Bonds and Mortgages.

Due from Approved Reserve Agents
in Gold
Due from other National Banks ....
Due from State Banks and Bankers.
Current E.xpenscs and Ta.xes Paid
Exchanges for Clearing House
Fractional Currency and Nickels
Sjiecie Gold Coin
$ 34 88
.

00
93,518 00
1

1,200

190,030 85

80
3.437 26
7.632 60

31,241

26,724 85
3.638 00

50000

634 88

Premiums Paid
Legal Tender Notes
Redemption Fund with U. S. Treasurer,
not more than 5 per cent,

8 2 73

son retired,
time, and

Thomas

and cashiership have

by these gentlemen.
The Salt Springs Bank continued as such, operpresidency
filled

1865,

its

00

$250,000 00
50,coo 00
140,001 59

business in that of a national bank.

250,000 00
593,466 03
2,739 34
$1,286,205 96

of the P'irst National

Bank

accord-

word " national," and continued

business under the same management and with

ply interpolated the

cajiital

When

of $200,000.

the Syra-

will

doubtless remain.

That the management of

fruitful of satisfactory results

bank has been

this

evinced by the

is

fact

Its deposits apits surplus is now $55,000.

proximate from two hundred to two hundred and

its

thousand

dollars,

and

its

loans and discounts

range from $300,000 to $450,000, depending upon

We herewith present the official
circumstances.
statement, dated October

i,

1S77

Resources.

the

use

Onondaga Savings Bank building was

The equipments and furniture are all of
At the paying teller's desk is a litorder.

the

knob which, touched by one's finger, conveys by

warning to the police headquarters the
vault is of solid masonry and steel lined, with Iripple doors, and the burglar-proof safe is a model of
A night watchman is also always on duty
its kind.
tle

electricity

fifty

will

office in

country, and were fitted np expressly for

each night.

Salt Springs National Bank.

This institution is the outgrowth of a State Bank,
and was organized as the Salt Springs I^ank in
The first Board of
1852, with a capital of $200,000.
Directors consisted of David

It

ingly obtained a charter from the government, sim-

that

from

compare favorably with any banking

first

it

pancy, the Salt Springs National Bank removed to

one of the elegant suites of offices in it, and there

Individual Deposits subject to check,

to other National Banks

the

when

$1,286,206 96

Due

erected.

banking law of the State,

was deemed advisable to merge

ating under the general

cuse Savings Bank building was ready for occu-

Surplus Fund

when

and before the election of

1859. Mr. Howlett officiated.

been respectively

it

The premises

in

2,500 00

Capital Stock Paid in

Total

cashier-

his death

Leach,

Since then, the

its

received

The

Mr. JudMr. Cornelius Alvord was Cashier for a

upon

J.

Clark,

When

some changes.

ship has undergone

Wm.

Mr. Howlett has

in 1859.

continued to be President ever since.

Liabilities

Undivided Profits
Notes
Circulating
Comptroller

Mr. Alvord was succeeded by

Cashier.

the original

Total

No.xon.
Mr. A. A. Howlett became a director the
same or the following year. Thomas G. Alvord
was the first President, and E. B. Judson the first

30,8 10

on circulation

S. Candee, Matthew Murphy, Cornelius

Lynch, Dennis McCarthy, Edward B Judson,
George Geddes, William Clark, Orla F. Whitney,
Sands N Kenyon, John D. Norton and B. Davis

till

Silver Coin

Henry

he by Alfred A. Howlett

United States Bonds on hand (par

value

Alvord, George H. Waggoner, James E. Heron,

Munro, Thomas G.

$370,750 68

Loans and discounts.

Overdrafts

U. S. Bonds to secure circulation.

Other stocks, bonds and mortgages.
Due from Approved Reserve Agents
Due from other .National Banks. ....
Due from State Banks and bankers..
Checks and other cash items
Exchanges for Clearing House, including gold checks
Bills of other banks
Silver coin
$ 370 80
Gold treasury certificates... 8,000 00
.

11

432 00
26,236 55
7.928 42
5.371 41

Legal tender notes

Redemption fund with U. S. Treasurer, (not more than 5 per cent,
on circulation;

436 91
1,000 00

1.385

00

1,01

96

6,422 00

8,370 80
16,800 00

4.995 00

...

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Due U.

S. Treasurer, (other than

per cent, on redemption fund,)

$16,800 00

Total

$590,140 73
Liabilities.

Capital stock paid in

$200,000 00
40,000^00

Surplus fund

Undivided

profits

notes

Circulating

received

1,493

35

from

205

May, 1864, it was increased to $200,000. This did

not suffice, and on the 21st of November,
of the

same year, the capital was again increased, this

time to $300,000, at which amount it has since
remained, increased, of course, by the accumulated
surplus,

The

which

is

now

$79,000.

Board of Directors of the Third National

consisted of the following named gentlemen
John
W. Barker, James M. Munro, Charles Pope, Allen
Munroe, Timothy R. Porter, H. W\ VanBuren,
first

Comptroller

...

16,700 00

Individual deposits subject to

Demand

check

$218,315 89

...

of

certificates

deposit

2,422 45

220,738 34

Due

Banks

national

other

to

1,209

Total

04

$590,140 7Z

The following

the present Board of Directors

is

Jacob Crouse, David A. Munro, Charles Hubbard,

George Geddes, Payne Bigelow,
J. W. Truesdell,
William Brown Smith, Erastus

Phillips,

Alfred A.

H. Munroe, Daniel Gates, Elizur Clark,

Giles Everson and George N. Crouse.
The President, Mr. Howlett, devotes his whole
Hewlett,

He

has lived in

about twenty-five years, and while con-

nected

with

another

in

one

enterprises of

large

under the firm of Spears, Case

&

At Oswego

Co.

he has been engaged in milling and the provision

firm of

private

&

Gardner & Co., and in

Oswego, firm of Ames, Howlett
some time he also officiated as
Howlett,

banking

at

For
President and Vice-President of the Chenango
Valley Railroad, in the building of which he was
For twenty years or more Mr.
largely interested.
Howlett has been engaged in salt manufacture, and
Co.

many

has been busy in

to

is

associated

with

the

The Third

knowledge gained

in the

National Bank of Syracuse has been

existence about fourteen years, and during that

has

made

for itself a record

institution
in

till

may

for

the

well be proud of

It

transaction

of

lation

275,000 00

United States Bonds

to secure

De-

posits

i,

its

1864.

100,000 00
6,615 00
28,225 79

Other Slocks, Bonds and Mortgages..

Due from Approved Reserve Agents.
Due from Approved Reserve Agents
igold

4,005 66
16,505 42

Due from
Due from

other National Banks

State Banks and Bankers.
Exchanges for Clearing House
Bills of other Banks
Fractional Currency (in'ding Nickels)
Specie, silver

248 55
4,450 33
4-255 00
121 28

500 00

Legal Tender Notes

10,000 00

Redemption Fund with U.

urer,

(five

S. Treasper cent, of circula-

12,375

00

$878,345 48
Liacilities.

$300,000 00
60,000 00
23.388 87
Undivided profits
247,500 CO
National Bank Notes outstanding.
200,929 83
Individual Deposits subject to check.,
42,833 28
United States Deposits
Capital Stock paid in

Surplus

Due
Due

to

Fund

other National Banks

to State

Banks and Bankers

Its capital

prospective

Total

was

was
that time supposed ample

January

placed at $150,000, at

$416,043 45
circu-

2,684 66
1,008 84

such as any

the latter part of 1863, but did not

begin business

Loans and Discounts

United States Bonds to secure

in the old Salina

Third National Bank.

organized

Resources.

Salt

school of experience.

monetary

statement of the Third National Bank

the 6th day of October, 1877

Total

becoming

duties his comprehensive

it

made on

by profession.

Bank, and now brings to bear upon his multifarious

time

Cashier.

Official

tion)

a banker

Springs Bank, he had been Teller

in

came

enterprises.

Mr. Leach, the Cashier,

Previous

The first Cashier was

H. Williams, who retained the position till
February, 1873, when Mr. George S. Leonard beFraficis

kind and

Syracuse, has also been interested else-

where, especially in pork packing at Delphi, Indiana,

trade,

elected to the Presidency.

I.

time to the business of the bank.

this city

Lucius Gleason, Frank Hiscock and James Munroe.

first President was James Munroe
he was succeeded by Allen Munroe, and in January, 1871,
Mr. Lucius Gleason, the present incumbent, was

The

business.

Events demonstrated the reverse, however, and

in

The

$878,345 48

President of the Third National, although

attending to his

official duties, resides in

the neigh-

boring village of Liverpool, where he was born. A

large part of his life has been passed in mercantile
Since 1842, he has also been extensively
pursuits.

..

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

206
engaged

manufacture of

in the

prominent

continuing the

salt,

business, in addition to carrying on large coal min-

Of

ing interests in Pennsylvania.

ever, the

management

late years,

bank has

of the

how-

chiefly oc-

now President

is

also President

ing and other circles has always borne a part of

whatever work was necessary.

Frank Hiscock, Harmon VV Van Buren.

James J. Beldcn. George P. Hier, Giles Everson,
Payne Bigelow, Frank H. Hiscock, and George S.
son,

largely occupied with the

of offices

in

Building, second floor, and

now

is

is

Plumb has been Cashier

E. R.

1864, he succeeding Peter Outwater,

located in a very

Such have been the changes

White Memorial

the

is

now

of the Iron

Works, though he exercises the general supervision

Mr
National l^ank

His time

management

of a president over the affairs of the bank.

Leonard.
elegant suite

is

He

Works.

Geddes Street Railroad Company, is connected with the Blast Furnace, and in manufactur-

present Board of Directors are Lucius Glea-

The Third

manufacturer, and

of the

cupied his time.

The

salt

of the Syracuse Iron

The

ment.

one of the representa-

the

in

since June,

deceased.

Jr.,

manageGeorge

official

present Board of Directors

monetary institutions of the city. It is the

United States Depository of internal
revenue for this district, and also acts as " Clearing
House " for the ten associated banks of the city.

J. A. Sherman, George P. Hier, E.

R. Plumb, R. Nelson Gere, H. D. Denison, George
Stevens, Peter Burns and N. S. Gere.

The

Bank

N. Kennedy,

tive

designated

Clearing

House has now been

about three years, and

While the

operation

in

conducted on the same

is

New York Clearing House. Mr.

Leonard, the cashier of the Third .Vational Bank,
is the Manager.
principles as the

is

capital

for the

surplus

counts

appro.\imate

bonds to secure circulation.

from approved reserve agents...
from other National Banks
from State Banks and bankers
Real Estate
Current expenses and taxes paid. ...
Exchanges for Clearing House
Bills of other banks
Specie
Legal tender notes
Redemption fund with U. S. Treasurer, (5 per cent, of circulation)
U.

H. Sher-

These gentlemen, together with

Herrick Allen, Marcus Cone, Peter Outwater, Jr.,
Charles C. Richardson, Joseph F. Sabin, James M.
Baker, Lucius D. Cowan, Harvey Loomis, Simon
C. Hitchcock and Jacob M. Cook, comprised the
Board of Directors. The names of these gentlemen will be remembered, especially by the older
man, Cashier.

men

Syracuse

they were the leading busi-

of that day, and

The

now

all

are deceased ex-

Mr. Judson.

increased to $180,000.

Bank
then merged
State

June,

till

in a

$180,000.

Jefferson

the Merchants

paid-in

capital

Freeman was

He

is

has been a

$368, 42 07
1,519 21
143,500 00

40,010 38
10,213 81
14,420 83
2,261 97

3,817 67
3.042 87
5,000 00

602 46
15,000 00
6,457 5

$180,000 00
50,000 00

Undivided

profits

National Bank notes outstanding. ..

Individual deposits subject to check.
Demand certificates of deposit
Due to other National Banks
Due to State Banks and bankers. ...

52,381 61
129,150 oo
188,386 49
10,000 00
1,885 57
2,185 36

Total

The management

by Mr.

Kennedy, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. R. N. Gere, the

latter gentleman being elected President in 1868.
Mr. Gere has long been a resident of Geddes
and has been intimately identified with the promof this section.

1877,

$613,98877

Surplus fund

was

remaining

Capital stock paid in

President, and
filled

what

Liabilities.

Continuing business as a
1865,

since him, the presidency has been

inent interests

capital of the

National Bank, with an authorized

capital of $500,000, the

S.

Total

Merchants
Bank was placed at 5135,000. At a special meeting
of the Board in the fall of 1851, this capital was
increased to $160,000, and subsequently, to meet
the demands of the business, the capital was again
cept

i,

in

Due
Due
Due

ness

deposits

the

show

made October

Overdrafts.

1850 as the Merchants Bank.

Of that corporation, John D. Norton was President

citizens of

and

facts to

Loans and discounts

a State charter in

Eli

loans and dis-

Resources.

bank comprises a period of

about twenty-seven years.
It was organized under

The

as follows

history of this

B. Judson, Vice-President

$280,000,

really

it is

$400,000,

Its official statement,

Edward

Merchants National

$100,000.

is

$225.000 a mere mention of

esteem the bank is held.

Merchants National Bank.

The

the

of

nominally $180,000,

$613,988 77
of the

'

is

largely with the

who has been connected with

banking operations for twenty years. In 1S56 he
entered the Merchants Bank as book-kcejjer, subsequently became teller, and now for thirteen years
Cashier, a gentleman

bank

has been Cashier.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK.

The bank has

roomy quarters

pleasant,

in the

West

Wieting Block, corner of South Salina and

every convenience

streets, with

Water

action of

for the trans-

large and increasing business.

its

the

history of this bank

past,

While

1877.
est
"

having

it

bank

Bank

it

was

existence

in

business

its
it

was the

to
in

old-

having been organized as the

in the city,
"

of Syracuse

up

under the general State bank-

John Wilkinson, Esq., was its

Horace White, Cashier. The
bank entered upon a career of prosperity which it
maintained without abatement for a long series of
years, being one of the leading monetary instituIts capital in 1839 was $200,tions of the city.
ing law, in 1839.

President, and

first

same

000, which remained the

Wilkinson

while occupying

died

on

President,

Mr.

its close.

till

the position of

19th of September, 1862,

the

and

Mr. Hamilton White became President for a short

time he was succeeded by Mr. John H. Chiddell,
;

who

Presidency to Hon.

in turn yielded the

Andrew

D. White, a gentleman better known in educational

than in banking circles the President of Cornell
But one change occurred in the CashUniversity.

Horace White being succeeded by Mr.

in 1856, who henceforth became the
Mr. Ballard has
active manager of the bank.
been by profession a banker, having had experience
in the business here and elsewhere from boyhood.
iership

Orrin Ballard

The

bank, however, during

ton and Horace White, Esqs.,

its

who gave

it

im-

its

These gen-

fortunes.

John Wilkinson, Esq., the

first President of the bank, were early and prominent residents of the city, and for many years intlemen, together

with

timately identified with

The Bank
its

tinued

when

it

till

Syracuse National Bank.

the close of

stock holders have

of the

1865,

till

availed itself

name and
Thus it conThe
1877.

national banking law under the

style of the

bank are

all

in

its

business

in

been paid up, and the

affairs

a satisfactory state of settle-

Mechanics Bank.
in

August,

of Syracuse

185

banking law of the State.

November

only ones

Longstreet, Thayer and Fitch.

a native of the vicinity

was

originally

under the old

1,

It

Mr. Longstreet

for years

is

he was connected

with the trade of Syracuse, and subsequently was

engaged in trade in New York City.

His efforts
were productive of substantial results, and about
fifteen years ago he retired from business.
Mr.
Thayer is a resident of Skaneateles he is largely
;

some

identified with

of the heaviest manufacturing

and

interests of the city,

at his

home

is

engaged

in

death

in

banking, milling and other operations.

Mr. Weeks remained President

when Mr. James M.

until his

was elected to the

Presidency.
Such have been the changes in the
official management.
The Mechanics Bank con1872,

Ellis

tinued business as a Stale Bank till July, 1865,

when it obtained a charter as a National Bank. It
was known and continued business as the Mechanics
National Bank till 1873, when the National charter
was resigned, and tlie name became, as of old,
simply the Mechanics Bank, and the same general

business has been adhered

The bank was

to.

originally located in the building

immediately south of Wieting Block on

street,

which was sold

removed

it

to the

to Dr. Wieting.

Earned Block, where

Salina

P'rom there
it

remained

about one year, or until the spring of 1876, when

removal was made

now occupied by it

the elegant banking offices

to

in the

Syracuse Savings Bank

The

active

management

of the Mechanics

with the President and Cashier, both of

is

Mr.

are old residents of the city.

of

Onondaga

Hill,

and

Bank

whom

Ellis is a native

for twenty-three years has

been connected with business interests here, as a

merchant, manufacturer and banker. Mr. Fitch
till
1846, he was enhas resided here since 1831
;

in

the drug trade, and during most of the

Both he and Mr.

Ellis are also copartners in the jobbing boot and
shoe house of Dunn, Salmon & Co. Their management of the affairs of the bank has been characterized by a liberal and judicious spirit, and the
time since has been a banker.

State and Private Banks.

The Mechanics Bank

Of these original incorporators the

now remaining with the bank are Messrs.

Joel Thayer.

gaged

ment.

organized

Warner,* Cornelius T. Longstreet, John P.

H. Hovey,* Charles B. Sedgwick,
Joseph Bruce,* George Salmon,* Curtis Moses and

of Syracuse continued business under

State organization

of the

Thomas B. Fitch was elected

Weeks Cashier. The original
Edward B. Weeks,* Jonathan

organization

Building.

leading interests.

all its

its

Ballard, Alfred

career of prosperity,

its

was indebted to the talents and capital of Hamilpetus and largely shaped

Upon

President and E. B.

R.

now belongs wholly

closed

since passed the original capital has been retained.

incorporators were,

Syracuse National Bank.

The

207

free

began business

following with a paid-up capital of

;$

in

140,-

000, and through the changes which the bank has

effect is to
tion.

The

* Deceased.

be seen

in

following

the business of the institu-

named gentlemen

constitute

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

208
the present

Board of Directors

T. B. Fitch, C. T.

Dunn,

James M.

Ellis,

Longstreet, Joel Thayer. John

F. S. Wicks, E. F. Rice.

Jr.,

State

not admit of a general commercial banking busi-

which the incorporators wished

ness,

to

combine

with the peculiar features of the Trust and Savings

Bank, and therefore a new enterprise under the

name

of the State

Bank

of Syracuse,

of Syracuse," and continued to do bus-

At

till

was organized

the national charter was resigned

name of the New York

Company was assumed, and the bank

this date the

State Banking

Bank of Syracuse
were, for the most part, gentlemen who had been
incorporators of the Trust and Deposit Company.
The special charter of the last named Company did
founders of the

Bank

iness as such
in 1872.

State Bank of Syracuse.

The

tional

has continued without any change in the general

character of

business.

its

Mr. Nathan F. Graves, one of the

known

of the bank ever since

its

and well-

old

remained President

citizens of Syracuse, has

original incorporation in

By profession, Mr. Graves is an attorney,

and he is now one of the old members of the Syracuse bar.
Since making his home in this city he
has become largely interested in real-estate matters
he has built and now owns a large number of
residences in the city.
For a number of years he
1842.

under the general banking law, and began business

on the

first

of February, 1873.

The

paid-up capi-

tal was S 100.000, most of the stock being held in

this city.
The officers of this bank are John J.

Frank Hiscock, Vice President

Matthew J. Myers, Cashier and the Board of Directors, John J. Crouse, Frank Hiscock, George
Barnes, Henry L. Beard, George N. Kennedy,
Thomas Molloy and M. J. Myers. This bank does
business in the same office with the Trust and Dein the Onondaga County
posit Company, viz.
Savings Bank building, but the capital and business
of the two institutions are wholly distinct, and the
formation of the State Bank has added a valuable
banking capital to the monetary interest of SyraCrouse, President

cuse.

is

active

is

management

of the business of the

with Mr. Myers, the Cashier, although there

an E.xecutive Board composed of Messrs. Crouse,

Mr. Myers has been conHiscock and Barnes.

nected with the banking interest of Syracuse for
more than twenty years. In 1855 he entered the

Burnet Bank as book-keeper, and afterwards became

For a time he was with Wilkinson &
its teller.
teller of

the

for

there for a short time.

is

Bank

also

He

has been Cashier of

of Syracuse since its organization,

Secretary of the

Deposit Company.

Onondaga Trust and

The bank

Mayor

and

its

of the city.

In brief, his life has been both public and active.

While he still continues to give the business of the
bank more or less of his personal attention, the
active management of its details devolves upon Mr.
R. A. Bonta, the Cashier. Mr. Bonta entered the
Burnet Bank in 1856 as a clerk.
Subsequently he
became book-keeper, then teller, and in 1864 was

made Cashier, a position he has since retained.

The New York State Banking Company retains
its

location

old

where

it

in

Wicting Block, second

we can make no

Being a private

authorized statement of

Nor

capital, deposits or discounts.

since

floor,

has pleasant and well furnished apartments

for the transaction of its business.

its

monetary

is it

its

necessary,

character as a reliable and prosperous

institution

is

known

well

to the public.

The

present officers are, Nathan F. Graves, Presi-

dent

John White, Vice-President

Cashier; George L. Bonta, Teller

ings.

Discount

Cleik

William

R. A. Bonta,

Frank Cock-

J.

Reed, Book-

S.

keeper, and Louis L. Cole, Clerk.

Wilkinson

although not long established, has

won

good reputation

in

monetary

circles.

&

Co.'s Bank.

The Banking House under

established

twenty

nearly

Wilkinson and

S.

this

years

H. Slosson, the

tleman supplying the needed

in

transacts a general

business, and
for itself a

of the Board of Education

he became Cashier of a bank in the oil regions of

Pennsylvania, and also carried on a private bank
the State

member

number of years receiving

Onondaga County Savings Bank. Then

Bank, and

Co.'s

and

President, and he has also been

bank,

The
bank

was

firm

name was

ago by Alfred
last

capital.

named genIt

has been

existence long enough to be regarded as one of

the permanent institutions of Syracuse.

Since

its

organization no change has occurred in the firm

and but one change each in co-partnership

and location. Beginning its career in the Syracuse
House Block, it continued to occupy that place till
style,

New York State Banking

CoMrANV.

bank goes back to 1852, when

the Burnet Bank was incorporated under the State
banking law. In this capacity it continued to do
business till after the national banking system was
adopted, when it was merged in the " Fourth Na-

The

origin of this

when removal was made to the very central

location now occupied, corner of South Salina and
1874,

Railroad streets.

In

863, Mr. Slosson retired and

Forman Wilkinson became a partner with

J.

his brother.

The

snbject of this sketch -was born in the town of

Onondaga

Co.,

N. Y., July

Thomas Rice and

His father came
the town of

2,

He

1831.

Pompey,

was the youngest son of

Charlotte Flint, both natives of Massachusetts.

to this county in the year 1818,

Pompey, half a mile

and hence was

east of Oran,

one of the pioneers of that part of the county

and settled in

he was a farmer

subject of this

memoir came

to the city

of Syracuse at

the age of twelve years, and having lost his father about this
time,

and not being pecuniarily

assisted, was,

at that age left to begin obly as a boy can.

were spent as a bundle boy.

a clerk

in a general

to the city

unaided and alone,

His

two years

first

During the next two years he was

Returning

merchandise store at Marcellus.

he entered upon a clerkship in the dry-goods

and remained until 1852, and went

to

New York

trade,

and became

a clerk in a large wholesale house, then one of the largest

dry-goods houses of that city.

Here he remained

and returned to his native county.

strict

for

During these

one year,
years,

economy, he had got together a few hundred

This money, on his return, he invested,

with Col. Charles Richardson.

Although limited

in

an oppor-

tunity for an education from books while young, the past few

had suppUed him with a

years' experience

practical business

He

education, and strengthened his business ability.

his business career in a

modest way, determined

began

to succeed if

enrgy, indomitable pei"severance, and business habits would

by occupation, and died March 25, 1843.

The

in the dry-goods business, in a small way, in the old Franklin

building. East Genesee street.

first

in

by

dollars.

partnership

After two years he started alone

win

success.

At

the time of writing this sketch he

the oldest dry-goods merchants in the

years his

name has been a synonym

pose, honorable dealing,

of self-made men.

Ls

one of

and during these

for strict integrity of pur-

and a business

The

city,

thrift often characteristic

result of deserved ambition

may

be

seen on South Salina street, in the fine brick structure occupied

by him
and

for a dry-goods house,

being one of the best in the

city,

erected in 1876.

In the year 1854, August 31, he married Miss Ellen, daughter

of Hon.

Hiram Eaton, of

three children,

In

politics

Fayetteville, to

Nellie Z., Lizzie E.,

Mr. Rice

i.s

whom

has been born

and Edward

identified with the

I.

Republican party.

to
Is not solicitous of any political preferment; looks rather
principles involved than to party in casting his vote.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The

Messrs. Wilkinson are the only bankers of this

city

who

Many

are natives of Syracuse.

Company

It is a

Dudley

are old residents, but were not born here.

coincidence that the Wilkinson brothers

singular

now doing banking business upon

are

ordinary

izes

others

very

the

of

where every

sidered " out of town."

The

Messrs. Wilkinson are both

by profession,

engineers

civil

and each has been connected with

railway enterprises as superintendents of roads or

They became bankers by

divisions.

circumstances, and

although

new

seem

them, they

to

to

the force of

experience was

the

have adjusted them-

selves as naturally to this branch of business as

they had been brought up in

At

it.

if

least the suc-

cess which has attended their efforts

a sufficient

is

proof that they have not mistaken their calling.

The Banking House

&

of Wilkinson

Co.

exchange, receive deposits, issue loans and

in foreign

discounts, and, in short, attend to

of a general

banking business.

satisfactory

condition, and

its

the branches

all

Onondaga County Savings Bank

the

Its affairs are in

increasing deposits

facility

kind from being lost or deaccomplish this object, the office of

the company is provided with one of the finest

To

stroyed.

vaults in the State.

This

masonry,

in steel.

upon solid
Three doors lead to
two of them being iron and steel, proencased

is

its interior,

with

monetary and

the

have always been of the

Mr. E. C. Seager

highest character.

is

the

teller,

Whitney book-keeper, and William

Hookaway, discount clerk. These gentlemen have
been associated with the bank for several years,
Mr.

Charles

and creditably

one of them

The

door

third

Reaching the

and

locks,

the famous Sargent chronometer

is

of

is

iron

wicker work.

one sees a number of safes one of them burglar-proofs where are

now stored thousands of dollars worth of bonds for
interior of the vault

safe keeping.

of papers,

The

provided
renting

over

others are for the safe keeping

deeds, insurance policies,

wills,

These

mort-

latter safes are

sub-

many apartments, each being

with lock and check lock, and a party

one of these boxes has absolute control

it.

These small boxes

or safes are rented at

a trifling cost for a longer or shorter

be desirable.

Provision

is

also

time as

made

within

may
the

vault for the safe keeping of jewelry, silver ware,

an excellent convenience which should be bet-

&c.,

understood and more generally used,

for heavy
and valuables may be thus preserved,
against the depredations of burglars and against fire.

ter

securities

their responsible positions.

Trust and Deposit Company of Onondaga.

In addition to this peculiar function, the company,

This Banking Institution has a sphere of busi-

as a savings bank, receives deposits in sums, of five

ness

somewhat

ized

by

at

fill

vault, resting

vided with burglar-proof combination

divided into a great

other interest of the city

consid-

or valuables of any

The Cashier is Mr. Edward Westcott, son of a

former Mayor of Syracuse.
He has the reputation
of being a business man in every sense of the
relations

for a small

guarantee their absolute safety, and thus

meet the wants of prudent men and women who
desire to secure their earnings, small or large sums,

gages, and the like.

his

building,

provided for the safe keep-

The company

ing of deposits.

are evidence of a large share of public confidence.

word, and

is

eration

lock.

deal

with

in

when he was the

Deposit

in 1869,

Daniel P. Wood and

E. B. Judson, Vice-Presidents
and Matthew J.
Myers, Secretary.
The offices of this company are

premises where they were born, their father, John

residence and law office, at a time

The Trust and

deposits.

Onondaga was organized

P. Phelps, President

Wilkinson, Esq., having occupied the place with his

only lawyer in the village, and his office was con-

209

its

home

The company
make investments

peculiar.

charter to

author-

is

for parties

or abroad, in bonds, stocks, &c., and to act

as agent, receiver, e.xecutor, administrator, guardian,

treasurer, assignee

or

trustee, either

administrator have extensively fallen to

well fitted to act in

which

is

pledged for

this capacity
its

personal interest, and

vote to such business.

by power of

The

attorney or appointment of court.

duties of

it,

from

and

its

it

is

capital

trust funds, its absence of

its

privileges of a Savings Bank,

all

it

ther, and provide safe receptacles

and other valuables, diflering in

for

money, bonds,
reception and

all

sums being com-

months.

has a paid up capital of $100,000,

provided are thrown about

stands upon

ing

keeping of them from the system which character27*

The Company

The

far-

six

one half of which is dejjosited with the Superintendent of the Banking Department of the State of
New York for the security of trust funds and deAll the safeguards which the State has
positors.

of time to de-

designs to go

its

pounded every

the rights and

command

Having

cents and upwards, interest on

present officers of the

named gentlemen
J.

and the company

company

are the follow-

John J. Crouse, President Geo. Barnes,

Myers, Vice-Presidents James Barnes, Sec-

Officers

M.

it,

the most substantial of foundations.

retary.

Trustees. ]o\iVi N. Babcock, D. Edgar Crouse,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

2IO

Frank Hiscock, Martin A. Knapp, Thomas

William C. Williams, Robert G. Wynkoop.
Barnes, Frank Bigelow, John J. Crouse,
N. Kennedy, Alfred Mercer, Matthew J.
Daniel

P.

Myers,

Wood

Mr. Dudley

P.

Phelps having retired from active

connection with the

agement

MoUoy,
George
George

will

aft'airsof this

Company,

its manupon Mr. James

hereafter devolve

Barnes, for the past thirteen years connected with

the

Onondaga County Savings Bank.

The

recently retired President, Mr. Phelps,

years.

He

is

an

an attorney by profession,

is

although he has never practiced, except

for a brief

time.
For a long time he was connected with the
Syracuse and Utica Railroad, continuing with it till

the consolidation.
F"rom 1861 to
808 he was
Treasurer of the Onondaga County Savings Bank,
1

and since the formation of the Trust and Deposit

Company, he has given his whole attention to the
duties of the Presidency of the Company.
The
other gentlemen connected with the Company are
all well-known citizens whose names would not be
associated with anything doubtful or visionary.

Their

W.

offices are in the

County Savings Bank

Short and O. B. Sperry.

basement of the Onondaga

building.

of

Thomas
since

have accom-

Townsend

late in 1876, the

probably

Space

will

posits,

and they are constantly compelled

deposits from the simple fact that the

to refuse

money cannot

It is for this reason that the

be desirably placed.
savings banks have an absolute plethora of money,

notwithstanding the cry of hard times.

The

active

enterprises.

When

such

active enter-

resumed throughout
But this is
be remedied.

prises shall again be generally

the country the evil will

on finance

not the

place for a dissertation

object

to give the history of the different

is

Banks of the

city,

aggregate cost being about $300,-

in

little

excess of that amount.

not admit of our entering into an elabo-

and workmanship of which can only be appreciated by a personal inspection

suffice

it

to say that, in point of

architectural appearance, elaborateness and beauty

it

not surpassed by any similar structure

is

the country.

monument

It is

an ornament to the city and

and the
under

to the frugality of the jjeoplc

of

the

direction the

From 184910

trustees

of

the

bank,

work was carried forward.

1855, the bank did

but a limited

were not aroused to the

but
full benefits accruing from such an institution
manifested,
was
forward
movement
in latter years a
business

the people

and from that time on the business has constantly

Till 1862, no surplus was acquired, but
increased.
since that date the surplus has accumulated to
S250.000.
dition of the

Below we give a statement of the conbank on the ist of July, 1877

:

Resources.

very

"hard times" make people more economical and

saving, and there is less inclination to use money
in

there to the corner of

rate description of the building, the style

whose

to sixty per cent, of their de-

Block, and from

Church and Salina streets. Works were begun

upon the magnificent building now owned by the
bank in May, 1875, and the building was completed

than was anticipated at the outset of their career.

banks have more money than they want, because

they are limited by State law in their loans upon

Clark and Elias W.

gentlemen many have

bank, and at this time Messrs. Leavenworth, Fitch

and McCarthy are the only ones who still remain
connected with the enter|)rise.
L'pon beginning
business the Syracuse Savings Bank had its headquarters in William W. Teall's law office, on FaySubsequently it removed to the
ette Square.

enterprise

Their immense deposits bespeak habits of thrift

and economy which cannot be too warmly commended. But while this is the case, the savings

these

have either removed from the

died, others

plished greater good within com[)aratively few years

bond and mortgage

Of

city or otherwise dissolved their connection with the

in

city

this

William

Bennet,

of finish,

Savings Banks.

The Savings Banks

Moses D. Burnet, James Lynch, George Saul, John

B. Burnet, Johnson Hall. Harvey Rhoades, Philander W. Phobes, Edward B. Wicks, William W.
Teall, Thomas T. Davis, Thomas B. Fitch, Dennis
McCarthy, George F. Comstock, Henry Giflord,

000

Dow, Short & Co.'s Bank.

The firm of Dow, Short & Co., bankers, commenced business in January, 1876, the copartners
being H. F. Dow, H.

This bank was incorporated March 30, 1849.

original incorporators were Harvey Baldwin,

The

Leavenworth.

old citizen of Syracuse, having resided here forly-

eight

The Syracuse Savings Bank.

our

Savings

Bonds and Mortgages

Stock Investments
Amount Loaned on Stocks
Banking House and Lot, at cost
Amount of other Real Estate
Cash on Deposit in Bank, &c
Cash on Hand
Amount of all other Assets

^1,149,428
497. '37
220,830
360.227

20
54

00

17
2,665 97
104,608 83
34.862 42

245,135 94

and we begin with the oldest

institution of the kind established in Syracuse.

Total

$2,716,149 07

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The actual cash transactions of the Syracuse
Savings Bank during the six months ending July

The number of open

number of accounts which

1877, were ^1,871,540.

I,

accounts was 5,965

the

exceed ^5,000 was 30, and the largest amount due

any one depositor was $1 1,700.

The President, General E.
a well-known public

is

He

Congress.

is

President of a

number

leading corporations of this city, and his

public and private, are of such

demand

his time.

all

To

Treasurer,

has for

many

He

city.

is

years

native of

of the

with the

a character as to

the affairs of the bank he

number of hours
management is assisted by the
Mr. A. F. Lewis, who has been sixteen
in its

years connected with the bank, eight years as Treas-

Mr. Lewis has won an excellent reputation

urer.

Wood

duties,

gives his personal attention for a

each day, and

Maj.-Gen. D. P.
been a resident of this

Pompey. An attorney by profession, he has also

been largely interested in the manufacture of salt
here, and in a thousand ways has been identified

man, having been Secretary of

State and lately a representative from this district

in

mained President till quite recently,' when he was

succeeded by Daniel P. Wood.
Mr. Slosson, as
Treasurer, was succeeded by Dudley P. Phelps,
and he by Edward S. Dawson, the present Treasurer, and one of the original incorporators of the
bank.

W. Leavenworth,

211

he has so worthily filled.

He was
formerly connected with the Canastota Bank, at
Canastota, Madison county.
in the position

upbuilding of Syracuse.

For

number

of years he has represented this county and district

Senate and House of Assembly, and

he was the author of the banking law passed in
He is also Treasurer of the Highland Solar
1875.
in the State

Salt

Company, and

carrying on one of the leading

is

burial casket manufactories in the country, located

New

in

and ex

Mr. Dawson has been Treasurer

York.

officio

general manager of the bank for the

past eight years.

He

has been a resident of the

city for the past thirty-three years

was formerly

a merchant and manufacturer of saddlery hardware,

Onondaga County Savings Bank.

and

charter for this bank was granted by

special

the Legislature in 1855.

design then, as now,

Its

was that of a Savings Bank, or an institution

which

large or small

the

in

savings of individuals

might be deposited, and not only be safe but gain an

increase

the

for

benefit

of the depositors.

The

one which tends directly to develop

economy and frugality in the use of even small sums

principle

is

over and above the actual expenses of living, and

thus to aid thousands in

the

first

steps towards a

competency, who might otherwise be poor and de-

pendent

all

their days.

The amount

of good which

savings banks have done in this direction cannot

and cents. This general

remark is true of the Onondaga ^County Savings
Bank. During the twenty-two years of its existence
be estimated

it

dollars

in

has been a conservator of the public welfare in

more directions than one. The original incorpobank were Allen Munroe, James L.
Bagg, Robert G. Wynkoop, George Barnes, Perry
Burdick, James Forman, John W. Barker, Daniel P.
Wood, William E. Abbott, Harlow W. Chittenden,
Isaac H. Bronner, Charles F. Williston, Edward
S. Dawson, John Yorkey, Levi W. Hall, Cornelius
L. Alvord and John Fitzgerald.
These gentlemen
had no selfish purpose to serve
their work was a
rators of this

in his

business relations with the community

known

well

whole time

as a

now occupied

is

The

first

business place of the Onondaga County

it

and a credit

to

architect and builders, but

its

serves to illustrate what elegant building material

found here

at

home.

The bank

sentative institution of the county.

and

lot cost

bank

The

about ;?300,ooo.

is shown by
made July i, 1877

it

is

truly a repre-

The

building

condition of the
official

Bonds and mortgages

Government and municipal bonds

Amount

is

the following

financially

statement,

loaned on stocks and bonds

Banking House and lot, at cost
Other real estate, at cost
Cash on hand and in bank
Accrued interest

Due

first

street,

removed to the Syracuse House Block

and remained till taking possession of its new building.
This building is one of the finest in the city
it is of gray Onondaga limestone, a model in architectural design and proportions, and surmounted by
a superb clock-tower, which is lighted up gradually
by electricity as the darkness of night comes on.
This building is not only an ornament to the city

whence

then taken.
first

with the duties of his

Savings Bank was over No. 16 South Salina

All other assets

The

is

His

onerous and responsible position.

and judged by the light of subsequent events, they deserve honor for the action

philanthropic one

gentleman of high standing.

;^2,704,209 14
1,641,423 75
166,231 39
293.823 8

44.995 86
64,878 jZ
1 23,287
94

30,61738

Total resources
depositors

$5,069,468 05
4.649-257 19

President was Allen Munroe, and the

Treasurer

S.

H. Slosson.

Mr. Munroe

re^

Net surplus

$420,210 ^6

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

212

The number of open accounts

County Savings Bank July i,

in

Onondaga

the

1877,

was about

15,000.

The
Daniel

present officers of the bank are as follows

Vice-President

Edward

Robert G. Wynkoop,
Charles Franchot, Secretary, and

Wood, President

P.

Dawson, Treasurer.

S.

Trustees-Archibald C. Powell, Charles F. WilJames Terwilliger, John J. Crouse, Thomas

Molloy, George Barnes, Charles Andrews, Robert

listen,

W.

G. Wynkoop, John

Barker, Charles Franchot,

P. Wood. William E.
J.
Abbott, Rasselas A. Bonta, Francis E. Carroll, and
James L. Bagg.

James

Belden,

Daniel

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HON. DANIEL PRATT.
Daniel Pratt was born
county, N. V.,

in

1806.

in

in the impeachment of
same year received the appointment from Governor Hoffman as one of the Com-

prosecute Judge Barnard

Greenwich, Washington

In 1833, he was graduated

Union College, and in the same year moved to

Onondaga county, where he read law with David

at

the latter, and the

missioners to revise the Constitution of the State,

In 1873, he was elected Attorney-General, a position

D.

Hillis, Esq., at

In the

fall

Camillus.

of 1836, he removed to Syracuse, where

He was admitted to the bar

he has since resided.
in July 1837, with Judge George F. Comstock and
Hon. Charles B. Sedgwick and commenced the
practice of his profession with David D. Hillis, Esq.
1843, he

February,

In

was appointed by Gov-

Judge of Onondaga county.

Four years later he was elected Judge of the
Supreme Court and was reelected in 1851. At the
close of the term for which he had been reelected,
he retired from the bench enjoying the unreserved
confidence of the people he had so long served,
both as to his unquestioned integrity and his judiernor

Bouck,

First

which he

The mind
disciplined

in

and the mental training involved in his classical

education and study of law gave him an ultimate
mastery of his profession which placed him among
the leading jurists of his time.

His genial disposition, strong intellectuality, and

and positive argumentative powers, strengthened and enforced by a fund of knowledge always
at his command, made him very effective as an

direct

advocate, and

Rowc, of

of

instance adjourned his court closing the term with-

four sons, viz

out clearing the calendar of

all

causes ready for

While upon the bench, both Hamilton and

Union Colleges conferred upon him the degree of
LL. D., a fitting tribute to his legal attainments
and to his private and public worth.
He resumed the practice of law January ist,
i860, forming a partnership with the late David J.
trial.

an advocate

Two

was admitted

of

surpassing

persuasive

years later Mr. Wilber M.

to

thus constituted
in

him

public

a large share of popular

men

stand higher in the

confidence and esteem of their fellow citizens.

him that while acting in the capacity

Supreme Court, he never in one
of
the
of Judge

first

for

Few

In the year 1838, he married Miss Maria, sister

It is said of

powers.

won

appreciation.

cial ability.

Mitchell,

with distinction and honor.

Judge Pratt had been thoroughly
early life by study and reading,

filled

of

Brown

the partnership, and the firm as

for fifteen

years ranked

among

the

the State, having an unusually successful

and
Judge Pratt was elected as one of the counsel

S.

to

To

she was born.

Camillus,

in

which

Mr. and Mrs. Pratt were

town

bom

William, (drowned while young,)

George Comstock, (died young, Charles and Daniel,
the latter admitted to the practice of law and in the
:

office

with his father.

Mrs. Pratt was a most devoted Christian wife and

mother, a friend of the poor, and foremost in all

She was one of

the first who founded the Onondaga Orphan Asylum
and Syracuse Home, which to-day bear testimony
to her sagacity and disinterested benevolence. She
work

for their relief

and elevation.

nth of September. 1872, aged sixtyFor more than thirty years she had
the city of Syracuse and been for many

died on the
six years.

resided in

years

lucrative practice.

B.

Church.

communicant

of

the

First

Presbyterian

t>.<^'^~^

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

WILLIAM CRAWFORD RUGER.

This eminent

member

of a high order, and possessed of a peculiarly acute

of the legal profession was

born at Bridgewater, Oneida county, N. Y., January

His

30th, 1824.

inent lawyer,

in

qualifications as an advocate, his forensic eftbrts are

exceedingly able and effective, while his arguments

upon questions of law are remarkable for clearness

in 1847,

where

practice until his death, in

1855.

C. attended

William

Academy,

well

school

known

where he received a good

the

Bridgewater

institution

of learning,

at

education, and

classical

afterwards entered the office of his father as a stu-

dent and was regularly admitted to the bar under

Supreme Court

the old

He

at

opened an

first

logical mind, he is justly distinguished for extensive learning and sound judgment.
With these

John Ruger, was a prom-

water until his removal to Syracuse,

he continued

and

practiced his profession at Bridge-

father,

who

213

Utica

office

in July,

or artifice, he presents his

causes upon their real

merits, and his professional conduct

is conspicuous
uniform fairness and courtesy. Of fine personal
appearance, and with refined and cordial manners,
he is a universal favorite among his professional

for

whom

Bridgewater and

brethren, by

when he removed

able lawyer and genial gentleman.

at

practiced at that place until 1853,

1845.

of expression and for a style of reasoning at once

forcible and convincing.
Above the use of tricks

Syracuse and entered into partnership with his

father, under the firm name of J. & Wm. C. Ruger.

he

is

justly regarded as a

most

to

Since that time he has been constantly

practice at Syracuse, and

Wallace

Ruger,

Jenney,

Jenney, Brooks

&

&

French.

&

connected are the

the litigation arising out of

trial,

the failure of the People's Safe

Institution,

Ruger

& Jenney, and Ruger,

Among the important

cases with which he has been

Lindsay murder

Lester,

Deposit and Savings

" canal ring " prose-

and the celebrated

Mr. Ruger has always been a Democrat, and

frequently represented his district in the councils of

among others

tion held at

Rome

the famous

and Syracuse

Hunker conven-

in

1849,

Mr. Clark was born in the town of Saybrook,

Middlesex county. Conn., October 5, 1807.

The Clark
ment

of the

family dates back to the early settle-

New England

States, and is descended

from John Clark, who immigrated to America about

1644, and

the year

settled

first

Rhode Island. The ancestors

much noted for longevity his
;

the State of

in

of Elizur Clark

^^'^^

^''st

were

grandfather's family,

consisting of four sons and four daughters,

cutions instituted by Governor Tilden.

his part)',

HON. ELIZUR CLARK.

active

connected successively

Ruger

with the law firms of

in

all

lived

upwards of eighty-three years of age, the youngest living to the advanced age of ninety-three years.
to

His

father,

Beamont

Clark, born

lived to be ninety years of age

July 25,

1767,

and was a native of

State Judicial Convention in 1870, the National Con-

Saybrook, Conn., as was also the grandfather.

vention of 1872, and the State Convention of 1877.

but owing to the ascendency of the Republican

His father came with that part of the family

which had not preceded him and settled in the
town of Cicero, Onondaga county, in the summer
He was a farmer by occupation and did
of 1823.

party and not from any want of personal merit, he

very

He

has also been twice the candidate of his party

for

member

failed of

Upon

of Congress, viz

in

1863 and 1865

until 1837,

an election.
the organization of the

Bar Association
dent, and

in 1875,

continued

in

Onondaga County

he became

its first

Presi-

that office for three years,

when he was succeeded by Judge

also elected

President of the

first

Pratt.

He

was

first

President of the social club organized at Syra-

cuse

in

1864, and

known

as

the

Onondaga Club.

He was married May 2d, i860, to Harriet, eldest

daughter of Hon. Erastus S. Prosser, of Buffalo,
N. Y., and has one child, Crawford Prosser Ruger,
born Nov. 8, 1861.
Mr. Ruger holds a most enviable position in his
chosen profession.

Endowed

January

The

was formed, of which he

now one of the Vice-Presidents. He was also the

with natural abilities

when he removed

to

Michigan, where he

His mother, whose maiden

to be seventy-three

years of age, and died in Michigan.

of age

the State Bar Association

the early settlement of that town,

name was Nabbe Spencer, lived

when

in 1876,

in

died in the year 1857.

State Bar Con-

vention, held in this state at Albanx-

is

much

She was born

14, 1770.

subject of this record

was only

when he came

county with his father

to this

fifteen

years

and was next to the youngest in a family of eleven

children eight sons and three daughters all of
whom, except one besides himself, are deceased.
Mr. Clark's early opportunities for obtaining an
On coming to Syracuse
education were limited.
he embarked in business for himself, and his subsequent successful career has abundantly proved
that a practical

education

capacity, energy

and

study.

is

more the

result of

self-application than of book-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

214

He

spent his time until the year

1834

in

CORNELIUS TYLER LONGSTREET.

such

He leased the

Mr. Longstreet, the subject of

this biographical

Henry Seymour, and carried

on the lumbering business until 1837, when Mr.
Seymour died, and Mr. Clark purchased a half

notice, is a native of this county,

having been born

various kinds of business as presented.

Salina mill property of

interest

the

in

pVoperty,

owned by e.x-Governor

other

the

Hon. Thomas G. Alvord, and in partner& Alvord carried on the lumber

business until 1863, when Mr. Clark retired from
the firm, and with the exception of an agency in

He

until

18701 retired

which continued

mill property,

from the active duties of

tled

(from

to

the

grandfather,

who were

the Whig, he cast his first vote for General Jackson,

and has been an unswerving and consistent memHe has
ber of the Democratic party ever since.
never been an active politician and has looked

been identified with the public

He

ilies

to

and
and Syracuse

many instances, and was one of the first Aldermen elected after the organization of the City
he

1856

and
in

representing the

in

was

Supervisor

the year

1863,

been

filled

the

represented

set-

memoir

is

descend-

Jersey.

of the South.

the

first

who

sold

goods

in

this

Gen. Asa Danforth and his son, Asa, Jr., to Onondaga Valley in 1788. He was then a young unmarried man. Col. Comfort Tyler is said to have
felled the first tree, manufactured the first bushel of

Ward.
In
same ward,
his

and

Georgia, and the third

About the year 1802, Cornelius Longstreet came

Onondaga West Hill and opened a general store.

district

All these public positions

salt,

put the

with that integrity of purpose and

first

ten

the State Legislature.

ha%'e

for

First

America,

In the year 1805, he married Deborah,

county.
daughter of Col. Comfort Tyler. Col. Tyler was
one of the first settlers of the county, coming with

in

Syracuse,

New

to

the early settlement

to Pennsylvania

the subject of this

He was among

has

offices of trust

responsibility in the history of Salina

of

whom

in

in

three

Federal party and afterward

rather to principles than to party interest.

from

Judge Longstreet,
of the Georgia branch of the family, was President
of Columbia College, of South Carolina, at the
time of the breaking out of the late war of the Rebellion
he was uncle of Gen. James Longstreet,
of the Confederate army, and his family is connected
by marriage with some of the most prominent fam-

for several years past.

closely allied

One went

ed) remained in

life.

father and

Jersey

second settled

New

in

of that State.

has been a director in the Salt Springs Bank

Unlike his

a family of five chil-

who immigrated from Holland

stopping

first

since 1867, and a trustee of the Syracuse Savings

Bank

who had

brothers

he leased the

Deborah

the youngest son of Cornelius and

Longstreet, or t^Longstreth.) comes

to

whom

19th of April, 1814.

His father was a native of New Jersey his

mother was born at Caughnawaga, now the village
The family of
of Fonda, on the Mohawk River.

ship Messrs. Clark

connection with the party to

the

dren.

1846,

chased the other half of the property, and sold the

same

is

[Tyler] Longstreet,

He
Seymour.
when he pur-

Horatio

carried on this business until

He

being

half

Onondaga Valley on

in

honest dealing which have characterized his whole

first

plow

in

the ground, and built the

miles of turnpike in the county.

When

the subject of this notice was only eight

months

old, in the

life.

Mr. Clark
full

is

a plain, unassuming man, having the

confidence of his fellow men, and

now

at the

the family, except for

lost

business ability apparently unimpaired.

years and

In the year 1825,

November

13,

he married Miss

of New York City, and

Edward Manning, of Syracuse,

Seymour,

cuse,

John

Mary

D., wife of

For

his second wife he

His wife died in 1865.

November, 1869, Miss Augusta M.

married, in

Peck, daughter of Charles

L.

Peck, a

native of

Lynn, Conn., and a descendant of Deacon William

Peck, born in England 1601, and came to America
1638 and settled in New Haven, Conn.

to

mother,

leaving a large

until

their

use for a few

about the time of the death of the

in 1826.

Until the death of his mother, Cornelius T. was

in school, but about one year afterwards he
engaged as an apprentice in Syracuse to the tailoring trade, and after three years he went to Geddes,
where he remained until he was seventeen years of

kept

age,

are living.

14. his father died,

property for those times, which, however, through

the mismanagement of his executors, was nearly

age of seventy years retains an active mind and

Jerusha N. Spencer, of Onondaga county. To

them were born ten children, of whom Chauncey
B., Harriet E., wife of Augustus Avery, of Syra-

year 18

when he

established business for himself as a

merchant tailor, buying his stock of goods in New

York. After three years he established his business in Syracuse, and for the next ten years is said
to have carried on the largest business in this line
of

any man

in

the State west of

New York

city.

In the year 1846, perceiving that there was a want

^.^w^t^^^^

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK.

means

in the

New York

of supply of clothing in

the northern trade,

he removed

for

his business to that

and established a wholesale clothing house, the

Here his busfirst for supplying the northern trade.
city

and the change proved very successHe remained in New York, shipping goods to
ful.
the Northern and Western States, for six years.when
he returned to Syracuse, and for the next three years

iness increased

was engaged

in

the erection of what

known

is

as

Renwick Castle." In the fall of 1855, he returned

to New York for the purpose of establishing his
son, Charles A. Longstreet, in the same business
He rewhich he had himself formerly carried on.
"

mained there

(meantime keepwhen he gave

until the fall of 1862,

ing his family and

home

in Syracuse,)

up business on account of ill health, returned

native county, where he now resides.

to his

Since the organization of the First National

of Syracuse, he has been one of the directors.

Bank

He

been also

has

Bank

since

His

first

its

a director of the

Mechanics'

organization.

upon the formation of the Republican party he

adopted

Whig

party,

and

and has since unswervingly

principles,

its

stood firm upon

its

platform.

At the age of 23 years, he married Miss Mary

E. Barlow, of Syracuse, to whom were born four
children Charles A.,

W.

James

Juliet,

L.,

and Edward

deceased.

all

His wife died in the year 1846. For his second

he married, in the year 1847, Mrs. Caroline A.
Sanford, daughter of Lewis H. Redfield, of Syracuse.
By his second wife he had five children, viz
Cally Redfield, Alice Meeta, Comfort Tyler, Cornelius Tyler, and Cornelia Tyler Longstreet, now

wife,

Mrs. Poor, of Skaneateles, the only surviving child

of the second family.

The only surviving offspring by the name of

Longstreet, are the three sons, C. Tyler, Jarvis

Guy

Dennis, and

Longstreet, of Los Angelos, Cal-

fornia, sons of the late

was the

Charles A. Longstreet,

eldest son of the subject of this sketch,

many years

for

vote was cast in the

215

prominent merchant of

who
and

New York

city.

SYRACUSE MANUFACTURES.
The advantages

of Syracuse as a manufacturing

and

variety.

some

city are greater than

those of most inland towns,

port

being situated on so

many

of this city

and

lines of transportation

mines of Pennsyl-

easy access to the coal

in

The

vania.

when

immense salt
other branches of manu-

time has been

the

overshadowed all
and it was hardly thought that Syracuse
furnished facilities for making anything else than
interest
facture,

True, this great interest

salt.

continue to take the lead

doubtless always

will

the salt deposited by

nature in vast and inexhaustible quantities under

the very foundations of the

was

city,

that

vited the original settlers to this spot,

up the

ment

city

and

its

nature has supported

population, and

will

is

The developimmense gift of

of

this

a large

percentage of the

salt

ment.

interests which are part of the history

and without which its local record

would be very incomplete. We shall begin with

of the city itself

the useful rather than the ornamental, and take

the

staft"

of

life

Empire State Flouring Mills

&

Sons.

first

represented by the

These

mills are situated

of Jacob Amos
on West Water

street, and are supplied with the best modern improvements, with reference. to the production of the
finest grades of flour.
Jacob Amos & Sons are

the only manufacturers of merchant flour in the

city,

and have a high reputation wherever their

The

brands are known.

firm,

Mr. Jacob Amos,

is

senior

member

of

the

an old resident of Syra-

cuse, having

came here

his business

operations of one kind and another

interest

"

City of Salt,"

share equally with

the time,

capital of her enterprising citizens,

capital will

in this article to re-

coming when Syracuse

is

other manufactures will

great

our purpose

to-day the chief interest of this

but the time

be a City of Iron as well as a

when
the

in-

built

adjacent villages.

of the resources

locality

which

and has

It is

of the leading manufacturing interests

attention

and

and when foreign

be directed here for profitable invest-

Already the manufactures of Syracuse are

more numerous and

diversified than

supposed, and every year

is

adding

to

commonly
their number
is

subsequent

in

to that date,

he became a

1839.

it is

Without tracing

sufficient to state that

In 1861 he bought
Water
street
recently occupied
on
West
the property
in 1852

by the

firm,

adapted

it

miller.

to

milling purposes, put in

six run of stone, and until lately the business has

been carried on in this building.
seventy-horse
power engine supplied steam for the machinery and
the capacity of the mills was lOO barrels per day.

introduced by him and successfully carried out by

In addition to the manufacture of flour this firm

carry on an extensive business in the splitting of peas,

amounts

the product of which

Feed and

a year.

manufactured

farina are also

manufacture of farina

The
now being removed
till

is

make room

for a

of 1877, Messrs.

fall

known

the property

West Water

street,

as

have a capacity

mills

the production

These
of 1,400

Amos & Sons

It

has

run of stone, a

fifteen

capacity of 250 barrels of flour daily,

fifty

kegs of

and thirty kegs of farina. The business

under the charge of Mr. Jacob Amos, Jr.

pearl barley
is

Sweet's

Manufacturing Company,

organized, was established in

as

now

1871, with a capital

of $250,000, with William A. Sweet as President

Chapman,

Jr.. in

in

when he

property
for

the

1873, as Treasurer, and Fred.

1872, as Secretary.

The

real be-

upon the
Greenway's Brewery

established a business

adjoining the office of

manufacture of cutler knives

for

mowers

and reapers. In i860, he sold this property to Mr.

Greenway and purchased that now occupied by
George Barnes & Co., and formed the firm of Sweet
Brothers

&

About two-thirds

Co., under the style of the Ceresian

Geddes

1870, the

occupied

another

equipped

with

building,

for that

Steel

business the part of the

Wyoming and

Otisco

In 1864, he formed a stock organization

with the whole of this business and property under
streets.

name of Sweet, Barnes & Co., and

management their highest prosperity was

the corporate

attained, as through
its

him the

entire manipulation of

crude state

in

the bar iron to the

The Conplace
which
takes
the
of
the
old Engverting Oven,
lish

steel

pottery oven, for the conversion of iron into

by the cementation process,

is

another of his

inventions, and has been proved successful by

years of use.

Finally, the

the steel in the crucible,

Sweet's, not inferior

The works now

in

Gas Furnace
is

an

for

many

melting

invention of Mr.

point of importance

and

These inventions may be

revolution in the steel man-

in operation,

have eight trains of

rolls, five

among

other things,

steam engines of from

25 to 250 horse power each, six pairs of shears,

eleven heating furnaces, three converting ovens

and three steam hammers.

Sanoerson Brothers' Steel Companv, Geddes. In August, 1872, Sweet's Manufacturing

Company purchased the old distillery property in
Geddes and converted

steel

have operated

use,

this city.

knives and other articles finished and ready for

was not only thoroughly superintended, but each
one of the various processes was really invented and

and

very large percentage in fuel and time.

have created a

block situated on the corner of

1876,)

rolls

Some of the most valuable tools used in these

works are entirely new to the steel manufacturing
business and are the inventions of Mr. Sweet, for
instance, the Gas Furnace for heating the metal for
rolling, is his patent, and saves for the company a

said to

Works, and occupied

in

other necessary machinery.

ufacturing business.

Onondaga

(^completed

two additional trains of

utility

of the

in-

and also with the general oflfice of the WestThis

ern Union Telegraph Company in the city.
arrangement effects a saving in time which is simply
By the side of these works, on the
incalculable.
corner of West and Marcellus streets, has been
terest,)

ture of mowing machine knives and sections, to

which business, in 1863, he added the manufacture
of steel, under the style

the office, to which lines

in

which Mr. Sweet has an

steel mill, tin

Cutter Works, for the continuance of the manufac-

the metal from

In

1871.

of wires are attached, connects the works with the

to the others.

under his

in

of an entire block are

a telegraph instrument

added

ginning of Mr. Sweet's connection with the manufacturing enterprises of Syracuse should date from
1858,

the organization of Sweet's

till

George W. Harwood as Treasurer, and Henry Clay

Since that time, however,
Barnes as Secretary.
Messrs. Harwood and Barnes have resigned and
their places have been filled respectively by J. M.
Schermerhorn,

W. HarW. A. Sweet & Co.,

October, 1868, by George

works were destroyed by fire, but from the debris

arose in forty days new buildings, which, in their
extent and appointments, far surpass the old.

Baldwinsville one of the largest flouring

mills in the State.

there

in

with brick buildings of a substantial character, and

Besides their mills here, Messrs.

at

crowbars, &c., in which business he

Manufacturing Company,

barrels per week.

have

goods, such as

tire,

which continued

Amos & Sons purchased

the J. W. Barker Mills on

for

the manufacture of steel

wood. forming the firm of

In

the

business by him-

Steel

was joined,

is

new and

paying therefor ^50,000.

in

springs,

profitable.

substantial block which will soon be erected.

the

self

company

Works and began

Onondaga

in

mills for the

recently occupied by the firm

to

In April, 1868, he bought of this

country, and therefore

in the

the business of the firm in this article

old mill

his instructions.

to 40,000 bushels

There are but few

large quantities.

B.

Jl

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

2l6

The

it

in

it

into steel works,

and since

connection with the works in

mill at

Geddes has

engines and
two converting

five

two trains of rolls, six gas furnaces,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK.

ovens, two gas furnaces for melting steel, and other

company organized under

Steel Company,

sold to a stock

turing purposes

In 1876 this property was

necessary equipments.

the

Sanderson Brothers

America

in

The Sanderson Brothers

much more

be

will

likely to select this place than

title

with

217

any other.

Company had

Steel

it

capital of $450,000, all paid in, of

contemplation at the outset to carry on the business on a scale that should place this enterprise in

ing gentlemen are directors

the front rank of the steel manufacturing interests

of

in

which the followRobert B. Campbell,

Samuel William Johnson and Edward Frith, of
New York and William A. Sweet and J. M.
:

of this country.

Schermerhorn,

Jr.,

with

1876,

Campbell,
Secretary

The company took

of this city.

works on the

possession of these

September,

ist of

trains have been put in place,

Robert B.
President; Samuel William Johnson,
Edward Frith, Treasurer and William
following

the

officers:

require.

George Barnes & Co

A. Sweet, General Manager. It is the intention of

this company to manufacture the celebrated brand

Swedish

of

same kind

iron, in the

the leading interests of this

of crucibles and

manner

steel for use in this country.

manufacture of

making

history of cast steel

in this

an

The

this

company have every

facility for

This

precisely identical.

is

the

making them
time

first

that

English cast steel has ever been manufactured

this

country under exactly the same methods as

those of any existing English steel company, and

is

in

it

quite remarkable that in the Centennial year of the

Sanderson business and

in

our Centennial year as a

mower and

whose

establishment

the grass and grain are

suffice for

'

cutting

business

chief

the

the knives by which

cut.

It is

easy to see that

stalk of the grass or grain being cov-

To

stroys the edge of an inferior knife.

therefore, that

knife,

will

hold an

quired a great deal of study,

machinery,

perfect a

edge, has re-

and experi-

practice

ence, and like everything requiring special

skill

has become a separate branch of

it

dustry, a part of the manufacture of the

by

movement

the

for

The beginning of the

manufacture of mower and

the citizens of Syracuse should congratulate them-

small

scale.

manager

other

establishment

for the first

American

fine steel enter-

prise.

States

This

It is

indeed something that Syracuse should

a note of as

an era

in

make

her history, that upon her

At

the

is still

has

similar

when

Co. began the enterprise on a

that time

works
true,

tablishment
other

&

in-

itself.

reaper knives in this city dates back to 1858,

Sweet Brothers

and

mower and

hands towards our broad domain as her field for

further business expansion, and it is fitting that

and works

the

is

ered with a silicious coating which very soon de-

reaper entirely

selves that here are found a satisfactory

our

efficient mower or reaper depends very much

upon the character of the knife that is to do the

been inaugurated. Old England

stretching out her

with

in contrast

will

it

an

country, the beginning of this enterprise should have

is

reaper

parts of these machines, viz

country would

tempts to reach the English standard of uniform

qualities and tempers it will be seen, however, that

the

in

manufacture of the most important and particular

a series of unsuccessful at-

first to last

made

purpose to record the progress made in

present

show from

Without slop-

city.

the ancient scythe and sickle,

right and title to their peculiar mixtures in the

all

of

of harvesting both grass and grain as sug-

gested by the

works of Sanderson Brothers & Co.,

as
In pursuance of
(limited,) at Sheffield, England.
which plan, this company have purchased from them
the

at

manufacture

ing to notice the wonderful progress

same mixture and manipulation

with precisely the

The

knives for mowers and reapers has become one of

same brand

of Sanderson's best cast steel from the

and other enlargements

be made as the exigencies of the business may

will

Accordingly, large improvements

on the existing Geddes works were undertaken and

completed in the fall of 1876.
New rod and plate

of the

there

kind

located at

we

was only one

the United

in

Fitchburg,

believe, as the

Mass.

Fitchburg es-

been discontinued, and only anIn

exists at Akron, Ohio.

factory

the reproduction of English cast steel in America.

1859, William B. Cogswell became associated with

Sweet Brothers & Co., and in i860, Mr. George

Who knows

Barnes purchased his

borders has been inaugurated the

first

attempt at

but the success of this undertaking will

be the means of drawing other English companies

to this locality,

the

finest

and not merely the manufacture of

steel

in

the

world, but

English and foreign manufactories

here

The fact

be centered

Syracuse into notice

and companies wishing

28*

will

other

that one such establishment already

exists here will bring

land,

various

to locate for

in

Eng-

manufac-

interest.

Thus Mr. Barnes

became interested in the manufactory of which he

His name did not appear, howis now the head.
ever, in the firm style

till

1864,

when

a joint stock

company was formed under the title of Sweet,

Barnes & Co. Meantime the company had engaged

manufacture also, and in 1868, it sold

works to Mr. Sweet, who has since been

in steel

the steel

In 1873, by virtue of

identified with that interest.

an order from the Supreme Court, the name of the

company was changed from Sweet, Barnes & Co.
of

that

to

&

George Barnes

Co., and such

it

has

The knives of George Barnes & Co. find a market

wherever mowers and reapers are made and used,
throughout the old world and the new.

The

President of the

The employed
The shops
000.

company

of the

capital

is

$416,-

as a citizen and

of the works have been added to

from time to time, and now present an unbroken
frontage of 253 feet on Marcellus street, and 175 on

identified with

Wyoming,

railroad affairs

the buildings being of brick, two stories

extent of this business, a few

illustrate the

some

Manager, formerly held responsible positions in

was Superintendent of the division
;

New York

Central between Syracuse and

Utica until the consolidation, and afterwards Super-

bar contains sixteen of these sections.

company made

1,412,254 sections

sections;

1,017,361

1873,

is

In

Jn September, 1877, the consolidation of these

works in Syracuse with those of Akron, Ohio, was

in

last figure

equivalent to 181,888 com-

the manufacture of these about

200 tons of American sheet steel are used. In

1875, the works used up 700 tons of grindstones^
2,200 tons of coal, 2,000 bushels of charcoal, 3,000
bushels of coke, 75,000 feet of pine lumber for

packing boxes, and paid 115,30966 as wages to

workmen, exclusive

of salaries to officers, &c.

product of the works amounted

numbers

in

The

value in round

comparison with $158,000

to $481,000. in

grindstones, which are rapidly worn down,

are purchased in lots of three car loads per week.

They come

into the

masses, six feet

in

grinding room great bulky

diameter and twelve inches thick,

and are carried out as dust.

We have not space to describe the whole process
of manufacture perhaps the most interesting is
the process of tempering the knives or sections.

On coming
placed

eflfected,

Whitman

and a new company formed, called the

& Barnes Manufacturing Company, with

a capital of $400,000.

managed

in a

from the

cutting

machine, they arc

reverberating furnace and slightly heated,

in

cisely as the old

tary

and Treasurer

Ellis,

President

W.

L.

and H. Wiard, Superintendent.

double ender,")from which

Here the temper

excluded.

is

"drawn

all

air is

out," and,

whereas under the old process the loss was fully ten
per cent., under this, (the new and improved, it
1

scarcely one per cent.

ive section

partment

is

is "

ever made.

In fact, scarcely a defectIn this tempering de-

the secret of the whole business," and

well challenge a moment's attention.

making pur-

poses if the company had erected them and on the

2d of August, 1876, the first plow was manufac;

Since then the company have used every

tured.

effort to facilitate their

business

from day to day

number of plows turned out has increased

every improvement in modes of finishing has been
the

and the result is the production of an implement which promises to effect an important
change in the manufacture and material of the plow.
There are three other concerns in the country

adopted

fects of others

furnace, (a "

T.

into a brine, and from the brine go to the tempering

annealed, and

Hall, Secre-

The company occupies the Williams Mower and

Reaper Works in this city premises which could

them

may

James M.

F. Andrews, Vice-President

some

it

shop has been.

capital of $100,000.

thence go to the molten lead baths, of which there

From these baths they are plunged
are a number.

partly

be

This company has been formed in Syracuse for the

It has a
purpose of manufacturing Chilled Plows.

in

and

will

The Syracuse Chilled Plow Companv.

engaged

are then straightened

is

The new company

Syracuse by Mr. George Barnes, pre-

not have been better adapted to plow

in 1868.

The

managed.

fully

1870,
;

he has devoted himself wholly to the

business of the company which he has so successlate years

1869,

plete cutter-bars of sixteen each, manufactured in a

single year.

Cincinnati railway. Of

in

2,428,357 sec-

This

2,Qio,i99 sections.

in 1874,

of 2,910,199 sections

&

In

1871, 1,517,043 sections

in

1,853,263 sections; in
;

known

of the leading interests of this

intendent of the Marietta

lions

Joel Thayer, of

business man, having been long

and figures are here supplied. Let us premise

that a " section " is a single V-shaped knife attached
by two rivets to a cutter-bar, and that a complete
facts

1872,

is

Mr. Barnes, the Treasurer and General

section.

of the

in height.

To

company

Skaneateles, a gentleman well and favorably

since remained.

the

1^

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

3l8

of

imitations.

the

manufacture of chilled

really

but

excellent,

plows,

others

base

In the Syracuse chilled plow the de-

have been avoided

the iron

is

chilled

by a process differing greatly from that of others

the shape of the plow is more symmetrical, the
In the construction of this
finish more perfect.
used
by the company as that
iron
is
plow the same
used by the United States in the manufacture of
:

its

guns.

and made

By

certain processes this iron

effective

for

comjjarison has been

is

chilled

the purpose designed.

made between

this process

Phot<. I>y .Suruny, N.

The

subject of this sketch was ituin iu Warwickshire, Englaml, Jan. 6,

He was the eldest child uf Thomas Greeuway imd Anna Padbury,
both natives of England.
His paternal grandfather's name was John.
His father, with his family of wife and five children, John, Elizabeth,
George, David, and William, sailed from Liverpool about the middle of
June, 1837, and landed in New York in August, after a very stormy passage. The mother died soon after coming tu this country, in Jersey City.
The family felt a great loss in the death of the wife and mother, but the
same year, by steamboat up the Hudson river and by canal the balance of
the way, came to Syracuse.
His father died at the age of seventy-three
years. Upon reaching Syracuse, John worked on a farm for Walker Knapp
one month for five dollars. He afterwards went into the grocery store of
Ephraim Hull, where he spent most of his lime fur the next three years as
a clerk, but by odd spells worked at other business
helped to cut a track
through the swamp for the survey of the Syracuse and Utica railroad;
assisted in cutting the piles for the road, receiving therefor one cent each
was on call for any general work, iind during this time received a very limited
opportunity for an education, being a part of two winters in a district
school. He spent his boyhood before leaving England in agricultural pursuits; this, together with his three years' e.\perience among strangers,
had well fitted him to meet the obstacles common not only to foreigners,
but as well to the native poor, both of which he had to surmount.
In 1841 he, with his brother George as partner, opened a grocery store
at Lodi Locks, for the purpose of supplying the canal trade. In this they
cleared during the spring and summer one hundred dollars apiece, and he
remembers of feeling very rich in this world's goods at such a success.
Another summer was spent in trade, with greater profits, and sufficient to
induce them to sell out their store and invest in a horse and wagon, and
start on the road as peddlers. This business lasted only a short time, and
1821.

he and his brother determined to go south; but upon reaching Lancaster,

Ohio, the roads being nearly impassable, an English penny, tossed up,
determined whether they should go ahead or return. The return was fixed
upon, and John and his brother, after many interesting adventures, came
back to Palmyra, N. Y., and the next year opened a grocery store in that
place, which was continued only one season, and iu this store they were also
successful.
John, iu the fall, thinking to speculate, started to New York
with a cargo of live poultry by canal. On his way the canal froze over, and
with no possibility of getting his freight carried by railroad, he was left in
a sad dilemma; but after a short time got his poultry to market, with the
price of the same out of pocket. Thence he went to New Orleans, where he
Worked for a Portuguese merchant, in a provision store, until the next June,
and returned to Syracuse. From this time (1845) Mr. Greeuway's career
was more fixed to one branch of business. He became the agent for the
sale of ale manufactured by a firm at Palmyra, and continued with that
firm and others for several years, when, in 1S5;{, he formed a co-paitnership with his brother George, and bought the entire lirewster interest in
Syracuse. The new firm pushed their business with great vigor. Both
partners were men of unusual enterprise and activity, and they managed

Y. City.

the manufacture and business in such a way that gave them at once reputation and profit.
The ales and porter made by them became known in
all parts of the country, and they made it a rule that every article should
be kept at a standard quality. About the year 1867, Mr. John Greeuway
came into possession of the entire business, occasioned by his brother's
death.
He at once entered upon his increased responsibilities with still
grander schemes of enlargeniunt and improvement, which he has fully
carried out within the last few years. He has completed one of the largest
brewery and malt-houses to be found in the United States. An idea of
this|immcnse structure may be gained when we state (hat it is six stories
high, with a French roof, and extends nearly one- eighth of a mile in
length.
It includes a malt-house, large elevator, brewery, storage, and
shipping departments, and elegant office. The capacity of the malting
department is sufficient for converting into malt about three hundred
thousand bushels of barley iluring the malting season, and not less than
Mr.
five thousand barrels of ale atiii porter are continuall}' in the vaults.
Greenway is perfectly unselfish in his efl'orts to establish a large and

At all times he has exhibited a determination to make

those laboring with him participate in its increase and profits. Whenever
be could better the circumstances of any man Ity increased pay, he has
been mindful to do it; and has succeeded in many ways in giving his
workmen advantages not enjoyed in other establishments.
While Mr. Greenway has been prosperous iu business, he has not
been unmindful of the needy, and of any and all interests of his city and
county requiring a helping hand. His liberal spirit and actions wore
most notably shown on New Yt-ar's Day. 1870. by a great barbecue which
he gave to the poor of Syracuse- and the country around. It is said that
forty thousand persons were present, and that ten thousand wore fed.
As a fitting crown to the feast, two thousand four hundred pounds of plum
pudding were distributed for dessert.
The pudding was brought on the ground in sleighs decorated with evergreens and flags, and having on the aides, in large letters, the words
"Happy New Year." At the close of the barbecue a large, uncooked ox
was cut up. and, with supplies of bread, was distributed to the poor
widows and orphans of the city. In the winter of 1877, Mr. Greenway
opened a soup house for the benefit uf the poor of (he city, and in this
way he shared with the needy the munificence of his hospitality.
Mr. Greenway is a man of plain appearance, an honest, humble-minded
His face bespeaks his
person, of practical views in regard to all things.
He has the same frank and
encro-y of character and goodness of heart.
enjoys the
genial manners and address with all persons, and couscquontiy
widest popularity. Hospitable and sociable in his home circle, he goes
from his
inseparable
abroad with a cheerfulness and goodness that arc
profitable business.

nature.
,
,
i *
ofeIn the year 1848, Fob. 18, he married Miss Nancy Ann, daughter
Ephraim Hull, of Syracuse, by whom he has had four sons and two
and
daughters, now living, Gertrude, George, John, William, Thomas,
Annie Laurie.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

219

and that of the Oliver Plow Factory at South Bend,

Indiana, the largest chilled plow establishment in

tude of the business, to which must be added the

the world, showing that while the chilling process

fact that

of the Oliver works requires twenty-five hours, the

method adopted by the Syracuse Chilled Plow

25,000 lager beer casks

Company completes
iron thus chilled

of

its

The

very few minutes.

in a

it

crystalized for about two-thirds

is

thickness, leaving an iron basis as a matter

The appearance of the

was made up

of strength and durability.

crystalized surface

of an infinite

as

is

number of

needles, and the superiority

over steel

of the chilled iron

upon the metal

the wear

the metal

if

the fact that

in

is

across the point-like

is

crystalizations instead of lengthwise of the metal.

It

has been observed that this chilling process changes

the polarity of the metal, or in other words, the
course of the magnetic current

magnet

to the chilled side the needles will point to

the south, and vice versa

This

side.

applying the

for

is

when

applied to the other

some

idea of the magni-

Mr. Greenway owns 50,000 ale casks and

his cellars, which are im-

in extent,

casks

of ale

have a storage capacity

and

for

like extravagance, or the baseless fabric of a

but they are

tem and order mark

all

mam-

the operations of this

moth establishment and the men employed

experienced

dream,

Perfect sys-

indisputable facts.

solid,

30,000

Such statements seem

lager.

in their several

are

all

branches of work.

The Ale and Lager Beer Breweries are connected

by a tunnel which runs under the Erie Canal.
casks are made in Mr. Greenway's own shops,
which are connected with the brewing establish-

The

ment,

as

are

carpenter's,

also

tinner's,

copper-

smith's, blacksmith's and harness-maker's

shops.

Mr. Greenway employs and has constantly

in

use

from 70 to 80 horses.

Mr. Greenway

is

ably assisted in the conduct of

immense establishment by his financial manager,

Samuel W. Sherlock, who has filled many positions

his

Greenway's Brewery
Syracuse.

It

one of the sights of

is

commanding

occupies a peculiarly

and central position

in

the heart of the

passenger tracks of the

the

fronting

city

and

New York

An immense parallelogram, it
away a distance of nearly one-eighth of a
Nor is it simply a pile of brick and mortar
Railway.

stretches
mile.

figures give

mense

curious problem for the scientist

to solve.

Central

These few

without shape or comeliness

an architectural point of view,

with the finest in the

on the contrary, in
it
deserves to rank

Its proportions are sim-

city.

of responsibility

and

trust in

the city for the past

George H. Greenway, his

elder son, and John Greenway, Jr., who holds the
position of cashier, and also William N. Greenway,
assistant brewer.
His younger son Thomas has
charge of his model farm.
twenty-five years

also

Onondaga Pottery Company

this

company

The works

of

are located in Geddes, where an ex-

periment of manufacturing

fine Ironstone

China had

ply superb, and the mansard roof and tower that

been carried on about two or three years before the

crown the

present joint stock

ance.
sidered,

In

edifice give
its

it is

it

a light, graceful appear-

general aspect, architecturally con-

unlike any other

building devoted to

company was organized in

Hitherto the American market for this

July,

class
87 1
of goods had been supplied wholly from England,
1

immense cost
must be in all
fitted out with all the commodern brewery, including

was not supposed that such goods could be

But the country
in this country.
abounded in the best kind of material, and a knowl-

malt house, elevators, ice houses and cellars of the

only required to produce a variety of goods that

should fairly compete with, and even rival, the

like

purposes in the country, and

its

^500,000 shows how complete

appointments.

its

It is

plete paraphernalia of a

it

most approved construction.

The malt house

106 by 65

feet, in

consists of twelve floors, each

which

is

annually

made 200,000

bushels of malt, and the coal consumed for malting

purposes amounts to 800 tons yearly.

eries consist
for

The

gran-

of three floors, with storage capacity

The hop room

200,000 bushels of grain.

is

by 45. feet, and the yearly consumption of hops

about 200,000 pounds.

The

making the

annum over

total

is

boiling tub will hold

over 400 bushels at one time.

by steam, requiring

65

The

boiling

is

done

1,200 tons of coal each year,

amount

2,000 tons.

of coal

The

storage capacity of 500 tons.

coal

consumed per
bunkers have a

and

it

manufactured

edge of the

art, enterprise,

and

skilled labor

were

Such
famous Staffordshire wares of England.
labor
have
been
skilled
and
knowledge, enterprise,
and
Company,
Pottery
organized by the Onondaga
are

now

in

successful operation,

producing every

variety of both plain and decorated table and toilet

ware.

Certain specimens of the pottery made at these

works were sent to Staffordshire for examination
The Times of that city reported upon
in 1875.
them as follows " This week we have been called
to view a few pottery specimens from America, and
:

are able impartially to say that

sample

of granite

they are as fine a

ware as most that

is

produced

in

Tl
HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

220

The body

Staffordshire.

and the

skill,

edge of the

much

care and knowl-

American

If anything, the

art.

are

of taste, and has no reference to art only in quality.

first impression on viewing the samples was

were StafTordshire ware, and we were

surprised when informed to the con-

they

much

trary."

The company
including

The

are running

is

and feldspar, 250 tons

and Sagger clay, from 400

to

About

besides large quantities of other materials.

75 hands are employed, and the sales amount to

$70,000 per annum. The kaolin used is found
mostly in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Missouri and
South Carolina. The flint, feldspar, &c., are found

Maine, Connecticut and New York, large quantities of the former being brought from Whitehall,

This

importance,

for

it

utilizing the

this

an enterprise of great

and strata of

clay,

will

and

outside

are:

following are the

company

N.

E. Hubbell,

M.

Belden, President
R. N.
and W. H. H. Gere, Secre-

The company own

sixty acres

limits,

is

the

in

mam-

Geddes, just

Syracuse

Iron

senting an imposing appearance to travelers pass-

toilet

ing

Directors and oflScers of

Gere, C.

S.

officers of

J. J.

of the city

in

and out of the

on a small scale

The

The

Works, covering several acres of ground and pre-

wares.

the

company

The Svkacl'se Iron Works.

moth establishment located also

be entirely independent
table

immense

Another

resources of the earth, enlarging

people of this country

The

of land, and their works cover about ten acres.

industry, and supplying the

of England for their fine granite

Iron Company.

tary and Treasurer.

developing

American market
goods.
There can
with American manufactured
be no doubt but the time will soon come when the

home

Gere, Vice-President

gives a value to otherwise worth-

less ledges of rocks

and

is

R. Townsend, Vice-

since been increased to $300,000.

in

Washington county.

Company

oflScers of the

President

works and blast furnaces of this company are located

in the town of Geddes, and are conveniently situated
for handling their coal, iron and ore <m the Erie
Canal and the New York Central and Oswego
The corner stone of their works was
railroads.
laid in 1869, at which date the company was incorporated with a capital of $150,000, which has

250
500 tons

kaolin,

B White,

The Onondaga

about 1,200 tons

tlint

Ball

four kilns,

decorating and one calcining kiln.

quantity of coal consumed

a year

tons

one

Geddes

at

R.

G. A. Porter, Treasurer, and D. H.

Gowing, Secretary. The Company are largely engaged in the manufacture of steam engines, boilers,
cotton presses, steam pumps, salt kettles, grates, all
kinds of castings for salt blocks, and everything in
the line of castings and mill machinery, together
with the " Economizer Portable Engine," which is
one of their specialties in trade. The shops and
store-rooms of these works cover about half a block,
and seventy men are employed in the business.

Our
that

President

pro-

duction is a shade lighter than the ware of the

same character in this country, but this is a matter

certainly

The

pany was formed.

evinced greater potting

or stain

tint

in

city.

1861, at

This company began

which date it was in-

corporated with a capital of $30,000, and since then

P.

has gone on

rapidly

increasing

till

its

present

Pharis, C. D. Avery, D. A. Moore, Stephen Hunt,

nominal capital

R. N. Gere, G. W. Draper, G. A. Cool, Directors.

from pig and a small amount of scrap iron from

eight to ten thousand tons of metal annually of over

N.

S. Gere, President

President

Charles E.

George W.

Hubbell, Vice-

Oliver, General

Manager.

is

$200,000.

They manufacture

Mr. Oliver has active charge of the works, and their

successful operation is largely due to his excellent

two hundred difl'erent sizes, and of one quality, (the

best comprising merchant bar iron, horseshoe and
rivet iron, brazier and wire rods, band and hoop

management.

iron, also fish joint

Porter Manufacturing Company, Limited,

is

toe-calks,

the style of a firm doing a large business in cast-

company

tire

and bridge bolts, railroad spikes,

The
and cutter-shoe steel, &c.

control a very large local trade, with a

Their foundry and machine

general market extending from Boston to Chicago,

shops are situated on Salina street in the First

Ward of the city. Originally a foundry was started

competing strongly and profitably with the PittsThis establishment gives

burg manufacturers.
employment night and day to about two hundred

ings and machinery.

here by Messrs. Burr liurton and T. R. Porter in

18, who made castings chiefly for the salt works.

The
then

style of the firm

it

became Porter

was

&

at first

Burton

&

Porter

Luther, Mr. John M. Lu-

ther acquiring an interest in

the business

subse-

quently, by the association of T. R. and George A.

Porter,
till

it

became Porter & Co., which it remained

comi, 1877, when the present stock

January

hands.

The

officers of the

company

are:

R. N. Gere,

President, and C. E. Hubbell, Secretary and Treasurer.

Mr. Gere resides in the village of Geddes,

which he has always been

with the interest of

He is a large owner of real estate both

Geddes and Syracuse, a manufacturer of fine and

identified.
in

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

coarse

Bank

President of the Merchants' National

salt,

of Syracuse, and an enterprising and influ-

The

ential citizen.
des,

interests of Syracuse

however, are identical, and

and Ged-

the course of

in

events will undoubtedly be included in one corporation.

Syracuse

These gentlemen were trained

in 1836.

from youth

to the

saddlery business, which they

lowed as mechanics

until

identified with C. Pope & Co. in the saddlery

hardware business here, Mr. Frazer in the department of manufacture, and Mr. Burns as general

came

clerk.

branches of trade, and

American saddlery hardware

Duguid, Wells

&

origin back to

its

and 33 West Water

Co., Nos. 31

The house

street.

represented by the firm of

is

an old established one, dating

1845.

In

the years which have

since elapsed, the business has been almost com-

revolutionized and

pletely

portance which

may

has attained to an im-

well challenge public atten-

tion.

Duguid, Wells & Co., are successors of the old

firms of Pope & Dawson, and of E. S. Dawson &
Co., the present firm style having been adopted in

The

1868.

L. Duguid,

copartners in the present firm are H.

J.

Emmet

Wells, Gilbert

W. Lyon and

fol-

about 1845, when they be-

DuGUiD, Wells & Co. The Saddlery and Coach

Hardware interest of Syracuse is among its leading
is

221

At

time the manufacture and introduction of

this

comparatively new.
experience

in

in

their respective

gentlemen became

this

country was

After eight years of practical

departments, these

identified in business,

which

in-

terest has continued during the past twenty-five

years.

From

comparatively small beginnings, this

business, during the past eighteen years, has

em-

ployed an average of one hundred and eighty persons annually.

Its sales
which are exclusively
wholesale

mostly

made

in

distant

country, were confined to articles

parts of the

of their

own

manufacture.

This successful business has now passed into the

street present an appearance not easy to describe,

hands of a new combination, under the

Frazer, Burns & Jones, with additional

on account of the extent and variety of the stock,

and an increasing

which finds a market, about half in the State of New

York, and the balance in nineteen other States and

Jacob Brown & Co. Another branch of the

saddlery and coach hardware business of this city,
was established in 1870, the partners being Jacob
Brown and the late Kasson Frazer. Since the

Frank Simmons.

is

Every year shows an

Canada.

in

Their premises on West Water

increase,

which

a substantial testimony to the worth of the house.

In horse-blankets and

house

is

lap-robes the stock of this

simply immense, their sales

amounting

in

one year to over

in this specialty

si.\ty

thousand dol-

lars.

The

firm are extensive manufacturers as well as

On

dealers.

East Water street they have a com-

pletely equipped factory, Nos. 134, 136

large brick

structure

devoted

and 138

exclusively

manufacture of saddlery hardware of

all

to the

kinds,

and

which gives employment to from fifty to seventyGig saddles and coach pads are a special branch of their business
also carriage hardware and trimmings, including axles, springs, hubs,
spokes, and all kinds of bent wood work, as well as
cloths, plushes, and enameled and patent leathers.
Mr. Duguid has been connected with the business since 1858, and is one of the best known busifive hands.

ness
all

men

of the city.

The members

of the firm

give their personal attention to the business, and

the enterprise which has been manifested by the

house

is

creditable alike to themselves and to the

city.

Frazer, Burns

&

& Jones. The late firm

Burns, founded in

of Frazer

1853, consisted of the late

Kasson Frazer, a native of this county, and Peter

Burns, who became a resident of the then village of

style

of

facilities

trade.

death of Mr. Frazer, his estate has remained the

Company

of the firm, so that the style continues

unchanged, while the active management devolves

upon Mr. Brown, who has been a resident of the
city of

Syracuse since boyhood.

A. C. Chase, Pianos and Musical Instruments.

In

addition to manufacturing pianos, or-

gans and melodeons, Mr. Chase deals

in

instru-

ments made by other parties. Having learned the

trade of piano making in Boston, he came to Syracuse in 1855 and soon after commenced business as
Beginning in a small
a musical instrument dealer.
way, his headquarters were located first on the
corner of Salina and Fayette streets, whence he removed to the Washington Block and commenced
the manufacture of pianos, organs and melodeons.
Subsequently, to meet the demands of business, he
built the block on Clinton street, which was occupied till 1876, when his new factory and salesrooms
fronting on Clinton street, between Jefferson and
Onondaga, and with entrance both from Clinton
and Salina streets, was erected. This new building
is a four-story brick structure 50 by 70 feet, and of
sufiScient

dimensions to bring his entire business

under one

roof,

aftbrding to the different depart-

ments of the trade such space as

is

necessary.

Mr.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

made

Chase, by his energy and perseverance, has

has had every-

his business a success, although he

way of musical instruments to comshowing that manufactures of any description can as well be established and sustained
in Syracuse as in any other city in ^he United
States
In 1875 Mr. Chase was appointed Postmaster of this city, which position he now fills.
thing
pete

the

in

with,

Gray Bkotheks. This

which has justly

acquired a wide reputation in the manufacture of
Ladies' and Misses' Fine Shoes, was organized at
Little Falls, N. Y., where the brothers, Harrison
H. and John D. Gray, had served a long apprenticefirm,

ship to the business in their father's manufactory

and had established and carried on one of their
own for some time. Heing ambitious to e.xcel in
this branch of manufacture and to secure greater

advantages
roundings

for

from the

first

Kimber

Block.

in

view

and, in order to

in its character,

had to work slowly,

this,

They had

the building up of an enterprise that

should be national
secure

limited sur-

1866, and established their head-

in

quarters in the

their

various

for

trade

was the

floors

pelled by steam.

The Gray

boots and shoes, but their plan for the future con-

templates

They

corner of Franklin and Walton streets in the

1872.
forty

It

is

a substantial

by one hundred

feet,

four-story

fall

improved machinery,

and admirably adapted

to the necessities of the busines.s, having been built

expressly to meet
is

its

all

the best

ence and

modern appliances

facility for

ness for which

it

is

The

requirements.

heated by steam throughout and

is

building

furnished with

for comfort,

conveni-

carrying on the extensive busi-

designed.

Everything through-

out the building, from basement to fourth

McKay

line of

Ma-

Heeling

and the

will give a capacity of

from

800 pairs of Ladies' and Misses' Fine Machine Sewed Shoes per day, and will employ a force

600

to

The

of from 250 to 350 hands.

cost of building

and machinery was about 50,000.

Alfred Underhill &

Co.

In

January, 1873,

Mr. Underbill began to manufacture Infant's Soft

Sole Shoes on a small scale

in

room 20 by 40 on

The

Fayette street, and turned out 25 pairs a day.

firm

now occupy two

with a capacity

floors

in

making 500

for

slippers daily and have

added a

the

Baum

Block,

pairs of shoes

and

line of children's

hard

soled shoes and of ladies' black dress slippers and

The

button walking shoes.

manufacture
gregate

for

for the

first

nearly

One

gross amount of their

year was 6,000

the ag-

The
now made

the past year foots up $30,000.

trade has steadily increased

of

brick block,

branch.

this

Union Edge-Setting Machines, which, with other

Canada.

erection of their present factory on the

of

new and improved

chines, the Tripp Beating-Out Machines,

in

discontinuance

machinery, embracing the

led to the

requisite to the

the

are putting in a

accomplishment of their object.

Remaining in the Kimber Block for two years, removal was then made to the Evcrson Block, which
answered only a temporary purpose for their growing business required more ample accommodations,
where the improvements suggested by experience
and observation could be more fully applied. This
first

have heretofore devoted a

Brothers

share of their eflbrts to the manufacture of men's

they transferred their business

aflforded,

Syracuse

to

the future than

machines constantly in use.

These
are connected with the office by
speaking tubes and by a steam elevator
the
machinery also throughout the building being probutton-hole

every part

sales are

till

United

of the

States

and

of the peculiarities of this establishment

that the

work

is

nearly

is

done by women and girls,

45 employed in the business,
all

there being from 30 to

and only two men in the establishment.
The book-keeper, and one of the partners. Miss

Sarah Nutting, has

full

charge of the books, con-

taining the

names

tends to

the correspondence.

all

of over 1,200 customers,

and

at-

She has been con-

nected with the business from the beginning.

The Cutting Department

floor, is

is

overseen entirely

member

thoroughly systematized, and the whole moves on

like a single piece of machinery.
In the basement

by Willie Underhill, who

is stored the sole leather and other coarser goods,

and here the soles are also cut by machinery. On
the first floor arc the offices and shipping rooms,
and here are stored quantities of manufactured
The second floor is devoted to bottoming
goods.
ladies', misses' and children's shoes.
The third

H. O. Pratt, Wholesale Manufacturer of Men's

and Boys' Boots and Shoes. Mr. Pratt is a native

floor is
for

used

for the cutting

and preparing of uppers

the fourth floor where the work

is

put together

and fitted. On the fourth floor arc fifty improved

sewing machines and six to eight latest improved

is

also a

of the

firm.

of Massachusetts, having

He
at
for

come

to this city in 1868.

established a manufactory of boots and shoes

No. 93 South Salina street, which he carried on

about three years, when he moved to the new

Nos. 5 and 7 East Jefferson street, and remained there four years. While located at the last

block,

named

place,

Mr. James R. Barrett became a part-

ner, the firm being

known

as H. O. Pratt

&

Barrett.

Photo.

The

subject of this sketch was born in Sauquoit, Oneida Co.,

He

N. Y., September 19, 1814.

was the

of a family

fifth child

of eight children of Dr. Spaulding Pierce and Abigail Bacon,

the former a native of Plainfield,
a native of

His

Windham

Co., Conn., the latter

their

way

father, although a practicing physician, carried

on a farm,

on which the subject of this memoir worked summers, attending

Boiita

into nearly

portations are from

all

t'urtiss,

Syracuse.

the counties of the State, and his im.

Germany, Holland, France, and England

His economical management of

direct.

mulated while a

among

Dedham, Mass.

l>y

the successful business

strong financial

His

his small means, accu-

clerk, has increased, until

men

men

he ranks not only

among the

of his city, but

of his county.

close attention to business,

and integrity of purpose

in

school wintere, until he was twelve years of age, at which time

dealing, has won for him the high esteem of his fellow-men,

his father died.

and

Sylvester went to Utica, his native town, for another year.

From

he went to

there

Rome

Hathaway, where he remained

spent some three

Gould, and took

Oswego

for

two

as clerk

as clerk in Utica, with

years

Jay

for

He "afterwards

years.

Theodore

S.

charge of the sale of a stock of goods in

business with

men gave him

and cultivated

1839 he came

a desire to

different

and

also his natural business capacity.

beginning made

importations

Ransom

direct

from

its

demands.

From

and

P]ngland.

in

the

Their

After some four years, Mr. Curtis

few years, Mr. Pierce has been

the

first,

on coming

to Syracuse,

in business alone.

he has carried on the

wholesaling of his goods, which reached out until

its

principles.

Has never sought

political ofiices,

nor shrank from bearing public burdens when placed upon him.
supervisor of his ward (sixth) for two terms.

In the year 1841 he married Miss Cornelia M., daughter

the year 1800, and became one of the pioneer settlers of this

went out of the concern, since which time, with the exception of a

supporter of

}'ear

trade rapidly increased as the village and surrounding country

increased in

In politics he was first identified with the Whig party, but

upon the formation of the Republican party became an ardent

and opened

In the

Curtis,

efi'ort

Her
of Elisha Marsh and Lovina Wiard, of Onondaga Hill.
about
Mass.,
Coleraine,
from
grandfather came with his family

go into trade for himself,

to the city of Syracuse, then a village,

a crockery-store in partnership with

successfiil

only another example of the result of well-directed

and ambition, with a will to succeed.

Was

Mr. Curtis, where he remained over a year.

This experience in
business

and, acted

for

is

now they find

county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have been born four

Marsh C, Charles H., William K., and Emma C.
Mr. Pierce

is

children,

a liberal supporter of church interests

has been

the city, and,

for many years vestryman of St. Paul's church of
of the same
members
with his wife, are warmly attached as
of all entersupporters
to not only its interests, but are ready
prises looking to the building

up of good

society.

Pkolo.
1

The
1793.

jamin

mibjcpt of this sketch was brirn in

Feb.

('i"ik, iKJrn

.Ml Ncftl

Cook,
Lvdia

viHs tlie cl<lo.-t chil.l, in

llii

Nowton,

HiMi(;, of

Willi

l).>rn

2t!, nt'iT,

fiiinily

7,

of live children, of Ben-

in I'liinhriilni-,

Mil**.

Mass.,

niiil

Ann

His KmiHlfulher, Henjimiin

Cambridge,

in

17r.',

in

ft

Niwton, Mats., Nov.

an>l

his u'ruiid

llier,

born in Newton, Mnss., in K'lii.

When William was thirteen years old he came to Che-iterlield,
Cho-hire Co., N. U., with his pnrenU, and in IHIS moved with
idaga Hill.
ihem to Onondaga County, and settled at <>
.
On Oct. ft, 1810, he married Miss Harriet Byron, daughter of

Hammond, wa

ami Suhmil OKU, cnrly settlors of this county,

Gon. John
and among the most prominent families of the county.
The next year after his marriage ho entered into the mercantile
business in Camilliis, fniin which place he soon removed t" Onondaga Hill. ThiTi- he was apjMiiiiteil under-sherilV by the late Dr.
Hezukiab (Jrangor, of .Manlius, which oftlce ho held, iimbr various
Klli.

shorifls, for llfteen years.

In the year 1817 ho was appointed brigade inspector, under Gen.

John Kills, in the Stale militia, and continued in that oflice

some nineteen years and it is said of him that, as an ofDcer, "
;

body,

fine proportions of

diers on miliUiry ilays,

\\\>

gontlnmanly bearing among the

when

in his full dress uniform,

for
his

sol-

mounted

on his gallant iloed, inspired every cmo with confldenee, pride,

and delight."
In

May,

of which

Syracuse, where he has filled .cvcral

was appointed police justice, the duties
ho faithfully discharged until nearly tho time of

1836, he

oltlces of trust,
office

and

came

to

in 184fi

Nov. 128, 1848.

Major Cook was dopiity-supcrinlondcnl of the Salt Springs of
A special characteristic of him was
Syracusi^ for many years.
his temperance priH-livitics, being an ardent promoter of that interest wherever he was, and closely identitlcd with the Sons of
his death,

Temperance

society of Syracuse.

Major Cook was

for

more than

twenty years a member of the vestry of tho Episcopal society,

For eight years
first on the Hill, and subsoiuently In Syracuse.
for about
lie was a vestryman of Zion church, Onondaga, and

I>y

ILiita

twelve years a senior warden of

I'lirtlia,

SyrmcUM.

St. Paul's

church, of Syracuse.

ho was associated with the lato Jonas Karll, Jr.,

Henry Kaston, and Amos 1'. Granger.
At the time of his decease, the common council of the city presented his widow with a deed for a lot in Hose Hill cemetery, to
bury her husband's remains, rather than he should lie taken to tho
In the latter

office

family (Ellis) burying-ground at

ance with

Kose

llii'

wishes of the

Onondaga
pie his

Hill, and in ai'cordremains were inlerri-d at

Hill.

To Major and Mrs. Cook were born four

Augustus (deceased), Harriot Marnnda (died

children,

Charles

in infancy),

Wil-

liam Edgar (died at the age of seventeen years), and Laura K.,
wife of the late E. J. Foster, of Syracuse, but formerly of Beverly,

Mass.
.Mr.

They have oni' daughter, Kate Lovclt Fibster.

Edward J. Foster was born in Beverly, Mass.,

in

1817.

where
their former home.
thev lived
When fourteen years of age ho returned to Syracuse, where he
Mr. Foster wa-s an honest, upright man,
lived until his death.
who.se whole life, embellished as it was with manly, unostentatious
deeds, and ailorned with noble qualities of heart and mind, is

When

removed with his parents

a few years, and then returned to

a child ho

to Syracuse,

worthy the hinting remrmbranci> and the emulation of his fellowmen.

Mrs. Cook died at the ago of seventy-seven years. Her declining venrs were made happy by the kindness of her devoted
daughter, Mrs. Foster, and the ministrations of countless friends.
Being born in tho town of Onondaga, she was tho oldest living
n'sident of that town. She camo to Syracuse to live forty years
previous to her death, and was liest known among the older residents of the town. She was a general favorite, and her intelligence, culture, and vivacity made her a most charming companion.

She was the oldest

re.ident

member

of St. I'auls church at tho

time of her ileath, and a constant attendant. She was possessed

of remarkable vitality, and did not cease in her charitable minisHer
trations until disease incapacitJiled her from further work.
life

was one of labor more

for others than for herself.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Mr. Pratt sold

his

interest to Mr. Barrett in the

winter of 1875, and immediately established himWest

present location, No.
his
38
in
self
Railroad

where he

street,

conducts

his

busi-

He
two stories of that number.
employs, on an average, 45 hands in the manufacture of his goods, which are sold principally in the
ness, occupying

New

York, and also in Pennsylvania, Ohio,

The production
Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota.
of his factory is about fifty pairs of men's firstState of

class,

hand-sewed and pegged boots and shoes per

day, aggregating in value about ;^40,ooo a year.

use principally in stores and manufacturing es-

tablishments.

known

At

first

they manufactured what

as the Winchell Oil Can, working the

is

same

under a royalty contract from the patentee. Later

they improved upon this tank and secured patents
of their own under which they are now and
have been for some two years making a tank which
they

name

"

The

Perfection."

Early in the year

1873, this firm established an office in

New York

City and goods of their manufacture are now well

known and sought after in every State of the Union.

with iridium (the

construction, pointed

known) may be
used with pleasure and satisfaction by the penman
There is no such thing as wearduring a lifetime.
ing the point further than a smooth surface, and
the peculiar flexibility imparted by Mr. Walrath to
his pens render them very desirable both for ease
Messrs. Walrath & Co.
of writing and durability.

heaviest and most durable metal

are the only manufacturers of pens in the county of

Onondaga.

John Q. Smith, Manufacturer

Iron

Wilson & Blye. This firm, composed of Newell

W. Wilson and Alphonso W. Blye, commenced in
the spring of 1872 the manufacture of an Oil Tank
for

peculiar

223

and

Cornice,

Galvanized

of

and wholesale

manufacturer

dealer in Tinware, Nos. 55 and 57 S. Clinton street.

The

business of Mr. Smith was established in

present locality in 1874

year, the capital

employed

Employment

$25,000.

William Malcolm,
Mr. Malcolm

turer.
tlers,

Wm.

it

is

amounts

in

to

active business being

given to 50 hands.

is

Manufac-

Rifle Telescope
a son of

one of the early

Malcolm, who came to Syracuse

and was 20 years connected with the hardware

William, Jr., was born in the town of
business.
He began
Sullivan, Madison county, Oct. 13, 1823.
the peculiar branch of scientific mechanism in
which he has attained so rare an excellence the
manufacture of rifle telescopes in 1855, and now

supplies the leading

a limited amount, to the present production of

They have also taken hold of
nearly 300 a month.
several
new and useful specialties
and introduced
such as a Tobacco Safe, Flour Safe and a Fish
and Bait Pail, all of which are meeting with appro-

them

bation.

States army, by Col. BuUis, of Texas, Lieut.

Cortland and Onondaga,

ties of

for

for the

coun-

the sale of the

Corinthian Monuments, cast from pure zinc, which,

as they become more and more known, must largely

supercede marble and granite, being

much more

gun dealers

indirectly

to

Egypt, and India.

Only

telescopes are used to

Carpenter, of

Red

some extent

predecessors in this line of business

Messrs. Benedict

& Barney.

in

Syracuse,

Mr. Walrath has labored

and experimented for several years to produce a gold

pen characterized by the same flexibility and action as
the quill, and has brought out the result of his
thought and experiments in his famous quill-spring
pen, which is acknowledged by those familiar with
its

use to be a very superior

article.

Pens of

this

work
His

the

the United

in

W.

L.

Cloud, Neb., and in Gen. Wood's

Battery, Capt. P. Birchmeyer, Syracuse, N. Y.

To

the astonishment of

Malcolm produces

in

many

his

scientific

men, Mr.

small telescopes of the

diameter of only one-half inch, the power and

take in four

full

and, incredible as

moons

field

Objects such as small

be seen

robin, for instance, can

miles distance

these half-inch glasses the

Manufacturers of Gold

Granger Block. In 1852, E. L. Walrath

Co purchased the interest and good will of their

Pens, No.

&

time their color and beauty.

all

has to be done by Mr. Malcolm individually.

birds, the

Walrath & Co

a limited quantity of these

superior instruments can be made, as

them in that they can be more highly ornamented

and more beautifully finished than either, and reall

New

China, Japan, Siberia, Spain,

of large field telescopes.

E. L.

Boston,

in

York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and has sent

durable than either, and having the advantage over

tain for

set-

in 1824,

The business has increased from the beginning, when

they made them only as sales were effected and to

Recently they accepted the agency

its

$100,000 a

field

it

is

may

large

in a parallel line

at

two

seem, with

enough

to

at 15 rods,

embraced in the field, and at 40 rods,

about 27 feet.
These telescopes are used by Rocky
Mountain hunters, who claim a greater degree of
accuracy in sighting the rifle in dark woods than
can be attained by any other known sight, as the
concentration of light by means of an intermediate
lens (first brought into use by Mr. Malcolm in this
instrument) is so intense and bright that the difficulty of sighting in the dark, shadowy retreats of
10 feet

is

the forests

is

entirely overcome.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

224

Makble and Granite Works.

Syracuse

&

Francis

Dufty, Nos. 17, 19 and 21

West Onon-

Among the many successful business

daga street.
houses of Syracuse, should be mentioned the prosperous firm whose name appears above.
There is perhaps no manufacturing interest that
shows a greater degree of development of late years,
than that of which this enterprise is a representaClosely allied to the highest type of art, and
tive.

employment

calling for the

of talent in designing

and executing, the marble works of our large cities

to-day have become studios, instead of mere workshops. The Syracuse Marble and Granite Works
have had a busy career, extending over a period of
nearly fifteen years.

They were

by the

originally established

late

Geo.

W. M. Lewis of Utica, in 1865, and who is favorIn

ably remembered by many of our citizens.
January, 1867, Messrs. Francis & DufTy succeeded
to the business, and in 186S they purchased the

marble works of Robert Spaulding, long and favorknown in this community. This firm con-

ably

tinued the manufactories separately for four years

then enlarging their premises, they consolidated

the two establishments in one, at Nos.

21

West Onondaga
During

much

this

19 and

street.

time

developed.

17,

the

business has been very

demand has been created for

The firm commenced their

finer

grades of work.

first

importation of Scotch Granite ten years ago,

and were the

to introduce

first

it

in

this

vicinity.

Since then they have imported largely, and have

brought to the notice of the people, such beautiful

and enduring granites as the light and dark

" shap " from Westmoreland, England,
and of
mottled
granites
from
American, the beautifully
Clark's Island, Maine, as well as the Westerly,
Quincy, Fo.x Island and many others.
The proprietors of the Syracuse Marble and
Granite

Works

are

young men who

believe that en-

and prompt attention to business can

Their
not fail of achieving abundant success.
works, as seen in Oakwood and other principal
cemeteries of Central New York, show not only the
beauty of materials and workmanship, but that as

ergetic action

designers they exhibit rare originality.

H. Stanton, Novelty Match Works, East

Water street Established at Richfield Springs,
removed to Syracuse in
Otsego county in 1852
1864, in which year the present factory was erected.
The premises, building and machinery are valued
The capacity of the works is equal to
at ^8,000.
the production of 150 gross of matches daily,
which find a market in six different Northern
The number of hands employed in the
States.

whole establishment, including box-making, is about

40 the revenue stamps used amount to $40,000 a
Mr. Stanton began on a small scale, producyear.
H. Stanton,
ing at first about 10 gross per day.
;

Jr.,

has the management and superintendence of

the works.

&

Ryder, Excelsior Match Commanuerected December, 1874

Works
facturing commenced March 25, 1875.
have capacity for making from 140 to 160 gross of

JuDSON

pany.

Building

matches per day.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN CROUSE.

father

the care and

in

He received
John Crouse was born
ery County,

His

1802.

New

father,

gomery County

German

at Mindenville,

Montgom-

York, on the fourth day of June,

Jacob Crouse, was born in Mont-

in

having been born

his grandfather,

George Crouse,

tect of his

Palatine, Sa.xony, in

in

1740.

whom was John

cijildren,

Crouse, the subject of this

biography.

Jacob Crouse was a farmer, and his son

John

early

life

was brought up

to assist his

in

those days were exceedingly

the best teacher," better illustrated than

in the life of

son Jacob Crouse, had a family of twelve

in his

is

descended from

While a young man he came to America to seek his

fortune and settled in Montgomery County.
His
one of

perience

of the farm.

Never, however, was the saying that "e.x-

He was

1769.

ancestry,

whose advantages
limited.

management

his early education at the district school,

John Crouse. Every man is the archiown fortune and controls in a measure

his destiny.

Upon

the foundation of his district

school education, guided by the principles that were

early instilled in his mind, he reared the superstruct-

ure of his successful and honorable business career.

At

the age of seventeen he engaged as clerk and

passed the next

in

five

years of his

Schoharie County and

life in

in the city of

that capacity,

Albany.

At

vwv/nnwy

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

225

the end of that period, he engaged in business for

by indomitable energy and integrity of purpose,

himself in Canastota, N. Y., forming a partnership

his business career has been

man named Hawley. The partnership continued one year when Mr. Crouse entered

rupted success.
a high rank.

into partnership with his brother, Daniel Crouse.

nor solicitous of

with

first

For twenty-eight years, with uninterrupted prosperity, they carried on a general merchandise business in Canastota.

In

1853 the

partnership be-

tween them was dissolved, and John Crouse, with a

younger brother, James, came to Syracuse and established a wholesale grocery house under the firm

name

of

&

J.

Previous to moving to

Crouse.

J.

Crouse had been for several years

largely interested in banking in that city.
He was
Syracuse, Mr.

one of the originators of the City Bank, and

Vice-President for several years, controlling

its

Disposing of his interest

to a large e.xtent.

its

stock

in that

bank, he, with his brothers, James and Daniel, and

others associated with them, established the "Crouse

Bank," the Crouse interest controlling the stock.

The Crouse

brothers held their controlling interest

when they disposed

for four or five years,

Mr. Crouse was one of the

Bank

First National

of

organization.

its

He

The

its

also

is

a director of the Canastota National Bank, of

Can-

N. Y.

astota,

to Syracuse,

when

a few years

was

carried on successfully for

John

his son,

was admitted

J.,

Upon

a partnership in the business.

to

the death of

James Crouse, Jacob Crouse, his nephew, became

a

member

territory.

The

of the firm.

increased very
In

business of their house

extending

rapidly,

over

partnership with him his second son, Daniel Edgar.

the time of writing this

1878 both

of his

business with him, the firm

in

name being John Crouse & Co.

The history of the Crouse wholesale grocery
house during the twenty-five years

it

The Home,

Its

trade

foundation, and for

steadily

many

has been in

increased from

years

it

party,

the

House

of the

Good Shepherd, and

the hospitals have also received substantial aid from

him.

His

charities are always exercised in an

unobwas one of the originators and

has been a trustee of Oakwood Cemetery since its
trusive manner.

He

On

its

has been con-

the 16th day of June, 1831, he was united in

Miss Catherine, daughter of Ansil

Whitestown, N. Y. For nearly fifty
years she has been his faithful and honored companion in the voyage of life.
marriage to

White,

At

of

the time of writing this

1878 both

Mrs. Crouse are enjoying excellent health.

responsibility

He

and

financial trust.

Commissioner and Mayor of Syracuse.

He

is

President of the State

Bank

of Syracuse,

and of the Trust and Deposit Company of Onondaga,

and Trustee of the Onondaga County Savings
Bank.
Daniel Edgar, the second son, is a Director of the
First National

Bank

of Syracuse, and also a Trustee

of the Trust and Deposit

The
is

not

life

of

filled

John Crouse,

Company
briefly

of

Onondaga.

sketched above,

with great events in the ordinary sense

of the term, and yet his successful career furnishes

ceded a standing as one of the leading wholesale

abundant food

point a moral and furnish an example that

not exceeded by that of any concern outside of the

try to emulate.

New

York.

Mr. Crouse
ness

men

the State.

judgment

is

in the city of

and

sound,

ot

Syracuse and, indeed,

in

keen discrimination and

practical

common

sense,

methodical in his business relations, and governed

19*

for the reflecting

mind.

It serves to
all

should

life a poor boy with but few advanhe has, by energy, perseverance and un-

Beginning

recognized as one of the best busi-

Possessed

They

has served successively as Alderman, School

grocery houses in the State, transacting a business

city of

Mr. and

have two sons, previously mentioned in this sketch,

John J. and Daniel Edgar Crouse. The former
has occupied many important positions of political

existence in Syracuse has been one of uninterrupted

success.

Whig

nected himself with the Syracuse University, and

has been one of its trustees since its foundation.

wide

1864, Jacob Crouse withdrew from

sons are engaged

advancement.

political

of the

While Mr. Crouse has been blessed with an

abundance of this world's goods, he has freely
opened his purse to the wants of the needy
and the charities of Syracuse.
He liberally con-

the firm, Mr. Crouse having previously taken into

At

member

of that party.

wholesale grocery business, established upon

coming

has never been active in politics

organization.

it.

of Syracuse, and has been

Vice-President since

He

a course of uninter-

a financier he deservedly takes

Formerly
upon the formatiorv
of the Republican party Mr. Crouse became a supporter of its principles, and has continued a member
a

directors of the

first

As

tages,

swerving integrity of purpose, attained the topmost

His success has not

pinnacle of business success.

been achieved by doubtful means or questionable

methods, but has been worked out and won by early

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

226

and industrious perseverance,

and by the rigid and unalterable practice of honest
and honorable rules of business. For fifty-one
consecutive years he has been actively engaged in
business, and is still the head of his business firm.
With faculties unimpaired, and a mind as bright
and clear as in his younger days, his hand still
directs the helm that guides his house successfully

comparatively unsettled, and afibrded very limited

advantages for schooling.
He lived most of the

forward.

books

struggles, by frugality

The

city or

New York

the State of

can furnish

few examples of this nature.

His

during

experience

New York

city of

the French language quite fluently.

where
in

his

commenced

extended business
his journeys to the

to purchase goods, traveling by

He

River.

his

a family of Hollanders, working on a farm and

having very limited opportunities

has seen the country during

for

education from

but he was schooled in habits of industry,

economy,

and morality, and disciplined

frugality

Church.

the doctrines of the Dutch Reformed

was

It

model family that the

was reached, and from those

this

in

turning point in his

life

experience he dates the beginning of his

five years'

future career.

the packets on the canal and by steamers on the

Hudson

At the age
he went to the county of Ulster
father was. and spent the next five years

of twelve years

carefully in

career of over half a century has been a varied one.

Fifty years ago he

time with a French family and learned to speak

At

the age of seventeen

he entered as an ap-

prentice to the saddle and harness maker's trade in

those years develop from a wilderness, with here

Kingston, Ulster county, and remained there and

and there a hamlet or village, into prosperity. Cities

and villages have sprung up and the great railways
have encircled the country with a network of iron.
The stage coach and packet boats of his early
with their snail-like locomotion, have given
life,
place to the palace on wheels of the lightning ex-

at

and

press,

still

to-day, with

the

same energy,

in-

Woodstock until he was twenty-one years of

when he went to New York to perfect his

age,

mechanical

and came

He

remained there two years

the village of Syracuse in 1836.

skill.

to

After following his business as a journeyman

the spring of 1840, when, on
health, he

made

a tour of the

till

account of impaired

Western
autumn.

States, return-

dustry and enjoyment, he makes his routine trips to

ing to Syracuse the

the metropolis to purchase goods

need of additional education, and unable physically

to pursue his trade, he spent the following two

for his

house, as

he did fifty-one years ago.

years at

Onondaga Academy, with

himself

HON. PETER BURNS.

The

subject of this sketch

of Dublin,

Ireland,

only child of David and

natives

Dublin.

of

in

the city

He was

the

Mary [Dimpscy Burns, both

,

When

Mr.

Burns was

five

years of age his mother died, at about the age of 26

years.

for

teacher

Feeling the

a view of fitting

but after obtaining

his

diploma, he was induced to enter upon a clerkship

was born

July 3r, 1814.

next

In the spring of 1820, he immigrated with

in

a saddlery hardware store in Syracuse, where he

By his principle of living

means and saving something besides, he
had accumulated sufficient at this time to embark
in trade for himsell", and accordingly opened a
remained

for five years.

within his

saddlery hardware store which he conducted

the

till

America, on board a merchant vessel

route
irom
Dublin to New York. After a voyage
en
of thirteen weeks the vessel was wrecked off Sandy

year 1853, when he sold his stock and interest and

began the manufacture of saddlery hardware stock

of the passengers were saved,

was continued with increasing success

until the death of Mr. Frazer in the year 1876.
After one year Mr. Burns retired from the business

his father to

Hook, but nearly

all

being rescued by wreckers.

After arriving at

New

York, where he remained a short time, he came

with his father to

the

county of Delaware, to a

in

partnership with the late Kasson Frazer.

This

business

leaving his son, Willis B.

During

Hums,

in

full

possession

his active business

as a

Delaware river,
where Mr. Burns was left with relatives and his
father returned to New York and engaged in his
previous business of brewing and distilling.
His
father remained in New York about five years and
removed thence to the county of Ulster, where he
remained until his death, which occurred about the

of his interest.

year 1850.

the Republican party became an ardent supporter

place on the east branch of the

At

the

time

of Peter's

residence in Delaware

county, the country in that section was

new and

manufacturer his

from

trade,

small

life

beginnings,

extended over most of the States of the Union,

and was one of the leading manufactories of the

United States.
the

Whig

party

In
;

politics

Mr. Burns started

in

afterwards he was identified with

the anti-slavery party, and upon the formation of

of

its

principles.

He

various offices of trust

has been connected with

in

the city, and served his

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK.

227

terms^
Ward

Syracuse he united with the First Presbyterian

in i859-'6o, and was several years Chairman of the

Board of Inspectors of the Onondaga County
He was one of the first Police ComPenitentiary.
missioners to organize the present police system of
the city, and as Chairman of that Board assisted in

to organize

county

in

1871-72.

Legislature for two

the State

He was

Supervisor for the Sixth

He

the organization of the present police force.

Church, and was Superintendent of

School,
He was one of nine persons
the

its

Dutch Reformed Church on James

Sunday

street,

and

subsequently connected himself with the organization,

and contributed liberally toward the erection

Plymouth Church, of whose Board

of the present

he has been

of Trustees

for a

number

of years

May

has been for several years a director of the Merchants National Bank of Syracuse, and of the

married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joshua Bates

Trust and Deposit Company of Onondaga, and

and Jane

Vice-President of the latter.

Mass., but at the time of her marriage of Syracuse.

became a member of
the Dutch Reformed Church, and upon coming to

They have two

At

the age of twenty he

In

President.

Phillips,

Lyman

wife of

year

the

1850,

both natives of

he

9th,

Chesterfield,

children, Willis B. and

Flora E.,

C. Smith, of Syracuse.

SYRACUSE WHOLESALE BUSINESS.

D.

McCarthy, Sons &

was established
firm

name

of

opened

Co.'s

wholesale

house

the spring of 1862, under the

in

McCarthy

&

Sedgwick, and the busi-

throughout by steam, and has an elevator running

from

basement

the

The immense

to every floor.

stock of goods carried by this house

is

conveniently

upper portion of the retail

house, corner of South Salina and Fayette streets.

arranged, as follows

McCarthy & Sedgwick

February i, 1867, when Mr. Sedgwick
retired and the style was changed to D. McCarthy
& Son, Mr. David K. McCarthy being taken in as

Goods, counting room, fire-proof vaults, &c.

Second floor Hosiery and Notion Department.

ness

The

in

wholesale

continued

partner.

the

firm

of

till

On

the

first

of

February, 1869,

Thomas McCarthy and Mr.

Mr.

Patrick Phelan were

admitted as partners and the style of the firm be-

came D.

McCarthy,

Sons

&

Co.

February

i,

Thomas Emory became a partner, and

1 87 1, Mr.
February i, 1875, Mr. Dennis McCarthy, Jr., was
admitted.

All these are at present

members

of the

firm.

In 1876 the wholesale business had outgrown

First floor

Foreign and Domestic

The

floor

Hat and Cap Department.

other floors, including basement, are used for

packing, shipping, &c.

The

sales of this firm

amount
Retail

in

the Wholesale

House

one million dollars annually, and in the

eight hundred thousand dollars a

to

to about

year.

Another important branch

of this city

is

of the wholesale trade

the house of

&

Co., situated on

The

Clinton

general trade of

Nos. 16, 18 and 20.

house is dry goods and notions, exclusively
wholesale, and was established in 1871.
street,

accommodations in the retail building and a separate house for it became necessary.
The firm accordingly purchased the site on the corner of West
Washington and Clinton streets and the present
elegant block was completed and occupied in JanThis block is one of the finest busiuary, 1877.
It is of brick and Ononness houses in the city.
daga limestone, wrought in fine ornamental work,
yet solid and substantial, presenting an imposing
and beautiful front on both streets. The height is
the same as the five story building adjoining, but
for convenience is divided into four stories and
basement, the latter running under the entire sideIt is 70 feet
walk on both sides of the building.
on Washington street by 103 on Clinton street,
with an L extension of 60 by 33 feet, heated

Dry

Third

Charles Chadwick
its

General

this

Van Wagenen & Brodhead. The

ment

establish-

of a wholesale crockery house in Syracuse

of quite recent date, and shows

interest after another

the city assumes

is

more

is

how one important

introduced and built up as

of a metropolitan character.

founders of this business are both young and

energetic men, but not without experience, having

The

been connected with

twenty years

this line

in this city.

of trade for the past

In April, 1875, the house

at No. 67 South Salina street, in new

where the variety and arrangeapartments,
and fresh
ment of the extensive stock will delight the eye of
the visitor for here will be found almost everything

was opened

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

228

of ornament or utility belonging to a

The

tablishment of this kind.

class es-

first

business

of

the

house includes both wholesale and retail, and the

firm import largely of all the goods they handle,
especially china, earthen, fancy wares and bronzes.
This house

is

an important addition to the business

Mr. Farrington, under the firm style of Farrington

& Moore, which was continued until 1868, when,
Mr. Farrington retiring, it became J. B. Moore &
Co, and was so continued until 1874, when Charles
Hubbard became a partner, since which the firm has
been Moore

of Syracuse.

Kenyos, Potter

&

Co. are the only exclusively

wholesale druggists in the

There are many

city.

drug stores, the capacity and elegance of

which are unsurpassed, and several that connect a

fine retail

jobbing trade with their

retail

business

believe, except Kenyon, Potter

we

&

but none,

Co., devoting

in

nine years in California.

In
which date the firm was Livingston & Mitchell.
1852, it changed to Mitchell & Kenyon. and in
In 1859, Kenyon
1854, to Kenyon, Rogers & Co.
& Potter succeeded to the business, and in 1864,

Since

then there have been a few changes in the partnership, but the house has retained the same name.

The

partners are Gansevoort

Potter and George H. Perry.

partner

in

M. Kenyon, Oliver

C.

Mr. Potter has been

the house since 1856, Mr.

Kenyon

since

1871, and Mr. Perry since 1864.

The
ing

all

stock of the house

is

very extensive, includ-

The

and the whole working force of the establishment

numbers about twenty.
Few men are more favorably known in the business circles of the city than the partners in this

and it is safe to say that the future of the house

is in good hands.
Since the above was written, Messrs. Kenyon,
Potter & Co. have removed to their elegant newstore erected in the fall and winter of 1877, Nos.
34 and 36 South Clinton street. This building is
five stories and basement, 132 by 45 feet, of brick,
firm,

with Onondaga Limestone trimmings, supplied with

a steam elevator and all modern conveniences.

MooKE & HuBBAhD, Wholesale Druggists, 73

South Salina street. The business of the predecessors of this house, Messrs. Foote & Farrington,
was established in the Malcolm Block in 1855, and
was among the first wholesale establishments of the
They were succeeded by Marsh & Farringcity.
In 1865,
ton, and they by Farrington & Utley.
Mr. J. B. Moore, head of the present firm, bought
Mr. Utley's interest and entered into business with

up largely during the

sales of this firm ran

At

present they aggregate from $350,000 to

$400,000 a year.
Mr. Hubbard, the junior

member

a native of the city of Troy,

years

The

of the firm,

and has been

is

fifteen

the drug business in Syracuse.

in

business

wholesale grocery

amounts

to quite

of this

city

an item, there being two houses

whose sales reach two millions each per anquite a number of smaller houses doing a
and
num,
business ranging from one hundred thousand dollars

at least,

to half a million

grocery house

the departments of the drug tiade, and oc-

cupying the whole of the building. No. 47 South

Salina street, 22 by 135 feet, four floors and basement, and two floors and basement of the adjoining
Several traveling salesmen are employed,
building.

In the spring of 1868, the

street south of the First Presby-

Church, having become active property, Mr.

Moore purchased the store now occupied by the
firm, and removed the business from the Malcolm

war.

Co.

at present.

terian

Block.

&

Hubbard, as

stores on Salina

themselves exclusively to the wholesale drug trade.

The origin of this house goes back to 1845. at

the firm style became Kenyon, Potter

&

Mr. Moore came from Albany county to Syracuse

the spring of 1865, having spent the preceding

annually.

The

oldest wholesale

in the city is that of

John Crouse

&

Co.,

established

in

1853 by

John and James Crouse, brothers, who came from

Montgomery county. James Crouse died in 1858,
and the firm was changed to John Crouse & Co.,
which

it

has remained ever since.

(See biography

of John Crouse.

Crouse Brothers, Wholesale Grocers, corner

of Clinton and Water streets, established under
the firm name of Jacob Crouse & Bro's, in 1869.
The original partners were Jacob Crouse, George
N. Crouse and James S. Crouse, the same as now
The premises of the firm are
constitute the firm.
The lot where their
the
first.
from
occupied
those
fine

brick building stands was purchased in 1868,

and the building erected and occupied the following

It was originally 86 by T} feet, five stories
year.
in height, but has since been extended, making its
present dimensions 86 by 121 feet, and also, to increase the room required for the business an L of
40 feet has been added. The entire block is the

The
property of Jacob and George N. Crouse.
about
;52,ooo,ooo
per
to
amount
house
sales of this
annum.

Crouse
in

87

1,

& Walrath. The

original firm, started

consisted of C. E. Crouse, F.

and Jacob Crouse and Brothers.

They

W. Walrath
did a

manu-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and jobbing business in spices, coffees
occupying two of tlie three stores used by
In 1872 Mr. Walrath retired
the present firm.
from the firm, and Messrs. C. E. Grouse & Co.,
facturing

Spaulding

and

at that

teas,

conducted the business till 1876, when C. E. Crouse

bought out the interest of Jacob Crouse and
Brothers, and formed a copartnership with Mr.
Walrath, since which the firm has been Crouse
Walrath, as

at

present.

&

Their sales amount an-

A. N. Palmer

&

Co.

Among

the enterprising

is that of A.
N. Palmer & Co., composed of A. N. Palmer and
Charles Tallman, located on West Fayette street

wholesale grocery houses of the city

the office and main salesroom being No. 46.

is

a portion of the block 71

stories,

extending through to

This

by 208 feet and four

Walton street, built

by Messrs. Tallman and Palmer.

The entire floor area used by A. N. Palmer &
Co., in their business is about twenty-five thousand
square feet embracing two floors of No. 46 West
Fayette street and extending through the entire
also two floors of Nos. 7 and 9 Walton
block
In
street, and four floors of No. 1 1 Walton street.
the rear of No. 11 Walton street they have erected
two fire-proof smoke houses with capacity for smoking thirty tons of hams at one time.
The firm are among the most extensive curers of
cut meats in the State.
Their trade in salt fish is also very large, particularly in the line of mackerel, which are purchased in
full fares from vessels in the eastern seaports and
repacked here to meet the requirements of their
;

trade.

Starting in the

summer

of 1871, the firm prose-

cuted the provision trade alone, until within the last

two years, during which they have gradually added

teas, coftees, spices, canned fruits, &c., until their
stock embraces a full assortment of general groceries and grocers' sundries, which in connection
with their full line of provisions renders it one of
the most extensive in the city.

Kennedy, Spaulding

&

may be regarded

Co.

as one of the representative houses of this branch

of the jobbing trade of Syracuse.

of their business will be given.

Kennedy and Horace

tail

hardware business

a rented building.

J, Frizelle

at

brief history

In 1859 Bradford
established a re-

54 South Salina street, in

Mr. Dennis Kennedy

In 1861

bought Mr. Frizelle's interest and the firm was

changed to Kennedy Brothers. In 1863, Ross R.
Spaulding became a partner, and the firm style assumed the form of Kennedys & Spaulding. In
the fall of 1866, the style was changed to Kennedy,

Kennedy retiring
Abraham
Mr. Bradford Kennedy bought

Co., Mr.

Bradford

time and selling his interest to

Howe.

In

Howe

Mr.

1871

out, but the style of the firm

remained

unchanged.
In 1862 the firm established the wholesale busi-

ness which

ing

has continued to conduct with increas-

it

proportions

from their rented

the

nually to about half a million dollars.

&

229

firm

Removing

from year to year.

store.

No. 54 South Salina

purchased a

story

five

street,

building at

6^
which they entered, supposing the premises here would be sufficient for
permanent quarters. But in this they were mistaken.
The business outgrew the place and they
had to seek another location.
In 1872 they purchased the lot and erected the building they now
occupy on Clinton street, at a cost of $40,000.
South Salina

The

building

brick,

and

street, into

is

is

an elegant business structure, of

33 by 132 feet, five stories and basement,

completely filled with the stock of the house,

including also another store since erected

rear of the

main building.

The

in

the

trade of the firm

has increased from $20,000

retail business in 1859

which now aggregates half
The firm employ fourteen men
a million annually.
in the store and three traveling salesmen constantly upon the road.
The Messrs. Kennedy are natives of the town of
Lysander in this county. Mr. Spaulding is also a

to a wholesale business

native of the county, born in the town of Spaft'ord.

McCarthy & Redfield,

Dealers, Nos. 50 and 52

Wholesale Hardware

West Water street. The

Murphy & McCarthy in

was established as
1850, changed to McCarthy, Radigan & Co. in
1856, and in 1859, to McCarthy, Redfield & Co.,
Mr. C. T. Redfield and Mr. William H. Pierce purchasing the interest of Mr. Radigan and becoming
members of the firm. Mr. Pierce retired in 1869,
and the firm has since been McCarthy & Redfield.
The first location of the firm was on the corner
firm

of

Warren and East Water

streets.

In 1875 they

Nos. 50 and 52 West

built their present
Water street. The building is 46 by 112 feet, four
stores,

stories

and basement, of Philadelphia brick and cut

and proportions, and

stone, fine architectural style

arranged with great convenience for handling the

It is furnished with an elevator running to

goods.

the floors, which in the basement delivers its

contents directly into the wagons, the teams being
driven directly into the cellar from the yard in the
all

The

rear of the building.

building January

i,

Messrs. McCarthy
jobbers of

shelf

firm

moved

into this

1876.

&

Redfield are importers and

and heavy hardware,

tin

plate,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

230
agricultural

tools,

&c.,

Ac, and do

business

aggregating half a million dollars a year, their sales

being chiefly in Northern, Southern, Central and

Western New York.

Mr. Robert McCarthy, the senior member of the
firm, is a native of the First Ward of this city and
has resided here all his life, being well-known and
highly esteemed in business and social circles.
Mr. Charles T. Redfield is a son of Lewis H.
Redfield, Esq., a well-known citizen of Syracuse,

whose biography appears

of whose record is found

and a portion

in this work,

connection with the

in

history of the press.

HiER & Aldrich, Nos.

and 33 North Salina

street, are extensive manufacturers and jobbers of
Mr. Hier established the bustobacco and cigars.
iness in i860, and in 1865 the present firm was
31

organized, Mr. Bruce S. Aldrich being admitted as

The building occupied by the firm is 44

by 154 feet, of brick, four stories and basement, and
was erected by the firm in 1872. The basement
and front room of the third story are used for

a partner.

storage of leaf tobacco, the average stock carried

and jobbers of tobacco and cigars. The building

occupied is large and well adapted to the business,
being 32 feet in width by 210 in depth, extending
through to Walton

street, afifording

floors of the building are occupied, considerable of the

space being devoted to the storage of the heavy stock

Their stock is especially large
carried by the firm.

Spanish tobacco, of which they purchase

in

months' or a year's supply

This firm have given employment to 125 persons,

two-thirds of whom were cigar makers, and have
manufactured as large an amount as 85,000 cigars
The production at present is not
in a single week.
so large, but the grade of cigars ranges higher than
usual, the average of the entire product of the fac-

tory being

$60 per

The members

1,000, wholesale.

of the firm are Justin Seubert and

The firm was established in

William H. Warner.
May, 1872, Mr. Seubert having been for five or six
years previously engaged

in

the manufacture of

cigars in this city.

Carr & CusHiNG, Manufacturers of Cigars and

in Tobacco, No. 53 West Fayette street.

Dealers

a large, well-lighted room, filled with

This firm was established on the

ances

for the

manufacture of cigars, either by hand

or by mold-presses, as
of cigars

the appli-

made by

may be desired.

this

The amount
firm and they make but

over two and a half miHions per

annum, and they give employment, in the various
branches of their business, to from 150 to 250

few cheap cigars

is

six

at a time.

by the firm being valued at ^125,000. The cigar

making department is in the rear of the third story,
all

convenient ship-

ping and receiving rooms, and light and airy work

rooms in the manufacturing department. Three

87

1.

Mr.

the cigar

started in

first

of January,

John Jay Carr, the senior partner,

business in this city in the

He reNo. 17 James street.

steadily
buildmonths,
sixteen
mained there about
spring of 1866, at

ing up a business,

when

his

operations

in

that

were suddenly cut short by a fire which

consumed his entire stock, about the middle oi Aulocality

In the front apartment of the first floor they

have an elegant sample and sales room, embracing
every variety of goods belonging to the trade.

gust, 1867.

Mr. Hier has been a resident of Syracuse since

1 843, and for some years was foreman of his brother's

and remained till January, 871, when the firm of

& Co., was formed, and business opened
J. J. Carr
Mr. Quincy F.
at No. 7 West Fayette street.

hands.

manufacturing business.
Mr. Bruce S. Aldrich has been
nected with the trade of this

many

city,

years con-

and spends a

portion of his time in traveling for the firm of which

he

is

member.

George

P.

Hier & Co.

This firm

George

S. Hier,

located at

street.

who became

member

of the firm

in 1876.

Seubert & Warner, Nos. 58 and 60 West Fayette street, are another firm of

He

then opened business at No. 44

company with Mr. J. H. Noll,

street, in

Gushing, the present jjartner, became associated

January i, 1873,
with Mr. Carr in the above firm.
the firm style was changed to Carr & Gushing.
On the 1st of May, 1874, they removed to their

present location, No. 53

is

Mr. George P. Hier,

firm,
has been a dealer in
the senior member of the
leaf tobacco for twenty years, and for the past
fifteen years this has been his exclusive business.
He was Mayor of the city in 1875, and has held
His partner is
other responsible local offices.
No. 25 North Salina

East Water

heavy manufacturers

the

new

building, (not

West Fayette

street, into

then completely finished,)

erected by Joseph Newell.

The

building

is

of brick,

four stories and basement, 22^ by 80 feet, and is

wholly occupied by the business of this house.
They handle a large variety of popular brands,
several of which are exclusively their own.

Formerly they employed two traveling salesmen, but have recently added a third for the WestThey employ in their business upwards
ern trade.
and manufacture about a million
persons,
fifty
of
and a half cigars annually.

Photo, by

W.

V.;Eanger, l^yracuse.

rl
'^^^n^^-^f^

The

subject of this sketch was born in

July 14, 1808.

He

was the only son

dren of Giles Bronson and

Onondaga

in a family

Mary Robinson,

county.

His grandfather, Elijah, was the

settle

this county,

in

1778.
that

Co.,

N. Y.,

of three

chil-

early settlers of this

first

of the

name

to

this time,

by economy, he had secured a small

commence business
had a

with, but

capital stock of

what was of

capital to

far greater importance,

sound judgment, good business

and a far-seeing sagacity.

ability,

In this business, which began on a

small scale, and rapidly increased with the growth of the county

His father came from the old and honorable family of

and consequent demands of the people, he became one of the

name among the

New England

pioneers of the

His mother's ancestry were

also of the

this county, settled on

States, his

is

now

father,

States, she

on coming to

called Hewlett's Hill,

and

on farming, afterwards removing to the town

there carried

of Geddes.

what

New England

His

being a native of Massachusetts.

Died

May

21,

1841

his

mother died

May

15,

merchants

first

in the county,

and continued his trade for some

thirty years, the latter half of the time devoting his attention

almost exclusively to the boot, shoe, and leather trade, which he

carried on in

In

Auburn and Watkins

politics

as well as Syracuse.

Mr. Bronson was an unswerving member of the

Democratic party, was well read in the current news of the

country, satisfied to follow the direction of business interests,

not seeking political preferment, but held the

1842.

The education of the

children was very limited, and confined

Horace remained on the

district schools of that day.

farm with his parents until he was about eighteen years of age,

and then struck out in business for himself.

New

By

about 1800, and was born March 10,

immediate birthplace being in Connecticut, town of Middlebury.

to the

OW-t^?t<^^^^ L.

First going to

York, he stocked up in goods belonging to his uncle, then

doing business there, and started out as a peddler, traveling

through Ohio, Kentucky, and

western States.

He

many

of the other southern and

continued in this business for

many

years,

and about 1837 came to the village of Syracuse, and opened a

dry-goods store on East Genesee street.

of coroner

In religious persuasion he was a Unitarian,

for several terms.

but

office

latterly a Universalist.

In the year 1854 he married Miss Sarah A., daughter of

Eliphalet Case and Rebecca Robinson.
early settlers of Hewlett's Hill,

June

17, 1827.

Her

parents were also

Onondaga town.

She was born

Mr. Bronson, always feeling the want of the

advantages of an education, has placed his children within the

reach of the best educational

To Mr. and
C, Horace C,

Mr.s.

facilities

of the

city.

Bronson were born three children,

and Silas (died in infancy).

Mary

The

subject of this sketch was born

Co., MiiKH.,

.liiii.

C,

1794.

iit

Sheffield, Berkshire

lie wa.x Iniirlli eliild

and third mhi,

in n family of ten children, of Isaae Ilall

and X'a.shti John.son,

the former u native of New Marlboroufih, Mass., the latter a
native of the New Kn}:land Stale.'*.
John.s)n Hall tracas his
deneenl throu;,'h hi.s f;rindfutlicr Kbenezer, who was eldest son
of lehabod Ilall. a rexident of Knfii-ld. Conn., and who was
nnirried to Jioi.^ KiMiie. of that town, in May, \~'M.
He eanie
to this eouiity with his father,(ii'n. Isaae Hall, in Fihruary, 17'.t7.

when hut three y<'ars of ap-, and settled in the old lown of I'dni|>ey (now I.difayelte
where he resiclcil for about I'orty-one years.
),

His father wan a wrli-lodo fanner, and not oidy taiif;ht his ehildren the value of industry and labor, but pive tlicni as liberal an
cduuition iLs the schools of the eiiunty at that time affordefl.
Afler coming ol' aj^e be spent some timi' as a clerk in Asahel
Smith's store at Lafayette, and alter a few years established
busincMS for himself, making general mcrehandi.se his principal
tniile.
He was a man of .strict inlegrily, honest and upright
in all his business transactions, and during his life held various

and responsibility.
He was postmaster at
the orgiiiiization of the town until bis removal
to Syracu.s*' IK.'tH), and for many years was a member of the
hoard of supervisors.
Hi> represented ibis county in the Stale
legislature in the years l.S2!)-;t(l, and Wiis instrumental in obtaining the charter of the (dd Onondaga County Hank, in which
offices

of trust

I^ifayetle from
(

was a stockholder from its organization until the

charier, a (K-riod of twenty-five years.
Also a
director lor many yi^ars of the late Hank of Salina, and Syracuse
Savings Hank,
lie wils elected to ihi' office of shcritT in XX'M.
The late Kingsley .S. Hingbam lallcrwanls governor of Michigan), Major William A. Ctsik, and DonLstus Lawrence (now
dcceawd were his associate officers.
Ho was on the bench a.ssoeiate judge) with the late Hon.
Grove liawrence and Oliver R. Strong.
Until within a few
institution he

expiration of

its

years of bis ileatb be took a great interest in politics, was a

stanch Democrat, and had invariably voted and acted with that

He

was a resident of the county for nearly .seventyvery few residents of the county have spent so
many years in it, and been able to look back to its earliest days
and count its various changes lo its pnwnt wealth and business
interests, its schools and cburcbes.
Upon coming to Syracu.se he formed a partnership with
Messrs. Hboades \- .*sbernian in the hardware trade, which was
carried on su<'ce.ssfully for some ten years, when he retired from
His father,
the firm, and never after cngiiged in active business.
(Jen. Isjiac Hall, died in Lafayette, Sept. .i2. 1K:{0, his molher
having died in i'ompcy, Nov. i;i. 18ia.
In the year IHOG.
I)cc. 11, be married .^Ii.ss I'olly, daughter of ,)ob Andrews and
Comforl (irecii, formerly of Ivtston. Washington Co., N. Y.,
)>arty.

three years

She
but settlers al liafayelte townshi[> about the year ISIKI.
was born in 17!IS.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hall were Ixirn eight children, Mary,
wife of Harlow He Wolf, deputy postmaster. Syracuse; CorJohnson L., a
delia, wife of Hon. (Jeorge Haynor, Syracus*'
Kdward L.,
Charles Carroll ( dec<'ast'<l
resident of Oswego
Thomas .lefTcrson (died at New
a resident of New Vork city
Orleans); Helen .^l., wife of Hon. Adilison H. Laflin, a naval
officer (pf the |>ort of New York city
and Olivia H. Hall.
While living al I.iafayetle be antj his wife both united with

the Congregational church, and, u|sin coming to the city, united

church, and remainiHl consist^int

with the First

I're.sbyterian

members of the

sjime until their de;itb.

Mrs.
all

Ilall

was devoted

that nntkes true

the year IS,54, aged

lo

her family, and instructed them

She died

manhood and wimninhood.

fifty -six

who survived him

1871.

He

in

years.

For his S(!eoml wife he married

Huffiilo,

in

.^lrs.

Maria Sevi'nince, of

oidy three months, dying January,

died Oct, 27, 1870.

PnSTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Messrs. Carr

&

Gushing are both natives of

this

during

its

county, the former born in the town of Clay and the

frigate

Columbia,

Both are well itnown as gentlemen

of high character in business circles. Mr. Carr has
been connected with the manufacture of cigars

ing

latter in Cicero.

The

twenty-five years.
result of prudent

success of this firm

management and

strict

is

the

attention

to business.

Tobacconist, Nos. 43 and 45 West Fayette street.

Mr. Parker began the tobacco and cigar business in

House Block, No.

on the nth of May, i86i.

Syracuse

street,

May, 1868, he took

in

ner, the firm being

Parker

W.

P/Ir.

&

On

the 4th of

B. Herrick as part-

Herrick, and on the

1st of May, 1871, removed to No. 18 James street.

January 31, 1874, the partnership was dissolved,
Mr. Parker continuing the business at the old stand
till May i, 1876, when he removed to the spacious
store, Nos. 43 and 45 West Fayette street, built

expressly for his business.

Mr. Parker employs from thirty to

fifty

hands

has three traveling salesmen, two with teams, and

one by railroad.
Mr. Parker is a native of

Onondaga
lias

been

Hill.

He came to

in the cigar

this

county, born at

Syracuse

in 1833,

and

Joseph Barton, Jr., & Co., Wholesale Dealers

Leaf Tobacco and Manufacturers of Cigars,
Barton Opera House Block, East Genesee street.
Mr. Joseph Barton, Sen., started in the manufac-

in

1848, on East Fayette

moved into the FurNo. 105.

Block, and there commenced wholesaling.
In
In 1851, he

street.

man

removed to the location now occupied

'by the Barton Opera House, and where the business
Mr. Barton
of the present firm is still continued.
had built on these premises a fine store extending
through from East Genesee to East Fayette streets,
which was destroyed by fire, without insurance, in
He then built the Barton Opera House
1867.
Block, at a cost, including the fitting up of his
1852, he

theatre, of over ^100,000.

Barton,

Jr.,

came

In January, 1876, Joseph

into possession

Dallas had

come out

From 40

it

to

in this State.

Mr. Joseph Barton, Sen., was born in New York

city and came here in 1844.
His early life, from
on
board a man-of-war
thirteen to twenty, was spent
and in a whaling voyage around Cape Horn. He volunteered in the Mexican War, and spent his time

Commo-

port

in

Commodore

burying

of Lima,

Peru,

in

1843.

Savannah to relieve the

and was taken sick and died

in the

United States,
above place.

Joseph Barton, Jr., was born

lived here all his

R. G.

in

Syracuse and has

life.

Wynkoop &

Co.

The

extensive trade of

and retail, places it in

the front rank of the book and stationery business
in Central New York, and in point of age it out-

this house, both at wholesale

ranks almost every other establishment of the kind.

business of this house was started in 1846 by
Myers and J. G. Wynkoop. In 1848, Mr. R. G.

The

Wynkoop became a partner, under the firm name

Wynkoop & Bro., which continued till 1867,
when the firm became Wynkoops & Leonard. Mr.
of

James A. Leonard was the incoming

partner,

and

he remained connected with the house till 1875,

when he retired on account of ill health, and is
now, we believe, engaged

in the

book and stationery

In 1870, Mr.

J.

G.

Wyn-

koop retired from the firm, and Mr. James S. Wynkoop entered it. The last named gentleman had
been connected with the house some years, and his
experience admirably fitted him for the duties devolving upon an active partner.
The firm as it
now is consists of R. G. Wynkoop and two sons,
Jas. S. and R. G., Jr., all of whom are gentlemen

known in business circles.

The premises occupied by the house

well

South Salina

street, in the

The

large,

stock

is

supply the

are at No. 19

Syracuse House Block.

embracing every variety of mis-

cellaneous books, stationery,

retail trade

wall

paper,

&c., to

and jobbing business carried

on by the house. Their wholesale trade extends

throughout Northern, Central and Western New

York, goods being chiefly sold by traveling agents.

All of the partners give the business their personal

his

50 hands are
mployed in the manufacture of Cigars, and two
traveling salesmen are kept upon the road, the sales
personal supervision.

at the

attention.
to

and assisted

Callao,

of the business,

under the present firm name, and gives

being chiefly

States, in 1842,

Dallas at

trade at Decorah, Iowa.

business since 1861.

ture of cigars in this city in

Commodore Rosseau, command-

dore Apcatesby Jones, United States frigate United

South Salina

1 1

continuance on board the United States

was, at the taking of California, with

frigate

R. H. Parker, Cigar Manufacturer and Wholesale

the

231

The

senior

member

an old
has been intimately identified with

the

of

resident of this city and for

firm

many

its

is

years

various in-

terests.

Moser & Lyon,

Nos. 37 and 39 South Clinton

another and a special branch
of the wholesale book and stationery trade, job
printing, &c., and have a retail store. No. 62
street,

represent

South Salina
1873-

street.

This firm was established in

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

232

&

J.

F. B.

Garrett, Nos. 6 and 8 West Fay-

managers and proprietors of another special department of the stationery, blank

book and paper jobbing business. They occupy
two stores and employ three traveling salesmen.
ette street, are the

They

are

Ormsbee

J.

is

begun business

1846, and conducted

line in

East Genesee

He

street.

Fayette

goods

it

in

a long time on

for

He now

conducts a

establishment at No. 22

retail

West

street, dealing exclusively in stationery

in

that

this

has been in this business

in the city thirty-one years.

wholesale and

in i866.

one of the oldest stationery

dealers in the city, having

and

Mr. Ormsbee gives his perhis business and also employs

line.

sonal attention

to

traveling salesmen, his trade including both city

and country.

Culver Bros. &

Co., Paper Manufacturers

and

Dealers in Paper and Paper Stock, No, 73 West

Fayette street. This house, although not included
under the head of books and stationery, nevertheless represents a business sufficiently analogous to

be mentioned in this connection. The house was

founded in 1854 by Mr. E. B. Culver, who conducted the business alone till 1869, when Benjamin

H. Culver and James

The

L. Collin

business of the house

is

became

heavy, and

partners.
is

chiefly

wholesale, the partners giving their personal attention

to

the business and also employing traveling

Mr. E. B. Culver came to this county from

Norwich, Conn., in 1853, remaining one year at
Fayetteville, whence he came to Syracuse and
established business, as above stated.

head

and specu-

W.

S.

Peck & Bro.

wholesale and

manufacturers and

are

clothing, Nos.

24
and 26 North
under the firm name of Gates & Peck. In 1869
Mr. Gates retired, and W. S. Peck continued the
business until January i, 1874, receiving at the
latter date Frank A. Peck as partner, the firm becoming, as now, W. S Peck & Bro. May i, 1877,
they moved to their present location. They have
two commodious stores, each 22 by 130 feet, and
retail

dealers in

well adapted to their large

and increasing business.

The Peck Brothers manufacture

goods, employing

all

their

own

department an average of
Their present average is 1,000

in this

about 200 hands.

garmentsper week, and their sales amount to $150,000 a year. The members of the firm are young
and enterprising gentlemen and have built up their
extensive trade by strict integrity and unremitting
attention to business.

land county

the

They came here from

former in 1864, and the

Cort-

latter in

1869.

A. W. Palmer & Co., successors to M. C.

Palmer & Co., established at Nos. 17 and 19 North
Salina street in 1854.

The members

of the present

firm are Alva W. Palmer and his brother George

W. Palmer, and their house is one of the old and
reliable establishments of the city.

In the spring

removed to their present location,

Here their
Nos. 15 and 17 South Salina street.
their
facilities for manufacturing and displaying
goods have been enlarged, and a more complete
stock of Men's, Boys' and Children's clothing can
The firm manufacture
rarely be found in any city.
experienced cutters.
employing
all of their clothing,
This branch of the business gives employment to
of 1877 they

salesmen.

Morris

streets being laid out, houses going up,

lation rife.

Salina street; established in 1867,

Their house was established

books.

L.

manufacturers of blank

extensive

also

thing seemed going ahead with feverish excitement

& Co. In

of the

present

1832, Mr. D.
firm, then

Morris, the

J.

living

in

Utica,

established a branch of his merchant tailoring busi-

1840, and the firm

J.

Morris. &

in

The extensive business of

50 to 200 hands.
house has been built up gradually from a comparatively small beginning made in the infancy of
the clothing trade in this city twenty-three years

to

ago, and to the energy and enterprise of the

ness in Syracuse, under the firm name of Morris &

Mr. Morris came here to reside in
Sanford.

was afterwards changed to D.

1861, without any change
firm style was changed
the
the copartnership,
Morris

&

Son.

In

teen years of

came through Syracuse at fourage when they were digging for the
first

canal in 1819.

In 1825,

became

again with a view

of locating here, but decided not to

do so on ac-

He says nothing could

count of the bad water.
taken place in Syracuse
had
that
change
the
exceed
between the time of his
From the mere
in 1825.
had become an

first visit

" four

and

his second,

corners" the place

active, bustling village,

where every-

this

men

Co., as at present.

Mr. Morris

from

who have managed

its

affairs

this

young

result

is

mainly due.

The

Messrs. Palmer have lived in this city and

all their lives, being sons of the late

vicinity nearly

Joseph Palmer, Esq., of Centerville, an old citizen

of that place and a Justice of the Peace there for

some seventeen years. M. C. Palmer, formerly of

this firm, and George W. Palmer, a member of the
firm of A. W. Palmer & Co., are engaged in the
manufacture of

salt at Saltville,

Va.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

SwARTHOUT, AcKEKMAN

&

Co.

This

firm

another large manufacturing, wholesale and

They have
The

clothing house of this city.

stores in Chicago and St. Louis.

also

is

retail

branch

firm as first

was Swarthout, Kent & Co.

January 27, 1872, L. A. Swarthout, J. Daniel
Ackerman, John A. Cole and T. A. Bartlett, entered
into copartnership under the present firm style,
and have so remained since, with the exception of
Mr. Bartlett, who withdrew in February, 1877.
organized

1867,

in

Kent & Miller. The

both

of the business,

in

This house gives employmanufacture of garments to about 200persons, while its annual sales are about ^200,000.

ment

The

M. Jacobs, No.

21

its

building erected expressly by Mr. Jacobs for

the accommodation of his business

is

commodious

and conveniently arranged.

Danziger Bros.The firm of Danziger

in Homer, Cortland county, in

was formed

Bros,
1850.

In 1865 they removed to Syracuse in order to take

pres-

are engaged exclusively in the wholesale clothing

Miller.

The

business.

William A. Arnold,

departments, has been such as to exceed the most

sanguine expectations of

in the

1871, and the progress

the wholesale and retail

in

being made at home.

advantage of a more central location and enlarge

their facilities for business.
In 1866, they removed to No. 23 North Salina street, where they

partners in this house

Kent and R. V.

are George B.

ent firm was established

233

founders.

North Salina

Salina

street, is

the oldest clothing houses in Syracuse.

one of

Mr. Jacobs

commenced

business in 1844, and erected his presThe business of the house,

ent building in 1852.

most of the others, embraces wholesale, retail

and manufacturing most of the goods handled

like

at Nos. 16 and 18 North

Mr. Arnold started the clothing
December, 1869, having come from

street.

business

in

Sacramento,

California.

His

manufacturing, wholesale and

business

includes

retail.

H. Leyden & Bko. are at No. 22 North

Salina street.
Their clothing business was established July 18, 1873, by the senior partner.
I.

ONONDAGA COUNTY MILK ASSOCIATION.

This

is

an organization formed of certain dairy-

ing interests

the county to supply the city of

in

It was organSyracuse with good and pure milk.

ized under a special charter of the Legislature on
the 9th of March, 1872, and commenced business
on the 20th of March, of the same year. The an-

nual reports of the Association show the progress

that has been made.
tal

II,

in

It

was chartered with

a capi-

of ^25,000, and its capital stock paid in January

The total receipts of milk
1877, was $29,900.

1876 were 2,921,994^ quarts.

was 2,694,806 quarts.

sumed

The amount conThe amount of

The surplus milk

cream sold was 3,476 quarts.

and cream are manufactured into butter and
Of butter there was made in 1876, 14,186
cheese.

pounds, and of cheese, 46,365 pounds. The Association is made up of stockholders who are dairy-

men

in different

towns adjacent to Syracuse, and

cows each. The number

owning from ten

to sixty

of stockholders

at present

number

of

sociation

The

is

cows whose milk

and the whole

is

46,

is

furnished to the As-

1,116.

principle

which governs

this

Association

is

that of furnishing the city with the best and purest

milk that can be produced.

30*

Hence every precau-

tion

is

taken and the producers of milk are bound

under the most stringent

will suffice to illustrate

rules.

few of these

the care and pains taken by

the Association.

Producers must exercise particular care that

and aired on a board, bottom
up, during the day, thoroughly rinsed with cold
water before use, and immediately after milking the
can should be set in a tank of cold water, cover
raised on one side for the air to enter, and the milk
quietly stirred several times while cooling, to expel
*
*
*
*
the animal odor.
"

their cans be .opened

tests are made by the receiving clerk

milk delivered to the Association, and when
found below 90 degrees a proportionate discount
will be made from the amount credited at the end
When the test stands much below
of the month.
90 it is conclusive evidence of ad^tlteraiion, and the
producer is liable to a heavy fine, or the penalties
named in the By-Laws.
" Care should be taken with the stables that they
be well ventilated and drained, and kept as cleanly
the cows bedded with clean straw or
as possible
other materials, and have pure water to drink.
No unwholesome food or stagnant water should be
allowed them. The milk should be passed through
a wire strainer, then through two thicknesses of
Especial care should be taken in
strainer cloth.
out of the pail all dust or dirt from
keep
milking to

"Weekly

of

all

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

234

baj;, which should be wiped or washed

The cans should

clean before milking.
not be taken into the stables, as milk very readily
absorbs their odor.
Producers are especially
cautioned against sending the milk of any cow out
of health, or just calved, as they render themselves
liable for any damage arising from the sale of such
impure milk."

the cow's

The consumer

of milk in

the city will breathe

more freely after reading these stringent rules, and

will certainly sip his glass of milk, or

pour his cream

into his morning cup of cofTee, with much more

The provision thus
complacency and satisfaction.
made for cleanliness and purity in the article of

milk

is

certainly a step farther in civilization than

The

that indicated by railroads and telegraphs.

milk now

use in the city

in

is

pretty good proof that

these rules are carried into effect, and the purity,

richness and excellence of Syracuse milk are being

noted by strangers and travelers from other

cities.

show how rapidly the milk of this

In 1875, eighAssociation is growing into favor.
Statistics

Up

teen routes were peddled.

to

January

i,

1876,

thirty-seven private routes had been absorbed in

the Association, and the whole

number

of private

The Associroutes now associated is thirty-nine.

employing
twentyation now peddles twenty routes,
four horses, twenty-seven

wagons, twenty sleighs,

and a

including

force,

keeper, cheese maker,

peddlers,

engineer,

house-

clerks,

superintendent,

&c., of thirty persons.

The

headquarters of the Association are

East Fayette street,

new

in

at

44

building expressly

adapted to the business of the Association, erected

Since beginning in
1875 at a cost of $17,000.
an old hotel in 1872, they have grown to the dimenin

and requirements of these new premises,

which include milk depot, cheese and butter factory,
office, boarding house, &c., with barns and blackThe upper rooms are
smith shop in the rear.
rented to nine families and a spare front room on
sions

the

first floor

The

occupied

for a

barber shop.

for 1878:
B.
Austin Avery, President
James L. Hill, VicePresident
C. D. Avery, Secretary and Treasurer
George O. Gannett, Superintendent I. C. Reed,
Cashier and Book-Keeper.
Directors
B. A.
Avery, John Wells, John Raynor, W. C. Brayton,
Henry Jerome, Sidney
J. L. Hill, C. D. Avery,
Lewis, George O. Gannett. Executive Committee:

following

are

the

officers

J.

Sidney

Wells,

Jerome,

W.

Raynor, Henry
Examining Committee

Lewis, John

C. Brayton.

George C. Gere, Charles Bailey, W. H. H. Gere.

Committee on Manufacturing of Butter and Cheese

Charles Bailey.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CAPTAIN OLIVER TEALL.

Then, again, when the municipal project to

Whoever has known much of Syracuse must

He was a
have known something of Oliver Teall.
conspicuous man in this place from the time that the
village

made

first

swamps, through

became

appearance

its

all

its

More than

hills.

he was to be seen early and

ing, as

cedar

stages of growth until

a thriving city, spreading

the surrounding

the

in

late,

its

it

upon
years ago

skirts

fifty

vigorously direct-

general superintendent, the repairs and im-

provements on the middle section of the Erie

This brought him daily into contact with
Canal.
large numbers of persons, and he was extensively
known for his activity, efficiency and exactness.
Subsequently,
estate found

it

the

buyers and

convenient,

if

sellers of

real

not needful, to have

do with Captain Teall, whose wise

foresight of the future growth of Syracuse, led him
to become an owner of valuable lots in many parts

somewhat

of what

is

to

now

the city.

in-

troduce good water into the village was about to be

abandoned to individual enterprise, he became, and

was for a number of years, the almost sole proprietor of the aqueduct and the Teall water came to
be as familiarly spoken of in Syracuse as the Croton in New York, if we may compare so small a
;

matter with so large a one. The quality of the

water, at first so named, was very poor, but the in-

man spared no pains until he had found

and become the owner of a copious spring of a pure
article, formed an able company, and introduced, by
a well-made aqueduct, an abundant supply of water,
which he need never be ashamed should bear his

defatigable

name. Every part of the construction of this valuable improvement was superintended by him personally,

so that to

the greatest,

all

the inhabitants, from the least to

this

public

servant

was

familiarly

known.

When

the

Onondaga County Bank,

the

first in-

'"S'ai.,

'; TT,

<:;

-J

i-^TEi;.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

stitution of the kind in Syracuse,
in

Captain Teall was

1829,

Directors, and subsequently

he continued

position

charter in 1854.

At

of

its

President, in which

its

the

till

was established

elected one

expiration

of

its

certain hours of the day, there-

he was generally seen in or near the house

where men having money, or needing money, are
wont to congregate, and his shrewdness, foresight
and incorruptible integrity have served many a man
a good turn, who was at his wit's end to get out of
fore,

make

a pecuniary embarrassment, or to

a profitable

of Education

Syracuse acknowl-

in

edges him to have been one of its earliest and most

Travelers who pass over the
earnest promoters.

by daylight, can hardly

railroad

unduly

tall

brick building in the eastern portion of

If benevolent, they will rejoice to learn

Syracuse.
that

now an asylum

it is

fail

to notice an

for

orphan children, and

children worse off than orphans

an institution well

endowed, and sustained by the united, cordial cooperation of

the Protestant sects in the city, giving

all

a comfortable

home and an

two hundred destitute

quire into

was not

its

excellent discipline to

But,

ones.

little

history, they will be

if

they in-

informed that

it

originally intended for the charitable pur-

pose to which
forty years

now

it is

put.

It

Hon. Harvey Baldwin, Thomas Rose, and others,

for an academy, and was so used for a dozen years
but, being located too far from what subsequently
;

and laborious duty.

for signatures,

Captain

Teall was ever ready to present them to his neigh-

bors and townsmen, and press

them upon

their

favorable regards.

His principles he carried into practice on every

was suffered to pass

occasion, and no opportunity

At one of the meetOnondaga County Bank,

without giving effect thereto.

ings of the directors of the

held December, 1845, at which were present such

John Wilkinson, Hiram Putnam, David S.

Horace White, and Hamilton
White, he presented the following preamble and
resolution, which were adopted unanimously
as

Colvin, Johnson Hall,

Whereas, An

application has been made to

this bank for a small subscription to aid the efforts
of persons engaged in the temperance reform, and
as nothing in the judgment of the most sound and
prudent men adds more to the permanency of our
rights than the extension of this great reformation ;
"

it is,

therefore,

"Resolved, That the cashier be authorized to pay

the sum of twenty-five dollars to aid the fund to be
raised in the county, for the purpose of distributing
an appeal to the voters of the State of New York,
lately published by the Executive Committee of the
New York State Temperance Society."

Many

was erected ^bout

ago by Captain Teall, Aaron Burt Esq.,

a disagreeable

pledges to be obtained or memorials to the

legislature to be circulated

men

investment of some surplus gains.

The cause

mending to others

Were

235

persons would have thought that a Board

moneyed corporation was the

of Directors of a

place
"

to

have presented

knowing the

right,

such

last

document, but

he dare maintain

it "

under

all

hazards.

a day school, and yet too near to be resorted to as

His abstinence, however, reached farther than to

He would include in his prointoxicating liquors.

languished, notwithstanding

scription whatever articles of food or habits of living

many

be prejudicial to the health, or mental,

He canvassed Syracuse in
person, and appealed to thousands of its inhabitants to dissuade them from the use of tobacco.
It may be too true that his unwearied exertions
have made but little visible impression upon

of the city, to be convenient as

became the center

a boarding school,

the exertions of

its

it

three principal patrons, and

years ago became the property of the

County Orphan Asylum.

monument

It

is,

Onondaga

however,

still

to the enterprise of Captain Teall and

his associates,

and of their

zeal in the cause of ed-

ucation.

But it has not been merely

and thrift that the subject of

known

as a
this

man

of business

memoir has been

and heard
one
of
the
earliest
was
of throughout the State.
and most steadfast friends of the temperance reform.
His name will go down to posterity as the
principally

to his fellow-citizens

are

known

to

or moral vigor of man.

those

who were

addicted to this nauseous weed

but very many, through his influence, are rejoicing

He
in their exemption from the offensive habit.

cellor

would never concede that reason and conscience,

health and purity should be subjugated to appetite.
But he insisted, with a distinctness, pertinacity, and
earnestness, which evinced his deep sincerity and
commanded the respect of many who have not
yielded to his appeals, that it is a sin to violate any

enterprise.

of the laws of

He

untiring fellow-laborer of

Smith,

Herman Camp,

E. C.

Delevan,

Gerrit

Charles A. Wheaton, Chan-

Walworth, and other pioneers in this great

His labors were not most conspicuous,
Although a frequent
however, at public meetings.

attendant at them, he was always a diligent laborer

at

home and throughout

hood.

He

immediate neighbordid not content himself with recomhis

and health, laws instituted by

Almighty God, as plainly as those that were proThis great
claimed by Moses from Mount Sinai.
life

doctrine he inculcated wherever he could get ears

conto hear it, and enforced it by a life eminently

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

236
sistent,

and by the manifestation

in his

own person

to every obligation

man

ance, seldom seen in a

and the

fearless

avowal of what-

ever he believed to be true and right.

of a degree of health, vigor, and power of endur-

Oliver Teall was born August

of his years.

much

1788,

5,

the

in

Although the temperance cause received so

attention from Captain Teall, and made such large
demands upon his time and his purse, he also en-

town of Killingworth, Conn. His great-grandfather

came from Holland, and settled in this country a

tered with zeal into other important reforms.

father, with

four brothers, served their country in

the war for

American independence,
Eighteen months of

He

engaged

early

in

number

opposition to the law by

six years each.

debtors might be incarcerated like felons,

which

nor did he cease from his efforts until that law was
repealed.
In the height of the controversy on that
reform he was one of a number

Onondaga county
against

all

jail,

paid

who went

the jailor's

the debtors in his custody, threw open

to deprive a

He

was

man.

also untiring in his efforts to procure the

prisoner, having been captured at

Horse Neck,

the time

it.

He

hearted creditors.

trate

To mention but one more of the objects of

benevolence to which he addressed himself, the

deal

law authorizing married females to hold property

independently of their husbands, was, in its very in-

lius,

the

pursued his medical profession

He served many

life.

until called

years as a magis-

and a deputy-sheriff, and transacted a great

of business for his fellow-citizens, in various

Shortly after their removal into

capacities.

Man-

Mrs. Teall died, leaving her husband with six

children, four daughters

and two sons.

Oliver, the

by Captain Teall, and

This was an important step in

subject of this biography, was then but about four

women

but twelve years, and upon her devolved the princi-

duly appreciated

of

his almost miraculous escape.

into public

tingencies of trade, as well as the rapacity of hard-

restoration

when General Putnam

region.

he did, that a still larger amount of property should

be ensured to the families of men against the con-

warmly advocated.

at

Being poor, he purchased a farm on credit.

It was a tract of military land, and he was put to
no little trouble and expense to get a good title to

passage of the homestead exemption law, and never

relinquished his labors on that behalf, believing as

ception,

term his

freedom, of which misfortune ought never

air of

his

Soon after the close of the war his father. Dr.

Timothy Teall, resumed his profession, and, about
79 1, removed with his wife (whose maiden name
was Phci.be Hulli and several children from Killingworth into the town of Manlius, Onondaga
County.
He was one of the first settlers in this

demands

the prison doors, and led them forth into the light

and

nearly

in all,

father spent as a

made

to the

His

of years previous to the Revolution.

to

that condition

The

years of age.

of

oldest child was a daughter, of

much

equality in which they were originally created, and

pal charge of the family,

to which they have an unalienable right.

the absence of their father.

Now, whoever knows anything of the origin of

"human laws, will acknowledge that we are much
more indebted for our social improvements to the
wisdom, benevolence, and exertions of private citi-

Oliver, so soon as he was able, was put to work

upon the farm, much of it then being yet unreclaimed from the woods.
And there he continued
to toil until he was 17 or 18 years old, when he was

zens, than

who
ion

we

where the leaders of public opin-

draw them, and,

mental

sanction

known

will

Teall was,

at last,

sovereign

of the

people.

Captain

many years, one of the

Some of the best laws

history.

of the principal facts of his personal

It will

be particularly instructive and en-

couraging to young
literary

be

interesting to our readers to

men

of limited

means and few

advantages to be informed that

Teall qualified himself for great

ciety by^thc force of good

Captain

usefulness in so-

common

sense, fidelity

to

information

all

He

himself, with the understanding

mon

this while were, of course, very slen-

has been heard to say that

ing did not

for

work on the farm when not otherHis facilities for acquiring literary
wise employed.
was

that he

der.

law-

that
makers of this Slate.
have been put upon our statute-books, have been
enacted by the influence that he, and men like him,
have exerted upon the public mind.
It will, therefore,

merely give a govern-

what has already become the

to

in fact, for

know some

allowed to deal

are to the final action of legislators,

tardily follow

of the time, too, in

amount

district school.

to

all

his school-

more than one year

at a

com-

Yet, so soon as he had been

taught to read, he began to occupy his

little

leisure

time in the perusal of such books as were within

'

his reach.

Often did he pursue his studies by

fire

or torch light, until, at about the age of twenty, he

was thought
ing others,

is

to

be qualified to be teacher.

Instruct-

the most profitable mental and moral

discipline to one

who undertakes

determination to be

faithful.

the task with the

While thus engaged,

and during the winter months of several years, beand after, Mr. Teall himself made very rapid

fore

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

About

improvement.

time he read several of

this

237

it some time before the day specified

and disclosed those qualities, that were so appreciated by the commissioners, that, at the completion
of the middle section of the canal, he was appointed

complished

his father's medical works, thinking that he might,

day,

at a future

become

a physician.

Afterwards

he read Blackstone's Commentaries, not knowing

but his preference would be for the law. Before,
however, he was twenty years of age, he concluded
to take his chance in the world without any particular profession.

He soon

after engaged in various branches of busiFor a while he conducted a limekiln, labor-

ness.

ing at

himself very hard.

it

partnership
business.

in

Then he entered

into

the tanning, currying and shoemaking

Afterwards he engaged

a great

deal of practical information in a variety of useful

arts,

which was of inestimable value

sequent

to

him

in sub-

life.

economy were commenced

Habits of

almost as soon as his habits of industry.

in

him

When

quite a boy he had earned twelve shillings, and that

small

sum (which was then

a great one to him) he

put out to interest at 7 per cent. This was the

beginning of his financial operations, a suitable

it,

and served

Here he was

in that

upon to
direct important improvements and repairs, and to
expend very large sums of money. The thoroughness of the work done under his supervision, and
the accuracy of his accounts, inspired all who were
cognizant of his skill and fidelity with the highest
called

confidence.

in iron smithing,

Thus he acquired

in its various branches.

superintendent of a portion of
capacity for six years.

It

was during

machine, called

this
"

period that he invented the

The Under-water

deepening canals.

It

Excavator," for

answered the purpose well

and he obtained a patent for it.

But it was at a still earlier date that he embraced
a principle, which, could

it

by the people from Albany

incomparably

greater

be universally adopted

would be an
the state and

to Buffalo,

blessing

to

county, than this far-famed canal has been.

1

Captain

8 19,

Teall

followed

then

the

In

almost

universal custom of furnishing ardent spirits to his

prelude to that course which led him to become the

workmen and

president of a bank, and the head of several large

so happened that

pecuniary investments.

town of Sullivan, his foreman had hired a man

somewhat famous in that neighborhood as a hardThis annoyed Mr. Teall. He was willing
drinker.

In the war of 1812 he commanded a company,

which he ordered to muster in Manlius, and marched
to Oswego, when it was threatened by the enemy.
Hence the title by which he was so familiarly
known.

At an

early

menced

his

period of

life.

Captain Teall com-

speculations in real estate, the buying

of water-powers, erecting mills, carrying them on

a while, and, when he had made them valuable,

selling them to advantage.
The experience which
he gained in these transactions, qualified him for an
enterprise which, in the event, greatly enhanced his

property, and

made him more than ever known and

respected by the business-men of this part of the

Empire

State.

In 18 18, he took what was then a

large contract on

The whole work was an

Canal.

Many

the middle section of the Erie

persons

in the

experiment.

State were utterly incredulous

its success.
The amount involved in the job he
had taken was much larger than he had ever before
attempted to manage. Laborers were not so easily
obtained then as now.
Difficulties sprang up
thickly in his way.
He became alarmed at the
undertaking, and offered the canal commissioners
They
|>SOO to release him from his contract.
This roused all his
utterly refused to do so.

of

energies.

He

addressed himself to the work with

a determination that few could

command.

He

ac-

of drinking with

when

them himself

It

erecting a grist-mill in the

men, but to join in his potawas mortifying to his selfProbably some words to that effect
respect.
dropped from his lips, which were reported to the
to drink with decent

tions with a drunkard

For, the next day,

new-comer.

when

the Captain

himself, and, as usual, passed the bottle

had drank
to his workmenj all partook, excepting only the man
The reputed
at whom he had taken offense.
utterly

inebriate

Though

refused

the

tempting draught.

urged, he would not be induced to taste

it.

awakened in the
Captain's mind a train of reflections, which led to
the determination that he would never again be
instrumental in the seduction of sober men, or the
unexpected

This

temptation of those

most

easily beset.

of distilled

spirits,

occurrence

whom
He at

the sin of intemperance

once renounced the use

and shortly

drinks of every description.

after intoxicating

To

the

resolution

then formed he adhered without deviation to the

end of

his

life.

His early studies of the laws of life and health,

already referred to, disposed him the more readily
to refrain from an indulgence which the slightest
observation is sufficient to show, is most prejudicial
to the physical, mental, and moral welfare of man.

For the same

reason, Mr. Teall abstained from the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

238

Subsequent

tobacco.

of

use

and

observation

thought led him to abandon the use of tea and

In
coffee, and from 1840, of flesh, fish and fowl.

many regarded him

these respects,

overmuch, and were willing

abstemious

as

to believe that

he rejected

what the divine Author of all intended for the food

of man, and what therefore cannot be rejected
But the subject of our memoir
without injury.
was surely a witness against all the common assumptions on this point.
He lived to the age of
in
the
enjoyment
of perfect health, free
si.\ty-nine,
from every kind of ache or pain, able to endure as
much bodily e.xertion as any man in the city, and
himself with

to e.vpose

weather, seldom

He

impunity to

kinds of

all

ever wearing an outer garment.

if

not a day by sickness, nor expended

lost

shilling

the

in

of medicine

purchase

Indeed he considered sickness prima

years.

"

evidence of some moral obliquity.

How

many

for

is

facie

your

was said to him one morning. " Very

good," was his reply "what think you I have been
health

.'"

doing, that

should be sick

But with

all

.'"

and

his physical hardihood,

his in-

domitable energy and perseverance, though he was

never

mined

known

to

relinquish a purpose he had deter-

to accomplish.

and friendly

fested a peaceable

was he

Captain Teall always mani-

So averse

spirit.

to

was

called Lodi,

purchased of the State the right

to the surjjlus waters of the west

and erected
years he managed
level,

mills,

which

end of the

Rome

number

for

of

addition to his public busi-

in

ness.

Thus he became an
infancy.

He grew

ened with

its

inhabitant of this place in

with

strength

its

its

growth, and strength-

and he was highly respected

as one of the conscript fathers of Syracuse.

summer

In the

of 1857, he was attacked with a

disease of the lungs which at

and alarming appearance.

first

assumed a serious

By advice

of physicians

he was taken to the sea-shore in the hope that a

change of climate might restore his wonted powers.

In this, however, his friends were doomed to disapThey,
pointment, as he rapidly became worse.
therefore, started for home with him and on arriving
at New York the most skillful medical aid was proLeaving New York for
cured, but without avail.
Catskill he was able to reach Newburgh only, when
he was met by the unerring messenger, and on the
15th day of August, 1857, summoned to his final
rest at the age of 69 years and 10 days.
His funeral was attended by a large concourse of
people,

the following

named

persons,

residents of the city, (not one of

ing)

acting as

pall-bearers, viz

very old

all

whom

now

is

liv-

Robert Furman,

and the great

number and variety of persons he dealt with, he
never in his life had a contested lawsuit.
In the

Hiram Putnam,
Moses D. Burnet, David G. Colvin, Amos P. GranThe Rev. Samuel J.
ger and Henry Rhoades.
May, a constant fellow-laborer in the cause of re-

settlement of his father's estate, he

be di-

form, delivered a very eloquent discourse upon the

vided by his brother and sisters as they might see

and character of the deceased, paying a handsome tribute to his excellent qualities and unfeigned
virtues, and his exalted worth as a man and a Chris-

litigation

tude of his

And

best.

that,

business

notwithstanding the magnitransactions,

in all his intercourse

left

to

it

with men, at the

same time that he was noted for shrewdness, he

was uniformly fair and honorable.

Oliver R. Strong, Johnson Hall,

life

tian.

Corporations and civic associations adopted reso-

In 1809 Capt. Teall married Catherine Walter, a

farmer's daughter, in

was

frugal,

the town of Manlius.

industrious,

gentle,

She

distinguished for

her general benevolence, and for her untiring devotion to her family.

By

She died September

The

daughters.
Point

eldest son

Academy,

other children are

and

J.

was educated

has

Eliza,

Phoebe A. (Mrs. Geo.

all

30,

her he had five children, two sons and

since

(Mrs.

at

died.

Amos

Maria

after his marriage,

Common

the Mayor, in the following language

three

"

West

years and private virtue

His

Benedict,)

Mrs. Judge

he purchased a farm

Death has taken from us a man

venerable for his

a citizen

who

has been

growth and progress of Syracuse

commencement to the present time," and

identified with the

from

its

recommending

that suitable action be taken there-

The Common

upon.
tions,

in

The

Council was specially convened by mes-

sage from

Divine,) of San Francisco, Cal.

Soon

sentation or in a body, attended his funeral.

1836.

Gardner,) and William W.,

residents of this city, and

sympathy and condolence, and by repre-

lutions of

Council,

adopted the following

the death of Oliver

Manlius, and erected a commodious stone house,

mourn.

One

which he expected would be his dwelling-place so

But on his aplong as he should live on earth.
pointment to a superintendcncy upon the Erie
Canal, he removed to that part of Syracuse which

his

rest

last

among

other resolu-

" Resolved,

Teall, Syracuse

is

That

of her gray-haired sires has

;

familiar face, an

in

called to

gone

to

upright man, a

has been removed from among us,

and we are truly called to sorrow." Monumental
eulogies and obituary notices were published in the
useful citizen,

ii

(Uyi^

CAyv'^^jt^^

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK.

newspapers of the day, and private letters of sympathy were tendered the friends of the deceased.
Every mark of honor and respect which could be
rendered to a private citizen, were given, and the
entire community felt that a great man had fallen.

In the year 1843, Mr. Gardner was united in marriage with Phoebe A., youngest daughter of Oliver
Teall, Esq.

They have had no

children of their

have adopted and brought up three

daughters, two of whom are married to gentlemen
of Syracuse.
After his marriage in August, 1843,
own,

a true expression of the feelings of the community, we append the following extract from the local

As

but

Mr. Gardner became book-keeper in the Onondaga

County Bank, of which his father-in-law was President, previous to which he was for a time SuperinIn
tendent of the Syracuse City Water-Works.
1848 he was appointed Notary Public, and has held

was a man of
journals of the day
great activity and energy, and untiring industry, and
every reform found in him a zealous, efficient and
*
*
consistent advocate and liberal friend.
He was honorable and upright in all his dealings,
charitable and humane in his disposition, and lived
and died without an enemy."
" Capt. Teall

239

that office for thirty years consecutively, being per-

haps the senior Notary Public of the State, and has

been reappointed to that office for another

just

term of two years.

GEORGE

J.

In 1846 he was appointed Teller of the Onondaga

County Bank, and when its charter expired in 1854,
he with others organized the Onondaga Bank, of
which he was made Cashier. This office he held
In 1861, Mr. P. H.
until i860, when he resigned.

GARDNER, ESQ.

George Judd Gardner was born in Boston, Mass.,

19, 18 18, and was one of seven children of Thos.
Gardner and Anna Judd. When he was about eight
years old his parents removed to New York City.
July

He

was

at

school in Public School

House No.

Agan, having been appointed Postmaster of Syracuse by the lamented President Lincoln, made Mr.
Gardner his Assistant. The system of the free
delivery of the mails in cities was established in
Syracuse, not without opposition in some quarters,
during his tenure of office, which lasted till 1866.

