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Centennial Anniversary
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Seneca County
ind
Auxiliary Papers
published by the
Seneca Falls Historical Society
2d Annual, 1904
XJoAit-
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Gift
The Society
18 C %--
Officers.
Harrison Chamberlain , _ President
E. William Mbdden Vice-President
A. W. GoLDER Secretary and Treasurer
Harrison Chamberlain, Hermon A. C^fmer, Sheldron F. Frazier,
Trustees.
E. William Medden,
Belle Teller,
H. Grant Person,
Albert W. Golder, Janet Cowing, Lillias R. Sanford.
Addison, E W Addison, Mrs E W Beach, Mrs B F Broadway, Rev A W Beck, Cora Cary, Mrs L H Chamberlain, H Clarke, Rev W B Clarke, Jessie Cowing, Janet Carmer, H A Carmer, Mrs H A Cowing, Mrs Adaline Crosby, Mrs May Drake, Linda F Frazier, Rev S F Gay, A S Gay, Mrs A S Golder, A W
Merribers.
Henion, Anna Haney, Mrs A P Hopkins, Jessie Holmes, Edith Kibbey, Mrs S Linehart, Mrs H Lawless, Mrs Maier, Emma Medden, E Wm Medden, Mrs E Wm O'Connell, Anna L Pollard, Charlotte Pollard, W J Pollard, Mrs W J Person, Rev H G Sanford, L G Sanford, Mrs L R Silsby, Mrs M R Stahl, Ida May
Schoonmaker, Dr Hubert Schoonmaker, Mrs Hubert Simson, Nellie Simson, Frances Taylor, Rev A W Taylor, Mrs A W Teller, Mrs. A M Teller, Claribel Trautman, M Edith Trautman, Mrs P Teller, Fred Vreeland, Addie May Vreeland, Ora Wetmore, Mrs. S Adaline Wetmore, Edith Waldorf, Dr H S Wickes, Jennie Williams, Grace F Wiiliams, Mrs
University of tu State of Dew Vork
Chiarter of
Seneca Tails l)l$torical Society
Whereas a petition for incorporation by the University has been duly received containing satisfactory statements under oath as to the objects, plans, property and provisions for maintenance of the proposed corporation
Therefore being satisfied that all requirements prescribed by law or University ordinance for such an Asssociation have been fully met and that public interests justify such action, the regents by virtue of the authority conferred on them by law hereby incorporate
Harrison Chamberlain, E. William Medden, Albert W. Golder,
Hermon A. Carmer, Belle Teller, Janet Cowing,
Sheldron F. Frazier, H. Grant Person, Lillias R. Sanford.
and their successors in office under the corporate name of Seneca Falls His torical Society.
This Corporation shall be located at Seneca Falls, Seneca County, New York.
Its first trustees shall be the nine incorporators above named Its object shall be the study of local and general history and the acquire- ment and preservation of papers and other articles of local historical interest and the territory of its principal work shall be Seneca County.
In witness whereof the Regents grant this charter No 1669 under seal of the University, at the Cap- [seal] itol in Albany, June 27, 1904.
A. S. DRAPER, Recorded and took effect 3:45 p. m , June 27, 1904 Com. of Education
B
Index
Note — Papers read before the Society upon the occasion of the centennial celebration of the formation of Seneca County will appear by themselves in index No. i.
Additional papers read before the scciety during the past year wiil appear in index No. 2
NTo, 1
Introductory Remarks by the President of the Societ3^ Harrison Cham- lain I
Historical Address — Seneca County. Hon. Ded^ich Willers 3
Preservation of Private and Public Papers. Dr William A. Macy 24
Judiciary of Seneca County Hon. John E Richardson 27
Reformed Churches of Seneca County Rev. E. B. VanArsdale 18
Seneca County in the War of 181 2. Rev. Pulaski E Smith ...59
No. 2
Officers and List of Members of Society A
Certificate of Incorporation, Seneca Falls Historical Societ}'^ B
Our Predecessors in Seneca County — The Sachem Ojagecht and Cayuga In- dians. Fred Teller 35
The Seneca Falls Fire Department. Maj. Pryce W. Bailey 46
Samuel Harris and his Son, John Harris. Fred Teller 62
The First Congregational Church. Edwin Medden 65
The Streets of Seneca Falls. Miss Janet Cowing 66
The First Baptist Church. Rev. S. M. Newland 72
Centennial Anniversary of Seneca
County.
The Centennial Anniversary of the formation of Seneca County was ob- served by the Seneca Falls Historical Society at a meeting in the Wesleyan jNtethodist church on Monday evening, March 21st, 1904. Harrison Chamber- lain, president of the Society, presided and made the following address, after which he read Hon. Diedrich Willers historical sketch of the formation of the county: ADDRESS BY HARRISON CHAMBERLAIN.
To bnild up a commonwealth is a noble endeavor. To lay the founda- tions deep and strong, so joining com- rautiities and counties together that the structure will be harmonious and serve the public good is a task so patri- otic, wise and grand that it confers on all taking a part in it an imperishable glory.
The formation of Seneca county was in line of State-building, of readjust ing conditions the better to meet the nindsof an increasing population. And how well this adjustment was made is evidenced by the fact that we are as- sembled here to-day to commemorate its centennial anniversary, and draw inspiration from the lives of those who wrought it.
I want to speak for a few moments of the men of 1804. On this occasion they deserve our meed of praise. They were of a sturdy, heroic race, coming here, infiuenced by not the Spanish gieed for gain, not to ravage the coun- try of its wealth and leave it despoiled and barren. Rather they came to give of themselves, to build up homes, to
cultivate the soil and utilize the forests and enrich the land by their skill and energy. They were builders of settle- ments, able to conceive and execute great enterprises, shrinking from no hardships and fearing no dangers. Simple in habits and wanting maybe the social polish of lo-day they pos- sessed elements that imparted to them strong personality. They stood fore- most in their place, impressing those about them with their strong, manly qualities. They were looked up to and their opinions went unquestioned; their advice was sought and confidently fol- lowed. Exact in their ideas of life their conceptions of duty were as pre- cise as their practice of it was rigid and severe. The home had its rules and though these were strict and un- yielding they were cheerfully complied with. In social and business relations tiiere was a like preciseness of upright- ness and integrity expected and de- manded of all. Mingling with and softening these features was a kind and generou.s disposition. It would be difficult to find examples of kind and unselfish deeds to match the generous and ready service that the early settler was quick to extend to his neighbor. If one were in distress for food the fact was known and the best of the most fortunate was poured out. If a house or barn were to be raised the neigh- bors laid aside their work and came to the raising. If the hay or grain were to be cut and garnered and the farmer for any reason was unable to do it those in the vicinity came generous-
ly to his assistance. Everyone felt in close touch with his neighbor, though miles might separate their homes, felt a keen sense of dependence and was moved by a common sympathy that drew families together and created a common brotherhood.
The men of 1804 were of strong con- viction and purpose. Indeed there was no place in the conditions of life for the weakling and vacillating. In the mode of training the young, consti- tutional defects were largely elimi- nated. The tasks im.posed created strong bodies and hardened muscle, the responsibility imparted confidence and courage, nourished a strong mental fibre f-nd fitted the young to take their station in life. In this regimen there was a Spartan spirit, seeking the best and strongest in character. And as you read of the men of 1804 in this light yoTi see in the circumstances sur- rounding them the forces of denial and sacrifice that made them strong of mind and will and enabled them to achieve great deeds.
In the distant view there is a beauty that is apt to disappear upon closer ap- proach. Are we ascribing virtues to the men of 1804 that they did not pos- sess? Have their deeds by an inverse rule enlarged as we recede from them? We think not. The judgement of his- tory has confirmed their worth. Faults
they had, but virtues greater and more enduring. In their veins flowed the blood of the Puritan, of the Dutch and Huguenot, a strain of the most aggres- sive in thought and action, imbued with a love for freedom and erapha.sized by an ancestry that had battled for more than two centuries for conscience and liberty. Here they came from the fields of New England, from Man- hattan island and the Keystone Stale, drawn not more by our fertile soils than by the liberal policy of the State that offered settlers the greatest free- dom and material advantages. Here was the first West; here the first field of action and enterprise; here was a hbeity associated with the finest 0{)- port unity of acquiring an ample and independent fortune. Here they lived and toiled; here they planted free in- stitutions and laid the foundation of a conunonwealth that in three genera- ti<>us has mii.de the State of New York rank the first in the Union.
Men of 1804! We pay you honor! We wreath a garland for you.
•'As we walk to day the halls of story, Mid pictures of the olden time, And voices, from an ancient glory, That charm us like a silver chime,
The old and new join loving hands. The past hefore the present stands; The ages give each other greeting.
And years recal! their old renown, Their deeds of chivalry repeating. That won for them their golden crown."
Seneoa County.
An Historscal Address by Hon. Diedrich Willers of Varick, N. Y.
"Our Father's God. from out wbosf' hand, Th« centuries fall like >?raiiis of sand, We meet to-day, uniled, free. And loyal to our land and Thee, To thsnk Tht-e for the era done. And trust Thee for the opening one."
Mr. Prf.sident, Ladies and Gentle- men:— We havo fissenibl«d here (uncJer the auspices of the Seueca Fall.s His- torical society) to cotnmeMiorate the one hundredth atmiversary of the olii- cial organization of the county of Sene- ca frotu territory of Cayuf^a county, to take a retrospective survey of the century past, and to seek therefrom, lessons for guidance in the future.
The consideration of a subject so vast and far reaching as this hi^?to^ical review, covering an entire century, within the time allotted to roe, calls for ouly a general statement and avoid- ing of detail relating to the several towns.
Tlie first white men to penetiate the wilderness region, covered by this county, were missionaries, pr(tnipted b3 no sordid motives, but solely with self-sacrificing zeal, to labor for the spiritual welfare of the ItuJians. Of these, the earliest were Jesuit mission- aries, who in the period 1051) to 1G84 established mission stations among the Cayuga nation of Indians — one called St. Stephen at the Indian village (Tio- hero) situate on the east side of C'ay- uga outlet (Seneca liver), a short dis- tance from the north end of (Jayuga lake, and another one at St. Rene (Onontare), near the present villnge of Savannah, in the bounds of the old town of tJalen, and near the ninth line of the present county of Seneca. The ministrations of these missionaries ex- tended also to the Indians residing on both sides of Cayuga lake and to the Seneca tribe of Indians furth(M west.
The dfUdted iMoravian missionaries, Bishop CammerliolT and I»ev. David Zeisberger, visited the Onondngas and also the Cayugas at the principal town of the latter, near Union Springs, on he east side of Cayuga lake, which
they crossed and then passed on foot over the territory of this county iu 1750, u|)on a spiritual mission to the Seneca Indians — returning by the same route after a short absence. Rev. Samuel Kirkland, who served as a mis- sionary to the Seneca Indians at Kana- desega (near Geneva) in 1765 66, pass- ed up Seneca river in a batteaux, across this county. In his ministrations to the Senecas he sometimes also visited the east side of Seneca lake.
A few traders with the Indians were also early visitors between the Cayuga and Seneca lakes prior to the American revolution. The military expedition of General John Sullivan, iu 1779, dur- ini; a trying period of the Revolution- ary war, to chastise the hostile Indians of Western New York, proved to be of great importance to this locality. We need not recount in detail the onward march of the expedition, or its several movements from Easton, Pennsylvania.
Leaving Elmira (Kanawaholla) after a ilecisive V>attle with the Indians, the army reached the east side of Seneca lake, in the present town of Hector, September 3d, and continued to march northward, destroying the Indian vil- lage of Kendaia September 5th, and rescuing Luke Svvetlainl, who had re- sided there a year as an Indian captive, ('ontinuing its march, the command reached and forded the outlet of Seneca lake at its northeast corner and arrived at Kanade.sega (near Geneva) on the 7th of Septembei. 'i'he expedition then advanced through the Seneca Indian territory to the Genesee river, carrying destruction iu its path, and returund to Geneva by Septeml)er 19th The main arniy began its return inarch south- ward, Sei'teinljer 20lh, upon the east side of Seneca lake. On the same day detachments under Col. William Butler and Col. Peter tJansevoort maiched eastward on the north side of Seneca river, completing the destruction of the Indian village of Skoiyase, upou
the site of the present village of Water- loo (which had already been visited and partly destroyed on September 8th by a detachment under command of Col. John Harper), and encamped there for the night. Resuming? their march on the next day, the detach- ments marched across the locality of the present town of Seneca Falls,to the outlet of Cayuga lake, a short distance north from the lake and near the Indian village of Tiobero (St. Stephen) on the east side. Fording the outlet, the com mand of Col. Gausevoort procee(3ed to Albany and Col. Butler marched up the east shore of Cayuga lake, de- stroying several Indian villages and pioceeding to Elmira, rejoined the main army near there, on September 28th.
On September 21st, Col. Henry Dear- born with a detachment of 200 men, after leaving the main army, marched across Fayette to Ciiyuga lake and de- stroyed three Indian villages on the west shore of Cayuga lake, near Ca- noga, and proceeded south along the west shore, destroying several addi- tional villages and rejoined the main array near Elmira, on September 26th.
The chastisement of the hostile In- dians was indeed severe, but paved the way to peace and to the relinquish- ment of their lands and their occupa- tion by early settlers.
General Sullivan and his army were much surprised to find on all sides evi- dences of great fertility of soil and beauty of location, in the lake region o( Western New York, in which are found the "Finger lakes" so called.
In their deva.stating march through the Indian country large quantities of corn, beans, m'^lons, etc., were either consumed or destroyed; also an abund- ance of apples, plums and peaches.
The soldiers on their return home, gave glowing accounts of the "Lake region," which soon after became known as the "Genesee country," and some of the pioneer settlers of this county were soldiers who had marched with the army across this locality in 1779.
Elkanah Watson of Albany, N. Y , who was interested in lands in this locality, and who made a trip here in September, 1791, in writing of the Lake country, said: "The map of the
world does not exhibit, in any other country, two lakes equal in magnitude to the Seneca and Cayuga, which are so singularly and happily situated. What a theme for poets, painters, philosophers and travelers, for the last two thousand years, had they been found in Italy! In general, the coun- try lying between these lieauliful lakes, rises gradually in symmetry froin tlie opposite shores toward the center, producing a pleasing effect. Whenever It reaches a cultivated state, by the vigoroui^ arm of freemen, it will become the 'Paradise of America.' " The poet, James G. Percival, has written of the beauties of Seneca lake, and a member of your Historical society, has written a "Sonnet to Lake Cayuga."
Our narrative of events cannot, how- ever, be confined to the exact limits of a century, but it must relate back to the first permanent settlements in this county, fifteen to heventeeu years prior to its official organization.
It is indeed fitting that our meeting to-night should be held in the town in which the fir.«t location and the first settlement in this county were made in 1787.
When this first location was made, our territory was still a part of Montgom- ery county, and then passing through three changes in a decade, the county of Herkimtr followed in 1791, Onon- diiga in 1794, and then our immediate parent — Cayuga county — -was organ- ized in i^- 1799, a county which still retained a large area.
The po.sition of Seneca county, as will be seen upon the State map, is a peculiar one — the lakes, Seneca and Cayuga, bordering its west and east shores, with the Seneca river running across the county from lake to lake, forms a part of it, into a peninsular shape.
The county seat of Cayugu county for a number of years after 1799 was somewhat fluctuating, but in order to reach either, Cayuga village, on the east shore of Cayuga lake, or Aurora, on the same side, in which villages the county bu.-^iuess was transacted, the waters of Cayuga lake must be crossed, and although, after 1800, the Cayuga bridge, near the north end of the lake, one mile and eight rods in length, connected the present territory
of Seneca county with Cayuga village, the village of Aurora CDiild only 1)6 reached by siiiiill boats propelled by oitrsni^n or i>y suiail s-iilinfj vessels, or, indeed, liy a circuilotisuvtirland rcnite.
The ditBcult comniuuieatiou with Cayuga county, with county .seat rival- ries find the auibition of "local states men," were doubtless prominent causes for the organization of the county of Seneca. When the question of the for- mation of a new county was first agitated in 1802 seveial projects were discussed. One of these was for a division of Cayuga county e;ist and wt^st, by a line commencing at Seneca lake and running east on the line be- tween Romulus and Ovid, crossing Ca\ uga lake and the military town- ships of Scipio and Sempronins, to the county of Onondaga. The territory north of this line and continuing the entire width of Cayuga county to Lake Ontario, to constitute one county (doubtless to remain as Cayuga coun- ty), and that part of the territory of Cayuga county as then cotistituteil, lying south of thn al)ove line to consti- tute another couuty, probably the new one. It is said, that had Cayuga coun- ty been divided by an east and west line as above, that the county seat of the north county would have t)eeri es- tablished at Cayuga bridge and of the south county at Ithaca, in the town of Ulysses.
A second project was for a north and south division, substantially trje same as the one adopted by the Legislature in 1804 in the formation of Seneca county.
Still another project is indicated in a petition presented to the Assembly by William Powell and others of Ontario county, praying that a part of Ontario county and a part of Cayuga county be formed into a new county. The As- sembly Journal does not show the pre- ci.se plan, but it probably contemplated the erection of a new county by a north and south division of Cayuga, and the annexatiiui of Geneva and vicinity thereto.
The questi(m of dividing Cayuga county was brought before the State Legislature of 1803, when petitions in favor thereof were presented to the State Senate, and on March 16th of that year. Senator Lemuel Chipnian of Ontario county, brought in a bill to
give effect to the prayer of the petition- ers. The bill was read twice and com- mitted to the committee of the whole, but no further action was taken there- on by the legislature in that year. In 1804, however, the division quesi ion took active form and a numlier of petitions favoring the several prf»jects, and sev- eral remonstrances, were introduced in both houses of the Legislature.
Dr. Silas Halsey, a resident in the bounds of the present town of Lodi, then Ovid, had, while a resident there, t>eeu elected to the Slate Legislature, as a .Member of Assembly from Ooon- drtga county for the years 1797 and 1^98, and again represented Cayuga county as its first .Member of Asseml>ly in 1800 and was continued in 1801, 1803 and 1804 from that county.
During this long term of legislative .service, Doctor Halsey had become well versed in legislalion and had formed an extensive acquaintance at Albany, so that his efforts in behalf of the new county were of great value to the friends of that project, although Cay uga in 1803-4 had three Members of Assembly, of whom two resided east of Cayuga lake.
Joseph Aunin, a resident in the pres- ent territory of Cayuga county, was one of the Senators from the VVestern district of thi.^ State, and the imme- diate representative of Cayuga county in the State Senate in 1803-4.
It is not positively known whether Assemblyman Halsey and Senator Annin both favored the same division project. However, on February 3d, 1804, when a petition was presented in the A.'*sembly by citizens of the town of Hector, praying that the territory situate between Cayui^a and Seneca lakes, etc., be erected into a new coun- ty. It was referred to a special com- mittee of five, of which Dr. Halsey was named chairman.
On February 27th of the same year, Dr Halsey introduced "an act to divide the county of Cayuga and for other purposes," which was read twice and referred to the committee of the whole. Ou March 7th the bill was favorably considered, and on March 9th referred to a select committee of which Dr. Halsey was cliairmau to report com- plete. He reported back the bill with amendments, which were agreed to,
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6
and on March 10th it passed the As- sembly. The Senate, after considera- tion, passed the Assembly l)ill without amendment on March 21st, and it re- ceived the approval^Governor George Clinton on March 24th, 1804, and be- came a law on that day. The name "Seneca" given to the new county — as well as the name of Seneca lake and Seneca river — isderived from the Sene- ca nation of Indians, the strongest and most warlike tribe of the Six Nations oT Iroquois Indians.
The exact boundary line between the lands of the Cayuga and Seneca nations of Indians was not very closely de- fined, and as late as December, 1789, an agreement was entered into with this State, wheieby the Seneca nation agreed to the old Pre emption line run- ning a little west of Geneva, and north to Lake Ontario, as a boundary line, and conceding to the Cayugas the whole of Great Sodus bay, known as "Bay of the Cayugas." The whole of Seneca lake, however, belonged to the Seneca nation, and it is said that a few fishing villages on its east side, near its north end, belonged to the same nation, together with the Indian vil- lage of Kendaia. All the rest of the present Seneca county, it is believed, belonged to the Cayuga Indians. Our county, therefore, while receiving the name "Seneca," was really a part of the original domain of the Cayugas, and it was the fourth county to be named from au Iroquois tribe — Onon- daga, Oneida and Cayuga haviug pre ceded it.
The county of Seneca, by the act of incorporation of 1804. embraced a terri- tory described as follows: The south boundary, beginning at the head of Seneca lake, at the southwest corner of the town of Hector— thence running east on the south line of the towns of Hector and Ulysses, to the southeast corner of the last named town (the whole of the town of Ulysses and Hec- tor being included in Seneca county — and the south boundary of Ulysses ex- tending about 4^ miles south of Ithaca.) The east boundary, being constituted by the town of Drydea and the center of Cayuga lake, and its outlet, to the west line of the town of Brutus, and thence north in the west line of Brutus and Cato, and farther on north to Lake
Ontario — the north boundary extend- ing along Ontario lake to the county of Ontario, thence south along the Ontario county or new Pre-emption line to Seneca lake. The west boundary, which has been the subject of consid- erable comment aud controversy, had been already defined in the boundaries of Cayuga county, estai)li;shed by the Revised Laws of 1801, (and continued as to Seneca county in the Revised Laws of 1813)— as bounded westerly by the line called the new Pre-emption line, from [jake Ontario to Seneca lake and thence along the west shore of said lake to the southwest corner of the township of Hector.
After the counties of Tompkins and Wayne had been erected, in part from Seneca county, the Revised Statutes passed in 1827, de.scribe the county boundaries as they now exist, as fol- lows: All that part of the Slate bounded on the north by the county of Wayup, on the east by the county of Cayuga, on the south by the county of Tompkins (and now in part belonging to Schuyler county) and on the west by the west shore of the Seneca lake, and from the north end of said lake, by the Pre em[»- lion line, as established by law.
The territory of the new county, in 1804. comprised lands in the Military tract, Cayuga reservations and the Williamson Compensation Patent, (at the north end), situate iu the six towns of Ovid, Romulus. Junius and Fayette, with Hector and Ulysses.
The county extended in length, north and south, sixty three miles with an average width of eleven miles aud an area of 744 square miles, or 476,160 acres of land.
One hundred years ago, when Seneca county was organized, its population was sparse and some of its territory, especially at the extreme north end, was almost an uubroken forest!
The Indian ownership of the West Cayuga reservation had not been ceded and relinquished until 1795, and a Cayuga Sachem, Fish Carrier, was still interested in a reservation at Canoga. Our pioneer settlers, not infrequently met Indians, and as late as 1803, one of the early settlers iu the hi)unds of the present town of Tyre, was murder- ed by an Indian, although to the credit of both pioneers and Indians, it may
be said, that they usually maintained friendly relations.
The population of the original terri- tory included in Seiiet-a county by the U. 8. Census of 1800, was onfy 4,984, divided as follows: Ovid, includin;^ Hector, 3,169; Romulus, 1,035; Fayette, including Junius and the entire north end of county to Lake Ontario, 803, and Ulysses 937. The town of Ovid, included the center of population of this territory.
It is not our purpose, to enter at length into the history of the set- tlement of the several towns, as to which there is some dispute, as to priority. As already stated, Seneca Falls contained the earliest settle- ment by Job Smith in 1787, followed by Lawrence Van (Ueef and others, in 1789. Romulus, Ovid, Lodi and Wat erloo were also settled in 1789, while the other towns of the present county, followed within a few years later. The town of Ulysses, claims settlement in 1789, and Hector in 1791, while the towns of Galen and Wolcott, which foi n)ed a part of our original county (although not yet organized at the time of its formation), were not settled un- til 1800 and afterward.
It has been well said, "that the founders of every community, impress their characteristics, which retpaiu fixed for a long period, perhaps per- manently."
The early settlers of Seneca county represented German and Scotch Irish from Pennsylvania, Holland Dutch and English from New Jersey and Pjastern New York, Yankees from the New England States, with a few persons of foreign birth. From such an admi.x ture. including many Revolutionary soldiers, a conservative, industrious, frugal, and patriotic population has re- suited.
Usually, in the formation of a new county, there is a contest, upon the lo- cation of the county buildings, and the legislation which provides for their lo- cation, is sometimes very shrewdly drawn, to accomplish a desired pur- pose.
'i'he act for organization of Seneca county, required the su[)ervisors of the new county, to raise one thousand <hil- lars for buildings, and nanuvl Jolin Sayre of Romulus, James VauHorue of
Ovid and Grover Smith of Hector, as a commission to superintend the building of a court hou.-^e and jail, "to be erect- ed in tlie town of Ovid, and not more than four miles south of the north line of said town, and not less than three tuiles from the Seneca and (^ayuga lakes" It was further pioviiled, ihat the courts for the coumy "shall be htjiden at the meeting hou.se on Lot No 30 in the town of Oviil," undoubt- edly the (irst church edifice erected in the bounds of the present county — about five miles southeast of Ovid vil- lage— until further h^^islation; also, that pn.souHrs bo confuu<d in jiil at Elmira, until county jail is completed.
The commissioners, it will be .seen, were really lestricted as to the location of the site, between the North bvjund- ary of the town of Ovid, and a line ex- tending south four miles, reaching to the present town of Lodi. and three milns east of Seneca lake.
The village of Lancaster, situate upon the site of the present village of Willard, in the town of Romu- lus, desired the location of the coun ty seat, and at a special town meet- ing, lield in that town, June 9th, 1804, its citizens protested vigr)rously against this location and the town of Washing- ton (Fayette), in special town meeting held July 7th in the .same year, took similar adverse action.
It is understood that the town of Ulysses, in which the promising village of Ithaca was located, was also decid- edly opposed to the proposed location of the county buildings, as were also the inhabitants of Junius.
The first board of supervisors of the new county, which convened at Ovid, October 3d, 1804, and adjourned to the house of John JMc.Math, abf)ut two miles south of the village, refused, at first, by a tie vote, to appropriate moneys for erecting county buildings, the supervisors of Ovid, Hector and Romulus voting in the afhrmative, and the supervisors of Junius, Fayette and Ulysses, voting in the negative. Before adjournment, however, the sum of one thousand dollars was api>ropriated, leaving the question as to location of site of the county buildings, open to further legislation.
The legislature of 1805, refused to change the location, but made it still
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more definite anci positive, by reqair- ins the bnilditiff CDinmissioueis to lo- oatp the couotv buildings, on h.>t No. 3, (upon the site of Ovid villnge) the site to be located not exof^eding fifty rods west of the three mile limit from Seneca lake, imposed in the preceding year. From this, it is evident, that some measurement had been made dur- ing the year, showing that the desired site was not quite three miles from Seneca lake. It may be added here, that as early as 1797, wheti the terri- tory of this counlv, still formed a part of Onondaga county, the courts of that county were rnciuired by the legislature to be held, at Manlius, .\urora and at the house of Andrew Dunlap in Ovid The Ovid term to be held on thf^ 4th Tuesday of September.
Hon. John Delafield. in his county history says, that this term of court was held at the barn of Andrew Dunlap. At the session of the lugislature in 1805 it was provided that the court appoint ed to be held at the meeting house, al ready relerred to, on the second Tues- day of May 1805, after convening, shall adjourn to the house of John See- ley on Lot 3 aforesaid. Through the courtesy of County C'lerk Savage, it has been ascertained, that the site for county buildings at Ovid, on 1 -ot 3 aforesaid, was deeded to the supervis- ors of the county of Seneca, by John Seeley and wife, by an absolute deed of conveyance, for a "consideration of five dollars, and the advantages and emoluments arising from the building of a court house." The site comprises three acres of land, including the pub- lic park in front of the buildings. The erection of the court house and jail, was begun in 1806, and completed without df'lay, and thus the machinery of the new county was fully set in operation, Dr. Silas Halsey having been appoint- ed county clerk.
As indicating the influence of the towns of Hector and LTlysses in the af- fairs of the new county, it may be men- tione<i, thai the first sheriff appointed in 1804, was a resident of Hector, and the appointee for first judge of the Court of (yommon Pleas, was a resi- dent of Ulysses, as were also his two successors, and up to 1815, this import- ant office was held by a resident of Ulysses. Hon. Cornelius Humfrey,
the first appointee for judge, was also elected supervisor of Ulysses in 1805, although later a resident of Hector. Fivfi residents of Ulysses also served as Members of A.-^sembly. during the thirteen y^ar period before the erection of Tompkins county, and one Repre- sentative in Congress, Dr. Oliver C. Comstock. for four ye^rs. For a num- ber of years, the public affairs of the county, now seemingly mo\ed along smoothly The town of Wolcott, ad- joining LmUp Ontario, was erected a town in 1S07, allhnngh not fully or- ganized and represented in our l)oard of stlp^>^vi^ors until 1810. In 1812, that town was however annexed to Cayuga county, and remained in connection with that county, until 1817, when it was reannesed to S^^neca county.
Tlie town of Galen was organized in 1812, from territory lying on the north of Junius. The populatiou of the s<iuth towns increased most rapidly, aud the inhabitants of Ulysses becom- ing more and more restive, sought the erection of a new county, with county seat at Ithaca.
F'or several years prior to 1817, one of the Members of Assembly from Seneca county, had been elected from Ulysses, and in the last natned year, Hon. Archer Gieen was one of the Representatives from this county.
The influence of Hon. Simeon De- Witt, a resident of Ithaca, and for fifty years surveyor general of this Slate at Alt»auy, then in active public life, had been exerted for a new county, with county buildings at Ith.ica, to secure which, he and other citizens made lib- eral offers. Hon. Elisha Williams, a propeity holder at W.iterloo, repre- sented Columbia county in the Assem- bly for several years, including the year 1817.
The county of Seneca was in 1817 represented in the State Senate by Hon. John Knox of Wateiloo, who favored the new county, and although Hon. Wm. Thompson of Ovid, whs a Mem- ber of Assembly that year, the combin- ed influence of Waterloo and Ithaca, was too great for him to overcome, and on April 7th, 1817, the new county of Tompkins was erected, which includ- ed the towns of Hector aud Ulysses, from Seneca county. Not content with the annexation of these towns, the new
town of Covert erected from Ovid on the same day, exteodiug from lake to lake, was also annexed to the new county, leaving Ovid only fonr miles from the south line of the county.
It may be here stated, that two years afterwards, by act of April 13th, 1819, the town of Covert was re-annexed to Seneca county, and Ovid was then lo- cated nine miles from the south line of the county.
The Act erecting Tompkins county, named Hon. John Knox, and Reuben Swift of Waterloo and John Watkins of South Waterloo, as building commis- sioners to erect court house and jail for Seneca county, on a site at Waterloo to be conveyed to the county. The act required the supervisors to raise four thousand dollars in aid of erecting the new buildings, whenever the building commissioners certified that a like amount had been voluntarily contribut- ed.
The site for the county buildings was as the county clerk states, conveyed by absolute deed of conveyance, on July 4th, 1817, to the supervisors of Seneca county by Hon. Elisha Williams of Hudson, N. Y. , and Reuben Swift and wife of Waterloo, the consideration named in deed, being "one dollar, and the advantages arising from the build- ing of a court house at Waterloo.''
The building commissioners reported to the board of supervisors in October 1817, that four thousand dollars had been raised by voluntary contributions and requested alike appropriation from the county. This request was denied, as were several motions to raise le.sser amounts, but finally before the board adjourned, the sum of five hundred dol- lars was voted.
The buildings were erected in 1818, and in compliance with the terms of the act, Waterloo became the sole coun- ty seat.
The village of Ovid and the south towns of the county, while losing the county seat, were undismayed, perhaps little thinking that in six years, Water- loo, would by the erection of another new county, be placed in precisely the same position, as that of Ovid in 1817. The legislature was again appealed to for relief, and in 1832, when Hon John Maynard, at that time a resident of Ovid, represented Seneca county as
Member of Assembly, with Hon. James Dickson of Galen, by Act chapter 137 laws of that year, the county was di- vided into two jury districts, by the south line of Fayette, a division in ef- fect creating north and south jury dis- tricts, which still exists, and requiring the courts to be held alternately in the same, and also providing for the use of jails at Waterloo and Ovid. The pas- sage of this act, created substantially the half shire system of court houses, which the creation of a new county, the following year, cemented more strongly. The Act of 1823, also pro- vided, "that it shall not be lawful for the supervisors to sell the court house in Ovid, or the land on which the same stands."
When the construction of the Erie canal was authorized in 1817, it crossed the town of Galen, in the territory of which, several important villages were located. A movement for a new coun- ty culminated in 1823, when Hon. An- nanias Wells of Galen was one of the Members of Assembly from Seneca county and Hon. Byram Green of Sodus, then in Ontario county, was a member of the State Senate. Bv Act Chapter 138, Laws of 1823, passed April eleventh, in that year, the coun- ty of Wayne was erected, and the towns of Galen and Wolcott were an- nexed thereto, the large area of these two towns now forming six towns of that county. Ovid and Wayne county, evidently joined forces, this time against Waterloo. The two towns an- nexed, embraced all of the territory of Seneca county north of Junius and left Waterloo village, only eight miles from the north boundary of the county.
