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THE 


HISTORY  OF  AUBURN 


HEIsPt^'    HALL 

A  U BURN,    X.  Y. 


L 


b 


Hoc  illud  est  pnecipue  in  cognitione  rerum  gahibre  ac  ft-ugiferum,  omuis  et. 
^xempli  document!  in  illustri  posita  momimcnto  intueri :    inde  tihi  tnivqiie  rei- 
iblicse,  quod  iniitero,  capiae*." 


AUBURN :  £  ^.^0 

PUBLISHED  BY  DE.SNIS  BRO'3  d   CO. 

1869. 


.kim 


0  r/ 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congrei^H,  in  the  month  of  March,  1869,  by 

HENRY  HALL, 

In  the  Clerk's  Otlice,  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the 

Northern  District  of  New  York. 


TO 

WILLIAM    II.    SEWARD, 

THE  ENTERPRISINp  CITIZEN  AND  DISTINGUISHED  STATESMAN ; 

THE   FOREMOST  FOR  MANY  YEARS  IN 

PROMOTING  THE  INTERESTS  OF  AUBURN  ; 

EMINENTLY  IDENTIFIED  WITH 

EDUCATION,  INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENT,  NATIONAL  EXTENSION, 

AND 

THE  RIGHTS  OF  MAN  ; 

THIS  HISTORY  OF  THE   CITY  OF  HIS  RESIDENCE   IS 

RESPECTFULLY  INSCRIBED 

BY 

THE  AUTHOR. 


o  o  isr  T  E  N  T  s . 


CHAPTER  I. 


The  Cayugas. 1 

Preliminary  Remarks— Origin  of  the  word  Iroquois— Native  Names— Tiie 
Iroquois  become  Independent— Settle  in  New  York— Their  Wars— Origin 
of  the  Cayugas— The  League— Its  Ascendancy— Territory  of  the  Cayugas— 
Excellence  of  their  Crops— Assistance  to  other  Nations— Customs,  etc.— 
Dissolution  of  the  League— Purchase  of  the  Cayuga  Territory— Logan— Fort 
Hill- Fort  on  the  Olmstead  Farm. 


CHAPTER   n. 


The  Settlement  of  Au3URN 32 

Location  of  Auburn— Causes  of  Settlement— Award  of  the  Military  Lots— 
Col.  Hardenburgh— The  Indian  Village— Arrivals— The  Gig-Mill— Roads- 
Cemeteries— Hardenburgh's  Comers— Jehiel  Clark— New  Settlers— The  Militia 
—Town  Government— Comers  in  1800— Slaves— School-IIouses-Seneca Turn- 
pike—Genesee  Street  Bridge— Foot  Races— Frame  Buildings— The  Gami — 
Farmer's  Inn— First  National  Anniversary— Court  House— Auburn  Named— 
Tavem-Keeping  Age— Continual  Arrivals— County  Clerk's  Office— Western 
Federalist— Dams— Clinton's  Description— First  Congregational  Society- 
Episcopal  Society— Auburn  Academy— List  of  Subscribers— Auburn  Library 
Association— War  of  1812— The  Auburn  Companies— The  Fright— Cayuga 
Patriot. 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  III. 

Annals  op  the  Village  prom  1815  to  1837 119 

Roads— The  Village  in  1815— Incorporation— The  Fire  Engine— Sidewalks— 
The  Prison— Its  Eftects— Auburn  Bank— Cayuga  County  Bank— The  Churches 
—Bible  Societies— Medical  Society— First  Sunday  School— Agricultural  Asso- 
ciation—Columbian Garden— Free  Press— Cotton  Mill— Paper  Mill— Others- 
Auburn  Market— La  Fayette's  Reception— 4th  of  July,  1823— Medical  College 
—Gospel  Messenger— General  Union  for  Promoting  Observance  of  the  Sab- 
bath—Bank  Coffee  House— American  Hotel— The  33d  Artillery— The  Fusiliers 
— Improvements— The  Erie  Canal  Celebration— Auburn  and  Owasco  Canal- 
Watson's  Letter— Big  Dam  Celebration— Railroad  Convention  at  Syracuse- 
Auburn  and  Syracuse  Railroad  —  Snow-Storm  of  1836  —  Auburn  College- 
Town  Hall  and  Market— The  Great  Excited  Year. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Panic,  the  Revival  op  Enterprise,  etc 208 

Streets  First  Lit— The  Fire— The  Panic— Suspension  of  Specie  Payments— 
Shinplasters— Enterprise  Dead-»-Drowning  of  the  Students— Water  Cures — 
Presbyterian  Convention— Auburn  and  Syracuse  Railroad  —  Excitement 
about  the  Prison— Patriot  War— Henry  Clay— Martin  Van  Buren— Taverns- 
Politics  in  1840— The  A.  L.  A.— Second  Agricultural  Society— The  Silk  Mono- 
mania—Auburn  and  Rochester  Railroad— Temperance  Celebration— Martha 
Washington  Society— John  Quincy  Adams— Dirge  of  the  Elms— Auburn 
Woolen  Company— The  Telegraph— Dailies— State  Fair— Incorporation  of  the 
City— Schools— High  School— Female  College— Young  Ladies'  Institute— Fort 
Hill— Improvement  of  the  Outlet— Auburn  Water  Works— Gas  Company- 
Railroad  History— Oswego  Starch  Factory— Merchants'  Union  Express  Co. 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Auburn  Prison 341 

The  Old  Criminal  Code— Newgate— Defects  of  the  New  York  System— Auburn 
Prison — Injurious  Effects  —  Solitary  Confinement  —  Classification— Captain 
Lynds— Severity  of  Discipline— Contract  System— Rachel  Welch— Govern- 
ment—Von  Eck— Mechanics'  Interest— Description  of  the  Pi-i son— System- 
Insane  Asylum. 


(.'ONTENTS.  VI 1 

CHAPTER  YI. 


The  Theological  Seminary. 


Description— Dr.  Mason's  School— Action  of  the  Synod  of  Geneva— Meetini,'^ 
at  Auburn— The  Subscription— Incorporation— Comer-stone  Laid— Induction 
of  the  Professors— The  Course— Gloomy  Prospects— Ta])pan's  2:il"t— Suspen- 
sion—Reopening— Progress  to  1868. 


CHAPTER    Vn. 

The  Wak  Recoi-.d 395 

Notes  of  Preparation— Kennedy's  Action— The  First  Vohinteer  Company— 
The  President's  Call— The  49th— The  Furore-  Public  Meeting— Excited  Sun- 
day-Mass Meeting— Recruiting— Presentations— Departure  of  the  Five  Com- 
panies-Organization of  the  19th— Shoddy— Meeting  at  the  American— New 
Regiment— Recruiting  for  which  Begins— The  Barracks— The  Pumpkin  Pies- 
Colors  of  the  75th— Organization  of  the  Regiment— 75th  Marches— Kennedy 't> 
Battery— Segoine's  Cane  —  Military  Committee— The  3d  Regiment  — Mass 
Meeting— The  111th  Full— Its  Officers— Snyder's  Company— Welling's  Regi- 
ment—111th  goes  to  the  Front  — Officers  of  138th  — Bounties  — Beardsley 
Resigns— His  Resignation  not  Accepted— Last  Call  of  the  War  Committee- 
Organization  of  Dwight'a  Regiment— Union  League— Board  of  Enrolment- 
Return  of  the  19th— The  Draft— The  Procession— First  Call  of  18(>4— Ward 
Committees— Second  Call— 193d  New  York  Volunteers— Bounty  Jumpers- 
Snow  Provost  Marshal— Officers  of  the  193d— Close  of  the  War— Sununing  Up 
—The  Ladies'  Union  Aid  Society. 


CHAPTI^R  VHT. 

TnE  City  op  AruunN.  ISGS 170 

Location— Altitude  —  Appearance  —  Public  Buildings  —  Prison  —  Seminary- 
Orphan  Asylum— The  Churches— Schools— Points  of  View— Newspapers— 
Manufactures— The  Dams  and  Mills-  The  Population  -  Pursuits-  I'roductions 
—Climate— Health. 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

\ 

Civil  List  op  Auburn  and  Cayuga  County 507 

CHAPTER  X. 

Biographies  of  Citizen*  op  Auburn 529 


I  X  I )  E  X 


Aureliue,  erection  of :5-2 

government  of 58 

Aubnm,  naming  of 5^8 

Clinton's  sketch 94 

in  1809 470 

CoUege 203 

Academy 101 

Agricultural  Society 155,  245 

Auburn  Gazette 15T 

Journal 158 

Hydraulic  Association..  217 

Advertiser 270 

Literary  A esociation 241 

House 176,2;^ 

Adams,  J.  Q.,  visit  of 259 

Auburn  Tool  Company 485 

Agricultural  Works 488 

Aldei-men 409 

Agents  of  the  prison 514 

Amerman,  Deacon,  Biography  of  576 

Big  Elm 49,70 

Bounty  Lands 33 

Bridges (Hi,  70, 173 

Bank  of  Auburn 139 

Cayuga  County 142 

Baptists 14G 

Bible  Societies 147 

Bank  Collee  House 170 

Barber's  Woolen  Mill 494 

Barber,  Sheldon  &  Co 499 

Burt,  Dr.  H.,  Biography  of 5;i7 

Beardsley,  John,  Biography  of. . .  5<iG 

Counties,  divi>ion  of. 3-> 

Cayuga  County  formed 59 

County  Seat,  location  of. 84 

Court  House 86,  175 

Churches,  let  Presbyterian  68,  97, 14:3, 
476. 

2d  Presbj-terian 148 

Central 477 

St.  Peter's..  69,  98,  149,  467 

,St.  John's 478 

Methodist 144,  477 

Holy  Family 145 

St.  Mary's 477 

Baptist IU\ 

riiiversalist 14<; 


Cayuga  Patriot 116 

Tocsin 118 

Democrat 158,  4*3 

Columbian  Garden 156 

Cotton  Mill 159,  495 

Canal,  Erie 178 

Auburn  and  Owasco 189 

Chronicles 225 

Corrector 225 

Clay  Henry,  visit  of 230 

Caj-uga  Chief  Manufacturing  Co.  491 

Climate  of  Auburn 503 

Clerks  of  Cayuga  County 517 

Clary,  Joseph,  Biography  of 551 

Casey,  George,         "  '•    560 

Chase,  Captain,        "         "    585 

Drowning  of  students 218 

Dirge  of  the  Elms 261 

Dams 93,  194,  484 

Dodge  &  Stevenson  M'f 'g  Co. . ..  492 

District  Attorneys ...  518 

Dennis,  C.  C,  Biography  of 547 

Fusiliers 172 

Forts,  Indian 25,  30 

Fort  Hill  Cemetery 290 

Fire  Department 126,  134 

Free  Press 157 

Female  Seminary 177,  287 

Fire  of '37 209 

Fanners'  Manufacturing  Co 499 

Game 73 

Genesee  Road,  Old 43,  4S 

New 57 

Gospel  Messenger 168 

Gas  Company 30!> 

Garrow,  N.,  Biography  of 540 

Haydeu,  Wm.  &  Co 497 

Hussey  Manufacturing  Works...  45)9 

Hills,  Horace,  Biography  of 55.3 

Geo.  M.         '•  "    &44 

Hagaman,  JohuL"  ''    568 

Hulbert,  John  W.'-  '•    572 

Inspectors  of  the  prison 513 

Indian  village  of  Wasco 44 

Judges,  County,  etc 520 

Kennedy's  Battery 424 

Logan 23 


INDEX. 


Levanna  Gazette 

92 

La  Fayette,  visit  of 



164 

Lunatic  Asylum 

366 

Mills 46,  55,  67,  03,  159, 

264, 

483 

Mails,  first 

64 

Militia 

108, 

170 

Medical  Society 

1.51 

College 

166 

163, 

^17 

Martha  Washington  Society 

255 

Merchants'  Union  Express. .' 

334 

Morning  News 

483 

Mayors  of  Auburn 

409 

Members  of  Assembly 

52:3 

Congress 

528 

Muir,  Robert,  Biography  of.. 

5.55 

Nineteenth  Regiment 

403 

Northern  Christian  Advocate 

483 

Independent  

483 

oqb 

death  of  fish  in 

154 

Oswego  Starch  Factory 

337 

111th  Regiment 

428 

imth        •'        

436 

160th         ''         

441 

193d          '•          

460 

Officers  of  the  late  war 

411, 

42:3, 

425,  434,  440,  445,  460, 

462. 

Orphan  Asylum 

475 

Orphans'  Friend 

483 

Osborne,  D.  M,  «fe  Co 

488 

Prison 130,  222, 

341 

,  474 

Paper  Mill 

160 

Park 

177 

'>,07 

Presbyterian  Convention — 

220 

Patriot  War 

9->,5 

498 

Population  of  Auburn. . .  60, 

121, 

172, 

272,  502,  506. 

Postmasters 

5i-:>, 

Presidential  Electors  

.  526 

Roads 4S, 

119 

472 

Railroads,  Aub.  &  Syr..  196 

220 

,  318 

Port  Byron  «fc  Aub... 

316 

Auburn  &  Canal . 

316 

Aub.  &Roch 

201 

,  318 

Ithaca  &  Aub .... 

217 

,  319 

L.  0.,  A.  &  N.  Y... 

322 

Southern  Central 

.  ;3:30 

Richardson,  J.  L.,  Biography  of.. 
John,  "  ".. 

Settlement,  First 

Slaves 43, 

Settlers.  Arrival  of 50,  55,  66, 

78.  83. 

Seneca  Turnpike 

Stages 

Schools.... 64,  101,  272,  284, 

Schools,  Sunday 

Snow  storm  of  '36  

Shinplasters 

Sherwood,  Isaac,  Biography  of. . . 

Silk,  culture,  etc 

Seventy-fifth  Regiment 

State  Armory 

Steel  Tempering  Works 

Seward,  Wm.  H.  Biography  of. . . 
Seymour,  James  S.,    '■  ''... 

Scythe  Works 

Supervisors 59, 

Sheriff 

Surrogate 

Senators,  State 

Society  for  promoting  observance 

of  Sabbath 

Taverns 54,  56,  79,  81,  89, 

Town  Hall 175, 

Temperance 

Theological  Seminary 370, 

Tuttle  Manufacturing  Company. . 

Throop,  E.  T.,  Biography  of 

Trustees  of  Auburn 126, 

Telegraph. 

Union  League , 

Union  Aid  Society 

Underwood,  Geo.,  Biography  of.. 

Van  Buren,  Martin,  Visit  of 

Volunteer  Relief  Fund 402, 

War  of  1812 

War,  Patriot 

War  for  the  Union 

Western  Federalist 

Western  Luminary 

Water  Cures 

Whig  Carnivals 

Woolen  Mill 

Water  Works  Company 

Young  Ladies'  Institute 


564 
570 
42 
62 


70 
C4 
480 
1.50 
202 
215 
549 
245 
414 
476 
486 
529 
556 
498 
512 
516 
518 
521 

169 
132 
217 
252 
515 
496 
.574 
507 
270 
447 
4(54 
542 
233 
452 
112 
225 
395 
92 


219 
236 
264 
304 
289 


PEEFACE. 