2,

where one of the public schools

His father died
of the city is standing at this day.
when he was still a boy. In the year 1829, he

on Henry

street,

lived for a time

on a farm

in

Ontario county, with

In that year he was elected

Peleg Redfield, father of Lewis H. Redfield, Esq., of

Syracuse. Mr. Peleg Redfield's wife was sister of

and learned
printer.

in his cousin's office the business

Redfield in the bookstore.

mother.

the

death

of his

Shortly before

beloved

this, oc-

and widowed

Insurance

office, in

emption granted by the municipal authorities under

He was Lieutenant and acting
the (then; new law.
Regiment, under the ill149th
old
Captain in the

paper (he had been a publisher at Onondaga Valley

a number of years before coming to Syracuse) but
retained his bookstore, in which Mr. Gardner became clerk. This bookstore was in a brick block

curred

Life

Mr. Gardner has been active in the various duties

and offices of civic life. When a mere lad he was
" Signal Boy " of the old No. i Fire Engine Co.
Was connected with that company many years, and
received the first certificate of discharge and ex-

Part

which occupied a portion of the present site of the

When this
Onondaga County Savings Bank.
block was burned in " the great fire" of 1834, the
store was kept temporarily in the " Yellow Building " which stood where is now the Bastable ArAfterwards it was moved back into the
cade.
" Davis, Redfield and Colvin Block," which was
built where is now the east end of the Onondaga
County Savings Bank. In 1841, Mr. Gardner
went into business for himself, as successor to Mr.

State

he resigned that

of his duty was to deliver

papers at " the Hollow," going thither on horseback
once a week. In 183 1, Mr. Redfield sold out his

of a

New

Company. In 1872
consequence of a change
Since then
in the organization of the company.
he has been acting as Executor and Administrator
of several estates, and as General Accountant.

York

Mr. Gardner's mother. At this time Lewis H.

Redfield had just removed from Onondaga Hollow
(as it was then called) to Syracuse, and become
publisher of the " Onondaga Register and Syracuse Gazette." Young Gardner then came to Syracuse,

Secretary of the

two other perwas

executed in
sons connected with the regiment,
Canada, at the suppression of the Canadian RebelHe confesses also to have belonged
lion of 1836.
to a secret order of " Hunters and Chasers," whose
fated Colonel Woodruff, who, with

was the revolutionization of the Canadas,

and the avenging of the "patriots " who had fallen.
object

He
'

ful

has also served the community in more peaceHe has been twice Supervisor of the

ways.

Eighth

Ward in

i860 and

1S61.

Three times

Alderman in 1853, (term of two years,) 1863, and

Member of the Board of Health in 1853.
1873.
Twice member of the Board of Education, in 1856-7,
and

in 1862-3.

He

was one of the corporators

in

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

240

1865 of ^^^ Genesee and Water Street Railroad

its Secretary and Treasurer, with

Co., and has been

He

the exception of one year, ever since.

was one

of the corporators of the " Trust and Deposit

Com-

Onondaga." He was a member of the

Syracuse Library and Reading Room Associa-

pany
"

of

the

tion,"

first

literary

here

society established

was also one of the founders of the P'ranklin Institute in 1850, which had among its members as
Directors, Rev. Dr. Gregory, Rev. Samuel J. May,
Alfred Cobb, Esq., Hon. Charles Andrews, Charles
Pope, Esq., John Jay Kno.x,

now Comptroller of

the

was at different times DiSecretary, Chairman of Lecture Committee,

Currency,! and others

rector,

He

and, in 1856, President, of the same.

in 1863, a life

Association.

member of the Onondaga

It may be added that he

became,

Historical

possesses

one of the best private libraries in the city, containing some rare and valuable works which, with his
art collections, and curiosities of various sorts, he is
;

nor tasting fermented drinks, nor using tobacco in

any form.
And his uniformly vigorous health

seems

to

show

things are at least not

that these

He

necessary to the well-being of man.

a

member

has been

Order of Odd Fellows

of the Independent

35 years, belonging to Onondaga Lodge No. 70

of which he was a charter member, and to the
for

Grand Lodge of the State

Master of the Grand Lodge
also
nity,

Grand

having been

He

i868-'69.

in

has

been a leading member of the Masonic Fraterhaving,

it

is

believed,

taken

degrees,

its

all

In 1862, he
and held many of its highest offices.
was instrumental in introducing here the "Ancient
and Accepted Scottish Rite," and has for services
rendered received the 33d and last degree, of
" Sovereign Grand Inspector General," and is thereby an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council,
N.-. M.-. J.-. U. S. A.
Mr. Gardner has seen nearly the whole growth
of the city

of Syracuse.

resident

here since

generally.

1829, he has witnessed the gradual upbuilding and

He has seen its population
extension of the city.

Mr. Gardner has been an attendant of the EpisHe

copal Church in Syracuse ever since 1830.

wealth and influence enlarge

always ready to exhibit to his friends and to visitors

was elected
1852, and a

Vestryman

Warden

of the

represented his parish

in

the

new Diocese

(set off

from Western

elected

its

in

same in 1864, and has

Annual Conventions

At

of the Diocese for nearly 25 years.

ization of the

Church

of St. James'

of Central

New York

the organ-

New

in 1868,1

York,

he was

increase from about 1,800 to nearly 60,000, and

There were but twelve deaths

his

its

a like proportion.

in

the

in

first

year of

residence here, while in the year 1877 there

were about a thousand.

From

the history of business here, he

as authority on

is

his

knowledge of

often referred to

questions of our local past

he has been contented to grow up with the

and
city.

Some

Providence has granted him the Prayer of Agur

the Book of Proverbs, that he should have
in
" neither poverty nor riches."
But Providence

years since he read before the Brotherhood of St.

has given him a moderate competence, a pleasant

RemiJames' Church an interesting paper

niscences of the Church in Syracuse," which was

home,

afterwards published in the " Gospel Messenger,"

contented

Treasurer, and has been ever since an-

nually reelected to that and other offices of trust

in

the

management

of Diocesan

afTairs.

entitled "

then the Church periodical of

York.

As

all

Western

New

a writer, Mr. Gardner has contributed

liberally to the newspapers and periodicals of the

day, and has also prepared and delivered many public lectures and addresses upon various subjects,

more

especially on

Odd

Also of Justitia Tent

Sons of Temperance."
" hold8, " Independent Order of Rechabites

No.

He
ing the highest offices in these organizations.
has always been a temperance man of the " straitest"

sort,

faithful

wife

never drinking any into.xicating liquor,

possessed of fine literary

and a

talents, dutiful children, " troops of friends,"

spirit.

His story

illustrates

the truth

that God's blessing attends the path of uprightness,

prudence and industry.

His leading characteristics

are great activity, strict integrity and a desire to be

He is of the better class of self-made men.

Such men are pillars of society, and salt against
useful.

the world's corruption.

Fellowship.

Mr. Gardner has been an active member of various Brotherhoods and Associations. He was for a
long time a member of Syracuse Division No. 27,
"

We

may

well desire long

to keep them with us, and cannot easily over-estimate their worth. It is as good to show them
regard and reverence now, as to wait till they
have been taken from our midst, and we have only
The supreme words
their memories to honor.

to be written over this

man's

life,

through

social, religious and business relations are

fidelity.

all

its

slcrlitig

MAJ.-GEN.

JOHN

The subject of this sketch was born at Manlius, Onomlaga Co., N. Y., Jan. 4, 1821.
His father and mother, John W. ami Phebe Peck, were among tlie earlier and active
settlers of that town. His fatlier, in the war of 18l"i with Great Britain, served .ome
time in defense of the harbor of New York. His mother, while a child, witnessed
atrocities at the hands of the English, at lier then home on the eastern shore of

Long I.'iland, during the same war. The parents, valuing the advantages derived
from an education, knowing the want of it thcmselveis, caused their son to be fitted
for college at an early age.
In July, 1839, through the influence of Hon. Wm. Taylor, uiemher of congress
from Onondnga and Madison district, he was nominated by President Van Bnren fur
a cadetship in the United States Military Academy. The class, nnnibi'iing over one
hundred upon his entrance, graduated only thiity-nine, among whom were General
U. S. Grant, Mrtjor-Geuerals W. B. Franklin. J. J. Peck, C. 0. Angnr. F. Steele, R.
Ingails, C. S. Hamilton, J. J. Reynolds, and Brigadier-Generals Judah and Quinby.
Buring the encampment of 1843 he served as an instructor of infantrj'; having
been applied for in the ;irtillery also, he was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant
second artillery.
In 1843 and 1844 he was stationed at Fort Columbus; in 1844 and 1845, at Fort
Hamilton. His cunipany was ordered to theseatuf di then ties in Texas. Colonel Bankhead gave him the option to remain on leave nf iibsence, but he preferred to go.
Joined his command, att;iched to Duncan's famous battery, and arrived at General
Taylor's quarters at Corpus Chrlsti, August, 1845. To trace his liistory through the
Mexican war, would be to give almost a complete liistory of the marches, battles,
in the

and sieges of the entire >var.

General Taylor, July 27, 1846, com-

mended him to the president for brevet

distinction, for good conduct and gallantry in the battles of Fort Brown,
Palo Alto, and Resaca de la Palma.
Being the youngest in rank and years,
this was the highest honor that could be
conferred. He was promoted a second lieutenant, April 15, 1846. For bravery and
services, upon the fall of Monterey, he was
again promoted, a second brevet, and
March 3, 1847, promoted a first lienteuiint.
His company was in the advance in the
occupation of Puebia, a city of eighty
thousand, by four thousand troops, one of
the rarestevents in history. He received

from the president and senate the "brevet of captain, for gallantry and good
conduct at Contreras and Cherubusco."
In the battle of El Molino del Rey, for gallant and meritorious services, he was promoted to the rank of major. (See RipJeifs
War with Mexico^ vol. ii., page 377.
Also, Kendall's War with Mexico, and
Jenkins^ War, etc.)
Uptm the entry of
the army into the City of Mexico, his
company', of Colonel Smith's light battalion, curried the flag of the Sccnnd
United States artillery, and. when the
populace rose on the troops, led the way.

The esteem

in

which Major Peck was

held by hia illustrious commander, is

expressed in the following letter by General

Worth:
City of Mexico, Dee.

My

8,

1817.

dk.\r Sirs:

have desired my young and gallant

friend, Lieutenant Peck, to hand you this,
and I beg to commend him to your consideration and kind attention.
You will
find the name and services of this officer
in an officialaccountof every battle, save
one, from the commencement of this war
to the conquest of the basin, as the associate of Duncan or Smith. He is of our
State, and worthy of it.
I

Very truly yours,

(Signed)

W.

J.

WORTH.

To Hons. Erastus Corning, John Van

Buren, E. Croswell, and Mr.

Jiis.

Ste-

venson.

On his return to his native borne ho

was tendered a public dinner and presented with a beautiful sword, on which
was tlie following inscription: "Presented to Major J. J. Peck, by the citizens
of Manlius, as a testimonial of respect
for his gallant and meritorious conduct
in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo,
C-ontrcras. Cherubusco, Molino del Rey, Chapnltepec, Causeway, and Gate of San
Cosme, and City of Mexico."
In 1849 the Government, through Senator Dix, tendered Major Peck the position
of assistant quarterma.ster, which he declined.
In 1818, 1849, and 1850 he served in the Indian Territories, in New Mexico, and
Aug. 30, 1849, was engaged with the Navajoes, in Upper Californiii, and in locating
Fort DL^fiance, hia spare time being occupied in preparing a work on artillery and
infantry tactics, which should embody the necessiiry changes in ScottV. His subsequent resignation ended those labora. In the moves for the admission of New
Mexiro IIS a State, during the sessions of the convctitioti Major Peck was active wiih
the committees, and stnive to engraft free and liberal institutions adverec to slavery.
Hon. George Geddes, in 1849, offered a resolution in the senate of New Yt>rk, awarding a gold medal to Major Peck, for his gallantry in (he war with Mexico, but the
measure fiiilcd in the political excitement sweeping the Union because of the compromise measures on slavery.
In 1850 he married Miss Rhobie, the accomplished daughter of Harvey Loomis, of
Syracuse, N. Y. In 185.S he visited his old conmumder, General Scott, on the matter
of his resignation, as he had done in 1850. The General said, "That while he lived
(on personal grounds) he regretted the resignation of any officer who had lioen baptized in fire with him in Mexico."
In politics Major Peck was of the school known as Hunker, prior to the union
with the Softs in 1856 at the Cincinnati convention, and a strict constructionist of
the constitution. A delegate in the National Democratic convention at Cincinnati in

J.

PECK.

1856. The same year he was nominated for congress, and tendered a renomination
Major Peck was a member of the National Democratic convention of
in 1858.
1860, at Charleston and Baltimore, and stood among the conservatives.
In 1857
he was tendered a foreign mission by President Bucbiiuiin, and declined. In 1861
be was one of the committee to receive Lincoln, president elect, at Buffalo, and
escort liim to Syracuse.
Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he
offered his services, by letter, to the president in any capacity in which he could
serve his country, and was active in calling a Union meeting at Syracuse, where he
was received by bis fellow-citizens with distinguished regard, and urged to consent
to efforts to secure him a general's commission, but declined engaging in any nmvement which bore a pei-aonal rather than a patriotic aspect. Major Peck's name
headed a list of eiglity names handed the president by the New York congressional
delegation for commissions in the army.
He was appointed a brigadier-general,
Aug. 9, 1861 ; repairetl at once to Wiishington, and, by invitation, spent his first evening with the president. By General McClellan's request to General Scoit he was
assigned ctmimand of a large brigade in the Army of the Potonuic. In the final
organization ho was iissigned to Buell's, and afterwards to Couch's, of the Fourth
Corps, and afterwards to Key's.
He rendered signal service at the siege of Yorktown, and his timely advance and
subsequent action at Williamsburg at a critical time won for him a reputation
greatly to be envied (extract from report of Brigadier-General Couch), in which
engagement, besides the battery and other trophies, he captured a large and beautiful State banner from one of the Virginia regiments. One of the proudest events of
his life was in l.'^62, when the Hon. Charles Andrews, mayor of the city of Syracuse,
bis adopted home, presented, in an eloquent speech, a rebel flag, captured by
General Peck's brigade, to the common
conncil,wliich body adopted unanimously
appropriate resolutions.
General Couch, in his report of the
battle of Fair Oaks, says, "General Peck
fought his brigade with skill and daring
courage, his horse falling under him, afti-r

limes wounded. His comlaurels to those won at

General McCIelhm also
makes mention of his bravery on this

being

sever.ll

mand added new

Williamsburg."

occasion {Headlry's liiheUinn, page 428).

Afterthis terrible battle he was tendered
the Command of Casey's division, and
accepted the same June 24. He was made
full major-general at Harrison's LandJuly 4, 1862, and Sept. 22
assumed command of all the troops in

ing, to date

Viiginia south of the James.

In the spring of 1863 the at tent ion of the
relu'ls

folk.

was drawn

to the importance of SufTliat reduced, Norfolk and Ports-

month mustalsofatl. General Longstreet,

with tbrty thousand men, the flower of the
Siuithern armj', was assigned the work.
Hi-< plans, well laid, to cut the Nanseinond
.six miles below the city and the railrond
on left and rear, and, at the same time,
draw off a part of General Peck's troojis
by a raid on Little Wasliingt<in, being
executed. General Peck's army of ten
thousand men and the situation would
General Peck, by a capfall a rich prize.
tured mail, conceived tiie plans of his wily
attempted to take
I^ongstreet
iidveisary.
the place by a-sanlt, but failed. Therelirl
cut
the river, but
attempted
to
general
the sm:ill fleet, commanded by young
bravery, preunctmquerable
but
men,
of
vented. Yel their gun-l oats were riddled
April 18, the
on
balls.
length,
with
At
object of the rtbels seenu-d to be accommounting
five
enrth-work,
An
plished.
rifled enn^ was prected at Hill's Point, a
which
Suffolk,
from
below
miles
place six
the enemy could sweep the gun-boats, but
mi'^siies would only bury themselves
the parapet. General Peck, with a
small detachment, stormed and captured
the place with the entire party of officers,
cannon, etc. This was the virtual ending
of the attjuk on Suffolk, and on the third
of May, General Long>treet, after an investment of the place for three weeks.
For this grand and
raised the siege.
skillfnl defense of Suffolk, General Peek
received llie highest encomiums from
his superiors for his good judgment durgallant
ing the six months previous in stronglv fortifying the place, and lor his
moi^l
defense of the same when atficked by a much larger force, led by some of the
insurgents.
of
the
MTvice
distinguished generals in the
assigned o
In consequence of ill health he returned home, and July 5, 1864, was
of New- York
dntv as second in command of the department of the ea-t, consisting
Dix who had
New Jersey, and the New England States, being selected by General in
the south.
Peck
General
relieve
to
Dejiaitnu-tit
War
previously' desired the
In the elections
In August, lSil5, General Peck was mustered out of the .service.
the reconapproved
and
party,
Union
the
acted
with
he
of the fall of 1865
ass^-ssination <.f 1 rcMdent
struction plan of President Lincoln. At the time of the
for observing
Lincoln, General Peck issued appropriate orders to thp department
Mall street, and paui
the funeral obsequies, and addressed the great meeting in
the time
trom
magistrate,
chief
late
of
the
memory
to
the
due
everv respect
sonice ofjnstice and of inuniGeneral Peck assumed command of troops he wa.s Ih"
property.
In his
and
person
rights
of
private
of
protector
the
regulations,
cipal
ministers to give instruction
orders he called on Christian men of the north for
On April \l,
ot the war.
heroes
dead
to
the
burinl
Christian
and
living,
to the
the Academy of JIusic, by appro1865, the citizens of New York connneinorate.l at
Union over tor Sumter by GeneMl
pria e exercises, the nvising of the flag of the
day, and delivered the nddre.s.
of
the
AnderBon. General Peck was the president
Company, and wa^ made
In 1867 he organized the New York State Life Insurance
wife.
Of late years he resided in
his
lost
he
president thereof. On March 20, 1874,
of hanlships and dangers
Syracuse, with health ver>- much impaired, the result
1878.
encountered during^is military career. He died April 21,

our
in

ritulit

^
Amoo

Slanton, fnthcr nf the subject of

!,, Mas!^.,

>to|>|>iii(;

in

tliia

Mi'nlgiiincry county

IT'Jl settled in .(Bm4iiville,

few jenrs, Imt in

punliasini; ^(>mo three liiindred acres of

land, including a mill privilei;c, at tllty centii an mere.

enmc

t>>

what

wiui

lre<t.

Whiii the Oswego canal was c<instrucled, the

ilia^Mnally throui;h Mr. "Stanton's Acre."
llelil.

Unftis

17HH.

In 1805 ho

then Salina, and purchased one square acre of

near the present bridge over the Oswego canal, on Salina

M r. Stanton cleared the land and converted it into a wlnat-

i;rfiund

Stanton

He wa

wii-

iMirn

in

line pasc>d

Montgomery i-imnty, in
of Amos and Mercy Stanton.

Maylleld,

the thirteenth rhild

In the fourth yonr of his ag<' his parent- removed to Onondai;a

County, whore his earlier years were passed in thu most primitive
manner.
Ho remembered his father having a " husking-bec"
oni- fall, to which every white settlor in the county was invited.
Thev all came, and yet a few split logs, laid smooth side up for
tables, accommodated them.
Amid such priniilive scenes Kufus .Stanton pns-ed the earlier

when his father removed

now Syracuse, and Kufus was ono of
few men who met and changed the name of tlic place from

part of his life until his sixteenth year,

to the village of

" Corinth,"

" Corinth" to Syracuse.

in clearing away the trees and in the
frame house in Syracuse, \K location being
where the Kmpire House now staiiils.
In IH4)7 he entere<l iipnn thi' liuainess nf baking and brewing,
with his brother-in-law, Mr. (.iiiid<>n, which be continue<l for two
years.
The salt interi'St then begiui to bH)m up into importance,
and Mr. Stantim engaged in its nninufactore lor three years. The
rapidly-growing fame of tho salt village called many strangers to
study its advantages, and accommodations not being siiflicient, he,
in 1813, openeil a tavern in Salina, whore ho entertained strangers,
and among others Oeneral Scott and his troo|>s on their way to
Saikcls Harbor during the war of 1812-1:1; their next meeting
board the " Mayflower," on Lake Kric,
if recognition was on
many years after, when both were old men.
Agricultural pursuits were combined with public services, and
even as late as IHHi .Mr. Stanton raisetl a heavy crop of rye on tho
In
ho commenced farming largo
site of the Syracuse House.
tracts of land, one of which extended over tho ground now occupied by Iteiiwick Castle ond the Orphan Asylum.
He remained

Kufus

.Stjinton assisted

erection of the

flrsl

WM

TittxT

lluwUiiil, SyrucM-t

cMc^^^^

memoir, came from

iv

li>

when

farm lBU>r somebe relimpiished tbeni for a time.

Uemoving into the city, be was jilaced in charge of the Syracuse
com|uiny'8 lands, the duties of which |iosilion were performed in
there until 1833,

what

inipairi'd

his close application to

hi> health, anil

the most satisfactory manner.

At

the dose of the year, his health improving, bo purchn.u'd a

known
now tho

large farm situated on the eastern Imundary of the lily,

since as .Stanton's

Driving

From

Hill.

Where

his

meadow

was,

is

I'ark.
this

farm Mr. Slanton removed to .Syracuse, where the

were pas.-ed in the retirenient of private

latter years of his life

life,

surrounded by kind friends and loving

He

relatives.

dii'd

Sept. 10, 187-1.

Tho

Statulard said of

him

at his death

"

He was

the (ddest

and was
one of tho most respected and trusted. He never sought public
office, but always maintained the highest reputation for honesty,
His wi)rd was
integrity, industry, and uprightness of character.
as good as his bond, and in all his multitudinous transaction" no
one could evi-r say that Kufus Stanton wronged him of a dollar.
resident of the city and county at tho time of his death,

He wos always pleasant and cheerful, ready to assist the mn-dy,

and lend a helping hand to all public improvements. He was a
relic

away.

of the sturdy, old-fashioned pioneers who arc fast passing

His life extended beyond tlo- time usually allotted to man,

and his surviving relatives look back with recolb-clions of prido

and love to the bmg care<>r of their lamenti'd |Mirent, whose history
presents so bright an example for them to follow."
Mr. Stanton was llrst a Whig, latterly a Democrat; active
He llrst married, in
during his middle life in political circb-s.
April, 1815, Miss Minerva Uelknap, by whom ho bad throe
children.

His wife died in 1821, and he was married, in March, 1824, to

Minerva, sister of Dudley 1*. and R. K. Phelps by whom he bad
seven children, of whom only three survive, Helen M., widow
of the late Charles Keene, once a prominent merchant with Dennis
McCarthy; llenmn H., resides in Tii|H-ka, Kansas; ond Minerva

K., wliii nuirrieil

Henry

llurwell, of Chicago.

His seconil wife also died, and he married the widow of the late
Judge Clark, of Chtrkston, Michigan. She still survives. Mr.
8tant<m was a member of the First Presbyterian church from

about the time of his second marriage until his death.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

241

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

Complete History of the Various Masonic
Organizations which have Existed Within
THE Present Limits of Syracuse.*

York
Symbolic Lodges.

Alvord Block, 30 and 32 South Warren street, south

of and now occupied as a portion of the Remington
House. Here it remained until November,

1852,

when it removed to the Stanley Block, No. 38 South

Warren street, adjoining on the north the present
St. Paul's Church.
Thence it moved again in 1856

Rite.

The

first

duly authenticated

to No. 63 South Salina street. New Masonic

Hall,
leasing the rooms there in connection with Central

body of Free and Accepted Masons, organized

within what are now the limits of the city of Syracuse, was Salina Lodge No. 327, located in the
village of Salina, now embraced in the First and
Second Wards of the city which was warranted or
chartered on the second day of December, 1819,
and for a time held its communications in what was

City Lodge No. 305, which Lodge had expended

several thousand dollars in fitting up, preparing
and
beautifying the

same. This Lodge continued to

work until February, i860, when, "on the request
and complaint of the members of that Lodge," its
warrant was demanded and surrendered, together

known

then

as Beach's, afterwards Sanger's tavern,

located on the corner of Salina and

Its existence

must have been

brief, as

Wolf

with

streets.

no papers can

be found either at the former seat of the Lodge or

Grand Secretary's office in the city of

New York, touching its membership or duration.
On the second day of January, A. L. 5826, A.
D. 1826, a dispensation was granted for the organizing of Syracuse Lodge No. 484, and on the tenth
day of June following, a warrant was issued by the
Grand Lodge, empowering Henry Newton to act as
its first Master, Joseph Slocum as its first Senior
Warden, and William Malcolm as its first Junior
Warden. Its meetings were held in the then new
Syracuse House in rooms fitted up for it, (according
to a custom which then generally prevailed among
on

the Lodges, of holding

their meetings in public

houses,) until about the year 1831,

when

work, owing to the influx of the great

" Anti-Masonry

"

which

it

tidal

ceased

wave of

was sweeping over the

The

country at that time.

original

warrant, to-

gether with the tin case containing the same,

over

fifty

years since by one of

Mr. Isaac D. Lawson,

its earliest

a resident

still

made

among

us,

this article, placed there

bard, Esq.,

who was one

by the
of

the 23d day of July,

granted

late Russell

Heb-

1844, a warrant

was

Lodge No. 102,

naming Luther M. Tracy for Master, Henry Newton for Senior Warden, and Hiram Judson for Junior
Warden. This lodge held its meetings in Masonic
Hall, Empire Block, being the north wing of the
present Empire House, until August, 1849, when it
removed to Frazee Hall, in what is now called the
" Courier Building," corner of East
Genesee and
Montgomery streets, where it remained until January, 1850 it then removed to " New Masonic Hall,"
constituting

Syracuse

31*

J.

Gardner, Esq.

the day last mentioned, June

named brethren

i860, a war-

8,

Grand Lodge, then

in ses-

act

to

as

its

first

officers,

viz

Lewis E. Joy, Master; John Frary, Senior Warden,

and Edward S. Dawson, Junior Warden.
This Lodge held

communications

its

Hall, No. 63 South

at

Salina street, for a

years, and then fitted

up and removed

Masonic

number

of

rooms in
the Bastable Arcade, fronting on East Genesee
street.
It subsequently removed in
1876 to its
present location Nos. 37 and 39 South Clinton
street, where it is now located.
Its present officers
are (January, 1878) as follows, viz

to

N. Latterner,
C. J. Jeffery, S. W.
A. E. Shaul, J. W.
Joseph Waller, Treasurer and Daniel N. Lathrop,

Master

Secretary.

Lodge No. 305 never worked under

most lodges, but commenced

Central City

dispensation, like

masonic labor under its warrant direct, received

from the Grand Lodge on the 7th day of June,
Its first

N. Williams,

Warden

Warden.

W.

and
Its

officers were W. George

Joshua G. Bigelow, Senior
Robert M. Richardson, Junior

warranted

Master

communications were held

Hall, Stanley Block, South Warren

cuse Royal Arch Chapter

having as above stated,

No 70

fitted

in

Masonic

occupyand Syra-

street,

Lodge No.

ing jointly with Syracuse

102,

until 1856,

when,

up new and more ap-

propriate rooms at an expense of several thousand

dollars at

No. 63 South Salina

thereto and occupied the

A
a

by George

on the eighth day of

forfeited by the

was declared

it

and issued under date of July 5, i860, to

Syracuse Lodge No. 501, authorizing the following

Compiled

properties, and

sion,

1853.

its last officers.

its

rant was granted by the

members,

(January, 1878,) are in possession of the writer of

On

On

in the

file

all

June following,
Grand Lodge.

same

street,

it

removed

about ten years.

favorable opportunity offering by the erection of

new

building

now known

for

as Nos. 85

and Sj South

Salina street, to secure more eligible and commodi-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

242

ous rooms,

again spent a large

it

sum

naming William Baldwin as First High Priest

Henry Case, King and Matthew Van VIcck, Scribe

appropri-

in

ately decorating and furnishing them, and christen-

ing

new

its

Hall,"

it

quarters

removed thereto

located.

present

Its

1878,) are

as

" Central

as

1871,

in

elective

follows,

where

officers

William

viz:

Masonic

City

thereof

This chapter met

it is still

in

the village of Salina,

(January,

and worked under

its

dispensation and warrant reg-

ularly, with the c.xcej)tion of

Clark, Trustees

period,

Lodge No. 520 received

its

1831, until the year 1837, when, in the general sus-

pension of Masonic bodies which took place

dispen-

On

Ward

Brother Harry Gifford,

On

of the city.

in

Ward

First

of the city

eleventh day of

This is the warrant held by Central City ChapNo. 70, under which it now works. On the
25th day of January, 1849, the following companions assembled for the purpose of reorganizing the
Lyman R. Averill, Samuel R. MatChapter, viz.
thews, Morris Kain, George W. Robinson and Joseph Jaqueth, who were members of the said Chapter, and the following Royal Arch Masons, not memna.
ter

was withdrawn, and on the

the

70. in place of the

their convocations to be held in the village of Sali-

regard to location in the

November succeeding,

Chapter No.

was said to
have been lost, appointing Noah Tubbs. High Priest,
Joel Wright, King, and Amos Foot, Scribe thereof,

it received a warrant from the M. W. Grand

Lodge, authorizing it to hold its communications
"in the First Ward of said city of Syracuse," and
appointed John F. Sherwood the first Master,
Henry F. Greene the first Senior Warden, and
Peter Smith the first Junior Warden thereof
At
the annual communication of the Grand Lodge in

the restriction in

to said

original warrant issued in 1821, which

the First

the lothday of June following

(18621

1867,

until

the tenth day of February, 1826. a warrant

was issued

virtue thereof, on the 17th day of September, 1861,

at the office of

at that

became dormant, and remained so

it

the year 1849.

regular coninuinication by

its first

an interregnum during

the " troublous times" occurring between 1828 and

Salt Springs

in-

Dickison,

Albert Becker, Jr.. Senior Warden

Master
Thurston D. Hrcwster, Junior Warden Charles P.
Clark, Treasurer, and Daniel S. DeLano, Secretary.
Orrin Welch,* Edwin H Hrown and Charles P.

sation and held

now

corporated within the limits of the city of Syracuse,

Lodge

removed to No. 27 North Salina street, where it remained until its removal to the White Memorial
Building on the 22d day of May, 1877, where it is

bers of the Chapter but desirous of becoming suchi

now

jamin

located.

Its

are as follows, viz

viz.

present officers (January, 1878.)

Daniel H.

W.

S.

Ctyptic Masour)'.

Central City Council No.

thereof, viz:

Seymour H.
M. Rust, Deputy

T.

Master; R. I., Stiles

Master and I., Charles W. Snow, Princ. Cond. of
This body has met as occasion has
the Works.
required in the rooms leased by the other Central
City bodies and dispatched all necessary work.
Its
Stone,

last

elected

officers

are

as

follows,

viz.

T.

P. Clark,

Capitular

1820

Masonry. In

the early part of the year

was granted

to organize Salina

Chapter of Royal Arch Masons No. 70, and on the

9th day of February, 1821, a warrant was granted
Died Mirch 21, 1878.

for officers

Lyman

was then held

R. Averill was elected

Priest

M. of istV.; Matthew Van

George W. Robinson, Secretary
Elisha Clark, Tiler and Morris Kain and Samuel
R. Matthews, Stewards.
The above proceedings were had i)reliminary to
action by the Grand Chapter, on the 7th day of
February, 1849, whereby Salina Royal Arch Chapter No. 70 was revived, and its title changed to Syracuse Chapter, retaining the same number, 70) and
by said action, it was " authorized to hold its meetv.; Jonathan

P.

Vleck, Treasurer

Hicks,
;

The following named

members embraced in the

ings in the city of Syracuse."

petitioners were the only

revival of the said Chapter, viz.:

Treasurer.

a dispensation

election

Abel G. Cook, Master R. I., D'Estain Remington, Deputy Master; I., Richard H. Parker, P. C.
W; I., Robert M. Beecher, Recorder; and I.,
Charles

Penfield,

Story, Ben-

Morris Kain, King

Joseph Jaqueth,
Benjamin F. Green, C. of H. Samuel R.
Matthews, P. S.
Levi Adams, R. A. C; Josiah
Walkins, M. of 3d V.; Zebulon Kinnc, M. of 2d

High

Scribe

Royal and Select Masters, was granted a warby the Grand Council R. and S. M. of
the State of New York, on the sth day of June,
t86o. constituting the following named companions
first officers

An

resulting as follows

13,

Amos

French, Dearborn B. Richford and Sanford

rant

the

John M. Clark, A. G. Brower, Jerry

C. Parker.

Boynton, Master;

H. O. Pratt. J. W.
Fred.
Schug, Treasurer, and John C. Kratz. Secretary.

Frank Smith,

Archibald Perkins, Philip Sharp,

Lyman

R. Aver-

Joseph Jaqueth, Benjamin F. Green, Levi Adams, Josiah Watkins, (.') Zebulon Kinne, Jonathan
P. Hicks, Matthew Van Vleck, George W. Robinson, Elisha Clark, Sanford C. Parker, Benjamin
ill,

French,

Abraham

i.'i

G. Brower, John Newell, Jerry

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Penfield, Archibald Jenkins,

Henry Lake, Anson (Amos

Dearborn B. Bickford,
Story and John M.

?)

Clark.

above

this action of revivification the

bers held their

2 1-2

meeting

first

o'clock,

M,

p.

at

mem-

" February i6th,

1849,
Masonic Hall, Empire

Block, Syracuse," and at once proceeded to an election for officers,

such step having become necessary

by several of the

officers elected

under date of Jan-

1849 being ruled out

uary 2Sth,

reasons un-

for

known and not embraced in the list of petitioners.

The result of this election was as follows, viz.: Lyman R. Averill was elected High Priest Benjamin
F. Green, King
John M. Clark, Scribe Sanford
;

Benjamin French, P. S.
Abram G. Brower, R. A. C. Levi Adams, Dearborn B. Bickford and Jerry Penfield, M. of the
Vails
George W. Robinson, Secretary Matthew
of H.

Parker, C.

C.

Van

Treasurer

Vieck,

Amos

and

Its

Archibald

Perkins, Tiler,

Story and John Newell, Stewards.

meetings were held

August

29th, 1849,

Block," holding

when

it

meeting there

its first

moved to " New Masonic

South Warren street, holding
it

at that

date

Hall,"

63 South Salina street.

was adopted by the Grand Chapter of

New York
Resolved, That Syracuse Chapter No. 70, be
authorized to change the name of the said Chapter
the State of

Syracuse " to " Central City," and that the

said Chapter shall hereafter be known and distinguished by the name of " Central City Chapter
No. 70."
1871, the Chapter

moved with the

other Masonic bodies from No. 63 to Nos. 85 and

%y South Salina street, where

present officers

Sherman,
Becker,

H.

Jr., S.

P.
;

it

is

now

are as follows, viz

George A. Cool, K.

Charles

P. Clark,

located.

John

Albert

Treasurer

W.

Daniel

DeLano, Secretary Benjamin F. Blye, C. of

W. H. Phelps, P. S. Julius A. Baumgras,

S.

H.

was issued

to said officers

by

Commandery of the State of New York,

under the name, number and style of " Central
City Commandery, No. 25, of Knights Templar

the Grand

and Knights of Malta," in accordance with action

previously had by the General Grand Encampment
of the U. S. A., changing the title of "Encamp-

ment"
named

Commandery," and the title of the first

from " Grand Commander " to " Eminent Commander."
Under this warrant it has
worked to the present time, first, at No. 6-^ South
to "

officer

Salina street, and then at Nos.

85 and 87 South
connection with the other Central
Its present officers are as follows,

Salina street,

in

City Bodies.
viz

Charles P. Clark,

Commander

Edward

H. Brown, Generalissimo Abel G. Cook, Captain

General; A. Clark Baum, Prelate; George A.
Cool, S. W.
Richard H. Parker, J. W. Hiram A.
Plumb, Treasurer Charles H. Lyman, Recorder
William Caldwell, St. B. Marsh C. Pierce, Sw. B.
John W. Sherman, Warder Charles A Wiesmore,
;

Captain of G.

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.

The

taken for the introduction of this Rite

i6th day of February, 1862,
..,

of

when

New York

named brethren

step
por-

Albany, was on the

tion of the State lying west of

as Mickles 32

first

in that

111.

Bro. Nichol-

City,

convened the

room in the SyraOrrin Welch, George J. Gardcuse House, viz

ner, Seymour H. Stone, Stiles M. Rust, and Chas.
W. Snow, and by special dispensation from the Supreme Head of the Rite, authorizing him to do so,
communicated to them the ritual of the various degrees embraced in the Lodge of Perfection and
following

in

P. Rule,

Council of the Princes of Jerusalem, being from the

fourth to the sixteenth inclusive, of this Rite.

On

the 27th day of November, 1862, warrants

above mentioned members

George W. Harwood and
Martin V. B. Hart, they all having in the meantime duly qualified themselves by receiving the remaining degrees of the Chapter of Rose Croix and
Consistory of S. P. R. S 32 ., to organize and
work the several bodies of Central City Lodge of

were granted

also to

Simon

to the five

DeGrafif,

Central City

Perfection,

Council

of

Princes

of

Brewster and J.
A. Wiesmore, Tiler.
On the 17th day
Chivalric Orders of Masonry.
March, 1856, a dispensation was issued creating
Central City Encampment and appointing the following named Sir Knights as its first three officers,
Harviz
Clinton F. Paige, Grand Commander
R. A. C.

M.

L. D. Burton, T.

D.

of Vails; Charles

and William L.

"

In the year

Its

the 6th day of Feb-

the 3d day of February, 1864, the following

resolution

from

On

Empire Block until

moved to the " Frazee

in the

Alvord
its first meetBlock,
ing there January 9th, 1850; thence on the 17th
day of November, 1852, it moved and held its first
meeting in the Stanley Block, No. 38 South Warren street, first door north of St. Paul's Episcopal
Church, and in 1856, to the Washington Block, No.
thence

On

Chittenden, Generalissimo

Palmer, Captain General.

ruary, 1857, a warrant

Under
at

W.

low

243

Jerusalem, Central City Chapter of Rose Croix, H.

and Central City Consistory of S. P.
R. D. M.
;

R.

5.,

32

..,

to

which warrant of the

tioned body were also added the

names

last

F. Paige, of Binghamton, John L. Lewis, of

Yan,and Zenas C. Priest, of Utica.

With the exception of bodies of this

men-

of Clinton

Penn

Rite, at that

HISTORY

244

ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

OP'

time dormant or working, in Albany and New York,

these were the first and only duly constituted bodies
of this Rite in the State. For a

number

of years their

now the limits of the city of SyraProbably not one of the actors or members

within what are

cuse.

of the earlier organizations

meetings were held at No. 63 South

and on the removal of Central City Lodge No 305
and other bodies to Nos. 85 and 87 South Salina
street, rooms were fitted up and prepared especially
for these bodies at a grtat e.xpense, to which they removed and where they are now all working. The
present elective officers are (January, 1878) as

growth.

lows, viz

fol-

bodies

immediately

existing

prior

the

to

the

great

war upon Masonry in 1826. The aggremembership of the various bodies herein
enumerated will reach very nearly one thousand
persons, with an apparent healthy and steady
fanatical

ODD

EELLOVVS' LODGES

the CiTV OF Syracuse and County of

Onondaga.

In

M. Albert Becker, Jr., V. S. G. VV. Charles H.

Lyman, V. J. G. VV.; Charles P. Clark, G. O.;
Edwin C. Tallcott, G. Secretary Hiram W. Plumb,
;

In the year 1842, the subject of Odd-Fellowship

was

G. Treasurer.
Central City Council of Princes of Jerusalem

time discussed

for the first

est in the subject,

Edwin

characters,

C. Tallcott, V. G. Secretary.

Central City Chapter, Rose Croi.x, H. R. D. M.

M.

B. Cooke,

Leslie

VV.

and

P.

M.

Remington, M. E. and P. K. S. W. John VV.

Sherman, M. E. and P. K. J. VV. William CaldHiram W. Plumb,
well, M. K. and P. K. G. O.
;

R. and

K. Treasurer

P.

Edwin

C.

Tallcott,

R.

K. Secretary.

P.

Central City Consistory, S. P. R. S. 32

.:

Abel

G. Cook, 33 Com. -in-chief Charles P. Clark,

32 1st Lt. Com. George A. Cool, 32 2d Lt.
,

Thomas

C. Chittenden, 32, M. of S. and

Ralph C. Christiance, 32 , G. C. Edwin

G. O.

C. Tallcott, 32

G. Secretary.

The government
Supreme Council

of this Rite

bership

of Sovereign

vested

in

"

the

Grand Inspectors

based upon
14.".

Boston, Mass.

is at

limited

is

its

Its active

resident

in

mem-

honorary membership

a pro-rata proportion of

made

members

is

of the

the several States or jurisdictions.

members

of this supreme body are as

follows, viz

Active

Member

for the State of

Orrin Welch,*

New

33

'^

..,

Deputy

York.
;

.-.

funerals,

ings,

Mch

lilt, 1878.

&c

in

headed with those cabalistic

which we were then in

O. O.

I.

F., of

The spirit

of

womanly

curiosity

was aroused. A meeting of those interested was

held, and it was resolved that measures be taken to
organize a Lodge, to be called " Onondaga Lodge."
The Laws of the Grand Lodge requiring five or

more brethren to unite in petitioning for a

should be
it was requisite that a number
order to equal

in

and not deeming

tions
fill

all

it

charter,
initiated

the constitutional requirement,

commence operanumber could be obtained to

expedient to

a sufficient

till

the principal chairs,

the following persons

volunteered and agreed to qualify themselves, viz

ton,

Geo.

Willard,

Gardner, William

J.

and

Jonathan

S.

Wood,

Baldwin.

The

J.

Gates
nearest

was Oneida Lodge, No.

Seymour, now of
this city, was then Noble Grand (and who has continued his membership with that Lodge from that
day to the present time,) in which these names were
proposed and the candidates in due time inall
The election and installation of officers
itiated.
then took place, and the following officers took their
seats for the first term ending March 31st, or until
their successors were installed, which took place

Lodge then

in

existence,

70, Utica, of which Bro. Joseph

V. G.

W.

X. G.
George B. Sloat,
Denton,
Sec.
George J. GardDaniel D.

William

Willard.

ner, Treas.

William S. Wood, S.

S.

Myer Ex-

Moses Hellman, I. G.
Jonathan
Baldwin, C. J. Gates Willard, Warden.
A room was fitted up at an expense of several

tein,

O.

G.

* Died

inter-

the Eastern papers of this State, of notices of meet-

April 7th, 1843, viz

Honorary Members Seymour H. Stone, 33 ..

George J. Gardner, 33.'.; Edward H. Brown,
.-.
and Abel G. Cook, 33
33
This is a brief but complete history of all the
various Masonic bodies which have been organized
;

awakened an

William VV. Willard, Geo. B. Sloat, Daniel D. Denis

General of the Thirty-third and last degree. Ancient

Accepted Scottish Rite, for the Northern Masonic
Jurisdiction of the U. S. A," whose Grand East, or
seat of power,

the social circles

in

first

was the frequent publication

blissful ignorance.

D'Estain

What

of this community.

M. E. S. P. G. M. Charles P.
George
Leslie B. Cooke, M. E.
Clark, G. H. P. D. G. M.
Albert Becker, Jr., M. E. J. G. VV.
S. G. VV.
A. Cool.

The

and but

Com.

alive,

gate

Abel G. Cook,
Central City Lodge of Perfection
o T. P. G. M.
George A. Cool. H. T. D. G.
33

and

now

is

those formerly connected with

few of

very

Salina street,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

Bank Building the attic of

the block used by the Onondaga County Bank, and
Bank of Syracuse, corner of Washington and

hundred

dollars, in the

South Salina streets, of which a lease was taken

for the term of ten years, and which room continued to be occupied by

Onondaga Lodge, and

times by the various Lodges of the

city, until

at

near

its meetings until its deon the morning of Sunday, FebruThus was established

fire

ary 3d, 1856.

Onondaga Lodge, No,

At

that period there

operation throughout

79,

I.

O. O. F.

Alphadelphia Lodge No. 44,

V. G., James R. Dorsey

ter

the

whole portion of

in

this

Three at Buffalo,
two at Rochester, one at Ithaca, and one at Utica
a territory now represented by more than 400
During the existence of the
lodges of this order.
lodge, there had been up to January i, 1856:
initiations, 455
additions by card, 53
making a
total of 508 members.
State west of Schenectady, viz

In the year 1845, in connection with Syracuse

Lodge, a purchase w&s made of a large lot in the

Rose

Hill

of this

in the present Fourth Ward

and the same surrounded with a sub-

Cemetery,

city,

iron

stantial

emblems

railing,

of the order.

decorated with

the various

The first interment

therein,

upon to attend,
was that of Philo C. Weaver, of Oneida Lodge
No. 70.
From Onondaga Lodge went out several colonies
and established Odd-Fellows Lodges' in Syracuse
and in several towns of the county Syracuse
Lodge, No. 109 Salina, No. 97 and Alphadelphia,
No. 44, in this city. These are all flourishing at
this date, and since these have been added to the
number, Lessing, No. 163, Lincoln and Barbarossa.
These last two and Lessing work in the German
and the

first

T., Charles R. Williams

funeral they were called

29, at

influence.

N.
;

S.,

P. S.,

G., Nelson RitJohn Y. Terry

;

R. E. Taylor.

V.

Onondaga Lodge No. 79. N. G., S. Silverstein

G., D. King; S., Henry A. Petrie
T., C. F.

Williston

Jacob Stolz.

P. S.,

Salina Lodge No. 97.

were but seven Lodges

numbers and

Officers of the Lodges of the Independent

Order of Odd-Fellows in Syracuse.

order continued to hold

by

first in

There are lodges in the villages of Jordan, Elbridge,

LaFayette, Onondaga Valley and Delphi, all in a
flourishing condition.
See history of the towns.

richly decorated hall

struction

Mohegan No.

the country lodges,

Baldwinsville, ranks

when

a more commodiwas
procured, on the
ous and
corner of Salina and Fayette streets, in which the

the expiration of the lease,

Among

245

N.

V. G., E. D. Atherton;

W.

E. Bainbridge

S.,

G.,

Thomas Purdy

Joseph Devoux

T.,

John Eastwood.
N. G., H. K. Brown
V. G., William Newcity S., L. G. Dodge; T.,S.
B. Palmer
P. S., Wm. Holmes.
Lessing Lodge, No. 163.
N. G M. Marx V.
G., Meier Weisman
S., Jacob Levi
T., M. Thalheimer P. S., F. Rosenbloom.
Lincoln Lodge, No. 180.
N. G., Wm. MiihlhauT.,
ser V. G., Louis Baierle; S., Jacob Metzher
Peter Hart P. S., W. Schwarz.
Barbarossa Lodge, No. 320.^N. G., Gustave H.
S., Frank
Schulze V. G., Frank B. Haberle
Syracuse Lodge

P. S.,

A^o.

109.

Smith

W. Steinmann.

T.,

Cynosiire

Encampment, No.

14,

(formerly

Mount

Nebo No. 14. ) C. P., John A. G. Burns H. P.,

Edward D. Smith S. W., John Y. Terry; Scribe,
Goodfellow
T. B. McChesney
J. W., A. S.
;

Treas., A. Austin.

Lincoln Lodge, organized in 1856,

numbers of any

in

Onondaga

is

the strong-

is

yet the smallest in

numbers of the

city lodges.

In addition

is

an

ofi'shoot of the

to

the seven lodges in the city,

Cynosure Encampment No.

Ancient Order

of Foresters, one of the strongest secret beneficial

societies of Great Britain, where it has existed for

among

the

In 1874, a division occurred

resulted in the estab-

members which

lishment of the Independent Order of Foresters.

District.

Barbarossa, the youngest child of the order, has

great zeal, but

This order

two or more centuries.

language.

est in

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

is

14, a flourishing insti-

which was formed by a union of Mt. Nebo,

of Syracuse, and Uncas Encampment, of BaldwinsThis Encampment and four Lodges occupy
ville.
the other
Odd-Fellows' Hall, (near City Hall)
one
three Lodges have each very beautiful halls
in the First Ward, and two in the Fourth Ward.
tution,

At this time (1878) there are nearly 200 "Courts"

and a membership of about 9,000 in the United
States and Canadas.
The order is similar in its aims and workings to
the Odd-Fellows and Masonic bodies, but differs
from

them

in

the

"endowment"

feature.

Each
on the

good standing pays

death of a brother, and the heirs receive a sum not
exceeding $1,000. This being a constitutional provision, it can never fail of realization while the order
Forester in

exists.

ten cents

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

246

The Court

in

Syracuse King Solomon Court,

No. 13, State of New \'ork was organized in 1875,

and now numbers 65 members. The present offiF. D. Horcers John H. Horton, Chief Ranger
:

ton,

V. C. R.

liston,

Louis Cohn, Secretary

C. F. Wil-

Financial Secretary.

is in

active operation.

W. Edwards,

of Syracuse,

Ordnance

Capt. James M. Belden, of Syracuse, Quartermaster.

Capt. Louis F. Powell, of Syracuse, Commissary

of Subsistence.

There is also a Miriam Degree Court of about 40

members, (ladies, organized on similar principles,
which

Capt. Geo.
Officer.

Its officers are

Capt. Robt. Townsend, of Syracuse, and ist Lieut.

Frank

P.

Denison, of Syracuse, Aides-deCamp.

(1878)

Jacob Levi, C. R.; Regina Thalheimer, V. C. R.; C.

Bertha Levy, Treasurer.
F. Williston, Secretary

J.

DEAN HAWLEV,
Brigadier-General.

[official.]

Both Courts meet

in

Odd-Fellows' Hall, corner of

City Hall Place, and are growing in numbers and

influence.

OFFICIAL ROSTER,

N. G., S. N. Y.

HiAD<)i'A>Tt lOTH BaicADi, N G., S. N. v., ^

SvnAci-ii, N. v., Feb. 1,1878.
J

General Orders, No.

By

i.

virtue of the authority

conferred by a com-

mission from His Excellency, the Governor,

here-

by assume command of the Tenth Brigade of the

National Guard of the State of New York.
The following officers are hereby announced as

Field and Staff of

ist Reg't, N. G., S. N. Y.

John W. Yale, Colonel.

Rhesa Griffin, Lieutenant-Colonel.
John A. Nichols, Major.
I. F. Draime, ist Lieut, and Adjutant.
Riley V. Miller, ist Lieut, and Quartermaster.
and Com. of Subsistence.
Gregory Doyle, Major and Surgeon.
Geo. W. Cook, Capt. and Assistant Surgeon.
Rev. Henry R. Lockwood, Chaplain.
D. H. Bruce, Bvt. Col. and Inspr. of Rifle Practice.
Jos. Sniper, ist Lieut,

Artillery

Battery H.

the Staff of the loth Brigade, N. G., S. N. Y.

Paul Birchmeyer, Captain.

James H. Hinman, of Syracuse, Assistant Adjutant General and Chief of Staff.

Major John J. Lctchworth, of Auburn, Inspector.
Major Frederic B. Chapman, of Syracuse, In-

Conrad Meyer,

Lieut. Col.

vocate.

Lieutenant.

Henry Wirges, 1st Lieutenant.

Frank Meilich, 2d Lieutenant.
George King, 2d Lieutenant.

spector of Rifle Practice.

Major VVm. Allen Butler, of Syracuse, Engineer.

Major Ely Van DeWarker, of Syracuse, Surgeon.
Major Elbert O. I'arrar, of Syracuse, Judge Ad-

ist

Cavalkv

Separate Troop "C."

Michael Auer, Captain.

Frederick Auer, ist Lieutenant.

M.

B. Nicholson, 2d Lieutenant.

#^i^-.^-=^
The

subject of this sketch was born in Lanesborough, Berk-

shire Co., Mass.,

January 27,

His grandfather, Jared

180-4.

His

Smith, was a Revolutionary soldier.

father, Silas

Smith,

died at a premature age, and about the year 1824.

Vivas
daughters

W.

was one of a family of

who reached manhood and womanhood.

his minority on a farm, except the last year,

in the law-office of

George N. Briggs,

at

two

and

He

spent

which was spent

Lanesborough.

After

came

a short experience in a newspaper-office at Westfield, he

to

Onondaga

Hill, this county,

and bought out the Onondnga

Jovrnal, and published the same for twenty months, and, upon the

moving of the county-seat

and, with

John

F.

to Syracuse,

Wyman, established

he

also

removed

there,

the Onondar/a Standard.

In 1837 he dissolved his connection with the Democratic

party,

and established,

Western State Journnl.

in

1838, a

Whig

paper, entitled

The continuation of

The

the same paper,

now by the name of the Syracuse Daily and Weekly Journal,

is

carried on

by Hon. Carroll E. Smith

&

In 1841, Mr. Smith went to Columbus, Ohio, and spent

he held

for ten years,

and discharged the duties of the

with honor to himself and satisfaction of

paper.

He

all

interested.

In the year 1873, Mr. Smith was appointed canal appraiser

by Governor John A. Dix, which

Nurtured

in the

office

he

still

retains.

Democratic party, he early became imbued

Republican principles, and, for some twenty-five years

with

after the establishment of his paper in Syracuse,

Mr. Smith

wielded a controlling influence in political

stood fore-

most

in his party,

circles,

and ardently, with pen, advocated a platform

of purity, economy, and reform, and exercised a large influence

not only in his

made by
For

own

county, but in appointments for his county

State authorities.

his first wife (February.

1832) he married Miss Caroline,

daughter of Hon. Jonas Earll, of Onondaga

he had one son, Carroll

April, 1835.

E.,

now of

Hill,

by

the firm of Smith

whom

&

Co.,

His wife died

For his second wife (June, 1839) he married

Miss Theodora, daughter of David Morey, of Syracu.se, by

he has three children, Fillmore M., Seward V., and

fall

of 1846 was elected

whom

office

he discharged for one

Florence A.

returned to Syracuse, and in the

county clerk, the duties of which

Whig

tion

publishers of the Syracuse Daily Journal.

Co.

three years there on the State Journal, a

In 1855 he was appointed superintendent

of the Onondaga salt springs by Governor Clark, which posi-

office

sons

five

term of three years.

HON. DKNNIS McCAllTMY.

The

thU kotoh wu bom in tho rillage uf SKlinft, Ooondft^

March I1>. ISI4.
ratbor, Thotnu MoCarthjr, wa born in the cUjr of Cork, IrcUnJ, io
ubjoot of

Co.. N. Y..
Ilii

Came

the jrrar 17HC.

America

to

now

MKjacntlj raited Saltna, but

in 180S,

the

firl

and nettled at Salt Point, sub*

ward of (be city of Syracuie

carried on mercantile buinoii, and wa* (juite cxtcniively eni^agcd in ibo

Ho wa* promi-

timejuvt beginnin)* to be developed.

alt interest, at (hat

oently identified with public interevU, wa* a uieiuW'r of the Sintc legi-

was truntee of

lataro on*- term,

the

%'illaf(e

yoara,

many

of Salinu for

and a director of the

bank ealablinbed

Ho

of Salina.

daga County
committee on

in the State legislature in

in

and a member on the petitions of aliens. In IS5.1 his

upon bim a signal mark of their confidence and
respect by electing him mayor of Syracuse.
In IHf.ft bo was elected to
(he HouM* of Representatives of the Fortieth Congress uf the I'nite*! Slate*.
and served t>n (be committers
of ways and means, foreign affairs, roads and canals. While
salt,

chooli of

his

Senator Mct^arthy

in congress,

ailvocated, with bisaccustome*)

died in IH|8.

persistency and energy, a tariff

purnuing the
the

181^,

fellow-citisens bestowed

American

for the protection of

usual elementary brancheii of

initractiou

He reprcsenle*! Ononsnd was chairman of the

positions of honor, influence, and responsibility.

in (he villai^e

after

Dcnniii,

first

New York. He has hid a long and varied experience in publio life,
having been honored by the pei>plr from time (o time with a number ol

common

industry.

He was

elected

to

pliice,

the senate of the State in the

**fioiihcd" hie education, tech-

1875, and srved as

fall of
chairman of the committee on
privileges and elections, anil
was a member of the finsnce.

native

nically speakinf;, at Onondnj^a

aoatleniy

and ibe Yates* PolyIn 1^.11 be

technic inntitute.

public expenditures, and joint

went into partnership in the

mercantile buMuess with bis

and

father,

hii

after

father retiring from

I>cnnis carried

interest,

the

fill

same

posi-

tion in the senate of the Stale

<-u

in the fall of 1877. and acts as

chairman of canal conunitlee,
und s^eond on finance and

caiiu-

where bo opened

to Syracuse,

re-clecte<l to

tluii
it

alone until IHt5, when be

He was

committees.

library

four yearn.

which

be

capacity

general nirrcbnndise store. Hi^

cities,

trade grew rapidly as the ooun

serves at the lime of the writ-

try developcil

creased,

and demand
from a

until,

beginning, with sales of

ing of this sketch.

ii

Mr. McCarthy

snKi
fifir*

thousand dollnrs per year,

in

is

prominently

banking

identified with the

\:

terests of Syracuse,

li<

in-

and classed

now, a^fforiatcd with bii hohs,

David K. Thomas and Oi-nnis,
Jr., carrying on one of the

:imniig (be sagacious anil far-

wholesale trades in dry

integrity of purpose, ready to

is

largciit

"ceing

financiers of

Cbaracteristic of

his

him

day.

is

his

goods of any firm between Neu

miTt

York and Chicago, their salr.per year amounting to ncarl>

two million dollisrs.

way of
Whether in
public or private life. Mr. McTnrthy's influence and value as
eilUen are felt and acknowlrdged; and more especially in

Since

the

first

(he

<>elf-niade

opening of

the mercantile business by bis

father,

sixty

auooessive

trade.

boundaries

its

of

Mr. Mc(*nr(hy. from the

liis

fore

well

eoinitig

known

in

to

Ire-

Syracuse was

business circles

as a salt manufacturer,

hands, and there his soci-

able

and

appear

displayed great industry,

energy, and lagneiiy. and

men.

bis

beginning of bis business car(H>r,

the

own home circle are the

members of his family the re'ipienls of much kindness at

have

only enlarged the business and

extended

overcome

to

in

li

years ago, two

generations

imtl strong
difficulties

Z?^

and as

courteous

in the

qualities

ascendency.

In the year 18.10 ho married

-t

^>u^

Miss

David
first

Kliubcth, daughter

of

K. Carter, one of the

settlers

of

Rochester.

;i'hoiu. by Un,ly, WashliiBtun.

surb was very successful.

N. Y.

Mr. Mef^artby was formerly a

soil iK'moernt, and remained with the Democralie party until (be neces.
sitiesiif the late rebellion appealed to (be patriotism of every friend of his
country, when, in ISfl'.'.hebeiamean ardent support4*rof tbeprinciplesofihe

To Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy

Free

have been born seven children

Uepublirnn party, nnd of the administni(ion representing the I'niou cause.

He has always taken a deep and intelligent interest in politics, and for

Sedgwick Klisabeth (died in

infancy); Percy, wife of Thomas Emory, who was a son of den. W. H.
Kmory David K. Thomas, who married a daughter of Hon. Francis
Kernan Kate) and Dennis, Jr., who married Miss Frisbie. granddaughter

many

of tSen. Vallejo, governor-general of California when ceded to the I'nitcd

years has been recognised in political circles as one of the most

prominent members of the party with which ho

ii

Idontiflod in Central

infancy);

Mary

Froncis

(diol in

R. (deceased), wife of .lames

infancy)

Flora (died in

States.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK.

247

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HENRY GIFFORD.
Henry

was born in the town of Harwich,

1801.
His ancestors were of Eng-

Gifford

Mass., Sept.
lish

4,

and more recently of Norman extraction, his

family records extending

back to the time of the

Conquest, when a Sire Randolphe de Gifforde, for

services

At

as of true refinement.

rendered at the battle of Hastings, was

rewarded with lands in Somersetshire and Cheshire.

In 1630, a son of a Sir Ambrose Gifford emigrated

a period

when

so-called

accomplishments were rare, she possessed acquirements which even in these days would be considered of no mean order.
She was a good French
scholar and a correct artist in water colors, while her

was decided. After her

marriage a rapidly increasing family so occupied her
time that duties and pleasures beyond the hometaste for scientific subjects

to Massachusetts Bay and founded the family from

which the subject of this sketch was directly de-

were necessarily relinquished, though her

felt and her name made honorable by
a system of unostentatious charity.
She was a de-

scended.

voted Christian mother in every sense of the word

Mr. Gifford passed his childhood and early youth

in his native town of Harwich, but when still a lad
he removed to South Yarmouth, where, in a promi-

nent

Quaker

family,

he formed friendships and

principles which were never relinquished.

also during his residence in

Yarmouth

It

was

that he ac-

quired that knowledge of the manufacture of

salt,

which, in after years, proved of such advantage, and

circle

influence was

woman

of

whom

it

For a period of eight years preceding her death,

home by illness,
but her disease was of so mild, yet so insidious a
type, that though her family were conscious of the
Mrs. Gifford was confined to her

dread nature of her malady, they were spared the

sight of violent or long continued suffering.
She

consequence of which, in 1821, he was induced,

company with Stephen Smith, of New Bedford,

died April 13, 1871.

to

remove

sistent

to

develop the

to the

then village of Syracuse, in order

salt interests of

the place.

An

asso-

Both Mr. and Mrs. Gifford were active and conmembers of the First Presbyterian Church

from within a very short period of

ciation called into being by the enterprise of Judge

until

Joshua Forman, was established under the name of

the " Onondaga Salt Company," and of this com-

building

pany Mr. Smith became the controlling agent, and

Mr. Gifford superintended the construction. During his long residence in Syracuse, a period of more
than fifty years, Mr. Gifford took an active and
successful interest in the manufacture of salt, and
though

extensively engaged in other enterprises,

never entirely withdrew from his original invest-

ment.
In 1826, Mr. Gifford married Phebe Dickinson,
daughter of Obediah Dickinson and of Mary Thomas

Mrs. Gifford was born

Morse.

in Salisbury,

Conn

Becoming motherless at a tender

company with an only sister, was reared

Nov. 20, 1801.

age, she, in

and educated by her maternal grandfather, a staunch

and worthy representative of that old-time courtesy
now so much lauded and regretted. It was during
a visit

made

in

Syracuse to her aunt, Mrs. Archi-

bald Kasson, that Mrs.

Gifford

ceremony being performed

was married, the

Mrs. Kasson's residence, situated on the spot where the old depot
afterward stood, at the western limit of Vanderbilt
at

Square.

Mrs. Gifford was a lady of great culture as well

well be said that " her

children arise and call her blessed."

in

in

may

their

Mr.

death.

Gifibrd

its

organization,

was one

of

the

committee which erected the present

church edifice, and so zealously did he discharge
this trust that

it

may

truly be said that largely

by
framed together grew
the Lord."

his efforts the building " fitly

unto a holy temple

in

In the year 1834, Mr.

Syracuse Land

Company

esee Turnpike, and

in

Giftbrd purchased of the

a building

lot

on the Gen-

the following year erected a

homestead where most of his children were born

and reared, and where a portion of his family still
reside.

In politics, Mr. Gifford was originally a

Whig and

afterwards a Republican of pronounced anti-slavery

He was never solicitous for public office,

and whatever influence he wielded was always exercised on the part of moderation, humanity and jusHe was thoroughly identified with the busitice.
interests
of Syracuse and held various positions
ness
At the time of his
of responsibility and trust.
the Syracuse SavVice-President
of
death he was
ings Bank, of which mstitution he was an incorpoprinciples.

rator, trustee of the

Syracuse Water Works Com-

pany, director in the Syracuse Gas Light Company,

Gifford
and in the Salt Springs National Bank.
street, in the Fifth

Ward, was named

after him,

he

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

248

owning

at

one time a large

Anxious to do more than his

he early engaged in the
manufacture of salt, and continued thereafter in
village of

tract of land in that por-

Geddes.

farm required at his hands,

tion of the city.

Mr. Giftord died June 20. 1872,

whither he had gone

at

Avon

Springs,

that business in

search of health.

in

in

for fifty years.

In

the lumber business, and, in

connection with the late Joseph Breed, got out and

branches

all its

1832 he embarked

To Mr. and Mrs. GitTord were born eleven chilPhebc Kelly deceased, Sylvanus Morse
dren, viz
(deceased, Mary Eliza deceased. Mary Elizabeth,
wife of J. N. Babcock of Syracuse, Henry Hrooks,
George Thomas (deceased,) Frances P., Martha,

shipped to tide-water a large amount of pine lumber

Helen, George Sylvanus, and Isabella Grahame.

tractor in the manufacture and delivery of the rails

from Cicero

Swamp.

In

and

ties for

was worked through,

which have contributed to the growth and

progress of Syracuse and its vicinity, none took a
memoir, the

Mr. Gere was born

late
in

Robert Gere.

the town of Groton, Con-

on the 26th of November,

necticut,

His

1796.

common

mind

his farm, he came to Syracuse (then a

and entered into partnership with those two
noted and honored founders of Syracuse, William
H. Alexander and Columbus C. Bradley, in their
He survived them
furnace and foundry business.

village)

schools afforded, but he possessed a

of rare vigor and unusual acuteness of obser-

vation

faculties which,

experience, in after

sagacious judge of

life,

in

the school of his varied

enabled him to become a

human

both.

nature and of the diver-

In 1848, his business ability and adaptation for the

business interests which he inaugurated and

sified

position

successfully carried out.

His boyhood days were spent on

in his native town.

his father's farm

the

In the 24th year of his age, on

Montgomery county, where he was

tractor on the original Erie Canal

approached

on the

completion, by

its

Mohawk and

become

of a river boat

he removed his family to the town of Gcddes

spring of 1824, and settled on a farm purchased from the State, about one and a half miles
present

the

village

of

Two

Geddes.

on adjoining farms west one preceding and

They also purthe other following Robert Gere.
chased their lands from the State, and these three
dense

forest,

They

are

and

community of the

education and

effect

individually for fifteen years.

gave the land and

He

Gere was the

originator,

desir-

he was the leading mind in many of the prominent

industries of Syracuse and Geddes, he never desired
but, on the
to appear conspicuous in any of them

upon a young

in

the

whose sucmen more

generous care and assist-

contrary, as a wise educator of his sons,

,

cess and honorable standing as business

than compensate

same

also united with

Episcopal Church

Mr.

the county.

erected a school building, and maintained the

a few others to form an

fact,

the various

his enterprise and capital supported them. Although

beneficial influence of

religion, early

In

in

largely under the control of his

which

the property of the Gere families.

still

Mr. Gere, well aware of the

rising

in

family.

now

founder and chief supporter of these and many

his mind conceived them and
other industries

were cleared by the proprietors and made as

able homsteads as any to be found

to

a contractor for the building of the locks at

iron industries

settled

when he resigned

holder in that enterprise, as well as

Charles Gere, came and

adjoining farms were then

1851,

engaged in the business of manufacturing coarse

salt on lands lying west of Geddes, and was at the
time of his death the President and a large stock-

in the

of

till

Oswego Canal. Shortly after this work

was completed he, together with the late Horace
and Hamilton White, founded the Geddes Coarse
Salt Company, of which he was President, and

the finished portion of the

brothers, William S. and

Salt Springs, the duties of which he

level of the

canal,

west

the office of Superintendent of

Salina and doing the section work of the Liverpool

a con-

and as the work

means

Onondaga

for

admirably performed

Miss Sophia Stanton, and removed to

to

Florida,

the appointee of the Governor

made him

and the Senate

the 25th of October, 1820, he was united in marriage

in 1838.

leaving

early opportunities for education were such only as

the

His house was

was run by
it

Although Mr. Gere lost heavily by his generous

endorsements for business men, he always managed
by his energy and enterprise to be forehanded, and
to keep in successful operation more than one imIn 1843,
portant and lucrative branch of business.

than the subject of

active and efficient part

when

horses to his place, before the deep cut further east

business in-

terests

more

Railroads.

the depot for the latter road

In the development of the various

connection

in

Utica and Schenectady and the

the

Auburn and Syracuse

ROBERT GERE.

this brief

1835-6,

with Hon. Ellizur Clark, he was a very large con-

for his

ance, he chose worthily to stimulate their ambition

and develop their business talents by placing them

Sn^'LTAH-Bi'*^^

"A.

/'-

RtSiOLHCt or

JACOB

AMOS.coKorHnwLcrlU^BmocSii.SrHACUSi.NY.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

at the head of the various industries

which he had

been so largely instrumental in creating and supporting.

249

cannot be prepared

hastily.
It was a life of unusual activity, and most thoroughly identified with
the history and business interests of this city."

Mr. Gere died on the iSth day of December,

1877, aged 81 years and

wife of

more than

Of

28 days.

mourn him

there remains to

his family

widow, the

his

half a century

Hon. R. Nelson
Works and of
George C. Gere,

Gere, President of the Syracuse Iron

the Merchants

National Bank

Superintendent of the Geddes Coarse Salt Compa-

Anna, wife of Hon. James ]'. Belden, Mayor

Hon. William H. H.
of the city of Syracuse

ny

Gere, Secretary of the

Onondaga

Iron

Company

and Supervisor for the Third Ward of Syracuse

and N. Stanton Gere, late President of the Board of
Supervisors, and representing on the Board the
town of Geddes. These are the children of Mr.
Two of his sons
Gere, born in the order named.
represented Onondaga County in the Legislature,
and all of them have exercised an influence of
;

great importance in the business interests of the

city

and county.
city of Syracuse and the county of Onon-

The

owe a

daga,

large debt of grateful

remembrance

to

among whom Robert Gere

position. He was a man of great

their sturdy pioneers,

assumed a leading
strength of will, and possessed the most positive
A plain, blunt man, he was
traits of character.
His inner naalways just what he seemed to be.
He was deeply atture was a genial, kindly one.
tached to his family, and took the keenest pride in
the prosperity and advancement of his sons.

During the last year of his life when infirmities

confined him to his residence, his family, without
exception, were unremitting in their attentions to
him and vied with one another in their efforts to mitiWhen, at last, death had
gate his last suffering.
set its seal upon his long, laborious and useful life,
his four sons

bore

all

that was mortal of

him

to the

The
est

clip

the following from a brief notice of his

death which appeared in the Vai/y yourtialoi De-

cember 18, 1877

" Another of our oldest, most honored and esteemed citizens passed to his eternal rest, when, at
six o'clock this morning, the death messenger came
For several days past it was apto Robert Gere.
:

who gathered at his bedside that

end was near, that his lamp of life was flickering.
Months ago he was borne down by the weight
of years, his physical strength having been almost
expended in the faithful discharge of the duties of
an e.xceptionally active life.
As colors melt away
into shades and tints and finally disappear, so his
life went out at the age of eighty-one years.
" A full and just review of the life of Mr. Gere
parent to those
his

32*

subject of this sketch was born in Wiirtem-

Germany, April

berg,

23, 1818.

sons of Charles

of three

He is the youngAmos and Barbara

both natives of Wlirtemberg.

His early
which
he followed until he came to America.
His opportunities for education from books were such as
Chaflfla,

life

was spent

in learning the butcher's trade,

common schools of that country afforded.

At the age of twenty-one years he resolved

the

seek his fortune

in a foreign land,

to

and where greater

eff'orts of a young man,

and consequently came to New York, thence to
Rochester, and in February, 1840, to the village of
His whole effects at that time conSyracuse.
sisted of his raiment and seventy-five cents in cash.
His first business here was packing salt and
chopping wood, and for some six years he was engaged in the butchering business. He had by this
time, by strict economy, saved from his small earn-

opportunities offered for the

ings sufficient to furnish a house

in the

comfortably, and

Mary Ann Kepplan,

Germany, who had come to this

year 1847 married Miss

a native of Alsace,

country in 1834 with her parents and settled in the

town of Manlius. She was born in the year 1824

and was one of seven children of Sebastian Kepplan.

For the first year after his marriage he
rented a mill with one run of stone in Jamesville,
and

after three years

gradually

years

four

he rented the whole mill with

Here he continued business

increasing his trade and

four run of stones.

patronage.

He

then removed to the town of DeWitt, rented

a mill, put in machinery and

split

grave.

We

JACOB AMOS.

faithful

peas and farina.

manufactured

Here he continued

flour,

until the

breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when

his mill property was accidentally burned, but with
verv

little

loss

to

Mr. Amos.

Syracuse, purchased
Block, and again

three

He

stores

commenced

then came to

in

subsequently adding to his purchase as

of the block.

His operations

carried on here until the

fall

the

Raynor

his milling business,

in

much more

milling have been

of 1877.

During

this

time he also invested in mill property in Baldwinsville and carried on a very large business there.
Shortly after coming to Syracuse in the year 1864
his wife died,

and

for his

second wife he married

1867 Mrs. Arminda Ring, widow

Ring of Buffalo.

of the late

in

Wm.

At
ness

the time of the writing of this sketch his busi-

supposed

is

be the largest of any

to

in

Amos

Mr.

and has risen

to his business,

in

county and of this part of the State.

His strict integrity of purpose and honest dealing have gained for him the respect and esteem of
his fellow-men.

coming

first

Whig

in the

country he cast his vote

to this

party,

and

is

now an

ardent supporter

never active

of the Republican party, although

in

politics or solicitous of public honors.

To

Mr. and Mrs.

children, viz

Amos

Mary

December 25th, 1831.

Her maternal grandfather. Judge Charles Piatt,
came from " the ancient and honorable family of
Platts, who were in great repute in Norfolk, as is confirmed by a manuscript of those worthies who had
Standards of Arms, the first of Edward the Third,
King of England, A. D., 1327, then bore for their

the

Katie,

owner of the large and new flouring

West Water

A
will

mill

on

Syracuse.

street,

Amos and

portrait of Mr.

Y.,

(died

John idied in infancy,) and

and
Amelia. Charles
Jacob are now associated
with their father in business, and the firm is now
infancy,

Surrogates

continued to hold until his death at Plattsburgh, N.

have been born seven

Charles, Matilda, Jacob,

until

In
he was elected to represent Sufl^olk,
77
Kings and Queens counties in the Continental
Congress then sitting in Philadelphia, Uo fill a vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Townsendi. In
'793 he was again elected to represent these counties, which he continued to do until he removed to
Plattsburgh.
In 1804 he was elected Senator for
the Northern District, and in 1807 he was appointed Surrogate of Clinton connty, which office he

of

his

On

also appointed during

of Probate for the State of

New York, which office he held

were appointed for each county.

trade from an cm-

men

same year Judge

the

has confined himself very closely

ploy^ to one of the most successful business

He was

the United States.

Onondaga

During these years of successful enter-

county.
prise,

deliberate on the adoption of the Constitution of

Baldwinsville and Syracuse in milling opera-

in

tions

in

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

350

view of his residence

be found on another page of this work.

coat

of Armorial

lion

passant,

party and pale, or and gule, a

argent,

armed, azure, and Christ,

a Chaplet of Flowers, the ancient reward

ANN

MRS.
Her

TREADWELL REDFIELD.

was born

Long

He

Island.

1743, at Smith-

the year

in

Thompson,

says,

"

He was one

of the

Long Island,
most useful men of his

Gov. Seward,

in

his introduction

New York,

to the Natural

He was
one of the three constituting the Committee of
Safety while the Constitution of this State was being
formed

and was

in 1777,

member

surviving

for

of that

many

says, "

years the only

memorable body."

In 1772-76 he was a representative in

tinental

Congress

was elected
the city of

to

in

Philadelphia.

the Provincial

New

York.

delegated

Congress

the

Conhe

1775

sitting in

In 1776 he was elected to

In 1778 he was
I.
convention at Poughkeepsie to

represent Sufiblk County, L.

to the

In

field

of

at

battle."

named from
two brothers

called Plattsburgh, N. Y.,

came there with

his

He

died at Platts-

burgh.

Mrs. Ellet,

business,

History of the State of

is

from Dutchess county, N. Y.

day, and was almost constantly engaged in public

1.

of merit

favorites

their

from a victorious

the family, and

of

was distinguished for firmness and prudence, was a member of the Provincial Convention
in 1775 and was elected afterwards to the Provincial Congress from Long Island (with power to esHe was a
tablish a new form of government
member of the first Senate of this State under the
Constitution and seems in all respects to have been
fitted for the perilous times in which he lived."

upon

Copied from the Herald's College, London, EngJudge Piatt was one of the pioneers of

what now

graduated at Princeton

in his history

damsels

land, 1761.)

College and studied law under Chancellor Livingstone.

return

their

Thomas

Hon.

grandfather, the

paternal

Treadwell,

town,

M.

bestowed by

in "

The Queens of American

Society,"

says
"

The

subject of this sketch is not only noted for

known as the author of a popular
work
Zoological Science, or Nature in Living
Forms, a book commended by Professor Agassiz
as one that would do great credit to a majority of
position, but

'

She came
college professors in this department.'
Her paternal grandof a distinguished family.
father devoted his entire fortune and best energies
to the support of American Independence in the
great struggle for nationality, and her father obtained
distinction in the war of 1812.
" Ann Maria Treadwell was born at St. Andrews,
Canada, January 17, 1800, and was second daughter
of Nathaniel Hazard Treadwell and Margaret Piatt,
and passed the earlier part of her life on the banks
of the beautiful Ottawa, afterwards residing at
She was educated in the school of
Plattsburgh.
Her
Mrs. Emma Willard, of Middlebury, Vt.
intellectual culture was softened by native refinement and a sympathy that went forth spontaneously
toward all who needed it or claimed her tenderness.
The mother of a numerous family, she took pains

C^to-x^

7?7 ir, /s^^^^u^olZU^

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

with the education of her children, who, like her,
are prominent in society."

spent most of his time

She was married

at Clinton, N. Y., February 7,

Lewis H. Redfield, Esq., a prominent
journalist of Onondaga county for many years.
Mrs. Redfield is now in her 79th year, with sympa-

thies with the present generation as with the past,

ported the

which

endeared not only to her children,

rup

NORTHRUP.

H. Northrup is a native of Madison

county. Born near Peterboro, in 1841, he graduGoing South to
ated at Hamilton College in i860.
engage in teaching, the breaking out of the rebellion found him at the head of the preparatory
department of Oglethorpe University at MilledgeReturning North
ville, the then capital of Georgia.
Milton

fall

of 1863

he was Clerk of the Board of

were

The

tributed to the

World and other papers descriptive

"

which attracted
wide attention. Commencing with the session of
1867 he spent several winters at Albany as legislative correspondent of the New York Express and
letters of life in

the " Oildorado

other papers, and,

for the

in

1869, as legislative reporter

New York Associated

New York Express

sented the

Press.
at

He

of that year in travel in

Washington

interest

the establishment to

in

Milton

issued

Sunday mornings.

in

Europe

After the adjournment of the legislature in 1869,

he accepted the position of agent at New York of
the New York State Associated Press, which position he held until he became editor and one of the

During the memorable

session of the Forty-fourth Congress, Mr. Northrup
proprietors of the Courier.

In 1870 Mr. Halsted parted

title.

repre-

the spring of 1868, during the impeachment trial

of President Johnson, and spent the summer and

autumn

'

present

two-thirds

H. Northrup, who assumed editorial

control, (which position he now fills) and S. Gurney
Lapham. In 1873 the property passed into the
hands of the " Courier Printing Company," a duly
incorporated company, with the above named as the
Hon. Daniel Pratt was
principal stockholders.
made President of the company, S. Gurney
Lapham, Secretary, D. J. Halsted, Treasurer and
Business Manager, and M. H. Northrup continued
In January, 1878, Mr.
as Managing Editor.
William T. Hamilton was made Secretary of the
company, and Mr. Wilber M. Brown, Treasurer
and Business Manager; the other officers remainIn addition to the daily, the coming as before.
pany publishes the Onondaga Weekly Courier, and
and has since 1874 published the Sunday Courier,
Mr.

years

Penn1865-6, were passed by Mr. Northrup

sylvania oil regions, whence, incidentally, he conin the

its

with

Guard's services

happily not called into requisition.

during

under the name of the Courier a7td Union, with Mr.

Halsted as sole proprietor.
In 1869 the last half
of the name was dropped and the paper has since
borne

Clerk to the Supervisor's Bounty Committee, which

disbursed the county bounty to volunteers.

did not occur, and the National

in 1856,

Presidential

drew and started a new paper, the Syracuse Union,

which hoisted Douglas' name for President.
Shortly after election, the two papers were consolidated

Onondaga county, and subsequently

In the summer of 1864, he was appointed Aidede-Camp on the staff of Brigadier-General John
A. Green, Jr., who had been charged by Governor
Seymour with the defense of the Northern frontier
of the State from Wayne county to the Vermont
The apprehended rebel invasion from Canada
line.

with which Mr. North-

Courier,

now connected, was founded

Courier.
In the Presidential campaign of
i860 the Courier ran up the Breckenridge ticket.
Mr. Halsted, who favored Douglas' candidacy, with-

but never engaged in the practice of the profession.

In the

is

City

he taught a private classical school at Syracuse for

two years. He was admitted to the bar in 1863,

Supervisors of

creating the Electoral Commission

campaign of that year, in the

interest of the Democratic party.
H. L. Hagadorn was its first proprietor. In 1858 the paper
passed into the hands of Messrs. D. J. Halsted
and H. S. McCuUom, under the name of Central
the

H.

bill

settled the Presidential controversy.

The Syracuse

but to her numerous acquaintances.

MILTON

editorial

House which, in connection with a similar committee on the part of the Senate, prepared and re-

possessing great intellectual vivacity, and, as in the

lives

Washington as

correspondent of his paper.

By request of Mr.
Payne of Ohio, Chairman of the committee, he
acted as Clerk to the committee on the part of the

1820, to

past, she

in

251

JOHN

G.

TRUAIR,

K.

Senior publisher of the Syracuse Journal, was

born in Sherburne, Chenango County, N. Y., May
He graduated at Oberlin College, Ohio,
II, 1817.

once engaged
in the State of New York.

in 1838,

and

in

at

academic teaching

He was

Principal of

Academy and Collegiate Institute,

of Norwich Academy,
Otsego County, six years
Chenango County, two years and of the Brockport
Gilbertsville

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

252

Monroe County,

Collegiate Institute,

ancestry, he was born at Hebron, Conn., 1764, the

In

five years.

1861, he was also connected for one year wi'.h the

son of John Ellis and of Elizabeth

Female College

wife.

While

moved

to the

Elmira.

at

which had been conducted

Thomas S. Tniair,
many years

the preceding year by his brother,

boyhood,

his

in

parents

his

town of Pittsfield, Berkshire county,

Mass., where they were residing at the opening of
In 1779, young
the struggle for independence.

In the spring of 1855, he purchased the Syracuse

yoiiritnl establishment

still

and devoted his time and energies for

Ellis,

work of placing the yourual upon a firm and

In 1862, Hon Carroll E. Smith

although yet of tender age, caught the fervor

became an.xious
Although too young for regular

of the Revolution and

to

substantial basis.

army.

service, his

became associated with him in the conduct of the

paper, and in 1870 Col. Dwight H. Bruce was admit-

father consented that

to the

ted

to

an equal partnership

his personal

Although Mr. Truair had spent

fifteen

years in

lived in the Captain's tent

the duties of a teacher's profession, for which he

developed an unusual fitness and

in

which he met

a strong inclination

felt

to

engage

avocations and excitements of a business

new sphere

entered this

in

life.

the

amply

He

with the

of activity, therefore, with

At

He

had

the

of

satisfaction

seeing the youtiial steadily advance from year to

year

with the public, increasing rapidly

in favor

business

interests

of the

which were especially committed

became

of Mr. Truair, soon

its

substantial basis, never

establishment,

upon

a firm

losing their hold

upon the

ward

in a

for

many

Few

In 1861 and 1862,

is

Vice-President of that

body.

GENERAL JOHN

ELLIS.

Onondaga county would be

signally

incomplete without a sketch of that sturdy pioneer

General John Ellis, whose name is most honorably
instrumental
resources.

its

in

annals, and

who was

the development of

scion

of

now

living can appreciate the hardto this

adventures with the Indians marked the progress

the young New England couple to their
of

new

home.

the

best

also largely
its

material

New England

Mr.

Ellis

had,

however,

able previous acquaintance with

oughly

associated with

of those

ships and perils attendant upon the journey

York.

he was appointed Treasurer of the city of Syracuse

and held the same office again in 1864 and 1865. He
is also a member of the Board of Councillors of the

history of

wife

passage made not less formidable by nature, than

by the presence of the red man still retaining much
Several
of his olden hostility to the white man.

New

The

young

to drive the

years Secretary of the

Society of Central

Association," and

his

had employed

Ellis

It
then western country in those primitive days.
was literally a passage through the wilderness, a

Bible Society and of the Pioneer

Home

company with Dr. Sturdevant and

of an

Onondaga County

"

In 1795

third team.

for-

appreciative public.

Mr. Truair was

Manlius.

and married Submit Olds,

Hebron, and in February of that

and a man Mr.

prosperous and useful career, and securing

more and more the confidence and support

at

year they returned to the then western wilderness,

century, Mr. Truair and his colleagues have the sat-

moving

first

Pittsfield,

also a native of

in

that the yoiir/iii/\s

until the close of the war.

the age of 21

he returned to

and

After a laborious service of nearly a quarter of a

knowing

and of decision which were

life.
He remained

his after

Onondaga, and located

confidence of the public.

isfaction of

army

in

first summer to looking over the lands

Onondaga and some of the adjoining counties,
in company with General Van Cortland, Judge
Geddes and some others. He finally decided upon

to the sujjcrvision

fi.xed

illustrated

of

influence and usefulness.

The

accompanied

often

devoted the

its

and patronage, and widely extending

circulation

He

he was working his father's

school winters, and by
summers,
and
teaching
farm
industry and strict economy was enabled to save
enough to bring him in the year 1794 to this westHe
ern country, and to buy land for a homestead.

coming the numerous obstacles incident to newspaper enterprises, his efforts were crowned with
success.

become

this capacity,

the troops in their expeditions, and exhibited those

qualities of courage

great eagerness and courage, and gradually over-

gratifying

patriot to

he
and was treated by him

in all respects as his son.

with uniform and gratifying success, yet he had

always

young

attendant, and, in

studied

their

habits

consider-

them, had thor-

and

peculiarities,

and knew how to manage them, as an incident

which occurred during their journey will illustrate.
Near Oneida Castle, the sleds became mired, and
it was necessary to call upon the Indians for help.
Entering one of the largest huts late in the evening,
a number of Indians were found wrapped in their
blankets asleep.

show no signs

Mr.

of fear,

Ellis directed the

'

join the

intimate friend. Captain

his

Talcott, should allow the

the establishment.

in

Mf

Sawyer, his

women

to

and himself walked directly

^;

,,,^.

^rS-^^

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

to the

fire,

raked open the bed of coals and appUed

The

showed
symptoms of anger, but Mr. Ellis spoke in a commanding voice, and by making signs, which they
understood, induced a number of them to give him
the required assistance. The women remained in the
hut, not without fear, but the authority of Mr. Ellis
was sufficient not only then but ever afterwards, to
command the respect and affection of the Indians.
By the Onondagas especially he was held in high
esteem, and they honored him with an Indian name
which was a synonym of bravery. Mrs. Ellis also
lost all fear of the Indians, and treated them with
unfailing kindness, which was by them cheerfully
fresh

fuel.

Indians being aroused

The journey

already alluded to took about three'

weeks to accomplish, and was terminated at Manlius, where Mr. Ellis fi.xed his temporary residence,
having brought with him a small stock of goods for
exchange with the Indians for their furs and for
supplying the wants of the few settlers who had
preceded him.

During the following

and while General

year,

Van Cortland was on

a visit to them,

Mrs.

was born.

first

child

Mr. and

General

Van

name him, but Mr.

name is John, but you

Cortland asked permission to

replied, the

Ellis

may add whatever

was

called

Among

" boy's

else

you please."

"John Cortland,"
the many lots of 250

chased by Mr.

Ellis in different

So the

child

parts of the

town

removed
with his family to Onondaga Hill, where he had
built a one and a-half story frame house, but owing
to the scarcity of brick the chimney could not be
During the spring of 1798 General

completed before

October.

In

Ellis

September, the

second child and eldest daughter, Harriet Byron,

was born, and as no fire could be built within
doors, the child was dressed out of doors by a log
fire, which served the double purpose for cooking

keep

to

off wild animals.

General Ellis built a second

the year 1801

In

and larger house, a part

store for several years.
settlers,

and

for the

of

He

which was used as a

kept supplies

for the

purpose of trading with the In-

In this house were born four

dians.

daughters,

Sophia, Submit, Electa and Laura and the second

son,

James Madison

Ellis.

In 1804 General Ellis built upon the stream running through his farm (where the reservoir of the
33

a small factory for carding

In 181

and cloth-dressing.

began the erection of a new

and quite a large frame house, said at the time to

Mr.

Ellis

be one of the finest residences

The

the town.

in

progress of building was slow, as General Ellis was

compelled to send to Massachusetts

The

moved

family

into the

for

mechanics.

new home during the

autumn of 18 12, and before it was quite finished.

Here were born the two youngest children, Mary
Caroline and George Clinton.
At this time (1878)
this

house and also the second

built

by General

Ellis,

are standing in a very good state of preservation.

Ellis

purchased of

General Humphrey, of Derby, Conn., four Spanish

Merino sheep two bucks and two ewes for

which he paid ^1,500, and as at that time there was
a premium on the first buck brought to each
county, he left one of his with Mr. Douglas of
Madison county, bringing the rest to his own farm.
The following year he was offered ;$ 1,500 for his
best buck, which he refused, as there were increased
in

difficulties

the

way

of

importing these sheep

This would seem

from Spain.

to

be a very high

same
About

price, but years afterwards single sheep of the

breed were sold for a

this

much

larger sum.

time General Ellis went to Cheshire, Mass.,

where he bought one cow and

acres each, pur-

of Onondaga (in which the county seat was afterwards located) lot 103 was chosen for the family
residence, and clearing was began that season, the
trees being felled to be burned the following year.

and

Syracuse Water-Works Company now is) a saw

mill, and later the same year also built on his farm

During the year 1802, General

reciprocated.

Ellis's

253

thirty calves of their

OnonThey proved an excellent breed and were

distributed among the farmers of the county.

best improved stock, and brought them to

daga.

Mr.

Ellis

was by birth and education

terian, and one of the organizers of the

byterian society of

one of

its

Onondaga

Presby-

first

Pres-

and was ever after

chief supporters.

In April, 1799, was held the second annual town

meeting of Onondaga, and among the officers
chosen was Mr. John Ellis for assessor.
Mr. Ellis was widely known as a military man.
His first appointment was in 1797, when he was
made Adjutant in Colonel Asa Danforth's regiment
of General Taylor's brigade.

From

this

time his

advance was rapid to the rank of both Major and

Colonel; July 10, 181 1, he received from his personal friend, Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor of the

commission of Brigadier General of the

and September 15, 1818, he received
county
of
from Governor DeWitt Clinton the commission
State, the

militia,

Major- General,

and

was

assigned

to

Division of Infantry of the State Militia.

the

i8th

During

command of
the war of 18 12, General Ellis was in
as a reserve
kept
was
the Onondaga brigade, which
frontier ;
the
force in case of invasion, or trouble on

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

254

and May

6.

1814,

British captured Os-

when the

wego, his brigade was ordered to that point. But

upon their arrival at Oswego Falls, they learned

enemy had evacuated

that the

the

fort.

The troops,

however, continued on to Oswego, where they remained some time. Again, when the British fleet
lay off Sackett's Harbor, the brigade was called out
speed, the news reaching General Ellis by
and beat 9 o'clock at night
messenger
special
men on
dispatched
morning
he
tween this and
the offinotify
to
county
horseback all through the
morning,
Early the following
cers and men.
General Ellis in command of his brigade and the

with

all

warriors of the Onondagas led by Colonel Ephraim

Webster, Indian Agent, marched for Sackett's HarThey had proceeded as far as Smith's Mills
bor.
when a halt was ordered, as the enemy
Adams,
or
had disappeared, and a victory had been won at
For six weeks after this General
Big Sandy Creek.

brigade was kept deploying,

Ellis's

movements
General

of the British
Ellis

watching the

man

of

paid

Ontario County, and

and although an ardent supporter of Jeflerson and

Tompkins, he was ever the friend of DeWitt ClinHe lived a sober, consistent, and Christian
ton.
was highly esteemed by all his friends and
and
life,
fellow-townsmen. He died of consumption in 1820,
and was buried with military honors
lot on the farm at Onondaga Hill.

in

the family

Mrs. Ellis was well calculated to bear the hardships and trials and to meet the dangers of a life in

who had

settled there as early

coming by water all the way from

Sonet Bay, Mass, to Seneca Lake, and being 31
She (Lucy Cudworth was
days on their journey.
1

born Feb.

8,

1812.

The spring following his marriage, and when 23

years of age, Mr. Ellis bought the homestead of 250
acres of the heirs, and settled

down

among

the representative farmers of the county.

and previously from the stock imported by

General Humphrey, Minister to Spain,

the appreciation of this flock

1854, and

endurance, although

She was the

slight and delicate in appearance.
mother of nine children, of whom only Mrs. Caroline Hargin, of New York City, and James M. Ellis,
of Syracuse, are

now

was

in the State.

said to

General Ellis died leaving a

family of children

in

i8or.

him by

his

have had one of the best flocks

stock has been propagated

The same

and improved by Davis Cossitt, of Onondaga,

The
whose flock now can hardly be excelled.
sudden death of his only son and two daughters,
caused him to give up farming, and in 1854 he
moved to the city of Syracuse, where he has since
resided.

Soon

after

coming here he engaged

in

the

wool trade, which, with the tanning and hide and

leather trade, he, with E. B. Wicks, T. B. Fitch

and

J.

S. Sharp, carried

cuse, until about the year

on

in

1868

Chicago and Syrathe former, and

in

Mr. Ellis has been Trustee of the Syracuse SavBank since 1855, and has also been connected

ings

85

1,

year

its

organization in

having been President of the

latter since the

1872.

For many years past he has been

largely identified with the manufacturing interests

of the city.
In politics, Mr. Ellis cast his

living.

left

bred with great care and success until

with the Mechanics Bank since

of great

During

had special interest and pride in his flock of

merino sheep, bred from the flock owned by his

as every qualification that adorns a wife and mother.

She was a woman

life.

He

until 1871 in the latter place.

for

the next twenty years he carried on his farm, and was

and she was always in every way, a

help-meet
to her husband
She was
most valuable
judgment,
as well
discreet and possessed excellent

the wilderness

Januar)*

1798, and

as

As

he was a Federalist, but just previous to the

War of 1812, he, with Judge Mosely and others,
embraced the principles of the Democratic party

and soon

6,
1833, he married Lucy Cudworth, daughter of
Nathaniel Cudworth and Lydia Farrar, of Bristol,

father he

a politician,

in earnest,

the encumbrance on the farm.

oft'

By

first

On

better opportunities for obtaining an education.

her return James began work

defined characteristics, both of

At

Mon-

where she took a house until the following summer, for the purpose of giving the children

roe county,

father

fleet.

marked and wellmind and manners.

he was both active and influential.
was

with the younger children, went to Henrietta,

vote for

Andrew

first

presidential

Jackson, and continued an ardent

The

supporter of the Democratic party until the FreeSoil movement, when he arrayed himself against the

depreciation in values at the close of the war in

introduction of slavery into the Territories; and upon

by him of over i,2CO

the formation of the Republican party adopted its

principles, and has since, with little variation, stood

whose opportunities

for

obtaining an education had

been such as the schools of that day afforded.

1815,

acres

made the

large estate

left

of land, of insufficient

value

to

place

the

James M. spent the

family
death, at home, asfather's
his
following
nine years
In
farm.
1829 his mother
sisting his mother on the
in

easy circumstances.

unswervingly

in

its

ranks.

Although always

tak-

ing a lively interest in important public questions,

he never desired political preferment.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

In the old military organization of the State Mr.

was Adjutant under Colonel Woodruft" in the

147th Regiment from 1833 to 1836.
In 1836 he
received the commission of Major from Governor
Wm. L. Marcy, and on the death of Colonel Woodruff, in 1838, he was elected Colonel, and resigned
the same year.
Mr. Ellis is a plain, unassuming man, possessing
integrity of purpose and an unblemished
strict
reputation in all his business and social relations.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have been born seven
Ellis

children, viz

(died young,")

Clara Earll, (deceased,

Mary

Sophia,

James Augustus, (deceased,) Mary

Caroline, (deceased,) Harriet Isabella,

William A.

wife of the

Beach, of Troy,

N. Y. Lydia
Maria, (died young,) and Lucy Cudworth, wife of
Frank W. Balch, of Chicago, III.
late

255

of the community, by upholding the

cause of re-

and temperance, and by the advocacy of the best phases of political and public policy, always holding himself independent and free to
criticise, and, if need be, dissent from the action of
party and leadership which tend contrawise to his
ligion, morality

views of the public welfare.

journal

is

His

ideal of a public

the perfect abnegation of self in

ductors, with the highest development of

terprise

and the most perfect devotion

ests of

State and people.

con-

its

news en-

to the inter-

He has been handsomely recognized by his party

and the people in the bestowment of public stations.
He was Clerk of the City of Syracuse from
to
1854
1857, and took much interest in framing
the charter of the city which has since been the
basis of

its

He

municipal law.

was County Clerk

Onondaga County from 1865 to 1868. He was a

Member of the Assembly of the Stateof New Yorkin

of

CARROLL

E.

SMITH,

Printer and journalist,

is

the years 1876 and 1877, and held a prominent po-

life-long resident of

Syracuse, where he was born December 25, 1832.

He has been a gratified witness of the growth of
his native place

from a small village

to

a populous

His parents were Vivus W.

and prosperous city.
Smith and Caroline, only daughter of Jonas Earll,
His
Jr., of Onondaga, whose only gliild he was.
ancestors were

New

England people, dating back

to

sition

in

that

Committee on

He

body.
Public

was Chairman of the

Education, the author

of

and
its
and
urged
to
passage
the
pending
framed
He was
school amendment to the Constitution.
also a member of the Committees on the Affairs of
Cities and on Apportionment, in whose action he
legislation in the interest of popular education,

He

took a deep interest.

refused to be a candi-

the early settlement of Massachusetts.

date for reelection to the Legislature, preferring to

His youth was spent in the schools of his native

place, and he completed his academic course in the
Syracuse Academy and the Seward Institute at
At an early age he
Florida, Orange County, N. Y.
entered the printing office of the Syracuse yournal,
(established by his father, V. W. Smith, in company
with his uncle, S. F. Smith,) and he there learned

devote his attention to journalism.

the various branches

of the printer's

trade.

President of the

present year

He is for the
New York State

Press Association, and for ten years has been one

of the

managers

He

ciated Press.

ment
fied

of the
is

New York

State Asso-

connected with the manage-

of several other public associations, and iden-

with various business enterprises.

In

1847, he began his newspaper service in a subordi-

nate capacity, and was subsequently, before attain-

CHARLES TALLMAN.

ing his majority, local reporter of the Daily yournal,

and associate editor of the Daily Clironicle of

In i860, he began his regular editorial

Syracuse.

connection with the yournal, and in 1862 became

Mr.

J.

G. K. Truair's associate in the ownership of

that paper and its printing establishment, and since

that time has had the editorial charge of the newspaper.
He began his political life as a Republican,
and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont for

President, in 1856.

He

an active interest in
efforts to elevate

has ever since maintained

politics,

and purify

and given

his best

political affairs

shape the action of the party with which

identified in the best practicable direction.
journalist,

and
he

As

to
is

he seeks* to promote the highest good

Charles Tallman presents a splendid example of

the success that unaided effort united with persistent purpose and honorable ambition may achieve.

The son

of a farmer, Easton Tallman,

who

died in

1819, and was one of the wilderness pioneers of

Central New York, Charles was born in Tully,

Onondaga county,
children to

was

left

whom

in 18 10.

One

of six fatherless

and the widowed mother

but the legacy of an

unsullied

little

name and

not of hardships, the prospect before the lad of nine was cloudy and cheerless at the
but happily the mother was a woman of
best
lives of toil,

if

strongly-marked character, positive, economical, industrious and hopeful, and was thus enabled to hold

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

256
her

together and

family

maintain a successful

Unfitted alike by physical strength and mental

disposition for the rugged labors of farm-life in a

new

country,

man saw nothing

for

it

but to betake himself to the

Always ready to do
what his hand found to do with his might, he took
up the last named implement one day and swung
out into the harvest field with a will that was
plow, the hoe and the cradle.

struggle with the world.

empty

himself

Charles presented

handed, but stout-hearted, as a pupil at the Homer

Academy, one of the oldest and best institutions in

stronger than his sinews, but those stalwart broth-

the State, where he remained two years, devoting

The sun was hot, the

down the cradle with

himself assiduously to the acquisition of a capital

In
that no financial disaster could ever diminish.
the accomplishment of this he incurred a debt for

board and tuition to his uncle, the

late

Jedediah

Barber of Homer, a sacred obligation which

the

first

business of his

life

satisfy.

to

it

To

was

effect

he became the teacher of a district school,

having passed a triumphant examination, in the
this

course of which he

the slate with figures and

filled

with astonishment, in

the School Commissioners

of his

ers

cradled

round him and out of sight.

grain was rank, and he flung
the emphatic declaration that

he could not eat without doing the drudgery of a

farm he would make a desperate effort to break up
if

the habit.

Bidding adieu to swath and furrow, and after

wearying disappointments and delays, we find him
in Vesper, in his native town, partner in a country
where, amid ox-yokes and ax-helves, needles

store,

and crow-bars, groceries wet and dry, cottons, flanwoolens, ribbons and

nels,

everything

rat-traps,

new country but beauty and

beclouding a problem that neither examiners nor

anybody wanted

candidate could possibly solve.

content, he passed nine busy years, and

Then, as now. the West had a siren song that

charmed many a youth to sling up the knapsack
and be pilgrim towards the setting sun. The West
of that day was a weary distance by canal and
steamer and saddle, but now accomplished by the

energy, self-denial and business

swift

the

engine between sun and sun.

hidden possibilities of the

eager to find ami win a wider

struck out in 1833 for "

Charmed by

far-off

land,

and

field of exertion,

The Ohio

"

as

it

was

he

called,

which meant the whole sweep of the continent to

the Mississippi River.

After varied fortunes, none

of which were signal successes, and an absence of

three months, he returned to TuUy. determined to

work out the problem of

And

boyhood.

his

his

life

amid the scenes of

yet the experiences of his pilgrim-

age were not valueless.

Setting forth with un-

the honor and honesty of

limited faith in

all

man-

kind, he confided in a stranger's word, trusted to a

stranger's judgment, set aside
his

own good

horse

sense, and

he rode

for

the promptings of

exchanged an excellent

an equine

fiction

that

Don

maddest moments would have despised.

The tuition for a term of thirty minutes
cost him a horse and unspeakable disgust, but it
was well worth the price he paid for it. He learned
the value of self-reliance which is better than
" Daboll," of calm judgment which is wiser than
Grammar, of prudence which is more helpful than
Geography all gifts and qualities that have characterized his life and won for him distinguished
Quixote

his

in

Forty-five years ago, the fields of enterprise out of

In 1846, the great salt lick of

laid

with

the sure foun-

New

York, Syra-

cuse, a straggling village of 11.000, began to fore-

shadow its coming greatness, and thither Mr. Tallman removed with his family, for he was already
the head of a hous(^old, and became senior partner
in the " City Drug Store," on Salina street, with
But, never content to travel
William H. Williams.
in a groove. Mr. Tallman's energies were directed

many important interests and enterprises, among

which may be named extensive farming in the
to

West, the raising of cattle, the growing of wool,

the mining of coal, the traffic in real estate, the
trade in provisions, and today he is the senior
partner in the extensive wholesale firms of A. N.

Palmer

&

Co.,

of-Syracuse.

and W. L. Ross

And

in all

&

Co., of the city

these multifarious pursuits

and enterprises, involving so much skill, care and

capital, he has established and maintained the character of an able, upright merchant, and in all the
relations of life a true and generous friend.
Almost as thoroughly conversant with one section of this country as another, he has traveled from
the Atlantic to the Pacific,
all

is

deeply interested in

that conduces to the true prosperity of the coun-

try,

but in these broader views he has never lost

sight of the city of his adoption, but has been identified in all directions

home

industries,

its

with

its

material growth.

business blocks,
its

its

streets,

of his helping hand and his judicious

the great cities of the sea-board were few and narrow,

The

from the West, the young

him

his return

skill

dations of his subsequent ample fortune.

the railways that traverse

success.

and so upon

in the

city

bear evidence

management.

thousand has grown around

sixty thousand strong, of which he

village of eleven
to a

Its

ware-houses,

Photo, by Bonta

HORATIO

Horatio

N. White, an architect by profession, has been

closely identified with the

growth of the

city of Syracuse for

the past thirty-five years.

Many

of the public and private buildings in this and the

surroundinir counties

have been erected under Mr. White's

&

Curtiss, Syracuse.

WHITE.

N.

supervision, prominent

court-house, the

savings bank, the

among which

Syracuse university, the

Auburn

Onondaga County

are the

Onondaga County

savings bank, the

Oswego

and numerous court-houses, State armories, and not

a

hundred churches.

city hall,
less

than

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

can most truly say, "
of which

of which

all

saw and a part

am."

self

was

home, unand chil-

architect, dwelling in a beautiful

in reputation,

happy

in children

dren's children, ever ready with judicious counsel

and helpful deed, never an aspirant

commanding

office,

any

for

political

the respect of the public and

the affection of his friends, yet he has not

With

idle.

grown

leisure awaiting his enjoyment, foreign

him across the sea, time

command, he has never laid

and

he was active in politics, and

Republican County Committee, mainly conducted two Presidential campaigns.
In 1866, and again in 1867, he was Supervisor of the Seventh Ward of Syracuse. In October,
1869, he was appointed by the Secretary of the
Treasury assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue,
and was designated to make assessments in any
as

Possessed of an ample fortune, of which he him-

blemished

had

its rise

Secretary

fall,

the

of

part of the Twenty-third Congressional District, for

all taxes imposed on the manufacture and sale of

lands conspiring to lure

tobacco, snuff and cigars.

and fortune

tion

at instant

harness of a busy

off the

And he

life.

is

wise, for

no rust is so corrosive as the rust that comes from

premature rest after a life packed full with interests

and energies.

Long may he

live,

mingling as ever, with

the busy thoroughfares, always a

friends

and a cheerful word

for

warm

men

in

side for his

everybody

an admi-

rable illustration of the splendid possibilities a pio-

neer farmer's boy with hands, heart and head that

he knows how

to use,

may

achieve in America.

has grown into a proverb,

"

It

nothing succeeds like

success."

DWIGHT

H.

important

tration,

management

changes

the

of

office,

resigned this posi-

made

were

in

greatly increasing

the
its

and popularity. The number of daily

mails was nearly doubled
a night clerk and
the present system of night service were introduced new systems for securing efficiency in every
department were adopted and put in force, and the
office itself enlarged and improved both in respect
to convenience and appearance.
When he was suefficiency

1,

1875

nine months previously

Dwight Hall Bruce was born at Lenox, Madison

He received an
county, N. Y., June 21, .1834.

He

January following, to become one of the

proprietors and editors of the Syracuse Journal.
March 25, 1871, he was appointed by President
Grant, and confirmed by the United States Senate,
postmaster at Syracuse.
During his adminisin

perceded, January

BRUCE.

257

his term having expired

his

official

standing on the

records of the post-office department at Washington,

was

as creditable as that of any other postmas-

the

United States.

Though

accounts

academic education preparatory to a college course,

He at
which, however, he never entered upon.
time
the
considerable
to
devoted
the same time

ter in

study of music, and offered several compositions to

of the

the public which attracted the notice of musicians

made.
He has filled many and various offices of
honor and trust, public and private, and has also

In 1857, he became connected with the

Commercial Times newspaper at Oswego, as associate
editor.
In January, 1861, he removed to Syracuse,
to act as assistant to Canal Commissioner Bruce,
of note.

his

father.

He

continued

to

fill

year 1869,

when he

resigned.

period of service, he originated

many

years in the military

service

of the

valuable

onel and Inspector of Rifle Practice of the Fifty-first

till

During

of
late

improvements in the manner of operating the

canals, and wrote a series of articles relating to their
usefulness and capacity, which attracted wide attention.
During those years, in which the Rebellion
34*

spent

between his statements and those

final settlement was

department when the

this

positions

several

slightest variation

Regimental positions, except those

of field officers.
He was Major and Paymaster,
afterwards Colonel and Engineer on the staff of
Major-General William C. Brown, commanding the
Sixth Division, and is now Captain and Brevet-Col-

responsibility, in connection with the canals,

in the

his

covered several million dollars, there was not the

State, filling

Regiment.

all

He

is

still

a proprietor

the Syracuse yournal, holding an

and editor of
equal interest

and Carroll E. Smith,

J. G. K. Truair
under the firm name of Truair, Smith & Bruce.

with Messrs.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNS.

SALINA.
The

place settled on

earliest

the Salt Springs

Reservation was the Village of Salina, sometimes

designated

" Salt

in its early history

The

Point."

prospective value of the salt springs in this locality

attracted the attention

day, and drew

an early
an enterprising
manufacture of

before

The

present century.

hither, with

of men,

class
salt

of travelers and settlers at

first

their families,

who engaged

in

the beginning of

the

settlement appears to

and Thomas Gaston, with their families, settled at

In August, 1790, Colonel Jeremiah
the place.
Gould and family, consisting of his wife and three
sons, Jeremiah, James and Phares, and an only
daughter, the oldest of his children, moved here from
Westmoreland, Oneida county, and Mr. Gould built
first

salt.

arch in which a kettle was placed for boiling

In 1791, Sam'l

(See History of Salt Springs.)

Onondaga

Jerome, came to
this section.

He

to

examine the land

in

visited the springs at Salt Point,

and taking with him a sample of the salt, traveled

through Pompey, Fabius. Homer and Manlius, and
on his return to Saratoga, his place of residence,
he reported that he had discovered " the land of
promise," and induced several of his friends to

out here and

At

salt at Salina

come

settle.

this early

period a

who

lived at

number

of persons

Onondaga,

then a more healthy location.

The

in

made

great difficulty

and cases followed each other in rapid succession,

so that frequently there were not well people

On

the

2d of

March, 1792, Mr. Isaac VanVleck and family came

and the following, year Thomas Orman

to Salina,

and Simon Phares.

Salt Point Frame and Mi;d Houses.

The peculiarity
ings at Salt Point

another, constituted the " siding " of the buildings.

When

this

was done the whole was plastered over

mud mortar tempered with straw.

with a kind of

Buildings constructed

in this

way

are said to have

made very comfortable dwellings. The chimneys

were made of sticks and clay, and the fire places
had no jambs, only a plain stone wall
Mr. Jeremiah Gould erected a house of

at the back.

this descrip-

was noted as the first frame

house erected at Salt Point and in the county of
Onondaga. The second was built by John DanMr. VanVleck and Asa Danforth,
forth in 1793.
Jr., built frame houses about the same time of
1792, which

tion in

superior construction.

Scarcitv of Provisions.

At

this

time the settlers obtained most of their

provisions in exchange for

salt, from Tioga, Whitestown and Herkimer. In 1792-3, provisions became

very scarce and great suffering ensued. On several
occasions boats were sent from Salt Point to KingsCanadai by way of Oswego, to procure supton
(

The

meat and

locality,

They

and
the prospective value of property, were deterred on

from attempting to make permanent homes there.

build-

plies.

salt interest

some of the earliest frame

deserving a passing notice.

of
is

Sills were
were constructed somewhat as follows
set
up
at
proper
distances
the
laid and posts
beams and plates were put into their places grooves
were cut in the posts, on the inside, two inches in
width, so as to receive the ends of the sticks or
poles, which being placed in horizontally, one above

enough in the settlement to take care of the sick.

Many died during the sickly season, and many, not-

account of the reputed unhealthincss of the

named Woodworth and

Sturges settled near the marsh.

what was

which the early settlers had to encounter at Salt

Point was sickness, induced by the stagnant marshes
Fevers began to appear early in July,
of the lake.

withstanding the attractions of the

families

the

have been begun at Salina in 1788, in which year

and in 1789, Deacon Loomis, Nathaniel Loomis,
Hczckiah Olcott, John Danforth, Asa Danforth, Jr.,

the

In 1791, two

old settlers say that

different times

in

this

manner

at

they obtained bread, biscuit, salted

which had been made and cured in

England, and although it was of an inferior quality,
it was eaten with a relish which hunger never fails

to give.

fish

Mrs. John Paddock,

John Paddock.
C

Residence or

JOHN

PHOTOS

syWV

RAKniK.SrTrACU&i:

PADDOCK

Liverpool,

New York

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY NEW YORK.

Captain Canute.
Captain

Canute,

of a trading

within the present limits of Syracuse, and also the

boat from Salt

Point to Albany, often brought provisions and groceries

and received

his

pay

young

in

raccoons, foxes, deer and fawns,

all

bears, wolves,

of which were at

Deer were so abundant and

that time very plenty.

tame that they frequently herded with the cows,

much

entering the yards with them at night with as

unconcern as

The young

if

they had been

259

fully

domesticated.

bears were furnished to the white people

by the Indians for the merest trifle. Numbers of

these animals have been known to be kept confined

first

male child born

at Salt

the county.

in

Point in 1792.

At

He

was born

that period rattlesnakes

were very numerous in the vicinity of Salina. They

were considered harmless, if suffered to pursue their

own way unmolested, but extremely dangerous

when interfered with. On a time, little Abraham
Van Vleck was out at play. His mother became
alarmed

at the violent cackling

of the fowls,

and

hurrying round the house to learn the cause of their

disturbance, " she there found her

little

son folding

in chains awaiting the arrival of Captain Canute,

hands and arms an enormous rattlesnake,

which twined and writhed around the tender limbs

who always found

Al-

of the child in the fondest manner, looking defiance

bany.

So common were wolves and bears at this

time that it was no unusual thing to see them passing along the paths leading from Cicero to Onon-

which had gathered around in a circle,

and were expressing by their noise and bustle the
utmost fear and agitation. The frightened mother

daga, and from the frequency of this occurrence,

ran to her nearest neighbors,

some of the paths took names from these animals.

Thus two of the streets running north from the
main street in the First Ward of Syracuse, are now
called Wolf and Bear streets.

the scene.

a ready market for

In 1793

in

1793.

there were but thirty persons at Salt

Sickness had thinned the number.

all told.

Nearly every one was sick

a

at

man named
who

at the fowls

who soon gathered at

The snake seemed to increase its fond-

ness for the child, and no one seemed disposed to

meddle with

At

peril.

it

of increasing

for fear

at the

same

time, except

Patrick Riley, a generous hearted son

Van Vleck's salt

carried on Mr.

the

child's

length the mother seized a favorable op-

portunity, snatched the child and ran

Salt Point
Point,

them

in his

away with

him. The snake seemed angry with the removal of

his Httle friend, and at once coiled himself in a hostile attitude,

when he was

instantly dispatched

by

those present."*

About the time

of the birth of

Abraham Van

works.

Vleck, an Indian had been drowned by the upset-

for a salt block, boiled

nate night watched with the sick, for a period of

ting of his canoe in the Falls of the Oswego,

and the event bore so heavily upon the friends of
the deceased, that the son of Mrs. Van Vleck was

two months without a single

named by

of Erin,

He drew
salt

all

his

own wood

every day and half the nights, and every

Dr. Holbrook,

who had

alter-

night's intermission.

settled

near Jamesville,

and who was the first physician in the county, came

over every day to visit the sick. He was a skillful
and successful physician. Dr. Burnet, in 1797, was
the

first

resident physician in Salina.

During the
liberally to

season the Indians were ex-

sickly

ceedingly kind

to

the

settlers.

They

furnished

each family a supply of venison and

which added greatly

fish,

to their comfort.

was a noticeable peculiarity of the Indians in

those days that, whenever they had resolved upon a
It

carousal, they almost invariably divested themselves

of

all

some

dangerous weapons, and deposited them with

trusty person in a place of safe keeping.

not unfrequently one of their

set apart expressly to keep

harm was done while

in their

And

own number would be

their language, signifies

"sorrow

for the

departed."

By this name he was known among the Indians,

who always entertained for him a remarkable friendand gave his father in trust for him a mile
square of land at the outlet of Onondaga Lake.
The title, however, was not recognized by the State.
ship,

The

Indians, according to their custom, gave

many

Mr. Van
other Indian names to white people.
"
Ka-hunk-a-ta-wah," meaning
Vleck they called

"one spry enough

Vleck was
position,"

named

to skip over water."

Mrs.

Van

"

Con-o-roo-quah," one of pleasant disand Mrs. O'Blennis, her daughter, was

"

" Jo-an-te-no."

Thus

the Indians

named

people according to some prominent peculiarities

which they discovered in them.

sober and see that no

The Old Block-House.

the rest indulged themselves

drunken spree.

Abraham VanVleck and the Rattlesnake.

Abraham Van Vleck, son of Isaac Van Vleck, is
believed to have been the

the Indians " Ne-un-hoo-tah," which, in

first

white child born

In 1794, a block-house was erected at Salina for

defence from an anticipated attack of the Indians.
circumstances which led to it were these

The
*2

Clark's Onondaga,

p.

14Z.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

26o

The Western

piece (a six-pounder\ small arms, ammunition, ra-

in

tions, &c.,

Indians were at war with the settlers

Ohio and Indiana, and many of the Indians of
Western and Northern New York manifested a
was apprehended that this
It
belligerent spirit.
feeling might be general

among

all

the Indian tribes

and that even the settlements in this county were

in imminent danger of becoming a prey to the
tomahawk and scalping knife of the savages. So
great was the alarm that many persons buried their
most valuable effects, and not a few were on the

The

point of leaving the country.

people of Onon-

Morehouse's tavern to consult

daga assembled at
upon measures of safety.

was dispatched

to

Albany

Mr. Jonathan Russell

established at Jeremiah Jackson's mills, near Jamesville,

Van
Home,

and warlike implements and stores deposited

and all male persons over fourteen years of

age were required to hold themselves in readiness
" Minute men " were also orfor any emergency.
there,

ganized by drafting three

company on
depot

case of any sudden

In

to the place of danger.

the 14th of June, 1794, the general alarm was

Oswego,) which was then

tario,

Rensselaer, and Adjutant General David \'an

British,

in the

birth-day of

purpose of erecting such

every person they met whether the

fortifications

as in their

be deemed necessary

security of the northern and western

for

frontiers

the
of

the State, and twelve thousand pounds had been

cannon was

was assembled at
The
Morehouse's and reviewed by Haron Steuben and
They then proceeded to Salt Point,
his associates.
and upon examining the position recommended the

erection of a block-house.

Committee

of Public

Safety was appointed, consisting of Messrs.

De

Witt, Isaac

Van

Moses

Thomas Orman, Simon

Vleck,

Phares. and John Danforth, and, together with

Baron Steuben and the other officers, proceeded to

stake out the ground near the principal Salt Spring.

Major Asa Danforth and Major Moses De Witt

were commissioned to superintend the construction
of the block house, which was soon completed under
the direction
builder.

It

of Cornelius

was

built

of

Higgins,

the

master-

hewed oak timber with

This blockhigh cedar posts or pickets around it.

house was afterwards used by the State as a store-

house

for salt.

Before the erection of this block-house, so great

had been the alarm that the people fled from their
houses and took refuge in what was then known as
Thompson's Sugar Bush, where they remained three
days and nights.
The block-house was manned by a volunteer

of the

distinctly heard throughout the eastern

part of the county.

Many were

almost distracted

with fear and went running to and

fro

enquiring of

enemy were in
Soon news arrived of the true cause of the
and the agonies of fear were succeeded by

sight.
firing

demonstrations of joy.

One

appropriated to defray any e.xpenses thus incurred.

military force of the county

hands

and they were that day celebrating the

King George III. The firing of the

Haron Steuben, then at his residence in

county,
and with him to repair to Onondaga.
Oneida
These gentlemen,with others, had then recently been
appointed, by the Legislature, Commissioners for the

judgment should

On-

greatly increased by the roar of cannon at F"ort

sent General William North, General Stephen

to call on

militia

armed from the

or attack they were to proceed without a

moment's delay

On

men from each

the Military Tract, and

Jackson's Mills.

at

assault

to lay the situation before

the Governor, who, about the middle of May, 1794,

from the Commissary Department of the

by order of Governor Clinton. A depot was

State,

thing which acted as the immediate cause of

this great

alarm was, that early

in

the spring of

1794, Sir John Johnson had been passing from Al-

bany

Oswego with

to

Mohawk
River,

Three

a boat load of supplies for his

made on Grand
and had been waylaid and plundered near
River Point by a party of some thirty
settlement then recently

or forty men.

Johnson, highly incensed, proceeded

Oswego, where the British garrison was still kept,

This at
and there related the story of his wrongs.
once aroused the ire of the British oflficers, and it
was forthwith determined that Johnson and Brant
should at once raise a body of soldiers and Indians
in Canada ^and make a sudden descent upon the
Onondaga settlements, where it was presumed most
to

Indians soon gathered

of the aggressors resided.

in considerable numbers in the vicinity of Niagara

and Oswego, and it was reported that five hundred

Messasagues were on their way to destroy the settlements in this county.

At

this time, too, a

num-

ber of disaffected Onondagas had joined the Western Indians against General
a matter of course, that

Wayne, expecting,

Wayne would

as

be defeated,

Harmar and
were
all
to return
they
which
case
St. Clair, and in
assist
the comand with the remaining Onondagas
as had been his predecessors. Generals

in-

dependent company called the " Grenadiers," raised

by Jonathan Russell, of Pompey, who was Captain.

Anson Jackson was Lieutenant and Jonathan Bond,

The garrison was furnished with a fieldEnsign.

mon enemy

in the destruction of the

Onondaga

set-

tlements.

The

action of the British garrison at

Oswego

in

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

assuming the right to levy and collect duties on all
American boats passing the fort, was the exciting
cause which led the party of Americans to commit
the aggressive act complained of upon the boat.
The British had employed persons as spies to give
notice of any boats which designed to " run" the
fort,

and through their agency several boats had

been seized and confiscated two of these spies had

also been seized and publicly whipped at Salt Point.
;

much angry

This state of things produced

However,

ment throughout the county.

excite-

after con-

siderable tumultuous contention, satisfaction as far

as possible

was rendered, which had the

The

restoring a better state of feeling.

effect of

aggressors

were severely reprehended by a large majority of the

inhabitants, and kept concealed for a long time fear-

ing

the

vengeance of

campaign of General

the

The

law.

Wayne

in

Ohio

act of

March

hended

further disturbance

all

in this quarter.

War

Incident of the

During the

War of

of 1812.

1812 the people at Salina

felt

themselves quite insecure, owing to the easy com-

munication between them and Lake Ontario, and

Oswego might be

the possibility that the fort at

taken by the British.

were sent this way

The

for the

fact also that

soldiers

defence of that garrison

tended to excite their apprehensions and enlist their

interest in the security of the fort.

An

incident

is

and patriotism of the

women of those times. An officer of the American army sent word to Mrs. Ball, whose husband
kept a public house on Salina street near Wolf, that
he wished dinner for himself and men within three
hours from that time. She immediately set about
preparing for the meal, and when the men arrived
placed before them three enormous chicken pies,
with an eagle of pastry on the top of each, having
a cranberry in its mouth and surmounted by thirtold illustrating the dispatch

teen stars.

named

Salina.

off,

the original townships of Manlius and

in

Marcellus

and

in 1798,

after the town of Onondaga was

and the township of Marcellus was

set
or-

ganized as a town, that portion of the Reservation

not included in Onondaga, on the west side of the
lake and creek, was attached to Camillus.

At the
organization of the town of Salina, in 1809, a triangular piece of ground, containing nine and a half
was taken from the northwest corner of Manwhich, with the Salt Springs Reservation, constituted the town of Salina.
Geddes and Syracuse
lots,
lius,

were taken from Salina March 18, 1848, reducing

the town to its present dimensions.

VILLAGE OF SALINA.
In 1798, the Superintendent of the Salt Springs

was directed by law

to lay out the village of Salina

conformably to the

The

General.

from Oswego put an end to

also

the organization of the county, in 1794, the territory embraced in the town of Salina was compre-

successful

was

At

fully restored

confidence throughout the country

the differences
between the United States and Great Britain were
happily settled by Mr. Jay's treaty the following
year and the final removal of the British garrison

27, 1809, that

261

"

Be

act

map made by

was

in

the Surveyor-

the following words, viz

thereupon proceed to advertise and

sell, not exceeding thirty of the said lots, in the manner prescribed
by law for the sale of the lots laid out in Oswego.
" Provided, that none of the said lots shall be sold
for a less sum than forty dollars, and provided also
that no lot on which there is a building of the value
of fifty dollars shall be liable to be sold, if the owner
or occupant thereof shall agree to secure a deed
therefor and pay for the same at the average price
of other lots sold as aforesaid."

The

was laid out, and lots sold on credit

Those who had not paid up in 1801, had
the time of their payment extended by law.
The
earliest and most considerable merchants were John
village

in 1799.

Carpenter, Elisha and Dioclesian Alvord, Fisher

Richard Goslin, Richard C. Johnson, and

Timothy Gilchrist, Adam
Davenport Morey.
Trask, and Cornelius Schouton, kept the first
Curtis,

Town and Village

of Salina Laid Out.

In 1797, the State took formal charge of the Salt

In that year a law was passed author-

Springs.

taverns.

izing the Surveyor-General to lay out a portion of

and twelve stores

making provision
portion of the marsh

the Reservation for the purpose of

for the manufacture of salt.
and upland was laid out on a

map and named

Salina.

In 1798, a village was laid out and called Salina

and when the town was set

35

off

and organized by

enacted, that the Superintendent shall, on

the ground adjoining the south side of Free street,
so named on the map of the Salt Springs made by
the Surveyor-General, lay out a square for a village,
consisting of sixteen blocks, each six chains square,
with intermediate streets, conforming to the streets
laid down on the said map made by the SurveyorGeneral, and divide each lot into four house-lots and
deliver a map and description thereof to the Surveyor-General, who, having approved thereof, shall
it

In 18 1

2,

there were three public houses

These latter, in addinames mentioned, were kept by Dennis

Mayo, Thomas McCarthy, Thomas Wheeler, Horace

tion

in the place.

to

Brace, Jonathan and William Baldwin, and others.

Isham West early established himself here as a
hatter.

Samuel

P.

Smith was a prominent cabinet

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

262

Mr. David Brace came in 1794- When a

boy, he carried the mail on horseback from Onondaga Hollow to Oswego, finding his way through
the wilderness by marked trees.
Salina may not have been the belter or the worse
maker.

for

having been the

it is

home

of

Dean Richmond, but

a fact that he once lived here.

Captain Wil-

Dean Richmond, and

Russell Buck-

liam Stewart,

the

ley, carried

first

by the Eric Canal.

Oswego Canal passed through,( 1827,1
Exchange street became the important street and
The store of Dioclcsian Alvord
center of business.
stood upon the northwest corner of Salina and Free

that of F^isher
and was built of brick
opposite.
The
corner,
was
southwest
Curtis
on the
Davenport
Morey,
stores of Richard C. Johnson,
streets,

at

Hollister,

Oswego

born

saw

first

Captain

in

in 1814.

Geddes

at

in

1828, was

Deputy

Sherift"

from 1865 to 1877.

Salina Incorporated.

The

was incorporated March

of Salina

village

At the first charter election Fisher

Henry C. Rossiter, James Shankland and

1824.

Curtis,

Jonathan R Beach, were elected Trustees. Fisher

Ashbel Kellogg,
Curtis was appointed President
;

Clerk

S R. Mathews,

Treasurer, and

Collector

street.

common

with

all

extinguishing

By

fires.

The

the bcok of records

Among

procure a

fire

laying out and improving

appears

it

that the

first

Board of Trustees were not unmindful of their duty,

but went zealously into the work assigned them,

imIn 1825,

once amusing and salutary. The first Justice of

the Peace was Ryal liingham, Esq., who moved
A good
to Salina from Three River Point in 1797.
:

to

the streets was also early attended to by the Board.

its in-

cidents of the administration of law which were at

told of him, to this effect

was

engine, hooks, ladders, and a general apparatus for

F".

is

acts of the Trustees

laid the^foun-

dation of the future prosperity of the village.

perfectly organized frontier settlements, had

anecdote

first

Horace Bruce,

and made many improvements which

Ali.MINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.
Salina at an early day, in

the

G. Forbes, Attorney

J.

and Thomas McCarthy, stood near the old reservoir.

The store of B. Byington stood upon the opposite
H. Brace, D.
side of the street, fronting the lake.
Brace, D. Mayo, and J. Baldwin, were on Salina

Geddes, and

mill at

Thomas Wheeler's
His son, James W.
1822, and who has

resided within the present city of Syracuse since

12,

After the

built the

soldier

company

boat load of salt from this place

to Utica

He

1808.

was

man had

been brought before him charged with stealing,

whom he proceeded to try, and upon evidence found
him guilty. F"logging occurred to him as the most
summary and expeditious method of punishment,

and perhaps the example of the whipping of the

British spies was still fresh in his mind. At all events,

Thomas McCarthy, William Beach,

B.

Williams, Sylvester F. Peck, and E. M. Knapp,

were elected Trustees.

In

1826, the following:

Thomas McCarthy, E. M. Knapp, B. F. Williams,

Thomas
S. F'. Peck, William H. Beach. Trustees
McCarthy, President.
;

The

village of Salina continued an

corporation

1847,

till

when

Syracuse, becoming the

The

it

independent

was incorporated

First

Ward

in

of the city.

which had their origin in this vilcontinue as parts of Syracuse are

institutions

lage

and

still

considered

in

the history of that city.

LIVERPOOL.

he sentenced the man to receive a certain number

But no one was found
of stripes on the bare back.
The resolute justice,
to execute the sentence
however, determined not to be defeated, and, assuming the role of executioner as well as judge, he in-

" Little Ireland,"

flicted the prescribed number of stripes

own hands, to the great discomfiture of
Andrew Pharcs, who came to Salina in

the thief.

Land

1796, was

John Danforth was the first settler in 1794, and

commenced the manufacture of salt. He was soon
followed by Patrick Riley, Joseph Gordon, James
Armstrong and Charles Morgan. John O'Blennis
made salt at Green Point in 1794. There were
many salt springs which issued all along the bank
of the lake above the point, at which works have

Justice of the Peace from 1808 to 182

with his

1.

In

1805

he was commissioned Ensign of a militia regiment.

He died May 16, 1843, aged 82 years. His wife,

wtvKuih

Biles,

whom

he brought to Salina

in 1797,

with their daughter, Lois Nancy, then one year old^

made

a trip to

New

Brunswick, N. J ,on horseback

about the year 1812, when there was scarcely a

wagon

road in the whole distance.

David W. HoUister, who married Ruth Phares,

daughter of the above, in 181 5, came to Salina in

The

early settlement at

this

place was called

and was early a point of considerable notoriety as a salt manufacturing locality.

The village was laid out by the Surveyor-General
and named Liverpool by the Commissioners of the
Office.

at different times

The
named

been erected.

school kept at Liverpool was by a man

Conner, in his salt works, and the school
first

was taught while he carried on the business of mak-

Photo, by

Salina (now

Came

to the village of

ward of Syracuse), and became an apprentice to

the hatter's trade. "When his time was completed for learning
this business, he went to Utica, N. Y., and followed that business
for a few years.
Returned to Salina, he built a salt block, and
manufactured salt, which business he continued, enlarging from
first

time to time his interests, until his death.

In the salt interest he was very successful, and at one time owned
several salt blocks, with interest in many others, and also a salt
mill.

His interest was

.so

closely identified with that of the

ufacture of salt in Salina, that, upon the

first

man-

organization of a

company, he became its first president, and was one of its

officials during the remainder of his life.
He was one of the directors of the First National bank for a
few years previous to his decease. He erected the foundry, and
carried on successful operations for some twenty years, now owned
by G. A. Porter & Co.
In his early life he had neglected the opportunities aftbrded him
for obtaining an education, and desired in after-years to try and
salt

Syracuse.

<Kly^^^^^^^y

The subject of this sketch was born at Onondaga Hill, Onondaga County, April 23, 1804. He was the only son, in a family
of four children, of Stephen Burton and Olive Burton, both natives
of Vermont.
His father was aTlinan of liberal education, and a
graduate of Dartmouth college. Came to Onondaga County, and
was among the early and active settlers of Onondaga township.
His father died when he was quite young, but his mother survived
her husband several years, dying about the year 1833.
Burr spent his early life at home with his mother, and about
four years with his uncle, at Darien, N. Y., and at the age of sixteen resolved to strike out for himself.

Knapp & Marble,

give to others what he himself felt the want of. Hence he was
very liberal in his views of education, and did very much to support public school interests.

He was warmly attached

to the First

of his city, was trustee of the same for

Ward Presbyterian church

many years, and a member,

together with his wife.

Mr. Burton was very considerate in his opinions, self-reliant,

determined upon the right course, and then pursued that path
with unswerving fidelity. From the time he first came to Salina

first

until his decease, he stood high in the esteem of his fellow-towns-

men, and was intrusted by them with places of trust and responsi
bllity.
Was alderman of his ward, in which capacity he served
to the satisfaction of his constituents.

In an unexpected hour, at three o'clock a.m., he met his death

own house by the hands of an assassin. He died, at the age
of sixty-one years, on May 4, 186.5.
On Oct. 29, 1829, he married Miss Laura M., daughter of James
She
S. Brown and Fanny Parkhurst, both natives of Vermont.
was next to the eldest in a family of five children, and was born
Her parents were among the
in New Hampshire, Nov. 1, 1813.
in his

early settlers of Salina, she being only

some thirteen years of age

when they left Hanover, N. H.

To Mr. and Mrs. Burton have been born
Delos (died young)

and eleven months)

ten children, Henry

Olive Maria (died at the age of four years

Olive Louisa (deceased), wife of Prof. T. H.

Avis Amelia (died in infancy); Wilinot

Hinton, of Syracuse
Amelia, wife of J. H. Childs, of
Frances
Earll, of Syracuse
Syracuse Lebbeus D., of Syracuse Helen Augusta, wife of B. C.
Frost, of Oswego and Alfred Myres, residing at home.
;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ing

His school was then considered the best

salt.

" the

county, and was denominated

in 1844; the same

year a church edifice was erected costing about

first

Services had previously been held in the

$1,000.
house of Mr. George Miller. The original members
of the church were 24, among whom were George

high

was patronized by the inhabitants of

Salina and Onondaga Hollow,
Liverpool was incorporated as a village in 1830.

school!'

the

the Evangelical Association of

It

in the

At

Salem Clairch of
North America,

charter election the following Board of

wzs, organized

Joseph Jaqueth, Harvey

Kimball, William Wintworth, Sherman Morehouse,

Miller,

John Paddock, Samuel C. Upson, and Caleb Hubbard.

Joseph Jaqueth was chosen President, and
Caleb Hubbard, Clerk.

Mr. Petelon and others.

Trustees was elected

The

following have since officiated as Presidents

Samuel C. Upson, 1831

James
Johnson, 1832; John Paddock 1833 and 1834;
Joseph Hasbrook, 1835; John Paddock, 1836; J.
E. Ladanis,
P. Hicks, 1837
John Pinney, 1838
1839; Jared Bassett, 1840 John Mathews, 1841
Charles S. Sterand 1842 Jared Bassett, 1843
ling, 1844; James Johnson, 1845 and 1846; John
Mathews, 1847 ^rid 1848; Jared Bassett, 1849;
Isaac Sharp, 1850; Edward T. Chany, 185 1;
of the village

Henry

Clark, 1852

S. Jaqueth,

1853

P.

J. Bassett, 1861

and 1862

T. B. Anderson,

1864; C. W. Cornue,
T.
Crawford,
1866
A. P. Burtch, 1867
1865
J.
David A. Brown, 1868 and 1869; J. J. Moscrip,

Joseph

1863;

Jaqueth,

-,

1870

1872

O.
S.

C.

Gleason,

1871

Tenant Hinckley,

R. R. Claxton, 1874; D.
1876; William Gleason, 1877.

Jaqueth, 1873

F. Gillis, 1875 and

now
Pompey

Mrs. Kissiah Lee, the oldest person

the town

and

of Salina, was born in

officiating

St Paul's German Lutheran Church was organ1852, and in the

fall

of 1853,

bought the

Ascension Church property of the Episcopalians.

The first pastor was Rev. T. W. Reichenberg, who
was succeeded by Rev. P. Satsmidt from 185410
Present pastor, Rev. T. Snider.

1857.

The church originally consisted of nine members,

prominent among whom were Peter Smidt, deceased

The

John Bahn, deceased

present

number

is

R. Judd.

The

first

church edifice was built

and Martin Weimar.

48, with an average attend-

ance of 80 in the Sunday School.

St. Paul's is

located on the corner of Vine and Third streets.

and

in 1826,

cost about $1,500.

Names

Revs. Wright and McCoon,

of Pastors
Wright and Barnes, 2 years Ailsworth,
Tilton,
Seth and John Youngs, 2 years
2 years
Lamb,
2
Lyon,
2
years
Sutton
and
years
3
years
Coop, I year Lyon, i year Downing, i
2 years

year

W.

L. L. Adkins, 2 years

R. Allen, 2 years

Austin, 2 years

Fuller,

year

year

D. D. Parker,
;

year

R. Beadhead, 2 years

H. Graves,

years

2
;

F.

year

P.

H. Wiles,

Silas Ball, 2 years

Giles,

M. Thrasher,
Joseph H. Lamb,

Reuben Reynolds, 2 years

E.
i
i

2 years;

L.

L.

H. Stanton, 3 years T. J.
D. W. Rooney, 3 years J. F.
;

21-2 years
Andrews, present Pastor since October, 1S76.
Number of members, 112. Attendance at Sab;

bath School, about 130.

Rev. H. C. Hazen, of
Presbyterian Church.
Manlius, under date of Dec. 17, 1877, furnishes the
following data with regard

tinued in this church after 1842.

ized in

Bissell,

The

65, with 70 in the

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of LiverIn 1820 or 182 1, the first services were held
in a district school house.
In 1820 the church was
organized at Liverpool, consisting of William B.
Harris, Calvin Turner, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Hinckley, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Hogan, Mrs. Keith, Seth
A. Cary, Peter M. Cameron, Jesse Pease and M.

pool.

Palmer, 2 years

clergymen were, Rev. George D.

Gillespie, Rev. S. G. Appleton and Rev. Samuel
Goodale. Services by the Episcopalians were discon-

first

The members number

Sunday School.

P.

1840, and the church edifice erected in 1841.

Henry Wilbert,

pastors have been

Klein.

years

Ascension Church, Liverpool, was organized in

The

John

Eberling,

Margyuart, L. Jacobi,
D. Fischer, Th. Schneider, William Munz and A.

in 1803,

Churches.

Jacob
Wilbert,

P.

Revs. Jacob Riegel,

living in

settled at Liverpool in 1804.

Werner,

Charles

Backer, L. Traester,

Barnes,

1854; Stephen Van Alstine, 1855; Charles W.

Cornue, 1856 A. S. Tracy, 1857 C. W. Cornue,
1858; C. S. Sterling, 1859; T. B. Anderson,

i860;

263

first

to this

Church

The

services were held in the second story of the

building

now used

as a

meat market and grocery by

School was held during the week in

on the first floor. The building then
rooms
the two

W.

F. Lee.

stood in about the center of Washington Park.

this

building Rev.

Phineas

Camp

In

preached two

The
November
9,
Presbyterian Church was organized

years, beginning in

the

winter of 1828-9.

John DickMartha Dickson, Martha O. Dickson, Nancy

Paddock, Nancy Hicks, Eaton E. Griffin, Lucinda
Summington, Rebecca Morehouse and Martha
1829, and consisted of nine persons, viz

son,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

264

Mrs. Nancy Hicks

Moschelle.

is

Free School of Liverpool, according to Chapter

555, of the Laws of 1864, and has six departments,

the only surviv-

The two men were immediately

Mr. Griffin was a very pious young
man, not yet twenty-one years of age. " Deacon
Dickson," as he was familiarly called, was a stern
member.

ing

capacity 35 years.

that

in

cious revival added 21

1832 the

members

Manufacturers.

The

Church.

a stir

protracted meeting at

sold in

In

I.

James Johnson.

Its

G. H.

841, at

built

mill,

by

rels

with a porch of 10 feet projection in front.

financier in the erection of the church,

its

Business established
ploys 6 hands.

a fine brick edifice.

ship from the beginning, 378.

in the history of the church,
isters

who have

Total member-

Number of
Number
1.

served the church,

Rev. Phineas Camp, Dec. 31st, 1828

childs, 1831

1837; Mr.

1841

ton.

June

hands.

Em-

Manufacturer.
1872.

in

Drum,
worth.

Piatt,

ChillingB. Wells,

Thomas

R. B. Claxton.
the

W. M.

Lodge

R.

Chilling-

W. W. Parker, Senior W. C. S.
W. O. C. Gleason, Treasurer T.
;

Mr. Fair-

James O'Neil, Senior D.

M. Sommers, Tiler.

B. Anderson, Secretary

T. Drum, Junior D.

Past Masters of this

W. W.

Parker. O. C.

Lodge R.J.

Chillingworth,

Gleason, George Baxter, C.

Avery, Aug.
Jan. 6, 1861

in

Luther Conklin, Dec, 1844; Elisha

B. Sherwood, July, 1846; S. S. Harmon, April.
1851; Joseph Myers, June, 25th, 1853; Royal A.

Sept.,

Established

First Officers of

of min-

Employs

1874.

in

T. B. Anderson, James O'Neil, R.

revivals

Ezckiel J. Chapman. 1833 Mr. Hyde,

VVordcn, a few weeks; A. C. Tuttle,
;

Barrel

hands

capacity, 60,000 salt bar-

Names of Charter Members. R. J.

W. W. Parker, C. S. Wells, A.

Wells, Junior
18, viz

12

Charter members of Liverpool Lodge No. 525

and A. M. Instituted August 26, 1862.

worth,

74.

Mill and

employ

1877.

Masonic.

It cost $1 1,500
present church edifice was erected.
and was completed and dedicated March 4, 1863.

is

George Bassett, Cigar

F.

present membership

cooper shops

i,

per annum.

church owes him a great debt of gratitude.

During the ministry of Rev. C. W. Hawley, the

The

established. 1854

in

annum

August

Chaki.es G. Alvord, Manufacturer of Cigars.

dimensions were 44 by 64

most useful and efficient member, about that

for years afterwards, was Jonathan P.
and
time
hearted, noble and generous, the
Kind
Hicks.

It is

established

Saw and Stave

DiF.TZ,
;

20

are manufacturers of Burial

Capacity. 2,000 per

seven hands employed

The principal
and

Gleasox & Co.

G.

Factory
1

parts of the United States.

all

Caskets and Coffins.

Merrick (or Myrick,)

in Onondaga County, held a
Liverpool, and 16 more were

added to the Church.

The first house of worship was built in
It was a frame house,
a cost of 3,000.
feet,

made by the German families of the village.

The annual product is 50,000 dozen, and they are
are

noted evangelist

who made such

largest industry, next to the salt business, is

the manufacture of Willow Clothes-Baskets, which

In 1830 a pre-

to the

C. Sharp,

Principal.

man, very tenacious of his opinions, and not the

best judge of human nature, but withal a man of
such integrity and piety that he was reelected to the
same responsible office five times, and served the

Church

M.

with an attendance of 250 pupils.

chosen elders.

1st.

Chester \V. Hawley,

1855
Davis,
Sept.,
1S64 J. V. HilT. E.
12th,

A. Fargo.

O. C. Gleason,
Present Officers of the Lodge
W. M. W. H. Beebe, Senior W. A. W. Aiken,
;

Junior

W.

M. Latimore. Treasurer

18O5

R. T. Searle, Oct.

ist,

1866

Secretary

A. Lyke, Senior D.

F. VV. Spencer, Jan., 1869; H. C. Hazen, March

13th, 1870; James S. Root, April, 1S77, present

Junior D.

Senior

M.

Bordcs,

J.

of C.

J.

C. A. P'argo.

Chillingworth.

Frank Benscher,

Charles Pease. Junior M. of C.

Present Trustees

pastor.

Tiler

Thomas Hand. C.

S. Sterling,

R. B. Claxton.

PuDLic Schools.
town of Salina, was laid
school hou.se erected in
wooden
and
a
1839,
Myer, Andrew F.
Peter
Trustees:
First

District No. 19, of the

out in
1840.

Gowdy, and John S. Forger.

District No. 2, of the town of Salina,

BioG[(APHic/L Sketches.

now Dis-

No. I, laid out in 1846, and present brick

school house built the same year, to which an addi-

MILES ADAMS.

trict

was made in 1863.

In 1874, the District was changed to the

Miles
county.

tion

Union

Adams was born

N.

youngest

in

Y.,

Nine Partners, Dutchess

9, 1798, and was the
fourteen children of John

at

November

the family of

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

(MILES ADAMS.)

(MRS. MILES ADAMS.)

and Hannah Adams, who were early settlers in

Dutchess county. His parents moved to Washington county

when he was

resources at the age often years.

went

to

In 1822, he

Saratoga, where he was employed on the

In 1824, he

canal.

to

he was thrown on his

their indigent circumstances

own

Owing

years old.

five

came

to

Onondaga county with

family and settled in the

town of Onondaga,
where he purchased forty acres of wild land. At
the end of six years he sold out and bought a farm
in Otisco, upon which he remained nine years,
when he again sold out and bought the farm upon
which he now resides.
In September, 1821, he
married Isabella, daughter of Nathan and Sally
Tefift,
of Washington county.
They had two
his

JOHN PADDOCK.

[Richardson] Paddock.

His father, who was a prominent merchant of

Herkimer county, moved to Watertown, Jefferson
county, when his son John was one year old.
After
having followed the mercantile business for several

went

to

Brownville,

where he died

in

1816, having been Sheriff of the county, and one

of

most respected

its

The
days

went

subject of this

in

to
36*

whom

sketch passed his boyhood

old,

Watertown, where he remained

when he

till

twenty-

Willard L. and Sarah

Mr. Adams has

been Supervisor of the town of Salina and has held
many other town offices, which he filled to the satisL, both

of

are deceased.

For many years he has

been a leading member of the Baptist Church, and
has the reputation of being exceedingly liberal in
faction of his constituents.

support.
He has passed through life thus
without a syllable of reproach or calumny. In
its

his business transactions

it

far
all

has been his aim to

Golden Rule, and " do to others as he

would have others do to him." Temperate, generous
and conscientious, his last years are passing away
follow the

in the

sweet consciousness of having led an upright

life.

the meantime a good

in

practical business education.

In 1826, he

came

to

Liverpool, town

of Salina,

once commenced the manufacture of salt in

connection with farming.
After a few years he be-

and

at

came engaged

in the mercantile business,

followed successfully for

many

years.

which he

In the year

he married Martha O. Dickson, who died in

For his second wife he married
the year 1832.
Emeline, daughter of John and Mary Hasbrouck,
1

83

who

settled in Marcellus in 1809.

union was

citizens.

Brownville until eleven years

children born to them, viz

one years of age, obtaining

John Paddock was born in Herkimer county, N.

Y., in February, 1805, and was the second child in
the family of five children of John and Nancy

years, he

265

Upon

five children, all of

The

whom

fruit of this

are deceased.

the incorporation of the village of Liver-

pool in 1830, he was one of the Trustees and

was

elected President in 1833, and was reelected in 1834

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

266

and 1836. In 1859, he was elected Supervisor of

the town of Salina, being the only Republican
Supervisor elected from that town for fifteen years.
As a merchant he was strictly conscientious and
Possessing a natural

in his transactions.

honorable

for trade, he was enabled at the close of a

term of 18 years, by judicious management, to retire

talent

with a sufficient competence to meet

all

the legit-

imate wants of his declining years.

Mr. I'addock has been

for

more than

identified with Liverpool

half a century, and has been steadily

and earnestly devoted to the welfare of the place.

His whole life has been characterized by remarkable
energy and prudence.

GEDDES.
This town and village derive their name from
Hon. James Geddes, who first visited Onondaga in
He returned and formed a company in
1792.
Pennsylvania, for the purpose of manu-

Carlisle,

facturing salt, and in the year 1793

place by

that
fix

site

Lake and River

of Seneca

to

He selected a
upon a location for his works.
at the head of the lake where a portion of the

village of

of

way

came on from

it

Geddes now

in April,

The

1794.

company came on

in

stands, and took possession

the

other

month

of

members
June

of the

following.

Works

at

settled here the Salt

Salina were accessible only by a road

swamp

from Onondaga Hollow, passing through a

now Syracuse. It became necessary for

the company at Geddes to connect with this road,
and by the aid of moneys from a road fund in the
hands and under the control of three County Comwhich

is

missioners, and by large contributions, Mr.

Geddes

made the road from his village to the road from

Onondaga Hollow to Salt Point, cutting a part of
The owners of the
the timber with his own hands.
Salt Works at Salt Point were not at all friendly to
their new neighbors, whom they considered in the
light of rivals,

and carried their resentment so

far

as to withhold assistance in raising a bridge over

Onondaga Creek, and

to

throw out hints that

could not be raised without them,

made

fruitful

it

necessity

l^ut

became the mother of invention, and

sources of the directors more

on

the re-

than their

the bridge was finished and the road com-

till

pleted.

Mr. Geddes continued

only about four years,

now occupied by
Fairmount.

at

his first landing place

when he

located on the farm

Hon. George Geddes,

Biography of Hon. James

his son,

(See

Geddes.;
In 1799, Mr.

Freeman Hughs, from Westfield,

Massachusetts, located
only eighteen

then

(Sec History of the Salt Interest.)

At the time Mr. Geddes

dation from which the next bent was raised, and so

in

at

Geddes.

years of age.

The

He was

then

only buildings

the place were the Salt Works, which had

Here Mr. Hughs took up his

been abandoned.
abode three days and three nights, all alone, and
not an individual nearer than Salt Point a lonely
time indeed, considering the state of the country,
the dark and dreary swamps, the wolves, bears and

Hut Mr.
which he was surrounded.
Hughs, young as he was, had an eye to business.
During his residence at Geddes he filled almost

wild-cats, by

every station connected with the

bored

for

salt,

pumjjed

pumps, made and

salt,

made

years,

was

barrels,

laid

the

salt

business.

brine,

He

constructed

aqueducts, tubed wells, boiled

packed

salt,

inspected

a receiver of duties for

it

for six

two years, boated

and as a Justice of the Peace, tried those

who had evaded the payment of duties The balance of his useful life was spent in Geddes, where
salt,

he died some ten years since highly esteemed and

respected as a citizen and a man.

One

of the earliest and greatest improvements

most sanguine friends had anticipated. The first

bent was put together and shoved off the bank of

about the village of Geddes was the construction of

the creek, the mud-sills being placed at the foot of

ground which was a perfect quagmire, filled with

It was so
thick cedar timber and low brush-wood.
miry, so thick with underbrush, and so much cov-

the bank, and by levers was so

man

managed

could e.vercise the power of

the ordinary manner.

The

many

that one

applied in

bent was set upright,

the stringers from the top of the bank to the bent

placed,

and so much planked over, affording a foun-

a road

from that place to Salina, across a piece of

it was completely impassable,

and could not be surveyed by the ordinary methods.
The plan adopted by the surveyor was to set his

ered with water, that

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

compass at the house of Samuel R. Mathews, at
Salina, and take the bearing of Mr. Hugh's chimFrom this
ney above the trees on the Geddes side.
observation the route of the road was commenced,
by cutting brush and laying them crosswise on the
line of the road, and covering them with earth. The
process was slow, but time and perseverance resulted at

last in

an excellent road, perfectly straight,

between the two

swamp

The

villages.

of the

clearing

lands ordinarily cost about one hundred dol-

mixed with peat to the depth of

sometimes far below that.

and stumps

six feet,

James Lamb built the first frame house

des in 1803 and kept a tavern.

At

the time of the

first

in

Ged-

Onondaga

valley at

was cut through by a party of about

two hundred men sent from Fort Schuyler to aid
General Sullivan in his Indian campaign of 1779.
The road extended to the Seneca River below Mon-

the

Peace.

It

having been cut close

bushes

many

the ground and

to

into the path.

Mr.

Clark refers to several Revolutionary soldiers

in at-

in

places

testation of this fact,

bart, late of Salina,

Harbor Brook

'

filled

and particularly a Mr. Ho-

who was one

town

in this

is

of the expedition."

also associated with

Revolutionary reminiscences.

Sir

with his Tories and Indian

in 1779,

incursion

into the

Mohawk

forming the expedition

Tripp,

the river to

proceeded from

Onondaga Lake.

their boats

were

left

fear of discov-

on the lake shore, they

ran them up this small stream

bushes and brakes.

Niagara

Oswego and up

For

among

the thick

party was sent from Fort

Schuyler to destroy them, but did not succeed in

ascertaining where they were concealed

during the

search they were surprised and taken prisoners to

On

Canada.

the

first

night of their departure, they

encamped at Three River Point, where the prisoners were bound and tied to trees till morning. Capt.
Patrick

McGee was

much

one of the prisoners, and was

pleased with the beauty of the place at

time at the junction of the rivers, that at the

close of the

war he selected

it

for his

residence,

and was buried

on the spot he had selected under such very pecuspent the residue of his

life

there,

circumstances.

Organization of the Town.

In 1848, Geddes

was erected

Constables:

Barrett,

W.

William

Matthew Van Vleck, and Harvey Stewart,

Inspectors of Election.

Henry G.

was elected Supervisor

George
E. Tefft, (to fill a vacancy,) Simeon Spaulding, (regular term,) and Horace Ellis.
Superintendent of
In 1849,

William Punderson,

Thomas

Edwin

the complete

Stiles

Town

Clerk. Justices

Overseers of the

Truair.

S.

R. Smith and Albina Woolson.

official

of the town

list

since

For
1849,

the reader is referred to the town records in the

hands of the present Town Clerk, Mr. E. R. Smith,
These records being
of the village of Geddes.

kept

a separate place, escaped

in

consumed the

John Johnson,

made an
The party

the

fire

which

village records in 1850.

VILLAGE OF GEDDES.

allies,

Valley.

along the Ontario Lake shore to

liar

for the

Edwin R, Smith and

Albina Woolson, Overseers of the Poor Ogden H.
Osborn and Ervin Hammond, Superintendents of
Schools Thomas Owen, Horace Bailey, Guy Terry,

Schools

this

Carpenter, Justice

Christopher Kitts, Collector

Poor

so

(Charles

had been previously elected.) Horace Ellis

and George E. Tefft were elected Assessors

village,

Revolutionary soldiers were plain to be seen, young

if

town of Salina

The first election was held at the house of

Stephen W. Smith, on the fourth Tuesday in March,
Elijah W. Curtis was elected Supervisor;
1848.
Edgar Vrooman, Town Clerk George E. Teftt,
Henry G. Stiles, and James H. Luther, Justices of

tezuma, along which traces of the march of these

ery,

that part of the

cuse.

and Richard

settlement an old military

road was traceable across the

Geddes.

trees

all

west of the lake not embraced in the city of Syra-

an acre, the surface being covered with logs

lars

including

itself,

267

into

The

village of

tially laid

Geddes appears

out as early as 1807.

General's office at Albany

titled a "

Map

ment commonly

a map, No. 407, en-

Geddes Works, Onondaga

called

county, with the pasture and marsh

to the manufacturers at said village.

William

have been par-

In the Survej'or-

of the village laid out at the settle-

Kirkpatrick,

Esq.,

lot

belonging

Surveyed

Superintendent,

for

by

James Geddes, December 31, 1807." Mr. Kirkpatrick was then Superintendent of the Salt Springs,
and the " manufacturers " referred to were those
making salt at that time at Geddes. The lands
then belonged to the State and were laid out into
village lots, pasture lots, marsh lots, &c., for the
convenience of the

salt

makers.

The first plot of Geddes laid out and mapped in

1807, contained some twenty lots along both sides
The village was resurveyed
of Genesee street.
and mapped by Mr. Geddes in 1812, and enlarged
(Map No. 248, Secretary of State's
in 1 82 1.
In 1822, Mr. John Randel,* Jr.,
Office, Albany.)

Deputy Surveyor- General,

town by

is

to

* So

spelled

on the original maps

laid

out the village of

in the Salt Office at Syracuse

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

268

Geddes

substantially

streets

were

as

is

it

The

present.

at

loo feet wide.

out

laid

street has since

Genesee

been straightened, and some other

John Randel,
and made the

map

first

of

1821 and finished

in

The

whole

the

village

was

it.

in

it

He

Salt

first

began his sur-

1824.

by

incorporated

of

act

the

(Chapter 185.

Legislature passed April 20. 1832.

The

election of officers took place on the

first

June following, or such at least was the

Untime appointed by the act of incorporation.
fortunately the village records were destroyed by
fire on the night of the 8th of February. 1850, and

Tuesday

now

is

in

impossible to ascertain

None

lage officers were.

living in the village, nor

hear, has

any definite or
and

subject,

who

the

first vil-

of the old citizens

any one of

whom we

reliable recollection

after diligent

now
can

on the

we have been
rescuing them from

inquiry,

obliged to abandon the hope of

W.

Elijah

Curtis, Esq., a prominent citizen,

lawyer

in 1832,

Probably some of these,

inson, merchants.
all.

1S67.
Samuel
1S68.

Barker,

if

not

an early time as Trustees of the

From 1850 the records arc complete and

furnish the following

Simeon

Sp.iulding,

list

of village officers

Trustees.
Stephen W. Smith,

Charles E. Pharis,

1870.

Mead

1S71.

Mead

Belden, Reuben

Reuben
-1872.

Belden, Charles E. Pharis.

Pharis,

E.

Belden,

Mead

Reuben

Belden.

Charles E. Pharis,

'873-

Mead

Holmes-

C.

Holmes, Charles

C. Holmes, Charles E. Pharis,

E. Pharis.

Mead

Belden.

Belden, Reuben C. Holmes.

Mead Belden, Reuben C. Holmes, Terrence E. Hogan. 1874.

Reuben C. Holmes, Terrence E. Hogan, Richard

Tremain.
1875.
Terrence E. Hogan, Richard Tremain, George C.

Gere. 1876.
Richard Tremain, George C. Gere, George A. Cool.

Clerks.
J.*W. Woodard,

1850; James H. Luther, 1851;

Ferris Hubbell, 1852
Edgar Vrooman, 1853 Charles
E. Pharis, 1854; Ferris Hubbell, 1855
N. Stanton
Gere, 1856; Stephen Duncan, 1858; E. R. Smith,
1859, to the present time, except 1863, when B. G.
Lewis was Clerk.
;

Postmasters.

The

following persons, in the order named, have held

the office of Postmaster in the village of Geddes
David W. Hollister
Elijah W. Curtis
Joel Dickinson ;
:

Wm. Boulian. 1855.

R. Nelson Gere, Isaac R. Pharis,
Henry Duncan, Elijah W. Curtis. 1856.
James W. Patten, A. Cadwell Belden, Henry Case.
.Mills P. Pharis,

John D. Stanard, Henry

Duncan. 1857.

R. Smith, Wm. J. Sammons, Norman Vrooman, Wm. W. Tripp. 1858.

Wm. H. Farrar, Burlingame Harris, R. Nelson Gere,
B. F. Willey, E.

Francis H. Nye, Ferris Hubbell. 1859.

Francis H. Nye, R. Nelson Gere, Gardner Woolson,

Paige. 1860.
Joel F. Paige, R. Nelson Gere, Francis H. Nye,
1861.
Gardner Woolson, Harvey Stewart.
Joel F. Paige, Harvey Stewart, P'rancis H. Nye, R.
Nelson Gere, Isaac R. Pharis. 1862.
Joel F. Paige, Harvey Stewart, Stephen W. Smith,
Perry C. Rude, Hiram Slade. 1863.

Harvey Stewart, Joel

F.

Thomas Robinson,
H. H. Gere,

Mills P. Pharis, Richard G. Joy,

D. Coykendall. 1864.

Wm.

Simeon Spaulding Thomas Sammons Simeon SpauldFwris Hubbell; Simeon Spaulding; Hubbard
Manzer, present incumbent, (1877.)
;

Isaac R. Pha-

Thomas Sammons,

ing

the Peace.

JiJSTicES OF

Wm.

Mead

.Mbina Woolson.
1850.
Daniel I). Smith, R. Nelson Gere. Edgar Vrooman,
Daniel C'oykendall, .Mbina Woolson.
1851.
Thomas Sammons, Joel F. Paige, Hiram Slade, Sullivan H. Morse, John Whiting. 1852.
Joel F. Paige, .-Mbina Woolson, Joseph Sheppard,Jr.
Thomas Robinson, William W. Tripp. 1853.
Klijah W. Curtis, Daniel Coykendall, Edgar Vrooman, Wm. J. Sammons, John Y. Phares.
1854.
Elijah W. Curtis, Daniel Coykendall, Wm. J. Samris,

mons,

Charter.

Belden, Samuel E. Barker.

Samuel E. Barker, Charles

officiated at

village.

New
Mead

1869.

and

in Geddes, was member of Assembly

and drew up the village charter. Other
prominent names were John Dodge and Joel Dickfirst

R. Nelson Gere,

-1877.

oblivion.

the

Mills P. Pharis, Richard G. Joy,

D. Coykendall. 1865.
Samuel E. Barker, Harvey Stewart, Charles F. Gere,
Gilbert Sweet, John V. Phares. 1866.

1867

surveyed

Jr..

Springs Reservation, except the " Walton Tract."

vey

Thomas Robinson,
H. H. Gere, W.

Wm.

changes made.

trifling

it

The

Peace was Henry Lake,

following named gentlemen

Justice of the

first

Esq.

Since him the

have

filled

that office

the town and village

in

Thomas Sammons, Simeon Spaulding, four years;

William W. Tripp, four years Charles Carpenter,
;

four years

James H. Luther,

Spaulding, thirty-one years

I,

in

four years

Simeon

succession to January

1878.

The

present Justices in the town of Geddes are

James T. Hamilton, Henry Jerome and William D.

Coykendall.

Simeon Spaulding,

and William W. Tripp,

Esq.,

Esq., are the oldest citizens

Both came

lage.

Phares,
resident.

still

living

now

Geddes

to

here,

Ferris Hubbell

is

residing in the
in

1825.

vil-

John Y.

an old and prominent

came here from 1825

to

John G.
1830, and is still a resident of the village.
Dickinson
Dodge, Charles L. Skinner and Joel
were early merchants the last named acting as

agent

for

James Mann.

The

subject of this sketch was born in Paj'ston,

Washington

of the people, and

grew

Co., Vt., July 24, 1826.

He was

next to the youngest child, in a family of eight children,

Ward, the former a native of Hartford, the latter a native of Poultney, Vt., and a daughter of
Judge William Ward, an official in the oflSce of judge of Rut-

of Elliot Porter and Sidney

land Co., Vt., for some twenty-two years.

His father was limited pecuniarily, and was unable

to

give his

by integrity of purpose and honest dealing

and lucrative practice, which he carried on
it were, alone, after which he had partners in

into a very large

lor fifteen years, as

the practice of medicine.

His practice gradually extended to the city of Syracuse, when,

demand upon him for medical treatment from that city
became so great that he opened an office there, which he alternately attends upon, with his home office in Geddes. He has been
in 1875, the

children anything more than the advantages of the district school.

for twenty-five years a

Wilfred spent his time until he was seventeen years of age on the
farm, and attending school winters; at which time he commenced
studying falls and springs, and teaching winters, attending the
academies at Montpelier and Bakersfleld, and working on the farm
during the summer months until he was twenty-two years of age.
As early as fifteen he had set his mind upon the medical pro-

society,

fession

for

direction.

life,

and

bent

therefore

all

his

Having studied medicine some time

age of twenty-two, entered the

office

energies in

that

previously, he, at the

of Dr. G.

M. Brigham, of

and began the study of medicine, which he confalls and winters for one year
and a half, when he entered the medical college at Woodstock,
where he remained one term, and afterwards at Castleton, Vt.,
for two terms, graduating from that college in the fall of 18")1.
During the same year he came to S3'racuse and entered the
office of Dr. Hiram Hoyt, where he remained temporarily for a
short time, and on May 10, 1852, entered the school at Geddes as
principal teacher, which position he held for one year, and May
16, 1853, opened an office in that place to prosecute the practice of
his profession, which he has continued until tlie time of the writing
Waitsileld, Vt.,

tinued summers, teaching school

of this brief sketch.

At

practitioners, his anxiety

was great

is

common

with

to be well established

minds of the people as to his ability and skill in medicine, which was overcome to a large extent during the first year.
Dr. Porter resolved to win his way fairly, although often met
by older and more experienced medical men. At the close of his
first year, the resident doctor of Geddes died, leaving him in full
in the

possession of the field.

New

of the

Upon

Dr. Porter rose rapidly in the confidence

member

of the

Onondaga County medical

one term its president, and a permanent member

York State medical society also a member of the
for

American medical

association.

the organization of the College of Medicine of Syracuse

University, in 1872, he was appointed clinical professor of obstetrics

and gynaacology.

the

first

Having

filled

the chair of professor during

year, at the end of that time Dr. Porter was appointed

professor of obstetrics

and gynaecology, which

position

he

still

retains.

His

skill in

the treatment of diseases has

won

tion in the esteem of the people to be envied

tioners,

for

him a

by young

posi-

practi-

and his indomitable perseverance and endurance of body

has enabled

him

to gratify, in a great measure, the laudable

bition of his earlier years

to be among the

first

am-

in his profession.

Dr. Porter was one of the first movers in the organization and
establishment of a university at Syracuse, and since its beginning
has been a trustee and closely identified with all its interests.

He

has been largely identified with the public schools of his

his first residence there, being superintendent of the

town since

some two years, and trustee of the village

some twenty-five years, also being president of the board

schools of the town for

school for

the beginning of his practice in Geddes, as

young

and

of education.

Dr. Porter and his wife are warmly attached to the Methodist
Episcopal church, and are not only liberal supporters of the same,
but of any enterprise looking to the building up of good society.
In the year 1853, Nov. lo, he married Miss Jane, daughter of

Simeon Draper and Clarissa Stone, of Geddes.

By this union he had five children, Clara A., George D.
ceased), Wilfred W., Jr., Jane, and Louie.

(de-

;;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Dr. Salmon Thayer was the

first regular phyand came here from Onondaga. Dr. David

M. Benson came afterwards, and practiced here till

sician,

his death.

He

died in 1854.

means

again

remarkable.

Geddes has been

contained less than one

of the village of

1868

In

it

Now

thousand inhabitants.

it is

the largest incor-

porated village in the county, and contains a population of 5,408.

Some

are the following

establish-

They

Geddes.

Onondaga Iron

Company, north of the canal,

Quince street. J. J. Belden, President
R. Nelson Gere, Vice-President
W. H. H. Gere,
Secretary and Treasurer.
Onondaga Pottery Company, Furnace corner of
School street. N. Stanton Gere, President Chas.
E. Hubbell, Vice-President George Oliver, General Manager.
Sanderson Bro's Steel Company, south of Magnolia street.
Capital ^450,000.
Robert B. CampSamuel Wm. Johnson,
bell, New York, President
New York, Secretary Wm. A. Sweet, Syracuse,
General Manager.
Syracuse Iron Works, Furnace, north of Magnolia street, Gedtles.
R. Nelson Gere, President
Charles E. Hubbell, Secretary and Treasurer.
near

Sterling Iron

Ore Company, north of the canal

near Quince street.

J.

J.

J.

Belden,

President

A.

Belden, Vice-President.

The above works

will

1836.

new

school house which stood on the site

of the present elegant

Union Free School building

was being got ready. This house was finished and
occupied and was the principal school building of
the completion of the present build-

till

Up

to 1862, the schools

of the village had been

conducted under the old rate bill system, the disadvantages of which were so painfully felt that Dr.

W. W.

then

Porter,

be found written up

fully

President

Trustees, resolved, with

for that

purpose was accordingly

called,

and Dr.

Porter personally distributed the notices to

At

all

the

meeting it was
found that one more vote was wanted to constitute
the

electors of

district.

the

Dr. Porter went

the majority required by the law.

and brought

out

another elector from one

in

oi

the stores, whose vote in the affirmative carried the

day

Union Free School.

in favor of the

This

district is

now known

School District No.

under which

it

3,

as the Union Free

town of Geddes. The law

has been established

is

a recognition

of the free school principle involved in the old law

of

March

26, 1849,

^^^ which

after

having been

the people of the State, was re-

pealed, and the old rate

bill

system reestablished,

in April, 1851.

Geddes has also the following Salt Companies

Western Coarse Salt Company, Turk's Island
Coarse Salt Company, Geddes Coarse Salt Company, Union Coarse Salt Company, Cape Cod
Coarse Salt Company
W. & D. Kirkpatrick, No,
James M. Gere and others
7 Wieting Block
Draper & Porter, W. B. Boyd Mrs. S. O. Ely, J.

F, Paige.

Ebenezer Butler, now of Whitehall, Washington

1864, and was

county, this State, was Principal in

W. Hooper in

succeeded by

J.

to act as the

efficient

January
office

been

i,

1871,

of School

1865,

who continued

Principal of the schools

when he resigned
Commissioner,

previously elected.

to

He was

take

to

which

till

the

he had

reelected,

and

is

Mr. Hooper
now serving on his second
took the school in 1865 with 210 pupils and 4
teachers, and left it at the close of 1870 with 960
term.

Public Schools.
founders of the village of Geddes showed

by reserving a lot for

a public school house east of the park or public
square, on which a log school house was first built
among the cabins of the primitive settlers. This
was superceded by a brick school house at an early

pupils and 19 teachers.

day, but only of sufficient dimensions to answer a

recitation

their appreciation of education

temporary purpose.

The narrow

street

or

running from the public square east close

37

the Board of

of

concurrence of the

the

Board and the District, to effect a reorganization

under the law providing for the establishment of
Union Free Schools, passed in 1853. A meeting

twice ratified by

under the head of Syracuse Manufactures.

The

of

while the

in

ing in 1870.

heaviest manufacturing

of the

in this section are located in

Simeon Spauldin 1825, and

In 1846, it was torn
house

the school temporarily kept in the basethe Episcopal Church on the square,

the village

Manufactures.
ments

1833 and

in

ment

The growth

Tripp, Esq., was opened

of access to the school.

ing, Esq., taught school in this

down and

Population.

W.

residence of William
as a

269

lane

to the

In 1870, the present school building was erected.

It is

of brick, three stories and basement, heated

It has
throughout by steam, and cost $26,000.
with
two
floor,
each
on
rooms
two large seating

rooms adjoining each, and

will

accommo-

date about 1,000 pupils.

The schools are graded in three departments

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

270
I'rimary, Junior

Geddes" organized

the lower, middle and upper

church edifice was erected on the public square.

and Senior occupying respectively

A Winter Defloors.
partment has been organized in the basement of
the building for the accommodation of about lOO
boys who cannot attend school during summer.
This department opens December

In addition

i.

to this main building, there arc two branch primary

schools one situated on Magnolia street, with ac-

commodations
J'razer street,

The

200 pupils, and the other on

with accommodations for i8o pupils.
for

corps of teachers

now number

25, including

male principals of the General and Winter Departments, the rest being lady teachers, 23 in number.
The whole number of persons of school age in the
number
village, (between 5 and 21 years,) is 1,641
;

attending school, 1.200; average daily attendance,

836

amount of money

the year ending Oct.

N.

Hidwell

expended during

raised and

the efficient Principal and

is

as-

is

by an accomplished corps of teachers.

sisted

Those holding State

N. D. Kidwell,

ing:

Certificates are the follow-

J.

W. Hooper, Miss A. M.

Miss Nellie Annable, Mrs. Sarah Phelps.

Coit,

W.

Wilfred
ble.

Clerk

the General

Calvin Picrson, G.

J.

The

following have been

J.

in

1865.

J.

Laass.

IC.

W.

A. C.

Griffith,

members since
Henry Clark, E

R. Chamberlain,

P.

Coady, A.

Van
Pha-

M. Klock,

E.

J.

R.

J.

B.

Coady, Samuel Dempsey.

Rev. J. P. Magcc, President
Present Poard

M. Klock. Clerk;

Whedon, M.

E.
D.,

Samuel Dempsey.
Dr.

W. W.

Porter has been connected with the

schools of Geddes for the past twenty-five years^

and has been an efficient and indefatigable worker
In 1852 he was Principal, and was
in their behalf
elected Superintendent of Schools for the town of

Geddes

in

and held the

1853.

ished by law

till

it

He was most

1856.

in

office

pal

element not being sufficiently strong

tion, the effort

was abol-

efficient in

Chukches of Geddes.

Roman

in

the village, viz

Church, and

St.

The

First

Patrick's,

was torn down about the year 1855.

FiKST Methodist Episcopal Chu'kch. Rev.
Manly Tooker and Rev. Nathaniel Salisbury
preached in the village of Geddes as early as 1822.
In 1840, Rev. Ebcnczer Arnold began the organi-

ment.

It

his

charge

it,

requested the

Gary, to

at Salina,

under the

name and

but not being able to attend to

I'residing

employ the services

George
Aaron Cross,

Rev.

Elder,
of Rev.

a local preacher to complete the organization.

for a while,

E.

Mr.
and perhaps some others,

success

little

till

when Rev.

1852,

Bragdon, of Auburn, effected a

re-

which Dr. Wilfred W. Porter, then recently

arrived in the village, was elected Superintendent
Dr. J. Arnold, then a
on the 9th of May. 1852.
druggist in Syracuse, was called to the pastorate
and remained in charge about one year, when he

of

was succeeded by Rev. Reuben Reynolds, who

was followed by Rev. A. S. Wightman in 1854
The church attained its legal existence, being incorporated with a Board of Trustees, under the

name and

style of the "First Methodist Episcopal

Church of Geddes," February 6, 1854. Services

In 1856,3
were at first held in the school house.
plain wooden church was built, costing about <}2,0CX3. which is still standing, though removed from
original site and disused as a place of worship.
Mr. Wightman was followed in the pastorate by
Rev. J. C. Vandercook. for two years, since whose
ministry the succession of pastors has been as fol-

its

Adkins.

Rev.

two

D. Adams, two years

J.

years

W.

S.

Rev.

M.

D.

Rev.

L.

Kinney, two

Titus, one year; Rev.

J.

C.

Rev. W. D. Chase, one

Vandercook, one year
Rev. W.
Rev. G. M. Pierce, three years
year
Rev.
O. A.
and
a
half;
years
two
Anable.
H.
one
Beadle,
W.
Rev.
D.
years
three
Houghton,

Church once

e.\isted

style of " Apostolic

here

Church of

year

Catholic.

Protestant Episcopal

time by the Methodists and

Geddes contains but two churches

Episcopal

for

the public school was at one time kept in the base-

years; Rev.

Methodist

vil-

declined and was finally discontinued.

was occupied

it

Board of Education.

and these are located

the

After the Episcopalians gave up using the church,

lows

of

in

permanent organiza-

lage and vicinity to maintain a

forming the Free School organization, and has been

most of the time since, till 1877, President of the

The town

were Rev. Richard

But the Episco-

organization and also established a Sunday School,

William B. No-

Duscn. G. W. Fernold. Mead Beldcn. Mills

ris,

whom

Salmon and Rev. M. Whiting.

Charles

Ueldcn.
Pharis, R. Nelson Gere,

devoted ministers, among

but with very

Law

President

Porter.

For a while the church enjoyed some prospect of

permanency, under the labors of several able and

Cross labored

BoAKD OF Education.
Formid Under

zation of a pastoral charge here, in connection with

1877, $13.1 10.

i,

The same year

1832.

in

Rev.

Loren Eastwood, the

since October, 1876,

year.

i)resent pastor,

now serving on

his

second

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The new church
was begun

The

17s,

of the

School

present membership

year 1S70,

J827,-

church

is

The Sunday

180.

India at the

in

and Shah Jehanpoor.

Church, Geddes. About the
Rev, James S. M. Lynch opened a misat Bariley

Patrick's

St.

after

Sunday School,

cost

of the

educating two orphans

is

Orphanage

sion

1871 and finished in 1872

in

000.

a fine brick structure,

edifice,

a hall in the village of Geddes, and soon

in

commenced

Church.

Before

the

erection

of

completion

its

Patrick's

St.

was given

it

in

charge to Rev.
year 1873.

James

who

Smith,

P. F.

In

271

1875,

Magee, the present

P.

finished

in the

it

was transferred

it

Rev.

to

The congre-

pastor.

much increased under his charge,

and now numbers about three thousand. The
church is a very fine brick structure, and cost about
Rev. Mr. Magee is a licentiate of the
$45,000.
Provincial Seminary at Troy, N. Y.
was formerly
gation has very

assistant at the Cathedral in Albany,

and pastor

at

Fort Edward, Washington county, N. Y., where

he established a church.

ONONDAGA.
The town of Onondaga was formed from MarcelPompey and Manlius, March 9, 1798. A por-

lus,

tion of Salina

Camillus

in

was taken

1834.

Indian Reservation

and a part of

off in 1809,

About
lies in

Onondaga

half of the

the southeast part of the

town.

The

the town of Onondaga, at a time

the

first

settlements were

limits of the

is

mostly a rolling and

hilly upland,

them
since marked

first

in

daga Creek. The east ridge is rocky and broken,

and the west is generally smooth and rolling.
fine wide intervale extends along the creek, and is
bordered by steep hillsides, the summits of which
A valley, forming a
are from 200 to 400 feet high.
natural pass between Onondaga and Nine Mile
Creeks, extends northwesterly through the town.
Along the north line the highlands west of the val-

State and National

some

places

the face

of

nearly perpendicular

This declivity

precipice from 100 to 150 feet high.

is

known

presenting in

to the north,

as Split Rock.

Upon

these

outcrop of Onondaga limestone, which

quarried

for

stone quarry

The

town.

is

in

this

remains during

feet, ice

a greater part of the summer.

an

irregular

extends downwards

ledge to the depth of 100

is

extensively

is

In an

building purposes.

crack or seam which

clifts

The

Rock

Split

near the northwest corner of the

stone was obtained here for building

the locks upon the Erie Canal, and the aqueduct

across the Genesee River at Rochester,
in the valley

is

The

soil

a sandy and gravelly loam, and on

the uplands a gravelly and clayey loam.

It is rich
and productive throughout the town, which is settled by an enterprising and independent class of
farmers.

ONONDAGA
The

first

PIONEERS.

settlements were

made

in

what

is

now

made

in-

Here

within the present

enterprising business men,

Some

their history.

at

ley descend abruptly

was

who

that career of progress which has

separated into two ridges by the valley of the Onon-

it

County, and from here Salina and Syra-

cuse got their

started

surface

when

cluded in the town of Manlius and Marcellus.

once took prominent places

affairs, at

of the

men who

and even in
the beginning of the
in local

made

present century, had their homes, or at least

their

first

settlements in the town of Onondaga.

Here

lived

Gen. Asa Danforth, Col. Comfort Tyler,

Gen. Thaddeus M. Wood, Judge Joshua Forman,

Judge Nehemiah Earll, William H. Sabin, Jasper

Hopper and others, whose names became famous in
our early history.
It

may be

said of the pioneers of this county in

general, that no country in the early stages of

settlement was ever more fortunate

eminently

fitted to lead

in a class of

its

men

the van of civilization into

the wilderness, to furnish an example of hardy en-

durance, intelligence and

self-sacrifice,

the foundations of society and

and

to lay

civil institutions

on

a firm and lasting basis, than the early settlers of

Onondaga County.

This

a class, while there are

among them whose

to adorn

any

is

true of the pioneers as

many

distinguished

names
them

talents and character fitted

calling or station in

life.

The pioneers

well, not alone for the material

planned wisely and

welfare of the country they had adopted as their
future home, but they were, almost without exception,

men

capable of appreciating and providing for

the moral and intellectual wants of society as well

men of high moral character and of a large degree
of culture and experience.
Most of the early pioneers were either Revolu-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

272
tionary

patriots

either

or
or

military

men who had

seen

service,

the

portions of

older

in

civil,

country.

The

man who
Onondaga County
white

first

made

a permanent residence in
He had been a
was Ephraim Webster.

soldier in

the Revolution, ser\Mng until the close of the war.

Webster first

settled at

Oriskany

in

the character of

a trader, and afterwards in 1786, accompanied by

another trader by the name of Nukerk, he opened

on the west bank of Onondaga Creek,

his store

mouth, and there e.xposed for sale the little

stock he had brought by water from Schenectady.
Nukerk died the first summer and was buried near
its

In

the place.

the

spring

of 1787,

two traders,

Campbell and Maibee, followed Webster, and took

up their residence at Onondaga Hollow.