Although efforts were made in 1844 and 1854 in the board of supervisors to secure a single set of centrally located county buildings at Bearytown, the project was lost in 1854, by one vote less than the necessary two- thirds vote (the vote resulting sis ayes and four noes) and the half shire system with two jury districts established in 1833, and perpetuated in 1823, still remains in full force and effect. The rptation system, in nominations for county offi- cers, between the towns of the two jury districts long practised by the two lead- ing political parties, has of late years not been closely observed. The num-
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ber of towns had now become reduced to five, Ovid, Romulus, Fayette, Junius and Covert, to which Lodi was added in 1836, Seneca Falls, Waterloo and Tyre in 1829, and Varick in 1830, mak- ing the number ten, as now existing. No change in the towns has been made since, and no change in town territory, except, two slight changes in Ovid boundaries in the year 1837 and 1843. There are now four incorporated vil- lages in the county, Waterloo, Seneca Falls, Ovid and Farmer, the latter dat- ing from 1904.
The area of the couuiy as now re- duced, extended thirty-two milt-s north and south in length, and an average width of about ten miles and conlaius 199,500 acres of land, the two court houses being situate tittten miles apart in a direct line. In order to complete the statement relating to couuiy build- ings it may be added here tliat the Board of Supervisors has from time to time, since 1823, maintained and im- proved the county buildings at Water- loo and Ovid.
A proposition to rebuild the courtj house at Ovid failed iu 1841 and 1843, but was adopted by the board in 1844, the contract was let therefor and the building completed upnu the lot where the first court house had been located. The county clerk's offlje at Ovid was authorized to be built in 1859 and com- pleted by 1861.
The erection of a county clerk's of- fice at Waterloo whs authorized in 1858 59, and completed in 1861. the land therefor having been conveyed to the County in the latter year. The building and lot were ordered sold by the Supervisors in December, 1900, and the erection of a new county clerk's office, to include also surrogate's office was provided fi>r, adjoining the court house, and which was completed for occupancy early in the year 1902. The present jail at Waterloo was authorized to be built in 1866 and completed the next year.
It may be of interest to note the several attempts since 1817, to chunge the court house site, and boundaries of Seneca County, as well as annexation schemes. After the erection of Tomp-
kins County and during the controversy between Waterloo aud Ovid over the county buikliugs, already in 1818, no tii!e of applicution to the legislature of 1819 was published, asking for the an nexalion to Sene«a County of the town of SenHca (including Geneva) and the town of Phelps, Outario County, with l)a!f shire court hous>^s at Waterloo and Gf'unva. This applictlion faded. In 1829, several years after thn erectmn of Wayne couuty, an application was made to the legislature for a new county to comprise the five north towns of S'^neca County aud thu towns of Phelps aud Seneca iu Ontario County with half shire court house at Water- loo aud Geneva. This applicatioQ also fail<;d.
The question of division or annexa- tion was discussed from time to time, but in 1869, when Judge Charles J. Folger, of Genevf!, hnld a seat in the slate senate, it again took such formid- a|^!e shape that a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors of this County was held ou February I8th of that •'year, at whiiih your honored townsiuau, Hon. (Jilbert Wilcoxen pre-^idod, and strong resolutions were adopted, re- citing:
'•Whereas, An effort is being made to annex the towns of Seneca and Phelpg in the Couuty of Seneca, to the County of Sent'ci, making Geneva the county seat of the piopased county, therefore
Resolved, That in the opinion of this board such a measure is inexpedient, unvvise and uncalled for by any public necessity of the County of Seneca, and is, we believe, entirely opposed to the wishes of a very large majority of the people of this county. Oii oailin^; the ayes and nayes the preamble and reso. lutio 1 was adopted by nine ayes, one nay, (the Supervisor of Lodl.) It was further
Resolved, That we do earnestly pro- test against any change in the bound- aries of Seneca County, hs at present or ganizfld." This resolution was sidopted by eight affirmative votes, two votes being cast in the negative (the Super- visors of Lodi and Junius.) 'Ihis
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scheme again failed and let us hope that tlie seulimeut of lidelity to this county expressed iu this resojjtioa may loug cuutiuue to prevail thereiu.
The latest project for ciiange em- braced the aiuiexation of tlie city of Geueva to Seueca County or the an- uexaiion of IJorder City iu the towu of Waierloo, to Ueueva. Tlie Board of Supervisors of this Couuty at its an- nufil sessiou iu l'J02, ou Doeeuibor 19ih, adopted tiie fwliowihg resolution :
^*Besolved, 1 hat a comniitlee of three be appointtjd ijy the chairman to act iu thenuatter regnrdiug the anucxatioQ of Geut^va to Seneca Couuty or the au- nexaiion of Bordt-r City to Geneva " A committee was appointed to look after and oppose tliis etian;^e. This scheme, like iis prt-decessors, was uu- successfnl. The Supervisors in 1908, however, again appointed a committee to guard the interests of this County.
The population of ttie original terri- tory of Seneca County in 18uO, h^s been already stated. In 1810, ii hnd increased to 16,(509, in 1814 to 21,401. Even after the annexation ot two large towns to Tompkins eouu'y, it ri^ached 23,619, in 1820, and iu 1825 after the erection of Wayne Coun.y, and the loss of two more townn, leaving the county area, as at pre^enf, it was 20,- 169. The greatest populatioji attained by the county at any time, was 28,138 in 1860, since which time the popu- latiou of six towns has deceased, and notwithstanding the iucrcHSe iu popu- Iftliou of Seu«ca Kails and Waterloo — and the ii crease since ttie opening of Wiliard St-tte Hospital isi 1869, iu Ovid airl Romulus — the population by tbe e<nus of IJOO, was 28,114
Based upon population, from 1804 to 1815 inclusive, the couuty ele(;te<l one Member of Assembly ; in 18l6 and 1817, three members; from 1818 to 1836 inclusive, two members; and since tlie latter d'lte, one memlier.
The tendency of p'-piilntiou to iatge villagps and cities, and the falling ott' in population of figricultural towns — on account of cousolidatiou of farms, etc., causes which afti ct many other counties of the stite, sufli iently ac- couuts for the falling off iu our popu
lation, without assigning other causes. Our county has reached and passed a number of important periods or epochs, in its process of df^velopment, from the time of the earliest settle- ments made within its borders. A few of tliese will be mentioned:
1. The opening of the Bennett- Harris ferry across Cayuga Lake, and the first Sta(>e Road crossing thereat, 1790-1791 followed by the Great Gen- esee road 1796-97, both leading from the eastern part of the state to Geneva, and farther west, and the incorpor- ation of the Seneca Turnpike Road Company, 1800 1801.
2. The opening of the famous Cay- uga BridgH across Cayuga Lake in 1800, and tilt? impetus given to travel and the CHrryiug of United States mails by the organization of lines of stagfs.
3. The iucorporatiou of the Itiiaca and Geneva Turnpike Company in ISIO, and it^ partial corapleiiou for travel and transportation of the United States mails.
4 The improvemiiit of the navi- gation of the Seneca nver and other early improvements, by the Seneca Lock Navigation compiny, 1813 1819.
5. The opening for tr«ffio of the Erie Canal from Albany to Montezuma and its completion iu 1825, followed by the Cayuga and Seneca canal com- pleted in 1828 and the new method of travel by cnnal packet boats.
6. The opening of steamboat travel and traffic on Cayuga lake (1820) and on Seneca lake (1828).
7. The opening for travel and busi- neis of the Auourn and Rochester rail- road acro3s this cumty iu 1841, mak- ing a continuous line of railroad to Albany.
8 The establishment of telegraph and telephone lines and of express offices.
9. The completion of a line of the Geuevrti Ithaea & Sayre railroad, (now Lehigh Vulley) across this county in 1873, and of a second line in 1892, with a blanch to Seneci Falls iu 1898.
10. The development of manu- factories iu the vill.ige'S of Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Farmer Village and other villages of the county.
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11. Improved methods of farming and introduction of improved machin- ery connected therewith.
12. The opening of an electric line of railway across the county to Cayuga Lake Park with promise of fiinher ex- tension.
Time will not permit an extended notice of public schools and teachers, or of educational progress in this county.
When the first general act for the encouragement of public schools was passed in 1795, there were very few schools withiu our boundaries, and these were privately supported. Under the act, a number of schools were established bnt it was not until after the passage of an act by the state leg- jalature in 1812 for the organization and establishment of common schools, that school districts w«re systemati cally organized and established.
The state, at an early date, mad^i snvall appropriations for public schools and these were aided in the towns of the military tract, by income from the gospel and school lot.
An application to the state school deptrtment for information as to schools in this county as early as 1804, elicited the response that the depirt- ment has no record of beneca County school districts prior to 1838.
Spafford's Gazetteer of the state of New York, published in 1813, men tions thirty three school houses in the towns of Ovid, Romulus and Fayette, by the census of 1810, but gives no data HS to the other towns, and it is safe to give the number at that time, as fifty. This was the era of leg school houses, followed by the ^'little red school house," and within the past sixty years, by commodious and well adapted struciures Jn 1838, there were in the bounds of the present county, 116 school districts, which number has become reduced by the consolidation of districts, and the for- mation of several Uoioo High schools, to ninety-two school districts in 1903.
Academies were established and in- corporated at Ovid in 1830, at Seneca Falls in 1837 and at Waterloo in 1842. All of these academic institutions are
now continued as Union High schools, and in addition, a high sohuul has been e.^tablished at the village of Farmer.
The Seneca Falls Union High s'ibool is still known as Mynderse Acadi'my, in honor of its early patron. Col. Wilhelmus Mynderse.
In 1853, the State Agricultural Col- lege was incorporated and located up- on the farm of Hon John Delafield in Fayette, who was chosen its president. After his death, it was removed to Ovid, a college building was erected, and opened in i860, under the presidency of Gen. Marsena R. Fntrick, who re- tired therefrom to enter service in the Civil War.
This college was subsequently re- moved to Havana, Schuyler county, and afterwards to Ithnca, where hav- ing received the college land griat from the United States, it is now lo- cated as a Department of Cornell Uni- versity The only consolation for th4 diver/sion of this institutiou from Seneca county is, that it is now lo- cated in the original territory of Sen- eca County, and that the president of its Agricultural department, who long served in that c ipncity, was born in the present county.
The history of the State AgricultuVal College and Willaid St^ite H')apilal,>tits successir, will be sepai-ately writj^en and presented to your society, by»ne thoroughly conver.sant therewith.
The learned professions have been represented in this c'unty by mnny prominent men.
At the time of the organizition of the county, as far as can be ascertained there were only five organized religious congregations in the bounds of the present county, all at the south end, and two or three in Ulysses and Hector, With a single exception (the church on lot thirty, Ovid in which the first courts were held) it is be- lieved that these congregations then worshipped in private houses, barns or school house:^, and 'priojitive log churches followed latfr, in some cases Some of these coogregntions were without regular pastor.'^, and the first clergymen of the county, were those who oflB.ciated therein. Of these con
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gregafiona one in the towu of Romulus, oelelirated its CHnleuuinl in 1895, ooe in L'di in 1900, one in Varick, (at Romnlu^i villngt-) in 1902, and one each in Oyiii «nd Covert, in 1903. During the next few years, onfi con- greg'Ui>)n in each of the towns of Fay-, ette. Seneea Falls. Junins auil Tyre, wilt attain one hundred years of fige.
iVIauy of the clerjiyuinu of this county, have euj 'yed long pai»torates. one at Beftrytown for an active period of sixty years, one at VVattTioo for thirty sftven years, one at Romulus villai{e f r twenty seven year.-», one at Ovid for twenty six years, one at Seneca Falls for tWHnty-one y-ars, be- sidt s six or seven others, for periods of from fifteen to twir-nty years.
At the present time, the pastor of the Baptist church at Magee'a Corners, in the town of Tyre (who is present with us to nitrhl) is serving his fortif-th year in active ministry in th« town in which he was horn of patriotic Revo- lutionary ancestry.
There are at present forty-nine church edifices open for religious ser- vici^s in the county, besides sevf^ral chapfls (sev'^ral rural churches having been closed) with forty pastors These churches ami chapels had by the last pub'ished cfn^us, a seaMag capacity for 20,850 persons. It is Uy no means a mat er of which to be proud, but the truth of history compels ihe stnte-nent, thnt the Mormon (Church (called also the church of Latter D ly Saints) was fiist orjranizcd in ih« town of Fayette, by Josepli S'.riith and five others, on April 6, 1830.
At the time of the organization of Seneca County, March 24, 1804, so far as hss been asc^Ttaincd, there wts not a lawyer residing in the bounds of the present County, if indeed there were any »«eh in the whole County as then existing. Many of the practising lawyers, from time to time, have taken a prominent «nd distinguished position at the Bar or on the Bnnch. The l«st ocurt calendar issued bv the County Ch rk, contains a roll of forty re-ideut attorneys at law. The -'Judiciary of Seneca County" is to be specially written up by one who will do full
justice to the subject.
The medical profession has from the beginning bt-en well represented. In the early history of the County, Dr. Silas Halsey served as member of as- semOly, the tiist county clerk, re|)re- sentative in Congress and in many other public capacitie.s.
Dr. Jared Sand ford served as the fir:^t surrogate and treasurer of the County; Dr. Oiver C- Comstock as judge, member of assembly and repre- yentative in Congres-i. Many other physicians have held Dromiuent public posilioue and have eujoyi-d a high sianding in iheir profession.
Dr. Alexander Coventry, who loc^v^ (S^^^da with hi-i family in Payette in 1792, and afterwards removed to Oneida County, w.ss twice elected president of the State Medical So<.-Jety, and Dr. Heory D Didami, a former resident of Romulus village, 1846 to 1851, now residing at Syracuse and serving a^ Dean of the Medical depart- ment of Syracuse University, at an ad- vanced age, was honored with an elec- tion to the same position
Since the ope dug of Willard State Hospital for the insane, in 1869, the Medicil Society of the (/ounty has been re inforced by a uumlier of promi- nent physicians, whose labors in be- half ot the unfortunates in their charga have been productive of much good. The history of tnis institution, one of the largest of its class in this state, shows an honorable and worthy record thoughout. It, has at the present time, two thousand two hundred and twenty - five (2,225) patients.
The Editorial professiion, the fourth estate, has been well susiaiued since the first newspaper was established at Ovid in 1815 At the present time six newspapers are published in the County, two at Seneca Falls, two at Waterloo and one each at Ovid and the village of Farmer. Th-i news- papers of Seneca County have taken a deservedly high position in this s'at.e. One of the present eilitors has edited his newspaper in Seneca Falls for lorty- hve years, and stv- ral others for more than an average period of editorial ser- vice. Several of the editors have been
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chosen to the highest positions in State Editorinl Associations, of which they are honored njeml)ers.
It has been said by a prominent statesman that ••The cultivation of the soil is the foundation of all puljlu prosperity." Farming has for many years been a leading pursuit in ihe County which has taken a high rank among the agricultural counties of mis state.
The temp'rature of this county is favorably induenced by the waters of the adjacent lakes, which also exert a a genial influence upon the soil and its cultivation.
The aboriginal owners of the soil, recognized its fertility, even by the most primitive meUtods of cultivation.
Upon four occasions, the state prem- iums for the best farm in the state, has been awarded to farmers in this count}', and on two occasions, the Presi- dency of the State Agricultural So- ciety, has been given to farmers of Fayette. The distinguished honor con- ferred upon the county, when the first State Agricultural Collfge was located therein, has been already mentioned.
Sixty years ago, wheat was the prin- cipal product. It 18 said that at one time in the decade between the years 1840 and 1860, tlie seven or eight fli.uring mills of Seneca Fails, in amount and value of manufactured products, ranked next in ord'-r to the fl lUring mills of Oswego and Rochester.
It is to be regretted that farming has of late yenrs been unremunerative, and that grape culture and fruit rais- ing as adjuncts to fnrming have had much to contend with from severe winters, unfavorable seasons and in- sect enemies, so that farming lauds have greatly depreciated in value.
The Patrons of Husbandry (or the Farmf-re Grange) have done much in the past thiny years, to elevate the standard of farming and to improve the condition of farmers and their families, as have also Farmers' Insti- tutes held under the supervision of the State Commissioner of Agriculture
In the early history of the county, its manufactured products and indus- tries, were of the most primitive kinds.
These included the manufacture of potash, charcoal and maple sugar.
When the three flouring mills at South Waterloo, Ix)di and Seneca Falls were complt^ted, tluir respective proprietors, Samuel Bear, Dr. Silas Haieey and Col. VVilheluuis Mynderse, were deemed the most public spirited, as well as popular men, in their several localities.
By far the most extensive system of manufacture, however, was that con- ducted in each well regulated family, in which lineu and woolen fabrics, known as "home spun" were mnde for family use, by aid of spinning wheels and looms. The stale census of 1810, reports the whole number of looms in families of this ciiuuty, iu that year as 601 producing fifty thous- and yards of woolen c'otb, and 158,- 000 yards of lin«n cloth. This manu- facture also gave employment to seven fulling mills and ten carding machines. The census makes mention also of fifteen tanneries iu the county in that year
In later years manufactures, espec- ially those located upon the abundant water power of the Seneca river, have greatly prospered and have taken a high position. In order to do them justice and note their advancement from step to step, would require more time, than that allotted to lue.
The traveller in othei states and iu foreign lands frequently sees the steam fire engine, and the various kinds of pumps and machinery, with other arti- cles of manufacture fiom Seneca Falls, while the fabrics produced by the Woolen Mills of Seneca Falls and Waterloo, have a world wide reput- ation, and the musical instruments and vehicles manufactured at Waterloo, also th*^ manufactures of Farmer, and other villages of the county, are well and favorably known, wherever iutro- duoed.
There is room for greater develop- ment and expansion in manufacture in our midst, to inure to the advantai^e not only of the manufacturer, but in- deed to every one, for when the manu- facturer and the farmer are prosp' rous every other pursuit and occupation
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is benefitted thereby.
I'he discover^ and njanutHcture of salt, at acd mar the head ot botb Seutca and Ca'yujja Lnkes, in adjoining counties recHlls th« tact, that before the sellleiueut of ibis locality by white mt-n. salt was found by tlie In<lians, in this county on the west side of Cay- uga Lake, near its foot, and iu the town of Galen. It is believed that salt, will ill liiue also be found along the shores of Sk'ueca and Cayuga Lakes, in the towns of Lodi, Ovi(t and Covt^rt, and thus add to the value of our luana- factures.
The County records show that as early as February 12. 18U5, a public library was organized iu Ovid, kiiowu as Ovid Union library, and in the same year Seneca Library nu'uber one. lo- cated at Lincaster, in the town of Romulus, was organized. B th of thf-se l!i)raries lave long since ceased to exist
I'lie Waterloo Lil)rary and Historical Society was organized in 1875-76, and its lil)rary building (omplcied iu 1883. On September, o, 1879, the ceulennial of General John Sullivan's Indian Ex- pedition was successfully celebrated at Waterloo under its auspices, as was also the dedication of a monument to Red Jacket near Cauoga, October 15. 1891. It has at present 7,441 volumes in its Library.
The Seneca Falls library was incor- porated in 1892, and has already 4,198 volumes, al though it has no pernianeut library building as yet.
The Seneca Falls Historical Society, separately organized about nine years ago, and incorporated 1904. has from the beginning devoted much attention to historical inquiry and research. It includesin its membership not only persona engaged in the learned pro- fessions but also business men in the several pursuits of life, and some of its most zealous and enthusiastic workers are ladies. In 1903. this so ciety gave uun^h attention to the com uiemoration of the centennial of the town of Junius. The present com- memoration of the centennial of the official organiz'ition of Seneca County has engaged the attention of the society
for some time, and the collection and preservation of material connected therewith, will continue even after this meeting.
The VVhiltier librarv of Lodi, or ganized in August, 1898, has six hun- dred volumes in its library, and at the last town election the people of the town voted to extend fluancta! aid in its behnlt.
The Ovid library was organized December 21, 1899, and has already seven hundred volumes in its library.
A public library was als'i organized at Fanner, Novead>er 8. 1901. as the Farmer Free Library, and op -ned to the public July 22, 1905. which has six hundred and ten volumes on its shelves.
In the year 1838, the legislature of this slate inaugurated a system of school district libraries. Many of the school districts accumulated several hundred volumes, and although some mistakes were made in selecting the same, many useful books were thus circulated in every neighborhood. In titne the State reduced its appropria- tions for these libraries and school dis. tricts, diverted the saine for other pur- poses, and books were lost also by lo. eating libraries iu school houses in some cases. The decline of the school dis- trict library is to be deeply regretted, and a re-establishment of the same, under suitable safeguirds, would re- sult in great advantage to every neighborhood.
In the treatment of our subiect, we must occasionally present the dark as well as the bright side.
This County has its share of pauper- ism and crime and it cannot he denied that with increase of population there has been considerable increase in both, as well as in the expense of adminis- tration.
In the early years appropriations for the support of the poor were fre- quently voted at town meetings. The County^ poor house was opened for reception of poor persons in the year 1830, a farm having been purchased therefor bv the county in that year, on the line of Fayette and Seneca Falls. The present poor house building, lo-
16
cated in Fayette, was erected in 1853, and with inteiUMl clinngHS, additions and iraproveiuent--^ is still in nse. The uuoabu' of permanent paupers tlierein has iii't p,refitly inciensed since the removal of tise insane therefrom, but the number of teinpurary inmntes hns increased coiisidt rhhly m leceut years, froui the class kiiovvn as pauper trari.ps. The copt of the poor adminis- tration in the several towns has been greatly int^reased, iinwever, of Ja'e, by a somewhat liiiernl bestuwment of tem- porary aid or out d"or relief
The passaire ofl avFS by the state legislature, forhiddinp; the keeping of children over two years of ajre in the poor house, and the removal of all in- sane paupers therefroDj to State hoepi fals for the insane, were meweures which have commended themselves to all humanely disposed persons.
Already in the year 1803, the first murder was committed within the territory of the p'-e.'-ent County, then a pan of Cayuga County, when Indian John, otherwise known as Delaware John, mui'dered Ezfkiel Crane, a pioneer settler in the bounds of the present town of Tyre In an historical paper on the "Early Records of Cay- uiia County." read before the Cayuga County Historical Society, by Georye W.Benhani, Esq . county cleik. a for- mer resident ^f Seneca Falls, he makes mention of the indictment and trial of th^^murderer. 'I'he indictment found by he Grand Jury of Cayuga County is in the following words: "That Jnhn, ft Delaware Indian, not having the fear of God before his eyes, bnt being nioved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, on the 12th day of Decem. ber, 1803, with a certain rifle gun, of the value of fifteen dollars, then and there loaded and charged with gun powder ftnd one leaden bullet, did in- flict a mortal wound of the depth of six inches, upon the person of Ezek;el Orane, of which wound said Eztkjel Crane died on the seventeenth day of December, 1803."
Notwithstanding the organization of Seneca County, in March, 1804, the County of Cayuga retained jurisdiction in this case, and Delaw are John was
tried at a court of Oyer and Terminer, held June 27, 1804, at the academy in the vUlage of Aurora, by and befure Honorable Ambr >se Speueer, one of the judges of the Supreme Court Judi- cature, presiding, and upou his own confes'^ion of guilt, the murderer was adjudged gail'y and sentenced to be bung, which sentence was carried into effect.
The County History of 1876, mentions the murder of a man in this county, i;omruitled by one Andrews, for which he was tried, convicted, senleucod and executed at Ovid, in the period, 1810 to 1812. D'ligent iriquiry to ascertain more detiniie data in relation to this case, failed to elicit additional informa- tion.
In later vears, George Chapman, on July 20, 1828, murdered Diuiel Wright in (he town of Waterloo, tte was tried and convicted at a term of cour> held at Waterloo, was sentenced and publicly bung there, Mav 28, 1829.
The last execution fcr murder in this C'ounty w?is tha* of Charhs John- son, who. upon trial and conviction of the niuid'-r of John Walters, at the village <if Wat- rloo, was sentenced and hung at !he jnil in that village, No- vember 15*h, 1888.
There being two j'lils in this couniy the same are never crowded with prisoners. There has t>eeu no marked increase in the higher grades cf crime, although with increase in population the number of convictions for minor offenses, punishable by sentence to jail, has increased, ptincipally from vagrant tramps, as also the uuaiber of peni- ten'iary cases.
In the paimy days of the local militia, tliis county had several militia regiments, and a nundjer of inde- y>endent militarj' companies The military forces of the county, bore a prominent part in the War of 1812. and were also repve-»ented in the Mex- ican War In the Civil War (1861- 1865(, the several towns were repre- sented in the vo'unteer service and several residents of the County, arose to hiizh rank in the military service. The County was a'so represented by a few volunteers, in the late war with
17
Spain.
There are now no military organiz- ntioiis ill this County, Hnd the days of "Genernl Training" fornjerly so ini- nortant an event, in early years, ocnr po more.
It is a matter for regnt, that the "Town Meetinji" occuriog as an annual event in each town, every sprino; and which enabled our fathers to meet together and consider and perfect many measures thereat, for the local well- being, has in the past three years been consolidated with the general election and is now held biennially in Ihn fall. Already, it is manifest, that town busi ness has been greatly lost sight of, by this change, which has not been a beneficial one, and let us hope, for a return of the good old-fashioned Town Meeting, which was so greatly enj'iyed in former years.
The Hi'^tory of Seneca County, edited by Hon. John Delafield. and published in 1850, and the County History published at Philadelphia in 1876, are indeed interesting and valu- able publications, but the data thereof, should now be extended and brought down to the present time.
The history of the towns of Romulus and Varick, of the south towns, and of the town of Fayette, and the old town of Junius, (now comprising the four north towns) have also been partly written. Historical sketches of the villages of Waterloo and Seneca Falls have also been recently pub- lished. To complete the stories of the towns, that of the original military township of Ovid, now comprising the town of that name, with Covert and Lodi, remain to be written, and it rests with citizens of those towns, to undertake this good work.
Had time and space permitted, m^ny other subjects might have been referred to, or considered at lenj^th, among which may be mentioned, the Pre- emption line ; the Military Tract and Indian Ileservations; the visit and reception of General La Fayette in this County, June 8, 1825 ; Negro Slavery in thts County ; early Town
Meetings and elections; the Public Men of the County ; The Woman's Rights Movement ; roads, bridges and ferries ; early births, marriagt-s and deaths ; early village."., ceuieteries, taverns, stores and shnpst; early teachers and schools; and many other suhjects, which must be h^ft for the consideration of our Historical societies, and local historians in the several towns.
So too, no time is left for suitable mention and consideration of the vast progress made, in the century which the history of our County covers, the advancenn'nts made by the tflorts and labors ot the sturdy pioneer settlers, the great improvements produced by the power of steam and electricity ; the developments made in manufactures, arts and sciences, and in short every department of life and business activity.
'<A Century with all its hopes and fears,
Has sank into the deep abyss cf time ;
And on the thresihold of the new, we
stand.
Like travellers to a strange and
distant clime."
During the century past, three aver- as:e generations of men have passed away •
The transformation from 1804 to 1904. has been wrought with great labor and toil. L^t us not forget the woi'k of our fathers, now that we en- joy the coaiforts of life brought about by their exertions, with the advantages aUained by education, religion, society, refinenient and progress.
While we must not be unmindful of the past, let us enter upon the second century of our County, with the trust and confidence in the Divine Being, th'it He vvill direct the events of the future, as mercifully as He has done in the past.
i thank you for your kind attention, and will not forget my acknowledge- ments to several state an«l county ofli<!ials and citizens, who assisted me, in collecting material presented for your consideration and in closinj; extend my very best wishes for the future of your Historical Society.
The Early Reformed Church.
By Rev. E. B. \/an Ai-scJale-.
At the very outset, I must ncknowl- edge oiy iudebttidness for ail Ibe facts this paper coiUaiiis tu others wlio have gone so thorouglily and cuefully over the gioiuid 1 nni to cover as to u)fike origiual research ou my part absolutely unnecessary. VVithiu the last decade, four churches iu Seuccn County luive celebrated their centennials with puljiic exercises, aud ably qu'ililied hi^-t-'rinns have gleaned from dusty records and local traditions, brouj^ht to light, and told in interesting form, the story of the early struggles and endeavors of the religious life of our county. I am only to repeat here, in as concise a manner as possible, what h:is alreaiiy been told iu otlier places.
1 am restricted by the subject as signed me to the Early Reformed Church. 1 must confess that, when asked to present it, 1 was at a loss to understand why this particular tienora- iuation should have been selected for special attention upon this honorable occasion. It forms so small a part of the religious forces of the county The three l>utch Reformed C'hurches sit- uated at Lodi, Farmer and Tyre, and the Germau Reformed Church at Bearytowu are all the Reformed churches iu our bounds. However, historically considered, they are of in- terest and importance to us at this time.
Before I enter upon my special theme, 1 may be allowed some general notice of the early religious life of our county, since mine is the only paper that bears upon that subject. With the possible exception of traders with the Indians, the first white men to enter this immediate section before the Amer- ican Kevolutiou were Bishop John Frederic Christopher Cammerliotf and Rev. David Zeisberger, missionaries of the Moravian Church to the Indians. They made a tour from Wyoming,
Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1750, crossing frou) the ea>'tein shore of Cayuga Lake, just above the present villnge of Union Sprmgs, traversing thr) intervening foresis to the out!et of Si^ineca L°ik'^, and thenee to tiie Gen- esee River, returning as they had come PuHsiiily, before thtir visit, J-^suit niissiennries had ministered to the In- dians l>ctwet'n these lakes, as they did to the East, but no record of such ser- vice has been fo-ind. In 1765-66, Rev. Samuel Kirkland locsted for a lime as a uiissionary to the Seneca Indians, a little distance west of the present city of Geneva, and iu the course of his work, visited the eastern shores of Seneca Lake, where, on one occasion, he nearly lost his life at the hands of a hostile rcdpkin. But these v^ere all labors among the Aborigines, and, of course, have no bearing upon the de- velopment of the county.
Actual settliMuent by wiiites diil not begi'i until the close of the Revolution. I suppose I ought to spare you the in- troduction of a name so fatiiiliar to you all. Job kMuith, I sui-^pect lias been afflicted with a gnat deal of posthum- ous iniport.aucc at the hands of your Historical Society, merely beciuise he was venturesome enough to be the hrst settltr in the county, here, at Sen- eca Falls, in 1787. He did not stay long. But his early departure in 1793 has not saved him from fame. The i&rst pGrmaiic7d settlers who entered the county from the soutli by way of Sulli- van's trail, were mostly adherents of tlie Refortned Chiu'ches of Pennyylvania and New Jersey. Many of them were veferan.s of that army whose man^h through the reid'Jus bad revealed the rich fertility of its soil and the charm ing beauty of its landsi-ape. They came with their families and belong- ings iu f,;reat four-horse, canvas-topped wagons, cutting their way through
19
dense forests, and building brush roads over the swamps. LaUr, there wns an iinui'gration into tlie north end of th(! ciiU'.t:, hirgniy from New England, by tilt' wnter wayn of the iMtihawk, Oh- Wfgo jind Seneca River, and the lakes. At the t)ej/iiuiii)g of tht: Ihst decrtde of the eighteenth Ceniury, there were proliuhiy not more than mh z^n families between these lakes, Si-atleied from the sontiivvest corner of the present town of Lodi to Seneca Falls. For the most pjut, they were ntea who combiut'd with their sturdine^j* and industry and indepi iidunce, a firm fni h in God and His I'rovidence. Tliey l)rouj!:hl tiieir religinn with iheui into this vircjin wihlerness, and kept the light of faith burning upon the altars of their rude log C'tbins.
Between 1790 and 1800, the settlers came in much more r«pidly, and uiis- siouarif'S from oilier regions were sent out to look after their .spiriUial inter- ests, aud to l?iy the foundations for church expansion. Gradually, the growing population was gathered iuto groups of worshippers, nnd chnrehes began to be o»gnuized here and there, so that by the tim'^ of the formation of the pr^-seui. County of Sfneea, in 1804, there were wittiin its bounds five or ganized cliurehfS. Tliree of these were of the Presb\ teriMn order, and two of them B'iptist soeieties.