It  is  with  unfeigned  diffidence  that  I  submit  this- 
vohune  to  the  public  of  Auburn.  Gentlemen 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  history  of  our  city 
from  the  beginning  ^  have,  at  different  times,  contem- 
plated its  publication.  The  compilation  of  local 
reminiscences  belongs  properly  to  them.  But  it  has 
been  left  to  me  to  break  ground  in  this  work.  I  have 
undertaken  it  with  no  confidence  that  I  should  make 
the  history  perfect,  but  rather  trusting  in  the  indul- 
gence of  the  public  for  one  who  has  made  an  honest 
attempt  to  serve  them. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  anticipate  tlie  reader's  first 
(juery — as  to  the  authenticit}'  of  this  Avork — by  show- 
ing him  my  sources  of  infornuition.  It  is  presumed 
he  will  be  satisfied  that  they  are  sufficiently  numerous 
and  reliable. 

The  veteran  editor,  Thomas  M.  Skinner,  Ks(|.,  fur- 
nislied  me,  in  tiie  s})riiig  of  1808,  with  fiUis  of  tlie  Au- 
hurn  Gazette  and  RepuWicm).,  for  seventeen  years, 
fi'om  1816,  from  which,  witli  files  of  the  Free  PresSy 
lent  me  by  Miss  Sarah  ()lii>hant,  files  of  the  Cayugo. 
Patriot^  by  Isaac  S.  Allen,  Esq.,  and  several  volumes 


»  General  John  S.  Clark,  James  H.  Boetwick,  and  John  B.  Dill. 


Xll  PREFACE. 

of  the  Aioburn  Advertiser^  I  gained  a  first  and  gen- 
eral view  of  the  progress  of  Aiihiirn  from  1816  to  the 
present,  and  the  precise  dates  of  all  conspicuous 
-events. 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  conversing  often  with 
the  venerable  Deacon  Henry  Amerman,  now  residing 
about  six  miles  north  of  Auburn,  near  Centreport^ 
whose  acquaintance  with  the  operations  and  incidents 
of  the  village,  from  1804,  for  nearly  twenty  years,  was 
perfect  and  intimate.  His  clear,  retentive  memory 
enabled  him  to  review  and  correct  the  part  of  my 
work  embracing  that  ]:)eriod. 

James  H.  Bostwick,  Esq..  now  of  New  York,  learn- 
ing of  my  undertaking,  generously  placed  at  my  com- 
mand a  mass  of  statistics  and  legends,  which  he  had 
himself  obtained,  during  a  long  and  active  life,  from 
the  pioneers  of  Auburn.  Tliese  items  of  early  history 
wei'e  of  tlie  greatest  value  and  service,  the  well-known 
reliability  of  Mr.  Bostwick,  and  his  great  personal  fa- 
miliarity with  the  matters  in  question,  insuring  their 
entire  correctness. 

For  early  town  history,  I  am  indebted  to  none,  per- 
haps, so  much  as  to  James  Tibbies,  Esq.,  who  came  to 
Aurelius  the  year  following  Colonel  Hardenburgh's 
arrival.  Mr.  Tibbies  took  the  greatest  interest  in  my 
work,  introduced  me  to  other  old  settlers,  and  aided 
me  materially  in  forming  correct  impressions  of  olden 
times. 


PRKFACK.  XIH 

Hon.-  Eiiu>  T.  Thr(»«>i),  wliose  excellent  memory, 
and  ac(|uaintance  with  the  scenes,  and  government, 
and  great  enterprises  of  Auburn,  in  the  lirst  part  of 
the  present  century,  rendered  him  one  of  the  most  val- 
uable sources  of  information,  furnished  me  with 
much  curi(>us  and  useful  material. 

Many  other  old  settlers  have  allowed  me  to  avail 
myself  of  their  recollections  of  early  days  here,  among 
whom  are  the  venerable  David  Parsell,  and  his  wife^ 
the  sister-in-law  of  Colonel  Ilardenburgh,  Jose]>h 
Beach,  Eleazer  Hunter,  Jesse  Ix)unsbury,  Dr.  Ilichard 
Steel,  Thomas  N.  Skinner,  James  S.  Seymour,  Michael 
S.  Myers,  John  McXeal,  Peter  Sittser,  and  Judah 
Eggleston. 

The  records  of  Aurelius,  beginning  in  1795,  the 
books  of  the  supervisors  of  the  county,  going  back  to> 
1799,  and  various  old  and  curious  books  and  papers  in 
the  possession  of  Miss  Eliza  IIoi*ner,  and  in  the  county 
clerk's  office,  atforded  accurate  data  and  interesting 
statistics. 

For  the  truth  »)f  the  story  of  the  times  of,  and 
since,  the  speculation  fever  of  '36,  and  of  the  great 
and  often  colossal  enterprises  of  later  days,  I  liave 
appealed  in  every  possible  instance  to  those  having 
original  knowledge  of  the  circumstances.  As  usual 
with  historians,  I  have  met  the  embarrassments  of 
conflicting  reports.  My  most  respected  and  reliable 
informants  have,  in  some  instances,  the  most  singularly 


XIV  PREFACE. 

-different  impressions  of  the  same  event.  Their  re- 
ports of  simple  things  frequently  differ  in  an  extraor- 
dinary manner.  I  am  in  the  position  of  the  hood- 
winked man,  who  is  led  through  scenes  of  unusual 
interest,  without  the  privilege  of  looking  at  them 
himself,  but  is  constrained  to  depicture  them  in  his 
mind  from  what  those  that  attend  him,  who  entertain 
different  opinions  on  all  subjects,  say  of  them.  In 
this  p(»sition,  I  have  been  liable  to  form  incorrect 
ideas  and  impressions.  I  have  therefore  striven  ear- 
nestly for  original  testimony  in  every  case,  though  I 
have  sometimes  been  obliged,  in  order  to  reconcile 
difficulties,  to  depart  from  the  opinions  of  esteemed 
friends  on  certain  points,  and  take  my  own  view  of 
the  case.  I  trust,  however,  that  in  essentials,  the 
sketches  of  the  three  hundred  or  more  different  sub- 
jects embraced  in  this  history  are  sound  and  truthful. 

I  have  received  assistance  in  collecting  materials 
for  this  work  from  many  eminent  citizens  of  Au- 
burn, among  whom  are  Colonel  Charles  W.  Pomeroy, 
Edward  E.  Marvine,  Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  Gene- 
ral John  S.  Clark,  Isaac  S.  Allen,  William  C. 
Beardsley,  Colonel  Terence  J.  Kennedy,  General 
Jesse  Segoine,  Dr.  S.  Willard,  Nelson  Beardsley, 
General  C.  D.  McDougall,  Colonel  John  A.  Dodge, 
Colonel  Charles  H.  Stewart,  E.  P.  Senter,  C.  P. 
Williams,  John  Patty,  Lewis  Paddock,  Michael 
Kavanagh,  John   M.  Hurd,  William   Lamey,  Morti- 


PREFACE.  XV 

mer  L.  r>i'o\vn,  Eicliard  C.  Steel,  J.  K.  Sttiriii,  Wil- 
liam Gray  AVise,  A.  II.  Goss,  Josiali  Barber,  Loren- 
zo W.  ISTye,  William  Ilayden,  Dr.  13.  Fosgate,  Ste- 
phen G.  Hopkins,  James  Seymour,  Jr.,  John  E.  Pat- 
ten, Miss  Eliza  Horner,  Miss  Sarah  Oliphant,  and 
Miss  Amanda  Irish. 

[N'otes  on  the  Merchants'  Union  Ex]n-ess  Company 
were  furnished  by  Charles  X.  Eoss,  Esq.,  the  accom- 
jdished  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank ;  notes  on 
the  Southern  Central  Kailroad,  by  J.  Milton  Brown, 
Esq.,  one  of  the  most  efficient  engineers  in  the  em- 
ploy of  that  road  ;  the  Civil  List  and  Biographies, 
by  my  brother,  James  Hall  ;  notes  on  the  Oswego 
Starch  Factory,  by  Dr.  S.  Willard  ;  and  notes  on 
the  silk  mania  and  the  Patriot  War,  by  my  father, 
Benjamin  F.  Hall. 

In  conclusion  I  may  remark  that  the  defects  of 
the  present  work  are  apparent  to  no  one  more  than  to 
myself.  Indeed,  I  am  only  too  sensible  that  I  have 
scarcely  more  than  laid  the  foundation,  upon  which, 
at  some  future  day,  some  one  will  rear  the  more 
perfect  structure  of  a  sound  and  complete  history  of 
Auburn.  But  if  I  shall  have  preserved  from  that 
oblivion  into  which  many  of  them  must  in  a  few 
years  have  sunk,  the  events  of  ancient  times  in  Au- 
burn, and  the  generous,  public-spirited  acts  of  citizens 
of  times  both  early  and  late,  I  shall  feci  that  my 
purpose  is  accomplished. 


XVI  PREFACE. 

I  ask  only  that  this  History  may  be  regarded  by 
tlie  public  with  that  generous  spirit  with  which  we 
all  look  upon  well-intended  and  patient  toil. 

HENRY  HALL. 
Auburn,  May,  1869. 


HISTORY  OF  AUBURN, 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE     CAY  U  GAS. 


The  relation  of  the  several  consecutive  steps  and 
events  that  mark  the  development,  under  the  hand  of 
industry,  of  the  beautiful  intervale  containing  the  city 
of  Auburn,  from  the  condition  of  an  original  wilder- 
ness, to  that  of  a  thickly-settled,  well-ordered,  and 
prosperous  to\vn,  does  not  alone  constitute  its  local 
history.  The  history  of  this  locality  also  embraces 
facts  concerning  the  aboriginal  races  of  the  region, 
and  some  delineation  of  their  life  and  pursuits.  The 
Indians  stand  in  the  foreground  of  all  American  his- 
tories, in  those  of  towns  as  well  as  those  of  States ;  not 
80  much  indeed  because  they  affected  in  any  great  de- 
gree the  founding  or  progress  of  the  particular  com- 
munities— for  the  different  periods  of  savage  and  Eng- 
lish occupation  bear  a  relation  to  each  other  scarcely 
closer  than  that  between  two  dramas  produced  in  suc- 
cession upon  the  same  stage — but  they  are  always  in- 
troduced in  this  manner  because  they  add  such  rich 
1 


a  HISTORY   OF    AUBURN. 

contributions  to  the  historical  associations  of  the  dis- 
trict which  happens  to  be  under  consideration.  Were 
this  not  particularly  true  in  the  present  instance,  it  is 
presumed  that  an  apology  for  the  prominence  given  to 
the  events  of  aboriginal  history  in  these  notes,  would 
not  be  entirely  unnecessary.  The  uncouth  manners 
of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  this  valley,  however,  the 
valor  of  their  warriors,  their  strange  and  interesting 
notions,  their  eager  search  for  fame,  their  fortitude, 
eloquence,  and  diplomacy,  and  the  romantic  circum- 
stances of  their  wild  sylvan  life,  still  excite  undimin- 
ished interest ;  and  the  conspicuous  position  attained 
T)y  the  Cayuga  nation,  the  eminence  of  its  chiefs  and 
orators,  and  the  importance  of  this  part  of  its  territory 
in  relation  to  the  old  fort  on  the  hill,  the  great  central 
Indian  trail,  and  the  ancient  village,  camping  grounds, 
and  trails,  along  the  Owasco  Creek,  are  matters  so 
cleai-ly  the  property  of  local  history  as  to  invite  the 
first  attention. 

In  the  days  when  the  red  man  had  undisputed  pos- 
session of  the  region,  his  wigwams  dotted  tlie  sides  of 
our  hills,  the  smoke  of  his  camp-fires  floated  over  our 
valley.  His  light  canoe  sped  over  the  bosom  of  the 
lake,  his  hunting  parties  ranged  the  forest  in  every  di- 
rection, and  his  savage  superstitions  peopled  our  woods 
and  skies  with  his  own  pagan  spirits  and  deities.  To 
him,  then,  justly  belongs  the  foreground  of  this  sketch. 

The  Cayuga,  or,  as  they  have  it  in  their  own  tongue, 


THE    CAYUGAS.  6 

the  Gweugweh  nation,  was  one  of  the  six  composing 
the  celebrated  confederacy  of  the  Iroquois,  tliat  at  the 
time  of  the  Dutch  settlement  was  seated  in  the  inte- 
rior of  New  York,  and  about  the  St.  Lawrence.  The 
confederacy  was  iirst  known  in  Europe  by  tlie  appella- 
tion of  the  Iroquois,  a  name  bestowed  upon  it  by  the 
early  French  explorers. 

Cartier,  in  1534,  appears  to  have  heard  of  this  fa- 
mous people  ;  and  disregarding  the  long  and  barbar- 
ous title  by  which  they  were  known  among  the  natives, 
gave  them  a  shorter  one  of  French  invention.  Charle- 
voix, a  French  traveler  and  writer,  who  visited  Canada 
in  1720  and  1721,  refers  the  origin  of  the  term  to  the 
frequent  use  by  these  Indians  of  a  word  or  ejaculation, 
represented  by  the  syllables  "e-oh,"  or  "  e-ah."  In 
the  councils  of  the  warriors,  this  word  was  uttered  in 
response  to  the  speeches  of  the  orators  by  way  of  ap- 
proval or  applause.  It  was  also  used  upon  such  im- 
portant occasions  as  the  convention  of  delegates  from 
the  various  tribes,  and  from  the  English  settlements, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  a  treaty.  The  sentiments 
of  the  Indian  spokesman  were  indorsed  by  the  attend- 
ant sachems  by  an  unanimous  "e-ah !  "  or,  as  laid  down 
in  many  of  the  records  of  these  conventions,  by  "  hee- 
aaw !''  The  sound  is  preserved  in  the  term  Iroquois,  a 
Hyllable  being  added  to  make  it  available  as  a  name. 

The  Cayugas,  and  the  Indians  generally,  used  for  a 
term  expressive  of  their  race  at  large  the  phrase  Ongwe 


4  HISTORY   OF    AUBLTIN. 

Howe,  which  signifies  "  a  people  surpassing  all  others." 
The  word  Howe  means  simply  "  a  man."  Golden  says, 
"  By  the  prefixed  term  Ongwe,  it  is  qualified,  according 
to  various  interpretations,  to  mean  real,  as  distin- 
guished from  sham  men,  or  cowards  ;  it  may  also  mean 
strong,  wise,  or  expert  men,  and,  by  ellipsis,  men  ex- 
celling all  others  in  manliness." 