Webster was a man of adventure, and
sessed of a courage that never faltered
stance
follows

getting
chiefs,

ErnR.\iM Weiister.

near

enamored of

illustrative

of this

related

is

and was in the habit of

Webster complained to the

"fire- water."

intoxicated.

who were

trying to restrain the Indians from

the use of intoxicating liquors, and they in council

decided that

if

she got drunk again that act should

exonerate Webster in dissolving the

between them.

lation

strain or reform her

marriage

re-

This, however, did not re-

she soon became again intoxi-

and knowing the penalty she had incurred,

quietly left his house the next day and never returned. Webster afterwards married a white woman
and raised a considerable family, who inherited the

cated,

Many

lands given by the Indians to their father.

years ago an interesting suit was tried

brought by the half-Indian son

he

in this

county,

for these lands,

but

recover them.

failed to

Ephraim

Webster was employed by our government from

was pos-

1788 to 1794 in gaining information as to the conduct and purposes of the Western Indians, and

An

in-

by Clark, as

gave

full

satisfaction to his

employers

grant of

land a mile square was given him by the Indians

" For some real or fancied wrong, he was judged

He gave up all for lost, and fully
worthy of death.
made up his mind that his time had come. His
grave was dug and he was told to prepare for immeA large ring was formed around him
diate death.
his executioners, four in number, were appointed,
and theirpositions taken four glittering tomahawks
gleamed in the sunlight. A sturdy brave firmly
held each of his hands, stretching his arms to their
It was askeil of him (as is the cusutmost extent.
tom) if he had any request to make before he expired.
He said he only desired a cooling draught
None, none, none,' was the reply he
of water.
appealed to them in affecting tones, not to deny a
;

'

The venerable war

this simple request.
Oudi-ya-ka, stood forth, while the ready weapHold
said he
ons were poised over his head.
let
stay your hands, offend not the Great Spirit
him drink one cup of water for the last time.' The
cup was presented, while one hand was released by
Webster took the cup,
the Indian who held it.
gracefully bowed his head, and most cordially drank
the health of the chiefs, braves and warriors of the
Onondaga nation. This maneuver was so unexpected, so appropriate, and done with so much
friend

chief,

'

I'

'

and confirmed by the government.

He lived to
the age of seventy-two, retaining the confidence of
the Indians and the whites, and having filled the
offices of Supervisor and Justice of the I'eace of
the town of Onondaga.

Col. C0.MF0KT Tyler.

This

Onondaga county was born

Connecticut, on the 22d

in

pioneer settler of

the town of Ashford,

of February, 1764.

At

the age of fourteen he entered the army, and performed a short period of service mostly on duty in
In 17S3 he
and about the fortress at West Point.
became a surveyor and school teacher at Caughnawaga. on the Mohawk River. While here he accompanied the expedition of General James Clinton
for the establishment of the boundary line between

grace and aboriginal naivete, so respectfully and

with so much coolness and gravity of demeanor,
He is free let
that with one voice they shouted,
He was free, and hencehim go, he is one of us
He was too brave a man
forth safe among them.
to be a traitor, and having once fully gained the
Indians' confidence, by conduct like this, nothing
could shake it.
'

New York

and Pennsylvania, and on his return became a member of the famous " Lessee Company"
which had for its object the purchase under a form
of lease for nine hundred and ninety-nine years of
the Indian lands comprising a large portion of the
State of

New

" In

York.

the spring of 1788. at

twenty-three years, in company with

the age of

Major Asa Danforth, he pushed into the wilderness, fifty miles beyond any white inhabitant, and

I'

commenced
county."
felled

the

the permanent settlement of

He
first

enjoyed
tree,

the

distinction

Onondaga
of

having

and of constructing the

first

"

Webster married an Indian woman, and from him,

by right of the female side, descended one of the
Ato-tar-hos, or principal
eracy.
early

It

is

settlers

said

civil officers

by some

wix,

and of assisting

in

the

first

manufacture of

salt.

of the confed-

Colonel Tyler was a favorite with the Indians

informed

who named him "To-whau-ta-qua," meaning one

that is double, or one that is a laboring man and a

of the best

that Webster's

piece of turnpike in the State, west of Fort Stan-

Indian wife became

Photo, by

Hon. Abner Chapman was

Windham

bom

Sept. 30, 1798, in the town

he

freely u.sed

W.

V. liungei-, Syracuse.

from

it

his father's distillery; but the agitation

moved
in February, 1799, into the town of Marcellus, Onondaga
Co., N. Y., and thence into the town of Onondaga in 1803,

of the temperance cause turned his thoughts and habits in a

At

temperance society at South Onondaga, which has been con-

of Ashford,

His

Co., Conn.

father's family

where he spent the seventy remaining years of

the age of eighteen he

commenced teaching

winters in succession in South Onondaga,

his

school

life.

taught six

On

the

first

important
spector,

official positions.

was

and then commissioner, of common schools.

all

died

In 1826

several years attended

He

and was acting

was twice elected

New York

State

Tem-

mainly attributable

is

town of Onondaga.
the services of that denomination

remote from his home where they were held.

localities

he had been

in various terms,

and labors

his zeal

In his religious sentiments he was a Universalist, and

maining

the time of his death.

To

sold in this part of the

In 1828 he was elected justice of the peace, which responsible

he held about thirty years

He

life.

the fact that no intoxicating drinks are even attempted to be

of riflemen, and served in that important position several years.

in that capacity at

the remainder of his

mentioned, and was vice-president of the

perance Alliance.

in-

he was commissioned by Gov. Throop captain of a company

office

active,

was many years president of the temperance society already

an early age elected

at

was an

he

day of January, 1873, he married

He

He

this.

whom

he was repeatedly honored by minor but

his long life

man during

zealous temperance

Miss Mary Everringham, of South Onondaga, who survives him.

During

tinuously in existence from that day to

he joined the

old,

At

lived forty-nine years, having several children, but they

at an early age.

In 1836, when he was thirty-eight years

all.

ten winters in

the age of twenty-three he married Eliza Merrick, with

better direction.

South Onondaga,

As justice he

dist Episcopal church.

was frequently a

gave

much

re-

the Metho-

discountenanced litigation

visitor at the bedside of the sick

He

in

Latterly

and supporter of the only

a regular attendant

religious organization in

for

and the homes

of his time and labor to beautify

supervisor of the town of Onondaga, and once elected and once

of the needy.

appointed associate justice of the county court.

the village and cemetery, and was zealous and efficient in every

member of

the legisla-

ture of the State, and served through the session of

1861 with

In the

eminent

fall

of 1860 he was elected a

fidelity

to the interests of his constituents,

and with

good word and work.

Like the long, glorious summer day on which he
18, 1873,

we have

in

Abner Chapman's

life

is

bl&ssed

number of bequests

to

worthy

cent example of honorable usefulness, whose

ing the grave problem of rebellion.

and glorious.

In 1824 and 1828 he voted for John Quincy

five years a

member of

the

Whig

party

Adams;

was then
in

1856 he helped

to

organize the Republican party, and was ever afterwards a zeal-

ous working

member of

community where the

that organization.

daily use of

Brought up

Mr. Chapman

after

for twenty-

in

whisky was almost universal.

objects,

left in his will

including a

library in

sum

June

memory

devotion to the welfare and honor of the country, then confront-

that he became a National Republican

died,

a bright and benefi-

for the

formation of a temperance

South Onondaga, and donations

to the National

Tem-

perance Publication Society, the St. Lawrence University at

Canton, N. Y., and a

in

South Onondaga.

sum

for beautifying the village

cemetery

Ii<>ua.

^
Joliii

F.

(7nAi_

(,'l;irk

of

i.s

Kii;;lisli

of John,

who was

ori;;iii,

and

the son of Sup])ly,

born

w;ts

He

who was

who came from

the win of William,

Hcttlcd at Dorehiwter, Maiw.,

The

lon, MasH.

County March

0,

wtihject

the son of
.lolin,

Kn<;]!in(l,

of thi .sketch emij;^itd to

IHOl, and nettled at South

Ilill, in

company

lie wa.s reared on the farm, and

economy, which are always to he found

Mr.

("lark

of .lonathan

dau(;htor

1827.

They have had

|{.,

and KImer

Aupi.stus
J.,

who

II.,

in

and

every successful

one of the most substantial

Ixvii

He was

rarmcrs of his town.

(iconic

Iijlh

and

Ononda^

early learned those principlcM of success, namely, xnihit,try

life.

in

married to Miss Minerva Reed,

Keed,
five

of

Marccllns,

children,

Franklin H.,

who

an- amon;; the very

dii-d
besit

roundtnl with

l.^.'il,

thi-

formerly a Jefferson Democrat, but upon

all

it

with unswerving

arc thoroujrhly temperance, not one of the

male meuibcrs ever having used,

liqitort.

As

in

any form, tobacco, npirttuoiu

a family they joined the First Universuli.st

fidelity.

it,

He

and has
him held

the important offices of his town, having bei'n commissioner

of schools, inspector of schools, justice of the peace, and super-

He

visor.

was

electeil

Onondaga academy

Swan

member of
S52

as president of the boanl,

and

si'rve<l

in

efficient

fall

manner

the board of tru8tcs of

which

office

a very

filled in

in

1SG7.

of 1850 he was elected to the State legislature, and

u.scful life.

At the

early age of
in

fift<>cn

His has

In-en

he made up

his

and he has kept his vow,

ond has reared a family having the same

we had many such.

all.

anything which would injure

his health or impair his usefulness,

that

he

was reorganized

one year to the gencrnl satisfaction of

a long and

Deacon Joseph

he succeeded

until the school

mind that he would not indulge

As a family they

In the year 1851,

the comforts of a happy home.

wa.><

ever since adhered to

In the

in

members of the same.

to-day

are

the orgniiizalion of the Republican |>arty he joined

A.,

22,

all

In politics he

June

May

orpin iz;it ion, and

present beautiful place, and has ever since rcsidi>d there, sur-

able

eitizen.s

efficient

its

Mr. Clark removed to Onondaga Valley, and purchased hia

25,

namely,

upon

Synicu.sc

of

worthy and

October

county.

or malt

church

and thence removed to Nortliamp-

with hJM parentH and family.

man's

V. Itani;i!r, jtjrraeoM.

^^^4Wl2c fi^ ^^^cv

wa.s the

Aaron, who was the win of John, wlio wa the son of

who wu

W.

/yfa^i.

AdaiuH, BcrlcHhire Co., MnMs., July 26, 1708.

noil

I.y

principles.

Would

Photo, by

LEONARD
Lennnrd P.

May

31, 1817, on

Onondaga.

Hannah
origin.

Mr.

Field

and Hannah

Field, son of Silas

home where he now

the

Silas Field

from

Mr. Silas Field immigrated

sketch.

Silas died

to this

for Captain Fenner,

They had one

January

ber 7, 1821, aged 30 years.

Onondaga cemetery.

Mr.

lives

in

Both were

him the farm occupied by the family

Field came in 1810.

was born

came from Cranston, R.

Connecticut.

and worked by the month

Field,

1,

to

county

I.

Mrs.

English
in

1808,

and purchased of

this

day.

Mrs.

S.

son, the subject of this

His wife died Novem-

1840.

Their remains now

S.

of

South

Field was for

lie

many

in

South

years a

Mr. Leonard P. Field had simply a common-school education.

He

married Miss Chloe

1838.

Ann Ammidon,

She was born January

twelve children were born, six of

a consistent

was
]

member

a faithful wife

863.

By

1819.

whom-

are living.

June

this

and

affectionate mother.
for his

13,

union

She was

of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Field married,

ner, of this town,

14,

of this town,

She

She died March

3,

second wife, Mi.ss Sarah Fen-

February 17, 1865.

By

this

union two

chil-

Syracuse.

FIELD.

dren were born, both of

whom

She died December

are living.

10, 1875, having been for ten years a devoted wife and mother.

Mr. Field married,

for his third wife,

December

2,

1877, Mrs.

Almeda Williams, widow of Mr. James Williams, with whom

he

is still

living.

Mr. Field, being the only

parents

till

their

death.

son, continued to live with

He

his

sixty-three acres of

inherited

which, by frugality and industry, he has increased to

land,

nearly

two hundred

Whig, and afterwards

acres.

In

politics

a Republican.

he was

Has

at

first

held some town

offices.

In

In politics he was a Whig.

bright Freemason.

P.

W. V. Ranger,

religion,

though not a member of any church, he

vocate of Christianity.

good

Has always been

an ad-

interested in having

schools.

One

son, Charles

Henry, was a

served faithfully three years.

fiirms in

own

is

He

is

now

and

Mr. Field has one of the best

South Onondaga, covered with

erection.

hearty,

soldier of the rebellion,

in his

fine buildings of his

sixty-first

year, hale

and

and has before him probably many years of vigorous

health and comfort.

MK.^.

IMillA.M.

MILS.

Jorciuinh Evemtif;hani, wii of Joliii ami Nancy

linni,

was born

WLTc

nalivf.s i.f

nnil live

in Cnzvnovia,

N. Y., Aujj.

Tlwy rraml

Ni>w .Icrscy.

ilaii'.'lil.Ts. all

of wln.in

the head of u family.

John

liv.'d

ti>

1797.

2,

Kvcrriiif,'-

His parenta

U-n cliildn-n, five m>ns

adult ap>, and t-ach one

Kv<Trinj:liain built the first grist-

mill at

Cnxcnovia;

1801.

Jea-iniah eanie with his parenls, and after he hee^iiue

of

line

lie

settled in Lafayette, this eoiinty, in

worked by the month

for fifUen dollars per

HUiumer, and twenty dollars per

winter, and eontinued

chasrd the " Old

for

.-(i-x

month.

hundred
In

t4>

do so

Home"

dollars,

1S50 he

of

ii

fiir

self

fifty

in

in

Jeremiah

in

the

jiur-

aeres of one of his brothers

for

it

by working out by the

this town, buyiiij;

lucn ever do under similar cireumstjinces.

some one

given to each of
dollars,

He

married

N. Y., Feb.

1."),

church.

ing until he owns .some three liiindred

He

aere.s

he has kept addof exeelleiit land.

took care of his aged jmrents until their death

hi.s

father

died in his eighty-eighth year, and his mother at tho age of

Hi.\ty-thri-e.
till

thiy were

Ili.s

house was also the

home of

his five sisters

niarrii'd.

Mr. Kverringhams advantagi-s

for

an education wea- very

hiLS ae<|uirt!d

good

of strong

practical ImsiiK'ss eduuition.

He

is

man

will,

great energy of body and mind, bics-sed with a keen perception

and good judgment, and has been able

to aecompli.sh

what few

more than four

children

thou.-uind

make comfortable

to

suflicieut Ictl

Mi.-ts

1.S21.

i^ophia French, of Vernon,

Hit

parents were of

Test in the

cemetery at l^fayettc

his de-

New

Oneida

Co.,

Kiiglaiid origin.

she was a faithful wife and

a kind, affectionate mother, and to-day her

by

all

who knew

is

N.

Y.,

Feb.

Miss Olive

22,

Iler parents were from

Univcrsalist,

memory

New

Ncy, of
cousin

18(irt,

Kngland.

politii's,

with

now an

all

Mr. Kverringham was

a Jacks4in

his faculties

still

Mrs. .'Miner Chapman,

is

unimpaired.

now

first

I'liiverHalist.

when he joined

it.

and hearty,

His widowed daughter,

living with

This simple story of a

many a time long af\cr ho has

Would that wc had vwrc tuch nteti.

road

Vernon,
his

Denioernt until

old gentleman of eighty years, hale

intelligent wife.

to

and Mr. KverringhaHi. while he does not

the orgiiiiizalion of the Kcpublican party,

is

cherished

Mrs. Kverringham

belong to any church, ehcrishos the faith of the

In

is

her.

Mr. Kverringham marriinl

He

limited, indeed, but by reading and reflection he

one of

Imvii

She was a worthy incniber of the .Methodist Kpiscopal

She [iius.sed away in Noveinher, 1^05, and her remains

wife.

town

Iiilk

Mrs. Evcrringham had seven children, six of whoui arc now

living.

a difference to his

pun>hiLio in this

.si.x

lie

the county as a farmer, having

clining years.

Oneida Co.,

first

his

and having

hundreil and ihirly-lwo aeres. having previously tnuled his land

Lifayelte Inr a farm of one hundred aeres in Fabius, paying

ill

men of

the most succcsisful

May,

month

and team

for seven years.

and paid

settled

th

KVKUKIMIIIAM.

((.

him and
sui-ce,s.sful

jKLssed

to

his prc-nnit
life will

his

be

reward.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

gentleman

same

at the

When

at once.

time, or can do

two things

the Military Tract was surveyed,

he was selected to render assistance, and surveyed

He subsequently surveyed
one of the townships.
the Cayuga Reservation.
In

all

the important improvements of the country

he bore a conspicuous

part, freely

devoting his time

and means for the promotion of these objects. He

was early selected on account of his sterling worth
to

the highest offices of trust.

fill

He

was appointed

where he had

The account

273'

Mr. Webster.
meeting with Mr. Webster and

his first interview with

of his

Onondaga is as follows
month of February, 1788, Mr. Webster,
in company with two Indians, proceeded on a hunting excursion into the lower part of Montgomery
county.
Late one afternoon they came to a small
clearing in the town of Mayfield, where they met a
man whose residence was convenient, of whom they
of his settlement in

In the

asked a night's lodging

He

barn.

his

in

refused,

a Justice of the Peace for the town of Manlius in

but insisted that they should spend the night with

1794; the same year he was appointed Coroner of

In 1797, he was
appointed Sheriff of the County of Onondaga, and

him

Cayuga was set oiT, in 1799, he was appointed

Clerk of Onondaga, and held the office till 1802.
He was the first Supervisor of the town of Manlius
in 1794, and represented Onondaga County in the

ing country than the one his host was then occupy-

1798 and 1799. Mr. Tyler was

always active and ardent for opening roads, improv-

there,andifsuccessful,wasto return or send an Indian

the County, with Gilbert Tracy.

after

Legislature

ing

in

streams,

schools

establishing

and

erecting

churches.

in his own house by the fire.

During the
evening conversation, Webster remarked that he

Onondaga, a much more

lived at

ing,

fruitful

and

invit-

so much was said in favor of Onwas agreed that Webster should sopermission from the Indians to let him settle

and

finally,

ondaga, that
licit

it

him of the fact. The host was Major Asa

Danforth, who became the pioneer of Onondaga
to inform

County.

The connection

of Mr. Tyler with the so-called

conspiracy of Aaron

Burr, greatly

private fortune, and such

impaired

his

was the popular prejudice

Mr. Danforth settled a

May

Hollow,

1788

22,

Danforth proposed to

little

south of

and

in

her friends

visit

Onondaga

December, Mrs.
east.

Ac-

against the participants in that unfortunate and un-

cordingly, Mr. and Mrs. Danforth, with their baby,

successful enterprise, that

set out on

it

forever destroyed his

prospects as a public man.

In 181

1,

clear

Colonel Tyler removed with his family

Montezuma, where he took a deep interest in

the Cayuga Manufacturing Company, which had
been formed for the purpose of making salt.
During the war of 1812 he served in the capacity
to

of Assistant Commissary-General, with the rank of

Colonel, to the close of the war.

canal policy engaged

From

After the war the

most earnest attention.

his

the beginning he was

among

the foremost of

the advocates of the work.

He

the battle of Lexington.

He

entered the service

at the instance of General Putnam, and served

through the war with the rank and commission of

Major.

He

located in the town of Mayfield,

gomery county, where he spent a few

* Clark's Onondaga.
38*

board," at Chittenango

Oneida Castle

at

Mont-

years,

and

night they

first
;

the

slept "

on

the next with Sken-an-do-a,

with Judge White,

third

their nearest white neighbor, at Sadaquate (Whites-

After

boro).

Brookfield, the

short

home

they proceeded to

delay,

of their early days, in Massa-

March they returned,

In the middle of

chusetts.

an absence of about three months.

Early in 1789, Tyler and Danforth, Jr., thought

after

they would

follow the

Danforth, and

Montezuma, on the
5th of August, 1827, sincerely lamented by a large
circle of personal friends and deeply mourned by
numerous relatives.*
Gen. Asa Danforth, who came to the county
at the same time as Col. Tyler, and was among its
most prominent early citizens, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, July 6, 1746.
At the commencement of the Revolution he joined the regiment of Col. Danforth Keys, and was engaged in
died at his residence in

The

way.

the

an ax-man before them to

a sled, with

only to

see

visit

the

their

old

example

home

of

Mr. and Mrs.

of their childhood, not

playmates, but to find for

themselves wives, and as Mr. Clark remarks, after

the wording of the Declaration of Independence,
" in

the

Asa

Danforth,

of the

course of

first

human

events," Mr.

became the

white child born

the late Mrs.

Colonel

Jr.,

Amanda

in

Outwater.

mother

Onondaga county

Phillips,

Phillips, of Syracuse,

and Mrs.

father and

wife of the late

and mother of Mrs.

She was born on the 14th of October,

1789.

In 1791, Mr. Danforth had become possessor of

lot No. 81, township of Manlius, (now DeWitt,)

and had moved there temporarily.

In the spring

of 1792, he erected the first saw mill in the county,

on Butternut Creek, about a mile north of James-

ville (now Dunlop's Mills).

The

mill

was

first

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

274

No

covered with bark.

boards were used

in

the

and

until they were sawed in this inili,

Major Danforth carried the saxv on his shoulder all
In
the way from old Fort Schuyler yx\Q\\ Romei.
sawmill.
his
mill
near
his
grist
erected
he
1793,
In the erection of these mills Mr. Danforth was

county

assisted by all the able bodied men in the settlement for twenty miles around, so anxious were the
people to have the means of grinding their corn,
and the advantages of converting their timber into

boards.

It

was

at the raising of these mills, in the

absence of sugar or
that the

first

articles

used

for

sweetening,

drink mixed with Indian corn was

introduced."

For a number of years he was Judge of the

Court of Common Pleas was one term Senator
Superintendent of the
for the Western District
Onondaga Salt Springs and held numerous other
offices of less importance, in all of which hee.xhibit;

ed a high degree of capacity and manly bearing.

For many years, from the first organization of the

militia, he was the highest military officer of the
county, ascending through

all

from Major to Major General,

the several grades

at a period, too,

when

a military commission implied worth and conferred

He

distinction.

2,

Onondaga, except four or five years, durlife, which were spent at

Montezuma.
He died at Onondaga in March,
They were all active, industrious men, and
1836.
ostentation, be claimed for them
it may, without
that they deserved and left behind them the reputaupright, honorable
tion of valuable citizens and
men.
Early Settlers.

county

Following General Danforth and Comfort Tyler,

family, the

of

Horn at Lenox, Mass.,

in 1772, he graduated at Dartmouth in the class of
1790, finished his law studies with Joseph Kirkland,
Esq., of Utica, and opened a law office in Onondaga
He soon became distinguished
Hollow in 1794.
for his legal capacity and during his life exercised
a prominent influence throughout the county.
As a military man he became widely known, was
Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant in 1809, in which
capacity he was extremely active and useful during
was elevated to the rank of
the war of 1812
Brigadier-General in 1818, and to the rank of
in the county.

in 1820.

Wood was

Job Tyler, Peter Tenbroeck,

Joseph Forman, John Adams, George Kibbie, Drs.

William and Gordon Needham, Nicholas Mickles,

H. Sabin, Jasper Hopper, Aaron BelHall, Joseph Swan, and others, who
George
lows,
settled in the Hollow, or what is now known as
William

Onondaga

Valley.

Medad Curtis was a law

Thaddeus M. Wood and Daniel
Mosely with Forman & Sabin. Dr. William Needham located at the Hollow as a physician, in 1793,
He
and his brother, Gurdon Needham, in 1795.
kept the first school at the Hollow in 1796.
Rev. Samuel Kirkland is believed to have been
partnership

in 1803.

student

with

the

Protestant minister

first

the county of Onondaga.

who ever preached

He

celebrated

pungency of

his

throughout the

and the quickHe was never at

wit

a loss for a reply, either at the bar or in private con-

in

frequently officiated

Onondaga Hollow, to the white people and to the

F"or more than twelve years Mrs. Asa
Indians.
Danforth was the only communicant in the county.
She was afterwards joined by the wife of General
Rev. Daniel Nash and Rev.
Lewis and others.

at

Davenport Phelps, (Episcopalians,

who

ministers

officiated

here.

Presbyterian denomination soon

ness and severity of his retort.

were the next

Others,

of

succeeded.

the

Rev.

Messrs. Wallace and Woodruft' were missionaries

who preached

Among
following

occasionally.

the early settlers of the town were the

:

MosesFowler, (from Conn.,) 1797, died i868;John

versation.

General

Pattisons,

William H. Sabin commenced the practice of law

Onondaga County is honorably headed with General

Thaddeus M. Wood, the first attorney who settled

State for the

Onondaga were the Brown

General Lewis, Cornelius Longstrect, Peter Young,

in

Major-General

in

next settlers

the

Onondaga

General Tiiaddeus M. Wood. The Bar

and practiced

of

ing the latter part of his

1818, in the 73d year of his

age.

General

Bridgewater, Oneida county, in 1794, and removed

He resided in the
to Onondaga county in 1804.

George Hall, Esq., opened a law office at OnonHon. Joshua Forman and
daga Hollow in 1802.

died at his residence in

Hollow, September

and 1795.
Samuel and William settled in' Marand
died
in 1825, within one week of each
cellus,
other.
Job Tyler first settled in the town of

Wood

Hollow, January

died at his residence at

10,

Samuel,

John and William

Onondaga between the years 1790

Other Pioneers
Tyler came to

Onondaga

1836, aged 64 years.

*Cliik'i Onondjgi.

P.

Robinson, (Mass..) 1800. died 1870

J.

Hunt.

Chester
John Henderson, 1802
Fellows, (Pa.,) 1804, died 1865 George Hull, 1805;
Volney King. 1805; Lewis Amidon. 1805. died
1876 John \'. Clark (Mass.), 1804 Ralph Chafee,

(Conn..)

1801

PboloH. by

^.
Among

W,

V. Riiiiger, Syracuse.

^AriA^^ eJ/ ^'^^^^^^y^

liDi/(>iuLd^^

the earliest settlers in the south part of the town of

Onondaga were John Hitchings and wife, who cleared and cultivated one of our best hill farms,

and there reared and educated

a large family of healthy and very intelligent children.

Horace was the most studious and

these,

winter, farming in

in

ultimately assumed

Teaching

summer, and loving the old home, he

the care of his parents, and became the

Here he worked and studied many

owner of the homestead.

The mysteries of

years.

scholarly.

Of

nature, as unfolded by chemistry,

geology, and other natural sciences, were his delight, and to

become

proficient in these

books.

The

he needed no other teachers than

deeper, the

more abstruse the mystery, the more

he detormincd to master

and vegetable

it,

UTitil

rock and

soil

growth, and the subtler workings of electricity,

mind

itself,

magnetism, and

were familiar subjects of thought, and when he

could find an intelligent listener he was always ready with his

theories

relatives,

and their own house was nearly ready

world, this picture of prosperity and happiness.

cold, that

was thought by himself and his physician to be easily under control, suddenly seated itself upon that active brain, and in a few
hours consciousness and then

life itself

Those

had gone.

stately

rooms, where the family reasonably anticipated years of unbroken

social

enjoyment, were occupied for the

first

time by the inani-

His widow and orphans

mate body of husband and

and the whole community felt that they had suffered an irFrom neighboring towns and the city loving
reparable loss.
father.

came

friends

As

He

to his funeral.

died Jan. 8, 1870.

supervisor of the town, president of the

society,

foreman of several grand

speaker of several town

bilities

of such

trusts.

business compelled

and proofs.

for a reunion

of neighbors and friends, when death stepped in to mar, for this

him

fiiirs,

But

agricultural

juries, referee in settling claims,

he more than met the responsilove of home and the cares of

to decline

many

offices

of honor offered

laid over ten

by his fellow-citizens. His equanimity of temper was remarkable.

No amount of care or loss could disturb him. Said one

amount of

of his employees, " I have lived in his family a year, and have

M. Rich, Jan. 1, 1855.

When he found his home cheered

never heard an unkind word to his wife or children, or hired

His parents and the nearest neighbors of his youth
help."

and blessed with four lovely children, and himself placed at the
remotest point of a sparsely-settled school district, he resolved,

were well-read Universalists, and, while he assisted in supportcharacter

ing other churches, the love of God and the paternal

homestead and give his children

than the
of our Heavenly Father had more charms for him
neighbor,
obliging
very
was
a
He
sterner attributes of Deity.

But

He

this

same student could

also excel in

practical affairs.

framed some of his buildings, planted hedges,

miles of underdrains, and led his neighbors in the

his crops.

He

married Miss Elvira

She was born June

1,

1829.

for their sakes, to leave the old

better educational privileges.

school, probably the best

Buying

farm

in

in

another district nearer

this part of the county,

he

liberal

to

the poor, public-spirited, sociable, beloved

and respected by

gave a bonus, besides his taxes, to have the new school-house built

nearest friends,

His barns were remodeled and enlarged, and

this season his venerable Seeley mansion was modernized;
enlarged, and changed to a beautiful and convenient home.

farmer whose worth and

nearer his home.

Christmas

the whole family went to visit

grandparents and

we

will

useful

abilities

all.

is

all

his

a bright example of

His good name and worthy

leKacies to his children than

by

was an Onondaga

we must admire, whose memory

lovingly cherish, whose history

success.

He

life

his worldly estate.

are better

ELIZABETU FOWLGU.

MOSEd n>WLF.U.

MUSICS

the

Aiiiiiii;;

jiioiifcr

ruiiiilk'S

imiitioiuMl tin- Kiiwler family.

uiiJ

of

Oiioiidiif,'a

i'0\vj.i:u.

Rebellion, enlisting Nov. 29, IHtJl, in the

Mases Fowler, 8on of Tlioraas

Thankful Fowler, wiwborn in DuU-hcss Co., N. Y., July 29,

nttll

he

of Sfcitoh

into thin

one of u family of

ori};in,

and

hiHtory,

of n}^

W1L1

ycara of

New

town and eouiity with

1797).

havinjr cmij^atcd to

dettled in the

a;;e,

The Fowler

nix.

Ameriea during

Kn-rland
hi.s

family

Hi.s father died in this

is

when hut

Volunteers,

and was

sevt^ral

in

fell

lie

w;ts a

home, and now

marks

ami mother when she was about eighty years of

Regiment of

T.'ith

non-commissioned

hand of

a victim to the strong

officer,

lie

disease,

fell

remains were brought

Fiis

by the side of those of his parents,

cemetery at South Unoiidagit, where a

forty

of the

hard-fought battles; but, though he stood

Baton Rouge, July 30, 1863.

at

four years

town when nhout

New York

the battle, he

early

Moses came

State.-*.

parents

it

War

had ouc son, Gideon D., who was a wildier of the

County amy be

their re.sting-placo, erected

fine

in

the

marble monument

by a brother and son. Max-

ago.

Moses wiw reared on the farm, and eontinued

through

life,

ownin;; about eighty acres when

he died,

Diarried Miss Klir^ibeth Pierce, daughter of HIisha

I'ieroo,

of Brattloborough, Vt., about 1H:1.

bom March

:{,

IWOl, in

to maturity four children,

Uideon

The

1).,

lie

and .\melia

BnittlelMtrough, Vl.

They

rearetl

namely: Maxwell T, Samantha

('.,

and Moses, and .\nn Fowler, an adopted daughter.

and was statiom-d

at Sackot's

drew a land-wamint

Mrs.

it

Mrs. Fowler wa

subject of this sketch was a s<ildier in the

polities

to follow

he was

first

for

llarbnr,

War

of

SI 2,

N. Y.. for which he

one bundrt-d and sixty

acres.

In

Methodi.st

memory of

and Moses, feeling a deep

interest in the welfare of their country

during the rebellion, jmid out more than sixteen hundred

They were ever found

besides their regular tax.

respond to

Moses

all

di.-d

The above

Jan. 10, 1S6S, and his wife

i>orlniit are

inserted

<lied

sister,

willing to

by Maxwell

Dec. 7, 172.

T., with

Mr. and Mrs. Moses Fowler lived after 1843.

and his

dollars,

the calls of their town and county.

Samantha C,

are uimiarried,

whom

Maxwell T.

and are living on

the same place where their parents died.

namely

Episcopal

T.,

and Kitty.

Maxwell T. was named

They

T.,

and

w;is

chureh, and wiu< an earnest and consLstenl Chri.Htian.

Maxwell T.

those he holds most dear.

Moiies, Jr., has three children,

a ^Vhig and then a llepubliean.

Fowler was a member of the

well T., in

(ii<liiiii

named

Gideon M., Maxwell

after his uncle

after his uncle Gidetm.

Maxwell

Photos, by

W.

V. Ranger, Syracuse.

HELEN HALL.

THEOPHILUS HALL.

THEOPHILUS HALL.

Theophilus Hall, son of Oren and Betsey Hall, was born

Navarino, Onondaga County,

His

York, July 31, 1825.

grandfather were natives of Ashford,

father and

Windham

His father was born September 14,

Connecticut.

county,

New

at

1786, and married Miss Betsey Briggs, of this town and county,

January

6,

She was born February 18, 1787,

1808.

toga county.

New

iu Sara-

York.

Azariah Hall, father of Oren and grandfather of Theophilus,

was of English origin, his forefathers being among the early

of

settlers

County and

New

England.

Corners, in 1799.

He

all

to

Onondaga

known

Navarino, formerly

as

Hall's

brought with him his wife and a large

He was a

and among them was Oren.

family,

nearly

at

settled

Azariah emigrated

of his children to be farmers

farmer, and reared

also.

He

year

Oren was a farmer.

when she

He

was a soldier

He

children,
politics

all

of

whom

lived to be

years under General Jackson

tions.

He

in the

War

of 1812,

He

died

In

was postmaster several

and other Democratic administra-

AprU

25, 1869, and his wife died

and were buried

in

Thomas Lyman, was born

August, 1786.

His

early settler in

New

in Otisco,

at

England.

father,

Southampton, Massachusetts,

John, was of

father,

Her

Feb-

He

Iri.sh

in

descent and an

lived to be about ninety

years old.

Thomas Lyman married Miss Betsey

Massachusetts,

Southampton,

twelve children were born

nine are

December

they

all

Mrs. Thomas

living.

still

Clapp, a native of
1,

1813, by

whom

lived to be married,

Lyman was

and

born March 2,

1793, and died January 12, 1876.

Thomas Lyman
1822.

Was

He

settled in Otisco,

a farmer, a

Whig and

Onondaga County, about

Republican

in politics,

and

died October 24, 1850.

Theophilus Hall has always followed the occupation of farming,

In

and now owns a

politics

faith.

August 23, 1874,

the " Pine Grove Cemetery."

fine

farm at Hall's Corners, or Navarino.

he

is

a Democrat.

is

member of

He

has served as postmaster at

Navarino.

His wife

taught school several years.

His wife was a Baptist, and he was of the Universalist

He

She was born

ruary 11, 1827, and settled in this town in 1837.

reared a family of ten

grown men and women.

he was a life-long Democrat.

married Miss Helen Lyman, of

this town, November 21, 1850.

both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church.

died.

and was commissioned captain.

He

mon-school education.

died about

1832, and his wife, Hannah, outlived him several years, being
in her eighty-ninth

Theophilus was reared on the farm, and received only a com-

cellus.

She taught school

Mr. Hall

Onondaga.

is

the Presbyterian church at Mar-

for several years.

one of the substantial men and farmers of South

rb^loo.

ELIAS

\>y

While

11

H. Unullcy wiui born

in

I'liniuT-boy \\v wurkitl

hj

fivo years
iiriii

by ibe

wchkI

rlii>|i|H<d

nM

Inivelwl

bi-

f4)rd

bnu^bt a

Kuutb,

Mvllin);

himmIh,

wliet'ljMl

bou.sr.

Tbus

innrricd I'bd'bo llolnirx,

l''eb.

S,

1K5K,

rei)|)octed

lb<>

May
by

nmntli in

Nlo;j>inj

tliu

in

tiiwn of

B.

11, l"!tl.

Huuiuiur,

and

ul)out twoiity-

wapon and a borw,

tbo State of

in

bis

n conipel<'ncy,

IH, ISSl,

all its

IK'C.

Wlu-n

wvcral years

xccuriii;;

in

tlic

wintor.

alwuyit

fanii

r<iiiiioftii'nl,

iHHldler'H covori'd

H|K-ndin^

licwrpu

one bundn-d acre

in

covered four-

lie

purcbaseil a

Onondaga, where he

and

ilied witboiit isnue,

a tbritly, upri^bt

(.-itizon.

His wife waH Uirn Aug. 28, 1795, about one mile wont of
Saratoga Sprinpt, N. Y., from whence 8he often
thn?c HpringH called

of the

In ISl

firnt

1, .Mrs.

viitKl

tbo then

High Uock, Flat Rock, and the Congress.

Her miilbcr bleached the hoine-mude

bet'lj<

V. lUitgpr, Syncufto.

I>II<UE

KLTAS

Kliiw

W.

IIKAOLKV.

II.

linen cloth for the bcd-

board ing-bou.se at the Springs, in 1802.

Bradley moved with ber widowed mother and

BRAM.EY.

URADLKY.

thrw! brolhere to Aurora. Eric county, in the Holland PurebuBo;

but the burning of RufTaln.

fiftci'U mili^s

away,

in

the winter of

1813, by the British and Indians, so frightened them that the

family fled the .same day towards the interior of the Slate.

In

1818 she became a member of the Methodist KpUcopal church

in

South Onondaga,

in

which bhe has been a zealous and con-

scientious worker over sixty years.

.\

remarkable swectnetui

of cbaraetcr, good business judgment and habits, a itinscientiiius dt"sire to live

ality

the Christian

life

she

j)rofesse<l.

to ibc poor, the unfortunate, the de.s'rving,

church, have

made her

]>et

name, "

cu.s)'

church their

{larsttnage,

to the

synonym

She gave, unaided,

also lilierally to

the Synt-

university, so that only the smaller moiety of her estate

remains for her own supiM)rt.

ment

and

and

Aunt Phoebe,"

of bcnevolenw, and of every saintly virtue.

to the

great liber-

III

Fler long

life

has been an orna-

the church, ami a benefaction to society.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

William

1803;
Clark

Metcalfe

Clarke,

W. Kenyon, i8o6;

(Mass.,)

1805;

Elisha D. Sabin, (Vt.,)

Samuel Kingsley, (Mass.,) 1806 David Hunt,

Eli An1807, died 1874; Nathan C.Eaton, 1808
derson, 1808; Josiah T. Northway, 1808; David
Chafee, 1805
George B. Cornish, 1810, died 1867;
1806

daga Creek,

saw and

in 1793.

General Danforth erected a

on what was afterwards

grist mill in 1794,

called the

275

Kirk farm.

Masonic.

Onondaga Lodge No.

98, of

Free and Accepted

181 1; William Rose,

C. C. Conklin,

1808;

J.

De

Witt Rose, 1812 Augustus Reed, 1812, died 1875

Wm. Raynor, 1813 Jonathan Kneeland, 1813
Orrin Green, 1813
Geo. C. Hopper, 1814; Rufus
;

Nathan
(R.

Covell,

1815,

Clark,

1816; Russell L. Kenyon (R.

I.),

1877; Augustus C. Kenyon (R.

died

Reuben W. Lincoln,

1814

Enoch Kenyon

died 1876;

1816,

I.),

1816;

I.),

(Mass.,) i8i6,died 1875

Wm.

F. Mosely, 1815, died 1876 Joshua Chaftee, 1817

George Anderson, 1817; Lemuel G. Clark, (Vt.,)
1818, died 1870; Cicero Barker, (Mass.,) 1816, died
;

Chauncey P. Cornish, 18 18.

Finlay McLaren, a prominent merchant residing

1870

was attacked by a bear

on the East

fatally injured,

home from Onondaga

Hill,

while returning

Dr. Holbrook was

Valley.

called to dress his wounds, but he sank under

and soon

them

Grand Lodge of the State was dated January 21,

A.L., 5803. Jasper Hopper was appointed W. M.;
Walter Colton, S. W. and George W. Olmsted.

W.

J.

"Br. Jedediah Sanger,

having received a dispensation

summoned

Town Meeting

session

About

1826.

on account of the Anti-Masonic excitement.

oldest surviving
still

residing at

Postoffice

Allen Beach.

Hopper

At

town

the annual

meeting

for

1799,

James

Geddes was chosen Supervisor Orris Curtis, Town

Clerk John Ellis, Cornelius Schouten and Sier
;

master.

left

the jewels of the Lodge.

in

the County.

in

was established

This was the

in the county, but

then

The

Pattison,-,

Lewis H. Red-

Valley.

1794, and Comfort Tyler

in

Mr. Arthur

is

First Postoffice

in April, 1798.

member
Onondaga

Esq., was the last Senior Warden, in whose

Ephraim Webster was

chosen Supervisor
Jabez Webb, Town Clerk
Samuel Searing, Daniel Earll and Sier Curtis, Assessors
and Elisha Alvord, Nehemiah Earll, Jr.,
and Elijah Lawrence, Commissioners of Roads.
The meeting was adjourned to the house of Dr.
General Danforth presided

that time the

possession were

house of Gen. Asa Danforth

at the

Lodge till May 17,

Lodge was discontinued

contains the proceedings of the

Onondaga was held

for

purpose,

the said brethren to a meeting at Br.

book of records of this Lodge, now in the posof George J. Gardner, Esq., of Syracuse,

old

died.

first

Whitestown,

of

for that

Comfort Tjler's, in Onondaga Hollow, on the fourth

day of June, 5803, and in due form constituted the
said Lodge and installed the said officers."
The

field,

Town Meetings.
The

in

charter obtained from the

at an early time at Manlius,

and

The

the winter of 1803.

Onondaga Hollow

at

1814; Marcus G.

(Mass.,)

Cossit,

Masons, was established

first

at Onondaga Hollow
was appointed Postpostofifice established

one was established

Onondaga county, the same

Kibbie was

Postmaster

the

at

George Hall succeeded him

in 1803, the

latter

in

at

Cayuga,

George

year.

Hollow

in

1801

1802, and Jasper

remaining

in the office

nineteen years, under every administration without

distinction of party.

The

office

at that

time was

quite an important one, being a distributing office

The meeting adjourned to the

William Laird.
At the town meeting in

Curtis, Assessors.

house of

April, 1800, Sier Curtis

Orris Curtis

Town

was chosen Supervisor, and

Clerk.

In the summer of 1796, John Cantine, assisted

by Gideon Seeley, under the direction of the Sur-

veyor-General, surveyed the

and
fort
lots

dollars

the

fall

of that year

per acre

in all,

structed the road from

south line of the

$10,500.

Mr. Seeley con-

Samuel A. Beebe's

to the

town, including a bridge across

The

first

mill built within the present limits of the

town

the west

saw

Onondaga Reservation,

Gideon Seeley and ComTyler bid off at the sales in Albany twenty-one
of two hundred and fifty acres each, at two
in

branch of Onondaga Creek.

was by Turner Fenner, on the west branch of Onon-

As late as 1812,
county and parts adjacent.
were distributed from this office to people
living in the towns of Camillus, Pompey, Marcellus,
Otisco, Spaftbrd, Lysander and Manlius.
George Kibbie, in 1800, was the first regular
merchant who sold goods in the town of Onondaga.
for the

letters

In 1803, there were but eight frame houses in the

In 1809, a frame school house was erected,
Hollow.
a log one standing near the site of the Academy
having previously been used.
In accordance with an act of the Legislature
passed in 1808, authorizing the Governor to deposit
five hundred stand of arms and munition and mili-

tary stores for the defence of the frontier, at Onondaga, in 18 1 2 was built an Arsenal on the hill east

of

Onondaga Hollow, where

for a

number

of years

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

2/6

was kept

As

a large deposit of

a military store

and has

arms and ammunition.

has long since been abandoned,

it

newspaper was first established at Onondaga

Hollow by Thomas Crittenden Fay, in December,
1811, entitled The Lytix, having for its motto,

my

Native

annum.

Published

Country."

Wednesday and delivered

the village of Onondaga Valley

to subscribers in

every

two dollars per

"I

at

In closing his prospectus he says:

endeavor to promote the nation's interest with

the industry of the Pcavcr, while I watch its

a log

in

House

A frame school

house was erected

Judge Strong was a
Deputy under Col. Elijah Phillips, High Sheriff,
four years, and Under Sheriff to Sheriffs Earll and
Rust during their periods of office. Dr. Salmon
Thayer was the first physician on the Hill, in 1800,
and was succeeded by Dr. Stewart.
used to stand.

Newspapers.

and

1802, three

winter terms of four or five months each,

building which stood near where the Court

fallen into decay.

" Liberty

taught on the Hill, from November,

near the same place

The

in 1807.

Agricultural Society of the county was

first

organized at Onondaga Hill

For organi-

in 1819.

shall

enemies with the eyes of a Lynx." It was in the

office of The Lynx that the subsequent distinguished

Albany Evening youmal made his

debut in the art of journalism.
Mr. Weed, in the
short space of about twelve months, became devil,
printer, journeyman, editor and proprietor of the
memorable Lynx.
editor of

the

The Onondaga Register made its first appearat Onondaga Hollow in September, 18 14,

ance

edited by Lewis H. Redfield, Esq., and was con-

May, 1829, when it was transferred to

Syracuse and consolidated with the Syracuse Gazette.
(See History of the City and County Press.) The
first iron press introduced into the county was by
Mr. Redfield, who also introduced the first compotinued

Russell

paper at

Webb

and James
Onondaga Hollow

S. Castle published a

1832, entitled. The

in

which was discontinued

after six

months.

Onondaga Gazette, by Evander Morse, was

Mr. Morse
established at Onondaga Hill in 1816.
sold the establishment to Cephas S. McConnell,
and in August, 1821, its name was changed to the
Onondaga jFournal. Mr. McConnell sold out to
Vivus W. Smith in 1826, who in 1829 removed it to
Syracuse, and joined Mr. Wyman in the Onondaga
'The

Standard.

ONONDAGA WEST
One
William

the

of

settlers

first

Laird,

in

1795.

purchaser of Lot No.

first

on the

hanging
Hill

in

this

at

the State

1802,

was

point

He became

the

first

and kept a log tavern,

committed suicide by

1802.

Nehemiah

Earll,

Webb settled on
Jabez Webb was killed by
He was the first
in 1806.

Reuben West moved

in

HILL.

and Jabez

1796.

chaser from

114,

He

Hill.

October,

in

Earll

falling of a tree

Strong

&c., see Chapter on Agri-

culture.

jFohn's Church, Onondaga Hill, was organized

Davenport Phelps, November 26. 803.
Rev.
by
It was succeeded by Zion Church, which was orSt.

ganized

Rev.

in the

Messrs.

Thomas K.

summer

clergy were

Milton

G. Gear,

Augustus

Peck,

The

of 1816.

Ezekiel

Wilcox,

L. Converse,

John
McCarty, George L Hinton, John W. Cloud, S.
W. Beardsley and Marshall Whiting. Regular
The bell
services ceased at this church in 1839.
formerly used here

is

now

in

use in Trinity Church,

Syracuse.

One

of the early supporters and

of Lot

known merchant

at

Onondaga

in 1805.

necticut, in

He

1783, and died at

which place
Hebron, Con-

Hill, at

was born

in

Onondaga

in 1832.

Mr. West's eldest daughter married Rev. George

L. Hinton, of New York City, Rector of the church
at Onondaga in 1827, and for about two years after-

Another of his daughters, Mrs. Thomas

Onondaga Hill, July 6, 1813, is
where she has resided
resident
af
Syracuse,
now a
His youngest daughter married
since June, 1873.
Mr. Erastus Sampson, of Ypsilanti, Michigan.
James Mann, first landlord of the Syracuse
House, was an early merchant at Onondaga West
Hill.
He was the son of Capt. Benjamin Mann,
who commanded a company in Col. Stark's regiment at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775,
and continued as such officer through the Revolutionary War. under Gen. Washington.
James Mann was born at Woburn, Mass February 15, 1767.
From about 1800 to 1806, he was
wards.

Underbill, born at

the principal merchant at Keene, N.

Bank.

and Presi-

1807 he became

dent of the Cheshire

the

an importing merchant at Boston, at the head of

pur-

Simeon and
1805-6; Judge

first

of this

the

118.

to the Hill in

and kept the

Wardens

church was Mr. Reuben West, an early and well-

he settled

Citizen s Press,

Daniel

fair, officers,

till

sition roller.

the

zation, first

school ever

the house of Mann,

In

Adams, Nazro

&

Co., at No.

The trouble with England, soon

67 Broad street.
coming on, compelled the firm to give up importing.
About 1 810, he removed to Troy, N. Y.,

Plioto.

J^.

iJ.

?C4i .A^
His son. Dr. George

Levi Clark, the father of the subject of the present sketch,

was a native of Vermont, and was born March

came

to the

7,

1788.

He

southern part of the town of Onondaga at the age

of sixteen, and when only nineteen married Martha Fenner,

aged seventeen, and

who was

tlie

daughter of Capt. Turner

Fenner, one of the earliest and most prominent settlers of the

town.

The young couple bought a forest-crowned farm on the

old State road,

five

and there reared

Of

sons and four daughters.

fur several years a

now

is

to adult

age

these,

all

their children,

Levi Thomas was

clergyman of the Universalist church, and

of Kansas.

resident

Five of the other children

nioved into western States.

cradle ever used,

manufactured
leading
tist

and

in a

He made
for

many

the

he was an uncommonly
first

"grapevine" grain

years he and his sons annually

shop on the farm hundreds of these then

American harvesters of

grain.

A member

of the Bap-

church, he afterwards became a zealous Universalist and

great Bible student, always ready with book, chapter and verse
to

meet any one who dared

lived

on the farm with

T.,

to controvert his religious views.

was born December 20, 1819, and

his parents

till

he was of age.

Being a

good mechanic, he made grain cradles several years

1854, became a
in

member

successful operation in Syracuse.

but, in

Spending two terms

that institution, he afterwards graduated at the

cal College in Cincinnati,

of the Eclectic Medical College, then

in

American Medi-

Devoting two years to his pro-

Ohio.

fession in the village of Jordan,

he returned

to the

homestead

on account of his father's health, carrying on the farm and

practicing medicine in the vicinity.

After his father's death he bought the old

increasing practice induced

Levi Clark was not a farmer only

inventive mechanic.

by W. V, Ranger, Syracuse.

village of

South Onondaga

through his native and

him
in

move

to

1869.

home

into the neighboring

His ride has extended

adjoining towns into the city and

into adjoining counties, and his professional business

more extensive than that of any one

surrounding

villages.

to his patrons, yet

but his

Kind and

in

liberal

this or

is

now

any of the

to the poor, lenient

prudent in his investments, he

is

a worthy

descendant and representative of Onondaga's capable and successful pioneers.

^^^

^^^^^,^.^^^^.^2^^^--

Willintn Wilson, the paternal prcat-prandfalhcr of the subject

of the prcwnit skctoli, wits an

But the

Valloy, N. Y., before the llevolutioniiry war.

family was captured by Brandt, or his

thmu^h

only nintr years old, was hurried

entire

during or near his

allies,

Wyoininjr Valley expedition and niassacn;.

Cherry

furniur in

Aii?;lo-Iri.sli

luljor,

Onondapi and

settled in

Indian prisoner

jrirl

The

ncighlMjrinj: counties.

married Kzekiel Ncwni:in, and on " Survey

Wilson bcjpin

at seventeen

and worked seven years

(iideon Swly, a wealthy pidiieer settler in

(lie soutlieiLstern

widow who owned an adjoining farm.

log irabin. on this farm, 6ve soils

and reared

to ndull

schooling

but,

ap\

The

by the aid of

he U>eanie a good Bible

current facts and theories

and two

part

ol'

In a

were born

He was

natural .science.

Methodist

forty years the oliuss-leader of the

and books,

well ]H)sted

Kpi.s<ro|Hd

Newman was

choice spinto

who

He was one

no ordinary man.

arc suffered occasionally lo ap|H>ar

and who, by the unwonted excellence of their

Latin

and

(Jreek,

under

Dr.

Peter Bullions, with free tuition, and

all

Albany, with such economy of hLs

hard-earned wages, that

living in

the city of

the entire expense for room rent, washing, and provisions wb,

on an average, for each person only seven-eiglillis

At

<if

a ilollar a

term be received the priw; for

close of the

the

Beck.

Acting under the advice of President Nott and Prof. Bullions,

he continued his studies while teaching, and received the hon-

A.M. from Union college. Bi-coming prinei|ial

7, now the Putnam, in the then village of
Syracuse, then the largest school in Onondaga (."ounty, he conorary degree of

of I'ublic School No.

after the village

became

u city, and, in

in the

tinued to be

nearly

that building, at a county teachers' institute, wa.s married, April

church

of South Onondaga, and his pastor, in his obituary sketch, says

" Brother

One

the Al-

in

composition and declamation, from the venerable T. lUimeyn

months of

and was

two younger brothers,

for

diiu<;hters

his wife, his children,

spent, with

wa.s

week.

father had only six

.seliolar,

unlcM

exception, twenty-five winters, and,

Of

of the town of Onondupi. and then married Ksther Conklin,

the dnu;;hter of a

without a single

bany academy, studying only

tlie

when

to teach

attending school, during these entire twenty-five years.

the forest, with

Fifty," in the town of Oii.sco, raised a family of children.

these,

Onondaga academy, began

tlic

summer

the family bnufrht off one after another of the captives,

and they

in

a few days over seventeen, and continued in that profcwion,

His daughter Mary,

other prisoners, to Detroit, and afkcrwards to Montreal, where,

by

one winter

among

2U, 185U, to one of his assistant teachers, Elizabeth K. Williams,

of Manlius.

of those
us,

I'lirLstiun character,

its j>rincipal

Thence they went

Public Schin)l No. 13, in the

to

where they continued thirteen

city of Buffalo,
failing health led

them

to

years,

till

change their vocation, and return

the old honu'stcad farm in

Not

18tJ4.

his
to

as teacher or farmer

challenge the admiration and respect of all, both saint and sinner.

only, but aLso as author and editor, as administrator and executor

He

of eslalcs, accepting some minor

was the most active and

efficient class-leader

we have ever

known."

The

and refusing

parents'

ambition was to give their seven children a

good commoii-.school cducalion

this Ision, the children

own

thirxted

unaidc-d efforts, continued the

had begun.

Five became

graduate of the
State of

New

first

York,

of a retired but

u.si'ful

from two dollars

to five dollars

The

the Grst

is

now

Episcopal church in Kochcster. N. Y.

Wilson, born

eldit, Ilaehcl

Normal

.scIicmiI

{'.,

in the

wils several years prec-eptress at the Caxe-

novia seminary, and K. liansing

Oct. 5,

he continues

when they had furnished

work paternal encouragement

t*'aehers.

class of

city journals,

pastor of a Methodist

The

IH2I, after "keeping

oldest son,

Wm.

buchelor's hail"

dollars in

politicjil

and public jxwitions

and as correspondent of Syracuse and

more, and, almost by their

but,
for

York

others,

life.

in the quiet

On

liLs

an acre

New

and varied duties

homestead farm, costing

in ITiTj to

one hundred

1875 and aggregated by ten separate purchases and

deeds, where he and his parents and grandparentw have cleared

away

forestj*,

erected buildings, and

made

tillable

lields,

where

two generations have passed away, and three generations liave

been born and

re;ired,

amid the duties of the

ories of the past.

a family representation remains, toiling

jirescnt,

and treasuring the sacred mem-

C^W^^A^ X-

.^/iji4.Ul2

-tc^y-^^^^^i/l^

^uAfUri.JMr)

JUDGE CHARLES CARPENTEK

[ONONDAGA

Among

the worthy citizens and representative men of

none deserve a more honorable mention upon the
pages of our county history than the subject of this sketch.
He is the son of William and Lois Carpenter, and was
born Sept. 4, 1800, in Kingsbury, Washington Co., N. Y.
His father was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 176]
his
grandfather, William, was born near New York, in 1710
and his forefathers were of English origin, having settled
in New England among the early pioneers to that country.
The judge had very limited advantages for an education,
but by reading and reflection he has acquired a more than
ordinary education, being able to perform well whatever
duties may devolve upon him.
His father settled in this
ttiwn in the spring of 1816, and followed coopering.
He
died in Herkimer county, in the fall of 1821.
His wife,
Lois Carpenter, died in Kingsbury, Washington Co., N. Y.,
April 30, 1814.
In the fall of 1816 the judge settled in the town of
Onondaga, and for a number of years followed coopering.
At the age of twenty he shouldered his pack of tools and
went more than one hundred and fifty miles from home,
into what is now Orleans county, but then the " far west,"
and made one hundred and fifty flour barrels for a man by
the name of Morey, who was at the time a merchant at
Onondaga Hill, and who engaged young Charles to make
the barrels for him.
Returning to Onondagu Hill, he continued his trade till
he was twenty-four, when he married Miss Nancy Burgess,
a native of Montpelier, Vt., April 15, 1824.
She was
born Oct. 8, 1804, and settled, in company with her parents,
in 1816, in Manlius, Onondaga County.
By this happy
union nine children were born, namely, Charles H., Cynthia
Ann, Emeline, Seth M., Edward W., Wm. H., Silas A.,
Kate L., and Emma L. Cyntliia Ann and Emeline are
this town,

deceased.

In August, 1827, the judge was appointed " deputy salt

inspector" at Geddes, holding the same position for some
ten years, and for the following fourteen years was engaged

HILL.]
in the

cipal

manufacture of
inspector" of

He then was appointed " prinand held that position until said

salt.

salt,

was abolished.
In 1852 he purchased a farm in the town of Clay,
having disposed of his salt interest. He returned to Geddes
in 1854, and on Jan. 20, 1855, his wife died.
Mi-s. Carpenter was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal
church was a faithful wife, and a devoted and affectionate
mother.
In the spring of 1855 the judge was reappointed
" salt inspector," and held the same for two years.
He
married his present wife April 14, 1858.
Her maiden
name was Abiah L. Briggs, a native of Schenectady, N. Y.
She was born July 6, 1811, and married Mr. Thomas Stevenson, of Broome Co., N. Y., Nov. 25, 1829, by whom
one son, Wm. B. Stevenson, was bom, March 27, 1831,
and died July 30, 1874.
Mr. Stevenson died April 30,
1856, and she married the judge at the date before
mentioned.
In 1859 the judge went back on his farm in Clay, occupying it seven years; selling it in 1866, he removed to
office

Onondaga

Hill,

where he now

resides.

with the Democratic party,

but
in 1838 be joined the Whig party, and remained in it until
the organization of the Republican party in 1856, since
which time he has acted with that party. He has held the
office of inspector of election, overseer of the poor, assessor,
and justice of the peace in three different towns, serving

In

politics,

casting his

he

first

affiliated at first

presidential vote for General Jackson

some twenty years, and was recently elected in Onondaga to

He was elected in the fall of 1871
serve four years more.
In all
to serve as "justice of sessions," serving two years.
these different positions he has given excellent satisfaction,
and is held to-day in high esteem by his fellow-townsmen.
His wife is a member of the Congregational church.
The judge is now in his seventy -eighth year, living in
retired life with his esteemed lady, and has the satisfaction
of reviewing a long and usefiil life, with no apprehension
of the future.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

where he established himself in mercantile business, and also opened three stores in Onondaga
County, one in the firm name of Mann & Johnson
one was at Onondaga West Hill, one at Camillus
and one at Baldwinsville. In 1817, these stores requiring his attention, he closed his business at Troy
and in March of that year removed with his family

elevations in this

branch of the Onondaga valley,

but none so deserving of notice as this.

Navarino and Oakland Mills, now

Onondaga West

to

was sometimes

"

Court House," as

darvale P.

the ground

M. E. Church

Nehemiah

Earll, Postmaster.

himself here as

established

failed in busi-

Daniel Mosely

lawyer

in

With the completion

The

Navarino, and at East Navarino

of the Erie Canal and

the removal of the public buildings the prospects

The

Edward Abeel, President; Luke

Enoch Mann, Hontoneter Bowers, Trustees;

Wells,

Hiram

Collins, Treasurer

lector

James H. Hinman, Clerk

Fuller, President

is

a small village on the west

branch of the creek, with a resident clergyman of

the

M. E. Church, and the

of a country village.

Lathrop, Treasurer

John

Daniel N.
William S. Brown, Collector ;

At

place.

Onondaga Hollow

a subscription paper

1812,

Some

part of the town

were Gideon Seeley, Phineas
Sparks, Ebenezer Conklin, Turner Fenner, Gilbert
Pinkney and Amasa Chapman from 1800 to 1804,
Obediah Nichols, John Clark, Henry Frost, John

of the

first settlers in this

1800,

to

Enoch Mann,

held

The

among

following were

Forman

the principal subscri-

Thaddeus M. Wood
John Adams 150 Jos.
Forman 150; Dirck C. Lansing 150; W. H. SaJoshua

300

$500.

Nicholas Mickles 200

bin 150; Cornelius Longstreet

;

Joseph Swan 50

100; Jasper Hop-

Judson

Webb

Joshua Forman ^750

Nicholas Mickles 200 John
;

Adams 250

Forman 250

Near

H. Sabin 250.
Application was then made to the Board of Re-

two hundred

feet

above the creek, with

10,

1813.

which was

The members comprising

board of trustees were Rev. Caleb AlexanJasper Hopper, Secretary Joseph

der, President
Forman, Dirck C. Lansing, Wm. H. Sabin, Joseph
the

this village is a singular elevation of land

first

on the

Swan, Thaddeus M. Wood, Gordon Needham, Ja-

plateau or table

land perfectly plain and level, containing about a

cobus DePuy, Cornelius Longstreet, Judson Webb,

George Hall, Dan Bradley, Oliver R. Strong, Nicho-

hundred and

las Mickles,

sides steep

On

west.

and not

easily accessible, except

the top

fifty

is

a beautiful

acres of excellent land under a

high state of cultivation.

39

There are other

similar

Joseph

granted April

rising about

Dirck C. Lansing 250 Jasper HopSwan 125 Judson Webb 150;

Cornelius Longstreet 250 George Hall 250 Wm.
;

per 200; Joseph

Cummings, Daniel
others.

50.

endowment fund
Thaddeus M. Wood 500

the following to the

gents for a charter of incorporation,

Parmenter and

15,

for its object the raising of funds sufficient to build

Carpenter, Zebulon Rust, Joseph Warner, Oliver

Chaffee, Isaac

August

was circulated having

previous

a meeting of several of the persons residing

in the village of

And

the only one in the

Clerk

ONONDAGA ACADEMY.

This church was organized

now

Tru-

1878:

19,

Charles P. Phillips, Eli

Markell, Village

S.

per 50

is

Board

Village Justice.

usual accompaniments

about the year 1818, and

Pratt, Col-

Brayton, Frank Jerome, Trustees

C.

locality.

now South Onondaga,

L.

of the first

Present officers elected March

man K.

bers to the building fund

ONONDAGA SOUTH HOLLOW,

Amasa

of Trustees.

and endow an academy.

to decline,

was incorporated Deofficers were elected Jan-

first

and the business and

professional men removed to a more promising

began

of the Hill

is

village of Danforth

cember, 1874.
uary 23, 1875.

1809.

Medad Curtis, B. Davis Noxon, and several other

members of the Onondaga Bar resided here previous to the removal of the Court House to Syracuse.

at

it

ness, he went into the " Hotel," so called, at Onondaga Hill, and kept it till the fall of 1821, when he
removed to Syracuse and became landlord of the
" Syracuse Hotel," afterwards changed to the SyraAbout 1825, he left the Syracuse
cuse House.
House and the county of Onondaga, and finally died
September 22, 1835, at Aurora, Cayuga county, N.
Y., where he had gone on a visit to his daughter.
A postoffice was established here about the year

1800,

Ce-

VILLAGE OF DANFORTH.

soon after which, having

called

are

the Baptist Church with a settled minister.

called.

house occupied by him

son-in-law, Mr. Joel Dickinson, was burnt to

his

other small villages in the west

part of the town, with a resident clergyman of the

October, 1820, the

In

and

Hill, or

277

John Adams, Trustees.

The Academy building was

erected in 18 14 and

HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

278

endowed by the State with

a gift

belonging to the Literature Fund,

For many years

town of Lysandcr.

was an important educational

distinguished

men

Lot 9

this

institution

of the country

owe

to

in the

Academy
and many
it

obliga-

its halls.

first Principal and

and influence the public was largely
the establishment of the Academy.

Rev. Caleb Alexander was the

to his exertions
for

Through his influence the

was established.
Mr. Alexander was

Fairfield

Academy

man

of extensive learning

By an act passed April 28, 1866, entitled "An

Act to consolidate Districts Nos. seven and twentyeight in the town of Onondaga, County of Onondaga, and to provide for the organization of a school

and academy therein, and

necessary

Onondaga

F"ree

to enable said district to

building

Laws

839 Session

Chap.

of

(Vide

therefor,"

the present

1866,)

School District was organized with

named persons as Trustees: George

M. Roland Markham, James Longstreet,

the following
B.

Clark,

Earll
present, Joshua Forman. Jasper
Hopper, John Ellis, Jonah Ellis, Jonas C. BaUlwin,
John Adams and Oliver R. Strong. The ministers
previous to 1806, were
Rev. Messrs. Higgins and
Rev. Dirck C. Lansing was called and
Hely.
settled in io6
Rev. Jabez Chadwick in 181
since succeeded by Rev. Messrs. Burback, Prentiss,
Bacon and Machin."
;

The

we have not
H. Seymour, pastor

succession of ministers since

been able to ascertain.

April, 1828. aged seventy-two years.

the

Presbyterian Society of Onondaga

Hill at the log tavern kept by

First

Daniel

also

and varied acquirements, a fine conversationalist,

He was elected the
and an author of some note.
first President of Hamilton College, but declined
the situation.
He died at Onondaga Hollow in

provide

The

was formed on the

tions for advantages received in

indebted

"

of land

of a lot
viz

Rev.

the \'alley, officiates also as pastor at the Hill.

at

The church

edifice

still

use at the Hill was

in

erected in 18 19.

The church

in

the Hbllow,

now

called the Valley,)

which according to Mr. Clark was organized

in

November, 1809, was organized, according to the

records, by the Presbytery of Geneva, N. V on the
20lh of March, 18 10. John Adams, Aaron Bellows,
Nicholas Mickles, Thaddeus M. Wood and Joshua
Forman were chosen Trustees. Joseph Swan was
,

chosen Secretary.
as the

school house.

was

Hill,

church

In

who had

Lansing,

Rev. Mr. Davenport officiated

minister, the services being held in the

first

called

November, 18 10, Rev. Dirck C.

previously been pastor at the

and

remained

The

May, 1814.

till

charge of the

in

show

records

that the

Ralph Chafce, Thos. K. Clark, Richard R. Slocum,

Nathaniel Bostwick, Cornell Crysler, Truman K.

present church building was occupied

Fuller.

ing persons were chosen and ordained Elders and

May

15.

academy

1866, the "prudential"

board of the

transferred the entire control of the

above named Board of Trustees,

to the

in

same

accord-

ance with said act. The academy has been under

the charge of the present Principal, Prof O. W.
From the last Regents' reSturdevant, since 1872.
port we find the value of library and apparatus to be
$1 ,000,

and that of the balance of the property

be J 5.100.
This academy

to

one of the " gymnasia

nected with the Syracuse University.
is

"

con-

Pkkshvtekian Church, Onondaga ValThis church was originally called the " United
ley.
Church of Onondaga and Salina," parties living in

Hill,

members.

being

Clark

says,

"

the

Society was established on the

but the people finding

it

rather fatiguing to

climb up there every Sunday, resolved to have a

Accordingly, in
society and church nearer home.

November, 1809, the

'

Onondaga Hollow Religious

Joseph I'orman, Joseph Swan, Jason

Deacons. Henry Bogardus and Aaron Bellows.

Wright, Abel Cadwell and Peter Bogardus.

The
18,

first

10,

meeting of the Session was held April

and

presided

over by

Rev. Dirck

C.

Lansing, afterwards the distinguished Dr. Lansing.

Joseph ForSome of the first members were

man, Judson Webb, Elders and Deacons already
given, Charlotte Hopper, Sally Mickles, Hannah
:

Speaking of the society

first

Agnes Conklin, William

formed on the

Hill,

W.

C.

Brewster,

Richard Lord, Deborah Longstreet, Sarah Leavenworth,

Polly

Raynor,

Mickles and John

Julia

Esq., gave the land for

Pattison,

Nicholas

H. Sabin,
the church and the academy,

Ainsley.

William

a beautiful, large plot.

The

full list

of pastors cannot be given, as the

records of the church from

1831

to

1868*9, have

Clark says Rev. Mr. Lanbeen lost or destroyed.

sing was succeeded in the following order, by Rev.

Rev. Samuel T. Mills,

J. Leavenworth,
Rev. James H. Mills, Rev. Washington Thatcher,
Rev. Elijah Buck, Rev. Moses Ingalls, Rev. Abel

Ebcnezcr

Society' was organized."

he says:

Gazley, William H. Sabin, Joseph

P'lKsr

First Presbyterian

5.

20, 1810, the follow-

lilders

Danforth, Sally Sabin,

Churches

places

Deacons

March

181

both

At

the organization.

in

GEORGE

MRS. RUTH

HAI-L.
Photo, by

W. Y, Ranger,

HALL.

R.

Syracuse.

GEORGE HALL,
He

son of Shubael and Sarah Hall, was born in South Onondaga,

Onondaga

Co., N. Y.,

Nov. 17, 1805.

His parents were natives

was married

to

She was born Aug.

Miss Ruth Rosette West, Dec. 25, 1827.

They never had

13, 1806, in this State.

from near Hartford, Conn., and were married Dec. 13, 1795.

any children of their own, but took a boy by the name of Wesley

His father was born Sept. 24, 1771, and mother, Feb.

Chrisler

Thej emigrated

9,

1773.

county of Onondaga in February, 1799,

to the

being eighteen days on the road, coming on an ox-sled.

George, some one-half mile south of what was formerly

as " Hall's Corners,"

two hundred and

their children.
necticut,

Nov.

now

fifty

acres of good land,

They had
8,

as " Navarino.'

three children,

in

his parents in

for a great

Con-

life,

whom

were born

in

Onondaga County, on tbe

many

years, doing

all

in their

best farmers in the county, and has

Mr. Hall

some very

Mr. Hall has always been a Republican or a

Mr. Hall was

a life-long

of the Baptist church.

Democrat.

In

Although bereft of

politics,

George Hall, having been

life

reared a farmer, early learned those principles so necessary to

He came

in possession of his portion of his father's

when he was

twentj^-one years of age, and to this he has

success.
estate

kept constantly adding, until to-day he

the most substantial farmers in the town.

is

well

is

mem-

one of the

is

fine

may be

March

27, 1841.

advance the

Chrisler and her two children are the only

bers of his family left beside himself.

old farm.

to

After forty years of married

ings which he has built, a view of which

member

Mr. and Mrs.

power

Shubael, Sr., died Feb. 27, 1826, and Mrs. Shubael Hall died

Mrs. Hall was a

he died July 29,

Mrs. Hall died April 20, 1868.

The widow

born Sept. 16, 1800, and George, born Nov. 17, 1805,

both of

whom

members of the Methodist Episcopal church

cause of Christ by word and deed.

to

1799

Kent, a native of Michigan, Jan. 19, 1867, by

Hall have been

They owned some

Shubael, born

1796, and came here with

he married Miss

1874, in the thirty-seventh year of his age.

known

which they gave

eight years of age

two children, Ruth and Helen, were born

They

on the farm now owned by their sons, Shubael and

settled

Sallie,

Isabel

when he was but

farm build-

seen opposite.

Whig

in politics.

his youthful companion, he seems to enjoy

hale and hearty as a

man of

fifty,

though he

is in

the seventy-third year of his age.

He

is

one of the best men we have met

out the town.

He

seems

view that soon his Master

pointed to as one of
I

hisiher."

to

in

our travels through-

be living with the fact ever

will

say,

" It's

enough

in

come up

^
\iil.M.V

.Ml;>.

IvlNi.

\ul. Sl.\

Kl.Ni

VOLNEY KING.

Viiliu-y KiiiR, son

ISdO,

It,

in

of Thoiiixs arid Kuth

I'itlKtown,

UonsiH-liur

was

Kiii;{,

N.

Co.,

bom
He

Y.

Nov.
is

of

Kngliiih orij^in.

His

Vt, and was born

Oct. 16, 1770, and mother a native of Pitts-

fiitlicr

native of Bratlk-borough,

w:is a

May

12, 1777.

They

county in November, 1K05, in Marccllus.

They

town, Rensselaer Co., N. Y.,and was born

Mettled in this

came

to

was

bers of the Baptist churi-h.

In

DeuuK-nil, and tlien a Wliig.

Tlionia.-* Kiiij;

at

They were mem-

Onondii;^ in the spring of 1813.

iMilitics

at first a Jefferson

died July

;!1,

1845,

Montrose, Iax Co., Iowu, and Mrs. T. King died at Palermo,

county,

this

Marcli

20,

At

1838.

Vohiey King commenced to barn

trade,

lie

and

to

Hannah Aiuidon,
and

native
also.

Marccllus.

of

Ashford,

They

settled

three sons and three daughters.

portrait

work,

is

been his

12, 1822.

in

1801 removed to this town.

in

caqK!nt*-r

lius

May

Mureellu.i,

born Aug. 21, 1800,

wa.s

of seventeen

ago

and joiner
life's

work.

Miss Salina Chapman, daughter of Capt.

Chapman, of

Chapman,

the

together with fanning,

was married

AiniL'^a

waii

tliis,

tlio

and biography graces the

one of their sons.

Her
Conn.,
in

They

Mrs. King

father. Captain

and

Marccllus

his
in

wife,

1799,

reared six children,

Hon. Abncr Chapman, whoso

]<ai;r.s

Captain

of another part uf this

Chapman was

very fond

of

was a school-teacher

militjiry tactics,

was one of the best readers

often called

upon

in all this part

to rood the

He was

the fourth of July.

for

Det'lar.ition

a robust

many

years,

and

of the State, being

of Independence on

man, and of commanding

appearance.

Mr. Volney King and wife have been married

fifty-six yeans,

and

and

more than

for

more than

years have been bright

fifty

Mr.

Methodist Episcopal church.

shining lights in the

King has been

for

class-leader for the greater part of this time,

has been steward for

of the Sunday-school

many
;

years,

and has been

and, more than

all

supi'rinttMidenl

this,

he has led the

singing for more than sixty years until quite recently.

King and
MOW

wife have reared four children, throe of

living,

parents.

and are following

For more than

temperance man, and

fifly

it is

to

years Mr.

King has been

are

a strong

such men as he and Hon. Abner

Of

that public sentiment

his living children,

Volney h. and George Thomas, are farmers

Otisco,

whom

the footsteps of their aged

in

Chapman, and others we might mention,

has been rightly controlled.

.Mr.

in

two

sons,

the town of

and one daughter, Salina A., married a Methodist

Episcopal preacher by the

of Binghamton, N. Y.

name of

Ilev.

Thomas Harroun, now

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

279

Among the early settlers of this section of

the country were a few brethren and sisters of the

Cutler, Rev. Mr. Howell, Rev. George H. Hulin

and Rev. William W. Collins. Those of recent
years have been Rev. Elijah Bush, Rev. E. S.
Davis, Rev. Joseph Rosenkrans, Rev. Mr. James,

daga.

Rev. James S. Baker, and Rev. Henry N. Payne.

literally scattered in

Rev. O. H. Seymour, present pastor, began his

labors here in May, 1S78, and is also pastor of the
church on the Hill.
The present membership is about 100 Sunday

soon drew them together into

prayer and conference meetings, by which they beeffort to raise the

School 90.

nent way.

lecture

room has been recently added

by

and paid for.

The rapid growth of Syracuse absorbed for a
time the life of the Valley, but new life seems now
to be slowly flowing back again.
feet,

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of

Onondaga Valley.
were

first

Methodist

Church services
A.

held at the Valley in the house of Mr.

in
18 16, under the pastorate of Rev.
George Densmore. The members of the first society were Rev. George Taylor, A. Pattison, Clark
W. Brownell, Ezra Hoyt, Ruth Hoyt, Ada Hoyt,
Moses Hoyt, Keeler Hoyt, Caleb White, Bishop
White, Benjamin D. Gardner, Nelson Palmer,
Jonathan Knott, Sylvester Nobb, Nathaniel Root,
Sally Rich, Phebe Vroman and Alonzo Webster.
The church building was erected in or near 1825.
Trustees Rev. G. Taylor, A. Pattison and Clark W.
Brownell. In 1847 ^ dwelling house was purchased

Pattison

adjoining the church

Among
1823

lot,

at a cost

of about

the earliest ministers were

Eben

$200.

Manly Tooker,

of

the

society

is

now

38.

about $1,500, and parsonage

Present pastor, J. J. Turton.

Valuation of church

about the same.

The Methodist Episcopal Society

on the

town of Onondaga, was founded

about 1819 or 1820, by Aaron Preston, a local
preacher.
The church building was not erected
till some few years afterward.
The first members were Aaron Connell and wife,
Thorn Dubois and wife, Mrs. Mary Barnum, John
Woodward and wife, Benjamin Snow and wife, CorReservation

nelius Miller

Hill,

and

wife.

Their love

came

better acquainted and encouraged to

On

standard of the Lord

in

Present membership

This church has been closely connected with

The same preacher
the society at the Valley.
Present pastor, J. J.
usually supplies both places.
38.

Turton.

Onondaga Baptist Church.

This

located in the southwest part of the

town

church
of

is

Onon-

for

make an
a perma-

the 4th of July, 1811, a few disciples met at

the log house of James

Redway,

Otisco, and

in

there formed themselves into a church conference

purpose

the

for

becoming organized

of

church as soon as practicable.

they voted to

day

April

a council on the second

call

into

11,

1812,

Wednes-

June, in order to be recognized as a Baptist

in

The

Church.

council

was composed

as follows

Sempronius, Elder Robert Niles and Brother Enos

Phillips
Owasco, Elder Elkanah Comstock
;

Tucker
Marcellus, Elder
Harmon, Brethren Skeels, Hurd, Fitzgerald, Sessions, Kneeland and Chapman
First Church of
Onondaga, (then at Howlett Hill,) Brethren WarBrother

Aurelius,

S.

ren and Richmond.

The

council

met

in

Austin G. Wyckoff's)

Ephraim
at

Hall's barn

(now

Navarino, and organized

by choosing Elder Niles, Moderator, and Peter

Warren, Clerk. After due deliberation the council
voted unanimously to fellowship the conference as a

Church of Jesus
the church

Christ.

The number

constituting

time was twenty-four, prominent

at that

Sylvester Olney, Silas Church,

Solomon Draper, Mrs. Sarah Hall and

Sally Red-

way.

The

pastors of this church, in the order named,

Rev. Elkanah Comstock,

have been as follows
1812, served three years; Rev, Israel Hodge, two
:

Kev. Solomon Gardner, i820-'29, (a period

marked prosperity for the church) Rev. D. D.

years
of

Chittenden, i829-'32, (94 added to the church)

Rev. E. P. Die preached a short time in 1833

Rev. William Powers, 1834-37; Rev. Mr. Holt,
Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, 1838; Rev. N. Camp,
1837
Rev.
Rev. A. P. Howell, 1841-43
i839-'4i
;

The society worshiped in the school house till

1847, when the present church building was erected
at a cost of about g 1,600.

the wilderness.

common Lord

among whom were

L. North, 1825.

The membership

from different churches of the land.

sheep without a shepherd and

like

their

to the

rear of the church building, two-stories high, 35

40

Baptist faith

They were

Barton Capron, 1843-49; Rev. A. H. Trow, 1849

Rev. N.
-'50; Rev. L. W. Nichols, i850-'S2
Rev.
H. A.
pastorate)
1853-55
(second
Camp,
;

Sizer,

1856-58

Rev.

W. H.

Delano, 1859-60

Rev. Daniel Reese, 1860-64 Rev. Samuel Smith,

1864-67; Rev. Levi Reynolds, i867-'69; Rev.
;

Jacob Smith, 1869-72; Rev. L. Q. Griffin, 1872

-]6. The last named was succeeded by Rev.
Charles Coon, the present pastor.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

28o

The

Deacons were Sylvester OIney and

Silas Church then followed Aaron Case and Henry
Gallaspie
then S. Keiiyon and James Kowe, Sen.
Deacon James Rowe, Sen., was baptized and united
with the church October 8, iS^o, was chosen Clerk
at the next annual meeting, and ser^'ed nine years,
was elected Deacon in 1830 and filled the office till
He was an
the time of his death, January 7, 1873
first

and

efficient

Born

member for

faithful

Saratoga County, October

Stillwater,

in

over half a century.

2,

1773, he came to Onondaga in 1806, was a resident

of the town si.xty-seven years, and all that time
owned and occupied the same farm. He died in

the

00th year of his age.

Among

the old

church are E.

Sunday

B.

School

twenty

church

six years

member for
Lyman Gardner, who united

who has

twenty-one years
with the

and earnest members of the

Wright, Superintendent of the

1822, and served as

in
;

been

James Rowe,

Jr..

Deacon

who has

served

the church in the capacity of Clerk since 1852, has

been a member since 1844.

The
The

membership of the church is 73

Sunday School about 80.
church edifice was erected in i822-'23,

present

attendance

at

first

the

of

ill

health.

The

Rev.

present pastor.

Fancher, commenced

ser\ices

his

the

in

The church numbers about 80

1877.

Abncr
fall

of

Sunday

School about lOO.

Mkthodist Episcopal Church, Cedarvale.

This church was

built

about

1840, and regular

services have ever since been held in

the early

it.

members were R Kcnyon and

Among
wife.

Vol-

ney King, Ezra Lownsbury, John Evans and wife,

Thomas C. Kenyon; Augustus C. Kenyon, and
Alexander Browning. Among the clergymen who
have officiated are Revs Messrs. Youngman, Bush,
Tooke, Cowles, and the present pastor. Rev. D. W.
Sherman. The church is prosperous and has a
well-attended Sunday School.

The Univeksalist Church

at Hewlett Hill was

by the Baptists, and was used by them until
about 849 or '50. The lot had been deeded to them

built

by Leonard Caton upon condition

that,

when they

abandoned it, it should revert to him or his heirs,

Mr. Caton then deeded it to the Uniwhich it did.
versalist Society upon the same condition, and it was
repaired and refitted by the latter. The first officiating Universalist clergyman was Rev. Nelson Brown,

who had preached

number of years
who remained a long

for the society a

timber and shingles being obtained from the pine

previous in the school house and

The
woods of Dryden, now in Tompkins county.
Building Committee was David ChaflTee, William
The church cost
Willett and James Rowe, Sen
sermon
was preached by
$1,300, and the dedicatory
The first
Rev. Sylvanus Haynes, of Elbridge.
stove used in the house was put upon the tops of
In 1834 a parsonage was erected; in
the scats.

He was succeeded by Rev.

Rev.
McMastcr,
M.
James
J. M. Austin, Rev. E. C.
pastors
of the Church in SyraSweetscr, and other
Dr. Green was the first Universalist who
cuse.
preached at this place, out of whose efforts grew the
It was organized with John T. Robinson as
society.
President, and Wheeler Trucsdell as Secretary, who,
with John Case, B H. Case, J. Q. Robinson, Chas.
Land, Giles Case, David Robinson, Eliphas Case

1858 sheds were built the whole length of the

church lot in 1871 the church was thoroughly remodeled in conformity with modern style, and was
rcdedicated November 2, Rev. H.J. Eddy, D. D.
;

of Syracuse, preaching

the sermon

repairs

and

Building

Committee W.

refitting

the
C.

church

The
was

Fish, E.

cost of

^2,000.

B.Wright

and Eusephus Lawrence, were prominent in its orThe society at presganization and maintenance.
ent

numbers about twenty.

has been occupied by the Episcoabout three years, being supplied by

The church
palians for

clergymen from Marccllus, who hold services nearly

and David Hunt.

FiKST M. E. Church, Onondaga Hill. The

edifice of this church was erected in 1874 at a cost
The Trus(including parsonage) of about $6,000.
tees at that time were John McClarencc, Richard
Cradock, Henry Raynor, Monroe Mathewson, and
Cicero Fowler. All of the above Trustees now
officiate,

time with the society.

except Cicero Fowler, deceased, his place

The
being supplied by the election of Asa Strong.
built
under
the
church
organized
and
was
society
the administration of Rev. Frederick DeWitt,

who

876. and was succeeded by

remained pastor
Rev. William Curtis, who remained a little over
one year, and was compelled to resign on account
till

every Sunday afternoon.

The Methouist Episcopal Church of Sooth

Onondaga. This Church was organized about the
Among the first prominent members
year l8i6.
were Wilson Newman, Phebe Bradley, Volney
King, Salina King his wife. Joseph O. Seeley, Roswell Kenyon, Francis Hamilton and Sterling Cole.
The first meetings were held in the school house on
the "corner."

The church was supplied by itinerant preachers,

among whom were Eben L. North (now postmasFather Aylesworth. Elder Puffer,
Newman, (now pastor of the Metro-

ter at the village,)

Rev. John

P.

(V

Mrs Rebecca

Ausns G Wvcirorr

WvoiforF

ALiSTiN

GWrCK'Orr,

Navarino. N y

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

politan Church at Washington, D. C.)
In 1827, a
church edifice was built by the united efforts of the

Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, and Universalist

and was occupied alternately by them.

About the year 1837, the present Methodist Episcopal house of worship was built at a cost of 1,600.
Rev. Dr. Bowen preached the dedication sermon.

In politics, Mr. Parsons was first a Whig, and

then a Republican upon the organization of the latter party.

Societies,

;SS

It is a plain

brick structure, of the

architecture,

modern

style of

and has a seating capacity of about

The first trustees of the new

church were Wilson Newman, Volney King and
Leonard Hodgkins. The pulpit was supplied as
three

hundred.

before by itinerant clergymen.

For the past twelve

years the church has had resident pastors.

The
present pastor is Rev. D. W. Sherman
present
;

membership 80

attendance

Sunday School
about 100
Superintendent of the Sunday School,
Charles Quick. The present Trustees are Leonard
Hodgkins, Moses M. Dwelle and Wm. L. Fisk.
Several members of this church have gone forth
;

at

and occupied prominent and useful

Mary Seeley went forth as a missionary
Rachel C. Newman is Preceptress of

W.

Jared

Parsons,

now
ter,

Rev. E. Lansing

pastor of the North Street

New

York.

This

is

Church

Newman is
at

Roches-

the only church organiza-

tion at South Onondaga and the only church

which regular divine services have been held

in

for

several years past.

his

early

thence to Springfield, and from thence to NorthHe continued to live with his pa-

rents

till

and then came

their death,

in

possession

of the " old homestead," by paying the heirs their

proportion.
The farm in the town of Onondaga
first some three hundred acres, and to
he has added one hundred more, making him
one of the largest farmers in the town.
He has a

contained at

this

fine

home

is in

the buildings are

all

good and his land

a fine state of cultivation.

Mr. Parsons was married to Miss Rachel M.

Swan, of Fabius, Sept. 29, 1840. Mrs. Parsons

was born June

9,

182

and died October

1,

8,

She was a worthy and consistent member

Presbyterian Church.

very

ampton, Mass.

were born

China

origin

at a

period and settled at Windsor, Conn., and removed

into the world

Cazenovia Seminary

of English

is

came from England

forefathers

positions.
to

281

Rose

E.,

politics,

To Mr. and

five children,

viz

Mrs. Parsons

Almira, Electa A.,

Jared Ives and Nellie C.

Mr

1874.
of the

Parsons has always

Parsons.

affiliated

In

with the

Republican party since its organization.

He has
been twice Supervisor of his town, and has always

been

of good schools.

in favor

Though

not a

mem-

ber of any church, he contributes to the support of

the one in his neighborhood.
He is now in very

poor health, and to his only son, Jared Ives, he has

given the control of the "old homestead."

B!OGi|APHic>L Sketches.
A. G.

JARED

W. PARSONS,

WYCKOFF.

Among the many men

whose names appear upon

history, none is more highly respec-

Son of Jared and Electa Parsons, was born May

22, 1820, in Otisco, Onondaga County, N. Y.
His
father was the son of Noah and Sarah Parsons, and
was born in West Hampton, Mass., April 10, 1783,
and settled in this county at Otisco, in 1802.
He

ery County, N. Y., and immigrated to this county, in

married

Miss Electa Wales, of West Hampton,

Mass., in the spring of 1807, by whom he had four

company with

children.

to

Sr.,

Miss E. Wales, now Mrs. Jared Parsons,

was born in 1785. Jared Parsons, Sr., held

several important offices in Otisco,

such as Loan

Com., Justice of the Peace, and Supervisor.

In
1843 he removed to South Onondaga, where he
continued to live with the subject of this sketch
till

his

death,

which occurred

the eighty-third
a worthy
at Otisco.

40"

year of his age.

member

of

the

She died March

year of her age.

May

the page of local

ted by his neighbors than the subject of this sketch.

He

is

the son of Jonathan and Sarah Wyckoff and

was born April

Skaneateles.

work

Charleston,

Montgom-

and settled near

was reared a farmer and continued
father till he was thirty-two years of

his parents, in 1815,

He

for his

age, receiving

11, 1813, at

^100 a year

after his majority.

Dur-

ing this time he was married to Miss Rebecca Eggleston, of Skaneateles, October 9, 1839.

born April

3,

18 18, in

settled there in 1801.

Skaneateles.

She was

Her parents

Mr. and Mrs. Wyckoff have

1866, in

reared four children, namely, Helen A., Jonathan,

His wife was

Church

Austanie R., and Austin G., Jr., all of whom lived

Helen A. died July 18,
to be men and women.
settled in the town of
Wyckoff
Mr.
In
1865.
1845,
he
now owns. He has
place
the
Onondaga, on

29.

Presbyterian
17, 1863, "

the

78th

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

282

made

nearly

a view of which may be seen

In politics, he was first a

member

pation throughout

then a Re-

of the Baptist

comforts of a happy

the necessary

all

home.

THKODORE EDWARD CLARKE.

the

of

village

Pompey

He was

County, N. V.

Hill.

Bliss

23,

Onondaga

son of Hezekiah and

He

his parents

Institute at Whitesboro, Oneida County, N. V.,

and was occasionally employed as an assistant
Theodore D. Weld, who was a teacher
teacher.
" He
and lecturer in the Institute, said of him
had a happy faculty of illustration, and of convey-

ing his ideas to his class."

In Feb. 1801,

worthy member of the Baptist Church of SyraN. Y. On the 23d of September, 1858,
Deacon J. Hunt married Miss Eliza Clark, a native
She was born
of Wcsterlo, Albany county, N. Y.
December i, 1802 her parents were natives of

Clarke.

life.

company with

cuse,

His early educational advanLucy

After pursuing a course of
tages were excellent.
study at Pompey Academy, he entered Oneida
(

in

Theodore Edward Clarke was born January

1806, in

He was

1794

His father died August

and settled near Navarino.
16, 1828. his mother about 1803, and were both
buried on their own farm.
Deacon J. Hunt married Miss Lucy Bliss of this
town, December 25, 1817, and after forty years of
She was
married life she died in November, 1857.

Church.

is

dren and

his active

he came to this county

of the latter party.

now in his 65th year, living respected by

who know him, surrounded by intelligent chil-

Mr. W.
all

is

Whig and

3,

reared a farmer and continued to follow that occu-

work.

in this

formation

the

publican after

Mrs. Wyckofl"

Tolland county, Conn., Januar)-

the improvements on his fine farm,

all

afterwards entered

the office of Jchiel Steams, M. D of Pompey Hill,

but at the end of six months he was compelled on

New England, and were among the earliest settlers

Mrs. Hunt was Principal from
in Albany county.
1829 to 1839, of the "Asylum for Orphans and
Destitute Children " at Albany, N. Y., and on the
27th of April, 845, she became Principal of the" Onondaga County Orphan Asylum," located at Syracuse, N. Y.. and continued to hold that responsible
position until the date of her marriage with Deacon
Hunt.
In her official position she was very effi1

account of

health

failing

Dr. Stearns said

of

him

abandon

to
:

He

"

is

has

his studies.

the most rapid

and thorough student I ever knew. The technical

names with which these studies abound seemed to
be no hinderance to his rapid progress." Theodore
D. Weld writes of him on receiving the intelligence
" My heart aches and bleeds
Ecw
of his death
I

how few

What

have so grown to

loathing of

all

it

as

shams!

tion of the kernel of things."

"

Theodore E. Clarke.

What true
The Rev.

apprecia-

Jared F.

acumen, for profound,

abstract thought, for far-reaching and comprehensive
views, for bold excursions into the unknown, he had
Ostrander says

For

logical

probably few equals."

His compositions, both in prose and verse, from

boyhood up, shadowed forth a mind of no ordinary
He was most deeply and heartily interested
cast.
in all the great moral and religious questions of his
In him total abstinence found a nevcr-wavtime.
advocate.

cring

He

read with avidity

the

pro-

foundest writings of the schools, and discussed and

criticised

them very

familiarly.

He

cient

and performed her duties exceedingly well, and

friends all over this county and

many warm

State,

and even

in

other States,

who

treasure her

memory, and only think of her with the tenderest

Hers has been a noble life, full of good
affection.
memory of them can only be pleasand
the
deeds
She has been a
ant to her in her declining years.
member of the Baptist Church for more than sixty
years, and Deacon Hunt for more than forty years.
The Deacon is one of the most liberal men of
that great denomination, having aided in the build-

He and his worlights of the

bright
and
shining
companion
are
thy
their neighby
church, and are greatly respected
bors.
He has been a very successful farmer, but
whatever he has made has been by industry and
ing of several houses of worship.

many a mid-night hour has witnessed

economy
him at work in the field. In politics he was at first
Deacon Hunt is
a Whig and then a Republican.
the owner of one of the best homes in Onondaga,
;

a view of which, with portraits of himself and wife

appear

in

another part of this work.

purchased a

residence in Baldwinsville and lived there with his

and aged mother imtil his death, which occurred at Syracuse, October 26, 1853.

DAVID CHAFEE,

sister

DEACON JERATHMAEL HUNT,

Son

of

John and Anna Hunt, was born

in

Union,

Father of Ralph Chafee, was born

in

Ashford,

Conn, July 25, 1772. He came to Onondaga in

1799, and worked for Col. Comfort Tyler, in haying
Returning to Connecticut, he
and harvesting.
taught school one winter, and in the spring came

UtS J

yiUHT

moTiu BY W.V

HnMCcn.Srinkciist

OCACON J J^UNT

Photcts. b^'

\V. V. Raugei-.

DAVID CHAFEE.
Among

the pioneer families

of"

this

county none are more

deserving of an honorable mention on the pages of our county

David, perhaps,

it,

He

is

is

the most prominent and successful.

the son of David and Eunice

Chapman

Chafee, and was

born in Onondaga township, February 16, 1805.

David, was a native of Ashford,

Windham

His

father,

of twenty-nine

Haines, and

David Chafee,

Sr.,

Mrs. Eunice C. Chafee was born

settled

in

Marcellus before 1799, and

soon afler removed into this town, near Navarino, where

his eleven

all

of

children were born, namely, Louisa, Ralph, David,

Abner, Comfort

T.,

Guy, George, William H., Eunice, Joshua,

David Chafee,

was a farmer, and carpenter and joiner by

Sr.,

occupation, and reared his family to industry and economy.

polities

many

a Whig.

years.

He

He

held the

office

In

of justice of the peace for

died September 18, 1847, aged seventy-five

David, Jr., had common-school advantages for an education,

going to school a few months in the winter, and working on

the farm summers.

He

purchased a farm of one hundred and

eighteen acres in Marcellus (Tyler Hollow) in the

flill

and married Miss Betsey Kinyon, February

1834.

(5,

Miss Betsey Kinyon was born January 21, 1811,

Her

father,

of 1833,

New

to

Huldah Tucker,

March

necticut,

3,

1791,

Hartford, Oneida county.

Pompey Hollow

small boy, and thence to

a native of Woodbridge,
16, 1815.

in

Massachusetts.

in

New

York, when a

He

1802.

in Otisco.

this county,

and

settled in

Otisco.

Byron

R,.,

and Alice.

young, aged two and one-half years

George died while

Byron R. died

at the

Con-

She was born September 21, 179G.

Mr. Chafee has had two children by his second

David, Jr., and Betsey

aged

five years,

7,

1874, in

M.

seven months, and ten days.

is

wife, namely,

David, Jr., died June 10, 1857,

now

Betsey married

living in Liverpool,

Onondaga

County.

Mr. Chafee was reared a farmer, and,

worked

settled in

nearly

he
all

connection, has

Mr. Chafee

Valley, April 1, 1872, on the place where

Onondaga

resides.

politics

in

the carpenter's and joiner's trade.

at

He

built his present fine

with

affiliated

the Republican

home

in

party.

1872.

Has

In
held

the important offices of his town, such as school

commissioner, justice of the peace, supervisor of the town, and

assessor,

the union of Mr. and Mrs. Chafee three children were

born, namely, George,

married

Windham county,

Pompey.

he now

Benjamin Kinyon, was a native of Connecticut,

and was one of the early pioneers to

By

Removed

She

Pompey, Onondaga County, December 21, 1818.

in

William J. Bassett, and

Eunice Chafee died July 11, 1831.

years.

East

She died February

and died July 31, 1873, and Mr. Lewis, July

and Polly.

M.

Huldah Tucker Lewis, and

Chauncey G. Lewis was born June

1780.

at

Mr. Chafee married Miss Mary Lewis, July 23, 1851.

the daughter of Chauncey G. and

was born

2,

and Alice married William

Cemetery."

county, Connecticut,

man, November 27, 1800.

June

Navarino, and was a very worthy lady.

and was born July 25, 1772, and married Miss Eunice Chap-

Connecticut,

years

living in Iowa.

25, 1849, and was buried at East Navarino, in " Pine Grove

is

in

now

is

Mrs. D. Chafee was a member of the Baptist church

member

history than the Chafee family, and, as an individual

of

age
I

and

in

all

imposed upon him

uents.
liearty,

He

is

these several offices discharged the duties

to the general satisfaction

now an

surrounded by

of his constit-

old gentleman of seventy-three, hale

all

the comforts of a happy home.

and

Photo, b) W. V. lUligor, SjrrmciMi.

RAN8EL

8.

ELIZABETH KENTON.

KENTON.

RANSEL

Rjinsel S.

Kenyon wns

17911.

His nnctntors woro

State.

During the

War

Borvicc for their country,

in the cause of

While yet

in

Uliode Island, January 5,

anion).;

the earliest settlers of that

lx)rn

of the

Revolution they did

and were over found ready

good

to assist

KENYON.

to his

own home

of IMiilip

Van

in

the town of Onondaga, which he purchased

Upon

Cortland.

this

he lived

until his di^th,

which occurred September 10, 1S77.

Mr. Kenyon was a hard-working, indu.strious farmer.

Hi-

paid for his farm by boiling salt at the " Salt Springs" in

Independence.

a boy, RanscI S.

S.

was enrolled

in the State militia,

winter, and working upon his land in

summer.

Albany was the

and was a member of a company called " The Governor's

nearest market in those days.

Life Guard,"' and

Minute Men."

canals.

Syracuse was unknown as such, and had only one log

War

aibin.

He

His regiment was

He

was married

town and State

after
ciillod

to

that

were

termed

'

out once during the "

of 1812."

Miss Elisuibelh Card, a native of the same

as himself,

when he was

In 1816 his family, consisting of

nineteen years of age.

self, wife,

and four children,

lived to see "

There were no

railroads

Old Onondaga" ininsfurnicd from a

wilderness to one of the bt^t and most flourishing

the Stale

ami no

couiitiiis in

Syracuse to change from a single log cabin to

a mighty inland city of more (ban

fifty

thousand inhabitants;

followed an elder brotluT lo the county of Onondaga, N. Y.

he lived to sec the greatest im]irovements

In 1819 he united with the Methodi.tt Episcopal church, and

agriculture, etc., that the world has ever seen.

was ever afUTWards a consistent

seven sons and four daughters to be good, respected citizens.

to advance the vannc of {,'hrist

('hristian,

doing

and build up

his

all in

fallen

power

humanily.

For two years, known as the " Cold Summers," he conducted the
business of a grist-mill, and

many

a grist went away untolled,

although his own family wa in great need.

removed

to Otisco,

Soon

after

he

and remained two years, and then retunied

He

has also seen

his

citiicn

When

and

lie has reared

grandchildren reach manhood's years.

His was a green old age.

eighty-five.

in science, art,

He

wa.s able

to

lalHir

till

he was

he passed away, Onondaga lost a good

and his children a kind

and died n^;rettcd by

all

father.

who knew him.

Ho

lived rcspctcd,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

back and selected a place a little north of Amber,
on land since owned by Jonathan Davis after
chopping down an acre of timber he left it and
;

Lot No. 208

283

above referred to till his death, September 18, 1847,

having raised a family of eight sons and three daughters, all

of whom are living, except the youngest,

who

the town of Onondaga,

died January 12, 1878, aged 57years and 10 months.

which he purchased of the State upon an article of

agreement at $2. 00 per acre, paying interest thereon at six per cent., for a term of years. November
27, 1800, he married Eunice Chapman, daughter of

Mr. Chafee served the town as Assessor in the

years i8o8-'9 and 1816, andwas at that time Justice
of the Peace, and at one time taught school.

Joseph Chapman, of Manlius, and lived on the place

208, in 1800.

selected

in

Daniel Chafee settled on the

lot

north of Lot No.

MARCELLUS.
Marcellus, as laid out in 1794, was one of the
eleven original towns of the county, and comprised
the townships of Marcellus and Camillus and

all

Onondaga Salt Springs Reservation west

of the Onondaga Creek and Lake.
A part of
Onondaga was taken off in 1798 Camillus in 1799;
of the

all

a part of Otisco in 1806

and Skaneateles in 1830.

part of Sempronius, Cayuga County, was annexed
in 1804, and a part of Spafford in 1840.
The town
;

present

at

contains but about thirty lots of the

original township.

No. 9 of the Military Tract, or

about one-tenth of the original town as

first

set

upon the organization of the county.

The surface of this town is a rolling upland,
broken by the deep valley of the Nine Mile Creek,
which extends north and south through the center.

off

The

declivities

and

rise

The

from two

falls,

amount

bordering upon this creek are steep,

of

abundant.

to five

feet in altitude.

of which there are several, furnish a large

water power.

The

soil is

formed by the

Lime and gypsum

are

generally a deep, black loam,

decomposition of the Marcellus

shales, intermixed to

among

hundred

some extent with

clay,

and

is

the richest and most valuable for agricultural

purposes.

Nine Mile Creek

is

of note in the town.

the principal and only stream

It

is

the outlet of Otisco

Lake, and passes through this town from south to

north.

It

its name from the fact that it is

Onondaga Hollow which at the
settlements were made at the Creek

received

nine miles from

time the

first

was
Buck's, the nearest settlement on

was the nearest settlement on the

also nine miles to

east.

It

the west.

comb

Tyler Hollow.

and Codys became residents of the town about the

same time, and a Mr. Curtis and family settled
temporarily on Nine Mile Creek.
The first per-

manent
Rice

William Cobb appears to have been the first white

settler in the town, on the East Hill, east of Nine
Mile Creek, in 1794.
The same year Cyrus Hol-

were Dan Bradley and Samuel

Elnathan Beach

settlers here

of 1795, and Dr.

in the fall

the following winter.

The

frame house

in the

the

first

latter, in 1796,

erected

town, near the dwelling

house of Curtis Moses, of a later day. The second

frame house was erected by Judge Bradley, and the
third

by Deacon Rice.

1806 there were nine

In

dwellings in the village.

From

this

time settlements grew rapidly in

differ-

ent parts of the town.

Among those who

settled

Nathan Kelsey, Thomas

Lawrence.
in sight

viz

Levi

The

on the West

Miller,

Hill

were

and Col. Bigelow

had eight sons who settled

latter

of one another on the east and west

hills,

Joab, Peter, Bigelow, Rufus, Calvin, Jepthah,

and

Dorastus

Lawrence.

Martin

Cossit

and Samuel Wheadon

on South Hill in iSoo. He was followed, in the
same neighborhood, by Josiah Frost, Philo Goddard,
Nathan Healy and Enoch Cowles. Caleb Todd,
Nathaniel Hillyer, Richard May, Martin Goddard.
settled in the village in 1798,

Terrence Edson, Reuben Dorchester and William

F. Bangs, were early settlers on the East Hill at a
later day.

James C.
nent

Miller and sons were the

settlers in the

Mr. Miller had

six

first

perma-

northeast portion of the town.

sons, all except

one of whom,

and himself, died within a short time after their

(Union Village)
A paper mill was erected
was begun in 1806.
there in 1807 and grist and saw mills in 1808.
Most of the early settlers of Marcellus were from
settlement.

Early Settlements.

West Hill, and Samuel Tyler at

The families of Conklins, Bowens

settled on the

Settlement

Massachusetts.

at the falls

Some were from Connecticut and

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

284

Vermont. They paid a high regard to religious

duties and great attention to the training of their
The
children in moral and intellectual pursuits.
early
a
therefore
was
schools
of
establishment
was
school
The
first
matter of public attention.
established in 1796, and was taught in a log school

house (luring the summer by Miss Asenath LawDuring

rence, daughter of Col. Bigelow Lawrence.
the two successive winters the school was taught by
Dan Bradley, afterwards Judge Bradley, who, on
account of

young,

his

interest

in

education of

the

He was

volunteered his services

the

the
first

A frame school house

male teacher in the town.
was soon after erected on nearly the same ground,
after which school
and was occupied till 1807
houses were erected in the village and on the West
;

The

first

mill of any description

erected in the

town was a saw mill on Nine-Mile Creek. It was

built by Samuel Rice and Judge Bradley in the
fall and winter of 1795-6, and stood a short distance
above the stone

mill of

tants were so few at

The

Mr. Talbot.

assist

in

Before the grist mill was built

their mill.

inhabi-

the time that the proprietors

had to get help from Camillus to

raising
in

1800,

the inhabitants had to go to Manlius, fifteen miles,

or to Seneca Falls, twenty-five miles west, which
The first grist
usually took two or three days.
mill was built near the saw mill in 1800 by Mr.
May and Mr. Sayles. For several years it was a
great relief to the inhabitants, for

tom work

for the

it

did

all

the cus-

The

records of this town

destroyed by

fire,

prior

the

so that

to

names

Hon. D.an Bradlf.v. We have already referred

Hon. Dan Bradley in our notes upon the early

He was

one of the most distinguished

Born in Haddam, Conn, on
citizens of Marcellus.
the loth of June. 1767, he graduated with distinguished honors at Yale College in September, 1789,
and received the degree of M. A., at the age of

settlers.

twenty-three.

In October, I790,hewas licensed as

a preacher of the Gospel, and was pastor

in

farming to a
cally.

It

the Board

of

Supervisors

shows that

William Stevens was Supervisor from 1794 to 1797;

Samuel Tyler, in 1797, and Winston Day in 1798.
voters of Marcellus had at

Camillus to

poll their votes.

first to

County of Onondaga and

in this

whole section of the country, was due more to his

influence than to that of any other man. As a patron

and advocate of agricultural societies he was among

the first, and to his opinions and influence many
of the prominent advantages derived by the State
from the law of 1819 was unquestionably owing.
He was elected President of the first Onondaga
County Agricultural Society, in 1819. His numerous articles published

in

the volumes of the State

Agricultural Reports and his contributions to most

of the agricultural journals of the day, established
conclusively the interest he
suit

and the

support.

felt in

his favorite pur-

and intelligence he brought to its

was appointed a Judge of Onondaga

zeal

He

Forman

first

cannot be obtained.
It appears, howby the act of 1794, that the first town meeting was ordered to be held at the house of Moses
Carpenter, about a mile east of the present village
The
of Elbridge, and it was probably so held.
of

both practically and theoreti-

science,

has been said that the improvement of

1830, were

officers

record

of the

Whitestown, (New Hartford,* till 1795, in

September of which year he settled in Marcellus.
His business was that of a farmer, and he reduced

church

of the

ever,

The

to

County Courts in i8ot, and first Judge of the

County in 1808, which oflfice he filled with great
credit till he resigned and was succeeded by Judge

town and part of Onondaga and

Camillas.

1801, and B. Davis Noxon, the next in

in

1808.

agriculture in the

Hill.

town

town,

go down

to

This they considered

1796 mustered all their forces,

Camillus
people, and carried the next
the
out-voted
so that the first
to
Marcellus
town meeting up
town meeting in Marcellus proper was held in 1797
a hardship, and in

The log house at

at the house of Samuel Rice.
which this election was held stood nearly opposite
the house afterwards belonging to William Leonard,
now owned by the widow of Justice North.
Samuel Bishop opened the first law office in the

in 1813.

Judge Bradley died at his residence

September 19, 1838, aged 71 years.

in

Marcel-

lus,

Mention ought here to be made of Rachel Baker,

whose experience in devotional somnittm, so called,
in this town, from 1812 to 1816, furnishes the most

remarkable case of the kind on record.

history of her case

may be

found

in

full

the Transac-

tions of the Physico-Medical Society of

New

York,

page 395.
See also Clark's Onondaga, vol.
ii,
page 294.
This lady was subject to nightly
paroxysms or trances, lasting usually about three

vol.

i,

quarters of an hour, in which, with body and limbs

as rigid and motionless as those of a statue, and in
a state

entirely unconscious

nounced sermons or
devotional character.

herself,

to

she pro-

religious discourses of a high

These discourses were pre

ceded by prayers, her face turned upward to heaven.

The only motion the spectator could perceive was
that of the

organs of speech.

"

She began with

Mahcelius Woolen

Mills.

UKIUS

PWETOR, MARCELLUS.NEWYOffK.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

a text, and proceeded with an even course to the
end, embellishing her discourse with fine metaphors, vivid descriptions and poetical quotations."
She usually passed from her trance state into that

and natural sleep, and awoke in the

morning without any knowledge or consciousness of
what had transpired.
She was born at Pelham, Mass., May 29, 1794.
of regular

At

1868

Thomas Rhoades, i869-'7o ;Oscar J. Brown,

Newton G. Case, 1873 D. G. Coon,
Isaac N. Sherman, 1875-76.
The officers

1871-72
1874
for

1877 are as follows:

President, Isaac N. SherTrustees, James C. Sayre, James Axten, and

Albert Curtis Treasurer, William B. White Col-

man

James Johnson

lector,

She was

finally

These

VILLAGE OF MARCELLUS.
The

store in the village was opened by Dr.

first

Elnathan Beach
ceries

in

He

1796.

kept dry goods, gro-

and medicines, and continued

new

built a

in business

till

Lemuel Johnson succeeded him,

his death in 1801.

and

Eagle Paper Mills, H.

cured by Dr. Spears,

1816.

in

Clerk,

mills

were erected

General Humphreys

and

tavern

then

William Goodwin.

In

by William

lished
in

Mills, Marcellus.

Brick buildings erected

1849.

The

and

Tyler was the

and 75 hands are employed.

Broadway, New York.

Justice of the Peace, appointed

as early as 1798 or 1799.

Dr. Elnathan Beach

came

ticing physician in 1795.

to the

town

house.
He came from
where he was born and
educated.
He was an active and prominent citizen
entered considerably into public life
was
the

erected

Cheshire,

frame

first

Connecticut,

county

the

1799 and held the

in

office

June 4th, 1853, at the house

of John Carpenter, it was decided by a vote of
forty-one to ten to incorporate the present village

At

the

first

charter election, held

July 23, 1853, the following officers were elected

President,

Wm.

Machan

J.

These

The

work.

S. M. Bronson, prodo both merchant and custom

mills

was

first mill

Trustees, Elijah

Row-

H. Cowles, Chester Moses, and J.

Taylor Clerk, H. T. Kennedy Collector, Joseph
Taylor Treasurer, G. N. Kennedy Pound-Master,
Avery Willson. In 1854, Edmund Akin was
;

elected President, Isaac N. Soules, Vice-President,

Bradley,

J.

G.

B.

pres-

day, besides custom grinding, the business of the

power

lage,

is

The

1875.

water-

a fine one.

Bro's, Paper Mills, established in

Manufacture Straw Wrapping Paper. The

White, Nathan G. Hoyt,

is

the

on the creek below Marcellus

first

Marcellus Falls Flouring Mills,

mills

vil-

and employs nine hands.

Rathbon, proprietors.
run of stones, on the

Isaac N. Soules, Isaac Bradley, Daniel G. Coon;

The

built in 1827.

present proprietor dating from

Built in

1875,

the old

site of

Rollin

with

&

four

These

mill.

manufacture merchant and custom flour

capacity

fifty

barrels of the former per day, and

four hands employed.

Assessors, A.

and

and 331

ent mills have a capacity of about forty barrels per

1865.

election held

of Marcellus.

g6o,ooo,

is

Marcellus Stone Mills,

mill

At an

capital

Office 329

Sherman

Incorporation.

ley,

The

four sets of cards.

prietor.

1801.

his death, in

in 1849, 1864
by waler-power, and

mills are run

SheriflT of
till

87 1.

have

as a prac-

year or two after he

Estab-

Machan and Chester Moses

J.

1799 the first postoffice was established at the village, Dr. Elnathan Beach, Postmaster.
Samuel
first

Co.

in 1844,

facturing establishments in this section of the State.

Lucius Moses, Woolen

first

&

Lawless

J.

by Messrs. Reed
& Case, who sold the property to John F. Jones. In
1875, the present firm was organized, and have since
conducted the manufacture of Rag Wrapping Paper
and Print Wrappers. The mills are located at Marcellus Falls, and are among the leading paper manu-

store.

Deacon Samuel Rice kept the

Thomas Walker.

Manufactures.

the age of nine her parents removed with her

to Marcellus.

285

Phoenix Paper Mill, A. Robinson,

Established

proprietor.

Capacity two tons per day.

in 1873.

Straw Wrapping Paper. Buildings erected in 1872.

This paper mill employs twelve hands.
Edward Johnson, of Fayetteville, has a Pearl
Barley Mill at Marcellus Falls.

Trustees.

The

following

is

list

of the Presidents

1855 to 1877: Luke I.

Daniel G.
Tefft, 1855; Stephen Cobb, i8s6-'S7;
Coon, 1858; Cornell Crysler, 1859; William Wellvillage of Marcellus

ington,

i860

Chester Moses,

1861

John

H.

524, Marcellus, N. Y., in-

Morning Star Lodge No.

from

Cowles, 1862-63; E. R. Howe, 1864; Chester

Moses, 1865-66; Ira Bush, 1867 Chester Moses,
41

Masonic.

of the

Charter

stituted in 1862.

M.

Henry

C. Sarr, S.

Officers for 1878

Dorchester, S.

D.

W.

Gilbert, Sec.

I.

W.

officers,
;

E. P. Howe,

John E. North, J.

N. Sherman,

W.
W.

W. M. R. E.
Seth
J. W.

Augustus Austin,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

286

A CHURCHES.

Y. M. C.

County, and the Pacific Ocean, which was

In the month of June, 1876, seven young men of

met and started a Sunday afternoon

Rev. Seth Williston was missionary here in 1800,

and subsequently Rev. Caleb Alexander, who offi-

Marcellus

in a room over Irving Moses' store.

regularly attended with gratifywere
meetings
The
The increase of their numbers and
ing success.

prayer meeting

ciated in organizing the society.

Among

members of the church were

Thomas, Mary,
named persons
Lucy, Asahel and Hannah North, Thomas North,
Jr., Samuel and Hannah Rice, James C. and Sarah
Miller, Martin and Olive Cossit, Dan and Eunice
Bradley, Samuel and Phebe Wheadon, Caleb Todd,
and Thomas Cathcart.
the

the good influences arising from their holy work in-

duced them to organize themselves into a permanent body for the purpose of accomplishing greater
Accordingly, a Young Men's Christian
results.

nth

Association was formed, on the

Room

the Session

1876, at

of February,

Presbyterian

of the

February

the election of ofTicers.

for

7,

tavern.

and

At

members.

of the Association consists in holding

gospel meetings, at difTerent places in the town,

and

Sunday School work.

in

Prayer Meeting

is

held

at

Sunday morning

9:30

a.

First Chukch
its

of Makcellus.

This

and

at

gregational in

its

having

management

of

its affairs

who constituted

element

the

in

a standing

Marcellus.

settlement, and for twenty years after-

first

wards, they were sufficiently united practically to

combine
for a

their strength

common

and resources

in

providing

and on the 13th

religious worship;

of October, 1801, they formed a church under the

I

simple yet comprehensive

society

title, "

Church

"

" in

May, 1802, of which Dan

Bradley, Martin Cossit, James C. Miller, Martin
Goddard, Thomas North and Nathaniel Kelsey
were Trustees.
Materials for a house of worship were set up at
auction, and among the bidders were nearly all the
inhabitants of the town at that lime. The edifice
was completed in 1803, and was the first church
building

renown
meeting

it

ifi

the County of

Onondaga.

was then remarked that

house between

New

it

"

By way

in

more circumspect in my
Jas. C. Millkk."

March, 1807, from an attack

of typhus fever.

Of

the eighteen

ever removed

One

original

members only

three

with the church.

their connection

of these died under 50 years of age, four be-

Within the
of
last seven years only ten members have died
these, eight were over 80 and one 73 years of age.
tween 60 and 70, and four over

80.

Pastors.

was born

of

was the only

Oneida

Hartford,

charitably to believe that the offense was unpremeditated, that it took place under circumstances
not affording much opportunity for reflection, and
that I had not the least intention to wound the feelings of any of my Christian friends, or to offend
now sincerely,
I
against the rules of the church.
and, I hope, humbly, confess that I have done
wrong, have given occasion of offense to my brethren of this church and have dishonored my ChrisI
ask the forgiveness of this
tian profession.
church and all my Christian friends, and for the

Mr. Miller died

Trustees of the Eastern Religious

Society of Marcellus

future will endeavor to be

[Signed,]
walk.

of Christ."

was also formed under the name and

style of the

Whereas,

There were a few Baptists and people of other

reli{;ious proclivities among them
but at the time
of the

and served
and

his frank

did sometime in the month of April

last suffer a few of the young people of my neighborhood to dance a short time at my house, which I
now believe was, under existing circumstances,
wrong and inconsistent with my engagement with
I do therefore request my brethren
this church
"

the controlling religious

settlement of

early

clerk,

first

To show

passage entire from his records

and arrangement,

internal policy

themselves

honest Christian character, we insert the following

its

same time Con-

the

to

throng of travelers stopping with them.

the church for five years.

committee instead of a regular church session. Its

membership has been made up of different denominations, but chiefly of Presbyterians and Congregationalists,

At whatever inconvenience

to the

minister.

is

church

organization Presbyterian in

ecclesiastical relations,

for the

Deacon Samuel Rice's

in

James C. Miller was the

doing noble work.

has been from

which

m.,

held

Deacon and Mrs. Rice would have their large upper

room made ready every Sabbath for the worship of
God. And though the good Deacon could not
write a sermon himself, he could read one with
more eloquence of heart and voice than many a

Association, February,

1877, there were forty-three active

The work

were regularly

i8th of February, and a meeting appointed on the

the annual meeting of the

the original

following

Before the erection of the church edifice services

Church of Marcellus, with a membership of twentytwo persons. A constitution was adopted on the
2 1 St of

literally

the fact."

Rev.

in

Levi

Parsons,

graduated at Williams College

I

the

North Hampton, Mass,

theology with Dr. Hyde,

in

180 1.

first

in

pastor,

1779, and

He

studied

of Lee, Mass., and was

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

licensed

As

preach at Stockbridge, Mass.,

to

Missionary of

tiie

in

First Baptist Religious Society of Marcel-

1806.

lus Located

Berkshire Missionary Society,

he visited the new settlements westward as far as

Niagara, and settled at Marcellus in September,
He was the second pastor in this whole
1806.
region of country

Wallace) a

Pompey having one

He

little earlier.

preached

lus thirty-three years,

except an

years spent in Otisco.

He

(Rev. Mr.
at

Marcel-

interval

died, widely

of two

known and

November 20, 1864, aged 85 years.

While Father Parsons was preaching in Otisco,

respected,

Rev. Levi Griswold supplied his place.

The second settled pastor was Rev. John
kins,

who

served

What was

church

the

287

twenty-five years.

Thorn

At

Hill.

the time the

was called South Marcellus.

The date of organization was September i, 1815, at
which loi members constituted the Society. John
Kneeland and Nathan Thompson, Deacons. Among
it

members were Samuel Conklin, Amasa

Kneeland, Daniel Cody, Joshua Chandler, Amasa
Sissons, Luther Manley, Salmon Hunt, John Hunt
and David Fitzgerald. The first meeting-house

the leading

was

18 16, and

built in

stood a few rods southwest

The present edifice was

1849 cost about ;5i,500. The fol-

present edifice.

of the

Tomp-

at

church was organized

completed

in

lowing have been pastors of the church

have been his quarter-centennial an-

Rev.

niversary was suddenly and mysteriously changed

Harman, i8o8-'i6; Rev. Salmon Morton,

i8i6-'i9; Rev. J. B. Worden, i8io-'35
Rev. B.

to his funeral service.

W.

His successor, Rev. W. S. Franklin, of Syracuse^

was pastor during a period of three years, and was
succeeded by the present pastor. Rev. D wight

Rev.

to

who

Scovel,

is

now

(1878) in the seventh year of

his pastorate.

The

original church edifice, erected in 1803, cost

^1,500,

including,

afterwards.

perhaps,

painting three

years

In 1814 another bent was added and

a steeple, and the house was newly painted at an exIn

pense of ^4,500, raised by selling the pews.
1858,

it

was frescoed and painted

and immediate-

ly preceding the 75th anniversary, in October, 1876,

it

received a tin roof, was painted without and new-

ly frescoed

which, with a

new

pulpit

and

furni-

ture and the liquidation of all debts, cost g 1,600.

In 1845 the church numbered 162; in 1857, it
was reduced by deaths and removals to 130; the
revivals of i858-'59, increased
170,

the

highest

the membership to

number ever attained.

now (1878) numbers

afterwards to 144, and

It

fell

Elias

Capron, i835-'40

Palmer,
i850-'5i

ner,

Rev.

J.

Rev. Thos. Brown, i840-'48

i848-'5o;

Rev.

William

Baldwin, i853-'54

Wilkins,

The Sunday School was organized June 14, 1818,

It was among
and soon numbered 146 scholars.
United
States, a
in
the
Schools
Sunday
the first
formed
in New
previously
few only having been
on
with
England. From the first it was carried

iS5i-'52;

Rev. A. Milen, i855-'56

Rev. Hiram'Powers, i856-'59

Rev. Mr. Bowen,

Rev. J. Suley,

died here, 1859

one month
Rev. E.
i8S9-'6o; Rev. Wm. Roney, i86o-'64
B. Hatch, i864-'69; Rev. Wm. L. Goodspeed,
!

i870-'74

Rev.

Wm. Haw,

i874-'76

Rev.

P, Perry,

1877, present pastor.

Membership, 94 Sunday School, 112.

First Methodist Episcopal Church, MarThe earliest meetings were held in a
cellus.
;

school-house in Marcellus
1816, in

the

house of Mr.

afterwards, in the year

David Holmes.

The

Society was not organized into a corporate body

Dec.

8,

1823, at the house of Stephen Cobb.

first class

The

bers.
class

was formed

in

David Holmes and

1816 with sixteen

wife,

till

The
mem-

members of that
Temperance Holmes,

following persons were

wife,

Matilda Holmes, Susan Holmes,

149.

Rev. Sylvester Gard-

Joseph Gilson, Isaac B.

Bush and

Thomas Pryor and

Benham and wife,

memorizing Scripture
committed in one year 1,000 verses
The present
each, and Dr. FrankHn' Bangs 3,000.

wife, John Rhoades

and a Mrs. Hawley. The first church
was built of stone, on the hill west of the village,
the place now occupied by the Catholic Church as
The second church was built of stone
a cemetery.
occupied as a residence by Dr.
now
on the spot
The third church edifice was built of
Richards.

number

brick, in the year 1857,

deep

interest, especially in

several scholars

of scholars

is

178

teachers, 19.

has furnished two missionaries to

Rev. Dan Bradley, Jr., for
foreign countries, viz:
many years a missionary to Siam, and Rev. Geo.

The church

Todd, a returned missionary and now pastor at

Arkport, N. Y. Also, as home ministers, Rev.
Levi Parsons, D. D., son of the first pastor, settled
Rev. J. Edward Close, of
at Mt. Morris, N. Y.
Baker, of Onondaga.
S.
Rev.
and
James
Jordan,
;

Polly Shepherd, Silas

and

wife,

on the

site of the

present

This edifice was burned January 25, 1877,

church.
and the present new and beautiful church was built
fire, at a
the same year the former was destroyed by
church
of about $ri,ooo, the stone of the old
cost

conforming the basement. This Society has been

pastors
devoted
and
good
by
served
tinuously
From 187s to 1878, Rev. Wm. Jones was pastor.

The

present membership

is

about 200.

Sunday

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

288

School has a membership of 150.

bers of this church have

gone

mem-

Several

forth as ministers of

church was

Up

had no resident clergymen, but was

This Church was organized in 1823, under the

name of " First Zion Society of Marcellus," while

James Church of Skaneateles.

members were Methodists, and

tinued to regard

the Society con-

and was regarded by others

itself

as a Methodist Church.
The name

corporation was

changed

The

the

in

to the year 1836. the society

the Gospel.

its

down

burned

unfortunately

winter of 1867.

in

charge of

St.

present church edifice was built under the

charge of Rev. Robert M. Duff, Rector of

St. James
Church at Skaneateles, at a cost of $3,300
It is a
plain wooden structure capable of seating comfort-

in

ably about 250 persons, and has a fine organ valued

September, 1877, on application to Judge Riegel,

from " The First Zion Society of Marcellus," to
" The First Methodist Episcopal Church."

The church is under the charge of St.

Andrew's Associate Mission of Syracuse Rev. C.
P. Jennings, Dean of St. Andrews, Rector
Mr.
John H. Lloyd, assistant in charge.
The present church officers are, viz
S. W.,
Newton G. Case; J. W., Lucius Moses Vestrymen, Orlando Beach, Myron H. Whiting, Dan Moses,
Storms M. Griffin, Willis Case, Thad. C. Beach,
James C. Sayre and Kdwin Whitney. The church
numbers forty families, forty communicants, Sunday

of the

St. Francis Xavier's

In the year 1853, the

Church

first

Church, Marcellus.

services of the Catholic

were held

house of John
The church was organized in 1854, and

in Marcellus,

McNally.

at the

consisted of about twenty members,

among whom

were John McNally, John Glover, Patrick Mc

Laughlin, John Kerwin, Michael Curtin, John Mc
DonncU, Jeremiah Curtin and James McNally.
In 1853, Rev. Michael Haes, of Syracuse, was

The

pastor.

Wm.

cuse, 1862

Rev.
J.

following have since officiated

Rev.

McCallian, 1S54; Rev. Father Hutler, Syra;

Rev. F.

Hayden,

J. Purcell, Skaneateles, 1873

re.sident pastor,

1874
McDonough, present pastor, (1878
J. J.

The number

of families

is

about one hundred and

attendance of one hundred

with an

School scholars, thirty-four

teachers, six.

In connection with the history of the churches

of Marcellus,

we append

the following brief sketch

of the Methodist Chapel at Marcellus

The

was organized

cellus

F"alls.

Methodist class of the town of Mar-

first

Marcellus

at

at

the

members

at

Marcellus Falls claimed that

residing at the village maintained that

The pastoral residence was purchased in 1873.

The church from the first has experienced an en-

be built at Marcellus, because of

location.

couraging and prosperous growth.

regular class.

St.

The

facts

it

should

be located at Marcellus Falls, but the members

Sunday School.

John's Church of Marcellus.

When

F'alls.

the subject of building a church was agitated, the

fifty,

Rev. B.

at $f<Xi.

its

it

ought to

more

central

For some time there has not been a

Services have, however, been held

by the Methodist and Presbyterian ministers

who

of this

preached alternately

at

church, have been kindly furnished by Mr. John

Sunday School and

a prayer meeting have been

H. Lloyd, present assistant in charge.

This church was organized in the year 1824.
Meetings were regularly held in the school house

both

Methodist and

ladies

sewing

contained

in

the

of the village of

following

brief

Marcellus until

sketch

1827,

when Mr.

White generously gave the society the lot upon

which the present church building stands. The

regularly held and

circle

least

once a fortnight.

supported by the members of

Presbyterian

keeps

chapel and furnishes books for

library

and the choir,

purchased a

for

churches.

commodious
the Sunday School

in repair the

which they have recently

fine cabinet organ.

SKANEATELES.
Skaneateles

is

the southern town on the west line

of the county, and derives

its

name from

the lake

on both banks of which the southern portion of the

This lake is a beautiful sheet of
town is situated.
water, extending from the northwestern corner of
Cortland county, along the entire western boundary
of the town of Spaflford, and north to the center of

the town of Skaneateles. Its Indian name, according

some, signified " very long lake," according to

to

others, " beautiful squaw."

"

Hananttoo," meaning

"

The

outlet

was

called

water running through

thick hemlocks."

The town
cellus

of Skaneateles

February

26, 1830.

was formed from Mar-

The

surface

is

rolling

rhoto, by Wildey, Skaneatelcs.

JUDGE HEZEKIAH EARLL.

The

Earll family

is

The

of Welsh origin.

Earlls emigrated

from Wales to Nova Scotia at quite an early day

were scattered in the different parts of
eastern part of

New York

State, near

New

from thence

Lake Champlain.

Onondaga Hollow

sons, hardy, enterprising

in the

He

year 1792.

men, who

settled in

The

Earlls were generally farmers,

had eight

different parts

owning consider-

came and

settled

They

on Lot 27, near Skaneateles.

deal at a very early

He

at a

day

for the

by

it

but afterwards, though

very early day, the land-mark long

known

This was on the old Genesee road.

road that a pathway was

first

as the old

It

was by

opened to Skaneateles, and

the earlier settlers came.

Onondaga

until

Hezekiah,

is

in 1817, at the

Robert Earll had six sons, one of whom,

Hezekiah Earll was born about the year 1790.

one of

its

himself with the

history of

He

most successful business men.

integrity of character.

He

engaged

in

life

has

manly

many

as

was universally
virtues,

and

business enter-

though his principal occupation was farming.

years of his

He

Onondaga County

respected and beloved for his moral worth,

prises,

His

son,

George H.

The

latter

he resided at the " Community Farm," about

three miles from Skaneateles,

where he died October 30, 1863.

whom

died in

Earll, at the death of his father

known

as the "

Community Farm," and

1818.

in

He

died in 1873.

In his youth he received a

the

&

of Sandford

office

&

Green, in Buffalo, and was admitted to the bar in due course

Instead of pursuing the practice of law he entered

of time.

was prominently

into the manufacturing business and

men

identi-

with that and other business interests which were uniformly

successful.

In

in

Moseley, and afterwards with Sherwood

His

life

He was

marked charac-

a true and substantial friend to the working-

of Skaneateles and vicinity.

politics

Strong

was a remarkably busy one.

sense and unfaltering energy were his

Mr. Earll was

nently identified with political affairs in

the subject of the above sketch.

pleas from

thorough academic education, and subsequently studied law

teristics.

which occurred

Earll,

history of

Julius Earll, eldest son of Hezekiah Earll, was born in the

advanced age of

identified

Judge of Onondaga County common

was an enterprising and successful farmer.

1810, and after that lived near his sons Robert and Abijah

eighty-eight years.

Hezekiah
official

Hezekiah Earll had seven children, three of

infancy.

common

until his death,

president.

1835, and member of the Twenty-sixth congress, 1841 and 1842.

fied

Daniel Earll, Sr., remained in the town of

its

Earll, eldest brother of

1831, superintendent of Salt Springs from 1831 to

to

town of Skaneateles

opening of this region.

built at first a log house,

Red House."

this

1823

did a good

Robert Earll probably had a school opened before any in the

"

some years connected with the Auburn Exchange

inherited the homestead

In the winter of 1794-5, Robert Earll and his brother, Abijah,

still

the county.

many

able land.

village.

for

has occupied several important stations in the

of the county, and became a powerful family in their

branches.

was

Judge Nehemiah H.

England, and in the

Daniel Earll came from Whitehall, Washington county, and

settled at

He

bank, and was at one time

he was a pronounced Democrat.

also promi-

Onondaga County.

He

several times

represented his district in State conventions, but never consented to accept a political

was president and

paper company.

office.

principal

He

At

the time of his death he

stockholder of the Hart street

died, July 26, 1876, while

still

age and in the midst of an active and prosperous

He

left

a widow, a son, and daughter,

eateles, his sou

who

still

in

middle

life.

reside in Skan-

being Julius H. Earll, of that place.

MffS.A J.f^RLL

RESIDENCE

Of

A J.
.

CARLL 5ANt*:u
.

A.J.

ONDAGA County. Nev* York.

Earll.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

or moderately hilly, and from the lake slopes beautifully

upwards

feet, affording,

to a height from

hundred
on both borders, some of the most

beautiful sites for residences in

which are occupied by

The soil
in
it

is

two

fine

the State,

many

cottages and

principally a clay loam.

the town
numerous

to five

The

of

villas.

only stream

the outlet of the lake, which has upon

is

falls,

this town.

The
water

for

winter of 1794-5, and remained there about a year.

Afterwards, Robert, Benjamin, Watson and Abijah

removed

to Marcellus

on Lot No.

Lake

dam

across the out-

purpose of retaining the

for the

the Jordan level of the Erie Canal.

This

Robert and Abijah settled

and the other two on Lot No. 11,

27,

In

came from Washington

Lot No. 19, Marcellus. He
Solomon, Jonas, Jr., and David.

Jonas

1802,

County and

Solomon died many years ago.

October,

advanced age of 96.

at the

to two miles broad and four feet deep, from

Formerly,
which to draw during the dry season.
before the State improvements on the limestone bed

ofifices

in

some three miles north

dry seasons,

fully

one half

of the

disappear in the fissures of the rocks.

of the village,

water used to
In order to

save the water the State has expended large

money.

The channel

sums

of

bottom chinked with small stone, clay and grout, so

that, since this was done, there has been but little

The

lake

two hundred

feet

waste.

is

more than twenty

the highest in the county,

some

higher than Otisco and one hun-

1826 to

manufacturing materials.

Early Settlers.
According to Clark's Onondaga, the settlers in
John Thompson, the
this town came in as follows
within the present
family,
first white man, with his
a Mr. Robinson in
limits of the town, in 1793
1794; from this till 1796, Lovell Gibbs, Jonathan
Mr. Gibbs kept the first
Hall and Winston Day.
In 1797, and soon after,
tavern in a log house.
came Warren Hecox, James Porter, Dr. Munger,
Dr. Samuel Porter, Elnathan Andrews, John Legg,
:

at

Robert Earll had

six sons, viz

Daniel Earll, with his brother Nehemiah, came

from Washington County and settled at Onondaga

Nehemiah, who had one daughHollow, in 1792.
died in 1808.

Daniel Earll had the following

Jonas, Daniel, Nathaniel, Robert,

Benjamin, Watson, Nehemiah and Abijah. The

named

the

Isaac,
Ira.

Robert,

Robert,

same

Sen., died in 1834, and his son Ira about the

The

time.

other sons remained residents of the

who removed to WyomJudge Nehemiah H. Earll occupied

county, except Robert Jr,

several important stations in the official history of

He was Judge

the county.

of the Court of

Pleas from 1823 to 1831

the Salt Springs from 1831 to

of

the

XXVIth

Com-

Superintendent of
1835, and

Member

Congress, in 1841 and 1842.

Daniel Earll, Sen., remained in the town of Onondaga till 1810, when he removed to Marcellus
(now Skaneateles) and lived near his sons Robert
and Abijah until his death, which occurred in 1817,
aged 88. This numerous and influential family

were

Massachusetts

of

Pardee

Charles

white child born

is

origin.

said

to

have been the

the town of Skaneateles.

in

first

He

died at his residence in the village of Skaneateles,

April

10,

his birth

1878, aged 82 years, which would

to

have occurred

in

1796.

make

He was

prominent man, and during his active business life

was thoroughly identified with nearly every interest
of his native town.
of the most distinguished citizens of the
Daniel Kellogg, Esq., became a resicounty, viz
dent of Skaneateles in the spring of 1803. He was

One

i8io.

ter,

Nehemiah H., Hezekiah, Hiram and

Moses Loss, John Briggs, Nathan Kelsey, Wm.

and Dr. Benedict.
J. Vredenburg, Isaac Sherwood
from 1802 to
Earlls,
Then came the Kelloggs and

Sheriff of

Syracuse from 1837 to

1841.

mon

facturers for

years

several

1830, for

impregnated with lime hence the water is pure,

soft and limpid, and has been highly valued by manu-

washing and cleansing wool and other

and held many important

was a member of Assembly

County and Postmaster

ing county.

was

Earll, Jr.,

of the county for

years,

He

of trust.

Jonas

men

1820 and 1821, and Senator from 1822 to 1827,

a member of the XXth and XXIst Congresses, from

Owasco, on either side of it. It

above the limestone
is situated among the shale
stratum, and is mainly fed by springs which are not
dred higher than

political

in

been turned and the

has

Jonas, Jr., died in

1846, and Jonas, Sen,, in October, 1847,

one of the leading

of the stream,

Earll

settled on

forms a vast reservoir, eighteen miles long by from

one

same town.

in the

had three sons

State has constructed a

of the

let

daga with their father.

Robert and Benjamin
removed with their families to Onondaga in the

furnishing an abundance of water-

In 1840, a part of Spafford was annexed to

power.

289

sons, viz

two youngest, Nehemiah and Abijah, came

to

Onon-

born in Williamstown, Mass., April 19, 1780.

After spending two years as a student in Williams
College, he studied law in the office of Abraham
Van Vechten, Esq of Albany, and was admitted
,

to

the Bar

in

October, iSoo.

In

1801, he began

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

290

the practice of law in the village of Auburn, then

he married

in that

the early settlers and their immediate descendants.

Hon. Freeborn G. Jewett was

In 1802

a hamlet of only a few scattering houses.

place Miss Laura Hyde, and in

removed to Skaneateles. He soon became

In 1813
famous both as a lawyer and financier.
counties
District-Attorney
for
the
was
appointed
he
of Onondaga. Cayuga, Chenango and Cortland, and

and of the old Supreme Court

1803,

the duties of the

discharged

ability for three

Hank

of

years.

Auburn

financial station

1836.

Cut

powers,

when

4,

the

off in

many

August

The
eateles

which occurred May

vigor of his mental

full

years

of

active

usefulness

now stands was

Hall erected the second

Dr.

In 1797.

year.

house

is

erected by Lovell Gibbs in

first

in

The

the place.

noted as having been

in the first raft

Provisions were obtained chiefly from the towns of

to lay out the

across the outlet where the village

Onondaga county.

what

earlier,

The

following from Clark's Onondaga,

was

wheat."

After the early settlers had prospered, so as to

surplus, the markets for

Albany and

Utica.

produce were

times fourteen days, and often longer, to

journey to Albany and back

same length

at

took a horse team in those

an

o.\

make

used to pass
friends.

The
at

of goods.

private

and game. Skaneateles Lake has been

noted for its abundance of excellent trout, some of
which have been taken weighing fifteen pounds.
Perch have also been caught m considerable numFormerly the region around the lake and the
bers.
Deer were often seen
river abounded with game.

swimming

across the lake and canoes and skiffs of

were put

all

sorts

all

hands joined

in

in

requisition to capture

them

the chase, and the pleasurable

reminscences of the sport are often recounted by

in

visiting

their

the time of the

It is

first

in 1871,

the

Cayuga and Seneca

first

settlements this

first

by a special act of the Legis-

a fine structure, too feet in width.

frame school house

Skaneateles Village

the

with

At

by the State

lake and forests, however, were well supplied

crossing at

trail,

Judge Jedcdiah Sanger erected the first grist and

saw mills at the outlet of the lake in 1796. The
first bridge was built by the Seneca Road Company
It was twenty-four rods long by twentyin 1800.
four feet wide, and stood upon fourteen posts.
When it was rebuilt the second time, in 1842, its
length was reduced to twenty-four feet. The iron
bridge spanning the outlet at present, was erected

team about the

fish

passage

situated.

quarter north of the village.

a load of grain or potash, and bringing back a load

The

its

now

was the only road in the town. The old Genesee

Road was first cut out and traveled a mile and a

lature.

of time to go to Utica and return, taking

is

along which the Oneidas and Onondagas

village,

Seneca Turnpike, secured

an old Indian

followed

It

related

by Warren Hecox, one of the oldest settlers

" In 1799, there was an uncommon scarcity of
grain, and he had to send to Scipio. twenty miles,
and pay two dollars and fifty cents for one bushel of
He could only raise money enough to purwheat.
He hired a horse at
chase a single bushel at a time.
fifty cents a day. and sent a boy eighteen miles to
Montville. in Sempronius, to get the bushel ground,
the mills at Auburn and
which took two days
Camillus having stopped running on account of the
Many of his neighgreat drought of that season.
bors were in a worse predicament, for they could

It

ever

by Judge Sanger. The Judge had invested

money in land and mill sites at the outlet of
Skaneateles Lake, and as one of the Commissioners

Aurelius and Scipio, which had been settled some-

raise a

large

in this

in trade

the means of subsistence scanty and precarious.

money nor

timber

on Skaneateles Lake. The first store was

kept by Wmston Day, who, in 1797, erected a commodeous building for the purpose, and was set up

primitive settlers of Skaneateles often found

get neither

during the

James Porter erected a

afloat

PlONEEK LiFK.

in

(See

Judge Jewett was born

>

frame house where the village of Skan-

first

tavern, the

worth.

and were then

of Appeals

of Judicature.

1791. and died January 27, 1858.

4,

1796.

same

might have reasonably been anticipated, his death

was regarded as a public calamity, especially by
business men who knew and could appreciate his

The

prominent citizen

VILLAGE OF SKANEATELES.

signal

that important

held

his death,

till

with

Civil List of the County.

Elected President of the

1818. he

in

office

of Skaneateles Judge of the Court

teacher.

in

1798.

in

town was erected

Nicholas Otis was

school had

been kept

in

room in the village before the house was

built, by Ebenezer Castle.
A postoffice was first established at Skaneateles
in 1804.

William

J.

successor was John

Vredcnburg, Postmaster.

TenEyck; and Charles

J.

His
Bur-

was Postmaster from 1817 to 1843.

A steamboat was first put upon Skaneateles Lake
It failed to meet expectations and after a
1831.

nett

in

while was converted into a sail-boat.

The

experi-

ment was again tried, (and has proved more sucwhen the " Skaneateles," a neat and commodious steamboat, commanded by Captain Hecox,

cessful)

^sS=

kt&aa^B^BH

j^
:<.,r,.A.)'.\v.,

.'

,..

I,

lit
I It
(

<

V/w OF DAFVLL

MILLS PROPiRlY

of

THOMAS

IN

AT

Skaheatcus Falls, Onondaga County, Wew York.

\-

Urs D CThohntoh

DC

THomroH

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

was put on July 4, 1848. The propeller, "Glen
Haven," Captain E. B. Coe, now plies upon the
lake between Skaneateles and Glen Haven.

and

From

picturesque

this village the

in

one of the most

is

New

Central

York.

On

width.

marshes

the

Joel Thayer, 1864-65; Wm. R. Gorton,

1866; Newell Turner, 1867; Jacob C. DeWitt,
1868
C. Pardee, 1869; H. B. Dodge, 1870; James
A. Root, 1871 C. Pardee, 1872; Thomas Kelley,
1 873-74-75
William Marvin, 1876
Thomas
;

eye measures about half the

distance of the lake to the south, a mile and a

half in

1854; John Legg, 1855

John Barrow,
Freeborn G. Jewett, 1857 Thomas Snook,
1858 Spencer Hannum, 1859 C. W. Allis, i860
Harrison B. Dodge, 1861-62
Charles Pardee,
1856

1863;

Village of Skaneateles

lovely

Fuller,

Scenery.

The

291

shores

no

are

The

to disfigure the prospect.

bogs

or

Thomas

Kelley, 1877;

Wm.

Kelley,

H. Lawton,

lake

Simon

Packwood, James Jewell, John E. Waller,

L. Irish, Russell B. Wheeler, Trustees, 1878.

seem to be resting on the water's brink. Villas

and lawns give a charm enhanced by distance; and
the woodlands, clothed in richest green, rock and

Clerk,

James

their foliage in

rustle

the wind.

golden grain of the cultivated

breeze

rich velvet

banks of the

sloping

turf of the gradually

autumn the

In

waves

fields

in

the

the flocks and herds graze in the lu.xuriant

John

P.

Wheadon. Treasurer, John Davey.

Skaneateles has three Banks, viz

Skaneateles,

the State in i86g

capital

the following officers, viz

Lapham, Charles Pardee,

neatness and taste.

Cottages,

mansions, gardens, fences, business places, churches,

school

houses,

manufactories,

are

and healthy

dilapidation and preserved in a fresh

state of repair.

more

It

would be

desirable village to live in

kept from

all

difficult

to

find a

than Skaneateles.

An Academy

was established at Skaneateles in

seems never to have been incorporated,
and was subsequently merged in a consolidated
1840.

It

school established by the Quakeress, Lydia

Mott, on the western shore of the lake, popularly

known

as " The

ing school for

The

Richard Tallcot, Anson

Thayer, Henry L.

Joel

John Barrow, Josias

I. Hubbard, Thos.

Allis,

Henry T. Webb, Henry

Leonard H.

H.

Earll,

J.

L.

Joab L.

Clift,

Earll, Ezekiel B.

Hoyt, Geo.

present officers are

Its

Clift.

President; John M. Nye,

first

Vice-

John H. Smith, second Vice-President

Charles Pardee, George T. Campbell, George W.
Earll, Willis Piatt, J. C. DeWitt, L. H. Earll, I. S.
Amerman, John H. Gregory, A. R. Pardee, W. B.
President

Garlock, Secretary and Treasurer

Lawton.
J.
and the Private Banking House of C. Pardee & Co.

school.

The

W.

Roosevelt, Caleb

Garlock,

Isom,Jr.

bosom of the water. The rural scenery

is not more wholesome and inviting than the village
itself, which the hand of man has adorned with

every element of

of

$100,000 Joel Thayer,

H. T. Webb, Cashier the Skaneateles
Savings Bank, incorporated April 16, 1866, with

President

pastures, and the light bark glides gracefully over

the sweet

The Bank

organized under the banking law of

Hive" was
young ladies

a very celebrated boardin its day.

village of Skaneateles

The village has two Hotels the Packwood House

and the Lake View. The Packwood is kept by T.

The first election for officers was held at the " Indian
Queen Hotel," kept by Isaac W. Perry, on the
second Tuesday in May, 1833, when the following
Board of Trustees was elected Freeborn G. Jewett,
Daniel Tallcot, Phares Gould, William
President
:

The

E. A.

following

at

of

Busi-

1855.

works are located on Genesee

street,

and employ

twenty-five hands.

named

Freeborn G. Jewett, 1835

Leitch, i837-'38;

James Hall, 1839; G. F. Leitch, 1840; Nelson

Hawley, 1841 James Hall, 1842 John C. Beach,
1843; Spencer Hannum, 1844; Nelson Hawley,
1845-46 Alexander Horton, 1847 William H.
Wm. H. Jewett, 1849 John Davey,
Willets, 1848
;

Both are good hotels and

The building occupied

The especial feature
present was built in 1865.
and sleighs.
The
carriages
is
fine
the shops

Union Free School.

The
;

including building and

John P.^ckwood, Carriage Manufacturer.

ness established in

Daniel Kellogg, 1834

Phares Gould, 1836; George F.

by Mr. John Pack-

Built

a cost,

at

well kept.

have since served as Presidents of the Board of

Village Trustees

Andrews.

1872,

in

furniture, of $20,000.

was incorporated by

special act of the Legislature passed April 19, 1833.

Gibbs and Lewis Sandford.

&

A.

wood

Skaneateles Union Free School, with Aca-

demic Department, was organized in 1866. The

building, occupying the old Academy site, was
erected in 1855, and enlarged by an addition on the

The present
The school has

north, in 1871.

is

g 1 2,000.

teachers,

value of the property

four departments, six

and an attendance of about two hundred

Jr.,

1850; Charles Pardee, i85i-'52,-'53

William

and

fifty pupils.

volumes.

The Library contains about

1,000

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

292
Principals:

M. H.

i866-'69; William

Slee.

H. Hodgson, i874-'75

IJowcn, i86y-'74; F.

C.
-"^

Wright, present Principal, since 1875.

The Academy, since merged in the above school,

was established

"Red House,"

was organized

of Skaneateles

members.
In 1836, the prominent agriculturalists organized

the disposal of stock,

The

kets.

was held

Fair under their auspices

1855 was merged

declined, and in

monthly mar-

also for

from which time the organization

in 1840,

The

farmers' club.

&c and

Town

last

first officers

the present

in

1855

>

were

Wm.

M. Beauchamp, Secretary, and Peter Whittlesey,

Managers of the first Annual Fair
Treasurer.
Lewis W. Cleveland,
Chester Moses, President
Peter Whittlesey, Wm. P. Giles, S. Porter Rhoades
and William J. Townsend, Directors.
;

Present officers

dent

18781:

Frank E. Austin,

Horatio Earil, Presi-

J.

Vice-President

first

H. Adams, second Vice-President

Witt. Treasurer

Wills

E.

Martin C. Dc-

Secretary.

Ciift,

the

for

wooden building

fitted for

Burnett,

W.

One

Mr.

situated where this

was
and the other half was
church purposes. Mr. Charles J.
half of this building

Vredenburg, John

J.

Letherland, here read

Furman and

S.

the

services.

The church
church

in

here very

people

service

generally attended

Auburn.

in

Rev.

Davenport

Phelps, while rector of St. Peter's, frequently

here and

His

officiated.

known

as the Kellogg house, Seats being arranged

for the

people

who very

Mr. and Mrs.

vices.

communion

generally attended the ser-

Burnett received their

He also baptized

Rev. Davenport Phelps, in 1809.

Mr. Vredenburg died

in [813.

George W. Barnes, K.; John H. Gregory, S.; E.

W. Harvey, Secretary. Present membership, fifty-

the

1878 G. W.

charter obtained June

S.

W.; M. M.

at present

incorporation

&

A.

1862.

AL PresOfficers of

Livingston,

W.

about ninety.

Churches.
St. James Church, Skaneateles. The first
church families who settled in Skaneateles and the
vicinity, were Gen. Robert Earll, in 1796,
Jonathan Booth, in 1801. Wm. J. Vredenburg, in
During these
1803. Charles J. Burnett, in 1803.
Phelps,
a noble
Davenport
Rev.
years.
latter
Auburn
and
officia
visited
church
the
of
missionary

immediate

It is

of

St.

James'

Church, Auburn

first zcritUii

This
Parish,

is

record of

the act of

Skaneateles,

Common

also believed he visited Skaneateles.

At

this

Pleas, bearing date Jan.

same meeting

of the incorpora-

Wm.

A. Clarke presided,

Gibbs were chosen vestrymen.

Clarke was ordained in 1812.

Rev. William A.

others, the Rev.

tors and
and Jonathan Booth and Charles J. Ikirnett were
elected wardens, and Edward G. Ludlow, John W.
Livingston, Zalmon Booth, Stephen Horton, John
Pierson, John How, Samuel Francis and William

Peter's

ted there.

year 1816, when the

of this parish appears.

life

among

followed Mr.

of the Court of

F. Gregory,

St. Peter's

who

H. P.; D. S.

John H. Gregory, W. M.; Willigm F.

Gregory, S. W.; George H. Williamson, J. W.
Officers, 1878 George B. Harwood, W. M.; Wm.

Numbers

until the

Clarke,

W. A. Dwinwell.

Skaneateles Lodge No. 522, F.

that date

W. A.

Phelps as rector of

4, 1816.

12,

Rev.

John TenEyck, one of the Judges

Earll.

J. Shallish, S.;

the latter the

attested by Mr.

Secretary.

ent

first

from the hands of the

this house,

in

readers, or an occasional missionary visitor

Officers,

in

the upper hall of the Vredenburg mansion, since

Services were held more or less regularly by lay

Piatt,

Dillingham. K.;

came

was held

service

first

Chapter No. 247. A. F. & A.

under dispensation, Decemmeeting
First
M.
Lodge formed with nine original
ber 10, 1869.
members. Officers Henry J. Hubbard, H. P.;

two.

St.

Auburn, was organized in 1808,

and the Rev. Davenport Phelps became the rector.
The church building there was consecrated in 1812,
on the 22d day of August, by the saintly Bishop
Mr. Vredenburg was one of the wardens
Hobart.
of that church, and Jonathan Booth a vestryman.

Church

their first child.

M.-VSONIC.

Charles H.

Earll,

postoffice,

first

used and

Peter's

a society for the purpose of holding annual fairs for

the

at

Robert

during the same and the following years. Afterwards

used
in 1855, for the purpose of furthering the interests
of agriculture, horticulture. &c., with forty-five

and

in 1803,

residence of Gen.

church now stands.

Farmers' Clud.

The Farmers' Club

services were held in the house

now occupied by Mrs. Burnett,

also in a small

1S40.

in

The first remembered

In

Church

He

resigned

St.

in 1814.

8 16, an attempt

was made

to build a church,

a conditional subscription being raised for that purpose.

But as only 51,500 of the $2,oco required,

was

raised,

the enterprise

fell

through and the

organization was abandoned, although lay reading

and occasional

visits

from clergymen were continued

with more or less regularity.

On the 19th day of April, 1824, the parish was

reorganized under the same name, and the organiza-

k'lnW or

IHOMAS MORTONS MiLLi.*: VT

-.

Onondag,4

County.

New York.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

was attested by Levi Mason, of the Court of
Common Pleas, and R. L. Hess, Clerk of the same
At the same time the following gentlemen
Court.
Wardens,
were elected officers of the society
Vestrymen,
Jonathan Booth and C. J. Burnett
William Gibbs, John Daniels, Stephen Horton,
tion

John Pierson, Charles Pardee, J. W. Livingston,

Samuel Francis, Elijah P. Rust. The meeting for
the election of these persons was presided over by
Rev. Augustus L. Converse, of whose after history
we can learn nothing.

Another blank follows until the 27th day of

March, 1826, when a meeting of the congregation
was held, at which the Rev. Amos Pardee presided.
The same vestry was elected with the exception of
John Daniels, who was replaced by Mr. John S.
Furman. The following year, 1827, the Rev. Amos
Pardee was still officiating, and the name of James
M. Allen appears among the Vestrymen.
Although there

no mention made

is

in the pro-

ceedings of either of the last mentioned meetings,

of the project of building a church, yet

we

find a

paper bearing date August 3d, 1827, which

contract between the

Wardens and Vestry

James Church, and Enos P.

Root agrees

Of

occupancy.

for
a

to build the

the

Root,

same date there

is

of St.

which Mr.

church and make

subscription paper, on which

sum

in

is

it

is

ready
also a

subscribed the

Mr. Burnett and Mr. Gibbs were

Wardens, and Mr. Butler S. Wolcott's
name appears among the Vestrymen.
In the report of the Rev. Amos Pardee to
the Convention of the Diocese, held in Trinity
of $2,sgs.

this year the

Church,

New York

City,

October

17, 1827,

appears

the following
" In Skaneateles the past year our members
have increased, and our prospects are very much
improved.
church was commenced in the last

summer, and

On

is

now

nearly or quite inclosed."

the 2Sth day of January of the following

year, (1828,) the

Rev. Algernon

called to officiate as

Rector

following Easter, and

for

S. Hollister

was

one year from the

Timothy Baker and Augustus

Kellogg were elected on the Vestry and the following from Bishop Hobart's address to the con;

of 1828, held in Trinity Church, New

York, October 16th and 17th, shows at what date

vention

the church was consecrated

"

On

Tuesday, the
crated the church at
congregation has for
gether, and at last by

23d of September I conseSkaneateles, where a small

several years been kept toextraordinary exertions have

erected a neat edifice for worship."

On

the 26th of May, 1834, the old parsonage and

grounds were purchased of Mr. Lucas and an addi43

tional strip of land

293

from Alanson Edwards.

Under

the same date the thanks of the Vestry are ten-

dered to the " Circle of Industry " for the donation

of ;gioo towards the purchase of a parsonage.
In August, 1S45, the necessity for the enlarge-

ment
try,

was

of the church

discussed by the Ves-

first

indicating very clearly the growth of the parish.

The

was

old parsonage

sold in

March, 1846, and

with the proceeds, $100 from Bishop DeLancy, ^300

from Trinity Corporation, New York, and the proceeds of a subscription, the building was enlarged

and improved

May,

in 1847.

lot and house adjoining the

church were purchased of Mr. Vovvles, and in the

In

following

ranged

1853, a

month the house was improved and

ar-

for a parochial school.

In February, 1854, the Ladies' Society saved the

School House from sale under foreclosure of mort-

gage by paying through the Treasurer, Miss Harriet T. Gibbs, the sum of ;$I50, for which the Vestry returned a sincere vote of thanks.

The

present St. James

by the Bishop on the
30th of May, 1873, and was consecrated January

corner

stone

of the

Church, Skaneateles, was

6th,

laid

1874.

Clergyme7i

Amos

Rev.

Rev.

Augustus
i825-'27

Pardee,

Converse, 1824;
Rev. Algernon S.

1828-31 Rev. Joseph T. Clarke, 18321845);

'44, (died on the Island of Jamaica, July,
Rev. Charles Seymour, March 3, 1845 to June 16,
Rev. A. C. Patterson, July 1851 to Octo185 1
ber, 1858; Rev. Mr. Page, 185810 i860; Rev. E.
Moyses, October, i860 to November, 1866; Rev.
R. M. Duff, May, 1867 to September i, 1872 Rev.
Thomas Smith, September i, 1872 to July 17,
Hollister,

1874.

Rev. John A. Staunton, the present Rector, began his ministry in the parish, October i, 1874.

The following have been among the prominent

members. Wardens and Vestrymen of St. James
Parish

Messrs. Dyer Brainard,

Porter,

Thomas

Yates, L.

G. Porter, Dr. E. H.

J.

Bartlett,

W. M. Beau-

Jr., N. J. Roosevelt, Ransom

champ, J.
D. T. Mosely, R. I. Baker,
Redfield,
Crosby, Justin
E. N. Leslie, W. H. Jewett, D. W. Hall, F. W.
Stotwell, H. Q. Knight, John Humphreys, E. B.
Coe, C. W. "Xbeel, H. J. Hubbard, and others,

Snook,

Vestrymen. N.
M. Beauchamp,

Wardens.

Roosevelt, Samuel Francis,

J.

E.

Present

B.

Marshall,

and

Wardens William

W.

others,

Marion, E.

Reuel Smith.
Statistics Yz.m\\\&s,

Sunday

communicants, 191;

150;

School scholars, 125

contributions for

all

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

294
purposes

99

for the

year ending June

value of church

i,

1877, $3,679-

property, $30,000

rectory,

$4,500-

Church

Pkesbvterian

The

settlements

first

were made

eateles

from

its

settlement

in

March. 1796.

in
it

of Skaneateles
village of Skan-

the

Five years

church

first

The

in the

village

bearing

Church of
Marcellus " was organized by the Rev. Aaron
Hascom. The Articles of Faith and Covenant
were subscribed to by Joshua Cook, Solomon
Edwards, Simeon Hosmer, Asa Harwood, Daniel
Cook, and Aaron Cook. They were incorporated as the First Church of Christ in Marcelthe same day on which the church
lus, and
was organized, the following persons were re-

name

the

of "

Rev.

ordained and installed on October 2d, 1862.

By

contained about one hundred

buildings of difTercnt kinds, when, on the 20th of

July, 1801. the

i. 1856, and resigned July 1st 1858.

A. Mandell, was installed February 2nd,
On the 20th
1859, and resigned January 16. 1861.
of April. 1862. the present pastor. Rev. M. N.
Preston, began laboring with this people.
He was

installed July

First Congregational

a part of

James Porter. Mary Cook. Elizabeth

Edwards, Lucretia Hosmer, Electa Edwards, Anna
Clark, Hannah Annice, Martha Seymour, and ReThe same day Aaron Cook was
becca Cook.
the Church.
Clerk
of
elected
The first church edifice was erected in 1808 and

ceived

The church having

i,

1809.

called Mr. Swift,

Presbytery of Cayuga to ordain and

invited
install

the

him,

which was accordingly done on the 14th day of

He resigned October 27, 1812.
September, 181 1.
Mr. Benjamin Rice was ordained and installed
He
by the Presbytery of Cayuga, July 7th, 1813.
August. 1817.
was unanimously resolved to
adopt the Presbyterian form of government, and
the church was received under the care of the PresThe society had extended a
bytery of Cayuga.
resigned his charge

In January. 1818.

call

the

to

The

call

stalled

March

4th,

Elders for the term of three years

into three classes,

H.

on the first Monday of January in each

when an election shall be held to fill the
vacancy.
The following persons constituted the

W. Brace began his labors with his

November, 1828, and was installed FebruHe resigned in November, 1843,
1830.

Rev. Samuel

having completed

The

fifteen years of labor.

new brick house of worship

The manse was purchased in
Rev. Samuel W. Bush was installed

society erected a

in the year

several classes in the session July, 1873:

Luther Clark and James A. Root to January,

J. A. Edwards, S. L. Benedict and Emerson

1874

Adams

January,

to

Newell Turner
of

the

1830.

the year 1832.

1875

to January,

Session and

H. D. Fulton

1876

March, 1844, and resigned his charge in March,

Rev. Selden Haines was installed on the
1851.
December,
1851, and resigned in September,
4th of
Rev. William B. Dada was ordained and
1855.

and

N. Turner, Clerk

Trustees of the

Treasurer.

Dr. George Campbell,

J. Augustus
Edwards, James A. Root, Newell Turner, Sereno
Dr. George T. Campbell
Field, Emerson Adams.

Society

are

Clerk of the Board of Trustees.

Eli Clark, died 1834; Joshua Cook,

Deacons.
dismissed 1807; Samuel Bellany, dismissed 1832;
James Porter, dismissed 1826 Ebenezer Warner,
;

died

Chester Moses, died

1849;

The

1865

Foster

bers

1862;

Clark,

Philip

Henry

present membership of this church

attendance at Sunday School,

became missionaries

BaI'Tist

Chl'kch.

Skaneateles was

denomination

The church

1828.

ary 17th,

to be divided

shall expire

year

Stocton to become their

was accepted, and he was in1818, and resigned his charge in

recommen-

so that the term of one class

Hooker, William Clark, Sereno Field.

Rev. Alexander M. Cowan, from Virginia, was

December 4th, 1S22, and resigned in

in

In January, 1852. the church, on the

Crosbey, died

installed

in

the Presbytery of Syracuse.

it

April, 1822.

people

presbyteries established

in

Rev. B.

pastor.

new boundaries of

dation of the session, adopted the plan of electing

was dedicated March

the

by act of General Assembly in 1869, this church

was separated from Cayuga Presbytery and became

160.

T.

is 220
Three mem-

in foreign countries.

The

Baptist

Church of
same

a branch of the church of the

in Elbridge,

edifice at

and began about 1820.

occupied was built by

first

the Congregationalists on the

hill

east of the village

and was subsequently bought by the

The
Baptist Society, moved down and refitted.
present building was erected in 1842, and cost
$5,000. The ministers officiating have been Revs.
Amasa Smith, Nathan Denison, Charles Elliot,
John G. Zeeple, S. S. Relyca, William Roncy,
Henry Bowen, E B. Palmer, George K. Allen
Present membership, 153;
and C. H James.

in

1807,

average attendance

Friend's

in

Sunday School,

Churches. The

100.

Society of Friends

of Skaneateles was organized from 1810 to 1814.

Joseph Frost, Russell Frost, Silas Gaylord, William
Willets and Abner Lawton were among the early

4.

v/tw or URA'fcmr

fkFiif

Mius.Fmn

SMN(riit<.Oa

f.G.AND W. T.

WEEKS

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

members.
Meetings were held in the meeting
house now occupied by that branch of the Friends
known as " Hicksites," about two and a half miles
southwest of the village, near the Octagon School

better

House.

society,

In

1828, a division of the society into the two

in i832-'33,

ducted by

was

"

through the means of a revival conFollowing this revival

Father " Bibbins.

movement for
accommodate

29s

the

building of a chapel to

needs

the

which resulted

of

the growing

the purchase of a lot on

in

the south side of

branches of Orthodox and Hicksites occurred, the

latter being the followers of Elias Hicks, a distin-

West Genesee street, and the

erection of a building thereon in 1834, under the
pastorate of Rev. Lyman R. Redington.

among the Friends. Among

members of the Orthodo.x branch

In 1853, this chapel was enlarged and beautified

at a cost of about $800.
At the completion of

were Joseph Talcott and his two sons, Richard and

Daniel.
Of this branch Sarah Talcott was the first
minister.
Meetings were held in the old meeting
house which was built on the farm of Richard

these repairs the expense was all provided for with

the exception of $75.
To meet this indebtedness

guished

liberal

preacher

the most prominent

Talcott, just within

the present

corporate limits,

and which was torn down in 1873, during which

year the present edifice was erected.
The present
membership is about forty, and value of church
property $3,000.
Present minister, Chauncey B.
Thorne.

The branch known

as

Hicksites

continued to

hold meetings at the old meeting house,

which

the society resolved to hold a reopening service at

which an effort would be made to liquidate the debt.

Rev. C. P. Bragdon was secured to manage the
financial part.
Rev. C. D. Burritt, a former pastor,
preached morning and evening, and Rev. Mr. Den-

Church of the village,

Through their united efforts the
necessary amount was raised.
The society was
well accommodated in this chapel until 1859, when
ison, pastor

of the Baptist

in the afternoon.

separation was

David Hall, Esq., built at his own expense a plain

brick church on Jordan street, at a cost of about
$5,000, and presented it to the society.
The Trus-

Willets,

tees

they

Their

worship.

still

first

in

minister after the

Adin Cory. At that time William

Warren Giles, Abner Lawton and Silas

among their prominent members.

Mary's of the Lake, Roman Catholic

Gaylord, were
St.

Church, Skaneateles.

Earhest meetings held in the

village about 1845.

whom

to

Richard

this

Huxtable,

conveyance was made, were

David

Hall, John Burridge,

Lorenzo Driggs, Jacob Hoagland, Forest G. Weeks,
Spencer A. Daniels.
In 1868 the church edifice

In 1853, the first church was

begun on the site of the present edifice, and was
dedicated September 7, 1856.
It was a wooden
building and cost $2,500.
Rev. William McCallian

was

enlarged,

cost

of about

officiated from the

Janes delivered the dedicatory sermon.

his death,

Joseph

in

till

1864, and was succeeded by Rev.

Butler,

assumed the

organization of the church

O.

Rev.

F.

S.

F.

pastoral charge in June,

church was destroyed by

Purcell

J.

The

1865.

stone of the

F.

Purcell and dedicated June 30, 1867.

J.

School

Present membership six hundred

Cost,

Sunday

fifty.

St. Bridget's

a Chapel at Skaneateles Falls,

St.

Mary's of the Lake,

accommodate parties too far from the

It was erected by Rev. F. J. Purcell at a
cost of $5,500, and dedicated September 20, 1874.
It belongs to the same parish of St. Mary's of the
to

church.

Lake.

Skaneateles Methodist Episcopal Church.

For several years previous

now

its

" Bishop,"

At

the

enlargement.
delivered the

following
here,

named pastors have served the

"Father" Bibbins, 1832;

viz:

Redington, 1833 Jesse T. Peck, 1834;

I.
Hutchinson and Joseph
Selah Stocking, 1835
;

W. Harris, 1837; V.M.Coryell,

1839; John E. Robie, 1840; Walter Hare, 1841
Thos. H. Pearne, 1842; Isaac Parks, 1843-44;
John H. Mitchel, 1845-46; Charles D. Burritt,
1847-48 James Hartwell, 1849 Wm. N. Cobb,
1850-51; O. Hesler, 1852-53; S. H. Brown,
1854; E. N. Cuykendall, 1855-56; W. H. Miller,
1857, served but a few months and was succeeded
by Isaac Foster, 1858-59 Wm. Searles, 1860;

preachers of this denomination held religious services in a school house located nearly opposite the

M.

present parsonage on
early formed

West Genesee

street.

which was largely increased

'61

was

brick church, and Bishop E. S.

Lyman R.

to i832-'33, the circuit

class

Steele

C.

Cress, 1836; C.

is

four miles distant from

built

first

Dr. Jesse L. Peck,

The

$it,ooo.

at a

the dedicatory sermon.

church

Wednesday,

William

rededication of the church after

May

fire

$9,000.

and refurnished,

Rev.

delivered the address at the laying of the corner

23d, 1866, and the present edifice erected by Rev.

first

remodeled

Wm.

N. Burr, 1862-63

1865-66; T.
Reddy, 1 870-7 1-72

S. Wells,

Wm.

Bi.xby,

1864;

J.Bissell, i867-'68-'69;
;

R.

'74-75 G. S. White, 1876-77.

ship, one hundred and seventy.
:

Wm.

Redhead; 1873Present member-

Number

of Sun-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

296

hundred

scholars one

day School

and

seventy.

Benevolent collec-

Ministerial support, $1,104.00.

Mrs. Charlotte Bradley.

tions for the year, $406.00.

The Skankateles Falls Methodist Episcopal Church is located in the town of Skaneateles
about three and a half miles north of Skaneateles
The first meetings were held in the house
village.

M.

of

B.

Bannister, class leader, late in

Rev. D.

early in 1868.

W.

1867, or

Beadle, then supplying

M. E. Church at Elbridge, delivered the first

sermon.
He was soon followed by Rev. T. J.
Bissell, pastor of the M. E. Church at Skaneateles
In 1873 and 1874. the school house was
village.
occupied for religious services, and from 1875 to
1877, inclusive, a room in tfie brick block provided
A legal organization was
by Thomas Martin.
effected November 12, 1877, A. G. Borden and H.
C. Templar being presiding officers, and George
the

Hunt, Levi

Marquis Giles

Atyee, Joseph
and H. G. Borden being elected Trustees. Besides the above, with the exception of M. Giles,
there were among the original members H. Harris

and

M.

Mrs.

Giles.

Starr,

very

creditable

church

building, 24 by 40, with basement, has been erected

an expense of $1,500 chiefly through the aid and

at

enterprise of F. G.

Mrs. Catharine Blodgett, Mrs. Maria

Hunsiker, William Barber, Mrs. Esther Young and

Benton,

Weeks,

member

of the

M.

October

as pastor from

dedication took place F"ebruary 6th, 1878.

H. Woodruff and W. Whitham.

was the regularly appointed pastor
from October, 1872, until October 7th, 1873 Rev.
O. N. Hinman, from October 7th, 1873, until
plied

by

Rev.

P. J. Ball

Revs.

October 13th, 1874; Rev. Abram Fancher, from

October 13th, 1874. until September 25th, 1877;
and Rev. M.J. Wells, the present pastor, appointed

September 25th, 1877.

twenty

is

School about
reach

and

the

average

forty.

are not

The

The

present membership

followed

1874 to September 25,

Wells, the present incumbent,
13,

Rev. M. J.
1877.
was appointed pastor September 25, 1877. The
present membership is forty-three, the average
attendance at Sunday School about the same, congregation good, and social meetings well attended.
An open temperance meeting is held every other
Sabbath evening with remarkable interest and success.
Up to January 28, 1878, one hundred and

have

sixty-three

abstinence pledge

been

induced

The Umveksalist Church

built in the year of 1831.

total

The

at Mottville,

organization

The ground

is

was
that

for the

church and

High School was given by Ansel

Frost, and

of a society only.
for a

sign

to

for life.

the building was erected by the liberal donations of

Col.

Robert

Earll, Col.

Stephen Clark, Ansel Frost

and many others whose names we have not been

able to obtain, as the church records are not to be
found.

dedicated by Rev. Dolphus Skin-

the first regular pastor was Rev.

Jacob Chase afterwards Rev. Stephen Miles, Rev.
Isaac Whitnall and Rev. Mr. Root officiated, and
in later years Rev. J. M. Austin of Auburn, Rev.

ner of Utica

Dolphus Skinner, Rev. G. W. Montgomery and

Within the past eight years through the
summer season, sermons semi-monthly by Rev.
Bartholomew, D. D., Rev. J. M. Austin
J. G.
others.

Rev.

J.

W. Keyes and

others,

the Rev. L. L. Briggs, of

and

at present

by

Auburn

Sunday

Before the church was built the society held meet-

Protestant people within

ings in the school house and the Rev. Isaac Whit-

attendance

at

numerous, but generally interested

nal

was the

pastor.

enterprising in their support of the church.

The Methodist Episcopal Church

viLLE, in the town of Skaneateles,

young

is

Manufacturing Interests on the Outlet.

of Mott-

Skaneateles Paper Company. The original

occupied by this company was built in i930 by

comparatively

as a distinct society, though the place had

been a Methodist appointment with more or

less

Meetings
private
houses
were held in
or the school house
until 1873, when under the supervision of Rev.
William Reddy, D. D pastor of the M. E. Church
at Skaneateles village, the old school house was
purchased, moved to its present site and fitted up
regularity for about twenty-five years.

church purposes at a cost of about $1,000.

The dedication occurred January 24, 1873. Among
the original members were O. Coleman, Chester
for

October

1873, and ending

7,

Abram Fancher

Rev.

1874.

13.

The church was

Previous to the autumn of 1872, the place was sup-

the next pastor during

the year beginning October

E. Church at Skaneateles village.

The

Hinman was

Rev. O. N.

mill

Solomon

Earll, as a flouring mill.

remodeled

it

Earll

into a distillery about 1840.

&

Kellogg
In 1864,

was changed into a paper mill by Earll, Thayer

Co., and is now occupied by the Skaneateles
Paper Company, in the manufacture of print

it

&

paper.

Willow Glen Woolen

tus Kellogg about

der Horton.
tion.)

The

(Not

Mills.

840, and

Built by Doras-

now owned by Alexan-

at present, Jan., 1878, in opera-

mill is a " five set" mill.

VIIW

or

F.A.SINCLAIR'S UNION CH

^CTORY, UoTTviLLE, Onondaga County, N .Y.

-<l^l^

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Earll & Tallman's Distillery.
Skaneateles
Skaneateles.
District of

It

New

Located on
one and a half miles from

Outlet,

in the twenty-fourth Collection

is

The

York.

by Cotton, Lewis &Co.,

the time the present distillery was established in

The

1857.

capacity of the distillery

is

Daniel Earll has been partner or

owner from the commencement.

employed.

The

sole

below the

site of the old mil! built

on the

It is located

distillery.

by Abijah Earll

in 1818.

was burnt in 1825 and rebuilt by Cotton, Lewis

Co, in 1826. It has one run of stones and
proprietors

and

of the

Cologne

Union Chair Works,

Mottville.

1870; business established in

1859; employs 23 hands.
in

Hart Lot Paper Company,

Manufacturers of

book paper, half mile south of the junction. Capacity, two tons per day
hands employed, forty-seven.
;

John M. Nye, President;

John H. Childs, Secretary Julius H. Earll, Treas1869.

urer

W.

E. Jones, Superintendent.

It

&
is

BioGPi^APHic/L Sketch.

manufacture French

distillery

and alcohol.

spirits

F. A. Sinclair,

Building erected

The

carried on in connection with the distillery.

capacity one hundred and fifty

merchant and custom flour. Build1869; owned by Wm. Barnes.
;

Incorporated in

present firm are also proprietors of a custom

mill next

ing erected in

three hun-

Four hands are

dred bushels of grain per day.

run of stones

barrels per day

building was erected

1824, and remodeled at

in

five

297

In connection

with the distillery, they feed one hundred and twen-

BENONI LEE.

ty-four head of cattle.

Thomas Morton's Fine Woolen Shawl FacEstablished

tory, Mottville.

1862

in

capacity,

Benoni Lee was born in the State of Vermont,

on the 7th day of June, 1812. At the tender age of
nine years he was left an orphan.
With no kind

pounds of wool per month fifty

hands employed. The building was erected about
Machinery run by water-power fall about
1852.

families

eighteen

his

eight thousand

Morton

Mr.

Woolen
1867.

feet.
is

also

proprietor

of the Darvel

Mills, at Skaneateles Falls, established

These

mills

have a capacity

in

for ten thou-

sand pounds of wool per month, and employ sixty

hands, making a specialty of finecassimeres.

Sherman, Irish

& Co

Proprietors of Mottville

Flouring Mills, successors to Thayer

owned and occupied the same

&

Irish,

mills from

both merchant and custom

Established in 185

by Mr. Hoyt was burnt

They manufacture

flour.

The foundry occupied

1S68, and the present
location

immedi-

ately after.

Skaneateles Iron Works and Rolling Mills,

Not at present in operation. L. F.
Powell, Syracuse, proprietor.
Works established
Mottville.

in 1870, at a cost of

^100,000.

Skaneateles Paper Company,

Marysville.

F.

&

J.

Weeks,

Marysville Lime and Plaster Works. E.

Hoyt & Co., proprietors. Established in 1866.
Employs twelve hands.
Youngs & Benedict, Cataract Mills, Long
B.

44*

which has developed

which distinguish him as a lawyer and as a man.

His early recollections of Vermont are quite
dim, having left it when a child and gone with his
parents to the State of New York, and from there,

when seven years old to Pennsylvania. In the

1826 he came to Skaneateles, Onondaga

year

him an apprenticeship in his

which
offer
Mr. Lee readily accepted.
business,
He was treated as a son being taken into the
family, and for three winter's enjoying the advantages of the school taught by Thomas W. Allis, a
young man of considerable note and more merit.
He worked in the tan-yard one season nearly two
seasons in the shop and as foreman, had nearly encordingly, offered

tire

Manufacturers of paper.

Bridge, Skaneateles Outlet.

privation,

in

same

and

excellent habits and that astuteness

Col. Warren Hecox, who carried on a large leather

and shoe business. Col. Hecox saw in the young
lad of fourteen years something that convinced
him that he was worthy of being helped and, ac-

1.

building erected upon the

their

county, N. Y., where he attracted the attention of

E. B. HoYT, Iron Founder and Machinist, Mottville.

toil

him those

in

bosoms of

the

no friend but God, he entered upon

and
of

into

The

have eight run of stones, with a capacity of

one hundred bushels per day.

life

him

take

to

1876 to

the establishment of the present firm in 1878.

mills

who

relatives

Established in 1876;

his

charge of the business

leisure

for four years.

moments, before and

after

All of

working

hours, were spent in diligent study and assiduous

reading.
ployer,

In this he was encouraged by his emwhose reading covered a wide range of

literature.

In 1833,
tion, at

determined

whatever

to obtain

sacrifice,

a liberal educa-

he attended the Skan-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

298

Academy, where he made such rapid and

thorough progress that he won the admiration of
his friends and the Principal, \Vm. H. Green, now

thoroughly examining litigated cases, on both sides

a prominent lawyer of

nent

cateles

At

UuflTalo.

the close of the academic course, he began

Freeborn G. Jewitt, a thorough

and successful lawyer, to whom he is indebted,
to read law with

doubtless,

many

for

receiving a

school,

of his excellent professional

Winters

characteristics.

fair

he

taught

the

village

compensation, until 1840,

Not

before suit.

As

ever unnoticed.

is

pleader, he

is

per-

and manages, generally, to

his
His style is clear and forcible, clothed with
point."
plain,
Anglo-Saxon words, which express his
meaning with remarkable exactness. As a coun-

suasive,

sellor,

he has the rare and unusual

faculty, especially

lawyer, of bringing irritated parties to settle-

in a

ment before having recourse

law in partnership with Mr. Jewitt.

For thirty-eight years he has had a successful and
lucrative practice, and during that long period not

develop

a stain has tarnished his professional uprightness.

As a lawyer he is careful and pains-taking, always

in his

" carr)'

when, after having passed a successful examination

he was admitted to the Bar of the State, as an attorney and solicitor, and soon after began the practice of

been found

a flaw has ever

preparation of a case, and no false step of his oppo-

zen

he

Skaneateles,

of

identified with every interest

prominently
which has tended to

growth and beauty.

its

Few would

man.

citi-

been

every sense of the word he

In

Asa

to the law.

has

have had

self-made

is

the pluck and per-

severance to have broken the iron fetters of circumstances which surrounded his youth.

ELBRIDGE.
Eaklv Skttlement.

Eliiridge was formed from Camillus March 26,

western
It is the central town upon the

border of the county.

north and rolling

in

Its

surface

the south.

level

is

in the

Seneca River and

Cross Lake form a portion of the northern boundary.