7'lie first church organized in Ihe county wjis the First Bnp'ist of Koran Ins at Kendfiin, eonstituted in June, 1795, wi'h seven meuiiiers. It was natural thfd this denominntion should feel drawn at an early date to this well watered (iountry. Tlie ('overt Baptist chutch was formed in Febru- ary, 1803. with twenty eight mem- bers. The u«mes of Jede;!iah (Jhnp- man and John Lindsli-y are priininent among the pioneer miidhters of Wes- tern New York, the f(»rnier loi a-ed at Geneva nnd fornn d the Presb\b'rian church of thatplnce in 1800. The laiter orij;.nnizeil a Presbyterian chureh witliin the bounds of the pre-*' nt town of Lodi, in the same year, which was the second church soci(ty in the eounfy. He he- came its pastor and eonsequ( ntly was the first oidained clergyman to settle
in a regular charge in our county. Preshyteriftn churches were also es- tablished (>y Chapman at Romulus in April, 1802, and in the present village of Ovid, July, 1803. (He also founded tite I'restiyieriau church of iSeneca Falls in 1807.) These five were the church ore^aniz'itions already effected in the couniy at the time of its formal e.-itabli?^hmeut — a constellation of re- hj^ions centers for the fostering and promoting of the finest sentiments of our civilization in the early dawn of our history Itineraries of the Metho- dist Episcopal church also traversed this territory in those early days, preaching at Seneca Falls as early as 1797 at probal)ly tlie first ndigious ser- vice held in that town. The Seneca Circuit gresv out of this work, formed in 1801, aud extending from the Clyde River to the (Jheinung with Seneca Falls as one of the ajiiiointments for regular visiting by the ministers. There seems, moreover, to have been a union organization etleeted by Chap- man in the vicinity of Lodi village in 1803, composed partly of those dis- atlected from the Lindsley church.
This last organization is of interest to us because it erected the first house of worship in the county. It was con- structed of hewn logs and ntood upon a plot of ground j^iveu by .Judge Silas Halsey, across ihf! ro.'id from the grist mill he had built (also the first in the county) southwest from Lodi village, then known as DeMotl's corners. This house was built just one hundred years ago so it was prol)ftbly the only church building in the county at Itie time of its forma'ion. The church founded by Rev. Lindsley likely erected a build- ing soon after this, it may be in the same year. I'he early services of our fathers were liehl in homes, barns and schoolhou.ses. and someiimes in those great temples of nature, the vast ai.-led forests The appoi ntments of worship were necessarily very crude. One hns described the meeting in a barn , the eongreofntion sitlint; upon upturned pnils, boards and chunks of wood, soMie standing, the preacher upon a sleigh for a platform with an inverted box for a desk. Aud even in
20
the ehnrcbes there was little comfort, scarcely more than a shelter from the elements, the only heat from foot stoves, rough, high bnckcd seats tor the worshipper's comfort. Even the women atten<le(l church barefooted. But amid all the hardships and dis comforts people attended updu the means of grace with zest and relish, walking long miles, perhaps driven partly, hy a aesire for neij>hborly in- terch'inge of news, but surely, too, b)' a high appreciation of the things of God — solace and stay for that rough life they livtd. Sometimes these early places of worship were, to use the Irishman's phrase, "Fiib d to the brim inside and out" — and hundreds, unable to get room within, gathered ariund the church and listened to the preacher's voice coming through the open doors and windows.
We must now turn for a few moments to the spfcinl subjtct of our paper — The Early Reformed Church A few worda of explanation in regard to the Reformed Church will not be amiss. It is the term applied to that division of ProtestHntisu* that had its rise in Switzerland in 1516, under the leadership of Zwingli. It was con- temporary with but disiiuct from the Lutheran movement. It soon gained a foothold in the German centers of Switzurlaod and in the PalHtinat^^, in Holland and in France. The Reformed church in America is the descendant of the Reforni'ition in Holland. The Re- formed Church in the United States, to which the church at Bearvtown belongs, is descended from the Gr-rman church. The Reformed tvpe of Christian doc- trine is Caivinistic, as taught by the Heidelberg catechism, in close agree- ment with the Westminister confession of the Presbyterian church to which it is closely allied, also in form of government — the form which is most in accord with our Republican institu- tions. Indeed, later scholars contend that Holland more than any other country has furnished the principles upon which ouD,natural institutions are founded. (J^^cm*
The Protestant faith was held in Holland at the greatest sacrifice. They
long defied Philip II. and his minious backed as they were, by the whole military and ecclesiasticjil resources of Spain, tlien the greatest p<^wer in the world. So calamiiouy vv-ih its condi- tion during the eighty jefirs war that the Reformed Church c<dl<d itself ''The Church under the Cross. Finally, its indomitable pluck and persistence wore out the spirit of its foe. It then became tli»' asylum of all the persecuted of otij* r laud.s. The Pilgrims from England Siiujiit refuge there before bravine: the dangers of the sea and the perils of the inhospitable shores of New England. The Hugue- nots, driven from France, found safety and liberty in Holland and identified themselves with the Dutch Reformed church
Our great commouw alth of New York is chisely related to this brave people, as they were its first colonists. In 160i), Hendrick Hudson, in the em ploy uf the Dutch West India (yOin- pany, entered New Yoik bay and sailed up the North River. In 1614 a trading Dost was established on Man- hattan I-^land and cur great metropolis was born. In 1623 a permanent agri- cultural sett'emeut was made and in 1628 a church w«s organized which has had a continuous existence to this day and is with reason supposed to be the oldest Protestant church on this eoiitinent. Other churehes of Hol- lasidi-rs and Huguenots were established along the Hudson and Mohawk and in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The German branch of the Reformed church entered later and was built up princip- ally in Pennsylvania. Now this coun- tfsj was settled largely by the children cf this German, Huguenot and Dutch ancestry, coming from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They are staunch ad- herents of the faitn of their fathers. We have referred to the church founded by Rev. Jdin Lindsley iu 1800. It was organized as the First Presby- terian Church of Ovid, and was the first society iu the town of Ovid, then compii-sing also the towns of Lodi and Covert. A large element in its mem- bership were of Reformed lineage. And it was not strange that, in 1809,
21
after four years of occasional missionary uiiiijistraiioiis during the vacancy of the pulpit, its jiHiliHiiitii WHS irfUHfiUTt'd to the clashes ot MoiitiiOiiK-ry of the Re- foinud Church and the Rev. Abr^iham BroKavv became its sellltd pnstDr. Uutlor Ills guidance it prospered grenily and its meoibership grew to over two hundred.
Everyihing went well until 1822, when the church was rent by that secession movement from the Re- formed (jliuicli that r3«iulted in the foraiing of the True llefonued Cimnh. The pastor, a mNJority of the < tticers and but a miniTity of the coiigieiratinn joined the secessioo. Litigation over the property followed until the value of it was eaten up by legal cos's. But the title was awHided to that larger part of the congregation that held to the old ecclesiastical name and rela- tions.
Beine in need of a church home, it WJts d*'ci<>td to buil^in the village of Lodi, upou the feite where the present (difice stands. It was at this time that the congregMtiou of the old log church, of which we have spoken, aided in the erec tiou of a new housn of woiship and shart-d its privdegns. It was afterwards merged into ttie Lodi Reformed Church
Ii was about this time, also, that the pastor of the L'xii church btgau to till a reguhir appointment at Ffirmerville. The old church had been situHted on the road, one mile north of the high- way b^^tween Lodi and Farmer, and ab"Ut halfway between the two lo- calities, 80 that the inhabitants of the vicinity nfiturally drawn to that church could r»adiiy «ttend. After the re- moval to Lodi, it became necessary for the preacher to bring his message to thtiui in their own village. This event- ually resulted in the organization of another Reformed Church in Faruier, in November 1830, which, with the Baptist Church of the same village, orgair'zf'd ten years earlier from the mother church at Cnvert has beeu the center cf christian influence and power for good in that C( mmnnity.
The church that was organized as the True Dutch Church by those who
seceeded from the old mother church in ]822 erected a house of worship about one-half mile east of the old edifice. Dumine BroKaw continued his ministry there uuiil 1838, when he was BucceedHd by Rev. Arcliihald RlcNiel until 1865. he was ttie last pastor, and the church he had served so long and fadhfully t)ecame known locally as the McNiel Church. The society flnady disl>anded, and the building was taken down ahout 1876. Nothing now remains to mark the site of either of thnne two Old churches exci^pt the little grave \ard in the vicinity which is now seldom used.
It may be well to insert a few iJems of historical interested closely con- nected with the life of this early Re- formed Church iif the old town of Ovid, in the present town of Lodi. The first settler in what is now the town of Lodi was George Fansett, who locaied directly upon Sullivan's trail. He be- came a member of this church, and hi.s daughter v/as the fir^t child born in the town, probably in the county Silas Halsey, another early arrival in this section, and staunch friend and supporter of this church, built the first grist mill in the county, gave the plot of ground for the first church edifice and for a cemetery, and served 88 the fiiSt county clerk. The first public religious services known to have been held in this county were held in 1794 at the house of Abraham Covert, in the town of Oeid. He was a Jersey- man and a faithful son of the Reformed Church.
There is an interesting incident re- lated in connection with the marriage of his son. ''It was the fir.-«t marriatre which took place in the to>79n. It oc- curred in 1793, was a triple marriage. The parties were Abraham A. Covert and Catherine Covert, Joseph Wilson and Anna Wyckofl\ Enoch Covert and Jane Stewart They were oblijred to cross Seneca Lake to find a justice au- thorized to perform the ceremony "
A little later than their Dutch cousins from New Jersey settled in Ovid, Germans from Penuj^ylvania, with a few from the fatherland, began mak- ing homes for themselves in the town
22
of Fa3'eite. They brought with iheiu the sauie love for the iielorujcd frdlli of iheir fathers nial their same respeci for educaliuii, and enrly hiiilt Uui church aud sehoui. I'be first cJeigy- mau to (settle lu llie towu of i^.nj^tte W!ts the liev. Anlhouy HorUy' of tlie GeraiHii lieforuitd Clunch, vvlio tuok up his vesidiriu'e lliert. just oue hnndrt-d jeartj aj^o, 1804. B-fure his coiuiujj, this comuiuuiLy, wilh others in tlie cuuiity, had eiijnytd oecasioiial prench- iug seivices iu scliool i>uiidiiigs, b>iriis aiid private houses. For several years after bis eouuujj; he served the people iu thb eiipacity of pastor, preaehiug iu the (jreruiau lauguage, iu the Biirgn school houst) aud ai the resideuce nf Heury Singer at Beftrytovrn. Piuaiiy, ou beceu.ber 26, 1809, ilie l:r-.t at- tempt at formal ehuich or><auizatiou was made at a uie*tiug of Gi rmau lif- foxuitd aud Lutherau re.^sideats at tlie Burgh school house. This is the origni of the 'jldtst existiug ehurch org(<itizH- liou in the tuwu of F.'iyelte. Steps were euon tali en to provide for a suit- able house of worship to be used tiy bulb denouiiuHiioiis, aud proimbly e;irlj' ill 1813 the Ituiidiug was dedicaled. It vpas a log structure 22 by 28 teet, buitt upou the site of ilie present stone edifice of tlie Christ Reformed Con- gregation at B« arytuwn. Rev. Hon&littd a preachiug station also at WesP Fayette, fmm which Jerusa'em Church was formed iu the summer of 1811. (It appears also from denomi national records that tlie town of Friy. efte was visited ft»r a period of years, 1817 to 1825, by misnictnaries seut c>ut by the Dutch Reformed Ciiunh, l)ut no permaueut church orgnuizatiou resulted from their labors ) No sketch of this Reformed Churcti iu Fnyette would l)e complete without allusion to one of its pastorates, remarkable as the longest in the auuals of the count}^ and seldom surpassed iu the recojd of any churiMi. I refer to the ministry of Rev. Diedricih Willers. D. D., who for a period of nearly sixty one years, from 1821 to 1882, served this church. His work was larjjely that of a pioneer pastor. Beside his duties to his own people he served also at difterent times at six
other places iu the county aud at seven or eiglJt other points in Tompkins, Cay- uga, VVa;yne, l^ivingston and Ningara couiiiies, pirformin^j; a large portion of the travel, iucident to so exteuded a field of iaiior, on horsaback, iu the early years of his ministry. The power of the ehurish iu any community is largely commensurate wilh the personal fokce of its representatives, that is, its numbers, above all its ministry. The influence of one such sturdy, inde- fatigable, devout leader in a eoni- mui.Jty for so long a period is simply inestimable and far surpast-es, in the depth of th«^ impression it makes, the strongest influence of shorter pas- toiates however brilliant or impressive. The impress of that one character, uohie and faithful, identified so closely with all that the church stands for, so con.spicuously before the e^es of men, puts a st^Hup upon the life within its radius that eudures for g'euerations. Aud the church that furnishes such a center of religious life is an estimable factor in the development of a town's life aud gives it strong claiujs upou the respect aud gratitude of tbe piuple.
The only other Reformed Church in the county besides these three I have mentioned, is that at T^re, which was orjiauized in 1835, as the result of a union with a Presbyterian Church formed in the vicinity a few years be- fore. The date of i's fonnntiou is too late to include it among the e«rly churches to which my paper is limited.
This resume of the churches of this order reveals the fact that, although they have not become nummerous within our territory, they have been infliieutifd in thf* life of the county from the beginning of its history, inti- mately associated as they were with the first thiui?;s of its life, but also of our st*ite and county.
In the time allotted for this paper, it has been impos-^ible to do more than toucb upon tlie beginning of the church life of our county, although one is strongly templed to go more into de- tail, and digress into paths thit would lead u«i among the daily surroundings of our fathers, aud to show them in their hardships and their triumphs
23
which their sturdy relig'ioue faith sin- ing them to brin^ their faith and zefll ewcd ihcin to bear. It is only by a to this vir<^iii v.'ild<-inesfl of forest and lew finishes of lij^tit upon the scnun mor.'iss as tlieir fathers had broucfht Ih^t 1 have atteuaptid to help you ent^^r th^m to tliese untried nhores, 80 ni'iy by ima^-inalion into ihcir e uly ating- it abide in us. the source of that in- gles, ihefe men and wouk n of inde- telli<.;;i'nt and virtuous mnnhood which faiigable labor, undaunted courage, must ever be ihe bed roek of perman- and nndoubiint;, failli, laid the found- ency for our American insHtutions. at'or:' of our pvesent luxurious and Hand in hand wit in the school that pro- comfi'riabh^ livint,^ of our hopeful out- m"tes the intelligence which a free look on thi! fu'ure, an<i of our trii.sling people alway.s need for ?eif-p,overn- upl.iok find ui'rf'ach for things of the ment, and with the court which m?<in- spirit that make for riirh'eonsneas, love tains and adtninisters laws of equ'ty and iieaee. As the s[)irit of the Eng ami j'.isiice, innst. go the church which Iish Puritan, and tlm Scotch Couven fosters that regard for virtue and right, enter, nnd the French flugcnot, and and that faith t'lat purififs and enpo'des III*' , sturdy Dutchman, and his phlcg- tlie life whi(di us(»3 the unexeelhid nuitic German brother lived in the privtdeges our civiliza'Ion puts into our early settlers of this county, prouipt- hands.
Preservation of Private and Public
Records.
By Dr. William Austin Macy.
We must assume that the preser- vaUon of privfite and publio records is of ituporUtnci' to th\-> imiividual and to the slate. If we do not, then wh?t have we for the histoiiau to bti^e his account of the tiicesi in which we live, and too, without a bis'ory. is not a people without the incentive to right Jiving and thinking in many ways. If we live without recording what will point out the differences between us and those who have gone before or those who come after, are we not then living to a great extent as the trees live, and who shall tell the tale when time rolls around.
From the earliest times we have yet to look for a people who did not in some way seek to preserve their own histories, not only trilial but the^ per- sonal histories of the families which made up the aggregation of people. For only do we find by tradition and written history that private and public histories of men and their times have been handed down, but all along the way, as far bsck as we can go, we find examples of the greatest and best of pei^ple encouraging us to kef^p our bis tories, and in modern times the great- est of our citizens have encouraged those around them to emulate the p:ist and do better in this respect.
In a country where the elementary population has changed to the extent that ours has, and where even greator changes are likely to take place in the fuUire, it would seem that if we would have the posterity of a few generations know anything at all about their for- bears more attention than has often exerted would have to used, or they would be a nameless race among those who would have a history. Possibly the best use for the preser-
vation of family history or genealogy, is to serve to stimulate those who come after to right hvin;^ and to vie with thost^ who iiave gone betore in living so that clean records and liverj of much u.^efu!neBS to their lellowmen, may be the records that wdl be written. Let a man have ever so iiuii^h of this world's goods and jet how much of it CHu be r< ally ust-d for his actual necea- silies? If our American people are al- ways too interested in the making of money only, what of the responsibilities of the use of what is It^ft behind by those who have acquired?
What have we to say of the rational incentive to get ahead in the world in thfi average individual? No matter how ambitious the individual may be, together with whatever he d"es or succee<is to, runs the responsibility of the individual in the many other di- rections of life. If he shakes them off he is only one-sided and he lives the most selfiah and soidid life. He lives only to himself, losing in this the very best that would othtn'wise come to him. That we make comparisons then, a history is necessary, and it is of use to preserve for the future a record of kin- ship and ancestry, that it may be help- ful in these ways and aiany more which I will not take the time to point out now.
When we stop to ascertain what has been done in preserving private and public records we are at once struck with the fact thnt today there is ten times and more the interest in these matters than there was only a few years ago. That this is due in large part to the formation of our various patriotic and colonial societies is prob- ably true, but this has been helpful in two ways. It has stimulated actual
25
putriotism and helped to make our men and wotnon better citizens because they have had a greater pride in thfiir country. It has also caused them to study in more detail what has helped to make the greatness of this our coun- try and to glory mure than they ever thought of doing in the good deeds of their ancestors. All this has immed- iately required that if they knew who their forbears were, that their records should be preserved and those of us who have taken interest in these matters from a love of history, etc., have watched with much pleasure this growth of interest in these directions. The tendency formerly was to give too little care to any records or docu- meiits when (hey were once through with for the time being, and we tind in making our inquiries into these matters that any kind of a place is usually pro- vided for all kinds of public and pri- vate records until the public conscience is awakened and they learn how easily these things disappear and are lost to the future. Often have we found and are to find that even in the case of county and other very important records including court records, that at such a time all were burnt up, find the col- lection of years consumed in snioke I I'eraember reading a letter from a corrfspondent in the Island of Jamaica, that at a certain time when their Island was under martial law. the Governor ordered many loads of the rarest papers relating to the Island's history to be turned into the Rio Cobre, one of their principal rivers, with the words. <'Away with the accursed past.'' Yet the memory of the past is one of those things which encourages us most to trust to the consolations of religion and live so that the review at the end of life will be to our credit rather than the reverse.
Little by little we are gathering up and caring for our historic relics. All over the counti-y historical societies are doing good work and wo are only doing in this country that which is being done tne world over. In Massachusetts, an enabling act has been had which assists them in gradually getting the vital statistics of all their towns placed in
print and preserved, and these are be- ing issued to such subscribers, includ- ing public libraries, etc at the nominal sum of a cent a page, including bind- ing. A move is bemg made to get the other New England States to do the same thing and it is to be hoped that all of our own early records will one day be placed in print, so that those studying the early colonial history, will have less difficulty in getting actual facts on which to build.
In the matter of collecting family history the society to do the most and best work is the New York Genealog- ical and Biographical Society, of New York State. This society has its head- quarters at New York City, where it has its own fire-proof building and fire- proof vaults, and it has supplemented the work done by the New York His- torical Society atid the other hi-itorical societies of the state by collecting as much of strictly family history as has been possible. I have had the honor for a few years past to represent this Society iu Seneca County as a member of their Rosearch Committee, and it was one of the purposes of my attend- ance at your anniversary meeting to say to your members how much our so- ciety is interested in all historical work, particularly in the preservation of family histories, and how glad they would be through myself to receive such historical notes of any of the families of this district as might be prepared and submitted for preser- vation. I have had some very inter- esting notes given me of this kind and I am promised more and I would at all times be glad to act in bringing any work of this kind before our So- ciety and in seeing that it is preserved for the future use of the many others who would thus acquire a larger op- portunity for consulting what they would naturally look to such a repos- itory of such information and expect to tind more easily, as it accumulates, than in the hands of private individuals where it is more likely to be lost or destroyed. I would then ask that those who would desire to save family genealogies as may have been compiled, family bible records which in time dis-
26
appear, and other historical information wljich i8 worthy of being perpetuated, should send me neatly mnde copies tor the purpose of thfir being deposited with the cenlrjd society and will as.-iist in any way possible such as aie desir ons of s! acting inforuiation. if they will be good enou::h in writing to enclose return postaj^e thai the burden may not be too much one way.
In listening to the uinny interesting particulars of the Hon. Mr. Willers' most interesting paper, and in consider ing the work you are attempting to do in Seneca County, I am strucii with the fact that there does not seem to be any vtry general move to collect from all sources systematic^ally, but only from your one town. Considering that you have a sister society in Waterloo, I think it is a pity thnt a move cannot be made to form a general county so- ciety, whose membership should ex- tend to ail who might be interested in your work, including the descendants of former residents of Seneca County Such societies do a much larger woik, and by charging a nominal fee which all would feel tlicy could aliord, it is possible to collect from so large a number if any proper interest is de- veloped, that a good publication fund can be established and sou)ething really well gotten up can be presented each year to the members, and dis burs* d at an increase iu i)rice to such others as may show interest and want
copies of the Collestions of the Society. A number of eueh societies are under way and doiug excellent work and many more will undoubtedly be formed &» tune pro;-:resses.
Why not test the public interest in a suggestion of this kind and S'^e whether chapters of a few active workers can not be estublished in each town, who can work with the officers of the cen- tral society in collecting systematically what would be pbieed in print at the end of each yeai? I am of the opinion that a movement of this kind would awaken considerable interest and I know i-ersonally of one or mo»"e col. lections already, of matters of much interest, which would probably be eon- tri'.'utions towards estnblishing a col- lection in which Seneca Couuty would feel a special pride. Personally I would prefer to see sny collection of relics of historic value given to the lar>;est pnbbc library which might become estaldished in the county, pro- vid' d always that this was a lire p'^oof buihiing with other facilities for stor- inir Mss given to it, etc
I have suggessed tb?it this matter be opened to discussion in the papers of the county, and if sufficient interest to jnstifv US is manifested, that sonte of iifi get together and see what can be done in really establishing a movement that fIuiU react to the credit and re- nown of Seneca County.
Judiciary of the Connty of Seneca.
BY HON. JOHN E. RICHARDSON.
On the 20th day of April 1777. the representatives of iLe State of New Y'iik assembled at Kiiig.-iton and adopted the first Conslitiitiuu of the State of New York. Under thai. « on- stitulion the Conuty Judge or th*^ first Judge of the County of Soueca were appointed officers. The 23rd sub-divi sion of said Constitution provides that all officers, oiher than those who by this constitution «re directed to be otherwise appointed, shall be ap- pointed iu the manner following, to- wit: The Assembly shall once in each year, openly noaiiuate and aj)point one of the Senators from each great disuict, which Senator will form a council for the appoinimeut of the said officers, and which the Govt-ruor for the time being sl)all be president and have a cas'ing vote, but 'no other vote; and with the advice and con- sent of said Council shall appoint all the said officeis.
That the first Judge of the (^'o-juty Court in every County shall hold office during good beliavior or until they bhall have attained the age of sixty years. This provision continued in force until 1822 when said consii- itution wns amended enpoweiin^ the Governor with the consent of the Sen- ate to make such judicial ftppoiniments find such appointive powir continued until said c 'n.«titutiiin was amended by Chapter 276 of the laws of 1847, which provides for ilie electiai on the 8th d ly of June foUnwing of a County Judi^e who shal enter up^ n the duties of his office July 1st following his elec- tiou and hoM office fur theteim of lour J ears from tue 1st day of jKnuary next ; ami, after the expirfition of the term of office of thor^e tiitt elected the term of office of said offi.;er shall be four years.
By virtue of the power c-nferr^d upon said Council of Apprintment
Cornelius Humphrey was the first judge appointed in and for the Couikty of Seneca and the following is a copy of tiie certificale showing his appoint- ment:—for which I Jim indebted to Hon. J. B. II. Mongin, Deputy Secre. tary of State.
"At a me-Ming of the Council of Ajipointm* n! held at the Chambers of His Excellency the Governor, in tiie City of Albany on Monday, the 2nd day of April. 1804.
Present, his Excellency George Climon, Esquire. Pn-sident.
The Honorable John Broome, Caleb Hvde, Thomas Tredwell, Et-.qrs. Members.
R*'8olved, thatagenerfil coiwralssion issue for the County of Seneca, that the following persons he and they are hereby appointed Civil Offloers of said county, viz,
Cornelius Humphrey, Grover Smith, John Sayse, Judg<s and Justices of the Peace.
Jouns Whiting of Ulysses, J«mes Van Horn of Ovid, Asa Smith of Romulus, Bt'.naJMh Boardmau of Wash- ington, {is-u8far)t justices and justices. Justic<^s of the Peace, James Jack- son, Stephen Woodworth, John 'Vown- send, Jr , Ovid; I homns Shepnidsou, Ulysses ; D.iniel Evens, Hector; Joiin Hood, Washington; lewis Birdsall, Jt sse Southwick, Junius.
Jared Suuford, Surrogate; Silas Hal- sey, County Clerk; William Smith, Sheriff; Charles Thompson, Coroner. Geo. Clinton, Jno Broome Caleb H\de. Thom IS Tredwell. Judge Humphrey served with honor uud distinction un'il May, 1809, as is shown by the lecords of the Court of this County. He was born in 1735; he served as colonel in the Revolut- i- nary war and was a member of the
28
Second Provincial Congress and as a Representative from Dutchess County in the Senate and Assembly. He csme to Seneca County about the year 1801 and located in what is now known as the town of Ul>sses and represented this county in the Ass- lubly 1806-07.
The first court iu the County of Seneca was held in the house of John Seeley on lot No. 3 in the town of Ovid, and held there almost contin- uously until May, 1807, at which time court was adjourned to the first Tues- day in October to the Court House iu the town of Ovid, but when court con- vened the Court House was not com- pleted and the court was adjourned to the hoiise of John Seeley and coutnued to adjourn from time to time to the house of John Seeley until the second Tuesday of May, 1808, when th^ first court was held in the Court House in the village of Ovid. The judges hold- ing said court were Cornelius Hum- phrey, tirst judge, Grover Smith, John bayre and Benjauiiu Pelton.
The hrst court held in Waterloo w^as a Term of the General sessions of the Peace, May 12, 1818, and wms pre side.d over by Justices John Sayre, John Burton and Benjamin Hendricks and were so held until March 29, 1822, when au act was passed by the Legis- lature which provided,
''That the several couris nf tiie common pleas, general sessions of the peace, circuit courts and oyer and ter- miner, hereafter to be holden in and for the County of Seneca, shill ba held alternately at tlie court house in the town of Ovid, and at the cdurt house in the towu of Junius; and that the next May term of the court of com mon pleas and general sessions of the peace, in and for said county, shall be held at the court house in the town of Ovid ; and all writs and process what- soever, returnable in said courts, at the n«xt day May term thereof, shall be taken and deemed returnable at the said court house in the towu of Ovid ; and all persons who are or shall be bound or required to appear at the said next Ma)^ term of the said courts, or either of them, by bond, recog- nizance, or otherwise shall be taken,
deemed and considered, io be bound and required to appenr at the court house in the town of Ovid, aforesaid, and the first circuit court and oyer and terminer, to be held for tiu- naid county shall be held at the oourl house in the town of Junius "
''That from and after the p issage of this act, there shall be two jury dis- tricts in the county of bfjneca, the first to comprise the towns of Covert, Ovid and Roamlus, and the so ond tbe towns of Fayette, Junius, Gal«n and Wolcott ; and the cleric of said county sii;.!! kewp the names of the Jurors in such districts separate, and the jurors sliajl be drawu for each court, from the jury district iu which the court is to be held."
''That it shall not be lawful for the supervisors of the said couiuty to sell the court house in the town of Ovid, or the lot of land on wiiich the same stands, any law heretofore made to the contrary notwithstanding "
The county court until the adoption or the Constituiion in 1846 was divided into two branches, one kuowu as the Court of Common Pleas which had juriscli( tion of Civil Matters and a Criminal Court called General Sessions of the Peace; the other court to wtiich we have the honor of referring to is the Surrogate's Court.
May 31st 1809, Benjamin Pelton was appointed ^>6i judge and served until 1812. He came to the town of Ulysses about 1802. He served as a captain of the Revolutionary War and died iu Ithaca about 1830.
Oiver C. Comstock was appointed first judiie May, 1812, and served un- April 13, 1815. Judge Comstock was a man representing three professions, a doctor, lawyer and minister. He served Seneca county as Member of Assembly and as a representative in Congress afterwards served as Chaplain of Congress. Judge Comstock was born in Warwick. Kent County, Rhode Island. He died at the home of his son iu Mar^ihall, Calhoun County, Michigan. January 11, 1860.
Judge Comstock was succeeded April 13, 1815, by John Knox who served until June 18, 1818. Judge Knox died August 1, 1853, aged about
29
seventy years. He was a man of much leflrniog and it has been said of bill! iliat his succe8.i was 1/trgtly due to bis magnetic pei^onnliiy and judg- ment displaytd in hi.s business Com- uiou s^nse was bis motto in cdudueting cases rhtbtT tban couiumu law, hnd he libe most of the eKrly praitiiioners took great deligbt in aiding a young man rather than dis(iour«giiig bim.
On June 18, 1818, John McL' an, Jr., was a(jpoioied to said p.isilion and served until January 30, 1823.
Luiher Stevens snceeded John Mc Ltan, Jr., J/aui-iry 30, 1823, and served until March 13, 1833.
March IS, 1833, Jesse Clarke was appointed lo that b"nor*^d position and served until July 1, 1847. Judge Clark was born in Berkshire County, Mass , where he acquired, chi< fly throU|\'.h his own efforts as a teacher, a liberal eduCHtion. He came to V\ ater- looin 1814, and comnn.nced ttie practica of law, and soon, by his bupenor tal ents and education rose to an envial)ie prominence and sutcess in his pro- fession. At th« elecilois under the Con- stitution of 1821 lie was chosen one of the senators for the western district He di.-d May 20, 1849.
In July 1847, the term of J.tmes K. Ri;h;irdson, the first elective county judge of the coumy of S>ueca com- menced. He strvfcd until Janu?iry 1, 1852. Judge Kiciiard-ion wai born at West Burlington, Otsego county, in this State, October 3, 1806, and died at Waterloo, October 9, 1875. firming my fitther I tli'iughi 1 would much rather spread upon this paper the thoughts of the memhers of the Bar of the County of Seneca rather than my otvu estimate of the man, but to my utter astonishment I tiud that the r. cords of the proceeding of the courts of this county, from the time my father was elected to the present, c^'Utained memorial articles relating to every judge who has departed this life ex- cept James K Rnlmrdson. I find in an issue of the Waterloo Oi>server the we^k that my father died that the members of the bar assembled at the ofiice of Judge Hadley and they then chose Judge Hadley, William H. Bur-
ton E-q., and Charles A. Hawley, Esq., a committee to draft and present resol- utions to the next term of court I cannot bdieve that the committee failed to do their duty as I believe Judge Kichard-on was honored and respected by all, and the only excuse I can find is that the county clerk was too tired at that time to record the proceedings of the committee and the court in adopting tlieir kind words. I do tiud m the edition of the Water- loo Observer above referred to. the following:
"Judge James K. Richardson was born in Otsego coubty, in 1806. In obedience to tiie wights of his father, who was a ph\siciaii of note in that county, he studied medicine, but on the very day that he attained the age of of twenty -one years, he relinquished all idea of following that profession which W6S d;sia6teful to him, came to Waterloo and commenced reading law in the offico of Messrs. Samuel Clark and Daniel Ruggles. Shortly after he was called to the bar, he left for the west, but retuniLd to New Yoik State iu a year or two afterwards, opening an oftioo at Sodus, Wayne county, and continued practicing law in that county for five years. IMr. Somuel Clarke, the same under whom he had studied law, then offered him a partnership in his business in Waterloo which the deceased accepted, and^lhe has ever since resided here. Iu politics Mr. Richardson was always a very strong Republicm, and for many years he con- tributed veryihirgely to the Seneca Falls Courier, a fact not generally known. He '^was elected county judge at the first election under the new constit- ution of 1^6, and in the twofold ca- pacity of judge ami surrogate he earned for hinuelf a true record of honesty and uprightness, and here we may use the expression made to us yesterday by one of the oldest of the bar in Seneca Count j\ 'that he was an honest and upright man as ever livid, profess- ionally or otherwise." He made a most excelb'ut surrojj;ate. always care- ful and accomuKidating, he was per- fectly competent and was remarkable for the methodical way iu which his
30
papers were always kept."