The  native  national  name  of  the  Iroquois,  who  were 
a  confederacy  of  at  first  five,  and  afterwards  six  na- 
tions, all  descendants  of  a  common  stock,  and  united 
as  brothers  and  allies,  was  expressive  of  their  relation- 
ship and  intimacy.  They  called  themselves  the  Kono- 
shioni,  or  the  Ilo-de-no-sau-nee,  according  to  difi'erent 
dialects  ;  that  is,  "  the  People  of  the  Long  House."  In 
their  imaginary  Long  House,  extending  from  the 
Hudson  to  the  Falls  of  IN^iagara,  lived  the  kindred  na- 
tions side  by  side.  The  eastern  door  was  guarded  by 
the  intrepid  Mohawk,  the  western  by  the  warlike  Sen- 
eca. The  council  fire  burned  brightly  in  the  center, 
under  the  care  of  the  Onondaga;  the  Cayuga  was 
charged  with  the  safety  of  the  wampum ;  while  the 
Oneida  and  Tuscarora  dwelt  in  security  in  their  allotted 
territories  near  by.  The  parts  of  this  royal  house 
were  strongly  united.  The  perfect  equality  of  the  na- 
tions, and  their  unbounded  hospitality  and  open  confi- 
dence prove  the  great  reality,  to  them,  of  the  edifice  of 
theii-  government,  and  illustrate  the  soundness  of  their 
conception  of  the  nature  of  a  political  compact. 


THE    CAYUGAi 


The  origin  of  the  Iroquois  is  preserved  in  their  tradi- 
tions with  considerable  distinctness ;  although  the  ir- 
resistible tendency  of  the  red  man's  mind  to  embellish 
all  accounts  of  his  past  with  fables,  and  to  ascribe  all 
events  that  he  cannot  explain  to  supernatural  agencies, 
renders  it  difficult  to  entirely  divest  his  history  of  the 
fruits  of  his  imagination.  This,  however,  is  not  more 
true  of  the  Iroquois  than  of  many  of  the  ancient  na- 
tions of  the  Old  World.  The  early  history  of  the  Per- 
sians, the  Grecians,  the  Eomans,  sn\d  the  Eg>q)tians, 
and  their  colonies,  is  enveloped  in  a  similar  mass  of 
marvelous  tales. 

Several  hundred  years  before  the  discovery  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  by  the  French,  the  Iroquois  lived  upon 
the  northern  bank  of  that  river,  near  Montreal,  as  a 
tribe  of  the  Adirondacks,  who  were  part  of  the  great 
Algonquin  group  of  indigenous  nations,  that  at  the 
time  were  polssessors  of  nearly  the  whole  of  the  regions 
now  known  as  Kew  England,  IS'ew  York,  and  Lower 
Canada.  Thirsting  for  fame  and  independence,  the 
Iroquois  made  an  effort  to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  the 
Adirondacks,  Beaten  in  the  war  that  followed,  they 
were  forced  to  fly  from  the  country  to  avoid  the  fate 
of  all  the  vanquished  in  Indian  wars,  total  extermina- 
tion. Ascending  the  St.  Lawrence,  they  bravely  put 
out  into  Lake  Ontario,  and  after  a  long  and  ]>erilous 
journey  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Swa-geh  (Oswego) 
River.     This  stream  they  entered,  landed  near  the  falls, 


6  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

and  encamped  on  some  high  ground  near  by.  Here 
they  resided  for  a  h)ng  time,  and  eventually  became 
the  Onun-da-ga-o-no,  or  Onondaga  nation.  Their  new 
name,  signifying  the  "  People  on  the  Hill,"  arose  from  a 
tradition  that  they  were  actually  called  forth  from  the 
bowels  of  the  earth  at  the  hill  where  they  first  lodged 
after  their  flight,  lla-wen-ne-yu,  the  liolder  of  the 
lieavens,  himself,  is  said  to  have  released  them  from 
their  subterranean  prison,  and  conducted  them  to  the 
upper  air.  As  time  elapsed,  the  people  became  quite 
numerous,  and  large  bands  separated  at  different  times 
from  the  parent  colony,  and  wandered  off  into  the  for- 
est in  pursuit  of  favorite  hunting-grounds  where  thej 
might  find  themselves  a  home.  One  party  locating  on 
a  beautiful  stream  became  in  time  a  nation  called  the 
Mohawks.  Another  became  the  Oneidas.  The  Cayu- 
gas  and  Senecas  also  were  formed  in  this  manner  from 
the  Onondagas,  who  always  recognized  the  youthful 
nations  as  their  children.  The  Cayugas,  according  to 
their  own  traditions,  were  led  in  their  excursions  into 
the  wilderness  by  Ta-oun-ya-wat-ha,  by  some  known  as 
Hi-a-wat-ha,  a  being  partly  human  and  partly  divine. 
They  reached  the  lake  which  now  bears  their  name 
through  the  Seneca  River.  The  native  narrative  of  this 
voyage  abounds  with  the  most  marvelous  adventures, 
which  not  only  exliibit  the  difficulties  thrown  in  the 
path  of  the  fathers  of  the  Cayuga  nation,  but  illustrate 
their  energy  and  prowess. 


THE   CAYUGAS.  7 

One  of  tliese  obstructions  was  met  at  tlie  marshes  at 
the  foot  of  Cajuga  Lake.  Then,  as  now,  tliat  spot 
was  the  haunt  of  the  wild  fowl,  and  countless  num- 
bers of  geese,  duck,  plover,  and  other  aquatic  birds, 
swarmed  over  the  marsh.  They  were  not,  however, 
allowed  to  pass  beyond  its  limits.  Two  monstrous 
eagles,  of  horrid  appearance  and  awful  power,  repelled 
■every  effort  of  the  birds  to  escape,  and  feasted  upon 
them  at  will.  The  monsters  also  barred  the  progress 
of  the  little  band  of  Cayugas.  They  were  accordingly 
attacked  with  great  valor,  and  after  a  terrific  combat 
were  slain,  and  the  way  cleared.  The  honor  acquired 
by  this  success  Avas  considerably  increased  by  the 
benefit  which  it  conferred  upon  all  red  mankind.  It 
appears  that  the  birds  in  the  swamp,  released  from 
durance  by  the  death  of  the  eagles,  rose  into  the  air 
with  a  great  clamor,  and,  spreading  themselves  abroad, 
ever  thereafter  roved  at  pleasure  upon  all  the  lakes 
and  rivers  of  the  country,  and  afforded  great  suste- 
nance to  the  inhabitants. 

Another  pestiferous  and  terrible  creature,  that  re- 
sided at  or  near  the  Cayuga  marshes,  was  the  huge 
mosquito.  lie  was  repeatedly  attacked  by  the  most 
valiant  warriors  of  the  country,  but  overcame  all  wlio 
came  against  him  with  his  enormous  sting,  until  it 
became  necessary  to  appeal  to  the  Holder  of  the  Heav- 
ens for  assistance.  In  response  to  this  a])peal,  II a- 
wen-ne-yu  one  day  met  the  horrid  insect,  and  under- 


HISTOKY    OF    AUBUEN. 


took  to  slay  liiiii.  The  mosquito  fled,  and  was  chased 
by  the  divinity  all  around  the  i^reat  lakes  and  sur- 
rounding country,  until  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Seneca  River  he  was  overtaken  and  put  to  death.  The 
blood  flowing  from  his  lifeless  body  gave  birth  to  in- 
numerable swarms  of  the  small  mosquitoes  that  still 
linger  about  the  place  of  his  death. 

The  little  band  of  red  men,  overcoming:  all  obsta- 
cles,  pursued  its  way  into  Cayuga  Lake.  It  encamped 
upon  the  eastern  shore.  Soon  after,  a  part  of  the  band 
went  west  and  settled  on  the  Seneca  Lake,  where  it 
founded  the  Seneca  nation.  Those  that  remained 
multiplied  in  numbers,  and  soon  became  distinguished 
as  the  G  we-u-gweh-o-no,  or  Cayugas,  "  the  people  at  the 
Mucky  Land." 

The  Iroquois  had  now  expanded  from  a  single  fugi- 
tive tribe  into  live  independent  nations ;  but  it  is  not 
to  be  supposed  that  this  had  been  effected  with  ease, 
or  in  a  day.  On  the  contrary,  many  years  had  elapsed 
since  they  first  entered  the  region  which  subsequently 
became  the  seat  of  their  confederacy  ;  and  many  long 
and  bloody  wars  witli  resident  nations  had  attended 
their  growth.  To  make  room  for  themselves,  they 
were  forced  to  expel  the  Alleghans  and  Andastes, 
then  living  in  the  interior  of  the  State.  And,  as  they 
spread  over  the  country,  they  encountered  the  resent- 
ment of  their  hereditary  foes,  the  Adirondacks,  as  well 
as  of  tlie  Minsi,  who  were  settled  about  the  Hudson, 


THE   CAYUGAS.  9 

and  the  warlike  Indians  of  Kew  England.  Thej  also 
found  enemies  in  the  Eries,  or  Cats,  and  the  ]S"euter 
nation,  living  about  Lake  Erie  and  the  Niagara  Hiver. 
Thej,  however,  pushed  back  these  nations,  and  gained 
a  strong  foothold  on  the  soil.  At  this  point,  the  Iro- 
quois nations,  for  some  unaccountable  reason,  fell  to 
fighting  among  themselves.  They  were  one  people, 
in  fact,  and  brothers ;  but  for  several  years  they  waged 
war  upon  one  another  with  the  greatest  bitterness. 
Their  hunting  parties  were  continually  ambushed  and 
broken  up.  The  old  people  lived  in  perpetual  terror. 
The  tribes  were  compelled  to  change  their  villages  often. 
The  numbers  of  the  people  wasted  away  ;  and,  taking 
advantage  of  their  weakened  condition,  the  border 
nations  again  took  up  the  hatchet  against  them,  and 
began  to  press  upon  them  in  the  most  alarming 
manner. 

It  having  become  evident  to  the  Irocpiois  that  they 
were  in  danger  of  being  overwhelmed  by  their  hostile 
neighbors,  the  proposal  was  made  by  an  Onondaga 
sage  that  the  nations  should  calm  the  s])irit  of  war, 
re-o})cn  tlie  paths  between  the  villages,  resume  the 
voice  of  cheerfulness,  and  unite  in  a  league  for  the 
preservation  of  peace  between  themselves,  and  for 
defense  against  common  enemies.  The  project  so 
commended  itself  to  tlie  good  sense  of  the  kindred 
tribes  that  it  was  adopted.  Upon  the  northern  shore 
of  tlie  Onondan^a  Lake  the  chiefs  met  in  council,  and 


1(1  FIISTOKY    OB^    AUBURN. 

agreed  ii])un  the  terms  and  principles  of  tlie  confede- 
racy. The  date  of  this  event  is  placed,  by  reliable 
testimony,  about  an  Imndred  years  before  the  Dutch 
discovery.  Many  traditions  give  the  league  a  remoter 
origin  ;  but  they  are  not  supported  by  competent 
authorities.  The  principal  sachem  from  the  Cayugas 
attending  tliis  famous  council  was  distinguished  for 
the  unusual  size  and  beauty  of  his  calumet.  This 
circumstance  led  to  the  adoption,  by  the  Cayugas,  of 
a  very  large  calumet,  as  the  totem,  or  heraldic  device, 
of  tlieir  nation. 

No  sooner  bad  the  five  Iroquois  nations  buried  tbeir 
quarrels,  and  assumed  the  title  of  "  the  People  of  the 
Long  House,"  than  they  took  the  war-patli  together  in 
search  of  renown,  and  revenge  upon  tlieir  ancient  ene- 
mies. A  furious  war  was  first  made  upon  the  Adiron- 
dacks.  This  haughty  race  was  completely  humbled, 
and  when  Jacques  Cartier,  in  1535,  became  acquainted 
with  its  condition,  he  found  that  it  had  been  broken 
up,  and  the  remnants  forced  to  seek  safety  among  the 
Algonquins.  The  Algonquins  and  Ilurons  were  next 
attacked,  but  were  too  powerful  to  be  easily  shaken. 
They  had  been  fnrnislied  with  rifles  by  tlie  French,  for 
the  very  purpose  of  resisting  unfriendly  neighbors. 
This  superiority  over  the  Iroquois,  however,  lasted  only 
till  1615,  wlien  a  Dutch  trading-post  being  established 
at  Albany,  tlie  Iroquois  themselves  obtained  a  large 
number  of  guns.     With  this  destructive  weapon  they 


THE    CAYUGAS.  11 

renewed  tlie  war  in  Canada,  and  overthrew  their  ene- 
mies. The  Ilurons  were  scattered  in  every  direction, 
a  large  number  taking  refuge  with  the  Eries.  The 
war  then  opened  in  that  quarter.  A  fierce  struggle 
followed.  Tlie  victorious  party  was  the  Iroquois,  who 
fairly  exterminated  both  the  Eries  and  the  Xeuter 
JS^ation,  adopting  the  remnant  of  the  conquered  tribes 
to  supply  their  losses  during  the  war.  Tlie  Alleghans 
incurred  the  resentment  of  the  Iroquois  by  an  act  of 
treachery,  which  they  expiated  by  suffering  a  sudden 
and  bloody  extinction. 

It  is  imp(^ssible  here  to  follow  the  haughty  and  vic- 
torious People  of  the  Long  House  through  the  partic- 
ulars of  its  career  of  conquest.  The  task  requires  a 
volume.  It  may  be  said,  however,  that  its  aggressions 
did  not  end  until  an  absolute  supremacy  had  been  ac- 
quired over  all  the  Indian  nations  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  north  of  the  Alleghany  and  Tennessee. 
Several  of  these  were  completely  blotted  out,  their 
camp-fires  being  extinguished,  and  their  people  incor- 
porated into  the  families  of  their  conquerors.  All  felt 
the  power  of  this  people,  and  acknowledged  its 
authority ;  and  the  early  wliite  settlers  counted  its 
alliance  as  the  most  secure  barrier  against  all  enemies, 
domestic  or  foreign.  The  Iroquois  were  the  lions  of 
North  America. 

The  traditional  origin  of  the  Cayuga  nation  has 
been  stater].      A  c(>ni]>leto  history  of  this  famous  mem- 


12  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

ber  of  the  Ir(X|uois  league  cannot  at  this  day  be 
given,  though  possessing  great  interest  to  those  who 
now  Hve  in  its  ancient  territory.  The  outlines,  how- 
ever, are  known,  and  distinguish  it  as  illustrious  both 
in  war  and  in  peace. 