Skaneateles Outlet

flows

northwestwardly

through the western part of the town.

banks of the Outlet, near the center

Upon

the

of the town,

Buck made the

Josiah

1829.

town

first

ship of Camillus into

lots,

and selecting the

where he located, came in 1793, with his family, in

This wagon, under the shade of a

we

large elm tree, which,

was

weeks

for several

believe,

abounding in gypsum. Several weak brine springs are found along

In the west part of the town, at
Seneca River.
the
first
settlement, were found the rethe time of
mains of three distinct fortifications one square,
one quadrangular, and one circular. (See Chapter

this

on Antiquities.) When first discovered, the embankments were three feet higlj, and upon one of
them stood an oak tree four feet in diameter.
These works were each situated near a living spring
The remains of various articles found
of water.
here seem to indicate that these fortifications were
Jtnown

At

to the

Jack's

this town, the

settlement

sequently

left

little later

in

ville to mill.

and

built a

town had

The
go

inhabitants

JamesWilliam Stevens located herein 1794,

first settled in this

saw

mill

to

to

about a mile west of Elbridge.

also built the first store in the town, in 1797, in

set

up Dr. John

Mr. Levi Clark

Frisbie.

Josiah Buck
Moses Carpenter
William Stevens was

built the first school house, in 1801.

kept

They had

opened another soon

ment there. The country north of the Seneca and

Oneida Rivers was their favorite hunting ground.

1795, and a grist mill in 1798.

who

with an extensive clearing and a valuable orchard.

what were called the Salt

com-

which he

oft'

place where

was made was on the lot subCol. John Munro, and a large
here for many years as a memorial

town

settled in the

when the whites first settled

Onondagas had a large settlement,

also cleared

The

standing,

till

in 1793, Robert Fulton

James Strong in 1794: Col.
Chandler, Dr. Pickard and a Mr. Porter, the first
blacksmith, in 1795
James Weisner and Nicholas
Mickles, in 1796.
Isaac Strong erected a saw mill

of the spot.

He

Fields in the town of Cato, and had a small settle-

still

owned by

oak log was

French.
Reefs,

is

their only shelter,

fortable cabin could be er.ccted.

site

a large wagon.

are found the peculiar tunnel-shaped cavities in the

earth, characteristic of regions

settlement in this

In 1791 he had surveyed the town-

in 1793.

the

the

first

The

first

tavern

in

after.

1793.

Justice of the Peace in 1794.

first settlers

in

the vicinity of Jordan were

Zcnas Wright and Aaron Wright,

in

1797; Martin

Thomas w.Hul,

M/?s

PHOTOS, SY W.V.fANOLR

Syracuse

Thomas

VV.

Hill.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The

Tickner, Reynolds Corey, Isaac Smith, Jonathan

Rowley and Jonathan Babcock, came soon

The

after.

town meeting for Elbridge was held at

Squire
the house of Horace Dodge, April 28, 1829.
Munro was chosen Moderator, Seneca Hale, Secre-

Timothy Brown was

tary.

James McCIure,
The channel

Town

elected Supervisor, and

Clerk.

of the

Seneca River

at

Jack's

Reefs has been deepened by the State, for the pur-

The work

pose of draining the Cayuga marshes.

was commenced in 1854 and finished in 1857, ^^'

der the superintendence of Hon. George Geddes.

More than 200,000 yards of rock-cuttings were removed, and the marshes were drained as far west
The cost was g 156,000. Preas Mosquito Point.

following have been Presidents of the village

years named

A. Wood, 1851 W. P. VanVechten, 1852 William C. VanVechten, 1853-54

Alonzo Wood, 1858
J. D. Rhoades, i855-'56-'57
in the

first

D. Rhoades, 1859; Squire M. Brown, i860;

John Rice, 1861-62 C. W. Hilliard, 1863 S. M.
Brown, 1864; Nathan Munro, 1865; John Rice,
J.

1866

83

reported as follows

961

number

Number

of children

of districts, ten

six; text-books

Cobb's Spelling Book, Cumming's

Geography,

taught,

parts of districts,

Webster's

used,

Murray's Grammar,

Spelling

&

Book,

Woodbridge's

English

Reader

and Testament.

Situated on the Skaneateles outlet in the south-

The

was incorpowere Moses

Carpenter, James Weisner, Squire Munro, Ezra
and John Brackett, and Joseph and Aaron Colman,
Squire Munro kept the first
1794 and 1795.
west part of the town.
I,

1848.

village

Its first settlers

tavern in the place, soon after his settlement here.

Gideon Wilcoxon

first

lawyer in the village in

in

1818

established himself as a

1813

Hiram

afterwards Mr. Putnam.

F.

Mather

Dr. John Frisbie

was the first physician, in 1797 Dr. Sweet in

1810 then Dr. Chichester. In 1813, a postofifice
was established, Gideon Wilcoxon, Postmaster. He
;

was succeeded by Hiram F. Mather, Hendrick

Wood, Squire Munro then Mr. Wood again, then
Mr. Munro.
At an election held at the house of J. D. Rhoades,
March^2t, 1848, to determine whether "or not the
;

village should be incorporated, as provided for in

act of

December

7,

and

an

1847, one hundred and seven

votes were cast, of which ninety-one were

affirmative

sixteen

in

the

negative.

in the

The

1848 were Lucius Millen, President;

Harvey Roberts, Ezekiel Skinner, Alonzo Wood
and William VanVechten, Trustees
Cyrus W.

officers

Lyon,

Smith, 1873
Charles O. Baker, 1876.
;

Present officers (1877)

President, M. W. Lyon
Trustees, T. K. Wright,
A. L. Gere, D, M. Rice
Treasurer, John T.

Thomas;

Clerk,

John F. Thomas.

MuNRO Collegiate

Institute.

Collegiate

Institute,)

was

as the

Munro

by

Nathan

founded

Munro, Esq in 1835. In the winter of 1835-6,

was opened in the ball room of Ezekiel Gardner's
tavern, where Mr. M. W. Lyon now resides, and
it

the following
structed for

summer a wooden building was conThe Academy was incorporated

it.

April 23, 1839.

At

meeting of the Trustees under the

it was announced
that Mr.
Munro had died on the 5th instant, and that, in
addition to the Academic site and buildings, library
the

first

charter, July 6, 1839,

VILLAGE OF ELBRIDGE.

rated April

M. H. Lamson,
1871-72; W. P.
B. A.Wood, 1874; John Rice, 1875

M. W.

i868-'69-'7o;

the schools of the town of Elbridge are

McGowan, 1867

G.

C.

The Munro Academy, (now known

from the Skaneateles Outlet connects

with the Erie Canal at Jordan.

1

deepening the channel near the Oswego River.

In

vious to this about $100,000 had been expended for

A feeder

299

for

Upham, Treasurer

and Charles McGowan, Clerk.

and apparatus, contained in the original grant

the Academy, and specified in the application

to
to

Regents of the University, upon which the

charter was granted, the deceased founder of the
Academy, by his last will and testament, had made
a further endowment to the same, by enlarging the
Academic site, and by a bequest of ^20,000, as a
the

permanent fund

support of the school, pay-

for the

able immediately after his decease.

the Board met pursuant to adjournsenior Trustee, in the Chair.

Munro,
ment John
On motion of R. Farnham, Esq., the Board proceeded to elect a President and other officers.
John Munro was elected President James Munro,

July

13, 1839,

Secretary

and Hiram F. Mather, Treasurer.

In 1854, the Trustees erected the building

as "
in

The Munro Academy."

an open landscape, and

is

which, with the irregularity of the plan

of the structure

project

arms

itself,

Its general

effect.

contribute to

form

is

its

connected by a

oblong division, projecting

and outline
picturesque

an octagon, from which

four arms, forming a cross.

at the right is

known

This Academy stands

surrounded by trees,

at

hall

One

of the

with a large

the front and rear.

The material is brick with stone dressings.

From the elevations it will be noticed that

the

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

300

external walls are enriched with heavy base mouldings, buttresses and turrets at the corners of all the
parts

In

visible at the fronts

the

1859.

and ends.
further

Trustees

improved the

Academy, by the completion of the elegant chapel

at an expense of about $i,cxx), and placed at the
cast end a marble tablet, bearing the following inscription

at

the

memory

of

York, July 5th, 1839,

49th year of his age.

in the

1835, he endowed

In

Academy which

the

in

April, 1839 was incorporated and called after his

name and at his death gave to it as a perpetual
From the income of this fund and
fund $20,000.
the sale of the old academy property, the Trustees
;

in

1854 erected this edifice.

is a Library of nearly 1,000 volumes con-

There

nected with the institution, to which the students

may have access under the direction of the Prin-

The Laboratory

cipal.

is

There

cellent apparatus.

some

ex-

also a well selected

and

supplied with
is

valuable cabinet of minerals.

The Course

of Instruction includes an English

Course embracing

five years, or

a Classical Course

embracing three years.

The Classical Department, Ancient and Modern,
half of the
is well sustained, embracing more than

The
whole number of pupils in attendance.
Academy is regarded in many respects as one of the
best fitting schools in the country.

The

great

number

attained eminence

educators,

is

in

of graduates

already

the pulpit, at the bar, and as

a proof that the merits of the school

Academy.

Societies connected with the

The

The

ex-

Essays and

Criti-

Ladies' Literary Society was for

many

of Debates,

ercises consisting

years an attractive feature of the

The Gentlemen's M.

C.

I.

Academy.
in

when

the present Lyceum was organized admitting ladies

and gentlemen upon precisely the same footing.
The e.xercises of each meeting consisting of Music,
Declamations, Recitations, a Lyceum Paper and

an Extempore Debate.
of

Nathan, was the

President of the Hoard of Trustees in

served acceptably

man

till

his death in i860.

13, i860.

of the

death of John Rice, Esq.

The

following have served as Secretaries of the

James Munro, elected July 13, 1839 Hon.

Luke Ranney. elected October 27, 1869. Treasurers: Hiram F. Mather, July 13, 1839; Squire M.
Brown, April 13, 1842 W. C. Van Vechten, June
27, 1849; Elijah D. Williams, December 28, 1S53;
L. B. Bennett, October 27, 1869; John Munro,
Board

October

14, 1871.

Nathan Munro, charter;

13, 1839; Rev. E. A. Huntington. July 13. 1867; Rev. Washington Thatcher,
(resigned charter Allen Munroe. March 30, 1842
Daniel C. Munro, (resigned)
J. B Evarts, charter
Succession of Trustees

Jared Wheeler, July

F"ebruary
charter

1842

9,

Stephen

C.

W.

J.

Merrinian,

(resigned)

March

(resigned)

Clark,

30, 1842; Z. S. Clark, April 24, 1848; Hiram

resigned! charter; David Wilson,
Mather,
F.
i

November 4, 1844; John Burnett,

Rev. Medad Pomeroy, (resigned)
July 9, 1858
Wm. Rancharter; Levi Clark, March 6, 1845
ney, charter; Luke Ranney, June 9, 1858; John
Rice, charter; Charles G. McGowan, Oct. 4, 1875;
neglect

(from

John Munro, charter David A. Munro, July 10,

James Munro, charter John Munro, Jr.,
1867
March 9, 1871 Squire M. Brown, (resigned) 1848,
;

Wm.

Van Vechten, (resigned) (the

only charter member living 1848, charter; Charles
Pardee, May 13, 1856 Reuben Farnham, (resigned)
1848, charter; Abram Hall, (resigned) 1848, charcharter:

C.

1839,

first

and

He was

ter; Elijah D. Williams,

L. B. Bennett,

Oct.

31,

(^

resigned) 1866, charter

1867

Thomas W.

Hill,

Lombard, (resigned) 1S48,

Oct. 4,
charter James M. Munro, elected in place of Mr.
Hicok, August 12, 1854; Allen Munroe, elected in
place of Mr. Lathrop, August 12, 1854; Robert
Townscnd, elected in place of Mr. Cornell, August
1875; Charles

Hervey Wilbur, elected

12, 1S54
Townsend, July 10, 1867.
;

in place of J.

R.

Present Board of Trustees.

He was
ready sympathy with the unfortunate.
born in Cheshire, Mass., March 26, 1780, and died
March

the President

Board of Trustees of the Academy, was elected

October 4, 1875, to fill a vacancy caused by the

universally esteemed for his benevolence and

in Elbridge,

Luke Ranney, now

Hon.

all in

Academy.

Club continued

successful operation until the spring of 1873,

John Munro, the brother

sympathies of

tiring in his efforts to enlist the

who have

have been well attested.

There have been for many years various Literary

cisms.

behalf of the

Nathan Munro, who was born

Cheshire. Mass., and died at Elbridge, New

To

John Rice, Esq the second President of the

Board of Trustees, was elected October 6, i860, to
of Deacon John
fill a vacancy caused by the death
Munro. John Rice was born at Cheshire, Mass.,
January 8, 1799, and died at Elbridge, June 20,
He came to Elbridge in 1820. He was un1875.

Hon. Luke Ranney, Elbridge, President Chas.

McGowan, Elbridge, Secretary; John Munro,
;

G.

HON. LUKE RANNEY.

William Ranney, father of Luke Ranney, was born in Middletown,
9, 1867, aged

Conn., June 30, 1785, and died at Elbridge, N. Y., Sept.

seventy-two years. He moved to Etbridge in 1835.

The Ranneys were from Scotland, and first came to Middletown, Conn,
They were noted for their great energy of character.
Betsey Alden, the mother of Luke Ranney, was born at Ashfield, Mass.,
March 7, 1789, and died at Elbridge, May 9, 1870, aged eighty-one years.
The Aldens trace their lineage directly back to John Alden, who landed
from the Mayflower, on Plymouth Rock, 1620, the same John who asked
Miss Priscilla Mullens if she would have Capt. Miles Standish, and she
hinted to him to ask for himself, and he know enough to take the hint.
The Aldens have been noted for their great longevity and strong Puritanic religious character, many of them having been clergymen.
Luke Ranney was born in Ashfield, Mass.. Nov. 8, 1815. Moved to
Aurelius, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1823. At the ago of fourteen or fifteen
the thirst for knowledge came upon him with almost irresistible power.
The labor on the farm, under his father's energy and industry, took about
all of daylight, and the nights, until two and three in the morning, were
Every cent that could
ofteu used to satisfy this craving for knowledge.
be hud was used in the purchase of books. Rollin's Ancient History and
Plutarch's Lives were obtained with the last farthing he could get, and
devoured with an appetite which might be compared to a starved tiger
feasting on a dainty morsel. They were read and re-read until all the leading facts of ancient history were fixed in his memory for life, and were
ever after at his command.
In 1 834 he went to Shelburne Falls

academy, Massachusetts, to school,

an uncle, the Rev. John Alden,
being principal. He walked sixty
miles from Albany to the Falls to
save three dollars, stage fure, to purchase books with. Was here five
months, and was then called home
by his father to help him on the farm.
In the fall of 1835 his father
wished him to go and spend a year
helping his only brother in Van BurenCo., Mich. He went up Lake Erie
in the last boat that ran that fall.
Walked and drove an ox-team from
Detroit there, one hundred and fifty
miles.
Got there the ninth day of
December ; found his brother keeping bachelor's hall in a log shanty
twelve by fourteen, and dieting on
pork and potatoes, and, as he expressed it, had for a change potatoes
and pork. In the winter his brother
had to be awny two weeks, and he
remained in the shanty that time
confined with a lame foot, without
seeing a human being, and no companion but Shakspeare; and, as he
said, he had an intellectual treat,
and gained a knowledge of the great
English poet which was a source
of great pleasure ever after.
He taught school in Throopsville, Cayuga Co., in 1839 and 1841,
and in Port Byron in 1840. Studied
law with S. Robinson and S. Goodwin, and in consequence of poor
health was compelled to abandon
the profession of law. Went to
Christian Co., Ky., in the fall of
1842, and there taught school one
year, and had a good opportunity
to see the evils of slavery.
He then wrote home to a friend, as follows
" When I see the vast amount of evil that originates out of this
system of
slavery, I shudder at future consequences.
The day of final judgment
may be far distant, but it is sure to come as a rock loosened from the top
of a mountain is to thunder down to the plain below, and woe, woe to all
who are in its path. I may not live to see it, but the seed has beeu sown,
the crop is more than half grown, and when the harvest comes it will be
a harvest of death and desolation."
At this time the great temperance reformation was sweeping like a tornado over the southwest, and he gave what time and strength he had to
spare to this mighty work. His services were in demand to speak at all
the principal places in Christian county.
At some of these meetings as
many as one hundred and fifty signed the pledge of temperance.
He came back to Elbridge in the fall of 1843, and in May, 1844, married Miss Rebecca Lyon, daughter of Deacon Cyrus Lyon, of Weedsport,
and lived five years on a farm three miles east of Weedsport. While
there he held the office of town superintendent.
In the spring of 1852
he moved back to Elbridge, where he has resided ever since.
He was elected supervisor of his town in 1857, and in the fall of 1858
was elected to represent the first district in Onondaga County in the legislature.
He was elected again in the fall of 1865, and again in the fall of
1867, serving three times in the legislature. While there he served on the
committee on claims, on the committee of nine for advancing bills, and on
the select committee on assessments. The bill creating the State assessors
was written by him, and his influence contributed largely to its passage.
He was one of the select committee on a pro rata freight bill, a measure
:

more largely connected with the interior interests of the State than almost
any other, and he has reason to believe that it was defeated by money
of the New York Central railroad, as the agent employed by that company to do its lobbying in the legislature told a prominent citizen of Syracuse, at Seneca Falls {where they met), that it cost the company over two
hundred thousand dollars to defeat Ranney's pro rata freight bill.
His speech on the personal liberty bill gave him a State reputation as
one of the best debaters in the assembly. Mr. Ranney says that the
greatest good he ever accomplished for his country was in the organization of the opposition to the increase of the way fare on the New York
Central railroad, and continuing the contest until its final defeat by the veto
of Gov. Fcnton.
By this defeat the way passengers are saved from paying into the treasury of that mammoth corporation from five hundred
thousand dollars to one million dollars annually.
In a speech which he made on that occasion, and which was published,
he showed as conclusively as figures can show, that the gains and profits
of the company, over and above an annual dividend of seven per cent.,
had been not less than seventeen millions of dollars since the consolidation in 1853
and, as proof that he was right, soon after Vanderbilt came
in as president and divided among the stockholders twenty millions of
bonds to represent these surplus earnings.
Mr. Ranney says be had no doubt at that time they were using the
money of the corporation to buy votes; and, as further proof that he was
right, Worcester, treasurer of the company, under oath, before a committee
of the constitutional convention, in 186S, said that he paid, to influence
legislation during the pendency of
this bill, without any authority of
law, vouchers, or receipts, two hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars, and the account was allowed
by the directors.
To judge how some members of the
legislature must have been scorched
on that occasion, we make the follow;

ing quotation from his speech

now, before
to those, if

"And

I close, what shall I say

any such there be, who

have received the money of this corporation as a reward for the betrayal
of their constituency, for the sur-

rendering and yielding up of their

rights for their personal gain ? Remember, Judas Iscariot betrayed his

Lord and Master for thirty pieces

and for that act has been
held up for execration, scorn, and
contempt wherever the banner of
of silver,

the Cross has been unfurled, even to

the outermost bounds of Christian
civilization.

Turn your minds, gen-

tlemen, within, and behold yourselves as in a glass, and see a villain

whose company you are compelk-d

to keep, and from whose vile companionship there is no escape. Dishonored, scorned, and condemned
by yourself, seeking through life a
hiding-place from the goadings of
conscience, dying while you are living, praying for the everlasting rocks
and hills to fall on you and bide
you from the righteous indignation
of a constituency you have betiayed,
from a legislature you have demoralized, from a State you have
dishonored, and a republic you have
disgraced. Go, and return your illgotten gold to this soulless corporation, which would accumulate wealth at
the expense of the integrity and virtue of this legislature, at the expense
Go, and swear by the everof liberty, and on the ruins of our country
liviu" God that you will live and die honest men, that your garments shall
!

neve? be besmeared with the filth and slime of a corrupt and venal lobby
which swarm around you like the carrion crows around a rotten carcass."
He has o-iven his services as a speaker without one cent's compensation
in every fmporlant campaign since 1855, often addressing his fellowIn his addresses
eitizens every night for some time previous to election.
he has spent as much or more time on the obligations we owe to our government, and the proper discharge of those obligations, than on party
Showing them if they will be true to our country, she will bepolities.
come the beacon-light of all nations, leading them in the path of equal
He has always adrights. Christian liberty, and universal intelligence.
nationality,
vocated impartial justice to all men, without reference to birth,
On party politics he has always endeavored to show that the
or color.
reform and purification of the two great parties of the day was more imshould
portant than the immediate success of either, believing that parties
highest
always be governed by the great principles of right, having the
good of our country as their supreme object.
He has been extensively employed as a surveyor, and often on disputed
He has had many eslines has harmonized parties and saved litigation.
and assignee, in this county,
tates to settle, as executor, administrator,
president
of
the board of trustees
Cayuga county, and in Michigan. He is
learning hardly second to
of Munro Collegiate Institute, an institution of
any in the county.

I'liulo.

niAl Nt'KV

The

Muhjoct of

tlii.H

Nkelch, one of the

town of

KIbridp', wiu* born July

CniiiilluM,

two

.loliii

luilnt

west of the

Liird niid Polly Iloyd,

Laird wils
I

ii

rciiiJeiit.s

ISdt, io

l{(l,

villa)j;e.

who were

of the town, emitfraiin;; from

olili'.-<t

tlif

He wu

town of

the son of

aiiion^ the firnt settlers

Siirotopi

The

county.

he xanie Vocation for Momc time; but

Klbrid};e,

he rcxided
hi.H

choiicn

elder

eaqn-nter by occupation, and Chiiuneey f4>llowed

\m

tatea

were

for ugri-

eultund puntuits, and he iiecordinfjly purehiLs'd n farm

town of

of the

upon which he

until his dith.

calliiij;

nettled

in

ls:U,

which occurred April

he was eminently

tiucceM.<*ful,

0,

in

the

and where
1873.

In

and was regarded

B.

Uru.

t>>

l>K('rl,

JopUii, N.

V.

LAIKD.

mast thoroujrh and systematic farmers

as one of the

in

the

town.

In 1H27,

.^lr.

liuird wa.s

of John Adams,

EfM).,

married to Miss Sarah E., duuf:hter

of Skanejitclcs, one of the

In 1843, Mrs.

a very prominent citizen.

1845 he was apiin married

first

wife

none of

By
liviii);,

lie

had

whom

are

now

(."harlcM

W.

I..iiird

died,

Miss Lucretia Mills.

five children, three

and

and

Hy

in

his

sons and two dau^'hters,

livin<;.

his seeond wife he

to

first settlers

had

five children,

two of

whom

are

Laird, of Jordan, and Julia, wife of the

Rev. J. C. Nichols, of the Central

New York

Conference.

John

D.

Rhoades.

HON. JOHN
The

subject of this sketch was born

in

Chesterfield,

Mass., Nov. 11, 1801, and was the eldest child

family of

John and Hannah Rhoades, which

of ten children.

removed with
in the

When

eight

consisted

Here

town of Skaneateles.

RHOADES.
the

settling

for years the family

experienced the privations and hardships of pioneer

proprietor

purchased the

Notwithstanding the almost entire lack of educational

His

education, wliich

he made

and others by teaching.

went

to

New

common

practically useful

At

to

school

himself

the age of twenty-one

he

In 1826 he formed a co-partnership with a gentleman

hope, N. J.

and engaged

in trade at Stan-

In 1827 he married Sebiah, daughter of

the Hon. Timothy Brown, of Elbridge, and in 1829 he

removed

to

service

In 1833, meeting with some reverses, he

and

again returned to Elbridge, where for ten years he was

he

which

is

toil,

of

until the formation

In 1855 he was elected county

elected a

member of

his

indigence,

early

the legis-

manhood of

served as the crucibles wherein sterling

tested, as preparatory for public

and higher obligation.

all

basiness relations he

he has won friends among

is

honorable and upright,

official life.

all

classes,

judgment and prompt decision gave weight

Sociable,

and by sound
to his opinions

and strength to his purposes.

Mr. Rhoades has been a valuable
of

sold,

1851

benevolent, and possessed of ennobling Christian virtues,

Hancock, Delaware county, where he became

extensively engaged in lumbering.

resides,

Whig

ever the same in private business or

as a traveling salesman.

Bartlett,

1856 was

were refined and

qualities

In

in

childhood

wearisome

Jersey, and for several years was engaged

by the name of

and

coroner,

In

Hotel.

where he now

of the Republican party.

lature.

acquired a good

farm

In politics Mr. Rhoades was a

life.

advantages, our subject

Munro

of the

located in the village of Elbridge.

beautifully

years of age, his father

Onondaga County,

his family to

in the

D.

life,

and by industry has accumulated a competency,

and contributed largely

ment of

citizen in all relations

to the welfare

his neighborhood.

and

social

improve-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Elbridge,

Camillus

Harvey

Charles

Wilbur,

B.

Pardee, Skaneateles

Syracuse

Rev.

A.

E.

Huntington, D.D., Auburn; Hon. Theodore N. Pomeroy.

W.

Auburn

David A. Munro, Camillus

Thomas

Hill, Elbridge.

Succession of Principal Teachers.

Years.

1839

i840-'4

1845

Pomeroy. Julia A. Fitch.

Stephen W. Clark. Elvira P.

Stephen

1846 J. W.
1847 J. W.

W.

Wolcott.

Mary A.

Wolcott.

M. F. Loring.
M. F. Loring.
Mary A. Casey.

i848-'9 John H.Wilson.

1850 John H. Wilson.

H. Kellom.
1852 John H. Kellom.

185

water power

Ellis.

Mary
Mary

L. Powers.

David Burbank.
1857 John H. Wilson,

BucKMAN & Sons,

lished

Charlotte A. Birdseye.
i

Mills,"

Bunnell.

These

tion of

June 22,
Hiram D. Pres-

Rice, Secretary

officers

in

Charles E. Cook, Treas-

Meetings held every alternate Thursday

urer.

Wood

lodge rooms in

H. H. Porter, N. G.
R. M. Cole, C. S.

Halstead, V. G.

They have

membership of

Fred. S. Hall, N. G.

& White, manufacturers of every descrip-

Besides

line of

ever since.

Established 1877.

Employ
S.

Established by Mr. Hubbell

the usual granite

the village
in

for

and marble
ornamental

of

commenced
made the

Elbridge,

the spring of 1865, and

week

Alfred E. Stacey, L.

S.

employs about twelve hands Capital inwater power steam used for boil;

ing and drying.

Churches.

M. Halstead, R.

J.

Present capacity, 12 to 14 tons per

vested ^20,000

The

forty-four.

S.

N.

N. G. A. L. Chatfield, V. G.
W. S. Hale, R S. V. G. James F.
Thomas, L. S. V. G. C. O. Baker, M. D., R. R.
S.
C. E. Cook, L. S. S.
C. C. Smith, C. S.
C. A. Smith, P. S.
Rev. Keese Coburn, Chaplain
;

a specialty of high grade

drying by steam and has run almost uninterruptedly

present officers (1878) are as follows:

G.

Mills."

capacity,

suffered loss in three successive fires,

influential

first sheet July ist, of the same year.

In the
winter of 1868 and '69 he put in machinery for

but are at present in a prosperous condition, having

an

make

marble goods.

business here

James M.

Munro

mills contain four run of stones

1841.

tion

O. O. F.

Elbridge Lodge No. 275 was formed April 19,

The following were the
1871, with nine members.
first officers

"

S. D. Paddock, Jr., Proprietor of Steam Dried

Straw Board Mill, located just north of the corpora-

at

Block.

I.

the

as

monuments, Mr. Hubbell is agent

iron work for cemetery purposes.

M. W. Lyon, Secretary

known

Hubbell, proprietor.

membership fortyAlonzo M. Curtis, M.

Co., proprietors of the " Elbridge

Elbridge Marble and Granite Works, T.

Newman

Present

Treasurer.

Estab-

four hands.

Instituted

1874, with the following officers

Present

formerly

Curtis

Elbridge Grange No. 220.

one.

GowiNG &

100 barrels per day

Patrons of Husbandry.

Crossett,

1877.

flour.

1876-78 T. K. Wright.

William B.

S.

J.

Martha B. Wright.
Laura M. Carpenter.

i859"'72 T. K. Wright.
i873-'76 T. K. Wright.

Chair Manufacturers.

Employ seven hands; use water

power.

Charlotte A. Birdseye.

t.

Herman Sanford, 2 terms.

1858 Truman K. Wright. Amanda

four hands; use

afterwards used as a pail factory.

L. Powers.

Eliza A. Boss.

856

M.

Employ

average production about 1,700 per

annum. Occupy the old building erected in 1826

by Jacob W. Page.
Eaton & Seeley, Chair Manufacturers. Established 1877.
Employ six hands use water power.
Occupy building erected and occupied by Levi
Clark as a carding mill and cloth dressing factory,

Louisa Powers.

David Burbank.

David Burbank.
1855 David Burbank.

ton,

Sons, Bedstead Manufactur-

1854

&

Established 1859.

ers.

Mary A. Goddard.

1 John

1853

The First Congregational Society of El-

bridge, formerly

known

as the " First Congrega-

tional Society of the

Town

of Camillus,"

was organ-

ized October 30, 1800.

Among

the original

mem-

David Bonta,
45

John T. Thomas

Cadwell.

Catherine A. Coleman.

Clark.

G.

I.

Manufactures of Elbridge.

Preceptress.

Lemuels.

G. Z. Allen, C.

H. D. Preston, W. S. Hale
and R. M. Cole, Committee on Finance.
The lodge has a hall in Wood's Block which was
finished and furnished by the members some two
years since, and is also used by"the " Ancient Order
of United Workmen," the " Patrons of Husbandry"
and the " Good Templars."
E. Z. Frazee,

Burnett, Syracuse

Dr.

William C. Garrison, Treasurer

Treasurer
Hon. James M. Munro,
Hon. Allen Munroe, Syracuse John B.
;

301

W.

William R. Stevens,

P.

N. G.

bers were Hezekiah Freeman, Moses Fulton and

John Healy, the latter being chosen the first Clerk.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

302

Hezekiah Freeman and

first Deacons were
John Healy. in 1804. The first minister was Rev.
For more than twenty years the
Seth VVilliston.
meetings of the society were held in private houses
and school houses near by and in the present village
In i^io, Rev. Benjamin Bell began
of Elbridge.
to officiate as stated supply, and continued up to

The church

The

edifice

erected during

occupied,) was

present

lat

1823-24,

a cost of $3,600.

at

In

was remodeled at an additional expense of

$1,000, and was also further repaired in 1862.
December 7, 1829, it was voted that the word
184$,

"

it

Elbridge" be substituted

lus"

name

the

in

the place of

in

of the society,

of

town of

the

'*

Camil-

consequence

in

from

Elbridge

There had been received into

the Society fifty-seven additions, and the total membership that year was fifty.
The Society was legally organized December 24,
At the same time the following subscription
1822.
drawn
up for the purpose of building a house
was

of the

of worship

church: Rev. Benjamin Bell, 1810; Rev. J. Bool,

large revival
Rev. Jabez Chadwick, 1821
1818

and including 1818.

the subscribers, each one for himself alone

not jointly, do hereby promise and
agree to pay to Jacob Campbell, Levi Clark, Nathan
Munro, Jcdcdiah Richards, Charles Lombard and
Hiram F. Mather, Trustees of the First Congregational Society in the town of Camillus, in the County
of Onondaga, the sums set opposite to our names
respectively, to raise a lund for the purpose of building a meeting house for public worship in the village
which said
of Elbridge, in and for the said society
sums so by us respectively subscribed, shall be paid
"

We,

severally and

the times and

at

say

in

the

manner

following, that

is

to

Two-thirds part of each subscription shall be

paid in merchantable wheat, rye. corn, oats, pork,
beans, beef, butter, cheese or lard, one half thereof
to be delivered within three months from the first
day of January next, and one half thereof in si.\
months from that time, at cash price when delivered, and in such materials as shall be suitable for
said building, to be delivered within four months
from the aforesaid date, at cash ])rice when delivwhich said articles, both of provisions and
ered
materials for building, shall be delivered in such
proportion of each as the Trustees of the said
Society shall direct having reference to the wants
'

of the builder's family or families engaged in constructing said house, and the due proportion of each
kind of material necessary for the same and shall
be deposited at such place in Hllbridge as the afore:

said

Nathan Munro may

D., 1822."

Then

follow the names of the subscribers

whom we

among

find

Nathan Munro
Gideon Wilcoxon

Camillus.

The Parsonage connected

$500.00
200.00

with the Church was

The Church

erected in 1834. at a cost of $1,600.

site

was donated by Nathan Gorham.

The

following have been regular pastors of the

under his ministry

Rev. Stephen Porter, January,

1824, to March, 1827

ary, 1828,

one

to

Rev. Timothy Stow. Febru-

October.

January,

June,

1840

Mills,

August,

1843 two additions

July, 1843. to October, 1846

thirty-

May,
Lemuel W. Hamblin,

^^^'-

Pomeroy,

additions,

to

about

revival,

Rev. Medad

Sidney

1833,

four; Rev.

large

1832

hundred additions

1841, to

twenty-six additions

Rev. C. N. Mattoon, October, 1847, to December,

1849 twenty-two additions Rev. George D. Fol-

som, April

Rev. E.

J.

revival, 75

1850,

to

July,

1852

two

Townsend, January 1853

additions

Rev.

P.

J.

to

additions;

1859 large

Burnham, Sep-

tember, 1859, ^o March, 1862: Rev. A. C. Reed.

June, 1863 to i866^eighteen additions; Rev. Al-

twenMay, 1867, to October, 1871

Rev. N. B. Knapp, 1872 three
Rev. James Robertson, July,
additions by letter
1873, to November, 1875 nine additions, one by

bert S. True,

ty-five additions

Rev George R. Smith,

letter.

the present pastor,

May, 1876.
assumed charge
The church has had the following noted supplies:
Rev. Dr. Mills, of Auburn, June 3, 1827 Rev. Dr.
Rev. Dr. Nelson,
Richards, August 19, 1827
in

student at that time at

direct.

understood, however, that any subscriber

shall have the privilege of paying one of the aforesaid two-thirds part of his subscription in neat cattle, (bulls and stags excepted;! to be delivered at
such place in Elbridge as Nathan Munro shall
direct, on the first of September next.
" The remaining one-third part of each person's
subscription shall be paid in cash, one half thereof
in six months from the first of January next, and the
other half in one year from the first of April next.
" Witness our hands the 24th day of December,
" It is

A.

erection

sett,

May

for
3,

1862, to

Auburn

months,

three

May

11.

1841;

Rev. G.

W.

Bas-

Rev. Dr. Condit,

1863; Rev. Dr. Hunting-

ton, January, 1866.

The
foreign

named members have served in

missionary fields: Mrs. Betsy Curtis Lyons
following

and Mrs.

Bliss, to

Sandwich

Islands,

and Mrs. M.

F. True, in Japan.

Among

the

more prominent members may be

mentioned Nathan Munro, Esq., Judge Hiram F.

1832
Mather, member of the State Senate, 1829
Hon. James Munroe, State Senator, 1851
1853;

Henry K. Van Vliet, Esq., Bradley Bennet, Esq.,

Dr. Wheeler and Deacon Levi Clark all deceased.
The Church at Sennett, Cayuga County, was

Phuto. by

W.

V. Riinger, Syracuse.

JAMES RODGER.
The

subject of this sketch

is

of Scotch parentage, his father,

William Rodger, being born in Greenock, and his mother,

The

Elizabeth, in Edinburgh.

elder

white smith by occupation, and

in

Rodger was

a black

1804 emigrated

to

year 1818,
elder

The family remained

when they emigrated

to

Albany

this time

farming until

he was in limited circumstances, and

Judge Mason by the month.

until the

carried on in connecto

on commission.

and

also has dealt extensively in coal

Mr. Rodger was married

15, 1805..

knew him

for his sterling

his father's death

was a man of great

worth and high

social qualities.

James was seventeen years of

cares of the family

all

age,

who

At

and the

and the business devolved upon him, which

developed those qualities to which his success in

after-life is

In 1829,

Miss Olive M. Clark, daughter of

them, three of

five children

born

whom are living. Mr. Rodger is pre-eminently

Beginning

life

at seventeen,

with only his

natural resources for his capital and the limited education afforded

by the ordinary

district school

of a

new

country, he has worked

himself up step by step to a point attained by but very few in

a generation.

With

a grasp of perception that could comprehend

the details of a large business, and a masterly management over

all,

he has conquered success

in

every movement in his

life,

and

stands forth to-day an illustrious example of the capabilities of

largely attributable.

In 1832 Mr. Rodger went to

to

to the present,

and lumber.

Mr. and Mrs. Rodger have had

a self-made man.

highly esteemed by

at

Daniel Clark, of Westminster, Vt., where she was born March

north of the village of Jordan, where he resided until his death,

ability,

some time

In 1840 he went into

This business he has carried on

to

energy and marked business

for

the business of storage and forwarding, and also bought grain

for

Elbridge, and purchased a farm about one and a quarter miles

He

834, when he returned to Jordan

this

1822, when he sold and removed

which occurred December, 1822.

worked

Madison county; here the

Rodger purchased a farm which he

tion with his trade until

in

in

and

country, settling in the city of Albany, where our subject was

born April 7, 1805.

gaged

Wayne

county, where he en-

chaiacter and manhood.

I'hotii*.

TITI'S

hy

W.

V. lUfigor. Synu-uw.

MKRIIIMAN. M.H.

TITI'S

JIKS.

MKKIIIMAN.

TITUS MKUIUMAN, M.D.

The

subject of thin Bketcli wus a native of Mcriden, Conn.,

and wan

bum

Oct.

1),

1786.

Ononda^

U) Otiaco,

When

At an

County.

Htron); inclinatinn to a professional

with Dr. Beach, of

and unremitting;

where

prufesiHion,

As

.^Inrccllu.<.

and by

\m

parents removed

early ope he evinced a

lie .studied medicine

life.

a student he wa.s industrious

In IS II he removed to Klbrid>;e,

in hi.Hdtudiest.

for fifty years

n child

county.

who were amon);

was born

in

liis

temperance

in

sunshine, storms, la( hours,

.\iii.itcrdam,

man

iMith

hospitality, his hou.sc

in

counsel

with the eminent physicians of his day, was a meml>er of the

" Syracuse Medical Society,"
elder

members

as a useful

and

and

is

preacher, and temperanoc worker.

social

skillful

and

May

In 1814 he was married to Miss

solid

He

physician and perfect

life

affable, his hospitality

Mary Wilcox.

She died

May

10,

Noted

for his

Well informed, and extremely

was richly enjoyed by

all.

He

20, 1864, havin<j; seen his county and town develop

fciundutions

to a beautiful

and jnipulous rcpon, by

laid

by early residents

like

Dr. Merriman.

has gone; his generation have mainly passed away.

In his

ho made the beat of his situation, enlarged his comforts

with opportunity;

p!ntleman.

N. Y.,

the upward finidalions of an enorp'tic jKHiple buildin); ujxin the

remembered by the

still

Co.,

was always the home of the educator,

from almost a wilderness

was assooiatod

Montgomery

by precept and example.

or the Wealthy, he was e<|ually ready to devote himself to the

lie

Mrs. Mcrriman

was an earnest patron of education, and an uncompromisinj;

died

and disease.

Hacker, of Elbridge,

the early settlers of the town.

or outside business, for the p(X)r without hope of remuneration,

relief of sufferiiij:

and Zi|>erah

Dr. Merrinian's services were not conBncd to his profe.Hsion.

pros'cution of the plan.s of

Whether

I'etcr

1805.

He

In pursuing; his profession he never failed to respond

to the calls of the sick.

Polly, daujiliUr of

liis

liiiuself to

he earned an enviable reputation thrcmgliout the entire

life

21, 1823, and in June, lH2.'i, he was married to Miss

the practice of

he devoted

tlie ener);etic

March

expectations,

then,

having seen the fulfillment of his

was numbered with the departed.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

formed chiefly from members of this church, in
1806. Seven of the original members of this society

were dismissed

to the

church

at Sennett.

Letters of dismissal were granted

members

in 1829, to

to fourteen

form the present Presbyterian

Church at Jordan.
Although this is one

county, they have never asked nor received any aid

from missionary funds.

fund of

The

They have

at

present a

;?3,400.

total memberSunday School, 100.

The seventy-sixth anniversary of the church was

600

Among the original members of the church were

Deacon Squire Munro and wife, Ichabod Tyler and
and Isaac Hill and

wife,

loi

is

attendance

by the labors of
1830 to 1832.

Skaneateles was formed

church and its ministry from
David Bellamy, a member of this
in

this

church was ordained the

About 1835

at

wife.

Church

Baptist

this

pastor of the church

first

December

at Skaneateles,

present membership

ship, about

In 1875, church parlors were added at an expense

of ;S2,5oo.

The
of the oldest churches in the

303

29, 1832.

church also sent

off a

the opposite direction, as appears from

proving the formation of a

colony in

its

vote ap-

church in

separate

celebrated October 30th, 1876.

Jordan.

The Baptist Church in Elbridge was organized

May I, 18 3, and recognized on the 20th of the

Rev. Jacob Thomas was ordained by this church

1S36 as a missionary to Burmah, and was killed
by the falling of a tree just as he had reached his

same month.
formation

The

The

following

the

is

manner

of

its

prospective

records of the church open with the minutes

of a meeting held in

the school house near Squire

Munro's, by appointment of the church

which meeting " it was agreed that

ent, and the church gives full liberty to
at

in Brutus,

it is

all

expedi-

then

liv-

ing in (then) Camillus, to form into church order."

On

in

same month the body of

believers was recognized as a regular Church of
Christ, by delegates from the First Church in Onondaga, the First and Second Churches in Marcellus,
the 20th of the

the church in Aurelius and the church in Brutus.

Elder Israel Craw was pastor of the church at the

The

field of labor.

pastors of the church have been the follow-

ing in the order

1813

20,

to

named

October,

Revs. Israel Craw,

January, 18 18, to his death

June,

Sylvanus

1817;

1826; Cyrus Fuller,

in

December,

1838

Jeremiah B.
December, 1841
Isaac Butterfield, January, 1842, to December,
1846 John Smitzer, January, 1847, to December,
Z. O. Grineli, May. 1849, to March, 1850;
1848
was ordained by the church Alonzo Wheelock,
D. D., 1850-57; absent from his pastorate one
year A. Kingsbury, i857-'58
C. G. Carpenter,
1827,

to

January,

Evertts,

1839,

recognition, and in behalf of the church

its

ordained pastor January,

Joseph Cornell, of Providence, R. I.

Elder Craw
continued to be pastor of the church till October
1 8th,
1817, at a salary of one hundred dollars per

that relation.

and during a portion of

period he

this

preached one-fourth of the time

at Nine-Mile Creek.
His connection with the church was then dissolved
by the withdrawal of the hand of fellowship from

him.

On

the 4th of December, 1815, the church and

met

house near Squire Munro's,

their usual place of meeting up to this time, and
society

at the school

voted to build a meeting house

the village of

i860;

1859 to April,

January,

received the right hand of fellowship from Elder

year

to

time of

May

Haynes,

Thomas Rogers,

1861, and

continues in

The present membership of the church is two

attendance at Sunday
hundred and twenty-six
School, two hundred and eighty.
;

Elbridge M. E. Church. At the commencement of the Conference Year in 185 1, Elbridge

became a station and at that time contained fifty
members. Previous to this time it had sometimes
been connected with Jordan and sometimes with
The church is situated in the village of
Camillus.
Elbridge and the church property is estimated to

Elbridge, and also adopted a platform and constitu-

be worth at present $2,000. The records are so

incomplete it is impossible to give a connected his-

tion.

tory.

The

edifice

first

erected in

1816.

the substantial and

at

In

in

was accordingly
was superceded by

Elbridge
1858,

it

commodious church

edifice

occupied by the society and congregation.

John Munro was the chief mover

towards the
stands as a
devotion.

in,

now

Deacon

and contributor

construction of this church, and

monument of his
The cost of the

liberality

As

the pastors

far as the

who have

and Christian

building was $14,000.

served this charge

1854,
1853, not known
1851-52, E. S. Bush
E. M. Cuykendall; 1855, B. L. Nye 1856, Denton
i8S9-'6o, William
Mills; 1857-58, Wm. Searles
1861, Alvin M.Lake; 1862-65, not
C. Bowen
known 1866, Chester Dingman 1867, Stephen
Cobb; 1868, not known; 1869, Selah Stocking;
;

it

record gives, the following are

1870,

M.

J.

F.

1871, Moses Lyon; 1872, E.

months; 1873, P. J. Bull
1874,

Brown;

Mills, for six

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

304

Hinman

O. N.

Lane

1875.

Number

J.

O. Jarman

Northway

1877, L.
present pastor.
;

1878,

members. 53

of

average attendance,

1876. C. W.
C. Nichols,

J.

Sunday School, 41

Manufactures.

& Tracy, Foundry and Machine Shop.

Established in 1876.
Manufacture hand sleighs,
horse powers, steam engines, etc.
employ twenty
workmen occupy ground formerly used by James
Peck

24.

VILLAGE OF JORDAN.

Redfield as a blacksmith shop, afterward sold to

Jordan is situated in the northwest part of the

town of Elbridge on the Erie Canal and the Direct
New York Central Railroad. It is the most im-

Deming Boardman, who used it as a cooper shop

and stave factory until 1866, when Mr. Peck came
into possession and converted it to its present use.
The business was first commenced in Jordan over

commercial village

portant

The

town.

the

in

impulse was given to settlement here by the open-

some improvements

ing of the Erie Canal, although

The

had been made prior to that event.

(a

saw

known

was built
the " White

the year 1800.

mill)

in

as

Mill "

and the

"Red

first

mill

The

mill

was erected

The

Mill" in 1824.

in

1812,

incorpora-

act

was passed May 2, 1835 it was

amended May 3, 1847, March 2, 1857, and January
The village records up to 1845 3''^
1861.
25,
missing, but we have been able to obtain the names
ting the village

are

as

Erastus

follows:

Baker,

Mason, F. L. Sheldon, H. W. Chadwick, James McClure, Jr., and F. S. Hover. Trus-

Lyman

II.

tees.

The

Presidents of the village from 1846 to 1858,

Lyman H. Mason, i846-'47

M. T. Spcrry, 1848; Alonzo Case, 1849; R. T.'
I'aine, 1850; Wni. H. Boardman, 1851
Lyman H.
Mason, i852-'54 E. Wheeler, 1855 James Rodwere as follows:

gers, 1856

From

R.

this date

S.
till

Sperry, 1857
1874, there

is

John Dale, 1858.

another break

Charles Kelley was President

the records.

in

1874;

3d Ward, C. D. Barnes.

Banks.
RoDiiER

&

failed,

A. D. Peck, manufacturer of wheelbarrows and

children's express wagons.

&

Co.

business in

After Westfall

there was no bank in the place

till

thousand wheelbarrows and ten thousand wagons.

JoRD.\N
tors.

Employ

Sperry

present school system of Jordan

four

manufacturers of wheelEstablished about

Old building burnt in 1870 and present

1850.
Employ forty-five
building erected the same year.
hands, and produce about thirty thousand wheelbarrows per annum.
Garrison & Taylor, Bedstead Manufacturers;
were established in 1871, and give employment to
The present capacity of the works will
ten hands.
allow them to manufacture four thousand bedsteads

The present building is located on the

site of the old " Red Mill" that was built in 1824.
Hakdv & Putnam, Proprietors Saw Mill and
Established during
manufacturers of straw board.
Employ twelve hands. The straw board
1865.

manufactory is run only during the summer months.

Works
Production one hundred and ninety tons.

them an excellent water-power.

is

Jordan Lodge No. 230 was instituted the 30th

June 1846, with the following officers: W. T.

Graves. N. G. C. W. Upham, V. G. George W.

of

in as

The Academic Depart-

ment is conducted in the building of the

Academy, which was added to the school
special act of the Legislature.

old Jordan
in

the ordi-

Academic, held

O. O. F.

I.

Secretary

From about

nary graded one, consisting of three departments

ditferent buildings.

& Rockwell,

barrows, hand sleds and skates.

1870,

Graded Schools.

many

proprie-

Capacity of mill one

hands.

four

& Co

Higgs

hundred barrels per day besides custom work

Mill was built in 18 12.
run of stones.

Green,

Primary, Intermediate and

White Mills.

&

when R. S. Sperry & Co., opened a private bank.

They were succeeded by Rodger & Co. in 1874.
The capital stock of this bank is $18,000.

The

Established in 1872; emAnnual production about twenty

ploys fifteen men.

are located on canal feeder. Mill street, which gives

Co., Private Bankers, do

the old office of Wcstfall

Co.

The maand moved

per annum.

in

Robert E. Greene,
Robert Van Keuren, 1875
1876; A. D. Peck, 1877. The Trustees are ist
Ward, W. H. Rodgers 2d Ward, D. A. Sperry,

H. Converse

in 1868,

to its present location.

They

President

Jr.,

Thatcher.

chinery was bought by Mr. Peck

of the officers for the year preceding (1844).

&

years ago by Daggett

fifty

1875 by

H.

April 13th,

Sheldon,

T.

the lodge was discontinued.

however,

it

S.

30, 1869,

the latter date,

was reorganized as Jordan Lodge No.

215, with the following officers

E.

At

Treasurer.

June

1859, until

Drake, V. G.

W.

P.

Drake, N. G.;

C. Orcutt,

Secretary

A. F. Tracy, Treasurer. The present officers are

H. L.
A. F. Tracy, N. G. L. B. Snow, V. G.
;

Haskins, Treasurer

W.

Baker, Secretary.

M^A
admire

Salem, N.Y.
This was the beginning of their efforts for a liberal education.
Through the kindness of a friend, Truman K. obtained a chance
to work his way for eight months, at lioyaltmi academy, Vt.
In 1833 he entered Burr seminary, tlien a flourishing school at
Manchester, Vt. Here, alternately teaching two winters in his
old district and once in an adjoining one, and attending school, he
tilted for college.
At the age of twenty he entered Middlebury
college.
The following winter he taught at Rupert, walking, for
the purpose of economy, from Middlebury to his school, the distance of forty-five miles, in one day,
something of a feat in those
days, when i>rofessional walkers were unknown.
The next winter he taught the district school at West Rutland,
and during the winters of his junior and senior years he taught
the academy in that place.
His snmmer vacations were spent in
working on the farm. Throughout his college course, he excelled
in all games and pastimes requiring strength of body and presence
of mind.
He graduated in 1839, among the first in his class.
In the following autumn a request came to the president of
Middlebury college, from the trustees of New London (N. H.)
academy, an institution just established, for a first-class teacher.
The choice lay between him and his twin brother, who had graduated at the same time, and was decided by casting lots.
The lot

COU77 ivXt

fell

to

years.

Truman.

He always

He remained

principal of this academy four

referred to his connection with the academy as

a bright spot in his life.

Owing to causes growing out of the anti-slavery agitation, he
left New London, and went to Durham, N. H., whose academy he
taught successfully for three years.
Among valued acquaintances here made was that of Judge Valentine Smith, a man whom he came to love for his many virtues and

W. V. Ranger,

SjracUBe.

moral principles. President of the board of

he proved a valuable friend and adviser. Although
numbering more than his three-score years and ten, his words
were wise in council, and his cheerful humor had the freshness of
His facetious rendering of the legend of Scylla and
youth.
Charybdis, by the terms Skilla and Caribogus, could never be
forgotten by one who heard it.
in 1846, T. K. Wright was married to Martha Bridgman, of
Hanover, N. H., an associate teacher at Durham, and through the
influence of his brother. Dr. Rial Wright, of Syracuse, removed
acadwith his wife to Pompev Hill, and became principal of the
emv at that place. He there remained six years, and, as in all
and
other places where he had lived, he found warm friends
Vichearty co-operators among his trustees, among whom were
Asa H.
tory Birdseye, Daniel Gott, Horace Wheaton, Levi and
Wells.
r T
1
A
In the spring of 1853 he engaged as principal of Jordan academy, where he taught five years, as was sometimes jokingly said,
" to the satisfaction of himself and the terror of the surrounding

Preserved Wright, son of Solomon Wright, was born at Wilbraham, Mass., in 1770. He married Jemima King in 1793, by
whom he liad seven sons and five danghtcrs. One daughter died
Truman King
in infaney, the others all lived to mature age.
Wright, the subject of this sketch, and his twin brother Norman,
were the youngest of the twelve children. They were born March
27, 1815, in Ruiiert, Vt., to which place their father had removed
from Manchester, Vt., in 1805.
Their father died when they were eight years old. The mother
At that time it
kept a home for the family for about four years.
seemed best that the two young boys should go to work on a farm
and a life opened to them which would have ajipalled less courageous hearts. But with sturdy bodies and determined wills they
performed hard labor on a New England farm for three years, at
Although
a compensation of four, five, and six dollars a month.
often weary, lonely, and homesick, they toiled on without complaint, hoping for something better in the future. At fifteen, they
obtained a more desirable situation, which gave them an opportunity of attending school one term, at Washington academy,'
;

I'boto. Iiy

for his high

trustees,

His success at Jordan led the trustees of the Munro Collegiate

charge of
Institute to invite him to come to Elhridge and take
wane. He
their academy, which for some years had been on the
accepted the invitation, and began his work there April 1 1858,
.school that,
and succeeded in so establishing the reputation of the
increased nearly
in a few terms, the number of the students was
The fund, which in 1858 was but i!;iO,000, increased in
four-fold
The chapel also was flnished at an
the next ten years to $15,000.
school moved
expense of $1100, and all things pertaining to the
the reaction all
successfully forward until the close of 1865, when
institutions
over the country was felt by this in common with other
The number' of pupils steadily decreased for a numof learning.
through the loss
ber of veafs. It was also financially embarrassed
But in 1874 the tide turned once more, and
of a part of its fund.
since that time the school has steadily advanced.

name; if conquering
If inheriting no wealth but an honest
working ones
rough fortune by sheer pluck and resolute will; if
hard
way through an academic and collegiate course of study bypromihand-work as well as by hard head-work, and obtaining
self-made men, then is
nence in a chosen profession, are marks of
he has
Truman K Wright such an one. For nearly forty years
institutions,-over
been connected with prominent educational
and twenty ot them in h.\thirty of them in Onondaga County,
That his work as a teacher lias
bridie, where he is now teaching.
and high regard in
been a success is easily proved by the love
While he
pupils
which he is held by all who have ever been his
meet its "-e^sults he bears
does not fear to review his work and
that in Elbridge, as in
willing and grateful testinu.ny to the fact
taught, he attributes much^of his
all other places where he has
reliable board of trustees.
success to an able, well-united, and

I'iKilo. bjf

.101 IN

Tlio Hubjoct

uf

tliU Hki'tc-h

IH

<;raiiil.siiii

of ('apt. Williain

SUsvciLS, wlio wiiH ail officur in the llcviiliiliiinary war,

of

tliat liiMtoric

harbor,

wlm

jiarly

lie sorved with

at tlio close settled

in

tlircw tlic lea ovorhDarii

marked

Colcminc,

and

oiiu

ISoston

in

ability ihroujjli the war,

and

where ho en^ij^cd

Miuvs.,

in

or

IT'.IU

M'M

he emigrated to Oiiondapi County, the

government havin<; pven him,

in eonsidenition

the Continental army, thirty-.six hiinilri'd

land wa.s divided into nix

located in Unondiipi County, excepting

evidently a

wa.-<

t4.TS,

man of cuhure and

two

lots.

rcGneiin'iit

lie l<iok an active pari in

nitss ability,

acre.s

aere lutn,

hiiiidrt'd

all

of

hi.s

lie was born in Coleraine, Milss.,

when
Was

thirteen ycjirs

all

This

of whieh was

Captain Stevens

and marked

town ami county

liusi-

inat-

and, in appreeiatiun of his services, his feUow-townsinen

1H12 as

close

sided until

He

Jived with

hU

lie ilid

the

first

miii-h

towards developing the

interest,

boiiig in the pos.-u)*ion of the State.

to this

country in company with his two brothers, the eldest of

whom

nn

h]ii;.;lishnian

ntturned to Hnt;land, and the youn^^cst

diL>d

S4M)n

ul\er their

the

KIbridge, Jan.

in

.subject
lis,

was the

Stevens died

followin<;

children,

in

Salina,

HelMcy,

Feb.

28, 1801,

William,

He

isnj.

with him.

and

In ISO" he bought the

the farm imw owned by him, and upon which

lived.

Co., N. Y.. where she was born July 1-1, 1811.

Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have been blessed with ten children,
of whom are living but one, John 0., who. in the sen ice of

Another

New York

son, Develois,

wxs

member of

the

22d

Ui"_'iment

Infantry; William K. and Cyrcnus F. are residents

village,

und are the proprietors of the Munro

IIoii.se.

Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have

the vicissitudes of

life,

pa.s8cd with

and have lived

honor through

to sec the

Henry,

ThomiLs, and John, the latter beinj; the father of our

leavinj;

agricultural di.striet^ in the State.

ll4)bcrt,

in

.subject.

sult of a long life

life,

and are enjoying

of

in their old

indii.stry,

all

county of Onon-

daga develop from almost a wildenicss into one of the

arrival.

Captain

Tyler, daughter of one of the pioneers

In 1S:M he marrietl Mi.ss Catharine Fornerook, of CbarlcMlon,

of KIbridge
by birth, and came

wa.s

during the war of

had four sons, nnd our

in busiiuvs

heirs' interest in

he has since

and was

su|)erintendent of the works, the pn>|>erty at this time

Captain SteviMis

.served

his country, lost his life in the battle of Har|)er'8 Ferry.

pleas.
siilt

He

nnd

from his father an

father until he was thirty-one years of ago,

a.ssoeiated

all

common

Anna

He

and was born

third child

the early judicial history of the county, he havin;; been one of

jud;;es of the court of

inheritetl

death, which occurred Octolier, 180(5.

hi.s

married Miss

Montgomery

first

Ononda^i County

Regiment New York Infantry.

of the war be returned to KIbridge, where he re-

of the county.

was

to

colonel of the IGth

made him nia^.strate of the town the ywir succoedinj; his

arrival.
From that time on he wilm re<pirdcd ils one of the most
prominent men in the county, und his mime is eonspieuous in
the

He

milling.

in

eiiLT'iged

and came

lie lived in KIbridgc village

of age.

aptitude lor military matters.

services in

of land.

Geuk DjfKort, JonUn, N. V.

STKVKNS.

At the

Iiicreaiitile pursuits.

In

They have been

finest

successful

ago a com|)ctcncy, the

economy, and honorable

re-

dciiling.

EZEKIEL SKINNER.

This venerable pioneer was born in the town of Marshfield,

Washington county, Vermont, January

Washington county

The

upon

moved

and became one of

at an early day,

He

was

in a family of

elder Skinner

The boyhood days

inent citizens.

18t)l.

Chapman, and

the son of Giles Skinner and Sally

seven was the fourth child.

12,

its

into

prom-

of our subject were spent

his father's farm, sharing the hardships

and privations of

a pioneer family, and receiving as good an education as the inferior schools

age he

of that day afforded.

left his

home, and with

the village of Elbridge.

is

now

district

per month, and

He

his

first

When

twenty-one years of

pack upon his back came

engaged

in teaching in

No. 11, town of Elbridge,

among

his

Jordan, Calvin Mclntyre, and

pupils were

John Cory.

to

what

at eight dollars

James Rodger, of

Upon

the termina-

tion of his

engagement he went

to

work

in a pail factory,

afterwards carried on the business for himself, and, in

since been engaged in

some mechanical

In 1822, Mr. Skinner was united

and he

fact,

has

pursuit.
in

marriage with Miss

Huldah Huntington, daughter of Luther Huntington, Esq., of

Elbridge, one of the town's

first

The

settlers.

result of this

union was four children, three daughters, and one son who died
in infancy: Sarah,

now Mrs. Rogers, of

Mary

Syracu.se;

lumberman of Bay

L., wife

City, Michi-

of E.

M.

gan

and Julia, wife of James Lankten, Esq., of Elbridge.

Powell, a prominent

In June, 1857, Mrs. Skinner died, and,

was again married

county, N. Y.

1803, and

is

to

in

1858, Mr. Skinner

Miss Esther J. Case, of Fulton, Oswego

She was born

in

Bridgeport,

Vt.,

October,

a worthy partner of her estimable husband.

UKAI'ON ISAAC

UmUm. by

\V. V. ILiiipT, Sjrnu-UBtf.

DEACON ISAAC
The

Bubjcct of

skololi

tliiH

was born

in tlio lutrth

county of Anna;;li, Febniary 4, 1781.

in the

Ili.s

As he

f;rcw to

to all objeet.s of denominational benevolence

fatlicr wa.s

and

liberal contributor.

manhood he longed

Accordingly he

came

to

mained

left

New York
in

IliM thought.s naturally

the city of

for

hi

friends

had

puruhaseil a sniali ijuanlity of land,

he

eliH'd his busiiKso*.

his family,

and

.imail stort>,

LHSt),

when he

calle<l

retired

He

him

re-

remainder of his days, and where

full

to

to

businews until

December

he died,

all

the town.

when he removed

As

12,

a busineia raao,

Socially genial

winning and retaining the reganl of

in

Syracuse to spend the

of years.

Mr. Hill was eminently successful.

New York

small ijuantity of goods

where he did

and removed

and

came on with

which wim the second

('union,

18G8, a good old man, and

settled,

lleturning to

lie continued in the busincw until 1.^25,

Memphis, then

already

spring of IHlO

in the

lie lirmiL'hl witli

and established a

and

about one year, when he came to Kl-

where nonie of

bridgi',

resided,

IWIS, and engaged in trade.

in

New York

turned to Anierica.

Armagh, where ho

and courtonK,

with wlxmi he came in

l.'^i:!,

Mr. Hill uniUnl with the Baptist church in KIbridge,

and WHS one of

it.s

mo.-'t

prominent memlxTs

for

many

years,

he was a regular

Before coming to this country, Mr. Hill wa.s married to Miss

The

Mary Walker.
of

six

Mrs.

whom
v..

rc-iult

of this union was nine children,

grew to maturity, and four of

.M. .Vusiin, .Mrs.

whom

are

now

living:

Samuel McClelland, Mrs. John Bat)*,

and Thomas \V.

Thomas W. was born on

the old homestead, where he

resides (a view of which, in connection with

|Hirtraits

now

of him-

and wife, and father and mother, may be seen elsewherc

self

this work),
until

He

September 21, 1810.

old place,

upon which he has since

been engaged

in

Mr. Hill has always

rc8ide<l.

farming, and in his chosen calling has been

eminently successful, and

is

ranked among the prominent farmers

and sucecNsful business men of the county.

earnest friend of education, and hits
varioiLs eilucational institutions,

theological seminary

On December

made

S<|uire

Hill

September
was

Mr. Hill

liberal

among which

is

an

donations to

are the Ilochcstcr

and the Madison university.

24, 1834, Mr. Hill was married to Miss 8a-

maiitha Muiiro, daughter of David Munro,

On

in

lived with his father

he was twenty-five years of age, when he returned to the

Deacon

contact.

In

1II1,L.

and

a larger freedom, both civil and rcligioun, than was enjoyed in

the land of his birth.

Mil.

of Ireland,

a farnicr, ami at the ago of (burtccn Isaac was a|>prenticed to

the incrcaiitilc hiwinc^t.

MAKV

MKS.

IIII.I..

Munro, one of the

13,

a son of

original settlers of the town.

1S38, she died, and im

ag;iin marriixl to

who was

Mary A. Munro.

May

15, 1839, Mr.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

&

F.

A. M.

pleted and consecrated January 20, 1847, by Bishop

' Jordan Lodge No. 386, instituted July 14, 1856.

John G. Webster, M. Jas. McClure, S. W. Alonzo
;

Case,

W.

J.

membership

Present

Present

142.

A. W. Spinning, S. W.
officers
J. W. Dye, M.
Meets first and third
E. C Nicholson, J. W.
:

Mondays

in

each month

in

305

DeLancy.
Rev. Mr. Northrop resigned the rectorship July
1847, and lay services were held by Spencer M.
Rice till March 19, 1848.
Mr. Rice, being advanced
I,

Rodger Block.

to the Diaconate, was appointed by the Bishopmissionary at Jordan and Marcellus. He ministered

Jordan on each alternate Sunday till July 21,

was succeeded by Rev. Loren Russ,
missionary at Jordan and Port Byron, December i,
at

Churches.
Christ Church, Jordan.
and

an

'39,

occasional

Episcopal Church

Church

at

1850, and

In

was held

years

the

1838

of the Protestant

service
in

the Presbyterian

Jordan by Rev. Joseph T. Clark, Rector

who remained

1850,

His suc-

Easter, 1853.

J. G. Webster, in January, 1854,

officiating also half the time at Port Byron. Under

of St.

his ministry the

Baldwin of Auburn.

pecuniary strength.

James Church, Skaneateles, and Rev. Dr.

At this time there were a
who
few ladies
were communicants of the Episcopal
Church residing in Jordan and vicinity. In March,
1840, Mr. Cyrus Andrews, a member of St. John's
Church, Marcellus, removed to Jordan, and through

till

cessor was Rev.

On

parish

increased in numbers and

the 3d day of July, 1862, the Vestry took intO'

consideration the erection of a

new church

and at

1863, Harry
Weed, A. H. Tracy and Henry Daboll were ap-

a special meeting, held January

1st,

to,

pointed a committee to procure plans for a brick

Rev. Thaddeus Leavenworth commenced services

church, to be located on the south west corner of

his efforts

and those of the ladies above referred

November, 1840, a parish was organized under the name

of "The Rector, Wardens and Vestry of Christ
Church, Jordan." James Riggs and Cyrus Andrews
were elected Wardens, and Lemuel B. Raymond,
in the school house,

where, on the 30th of

Main and Delhi streets. The committee, to whom

J. G. Webster was afterwards added and made

Rev.

chairman, adopted the plan of H. N. White, architect,

William Porter, Jr David Pierson, Samuel Tucker,

Holland W. Chadwick, Daniel K. Green, Alonzo

the

Wood

Lancy.

and George A. Mason. Vestrymen.

The next clergyman was Rev.

1842

raised

Isaac

Swart, in

first

job

Rev. Mr. Webster resigned on account of feeble

towards a church, and

retirement,

of

the

services were

Occasional

parish.

held from this time by Rev.

Rev. O. P. Holcomb,

till

Mason Gallagher and

the spring

of 1845, at

Bruce and

time on Christmas eve, 1863, and on the

February

on

Messrs. Gibson,

29th of December was consecrated by Bishop De-

health, October 8,

his

to

the church was completed and occupied for

under his ministry one hundred dollars were

deposited with the Treasurer of the Diocese to the

credit

the

let

Pierce

March

i,

1866,

1864, and was succeeded, until

by

Rev.

Robert

C.

Wall.

Danker became Rector,,

remainingin charge till Christmas of the same year.
Rev. S. K. Miller assumed charge January 13,
During
1867, and remained till March 4th, 1872.
4, 1866, Rev. Albert

system was adopted and a

which time Rev, Beardsley Northrop, from the

Diocese of Ohio, located in Jordan, and held services

his ministry the free-seat

here and

August 4th, 1872,

from which date the rectorship was filled by Rev.
During this sumS. H. Phillips, till June i, 1875.
mer the church was thoroughly renovated and repainted, the parish being meantime supplied by
Rev. Joel Davis, Rev. J. M. Benedict and Rev.
William A. Ely, the latter of whom, after fainting

Sundays.
Daboll,

about

at

St.

About

who had

five

John's,
this

Marcellus,

on alternate

time Mr. and Mrs. Henry

recently

settled

miles from Jordan,

in

Van

Buren,

became members

of

the church, being baptized by Rev. Mr. Northrop,

July 27, 1845, the

first

adult persons baptized in

the parish.

During the

summer and fall of

sum was pledged to warrant

latter part of the

that year, a sufficient

the Vestry in proceeding to erect a church edifice

and on the 23d of December, 1845, t^he contract

was let to William Gibson for the sum of g 1,1 5 7.
The building was nearly enclosed, when, on the
nth of July, 1846, it was blown down. However,
by the addition of one hundred dollars, Mr. Gibson
was induced to go on, and the building was com46*

small residence purchased for the Rector.

sional supplies

were obtained

Occa-

till

while engaged in the service and being carried from

the chancel, died at at Watertovvn, N. Y.,

March

Rev. Joel Davis, the present Rector,

entered upon his duties September 5, 1875.
The Rectory opposite the church, corner of Main
and Delhi streets, was purchased December 13,
1875, for the sum of $2,600, and occupied by the
13, 1877.

Rector April i, 1876.

Since the organization of the parish two hun-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

306

dred infants have been baptized, eighty adults, and

one hundred and eighty persons confirmed forty:

four families are

with the church, and

identified

there are one hundred and ten communicants, ten

teachers and

fifty

scholars in the

Sunday

school.

First Pkesbvterian Chi;kch of Jordan.

During the years from 1S24 to 1826, the pastors
of the Congregational society of Elbridge, Rev.
Stephen I'orter and Rev. Timothy Stowe, preached
in

Jordan once a Sabbath, at intervals of three or

From 1826 to 1828, preaching was

Society, preached during the time of the church

organization, and was succeeded by Rev. William

American

also an appointee of the

Page,

Missionary Society,

missionary aid to

1831

The church was

received into the

bytery, January 20,

The

Cayuga Pres-

built

during the

years i830-'3i, at a cost of ^4,000, and was dedicated June 30, 1831, by a .meeting of the

four weeks.

Presbytery, one of the Professors of the

had by theological students from Auburn^Messrs.

The first meeting to organize a

altered

Crab and Kent.

society was held

the brick school house on the

in

south east corner of the

Academy

lot,

Dr. Aaron Pitney presided

Herman
house.

Aaron

Jenkyns,

James

and Sidney

Lemuel

Trustees

Five

Secretary.

\V.

Redfickl,

M.

Norton,

were

H.

1829.

9,

Raymont,

elected,

Fben

Pitney,

More-

Hotsford,

They

arc

all

deceased.

Cayuga Presbytery in
a request was made by the members of the

At

the meeting of the

1829,

The

following are the

names and terms

of ser-

vice of the several ministers and pastors:

Rev. John IngersoU, 1829; Rev. William Page,

30 Rev. George Warner, 83
Rev John Covert,
1832; Rev. Washington Thatcher, January, 1833 to
November, 1841
Rev. Huntington Lyman, November, 184!, to March, 1843; Rev. Aaron Judson,
October. 1843,10 May, 1848; Rev. H. B. Hosford.
November 1848, to November, 1849; Rev. Calvin
V\'atcrbury, November. 1849, to May. 1851; Rev.
R. B. Welch, June, 1851, to May, 1852; Rev. Immer N. Crittenden, October, 1852, to October,
Rev. William Wakeman, July, 1856, to July,
1855
Rev. Judson Aspinwall, June. 1857. to
1857
Rev. Richard Dunning, May, 1858, to
June, 1858
July, 1863; Rev. Richard Proctor, August, 1863,
Rev. J. V. C. Nellis. May,
to September, 1864
1865, to October. 1867; Rev. Cyrus M. Perry,
February, 1868. to May, 1872
Rev. I. O. Fillmore, D. D., July, 1873, to October, 1874
Rev. J.
Edward Close, present pastor, assumed charge
8

Fdmund W.
Clerk.

viz

Cayuga
Auburn

Seminary preaching the sermon. The church was

and repaired in its present form at an additional expense of $4,000 in 1863.

now occupied

by Nicholas Craner as a dwelling, June

in

1831.

church edifice was

first

Home

end of whose service

the chuich ceased.

at the

Congregational church of Hlbridge, residing

in Jor-

dan, to be set

The

oft'

in

a separate church organization.

request was granted and Rev. Levi Parsons,

Justus

Hough and Elder Smith

of

Brutus,

were

appointed a committee to organize a church at JorThese, with Rev. Mr. Stowe and Rev. Mr.
dan.

IngersoU, proceeded to organize a church, July

2,

1829, consisting of eighteen

members, eight men

The members who were

and ten women.

trans-

May, 1875.
Since

ferred from the Elbridge Congregational church to

its

Presbyterian church of Jordan were Ed-

about

mund W.

Hotslord, Alva D. I'otsford, Delana Uots-

ninety-five.

ford,

Mary

Botsford, (wife of

Edmund

,)

Thomas

L. Carson, William Newell, Elizabeth, (wife of Herman Jenkyns,) Delatus Frary, Sally, (wife of Elihu

Frary.i Sara Coonley, (now Otis,) William Nickcrson,

Matilda Stevens, (wife of Robert Stevens,)

Thomas

Stevens, John Stevens, and Elenor, (wife

To these were added from JorJohn Stevens
dan and vicinity, Jane Carson, (now Ward,) Ebene/er Daggett and Mary P his wife, Salmon Greene
and Amy, his wife, Eliza Bell, Nancy McKissick,
(now Blakeslie, Ebenezer Morehouse and wife,
Pomeroy Tobey and wife, and others.
of

The

first

session, elected July

2,

1829. consisted

Ebenezer DagGreene, Pomeroy Tobey, William

gett, Salmon
all deceased.
Newell, and Ebenezer Morehouse
of six elders

Alva D.

Botsford,

Rev. John IngersoU, a Congregationalist minister, appointed by the American Home Missionary

1824,

organization this church has received

members. Present number

The Sunday School was organized in

hundred

this

form

six

Alva D. Botsford. Superintendent.

MhTHODiST Episcopal Church of

located

Jordan,

on the coiner of Church and Mechanic

The

streets.

present edifice

is

of

wood and

is

the

only house of worship ever erected by this society

in

Jordan.

It

was

built in

1832 at a cost of about

33,000, but improvements and additions from time

to lime are

supposed

There

the property.

costing with
joining

its

have doubled the value of

to

is

a comfortable parsonage

furniture, about gi,8oo,

on the ad-

lot.

Previous to the erection of the church, meetings

were held

in school houses, in

lage and a class

as early as 1820,

large circuits.

is

and around the

vil-

believed to have been organized

and was included in one of the

Rev. Seth Mattison

Services by

over half a century ago.

Father

Purdy and Rev.

Herman

Judson, and

II

Photos, by

W.

V. Ranger, Syracuse.

MRS.

JACOB HALSTEU.

J.

HALSTED.

JACOB HALSTED.

The subject of this sketch was born in Newburg, Orange Co.,

N. Y., July 22, 1795, and is undoubtedly the oldest living settler
His father, Abraham Halsted, was also
in the town of Elbridge.
a native of Orange county, where he was born in the year 1770.
The Halsted family may well be proud of the many virtues of their
ancestors, who were noted for their patriotism and sterling qualities
as citizens.
Jacob and John Halsted, the paternal uncles of our

clining years, and at his request he abandoned the idea of going to

sea, settled down as a farmer, in which occupation he has been

eminently

successful,

rule of his life

farm

in

life.

In 1806 he sold

I'll

get

my

liviug by the sweat of

Anil bear good-will to the

I'll

pay

my

by

starting out for

human

my

face.

race,

debts as soon as due,

And wear my

full

Orange county, and removed with his family to Elbridge,

then known as the town of Camillus, where he purchased one
hundred and sixty-three acres of wild land of Judge Foreman.
The land was heavily timbered, and the construction of a farm was
the work of years but by degrees field after field was added, and
industry and perseverance were rewarded.
It was on this farm
that his children were reared, and where our subject has since
resided.
Among the privations of those da^'s were lack of educational advantages. This Mr. Halsted felt severely, as he was determined to have an education and the homely adage, " that where
there's a will there's a way," was exemplitied in his case.
He attended school one winter at Ionia, boarding at home and walking
the entire distance morning and night, breaking his road through
the woods. He completed his education at the Onondaga academy,
and his energy and zeal is shown in the fact that, for a portion of
the time, he lived on bread and sweetened water, not having the
means to obtain a more liberal diet. He succeeded in obtaining a
good English education, which he made practically useful to himself and others by teaching.
Mr. Halsted's whole life has been
devoted to the cares of his farm and family, although in his jTiuth
he desired to lead ''a life on the ocean wave." He studied navigation and made other preparations, which were thwarted by the death
of his only brother, which left him the sole prop of his father's de-

his

"

his life in straitened cir-

share of the trials and privations of pioneer

When

were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, as were also many

Abraham Halsted
others from different branches of the family.

was a farmer, and in the early part of

his long life has been characterized

himself he composed the following stanza as his motto, and to those

who know him it will be unnecessary to say that it has been the

subject,

cumstances, and per consequence he and bis family had their

and

industry, integrity, and honorable dealing.

old clothes

till

I ran

make new."

By economy, industry, and perseverance he has made life a success, and stands foremost among the substantial men of his town.
He has been called by his fellow-townsmen to fill several positions
commissioner of deeds, assessor, and justice of the peace,
of trust,
all of which he filled with credit to himself and to the entire satis-

faction of his constituents.

Mr. Halsted has been married three times. First, in 1819, to Miss
Cynthia Hobart; the result of this union were five daughters,
three of whom are now living, namely, Mary, wife of Dr Goodand Margaret
hue, of Iowa Eliza, now Mrs. Abram H. Jones
;

Wm.

K. Pickerd, Esq., of Elbridge.

May 27, 1841, Mrs. Halsted was "called home," and in 1843
he was again married to Miss Caroline Symonds. She died May
Catharine
21, 1845; and Nov. 17, 1850, he was married to Mrs.
Parker, of Marcellus, daughter of George and Rebecca Crysler,
who were among the pioneers of that town. In his political and

Ann, wife

of

Liberal to
religious ideas he is a Baptist and a stanch Republican.
patron
a fault, every worthy enterprise finds in him a generous

and supporter.
Mr. Halsted
the

way

is

leading

man. Early in life he learned that

was no royal road, but was open li>

a self-made
to success

strong hands and willing hearts.

,"

Honor and fame from no condition

.\ct well

your

imrt, there all the

rise.

honor

lies."

MARVIN W. HARDY.

The
lii:iiii,

Mubjcct of

tliui

sketch was born July 25, 1820, at

He was

Hcrkiincr Co., N. Y.

family of Juel and Ilepsibuh Ilnrdy,

Man-

the eldest child in the

whu were

farmore.

lie

aci|uirc<l a pH)d amiinun-schotii vducutiun, and remained with

when

bin [inrcnts until

he was twenty-two yearn of

an

mechanical puntuitM, he went to Little Falls,

.N.

ii|>ti(tiile

Y..

for

where he learned the trade

followed alxmt thret> years.

From

Montgomery county, and cnpigcd

for

ovincinj;

a carpenter, which he

ol'

Little Falls
in the

he removed to

manufacture uf ])aper

C'hauncvy North until his removal to Jordan in 18(>4, where

he purchased a fann and

of

aj;e,

|Ni|M!r.

In

cttlablisheil him.<*elf in

February,

1S13, Mr.

the manufacture

Hardy was marrieU

to

France*, daugbtt-r of riiaunccy North and Abigail (iri.swold, of

Herkimer county.

Mr. and Mrs. North were originally from

I'onnccticut, and emigrat<-4l In Fondabnsh,

where Mrs. Hiirdy

Hardy have had

wiis

Ikihi

Montgomery county,

Dec. 18, 1815.

eighl children Ihihi

t4)

Mr. and

them, and iiame<l

.^lr>.

in the

order of their ages as follows: Abigail,

Chauncey,

bom

Nov.

6,

1845; Mary,

bom

Nov. 13, 1843;

bom Aug.

26, 1847;

Frances, bora Sept. 29, 1849 (deceased); Adelia and Amelia,

born July 29, 1852; Samuel 0., born Oct. 22, 1S54

Kmma

Ida, born Feb. 22, 1858.

Mr. Hardy was an ambitious and successful businesH man.

Hy

industry, perseverance, and honorable dealing he ac(|uircd a

competence, and at
8ul>!*(untial

virtuct)

business

all

religious ideas

men of Jordan.
faults of

who knew him

Possowcd of many of the

mankind, he was highly

for his

he was a Methodist, and

prominent part as

class-leader.

All in

moral worth.
in
all,

the churt-h

In his
tiMik

Mr. Hardy was a

of sound judgment, high character, and integrity, and an

aid in building

death was considered to be one of the

and but few of the

ostccmed by

man

Iiis

ni:ui

honor.

up and advancing the

of liroud

charity,

best interests of society,

generous

libcnility,

and

manly

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

The

afterward a Rev. Mr. Barnes and Rev. Mr. Harris

preachers were among

local

the early laborers

previous to the erection of the church.

church was being erected, but before

it

While the
was dedi-

was appointed

307

labors of Rev. E. D. Hubbell had already

been secured as pastor, and measures were immediately taken to build a house of worship. In 1836, the
church was received into the Cayuga Baptist Asso-

the pastors and their terms of service since the

and in October, 1S37, the church edifice

was dedicated.
The pastorate of Mr. Hubbell was a successful
one, and many were gathered to the church.
After
a service of three years he was succeeded by Rev.

church came to be a regular appointment

Henry Davis, who

cated, Rev. Roswell Parker

Jordan then

circuit.

first

to

Jordan

appeared in the minutes

of the Oneida Conference as a separate charge.

The

following

conference, viz

believed to be a correct

is

list

of

in this

ciation,

labored

very successfully for

In 1842, he was succeeded by Rev. H.

Eddy, who served the church about seven years.
During his pastorate, the church reached a mem-

four years.

Isaac S. Wright,
Revs. Roswell Parker, 1832
Benjamin Phillips,
Charles Giles, 1835
1834
Harvey Chapin, 1839;
1836; John Loveys, 1837
the year 1840 was partially supplied by Rev.
EbeB. I. Diefendorf, 1841
J. N. Murdock;
nezer Arnold 1842; P. D. Gorrie, 1843; Royal
G. G. Hapgood, 1847; Rev.
Houghton, 1845
Charles H. Austin, 1848; D. Simons, 1850; B.
Holmes, 1852; O. C. Cole, 1853; Byron Alden,
E. W. Jones, 1859
W. L. Tisdale 1857
1855
Hiram
S. B. Crozier, i860; S. Dewey, 1861
Church, 1863 W. Dempster Chase, 1864; F. J.
Whitney, 1865 A. Bramley, 1866; L. B. Wells,
Charles T. Moss, 1871; A. B. Gregg, 1873
1868
O. L. Gibson, 1876, who is at present in the second
year of his pastorate here.
;

'<

J.

He was

bership of about 275.

who was

Beebe,

succeeded by A. M.

ordained and served one year,

when

assume the duties of a professorMadison University.

He was succeeded

he resigned
ship in

to

by Rev. W. R. Webb, who labored three

years, or

until July 15, 1853.

From this time the church gradually declined

under the labors of three different pastors and
Serious difficulties divided and
various supplies.

Among

the earliest

names

in

this

society were

those of Luther Huntington, Father Rhinus, Daniel

Pickard, Benjamin Rider, Mrs. Barr,

Grandmother

Graves, Rev. Nathaniel Saulsbury and his

Eunice Sands, Mrs. Goodrich, Mr.

Mrs.

scattered

sister,

Miner,

Mrs. Maria Bates, Sarah Holway, Father Crysler,

Brown, Hollis Knowlton, Henry

Simon Converse, Michael Oglesbie, Jared
Whiting, Mrs. James Rodgers, and their families.
Several ministers have been raised up in this
church, among whom may be named Rev. Wm.
Benjamin H.

Allen,

Searles and Rev. P. H. Wiles, of the Central

New

York Conference Rev. L. D. White and Rev.

Hiram Nichols, of the Northern New York Con-

members

until

ference,

and Rev. A. F. Wright,

late of the Illinois

Conference.

salary of

two
There

is

hundred and fifty, including probationers.

over one hundred and sixty Sunday School
scholars, with an average attendance of one hundred
and twenty. The church is united and prosperous.
are

The Baptist Church of Jordan was constituted

November 10, 1835, from about thirty-three members dismissed from the church at Elbridge for the

purpose.

The number was

very soon increased to

$700

1867 or

'68,

when Rev.

is

pastor.

paid for the support of preaching.

During the present pastorate about twenty have

been added

to the church.

Methodist Episcopal Church of Peru.

was organized about 1850.
that time there had been preaching

The

Previous

society

to

in the vicinity

accordance with the Methodist circuit system.

in

present membership of this church

Fenner became

His labors were a

great blessing to the church, and during his pastorate the membership was increased and encourThe house of worship was also repaired at
aged.
He was followed in 1871
a cost of about $1,500.
by supplies, among whom was Rev. Ross Matthews,
who served one year, until 1875, when Rev. D. B.
Pope was called to the pastorate, and still serves.
The present membership numbers eighty. The
church is nearly free of debt and in fair working
Its property is valued at $6,000, and a
condition.
F. D.

The

its

In 1852, the present church edifice was erected at

a cost of about $1,500; but since that time improve-

ments have been made so

is

now

that the church property

estimated to be worth $2,000.

in the village of Peru.

have been

lost

just

The

It is

situated

early church records

where the

first

organization

took place, and what the number of original memDoubtless

bers was cannot be definitely stated.
the

membership was quite

small.

Among

the

the labors of Rev. D. D. Chittenden at Cold Spring.

prominent members in its early history were Wm.

Prior, Alanson Barnes, George Stickles, and their

The

wives.

fifty-four

Case.

first

by the addition of others, gathered by

Deacons were Tobias Clements and A.

As

near as can be told the following

persons have served as pastors

named

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

3o8

Lewis. 1853
Charles H. Austin, 1852
one of the years i854-'56 were served by A. M.
Fredenburgh; L. B. Wells. 1857; J. Smedley.
1858; David Stone, 1859 "60; Charles Baldwin,
Hall. 1863; the year 1863 not known;
1861
I.
Royal Houghton, 1864-66: A. L. Smalicy, 186769; E. D. Thurston, 1870: Moses Lyons, 1871
E. M. Mills, six months, 1872; William Colden,
1873-74; } C. Nichols. 1875 C. W. Lane, 1876;
L. Northway. 1877 J. C. Nichols, present pastor.
;

company incorporated

stock

that

in

The

year.

of wood, and cost, including fixtures,

building

is

$1,450.

The

milk of about 200 cows

The principal

into cheese.

is

made
Henry

here

stock-holders are

Elihu Parry, Nathaniel Somes, Joseph

Philip
Somes, Philip Drake and Russell F'oster.
Edwin
Drake, President
McDowell, Secretary
Daboll,

Henry

Present membership forty.

Daboll, Treasurer.

On

Carpenter Brook, near Jack's Reefs is the

owned by Philip Drake, built by him in

saw-mill

The

Jack's Reefs Cheese Factorv was estabIn 1874,

lished in 1872, by Dighton R. Marvin.
having been destroyed by fire by the
it was rebuilt

was built here as early as

In i8i5,Zenas Wright and Hollis Knowlton
1808.
owned a mill on the same site. Mr. Knowlton is

Jack's Reefs Cheese Factory Association, a joint

still

The

1843.

mill

first

living at Jordan, nearly

90 years

of age.

CAMILLUS.
Camii.lus was

originally

Township

At

Five of the Military Tract.

Number

the organization

was included in the town of Marcellus, from which it was formed into a separate
town March 8, 1799.
A part of Onondaga was
annexed to it in 1834.
The first town meeting was directed by law to
be held at the house of Mcdad Curtis, who was
of the county

it

elected Supervisor, and

The

early records of this

some time

fire

Daniel Vail,

prior to

first

Clerk.

now

is

the earliest

extant reach back.

white settler was Captain Isaac Lintlsay,

about the year 1790, and directly after, his brothers,

Their land
James, William and Elijah Lindsay.

was

lot

No. 80, on which the northern portion of

the village of Camillus

purchased

for

Lamberson

is

twcnty-Jhc cents an

settled in the

Reed, Selden

situated,

town

in

Leonard, Mordecai

and which they

acre.

Nicholas

1793, William
Ellis,

family

named White, and David Hinsdell and others,

Squire Munro settled on lot 81,
previous to 1806.
now in the town of Elbridge, in 1799. His sons,
John, David, Nathan and Philip A. Munro, were
then young men, and have since been known
throughout the county

for their enterprise, industry,

and wealth. Thomas Corey, who was

by a fall from a wagon, was an early settler

intelligence
killed
in

this

town, as well

as

Isaac

Brown, Nathaniel

Richman, Jacob Chandler, John Hess, John Padname of McCracken.

David Munro settled at Camillus village, where his
son, David A. Munro, now resides, in 1808.
The
dock, and two others by the

that

at

period, although

engaged

in

the

hard work of clearing land, seem to have had in

many
was

respects a " jolly time," for the heavy labor

principally performed

known

by the kind of cooperation

as " bees," to which a general invitation was

extended

men

to all the able-bodied

in

town.

Chop-

ping bees, logging bees, husking bees, &c., were the

"

among

"

order of the day

they usually ended

in

the early settlers, and

a dance and frolic at night.

Isaac Lindsay erected the

town were destroyed by

1829, which

date to which any records

The

Town

settlers

Lot

80, in

first

frame house on

In 1808, the village of Camillus

1795.

contained but two frame houses.

erected a substantial

frame house

David Munro
in

1810.

The

White family and Captain Kimberly erected houses

about the same time at Amboy.
East and west,
no houses had been erected

at

this time, except at

between Elbridge and Judge

Geddes', at Fairmount.
The first school house, a
log building, was erected in 1808, and was followed
by a frame building in 181 3.
Camillus

village,

Isaac Lindsay kept the

1793; Thomas Corey

in

son opened the

first

first

in

tavern in the village

1801.

John Tomlin-

store in the town, at the village,

1808 Munro & Benedict followed in 1810, and

were followed by Gould & Hess, Hoar & Wheeler,
William A Cook, John C. Ellis, and others.
in

James R. Lawrence opened the first law office in

Grove Lawrence another in 1821. Other
5
early lawyers were Samuel Hammond, Daniel
181

Pratt, D. D. Hillis

Dr. Isaac
cian at

and others.

Magoon

established himself as a physi-

the village of Camillus in

succeeded by Dr. Richards.

1808, and

was

IMiutu.

The Inwnsliip
bridge and

of Camillus,

Van

New England.
Among these,
first

Hannah, wife of Payn Bigelow, of Baldwinsville and LydiaH.,

wife of David Porter, of Lysander.
Mr. Munro carried on a large and very successful business in

embracing the present towns of El-

Buren, was peopled mostly with

settlers

in the year 1790, only nine years later

from

than the

white resident of the town, came David Mnnro, then a lad

December 8, 1784, and fifth in the line

from John Munro, who emigrated from Scotland, and

fonrteen years old, born

of descent

settled in Massachusetts at an early period.

David accompanied

Munro, who had been a

his father, Squire

by W. V. Riinger, Syniciise.

Revolutionary war, and who then in the prime of

England,
life, being forty-two years of age, came from New
bringing with him his four sons, John, David, Nathan, and
soldier in the

farming all the earlier portion of his life, but the necessity of finding investments for the constantly increasing results of his foresight, energy, and economy occupied the most of his attention in
He was the first postmaster in Camillus Village,
later years.
holding the office from 1811 to 1824, when he was succeeded by
James R. Lawrence. He held the office of justice of the jteace
many years, and was also one of the associate judges of the court
of common pleas for a long time, becoming familiarly known to
the people of the county as Judge Munro, by which title he was

He was

member

of the State legislature in

them since well known throughout the county

and settled near where the vilhigc of Elbridge now stands.
As Daniel grew up to manhood he developed into a large and
powerful man, fully marked with the characteristic family traits
of enterprise, untiring industry, economy, and self-reliance.
In 1807 he was married to Abigail Carpenter, of the same town,
and in 1808 he purchased a farm on lot number eighty, Camillus,
and settled where Camillus Village now stands, where only two

commonly

frame houses were then erected.

The country was then covered with forests, and Mr. Munro
cleared up his farm, which was heavily timbered, doing much of

was no business enterprise with which he was connected which he

He was constantly in
did not inspire with the spirit of success.
his
contact with the leading minds of the county, and although

Philip A.,

all

of

the labor with his

Here he resided

own

hands.

for fifty-eight years,

enlarging his farm by the

purchase of adjacent lands from time to time.

He

died

May

10,

being over eighty years of age at the time of his decease.

His wife wa.s six years younger than himself, having been born
186fi,

December 3, 1790, and she survived him nearly two years.

There were eight children born of the marriage, of whom six
still survive, viz.
John C. Munro, born October 17, 1809 James
M. Munro, born November 13, 1813 David A. Munro, born
August 17, 1818 Mary A., wife of Thomas W. Hill, of Eldridge
:

called.

1818, 1810, 1822, 1830, 1841,

He was

also a

member

and again in 1842.

of the convention which framed the

He was a leading director

third constitution of the State in 1846.

in,

and

for a long time president of, the old

bank of Salina an

of him being engraved on

the bills issued by

excellent portrait
that bank.

Bank from

also an influential director in the Salt Spring

There
its incorporation to the time of his decease.

He was

dignity
early education was limited, his strong native sense, natural
failed to
of presence, and the innate force of his character, never

make due

impression on every one he met.

later life,
tall, of full hahit, and corpulent in
in the
bare-banded
driving
or
riding
degree,
last
the
hardy
engagement
coldest weather, and he never postponed a business

In person he was
to

on account of storms or railroads.

Mr. Munro's manner of address was courteous but impre-ssive,
and his knowledge of the men and events of the day was unsur-

Photij. 1p>

Jul IN

Jolin

Munni,

('.

mm

Abipiil ('ar|itnt.r. wa.s

dapi

("iiuiit^',

oC the

Wm

in

late
tlio

on ()cU)btr 17, 1809.

farm and cducntod at the cnminon

manhood

March

(n

Jud-^e David Muiiro and

town of
IIo

'JL',

waa

kcIiooIm,

enpifripd in rarmin); for himxclf,

fdilowinJ uiiremitlin^^ly all his

Cainilliid,

till

of the

he removed to where he now

reaidi-s.

Thejie adjoining farnu*

Fiilc,

in

having pur-

now

contttitute

hiji

chosen oc-

cupation of farming, and his taHt for WK-ial and nicntnl culture

lie

was

niarrie*].

hw

comfortable and well-furnished home.

August

18, lH.'t2, to

viz..

Miss Emily Bennett,

August
;

2'J,

at the

home on

by

settler,

David Bennett,

Ixirn

John C,

Jr.,

Emily

born

B.,

six years as

member of

member of

May

been

in

Munro

22,

1849, and

resiiling

in {Hilitics,

ond has

9,

is

also a

He

has served

the board of supervisors, and

of justice of the

the Presbytt-rian church ut

he has been many years an

Mrs.

1833

the farm.

for si.xtoen years has held the oflSce

is

0,

bom November

steadily adhered to the principles of that party.

town

August

he has

Henry Smith, bom

1818);

Mr. Munro has always been a Democrat

hi.'*

whom

Sarah Saraantha, born January 14, l&JD

(Mr. E. U. Hale, of Elbridgc)

re-

Mr. Munro hoK

taken great pride and pIcMurc in the pursuit of

^natificAtion in

five children,

1842 (deceased)

life.

an eKtatc of three hundred and Hcvcnty acres.

fiiiil.H

had

Doceniber 29, 1835

1H32, he settled on a farm at Belle

ehaMMl the land in 183(1.

daughter of James Bennett, ao early

at the age of

which pursuit he huH

Bool* k Curtia, gjrmcuM.

KSQ.

(accidentally killed,

January, 1K53, when, on aceouut of the cnlar);uinent

ejinal,

MUNUO,

up on n

broufjlit

and

Onon-

the town of ('umilluH, where he huilt a larp; huuiie and

sided

C.

jieace.

He

Amboy, of which

elder.

member of

the same church, and has

fellowship with the church at .\mboy, and of that at

Camillus, for

fifty

years.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

was first established in Camillus in

and David Munro was appointed Postmaster.
James R. Lawrence was postmaster in 1824, and
181

postoffice

1,

309

Genesee Valley would have to export

wheat " down the Newtown Creek." In sixteen
years he is again at the Falls of the Genesee, with
cultivate the

their

was succeeded by Grove Lawrence and Robert

his level,

Dickey.

was

to carry wheat, not via

first

guessed, but east to the sea.

The first
when

surplus grain raised for market was in

marking out the route

of the Canal,

Newtown

which

Creek, as he

was carried to Albany on sleighs.

bushels
of wheat were annually transThousands of
ported to Albany from this town by sleighs and

These notes of Mr. Geddes show that his mind

was occupied with the subject of internal navigation
during his explorations upon this visit in 1792, more

wagons, previous

than

1805,

it

to

the construction of the Erie

Canal.

The

north branch of the Seneca Turnpike was

incorporated in

and

In

1806.

his sons built so

much

Munro

Squire

807-8,

of this road as passed

through the town of Camillus, about eleven miles.

Judge James Geddes. We have

already had

a decade before the Erie Canal had been

thought of
Under the head of " Particulars Re-

specting the Lake Country," in the notes referred

to, bespeaks of" such a navigation as will bring much

European goods on such terms as will tempt people

depend on them more than they ought." And

to

again

"

such

an inland navigation as

occasion to refer to the eminent services and dis-

salt,

tinguished character of Hon. James Geddes, in his

people's doors, in a manner."

connection with the explorations and survey of that

His name

great State enterprise, the Erie Canal.

conspicuously before the country

stands not less

Onondaga

than that of any other early citizen of

Mr. Geddes was born near Carlisle, Penn-

County.

22d of July, 1763.

His father and
mother were of Scotch descent, and, like Robert
Burns, Mr. Geddes, in his youthful days, followed the
plow, and carried a book in his pocket which he
perused every time his team stopped to rest.
Thus
was
he
in
the
pursuit
of
knowledge.
ardent
Mr.
sylvania, on the

a thoroughly

Oliver,

educated

He

instructor in mathematics.

without a teacher, and became a

of the first order.

was

teacher,

his

studied languages

scholar

belles lettres

His knowledge of the English

language has been rarely excelled.

At an

Mr. Geddes

made upon

in his journal

a subsequent visit

1792, the year preceding the

works

From

Geddes.

at

session of his son,

visited

now

summer

many

He

gives
falls,

des-

New

York,

almost an entirely unsettled wilderness, and

then

dates,

measurements of water-

distances,

&c.,with the minuteness of a topographical

survey.

In

all

the observations

made upon

this trip,

see the indications of the future engineer.

most interesting part of

he

visits

journey

is

the navigation" of the river.

that the farmers

who were

we
The

where
them as

that

the Genesee Falls, and speaks of

" spoiling

47

his

examinations

at the Salt Springs.

to

Onondaga and

selected his location at the head

ground now occupied by a portion
of Geddes.
He returned and organ-

of the lake, on
of the village
ized a

company

manufacturing

at Carlisle, Pa., for the

salt,

and

in

purpose of

1794 came by the way

Seneca Lake with the necessary equipments for

engaging in that business.
The other members of
of

the
ing.

company came on in
Mr. Geddes lived

about four years.

In

the
at "

1798,

month of June followGeddes Salt Works "

he removed to lands

which he had purchased of the State, at Fairmount,

in the town of Camillus, where he lived the remainIn May, 1799, he married Miss
daughter
Lucy Jerome,
of Timothy Jerome, Esq of
life.

Fabius.

The

pointed by the Council of Appointment Justice of

places of interest in Virginia, Maryland,

Pennsylvania, and the interior regions of

his

home determined to settle

The following year he came

appears

it

of 1792 in travel,

looking for a place of future residence.

cribes

Mr. Geddes having completed

in the pos-

Hon. George Geddes,

that he spent the entire

bring

services of Mr. Geddes were required immediupon coming into the county, to fill important
stations of trust and responsibility.
He was ap-

in

selection of his salt

these notes,

may

country produces, to

of the country, returned

der of his

Kentucky,
and also portions of Virginia, as appears from notes
early age

sugar, or whatever the

He

thought

just then beginning to

ately

the Peace in 1800, and in 1804 was elected a

mem-

was as an engineer
that he became best known to the public.
Soon
after coming into the country, he was employed by
the Surveyor-General as one of his assistants, and
ber of the Legislature.

But

it

he devoted himself to the profession of surveying

and engineering until age disqualified him for the
His maps, plats and
fatigue of out-door labor.
field-books,
Office,

racy,

deposited

in

the

Surveyor-General's

man of great accushow him to

and his accompanying remarks reveal the
have been a

sagacity and penetration of his mind.

The project of connecting Lake Erie with the

Hudson River became an important one. Mr.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

3IO

Weston, a celebrated engineer from England had

examined the Oswego River and other water-courses,
with a view to improving their navigation, and
among men of enlarged views the scheme became
an engrossing

Geddes,

Mr.

topic.

period, enlisted in the matter and

ardor the gathering of

facts.'

an early

at

whom

he communi-

cated the crude, undigested thought.

Mr. Geddes

man

knew

that

Mr Weston

susceptible of

and

of

if

upper

the

had reported the

to

could

lakes

country without going down

be

across

led

to the level

the

of

On-

to the summit again at

must follow from it, and at
once his untiring energy and industry were put in
requisition.
Maps were examined, surveyors were
en(|uircd of, and every means within his reach
tario

and

Rome,

then

rising

that vast results

was enabled

to render

such

assistance as ensured success.

In 1816 the Commissioners appointed five principal engineers, placing

the

list,

Mr. Geddes

at the

head of

who. throughout the progress of the work,

maintained a high standing as a

civil engineer, and

whose labors and opinions the Commissioners most
favorably estimated, as shown in various instances

in their reports.

Oswego

Lake Ontario as " hardly

improvement by means of canalthere was a way that the waters

River from the Falls

ing,"

to

position in the State,

commenced with

In 1804, the Surveyor-

General said to him that Gouvcrncur Morris had

suggested the project of "tapping Lake Erie." The
Surveyor-General considered this a "romantic
thing," but not so the

Mr. Clinton, grasping with his powerful intellect at

once the vast advantages of the scheme, embarked
in it with uncompromising zeal, and by his elevated

Ohio applied

In 1822. the State authorities of

to

Gov DcWitt Clinton toselectaproperpersontomake

the necessary explorations for their canal from the

Ohio River

to

Lake

and he,

Erie,

the most

in

plimentary manner, recommended

com-

Mr Geddes

as

most competent man in the service of the

Mr. Geddes accepted the proposals from
State.
Ohio and assumed the responsibility of Chief EnThis duty he discharged
gineer of the Ohio Canal.
the

to the perfect satisfaction of the authorities of the

Legislature from this county upon the express under-

In 1827 Mr. Geddes was employed

State of Ohio.
by the General Government (associated with Mr.
Roberts,! in locating the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal.
In 1828 he was engaged in locating the
Pennsylvania Canals, and in the same year was appointed by the General Government to examine the

standing that he would try to provide the necessary

country

money to make examinations of the

No man could have been better qualified
country.
than was Judge Forman to succeed.
A man of
eloquence, ardent and peculiarly fitted to make men

waters of the Tennessee and Altamaha Rivers,

resorted

to ascertain

to,

the

topography of the

country through which has since been constructed

the Erie Canal.
In 1807, Judge Joshua

Fotman was

elected to the

appropriation of

the

General,

who had

the surveys,

if

Mr. Geddes.

the selection of the

he did not himself do

He

"

man
it,

to

make

appointed

entered with enthusiasm upon

the work assigned him by the Surveyor-General,"

prominent position.

February

25, 1822, -

was almost precisely

in

the line

which, after repeated elaborate and expensive examinations, has been finally adopted."

The

report

made by Mr. Geddes made such an

impression upon the Legislature that,

in spite

of the

also held

Judge of On1813 he was

elected a Member of the Xlllth Congress, and in
1821, was again elected a Member of the State
ondaga County

way

Darby, of

Geddes

dis-

1809 he was appointed

In

an Associate Justice, and

during the

Mr.

in

Alabama and Georgia.

In civil and political aflairs Mr.

Surveyor-General

his letter to

the connection of the

to

States of Tennessee,

and made surveys not only of the Oneida and Oswego Rivers, and around the l*'alls of Niagara, but
he reported a route which, in the language of the
in

reference

'This appointment he declined, ,on account of

tance from home and his advanced age.

think as he himself thought upon any subject, he

did succeed, and as was understood, the Surveyor-

with

Common

in

18 12 a

Pleas.

In

Legislature.

The

infirmities of
last

age crept upon him apace, and

year of his

life,

his constitution

gave

and he closed his earthly career at his

residence, in the town of Camillus on the 19th of
August, 1838, being a little over seventy-five years
rapidly,

He

was the father of seven children, all of

Hon. George
Geddes, of P'airmount.
Says his biographer, Mr.
of age.

whom

arc deceased except his son,

prejudice

Clark

prosecute the work.

Perhaps it is safe to say that no man who had

been so much in public life and who had come in
contact with so great and conflicting interests, represented by men so liiflerent in capacity and character,
ever died having fewer enemies.
His reputation for
integrity was probably never questioned by those

and opi)osition from different sources,

that body was induced, in 1810, to organize a Board
of Canal Commissioners, with powers and means to
necessary

information

committing themselves

His survey furnished the

to
in

justify

prudent

men

favor of a canal.

in

And

"

MRS. ROBERT UOPKINS.

ROBERT HOPKINS.
Salem, Washington Co., N. Y.,

to agricultural

pursuits.

His parents, Samuel and Mary Hopkins,

on agricultural

topics,

Robert Hopkins was born

February 10, 1789.

came with their family,

Camillas,

and

at

Onondaga

Co.,

in

in

the

month of March, 1807,

N. Y., where they purcha.sed a farm,

once began to combat with the stern

course, under such circumstances, the educational

As

Of

and

advantages of Mr. Hopkins were very limited.

But,

notwithstanding, his determination to get an education over-

came
at

all

By

obstacles.

faithfully

improving his leisure hours

home, he obtained a good practical business education, which

proved of immense importance to him in later

to

positions

knowledge.

of trust

When

consented to allow

requiring

an

accurate

he attained his majority

him

life,

when

called

thorough

and

his father kindly

to cultivate a portion of the farm.

In

the capacity of lessee, he remained until twenty-eight years of

age,

when he had

large

enough

to

acquired, by judicious management, a

and adorn his new home, he married, January

dence Wells.

March

To

purchase a fine farm in Camillus.

All of their children living,

29, 1818, Emeline, born

May

viz.,

1,

sum
grace

1816, Pru-

9,

born December 4, 1833, have received good educations, and are

pleasantly domiciled in

the old homestead where they were

Mr. Hopkins devoted his attention throughout

life

principally

informed

conduct his farm on the

Like Cincinnatus, he was frequently

he proved one

justice of the peace for twenty-four years,

justice that the

to taint his

town of Camillus ever had.

None ever dared

ermine with any proposal to compromise

Unlike many, he always endeavored, in a Christian

reconcile litigants
law,

and

many

to

in this

go

justice.

spirit, to

coming before him before having recourse

way he remarkably lessened that bad

to

spirit in

law for every imagined injury or irritation.

to

Also as assessor for six years, one of the most delicate and
unthankful town

offices,

he gave equal acceptance.

thirty years he was a prominent

and

influential

For over

member

of the

Presbyterian church of Camillus, and endeavored to exemplify

in every-day
Politically,

life

the morals taught in the

August

1859, he died, leaving

able

or

of books.

a pleasant and social intercourse with

mar

7,

Book

although a Democrat, yet he did not allow party

feelint^ to

name and

1864.

born.

well

of the most equitable and rigidly honest dispensers of public

Harlow W., born

1824, and Edwin,

to

himselt

from the plough-share to enter the sanctuary of public

called
ofiice.

kept

and aimed

latest scientific principles.

of fron-

realities

tier life.

social

to

He

life.

to his children

all

men.

an irreproach-

His wife followed him September 27,

Few men were more

missed by the town of Camillus,

more highly respected than Mr. Hopkins.

KN08 PKCK.

MR8. KN08 I'ECK.

ENOS PECK.

All

(.xiiiiipli'

Couiitv, aiij
Kiio

I'cck,

II

(if

(if

iiuliiNtn',

uiiliriii^'

|iri>sont

cilir.('ii

Haven, ViTiiKint, Auj:.

of must

Ho

Ciiinillu.s.
1"),

in

tin-

and was

17tt(l,

of Onondapi

liniiMrahli-

wils ln)rii

Kniw Pivk, whi) wiu a very parW

Mr. Pitk rinoVfd with

piorn-or

ii

settler in

tliu

New

nC

In 1795,

Uiiondiipi Coiinty, when- ihey remained until the year 1806,

when they removed

hini.'H'lf

to

Cayuga county.

(,'ato,

yarn n^^ll

iwonty-oiio

an u fanner, tjikiu};

hi.s

father's

with the

Kn'_'land fanner, sol to

work elwiring away the

thii-ki't.

and

at

which

al)out a

and

a higher

I'omiH'iisate*! hint well for his labor, as

A. H..

at

the

;ige

<(

eighly-.seven, lives

the hou.sc crecteil by himself

in

month previous

He

to its close.

company

his

has always manifested

of the founders of the Presbyterian church of ramillus.

politics is a

He

is

Republican, and has never missed a

one of the old(t and most highly esteemed

In

deetioD.

fkll

citiieiis

of

the county, and has ulwa3's Itcen found arrayed on the side of
justice and truth.

New

don.se forest

|H)rti(iMS to

for

for

energy of the

jierHcvcrinf.'

the then inipmvi-d

hrinirin;:

in life

and now,

a strong interest in church and educational matters, and wils one

of

ajre

farm on shares

l<-nn of five yrars. and,

Klalf of ciiltivalioii,

At the

our subject branclu'd out

.son.

acres,

Puring the war nf Islii he volunteered with

sixth child of

Vennont.

family to the town of I'onipey,

lii.s

with his

Ls

stiiruliii;;,

l.iwii

ami twenty

Mrs. Peck died June

'J I.

Wa-shington Co., Vt.,

removed

to the

l^T-t,

She

of seventy-nine years.
in

wils

the year

town of Camillus

having
born

in

atlaini-d the ripe

ago

the town of Salem,

17!U, and with her parents

at an early day.

For nioro

the<'X|iimtion of his lease he had savi>d five hundretl dollars.

than fifty-seven years she was a faithful and loving companion,

At

and

the

age

of fweniy-fivc

ho

marrie<l

Annis

daughter of Nathan Hopkins, of Camillus. and

Ixirn four rliildren. viz

Mack, of Koehc.Mter, N.

.V.

H., Isaac M., Jane,

Y.,

and Edwin Feck.

t4i

now

Hopkins,

them were
.Nlrs.

Soon

Wm.

after his

woman of rare moral

wa.s a

worth.

to that

which she believed was right

and undemonstrative

acres of land, and in

kindness, which she love<I

which were so

and see the

tree

den.ic that
to{>s.

one

er<-ct^I

C4iuld

his house in the woimIs,

lixik

out of the chimney

H<r' Mr. I'cck has .spent his days,

additional purchanet. of land to the extent of

making

some four hundred

of character, clear

force

and

conscientious views of truth and duly, and unswcr\'iiig loyalty

marriage he removed to Camillus, where he purchased ninety-six

due time

exeellenoc, and genuine Christian

She possessed much

she was a

in

member of

was habitually reserved

manner, but excelled by none

.S4)

well to perform.

in

deeds of

For many years

the Presbyterian church, and

in

all

the

years of her Christian course she "adorned the doctrine of

iod,

our Saviour,

in all things."

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

whose opinions
will

differed from his

own.

His name

ever be associated with the noblest work of the

age and his fame will descend with admiration to

those who shall succeed him."

311

with the following Board of Trustees

Samuel B.

Rowe, David A. Munro, Charles Land,

Ira Saffbrd

Gaylord

Crayton

N.

Sherwood, President

B.

Wheeler, Clerk.

The

VILLAGE OF CAMILLUS.
This

village

is

situated in a picturesque spot in

the valley of Nine-Mile Creek.

It is

Road," or Auburn branch of the

tral Railroad, distant

Syracuse.
'

"

Old
York Cen-

on the

New

nine miles from the city of

" side cut " or " feeder " of the

Erie

and the Nine-Mile

Creek supplies an excellent water power, which attracted settlers and began to be utilized for mill
Canal extends to the

village,

purposes at an early period.

In

806 the

first

mills of

importance were erected

in the village
grist and
saw mill by a company of which William Wheeler
and Samuel Powers were members.
Abraham
Drake built a carding and cloth-dressing mill about
eighty rods up the stream from the bridge in 1812.
The year following he removed from Aurelius, Cayuga county, with his family and settled in the village, where he resided till his death, December 10,
His son, Philip Drake, now residing at
1832.
Reefs,
in the town of Elbridge, erected the
Jack's
present flouring mill in 1835-36, and sold to Phares
Gould of Skaneateles, in 1836. The mill is now
owned by Munro & Patterson, doing merchant and
custom flouring.
The race conveying the water to the mills, a distance of about two and a half miles, was constructed
in 1832 by James R. Lawrence, Grove Lawrence,
Philip Drake and others.
The Woolen Factory of Walter F. Keefer was
The business of this
built on the race in 1834.
mill at the present is the manufacture of cloth and

following have served as Presidents of the

Village Board for the

stocking yarn.
"

years named
Gaylord N.
Sherwood, 1853 William H. Lee, i854-'s7 Hiram
A. Mungear, 1858; Eliakim E. Veeder, 1859-61
Gaylord N. Sherwood, 1862
E. E. Veeder, 1863
James G. Fergus, 1864; Samuel B. Rowe, 1865
;

Theodore Briggs,
1868-70; Charles

i?,66-'67

The present officers of the village

Henry G. Chapman, President Edwin
;

Vice-President

David

Lot

80,

became the

settled of

Constable

1790.

In

1793, Capt.

Thomas Corey kept

James Paltan, Treasurer

Slocum, Frederick
Assessors

Loomis, William

Catholic

one store

village of Camillus

was incorporated

Duane Sherwood
Sidney

of

general

Presby-

Roman

merchandise, E.

one grocery, provision and notion

H. Cook,

one hotel, kept by

Jr.
two groceries and meat markets,
kept respectively by Abram Otman and Messrs.
store,

Philo Bromley

Gee & Thompson two drug stores, James Pattan's

and C. F. Safford's the former has been in the
drug business since 1845 harness and shoe shop.
There is one physician in the village, John O.
Slocum, M. D., brother of Major-General H. W.
Slocum. He was a surgeon in the army during the
;

late war,

and has been many years

Sidney

about

The

resident of

H. Cook, Esq., has held the ofUce of

is

also

over

thirty years.

Justice,

E.

E.

and has held the

six years.

oldest settlers

now

residing in

the village

James M. Munro, who were born

Samuel B. Rowe, who became a resident

are David A. and

here

1827; Charles Land, 1820; William R.

George, David Lyboult, Ambrose Kelsey, A. N.
Glynn, G. C. Parsons, James Pattan, Sidney H.

about

Cook and

E.

Duane Sherwood.

Chapman & Green have an

It

in 1852,

Methodist Episcopal, and

Baptist,

establishment

village for the manufacture of clay

The

George,

William B. Bucklin, Collector.

Camillus contains four churches, viz

terian,

a tavern here in 1801.

Incorporation.

John O.

R.

Benjamin Brown, present Postmaster.

any

Lindsay kept the first

tavern, and erected the first frame house in 1795.
The first school house (of logs) was erected in
1808, and was followed by a frame building in 18 13.
in

Noble,

office

The northern part of it, on

home of Capt. Isaac Lindsay

Harmon,

Julius

Veeder, Esq

portion of the town.

Lyboult,

(1878) are,
R.

William Jones, Trustees J. Harry Lyboult, Clerk

E. E. Veeder, Police Justice Sumner T. Darling,

James G. Fergus has a saw mill

built by James M. Munro in i860.
Camillus village was the earliest

at the village,

Justice of the Peace

Dill,

Fergus,

Sherwood, 1871
James G.
1872; Henry W. Drake, 1873; J. O.
Slocum, M. D., 1874; J. H. Hitchcock, 1875
EW. Cook, 1^76- 77.

operation, lath mills, turning lathe, &c.

&

G.

J.

the village.

1848, the

James

Fergus,

Novelty Mills " were completed

and were driven by steam.
Subsequently there was also a large steam saw- mill in
In

by Weston

is

doing quite an

employment

to

extensive

smoking

in

the

pipes.

business, giving

from twenty to twenty-five persons.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

3>2

Camillas Graded School.

School District No.

for

many years the educational facilities of the village.

The progress was gradual from a log school house,
in

the primitive settlement, to

was superceded by a brick structure,

and finally gave place to the present commodious
brick graded school building which occupies the old
which,

in turn,

The

site.

action for the erection of the present

first

building was taken

a special meeting of the

at

Board of Trustees held on the 15th of May, 1868.

O. Slocum, E. K. Harmon and A. E. Smith

J.

The house

were appointed a building committee.

wood,

is

1869, at a cost of $7,304.58.

in

handsome brick

The First Baptist Church of Camillus.

is located in Camillus village.
The

This church

meetings were held

first

Hewlett

school

under the name of the

The

females.

It

fice

management

the efficient
Principal,

three departments, under

in

of Prof.

White,

E.

Mr. White has been

and two teachers.

Principal

most of the time

Trustee.

first

E.

for nine years past.

" First Baptist

house of worship,

was dedicated

185

How-

built at

The

in 1821.

present edi-

was dedicated January

Camillus village

at
I.

From

804-

"06,

Rev. Ebenezer Harrington

offici-

ated as pastor, after which five years elapsed with-

Then

out any settled minister.

in

W. Cook,

in the neighborhood of
which place the church was organ-

of

site.

graded

is

Hill, at

Church
Onondaga, in January. 1804
The original members numbered
thirteen, si.x males and seven
ized

8.

The

M. C; H. T.

Churches.

upon an

structure, situated

elevated and beautiful

Jr., J.

Trustees: M. L. Hay, E. D. SherO. Slocum.

J.

lett Hill,

was completed

Richmond,

L.

Corwin, Tiler.

frame building,

M. C;

ner, S.

3 of Camillus furnished

the pastors served

the order following:

Rev. Peter Warren, (licentiate,) i8ii-'i4; Rev.

Joseph Moore. 1814 Rev. Eben Tucker, 1821*28
Rev. S. Spaulding, i829-'30; Rev. John P. Parsons
(supply from December, 1830, pastor ten months
later, continuing till 1832; Rev. S M. Plumb, 1833;
Rev. John Holladay, (licentiate,) 1835
Rev. Levi
Farnsworth. 1S36, ordained September, 1836 Rev.
Graham, 1838; Rev. Hall Taylor, 1840;
Rev. Thos. Fisher, 1S41, ordained June. 1841 Rev.
Henry Brown, 1844 '47 Rev. A. Smith, 1848 '51
Rev. Chas. Elliott, 1852 Rev. A. L. Freeman, 1853,
ordained August 23, 1853, pastor till 1858; Rev. D.
McFarland, 1859 '62 Rev. E. P. Bingham, part of
i8r)2
Rev. D. McFarland, 1862 '65
Rev. H. B.
Burdick. 186C; Rev. W. E. Lockhart. 1868; Rev.
H. B. Waring, 1872 '71 Rev. D. D. Brown, 1874
Rev. G. F. Genung, 1875, ordained November 3,
;

Masonic.

During the summer and

fall

of 1875, a few breth-

ren of the Masonic Order interested themselves in

the formation

Masons in

Lodge

of a

of Free and

Accepted

After the usual formalities,

this village.

Grand Master, Elwood

on December 31,
1875 a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge
on the 13th of June, 1876, and Sapphire Lodge No.
768 was formed with twenty-one charter members,
a dispensation was granted by

E. Thorne, which was delivered

;

as follows

C. S. Safford,

H. Cook,
Glynn,

J.

H. Lyboult,

J.

T. A. Fish,

Jr.,

J.

W.

Bucklin, S.

B.

H. Paddock, E. R.

O. Slocum, T. V. Owens, Lafayette Hur-

dick, S. L. Hopkins, Merril Skinner,

A. L. Hins-

A, R. Hopkins, T. H. Shocns, E. C Skinner,

Cyrus Sweet, E. D. Sherwood, E. D. Larkin, H. D.

dale,

Burdick,
First

J.

H. Shoens. W. M.; J. H.
W.; T. A. Fish. J. W. E. D. Sher-

Lyboult. S.

T.

wood. Treasurer

W.

White, S. D.:

S. SafTbrd, Secretary

C.

E.

B. Bucklin, J. D.; H. D. Corwin,

1875. present pastor.

The
ance

at

present membership
the

ninety-three

is

Sunday School about

church has taken measures

for

will

attend-

The

sixty five.

the erection of a

be undertaken

new

in the

spring of 1878.

The First

Preshyteria.n

Church

of Camillus

was organized on the 4th day of August, 18

17, in

hotel on the site of the house where Mr. John Lar-

now lives, corner of Green and Main streets,

and directly opposite where the church now stands.
Meetings had previously been held in Nine-Mile
Creek School House, and in an old distillery where
now stands the carriage shop of James Fergus.
The number of original members was fifty-two. sixkins

Tiler.

The Lodge have nicely furnished rooms in the

third story of the Harmon Block, fitted up at an
e.xpenscof nearly Si.oooand are in a prosperous condition,

house of worship, which

Paddock.

officers:

membership

the

twenty-one

in

1876,

having increased

from

the present

to

forty-five

J.

Harvey Lyboult, W. M.;

at

1878:

Officers for

C. E. White, S.

W.; C.

Veeder, Treasurer
B. Bucklin.

men and thirty-si.x women.

The first church edifice was

teen

time.

1.

D.;

W.

Darling,

J.

W.; E. E.

C. S. Safford, Secretary;

H. Abrams,

J.

G. T.

W.

Dow-

wooden building

erected at a cost of ^1,200 in 1822.

pastors and others have
pulpit:

Revs.

Jabez

officiated

Spicer,

The

following

and supplied the

i8i7-'i9;

Jabez

t^J*

Q/^C^fyj^ <f^,

The

subject of this sketch was born in the town of Marcellus,

Onondaga
of

Co.,

N. Y., Aug. 31, 1806, and was the

Lyman Cook (whose

who was born

At

ject

family consisted of fourteen children),

tor.

in Wallingford, Conn., in the year 1780,

as a

and

in Martha's Vineyard, in the year

the age of sixteen

and was employed

Lyman Cook came

to Marcellus,

farm laborer during the summers, and

At

as teacher in the winters.

the age of twenty-five he married,

and, having acquired some means, started in the wool-carding

and

fulling-mill business

farmer.

Our

He

ces A.,

eldest child

Mary Norton, who was born

1782.

~(c>C>^-tr/Cy

subsequently became a

died in the town of

distiller

Van Buren, June

and

30, 1837.

subject remained on the farm with his father until twenty-

seven of whom are

was elected constable

He

also served

elected corporal

and subsequently

in Marcellus,

with distinction in the military

to the

to Camillus,

where he entered

into the storage

five years later, at Camillus village,

menced purchasing

grain,

which business he followed

In 1843 was elected supervisor, which

oflBce

tion of one year, has held the office

up

was recently elected

he began teaching, which vocation he followed some seven or

justice of sessions seven or eight times.

2,

1827, to Lois

The

result of this

Mr. Cook was married, Dec.

Mansfield, daughter of Josiah Mansfield.

union was ten children,

viz.,

Dr. George W.,

Mary

Eliza, Morris

H., Mansfield J., Orange L., C. Janette, Sidney H.,

A.,

Emily

Jr.,

present supervisor of Camillus, and Samuel D., and Fran-

is

rifle

and

for-

he com-

until

1866.

he held three terms.

elected justice of the peace in 1846, and, with the excep-

one years of age, attending school winters until nineteen, when

eight winters.

was

In 1841 he

warding business;

Was

line,

159th Regiment, and was promoted

he attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

moved

collec-

upon the organization of the independent

company belonging
until

In the year 1829 our sub-

living.

for a full

to the present time,

term of four years

and

has also been

Mr. Cook,

in politics,

a Democrat of the true type.

Mr. Cook's brothers. Revs. William

James M. Cook, were

church.

Cook

The

is still

first

B.,

Theodore

T.,

and

talented ministers of the Universalist

and the

last

in the ministry,

named

are deceased.

and resides

in Utica.

Rev. T. T.

ou^^-naZ/y'^'^^^^^^^^
Daniel Bennett was born in the town of Ridgefield, Fairfield Co., Cunn.,

His ancestors came from England as early as the sixteenth

Oct. 21, 1786.

century.

Nathan Bennett,

his father, at the age of fourteen, entered the

tionary army, took part in the battle of

Monmouth, was taken

Kevoluprisoner,

put on board of a prison-ship, and, after severe and intense suftering, ex-

changed as a prisoner of war.

till

Continuing

in the service of his

country

the close of the war, he received a pension, which continued until his

He was a man of good educagood memory, and in comfortable circumstances as a farmer. During

death, in 1830, at the age of seventy-five.

tion,

his life

he held

many

public

farm of fifty acres was made by means of fi yoke of cattle, which he borroioed from a friend for the occasion.
The cattle were valued at only
thirty-five dollars.
From time to time he enlarged his farm by adding
fifty-four and twenty-five and thirty acres, until he possessed nearly two
hundred and eighty acres. But nearly all this time he was in debt, not
from one indebtedness before assuming another.
And no one
can fully know, except those who have passed through the same privations,
the nature and extent of the hardships of a pioneer's H!e.
fairly freeing himself

This made perseverance, industry, and economy necessary.

Of a large family of

ten children,

except one lived to mature

offices.

six

daughters and four sons,

all

life.

Huldah Barlow, wife of Nathan Bennett, was the mother of thirteen

whom Daniel Bennett was the fifth. Two of her brothers
were in the Revolutionary army. One, Joel Barlow, a graduate of Yale
college in 1778, and a classmate of Noah Webster, entered the army as a
volunteer, hut soon became chaplain,
Not long jifter the close of the war

and her husband, Daniel Bennett, during

the following April.
At the request and desire of Mr. Bennett, he was
baptized by immersion. In 1850, June 15, he was elected a deacon of the

he went to Paris, where, during seventeen years of business

his age,

children, of

life,

he accu-

mulated a fortune, with which he returned to America. He went to

Washington, built a palace of marble not far from the city, and named it
" Kalarama."
In 1811 he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to the

French government. Besides being a diplomatist, he was a man of literary

and published several of his productions. Among his most noted
writings is *' The Columbiad." while of his shorter poems, and perhaps
the most popular, is one entitled "The Hasty Pudding."
The other
taste,

brother was killed at the battle of Quebec.

She herself died

at the

age

of forty-nine.

when Daniel Bennett was only three years of age, his father
town of Malta, Saratoga Co., N. Y., which place is only

In 1789,

migrated

to the

seven miles distant from Saratoga Springs.

This migration proved to be

Mrs. Hannah Bennett united with the Congregational church

holds this same office, and continues to faithfully discharge its

For more than fifty years he has taken a religious newspaper.
It has been Deacon Bennett's custom and delight to attend the meetings
of presbytery and synod, and during a period of twenty years hardly a
still

duties.

meeting was held

was elected

in

which he did not represent the church.

to the general assembly, held that

Much
his wife,

of his

life's

1864, at the age of seventy-five,

started

the

way

westward and came

to

Camillus, through forests which

was in the winter of 1813 that

they made the tedious journey, consuming six days.
Where now stands
the city of Syracuse they found but a few unattractive houses.
The
swampy, marshy country around them did not look inviting, nor prophetic
of a large and busy city.
Not having the means to purchase land, he waited for nearly a year and
a half before making any financial investment; and then the investment
all

lined their journey.

It

could hardly be called financial, inasmuch as the

first

payment upon

At
Last

success was no doubt due to the assistance rendered by

who possessed great executive

they resolved to leave their

They

In 18G3 he

Philadelphia.

education, he has never sought positions of public trust.

teach her children.

nearly

in

autumn, while in his ninety-first year, he represented the church at the

meeting of synod, held in the Fourth Presbyterian church of Syracuse.
While Mr. Bennett has always been greatly interested in religion and

In 1S09, at the age of twenty-two, he was married to Hannah Crawford,

of Saratoga. Having spent four years of married life in Saratoga county,
life.

year

that gathering he became well acquainted with Uev. Albert Barnes.

and economizing by nature, she

try the privations of a pioneer's

El-

Congregational church, and, although now in the ninety-second year of

greatly to the advantage of the family.

home and

in

bridge, N. Y., in February, 1821,

ability.

toiled early

Though small

Her province was home, and her

all

and

Persevering, energetic,
late in order to assist

and

of stature, yet she was large hearted.

sceptre

was

love.

When

she died in

but one of her children were living.

At the present time Deacon Daniel Bennett is living near the old hometown of Camillus, and possesses, to a remarkable degree, his
powers of body and mind. He is now "only waiting" for that neio home
"not made with hands."
The following are the names of his children who are living: Miss
stead, in the

Huldah B. Bennett, Camillus, N, X.; Mrs. Rhoa B. Hinsdell, Camillus,

N. Y.; Mrs. Harriet Brown, Geneseo, 111.: Mrs. Mary Jane Hofll", Pittsburgh, Pa.; Mr. Joel Barlow Bennett, Camillus, N. Y.; Mrs. Ann Eliza
Sweet, Elbridge, N. Y. and Mrs. Emma 0. Rice, Elbridge, N. Y.
:

Phulo. by

JONATHAN
IHOI,

Ill

lMiti);lil

at

fniii

fiiinily

li'iH

tliu

Wliite,

.)iH,-|ih

a fanii

Wcjtt

of

fulliii;;

and dyi-ing

wurkii,

did a

floiiridhiii^

biiMiiu**.

and,

wliili- (i|M'nini;

houM!

for

wvumi ycnm,
His

oiic yearn.

wvi-n

was
bly.

His

yt>ars.

u Mirvi-yiir.
Ill

the

until

lii.s

C,

wife, I'hebe
h4>iin filled

and Hamld

Wnrof 1812

Morloy, of Wit Sprin^zfield,

Klijali

Two

died

luttt'r

Iowa

ill

iiiiniarried
uji,

18G2, aged thirty

in

|ila<'t's

and

Onondugii

liiin

scvonty-

ajit'd

in('nilH.T

of

and died
in

1K:!<),

in

Qcorgo C, now
who graduated
IH.VJ,

aged

fitly-fcmr.

living in

Union

at

removed

18lil,aiid diiti in the

Jiis>ph,

by his dcKcendant^.

Of

1818, agiil eighty-eight.

army

from

l/it

'.i,

lie died

their

when eighteen years

setts

which he alVerwanls

old,

joined the Presbyterian church

others, liel|)cd to

He

to clear the

was

man

with town

farm on

In 182- he

the frontier.

and

at (.'ainillus,

1845, with

in

these churches nearly

lie wiLs active in siistiniiig Sunday-schools

in

only Jonallian

or^mizc the Pri'sbyterian church

as an elder in

.Hervi-d

in

he marched with the

18i:j

militia to Sinilli's Mills to defend

diel

walke<l from Ma.ssachu-

and heliRil
In

liveil.

eliildreii.

He

loeat4tl |H-rmaiiently in (.'aiuillus.

at

Aniboy.

fifty

years.

and neighborh<Nid

the eastern part of the town, and kept o|K-n house

who needed

of strict integrity, and

officii.

In

politics,

wji.-*

entertainment.

He

intrusted

frii|ueiitly

he was u DeiutK-rut up to 1848;

thereafter a Frec-soilor and Kepubliciin.

Marietta White, widow of his cousin

18:{8 he married

In

Harold, and hud one son, Jonathan

He

li.,

now

living in Caioillus.

died in 1874, aged eighty, and his wife

in

1855, oged

sixty-one years.

Jonathan White was a man of many

was slender and stooping

with his family, and Imught a part of

His widow, Liiey Kellogg.

aged eighty-six.

for all clinicid or lay brethren

yejirs.

re.servution, siiiee held

18:JM,

in

!Lss4-m-

ls;{2,

ageil

WIIITK.

mcelings

and was

first lirulenaiit,

V. B>0(*r, SyracUM.

Klijali

town.

In 1812, Aurun White followed his brother,

Ma.ssaehii.'<etl.s

to tliu

IH^itl, nj^nl ui);lity-

to thi^ bar in

adiiiilt<-d

18G(>, volunteered in

in Duccuibor,

niiiGiii'd

in

a fallin-^

ninrried, in IS27, Marietta

Ma.ss.,

and Harold M.,

eoUege, in 1S5G, was

lu

wan

He

of Harold's children grew

I'lattsburgh, N. Y.,

dcutli

a ni:i:;istrali-

the

and

lioiiK'S|iiin,

frtnii

died in 1829,

(inmiinrnt

Ktationed in the fort at Oswego.

forty -8ix.

an injury

and

liini

Kiiw-iiiill

da^H of

and

crt'ok,

Wliito viof a Hurvi-yor,

JtJM'pli

]ianily/AHl

liiiilt

(Ikkso

in

wliii-li,

a lii;;li\vay, ri'ccivcd

partially

wliicli

tn-v,

wxm

Tlii'V

('aiii'illu.s,

t<i

over Nim- Mile

briilj:f

tlio

of Aiiiboy.

villn;;i-

Miinh.,

Spriiiiificlil,

iiorlli

jii.sl

llevoliititinary soiKlii-r, fiiiiu' witti

II

W.

vous

his

disposition

his

kind

]ieeuliaritius

his form

movements were quick and

his

speech

ner-

and temper hasty.

whatever he undertook, and with decidiil opinions,

Karnest

in

he cured

little

who was

for or against hiui.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Chadwick, i82i-'25

Adams,

E. H.

Hutchins Taylor, i826-'28

Moody Harrington,

ing the year

i834-'39; Josiah Ward, 1840-

Dr. E. C. Skinner,

From

from

848-' 5 3.

was supplied from the

Auburn.
Rev. E. R.

Theological

Seminary

at

Davis was pastor from i86o-'66. From i866-'68,

the pulpit was supplied by Messrs. Grosvenor,

Hopkins and Kneeland. During this period a new

built, and Rev. Mr. Muer occupied the
pulpit two years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. S.
church was

Root, who remained from 1^7 y' 77

since his
departure the pulpit has been supplied mainly from
;

Auburn Theological Seminary.

The present membership of the church

the

one

Sunday School, eighty-eight

teachers, nine

Methodist Episcop.^l Church of Camillus.

was

In 1827 Camillus

"preaching place"

in

the Marcellus circuit, there being a small society

organized there at that time.

Meetings were held

The

private houses and school houses.

that time was

in

Presiding

George Gary, and

Revs Zenas Jones, Orrin Doolittle and Morgan
Sherman circuit preachers. A church was built at
Camillus in 1830.
Presiding Elder, Rev. John
Dempster Circuit Preachers, Revs. Isaac Puffer
In 1836, Camillus was made
and G. W. Dinsmore.
Elder

at

Rev.

a " station " with Rev. Z. Paddock, Presiding Elder

and Rev. Ross Clark, Station Preacher.

The society at present numbers

the average attendance
members
;

School, forty.

Church property

is

place.

December

23,

erected the

same year

and

Stanton,

at

Sunday

Rev. D.

W.

is

Presiding Elder, and Rev. F. H.

who has

held this charge for three years,

D. D.,

Bristol,

Pastor at the present time.

AMBOY,

in

1845, in

the

new meeting house

at a probable cost of

$3,000

present use, at which Rev's Thos. Castleton,

Ward, J. W. Adams, A. L. Otis, J. E. Meyers,

and Ruling Elders, T. R. Porter and
Skinner, were present as the Committee of the

J. J.

A. C. Lathrop
J.

Onondaga Presbytery

Mohawk

Presbyteries,

(^since,

with the

merged

Oswego and

into the Presbytery

;

which was

duly organized with forty-nine communicants, all

received by certificate from the Congregational

church

at

Van Buren Center and from

the Presby-

The church building was then dedicated, followed

by the election of Heman Warner, J. Skinner,
Jonathan White, and William Reed, Elders
Truman Skinner, Henry L. Warner, and Pardee Ladd,
Deacons.
Of these all, excepting Pardee Ladd,
had elsewhere held the same offices
;

The first settled minister of the church was Rev.

Alfred C. Lathrop, 1845-47; Rev. Norman B.
Sherwood, i848-'49 Rev. D. H. Kingsley, 1849'50
Rev. R. J. Cone, i850-'52
Rev. Edward S.
Lacy, 1852-53; Rev. Hubert P. Herrick, 1853;
Rev. Richard Dunning, i854-'58; Rev. Lucius E.
Barnard, i859-'6o Rev. John S. Bacon, 1862-70;
Rev. Frederick Hebard, i870-'72
Rev. A. J.
Quick, 1872-75, and Rev. Benjamin B. Dayton,
June I, 1876, the present pastor.
;

Nine-Mile Creek, three miles below Camillus

was first settled by Joseph White, who built

Since the organization of the church the

a fulling mill here in

now

place

1801, and sawmill in

The

of

been dismissed to other churches, fifty-five have

gone from earth, and eight have been suspended,
leaving the present membership, (January, 1878,)

one hundred and forty-six. The membership of the

Sabbath School is one hundred and fifty-three.

BELLE ISLE

1806.

contains a saw and stave mill, flour-

ing mill and cider mill.

roll

membership has included two hundred and eightytwo names. Of this number seventy-three have

Village,

The

This
and only religious organization of the
The records show that a meeting was held

first

eighty-eight

valued at about

$5,000, and the parsonage at $1,500.

On

and a pracand his son,

terian church at Camillus.

tendent.

the

of Syracuse,) to constitute the church

is fifty-

Greenville Gayiord, Superin-

infant class, sixteen.

The Presbyterian Church of Amboy.

is

i853-'6o, the pulpit

in 1840,

the same year

who graduated at the Medical

College of the University of New York in 1874.

was succeeeed by Rev.

1847, and

W. Williams

William

Hobart College

titioner here since

Rev. Mr. Kingsley supplied the church dur-

'46.

a graduate of

B. B. Stockton, i83i-'33;

i829-'3i

313

large flouring mill

Is a post-hamlet

on the Erie Canal

part of the town of Camillus.

in

the eastern

Thomas Machan has

was erected by Nathan Paddock in 1826-27, and is

now owned by Lafayette Burdick, who has been in

been Postmaster since i860, and Justice of the

William Ecker was Justice of
Peace since 1868.

possession of the property since 1861.

the Peace from 1864 to 1868.

There
Paddock

wagon and blacksmith shops. The store

is kept by M. L. Hay.
The M. E. Church at this place was erected in
Jaben Armstrong, Henry Safford, John C.
185 1

class

also a tannery here, conducted

by D. B.
a Presbyterian church and a Methodist
connected with the charge at Belle Isle.
is

Amboy

has two physicians

Dr. L. C.

Skinner,

one

store,

The

place contains

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

34

Hatton, first Trustees and principal contributors to

Rev. Mr. Coop was the first
the church building.
present pastor, C. VV. Rowley.
pastor
;

Robert Martin owns the present saw

known

of Belle Isle,

Corwin

as the "

mill north

Mills," rebuilt

at a cost of 5r,200. with an additional cost of $750

In
for cider press, and one run of stones for grain.

he manufactured two hundred barrels of

and is now doing a general business, working

1876,
cider,

fifteen

hundred bushels of wheat being marketed

and a half per bushel.
The nec-

for three dollars

meadow land, yearly, was not far from eighty

hundred acres. The winter season during
fifteen years was spent in clearing wood land, until
one hundred acres had been rendered arable. Thus
their winter's harvests were nearly as profitable as

essary
a

to

those of summer.

With

and productive farm,

a large

his farm of twenty-five acres in connection with his

gently sloping to the south

milling.

arranged

fields

with

finely located,

with large and well

barns of great dimensions,

one of which for nearly twenty years was a model

for the surrounding country; with the latest and
most improved machinery, which they took great

BiOGiiAPHic^L Sketch

with all these something

seemed necessary in order to have contentment.
Each wished for a better house, and they planned
to erect a dwelling for each which would be satisMr. Lewis Bradley Bennett succeeded in
factory.
finishing a structure, of beautiful exterior, whose
interior arrangement and finish can not well be

pleasure in introducing

else

BKNNETT BROTHERS.
Among
county

the representative farmers of

nearly

for

forty

Their business relationship,

Brothers, of Camillus.

commencing

in

Onondaga

were the Bennett

years,

836, was continued until the death of

Mr. Lewis Bradley Bennett. in 1874; and, remarkable

as it may seem, all transactions were planned and

They

between them

tract

together as

other

amount

the

in

lived, toiled

brothers, each
of

trying

to

work done.

this beautiful

Yearly

all

amount, until in i860, their estate numbered

si.\ hundred acres, at an average cost of si.xty
During the financial depressions
dollars per acre
that

of the country they prosperously, yet slowly, pushed

improved

With energy, patience and industry they

their entire estate, with respect to fences

buildini;s

plaster

by means of stock,

state of cultivation

strength and fertility of the

mixed with clay, placed their

among the very

Onondaga County.

Tht

soil

until a high

The

a sandy loam

large farm
in

enriched the

and clover,

was reached.
soil,

first

in

it

out-vie the

nearly

and

Containing, as

use.

and labored

In this, no
accounts were examined and adjusted.
of
success.
clement
doubt, lay one
These brothers, Lewis Bradley and Joel Barlow,
in 184c, purchased one hundred acres of land, and
during the twenty years which followed, added to

forward.

farmer's

for

does, large and conveniently arranged rooms, with

modern improvements of bath rooms and

upon it with feelings of pleasure
Soon after the completion of
and almost pride.

resorting to any written con-

carried out without

surpassed

productiveness

the

furnace, one looks

occupied

it

structure

only a few months.

Not long

his

after

brother's

Mr.

death,

Joel

Barlow Bennett took possession of this house, where

with his wife. Rosanna S.. he now lives, carrying
on a farm of two hundred and forty acres, which
Through the
remains from the original estate.
taste and patience of a nephew, Mr. Charles B.

Brown, the grounds have been tastefully laid out,

and a lawn neatly and carefully made, and to-day
the landscape gardening of this residence attracts
and merits universal attention.
Mr. Joel Barlow Bennett was born

Onondaga County. N. Y. July

brother. Lewis Bradley Bennett,
lus,

September

29th. 1813,

ing, of Saratoga.

death

His

1815.

was born

in

Camil-

and married Mary War-

Saratoga County, N. Y.. February

He

I5lh. 1842.

Camillus,

in

22d.

died

December 22d, 1874.

At the time

sixty-second year of his age.

kind of farming followed was chiefly grain

having

builder died,

its

he was a

member

of

in

the

of his

Congregational

the

During ten successive years

and stock raising.
the average sown yearly was nearly two hundred

Trustees of the churth. and also of the Munro

acres, or one-third of the entire estate, while often

Collegiate Institute

a herd of eighty cattle could be seen, with flocks of

to the

The largest
sheep numbering eight hundred.
product of grain in one year was si.\ thousand
while in
bushels -of wheat, barley, oats and corn

to be used for

bequeathed large amounts of property

He lelt a widow, ul
diate relatives.

1864. the highest price for produce was obtained.

He was

Church

in

Elbridge,

and

one of the Board of

In June. 1874, he

made a legacy

church of which he was a member of ^1,000.

its

support.

At the same time he

to his imme1

of mild dispibilion, yielding, yet

children.

firm

and

Rib

or J

B BENNETT

Cawiii

Onondaga County, New York.

-^

6g

to

Ci

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

While he was energetic

persevering.

he was peaceable

in

community

business

which
He did not love public positions and only
he lived.
accepted them when urged upon him. The comaffairs,

in the

in

munity

which he

in

315

lived, his

employes and family

knew his true worth.

Among the
many monuments he left, none are so good as those
friends only

of friendship and affection.

LYSANDER
Lysander was

formerly Township

number one
became one of the eleven
original towns of Onondaga County at its organization in 1794.
It then embraced the townships of
Lysander, Hannibal and Cicero. The first town
meeting was directed by law to be held at the house
of Ryal Bingham, Esq., then residing at Three
of the Military Tract, and

River Point.

Hannibal,

was taken from

18 16,

when

it

in

now

in

Oswego County,

1806 and Cicero

thirty-three lots of the township of

included in

In

organized,

Lysander were

county of Oswego and town of

the

Granby, which leaves but sixty-seven

This town

of Lysander.

in 1807.

Oswego was

the county of

is

lots in

the town

situated in the north-

west corner of the county.

It

is

of a

peculiar

owing to the crookedness of the Seneca

River which forms the boundary between this town
and Elbridge, Van Buren, Geddes, Salina and Clay.
One little lake, viz
Mud or Beaver Lake, exists
within its boundaries.
The soil is good, and compares favorably with any portion of the county for
shape,

and productive a

Of
is

The town of Lysander was not fully

1798, when the Supervisor, Mr. Asa

lived near

Oswego, reported

list

Point, in 1793

Ryal Bingham, near Three River

Jonathan Palmer, near the center

Adam Emerick, Elijah

and Solomon Hall, Col. Thomas Farrington, Elijah
Mann, Ebenezer Wells, James Cowan, Abner and
Manly Vickery, Job Loomis and John P. Schuyler,

of the town, the same year

came

all

in

about

fifty

about the year 1800, or some of them a

year or two previous.

acres

in

Jacobus DePuy cleared off

1805 and 1806 on the north

and put

side of the river at Baldwinsville

it

into

wheat.

This town was

settlements were

at first considered

somewhat retarded

unhealthy and
in

consequence,

but the clearing of the land and bringing

it

under

produced a great change, and as improvements extended its settlements increased with
cultivation

great rapidity.

By

cultivation

and drainage the

soil

has become dry and free from stagnant surface water,

organized
Rice,

who

for the town, including

the townships of Lysander, Hannibal and Cicero,

number

of " fifteen inhabitants,"

and the valuatown was estimated

Mr. Rice was Superat fifteen hundred dollars.
visor till Hannibal was formed into a town by itself
The old records of the town are not to be found,
those now in the Clerk's office going no farther
back than 1808, at which time we find some of the
Elijah Snow, Superprincipal officers as follows
the

tion of taxable property for the

James Adams, Town Clerk William WilIn i 809, Elijah

son, and James Clark, Assessors.
Snow was Supervisor, and Cyrus Baldwin, Town

visor

Clerk.

BALDWINSVILLE.
This important manufacturing village is situated
towns of Lysander and Van Buren on both
sides of the Seneca River, five miles west of the
in the

the earliest settlers in this town the following

a partial

can be found in this

till

agricultural purposes.

as

locality

portion of the State.

so that the town of Lysander

is

now

as healthy

Onondaga Lake and twelve miles northIts name is derived from its
Baldwin, who commenced
C.
founder. Dr. Jonas
The
in
the spring of 1807.
improvements here
outlet of

west of Syracuse.

place

name
in

was then called

till

18 17,

"

Columbia" and bore

this

the establishment of a postoffice here

when

the Postmaster General, in conse-

quence of there being another Post Town of the

same name in the State, changed it to "Baldwins
But the name of Baldwinsville being preferred by the inhabitants, it was substituted by the
Postoffice Department, and has since continued to
Bridge."

be the

name

of the village.

purchased a place at Ovid,

Seneca County, and was moving there with his famMrs. Baldwin having left her comily in
1799.
fortable home at Little Falls with regret, was assured
Dr.

Baldwin

had

by her husband that he would purchase the first

place on their route that she might select. Upon

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

3>6

their arrival at the site of Baldwinsville, where they

remained over night, Mrs. Baldwin was delighted

Oneida River and Cayuga Lake.

with the place and remarked to her husband,

and improvements.
This right was granted
Baldwin and his assigns for twenty years.

" If

our property lay here, remote from settlement and

lonely as

up

my

should be willing to stop and take

it is, I

residence for

The

life."

result

was that

both were satisfied with the selection of this charming spot for their future home.

The

John Mcwho had settled on the south bank of the

river some forty rods above where the dam now
joins that shore.
From Mr. McHarrie Dr. Baldwin learned who was the owner of the favorite lot
on the other side of the river. The following year
following night they lodged with

Harrie

(1798) he went to

purchased

Philadelphia to the owner and

After residing a few years

it.

he sold his property there and came to

In the

meantime

settlers

had located

Ovid
Onondaga.
at

in different

parts of the town of Lysander and the north part

of Camilhis,
in

need of

to be

now Van Buren, and

and knowing

mills,

"

finding themselves

McHarrie's Rifts

an excellent water-power, these scattering

"

set-

assembled, drew up a memorial and sent it on

by a strong delegation, in the spring of 1807, to
tlers

Dr. Baldwin, then residing at Onondaga, urging him

terms to improve the water-power

in the strongest

in the erection of mills

contemplated doing

upon those

this

at

some

not so soon by five or six years.

On

men and
autumn

other hindrances,

it

it

control.

The completion

of

the middle sec-

the Erie canal rendered nugatory the busi-

ness of the original route, since which this canal

and locks have been

of comparatively little import-

ance.

dam

across the river was swept

away by a heavy spring freshet, and such was the
nature of the damage sustained that it became
necessary to erect a new dam, which was not comIn 1809, the

pleted

toll

till

the following year.

bridge across

made by

the

He

river

this

year erected

under provisions

upon the site occupied by the presAt the same time a new mill, of
enlarged dimensions was erected by Dr. Baldwin.
It was afterwards converted into a woolen factory
and subsequently burnt down.
He used his efforts
ent

law,

bridge.

future period, but

Finally, yielding

cured the passage of an act authorizing the con-

upon the

till

struction of a turnpike from

The

late in the

village continued prosperous

when the

till

Desirable as this

(lone on the

did not

Westmoreland

to

Sodus

Bay.

Dr. Baldwin got

compensate for the personal

sacrifices already made.
Although but the second year since the first
object was,

own

its

tion of

sucessfully to procure the laying out of a State road

was not

his mill in successful operation.

The

was authorized upon all

boats passing through said canal and locks.
At
first the amount collected was small, but with the
increase of business it became considerable, and in
time would have repaid the outlay, had not the
State changed its policy and taken the entire subject of internal navigation and improvement under
collection of certain tolls

between Onondaga Hill and Oswego, and also pro-

account of sickness among the work-

of the second year that

to Dr.

had

rapids.

to entreaty, he resolved forthwith to enter

work.

He

In 1809, the
Legislature granted his petition for such erections

1819,

for a

and flourishing

diversion of the business usually

Seneca

river to the Erie canal

time to paralyze every interest.

seemed

The growth

of the surrounding country, however, in time ren-

blow had been struck, the settlement assumed the

appearance of a " log town in the wilderness." For

its water-power valuable, and new energies

and investments of capital awakened a new spirit of
progress.
From this era its growth was steady and

many succeeding

rapid.

years the local fevers prevailed,

vitiating the healthfulness of this favorite spot

many

and

premature graves.
The Seneca River being a public highway, and
much used as such, it became immediately necesbringing

to

sary to provide for the passage of boats around the

dam. Dr. Baldwin therefore constructed a canal

and lock for that purpose. In 1808 he petitioned
the Legislature for permission to construct a dam,
locks and canal at

that point.

ing previously transferred

its

But the State havto the

title

Lock Navigation Company," could

interest

in

all

said

company

Inland

not with pro-

priety grant privileges to Dr. Baldwin.

upon purchased of

"

their

He

there-

right

the waters between the outlet

and
of

dered

"

After 1807, saw mills were erected almost withIn 1808, Dr. Baldwin erected one with

out number.

saws and carriages.

In 1824, Messrs. Start &
Mott erected a mill with two saws and carriages.
In 1826, Mr. James Johnson built a mill with four
saws and carriages, and Messrs. Stephen and
Harvey Baldwin, a mill with a gang of fifteen saws.
Start & Mott's mill burned down in 1834, and was
In 1839
rebuilt in 1847 by Richard M. Beach.
Thomas P. Campbell erected a mill with two saws
and carriages. In 1848 Howard & Cook built a
mill with two saws and carriages.
six

"Several
time, and

grist

among

mills

were erected from time

to

others the noted mill erected by

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Sanford C. Parker

This mill was 60 by

1836-7.

in

100 feet in dimensions, four stories besides basement, and capable of manufacturing 200 barrels of

custom grinding."* This mill

1861, and rebuilt by Johnson, Cook &

S. Wilkins and W. W. Perkins, the present

Postmaster (1878.)
Prior to 18 17 mail matter was obtained from the

David

Onondaga Hollow and by boats from

Any citizen who visited the Hollow would

flour daily, besides

postoffice at

was burnt

Salina.

Co., in

in

1862.

(See Baldwinsville Manufacturers.)

go

Early Merchants.

bors.

Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin opened a store at Baldwinsin

In 1813,
1807, and continued till 1813.
Judge Otis Bigelow commenced selling goods in the
village and continued till 1863, a period of fifty
years.
Judge Bigelow was a prominent and leading
ville

citizen, father of

the present Col. Payne Bigelow,

Worcester County, Mass. February

He died June 21, 1864, aged eighty years.
I, 1785.
John Hamill opened a store in 1816; Jonas C.
Luther Badger, in 1823 Robins
Brewster, in 1821

and was born

in

&

Wells,

John Tomlinson

Co

1832; Sanford

in

&

Co., in

C.

Parker, in

1835;

1838; D. C. Lusk

&

in 1846.

Reuben

S. Orvis,

Esq.,

was the

He commenced

lawyer in

first

the practice of law

here in 1816.

Samuel H. Hammond, Esq., began

as an attorney

in

1S26; and afterwards Cornelius

Pugsley, Esq., and

members

as

others established themselves

of the

Esq., in

field,

C. Greenfield,

Colonel

Baldwinsville bar.

T. Minard came here in

Present attorneys

George

Hall, N.

Minard, F. A. Marvin,

J.

I.

1833, and D. C. Green-

1848.

DeWitt

M. White, Isaac T.
R. Shea and C. M. West.

Jonas C.

Baldwin, on his

Baldwinsville, practiced medicine

till

other physicians arrived.

Col.

Judge Bigelow, in 18 16, used to get his mail at

Three River Point, where it was brought by boatmen from Salina and deposited with a Mr. Sweet,
who kept a log tavern on the Lysander side of the
river.

After the postoffice was established

mails were

for

some time

In

first

arrival at

when necessary
18 14, Dr. Cyrus

and a half west of the

village

Later, Dr. H. J. Shumway, Dr.

Farnsworth, and Dr. Lee settled as physicians in

as early as 1823.

the village, and were followed by Dr. Elijah LawThe present

rence, Dr. John Briggs and others.
physicians are Henry B. Allen, J. V. Kendall, J. C.
B. Wallace, J. F. Wells, A. H. Marks and L. V.
Flint.

postoffice

was

first

established at Baldwins-

ville in 1817, Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin, Postmaster.

He was succeeded by Stephen W. Baldwin, Otis
Bigelow, Austin Baldwin, Dr. L. B. Hall, Dr.
Daniel T. Jones, E. B. Wigent, Irvin Williams,
* Clark's Onondaga.

49

horse back.

Syracuse, for the purpose of carrying the

ville to

The

passengers and freight.

mail,

"

taken was through

road

usually

HardscraBle," Belle Isle and

W.

Baldwin ran a

steamboat to and from Syracuse by way of

small

the river, outlet and

Onondaga Lake,

for the

ac-

comodation of passengers, and it was not till the

completion of the Oswego and Syracuse Railroad,
October, 1848, that Baldwinsville enjoyed full and
speedy communication with all other sections of

in

the country.

on the north

tow-path

River extending from

bank of the Senecai

Mud Lock

to

Baldwinsville,

connects the village with the Oswego Canal.

fall

Sen-

of eight feet, furnishes one of

the best sites for hydraulic works in this section of

the State, and being surrounded by a country of
great fertility and beauty,

must ever be

it

a village

of considerable activity and importance.

Incorporation.

was incorporated with the name of

the provisions of the general
under
Baldwinsville

The

village

incorporating act June

3,

1848.

new

charter

was obtained in 1868, and a law passed April 21,

1868, dividing the village into three wards.

The

following were the

elected in 1848

President,

Postmasters.

the

forty years ago,

Baldwin established himself as a regular physician,

Dr. Phillip Sharp
and Dr. Silas Wallace in 1816.
settled about a mile

in 1817,

carried on

Walter D. Herrick, who

kept a hotel in the present American Hotel building, put on a line of stages running from Baldwins-

More than

eca River, with a

Physicians.
Dr.

and bring the mail for his neighPayne Bigelow relates that his father.

to the postoffice

Fairmount, to Syracuse.
At one time Col. Stephen

Bar of Baldwinsville.
the village.

317

Baldwin,

municipal officers,

LeRoy Morgan.

Elisha Hickok,

E.

Trustees,

Irvin Williams,

A.

Almon

B. Wigent.
of the village from 1849 to 187S, in-

Clerk, E.

Farr.

Presidents
clusive

first

1849-51, Henry Case, Jr.; 1852, Samuel Bisdee;

1855, E. B. Wigent;
1853-54, Sanford C. Parker
1858,
1857, D. D. Norton
1856, John Boley
;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

38

Sam'l Avery; 1859, D. C. Greenfield i860. Stephen

1862, J. O. Slocum;
\V. Haldwin
1861, Jas. Hamill

W.

1863, Eli Perry

1864-65.

L. H. Cheney; 1867.

W. I'erkins 1866,
Shumway 1868-70,

\V.

P.

J.

Kaulback 1871 *7-. ^^^llace Tappan 1873,

1875, Erwin
I. M. Haldwin
1874, J L. Voorhccs
Morris.
Wm.
F.
Fairbanks; 876-78,

J. J.

The present

Wm

Frazee,

J.

Blanchard, Treasurer

James R.

Horace

President;

Morris,

r.

Clerk

village officers (1878) are as follows

Oliver

H. Tappan,
C N. Hliss, J. E. Hilts. S. J. E. Paul, C. M. West.
Trustees Bradford Chase. S. H. Alden and Erwin
Strong. Police Constable

R. D.

Pettit,

Fairbanks, Assessors.

Manufactukes.
leading manufacturing interest of Baldwins-

The
ville

is

the production of flour, there being

large mills in

aggregates over one

ity

five

constant o])cration whose daily capac-

We

thousand barrels.

brief review and

each of these mills in

then notice some of the minor manufacturing
shall pass

in-

J.

C.

Miller & Co's Hosiery

White, Clark

&

James Fka/ee
by one hundred
ment, erected

&

feet,

in

four stories, including base-

The

i859-'6o.

proprietors are

The

Pump Works,

building occupied

was formerly the Ax Factory, and has

up not only as a Pump Factor)', but as
a machine shop, where work of all kinds in that
line is done.
The shops have facilities for the employment of eight regular workmen.
by

this firm

been

fitted

Schoonmaker & Co. Paper

Started in

Mill.

Manufactures Straw Wrapping

December. 1874.
The partners are
Paper, 4,500 pounds per day.
Andrew S Schoonmaker, Theodore Haines and
Jacob C. Kenyon. The building was formerly
erected by Johnson, Cook & Co in 1862, and used
as a distillery in connection with the Stone Mill
,

now owned by

the Messrs. Hotaling

1836, burnt

ford C. Parker in

built by San-

1861, rebuilt in

in

1862.

Jamks R. Blanchard
fifty

Mills were estab-

Co., Centrifugal

established in June, 1876.

terests.

Co. This firm has a mill

operates the only saw

lished in 1876.

Frazee owns and

mill in Baldwinsville.

L.

surrounding country

Monuments

furnishes the village and

with

and

Granite

of every required description.

the only shop of the kind in

the village,

Marble
This is
and has

James Frazee and E P. Schoonmaker.

Jacob Amos & Sons The mills are under the
management of Jacob Amos. Jr. They were erected

been

this

Door and
firm was

by the head of the firm in 1868, the building and

machinery costing about 100.000. On this site
stood the " Old Red Mill," erected by James Johnson in 183s or thereabouts, which was burned with

established by the present proprietors in

1866, and

the woolen

nection with the mill, and the business gives em-

G. H.

factory in

&

1842.

A. T. HoTAi.iNt; occupy the stone mill

was

rebuilt

1870

this

by Johnson, Cook

firm

commenced
into what

&

Co., in 1862.

business.

known

In

They have
as a "

New

changed the mill

Its
Process" mill, and otherwise improved it.
merchant
present capacity is two hundred barrels of
is

flour per day.

The Hotalings

county, born

the town of Pompey. and were for-

merly
D.

in

in the milling

&

G.

known for a
Van Buren."

W.

business at Jamesville.

Morris. The

firm stands on

the

are natives of this

mill

"second

long time as

occupied by this

privilege,"

the "

Farmer's Mill of

Mr. Wilkins

Mills, entirely

built his mill in

1854

It has four
constantly ever since.
Mr.
business.
prosperous
does
a
and
stones
of
run
and
came
County
Saratoga
of
native
a
is
Wilkins

here in 1846.

&

Blind

Bliss, Planing Mill, Sash,

Factory.

it

The

business

of

one of the prosperous enterprises of the village.

The proprietors are William L. Fuller and C. N.
is

An

Bliss.

ployment

to

extensive lumber yard

is

kept

con-

in

about twenty men.

John M. Young's Fork and Rake Factory

an

enterprise

recently

The

started.

located in a portion of what

is

works are

was formerly the

"

Ax

Factory."

Banks of Baldwinsville.

2,

First National Bank. Organized p-ebruary

James Frazee, President;
First officers
1864.

Irvin Williams,
D. C. Greenfield, Vice-President
in the
business
commenced
bank
The
Cashier.
"
on
Canal
Stone
Office,"
The
building known as
;

street.

The

present

Bank Building was

erected in

The

1866, at a cost including fixtures of ^S.OOO.

First National

L. Wii.KiNS, Flour and Feed

custom work.
and has run

and was

operation fifteen years.

Fuller

1836, and which

erected by Sanford C. Parker in

in

plus,

Bank has

a capital of ? 140,000

$30,000; loans and discounts, $165,000

sur-

cir-

culation, $126,000.

Present officers James Frazee,

K. Clark, Vice President

W.

President;

A.

F. Morris, Cashier.

Succeeding Mr. Williams and preceding Mr. W.

F. Morris, Mr. P. L. Ferine was Cashier.

t:^^^

7^.7^
Bciijiiiiiin

Baird Schenck, M.D., was

Montfe'omery Co., N. Y., July 20, 1809.

Schenck, was of

illustriou.s

German

Henjaniin wils the

fifth

advantafrt^s for education

.*pcnt

on a farm and

He

Cliarlfstoii,

UuK.f

father,

the

ettle<l in

1815.

wil(lornes.s, in

child and second son.

Ills early

At the age of twenty-

ho CDtrod the private school of T.

''

Continuing his investigations

Acute and Chronic Diseases."

patiently through

1849 and 1850,

homtjeopathy as his
the

were limited, his hoyhood days being

in clearinj; land.

three, his health failing,

His

descent.

northwest cornir of this county, then a

in

bi>rii

new school

all

mode of

1851, adopted

he, early in

who

for three years

into partnership with him,

and

in

into

In 1852 he

but two of hLs former patrons.

took his brother-in-law,

him

practice, carrying with

had been

his student,

two years resigned

in

his

favor.

W.

Dr. Schenck then entered into mercantile business, but the

where he remained eighteen months, with

crash of 1857 and the war of the rebellion seriously embarrassed

the exception of a short jicriod spent in teaching district

school.

him, so that he was induced to renew his practioo, which since

In 1831 he attended one term at

then has steadily increased.

Allis, at Skaneateles,

Homer academy, and

the

fol-

lowing spring begun the study of niedieine, under Joseph H.

.Skinner, of I'luinville, attending his

first

course of lecturvs at

the medical college, Fairfield, N. Y., in 1835 and 183G.

final

His

course was taken at Geneva college, where he graduated

Feb. 10, 1838.

The

sjime year ho began pnictice in IMainvillo.

Sullivan, of Seneca county.

In IS(!) he was appointed

office
office.

1852.

The

confer-

ence that year, on account of his lilvnd interpretation of the

Scrijituros, det^lared

him

" out of hanuoiiy with the church."

Meanwhile he had cumuienccd an examinatiim of honia>o|v

athy, by reading

Hahnemann's

" Organon,"

and Hartmanirs

held a lieutenant's commission

and a

eaptiiin's

seven years, and

was hononibly discharged.

four years subsequently was ordiunKl a minister by aconfcn-nee

till

He

in the State militia four years,

In 184 1 he united with the Christian church of that place, and

of that body, and continued to preach

Harriot, daughter of Capt. R.

In June, 1838, he married

till

1853, was

When young
only

He

left

rcap|><iint(Hl

in

1863, and

still

holds the

the doctor was prominent in church masic, and

the choir

has had

held the

p<istnia.stcr at Plainville,

an

when ho entered the

unbroken

residence

pulpit, in
in

the

when! he resides since 1815, and was the

teach u select school in the place.

June, 1846.

school

first

di.strict

to start

and

''3'!^^''^-}

i^'?^"^r^'-'T^

F?SiDENCE

OF

Dr. B.B.

SCHENCK,

Flaihvilll,

Onondaga County. H.Y

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Baldwinsville State
Baldwinsville, N. Y., May,

The

5650,000.

Bank.

Organized

at

Baldwinsville Union Free School,

Quivey, G. A.

By

John T. Skinner and Otis M. Bigelow.

George Hawley, President G. A. Bigelow, ViceBigelovv,

Laws

act of the Legislature, (Chapter 94,

of

1864) District No. 2 in Lysander, and District No.

Van Buren, were consolidated into one disunder the corporate name of the Baldwinsville
Union Free School District. The act appointed
18 in

The

Quivey, Cashier.

S. S.

'

in the State.

Directors are George Hawley, Payne

Bigelow, D. C. Greenfield, S. S.

President

matter unsurpassed by any weekly publication

local

1875, with a capital of

319

following

trict

22d of September,

statement,

quarterly

the

is

1877:

Resources.
Loans and Discounts
107,521
Over Drafts
34
U. S. Bonds
5,000
Furniture and Fixtures
1,100
Taxes Paid
371
Premiums Paid
180
Due from State and National Banks..
4,944
Currency and Specie
380
Expenses
439

21

first

"

The

following

in

the words followins

named persons, to-wit James

Shumway, Abel H. Toll, Henry
:

Frazee, John P.
Y. Allen, Silas H. Nichols, Payne Bigelow, and
their successors, to be chosen as hereinafter provided, are hereby constituted a corporation by the
name of the Board of Education for the Baldwinsville Academy and Union Free School."

97
00
00
80
00
83

The

96

schools

under

organized

this charter are

two primary

and one academic, the latter

Baldwinsville
the
Free Academy. It is subject

three

35
2,450 00

Stocks

Board of Education

the

Regents of the State Uniand draws its annual proportion of the

Literature Fund.
There are three buildings, two
of brick and one of wood, the Academy building
being a fine structure, occupying sightly and well
ornamented grounds. It was erected in 1865, and
to the visitation of the

122,423 12

versity,

Liabilities.
Capital Stock

$ 50,000 00

Undivided Profits

Due
Due
Due

4,214
61,172
36
2,000
5,000

Depositors
State and National Banks
Individuals

Re-Discounts

62
50
00
00
00

cost, including site,

tains

about ^25,000.

The

800 square rods.

lots

The

lot

of the

conthree

schools are valued at $10,000, and the buildings at

122,423 12

g 2 1,000.

The Industrial Association of Northwestern Onondaga, which has for its object the advancement of agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, the
mechanic arts and household industry, was organ-

There are eleven teachers located as follows

Miss J. L. Wright,
J. Round, A. M., Principal
Miss Olivia Bigelow and Miss Sarah A. Barber,
Miss Mary Hannan,
teachers in the Academy
Miss Mary Wetherby and Miss Hattie Peet, teachers
on the north side; Miss Marian McClenthen, Miss
Ellen Lusk and Miss Jennie Frazee, teachers on
R.

The

ized April 29, 1873.

oflficers for

1877 were as

Abel H. Toll, President Hiram Bowman, Vice-President

D. C. Greenfield, Secretary

follows

W.

Van

Sears, A.

Treasurer.

Morris,

F.

Alstine, D.

Russell Bentley,

W. W.

Directors

Toll, E.

James

M. Babcock,

Perkins.

is

for the

The aggregate

year ending October

i,

teachers' salaries

1877, were {85,267;

month the lowest,

Average attendance, 444 money expended

the highest salary, $140 per

The Baldwinsville Gazette.

This weekly newspaper

the south side.

$24.

published at Baldwins-

during the school year, $8,304.84.

S. C. Suydam, President
Board of Education
:

and

ville

the

is

successor

Republican, founded in

of

the

Baldwinsville

1844 by Samuel B. West.

became the property of C. M.

Hosmer, who changed the name to the Onondaga
Gazette.
Mr. J. M. Clark succeeded Mr. Hosmer
for many years as editor and proprietor, and sold to
In October, 1846,

J.

He

B. Davis.

1869 sold
In

to

afterwards repurchased

On

changed
well

the
it

it,

and

in

X. Haywood, who enlarged the paper.

George
87 1,
and has since remained
tor.

F. Morris, C. N. Bliss, William L. Wilkins, A.

K. Clark, M. Donovan.

it

Mr.

W.

first

to the

of

S.
its

Clark
editor

January,

Baldwinsville

conducted paper,

purchased

and

1878,

Mr.

Gazette.

it,

proprie-

Clark
It is

enjoying a reputation for

Churches.
First Presbyterian Church, Baldwinsville.
first held in the town of
Lysander under the auspices of an Eastern Asso-

Religious meetings were

ciation of the Presbyterian Church,

as

missionary

Lazelle held his

Rev.
first

Ebenezer

which sent out

Mr.
Lazelle.

service in a barn near Squire

Munro's corner, July 13, 1813. A hogshead was

made to answer for a pulpit, while the hay and
roush boards served for seats. The Red School

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

320

House was built soon after, where the gravel bed

now is on West Oneida street, and furnished the
only place of worship for many years.
The church was organized by Rev. Mr. Lazelle
July

1813, and consisted of the following four-

13,

teen members, most of

towards

New

Bridge

Thomas and Betsey

whom

were from the region

Cyrus and Susan Baldwin

Farrington

to " Baldwinsville Baptist Church."

The

first church edifice was built in Baldwinsand dedicated January 31, 1841. The present
church is a handsome brick structure costing ^i8,-

ville

000, and was dedicated in December, 1871.

George and Mary

White
Eunice, Sarah and Lucy Porter
Levi
Manasseh and Levi Manasseh, Jr. Mary Calkins
;

and William Van Fleet. Cyrus Baldwin, Thomas

Farrington and George White were elected Elders,

November 12, 1813.

The first church

church was removed to Baldwinsville, and on the

3d of October of that year its name was changed

The

following have been pastors of the church

years named

for the

Dudley Lamb, 1815; Peter Witt, l823-'33

Augustus Warren, 1833 Peter Witt, i833-'39; S.
Davidson, i839-'4i
I.
Butterfield, 1841-42
O.
Beckwith, 1842-43
H. Stillwell, 1843-44; Ira
;

edifice

was

wooden building

erected at a cost of $3,000 in 1830.

In 1865 the

present brick church on the corner of

Oswego and

Bennet. 1845 '48 Ira Dudley, 1S48 '49 A. Wells,

1849 '50; K- VVinegar, i8si-'52;C. E. Elliot,
'8S3-'54; A. Hall, Jr., i8s5-'56; J. P. Simmons,
1857-61 J. S. Goodell, i86i-'64; S. P. Merrill,
i864-'69: B. O. True, 1870 '72; J. N. Tolman,
872-'73; Charles Ayer, i874-'7S
J. F. Genung,
1875 78.
;

Elizabeth streets was

The

built,

costing about 20,000.

Pastors of this church have been as follows

Rev. John Davenport, first Moderator of Onondaga Presbytery in 1810, pastor five years died
Rev. E. C. Beach, afterwards at
here in 1821
Lysandcr Church Rev Dr. Kellogg, afterwards
President of Kno.\ College Rev. Townsend Walker,
184- -'5 1
Rev. J. R. Young, i852-'57 Rev. J. F.
Rev. E. B. Parsons,
Kendall, D. D., 1859 "68
present pastor since 1868.

Present membership one hundred and

Rev.

RoUin

Porter, missionary to Africa

Edwin Adams, missionary

day, and Rev. E.

R.

Wisconsin

to

Davis,

city

at

Rev.

an early

missionary

in

Chicago* were from this church

five

Sunday School, three hundred and

Present officers of the church and society

fifteen.

Rev.

Hezekiah R. Dow,
Eben Burt Parsons, Pastor
Warner D. Wells, James Frazee,
E. Kirby West, Warren S. White, James Selleck,
James G. Smith and Edwin E. Wells, Elders
George M. Angler, Hiram Bowman, D. B. Giddings and John T. Skinner, Deacons; James G.
Smith, Jonas M. Talmagc, James L. Voorhees,
Payne Bigclow, Garrett H. Hotaling, DeW. C.
Turner, Charles N. Bliss, Hiram Bowman and John
;

Isaac Harrington,

T. Skinner, Trustees.

Ciiurch.

meetings were held by Rev. Dudley

In

Lamb

Cold Spring settlement, town of Lysander.

result of his labors three
19, 181 5,
si.v

1815
in

the

As

were baptized November

and two December 17, 181 5.

In June,
more were added, and on the 23d of the

month, after the consent of a neighboring Baptist

Church had been obtained, the eleven were organized under the name of the " Second Baptist Church
Services were held occaof Christ in Lysander."
sionally in a school house, but little progress

made

as a church

for

several years.

Geddes,

of

July 27, 1835, Rev. Richard Salmon,

James

presiding.

was

In 1840 the

D. Wallace and

Norman Kellogg were elected Wardens Stephen

W. Baldwin, Clarence S. Bayley, Nehemiah B.
;

Northrop, Benjamin C.

Jeffries,

Isaac T. Minard,

Horace Baldwin, E. Austin Baldwin and Walter

D. Hcrrick, Vestrymen.
The first services were
1

S33. by Rev. R. Salmon, of

Geddes, and were continued by him on the third

Sunday

of each

month

the Union Church,

in

now

Mr. Salmon's removal interrupted

Herrick's Hall.

the services which were almost given up for three

Rev. George B. Engle became missionary

years.

1838, holding

in

services

on alternate Sundays.

There were then but three communicants, one of

them Mrs. Eliza M. Baldwin, to whom the parish
afterwards

was

very

much

indebted.

Services

were held in a small school house belonging to her,

which now forms part of Mr. Isaac M. Baldwin's

Here her five children, together with three

Morgan J. Trowbridge's, were baptized May 19,

house.
of

Balpwinsvillk Baptist

1818,

Grace Church (Episcopal) Baldwinsville.

Organized

held in the latter part of

Present membership, three hundred and thirty-

six.

This is the first baptism on the parish

Rev. Mr. Engle removed to Indiana in
register.
1839.

1841 and

there was no

more

Rev. Samuel G. Appleton

service for five years.

officiated for a little while

and then the only services till 1850 were

That year
Bishop DeLancy.
Rev. Theodore M. Bishop, of Fulton, held frequent
Sunday afternoon services in a hall on the south
in 1846,

three visitations by

side of the river and continued

The
was

till

1854.

corner stone of the present church edifice

laid in

down

them

August, 1853, but owing to the blowing

and other discouragements, the

of the frame

Vhoto. by

W.

V. Ranger, Syracuse.

LYMAN NORTON.
Lyman Norton was

born in Hartford, Washington Co., N. Y.,

His fother was Jabez Norton, and his mother's

Dec. 3, 1809.

viz.,

Jabez H., who succeeded to the business, and

sion an attorney-at-law

he

now

is

is

by profes-

and

justice of the peace,

maiden name Abigail Buck.

from France,

in

The Norton

family

came

originally

September, lOOG, and settled in England

their

descendants emigrated to America about the year 1630, and

on Martha's Vineyard, in Maine, and near Boston, Mass.

settled

His great-grandfather, Jabez Norton, born on Blartha's Vineyard,

was a farmer, and died

at Mattapoisett

his wife

was

Elizabeth Allen, of Salisbury, a near relative of Gen. Ethan

Allen, of Revolutionary
ton,

memory.

His grandfather, Aaron Nor-

of Martha's Vineyard, married Abigail Norton (of the

Maine branch).

Jabez Norton, father of

Lyman

Norton, was

was chairman of the Democratic county committee in 1876.

John v., who resides at Memphis, N. Y., a graduate of Union
college,

and a

civil

engineer by profession

on important works

in Peru,

In 1830 he was elected school inspector;

he was elected member of the assembly.

was postmaster, and

iilled

inspectors of the

John Buck and Abigail Arnold, of New Haven, Conn.

Buck was an ardent patriot, serving in the Revolutionary
army from Bunker Hill to Yorktown.

position he held five years,

prison.

daughters.
in

Lyman

1826 entered the

as clerk.

He

received a common-school education, and

store of

engaged

to

Harlow

C. Wetherell, at Hartford,

go with his uncle, John Buck,

Snow's Bridge, near Jack's Reef; he arrived

10, 1826,

and was employed as clerk and

at

at that place Oct.

assistant, superintend-

ing disbursements attending the work of excavating the State

drain at Jack's Reef, then in course of construction.

company with
ville,

In 1830, in

John Buck, he built a store at Plainwhich was occupied by them Nov. 1, 1830, in conducting
his uncle,

a mercantile business.

Jan. 20, 1836, he married

Ann

Maria, daughter of Aaron

F. Vedder and Nancy Allen, formerly of Schenectady, N. Y.

They have a family of three children, all of whom are living,

in

first

In

politics

he

other local

York.

1836

justice of

is

po.si-

In 1851

For many years he

He

offices.

Onondaga County

Col.

three sons and two

New

tion; for several terms he was supervisor of his town.

Col.

in

the peace, and for twenty-four consecutive years held that

the

family consisted of five children,

he has been engaged

Sarah Ella, now residing with her father.

born July 11, 1777, and married Abigail Buck, daughter of

The

South America, and

was one of

penitentiary, which

and organized the workings of the

a Democrat, of the Jefferson and

Jackson school.

He

was a

skillful

marksman,

held in high estimation

among

keen hunter, a

favorite,

and

the hardy backwoodsmen of the

county.

From

his early savings he located land warrants in the west,

the proceeds of which constitute his property.

As

a merchant he w;is lenient in business

the poor

man was

never forced for payment, but was often assisted, and his books
show hundreds of outlawed and unpaid debts standing in the

name of men whose descendants are now flourishing business

men of the west.
As a public officer he was found never to encourage litigation,
but his

efforts

were directed

to settle legal difliculties.

large

portion of his time was devoted to settling up the estates of his

neighbors.

.i$^

PlioUt. \-y

UK.

Dr. J. E.
I

)i'<?onil)cr

lliltfl.

Ililtfl

1813, the fourth child of .Janu<s and Mar^iiri't

2,

The

father died in

Hrundon, Wisconsin.

Hiram
anil

0., Caroline

.\d:i

.M.

The

brother, was born

1874; the mother

la still

Their children were as follows

C, James Kdward,
sisters

December

are
lil,

all

in

Kniily,

subject of this sketch,

Hinini

married.

IH.'l."),

livliii;.

in

(J.,

Widvillo.

l)c

unteered 08 a private in Co. C, 122d l^>>;iment

New York

the

engaged

liHC,

in

For the next

jobbing

in

gypsum

tlire*'

years, or thereabouts,

quarries.

Went

to

Fond du

and blind

factory.

On

the 2-Uli of September, 18G8,

Berlin, Wisconsin,

and continued with him

for

two years

After practice and study of the profession for a

1870.

to

period of five years, he took a course of study in the Philadel-

phia dental college, from which he took a diploma, February 2H,

ville,

Wisconsin, where for two or three years he wos foreman

in a sa-sh

up

In the

fall

thorough student, a

than

fc<ssion

He
of

of the same year he loaitcd

and has since followed his chosen profcHsion

skillful operator,

htui

Thomas and Susan

politics

he

is

Baldwins-

in that place.

though young comparain his pro-

Dr. HilLs.

was married, April

They have one

in

few have attained a higher standing

tively in years,

sash-making trade, and followed the business two

yisirs in Jamesville.
lie

dentist of that place,

Vol-

At about eighteen years of age he began

in

under the instructions of Dr. P. H. Wightman. a celebrated

1874.

Dr. Hilts received his early education in the district schools

to learn the

he eomnienced the study of dentistry

Vol-

unteers, and wiLs killed in the battle of (iettysbunr, July 3, 1863.

of his native town.

V. Hanger, S>ircum>.

HILTS.

born in Jamasvillo, Onondopi County,

will*

W.

2,

Weller, of I^afayctte,

son. Hinini

a llepublican.

ternity, being a Past

1871, to Kllen F. Weller, daughter

Iv.

Is a

Onondaga County.

born January 24, 1S72

member of

In

the Masonic fra-

Master of Seneca Uiver liodge, Nn.

UW.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

building was not finished

iS6o.

till

was con-

It

Till 1864,
secrated November 13, i860.
were held by Rev. Henry Gregory, D. D.,

On

services
of Syra-

W. M.
Beauchamp became Rector and has continued such
cuse.

up

the

of July,

first

In i860, there were twenty-

to the present time.

three communicants

87

The church

is

one

was a

lot

Mrs. Eliza M. Baldwin, who died August

Her worth and

1.

Mary's

St.

Prior

in

S,

commemorated

services are

by a beautiful memorial window

viLLE.

number

the present

hundred and seventeen.

gift of
1

Rev.

1865,

the church.

Mary's Church,

to the erection of St.