•Tmijjn Ricbardaon was fjucceeded by -joliii E See.ley who served fr'-'u Jau- uary 1, 1852 to Jauuacy 1856. Judge Strcley died March 30, 1S75. He re- ceivi'd bis ncid'-ixiieal edui'silion at the Ovid Acadtmy, under the tuition of A'iliiam rviu, after wnicli he pstssed ihrough a lull course "? stuily at Yale College, where lie grjUj,i.\*.ed iu 1835. He then studied law iu tbia village at the tffice of llou Jobn Maviiard About the year 1836 or '37 he located at Monroe. Michigan, but returned to Ovid iu 1839. Iu the campaiga (^f 1840, be wa.s a very active Hjirriaou ujau — was cbaiiman of the town coui- miitee. In 1842, he was supervisor of the town Iu 1848, be acted wiib the "Free Soil" party, aad iu 1857 was elected Judge of the county by the united vote of the Democratic and Free Soil Party, running ninety stveu votes ahead of bi8 ticket iu this town, He represented this district in the first Republican National Couvention, and was the |frfsideulial elector fur this district ui 1860, and again in 1864 and elected to Congress in 1870; was a trnstte of VVillard Asylnia nud I think president of tbe hoard from its nrgau- izaiiou, until after be was elected to Cougret^s, wheti he resigned. In tvery station of life he was always to be trusted. In all public enterprise he took an active part, and when money was to be raised, he was genera'ly at the bead of tbe list. He was an un- comprising foe to slavery ; the black man h.i^sd no truer fritnd.
Stejlirg G. Hadley sucopeded Judge Seeley and served uutd 1860. Judge riadley wfis born iu the town of G-shen, Litcbfit-ld County, Conn, August 26, 18I2, and died at Waterloo, September 1, 19(»1. His early yearn were passed in diii^ rent places where the fauiily re- sided, and be fitted for college at Egre- niont Academy. In 1833 be entered Union College; at Scheueciady, N. Y., from which he graduated in 1836, and af'erward he tausrbt iu thn Avon Springs Academy. April 1, 1837, he came to Walerioo. where he since re- sided. He read law with Hon Samuel Birdsall and was admitted to the bar
in 1839, after which he was in partner- ship with his former piv;ceptor for four jefirs. Later, forming a p«rinersbip with John McAllii^ter, he continued with that gentlemen under tbe iirm title of McAllister & Hadley, until the death of tbe former. For ten years he was Justice of the Peace, but re- signed upon his election as County Judge and Surrngnte for a term of four years. Nor did bis public service end here. Oa tbe Democratic ticket he was elected a member of tbe Lower House of the Lfgialature. The Gover- nor tendered bicu tbe appnintmeut of State As-iessnr, whiah position he held for several years, and which took him into evex'y county of the state. He was al'^o president of tbe Board of Managers of the State Hospital located on Seneca lake.
In 1859 George Franklin was elected county judge; be was re-elected in 1867 and again in 1877 and served fourteen years. Judge Fraiikdn was born in tbe town of Idector, December 8, 1819 and died iu the village of Ovid April 24, 1886. He was an upright, conscientious man, a father aud friend to tbe young practitioner, more than wilting to aid him in bis work and we do nor, think that the worth of Judge Franklin and the loss that was sns- tauied in bis death can be any better expressed than was done by Hon. Gil- bert Wile >xen, Frederick L. Manning, Cbtirles A. Hawley, William C. Hazel- ton and John E Richardson, a com- mittee appointed April 28, 1886 by tbe Seneca County Bar to express their thoughts on tbe occasion of the death of Judge Franklin which reads as follows:
'In the death of Hon. George Frhnklin the bar has sustained no common loss. Three times elected Judge and Surrogate of Seneca County be discharged the important duties of the cflice with rare fidelity and abilitv. He possessed and deserved the confi- dence of the bar and the people for he was a judge without fear and with- out reproach. He had au eminently logical and judicial mind and bis de- cisions were almost uniformly sound and correct. He was not technical but
31
based his judicial action upon broad and eqviitable principles.
As a lawyer he, won the afimirafion and rfgnrd of liis brethren and of hi«i clients as vvll-
He was a man of wiiie and vavif-d attainments. The classics were tlie delights of his leisure hours; and he was intimately acqu-^inted with what is best and brightest in English literature.
But we who have known him so long and so well delight to remember him not only as the ju?t and upright judge and the able and honest lawyer but to recall the charm of his manner, the warmth of his heart and hie unusual aceompHshraenls in social life. We shall cherish the memory of his genial presence and in all the years to come shall feel our loss.
We tender to his family and to the community where he was best known and loved and honored our sympathy ir Qis hour of sorrow."
Grilhert Wilco'sen, Fredirifik L. Manning Char'es A. Hawley William V. H'lzelton «John E. RieliHrdson, Committee.
Seneca County Court May 25, 1889.
Pr* sented and read in oper? c^urt and motion orderf^v entered upon the min- vtes of the court, and so entered.
Abratn Wilson, Di'p. Clerk.
In 1863 Josiah T. Miller was elected and entered upon the duties of the office and served the people until January 1, 1868. Judge Josiah T. Miller was born in April 1820 in Parry Co., Pa.; he came to Seneca County at an early age and in 1850 and 1859 served the county as District At- torney ; in 1860 he was apftointed on the stnfF of Governor Seymour and \n 1869 he represented the county in the Assembly ; and my feeble words can not express the loss to the Bar of the County of Seneca in the death of Jndge Miller as do the proceedings of the committee appoint^nl to do honor to his memory and for that rnason I give in full the proceedings of the County Court as shown by the record.
death "\
T. Millr-r )
"In re the death of
Hon. Josiah
In honor to the meusory of Josinh T. Miller deceased. the following r«!SoIutiou<3 were introduced by Jasper N. Hammond, Attorney at Luw, Seu- ecr Falls, N. Y.,
Whereas, The Bir of Sf-ncca County are grieved to learn of the death of Hon. Jo.-iiah Thrrapson Miller, at his residence in Waterloo in the early morning of I'uesday the 25. h instant, and
Whereas. We deem it fi'ting that we should in a puldic manner record out deep sorrow for the d.sath of a man who lor so many years h«8 been a leader of this bar and has had j'villy conftrred upon him so many of its honors. W« his brethren in the pro- fession of the law have therefore,
Resolved, That w-j bow with rever- ence and resignation to the decree of Providt'nce that has deprived us of a personal and professional frit-nd, and in oon)Uion with the comiunnity at large mourn his losfi, we recognize Judge Miller's distinguished prtifessiou".! abil- ity and profound and thorough learn- ing in the law.
To the discharge of the duties of his pioft'ssion he brouf'.ht a high sense of profysi}ioii;U honor, and a wealth of leiial learning and resource. Guided by a strong sense of ju' tice, he was fearless in the mf.intainance of matured opinion. Asa jud^e he was able and upright, ever te«>periug justice with mercy. He won the respect of the Bench and Bar and with all with whom he associated. And it is further
Resolved, That while- we are proud of these professional attainments and honors of our departed friend which in a lars:e sum aie puhlio property we gratefully record these private oersonal attributes which made so very pleasant our intercourse with him. A genial and courteous genHtinau he treated with consiileration tho opiu'on and re- spectt^d the qu'ilities of his equals in position at tho Bir and to its younger members he was a constant and valued friend ever ready to help by wi^e counsel, and direct theui with thetreas-
32
ures of his large experience.
To tlie lowly he wfts a eonstant bene- factor and no poor man's cause with justice in it was ever declined by him. And it is further
Resolved, That to his stricken family we tender < ur since! est sympathy in their great bereavement.
Resolved. That this Bar attend the funeral of our [riend \n a body and that these reBohitiotis he piesented at the next term of the Supreme Court ni this couuty, and to the next term of the Sene«a County Court, and be pub- lished in the county Press and a copy of the same suitably en^ros?ed be pre- sented to the family of the deceas'-d. William H. Burton Jasper N. Hammond John Landon Ivpndig ('om. of Sen. Co. Bar.
Tfiese resolutions were adopted by and spread upon the minutes of the court November 11, 1884.
Gilbert Wilcoxen was elected county judge in 1871 and served for pix years and is ono of the two ex county judges who IS perndtted to be with us to d?t)'. Judge Wilcoxen was born in the town of Smithfield, 'Madison Co., N. Y., Septem- ber 25, 1828 He moved to Seneca Falls in 1839 and graduated from Hamilton College in 1852. On leav- ing college he selected the legal pro- fe^'pion and immediniely entered the otBce of the late Judge Millar at Sen- eca Fflll^, and was admitted to practice in 1854 but did not commence the practice of his profession until 1860 ; as an attorney and counselor he has won great diatinctinn for hie learning and ability ; and contrary to the usual avocation of an attorney he has been president of the Seneca Falls Savings BanK for more tbnn twenty years. Prior to his election as county judge he represented his town, Seneca Falls, in the Board of Supervisors.
In 1883 Peter H. V«n Auken was elected county jndge and served six years and is the second ex-judge living. Judge Van Auken was born in Guilder land. Albany County, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar at Troy, in 1859, from thence he went to Phelps, On- tario county, and opened an office.
He took up his residence at Seneca FnUs in 1861 and from 1862 to 1864 was in bu-tiness with the late Judge J\li!!er. Being a very learned miu his ability was appreciated by the electors from the fact that bef"re being elected to the office of county judge, he was honored by his town in hnviug been chosen Supervisor, Member of the Hoard of Education and Justice of the Peace and his departure to Rochestf-r, his present home, was regretted by all who knew him.
William C. Hazelton was elected county judge in 1889 anri served until January 1. 1896. Judge H'^z^lton was born jn Tompkins county, Sept<=mber 1, 1835 and divd m the town of Ovid, in this county March 2. 1898. He followed the life of a fanner until abo'jt 1855 when he entered the office of D'\na. Beers & Howard of Ithaca and wf^s admitted to the bar in 1858. In 1862 he was elected district-attorney of the county and served three years. In 1868 he was re elected and served a third term in 1880. In 1873 he was elected member if assembly. He was a good lawyer, ever striving to make the fact3 of anj' matter sutunitted to him correspond with the law in the matter so that if he brought an action he would have the law and facta both on his side
In N<)v^'tnbe^ 1895 John E. Richard- son was elected to succeed Judge Hazel- t'm and serv* d for six years. And in November 1901 the electors, contrary to custom, re-elected him to succeed himself.
John E. Richardson was born Septem- ber 10, 1846 in the villnge of Waterloo in this couutv and attended the common school ; in 1866 he entered the office of the late Judge Hadley and there gained the rudiments of his legal education. From Judge Hudley's cfflce he went to the Alb«nv Law School graduating there in 1868 since which time he has been practicing in the village of his birth.
In the early days of the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of Ses- sions there were associated with the first judge, justices of the peace who were at times called judges and among
33
thone were Garry V. Saokett, Grover Smith, Jubu Sfiyre, Willinm Molton, Janice Van Ilorii-;, Jared oaiidford, liobert Swnrlhou'/roiukins C, l)ol(;Vfiu, Joliu Sutton, Jncob L. Larzolere, Thomns White, John Mayiiard, David Burroujihs, Thomas C Majree, Abra- ham Sebring, Joha Burton and Benja- min Hendricks
The only other court which would come under the subject of the Judiciary of the County of Seneca is the Surro- gate's Court.
The first Surrogate appointed was Jarcd Saudfcrd and the first court held was in tlie town of Ovid, and the first wili admitted to probate was that of Is8ae Ilagernmn of Ovid, June 7, 1804. And the first letters of admiuistraiiou were issued June 10, 1804, on the estate of Davitl Kelly, late of the town of Ovid, N. Y. Jared Sandford was appointed April 2, 1804 and served uiilil April 14, 1811, he was re-ap- pointed April 6th, 1813 and served until February 28, 1815.
John Sayre wns appointed surrogate February 14, 1811 and served until 1813. Judge Sayre was born in the town of Booming Gfove, Orange Co. N. y.. July 24, 1707; be du'd March 4, 1848; Soptembrr 2, 1800 he was chosen Supervisor of Romulus and re elected year after year until 1808 ; he was re- elected supervi«3or in 1830 31 32. In 1804 he was elected the first member of assembly and re-elected in 1808 and again in 1831 ; he served as treasurer of the county from 1817 to 1821. For many years he was associate judge of the Seneca County Courts and was the first postmaster of Romulus,
William Thompson was chosen sur rogate February 28, 1815 and served until April 3, 1819, he was re-ap- pointed March 31, 1821 and served until December 3, 1827.
Judge Thompson was born in Still- water, Saratoga Co. N. Y., March 4, 1785, he graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in 1806. After completing his college studies he en. tercd the office of his brother James who was practicing law in Milton, Saratoga Co,, N. Y. In the spring of 1812 he found his new home and
pitched his tent in the town of Ovid in this county. It is said of him '^Not greedy of gain, he did not use his in- fluence as a lawyer in the promotion of strife, but often eounciled amicable settlement of difiiculties between con- tending parties." Though not seek- ing preferment, he was more than once called to represent liis county in the Legislative Halls of the state, and by his acknowledged ability and popular- ity succeeded to the Speaker's chair, lie died November 18, 1871.
Luther F. Stevens was appointed surrogate April 3, 1819 and served as such until March 31, 1821.
December 3, 1827. Samuel Birdsall was appointed surrogate. Judge Bird- sail was born May 14, 1791 at Hills- dale, Columbia Co , N. Y. In the year 1817 he moved to Waterloo and for more than half a century after set. tling in Waterloo his position was one of prominence and influence and among the many honorable positions filled by him were Master in Chancery; Division Judge Advocate; with the rank of Colonel ; Counsellor in the Supreme Court; Surrogate of Seneca County ; District Attorney of the county ; postmaster at Waterloo and Member of Congress. He died on the 8!h day of February, 1872.
Jeheil H. Halsey was appointed July 22, 1837 as Judge Birdsall's successor. He died December 5, 1867. John Morgan who was appointed surrogate March 2, 1843, was the last surrogate appointed, he serving until July 1st 1847, at which time the offices of the county judge and surrogate were consoli.lated and the duties of each performed by the county judge.
This concludes the Judiciary of the County of Seneca from the foundation cf the county to the prcent but it does not seem right that I should conclude this p'lpcr without referring to the Hon. John Maynard and Addison T. Knox who were long residents of this county and held the position of Judge of the Supreme Court which was not part of the Judiciary of Seneca County any more than of other counties com- prising the Supreme Court District m which they presided.
34
Judge Addison T. Knox was the sou of John Kiiox and the third iu birth ot" seven children; lie was born iu a house near the 'Kingdom". He was a cripple from birth and as his mother often remarked •' Being a cripple Addison always had his owu way and that is the reason he has such an over- bearing dieposition." Judge Add Kuox as he was familiarly called was ch ctcd in November 1859 ; he was an excellent lawyer and proved himself an honor- able and competent judiei-il officer. He died May 11, 1862 and Hon. James C. Smith of Canandaigua was ap- pointed his successor.
Judge Maynard was elected June 1847 and strved until March 24, 1850 being the date of Jiis death. And Judge Henry W. Taylor was appointed as his successor. March 27, 1850.
Prior to May 23, 1884. moneys be- longing to infants and others were left wi!h the Surrogate of the county for investment and the surprising part is tliat they were never required to render an account for tbose moneys only to infants who might attain the age of twenty-one years. Simply turning over to their successors in office tiie money in securities which they had on hand. In Mfiy 1884 an act was pris'^ed by our Legislature directing the Gen- eral Term of the Supreme Court to ap- point some suitable person to examine the books and accounts and vouchei's
of the Surrogate's Court relating to these trust funds and directii)g that the surrogate turn the amount so found in his hands over to the county treasurer aud from that time the county treasurer and not the sun'ogate has been the depositary of these funds and although the surrogates were not re- quired to render an account of these funds, yet when the accountant ap- pointed by the Supreme Court ex. amined the accouiit of the surrogates, he reported all moneys were accounted for and that there never had been one cent loats in the acts of said surrogatHS of our county.
For many of the biegvaphical facts couiainvd in ttus paper 1 am indebted to Hon. Di idrirJi Willers, ex-Secre- tary of State aud in closing I wish to express my thanks for the help he lias given m!3.
To the officers of this association who have honored me as their choice to prepare this paper I can only in this fe<rble way express my appreciation and wish that health and strength had been spared me that I might have presented to them a more acceptable paper, but J assure them that situated as I liave been since I was notified of their de.-jirc I have done the best I could aud hope that its contents will be of benefit to them in the further progress of their historical work.
Our Predecessors in Seneca County
The Sachem-0=ja-geght and the Cayuga Indians.
By F^r&dk Teller.
It was an early hoiu' of the aftornooii of the 2l8t of October 1794 wheu an agt-d ohitjf or Imlinn sachem of the Cay- uga Natii u arose. Before hiiu burned the conucil fire of the six nations. From his place nt the head of the inner circle of the council, he j^azed around upon a vast gathering that encircled him as it stretched away in ever widen- ing circles. This council was the last general one ever held by the United Slates with the Six Nations as a whole and it WHS the largest concourse of the dittV;rent tribes comprising its diU'^rent nations, except the Mohawks, thnt has ever since been gMth-red together. Besedes the Ca3Ugfis and the other al lied nations of the Iroqais Conf edi?racy were a number of the conquergd and dependent tribe. The Seneca?, how- ever were by far the most numerous. The number in attandeiice amounted to very nearly two thousand red men. The treaty wa-i held a few miles to the weat of us at Can-mdnigua. from where the council was convened could be seen the waters of that befiutiful lake spark ling in the sun surrounded by the bar- baric colorings o*f the wild foictits in their Indian summer frost tints.
The fjged chief who had ari.^fn to hiij feet to answer on behnlf of the Six Nations the congra'.ulatory and intro- ductory a(idr(^ss nsade by the Indian Commissioner C'>1. Piokerirg, on the day previous at the opening of the grand council wa^ O ji-goght. lie was commonly called by the wliilea "The Pish Carrier" and sometimes "Old Fish ("arrier." He was the headsman, or eiiief sachem of the ton civil mngis- trates of the Cayuga Indi'ins and the eer)ior at the time of the fifty sachems who goverutd the civic affairs of the
Six Nations. The ancient scrolls of parchment with the wampum attached that are now in the custody of the Re- gents of the University of the Slate of New York are the original state treaties that released to the State of New York the lands that compnse the present county of Seneca. These are the title deeds to the lands that are our birtli- right and upon wliich have been built the homes of ourselves and people for one hundred years. if you will ex- amine the signatures with the totums and sign manuels attach-d thereto you will find on the part of the red man that the first n'une in all cases by reason of his rank, his standing, and his sen- iority signed to them to be O ja-geght.
Of the means used by the Commis- sioners of the State of New York to persuade, cjole, circumvent and to almost forcibly wring from the Cayuga Nation and from this unlettered man 0-j'i-geght their l.-mds it is the purpose of this article to treat. To this savage barb'-rian who stood out alone against our sovereign state and who.^e one voice making conformatinu impossible al- most blocked the treaty that completes our chain of title to the beautiful rivers and vale.-', glades and lak( s, on which are built up the communities thnt we here tonight call home, your attention is asked.
Before listening to the remarks of this Cayuga chief or sachem we will better understand thorn if wo go hack to February of this same year 1794 to a council th.'it was a ))relimi>jary of this the larger one. It was Cf.Ued at the in- stance of the Federal Government at Bnifalo Creek foe the purpose of con- cilnting the feelings of the Cayuga nnd Seneca Indians One of the serious
36
questions that confronted the young "Republic of the Thirteen Fires" as they were cslled by the Six Nations was the Indian prol)lem. The vexed question of boundary lines had settled down into a stern determination on the part of the allied Indian tribes ot the west, that the Ohio river should mark the utmost white frontier settlements.
In this they were openly abettf'd by Thay-en-da-naga (Joseph Brant) the fighting chieitain of the Mohawks and his entire Mohawk following. This powerful nation who had espoused the cause of the British in the Revolution- ary war had retired to Canada on lands assigned to them by the crown after the Revolutionary war on the Penins- ular northwest of the Niagara river. Many of the young men and warriors of the Csyugas snd Scnecas were also upon the warpath in the west. Gen. St. Clair had been defeated in a pilehed battle on the Miamis and It was de- sirable to prevent the Cayugas and Seneca Indians from joining the beli- gerents en masse. These ettorts how- ever were crowned with l)ut partial success.
The government distributed on this occasion a liberal quantity of presents including clothing. The place ofmeet- ing so near the frontier of Canada was such however that it was largely under the control of British officers. Col, John Butler of Wyoming memory was conspicuous in his endeavors to thwart the designs of the United States com- missioners. Joseph Brant and Red Jacket were the principal speakers. After mufh discussion of numerous propositions it was adjourned with tlie idea of calling a general council to be held later in the year Rumors were accordingly sent out summoning the entire Six Nitions to a council to be held at Canandaigua in the following autumn. This great and memorable council which convened was the result.
In the meantime the State of Penn- sylvania prepared to extend her settle- ments to Presqne Island on the shore of Lake Erie. This greatly ex3.«pfr- at'd the Six Nations who claimed this territory as exclusively their own. The Six Nations were about to take the
field under the leadtrship of Joseph Brant when Presi lent Wnshingtou in terferred and previ-ned P. nnsylvama from any turiher prowejuiion of her designs at that lime.
The Indians eoii mi'-sioners ap pointed to represent the United States at Canandaigua v;ere C"l. Pickering called Can net santy by the Indians and General Israel Chapin. The last named was a great friend to the In- dians and upon his d-.^ath the iollowing spring a council w?;s held in honor of his memory April 28, 1795 at which a request was made that tiid son Cjiptain Israel Chapin might be appointed in his place. There were also in atten- deiice at this council by special invit- ation^of the Indians, six quaker friends, three from ea'^h Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Ouiedas who were the lirst to arrive on the 11th of October went into council upon matters pretainiug ex- clusively to their own nation. On the fourteenth the Onondagas and Cayugas arrived and on the same day llo-na ye- wus or Farmer Brother arrived at the head of a large delegation of Senecas.
They were received by the Indians dressed and painted with all the l)ril- liancy and beauty of their wild fan- tastic tastes. On the 18th Sa-go ye- wat-ha or Red Jacket and Ga hio-di- euh or Cnrnplnnter and several other Seneca chiefs arrived each with large delegations.
On the afternoon of the 18lh the commissioners and friends were sum- moned by a son of Coriqjlanter to attend the formal openjng of the coun- cil. The officers and their interpreters were surrounded by a dark assemblage as the council fire was kindled and the pipe of peace went around. The In- dians are very deliberate in council and it was not until the 20th the business of the council really began.
Upon that occasion Col, Pickering performed the ceremony of condol- mcnt with the Delewares for the loss of one of their braves. He, in words, took the tom.ihawk from the head of the victim who had been murdered by a white man and covered the grave with leaves so that no one could see it in passing. The hatchet which he had
37
taken from the head of the victim was buried beneatli a pine tree which in wordH was torn up for tlial purpose. Having placed the hatelict in !i deep li 'le and covered it over with stones, the trt'e was rcplnnted on top so tliat the instrument of death could never be diMcoytred. The colonel then wiped the blood from their heads aud the tears from their eyes and opened the path of peace wlrich the Indians were inviied to keep clear at one end and the United Stntes at the other as long as the sun shone.
It vvHS for the purpose of answer- iui;; this address of Col. Pickering of which the above was the prtliminary that on behalf of the Six Nations, O ja- geght had arisen in the count^il. Draw- ing the blanket around his tall and ex-ect thou'^h aged form with all Uio untural grace of a native Indian he addressed hiin'^elf to the corumis^ion on beh-ilf of his conntryriien. The national g.ivernmt'iit has preserved nothing in its archives in rtgard to thin council except the bare treaty itself. But from other source^, a portion of the outline of the in'erpreter's remnrks have been saved. After delivering the belt of wampum by which he had been sum- moned to the council.
He gazedrctrospectively at the re . la'ions that had existed between the intruding wiiite mnu and the Six Nations "When the wbife ipan first cnme awd landt d on our shores the In- dians saw that ti>ey were men and must have something to subsist upon. They therefore pitied thein and gave them some land aud when they com- plained that the land had become too small for them the Indinns still pitied them and from time to time gave them more. Tidings were carried back and still more cnme among us, yet we did not fear them. We took them to be friends ior they called us brothers. At length a great council fire was kin- dled at Albany where a silver ciiain was mfide which whs kept bright for manv years until the United Slates and the (treat King over the waters diftered. Then their brothers in Canada talked to the Indians and they Jet the ciiain fall out of their hands, yet it was not
their fault but the white people for this land over which our white brothers quarrelled was created by the Great Spirit for the use of his red children.
In the v/ar that ensued the minds of our people were very uneasy. We were una()le to agree and our council was divided. A part of our people stood by the council of the thiriecn fires while the greater portion held fast by the treaty belts whii^h were he'd by the King across the great waters. He referred bitturly to the abandi nment of her Indian allies by the Hritisii at the close of the war and that in the treaty of peace no provision of any kind had been made for thgm. He re<^apitulated the history of the negotiations with the whitepeople afterwards and referring to the rea ties of Fort Slanwix complained of the many grievances they had sutTered par- ticularly in the curtailment of their territory. The IndiMUs felt that at the first treaty at Fort Stanwix In 1784 the commissioners had been too grasping. In ttie subsequent treaties every efiort had b( en made to fleece them of their lands until now ''we have hardly a place left on which to spread our blankets but still you are not satisfied " In concluding O jn geght stated that notwithstanding their many causes of complaint now, that they had taken hold of the chain with the fifteen fires he pledged the Six Nations to hold on.
In the above speech 0-ja-geght com- plains of the curtailment of the lands of the red man by the various treaties. Let us take up the treaty of 1789 by whieh most of the lands composing the present county of Seneca were released to the state. The exception being the lands of the west Cayuga reservation bounded on the east by ('ayuga L'dce. north by the Seneca river, west by the reservation road and south by the town of Romulus.
It was determined by the State of New York to hold a council with the Indians in September 1788 at P'ort Schuyler and agents and runners were sent out by the New Yors Indian commissioners to induce the Indians to attend. It was intended to make this as imposing as possible and great pre-
38
parations were made for this embassy to the Indian couutry. I shall quote almost liht rally from an article of the late Geo. Couover. The board of com- missioners and their retinne started from Albany on the 23rd find did not arrive at Furl Schuyler until the 28th of August. A wild romnntic scene was goon presented Governor Geroge Clinton pitchtd his marquee and was surrounded by man yvvho had been con- spicuous in the Kevolution and were then leading men iu the new state. They were surr(;unded by tlie camp- fires of ih'^ numerous representatives of the Six Nations amounting to thousands. Indian trad(:;r8 wrve there from New York aud Canada in large numbers with their showy goods and trinkets and fire water, ready for the sale of goods on the espousal of either the intere.st of the siate or the lessees. Prominent lessees from Albany, Hud- son and Can.nda were in the crowd secretly and insidiously endeavoring to thwart the object of the council, hearing that one of their principals John Livinjiston was present. Governor Clinton ordced him to leave in three hours and retire to a distance of forty miles.
The lessees were a company who had leased from the Indians a considerable portion of their lands for a term of 999 years. The laws of the United Statt's and the State of New York pro- hibited the sale of their lands by the Indians without the approval of the government aud the state. To evade this the lessee h'id leased nearly the whole of western New York for the above term which practicaliy amounted to a salf. The prominent lessees were John Livingston and Dr Benton. Their object was the erection of a new slate we.'t of the reservation line sim- ular to VerFi;ont which had receidly been split oil' from the eastern part of New York and been admitted to state hood.
"Governor Clinton finding that the Cajugas and Seneeas had held back sfnt mf>ssages to Kan a de s?iga now Geneva, to hurry tliem forward. They found Dr. Benton a prominent lessee aud his agents surrounded b}' Indians
dealing out liquor and goods persuad- ing them that either New York would cheat them out of their lands or else put them to death. Many of them were undeceived and started on the journey but so great had been the beastly intoxication, that but few went further than Scaw yaee (South Water- loo) being to unable proceed and but few reaeiied the council, one Cayuga dying on the road."
On the 9th of September the council was opened by a speech by Govenor Clinton and after a few days negoti- ation, a treaty was concluded with the Ouondagas whereby all their lands were secured except certain reser- vations. Negotiations with the Onei- das followed and after some days a like treaty was procured from them. The couucil had now continued for twenty live days It became now im- portant in order to secure the balance of the Indian lands to procure a treaty with the Cavngas and Senecas. Rev. Samuel Kirk wood was despatched to these tribes to inform them what had been done aud to prepare the way for a council.
Seth Reed and Peter Ryckermau who were both noted Indian traders located at the Indian villige of Knnadessga were engaged to aid in getting ibe attendance of the Indians at All)any. Both of these tradirs were committed to the interests of the lessees, the lands and set off to them by the stale commis- sioners in this treaty which they aided n securing will show how they came to change their minds. Reed and Ryckerman responded as soon after thessi arrangements had been completed as possible. First sending James Manning Reed to Albany with a letter saying that they would be in Albany the latter part of January with tlie Indians and adding that the lessees kept tho Indians so continually intoxicated with liquor thht it is iu)p')ssible to do anj'tlnng with them. It was not un- til February 1889 that Ryckerman was abl(i to collect a sufficient nnnd>er of Indians and reach Albany.
The council was accordingly opened on the 19th with the Cayugas and some Ouondagas aud Ooeidas being
39
also present. None of tl;e prouiincnt Cayugas either sachems or warriors were present. A C"nverletl Ciiyuga liulirin known as Go'Jtl Poti-r or Dom- inic I'eter was the priucipal speak'.^r for tlie Cnyugas. Present at the coun- cil was a eonsideia''le number of their womt n wliom Good I'v-ter called governessts and of whom he s;iid, "Our ancestors considtir it a great transgression to neg'eot tlie council of the women, pariiculariy the gov- erni.>i^ses whom thi^y eoi.'silcr the miri- tresses of the soil. They said, who brouj;ht us fortli? Who cultivaie our land-? \Yho kindle our flres and boil our [);)ts but the women?
On the 2uih of February, 1789, the tre.'»ty of Albany was couuIu*led. In the first two clauses of this treaty they ceded and grant d to the Stale of New York forever all their lands ex- cept the east and west Cayuga Keser- vatimis cou'aining one hundred square mile?, exjlusive of the waters ot"Ca\ug!i lake r-iid the place cHl'ed Skayes on the Seneca River and a compe'ant piece of land on ih.9 south side of faid river at the said place sufficient for the said C'lyugas to land and t ncaiup on and cure their ee's.
The third clause gives the Cayugas
and their posterity fcrevcr the rigiit
of hunting in every part of said ceded
land and of fishing in ail thu waters
within the same.
The fourth clause names the con- sideration on the part of the state which was $5,000 in silver (ihe re- ceipt whereof the Cayugas do hereby acknowledge) and a further payment the following June 1st at Fort Schuyler of $1625 00 and an auiiuity of $500 per year. The state settles with r.'tcu" Ryckerman in the same clause for his share in procuring the treaty by pay- ing him out of lands set aside for the CayugHS as per the following clause — and as a further consideration to the Cayugas the people of the State of New York shall grant to their adopted child, Ptter Ryckerman whom they have expressed a desire shall reside near them, to assist th'-m and as a benevolence from them the Cayugas to him and in return for services
rendered by him to their nation, the said tract of on« mile square at the Cayuga Ferry, cxct-pted out of gaid lands reserved to tiie Ca\ugas for their own utQ &uCi cultivation. R'.el;erman was also granted in the fourth clause of the treaty 16,000 acres of land ad- joining and on thij we?t side of Seneca Lake, surrounding a house lately ercotcdnnd now in Oocnpatiou by the said Toter Ryckerman. There is ex- ccpted out of this 370 acr'S which were granted to a white man who mar- ried a daughter of a Cayuga named Thynovvas. It was Ryckerman's en- deavor to beat his partner out of any participation in this land that has placed so many documents on tile at Albany and given so much light on this tieaty.
The closing four lines of this treaty were evidently added to mollify if possible soi;!Owhat the known hostdity of O ia-geght to releai-ing any of the lands of the Cayugas to the st'ite. They read as followa. Notwithstanding the said reservation herein above specified, to the (Jayugas, h is doolnred to bn the intent of the parties thit the Cayuga called the Fish Cirri-r shall have a mile s^^qiiare of the said reseived lands for the separate use of himself and his family forever.
The signatures to the treaty are re- markable on the part of the red man from the fact that it is signed bv but fourteen Indians and twelve govern- esses. Nine of those signatures were signed by but one Indian Kan is ta- gia whose mirk is a steel trap. The peculiar marks and totems are inter- esting. B"side3 Governor Ciinton and Lieutenant Governor Van Cortland oa the part of the state are Ezra L. Hom- medien, Abram Ten Brock. John llathorn, S'lmuel Jone?, Peter Gans- voort and Egbert Benson.