Tlie  territory  of  tlie  Cayugas  extended  in  a  belt 
thirty  or  forty  miles  wide,  across  the  State  of  New 
York  from  Lake  Ontario  to  the  Susquehanna,  just 
touching  the  Seneca  Lake  on  the  west,  and  including 
within  its  limits  the  waters  of  the  Cross,  Owasco,  and 
Cayuga  Lakes.  The  principal  villages  were  Ga-ya-ga-an- 
ha,  or  *' Inclined  Downwards,"  above  Lock  Wood's  Cove 
on  Cayuga  Lake  ;  Ga-no-geh,  or  ''  Oil  on  the  Water,"  on 
the  site  of  the  present  Canoga ;  Ge-wa-ga,  or  "  the 
Promontory  running  out,"  where  Union  Springs  now 
stands ;  and  Ne-o-dak-he-at,  meaning  "  at  the  end  of 
the  Lake,"  on  the  hills  near  Ithaca.  The  village  of  Was- 
co was  located  on  the  great  central  trail  where  Auburn 
now  stands,  and  De-a-wen-dote,  or  "  Constant  Dawn," 
on  the  site  of  Aurora.  Numerous  other  villages  were 
scattered  about  through  the  forest,  though  tliose  of  in- 
ferior size  were  used  more  as  hunting  camps,  being 
occupied  only  at  the  seasons  when  the  woods  were 
being  scoured  for  game.  Between  the  villages  and 
hunting  lodges  there  ran  a  number  of  well-worn  trails 
or  foot-patlis  by  which  alone  tlie  forest  was  penetrable. 
One  of  these  trails  ran  along  the  south-western  bank 
of  the  Owasco  Creek,  and  was  in  very  early  times  used 


THE   CAYUGAS.  13 

by  the  white  settlers  of  Auburn  as  the  line  of  a  street. 
The  great  central  trail  crossed  the  outlet  a  short  dis- 
tance above  the  prison,  almost  as  far  east  as  North 
Street.  Its  course  westward  was  very  nearly  on  the 
line  of  the  present  turnpike  for  several  miles.  Half 
way  to  Cayuga  Lake  it  turned  southward  a  little  and 
struck  the  shore  half  a  mile  above  the  bridofe.  The  ^ 
villages  were  composed  of  substantial  one-story  frame 
structures  covered  with  bark,  sometimes  rectangular 
and  sometimes  tent-shaped. 

The  Cayugas  were  renowned  for  their  bravery,  and 
being  with  the  Senecas  the  guards  to  the  western  en- 
trance of  the  Long  House,  they  had  frequent  opportu- 
nities for  exercising  that  virtue.  Protected,  however, 
by  their  central  position  from  sudden  inroads,  they 
escaped  the  necessity  of  continual  vigilance,  and  were 
rather  inclined  to  the  pursuits  of  peace.  Glory,  in- 
deed, with  them,  could  only  be  obtained  in  war ;  and 
their  braves  were  ever  on  the  war  path.  They  roamed 
over  the  valleys  of  the  Susquehanna,  penetrating  Qven 
to  the  Chesapeake  Bay.  They  overcame  the  Andestes, 
Tuteloes,  and  mingled  the  captives  with  their  own  na- 
tion. They  also  joined  the  wars  upon  tlie  Hurons. 
But,  after  all,  they  seem  to  have  preferred  a  different 
existence.  Living  in  security  upon  the  banks  of  their 
beautiful  lakes  and  rivers,  they  abandoned  themselves 
to  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  hunter's  life.  The  nomadic 
character  of  the  nation  had   long  been  lost,  industry 


14  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

and  agriculture  were  dawuing  on  the  people,  and  they 
seemed  almost  ready  to  emerge  from  barbarism  to  a 
tolerable  degree  of  civilization.  They  had  under  cul- 
tivation, in  a  rude  way,  corn,  squashes,  beans,  and 
fruits.  The  maples  furnished  them  sugar,  and  the 
woods,  berries  and  nuts.  Upon  their  crops,  and  the 
products  of  the  hunt,  was  their  dependence  for  food. 
^  The  excellence  and  abundance  of  the  Cayuga  corn 
crops  were  twice  of  great  value  to  the  confederacy. 
In  16S7,  the  country  of  the  Senecas  was  invaded  by 
M.  De  Nonville,  Governor  of  Canada,  with  a  large 
army  of  French  and  Indians,  who  in  the  course  of  the 
expedition  burnt  several  native  towns,  and  destroyed 
an  immense  quantity  of  corn,  both  standing  in  exten- 
sive fields  and  buried  in  caches,  which  was  estimated 
to  measure  twelve  hundred  thousand  bushels.  The 
scarcity  of  food  created  by  this  event  threatened  the 
most  serious  consequences  to  the  Senecas.  In  their 
extremity  they  appealed  to  the  generosity  of  the  Cayu- 
gas,  with  whom  they  were  very  intimate,  and  the  On- 
ondagas.  The  suffering  Senecas  were  relieved  by  their 
allies,  who  shared  their  stores  with  them.  The  same 
mishap  befel  the  Onondagas  in  1696.  The  French, 
having  failed  to  detach  the  Iro(]uois  from  the  standard 
of  the  English,  invaded  the  territories  of  the  Onon- 
dagas and  Oneidas  with  the  determination  of  break- 
ing their  power.  They  succeeded  only  in  destroying 
immense  stores  of  grain.      Indeed,  Count  Frontenac, 


THE    CAYUGAS.  15 

disappointed  at  tinding  no  enemy  to  iiglit,  although  he 
had  marched  with  great  valor  into  the  heart  of  the  In- 
dian country,  seems  to  have  attacked  the  cornfields 
with  special  animosity.  After  wreaking  his  vengeance 
upon  them,  he  returned  in  great  state  to  the  province 
whence  he  came.  The  Cayugas  were  then  agaim 
called  upon  for  relief,  and  again  as  generously  re- 
sponded. Their  hounty  saved  the  Onondagas  from 
starvation. 

The  Cayugas  wxre  spared  the  evils  of  invasion  at. 
the  time  of  Count  Frontenac's  expedition  by  the  fol- 
lowing occurrence.  While  M.  De  La  Barre,  Governor 
of  Canada,  was  organizing  his  notoriously  useless  ex- 
pedition against  the  Iroquois,  he  allowed  himself  to 
indulge  in  no  small  amount  of  pompous  language  as  to 
the  prodigious  things  he  was  about  to  accomplish,  and 
he  gave  the  King  of  France  to  understand  by  his 
letters  that  he  was  waging  most  successful  war  upon 
liis  savage  enemies.  The  King  of  France  with  great- 
innocence  wrote  M.  De  La  Barre  to  send  him  a  num- 
ber of  the  Indian  chiefs,  supposed  to  be  captured,  to 
man  the  royal  galleys.  The  Marquis  was  of  course 
unable  to  do  this.  M.  de  Nonville,  however,  upon 
taking  command  of  Canada  in  1685,  gratuitously  at- 
tempted to  gratify  this  whim  of  the  monarch.  Pro- 
ceeding to  Cataraqui,  now  Kingston,  with  two  thou- 
sand men,  he  assembled  there  at  once,  upon  various 
pretext:^,  a  council  of  Iroquois  chiefs,  among  whom 


16  HISTORY   OF    AUBURN. 

was  the  eminent  Cayuga  chief,  Oureonhareh.  De 
Non\dlle  then  with  deep  treachery  put  the  natives  all 
in  irons,  and  sent  them  to  France.  The  Iroquois  in- 
stantly retaliated.  The  warriors  of  the  Five  Nations, 
especially  of  the  Cayugas  and  Senecas,  sprang  to  anus. 
They  razed  Fort  Niagara,  swept  furiously  into  Canada, 
filling  that  province  with  a  dreadful  panic,  and  finally 
appeared  before  Montreal,  and  demanded  the  return  of 
the  chiefs,  threatening  instant  massjicre  unless  the 
claim  was  acceded  to.  The  proud  French  officer  was 
forced  to  send  to  France  for  the  release  of  the  cap- 
tives. Count  Frontenac,  who  replaced  De  Nonville 
in  1689,  brought  back  the  Indian  chiefs.  No  oppor- 
tunity, however,  was  lost  by  him  to  win  the  affections  of 
the  returning  Iroquois.  They  were  plied  with  atten- 
tions and  courtesies,  and  some,  Oureonhareh  included, 
were  converted  to  Christianity.  The  reason  was  obvi- 
ous. The  French  were  striving  to  gain  tlie  extensive 
influence  of  the  chiefs  in  their  favor  as  against  the 
English.  They  succeeded  with  Oureonhareh,  and  it 
was  on  his  account  that  his  nation  was  spared  by 
Frontenac  in  1696. 

Notwithstanding  the  tendency  of  the  Cayugas  to- 
ward an  agricultural  life,  they  had  no  animals  tamed 
for  service  or  for  food,  except  the  dog.  Horses  were 
unknown  to  them.  Wentworth  Greenhalgh,  a  daring 
English  traveler,  ventured  among  this  people,  in  1677, 
on  horseback  and  alone.     Ilesj^eaksof  the  great  aston- 


THE    CAYUGAS.  IT 

islinient  created  amongst  the  "  Caiongas  "  by  the  appear- 
ance of  his  steed.  He  gave  a  public  performance  in 
one  oi  their  villages  to  show  the  speed  and  docility 
of  his  norse,  in  order  to  satisfy  their  curiosity.  Mr. 
GreenhVlgh  also  mentions  the  abundance  of  corn  with 
the  "  Caiougas."  In  the  use  of  the  bow,  these  Indians 
were  noi  excelled  by  the  most  famous  arcliei*s  of  the 
Old  Worid,  that  being  their  principal  weapon  both  in 
war  and  in  the  hunt. 

The  Cajugas  with  their  brethren  of  the  League 
reached  the  height  of  their  power  in  the  middle  of 
the  seventeenth  centm-y,  at  which  time  the  whole  peo- 
ple numbered  about  twenty-live  thousand.  The  num- 
ber of  the  Cayugas  was  three  thousand.  Many  Indian 
writers  rate  the  number  of  their  people  very  much 
higher,  but  it  was  at  least  as  high  as  stated.  The 
Senecas  were  the  most  powerful  member  of  the  league ; 
the  Oneidas,  the  weakest.  The  Onondagas  were  next 
above  the  Cayugas.  The  population  of  the  nations 
varied  as  they  chose  war  or  peace  ;  for  those  that  were 
most  actively  engaged  in  conquest,  adopted  the  largest 
number  of  captives,  and  so  maintained  their  strength. 

The  rulers  of  the  Iroquois  confederacy  were  a  class 
of  dignitaries,  called  sachems,  fifty  of  whom  were 
selected  from  the  prominent  sages  of  the  tri1)es  at  the 
time  of  the  foundation  of  the  league,  and  invested 
with  su])reme  civil  power.  The  government  was  a 
pure    oligarchy.     The    sachemshii)s  were  distributed 


18  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

amongst  the  nations  unequally,  the  Cayugas  receiving; 
ten,  while  the  Senecas,  with  twice  as  many  wairiorSy 
received  only  eight.  Ifi  the  national  council,  ho^^ever, 
which  assembled  annually,  or  whenever  necessar^,  upon 
the  shores  of  Onondaga  Lake,  the  sachems  voted  by 
nations,  so  that  the  size  of  the  various  delegations  did 
not  effect  the  decision  of  questions.  The  sacliemships 
were  hereditary,  and  wlien  once  conferred,  iivariably 
remained  with  the  tamily  or  tribe  of  the  original 
sachem,  whose  successor,  in  case  of  a  vacancy,  was  de- 
termined by  the  free  choice  of  the  remaining  members 
of  the  tribe,  a^o  new  sachem  was  "  raised  rp  "  unless  he 
was  thus  elected.  When  so  elected  he  was  invested 
with  the  power  of  his  office  by  a  solenm  council  of 
the  League.  These  councils,  convened,  as  the  natives 
have  it,  for  the  purpose  of  ''  advising  together,"  settled 
all  qnestions  touching  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the 
people  at  large.  Treaties,  the  declaration  of  war  or 
peace,  the  dis])Osal  of  conquered  nations,  and  the 
management  of  home  affairs,  were  the  |)rincipal  sub- 
jects of  Iroquois  legislation.  All  matters  brought  be- 
fore the  council  w^ere  discussed  with  force  and  anima- 
tion. Every  subject  took  the  form  of  a  (juestion 
which  was  to  l)e  decided  in  the  affirmative,  or  the  con- 
trary, and  the  warriors  were  to  be  of  "  one  mind," 
without  exception,  before  a  measure  could  be  adopted. 
From  his  place  in  the  circle  of  sachems  al)out  the 
council  iire,  each  rose  and  spoke.     The  inflexible  rule 


THE    CAYUGAS. 


19 


that  uiiaiiiiiiity  was  necessary  to  action,  gave  promi- 
nence to  dissenters.  There  were  always  some  such,  to 
overcome  whose  objections  oratory  and  public  opinion 
were  tke  only  resorts.  In  their  se^•eral  homes,  the 
sachems  were  the  magistrates  of  their  different  nations. 
They  seldom  had  much  to  do  beyond  the  settlement 
of  disputes,  and  these  were  generally  decided  in  public 
councils  of  the  tribe  or  village.  To  this  order  no  power 
was  committed  of  a  military  character.  Tlieir  au- 
thority was  entirely  of  a  civil  nature.  The  military 
officers  were  the  chiefs,  who  were  raised  up  and  so 
called  simply  as  a  reward  of  merit,  or  for  remarkable 
bravery.  The  sachems  could  if  they  chose  go  to  war, 
but  only  as  ordinary  warriors. 

The  structure  of  each  individual  nation  was  pecu- 
liar. They  were  each  divided  into  eight  clans,  or 
tribes,  having  an  heraldic  device,  or  totem,  by  which 
they  were  severally  known.  These  tribes  were  re- 
spectively the  Wolves,  I'ears,  Beavers,  Turtles,  Deer, 
Herons,  Snipe,  and  Hawks,  tlie  first  four  of  which  were 
considered  as  brothers  to  each  other.  The  last  fonr 
were  brothers  also,  but  cousins  to  the  first  four.  The 
members  of  each  individual  trihe  were  considered  not 
oidy  as  of  one  family,  and  thus  brothers  and  sisters, 
but  they  also  had  the  same  relation  to  the  members  of 
all  the  tribes  of  the  same  name  in  the  other  nations. 
Thus,  the  Cayuga  Wolves  were  brothers  of  the  Seneca 
Wolves,  and  of  the  Wolves  of  tlie  whole  League,  and 


20  HISTORY    OF   AUBUKX. 

SO  tliroiigli  the  list.  The  object  of  this  arrangement 
was  to  strengthen  each  nation  by  tying  together  its 
tribes,  and  to  strengthen  the  confederacy  by  linking 
together  the  nations.  This  was  partly  accomplished 
by  tribal  divisions.  The  laws  of  marriage  and  descent 
completed  it.  It  was  the  law  that  brothers  and  sisters 
should  not  marry.  Therefore  a  Cayuga  Wolf  could 
not  find  a  bride  amongst  the  Wolf,  Bear,  Beaver,  or 
Turtle  tribes,  of  his  own  or  any  other  nation,  but  he 
must  seek  her  amongst  his  cousins  the  Deer,  Heron ^ 
Snipe,  and  Hawk  tribes.  A  rigid  adherence  to  this- 
rule  speedily  united  the  tribes  and  nations  with  the 
closest  ties  of  relationship.  This  system  was  rather 
intricate  at  best,  but  it  was  further  complicated  by  the 
custom  of  descent  by  the  female  line.  The  Indian 
child  was  invariably  of  the  same  tribe  and  nation  as  his 
mother.  The  Deer  warrior  marries  a  Bear  wife  ;  his 
children  are  Bears.  The  Cayuga  brave  may  seek  a 
squaw  amongst  the|Senecas,  and,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
celebrated  Red  Jacket,  who  was  born  at  Ga-no-ga,  his 
descendants  are  Senecas.  Thejsystem  of  cross  rela- 
tionships was  elaborate  and  wonderful.  It  was  more- 
over effectual,'"and  was  the  secret  of  the  remarkable 
union  of  the  Iroquois. 