Rev. Michael Hackett and Rev. Joseph Guerdet

But
had labored as missionaries in Baldwinsville.
chiefly through the indefatigable efforts of Rev.
Samuel Mulloy, the church was built and consecrated in

85

The church property

1.

valued at

is

Clay Circuit, and

in 1843 became a station with

members, but without a dollar of church
property.
Worship was then held in the old red

forty-five

now a dwelling house. August 29,

1843, at a meeting called for the purpose, E. Hickok,

school house,

A. Dayton, B. Nichols, T. Nichols and D. Derbyshire were elected Trustees of the First Methodist
Church. A lot was bought of the Baldwin estate
and a neat wooden church edifice erected, which was
dedicated by Rev. Gardner Baker in December,
In June, 1869, ^ resolution

1844.

Church, Baldwins-

(Catholic)

to

the erection of a

new church,

outgrown the capacity of the

cost, including lot

821,

present

three hundred and thirty and the

memberSunday

The pastors of this church have served in the

following order
Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, two
years; Rev. H. E. Chapin, one year; Rev. R. M.
West, one year Rev. B. Phillips, one year
Rev.
B. Alden, two years
Rev. L. D. White, two
years; Rev. A. S. Wightman, one year; Rev. R.
N. Barber, one year Rev. E. W. Jones, one year;
Rev. W. A. Nichols, one year Rev. H. Skeel,
two years Rev. W. Jones, two years Rev. A. T.
Rev. R. Redhead, two years ;
Copeland, one year
Rev. D. W. Rooney, two years
Rev. H. M.
Church, Rev. A. Rowe, two years Rev. O. H.
Warren, Rev. William Manning, two years Rev.
Rev. A. B. Gregg,
O. A. Houghton, one year

when James Baldwin, an

First Methodist Episcopal Church. From

data furnished by the late Rev, A. B. Gregg, we trace
the history of Methodism in Baldwinsville back to the
1

is

Rev. Samuel Mulloy, Rev. William McCallian,

Rev. James Smith, Rev. P. F. Smith, Rev. P. B.
McNulty, Rev. Mr. O'Keiffe, Rev. G. S. Lynch,
and Rev. F. Fransus, the present pastor.

year

The

beautiful site in the village.

School about two hundred.

named

The new

old one.

and furniture, $32,500. It is a

and occupies a very central and

nected with the parish.

the order

for

fine brick structure

ship

The

was passed

the society having

building was finished and dedicated October 20.

It has a seating capacity for about 650, and
1870.

$10,000, and about four hundred families are conregular pastors here have been as follows, in

321

exhorter, held

meetings

in a log school

house nearly a mile out of

He

the village on the south side of the river.

formed

class

members,

of seven

viz

Baldwin, Eliza Linsday, Miriam Linsday,

Gillett, Polly Gillett,

James

(died

March

31, 1878,)

Abraham

Samuel Wigent and Cynthia

Through the

Wigent.

soon

active labors of this class

Masonic.

The petition for

Co by the name
,

an extensive revival ensued.

The

traveling

first

preachers were Manly Tooker and Nathaniel Salisbury.

Baldwinsville

was

then

part

of

Marcellus

two years.

October

18,

a lodge at Lysander,

was dated
1822, and is signed by Silas Wallace
December 4, 1822 the prayer was

and others.
granted and warrant issued December

Chenango

Conference.
to the old

Circuit.

District in the Old

Genesee

In 1828, Baldwinsville was transferred

Cayuga District and included in Lysander

Rev. George Gary was Presiding Elder of

7,

1822.

Zadock Washburn, M. Asa Preston, S. W. and

James Wells, J. W.
No return of any kind was ever subsequently
made to Grand Lodge, either for payment of dues
or election of officers nor was the warrant, subsequently forfeited, ever returned to the Grand Lodge.
Seneca River Lodge, No. 160, was formed by
dispensation February 12, 1850, on the petition of
;

Circuit and

Onondaga

of Pleiades No. 354,

the district.
In 1829 Baldwinsville and Lysander Circuit were
transferred to
ster,

Oneida Conference, Rev. John DempIn 1836, Baldwinsville and

Presiding Elder.

Lysander appear

in

the

Oswego

District of said

Parker,

Conference.
J.

in a

W.

M.

the

Tyler, Elida Wilson, Elisha Clark, Wilson Bates,

In 1839 meetings were held

John Buck, L. L. Worcester, Zadock Washburn,

Asahel Dolbar, J. L. Fenner, Horace J. Shumway.
The warrant was issued June 6, 1850.

In 1S38 there were twenty-five

Baldwinsville class.

members

Sanford C.
named brethren, viz
Heber Wetherby, S. W. John Lakin,
Squire Munro, Wm. A. Wilson, Joseph

the following

in

school house on the north side of the river.

In

1840 Baldwinsville was transferred from Lysander

50*

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

322

The

Lodge

following have been Masters of the

Hebcr VVctherby,
Sanford C. Parker, 1851
1852; Sanford C. Parker, 1853; Payne Higelow,
1854; J. Barker Frisbie, 1855, I. M. Baldwin,
Wni. H. Slau1856; J. Barker Frisbie. 1857-58
son, 1859; John H. Morgan, i860; Henry Y.
:

Lodge consisted of six, who were all

There have been received by

original

charter members.

and otherwise 433 members, and

initiations

present membership

is

its

95.

Shumway. 1867-71

Allen, 1861 '66 J. P.

i872-'75
J. Frazee.
;

Horace

H. B. Allen, 1876;

J.

E.

Hilts, 1877.

Present membership, one hundred and twentyfive.

The names

of the present officers are as follows

John McGonegal, N. G. Miles Smith, V. G.

R. Richardson. Treas.; John F. Genung, Sec'y
James Bolton. Perm. Secy.

Judge Otis Bigelow was born in Worcester,

Mass Feb. i. 1785. His father. Asahel Bigelow.
,

On

the 29lh of March, 1873, the lodge

room and

consumed by fire, involving an entire

except $600 insurance.
The lodge charter

furniture were
loss,

was renewed after the fire.

Hon. Payne Bigelow was the first member initiated in the Seneca River Lodge in 1850.
Mr. George Hawley is the oldest mason in this
part of the county, he having been initiated in
Washington Lodge in 1820.
Riverside Chapter No. 260 was organized in
February, 1871, under a dispensation from the
Grand Chapter of the State of New York. Charter Members D. M. Rankin, H. F. Hawley, N.
H. Husted, D. Gould, H. Y. Allen. J. B. Frisbie,
John Harvey, Lewis Smith, John S. Kenyon and
A charter was granted in February,
T. Chase
1872.

March

29,

1873,

the

rooms were

lodge

burned, involving a complete loss of furniture and

was

war of the Revolution.

Judge Bigelow graduated at Balston Spa Academy, in Saratoga County, at an early age, and soon
a soldier in the

commenced

after

Bigelow joined the volunteer

county and

vicinity,

present membership

84.

is

High Priests since the organization

D. M. Rankin, i87i-'72; H. F. Hawley, 1873'75
S. C. Suydam. 1876
James L. Voorhees,
:

1877; F. A. Marvin, 1878.

After the fire the Chapter was rechartered at the
same lime as Seneca River Lodge.

came from there

number

merchant

On
to

In the year

1S45,

Ilerrick, Charles 11.

William A. Wilson, qualified themselves to organize
129,

I.

Saratoga

Har-

and commenced

merchant, and continued

At

that

in

that time

and

of years previous, he was the oldest

the county.

in

the 27th of December. 1S13. he was married

whom

Miss Mary Payne, of Fort Miller, by

had ten children,

whom

five of

survive him.

he

Judge

Bigelow was appointed a Justice of the Peace in

March, 82 and acted as such for many years. He
,

had a clear knowledge of the principles of law as

a proof of which, his opinions and advice were,
until within the last ten years previous to his death,

very often sought by persons involved, or about to

be involved

He was

in litigation.

the
in

third

Postmaster at

1828. and

Baldwinsville,

remained such

for

twelve

successive years, under the administrations of Presi-

Hon. Daniel T. Jones, O. B.

Weed, John W. Smith and

Mohegan Lodge, No.

young

In the spring of 1813 he

business successfully until 1863.

for a

2,

to Sackett's

to Baldwinsville

the business of a

appointed

OnO-FELLOWSlllP.

the break-

militia of

and marched

bor and served one year.

The

fi.xtures.

At

the study of law.

ing out of the last war with England in 181

O. O.

The

F.

Van Buren. In 1828 he was

appointed Judge of Onondaga County, and held

dents Jackson and

that

oflfice

member

His^cAAv/

lodge was organized with the following officers

In

ten years.

Assembly

of the

xuttfditig

1831, he
for this

was elected a

county.

was duly celebrated Decem-

Daniel T. Jones, N. G. Charles H. Weed. V. G

William A. Wilson,
John W. Smith, Secretary

His religious views were those of

the Presbyterian order, and he was a regular attend-

Treasurer.

ant of that church, although not a member, from

room in the
The first
afterwards suitable rooms were
old Seneca Hotel
fitted u|) in the "old brick store," which were
meetings were held

in

occupied

till

1874, in which year the hall

in

the

cr 27, 1863.

final sickness,

As

and died

a merchant and

man

atic

Schuyler

sound judgment

in

common

true,

In 1S50. the

the

Lodge was renumbered

Lodge received

its

33.

present number.

29.

Later

The

in the

faith of the

Gospel.

of business, he was remark-

ably shrewd and successful, and was at the time of

Union Hall Block was fitted up. The new lodge

room was dedicated by the Rt. Worthy Grand
Master, John W. Stebbins. assisted by Hon.
Colfa.v.

its

organization in Baldwinsville, until disabled by his

his decease

one

of the wealthiest

No man was more

was

in

business.

men

in

the county.

energetic, untiring and system-

He was

good

financier,

of

matters of business and of strong

he was

strict in

exacting what

his due, but exceedingly lenient

toward those

sense

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

who were unfortunate and unable

His

to pay.

for-

tune was not acquired by speculation, nor any sudden

investment; his gains were sure and constant.

In

323

Dr. B. B. Schenck has controlled the

medical

practice here for thirty-nine years, up to June, 1876,

when he gave place to Richard B. Sullivan, M. D.,

New York Homeopathic

he was an honorable man, and honored, respected and esteemed by those who knew him

a graduate

best.

a small

has one dry goods store (started in

one
blacksmith
and wagon shop (1833) and
1830,)
one shoemaker's shop.

western part of the town of Lysander.

William Wilson, Sen., was the first settler in 1806.

present William Wilson belongs to the third gene-

short,

Wilson's Corners,

Originally called

is

Memoranda

village in the

Around him were settled A. B. Scofield, Silas Scofield, Simon Town and David Carroll, in 18 10.
In
1813, came Peter Voorhees, who died in 1S16, and
his son. Col. J. L. Voorhees, who became promi-

man

neighborhood, and noted as a

in the

of

large business enterprises in Baldwinsville and Syra-

Abram

cuse.

Marvin Adams, and Ruleph

Daily,

Schenck, father of Dr. B. B. Schenck, settled

neighborhood
Bratt, in

Medical

Plainville

PLAINVILLE,

nent

of

College.

in 1815, or

near that date, and John

was established here

that time the settlers suggested the

being a

but there

that name, Plainville

in

182

1.

At

name of " Farm-

postofifice

already of

was given by the Department.

The

Family.

who have lived at

now Plainville. William Wilson, the grandfather, who was a Christian preacher,
came here from Vermont in 1806, when his son,
who was known as William Wilson, Sen., was ten
years of age.
The latter was married twice first,
ration

William

of

Wilsons,

" Wilson's Corners,"

April

14,

three children
are

who

lived to maturity,

His

living.

still

by

8 16, to Polly Shepherd,

first

wife

for his

second wife, by

whom

whom

he had

two of

whom

December,

died

1825, and he married July 4, 1826,

18 16.

postoffice

ersville,"

in the

of the Wilson

Hannah

Clyne,

he had eight children,

his oldest son and name-sake, William,

is

his suc-

cessor on the old homestead, where he was born

July

1828, and has acquired the reputation of one

3,

weekly mail was received at that time, passing

from the village of Camillus to Lysander and back.

of the most energetic and successful farmers in this

The

Frederick W. Fenner. Born in Pompey, N.

Y., in 181
came to Lysander with his father's
family when si.x years of age married June 26,

office

was

at first

kept by Mr. Stoddard a mile

and a half south of Plainville. Following him as

Postmasters were Simon Town, John Buck, Dr.
B. B. Schenck,

Lyman

B. Schenck, again, in

Norton, Esq., and Dr. B.

1862,

who

is

present Post-

The

first
;

schools were taught in log houses in the

the

first

school house being erected in

1 8 19, in which Amos Adams was the first teacher,

and Samuel Richards his successor. The school
is District No. 5, town of Lysander.
It has now
two departments, employing one teacher in each,

and a brick school house which was erected

A second

in 1874.

frame school house was also built

district in

1841, but gave place to the

for the

new

brick

1834,

to

Miss

Ellen

The Christian Church,

labors of Eld.

Plainville,

Obediah E.

originated

Morrill,

and was

organized in 1820.

Elder Morrill continued about

twenty years to minister to his flock and was succeeded by Eld. E. J. Reynolds for about seven or

S.

Schenck, of

Lysander,

daughter of Ruleph and Elisie Schenck, and

M. D.,

of Plainville.

sister

The

marriage was six children, four of

of this

fruit

whom

two are deceased the oldest and the

youngest
The youngest son living remains
on the place with his mother.
One daughter is ensurvive, and

child.

gaged
ton,

in

111.

teaching

in

the public schools in Carroll-

Sarah E. Fenner, another daughter, mar-

ried S. A. Vedder,

and resides

in

the same

city.

Mr. Fenner died February 24, 1875, suddenly of

pneumonia which was epidemic at that time. He
purchased a farm

building.

in the

of B. B. Schenck,

master.

vicinity

section of country.

in

the town of Lysander where

and added largely to the

amount of land and improvements, leaving behind
him at his death one of the finest farm properties
he

built a fine residence,

in this region of country, as a lasting

his industry

and excellent

taste.

monument

He

has also

to

left

who was followed by Elders A. E Doty

and John C. Waggoner; the latter died in 1852.
The church edifice (frame) was built in 1831

evidences of his moral worth, having been a prominent temperance man, and largely identified with the

burnt April, 1852

School Superintendent, appointed by the Governor,

and also held the office of Town Clerk for one term.

eight years,

educational interests of his town.

He was its

first

structure.

replaced in 1854 by present brick

For the past nine years services have

continued uninterruptedly.

Ezra McAlpine.

Present

pastor

Rev.

As

devoted,

friend to

earnest advocate

of

reform

and

the poor, Mr. Fenner had few superiors,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

3^4

and he has left behind him a record eminently

worthy of emulation.
Their eldest son, James B, resides in Delphi,
in this county, where he is engaged in mercantile

Lysander, a small unincorporated village situated

lots 43 and 44, eight miles northwest of Bald-

and four and one-half miles west of Lamson's Station on the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Railroad. It was first settled about the
winsville,

year i8io-'il, and went by the

name

Settlement, a family or two by that

About

here.

the year

who

four

Nathan

At

years.

time

this

it

moved

in,

and

began

name

be called

to

until a post-

was established they then gave it the name

of Lysander, which name it retains to the present

office

day.

The

village

now

contains about

seventy dwell-

ing houses, two churches, Methodist and Congregational,

W. &

two
I.

stores, general

E.

Connell and

merchandise, kept by L.

W.

Among
who

held

;)

On

&

1846; Leslie Martin,

the

first

of March, 1828, the " First Protest-

Reformed Dutch Church" was organized by

Aaron F. V'^edderand
David L. Relyea were chosen Elders, and Alonzo
North and George Curtis, Deacons. They, to-

the Rev. James Stevenson.

Presbyterian

church

joint use

for their

was the

first

church erected

tive of the results anticipated

work zealously and

cfi'ectually, until

ministrations, and reached during the time a

bership

of

upwards

of

succeeded by Rev. Joshua

Wm.

R. Powers settled

the church were

the present time.

Cornelius C. Hubbard moved

in

from Montgomery County at an early day, set up a

Among
store, and held the office of Postmaster.

Henry

Perine,

Hart, the latter

B. Hall, i859-'64.

1865

in

Among

Betts,

was
Rev.

Rev. Samuel L.

the prominent

Chauncey

mem-

He

three hundred.

Justus Townsend, Sperry

George Morley, who was also a Justice of the Peace,

was succeeded by John Haisted also Jos.
P. Hunn. Clark Berry and Richard L. Smith, who
was elected about 1857, and has continued in office to

the eleventh of

when he was, through infirmity, comto resign, having become very deaf and totally
The church was very successful under his

April,, 1858,

the office of Justice of the Peace

later

founders, and in

its

worshipof their own, and the Rev. EbenezerC. Beach

was settled as pastor Jan. 1, 1834. and went at the

of

Dr.

by

the year 1833, the Presbyterians erected a house of

the earlier merchants was Chas. Royce,

;

This

in this vicinity.

jointure did not work smoothly, and was not produc-

Merrell 1867 '75.

a foundry and a churn factory.

Church, erected a
and occupancy, which

gether with the

pelled

in

ministers that officiated at that time

S.

ant

blind.

Winchel

hardware store ami tin

Britton & Wooster, a blacksmith shop, two wagon
shops, a hotel kept by Elijah Lake, a shoe shop,
harness shop, two millinery shops, two physicians,
located in 1867

were Rev.

Co., a

(George McCarthy, located

The

borhood.

shop combined, kept by

C.

Rev. Asahel Bronson and Rev. E. C. Beach.

advanced age of ninety-

Bett's Corners, and went by that

of

members

Townscnd, Aaron F. Vedder, Margaret Safford, Harvey Smith, Altie Voorhees, Thos. Ambler,
Catherine Ambler, Henry Perine and Charlotte
Smith.
Meetings were held in the school house
and at the residences of individuals in the neigh-

Chauncey

Butts, a Revolutionary pen-

to the

lived

Church

of Vickery's

1817,

years later his brother, Jared Betts,

father,

Presbyterian

then consisted of nine

It

name having

and his brother-in law, Mr. Skinner, located

here and set up a store and built and carried on a
A few
small distillery, and a potash manufactory.

sioner,

The Second

V. Barnes, Rev. Mr. Cushman, Rev.

Horatio Lombard, Rev. Mr. Clark, Rev. Mr. Bogue,

Betts,

their

"

called

Wm.

LYSANDER.

located

church was organized here on the 19th

first

of October. 1820, by the Rev. John Davenport, and

Lysander."

business

on

The Congregational Chukch of Lysander.

The

members

Wm. Townsend,

Bouton, Asa Benedict,

Benjamin F. Davis and Noadiah

two of whom are still living.

During this time the Prottslant Reformed Dutch

Church continued and was very successful. Rev.

Aaron A. Marcellus,

first

pastor,

i830-'3i

Rev.

ard

Wooster, H. W. Andrews, William Culun, RichL. Smith, Sara C. Winchel, who holds the

Melancthon B. Williams, i834-'37 Rev. William J.

Bradford, 1849-56; Rev. F. V. Van Vranken,
i86i-'65; Rev. J. Henry Endus, i866-'69; Rev. J.
F. Shaw. i869-'70; Rev.Wm. A. Wurts, i872-'76.
Deaths and removals had so reduced the membership of both of these churches, and diflering only

office at the present time.

in

Others of the earlier settlers were Richard Smith,

Richard Lusk, Grover Buel, Abrani Van Doren,
John Slauson, George W. Brown. Isaac and Alfred

ment, on the third of May, 1877, His Honor, Geo.

A. Hardin, carried an order to be entered uniting

those that have held the office since were Chauncey

Betts, Willard P. liump, George A. Allen, Barclay

Smith,

who

were successful farmers.

the

non-essential

particular of church govern-

and consolidating the two corporations into one,

under the name and title of "The Congregational

^^t^

JJt^

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Church and Society

December
graduate

On

of Lysander."

the i8th of

Henry T. Sell, a young man,

Wesleyan University, class of 1873,

following,

of

Yale Theological Seminary 1877, was ordained and

installed as pastor,

was continued

twenty-five families

one hundred and sixty communicants, and a membership of two hundred and fifty.
Sunday School

The

In

1830 or 1831, Rev. Elijah Barnes and Rev.

Benjamin Rider were appointed to the Lysander

which

circuit

time embraced

at that

ner Settlement, Cold Spring,

present membership of this society

John Halsted, Esq., son

born

Amboy, War-

New Bridge,

Hard-

Ira,

is

about

of Jonas Halsted,

Ulster County, N. Y.,

in

was

He was

1800,

in

brought

to this county the same year on horseback

mother's arms in the dead of winter.
His

father located at

Methodist Episcopal Church of Lysander.

twelve

first

one hundred.

in his

upwards of three hundred.

during the

in this circuit

years.

and the new church now num-

bers about one hundred and

325

remained

Geddes with the design of making

spring, and moved to Aurelius,

Cayuga County thence in the spring of 180410
Ohio, where he died, and the subject of this sketch
salt

till
;

began living with his grandfather, in the town of

Lysander, whom he assisted in clearing up his
farm from a wilderness, and with whom he remained

Wellington, State Road, Palmertown,

Horton Settlement and Oswego Bitter. Through
the united labors of these two men a " class" was
organized at Betts Corners, now Lysander P. O.,
which has since grown into the present flourishing
society.
Q beelicnt Slauson and wife, John Slauson
and wife, and G. W. Brown and wife are thought to

Halsted then purchased a farm. Lot No. 53,

town of Lysander, where he lived in a log cabin,
and began a career which has resulted in the most
eminent success.
By industry and economy he has
accumulated a handsome property, and was succes-

be the members of the

sively elected

scrabble

first

class

organized.

In

was reduce.d to Lysander,

Little Utica, Hull's Corners, Bowen's Corners and
Coday's School House, but at present it embraces
only Lysander and Little Utica.
Previous to Anlater years this circuit

son

Fuller's

pastorate in

1844, the society

their religious services in private houses

held

and school

houses, but in this year a very comfortable church

was erected which was completed and dedicated the

following year.
In 1849, a parsonage was purchased.
In 1855, the church was repaired and enlarged, and in 1872 was again repaired and is now
an ornament to the society.

The

following

church

named

at different

ministers have served the

times

Rev. Elijah Barnes, Rev. Benj. Rider, Rev. Wm.

Mekoon, Rev. Miles H. Gaylord, Rev. Burrows
Holmes, Rev. J C Steward. Rev. L. L. Adkins,
Rev. Turner Van Tassel, Rev. Allen H. Tiloton,
Rev. Rowland Soule, Rev. J. Kilpatrick, Rev. Moses
Lyon, Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, Rev. F. Hancock,
Rev. L. L. Adkins, Rev. Josiah Arnold, Rev. J.
T. Alden, Rev. Anson Fuller, Rev. Joseph Lamb,
Rev. R. M. West, Rev. Almon Chapin, Rev. Royal
Houghton, Rev. Harris Kinsley, Rev. John R.
Lewis, Rev. K. M. Roe, Rev. David Stone,
Rev. Wm. Morse. Rev. H. Skeel, Rev. I. Turney,
Rev. Joseph Smidley, Rev. S. B. Crozier, Rev. Geo.
C. Wood, Rev. G. W. Foster, Rev. Wm. C. McDonald, Rev. P. H. Wiles, Rev. E J. Bush, Rev.
J. Hond, Rev. Fred. Devit and Rev. H. B. Smith.

The above seemingly

counted

for

by the

Methodist church,
ers to
51

travel

large

list

of pastors

fact that in the early

it

was customary

for

is

ac-

days of the

two preach-

together as colleagues, and this plan

till

his death, at the age of eighty years.

Mr

Peace.

made

Assessor and Justice of the

his farm, and has since

his residence with

Although

sander.
his

Town

In 1869 he sold

Van Derveer

Mrs.

retired from

mental faculties are

in

Ly-

active business,

unimpaired, and he

still

enjoyment of the
industry and economy,
living in the quiet

is

fruits of his

John Van Dekveer was born in Montgomery

County in 1803, and came to this county in 1825.
In 1839 ^^ married Electa Cole, and took up a new
farm where his widow, Mrs. Electa Van Derveer,

now

resides.

years.

Mrs.

County

in

He

died

1867, aged

in

Van Derveer was born

sixty-three

Cayuga
Lysander in 1815.
Since the decease of her husband she has conducted
her home farm of one hundred and twenty-five
acres, on which she has made valuable improvements, and has also a farm in Cayuga County.
1810, and

came

Harvey H. Russ was

in

to

born

in the

town of Van-

Buren, Onondaga County, N. Y., April

and was brought up on a farm, receiving

15,

1833,

common

In 1858, he married Miss Ruth

and has one child living. In
1865, he purchased the place where he now resides
one hundred acres of rich alluvial land, as fine as
can be found in the county on which, in 1 867, he
began experimenting in hop raising planting six-

school education.

Betts, of Lysander,

teen acres.

Under

his judicious

management the

business has proved quite successful.

Russ, by both his paternal and maternal

ancestors, is a descendant of some of the oldest
Mr.

families of

Pompt^.

His grandfather was one of

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

326
the

first

settlers

aunt, was born in

Hill,"

in

the town

in

moved there from Vermont

Mr. Russ's

town

of

an ox

in

Ralph Russ,

father,

Van Buren

of

John Hatch,

1793.

was one of the

his maternal grandfather,

at " Indian

Polly Russ, his

town.

that

in

Pompey

first settlers

Pompey, and

young man of promise, the son of

settled

the

in

He soon became

public services.

was erected

edifice

first settlers of this place were Reuben

John Hutler, Henjamin Rathbun, Sanford
Dunham, John H. Lamson. James Ends, who was

first

Elijah Fairbanks,

store in the place

who kept

Lucius Gunn, B. M.

Nicholas and

Ells,

Carmi

Harrington, Ezra Baker, who was a physician living

one mile from the

Dunham & Baker

place.

Lake

saw-mill on the outlet of Beaver

a saw mill standing on the same

business.

site is

built a

1825, and

in

now doing

was established

postoflfice

It

now

and comfortable church, with large and

interested congregations and a membership of one
hundred and twenty. Present pastor. Rev. H. B.

in

Smith.

JACKSONVILLE,

1832,

Originally called " Palmertown,"

became the

Polk.

was then

It

called

'

Dur-

Polkville P. O."

ing the last administiation of President Lincoln the

was removed

postoflice

hamlet

to Little Utica.

at the cross-roads

It is

undertaker's estab-

to Little Utica.

nery, by B. Hazard.

&

country store, Allen

mill,

a small

west of Little Utica, con-

taining a carriage, joiner and

lishment, conducted by Alanson Fancher

seat

of a postoflfice under the administration of Jas. K.

Noah Payne, who then

was
postmaster.
Some ten or fifteen
kept a store,
years after, the name of the postoflfice was changed
then called Paynesville

and was
is

the

Peter Earll, Samuel White,

in 1834,

in 1875.

plain, neat

The

many were

has continued an earnest worker

ever since.

The church

Coffin,

Justice of the Peace

local

class-leader, hold-

ing class and prayer meetings in which

repaired in 1857, and again

LITTLE UTICA.

preacher, and began at once to cvercise his gifts in

converted, and

cart.

1827.

in

was

&

Son, a

Lewis, proprietors, a cider

W. A.

boot and shoe shop of

Wright, and tan-

and

a hotel, a cigar factory, saw-mill, cheese factory, and

Jonathan Palmer was the first

the first house in the place on Lot

some very good dwelling

as a bounty for his services in the Revolutionary

Little Utica has

one

store,

two blacksmith shops,

houses.

Mltiiodist Ei-iscoi'AL CiiLkcn, Little Utica.

The

first

Methodist class of

in the conversion of

this place originated

Mr. George Kellogg, through

He

war.

36,

built

which he drew

served through the war with six brothers,

and was a pioneer

was

settler,

a wilderness.

Lysander when the country

in

His brother,

Nathaniel,

now

on part of his original land, while stationed

the instrumentality of Rev. Mr. Rundall, of Fulton,

settled

who

on the Hudson during the Revolution, assisted in

drawing a chain across that river to intercept the

paid the former a

visit

during an attack of

ill-

and preached several times in the neighborMr. Kellogg and several others were conhood.
verted
a great revival ensued at the village of
ness,

Lysander,

in

which the people of Little Utica took

was formed, September 24, 1832,

called the " Palmertown Class." of which George
The names of the
Kellogg was appointed leader.
George
more prominent members are as follows
Ransom
and
wife.
Sally
Coffin.
Foster
Kellogg
and
wife, Asahel Fuller and wife, William Fanchcr and
wife. Jonathan Palmer and wife, Zenas Curtiss and
(For names of
wife, and John Bogardus and wife.
ministers, see Lysander M. E. Church.
apart; a

class

progress of the British.

White Chapel of hie M.

Spring.

founders of the society about the time of the

settlement of the town

a school

The

Religious

built

house where the church now stands.

by

in

1861, being

and costing

The

hundred

was erected

Silas Nichols, of Baldwinsville,

i)resent edifice

$1,400.
;

present

membership

Sunday school

in

summer

is

about one

of about

fifty

scholars.

Fancher, about the

The
resides

of William

of Lysander.

first

services were held here the earliest in the town, in

time of the organization of this class, was an event

Mr. Fancher
of no little importance to the church.

The conversion

E. Chlkch, Cold
others were the
White
and
Mr. George

Chapel

present
in
is

pastor.

Liverpool,

connected.

Rev.

Frank Andrews,
charge White

with which

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

327

VAN BUREN
Van Buren

was organized

and received

in 1829,

name from Hon. Martin Van Buren, then newly

elected Governor of the State of New York.
The
its

embraced

territory

in

was

it

originally part of the

township of Camillus, of the Military Tract, and

included in the town of Marcellus from the organi'zation of the county in 1794 to the organization of

the town

of Camillus in

1799.

On

the 26th of

March, 1829, it was taken from the northern part

of Camillus and organized into the town of Van
Buren.

Tappan was one

Gabriel

Commisthe formation of the new

sioners appointed to effect

of the

town.
surface of the town

is

somewhat

com-

level

pared with the southern portions of the county, yet

in

many

places beautifully undulating, and the

land, especially

rich

made
Sen.,

the valleys of the small

and productive.

Perhaps there

number

of the county, of an equal

streams,

no section

is

of square miles,

better adapted to agricultural purposes or contain-

The sandy loam

ing less waste land.

alternating with clay loam,

vails,

chiefly pre-

some muck and

12,

He

a small clearing, and subsequently, after the

death of his wife,

left

the country.

came from the

John McHarrie,

State of Maryland and settled

on the south bank of the Seneca River, (Lot No.

7)
in the latter part of 17S9.
John McHarrie, Jr.,

became

a resident of the town

Camillus)

soon

in

1794,

They

after.

(then included in

and Mary and Lydia McHarrie

rest in

all

Cemetery, and were the

ground.

David

The
it is

town by John Dunn, who settled on Lot No.

about one mile south of Baldwinsville in 1789.

the

Baldwinsville

persons buried in that

first

Haynes and Joseph Wilson were

settlers in the town, probably as early

soon

early

as 1790, or

David Haynes came from Salina. His

Thaddeus Haynes, still lives on almost the

after,

son. Col.

same spot occupied by his father, and is now (1878)

one of the oldest residents of Van Buren.
settled in Van Buren Febwas a prominent citizen and
father of Wallace Tappan, Esq., of Baldwinsville.
William Lindsay, 1795 Jacob and Chester Molby,
Asher, John, Stephen, Abraham and
the Delanos
William Tappan, about 1797 Reuben Smith, 1800
John and William Lakin, James and John Williams,

Tappan

Col. Gabriel

ruary

18,

1796.

He

beds of marl and calcarious

tufa,

and affording a

wide range of productions, among which wheat,

corn, fruit and tobacco take the lead.
The town
has long been noted for

The

and corn.

its

wheat

excellent crops of

and Ira Barnes, soon

after

1800

James Wells,

best land, perhaps, for the produc1803.

tion

of the

Jack's

latter

Reefs,

crop

while

the

is

that in the vicinity of

best

wheat land

that

is

characterized by an outcrop of the red clay shales

The

in the northwest part of the town.

proportion

compared with the sandy and gravelvery small.

In the immediate vicinity of

of clay soil as
ly

loam

is

Baldwinsville the

soil is chiefly

more eastern portion

it is

sandy, while in the

gravelly loam intermixed

with small stones and boulders.

ride through the

a finely

town of Van Buren

improved country both

in

will

show

respect to lands

and buildings, the houses being neat and substantial, and the barns capacious, well underpinned with

and
surmounted with cupolas or towers, which
render them sightly and attractive.
stone, finished outside with clapboards, painted,

Dunham,
Amos, Seth and Heman Warner founded Warner's
In about

1800, or soon after, Eleazer

Settlement, and Benjamin Bolton located at Jack's

The
Reefs.
name from a

colored

rapids at an early day and assisted

lived near the

boatmen

in

Totten settled
Buren,

we are informed, took its

man known as " Jack," who

latter place,

transferring

their

freight.

at Jack's Reefs, in the

in 1810.

He

Gilbert

town of Van-

subsequently owned consider-

able land at the Reefs, and raised a large family.

Charles H. Toll, Phineas Barnes, Isaac Earll and

Jonathan Skinner, also settled in town about the
year 18 10. and about 1812 Nicholas Vader, Cyrus

H. Kingsley and Nathaniel

Cornell.

often

At

this period the country was entirely new and

presented few attractions for

Early Settlement.
The

first

temporary settlement was made

in the

settlers,

most

of the

people preferring the higher grounds of the towns

The farmers who had
of Camillus and Marcellus.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

328

were often obliged to

flocks

enclosures during the

against the wolves which

high

in

protection

prowled around

the

in

and McHarrie streets another was far up Syracuse street towards the river and a large village
may be traced at the water's edge on the southwest
;

numbers, and whose savage propen-

corporation

whetted by hunger, made them very destruc-

intercourse.

forests in great
sities,

them

fold

night for their

exhibiting a few traces of Eurojiean

line,

having been driven from the higher grounds south

On the west side of Dead Creek, formerly called

Camp Creek, from the Indian's camps, was a small

by the clearing up

settlement, and there are evidences of a grave yard

The
was

common and

Bears were

tive.

of the lands.

or hamlet founded in the

village

first

now

at the [)oint

deer very plenty,

name being

Ionia, the

called

town

by the postoffice established here in 1816

the first postoffice in the town, Charles H. Toll.
I'hineas Harncs erected the first frame
Postmaster.

given

it

house here

in 1808,

Toll soon

after

and Isaac Earll and Charles H.

Oliver and Job

erected others.

The

was

Buren, and the

Above
is

the latter spot, at the foot of Bishop's Reefs

It

(now Memphis) and destroyed the prospects of

Lysander.
shore

The

first

Town

Clerk.

lawyer was Theodore Popell,

Medad

the second,

Curtis,

physician. Dr. Jonathan

1812; the second.

in

S.

Dr.

Canton, (now Memphis)

1818;

in

The

1829.

in

William

first

Ionia

liuell, settled at

Laughlin,

at

In this town, a mile and a half south of the

river at

Baldwinsville and on the

road to Warner's,
It

fort.

is

side of the

left

the site of an old stockade

is

on a low, oval

hill,

which

rises

on the

south side of a small stream flowing into Crooked

Brook.

Thaddeus Haynes. Mr.

Col.

J.

Wells, and

others, describe the circular line of post-holes,

which

were so close together as almost to form a ditch,

The
until the ground was cleared and plowed.
palisades had fallen outward, and the bark of many
still

The

remained

north, with

path

circle

down

had an opening on the

the steep bank to the

Charred corn, arrow-heads, stone and clay

In 1S78, every
and pottery, were plowed up.
traced.
be
lodge could yet
water.

pipes,

Generally the Indians frequented rapids which

were

Hence

important

as

fords

and

fishing

the rapids along the Oneida,

stations.

Oswego and

Seneca Rivers are marked with the remains of InThere are several about the vilone at Float Bridge anBaldwinsville
of
lage
hill
north
of the village one at the
other on the
lock, and another a mile west, on the farm of

dian town sites.

H. Emerick, Lot No. 78, in Lysander.

On
Van Buren side, there was one where several
have
been found, between Seneca
skeletons

C.

the

runs

It

two hundred and five feet, with a depth

angle,
then returns at a sharp
two
feet
of
three hundred and twenty-five feet up the river,
forming an angle like the letter V. To this must
be added twenty-five feet more, making an obtuse
North of this begins another
angle to the south.
wall, running down one hundred and forty-five feet,
and returning one hundred and sixty feet. These
;

are rough measurements

The

in 1815.

the Van Buren

M. Kelley's, Lot No. 75,
down stream on the south

a stone fish-weir, on

is

and opposite U.

Ionia.

which Gabriel Tappan was elected Supervisor,

Van

a curious pre-historic work, which has been over-

side,

and Abel Tryon,

3,

were cut down about

flowed ever since the building of the Baldwinsville

dam.

at

trees

last

1873-

build-

The first town meeting for VanBuren was held at

the house of Eleazcr Dunham, March 26, 1829,

Lot No.

ravine near the river on

in a

ing of the Erie Canal attracted business to Canton

Nichols were afterwards Postmasters.

This orchard

near the Indian orchard, farther west.

made from

walls are well laid, of large

a boat in 1877.

and small stones,

and the south one reaches the surface only in exthe north one is even then
tremely low water
;

a foot

beneath

the

surface.

The

length

total

Several
about eight hundred and sixty feet.
others, partly destroyed, are to be seen some miles
is

above.

The

valley of the

Many

stone age.

have

been

found,

of varying forms

Seneca

beautiful

is

rich in relics of the

and characteristic pipes

formed in many ages and

Many fine arand materials.

might be described from the valuable collections of Messrs. Bigelow and Perkins, of Baldticles

winsville,

Historical

and

now in
With a view

those

Rooms.

the
to

Connecticut
fuller preser-

hundred articles have been

drawn and described by Rev. W. M. Beauchamp, of
vation, about

seven

Baldwinsville, with their history as far as

it

could

be ascertained.

We

may add

plummets

and

to this general enumeration, stone

cups,

sinkers, pestles,

hammers,

gouges with a cross groove on the back, pierced

tablets of many forms, stone clubs, and other masTwo copper arrows
sive things as yet unnamed.
in the west part of Lysander, both
having hafts instead of sockets. The last, which
is very fine, was hoed up in 1S76. on Judge Voorhces'

have been found

I'hoto.

A.

W. BINGHAM.

by

W, V.

Ranger, Syracuse.

I'bi>lu.

^^^Y
ThiH ^cntluinun

who

Coniiwticiit,

and

inatic-iuiis

Ls

liiioul

liavo

been

scliolars.

All

dcscuiidiint
iiotod fnr

ut'

the Uuholl

over a

us wlio have lived

ol"

fuiiiily

fi^y years

li>

of age rcmenilter Dnboll's Arithmetic as among the standard

8chou1-biH)ks of our Ixiyhood days.

Natlinn Dubull,

tlie

author

of this aritlimetic, was a brother of the grandfather of the sub-

The

ject of this reeord.

was revised and republished by

b(W)k

Nathan Daboll, A.M., son of the author, and

more than a century kept a

for

published a

Henry
(Thomas )

May

C,

serii-s

l)aboll

the oldest

liLst

His father and mother died

1812.

"Jl, IS.'tti,

the latter Oct. IS,

and

Betsey

to the occupation

in Connecticut, the

IS.*)."),

town of Canaan, Litchfield county.

was bred

liave

liundreil yean- or more.

of Jonathan

.son

and

Daboll, and was born in Canaan, Litchfield Co., Conn.,

former .\ug.
in the

Daboll have

at (iroton. Conn.,

of almanacs for the

is

in u.sc in

still

In

In

and were buried

e^irly life

of a mechanic, and divided

between that and teaching school

till

Henry

liis

thirty years of age.

time

He

Mr. Daboll wiut elected justice of the peace, and

ISi'iL',

He

held the office one term.

was eonnecteil with the Farmers'

Joint .Slock In^uranee Company, of Meridian, N. Y..

existence.

held

the

years,

It

office

of notary

in

public

the

for

warden of Christ church, Jordan,

for thirty years a

axsistcd in building

two churches

in that parish.

two sons and three daughters. The

five children,

Henry H.

eldest son,

eldest daughter,

Mary, married Isaac K. Burdick, principal of

the I'rcscott school, Syracuse.

Mk8. Daholi,
origin,

who

is

trace

of the ancient Goodwin family, of Saxon

their

Saxon king of England.

lineage back

The

to

Harold (iodwin, the

family are ()uitc

numerous

country and eon.siderably Dotd for their literary

Daboll

is a ]><K't,

a religious sentimentalist,

and

She

many of her

in

On

Nov.

9,

1841, he married Miss Charlotte Goodwin, of

Van
had

and the following year came

IJuren, ami settled on the farm

visited the place

riage.

The

and

ent4'rprisc of

pine stumps which covered

is

well

by
the

known

in

his example.
first

wIutc he now

pureha.<'d the

Mr. Daboll
it

to the

town of

lives.

He

farm prior to his mar-

in ridding this

farm of the

at the time of his settlement here

the neighborhood, which was generally benefited

He

led the

to inaugurate the

way

to this

improvement, being

use of the stumping-machine, that

important benefactor of the farmers on the pine lands

Mn.

at heart a prac-

tical

Salisbury, Conn.,

in this

talents.

comfort, and aid to the poor and sorrowing.

experience and self-culture.

I>aboll,

married, and lives on a farm adjoining the homestead; the

has been from Iniyhood of a studious and ini|uiring turn of mind,

has been ac<|uircd in the school of

its

has also

ten or twelve

liLst

Mr. and Mrs. Daboll have had a family of

is

He

April. 1877.

and has been active in educational and church matters,

having been

and

was discontinued

and moot of

his education

the

in

capacity of president and director, during the period of

nautieid academy, for in.struetion

and kindred sciences,

in navigation

is

The descendants of Nathan

eastern Connectieul.

8.T1

M-ayi^i^^

uf

c-ciiliir_v its iiiutlio-

b; W. V. IUn(<r,

Christian philanthropist, delighting in affording sympathy,

having been

[lieces

publishi-il

neW8pap>rs, and she will probably yet be

her litcntry works.

The

time she

is

much,

known more

widely by

writer of this, from his knowledge of

the writings of Mrs. Daboll,

to her literary talents

writes

magazines and

is

pleased to bear this testimony

and Christian character, while

at the

eminently devoted to domestic duties and the

same

affiiirs

of her hou.sehold.

For many years Mr. and Mrs. Daboll have kept a record of
each day's events, of things which have transpired within their

knowledge and observation, and

to be a collection of useful

it

has proven,

memoranda.

in

many

instances,

hy \V. V. Rangrr, Syrocut**.

IMuito".

IIUKACK

K.MKI.INK

IIINcillAM.

II

HORACE

Hurnuc B. Rin^linin

wiis

born

Conn., Ajirii 10,

\'W.

attending

iind n-ssLitin;;

.'h-IuxiI

North Coventry, Tolland Co.,

in

His early
lii.s

life wsls K|HMit in iilternutely

futhcr.

He

niurried, Miirch

10, 1821, Miiw Kiueline JonuH, of Adrian, TollunJ Co.,

In 183(j,

\m

Bin^liiiui

.^lr.

Van Huren,

fumily to

following' year

yeum of

DoHconded from

that

|K-o|>le.

octiuHH,

He

()niinda-;a Co., N.

V.,

New

his

wilh

and

away Nov.

ancestor?*,

he

IK, iSlI",

in

\V.

Bingham, the

life.

He

ha.s

her Reventy-fifth year,

i.s

an early age culled into

at

held a prominent po-sition in the

Grand Ixidgca

in

the districts of

of a good

Odd

Onondaga and

Fellow and

("ayuga, and

the

five years.

|M>ssesscd

in

hix noiHteiateM.

Mrs. Bingham,

who

advanta^

!>(>ent

living with her only (ton,

eldest of three ehildren,

the

has been connected with the lodge at BaMwinsvillo fur twenty-

leaving to hiH children the

life.

received

the

eireuiux[)eet in all hix bn.tine&s tran:*-

legacy of a spollesH eharactcr and holy

now

public

December

Kti^land

He

in

the industry and rigid mural elmmeteri.stics of

I'liriglit

the old homestead.

common-school education, and was

life.

he eanii'd the esteem and i-oufidenee of

piLSficd

and

BINGHAM.

Conn.

home and moved

purehaMed the farm ufton which he

thirty remninin;;

a high degree

his ejistoni

left

B.

KINlillAM.

J.

reiiidea

A.

ti|K>n

18,

Onondaga County
in

that

1877, he

wa.s

appointed

|)cnitontiary for a

capacity proves

to

be

inspector

term of three yean, and

one of the

ablest

and most

conscientious officials that could have been appointed.

held

many

c<{ual

acceptance.

transactions he endcuvors to do that which

far

He

has

other important public positions, the duties of which

he discharged with

thas

of the

has had the good fortune to

a stain rusting

upon his character.

pose*

In

all

his

busiDOOS

is strictly just,

thmugh

life

and

without

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW

YORK.
The

farm, lot 74.

occasional polished slate arrows

are of great interest, and

gion.

seem peculiar

to this re-

Broken pottery, highly ornamented,

ant, but perfect vessels are rare.

abund-

is

Some were

four-

teen inches in diameter, and often very thin.

Others
were of curious forms. The flint implements are
of the usual types, mixed with some forms new
to

They comprise arrows

science.

coarsest

and

finish

hornstone

material, lance-heads, knives,

many

scrapers, drills, &c.,

of which are

abundant

so

of the finest and

made

of the

our corniferous lime-

in

329

William Lakin was an old resident

of the villa<^e
and resided here till his death in
1864.
He was
the father of John Lakin, one
of the first merchants
of the village, and for many
years a prominent man
Wflham Lakin was Deputy Sheriff;
member of Assembly, and held the office of
Justice of the Peace
long time.

for a

Others of the early merchants were

David Lytle
and Isaac Hill, and of a later date,
John D. Norton,
Joseph Glass, Barrett & Brown, and
Toll, Lusk

&

Co.

stone.

In 1878, Mr. Justice Stephens, of

Van Buren,

in

working up a hemlock log, came to the marks of

a
cutting tool, outside of which were two hundred
and
fifty-four rings

of growth.

This would date back

over thirty years before the Onondagas are known to have received steel axes from
the French.
The wood is charred, according to the

Baptist Church of Memphis This

society
was first organized at Warners in
1815, with a
membership of about twenty, and known'
as the
Second Baptist Church of Camillus. At
that time

to 1624, a little

a large territory

Indian custom, and the several

tion, and from 1815 to until

1834 meetings were
held at the school houses and
private houses in
various places within the boundaries
of the church.
The earliest meetings, however, were held in
the
Warner Settlement school house. Among
the

with those of stone axes.

Buren, not

far

marks correspond
This was on Lot 2, Van

from the old stone fish-weir.

About

same time a similar cut was found in a tree in

Lysander overgrown with two hundred and forty

original

rings.*

a church edifice

village of Baldwinsville

which

on the south side of the Seneca River, is included in the town of Van Buren.
It was originally called "Macksville" from the
McHarries, the
lies

first

settlers.

bia,"

Both

"

Macksville

(the original village on

of the

river,)

"

Colum-

the Lysander side

have long since been

absorbed in

the flourishing village of Baldwinsville.

tion of the village situated in

"

and

Van Buren

That poris

well laid

out, occupies a beautiful site,

the

and contains some of

most desirable residence property within the

corporation.

MEMPHIS.
This village was formerly called Canton.
It is
near the southern line of the town of Van Buren,
on

this organiza-

members may be mentioned the Warners,

Bentleys, Weavers, Tabors and Marshalls.
In 1 834

the

That part of the

was embraced under

was built at a cost of $2,500 in

Canton, now Memphis, and for a long
period this
society enjoyed a prosperous and
flourishing condition.
Among the most prominent and influential
members who were added to the society at this time
were the Hills, Halsteds, Auyers, Glasses and
many
others whose names we are unable to
ascertain.

The
^

following pastors have served this church

at
times

dififerent

Rev. B. Dowsit, Rev.

J. P. Parsons, Rev. Ira
Dudley, Rev. T. Brown, Rev. Erastus Miner,
Rev
John Roscoe, Rev. L. C. Bates, Rev.
Johnston, Rev. J.
J. Fuller, Rev. N. Camp, Rev
DeWitt, Rev. Wm. A. Wells, Rev. B. Newton, Rev.
Present pastor Rev. Wm. A. Wells.
J. Smith.

M H

The

present membership numbers twenty-seven

the average attendance at

Sunday School,

It

New York Central Railroad.

has two churches, two hotels, one dry goods
and
grocery store, one canal grocery, two
wagon and
three blacksmith shops, four millinery
shops or

1818 in the town of Camillus, which

then embraced Van Buren, Elbridge, &c.
It was

stores, a postoffice

Memphis

the Erie Canal and the

and American Express office.

The postoffice was removed here from Ionia in
1828.
The name Canton was rejected by the department on account of there being
another Canton
m St. Lawrence county, and gradually it was
dropped as the

name

of the place,

Memphis being
now generally substituted in its stead.
The Hotels are Headquarters, by T. H.
Wilkes,
and Memphis House, by Lindsay
& Johnson.
:

*Noto^by Rev. W. M. Beauchamp,

Baldwinsville, N. V.

thirty.

The Christian Church at Memphis was

organized in

formerly located at " Ionia," but was removed to

The number of original memamong whom Elder Elijah

Shaw, Abraham Wood, Daniel Godfrey, John Cox
and Stephen Daniels were prominent. The first
bers

was

in 1868.

thirty-five,

house of worship was built at " Ionia," a half mile

or near that distance north of Memphis, in 1829, at
a cost of $1,200.
The second edifice was erected in

Memphis

The

in 1868,

following

as pastors

and cost $2,500.

named clergymen have

officiated

^\ CMg

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

various jobs of chopping cord

took

timber, &c., up to

wood,

being married December 28, 18

Van

ter of Elihu Peck, of

children, three sons

and

Martha, daugh-

17, to

He

Buren.

six daughters,

has had nine

seven of whom

and four daughters) are now living.

The story of Mr. Cornell's life may be briefly
told.
He has been a hard working, industrious,
(three sons

persevering man, having begun

life

without capital,

supported and raised a large and respectable family,

endured and overcome the privations and hardships

of pioneer

and through

life,

all

this has

maintained

for honesty and integrity eminently

worthy of the confidence and esteem in which he
is held by all who know him.
He has been for

a character

many

member

years a prominent

of the

Christian

Church.

for

by

but twenty acres

finally a

his

farm

in 1820,

having then

adding to this from time to time,

farm of one hundred and forty acres.

His health becoming

impaired, and being no longer able to work his farm,
he purchased a residence in the village of BaldMrs. Cornell died

in 1873.

and economy he has added

industry

his

largely to his original purchase of lands and erected

fine buildings,

ducing farms
has

having one of the finest grain-pro-

in this

section

He

of the country.

held the oftice of Overseer of the Poor four

years in his town, and enjoys in a large degree the

confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens, among

whom

he has lived an upright and exemplary

from boyhood, and

a

home

is

now

which he has spent

in

life

the quiet enjoyment of

in

fifty-two years of his

life.

Col. Gabriel Tappan was born in Morristown,

New Jersey, June 20th, 1783. He died August 4,
He came into the county February 18, 1796.
1865.

His

life

covered a period verging on eighty-three

He

years.

He moved upon
he had

Mr. Foster has been more successful than many,

felling

about the time of his marriage,

331

early immigrated to

and was one

of

its

Onondaga County

pioneer

first

settlers,

ing lived nearly seventy years

within

He was

of

the

Van Buren.

Supervisor

first

In

reelected by his neighbors to

fill

hav-

limits.

town of

the

many

he was

after years

its

that position.

times

He

was appointed one of the commissioners 1829) to

set off the town of Van Buren from the then large
town of Camillus. He was appointed by the Legislature as commissioner to carry out many important
(

winsville, to

which he removed

in 1875,

and the year

following sold his farm, thus freeing himself from

the cares and responsibilities of active business.

RussEL Foster was born

in the town of Pomand remained in that town about

three years, removing to the town of Van Buren

pey, July 24, 1806,

(then Camillus) with his parents,

east of

where he now

on his father's farm

when

resides.
till

who

twenty-one years of age^

feeling a desire to procure a

upon a career

settled a little

Here he remained

home and

enter

he purchased jointly with

220 acres of land, including
the present homestead, then a dense forest.
He
his brother

for himself,

Heman

and his brother set to work to clear the land, which

was an undertaking of no small magnitude, requiring energy, perseverance and physical endurance,

such as marked in an eminent degree the pioneers

country.

of the

had

The

training which Mr. Foster

received during his minority on his father's

farm, and his natural energy and determination, ad-

mirably fitted him for the work of carving out of

the unimproved wilderness the beautiful and comfortable
his toil

home which now in his old age rewards

and industry.
The two brothers worked to-

gether with a
years,

common

purpose and interest

when they divided

for

nine

the farm, each taking one

He

trusts.

acted as arbitrator in numerous cases

among men. He did much for

Onondaga County in ameliorating the condition of its roads, building anew many
bridges, and urging on new settlements in Vanto adjust difficulties

the improvement of

Buren, which to-day are the gardens of the great

New York. He conceived the idea which

State of

was most

satisfactorily carried

bridge across

"Dead Creek"

out of building the

flats

northern part of the town, which

came

towards

in after

the

years be-

of inestimable value to the farmers of the

western portion of

Van Buren.

He

did perhaps as

any other man in building up the interests

and improving the condition of the now thriving
village of Baldwinsville.
He was foremost in securing and putting to good use the valuable water
privileges which Baldwinsville now enjoj's, he having constructed, through the assistance of John Mc-

much

as

Harrie and Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin, the dam across

With his own
the Seneca River at an early day.
ax he opened nearly

fifty

dense wilderness, many

miles of road

through a

places through swamps and

In 1833, he represented the

over other barriers.

hundred and ten acres.

In December, 1827, Mr. Foster was married to
Margaret Hall, who lived only sixteen months.
He

Assembly District of Onondaga County in the

and his record as a legislator was
Assembly

married Miss Lucinda Vanyea, his present wife, in

took a very active part

October, 1830.

country.

First

eminently

satisfactory

He was

to
in

his

constituents.

He

the military affairs of the

veteran of the war of 1812.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

332

Two

hundreii of his fellow-men called him out to

serve as their Captain

He

the war of J8l2 and "13.

in

Oswego and

served his country faithfully at

Subsequently

elsewhere as Captain of the militia.

he received the title of Colonel, and

was the head of a militia regiment

His

familiarity

with

military

creditable, he having received a

education
five

for

the

times.

For

for

many

in

the county.

matters was

years

most

very good military

a period

of sixty-

years he was an active business man.

Lydia McHarrie in about the year

1805, by whom he had twelve children, seven of
whom are now living. When he first came to VanBuren, he located on "Dead Creek, and occupied
for his wilderness home a rude brush tent, and

He

married

"

was made of hemlock boughs laid on the

His food was salted raw pork and bread.
ground.
his bed

His night visitors were

His companion was his a.\.
howling wolves, varied by the frequent visitations of

He lived

panthers, bears, &c.

great rebellion, and no

to see the close of the

man was more

gratified than

he when Abraham Lincoln read his famous Emancipation Proclamation, announcing to forty millions

was forever abolished in the

United States.
He was liberal, kind to the poor
and it can be said of him that "he made the wilderness
blossom as the rose," and kept pace with the foremost men of his time in agricultural improvements,

of people that slavery

valuable to himself and to his neighbors as well.

He

gave to the orphans, and his home was always

thrown open to the distressed and needy. He
died in Syracuse, and his remains are interred in

the Baldwinsville

Cemetery the very ground he

had given to the village many years before.

LAY

Clay was formed from Cicero April 16, 1827,

and named in honor of the distinguished statesman,
Henry Clay. It is the central town upon the northern

tree, for

so the British had secured their prisoners.

After the Revolutionary war he came here and

spent his

life,

and was buried on the

Mr.

McGee

elevated above the level of Oneida Lake.

Oneida River forms the northern, and Seneca River
The soil is chiefly clay and
the western boundary.

was

a clearing without a shrub or tree,

little

visited this

first

covered with grass,

for

When

spot.

but

Its surface is quite flat,

border of the county.

place in 1780, there

handsomely
more than a

a distance of

The

mile along the banks of the rivers.

spot had

swampy

often been appropriated to the great councils of the

which is covered with decayed vegetable

matter and peat beds, the latter being to a consider(.See Geology of the
able extent worked for fuel.

Iroquois Confederacy, and here Dekanissora, Sade-

kanaghte and Garangula often addressed the braves

of the Hurons, Adirondacks and Abenaquis, and

County.

the French and English met in these distinguished

sandy loam, with the exception of the

light,

portion,

Much
hended

of the early history of this

in

the

town

of Cicero.

separate organization

it

town

compreAt the time of its

is

contained less than seven

hundred inhabitants. The first white settler in the

town then included in Lysander, was Patrick McGee, at Three River Point, in 1793.
In 1798
I

Adam Coon

settled in the northeast corner of the

town; Simeon Baker on the Seneca River,

in

1799;

John Lynn near the center of the town, in 1808.

Since that the town has settled somewhat rapidly.
Joshua Kinne and family settled in the town in
1807; Elijah Pinckney and others the same year.
In 1793, Patrick

McGee

erected a log cabin, (the

Three River Point. The

place had been selected by him in 1780, while a
prisoner in the hands of the British, and on his way
They camped here all night, and Mr.
to Canada.
McGee was very much charmed by the beauty of the
first

house

place.

in

town,

It is said

at

that he selected

it

while tied to a

chiefs, orators

and diplomatists equal to themselves

and skill.

in all that pertained to sagacity

Jacob

now

Young,

I.

and

Sheffield

Ira

respectively aged eighty-five

years, were

among

brother,

his

to eighty-seven

the early settlers of the town, in

1814.

The

first

settlers,

previous to clearing the lands,

procured their breadstufls from Jackson's mills, near

After they had been successful in raisJamesville.
ing their

own

grain, they

went there

the mills were erected at Syracuse.

tomary

for

men

to carry a grist

to mill,
It

till

was cus-

of a bushel or a

bushel and a half on their backs a distance of twelve

or fourteen miles through the

guided only by blazed

trees,

woods

to these mills,

and they would occupy

two or three days in the performance of the journey.

After roads were cut through, a neighbor would take
the grists of a whole neighborhood upon an ox sled
or cart and carry

them

to the

mills.

By

general

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

arrangement and

common

consent this service was

performed by rotation throughout the whole settleIt never required less than two days to go
ment.

and back.
Onondaga Hollow was then the postoffice at
which letters were received and delivered, and perto mill

sons visiting the postofifice brought the mail matter

for all the

The

neighbors.
postoffice

Of

a source of individual wealth.

Clay

late years

has greatly improved in agricultural and horticultural

development, and

may be

regarded as one of

the richest farming sections of the county.

log school house,

built at

the

first

in

the town, was

Clay Corners, now Euclid, about 1808, and

a teacher

named Hall taught the

At

school.

first

was erected
Moses Kinne

Clay, near the river, a log school house

and a frame one in 1812.

taught here, having previously kept a school

in 1809,

own house.
The first physician
second. Dr.

Church

conversation with an aged Indian

this burial-place of his ancestors

in
;

ber

of his tribe.

The same gentleman

exhumed, many

town was Dr. Olcott

which
were pierced with bullet-holes and marked with

moved.

Hosea Crandall became a resident of the town of

in 1822.
At a family reunion held at his

Clay

house on the fourth of September, 1872, many old

settlers were present, and some interesting facts
were elicited which are worth preserving in our
history.
" Ezra Crandall, of Sherburne, Chenango county,
N. Y., brother of Hosea, was the oldest of his relatives present, aged eighty-four.
The oldest invited
guest, not a member of the family, was Jabez Harrison, aged eighty-six.
" The following are the names of residents of
Clay, with their respective ages, over fifty, and their
time of residing in town
:

Resident 32 years. Dr. Jas. F. Johnson, age 84.

do
Jacob I. Young,
Samuel N. Burleigh,

John

Lints,

Tobias Shaver,
William Verplank,
A. J. Soule,
Cornelius Mogg,

James

Little,

Hial Crandall,

Harlow Eno,

taken there, especially eels

abundance and superior

At Oak Orchard

in

great

quality.

Reefs, near the bank

of the

Oneida River, are evidences of an extensive InThese reefs were a common

fording place for the Indians and formerly were
much resorted to by them for fishing. During the
Revolution or the French War, there was a masdian burying ground.

sacre of the Indians at this place.

by a resident of the town, that

53

of

The Indian graves here have been

desecrated and multitudes of relics found and re-

the

fish

has seen

scores of Indian skulls

afterwards Dr. Sterling and

first

the

to visit

long there

musing silence, and that this Indian related to

him the tradition of the massacre of a large num-

in his

town meeting for Clay was held in

Andrew Johnson was chosen the first
April, 1827.
Supervisor, and Jacob Terrill, Town Clerk.
The first saw mill was erected in the northeast
part of the town by Abraham Young, on a small
stream which affords sufficient water only in spring
and fall. There are no streams in the town of
sufficient capacity or fall to afford permanent waterpower, except on the Oneida river, which forms the
northern boundary, which has two good waterpowers one at Caughdenoy and one at Oak Orchard.
The former of these places has been noted
for

sit

in

Dr. Soule.

The

who used
and

sabrecuts.

was established in the west

part of the town and was called " West Cicero,"
about the year 1825, and Nathan Teall was appointed Postmaster. He was suceeded by William Hale
Since the organization of the
and James Little.
town it has been named " Clay."
The first and most important article of trade was
salt barrels, which were manufactured
in large
quantities and taken to the salt works.
They
brought a fair profit and in many instances proved
first

333

We
in

are informed

1843 he had a

"

The following

are the

not residents of Clay

names

of those

who were

Judge John L. Stevens,

Resident of Cicero, N. Y., Wm. Gregor,
Otsego, N. Y., C. C. Warner,
do
Onondaga, Rev. J. C. Seward,
do
Lysander, P. I. Quackenbush,
do
Baldwinsville, Ira Gilchriss,
do

George Crandall, grandfather of Hosea Cranwas 103 years old when he died. He had two
sons that were over 100 years at the time of their
death, and one daughter who lived to be 116 years
old.
Hosea Crandall's mother, sister of the above,
was loi years and six months when she died. Laban
Crandall, father of Hosea, came to this State about
"

dall,

ninety years ago, and married Esther Crandall.

Their children living are Ezra, aged eighty years,
Hosea, eighty-three years, Ira, eighty-four years,
George, seventy-seven years, Olive, seventy-five
years, Tacy, seventy-one years, Sarah, sixty-nine
Crandall's posterity numbered (all
the time of the first death in the family
The first death was about ten
fifty-two persons.
Hosea Crandall is the father of eight
years ago.
Through
children, five daughters and three sons.
years.

told) at

Hosea

HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

334

industry and economy he became the owner of

three hundred acres of land, all of which he gave to
liis children, except the homestead."

village

is

situated a

west of the center

little

of the town of Clay; distant from Syracuse eleven

miles, six

Baldwinsvillc, and two and

miles from

a half miles from Clay Station, on the Syracuse

Among

Northern Railroad.

the old settlers

still

Hosea Crandall, John Patric, John

Ainsley and Gideon Palmer.
Latin Soule, grandfather of Harvey L. Soule, of
thc'l'iatt House, in this village, was one of the first
settlers.
He was the father of Judge Nathan Soule,
who came here from Montgomery County in 1831 and
was one of the most prominent men for many years.
Judge Soule had been Member of Congress from
the Montgomery District, Judge of the County
residing here are

He

Court, and Representative

in

represented this county

the Legislature and was

in

the Legislature.

Associate Judge of the Court of

He

Common

Pleas.

postoffice

was established

at

Luclid

Andrew Thompson was Postmaster

till

in

business

mercantile

till

i860,

when he

removed to Syracuse, where he died about 1868.

He was succeeded by his brother, Levi Freeman,
for years Supervisor and a leading man in the town.
He removed to Syracuse and died about 1870.
Other carlv merchants were K. L. Soule, Blossom
& Dyckcman, Stone & Daniels.
The first school at the village was taught by
Jared Pakcr in the old school house south of the
hotel
It was the only place of worship at an early
day.
A Union School has lately been organized
by the consolidation of Districts Nos. 4 and 17 of
Clay
is

Principal,

Mrs.

Potsford.

soon to be erected on the

new

J.

H. Parrus, Justice

site of the old

school

of

the Peace at liuclid. has

Cornelius Mogg.
Cyrus C. Warner. Andrew Johnson, Wm. Warner.
Japhcth Kinne and Moses Kinne, were also Justices,
the last mentioned one of the first in the town.
two Churches Paplist and
Euclid contains
Methodist Episcopal a cheese factory, one hotel,
three blacksmith shops, two stores, a steam mill,
the office for eight years.

union school and postofTice.

J. W. Coughtry. present Super\'isor of the town,
resides at Cigarville, or Clay

Postmaster.

life,

Judge Nathan Soule.

Present pastor, Rev.

McKendree Shaw.

There is also connected with the Euclid charge a

M. E. Church at Morgan Settlement, three miles
south on the Liverpool road.
1835.

the

Morgan.

It

was founded about

founder being

princijial

They have

Abram

Rev.

good church

Station,

Bai'Tist CiiL'Kcii AT EucLiD.

edifice

and

where he

is

Built

The

1868,

in

was organized about 1845 by Rev. Horatio Warner, and

a cost of about

at

$3,000.

subsequently held service

and
their

at

school houses

in difi'ercnt

house of worship.

Deacon

Patchin, and others, were

There

church.

is

among

II.

the early

the

recent

mem-

have been

pastors

A. Beman, Rev. Mr. Smith.

F. Johnson was a prominent member
Rev.

Carter,

Eckert, L.

parsonage connected with the

Among

Elijah

W.

Francis Carter. Hiram Leonard,

bers.

society

the Unitarian Church, until they erected

Dr. James

S.

in

the early

organization.

The church

at

Syracuse by Rev.

]>rc.sent
J.

is

being supplied from

W. Taggart.

BELGIUM.

building

house.

held

Schoolcraft. Jacob Siterley. John Flagler. Cornelius

Cronkhite, and, during the latter years of his

1827.

1S32, and

was succeeded by Nathan Soule. Jefterson Freeman was the first merchant in 1S31, and did the
principal

Dr. E.

Hosea Crandall, Judge Nathan Soule,

Moses Kinne and others being the builders. The
church was used as a place of worship for other
denominations til! about 1S50, when the Methodist
society purchased it.
Rev. William Morse was the
first regular pastor and was succeeded by Rev. Mr.
Adkins, Rev. J. D. Adams, under whose preaching the church became prosperous, and has grown
into a large and influential organization.
Among
the prominent members were the late Daniel
Soule,

regular services.

died in 1858

The

by the Chris-

built

tians or Unitarians about forty years ago.

L.

EUCLID.
This

Methodist Episcopal Church, Euclid.

church edifice was originally

The bridge across the Seneca Ri-ver at this point

was first built by the Sodus Bay and Westmoreland
Turnpike Company, erected but not completed in
The turn|)ike was not made, and Colonel J.
1824
L. Voorhees obtained a charter in his

own name,

and finished the bridge, which was a toll bridge till

The
1843, when it was rebuilt as a free bridge.
State Legislature appropriated

ing the expense, and

S850 towards defray-

the towns of Lysandcr and

Clay each J 1,000, the whole cost being $2,850.

The village is situated on both sides of the SenThere were only four dwelling houses
eca River.
here

in 1827.

In

1848, there

and one hundred and

were twenty

eight,

sixty inhabitants, three dry

:;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

goods stores, four grocery and provision stores, two
hotels, three blacksmith shops, one tailor and one
shoe shop, and the famous " Oriental Balm Pill

employed a great part of the

fifty persons.
James Little's was
182S on the Lysander side, but

manufactor}', which

year from thirty to

the only family in

others settled there about that time, viz

Henry

S.

McMechan, Oliver Bigsbee, Sylvanus Bigsbee, Garnett C. Sweet, Rev. Wm. M. Willett, a son of Col.
Marin us Willett, of Revolutionary renown, who
occupied a

lot

drawn by

which was

his father,

wards transferred to John Stevens and others.

Adams had

Dr.

here in 183S, and Phillip Far-

a store

The

rington in 1831.

after-

first

Rev. William Ottman, Rev. G. W.

Hemperly, Rev. Levi Schell, Rev. D. W. Lawrence.

Diefendorf,

The
ance

present membership

The church was very

paired, with

now one

is

modern

Bigsbee

James

1829. and

1828

in

Little

&

Co.,

Jonas

opened a

also

Brewster, in

C.

The Wesleyan

in 1830.

Methodist Society erected their house of worship

The early physicians were Dr. A.

P. Adams, Dr. Hays McKinley, Dr. James V.
Kendall, Dr. Daniel W. Bailey, Botanic physician.
The village, we believe, has never had a lawyer.
here in 1832.

It

has a Union Free School, formed in 1849 from

District,

No.

10, in

Lysander, and No.

one dry goods and grocery

shops, one

wagon shop, one

grocery and

11 in Clay;

two blacksmith
one harness shop,

store,
hotel,

postofifice.

Hon. James Little, who represented this county

in the Assembly in 1848-50, settled here in 1830.
He was for many years Justice of the Peace, member of the Board of Supervisors, and was several
times elected Justice of Sessions.
22,

He

died Jan.

1877.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church, (English,) is

located near the eastern center of the town

of Clay, about one mile north of Clay Station, about

a quarter of a mile from

church

the town.

in

Young P.

It

O.

It is

the oldest

was organized as early as

same neighborhood. The following are

the original members, viz Jacob I. Young,

1826, in this

a few of

who

is

still

lie,

also

still

eighty-seven years old

living,

Ottman, Richard

Jacob
John Sammers, John AinsJohn Becker, Henry Becker
;

Hiller,

living

and others.

The church was reorganized in 1S32, by Rev. Wm.

Ottman, and the house of worship built and dedicated between 1832 and '34.
The present valuation of the property

Pastors

Rev.

is

attend-

eighteen.

neatly and tastefully re-

internal improvements, and

is

of the neatest and most comfortable

country churches

in this part of the county.

During the last four years, forty-eight have been

added to the membership, and the church is now in
a flourishing condition.

During two years, between

1866 and 1874, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Mr.

Emmons,

of Syracuse.

OENTERVILLE.
This village

is

Sylvanus

ninety-three

frame building was the

House on the east side of the river, erected in

Japheth Kinne erected the first dwelling
1825.
house in 1825 James Little, the second in 1829.
The first school kept here was by Perry Eno in
The first merchant was Martin Luther, in
1827.
1828.

is

Sunday School one hundred

at

Toll

stock of goods

335

about $3,000.

William Ottman, Rev. Benjamin

pleasantly situated on the plank

road between Syracuse and Cicero.

the town of Cicero and part
settler

was

Eli

Alfred Tilley,

dent of the
this place

in

Part of

it is

The

Clay.

in

first

Myers about 1826. The next was

1827.
John Slosson, now a resi-

in

Ward

F"irst

of Syracuse, settled

and the Cicero Corners,

in

between

1814.

James Millard settled on the plains west of here

and burnt tar of pine knots and roots.

in 1810,

Asa H. Stearns kept

tho "old red hotel

" for

ten

Charles Cotton was also one of

the earliest hotel keepers.
There are now two
or twelve years.

hotels in the place

Centreville

Hotel, kept by J.
House, by D. HolThe place contains two churches, two
lenbeck.
general stores, three wagon shops, two blacksmith
shops and one physician Dr. C. H. Whiting. Its

H.

Miles, and the Clarendon

first

physician was L.

also a lodge of free

B. Skinner,

M. D.

It

has

and accepted Masons, a Union

Graded School, and a neatl}' kept rural cemetery.

The ground for the cemetery was given by Peter
Weaver, and a man by the name of Blewe was the
first

buried there.

Peter

Weaver

built the

"old red tavern."

The

was originally kept at the " Dean Tavern ;" James Wallen was the first Postmaster.
Rowland Stafford, who died of cholera at Watertown in 1832, was one of the first settlers.
postofifice

Plankroad Baptist Church,

Clay.

Meetings

were held at the residence of Jabez Grodavent by

Elder William H. Delano as early as 1844, and for
three years he continued holding meetings in residences, barns and taverns, until 1847, when the
covenant was adopted and society organized which
comprised the following named persons Earl P.
Salisbury, James Pierce, Mary C. Smith, Nancy
:

Slocum, Clarissa Delano, Kilburn Ives and Laura

Ives.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

336

The church
pastors

has

under

been

the

following

Protestant exiles from the vicinity of Londonderry,

who

Rev. William H. Delano, Rev. Cyrus Negus,

Rev. Abner Maynard, Rev. Myron Newell. Rev A.
Graham, Rev S. S. UidwcU then for some time
they were sujiplicd by W. C. I'hillips and Rev. I. H.
Beman of Clay then Revs. H. A Sizer and J. W.
:

sought

America

freedom

religious

at the close of

on

the

of

soil

Stewart

the last century.

received such educational advantages as the select

schools of those days afforded, aided by his parents

who had enjoyed

superior educational advantages.

Putnam supplied

The church

when

until 1875,

was

tor Rev. \Villiam Steiger

edifice

the present pas-

1855 at a cost

in

of ^1,500, a neat frame building.

The

membership

present

chased a piece of the wilderness of those days, and

removed

now they

occupants of a neat, commodious church.

are the

Trus-

John Redhead, C. N. Taylor and Homer Dun-

tees,

ham.

Centkeville Lodge No. 648,

&

first

A. M.
organized and worked under

a dispensation, from

January, 1S66, to July, 1867,

This lodge was

when

a charter

W. M.
Palmer. J. W.

were Isaac Baum,

F.

The

was received.

With

and surveying.

1876, at

Sabbath

rebuilt in

S700, and

of

practical engineering

Superin-

tendent of Sabbath School, C. N. Taylor.

an additional expense

the age of si.xteen com-

he removed to Westerloo. Albany Co.,

where he married Catherine VanDerwerken. and
continued his residence there until 1830. whenhc

si.xty.

si.\teeen.

The church was thoroughly

menced

aptitude for mathematics

at

his parents

is

School attendance one hundred

early developed an

and the sciences, and

called.

was erected

He

charter officers

Onondaga County, where he

to Clay.

by unremitting

reared a

toil

home

for

pur-

himself and

family.
Although comparatively poor, his home
was always supplied with the best and most useful
books and periodicals within his reach, and he continued his studies to the time of his death.
Methodical in business and study, he was one of the best
read men of his day.
Being possessed of a strong
will and fine constitution he could devote himself
to

study during the evening without visibly impair-

H. Carpenter, S.
W. Joseph
Regular meetings are
held in the second story of the building situated on
the corner of Plank Road and Church street, every

course he was affable and generous, in his religious

Saturday evening.

views he was stern and uncompromising

L. Harris Brown, W. M.
Present officers
George Stevens, S. W. Ambrose Howard, J. W.
Hiram W. Bailey. S. D. Henry D. Randall, J. D.
Hermon Graham, Secretary Dr. M. H. BIynn,

or business he "

C.

Newton

Centkeville Union School,

in

District No. 12,

Clay and part

in

Cicero,

was organized as a Union Graded School, in 1869,

upon the completion of the present school building,
a frame two-story building erected at a cost of three
dollars.

knew no such word

There are two departments with

an enrollment of

ninety-five scholars.
Present
School Board are A. H. Lawrence, Samuel Ferge-

son and Stephen Van Hcusen

the latter has been
Trustee ever since the organization of the Union
School.
Charles E. Jewell is Principal.

in

sympathies were always on the side of right

while his hospitable

sought

it.

BiOGi^APHicjiL Sketches,

work
His
and

to

who

all

welcome there as the

SCOTT.

caused an early breaking down

a brief illness he died at his

age of

N. Y., April 2d, 1800, of Scotch-Irish parentage,

his father, Hugh Scott, being one of the many

the

upon

in

health, and after

home

in

Clay

at

the

His widow continued her residence

fifty.

which occurred

their farm until her death

in

1877.

MOSELEV DUNHAM.
Dunham,

the

grandfather of

Moseley Dunham, emigrated from Windham. Conn.,

in the year 1795, and established the clothiers'
trade at the red mills in Manlius, about a mile south

Manlius Square

he also bought a wild

lot of

land of about one hundred and thirty acres, three

Pompcy

miles southeast of
subject of this sketch was born at Albany,

in

advancement of intelligence and morality. But no

one was keener than he to detect insincerity or
ignorance, and he who mistook his calling always
Incessant labor and study
found a cold reception.

of

STEWART

home was open

none were so

Deacon Daniel

The

as fail."

Ministers of the Gospel and others engaged

B. Randall, Tyler.

comprising several districts

thousand

In social inter-

office.

but never sought place or

Treasurer

In politics he was an earnest Whig,

ing his health.

Dunham,

his son.

the year 1780.

was born

When

age, his father sent

Hill.
in

Captain Samuel

Windham.

Conn., in

he was seventeen years of

him alone

to

work and

clear

up

*yfn.{ry^(ir'

y^d/r^J^^-f^

RESIDENCE

TRENCH

FA

iiS!^it^:^^f*

Cla/, Onondaga

County n.y

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

new

his

lot of

From where he

Pompey.

land in

boarded he went daily for two years by marked trees

to his work, one mile south, clearing the land and

Then his two

up a log house.
came and kept house for him for five years

putting

He

himself and wife and twin sons, may be seen elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Dunham is a thorough farmer, a good citizen, and deservedly enjoys the esteem of all who

know him.

then at the age of twenty-five married a Miss

Parmarlee of Cazenovia
his

sisters

longer.

337

years

his wife survived

him, and he

left

a large

family of children.

His son Moseley Dunham, was born on the old

Pompey, September 17, 1805, and lived

with his father until he was twenty-five years of
age, working the farm on shares after he was of

farm

in

age.

Was

Remsen, Oneida County, N. Y., on

1, and was a
son of French and Anna [Hinckley] Fairchild.
born

in

the twenty-fourth of September, 181

When

four years old he moved with his mother to

Herkimer County he received a good common
school education, and remained at home until twenty;

one years of age.

Mary Tanner,

He
whom
ley,

FRENCH FAIRCHILD

he continued to reside on

farm up to his death, at the age of sixty-nine

married Sarah

then

Baker of Pompey, by
Daniel Mosedied from being
1831

they had three children, viz

November

born

10,

September 24, 1834. The other two,

Horace S. and Homer were twins, born June 24,
They were reared upon their father's farm,
1833.
and both married at the same time, March 7, 1855.
Horace S. married William Weller's daughter, of
Clay.
She died October 6, 1872, leaving three
sons, born as follows:
Walter M., July 8, 1858;
Spencer M., April 22, 1867 Albert H., March 12,
On March 20, 1873, he again married Mary,
1872.
scalded,

daughter of

Thomas Weller

have had one daughter, born November

Homer
May 4,

They

of Lysander.
14,

1874.

She died

married Harriet Crane of Clay.

1870, leaving two children, born as follows

Cora E., October

On January 4, 1836, he married

daughter of William and Mary

Tanner, of the town of Schuyler, Herkimer county,

N. Y.
She was born April 23, 18 17, and has
proved one of the best of helpmeets.

much

child attributes

who were born

Mr. Fair-

of his success to her prudent

and wise management.

was seven children, viz

The
:

fruit

William,

of their marriage

Ransom and New-

Herkimer county, and Hermon, George W., Mary A., and Hiram G., who
were born in Onondaga County. All of the children are living and enjoying good health.
After
ton,

in

his marriage, Mr. Fairchild purchased a small farm

Herkimer county. In 1846 he sold it and removed

town of Salina, Onondaga Co., where he settled
on a farm of one hundred and fifty. acres, formerly
owned by his grandfather, Gorshorn Hinckley.
in

to the

At

Milton A., December

the close of seven years' residence upon this

1856;
On January 2,
13, 1864; died in February, 1865.
1871, he was again married to Sarah, daughter of

farm, he sold

Asa Chapman.

he now resides.

Moseley Dunham lived for five years on the farm

which was the birth-place of Grace Greenwood,
and on March lo, 1835, moved to the town of

Mr. Fairchild has been a Republican since the

In religious faith, he is a
zealous Methodist, and has been for over forty j'ears

25,

Clay, about six miles north of Syracuse,

now

resides and

owns

where he

a fine farm of two hundred

it and removed to
the town of Clay
where he bought the farm of one hundred and fortyseven acres known as the Grover farm, upon which

formation of that party.

a staunch and liberal

He

is

of the

M. E. Church.

a quiet and unostentatious man, a good hus-

and seventy acres, with residences

band and

sons, a view of

him.

for himself and

which together with the portraits of

member

and

father,

is

respected by

all

who know

CICERO.
Cicero was

originally

Township number

six of the

1827.

Towards the south part

Military Tract, and at the organization of the county

extensive

was included in the town of Lysander. In 1807, it

was erected into a town by itself, and included the
present town of Clay till the latter was set off in

acres, with

54*

swamp
but

sidered, except
to

little

in

of the town

is

an

containing about four thousand

timber, which has been con-

a few spots, incapable of recovery

purposes of cultivation.

It is

a bog underneath

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

338

covered by a thick moss, over which a

walk

the dry part of the season, and

in

a sharp pole

may be thrust
The deposit is

man can

into

which

depth of seven or

to the

Ryal Bingham settled at Fort Brewerton in

subsequently removed to Salma, where
1 79 1, and
he was appointed the first Justice of the Peace.

a black decayed vegeupon a bed of marl. It is not

at all unlikely that this whole swamp may yet be
drained and become the most valuable land in the
country, as its elevation is twenty-five feet above the

All the first settlements in the town of Cicero

were made along the Oneida River and Lake.
John Leach settled at Cicero Corners in 1802, and

surface of the lake.

on the lake shore,

There are no streams of water of any note in the

town, except the Oneida Lake and River on its
northern boundary, and the Chittcnango Creek
lying along its eastern border.
On this Creek is

lot

eight

feet.

table matter resting

an excellent water-power at Hridgeport, part of

which i^ in Cicero and part in Madison county.
The surface of the town is usually level, the pre-

for several

Elijah

years kept a tavern

Loomis was the

small log cabin.

in a

South Bay,
where he purchased a

first settler at

in 1804,

on which he resided.

He

was a Revolutionary

soldier

pension from the Government.

near him the same year.

settled

neighbors were

at

Brewerton,

Captain John Shepard,

lutionary war,

Their nearest
miles distant.

five

who

drew Lot No.

and received a

Martin Woodruff

served

ti, of

in

the Revo-

the township of

sandy loam, and capable

of a great variety of productions.
The town was

Cicero, lying on the lake shore east of Brewerton.

heavy growth of timber,

chiefly pine, hemlock, beech and sugar-maple, with
considerable cedar and tamarack in the swamjiv

part, cleared

vailing soil being of a rich

originally covered with a

portions.

many

Cicero and Clay furnished for

years a large

proportion of the barrels used for packing salt at

Geddes, Liverpool and

Salina,

Syracuse.

Such,

indeed, was the attention given to coopering that

long time the farming

were in a
great measure neglected.
At length, however, the
timber being exhausted, an impulse was given to
the development of the resources of the soil.
This
for a

interests

has been followed up with an enterprise and a success which have made the town one of the first

farming sections of Onondaga County.

are well improved, and the buildings

The

show

lands

thrift

and

prosperity.

first

white settler

a Mr.

De.xler, a

Fort

Brewerton

the town of Cicero was

in

who

settled opposite

Mr.

Oliver

Stevens,

Judge John L. Stevens,

settled at

blacksmith,
in

father of the late

1790.

He

the fort in 1789

south side of the

was an Indian

river, to

which he removed

trader,

in

Mr. Stevens
and was induced to come
in

1813.

here through the representations of his two brothers

who had been soldiers at the garrison from 1756 to

He

1758.

carried on an extensive trade with the

Fort Schuyler being at

mart west of Albany. Mr.
Stevens also kept a boatman's tavern, furnishing

that

and cultivated the

upon it till his death,

lot,

sold

and with his

family lived
in 1824.
He was
the only man who occupied a lot in this town for
which he served.
He was the first Justice of the
Peace in the town in 1804.
The first town meeting for the town of Cicero,
(then including Clay,) was held at the house of
rest,

Patrick McGee, at Three River Point, in 1807.

Moses Kinne was Moderator Thomas Pool was
;

elected Supervisor, and Elijah Loomis,

Isaac

Cody was

erected a store at

Town

Clerk.

merchant in town.
He
Cicero Corners in 181 8, filled it
the

first

with goods, and did quite an extensive business.

Samuel Warren opened the next store in 1825.

Daniel Olcott was the first regular physician
located in the town in 1817, and had an extensive
practice.
Alexander Cook, Esq settled in the
town as the first practicing attorney, in 1841.
In
1820 a postoffice was established at the Corners,
The mail was then carried
Isaac Cody. Postmaster.
once a week on horseback.

in furs, peltry, &c,.

time the great

supplies and other necessaries to those

gated the lake and

BREWERTON.

cultivated a garden on the

few years, and died there

Indians

early day he took possession of his

Eaklv Settlements.

The

At an

rivers.

He sometimes

winters at Salina, and there in

John L. Stevens, was born.

who

navi-

spent his

1802 his son. Hon.

The

crossing of the Oneida River at the foot of

the lake was a famous fishing ground of the Onon-

daga Indians and the crossing place of the great

north and south trail leading from the mouth of
Salmon River to the Onondaga country. Here the
Indians had a famous fishing village prior to the
erection of any fort at this point, called Techiroguen,

and the number of remains found in a mound near

the sand-bank, on the north side of the river east
of the plank road, show that it must have been a
LeMoyne
settlement of considerable permanence.
mentions it in 1654 as on the south side of the river,
while

Charlevoix,

in

map

published

in

1744,

RESIDENCE

or

Wm. H.CARTER, BRtWRTON ,/V.y.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

locates

it

on the north side

time between these dates

to the north side
this place says

sepulchre

for

slain in battle,

dead

for the

showing that at some

had been changed

its site

Clark speaking of

of the river.
" It

must have been the place of

thousands.
Whether these were
or whether it has been a depository
:

time of peace,

in

not easy to de-

is

termine, but from the fact that they are the bones
of adult persons, and apparently

of males,

all

it

is

highly probable that they are the relics of the vic-

tims of war"

Fort Brewerton.

The

foot of

Oneida Lake was a station of great

importance not only to the Indians but also at a

later period

the French and English.

to

the

Mohawk

It

was

Oswego

the key to the great thoroughfare from

to

tained their consent to build a fort in the

country
that the

but there

French ever

is

Onondaga
to show

no evidence going

built or

occupied a

fort at this

point.

The

octagonal

and known as

"

fort

seen here by the early settlers,

Fort Brewerton." was built by the

English during the French War.

In 1758, General

Stanwix had erected a strong fortress at what is

now Rome, N. Y. It was at the point where the
portage was

made from

the

Mohawk

across to

The

was ^266,400. Also a stockade

enclosure was erected at the same time as a defense
against attacks by the Indians at the foot of the
lake.
After the reduction of Fort Frontenac by
this fort

Colonel Bradstreet in 1758, he retook possession of

the forts at Oswego, which were again garrisoned.

At

summer proceeded

to Niagara and Detroit.

Fort Brewerton was a favorite resting place

this time.

General Abercrombie

design of erecting a substantial

the entrance to Oneida

formed

fort to

Lake from the

the

command

west, as

it

was

commanded on the east by Fort Stanwi.x.

detachment was accordingly sent from Oswego
the following year to cooperate with one from Fort
Stanwix and Fort Brewerton was erected and
named in honor of Captain Brewerton, whose name
appears in the papers of that day as an active and
meritorious officer.
It was garrisoned during part

the diary of Sir William Johnson and other English

of that period.
When the fort was built
by the English it was considered of great consequence to the safety and protection of the frontier.
oflficers

The

was in a good state of preservation when

seen by the early settlers.
Its site is on the
north side of the river, a short distance northwest
of the present Fort Brewerton House.
fort

first

quarter of a mile east of the fort was built at

the same time a mole of huge rocks extending about

ten rods into the river, at the end of which was
placed a sentry-box, where a sentinel was continually

posted to watch for enemies passing up the

From
mand

this position the

a view of the river for a considerable distance.

Within the enclosure and around the old fort

have been found quite a number of relics warlike

implements, blacksmith's forges, wrought nails, the

remains of chimneys constructed of small, hard, red
brick, &c.
Many such relics were found by the
early settlers, and have been

exhumed from time

The Old Block-House.

On

the

s'lte

now occupied by

House, within the memory

stood an old dilapidated

"

of

the Fort Brewerton

many now

house had no connection with the old fort occupied

during the French war, but was built at a later
period for defense against an

anticipated

French War, in
During the Pontiac War, it was again garrisoned by a company under Captain Mungo Camp1762.

till

the close of the

attack

upon the settlement by the British and Indians during the disturbances upon the western frontiers,
from

790

to 1794.

The

garrison at Oswego.

British at this time held the

For the purpose of defending

Onondaga county, block-houses

the settlements in

posed points, one at Salina and another

ton.
Mr. Oliver Stevens, father of the

small garrison

living,

block-house." This block-

summer of 1759 by Lieutenant-Colonel BulL

and was made a depot of military stores with a

to

time.

already

of the

river,

eye of the sentinel could com-

were erected

for

the troops passing and repassing from Fort Stanwix

to Oswego and Niagara, and is often mentioned in

Wood

Creek, connecting thence with Oneida Lake.

cost of

bell, of the 5Sth Highlanders, and was a place of

deposit for considerable military stores.
In the
spring of 1764, Capt. Thomas Morris was stationed
here for a short time, and during the followinp-

Valley, and during the struggles for

this territory between the English and the French

was regarded by both nations as a desirable point to
be occupied by a strong fortification. The French,
through their missionaries, had gained some influence over the Iroquois, and Frontenac had ob-

339

J.

L.

at

what were considered the most exat Brewerlate

Judge

Stevens, under commission from Governor

Clinton, erected the latter, and

it

was made a de

pository of arms and munitions of war while the

trouble lasted, and was afterwards used as a dwell-

ing house

removed

till

to

181

1,

the military stores having been

Albany.

The

old block-house had a

substantial gateway on the side next the river and

was enclosed in pickets made of logs about twelve

feet high and surrounded by a trench.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

340
Patrick

McGee

erected the

first

Brewerton

settled at

in 1791

and

frame house, which was occupied

1874 Wm. H. Carter, 1875

A. N. Everson, 1877.
;

The

Emmons.
House was

by him as a tavern, and afterwards by Jonathan

It stood near where the Brewerton
afterwards erected and was a great place

dent

of resort for boatmen and townspeople.

Wm.

The

school was kept at Brewerton in 1792.

first

was taught by Deacon George Ramsey, a Scotch

He died at Brewerton many years

It

officers for

1878 arc

B.

M. Genung. 1876

E. N.

Emmons,

Presi-

George H. Smith. Clerk

Milton Miller,
Charles E. Waterbury, Monroe Pierce, Trustees
;

H.

Treasurer

Merritt, Collector

Thomas Hughs,

James R.

Loomis,

Street Commissioner.

Brewerton has a graded school, occupying a brick

Two

Presbyterian.

building, erected in 1855, at acost of gi.cxx).

ago.

teachers are employed, and the average attendance

when

In the spring of 1804.

there were but few

is

eighty.

Brewekton Lodges.

huts on the site of the present village, Jonathan

Emmons

farm, Lot No. 9

termed the

known

Hoskins
what
has
been
Here he erected

on what

settled

" mill"

first

is

as the

that region of country

in

grinding corn in a somewhat primitive style.

for

Lodge No.

Brewerton

Fort

Chartered January

256, F.

&

A. M.

Charter officers

1852.

10,

M.; H. V. Keller, S. W.; James

John Baum,
W.
with thirteen charter memJ, Anderson, J.
Regular communications, first and third
bers.
Wednesday evenings in each month, third story,
Everson & Loomis' Block, State street.
Present
officers F". A. Strong, W. M.; Wm. H. Merritt,
S. W.; M. Pierce, J. W.; J. R. Loomis. Treas.;
E. E. Binn. Sec'y
A. Dickson, Tyler.
Brewerton Lodge I. O. of G. T., No. 51.
In;

It

consisted of a white-oak stump hollowed out in

the shape of a mortar, with a pestle made of an

oaken block, to which a spring-pole was attached.
The nearest mill on the south side of the lake was
at

Onondaga Hollow, eighteen miles

distant.

On

Scriba,

from

north side, at Rotterdam. Mr.

the

Holland, had erected mills

was

sufficient to grind all

for a

in

The

1800.

grist mill

the grain in the country

hundred miles around.

In 1812. Jonathan

bers.

Emmons

opened as a tavern

the house formerly built and kept by Patrick

Mc-

was authorized by the Legislature to establish a ferry across the outlet of Oneida
Lake at Brewerton, which he kept for many years.
Mr. Emmons was the father of eighteen children,
of whom the sixth, Samuel Emmons, iborn Feb.
Gee.

In 181 3 he

24, 17941

the
at

first

is

now

residing at Brewerton.

In 1824,

bridge was built across the Oneida River

The

Brewerton.

ne.xt,

stituted

The

Brewerton was laid out by Orsamus

W. Bennet and
Its

position at

remarkably beautiful and

healthy, and being surrounded by a fertile and
thriving country, it has grown to be a village of
the foot of the lake

is

importance.

considerable

Since 1873

it

young

lodge, though

in

the

In

V.

all

the

E. Campbell.

named

after the four

:

counties bordering on

the Oneida, Oswego, Madison and

Onondaga, was put upon the lake and river by a

Henry Guest was the first
at Oswego.
agent, and afterwards William H. Carter, who with
Mr. Gushing purchased the remaining boats. The
Oswego is still run by Mr. Carter.

company

The Plank Road.

In 18 12 the Legislature passed an act to cut a

road from Salina to Brewerton through the center of

the town.

The expense was advanced by

the State,

on the lands contiguous to defray it.

The inhabitants got a poor road for what a good one
In 1845. an act was passed
should have cost.
ber, or

laid

company

to construct a plank, tim-

hard surface road, from

Salina to Central
In

Square, through Cicero, from south to north.

Trustees.
following have since served as Presidents of

the village: John L. Stevens. 1873

Officers

1846 a line of steamers, consisting of four

authorizing the

The

the Silver Gavel over

Saturday evening.

Hon. John L. Stevens, President E. N. Emmons, Clerk William H. Carter, William H. Sherwood, D. H. Waterbury, William H. Merritt,
;

State.

This

active and vigorous, and for

and a tax

V. E. Campbell. Miss

Brewerton was incorporated in 1872. the first

occurring on the 9th of Sepfollowing
persons were chosen
the
when
tember,

election of officers

Almira Cummins, W. V. T. Miss

C. T.
Regular meetings every
Aggie Campbell. W. S.

W.

has been

connected with Syracuse by railroad communication, via the Syracuse Northern Railroad.

is

several years has held

lodges

the lake, viz

village of

memmay be named C.

1875, with fifteen charter

Phoebe Klock and Miss Clara Van Warmer.

boats,

Johnson, Daniel VVardwell, Miles

Harvey Baldwin, Esqs in 1836.

5.

the most active

D. Walkup. Lodge Deputy

and present bridge, was

built in 1847.

January

Among

T"-

A. Strong,

1846, a plank road

was completed, being the

the kind constructed in the United

States.

first

of

The

Pliotos.

by W. Y. Ranger, Syracuse.

HANNAU EMMONS.

SAMUEL EMMONS.

SAMUEL EMMONS.
Samuel Emmons, the oldest

in the

settler

town of Cicero

He

living at the present time, is the subject of this sketch.

was born

in the

town of Nassau, Rensselaer county, N. Y., on

Mrs.

Em-

solely

dren,

the year 1804, taking his family with him, where

she

lot 10,
still

lie

settled on

purchasing six hundred aCres of land, part of which

in possession of the family.

his father's farm,

and he obtained

school, the country being

at

His

early life

is

was passed on

passed away from earth, December 9, 1836,

Mr. Emmons, not wishing

loss.

mons, who removed to the town of Cicero, Onondaga County, in

February 26, 1794, being the son of Jonathan and Mary

Emmons

leaving a family and a large circle of friends to

take the

to

on himself of raising and educating

was again married, October 22, 1837,

his family of chil-

to

Harriet Auringer,

being born August 14, 1818, in the town of Cliflon

Park, Saratoga county, N. Y.,

who

He was

of his declining years.

is

the present companion

member of

the

during the existence of their glorious old organization, and, on

the formation of the Republican party, allied himself with

He

forest.

Baptist church, and believes in open communion.

of Ebenezer Loomis,

Oswego county.
all

of

whom

September

1,

1818,

who was one

to

Hannah, daughter

of the earliest settlers of

Their union was blessed with six children,

are living at the present time,

5,

Cynthia M., born

1818; Almeda, November IG, 1820; Lucretia,

April 28, 1824; Leonard Franklin, February 24, 1827

nah C, August 12, 1833; Jonathan, IMay

whom

party

his education at the district

that,

was married, January

Whig

that time a perfect wilderness.

The only playmates he had were the young savages of the

He

mourn her

responsibility

were born in the town of Cicero.

7,

Han-

1836, all

of

and

Mr.

still

remains

Emmons

.so

in life has

connected.

this world's wealth to enable himself

to

member of

in saving

and wife

as a

life,

and

is

enough of

to live at ease.

the rules of health, he

although in his eighty-fourth year, as active as a

prime of

the

been a thorough-going farmer, and,

by industry and economy, has succeeded

Also, by strict regard

is

is

man

to-day,
in the

looked up to by friends and neighbors

worthy representative of a generation of mankind, the

majority of which has long since passed away.

'H

^iv

\^

MRS. .M.MIV

HON. ASA KA8TW0OD.

K.\.-<T\VO0D.

HON. ASA KASTWOOD.

Knslwood wim

Aii

II. in.

Allcntown, N.

Ixirn nl

who

ITKl, bcinc tlio mii of I.,cwiK Kiuitwnod,

wiis

nnd who, in puriiiit f work, removed lo various

and in the yrr 17H4 becnino n resident of the city of
York. An had few <ip|iortunitien of obUiining an educulion,

currier by Irndo,
locnlitien,

May

New

society.

i>f

wliich, in

He was

Thoir union was

17H2.

blctiscd

children, viz., William, born in Ijueen'it Co., N. Y.,

July

lioiijamin,

:<0,

John,

12, I8.".7);

were

lH>rn in

IHIli

(waa murdered

July

I82<"i.

Mary, Aug.

1810 (died Feb.

Jan.

b<irn

I <."

29.

The

N. Y.

(Jet.

Now York

1(1,

in

18r.i;

last

three

4, ISilII);

180(5 (died Sept.

18,

1814

Lncimla, July
all

of

Lewis,

1812 (died

Nov.

lii,

April 26, 1874); Samuel Asu,

Nelson IVrry, Feb.

named Were born

I,

June 2,
Onondaga Co

1822; Kno,

in Cicero,

New

Y'ork city lo

I'ounty, where he engaged in the grocery trade.

held the ofllco of ciinxtablo for a

17,

whom, except William,

In 1817, Mr. Kaittwood removed from

Onondaga

'.,

Klisha, born in Itrooklyn,

city;

I<4iuiiana,

Of

18, 180!J;

Klizabeth, Am;. 14, 18(18 (died Oct. 24, 184C);

1874);

April

1",

number of years, being

(Irsl

Uo

elected

in 1807.

On roini'ving to lhi county he livateil in the town of Cicero,

and puri'hiucd a farm of <ini' hundred and i>evcn aero.-, which is
Not having much bfte for
till in the |H>tsc^sion of the family.
funning, he ilevoled much of his time to oulnide business, lie was
greatly intorested in, and worked oncrgclicMlly for, the welfare of
the Agricultural society of this county, nnd was always foremost
in introducing improvomentt, having brought the first wagon nnd
thrn>hing-machine into the town of Cii-ero.
Mr. Kai'twciod was a Democrat of the Jeflcrson school. lie was
Bp|Miinted

March

13, 1821,

of the ]>eace, and in iho

by

thi"

ijovernor, to the olllce of justice

same year wu> elected a delegate

time in the salt business, erecting works at Salina.

the assembly in Noveml)er, I8:!2, which was the

lie
last

l8'>j,

party.

with eleven

Au^.

Tammany

In 1825 he returned to Onondaga County, and engaged

by him. lie co-operated with the Democratic I>arty

when, being opposed to the extension of slavery, ho
joined the Kepublicnn ranks, and ever afterwards acted with that
until

Mary, ilau^htcr of Hciijaniin

Lon^ Ubind, of which place she wan a native.

:t(),

I82H, ho was elected one of the sachems of the

office held

niarrii-d, Sept. "JP, IHOl, to

Shu wna born July

he removetl

wn.* elected to

tliey reliirned in tlie Miuinicr of tH()l.

l)oey, of KiM-kaway,

1!1,

for a short

In 1800,
lii. Inter \ear!i, ho mucli rei;rettcd.
durint: the wiir with France, .\>n, in company willi hi brother
.lohn, ahipiM-d on board lliu I'nited State* fri);ato " ConBti-llBlion;"
the lack

I8'_>2

with a part of his family to New Y'urk city, and was grantc^d the
" frecdoni of the city" by Stephen Allen, the mayor nt that tune.

and

tuiiiu-r

In

Slate convention to revise the constitution.

Fch. 20,

J.,
ii

to the

all

to meet,

the reverses in life which had iH'cn the lot of Mr. KastwiKid

none wiw so hard

his companion

had been
April

1(5,

18(52.

to bear as the loss of his loving wife,

for ovor sixty years;

lie survived his wife for a

wiLs called to his last

home

age of eighty-nine years.

Feb. 26,

And

18711,

(as a

who

she |iasscd away

number

of years, but

having attained

to the

leading pa|ior says of hinii

in all bis ollicial positions, and in every trust runlliled to him, he

discharged his duties in such nutnncr as lo win the confidence and

In private life Mr. Klwix)d

was above reproach, llis jirinciples were high and honorable, hit
habits eorrwt and exemplary, nnd his intluoncu in society always
ills long and eventful life, his publii
bencllcial to good morals,
career, his ripo experience, and his intercourse with cultivate<l
minds, gave him a retlnemcnt of manner, great fluency, and richrespect of all n8S<K'iBtod with him.

ness in conversational

"(ualities,

that

made

his

company

vr>

and interesting. In his last sickne.ss, roalirini; that hicareer was finished, ho closed his business afl'airs, sent invitation'
for his old n-s.pciat<"s to bo present at his funeral, and then, as

attractive

weary child in the arms of

awaken in an immortal and

its

mother, ho

fell

asleep in death,

I''

was a regular attend

ant of the Universnlist church of Cicero, nnd had long chorishwl
an uiidoubting faith in Christ as the .Saviour of the world, and
He was prompassed many of his last years in its peaceful light.
glorious

life.

IIo

inently connected with the Masonic order, which was well repre-

sented at his funeral.

Puoto. by liouta

&

Curtiss, t^yracusc.

Howland &

Photo, by B. F.

ORSAMUS JOHNSON.

Co., Syracuse.

DOROTHY JOHNSON.

ORSAMUS JOHNSON.
The

sons of Massachusetts are found in every State in the

Union, hailing as they do fi-om a State which early had the

reputation of being foremost in producing

and culture

removing

in

among

of education

to other localities they carried the

same characteristics with them.

born

men

The

subject of this sketch was

the hills of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Sep-

of one child.

Mary, born February 12, 1832, and married to

May

William Sherwood,

not only

many

1856

14,

two children have blessed

Homer, born May 22, 1838.

their union.

made of

adversities,

prosperities,

and none

is

but he

so hard to

is

whose family consisted of four children.

friends.

his father

removed

to the

At

the early age of

town of Pompcy, Onon-

tion,

he was married

his death in the year

Mr. John.son passed his

on his

fiither's

his marriage, in

life

was passed

Mrs.

to

who

Mr. Johnson's early

circle

lived but a short time.

Amos

life

in the

when he

of his second wife,

loss

companionship of his

Richard.son, April 20, of that year, she being the loving help-

About

three

Oswego

mate of his declining years.

married to Mrs. Sarah

he belongs

Politically,

merous town

he resided there about three years, when he removed

to

Brewerton, in the town of Cicero, where he pursued the same

184G, when he turned his attention

which has been his occupation

his marriage with his

first

in life

wife he

Helen,

who was born December

Lyman

Barber, April 10, 1849, and

all

who knew

her,

November

up

to

farming,

23,

1865

peace for several terms.

dist

He

has held nu-

church, but of late

He

formerly belonged to the Metho-

has been an active worker

What

can be more pleasant for a

has arrived at a ripe old age, than to look back on the

she was the mother

pleasures and sorrows of

life,

and

to think

in

the

man who

had three children

passed away, mourned

the

having been supervisor and justice of the

Presbyterian ranks.

23, 1827, and was married to

who

oiEces,

to the present time.

:

to

Republican party, and has taken for over sixty years the Albany
Journal, formerly edited by Thurlow Weed.

by

chil-

1826, with Dorothy, daughter of Erastus Mark-

wa.s

house

By

mourned

of sympathizing

Sherwood, of Jamesville,

After the

county, where he carried on the business of keeping public-

till

as the loss of a

dren until the year 1869,

years after his marriage he removed to Central Square,

business

is

farm, and teaching in the district schools until

ham, of Fabius, who was born June 18, 1805.

man

After a few years, his widowed heart seeking consola-

daga County, where he carried on the business of farming until

1812.

of

loving wife. Mrs. Johnson died Nov. 28, 1858, not only

by husband and children, but by a large

months

life

forced to bear with

overcome

tember 27, 1800, being the son of Jacob and Achsah Johnson,

three

The

many

he has always been

held in reverence and respect by friends and neighbors, and that

his

memory

will

be preserved for years to come?

a^m^.

yd e^ c--^

/
Mr. Coonley was a careful observer of men and things, and

Isaac Cooiiley's great-grnndrailicr. .Inlin ("iionlcy, eaiiic from

Gcminny, about the year 1750, and

VVurU'iiibcrj;,

town of Clinton, DuU-hcus Co., N.

Solomon Coonley, waH born

born

in

the name town,

in

1752.

June

where

his ),Tandfather,

His father, Abraliam, was

20, 1775, and

moved with

town of Coeyman's, Albany county,

father to the
17S().

Mil* (grandfather wa.s

l.iwii.

Isjiac's

Craft in 1808.
IG, 1810.

Y.,

settled in the

father,

one of the early

He worked

the year

settlers

Abraham, was married

Lsaac was born in the

in

liis

of that

Catharini'

to

town of Cocyman's, March

on his father's farm

till

lie

was seven-

tensively on

It

was

He

political

system, fmni

married
village

then

to I'hebc

Tercy, of Cocyman's, in 18;J8, and

of JamcHville,

moved

and dyeing.
in the spring

to the

of 18111, where he lived

till

the time of his death.

tin'

firm friend.

iciwii

iiji

to

;.

<>"'

that of the State and

integrity,

self

and

and

These qualities made him

which were always

bio po-sitions,

visors

town of Cicero

science

was especially familiar with the working of

townsmen, and he was frequently

and carried on the business of weaving

to the

many departments of

uol

genial

social

remlered him always an agreeable companion and

(jualities

He

Bought a farm, and moved

and kept himself well informed

His native good sense, stern

county, where he lived three years;

in this

to Syracuse,

moved

wxs

lie rid ex-

nation.

his

lie

calibre.

introduce a subject in which he was not

home.

of seventeen leameil the trade of a weaver, which he followed for

also tau);ht school several winters,

subjects,

difficult to

warm and

and

all

only in current history, but in

teen years old; reecive<l a common-sehKil edueation; at the age

several years,

mind of more than ordinary

pw-sesscd a

filliHl

called to

iM)pular with

occupy rusponsi-

with great credit to hin

S4ilisfaction to his constituents.

represented the town of Cicero in the board of 8up

four

terms,

viz.,

18G0, 1861, 18G7, and 18G8.

In

1865 he was appointed enumenitor, and took the oensos of

the town.

In 1870 he was elecUnl justice of the peace, and

Died Nov. 10, 187G, aged sixty -six years and eight months.

served for the four succi-eiling years.

Ijcaves but one child, Irving Coimley, postmaster at Ciccn).

(own auditor.

In 187G he was olertcd

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

expense of grading,

building

and materials, was

The situation of the country

about S 1,500 per mile.

and soil was such that

was almost impossible to

make a permanent road of any other material. No
sooner was this road opened than it began to be
thronged with
road in the

it

travel.

of the

interior

amount

dated so great an

say that no other

It is safe to

State

accommo-

has

of travel as this plank

road.

On

the

Railroad

completion

of the Syracuse Northern

1873, the

plank road was abandoned

in

Square

from Central

Brewerton, and

to

Brewerton to Cicero Corners.

from

prising citizens along the road between

and Cicero,

Company,

The

1876,

enter-

Brewerton

once organized the Cicero Turnpike

at

built

gravel turnpike, erected a gate

and now have the best road

for the collection of toll,

in the

in

The

town.

officers of this

company

are Jos.

M. Moulton, President
H. H. Lawrence, Secretary
John Moulton, Treasurer W. D. Wright,
Gate Keeper.
Its capital stock is $4,600.
;

The

plank road from Cicero to Syracuse

still

is

Religious.

The
1

first

meeting house

Presbyterian

8 19.

town was

frame edifice was erected

Presbyterian,

who

built of logs

Society, at Cicero Corners, in

settled minister

first

in

was Rev.

among

the leading

John L. Stevens, James

Mrs.

Ann Emmons,

members were Hon.

Ephraim Smedley,
Mrs. George Walkup and Mrs.
Spire,

E. Manville.

The present church edifice was erected in the

year i85i,at a cost of $1,500, and an additional
cost of about ;^700 was incurred for refurnishing and
repairs in 1875.
The present membership is about
one hundred and twenty-five, with an attendance of
one hundred in the Sunday School. The officers

of the Church are Jacob Ottman, C. D. Walkup

and E. N. Emmons, Elders P. VanWormer, Jas.
;

E. Livingston and Martin

E. N.

Emmons, Deacons.

Mr.

Emmons

has officiated as Superintendent of

the Sunday School for the past twenty years.

The Union Church,

Brewerton, was built in

by the contributions of gentlemen of the
Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Universalist
faith.
The most liberal contributors were Orsemus
1849,

Johnson,

Wm.

Gushing,

William

J.

Milton,
B.

Bailey.

Asa U. Emmons, Alexander

Stephen Markham and

Kathan,

The

cost

of the

was

building

about $1,700.
It was occupied in common by the
different denominations till i86g, since which it has
been used exclusively by the Methodists, who in

continued.

for the

Fancher

341

in 1830.

The

Truman Baldwin,

served several years, afterwards

that year organized under the pastorate of Rev.

Ebenezer Arnold, and expended about $500

repairing the church.

Since

Mr

in

Arnold's ministry,

the following clergymen have officiated

Rev. E. C. Tuttle, two years Rev. R. Brewster,

two years Rev. W. Witham, one year Rev. J.
D. Phelps, two years Rev. M. J. Wells, one year.
The present pastor. Rev. E. Lyon, took charge in
October, 1877.
;

went west, then returned and took charge of

former

The

flock.

next organized religious society

was of the Baptists,

at

The Methodists next

built a

of the town, and

his

Cicero Corners, in 1832.

church

in the east part

subsequently others

Settlement and at Cicero Corners.

in

the Taft

Previous to the

erection of churches, the different religious denomi-

of the church is one hundred

Sabbath School, one hundred and thirty;

Mrs. H. O. Johnson, Superintendent.

Trustees

The views

is

CICERO VILLAGE

promul-

gated in this country by the late Alexander

and others.

The membership
and forty

John Young and William Wickham.

Disciples, Brewerton,

an outgrowth of the religious principles

bell

William Telford, William H. Sherwood, Ira Shell,

nations held their meetings in log school houses.

The First Church of

Camp-

of this distinguished

Is situated on the

Plank Road ten miles north of

has three churches, three stores, two

scholar and theologian gained acceptance in the Bap-

Syracuse.

Churches at Pompey, Tully and Cicero, as early

and by some of the leading members of
the latter body, were soon after planted in this vil-

two wagon shops, two blacksmith shops, two

and shoe shops, a saw mill, flouring mill,
It has two
stave mill and cheese-box factory.
law
business
is transphysicians, and the general
acted by Benjamin F. Sweet, Esq., who is an old
and influential citizen, and has been for many years

tist

as 1834,

The

lage.

first

series of

advocacy of these views

Elder Jasper

J.

in

meetings

for the public

Brewerton, was held by

Moss, of Ohio,

in

1835,

and the

present church was organized under the ministry of

Elder Josiah

formed

I.

Lowell,

who

the year previous had

Church of the Disciples of Christ at

Pompey Hill. The Elders of the original Church
at Brewerton were George Walkup and
Lewis
55

the

It

hotels,

boot

Justice of the Peace.

Some

of

the oldest citizens

now

living in

the

and vicinity are Noah Merriam, B. F. Sweet,

Asahel Saunders and his oldest daughter, Mrs.
Emily Crampton, Daniel Vanalstine, Ambrose
village

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

342

Lower, Joseph Douglass, John R.

Wright, Barney Rawlcy, John and Emery Moulton.
Addison J. and Henry H. Loomis are among the

Sadler, Robert

prominent farmers and business men.

A. J. Loomis First Vice-President, E. F. Reese

Second Vice-President, R. Z. Sadler
Corres;

ponding

Secretary.

CiCEKO Mills.

Brown;

H.

Recording
A. H.
Lawrence.
Directors
L. C.
Flowers. Samuel
Ferguson, Clay Emery Moulton, H. W. Hanks,
Cicero; G. H. McHaron, David Overacre, Salina.
Secretary.

J.

L.

W. Lawrence;

Treasurer.

The Cicero Mills

mills,) are located at

steam,

flour,

saw and stave

Cicero village and owned by a

company known by the corporate name of the

Capital stock, 25,000.
Cicero Mill Company.

Churches.

stock

The
The

mills

were erected

in

1870 at a cost of $23,000.

flouring mill grinds about

50,000 bushels per

annum, custom and merchant flour. The saw mill

cuts about 500.000 feet of lumber annually, and the

They

stave mill about 2,000,000 staves.

are run

by steam-power and give employment to about

twenty hands the year round. They are the only

now in operation in the town.

The officers of the company

mills

Ambrose

1862, holding

Church

the other stockholders being Samuel Cushing and

Alonzo Uaum.
In connection with these mills,

S Auborn has

I.

a cheese box factory which employs three hands

and turns out about 10,000 cheese-boxes a year.

Cheese Factokies.
Of

late

years the dairying business, especially

cheese making, has become an important interest

in the

town of Cicero.

There are three prosperous

cheese factories, as follows

the business.

Cicero Center Cheese Factory, built

in 1867 by
William Sternberg, now owned and conducted by
O. J. Daniels, who manufactures cheese for neigh-

Annual product 50,000 pounds.

William Van Bramer's Cheese Factory, built

1863

in

manufactures the milk of one hundred and

the

old Disciples'

Union
Church
for

the

meetings, and a prosperous and perma-

nent Sunday school

was organized, Mr. Warren

Wright being appointed Superintendent.
In 1862, Rev. Augustus Tibbits became pastor,
and with occasional preaching by Rev. Dolphus
Skinner, D. D., and others, the time was filled till
1867, when Rev. John M. Austin became pastor,
residing in Auburn and preaching in one or two
other places at the same time.
Under Mr. Austin,
in 1867, a church organization was effected, some

members joining at that time being John R.

Warren Wright, John McCulloch, Mrs.
Robert Lower, Mrs. Ambrose Sadler and Mrs. J.
A Dunham. Mr. Austin continued to officiate as
Wright,

is

capital invested

pastor

till

1875, since which the church has been

StockJ. M. Weeks, Rev. Geo. B.

and Rev. R. Fisk.
The church in which the services have been held
from the first was built in the year 1832 by the Baptists, who disbanded and sold the building to Heze-

supplied by Rev.
ing,

kiah Joslyn, John Leach and Hon. John L.Stevens.

who

in 1867,

45,000 pounds per annum. Si 0,000

and two hands employed.
It is

it

Farmers' and Mechanics' Club.

The towns of Cicero, Clay and

Salina have a Far-

tion

under a special act of the Legislature,

to the Universalists, the Disciples' organiza-

having been

for

were appropriated

of

"Church

of Christ," of Syracuse.

edifice

The

was

the

sale

with an attendance of eighty-five

School.

President,

In

to

the

1871, the

rebuilt at a cost of $3,000.

present church membership

mers' and Mechanics' Club, of which the following

1878

The

some years discontinued.

proceeds

are the officers, elected January

5,

Congrega-

to the First

which was an organization formed

mainly of former members of the Baptist society,

sold

situated two miles south of Cicero village.

it

tion of Disciples,

The product

cows, keeping forty of his own.

of this factory

The

Cicero was new-roofed and refitted inside

afternoon

In a few years they sold

boring farmers.

fifty

the winter of

in

at

Brewcrton

at

till

the morning service in

of the
:

The Cheese Factory of A. J. Loomis, situated

one mile south of the village of Cicero, on the road
established in 1855
has two vats,
to Syracuse
hands,
makes
employs three
150,000 pounds per
annum owns one hundred cows and uses the milk
of four hundred others.
Mr. Loomis has $40,000
invested

Rc^'-

accepted and continued to preach

are

A. J, Loomis, Secretary, and

Robert Lower, Treasurer
who are ex-officio
Directors, with Daniel Coonley and Emery Moulton,
President

Sadler,

UsiVEKSALIST ChURCH OF CiCERO. In

A. A. Thayer, then residing in Syracuse, began preaching the doctrines of Universalism
in Cicero, and organized a society.
At a Conference
held in the I'nion Church at Brewerlon. in 1S60,
Rev. W. W. Clayton, then of Auburn, N. Y., received a call to preach at Cicero and Brewerton,one
service on Sunday in each place.
Mr. Clayton
FlR-ST

1859,

is

in

about

sixty,

the Sunday

RSiotNC

Of

CAP'

V.

DUHHAM,

South Bay iv ITowk.

M.

Among

the few

men whom

II.

BLYNN,

M.D.

the

and

their higlie.st confidence

is

sketch
Co.,

lie

was born

in

his return iiome.

this

college,

Bellevue

New York

Columbia

N. Y., on the Oth of January,

hospital

1837.

He

he pursued a course

of lectures at the Albany medical

esteeiii

numbered the subject of

city,

college,

hospital

and

obtained an excellent educa-

being graduated with distinc-

tion

from Fort Edward

lie read medicine,

He
geon

institute.

under a physician

and

from

in the class

of 1866.

and

of distinction, two years succeeding

his graduation,

college,

Longstreet

Brooklyn,

which he was graduated

tion,

Upon

before the close of the war.

people of C-icoro regard worthy of

was
in

at

once appointed a sur-

the United

States army,

also served as quarantine officer

of the port of Hilton Head, South

at the outbreak

Carolina,

till

Nov. 28, 186G, when

of the Kebellion entered the hospital

he received an honorable dismissal,

New York

and commenced the practice of his

department of the Tenth

Volunteer
conduct

Cavalry.

and

evident

His

gallant

abilities

profession at Cicero,

New

at-

tracted the attention of his .superior

officers,

and

he

was

accordingly

the

major

1864

3d of November,
of his

regiment

I'lmto. bj-

1863

Nov.

21,

and brevet lieutenant-colonel

Co.,

large

and

constantly

increasing

practice.

appointed captain of his company

on

Onondaga

York, where he has built up

.//'

W.

V.

He

Ranger.

M^

was united

in marriage, Dec.

25, 1866, to Miss Frank Douglass,

a

daughter of Joseph Douglass, and

a very refined and talented lady.

Photo, by .Ionian Bros., Syracuse.

SAMUEL CUSHING.

OLIVE

P.

CUSHINO.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Reformed Church, Cicero.
organized
terians

in 1835,

who had

This church was

from a congregation of Presby-

for

the present edifice.

many years previous occupied

The most prominent persons

the formation of the Reformed Church were

Isaac Coonley, Lott Hamilton, Peter Collier, Ezra
Hart, Calvin Hart, Noah Merriam and Mrs. P.
in

Andrews.

The two

last

mentioned are the only

survivors at this writing, (^878.)

Among the pastors have been Rev.

Wm.

Cranse,

Rev. A. W. See]ey,Rev. John Duboi.s, Rev. Samuel

N. Robinson, Rev. John Gray, Rev. F. Hibbard,
Rev. G. W. Hemperly.
The church is at present without a settled pastor.

ganized

by the labors of Rev. Barnard Peck in

Other
1847.
classes had been formed prior to this
but had been disbanded.
The present church
edifice was erected in 1857 on ground
donated by
David Tompkins.
Among the members
of the

class of 1847,

were Caleb Tompkins, David Borst,

John Richmond, John Bennett and John Taft, from'
whom the church takes its name. This was part
of what was known as the North Manlius
District,
comprising six congregations, and is about
a mile

southeast of Centerville.

The

present membership is about forty.

Pastor
charge Rev. Joel Houd, who also ofificiates
at

in

Sunday School, seventy-

Centerville.

Cicero Methodist Episcopal Church, For

years this was one of the North Manlius District charges.
At what time it became a regular
charge is not known, but in the year 1850, Rev.
Browning Nichols was located at this place, and for

mill stands

Membership about

fifty

Bridgeport Saw Mill and Tannery.This

on the west bank of the Chittenango

five.

many

Creek.

the vicinity

power saw

ing was aroused, and the society was reorganized

and in the following year the lot was purchased and

until

J.

and the present

pastor. Rev.

Ebenezer Arnold, who

also ofificiates over Stone Arabia charge.
The present membership is seventy-six. Sabbath
School attendance eighty-five, Mr.
W. Jewel is

was

It

built

by Benjamin French about

who run the mill until 1854, when the present

owner, Oney Sayles, purchased it and has run
it
ever since.
This is the oldest mill now standing in
1825,

a time meetings were, as formerly, held in the school

house, but under his auspices a deep religious feel-

church building erected at a cost of thirteen hundred dollars. Rev. Hiram Nichols was the next
pastor.
Since then Rev. Nickerson, Rev. Munger,
Rev. Tattle, G. B. Bush, D. D., Rev.
C. Nichols

343

it

is

an old-fashioned upright water-

mill.

Bridgeport tannery was built

are

but

still

is

The

1869.

and was run

and machinery
race and creek,

in 1825,

old building, vats

standing between the mill

unoccupied.

In 1874, Jesse Daniels

planted a hop-yard, and

in

1877 increased it to four acres, which is now a

very thriving and profitable yard the only
one in
the town.

J.

the efficient and worthy Sabbath School Superintendent.

The Trustees are J. Bradford, Daniel
Vanalstine and Noah Andrew.

Stone Arabia M. E. Church. Situated about

one mile west of Cicero Centre, was organized
January, 1845, at the school house.
The prominent members at that time were William S.
in

Fuller,

Solomon Wheeler, Harrison Hall, Palmer Brown,'

John Wilcox, John Salter, William Van Alstine,
Daniel Terpenny, Simon Drusbeck, Seth Hall,
Jonathan Houghtaling, Mary Benedict, Conrad
Brought, and Samuel Sizer.
In 1847 the present

church building was

built,

and rebuilt

in 1869, at a

cost of $2,200.

Present

membership

BiOGP|APHic>L Sketch n
CAPT.

Captain Valentine Dunham was born at HamMadison County, N. Y., on the 15th of May,

ilton,

1 8 16, where he spent his early life

with his parents.
After traveling extensively through many of the
States, he located on Dunham's Island in Oneida

Lake, and since he sold that property, has lived at

his present residence at South Bay, in the town
of
Cicero.
He was married in 1858, and has one son
sixteen years of age.

pleasure
thirty-seven.

Sabbath

School attendance

sixty.
Rev. Ebenezer Arnold,
and Cicero charge. This church
was originally in the North Manlius Circuit.
Present Trustees are John Cranse, S. K. Button
and Ashley Graves.

pastor of this

Taft Methodist Episcopal Church was

or-

VALENTINE DUNHAM.

He

is

engaged

boats to excursions,

in

furnishing

picnic parties,

&c.,

a business which he has followed for the past twentyfive years.

DAVID
The

first

H.

HOYT.

founder of the Hoyt family

country was Simon Hoyt,

who

settled

in

in

this

about

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

344

His early life

and lessons received from her.
was passed on his father's farm, till 1836, when he
removed to the town of Cicero, Onondaga County,

1628, at Charlestown. Mass..

where he remained
about ten years, when he removed to what is now
He was the father of
the State of Connecticut.

sel

ten children, Walter, the eldest son. being the second generation lof the branch of the family which

and in connection with his brother Jacob, purchased

one hundred and thirty-si.\ acres of land, being the
same farm on which he now resides. He was married October 5, 1843, to Caroline, daughter of Bartholomew Andrews, she having been born in Cicero
The result of this happy marriage
July 13, 1823.

was the father

second son. Zerubabel. was

the subject of this sketch represents

children

of four

the third, had

his

children

si.\

son,

Caleb, his third

had seven children, and his second

and
son, David, born Dec. 3, 17 10, was the fifth
David,
his
children.
ten
of
consisted
family
his

was the

fourth,

third son,

who was born

April

2,

1744, being the

grandfather of David H., representing the sixth

generation of the family, emigrated about the year
1790, to Greenfield, Saratoga County, taking his
family with him, which consisted of three children,

having been born

his eldest son Jacob,

cut Dec.

by

whom

2,

He was

1774.

he had

Connecti-

in

married to Nancy Shaw,

five children,

David H. being the

fourth child and the oldest son was born April 28,
His father dying when he was fourteen
1813.

months

old, the

responsibility of providing for

educating the family,

success

in life

befell his

and

mother, and his after

must be attributed

good coun-

to the

was si.\ girls and four boys Charles J., Josephine

Lucy was born
and Hattie, having passed away.
Aprils. i846;Leroy G., July 30, 1849; Ella E.,
Manil C, April 25, 1853 John
January 21, 1851
Frank
Alice, Sept. 10, 1857
March
25, 1855
J.,
always
been
Hoyt
has
Mr.
November
1863.
D.,
7,
is
ranks
he
Democratic
an active worker in the
also a member of the Reformed Church, and has
contributed largely of his means for its support.
In looking back over a life of more than threescore years, amongst the many reverses which
he has passed through, his widowed heart mourns
the loss of his loving help-meet, who passed away
March 22, 1877, mourned and beloved by all who
;

knew

her.

SPAFFORD
Spaffokd

lies

upon Skaneateles Lake and

is

the

It
western town on the south line of the county.
was erected from portions of the townships of

Marcellus and Tully, April

Sempronius.
and the boundaries

have

since been

8,

181

1,

materially

altered.

Parts of Marcellus and Skaneateles were

taken otf

in 1840.

At

present

it

comprises eight

Skaneateles Lake, being part of

lots lying east of

the original township of Sempronius

si.xteen

lots

and
of the south part of the township of
It is about ten miles long by three

of the northwest part of the township of Tully,

thirteen lots

Marcellus.
broad, running from northwest to southeast, in lines
nearly parallel with the lakes between which

Otisco Lake on
of

its

its

Skaneateles, on the

entire line.

this town, as well as

The

The

lake front of

the scenery in the opposite

direction, over-looking the Otisco.

and picturesque.

lies

the northeast, forming a portion

central boundary, and

southwest, along

it

is

most beautiful

surface consists principally

of a high ridge between the

two

lakes,

somewhat

abruptly descending to the valleys on each side and

gradually declining towards the north.

The highest

summit, Ripley

Hill, is also the highest point in the

county, being 1,982 feet above tide water, and 1,122

feet

higher than Skaneateles Lake.

inlet is a small

The Otisco

stream flowing through the valley

which extends south from Otisco Lake. The soil

gravelly loam, productive,
is chiefly a sandy and
and under a high state of cultivation.
This town received its name from Horatio Gates
Spafford, LL. D., author of a Gazetteer of New
It was first settled by Gilbert Palmer, who
York.
located on Lot 76, township of Marcellus, in the
Mr. Palmer was a Revolutionary
fall of
1794.
soldier, and served for the lot on which he settled.
He came from somewhere in Southern New York,
Dutchess or Westchester County, and

lived in Spaf-

till his death, about 1839.

Clark, in his Onondaga, vol. 2d, page 348, relates
the following afiecting experience of this pioneer

ford

anil his

son

of the year 1794, soon after his

arrival, Mr. Palmer and his son, a youth of some
sixteen years of age, went into the woods to chopSomeping, for the purpose of making a clearing.
as it
and
tree,
a
felled
afternoon
they
time in the

"In

the

fall

David

fi.

Caroline

fiOYT.
Photos bt

Residence or DAVID

v JtAxocR,

H.

SrMcusE

HOVr,

C/cero, Onondaga Co. N.r.

j^oyt.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

struck the ground
caught the young
once mounted the
liberated his

it

bounded, swung around and

man under
log, cut

Upon

son.

The

it.

it ofif,

rolled

father at

it

over and

e.xamination one of his

lower limbs was found to be badly crushed and

mangled.
He thereupon carried the youth to his
log hut, close at hand, and with all possible diligence made haste to his nearest neighbors, some
three or four miles distant, desiring them to go and
minister to his son's necessities, while he should go
The neighbors
to Whitestown for Dr. White.
sallied forth with such comfortable things as they
thought might be acceptable in such a case but
amidst the confusion, the dense forest and the darkness of night which had just set in, they missed
their way, and after wandering about for a long
time, gave over the pursuit and returned home,
Early
leaving the poor sufferer alone to his fate.
the next morning all hands again rallied, and in due
time found the young man suffering the most
extreme anguish from his mangled limb, and greatly
benumbed with cold. They built a fire, made him
comfortable with such paliatives as could be procured in the wilderness, and waited in patience the
In the meantime he had proreturn of the parent.
;

ceeded rapidly on his journey on foot, and found

Here he engaged an Oneida
Dr. White at Clinton.
Indian to pilot them through the woods by a nearer
route than to follow the windings of the old road.
Dr. White and Mr. Palmer were at sundry times
fearful the Indian would lose the way
and upon
every expression of doubt on their part, the Indian
would exclaim, 'me know;' and told them he
would bring them out at a certain log which
lay across the
outlet at the foot of
Otisco
The Indian took the lead, and within
Lake.
forty-eight hours after the accident had happened,
the Indian had brought them exactly to the
log, exclaiming triumphantly nie knoiv.'
Here Mr.
Palmer arrived on familiar ground, and at once proceeded to the cabin where he had left his son, whom
he found greatly prostrated and writhing under the
most intense suffering. No time was lost. The
case was thought desperate the limb was amputated at once, half way from the knee to the thigh.
The youth bore the pain with heroic fortitude, recovered and lived many years afterward, always
speaking in the highest terms and praise of Dr.
White."
;

'

In that part of the

than Berry was the

town taken from Tully, Jonafirst

settler,

a short distance

south of Borodino, in March, 1S03, and in April, of

the same year, a settlement was

made by Archibald

Farr on the southwest corner of Lot No.

Farr was assisted

in arriving at

nation by Mr. Berry,

who

sent

his

It is

the

same

Spafford Corners to Borodino.

Mr.

team and men

have been the

open a road. This is believed to

first road of any kind made within the
to

present town.

11.

his place of desti-

that

limits of the

now

leads from

In 1804 Isaac Hall

settled on the farm since owned by Asahel Roun-

dy, Esq., near Spafford Postoffice.

56*

The

road

was

345

cleared out from Farr's lot to the Corners, or Spaf-

and in 1805, Elisha Sabins

and John Babcock, from Scott, cleared out a road
from that town to the Corners, and moved in their
goods on sleds.
In 1806 several families scattered
ford Postoffice, in 1804,

themselves over different parts of the town.

Knapp, Isaac

Hall,

Farr, Jethro

Bailey, Elias

Peter

John Babcock, Samuel Smith,

Elisha Sabins, Otis Legg, Moses Legg, Archibald
Davis, Abel

Amadown,

Job Lewis, Daniel Tinckham, John Hullibut, and

others, were among the first settlers on the road
from Borodino to the town of Scott.
In other
parts

town were Levi Foster, Benjamin

of the

Homer, James Williamson, Cornelius Williamson,

Benjamin Stanton and John Woodward.
In September, 1806, Isaac Hall drove a wagon
from Spafford Corners
boards, which

was the

to Scott
first

Corners

wagon

for a load of

that ever passed

The Corners were first settled in

Asahel
by
Roundy
and James Bacon.
1807
Elias
Davis, an old settler near the center of the town,

over that road.

made
a

in

his

way

The

following are

Spafford

in

thither from Skaneateles

up the lake

skiff.

have died

names

who

of persons

settled

previous to the war of 1812 and

in

the town since 1845

a Revolutionary soldier;

Samuel

who

Prindle,

Hon. Joseph Prindle, EliCapt. Asahel Roundy,

jah Knapp, Peter Knapp,

soldier

1812

Case,
1

of 1812

Cornelius Williamson, soldier of

Samuel G. Seeley,
soldier

of 1812

81 2; William

soldier

of

181 2

Jabez Melvin,

Dedrick, soldier of

Kelly

soldier

1812

of

Russel

Tinkham, soldier of 1812 Silas Randall, soldier of

Samuel
1812; Stephen Applebee, soldier of 1812
Samuel Parker, soldier of
Gale, soldier of 1812
;

1812 Jonathan Ripley, Joseph Enos, Elias Davis,

Lewis C. Davis, Leonard Melvin, Miss Melinda
Melvin, John Grout, Ebenezer Grout.
The following still living in the town, became
;

residents from

8 12 to 18 18:

Daniel Wallace, Joseph Enos, Uriah Roundy,

W.

Legg, Hiram Seeley, Rathbun Barber, Geo. W.

Crane, Seymour Grinnell, J. L. Mason, Harvey

W.

S. H. Stanton, Mrs. Bridget

McDaniels, Mrs. Clara Weston, Mrs. Maria Mason,
Miss Semantha Melvin, Allen J. Stanton, Reuben
Palmer, Wm. Churchill, A. M. Churchill, Alanson

Barnes, John L. Ripley,

E. Colton and Nelson Berry.

frame dwelling was erected by Samuel

Conkling in 1807, on Lot number seventy-si.x, MarThe first Religious Society was organized
cellus.

The

in

first

The
the Marcellus portion of the town in 1800.
school house was built of logs on the northwest

first

corner of Lot

number

seventy-six, Marcellus, in

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

346

Miss Sally Packard was the first teacher.

school at Spafford Corners was kept in a

1803.

The

first

A.

Griflfin

Huffman

one cabinet shop, E. Eldrige.

proprietor

is

of the

& Son

log house in 1808, by Miss Hannah Weston, (afterwards Mrs. Roundy, who used to ride out on
horseback from Skaneatcles, and return in the same
manner at the close of her school each day. There

shoe shop kept by A. Manley

was no wagon road then from the Corners

Van Dyke Tripp, physician.

Trce Reform Lodge. No.

Skan-

to

eateles.

Archibald

Dr.

Farr,

The

town.

grist mill in

1810 by Josiah Walker

Wood

181

in

in

first

saw

mill

was

first

built in

the next by Judge Walter

These

1.

1808, erected the

mills,

if

we mistake

not,

were on Cold Hrook, the largest tributary of Otisco

Lake.
Jared Habcock and Lanson Hotchkiss were
the

first

ond

in

merchants
Dr.

1810.

the

in

first

1809, and the sec-

Archibald Farr was the

practicing physician, and kept the

number

lot

eleven, Tully, in

first

first

tavern on

Other physi-

1808.

cians were Jeremiah B. Whiting, Zachariah Derby,

John Collins and others.

The first town meeting was held at the house of
John Babcock was chosen
Elisha Sabins. in 1812.
Wheaton,Town
Clerk BenSylvester
Supervisor
Roundy
and
Elijah
Knapp^
jamin Stanton, Asahel
Asahel Roundy, Adolphus French
Assessors
and Jonathan Berry, Commissioners of Highways.
The second town meeting was held at the same
Asahel Roundy, Superviplace, April 13, 1813.
;

and Asa Terry, Town Clerk.

A postoffice was established at Spafiford Corners
He was
Asahel Roundy, Postmaster.
1814.

sor,

in

James Knapp, Joseph R. Berry,

Anderson and Dr. Collins, in the order
named. The mail was first carried through the
town in a wagon in 1827. James H. Fargo had
the contract for the route from Jordan to Homer,
succeeded

Thomas

Son

Nichols, Albert Applebee, Miles Brott

W. W. Legg

Maynard.

Borodino, was

at

shop, C.

tin

carpenters and joiners, Charles

and

664,

May

organized

I.

L.

J.

Postmaster, and

is

Dr.

O. of G. T.,
1877, with

29,

twenty-six members.

The

Albert Applebee, W.
W. H. Bunnell. W. V. T.; Frank
Harvey,
S; W. H. Bunnell. W. C; Lienor
Stanton,
F. S.;
Eva Bass. W. T.; George
Goodrich, W. M.; Lilian Milkins, W. I. G George
Tripp, W. O. G. S. A. Wallace, W. A. S.
Eva
Olmsted. W. A. M.; Emma Sweet, R. H. S.;
present officers are

C. T.;

Mrs.

W
W

Mary

Streeter, L.

H.

Otis Cross, L. D.

S.;

M. E. Chikcu, Borodino
The first meetings
of this society were held in the house of John C.
Hillibot
the organization was efiected in 1809.
The first church edifice was built at Skaneateles
and subsequently removed to Borodino.
The
church numbers twenty-five members.
Sunday
;

School part of the time

Present

Trustees

pastor

A.

attendance about twenty.

William H. Bunnell.

Rev.

Grinnell, President

Otis Cross, O.

K. Morton, William T. Wilbur, Isaac Eglin. E.

Grinnell, \'an

Dyke

Trip|),

P.

William Bass and Geo.

Ansel Grinnell, Class-leader.

Crane.

SPAFFORD CORNERS.

by

B.

Cortland County. Previously the mails had been

carried on horseback.
SpafTord

is

well watered

by springs and small

Excellent blue limestone, suitable for build-

brooks.

ing purposes,

is

quarried in the town, at the highest

elevation on which building stone

is

found

in

the

Spaflord Corners,

in

the southern

part

of the

town, has a population of about two hundred.

It

Roundy, Postmaster.
Roundy & McDaniels, and James Churchill, merchants
George Hazard
C. B. Lyon, shoemaker
The place has one
and Alex. Green, blacksmiths.
church Methodist Episcopal, and one practicing
physician, H. D. Hunt, M. D.
The only hotel in
the place is kept by G. H. Anthony.
contains a postoflfice, Uriah

L.^KE Vihu

county.

BORODINO.
The

&

M. Rich

Stephen
There is a

hotel.

village of

Borodino

is

situated in the north-

It contains fortyern part of the town of Spafiford.

of some two
population
and
a
two dwelling houses

hundred.

It

contains

one M.

Church, town

E.

hall, postoffice, two dry goods stores, proprietors

Messrs. Churchill & Eadie, and Grinnell & Howe
;

one clothing
one hardware store, C. M. Rich
one wagon shop, Cyrus
store, Wm. Quick & Son
two blacksmith shops, O. F. Eddy and
Streeter
;

Lodge, No. 659, I. O. of G. T.,

was instituted by John Lorton, in May. 1877. with
thirty-one charter members.
H. D. Hunt, W. C.
T. P. A. Norton, W. S.
The lodge is in a flour;

ishing condition.

Union Church,
services by

Spaltord Corners.

the Baptists and

Religious

Methodists were

first

held in this vicinity in school houses prior to the

erection of the church

in'

1838.

At

the latter date

Union society was formed, James Woodworth,

Samuel Sceley, Edwin S. Edwards,
class-leader,
Hiram Seeley, Dr. John Collins, Sylvanus Eddy

the
(

SMUCL H Stanton

Mrs

nti'L^t.^Lt

*'

PHOTOS Br

oA^iUtL H o A ^*
.

BOxn

Oil

CUim IS

<

.l^''.M

SiiMufi/^ Stanton.

'jrriy

,urtijh(;/UA

t.,'j(/.>

fy

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and

David Coon and

members.

wife,

original

wife,

were among the

sketch, was born in

edifice cost

about $1,200 and

is

sup-

pHed with a bell and a cabinet organ.

Present membership, thirty-five; Sunday School
sixty-five.
Present pastor. Rev. Wm. H. Bunnell,

who

also supplies the

Present Trustees
Secretary

first

Miller

There

is

It

David Norton came

one run of stones.

owned by John

city of Syracuse.
mill

seating

The

lost.

built in

1852

fine,

capacity between

two and three hundred.

Cost about $1,200. PresD. Smith.
Residence, Scott,
Cortland county, N. Y.
Present membership

Knapp, Superintendent.

Sunday School,
Scholars

in

J.

1S13

Allen

Juliana, born July 21, 1814, married to Syl-

7,

9,

1849; John S, born

Madison, Wis.;

18 17, physician, living in

same place in SpafFord where the father first settled;

he coming into possession of the homestead.

about thirty.
Trustees^J. Noxon, President
N. Knapp,
J.
Secretary
John P. Taft, H. E. Underwood, W.
A. Lawrence, Lyman Churchill and Sylvester

Receiving his education

Spafford,

in

the

common

schools of

when seventeen years of age he commenced

teaching school, and taught three successive terms.

He

Churchill.
in

April,

15, 1812, a farmer living in Spaf-

monument having been erected over their graves

The subject of this sketch has always lived on the

N.

attendance,

Rev. O. N. Cuykendall, deceased, was

when the church was built.

1810, died

ent pastor, Rev. C.

Flourishing

26, 1819, married to Samuel SherSamuel H., subject of this sketch, born April
Rhoda, born April 26, 1823, wife of Delos
10, 1821
W. Billings, living in Alleghany county, N. Y. Mr.
Stanton, besides working on the farm, carried on
He was one of the first asthe blacksmith trade.
sessors of the town of Spafibrd.
He died February
His wife survived him a little more than a
5, 1871.
year.
Her death occurred March 31, 1872. Both
are buried near the spot where they lived, a fine

present
a

same year

Mary, born July

man

The

pastors.

of the

fall

vanus Grant, died March

Richard English and old Mr. Caleb Haight were

the earliest members.
Rev. Isaac Puffer, a

early records of the church were

February

its first

15,

born February

ford

pro-

York.

celebrated divine, was one of

In the

by Dr. Farr, at the head of Otisco

They had children as follows: Sheldon P.,

among

twenty-five.

and

built,

born February

Methodist Episcopal Church, Cold Brook.

The society was organized over sixty years ago.

structure,

tree

born July 12, 1807, living in Alleghany county, N.

Y.
Malenda, born March 2, 1808; Sherman H.,

mill in
its

was

Lake.

J.,

Mr. Lawrence has also the largest cider

the town on Cold Brook, and ships largely of

commodious

first

to a mill twenty miles distant, situated on Onondaga Creek, within the limits of what is now the

that form to market.

church was

year, he

the town of

a pioneer's life in the woods.

In July,
1806, he carried upon his back one bushel of corn

was operated till 1848 by B.

W. Taft. The mill was rebuilt in 1872. In connection with the same mill Mr. Lawrence also
operates a flax mill.
The flax is broken into
what is known as "green tow" and is shipped in

edifice of the

same

in

menced

It

New

wood land

stands.

H. Lawrence has a saw mill on Cold

The mill was first built in December 1828,

duct to Syracuse and

In February of the

acres of

farm residence of the subject of this sketch, now

Returning for his wife, the two com-

A mill was built here

Wm.

by Peter Picket.

fifty

upon which he cut the

Spafibrd,

proprietor in 1863.

Brook.

had one

who was brought up by

erected a log house on the same spot where the fine

1830, by Dr. David Mellen, from Hudson, N.Y.

was burned in 1852, and rebuilt by the present

Mr.

Perkins.

purchased

in 1814.

a grist mill on Cold Brook

P. Taft, with
in

in 1808.

whom he

Sally Sheldon, by

1806, Mr. S. was married to his second wife.

Amy

built the

house on Cold Brook, (a log cabin,) about

seventy years ago, or

his father

her
grand-parents from the death of her mother, which
occurred about one year after marriage. January
12,

came from Connecticut and

from Connecticut

Island and settled in

quite

child, viz: Sally S.,

Joseph Cole and Seymour Norton.

Luke

Rhode

young

January 14th,

Island,

When

iSth, 1802,

M. E. Church at Borodino.
Uriah Roundy, President and
Edwards, Millard Doty,
S.

Edwin

Rhode

1780.

moved from
Bennington county,
Vt.
In 1802 Benjamin removed to New Berlin,
Chenango county, N. Y., where he married, August

The church

347

was united

in

marriage, October

9,

1844, to

Sarah T. Patterson, daughter of Calvin and Sarah

charge

Patterson,

who were among

the pioneer settlers of

Mrs. S. was born July 15, 1825, in

They have had ten children, as follows

of Spafford.

SAMUEL

Spafford.

H.

STANTON.

Benjamin Stanton, father of the subject of

this

Calvin P., born June

Babcock, living

in

12,

1846, married to

Emma

Luddington, Mason County,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

34S

Michigan
married

Emmett

born

E.,

Burton,

Josephine

Annette, born July 3,

banks, a farmer living

October 30 1849,

living

1S51. married

F. VV. Fair-

in

May

Alice, born

2^,

chase, living in SpatVord

1

married to John Pur-

1862.
;

Mr. Stanton has added to his lands

present time he

Spafford

in

Mason County, Michigan

Frank, born February 15, 1855, died March 25.
1876; Laura, born September 17, 1857, living at
home Samuel, born November 8, 1858, died an
infant
Mark, born March i, 1S59, living at home;
Elmer E, born August 8, i860, living at home;

28,

Henjamin, born September

In

acres.

is

until at the

the owner of over three hundred

he

politics

He

Republican.

is

has

the offices of Inspector of Election, Supervi-

filled

1870 and

sor in

'75. '76

Highway Commissioner

'yi,

and

in

Assessor and Notary Public.

In 1S76 he rebuilt his house, which commands a
fine view of the surrounding country, including the
1869,

'77,

whole of Otisco Lake.

A view of his home, together with portraits of
Mr. and Mrs. S.. appear on another page of this
work.

866, died an infant.

OTISCO.
Alpheus

Otisco was formed from I'ompey, Marcellus and

TuUy, March 21, 1806. It is an interior town,

sons of

lying southwest of the center of the county.

doubt but Mr. Tuttle was the

Its

by the high ridge between the valleys of Onondaga Creek and Otisco
surface

is

principally occupied

Otisco

Mr.

who

Houttelle,

settled

in

from the town of Pompey. has no

in 1S04,

settler of the

first

town.

eight hundred to a thousand feet above the valleys,

Chauncey Rust, said by Mr. Clark to have been

first settler, moved his family from LaF'ayette in
April. 1801. Mr. Rust was from Northampton, Mass.
During this year and the following a large number

and

of settlers arrived, principally from

The

Lake.
steep,

are generally

declivities

of the

hills

and the summits

rolling

and elevated from

from

1,600

Otisco Lake

is

to

772

1,700 feet above the ocean.

feet

above

the west border of the town,

below the summits of the

tide.

hills.

named from the great number

fested it when the country was
of the principal elevations.

It lies

in a valley

upon

1,000 feet

first

It is in

settled,

is

one

the northeast

and overhangs the valley of the Onondaga

Creek.
The soil is generally a sandy and gravelly
loam, mixed with clay and well adapted to wheat
and grazing.
the

year

Daniel, (and

1798

possibly

Oliver

Tuttle

his son

and

his

son

in

Homer, fifteen miles from the lake.

It was four years before they returned

to Otisco,

and they then found several families of settlers.

Oliver Tuttle built the first frame house in 1804.
Mr. Tyler Frisbie, who had the statement directly
from the sons of Daniel Tuttle, and also from the

filled

up

rapidly.

Among

the

were

settlers

first

Jonathan

Nichols, Charles and Benoni Merriman.

IJ.

Solomon

Otis Baker,
Judd and Lemon Gaylord, in 1801
Noah Parsons. Nathaniel Loomis, Amos and Isaac
Cowles. in 1802
and Benjamin Cowles. Josiah
Clark. Daniel Bennett. Elias and Jared Thayer,
Henry Elethrop, Samuel, Ebenezer and Luther
;

Noah

French, Jared and

Clapp, soon

William) came on

what is now Cortland county, and made the first improvement by

underbrushing for a small clearing on Lot 97, near
the head of Otisco Lake.
While thus engaged the
father was taken very sick and was taken care of
by Daniel till able to sit on his horse when they returned through the woods, there being no roads, to
Cincinnatus, the first house on the route being at
horseback from Cincinnatus.

Massachusetts

and Connecticut, and the whole town

Hear Mountain,
of bears which in-

part,

In

the

Lucy Cowles, afterwards

taught the

born

in

first

Nathaniel Dady,

Jr.,

Daniel

among

the

Bennett kept the

built

Swan and

first

first

the

first

Josiah

practicing

is

tavern

1808

grist mill in

Everett were also

physician

in

who

S. Judd, in 1806.

1804.
settled

in

Dr. Lu-

Thomas Judd was the

supposed the only lawyer in town

ther French, in 1818.

it

first

merchants, and Benoni Merriman

town was Dr. Jonathan

and

Chauncey

store in

first

kept a log tavern near Otisco Center

The

of

and the first death that of

killed by the falling of a tree,

and Charles Merriman

Jesse

white child

first

Michael Johnson, the

1S06.

The

Timothy Rust, son

the town was

July, 1802.

1802

Erastus

Geo Colton

wife of Rev.

school in 1802.

Rust. March 22, 1802

in

and

P.nrsons,

after.

first,
;

he

\/

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C^

/L

X.^e.x^-'iy^

^Jl^,ir/<^.^^c^

cv}-?/-^

(Photos, hy Bontn

&

Curtiss, SyracuBe.J

/^

c^<

jUdxii-o-iA^

-.-^

ttf-

ffSIOENC Of

JA5.

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NiLtS ^MBtiT.OnoNOAG* CoOMrr. Nlw

.

Yoffx.

Res AHO Store of

ALFRED

J.

miES,

/Imser, Onondaga County. Hew York

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

remained but a short time, and removed
land.

to Cort-

The

the site being donated by

27th of February,

town meeting was held

first

Daniel

Bennett, April

i,

1806.

was chairman.

Marcellus,

the house of

at

Dan

Bradley, of

Town

Clerk,

and Noah Parsons, Lemon Gaylord and Josephus

An extra town meeting was
Barker, Assessors.

month

of

August

following, at the school

Amos

The church was

Rev.

D.

Z.

awakening

largely to its

erected under the pastorate of

Paddock,

Andrews came and

F.

who was

instrumental

labored three years

of this and of the Cardift'M. K. Church.

membership

buildings.

School, forty.

was established here

in

1S14,

Dr.

Luther French, Postmaster.

This town is noted for being the birthplace and
residence of several persons of distinguished

known as
the Genesee Farmer and Albany CulWillis Gaylord, widely

rary reputation.

the editor of

lite-

and as a refined and graceful contributor to

the scientific aiid magazine literature of his day,
came into the town with his father from Bristol,
Connecticut, in 1801.
He was then nine years of
age, and he resided here until a few years before
his death, which occurred in 1S44.

success.

were born

known

in

Lewis Gaylord Clark, twin brothers,

this town April, 180S.
The former is
the author of " Ollipodiana," and

as a poet,

Rev. L. Northway
is

fifty

is

with

the present pastor

The

attendance at the

present

Sabbath

The church was rebuilt and rededicated in 1876.

The present Trustees are
Royal Burt, Erastus
:

Miller and V. L.

King

Class-leaders. C.

inson and John C. Case.

The church

M. Rob-

is

situated

the northeast corner of Otisco, four miles west

in

of Cardiff.

Amber Religious Society. On

tivator,

Willis and

in

deep religious feeling and adding

membership. About 1S70, Rev. B.

of the town, in order to centrally locate the public

postofifice

the

Warner Abbott, John Case and Lewis

house near Daniel Bennett's tavern, at which a committee of three was chosen to ascertain the center

On

Abbott.

the society was duly in-

1850,

Beckett, Trustees.

Hopkins was

Judah

chosen Supervisor, Josephus Barker,

held in the

corporated,

349

the

i8th of

August, 1824, at a meeting of the citizens of Amber

at the Lake House, then kept by David Moore, the
Amber Religious Society was organized. And on
the 5th of September following another

was

meeting

and the Building Committee, consisting

Bishop, Barber Kenyon and Samuel
Kenyon, were empowered to select a site and erect

of

held,

Miles

and
George H. Colton, founder and editor of the
American Review, was many years a resident of

In addition to the Building Committee,

Robert Kenyon and Isaac Briggs were elected
Trustees, and the society was incorporated.
The
committee then proceeded to erect the church
edifice at a cost of ^1,300, and it was dedicated
" to the true worship of God," by Revs. Messrs.
Wilcox, Selkirk and Worden.
The society is composed of dift'crent denominations and the house is
open and free to all the Methodists only keeping
up regular services. This and the society at NavaThe church was rebuilt in
rino form one charge.

this town.

1866 at a cost of $1,450.

as the editor of the

latter

and the

Knickerbocker Magazine, a position

which he held
1841.
in the

for

many

years.

Willis

died in

Their father was Eliakim Clark, an

officer

Revolution, and their mother a sister to Wil-

Gaylord.

lis

Gazette,

has obtained a national reputation as the edi-

of the

tor

Philadelphia

Rev. George Colton, father of

Colton, author of a series of

Greek

Owen

te.xt-books,

of

Maple Grove Methodist Episcopal Church,

As early as 1832 a class was organized at

Otisco.

the

School House, consisting of twentymembers, by Percy Case, a class-leader and

This was at that time part of the
preacher.

Seeley

eight
local

Cardift'

charge presided over by three preachers

and consisting of

six congregations.

prominent members

Solomon

Robinson,

at that

Among

the

time were Polly Case,

Nancy

Robinson,

Matilda

Lewis, Louisa Jarvis, Charlotte Jarvis, Nathaniel

Hudson, Nancy Hudson, Jonathan Balls, Abraham

Hudson, Hannah Mervin, Sophia Williams, Jesse
This class continued to hold meetings
Leverich.
every Sunday until 1850 in the school house, when
they erected the present church at a cost of $800,
57

a church.

St. Patrick's

Church,

E. Jarvis, pastor.

Otisco.

Meetings

were

held at the residences of the different parishioners as

as 1S53 and holy mass celebrated by Father
In the year 1870 they erected
Hackett of Salina.
a church in Otisco village under the auspices of
Rev. F. J. Purcell, of Skaneateles, he presiding
over this as a joint mission, and also officiating ocAfter him came Rev. J.
casionally at Marcellus.
was
who
succeeded by the present pasJ. Hayden,
tor, Rev. B. J. McDonough, who has this and Marcellus as one mission.
Among the original members were John Flanagan, George Fitzgerald, John Kinney, William
Tobin, William Gauntley, John Leroy, Michael
Ryan and Thomas Larkin. Their church is a
early

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

350

beautiful frame edifice, costing $6,000,

<:iety is

and the so-

strong and healthy with over two hundred

communicants.
1866, the

society purchased the present site and occupied a

frame house

for four years

under the pastorate of

Rev. William McCallian, who organized the Jordan, Marcellus and Skaneatelcs societies.

Congregational Church,
religious

1820

meeting held

larly

maintained, and

Rev.

Hugh

Otisco.

The

first

on the 9th of May, 1808,

Wallis of Pompey, presiding, Charles

Merriman,

Rachel

Samuel

French,

Ebenezer French, Jr., Amos

Cowles, Luther French and Solomon Judd, organized the Congregational Church of Otisco.
Dur-

ing the

Tuttle,

first

forty-seven years of the history of this

church there were received

into

its

communion

seven hundred and forty-one persons, and

in

1850

the church membership was two hundred and

forty-

In the

three.

autumn

of 1805

of Hartford, Conn.,

ton,

only a few months.

was

Judson and N. Rice. The present membership is

eighty.
Sabbath School attendance one hundred
and twenty five. The membership has of late years
been greatly depleted by deaths and removals.

OTISCO VILLAGE.

December

but remained

7,

Wm.

1807, Rev.

Wilcox was called and remained until March 15,

1, laboring very acceptably, and conducting two
very earnest revivals one in 1810, the other in
J.
1

82

18

7.

In

Otisco village

July, 1821, Rev. Charles Johnston

was

who immediately entered upon a revival productive of much good and many accessions he remained until September 3, 1823. November 15,
1824, Rev. Richard S. Corning came, who con-

Henderson, two

ducted two interesting revivals

May

1831.

came and

supplied the

April

1st,

1,

one

charge

of the town, about eight miles

December

following

northwest of Tully

Station, between which places a daily stage runs in

&

connection with the trains on the S., B.

As

R.

early

1809, Jesse

as

N. V. R.

Swan opened

a store

and tavern about one mile south of the present village.

About 1820, Mr. M. Johnson built and
kept a tavern

the present village near the site of

in

the Catholic Church.

The

oldest

man now

came

to the

county resides

living in the

a little north of this village

Charles

farm on which he

now

twenty-seven years of age

being then

He

Clark.

lives in 1809,
;

erected a

saw mill, a fulling mill, and conducted his farm, all of

which are under his personal supervision, although
he

is

now

ninety-six years of age.

There are two flouring

Gamble

mills

mill, located in the

town, and the mills

in

this

town

the

southwestern part of the

located near

the foot of the

Bucktail at the head of Otisco Lake.

1826, the

in

AMBER.

for

1839. Rev. Sidney Mills was

as stated supply and remained

In

stores,

1834, Rev. Levi

Parsons
one year, who
was succeeded by Rev. Levi Griswold as a stated
supply for one year and then he became a resident
and remained two years longer.
other in

Lyman K.

and two churches.

It is
situated on a high ridge of ground near the center

called,

a hamlet of about twenty-five

is

houses, containing one hotel, kept by

Rev. George Col-

called,

M.

T. Frisbie, S.

I.

the town of Otisco was in

in

lienjamin Cowles, Phineas Sparks, Oliver Tuttle,

Abigail

about S6,ooo.

Cowles, B.J. Cowles.

Trustees
I. T. Frisbie, O.
W. Rice, W. S. Hurlburt, John N. Smith, Lester

September, 1801, at the residence of Mr. Chauncey

Rust, and from thenceforward meetings were regu-

Merriman,

at a cost of

cons are William N. Tuttle,

Prior to the erection of the church in

was erected in
The present dea-

ent church, a large frame structure,

employed

May

until

3,

1841.

Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy

was obtained as the next minister for the term of

two years. Then in April, 1844, Rev. Clement
Lewis was engaged and continued to supply the pulIn June of 1846, Rev.
pit until the spring of 1846.
Addison K. Strong was invited to supply, and afterwards became a regular resident pastor.
In 1858, Rev. Medad Pomeroy was called and
he was succeeded by Rev.
remained five years
since which
until 1872
who
remained
Betts,
O.
J.
;

time there has been no regular pastor, the pulpit

being supplied by transient ministers.

The

pres-

This beautiful
of

its

little

hamlet has acquired, because

location and scenery, quite a reputation as a

resort

for

summer

consists of about

forty dwellings, a

one hotel and one planing

stores,

Among

The village

mill.

is

northwest corner of the town

Hill, on the bank of Otisco Lake.

Oak

the most prominent citizens

Niles, the oldest

settlers,

village

church, two

at

situated in the

the fool of

The

pleasure-seekers.

who, by

merchant and one

is

Mr. A.

J.

of the earliest

strict attention to his business

and

the wants of his customers, has attained a handsome competency. Mr. Alexander Bouttellc, proprietor

hosts
this

of the

Lake House,

who know how

romantic

little

to

add

hamlet.

is

one of the genial

to the attractions of

daily stage carries

the mails and passengers in connection with the N.

Y. C.

&

H. R. R. R.

RfsiDtNCE AND Fahu Viiw Of

JOHN VAH BlHJHUYSLh

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<
IN

Di STANCE, /Imber,

Onondaga County, New

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-=-^=:^^^^^

i,.ui-

SS^.

AND Sfaffoko Hius

-V.if" tS

Vork-.

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4.

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tmoru t

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

351

for his honesty, industry

BioGi]_APHiCjiL

sions, the latter years of his

TYLER

I.

FRISBIE.

Tyler Frisbie was born

I.

and good sense.

He died
on the 28th of April, 1863. The portrait
below,
taken with the hat on, which he wore on
all occa-

Sketches,

in

which

the town of

Tomp-

Delaware County, N. Y., November 30, 1826.

At the age of four years he was adopted by his
uncle, Orrin T. Frisbie, who was a resident of the
town of Spaftbrd, Onondaga County, and one year

kins,

removed

later

Otisco,

to

1862, aged 67 years.

common

one term

where he died

Mr.

May

him.

December

25, 1873.

26,

I.

Cortland Academy.

at the

now

resides with

He

lived

on

his uncle

till

the death of the latter, since which he has been

the possession of the place.

On

him

Tyler Frisbie received

school education with the addition of

the farm where he

Mary

a likeness of

life, is

be readily recognized by all who knew

His wife survived him ten years, and
died
will

the 23d of October, 1853, he married Miss

Jane, daughter of Benjamin F. and Caroline

Congdon.

Miss Congdon was born in the town of

December 17, 1831, and is the sister of
Miss Carrie M. Congdon, the authoress of " GuarMarcellus,

dian Angels

and other poems."

Mr. and Mrs.

Frisbie have had three children of their own, as

follows:
Walter C, born August 26, 1859, died
April 5, 1864; Miles T., born April
3,
1865;

qT^cV y^

Carrie A., born October

6, 1871, died February 25,

and three adopted children, viz
Newell
VanPatten, born March 4, 1854, died March 28,
1864 Louisa VanPatten, born May 25, 1S56 and
Jay Cotter, born November 2, 1859.
Mr. Frisbie united with the Congregational

1872

Church of Otisco in May, i848,of which church he

has been Deacon since 1866, and is one of
the
leading

members

In politics he

of the same.

is

a Republican, but he has always

life of his farm to the strifes

preferred the quiet

and competitions of the

office-seeker.

Willis C. Fish

was born

in

the town of Otisco,

Onondaga county, March

3, 1827.
He inherited
the homestead farm, one of the most picturesque
in the town, upon which he has since
lived.

marked

feature of his farm

is

two immense

"

Balm

of Gilead " trees, standing in front of his residence,

and which always attract attention of passers-by.

They were set out by his father, from cuttings,
taken from a tree on an adjoining farm
of the larger measures,

The circumference

in

1809.

five feet

above the ground, eighteen feet; below the

limbs,

WILLIS

C.

FISH.

Uriah Fish, father of Willis C. Fish, was born in

15th of August, in the year

Connecticut, on the

1780.
When a young man he came to Otisco,
Onondaga county, where he spent the remaining

years

of his

life.

He

married Lavina Carpenter,

November

3d, 1806.

was seven

children, five sons

all

of

whom

are

The

result of this marriage

and two daughters,

Mr. Fish served in the

war of 1812, and received a land warrant for his
services.
He followed farming throughout his life.
In his domestic relations he was a good
husband

and a kind

still

father.

living.

He

was universally esteemed

nineteen

feet.

They

are

twenty-six

first

feet

apart, their branches

spreading over one hundred

and thirty-four feet of ground.

Mr. Fish received a good education, attending

two terms at the Onondaga Academy.
He taught
school two terms.
Farming, however, has been his
life work, and few in the county are better
farmers.
His premises indicate order, thoroughness and
good taste. At the age of twenty-one he united
with the

Onondaga

sistently lived

up

Baptist

Church, and has con-

to its doctrines

ever since.

He

was one of the first movers for the enlargement and

improvement of the church building.
He has been
Deacon for about ten years, and also Superintendent of the Sabbath School.

It

may

truly be said

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

352

him he has been

of

leader in

church and a

a pillar of the

every good word and work, always con-

tributing his proportion of

means

worthy

to every

object.

although

been

never

Mr. Fish has

office,

in

of public

solicitous

every way well

fitted for public

was Postmaster for over twenty years.

He died,
September 11, 1857. His wife survived him over
nine years, and died December 25, 1866.
Mr. Niles, when fifteen years of age, left home
and worked at diflferent places by the month for a
period of ten years, the last five of which he spent

He

married

May

2d,

Eliza Hunter,

1852,

daughter of David and Laura Hunter, residents of

Cayuga County, N. Y. She was born

Victory,

Mrs. Fish united with the Baptist

July 26, 1831.

home

Ohio, visiting

in Cincinnati,

life.

but once during

In June, 1849, he returned to his native

that time.

town with S800, his savings. July loth of the

same year he married Diana C. Redway, daughter
of James and Sally Redway.
Her parents settled

Church of Victory, October 26th, 1S51, but became a member of the Onondaga Church after her

in

marriage.

By honest

Otisco in 1804.

Mr. Niles

own fortune.
management and inde-

the architect of his

is

dealing, prudent

fatigable industry, he has accumulated a comfort-

GEORGE

W. CARD.

them

to

Mr. Card was born February

and

Island,

the

is

and Sally Card

In

181

5,

25, 1812, in

Rhode

five children, viz

the family of Job

druggist at Seneca Falls.

his

parents emigrated

viz:

from Rhode Island, and settled upon the farm now

owned and occupied by Mr. Card. It has become

Ava L, born June

1850, married October 20, 1868, to Geo.

in

child

fifth

Mr. and Mrs. Niles have had born

able property.

They have two

Alfred R. and George

born February

children,

Frances Olivia

M.

Mary Velda, born Septem-

1854;

4,

13,

B. Davis,

through his energy and taste one of the representa-

ber 4th, 1859; Nettie May, born July 24, l86l.

After his marriage Mr. Niles worked his father-in-

tive farms of the town.

law's farm for five years on shares.

Mr.

i860,

In

Card was united

marriage to

in

opened a small store

in

Amber

In

village,

1855, he

and has con-

Miss Charity A., daughter of Elijah and Adelia

Crane, formerly residents of the town of Tuily,

tinued

in

period

of twenty-three

where Mrs. C. was born May 28th, 1841.

always traded "on credit," Mr. N. states that $100

children have been born

are

deceased.

Mr.

them, three of

to

Card's

Five

whole

whom

has been

life

devoted to the cares of his farm and family, and

his chosen vocation he has
ful.

He

leading
genial

occupies an honorable position

men

of his town

and by

in

been eminently success-

among

the

kindness and

his

would cover

He

is

now

satisfaction of having spent

In

yer.

by poor store-debts, and

he built his present store;

politics

in

N. has been a

Mr.

1867 his
life

long

Democrat.

it

in

JAMES

conformity with

Was

born

Mr. Niles was born

Onondaga

father,

J.

in

county,

NILES.
December

of

Amber,

4,

1824.

His mother, Polly Judson,

They had born to them

eight children, viz: Charles E., Alfred

J.,

Julia,

Mary, Harriet, Sarah, James L. and Lorinda, all of

whom are living, except Charles E. and Julia. His
father moved from Dutchess to Madison County, N.
In 1S19, he came to
Y., about the year 1810.

Onondaga County, where,

He was

village,

29.

Albert and

son of

town of Otisco,
831, and is the
1

Polly

Niles.

after his marriage,

a blacksmith

An
sis-

appears on another page of this volume, in the

The
biography of his brother, Alfred J. Niles.
subject of this sketch has always lived on the hometers,

the village

Woodbury .Connecticut.

settled.

Amber

in

NILES

account of his father and mother, brothers and

Albert Niles, was a native of Fishkill,

Dutchess county, N. Y.

L.

Onondaga County, November

ALFRED

he

86

In

house.

youngest

Otisco,

his losses

thousands, he never had occasion to employ a law-

with the

life

moral and physical laws.

of

Though he has

years.

business transactions involving several hundred

in

in his sixty-si.xth

year and can look back over his past

His

all

ever since, a

ways has secured the confidence and esteem

of his fellow citizens.

Otisco,

business

the mercantile

by trade, and

stead farm, which

came

death of his father.

into his possession

His mother

lived with

upon the
him nine

He was married
death
daughter of
Griffin,
Cordelia
December 30, 1858, to
Onondaga
of
natives
Isaac and Lydia Griffin, both
County, the father born in Otisco, the mother in

years

Spaflbrd.
six

his father's

after

They had nine

daughters,

Griffin,

now

all

children, three sons and

deceased

except

I'ranklin

D.

merchant in Amber, and Morton M.,

Eaton county, Michigan. Mrs.

a farmer living in

RSiONC or GEOROt. W.

CAR

0,

Onondaga Co.. N

Arthur Card.

George BCard.

Lmmet Card

AfffsGEO.W.

I^ETTiE

C/^ffD

Geo.

fHOTOS.

Sy gOMTA S CuffTtSS.SyPACUSE

Card.

Card

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

N. was born

Otisco February 25, 1833, and has

in that town.
Mr. and Mrs. N.

in

always resided

have had two children,

26, 1865

Ava

Two

1869.

24,

Bell,

viz

years

the woods, and milling was done at a mill situateda mile below Skaneateles village, a distance of eleven

Bertie Lee, born Feb.

born Nov,

7,

took

into

He was

miles.

drew

1868, died Sept.

they

since

Highway Commissioner

brother Charles E., and in every respect treat her

cession and

own

child.

Mr. N. has been a

to the responsible

Democrat.

life-long
is

Not-

In

Republican, he was chosen

position

politics,

of Supervisor in 1871

in

he was

From

publican.

for thirteen years in suc-

has held other town

never had a lawsuit

withstanding the town

war of 1812 and

account of his services.

has followed farming throughout life.
He was

He

the

called out in the

warrant on

a land

family Cora A. Niles, an orphan daughter of his

as an

353

his

He

offices.

has

life.

first

Whig

and then a Re-

small beginnings, by untiring in-

for the

economy and honorable dealing,

Mr. R. has accumulated a handsome property, the

year 1877.

For the last eight years he has acted

Notary Public.
In 1869, he built his present
residence, one of the finest in the village of Amber,

active

as

seven years he has yielded almost entirely to his

son.
The life of a farmer usually embraces few

and reelected

and again

i873-'74-'75j

in

dustry, enlightened

management

which

of

for the

past six or

of which, with the portraits of Mr. and

Mrs. Niles, appears on another page in this work.
Mr. Niles is a thorough and successful farmer, a

its

genial companion, and fully deserves the confidence

And now

and esteem in which he is held in the community

where he has passed his whole life.

ened more than a decade beyond the allotted threescore years and ten, is drawing towards its close, he

a sketch

duties with such industry and good

to secure the

respect of

as the

struggles and

H.

James H. Redway was born August

3,

The
his

thence they moved

in 1806,

to

on the place

Redway, and occupied

varied shadows and sunshine,

triumphs, with the satisfaction

having as before stated, the entire con-

business for a

his education in

number of years.

He

received'

the district schools of his native

town except one term in a select school at Onondaga.

He was married February 25th, 1846, toPamela Jane Willsie, second daughter of Captain.
John and Mary Willsie. She was born in Marcellus, September 19,
1824.
They have but one

Onondaga County,
owned by Thos.

still

time by Geo.

at the present

its

its

subject of this sketch has always lived with

father,

trol of

two sisters, viz

Mahitable, James, Nancy and Benjamin.
The
family moved from Killingly, Conn., in 1796, and
settled in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y.
From
had two brothers and

settling in Otisco

him.

living.

18 17, in

Onondaga County, and is the eldest son

of Thomas and Susannah Redway.
His father
was the youngest son of James and Alithea Red-

He

judgment as

who have known

coming from a life well spent, and await with composure the inevitable hour which comes to all the

REDWAY.

Otisco,

way.

all

of this pioneer, already length-

life

can look back over

its

JAMES

Mr. Redway has performed

startling incidents, but

child

The brothers and sisters are all deThomas married Susannah Gibbs, Feb.

Alice Adelle, born July 21, 1848, married

D. Redway.

October

ceased.

They have children as follows

May Isabella, Herbert Eugene and Louis
Leroy.
They occupy the farm named above, upon

10, 181

April 13, 1822

Nov.

died

Wm. G. and
William G. wasTjorn

they had two children, viz

the subject of this sketch.

8,

died

1861.

Nov.

Thomas, the

The mother
father, is

which the family

various

still

advanced age of eightyfeeble, having suffered a

and though he

stroke of paralysis

is

about two years

since,

memory and hearing

are

still

a distant

first

settled.

trust

in

his

Mr. R. has held

town
Overseer
;

filled

the office of Justice

As

an evidence of care and good

judgment exercised since he occupied that position,

very

may be

no decision rendered by him

For the
last ten years he has been extensively employed in
the settlement of estates in his own and neighborit

stated that

has ever been reversed by a higher court.

When

they moved to Otisco,

Thomas drove

the

team of steers and a flock of fourteen sheep, and

the sheep now on the farm are descendants of that

When

but one house standing, located where the Empire

now
58*

stands.

His farm was cleared up from

ing towns.

On

he came through Syracuse, there was

[

block

of

the last thirteen years has

good.

flock.

offices

of the Peace.

never

having had a physician up to that time since his

marriage, yet his

George D. Redway,

of the Poor, Election Inspector, Assessor, and for

living with his son, at the

si.x,

1868, to

22, 1843.

6,

relative of the family.

account of reliance upon his judgment and

good advice, he has often been called upon to settle
questions of difference

among

his neighbors,

always

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

3S4

counseling a settlement beween parties

to an

appeal to the law.

In the

in

and Samuel are

preference

management

his

of the

Amber, the

living in

still

J.

Her parents were natives

County, Mass., and were among the

he has shown rare tact and good judgment.

In the loaning of moneys he has always lived up to

that settled in Otisco in 1804.

the motto of " live and

ence day thereafter

let live,"

never exacting more

been extensive, he has never had a suit at law.

In politics he is a Republican.
Though not a
of any church

Mr. R. has always recog-

and has always contributed

gion,

churches

in his

community

reli-

support of

neighborhood.

would but echo the

It

to the

social

common

In

in

all

her acts of kindness she was unostentatious.

She was

truly a help-meet

community

the

Mr. Kinney,

member

of

part towards

all

for

the
its

She

her husband.

to

Her

loss will long be felt in

which she

in

ory treasured by

KINNEY.

her a sympathizing friend.

in

died April 5th, 1876.

felt.

WARREN

num-

in

The poor and

benevolent enterprise.

or

needy always found

sentiment of the

which he has passed his whole life,

to say that Mr. R. possesses, in a marked degree,
those qualities which characterize the useful citizen,
the good neighbor, the filial son, and the kind and
indulgent parent, and one whose loss would be most
deeply

Independ-

the families (five

all

families

first

first

of the

ber!

before him, though his business transactions have

nized the healthful influence of the Christian

Lake

of Worcester

town sat down at one table.

Her
father opened the first tannery in the southern part
of Onondaga County.
Mrs. K. united with the
M. E. Church in Otisco Valley in 1836, and always
took a lively interest in all matters which looked to
its prosperity, and was an eflficient coworker in the
Sabbath School. She was a leader in every moral,

than the legal rate of interest, and like his father

member

The

with

latter

Bouttelle, proprietor of the

House

large property accumulated by his father and himself,

A.

son,

lived,

mem-

and her

who knew her.

many years, has

been a

also

M. E. Church, always doing his

support.
Having no children of

their own,

Mr. and Mrs. K. have taken into their

Warren Kinney was born in Union Township,

Tolland County, Conn., August 14th, 1804, the eldest child of Alpheus and Lucy Kinney.
They had

home,

difterent

and six daughters.

Madison County, N. Y.. in
181 5, where the father died, February 23, 1848, the
mother January 3d, 1864. At the age of fifteen
Mr. Kinney left home and worked for five years by
the month, for Col. John Ledyard, in Cazenovia,
Madison County.
For the next five years he engaged in peddling tin-ware, and, during his travels,

father and mother.

thirteen

The

moved

1830.

start

Boultelle,

made

whom

through

of

their

whom

they were as an

may be

own

will,

life

it

truly said, he

man.

self-made

by the sweat of his brow.

Starting

nothing but his hands and an indomitable

with

earnestly seconded, in

all

his undertakings,

by

the hearty cooperation of his wife, he has achieved

success, and secured an

ample competence.

October 29th, 1877, he was married

he married March 30th,

Madison County, upon which a small clearmade and a log house erected. He
remained on this place six years. In 1836 he sold
out and settled on a farm at the head of Otisco
Lake, town of Otisco.
liy hard work, seconded in
every eflfort by his estimable wife, Mr. K. added

children

five

is emDenied the advantages of education, he has literally cut his way

to

Emma

Annable, daughter of Otis and Rosina Annable.

After his marriage he took up a forty acre

ing had been

times,

they have brought up and given a

the world, to

phatically

the acquaintance of

lot in

in

whom

Of Mr. Kinney

to

while thus employed, he

Harriet

neighbors,

children, seven sons

family

at

'

MYRON HILLYER.
1 his gentleman was born

in

the town of Marccilus,

from time to time to his lands until he had become

Onondaga county, October 28. 1811, the third child

They had two
of Nathaniel and Hannah Hillyer.

the possessor of three hundred acres of land.

In

sons and three daughters, viz

im-

Myron, Catherine and Louisa.

185

1,

his

paired he

having become somewhat

health

moved

to

Amber

village,

where he has

ever since resided.

Mrs. Kinney was born

Otisco, September 24,

Alpheus and Hannah
Bouttelle.
She had three brothers and one sister,
viz
David B., Samuel, Lorenzo and Parmclia A.
David B. and Parmclia A. are deceased.
Lorenzo
in

18 10, the youngest child of

natives of
settlers in

all

and also carried on a farm.

and mother are deceased.

living except Betsey,

Machan.

Chester, Betsey,

They were both

Connecticut, and were among the earliest
the town of Marcellus.
The father was

a blacksmith
father

Chester

on the homestead.

is

who was

a farmer,

The

Both the

children are

the wife of Arthur

owning and living

Catherine, married

to

Abner

Mrs

Emma

fliminii

Kmniy. loiutsio)

Kinniv.

.Y^V

r, <4MB(ir,

Ononimca Co

HX

^s-

.^
i^^-(r{.-(^

^//,

Uj^^^/L^

f/^J^^

^yf^/y^cri^
PHOJtS BYflOBT. iCu^TlSS.SYRACUSZ

HEa.AHOimmme Shop

OF

MYRON

HILLYER,AtABEK.ONONDAGA COUNT-Y.N.Y.

i^ /<s////^f4.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Wallrod, and Louisa, married to Samuel Rockwell,
are both living in Jersey City, N.

Up

to his twentieth

home on

sketch worked at

menced

J.

year, the

subject

of

this

the farm, then com-

to learn the harness-maker's trade,

which

he has continued to follow without interruption.

and devoted members.

In appreciation of her interest in the American Missionary Society, she was
made a life member.
Mr. and Mrs. Hillyer have had but one child, viz
Horton N., born October 5, 1856. He has always
:

lived at

He

home, learned the harness-maker's trade

was married April 27, 185 1 to Philinda Griffin, daughter of Heman and Candace Grififin, who
had four sons and seven daughters. Her parents,
both natives of Connecticut, were among the first

of his father and

town of Otisco, and are both

deceased.
All but two of the children are still living, five in the State of Michigan and the rest in
Mrs. Hillyer was born in Otisco, October
Otisco.
on
the farm where her parents first settled
4, 1822,
lived
till
their death, now owned and occupied
and
by John Fairchild. In 1862, she united with the
M. E. Church and has been one of its most active

publican.

settlers

of

the

355

is now a partner with him in the

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hillyer set-

business.
tled in

Amber village, on

the place where they reside.

In politics Mr. Hillyer was

He was

a Whig, then Re-

first

postmaster in

Amber

village six

Left by bis father but a small property, by

close attention to business and honorable dealing,

years.

seconded

at all

times by the hearty cooperation of

his estimable wife,

Mr. Hillyer has accumulated

an ample competence. A sketch of his house, with
portraits of himself, wife

and son appear on another

page of this volume.

TULLY.
TuLLY was
Military

originally

one of the townships of the

Upon

Tract.

the

organization

of

the

county

in 1794, it was included with Fabius in the

town of Pompey. Fabius, including the present
town of Tully, was taken oft" March 9, 1798, and
Tully was erected into a separate town April 4, 1803,
A part of Otisco was taken oft" in 1806, and a part

of Spaft'ord

Tully

is

in 181

1.

the center town upon the south line of

the county.

Its surface

center, but hilly

is

upon the

an upland, level
east

in

the

and west borders.

In the south part of the central valley are several

known

small lakes,

as the Tully Lakes, the principal

being Crooked Lake and Big Lake, only a few rods

Lawrence
Out of Crooked

apart, yet dividing the waters of the St.

from those of the Susquehanna.

Lake, which

is

hundred

just eight

feet

above the

was David Owen,

bridge.

northward, while Big Lake, four feet lower, gives

The

rise to

the Tioughnioga River, which flows south

into the Susquehanna, and thence into

Bay.