There was great indignation on the part of the rest of the Cayugas as soon as it was known that a treaty had i.cen entered in'o and negotiated by so small and uninfluential a part of their nation. As soon as the runner with the tidings of this treaty arrived at Tey o heyho- co Is (Buffalo Ci'eeil) where quite a number of the Cayuga warriors and
40
chiefs with their followers were in cRinp for the winter iiimieiiiNte pre- parations wore nifide to return to this ueiyhborhood The feelitii;: was very bitter and ranked very stvons in their uiiuds that the Cayuiiaa had not been treated fair in the matter of this treaty.
O-J^-f^^'fj'it at the head of his people drovH the surveyors from their lands, desiroytnl the stakes and refut-ed to be oppressed. Every means to pac?ify him was without avail. When the firsi d'ly of June caaie it was felt to be a vitfd necessity that the signatures of some of the more promini^nt war- riors, chiefs and a,"ichems of the nation should be secured to ?ui article ratify- ing the treaty of the previous year. It seems that on the 22 ad of June this fact was accomplished for we find on that date the Cayugas had come for- ward to Fort S':iuwix and received their Knnuity nnd also the further sum of o)ic thousand dollars as a be7ievolence and we th« said Cayugas in consider ation thereof do by th; se presents fully freely and absolutely ratify and con firm the said agreement and cession. This was i^igued by twenty four Sachems, chiefs and warriors of th^ Cayuga Nation of Indinns. The first signature being O ja geght alias Fi«h comer, the next Shogoyeghwatha or Red Jacket, and the nanif^s of the lead lug men of the Cayuga Nation follow, omong the leading witnesses was Joseph Brant. W. L. Stone in h.s life of Brant speaks of him as having been a great and life long friend of Aid chief of the Cayugas. New York refers to the 1789 treaty as having been made at Albany on that date and con- firmed by subsequent articles made at Fort Stanwix, Juno 22, 1790.
Their reservation on the east and west shores of Cayuga Lake were soon surrounded by settlers. Leases were made to the whites in some instances and in others squatters swarmed in and took possession. By reason of their lease of ferry privileges to John Harris and James Bennett, a highway was opened which was travelled by all who made use of the ferry. There was another class, the felons and outlaws who sought refuge there. There was
a provision in the treaty by which the state bound itself to clear the reser- vation from intruders on said reser- vation without the consent of the said Cai ugas and the Cayugas on their part to the State in the apprehending of intruders, felons and offenders to the end that they may be brought to justice. It was necessary on a number of occasions for the state to summon a shcrift's posse to clear and drive out by main force the intruders, so that the Cayugas could retnin and enjoy the residue of the lands that remained to them.
The treaty of 1789 wis no sooner ratified in the folh.iwiag ye.ir than long- ing eye-; wore turned to the fair lands that yet r.^uuiiied to the Cayugas, It was not long before iui erected parties who afierw;irds obtained a share in its distribution began to talk of — 'vs the treaty afterwards negotiated states — '•mike the hinds of the said ressr- veration more productive of annual lu- cerne to the Ciyugas,'' It was not until July 27, 1795 that comtnissiouers on the part of t'le state concluded a treaty at the Cayuga Ferry v/ hereby the Cayugn Nation released to the state all their lauds except two small reser- vations on the east side of tlie Hke.
It is not the purpose of this article to go into the details of this treaty as it was touched on in the article on the Eirly Ferries and the Genc'see High, way, the Samuel and John Harris and two additional articles entitled the Cay- uga Treaties soon to appear in the Grips llivtory. The negotiating and concluding of the treaty met the deter- mined oppositi'm of O ja geght and it was not U!itil all of his followers h;id been won over and he had stood out alone for many days that it was con sumnled. The mile square reserved to O-ja-geght in the 1789 treaty he evidently refused to release as per this clause in the treaty '<one other piece of land one mi'e square at 'Canoga' for the use of an Indian sachem of the said nation called Fish Carrier and for the use of his posterity forever."
The two small reserv.-itions of two miles and one mile .'^qunre on the east side of Cayuga Lake were by treaty
41
purchased by the state on May 30, 1807. The reservation containing the Indian sprinu: and villaj<e at CHuoga secujed to O-ja geght was exchaugtd for an annuity "f $60 per year. Tins was paid to his heirsi up to August 2. 1841 when by Chapter 234 of the law6 of that year it was extinguished. O ja- gejiht was an old man at the date of the 1789 treaties and alter the loss of eo nuich of their lani's he lived must of his time with ihe Mohawks in Canada. He however afterwards visited a num- ber of times the territoriv^s that for t'lree centuries !ia<1 ^^r'-n fhe homes of his people He was jjtfent and signed the treaty of 1807. Thrre is a trad- ition that durii)ij;ti subsiqueut pilgrim- ase to the graves y-i Luj people at Cinoga he died. The name and sach(3m3hip is still kept up among the remnants of t^'e Cayuwa Nation.
The Cayuga Nation of Indians were one of tho-e composing the Five Nati'ms After the adoption of the Tuscaroras who were a conquered tribe speaking a sindlar dialect whom these nations f'.und in North Carolina itito their «'on- federacy it i)ecame more widely known as ttie Six Nations. This league was called l>y tlie French the Iroquois and was the most powerful and widely known of any of the Indinn tribes on the continetit In the fanciful and figurative language which they made use of they termed their forniation ('lo- di-no-san-nee, the long hotise) which signifies a long house having partitions and separate fires. This was the an- cient way these people had of building their bark house, s huge enou^jh to iic- commodate a numlxir of fannlies.
The home dotnains of the Six Nations stretclied the entire length of the Enqiire state. The first tire the extreme western one was the Senecas. They wen; known as the hill people and wtMe the fiercest, the n)"8t pop- ulous and furnished the most wa'riora and warchiefs. They were designated as the keepers of tlie western gate. The fifth fire at the enst end was the Mohawks and they were the guardians of the eastern door. On this tribe de- volved the naming of a warohief and the collection of tribute was one of their
duties. The third fire was the great council tire of the Six Nations and was in charge of the Onondagas. The council tire was put out when the On- ondaga council house was destroyed by Count Frontenac in 1696. It was again put out in the spring of 1777 and again for the last time in 1779. It was never afterwares relighted in the old place in ttie council town. Of the fifty sachems who governed the civic aflaire of the Six Nations, fourteen belonged to the Onoudagas. The head or chief sachem was with them the name To do-do-ho and the title going with the office, also the Ho-no-we-na-to or national wam- pum keeper was an hereditary oflSce that was confined to the Onondagas. The wampum represented the history of the nations wtuch was talked into it.
One of the intere-'ting features at the unveiling of the Red Jacket Monu- ment at Canoga on O^'tober 14, 1891, was the presence of Chief Sachem Skanawati the otficial keeper of the wampum belts or records. He exhib- ited a large wampum belt and ex- plained its use and the manner of keep- ing the records of the Confederacy.
Tlie second hre was that of the Cay- ugas. They were the custodians of the Ah-8o qna-ta, the peace pipe The Cayugas were designed at the council fires as the So-mns-ho-gwa to-war which signifies the gr'at pipe. In addition to the apple and peach orchards and clearings of corn were large fields of cultivated tobacco suriound- iug the Cayuga castles or settlements. It was their right to apply the lighted brand from the couu'ii fire to the cal- umet at the national council. The smoking of the peace pipe and the passing of it around the circle from hand to hand was the preliminary or formal method of opening all councils. In the general council it went first to the Onondagas and came around to the Cayugas last in whose keejiing it remained until the next council. The rudely drawn tigure of a calumet placed opposite the names of their chiefs was their official signature and it was their totam and their insignia as a nation.
Upon one side of the council fire
42
were hung the Onondagas, Seneca and Mohawks for tbey were the fathers of the league, on the other side were the Cayugas, Oneidas and Tuacaroras for they were brothers but children of the first three. The Cayugas were formerly a part of the Seneca nation at some remote time in the dim recesses of tradition in which the early trail of the Cayugas are lost- When tlJe Seneca hunting grounds around the (Jenesee became too thickly settled for easy subsistance a band under the leadership of some favorite chief migrated to the outlet of Cayuga lake. In time they grew in numbers and became distinct. They were formerly known under the title of the Gwe-u-gwek-o-no which means the people of the mucky land. This referred to the Montezuma marshes where their Mrst settlements were made. The Oneidas in a like manner were originally a part of the Mohawks and became a distinct nation in a similar manner.
Few who to-day occupy the lands that formerly belonged to the Six Nations realize the extent to which they carried their conquests outside of their home territories. The limits of this paper will admit of but one ex- tract or two from well known writers.
Morgan in his league of the Iroquois gays, ''No frightful solitude in the wilderness, no impregnable I'eoess in the frozen north was proof against their courage and daring. By the year 1700 they hnd subdued and held in subjection all the principal nations which occupied the States of New York, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylania, Virginia, Ohio, Ken- tucky, Northern Tennessee, Iliinoi«, Indiana, Michigan, a portion of the New England states and a principal part of Canada. Over these nations the haughty and imperious Iroquois exercised a constant supervision.
Cbauncey M. Depew in his centen- nial address at the hundredth anniver- sary of the State of New York referred to this incident. A tribe of Manhat- tans had sold some of their lands to the white settlers without the consent of|the Iroquois, this was contrary to their agreement. A single Mohawk
warrior was sent as an envoy to attend to it. Summoning the offending tribe to a council he asked to have the Chief that was responsible for the transaction pointed out to hira. He thereupon buried his tomahawk in his brain scalped him and hanging his still bleed- ing scalp to his girdle strode out from the terrified and submissive assembly." DeWitt Clinton says of them, "They were the Romans of the west. Their conquests if we consider their numbers and circumstances were not inferior to that of Rome itself. They ran in con- qnest further than the Greek arms ever carried and to distances which Rome surpissed only in the days of its cul- minating glory- On November 6. 1768 the boundary "iMine between the Six Nations and the ' State of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia was fixed by a treaty at Fort Stanwix between the officials of these states and the Six Nations, on behalf of ourselves and of our several dependent nations. The Cayugas signed by their seal or totura the crude drawing or picture of a cal- umet.
The Cayugas though situated far inland were so favored by nature that they could by several water routes that centered in their territories quickly assemble and go forward on the warpath in any direction. Their remote, secluded territories on the other hand in the midst of a stupendous for- est scenery would seem to be the ori- ginal abode of sylvan happiness. Their principal villages, settlements and encampments were on both sides of Cayuga lake. At the Canoga Springs was their village of the name Ca-no geh signifing, oil on the waters. The Spring was considered by the In- dians to be possessed of medicine prop- eries and capable of driving away cer- tain evil spirits that brought disease. Red Jacket was born near this spring somewhere about the year 1750. His mother was a Cayuga. The order of descent in Indian lineage was through the female line and although the father was a Seneca the sou of the mother was a Cayuga. You will find his name sigued to most of the Cayuga
43
treaties. His title to the wolf clan was from his mother and though called by some writers a prince of the turtle clan because his father was of that clan, an Indian would never call him so. In the mile square reserved to O- ja geght were a number of their burial places. The Indian has always had a great veneration for the graves of his fathers and it was a reproach to the Cayugas that they did not I'etain even a place to bury their dead.
Another village of the Cayugas was Ge wa-ga means a promintory running out. It was on the other side of the lake near Union Springs A little further south was their principal vil- lage where the council house of the Cayuga Nation was situated, Ga-ya- ga an' ha which means inclining down- ward. It is said it refers to the re- flection of heaven's dome in the waters, another Indian word more fully ex- pressing it being Ga o ya-di-o, where the heavens rest upon the earth. On the site of Ithaca was Ne-o dak heat meaning at the end of the lake. Wbere Auroi'a is situated was De a- wen dote, constant dawn. The Cay- ugas were the keepers of the southern gate of the Confederacy, a place where all the rivers and trails came together Ta- yo ga, at the forks. These names show that the Cay ugas were not in- sensible to their beautiful surround- ings.
Their name for the Seneca River was Swa-geb, flowing away. This was the name of the river from Seneca lake until it empied into Lake On tario. Coming up the river however it was the Onondaga until Onondaga lake was passed Cayuga river until Cayuga lake was passed and then Seneca Kiver This point on the Sen- eca river where we are gathered to- night was the carrying place or por- tage. It marked the somewhat elastic boundaries between the Cayugas and Senecas. The site of Seneca Falls was called Sha sconce which means swift flowing or tumbling waters. As the principal trail of the Six Nations also ran east and west through our village it is probable that there has never been a time since the Indians
inhabited this country that there has not been a collection of bark cabins, tepees or wigwams of this migratory race scattered through the forests on either side of the river at this point. Numerous evidences were found here of former Indian occupation.
Scoy yase west of us seems to have been a cosmopolitan settlement com- posed of migratory bands contributed from all of the Six Nations. Tbese as they journeyed east or west on the trail or canned around the rapids pitched their habitation, tarried for the fishing or social interchange. There was always as a consequence eu(!ampments all along the river.
Here in this very heart of nature along these beautiful streams and around this land locked expanse of mirrored waters dwelt our predecessors the Cayugiis hfippy under the smile of the Great Spirit. The waters were tjeming with fish and the forests with game. They cliase alternated with the cou.jcil. Ho-di 09 seh they called them which siguihes advising together. There was their local festivals and ob- servances as well as tlieir general gatherings at the Onondaga council bouse. ''If for instance the Cay ugas lust a sachem or chief, a runner was sent out with belts of invitation to the achems of the league and the peoples at large to assemble around their coun- cil fire. As soon as the runner bad reacbed the trails of the Ouondagas it was taken up by them and circulated through their nation and one of the Ouondagas fastest ruuner took up the message and passed it on to the Oueidas aud they in a like manner to tbe nations at tbe east. In tbe meantime another Cayuga ruuner had reached Can a di sa-ga the chief Seneca's village and was it being circulated ttirough the Seneca's villages by their runners. The belts and strings of wampum sent out conveyed a message. The name of the deceased calls for a couucil.
The name and appeal fell not iu vain upon the ears of tbe Iroquois. There was a potency iu the name itself which none could resist. It pene- trated every seclusion of ihe forest, and reached every Ga-no-soh hunter
44
upon the hillside, on the mnrgin of the lake, or in the deep solitudes of tlie woods. No warrior, wise man or chief faih^d to hear or withstand the call. A principle within was addressed which ever responded, respect and veneration for the sachems of the league."
For these council'^, and the festivities with which they were concludeil the Ho de no-san-uee ever retained a passionate fondness. No inclemency of season, nor remoteness of residence, no frailty of age of sex offered im- possible obstruction. To that hardy spirit which induced the Inqnois to traversethe warpaths of the distant south atid west and to leave their hunt- ing trailsnpon the Potomac and the Ohio, the distance to the council with- in their immediate territories would present uo considerable hinderances. From the Mohawk to the (ienesee they forsook their hunting grounds and their encampments and put themselves up- onthe trail for the council fire. Old men with gray hair and tottering steps, young men in the vigor of youth, war- riors inured to the hardships of in- cessant strife, children looking out upon life for the first time and women with their infants enclosed in the ga- oo-ha, baby^frame, all performed the journey with singular rapidity and en- durance. From every side they bent their footsteps toward the council, and when the day arrived, a large con- course of warriors, chiefs, wise men and sachems, from the most remote as well as the subjacent parts of their territory, greeted each other beside the council fire of the Cayugas.
There was one pecularity of the council only that the limits of this article will permit calling attention to and that is the ruling of the ma- jority over the minority. No majority could force the minority, that would be the curtailing of their liberties. They must all be, as they expressed it, of one mind, otherwise everything fell to the ground. When the Six Nations went into council in regard to support- ing the British in the Revolution the Oneidas could not be brought to agree with the majority. Hence all were at
liberty to do as they pleased. This was true in the trc aty of 1795 ceding to the state the (Jaynga Iteservation. Had O ja geght refused to go with the majority the treaty could never have been ratified.
People or classes of people seem to leave their footprints upon the country they inhabit. East of us the Puritans left theirs, "upon the stream and rock bound coast" where first they landed. Nearer the Dutch lef I theirs about the Hudson, a lordly yet a sleepy goiug region. About and around Cayuga Liake has always reste I a benign, pas- toral, restful ])reseuce. It breathes of hospitality and the open door of wel- come. The summer clouds that curl like a halo above it ever seem like the vaporings that had just left the bowl of the As-o-qua-ta, the calumet, the peace pipe of the Cayugas. Peace and sweet content have ever hemmed it in.
Thy surface wide, a glass, — transpar- ent bright The farther shore like rainbow tips
fades blue In tender tints of a celestial hue Yon bark like cockle shell so frail and
slight Suspended floats ; blank space and
brit^ht The rich toned shadows fashion it
again Reversed beneath thy burnished plain. Submerged wide heavens down so
snowy .white Draws magnet like each shade of
natives soul, Fields square of meadow, bills of
mossy turf The woodland mass, the tree trunks
gnarled girth The worlds sharp struggle to some
selfish goal Floats oft beyond horizons utmost
knowl Becalmed lies every joy that is of
heaven or earth. When the hazes of Indian summer mantles our lovely lake, the fair Cayuga wraps her robe of royal ty- rian purple about her. Its shades and tones are such as the most lordly potentate of the east might envy.
45
Tlieir insignia tliat the Cayngas ever kept snspeudeil from tlie ridge pole of tlieir bark cabins or linng ever at lianrt m the folds of the wigwam ?till casts its spell. Like a while winged bene- dic'ion the calumet curls its incense above us. Gao-ya-de o, the heavens rest very near the earth. Almost all we CHii hope for wlien we reach that golden shore that lies beyond earth's troubles lies spread before us here. Peace quiet rest.
Note — The limits of this article will not permit of tlie inserting of a quantity of material relating to 0-ja- geght. There are a number of ex- tracts from the diary of Thomas Morris (sod of Robert Morris) giving
a minute description of some inter- esting ceremonies at Tioga Point, over which O ja geght presided, and his (Thomas Morri.s') adoption into the Six Nations, also to the delegates of the fifty chiefs of the Iroquois to Philadelphia at the instance of George Washington and their subsequent con- ference with O-ji-geght at Buffalo Creek; all pointing to the great in- fluence exercised by him over the councils of the Six Nations, neither can any reference be made to Logan and other influential chiefs of the Cayugas without making the article too voluminous.
[L.S.]
The Seneca Falls Fire Department
BY MAJ. PRYCE W. BAILEY.
Although the village of Seneca Falls was incorporated April 22, 1831, there are lio records obtainable of the trau- eacliou of any business under that act until the year 1837.
Previous to 1832 it is presumable that the fire protectiou of the village consisted wholly of the tiucket brigade. Sometime in that year, according to ttie memory ol: our oldest fireman, Mr. James Sanderson, the reliance on the bucket only was, as decided by a few of the energetic citizens of that day, an ineflective fire department for such a thriving community as Seneca talis. So a few of these up-to-date young men managed to procure from somewhere an engine of a very prim- itive sort, as measured by the seeming perfect engines of this day, no more so, perhaps, than ours will appear to our successors seventy years hence.
This engine was a square box with, what appears to have been from the description, a x'otary action pump set inside it, and from which a shaft ex- tended outward to each side of the box ; windlass cranks were attached which were operated by the firemen. The I'ising main of the pump was a flexible leather tube with a nuzzle on the top end. The captain stood on the box and directed the stream toward the fire. The water was carried to the machine by the bucket men, or women ; the box being filled, the ci-ank men would pump until it was emptied, and rest while it was again being filled. This operation was repeated until the emergency was passed by the complete consumption of the structure.
The oflicers of this fiie company were Captain, Henry VVolsey ; Lieut. Charles L Hoskins, brother-in-law to the Captain and father of Mr. L. S. Hos- kins: Dr. Thomas Swaby, a brother of the late Dr. W. A. Swaby, was a mem ber, A. N. Beardsley was also a
member. As a matter of note there were no "city fathers" to provide a home for, this powerful engine, so it was, that, after the fire had consumed all property within reach and the fire- men had patted each other on the back in congratulation over the excellent service each had done and the bucket brigade weary with their exertions, all repaired to their homes leaving the engine where it was last used. Per- haps on the following day a fireman more interested in the machine than were his fellows, and possibly, with more time than they, would drag it into some backyard, there to remain until again wanted to frighten a fire and kindle enthusiasm.
All freeholders were, by law, re- quired to keep on hand, for fire uses, a number of leather or wooden buckets, proportionate to their assessment on the tax roll, and on an alarm being rung were to report at the fire with them whether in day or night. At the fire two lines were formed, one, the males, to pass up the buckets, tne other, the females to pass back the empty ones to be again filled from the river, wells or cisterns as the case required.
On the south side of Fall street there were a number of residences, where now is the block of stores; these were lower down than the present sidewalk line, and their sole water supply for all uses was the river; the water was drawn up by rope, bucket and windlass For the north side of the river, both business and residential part, this was the source from which water for fire protection was obtained. The engine, after a fire on the noi'th side of Fall street, had been put, by the aforesaid interested one, in one of the backyards in the rear of a cow stable and, in the course of time and the usual process of cleaning, the inside of the stable, the engine became com-
47
pletely buried under a warm coat of manure. About this time, one boister- ous windy evening the firemen were congregat'ed in one of the few village grocery stores, when one obperved that this would be, or was a bad night for a fire, and suggested that it would be well to lo k for the engine; when Dr. Tom Swaby spoke up saying, <'Give yourselves no uneasiness on that account gentlemen, for I already have two men with dung forks hired to go, in case of fire, and dig out the engine as soon as the alarm is given." With this assurance, the party gave no further thought to the tempestuous night nor to the possibility of danger arising therefrom. This state of fire department affairs presumably con- tinued for the following four years.
The charter adopted by the Board of Trustees in January of the year 1837, provides for the organization of a fire department. Article 53 of that instru- ment authorizes the Board of Trustees to require the inhabitants of the village to provide and keep ready for instant use a specified number of fire buckets.
Art. 64 says that the board shall pro- cure fire engines and other apparatus for the extinguishment of fires and provide fit and secure houses and other places for keeping and preserving the same; and they shall have power to organize tire, hook, hose, ladder and axe companies; to appoint during their pleasure, a chief engineer, and two assistant engineers of '>e depart- ment, and a competent number of able and reputable inhabitants of said vil- lage firemen to take the care and man- agement of the engines and other ap- paratus and impleujents used or pro- vided for the extinguishment of fires; also to make rules and regulations for their government; and to impose such reasonable fines and forfeitures upon said firemen for a violation of the game as they may deem proper; and, for in- capacity, neglect of duty or misconduct to remove them and apprtint others in their place.
Art. 56, Every fireman who shall have faithfully served as such, in said village including as well as any period before, as after the passage of this
act. ten c^^nsecutive years, shall be hereafter exempt from serving in the militia, except in case of war, invasion or insurrection ; and the evidence to entitle such person to the exemption, as provided in this section, shall be a certificate under the corpor»te seal signed by the president and clerk.
In July 1837. the board authorized and accepted the organization of Fire Eiigme Co. No. 2, to consist of forty able and respectable men and by resol- ution appointed William H. Arn'^tt, foreman, and Charles L Ho'^kins, clerk, the following named persons were chosen firemen : James B G- Downes, John W. Dickinson, Willinra R. Goetcbins, John T. Andrews, W. A. Sacket, H''nry Hayden and Edwin M. Conklin. These eonstituted the nucleus of a laree and eflSoient fire company not No. 2 Engine Co. only, but also of the present splendidly equipped de- partment of our village.
The intended organization of a large department was clearly indicated in the ailopting of the articles of the charter, in the appointment of a chief engineer and ai^sistants and defining their duties, specifying the time for the elec'ion of company officers, plac- ing the companies under the command of forfm^n and providing for the sn- pression ot insubordination by the im- position of a fine of eight shillines for each offense reported to the board by the chief.
'<Sextons of churches and watchmen of shops were appointed firemen, who when a fire occurs, to repair with all haste to the churches and •'hops and dilifrentiv rin-j the bel's thereof until the danger is passed." Six persons from the firemen shall be appointed Axe Men, lo take charge of the axes, and, on presentation of a eertificate of the foreman to the eflTect that they have good axes, the board shall pay each man twelve shillings They are to attend at all fires with their axes and shall, be under the direction of the trustees and fire wardens, or any three of them, Th'y shall cut down and remove any building, erection or fence for the chfcking of the progress of the fire. Any axe men failing to
48
attend with his axe or refusing to o'oey the orders of the officers in coni- ninnd shnll pay a fine ot f 1 00, Axe men are j-x^uiipt from cleaning com- mitt"e antl workinfr on engines.
A further rxpansiou ot the defiart- m^^n; was btgun by the board in 183S, to the extent of detailing a sutiicb nt nuniber of men from among ihe fire- men to take tht care and m;inai:ern'.ut of the hoolis. ladders and inipUnn' nts for aiding in the extingiiisimient of fires. They shall be exempt from Other fire duties but shall be under the command of a foreman. The above implements are to be kept in a secure place designated by the pre^i d«^nt, and shall be inspected once each month by the chief engineer
The oomp'inies as above designaied shall be known as Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1, Axe Co. N'). 1, Engine Co. No. 2. All compaides hereafter orgsnized shall take numbers next above in their order.
All citizens, when a fire occurs in the night, are ord'^ed to place a lighted caudle at the front di-or or window of their residencen. where it shall remain until the lire is ex- tiniLHiished and the firemen return. Any person who may repair to a fire, shall be obedient to the orders of the chief engineer in the extiiiguisfc- ment of fires and removal r.f goods. A r( fusal to obey will be punish, d by the impnsuion of a tine of five dollars (.f 5.00_) .
At fires a trustee shall wear n white hand on his hat. The ehii-f criyineer shall wear a lerdher cap pain'ed white, with a gdded front and (he word ' (Jhief" painted (hereon. He shall also carry a spenknig trumpet paiut.-d black, with "Chief" painted in white therenn.
A foreman of au Engine Co. when on duty shall wear a black father cap with white front piece with Ihn word "Foreman" and nunibt r of engine painted in blnck thereon.
A foren)an of the H. and L Co. shall
wear a cap like that pres(!ribed for
engine foreman, with number of com-
pany and his iiuiials on front piece.
A foreman or a hose company shall
wear a cap like that prescribed for H. & L foreman.
A forera'^n of the axe company eh'dl wear a c'lp like that prescribed for H. & L, foreman except that an axe sh;id b.' painted in black on the trout piece. It is made a duty of the clif't to report all viiilaliuns uf thes.; ordinances lo the Board ot Trustees
Constables are required to watch out for tires and lo give alarms, keep the street numbers of the chiefs and their asstiatauts couspieiously posted in the tvatch house; and wdeu an al»rm 13 sound- d uotity theiie persons at once; al'^o to watch the prendses after the engines nave returned to their houses after ttie fire is distinguished.
By resolution of the buaid, George H. Mc'lary was appciuted chief en- gineer in the }ear 1827. Mr IMeClary who had ihe honor ot the first appoint- m' nt as chief was a noted manufacturer of that day and owned and conducted a foundry and mnchine shop on the pro- petty now occnpi'.d by the In.^ersoll paoer mill.
I he No. 2 engine was purchased from Lewis Seelye, a builder of these goods at lioohester, N. Y. The engine, Hiiok & Ladder, Axe a'ld Hohh com- panies were housed on a lot owned by Anse) Ba^com, situated between the kjeiieea House and the ravine on Hiyard street (opposite the present house of No. 3 steauier.) Mr. Biscooi stipu- lated that the house was to Ite movtd ctl" if Die lot bl-.ould bn sold.
Ansel N. Beardsley was appointed foreman of the combined II. & L and Axe eoisipauies in August, 18o7. One uionlh later Silas Hewitt was nmde a fireman and appoinled foreman of the above combiiintion, vice Beardsley, de- clined, louring tue year 1837. the fnl- lowiug named were appointed fitemeu and attached to No. 2 Engine company. J'UUt s A Adair, Joshua M'srtin, Geo. Edeou, J.ihn Kiu rr, Williatn P I'odard, Charles Lowry. Frank 1'. Lath-'im, J.icob Clerk, H. C. Silstiy, .Siepht-n Bishop, William L McKee, Joh>i H, Wheeler. O. A. Campbell, C- S, Hos- kins, O. C. Watson, H. O Clark, George Hockuell, Ira A. MeB un, a\. fred 6. Miller, J. B Johusun, George
49
Steelier, Jacob H. Corl, George Hall, John Ci-osset, W. S. Fin ley, P. Van Ness, Ira Stockman, Seth A. Thomas, Richard Slradder, E. J. Thomas, S. B, Westcott.
In June 1838. the Captain of No. 2 was authorized to procure a hose cart for his CO in pan}' ; this is the first men- tion of a vehicle fur this purpose. The small quantity of hose that had been m use was carried on the engine ; but when Captain Arnett was ordered to purchase 150 feet i)f new hose at a price not to exceed $180, it became necessary to have a more convenient place than the deck of the engine to carry it-
In order to meet the expense of this unusual increase of the department the following gentlemen advanced $10.50 each: Ebenezer Ingalls, William H. King, Silas Keeler, Henry Wolsey, C. L. Hoskins, William L. Gaylord, J. Bennett & Co., Edward S. Latham, Shelton Wood, Mathias B. Bellows, John S. Gay, Garrett V. Sacket They were reimbursed with interest
The hose cart was made by Van Ness & Willet at a cost of $34.00. The tax budget for this year has an item of $100.00 to be raised for the improvement of the tire department.
In March of this year George H. McClary was removed from the posi- tion of chief engineer and Edward S. Latham was appointed to the vaeancy. In July, 1839, Samuel lleeve, W. li Lathrop, William Cain, Henry Sey- mour, Obadiah Latham, W. P. Gay- lojd, D. Sacket, were appointed fire- men of No. 2 Engine Co.
In September a motion prevailed in the board of trustees to disband the H. & L. Co. until suitable and proper apparatus is obtained, and George lioeknell was appointed and author- ized to procure proper implemeuts for the company. They seem to have been procured by Henry Hockncll at a billed cost of $23.69.
Ira Stowell was appointed to the H. & L. Co. and Wm. E. Williams to the Engine Co.
The 11. & L. Co. seems to have been a troublesome member of the depart- ment from the day of its organization.
In February of the year 1840, J. S. Bristol was appointed to make a thorough investigation of the H. & L. and report. His report was probably an oral one, for in this same month there were additional bills to tne amount of $102.65 prenented and paid for, on account of II. & L. wagon. Captatn Hewitt was directed to find a place to store the present unfinished and imperfect wagon and implements. In November of this year Edward S. Latham and George H. McCIary were appointed as a committee to have the H. & L. wagon oompleted and procure a house for it. The com- mittee did its work and the wagon was housed near the Franklin House.
In February of this year, 1841, the following bills were audited and paid : Edward S. Latham to material and labor, II. & L. house, $44. 4G; Silas Hewitt to ladder, |3 00; C. D. Myn- derse, to ropes, etc., $16.88.
In January, 1842, the II & L. Co. is ordered to parade with its apparatus on the first Thursday of each month, and is repuired to put its apj)aratus ia good serviceable order under pain of disbandment. The result of these or- ders we find a resolution passed by the board in July, disbamiing the II. & L. Co. and its members be given certifi- cates for the time served.
This year marks the extinction of one company and the birth of another. On the 25th of July, 1842, Rescue En- gme Co. No. 3 was organized for the purpose as giveu in the application of its officers to the board of trustees for acceptance, '-to aid more elfectually in carrying into operation an act estab- lishing a tire department in the village of Seneca Falls.
The names presented to the board were K. G. Noyes, Arza L. Burrit. Jas. Sanderson, Jr., Wm. H. Arnett, C. Kenyon, George R. Chase, W. B. Maynnrd, Charles Platten, John W. Conklin, David R. Gould, Chas B. Keeler, Isaac VanTassell, Thomas Carr, John Leach, John C Lace, Geo. A. VanCleef, Wm. Keith, James Dennison, Bayard Miller, Wm. Clark, F. J. Mills, Stephen Baker, Alfred Wood, H. J. Elliot, Wm. Laugworthy,
50
Washburn Race, D. C. Bloomer, J. V. Chamberlain, A. E. Chamberlain, I. H. Ariiett, John H. Davis, O. S Lat- ham, James N. Underhill, H. Quacken- bush, M. H. Chrysler, James Bellows, D. y. Sacket, John Miller. Claience Twist, A. K. Townseud, F. F. Carr, Edward Mynderse, David Cole, E. J. Tyler. Walstein Failing. M. J. Smith, Isaac Pitcher, W. Majfary, C. E. Wheeler, Peter A. D<^y, Euo;eue Hern- don, Barney Travis, J. H. Cool, Joseph Osborn, Henry Carpenter, S. U. WoodhuU, Smiih Briggs, C. C. Cole- man, Gabriel Scott.