The  downfall  of  the  people  of  tlie  Long  House  was 
swift  and  pitiable.  The  troubles  of  the  people  began 
with  the  growing  power  of  the  English  colony  of  J^ew 
York,  and  were  immeasurably  increased  by  the  Revo- 


THE   CAYUGAS.  21 

lutionarv  war.  At  the  comniencement  of  that  strug- 
gle the  Iroquois  were  invited  to  range  themselves  with 
.the  royalists  and  help  suppress  the  rebellion  in  the  col- 
onies. The  Americans  invited  them  to  remain  neu- 
tral. The  savages  themselves  hesitated  to  make  a 
choice,  though  strongly  attached  to  the  British,  and 
willing  to  unite  with  them  in  the  war,  except  for  their 
exposed  position  in  this  State.  In  a  solemn  council 
of  the  nations,  the  subject  was  earnestly  discussed. 
The  majority  were  for  taking  up  the  hatchet  for  Eng- 
land. The  Oneidas,  whose  villages  were  contiguous- 
to  the  American  settlements,  desired  peace.  Accord- 
ing to  the  usages  of  the  League,  the  dissent  of  the 
Oneidas  defeated  any  positive  action.  At  length, 
however,  it  was  agreed  that  each  of  the  six  nations 
might  take  the  part  they  chose.  The  Cayugas  imme- 
diately joined  the  English  and  fought  with  great  cour- 
age in  the  long  war  that  followed.  Their  ]  lart  in  the 
horrible  massacre  at  Wyoming,  however,  led  to  the 
devastation  of  their  country  in  1778  by  General  Sullivan^ 
a  circumstance  that  broke  their  power.  When  the 
war  ended,  the  Cayugas  were  helpless.  Deserted  by 
their  allies,  they  were  only  saved  from  immediate  de- 
struction by  tlie  clemency  of  General  Washington,  in 
gratitude  for  which,  by  the  way,  they  assigned  that 
eminent  man  a  place  in  their  heaven. 

February  25th,  1789,  the  Cayugas,  at  a  convention 
at  Albany,  ceded  their  ricli  and  extensive  territory  to 


22  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

the  State  of  ^N^ew  York,  for  the  consideration  of  five 
hundred  dollars  in  silver,  and  an  annuity  of  the  same 
amount,  reserving  on^y  to  themselves  a  tract  of  one 
himdred  square  miles  in  the  basin  of  Cayuga  Lake, 
and  the  right  to  catch  eels  at  a  place  called  Skayes,  on 
the  Seneca  Eiver,  with  a  spot  for  a  landing,  and  the 
right  to  fish  and  hunt  over  the  ceded  territory.  Set- 
tlers soon  after  entered  the  surrounding  country,  whose 
presence  dro\'e  ofi"  tiie  game.  In  1795,  the  Cayugas 
'Sold  all  but  a  small  tract  four  miles  square  on  Cayuga 
Lake,  of  their  large  reserve,  to  I^ew  York.  The  pos- 
session of  this  was  in  turn  granted  to  the  State  in  the 
year  1800.  By  1805,  the  whole  nation  had  abandoned 
its  ancient  hunting  grounds,  and  moved  away  to  the 
West.  Part  went  to  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin ;  part 
followed  Brant  and  the  Mohawks  to  Canada,  settling 
on  Grand  River,  where  it  still  remains  in  a  village 
called  Cayuga ;  whilst  a  large  band  removed  to  San- 
dusky, where  it  was  afterwards  transported  by  the 
United  States  to  the  Indian  Territory,  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  A  number  of  families  also  found  a  home 
with  the  Senecas,  near  Buffalo,  and  these,  with  their 
kindred  beyond  the  Mississippi,  share  yearly  the  State 
annuity  of  twenty-three  hundred  dollai*s,  arising  from 
the  sale  of  their  lands. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  in  connection  with  the  rulei'S 
of  the  Iroquois  Confederacy,  that  none  of  them  have 
become   distinguished  in  history,  except  the  Cayuga 


THE    CAYUGAS.  2^ 

sachem,  Logan.  There  were  fifty  sacheinships,  all 
of  which  were  hehi  by  eminent  men  tliroiigh  a  long 
series  of  generations,  notwithstanding  which  the  name 
of  but  one  of  the  w^iole  number  of  incumbents  is  il- 
lustrious. Logan,  known  among  the  Cayugas  as  Tah- 
gah-jute,  the  son  of  the  brave  chief  Skikellimus,  was 
born,  according  to  tradition,  at  the  Lidian  village  of 
AVasco,  now  the  site  of  Auburn,  in  1725.  While  yet 
a  youth,  he  went  southward  witli  his  father  to  a 
spot  called  Shamokin,  situated  just  below  the  junction 
of  the  branches  of  the  Susquehanna  Eiver.  This  had 
been  a  favorite  tramping-ground  of  the  Cayugas,  and 
here  Skikellimus  built  his  cabin.  A  little  creek  rippled 
near  by.  Tah-gah-jute  soon  became  widely  known 
among  the  whites  for  his  unusually  line  person  and 
engaging  qualities.  As  he  attained  manhood  and  in- 
fluence, he  Avas  regarded  with  affection  and  admiration, 
for  he  was  an  unwavering  friend  of  the  settlers,  and 
steadily  used  his  authority  for  peace.  He  was  con- 
verted to  Christianity  while  still  at  Shamokin.  Upon 
liis  baptism  he  received  the  name  of  Logan,  out  of  re- 
spect to  James  Logan,  foi-mer  Secretary  of  the  Province, 
for  wliom  the  Indians  entertained  great  regard.  In 
1770,  moving  west,  the  CViyugas  settled  on  tlic  baidvs 
of  the  Ohio.  Four  years  later,  a  war  broke  out  along 
tins  border,  owing  to  certain  robberies  that  had  taken 
place  in  the  neighborhood,  and  which  were  charged, 
though  falsely,  upon  the  natives.     In  this,  although  he 


24  IIISTOKY    OF    AUUUKN. 

had  ever  l^efore  been  the  Iriend  of  the  whites,  Tah-gah- 
jute  became  involved.  It  appears  that  a  large  part  of 
his  family,  while  quietly  crossing  the  Ohio  in  a  canoe 
one  day,  was  met  by  a  volley  fired  from  the  sliore  by 
a  party  under  a  certain  Colonel  Cresap,  and  atrociously 
murdered.  The  sachem  was  infuriated  by  this  trans- 
action. Raising  the  war-cry  along  the  border,  he  be- 
came as  renowned  in  war,  as  he  had  been  before  in 
peace.  His  name  struck  terror  whenever  mentioned. 
It  is  said  that  he  took  thirty  scalps  with  his  own  hand. 

The  Indians,  after  a  protracted  struggle,  met  the 
colonists  in  force,  and  in  a  pitched  battle  were  routed 
in  confusion.  IS^egotiations  were  opened  for  the  pur- 
pose of  effecting  a  treaty.  A  council  was  called,  but 
Logan  proudly  refused  to  attend  with  the  other  chiefs, 
sending  instead  a  messenger  to  Lord  Dunmore,  then 
governor  of  the  colony,  with  the  speech  for  the  beauty 
and  force  of  which  he  is  so  celebrated.     He  said  : 

"  I  appeal  to  any  white  man  to  say,  if  lie  ever  entered 
Logan's  cabin  hungry,  and  he  gave  him  not  meat ;  if 
he  ever  came  cold  and  naked,  and  he  clothed  him  not. 
During  the  course  of  the  last  long  and  bloody  war, 
Logan  remained  idle  in  his  cabin,  an  advocate  for 
peace.  Snch  was  my  love  for  the  whites,  that  my 
countrymen  ])ointed  as  they  passed,  and  said,  '  Logan 
is  the  friend  of  the  white  men.'  I  had  even  thought 
to  have  lived  with  you,  but  for  the  injuries  of  one 
man.     Colonel   Cresap,  the  last  spring,  in  cold  blood 


THE    CAYUGAS. 


25 


and  unprovoked,  murdered  all  the  relations  of  Logan, 
not  sparing  even  my  women  and  children.  There 
runs  not  a  drop  of  my  blood  in  the  veins  of  any  living 
creature.  This  called  on  me  for  revenge.  I  have 
sought  it.  I  have  killed  many.  I  have  fully  glutted 
my  vengeance.  For  my  country,  I  rejoice  at  the 
beams  of  peace.  But  do  not  harbor  a  thought  that 
mine  is  the  joy  of  fear.  Logan  never  felt  fear.  He 
will  not  turn  on  his  heel  to  save  his  life.  Who  is 
there  to  moiimfor  Logan  f     Not  oiieP 

Logan  met  with  an  unhappy  fate.  The  lonely 
sachem  during  his  last  years  was  overcome  with  in- 
temperance. One  day,  under  the  fearful  influence  of 
strong  drink,  his  savage  nature  was  aroused  by  some 
unlucky  occurrence,  and  in  a  fit  of  passion  he  killed 
his  wife.  When  his  senses  returned,  Logan  fled.  His 
relatives  sought  for  him  in  the  forest.  They  overtook 
him  near  Lake  Erie,  but  mistaking  their  object,  Logan 
attacked  them,  and  was  slain  by  his  kinsman,  Tah- 
hah-dohs,  in  self-defense. 

The  grass-grown  earthwork  that  crowns  the  sum- 
mit of  the  eminence  known  as  Fort  Hill,  in  the  south- 
western part  of  Auburn,  is  the  best  preserved  of  the 
many  castles  of  the  ancient  Cayugas.  The  hill  upon 
which  it  is  situated  rises  boldly  to  the  height  of  over 
one  hundred  feet,  and  commands  so  extensive  a  pros- 
pect that  signal  fires  at  the  fort  may  be  seen  for  from 
ten  to  twenty  miles  in  every  direction. 


tiQ>  HISTORV    OF    AUBUKN. 

The  liill  I'oseesses  great  natural  advantages  for  de- 
fense, and  the  fort  i&  placed  in  the  best  possible  man- 
ner upon  its  to]\  The  ground  descends  upon  every 
side.  The  work,  to  which  great  attention  lias  been 
given  by  antiquarians,  is  an  embankment  in  the  form 
of  an  irregular  ellipse,  with  large  openings  at  five  dif- 
ferent points,  evidently  intended  as  gateways.  When 
iirst  examined  it  was  surrounded  by  a  moat.  The 
greatest  height  of  the  embankment  is  now  no  more 
than  four  feet ;  its  thickness  at  the  base,  fourteen  feet. 
The  diameter  of  the  whole  inclosure  from  east  to  west 
between  the  outside  slopes  of  the  wall  is  four  hundred 
and  sixteen  feet,  and  from  north  to  south,  three  hun- 
dred and  ten  feet.  The  circumference  is  tweh^e  hun- 
dred feet.  The  northern  and  eastern  gateways,  which 
are  respectively  one  hundred  and  sixty-six,  and  sixty- 
six  feet  in  width,  open  upon  gently  descending  ground, 
although  at  the  distance  of  seventy  feet  from  the  former 
the  brow  of  the  hill  is  reached,  and  the  surface  pitches 
abruptly.  The  three  openings  on  the  south  vary  from 
fifty  to  seventy-eight  feet  in  width.  These  are  on  the 
brink  of  ridges  and  ravines  that  must  have  rendered 
approach,  if  offered,  a  daugerous  attempt.  The  inclo- 
sure is  located  on  the  western  and  most  elevated  part  of 
the  hill,  and  is  pushed  back  from  the  northern  slope  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  south  wall  overlooks  the  ravines. 

Unmistakable  traces  of  aboriginal  occupation  have 
been  found  in  and  about  the  fort.     Among  many  relics 


THE    CAYUOAS.  27 

of  a  curious  and  interesting  nature  discovered  here,  was 
the  thin  iron  head  of  a  banner  staff,  fourteen  inches  long 
by  ten  broad,  of  ancient  appearance,  and  of  either 
French  or  English  origin.  It  was  for  many  years  ex- 
hibited in  a  public  niuseuui  in  tliis  city.  Large  holes 
in  the  inner  area  of  the  fort  have  been  ascertained  to 
be  the  caches  of  the  ancient  inhabitants.  Arrow- 
heads and  missiles  are  also  found  here. 

The  heavy  growth  of  trees  that  covered  Fort  Hill 
at  the  time  of  the  discoveiy  of  the  fortification  estab- 
lishes the  great  antiquity  of  the  work.  Concerning 
this  question,  McCauley,  in  his  "  History  of  JSTew  York,'^ 
says :  "  We  examined  the  stump  of  a  chestnut  tree  in 
this  moat,  which  was  three  feet  two  inches  in  diameter, 
at  a  point  two  feet  and  a  half  above  the  surface  of  the 
earth.  A  part  of  the  trunk  of  the  same  tree  was 
lying  by  the  stump.  As  this  tree  had  been  cut  down, 
we  endeavored  to  ascertain  its  age ;  and  for  this  pur- 
pose we  counted  the  rings  or  concentric  circles,  and 
found  them  to  amount  to  two  hundi*ed  and  thirty-five. 
The  center  of  the  tree  was  hollow  or  decayed ;  and 
estimating  this  part  as  equal  to  thirty  more  layers  or 
growths,  we  calculated  the  entire  age  of  the  tree  to  be 
two  hundred  and  sixty-five  years.  About  five  years  had 
elapsed  since  the  tree  was  cut  down.  This  was  in  1825, 
and  would  carry  back  the  date  of  the  work  to  1555. 

"  At  the  distance  of  tliree  paces  from  this  stump  was 
another  of  chestnut,  standing  in  tlie  ditch.     It  exceeded 


28  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

three  feet  in  diameter,  and  must  have  died  standing, 
and  prolmbly  remained  in  that  position  man}^  years 
before  it  fell  from  decay.  In  our  opinion,  the  tree 
dated  back  as  far  as  the  discovery  of  the  continent. 
Besides,  it  may  be  conjectured,  for  ought  we  know  to 
the  contrary,  that  several  growths  of  forest  trees  in- 
tervened between  the  abandonment  of  this  work  and 
the  date  of  the  present  forest." 