The

only

swampy

land

the vicinity of these lakes.

in

The

the

1795.

He

erected the

first

town, and

Onondaga Creek,

Erie Canal at Syracuse, flows the

in

was followed by James

Cravath, William Trowbridge and others.
The first
white child born in the town was Peter Henderson,
in 1796.
Timothy Walker built the first frame
house in 1797, and Moses Nash the second both
were built in the village of Tully. Moses Nash
also opened the first store at the village in 1803.
Previous to this trading had been done at Pompey
Hill and at Truxton.
John Meeker succeeded Mr.
Nash in the mercantile business in 1805. He was
one of the most extensive merchants in the country,
and took the lead in business and trade throughout
this whole region.
Nicholas Lewis opened the first tavern in Tully
Village in 1802.
In 1807, he was succeeded by
Jacob Johnson, and he, in turn, by William Trowcabin in

in

first

school established in the town was kept

Timothy Walker's barn, and taught by Miss Ruth

We

see here what

Chesapeake
the town lies in

able in every town, that a school was the

prevailing soil

object to which the inhabitants turned their atten-

is

Thorp,

a sandy and a clayey loam, productive, and well

tion

adapted to grazing and agricultural purposes.

of

in 1801.

Settlements were first made in this town by New

England people when it was included in the town
of Pompey, from 1794 to 1798.
The first settler

not noticefirst

public

thus placing before their children the means

making themselves

and distinguished
E.\RLY Settlers.

is

useful

citizens.

members

log

of society

school house

was erected in 1804 at Tully Village, and was sucOthers soon made
ceeded by a frame one in 1809.
parts
of the town, and
in
difterent
appearance
their
grew into an imschools
education in the common

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

356

portant and well organized feature of the intellectual

Floyd Howell, James Cravath, and Solomon Bab-

At the second
and third town meetings, the same were reelected
and held their respective offices.

cock, Commissioners of Highways.

of the people.

life

First Impoktant Road.

Amos

The Hamilton and Skaneateles Turnpike was

Skeel was the

first

Justice of the Peace in

thence to the outlet of Skaneateles Lake.

Moses Nash were Justices

of the Peace from 1808 to 181 2
Mr. Nash afterwards removed to Indiana, where he became a dis-

Fitch,

tinguished man.

out in 1806, from Richfield through Brookfield,

laid

Lake,

to the outlet of Olisco

Hamilton and Fabius,

Samuel
Samuel Marsh, Elisha Payne, David Smith,
Tyler,
Elijah St. John, Comfort Tyler. Samuel
Andrews,
were
Thaddeus Edwards and Elnathan
the principal movers in procuring the act of in-

1S03

worked and finished. This

enterprise opened through the town and others in
its vicinity, a way of communication which added
essentially to the business and prosperity of the
It was not long
country through which it passed.
before its advantage and effects were realized and
appreciated.
It gave a spur to business, confidence
to the community, and the results which have flowed
road

from

it

In

out,

have been salutary and

181

Tully

laid

The

the

postoffice

first

bridge was his successor.

was established at
\Vm. Trow-

been obtained from

matter had

Previous to

this,

mail-

Preble Corners.

The earliest settlers received their letters and papers

Pompey Hill. Vesper Postoflfice was established

at

in

Wm.

1827,

Clark,

Postmaster

Tully

village.

five saw-mills,

In 1845, there were four grist mills,

two carding machines and one woolen

of this town,

settlers

first

Homer, Solon,

Cincinnatus, Marathon, and those lying south, had

come

to

get

to Jackson's,

their

grists

Ward's and Sanford's

made

drays were

of

boards pinned across.

mills to

They came with drays

ground.

loaded with wheat or corn, drawn by oxen.

These

the crotches of trees with

Ten

bushels was considered

a pretty large load to haul twenty or thirty miles on

months, the

roads as then existed.

This method of going

was a matter of necessity till

in Tully, and the settlements, at
them, were supplied nearer home.

mill

the

mills
first

were

to

built

destitute of

organization of Tully in 1803, the

first

town meeting was held May i, at the house of

Samuel Trowbridge. Phineas Howell was chosen
Supervisor Amos Skeel, Town Clerk Jacob Johnson, Samuel Cravath, Solomon Babcock, Assessors;
;

is

a favorite resort for persons in

summer

being a number of

princijial attraction

beautiful lakes in the immediate vicinity,

which are

well stocked with pickerel, bass and other choice fish.

The

fine large hotel, the

The

Empire House, managed by

another feature of attraction.

is

ornamented with beautiful shade

and the residences present a cheerful and

streets are

trees,

comfortable appearance, while the business houses

are well stocked and

ner that

is

seem

to

be managed

creditable to the village

in

man-

and profitable

to the proprietors.

The

village

oflRcers are

dent

is

and the present

incorporated,

the following

H. C. Tallman. Presi-

H. V. B. Arnold, Clerk. The Trustees of

are George VV. Crofoot, II. B.

the corporation

Scammel and
Wright

The
house.

Wm.

L.

Earle

Treasurer, Judson

Collector, Daniel Vail.

first

settler in

what

is

now

the village of

was David Owen, who built the first log

Nicholas Howell, Timothy Walker and

William Trowbridge settled here before 1800. Seth

Trowbridge came here in iSoo, and his son Milo,
now living here, was then five years old, having been

born

in 1795.

He

is

now

eighty-three years old,

and seemingly hale and hearty. The oldest resident of the village is Salem Baker, being now
ninety-two.

Henry

such a vehicle with one yoke of oxen, over such

At

hundred and

Railway, twenty-two

has a population of about

It

pursuit of health and pleasure during the

Tully

factory.

The

five

situated on the Syracuse,

is

New York

miles from Syracuse.

Valley

George Salisbury, Postmaster.

The first grist mill in town was erected by Peter
Van Camp, in 1810; a saw-mill was built at the
same time and place about three miles west of
Postoffice in 1836,

Tully

village of Tully

Binghamton and

M. G. Bennett,

satisfactory.

Nicholas Howell, Postmaster

VILLAGE OF TULLY.

corporation and obtaining share-holders, and getting

the

Job L. Lewis and

Conn.

F.
In

sugar-maple

King came here

in

the year 1S28

he

trees

in

1818 from Suffield,

set

out a row of

front of his

residence and

grounds, bringing the whole number from the woods

on his back. They are now immense in size, and
beautiful to behold, affording a grateful shade.

King was postmaster here

years.

He

died in 1853.

Tully as a shipping point

is

for

Mr.

more than thirty

for all

kinds of produce

not equalled by any other place in this part of the

rhoto*.

UON. BAMI

KI.

\<y

UtinU A <*nr1lM, Sjrmctuic.

MHS.

WILLIS.

8.

WILLIS.

HON. SAMliKI- WILMS.

Saniuol Willis wiu born in the town of Lake IMoisnnt, lliimilton

Co.,

N. Y.,

ovontoon
indiK'rd

in

till-

yi'ar 1818.

yonm of

liini

to

a<;n,

rcmovo

Hen'nminpd

wlicn a dciro to
to

in

]t\

native |>luec until

Ijotlor liis ciri.-iini>tanci'S

Onondaga County.

ciMu willi a surplus, over and above

liis

IIu arrivi'd in .Syra-

travelini; ex|>cn9ei<, of only

bomc small artiolo of clolliing,

town of Tiilly, wlicro lie found
employment as a farm laborer with Orange Smith, working one
year for one hundred and eight dollars. During the year his father
vi.nitcd him, and wan induced by young Samuel to rcnuiin and
purehaio a small farm, the latter pledging his year'd wages to
make the first paymi.nt upon the haine. The land was purchased
of Mr. Orange Smith, and, after tlu' expiraliiMi of the first year^
Samuel was engaged with hi> father in improving the now farm.
At the age of twenty-four years he wa united in nuirriage to
.Mitn Kachol Van Wormor, daughter of Isaac and Agnes Van
Wiirmer, who were among the early settlers of this county.
Subsequent to his marriage bo purchMtrd. upon credit, eighty
This was no iiieonncres of the farm on which bo now resides.
sidorablo undertaking for a young man in bis circum^tane^s, but
the rii<poni>ihility ntiniulated the exertions of both biuisolf and
wife, and by their united effort.'*, diligeneo, per-i'verance, and
economy they not only succeeded in paying for their land, but in
subsc<|uently ineri'asing it lo a farm of oii<> hundred and twenty
For many years .Mr. Willis has carried on farming on a
Kcrei.
largo scale, having worked from throe hundred to five hundred
He has (me of the most desirable homes in the
acres of land.
oigbty cenl.

Tliin lie cxjiondcd for

and went on fool

to Vesper, in the

section of the country where ho resides, sketch of which

Is

For bis success in life be attributes

no small share of credit to the good judgment and skillful management of his ctinuible wife, who has ever bei-n ready, by word
and dco<l, to second his etforls and at.sist him in all his undertakings.
Mr. Willis has served his town in various public and official
capacities, having held the olHco of a.ssessor f<ir six consecutive
years, and that of supervisor for seven years, and is now a member
of assembly from his district, having been olw'lod in the fall of

shown on the opposite

page.

1877.

Mr. Willis

own

the architect of his

is

Without the
his way

fortune.

made

aid of inherited wealth or social pre.'ligo, he has

from poverty to aflluence, and from obscurity lo a high |io>ition

and trust .if his fellow-eiti?.ens, by his own energy,
industry, and economy.
While bis ofHeial duties iK-cupy much of
bis linn', hi* highest pride and enjoyment are in his well-ordered
farm, and the associations and comforls of bis delightful homo and
in the gift

the siK'ioty of his

Mr. Willis has

The

oldest,

Ann

many

friends.

ha<l live children,

Kli/.a,

one son ond

four duughlcrs.

nnirried Krastus Clark, and

is

living near

died at the ago of twenty-one, in Ilf>;

Sophia I,, nnirried .\drian Cummings, and is living aUMit tbri-e
miles from her father; Mary L. died .May 4, I87, agl twenty-

her parents; George

I.

.luliii II. lives with her parenU at home; graduati-d

Nornuil school; afterwar.ls biramuoneof iu tmu-bers,
which place she ttlbnl for two years has also been a ti-<-her in

seven years;
at t-'ortland

the

academy

at

Winsted, Conn.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

county,

being

it

in

the center of a large

dairy

country, and the towns of Spafford, LaFayette and

Otisco sending their products here for shipment.

The churches
tist,

M. E. Church, Bap-

of Tully are

and Disciples.

The Commercial and manufacturing

as follows
lan

&

Three dry goods

stores,

interests are

drug

F. Jones

&

stores, J.

W. Wright & Son and W.

Co.

hardware stores, W. W. Hayford & Son and

A. G. Dryer one grocery store, L. Gowing one
furniture and undertaking establishment by W. L.
three
Earle one butcher shop, Coughey Bros.
cooper-shops, F. A. Vail, George Watson and 01-

Two

&

ney

Smith

blacksmith

three

Williams, Zepheniah

shops,

Mason and Andrew

Joel His-

Frank Hiscock, member of Congress

from Syracuse, had charge of putting in the machinery.
The mill was rebuilt and refitted for
steam power in 1874, and is owned and operated by
Ellis & Hodges.
It has two run of stones.
They
manufacture flour and do custom work.
There are
two tailor shops, Henry Arnold and Myron Brown.
Two physicians, S M. Farnham and George W.
cock, uncle to

Earle.
C.

Tallman

is

an attorney here

H. K.

King, insurance agent and notary public.

The

present postmaster

is

M.

J.

churches of

Pompey, Fabius, Homer and Truxton, convened at

the house of Uriel Smith, in the town of Tully, on
the 28th of February, 1816, and after due considerand examination,

ation

Palmer, James

gave Uriel

Stroud,

B.

Cibbel

Smith, Ziba
Smith, Lydia

Tassel fellowship as a gospel church.

were held during a few years following

he has

Services

at the school

houses

in Christian Hollow, Tully Flats and in

Vesper Village.
The first regular pastor was
Elder Squire Abbott, who came in 1818 and remained two years after whom came Elder Salmon
Morton, in 1824; Elder Frederick Freeman, in
1827; and Elder Randolph Streeter
after whom.
;

came Elder John D. Hart, Elder

R.

Winchell,
Elder Jeremiah Everts, Elder Supply Chase, Elder
Pease, Elder J. Dill, Elder N. Camp, Elder J. La
Grange, Elder Herman Powers, Elder B. Morley,

D. Brown, and Elder

J. Webster, Elder D
A. Beman.
In 1824, under the pastorate of
Elder F. Freeman, a church edifice was erected
about one mile northwest of Tully Village, at Tully

Elder

S.

Centre.

Bouttelie

A council

the

Van

grist mill, built

by Timothy Walker about the year 1818.

First Baptist Church of Tully.

of ministers and delegates from

James

Henry

organized in the town.

Strail

two carriage and repair shops, John B. Hall and

two harness shops, Armenius
Andrew Cately

Smith and John C. Davis.

There is one steam and water-power

was reorganized under the

The society was
kept up till about 1830, when it was discontinued.
We believe no Presbyterian society has since been
ministry of Rev. Mr. Parsons.

Chapman, John Brown, Aaron Vail, Sarah Hughson, Eliza Fuller, Nancy Stroud, Sarah McCollery,
Susanna Brown, Hannah Palmer and Elizabeth

Mr. Riddle organized a Presbyterian

society in 1804, which

Tallman, Mil-

Hoxsie, Bouttelie Bros, and Joseph Fletcher.

Two

persuasion.

357

In 1848 the church building was

to Tully Village

and

rebuilt,

removed
and $2,500 expended

held the office about two years.

upon the

H. C. Scammell and Son are packers and heavy

shippers of eggs at this point, shipping as many as
one hundred thousand dozen per year.

church eight ministers were ordained and sent into

The present membership is eight}'--five
the West.

During the early history of the

building.

attendance

Sunday School one hundred and

at the

twenty-two.

Religious History.

From

the

commencement

of the settlement of

Tully, religious privileges, as well as schools, occu-

pied the attention of the people,

them

their

were held

New
in

England

who brought with

predilections.

Meetings

the several neighborhoods in barns,

Methodist Episcopal Church of Tully.

The present church was organized in the village
about 1832, and

in

1834 they erected their church

edifice, incurring quite a heavy indebtedness, which,

through the

Mr. H. F. King, in 1837,

and thenceforward the society

liberality of

they were relieved

of,

The

was

and, in cold, inclement weather, in private houses.

has prospered.

was thought no hardship in those days for a whole

family to walk several miles to meeting, the father
carrying the baby and the elder children trudging
along on foot, aided by the mother in crossing the
small streams and muddy places.
Rev. Mr. Rid-

members we find
Myron Wheaton, Mrs. Giftbrd, Miss Markham,
Esther Johnson, David Bouttelie, Sarah Viall, Mary
E. King, Cynthia Arnold and Mary Viall.
Most

It

dle,

a Presbyterian Missionary from

was the

first

clergyman who

large portion of the

59

New

ofificiated in

new

settlers

England,
the town.

were of that

Aylsworth.

Among

first

class-leader

Silas

the earliest

of the time until 1840 the church

was supplied by

preachers
since then this church and
Vesper have usually employed the same
Among the most efficient were
minister.
Rev.

itinerant

that at

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

358
J.

Atwell,

Rev. E.

D. Thurston, Rev. Ephraim

Mr. Fox and Rev. J. D. Barnard.

Hoag, Rev.

Under the pastorate of the latter the church in 1862

was rebuilt and rededicatcd. and also in 1877, under
the present pastor, Rev. F. Devitt.

membership

The

present

one hundred and fifty Sabbath

School, eighty-five.
The church received in 1840,
from Mrs. Sarah Viall, a donation of a parsonage,
which was afterward exchanged for the present
is

The church building cost $5,000; parThe present Trustees are

Ellis

parsonage.

sonage, $3,000.

V. King, Moses Schoonmaker and Samuel Willis.

Christian Ciilkcm of Tl'li.v. The

ing was held one

mile east of Tuliy, at

first

meet-

the resi-

dence of H. A. Chase, on the 9th of May, 1840,

and Russell Chase, Mother Fuller, H. A. Chase,
Marvin Haker, Amasa Kmmons, Amos Hodgeman,
Kesiah Wilcox. Lydia Chase, Lydia Lansing, Betsey Fuller. Mary Hodgeman, Lola Emmons, organized a church society.
Elders Calvin Thomas
and Harry Knapp of Pompey, officiating.
In 1845, this society, by the liberal assistance of
Russell Chase and H. A. Chase, erected a neat and

commodious church

The

of $1,500.

in

first

the Village of Tully at a cost

pastor was Elder J. M. Bart-

Elder Hamilton A. Chase, for twenty years

labored with the charge and has become a very
prominent character in the history of this society.
Elder J. D. Benedict, J. I Lowell, Elder Milton
lett.

Shepard. Elder
Allen, Elder

Gardner,

W.

Elder O. C. Cutts

officiated.

acceptably

Lathrop,

J.

C. Goodrich, and Elder

J.

for this

is

now

assumed both charges, and generally since

then both churches have employed the same pas-

of Tully.

tor.
The church building, (a fine frame structure,)
was dedicated January 18, 1849.
It cost about
twelve hundred dollars
Present membership, 24
Sabbath School, forty.
;

Methodist Ei-iscopal Chu-rch of Vesper.

Meetings were held as early as 1820 in the school
house under the leadership of Durin Ferris, who
was class-leader and circuit preacher. In 1840 the
thirty-five
on the 7th of
was duly incorporated. The
class-leader at that time was Levi Highley.
During that year a church was erected in the Village
of Vesper at a cost of about? 1,000.
Among the
most prominent members at that time were Enoch

laboring very

Henry Stewart, Aaron Hollenbeck, Zenas

Asahel Nichols. Sanford Moon, Alvah
Hodge, Rueben Aylsworth. This church has usually been under the same pastorate as the
Tully
Pickett,

place were Revs. Daniel F.

the

residing in the western

withdrew, and

in

December, 1848,

part
a

of the

town
new Society was

organized at the residence of Josiah Smith, among

whom were Deacon Uriel Smith. Deacon Joseph
Daniels. E. V. B. French. Harry Rowland.
Peter

Henderson. Allen Palmer, E. J. Daniels, Sarah M.

Nancy Darrow, I'olly Williams, Betsey L.
Palmer, Zuriah Rowland, Sally Henderson
and
thirteen others.
At first this church employed a
King,

Among

pastor alone.
as pastors are

those

who have

officiated

Eld. A. Galpin, Elder Thos. Brown,

In i860. Elder B. Morlev!

Elder William Jones.

have ministered

at this

Holcomb. D. Fancher,

W. White. Ephraim Hoag.

J. Foster. L. Bowdish.
A. L. Torrey, W. Fox. L. Nickerson.
R. Fox. R. W. Clark, A. Bowdish,
J. W. Barnard
and the present pastor. Rev. Fred. Devitt.

Stowell.

J.

The

present membership

Sabbath School
church work.

Young

is

now

is

and a very

forty,

fine

a useful auxiliary in

the

People's Christian Association. On

8. 1877. an organization con-

the evening of June

sisting of eleven
Earll, as

members

Among those who

church.

church.

Baptist Church of Veshfr In 1848 the Tully

Centre Baptist Church deemed it advisable to divide
and establish themselves at Tully Village, and

Bailey.

Elder

Moore have

numbered about

society

July, 1840, the church

Leader

members was formed, W. L.

Joseph Fletcher, Secretary, and

H. Hoxsie, Treasurer.

J.

Their meetings were

at

held in different churches, but during the early

part of the winter they held a revival in a
stable
first

fitted for their

dred and

fifty

meetings and now number one huntwo members, and are at present the

strongest religious organization in the town.

Morning Star Lodge No.

Lodge

fourteen charter

members.

C. T.. A. B. Daniels
S.,

636.

O. of G. T.

I.

instituted at Vesper, April 30, 1877, with

Geo. King.

W.

Charter

officers W.

V. T.. Addie Carr

W.

Present membership, thirty-eight.

Meetings every Friday evening, at their Hall in

Vesper Village.
Present officers W. C. T..Geo.

King

Barber.

W.

V. T.. Mrs. M. Ripley

W.

S..

Charles

^;%:^

fffffglM

OENCE

^*

MORf?IS

BAKCF?, I-^ArtTTc.

Ononoac* Couhiv. N

.1 'rt^ii

^giMin

---

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

359

LA FAYETTE.
This town, named

after the Marquis de LaFayette,

was taken from Pompey and Onondaga and organized April IS, 1825.
That portion of the town
taken from Onondaga was purchased by the State
of the Indians in 1S17, and sold to the white setThe town contains 28,200 acres of
tlers in 1822.
land, of which 6,400 acres, not taxable, belongs to

Onondaga Reservation.

the

The

surface of the

and broken, the high ridge between

town
Butternut and Onondaga Creeks, the two principal
is hilly

streams, having

steep declivities and rising from

hundred feet in altitude. The valleys
on the east and west of this ridge Sherman Hollow and Christian Hollow extend the entire length
of the town, and present an unusually rich and

three to

six

beautiful landscape

The

soil of

when viewed from

the town

is

generally a sandy and grav-

elly loam, a portion of

it

water-worn pebbles.

It

table

mold and

hills.

the summits.

of coral and

Sherman Hollow,

first

white child born

1791

the

in

the town was

master-General under President Tyler's administration. Charge d' Ajfaires to Peru, and Auditor of the
State of Ohio, to which he removed and became a
resident of Columbus, in that State.

In the north part of the town, Samuel Coleman,

Bailey, Nathan Park, Zenas Northway and
Northway were first settlers so also were
;

John and Archibald

Garfield, Graudius

Sniffin,John Hill and Hendrick Upperhousen.

John

Hill

and Hendrick Upperhousen, were Heswho had been captured from the British

sians,

there are deep chasms which appear to have been

army.

produced by an earthquake, and many springs emitting sulphureted hydrogen gas.

In some places

meter, Jacob Johnson, Jacob Johnson,

this has

been collected

in a

vessel and burned by

applying a torch or a match.

Early Settlements.

General Isaac Hall,

Wm.

Alexander,

Michael Christian, a Revolutionary

settled in Christian Hollow, in 1792, on

white settlement was

made

little

John Wilcox, who boarded the surveyors when they

laid out the lots in the townships of Pompey, Tully
and Manlius. Mr. Wilcox owned the " Indian orchard " and sold much fruit from it to the settlers.
the
It occupied twenty or more acres of ground
trees were planted in regular rows and were very
This old orchard was a very great help
productive.
in the way of supplying the pioneers with fruit before they had raised productive orchards of their
own.
The next settler was Comfort Rounds, near the
center of the town, in 1792. In the same year came
William Haskins, and gave his name to Haskin's
the next year, Solomon Owen and James
Hill
;

Pal-

Jr.,

town.
east

first

Amos

Obadiah
Johnson, Elijah Hall, Peter Abbott, Rufus Kinney,
Abn&r Kinney, Captain Joseph C. Howe and others,
were among the pioneers in the south part of the

of the Indian orchard on Haskin's Hill, in 1791, by

The

Cuddeback,

Wm.

In portions of the town

petrifactions are also found.

Amy

marriage was that of

first

Ozias

some specimens

in

Solomon Owen and Lois Rounds, in 1793, and the

first death that of Moses DeWitt, in 1794.
Mr. Reuben Bryan had a son who became a noted
public man, viz
Hon. John A. Bryan, once a member of the New York Legislature, Assistant Post-

intermixed with vege-

rich

of the diluvian age

The

Wilcox, in

Clark

is

settled

John Houghtaling, Amaziah Branch, James Pierce, Samuel Hyatt, Amasa

Wright and Reuben Bryan, were all settlers in
1794, and Ebenezer Hill in 1795.

thickly covered with large

and productive on the highest

The rocks abound in shells and other relics
is

Sherman. The latter

which took his name.

soldier, first

Lot number
township of Tully, which gave to the
Hollow its name. Daniel Danforth was the first
settler in this Hollow within the present town of
eighteen,

LaFayette,

in 1798.

In addition to those

already mentioned in the

Asa Drake, a RevoNoah Hoyt, EzeAndrews,

Job
Minnah

northern part of the town, was

lutionary soldier, Elkanah Hine,

Hoyt, Joel Canfield,

Hyatt, Ebenezer Carr, Cologius Vinell and Joshua
Slocum. Col Jeremiah Gould and Isaac Keeler
lived towards Jamesville.
kiel

In the vicinity of LaFayette Square, were Thomas,

Seth, Erastus and

Sydenham Baker, Joseph Smith,

W. Park. The latter

Jeremiah Fuller and Dr. Silas

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

36o

was a practicing physician and had a wide field

His
which to pick up his scattering patients.
ride was from Liverpool to Port Watson, Cortland
County, and from Skaneateles to Cazenovia, Madison County. Other early settlers who lived in this
vicinity, were Daniel Share, Caleb Green, Joseph
Stevens Cole, Paul and Orange King. Joseph
Rhoades, Gershom Richardson, Daniel Cole and
John Carlisle, were also among the early settlers of

in

The first frame house in the town ithen town

Pompey,! was erected by Col. Jeremiah Gould,
Isaac Hall built

1801,

In

we have already

Park, who, as
first

settlers at

said,

the village of La-

He

Fayette, cleared the Square of forest trees.

practiced medicine here during his life-time.

brother of

his,

Elijah

came

Park,

and

1817

in

studied medicine with him, and was afterwards his

partner for three years,

Otisco, and
years,

removed

when the

latter

there

practicing

after

moved

three or

to

four

Adrian, Mich., where he died.

to

the

country were visited with

that dreadful scourge, the small-po.\,

instances proved

which

in

many

Thomas

Baker,

1803, set-

in

and a half southwest of the Square,

tled a mile

The

Sherman Hollow.

in

greater part of these lands

removed

two years, and

County.

Dr.

Rial

a stay of

Cazenovia, Madison

to

Wright,

in

1825,

physician in the place, remaining about

At

time Dr.

this

Park,

who had

father

and

became a
si.\

months.

Park, son of Dr. S.

Elijah

W.

previously studied medicine with his

uncle,

bought

out

the

ride

of Dr.

Wright, paying therefor $150.

Dr. Wright then
went to Pompey Hill, and as a partner of Dr. Jehiel

Steam, practiced
years.

Dr.

in that

Elijah

and practiced

fatal.

town meeting was held at LaFayette

Charles Jackson was
Square in March, 1S26.
elected Supervisor, and Johnson Hall, Town Clerk.
Messrs. Rice and Hill were the first merchants at
LaFayette Square in 1802 or 1S03.
In 1805, Seth Baker made a settlement adjoining
Erastus on the west, and Sydenham Baker located
first

to the north of him.

one or

Bassett, of Salina,

tavern was kept by Mr. Cheeney, the next by

Orange King, who had his sign nailed to a tree,
" C^ King .'"
In 1801, the State Road from Cazenovia to Skaneateles was laid out through this town.
Colonel Olcott, the Surveyor, was taken suddenly
engaged in the survey, and died at the
ill while
house of Erastus Baker. About this time the inhabitants of this retired

Ward

came and made

years.

The

ne.xt.

After the death of Dr. Park, Dr.

of
in

first

The

W.

Dr. Squires also resided at the Square about two

this town.

1800.

Dr. Silas

was one of the

village

and

Park remained

his profession

for

his death in 1S72 or 1873.

Dr.

also a resident physician for

vicinity
in

many

the village

half a century,

till

Lyman Rose was

many years

prior to his

death, which occurred in 1867.

Lemuel Smith,
was the

first

father of

Rev. Marcus Smith,

blacksmith at the Square, settling here

and remaining till his death in 1S17.

His
shop stood on the site of the present church, the
pulpit of which is said to be over the exact spot
in 1800,

where stood
Nathaniel

his anvil.

Stearling,

carpenter

and

joiner,

remain in the hands of the Baker family to this day.

settled on the farm now owned and occupied by

Joseph and Lemuel Baker came in 1804, but made

no permanent home. Joseph moved to Otisco and
died there Lemuel went to the far West, and, it is

He built the Baptist Church at

Luther Baker.
Pompey Hill and the church now standing in LaThe latter part of his life was
Fayette village.
He was a leading man in religious
spent on a farm.

said,

was

finally

killed

by the Indians

Te.xas,

in

while hunting for his cows.

came from

Previous to iScx), Gen. Isaac

Great Barrington, Mass., and settled one mile south
He purchased
of the village upon a soldier's claim.
Hall

ten or twelve hundred acres of land, and

wealthiest

man

in

was the

the town of Pompey, as

it

then

town with him half

gave his attention
custom to let cows,
being
his
raising
ofstock.it
to the
and other citizens,
neighbors
sheep, colts, &c., to his
He died in 1830, worth about $70,000.
to double.
was.

It is

said he brought into

a bushel of silver dollars.

The

He

and only licensed lawyer at the village

of LaFayette was Samuel S. Baldwin, who had
He remained
previously located at Pompey Hill.
first

several years in the practice of his profession and

afterwards went to Geneva, N. V., where he died.

and educational matters. He died in Connecticut.

Before his day, James, Asa and Joseph McMillen,
brothers, who were carpenters and joiners, had
settled about a mile northeast of the village.

Joseph

frame hotel, and also the

and James built the first

one now standing in the village. Stoughton Morse
was landlord. A hotel had been built of logs prior
to the first frame building above referred to, and

was kept by James Higgins in 1808. The McMillens remained in town many years, and finally
sold out and moved to the West.
Dorus Porter lived in the village as a cabinetmaker from 1820, and was Deacon in the church.
He now resides in Michigan. Asahel King was
for many years a prominent man as a mechanic at
the village, being a tanner and shoemaker.

^RS.

F.

J Farrington.

fA^j.F.J
(Photos Br

Residence of

MAJ

F. J.

v HAnoi:f> SrHtcusc

TARRINGTON,

Farringtou.

La FAVfTTE, Ononoaga

Co., N. V.

riiutuB.

by Buiita & Cuitias, Synicuse.

DR. ELIJAH PARK.

MRS. BETSEY PARK.

ELIJAH PARK.

DE.

Elijah Park, BI.D., the subject of this brief memoir, was

born

in the village of Lafayette,

April

1,

1803, the eldest child,

and only son of six children, of Dr. Silas and Dolly (Clark)
Park.

By

He

early manifested a strong desire for mental culture.

and

close application to his studies in the village school

his father's office,

he was

twenty-one ho graduated

at

the

died, leaving

him an extensive

His

attained.

his return

father, Dr. Silas

his

life,

home

his father

with a success rarely

Park, was the

first

medical

he entered upon

physician

first

town of Lafayette, and one of the pioneer

the town, his residence being the

in

the age of

(Mass.)

practice, wliich

and zealously followed throughout

in the

Pittsficld

Almost immediately upon

school.

At

fitted for college.

settlers of

framed house erected

in

the village.
Dr. Elijah

now

Betsey Parent.

The

fruits

Theodore H. and Catharine

age.

On December

of this union were two children,

whom

E., both of

died at an early

4, 18G7, Mr. Park was again bereaved by

The hand of the

the death of his wife.

fell

destroyer had fallen

him

heavily on his household, having taken from

him of

children, and twice robbed

Although

times elected to the

no sense a

in

of his

his beloved companion.

In politics Dr. Park was originally a

Democrat.

five

Whig

subsequently a

politician,

he was several

of supervisor, fulfilling the duties of

office

the same with great credit to himself, and to the entire

.satisfac-

tion of his constituents.

He

died at his

home

in Lafiiyette,

June

17, 1873, at the

advanced age of seventy years.

Park was married

August 25, 1824.

seven are

the year following he married again, taking for his companion,

Ten

living,

Miss Catharine Parent,

to

children wore born to them, of

viz.

Silas

W., Thomas C, Mary

(wife of Alvin Keller), Prances 0. (wife of

Helen L. (wife of Willis Alexander),

Newell), and Caroline F. (wife of

whom

Ann

Mark

Edwin

J.

Clark),

E. (wife of Timothy
Jolinson).

In the

year 1842 (September 20) Mrs. Park died, and in April of

Thus

lived

and died

benevolent and generous

man eminent
in

physician he never turned

social

walks of

life

in his profession,

his relations as a citizen.

away a poor

patient

he was known as a friend

to

and

and

As
in

tlie

humanity, often

involving himself financially to assist his less fortunate neighbors.

In the family

his death

circle

he was

was deeply mourned by

much

loved and revered, and

his children.

by

i'h<>t..

W.

V. lUnger, Syniciiac

ALBERT BECK EH.

ChoB.

W.

Iloyt was Ixtrn in the town of

Fompey, Onondaga

Albert Bpckor wns born in the town of Ilnlf-Moon, SanitoKa Co., N. Y.,
He rt-t'civcil n ronitnon-ffolMo| nJucaliun, and tn tbc
ypr 1797.
jcur 18?8 moved tii linfiiycllr, OnuiMlngn Co.. N. Y., whrrp hi* bitughl
scvrntvfivc tu-rv furm of wild liiiid, whirli hr clrnrrd with Win own bandu,
and built upon it a l<>^ h<iupu which had only one door and twu windowa,
each consiflling 4if four li){hli< 9<'vi>n by niiir. In this hutnblf home Uv
lived six yt>nrt>, whfii he built u nrw fnimi' hou^e. which ia now owned br
Henry I'rniner. lu the year If*IS he married Miw Ciithtirine (iueway. of
Snniloji^a county.
The rei>ult of tliix union wax three children, vii.,
l>anicl i9 proprietor of a fine jewelry liturc at
r>iiniel, Jnnien. and Mary.
Syriicuse. and JnnieK i^ living n retired life in Lafayetle village, and li
one uf its ntoiit prominent and rc^ptN^ted citit<-n^. For htii recnnd wife
in the

His father came

Co., N. Y., in IH04.

to tliis

His family consisted of eight children,

viz.,

county in 1798.

Philander, Epenctus, Jane, Charlotte, anii

Polly,

only ono of this family

David,

Kzokiel,

W., the

('.

His father was a captain

livin;^.

in the

Revolutionary war, and drew a pension until his death.

W.

Hoyt, (he suhjeel of this sketch, was united

in 1H24, to

Of

this

marriage were born three children,

In

The sons

tlirce

whom

are

sister to his

children,

arc living.

viz.,

Among

any, ean look back upon a

W.

now

living,

viz.,

and located near their

wife.

first

many

Julia,

the old

men

life

of so

fnimc-work of the country, he now

old living

this marriage

and

Nellie,

Mi.ss

was

two of

of this county, few,

much hard
forest,

aiid are

aud caused to

fmm

seventy-fourth

landmarks of our country's

earth

smooth

his

pathway

draws near, having

led

of integrity and uprightness of character, honored by

who know him, and

fair for

a
all

at the writing of this brief sketch bids

more yean* of usefulness

to his friends.

he married .Mi^f I'urker, of Onondugn County. Mr. Becker wait ju"lice

uf tbc pence fur f<everul ycaTH. and gave excellent i\tii>ftic(ion by hi clear
an<t impartial dts.MitionM.
He has resided in Syracuse city for about
twenty-eight yenr. and has been in the Jewelry busincf>s until a few ycAri
("ince. when he went into retired life.
Ak a buHinefs man. be hiui alwuy.i been just in his transactions with the
I>oing unto olheri* n be would have them do unto him has l>epn
ftubtic.
lis grand guide throughout life.
Kind, genemus, aud humane, he daily
Iiraclices thenc lovely Chrif^lian virtues, which create sunshine wherever
move!i.
le
Allhoiigh in hiii eighty-first year, yet his step is as firm and elastic iu
ever, and his mind us clear as if he was in the prime of manhood.
His
path down to the grave is being strewn with the beautiful flowers of
With his eyes turned towards heaven, he
filial luve and veneration.
is prepared at a moment's notice to bo rt'ceived to the bosom of his
divinity.

if

labor as Chan.

now, the bone and

lives, in his

pioneers, surrounded with kind children to

as his time of relea.se

to

acres of land.

Like many other men who were,

year, one of the few

Of

Lottie,

Hoyt, having cleared of the original

be cleared, a great

life

Charles, Austin,

IS 12 he was married, the second time,

Mary Knapp,
l>orn

marriage,

Miss Harriet, daughter of Ezra and Mary Knapp.

anil Harriet.

father.

in

Chas.

Jaur8 ItKrKRit was born in Saratoga Co.. N. Y.. .\pril 10, ISIS, and was
the eldest in the family uf three children of Albert and Catharine Becker.
In 1828 hi father moved to Onondaga Co., N. Y., ami located upon a
farm two miles north of the village of I^afayette, where be remained eight
years, and then removed In a farm a short distance south of the same
village.
James Becker obtained a good cominon-schoul education, which
lai<l
the foundation uf his future succesi>ful bupinc^s career, and lived
with his father until Oct. 27, IS-ll, when be married Miss Kolher, the
daughter of Kli an<i Suxan Bryant. They had burn to them four children, viz., .\lbert, Florence. Charles C, and a daughter who died before
having been christened, all of whoni except Albert are ilead. Mr. Becker,
soon after his marriage, bought bif^ father's farm, which he cultivated
very successfully until April 1, 1S53, when he moved to Syracuse, and
engaged in the jewelry i>usiness. which he followed seventeen years,
Longing fur the quiet
with the confidence and esteem of his patrons.
rural life to which he hml been accustomed in early life, he retired to
His wife died on the
I>afnyclte village in 1871*, where he now resides.
2rith of March. 1875. and in I87fi he marrie4l. fur bis sccoml wife. Cordelia
Mr. Becker is one of the
K.. daughter uf Charles C. and Cnily Andrews.
leading citiiens of the place in which he resides is a Republican, and
has been an active member of the Cungregatiunal church for fi>rty
years.
A out of his residence, antl imrtraits of himself and wives, can bo seen
:

by referring

to

another pftgc of this work.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Caleb Green and Erastus Baker owned and gave

now used

Elijah

Anson A. Avery, Ambrose

Park,

Henry

361
Sniffin,

Square.

A. H. Share and Justin Rhodes.

Meetings held every Thursday evening in their

Hall,

hall in

(each half of

the lot

the

for

Public

Asahel Smith, Charles Jackson and Gen.

The latter
were Justices of the Peace.
served a number of years before LaFayette was

Johnson Hall, son of

Gen. Hall, was Sheriff of the county and a memAs a merchant, he
ber of the State Legislature.
carried on an extensive business at the village.
Stoughton Morse first opened a little store in conerected into a town.

Col.

nection with his hotel in

Asahel Smith

He

i8i2-'iz}.

in

Then

1805.

followed

ran a distillery

Pierce,

LaFayette.

M. Gage V.
;

Charter

C,

Farrington

F.

J.

Palmeter settled one mile south of La-

Mr. James Sherman, who, together with Solomon

Owen,

settled

first

father

Dr.

of

De Blois and

J.

The former was

at Pompey Hill

at
;

Sherman Hollow, was the

in

Joseph Sherman.
one time a prominent physician

the latter, a Justice of the Peace

Reuben Bryan, Amasa Wright,

Samuel Hyatt, James Pierce and Amaziah Branch
from 1830 to 1840.

have been referred to as old

named was
and

at

the

W.

last

school teacher in the Hollow-

first

He

LaFayette Village.

at Dr. S.

The

settlers.

Park's about

died of nightmare

He came

1818.

from

Massachusetts, was poor but well educated, and in

character one of the best of men.

R. S., John H.

G.,

William

officers, C.
;

K.

P.,

C,

March

organized

E.

J.

V.
James H.

Stearns

of Records,

Prelate

Amos

N.

Davis

M. A., R. S. Park. Meetings held every

Saturday evening in Pythias Hall, Cardiff. Present
officers, Charles Morgan, C. C.
E. G. Wright, V.
Sniffin

visions for the soldiers, which

Fayette Square about 1803.

officers,

Enterprise Lodge, K. of
9, 1874.

C.

Harbor and Grenadier Island.

After the war
Judge Hall was the merchant of the place.

I.

Northway.

during the war of 1812, and bought cattle and pro-

he sent to Sackett's

Present

G., Charles

E. E. Angel, K. of R. and P.

W.

S.

B. L. Wright,

Wright, Post C. C.

Congregational Church of LaFayette.

At an early day meetings were held in private
houses by Mr. Amaziah Branch, assisted occasionally by missionaries and traveling ministers.
The
result of these

meetings was the organization of

the Congregational Church by Rev. Benjamin Bell

October,

in

1809,

at

Stoughton Morse.
lowing persons, viz

Nathan

the

public

house kept by

The church comprised the folDeacon Noah Hoyt, Deacon

Abbott, Apollos

Hoyt, Philander Hoyt,

Hewitt,

Anna

Mary Hoyt, Esther Maxwell,

Esq., Ezekiel

Baker,

Polly Hoyt,

Sally Danforth,

Anna

Rebecca Bates, Sally Baker, Corrinna

Abbott and Acsah Johnson. Since that time the
Hewitt,

following preachers and pastors have served this

charge

Revs. E. J. Leavenworth, three years

Hopkins, three years Martin Powell, seven
years Rev. Childs of Auburn, Rev. A. H. Corn:

Charles Johnson, at Sherman Hollow, carried on

blacksmithing for over

fifty

years,

working industri-

ously at his anvil to a short time prior to his death

in 1876.

Rev. Seth Smalley, two and a half

Rev. Absalom K. Barr, two years
Rev.
Parshall Terry, three years
Rev. George Delevan,
Revs. Moody Harrington, H. Frasier, M. M. Wake-

ing, four years;

years

VILLAGE OF LA FAYETTE.
This

little

hamlet

lies

about one mile west of the

Syracuse, Binghamton and

New York

Onativia, or LaFayette Station.

It

Railroad at

contains about

twenty dwellings, a postoffice, a church, a hotel,

three stores and two blacksmith shops.

Among

the oldest settlers are C.

Jackson, James

B.

W.

Hoyt, Caleb

Baker, Luther Baker and L.

O. Hill.

W. Mclntyre,

and Postmaster,
also

is

is

also a

the present Supervisor

merchant

in

Mr. Timothy Newell, who

the village
is

doing a

prosperous business.

This village

and

is

adjacent to the station, Onativia,

very pleasantly situated in the midst of a

picturesque and productive country.
is

Uncas Lodge No. 121, I. O. O. F., was chartered July 4, 185 1.

The charter members were Dr.
60*

Village

of

LaFayette,

modernized.

which

was

repaired

and

In 1846 a session house was erected at

a cost of $600, which was used until 1861, when the

building was sold and the present session house
erected at a cost of ^r.ooo.
This hall is used for

and as a town hall. The church buildine.

cemetery and parsonage are the
property of the Columbian Society, which was organized in the year 1804, composed of the citizens
of the village and vicinity, not necessarily members
lectures

Mr. George
so

man, R, C. Allison, Charles Jones, C. A. Ruddock,

George A. Miller, and Lewis Jessup. In 1819-20
a commodious church edifice was erected in the

session room,

of the church.

The

property owned by this society,

is valued at six thousand

aside from the cemetery,

five

hundred

The

dollars.

officers of this society are

LeRoy

S. Baker,

Luther Baker and Philander Hoyt, Trustees, and

HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

362

The church Deacons are

D. F. n. Baker, Clerk.
and
L.
R. Gaylord Clerk, G. L.
H.
Jackson,
Caleb

flouring mill, built about thirty-five years since

The present membership of the church is

Hoyt.
seventy one. Sabbath School attendance one hun-

a saw mill.

The

A. R. Palmer

in 1862,

dred and twenty-five.

pense of $2,700.

property was purchased by

mill

and repaired

in

1874

The

village or

TuUy

cuse and

built the

hamlet of Cardiff

on the Syra-

lies

turnpike, in the western part of the

town of LaFayette.

It is

two and

a half or three

miles west of the railroad station at Onativia, and

about thirty

contains

houses,

church, a hotel, a grist

mill,

one

stores,

Mr. Park

is

Flouring Mills were erected

The

ness.

mills are driven

in

1839, at a cost

who ran it for many years

About si.xteen years ago it
the hands of Edward Voigt, who erected
F. Card,

J.

at a cost of $4,000.

subject of this sketch was born in the town

In March, 1877,

it

was

Onondaga County, N.

8 14.

He married in
on the farm summers.
Miss Diana M., daughter of Eli and Susan
They had
liryant, of Hampshire County, Mass.

his father

1840,

one

and died August

fire.

EitENEZER Methodist Ei'iscopal Church of

Meetings were held at the house of Zcnas Northway as early as 1825, about which time a

Among

was organized.

the prominent work-

ers at that time were

John Spencer, Uriel Coleman,

D. Sniffin, Grandus Cuddeback, Reuben Wright,
Annanias Wcscott and John Bottle. In 1825, the
church, built at Cardiff on the site of the pres-

ent church was erected at a cost of $ i ,000.

But

in

1857 the church was burned and the same season

the present church was built at a cost of $2,400,
being dedicated in December, 1857, under the minis-

D.

tration of

W.

Bristol,?

D.

Rev. Benjamin

D.

Y., February

His father, Seth Baker, came from

Northampton, Mass., in 1805 and settled in Onondaga County. Luther was brought up on the farm,
attending the district school winters and assisting
9,

sumed by

first

class busi-

LUTHER BAKER.

purchased by George Dermon, and run by him unentire property was contil April, 1878, when the

class

first

by water-power.

BioGi\APHicj\L Sketches.

of LaFayette,

a saw-mill and put in gang-saws, also added steam

Cardiff.

is,

kept by Ed-

is

water-power.

power

1876 re-

capacity of the saw mill

the other necessary machinery for a

The

passed into

in

an additional

Wil-

also Justice of the Peace.

Cardiff Mills.
of $5,000 by

at

three hands,) about 1,000 feet of lumber an

ward Crownhart. A shop for the manufacture of

wagons, carriages and sleighs has been carried on
here since i860 by Mr. Volney A. Houghton.

with

works

and two

a postoffice

Cardiff Hotel, (temperance,)

The

The

lath

hour, and the grist mill has three run of stones, and

liam H. Hoyt, dealer in merchandise and produce.

The

and

mill

of $1,800.

(With

an ex-

R. S. Park, merchant and postmas-

wagon shops.
ter.

three

cost

saw

at

In 1875 the present proprietor pur-

chased the mills and water power, and

C AUDI FT.

by

the late Calvin Cole, at a cost of about $6,000, and

child.

Flora D.,

who was born June

who esteemed

circle of friends,

7,

1850

large

many

noble

mourned by

27, 1871,

her for

mind and heart.

Mr. Baker has always followed farmin;; as an occupation, and is regarded as one of the best farm-

qualities of

He

ers in his town.

has always

is

an

Church,

active

in politics

and

success

of

the

for

For many years he has

Republican principles.

been

Republican

earnestly labored

member

Congregational

of the

liberally subscribing to

object worthy of his support.

every benevolent

He

is

enjoying good

and is apparently surrounded with every

comfort which tends to brighten his declining
health,

years.

D. Sniffin and Joseph Cross, D. D., began their

religious

bership

life
is

in

this church.

The

School attendance, one hundred.

tor

is

present

mem-

MORRIS BAKER.

one hundred and twenty, and Sabbath

The

present pas-

Rev. L. Northway, under whose ministration

large accessions to the church have been

made and

deep religious feeling awakened.

The Collingwood
Fayette, situated on

managed by

J.

Mills,

in the

Mr. Baker was born

22, 1801,

and

town of La-

D. Palmer, consist of a grist and

Northampton, Mass Dec.

a son of Seth Baker.

He received

a good business education, and began farming

when

He

married Julia A., daughter of

Eli Bryant, February 11. 1833, by whom he had
Nelson Morris, born May 7,
three children, viz

quite young.

Butternut Creek, owned and

is

in

1836, graduated from

Hamilton College

in

1862,

The

subject of this sketch was born in Orange Co., N. Y.,

He

Jan. 21, 1797.

into the

moved, with his

father,

Simeon Thomas,

town of Lafayette, which was then a part of Onondaga

township, in the spring of 1817, thiis being an early

He

entered into the unbroken forest, and began to

He

himself a home.

hardships of a pioneer

On

contended successfully against

life,

bom

all

for

the

this county.

By

this

union there were

whom are now living. His father

good land, to which, by industry and
assisted by a moat excellent wife, he added

ten children, nine of

gave him

fifty

economy, being

acres of
also

three hundred and fifty acres more.

to each of his sons a

good farm.

orchard in his part of the town.

2,

This enabled him

to give

He planted the first appleHe is remembered as being

1795, in Stonington, Conn.

1815, to Lafayette, then a part of

father about that time

tion

all

He

his life

was an

his advice

officer

but was

upon and

settled.

settle estates.

He was often called

He was married to

1873.

townsman, "

Ho

May

29, 1865.

In the words of a fellow-

was an honest man, a good

citizen,

and cannot

be too highly commended."

Of

the two sons

who

insert

this sketch,

Harrison resides

upon the farm redeemed from the wilderness by his father's

hands, and Albert upon a large farm adjoining. They are excellent farmers,
office,

shrewd, upright business

but highly respected

citizens.

men;

not aspiring to

He

church.

and trustworthy man of business was oftn employed to settle

estates. He was often on the grand jury, but always discouraged
of his usefulness,

as Dr. Pahner,

upon

His sons

By

office.

many

whom

are

now

years consistent

He

Dr. Stewart B., reside in Onondaga County.

is

and

members of the BapDec. 17,

two of whom. Rev. Avery R. and

Baptist clergyman in Lafayette.

He

To them were

living.

died, after a life of usefulness,

insert this sketch,

ness talents.

to administer

Sarah, daughter of

Richard Bailey, of Pompey, Feb. 21, 1819.

tist

died, in the midst

known

also widely

of the militia, but declined town

He

He

His

and influence many a dispute tending to a lawsuit

was amicably

church.

lawsuits.

township.

American army.

having become a veterinary surgeon with an extensive practice.

his wife were for

and prevented many

in the

immediately engaged in farming, and followed that avoca-

born eight chDdren, six of

litigation,

Pompey

was drum-major

forward in the development of the country, in town improvements, the establishment of schools, and the support of religion.

and his wife were consistent members of the Congregational

He would not accept town oflSce, but being an efficient

In his youth he came with

his parents to Otsego county, and from there, in the spring

of

He

wild beasts included.

Jan. 21, 1819, he married Laura, daughter of Paul King,

an early comer into

also

settler.

make

Avery F. Palmer, son of Kowland Pahner, was born Feb.

oftn called

He

Avery R.

is

inherit* his father's busi-

upon

to settle estates.

years he held the office of supervisor of Lafayette

was

For
also

superintendent of the penitentiary, and, as a justice of the peaoe,

settled disputes

Stewart B.

known

as

is

without issuing a single summons.

a well-known dentist in Syracuse,

an able writer upon subjects

and

is

also

allied to his profession.

-"^l

'^1.-\

HoMEff Case.

Mffs
PHOTOS er

V.

RuNonf.Symcusz.

Homer Case.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

read law

Syracuse, and was admitted to the bar

in

and died March 18, 1872; Anna

7,
Minerva Byron Watts, born Dec. 15, 1842, graduated from Hamilton College in 1866 with high
honors, but died soon after coming home.
Mr. Baker strove as every father should to give
April

1864,

his

children a liberal education, and has always

taken

deep interest

He

standard of his town.

educational

raising the

in

has been a

member

of

Case.

In early

life

363

Mr. Case obtained a good busi-

common schools and in 1854

married Miss Louisa E., daughter of Benj. Adams.
Immediately after marriage he commenced farming
and continued that pursuit uninterruptedly until
ness education at the

Dec,

At

1861.

this date

he entered the service of

his country as a volunteer in

Regiment of
months, or

Infantry, in

until

August

the 12th

New York

which he served
30,

1862,

fifteen

when he was

the Congregational Church for fifty-four years, and

wounded

a Republican

Upon his return home, he was appointed stationagent at LaFayette Village, which position he still

that

in politics

He

party.

prominent and

is

since the organization of

as one

classed

LaFayette.

citizens of

influential

Few men have been more

upright

most

of the

in their

business

and trustworthy

Homer Case was

August

5,

1828, and

born

the town

wife died

second

Ann

wife,

old Jeffersonian Democrat,

Pompey,
son of Norris and Olive

in

is

and

CASE.

June 21, 1856, and he married

Miss Emily I., daughter of Jay
Morgan, Feb. 5, 1872.
Mr. Case is an

first

for his

HOMER

being considered one of the most courteous

officials on the road.

retains,

His

transactions with the world.

resulting in the loss of one of his limbs.

of

and was one of the most

its hour of

supporters of the Union during

loyal

greatest peril.

MANLIUS,
Manlius,

originally

Township number seven

of

Creek, which forms the northeastern boundary of the

The Limestone enters the town on

the Military Tract, became one of the towns of

town.

Onondaga County upon

ern boundary in two branches, the East and West, the

organization in 1794.

its

was bounded north by the township of Cicero,

east by the Oneida Reservation, south by Pompey,
and west by Onondaga Creek and Lake, inIt

cluding

all

the

tion north of

Onondaga

Salt

the old Genesee

Onondaga Creek, comprising

all

present

limits in

1835.

It

Lot

south-

eastern branch passing through Manlius Village.

This town has a surface of great variety, and contains some of the most picturesque and beautiful

South of the Village of

Springs Reserva-

scenery

Road and

Manlius on both branches of Limestone Creek are

east of

the present towns

of Manlius, DeWitt, part of Onondaga, and part of

Salina, as laid out in 1809.

its

was reduced

to its

No. 7 of the original

in

the county.

which not only furnish excellent sites for mills

and machinery, but which have become noted as
The fall on the East Branch is
places of resort.
falls

the larger and

more important of the two, the

township of Manlius, containing six hundred acres,

and drawn by the Literature Fund, was transferred
to the township of Cicero, and registered as Lot

channel at the edge of the precipice being about

forty-five feet broad, and the width of the rocky

100 in that township, there being originally, by a

The

mistake

in

the

survey,

but ninety-nine

lots

in

Lot 100 in Cicero being drawn by a

soldier, it was deemed necessary to supply that lot
from a portion of the territory of Manlius the
transferrence of Lot No. 7, adjoining Lot No. 99
in Cicero, was accordingly made, and thus the
soldier's land was secured to him, although Manlius
lost one lot of her territory.
The water-courses in the town are Limestone and
Cicero.

Butternut Creeks, forming a junction

in

the north-

ern part of the town and emptying into Chittenango

chasm below about one hundred and

fall,

sixty feet.

including about twenty feet descent of the

rapids above,

is

about eighty-five feet

the banks

rocky and precipitous, formed of different strata of

On

limestone.

nearly the

same

the

West Branch

the

are

falls

height, though the stream

is

nar-

rower and there is much less volume of water.

On Lot 56, three and a half miles north of Manlius Village, are the famous Green Lakes or Green

There are two of these lakes or ponds,

by a small filament of water, which

Ponds.

tied together

name sometimes applied

Siamese Green Lakes."

has given rise to the

them,

"

to

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

364

that the deep

owing to the partial
decomposition of the sulphurcled hydrogen which

Distinguished

it

think

geologists

green color of the water

east, for nails,

Among

The famous Deep

miles east of Manlius

Village.

is

It

passed the Indian

it

97,

maps

of

is

noted on

the Surveyor General.

It

was

were

At

party of

si.x

is

men from

1793.

settled on

number

considerable

town

of

nine,

and

a cavity

fifty

town from 1790

white settler

in

In that year settlers began to look towards

first

1789 in the
was made by

in

settlement

was chosen Chairman, and Levi Jerome

The Supervisor and Town Clerk were

chosen by
lifted

ballot, the

remaining officers by the up-

F"orty-two votes were polled, probably

hand.

ent and casting their votes.

log cabin about a mile northwest of Manlius Village.

elected

The

Town

remote from

so

settlements

time

in

a place

was painfully expe-

rienced by Mr. Tripp and his family, who, iluring a

period

of three

months, were obliged to

live

on

roots and milk, with the addition of a single bushel

of

corn which he procured at Herkimer and brought

home on his back.

who was an inmate
and

his

was the

His

father,

an

of the cabin, died

old

man,

in

1792,

death and burial of a white

first

person in the town.

The

in the immewas Conrad Lower. He erected

the first frame house in the town in 1792.
The
floor-boards of his house were brought from Palafirst

neighbor of Mr. Tripp,

diate settlement,

on the Mohawk
His son made a trip

tine,

as a

Secretary.

David Tripp, who brought his family here from

Ralston, Saratoga County, in 1790, and lived in a
difficulty of subsisting at that

it

and desirable place of residence.

The first town meeting was held at the tavern of
Benjamin Morehouse, April 1, 1794.
Cyrus Kinne,
'

the original township of

Manlius. was IJenjamin Morehouse,

present town, the

to

suitable

Esq.,
first

parts of

different

in

1793, but it was not till

of
the
organization
the
date
of the county,
1794,
acquired
that Manlius had
much of a name abroad.

containing ice the whole year round.

The

England.

Scattering families located

the

or sixty feet in depth,

Eaklv Settlement.

town were chiefly

inhabitants of the

first

New

from

as the " Ice Hole',' in this

some

was one of the early pioneers.

owned at a later day by

the farm

the early settlers of the county.

The

Manlius

near the northwest corner of Lot sixtyis

lived long to

R. Reed, and held a distinguished position

Sulphur Springs exist

bonate of iron and carbonate of lime.

is

man, and

Organ'ization of the Town,

of soda, sulphate of magnesia, car-

The cavern known

and

Peter

Village, containing sulphureted hydrogen, carbonic

town,

grist

organized,

Schuyler was

Fort

one a short distance south of

acid, sulphate

now

among

surprised and killed by the Indians.

in the

first

twenty shillings an

his land at

a wealthy

Col. Elijah Phillips

He

during the Revolution a scouting

white

The

enjoy the fruits of his labors.

with names, initials and dates.

of the dates on an ancient beech tree

this spring

and bou^jht

He became

acre.

country, and the trees forming a shade about the

One

for

by him on Limestone Creek.

built

in 1795,

noted

watering place for persons moving to the western

place were carved

on Lot
was the
the town upon the

Captain Joseph Williams, from Connecticut, came

the old

all

He

saw-mills in the town of Manlius as

man, as also the first road laid out in the county.

It was the starting place of all the old surveys of
the Oneida Reservation and

settled

1794.

organization of the county.

Onondagas, before the advent of the white

to the

Ward

in

Peace

Justice of the

Mr. Pratt suf-

Mr.

owned

of which he

all

first

from the Oneidas

trail

pounds on

and William

Pratt

year, 1793.

fered unusual hardships.

not only a

natural curiosity, but a place of historic interest.

Near

may be named Caleb

Ward, both of the same

is

three and a half

situated on the county line about

forty-six

other settlers prior to the begmning of

this century

holds in solution.

Spring of Indian notoriety

and returned with

his back.

is

the rest from Danforth'smill.

to Oriskany, thirty-three miles

all,

or nearly

all,

the voters of the town being pres-

The

list

was

house, Overseers of the Poor

Elijah Phillips and Kyal

of

following

Comfort Tyler, Supervisor Levi Jerome,

Clerk David Williams and Benjamin More:

Roads

Van

Reuben

Charles Merriam,

liingham, Commissioners

Patterson, Ichabod

Lathrop,

Ward, and Timothy

Teall, Assessors
Caleb Pratt and David IJaker,
Constables and Collectors Libbeus Foster, William
Ward, Ichabod Lathrop, Reuben Patterson, Cyrus
Kinne, Ryal Bingham, Jeremiah Jackson, Gershom
Breed and Lemuel Hall, Overseers of Roads
Aaron Wood, Elijah Phillips, John Danforth and
Jeremiah Jackson, Fence-Viewers.
At this meeting it was resolved, "That no hog
shall go at large without a stout ring in his nose,
and a yoke about his neck, extending above the
depth of his neck and half the depth below."
Isaac

Vleck,

William

HlSiDLHCi or

CURTISS

TWirCHELL.A(->'..iu4,0.ot.i)Ao>i Coonjf.H

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

bounty of four pounds was ordered

to

be paid

for

the scalp of a full-grown wolf presented by any per-

son to the Supervisor, and thirty shillings

Vleck were the

first

chosen

to

Van

School Commissioners chosen

1797.

Special

town into school

the

directed to divide

of

districts.

Pratt.

The

records show no regular proceedings of these

Commissioners or Committeemen, and the first
organization of the school districts was very imperfectly made in 1810 and i8ii,butin 1835, a
more systematic organization was effected.
Lot No. 74, Manlius, had been set apart by the
Surveyor- General for gospel and school purposes,
and finally sold by the town May 2, 18 14, for ^12,-

When DeWitt

114.42.

was

set off from

Manlius

the school fund was divided and Manlius received

share $7,752.42, the annual income of which

for its

was divided among the school

Old

term of sixty years

for a

Williams, Aaron

here the

first

known

Mr. Hamilton, of Albany,

Mills," of a

Wood and

Mr.

Phillips,

David

Walter Worden, erected

David Wil-

saw-mill in the town.

liams soon sold his share to Phineas Stevens for

si.xty

In

acres of land.

built a grist mill a little

&

Phillips

above the bridge.

Cloth-

1796,

Butler

frame house was built by Conrad Lower,

It

stood,

till

a few

years

ago, on

the

The

first

school house was erected in 1798.

was of logs and stood a

It

north of Mr. Castello's

little

mill.

In

1801, Manlius Village had six dwellings, one

tavern, one store, a doctor, lawyer and blacksmith.

began

It also

this

century with a postoffice, estab-

Square.

1800, and was named "Liberty

This name was soon changed to Manlius

Square."

In 1804, the village contained about thirty

lished in the year

houses, and continuing to grow,

most prominent business place

In

became by

far the

in the county.

807, an important accession

the advent of Azariah Smith,

was made to it in
who became its leading

merchant, and was for forty years intimately identified with the growth and prosperity of the place.

Mr. Smith was born at Middlefield, Mass., DecemIn 1807, he became clerk for his uncle
7, 1784.

ber

districts.

In 1793 Elijah Phillips leased the property

as the "

in

dyke leading to Fayetteville, and was many years

occupied by Salmon Sherwood.

Gershom Breed,

and Caleb

Elijah Phillips, Jeremiah Jackson

first

1792.

Committee was

cooperate with the Commissioners, and

The Committee was composed

The
in

Charles Mosely, Daniel Campbell and Isaac

She died

1793.

14,

1824, and Mr. Phillips in 1854.

for the

scalp of any one under one year old.

for the town, in

Simeon DeWitt, January

36s

Calvin Smith, at

Onondaga

3d, 1807, a store in a

Hill,

and opened June

frame building on the south

side of the turnpike, nearly opposite the brick store

which he afterwards

built

and occupied.

Here Mr.

Smith, after a clerkship of only eight weeks with

his uncle, entered upon his successful and distin-

guished mercantile career.

He

subsequently en-

tered extensively into the manufacture of cotton.

ing works and an

At

afterward

where he resided, a trustee of ManAcademy, a trustee of Hamilton College, and a

trustee of Auburn Theological Seminary.

oil mill were put in operation

by Deacon Dunham, and stores were
kept there, first by Mr. Jones, and then by William

Warner

in

181

1.

the time of his decease he was a trustee of the

District School

lius

In

MANLIUS VILLAGE.

1824, he was elected one of the Presidential

Electors and cast his vote for John Ouincy

In 1838-40 he was a

The

first

settler,

John A. Shaeffer, a German,

established his log cabin on the site of Manlius Vil-

This log house soon

after

became

lage in

1792.

the

tavern in that village, with Mr. Shaeffer as

first

"

mine host," and

Baron Steuben in

in

1794, during the sojourn of

this

house over night, the

first

member

Adams.

of the State Legisla-

and was Chairman of the Committee on Claims,

and a member of several of the most important
Committees.
Mr. Smith closed his active and useture,

career on the 12th of November, 1846, in the

city of New Haven, whither he had gone to avail
ful

himself of medical assistance.

white child of the village, and son of Mr. Shaeffer,

Manlius Village was an important business point

was born. In view of this circumstance, the child

was named Steuben Shaeffer, and the generous
Baron gave him a deed of two hundred acres of land
in the town of Steuben.
Charles Mulholland, from Ireland, was the next
inhabitant.
He built his log house near the residence of Mr Pendleton.
The first wedding in the village was that of Nicholas Phillips and Caty Garlock, solemnized by

before the building of the Erie Canal, as the trans-

61

portation of merchandise and other goods to and

from the east and west, and the travel both ways
centered here by the meeting of the Seneca and

Cherry Valley turnpikes. This transportation and

was at one time so immense that almost
every other house along the road was a tavern.
There were then six or seven large public houses
between this village and Chittenango.
travel

HISTORY or ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

366

Manlius Village was for more than twenty years

the center of a large trade from the surrounding
country, and was a driving business place when

There were a
Syracuse was a dreary swamp.
place
in
1815.
in
the
dozen or more stores
The Manlius Hranch Hible Society was organized
at the Presbyterian Church, Manlius Village, May
The first officers of the Society were
31, 1821.
Rev. H. N. Woodruff, President Samuel L. Ed-

This

Mr

John Watson, Treasurer Eben

William Eager and Allen Breed, Vice-

\\ illi.ims,

Presidents, with twenty-six District Directors.

The
Society

New

Common

Auxiliary Hible and

for

the

Western

Prayer Hook

(ten)

clergyman residing

the others, Messrs. Wattles and

in the village
Mr. Wattles was
Phelps, were prominent citizens.
;

Treasurer tf the village

in

1816, and

ML. Granger,

Both of their names are attached to an

interesting note or due-bill issued by the village,
and which has been preserved by Henry C. \'an
President.

Schaack,

l-lsq.

It is in

size

about

five

by two inches,

printed from ordinary type on plain white paper,

Across the right

hand margin is a narrow black border having on it
in white letters, "si.\ and a quartek cents." and
across the left margin is a narrow ornamental bor-

now

der.
"

considerably

discolored.

The bill reads as follows

The Corporation of the N'illage
:

promises to pay the bearer

Manlius

of

and a
on demand.
si.\

cents in current bank bills,

Manlius, May 16, 1816.
Waitles. Trcas. M. L.
J. O.

(luartcr 16J1

Grangek,

Pres't."

Hczekiah L. Granger, then President of the vilwas a distinguished physician and a gentleman
He was a brother of Gen. Amos
of eminent talents.
In 1814 he was a member of Assembly
P. Granger.

lage,

county, and

for the

Mr. \'an
bill

issued

in

1819 was elected

of

it

is

to above.

At

the head

a spread eagle, over which are the words

" State of

a lion

Sheriff.

Schaack has also a twenty-five cent

by the Village Corporation after the

date of the one referred

New

rampant

York," a rising sun

at the other.

It

The

at

one end and

reads thus

August

bills, at

the

Newspapers.
There have been published
lius at

oflfice

in

the Village of

Man-

diftercnt times seven or eight newspapers.

by Abram Romeyn,
was made to fix
That name,
the name "Denie" upon the village.

The
in

first

was the Deriie

1806, at a time

Gazette,

when an

effort

modified

however, slightly

in

pronunciation, got

upon the paper, and it was popularly stigmaIt only lived

tized as the " Dar.sed Gazette"
started
here was the
The
ne.xt
paper
about a year.
" Herald of the Times," May 24, 1808, by Leonard
Mr. Kellogg commanded an independKellogg.
ent rifle corps from this village, which served in the
war of 1812. The name of the paper was changed
by Daniel Clark to " Onondaga Herald," October
fixed

28, 1818.

It

was afterwards

called "

The Times,"

June 27, 1821,

" was started
"
Republican
Onondaga County
the
The
by the since famous editor, Thurlow Weed
" Onondaga Republican " was ne.vt published, October 27, 1824, by Laurin Dewey. The "Manlius

and continued about three years.

Repository" succeeded it, and reached its fifth

volume under the direction of Luman A Miller,
and for a time under Mr. Stillson. F"inally, Mr.
Fonda published the " Onondaga Flag " for a short
time.

Azariah Smith.

became a

distinguished

scholar and missionary in Western

Asia, whither

Jr.,

November, 1842.
He devoted
nearly seven years to the most diligent and thorough preparatory study, to make sure his comhe embarked

in

petency and usefulness

in his

missionary

To

field.

ensure his greater usefulness as a clergyman, he had,

before leaving his native country, by a proper course
of study,

of their

9th, 1816.
J.

a copy of a receipt given April

is

by Uriah Palmer
" Received of Azariah Smith one dollar in full
of all debts, dues and demands, whatever name and
nature, from the beginning of the world to the end

made himself

a competent physician

and

" The Corporation of the Village of Manlius

promises to pay the bearer, on demand, twenty five

cents in current bank

following

4, 1818,

for

treasurer.

respected

there a highly

died

citizen.

at a

January 18, 1815. Among

its officers were Rev. W. A. Clark, Recording SecAzariah Smith, Treasurer Jas. O. Wattles
retary
and Ralph R. Phelps, members of the Board of

Managers
Rev. W. A. Clark was then

He

Legislature.

in this village

lawyer of some distinction,

of eternity."

York, was formed by the Episcopalians

meeting

Wattles was a

at

of the State of

District

an unpaid debt of the Village of

one time Judge of the Court of Common

He went to Indiana over fifty years ago
Pleas.
and was soon appointed a Circuit Judge by the

and

wards, Secretary

bill is still

Manlius.

O. Wattles, Treasurer."

the

field

same

useful

purpose, on

his

arrival at his

of his future labors, he studied and

several

foreign

Armenian.

languages

Turkish,

mastered

Arabic

and

After spending nine laborious years

in

that distant land he died at the early age of thirty-

'

'4

Mrs

Oavio Collin.

Collin.

m^m:^^

Old HoJUi3UAO

0'

3AV.'0

COlLiN

ritv;u*;i.ii. ^

Y.

^Qhl Mil

a.:^i

o^ fAviiuvtLU,SiuLLDi&iS./

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The

five.

him

editor

of a

standard review said of

hundred and
thirty-nine

" As the author of valuable papers on Mineralogy

and Syrian Antiquities, Azariah Smith, Jr., took
rank with the best scholars in the land."

Dr, Willi.^m Taylor for more than fifty years

was a highly successful practicing physician of Manilas, and honored throughout the State as standing
at the head of his profession.

The

1840, there were in attendance two hundred and

studied the languages.

It

was incorporated in 1842, the first

Hiram HopRobert Fleming.
kins was President in 1843 Jonathan G. Rowland,
1844 J. V. H. Clark, 1845-46 E. E. May, 1847
Edward Boylston, 1848 Lloyd Remington, 1849'51
A. H. Jerome, 1852-54; Robert Gilmore,
village

185s

Joseph Baker, 1856; E. P. Russell, 1857D. Higley, 1863-64 E. P. Russell,

'62, inclusive

1865; A. H. Jerome, 1866-67; A. A. Wood,

R. Rotenburg, 1869
1868
E. P. Russell, 1870'71

Henry Whitney, 1872

E. P. Russell, 1873
Baker,
Joseph
George
1874; E. U. Scoville, 1875
The other Trustees for 1877
J. Champlin, i876-'77.
were J. W. Moulter, W. L. Scoville, John W. Boyls;

an interesting cabinet

of

specimens and

W. W. Candee.

Graded School.
village

has

ing

three

among

those

who

zealously entered into this

Smith, Nicholas

P. Randall
and Dr. William Taylor, who were elected as the
first temporary Board of Trustees.
Under an act

of the Legislature incorporating Manlius

passed April
Taylor,

13,

together

Reed and the

Academy,

1835, Messrs. Smith, Randall and

with

excellent Lhiion

Silas

Graded

rooms, with accommodations

for two
D.
Wilson,
J.
Principal.
The school has one hundred and sixtyone resident, and thirty-one non-resident pupils.

hundred and

fifty

Prof

pupils.

Mr. Hayden W, Wheeler, a former resident and

member of the Manlius Academy, now engaged in
business

in

New

the City of

York, made a generous

contribution of about g 1,800, in

1870, towards the

enlargement and improvement of the Union School

building, and more recently donated a valuable
philosophical apparatus.

Masonic.

Military Lodge No.

name and age

there

In 1834, decisive steps were taken for the establishment of an Academy at Manlius Village. Promproject were Azariah

now an

93.

We

of this lodge that

judge from the

it

got

Williams,

Peter

R.

four clergymen of the village, namely,

Algernon S. Hollister, Carlos Smith, David Bellamy and R. Houghton, became the first permanent
Board of Trustees.
Money was raised by subscription and the ground
and building known as the "Stone House" purThis was a two-story rough-stone buildchased.
ing and in the early days of the village had been
occupied for stores, printing office, and other purTo fit it for an academy it was thoroughly
poses.
overhauled and substantially repaired, the rooms
rearranged and a third story added to it, which was
surmounted by a belfry or cupola. Thus changed,
it was a very respectable and convenient building.
The Academy was opened for instruction in May,
1835, with fifty scholars in the male, and si.xty in
the female, department.
The catalogue at the end
of the first year showed a total attendance of two

were not enough Masons

counties

named

in

name

its

from the Military Lands of this section.

Manlius Academy.

inent

it

domestic and foreign

curiosities.

ton and

whom

had connected with

School, with a building remodeled in 1870, contain-

President being

seventy-four dift'erent students, sixty-two of

The
Incorporation.

males, one hundred and

one hundred and five.
In

forty-four

females,

367

Probably

either of the

to organize a lodge at the time this

one was formed.

At

all

events the

first

meeting

Lodge No. 93, Manlius, was

composed of Masons of Chenango and Onondaga
Counties, and was held June 30, 1802.
The first
Caleb B. Merrill, W. M.
officers elected were
Timothy Teall, S. W. and David Williams, J. W.
The first meeting'under the charter was held November 4, 1802.
On the 25th of December, 1830, the lodge was
closed on account of the Morgan excitement, until
March 25, 1851, when it was opened with the folIllustrious Remington, W. M.
lowing officers:
for the organization of

and S. J. Wilcox, J.
Lloyd Remington, S. W.
The lodge was rechartered as Military Lodge
W.
;

No. 215, June 6, 185 1. June 26, 1867, the old

Number "93 " was restored.
The Masons have held their meetings in Azariah
Smith's building since its erection in 1816, at an
annual rent of one grain of barley, on a perpetual
lease.

Present officers of Military Lodge No. 93 W.

M. Scoville, W. M.; Joseph Fowler, S. W. Geo.
:

P. Wells, Jr., J.

Ward,

J.

W.; Wallace Everson,

D.; Chas. C.

1854.

D.;John

A. Hale, Tyler.

Williams Chapter No.

8,

S.

First officers

72.

Organized

Illustrious

Feb.

Remington,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

368

H.

P.;

Jabez Lewis. S.; Robert Gilmore, K.

Wood. H.

ent officers C. U. H.

K.:

W. W.

Clark. S.; Charles Hart. T.;

Secretary

P.

J.

W. M.

C. H.;

Chaplain

I?ailcy,

A.

Scoville. P. S.;

Geo.

Pres-

E. S. Card,

P.;

Candee.
P.

Wells.

J.

number

members, seventy- four.

of

The Faculty and

Present

A.

S. Balsley. R.

Champlin, ist V.; D. D. Harnes. 2d

Wattles. Tyler.
v.; Charles Hart. 3d V.; O.

C; George

Oswego Robert Dunlop, Esq Jamesville

Dennis \'alentine, Esq., Syracuse Thos. D. Green,
Esq, Syracuse; Levi VV. Hall. Esq.. Syracuse;
H O. Moss. Esq., New Berlin.

Esq.,

Officers are as follows

Rev. Theo. Babcock, D. D., Rector and Head

Master; Rev. F. ^L Hubbard, D. D., Classical
Master; Rev. Wm. F. Hubbard, M. A., Classics
Gerand Mathematics
F. W. Burnham, B. A
man and Music Jay A. Churchill, Penmanship
S. D. Jennings, Librarian and Assistant; H. N.
Babcock, Natural Science Julia E. Remington,
Matron.
,

Temperance Organization.
Good Hope Tent. N. O.

of

I.

R..

ganized January 2r. 1876. with

W. Belknap. D.

R. S.

Manlius. Ormembers.

si.vteen

James Eastwood. C.

Present number, forty-eight.

R.; John

Stephen Cheney, Treasurer; Clinton Owen,

Alvan March settled here as

after him came R. R. Phelps,
James O. Wattles, Nicholas P.
wards and others.
Mr. Randall was a graduate
County, and settled

Abijah Yelverton,

Mechanical Association was founded

Randall, S. L. Ed-

and holds

1.

profession,

of Yale College in

He

soon became distinguished

and

till

position

among

great jurists and advocates of the State.

Edwards was

his

in

the

This school was founded

in

the

to

village.

It

skill,

and garden,

but has been made the occa-

and citizens of the town, together with sym-

pathising thousands from the surrounding neigh-

J.

School for Bovs.

1849,

sion of grand reunions of the remaining " Old Set-

are.

also a jurist of distinction.

St. John's

and mechanical

The

borhoods.

S.

situated adjacent

in

the Fair Grounds,

at

of the products of the farm, orchard

7,

Judge

Annual Fairs

has not only been a marked success as an exhibition

tlers "

March

the lime of his death,

commanding

1836, occupied a

its

beautifully

Manlius Village as a lawyer

in

The Manlius AND Pompey Agricultural and

a lawyer in 1798;

the class of 1803. studied law at Clinton. Oneida

L.

Association. President. Jas. O.

Huntington Vice-President. Chas. W. Hogan
Treasurer, Rob't
Secretary, Walter C. Devereu.v
G. Wynkoop
Coresponding Secretary. Wm. C.

S.

Elsbre.

Manlius Bar.

181

The Alumni

R.; A. C. Haskins. Jr.,

P. C. S.

in

present officers of the Association

Charles Hart. President

W.

Wm.

Moulter. Vice-Presidents

J.

Mason and

William Manlius

Smith, Secretary and Henry Whitney, Treasurer.

1869 by the Right

Fire Department.

Rev. F. D. Huntington. S. T. D., Bishop of the

Diocese of Central

New

York.

The

vices and teaching conform to the

religious ser-

order of the

bers

Episcopal church.

The School
site

Building, situated on a

near the village of Manlius,

cious and a model in

all its

formation of

and capa-

C. Haskins, Jr., Secretary

the beginning to keep

to provide

all

these respects

it

sen'ed reputation, and stands

its

among

trustees at this date, 1878, are

1842

Stephen Cheney,
;

ist

Assistant

Charles Hart.

Eagle Hose

thirteen

Foreman; John Baker.

Haskins. Secretary

Frank Hale.
Assistant; A. C.

members.
Jr..

ist

Charles Hart, Treasurer.

Churches.

the very high-

est of the schools of its class.

The

look constantly to the

self-reliant habits

i.

Treasurer.

and in
has won an honored and de-

manly and

May

1877; forty memnew hand engine. Button make. James

6,

Foreman

up the highest standard of scholarship,

in its discipline to

organized

Almon

generally for the physical comfort and nurture of

and

i,

commanding

large

is

Company No.

Jcwitt,

appointments.

The School has aimed from

pupils,

Torrent

reorganized 1837, also April

Several Congregational, Presbyterian and Baptist

Societies were organized in the town of Manlius

during the years from 1789 to 1S03, under the labors

Hugh Wallace, Seth Williston and Elders
Campbell and Breed. The citizens of Manlius Vil-

of Rev.
:

Rt. Rev. F. D. Huntington, S. T. D., President

Hon. Geo. F. Comstock, LL. D. Vice-President;
Chas. Stebbins, Esq Secretary
J. W. Barker,
Rev. T. Babcock, D. D., Rector
Esq., Treasurer
Rev. J. M. Clarke, D. D., Syracuse; Rev. A. B.
Beach, D. D., Ithaca Hon. Chas. Andrews. LL.D.,
Syracuse
Hon. J. T. Miller, Seneca P""alls James
Geo. C. McWhortcr,
Appleton, Esq., Manlius
;

lage during those years,

meetings

at the "

churches

in the village of

we have obtained

Old

many

of them,

attended

There are now four

Manlius. of whose history

Mills."

the following information

Christ Chirch, (Episcopalian) is the oldest

in Manlius.
Says Clark's Onondaga

church

li

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

" The first knowledge we have of anything like a
congregation of Episcopalians in this vicinity, is in
the years 1798-99, &c., at which time the families
of Messrs. David Green, John Roberts, Jonathan

Ward,

Hurd,

dents of the towns of

Dodge and others, resiPompey and Manlius, used to

assemble at each other's dwellings and conduct

The Rev.
worship after the Episcopal manner.
Mr. Nash first preached twice as an Episcopalian
clergyman at a private house (David Hibbard's)
in
Pompey. Rev. Davenport Phelps came on
directly after as a Missionary, and often preached
at Manlius, Eagle Village, Morehouse's Flats and
Onondaga, from 1802 to 1806.
" In January, 804, the Episcopal Church was first
organized under Rev. Davenport Phelps, Missionary.
Rev. A. G. Baldwin, Missionary, 1809 Rev.
Parker Adams, first Rector, iSio; Rev. William
A. Clark, 1811. Church building erected, 1813
Rev.
since which the following have had charge
Messrs. Clark, Pardee, Bulkley, Dyer, Hickox, Selkrig, Hollister, Pound, Appleton, Davis, Pise, Gay."
1

369

ton, Mrs. Mary Ann Jackson, Horace Hunt and

Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hall. Rev. Jabez Chadwick
preached on the occasion of the organization from
Matt., vi. 6-8.
The first Deacon was William

Gardner. The first Elders, chosen May 21, 1817,

were Isaac Hall, Jacob L. Sherwood and Horace
Hunt.
Services were held a portion of the time in the
old " Stone House," corner of Seneca and South
Streets.
The church edifice was built in 18 19,
and remodeled and improved a few years ago.
The first pastor was Rev. Ira M. Olds, who
officiated every

year,

beginning

Isaac

Reed

alternate Sabbath for about

December,

1815.

supplied the pulpit for a while

which various men have ministered

to the

The

present Rector

Rev. Fordyce M. Hub-

is

bard, D. D.

Value

church property

of

total,

members

Church,

$6,000

$7,800.

since

Daniel C. Hopkins, i8i8-'2i

Hezekiah N.
Woodruff, 1821-25; Raiph Cushman, 1825-30;
Hiram H Kellogg, a few months John Ingersoll,
a few months; Talcott Bates, 1831-32
Carlos
Smith, 1832-36;
Tobey, a few months;
Amzi Benedict, 1837-39; John J. Slocum, 1839'42
Dennis Piatt, 1842-45 Parsons C. Hastings,
1845-51 Albert H. Gaston, 1851-54; Addison
K. Strong, 1854-55 Daniel Waldo, a few months
Tappings. Reeve, 1856; N. Elmer, 1857; Jacob
Post, i858-'6o; Chas. Little, i860; Joel Linsley,
1862-63 Alfred A. Graley, i863-'68 Charles P.
Coit, a few months to May 1870
Henry M. Dodd,
;

of

number of communiSunday School, thirty-

of families, thirty

cants, si.xty

five.

When

church

Rectory, $1,800

Number

in order as follows

one

Then Rev.

the church edifice was built in

1813,

it

'>

stood on the

hill at

the east end of the village.

In

1832

it

was moved down on wheels through what

Williams' orchard and garden, " and

now Mr.

is

placed

in

its

present

eligible

with

position,

its

steeple standing, bell hanging, and organ ready to

play, without jarring
foot

of

its

it

plastering."

so

much

as to

move

This successful

a square
feat

was

performed by the management of the long-standing

Vestryman, Mr. Robert Gilmore. Mr. Azariah
Smith donated the lot where the church now
" The original bell in
this church was
stands.
the
funeral
of Mr. Stoughtolled
at
when
cracked
was
afterwards
recast by
It
ton Morse, in 1822.
The church since
Mr. Horace Hills, at Auburn."
a new
its removal has been very much improved
chancel has been added, and a memorial window, in
memory of that esteemed citizen and life-long
Vestryman, Dr. William Taylor " the good physi;

cian."

Trinity Presbyterian Church of Manlius.

August 29,
was formed

181 5, "Trinity Presbyterian

at the Franklin

Society"

School House, where

The church was

meetings were held.
Hugh Wallace,
Rev.
October
organized
24, 1815,
following
eight
the
of
Presiding, and consisted
Mrs.
Sarah
William Gardner,
original members
the

first

L. Pomeroy, Mrs.
62*

Rebecca Wood, Caleb Reming-

May, 1870-72; John

C.

B. Preston,

1874-76; H.

Hazen, 1876 and yet pastor.

Azariah Smith,

highly

Jr.

son of the remarkable and

esteemed Azariah

missionary to Turkey

in

Smith, Sr., went as a

1842,

where he labored

nine years and died suddenly at the age of thirtyfive,

but not

and made
Present

numbered
School,

till

his

he had mastered three languages

mark

as a scholar.

membership, eighty-three
three hundred
number in
;

once
Sabbath

it

fifty.

First Methodist Episcopal Church of ManThe lot on which this church was first built
lius.
was deeded to Daniel P. Williams, Luther Buell,
Samuel Brown, Origen Eaton, Jedediah Caswell,

Ezekiel Root, John Peck, John Johnson, and

Ebenezer Conner, as Trustees, it being part of
Lots 86 and 97. The edifice was erected in 1822,
and stood in the middle of the street on which it
now stands. It was removed to its present location in June, 1844, and has been very much imAt first it was
proved from its original condition.
" ornamented with a spire," which was subsequently
superceded by " a low tower." In the changes and
enlargements which afterwards took place a new
and elegant steeple was placed upon the building.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

370
the oldest

Pajier. 3,500 pounds j>er day.

and employ fifteen hands.
K. H. C. PKtsTON. Manufacturer of the " Preston Harvester " Established in 1873. M""- Preston
commenced manufacturing in 1863.
& Sons. Proprietors of the Stone
J. Hamli.v

tion.

pastors in regular succession,

we have not

these have been furnished

Mills.

Erected

Elders Harmon, Seager, Giles, Snyder and

us
Rev. M. S. Wells, present pastor.
Lanning.
The church numbers two hundred and thirty-

1853.

These

been able

to obtain, but

present proprietors manufac-

Wrapping

ture Straw

meetings were held just south of the present loca-

The

The

Mr. Tremain.

members of this church now

living, the following names have been furnished us
Rowland Caldwell, Peter Wormwood, Arnold RemThe early
ington, and his wife, Mary Remington.

Among

in

1827; burnt in 1850; rebuilt in

have a superior water-power,

mills

members

six

Sunday School,

five barrels per day, and

Messrs. Hamlin &

Cement and Plaster

ninety.

Baptist Churches were among

Baptist Chukch.
the earliest

in

the town of Manlius, but no edifice

was erected

in

the village

till

The

1828.

1871.

in

Located

one mile below Manlius Village on the S., C. &

N. Y. R. R. Champlin & Co., proprietors. (Geo.
J.

Champlin and

Henry N.

barrels per

But now all this

and seats facing the door.
has been changed the church is a neat commodious edifice, with a fine steeple and bell, and everj--

Wood,

Works

annum.

Wood Manufacturing

Burhans.

Product, twenty-five thousand

established in 1S72.

interior

good taste and modern style.

The following notes have been furnished us reThe earliest
specting the history of the church
meetings were held in barns and school houses in

Established

Manlius Cement and Lime Works

structure

with double rows of old-fashioned, rectangular windows all around the four sides, gallery all round the

it

Mills.

Three hands em|)loyed.

creeled at that time has since been greatly changed.

The old church was a square two-story building

thing about

one hundred and twentyemploy three hands.

Sons are also jiroprietors of

four run of stones, capacity

proprietor.

C.

W. H.

Wagon

Maker's

Companv.

Manufacturerof

and Carpenter's Tools. Established in Pompey in

Employs
1844, and removed to Manlius in 1876.

'

in

seven hands.

Russell Morgan, Empire Yarn

neighborhoods of Manlius, Watervale, Oran,

the

Eagle Village, and

Manlius.

In

181 3

in

the

the

Academy

present

building at

organization was

of the original

members

were, Elder Na-

Kctchum, Jacob Cleveland, Elijah Weston,

James Jobcs, Samuel Edwards, Joseph Williams,
Thomas H. Gridlcy. William Fillmore and Jonathan
Isaac

Ball.

Nathan Baker, Charles Morton, David

Ik'llamy, John Smitzer, George Brigham, Abner
Maynard, Nathan Wright and J. W. Taggart, have
Revs.

been pastors.

The

Rev. C. E. Harris present pastor.

original church edifice cost about $3,000.

Water-power.

yarn

per

About 30.000 pounds

annum manufactured eight hands
;

Joshua Knowlton and Origen Eaton

made the first clearing on the site of Fayetteville.
Cyrus Kinne, who first carried on the business of a
In

Some

lished, 1872.

791,

blacksmith

in

the town, and

was remodeled in 1867 at an e.xpense of $2,500.

present number of members is about seventy,
with a Sunday School attendance of about fifty.

first

These

mills

were erected about 1830. a portion of

the foundation being a part of the old Cotton Fac-

which had been erected in

The paper mills were formerly owned by

tory, destroyed

1813.

by

fire,

The

John Delamater opened a store in

Cyrus Kinne built the first frame house in
1802.
The settlement for many years was called
1804
" The Corners " or " Manlius Four Corners," but
upon the establishment of a jjostoflfice it was named

house

in 1801.

who about

honor of the Marquis dc LaFayette,

that time paid a visit to this country.

Incorporation and Officers.

The

Village of Fayetteville was

May

incorporated

first

It was reincor1844
porated under the general law passed April 2, 1870,
and January 28, 1871. The first Board of Trustees

under a special

Candee & Wells, Manlius Paper Mills.

a citizen of

tavern was kept by Carey Coats in a small log

The

Manufacti;res.

became

considerable distinction, settled here in 1792.

Fayetteville, in
It

Estab-

FAYETTEVILLE.

'

than Baker, Samuel Sherman", Willoughby Millard.

all

employed.

formed under the name of the " Pompey and Manlius Baptist Church," although there was a prior
organization, records of which e.vist as early as
1805.

Manufactures
of

Mills, Manlius.

kinds of Knitting Yarns.

act.

6,

consisted of John Si)rague, President

main, Frederick Pratt,

Joseph

F'itch.

Jr.,

George

For the years

S.

Porter Trc

Taylor and

following,

till

1877,

inclusive, the following have served as Presidents

"Gfi'EEN LAKI. T/IRm",

Residence

or

ANSON SMITH,

MaiNLIUS Center,

Onondaga Co.NY

-y'

Residence OF

D!?

JUDSON H.GRAVES.

Mahuvs

No/vD/iGA co.,N y

VIEW LOOKING SOUTH

*^

\^VL O

.:i

f'ffl*^<j

l^y

t\l.b'Ut

''*L t

I'>

L/.W.

VIEW LOOKING- EAST

i^H-*:*-*M;.Tt,.,.

,H;-i*-***'"""
,,it^,.VJ>ijfe

^^

CV, FAyETTEviLLE, Onond/(g>* Co \.K

m^

B.ic^#.^

_^

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

of the Village Board

Porter Tremain, 1845

John
Reuben
Watson, 1846 Caleb Whitford, 1847-48
H. Bangs, iSjO-'si William Parker, Jr.. 1852
James Mead, 1853; Jeremiah Dicker, 1854; John
:

G.

Hiram Eaton. 1856: Nathan

Hiram Eaton, 1858 R. H. Bangs,

1855:

Reilly,

Seward, 1857

1859: Hiram Eaton, i860;

R. H. Bangs, 1861-

Hiram Eaton, 186^-64-6^ Lewis H. Eaton,

Daniel Bur1866-67 Joseph L. Mathews, 1868
hans, 1869-70 Henry L. Beard, 1871 Daniel BurF. M. Severance,
hans, 1872 William Hurd, 1873
1874- 7 $-76: Edward Collin, 1877, with D. H.
Graham, C. H. Jackson and William Hurd,

'62

Manufacturers.

R.

run of stones

per day.

It

Company was

organized August 30, 1845.

was reorganized as Fire Company No. i and

Hook and Ladder Company, January

company

24,

1854.

and hose) called "Hydra,"

fifty members.
established in i86r
There are several quarries and manufactories of
Present

(fire

cement in the vicinity of Fayetteville and in the

The works of Messrs. Bangs
town of Manlius
located
at Fayetteville on the Erie
& Gaynor are

The

Canal.

Excelsior Hydraulic

Cement

is

largely

manufactured by them, as well as all the cooperage

The works were established
its shipping.

five

hands.

of flour and

Business established

Capacity of

ten of pearl barley

Mills built

in 1854.

by John McVicker in 185 1. Water-power on the

Ledyard Dyke, twenty-one feet fall.

Edward

Johnson, Fayetteville Mills.

and Merchant and Custom Flour.

Pearl Barley

Four run of
per day

Capacity one hundred barrels

hands employed.
Business estab-

stones.

six

lished in 1863.

Trustees.
Fire

employ

mills, fifty barrels

Hatch, Pearl Mills. Manufactures

Custom Flour. Six

C.

Pearl Barley and Merchant and

371

Beard, Grouse

News

and

&

Book

Co., Manufacturers of

Paper.

Established

The

1865.

in

building has been used as a Paper Mill for twentyIt is a water-power establishment and
employs forty hands.

five years.

BuRHANS

&

Blanchard, Sash,

and Mouldings.
factories,

Established

1855.

Annual amount of

hands.

thirty

Doors
Three

Blinds,

in

busi-

Water-power.

ness, S 100,000.

Russell Morgan, Grain Cradle Factory.

ness established

Busi-

Located just north of the

Six hands employed capac-

in 1838.

village of Fayetteville.

used in

ity 15,000.

and their present capacity is 1,000 barrels

About sixty hands are employed in the

in 1820,

per day.

Banks.

The

business.

large quantity of this

cement

now being

is

It is used
used on Government works in Canada.
almost exclusively in constructing the Welland

Canal, and the public works at Ottawa, and docks

This firm are also manufacturers of

and Quicklime.

Bank of Fayetteville was organBank in the winter of 1854, with a

National

ized as a State

H.

115,000.

of

capital

Edwards,

Cashier.

It

was converted into

President;

Hiram Eaton,

Porter Tremain, Vice-President, and

a National

Bank,

at Montreal.

with a capital of 140,000 in 1865, and occupies the

Gypsum
The Onondaga Gypsum Company was

Bank

ganized at Fayetteville,

in Februarj', 1878.

are

as

follows

They

The company's

manufacture crude stone-plaster.

officers

fully or-

President,

Asahel

F.

Building, corner Mill and Genesee streets,

Hiram Eaton was

The present oflScers

erected in 1854.

teen

years.

Eaton President
R.

W.

provided with

Henry Smith.

Bangs, President

The

magnificent water power of Fayetteville

Hiram

The Bank

and

Building

is

modern improvements.

The Farmer's Bank

was organized

of Fayetteville, a State Bank,

in 1870.
;

F.

Capital, 100,000.

Myron

W. Lawrence, Cashier.

is

known as the Ledyard Dyke

and from Bishop Brook. The Ledyard Dyke comobtained from what

all

are

B. C. Baird, Vice-President,

Eaton, Cashier.

Wilcox Vice-President, Myron Bangs

Secretary
and Treasurer, John F. Gaynor Directors, William Hurd, James J. Hurd, Edward Gaynor, J.
:

cashier seven-

is

mences a little north of the Village of Manlius on

Limestone Creek, and runs thence to Fayetteville
where it empties into the creek again, giving a fall
in the village of about one hundred feet.
The
present owners are David Collin, Jr., R. C. Hatch,
H. L. Beard & Son and Robert Grouse. The
dyke was commenced in 1847. In times of drought
it draws from the DeRuyter Reservoir.

Fayetteville Lodges.
Fayetteville Lodge,

No.

578,

F.

and A.

M.

Chartered July 10, 1865, is an offshoot of Military

Lodge, of Manlius. First oflficers, Hiram Wood,

M.; Henry S. Pratt, S.W.; F. M. Byington,J. W.

Officers, 1877: A. J. Simmons, M.; L. Boyington,
S. W.; A. Elting, J. W. Membership, 75. Lodge
Room in Byington Block.
Fayetteville Tent, N. O. of I. R. No. 102.
Established February 27, 1877. H.

W.

Greenland,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

372

Henry Kcefe. D. R.; William Dunlap.

C. R.;

S.

The FaycttciilU Recorder was established

half, fifteen

At

1S66

in

During

second pastor.

and a

Present membership, 84.

this

time,

his pastorate of

owing

In 1874 it passed into the

by F. A. Darling.
hands of the Recorder Printing Association, under

whose management

some

School District No.

November
26, 1872,

School

it

11, of

and

At

12.

was voted

meeting held August

to organize a

Fayetteville,

for

Manlius, was formed

Union

F"ree

under the provisions of

Chapter 555, Laws of 1864.

Favetteville Churches.
Favetteville Baptist Chirch and Society.
Cyrus Kinne and Gershom Breed were among
the earliest settlers at what was then known as
Manlius Four Corners, now Fayetteville, coming
They were soon followed by Daniel
there in 1792.

Campbell,

who

is

said to have preached occasionally

absence of regular ministers.

in the

company with

in

Mrs.

Susanna

themselves into a conference

These three,
Ward, formed

religious worship,

for

maintaining covenant meetings and enjoying occa-

young men were

the conference which was soon augmented

sional preaching

added
still

to

In 179S, three

further by other Christian families

moved

into

neighborhood.

the

ings were of necessity held in

but
"

many

afterward for

Wood" and

"

Stone

"

years

Their

who had
first

meet-

private dwellings,

were held

in

the

school houses, neither of

which arc now standing.

A council was called in
which
at
Father
Bennett
and Eider John
1804
were
present,
and
this
Peck
company of brethren

and

number about twenty, were recog-

sisters, ui

nized as a regular and independent church.

Among them

Gershom
CampLewis Sweeting, John Jones, Zopher Knowlmight be

mentioned,

Breed, Cyrus Kinne, Jabish York, Daniel

bell,

ton, Orris

Hopkins, William

Breed, Allen Breed,

Washington Worden, Susanna

Ward, Mary Terrill, Amelia Breed, Hannah Breed,
Lucrelia Worden, Mrs. Kinne, Elizabeth Hopkins
and Walter Worden.
Brother Gershom Breed was licensed as preacher
and assisted by Elder Nathan Baker, of Pompey.
In 18 2 he was ordained and became the first
During this year a number
pastor of the church.
of members were added to the church.
Rev. Mr.
Palmer

Breed,

Breed continued
curred during

was one of the

ceeded him,
tiate.

in

charge until his death which oc-

His son, Allen Breed, who

1815.
first

three converts mentioned, suc-

for several

years preaching as a licen-

In 1829, he was ordained and became the

little

was

them even refusing

of

in

a very low condi-

interest manifested

by members,

be identified with

to

this church, but joining instead the

one

at

Manlius

Square.

1857, by the consolidation of Dis-

20,

10, II

tricts

continues.

it still

and very

removals, deaths and

to

delinquencies, the church

tion

two years

converts were baptized.

In the

new

of 1830, a

fall

era

commenced

in the

Harvey Edwards had

welfare of the church.

just

and
was awakened.
The services of Rev. Charles Morton, Pastor of the
Baptist Church at Manlius, were now secured for
half the time, and during his ministrations the
church was greatly strengthened.
In February
they began to build a house of worship which was
dedicated in July, 1831.
This building was of
wood and erected at a cost of about $3,000. During this year about forty-five were added to the
been converted and through

new

praiseworthy efforts a

church.
at

his

interest

In 1832, Brother J.

W.

Taggart, a student

At

Hamilton, supplied the church.

tion

the comple-

was ordained as

of his studies he

In July, 1833, twenty four

pastor.

energetic

its

third

members were

dismissed to form a new church at Matthew's Mills

Rev.
under the charge of Elder Allen Breed.
William Hutchinson was the ne.xt pastor, coming
in the spring of 1835, and was succeeded by Geo.
Phippen in July, 1837.
In 1838, Elder Jacob

Knapp, the Evangelist,

In 1839, Rev.

great success.

menced
duration.
at

Fayetteville

John Smitzer com-

1840. a branch church

In

In

with

pastorate of six years

a very successful

Chittenango.

owing

visited

was formed

1843, the church was divided

created by the Abolition

Second Baptist Church of Fay-

to the disturbance

question, and the

was formed with Rev. W. Kingsley as

Brother W. H. Douglass supplied the
pulpit ne.xt for a few months, followed by Rev.
Lyman Wright, who remained eight years. DurRev.
ing his pastorate the church was reunited.
followed
in
was
B.
in
and
Vrooman
came
1854,
J.
afterpastor)
and
former
by
Lyman
Wright,
(a
1856
etteville

pastor.

wards by Rev.

J.

B. Smith.

School was established

at

In this year a Mission

High Bridge.

In 1S60,

Rev. A. Clement Lyon was called and remained as

pastor over five years, was compelled to resign on
account of a severe bronchial disease.

During his

stay over eighty persons were baptized.

His successor was Rev. O. W. Babcock, who

remained one year. In the summer of 1S67, Hubert
C. Wood, a student of Madison University, supplied the pulpit from time to time,
tor

became

immediately after graduating, and

in

their pas-

due time

M^4'.,

IMk:

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

In 1871 he was compelled to sever

was ordained.

the church on account

his connection with

of his

throat and lungs being seriously affected, and in the

moved

of 1872

spring

During

Colorado.

to

his

the present church edifice, a fine brick

pastorate

was erected at a cost of $30,000 the

and a sexton's house put up, all

structure,

parsonage

rebuilt,

organized in the year 1830; a building erected in

were Episcopalians, and held service

lius

Rev. A. C. Lyon,

(a

Mrs. Alvah Davis.

1S77,

July,

of his stay the church expe-

Mr.

being assisted by

S.

former pastor,) Mrs. Lyon and

Mr.

when he

remained

S.

in

charge until

publicly withdrew from the

church and denomination on account of a change

in his belief in the fundamental doctrines of the
In the

church.

N.

November

following. Rev. Charles

present

the

Pettingill,

pastor,

occupied

the

This church has had an existence of over

charge.

eighty-two years, and during this period has had

members; has baptized 772

1,171
ter

399

received by

dismissed by letter 412; excluded

present membership 280

in

let-

104;

attendance at Sunday

School, 140.

In 1829, the

trict.

Presbyterian,
of

church

in

finished

the village, the

was erected by the combined

denominations, who used

all

first

first

off,

for

common

efforts

the session room,

religious purposes.

In 1830, the Presbyterian Church was formed, and

winter of that year the house of worship was

in the

and

strong

several

was

Pompey and Man-

influential

several

for

churches.

years a missionary

resident missionary being Rev. J.

B. Engle, in 1837.
Others of the early clergymen

charge, the

first

were Rev.

Messrs. Northrup, Windsor, Feisner,

Hickox and

Bartlett,

The

Pise.

Rt. Rev.

Henry

Neely, Bishop of the Diocese of Maine, was baptized in this parish.

The

was

present church

$14,000.

built in 1870,

and cost

a stone building, unusually fine for

It is

a village no larger than Fayetteville

an ornament,
Rev. John Bayler, Rector
when the church was built subsequently, Rev.
Charles H. Gardner.
The present Rector is Rev.
C. J. Shrimpton. Present number of communicants,
the place.

indeed, to

one hundred and

Sunday School,

fifteen

average attendance at

seventy-five.

Church of the
The

Fayetteville.

Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville. The

first religious meetings were held in the school
house in what was commonly called the Upper Dis-

form

after that

Father Nash and

1798.

from 1802 to 1806, and out of their labors have

This church

rienced a revival, Rev.

as

others were early missionaries in

grown

was again filled, this

During the second year

early

as

families

in

For over a year and a half the church was without

November, 1873, the pulpit

time by Rev. C. J. Shrimpton.

Quite a number of

1831 and consecrated in 1832.

the early settlers of this and the adjoining towns

standing nearly opposite the old church building.

a regular pastor, but in

373

Immaculate
nucleus

Conception,
present

the

of

Church of the Immaculate Conception was formed

of several families residing at Fayetteville and
Manlius Square, from 1846

may be mentioned John

Among

to 1855.

these

John McCarrick,
O'Brien
and
Bohan,
John
Jeremiah
of the former
Farrell,

and Edward Gaynor, John Sheedy, Patrick

place,

Holland,

Tobin,

Timothy Holland, John Shea, Patrick

William

Griffin,

Moloney, Michael

John Kennelly, Patrick

Thomas Flattery, and

Foley,

About the year

dedicated.

others, residing at Manlius Square.

Most of the original members came from the

Presbyterian Church of Manlius, and Rev. Mr.
Cushman, of that village, was untiring in his efforts
to build up the Society at Fayetteville, usually officiaJohn McViccar, James
ting on Sunday evenings.
Stewart and Phillip Flint, were the first Ruling-

mass was said at the residence of John Murphy, at Manlius Square, by

Father McCallion. Rev. Father Cahill, of Cazenovia, was the first Catholic clergyman who visited
Fayetteville, and held the first service in the house
of John Farrell.
In 1845 Father Cahill purchased a lot and raised
by contributions a small sum toward the erection

All of the original twenty-three members

now deceased, except James C. Jackson.
The first regular pastor was Rev. Amos C. Tut-

Elders.
are

185

the

of a church.

June 28, 1837. During the pastorate

of Rev. Lewis H. Reid, the present church edifice
was built, at a cost of about g 10,000. It was dediMr. Reid was pastor eleven
cated June 22, 1857.
the present pastor. Rev. R. L. Bachman, was
years
The church membership numbers
called in 1874.
Sunday School, one hundred
about two hundred

he deposited

and twenty-five.

St. Patrick's

tle,

installed

Trinity Church (Episcopal,

63

Fayetteville,

was

Catholic

first

Upon

his

this with

removal from Cazenovia,

Bishop McClosky,

credit of the Catholics of Fayetteville.

It

to

the

amounted

in 1861 to $315.

Father Rooney next attended the mission for a

was succeeded by Rev. Lawrence

short time and

Schneider, pastor at Manlius Station in 1856.

1857, Rev.

Rev.

James A. O'Hara, then

officiating

In
at

Church, Oneida, visited the mission.

Father Maurus being appointed to Manlius

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

374

Station, the Catholics at Fayettevillc. in 1859,

came
This

together and determined to build a church.

attempt, however,

had

edifice

was

also

failed, after

been partly

made and

on the ground

new

site

The

materials were

afterward suld and the enterprise discontinued

the

of 1869,

fall

modious brick

when

edifice

had

of the brick delivered

part

1861 -'62.

in

Another attempt

after

failed,

been purchased and

the foundation of the

laid.

till

the present neat and com-

was undertaken. The corner-

stone was laid on the 25th of November, 1869, by

Wadhams, then Vicar-General

of the diocese of Albany, and now Bishop of the
new diocese of Ogdcnsburg. The sermon on the
Very Kev. Edgar

P.

occasion was preached by the late Dr. Keating, of

Hudson, and twenty other clergymen assisted at

Mass was celebrated for the first
the ceremony
time

the

in

new church on Christmas

day, 1870,

was not completed till

the autumn of 1872.
It was dedicated under the
title of the Immaculate Conception, by Rt. Rev.
Francis McNcirny. on November 26, 1872.
The
late Father Hrady, of Cazenovia, preached the
dedicatory sermon and sixteen other clergymen
were present on the occasion. After the dedicacation, Hishop McNeirny administered confirmation to one hundred and eighty-five candidates.
but

interior decoration

its

This was the first time the sacrament of confirmation was administered in this mission.
The congregation consists of about

average attendance

120 families, and the

the Sunday school

at

is

about

if

history of this church would be incomplete

writer

the

failed

resident

Catholics,

that

many non-

Fayettevillc,

contributed

record

to
in

very generously toward

St.

its

Makv's (Catholic Chukuh,

I

situated in the

town of Manlius, on the road from Manlius Station

The church was organized in 1833
in

a little district school

first

held.

The

house, wherein services

following

are the

names of

the original heads of families connected with the

parish

Matthias

butter,

Felix

lieselmayer,

George

Konrad, Anthony Lambacher, Joseph Schneider,

Henry Herbener, John Kuppclc, Seb. Kuppele,
Joseph Bioser, Mark Sch>)pp, Ste|)hen Zion, Aug.
Gott, Fet. Fieselbrand, Casper I-'abing, John Konrad, Nicolaus Gerhard, Michael Rcmblingcr, Adam
Uth, Anthony Zimmer, Ignatius Heifer, Jos. Flick.
Peter Schneider, Adam Bucher. John Backcnstrass.
Jacob Fries, Theobald Schondorf, Casper Huliar,
Peter Mayer.
The church was built A. D, 1834,
under the Rt. Rev John Dubois, Bishop of New
York.
Pastors
Rev. Werick, Rev. Guth, Rev.
Mich. Heas, Rev. Rath, Rev. FI. Scheninger, Rev.

The attendance
The

Sunday School

the

in

and

sixty to eighty boys

frame church was erected

old

from

is

girls.

1834, in

in

dimensions 34 by 40 feet. Additions of twenty feet

were made to its length in the years 1857 and 1870,
Present pastor. Rev. L. Maurus.

respectively.

The Mkthodist Episcopal Chukch

lius

Station,

house.

met

first

worship

for

at

the church and parsonage were

In 1862

Rev. Gideon Jones was then pastor.

church

is

valued

Man-

the school

in

built.

at S3. 500,

Present membershij),

and parsonage

The

thirty-six.

The

at S1.600.

mem-

first

bers were Jacob Karker and Jabez Lewis.

ent pastor,

Pres-

N. Sackett.

J.

KIRKVILLE.
With the building of the
began to be made
opening a tavern.

FLrie

Canal, a settlement

Mr. Cunningham
Edward Kirkland, a

this point,

at

1S22,

In

son of the late Joseph

Kirkland of Utica, estab-

lished himself on a large farm half a mile northeast

of the place, and in 1824, was appointed Postmaster.

The

postofiice

and the settlement were named

Mr. Kirkland built the

Kirkville in honor of him.

Canal Basin

and

there.

for

The

his own expense, put up a large

some time did considerable business

at

place has a few stores, shops and two

churches.

Union Church.

Kirkville.

December, 1848, the

erection.

to Bridgeport.

were

Rev. Sanderl, Jos. RafTeinRev. Col. Messner. Rev. Federmann. Rev.

Tappert. Rev. Maly, Rev. Muller. F. C. Weber,
Schneider. Maurus, Cairus, Kenig, Rittcr, Wibbee,
Mayers. Fehlings. Hcngen. Weber, Maurus, one
hundred and five families.

er.

store,

sixty-five.

The

Th. Nothen. Marshal

citizens

organizing a society

The

worship.
16,

1849,

to

On

met

build a

28th

the

for the

of

purpose of

house of public

society was finally organized January

with

Trustees:

following

the

David

and George W. Huntly, three years;

William Gilman and Joseph Hoag, two years WilDoniiiiick

Cunningham and Cortland Cunningham, one

year.
The church was erected in 1S50, and the
society arranged for services by thediflerent denom-

liam

inations as follows

Sunday

Universalists, every

Baptists, every fourth

terians, every

second Sunday

every second Sunday

second Sunday

at

ing repaired and

p.

Sunday

fourth

Presby-

Methodist Episcopal,

Wesleyan Methodists, every

m.

The

Universalists, hav-

refurnished the church, are the

only denomination occupying

Methodist Episcopal

it

at present.

Chukch,

Kirkville.

This church originally formed part of the North

Manlius Circuit and worshipped in the Union Church.

fftSruiNCt

'ji

ixi

I'

'

hLuoi-N

H.

BANGS,

/*ii;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

was made a station

It

1872, and immediately

in

the present house of worship was erected.

after,

The

first pastor was Rev. Joseph Maxwell.

Original
membership, thirty-eight present number, si.xty;

six

Sunday School,

Present pastor, D.

forty.

W.

Roney.

The EvANGEt,icAL
tion.

Association, Manlius Sta-

Organized February

members were John

1 1,

Jetter,

J.

The

1855.

And here the first school in the town of

Manlius was taught, by Samuel Edwards, in James
Foster's barn. He had eight shillings a quarter per
scholar, and " boarded round."
At this place Billy
county.

McKee

and Jenny Mulholland, on a training day,

were married in a hollozv square formed by the company on the parade ground, by Cyrus Kinne, Esq.

original

Frederick Ebeling,

Jacob Taftner, Carl Fout, Frederick Hecht, Jacob

Karker, Frederick Horman, Christian Gehring,

George E. Fisher and Jacob

December

-dedicated

The

The church was

Cost about ^700.

John
Michael Pfitzinger, two
Grenzenbach, one year
E. Thomas, one
years Jacob Dereich, two years
year Frederick Lohmeir, two years Carl Wiseman,
Levi Jacoby,
two years
John Schaaf, one year
Adolf Loscher, three years
Edward
one year
three years
August Klein, two years.
Weier
;

Present membership

35.

He

town of

county, Massachusetts.
ful

days a

181

3,

fair

was born July

Williamsburg,

He

obtained

business education.

he immigrated

to

arrival,

Fayetteville,

embarked

in

4th,

Franklin

in his

youth-

In the year

and immedithe manufac-

ture of lime.

By

this place the first tavern, in the present

of Manlius, was erected by James Foster,

town

who

his tact

and business sagacity he soon estabupon a firm business footing. Dur-

lished himself

set-

ing England's second fruitless attempt to trample

on Lot 88, in 1790.

It was very early resorted
by others as a desirable place of residence, and

upon the liberties of our country, he entered the

American army and was stationed at Sackett's
Possessing a mind peculiarly fitting him
Harbor.

tled
to

the

in

Man-

mentioned with greater veneration

is

than Reuben H. Bangs.

1788,

BANGS.

H.

the early pioneers of the town of

none

lius,

ately after his

EAGLE VILLAGE.
At

Among

REUBEN

Frederick

E. D. Jenny, two years

BiOGi[APHic>L Sketches.

Salz.

23, 1855.

following have officiated as pastors

Scharf, one year

375

once contested for superiority with Manlius Village.

Eagle Village had once four physicians, three merMr. Charles Mosely
chants and four lawyers.
opened a store here in 1793, and Dr. Ward, the first
regular physician in the town of Manlius, settled

and practiced here Dr. Moor, soon after and next

Dr. Smith Weed, who had an extensive practice.
Dr. Fish and Dr. Washburn, also well-known phy;

sicians, resided in this village.

commenced

Charles B. Bristol

trading here as a merchant, in

1804.

During the war of 18 12, he acted as distributing

commissary; built the Stone Distillery in 1809;
kept the finest

garden in the county

best team of eight horses

for five or six years

merchants of

the

known on

was considered one

country.

drove the

the road, and

General

of the first

Amos

commenced business here

P.

Mr.
opened a law office, and Hon.
James R. Lawrence was his clerk. A hotel opened
here by Libbeus Foster, in 1794, became one of the
most celebrated taverns in western New York, containing a grand masonic hall, a grand dancing hall
Granger,

Walker,

first

and many other things

In 181

1,

1804,

in

to correspond.

Eagle Village had an incorporated library

volumes of valuable and standard

of about 250

works.

It

was the

first

circulating library in the

for

the oversight of business enterprises, he took

several large contracts of the State, while the Erie

Canal was

in

process of construction, from which he

handsome

profit.
His fine executive and
shrewd business abilities were early recognized by
the State, and he was accordingly appointed in 1824,

realized a

Superintendent of the division of the Erie Canal,

between

Little Falls

years.

He

engaged

in

and Utica,

then returned

to

for a period of

Fayetteville

two
and

the manufacture of hydraulic cement.

foresight and management he built

up this business into one of the most important
manufacturing establishments in Central New
York, shipping to nearly every State in the Union.

By remarkable

On

January i, 1S15, he married Clarissa Teall,

daughter of Dr. Timothy Teall, and sister of Oliver
Teall.

Her

father fought, with six brothers, in the

He came to the
war of the Revolution six years.
town of Manlius, Onondaga County, in the year
and became one of its most prominent and
1 79 1,
respected citizens.

Mr. Bangs was blessed with five children, viz.

Anson, at present a resident of the City of Brooklyn,
and largely engaged in real estate transactions on
the Potomac River, about thirty miles south of

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

376

Washington, D. C; Caroline L. wife of Horace

Mrs. Wheeler graduated with honors
L. Wheeler.
at the Troy Female Seminary, conducted at that
time by Mrs. John Willard, the daughter-in-law of
the celebrated foundress,

February, 1S49.

From

she was engaged

in

the

Mrs.

till

poor

lastly at

and giving them substantial pecuniary

whenever he thought it was needed.
In politics, he was a Whig, until the formation of
the Republican party, when he became a most

aid.

Willard, in

her marriage

Fayetteville

though

arduous and

was one
"

life.

He died, November

of this brief

subject

same town, January

father's farm.

Ann

March

nativity,
etteville,

cupied

life

home
summer
at

the close of two

tie

Louise,

Julia

Ambrosia. Ambrose.

now Mrs. W. T. Avery.

now occupies

are

He
*

"

Golden Rule

esteemed

for

all
;"

schools in Pompey,

at Pitcher Springs.

He

he had attained his 23d year.

was united

lived

The

in canal-

marriage, April 19, 1838,10

in

daughter of Chauncey and Susan [Briggs]

Bank

of Fayetteville, and

Mr. Hibbard
spirited

his transactions he followed the

is

citizens

Manlius was

and no man was ever more truly

those Christian qualities which should

Mr. Hibbard obtained

common

is

also connected

with the National Bank.

the homestead, called " Maplewood.''

In

is

bought the farm upon which he now resides,

a young man.
He is a Director of the Far-

mers'

Mr. Clark was a very active and efficient business man.

the town of Pompey,

when

and HatAmbrose, Jr.,

Jr.

of a blissful reunion

Hinsdale.
Her parents were New England people
and moved into the county when they were quite
young.
She was born in Otisco in 181 5, and has
proved an invaluable help meet to Mr. Hibbard.
,

whom

his death,

of the succeeding year, he spent

P'arzina, a

17, 1835, to Fayand settled upon the farm which he ochis death.
till
He was blessed with a

family of seven children, only three of

in

to farming.

life

until

He

ing.

he immigrated January

living, viz

and

Chenango Academy

was united

the place of his

till

with the exception of one year's attendance at the

at

at

Board of Directors

Hibbard.

his education at the

At

its

organization

its

a son of Samuel and Nancy

His father was born at Kinderhook, Columbia County, N. Y., and came to
Pompey in 1796, where he devoted the remaining
13, 1803,

[Pitcher]

Collin, a resident of the

17, 1833.

years' residence of married

the date of

years of his

He

(now the National Bank.)

of F"ayetteville,"

Mr. Hibbard was born

acquiring the principles of an English education,

marriage to Julia

promoters and founders of the

DAVID HIBBAKD.

North East, Dutchess County. N. Y., on the nth

His early life was spent in

in

fre-

He

important duties of his town.

of the first

away with the firm assurance

beyond the grave.

of September, 1809.

and working on his

was

he

life.

memoir was born

office,

which occurred December 7, 1875.

In his religious views he was a Universalist and
it was the aim of his life to advocate and live up to
its doctrines.
He was very genial and fond of relating anecdotes and adventures, which he spiced with
more or less wit and humor. He bore with patient
resignation the disease which terminated his life,
and with unwavering faith, he peacefully passed

AMBROSE CLARK.
The

of

Al-

organization.

latter

solicitous

remained a member of

from

10, 1872,

leaving to his children the rich legacy of a pure

Bank

He

in

never

quently entrusted with the discharge of the most

cement works at F"ayetteville, President of the

Farmers' Bank, an extensive contractor, and in
every way one of the most prominent business men
and Eli T., a United States con
of Fayetteville
tractor and, at present, engaged in deepening the
Mr. Bangs was one of the
channel of Cape Fear.
first directors of the Bank of Fayetteville, (now the
National Bank,) a staunch Democrat, until 1S40,
when he became a Whig and later a Republican,
one of the first trustees of the Village, and also of the
Cemetery. Whatever he undertook to do, he always
accomplished. When his object had been determineil upon, after carefully weighing it pro and con,
he went straight at it, with a steadfastness of purpose
that was truly remarkable.
During the last twenty
years of his life he made more money than in any
preceding twenty years, which indicated in him a
riper experience and a maturer judgment.
He
was emphatically the poor man's friend. Many
prominent business men throughout the county
gratefully revere him as their benefactor when first
starting out

supporter of the

ardent

one of the proprietors of the hydraulic

afflictions,

the profession of teaching, at

South and West and

Myron

Emma

this time

life.
He was kind to the
always sympathizing with them in their

adorn a true and noble

built

decidedly one of the most publicof Manlius.

also the buildings of the

<

The Town

Hall of

mainly through his influence, and

Agricultural Societies of

the towns of Manlius and Pompey.

He has

always

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

JUDSON

taken a lively interest in the agricultural develop-

ment of his town.

During the rebellion, Mr. Hibbardwasa staunch
supporter of the Union cause, and at the last call
for troops, virhen very little interest was manifested,
he helped raise the Second New York Cavalry.
He has
Mr. Hibbard is a staunch Republican.
persistently declined public office, although in every

way

well fitted for discharging

SAMUEL
Among

J.

duties.

its

WELLS.

the substantial business

men

of the village

none have a stronger claim to that

appellation than Samuel J. Wells.
Beginning with
nothing but an honest heart and the morals instilled
into his mind at his father's fireside, he has, by degrees, become one of the best known business men
and one of the most respected citizens of his village.
He was born at New Hartford, Oneida County,
New York, March 22, 1830, and is a son of James
and Amelia [Lewis] Wells.
The first twenty years
of Fayetteville,

of his

life

he spent at

of the best schools in

course of study at

which

laid

home enjoying the advantages

He

his county.

Homer Academy,

pursued a

Cortland Co.,

foundation of that business educa-

the

which has been so instrumental in his success.

When about twenty years of age he entered a hardware store as a clerk, in Albion, N. Y., where he

377

GRAVES,

H.

M. D.

Dr. Judson H. Graves was born in Bristol, Ontario

County, N. Y.

five

brothers,

are

now

early

all

May

resident

of

one of

exception,

this

His father was, in

town of Manlius,

living in Michigan.

life,

He was

22, 1829.

whom, with

of

the

Onondaga County, N. Y., but moved

Although the Doctor had not the advantages of a

classical education, he received a good academic
education, and commenced the study of medicine in
the office of Dr. Durgan, in the town of Bristol, Ontario County, N. Y., in the year 1853.
Having received a thorough medical education, he graduated

from the University of Michigan

in 1858.

He

five years.

In the year 1855, ^^

came

to

embarked in the hardware busiwhich he has continued ever since with grati-

Fayetteville and
ness,

fying success.

He

married October 12, 1854, Anna, a daughter

David Collin of Fayetteville, by whom he has
been blessed with a fine family of six children, viz

also

received the degree of medicine from the Syracuse

He

University in 1876.

practiced medicine with

when he moved
Onondaga County, N. Y., and com-

his preceptor until the year i860,

to

Manlius,

menced the

practice of medicine there.

married October

10,

He was

Miss Marietta Wor-

861, to

den of Fayetteville, Onondaga County, N. Y.

The
fruit of this marriage was two children, Carrie
Louisa, and Frederick Judson.
The Doctor was

commissioned Captain of Co. F, of the r49th Regi-

ment

of

New York

State Volunteers, October 4,

1862, and went to the front with the regiment.

tion

remained

time

at the

of his marriage, to Bristol, Ontario County, N. Y.

owing

to a difficulty with the

commanding

But

officer

of the regiment he tendered his resignation, giving

His resignation was

his reasons therefor as above.

accepted by Gen. McClellan, and he was honorably

He

discharged from the service.

returned

home

and resumed the practice of medicine, where he still

In politics the Doctor is a Republican,
resides.
and has been a firm supporter of the party since its

of

Samuel James, David Collin, John Lewis, Paul

Dana Huntington and Anna Sophia.
David Collin is attending Yale College, and is a
member of the class of '80. John Lewis is attending the celebrated Phillips Academy at Andover,
Mass., preparatory to entering Yale.
Mr. Wells
was formerly a Whig, but became a member of the
Republican party upon its organization.

organization.

Irving,

Upon

Fayetteville,

Mr. Wells was honored with

dency, which was a

capacity.
at

Bank

the organization of the Farmers'

fit

tribute to his

This position he held

present one of

its

Directors.

its

of

presi-

merit and

until 1878.

Perhaps no

He is
man

the village has taken a deeper interest in religious

and educational matters, or devoted a greater share

in

of his time to

Wells.
64*

discharging their duties than Mr.

CHARLES

M.

COLE.

Mr. Cole was born

ty,

May

5,

in Manlius, Onondaga CounHis parents were Garrett and

82 1.

He

Catherine Cole.
living with his

obtained

widowed mother,

his fourteenth year,

good education,
he attained

until

when he apprenticed himself

his brother to learn the stone-mason's trade.

remained with

his brother until

to

He

he was twenty-one

years of age; and then kept a grocery store at Fayetteville.

moved

When

twenty-five years of age, he re-

to " Poole's

Brook," on the Erie Canal,

where he kept a grocery store about three years.
When twenty-seven years old, he married and a
year later, bought with his brother- in-law a canal
boat and followed boating during that summer.
;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

378

next year he lived with his father-in law and

The

He then bought a house

also worked at his trade.
the " Brook Mill," which
near
acres,
and lot of eight
he increased by subsequent purchase to thirty acres.
At the close of two and a half years residence upon
he again lived with his father-in-law

place,

this

three years more, and then went into the jobbing

business, with

sawmill

He built

E Tuppcr

Harvey

Clinton

in

Co

steam

one hundred
and

forty acres of western land for " the

on the Central," near Kirkvillc

farm

acre

Iowa, which he traded with

upon which he now

place of twenty-five acres

afterwards bought the

resides, also twenty-five acres

adjoining, together with a fine wood-lot of thirteen

and

married, April

20, 1848, Catherine

a daughter of David and Catherine

They have had

lius.

Maybee

Maybee,
of

Man-

the following children born to

Ophelia,
them, viz David M., August 13. 1849;
Charley
M.,
July 13, 1856, died August 18, 1867;
April 29, i860, died March 8, 1862, and Gideon W.,
September 15, 1862. The oldest son works the

county

the

of

ests

salt

whose
inter-

o^^

spoken

is

the general

Her gr^^fcther was

county.

of the

history

Gould,

and other

Jeremiah

of

honorable connection with the

descendant of General Rufus Puinam. After

leaving the railroad he went to Michigan, staying
lineal

two
his

Upon returning he worked upon

Pompey until 1863, when he sold

years.

farm

in

and went to Eagle Village, where he remained

till he bought lin 1864) the farm which he occupied
it

till

his death,

which occurred

May

16,

forty-third year, leaving at his death

named

respectively,

all

James

E.,

He was

A., and Robert F.

teemed by

a half acres, below Kirkville

He

daughter

Gould, a

who knew

1875, in his

four children,

Addison G., Carrie

man

him, doing

universally esin all his trans-

the world as he would be done by.

His widow and children are occupying the home-

actions with

stead.

business transac-

community

ancestors, Christopher Avery, a weaver, emigrated

He is

business matters which pertain to the farm.

a strong Democrat, and has labored in

way

to

advance

Mr. Cole
tions,

and

which he
In

is

is

its

his

humble

principles.

upright in

his

all

well thought of by

No

AVERY.

H.

town of Manlius has a stronger

is more universally
esteemed for purity of motives and justness of actions, than Allen H. Avery.
He was born at Great
Barrington, Mass., January 21, 1815, and is a son
of Harry and Polly [Chapman] Avery.
One of his

Mr. Cole works at his trade and attends to

farm.

ALLEN

the

in

citizen of the

claim on public confidence, or

from England about the year 1C40, settling

lives.

religious sentiment

Mr. and Mrs.

been members

Methodists, having

in

Cole are

good stand-

cester,

Mass.

soldier of the Revolution,

ing the seven years of that

teen years.

freedom.

C.

old homestead, near Oran, in the

His grandfather, James

town

of

Pompey

in

Hall Scovillc was born

town

Scoville, Jr.,

1796.

November

ried Esther Allen in 1817

1832, at the

16,

His

of

Pompey.

moved into the

Timothy

father,

9, I7<j6,

and mar-

spending his days upon

a portion of the old homestead.

4,

1872, in

his eighty-

fourth year.

Although Mr. Avery did not have the educational

advantages

in his

youth that the present day

he improve his opporand leisure hours that he obtained a thor-

aflords, yet so faithfully did

tunities

gether with his own savings, he bought a farm of

summer.

In 1853 he took a contract of the

His father closed his long

December

obtained

He

Seminary, attending school winters and working

his farm in the

life

Cazcnovia

Sco-

His mother
at

and useful

ough English education, and taught school successfully two winters.

When he was twenty-one years
of age his father gave him $1,000, with which, to-

Charles

was the youngest of five children.

died when he was six months old.
by diligent study a good education
villc

upon

for

land, at $io.<X) peracre.

born April

memorable struggle

His parents, when he was a year and a

immigrated to Pompey, mow LaFayette,

and bought one hundred acres of heavily timbered

E SCOVILLE.

C. E. Scovillc was

Glou-

and served gallantly dur-

ing of the M. E. Church at Kirkville, the past six-

half old,

in

His grandfather. Miles Avery, was a

Binghamton

and one-half acres, lying in the town of

Pompey. He soon after sold it to his brother,
Egbert I. Avery, and worked his father-in-law's

fifty-five

when he bought a farm

Railroad for building the fence from Jamesville to

farm on" shares

the Summit, being obliged to take his pay in sec-

adjoining his brother Egbert's, and after five years'

ond-class bonds, which proved as worthless as the

residence upon

Confederate bonds

was united

in

at the close of the late war.

marriage, in June, 1858, to

Mary

He
P.

five years,

it

he sold

it

to

his brother.

He

then purchased his father-in-law's farm, which he

still owns.
His present wife, Emeline, isa daughter

Photos BY Smith, F/^hucviile

Seymour

Frait.

Beach Beard

LLusTRious Remington

l^lANCY PrA7T.

Frances Beard.

Eunice Remington,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

of Nathaniel Gillett of DeWitt.

His children are

named respectively, Mary J., Cora C. and Allen

Jr., who has received a fine education, having
tended

St.

H.,
at-

John's School at Manlius, and graduated

from Poughkeepsie College.

Mr. Avery

is

has taken a deep interest

He

taining his majority.

won

years, and

assessment
for

of

the

to

for

adjustment of the

his

a gallant run

the

In

run

fall

party

is

in

the

when nominated

of 1871, he

was per-

the Assembly, but, on account

Republican majority, he

large

elected.

Although

made

Supervisor.

suaded

served as Assessor three

his equitable

rolls.

minority, he

in political affairs since at-

the confidence and respect of his

by

fellow-citizens

was

not

His own town, however, showed their aphim one hundred

preciation of his worth by giving

and twelve majority, when the Republican State

ticket received one hundred and ninety majority.
Mr. Avery has always been very actively engaged in agricultural matters, having been for several
years President and Vice-President of the Agricultural Societies of the towns of Manlius and Pompey. President of the County Wool Growers' Association and being, also, a life member and having
been Vice-President of the State Sheep Breeders'
and Wool Growers' Association.
Although in his 63d year, his step is as firm and
elastic as ever and his mind as clear as in the
brightest

days of his youth.

close of his useful

life

In 18 1 5, he disposed of this farm and bought

another consisting of seventy-five acres, lying one

mile north of Pompey Hill, on the road to Manlius.

By subsequent purchases he increased this estate to

500 acres, which he worked

an old Jacksonian Democrat, and

He

passing to the

is

surrounded by kind and

lov-

379

store at

for a period

of thirty-

In the spring of 1S32, he conducted a

five years.

Pompey

Hill,

he had and

in

working on

much hard work

the day, doing as

his farm

as

during

any farm hand

the evening attending to the affairs

of his store.

During the summer of 1836, he

substantial stone store at

Pompey

built a

good and

Hill.

In the spring of 1839, he bought a store at Fay-

Beach C. Beard, being manager

and Ira Beard, clerk.
His son, Henry L. Beard,
conducted the store at Pompey Hill, assisted by
Huntington Beard.
elteville

his son,

In the Fall of 1850, Mr. Beard

The

ville.

terest in the

moved

to Fayette-

previous year he had bought a good in-

famous Ledyard purchase.

1851 he built the Spring Mills, at Fayette-

In

which he conducted, with the assistance of his

sons, till November, 1877, when he retired.
In 1852 he built the first paper mill in the town
of Manlius, which he leased for the first five years
and since that time has given the management to
ville,

Henry L. Beard, and Robert Crouse, the

husband of Ellen Beard, his daughter. Mr. Beard
and sons are owners of the Beard Block, which contains many of the most prominent business firms in
the village, which they built in 1852-53.
Mr. and
his son,

ing children and an abundance of means to satisfy

Mrs. Beard, although

his legitimate desires.

enjoying tolerably good health and are surrounded

with every comfort which can render their remain-

in

their declining years, are

ing years enjoyable.

J.

BEACH BEARD.

In almost every town in the State there are a few

aged pioneers, who have undergone the hardships
incident to frontier life, and have founded large families who adorn nearly all the occupations and proOf these men J. Beach Beard is a
fessions of life.
He was born at Harwinton,
noble representative.
His parents were
Litchfield county, Connecticut.

David and Mary [Tomlinson] Beard. He received

early boyhood a fair common school education,
and in the year 18 12, came to Pompey, where he

in

attended the

Pompey Academy

six

months,

at the

end of which time he engaged in teaching in Westmoreland, Oneida County, New York, and taught
very acceptably two terms.
In April, 18 13, he bought a fifty-acre farm, situated in the town of Pompey, about one mile northwest of Pompey

Hill.

EDWARD FRENCH.
Edward French was born in the town of Sullivan,
Madison County, N. Y., November 28, 1801. His
parents, Adin and Chloe (Nettleton) French, emigrated from the town of Killingworth, Connecticut,
in the year 1801, and settled in Madison County,

New

York.

At

the age of ten years, his father hired him out

to a farmer for ten dollars per

summer months.

month during the

In the winter he was occasionally

sent to school, but not enough to obtain more than

the

rudiments of a

When

common

school

education.

seventeen years of age he was apprenticed

by his father to Jonathan Crampton, of East Guilford, (now the town of Madison,) to learn the shoemaker's and tanning trade.
Having mastered his

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

38o

feeling at the age of twenty-one, the

good education, he accordingly attended
an academy for two months, making such rapid
progress as to receive the high compliment from

At

trade and

for three

years.

want

dence

Oneida Village, longing for the quiet

of his earlier days, he purchased a dairy

of a

the principal that he had never before had a pupil

who

"

developed such aptness for learning."

year 1823, he ran a canal boat two

trips,

In the

and

after-

ward engaged with a shoe firm in Pompcy, remaining two years, at the end of which time he rented
a farm in Manlius, upon which he worked two years
and then bought thirty-four acres of land near the
" Green Lakes," which he increased by subsequent
purchases, to 140 acres.

At

he now

and bought the place upon which

it

He married for his first wife, March

Dora Ann Worden, by whom he had si.x

lives.

20, 1834,

George, Julia, Oliver, Clarrissa,

and
Ellen,
Jonathan
of whom only Ellen, George
and Julia are living.
In politics, Mr. French is an Independent, havchildren,

viz:

mg

for the

been

best

and partisans

humble way

men, irrespective

passed

in a

years disgusted with

past fifteen

the corruption of parties

striven in his

life

farm, consisting of 128 acres, lying in

he has

to put into office the

of party.

His youth was

He

constant struggle for existence.

been strikingly

themselves," has

His present

in his life

betts, is
faithful

wife,

increased from

He

16 to 141 acres.

first wife, February 3, 1846,

Nancy, a daughter of Ralph and Emily Ellenwood,
of Stockbridge, by whom he had four children, viz
Ralph E., Minnie A., M. Burton, and Milton F.
Ralph is married and lives on his father's farm the
remaining children are at home.
For his second wife he married, January 12, 1869,
Mrs. Adelia Wight.
In politics Mr. Coe is a Republican.
In the year 1848, he united with the
Baptist Church, and has been a constant and liberal supporter of church interests since that time.
In his domestic relations he is a kind and loving
father and afiectionate husband. Genial, hospitable
and well-informed, his guests find a very attractive
and pleasant reception at his home.
There is no man in the town of Manlius who is
more highly spoken of and esteemed than he.

married for his

is

DAVID COLLIN,
Among

illustrated

Mrs. Elizabeth Tib-

and has been his

a very estimable lady,

companion

Smithfield,

upon which he kept twenty cows.

In the spring of 1865, he purchased and moved
upon the farm where he now lives, which he has

now surrounded with every convenience that can

make his home happy and his mind contented.
The old adage that the " gods help those who
help

the close of eight years' resi-

the close of seven years' residence upon this

farm, he sold

rural

at

for twenty-five years.

Sr.

the few early pioneers of Manlius,

is

a son of David and

Lucy [Bingham]

Collin.

great grandfather was a French sea-captain.

Eli

A. Coe, was born

County, N. Y., April

and Orra

Ellen wood

Connecticut.

came with

His

his

i,

Fayetteville,

Madison
His parents David
Coe were both natives of
1819.

father,

parents

when twelve years

to

devoted himself throughout

of

farming.

Mr.

Smithfield,

at

of age,

Madison County, and

life

Coe obtained

to the occupation

a fair

business

education, by diligently improving his opportunities

twenty-one years of age, he

renteil a

farm

father's, of seventy-one acres, upon

which he lived as lessee five years and as owner
two years.
In the year 1849, renting his farm, he
removed to Oneida Village, where he built a
house and a large bakery.
At the end of six
months he sold the bakery and bought a soap and
candle factory, which he conducted successfully

adjoining his

June

in

2d, 1844.

required his services on the farm, until he was twen-

ty-one years of age,

when he gave him 400 acres of

wild land, situated within half a mile of the present

village

of

Fayetteville.

He commenced

the her-

culean task of clearing up this immense tract of

land with his

for learning.

When

was born

His
His

Dutchess County and died at

Owing to the newness of the country, and the absence of those institutions which accompany civilization, his early educational advantages were quite limited.
Like the
fathers of most young men of those days, his father
father

ELI A. COE.

still

David Collin. He was born at North East,

Dutchess County, New York, April 23, 1794, and

living, is

own

can be seen to-day,

hands.
in

The

result of

his toil

the large beautiful fields which

meet the passer's gaze.

By a rare combination of business foresight the
400 acres were increased to iScx5 acres, which he has
with an unusually fatherly love distributed among
his large and respectable family.
In the year 1817,
he married Anna, a daughter of Ephraim and Miriam Smith, of Dutchess County, by whom he had

o
o

m
S

o
o
n

^1

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

seven children, viz Edmund, Lucy, David,
Harriette, Miriam, and Anna Smith.
:

In the year 18

13,

Mr. Bell married

Jr., Ira,

Mr, Collin joined the American

sergeant for three months.

Their only

army, and
Although he never cared for nor sought political preferment, he has quite frequently been honored with
He has been one
the most important town offices.

one

pany

is

child,

at present

The Water-works Com-

is

church.

Mr. Bell

citi-

political

Mr. Woodward was born in Geddes, April 27,

His parents, John W. and Sophia Z. Wood1825.
ward, emmigrated from Unadilla, Otsego County,
there bein the year 1797, and settled in Geddes

SILAS BELL.

ing no settlement where Syracuse

was born at Glastonbury, Hartford

His
County. Conn., on the 9th of June, 1804.
emigrated
Bell,
[Olger]
parents, Aaron and Sally
in
from Connecticut in the year of i8i6,and settled
Fabius, Onondaga County, New York.
Bell

such advantages
of those days
of education as the district schools
When
laborer.
farm
a
as
working
afforded, and in

His youth was spent

except in what

feeling
twenty-one years of age, impressed with the
own,
he
his
of
home
a
have
that it was his duty to
Jonathan
of
daughter
married Hannah Smith, a
acre farm
of Manlius, and bought a sixty-five

Smith

He met

the

of one hundred dollars by chopping

In 1830,
cents per cord.
twenty-five
cord-wood at
Manlius.
to
moved
and
farm,
his
he disposed of
succeeding four years he spent with his broth-

payment

The

chopped on their farm during that

He purperiod over a thousand cords of wood.
now rehe
chased seventy-five acres of land, where
subsequent
in 1834, which he increased by
ers-in-law and

sides,

purchases to one hundred and thirty acres.

is

now

the First

is

now

Ward.

situated,

His father

took up Government lands, which he held until 1852,

of his property and immigrated

when he disposed

to the State of Wisconsin, settHng near

He

in obtaining

Truxton, Cortland County, N. Y.

WOODWARD.

W.

E.

years, enjoying good health.

65

classed as one of the wealthiest

is

zens of the town of Manlius.

affiliations were Democratic.

an active member and supbeen
Since 1832 he has
Fayetteville.
porter of the Presbyterian church of
age of 84
advanced
Mr. Collin is still living at the

first

he became thoroughly convinced

truth of the doctrines of the Universalist

of the

Collin.

in

had

his first wife he

died in his fiftieth year,

a Republican.

versalist preacher,

measure

throughout the town and county atof Mr.

tribute their start in life to the generosity
In politics he is a Republican, although

Silas

who

For over forty years he has been a member of the

Upon first hearing a UniUniversalist Church.

Many men

earlier

By

school.

Jasper A.,

is

In politics Mr. Bell was formerly a Democrat but

for its existence.

his

September

the 26th of August, 1877.

most public-spirited men that the village of

Fayetteville has ever had, being one of the first
movers in the erection of the first church and
indebted to Mr. Collin in a great

wife,

Nettie Bertha, aged thirteen,

child,

now attending

of the

in the village.

second

for his

22, 1863, Henriette, a daughter of Chauncey and

Charlotte [Huntley] Arnold, of Sullivan County.

served as

academy

381

afterward

moved

to

Milwaukee.

Appleton, where he died

in 1868, leaving a large estate.

Mr. Woodward spent his youth at home until he

In 1853 he bought a tract

attained his 23d year.

of land in Wisconsin, but in four

to Syracuse.

The next

months returned

spring he went to Chicago,

where he kept a hotel two years. He subsequently

lived alternately in the East and West, until 1865,
when he bought the hotel property at Manlius, which

He married in 1850, Charlotte P.,

he still owns.
a daughter of Moses Chapman, by whom he has had
four

children, viz.

Florence,

Gertrude,

Mabel

Blanchard, and Linden Dwight Wesley, of whom

In
only Mabel B. and Linden D. W. are living.
never
has
He
Democrat.
politics he is a staunch

been desirous of public office, although often solicited by his friends to run for different town offices.

;;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

382

FABIUS
The

Fabius was erected from Fompey in 1798. It

included at that time two military townships
Fabius and Tully embracing all the present towns
of Fabius, Tully, Truxton and Preble, with parts of
Spaflbrd and Otisco, being ten by twenty miles in
Tully was taken from it in 1803, and in
extent.
the county of Cortland was set off from
when
1808,
the
town of Truxton was taken from the
Onondaga,
southern part of

penetrated

pioneers

deep

into the

forest

heavy timber of hemlock, beech, maple, basswood,

elm. ash, oak and pine, covered the face of the
country. In this unsubdued wilderness they erected
their cabins, with no traces to guide them save the

marked
their

smoke ascending from

trees or the curling

rude

chimneys or

meadows along the

the

In

roofs.

natural

valleys of the streams the herds

were turned loose and fared sumptuously, the

it.

This town has a general elevation of from j.oco

to 1,200 feet above the Kric Canal at Syracuse.

ling bell directing the sturdy

The

an auxiliary to

surface of the south half

when

of his search,

broken by a series

is

woodman

tink-

to the object

the obedient ox was needed as

labor, or the docile

cow

as an in-

of ridges extending

north and south direction

in a

and separated by narrow

dispensable aid to sustenance.

The

means of subsistence to last them

two years were brought by the
Wild plums, blackberries
pioneers from the east.

Their declivities

valleys.

are generally steep, their summits rising from three

hundred

to five

hundred

southwest corner being

The streams from

the

feet,

South

the

principal

Hill,

in

the

center riow south into the

Town

rador Pond.

The

soil

is

generally a fine

quality of gravelly

loam intermixed in places with clay and sand, well

watered and adapted to grass and pasturage. From
this fact, dairying is the principal occupation of the

In

people.

the

first in

amount of dairy products, the town

the county and

among

the

first

in

the

F'lRST Settlers.

The

first

town meeting

of Col. Elijah St. John, also from Massachusetts,

and soon others followed.

rapid that in

The

settlement was so

18 10 the population of the

town was

1,900, although the immigration commenced at a

somewhat later period than that into Pompey, Manlius

and Onondaga.

on the Chenango road.

He died April 29, 1802. His son, Charles Moore,
was the first white male child born in the town.
He was born in 1796, and died in 1862.
Josiah

Moore

settled

for

Fabius was held

3,

at

Timo-

1798.

thy Jerome was chosen Supervisor

Town
I

Josiah Moore,

Benjamin Brown, Timothy Walker.

Clerk
and Elijah St. John. Assessors
Joseph Tubbs,
James Cravath and William Blanchard, Commis;

Highways Ezckiel Dunham, Constable.

The second town meeting was held at the same
:

place, April 2,

Fabius were Josiah Moore

and Timothy Jerome, from Stockbridge, Mass., in

They erected their log cabins in the dense
1794.
forest, and for the first year were entirely without
neighbors.
The next year was marked by the arrival

which they

Meetings, &c.

the house of Joseph Tubbs, April

sioners of

settlers of

mills to

is

State.

first

first

had recourse, short of Herkimer, were Danforth's

on the Butternut Creek.

Limestone and Hutternut Creeks. At the

of South Hill lies a small lake known as Lab-

The

The

ries of their board.

the east and west borders flow north

into the
foot

first

and game were plenty, and these with milk and

such stores as they had laid in, constituted the luxu-

elevation.

Tioughnioga, a branch of the Susquehanna, and

those upon

chief

through the

1799: Timothy Jerome was chosen

Supervisor, and Benjamin Brown,

The

seventy-eighth

Town

annual town

Clerk.

meeting was

held February 20, 1877, in the house of Ira Smith,

and the following

officers

were elected

Justices,

James H. Wheelock, Elmore Wheaton, Eli S.

Howe, Harance T. Jones Town Clerk, Dillie R.
Webster Supervisor, Newel Rowley Collector,
John H. Sniffin; Assessor. Elijah Andrews Over;

and Charles W.
Miles Town Auditors, John C. Bailey, Wm. H. S.
Green and Wm. Tibbits Constables, John H.
seers of the Poor, Ezra Goodrich
;

George W. Way, Stephen Chaffee. Grant O.

Andrews Game Constable, Ransom Stringham
Sealer of Weights and Measures. A. W. Salesbury
Snifllin,

Excise Commissioner, Alvin House.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Timothy Jerome was the

and

first,

for a

The town

long-time

1805.

the surrounding country.

The

in

was

It

constructed by

in the

open

or even shed to shelter

frame house was erected by Josiah

The inOthers soon followed.
1800.

first

Moore

contains twenty-three School Districts.

A tannery was

the only. Justice of the Peace in this town, and for

383

air,

Lyman Smith

The

it.

in

without any building

contrivance for

grinding the bark was that of a large stone attached

wheat and caused

drawn round in a circle by a

owned the applihorse.
He immediateances, which were burned in 1812.
ly rebuilt, and in connection therewith, put up a shoe

be brought into the

the first
The first surveys were made by Hon.
town.
Moses DeWitt. (See Town of DeWitt.) Major

shop said to have been the first one in town. Prior

to this it was the custom for traveling cobblers to
go from house to house repairing and making shoes.

of

George Pettit afterwards

life.

Josiah

Moore sowed the

first

farming implements

Joseph Strong
still

built the

to

barn in 1799.

first

It

The above tannery was built on part of Mr. Keeney's

is

farm.

standing.

Among

the

were William Clark and

daughter of the latter, Miss
Mr. Abel Webster

to

and this was the

With respect to the first school in town, authori" The first school
Clark says
ties seem to differ.
marriage

first

in 1798,

in Fabius.

taught in this town was by Miss Jerome, wife of

He

was in
a log school house, a year or two before there was
any other in the town, but gives no locality nor
the late Judge James Geddes."

Other

says

it

authorities say the first school

local

was taught in Simon Keeney's neighborhood, by

Benjamin Brown, in 1802, and give the names of
the surviving pupils, as follows Champion Keeney,
:

Miss
Simon Keeney, Jr., and Esther Woodruff.
Jerome may have taught a school before 1802, and
all

Mr.

the facts about the school in

the rest of

Keeney's neighborhood inayhQ correct, except that

it

was

\\\Q first

school in the town.

this merely as a conjectural

mode

We

suggest

of reconciliation

must settle the question.

The first
Joel Daniels was the first blacksmith.
Joseph
store was opened by Morton & Cady.
Simons kept the first tavern within the limits of

local authorities

the present town, though Josiah Tubbs, in

797,

iu Fabius,)

was

postoffice

established about

later period postoffices

and Franklinville.
Elijah Miles was the
town.

The

Truxton

at

first

1804.

village, (then

At

were established

much
Apulia

State Senator from this

first

Member

at

of

Assembly was Jonatown is John

he has attained the

oldest native resident of the

Keeney, who

is

now

good old age of 81

living

years.

is

pleasantly

situated

western extremity flows a branch of the

Tioughnioga, a beautiful stream whose waters flow
southward and mingle with those of the Susque-

its

The surrounding scenery

hanna.
romantic.

It

is

studded with

is

pleasing and
groves,

beautiful

fruitful orchards and the neat and substantial homes

of prosperous farmers, and is walled in upon every

side with hills that swell softly in the distance to a

This
had its origin about the year 18 12, at which
time an ashery and dwelling house were erected
In the year 18 14 a hotel was
near the east end.

clear cut outline against the deep blue sky.

village

and the same now stands, with enlarged

dimensions, on the corner of the road, and is known
In i8i6the Hamilton
as the Old Cadwell House.
and Skaneateles turnpike was constructed through
this town, and in that year another hotel was
built

erected. Ira

Smith

is

the present proprietor.

was kept by Aaron Benedict &

the corner now occupied by
on
erected
Co., and
yard in the same year
fruit
S. H. Corbin, as a
The first physician
the turnpike was constructed.

The

first

store

was Dr. Searles. The

was George Pettit.

The

Baptist

Ira Taylor.

1821,

first

Justice of the Peace

meeting-house was built

in

18 18,

1870, the present pastor being Rev.

rebuilt in

The Methodist church was

was moved

to

its

built in

present position in 1835,

Free- Will Baptist Church

The
moved
to the present location in
was built in 1830,
placed in its
1845, removed and a new structure
Church,
now ocThe Universalis!
stead in 1868.
and

rebuilt in

cupied by the

than Stanley, in 18 12.

The

Fabius

of

Village

the hills which form the most northerly

spur of the Alleghany range of mountains. Along

and

of Apulia.
first

The
among

was the first tavern keeper, near Tully, at whose

house town meetings were first held.
The first grist and saw mills erected in this town
were by Thomas Miles, on Butternut Creek, west

The

VILLAGE OF FABIUS.

first settlers

Simon Keeney. A
Lydia Keeney, was married

date.

log or pole and

to a

were enterprising, and soon supplied

themselves with all the comforts and conveniencies
habitants

860.

Roman

Catholics was erected

in

1845-

The

completion of the turnpike in 18 16, was the

sio-nal for

the systematical laying out and building

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

384

town a

in this central part of the

village

upon

this

thoroughfare, and henceforward, for forty years, it

sustained uninterrupted growth, prosperity and

business

wealth, and
activity.

It

was the scene of stirring

soon extended three-quarters of a mile

along the turnpike, had one parallel side street and

four cross streets, with a population of 600, with

numerous dry-goods, grocery, boot and shoe, and

clothing stores, cabinet and wagon shops, with
minor branches of business and
usual
the
trade. Prominent among the early land-holders and

may be mentioned Abijah

founders of this place

Otis,
dict,

Mark and Lucas Andrews, and Aaron Benewhile to Jerry Benedict and John Wilson may

be ascribed the original conception of the village and

The opening of the Syracuse
plan of the streets.

and Binghamton Railroad in 1S54 was a damaging blow to the business enterprise of the place.
Since that date this avenue has conducted a large
percentage of the most valuable trade to the heavy

And now the

stores and shops of Syracuse.

of the business

men

of a former day

Still

the town

not devoid of

is

lation of 500.

It

and hardware

tin

has a popu-

It

life.

with

of leisure.

numbers 125 dwelling houses, 4

churches, 3 mi.xed stores,

ants,

filled

is

men

a laboring class, retired farmers and

place

grocery store, 2 restaur-

store,

4 shoe shops,

hotel,

2 carriage shops, 4 blacksmith shops,

large flour-

undertaking establishment and 4 physicians, together with one graded school, employing
ing mill,

Rev.

I.

H. Beman has charge of the Free Will

Baptist church.

Fabius Evergreen Cemetery is an important adThe Association was organvil!ai;c.

junct to the

March 22, 1S64. The first Trustees were, O.

Hills, H. F. Williams, A. Bramcr, J. E. Pettit. S.
Cad well, E. Andrews, L. S. Thomas, H. Adams
and D S. Sprague. The present Trustees are H.
F. Williams, D. H Johnson, D. S. Sprague, S. H.
Corbin, H. C. Phillips, E. Wheaton, O. Pope, E.
Peck and Lyman Osborn. H. F. Williams was the
ized

first

President of this Association and has held the

position

of Trustee

since

its

The

organization.

cemetery occupies six acres of land near the east

end of the village. Its great variety of ornamental
trees and shrubs make it a very attractive rural
cemetery.

Chukch of Fabius.

B.\i>TisT

when

On the

24th of

there were no roads through

August, 1803,
this town east and west, and

was

where
Church of
Fabius was recognized by a council composed of
delegates sent from Hamilton, Cazenovia, Pompey,
Elder Ashbel Hosmer was chosen
and DeRuyter.
Moderator, and Dr. James Pettit, Clerk.
This
council, composed of six ministers and nine laybrethren, convened in a barn three miles south of
the village, owned by Samuel Webster, and there
recognized this little band of disciples, numbering
the

now

village

less than twenty, as a " true

Some

it

stands, the

all

forest

Baptist

church of Jesus Christ."

this addition with three of the other large districts

were Thomas
Keeney, Samuel Stone, Elijah Keeney, Gurden
WoodrufTand Samuel Webster.
The house of worship of this church was erected
at Fabius Village, in the. year 1S18, and cost about
This year was an eventful one to the
$5,000.
church.
They engaged Elder Eliada Blakcsly for

was consolidated

three years for one thousand dollars, and went with

3 teachers in charge of 100 pupils, in the large

commodious house formerly

built for

and

an academy

and subsequently converted to the use of a district

school, and was recently improved and enlarged

by the addition of the

edifice formerly occupied

the school of district No.

in

8,

part of the town,

the central

with the present district No.

Miss Mary

ent teachers,

by

which, at the time of

9.

One

of the pres-

Persons, has held a

position in this school for the last three years.

The

principal store of the place

&

Hotaling

George

Case.

is

H.

conducted by

Gallinger,

the

former partner of Mr. Hotaling has recently retired

from the firm. Their sales amount to S35.000 an-

The

nually.

postofficc

is

kept at this store.

O.

Hulbcrt, Postmaster.

their

the

of

teams

to

goods; they

original

members

Connecticut to bring his family and

meeting house, and baptized

one hundred and twenty-three converts.

The

built their

following are the

names of pastors
;

The

carriage manufacturing and

shop of
Ellis & Barnes has a conspicuous position on one of
the corners at the west end of the village.

Among

the

physicians

who has recently

is

repair

Dr. Milford L. Pine,

established his office in this place.

Rev.

C.

upon the

L.

first

F.

Howe

has

recently

entered

year of his services with this people.

Rufus Freeman, 1S05

Peter P. Roots, 1S07;
John Upfold, 181
Salmon Morton, 1815 Rufus
Freeman, 8 16; Eliada Blakesly, 1818; Ottis and
Bell, 1822; Horace Griswold, 1823; Wheeler I.
Cram, 1831;
Brisbin, 1832; Jirah D. Cole,
1833 Oreb Montague, 1834 A. Whcclock, 1836;
H. V. Jones, 1S38; Enoch Dye. 1842; Luke
Davis, 1843; Peter P. Brown. 1844; Walter G.
Dye. 1847; Lark L. Livermore, 1853; Elijah G.
Blount. 185S; J. D. Webster, 1864;
Olney,
1S66: J. M. Tolman. 1867
Ira Clark, 1873
Grain, 1875
Ira A. Taylor, 1877.
The church was incorporated August 24, 1819.
At that time the following Board of Trustees was
;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

elected

Elijah St. John, Stephen Tripp, Jonathan

1837.

Simon

large business.

Stanley,

Aaron

Keeney,

Benedict,

John

Water-power

385

employs

five

hands and do a

Phelps, Benj. Lewis, Geo. Pettit, Nathaniel Bacon.

SUMMIT STATION.

Present Trustees, 1877

Lorenzo Heffron, DuJr., Albert G. Bacon, Orlando
Hulbert, Elmore VVheaton, Dillis R. Webster.

portal S. Sprague,

Summit

Station

is

young but brisk and

Free-Will Baptist Church, Fabius Village.

The first meetings of this denomination in the town

village.

were held

the line of the Syracuse and

school house, near Stephen Tripp's,

in a

In 1827, the church was organ-

October, 1826.

in

ized,

consisting

David Coats, Charles Moore,

of

Rolen Sears, Joshua Sanders, John Smith, ElizaCoats, Hannah Moore, Experience Sears,

beth

Sallie

Sanders, Polly Smith, Polly Coats, Celestia

Annable and

The

others.

present church edifice was erected in 1869,

Elders Waldron and Bates preceded the present

Pastor, Rev.

church

in

Beman, who

H.

I.

settled over the

The church

has about 75 members and a Sunday

First M. E. Church, of Fabius.

meetings were held

The

earliest

The church

in a school house.

was erected in 1821.

Among the original
of the church were Anson Cadwell, David
Porter, Daniel Porter, Carlson Hodgson, Sallie Cadwell and Catherine Hubbard.
The cost of the
church edifice was 6,000. The names of the followedifice

members

ing pastors have been furnished us

Present membership 105

Sunday

school, 147.

Bramer & Bennett, Foundry, Machine and GenRepair Shops, Fabius Village.

Established in

Building of wood, three stories,

the Spring of 1 877.

Manufacture lumber-

cost $2,000, erected in 1866.

wagons, sleighs and agricultural implements

busi-

building on

Wooden

Business

established

costly.

in

1872.

Mr. Fosmer has

made steady progress in building up a good business.

Irving Smith, Custom Mills, Fabius Village.
by Oregin & Griswold in 1817. Cost
Water-power 14 ft. breast
two millers
Capacity, 20 bushels per hour

Mills started

of buildings $5,000.

wheel.

Since

1854.

presents a neat and attractive appearance

It

being new and reared

to the traveler, its buildings

in

modern

the style of

Apulia

is

architecture.

dying away,

its

As

the old

business and

population are accumulating about this point.

a population

It

of something over one hun-

dred and maintains one district school with an

average attendance of twenty pupils, one church of
the Methodist denomination. Rev. A. D. Webster,
Pastor
two well supported, well appointed and
;

Summit House on

orderly conducted hotels the

the western side of the track

kept by John H.

House on the

east side controlled

Snififin,

the Colby
;

one dry goods and grocery

conducted by C. F. Gay

&

Co.

one house

store,

for

the

and farm implements, kept

by J- Jay Blaney, who is also Postmaster one
extensive
steam
manufacturing establishment,
Green & Sturdevant, proprietors. It also contains a
sale of general groceries

cheese factory, one blacksmith shop, one carriage

factory and two custom flouring mills.

two dealers
produce.

in

It also

has

farmer's and dairymen's stock and

Each year adds new

industry, wealth and

importance to the place.

Green & Sturdevant's Saw Mills, at this

were established in 1871. The manufacture

E. A. Fosmer, Cabinet and Undertaking Rooms,

not

its

existence.

its

marketing and shipping the produce from a large

surrounding territory, and at the present time a
larger tonage of dairy products is shipped from this
station than from any other point on the line of the

ness prosperous.

building

active

part of the

Binghamton Railroad,
There was not a
site when the road was built in
then it has become a center for

owes

it

by O. F. Gilbert

Rev. Moses Adams, Dr. Luke Hitchcock, Rev.

John E. Robie Dr. D. A. Wheadon, Rev. Thomas
Harrow, Rev. P. H. Wiles, Rev. C. L. F. Howe,
A. M., Ph. D., present Pastor.

Fabius Village.

which

now has

school numbering 50.

eral

to

village of

the Spring of 1877.

located in the western

is

town, five miles distant from Fabius Village, and on

road.

at a cost of ^5,000.

It

village

chairs was added to the saw mill in 1874.

employs twelve hands and $8,000 capital.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Apulia Station.
The following have
Organized in the fall of 1869.
served the church as pastors
Rev. Timothy W. Owen, two years Rev. J.
Rev.
Fletcher Brown, two and one half years
Edmund M. Mills, two years Rev. Anthony C.
Rev. Anson D. Webster,
Smith, three years
of

Capital, $10,000.

employed.

Ellis
Fabius.

&

Barnes, Carriage and Sleigh Factory,

Wooden

ness established in 1856.

C. S. Chaffee & Bros.,

present pastor.

Shingle Mill

cost of 2,200.

The church

Saw and

and Cheese-Box Factory, Fabius.

66*

Busi-

building, erected in 1837.

Established

in

members and

edifice

was

built in

The church

has

Sunday School

1869-70,

now

at a

thirty-nine

of about thirty.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

386

DE WITT.
DeWitt was

taken from Manlius and erected

burgh, he laid out and surveyed the several town-

was named
into a separate town April 12, 1835.
"
Moses DcWitt, Major of Militia and
in honor of
Judge of the County Courts one of the first, most
He was
active and useful settlers of the county.

ships, and, with

born on the 15th of October, 1766, and died on the

and along the southern

It

Such

15th day of August, 1794."

is

the inscription

found upon a marble slab which covers his remains

in a small family burying ground about a mile south

The same

of Jamesville.
inscription

Also of

stone bears the further

Egbert DeWitt,

his brother,

of

May,

Moses DeWitt was descended from

a dis-

born 25th
1793."

"

30th

died

1768;

of April.

tinguished family of Holland, which immigrated to

New

York, and a branch of which settled

ange County.

in

Or-

His father was Jacob Rutzen De-

Witt, a brother of the mother of

DeWitt

Clinton.

the assistance of other surveyors,

sub-divided them into

For this valuable serhim several thousand acres

lots.

vice the Slate granted

scattered throughout

of land,

tier of counties,

form the duties of that

office

At

charge of a battalion.

mow

Pompey.

in

northeast corner of LaFayelte^ a

Clinton.

the town of

built as a sort of a castle for

On-

the organization of

1794, he was appointed

Judge of
the Courts, Surrogate and Justice of the Peace, and
was chosen the first Supervisor of Pompey, in
April, 1794.
His residence was on Lot No. 3,

ondaga County,

which had been drawn by

in

on the Military Tract.

In 1793 he was appointed a Major of Militia, and

Danforth, had
with Major (afterward General

Orange, N.Y., had been

family mansion

bordering

on Pennsylvania. At the organization of Herkimer

County, in 1791, he was appointed Surrogate and
Justice of the Peace, and was the first man to per-

Deer Park, on
the banks of the Neversink River, in the County of

The

the Military Tract,

order

In

to

his uncle, General

secure

lot

James

valuable water-

of

power on Butternut Creek, on which he contemjilaled making extensive improvements, he had purchased fifty acres adjoining in the present town of

immense thickness, and surrounded by a row of

was occupied by a garrison during
It
palisades.

labors and earthly prospects to a sudden termina-

the Revolution.

tion.

defense against the Indians, and during the French

War and

the

War

Revolution had been

of the

The

strongly fortified.

Moses DeWitt and

DeWitt Clinton, were in

walls were

his

of

stone,

distinguished

early

life

cousin,

schoolmates, un-

DeWitt

But his untimely death brought

He

August

died at the

15,

The town

of

and closed his eyes in death." Moses D.

Burnet and Thomas Rose of Syracuse, were relatives of Moses DeWitt.
Moses DeWitt was associated with his uncle,
Gen. James Clinton, and David Rittenhouse, Esq.,

the

as one of the surveyors of the boundary line be-

are

New York

and Pennsylvania, when the

were Commissioners apgentlemen
two
former
pointed by their respective States, to survey and
a work which lasted
establish the boundary line
and during this time proved
about three years

himself a
the

skillful

surveyor and

Military Tract

was

laid

engineer.

out,

the

When

Surveyor-

General, his uncle, Simeon DeWitt, appointed him

as Assistant Surveyor, and with

Abraham Harden-

a surface of consider-

many places the scenery is unusually beautiful

The northern half is level, and
The declivities of
the southern broken and hilly.

able variety, and in

tween

age of twenty-eight years,

DeWitt has

Thomas White, an English gentleman of liberal education, who formed a strong attachment to Mr. DeWitt, " was with him much of
life,

his

1794.

der the tuition of

his

all

hills

five to

are usually steep, and their

seven hundred

feet

above the

summits from
valleys.

But-

ternut Creek, flowing north, divides the highlands

into

two nearly equal ridges.

several fine mill sites.

somewhat

falls

about

The

Upon
falls

this

stream are

below Jamesville
The water

interesting as a curiosity.

thirty

perpendicularly,

feet

breadth of the creek

is

about forty

feet.

and the
Its

rocky

chasm and sublime scenery, connected with the

immense beds of gypsum and water-lime, and the
e.xtensive

works

for their

manufacture, render this

a very desirable place for the rambles of the tourist

There is a
and the researches of the geologist.
tradition, that

located a

little

at
the time the French colony,
south of Jamesville, were massacred,

I'buto, 1<7 \V. Y. lUti|[er, Sjrmruae.

IIOBKKT DUNLAl".

Robert
1810,

aiitl

liip.

Hi.s

vma

I>iiiila]>

wuM

wa.i

America

in

fiitlirr

fmifrnitod to

where he cupi^ud
lie

iMntinui>d

till

in the

iiiitivc

in

Allmiiy,

N.

his

Y.,

April

28,

AiidrewH) Piin-

of Ayrsliire, Scotland,

and

brewing and
Iiik

uiiiltin^ businctw,

which

death, which occurred in the

wventy-fourth year, leaving a large

estate.

The

Onondapi County, and engaged

alik) in

the manufacture of

he haM followed up

He

the year 1805, locating; at Albany,

the day of

autumn of 1851,

in

Ixirii

Uobort and Joaiietto

n son of

in

gypum

the milling busincxs, and

and hydraulic cement, which

to the present time.

hiw been supervisor of his town, and was one of the

original directors of the Syracuse

he has been

for several years,

and

and Binghamton railroad

is

at present, president of

the Syracuse and Jamesville plank-road company, and

is

also

trustee of the St. John's school at Manlius.

subject of

thitt

Albany academy, and

three years of age,

Hkctch

livi'd

with

rcceivi'd

\m

when he moved

his

father until he wiLt twentyto the

Energy, prudence, and remarkable foresight arc his promi-

education at the

town of

I)e

Witt,

nent characteristics.
is

higlily riwpectcd

by

gixnl neighbor,

all

and a kind husband, he

who know him.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

one escaped and was pursued, overtaken and
near these

The

killed

falls.

first

387

circular in form, about eighty rods in diameter,

gypsum was discovered northwest of

Lot 81, in 181 1. The first dis-

New

Jamesville, on

singular bodies of water in Central

United States was in the town of

It had previously been brought
Camillus, in 1792.
from Nova Scotia, and was called Nova Scotia
Before this it had been brought to this
Plaster.

has no outlet, but upon the eastern side

covered in the

France and Germany

quantities, under the name of plaster of
country

from

Franklin

first

introduced

it

as a vegetable stimulant.

introduced

it

New York

in

limited

in

Dr.

paris.

United States
Robert Livingston first

into the

into the eastern

part of the State of

1805.

Water-lime was discovered in this town

or 1 8 19, and is now prepared for market

in

1818

in large

quantities principally in the towns of Manlius and

DeWitt.

(See Fayetteville Manufacturers.)

Clark, in his

and

almost surrounded by perpendicular banks from

150 to 200 feet high.
This is one of the most

is

count of certain caves

marsh through which the water might

does not.

ac-

in the vicinity of Jamesville:

" Nathan Beckvvith, in sinking a well, about a

mile east of Jamesville, in 1807, discovered a large
It has been explored to some extent in
cavern.
a southwesterly direction from the entrance at the
well.
The depth at the entrance of the cavern
may be about twenty feet height of the cavern at
width, near five
the entrance, about seven feet
feet.
These dimensions continue six or eight rods,
when the space becomes contracted to a width just
sufficient for a single person to pass through.
It
soon becomes broader.
The size is very far from
being uniform, the top in some places being not
more than three or four feet from the bottom. Dogtooth spar, stalactites and stalagmites, are numerous.
small stream of water runs along the

is

It

a low

flow,

but

In several places near the center a lead

has been lowered three hundred feet without finding

bottom, and within fifty feet of the shore the water is
over a hundred feet deep.
a considerable depth

is

The water drawn from

highly charged with sulphur-

Another lake of

eted hydrogen.

similar character

two miles east of Jamesville.

Messina Springs, three in number and twenty
feet apart, are situated about three and a half miles
lies

east of Syracuse.

The name was given them

1835 by the people

their

Onondaga, gives the following

York.

in

contiguity to Syracuse, as the place of the

same name

is in Sicily.

They emerge from

stone rock on the surface of which

mens
is

in

the vicinity, on account of

fifty

a lime-

found speci-

The temperature
The water is

of calcareous substances.

uniformly

is

degrees Fahrenheit.

strongly impregnated with sulphur and has considerable local notoriety for medicinal qualities.

Early Settlement.

bottom.
"

There

is

another cave, about two miles west of

Jamesville, on the farm of the late Mr. Brown,

which is several hundred feet deep and which
The openhas never been thoroughly explored.
ing from the top is through a fissure about three
After descending
feet broad by eight feet long.
some twenty feet, there is an extensive opening to
It is supposed that this
the great valley below.
cave extends all along the great ledge of limestone
rock, from the western part of DeWitt, nearly to
The ledge is usually about two hunJamesville.
The cave itself is a great singudred feet high.

not curiosity.
the time this cave was

At

first

made known

to

the settlers, tools which had been used for mining

purposes were found at its mouth, and also a bar
of solid silver two inches square and eighteen
It is also
inches long, having a point of steel.
reported that a kettle of money was found about
twenty rods from the cave, which was supposed
to have been coined there."
In

the southwest corner of the town, about a

mile and a half from Jamesville,

occupying a deep chasm

was erected on the flats a few yards west

of the old church, three and a half miles west of
Manlius Village, then called by the Indian name,
Kasoongkta Flats. Mr. Morehouse here opened
the first tavern kept in the county in 1790, and it
became a noted place, no less than its proprietor,
who, on account of his dignified deportment, was
log house

popularly known and addressed as " Governor."

At Mr. Morehouse's tavern was held many of the
early meetings, both of a civic
for

this

new

and

military" character,

of country.

region

settled here his nearest neighbors

When he first
were Asa Dan-

and Comfort Tyler, seven miles distant at

In 1791, he carried a plowshare on his back to Westmoreland, Oneida
County, to get it sharpened, and while the blacksmith was doing the work he proceeded to Herkimer, purchased thirty pounds of flour and returned
on foot with flour and plowshare on his back. This
forth

larity, if

"

Benjamin Morehouse,
from
Fredericksburg,
Dutchess County, N. Y., was the first settler in
the town of DeWitt.
He arrived here, with his
wife and three children, following the Indian trail
from Oneida to Onondaga, April 26, 1789.
His

is

in the rocks.

a small
It is

lake

nearly

Onondaga Hollow.

was the
after

first

wheaten

flour introduced into his family

their arrival, except a small quantity

along with them, and

for nearly a year.

it

brought

sufficed for their necessities

HISTORY OF OXOXDAGA COUXTY. XEW YORK.

388

The

(rom 1790 to iSoo, 111 Janieswere Moses DeWitt, Daniel

settlers,

tirsl

and

ville

vicinity,

IS used in building, many of the handsomest and

most substantial structures being entirely or partly

Keeler, Dr. Holbrook, Jeremiah Jackson, William

built of

Stephen Hungerford,
Stephen
Jeremiah and James Gould, Roger Merrill, Caleb
Northrup, Henjamin Sanford and others. Jeremiah
Jackson erected the first frame dwelling house in
'797 Joseph Purdy opened the first blacksmith
shop about the same time. In 179S Mathew Dumfrie built a distillery, malt house and brewery, and
manufactured the first beer and whisky made in
Oliver Owen erected a saw mill in
the county.
Mr. Trowbridge kept the first tavern at
1795.

interests are somewhat limited

owing to the great conflagration which
occurred here October 14, 1877, whereby all the
business portion of the village was laid in ashes
two hotels, the " Kortright House," and the " Clark
House." three stores, kept by Reed & Conkling,
Connell & Co., and Daniel Quinlan, Avery's restaurant and residence, a boot and shoe store kept by

1804; Daniel Olmstead kept it in

was considered the best tavern west
of Utica.
In 1804, Benjamin Sanford built mills,
and Mr. Hungerford started clothing works about
the same time.
John Post, from Utica, opened a
store of goods, one mile east of Jamesville in 1802
Robbins & Callighan, in 1S04, and Mr. Keeler, in
Esquire Edgar opened a law office at More1805.
house's Flats at an early day, and had for students
Moses D. Rose and Luther Badger.
Dr. Hol-

element.

Angel,

Bends,

Jamesvillc, in

when

1806,

it

brook, the

The

1791.

doctor presided at

meeting held

public

first

physician in the town, located at

first

Jamesville in

country, convened

this

in

Morehouse's tavern

at

the

section of the
for the

purpose of taking preliminary measures for the di

vision of Herkimer County.
John Youngs was
the

first

first

tavern

1791, and kept

of Orville, in

settler

in that

the

The settlewent by the name of

part of the town.

ment, on this account,

first

Mr. Youngs erected the first frame

house and was for many years Justice of the Peace
the first in the town of Manlius.
Youngsville.

JAMESVILLE.
Jamesville

situated on the Syracuse,

is

New York

ton and

Railroad,

Binghamand on Butternut

Creek, seven miles from Syracuse.

lation of

and

about three hundred and

a thriving

is

village, the

transacted being larger by

places of

size.

its

The

far

It

has a popu-

fifty

inhabitants,

amount of business
is done in most

than

grist

in

and

that

mills,

one saw-mill and a pearl barley

also extensive limekilns.

engaged

in

New

There are

which

cutting stone of a
is

shipped to

all

about

The

loss

by the

thousand

fifty

make

sufficient to

fire

dollars,

was estimated

to

the hearts of the citizens of the

commenced with

Rebuilding

vigor and one block

is

already

up and ocoupied by Daniel Quinlan, who keeps

found

general stock such as

is

The

" is

"

be

an amount certainly

unfortunate place sink with despair.

has

houses, one

barns were devoured by the raging

five

Kortright House

in

country stores.

being rebuilt, and will

occupancy about June i, 1878.
It is
to be a large structure, two stories in height with
Mansard roof, and will be, probably, the finest hotel
in the county outside of Syracuse.

be ready

The
lows

for

industrial interests of Jamesville are

Two

carriage and repair shops by

as

fol-

Erasmus

Green and Charles Cable one sash and blind facby G. W. Burhans & Co.; one harness shop,
by R. H. Bristoll, and two shoe shops.
Isaac K. Reed is Postmaster.
Two physicians,
E. E. Knapp, M. D. and R. S. Humphrey, M. D.
;

tory,

B. S. Gregory,

forty-three

who has

years,

is

resided here for the past

the only attorney here.

He

was Justice of the Peace for eight years, and is now

also engaged in the insurance business.
The name of Jamesville was adopted at the time
"The yamesvillc Iron and Woolen Factory" was incorporated in 1809.
The name was given by the
Legislature in the act of incorporation, and was first
published and proclaimed in a great Fourth-of-July
celebration held herein 1810.

In 1809 a postoflfice

established in 1806.

mill,

several parties

very

church and

en-

en-

and

the immediate vicinity of Jamesville,

quarrying and
quality,

Isaac L. Sherwoo<l, and four dwelling

two

plaster.

business, viz

The commercial

at present,

was established, Thomas Rose, Postmaster

succeeded by Moses D. Rose.
The first school house
for Jamesville was erected east of the village in
Polly Hibbard was teacher, succeeded by
1795.
Susan Ward.
The first school in Jamesville was

principal interests being

There are two firms

Robert Dunlop
Alvord, Dixon & Weston.
Mr. Dunlop is also
gaged largely in milling, owning and operating
stone, lime

gaged

it.

"St.

As

superior

until
ized.

it

Jamesville.

were held in
Rust although it was not
July 13th, 1831, that the society was organThe organization was perfected at Mr.

June

6th, 1825, meetings

the house of Elijah

points in Central

York, and very largely to Syracuse, where

Makks" Episcopal Church,

early as

Rust's, the following

C.

named persons being among

>'

*
fi;.

Ak^
\.

RESIOENCE &TfNEMENT HOl;SfS*^WARPE^

-va=j*

RAYTON,

Ot Wnr,0NONOA&A Co.N.Y.

""-ftci^.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the

members

original

John Millen, Mrs.

Ives,

Mrs. Dibble, Harriet Gillespie, Helen Post, Hiram

P.

Holbrook, John Crankshaw, Mary Ann Holbrook,

Read, Phebe Wales, Catherine Littlefield,

Mrs.

Abigail Salmon, and others.

In the following year

a church was built on a corner of the road leading

north to Syracuse and the Seneca Turnpike.

Seth W. Beardsley was the

first

Rev.

rector and served

He was followed

this parish from 1831 to 1836.

Rev. Marshall Whiting, 1836 to 1839.

by

After this

came Revs. James SelUrig, Chas. W. Hayes, Julius

S. Townsend, H. H. Loring, M. L. Kern, J. L.
Gay, J. E. Barr, J. H. Bowman, whose respective
terms of service we are unable to give owing to lack
of

Rev.

records.

E. Pratt, the present rector,

J.

the

first

389

Among

preachers.

the early

members

of

church were Deacons Ayer, Messenger, Barnum, Levett and Hezekiah Weston. In 1827 the
society began holding meetings in Jamesville,
this

which was more centrally located, and the following

now occupied by them, under the pastorate of Rev. Seth J. Porter.
Among
the prominent members of that time were Isaac

year erected the house

W.

Brewster, David Smith, Horace B. Gates and

Amos Sherwood. At this time there were two

hundred and forty-seven members in the church.

In December, 1843, the church voted to adopt the
constitution

consisting

Onondaga County Conference,

members of the Presbyterian and

of the
of

Congregational order, within the

Onondaga Presbytery, and

bounds of the
March, 1870, the

has been connected with the church since 1873.

The present number of communicants is twenty-

Trustees petitioning the Judge of the County, the

five.

name was changed

The church
mer

of

building was remodeled in the sum-

expense

an

1874, at

Burned, Oct.

of about $2,500.

Another church

14, 1877.

will in all

The present officers are Robert Dunlop, and

Edwin A. Knapp, Wardens. J. G. Holbrook, C.
Avery, G. B. Low, H. D. Weston, H. G. Dixon,
Conklin, J. E. Van Vranken, I. K. Reed,

E. C.

Vestrymen.

M. E. Chlrch of Jamesville.
records

early

from what

of this

we can

give the date of

the

first

Hiram

of the

we can
names of

organization and the

Trustees only, which was

C.

Most

society have been lost, but

find after diligent search,

its

Snow and Joseph

in

the year 1832,

C. Green, presiding at

the meeting called for that purpose, the following

named persons being elected Trustees. Egbert

Coleman, Moses Chapman, Abraham Van Chaick,
Darius Sweet and Cornelius Cool
is

thought are now dead.

the organization be

known

of theM. E. Church

The

all
'

whom

of

it

resolved that

as the Fourth Society

is

Sunday School

about one hundred.

of about

scholars,

fifty

A. H. Shurtliff,
who supplies the M. E. Church at DeWitt.

D. E. Weston,

The
The

was

Manlius."

present membership

flourishing

pastor,

in

It

church

is

Superintendent.

supplied with a cabinet organ.

present Trustees are the following

Barker, A. A.

Watkins, John S.
Gove, and Albert Boughton.

O.

M.

Wright, P. B.

First Presbyterian Church of Jamesville.

This church was originally known as the Union
Congregational Society, and was organized in Octo-

ber,

1807.

Soon

after

this

they

to the First Presbyterian

In

Dutch Reformed Church, but

this society only sur-

when they disbanded and returned to the old church.

The present membership is but forty-five.
The Sabbath School attendance, fifty.
The present officials are Rev. H. C.
Hazen, Pastor Daniel Marsh, Darius C. Avery
and Benjamin S. Gregory, Trustees.
The church

built

their first

building cost about $3,000.

Methodist Episcopal Youngs' Society of

DeWitt. This society was organized in 1811, in
the village of Orville, now DeWitt, under the ministration of Rev. Dan Barnes, taking the name and
title of " The Youngs' Society."
The first Trus-

were John Youngs, Sr., John Youngs, Jr.,

Zephaniah Lathrop, Benjamin Booth and Peter
G. Van Slyke. This was then in the Pompey
Circuit, of which William Case was then Presiding
tees

Elder, and the pastors were Rev.