This company was accepted by the board of trustees and an engine house was established on Canal street in the rear of the Baptist church. A little later the company was reorganized and strengthened, and, hy resolution of the board an ofier of $435 was made for the engine house. The next move toward properly housing the company which was made was the appointment of a committee consisting of Silas Hewitt, O. S Latham and J. P. Fair- child to select a prop(!r site for a house in the 2nd ward (at this time the vil- lage was divided into two wards, the north side of the river being the 1st). A site was selected by this committee near the southeast corner of Bridge and Bayard streets. A house was built thereon, costing $288. Mr. O. B. Latham was the builder.
As before stated, the engine No. 2 was built by Lewis Seelye of Roch- ester ;so No. 2 wanted a macliine equally aeggood and, if possible, a little better. So in May 1844 the board asked for an appropriation of $500.00 to pay for a machine. William H. King was ap. pointed, a committee to inquire into the merits of engines now made ; after receiving Mr. King's report, the presi- dent was authorized to contract with Mr. Seelye for an engine like that he had built for No. 2, at a price of $800-
The chief engineer is again ordered to inspect the H. & L outfit and re- port its condition. In April, 1845 is made the first mention of a reservoir, this is in a resolution of the board ap- pointing a committee to notify Mr. Asa Fuller of the faulty condition of
the one built by him in the first ward. Reference is also made to a hydrant at the Stone Mill through the payment of the bill of William Burtless for repair- ing it.
Agam in June, 1845, George Hock- nell and J. W. Dickinson are appointed to examine the condition of the hooks, poles and ladders of the H. & L. outfit. Birdsali Holly, the inventor of the elipticnl rotary pump and engine which contributed more largely to making Seneca Falls a world wide celebrated fire apparatus building village, than any other event, was appointed a fire- man in September 1846.
In October 1847, President J. K. Brown and Jr P. Fairchild were auth- orized by the board to purchase a lot for No. 3 engine house and to con- tract for the moving of the house.
At the annual meeting of the de- partment, William H. Arnett w«s designated chief and was instructed to use his influence with the board to in- duce it to accept the H. & L. Co as a member of the department.
In May, 1848, $40.00 was appro- priated for the two engine companies, to be paid in quarterly installments of $5 00 to ench company. It is to be justly presumed that this pittance was to cover the cost of the supplies only.
During this year. No. 3 went through the process of reorganization for the purpose of weeding out the worthless members. The records show that, during the six years of its existence, it had performed a deal of arduous duty under many discouraging conditions, such as non attendance at the regular meetings, the impossibility to collect tines and dues from the negligent and insubordinate members. So it was re- solved to disband and reorganize under the following pledge, to wit, "We the undersigned do hereby agree to live up to our code of bylaws made for our internal government; and we do further pledge ourselves to be guided by them in all cases, initiation, fines, etc, etc, Thomas Carr, E. Norcott, Byron Beebe, D C. Bloomer, E. J. Tyler, George Hall, C. C. Brown, James Bellows, William Wilbur, C. C. Coleaaan, W. H. Foster, Walton Jones,
51
Charles J McKee, James II. Underbill, George Stevenson, John F. Wheeler, C. B. Keeler, Jr., H Hadley, ]i. Aspell, Thomas Lnsk, T. J. Crosby, William Crawford, Robert R, Perry, E. Craw- foid, Charles Twist, bamuel A. Steven- son, U. W. Seymour, Henry Bellows, John Lefch, Wiliiam Gunn, Bradley Miller, Leonard Egleslon, William Arnett, Walstein Failing, G. R. Cbaee, A E. Chamberlain.
A new uniform was adopted as fol- lows: Hat of glazed oil silk, red flannel shirt, dark trousers with India rubber buttons.
No. 3's records. "We were chal- lenged by No. 2 and we beat them to death." Thus giving evidence of the effect of the recent re-organization and the weeding out of the company all of the unserviceable material.
In April the taxpayers meeting voted $100 for contingent fund, and $160 for new hose, and directed Chief Ar- nett to sell all old hose and apply the proceeds to the purchase of additi(>nal new hose. In July the No. 3 engine was moved to a lot on Cayuga street, a part of the Daniels property, and adjoining what is now Story 's store- house.
Again in April of this year, 1850, an appropriation of $200 is asked for, to be applied to the purchase of a new n. & L. wagfin.
Ttie recently adopted oew charter maKes it obligatory for the chief and his assistants to see that H. & L. ap- paratus is always in order for instant use; also to command at all fires until the flames are extinguished ; and they are empowered to compel obedience on the part of all subordinate ofiicers on pain of suspension of the oftender and to appoint one to supersede the sus pended one and report his action to the board at its next meeting.
In June of this year the chief was ordered to report the condition of No. 3 engine, state its requirements for putting it in good serviceable order; this report was evidently made at once because at ihe next meeting of the iioard he was directed to send the suction hose of this engine to New York to be repaired. In August the suction hose
was received repaired at a cost of $59 75. So we are left with the im- pression that the engine was deprived of its suction hose for at least one month.
In March 1851, Carlton W. Seeley was paid $12.50 for barn storage of the H. & L. outht. A committee con- sisting of Mes.srs. Thomas Carr and James Bellows made an oral report of the pret^ent condition of that apparatus that was continuously rising to trouble the board.
The brothers, Henry and Perry Stowell were appointed firemen in April 1851.
In June, H. W. Seymour and Bellows were appointed to inquire into tbe condition of the fire department fund in order to ascertain whether it would warrant the purchase of new hose for the engines.
In September Thomas Carr super- ceded W. II. Arnett as chief of the tire department.
On October 12, 1852, the whole fire department turned out to attend the funeral of Stilman Brim, a brother of A. W. Brim.
In February, 1852, the H. & L. com- pany, or rather, the outfit, comes up again in the appointment of a com- mittee to ascertain tbe approximate cost of putting the implements in order for use ; in response to the report, the committee is empowered to procure ropes, etc, and provide a building to keep them in.
In June. 1854 tbe Board of Trustees relaxed its tight grip on the money bags and voted the magnificent sum of $60 for the proper celebration of Inde- pendence day by the fire department
A special tax meeting was called in this mouth, in response to the prayers of a largely signed petition, for the pur- pose of voting the sum of $2,800 to be applied to the purchase of two first- class, 12 inch cylinder, engines with all modern improvements, and 1,000 feet of best quality hose. As a matter of course the appropriation carried with a rush, because, at about this time, the active rivalry of competing builders of fire engines, had given a sudden im- petus to a spirit of strife for excellence
52
OD the part of the fire companies throughout the country, by the pre- senting of cheap prizes to be competed for, with their engines. So, the fire- men of Seneea Falls desired to be put in possession of nothing short of the best, and, as the spirit of strife was rampant, the companies increased their membersiiip until they embraced the adult male population of the village.
The necessity for properly organized and drilled hose men became more ap- parent, and action was taken by ttie board ordering that twenty men be detached from each engine company and drilled as hose men by a com- petent officer. This action of the au- thorities led to the forming of a hose company in April, 1864, which Was named Yanliee Hose Co. Its first foreman was Charles J. Martin, who held the position a short time and was succeeded by William H. Pollard.
In August, 1850, the Continental Engine Company was accepted by the village and was designated "Con- tinental No. 1." This company took the better of the two old engines.
The two new engines made by But- ton & Co. of Waterford, N. Y., were delivered in August and were accepted provided certain necessary alterations were made in them. The president was then authorized to order from Button & Co. two hose carts at a price of $298 for the two, if three trumpets for the chief and his assistants could be gotten ir the transaction. We got the carte.
For the following two years the trustees were seemingly kept busy au- diting bills for alterations and repairs to tlie engines and hose carts, but all such bills were charged to the account of Button & Co. and were presumably allowed by them in the final settle- ment.
In lebruary, 1856, $100 was voted for a reservoir fund. The chief was directed to ascertain if the old red storehouse could be rented for Conti- nental Engine Co. This company had taken the old engine of No. 2, and the president was requested to advertise the No. 3 engine as for sale. In May of this year E. J. Tyler was ordered to
purchase 200 feet of good hose foi- No. 1 from Button & Co.
In October Chief Lucius C. Gii)i>s, father of the late ex-senator Gibb-^, or dered out the three engine comp icit^s to play for prizes. At this hcim^ tournament No. 1 captured the firttt prize by runnln^ wiih their engine twenty rods, attaching the suction hose and throwing water through fiilty feet of hose in 1 minute, 25 seconds. This was considered an excellent ex. hibition of the celerity of action and perfect drill of the company.
H. W. Seymour was appointed chief vice tribbs who had left town in November. 0.a December 28, 1855, the whole depa»'tment turned out to at- tend the funeral of ex-chief Gibbs, who had been accidentally killed at Whitehall, N. Y.
On February 12, 1856, in tax meet- ing tbe citizens voted an appropriation of $200 for reservoirs and ordered that two be built during tbe year.
In May of this year the old No. 3 engine and the village hearse were put up at auction sale. J. H. Cool bought the engine at $100. There being no one present who thought he needed a hearse it was not sold.
In August, 1856, E. Edson was awardeci a contract to build two reser- voirs at $70 each.
Continental Engine Co. was au- thorized to have such alterations made in their engine as will permit the water to be taken in at the front part of the machine.
In September, in preparation for a great water throwing tournament, so called, the three engines were put in the best possible condition at Cowing & Co.'s works, which had Mr. H. W. Seymour, a thorough fireman, as super- intendent.
Following tbe improvement of No. 1 engine it became necessary to increase its membership for althoufih the en- gine was classed as No. 2, its cylinders had been enlarged to such an extent as to be but 1 8 inch less in diameter than the first clnss engines, so the company presented to the trustees for acceptance the following list of names : George Stevenson, Wm. W. Norton, C. B.
5S
Randolph. Charles Parker, J. M. Gil- ford, T. J. Robinson, R. Ritlley, B. F. Peck, A. S. Auld, Thomas Burlnett, C. B. Brusie, Iliraui Alniy, George Niles, Joiin Youngs, Kandolpli Irlewitt, John McAithnr, Charles Davis, L. W. Fisher. Win. V.-iuKIrk, Charles lUiiker, Peter Feeck, jr., Mayuard Slont, Oscar Moore, George Cowing, J. Y. Churc hill, C. W. Coleman, G. A. Schyler, William Wilson, Garrett Boirart, J. S. Moore, Lewis Tripp, R. Milicr, ilenry Mauwarring, Richard Cnrran.
On August 22, 1857, it is recordtd that, the annual meeting of the hre department was liehi in iir,oi\ Tem- plars hall of the Wooclwnrth block, northeast corner of Ovid and Bayard streets.
In April 1858, the No. 3 engine house was rented to a Mi.'^s Sanborn, to use as a school house, for six shillings per week.
An annual department meeting was held in Concert Hall, now Ryan's furniinrH repository, on August 22, 1858, for the purpose of selectnig a chief; because of some disagreement. Captain W. R. Goetchiiis of No. 2 marched his men out of the ball. Those remaining elected Jacob 11. Corl to the position. Corl declined to accept. The situation regarding the matter was reported to the president who t;ien appointed Edwin J. Tyler to the place. Tyler filled the position for two months only wlh n Simon W. Ar- nett was appointed to fill out the re- mainder of the year but who filled the place acceptably until 1867.
On October G. 185!), the department consisting of ''Continentar' ^No. 1, ♦<Seneea Chief" No. 2, "Rescue" No. 3 and Yankee Hose No. 1 passed in re- view before the president and clii* f , and afterwards gave exliibilions in water throwing, and returned to their quar- ters ; in the evening had a grand torch light parade.
A report of a committee nia<lc to the Board of Trustees relative to the pur- chase of the "Livery Stable" premises, which had been made by the board of the preceeding year, showed that a lot could be purchased and a brick engine house built thereon for $800 less than
the livery stable purchase could be fitted up for. The committee recom- mended the repudiation of the pur- chase and that the amount now paid be cliarged oil to profit and loss. The matter was referred back to the com- mittee with instructions to make the best terms possible. 'Ihe aflair was amicably settled after a time. The livery stable referred to, is the old building on the east side of Bridge street opposite the Franklin House barn.
Soen afterwards a lot wag bought for $175 by the committee, and the foundaiion for the fuiure building, and the reservoir 25x18x5 1-2 deep was coniracte:l for $lGy and the work ad- vanced with rapidity. On February 5, 1860, Silsby, Mynderse & Co., sub- mitted to the trustees a proposal to fur- nish the village a small steam fire engine, to be drawn by men for the sum of $2,500 and also proposed to furnish an engineer to run it at fires, and kes'p the engine in repair for one year for an additional sum of $150. Both pr'posiiions were submitted to the annual tax meeting whicii was held in Mai'ch, and both ibe t)ids were accepted ; and a further appriipriation of $885 for ^department maiutainance was voted. In May, the steamer was de- livered. The trustees ordered that it be kept in the house of No. 1, and that engine companies Nos. 1 and 3 be consolidated into one company of sixty- seven men ; and the No. 2 engine offered for sale.
In November 1860. No. 2 engine company disbanded and gave up their engine to the village after an eventful existence of twenty three years.
On the morning of January 21, 1861 Captain W. R. Goetchius was found drowned in the Dey race uear the present location of the Climax Specialty Go's Works He had been the fore- man of the No. 2 engine company for eighteen years He mas n model fire- man of those early days, faithful to every trust, loyal to his cnmrades and a vigilant, indefatigal)le f(n"eman who preferred the captaincy of his company to promotion to a higher grade to which he had many times been urged.
54
In March of this year, the trustees recommended the appropriation of $3,100 for the purpose of building two engine houses, one on each side of the river; but the recommendation was not favored by the taxpayers and it was voted down.
In May 1861 the Board of Trustees resolved to is-sue exemption certificates to all firemen who volunteer for the war; this was the practice for the succeeding four years.
In August IStJl, a compaHy was organized and ar-cepted under the name of Excelsior Hose, No, 3. The following named persons cumposed the company: John Arnett, Theodore Pel- ham, Patrick Burns, Owen Burns, M. McCabe, M. L. Waldo. William Burns, Michael Knight, D. T. Kneath, Thomas Mackin, Edward Riley, Pat- rick Sullivan, R. Sawyer, Thomas Markey. Thomas Yoe, Thomas Mc Grain, Joseph Adams, Charles Mar- shall. The life of this company was a short one. A majority of the members were in the army or navy inside of six months after the company was organized.
In October the department turned out to attend the funeral of Corporal McClure, a member of a recruiting squad for the regular army, who had been murdered in the village.
In February, 1862, the board formed a plan to raise |2,000 from taxes and add to it $i,500 from the general fund for the purpose of building a brick en- gine house on the north side of the river; four months thereafter a con- tract was lot to Edward S. Latham to build a house in accordance with plans submitted by him for the sum of $1,694.
In April, 1863, a contiact was let to Kirby & VabGorder to build a brick engine house on the south side of the river for the sum of $1,289; as a reservoir and foundati( n for this build- ing was already made. The No. 3 engine company, Henry Churchill, foreman, took formal possession of this house in August, 1863.
In November, 1864, Chief Thomas Carr reported to the trustees that he had sold the No. 2 engine to the vil-
lage of Groton, N. Y., for the sum of $500.
A third attempt to maintain an H. & L company was made in January 1866, by appointing twenty men for this purpose to serve under the command of the foreman of Yankee Hose, No. 1 . From this time to 1868 there was no extraordinai'y activity, nor many changes in the department.
The year 1868, was a busy year caused largely by a series of supposed incendiary fires. In February of that year the authorities voted to purchase a second steamer which in July was delivered to the No 3 company. It was christened < 'Phoenix. " James Des- mond was appointed engineer. In order to be up to date and in readiness, a bed was ordered for the No. 3 engine house and the engineer was supposed to occupy it. All of this preparation and precaution was followed up by the oflfer- ing of a reward of $500 for the arrest and conviction of the person or per- sons who had burned so many build- ings. One person was caught in (he act of setting fire to the building across the canal from the Phoenix Mills, but the meshes of the law were too large to hold him for conviction. But the incendiarism was checked.
In January 1869, a movement was made to consolidate the engine and hose companies to forty members, in order to increase the efiiciency of the department, and, at the same time re- duce the expense of maintainauce. This movement seems to have awaKened Some insubordination in the department which, in April brought out a report, from a special committee of trustees on fire department afiairs, which con- cluded with a recommendation that the volunteer organizations, in so far as the steamer companies were concerned be abolished, and a paid fire depart- ment of two companies be established and maintained. The committees re- port was accepted and its recommend- ations were adopted by the trustees.
By authority of the board, Pi'esident H. C. Burt bought the house and land adjoining the No 3 house for the sum of $546, and ordered a barn and stable for the horses which Messrs. Hoag and
66
Jewett had bought for the department, built thcreou.
Ill 1871 Moses Ruinsey bought ihe old No 3 engine for the sum of $450.
On October 1, 1874, the "Red Rover" Engine Co. w»s orgauized as a p«rt of the village fire department to operate in the part of the village c?ill<'d ''iiumseyville" oulj', except in (Emer- gencies, provided that the ftutboritics turned over to the company tlie old en- gin*^, hose cart and hose. John Mc- Bride was chosen president, VViiliam Walker secretary ahd O. F. Cule lore- man. Forty-seven men jobjed the company. JB^om this time the com pany grew until it embraced a large pordon of the male adults of the vil- lage who had not previously earned exemption through service. In 1884 it changed its name from '*Red Rover" to "Gleasou Fire Patrol." In 1886 the authorities of the village ordered the members who resided east of Wal- nut street, to, in case of fire, report for service on No 1 Steamer.
On February 25. 1890, the Gleasou Fire Patrol disbanded.
About 1880 the Rumweyville Hose Co. was organized with Henry Prutig as foreman and the following member- ship: Wm. Lfdlon, B. Wooiidge, John Merrimau, Wm Bradley, Wm. (J* ok, Geo. Feecb, B. F. McLiridp, Wm. Binney, F. Holmes, Charles Wallers, Alfred Kirg, C. Wamby, Wm Rupert, George Miner and Jefl. Merrigan. The death of this company is not re- corded. It is probable, however, that it expired at the time of tho disband- ment of the Glefison Fire Patrol.
In October, of 1880, the Telephone Co. put alarm boxes in each firemnn's house of the paid department. Of course as a bed was provided iu the engine house of the ''Phoenix," no alarm box was put in the engineers' residence. One night in iSJoveniber the engineer concluded to spend a night at home which proved a cosily conclu- sion to himself and the village, for during his absence the engine house caught fire, and when the firemen ar- rived there the engine was cold, the house all on fire and no engineer at hand, so the house burned and the en-
gineer was relieved. In December the village collected $1,181 from the in- surance cmp'iny, and Ji'hn Urquhart, the present engineer, was appointed vice Di'smond, reliuved.
On Jauuary 1. 1881, the company kuown as ihe fcjilsby Hoge No 2, was organized with the following member- ship: Clarence A MacDonald, C. A. Reamer, Thomas Carr, Jr., Wm. Bin- ney, Charles S. Sanderson, J. S. Ilurd, George Vosburg, Russell Carter, Wm. Desmond, T. Short, Wm. Cory, J. Powell, T. Taylor, J. T. Rourk, W. E. Rupert, W. Hinckley, S Trow- briilge, B A. McBride, J. Churchill, Alexander Brown, Thomas Usher and Wm. Van Ho u ten.
Clarence Mac D.)nald was chosen as foreman. It was accepted as an inde- pendent compiny, but while their ap- parades was oeiug made by the Silsby Mfg. Co., they were ordered to take (juariers wi:h, .•uid act under the orders of Steamer No. 1 and did so until some tiuie in 1882. As there seemed to be a redandance of hose companies, the company decided to exi'hange their hose carriiixe for a chemical engine, so on May 21, 1883, it began its inde- pendent service as the "Silsby Chem- icaf' company. It was quartered in the Ptioenix Block about where now the W^estern Union Telegraph office is. In
1884 it left the Phoenix block and took temporary quarlers with Rescue H. & L in the Johnson h.Mll block. In March
1885 it returned to its old quarters iu the Phoenix block. Iu May 1888, the fir;<t move vfas made iu the project for building a house for its own use. Ou the 18lh of May, a committee was ap- pointed to select a lot, but not until December 1888, was the committee authorized to purchase the lot on Fall street, ''next east of the Gardner- hou-e, " and to prepare plans fur a ''Chemical" house. The committee promptly bojight the lot- Contract was entered into with F. E Morehouse on April 10. 1889, and on December first of that year held its first meeting in the new and well appointed house. During the year 1889 the company and the village authorities were greatly exercised over a difficulty originating
66
in the suspension of W. M. Beers, one of the coinuany, by the villnge aulh- orities. After much ill teeling had been expressed, it was discovered that the trustees, Chief engineer and the compnny had exceeded their pnwers in this unfortunate afiair, one in the issue of an oHeusive order, and the otlier in too long loyally supporting an cfteud- iug member, as soon as this discovery was made a compromise resulted and an amicable settlement eii'ected. Be- fore dropping this purt of luy paper I wish to say that tlie records are the most orderly, the most correctly kept of any that 1 have examined in my re- search. Its business has been tran- sacted on true business principles. Of all the fire companies that have sprung into existence in the past seventy years it is the sole souvenir. Its survival, in my opinion, is Inrgely the r^'sult of correct and legal guidance.
On Aprd 22, 1881. was held thu first meeting of a few young men to con- sider the advisability of (n-gauiziug an independent Hook & Lidder company. The result of their deliberations was the formation of the body known as ''llericue'' 11. & L, This body was made up of young men of high char- acter and standing in the eommunity. The charter members were Charles T. Silsby, W- B. Harper, Frank VVestcott, 11. W. Long, VV. T. Seymour, J. G. Armstrong, Charles Beh, H. N. Rum- sey, LouisMaurcr, A. M Brideubecker, GcDrge B Seely, C. Mathews.
W. B. Harper was chosen its first president. The popularity of this company drew out applications tor membership in great numbers but only those were admitted that could pass their censorial committee. I here re- cord the names of a few who were ac- cepted viz George B. Davis, Ed M. Rumsey, F. W. Owens, W. B. Murray, H. C. Knickerbocker, W. C. Muudv, J H. Breslin, J G. Menjjes, M. D. Bellows, F. W. Davis, R. P. Lathrop, C. S. Hood, Georo;e Norton, E. W. Addison, Charles Chamberlain. C. H. WiUiaras, A. M. Johnson, W. W. Warner, R. C. Wayne, C. H. West- cott. C. W. Riegle.
In July 1881, an order was placed
with Rumsey & Co. for a truck with a complete equipement to be made in ac- cordance with the sketch and specifi- cations submitted by the company. As it was to be a more elaborate vehicle than had been before built, much time was taken in its makeup and finish. It was delivered to the company -Tan. uai'y 2, 1882. The company records exhibit a very deep interest, in the management of its attairs, on the part of its meuibers, for about ten years of its existence ; later the mterest began to lag. In 1895 it held its most suc- cessful fair ever held in our village by such an organization. In February, 1896, the inevitable appeared in the form of a resolution to disband which was adopted; and in Ax)i'il. Edwaul ftl. Rumsey, its president; Fred Maier, Jr., treasurer, George Norton, H. W. Long, and VV. B. Harper, trustees closed tlie accounts of its members and dissolved. Thus ended, after fifteen years of excellent service the only suc- cessful H. & L. comjiany the village ever held.
In June 1882, the "Ramsey Fro- tectives" was organized and accepted by the authorities. The duties of this company were to be the protection of the goods that should be removed from burning buildings and the extinguish- ment of incipient fires. To this end, the equipment consisted of ropes, stakes, sledges, buckets and portable extinguishers. I give yni the names of the active meaibers: Elgar Page, George H. Ra\mond, Robert Gott, Byron S. Latimer, Jas. A Hibbard, \Vm Hinckley, Spencer Royston, Geo. E. Lewis, Geo. H. Amidou, A. M. Ha'l, Geo H. Bicknell, Walter Lewis, John H. Bilby, F. UeReamer, Chas. O. Mosher, W. T. Smith, Fred Dun- ham, William Nichols, Chas. P«ge, John Ryan, M. E Re<igan, A. C Marsh Wm Sutherland, S. Woods, Harry Snellgrove, Wm Warren, John Zim- merman, John Powell, Richard War- ren, Robert Warren. It was a lively, active and useful company that was richly backed by the late E. A Rum- sey. after whose changed circum- stances and the altering conditions in the fire department, the interest began
67
to lag The oompany ou ^iveiubcr 22, 1894, divided its property among the remaining iQt'mhers nnd dibbandcd.
On January 27, 1887, the Bai.ey Hose Company w>iM oigaiized for tlie purpose of affonhng ui\ adequate lira prottctiou for the southwestern portion of the villfige. TUe organizers were Fred VV. DtMot', James .Sinjiuon?, P.Htrick Dufly, l^-.triok FI. White. John iV'aley, George St'i'Ic, Joseph C-impbell, F. J. Far'-on, Pr.tiick Mc Guire, William II. Durnin, Qveu Col- gan, Owen F. Oake>, Richard Carraher, J. C. Hughes John Lncy, Thomas Doole.y, J. A. Halpin, Michsel Maloney who chose as officers, president, F. W. Dtsmott; vice president W. P. iVIeCau! ; -^eeretary and tivasurer, O- F. Onkos; foi'eman, James Siramous.
With the proci-eds of a very success- ful fair the compraiy pmchased a handsome combined par:i«e and service hose carriage. After two y* ars ser- vice as a hose company it was thought that more efficient serviee (iould be rendered with a chemical en;j;!ue, so the ho?e carriage was sold to the vil- lage of Morristown, N. J., and a (chem- ical engine purchased from tL-e Hollo- ways of Baltimore, Md.
The wisdom of the change in appar- atus was clearly demonstrated ou the occasion of the jrreat fire ou July 30, 1890, when the Bailey's and Silsby's chemicals worktd alternately for eight consecutive hours near the Tripp hcu-e ou State street and successfully checked the progress of the fire in that dii'eotion.
The quarters of the company was the brick building at the south end of the Bridge street bridgo whii'h, ou the en- trance of the Lehigh Vdl'ey railroad into the village, was converted into a passenger sta'ion for that road.
During its existence the company maintained a perfectly (quipped fire house, having six brd^, sliding po!e and traps.
The bunkers were Frank J. Durnin, Horace Safely, B. F. Egllest-n, P. R. Ferguson, P. H. Hughes and W. P. McCaul.
In 1898 by reason of being deprived of a home, the railroad conipauy re-
quiring possession of their house, it was decided to sell the property of the com- pany and divide the proceeds. The engine was sold to Gleaeon & Bailey who again sold it to the village of Ovid. N Y. The officers Frank J. Durnin, president; Gtorge M. Casey, vice preaidcnt; T. J. CufFry, treasurer; F. J Farrell, stci'etary and W P. McCaul, foreman. After equitably dividing the moni(?s among the mem- bers of the company, formally dis- banded.
The general village charter law under which the village of Seueca Falls is now incorporated, delegates to boards and commissioners some of the duties devolving on the Board of Trus- tees under the old charter. So, now our fire department is nominally under the command of the Board of Fire Commissioners which, at present, is compost d of three able, skilled and enthusiastic fireojen, namely, M. E. Hanlin, John Lefler, and Everett Vos- burg.
The active command, as heretofore, lies in a Chief and two assistants. The present Chief Horace N. Eumsey succeeded his father, Moses Rumsey, who had filled the office for sixteen years ; and has himself filled the position for eighteen years. The first assistant, M. E. Reagan probably has not a sup- erior as an active and vigilant fireman ; the 2nd assistant. Albert Sackett is fully equal to all demands made upon him in the subordinate position he occupies, and when the time comes for him to go up higher he will prove cqu'illy efficient in the higher place.
The department apparatus and fire fighting appurtenance consist of two steam engines, one hose wagon, one hand hose cart, one service hook & ladder truck and equipment, one chem- ical engine with a full complement of exi>erienced engineers and hose men ; 300 feet of good hose ; a fire alarm system of sixteen boxes, which was installed m 1902, a water system, whose average pressure is not above 40 lbs per square inch, with eighty- eight hydrants properly distributed through the village. Each of our large manufactories is fitted with the
58
sprinkler system and auxiliHi-y tire pumps and hose so complete as to feel independent of village aid. but ia able to greatly assist in fighiinjr fires along the river's course.
I am informed that our department has been supplied with attachmonts which tpakes the hose of Auburn. Sencea Falls. Waterloo nnd Geneva interchangeable, thus ei,«bli!3g the engines of the four departwents^to be concentrated in an emergency.
All fires in their first stages are small fires; the design nnd purpose of the chemical is the prompt extin- guishment of incipient fires; then it follows, as day follows niyht, that celerity of movement on the part of this appartus is of the greatest im- portance. During eight-twelfths of the year our streets are in a condiiim to preclude the possibility of rapid nifive- ment through them by a hnnd drawn
vehicle whii-h weighs about three thousfind pounds What, then, in your judgmt^nt, is the remedy for this willful abridgment of the usefulness of so excelhnt a piece of fire extinguish- ing apparatus?
I give herewith a list of the chief en- gineers of the local fira department.
Chief
Naxe
Geo. W. McClary Edward B Latham W . H Arnett Obadiah li. Latham Thoina8 Oarr H. W. Seym GUI' H. W. Seymour Lucius S. Gibba Lymun T. Moore Eostpii M. Babcock J. J.Tyler Simon W. Arnett Moses Rumeey Fforaoe N. Kumsey Wm. B. Harper Horace N. Kumsey J. F. Cro-by, acintg Frank Walters Horace N. Rutnsey
F'.NGINEERS. Appointed Expir.4tion.
July 1S37 Mar '838 Oct 1-47 Aug 18M AUi( 1S52 Dec 1855 Dec 1855 Aug ISfaS Aug 1856 Aug 1857 Sept 1S58 Nov 185S Aug 1866 !>ec 1882 Dec 18.44 Apr 18'Jfi Apr 18i)(j Feb 18as Feb 1900
March l,'-38 Oct 1847 .4ug 1850 Aug 1852 Aug 18-55 Anc IS.'-e Aug 18.56 Dec 1855 .Aug 18.57 Aug 18,58 Mov 1858 Aug 1866 Dec 1882 Dec 1894 Mar 1896 Decline<1 Feb 1898 Dec 1899
Seneca County in the War of 1812.
By Rev. F». E. Smith.
This article is mainly compiled from writings of my futher, Jasou Smith, and much of it iiad been already pub- lished in the History of S(*n«ca L'ounty.
The militia of Nuw Y<i;k consisted of every able bodied male inhabitant between the ages of eigl)te;u and forty-five- excepting those religously opposed to war.
The report of the Adjntfint-General for 1809 gave a total eurollnunt of in- fantry, cavalry and artillery of 102,068.
In 1811, there were (iepusits of military stores, among other places at Onondhga, Canandaigiia and liatavia. The cannon at these mngasines ranged ia cali'n'e from thirty-two down to two ponnders.
Heavy ordinance intended for the Niagara frontier was brought from Al- bany on Durham boats, by the Seneea Dock Navigfiiion Company, and landed at VVest C:!yuga; from there tiiey were transported on stout heavy sleds built for that purpose.
Taught by the recent war with Eng- land, the militia system was regarded 88 a timely precaution to guard against Indian depredation and foreign in- vasion. Territory was districted ac- cording to population
Privates supplied their own arras, and ofiicers thi'ir own uniforms and side-arms. At a later date, inde- pendent companies were equipped at their own expense.
Four trainings were held during the year. Two county traininiis, helil re- spectively cm the first Monday of June and b^'pteraber; the battalion and gen- eral, held by appointment.!" made by the field ( flBcers. Notices of musters were given, through lack of press and mail fncilit'es, by personal visits of non com- missioned officers to eai'h oiiliiiam.'in. If absent, a notice was placed on the door of the house. A failure to attend resulted in a court-martial or a fine.
The first general training in Seneca
County was held at Ovid in 1802. Soon after a regiment was organized for the north end of the county at old S.^auyes and out of a compliment Wil- helmus Myuderse was chosen by the troops for colonel, and duly commis- sioned by the Governor. Lambert Van Alstyn was Major and Hugh W. Dob- bin, adjatant. Mynderse cared little for martial exercises and left the work of drilling to Van Alstyn and Dobbin, men who had seen service and were de.-tuied to win honors in the threat- ened war. Colonel Van Alstyn kept a boarding house in the first tavern erected at Seneca Falls later known as the 0;d Market. His charges were considered excessive, being never less than twenty five cents per weok, and once reaching $2.63. General Dobbin lived about four and a half miles - west of Waterloo, and at home and in the field was a soldier by nature.
About 1811, an artillery company was formed with headquarters at Sen- eca Falls. A single gun. an iron nine- pouuder was drawn from the state. Captain Jacks led his company against the British and Indians during the war. The last survivor of bis company was Hiram Woodworth of Tyre. He was wounded by the premature discharge of the gun he whs loading, losing one eye, having his arm injured.