The  question  arises,  by  whom  was  this  fort  built, 
and  what  was  it  for  ?  The  work  has  been  repeatedly 
■examined  by  ethnologists  and  historians,  and  all  have 
attempted  to  trace  out  the  mystery.  The  learned 
Henry  A.  Schoolcraft,  a  gentleman  well  versed  in 
American  antiquities,  who  visited  Fort  Hill  in  1845, 
pursuant  to  the  instructions  of  the  Secretary  of  State, 
expressed  in  a  subsequent  publication  the  conviction 
that  the  builders  of  this  fort  were  no  other  than  the 
ancient  Alleghans,  the  haughty  and  powerful  race  that 
held  the  country  prior  to  the  Iroquois,  who  were  di'iven 
to  the  construction  of  such  defensive  works  to  main- 
tain their  ground  against  invaders.  He  also  asserts 
that  this  fort  belongs  to  that  class  of  works  with  which 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  valleys  so  abound,  and  is  of 
identical  origin.  This  opinion,  advocated  and  fully 
set  forth  in  the  "  Hand-book  on  Fort  HilV  by  Benj.  F. 
Hall,  has  been  generally  received.  There  are  reasons, 
liowever,  and  strong  ones,  for  believing  that  the  early 
Cayugas  were  the  builders  of  this  castle  themselves. 


THE    CAYUGAS.  29 

The  eminent  antiquarian,  E.  G.  Squier,  to  wliose  re- 
searclies  tlie  country  is  indebted  for  the  discovery  of 
many  valuable  and  entertaining  facts  concerning  the 
aborigines,  after  a  careful  studv  of  the  cliaracter  of 
this  structure,  and  those  ascribed  to  the  mound  build- 
ers, arrives  at  the  conclusion  that  they  were  erected 
by  diii^rent  people.     He  says,  speaking  of  the  Iroquois 
monuments  :     ''  I  have  already  mentioned  that  within 
them  are  found  many  relics  of  art,  and  many  traces  of 
occupancy.     These,  I  had  ample  opportunities  of  as- 
<;eii:aining   in   the   course   of    my  investigations,  are 
absolutely  identical  with  those  which  mark  the  sites 
of  towns  and  forts  known  to  have  been  occupied  by 
the  Indians  within  the  historical  period.     The  ])ottery 
taken  from  these  sites,  and  from  within  the  supposed 
ancient  inclosm-es,  is  alike  in  all  respects;  the  pipes  and 
ornaments  are  nndistinguishal^le ;  and  the  indications 
of  aboriginal  dwellings  are  precisely  similar,  and,  so 
far  as  can  be  discovered,  have  equal  claim  to  antiquity. 
Near  many  of  these  w^orks  are  found  cemeteries,  in 
which  well-preserved    skeletons    are   contained,  and 
which,  except  in  the  absence  of  remains  of  European 
art,  differ  in  no  essential  respect  from  the  cemeteries 
fuund    in    connection   with   the   abandoned   modern 
towns  and  castles  of  the  Indians.      There  are  other 
not  less  important  facts  and  coincidences,  all  of  which 
go  to  establisli  tluit  if  the  earthworks  of  AVestern  New 
York  are  of  a  remote  ancient  date,  they  were  not  only 


30  niSTOKY    OF   AUBURN. 

secondarily  but  generally  occupied  by  the  Iroquois,  or 
neighboring  and  cotemporary  nations ;  or  else — and 
this  hypothesis  is  most  consistent  and  reasonable — they 
were  erected  hy  them. 

Mr.  Squier  is  supported  in  this  conclusion  by  the 
traditions  of  the  Iroquois  themselves.  The  Cayugas 
declare  that  the  fort  at  Wasco,  with  all  others  of  the 
same  character  in  their  territory,  was  the  result  of  the 
old  wars  between  the  five  nations,  previous  to  the 
confederacy.  That  in  those  times,  the  chief  villages 
were  located  in  defensible  positions,  and  surrounded 
with  protecting  palisades,  and  gave  shelter  to  the 
people  generally,  in  periods  of  danger.  The  caches 
were  used  for  stowing  grain.  The  palisades,  accord- 
ing to  Cusick,the  Indian,  in  his  native  "  History  of  the 
Six  Nations,"  were  thus  constructed  :  "  The  manner  of 
making  a  fort :  First,  they  set  fire  against  as  many 
trees  as  it  requires  to  make  the  inclosure,  rubbing  off 
the  coals  with  their  stone  axes,  so  as  to  make  them 
burn  faster.  When  the  tree  falls,  they  put  fires  to 
it  about  three  paces  apart,  and  burn  it  into  pieces. 
These  pieces  are  then  brought  to  the  spot  required, 
and  set  up  around,  according  to  the  bigness  of  the  fort. 
The  earth  is  then  heaped  on  both  sides.  The  fort  has 
generally  two  gaps — one  for  passage,  and  one  for 
water."  The  Cayugas  further  say  that  the  feuds 
which  created  the  necessity  for  forts  having  been 
pacified,  the  people  issued  from  their  places  of  defense, 


THE    CAYUGAS.  31 

and,  seeking  new  lionies,  left  the  others  to  decay  as 
useless.  Thus,  the  Wasco  fort  was  deserted  at  a  very 
early  day ;  and,  the  stockade  having  perished  in  tlie 
iliffht  of  time,  the  rude  enihankinent  now  aluiie  re- 
mains  to  mark  its  site.  The  mouldering  bones  of  the 
dead  are  the  only  relics  of  the  original  occupants. 

Two  miles  north-east  of  Fort  Ilill,  on  the  hill  in  rear 
of  the  North-Street  Cemetery,  there  existed,  in  ancient 
times,  a  work  similar  to  the  above.  Its  site  is  a  com- 
manding point.  The  plow  has  at  length,  however, 
reduced  this  fort,  and  effaced  all  traces  of  its  walls. 
Arrow-heads  and  Indian  pottery,  mingled  with  the 
soil,  now  barely  suffice  to  fix  the  .site,  wliich  apjiears 
to  have  been  chosen  with  reference  to  a  brook  near 
by.  McCauley  saw  the  fort  in  1825,  and  thus  de- 
scribes it :  "  It  inclosed  about  two  acres,  and  had  a 
rampart,  ditch,  and  gateway.  It  is  now  nearly  oblit- 
erated by  the  plow.  In  its  original  state,  or  the 
condition  it  was  in  thirty-five  years  ago,  about  the 
time  the  land  was  cleared,  the  rampart  was  seven  feet 
high,  and  the  ditch  ten  feet  wide  and  three  deep. 
Two  persons,  the  one  standing  in  the  ditch,  and  the 
other  ^vithin  the  inclosure,  were  unable  to  see  each 
other.  The  gateway  was  on  the  north-eastern  side, 
in  the  direction  of  a  spring  which  flowed  close  by. 
The  work  was  three  hundred  and  fifty  paces  in  cir- 
cumference.'' All  the  old  settlers  remember  the  In- 
dian fQrt  on  the  Olmsted  farm. 


32  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 


CHAPTER  11. 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  AURELIUS,  AND  THE  PLANTING 
THEREIN  OF  THE  VILLAGE  OF  AUBURN,  WITH  CIRCUM- 
STANCES OF  THE  LATTEr's  GROWTH. 


1790-1815. 

The  first  general  sub-division  of  the  western  part  ot 
New  York  State  into  townships  took  place  in  1789,  at 
which  time  the  humbled  Iroquois  nations  were  begin- 
ning to  sell  and  retire  from  their  broad  territories,  and 
the  State  Government,  through  Hon.  Simeon  De  Witt^ 
the  Surveyor-General,  was  fast  surveying  and  accurately 
mapping  the  country.  All  Western  New  York  was 
then  denominated,  in  honor  of  an  eminent  general  of 
the  Revolution,  Montgomery  County  —  Tryon,  the 
name  it  bore  in  colonial  times,  having  been  discarded. 
In  the  sub-division  of  the  county,  the  principal  part 
of  what  is  now  Cayuga  County  was  embraced  within 
the  limits  of  the  town  of  Batavia.  Aurelius  and  Mil- 
ton were  erected  therefrom,  January  2Tth,  1Y89,  the 
former  comprising  all  of  the  last  named  county  north 
of  an  east  and  west  line  passing  through  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  village  of  Union  Springs ;  and  the 
latter,  the  present  towns  of  Genoa,  Locke,  and  Sum- 


THE    SETTLEMENT   OF   AURKLIUS. 


33 


merliill.  Herkimer  County  was  erected  from  Mont- 
gomery, Februai'v  16tli,  1791  ;  Onondaga  from  Herki- 
mer, March  5tli,  1794  ;  and  Caynga  from  Onondaga, 
March  8,  1799.  On  the  day  following  its  erection 
the  only  townships  of  the  present  Caynga  County  were 
Aureliu^,  so  named  after  Sextus  Aurelius  Victor,  the 
celebrated  Homan  historian,  whom  the  Emperor  Con- 
stantius  made  consul;  Milton,  Scipio,  and  Sempro- 
nius.  In  a  beautiful  valley  in  the  original  township  of 
Aurelius,  Auburn  was  planted  in  the  year  1793.  The 
title  to  the  whole  territory  was  purchased  of  the  Cayuga 
Iroquois,  February  25th,  1789. 

The  law  of  the  United  States  Congress,  passed  on 
the  16th  day  of  September,  1776,  pursuant  to  a  report 
of  the  Board  of  War,  pro\4ding  for  the  enlistment  of 
eighty-eight  battalions  of  men  to  carry  on  the  then 
lately  declared  War  for  Independence,  enacted  that  all 
officers  and  soldiers  who  should  remain  in  the  servic^ 
till  the  close  of  the  w^ar  or  till  discharged  by  Congress^ 
and  the  representatives  of  such  as  should  be  slain  by 
the  enemy,  should  be  entitled  to  receive  from  the  Gov- 
ernment, upon  the  ratification  of  a  treaty  of  peace,  a 
grant  of  the  United  States  lands  in  Ohio,  as  a  bounty. 
It  was  provided  tliat  privates  should  receive  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  and  officei's  in  proportion  to  their 
rank ;  the  Major- General's  bounty  being  fixed  at 
eleven  hundred  acres.  An  act  of  the  -New  York  Leg- 
islature, of  the  20th  of  March^  1781,  authoriziug  the 
2 


34  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

formation  of  two  regiments  for  the  defense  of  the 
State  frontier,  promised  the  members  of  these  regi- 
ments a  bounty  of  land  equal  to  five  times  their  United 
States  grant,  and  in  addition  to  the  same.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  an  arrangement  was  perfected  by  the 
State,  by  wliicli  the  New  York  soldiers  were  per- 
mitted to  relinquish  their  claim  upon  the  Upited 
States  bounty  to  the  State,  and  to  receive  do«4>le- 
grants  in  one  parcel  located  in  tlieir  own  territory. 
Peace  having  been  declared,  the  volunteers  of  New 
York  demanded  their  bounties.  But,  as  the  Indian 
title  to  the  unsettled  lands  was  not  yet  extinguished,  a 
delay  ensued.  The  troops  became  clamorous,  and  on 
the  15th  of  May,  1786,  the  Surveyor-General  was  di- 
rected to  lay  out  a  number  of  townships  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  State  to  satisfy  their  claims.  These 
lands,  comprising  what  is  known  as  the  old  military 
tract,  were  located  in  Essex,  Clinton,  and  Franklin 
•Counties.  At  this  time  the  wonderful  reports  brought 
home  by  the  soldiers  sent  out  into  the  Cayuga  and 
Seneca  countries  to  punish  the  Indians,  of  the  extra- 
^  'Ordinary  loveliness  and  fertility  of  the  regions  about 
the  seven  lakes,  and  the  majesty  and  commercial  value 
of  the  forests  that  covered  them,  began  to  be  generally 
noised  abroad.  Hearing  these,  speculators  who  were 
holding  large  numbers  of  soldiers'  claims  induced  the 
State  authorities  to  defer  their  final  settlement  until 
an  opportunity  could  be  afforded  of  buying  the  Indian 


THE    SETTLEMENT   OF    AUIIELIUS.  35 

ricrht  to  tlie  more  favored  districts  in  the  interior. 
This  right  was  acquired  in  1TS9.  The  Surveyor- 
General  was  the!i  directed  to  h^cate  the  bounty  lands 
in  the  Indian  teri-itories.  One  million  eight  hundred 
thousand  acres  were  ordered  to  he  set  aside  for  the 
object,  and  to  be  surveyed  into  townships  containing 
one  hundred  lots  of  six  hundred  acres  each.  Each  lot 
which  was  the  size  of  tlie  share  of  a  private  was  to 
be  subject  to  a  tax  of  forty-eight  shillings,  to  discharge 
the  expense  of  the  survey.  The  Onondaga  nn'litary 
tract,  as  it  was  for  many  years  known,  embracing 
the  present  counties  of  Cayuga,  Seneca,  Onondaga, 
and  Cortland,  and  portions  of  Wayne,  Steuben,  and 
Oswego,  ^^*fi:raccordingly  laid  out  and  mapped  without 
further  delay  by  General  Simeon  De  Witt  and  his  as- 
sistants, Abraham  Hardenburgh  and  Moses  De  Witt. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  the  land 
office,  held  in  the  city  of  New  York,  July  3d,  1790, 
twenty-five  townships  were  reported  as  surveyed,  and 
a  map  was  submitted  for  approval.  The  Board  ac- 
cepted the  map,  and.  Governor  George  Clinton  being 
present,  named  and  numbered  the  townships.  Aure- 
lius  was  numbered  eight.  The  town  lots  were  then  dis- 
tributed to  those  claiming  them  under  the  law,  by 
ballot ;  the  balloting  being  carried  on  at  intervals  for 
about  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  all  obliga- 
tions of  the  State  for  the  payment  of  bonnties  in  land 
had  been  discharged. 


36  HISTORY   OF    AUBURN. 

In  tlie  ineaiitiine  the  whole  of  the  State  lying  west 
■of  the  military  tract  had  passed  into  private  hands  by 
purchase  of  the  commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  and 
was  being  offered  for  sale  by  the  proprietors.     A  farm 
might   then   be  bought    anywhere  in  the  interior  of 
]Me\v  York.     The  only  obstacle  to  immediate  settle- 
ment was  the  dense  and  almost  trackless  forest  that 
overspread  the  country.     It  w^as  possible  to  penetrate 
this  w^ilderness  by  no  other  means  than  by  the  Indian 
trails,  and  the  streams  and  lakes.     The  trails,  however, 
being  widened  by  hewing  out  the  trees,  a  torrent  of 
emigration  set  in  to  every  part  of  the  interior,  and  the 
forest  w^as  rapidly  peopled  with  sturdy  Englishmen  and 
Dutchmen.     The  pioneers  were  largely  composed  of 
veterans  of  the  Revolution,  yet  thousands  came  from 
l^ew  England,  driven  out   by  the  effect  of  the  sup- 
pression of  Shay's  rebellion  in  1786,  and  attracted  by 
rumors  of  the  beauty  and    fertility  of  this    favored 
region.      Many  more    came    from  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey.     The  town  of  Aurelius  came  prominently 
into  notice  in  this  era  of  general  settlement,  and  at- 
tracted emigration  from  places  as  far  distant  as  Mary- 
land, Massachusetts,  and  Connecticut,  being  with  the 
neighboring  town  of  Scipio  well  known  as  abounding 
in  rich  soils,  magnificent  scenery,  and  unusual  facilities 
for  the  successful  prosecution  of  farming  and  manu- 
facturing.    The  rebel  Shay  himself  emigrated  to  Aure- 
lius, and  lived  and  died  a  few  miles  west  of  Auburn. 