Dan Barnes

and-

James Kelsey. The first class consisted of the

Trustees and John Russell, Freelove Russell, Elizabeth Youngs, Seth Youngs, Jonas Scott, Mary
Scott and Daniel Knapp.
Immediately upon this
organization they proceeded to erect their church,

which stands upon the Turnpike leading to Jamesville.

The society was reorganized and reincorporated in May, 1S26, as the Methodist Episcopal
Youngs' Society of Orville. This society continued
occupying their church until 1863, when the Presbyterian Society disbanded and gave their church
building to this society in consideration of certain
repairs.

special act of the Legislature

was pro-

cured allowing this transfer, also empowering the

convey their building to the

which time the Youngs'

church, which was situated about one mile east of

Youngs' Society

to

Jamesville on the farm of Daniel B. Marsh, one of

School

since

67

Church

1S32 there was a secession on

the part of some of the members, who organized a
of Jamesville.

vived five or six years,

probability be erected during 1878.

W.

in

District,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

390

Church has been used

The

as a school house.

expense of Si, 200, repaired the old

Presbyterian Church, which the society still occupy.

society at an

The

present membership

Sabbath School
The present Trustees arc

is fifty.

attendance seventy-five.

Emerson Kinne, James Moulter, D. C. Peck, U'm.

Adams and

Rev. Shurtliff

G. C. Ferris.

pastor

is

prior to this time under the ministration of Rev.

Seth Youngs.

About

M. E. Church of the northern

part of De Witt.
has been several times repaired and in
was rededicated as the first M. E. Church

FiKST Presiiytekian Chi/'rch of Coliamer.

Meetings were held in what was known as the

ol

was organized with a membership of

seventeen, among whom were John Furbeck, Sarah
Haker, Deborah Furbeck, Prudence Smith and the
present elders, Porter Baker, Samuel Baker, John
Powlesland, and Orlando Spencer
also Deacons
Dwight Baker and Andrew Fuller.
In 1843 the
present church edifice was erected at a cost of S600.
The organization was etiected under the pastorate
of Rev. Amos VV. Seeley who was succeeded by
Rev. A. C. Lathrop who remained three years,
followed by Rev. B. Ladd, after whom came Rev.
Marcus Smith who labored here for twelve years,
then Rev. J. M. Chrysler was called and remained
;

five

years

since then the present pastor, John M.

The

Perkins.

present membership

bath school attendance

is

seventy.

Sab-

fifty.

M. Chrysler, who came as

and by his energy succeeded
in organizing a society and erecting a commodious
church on the corner of Carpenter and Ellis streets.
The society was organized, January 27, 1S76, with
twenty members the most active of whom were
Mr. and Mrs. John Jones, Mr. and Mrs. John A.
Henry, Mr. and Mrs. E S. Walker and Evan J.
There have been 17 accessions since the
Crans.
organization and the flourishinj; Sabbath School of
J.

a missionary preacher

seventy

members

Chrysler

still

is

a strong au.xiliary.

continues

in

Rev.

J.

M.

charge and secures the

Methodist Episcopal Church,

and

Circuit

first

in 1828,

of Coliamer.

the North Manlius

was organized, was so

charge of

when

it

designated. In 1S30 the society erected their church

at

what

Brilton

is

now Coliamer

Village then

known

as the

Settlement, under the pastorate of Rev.

Austin Briggs.

There were then nine trustees who

were, the pastor,

Adam

Harrower, Isaac Carhart,

Walter Wright, James Wright, Erastus B. Perkins,

John Rowe and Abraham Delamater, all members
of the

first

membership

It
is

Sabbath school 137.

present

Present

M. A. Wolcott.

pastor, Rev.

Flouri.ng Mills
in 1823,

The

cost about 52,500.

12

Lanark Mills were erected

by Robert Richardson, about 1-2 mile north

of Jamesville.

They

contain four run of stones grind-

ing about 30,000 bushels of grain, merchant and cus-

tom, annually.
They are run by P. B. Gove & Son,
and owned by Robert Dunlop. Cost about 515,000.

Frame

building, water-power.

Feeder or New York Mills. Built by Robert

in 1847, at a cost of 10,000.
Frame

Dunlop

building, stone basement, situated at the head

of

the canal feeder, contain three run of stones, leased

by James Doe who grinds about 12,000 bushels

of custom and merchant grain per annum.

Barley Mills were

erected on Butternut Creek

building with stone basement.

in

1840, frame

Contains three run

of stone for pearling barley. Capacity about 10,000

bushels per annum, run mostly by lessees.

mills cost about 57,500.

there

is

These

In connection with these

Mully Saw

Mill, the

only one in the

town.

DuNLOp's Plaster and Cement Mills.

There are two located near the Lanark mills, one
erected in 1836, the other in 1868, owned and
worked by Robert Dunlop. From these mills he
manufactures about 1,000 tons of plaster and 30,000 bushels of cement or water-lime, employing
about twenty men.
The stone is taken from his
quarries in the adjacent

hills.

hearty cooperation of his people.

This was the

1857 it
Coliamer.

about one mile north of Jamesville

First Presiiytekian Church, of East Syracuse.This, the youngest church in the county, was organized in 1S76, by Rev.

and through his

was reincorporated as the First

eflorts the society

The church

the church

he found the society in a condi-

tion that required a reorganization

of this and Jamesville charge.

Britton Settlement school house, where, in Oct. 1842,

when the Rev. A. E. Munson came

1841,

to this charge,

class which was organized several years

A. F. WiLco.x's Plaster Beds. In 181 2 Asahel

Wilcox discovered a bed of gypsum two miles west
of Fayettevillc which he opened and which has
been worked ever since by himself and the present
proprietor, A. F'. Wilcox.
From these beds, which
cover an area of about eighty acres, Mr. Wilcox
takes from S.ooo to 15,000 tons of

which he ships

to parties

owning

gypsum annually,
Most of it is

mills.

shipped from Jones's landing by Canal. During

the winter season he employs from twenty to thirty

teams and hands hauling

shipment.

it

to the

docks

for

summer

VtitT C>iPcNrcR

^SS. VLIir CABPENTtff

f^ttS.VUlT CARnHriHltKCAia)
NT|I

ffT

* V^ifcCI* S'WACUSC.WV

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Alvord &

This

391

pur-

railroad company have erected two substantial brick

round-houses with room for forty-four locomotives,
with turn-tables, shops, &c have laid twenty-six

Their

miles of track in the yard, erected extensive coal

situated about one

houses and chutes, and have graded and prepared

mile south of Jamesville and covers twenty acres.

the site for the building of extensive shops.

This
promises to become a very important and populous
village, the surroundings being so favorable as to

E. B.

Co.

most extensive business

stone done in the town.

in

firm

They began

chasing the business of Hotaling

quarry

for

doing the

is

cement, plaster, lime and

cement and lime

is

in 1868,

&

Co.

In this quarry are eight kilns for burning the stone,

from these kilns they take 125,000 bushels of quicklime and about the same of cement, which, with the

ground in their mill in Jamesville. The

comes from a quarry north of the village.
They employ about twenty-five men
shipping
plaster, is

plaster

make it a very desirable place to live in, and already

many engineers and trainmen are building themselves homes and bringing their families from
Rochester and Albany.

2,000 tons of plaster annually as well as a large

quantity of

stone

cut

and bridges.

for building

Capital, ;$50,ooo.

DuNLOP's Lime Kilns. Just north

of Jamesville are

three large kilns seven

diameter and forty

feet in

deep, erected and worked

feet

by Robert Dunlop, from which he manufactures

about 30,000 bushels of quick lime and 30,000
bushels of hydraulic cement annually.

DE WITT CENTER.
This

village,

though rather small,

is

quite im-

portant as a place for shipping grain by the canal

and as
In

of the

a station

Chenango Valley Railroad.

was located here and Mr.

87 1 a postoffice
Stephen Headson appointed
1

Postmaster.

He

engaged in general mercantile business buying

grain and produce, and in 1870 erected a substantial
brick business block and warehouse, in which he
does a business of $65,000 per annum.
also

DeWitt

Mills.

In

the present site of the

half

1821,

Mr.

William

M.

a grist, plaster and cement mill upon

King erected

DeWitt

Mills,

about one and

Jamesville, on

north of

miles

Butternut

In 1869, A. B. King became sole proCreek.

prietor, and rebuilt the mill which now represents

This mill furnished

cost of about 10,000.
considerable water-lime used in the construction of
a

the locks and masonry of the Erie Canal and was

among

the

first

cement

RUFUS

1872, the

New York

In 1814 he married

County, N. Y.

ham, of the town of LaFayette, by whom he had

four boys and four girls, six of
eight children
whom are now living. In 1815, he purchased a
farm in Manlius, now DeWitt, in East Syracuse,
;

where he resided until his death.

Rufus R. Kinne was born March 28, 1821, on
the old homestead where he now resides, a view of
which,

with

together

the

portraits

of

himself,

and mother, may be seen elsewhere in this

work. Rufus R. spent his youth on his father's farm,
and was educated in the common schools of Manlius
and the Syracuse Academy, at Syracuse. On July
25, i860, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia
By this union were born
E. Clark, of Syracuse.
two children, viz.: L. Bell, born February 26, 1867,
and Nelson C, who died in the second year of his
father

Central and

and esteem

is

in

Democrat

in

politics,

but has

which he

is

held by

all

who know

him.

acres of land in Lots 42 and 43

freight-yards, round-houses and shops, and

established

Onondaga
Lucy Mark-

with his father's family to Fayetteville,

never been an aspirant for office. He has led an

active business life, and is entitled to the respect

Hudson River Railroad Company purchased one

hundred and

KINNE.

Zebulon Kinne, the fifth son in the family of

Cyrus Kinne, and father of the subject of this
sketch, was born in Voluntown, Connecticut, June
When twelve years of age he removed
12, 1780.

Mr. Kinne

In October,

R.

age.

mills erected.

EAST SYRACUSE.

for

BiOGi|APHic>L Sketches,

of the village

fifty

half-way

station

between

VLIET CARPENTER

Roches-

Since then a very fine village

and Albany.
houses, several hotels, four
hundred
three
of about
church have sprung up
one
and
market
stores, a
very rapidly. The
growing
are
as if by magic, and

Was

ter

80 1.

born

He

is

children, of

penter, of

in

Dutchess County, N. Y., July

the tenth

in

the

2,

family of twelve

Nehemiah and Ann [Bookhout] Carnone except Vliet are now living.

whom

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

392

His father, Nehemiah, was born in Queens

County, N. Y., June 29, 1757. He left Queens
County with Washington's army during the Revolutionary war, and settled in Dutchess County, on
In the spring of 18 16, he
a farm of 100 acres.
sold his farm and removed to Onondaga County,

about two hundred acres, and was formerly known

town of Manlius, and purchased 420 acres of wild

on to the farm, eight years since, portions of

timbered land.

covered with boulders, which occupied the

With the assistance of his boys he

Here he resided until his death.
farm.

as the "
it

Orchard

on

lies

an old-fashioned apple orchard of

with

covered
natural

Farm," because a portion of

Hill

gentle elevation, and was years ago

some

fruit,

of the trees of which are

When

standing and bearing.

rendered tillage

cleared his

still

Mr. Brayton moved

it

were

and
and laborious, and other

difficult

soil

portions were pronounced nearly worthless because

swampy

His
Vliet spent his youth on his father's farm.
schools
of
the
common
limited
to
education was

of their

Dutchess and Onondaga Counties, supplemented

He taught school
by two terms at the Academy.
for four terms, and summers worked for his father

use of the surface occupied by the boulders would

pay

His specialty

J.

Pompey no
;

After

Abraham

his

Mary

Northrup,

of

children by this union.

marriage

first

homestead farm

he remained on

the

in this

In politics

He

its

himself a
society,

man

and

in addition,

stock from which to

replenish and improve

the necessary

young

his herd.

yield per

member

age of seventy-seven

summered

But he avoids having the

His average

during the hot months.

in

cow

ing period.

eight quarts daily during the milk-

is

It

is

all

delivered at the rooms of the

Onondaga County Milk Association, which

supplies

the city of Syracuse with a'large portion of the milk

used by

has also been

of character and a useful

luxuriance of his grass crop

the fact that he has

cows, on thirty-five acres of grass, and four

cows come

The

in

at the ripe

management

milk the year round.

ranks.

the Sabbath School for over

superintendent.
and
fifty years as teacher
Mr. Carpenter, by a long and active life, has shown

an earnest worker

the production of milk for the

is

In the

sowed corn, with the addition daily of two

pounds of shorts to each cow. As he is producing
milk for market, of course he must have a flow of

of years.

yield

of

work.

number

The

cows, and he keeps,

fifty

Although he never sought office, yet he has filled

most of the minor positions in his town. Both he
and his estimable wife are consistent members of
the Congregational Church, he having been a memhas been Deacon of the
ber for about sixty years
for a

disappeared.

to

the

correspondingly increased with

Some idea of the

maybe inferred from

he was originally a Whig, but upon the

formati'on of the Republican party joined

church

plow, and

breed.

when he became owner of 141 acres, which he cultivated until 1874, when he sold out and moved to
A view of his
Collamcr, where he now resides.
residence and portrait of his wives may be seen
elsewhere

now found

His cows are mostly crosses of the Dutch Belted

after the death of his father,

until

is

of his herd, and the

husbanding of manures, coupled with his quick
perceptions and good judgment, will be found the
secret of his not only keeping up, but increasing
His dairy numbers fifty
the fertility of his farm.

market.

24, 1852, he married

in

face.

1869; Juliette, born January 27, 1836; died

November 22, 1S41. Mrs. Carpenter died March

March

faith

the improvements in the appearance of the sur-

13,

daughter of

Little

passage of the

free

swamps and swales have

1851, and on

the

of the crops has

Morley,

removal

their

for

obstruct

on the farm.
On September 27. 1826, he was united in marriage with Miss Emily A. Wilcox, daughter of
John and Amelia Wilco.x. of Pompcy, Onondaga
By this union three children were born
County.
to them, viz.: Nehemiah, born September 3, 1828
Ann Amelia, born June 15,
died August 27, 1845
died February
I S33, (married Paul Fay, of Cicero)

8,

But he had

character.

underdraining and the good sense to see that the

its

inhabitants.

larger of his two dairy barns runs east and

west, and stands facing the south and the road.

It

one hundred and fifty feet long by forty feet wide.

Two rows of stanchions, one hundred feet long,
running along both sides of the west end, accomis

of

is still

modate

hale and vigorous.

fifty-two cows.

They stand

facing a center

alley about fifteen feet wide.

In the stable two iron rails runs the whole length

DAIRY FARM OF W.
About three and a
lies

the dairy farm of

C.

of the alley between the stanchions.

BRAYTON.

rails

half miles east of Syracuse

W.

C. Brayton.

It

contains

On

these

the feed-car passes along the center of the

alley

and from

each

side.

it

the food

is

shoveled to the cows on

Photos, by \V. V. Ranger, Syracuse.

DAVID

S.

MILLER.

JlKij.

DAVID

David

was born

S. Miller

in Ulster county, April 24,

and was a son of Samuel and Helena (Schoonmaker)

His father was

many

1796,
Miller.

S.

daughter of Peter and

David remained with

this

his father on the farm for several years.

When

Elizabeth,

he removed

his father

river,

and then settled on a farm.

where

to Schoharie county,

farm three years, and then removed

to the

land, built

upon

his farm of one

it

young man
worked a

In the year

hundred acres of timbered

a log house, and cleared

it

up with

his

own

hands.

Merrill's mill,

and erected upon

At

it

a hotel,

which he kept

the end of this time he sold out and

for

moved

MILLEK.

3,

Sept. 20,

Anna

1818, he married Leah,

The

1875, aged seventy-four years.

Henry

J.,

Edward

Although Mr.

Alviua,

F.,

jMiller

of

Mary

whom

John, Clark

J.,

Chandler

office,

prominent

For about forty-one years he and

result of
S.,

S.,

Anna,

Matilda,

five are deceased.

never sought

often honored with the most

She

Miller, of Ulster county.

union was eleven children, namely,

his wife

yet he has been

offices

in his town.

have been members

of the Disciples church, and he has been deacon for several

years.

After a few years David purchased an acre of land near

nine years.

March

Esther, and

town of DeWitt,

near Messina Springs, where he purchased a farm.

1841 he bought

On

back to his farm.

died

North

S.

MILLER.

years a sailor on the ocean and the

for

DAVID

He

is

now

in his eighty-second year,

clear as in the days of his youth.

is

with his mind as

His path down

being strewn with the beautiful flowers of

veneration.

to the

filial

grave

love and

KI.KKirxiK

KINNK

KMKKSON KINNE.

im^^

^^m^
.llll.tim

O.

KINNK.

MASON

riioUM.

Ii)

W.

V/Baiisi.r, SyrciM.

l>.

KINNK.

Zebulon Kinne.

PUFUS

R. KlNNE.

Mrs. Zebulon K/nne.

PHOTOS SV

V HAKdEK.

SrRACUS.H

Y.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

THE KINNE FAMILY.

There are few examples more heroic than that of

who

resolutely bids farewell to his friends

and kindred, and

a civilized home,
frontier

life.

to the comforts

and enjoyments of

to boldly face the stern realities of

It is,

indeed, a pleasing task for the

biographer to record his hardships and triumphs,

make honorable mention of his descendants.

Cyrus Kinne, the progenitor of the Kinne family of this county, was born in Voluntown, Windham County, Connecticut, on the nth of August,
and

to

grew up under the chaste Puritanic influences of a New England home, a young man of
excellent habits, which clung to him through life.
In the year 1779, having married Miss Comfort
Palmer, he moved to Petersburg, Rensselaer CounIn the city of Troy, in 1791, at a public
ty, N. Y.
sale of State lands, now lying in the County of Onondaga, he bid off some of the "survey fifties."
His first visit to his lands was on horseback by Indian trails west of Oneida.
He was so well pleased
1746, and

with the general appearance of this section of the

that

State,

he immediately

land adjoining his

first

bought considerable

purchase.

age.
He died Aug. 8, 1808, in
62d year, beloved and respected by all who knew

arrived at mature
his

the pioneer

In the

month of

March, 1792, having disposed of his property at

Petersburg, he started with an ox-team, and one
horse before a sled, with his four oldest boys, viz

him.

Prentice Kinne was born October 16, 1773,

and passed his youthful days in alternately attending school and assisting his father on the farm.

On

June

age

the year

16, in

Miss Elizabeth Kinne, of Plainfield,

Conn., and in the spring of
1801, he settled on the farm in Manlius, given him
by his father, upon which he resided till the day of

He

his death.

on his journey,

where he was obliged

blow upon his 100

covered with beautiful

first

it

In his domestic relations he was

fields.

and loving
upright

father,

teaching

his

children

kind

by

his

the value and importance of virtue and

them with the worthy ambition to be

life

inspiring

men and women,

in

the loftiest sense of the word.

His teachings were not forgotten, but were

fully

exemplified in the lives of his children.

Kinne, the oldest son of Prentice

19, 1802, in the town of
Manlius, now DeWitt.
By severe application he
obtained
a
good common school education.
Thoroughness and perseverance were prominent
characteristics which marked every transaction of
his life.
He was a close observer of political
affairs and often took an active interest in them.
Julius C.

Kinne, was born October

In the

difficulties

struck the

acre farm, and lived to see

Legislature for

experienced great

of

Windham County,

residence upon his lands.

He

when 27 years

1800,

he married

Ezra, Zachariah, Prentice and Ethel for a permanent

particularly west of Oneida,

393

his

fall

1845, he

of

duties in

was elected

to

the State

Onondaga County, and discharged

such an acceptable manner that he

of

was reelected the following year by a fine majority.

While in the Legislature he gained the confidence
of Governor Silas Wright, by his honest and able

where Fayetteville now is, and

settled on some of the land which he had bought.
In the following month of June, he returned to

He left the impress of his

pure character upon the town of DeWitt too indelibly to be effaced by the rude band of time.
In

to cut roads

through the dense

the streams on fallen

trees.

forests,

and cross

About the

first

April, he arrived at

Petersburg, to bring to his wilderness

home

the re-

mainder of his family. His lands were soon cleared

and brought under cultivation. At that time Albany
was the nearest market for his surplus products.
He gave to each one of his sons, when they married, 100 acres of land, lying in Manlius and adjacent towns. Being a blacksmith as well as a farmer,
he did the first blacksmithing in the town of Manlius

and as Justice of the Peace, married the first

Perhaps no man was more prominently

couple.

identified with the early

growth and development

town of Manlius than he. Kind, generous,

and humane, he proved one of the most valuable of
His ten
neighbors and the staunchest of friends.
sons and two daughters, viz Ezra, Zachariah, Prentice, Ethel, Zebulon, Moses, Joshua, Cyrus, Japhet,
Palmer, Rachel and Comfort, reared 84 children who
of the

career as a legislator.

the year 183

whom

he married Mrs. Rachel Willard, by

he had four sons and one daughter

two
Howard, the eldest, is married and resides in Iowa. During the Rebellion he
enlisted in an Iowa regiment under General Sully,
of the Regular Army, and went to Dakota Territory, where he did gallant service.
At the close of
received
an honorable discharge.
the war he
Edmund D. was born Feburary 9, 1841, in DeWitt,
Onondaga County, N. Y. He attended the High
sons died

in

childhood

school at Syracuse, graduated from Cazenovia

Sem-

Michigan University and Columbia Law

School at Washington, D. C.,and was admitted to
In 1867 he
the Supreme Court of that district.
moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan was admitted to
the bar and commenced the practice of Law.
In
1868 he was admitted to practice in the U. S.
inary,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NPIW YORK.

394

He

Adj. Gen. of the Regular Brigade, ist Cav. Divis-

Recorder and DistrictAttorney, and was Mayor in 1875 and reelected in

In the year 1867 he married Mary C,
1876
daughter of OIney Hawkins, and has one son. Few

Court.

been

has

young men can show

a finer record or

ion,

Major

have brighter

was unanimous with the exception of a single vote

Assessor in the town of DeWitt for several years
and Commissioner of Highways, in the old town of
;

Manlius.

boy up, he took an intense inIn 1828, he was commissioned ensign of a company of infantry, by
acting Gov. Nathaniel Pitcher and was rapidly pro-

Always from

military affairs.

terest in

through

commandant

the

all

intermediate

the regiment

of

grades

to

and was subse-

quently appointed Brigade Inspector of the 27th

It
brigade of infantry by Gov. William L. Marcy.
a very rare occurrence that

As

promoted.

and

are so rapidly

he was a Democrat

Rebellion,

when he

till

the close of the

joined the Republican party.

Janet Luddington,

married Miss

aft'a-

rigidly strict in discipline.

Politically,

Their children are

1833.

men

an officer he was pleasant and

ble to his associates

He

for faithful services

recommend

for brevet

and meritorious conduct.

now Judge Advocate on Gen. Macomb's

Stafi"
an honorary member of the First Cal. Guard,
and, also, a life member of the
San Francisco

He

is
;

Kmerso.v Kinne, the second son of Prentice

By self-improveKinne, was born Feb. 16, 1804
a good eduobtained
ment, principally at home, he
Although never seeking civil office, yet so
cation.
well known was his integrity and ability that he reluctantly accepted the most prominent offices of his
town, such as Supervisor three years, one of which

is

in July, 1865, received

an honorable discharge, with a

prospects.

moted

under Gen. Gibbs, and

all

deceased.

in

the year

In 1831,

"

National Guard," Vice-President of the

scopical Society," of

San Francisco.

practicing medicine in Patterson, N.

Micro-

J.

is

Arthur B.

Mr. Kinne voted the

1853. In 1854. he joined the

Syracuse.

practicing in

is

"

Porter S.,

Democratic ticket until

Republican party.
He is a consistent Christian
and endeavors to live in accordance with his profession.

Kinne, fourth son of Prentice

born
in Manlius. May 26, 18 10
was
Kinne,
On
October 17, 1837, he married Sophronia, daughter
They have had
of Rev. Seth Young, of DeWitt.
whom Theodore Y., who was a
si.v children, of

Elbridge

surgeon

is now practicing medicine in

and E. Olin, who graduated from the

army,

in the

Patterson, N.

J.,

Syracuse University in the class of '76, and from

the Ann Arbor Medical School in the class of '7S.
Mr. Kinne

now

on a portion of the farm

He was a Democrat
formerly owned by his father.
until the formation of the Republican party of which
is

living

he became a member.

He

has been Supervisor,

Justice of the Peace, and Clerk of the Board of

Trustees of DeWitt, and also class-leader

E.

Church

Salome

for

in

the M.

over forty years.

K., daughter of

De

Prentice

Kinne, was

Witt C. Peck, of DeWitt, October

he united with the Baptist Church of Syracuse, of

which he is still a member. During that long and

married to

honorable period he has labored incessantly,

was Second Lieutenant in Company E of the

Twenty-second N. Y. Cavalry, was under General
Grant and was captured at Reams' Station. He
was paroled from Wilmington Prison March i,

humble way,

Mason
born

in

to

in

his

advocate the cause of Christ.

Kinne, third son of Prentice Kinne, was

Manlius, (now DeWitt, Nov. 30, 1808. He
P.

teceived as good a

common

school education as the

schools of those early days afforded, and assisted

his father

when he
still

J.

on the farm

On

occupies.

Spaulding, of

suit of this union

Mary

E.,

till

the death of

received a portion of

Mary
Clarkson, Monroe County. ThereJan. ^o, 1840, he married

was

five children.viz

E. and Ansel L.,

Chas. Mason,

and Arthur B. Mary

Chas. Mason, was
are deceased.

Ansel L., Porter

born April

the latter,

the farm which he

ii, 1841,

S.

graduated from the Syracuse

in

the

'

California

Hundred," which

Boston, and joined the 2d Mass. Cavalry.

his gallantry

Herbert D.

After the surrender of Lee, (the parole be-

coming void) he again joined

his

regiment and

received a Captain's commission.

Emily

Kinne, second

Kinne, was married

to

daughter

of

Prentice

Mr. Curren Elins, and has

had seven children, four sons and three daughters.

Their eldest son, George, served in the civil war
Their second son, Byron, was two
until its close.
years in the service and was honorably discharged.
Fraternity is written in golden letters over the

sailed

For

devoted to the noble aim of keeping aglow upon

for

1865.

and has had seven children.

Their hearts beat in

unison with a rythm which the passions cannot
I'rom childhood to manhood, their
disturb.
thoughts, their purposes, their lives, have been

High School in Jan. 1859, and immediately sailed

where he was employed in
for San Francisco, Cal
an agricultural ware-house, until 1862, when he enlisted

29, 1840,

he was made Captain, and also Ass't

hearts

of these

the family

alter

brothers.

the

embers of brotherly

love.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

Living near one anotlier, they keep up a constant,
pleasant, social family intercourse

increasing in intensity as the

been marred, but

is

years

They have

roll

along.

which never has

the need

felt

of,

and

placed before their children the opportunities for

39S

and a glance will

have not been fruitless.
Religious, moral, temperate and humane, they are

obtaining, a

show

that

liberal

their

education

efforts

endeavoring to realize in practice the grand truths

inculcated by Christianity.

POMPEY,
Township number ten of
the Military Tract, and was named with the other
townships by the Commissioners of the Land
Upon the organization of Onondaga CounOffice.
ty, in 1794, it became one of the original eleven

Hamilton group of shales, with Genesee slate upon

the extreme highest portions.
Swamps are extremely small and there are but few gulfs and
ravines.
It has been estimated that out of the

towns of the county, comprising at that date the

townships of Pompey, Fabius and Tully and that

than one thousand two hundred are unfit for

Onondaga Reservation lying south

of the Genesee Road and east of Onondaga Creek.
Fabius and part of Onondaga were taken off in

together with the improved methods of drainage,

PoMPEY was

originally

portion of the

of

Pompey

is

upon the great

located

dividing ridge from which the waters flow north

into the valley of the St.

the Chesapeake Bay.

Lawrence and south

into

Its surface is principally oc-

cupied by the high, rolling ridge, or rather, series of

between the east branch of the

Limestone Creek, on the east, and the Butternut
The highest summit is in the
Creek, on the west.
cemetery ground at Pompey Hill it is nine hundred and six feet above the Butternut Creek at
LaFayette Station, one thousand three hundred
ridges,

which

lie

and forty-three feet above the Erie Canal at Syracuse, and one thousand seven hundred and fortyThe general ridge
three feet above tide water.
forming the surface of the town, is sub-divided into
three ridges by the two west branches of Limestone

These

valleys are from two to three hunbelow the summits and are bordered by
The streams which drain the southsteep hillsides.
ern part of the town flow in a southerly direction.

Creek.

dred

feet

upon the west branch of the Limeare

one hundred and thirty-seven feet
Creek,
stone
and within a few rods of
in perpendicular height
Pratt's Falls,

them

are several other fine cascades.

north

line,

seventy

upon the same creek,

feet

Delphi, on

two other

Near the

a cascade of

is

Just east of the county

fall.

line,

near

the east branch of the Limestone, are

fine cascades.

Carpenter's Pond, in the

southeast part of the town, covers an area of about

soil

The reduced

vation.

culti-

of the present town,

limits

render even that proportion too great at the p(^ent

time.

changes, and

.^e <^cjimate
is

in the vicinity of
rific

is

s ubje ct

characterize^-by

Pompey

"ftr^h

sudden

tn

winds, which

Hill often blow with ter-

violence, yet the average temperature

is

three

and a half degrees less than the general average of

the State, and the cool breezes of summer render
the locality remarkably pleasant and healthy.

The
vision,

natural scenery

is

rarely

The

equaled.

from one stand-point on Pompey

Hill, is

un-

bounded by the horizon at every

point of the compass, and embracing views in
seven difierent counties Onondaga, Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oswego, Oneida and Cayuga.
The first settler in the original town of Pompey
(now in LaFayette) was John Wilcox, in 1789. He
employed an Indian chief at Oneida to guide him
into the country, and settled at Indian Orchard
about two miles north of the Village of LaFayette.
In 1791, Ebenezer Butler, of Harwinton, Conn.,
interrupted, being

located at

Pompey

Hill,

being the

the limits of the present town

had settled

at

whence he came

first settler

Clinton, Oneida County, in

to

Pompey

within

of Pompey.

Hill guided

He
1788,

by marked

and erected the first cabin near the spring

which supplies the watering-tub in the present viltrees,

lage.

Mr. Butler purchased Lot No. 65 of a soland bridle, and in the same

dier for a horse, saddle

year (1791) moved his family, consisting of his wife,

four children, father

In

1792,

Jesse

and maiden
Butler,

sister.

brother of Ebenezer,

erected the second cabin a few rods north of the

thirty acres.

The

60,000 acres of the township, not more

Although

179S, and LaFayette in 1825.

The town

original

is

clayey loam.

rich
It

is

and productive
generally

chiefly

underlaid by

of a

the

present

M. E. Church, having purchased

of his

brother one hundred acres on the north half of his

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

396

He

lot.

brought his family from Connecticut

April, 1793, on

The

Catlin.

Pompey

tavern at

first

company with

sled, in

George

family of Mr.

the

an ox

south of the one lately

Hill

the

opened

latter

house a

in

in

occupied by Judge

first settler at "

Log

City," north of

Timothy Sweet,

little

Asa

Wells.

The

Rice and family, 1818 Samuel Flint, 1819: Amos

Rice, Nicholas Van Brocklin, 1821
Rev. Eleazer
Storrs Barrows, 1822.

Pompey

Pompey

Log

"

City

tlements.

house,

and the

turning

tannery,

Hill

a time rival set-

for

New

frame house

shoe shop, and a

lathe,

owned by

of O. S. Fowler of
first

were

contained at an early time a school

It

store and ashery,

The

Hill

Justice Fowler, uncle

York.
in

was erected by Judge Ebenezer Butler,

the west side of what

is

now

on

the public square, in

The second frame house was

'797-

same party

Jr.,

for his father in 1798.

erected by the

stood on the

It

site of the wagon shop long owned and occupied by

Joseph Beach. The same year Jesse Butler built a
frame house on the site of the present M. E.
Church.

Among

the settlers in 1793 and 1794, were True-

worthy and Selah Cook, the

erns, Aliens, Burrs,

and others settling

parts of the town.

Sally

Pompey

child born in
ler,

the

male

first

The

in different

Hoar was the first white

Orange, son of Jesse But-

some

Peter Benson, Josiah Holbrook, 1793

David HibSamuel Clement, 1794; Henry Clarke,

Hczekiah Dodge, 1795; Pundason Avery, Joseph
and Rhoda Gold, David Green, David Hinsdcll,
Jonas Hinman, Lcman H. Pitcher, Manoah Pratt,

Noah

1799;

Knapp,

Daniel

i'almer,

infant with his parents,! Daniel

Dr. Silas Park, Willard Hayden,

Harry Knapp,) 1800;

Hezekiah
Addy Anderson. 1803; John

(father

of

Barber, Col. Ensign Hill, 1801

Elihu

Hopkins,

1802;

Pompey.

Dr.

Green, 1806

held at
1794.

i,

Town Clerk Ozias Burr. Allen Beach,

Haskin, Geo. Catlin and Ebenezer Butler, Jr,

kiah Olcott,

Wm.

Thomas

Gould and

Olcott, Jeremiah

John Lamb, Commissioners

of

Highways; John

Lamb and William Haskins, Overseers of the

Poor; John Wilcox, Samuel Draper, and Joseph
H. Smith, Constibles and Collectors 'Joseph
Atwell, Daniel Allen, Peter Messenger, Joseph
Bartholomew, Samuel Sherman, William Rin,
John Wilco.x, Samuel Jerome. Trueworthy Cook,
;

Overseers

of

Highways

Timothy Sweet, and

Elisha Clark, Pound

Elisha Clark, Fence Viewers

Keeper.

At

a special

town meeting, September

William Haskin was chosen Supervisor

20. 1794,

xia-

Moses

Dyer,

DeWitt, deceased.

The

present Supervisor, Mr. Marshall

has held the office since 1873.

Lawyers.

The

lawyer

first

who settled

at

Pompey

was

Hill

He

John Keedar, about the year 1800.

located

He was succeeded
Mr. Wood was a

near the site of the Academy.

1806 by Daniel Wood, Esq.

in

successful practitioner and a

his death,

till

pointed

first

Postmaster

Samuel Baldwin, Esq

1806. and
latter

was

man

which occurred

Victory

of large influence,

He was

in 1838.

the Hill in 181

at

ap-

1.

was the next lawyer,

Birdseye.

Esq.. in

Wood.

a partner of Mr,

1807

in

the

Daniel Gott

afterwards came, taught school for a while and then

commenced
eye.

the study of law with

Wood &

Birds-

After these were a host of others, either as

law students or practitioners

among

the latter

may

be mentioned Charles Baldwin, Charles B. and H.

Sedgwick, Lucius Birdseye, LcRoy Morgan,

George H. Williams and R. H. Duell, Esqs.

J.

Victory Birdseye, 1807

William

William^T

809 Augustus Whcaton, father of Hi2iace,

Homer, and Charles A. Wheaton
1810; Luther

Fargo,

April

Rev. Artemus Bishop, iborn in

Hczekiah Clarke. 1S05
Caleb

Smith, Esq., 1804

Jr.,

1797; Joseph Baker,

1798; Paul Clapp, father of Paul Clapp, Jr., John
Chester and Carlton Clapp, 1798; Stebbins Ball,
Hon. Daniel Gilbert, Elijah Wells, Deacon Asa
(then an

Pompey was

for

Moses DeWitt was chosen Supervisor, and Heze-

Asa Barnes,

bard,

Wells,

town meeting

first

of the early settlers of

Pompey, with dates of settlement

Wright,

The

Meetings.

child.

following are

Sen., 1796;

the house of Ebenezer Butler,

Olcotts, Holbrooks,

Jeromes, Hibbards, Hinsdells, Messengers, West-

family, set-

Town

Assessors

Pompey

the vicinity of

in

one of the early pioneers.

on the Jamesville road, was Jacob Hoar, who

moved from Onondaga in the spring of 1793.
Hill

'

Sweet

Jathcr of the

Edward Wicks, in 1816

1704
Joseph Shattuck, with his nine grown-up sons, was
tled in

W. VanBrocklin,

Esq.,

lawyer at the present time in

the

is

only

Pompey, and he

is

also Justice of the Peace.

1,

Marsh, Millard Robinson, 181

Reuben Billings,
1812
Rev. Joshua Leonard, Preceptor Pompey
Academy, 1814 Peltiah Hayden, 1816, Thomas
i

Physicians.

Dr. Holbrook was the

at

Pompey Center

first

in 1793.

physician

At Pompey

he settled
Hill,

Dr.

riiutd.

by Austin,

Syriii-'nse.

DANIEL GOTT.
AUhoiigli his

nume

is

incidentally mentioned in this

several places, this book would

volume

in

meet the expectations of the

public without a biographical sketch of Daniel Gott. For so many
years of his brilliant life was he identified with the history,
growth, and prosperity of Pompey, that he and his family occupy
a large place in the memory and affections of the jjeople. He was
born July 10, 1794, at Hebron, Conn., and died July 6, 1804, at
Syracuse. Within the measure of tho.se years he acquired wealth,
distinction, and fame and his memory will grow brighter as years
roll round and the asperities of life's conflicts are forgotten.
His
early education was limited only to enjoying the advantages which
fail to

the

common

sixteen he

schools of his native

commenced

cluding the
in the west

first

town

afforded.

At

the age of

teaching, which he continued up to and in-

years of his residence in Pompc}', having taught

room of

the old

Pompey academy. At

the age of nine-

teen he thought to learn the clothier's trade, and for that purpose

entered the service of his uncle, Ebenezer Snow.

This not being

he soon entered the ofBce of Lawyer Gilbert,
of Hebron, Conn., and commenced the study of law.
About the year 1812 he visited his uncle, Elihu Barber, in
Pompey. It was probably then that he resolved to make Pompey

congenial to his

taste,

home, and in 1817 he located permanently on the Hill,

and continued his studies with Daniel Wood, and after his admission to jiractice, became the law partner of Samuel Baldwin, who
his future

afterwards located at Pompey,

West

Hill,

now

Lafayette.

12th of September, 1819, he was united in marriage to the

On the
widow

Pompey, a brilliant genius and eminent

Her maiden name was Ann Baldwin, a sister of Samuel

of Stephen Sedgwick, of

lawyer.

and Charles Baldwin, a lady of large scholastic attainments and

By this union Mr. Gott also became the fosterfather of Henry J., John, and Charles B. Sedgwick, the second of
whom died when a youth. Charles B. and Henry J. Sedgwick
both lived to become eminent lawyers, and they both held high
and responsible positions in the State and nation. Henry J. was
a State senator from 1844 to 1848, and postmaster at Syracuse
under Buchanan's administration. Charles B. was a member of
congress for two terms, from 1859 to 1863, and has acquired a
fine literary taste.

brilliant record as a lawyer.

Charles B.

three brothers, and his residence

is

is

the only survivor of

in Syracuse.

Thus we find Mr. Gott at the age of twenty-five with the care
and responsibilities of a family devolved ui)on him, and he assiduously applied his energies to the practice of his profession. Being
both physically and mentally u man of remarkable power, he soon
developed those qualities of indomitable energy, untiring industry,

and

won for him wealth and fame, and

Noxon, Porbes, Jewett, Spencer, Sibley,

jiersuasive eloquence that

made him

the peer of

and extended his practice through the central counties of New

York. In 1828 he became afflicted with sore eyes, which seriously
impaired his usefulness for about twelve years.

At

times, so severe

was this affliction, he was obliged to confine liimsolf to a dark

room. It was during this time that his powerful and retentive
memory came to his rescue, and enabled him at times to continue
in a business that otherwise he must have abandoned. In 1840 he
became permanently cured, and his practice continued to increase
till 1846, when he was elected a member of Congress, which office
he held two consecutive terms. When in Congress he was the
author of the famous " Gott Kesolution" for the abolition of the
slave trade in the District of Columbia.
In 1851 he was nominated by the Whigs for justice of the supreme court, and was
defeated by Hon. Daniel Pratt by a largely reduced majority. In
1844 ho was on the electoral ticket for Henry Clay. In 1853 he
removed to Syracuse, where he resided till his death, continuing
the practice of the law in company with his son, Daniel P. Gott.
His office was the law school of Pompey, and with the solicitude
of a father he watched the progress of the numerous students who
and prompted by his kind and genial
sought his instruction
nature, and remembering the obstacles he had encountered and
overcome, he was ever ready to counsel, advise, and encourage.
Among the large number of gifted and eminent men who entered
the legal profession from his office were Seabred Dodge, Charles
Mason, John M. Pettit, Harvey Sheldon, Cliarles B. Sedgwick,
Henry J. Sedgwick, George H. Williams, Le Roy Morgan, L. H.
Hiscock, Charles Poster and these and all others who were students
in his office bear concurrent testimony to his kindness and anxious
During his residence in
solicitude for their welfare and honor.
Pompey he was trustee of the academy for many years, always
laboring for its prosperity. He was a constant attendant of the
;

Presbyterian church.

His children in the order of their ages were Saekett, Ann,

Amelia, and Daniel P. The two eldest are dead. Saekett has
never married. Ann married Hon. George H. Woodruff, a graduate of Hamilton college, and a lawyer and writer of distinction of
Joliet, 111. He and one child survive. Daniel F. graduated from
Hamilton college in the class of 1849; became the law partner of
married Sarah Clary, a daughter of the late
liis father in Syracuse
;

Dr.

Lyman

Clary, of Syracuse

is

register in bankrui)tcy, to

which

he was apjiointed in 1867. Amelia married Frank H. Hastings,

They have three children.
a nurseryman, of Rochester, N. Y.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Colton was the

first

About the
who remained

resident physician.

year iSoo, came Dr. Daniel Tibbals,

many

in practice

years,

and removed

Erie, Pa.

to

Dr. Jehiel Stearns settled at the Hill as a physician

in 1814,

and

is still

living there, and, to

been a surgeon

in the

east of the village in

some

extent,

Hezekiah Clark, who had

continuing his practice.

war of the Revolution, settled

1805, and practiced medicine

number

397

an Introduction by Henry J. Raymond

also
Louis Napoleon and His Times with a Memoir of
the Bonaparte Family," and " Ethan Allen and the
;

"

Green Mountain Heroes of '^6, with the Early

History of Vermont."
Mr. DePuy was Consul to Carlsruhe and Secretary of Legation at Berlin.

him Secretary

pointed

President Lincoln ap-

Nebraska,

of

which

in

Rial

capacity he organized that Territory, and served as

Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature.
He died in

practice for a

New

in that locality

for a great

of years.

Dr.

Wright and Dr. Stevens were partners in

good many years. Dr. L. B. Wells
was the first Homeopathic physician in Pompey.
Dr. J. Deblois Sherman settled at Pompey Hill
about 1825, and was a physician of high rank and

extensive practice.

of Iowa, Hon. George H. Williams, United States

Senator from Oregon, and International Arbitrator
in the Alabama Claims Case, and Gen.
H. W.

Honorable Mention.

Among

who were either resimay be mentioned the

the persons of note

dents or natives of Pompey,

York, Feb. 2d, 1876.

Besides these, Hon. C. B. Sedgwick, Hon. Luther

Rawson, Grace Greenwood (Sarah I. Clarke,) Hon.
Charles Mason, since Justice of the Supreme Court

Slocum,

Major-General

Pompey who have

following

zens of

Hon. Henry Seymour, father of ex-Governor

Horatio Seymour, was one of the early settlers.
Hon. Horatio Seymour was born at Pompey

and distinguished positions.

Hill in 181

did

Hon.

1.

LeRoy Morgan, Judge

Court of

Court and the

Pompey March 27, iSio.

old Pompey Academy in

Supreme

of the

Appeals, was born

in

He was a graduate of the

1830. His father, Lyman

Morgan, was one of the pioneers.

Hon. Daniel Gott located permanently at Pompey
Hill in 18 7, and for many years of his brilliant
1

life

was

He

finished his law studies with Daniel

identified

with

the interests of the place.

Wood, Esq.

Hon. Victory Birdseye, Member of Congress,

Member of Assembly and of the Constitutional Convention of 1 82 1, was a lawyer of eminent abilities
and an untiring friend and supporter of liberal
education.
He settled at Pompey and began the
Rev. Artemus Bishop, born in Pompey in 1805,
was a distinguished missionary to the Sandwich
Islands, where he spent more than thirty years
translating Pilgrim's Progress and considerable
natives.
six

His

brothers

Bible

father,

who

into

the

language of the

Sylvanus Bishop, was one of

settled in

Pompey

in

793-' 94.

He

bought and cleared land in the vicinity of

Pompey Hill, and the following year brought his
wife and eldest child, then six months old, on horseback from Kinderhook, Columbia County.

Hon. Henry W. De Puy, was born in Pompey,

He was a lawyer and a writer of conin 1820.
the author of " Kossuth and His
siderable note
Generals, with a Brief History of Hungary," with
;

69

There

War

among

of

the

the

citi-

attained to honorable

are a host of others, scattered through the

various relations of

space permit.

some

life,

equally worthy of mention,

Biographical

sketches, or

at

most of the early and prominent citizens of the town, will be found in the "Reunion and History of Pompey," published in 1S75,
from which most of the matter for our present history of the town has been drawn.
Speaking of
least

notice of

Pompey

Hill, Mr. Clark says

This village was, within the memory of men still
living, as prominent a place as any in the county.
It
gave more tone to the surrounding country and settlements, on account of its refinement and wealth,
its intelligence and learning, than any place in the
vicinity.
People came here for legal advice
they
came here for medical advice to do their trading;
and they came here for fashions
they came here
for military parades, for political discussions, and
for general consultations of a public nature
they
came here to engage in all the events incident to
"

practice of law in 1807.

portions of the

the late

in

Rebellion, deserve to be mentioned

men

in public life."

Pompey Academy.

The first movement for the establishment of

Pompey Academy was made in the year 1800.
The Trustees named in the original petition for a
charter were the following

Ebenezer Butler,

Jr.,

Timothy Jerome, William Stevens, Jeremiah Gould,

Phineas Howell, Elihu Lewis,

Dan

Bradley,

Com-

James Knapp, John Lamb, Elijah Rust,

Deodatus Clark, Hezekiah Olcott, David Williams,
Walter Colton, Joseph Smith, James Beebe, John
fort Tyler,

Kidder.

The

petition,

amounting

accompanied by a subscription
was laid before the Board of

to $1,315,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

398

Regents of the University, at a meeting held in the

Senate Chamber, at Albany, on the 17th of March,
1800, and was referred to a Committee of the
Hoard, consisting of Judge Hcnson and Simeon
DcWitt, who reported at a subsequent meeting hcTd
on the 31st of March, 1800. At this meeting a
resolution was passed referring the question of a
suitable location for the Academy to the Board of
Supervisors of the County of Onondaga, who, at a
meeting on the

Tuesday

first

October, 1800,

in

Academy

ported favorably to locating the

pcy

At

Hill.

at

re-

Pom-

a meeting held on the 23d of March.

Regents resolved to make the granting of

a charter to the Academy conditional upon the
i8ot, the

erection of a suitable building for

The

first

its

use.

Academy was com-

building for the

academy may be incorporated and be subject

said

Regents of the University

and they nominate for
the first trustees of the said academy, the following
persons, to wit
Henry Seymour, Senior Trustee,
and Samuel S. B^dwin, Daniel Wood, Manoah
Pratt. Ithamar Coe, Asa Wells, Hezckiah Clark, John
Jerome, Silas Park, Jacobus DePuv, Daniel Allen,
Chauncey Jerome, Daniel Tibbals. Joshua Johnson,

to the visitation of the

New York

of the State of

Dirck C. Lansing, Benj. Sanford, Charles C. Mosley,

J. Wilcox, Jonathan Stanley, Jr, Levi Parsons,
William Cook, Victory Birdseye, Jasper Hopper,
James Geddes which persons we pray may be incorporated by the name, style and description of

Wm.

Pompey Academy,' with a condition in the act of

incorporation that the said principal sum of the
said fund shall never be diminished or appropdated,
and that the income of the said principal fund shall
be applied only to the maintenance or salaries of
the professors or tutors of the said Academy.
'

"

menced

or about

in

On

the builder.

the 20th of July, 1807. William

Wood

Lathrop and George ^^^

agreement with Manoah

and Samuel

S.

William Lathrop was

1803.

Pratt,

entered

an

into

Henry Seymour,

Baldwin, the Building Committee, to

do certain specified carpenter work

sum

the building, for the

completing

in

retired from the job,

ceeded with

for a

it

time

the

he relinquished

elected President, Victory Birdseye, Secretary, and

was

raised,

In

and

1810,

July,

Wood, Treasurer.
November 3, 181 2, the following officers were
Victory Birdseye,
chosen Asa Wells, President
Treasurer
Asa Wells,
Daniel Wood,
Secretary
S. S. Baldwin and D. Wood, Prudential Committee.

March

full

new

of

2,

18 10,

subscription

same paper the committee en-

the

in

finally,

in

tered into an agreement to procure the completion

of the

Academy

autumn

of

for

the

sum

1810 the building

completed and paid

to serve as an

for,

On

of what had been

and Mr. Lathrop pro-

unfinished part

agreeing to accept Si 40,

done.

of the Peace.

the job,

should be good and collectable.

after

drawn up by the late Victory Birdseye, and sworn

to by Henry Seymour, before Daniel Wood, Justice

nth of March, 1811, by vote of the

Academy was incorporated by the
name of "The Trustees of Pompey Academy."
The persons named in the Petition were made
At a meeting of the
Trustees by the Charter.
Trustees, held April 4, 181 1, Henry Seymour was

of S200, the same to be

by the assignment of subscriptions which

Mr. Wood soon

paid

This petition was signed and sealed by sixtythree prominent citizens of the County
it
was

of S450.

for the

In

the

Academy was

Daniel

for

the yielding of the

October 6,
Rev.

and there remained $1,450

endowment

the

Regents, the

elected

181
J.

3,

the

following oflScers

Leonard, President

H. Seymour, Treasurer

were

V. Birdseye,
D. Wood, C.

net annual revenue of Si 00, required to warrant the

Secretary

granting of a charter.

Jerome and D. Tibbals, Prudential Committee.

Henry Seymour remained Treasurer till January

In February, 181

poration of the

1,

the final steps for the incor-

school were

taken.

was sent
document the

the

petition

Board of

numerously signed

to

Regents.

petitioners say

"

Your

In this

petitioners have at

great expense pro-

cured a suitable site, consisting of two acres of

land, near the center of said town, and erected a
large and commodious building, forty by fifty feet on
the ground, two stories high and completely finished

and painted inside and out, and paid for.

" Your petitioners have also procured a fund of
S 1,450, to be subscribed for the purpose of producing a net annual income for the support of the
said institution, and that the same is well secured
to Samuel S. Baldwin, Henry Seymour and Manoah
Pratt, as trustees, for the sole use of said academy,
*
at an annual interest of seven per cent.
" Wherefore, your petitioners request that the

10,

82

1,

when

his duties as

Canal Commissioner,

to which he had been appointed March 24, 18 19,

He soon after removed
compelled him to resign.
to Utica, but he continued to be a Trustee of the

October 30, 1833, and upon the actill

ceptance of his resignation, Mr. Samuel Baker was
Luther Marsh was chosen
chosen in his place.

Academy

Treasurer

in

1821, continuing

till

May

15,

1827,

when Mr. V. Birdseye was elected to the office,

which he held till his death, September 16. 1853.
Levi Wells was then elected to the office, and held
it

till

his death,

March

31, 1872,

when Dr. O. G.

Dibble was chosen to succeed him.

The Academy
by 50

feet,

two

building, as
stories,

first

erected was 40

painted yellow, with

its

ABRAHAM

^/7S. Abraham Northrup.

//Of?THRUP.
f^OTOS Bt W, V RikitOCm.SvRActJSi
/ffACUSt

ta

'

TavetteJ

HoMEf?

Cases Monument,

PoMPEYCEMtTEpy

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

gable fronting to the south, and had a

hall ten

feet

wide running through the middle of the first floor.

In 1834 the old building was vacated and the new
one commenced, which was finished and opened in
the

of 1835, the school, meantime, being taught

fall

The

in the district school house.

was completed

Preceptor's house

Early Schools and Teachers.

school kept in Pompey was

The

first

first

burying ground.

moved north

log

In the rear of this was the

The house was

afterwards

to near the present site of

Mr. Gott's

and was occupied till the Academy building

was erected. (See History of the Pompey Academy.)
Among the early common school teachers were
Miss Hepsabah Beebe, Mr. Lyman Pitcher and Mr.
James Robinson. The latter first taught English
Grammar to a few of his most advanced pupils.
office,

The

interest of education

has always been

felt to

be an important one by the people of Pompey.

School No. 3, Pompey, was taught by Levi Jerome

from December

March

1799, to

4,

1800; and

4,

the Presbytery of

10,

Onondaga

church became a member

of Presbytery on the plan of Union. The first notice
of any Thanksgiving service occurs as early as
this

The

with the churches of

in a

of the road on the

the forks

in

village green in 1798.

October, 18

In

was formed whereby

Rev.

following April there was

the observance of the fast day so long customary

house near the present residence of Mr. Daniel

Kellogg.
It was taught by Miss Lucy Jerome,
The first
afterwards wife of Judge James Geddes.
house erected for school purposes was a frame
building located

Military Tract, was organized June, 1803.

Mr. Wallis resigned January 10, 1809.

November, 1805.

May, 1836.*

in

399

October

19, 1812,

New

England.

Rev. Jabez Chadwick entered

upon the duties of pastor. The year 18 13 was

as the most prosperous year of his
ministry and in some respects the most prosperous
year in the whole history of the church.
December 3, 1814, the church met to consider
the question whether the labor of collecting hay
signalized

and grain on the Sabbath

profanation of the day.

in a

catching season

The question being

is

dis-

cussed at very considerable length was unanimously

decided

in

the affirmative.

The church building was erected in

mer of 8 17, but was not finished and
1

the sum-

dedicated

January 20, 1819, at which time Rev. Jabez

Chadwick was installed pastor of this church. For

until

about ten years previous to the erection of this

church the public services were held

pey Academy.

March

in the old

Pom-

The First Congregational Church of Pompey

was organized October 19th, 1796, by Rev. Ammi

church extended a call to

Barrows to become their pastor and he
was ordained and installed September loth, of the
same year. Mr. Barrows was an able and successful pastor and accomplished a most blessed work
He was dismissed October 6,
during his ministry.

R. Robins, pastor of the church at Norfolk, Con-

1828.

among

were many prominent heads of

his pupils

the early families of the town.

Churches.

The church was

necticut.

originally

twenty-two members, as follows

composed of

Griftes,

1797

we have

the

there

Wallis.

October

mous

and was

first

call

is

record of the labors of Rev.

first

15,

1802,

installed

Hugh

he received a unani-

January

5,

1803.

The

association of ministers and churches on the

* For
Reunion,

list

pp.

of Principals and Teachers

i5i-'53.

in

tlie

March

22, 1829, Rev. B. B. Stockton became

During his ministry fifty-eight persons
were added to the church, forty-six in 1831.
Rev. James B. Shaw, now Dr. Shaw, of Rochfor two
ester, became pastor November 6, 1832

Academy,

see

years he served the church with great acceptance

and

ability.

There were received during

his short

but most popular ministry sixty-eight persons,

fifty

during the memorable year of 1833.

Zeruiah Catlin, Louisa Butler.

no record of the officiating

In July, 1798, we have the name of
minister.
Rev. Mr. Hallier, and in October, the name of
Rev. Mr. Williston. July 19, 1799, Rev. Joseph
August 14, x8oi,
Gilbert was chosen moderator.
In

31, 1822, the

S.

pastor.

Ebenezer Butler, Daniel McKeyes, Moses Lilly,

James Olcott, Benjamin Butler, Joseph Shattuck,
Ichabod Lathrop, John Jerome, Selah Cook, Trueworthy Cook, Levi Jerome, Desire Butler, Dorathy
Butler, Molly Jerome, Lucy Cook, Truelove Cook,
Amarilla Jerome, Lucy Jerome, Susanna Carrol,

Hannah

Mr. E.

Pompey

Rev. Ethan Smith commenced

his labors

some

time during the latter part of 1834, but must have

remained less than one year, for September 23,
1835, Rev. John Gridley

and was

installed

Rand commenced

commenced

October

1836.

Rev. Asa

December

29, 1837,

25,

his ministry

his ministry,

and remained about four years. During his ministry thirty-nine were received.
Rev. Mr. Wheelock succeeded Mr. Rand in the
spring of 1842, and remained at least two years.
February 26, 184S, Rev. Clinton Clark was ordained

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

400
and

and sen-ed the church

pastor,

installed

till

December 26, 1847.

November 5. 1848. Rev. S. P. M. Hastings assumed pastoral charge. During the si.\ years and
ten months of his ministry there were added to the
He was at his own
church ninety-eight members.
Among
request dismissed November 26, 1855.
labors
with
church
during
his
who
united
the
those
and have since entered the ministry were Rev.
Hiram C. Hayden. D. D pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, Ohio, and Rev. Delos
E. Wells, of Aurora, 111., one of the promising and

1838, and was seventy-seven years old on the day

nearly

men

of the West, and

Rev. Carlos Swift, an

honored minister in the Haptist church. This useRev. E. P.

ful pastor has lately entered into rest.
Smith succeeded Mr. Hastings, but only remained
He left the reputation ot a godly and
si.x months.

He was

earnest minister.

among the
Howard

missioner

Com-

years

for several

Indians and afterwards elected

University, which position he

President of

held at the time of his recent death.

thirty-nine

years of his

life

years,

his

October

menced

1866.

1866,

i,

Rev. R.

S.

his ministerial work.

He was

uniformly

acceptable to the congregation and closed his labors

October

i,

1868.

labors and continued until

February

15,

commenced

ginning

August

of
is

i,

Ithamer Coe united with this church by letter

1st,
1803, from what was then called the

church

in

Clinton

He was

1/39.

know

of this church

The deacons

from the be-

who

of the church

remembrance arc Levi Jerome, Israel Woodford

and Samuel Baker, now called to their

Elijah Wells

reward, and A. H. Wells,

who

is

still

among

the

Deacon Jerome was the early clerk of the

living.
church, and the history of its organization and its
records for a
ing.

He was

number

of years are in his handwrit-

evidently an

active

member

church and was frequently its delegate

He united with
tery and Association.
at its organization,

beautiful

dismissed by letter to

March 9, 1816. Ezra Hart

was received as a member of this church December
29th, 1799.
His first notice as deacon of this
church occurs January 13th, 1813.
He was dismissed by letter December 31st, i8i8.
Israel Woodford united with this church by
the church in Volney,

letter

from the church

tember, 18 12

in

Farrington, Conn., Sep-

he was chosen deacon of

April 4th, 1818, and died January

profession

8 14; was

this

church

1S52, eighty-

ist,

Elijah Wells united with this

three years of age.

church on

of his

faith,

February 2d,

deacon April 4th, 181S;

elected

the

Woodford, and died 1830,

at

years of age.

Pliny Porter, united with this church April 16th,

1817, on profession of his faith

was elected deacon

November ist, 1840, at

Abraham Northrup
age.

July i6th, 1831, and died

years

of

united with this church on profession of his faith

ist,

1813

was

22d, 1S34, and died

and departed

Asa H. Wells

that the whole

served the longest and will be held in most grateful

the

elected deacon

November

December

7th, 1846, at seventy-

two years of age.

his labors.

members

now

settlement,

Village of Clinton.

January

1871.

J. Petrie, present pastor

be of interest to

It will

number

1872, Rev.

letter,

As he

April

fifty-three

commencedhis

April 9, 1870, Rev. Alvin Cooper

this date.

com-

Eggleston

799, by
Lebanon, Conn.

church December 27th, 1799, and probably dismissed sometime between 1809 and 1812, as his
name does not appear on the records subsequent to

filty-five

si.x

in

deacon in the record of his admission, it is

presume that he held the office previous to
removal here.
He was elected deacon of this

his labors April 22.

continued

closing

called

colleague of Israel

1856, Rev. A.

6,

the

in

fair to

A. Graley became pastor

years, and there were
added "to the church twenty-three members.
November i, 1862, Rev. J. H. Moran commenced
his labors for the term of one year, and was followed February 21, 1864, by Rev. Nathan BosThere were added to the church during the
worth.
two years and two months of his ministry, fiftyMr. Bosworth will long be held in grateful
three.
remembrance for devotion to his work. He closed
July

his ministry

though

the colleague of Levi Jerome,

from the second church

is

church

of this

not in active service.

Dunham,

Daniel

a deacon

united with this church July 12th,

rising

He was

of his death.

this life

of the

to Presbythis

church

June

ith,

30th, 1826;

united with this church

was elected deacon Dec.

November
22d,

1834,

same time with Abraham Northrup, and was

acting deacon forty years.
Samuel Baker united
with this church November 22d, 1826 was elected
deacon April 26th, 1840, and died August 8th,
The present deacons of the church, George
1874.

at the

Wells and

I.

L. Woodford, were elected soon after

Deacon Baker's

death.

united with the church March

She died not long since at the Sandwich Islands. Rev. Artemas Bishop, who was born
in Pompey, and, was to some extent assisted in his
education for the ministry by this church, was an

Mrs.

Dcbby Judd,

8th, i802.

,*

^^'i

- T

FHOTOS BY M.BJsUAU. SyRACUSK

MhsMaranda Weston,

El UAH y^ESTON.

Residence or JUSTIN

r.

GATES,

Pompev. Onondaga County, N

Y.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

honored missionary to the Sandwich Islands, and

Christ, of

died only a few years since at a ripe old age.

eight members, as follows

The

Henry Seymour,
ex-Governor Horatio Seymour, at the
dedication of the church, is still in a good state of
preservation.
At a late visit of Governor Seymour
Bible presented by Mrs.

mother

to

of

friends at

his

Pompey,

this precious Bible should

it

was suggested that

be presented to him as a

and the clerk of the church was inMr. Seymour wrote

a beautiful and characteristic reply thanking the
family

relic,

structed to write accordingly.

church

come

their kind offer, but said that

for

to

he had

the conclusion that the cherished Bible

should remain in the possession of the church and

its mission of blessing, to be read by the

continue

successive pastors

of the

future as

it

had been

read by the preceding pastors of the past.

The

presented by Hon. Henry Seymour to

bell

the church and society

for their first

house of wor-

ship has not been so fortunate as to endure to the

present, but

was broken quite a number of years

The

present membership of the church

is

130

I.

The church prospered. By the end of the year

1835 the membership had reached ninety-three.
In 1837 the society built the house in which they
worshiped till 1868, when a new church was built,
the old one having been sold for the use of the
district school, in place of the school house which

was burned down on the night of February 11, 1868.

The first pastor of the church was J. I. Lowell
the first Elders, Calvin Peck, Asa Wells and Thos.
M. King Deacons, Alson Nearing and Charles
Little
Treasurer, Malcom Bennett Clerk, A. H.
;

The

Lowell, in the year 1834.

following ministers have served the church

as pastors

Church of Disciples of Christ, Pompey.

This church originated in a separation from the
Baptist Church of Pompey under the ministry of
J.

Calvin Peck, Asa Wells, Thomas M. King, Alson

Nearing, Charles Little, Malcom Bennett, A.
Squires, Uriel Wilson, Jr., Samuel Talbot, Harry
Knapp, Willard Hayden, Darius Wilson, Jacob
Bush, Alvin Talbot, J. I. Lowell, Mary P. Lowell,
Eliza Nearing, Polly Wilson, Mary A. Bush, Temperance Wilson, Paulina Talbot, Mindwell Thomas,
Harriet Pratt, Catherine Bennett, Betsey Wright,
Rhoda Parsons, Polly Thomas, Mary Knapp.

attendance at the Sunday school about 100.

Rev.

Pompey," was organized with twenty-

Squires.

and has been twice replaced.

since,

J. M. Bartlett, M. H. Clapp, M. H. Slosson, H.

M. Selmser, J. M. Shepard, Andrew J. Smith, W.

T. Horner, L. Southmayd. J. B. Marshall,

J. C.
Goodrich, A. S. Hale, William Grimes, and W. H.
Woolery, the present pastor.

Mr. Lowell,

WATERVALE.

time of his settlement as pastor of the Baptist

Church, was known to hold views differing someat the

what from that body, particularly with reference to

certain beliefs and usages of the Baptists which he
held to be unscriptural and sanctioned only by human

standard, irrespective of* the

might be raised against him.

heresy
cry
He was, however, very soon pronounced a " Campbellite," as similar views about that time began to
be promulgated by the late distinguished theologian,
Alexander Campbell, of Virginia. The adherents
to this so-called "

new

doctrine "

for the sole

70*

The

First

Congregation

of

Disciples of

The

town.

the mills.

and cloth-dressing estabwas established

in

here in

1820, Ansil Judd, Postmaster.

the

new name
"

postoffice

for the place,

poetically as follows

number,
May, 1834, were excluded from fellowship. These,
together with several converted under Mr. Lowell's

show,

He was

the Hollow in 1812, and

lishment

in

"

in

built the first wool-carding

the rest of the church, quite a

communion, were drawn together in a separate

body, and on the 3d of May, 1834, as the records

made by

Ansil Judd settled

nevertheless,

ministry, naturally desiring religious affiliation and

was settled by Col. James Carr about

Mr. Carr built the first saw-mill

quantities of slabs

cause of their honestly holding views

differing from

Hill,

first called Carr Hollow, then Hemlock

Hollow, also Slab Hollow, on account of the great

Pompey were
and estimable men
;

Pompey

place was

at

among the most intelligent

and women of the Baptist Church

branch

soon followed, about the same year, or in 1810, by

Willoughby Millard, who, almost simultaneously
with Mr. Carr, erected the second saw-mill.
The

" that

of "

village situated on the west

erected on the stream in this vicinity.

and guidance of the Bible in all matters pertaining

to religion, Mr. Lowell earnestly sought to conform
his teachings to that

WATERVALE.a

of Limestone Creek, about four miles northeast of

the year 1809.

Believing in the all-sufficient authority

authority.

401

Selecting

Mr. Judd announced

it

The hemlocks are gone,

The slabs are set sail,

And we'll call it Slab Hollow

No more, but Watervale."

Mr. George Ostrander, who settled

about 181 5, built a
sions

for

that

in

the place

distillery of considerable

early

day.

He

used

dimen-

about ten

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

402

For a considerable time

Benjamin Wheeler carried on the business of tanThe first store was opened
ning and shoemaking.
bushels of grain per day.

Reuben Benton was an

early settler and Justice of

the Peace.
In

&

Hubbard

1805,

Willard opened the

by Ira Curtis, who also, for many years kept the first
hotel.
William C. Fargo, O. Abbott, Benjamin
Patten and V. R. Taylor, were among the first

general assortment of goods.

settlers.

chant

Anson Sprague,
which,

in

celebrated

1820,

on the farm on

in 1818, settled

was found by Philo Cleveland the

Monumental Stone.

iSee Antiquities

of the County.)

Esli
rick

first

His successor was

Squires, who built a new store in 1810.
HerAllen was for many years a prominent mer-

At an

the place.

early time, Schuyler

merchant here, and sold
out to Matthew B. Slocum, father of Major-Gencral
Henry W. Slocum, U. S. A.
The following physicians have practiced their
profession at Delphi
Dr. F"resy, Dr. Shipman,
in

Van Rensselaer was

also a

DELPHI.

brother of A.

This place, formerly called " Pompey Four Corners," was changed to " Delphi " by some of the
settlers familiar with

early
Italy.

situated in the

It is

Limestone Creek, about

Pompey Hill.
The Pompey

classic scenes of

the

beautiful valley of the

six miles

Porter.

The Edge Tool

"

on the early settlement.

Sam-

Sherwood, probably the first settler in this locality, settled on Lot No. 84, about one mile northHe came from
west of the present village, in 1795.
Saratoga county, and was a Major-General of militia.
uel

Rufus Sheldon, father of a very talented family,

is Harvey Sheldon, Esq., of New York,
settled near Gen. Sherwood's in the year 1800;
Elijah Hill, 1798 or 1799; Col. Ensign Hill, 1800;

among whom

James McClure,

1802

Samuel

Draper,

of the

Peace and Judge

1803

The former

Ozias Burr and William Cook, 1802.

of the

Court of

Pleas.

Capt. Theophilus Tracy,

who

settled a half mile

first

grist mill

on Limestone Creek, or rather put up the frame,

He sold to Moses Savage, who emabout 1S03.
ployed Elnathan GrifTith, who was a mill-wright, to
The two run of French Burr
complete the mill.
stones, which cost $100, and were brought from Al-

by Clark Rogers

It was afterwards
by Holmes & Sampson,
whose work attained a wide reputation for e.xcel-

built

in

Moses Savage
Edgar Pratt.

The

first

the mill.

built the grist mill

tavern

in

Deacon
now owned by

In 1825 or '30

the place was kept by Dr.

Joseph Ely, also a practicing physician, on the site

His frame house was erected
of the present hotel.
In this year there was a frame barn and
in 1806.
several log houses in the vicinity.

Elisha Litch-

He was
Major of a regiment. Member
citizen
Speaker of the House and Member
field,

settled here in

in 1823.

owned and conducted

lence, the tools being

known

as the best

make

18 12.

The village of Delphi is still thrifty. There are

two churches, an excellent school, in which many
celebrities have taught, among them Jesse T. Pock,
one of the Bishops of the M. E. Church, Dr. Amos
Westcott, recently of Syracuse, and Hon. D. G.
several stores, (among them a
Fort, of Oswego
good
hotel and several shops.
The
drug store,) a
beauty of the residences and tasteful grounds, render
the village one of the most pleasant and desirable
;

in

the country.
It

has been run as a cheese factory about eight years,

but

is

now

S. Allen.

a creamery,

The

1872 at a

Capacity 15,000 pounds milk daily.

cost of $3,800.
Capital, $4,500

owned and managed by M.

building was erected in

employs

five

hands, and

is

worked

by steam power.

ORAN.
This portion of Pompey was first settled by Mr.
Barnes, from Stockbridgc, Mass., who purchased the farm on which his son, Elias Barnes,
Elias Barnes was born on
still resides, in
1793.
farm
in
and
still
lives upon it, a remarkthis
1796,

Asa

ably well-preserved old gentleman, and having a

clear

and distinct recollection of the early events of

.this vicinity.

Two brothers of Asa

Barnes, Phineas

same

prominent
of Assembly,

and Roswell, came here

1794 they brought their

at the

of Congress.

Utica, arriving at their

new home March

in

the country.

bany by teams sent thither with loads of wheat, are

running

now owned by John

Delphi has one cheese factory or creamery.

south-east of the village, erected the

still

Factory,

Salisbury, one mile south-east of the village, was

F"abius, as authority

Common

Pettit of Fabius: Dr. Hiram Adams

Dr. Goodell,
and Drs. Marsh, Wiggins, Cook, Baker, Todd and

east-bysouth of

Reunion " gives the name of Elnathan Griffith, a gentleman ninety years of age,
residing at Delphi, formerly a resident of the town of

was Justice

Dr. John

Shipman, recently of Syracuse

L. King, Dr. Pettil, brother of Judge
B.

families,

time,

and in
and

iw Albany

5th, of

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

They

upon Lot No. 1 1 of the

Job Bartholomew, an
ancestor of the late Rev, J. G. Bartholomew, D. D.,
settled upon the west part of the same lot in 1793.
About the same time Daniel Thomas and Captain
Peck settled on Lot No. 22, and Thomas Foster and
James Scoville, father of Joseph Scoville, settled on
Lot No. 1 1, near the present village of Oran.
Joseph Scoville, in 1875, owned the original farm
upon which his father settled, and probably owns it
still (1878), although his residence is on Lot No.
10.
James Milder, a Revolutionary soldier, and
grandfather of Columbus C. Milder, of Pompey,
and of Philip P. Milder, of DeWitt, came with his
brothers, Christopher and Philip, about the year
1800, and occupied his soldier's claim.
George Clark was the teacher and the merchant
He settled on the farm where Morgan
at Oran.
Lewis now lives. Charles Thomas settled on the
Deacon Hart, Captain PunSanford Lewis place.
dason Avery and William Barnes, settled near the
that year.

settled

original township

survey.

residence of

present

Silas

Saftbrd, father of Silas

B.

Safford.

B., settled on

Shubel

Lot No.

10.

Francis Hale, in 1802, purchased of Judge Butler a

farm on Lot

12,

on which he

Selah Good-

settled.

where Mr. Bowen now lives.

Oran was built by Job BartholIn 1809,
1796, and kept by him till 1808.

rich settled the land

The

omew

first

in

hotel in

another hotel was erected on the

site of

the present

and was kept by William Scoville. The first

school house was erected about 1800, George Clark,
hotel,

"

teacher.

The

Pleasant Valley

Congregational

Church" was erected in 1808. The first physician

was Dr. Daniel D. Denison, who came about the
year 1810, and remained till his death, some twenty
years ago.

He was

son and William

the father of H. D. Deni-

Denison, of

Syracuse, and

D. Denison, of Oran.
Formerly Oran was a more thriving
In 18 10 there were two
at present.

D.

403

great-grandson of Daniel Clarke,

stores, two
two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, two
tanneries, a grist mill, a distillery, an ashery, and a

population greater than now.

sister of President

Jonathan Edwards.
under the tuition of his
father, in the profession of medicine- and surgery,
which he had chosen for the business of life, and
received his diploma before he was out of his minority.
He received the appointment of Surgeon's
Mate at the age of twenty-one years, under Dr.
John R. Watrous, Surgeon of the Third Connecticut Regiment, in the army of the Revolution, commanded by Col. Samuel Wyllis, General Parsons'
Brigade, subsequently, on the reorganization of the
army, denominated the First Connecticut Regiment.
The appointment was the more flattering, inasmuch
as his warrant was presented to him by Governor
Trumbull in person, unexpected by him and unsolicited by any one.
He was stationed with his regiment on the Hudson River, and while there, was detailed with a
body of soldiers, on an expedition to Long Island
but on his return to his regiment, he was obliged
to encamp on the wet ground, with only his blanket
for a covering, and in the morning found himself
enveloped in snow the result of which was a violent
fever which prostrated him for many weeks, and
brought him to the verge of the grave. When able
to be moved, he was conveyed to his father's residence, but did not return to the army, by reason of

He

qualified

himself,

his

protracted illness.

He was

HEZEKIAH CLARKE.

Dr. Hezekiah Clarke, late of the town of Pompey,

was born December 19th, 1757, in Lebanon, Conn.,
and was the son of Dr. John Clarke, of the same
grandson of Moses Clarke great grandson
place

active

in

service

two years.

When Fort Griswold, situated on Thames River,

opposite New London, was attacked by the British,
under the command of the arch-traitor Arnold,
(Fort Trumbull, situated below the town, having
fallen,) the alarm was spread throughout the surrounding country and in obedience to the call, he
repaired to the scene of devastation, pillage, and
murder, to render his professional aid. The enemy
having destroyed all the craft on the river, by
which aid could pass over to the scene of the
massacre, he found, on his arrival, a company of
men with stout hearts, who were unable to cross
;

but after searching

some

he found a
ricketty skift", utterly unseaworthy.
Here he found
himself in an unpleasant dilemma for he could
not cross in it alone, and those standing there,
for

time,

refused to accompany him, concluding, in their own

mind, that if it could not carry one, tzuo must cerAfter much eff"ort he pretainly go down with it.
vailed upon one man to row the skiff, while he himand thus by their
self bailed the water out of it
united efforts they arrived safely on the opposite
He immediately repaired to the scene of woe,
side.
and assiduously devoted himself to the unfortunate
victims, by dressing their wounds and rendering
any other assistance of which they stood in need.
As a testimony of grateful remembrance of the
services rendered on that memorable night, and
subsequent cheerless days, three of the men whose
wounds he dressed called upon him thirty years
after to express in person their gratitude for his
;

BiOG[i_APHic>L Sketches.

"

to

village than

hotels,

DR.

who immigrated

America in 1640, and settled at Hartford, Conn.

His maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Edwards, daughter of Rev. Timothy Edwards, and

Oaniel Clarke, Jr., of Hartford, Conn.; great-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

404

Dr. Clarke was then a resitimely and kindly aid.

dent of Pompey.
One of the men received a gunshot wound
through the knee, another had received a similar
wound through the elbow, and the third was
wounded in the forehead by a blow from a clubbed
musket in the Jiands of an enemy, the cock of which
All were restored without
penetrated the brain.
the dismemberment of a limb.
Soon after the close of the war he settled in Pittsfield, Mass., where he remained about one year.
He then married Miss Lucy Bliss, daughter of
Hon. Moses Bliss, of Springfield, and grand-daugh-

physician, and once represented his district in Congress.

In the course of conversation Dr. Miller
said that he was a young man when Dr. Clark was
on the flood-tide of his profession, and that he frequently called him in counsel in critical cases, and
spoke of him in high commendation as a physician
and surgeon and stated that he witnessed one
operation of his, which required a thorough knowledge of the human system, and great skill to perThe case was intussasccption,
form it successfully.
that is the doubling of the intestine into itself,

ter of Timothy Edwards, and settled in LanesborThere

ough, Berkshire County, in the same State.
he devoted himself to his profession for about eighteen years, and until he moved with his family to
Pompey, Onondaga County, where he arrived November 3, 1805. He remained on Pompey Hill one
year and then settled on a farm two miles southeast from the Hill, and there continued his profes-

the surgeon.

which cannot be reduced to

its

ternal appliances, but requires

normal state by inthe skillful hand of

Dr. Miller also said that the opera-

was most skillfully and successfully performed.

Dr. Clark was a member of the first Board of
Trustees of Pompey Academy.
His children who lived to adult age, were Henry,
Harriet, Charlct, Lucy, John Huntington, William
Metcalfe, Moses Bliss, Theodore Edwards.
tion

sional labors.

ELIJAH WESTON.

Few

physicians have had as extensive a practice as

His reputation as a surgeon did not consist so
much in the number of limbs amputated as in preAnd frequently, when other surserving them.
geons had given the patient up as incurable, without
amputation has he restored the limb to its wonted
But when it became necessary to resoundness.
sort to the tourniquet and knife, he knew how to
He was a skillful operator.
use them.
he.

In the winter of l8i3-'i4, an epidemic, in comparlance, spotted fever, prevailed to an alarm

ing e.xtent.
Dr. C. had about three hundred

mon

patients,

who were

prostrated by

it,

of

whom

only

Elijah

Weston was born

in

the State of Vermont,

being the son of Nathaniel Weston.

He removed with his father to the town of
Pompey, Onondaga County, in 1795, and settled on
the farm now owned and occupied by his son-inlaw, Justin F. Gates.
He was married November
I, 1796, to Betsey Cotton, who was born March 19,
She passed
1777, by whom he had nine children.
away September 18, 1816. He was afterwards
married to Miranda Jobes, who was born December
5, 1795, in the town of Galway, Saratoga County,
He
N. Y. their family consisted of six children.
ended a busy life May 15,1867. Jane, the fourth
child of the second marriage, was born in Pompey,
November 2, 182S, and was married to Justin F.
Gates, August 24, 1S47, he being born in the town
March 16,
of Cuyler, Cortland County, N. Y
Their
1825, and removed to this county in 1844.
union has been blessed with five children, all of
whom are still living. Politically he belongs to the
Republican party, and is also a member of the
He is one of the most liberal
Methodist Church.

January

23, 1778.

three died.

His treatment

own, and not another's.

many cases proved fatal.

of

that disease

was

his

Under other treatment

One

cause of his success

labors generally was in some
measure, attributable to his untiring devotion to
He spared not himself. One
those under his care.
incident, illustrative of that will here be related.
During the prevalence of the epidemic, one stormy
winter evening such as is sometimes seen on Pompey Hill, Deacon Levi Jerome, the father of Hon.
Amasa Jerome, came in great haste for Dr. C, as
three of his family were down with that disease.
Mr. Jerome was informed that the Doctor himself
was sick, and had been on the bed most of the day,
He stood for he had deand that he could not go.
clined a seat, with tears trickling down his check,
and exclaimed, " Must my family lie there and die ?"
He then asked, Cannot a bed be put in the sleigh
in

his

professional

and enterprising citizens of the town of Pompey.

ABRAHAM NORTHRUP.

'

and he be covered up well, and taken to my

" We will
house.'" (which was five miles away.)
take good care of him while there, and he can lie
on the bed and tell us what to do." Thus he went,
Deacon Jerome lost none of
and so he returned.
his family by that disease.
On the train of cars, at the formal opening of the
Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad to the public, a
son of Dr. Clark was providentially seated with Dr.
John Miller, of Truxton, N. Y., then quite advanced in life, and who bore a high reputation as a
for him,

Abraham Northrup was born in Tyringham,

Mass., April 9, 1774.
His wife was born at Barkhamstcd, Conn., February 14, 1779.
He removed
to Onondaga County in about the year 1800, and
settled on a farm in the town of Pompey where he
resided
survived

till

his

death,

November

him and died January

7,

1846.

She

24, i860.

They reared seven children, three of whom are

now living, viz
Lorenzo, Ashley and Mary Ann.
:

Mr. Northrup was a public spirited and popular

man in his town. Captain Northrup, as he was
called, was a Deacon of the Congregational Church
for several years
all his family were members of
;

the church.

Roster of Enlisted Men

OF

PETTIT'S BATTERY,

AND THE

REGIMENTS
l^t f\egmieiit, I^igllt SrtiUei'y,

BATTERY

>f.

N. Y.

12tli l{egiii-(er)t, Ii^fkiitfy,

X- Y, $. Vol^.

COMPANy A

B.
at

Charles
Philander H. Calkins, Chester Cooper, Francis D. Chapman;
thancellorsChristian promoted Corporal March 1, ISliS, wounded at
Archibald
IWi
Oct.
31.
Washington,
John Converse, died at
viile
Cowell, deserCampbell, wounded at .^ntietamand Gettysburg; John
Ferry, \ a., Nov.
ted Sentember 17. ISM Warren Cox. died at Harper s
to ranks by rereturned
Sergent,
M.
Pro.
Corbin,
Q
Elbert
17
without
mlesf David Coey, Pro. Sd Lieut., July 30, lis6:3. discharged
Pro. Sergt. Deo.
mustering Morrill P. Childs, Pro. Corp^lay 19. 1862,
January
discharged
Clow,
Benjamin
14 iK(,a wounded at Gettysburg;
at ChaucellorsviUe,
ik' IHi;-'- EdWd Dickey; Robt. G. Donahue, wounded
Theodoi-e Denoyer, w-ounded at
report'ed drowned; Peter Denoyer
Wil ham H.
Gettvsburg; Wallace R. Dunham. Reuben H Doxtator July
33, 1863;
Dvkeman Thomas Donahue; Patrick Davis. Pro. Corp
D.ken at ChanThomas Dair, Thomas Duggan; John Donovan10.arm
Sergt.
Sep.
Pit.
1862.
Corp.Dec,
Pro.
cellorsville; James E Decker.
1863,
March
fia-V. Lewis D. Darvcau. Pro. Corp. Dec. 1861 Sergt March 3, 1863
discharged
4
Eggleston
E
killed at Gettysburg John
prisoner at White Oak
losenh English, William Fadling Joseph Finn,
Station,
Swamn Patrick Flynn Peter Farrell, wounded at Savage 186_3;
Patmn"fei-redtol Corps; Job G. Fuller, discharged Jan. 17,
Bugler,
Pro.
Fltzpatriok,
James
1862
35,
rick Foy discharg d\.ct6ber
1863; Chas A- Gates, wounded at Savage Station, Pro.
TiP.'pmher
r^rn Tanuarv 15 1863; Lewis H. Gifford, William F. Gillon, Orson H.
Edwin C.
Eoo^drich"Hngh Gavin, killed at Gettysburg; Darius Hall,
William H Howard, disHouse- Nicholas House, killed atAntietam;
Michael Hanoran,
charged May IK, WHi; Martin Henry, Dennis Hess; January 1.,1H63;
discharged
killed at Gettysburg; Arthur A. Hart,
Eugnotlensler; Edward KeMorgan Jones, deserted August 26, 186-3.Patrick
Kelley, killed at GettysHospital;
from
hoe reported deserted
26,1863; Elisha Lewis: Henry
bS?g I?enry King, discharged January Peter
Leavcnbrewer William
2:!,
1863;
July
Leatheiman Pro Corp.
186;^; Charles E
1
Lk^hlr Davis W. Linsday.^ro. Corp. September
Magee, discharged
Albert
Headquarters;
Corps
Minard Clerk at 3d
Hospital; Geo. M. MoroOctober -JS 1803; Stephen C MoCabe. died in
Marshall; Amos F. Maynard,
bouse, deserted June S'J. 1863; Joseph
Lafayette Mead; John JIcMahon,
kil led at Gettysburg; Isaac Mattison,
McLaughlin, taken prisoner at
deserted Sepiembe?16. 1863; Timothy
Jos.
White Oak Swamp; Patrick Malone, transferred to Invalid Corps;
discharged May 31, 1863; Wm.
Swamp,
Oak
White
Mve wounde^at
Richard
MurNovember 1, 1863;
McMahou John Murphy. Pro. Corp.
Chancelloraville, tTansferrsd to Inv
nhv Thoiiias MuUin, wounded atMcGriel,
Thomas McKenna; Patrick
E-orps James Murray, Michael
wounded it Gettysburg, transferred to Invalid Corps; Jas

r/'^ni)i Morris H. Church.

LU'jfenautlra Wood.
.>(-v/;//( Charles B. Randall.
]a? Ser(/eant Porter R. Alger.
Serr/ea Ills Ahiaham Fredandall, Abram Fairnie. John Cross.
Co/-/)ora;. William B. Patterson, George W. Pratt, Charles E. Furman. Jr.. Harrison Waggoner.
Zfrxani>urDanie\ Relyea.
P;-;i-.f((!.i Hiram A. Allen, Lauren Babcock, Jarres N. Baker, Willard
Bixby,ThomasD. Brown, James Case,George N. Cheney,Charles A. Col.
well, George W. Dakin, Hiram A. Dunham, Lockhart Duff, John Edgar,
Samuel A. Edgar, Samuel J. Edwards, Stephen A. Estes, John Ferguson, Charles W. Foote, Charles W. Ford, John W. Fritcher. John P.
Gardner, Lerov Gray, William W. Harrington, John H. Harrison, Harrison B. Herriek, William S. Herrick, Henry H. Hitchcock, Charles SHyatt Joseph La Beff, Joseph W. Lipe. Hiram McGoncgal. John W.
McMullen. Jerome S. Mosley. James S. Murphy, Lawrence W. Myers,
James Nixon, John E. North. Frederick Oliver, Aloiizo S. Ostrom,
Miles Penfleld, Alhcrt W. Phillips, Otis D. Phillips. Clark Pierce, Root
Pierce Ransom Place. Eben G. Rector, Edwin H. Rector, Martin L.
Rohrabacker, Charles B. Rosegrant, Schuyler Seager, Michael Shea,
John Snyder, John T. Taylor, Edward R. Trull, Frederick O. Waters,
Jediah Wells, Peter Welch, George Williamson, Anson G. Worden,
George H. Wright, Edward Younglove, James H. Young.

COMPANY

:3

McCiowan.
McBride. wounded
McVally ost an arm at Chancellorsville; Bernard
John MoNally. discharged Januat Chancellorsville; John McDonnell
March 9, 18.13; SethC..NewtJy irisu" G^eorg^ W. Morlev, discharged
June ,,1863; William
comb James SooSan; Peter Noonan. deseited
discharged July 8, 1862; James
Ofl^ld James Ofleld; Albert J. Osborne,
December 2, 1862;
discharged
Pierce,
Edwin
S.
Oates;
0-Har'a Bernard
Ambrose J. Palmer disJesse Palmer discharged November 26, 1863;
Abel Palmer,
Price,
William
Palmer,
John
B.
1863;
cha, Bed January 13,
16, 18r.3; AuHeniTKedman;\esUe P. Russell, discharged February
Henry
C. Rosegrant, killed
Gettysburg;
at
leg
a
lost
gustus Rodgers
from
deserted
Raymond,
Rathbone John
It GettTsbur-; Benjamin P.
Ragan. deserted February '.'J
HosmVal HaryJ. feobinson Patrick
wounded
Rabb
A
at Gettysburg; Geo.
Isol!^ Charles W. Radue, killed
Corp., discharged
at.Gettvsburg- John Ryan George M. Rogers, Pro.
Corp. Oct. Ill, 1863; Charles H
rebrSa%3,"[|3: Daniel Rodgers,1>ro.
in Hospital Nov. 10,
died
Slauson.
D.
Francis
L.Sickels;
Stuart John
Gettysburg; John Al" ScoviUe
IlS-O^ar L.- States wounded at to
Invalid Corps; Michael Shell,
transferred
funded at Gettysburg, Sherman,
wounded at Gettysburg Julius H.
dficbaSd SteXen R*!
Joseph A
Invalid Corps
to
transferred
Scanlan,
2 del
Ter ance^
CTaggart; Robert
siansburv discBargerfebruary 16, 1863; Theodore
-nilliamH.
-38. 1862, wounded at Gettysburg
May
Coi-S
F Thorn Pro
wounded at Chancellorsville, killed at
?iiorn Napoleon LTwitchell,
Thompson, James Tearney,
Gettysburg Mauf ice Temple, Frederick John Van Valkenburg. Wm.
wounded at Chancellorsville;
;

A V Sia
Henry Warner SanVanVa^euburg. H. Wright, killed at Gettysburg;
discharged May 31, 1863; C. Wallace,
tord Weeks Jno S. WasWrn,
Wheeler, S. Warren;
James
Wells,
Edward
Gettysburg;
''unded at
*o(i Corporal, November 1, 180,3.
J

i85TH

VOLUNTEERS.

S.

Y. 0. Vol^.

died
George W. Abbott, died in Hospital; Jerome "W Ayerill,
Archer Benjamin
Fort Monroe, Va May 5. W02; William Acker, John
pischarged
Brown
Ezra
H.
Brown.
Ambrose, John Barclay, James H.
Wounded at Savage
January W 1SB3 John Brown. George F. Barlow,
Nov .0. Ibby. John
Station. Va., and taken prisoner. Discharged
atFairOaks,
wounded
Borden,
CharlesP.
Gettysburg;
at
killed
Barry,
Corps: John Bailey, disVa- DriaP Blain. transferred to InvalidJohu
Buckley, wounded at
chareed Dec S'J, 1S63 Thomas Brosnau;
Bogan John
Gpttvsburg- Timothy Burns. William Broderick, Walter
TCouover 'discharged October ST, ISM; Lewis Clark, died in Hospital;

WW

AND

12TH, i22ND, 149TH

B.

Capfdif'J^coh Brand.
LieiileniintFeter Straus.
Eifii'jii John V. Spanier.
Ut 6V/-i/<?<i;i; Michael Auer.
&i-r/(H( Julius Hintz, George Boiteu,

Max

Fix.

Carporats Michael Welter, Jacob Simmon, Albert Hoftmann, John

Dauer.
lii-umuierMonU Schwarz.

t
P(-u-(e. Frank Baar, Anthony Baurus, Nicholas Becker, Lucius Bell,
Charles Bohmann, John Briggs. Pius Caggey. Henry Christ. Liander
Darling John Durr, Conrad Eberhard, Valentine Eberling, Bradley C.
Farnham, Killian Faulstieg, Martin Felsenheimer, John Fickeys,
Joseph Fuechter, Fredi-ich Gies. Thomas Gilbert, George Gordon,
Philipp Greenwald. John Greiner. Simon Greis, Anthony Gross, HerHerr, Herman Hamilton, Nicklas Henui. Christian Herpel, George Eaufmann,
man Hilt Henry Hof. Killian Hover. Louis Huber, George
Kurz,
George
Thomas Kendall. Charles Kenyon, Philipp Kohles, John
Lampman Peter Lang. William Lettermann, George Looby, John
Michael,
Gebbard
Maurer Michael McCue, John Melcbior, William
Moll William Muehlhauser, John L. Newman, Jnmes Osborn, George
Pollmann, John Rietmann, Conrad Ring, Peter Sattler, Ernest Fredrich
Sauter, John George Sauter, John Schick, John C. Seliroder, Martin
Schroder, George Schuder, Fredrich Seidel, John Warner. John
Weber, Edward Wolf.

.,,,

COMPANY

C.

C'dplainVemns Driscoll, Jr.

Luutenuni} a.mes Randall.
.EVlsiV/ii John P Stanton.
ls< &;-!/!'"' Michael Foley.
,.
,,
,,
,
&/-en(.< George Travis. John Lighton. John Carroll.
Stanton,
0)/v<oi-<ife Richard J. Wright, James Lewis. William

John

Xi)-i/c/-s Hiram Foote. Frederick Kaufman.

,

Prieates-deovge W. Benjamin, Edward Blaney, Floyd H. Brougbton,

Charles W. Brown, George W. Button, William Caffrey, Robert CleDavern, Hugh
mence, Francis M. Coan, Michael Conlan, William
Doyle, John
Davison, Patrick Dervin, Timothy Desmond, Francis
Fitzgerald, John FitzDwvre James Fceney, William Fickland, Garett Gillespie,
Guidar,
John
Francis
Fox,
John
gerald Edmund Fitzmaurice,
Hoose,
William Hallem, Thomas Hart, Patrick Hennesy, George
Lemuel
Ladd,
Killbride^
Jeremiah
Kennedy,
William Kennedy, Dennis
Patrick McCue,
JohrL^wirSSell McCallen, Samuel MeCormick
McLoughlin,
John
McGough,
John
McGough,
John McDonnell, James
James O Donnell,
Hm-h OBrien, Edward O'Brien, Martin O'Brien,
Patrick Quigley,
Patnck Parsons. Horace Pratt, Frederick Price, John H Roberts,
Rnhrf
Randall, Patrick Ready. John Regan,
John
William K.
btockmg,
A.
Charles
Slicer,
George
Michael Slattery,
Thatcher. James Thompson, James Warn.

COMPANY
Caijhii7iQeoige W. Stone.
C. Storrs.
Cieorgo Snyder.

ZieulemuithnQius
^nsi'l/ii-

D.

I.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

406

Coucb. Dtlt Jon^

D*tI. Uanrr
.OD. Cbtrlr* II

'

(
Hhlt

Burt.

T,,.,|ti

nntlrr. Alt rt Diilt

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ht.

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1-

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E.

bo H. Pbllllpa. Jobn W
DclliT S-Uillh J.lin

<

u,

Mercer

!.<.. nard,

Aa
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/
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A.

aDdCUtk. Ttiimu J. Drban

li}tuo UIILcrt. Blrim (I. Howlkud.

I.

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I)

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A. Tajlor.

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Ham Wbltury, Lvwia U.

loi
tl

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I-..II

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lUUI

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COMPANY

O.-

MiKitr,
H VroLoroy H.

II,

niMii.

'

Wrigbl. ktiward

\^

lihaiuKuii.

tiiiii*'ii

Ijb,

Young*.

,-

COM PA .W F
Ciift'iln-

LUnlf

Rami. Jainra F. Tarlor, Tbomaa Tancvr

McClu'iiney. Wllllain P. Jonea. Jamea P Taylor,
I

ri,.i.

yUlnW Licke

r.iy.f/i/n Augustus J. Root

i,>,,/,i,.,.i_W|lllain P. Town.

-- 'th
1-D Sudilt-n.

irl.n

EI.M

Wuilucl>

Jo-

Wllllnm OlfinoD.

/'

It

A M.'ad

/
r.ltiM.

1-

Wt^oD

K. Hart,

Uioriio

At)'iic.

EratUH

P.

KIddp.

C.

W. Ulackmaii. Handlcjr Lamb.

B.

Kilward [laker. Geurfte liarnfa. Louis

rF.(.L\

.m.-ii

Itowff)

II
'

II

llx

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Orors-

t^--

.i.-r.ii

l.aiii'

I.

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Al.i

A.

ItallnutT, Kcubfti

|,ipr^

ll..

i-iiit.

'

ii._-.i--i.
Juiiii-a Main r.

HlLlir.

Warrru

Kittlp,

Jiimt'ii

Maxi>b,
.i..bii T
Myrto. wnilaiii PcltoD.
n Putrifv. I.tirliin F Kaiidolpb.

Cur

'

lor

'

lii'orgu

I)

'

I'b

r.

I'

La'

'

Ml.

.'M

iiiriiii.

'^

.'11-. I...;

.irn,lhi

Kiauk

t.'yati,

r-ii.m.

Ci,'..r^...

S*

Miiltb. ParnjPDla

..

>,iiii

William Tbooipaou, Timothy Tlcmey, Horace

William Whfclrr

John

stoni-.

urd Ward, WlMlBiii Wllharlo L Wray. Kldrod

I2iid 4{cginieiit. Infhnti'y, }i.

COMPANY

Iii-li

/.
/

.loho

COMPANY O
J

John

"

F.

^ui(,i<.

Tracrj

KCf. <'liarlf< J HoiiiM-li, <.'b*?t*

Snillb. (liarli'H N
St,.rllii|i,

Wi,
lUr

Cail'li"

''-'

'

Jo-

Joseph
iirlando Cong-

rharl<<H B<^ydoD.

..-.-,

'

Ca-

Hoi.

tlaiili-tt,

BllHnK, Jant^a llravl. r

Klalitlyii

I.

Brik'i:- il-nrj iv ...-i.i .i.

way. Juiiu'i* i. I'rniiH, I liai
Delnii.. l|.iirl.. Hurail.

n Rni.(t)wn,
/

Br

W. Uaara, John W.

(itorgx

1..I...T \l

Y. g. Vol^.

A.

llr.

-..U

rd.

,.,.||u.

Si^,.ih:~ uluii 1. Mu), LovlJ. Irlub, Riiab Parkbiirat

C(>r/ii.i(<-lrlug Tiiitl, Jbn II LIgbl. Kraucln A. Darling,

,'on.

EUaklam

Win. 1.1

V.

...

/,

or

Il.i.ry

Ilil,.-i.

II..|,r>

Hf.

.1.

.ka.

Jbl

Hold.

lilaaa.

Buck

"

M-'r..n

Clu
Oil
Di.i
all
11

Lyi
OnlP..pi.l..

/'i-if fti

All.rri J

NmLuii
Ellaa Vaoslykr. Jrrrrolab Wormulh, (Irorgn W. Wlnchcl

Town, Lu.

II.

aon Brui rn. Ml

Hlonc, All
NN liliaiii

L, 'r.^ii.

11.

Tij.-ii.

J.

Van

Cot.i
I'allcD.

W.

Ml

...

Iillv. William A
(adv. Wilhnm II
11.

..

1'

nirliop, AddlI

li.

ar.li-ll,

"

Wm.
J.a.

F...

H'

COMPANY H
(>i/.r<j(n-aorKf<

.1-

Int

I.

W.

Col.

II..

"tell.'

L
tl.i

n,

iiriia

Ihomaa

Coon, Lcater

Barllrtt, Bllaa Carprntnr.

C. Horrick. Aiiguallno

H. Wllktna.

/
I

Bn.:.

M..
rl.

L.

Ji-r
.1

ill

Pbllllpa

Albert Beecham. Myron B*nrdlcl, George

Uoland, Emory BrIdgford. Jake Bticba. Qaloo'

vvton.

Pi

81..

^ll
.

li.

II.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Trenhara. Ezriab Teabroeck. John H. Tallmadge. Holland Twinum,
Hiram Vosburg, Edward WiUiams, Edward Wilcox, Francis Yosset,

J.

Mitchell Zoelner.

COMPAXY

Coons. George W. Calburn. Sidney Case, David Crysier, Enos O Dar\alentine Denick.Van Bur. n Davis, Stephen Drury, Alonzo Eaton

ling,

^'"".'('^^^^"j*"''" ^^-

Serffeanf Samuel D. CutlifC

&er(/etit.(L\xcieQ Robertson.
.Sergea7ifPhi]o E. Ruggles.
5th Serf/eitnf Charles H. Lang.

4M

Ut C"r/foni/Ja.meeF. Sparldck.
Ooryyora^ Charles W. Steele.
Zd Corporal William J. Anderson.
4th CorponifVrn lam H. Paul.
So?

C03IPANY

5ffi f'tjrporal
Isaac B. Steves.
Gth (''orporat 3 a.mes J. McKioley,
7th Corporal Thom&fi 31 Shoens.
8^/( CorportilHxidson C. Marsh.

Conway. Andrew J. Criss. John J.^Conway. James Crampton. Thomas

Crampton, Abit Davis, Slilton B. Evans, Dempster Eaton, Dewitt C.
Edwards. Joseph Fabings, Silas Guernsey. Eli W. Gleason, Thomas S.
Green. John Gipsel. Jerome Howe. Oscar P. Hughes, Alexander H.
Hubbs, Walter W. Hall. Charles H. Henry. Chryst ilenry, Robert Hoavland. William Herrick. Joseph Hollenbeck. James H. Halkings, John
H. Hartwell. James G. Hart. Joseph Juthen. Daniel Jones, Wm. Jones,
Horatio Knight. William C. Kennett, Patrick Kelly, James F. Lilly. Roselle E. Luce. George R. Loop. George E. Maxon. Abraro Marcellus, John
J. Potter. Jesse H. Prindle. Semuel Phillips. Miron L. Reynolds, Wm.
E. Ruggles. Clarence A, Roberison, Martin Ryan, Albert Randall, Marshall F. Smith. Lorenzo Scott. Allen 31. Stuben. James W. Smith, Tho8.
H. Scott. John Simmons, Thomas L. Scott, Elias R. Sloat. Daniel H.
Smith. Elisha A. Smith. Jonathan Trlpij. James Trowbridg, David

Thompson. Daniel Van Hoosen, William Van

James Wilson. Elias Wells. Caius A, Weaver,

Netta. Charles Wooden.

Gilbert Welch, Jeremiah

Wiggins.

COMPANY

C.

CV//>(i Alfred Nims.

Ut Luufenant Joseph E. Cameron.

Arthur .J 3Iead.
Ut Senjfa lit George W. Bowen.
2<^ 6'/'^*^/n' William F. Will.
2'f LieutfJiaiit

Colonel J.

Zd Serfjeaiit
4th Sern^'Utt

McLyman.

Tames B. Hall.
5th .St/v/*an^-Hi^am G. Hilts.
H. Remington.
A, Eaton,

Thomas

Kiley.

Wm.

COMPANY
ComeW

Bellinger,

31.

Reals.

Wm,

Raymond.

K.

D.

Chrysler.

Davis Cossitt.
//cu^'/n? Edward P. Luther.

1*? Lieutinaj't
2</

W. Taylor.
2d .SVr//^'//!' Gates D Parish.
-V 5*/-i/^'i'<' Phineas B. JIarshall.
4ih .Sry</in^ Francis E Whaley.
Ut

Hammell.
Ut Corporal Noah Gale,

2d CorjfOralFfrgyiB 3Iadden
'V (^v>r/>c*/Y// Edward McCarthy.
4th Cfrj/ontlHahuyler Seager,
bth Corporal "SftlHon Nichols,
6th C'ofjioral George Wilson.
l/h 6V//ywv/' William Giinilan.
Hth f'nrjioratOVwer P, Ives.
Mu/tififtn Samuel Osboru.
Jfuificiati

Dempster

Randall.

Wa(/oner Charles Reynolds.

/'Wrrt^^-William Ashfield. Thomas Burns. Charles Boucher, Qaraer
Bentley, Charles Baxter. John F. Conner. Henry roburn, Jas Doran
Stephen W. Daniels. Joseph Dunn, John H. EggleMton. Jacob Ehorllng,
David C. Fountain, Julius Fix. ZenoT. Griffin. Henry Ghep Aaron Gr^
ham. Thomas Gardner. James Gallagher, William Gilbert Jackson
Houghtaling. Austin Hodge. Benjamin B. Houghkirk. Abn*T Hubbard,
Thomas .s. Hueht-s. Daniel L. Hogeboom. 3Iathia8 Hollenbeck. Daniel
Harrington. Charles HIcox. Franklin House, Wm. R, Johnson Joan
Keller. Robert B. Kennedy. Christian G. Koebnieln. Sylvenus S. Lewis
John Lewis. George Lauterniilk. Isaac 31anheimer, Clark H. 3IcAllister'
Alexander A. C.Martin. Samuel McFeeters, Henry W. North James
Nolan. Lorenzo Newport. James Orr. John Orr. John Oertel Gerrge H
Perry, James H
Powell. John Pfetfer. Daniel Wm. Pine Franklin
Phillips. Oscar Penojer. Eugene A, Perry, Albert B. Perry. Henry A
Petrie. Joseph R, Richardson. Edgar Rogers, Wm. Richard. Henry
Stricnltz. David Smith, Charles F, Spear, Christopher P. Steadman
George V. Scobey, Francis V. Schafer. Gotfried Spitzer, Gotlieb Sternners, Thomas Temnleton. James D. Truganza
K Teller Phillip
Vroman, James White. Hezekiah Walratb, Kllis 31. Williams, Charles
H. Wiesmore. James W.Wickham. Wm. Henry Wilson, Ephraim Yerdan.

2d Seii/eantOtin

Henry J. Russ. John Ralph. Henry J. Sanderson, Calvin Smith. John

Sanderson. Edwin Smith. William Sheldon. Philemon H. Tuttle. Joseph
Totton. Abrara Thomas. Patrick Thompson. Stephen C. Thompson,
Thoma. Und*frwood. Charles V. Wright. Byron A. Wright. William A.
Walker. 3Iitchell D. Walters. Charles 31. Williams. Benjamin Walker,
Edwin L. Wright, Isaac Worden, Charles Wright. Alfred Worden.
Caj/taiu

.Senjf^finfJohn

SergeantAltred Crysier.
Corporal Dudley G. Shirley.
Cor/^>ra I -EMiott L. Booth.
3^/ Corporal George G. Gilaon.
4th Corporal OBc&r Austin.
5th Corpora/ Ch&rles H. Field.
fith Corporal Oliver Nichols
7th Corporal Lewis Amidon. Jr.
wA Corporal \.\xman Day,
.VA
]*r

2^7

Wilnian.

3Io8eB,

Stuart 3Iacdonald.
Irving W. Davy,

4th .'<frfjeant
5th 'Stirg^.ant
lnt
2'/

Corj-oral Henry C. Sennett.

Co rJ >or a I J am>c& Burlington.

Cor/ioral^JameaK. Lawrence.
4th Corj,oral Aaron C. Gaylord.
5t/i Corporal Davit} Donaldson.
O'/i Corporal
Stephen B. Thorp.
jfh Corporal Curtis L. Rich.
Hth Corporal Henry Kochenburger,
J/*/c///n Justus Williams
Jfimician Perry F. Woodworth,
M'o(/ori*:r'W ilHdm Raymond,
pr!ratiVfm. J. Atbins. Will. Abbott, George Axten, Geo. H. Anthony, Edward V. Raker, Clark Blanchard. Benjamin Burlington, Silas W.
Benton, David Broom, Elian Bennett. Joseph G. Bennett. Gf-o A. Barnett. Joseph Bessey. Warren Eessey. Edmund Brown. Wiu. L. Burton,
Andrew W. Beach, James Black. Wright Christian, Phillip L. Crysier,
Isaac N.Clements. George W. Cumrain.i. H.C. Chapman E. G. Clements,
Samuel B. Carriers, himeon Dunham. Porter Davis, Charles L. Dunton,
Thomas Edds. Isaac Eanton. Henry Vry. Leonard Gensiver, Edward F,
Glynn, 3Iariin Graff. Auguntus Hughes. Myron Hinman. Robt. B. Hum*
Shreys, George H. Hinklev. Albert D. Hitchcock, Jenks Harrington.
osephJones, Andrew H. -Jones, George B. Kenyon. Anthony KIne, Dennis Lowland, William Leroy. Henrj' Lamb. Alvah Lamphere, Amos O,
Lee, Adln 31. C. Lamb. Harlow Lamb. William 3Iay, George W. Maxson, Amos S. 3Iay, Uriah D. 3Ioore. William 3Iaoumber. Henry B. 3Iorean, William 3Iohs, Willjrd Norlon. Belas F. North. R. E. Prentice,
George W, Ripley. Anthony Raymond. Isaac Richards, Pa'rick Ryan,
Jdo. M. Rust. Isaiah V. Spenks, John Salvad^e. E. D. Spaulding. Surreno S. Smith. Charles Snedlker. Orriu J. Smith. Russell Sweet. George
W. Turner, Eugene H. Wormwood, W, W. Worlock, 3Ielvin B. Walker,
Joseph Young,
Z^i

COJIPANY

Harrison

H. Jilson.
Ut L''eute/ajjit Drayton Eno.
C'a/'^/ft

2^/
Ijrf

Lie"ttianfVeter A, Blossom.
S^rgeauf y\orr\s E. Wright.

2</ ,S>r:/*'//*'

.^ui>cm7. Charles Enos.

3d

Sti'j*-jin.t

4th

Hf^^i <jf.aiit

Wi

,SVri/<'/* Alexander

Jr*'jy-''er Saroael

F,

L. Fihor.

J/uAi>/<yn Willis H. Look.

Williams,
Henry F. .Amidon.

Orttrander.

N, Eldridge.

5fh -S'trf/^rtw/ Daniel F.

1ft i/-{/*^'/( Adolph

George W. Bettinger. Robert Br^ese. William

Buzzell,
Breese, Charles Brooks. John Behan, Oscar A. Barne>>. William Bums,
Amasa Chase, Andrew Casler. Warren Colgrove, Charles H. Crane
Dennis Curamings. George W. Chase, George B. Chandler. Philo Dutch
r, Charles Evingham, John Evingham, Azeriah Fargo. Patrick Fan
ning, James Gorman. James Goodfellow, Jason Giftord, Orville T,
Graves. ShipmanO. Griffln. Wesley Goodfellow, Stephen H. Goodfellow,
Jacob Houser. DelosHotaling. William Huntly. Harlem A. Hoag. Jas,
D. Hebbard. Charles L. Hilts. Alfred Houser. Charles Hotaling, Chris
tion Hilts. Luther D. Hale, John Hale. David Enapp. Jo.seph Kean,
John Kennidy. John Slyers. William H. Mosier, Francis 3Ionroe. Fred
erick Monk. Patrick Ma^ahan. Adolpbln Moss. Alanson ilosier. Albert
H. 3Ionroe. James Miles. Ebenezer Northrop. Elliott 0. Page, James
Poole.

W,

Sertifai'* George N. Phetiplace.

id -S>r:/e^/r'/ Charles

V'V*/-//e</Hr Robert
J.

P.

Herman

2//

Captatn-huciiis Sloses.
ut IJetifeniitit George W. Piatt.
2d Lie'itfinent J amen Burton.

8M CorporalCalvin S. Hammond.
Wagoner- -3 am^s Hudson.
PWctf^ex William H. Allen. Hiram Agan. Charles

Price,

LUnifjioiit J Af-oh Brand.

LUtitcvn Ht Hewry H. Hoyt,

1; .Ser;/<;ra*/ Charles

COMPANY

Zfi Cori-oraf Thomas D. Chapman.

4th /V/r/>ora/ William P. Abby.
5th CorjfOra fFr^nk H. Eaton.
bth Corj'oralVi' iUiam H. 3Ialtby.
David W. Clark.
7th Corporal

Buel

2*J

Wm

DrumnurVBXnxer Worden.
\nt ro/yyortf/ William
2c/ 6'or//o/-rti Charles

E.

Captain Horace H. Walpole.

\t

3/*/oi'/H Rufu3 A. Hughes.

JIuAir tan AM red Sole
TP/;/<>He/ William FairfieH.
P//r'/'e William Auburn, Laristen Adkins, Prince E. Bethel, Daniel
Bowley. Henry C. Brand. Stephen Blake. Jonathan J. Brownell. James
H. Bowen, Josiah Bradley, Ethan A. Bennet. Jonathan J. Bingham. Peter Bradt. Charles F. Carlisle, Ezra Cole, Michael Cooney, John W.

C.

Thomas A

'id

Ward, Eugene

lillfiworth.

.'^n ^''l-'^'^fTK'
William L. Fisk. Dwight Fitzgerald. Joseph Grodevant. Georce
H. Houser. Horatio Harrington, George Hunt, Jr., Giorge
Hammond. Armegal W. Hancock. Hiram F. Harroun, Charies H Ives
Walter E, Jenks. Thomurt H. Joyce, Patrick Klncle. Henry Korb. Chas*
G. Lathrop. William Lee. Edward Lee. Rodman Mc<"amley William H
Morri88.3lichael3Iurphy.WillardH.MoH8, Joseph H. 3Iiichell James
H. Noble, Loren M, Norton. Caesar Perdue, Erasius B Palmer' Frank
E. Picket. Francis Patterson, George A. Patten. Eli Perry, Charles
M
Quick, Joel Reed, Horac^e Russel, James E Ross. Baltzer Rowe Ch>is'.
Shepherd, John A. Shenheni. George Sheeley. Lewis .Smith: John H
Coudan Smith. Orren W. Secor. PeterSegar, Henry Sag*?. John Uncless
Jeflferson Vinten, Charles Warker. Benjamin Wood, Andrew F
West*
George Wilkinson.

i-f
Fisk

B.

Coy/^in Webster R. Chamberlain.

Uf LieutenantCharles G. Nye.
2d Lieutentinf- -Vtilliam J. Webb.
Iiit SeryeajitGeorge H. Gilbert.
2*/

407

Pririttr
Wm, H. Amidon. George Amidon. Dwight
Annable. Oscar Adams. Andrew J. Allen. William C. Barron. Loren W,
Barker. Theodore P. Barker. Charles L, Brown. James Butler. John
Bartlett. Samuel Brown. Joshua Carr. Jr., Charles B Catee. 3Iichaei
CarUo, Nicholas Cummings, Uaac Calbum, Joseph Crittendeo. Joseph

Robert J. Donoghue.
Dunning.

Czar

ia\uft% Wyatt.

Toms.

!/ t.orporal-^antoT'l Van Dyke.

2d Co/y/o/v// Lucius D. English.

Corporal y^ai. Kitter.

ifh tS'orporalHiram Woolsey.

'4<1

G.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

408
6/'

r Trowbrlclje.
A Mmwell.

JU

M
I
flrl

TniMdcU.

tlo'

Icr
itnorth.
.Tr

M
.1/

Brr
sill

irr.

Tri.

Johu

L.

!run. Ht.'nrj

111'.

Kri
Au(;ui' h. i.;t*, I'-I.t,.^ ,^l.^^r
Tbnniftn M'-iit^ciiMTV. Atithi'inNorthwnv ,l..!ii: H I'ttinn.lcr f"
..

COMPANY

H.

Starki.
Swift.

L.

II

I.eil

'Vllkln*.

'

Kevi
H.V

ir<.

I,
Meli7i< ^ ^ii
.i.H
wllilcer, Wlllini Tci
Jobu Vill, '.M lllrair
I

S.'

M<
&/.

JftU4f Tr-

^-*L'ti,

Wm

TbiimpsoD,

\%t Mrif tr.

I.-

*/
>/

149tl) l\egincnt, Infanti'y.

4(.'.

/'.

>'.

Y. $.

VoM-

COJIPAXV A

TfA
r.i;f.i;-i-<!,,i..i.. i.ii;i,i

(t/A

JV

a/

I.'

/'.

Henry Alli-n. Porter AukIId. Henrr

TMHin lloirmnn. Win Prl.ftn. Yiil.- if
.

Kruiiti. i.. lli<.k, Nathan Wyman. Jamo Muriij. Jobu

DeiroonO.
ror;.or,.;_W!ter Dlxon^John H. Kuwel, J.mu JUo.furt.
J<.-ob
Mii.ni..n.. Michael Lolet, TUom W. DTI. Alf.rd
L. Hot.
WIIUud
'
Alur]jby.

Bla.
Clill

III

r.

t.

...I.

Hi.oi..-.
J. V. Kdi.i

.'.,ii.,- If.

IlllllnK. ilathew
llowitiiiiii.
V.
!
i.ri.
... \v

II.
.1.,

II>

(-

.\

L>-)'iiiinii
I

!
''

Ilenrj: U.

'J

Juhn

Jai'iib HviiniK,

'iu<

lirv

I'um'

Ktall.

Aiuicr

I'anUii
Hilrev. ni

Mik
llv.

Alger. Daniel

llfti.rll, Willuni
>i 11,
,1

Can

'-ImttT

VoMfller.

k-lit

.11

lOMPANV
Oij'l-ilu-

3-hn

I./ /

*/

II.

IlwlKht.
II. Chiinli.

COMPANY B

A. iJllliUKltaDi.

J/..

Cur''"
i.t

1./

Uo.iii.lulf, 'n,..uia !)u,^tli, Iharlm Miarilnk.

Anthony Weaver, Edwin Wklto. Cbarlro A Wrlubt,

..,

l.r,,M,l..h.

,'

Si/

*<

Wurpier.
Ni>rthwy.
\'

II

Ur

'iiry.

uii

Eckel,

C0.ii

ini.y.
ok.

Jr..

Chai

CLai;.

Heck.

Jacob

>>k.

/'.

Bepla,

i'"tnier<r.

l.i.i

Krev. Mull
-.iinaii

l..'t.

II

i.r;

la.

L:

II

uulilull.l..;.

II.

.war. I

Wni

li.

IIIIL-

rl

II

ll|.>

btrauaa, William J. Velter. Iharlo

N.
Warner. Jatob \\ n.-n,
,.
t-iiilxri... Vebllug, Wllllan) Zobel, Frcilerick Zopf.

II

"k

COMPANY

C.

Cn^'fA^nJarura Lyncb. Jr
Itl

>

111:,

Ail'.lt

|1.

/.In:;:

<

K,|i,r,tn

Murray

Edward While. Wni.

O'KeilleT, Jerrmlab

lIUllUj!.

COMPANY
M..>war<l.
'I

!- v.ii

li

Wuoater.

MIckeU.

..

Edward Cunnilnga, EraatuaC. Uerrlok,

Michael Commao. Wm. Kelley. Frederick Kin(,

-^'''''I "'Brlen.
'

.irthy.

Aiken, Auibnny Buckley, Barney Boyle. Tbomaa

Brooka, Auauat BloM, Marcua Ballweg,
TInioIbyCronfn, Peter Colwell. Jr., Daniel
lain. Jacob Clatta, kinieo Claffy, Jatnea
Dunlgan, Michael Doyle, Jaa.
i.ii..

,v

<

'"hn A
,.""
Jubn Cook,

-i.Uii,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Drum, Patrick

Do^'le, James Daley. Roger Daugherty, Samuel G.

Elwood, Goorpe Ehvood. A<!)li'hus Fellows, Charles Feeize, Jas. Foley,
Lawren<re Flood. Robert Faulkner, Daniel Gere, James Gere. Patrick
Garvey. James Gilbraitb, Georee W, Harger, William Hays. Dennis
Hogan, Joseph Harvey, Martin Harrou, Augustus King, Michael
Kuller, Thomas Kenimett. Maurice Leahey, Stephen Landers. Cornelius
Lyons, Aaron Latiders. Patrick Lannon, Thomas McCarty, Jeremiah
Murphy, John McGraw. Martin Meagher. John McGra'w, Patrick
Murphy. Thomas McCormick. George Miller. John Miller, Thomas
O'Shaughnes&y, Michael O'Connell, .Jchn Powers. Michael Ridden,
Jacob F. Ran, John Row. Jcjhn F Smith, Frederick tfchuert, John Shea,
Michael Sullivri. Patrick Sullivan, John F, Sherwood. Miles Tobin,
James Tallon. Michael Tiemnay. Francis White.

COMPANY

J.

Ctipt'iin
1*/
'2il

lift

U.

Forman Wilkinson.

Lieutenant Puvk Wheeler.

Lieutenttiit William W. Moseley.

Seri/etnifAhvata H, Spore.

Serffeiintv- J aa\es A. Scott,

Gridley.
Co/7'(v(/ William

Purdy. John
young.
L.

J.

Jonn

Lillv.

F. Wheeler.

John

Kitter.

James H. Winnie. James

Walter. William

Rawson. Lott

S.

Marcus N.

H. Burr.

Phillips,

Henry

W. Hunt.
/-/nv/^r.-. Aaron Abbey. Henry A. Aldridge. William Anderson, Geo.
W. Arnold. Grego Baker* Daniel Becker. Frank Blair. Willard Brooks,
James Burke. Albert Carpenter, Avaudo Carver, Tliomas CassoD,
Christopher Cone. Michael Conlan, Heuty Crouse, Alonzo Crusback,
Joseph A. Davis, .\mos Day. Albert Dolittle. Stephen Duell. Loren
Eaion, Hanford Everett, Augustus Fall. John W. Falvey. Freeman
Farrer. Barney Fister. William P. Foreman. Robert Gibson. Paul
Goodrider. John Govise. George B. Greene, Thomas Gulliver, Benjamin
Haight, Calvin Hai-ht, Benjamin Haight. David Harrown. Alvin
Haynes. David Hayue.s. John Henhofer. John Hixon. John Hogeboom,
Michael Hoolahan. William F. Hubbiird. William Hunter. Duane S.
Hurd. Jonas Jarv is. Pet'r Jennings. Albert Jones. Jos, Kelley. Walter
Lawrence. Kdward C. Lewis. George G. Lloyd, Sylvester Leroy. Ferdinand Lernsh. George Martel. Eli S. McAllister. "Fautin Nasler. Louis
Nelty. William .Newman. John Nolan. Phllo S. Nottingham. J. H. Patterson. Joseph Perkins, George S. Rice, After Root, Richard Sevenoaks,
Jacob Sheeley, PeierSnell. Heth K. Smith. Wellar S. Sperry, William
VanSlyke. Robert H. VanValen, Thomas VanValen, George M'haley,
Peter "Wire.

COMPANY

E.

Captain Ira B. Seymour.

Ist Lieutenant Orson Coville.
2(1 Lieittenant Edward F. Hopkins.
1( .'>*-(;'f<r/i(~Alexander McKinstry. Jr.
AVrj/t"fii^ Daniel E Hayden, Norman F, Potter, Edward C, Gray,
John H. Brown.
(.v*7/"/(/^-Charles J. Jeffreys, Edward C, Fay, Edsin Fay, Oliver
Ormsby, Oscar J, Bailey. Edward N. Morrison, John R. Pallock, John
S.

Ut Sergeant O. L. F. Brown.
Seri/eanttEdiy B. Townsend, George G. Tiuair. D. D N Marvin
L. Decker.
CV/i-//r<r/ Miles B. Amidon. William Crosier, Charles
H Nichols
William H. Davis, Joseph Jay, George Davharsh, C. F. Cook. E j'
Browne.
Prii-ates Perry Adams. Henry Aiist, Robert B. Batternv, Joseph
Bennett, Frederick Bigler. Philo E. Boom, Daniel Brokaw; Seth H
Burgess, Henry J Calkins, Patrick Carrigan, Thomas Chapman J H
Chawgo, Wm. Claxton. Daniel Cole, Timothy Collins. J. H Collins
Charles Coss, James Cottle. William Cross, James Craig. Jos Culten
John Dayharsh, Edmund Durbin, Svlvester Edwards. Ruben Evans
Isaac Foster. George Frickert, Z B. ftirman. Wm. Gamble, Christopher
Gbebhard. John Ghebhard, James Gill, O. J Hand, Geo. B Harwood
Patrick Heenan, Morris HefEermaii. Lewis Huntley. Frank M. Irish
Conrad Jehiie. Martin Joy, A. C. Lewis, J. S. Little, James Mallan,
Edgar Marshall, Thomas Morrissey. Daniel McCord. Lewis McLain
Michael Mc.Manice. Wm. Nesbitt. Homer Northrop, E. R. Oliver. Jas.
O fionrk, John O'Rourk. John O'Riley. Edwin S Potter Avery
Res.sctiuie, Alex. Sawyer, Paul Sherman, Daniel Skinner, J. M. Smith,

James

John

'

Snell,

J. W. Ward,
Zeller.

Earn Spaulding, J. G. Stevens. Amos Ward, J. C. Stevens,

Obadiah Welch, William Whitfield, A. A. Whitman. Levi

Roswell

.)/uMc../ Thomas

COMPANY
Hopkins.
U/ Lieutenant Ahio L. Palmer.
'i<f Litntenanf~Thoma.s Merriam.
}vt Herf/eanfW iUium PuUen.

deraeiintKhevi D. Tarbell,

James Loomis.
Ovv.ori//,. .Milton Miller.

cey

J.

Nathan

COMPANY

F.

Judson H. Graves.
Ut Litntenant'Henvy H. Burhans.
Jr? Lieutenant Theodore E. Stevens.
Caj'tain

l.s/

6'6rf/(/;(f Moses P.

Boynton.

S(iyeiintH3uhn Barrager, William P. Burdick, William Eaton, Jos.

H. Kaiker
ry. ();(//, Seymour R. Lewis, James Noakes, John H. rjiham, Bela
P. Hitchcock, Frederick M. Potter, Welsey M. Dewey, Jefferson R.
Kimball, Asahel Hitchcox.
JtfniieianMTitz A. Thatcher, Orlando Miles.
Wa(/oner

Monroe Carr.

/ruri/o Peter Adolf. Wallace Paisley. David Busbnell, Seth Baitin.

George J. Clarke. Stephen Cook. Adelbert C. Clark. Lucius J. Carey,
Wm. Cummings, Lewis Cosleman, James Commaae. David Callison,
Charles A. Ellis. Charles Fisher, George Felt, Wm. Fargo, John Gaying, Geor;re W. Havens. John S. Hews, Thomas Hodgson. Jacob Hager,
Jonn Hutchius, Wm. H. .Tohnson, Harrison Johnson, Jra Jones. Edward
Karker, Andrew Karker. George W. Kipley, Samuel Lake, Thomas
Mosher, Frank Miller. Daniel Miller. Lorenzo Morse. Horace A, .Miller
Thomas Moss. Samuel C. Potter. Henry D. Pratt. Wm. M. Pettet, Lawrence Plank, Fred- rick W, Rice. Homer H. Reed, Wm. A. Robinson.
Theodore S. Root, Albert Shaffer. Win. Sneveley, Perry Stoughtenger',
Christian Schwaits, James Seibert. Joseph Seon. Adam Smith. John
Stressner, Seymore H. Stearnes. Michael Snyder. James S, Shearer,
Edwin Smith. John Seibert. Parker J. Snow. Seymour D. Torrey, Wm.
Teggs, John Umbrach. James R. Walter, Calvin 'H. Wilson, Jacob Waling, Nathan Yerden, Joseph Yerden.

COMPANY
Captain E. G. Townsend.
Ut LitutenantB^rOB A. Wood.
Sit

Zittitenant Thomas A. Benedict.

72*

G.

Edward

Augustus

Congdon. Webster Miller,

G. Brown.

iVttiji'tirr

Henry

Priratfr-Elien

V. Carr,

John

II.

Johnson,

Jr.,

Brown, Phillip Messer, ChaunWillard H. Spear, John Heron

P.

Bristol.

H.

Angell,

Spencer

Boots,

Lorenzo

Bavington,

Abraham Becker, Albert Button, Hamilton D Borden. Wm iurnell,

Sanford Button, Henry Came, Wm Cullings, John Cobell, Nicholas V.
Carpenter. Ephraim Congdon. Henry Coon. Jr., Paul M. Dinehart, Levi
Dunbar. John Dings Levi Dyer. LeRov A Emmons. Jonathan Emmons,

Charles Frank, Augustus Flue, Adolph J. Fix. George Frank. Ashley

Graves. Gabriel Houghtaling. Selah D. Hall. George Hines. Casper
Holsetseazar. Ezra Haynes. Lewis Kiiine, Harvey Kiune. William H.
Ketchum, Ethel Kinne. William L. Klock. Jolin P. Kline, Adam Lucas,
Otto Layer. Harvey Loomis. John A. Little, Supreme Lewis. Henry
Lieber. Wm. McKinley. Francis L. Manning. Calvin McNeil. Henry
Moore. John S. Ostrander, Marquis D. Perkins, Henrv Rogers, FirdinanRiddinger, Jeremiah W. Smiih, thatles Sivers, William W, Sotherdon,
LeRoy Shute, Andrew J. Springer, Peter Sheffer, George Shild, Stanton
Sugne, Albert J. Snow, John L. Stevens, Jr., Alfred Shafer. Alfred
Shute, Howard B Sloan, Robert Telford, David Ten Erok. William J.
Taylor, William Tucker, Joseph F. Thomas. Robert Vincent. Henry

Van Wormer. Simon Vrooman,

Charles P. Wntson,

Wm. W.

Knapp.

Miner D. Bayley. John C.

Berry. Patrick Boland. Alonzo Cronk. Hiram Coates. WiUiam'H. Champlain, Jacob Derrick. Florence Donahue. George W. Delong. Patrick
Day. James, B, Eustis, Merrick D, Frost Milton 0. Frost. James P.
Frost. James Furlong. Adelbert F. Gates, Wj^lis C. Griffin. John Geary,
Henry Graham. James F. Gates. Peter Goodrich, James Gowdy. Wcstley
J. Hodges. John M. Heath, Augustus R. Holms. Miles Hemgrin, Closes
Hills. David Holleubeck. Lester E. Hotclikiss. Richard Heath, Franklin
B. Holbrook. Archibald Hamilton. James Hines, John Hart. Henry
Hays. Nathaniel Jones. William Jones, John Keeuan, Ren. Kenyon,
Seymour Knickerliocker, John M, Losey. Alexander Lashnay, Charles
Mitchell, Wm, H Mercer. James A. Morrison. Alonzo Milieu. James
Meben. Lorenzo Nichols. Herrick Nichols. Wm. D. Orr. James
Powderly. Peter Parslow, Clark Phelps. Lizadore Parison. Nicholas
Palmer, George W, Pierce, John Quin, George W. Phillips, Joel
Rogers. William F. Smith, Edwin R. Smith, Jr.. John Smith, Jr.. Lanson
Smith. Mortimer Stevens, Alonzo Spaulding. J Andrew strong. Moses
Tappin, Wii iam Tisdale. George W. Way, Rofeter O. Wright, George
R. Warner, Henry H. Widger, iSaniel Hay?.

H.

Cffy//rtiw Robert E.

Elias

Van Wormer, Cornell Wood,

Jr.,

Ostrander.

COMPANY

J/a7ci</ Sylvester Yoran, William Aiken.

ir</[/ffne/-~Westley Wright.
/v;ra^*<( Henry C Allen. George P. Burch.

409

I.

Caj. fain Davi(i J. Lindsay.

Lieutenant Georgfi K. Collins.

1;

2d Lieuttnantiobn T. Bon.
l^t Senjeant ilonimer B. Birdseye.
^eif?"""* George W. Chase, William Bridgford, George J. Lager,
"
George H. Deitz.
to<7-;<// >amuel B. Ward, Elisha B George, James Gordon. John
Waugh. Thomas Chase. Elias Houghkirk, William McCiure, James J.
Burrill.

W. Colton, George H. Quiiin.

H'*/f/o(/- James R. Noble.
PriniteK-Herrii-iin Auringer Rufus J. Beckwith. John E. Bell. James
V. Butts. George Bean, Thomas Cannon. John T. Carmichael. Ebenezer
B. Cogswell, Henry W. Crawford, Oscar Derrick. James S. Everingham,
Peter Evans. John Bustin, Edgar A. Eddy. John W. Fox Robert
Goodfellow. Nelson Gilbert, Robert H. Glassie. John Greer Francis
J//ci<i,!-Ch(ster

Hamlin, John W. Hoyt, Asa Houghtnling, Samuel B. Harrison, Amos

Howard, George Haight, James N. Huson, John Howard, Samuel
Ingersoll. Thomas Juson, James W. Kelsey. James Kennedv, Thomas
Kittains, John Kampf Kerne, John McGraw, Benjamin Mallett, Harricon
Miles, Michael McEvoy, James Mill-. .Michael Murray. Mathew .McBride, John McAlister; Wm. Moon, Perrv Norton. Jerome Patterson,
George W. Philips, David Patterson, Abram L Philips, Warren Patterson, Jacob Pollock. Cavilian Petty, Abner Quimby, Daniel Rose, Michael
Rohan, William Sharp, Wm. Sandford, Thomas Shanesay. Joseph
Turner, John Taylor, Edward Wells, Charles F. Woodford, David G.
Wheeler, Albert Wilcox.

COMPANY

K.

Captain James E. Doran.

1st Lieutenant John Van Wie.
2d Lieutenant Benjnmia F. Breed.
ist

^ert/ennt-Cone Williams.
M. Doren, Thomas Hamilton, John Hopkins, Revilo

iieri/eantsJacob

Smith.

Cmpnrats Barman Carr, Jewit Pellett, Smith J. Loveridge, Jothen

R. Williamson, James L. Sanders, Sherman Betts, Jacob Fink, Philin
"^
Pelton.
-l/i(icirM Charles Miller. William W. Tappen.
\l'a{/onei George B. Baker.
//(></? Anthony
Brazflle. Charles Babcock, Dorathel Butten
AuL'usius Bailing. George H Carley, Thomas Colehan, Michael Clary,
Leonard Cornell. Isaiah Cunningham, Wm. Deacons, Deighton Dean
Frederick Dox.stader, John Michael Dick, Elliott Dann. Chauncy
Foster, Vedder Green, Charles C. Holmes, Charles S. Henderson.
H. Hutchings, Anthony Hollenbaek. James Houser, James Honer,

Wm

Wm.

Havens,

Evens, Spencer C. Jackson, Henry J. Linman, John

LaFilare, James Lawrence, Richard Lanfare, Willet Lunibard, Horatio
Morse, Charles McQueen, Joseph McQueen, Woolsev Mage, ,Tames
Mackey, George W. Moshier. Henry Magee, George .McMillan. Dennis
Martin. John Nelson. John Pickard, George Pellett. William Pellett
James Pelton, Ammi C. Pool, Orry Rowley. Mathews Storr, Sanford
Spore. James Smith, George H. Sheppard. Alexander Sands. Henry
Tyler. Jeheile Thorn. George B. Toles, William R. Topping, Frank V
van Atten, Harman Widger. Jr., Amos W. Warner, Jas. M. Waterman
Eli

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

4IO

>'.

i85th l{cgiinci)t, Infiiitfy,

Y.

\oU.

fs.

COJIPA.NV A
^./

I'tiijii

fnrr\m S

BuiUr

Kphralm

iiriirT

II

i\r

try

'tf'i^i'

man in

ciiXPASV E

F.

utb

Walcotui

COMI'A.Sr B

(;.

Puiirr.

rf>MPASY r

(:

I.'
t.

All. .I.rf.t,

Atr.f-Mt, Prr-ilfrlrk
I

IV.

L^

(>,

Vuin,

I'ntrr 2l|>f. Jiibu Zirglrr.

COMPANY C
Oti>'i><

\V

1,

^^mi.f- II- III V n

Wattn. Aatlrcw J Olnitd.

Pa^i-l

Abnm C.

Hrnrr T Cn-hnrl

HI roiiN.

I-

CUM PAN V O

1.-

^hhir .!rff-rm

f,

Hmwn

fVip/nl" Albert
- '

U-

Th^miii

Brtir
'

1-^-

<

H.

I-

].

Atklna. WII)>Fr

IU..U

I.

.Iw.tt.l

Arnold. Clrt

ll.t...w

JOI:.

II

Nm
Mn-

SU

lU

I lll>:

>Ilu>li
D>ll >tl.. I. W l!l nl
Karll, b*(tirpl WlilarU.

>

"

COMPANY

.i-.'.il

.V

..1.1.1.

'.

l.u

D.
till

Jol.

Tolui

COMPANY

/
II..

Ill

( I..

Wi

A.

III

Bi.

(Ir-

iti.i.

Hi.

II.

IK

H.

Ln
(<'

MuT|

1.7,

r..liii 11

Jiii> ti.ai.]

r..iwiii

II

iTMH

iiiiHii>

invii...

ii)..nia

II

Mrr..n

Wll.v.i,

Jm,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

LuuQ. Albirau Larkio. Charles F. Lonsbury, William Jlackay. Thomas
Millay. James W. MoDaniels, John McKentJio, Timet;y Mangou, Geoi(;e
W. Meigs, Patrifk O'Brien. Cyrus C. Phillips. George Phippen. James
Patterson. Peter Parker. Heiiry Pratt. Kussell Quackenbush. James
Quinn, Amos Rogers, Wm. H. Rockefeller. Alexander Rass. Isaac
Kouel, Orlondo P. Rooks. Selah Strong. Andrew Spencer, Isaac Senell,
Charles Senell James Shear. Waterman P. Shurles. James N. Stokes.
Dewitt Smith. Daniel Straie, George Stormes. JSepter Smith. Pomeroy
Smun. Stephen A. Tyler, Wm. 11. Thomlon. James Vranderlurg. Chas.
Vanrormer. John Yauhusen. Bray ton J. Wheloek. Amos Weller, JohnR.
Waiter, James Whitmore, GargeWhitmcre. William Whitmore. Benjamin I. Yark, Henry E. Sturns. David Cbrisler. Stephen S. Jordan,
Stephen H. Hitchcock.

COMPANY L
Caplain

Jared T. Abbott.

Ut Lieutena/ifB.. Wurisworth Clarke.

2(1

Lifvtenat'tJ&cob M. Dnran.

PrivaU-sA\he A. Abbott. Trnman Albro, Jared T. Abbott. Henry H.

Brown. George Bond. Trunian Bacon, Ji^hn Brannon. Nathaniel Bean,
Hiram Babcock. Eugene R. Bureess. W'jlliain A. Bishop. Charles S.
Cook, John Carroll, Wilbur F. Chidester. George R. Clark. Fernando
Castle. Richard Chaffer, Janie.< H. Coon. Charles H Doolittle. Oscar B.
Dennis. James Doran. Daniel (*. Fox. Frederick R. Gurdiuer. Truraan
P. Green, Warreu Gilbert. Stephen Gilderoy. Siduev V. Gage. Milo "W.
Raskins. James Hobart. Charles Hudson. "George B. Harvty. Martin
Hogan, George HoUenback, Morris Henneasv. Daniel J. Hartuett. Chas.
C. Hill. Jacob Jacobs. William Kavanab. fjavid Keuyon. George Kelley. Peter Lacker, fclugene K. Lansing. Jas. D. Lewis. Michael Lannigan,
Dennis McGuire. John Moshier, John McDonald, Franklin H. Marshall,
Wallace McWain. James Nicholson. Stephen R. Nyo. Hiram Neal,
Simeon Nea'. Michael Neffinaer. Wesley Porter. Eben A. Powers, William Pencille. Joseph I'ilcher. Christopher RIckley. Edward Red,
Christian Renn. Oiriu H. Sisson. Welcome Scott. ZebinaSmith. John

411

John Thorndill. William S. Vedder, William H. Van Cleeck

Orlando D. Wheadon, Rositor O. Wright. Isaac N. Webster, William H*
White. Pbilo Wilbur. John C. Whitney, Charles Webster. John R Wells'
John Walters. Lemuel W. Wood, Henry S. Redfleld, Cornelius Hickey
George W. Lansing.
Sullivan.

COMPANY
Crt;*''*'" Abram
!.'

'2d

K.

H. Spore.

l/u"fenar.f Cyrus

Phillips.

Ji.

L'wUnnht Lewis

Edgar.

S.

George Atkins. Vernon B. Ayer. Charles

M, Barber. Myron Burns. Lewi^ G, Boucher. Harvev Bowman. Urvin
Bowman, George W. Brown. Oscar 31. Bailey. Charles'Bahcnck. Edward
L. Beebe, James Bodiue. Alexander Breg, Timothy L 'Jarley, Patrick
CaUill. Henry Coykendall. Martia Dwyre. Francis .\. Eaton, t'humas H.
Eden, Lewis S. Edgar. Edwin W. Ftyer. John Furman, John Jackson,
fri/v^^^.* Alfred D. Ashcralt.

John Fletcher. Jr.. John W. Fitzgerahi. James Flood. Henry Ferris,

George P. Farra:\ Frank Fuller. James Garvey. Jerome C. Gates. Nelson Greer, Mavlon Goetscbius, John P. Hougbtaling. Joseph Hoatland,
George W. Hill. Nicholas Hook. Abner Jackson. William H. Lawton,
Martin Lawler. David Lee. Lawrence Lynch. Joah W. Mercer. James
Miles. .Mmou A. McGili, William McDonougb, Aaron B. Neal. Kufus
Owen. Cyrus A Phillips. James H. Partridge. Reuben R. Porter. Birdsey Phelps, David Reese. Edward S. Radway. Chas. H. Rosendale. Carlos E, Rogers. Edward Ryan. Michael Ryan. Abraham H. Spore. James
A. Smith. Andrew J. Smith, Stephen S. 'Smitb. John Smith. Nelson T.
Smith. George S. Stanard. Daniel J. Salisbury. Charles Stokes. Theodore Stickeis. Charles Sihler. William G. Stephen-. Simeon L. Stillwell,
Fredrick N. Tehune, Martin Thornton. Charles Van Wormer, Lcdroit
E. Washburne. Benton H. Wilson, William Welch. James Widger. Cornelius White. Ingersoll White. John H. W*ilson. John E. Whiston, Chas.
F. AVithey. Edward W. Wiley. John Wise. Chauncey Wyman. Patrick
Quigley, Francis W. Brown. \ViUiam Ward, Edward W. Manchester.*

NAMES OF CITIZENS
WHO

ASSISTED AND COXTIilBUTED TOWARDS THE PUBLICATION OF THE IlISTOEY OF ONOKDA(JA COUNTY.

WITH PERSONAL STATISTICS.

CITY OF SYRACUSE.

ARCHITECTS.
Revoir, Battese,

ACCOUNTANTS.
J., General Acoouutaut aud Private Banker,
Onondaga Savings Bank Building; b. Boston, Mass., s

Larned Block;

AGENTS
Hanohett,

M. W., room

b.

Dutchess Go.,

Conn.,

Anderson, Wm. C. 10 S. Salina St. b. Onondaga Co., 1830.

Andrews, Charles, Judge Court of Appeals.
Beach, Wm. A room 8 Stevens Block; b. Baldwinsville, 1842.
;

Wieting Block;

b. SufiBeld,

s 1819.

Bailey, B. N., 10 S. Salina St.

Jefferson Co., s

Byrne, Thomas, room 5 Yates Block;

Comstock, George F.

a 1S65.

(Transportation.)

Gott, D. F., 5 Clary Block.

Graves, Nathan F., room 5 Wieting Block;
Hall, L. W., (firm of Hall

Connecticut,

AGENTS (Express.)
Cape Cod, Mass.,

St.; b.

(firm

of Foster

Loudon, England,

&

Davis) 19 East Water

s 1870.

&

Ide, Charles

b.

Compiled from Adjutant-Generars Reports.

5 Stevens Block; b.

Pompey, Onondaga

Hey.) 12 Clinton Block;

(of Costello
Ontario Co , s 1871.

room

b.

& Smith,) 13-15 White MeLafayette, Onondaga Co., 18.37.

Ide,j 10 aud 11 Stevens Block;

Hoyt

Genesee St.
Haven, Oswego Co.,

6 Clinton Block, res. 133 E.

L., 13 Granger
s 1858.
Dennis B., 10 aud

Johnson. A.

&

E,

Block;

b.

New

U Granger Block b. Ireland, s 1871.

Keeler,
Leach. James S.. 22 West Water St. b. Oueida Co., s 1850.
Ludiugton, A. N., 37-38 Syracuse Savings Bank Building; b.
;

Oneida Co.,

Patent Lawyer: born Onondaga Co.. 1849.

Howard, Frederick, 29 Syracuse Savings Bank Building

.Tames. Wra..

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

St.; b.

Co., 1829, (and Justice.)

George W.. (firm of Sanders

s 1837.

Davis, Frederick L.,

& Ames.) 4 and

W. Fayette

morial Buildine;
b.

b.

s 1842.

T.. 4

C^onnecticut, s 1872.
Hoyt, H.. (firm of Markham,
;

s 1854.

1849.

Hey,
s

1874,

Higgius, Alfred, residence 86 Warren St.

Ireland,

o., 8 1840.

Hamilton, James

b.

Arm

kimer'

iSewin-o Machines.)

Charles G., 60 W. Washington St. b. Cayuga Co.,

Agent International Fast Freight Line.

b.

Beers,

Co., 1849.

Ayres, James G., 70 South Salina St., General Agent Wheeler

& Wilson S. M. b. Peekskill, N. Y., s 1846.
Schieder, George, 57 North Salina St., Agent for Best Im-

AGENTS

Onondaga

Block; b. Vesper, Onondaga Co., 1834.

Gardner. Rowland; H., room 3 Bastable Block; b. Plainfleld,
Otsego Co. s 1843.
Gilbert, Wm., rooms 1 and 2 Yates Block; b. Columbia. Her-

Nelson, John. 9 Lamed Building; b. Sciitland, 1816, s 1840.

Rayuor, J., bds. Empire House: b. Ciuoudaga Co., 1816.
Seager, S. A., G5 S. Salina St.

Bavaria, 1830.

b.

18.58.

Costello & Ide,) rooms 10 aud 11 Stevens Block; b. Buffalo. Erie Co., s 1870.
Evarts, F. M., room 5 Barton Block b. Oswego Co., s 1870.
Fuller, T. K.. (firm of Fuller & Vann, rooms 1, 2 aud 3 Empire

AGENTS

Brewster, Thurston D., room 12 White Memorial Building;

Costello, J. H., (of

AGENTS (Real Estate.)

Grumbach, Nicholas. 215Lodi; b. Detroit, Mich.; s 1838.
Kirk, Wm. B., Jr., .52 S. .Salina St. b. Onondaga Co., 1850.

b.

185.5.

ATTORNEYS.

Truair, T.S., iS}i S. Salina St.; b. Chenango Co.,

1847,3

8 1840.

ARTISTS, (Fresco and DECORATn'E.)

Henry C, 278 N. Salina; b. Prussia, 1834, a

(INSUBANCE.)

M.

N. H.,

Allewelt,

Mix, Jamea C, 33-2,5 Syracuse Savings Bank Building, Manasjer Globe Life Ins. Co.: b. Hartford. Ct., 1826, s 186.5.
Smith, Silas F.. Onondaga Co. Savings Bank Building b.
Lanesborough, Berkshire Co., Mass., 1812 s 1827.

S.

Clinton Co.,

b.

s 1870,

s 1826.

proved

b.

White, Horatio N., 12 Wieting Block;

1829.

2-3

Fayette St.;

E.

1867, (also Builder.)

Gardner, Geo.

Mann, R. DeWitt,

1.35

Herkimer

Co., a I860.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

4"McWIiiMT. Frmiik

Bloek; b. OneldmCo..t 1^5.

1'

'/IlkCo.jlSS.CniotoQSt;

Uuderbli:
b
Wbltelani.

England,

8t.; b.

iiiii'ju

iiJiri'-

..47.

..Mfr.i

l.rch
.;. loiu.

Munru

b*vU.

!c

Albit

l>avl>,

and

27

SyraouM

J., ret.

Ii.
Wvukooi.,
)0|., K.
R. C.

B.

J.

R.
;.;

Noxoo.

i>

block;

11

uuondafB

\/.

19

Snlliia -t

\V

1810, t 1848.

BREWERS AND BOTTLERS.

rii-

Co. lo^,

,*

(i

.vij.

AND WALL PAPER.

BOOKS. STATBINERY

Bank BuUdloK-

N'uxou b. )uuii(lag* Cu., 1M4.

K. JeOrtou, b. OnundaKa <.'o.

'i

Uu

Muiirii J. I'ae, ret.

Havliigt

W. Faylle 8t. b. Maaa.. 1 1860. (Bottler of

Crocker, J. A.,
Ale and Porter,
,.,..-.
lUfr ood Dealer in Belfatt
Fvlrr

L'.

Pratt. Dai

cu

arm

"'

(irn-

of Ruger, Jtwiey, Urooka S> Freucb.)

Brldiewater. X. Y.. 1858.

-'

Hal'

'.'

..

Park aod

riier

Pompej,

Jatiiea; b-

Vaiiii.

If

b
Wallace.

Empire

Blalr. J.H.,r>l s. Sbiliui:

lllnmaii, .1 H., I liaaemei

B.'oek;

St.; b. Syraouie: V. 8.

'

I.

Ml.

BfTCHERS AND MEAT MARKETS.

iiUK.
Ik'-MltlUtOll, L.

Woolwdfi

Fox, L.

mcuMi SariiiKl
Lysauiicr, ria. Baldwiutvllle.

.^I

1830,

tl8.

Mfr.l

Weat

St.

England,

b.

1843.

BLACKSMITH AND HORSE SHUER.

Hlldreth.

''

"

'

'

W. Qeoeaee.

30

il..

LI"

Taylor, Sai

IJAKKIU.
Hull. IHrld

Auttria, 1817,

N. Y..

(JeiK-.ee St.; b. Buffalo,

'

(S-

Il'k UuiMiiit;, I. tu>v:i

b.

IMKl.

Wbltc.

Building.

"

Engttler, John, cor. LodI and Butternut Sti.

iN-jf.

I)n
I

Bank

iiiKt

'iion-

dns

rmsyra-

\Vi,-k..

Kr.

cu

Wood.

'

Morey, A

i4-5(Jrauger Block;

I.

Wlcki.

Gennan/.a

iF'ii

Jamea

ItM

re.

racuie. IM.%
X Vaiiu.i 1-:.'-^

>

r>.

Weaver,

8t.; b.

BROKERS.

(ii

Bride

t \6-V.

SedBwIck
TracT.

Kuglaud,

(;ro.
(;re.

tl.l.

f'oull
Rugcr. Will.

ri.'i

BouU.

R.

HANKER.**.
(irrm -Jt.. catblcr N. V. Sute BaDkiog

.v.. re. 1*.

-

Co
Dawtou, E.

b.
S..

il E.

.Mn.i.-

Geiietee Sti.

>

Hi',

.July.

CARRIAGE AND WAGON MANUFACTURERS.

Atklnaon, Wui.. cor. Warren and Cburcb Stt.; b. Kngland,
IMO, a Ic.M. Mr. .\. baa im-ik .nriM-dtbe title bettowed,
on blm of I'riiice of li
C*0'.openiti>'e Cnrrinpe W*.rk*
:
iri

XeUoii,
Treat.

b.

alble.

1836.

< II,

-'

Elllt. Ja'iM
Niti

ii.iiiK.Li

>ij'>iia:i^.t

<

Pretident Mechanlc't
mil, April 13, IHIO.

.,

Kltih. T. B.

Glcamu,

I.u
LI-

Graret,

N
Vm-i

1;

1...

Nat, Bank;

Pren't Third

X.

'ret't

L.

b.

ItaukiugCo..
Oneida Co.

town

b. *

"

'>.V>.

(flmi of Sobloier<fe Gebin:lb.

.,

liank, ret. :UJ

LInei, T.

1)

&

LInet

D.

i.

Co.)

""I .Syracuae

Mellua

National

HiiiiK

>\

t'

Pbelpt. Dudley

r u-ii-'-.

UU Jamea

i'.. >?>.

Si.

Cortlaud Co.

b. Preble,

St

b.

N. Y.

Hopper, J4 Walton. iMfr. Sleigba and Carrlagei.)

Mellna, Jobn N.. ret. TU W. (ieneiee St.; b. Columbia
Co. UIH, t lWi7.
Ho|i|ier. lieninrd C. rea. lU Mulberry St.: b> BerseD

>t:

(II

X.

.1..

Phelpa, Charlea,

;li

Wnlioii

Reldy, MIobaei,

18-:'U

I-HJU.

E. R.

b. Ireland, t 1833.
11. P.. ri<t. 71 JametSt.
'until. W. IJrowii. VIce-Pretldent Syracuie Havingt Bank.
Wllkliitcii. Alfred iflrm of Wllklutou X Co.) b. Syraouie,

\<r,.

i-xi:,,

b.

r. I'll

AiiifUit

Wllklutou.

Janiet
D. P.,

Hank

1 1..

\ C",i

.)

"

1..
b.

CIVIL ENtilNEEHS
Grifnn. Rheaa

Pompey

Uga
iiill,

.1

Lamed

11.'

>

...^

L'. ......

iflrm

E..

t^i

..

& Van Lcogen,)

33

W.

'Qiaiiv. I ISTT.
\V. Kayatti' .si.
'jii

Bilden.

(.

aiiul

J. J.,

b-

Mayor,

Brown, l-kiward
1844.

Cbate, A.

Hew

'swtxo

W.

rea.

V.

u.,

1..1I

l-ijj-

:?

Fablui.

b.

ivette St.

ir-

il.

Trta^

rea.
10, 1834, a

"I'll

1H41.

I'..,

).

.\.Y.

5, 1810.

Ivi.U

Vai.
Wil.
-VuKU'lu.

Ooondaga Co.

..r..-.

CIVIL OFFICIALS.

of liauiider

1>I. i!...I..I,.l,<.,

>.

b.

M .,11

':i->

-<H.

bUitu

BARBERS
Oaunder, Joaeph

AND SURVEYORS.

Block;

ret. lO."

Co. Sarlugt

UnoudagaCo., Nor.

IT

>aweKi>. iKjil, a 1K.T.

b. Ireland, i ISM

Mulberry;

b-

Warren

(10

IhOU.

I.*aT-'

Wood,

GenDany,

1>

Il,

Gebm, W:

1K.*1.

N
Leui.

Prellie, H. !., re. lii Grp* .M.. l>. .*>\fttcuae, In'jO.

Curtlt, Cbarl.a W., firm of lurtit * Sanwaldi 13 Walton 8t*;

V Sute

-.11HU-. ^.ik'liigt Bank: b.

of < inondnKa, Keb. 17,

llowlett. .\. A.; b.

Ju.U..n, K H

Lvacb.

I.iv'ri

i'-

i'l-

>iii-l.

Cily

b.

N.

Y'.,

Water Workt.

N. H., Nor.
and Mfr. of Plauot and

St.; b. Whlttleld,

li

i.:.iiiioater

I'-.Ki

Organi.

Dorwin, Lvmnn C

BOOK BINDER.S.

rr=. 40 E.

Onondaga

St.

b.

Onondaga Co.

1-

Munroe Block;
Koebler, Auguat. .11,
Bank itatlonory a apeclalty.
t XhW.
:i'i.

.'!.'

BOUT AND HHOE DEALERj^.

Uerinaoy. 1M&,

b.

(Wiioi.K8AL

and Rraiu)

n St.

Gray, John

^ini

iii,,i

b.

Grar,
Mcfi

u.f

Herkimer

Hrrl*r'ii

b. (.'amlllut,

(U
t IpWt.
linr Br""

N.

Water 9u.;
,

1.

t;ton

."(-ni'ii'Tiaily,

<U'hu;ealu

uilr.

St.: b.

.^

St.,

Juttice of tbe Peace,

N. Y.,

Spring

:.

Hougb, Timothy,

1 1868.

Tonipkint Co.
Syracute. and

tkt.

>>..

Eattwoi>ii
b

Hlgglna, liciij. L.
Matt. iKr,

Mate.,

."^t.;

b.

Ward,

P.

Prn:

l.lerCo.

t 1860.

Co.,

'of

Draper.

Onondaga Co. 183&. memNo. 1; C. C. Fire l>-i.t.

I'ino St.; b.

l.

Barrett, .lamea R..

\\
l\\
Y.. IKM.
!..

Doolittlc

b.

Bamttable

Co.,

re,.

IJept.; b.

^l

nev Order Clerk

.\

O'Couner, Jamea. rea. Ii

Fireman Steamer Xu.

Y. city,
a C. C.

i-

iru

Ufpt,

i 1862.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Rust, Stiles M., res. '.12 E. Genesee St.
City Treasurer.
Smiogler, August, res. 12 Grace St.

b.

Onondaga

b.

Germany,

COLLEGE

Co. 1825.

Meads,

F^remau Steamer No. 3. C. C Fire Dept.

Smith, Vivus W. b. Laiiesborough. Berlssliire Co., Mass Jan.
;

Wood,

Hickory

C. P., res. 31

1854.

413

(Business.)

St., b.

Chenango

Co..

e 1868.

CONTRACTORS, CARPENTERS AND BUILDERS.

27. 1804, 8 1827.

(Canal Appraiser.)
Ira. res. 8 Granger place; b. Greeubush,
Chief Engineer C. C. Fire Dept.

N. Y.,

Blye, Benj. F., res. 2 N. West St. ; b. Cortland Co. 1821, 8 1844.
(Stair Builder.)
Britcher. James, res. 103 W. Onondaga St; b. Kent, England, s

a 1844.

182H.

CHINA, GLASS AND QUEENS-WARE.

.lohn T.. res. 40 Almond St. b. Howard Co., Mary-

Jenkins,

Congdon. Albert

Moore & Dickison, James

Moore, John,
Co.,

Park, Robert,

b.

Washington Co.

1820, s 1872.

s 1865.

Warren St.

res. 123

Berkshire Co., Mass.

b.

1807,

N. Y.

and Spring

Sts.

CLERGYMEN.
Beard, A. F., res.

Wm.

Bourke,

2.36

E.

Genesee St. Pastor Plymouth Ch.

Court and Park Sts.; b. Syracuse,
:

J., res. cor.

Onondaga

Co. (Pastor St. John's the Baptist Church.)

St. John's Roman Catholic.
res. 118 Catherine St
b Germany, s
187.5.
Pastor First German Baptist Church.
Huntington, F. D., Rt. Rev., Bishop of Central N. Y., res. 99

Guerdet.

Pastor

J.,

Hoefflin, Rheinhard,

James

St.
O., D.D.,

Haven. E.

LL.D., res. E. Genesee St.; b. Boston,

Chancellor Syracuse University.
b. Ireland, s 1853; Pastor St. Lucy's Catholic Church.
Mundy, R.W., 137 Warren St., Pastor Independent Church.
O'Hara, James A., res. 39 E. Onondaga St
b. Ireland, s July
4, 18.59; Pastor St. Mary's Church.
Oberlander, Alex., 87'-.{ Butternut; Pastor German Evangelical Zion Lutheran Church.
Pratt, J. Edward, res. 15 Slucuni .ive.
b. Conn., 8 1873; Rector Trinity Church.
Peck, Jesse T.
Kobillard. J. S., res. 140 E. Genesee St.: b. Canada, ISil, s
1870; Pastor St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Seaver, Norman, res. cor. Irvine and Adams Sts.; b. Boston,
Mass., s 1877; Pastor Fourth Presbyterian Church.
Stoller, P. Norbert, res. Franciscan Convent, N. Saliua St.
b.
Bavaria. 1832, s 1861; Roman Catholic Priest.
Smith, Charles E., res. 136 E. Fayette St.; b. Janunry, 1835,
Fall River, Maas., s January, 1870; Pastor First Baptist Church.
Thurber, Edward G., res. 434 Chestnut St.: b. Monroe Co.
Mich., s 1870: Pastor Park Central Presbyterian Ch.
VanSlyke, Evart, res
Lodi Terrace; b. Columbia Co., N. Y.
18.35, 8 1870; Pastor Reformed Church.
Mass., sl874

Manufacturer.)

Lamed Block
Lamed Block;

1818, 8 1828.
cor. Bear

VanVleck, James,

Hair, Chester, 47 E. Genesee; b. Belchertown, Mass., 9 1837.

Hall, H. F.. cor. Vanderbilt Square and Saliua Sts.
Jacobs, Moses, 21 N. Salina St. b. Bath. England, 1817, s 1848.
Mfr. and Wholesale and Retail Dealer.
Palmer. A. W., (firm of A. W. Palmer & Co.) 15-17 S. Salina
St.; b. Antwerp, N. Y., s 1842. Mfr. and Wholesale
and Retail Dealer.
Peck, Frank A.. 24-20 N. Salina St.. 'firm of W. S. Peek &
Bro.) b Solon. Cortland Co., s 1860.
Peck, W. S., 24-20 N. Salina St., (firm of W. S. Peck & Bro.) b.
Solon. Cortland Co., s 1864.
(Wholesale Dealer and

Kennedy, John

cheapest tailor in the State.

N. Y., s 1870.
Stinard & Edwards, 1'3 Vanderbilt Square.
Stinaid, -Vlfred F.. res. 12 Gazelle St. b. Wolcott,
Wayne Co., N. Y. 1848, s 1868.
Edwards, Ed. D.. res. 7 Gazelle St. b. Spafford, Onondaga Co., N. Y. 1842.
8

(Builders.)

(Retired.)
Soule, Alex. C. res 75 Hawley; b. Albany Co. 1830, s 1849.
(Builder and Assessor.)
Steele. Samuel A (Building Mover,) res. 96Geddes; b. Carlisle,

CLOTHIERS AND MERCHANT TAILORS.

cor. Pearl.

res. 94

3 1808.

CLOTH SPONGER.

W. Genesee St.; b. Ireland

W. Onondaga St.; b. Oswego

res.

Wm.,

Dickison.

18.39.

Dibble, Moses, Durstou Block;

J.,

K.

1.52

Sloan, C.
Sloan, R.

of Salina; b. Salisbury, Conn.,

Washington St.; b. Otsego Co. 1818,

1867.
(Cistern Builder and Carpenter.)
Jackson, Thomas, res. 90 Catherine. St. b. England, 1841,
1859.
(Carpenter and Builder.)
Mason, A. L., res. 90 Court St. b. Syracuse, 1824. (Builder.)

land, s 18C2. Book-keeper. S. P. Pierce & Co.

Johnson, Chas. J.. 10.')-107 W. Fayette St. b. Lafayette, Onondaga Co.. N. Y., 1830. (Wholesale.)
Lathrop, Daniel N.. res. 8 Keniiedr St.. Danforth; b, Montrose, Pa., ISS.'i, s 1841. Salesman S. P. Pierce & Co.
Pierce, S. P., 12 S. Salina St.; b. Oneida Co., s 18-39.
VanWageuen & Brodhead, C7 S. Salina. (Importers.)
Brodhead, F. A., res. 43 Towusend St a 18.')5.
A'anWagenen, M., res. 82 S. Salina St. b. Onondaga

Co

town

B., res.

(Carpenter and Builder.)

s 180C.

Grover, Albert.

b.

J., res. 121 Gifford'St.

COAL AND WOOD (Dealers IN.)

Abbott,

Wm.

ville,

E. OS W. Water St. and 225 E. Water St. b. LowN. Y., Jan. 19, 1822, s 1841, (firm of Hopkins &
;

Abbott.)

Hamilton, W. T., 1 Syracuse Savings Bank Building; b. Onondaga Co.; Prest. Morris Run Coal Co.
Holden, E. F., 122 S. Clinton St. b. Monroe Co., s 1867. Agent
;

Coal Dept 1). L. & W. R. R. Co,

Hopkins, Edwin P., 98 W. Water St. and 225 East Water; b.
(luondaga Hill, April 26, 1812, (firm Hopkins & Abbott.)
Rombach, John, 122 S Clinton St; b. Gernianv, s 1852. Weighcnaster Coal Dept. D. L. & W. R R. Co.
Soule, .Albert D., 122 S. Clinton St.: b. Syracuse, 1855. Salesman Coal Dep't D. L. & W. H. K. Co.
Sweet, J. H., cor. Bridge and N. Salina Sts b. Lysander,
1825.
Dealer in Wood, Hay and Straw.

;'.

Durston, George W., res. 4 Highland St; b. Syracuse, 1850.

Fay, Albert W., E. Fayette St. cor. Montgomery; b. Syracuse,
1840.

Fish,

(firm of Duff
Sts.,

&

Onondaga

Fish.) cor.
Co., 1847.

Fayette and Mont-

(Manupactubers and Whole-

sale AKD Retail Dealers.)

Aldrich, B. S., (firm of Hier & Aldrich,) 31-33 N. Salina St. b.
Cortland Co., 6 1865. (Mfr. and Wholesale Dealer.)
Auer, Michael, (firm of Auer A Co.) 48 E. Water St b. Swit;

Baker .St. b. Rutland Co., Vt., s 1824

Manufacturer and Farmer.
Ostrander, C. W., 10 E. Genesee St.; b. Onondaga Co. 1833.
(Manufacturer and Dealer.)
U.. res. 36

Parker, IJichard

&

Seubert

11.,

43-45

W. Fayelte

Warner, 58-00 W. Fayette

Warner,

Wm.

Co.,

H., res. 3

183.5, 8

Nearing Lucius
Smith, Daniel

1809.

and 9 Pike Block b. Pompey, 1824.

Pike Block b. Schenectady Co April

A., 8

I)., 1

1817. s Oct.

1840, (dentist
coral for jewelry, etc.
1,

and

niaiiuf. of

DRUGGISTS. (Wholesale and

24,

imitation of

Retail..)

Covert, E. B., Temperance House Block, cor. W. Fayette and

Clinton Sts. b. Seneca Co., 3 1868. (Retail.)
Kenyon, Potter & Co,, .34-30 S. Clinton St.. (Wholesale.)
Kenyon, G. M., res. .52 Hawley St. b. Oswego Co., s '02.
Potter. (). C, res. 80 W. Onondaga St. b. Madison Co.
;

3.

1850.

Perry. Geo. H., res. Globe Hotel;

b.

Chemung

Co.,

s.

IS'A.
Kenyon, Chas. H., 159 E, Fayette St. b. Oswego Co., 1838, s.
18.55.
(Retail.)
Moore Hubbard. 73 S. Salina. (Wholesale.)
Moore, J. B., res. 149 James St ; b. RensselaeryiUe, N.
;

St.; b.

Onondaga

Co.

&

St.

Seymour

1803.

Tallman, ChaHes, Jr., 44 W. Fayette

(Leaf Tobacco.)
73

Co., 1830,

Seubert, Justin, res. Ill Willow St.;

e

Chenango

b.

Marshall, John S
1.5-10, Onondaga County Savings Bank
Building; b England, 1846, 3 1858.
Matson A. Holton, 20 White Memorial Building; b. Cortland

'

zerland, s 1851. (Manufacturer.)

Barton, Joseph, (firm Joseph Barton, Jr., & Co.) 70 E. Genesee
St.
b. N. Y. city, s 1844.
Gushing, Q. F., (firm of Carr 4c Cushing,) 67 W. Fayette St
Demong, John, Lodi cor. John; b. Prussia, s 1847
Herrick, W. B., ,14 W. Fayette St. b. Onondaga Co. ia34.

John

1847, 8 1871.

Martin, Samuel G., 14 E. Jefferson St.

3 1860.

Frank M.
gomery

CIGARS AND TOBACCO,

Hall,

DENTISTS.
Barnes, Chirles, 8 Wieting Block b. England, 1837, s 18.53.
Dayan, Squire C, 131>i East Genesee St.; b. Jefferson Cc,

COMMISSION MERCHANTS.

b. Germany, s 1866.
St. ; b. Madison Co.,

Y.,

3 186;i.

Hubbard. Chas.,

Shonnard

St.

b.

Brunswick, N. Y.,

18.39, 3 18(i2.

St.; b.

Syracuse.
'

I8.53.

Kingsley, S. E., res. 10 Madison St.; 81840.

Manager.)

(Financial

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

44

MoMOb. Wm..

944

(Katall.i

imv

'

fUllM St

b.

Oennaor. lUO.

1<7.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

Porter, George A., res. Park cor. Danforth; b. Syracuse, 18U.
Treas. Porter Mfg. Co., .3.54 to .3.58 N. Salina St.
Sanderson, \Vm. J., 21 Church St.; b. Enfflaiid, 1.13T, s 1.8.5G.
Stearns, Edward C. IIG Cedar St.. s 1858. Mtr. Mechanic's
Tools, (Steam Yacht Engine Works.)
Sank, John, ;firui of John Seuk&Bro. 27G Lodi St.; b. Baden,
Germany. 181-', s 18.51. (Brass Foundry.)
Senk, Wm., do. do; b. Germany, 1848, s 1854.
)

JEWELERS.
White Memorial Building;

Ball, Calvin S., Jr.,

Co.

Hawley,

J.

b.

Onondaga

1,83:.'

Dean,

Canastota, N. Y.,

21 S. Salina St.; b.

s 1845.

L.\UNDRIES.
Wilbur, George A., 75 E. Water St.; b. Dutchess Co.
1874.
Prop. Empire Steam Laundrr-

1845, s

CEMEXT AND PLASTER.

LIME,

Brltton, M. & Son, 02 North SalinaSt.

Britton. Matthias, res. Town of Onondaga b. Columbia Co., s 1825.
Britton, Israel E., res. do. do; b. Onondaga Co. 1846.
;

LIVERY.
Co.

Thomas

Green,

D., 71 to 77 N. Salina St. Mfr. Cider Vinegar

*Pickles; b. Oneida Co.. s 18.54.
Knollin. Thos. H., 6 W. Fayette St. Mfr. of Church
Pipe Organs, Tuner and Repairer; b. Madison Co. 18.3.3, s 1870
Leeret & Blasdel, 16.S-170 E. Water St. Box Mfi-s
Leeret, Joseph, res. 136 E. FavetteSt.; b. Saratoga Co
''

and

1839.

s.

Blasdel, J. L., res.

40

Hawley

Malcolm, Wiiliam, 20 S. Salina

b. Madison Co., S1.S23.
Melotte,.G. D., 71-73

St.; b.

Washington

Co.,

Mfr. of Rifle Telescopes'

.St..

Clinton. Last Mfr.; b. Canada, s 1876

Band Instrument Mfrs.; b.
England, s 1874.
McChesney, Thos. B., 32 W. Genesee. Mfr. Paper Flour Sacks,
Grocer Bags and Cigar Boxes; b. Rensselaer Co., s 1855.
Murphy, Wm. H. mfr. Paper Barrels.
Moseley, Jerome S., 3 Gifford and .33 W. Onondaga Sts.- b
\"an Buren, s 1.833. Mfr. and Dealer in Machinery,'
specialty Eureka Scroll Sewing Machines.
Nichols
Lefever, 71-73 S. Clinton St.^ Mfrs Sporting Guns
Nichols, John A., res. Dewitt; b. Derry, N. H., s 1850
Lefever, D. M.. res. KO Gifford b. Ontario Co., s 1873.
Smith, John Q., .55 S. Clinton St. Galvanized Iron Cornice and
Tin Mfr.: b. Pompey, 1827.
Spang, X., res. 245 N. Salina St.. Organ Mfr., ;.'44 Noxon b

McFadden. George.

S.

67 Clinton St.;

l\;

Germany,

Breed, Ch.arlesL., Durston Block, N. Warren

St.

b.

Onondaga

18.55.

Hosmer, George

415

E. Jefferson St. b. Willimantic, Conn.,

8 1846.
In Livery business 25 years.
WoodruflP, Jason, res. 69 S. Clinton.
S.. 10

Strong, J. M.. res. 128 East Genesee St. Mfr. Fire Brick; b
Onondaga Co. 1834.
Stanton, H. Jr., res. 178 E. Favette. Match Mfr. b. Mass , s '64.
Stanton. H., res. 2:.'5 E. Genesee St
b Mass., s 1864. Match
;

Avery, Augustus, Saw Mill, res. 106 Turtle St.; b. Conn., s

1848.
Ex-Supervisor.
Cary, Bradley, 7 Lock St. b. Ulster Co., s 1807.
Chapman, E. E., Free cor. Carbon St. b. .Syracuse, 1837. Lumber Yard and Planing Mill.
Gillett, Wm. J., 94 N, Salina St.
b. Oswego, 1840, s 1865; also
Prop. Planing Mill, cor. Franklin and Mechanic Sts.
Mann & Hunter, 260 S. Salina St. (Dealers.)
Mann, Enoch, res. 360 E. Castle St. b. Onondaga, 1817.
Hunter, James, res. Onondaga Valley b. Scotland, s

Wholesale and Retail.

JIfr.,

Walrath, E.

LUMBER DEALERS.

s 1847.

Wilson

L., 3

Granger Block.

Co., s 1847.
& Blye, 114

ment

Mfr. Gold Pens;

W. Fayette St.

Oil

Madison

b.

Tank and Zinc Monu-

Mfrs.

Wilson, N. W., res. 21 Holland St. b. N. Y., a

Blye, A. W., res. 95 Lodi St. b. N. Y., s 1840,

1835.

OCCULIST.

Brown, U.

H., res.

1848.

Culver, E.

Holmes, Cyrus

D., res. 24

(Wholesale.)

Lemon St. b Madison

;

Co., s

& Dufify, W. Onondaga St.

Francis', Daniel .1.
b. Utioa,
;

St.; b.

Cortland Co.,

s 1866.

W. Fayette St. b. New London, Ct., s 1853.

J., 22 W. Fayette St.
b. Onondaga Co. 1834.
;

PLUMBING, STEAM AND GAS FITTING.

Carroll, F. E., 45 S. Salina St.
b. Philadelphia. Pa., s 1849.
Chase, George W., 47-49 S. Clinton St. b. Ogdensburg, s 1841.
Gillroy & Nicholson, 33 E. Fayette St.
Gillroy, Patrick J., res 85 Catherine St.; b. Ireland,
;

1844. s 1870.

186.3.

Nicholson, Michael

MARBLE WORKS.
Francis

B., 73

Ormsbee, Lucius

LIQUOR

Warren

PAPER AND STATIONERY.

MoChesney, George 11.. (firm of Geo. H. McChesney & Co.) 55

James and 74 West Sts. b. Oswego Co. 1841, s 1868.
Warner, C. C, res. 26 Gazelle St.; b. Chenango Co., s 1821; with
George H. McChesney & Co.
Wynkoop, J. G., res. 195 James St.; b. Columbia Co., s 1845.

.52}.<

B., res.

81

Burnett

St.; b. Ireland,

1844, 3 1868.

PHOTOGRAPHERS.
N. Y..

Duffy. H. A.; b. Utica. N. Y.,

Linehan, Cornelius, 167 S, Salina St.
;

s 1867.

b.

Ireland,

J. Olin, 24 E. Genesee St.; b. Fayetteville, Jan. 9, 1853.

Curtiss, 16 S. Salina.
Bouta
Bonta, Daniel; b. N. Y.. a 1820.
Curtis, N.S.; b. N. Y., s 1857.
Doust, Isaac U., 10 S. Salina St. b. Syracuse, 1856.
Mcllroy, J. W., 24 E. Genesee St. ; b. Scotland, s 1870.
Ranger, W. V., 1 Wieting Block; b. Rensselaer Co., s 1868.
Pernor, George
64-66 S. Salina St.; b. England, a 186L
Ryder, P. S., 72 S. Salina St.

Bishop,

s 1865.
a 1854.

MILK.

&

Avery, B. Austin, Prest. Onondaga Co. Milk Association; b.

Ledyard, New London Co., Conn., 1814, s 1837. (Farmer, Salt Mfr., etc.)

MILLINERY AND FANCY GOODS.

Fowler, C.

S.,

50 S. Salina;

b.

Tompkins

Co., s 1852.

Banning, W.

E., 0}4 Wieting Block; b. Lewis Co. 18.35, s 1860.

Mfr., Stencil Plates, Steel Stamps, Baggage Checks, &c.
Dlr in Bank Stamps, Seal Presses, and Rubber Stamps,
Baumer, Francis, Pond cor. Carbon; b Germany, 1826, a 1848.
Bleacher of Wax, and Mfr. of Wax Candles.
Barnes, Geo res. 160 James; Manager Syracuse Knife Works;

England,

Y,

&

Barnes,) res. 102 E. FayMfr. Rubber Stamps.

Mfr. Billiard Tables; b.

s 1847.

Blrks, G. & Son, 2:3 and 25 W. Adams. Mfr. Steel Files.

Birks, George, 23 W. Adams St. ; b. England, s 1870.
Birks, W. S., res. 151 Montgomery .St.; b, Eng., s 1870.
Burns, Peter, res. 141 Warren. Saddlery and Coach Hardware; b. Dublin, Ireland, s 1836.
Cross, Edwin M., 48 and .50 S. West St. Mfr. Leather Belting and Hose; b. Cayuga Co. 1841, s 1874.
DePuy. S. P., res. 510 Chestnut St. Mfr. of House and Office
Furniture: b. Onondaga Co., Jan. 1.3, 18:53.
Duncan, Wm., 43 E. Railroad St. Mfr. of Gold Pens and Jewelry; b. Montreal, s 1844.
FreeofF, C, 2:34 N. Salina St. Mfr. Vinegar
Conveyancer; b.
;

Germany,

Edward,

b. Albany Co. 1838, s

(Carriage and Sleigh Painter.)
Mead, John, res. 358 Spring St.; b. Liverpool, N. Y.,
Paper Hanger.

1830, s 1848.

53

res.

N. Salina;

PETROLEUM AND REFINED

Potter,

Lvmau

S.,

Fayette

St.

(of firm
;

b.

Tioga Co.

(Wholesale.)

OILS.

Morse, Tuller

1848.

1811.

&.

Potter,) 103

W.

1832, a 1834.

PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.

s 1844.

ette; b. Oswego Co., s. 1.870.

Benedict. H. A., 3 and 5 Gififord St.

PAINTERS.
Siver,

MANUFACTURING.

Barnes, Ralph G., (Arm of Wells

(Firm of

Fowler & Lyons.)

b.

b. N. Y., s 1832.
F., 102 S. Salina St.
Benedict, M. D., 37 Montgomery: b. Conn., a 1839.
St.;
b. Chenango Co., s 1861.
Bradford, Theron, res. 15 Grace
Butterfield, E. F., res. Rochester; 21 Warren St.; b. Pompey.

Adams, Henry

1826.

Burt, J. Otis, cor. Irving and Adams Sts. b. Syracuse, 1835.

Dallas, A. J., 61 S. Salina St.; b. Long Island, s 1.8:.'0.
Didama, Henry D 112 S. Salina St.; b. Madison Co., s 1851;
Prof, of Theory and Practice of Medicine Syracuse
University.
Doyle, Gregory, 37 W. Fayette St.; b. Ireland, s 1868; Phya.
Surg. 51st Reg't N. G. S. N. Y., St.
to House of Prov.
Vincent Orph. Asy. and Police Surg., Citv of Syracuse.
Edwards, Amos S., 367 N. Salina; b. N. Y., s 1843.
EUsner, Leopold, .358 N. Salina; b. Hungary, s 1849.
Fairchild, M. B.. ;363 N. Salina; b. N. Y., a 18B9.
;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

4l6

cm

llnv
Il.,\l.

U'llhuuill..

HoVt.

Will. K.. Wii

u ..,,,.

ikai

Salt .Mfr

I,

Klllmurc. S. v.. re*. 57 Seyaiour St.: b. SyneuM, 1830. Salt

ShllUMT ,\ni. Dalrv Salt Co.
KIrkpairlck. Win.. T WlviuiK Block: b. SyracuM. 1630. Solar
Salt Mfr.
Kitkpatrick. Di,nald. 7 Wlrttug Block; b. Syracuie. 1830. Solar

14.10.

MoUov,

JuK.
K.

i.aiiT. 1800.

Xuttlug. A.

I'la

W.

I'owell.

H.. iu
Wlllinni T..

I'lsiit.

.>

Stacy,

niutou

00

I)..

St.

I.
Maouf
Ououdaga C^

asd Obavei..

Wntir

Til .!.. Jr., 01 \y

b.

Ontario Co.,

b.

Belcbertowu. Ma,

Suj

1845.

18111

Manuf.

Sanger, A. H.. re*

puty Eupt.

Turtle St.;

71

b.

De-

tinelda Co., a 1831.

luoudaga Salt Spring*.

OuoodoRa Cu.

b.

(Slate, Tin

lOFKR.

--

.1

1n>.'.

Kingiton, X.

St.; b.

...

Xnll. ."

b.

1837.

...

v.. .!--.-;

R<

II

'

ai.. B IrOi.

Wholnii. liconte

oa, Jan. 1-

Poller. T. R.. rr. cor. I'nrk aud Court M.

Ihim
Mniiuf.
.,.,
-it.:

Ml.
Price,

Tlioii
1-41.

fXDERTAKERS.
MarselluK. John,

Jnme*

74

rea.

St.:

b.

Schenectady, X.

'^

s 1877.

St., i 1W53.

.McCarthy. Jiihn. res. ^7 E. (ieueteeSt. b. Boittoii, Ma**..

^^71.
Invent, 'r.
W. JefTeraon: b. Wettborough, Ma^
Mnvnard. tieoiye L
:

ItLDHKR GOODS,

tiary, OriiiJ Wnrc, IDS. SbUiiii; b. SjrracufC,

IKE.'.

Rvan,

Ilh>T.\ll{.\NTS.
llehui

Wiiiiiifr, ','4 W. Wntfr St.

Hrhiii. Ileiirv. ri'. 1" Lock
Wniuii-r, Ue<irB<' E., rei.

Jc

St

C..iiiior."wi"

Willow

b.

^'

'

IMl.
Oueldft to.,

Goriunny,

b,

b.

Ououdtgn

-":

II.