Anticipating a collision of arms, the (Governor early in the spring of 1812, called upon the militia regiments to furnish a company each, for service on the Niagara frontier. Promptly re- sponding Seneca sent out a company under the command of Captain Terry of Ovid, The names of the men who went from Tyre were Benjamin Marsh, Silas Barton, James VanHorn, Ilichard Thomas, Halsey Whitehead.
The men were in barracks at Black Rock when news of the declar- ation of war by the United States ar- rived. Hostilities were immediately
60
opened by an exchange of shots with the British artillerymen across the river.
The regular army was augmented by forces of mililia raised by drafts. The drafts were made for a period of three months. All the militia were called out in this way, and some were called upon a second and even a third tin^e. A few fled the draft. Subftituies were obtained at thirty dollars for the three months. A private soldier's pay wns five dollars per tuonih but was in- creased to eight dollars. The first en- gagement in which Seneca soldiers took part was the struggle at Queens- town.
The Americans were led by General Van Rensselaer of Albany, the British by General Brock. The Americans crossed the river at daybreak October 13, 1812 and were successful in the early part of the day, bnt the British being sti'ongly reinforced from the garrison at Fort George and the Amer- ican militia being aflTected by the num- ber of wounded brougiit over, and averse to leaving their own territory, the comparatively small force of Amer icans engaged, after a gallant fight, was compelled to surrender as prisoners of war. Of men in the battle from Seneca, was a rifle company raised in Fayette, commanded by Captain Ire- land and a few volunteers from the militia. All fought bravely, until the inevitable surrender took place. Fully one third of the men whom Ireland led into action, were killed or wounded.
The year 1813 closed with disaster to the United States forces on the frontier. The British assumed the offensive and waged relentless and cruel warfare.
On December 19th Colonel Murray with an armed force surprised and captured Fort Niagara commanded by Captain Leonard. Most of the garrison were bayonetted, and little quarter shown elsewhere. General McClure called on the militia of the westprn counties of New York, to turn out en masse to defend Butfalo and Black Rock. A panic spread through the country. The British were reported to be crossing the river Thousands of militia from Seneca and neighboring
counties took arms and began their march to BufT-ilo.
Quoting froui the remiuiscf n:iis of Jason Smith the following incidt-nts of that march may be interesting. He says, evtry man turned out who hftd any patriutiHiu. whether he was liable to do military duty or not. I was not old enough to be enrolled until a short time before the alarm but 1 took my shot gun with what powder I had, and moulds to east n buUet to fit the bore, and went with the rest. W<^ went that day as far as G;ceva. The citizHoe had poured in from every direction, a great many from Cayugii county. Every public house was filled to over- flowing. We got into a tavern at the south end of the viUage and occupied the bar-room. There were neither chairs nor benches in the room nor conveniences for sle<'ping, and if there had been, we could not have slept, as there was a set of rowdies who trained all night. Among whom were Leonard Wells*, James Magee, Benja- min Sayre, James Gerald from tliis place and Noah Morris, Garry Arnold and a number of others whose naraf'S are not recollected from Seneca Falls. They would perform what they called a war dance. They would form a ring in the middle of Ihe floor, take hold of hands and circle round and round. They would get an unsophis- ticated fellow in Uu' ring, then away back and forth, and prostrate him on the floor, raise a war-whoop and make a horrible din. All the way he could get out WHS to treat liberally. There was a tall writing-desk in one corner under which I crawled to avoid being run over, and tried to get a little sleep, but they hauled me out occasionally and hustled me jsround the room.
The ofiicers who slept m the room above us would come down occasion- ally and try to q-ii^^t them and they would promise to be very quiet, but as soon as th* y had fairly gotten into bed, they would begin again as bad as ever.
We reached Canandaigua the next day about 3 o'clock p m. where we were met by an express from Buffalo, who informed us that the British had
61
gone back into Canada, and that we iiiigbt return home. Meanwhile the British had plundered the garrisons, and burned Buffalo.
On June 25, 1814, a command known as Colonel Dobbin's Regiment, Wfis orgHiiized at Batavia and pro- ceeded to the frontier. Among th-i officers were Colonel Ilutrh \V. Dob- bin, Majors Lee and Miidison, and Adjutant Lodowick Dobbins. Two companies went from Seneca; one from Ovid commanded by Captain Hathaway, the other from Junius, officered by Captain William Hooper and Lieutenant Thom-is VV Roosevelt, the latter of whom had seen two years service. This regiment enlisted for six months, and wJis call^-d the New York Voludtefrs. They marched from Batavia tu Black Rock where they were joined by a regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and a body of Seneca warriors, and placed under comroand of General P. B. Porter.
The battle of Chippewa was fought shortly after their arrival, and, all unused to the terrors of musketry fire, they did little service.
Scott's brigade crossed Niagara river on July 3d and captured Fort Erie, they then advanced upon the British who were encamped behind the Chip- pewa, a deep still strenm which runs at right angles to the Niagara. Kip- ley's brigade made the passage of the Niagara about midnight of the 4th and Porter's on the morning of the 5th. The two companies lay about three fourths of a mile apart.
At four o'clock p. m. General Porter circling to the left approached the Chip- pewas. Dobbin's regiment, was in line on the extreme left. The en'-niy rf-cog- nizing the force as militia, boldly left their trenches crossed the stream and expecting an easy victory, moved for- ward, and the lines of battle soon be- came warmly engasrerl. The clouds of dust and hcnvy tiring indicitt^d the state of aflairs and Scott's veterans were ordered straight forward. Un- used to battle Porter's command gave way, and notwithstanding strenuous efforts could not be brought forward
again during the action. The enemy elated by success received the attack by Scott with coolness and the combat became furious.
Major Jessup was sent with the twenty-fifth regulars to turn the enemy's right wing. He was presaed hard, both upon front and flank Ijut gave the order '-Support arms and ad- vance" his men obeying in the midst of a deadly lire and gnining a secure posi- ti(»n, opened a telling roiuru fire and compelled the British to fall back. Towsen of the artillery sih^nced the enemy's most eflective battery, blew up an ordinance wagon and opened with heavy discharges of canister upon the British infantry advancing to the charge. The enemy gave way and were driven over the Chippewa into their works with heavy loss The batUe of Bridi:e water or the Cataract soon followed.
A number of days passed, and the British falling back maneuvered th^ir force to deceive in regard to their ultimate designs and meanwhile gathered vessels and l)eo;an to Innd troops at Lewiston, thereby threaten- ing the capture of the baggage and sup- plies of the Americans.
To prevent this, Scott with a part of the army was sent to menace the forces at Queenstown. About sun down of July 25th Scott encountered and hotly engctgt'd the entire Biiti^h army. Then was illustratt-d the old adage that " he who fig[)ts and runs away, may live to fight another day." for Porter's volunteers advanced to Scott's support with ardor, took ground on the extreme left and in good order and with intrepidity held their position and repelled a determined charge by the enemy. Stimulated by the voices and examples of Colonel Dobbin, Major Wood of the Pennsylvania Volunteers and other officers, these raw but cour- ageous troops hurled themselves upon the British line, and made all the prisoners taken at this point of the action. Captain PJooker was killed during tlie engagement, which lasted far into the nijjht.
Samuel Harris and his sen Mn Harris
By ¥^r&di IT&ll&r-
Prep?ired by Fred Teller aa<l read by Kev. H. Grant Person before the Sen- eca Falls Iliotorieal Society, December 21sf, 1908.
Saiuuei Harris, the father of John Harris, who ran the firtit ferry a;ros3 Cayuga Itike, from 1788 until the «Jay- uga bridge was eomp'eted, was born at Harrisburg, Pa , May 4th, 1750. In the year 1795, wt'icki wns the year in which the East and West Cayugn Res- ervHtions were released to the state by the Oyuga Tribe of Indians and sur- veyed iuto lots, he, the father,Temovtd to the east bank of Cayug-a li;ke and patented lot No. 56 in the East Cayu;/a Re.-tervatiou tract. This iot contained 250 acres and was imnK^diately north of his son John's. The eon at the sHOie time took out a pat nt for lot No. 57, which contained a somewhat larger number of acres Samuel Harris was an old Revolutionary soldier. His re- mains lie buried at the Bridgeport cemetery. On his monument is re- corded the following : '<He was an active pariicipaut in the stirring scenes of the o!d French wars. He waa present at the surprise and defeat of Braddock near Fort DuQucue. He was the decided friend of his country and her cause in the war of the Revo- lution, daring which he was appointed captain of cavalry."
His father. John Harris, Sr., erai- gratnd front Lincolnshire, E"gland, in 1733 and opened an Indian tra^iing post at the fords on the Susquehanna river, where Uie city of Harrisburg now stands The hiRtorie*^ and directories of the present city of Harrisburg, the capltol of Pennsylvania, all start from the time that the orifrin«l John Harris, 1st, the father of Samuel Harris, looted on the site of that city. He afterward surveyed the city into lots and the city takes its name from the Harris family.
There is an old oil painting in ex- istence, which Mrs. Philo Cowing of
thi^ place recalls, that is in the posses- sion of oil'.! of her friends in Cayuga countj% (the Maclntos.'j family, who are related to the Harris family by mar- riage), representing this John Hards tied to a tree on the bank-j of the Sus- qu-hanna river with the fagots piled about i)im as he was about to be burned and tortured by the Iniians. He was rescu.Hl by a tribe of friendly Indians and lived for many years afterward a life of adventure j-^nd usefulness.
Samuel Il-irris nami d his sou after his father John and it was this John Harris who came to the east shore of Cayuga lake in 1778 ai;d ran the ferry in partnership wtiti James Bennett.
In the course of some corre.spondence between Mrs. L G. Sanford in behaif of the Daughter.s of ^Aie Revolution and the secretaiy of the state of Penn- sylvania, William H. Elge, it was diacovered that this John Harris was also a Revolutionary soldier. He was commissioned captain, October 14th, 1776, of the 12in Pennsylvania regi- ment commanded by Colonel William Cook. That this regiment was in ac- tive service and so severe was its losses on the battlcflelda of New Jersey that in April, 1778, it was incorporated into the third regiment of the Penn- sylvania line and thei-eby lost its iden- tity, while niaiiy of. its officers, includ- ing Captain John HarrsH, becan.ie su- pernumerary. Seneca County should be proud that two such loyal Ameri- cans should have become her citizens.
In 1789 John Harris married Mary Riehard'ion, who was a native of Fred- erick City, Md. The following year, 1790, his first son vvas born and he was the first white child born on either shore of Cayuga lake. He v/as given the family name, John.
The sixth child of Captain John Harris (the ferryman) was a daughter and was named Helen. She married Abram Failing, who kept one of the
63
leading taverns of Bridi,rFport. Whou Seneca Falls bcr-gnn to foi^o to the lie-nl in P')pul'itloii and import;inco tii yold out bis business nt Bridgeport. nuJ rb- moved to Seueca Falls, where ho b;)- camo one of th« loading merchants of our village. To bis daught'n', Misa Elln, now Mrs. C. L. Storj', I am in dobted for the use of a very va uable lot of fa-nily docutuente, da".'i and p'ib- licntions relating to ibis romaika')le family. Among other tbingw, sbe pos- seeses an old print reproac^nting the same scene referred to by Mrs. Cow- ing, illustrating the torinrc and burn- ing of her ancesior, the first John Har- ris, by th« Indians.
In 1790, John Harris opened the first tavern at the Cayuga Feny. This land at that time vpas still ow'".«'d by the Cayuga Indians. It was leased from tbem by John Harris and was held on euS"eraace. The Indians were uot al- lovred to sell thuir lauds without the sanction of the geuf-ral govirniuent and the state. The parti<'S who held lenses from the Indians however, were afterward, when it was acquired by the state and surveyed into lots, given the first privilege of patenting the plots on which they were located.
The John Harris tavern was a place of general rendezvous and you will notice on all the old maps of the East Cayuga Reservation that all trails from cvei"y point of the compass centered at that point. Its old tap room must have been a very attractive place to the Red man. The amount of valuable fur and beaver skins that must have been traded over its bar for suppli'^^'S and ammunition, trinkets and the seductive fire water came to a tidy sum yearly. Its owner soon became a raan of wealth and influence in the eoromunitv.
In the year 1794 the lands comprised in the present cou!ities of Seneca, Wayne, Cayuga and Onondaga were erected into a new county known as Onondaga county and John Hurris was appointed its first sberifT. At the end of his term he was elected for a second term
In the following year tho council fire for a treaty wiih the Onondaga and the Cayuga Indians was lighted in
front of the 'John Harris tavern at the C;iyu/i;a Ferry " The commis- sioiii IS on thv) part of the stat« were Philip Schnyier. John Cantine, Divid Brooks and John Richardson. By this trentv the state secured from the Ouon- dagH Indi-ius the Onondaga Salt Springs and from the C.iyug'is almost all of tiiidr la'ids. Joh'i Harris' numo an- pears on this treaty as oa« of the wit- nesses. The treaty b«ars date of July 27th, 1795. In the construction and equipment of the Cayuga Bridge Jt'ha H iTis took a prominent part and was the second u'uned one of its iucor- P'jrators, three oi tho other four being representatives of large latjd com- panies.
In 1801 he was prominent in the formation of the Cayuga Land Com- pany, which owned all th < land with- in two miles distant from the east end of Cayu^ra Bridge, The Cayuga county clerk's oflBl^e shows a large number of transfers of lots from Nov. 7th, 1801, by this company and for several suc- ceeding years.
In 1801 he established at West Cay- uga (Bridgeport) a general store, ash- «ry and a distillery. In 1806 he was elected to Congress, succeeding as representative of this district Hon. Silas Halsey of this county. In 1806 ne was appointed a colonel of the militia. During the war of 1812 he served with his regiment at the front and as a large share of his command waived their right not to be taken out of the state, took i)art in several en- gagements on Canadian soil.
After the war he settled at West C-tyuga, having acquired on May 20th, 1814, title to thirty and one-half acres of laud being a part of groat lot No. 5, He died in November, 1824. After the war and previous to his death he held a muster of militia at Bridgeport for a number of years. Mrs. R. C. Wayne possesses one of the gilt metal shou'der epaulets, formerly the prop- erty of the' late John H. Tooker, which he wore at the training day exercises that took place on tiiese occasions on he village green at Bridgeport. We of tlie present day have no idea of the importance that our forefathers at-
64
tached to one of these muster day gBtherings. It was oue of the gala days of the year and if requires no very great iraa;j;iHai.iou to pieture the large concourse of people that would con- gveg&te around the taverns and the green at Bridgeport, io watch the various squads of mili'ia execute thiiir manoeuvres, amid the applause of the speci«tors and the rattle of actouter- ments. Old Mr. Tooker, then a feeble,
white-haired man, once remarked to me that he hud never eaten any thiua; that tasU'd quite as good as the old fashioned ridged, trainin.o; day gini^er- bread that was made for those occas- sions.
A branch of the Harris family emi- gratod to the state of Texas and be- came prominent in its afiairs. Harris county in that state takes its name from this branch of the Hams family.
The First Congregational Church.
By Eci\njiTi yV\e>cicle.n.
A majority of this church seceded from the VV^eslftyttii cUuroli in the yenr 1869. The Wesleyan church general conference inneried in their discipline, makinj? it obligatory in this deuominH- tion that no poi'soii should be a mem- ber of this church who was in any way connected with any secret society, es- pecially Free Masons or Odd Fellows. This brought forth a division of senti- ment in the denomination, as n)any members look ttie ground that We-i- leyau Methodism had fulfilled its mis- sion in the abolition of slavery. All will acknowledge that the Wesleyan Methodist church accomplishi-d great good in that cause and that it was en- titled to great credit for its noble work. On the other hand, many claimed that the conference had over- stepped its authority in dictating to the chui'ches in regard to whom it should receive as members. They claimed that this decision should be left to the local ch'Jrch, hence the division of the church at Seneca Falls
The people who seceded formed what is known as the '<First Congre- gational Society of Seneca Falls." Iheir first meeting was in Good Temp- lars' hali or what is now known as Pythian hall. Their first meeting to form the church was called December 6, 1869. Steps were taken to incor- porate it as a religious society, Decem- ber 17, 1869.
Rev. W. W. Lyle was chosen as pas- tor, officers were elected and plans put in operation to form and build up a strong society in this community. A Sabbath school with full corps of teachers with average attendance of two hundred was organized. Edwin Medden was superinietident, Rev. W. W. Lyle was assistant.
In the meantime arrangements were being made to secure a house of wor- ship. A subscrintion was started for that purpose. The efibrt was not so
successful as was expected because other denominations started to do the same. This, of course, lessened all amounts. If the other churches had delayed, it would, no doubt, have been a benefit to all, especially to the Con- gregational church.
It was thought best to build as many of our best citizens encouraged us in our endeavor. A lot was purchased from Mr. Davis for $3,500. He do- nated $500, thus making the cost $3,000. A honse stood upon this lot; this was sold and removed for $200. Work was begun at on<'e upon this property. August 19, 1870, the cere- monies of laying the corner stone took place. First, a council of Congrega- tional ministers was held at the hall where the church was recognized by the council as a Congregational church in full standing. Following this, the ceremony of laying the corner stone took place. Rev. T. Iv. Beecher, of E'mira, delivered the address, subject, "Why am I a Congregatioaalist?"
The cornerstone is in the northeast corner of the tower. The following articles were deposited in the stone: 1st, a copy of the Bible, 2nd, Manual and Historical record of the Congrega- tional church, 3rd, Memorial Jubilee medal of the Landing of the Pilgrims 250 years previous, ith, United States silver half-dol'ar, 5th, fractional cur- rency, 6th, catalogues of village manu- facturing firms, 7th, village news- papers, 8th, village charter, 9th, list of village churches and names of pas- tors, lOth, \Ut of teachers in public schools, members of board of educa- tion, 11th. copies of ''New York In- dependent," '^Chicago Advance" and ''Glasgow Christian News." 12tb, minutes of New York State Associa- tion of Congregational churches.
The church was finished and dedi- cated for public worship, Thursday, Sept. 21, 1871. The sermon was
66
preached by Rev. Edward Taylor, D. D., of Binghamton, N. Y. The con- tributioa taken up that evening amounted to $2,228. The membership at this time was one hundred and two.
After the church was finished and dedicated it became necessary to raise lean on the bond and mortgage upon church property. This business was placed in the hands of the following committee : Rev. W W. Lyle, Wm. L. Bellows and Dr. R. Dunhsm. The loan of $14,000 was obtained from the Berkshire Life Insurance Comp^iny, of Mass., on condition, first, that the members of the society should secure several individual life insurance poli- cies; second, that an endowmetii policy of $5,000 should be secun d upon *ome individual for the church. This nm.Hint was to be used to help eanci'l tlie debt. The bondsmen were Charles Seekell, Horace Seekeli, William Bellows, Wil- liam King and Edwin Medden.
The burden was heavy, for the an- nual interest on policy amounted to $i60; the annual interest at 7 per cent on loan was $980. nip.kiug a total of $1,440, aside from running ex- penses of the church. Speakers were secured at different times to attempt to raise the debt by subscription. The two principal speakers were Rev. Mr. Ives of Auburn and Rev. Mr. Hop- worth of New York. They succeeded in raising the amount needed, but, un- fortunately, a large number neglected to pay. For three years the bondsmen paid the interest on loan $980 to re- lieve the society and enable them to recover and pay, if possible, the amount of the loan. It seemed as if the society was doomed, but the mem- bers were united and determined to do all that was possible to save the church. The bondsmen, in the meantime, notified the holders of the mortgage to foreclose and make an agreement with the Berkshire Life Insurance Com- pany, allowing the bondsmen to bid it in for the society at $10,000. taking a mortgage without bond for that
amount. The bondsmen agreed to paY the balance on first mortgage of nearly $7,000.
Accordingly, the church was sold by sheriff's sale at the Hong House. It was bid in by the bondsmen for the above sum and made over to the so- ciety.
After another struggle the churclies of the Congregational body of New York state «nd several of our most prominent citizens came to the rescue. Among these kind friends were H.C. Silsby. Albert Jewett. J. B Johnson, H. W. Knight and odiers. At last the society succeeded in freeing the church from debt. It is so to day. Shn-tly after Mr. J. B. Johnson in his will donated $2,000 for the support of the church. This is now invested in a parsonage. The church was freed from indebtedness July 3, 1881. The following gentlemen served as pastors for supplies to the pulpit: Revs. W W. Lyle, Mr. Fessenden, Dr. Hol- brook, Mr. Smith, Mr. Kinmouth, Mr. Bell, Dr. Bradford, Dr. Peter Lindsey, Mr. Kawson, Henry Margetts, and Rev. Dr. A. W. Taylor, present pastor, who has served us eleven years.
In all the years of our financial dif- ficulties and trial the members of the church were as a unit, working to- gether in all that pertained to the wel- fare of the church and the cause of Christ. The Congregational church of Seneea Falls has won a name for faithfulness and devotion to the cause. God had been our guide in all our troubles, has been blessed spiritually. In our darkest days many were con- verted and brought into the kingdom of Christ. Much good, wo trust has been done in God's service through the Congregational church. Though many made sacrifice to the extent of loss of property, yet God blessed them because of their loyalty to his cause. Most of the heavy burdens bearers have passed away to their reward, but the church to-day honors their memory and de- votion to the cause of Christ,
The Streets of Seneca Falls.
BY MISS JANET COWING.
This subject was orginally assigned to tlie late Miss Jenuie Wilcoxeu, and her notes have been freely used in this paper.
We first begin with tbe map of Wilhelmus Myiuierse, dated Sepiember 15th, 1826, which was a description of the State 100 acres, situated in the south east corner of the J>)t 100 in the Township of Junius, county of Seuccu, set off as his share in the partition of the estate of the proprietors of Stneca. The original streets were the Seneca Turnpike road or Fall street, Cayuga street avenue and State street; Canal street was laid out but not named.
A map of the village made by John Burton, surveyor, in 1835, shows all the steets of the town at that time.
Running parallel with Seneca river and directly north of it was Fall street, so naojed from the fall in the river and grade of the street. Extending from Fall street north, was Cayuga street, (named from our beautiful lake). State street comes next, thence Mynderse street, named for Wilbelmns Mynderse one of the original proprietors of the town of Seneca, and which was the western boundary of his land, Clinton street named after Dewitt C. Clinton, governor of the State of New York, and next is Walnut street.
East from Cayuga street, there was Boyd, known afterwards as **Pig Lane," a short street running from Cayuga to Fall, named after James Boyd. An old deed speaks of bim as a '•Merchant of New York."
Dey street, the great coasting region running down hill all the way to Sen- eca Turnpike or Fall street and named after Charles and Anthony Dey, prom inent business men of the place.
Prospect street, named after Pros- pect hill, now traversed by the New York Central railroad. From this point, a view of Seneca Falls was taken in 1817.
Johnston street named after John Johnston, the father-in-law of the late Mr. Frederick B. Swaby, who gave this street to the village. Maple street runs north from Johnston, through the Swaby addition.
In that portion of the village known as the ''Flati," are Wall street at the foot of which lived Thomas I. Paine, who operated a chandelry, and was known for his great size.
Lawrence street was evidently named after Lawrence VauCleef.
On the map of 1825 the park, the Wilhelmus Mynderse, was laid out, but not named, so between Cayuga and State streets are North and South Park streets, west from State street is Jefl- erson street a short street extending only to Maynderse.
Then comes Chapel, extending to the western limits of village, and John street a short street north of Chapel.
Between State and Mynderse is Troy street.
On Frenche's map of 1856 in the Ist ward, north of Troy street, a portion of land own<'d by Daniels, Mynderse and VanCleef was laid out in village lots and Daniel's street running from Troy to Clinton, and VanCleef street, also running from Troy to Clinton, were named after George B. Daniels and Al- exander VanCleef.
West of Mynderse was Oak street, extending to the western limit of the village, running parallel with New York Central railroad from Mynderse. Goulds No 2 shop faces Oak and Heath streets. W^est of Clinton was Miller, named after Deacon Peter Miller who kept a tavern and was a deacon in the Presbyterian church.
A map of village lots made by Gil- bert Wilcoxcn in 1858 shows the ex- tontion of the village north of Fall and west of Walnut north of the rail- road ; and west of Walnut were 40 acres of land owned by J. Thompson, ex-
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tending 40 rods wide to the north. Parallel with and west of Thompson's property was Ramsey street extending north from Thompson's land and cut- ting Ramsey were Chestnut, Chapel, Pleasant and Ridge. These streets are 47 to 50 feet wide.
A map showing extension of these streets east through Thompson's prop- erty was made in May 1876, with addi- tion of North street at nortnern end of Thompson's land. South of railroad ; Miller street was extended further west.
Dr. H. H. Heath's addition, orginally puuchased from Wakeman Burr, ran from the river to the northei-n limit of the village. Dr. Heath was our oldest homeopathic physician.
The Rumsey addition, known as Rumseyville was purchased of Dr. Heath in 1858 hj John A. Rumsey and laid out in lots and ran from Oak street to near the northern limit of the village. The street which bears his name runs to Fall and is continued to the river through the Fred Maier ad- dition.
In the Heath addition was Rumsey street 49 1 2 feet wide. Lincoln 49 1-2 feet wide, named for our martyred president. B'all street is 66 feet wide at this point. Then Heath street run- ning from Fail to Oak and is the near- est way to Gould's No. 2 shop.
A map of lots in second ward, made for the Seneca Falls co-operative build- ing lot association, by Gilbert Wilcoxen surveyor, gave the addition of three streets running west from State street 100 feet. Porter was named after J. Porter.
Boston avenue and Butler were named after Sol. Butler, a noted colored individual of this village, who lived there. Further north another J. A, Rumsey addition gave us Buffalo and Tyre avenues, west of State.
On the south side of the river and parallel with it were Canal street and Bayard street. The latter was named for Stephen N Bayard, one of the or- iginal land owners. Extending south from Bayard was Ovid street so named from the village of Ovid, which is six- teen miles directly south. This street
divides the Third and Fourth wards.
Senter named after Senler Rl. Gid digns, (and should be spelled with an S.) The street runs south and east and strikes Ovid; thence Bridge, Swaby. named fjfter Frederick B. Swaby, the pioneer of that family. Toledo, then Sackett, nan^ed from Gary V. SacKett, these last three mentoned are short streets running through to Haigh.
Williams a short street running from Bridge to Swaby. Haigh street was named after Mr. Gary V. Sackett 's wife. She was Ann Haigh. was also a relative of the Swaby's. It runs west from Bridge to western limit of village. Barker, short street running east from Bridge to Ovid.
Next the J. T. Miller addition in which they have opened Maynard and Mechanic streets, which run through to Ovid. Next the 3rd Ward building lot association No. 2 surveyed by Martin O'Neil for Thomas McGovern, Sr., in which has been opened Sham- rock avenue. In front of 3rd ward school house is Seneca Lane running from Haigh to Mechanic. Returning to East Bayard street, we find Spring running south to Chapin ; White run- ning south to Garden, Goodwin a short street running south to Elm, and named after Mr. H. Goodwin, who built and lived in the house known as the Tyler homestead.
Stevenson runs south from Bayard to corporation limit, was named for John Stevenson, Sr., who lived at the junc- tion of Garden and Stevenson. It is now traversed by the electric road.
Then Gres n running from Ovid east Stevenson street through Tyler addi- tion. Garden from Ovid east to Steven- son, Montgomery, a short street (con- necting Grreen with Garden) runs through the J. P. Cowing addition, named for Wm. Montgomery, the first resilient on the street. Next East ave. Canoga, Sherman and Fayette streets laid out on the Tyler additions, but not yet opened Mumford street run. ning north from Bayard to Latham, named after Mr. S. T. Mumford who owned and built the house now occu- pied by Mrs. Owen W. Smyth. Washington street (originally Mynderse
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street) afterwards changed to Wash- ingtou in honor of the (Father of his Country) ; runs from Bayard to Seneca Turnpike. Jay is a short street run- ning north from Bayi i-d street to Seneca street. Latham street is a part of the Ln'ham addition, owned b} Obadiah S. Latham, running from Wtishiugton to Mnmford street. Another short street oft from Washington is Troup street named from Robert Troup, District Judge of the United Slates tor the District of New York in 1798, once owner of a fifth part of the town of Seneca. This street runs over the brow of the hill and is suppoaed to connect with a bridge at that point. Adams street runs east from Washing- ton to Jay street, through the J. P. Cowing addition.
The land of the 4th ward building association, formerly the Scldcn Chap in farm, in the southeastern part of the town, was surveyed by G. Wil- coxen and Smith in 1872. East from Ovid and pta-pendicular to it, running east, are Chapin street, 49 1-2 feet wide (named for Selden Chapin) Boardman street, 66 feet wide, named for Deming Boardman, br., and South street, 60 feet wide.
Between Chspin and South streets, running north and south and east of Ovid street are Hnag street, 66 feet wide, named for Milton Hoag, Smith street, 60 feet wide, and Haw ley street, 60 feet wide, named for Charles A. Hawley, Cuddeback street, 60 feet wide, named for John Cuddeback, Davis street, 60 feet wide, named for Adelbert S. Davis. Between Board man and South streets, running north and south, is Spring street, 60 feet wide. This makes an addition of nine streets.
On West Bayard street and west of the stone house occupied by the late Wm. Van Rensselaer, the land famil- iarly known as ''Sackett's sixty acre lot," was laid out in villflge lots and streets, the names of which are as fol- lows: Van liensselner, Courlland, Hos- ier, Providence, Chicago, Baltimore, California. These streets run south to the Driving Park.
Cayuga and State streets are the
widest in town Bayard comes nextl At a sheriff's sale issued out of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Seneca, in March, 1847, against the real estate, etc., of Anthony Dt-y, in a description of certain pieces and part eels of land, there was one as follows: "A vacant lot on Cayuga street, north of Bunt street," I find that Bunt street lends off from Boyd street, back of the Ramsey and Silsby dwellings to the old cemetery. The Jot mentioned as being north of Bunt street is now oc- cupied by Charles Frank Hammond. sheriff's sale. By virtue of an Execution issued out of the Court of Conimon Pleas in and for the Ccuniy of Seneca, to me di- rected and delivered, against the goods and chattels, lands and tenements, real estate and chattels of Anthony Dey, in my Bailiwick I have seized and taken all the right, title, interest and estate which the said Anthony Dey had on the 26th day of May, A. D., 1846, or which he may have since acquired, of, in and to all the lands and premises hereinafter mentioned and described, to wit: All those certain pieces or par- cels of land situate, lying and being in the vilinge of Seneca Falls, on lot 100 of Junius, now Seneca Falls, known and distinguished as lots Nos. three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven and twelve on Fall street, also Nos. one, three, five, seven, nine, eleven and thirteen on Dey street, also Nos. twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty six, thirty- eight and forty on Cayuga street, also, a vacant lot on Cayuga street, north of Bunt street, also the Woolen Factory lot, having fifty feet front on Fall street with Water power equal to one and a half Runs of Stone on what is called Dey's race; also lot No. thirteen on Fall street, being one hun- dred feet front, containing nearly three fourth's of an acre of land, on which is situated a commodious dwelling house, as the snid lots are laid down on a map of snid village, made by John Burton, E'q., for V. B. Ryerson, and so described on a map thereof, now on file in the office of the Clerk of said county, all of which aforesaid property
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I shall expose for sale at public auction af the Clinton House now kept by David Milk, in the village of Seneea Falls, on Friday, the thirteenth day of April neit, at ten of the clock in the forenoon of that day, — Dated at Waterloo, the 23d day of March, A. D. 1847.
HUGH CHAPMAN, Sheriff. By Joseph C. Payne, Under Sheriff.
At Restvale cemetery, "at that vil- lage white and still," are four streets, named by the late Mrs. Laura Russell, viz: Sunnyside Ave., Laurel Ave., Woodlawn Ave. and Magnolia Ave.
Maplewood addition, south side of river, west part of village, west of Catholic church, surveyed by G. Wil- coxen, 1900, and laid out in streets, running parallel north and south from Bayard to Haigh, 50 feet wide.
Most of the additions surrounding the town were surveyed and laid out at diflerent times by G. VVilcoxen, sur- veyor, and all the various maps of the town are supposed to be filed at the County Clerk's oflSce.
There are now a little over thirty, one miles of streets in Seneca Falls, and if one should traverse them in a day, they would have all the fresh air and exercise the most strenuous advo- cates of these helps would advise.
In naming the streets our citizens showed honor both to the great men of the nation and the enterprising citi- zens of the town, also large cities. I will recapitulate a few : Washington, Adams, Jefferson. Lincoln, Jay, Clin- ton, Mynderse, Bayard, Troup, Boyd, VanCleef, Daniels, Sackett, Swaby, Heath, Cuddeback, Hoag, Hawley, Davis, Rumsey and many others.