THE    8ETTLKMKNT    OF    AFRELIUS.  37 

The  circumstances  which  constitute  the  first  his- 
torical record  of  Auburn  relate  to  the  six  town  lots 
upon  which  the  city  stands.  Tb.ese  lots  are  desi^jnated 
by  the  Surveyor-General,  upon  his  map  of  the  original 
township  of  Aurelius,  by  the  numbers  thirty-seven, 
thirty-eight,  forty-six,  forty-seven,  fifty-six  and  fifty- 
seven.  ~  They  are  arranged  in  three  tiers  :  the  first  two 
mentioned  comprise  the  northern  ;  the  next  two,  the 
middle  ;  and  the  last  two,  the  southern  tier.  They 
were  awarded,  and  bought  and  sold  by  speculators  till 
they  fell  into  the  hands  of  actual  settlers — for  none  of 
the  veterans  to  whom  they  were  assigned  as  bounties 
ever  occupied  them — in  the  following  manner  : 

Lot  Xo.  thirty-seven,  forming  the  north-west  corner 
of  Auburn,  was  granted  July  8th,  1790,  to  a  brave 
private  of  Colonel  Van  Schaick's  regiment,  the  1st  New 
York,  by  the  name  of  George  Weaver,  who,  not  choos- 
ing to  improve  the  land,  sold  it  to  Michael  Overacker 
for  a  few  pounds  sterling.  Passing  through  the  hands 
of  Albert  Paulding,  the  title  to  the  lot  was  conferred 
December  12th,  1791  to,  Kobert  Dill,  of  iSTewburg, 
Orange  County,  to  whom  a  patent  was  issued  by 'the 
State.  Mr.  Weaver's  propensity  for  executing  deeds  of 
this  form  to  whoever  chose  to  advance  a  few  pounds 
sterling,  involved  his  original  purchasers  in  great  trou- 
ble to  establish  their  claim.  Among  subsequent  pur- 
chasers of  parts  of  lot  No.  thirty-seven  may  be  men- 
tioned Amos  and  Gideon  Tvler,  each  of  whom  bouixht  an 


38  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

hundred  acres  in  December,  1796,  the  former  for  forty, 
and  the  latter  for  one  hundred  and  eighty-six  pounds 
sterling. 

Lot  No.  thirty-eight,  constituting  the  north-east  cor- 
ner of  the  city,  was  drawn  by  a  private  in  the  1st  !N'ew 
York  regiment,  named  Alexander  Mills,  or  rather  by 
his  representatives,  for  he  had  previously  parted  with 
his  interest  in  the  lot  to  Major  Wm.  J.  Yredenburgh^ 
December  4th,  1788.  Gerrit  II.  Yan  Wagoner  bought 
it  of  the  latter  owner,  "  for  value  received,"  February 
27th,  1789,  and  received  the  state  patent  for  six  hun- 
dred acres.  He  sold  the  southern  half  of  the  farm, 
December  1st,  1794,  to  Major  Noah  Olmsted,  Jr.,  of 
Onondaga  County,  for  the  consideration  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  pounds  sterling.  After  the  sale  of 
this  lot  to  Major  Yredenburgh,  private  Mills  ventured 
to  make  another  deed  of  the  same  for  the  sum  of  fifty 
pounds  to  Joseph  Prescott  of  New  York,  who  in  turn 
sold  it  to  John  Richardson,  in  1795,  for  four  hundred 
and  twenty  pounds  sterling.  A  dispute  thus  arose 
over  the  possession  of  the  land,  which  was  carried 
before  Messrs.  James  Emmott  and  Yincent  Matthews, 
commissioners  for  the  adjustment  of  land  titles  in 
Onondaga  County,  in  the  rejection  of  Mr.  Richardson's 
claim. 

Lot  No.  46  includes  Fort  Hill  and  the  western  part 
of  Auburn.  It  was  awarded  to  Alexander  McCoy,  a 
private  of  the  1st  New  York,  who  had  served  in  the 


THE    SEITLEMENT   CF    AURELIUS.  39 

army  for  six  years,  but  who,  by  reason  of  some  infor- 
mality in  liis  papers,  was  able  to  obtain  no  more  than 
the  State  bounty  of  five  hundred  acres.  He  sold  the 
benefits  of  his  discharge  from  the  service  once  to  David 
Howell,  of  l^ewburg,  in  1789,  and  afterwards  to  John 
Brown  for  the  sum  of  eleven  pounds  sterling.  This 
matter  also  came  before  the  commissioners  for  the  set- 
tlement of  disputes  concerning  land  titles.  David 
Howell  was  declared  to  be  the  legal  owner  of  the  five 
hundred  acres.  The  decision  taking  ]-)lace  after  his 
death,  this  lot  became  the  property  of  his  heirs,  of 
w4iom  at  different  times  it  was  bought  by  Robert 
Dill,  at  a  cost  of  about  twelve  hundred  dollars.  The 
title  to  the  unappropriated  one  hundred  acres,  lying  in 
a  square  form  in  the  south-east  corner  of  the  lot,  was 
acquired  by  General  Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  a  lawyer  of 
Xew  York  city,  and  transferred  by  him,  September 
19th,  1799,  to  William  Bostwick,  of  Milford,  Connecti- 
cut, for  the  sum  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

Captain  John  Doughty  drew  by  ballot  the  eastern 
part  of  this  city,  and  the  magnificent  mill  privileges 
included  within  the  limits  of  lot  No.  forty-seven.  He 
was  the  only  one  of  the  original  owners  of  the  six 
town  lots  that  received  the  patent  for  his  land  person- 
ally. He  sold  his  patent  to  Martin  and  Josiah  Ogden 
Hoffman  of  Xew  York  city  for"  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  sterling.  February  16th,  1792,  the  lot  was 
transferred  at  an  advance  of  tliirty  pounds  to  Captain 


40  HISTOIiY    OF    AURURN. 

John  L.  Hardenburgh,  of  Ulster  County,  the  record  of 
whose  deed  still  exists  among  the  books  of  the  old 
county  of  Herkimer. 

Lot  Ko.  56,  containing  the  south-west  corner  of 
Auburn,  became  by  grant  the  property  of  Nicholas 
Avery,  a  private  of  the  2d  regiment  of  New  York 
volunteers,  w^ho  sold  it  to  Edward  Cumpston  for 
twenty  pounds  sterling.  September  23d,  1790,  the 
title  vested  by  deed  in  Jeremiah  Yan  Rensselaer — to 
whom  the  patent  was  issued — and  Abraham  Ten  Eyck.. 
Stephen  N.  Bayard  bought  the  lot  next.  He  parted 
with  part  of  his  interest  in  it  in  June,  1792,  to  Eldad 
Steel,  and  with  the  rest  of  it,  in  July,  1792,  to  Bethel 
G.  Steel.  On  the  3d  of  October,  1798,  the  lot  was 
awarded  to  the  Messrs.  Steel  in  the  proportion  of 
three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  to  the  former,  and  two 
hundred  and  fifty  to  the  latter. 

Colonel  Peter  Gansevoort  received  lot  No.  57.  He 
retained  the  farm  till  he  knew  its  value,  and  parted 
with  it  January  9th,  1805,  to  Samuel  Swift,  for  four 
thousand  dollars. 

The  patents  for  these  lots  are  severally  recorded  in 
the  ofiice  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Albany;  the 
field  notes  and  maps  of  the  survey,  are  filed  in  the 
office  of  the  State  Engineer. 

The  original  townships  of  the  Onondaga  military 
tract  were  surveyed  and  mapped  under  the  direction 
of  the  Surveyor-General  and  his  assistants,  by  Benj. 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AUKELIUS.  41 

Wright,  John  L.  Ilardenbiirgh,  ITinnphrev  Ilowland, 
Josiah   Buck,  Comfort  Tjler,  and  other  deputy  sur- 
veyors, in  the  years  1789  and  '90.     Among  these  depu- 
ties, whose  honorable,  tliough  perilous,  profession  was 
rendered  attractive  to  the  veterans  of  the  then  late 
TVar  for  Independence,  by  having  been  adopted   by 
the  venerated  Washington,  in  his  earh^  (^ajs,  Captain 
John  L.  Ilardenburgh,  of  Ulster  County,  a  tall,  swarthy 
officer,  of  Dutch  descent,  took  a  high  stand,  being  dis- 
tinguished no  less  for  gallantry  in  his  regiment,  the 
2d  Xew  York,  while  (>n  Sullivan's  expedition  against 
the  Seneca  and  Cayuga  Indians,  than  for  his  ability 
as  a  surveyor.     He  was  called,  in  the  discharge  of  his 
official  duties,  to  various  parts  of  the  military  tract, 
and  not  only  acquired  a  thorough  acquaintance  with 
its  resources  and  character,  but  a  powerful  desire  to 
settle  at  some  favored  spot  in  its  grand  old  woods,  and 
spend  there  his  remaining  years.     Life  under  the  ma- 
jestic elms  and  maples  of  the  primeval  forest,  in  the 
midst  of  scenery  of  extraordinary  beauty,  surrounded 
by  rich   soils,  and   in  a  position  where  great  wealth 
was  certain  to  accrue  to  the  large  landholder,  by  the 
development  of  the  country,  was  captivating   to  the 
imagination.     With  the  wild  valley  in  which  Auburn 
now  stands   Captain    Ilardenburgh   was  particularly 
impressed.     It  was  buried  in  dense  woods,  and  unfa- 
vorable to  immediate  occupation   from  its  swamps  ; 
but  the  immense  water  power  of  the  Owasco  Hiver, 


42  HISTOKY    OF   AUBUKN.  | 

that  ran  through  the  valley,  arrested  his  attention. 
The  stream,  draining  the  Owasco  Lake  and  the  sur- 
rounding country,  was  a  rapid  for  miles.  It  abounded 
in  little  cascades  and  falls,  and  its  current  was  full  and 
strong.  The  facilities  it  afforded  for  manufacturing 
were  incomparable.  The  deputy  surveyor,  dreaming 
already  of  the  future  city,  considered  the  opportunity 
thus  presented  as  that  "  tide  "  which  was  to  "  lead 
him  on  to  fortune."  He  resolved  to  "  take  it  at  the 
flood,"  secure  the  water  power  by  purchase  of  the 
adjacent  lands,  and  found,  if  possible,  a  settlement  at 
this  point.  Finding,  upon  balloting  for  bounties,  in 
1790,  that  the  grants  to  which  he  was  himself  entitled 
were  located  in  Fabius  and  Cicero,  he  sought  out  the 
assignees  of  lot  No.  forty-seven,  Aurelius,  and  made  a 
trade  with  them,  by  which  he  became  the  proprietor  of 
a  tract  embracing  water  privileges  which  promised  to 
be  the  most  valuable  on  the  stream. 

Captain  John  L.  Hardenburgh,  the  founder  of  Au- 
burn, fitted  by  his  vigorous  habits  and  iron  frame  for 
a  pioneers  life,  came  into  the  township  of  Aurelius 
early  in  1793,  and  took  possession  of  his  farm,  which 
was  easily  accessible  by  means  of  a  certain  rude  wagon 
track  or  trail,  that  ran  through  the  woods  directly  by 
the  spot.  This  road,  then  the  only  one  in  the  county^ 
was  made  in  1791  by  a  party  of  wood-choppers  and 
emigrants  who  were  en  route  from  Whitestown  to 
Canandaiffua,  under  the  lead  of  General  Wadsworth.. 


THE  se'itlemp:nt  of  aukelius.  43 

They  followed  the  ancient  Indian  trail,  merely  en- 
larging it  by  hewing  away  the  trees  and  underbrush, 
and  bridging  the  most  impassable  streams.  The  road 
entered  the  township  from  the  north-east,  and  cross- 
ing the  site  of  Auburn  very  nearly  upon  the  line  of 
IS'orth  and  West  Genesee  Streets,  ran  in  a  crooked 
manner  westerly  to  Cayuga  Lake.  By  the  side  oi 
this  path,  known  for  years  as  the  old  Genesee  road, 
lived  all  the  inhabitants  of  Aurelius.  Captain  Ilar- 
denburgh  brought  with  him  into  the  wilderness  one 
child,  a  daughter,  and  the  two  negro  slaves,  Harry 
and  Kate  Freeman.  Being  at  first  undetermined 
where  to  build,  he  appears  to  have  spent  several  days 
examining  the  valley,  and  sleeping  at  night  under  the 
trees,  before  he  selected  a  site.  At  length,  choosing 
a  spot  of  dry  ground  near  the  road,  and  in  rear  of  the 
lot  now  occupied  by  the  Town  Hall,  he  engaged  Gil- 
bert Goodrich,  a  neighboring  settler,  to  build  him  a 
eabin.  Harry,  meanwhile,  began  to  make  a  clearing, 
felling  w4th  his  own  hand  the  first  tree  on  the  site  of 
Auburn.  Goodrich  assisted  in  clearing  the  first  acre. 
The  cabin,  a  strong  little  structure  of  logs,  was  made 
■secure  against  the  attacks  of  wild  beasts,  and  was  pro- 
vided, in  the  absence  of  both  fire-place  and  chimney, 
with  an  old-fashioned  Dutch  back,  against  which  the 
fires  were  built,  and  the  meals  cooked.  The  smoke 
from  the  fire  found  its  way  into  the  open  air  through 
a  smoke-hole  in  the  roof.     A  wooden  crane  suspended 


4^1:  HISTORY    OF'  AUBDKN. 

the  kettles  over  the  llaines.  The  latch-string  ot  this 
house  was  always  out.  The  captain  extended  its  hos- 
pitalities to  every  new-comer,  and  to  the  aborigines,  a 
large  band  of  whom  still  lingered  in  the  valley,  not- 
withstanding that  the  main  body  of  their  people  were 
then  residing  on  the  reservation  near  Union  Springs, 
under  Karistagea,  better  known  as  Steel  Trap,  and 
Esther. 