Ma

WludhoU,

Taylor, Thoa. -M.. r.a. New York City, (Brm Taylor \ t

Mfa. ('otlliia and Caaketa.
Taylor. H. K \ Co., 7081 S. Clinton. Imp Mfra.aiid Jobb.
CiiJertakers" Suiidrlea.
Taylor, Henry K., r<-.. .N. York City.
Trnu^'ott. Wiu. i'.. 'J" .> X. SalinaSt.
b. Germany, 1833, l"-'.
Furniture Dealer.
,

Co.,

IMI
Shattuck,

(ictoberll. 1^!, i.>ctober, 1842.

14j S. Sallna St. : b. .**yracue, MiM.

.M.. rea.

PepperlU.

>.

I'l'i' -hiini. K mice.)

Vii<lerbiltS(iii!irc; b. Ueniiaiiv. lt*88.

WALL PAPERS.

,!-.'<..- 1";!-'.

Luul*.

r.'

srOllTIMi (jOODS.
S

Ilaruuni. Wllli

we;

ren.

.'l

Kciiiii'.lr St

Jameavllle, N. V.,

b.

Uuiiforih; 18 E. Gene-

IKlTi.

Ilugbo & t'mbtree,

H

(Jifford

'

W.

near

iiiondaini.

rs'i-J.i;i.

TaiiKUar, Rouiuald, res. (H Jackson

HI Warrfii

Ilurii*, I'ctcr, ren.

Ili-iiry L.,

WimrSi
II

Canada.

(Wholesale?)
I

(Wholesale uifn.)
Wolcott, X. Y., 1853.
l''-'i'-'.

WIlnli'-llltM

S A KKS.
Culle, J. A., ;U

KlIlE

AND

Weit Railroad

llL-IKil^R PnoOF.)

Tl.iirwnchler, L.

4-'

W. Fayette

St.

b.

Ueriuauy,

Clark,

id.)

Miiiiofi

Cbuuauiio Co.,

b.

-^t.;

b.

UooudaRa

Co.
Co. (Limited.

...
'

CA

o.

'

Limited,

<

Syracme,

1817,

Supt.

73 Turtle;
Gl Turtle St.; b.

r.i.

Sy.

il.

Mnuiif.

Heceiver.
UBlt^lu>rll.

John,

Spring and Turtle St.; b Conn.,

Retired ManiiM
:<^ K.
inondaga St.: SoloD, Cortland

rcg. cor.

i;ir.'. IKJI).

ri<.

Manuf.

I.

<

Died

Co., 1^21.

Funnaii, Marlu
Co.. a KVI.

In

Xew

York,

b,

Dutche**

1H04.

FurmauSt, (DauforthI;

b.

Saratoga

Gardner, George, Supt.Oakwood Cemetery b. England, 1825,

a IMS.
Greenwav, Mra. France* A., re*. 74 Willow; b. England, a 1851.
Grave*, Maurice A., rea. ir.> I.odi St b. Oneida Co., 1840. i,
Hoiik-k>M-per for

18*V

Glaaa, Joaeph J.,

(Manuf.)
rea. 147 LodI St.: b. OtteEO Co. , i 1857.
Salt
ref. 1C5 Turtle St.; b. Oneida Co.. s 1859.
,

HawleT. Hiram L.,

'Co., 1807.

TrnvelliiiK .'-aleanian.

18.M

D.. rbeiiiiat to the lt r.>' of

iiion St.
b. (i.
;

1831.

I'll.

Freeman, lloyl II.

Freeman, Albert. re.
Francbol.

Co., 1820, Seo'y

;i

lllCll-f. 1,-

(illb.rt. C.

18?7.

uisp: b. Connecticut, 1807,8

Comttock, S. L
Duncan, J. M

18:^.

B., rea. 7

l^;^i, I'lt'*,

1807.

a 1852.

Retired.
Uickaou, Wallace, bda. Vaiideibllt Houae; b. X. Y. City,
IKli;, a. 187.
( lerk to Sup't of S, B. & X. Y. R. R.
b. Albany Co,, 1804, a 1828.
Fay, Dorothy, rea. .H.l t iirb.ui St
Widow .\iiBtlii. W. Fav.
Forey, J. H. rea. .lU Irving .><t.; b. Beunlugtoo, A't., 1844,

Furman, Robert. Farmer and Real Eatate Dealer:

l''>.

111.

Co.); b. St.

'

Jan

Dii-il

Is,'i2.

Will.. re. iUi I'urk .M.

EngelhanI,

InM.

Turtle and SnrhiK St. b. Onondaga

(Munuf. Salt, Member of Astembly aud
Jov

18li

Am.

Dopffel, Caroline, rea. llu X. Sallna; b. Germany, 18,12.

Downer. Ezra. Downer Block: b. Erie Co., Pa., IHIO,

Clarke

1851.

i*:c.)

Barker, J. W. I
Baldwin, K. W.,
l.uwrence(
I

re. cor.

Lieut

l'".x

&i-.

(Wholesale.)

(Mam.. Dealers,

ALT.
Co..

Blair. Win. Knox, rea. 11 Green St.: b. Blandford, Ma**.,

18-*4.
Retired Saw Mfr.
Buhlauer. John Chrintiaii. late baker; b. Wurtemburg. Germany. 1x14, a IKM; died 1870.
Buhlauer. Mnri;iiivf I,., rea. 'Jt'-i LodI St.; b. Wurtemburg,
''I.
Widow of J, C. Buhlauer.
Geriiinny. !- 'i-at St.; b. Onondaga Co.
Cate, Marr .\iiii. i(Wife
.

Ureenbunh, X. Y..

71 S. Salinn St., b

WOOU AM) WILLOW WARE

TUo.

tired.

Wuod, Reuben,

.vlvirl

<

of Williaii,
b.
Child*, John H.. r. - -,- >, >iliia St
Y., lM.'i.
1NI7. Freight agent, X.
Clark, C. P. : b. Northampton, Maaa.,
Y. C. R R.
Clary, Lvmaii. Phya. and Surg.: b. Maaa. Died June 1, l''7ii
b. Greene Co., a 1^70. General
Curt'ia. E. C.. rea. 7'.'7 Irving St.
.\gent SyiBcuae I'lilveraitv.
DoplTel, Win., [iiie .Merchant ami Inaurance Agent; b. 1828,

St.

TOYS. COXFECTIOXKRY.

llarii*,.

1840.

St.; b. Diibliii, Ireland, h 1K30.

WelU .V Co.. 31 iiud :tl W.

Uriii DniiuiJ,
b. roui|ii?y, N. Y.,
;
:: S Clinton St.; b.

DuKiiid.

II

b,

AXU coach hardware.

8.\I)IjLERY

OluiMiil.

Book-keeper and ca*b

Alien. E. F. b. Xew York, 1875,
Arut*. JuliuaM., re*. 371 .Id North: b. Lltchlleld Co., Conn.
Gardener. Farmer. Teacher.
1811. s IsP.V
Burnet. J. B., rea. K_' Ji>mea St. b. < )ruiiKe Co., 18i'i. Farmer.
Burton, Laiirn M rea. corner urbon and Dnnforth: b. Ilauover. X. 11. a IhJl.
Burt, Aaron; b. X. H a 1820. Died Jacksonville. Fla., 1848.
Barber. Gay P.. re*. 147 S. We*t St.; b. Onondaga Co. 1817. Re;

llimhe*' Block: b.Symcu8e.l85i.

LoiIiSt.: b. KiiKlaiid. s 1871.
Cfir. Jnck^oii.
""t
lliMiH-. rt. HW Mmituoniery b. Irelaud, b

'

MISCELLAXECnS

STONE flTTERS.

Kctdall

4C.

Yale. J. W.. k; S. Sallna St. b. Madlaon Co 1850

Connel'v. Frniicla, J (Jninci-r llloek; b. Liverpool, Euglai. i,
Is.'O. a 1M4.
Kiriii -.f Cinnelly Broa.i
Connellv. Jaiiien H.. 'J <iriii;er Block; b. Liveri>ool, EuRlaud.
18^7, 1M4.
Firm of Connelly Bros.

Dec.

John

'ant;

b.

<

rouae & Co
Elbridge, Onondaga Co..

5, I^;

Jackson. John G..

liii* cor. Butternut St*.
b. Onondaga Co. 182;. Knrinor.
Kinney, Daniel; b. Xew York, a. 1848. Patent Renovator.
DeKelaey, Lydia M
b. Tonipkin* Co., * 1853: died 1874.
ceuaed wife of William Kelaey.
Longstreet. C. T., rea ll.'i JanieeSt.; b. Onondaga Ce., 1814.
;

Retired.
D.. rea. 08 F^at Washington
1807, a 18.35.
Retired Copperamitb.

LawBon. Isaac

St.; b.

X.

Y'. city,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Barnes, Elizabeth D., res. 324 Park St.; b. Rutland, Vt., 1811,

Bronson, William, Farmer; b N. Y.,

s 1832.

Bower, H., Farmer; b N. i'., a 1872.

Barker, John S., Farmer; b N. Y.,
Barker, Samuel G., Farmer; b N. Y.,

Saudgate, Vt.,

Barker, Granville, Farmer; b N. Y.,

and Ridgeway Sts. b.

Farmer and Salt Mfr.
and Ridgeway Sts.; b.

res. cor. Salina

s 1818.
Retired

Morehouse Nancy, res cor. Salina

UuondagaCo. 1816.
Nichols, Charles, res. 73 James St.

Furman

St.

Ouon-

b.

dug.i Co. 1823.

Redfield. Lewis H.. res. 84 James St.; b. Farmiugton, Conn., s

1814.
Retired.
Rose, William E., res. 315 E. Genesee St.: b. Onondaga Co.,

Ex-Supervisor Eighth Ward.

1816.

Stickle, George A.; b. Dutchess Co., s 182.5. Died May 20, 1869.
Stickle, Nancy B., res. 69J.2' Warren St. b. Dutchess Co., s 182.5.
Schwarz, Frederick. Late dealer in groceries, &c.; b. Germany,
;

1823,

s 18.51.

Died

1876.

Shattuck, Henry, res. 114 Warren St.; b. Pompey, 1811. ExShei iff. " Retired Builder.
Shermau. Mrs. Antoinette White, res. 31 Grape St. b. Syra-

Castle.

cuse, 1842.
Salisbury, Albeit

Conklin, Christopher

Woodstock, N. Y., 181.3, s 1836.

Teacher and Superintendent Public Schools; died
G.

April 29, 1874.

Salisbury. Sarah T., res.

Onondaga

b.

.36

Madison;

b.

Onoml

Onondaga.

1869.
Shipper. A. V. Chase & Co.
Park, Alouzo F late n'holesaie liquor dealer; b. Cardiff, s
July 2, 1833; died April 16, 1877.
Park, Harriet Cres. 123 Warren; b. LaFayette, 1843. Widow
of A. F. Park.
Raynor, George, res. Salina cor. Furman Sts. (Danforth) b.

Retired.
Salina cor.

O.

Belding. Edward, B'armer; b N. Y., s 1825.

P. O. South
Ontjndaga.
Beak, Chas. W., Farmer; b England, 8 1847. P. O. Otisco.
Browning, Welcome, Farmer; b R. 1., s 1821. P. O. Onondaga.
Cossit, Rufus. Retired; b Mass. 179', s 1704. P. O. Onondaga.
Cossitt, Davis, Farmer and ex-Sheriff; b Onondaga Co. 1827.
P. O. Ouondaga.
Conklin. Harry, Farmer; b Conn. Died 1868.
Comstock, Joshua K., Farmer and Supervisor b N. Y., s 1841.
P. O. Cedarvale.
Clark, John F., Retired; b Mass., s 1804.
P.O. Onondaga
Vallev.
Chafee, Ralp'h, Retired; b N. Y., s 1803. P. O. Onondaga
Valley.
Casselmanu, D. L., Physician and Surgeon; b N. Y., s 1874.
P. O. Onondaga
Chafee, David, Retired; b N. Y., s 1805.
P. O. Onondaga
Valley.
Cook, Marcus G., Farmer; b N. Y.. a 1814. P. O. Onondaga
Valley.
Conklin, John, Farmer; b N. Y.. a 1822. P. O. Onondaga

res.

'

>.'

1872.

s 1836.

P.

s 18.51.

Brinkerhoff, Charles. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1841. P. O. Marcellus.

Budlong, Holden, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1838. P. O. South Onondaga.
Budlong, William H., Farmer; b N. Y., a 1842. P. O. South

Retired.

Co.,

O..

Castle.
Bartlett, John, Farmer; b England, s 1849. P. O. Onondaga.
Bartlett, John J., Farmer; b England, s 1849. P. O. Onondaga.
Brewster, Brainard D., Farmer and Dairyman; b N. Y., a 1862,
P. O. Syracuse.
Briukerhoff, Isaac A., Farmer; b Dutchess Co., a 1841. Died

Pratt, A. L., res. 4 W. Castle St. (Danforth); b. St. Lawrence

Retired.
Co.. s 1843.
Pierce, David H res. 100 Cedar St. ; b. Nantucket, Mass., s

Oswego

P. O. Onoinui'

Barker, Cicero, Farmer; b N. H., a 1816. Died 1870.

Bull, James. J., Farmer; b N. Y., s 1824. P. O. Onondag.i.

Raynor, Cordelia Hall,

P.

s 1851.

Valley.

b. Pompey, N. Y., 1816.

Farmer.
Northrup, Lorenzo, res. 30 Furman St. b. Ouondaga Co. 1812.
Produce Dealer.
Northrup, Olive L.. res. 20 Furman St (Dauforth); b. Laf ayette, N. Y., 1812.
Niver, W. K.. res. 1 Burns Block; b. Columbia Co., 18.35, s
1876.
Supt S. U. .t N. Y. R. R.
O'Blenuis. George W., res 81 Jefferson St. b. Syracuse, Feb.

1SU5.

a 1833

Valley.

Lighton.

Morehouse, Norman,

Onondat

P. O.

Valley.

5,

P. 0. Oui-ndairi

s 1820.

Castle.

Henderson, Alexander. Veteriuary Surgeon, 24 Church St.

Hibbard, Joseph L., 190 Wolf St.
Lighton. Mary Theresa, res. 61 Canal St. b. Switzerland, 1841,
Wife of John Lighton.
8 18">G.
Lightou, Mary. (Durauj b. ivilkenuy, Ireland. Wife of James

Montgomery

C.,

Farmer; b N.

P. O.

Y., a 1811.

Castle.

Conklin. Henry, Farmer and Postmaster;

b N. Y.,

1825.

P. O. Onondaga Castle.
Morris, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1832. P. O. Syracuse.
Clark, Lemuel G., Farmer; b Vt., s 1818. Died 1870.
Clark, Benjamin, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1834. P. O. Onondaga
Valley.
Clark, Lemuel, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1830. P. O. Onondaga

Co., 1818.

C^arr.

(Widow of A. G. Salisbury.)
s 1840.
Sniper, Gustavus, res. 69 Union St. b. Germany, 1836, s 1841.
Clerk in County Clerk's Office.
Stewart. Mary fi. (Thomas) wife of Wm. H. Stewart; b Oneida
;

Valley

s 1866.

William, 38-40 S. Salina St. b. Ireland, 1840, s 1840.

Spaulding, James M., res. 13 Russell St.; b. Syracuse,
Stitt,

Clarke, William Metcalf, Horticulturist; b Mass., s 1805. P. O.

Syracuse.
Champlaiu, William H., Retired; b N. Y., a 18.35. P. O.
Syracuse.
Champlaiu, Paul, Farmer and Blacksmith; b N. Y.
P.O.
Syracuse.
Craddock, Richard, Retired b England, s 18.37.
P. O. Onondaga.

Book-keeper Onondaga County Penitentiary.

Geddes St.; b Alleghany Co.,

Steele, Eliza H., res. 96

1835.

1829, a

1815.

VanHeusen. Stephen Van Rensselaer,

res.
Co., 8 1826.

W.

Castle

Danforth; b. Rensselaer
VanHeusen, Phebe, res. 6 W. Castle St Danforth;

St.,

b.

Oneida

Co., s 1825.
White, Clara, res. 57 E. Fayette St. ; b. Homer, N. Y., s 1838.
White. Howard G., res. 31 Grape St.; b. Syracuse, 1855. 10

White Memorial Building.

3
S., ree. 31 Grape St.; b. Syracuse, 1853.
White Memorial Building.
Williams. J. C. Onondaga Co. Penitentiary; b. N. J.; Sup't
Onou. Co. Penitentiary.
White, Hamilton

Craddock. John, Farmer and Dairyman; b England, s 1837.

P. O. Onondaga.
Cornish, George B., Farmer; b Onondaga Co., 1810. Died 1807.
Cornish, Susan A., Farmer; b N. Y., s 1820. P. O. Onondaga.
Cornish, Chauncev P., Farmer; b N. Y., s 1818. P. O. HowletL
Hill.

Covell, Nathan, Farmer; b Conn., s 1815. Died 1876.

Covell, Sally, Farmer; b Conn., a 1814. P. O. -Marcellus.
Chaffee, Joshua, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1817. P. O. Navarino.
Comstock, Jonathan, Farmer; b N. Y., s 18.32. P. O. Cedarvale.

Clark, George L., Physician and Surgeon; b N. Y., s 1819.

P. O. South Onondaga.
Clemons, Joshua M.. Wagon maker; b N. Y., a 1852. P.O.

TOWNS.

Navarino.

TOWN OF ONONDAGA.

Crittenden, Joseph, Farmer; b England, s 1850. P. O. Onondaga.

Carpenter, Charles, J. P. and Ret'd Salt Mfr. b N. Y., a 1816.
P. O. Onondaga Hill.
Dodge, Eber, Farmer; b Mass., s 1842. P. O. Onondaga
Valley.
P. O. Ouondaga
Dick, Zelotes, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1866.
Valley.
Dodge, John T., Farmer; b N. Y., a 1831. P. O. Onondaga.
Dorwiu, Thomas M., Farmer; b Berkshire Co. Mass., a 1823.
;

Ainslee, Morris D., Farmer. Lime and Plaster dlr; b N. Y.,

P. O. Onondaga Valley.
s 1821.
P. O. OuonAnderson, James H., Farmer; b N. Y., s 1824.

daga Valley.
Amidon, Alfred L., Farmer and Miller; b N. Y.,

s 1820.

Syracuse.
Anderson. George. Farmer; b N. Y.,

P. O. South

Ouondaga.
Anderson, Geo. W., Farmer; b N. Y.,

a 1817.
s

1842.

P. O.

P. O.

South

C)nondaga.
Amidon. Lewis. Farmer; b Onondaga Co., 1805. Died 1870.
Amidon. .Vmauda, Farmer; b N. Y., 8 1837. P. O. Cedarvale.
Anderson. Eli, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1808. P. O. Nararino.
1833. P. O. Navariii
Amidon, Wm. H., Farmer; b N. Y s ""^
--
"
^ ^'
O. Onondaga.
Adams, Norman, Farmer; b X. Y. 1839. P.
Onoudag:'.
Pnr
Oscar.
Adams,
,

I.

Died 1800.
Dorwiu, John A., Farmer; b N. Y.,

s IS'JO.

P. O.

Onondaga

Valley.

Everingham, Jeremiah, Farmer; b N. Y s 1800. P. O. South

Onondaga.
Eaton, Nathan P., Retired; b N. Y., s 1808. P. O. Onondaga.
Fyler, Byron, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1825. P. O- Onondaga.
Fellows. Chester. Farmer; b Luzerne*"'" Pt s 1S''4.
Died
.

-o5

HISTORY OK ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

I.'

nil

Karnirr; k N. V..

Kriii.r:

-. ..

I)

Cnii

Kuriuer;

ir..

1*11.

1*.

I ).

MioiidiiRa.

ITu:
DU-d 1h><
N. Y.. * lao. 1'.

l>

South

(>.

b. Onondaga Co.. i> l^T.'.

Died 1875
Y.. a l'r4
I', o. Onondaga Vallrr.
|{oe. Will
Farmer; b. X. Y.. a ImiH. P. ti. Syracuae.
lioae. Joaeph De^^ltt. Farmer and Lime DIr.
b. N. Y., * HI2.
P. I '. Syracuae.

Kee.l

AuguKliK. Itetired:

Ann

I.

Kliza. b.

Farnipr; b N. Y..

1817.

South

<>.

I'.

Utcbard, Firmer; b Co Mnvo. Ireland. IKM. IHed

Ih".
1X3;.
I'.O. South OuooFlenilug. Marjr, Farmer; b IrcUiid,
Klfii'liii:.

dain.

T,

n.wler. Maxw.ll

TO.

N. Y..i>*.U

KnriiitT; b

South

Fay, hVlwnnl
IV

>.

<
<

Hliick-nillb

tiiiiiiiliiKii

and woKon nhop; b N.

()

1>.

1M3.

\'.,

N'ulley.

FMwiinl KiiriinT nnd

Fuller,

b N.

IWo.

I'. r.

>nou-

<

dnjra A'lillfv

M.. Fanner; b N. Y.. IKVl. I' i OnnndaKa.

(iiirdniT, Mnrtlii I-., ren. Niiviirlno; dlr In koii'I indm', I'ulice
nnd A-micliilf Justici-; b > Y., IXUI. I'.O. Narurino.
(irecn. dri'n' Fiirnifr; li N. Y.. l^iy. 1'. n, iiiiundaKn.
I*. O. Duundaxa
Jloi'I'er. lii-'TKe ('., Ketlrvd, b N. W, a IHU.
Vnlley.
(iiildrii. .I..hh

dagu

OnoudiKa
Ainbro>o, Farmer; b N. Y'., a IM:.'. I*.
Vallev.
Hunt. J K<-ilied b Conn., IWI. P. ft Syrnruiie.
< inondnK"IliMidiTiii. .)nhn, Fnriiu-r; b N. Y., s IWJ. I". <
Hrii(lrriiri. (ifii. \V.. FarniiT: b N Y.. IH-H. I'. <> OtiondaKa.
To.,
Imi;
Hied
l"'*.
Fiirnicr:
b
OnotiiluKn
Iiiivlil.
Ilunt.
1'. < >. Nnviirlmi.
Ilnnt. ThuMin-. FurnuT; b N. Y., l^t"*
Mull. I>aiiii-is.. FarnKT; >> H. I.,b1n'1T. I'.O Snuth ( >n<>nduKa.
Mall (MM.ru'-. FariniT; b N. Y.. IHIKI. I', ( >. Nnrnriiio
1'. ( i. SouthOnoul^lfll.
MltcliiMttK. Mrn. Miirucf, Farmer;
;

\'allev.

Skinner. < ban L.'ltetired b. Ct., a KV). Died 18ai

Skinner. Jane 1. b. X. \.. a 1812. P. O. Onondaga Valley.
Sheldon. Ijtnaing Farmer; b. X. Y., a 1837.
P. O. OiiondaBm
\Bllev
Spaldlnv. <ieo. \V.. Farmer; b. X. Y., a 18,10
P. o OnoD.

dnga Valley.
Sherwood. Lyman, Farmer;

>.

it

daiiu.

Died lNli7
Shanahan. John K., Farmer;

South OMondaga.

KiiiK. G'-ont''!'.,
dnifa.

<

NT.,

Farmer; b

1832.

H.

South Ouou-

t).

<

'.

li

Valley.

b. Cedarvale.
Longatroet, Corneliuo II.. Manufacturer of Fruit Hoxee.
I', O. Onoiidutia \'alley.
Ilaaketn. etc.; b N. Y .^ Ixil.
Ireland.
I*,
Onondaga.
KarnuT;
iJiwrence. I'orter I), Farmer; b X. Y.. 1(*20. 1". O. Ououdaga
I)ied I8T5.
iiic "111. Heutien W., Farmer; b Ma.. a IHin.

Lvncb, Slichael

ti

l.*<;i'.'.

>.

ClarlKBa C. b Mann.. !K44.

.lohn. Farmer; b Irulnnd,

O. .Syracuac.
IMH. I'. O. Onondagn

1".

ant'e

Morton, .lohn 1.. Farmer; b Onordaga Co.,

Muftou, Ardimona J., Farmer; b >. Y a
,

Kled

1KJ4.

1820

O.

I".

1><T1.

Onon-

daga Caatle.

Wm.

F..

Mirfcley. Angellir
M..iaii, KraiiclH II

b Onondaga Co., 18I,'>. Died InTfl.

Oiiondnga.
I'. O
b N. Y.. a I8,',
I,

1H21.

r.

<

( >.

<

)nondBga.

ondaga
Spencer. Miles D.. Farmer;

Miller, Henry,

Fanner; b N. Y.,

18.17.

1828.

1'.

1'.

Howlett

O. South

MllUr. l-ewla W., Farmer: b N.

onilaga
NicholK. <;eo. C.

Y"., a

1M.37.

1*.

Onon-

I'.

>.

Ou-

.South

,.

b>.
,

Farmer nnd

12 yeara Aaaeaaor:
innndaga.

South
Norria, Uobert. Farmer and Gardner; b England,
Syrncune
Northway. .loaiah L... Funner; b. X. Y.. a 18ns.

a 1K37.
I',

o.

^.a
P. O.

Onou-

.Sbanabnn. .Mariinrei. Farmer.

Seelv, Joaeph Owtii. Farmer;

South Onon-

P.

b. Weatcheater Co.,
South Onondaga.
Tolman. Harvey P I'hyn. and Surg.; b. X'. Y'., a

P.

1700. a 1707.

I.

P. O.

1823.

iiiondnga Vallev.

Farmer; b. X. Y.. alS24.

Whitford. .lames. I'liya. nnd Surg. b. X. Y..

Van Schoick.

I^nac.

P.
Jameavllle.
1808.
P. O. Ou-

ondagii A'alley.
Poatofflce UuouWellcr, Joaeph. Farmer; b F.nglaud, a Isll
dagn Valley.
Xararlno.
Wilber. Anion. Fanner; b X Y, a 183.1; P
Wright. Klijiih It. Farmer; I. N V, a 1828; P O Xnvnrino.
;

>

a. rarnier; b X Y. a IHI.',; p o Xavarino.

W\ckotT.
White. Sherliurn. Fanner; b X V, a l8lB; P O Onondaga.
Wordeii. Samuel C, Farmer; b Vt, 1820; Poatofflce Onondaga
Aii"tiii

Wella. John. Farmer; b X Y. a 1^22; P O Onondagn Vallev.

W.-lln. Irving Farmer; b X V.a 1H4'.I; P O 111011. biK-a \a|iey.
Wyncoiip John, of .Syrncune; b Albany, a IMd. Deceased.
Wyncoop, Mnry. Farmer; b X Y. a 1h40; I'oatolllce Onondaga
Valley.
White. George -A, Farmer b X Y, a 1820, P U Onondaga.
Wvckoll'. Joinithnn,
I

Wyckofl. A

ti

Jr.

TOWN OF
Abranii'. D. F.
Ariiintri

iig.

Farmer; b

W. \

W.

(i.

lAMILLlS.

Y..

1844.

P.

Farmer; bX'.

((..

amillua.

Y., a K17.

1'.

O.,

IWIIe Inle.

Bingham, Calvin D.
nilllua.
Ileiinett. J H.

Farmer

Farmer

b N.

b X. Y..

Y'.,

a 181.V

1805.

P.

o,

P. O., Cn-

Cnmlllua.

Ueniiimin. ren (iimillun. Tailor nnd Ponimnater; b

X. v.. a 1*4". P. O., Cnmillun.
H rea. Caniil n. Denier in Tin. Hnnlwarc nnd
Bucklln.
I'.O Camlllua.
F"arm Implements; b Maes s 1*47
Burdick. Lafayette, res. .Vinbov. Flour, Grist. Cider and CirO.
b
Mills;
X.
V
P
Helle
Isle.
cular Saw
Bromley. Philo. rea ( nmlllua .Camlllua Hotel b X. Y, a 1831.
P. O.. Cnmlllua.
Brewer, Orrin. Farmer; bN. Y.,al823 P. O., Memphia.
rea. Camillus.
Clay Tobacco I'ipt- Mfr.
t haimian. Henrv (J
Cnmlllua.
Ii X. Y., a l^M
P. O
Conk ly. .lames. Farmer; b Cnnaila, a IM* I'. O.. Helle lale.
Dealer In (ieneral Merchau(.'ook, Jr., S. H.. ri's. Camillus
diae and .Supervisor; b (nmillus. Ixtl
I', o.. Cnmlllua.
Dreaaer, (Jeorge F, Farmer; b (iermany, a ls%4. P. o., Fairlirown,

Wm

Newunin. Mbble K. Teacher and Farmer; b Oiiondnga

O. .South Onondaga.
l.ewl. O., Farmer; b N. Y'..

mount.
Dnvton, Kev B.

B rea. Amboy; Pnaior Preabylerian I'hurcb:

Y.,sls:rt
P. O llelle Isle
res. Camillus; .Millwright nnd ilvdraulic EuDrake, li.
glneer; b Camlllua. I82.'i. P. O. Cnmlllua.
Danlela, A F,., rea. Camlllaa: Architect and Hulldor: b K. Y'.,

Co.,

Farmer; b X.

Handall
"*"

.rmer; b N.

Y'
.

1834.

1'.

a 1820.

I',

1834.

-,dn,.lrrman-

b.

P. O.

South

Onondaga.

Y.. 18'4

I'.O.

1847

P.

(nmillua

Dow, John, Farmer and

Cnri>euter; Couii,,

a 1840.

P. O..

Belle

Isle.

Kcker.
F.iistis

Inoiulaun.
I'araona. Jiin-1

W,

1"

O. South

bN
a

diiga Caatle.

.1

O. Howlett Hill.

(111 ten.

b. Ct., a 1821.

dnga

Murphy. Michael. Farmer; b Ireland,

I'ickltt.

Howlett

Farmer; b Ireland, k \KV,. I', o. inonilnga.

MathewKon, .lumen .M.. Farmer and Cider Mfr; b N. Y., a

18.Mt.

P. o.

ISVi.

p. (. Howlett Hill
Slolp. (ieo \V. Farmer: b. X. Y",. a 1810
P. O. Svracuae.
Shotwell. (ieo \V.. Farmer: b. N. Y* , IMO.
P. 0. South ()u-

1*.

IH24.

a 18cfl,

Lownaburv. Charlea F.. rea. Navarhio, I'hyalcian and Surgeon;

b N. Y.. IK'X. I', o. Navarino.
Lowuaburv. F./.rn F.. Farmer and I'uatmaatcr; b N. Y'., a 1820.

Moaeley,

Onondaga

Ireland, a 1837.

Caatle.

Kenyon. Thomnn I'.. Farnirr: b N. Y.. 1H29. 1". (. Cedarvale

Cedarvale.
Kenyon. I'.nocli. Farmer; I. H I,, k I.*Iii I'.
Kenyon, llxiim-l I, Farmer; b U. I.. l*il(i. Ilied IHT?
Kenyon. AniruntuH ('.. F"arnier; K. I., s IK1. I'. t>. Cedarvale.
Kittamx. William, Farmer; b F.nfcland. IKil. I*. O. Onondaga

X. Y.,

b.

Vt

b.

I'hyxlcian nnd Surgeon; b Maiu., a l^i.

I*. ( >. South < iMondniiu.
Kelly. John. Fiirnier anil Foreman at Indian Quarry b IreOnondnKn (HKtle.
I'.
hind. ^ IKIT.
Farmer; I) N. Y.. IKW. I' ( >. OnondiiKB.
Kenyon (lark
King. Volnev. I iirpeiiler and ,loin>'rana Farmer; b N. Y.,
lf>'>.'i. '
r. I). .HMuth UnondaKa.

'

P. O.
b..

Hill.

Snbin, KIlKhn D.. Farmer;

Isi:}.

KInK'lev. Saniuel.

111.

Y., a 1830

Hull. Sarah. I". < >. South I inondaiia. N. Y.

Kneeland. .lonaihan. I'hVKiclaii and Surgeon;*b N. Y., 9

.,

N.

b.

Cnatle.

Sbauahnii. John. Contractor and Farmer;

( i.

t!lue>.

^1. ii^iv.

I',

Strong, Daniel, Farmer; b. Ct., a 18,10. P. (>. Onondaga.

Strong, (Jnive F.. Ketlred; b X Y a 1M7.
P. O. Oiiondafm.
Stordevnnt. Oliver W.. Principal of hiondaga Acndemv; b.
X. Y a ls:2. P. O. (
idaga Valler.
Slocum. Itiitiiircl It Farmer: b N. Y., a 1k12. P. O. tJuon-

IS38.

V. O. Onoudaf[n

1H17.

Viilli-v.

().

Kftlred; b N. Y.,

U..

Gardner. KhmI. II. Atly-at-Law

IV

Hill.

b N. Y.,

Stock dir;

lliiondniiu ValU'V.

GardiKT. Arlrl

<

Mii'imIuki>

<

Farmer; b. X. Y a 181,1. I", o Onondaga

l{otiin*Oii. ,#,.111)
John I' rFarmer,
b. .iin
ui iiif
Man Wi Died l-In
Uoblnaoii. Ileniaon. Farmer; b. X. ^
a l'>2.'>
P. o Howlett
llaynor. Wni.

MlDlulu^A.

Jeaae.

Farmer; b X.

1M8.

P. O., Belle Isle.

James.

Fuller. Lola, Farmer; b Maaa a 18U0. P. O., Falrmnuiit.

Feigus, Jaiiiea G.. rea. Cnmlllua; Lumber Mfr. and Dealer; b
Irelnnd, a Ih44.
P. O.. CaniilUia.
Farmer and .Salt Manufacturer; b X. Y.,
tiere. Jnniea Nl
,

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

Gee, George,

CamiUus; Grocer; b N.

res.
Dlillu9.

Y..

O. Cn-

ISoS. P.

183:.'.

P.

Geddes, James. Farmer; b N. Y., a 18-31. P. O., Fairmouat.

Geddes, George, Civil Engineer and Farmer; b Camillas,

George, N. R.,
O.,

O.. Fairmouiit.

res.

Camilluj; Coal Dialer; b N. Y.,

s 1843,

P.

CamiUus.

Harmon, Edwir)

Farmer: b N. Y.. s 18. P. O.. CamiUus

Hay, M. L., re.s. Belle Isle; General Merchandise and Groceries; b N. Y., 8 1828.
P. O., Bene Isle.
Hinsdale A. L
Farmer and Fruit Grower; b N. Y., s 1815.
P..

P. O., Belle Isle.

L. E., res. Belle Isle; b

Hay, Miss

N. Y..

1813,

P. U., Belle

Isle.

Hay, Luther, Farmer; b N. Y. 1812. P. U., Belle Isle.

Hitchcock. J. H., res. CamiUus; Architect and Builder; b N.
T:., s 18.J7.
P. O.. CamiUus.
Hopkins, Edwin. Farmer; b N Y.. s 1S:J4. P. O., Belle Isle.
Hopkins. Harlow, Farmer; b X. Y., s 1815. P. O.. Belle Isle.
Hubbard. Mrs. Hannah A, Farmer; b N. Y., s 1821. P.O.,
CamiUus.
,

Hopkins, H. W.
Kinually, Daniel, Farmer; b. Ireland. 8 1853 P. 0., CamiUus.
Kellogg, O. J.. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1839. P. O., CamiUus.
Kiiine, Mrs. Almira, res. Amboy; b. N. Y., s 1824.
P. O.,
Belle Isle.

Laud, Charles,

CamiUus; Saddle and Harness Manufacturer; b N. Y., s 1817. P. t>.. CamiUus.

Loveless Charles K., Farmer; b N. V., s 1841. P. O., Belle
res.

Isle.

Leddy, John, res. Fairmouat

Farmer and Commissiouer
of Highways; b N. Y s 1849. P. O., Fairmount.
Loomis, Frederick. Farmer; b N. Y., 1821. P. O., CamiUus.
liawtou, Howard, Farmer; b X. Y., s 1837
P. U., Belle Isle,
La Du Brinckerhoff, Tin and Sheet Iron Worker; b. N. Y., s
l.S;W.
P. U., Warners.
La Du Duane, Tin and Sheet Iron Worker; b N. Y. s 1845. P.
O. Warners.
Munro, J. D. A. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1844. P. O. CamiUus.
Muuro, James M. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1814. P. O CamiUus.
Morton, Robert, res. Belle Isle. Farmer and Miller; b N. Y.,
;

P. O. Belle Isle.

Munro. David A. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1818. P. O. CamiUus.

Munio, John C. Farmer; P. O. CamiUus.
Maohau Thomas, res. Belle Isle. Carriage Maker, J. P. & P.
M. b Ireland, s 1842. P. O. Belle Isle.
0"Sullivan, Rev J. E res. Camilus. Pastor Ruoiau Catholic
Church. P. O. CamiUus.
Otman, Abram. res. Uamillus. Prop'r Grocervand Meat Market; b N. Y., s 1S;31. P. O. CamiUus.
Patterson, Loren L., res. CamiUus. Merchant Miller; b. N.
Y., s 1841. P. O- CamiUus.
Parsons, E. C. Farmer; b Mass., s 1847. P. O. Fairmount.
Patton, James, res CamiUus. Dealer in Drugs aud Medicines
b N. Y.. 8 180(i. P. O. CamiUus
Peck, I. M. Farmer; b N. Y., s 1817. P. O. Warners.
Rodees, T. F. Farmer; b. N. Y.. s. 1844. P. O. CaraiMus.
Farmer aud Ex-Supervisor; b N. Y., a 1836.
Reynolds, G D
P. O. CamiUue.
Sherwood, E. D.. res. CamiUus. Merchant aud Ex-Supervisor
b N. Y., s 1833. P. O. CamiUus.
Slocum, J. O., res. CamiUus. Phvsiciau aud Surgeon; b. N.
Y., 8 1820. P.O. CamiUus.
Safford, Ira, res. CamiUus. Manuf. Cabinet Ware and Undertaker; b N. Y., 3 1830. P. O. CamiUus.
Dealer in Drugs aud MediSafiford, Jr. C. S., res. CamiUus.
cines, Gen. Ins. Agency; b. N.Y.. s 18U. P. O. CamiUus.
Steves. Reuben. Farmer; b X. Y.. s 1836. P. O. Warners.
Shearer. Mrs. A. M. Farmer; P. O. CamiUus.
Sims, John S., res. Ambov. General Merchaodise aud Grocery b N. Y.. s 18.58. P. O. Belle Isle.
", res. Ambov. Physician and Surgeon; b. N.
Skiauer. Lewis C.
,

'

P. O. Belle" Isle.

Y.. 8 1817.

Skinner, Edgar
Y.,
.

Thorpe,

C., res.

Wm.

Ambov. Physician and Surgeon

Farmer: b Conn.,

C.

b N.

P. O. Belle Isle.

s 1.8.53.

s 1831.

P. O.

CamiUus.

Tin aud Sheet Iron WorL.. res. CamiUus.

P.
CamiUus.
3 1851.
Twiuem, Wm., res. Xewport. General Merchandise and GroP. O. Warners.
ceries: b Ireland, s 1835.
Alstine, E. A. Farmer; b N'. Y., 3 1840. P. O. Warners.
Alstine. Jacob. Fanner; b X. Y.. s 1840. P. O. Warners.
Veeder, E. E., res. CamiUus. VA'holesale and Retail B.rrell

Thompson, .James
ker; b

Md

Van
Van

Mfr. and J.

P.; b

N Y

18;4

P. O. lU-uUlui.

White. J. B. Farmer b X. Y.. 8 18.39. P.O. Balle Isle.

Wiuchell. Henry, res. Belle Isle. Farmer; b Vt., s 1817.
;

O. Belle

P.

Isle.

TOWX OF

CICERO.

res. Cicero, Phvsiciaa and Surgeou; b Columbia

P. O. Cicero.
Co., 8 1860.
Button, Martin L.. Farmer; b Oucida Co., a 1830. P. O. Cicero.
Clement, Chaa. W., res. South Bay. Prop. South Bay House.
b Delaware Co., 3 1842. P. O. Cicero.

Blyun, M. H.,

Gushing. Samuel,

res. Cicero, Retired; b \V

P. O. Cicero.
Crownhart. Henry, res (.'icero, Prop'r
Farmer; b Madison Co., s 1.S7G.
Coouley, Irving, res. Cicero, P<istmast<
Onondaga Co.. s 1840. P. O. Cicer
Carter, W. H., res. Brewerton. Steamboai
b R. I., a 1827. P. O. Brewerton.
Cashing. F. C, res. Brewerton. Merchant, b

,T...ll)ii.il

Co., Vt., S

18.30.

Graves, Austiu, Farmer and Postmaster; b N. Y.,

O.. MarcelUis Falls.

18')9.

419

aud
.li;i'

'

uaui; b

Coal Deal'yr,

u; ni)(1

Windham Co

Vt.,

8 1830.
P. O. Brewerton.
Cushing, Mrs. C. P. O. Bre.verton.
Dennis, Geo. W., Farmer. (Co. G. I3th Wia., entered Sept.,
1801. discharged Nov. 29, 1804); b Onondaga Co., 1829.
P. O. Cicero.
Deuuis, Ucal. Farmer; b Rensselaer Co., s 1802. P. O. Cicero.
Daniels. Jesse, res. Lot .59 Farmer and Hop Grower; b Schoharie Co.. s 1823. P. O Bridgeport,

Farmer;

Difflu, Charles,

Dunham.
Emmons.

Onondaga

Co.,

P. O. Cicero.

s 1844.

Valentine. P. O. Cicero.
E. X.. res. Brewerton, Postmaster and Merchant;
b Onondaga Co s 1833. P. O. Brewerton.
Emmons. S. Farmer, soldier in 1812; b Rensselaer Co., a 1805.
P. O. Brewerton.
Genung, B. M., res. Brewerton, Physician and Surgeon; b N.
J., s 1848.
P. O. Brewerton.
Henderson, Robert, res. Lot 70. Farmer, b. Scotland, a 1850.
,

P O. CoUamer.
Hughs, Thomas, res. Brewerton, Speculator and Deputy
Sheriff b St. Lawrence Co.. s 1801.
P. O. Brewerton.
Herrick, L. C.. res. Cicero. Prop'r of Herrick House; b Colum:

P O. Cicero.
Hodge. Loteu. Farmer; b Onondaga Co.,
bia Co..

s 1840.

Houghtaling, Gabriel,
S. v.);

res.

Lot

b Albany Co..

Hoyt, David H.,

res.

:58,

P. O. Cicero.

s 1827.

Farmer, (Co. H, 149th X. Y.

P. O. Cicero.
South Bay, Farmer; b Saratoga Co.,
s 1832.

1830.
P. O. Cicero.
.Johnson, Orsamus, res. Brewerton, Retired; b Mass., 8 18X).
P. O. Brewerton.
Kathau, J. B., Farmer, b Windham Co., Vt., a 1814. P. O. Brewerton.
Keuyon, M. A res Brewerton, Prop'r Hotel; b Saratoga Co.,
P. O. Brewerton.
s 1876.
Klosheim. John H., res. Cicero; Hardware, etc, b Onondaga
Co., 18.53, P. O. Cicero
Kerwio, Richard, Farmer; b Carlow, Ireland, a 1847. P. O.
Syracuse.
Leach, Emeliue, res. Lot 54; b Cayuga Co., 8 1815. P. O. Cicero.
Leach, Allen; b Onondaga Co., 1810. Deceased.
Lillie, Wm.. Farmer; b Cayuga Co., s 1840.
P. O Cicero.
Loomis, A. J., Cheese Manufacturer, Dairv Farmer aud
Miller; b Onondaga Co., 1830. P. O. Cicero.
Morgan, F. H., res. Cicero, Merchant; b Ouondaga Co., s 1848.
P. 0. Cicero.
Merriam, Xoah, res. Cicero, Retired; b Saratoga Co., s 1820.
P. O. Cicero.
Moultou. John, Farmer; b Ouondaga Co., s 1828. P. 0. Cicero.
Moyer, H. A., res. Cicero. Carriage Manut'r; b Oaoudaga Co.,
s 18.53.
P. O. Cicero.
Miller, Abram J., res. Cicero, Stave Cutter; b Ououda^a Co.,
1841.
P. O. Cicero.
Newmann, Charles. Farmer aud Willow Basket Maker; b
Germany, s 1818. P. O. Cicero.
Otman, George, Farmer; b Ouondaga Co., 1832. P. 0.
,

BrewertoH.

Ottman. Jacob, Farmer; b Schoharie

P. O.

Co,, a 1827.

Brewerton.
Rogers. C. R res. Brewerton. Agent, R. W. & O. R. R.; b
Onondaga Co., 1849 P. O. Brewerton.
Root, After. Farmer. (Co. D 149th X. Y.. wounded June 4, 1863,
P. O. Cicero.
at Gettysburg); b Onondaga Co., 1847.
Roller, Martin, Fanner and Dairymau; b Wurtem burg, Ger.

many, s 1847. 1', O, Cicero.

Sadler, Freeman, Farmer and Jobber; b Onondaga Co., a 1827.
P. O. Brewerton.
Sayles, O., Lot 73, Farmer aud Miller; b Madisou Co., 1854.
P. O. Bridgeport.
Sayles, O.. Jr., Lot 73, Farmer and Dairyman; b Madison Co.,
8 1854.
P. O. Bridgeport.
Sherwood, Wm. H., Farmer; b Oaoudaga Co., 18-30. P. O.
Brewerton.
Vaualstine. Daniel, Farmer; b Montgomery Co., s 1838. P. O.
Cicero
VauHeusen. Stephen, res. Plank Road, Carpenter and Builder;
b Ranssel.ier Co.. s 1835. P. O. Plank Road.
Waterbury, D. H., res. Brewerton. Druggist and Jeweller, also
Justice of the Peace; b Rensselaer Co., s 1851. P. 0.
Brewerton.
Washburn, C. E..rea. Brewerton, Prop'r Washburn House; b
Onondaga Co.. 1849. P. O. Brewerton.
Wright, Adolphus, Farmer, b Ouondaga Co., 18M. P. O.
Cicero-

Wright, lohu R., Farmer; b Otsego Co..

TOWX OF

s 18

K!.

P. O. Cicero.

MAXLIU8.

Austin, William. Farmer; b Vt.. 8 1847 P. O. Fayetteville.

Avery Allen H. Parmer, b Mass., 8 lilO. P. O. Maulius.

'

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

,20
Beard, Henry

b Otioii-

l*l>r:

I,., r

llr'

Farmer; b Onondaga,

in.

1M4.

Uanllua

P. O.

It.

d>Ka Co..

Borban* ''

M', .,U

'

l>oor,

Baker.

od: b

'

Jet

r'A^Iiti.Iiiit. r..iwv..r uimI

I!

and
fvlUe.
r

u( St. Jobu't

l'riuci(Mil

l>abc<K

the FarettaTllla

'

.. -

Banc*.

Juttlce of Peace;

Ketebl.

and J

Mnrgau. Ru>r

McLrni

b Duteheaa Co

b Ctnondaga, Co,

l-arii.i-r;

..

Faj-ettf ."-

.11.

P.

IKItt.

U-

I'.

Farmer; b

iL.'iired

...

0.

nn

B..

111.

P. (>.

aler: b

OuondaKa Co.

Contraecor;

Mlie.

BanK*.

11419,

Oaoudaga

b.

..r

I.

rr

\l. ....-

I....I

vlil

Monlter

Farmer

b Madiaon Co.

P. O. Fav

a 1817.

Ml

O. Manllut.

1'

Marjrt

8f.

..f

imillut Station,

and .^urgeon

Mnne, Tbon.

Baiiiri.

Moue,
Mid Breeder of 8bort Homi; b
u. Mnnliui.
vllle. Olacloiuitb; bUueldaCo.,

Blaiichii

i'.

Br;'Wii,

larun,!
h

[.%\r..t,.r

M.^n''-.

Co.. a IMS.

i.JittiJa

lii.xi

I;.'.'..

^ U;

1*

Mi.,

.1

P. O.
in..

N.

Uj

Bart le It l_i"

< U

Bender.

'

roiiiD.

Mfr. Lumber
tievUle.

Knrett"vHle.

Pleraon

Fanner;

b DutebeM Co.,

....... <r;

-i-..
I

H C.

Preaton, K.

Farmer; b

Clark, Ambrote. Jr.

()ii<>nd*Ka Co.,

Plattt.

Favet'.evllle.

Collin. I>tiVid. Jr.

pIL.t ill..

Farmer; b Onondaga

Ct**, H'

irmer; b

ret

IMO.

Cli

.enter.
Caawell. N'eloiu.

b UnoiidKRa.Co.,

lil.

O.

P.

O.MauIlu*

P.

IKlfl.

liner

Cole, Cii

IHM.

and Maiou; b Ouondaca Co..1k;1.

Kirkville.

Eeker.

.1

'

Co., a 18&T.

"

P.

P. O.

P.

(I.

Ersni.

Smith,

B., K"--"""-

P.

r<

Eaton.

\l

..

tt..

.1.^....

Pbvticlan and

Faretlevllle.

ret.
..

Ik

tl

II

Willi:.
i>d
re.

start:,

Karuj.jr,

.<

Frt-

Co..

1'

kirKTiiie.
Fitber, .l"hii M r>- Manllut 8tatlan.
.

ijLTmanjr,

\si.

P. O.

Merchant; b Bavaria,
-ter,

Lime. &o.

b Ire-

Merchant; b Onondaga Co.,

ilaita Co.. a ISC'. Died 1875.

.aut:tt l .J., a ISK.
P. O. Manliua.
r; b Onondaga Co., 18.11.
P. O. Pay.

..

'

Seward

P,

ISOK.

'mil

b Oneida Co.,

'

tOTllle,

'

Shoemaker.

>

dnKii

Gayii"!

Sanborn, NVilinuKbby. Farmer; b Oneida Co.,

Seward

\SZ:

'.

I., a

Manllut. Chytlcian and Surgeon;

f. 'J. Manliua.
Superriaor b X. Y., a 1831. P.O.

<f....;..

-I

ii

" Na.vllle.

O.

""! Teacber: b Onondaga Co.,

ch.

...I ..vil!..

t.'.. .

P.

utoraud Mfr of Machinery.

Smith, Anaoi.

Scovlll.

F.i

1.

1(M5.

<

Mn-

Vlliv.

ETana. hanlel

P.; b Albany
a

.Mniilliifi.

1*1.

Richardson J c.

t
1

.Munliut Outer.
Remington. Arm. Id. n't. Uaiiliue. Retired: b R.

Smith, John

lad Bookk'
P.

>

Kuvrtli'ville.

l>

Farmer; b Madlaou

\.

Rotner, Darld. Farmer: b Scbobarle Co, a 1816. P. O. FarettevlUe

Richman, Fmnkllii \V., Farmer: b Onondaga Co., 1 1834. P. O.

b IlerklKirkville.
r. U.

<i.

V.I..

Saru

T., a 1844. P.

J.

Ranaler, Harmoii
('.

ftlrkvllle.
;

P.O.

li4.

UunamUh:

Hotlred

Manllui.

rv*.

Hampthire,

P. O. Fay-

Co., ItCU.

b Madlton Co..

irnier;

CI.-

Crapaer. Mnitb

Pbvkician and Surgeon

O.

P.

ManMut, Mercbant b X.

Palmer,

New

P.

MBtlllllli.

P. U.

IM:.*.

\V., rea. Kirkville,

toga Co..

Died

\<<a.

lor Co., a l*Wi.

uUaiiier.

(.

Palmer, Ueo.

ITark. Am..!.-

Onondaga

P.

10.

li

b Jeffervon Co.,

Lir.^cer:

it*.

...-iiii'.i.
-

Peaae,

Cbaropl

Manliua.
irch of tbe

and Farmer;

Farmer; b Columbia

<ook,

<>

I'

0Kelll^

Colliu.

Died ima.

Oat. A'l
(N.t, Chi

'

F.I

M
M

Ml.

Burbaii-

lV>e.

1>1~

,.

Blindi,

Mfr. of I4a,h.

lie.

Ulaiicli..

C'uiiii., 1834,

KirkTlUe.

Mt.i.-

Snyder, Peter.

a 1844.

Died

bOUegoCo.,al8&e.

P.

at

Manliua Station. Retired; b Onon-

P. O. .Manliua Station.
Farmer; b Prance, a lUtU.
P.
i-.i.

<

O. Manliua

Station.

Orove,

Hotel; b

>

Onr

Farmer; b MadltOQ

fir

(it

Mnnufr; b Sc.tlnnd.

iJled, 1800.
Co., a 1W8. P. O.
VtCSt.

P.

Snrder. Peter. J
b OiH.i

Smith HIrani

Ur.i

-[

:if

i.'i,.

l'lM^ii-i:iii

u().l

^..

V
SooTlII, \\

Klrk-

Lumber

lir>

dlr; b

H.

..,.

a 1847;

....

Pot-

iiii

Sheedy, John
Maiiliii..

Sur-

Mfr \>Btor
VVntor and Oi
Ouick Lime.
i-t.-m.-..

K;iV. II..vill.

Sheedy, Th<.
HeiidH."
Sharer..'

Hn

TalTner.
H..

Hubbar

!.'.

.Manllut.

Fpiteopal ClerRTtn'o

o. Manllut.
HInadell. L>avid H., Farmer; b Onondaga Co., a
yk..--

Hart.

Hoag.

.V.

C'l

UU.
".-r;

P.O.

b Onon-

-tmaater; b

.1

1'. ii.

Hoag.

<

l-

Kirkville.

Mercbant; b Onoudaga Co..

r,

im. r
iMrKvni...
b Kinga Co, a 184;]; Pott-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY,

Wilcox, Noble E. Farmer; b Onondaga, 9 1^2-.'; P U Kirkville.
Vaiifchaack, Henry r, res Manliua, Lawyer; b Colurabia Co,
Postcffice Manlius.

Ifi'.'T;

J. Bouttelle.)

b Preble, si 8,36;

O..

P.

Amber.

Card. (J. W., Lot so. Farmer; b R. L 9 1817; P. O., .\niber.

Card. Mrs. G. W.; b Tully. s 1^41; P. o. Amber.
Cummings. Michael, Lot ',VJ, Farmer, (.inoudaga Co., s \f^>): P.
O.. Oti.-ico.

Case, J. C. Lot S5. Farmer; b Yate8 Co., s 1828; P. O.. Otisco.

Clark, Charles. Lot in Farmer and Fuller of Cloth b Mass.,
'.

8 isuy:

Edinger,
Edinger,
Frisbie,

P. )., otisco.
.Tacob. Farmer: b IJermauy, 186;t, 3 1854; P.O., Otisco.
Susan, iwife of .lacob Edinger; b Otisco, 1849; P. O.,
(

Otisco, N. Y.
L Tvler. Lot
Co.,

P.

s ls.il:

Fish, Willis C. Lot

Farmer and Dairyman

-i.

Delaware

Farmer: b Onondaga, Co.

1827; P. O..

Navarino.
Fitzgerald. Ijeoree, Lot 9s. Farmer;

Ireland,

b.

School

St. cor Chestnut; b Geddes. 182.').

Chas. E. Late Salt Inspector and Manuf; b Geddee

Died Sept 1.3. 1877.

Mrs Caroline F, widow of the above, res. 21 Orchard
St.; b Cayuga Co, 18:!0, s 18,5.3.
Stevea, Chas. W, Farmer; h N Y. s 18.'?.'>; Postoffice Geddes.
Steves. Chas. R. Farmer; b N Y. 9 1841 Postoffice Geddes.
1819

Pharis,

Shumway.

J. P. Physician: b

P. O.,

3 18.iO;

Farmer; Postmaster ten years; Supervisor fi)r Istiil; b lsn4. Saratoga Co.. 9 181.',: P. 1. Itisco.
Beuderson. Lyman K.. res. Otisco, Prop'r Central House; b
>'-'.

Y,
Harvey, Salt Manufr: b

Postoffice (ieddes.
Westfall. James. Geddes;

P.

(>.,

Amber.

Hale, L.
P. >.. otisco, N. Y.
Kiugsley. o. H.. Lot 9.'). Farmer; b Mass., slsOC: P. O.. Otisco.
Kiuuev. Warren, res. Aoiber; retired Farmer; b Conn., 8 18.3.j;

.Albert L. Physician and

1836 Postoffice. Geddes.

P. l>.. Amber.
99.
Miller, (ieorge P.,
'

Lm

Farmer; bOtisco. 1847; P.O., Otiaco.

Farmer; b Ireland, s 18.')7; P. o.. Otisco.
W..
Rice, O.
Lot 4, Dairy Farmer; b Otisco. 1S42; P.O.. Otisco.
RedwaT, James H., Lot 72, Farmer and Justice of the Peace;

Meara M.. Lot

14.

"b Otisco. s 1*17; P. O.. .Vmber.

retired Farmer: bConn., s 18()6: P. O., Amber.
Shau!, A., Lot 94, Farmer: b Herkimer Co., 8 182,'); P.(., Otisco.
N.. Lot l.'i. Farmer: b otisco. s ls28; P.O. .Vesper.
Tuttle,
Tuttle. Daniel, Fanner; died December. 1<V4: b. N. H.. 9 179S.
Van Uenthuysen, John, Farmer: botisco, 1K.J4; P. O., Amber.
Van Beiithuvsen, Sarah Jane, iwife of J. Van Benthuysen,; b
Marcellus, 1S3(J; P. o.. .\mber. N. Y.

Redway. Tbos.

Wm.

Van Benthuyseu. Au'ander. Farmer, deceased.

Van Beiithuysen. Harriet. widow of Amander Van Benthuy'n.
1

Williams. .Samuel.
daga, Co.

Lot

184;!;

Wright. William, Lot

97.

Fanner and Blacksmith; b Onon-

otisco Vallev.
Farmer; b Onondaga, Co. 1820; P. O.,

I'. (>..

94.

TOWN OF

T(JWN OF GEDDES.
Andrews. Thos.. Farmer and Dairyman; b England,

s ls41;
P. < I, Svracuse.
Abell, L. H.. Farmer; b Conn.. 9 18:30; P. O. Geddes.
Babcock. Silas 1!.. Farmer and Dairyman: b N. Y., s 184-3: P.

O. Fairni"unt.
Bronson. -Mrs. Sarah C: b N. Y.. 8 1828; P. O. Geddes.
Belden. .Mrs. (iertrude W.: b N. Y., 9 1844; P. O. Ceddes.
Corey, Silas. Farmer and Dairyman b N. Y., 9 1818; P. O.
Syracuse.
Cowa'n. John. Farmer: b N. Y. 18;i7; P. O. Geddes.
Cowau. I'hillip H.. Farmer; b N. Y.. 81847; P. o. Geddes.
Cody, John, School Trustee b Ireland, s 18(U: P. o. (Jeddes.
Cool, <jeo. A, Wholesale and Retail (Jrocer, 270 and 27s W.
(ieuesee St. Dealer in Flour. Feed and Fresh .Meats,
Salt Receiver. Geddes; b Onondiiga Co., Dec. 12, 1841.
Chaffee, Burritt, Farmer; b town of Onondaga, loO; P. O.
:

office

Fairmount.
Chaffee. L. C. iTerry i; b Geddes, 1848. P. O. Fairmount. (wife
of Burritt Chaffee.)
Draper, (i W, Physician b N Y, 9 ls;52 Postoffice Geddes.
Fay. Merritt. Farmer b N Y, 3 l8'.'."i Postoffice Fairmount.
Y. 9 1829: Postoffice lieddes.
Frazer. Mrs. Julia A
Gere. R N. Syracuse Iron Works; b N Y, 9 18;J0; PostofiBee
:

bN

(edde9.

Gere. N S, Supervisor; b N Y. s 18:12 Postoffice Geddes.

Gere. George C. Fanner and Salt Manufacturer; b NY.
:

Po:.tortice (ieddes.

Hooper. J W: b N Y; Postoffice Geddes.

Jerome. Henrv. Farmer and Dairyman, b
otlice f'airniount.

Lathrop. .Mr9 A, Farmer and Dairy; b

Y,

Y.

9 l8.1,j;

1820; Post-

Po9toffice

Fairmount.
Pastor St. I'atrieks Church, res. Chestnut
b New Brunswick IMl. 8 18.j8.
Oliver. <ieo. W. res. .'jO Cnivcrsity Ave, Syracuse. Gen'l and
Onondaga Co. Pottery Co b N H
Manager
Financial

Magee. James

and

-Id

P,

South

18^17

75

Liverpool.

Alvord. Charles

(i.

Liverpool.

Liverpool, Prop'r Cigar Factory, b

res

18.12;

Postoffice Liverpool.
Merchant, b Liverpool: Postoffice

Bassett. H' J. res Liverpool,

Liverpool.
Beiischer. Frank, res Liverpool. Blacksmith; b Prussia, 1835,
sl8.'>4; I'ostoffice Liverpool.
Brand. Charles, res Liverpool, Barber; bLiverpooI, 1852; Postoffice Liverpool.
Baker, Truman, res Phoenix, Farmer; b Lysander, 1820 Post;

office

Phoenix,

Baxter, (ienrcr, res Liverpool. Salt Manufr; b Spafford. 18.39;

Po.stoffice Liverpool.
Baxter, CL. res Liverpool, Salt Inspector; b Phoenix. 1847. s
1801; Postoffice Liverpool.
Baum. B W. Lot 3. Farmer; h N Y, 9 18.32; P O Syracuse.
Buuzey. Oscar, res Liverpool. Prop'r American Hotel: b
Albany. 18:i3. s 18:54; Postoffice Liverpool.
igar Manufr and Supervisor;
Bassett, George, res Liverpool,
b Wayne Co, 1x17. s 18;!;{: Postoffice Liverpool.
Liverpool,
Fruit
and Confectionery; b EngJohn
res
Clark,
A,
land, ls.'!8. 9 18.J1 I'ostoffice Liverpool.
Chilliugworth, R J. Lot (18, Farmer and Assessor; b England,
ls.3:t, s 1843; Postoffice Liverpool.
Cockings, Phillipp, Lot 112, Farmer; b England, 18.30, s 1816;
Postoffice Syracuse.
Cockings. Alniira, wife of Phillipp Cockings b Montgomery
Co, l.s;W, s 18.'J.j; Postoffice Syracuse.
Chase. Nathan, res Liverpool, (was .shoemaker for Army of
1812i; b R 1, 1782. s 1.8:!2: I'ostoffice Liverpool.
Chapiii. William A. res Liverpool, Physician and Surgeon; b
Salem, N Y, 1820, 9 1870; Postoffice Liverpool.
Cockings, (ieorge. res Liverpool, Harness and Shoemaker; b
England, 1820, 9 184S; Postoffice Liverpool.
Chilliugworth. Charles G
b England. 1796, s 1843; Died, May
(

2.'),

8 1?7:J.

isoi

Dingman. Luke, Lot

SALINA.

Avery, M R, Lot .6. Farmer, b Conn, s 18-36; P O Liverpool.

Avery. Julia E. wife of M R Avery, b Penn, 1829, s ISW; Post-

Otisco.

IKIO

Cooper and Barrel Mfr; b Albany

Geddes.
Surgeon b CamlUus, N Y.

l.OO. s 18.59; Postoffice

Whedon.

Otisco". 1S3T; P. O., Otisco.

Postoffice (ieddes.

s 18.36;

Stewart
N Y, s l,s;jO; Postoffice
Geddes.
Spaulding. Simeon, res. Geddes. J P. Grocer and Druggist: b
Conn. 1802. s 182.i; Postoffice Geddee.
Terry, Guy. Farmer and Dairyman: b N Y, 9 1823; Po9toffice
Fairmount.
Van Dnseii. E B. Contractor: b N Y. 8 1829; Postoffice Geddes.
Woolson. Mrs Louisa; b Canada, s 1840; Postoffice (ieddes.
Wnolson. .Mrs A; b N Y, s 1842 I'ostoffice (ieddes.
White. Thomas (i. Inventor, .\holitio11i3t. Prohibitionist and
Swedeiiborgian; b Onondaga Co. 1810. res. 7 Pear St;

Hale. F. H., Lot 8:i. Farmer: b Conn.. 8 lf*04; P. O., Oti8co.

Hoxsie. Clifford, res. .Vmber, S^alesnian; b Michigan, 1857,
ls.-,T:

Litisco Valley.

(>..

7!l,

Amber.
Goodwin. E. L.. Lot

Pharis,

.\.

1M2;

wife of

OTI9CO.

res.

Bishop. John J., Lot 78. Farmer; b Otisco. 8 1837; P. O., Amber.
Bishop. Maggie E, Lot Ti*; wife of John J. Bishop, b Marcellus. 8

Pool. David Farmer: b

\ s 1870 Postoffice Geddes.
Porter. W W. Physician b Vt, 9 18.-,l Postoffice
Geddes.
Paige, Joel S. Salt Manuf b Mass, 3 1844; Postoffice
Geddes.
:

Amber.

P. (>..

421

Amber, Prop'r Lake House: b

P.O., Amber.
J.,

Otisco slK:il;
Bouttelle. Jennie .M

YORK.

Plumb, V\m, Farmer: b Conn, s 1822; Postoffice Fairmount.

Poole, Theodore L. ihrm Poole it North.) General
Merchandise. 118-120 Furnace St; b Onondaga Co. 1840.
Pharis, Miles P. Salt iu9pector and Manuf Flower Pots,
res

TOWN OF
Bouttelle, Alexander

NEW

6.3.

Farmer; b Montgomerj- Co.

1821, 9

1870; I'ostoffice Liverpool.

Danforth, Polly, (First White Female Born and Raised in

Salinai; b Saliiia. i:9.3. died, April 5, 18(W.
Duell, Silas, res Liverpool. Carpenter and Engineer; b
Dutchess Co. 1840, s1m)2; ['ostoffice Liverpool.
Forger, John S, res Liverpool, Salt and Brick Manufr b
;

Liverpool, lsI2; Postoffice Liverpool.

Gale, Henrj- F. Lot 1'.'8, Sup't Coarse Salt Fields, b Volney,
1K49. 9 li60; Postoffice Syracuse,
(iale. Thomas, Lot 127, I'r<,p'r Coarse Salt Fields; Postoffice
Svracuse.
Gale, Mrs Thomas, wife of Thomas Gale; Postoffice .Syracuse.
Gleason. O C, Farmer; b Liverpool. 1828; P O Liverpool.
Gleason. William, res Liverpool. Merchant; bLiverpooI. 1828;
Postoffice Liverpool.
Hand Tbonias. res Liverpool, Merchant: b Ireland, 9 182o;
Postoffice Liverpool.
rx
j ..
Hand. Pollv Hacheldor. res Liverpool, wife of Thos Hand; b
Liverpool. 1x26; Postoffice Liverpool.
Hawley. Lewis T. Lot 122, Mfr Dairy Salt; b Solon, 1807 8l84;
Post<iffice Syracu.se.

122. wife of L. T. Hawley; b

1847; Postoffice Svracuse.
Hibbard. Joseph L, Farmer and J P. res Syracuse; b Otsego
Co 1812.9 1827; Po9toffice, 196 Wolf Street, Syracuse

Hawlev. Arabella.
"

Deertield.

(Iraham) Lot

1.S24. s

: :;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

422

b llrrklmer

I.lverrMio'- Milliner:

Iluiiilt-r Harmb. r
IBTO.

Juuetb. Alfr-J J. rr.

,ri-.l t\<A:
;

InrT...ll.

iVi.

ir..iK

rr.

I',

I.lvrrj-"-!. T.-..
|-...t..m.-.-

I.,

n-n

llBird.

>, l"*l.

liakrr.

PmIoIBw l-ITrrpuol.
UuutlDKtna. ( S. rr I.Hrrp.-.!. PbTtlelBU na
Watrrtiiwn. lO. l<'.; I' l.ivi-n'l

Abraham. Farmer: b X Y.a liCM: P.MloSee I.yModer.

Mr* l.arliii. re* l.litlr I'llra. I.ltlle I'tlca Hotel, b X
Y.

Sutij.'i.li

1"

"T

L,n...

WH...

l*nib,
I

rkr

r...l..Uli'

l.iiir|H...I

lliiili'->-

rr'

B<mtmii. b LlrerpiMil

l.i\rri>""l.

V..,l..tUcr l.i.Ti.<>l
*iidrrw rr l,lrr|">l.

I". IMI.

..liinibi*

<

l^.t

hllletl I'low.
b
\Krnl Mirbimn
I.. Fariiirr and
X Y. K"i-'; r...|"IIii.r llnl.l 111. \ lllr
.\ndreo. rr. llaldo in.^ ill.-. Ilarrrl Maiiuf r. b Ireland.

laM

Kill, r.'.l'-nir.- Kal.lw

...

i;,x.

I'li.ti.nirr l,lvrriM..il

rriH.I. Rrllrrd : b KligUud l-.M.

IKVI: l'i>.|i.nirr l.ivrrjHMil.
I'Bddork. Ji>bii. rv I.ivrrp4...1, Ki>rn-r Bixl MiTcbant ! Ilrrk)nicr< I""-'>. 'I"'."!!. T'ol-'ltlrr l.ivpr|N><>l.

rr.

.)

Sailtb

rr.

Hcboolcmfl

KrBi.k M.

.\. rr I.lvpriMM.l.
r>i.ionicc. i.i\pr(">'ii
".'7
>t I>ir) ii.ii ai'd
K

Madi

I,

lli>i.

l**l.

'.

IMi.

l.ixrri"...!.

K"

Iiix.iii.

l.'.th

I>eni,

X-iA. I'n I.lrrri...l.

<',M.per: b I.lv.Tp..ci IM-'
.

111.-

Krrd. Ar. I'".t"nir.Wriu' \. rr. HaMwu.-'ill'-.

Kl..ur

\V

Alien

.vc

I.

.i,d.:r.

<

.\
(

'"

'

Mfr. b

,.|1|.

laldlii.vllle.
Y,. IMl; I'ort-

IM.': l'o.tofflce

bX

Y.

KO;

Kalillrld Co. Coiiu, IMT, .Ik.'I

I...-..'

uf

T..b*ccu.

Y.

"*"1'': retired.

Burr M-r- A

i'l-

I'ol.

,
>uuat ... . lH.t: Tii, l,..ai.d.T
Krii..r. I.
lluell
Ulaurbanl J U. r. ItuM* li.* illr: .Marl.lr mul t.rutili.- IValer;
1. IM;. I'...l..mi-.- lii.l.lM..Mlle
I. K.lbrt.li:<-. Ji.'ir>
and Ji.liirr. > l<*<: rua(<.aice
Butler.*: II. Kuriiirr. furiK-utiT
La niton..
i

r.rmer: b X Y. . Ki: |-...|..nirr l.iiilr I tlra.

H.ld* In.viil,..
lUkrr IrMii. Karmer: I. X Y. . l-V; I' .-t..nio
1-lt
f
1., ..,..|. r
I ,".;. iVXi.t-. Karmer. b X Y. .
r. hii.I Hlindv
b.rl.. X.rr. llald-ULVlllr Mfr >4.h
nil..
.

<.

""

Il.urhaiiil'

rKralrr; I. X Y..l-<li..
^Vi M. n-. Hald* ill.-

lai.d. 1-Ul.

Hlwlee. Margaret

<

ari-n .r and

J..li..-r.

dee"bl

.\.

I-"

Ilaldwin.ville.

lO'.

.laical...

.. ..

(Iiee...

Mali.T

H,ldu..

I.

.,
-

l'...|..ni.-r ll.il<lniii.vit|p.

l-r.l:

l-aac to |i.ildMiii>\ ill.-. Ilrv

WiHHl.-n Ware
b X Y. . 1x14
('.
rr. Ualdoln.ville. b

li.i.nl.. linirerle.
l> Haldwin.x lUr.

and

I'

':

X Y.

wln.villr.
ir. Kal.lwIn.Mllp. riolbink'

Donovan M.

r...tonirr Uald-

and Uriil. Furul.h-

lial.lHin.rillr.
b Ireland IM7
l'
liiic ('I'd.
Dutibaiii. I."., rr. l.lllle I'llra Kurinrr. Pntdure Buvrr and I'
.M. b X Y. I'lT. l'...|.-ltior I.Utlr I'lK-a.
I>ini:niaii. I'.i.-r. Farmrr: b
Y. 1M I' < l.lver|ioul
Kii... A ?^. H..irl; b X Y. . 1<H: l'...i..ra.-r ITar.
IMii;

l'.>.l..mcr Clar.
Il.>aiiiian.
Y.
Kn.. A II.
F.uirru'k. I F. rr. lUldKiu.villr. Farmer: b .N' Y. \KH; I'oit..(Brr HalilKln-villr
Feniutuii \V J. Wmi.iii Makrr: !.>: I'll Ijiniwiun.
Fra/rr. J r. F.rnirr: b X Y.l'.JH. I' li Baldwin. vlllr
Y. ImOI. I'o.lFia/ee. .Ir..r. Farmrr nii.l .MillKriitbt b
<

lial.lw iii.m1I.-

i.nir.-

Fi.brr.

Im-.i

ir. I.llllr llira.

1-.

II

k-mitbiiix and JobbiiiK

lilni

l'M.t..|Urp l.illl.- I'llra

Furiiirr. b X Y. . I"l.'i. I'u l.lllle I'llra.
nrriuifr .Manuf rand I'ndrrlakrr. b
Y. lf,
K'.;

Frnnrr Mr- F W.
Faiirbrr.

.A.

Iiicu

l'i..t..|Iic.- I. ml.-

Fanrbrr. J'.bn

nrriuk'r MniiiiCr uiul I'liilrrlakrr

'

l'...li.nicr I.llllr

Mi:

Y,

lira.
lllr. Huildiiik:

MuTrrand

('(l

r...i..mcr llnl.lwln.vlllr.
Fuller, K. .V l' I', 'e. Hal.lwin.rllle. Drr IhmhU. lir.icerle.,
V. ItCt; I'o.lulIIre
t r.>rk>'r>
and Wall l'B|.er b
llralrr: b

Y.

llal<l.ii>>villr.

Fancbrr.

It

I.

MaldKin.TiUr. Carrlaicn Mfr: b

r.-.

r...lMlllrr KiildMin-villr
Fni/.'r. Il..rac.- J. rr. lluMHin.villr
l-ili. ri..|.inirr liiil.lwiii. vlllr

Fancbrr.

.\laii.oii. r.--

hal.luin.Mllr

Y.

ll.xik-kerper: b
|lru|Ei;i.t:

Y,

IMT

Y.

IM'i;

P.-l-.ttlc- llablwin.xill.-.

.\Ur> '. I hurrh. Haldwin.vlllp

Frun.u. F Ta-lur
Fancbrr I. I., rr. llal.luiii.i lllr I'rop Seiiera Hotel: b llald
will. Vlllr. 17I fr-m It-K-lir.trr
Hoot and .Sb. Maker;
Fil<K.-rald. .Viidr.-w. rr. Halilwin.villr

.(

'

'nh*.

l'.itofllce

Lyiauder.

Tinware.

bX

DrWlii

r.>.li>ltlrr

I'lainvillr.

Italdwiu.vllle.

Tearhcr. b

Y.

1>.

i'

1"

C. ir. Ilalilwliiivill.-: Altc.riiejr-Bl.|.aw

I"!-. K'V4: I'loLitllrr lialdwln.i illr.

liriiiiiili.
F. rr. Ilulilwiii. Vlllr. Tailor Ba|>ll.l i'burrb. b
Y.. 1-7.'.. I'...l-.|licr Ualdwiii. vlllr
I i. 1.1.1 win.
Ilri.rv. Farmrr. b i i.wpgo C... IMl. 170: I'll, Hay.

CaviiKa

I...

IM'J. rudofllro
'. rr. lialdwln.vllle: b Ireland,
llaldiii.vllle.
Y. f l-^ii: I'u.tofllro
Ilrnnau. rr. Baldwiiitvllle. b

lirabam. Th.

V,

liuiiU-f.

M.

l^'':

rr.

rilliiivillr.

""-

"O

Irrland.

i;n>enllrld.

"

......
StarChurn.

l.iMii.Irr
.
rr- l,Tii.l.-r. I'r"l> l.rtander
Bruwu.
Y 1-.11; I'o.l.'Wce l.\aiider.
Hardware.
Urlttuli. Mrkllii, re. l.j.ai..lrr.
I

l>

Fiill.r. .I..bn

1. l-< ' li-M-...

Thre.hinn. b N \ . Mr.'.
Bidill. A. rr. I.vMiider; F..undr).

l-jr..

Kiiu.

aii.l

ill.-

Farmer, b

"'
^
r-I.-rric.

>>.

Uuek & Witfbi.re. Haidwiii.ville: Mfr

I'latf-rn. \Va..n.. &r b N Y. .
(

ll.l,: in.Till.Il.rl..r..f <;..-< li

I'

<
'*"'''''Vi.lr,".an, ira.n|(r..w,.r; .I'M.
Baldwln.vllle. retired
IU.d.-e >aii.url rr

l"

l.iitir

r<-

Jaiiir. K.

Il.,llli.ir.-r

h'urnirr: b

I'.

Mr. A

<

Haldwimrllle.

<

I'

Falrbank.. Krwin. rr- Hiildwin.t

,..,.,

Baldwili'Tillr \..l.in>

Ilrn

l"."J

'

"111

rhociili.

iH'kl: I'll

\<*'M:

I'...t..nirt-

arrlaije

I- af

I.il.r in

'l---, .M.-rchai.l Miller., b

Aldeu.^ll

bX

r...i..fflr.- IUMli.t
Ad.U J. I.. V'aruier.bN Y.. Wtl. lllr
mid >.vcu..-; nifr.
Auu* S..I1.. .lac.b rr. lUldw nm > mcu..-

j^^rrr. y

Farnirr;

l*ll

TuW.N uF I.VSAXKKK.

Allrii
^

Farmer: b Yidnev.

riit"fllcf

I'bv.iclan and surueon;

l.lvrr|H...I.
I"''. I'..t..fflce I,tvpr|.<ol.

U. <e

J..bi.

Scbr.p|l

It

I...

Y.

['..li'lBri- l.nrr(Mi..l

Younc

limwiT;

,rr|.raH o

ll..irl.

..mi IMU.

<

Y. . I'M" I'...l.'nirr llav.

I'lira. Farnirr and J I'; b
Y.
l'...tMmcr l.illlr I lira
Y. . K-i. I' i l.lllle llira.
l>eliruff. I'rter F. Furiiirr; l>
Dunbar. S M. rr. Ualdwin.villr. UriiitKl.l. Dunbar Blork: b

l'"t"in'-'- l.i\^ri~"'l

*''';

T ft l.ivrr|Hii,l. I'f ! r
N Y I'avalrji: bliiTiuan}.

Wllw.M UrrurViirii.. r:
Weioiar. J.^hii M. re.

I.

Ibil.l.. H
lluiibaiii.

b Albany

Ki-lirrd.

I.<'l

I'oatolBrr Bald-

1"!'.'.

mhnrliip

)iii. ivr.'.

Turner

lander.

I'alklii-. l.rl. K.

r.i.t<>ntc<- i,iviTi"Mii.

ij(i-

Trrrv

WK

ronnell.

Mfr. b lier-

(Jprnimy

l>

M.rcbmil

I.l\rr|i....l.

lialdoiuiit lllr
V. \<ti:

Farmer; b

I'liarl.'llr.

ro^lolBx- l.i\rr|""'l

Muillb, Jur.il..

lllr

Y. 1'.* I' "> l.lllle t'llca

C.-.k. K I", ilop i;ri.rr. b
Y. - KUi; I'll l.lllle I'llra.
I
..Itiii. Mr- l.xlia .\. Farinrr. I>
I'uddrbai-k. I. F rr. llaldn lii.villr. Kariiirr. b X Y. . 1"'JS,
I'lLlMntrr Italdwiii.ville.
I'lark. lirorKr >. rr. lialdwiii.vlllp, I'uhlUbrr HaldwiiKTllla
liii.illi
li
Y. . l:i. I'...|..nic.- Iljldwiii.vllle
K H
lurnell. H K. rr. Mal.lxiin illr. Tirkri AKrnl. I) I. .S
b \'l. . I"!'): I'.i.l'.lilcr lialdo in.t lllr

Co. l>*r.'. IMfl.

I'Imlrr. .I'-bn J. I."i "<'. Kariiu-r. b t'ulunibla
'I'o.I. nicr I.IHTIXM.I
Hciubard iiiii.ii.l. Lot !. KrnnT: b t.rrniinr Ix-K. i IsM;
|'...|Mni.p l.lviT|Hi.i|
Mrrcbjiii mnd ?'ll
1
lVi.-r > l.iTi
iiii>v. KW. ll". ri..i-Htc.- I.lvrri~~.l

oiii-villr

I'o l.ivrrp<...l
I'arkiT < H. l.-l til. i.r..rrr. b l.l>eri>"..l li-l.
Knmcr |i*0.
IVtil, KuKcii'' r>- l.ivrri"!"!. slt liinwcl-.r. b
.

Ml.

!.<>

1M:

III.

I'.i.t'iRlcr

I-XL*.

lati.l. .

Dlnntrd Mr*

Crandoii. Alfrr.l K. rr. Ital.lv> in.tillr. I'r..|.'r itailroad llxlel.

I'.i.l-nirr llaldwin.villr.
I) Knclaiid. . t>.'>.'.
Cmiidoii. J It. rr. Ilalilwiii.villr. rr..|. r liilliard Hall, b F.uic-

17.

MriTlmm. K <;. I.-1 1. KnniT: b<)tlK:.> l-ll; I'O I,i,-n><".l

M*tbr> l>iiiii>-l r^- l,lrrr<.ol. .,l dlr. b Jnhinlowii K.lt
l;u;

llp'tbrr.. J

l.tlinore lluute: b

i'o.titllcr Syrmruir.

lllr. Stationer, rrinter. Itralrr

(LmhI. and I'lrturr Frame*, b X Y.(1m:.

.IBcr I.VMiii.Irr

1<I1

I'oiiii. I"l".

\<4>. r..i..l11cr l.inTpiHjI.

Kiiiier: b KuKlaiid. IMl. IxOt,

1*4:1.

rimii'l'UiK
Mrdllrc.tl. .l"--i.h

rn HaldwliKi

11.

Julrirr iid < ln-l

ll; I'l-.t-fllcc I.iren'l

l,lrrrp<>l. ttuiilniitii :
l,>iiii
I'oMi'flIrr l.lTtMKil.
(.atiiiiorf. M'-<-. rr- l,lTrrp<Mi1. I'r"|i'r

Mrru. rrn

I'oalofflcr

It'.'l.

.,
MBkrr,
b

K6:

ll.rrrlMrr,bri.Tl<K

Y.t

r<'l,iv.-r!-.l.

-i:

I.i.in.T

Ho.t.'ITIrr Ital.lwiii.vtllr.
lealpr In (;mcerle, Pr<>ti.liellrn Hr<. rr. lial.lKin.villr
b
Y.
liiii.. I 'infi-rti-'iirrv. i igar* an<l Tubarcu
IK.M: r<l<-nicr Hal>Jin.t lllr.
lliKrlxw. < III.
Y.
Hriillrv. K. rr. I.Utlr t'tira: Farmer and Si>erulatur. b
' KTSi; l'.>.t..lllre I.llllr I'llra
Y. ll. I'...lUerry. LUrk, rr. I..an.lrr Wa..n Mfr. b

Kutir. ou .lt

..f

Merchant

.\.

Faiiry

III

L*aib, j'lml-'l!

Y.ilTi.. i'o.l.ifDre

I'llra.

Bolton. Jan.r.

Llvrniool.

bX

I.iitle ('lira.

I. Kile

,.
>

"'':

Iii|{r|c.w. I.

ri.t.lTirr l.inle liica

I
Ilea. Mrrebaiil

rura.

i.llllr

Hjer. J s re.

>

KT.

Ujer. T. rr. Liltlr

^ ,
.i.d Store dlr; b Llv^,

Baldwln.vllle.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

X

Hay den, Mrs P W:

Postoffice Phoeuix,
Y.
Halsted, John. Magistrate and Faruier; b

Heury

HuQtiiigtoii.

L,,

Farmer:

Y,

1870; Postoffice Lit-

tle I'tica.

Herrick. Hiram, res Baldwinsville; Contractor and Builder; b

Y.8

Hartop. A

1'4.!; Hostc.ffice Baldwinsville.

F, res Baldwinsville; Marble Cutter;

b England,

Postdtlice Baldwinsville.

1S.VJ;

Hax, Jobn. res Baldwinsville. Merchant. Farmer ami Baker;

b (Jermany. ISXJ. s l.M'.l; 1' i) Baldwinsville.
Hax, Harriet, res Baldwinsville; b England, (wife of John
Hax.
Hamill, Alex, res Baldwinsville; Druggist and Supt >8Wego
Canal; bXY. slxW; I'ustoHice Baldwinsville.
I

Hotaling. (i H. res Baldwinsville; .Merchant Miller. "Stone

Mills;" b X Y. slH-,'ti: Postoffice Baldwinsville.
Haines, Theodore, res Baldwinsville; (ieneral Wrapping Paper
Manufactory of Baldwinsville; b
Y. s 1874
P O
Baldwinsville.
Hotaling, .\ T. res Baldwinsville; Merchant Miller, "Stone
Mill;" b
Y, s IK41: Postoffice Baldwinsville.
Howard, 11, res Baldwinsville; Jeweler. Book and Music D'lr;
b X Y, s 18<>9; Postoffice Baldwinsville.
Herriugton, C B.

Harmon, James.
Surgeon Dentist: b X Y, 1^4.{; P < Baldwinsville,
Hakes, Alanson. Farmer; b X Y. s ls-,'4; Pcistoffice Clay.
Haoiill, A P. Farmer; b X Y, s 1<1.'>: Postoffice Baldwinsville.
Johnson,
J. Farmer and Com'r of Highways; b >' Y, s 1*40.
Jaycox. O R. Farmer; b X Y, sls44: Posti'tlice Plainville.
Jessup, B 1), res Baldwinsville; Harness and Saddle Mfr; b X'
Hilts, J E,

Y. s lS(i.'i; Postoffice Jlaldwinsville.

Kendall. J V, res Baldwinsville; I'hys and Surgeon and Supervisor; b X Y, s 1>^40: I'ustoHice Baldwinsville.
\V, Tanner and Shoemaker; b X Y, s 1H40; P O LitKelley,

tle I'tica.

Kenyon. J

C, res. Baldwinsville, Postoffice Baldwiusville.

Lake, Elijah.
Little

Y,

liS^tn,

Post-

office Baldwinsville.

ville.

Lewis & Son, George

\V. res. Baldwinsville.

Farmers and Milk-

IV.stoffice Baldwinsville.
X Y. s
Lackey, <i X, res. Ilaldwinsville, Watches, Jewelry and Silver
Ware: bXY. slSW); Postoffice Baldwinsville.
McHuron. Lewis L, Farmer; b X Y, s 1844; Post Office Bald-

lg.).i;

winsville,

McHuron, Lyman, Farmer; b

18L'G;

Postoffice Clay.

H K, Postoffice Clay. Y.
Powell, Orsamus, Merchant and Farmer;

Peltsr.

b Rensselaer Co,

1K40: Post.itlice Clay,

Y.
Porter, David, Farmer; b
Y. s iHlS; Postoffice Clay.
Russell, Joseph, res Baldwinsville, Blacksmitbing and
I8l.f, 8

Rice,
Rice,

shoeing; b Canada, s 18.V)

M. Farmer: b X Y, s 1K48; P
P.

Shoemaker and

Horse-

PO

Baldwinsville.
Baldwinsville.
Tauner; b N Y, sl844: Postoffice
:

Little I'tica.

Russ, H H. Hop (irower b

Y. s ls.%1; P O Little L'tica.
Smith, P. Farmer; b X Y, s 1X40: P
Baldwinsville.
Smith. R L, res Lvsander. .Merchant and J P; b
Y, s 182S;
Postoffice Lvsander.
Schermerhorn, Catharine. P o Lvsander, X Y.
Slater, Rogers, Farmer and Cider Mfr:b XY, sl7G; Post-

>

X Y. s ls.-d P o Baldwinsville.
X Y, s IX-'l P O Baldwinsville.
Snyder, Charles, Farmer; b Germany, 8 18.'w; Postoffice BaldStart, Mary. Farmer
\<
Slau.son, S D, Farmer; b

Scoville, J

winsville.
M. res Baldwinsvil'e.
l*.'.'.l;

PO.

Cigar Mfr

Y,

1840, g

Baldwinsville.

Schenck. R. Farmer; b X Y, s 1H27; P O Plainville.

Schenck, Catharine .M. Farmer; b X Y, s 18J.'); P O Plainville.
Schenck, John, Farmer; b X Y, s IHl."); P O Plainville.
Smith. L E. Postnffice Baldwinsville. S' Y.
Skinner. D T. Postoffice Baldwinsville, X Y.
Schenck, B B. res Plainville, Homeopathic Physician and Surgeon; b X Y. 8 iKl.'): P
I'lainville.
Sullivan, R B. res Plainville. Homeopathic Pbysiciaa and
Surgeon b X Y, s I'^TO; P() Plainville.
Shenp. Mrs A, res Little L'tica, Farmer; b X Y, s 1847;
Smith, Judson A. Farmer: b X Y. s 1S.V>; 1* > Lysander.
Slauson, J H, Farmer; b X Y, s IKV: Lysander.
Snyder, R C, Farmer; Formrrly Merchant b X Y, a 18.5.3;

Postoffice Bald-

Vt., s 181C;

Strahl

P. < >. Phfvnix.

Y, s I^IG
E, res. Baldwinsville. merchant, b Plainville, June
Jil, \<>'^: Postoffice Baldwinsville.
McCarty, (ieorge. res. Lysander. I'hysician and Surgeon; b
X' Y, s 1H4G; I'ostoffice Lysander.
Martin, L, res. Lvsander, Homeopathic Physician and Surgeon b X' Y. s ls42; Postiitlice Lysander.
Marks, A H, res. Baldinsville, I'hvsiciim and Surgeon;
Y. 8 18(;.'<; Postoffice Baldwin-ville.
Monnier. Frank E. res. Baldwinsville, firocor and Provision
Y, s l.-i)."!; Postidlice Baldwinsville.
Dealer; b
McOuigaii Bros., res. Baldwinsville. Miinufs. of Fine Cigars
and Tobacco; b Canada, s 1-74; Postnffice Bald-

McCarthy, Edward, Farmer; b

bX

winsville
H B, Farmer; b

Pelts, etc.: h

office Baldwinsville.

I'atrick, res. UaMwinsville. Paper

'S1.H47; Piistoltice Baldwinsville.

Murphv,

Baldwiusville;
Baldwinsville.
J, res.

Y,

Maker, b Ireland,
s

l.'<71

Postoffice

Lv,sander.

Plainville, Attorney at Law; b X \,s

IK.J.'S
Postotlice Plainviile.
Y, a
Norton. Lyman, les Plainville, Retired Merchant; b
I'osti'llice Plainville.
ls-.'(i;
Newcomb, Mrs E F; Postoffice Baldwinsville.
Y, a 18.">1 ; Postoffice BaldOuderkirk, Clareuee, Farmer; b
res.

winsville.
res.

Tucker & Crippen,

res Baldwinsville, Dealers in Leaf Tobacco;

b
Y, s ll*47; Postoffice Baldwinsville.
Tillotson, C H, Farmer; b
Y, s 1S4U: P o Lysander.
Teall, Charles H,res Lysander. Farmerand Caipenter; b X" Y,
s IS4n; Postoffice Lysander.

M S. res Lamsons, Ticket and Express Agent, P M,

Merchant, Coal and I'roduce Dealer: b X Y, s 1842;

Thompson,

Postoffice Lamsiins.
Y, s 1819;
C, res Baldwinsville, Deputy Sheriff; b
Postotlice B:ildwinsville.
Merchant
b
YanBuren,
Baldwinsville.
res
Wall;ice.
Tappan,
ISL'rt; Postoffice Baldwinsville.
P O Lysauder.
J, 3 1SJ2
VaiiLiew, J P. Farmer ; b
Yincent, William. Farnjer, Carpenter and Joiner; s 1868;
Postoffice Baldwinsville.
Y, s ls-i,">; P O Plainville.
VanDerveer. Henry, Fanner; b
Y: Postoffice
YauDerveer. Polly S, res Baldwinsville; b
Baldwinsville.
Toll,

YanDerveer, I) S, Farmer; b X Y, s KU; P ( Lysander.

Syracuse
White, Xathaniel. res Baldwinsville, Lawyer, Xo
While,i; b
.><aviiigs Bank. Syracuse, llirm Morgan
Baldwinsville.
Postotlice
Town of Lvsander;
Wormuth. Ezra, re's Baldwinsville, Livery and Sale Stable; b
X Y, s 18:!!); I'ostoflic Baldwinsville.
Wilkins. William L, res Baldwinsville. Piopr Seneca Flouring
and t ustom Mills; b X Y, s 1^4(1; P O Baldwinsville,
Wooster, Barclav, res Lvsander. Hardware and Tiuware; b
1.")

Postoffice Lvsander.
Lysander, .Merchant: b X Y, 8 18'.'7; Postotlice Lvsander.
.
XT -.r
,00,
Winchel, Mrs S C, res Lysander, Postmistress; b X 1, 8 I8.;
I'ostoffice Lvsander.
Wright, M M I'ostoffice Baldwinsville.
Wormoth, Levi T, Farmer: b X Y. 8 lx.V); Postoffice Bald-

Y,

Lysander, \Vagou Maker; b > 1.3 1810;

Y,

HO; Postoffice

Lysander,

s isj.i;

W C, res
:

winsville.
.,,

Wormoth. S. Farmer; b X Y, 8 IH.",!); P O Baldwinsville.

White J F Farmer s IS.VI; Postoffice Baldwinsville.
Wagner u'a Farmer: b X Y, s 1>>.')0; P O Baldwinsville.
Baldwinsville.
Wood. Fred E, Farmer; b N Y. s IsiiO: P
Wagner \ndriw. Fanmr; b X \. s 1841; P O Baldwinsville.
Baldwiusville.
Wagner. K, Farmer; b X Y, s lsr,7 Pi
Ward, Win C, Toliacco Dealer; res Plainville, > \ b X \
,

s \K>2

Postoffice Lysander.
Patterson, G B. Farmer; b

.Meat, Hides,

P O Baldwinsville.
and Druggist b X" Y,

8 18,V1;

Po.-toffiCf Baldwinsville.
Schepler, William. Post^iffice Baldwinsville.

Winchel.

Martin. B, Farmer; bXY, 8 18.18; Postoffice Lysander.

Postoffice Lysander,
Martin, Robert. Farmer: b X Y. s ix:!'*
McMechan. I V Y, Farmer b X Y, s 18.11 l',>sl<pfficc Clay.
Xorthrnp, ! .\. res. Lvsander, (Ieneral Insurance Agt, b X Y,
Postoffice Lvsander.
s ls:>T
Northrup. Mrs J A, res. Lysander; b X Y. s lX-!7; Postoffice

Perry Clark,

(Jermany.

C, res Baldwinsville, Jeweler

iV:

X Y, s 1857; Postoffice Lysander.

Mount,
Martin, Abram. Farmer; b X Y, sl840; Postoffice Lysander.
Murphy. Dennis, res. Baldwiusville; b Ireland,* 1847; Post-

Norton, .labtz H.

S:

Postoffice B:ildwinsville.
Bisdee. res Baldwinsville, Dealers in

Suydam, S

winsville.

Murphy, T

Church-

bMass. sl8GH; Postoffice Baldwinsville.

Pendergast, Jr, Stephen. Farmer: s Ik.-,:.>: Pustoffice Ph.enix
Park, Curtis. Farmer; b Ireland. 3 ls(^i: P o Baldwinsville'
Park, Jennie A, Postoffice 7!C.' Broadwav, .\lbanv, X Y.
Patterson, John W.
Porter, Mrs David, res Lv.sander; b Camillus, Onondaga Co.

res.

'

Postmaster and

Baldwinsville, Blacksmith, Carriage Ironer

and DeaK'r in Agr. Imp.; b Canada, s 187^!: Postoffice
Baldwinsville,
Loveless, John, Farmer; b
Y, s IS'.'fl; Postoffice Baldwins-

Lariuer, Jos,

Mastiii.

Dentist,

James H, Farmer ami Speculator;

men

Baldwinsville,

\V ool dlr: b
-i , s 18.'-,2;
Postoffice Baidwinsville.
B. res Baldwinsville. Pastor Presbvterian

X, Farmer; b N Y: s 1S1;{; Postoffice Lysander.

Kerwin, Tom, Farmer; b Ireland, s Ig,")!; Postoffice Phoeuix.
Kee'er.

office I'hti'nix.

Baldwinsville; IJeputy Postmaster; b X' Y,

Postoffice Baldwinsville.

Jr, E, res

si-*!'.':

WW, res

Parsons,

Hickok,

Perkins,

Y. 8l?00; Post-

Lysauder.

office

423

Postoffice Plainville,
A. res Baldwinsville,
:

Wever, Chas
"and BlacKsmith Shop; b
winsville.

Y.

Wagon Manuf'r. Machine

Y,

1840; Postoffice Bald-

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

434

Wood*, r K. Frinr aud Bol (.rpcolfr, IMS. 1' l> t1rWoods. tb. Farmer kod Bust Aulldrr; b F.neUnd, IKW:

Tiin.

O A P
1

Putofflc C'laj.

TOWN OF

FLBRIlKiK.

l.'l.

I'...t..fflre i.l.lr.

I>.

urtu. .Arthur

r<-

KllTi.li:.-.

I-

Hn

Hunsfii: b

iid

I'oit.iBlce

ICTrt;

\<:

W.rrrii nrpet-STracui*.

and

Mnrt>lc

IMi.

..

.^

(iraiiitr Ilpaler;

i.ri.Im-.

Furoier
(Imrk. <;c"rv
Cuaiptoii. William K. r^i.
<

li''

li---

l-^'i*'.

1' l

New

Mfr<'halr, b

York.

addmm

Jordau.
Clroieiit*. Mrn A M. I'Mdntllrr
IiTK^rt. lifi> H. rfi<t<i(nc<< addrrfi .InnJaii.
Y'ork. IrVM. P<
II.
b
J'.rdaii.
Tracbtr,
Wni
r*
MViiiui-II.

New

H. Karinrr: b I.Tnander. \<i\ I'otufllce Jordan,

tflllot. John K. Farmer; b I.Tuiidrr. KM. I'ustiifflce Jordan.
b Schuvler Co.
(;arri)n. lie" H r Jonlaii. Mfr He<itra.l
July 7. K*'. I'v.Vi: I'i'-iofflce Jc.nlaii
<
Har\tn. F. <": r^iotofncr llalf-Wnr. )iioiida|ta 'o. N Y.
llanlT. Mr M W, rontoffirr Jordan. N Y.
Mill. 'rhonm W, Pottoffire Klbrldxe. N Y.
Hill l>.M. l'otomrr F.lbrldice
lialttrd. Jacob harmrr. I. tranife fo. N Y. ITttS. I'HI: I'ottofflce Jack Krrfu
l'olonicr F.lliridue. N Y.
llopkliii T J
Hubbell. Theron s. rei F.lbridite. .Marble and timnlte Dealer;
b Uoxbrrrv Kflawari- i... 1Iti. nWH; i> O Klbildge.
Hall. Fred S. re* 'F.'briiluc. .M>-rrbaiit and liruii>t; b SkanKlbrulge. N Y.
patelen Vlllaifi-. l-v'iO. I'
Ilarwoud. A W. ret Jor<iaii. liidrrlaker uiid Furniture Iealer;
F.lliot. 1.

Pu

TiiWN
Allif,

W.

SKANEATELF.S

l>F

SkaneatelM. Merchant b

ret

<

<

Inger^on.

York. IM4:

J'.ttofflre
I>: I'onlofflc.- KIbriilue.

K.

Alexander. Farmer: b

jniie*.

tt

illiamIowii.

Uwego

\<J^~,

'o.

Y.

Jorilun
Y.
Lalhrop. I.ouia It. I'ublUher: i'ottoince Jordan.
Ijtlrd. f W. Farmer: b Jordnn. Mav lo. |iO>l; |' o Jordan
Marlettr <iroriia M. ro<l>>nir>- M>--ii[ibl>.
Muuro. Xalhaii. PoUonir.- Klhn.lite.
Munr<i. .lobti. Farmer: l Klliridire l*-.'!: I'littofllre K-lbridge.
Merriman I'ollv, re F.UiridKe; b .\intrrduui, N Y. * 1^17:
offlci-

(tin.

Peck,

Uaac '. Farmer; b

A l>. re Jordan.

I'rrrK

1'ler.oii.

York.

Kodicer

&

Kockaell.

IXif.

Jordan.
Union Hnuke,

I'oit-

loXi. P IJ Jordan.
Y'ork,
b

New

Y.

Sjracuae.

.L.r.UM.
re Jor.laii. .Mfr Wheel '.arrow*

IM";

l'ot-

Lum-

New

York,

Jordan and >jracute.

'vTrariix': bCl.ll<!. I"
P.. t'. filer Jordan
l.vir>
Tobacco
and ( ii:ar ; b Aurellu>,
J..rdHn.
re.
SlocklnK. >'.lon (
CaTuga Co. N Y. Kill: I'lXtofBce Jordan.
Y. mil.
Steveua. 'r'homa. Farnii-r: b WahlnKlon Co.

Smith. Vtw.

IHIT. l'ot.. nice

Jordan
Proprietor*

MunroHoue;

Pol-

l-/.'klel. re.

>

Jor.laii
P
Tboma*. J'.hii 'I', re. FIbridge. Farmer and Furniture Mfr;
b Newbunth. "range to, lull. I*"--: PoKlbridKc
1

rea

B.

F.

Skiie*tele.

.Ma.ter

Steamboat " Ulen

Haven." b N Y.a

Klfi; P < iSkaneatelet

b .Marcellut. IKl'l; pii Mareellut.

Cook, liuy P. Farmer:

D'Klge.

Editor and Proprietor

DemoSkaneatele*.
P
Farmer and Fruit (irower; b F'.uglaad.

II V. re. Skaneatele*.
crat ;' b .Maaa, a \<M.

F.

IMKI;

'

Skaneatele*.
Skaneatele*. Pnipr Llrery Stable; b

s. re

Y,

PtI Skaiiealelet.

re* skam-Kielea. .\tt'y-at-law. Notarv Public

b .N V. . iKt.'; P 1 1 Skaneatelet
re* Skaneatrle.. Pby.ician and (turiceuu; b
Y. t
KUi: Po.tonicf >katieateli<.
li.

and In. ,\gent

Fjirll. li

W.

Skaneatelet.
Fggletton. Theod..rf. Farmer: b N Y, a |i<:Jl; P
Fjirll. .Viidrt'w J, Farmer and .Supervltor; b N Y,t InTi*; I'ottoHlce Skaiiealf let.
Eckelt. Edward, re. Skaneatele*. Baker and Confectioner; b
Englniid. . I'MRI; Poatoflice Skaneatelet.
F.lphlck. .I.ihn J. re. Skaneatele.. Klackamith: b N Y. Iii4.>:
1

F.arll. Jiillu..

ri-a

F*rll. Col Daniel.

Propr Paper

>kaii<-ati-lca.

Mill*:

Y.

Sarah

N Y. IHftl; I'll Skaneatele*.

skaneatele*.

Farmer: b

S. I'o.tofflce

Fi.ber. Thuniaa. Farmer, b England, a IMh; P I i Skanetele.

Fi-her. .lacob. Farmer: b N V I'natofllce Skaneatle*.
Fl.her. John. Farmrr. PoaLifflce Skaneatelea.
Fait*. Henry. Fanner, b N V. a |..>: P 1 Skaneatele*.
Fall.. Ilorvi'v. Farmer: b N Y, * Ix>. Poaiottlce .Skaneatele*.
FuUi.n. II D.' Fiinni-r. b N Y. t lK!; PotKilIice Skaneatelet
:

Fooie. I'erry. Farmer. IaiI 'JC.

Foote. I. H. Farmer. l.ol '.'x
lire^ory, J 11, re. skaneatelet, Teatel dlr: b England. IK12;
I'lialofflce Skaneatele*
liamble. John, rea Mottville, Pmp'rUamble Qouae; b Ireland.
*

i;ile*.

^ _.

IM!. Poalotlice Mottville,

William

lilover.

II.

ottice

P.

FHrmtr

re* Skaneatele*.

Y. * IkII P O Skaneatele*.
Painter: b N Y. l'>7.': Pott;

Skaneatele*

E. ret .Moitville. II K Conductor;

PoatolTlce Mottville,
Ilurri*. i;eo I., re. skaneatelet. Dentitt: b

liorham.

FIbridge. Cabinet Maker and MacbluUt;

Klbridgr.
b .Mar.htleld. Wai.bingt..n Co. Vt. . IK.'I P
FIbridge
Hteven*. John A. Farmer: b FIbridge, IMW. P
burleaiu
(-o. 1M7.
Clergyman,
FIbridge.
i..-..rgr
re.
It.
Smith.
. Mnv. l";!.; Pl> FIbridge.
Y. altCH;
Trmcy. A F. rr. .(..rdan. Watcbcn and Jewelry, b

kininT

Sknneatt'U'a.

Coe. Cant

Fjirll.

J..rdan.
Klre. H K. l'otofBre J..rdan.
Kanner l.uke. F.lkrldiie \'illaire: Fanner and :4urf eon b A>bIKB, Pit Klbridge.
... .Ma.. ll."..
il.M. Franklin
llenimel. J M. I'...t'.l1lce .lordan.
t^perrv. I{ ^. re* Jordan. Wholesale Dry ImmlIu and Notloni. nt

!<i.reii Hro. re l-.lbruUe.

..lUce Klbriilge.

Skani'atele*.

IxlH; Poatiilllci' Skaneatelfa.

|'ot..(tlce

'

I'o.loflice skoiifBli'le..

iJHtl.

t-o. p...t..f1lce
!*

.!

. iNt.';

Cleveland. I.wi* W. rea Skaneatele*. retired Farmer: b Maat,

Skaneatele*.
a \W\. P
Cleveland. Lucinda S. rea Skaneatelet. b.N IL a 1H; P(l

rlaii
Kudfer, Jamm. n' Jorilan. IValer In Coal, liraln and
ber, b Ni Y.'tK > l-V.', I'.ototTlce Jonlau.
ofii

iN'kl:

I'l

1 l.
k. P. ..Ionic.- Iliil(w:i\.
I>>i.l F.irmrr; b( ajuKnCo,

Dillingham.

.Mfr wheelbarrows;
tolll.f .lordan.
n.ltlf- IM.' ilarrlxin itreet.
r

1:H
I'a.M.., u

New

1 1

F.llerv.

oHlce Ji.rdan

.Mcintvre. Almeda. ro^toHicr Jack. Uerfu

Ma>on. I. H. Farmer: b Nrw York. lMi>.'>. I'onioltlce Jordan.
Fanner. llop-llaUer and .\aoeaaor; b
Nlrbolon. F.noch <
F.Uiridne. JulT 1:1, IvJ'i; I 'ottofflre
Nllei, Uichanl. re* Jordan. Proprietor *

Dando. Ilenrv

Poatofflie KlbrnUe
F, '. r.ittonice llalfwar.
Mctsowaii. .Mr. ' <i. ro-toBlce K.lhridice.
MrColluni. .\lrBntl-r. r...|.'l11ce Klbridgiv

Martin

Po*tnfflc

Skaneatele*.
Farmer; b N Y.

Au.tln. .\nthonT. Farmer; b N Y. . l^-'l P il Mandana.

Mkaneatele*.
A.hpole. Wm. Farmer: b England, t KlU; P
Andrew*. F.\.re* !>kaneatele.. Propr Packwoinl Huute b Ct,
1J7. I'll Skaneatele.
Anilrew*. F .\. ret Sknncalfle*. Propr I'ackwoud Houte; b
N Y. l'<r7 P ikaneatelet.
Skaneatele*.
Albln FP; Hook-kee|H-r b Ct. *. 1"<7.*.; P
Abererombr. H. Merchant and Decorative Painter.
Ilarmw. lie'.irwe. re. Skaneatelet. .\tturuer-at-l,w b N Y,
Skaneatele..
IKW. P
Skaneatele*.
Hrowu. J C. Farmer; b N V. KVl; P
Decra.ed
Itrik'g.. Daniel. Fanner, b It I. ITJU.
IwW;
b
V.
t
P
Skaneatele*.
W.
X
S.
Farmer,
Krigga.
SkaneateUi.
Clark. Win H. Farmer: b England, a 1H.VI. P
Cornell. II. re. Skaiieateli-s. Propr Lirery Stable: b N Y, t
1

Jackton. A. retJordan. Dealer In I'oal. Lumber and (inin; b

New York. Kl'i; I'o.lotllce J>irdaii.
Keller. t'ha '. re F.U'ridifi-. Ilurdwan" .Merchant; b Srracuse,
JulT .T. IM7: I'o.ionir^ F.lhriilite .\ Y
Lewit. A I. re- Jordan. Mfr i|{r.; b New York,>IM4; I'oit-

1m18:

Y,

iSkaiii-atelea.

'torttce Jordan.

I*'.'!. l^l.'i:

Skaneatele..
Allen. Jacob H. Farmer; b N Y. IXtt; P
Auttln. Warren, re. Skaneatelet. retired

Jordan.
N Y. iKellred.i

FIbridge.

New

I*

Jordan.

Elbrid((<*.

INMliirtlcr ^.ll.rl.ll^e.

IU7

<

Klbridue.
(

Partner b Marcellu*. IfUG; P O Jordaa.

Teler J
Voorheet. Jame. I,. Fanner, b N Y. * IMT; P It Jordan
Jordan.
Voorhee*. Mr. S A P
VauVleck. .Alexander, re. Jordan. I>ealer In Lumber aod Cokl;
b N Y. 1<>7. Pi Jonlan.
VanVecbteii C H; PottolBce F.lbrldge.
Wlutor. H P. ret Jordan. PublUber Jordan TrButerlpt b R I,
KB; Pl> Jordan.
Wood. ."<niith. Farmer, b N Y. Id.'i; P O Jordan.
Wright. T K. re. FIbridge. Teacher; b Vermont. 1M: P <
FIbridge
Welch. A PO Jordan.
Whiting. II c. Farmer: b i inondaca Co. linSS; POJurdan.
Warner. C .M. rr. Jordan. Dealer in t oaf. Lumber and lirain,
Jordan
In.iiranc*' ttii'l 1'o.tma.ter: t> N Y. . KW*;
FIbridge
Zeevalk. Ileiirr. Farmer: b Fllbrldge. IMO; P
Adoli.hu..
\x2i,
lt4.%:
Puatofflee
Farmer: b Holland.
*
Xevalk.
.

Bmod.

Y,

Jordan

Aru<ild. Mr H H. I'"it.>fljfe Jordiin N Y.

i.
|'it<>arp f-lbridir*- N V
Bakrr. <
Botlrrflrld. AlfrlJ. rr F-Ibrwlgr rhT.icim
TortUiid >. JiilT <1. 14!>. March
'

AgT Implement*: b

rea Jordan. .Mfr

I.,
1

Mempbla.

<

Tracy. J

li

NY.

..fllce

Y,;

1M4;

tiNil: Poat-

skaneatele*

Farmer b N Y. t \KW. Pottolflce Skaneatele*.

Farmer; b N Y. a !Mie; PoitofHce Skanratele.,
ilanlwicb. Jame*. Farmer; b England, a IM.I. Pi .skaneatele*
IL.xie. Rowland H. Famier: b N Y. a IMli. P n Skaneatele..
lluii.iWer. E.
Man. I.rael.

Ileii.lnrk*. Peler. rea Skaneatele*. lilack.mith

Poatoflice Skaneatele..

h N,Y..i IH9;

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Knox, J K.

res Skaiieateles.

New

Merchant; b

York.

1874;

I'ostoffice Skaneatele?.

Krebs. Karl, res Skaneatelea,

Germany,
Leslie,

3 iH.'iJ;

I'ostoffice Skaiieateles.

Lnpbani.

A. res Skaiieateles; Postoffice Skaiieateles.

Norman, res Skaiieateles, Retired Merchant; b

Gay, Robert Martin, Farmer; b Cortland Co.,

s IB.'jl
Postoffice Skaiieateles.
Lee, Beiioni, res Skaiieateles, Attorney at
Postoffice Skaneatel?s.

N J,

Law

b Vt,

3 1820.

Lawrence, A \V, Farmer; b N Y, 181T. P O Skaiieateles.

Loveless. Solomon, Retired Farmer; b N Y, s 18(M). Postoffice
Skaiieateles.

McLaughlin

l^; Sons'. J. Teasel Dealers.

Marvin. Win, res Skaiieateles, Attorney at Law, ex

Wm

Skaiieate'es.

.\mos, Retired Farmer; b Conn. 3 1804; Postofflce

."Skaneateles.
Pardee, .\n103 R, Farmer; b
Y, 3 1828: P
Skaneateles.
Piatt. Willis. Farmer; b (_'t. 3 182'!
P Skaneateles.
Potter, (ieo F, res Willow (ilen. Paper .Maker and Town Collector; b
Y. 3 184."); Postoffice Skaneateles.
Root, Jas .\. res Skaneateles. Farmer and Nurseryman;

Pardee.

bN

Y, 3 l8.-it Postoffice Skaneateles.

Read, Joseph. Fanner; b N Y. s IslO; p O Skaneateles.
Stephenson, J V. res Skaneateles, Editor and Prop'r '" Free
Press;
b N Y, s l.<)8; Postoffice Skaneateles.
Smith, E Ueuel, res Skaneateles, Capitalist b N Y. s 1852 P
;

'

Skaneateles.

Sweeting.

C'has,
Falls.

Farmer;

Canada,

8 18.57

P O

Skaneateles

Smith. has. Farmer; b England, s 18.5;$; P (^ Skaneateles.

Shepard, Jciliii. Fiuiner; b oiin. s 1704. (Deceased.!
<

>

Edward. Farmer:

.Shepard,

Y.

PO

1808:

s 18.'52:

>

taurant; b Eiiiiland; Postoffice ."Skaneateles.

Thornton. Uewitt C. Farmer; b
Y, s IK51; P
Skaneateles.
Skaneateles.
Thornton. Stephen. Farmer;
Y. 3 1K27; P
Y. 3 1844:
Thome. Obadi.ih. Farmer and Teasel Dealer: b

O
U

bN

Postoffice Skaneateles.

Thome. W.

ii..

Fnrmer and Teasel Dealer; b

N
N

Y,

3 1844;

Varv, Henry II. Farmer; b N Y. s 1841 P () Skaneateles.

WyckofT. C C. Farmer; b N Y. s IS2:i; P I) Skaneateles.
Weeks, F<i, res Skaneateles, Fanner, Paper .Manufacturer and
Teasel Dealer; b England, 3 18;!4; P U Skaneateles.
Wilkin3oii, Alfred Fanner. .Deceased.^
Wilkinson. .Mrs ST; b N Y. s l.s'.'.5. Postoffice Skaneateles.
Wright. A M. res Skaneateles; Principal Lnioii Free School;
;

Y,

1S75; Postoffice Skaneateles.

TOWN UF SPAFFURD.
Anthony, Lieorge H, res Spaflford Corners, Proprietor Spafford
House; b Cortland Co, IKl'J, 3 lMi,s; I'ostoffice Spafford
Corners.
Davis, Richaid H. res Borodino, itirm Davis ic Hawtiu); b
England, 3 1k50; Posl(!ffice Borodino.
Doolittle. Warren, res Lot 70, Retired Fanner; b Conn, 1812, s
1x42; Piistiiffico Borodino.
Doolittle; b Conn, 181.5, s
Doolittle, Ruth Stacy, wife of

1842 Postofflce Borodino

Skaneateles.
Enos, J'lseph H. Farmer; b Spafford. 1814; P
Enos:
b Spafford, IxlU; Postoffice
Euos, Hannah, wife of J H
;

Skaneateles.
Enos, Joseph, father of J

Enos: b Mass,

1779, a 1805;

died

ls.52.

Edos, Chloe, wife of Joseph Enos: b Mass,

1848.

76*

Thorn

Hill.

Hill,

ford, IHlH; Postoffice Th.irn Hill.

75, Farmer
b Cayuga Co, 1811, s 1846; died

Wm, Lot

i. 1877.

Hill,

Mary Jane, widow

of

Wm

1777, 9 1805:

died

May

b .Saratoga Co, 18J2, g

Hill;

1K40: Postc.ffice Borodino.

Haaker. Richard. Farmer and Butcher; b England,

1817,

1S05; Postoffice Bcirodino.

Haaker. Frederick. Farmer and Butcher; b Cayuga Co,

18.52,

18a5.

Hawtiii, George, Machinist and Prop'r .Saw Mill; 'firm Davis

S; Hawtiin b England, s IH.',U; i'() Borodino.
Haight, Titus. Farmer; b Dutchess Co, 1797; 3 18'28 ; died

January

IH. Isi'H.

Haight. Hannah, wife of Titus Haight; b Dutchess Co, 1801. g

1X2X; died September 4. 187.'!
Haight. Henry J. Lots 09 and 74. Farmer; b Spafford, s 1841;
I'ostoffice Borodino.
Haight Dora, wife of Henry Haight; b Spafford, 18.50 Postoffice Borodino.
W. res Borodino, Postmaster, b Spafford, s 1815;
Legg,
Postoffice Borodino.
Lcgg. Mimrva A. wife of
Legg; b Spafford, 1819; Post;

WW

office liorndiiif).

Lewis. John ./. Farmer; b England, 1827, s 1846; Postoffice

Skaneateles.
Lewis. Lucy, wife of John J Lewis; b England, 9 1864; Postoffice Skaneateles
Lewis, Rosa M, daughter John J and Lucy L'wis; b Spafford,
1K08: l^l^tofficL Skaneateles.
Lawrence.
H. Po>tc'ffioe Spatfurd Corners,

Lyon, C li. l'o>toffic(' Spiiffurd I'oriiers

Moule, Moses P. Lot 74. Farmer. Patentee and Manufacturer
of Moule's Celebrated Bag-Holder "(iood Help;" b
I'Uter

tci. 1H21. 3 ls."in;

Posti.ffice Skaneateles.

Moule, Cordelia liiKliam. wife of Moses P Moule; b Dutchess

Co, 1K12,

s lK).s;

Skaneateles.
son of
Moule; b Monroe Co, 1851, s 1851;
Postoffice Syracuse.
Moule C.iiiger A, son of
P Moule; b Spaffoi-d, 18.VJ; Postoffice Skaneateles.
Mason, Mortimer. Lot 74, Farmer and School Teacher; b Mass,
1825, a 18;il; Postoffice Borodino.
Mason, Esther P Vail, wife of .Mortiaier Mason b Skaneateles,
3 I8'2X; Postoffice Borodino.
Morton. lr^oll B. Lot 74, Farmer, Inventor and Manufacturer

Moule,

Pbilij)

Pdstc.ffict

I,

'.'

of Morton's Snikey
I'ostoffice

Harrow;

LaFuyette;

h.

1835;

Borodino.

Bass, wife of Orson B Morton; b Hamiltoa

to, 1810, s lh7.'{; Postoffice Borodino.
Morton. Ambrose, father of O B Morton; Farmer; b Mass, g

Morton, Susan
HNS;

die<l

IWi.'i.

Morion, Sabiina. wife of .Vmbrose Morton

Postoffice ."Skaneateles.

Postoffice

Harvey, Paul, Farmer; b Vermout, 1794, 3 179G; died 1852.

Harvey, Sally, wife of Paul Harvey; b N Y, 179C, 8 1811.
Harvey, Adaliiie. daughter of E'aul and Sally Harvey, b Spaf-

Marcellus.

Sweet, L A. Farmer; li X Y. s l.'i4(i; P

.'Skaiieateles.
Sweet, Mrs C L: b N Y, s I>2'i; P l> Skaneateles.
Skahan. J. Farmer; b Ireland; P
Skaneateles.
Skahan. Win. Farmer; b N Y. s 1X51; P V Skaneateles.
lsi2;
Sherman. Alfred. Farmer; b N Y. s
P () Skaneateles.
Sa.tton, Win, Farmer; b N Y, s 1877: P () Skaneateles.
Stacey. R M. res Skaneateles, Prop'r (Irocery and Meat
Market; b N Y, s 18.'i:i P () Skaneateles.
Smith. Frank. Farmer; b N Y. s 183;i; P
Skaneateles.
Sinclair, F A, Chair .Mfr; P
.Mnttville.
Thayer, J. res Skaneateles, President Bank of Skaneateles; b
N Y, 3 18.'!5; Postoffice .'Skaneateles.
Thurlow, H. re- .'Skaneateles, Teasel Dealer and Proprietor Res(

1840; Post-

1844; Postoffice Thorn Hill.

Gilford, Betsey, wife of H X Gifford; b Dutchess Co., 1812
S1H44: Postoffice Thorn Hill.
Gifford, Garrison A, Lot CH, Farmer; b ClintouviUe, 3 1853;
Postoffice Thorn Hill.
Gifford. Fannie M. wife of G A Gifford; b Spafford, 1854;
Postoffice Thorn Hill.

Gay, Calista Owen, wife of R M Gay; b Rensselaer lu,.oi.,,

Co., 1815.
3 IK40; I'ostoffice Borodino.
Gilford, Henry A, Lot 08, Farmer; b Dutchess Co. 1809 a

Harvey, Mark, Farmer and Blooded-stock Raiser; b Spafford.

8 Diet
.Judge; b
Y. s 180G. P U Skaneatele3.
John
B.
Marshall.
res Skaneateles. Postmaster: b Eneland, 3
184G.
P
Skaneateles.
Mort n, Thos, res Mottville. Prop Woolen Mills, Mfr Shawls,
Broadcloths and Fancy Cassimeres; b Scotland, 3 1840.
P O Mottville.
Nurse. Wm, res Skaneateles, Painter; b Englimd, s 1857; P O
Skaneateles.
Nurse,
H. res Skaneateles. Blacksmith; b New York, s
18.19; Postoffice .Skaneateles.
(',
Pardee,
res Skaneateles, Banker; b Skaneateles, K97, P ()
Skaneateles. (Deceased.
Packwoiid. John, res Skaneateles, I'arriage Mfr; b England, 3
18.'54; PostnfBce Skaneateles.
Parsons. .Moses. Farmer; b Skaneateles, 3 ISl.'i
PostofQce
Skaneateles.
Purcell, FJ, res Skaneateles, Pastor of 'St Mary'3 of the
Lake,'' Rom. Cath. t'h.; b Ireland, s 181)0; Postofflce

Borodino.

office

Propr Lake View House;" b

425

b Vermout, 1790, a
P(rsto!)ice Sk;iiieateles.
Mason, I L. Farmer, b
Y, s 1S20: Postoffice Skaneateles.
Newvill, Ale.x C, Farmer; b (.Itisco, 1817; Postoffice Borodino.
Newvill, ( linieiia J, b otisco, s IslO; Postoffice Borodino.
Norton. Seymour; I'ostoffice Spafford Corners.
Iwil

Olmsted, Jeremiah, Farmer; b Montgomery Co, 18.35, 3 1835;

Postoffice Borodino.
Olmsted, LavMia, wife of J Olmsted; b Marcellus, 18.;i9; Postoffice Borodino.
Purchase, Samuel, Farmer; b Sk,nneateles; Postoffice Borodiuo.
Purchase, Harriet, wife of Samuel Purchase; bCaniillus; Postoffice Borodino.
Stanton. Samuel H; I'ostoffice Borodino.
Smith, .Myron K, Farmer; b Spafford; 3 1847; P O Borodino
Smith, Jennie Becker, wife of Myrou R Smith; b Spafford, s
1X51
Postoffice Borodino.
Tripp, Van Dvke. res Borodino, Physician and Surgeon; b
Madison Co, 1>.'V;. s IXCO; Postoffice Borodino.
Taft, John P; Po.-toffice Sphfford Corners.
Weston, lleiiiy. Farmer and Supervisor; b Spafford, 18.30;
Postoffice Borodino.
Weston, Sarah K. wife of Henry Wcstou b Marcellus, 18.30;
l'o^toffice Borodino.
;

TOWN OF MARCELLL'S.
Alvord. Richard W, res .Marcellus, Prop'r Alvord House
Saratoga Co, lx'20, s 1800; P O Marcellus.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK

426

AlronJ;
irbalOvM.
Mkrertlut wife of It
b I'lTuica Co. I<M.'>. 1*00, l> I M*rrrllu>
BroiiMio. SrUb M. ! Marcrllut. MIll.T. b Navsriuo. Itta;
l> < I Marr<-llua.

AlT->r.l. Kllta

>

>

lUkrr. M. ri-> Marrrllu*. Sb"' Mmiiiracturrr.

i.n
Corulib J'H-1. Kariiirr. b llartf'>rJ

l-T.

I^r.'.

1'
;

Cohb

t.

Dmvla. Will

K.I.1..I.

.1

I"

b>

Mr

'

X Y

I.

1,

I'

Marirlu^. l-r..

I.

I'

Mariftta
KaniiiT^ b Marcrllua.

Tboni

Mill.

.Mar.v.

V.

Marrrlliu

(ariirtt. Will. rf

If^T

laii.l. l-i.

Win C.

KarniiT^

ami \Vag"ii Mfr;

(arriaii)-

u
b X

MarrrllUf.

Y.

I'

Thnrn Hill.
I> KnitlaiKi.
IwH. I'
KaninTKiid .luticf<>f tIn-IVacr. t> |)ulcbet
Marietta.
I'i>t'inic.'

Kt".
V.
>

<

Alai>"i-.

||lcl(<

...

Marc^llu.. W,,..! Morttr. I. X Y. 1">. l**?:

I'li.t'illli > Marcrllut.
I'lutofflcr
Lnulbri'lur II"I'<ti. K*rniT: b Marccllua. !>*>
Marrrllu*.
Ilriii M.J
I,awlri
Kail-.
Marrrllu.
J.rf
MirbiH'l
lAwleo
i to. Mfr ! Irflttinl KIT, > K">.'; I' '' .Murirlln. KalU.
.Marcrllu KuIN
Tkriii'T. If mil". \'m\--T Mfr b In-laciil I'

Jull'i.

rf

II.

M"^.

MilU;

b Marrrllu. l'<-ll I'o.tirtli-r MarcrlluK

Kari.rr: U X Y. 111. I' ..L.ttlcr Thorn Hill
MIIIf ; <
:

K>

Y.

Skniiratrlr.
b

I'.-t. Hi..-

I-*'!

,A.l...pbu. Kariiirr:

Mfr

XlghliiiKalr. Will.

Xnrlb.

MurrrlliK lHl ,1' (iMarcellut.

b X Y. \<A.

Kariiirr.

Hi.l*il

Xiirtb.

t,

rm

K.

Marcrlluj. Urlln-d;

bX

I'odoOlcu

C. rr. Miirirttn. I'mp'r Marirtt

cltr,

Xcwell.

MHrirtlu
rr. Marirttii. wifr ..f

Wtl.

I'i>.l<nirr

Wf

I..lia.
rttr l"4tl.

UiFay-

Mill*, b

Xrwrll; b LaKaf-

I'li-t^'WIrr .Marirlta
I'h.T.lcian and Suriteon ; b Mrl>anii. Urm-l rr Miircrllii
crllu.; ['li'ltlrr .Mur.rllu.
Rpcd K^iiiiii'il rra Marci'Uii*. Mfr >hi|>|>liiii \ MrrrbaiidlM*
:

T|I

"i"l I'riiiirr

b Marirllu..

l-.Vl;

I'

Marcrllu*

M Maiiufuclurrr <.f l.uinbrr.

KIrhanI-.
U.ickwrll. Alfrrd. Karnirr ! tiuiii. KM: I" < Marcrllui..
Farm liii|)lrnirfita: b
Illce A MiNnll\. Karnirr ami llr In
Marrrllii. KIJ; l'i.li.ftlcr Marcellun
<

Liver-

I'o.l'.fflrr t'laj.

hildr. l'ro|ir lintel

liter

ami

-'I

KriitlK'kt

|.

lil

XY

fUr;

I'oat-

Artillrm b flcem
:

Kd;

r^aw

bX

Fac-

Kmlld

r.'.t.. filer

Mill.;

^. .l>:n; iVat-

auKh.lriioy

Summl

Mibbar.l.

twoCherw

I'ropr of

T.'i.

l.\l. .

and

lll^t

II.

llibbar.l. Naar \' \'. L..t'<I. Fnrnirr

Dir.l JuiM- 14. l.>;i.

M. Lot

b .Harato)ca Co. I7<l.

Farmrr:

HI.

l'ou<|>ey. IKS!:

KM
t

I'

.Hvr eu.r

Kitlrl. riiil.i

L'tlll.

I.

Lamb. Ilonirr

S.

Hi

I...t

I>.l.

Farmer: h (lav. KIT; I" <> I.iverpo..!

Knrn.rr. b lav. KM; I'
Llvrrp.iol
Ul. Karmer; bt lav, IM^, 1*0 I'lauk

<

.u'-:'>-.tU

ItoHd

Lvnn.

J. l'o.t.>inre I'laiik Itoad.

.Mary C. Lot

Firmrr.

I.V

b Oulrbe.. Co, IM-Jl.t |.Mu

1*

Livi'r|M...l.

bX

Y. mil; I'tl K.uclld.

M..Trr. Jiie..b II. Karn.rrand Halrv;
Mrlviii. C. *rh....l Tracbrr. b .V Y; I'M W ....dard
11

.Nanh.

i;

KHriner and hairy, b X Y. KIT; I' 1 ClganlUe.

Kiirmrriiii.l Dairy, bX Y.alKC. I'HCIcem
I> l."t T'.. Kariiirr: b Coluoibla Co, KK, IMO,
.U

Xa.b.

.V.

I'ir.ti r.

M.tr<i-llu.

Nrwrll.

KL'.

l'...t..l11rr I'laiik lt..i..l

t..rlr.
tiilbert.'.ii.

I.iiiiilirr:

iif

Xew

William K. Lot.

.Ndllrr.

Nrwioii.

lav,

Formrr. Bntt F

>.

I...I

Lvun. H A.

h'mnriii Xavirr < burcU.

J. 1'Hi.tor St
.Albaiiv l>ili. r 1 1 MnicrlluK.
Mfr of I'tiwder.
Mnrr<*llui>
I'nwilrr
..iniHiiiv.
Marcrllu

"U''i

l'..l..fBrr K.urliu.

X YCavalry.: b

il.'.ih

l.ivrrpo'.l.

(iray.

Mill. Tluit.lb*. Kariiirr. b

McMonciunb.

I'.'l

Fugrit, J M. HIarkdiiitli an.l Waicmirr. b Trim. ISL'i, I'uatofBcr t'lav.

r..t.il1tce i.irrr|>><.|.
Field, t' K. Kariirr: b X Y. K'l
Kllkiii.. II. Karnirr; b X Y. Kkl; J>o.to|1lcr l.ivrr|>.il.
lirliin. W. |....t K>. Karnier; b lirrmany K'J'.'. IrOU; I'ualofflc*

>

'

rf Marci-llu. I'mi. r .Marcvllu* \V..i,leu

I.urlii-.

I'laiik

Poatolttf e Srracu.e.

S. re.

I'aul,

l'<t<>inre

<i Marcrlliii.

l.aac. Kariin-r.

ilarilacrr

ISTi

.filer I'lav

Fav.

Irc-

li

Kuo. .^ddi

b X Y.
Karn.rr.

>.

I...t
;

Myron, Farmer; b

Im". I'otlnlDcF

Kiiu.

.V.

IMI

pMil.

<t

I'

Marrellu*

Ilickok.

.Al.ram. Kurii.rr

Itrl.iiiit.

Kble.Meyin.iur

Marrellua.
Marc-llu..

I'.U

Marietta. I'rop'r Murirtta Hnu<; U

r.--

It.

Marcellua,

I'

nil tanner,

I'bytirlaii

NY.

ad

,,,
I

l'<>H"Wlrlt

iiUlrr l.il'rrixnil.
l>unbaoi. .M>..rlrr. Farmer;
It..

'

r>nnlan J
Ih!" h. ;.

f'rll'iMa.

r-t Mnrtftta.

l^l-

l".Marcrllu
"'.''"..

'

-..nii-ll.

KM

Jamr. I,. I...t II. Farmrr and Trarbrr; b Van Hurrn

Kn I'.i.L.inrr liiy
Drwry. I. VV. Farmrr and Ualrymau b Mu. IM'.' I'otl-

I'hi.Uinn

Woar.l A. Kar..
Kar.iirr.
N
(i.wlf. Kt
Cue. Mn K I'. Kartu.-r

I>eckrr.

Martrllu..
B S. rr Marcrllu

Iliefetidnrf. Kufu. Tbre# River Pulni. limre for Ricaralon

I'arilr*: b Fort I'laiu. lv>, * 1h.'{,',: l'<|otnre rbirnix.
I>idi:r. F. Supl Hyracu'r IVat W..ik; b i >blo. l:.l
I'.Mtufflcr
iKarvlllr
Uiefend.irf It II l...t .'.'. Farmrr ami < '..ninirrrlal (Kent, b
t nj UKa t ... IM'.l.
r..|..l!lrr I lay.

I'

l.l\rll>.M,l

Prior. i;enrKrl'. Uit

Farmrr: b KuKland, KiM.

Ml.

I'O

IMti;

Livrr|.....l

.M. Furinrr. b .V. Y. . KIO; I" U Kuclld

rnliiirr. lii.l
rinnimrr. J W. Karinrr; l> .Ma... Kll. I'lil'luy.
iti)!):.. Jaiiii'.. I.'.t I'l. Karmer nnd Scbool Tracher. b Jordan,
IM.'i.

I'

Kurlid.

>

L. Karnirr. b Conn, 1*410: I'll I'lank Koad.

Y, liCiX
lluorfl. Ilriiry. lilack.mitb and Wag.'nrr. b

Ilowlrv.

>

I*

Mliiy.

<

Srvniiiur. A M. I'lr iii tJri.crrlr*.

MliickT. tiriintr. rrn Mairrllu". Karnirr

and dlr

h Kngland. IMI 1'.. uti. filer Murcrllun

Taylor. A "wrt. rr. Mnrlrtta .Millrr. b I'urtland

in

rb<phatr;

|'i..t..niir

I'l

KW.

<

KHi;

irirtta.

rr. Matcrllu* Villairr. Ho..t nnd Sbo* dlr and

j r. b Kniclaiid. . 1<K>. I'lLtofflrr .Miircrllu..
llarvry. rt . Marcrllu.. Millrr. U X Y. I<IT. l'.t<ilBcr

Wbitr

Hardwair Mrrcbniil

X Y:

nnd Juatlce

W. Fur

i.fflr.-

an.l oil

Ihr I'racr

i.f

Xp^cu'ator; b

Y.

.\
.

Y.

. I-?.'.

rhe.l'i.

lar
:

WiMMlur.l
i
Furnirr

1 1

Warnrr.

I'.,rk

Wormutb.

pill

Wood.,

Lot

C U;

bClar. KV: I'

Kuclld.
Farmrr: b K..rt Plain. KCi.
1

-'.'.

KW;

lav.

Cliarlr.. Iloat
Kl-'>

Wall,

Iliifu..

I"

Uuilder ami Turner. KiiKlninl, l^LV

'Clav
\'.

l'...l..mcr l'b.-nlx. X"

TiiWX

i.K

VX

111

IIKX.

II

<

baffrr. Xrwiiiiii.

<

ouper. .

i>.,.i..ni'

'

.1.

I'l.

l.'it

(!. ll".

lJtl

I.i.t

I'll.,

Knrnirr an.l l.unil.ernian

b >rhr.i

lix.
.

J.

<

in-

lload.

l'...t..ltlcr I'lttiik

U. Karnier

K;.niir and llmlryoian

LlTerpi...!

Iliiiitliam.

.A

W. Karnirr nnd >upervi.or:

Putrirk. Karmrr.
K.iiiirnr. Kiirmrr. b

Itai.litiiii.

Ilr.'r.l.

Ilriiilry. Itu..rl

Hario".

>r

l.

I'

Irrland, . IMT.
X Y. IM.': P<>
armrr: b K I. . Kll; P
I'

Karmer. Mrrrbant and R

it

Vanlluren

<

Hrllr l.lr.

Mrmpbi..

Wari.rr.
Conirarlor. b
i>

.K"': dir.l K'.'.

Paltero|i. X J.
Ilnriie.. Kli/n. b Conn. . Il'>. P'
Kownian. Iliruin. Karnirr ami Ciril K.iiKineer; b X Y.

in-

..i..li>i{a t....

lirarvillr.

Jamr.

lri.

'

iKti, I'u.t.

M Kr r b X Y. . 1-MI I'...l..m.e 1,1.. M-.l

b X \. . \<i\ I...IHrttiugrr M J Karnirr and llalryoian
otnce KurlldIM'>.
f 1 I'Unk U.a.l
.
llnrdirW. l..-.rr K. A.aeMor; b R I.
t..nghtr> J W. Karnirr and nifar.Maiiufacturrr. ImW; l'...im.-r

I'laiik l("U<l.

Harm..!

Lot 111. I'r..pr Clarendon Hotel b IjiFayette,

J
. Ktl. y liSymru.r.
Walter. Martin A. Farmrr: b X Y. . KJB I* tt Cicero.
Wili.>rn. Its l.i.t >. Farmer, b LIviiiK.loa .'o. IttlO. Injfl; I*

I'o.lofllrr rh'iiil*

llauDi.

KM
;

Vroman,

iinridat ... IMJ. . I"*;".':

::.
r Kucll.l
\lii.lir I. ihn. Karnirr; b Kniilai..!
r. ItiicK and TlleManuf;b
rr<. U'l -'. Flit
lindlrr
MrrrJ
Vi 1*11 .Ki:'. l'o.t..mrrn.y.
Farmrr iind *< h"..l Trarbrr. b X
Burlri|!li Snniiirl X. I^.t H.
r
.1
II. Kr
|-...t<>ltl<r K u^lid

I'

oftlre

\Y

t>K II.

I.

Uariir.

KV..

Adklu> Urv. I^irrii U l^'l I'i. M K. *lrii;yniaii and Farmrr;

b tK.rg.. In. 11-'. I'I- "l r K.irlirl
Urgt IhO.';
Allen. John II. I."t IV Karni. r.

II. X'.'.n. l-l'';

Farmrr and Klack.inllb

b i^cbobarir
Kurlid.
.X
I'd
Irrk
b
Kurlid.
\
Sc.-tt. Th..inii. M. t ..iiiil>
Soulr. 1 1 S. rr. Kuclid. IV^.r I'latt H.iu.r b .X V I' I Kuclld.
I* > Hrewertoii.
Sumiirr. It T. Karnirr l> X Y. I'll'.
I'

la^
b X Y. .
>..iiirr.. .\ I.. Knrnirr
i. X
I'
Clav
V. Kt.'
r*..inrr.. J... Ii. Kiirnirr
1
Kr.'
I.
Y.
I'
Plank Itoad
X
.
Strrn.. I barlr. L. Karnirr
Soulr. .\ J. Kuriiirr ami liair\ man b X V. Kll. i' 1 K.urlld.
X. Kruit Itai.rr and (iardrner b X Y, KIT I'o.lTrail.
Co. K-.U

Marrr'Ui..
Willinni U. rri Mrcellu.
I'.'.l'.nici' MurrrlUii.

TllWX

rr^Nn.l.
Sbaver. T..bia.. t^ifSt

Wulkrr Tboina".
WrIU,

Scidmorr. J..'hn S. rr. L.it M, Kiirnier. b JrlTer.uii Co. IflH,

IMI I' (I F.urlid.
Sailtb. Fjirl. tea Lot lui. Farmer, b LIverpncd, liC".'; |'<iLlv>

|.|-1. l-vlH. IlHi'.;

KH;

l'..it..fflce

'

llaMoin.viUr
llrer.l. Itarnrt M. Karmer. b X Y.
llnrvev II. Karmer. bX Y.
Hr
liebliiiK. Henry.
P<..t..t1i.r

KH;

i>

K'JI;

Mal.lwln.vllle.

Kl. I'll lialdaluivllle.

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

A K, res Baldwiusville. Farmer. Justice Peace and Mfr
Pumps; b N Y, s 18;; P () Haldwiiisville.
Crego, Ira L. Fiiriiier; b Ouoiidaga Co. ixi') died IHC.').
Crego. Charlotte, Farmer; b X Y. s \n2>>: P() Baldwiusville.
Crum, A B. Farmer; b X V. s 1854; V
HaldwiiiBville.
Crum. A. Parmer; b X Y. s IHIG;
Halilwliisville.
Cornell. Elijah, Farmer: b X Y. s IS.'.'; P () VanBureii.
Cornell, Abuer; Farmer; 1) N Y. s IXJT: P () Baldwiusville.
Coruell, \Vm P. Farmer; h X Y. s lM4.'i; P () Baldwiusville.
Coruell. Leouard, Farmer: b X Y, s IS'.'T; P () Meuiphis.
Cliftou, VVm, Farmer; b Eui;land, s 1H.')2; P () Baldwiusville.
Clark. Joshua W, Farmer; b X Y. s 1S2U; P O Baldwiusville.
Campbell. Kthan. Farmer ami J P I) X Y, s IHiT; Poetoffice
.Memphis.
Campbell. \Vm B, Uetired; b X Y. s 1k14; P o Memphis.
Daboll, Henry, Fanner; b Coun. s 184-_'; HO Memphis.
Diugmau, Lewis, Faruier; b X Y; died IHOII
Diugman, Eliza M, Farmer; b X Y. s lK;.'(i; p
.Memphis.
Davis, Warren. Farmer; b Mas<, s 1K54; P () Warners.
Ecker, Geo, Farmer; b X Y, s 1H.J9; P U Belle Isle.
Fellows, David G. Farmer: b X Y. s 1847; died 187H.
Fellows. Mary. Farmer; b X Y. s 1847; P
Baldwiusville.
Foster. Husseil. Farmer; b X Y, s 180(i: P () Memphis.
Foster, Leouard. Farmer; b X' Y. s I81.i; P o Warners.
Filkius. Chas. Farmer; b X' Y, s 18.14; I'
Memphis.
Gridlev, John. Farmer; 1) Conn, s IW':! P () Memphis.
Hall. Horace (i. Farmer; b X Y, s 18.J1; i' () Baldwiusville.
Hayues. Col Thaddeus, Farmer; b X Y. s 1808; i'O BaldwiusClark,

PO

X
o
X
X
Talmadge. Jonas M. Farmer; bX Y.s
Po Baldwiusville
Turner, I luih, Farmer: b X Y. s 18.19: P U Baldwiusville.
Yoorhees, David, Farmer: b X Y, s 1824 P o Baldwiusville

Farmer: b
( has
Y. s 1841 P
Baldwiusville.
uiage. Lewis. Farmer: b X Y. 9 18: P O Baldwiusville
Ta mage. Liios L. Farmer; b
Y, s 1817; P ( Baldwiusviille.
Talmadge. Isaac, Farmer; b
Y. s 1817; died \s::,
Schuyler,

Ta

lx:)7

A'anYolkenburgh, Henry, Farmer; b Ououdaga Co, \KH; died

187G.

VanYolkenburgh. Mary. Farmer: h X Y, s 18:12: P O Memphis.

White.
S. Farmer and Pump Manuf r; b X Y. s 1M22; Post-

ollice Baldwiusville.

Williams, Xathan, F'armer; b Ououdaga Co, 1797; died 187.3.

Williams. Louisa. Farmer; b X Y. s 1804; PO Baldwiusville.
Weaver, Martin L, Faruier: b X Y. s 1814; P (J Baldwiusville.
Wright, John. Fanner; b X Y, s 1H.12; P o Baldwiusville.
Wormuth. Moses. Farmer; b Montgomery Co, 8 IS-V; died
1875.

427

.Mary F, Faruier: b X Y, s 18.37; I'Q Stiles.

Warner. Leonard, Farmer: b X 'i s 1X21 P O Baldwiusville.
White. Trueman. Faruier: b X Y.s 1807: PO Baldwiusville.
White, Jonas T, Farmer: b X Y,s 1M8; P (j Haldwiusville,
Widger, Erwin, Farmer; b X Y, s \x:is: P O Baldwiusville.
Weaver, Abel, Retired; Postoffice Warners.
Weaver, Trueuiau, Farmer; b N Y. s 18^4: P U Warners.

Wormuth.

ville.

Hayiies, .lohu. Farmer: b OnondaKa Co, 18111. (Died 1870.)

Hayues. David. Farmer; b X Y. s 18i."); P u Baldwiusville.
Hayues. Wm. Farmer; b X Y. s 18.J8; P ( Baldwiusville.
HbV, Luther, Farmer; b X Y, s 18:J1; Po Baldwiusville.
Harrington. Martin. Farmer; b X Y, s 1840; P {) Baldwiusville.

Hall, (ieo

W. Farmer;

Y,

ISiO;

O Memphis.

Harringtou. Isaac. Farmer: b X Y. s 18il; P () Baldwiusville.

Howe, Albert. Farmer: b X Y, s 1849; P O Baldwiusville.
HigglDs. Seabnry M. Phys and Surg; b Mass, s l.><.')7; P O

Memphis.

Wm

Henry, Farmer; b X Y, e 18G7: P () Warners.

Harper.
Huugerford, Samuel H, Farmer; b X Y, s 18:.'2; P U -Memphis.
Hungerford. () H. Farmer; b X Y. 8 1849; P () Memphis.
lugoldsby. .Mayuard, Farmer b X Y, s 18:.'H; P () Warners.
Kenvou. .lacob C, res Baldwiusville. (ieneral Wrapping Paper
-Mfr'y b X Y. s !(: P () Baldwiusville.
Kratzer, Thomas, Farmer; b (iermauy, 3 l8(i7; P > Baldwius;

TOWX OF DE
Postollice Syracuse.

Bates.

ville.
s 1801.

(Died

'1877.)

Llnsday, Oliver, Farmer; b X Y, s 1809; p o Baldwiusville

Loveless, Dauiel, Faraier b Onondaga Co, s 1803.
(Died
:

1877.

Loveless. Robert, Farmer; b

Y. s 1844; P O Baldwiusville.
Laufare. II E. Farmer; b X^ Y. e 1844: P O .Memphis.
Miller. Henry, Farmer; b X Y, s 1802; P U Balilwiusville.
Maroney, Wm, Farmer; b Ireland, s 1854;
Baldwiusville.
Maltby. Lyman. Farmer; b N Y, s 1819: P O Baldwiusville.
Maltby, Jacob, Farmer b Middlese.x. Mass. (Deceased.)
Molby, John, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, s 1817. iDied 18,">9.)
Molby. Clarissa, Farmer b
Y. s IKlS; p o Memphis.
Meigs. Ruel, Fanrer; b X Y. s 18:i3; P < Bahlwinsville.
Marvin, (ieo W, Retired; b Conn, s 1^11; Postnirioe Warners.
Marvin, lieo
Jr. Farmer; b X Y, s \sli; PostofBee Warners.
X'ewport. Richard P. Farmei and Blacksmith; b England, s

PO

ix.i9;

Postofflce

Postollice S3 racuse.

Black, Abrani M, res DeWitt, Retired Farmer; b Ououdaga

Co, 11.J: PostolKce DeWitt.
Blancbard, Frank J. Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 18->i: Postoffice
Fayettc\ille.

Farmer: s l"*!!; Postollice Warners.

Nostraut, John. Farmer; bX'Y. slsl5; Postollice Memphis.
O'Brien. Thomas, Farmer; b Ireland, s 18.W; Postollice BaldF.

wiusville.
O'Brieu. Daniel.
wiusville.

Cobb, K D, Farmer: b Ououdaga Co,

Farmer: b Ireland,

Ouderkirk, Horace, Faruier: b

s IS.V);

Postollice Bald-

PostoQice Bald-

etteville.

Janiesville.
(^bapuian. Carlton E. Farmer;

Y,

IV,':.';

e 182*.

Post-

1h;15; Postollice De Witt.

Duiilop. Robert, Piaster and Lime Mfr; b Albany Co, s 1833;
Postoffice Janiesville.
Edwards, H K. I'uder-Sheriff; b Ououdaga Co, s 1828; Postollice Di-Witt.
Furbeck. J I, Farmer and J P, b Albany Co, 3 18:14 Post;

CoUamer.

C, Faruier: b Coun, s 1855; Postofflce DeWitt

Perry B, res Janiesville, Miller: b X' H, 1831; Postollice Janiesville.
Gregory. Benjamin S, res Janiesville, Att'yaud Ins Ageut b
Orange Co. s I8:i5: Postofflce Janiesville.
Getnian. (ieo H. Lot 'to. Faruier and Dairyman; b Jefferson
Co. s 18(a); I'ostoflice Syracuse.
Hill, ,1 L, Farmer: b Poni|iey, s 1x20; P
Syracuse
Holbrouk, J G, Blacksmith; b Pumpey, 8 1S!7; P O JaniesFerris,
(jove.

(i

ville.
:

I'ostotlice Sliles.

1S.J2:

narrower, P W, Farmer; b Onondaga

Merchant: b France,

P O Syra-

Co, s 1x16;

eu.se.

Hotchkin, Jerome, Farmer; bOnondaga Co,

8 18:j8

PO

Syra-

cuse.

Hotchkiii. Wm. Faruier b Conn, 3 1819. (Died 1867.1

Jones. .lobn. Lot ;!1 b Knuland, s 1845 P O East .Syracuse.
Jones, Marv. Lot 31 b England, s 1845; P O East Syracuse.
Kiuue. Prentice, Carpenter: b Sullirau Co, s 18:19, I' O De
Witt.
DeWitt.
Kimber. .lames. Fanner; b England. 1817, s 1851
Kinne. Rnfus U. re> East Syracuse, Farmer: b Ououdaga Co,
s 1>2I: Postofflce East ,>*yracuse.
b O'laiudaga Co, 8 1804 P O De
Kiniie. Euierso,i, Karuier
Witt Centre.
:

Po

Baldwiusville.
Smith, .\ugustus. F'armer: bConu,slNl4;
Sears. lUifus. Farmer, b Onondaga Co. s 1>19; dieil ls7(t
Sears, Jane E. Farmer, b X Y. s I^UM; I'listollice luoudaga.
Sears, Jam.s. Farmer; b X Y, s 1^--; Postollice Onondaga.
l.'i:i:
Po..,tollice Stiles.
Sullivan. John. Farmer: b Ireland,
Spore. .Abraham. Farmer, h Moiitgomcry Co, s 1^15; died 1*73.
181".;
P(l Baldwiusville.
Spore. Iletsev. Farmer: b X Y. s
b X' Y. s 182!);
Sullivan. Xai)olcou B. Physician and Surgeon
Postollice .Memphis.
(

.^

Spaulding, Cbauncey B. Farmer; b X Y. 3 1837 P O Memphis.

Smith. Mavuard. Farmer. Saw Mill. Ice and Cider; b X Y. s
;

Postollice Baldwiusville.

res DeWitt Centre,

Postofflce DeWitt Centre.

Headson. Stephen,

l^^il;

b Onondaga Co.

office Janiesville.

Carpenter, Yliet. Farmer; Dutchess Co. s IxKi: P ( Collaoier.

Doe, James, Miller: Propr Xew York .Mills; b England, s

X'

Postoffice Memphis.
Parry, Elisha R. Farmer; b England
Parrv. Joseph E, Farmer: b X Y, s 1K51 Postollice .Memphis.
Peltou. Phillip. Farmer; b X Y, s ls:is; P o Baldwiusville.
Peck. Homer. Farmer; Postollice Yan Bun-u.
Reese. Jacob. Farmer: b X Y, s I8.>5: 1' O Baldwiusville.
Reed. Wm. Farmer: b X Y, s 1815; Postollice H;ildwiusville.
Resseguie X'oab. Farmer: b X Y. s ix'!'' PostolHce Memphis
Scheplei'. Wm. Dealer in Cattle and Butcher: b (iermauy, s
:

p O DeWitt.

Campbell, Harriet M, b (tnoiidaga Co 1821.

Colviii. B F. Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 8 18.38; P () Syracuse.
Cadogaii Asa, Fanner; b Herkimer Cc, s 1827; 'Postoffice

wiusville.

1^")1

s ls(l<):

Clark, Elijah, res East Syracuse, Retired Farmer; b OnoQdaga Co, s 1S04; Postollice East Svracuse.
Campbell A B, Farmer: b Ououdaga Co,'l811; Postoffice Fay-

ollice

Erwiu

>

PostoBice DeWitt.
Bogardus, Eugene, Farmer; b (Jno:idaga Co, is.37; Postoffice
Syracuse.
Brayton, Warren C, Farmer and Breeder of Flue Stock; b
Washiiiglou Co, sl8.'7; Postoffice Syracuse.
Brooks, (ieorge. Farmer; b Albany Co, s 1820; P O DeWitt.
Breer, Henry, Central ('ity Phosphate Works, btjermaiiy;

Memphis.

Nichols. Francis R. Farmer and Dealer in (jeueral Mdse; b

Uiiiudaga Co. s l.<(ll died lHi.'i.
X'ichols,

John W, Farmer and Dairvman, Overseer Poor; b Oaoiidaua Co, l.s:H; P

DeWitt Center,
J Fred, Gardener and Carpenter; b Germany. 8 1848(

liosse,

Liusday. Daniel S. Farmer; b Onondaga Co.

WITT.

Adcook. Geo, F'armer: b Ououdaga Co, 18:^; P O Fayetteville.

Burner. John P. Lot 21, Farmer; b Ououdaga Co, 1841;

Kinne, Mason

P,

PO

Farmer; b OiumdagaCo,

s 18 J8;

P U DeWitt

Centre,

Knapp, Edwin A. res Janiesville, Physician

Kiuue,

1x57: Postoffice Jamesville.

Ira, Farmer; b DeWitt, s 1819;

b Oneida Co,

DeWitt Centre.

'

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

428

KterriuKham. Win. Farmer

Milhi>( Bad I'luter b Cuuu. K-'l P

IWln
Lewi*, .'^KlnrT. Fannrr and iMlrrmaii bReoM^laer Co. IIMD;

\tuu> B. Karuirr

Kilt:.

I.A

It

Co,

<>n<>iidiCB

1M7

I'

Fmi<Tinl MairToiBu

II'.

P'.^t-.fflf.t 1H04
KaniK-r
Ihiiilrl
1X--T: I'm.' '
.

Manb

McKlnlrr.

ami School I'onimit' (llaiiicr.

iDeceawd.
l"l".

h Hrrajint-r

i.

. W*.

Krult Jrowrr: b MitxTland,

M. ImI JV.
>vnii"U".

Karmrr: b JpffrrwiD Co,

1*40.

PBliDiirr, >><-tb li. Lot .1), Fanner: b MadUoii Co,

Srrarii.
rowl'lai !. ^V M, Farmer; b Onnndana Co, iml

Mra

t)

DeWitt

1i*&>:

Hurt. William ll.rr.i

<

Pof(olBr<>

W. H Powlealaiid.' b .-^jraCoHamrr.
Oiiondam f.'o. IKIn; P n

>

PowIpbIbiiU. Mn.^^. iwlfe of (jiforcr Powletlaiid

IMT. P<i lolUnier

Vutmby. Mark. Farnirr and Ihiirrman

:i

IVwnt

(>

K<-lchrr(. .VIrxaiidrr
1

I'

Viitrp
rr* i>it '", Kaniifr.

OaondaKA

KJi; P

KInif.

Hpiirr. Fariiicr and Nraler in Platter; b Dutcbeu

. l-jl. P I > Fajmrvilr.
i^brphard. lU-i burl. Farmer b P<iniix>T. li*ll. I' <) JaiiiixTille
!*Diitb. Mriir}' J. Farni>T and Carpviilrr, b iiioiidaKa Co,
I..

K.".;

IjiFavrtte.
Newell. Ann P. wife of Tiini.tby Newell: b IjiFayette li!5 ;
I'oatofbcr Liifnyeltr.
b OiiondaKa Co. * 133T;
I'alnier. Avrrv U. ex-."*uprrvior
Poat.'fftcr IjtFnTrttr.
Park R.ibrrt S. re> Cardiff. Mrrchaiii. I'M and J P; b UtFayritr. a Kki: ro,t..ftlr.- Cardiff
Park, Mrs H ( rra i ardiff. wifr of K .s I'ark ; b Con land Co.

bn

idan Co.
Farnirr:
Sherwood. A
Talloiaii. Thomas K, Farmi-r: b l*ewiit.

lt<.M

Pll

IfSi;

l>owltt.

portoffire

Cullaiiier

IVd; Poatofdce Canliff.

.Miper b Conn, * ItOl; P
rra Canliff.
Siinchrr. Wni H. Poatofilcr Tully Valley. N Y.

Webti, I^oiinrd B, Farnier; b OiiuDdaxa Co. iKVi; P<Mto0ce

Bvdrr.

Itrwitl.
Wrtluii. Ilciirr l>. rr*. Janipuvllli*. Oiiieiit. I.iiii<<aiid Planter.
rontofTlc** .l>iii>t'f<% illr
U iiioiidniiB Cfi I'stT
Ward. K"l..Tt. |{-liri-d Fariiiir; li Albany Co. > IKJI; |.'oti.nici' ?*Tracue.
Wilcox. \ y. rarmrr aud Dealer In Planter: b < hiondan Co.
I

M P

Wonleii

WrlU

<

<

Thnaiaa. I'barles M. Farmer: idled

Fay-

l-.ll;

)noudai{B Co.

Van HeWhlkrr.

Ponttifflco

li^l.T;

..fllre

llrwill.

YarrtuKton. Iloratlu N. Farmrr aud iMirynian; b lunndaRa

Co. ln'J5. PoBlolllce Syracuse. i4th WlBCnntln Ileftt.

Tully.

TOWN

(F

I..\

Sarnli

wKr

.1.

.1.

|,,

of J

Pottofllce La-

Abbott: b Cortland Co.

Bakrr

.\lt'\.>ua< i. 1 annrr. (on nf

l'ol.lllr.- l,aFn<'lt.'

..lli

iiiid

..

\l

<

'

...

I.

H,

1'

'.

i>

I'

I'
-

.lamrvillr.
IjiKayrtlr.

I'

TCLLY.

Farmer: b Tullv. IKIS; 1' n TullT.

CuniniinK*. Wni. Famn-r. b Cortland Co. I^Kl; r ii Tully.
Fjirle. W' L re. 1ullr. I'ndertaker and Furnilure l>paler:b
Tullv
CorllaiidCo. ; Kl; 1'
b Tully. lK-.Ti P O Vr.nrr.
i>aiiiel. Alfred II. Carpenlri
I'...t..nicr 1 ully.
Fuller. Frank. Farmrr; b Svracnar. IMI
hullrr. Mnriiii li. Farmer: ii Tully, . KfiC p...t..Hlcr TuIIt.
b ronipey, |N|0:
Snmiiel
re*
I'hyaiciaii;
M.
Tully.
Fariiham.
1

I'oatofflce Tullv.

French Alpboimo. rra Vraper. J P and P

.M

(UUco.

* IKEI.

r...|..HIcr Vr.|M'r.

roni|irr.
Couklin. J M. KnoudmraC... I-.':. I'
Itoruian, lirorge A. rr> t ardiff. Miller, b Curllaiirt Co,
I

ri.atoflicp Cardiff.
Itorniaii. Am. a I', wifr of (ieorfte

>

A IomiaD

b Tully,

iN'i;

InVi

Cardiff.

P t> I* Fayette.
I. Farnirr: b Poni|>ry, IK-T
Daufortli. Ttit.ma>. Farnier; bl hatauiiuaco, IXM; Potti.fBcr
La t-BV-itr.
Itantortb. Lnrv H. wife of Ttonia* Oanfonh: b Iji Fayettr.
Iflll; pottofllce La Fayeite
Churl..

iiF

..toillcr i'oni-

lBi.

Walker: b

IMHI; I'oatofllcr Cardiff.

.llirr

IMiH; Po*l-

Chii.r. Itua.ell F.

LaFayette.

llill.

l>e

Van

I'oatofflrrTnllr.
l'.,iitonicr

CBr, II. .nor. rr. Ijkfnyrtte, StatMii Aurni S II and .N Y UK;

WX,. roaioillce
Crandall. .I"lii. Farmer, b Dulcbrai Co.
jiFairttr
Crowiibart. K.<lwBrd \. re*. CafdllT: Pnip'r Cardiff ll.itel; b
Madi'oii .. I":". PotomceCar.lHr.
pHrmrr ! Pompry. I"U r...tolBcr C ar.litl
Colrninn.

l'...i

Sch-iharie Co.

l.nFayrtlr.

".iratoi-n Co.,

'>

.Mit.. IHii'..
-

I>

wifr of Martin

(..tofflce IjiFayetlr.

.V Y. i'<.i;
Farmrr.
Furmrr. b Poniiwy. 1.
m. Furmrr. bl"mp<'.

.,..,,,,.

Naiicv.

t.

Wariirr. Farnirr;

iMCTi;

onur Tull\.
BIrnev. Joarph. Farnier: b Fablun. Ii^.'i; Pii Tully
P TuIIt.
HIriiry. Janir. li. Farnirr: b Fal.iu*. IM7
b .Mnnliui,
Habc'ick. .Mr. Pollr. widow of Hiram Kabcock
iwrj; !'...(. .fflir Tul'y.
I>ec. I.'i, K"*!!, I"!:.'; Pixtofllce
Uaker, Stilrm. Farmer; b Vt
Tully.
Camp. NeUon. rr< Tully. Baptitt MInUter; b Conn,* IKM:

l*o>t-

Lpwls Makpr; b (.AFavrttr,

ljih>>
Irrkrr. Janip*. rr
|fJT: Potot11ce l,iil-av!u-.
|i

i 1><H>:

lMi.'i

Ke.

b Lafayette.

S Thonia*. b .Manila*,

Abbott. H II. Stock Pralrr; b Conlaiid Co; ilird l''7il.

Abt...tt. Mr. Su.iiii. wid.iw of H II Abbott; I.Tullr. 14: Poat-

tr

Baker. >iorTl, FariioT

UbKit. I.utbrr. Farmrr

llnttB.

Ma

Shi-p|i Kaiiwr. b

!.'

'

Martin. Farnirr.

TiiWN

I'K'O

iKmiMIr

balK-r.

ar.hff

F.WKITE.

Farrtlr.
AblH.tt

Van DrWhlker.

<

Abbott. John M. Farmer: b IjiFayettr.

AuK

S. widow of Cbarle*
P.i.toftlcr l-afayettr.

Thunia* Helen

rtlevlUr.
(

CkrdiS.

ix-'l.

o.

Wilcox. ir<irKe W. Farnirr: b

Smith. ;.orrii. I.. Farmer. ! Vi. h IkV). P

Jameavlll*
Smith. Harriet li. wife of l^ireii LSnilih; IjiFayette \<A.
Thonia.. Ilarri.on. Farnirr. b L^fayrlte. s KU, Poatofflce La-

llouie: b

lNl: Po.t.plBce F.a-t frracupi-.

Farnirr; b < >uelda Co. 1n|0: Poatoffice

itiioidsKa

Fay et I r.

P'ii,.nio* Fi\i-in-ville.
KjikI -vrmu.f. I'rop r
I), rr.

Murlow

v..

Shaw. John

1"'.''>;

Wrlln,

r<.i^tMfi1cr

FavrH<-vllli.

'

Po*t-

l.i;

II.

1(117

Mtriicine
l':i5; I'
P O .STnicuie.
1> Nrw Matrpuhire. 1'.1;
}4iultb. Hrleii
Dewlti Outre.
r^priirrr. <'bB. Farmer, b KiiKiand. Kilt. P
b Porapey.
*taii(oii. li F. I'ropr Mrwiit FluurliiK Mlllt;
I

IfCU

IMIl: I'oalofBce t oIlliiuw.Hid.

<;. Farmer: Klfl: Po.tofflcr Ij Faynie.
Mcintyrr. lir'.rvr W. rr. Ijt FaM'tle .Mrrrhniit. i'oataiatter
and .'.'lipfrri.or: IMii, Po.toffirr Iji Faynie.
Nonhwat. M li. Farmrr ' Pompey. . 1^17; I'd Canliff.
Newell. Yinioihy. rr IjiFavrtte. Mrrrhanl.b LaFayrtte. *

(>

t^mllb. J

Fablu*.

(ieraiauy, ItMM;

Frutt lirower; biiiioiidaea Vo,

H Hoyt: b

SrmruM'.
<

b (iene^ee Co,

IHUtl:

iillanirr

t*eel)r, (iportte II.

Merchant

l...

b Madlnuti Co,

Hoyt. Philander Farnier: b La Fayette. \KX: l*o*toffle

La Fayeite.
Hoyt. LucrriiB. wife of Thllander Hoy t b N iagara Co. * 1(C!0
Poatoffice 1^ Fa}elte.
Joue.. William b Waien. Ih.17; died l7fi.
Jouea. .Mrii F.lirjibeth. widow of Williaai Jooe*. b Tnmpkln*
o. . Ii: I'o.tofflcr Cardiff.
Jncktoii. Caleb II. Farmer: b I .nii. a I*>I4 P O I.ji Fayette.
Jobntoii. Murk F.iriiirr. b La Favrlte, a 1K14; P(l CoIIIukwimmI.
JubiKon. Caroline T. wife of Niark Jobiiton; b La Fayette,

Faruirr: b

Howlealand. lieonie.
('ollanifr

ardiff.

roalolllrr CcrdlfT.
H'.yt. Aii\diiir H. wifr ..f
offlcr ( ardiff

Hrleii. iwlfe of

ciiM-. I'M-t:

April. \*:i
HouKht'.ii. Voliirr .\. rea Cardiff. Carrlafce and Wacon Manufaclurrr: b Herkimer Co. KU. I'oalofBce Canliff.
Hoyt. ( baa W. re. Ijt Fatrtle. Iletirnl Farnier.

'ilninrr

<

r.iwlf.lBiul.

W T.

. l-^Kl-

^ila J
tiitrr

l^l.S; Po*tofnce JanieiTllle.

I*<I4
P'Mtotnce Jamprllle.
Farnirr b TuIIt. Kli': PoMofllcr Cardiff
Hill. I..WI. II. Farairr
b I'oniper. ITUri; P O Ij Farelte.
Hotaliiiic. Jud>..n
b I Inondaita Co. KU: (' () I.jiFare(te.
Hotalinit. Siephrn. Farnier: b Pomprr. ItrJ: I'
|ji Farette.
H.'tBlini;. Pollr F.. wife of S HuUlluK. b Poinpey. IHUO; died

Ilrndrn-.n.

limadacs to,

l.-rrhanl

l.'.>

^V

(>cbiir. Mu-ti.i.

Orerarr.-

Hrrkfrpr-

n,t..i..T,.r

Martb. Janir.

Fajrile.

(illbert.

i.iirr.

Puttufflce

Hiram. Farmer. bConn.*

Hine. I^Biider. Farmer b Conn.

b I Uier Co.

IJ:

i'o>t..fllrr l,a

I^t

."*.

Farette.

V J. Fanner, b l.a Farpiie. liCU |> 1 1 Cardiff.

Fuller. Andrew. Farmer, b Iji FaTette. 1>0. Pll La Fayette.
Fu'ler. Julia C. wife of .\mlrew l^uller b Con'aiid Co. i'liCS;

<J

STnirur
Miller, lBTid

Iji

FarriiiRloii.

l'<i>tofflr SyrBfutr.
LuddiDKtoii I.urlaii. Karoier

Farelte.

Frilowr. Iliiiiirl. Farnier. b Otiaco. a ImOU; died Nor., \MA.

liardner, I ha. A. Farmer; b Tuliy, IMx; Foalofflce Tully.
lianliirr. t iniiila. widi.w of Wni C liardner; b I'onipry. . IHOH;
Poatolllce Tullr.
C. Merchant and Faniier; b Reu**elarr Co. *
liardner.

Wm

IH-.M.

Ilollrnbrrk. Iaac. Farnier: b Tullv. a ICI.'i. Jtied Ih74

ILillenbrck. I.vdia M. aidow of l.aac H..lleiih.-ck b Tullr,*
1-17. I'll Tullv.
Tully Valley.
Mare.. Robert. Farnief; b Albany Co. * 1K.T:
i

Po

HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Hayes, Thomas, Farmer.

(Died

1S65.)

Kellogg, Clarissa, widow of Cyrus Kellogg; b Hamilton Co,

Postof Bee Vesper.
s 1835
Kellogg, Cyrus, Farmer; b Albany Co, s 1827. (I>!ed 18C4.)
King, Ueorge, Farmer and Teacher; b Cortland Co, 8 1817 P
O Vesper.
;

King,

V, Farmer and Breeder ol Fine Stocl<; b TuUy.

Postoffice Tally.
F, res Tully, Merchant

18;iU;

King,

King,

Mary

King,

H K, "res Tully,

(Died 1856.)
E, widow of

1820.

and Postmaster

b Conn,

F King; b Conn,

P O

1820;

Tully.

b Tully,

179G;

PO

Tully.

Chas

VV,

Farmer and Dairyman; b Fabius,

Fabius.
N, Lot
Nichols,
Vesper.

2G,

Farmer

Ousby, John, Farmer and Dairymau; b England,

1838;

PO
PO

1840;

PO

1839;

b Delaware Co,

Tully.

Ousby, J F, Parmer; b Tully, s 1853 P O Tully.

Pearsall, Isaac, Parmer; b Dutchess Co, s 1829; P O Vesper.
Peters, Richard J, Farmer, Delaware Co, s 1829; P O Tully.
Stauton, George, Farmer; b Schoharie Co, sl849; P O Tully
Seely, John, s 1829.
Smith, Thomas, Landscape Painter; b Scotland, s 18C6. P O
;

Vesper.
Smith, Dolly, (widow of A. Smith,) b Mass, s 1821; P O Tully.
Strail, Richard, Farmer; b Schoharie Co, s 1823; P U Tully.
H, Farmer; b Florida, s 1875; P O Tully Valley.
Sanchez.
Smith, Armenius, res Tully, Harness Maker; b Mass, s 1813; P

O Tully.
Seeley, Gideou, Farmer;
Seeley, Henry, s 1787.

daga,

VanBergen, Henry, Parmer; died 185G; b Greene Co, s 1823.

VanBergen, A. H., Farmer and Breeder of PineStock; b. Tul-

office Tully.
Warner, L. L. Parmer; died Nov.

Co,

Postoffice Fabius.
Hotaling, William, res Fabius, General Mdse;
Co, s 18G0; Postoffice Fabius.

Warner, Almeda, (widow

P O Tully.
8 1837

of L. L. Warner,) b

Onondaga

Co.,

PO

Willis, Samuel, Supervisor; b Hamilton Co. s 1840;

Tully.
Willis, L. resTuUy.M.E. Minister; b Hamilton Co. POTully.
Farmer;
Died
b
Hamilton
1873;
Willis, Lewis,
Co, s 1842.
Willis, Ellen, (widow of L. Willis;) b Washington Co, s 1828;
P O Tully.
Wiuchell, James, Parmer; died 1850; b Vt. 1801.
Wiuchell, E, Parmer; b Greene Co. s 1812; P O Tully Va" y.
Woodmansee, Harriet, (widow of Jerry
Woodmansee,) u
Onondaga Co, s 1835; P O Vesper.
Woodmansee, Jerry M, Farmer; Died August 4, 1874; b Onon-

daga Co, s 1828.

Wooster, Muray, res Tully; b Conn,

TOWN OP

1833;

Tully.

FABIUS.

Radfish, Benjamin, res Fabius, Miller;

Station.
;

bMass,

1877

1867; Postoffice

Fabius.

b Onondaga Co, s 1840; Postoffice Fabius.

Barnes. Oscar A. res Fabius, Carriage Repositorv b Onondaga
Co, 1843 Postoffice Fabius.
Beman, I H, res Fabius, Pastor Free Will Baptist Church b
Steuben Co, s 1877; Postoffice Fabius.
Benson, Warren; b Pompey, 1817; deceased.
Benson, Katherine, wife of late Warren Benson b Fabius,
1815; Postoffice Fabius.
Chaffee, Lyman, res Fabius, Retired b Conn, s 1856; Postoffice
Fabius.
b Oswego Co, s 18.56 PostChaffee, C S, Prop'r Saw Mill, &c
office Fabius.
Cadwell, Anson, Parmer; b Cortland Co, 1806, s 1850 Postoffice Fabius.
Case, Isaac, Farmer; b Pompey, s 1819; P O Fabius.
Dygert, Asa B, Traveling Agent; b Onondaga Co, 1828;
Fabius.
Ellis, Mrs A, res Fabius, Millinery; b Onondaga Co; Postoffice
Fabius.
Ellis, Ansel, res Fabius, Carriage Repository b Onondaga Go,
18:32; Postoffice Fabius.
Elmore, C, Farmer; b Wyoming Co, 1860; P O Summit Station.
Fowler, Hubbard I, Retired Farmer, b Dutchess Co, s 1843;
Postoffice Fabius.
Fosmer, E A, res Fabius, Cabinet Maker and Undertaker; b
Onondaga Co, 1851 Postoffice Fabius.
French, D W, Farmer and School Teacher; b Tully, 1847; Post;

PO

office Summit Station.

Gallinger, George H, Parmer; bCanada 1839, s 185:3 P O Fabius.
Green, Wm, res Summit Station, Mfr of Cheese, etc ; Postofii'-e Summit Station.

Postoffice Fabius.

Fabius.
1822; P
Porter, Polly, Farmer; b Chenango Co, s 1865; P O Fabius.
Persooe, Miss Mary E, res Fabius, School Teacher, District
No. 9.- b Cortland Co, s 1835 P O Fabius.
Porter, Mrs Daniel, Farming b Pitcher, Chenango ( -o, 1828 s
1805
Postoffice Keeney Settlement.
Rowley, Newell, Parmer b Otsego Co 1814, s 1823 Postoffice

Pope, Oril, Farmer; Parmer, b Oswego,

Fabius.
Sprague, D S, Parmer and Land Surveyor; b Onondaga Co.
1823;
Fabius.
Sturdevant, Andrew, Manufr. of Chairs and Prop'r Saw Mill;
b Fabius, 1842. P O Summit Station,
Sharp, John E, Parmer; b Onondaga Co. 1834; P O Fabius.
Snlffin, John H. res. Summit Station, Prop'r Hotel; bOnou-

PO

cagal83G; P O Summit Station.

Smith, Irving, res. Fabius, Prop'r Custom Mill; b Mass.

PO

1835.

Fabius.

Webster, Isaac N, Farmer; b Cortland Co.

Station.

Williams, Horace F, Farmer; b Ht

O Fabius
Webster, Elmore C, Farmer; b Wy
mit Station.

TOWN OF

'

1821, 3 1828;

r'n

I,

PO

1814, s 1820;

Farmer b Oc^
Billings, Homer A, Farmer; b Ou--ndaga t_o, 1,^-..,
Babcock. Timothy P, Parmer and Hop uiower;
;

i,

C-rtiauu

Co, sl8G2; Fabius.

Brown, Charles D, Parmer; b Onondaga Co

1845; Postoffice

Watervale.
Berry, Mathias, Lots, 6.5-GG; Postoffice Pompey.
Benson, A P, Lot 69; Postoffice Delphi.
Bowen, L B Lot 33; Postoffice Oran.
Birdseye, A F, Lot 64 Postoffice Pompey Hill.
;

Craln, C S, Lot 85; Postoffice Delphi.

Clark, Bronson, Parmer; b Onondaga Co, s 1830; P O Oran.
Carpenter, Major, Farmer and (.'arpenter, b Oswego Co, s 1S2C;
Postoffice Delphi.
.Candee. Honry, Farmer; Onondaga Co, 1823; P O Pompey
Center.
Corwln, Phlneas P, Parmer; b Madison Co, s 1839; ir O Oran.
Coleman, Timothy S, Farmer; b Onondaga Co 1839; Postoffice
Janiesvllle.
R, Lot G5; Postoffice Pompey.
Ellis, Stephen. Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 1819; P O Pompey.
Watervale.
Pitch, Edgar O, Parmer; b Onondaga Co, 1840;
Gardlnler, John, Carpenter; b Schoharie Co, s 18GG; Postoffice

Dyei\

Beamer, Lewis, res Fabius, Prop'r Machine Shopand Foundry;

b ('olumbla

Osborn, James, Farmer b Onondaga s 1845; P O Fabius.

Osboru, Lyman, P;irmer b Mass, s 1811 Postoffice Fabius.
Pine, Milford L, Physician and Surgeon; b Madison Co,

Avery, Egbert
Co., s

b Onon-

Johnson, Myron C, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 1841; P O Fabius.

Jerome John, Farmer ; b Onondaga Co, 1816; P O Fabius.
Miles, Smith, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, a 1808; Postoffice

Tully.

1844.

Station.
;

1823; Poet-

Onondaga

1867; b

3,

PO

18,35;

Gen 1 Mdse

Station,

Summit

1852; Postoffice

Summit
s 1818.

ly, 1839; P O Tully.

VauCamp, Wm.. Parmer; b Cortland Co, s
Vau Bergen, Robert L., Farmer; b Greene

Summit

Co, res
8

Oscar F, Prop'r Hotel; b Onondaga Co, 1835 Postoffice .Summit Station.

Howe, C L P, res Fabius, Pastor First Methodist Church

Lake, Wilmot, Retired; b Conn, s 1807 P O Tully.

Lake, Cynthia, widow of A VV Lake; b Manlius,
Miles,

G F &

Gilbert,

Summit

Insurance and Loan Agent

Postofflee Tully.

1829;

Gay,

429

PO

Pompey.
Gates, J P. Lots 4 and 5; Postoffice Jamesville.
Hall, Stephen, Postoffice Pompey.
Hayden, Carmi, Farmer; b Onondaga Co; P O Pompey.
Hall, Upson, Parmer; b Onondaga Co, 1822; P O Pompey.
M, Parmer; b Onondaga Co, 1848; P O Watervale.
Hoag,
Hill, Chas R, Lot 33; Postoffice Delphi.
Hill, C R K, Lot 100; Postoffice Delphi.
Jerome, S W, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 1827; P O Pompey.
Jerome, Ira, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 1845; P O Fabius.
Kelsey, D W, Mechanic; b Chenango Co, s 1856; P O Manlius.

Wm

Kenyon,

J.

Lot

49; Postoffice

Pompey

Hill.

Lowrie, Edward, Farmer; b Onondaga Co; P O Manlius.

Loomis, Isaac A Jr, Farmer; b Onondaga Co, 1818;.l*o8toffii:Manlius.
Larrabee. C M, Lot 100; Postoffice Delphi.
Newman. O., Parmer; b Onondaga Co. 1800; P O Pompey
Center.
P. L; P O Address, Delphi.
O'Reilly, M., Lot 65; Postoffice Pompey Hill.
Pelrle, J., Pastor Presbyterian Church; b Herkimer Co. s

Newman,

1872;

P O Pompey.

Ru33, Henry J., Carpenter; b Onondaga Co. 1830; Postoffice

Watervale.
Oian.
Parmer; b Onondaga Co. 1801;
Safford, Silas 15
Shaltuck, Milo, Farmer; b Onondaga Co. 1848; P O Jamesville.
Stearns, Jehlel, Physician and Surg, b Vt. 1810; P O PDmpey.
Sutherland. Elijah G., Parmer; b Onondaga Co. 1820; P O
Manlius.
Swift, A. P., Lot 93; P O Pompey Hill.
Tolmau, Josiah H. Farmer; b Onondaga Co. 1832; P O Pompey.
Vau Brocklin, Wm. W., Lot 64; P O Pompey.
,

PO

HISTORY

430
Walk Ilia. WktaoD,
WliiH?liick,

Luthar

Kaniicr: bOn
J., Kuniier; L

01-

Itet:.;
.

'i>.

ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Watrrvale.
White, John W.. Kartuor mnd Meebanle; b Oiiuiidxtm Co. 1KJ4;
iMtOraii.
Wyaiit, Daniel I'.. Kariiiir and Crp-uter; b Dnoiidaxa lo.
MIX,; P <) Watcrrnlr.
liio 1'.. Fartner; b UoondBca Co; I'oitofflM
Woodf
'

Woodf

MISCKU.ANKOUM.

POl'ompey.

ItO*; I'tiatoilloa

Brcd.

h.,

Karraor;

Wright. Jcmiulah. Lot 85;

I'

b Ououdacm Co; roitoffloe

Delphi.

niefeudurf.Jobu
i' (I

Ph.

()

Miller (Atlaa MIIU)

II.

ix.

t.

,.

Kurt

I'lalu. 1H8&

I'hiiiilx.
:

b Lytauder.

ISiO

rb<i'uix.

Ixireiir-o W, re I'hueuix. Attorney and Couucillnrb l)Uiro Co. IKIO. imi I' O I'houuU.
Revuold*. Avery, re* I'hoenlx. Mfr <'akel and Furniture; b
Cazeuovia, IKTs ltu.'> 1' () I'boeulx.

Roblofou,

at-ljiw

II

Hiv^

'

I'i

Baker, Tninmn. re* t'bcsnix, farmer

LSBfe

liver, re

b Veriiioiit.

^'t

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