Only three of the men after whom these streets were named are alive to- day. It has been said that the streets of Seneca Falls were originally laid out on the Indian trails, and from their irregularity this may be readily be- lieved. So diversified is the surface that one would think them almost pat- terned after Rome and laid out on seven hills. There was a hill on Cay- uga street, from the corner of Boyd street. Pig Lane or Trinity Lane as it is now called, to Hoskins corner,
where boys and girls coasted. The hill on Cayuga street near where the railroad is now (not under the arch) was many feet steeper and afforded great fun for the school children. There was a steep hill on Fall street, near the old Beehive, corner of Wal- nut stree;. Some old houses standing there now show bow it has been filled in.
The hill on Ovid street, beginning at Bayard, was very steep, indeed, and has been filled in with tons and tons of earth.
Both bridges were many feet lower and the lower story of Goulds shop, when it was Andrew P. Tillman's resi- dence, was on a level with the bridge. All over this town streets have been filled in that way, showing enterprise on the part of the people.
Hardly any of our streets are straight, they run along for a while, then vere to the right or left, according to their own sweet will. But if our streets are a little eccentric, no one will question that our goods manu- factured in our numerous factories and sent to all quarters of the globe are straight goods.
Speakmg of regular and irregular streets reminds one of an anecdote. A Philadelphian stopping in Boston had a great deal to say about the queer streets of the hub of the Universe. ''Your streets are so crooked," said he, "that it is hard getting about. If Boston had only been laid out like Philadelphia, it would be a much finer city." ''Well," replied the Boston man. "if Boston ever gets to be as dead as Philadelphia, we will try and lay her out in the manner vou suggest."
So we say to all who criticise the irregularity of our streets. Seneca Falls is a live town, streets and all.
The map shows that there were plaster mills, saw mills, stone mill, sash factory, barrell factory, clock fac- tory, paper mill, cotton factory and bleachery. Globe mill, tannery, now part of Goulds building No. 1, Oil mills, chair factory, etc., in 1835-
The map 1825 shows saw mills, grist mill, carding and fulling mill.
The following advertisement from
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an old paper is of considerable interest in connection with this snbject as sliowing that what is now called Water street was originally considered a part of Fall street.
George Shoemaker,
Dealer in Siaple nnd Fancy DRY GOODS. GllOCERIES, CROCK- ERY AND HARDWARE.
At the struiii of Shoemaker & Co., on Fall street, fronting the north end of the new bridge in the west end of the village, will always have on hand every article in the Dry Goods line; Groci'iioa of every description; Crock- ery, a fnll assortment; Shelf Hard- ware, Nails, Rope, Stone and Earth'U Ware, &o. &c. As I have determined to conform the prices of Goods to the hardness of the times, Small Profits for Good Pay is the motto; and quali- ties considered; I am not to be under- sold by any one. Please call and examine. Butter, Lard, Pork, Eggs, and all kind of produce taken in ex- change for goods.
JOHN SFIOEMAKER & Co , at the white Brick Mill, nearly opposite, are at all times pnying the highest prices in cash for Wheat. Corn. Barley, Rye, Clover and Timothy seed, &c.
Seneca Falls, May 13. 1843.
The First Baptist Church.
BY REV. S. M. NEWLAND.
In presenting this paper I desire to make Hcknowledgement that I am quite largely indebted to the Rev. Wm. R. Wrif ht, who was pastor of the Baptist church of this place a little over five years. This pastorate commeuced September 1873. During his pastorate he prepared a historical sermon and de- livered it on the fiftieth anniversary of the constitution of th" church. A copy of this sera.on was loaned me a few years since by Mrs. Phebe Dye, when I hrst prepared for my own people very largely what I shnll say to-niyht, and from tiiis sermon I gather most of the items of the first fifty years' history of the Baptist church of Sinieca Falls, the old records having been m'stly destroy- ed in the fire of 1898, while in keep- ing of the church clerk, Dr. Lowe. But no one acquainted with the Rev. Wm. R. Wright will doubi but that his state- ments are correct as far fis the records gave him knowledge of the early his- tory of the church. From this sermoa and a few meager records found and remembrance among the older members of the church, we learn that while there had been occasional Baptist preaching in the village of Seneca Falls previous to the year 1828, it was not until m the early spring of that year that a Bap^st charch in Seneca Falls took on form and life. During the winter and early spring of 1827-28, several Baptist fam- ilies moved into the village and as they became acquainted with the Baptists al- ready here, nothing more natural than that a meetmg be called to see what could be done in regard to a church or- ganization. This meeting was called. It was held in the old school house then standing on North Park street. It was on Thursday afternoon, June 5, 1828. At this meeting there were present. Abner Carry, Harris Usher,L P. Noble Polly Wheeler, Charlotte Long, Mary Ann Cross, Phebe Cross, Elizabeth Carry, Huldah Silsbee, and Harriet
Noble, ten in all. This gathering was C!illed to order by Abner Carry. He was chosen uiodeiatur, and L. P. Noble was chosen clerk. At this meetiog it was unanimously decided that it was desirable and expedient to form a Baptist organization in tho village of Seueca Falls, with the view of becom- ing a church and erecting a church building in the near future. Such was the nucleu'3, the beginning of the Bap- tist church of Seneca Falls. On the 23lh of this same month, the month of June, one by name. Oramus Allen, came to tlie village, and proved himself a most worthy and valuable addition to the new organizativm. He was a li- censed preacher. He had pursued a course of Theoh-gical studies in the Hamilton seminary. He became at once active and earnest, in pushing forward theuew interest, and on the 16th of July, proper notice having been given an- other meeting was held in the same place, for the purpose of completing the organization as a Baptist church, or as then named, the First Baptist society in the village of Seneca Falls. It is evident from this meeting that there were a great many in the community, at least friendly and well disposed to- ward the movement, for we find that at this meeting they elected nine trus- tees The names of these first chosen trustees of the church were Ebenezrfr Ingalls, Harris Usher, John W. Wheaton. Jonathan Metcalf, Na- than Farnsworth, Samuel Bradley, L. P. Noble, Abraham Payne and Thomas Royston. John Metcalf was chosen president of the board, L. P. Noble, clerk, and Harris Usher treasurer. At this meeting a committee was appointed to search out and get terms for a lot suitable for a church building. On July 26th, Fannie Spear united with the association, and August 30th Theo- polis Cross and Jemima Cross, his wife cast in their lot with the infant church.
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Their number had now raached four- teen. At this nueli-.ijr l)e[d ou the 30lh of August, 1828. tliirtfeti ariiole^ if faith, and a Church Coveuaut were adopti'd ; this act to all iiit> nts and pur posi'3 constituted the orgniiiz;ition of a regular Baptist church. Bui in ord«r to roceivo th« recognition and follow- ship of other Baptist churches, a coun- cil represeuted by several Baptist churclies was called on the 15th of Septeniher, 1828. This council whs for the double purpose of recognizing the church and the advisal'.ility of st-t- ting apart to the Gospid ministry, Mr. Allen. Nine churches were repre- sented in this council by nineteen dele- gates. Th's meeting was held in the Presbyteri.in cimrch, the church having been kindly offered for ti)e purpose. It is recorded that both the recognition of the church, and tlio ordination of Mr. Alien were highly satisfactory to the council. At the next c<^'nvonant meeting of the church held October 2otb, Mr. Allen was formally and un- animously chosen as the first pj:8tor, while L. P. Noble was chosen cliurch cleik and Abner Carry, deacon At this meeting Nelson Payne was received as the first candidate for bap'isiu and baptized on the following day, Sunday. The pastorate of the Rev, Mr. Allen lasted a little over three years. Dur- ing this pastorate forty-five were added to the church by baptism and thirty by letter, and from fourteen at the begin- ning as constituent member.-^, at the close of this pastorate the church re- ports a membershif) of seventy, and during this time a house of worship had lieen erected. It was a frame build- ing. 44 feet in length by 36 in width. It hfld galleries on both sides and in the rear end. There was a basement to this liuilding. and also quite a com manding steeple. It had fifty pews outside of the galleries, and would seat comfortably 300 people. Four large pillars supported and beautified the front, facing the 3a8t, or Center street. There had bfen vai-ions lots proposed beside the one selected and on which the Baptist church now stands One on Bridge street was first selected and Mr. Payne offered to give one on the
north side of the river, but the present location was finally decided upon. The lot was bought of G. V. Sackett, the consideration was $200, but Mr. Sackett subscribed $200 on the church building, so virtuftlly the lot was his subscription t«) the church. The build- ing committee consisted of Messrs. Payne, Ingalls, and Noble. This building cost not far from $2,000. It was dedicated May 30, 1830, though services had been held sometime pre- vious to this in the basi'ment, doubtless during the entire winter of 1829 and 1830. I"; was not deiftcated free of debt. It was a small indebtedness, only $300, but it became a sort of trouble and anxiety in after years. The seats were rented, the rents rang- ing from $3 to $15. This church ap- plied and was admitted into the On- tario Baptist association of churches in 1829. The association then being wider in territory than at present had thirty hine churches with a member- ship of over 2,600. The Ontario asso- ciation of Baptist churches met with this church for the first time in 1831. As near as have been able to asceraaiu Mr. Ailcji's s'dary from the state con- vention was $50, from church $200, and the sec>nd year one hundred from the convention, the third year he had his fire wcod iu addition. There is mention of a Sunday school, but whether it was a permanent organiza- tion of the church, run the entire year is quite doubtful. We find that the church at the outset placed itself on record as a missionary church, and througij the years they have maintained in quite a marked degree this standard of a New Testament church. After the close of the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Allen, the church seems to have been without a pastor, for several months; then the Rev. .John L. La- tham settled as pastor, but only re- mained about eight months. The next pastor was Henry C Vogoll. This pastorate began iu July 1833. It was ended February, 1836, lasting about two years and eight months. During this pastorate the growth of the church was quite marked, though by letter rather than by baptism, forty nine hav-
u
ing united by letter and sixteen by bap- tism, but we find that quite a nuir.ber were dismissed. During tiiis pastorate the discipline of th3 church was re- sorted to for the first time, and severnl excluded, so the net gain was rot large. We now for the first lime find positive proof from the r^icords that a Sunday school is sustained during the entire year, with an average attendance of 30, this year 36. The chui-oh tHporis over $100 as its benevolences. This same year plans were adopted and an effort made to pay off the mortgage indebt- endess on the church. It was nn tffort however, without reaching the desired results, for the mortgage debt was not canceled. These years 1835 '36, seiun to have been years of great aiiiuition concerning the temporal inlert-sts of the church. We find that during tb« se years the advisability of building a p!ir- sonage iB agitated, and it seeniud an as- sured thing at one time, thai a pars(!n. ao:e would be built, under a generous offer made by Abrahaoj Psiyne, who then owned the tract of laud through which Clinton street now runs. An agreement had been msda with the trustees of the church that he, Abra- ham Pajne, would build a subi^tantial frame house, costing $600, abovo this he wouM make all outside necessary improvements, properly grade the lot and then deed it to the society for $600 the actual cost of the building, but a disparaging and somewhat bilker re- mark mK.de by the pastor, Mr. Vogell, broke the contract, and we repeat what the Rev. M Wright has well said, !:nd so by this act depriving the church of a good parsonage and possibly an advan- tageous location in later years for a house of worship. Saps Mr. Wright I have been unable to locate definitely just where this lot was situated between Fall street and the railroad, but be- lieve it to be the lot where the Wesley- an Methodist church now stands. The basement of the church was used for a time as a dwelling place, the tenant taking care of the church for the use of the basement. Earlier the basement had been used as a school mom, used by District No. 2, as it was then called. But during Mr. Vogell's pastorate it
was fitted up for its legitimate use as a prayer and coyferonce room. Follow- ing Mr. Vogeli'd pMStorate was that of the llev. John Jeffreey, lasting about two years, and though there were quite a number of additions both by letier and bapti:^ras, the church but barely held her own, so many re^joviiig to other phuies. The church reporting at the close of this pastorate iu the fail of 1838, only 78 meiub«ra. But about ttiis time Jacob Knapp, one of the most noted evangelists of ttiat day, cime to labor with the church. He was with the church aboui five weekg. I'ne en- tire community was stirred as it had never been stirred heforeupou ihequea tion of personal salvation. The con- gregations were so large that a scaf- folding was erected along the entire length of the south side of the church, some 20 feet wide. It was built on a level wiih thy base of the windows, the windows all taken out on that side of the church, that those on the outside might he able to hear, and so scores and hur.dreds night after night, listened to the great pre-^icber, eeated or stand- ing on the outside of the building. Nearly 200 conversions were reported, 56 uniting with this church the last of September and 88 more before the close of the winter months, making 94 ad- ditions to the church by baptism. As the result of these meetings, the mem- bership was now more than doubled and that within a period of less than six months. The Sunday school re- ported the year before an average of 60 It was in this winter of 1839, that Rev. Z^nus Freeman becomes p«stor of the church. He must have been a man possessed of great social gifts, as well as a true Christian. With some rich experiences, now in the very vigor of life, he served the church as pastor three years, coming as tie did in the midst of such wonderful and blessed ingatherings. Coming to a rejoicing and united people, we are not surprised to find his pastorate a prosperous and a happy one During this pastorate 115 were added to the church by baptism and 60 united by letter, and the mem- bership reported to the association in 1841 was 237, but the growth of the
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Sunday school was more marked. la 1839 reporting an nv^rag^H »tteiidance of 2U0, and in 18-40. Dearly 300, with two branch schools with an enrolloiont of 60 each. This indeed wms the gold- en period of Sunday Hchci work, at least as regarils uurahers, in the history thus far of this church, but sad to have to report that ttiese halcyon days were of short duration, for in 1841, the next year, we find a marked falling off, only one school is reported now and that with an avera ;e of oidy 200. During 1839 and 1840 we are to d in tlie rec- ords, of the large attc'idance of the Sunday af'.ernoon convenant meetintrs, and that in tlie moutli of Aui^ust, 1840, 120 were present, and during these years the benevolences of the church kept pace with their growth; $300 as benevolence, reported in 1839 and $418 15 in 1840, the largest amount ever given in one year for benevolence by the church. Bright record indeed. Would that we could have it without a cloud, even the bigness of a man's hand overshadowing this pastorate. But alas ! alas ! if we would be true to the historical setting of these three years, the records force us to believe that there was zeal at times, that was not accord- ing to knowledge. The home finarces of ihe church, during this, the most prosperous period of her history, were most fearfully and shamefully neglect- ed. It ever becomes the church as well as the individual, to be just before overgeuerous, that she may preserve her honor and integrity. It was dur- ing the pastorate that proceedings are commenced for the foreclosure of the $300 mortgage and unpaid interests amounting now to something over $400 against the church. We are glad to find however, that the proceedings were stopped, the debt paid, one man, Geo. H. McClarv, paying $270 of this amount. During the three years of Mr. freeman's pastorate, special ser- vices were held each day by a noted evangelist. In 1840, evantreli.stic ser vices were conducted by Eider Sher- down, lasting Several weeks, when more than one hundred conversions were reported, about sixty uniting with the Baptist church ; and this year V.
Sullivan, a sailor, was licensed by the churcli to preach the Gospel. After the pastorate of Ki v. Mr. Freeman, the church seems to have been without a paPtor for a few months. During this time a call was extended both to the Rev. I. S. Bdckus and N, Baker, but for some reason not stated m the rec- 01 ds l:ioth declined to accept. A call is then extended to Rev. E. R. I'inney. It is acccepled and he remains as pas- tor of the church for about two years. The records show no advancement in church life, either in its temporal or spiritual welfare the first eighteen mouths. The discipline of the church is resorted too and durmg the first eighteen months, 100 are eitiier dis- missed by loiter, excluded or dropped, and less than two short years before reporting as benevolences upward of $400, now comparatively nothing. In 1842, politics, and especially the ques- tion of slavery agitated the church, and an the month of July, 1842, a resolu- tion was passed by the church refusing to admit slave holders, or their en- lightened apologists, and sympathizers to their pulpit or their communion, and a little later a resolution is passed against the' use or traffic of intoxicat- ing liquors, and that unfermented wine ousy be used at the Communion. Early in the year 1843. the pastor, E. R. Pinny, with quite a number of the church, joined h'^artily in the belief and teaching, that the second coming of oar Lord would take place before the close of the year. Because of this belief and teaching, special meetings were begun early in this pear, with marked results, as far as additions are concerned equal- ing anything in the past, but this large- ly accounted for, without doubt, be- cause every sermon was now a most earnest effort to convince the hearer that Uhrist's second appoarin* , and that for the jucgment of the world, would take place before the close of the year 1843. During this year not far from 125 were baptized into the fellowsiiip of this church, and the church now reported the greatest num- ber that she has ever reported during her history, 242 raembt^rs. At a busi- ness meeting December, 1843, the
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church voted to censure, and if need be, discipline any ctmrch member, wtio should be guilty of publishing among the uugodly and worldly the business transactions of the church meetings. Keen disappoiutmeut and the false po- sition held by Mr. Pinuey aud a large number of bis supporters, and which they had so persistautly advocated, when the year passed away and their teachings had been proven false by Christ not appearing, as they had so positively declared he would, Mr. Pinney did not re-canvass bis ground and come back to a sound Scriptural basis, or to loyalty to Baptist principles and teachings, or if having cbangsd his views so they no longer haraionized with those of the Baptist denomination, one of whose pulpits he occupied, he should have stepped down and out at once, but no, he remained until Sunday morning, February 24th, 1844, when culminated this errofieous teaching that had taken possession of the mind and heart of the pastor, and which the church had allowed to go on unchecked On this Sunday morning Mr. Pinney entered the Baptist pulpit for the last time, having handed in his resignation the day before to take effect on the fol- lowing day, Sunday. He preached a most egotistical and scathing sermon, hurling awful charges against the church, denouncing her as Bab) Ion, all Christian churches were placed to- gether. His text was R«v. 18:4, "And I heard another voice from heav- en saying. Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues," and then calling upon all who were de- sirous of escaping impending danger and coming plagues to follow him, he seized his bat, stepped down from the pulpit, leaving the church, for the churche's good, but not until he had done the church an irreparable damage. Fifty three members unwisely followed his example, influenced by his rash statements and went out with him like sheep without a shepherd, not knowing whither they went, and many others through the persuasion of Mr. Pinney and friends who had already gone out. left the church, and so not far from 80
members withdrew from the church as the result of this movement on tht^ pai t of Mr. Pinney, and the church whs compelled to pass through the gnai- st trial of her history thus far, ami from which she has not yet fully reiovered. But lew churches could have borne such a trial and survived, as Mr. Fin- ney remained here untii bis death, moje than len years after, firm and unwav- ering in his new faith until the end, and seeking most earnestly at all times to lend as many of his former flock to ac^icpt his views as possible. After this dark page of the church history we find quite a long period, covering more than a year, when the records are si- lent as I'egards church life, and we almost wonder that the broken threads were ever again taken up and that the pulse life of the church should begin to beat; but in the iate summer of 1845 a call is extended to the llev. N. Baker, who was the pastor of the Waterloo church, to become pastor of this church, preaching here in the after- noon. Three years before, when the church was in her glory and strength, for some reason the call then extended to him was refused ; but now when in her deepest humilation, few in numbers shorn of her strength, he accepts the call. The Waterloo church is soon given up and for nearly four years he serves this church as pastor. lie had very much to contend with, not only caused by the schism that had nearly wrecked the church, but also because of the bad management of the church finances. Two of the previous pastors had only been paid in part. A most faithful pastor, but with so much to contend with, but little advancement is made in the membership of the church, though much is done in bringing about abetter feeling and quickening the spiritual life of the church. The next pastorate is that of Rev. J. B. Burnett. He remained only a few months, and in May, 1849, Rev. H. H. Hsft is called. He begins his pastorate in June and re- mains until August, 1850— his pastor- ate lasting about four mouths. Noth- ing of great note is recorded during this short pastorate. And during the next two yaars, 1851-2, the records are
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very meager, but enough is g-ivcn to know that during this time the church had at least two settled pastors, the Kev. Wm. Frary and the Kev. Win. Leggett. Two ware baptised into the church by each of the pasiors. The K'V. N. Baker tlien supplied the church for a time During this time the records were revised, and the member- ship now reported is 101. A eall was now extended to M, W. Holmes to be- come pastor, but for some reason not slated withdrawn, and Rev. J. R. Whit- man, who was living in the village and a member of the church, acted as a sup- ply for some months. In FeljruHjy. 1854, Kev. J. V. Pitman became pastor of the church, continuing his pastorate a little over two years, and while the benevolences of the church were con- siderably increased and six baptized into the fellowship of the church, there seems to have been no net g«iu in the membership, but a loss during these years, as the church rt-ports in the fall of '56, a m<'mbership of but 90. In November, 1855, Rev. Ira Smith was called to the pasiorate of this chuureh. Of this pastorate, the KfeV Mr. Wright says of the first four months we find no record, nothing is said. We might wish we could find nothing afterwards; but not so. Gross charges of immor- ality are preferred against him. He is dismissed from the church. Going forth to make trouble elsewhere — set- tling in Kenosha, Wis , where he was excluded from the fellowship of the church and from the pastorate. Still downward, as ever must bo the course of any church with such a pastor and the church now reports only 80 mem- bers. Late in the yefir '57, C. C. Hart became pastor of the church, only to remain about eight monts. And in December '59 Rev William Rees ac cepts a call from the church to the pastorate. Tl)is pastorate lasted al.'out 8 years and was without doubt a suc- cessful one. Harmony was established while more were added to the church than in the ten years preceding, and tne church now reports a membership of 116. And the bunday school has doubled since its last report, now report- ing in 1861, an average attendance of
100. It is during this pastorate that a new church buiding is agitated, but it resuUed in repairing the old building at the cost of about $500. Rev. Ferris Scott wns the next pastor, nominally from April '62 until Juno '67, or for something over five years; but of this time he was away as chaplain in the army for better than two years, so that a little over three years of actual ser- vice was given to the church. And while thirty-one were baptized and uniied with the church there was no gain in number, but a net loss of six- teen, for after revising the records the church, in '66 reports but one hundred members. In the year '67 a committee was appointed to try and raise $1,500 for the purpose of purchasing a parsou- fige, but the parsonage failed to mater- ialize; and the snme in regard to a commiitee appointed about the same time to see if a lot could be secured for the erection of a new church building. After Mr. Scotts resignation, in '67, a call wns given to two difierent men, but both refused to accept,, doubtless ou account of salary, though for the first time in the history of the church thus far, a Mr. Crane is called at a salary of $1,000. The church building was seemingly insured for the first time in 1867. It was in the fall of '67 that Ira Bennett became pastor, his pastor- ate lasting about three years. It was during this pastorate that the present church building was erected. This building is about 45 feet in width and 72 in length, exelusive of the tower, which adds an additional 14 feet. The corner stone was Inid in the summer of 1858, and the dedication took place March 4th, 1869, W. H. Maynard preaching the dedicatory sermon. This house of worship, outside of the lot, cost about $12,000. About $9,000 was raised by subscription and $3,000 was secured by a mortgage loan. As we look back over this history and note the membtTship of the church, only about 100, it must have been a great undertaking, calling for faith and great sacrifice on the part of this people. We may be wrong, but we think a great mistake was made in this, that such a grand self-sacrificing effort made by
tofC.
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this people had not beea to the construc- ti'-'D of their church building ou the north side of tho river. As au item of interest, and cftusiug a>ore or less of speculation, rfVCiliug somewhat of hu man nature on at least two sides, we find that in the winter of 1869 the Rev. iVlr. Burnhaui, a noted evaugelisr, had be'ju holding exrra meetings for three or fcur nights v^-ith the expectation of continuing for two or three weeks at least, Tho house was already crowded and cou!*iderable interest manifested. When on this evening, the third or fourth in the series of meetings, an alarm of lire was sounded and quite a large number went oul, which was quite natural. Whereupon Mr. Burn- ham came down from the pulpii, re- fused to go on with the service, and early the next morning, notwithstand ing he was urj^cd to remain, left the village. The efi<ct can readily be im- agined. The opportunity w.-is lof4, and it was not only humiliating bu?. quite a set-back to the church. In October, 1870. B. F. Garfield became pastor of the church. This pastorate lasted a little over two years During this pas- torate the house purchased in Bayard stie'^t at the time of the building of the church, three years before, was re- paired at au expense of about $250, and came into use as a parsonage. On October 1st, 1873, William R. Wright began his pastorate. At this time the church records were carefully revised and the church reports but sixty-nine members, while the indebtedness of the church at this time, all told, is re- ported as $4,675, somewhat of a dark outlook. The church is assisted two or three years by the state convention in the support of the pastor, the debt is d'.'creased somewhat and much good and lasting work accomplished during this pastorate. It wj'S the longest pas- torate of any within the history of the church up to this time — a little over five years. There were fifty nine addi tions by baptism. In 1874 the pastor was assisted in a series of meetings for several weeks by his uncle, the Rev. W. C. Wright, and as a result of these meetings thirty united with the church and in '76, twenty-seven as a result of
the E. P. Hammond meetings. The memi<ership was doubled during this pastorale, reporting at its beginning sixty nine aud at its close one hundred and tluriy-oine men.bers. JJuring the yvar '76 the use of the bapistry is loaned to the Cougregationnlists. And this y(!/i,r, 1876, the church was reor- ganiz d under the new centennial trus tee law. In the baptisms of tho year one was baptized nearly eighty-eight years of age, without doubt the oldest person received by baptism during the entire history of the church. And this year, 1877, the church reports: Valu- ation of church property, $15,000 mortgage debt, $1,000; floating debt, $2,000; enrolled in the Sunday school, 168 ; church membership 121. In the year, 1878, the church votes to loan its baptismal robes to both the Presby- terian and Methodist societies. The mortagage bebt of $1,000 now coming due at the close of '77, and the church having a floating debt of $2,000, it is voted to mortgage the church property for $2,000, $1,000 to pay oft the old mortgage and $1,000 to pay on the floating debt. The choir about this time v/as moved from the gallery to its present position at the left of the pul- pit. There seems to have been a re- action set in, since the E. P. Ham- mond meetings for says, the letter of the church to the association, the»'e has not been in years so much world liness in the church as during the past winter. The prayer meetings of the church are poorly attended, the congregation small and the financial obligations against the church have increased somewhat The Rev. Mr. Wright resigns in November 1878, and Rev. R- E. Williams is at once called to t!ie pastorate. He re- mained but six mouths. Of this short pastorate little is said. He was greatly admired as a preacher and as a cultured Christian gentleman. No additions are made to the church and the finan- cial obligations of the church continue to grow. On the first of January, 1880, the Rev. R. B. Montgomery became pastor of this church. His, too, was a short pastorate, lasting only thirteen months, but remarkable in this, that he succeeding in securing pledges at home
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and abroad sufficient to meet tlie entire morlgHi^e det)t and inlereat. Antl for this he richly merited and rect'ived the heartfelt gratitude of the church and society, ;a vote to this eflect bein^^ VHCf'rdcd on the books uf the church In May, 1881, R*.v. John Gilchrist be- came pastor. Under this pastorate there was some friction in the chuich. It Jed to the excUisiou of one or more members and the withdrawal of several others. The pastor at once resigned, and closed another p-istorate of loss than two years. The church wfis tl\en supplied for n fe^v months by Rev. J. J. rhe!i)s. A call was given llcv. Seward Kobsou. Accepted and he be- came the pnstor of the church Decem- ber 1st, 1882 He remained as pnstor a little over four years. Thirty-uine were added to the church by baptism. During this pastorate, in 1885, the district secre'ary of the st;)te couvcntion Rev. Mr. Brooks, assisted the pustor in evangelist services ivr several weeks There hr.d been a continuous running behind in the pastor's oalary, and at the lime of his resignation the church was obligated to their pastor to the anioui't of over $750. In June the Rev. James Grant, a student in the Rochester seminary, is cilh/'d as a sop ply. This is the year '88. and on May Is't, 1889, the Rev. S. -T. White becomes pastor. Though but few conversions are reported aud something In bene- volences ouslde of the homo field, yet few the churches and few the pastors that made the sacrifices that this church must have made, and the pastor as well, to leave on record the fact that nearly $1,400 had been niised during the fir^t year of Mr. White's pHstorate, the Rev. Seward Robins'.n, the former pastor, paid in full, though the chun'h was owing him more than $400 when this pastorate began. And so at the assoclational gathering held in Septem- ber, 1890, the church reports that they are yjractically out of debt, but in their present condition, unable longer to meet the running expenses of the church, and appealing to the State and county missionary comtnittoes to know what can be dene. On March 27tb, 1891, it was voted to have the secre-
tary of the Baptist State convention visit the fiiild and hold a missionary coiiveution with this church. Such a cotivenlion was held and was thought to be of real |)rofit to the church. The Rev. S. 11. White's pastorate ended in July, 1891, he having been pastor of th« church a little over two years The Ciiunh w.is .".gain wi'hout a pastor and pre ichiiig was on'y snsliiued part of the time, and this by sup[;li'js. But on November 30ih, 1891, a meeting is called for the purpose of deciding upon ae.d c'llling a pastor, so advised by the Slate convention and the missionary commlctee of the O.itario B iptist as snciation. At this meetii'g it is de- cided to extend a call to the Rev. E. C. Long, tiieu of Mancliester, N. Y. Such a call is extended, but he d>'clines to accept. Another nieetin.'; is cnlh'd for January 12th to tnke under considera- tion the advisability of extending a call to Rev. J. Cody, and by a vote of the church it is decided not to extend thecal!. And on January 28. 1892, a ttiird and similar meeting is c'llled to take ii.to consideration the advisability of extending a call to the Rev. S. M. Nowlaud, then of Clifton Springs, N. Y A vote is tnkei!, and in the letter sent notifying him of the decision of the church, it was stated thil the vote was unanimous in extending sach a call, aud, whether wisely or unwisely, tiie present pastor of the church ac- cepted it, comoaencing his labors April 1st, 1892. Of this pastorate we need to say little. It is not finished as yet But as it already covers a period of nearly twelve years, already more than double that of any other in the history of the church, and as it is a history of church life you have asked for in this paper, a brief summary of the present pastor's work with this church cannot be out of place. During these twelve years it h.<is not been all sunshine We have had some cloudy and dark days of d'.scourHgement; and yet on the whole it has been a happy, contented and we trust, in some smiU degree, a prosper- ous pastorate thus far. When this pastorate began the church records gave a membership of 110. The pres ont pastor has baptised into the church
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0 014 108 333 8 i
fellowship, 132 ; 70 have been re- ceived by letter. The r)rosent member- ship of the church is 238, the largest number, with the exception of the one year, 1843, ever reported by this churcn. lu briefly summing up the history of the First Baptist church of Seneca Frills, NY., beginning in 1828 we find that the church has a history of seventy-five yenrs Twenty three past- ors The shortest pastorate was that of Rev, Mr. Williams, lasting only six months; the longest that of the present pastor, now nearly twelve years; the next longest, that of the Rev. Wm. R. Wright, a little over five years We give the names and length of each pastorate: 1, Orsamus Allen, 3 years 9 nion'hs; 2. Henry C. Vogeil, 2 years 9 mouths; 3, John Jeffres, 2 years; 4 Zeuas Freeman, 3 years ; 5, E R. Pinney, 2 years 1 month; 6, Nathan Baker, 4 years; 7, W. H. Hafi, 1 year 2 months; 8, Wm. Frary. 1 year ; 3, J. B. Pitman, 2 years; 10. Wm. Leg- gett 1 year 2 months; 11, Ira Smith, 8 months; 12, C. C. Hart, 7 months: 13, Wm. Rees, 3 ytiars; 14, Ferris Scott, 5 years 4 months: 15. Ira Bennett, 2 years 10 months; 16. B. F. Garfi*^ld, 2 years 3 months; 17. Wm. R. Wright, 5 years 3 months; 18. R. E. Wililaras, 6 months; 19, B. R. Montgomery. 1 year; month 20, John Gilchristt, 1
year 11 months; 21, Sewaid Robinson 4 years 4 mouihs ; 22, S. H. White, 2 years 3 months; 23. S M. Newland, 11 years 9 mouths: yeai's of pastoral service. 64 years 8 months; average 2 years 10 mouths. Nearly eleven years of its history the church has been with- out a regular pat'tor. Ther« has been been no uniform salary, and it has bet^n from $260 to $1,000. Not far from 700 persons have been baptised into the church during its history and about 400 have been rec(nved by letter. There were 14 constituent members, 30 not far from 1,100 persons have been connected with this church during its history. The largest number, as already stated, in the membership of the church was at the close of 1843. when the church reported a membership of 242; the smallest number since the first partorate, 69, in the year 1873. To-day the church reports 238 mem- bers, the Sunday school the largest since the ytar 1842, or within a period of more than sixty years; free from debt, not by any means satisfied or accomplishing what she should, but united and a measux'e of prosperity at- tending the efforts of paator and people, for which we give praise and thanks- giving to Almighty Gnd, who we be- lieve has led us thus far, and we look forward hopefully into the future.
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