The  Indians  were  the  only  occupants  of  the  site  of 
Auburn  when  Captain  Hardenburgh  settled.  The  Ca- 
yuga village  of  Wasco,  or  the  "  Crossing  Place,"  was 
built  among  the  trees  on  the  ground  now  covered  by  the 
State  Prison,  and  the  trails  of  its  inhabitants  ran  along 
both  banks  of  the  outlet  to  the  lake.  The  great  Gen- 
esee trail  intersected  the  stream  a  little  west  of  Korth 
Street,  a  crossing  being  effected  by  means  of  large  step- 
ping stones  placed  in  the  bed  of  the  creek,  and  united 
at  one  time,  according  to  reliable  authority,  by  a  bark 
bridge.  The  crossing  distinguished  the  locality,  which 
was  known  among  the  Onondagas  as  Osco,  and  among 
the  Oneidas,  as  Owasco.  The  Owasco  Lake  was  recog- 
nized as  "  The  Lake  near  the  Crossing  Place."  The  out- 
let itself  bore  the- native  appellation  of  Deagogaya,  or 
the  place  where  men  were  killed,  a  term  which  dimly 
hints  at  some  ancient  transaction  connected  witli  Fort 
Ilill.  The  village  of  Wasco  was  very  substantially 
constructed  of  poles  and  bark,  after  the  Indian  custom^ 
the  fires  beinir  built  on  the  o:round  in  the  interior  of 


THE    eiriTLEMKNT    OF    AURELIUS.  45 

the  houses.  The  natives  were  friendly  and  ^pent  their 
time  in  peaceful  pursuits.  They  subsisted  by  fishing, 
or  byhuntino^  in  an  extensive  cranberry  swamp  twenty 
or  thirty  rods  north  of  the  village,  which  was  then,  and 
for  years  afterwards,  famous  as  the  resort  of  game. 

About  the  year  1797,  the  Indians  began  to  trade 
with  the  whites,  who  had  opened  stores  on  Captain 
Hardenburgh's  farm,  for  various  articles  they  coveted, 
and  very  soon  obtained  large  supplies  of  strong  drink. 
This  proved  to  be  their  destruction.  Their  camp  was  im- 
mediately the  scene  of  furious  brawls,  wdiich  would  in 
every  case  have  tenninated  in  the  shedding  of  blood, 
had  not  the  whites  interfered.  One  night  a  terrific 
uproar  was  heard  in  the  village.  The  whole  neighbor- 
hood was  roused.  Hastening  to  the  spot,  the  settlers 
found  the  savages  fighting  like  demons,  pelting  each 
other  with  fire-brands,  and  throwing  burning  sticks 
and  embers  into  each  other's  lodges,  and  making  the 
forest  ring  with  fierce  yells.  An  attempt  to  appease 
them  proved  unavailing.  Before  morning,  they  had  all 
left  the  camp,  and  fled  away  into  the  wilderness,  from 
which  they  never  returned.  Among  the  many  curiosi- 
ties left  in  the  cabins  of  the  village  was  an  Indian 
book,  which  w^'is  long  preserved  by  the  old  settlers  as 
a  great  treasure. 

It  is  not  certainly  known  whether  Captain  Harden- 
burgh  was  ever  favored  like  Oloffe  the  Dreamer,  whom 
he  resembled  in  that  he  was  a  i^reat  smoker,  and  in  that 


46  HISTORY    OF    Al'BUKX. 

alone,  with  visions  (»t'  tlie  future  glories  of  tlie  vallej 
where  he  had  settled,  or  of  the  colossal  manufacturinir 
establishments  that  were  to  succeed  him  on  the  banks 
of  the  outlet,  but  he  appears  to  have  been  inspired 
with  a  belief  from  the  beginning  that  a  city  would 
spring  np  around  him,  and  he  labored  systematically 
to  bring  it  to  pass.  AVhen  comfortably  settled  in  his 
secluded  home  in  the  woods,  he  took  the  first  step 
in  this  direction,  by  harnessing  the  bj'awling  stream  at 
his  door,  and  compelling  it  to  work  for  him.  A  stout 
log  dam  was  built  with  the  aid  of  Thomas  Morley,  at 
a  point  four  or  five  rods  above  the  present  stone  dam 
hat  is  known  by  his  name,  and  soon  after  he  em- 
ployed Eldad  Steele  and  Captain  Edward  Wheeler  of 
Grover's  settlement,  to  build  him  a  mill.  This  pioneer 
manufactorv  was  known  as  a  ^\^  mill,  contained 
one  run  of  stone  capable  of  grinding  twelve  bushels 
of  grain  per  day,  and  was  thatched  with  hemlock 
brusli.  If  report  be  true,  an  attempt  was  first  made 
to  propel  its  machinery  by  means  of  the  wind. 

The  little  mill  more  than  realized  the  expectations 
of  its  builder,  exercising  from  the  outset  the  most  im- 
portant influence  on  the  destinies  of  the  valley.  The 
want  of  facilities  for  the  manufacture  of  flour  was  the 
greatest  })rivatian  of  our  pioneers.  Before  mills  were 
erected  in  their  vicinity,  the  early  settlers  of  Aurelius 
could  only  obtain  flour  by  reducing  their  grain  in  a 
mortar  fashioned  out  of  a  stump  with  a  heavy  pestle, 


THE    SFrrLKMENT    OF    AVRELIUS.  4:7 

suspended  from  a  balancing  pole,  sometliing  like  a 
well-sweep,  or  by  carrying  the  grain  to  the  old  red 
mills  at  Seneca  Falls,  or  to  those  at  Liidlowville.  One 
method  was  attended  with  an  enormous  waste  of  time 
and  patience ;  the  other,  with  formidable  difficulties. 
The  terrible  condition  of  the  early  roads  which  ran  re- 
gardlessly  over  hills  and  throngh  sloughs,  turning  out 
for  neither,  the  liability  to  meet  with  accidents  in 
lonely  and  perilous  places  where  relief  could  not  readily 
be  obtained,  the  slow  pace  of  the  oxen,  and  the  trouble 
experienced  in  hauling  the  heavy  wagons,  loaded  with 
from  thirty  to  forty  bushels  of  grain  at  a  time,  through 
the  miry  spots,  made  the  necessity  of  going  great  dis- 
tances to  mill  one  of  the  sorest  trials  of  the  pioneer. 
The  erection  of  the  new  mill  upon  the  Owasco  Creek 
was  therefore  hailed  with  joy  by  the  surrounding  set- 
tlers, who  speedily  became  its  customers.  The  mill 
performed  for  Captain  Hardenburgh  an  essential  ser- 
vice, therefore,  bringing  his  property  into  notice,  and 
making  his  farm  a  sort  of  center,  residence  at  which  was 
soon  desirable  for  business  purposes. 

Tradition  relates  in  connection  with  this  modest 
little  log  mill,  that  while  its  proprietor  was  busy  one 
day  with  his  grain  sacks,  he  was  unexpectedly  assaulted 
and  overwhelmed  with  the  arrows,  not  of  the  savages, 
but  of  love,  and  instantly  capitulated.  EoelifF  Brink- 
erhoff,  the  patriarch,  living  in  Owasco,  and  being  in 
need  of  flour,  liad  dispatched  one  of  liis  daughters,  an 


48  HISTORY    (*F    AUBURN. 

active,  bright  young  creature,  on  horseback  to  mill 
with  a  bag  of  corn,  with  instructions  to  wait  till  it 
was  ground  and  return  with  the  grist.  The  sweet 
eyes  of  the  maiden,  as  well  as  her  blooming  health, 
and  her  courage  at  venturing  alone  through  the  forest, 
took  the  miller  captive  at  first  sight.  During  the 
manufacture  of  the  corn  into  meal,  said  to  have  been 
done  on  this  occasion  slower  than  ever  before  known, 
the  brave  captain  made  known  his  sentiments,  pro- 
posed, and  after  a  proper  rehictance  on  the  part  of  the 
damsel,  was  accepted.  The  romantic  marriage  took 
place  in  1796. 

The  orio:in  and  location  of  the  roads  which  trav- 
ersed  the  township  of  Aurelias  at  this  early  date,  are 
involved  in  considerable  obscurity.  It  is  distinctly 
known  that  the  old  Genesee  road,  before  referred  to, 
was  tlie  first  built.  This  was  passable  in  the  first  in- 
stance only  with  pack  horses,  but  was  improved  in 
1793  by  means  of  a  legislative  grant  of  twenty-seven 
hundred  dollars,  expended  on  the  section  of  the  road 
between  Deep  Spring  and  Cayuga  ferry,  under  the 
direction  of  Captain  Hardenburgh,  Moses  De  Witt, 
and  John  Patterson,  commissioners,  so  as  to  admit 
travel  with  sleighs  and  wagons. 

The  next  in  order  is  a  matter  of  uncertainty.  The 
second  leading  to  Ilardenburgh's  mill,  however,  inde- 
pendent of  the  Indian  trails,  there  is  reason  to  believe, 
was  what  was  ])0}>ularly  termed  the  old  Chenango  road. 


Till-:    SETTLEMENT    i)F    AUKELIlt^.  49 

This  was  a  riule  avenue  tlirougli  the  forest,  extending 
from  the  Chenango  country  up  into  Owasco,  and  thence 
to  this  point.  It  entered  h)t  Xo.  47  frora  the  east,  pass- 
ing over  the  roots  of  tliat  immense  tree  long  known  as 
"  tlie  big  ehn,-'  and  ran  down  to  the  mill  very  nearly 
Tipon  the  line  of  the  present  Genesee  Street.  It  bent 
northward,  however,  at  the  present  corner  of  Morris 
Street  to  avoid  a  large  and  deep  slough.  Frora  the  mill 
it  ran  to  jS'orth  Street.  It  was  an  unfenced,  unimpor- 
tant road,  though  laid  out  originally  by  the  State,  and 
settled  some.  The  parts  south  of  Genesee  Street  were, 
upon  the  construction  of  the  latter,  discontinued.  A 
road  leading  from  the  Cayuga  salt  springs  at  Monte- 
zuma to  the  Owasco  bridge  was  greatly  traveled  as  early 
as  1794.  The  early  settlers  went  down  to  Cayuga 
River  for  fish,  and  to  pasture  their  cattle.  When  the 
salt  works  were  erected,  in  1797,  the  travel  was  increased. 
The  general  direction  of  the  old  road,  some  parts  of 
which  were  in  time  shifted,  and  others  taken  up,  was 
upon  the  line  now  followed  by  Garden  and  Wall  Streets, 
and  the  highway  from  Clarksville  to  Throopsville,  and 
from  the  latter  place  to  Montezuma.  There  was  also  a 
path  or  lane,  of  which,  however,  few  vestiges  now  exist, 
that  ran  along  the  south-western  branch  of  the  outlet, 
on  the  route  of  an  old  trail,  quite  through  the  place. 
The  portion  south  of  the  later  Genesee  Street,  called 
"  Lumber  Lane,"  was  at  one  time  greatly  settled.  By 
that  section  of  it  situated  west  of  Xorth  Street,  it  was 


60  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

possible  to  reach  the  lower  falls.  Owasco  Street  was 
surveyed  and  laid  out  as  a  public  highway  running  to 
the  southern  towns,  in  1795,  by  Elijah  Price  and  Za- 
dock  Grover,  commissioners  of  highways.  The  State 
road  to  Scipio  from  the  Owasco  bridge',  now  known  as 
South  Street,  w'as  also  located  by  the  town  officers 
at  the  same  time.  Nevertheless,  for  eight  or  ten 
years  this  thoroughfare  was  a  desolate-looking  road. 
It  was  cut  through  dense  woods,  the  trees,  brush, 
and  logs  being  removed,  and  an  occasional  causeway 
laid. 

Settlers  were  now  arriving  in  the  township. 
Among  the  first  was  a  large  party  from  Southern 
Pennsylvania,  near  Gettysburg.  The  party  had  been 
on  the  way  for  two  years,  having  left  its  home  in  1791. 
Ascending  the  Susquehanna  Iliver  in  flat-boats,  these 
settlers  had  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Ludlowville, 
and,  unable  to  secure  a  land  title  in  Aurelius,  had 
waited  there  for  the  establishment  of  a  land  office. 
They  now  came  on  in  wagons.  The  party  was  com- 
posed of  rleven  men  with  their  families.  These  were 
Roelift'  Brinkerhoft",  Jacob  Brinkerhoft*,  Luke  Brinker- 
hoff,  Cliarles  Van  Tuyne,  James  Van  Tuyne,  Samuel 
Dunn,  Matthias  Van  Tuyne,  Philip  O'Brien,  Thomas 
Johnson,  Abrabam  Johnson,  and  Albert  Demaree. 
They  all  settled  in  Owasco.  The  same  year,  but 
later,  Ave  other  settlers  arrived  from  the  same  locality 
as  the  above.      These  w^ere  David,  Isaac,  and  John 


THE    SKITLEMKNT    OF    AL'KKLllS.  51 

Parsell,  and  two  sisters,  who  entered  the  eountry  hy 
way  of  Cayuga  Lake.  David  Parsell  afterward  mar- 
ried the  sister  of  Captain  llardenburgh's  wife. 

Solomon  Tibbies,  one  of  the  soldiers  of  an  expedition 
sent  out  during  the  Revolution  to  ravage  the  "  Indian 
fields,''  as  they  were  called,  in  the    Seneca  country, 
came  toxVurelius  in  179i,  with  the  design  of  making  it 
his    home,   putting    up    at    Goodrich's    tavern,    like 
most  new  comers,  till  he  could  pre})are  his  owu  resi- 
dence.    The  settlers   always   lent  their  aid  whenever 
a  house  was  to  be  built,  and  Mr.  Tibbies  soon  had  a 
log  cabin  on  a  farm  on  the  west  side  of  North  Street, 
that  he  had  previously  purchased.     His.  title  to  this 
land,  however,  proved  defective.    He  therefore  removed 
to  a  farm  north  of  Clarksville,  in  which  locality  he  was 
one  of  the  very  first  settlers.     An  unbroken  wildernesa 
then  frowned  upon  him  on  every  side ;  but  he  was  coura- 
geous and  persevering,  and  though  he  did  not  reach  his 
property  witli  liis  wagon  till  he  had  first  hewn  a  pas- 
sage through  the  woods  with  his  own  liands,  he  eventu- 
ally succeeded  in  providing  for  his  family  comfortable 
quarters,  and  w^as  long  one  of  tlie  honored  residents  of 
the  towushij).     This  old  veteran  had  three  sons,  James 
and  Luther,  wlio  came  with  him,  and  Solomon,  who 
was  born  on  the  farm.     James  Tibbies  is  still  living  in 
Auburn,  in  the  possession  of  great  bodily  and  mental 
vigor,  and  is  the  oldest  living  resident  of  this  vicinity. 
lie  is  said  to  have  acquii^d  the  erect  form  for  which 


62  illSTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

he  is  remarkable  from  the  Indians,  in  whose  games  and 
hunts  he  bore  an  active  part. 

Jacob  Van  Doren,  another  intrepid  soldier,  located 
with  his  family  on  a  lot  at  the  foot  of  Owasco  Lake, 
given  him  by  the  Government  for  his  military  services, 
having  brought  his  family  and  furniture  in  a  stout 
wagon  for  many  long,  weary  miles  through  the  wilder- 
ness, and  over  a  road  cut  and  cleared  by  his  owm  hands 
as  he  passed  along.  His  log  house,  first  built,  was 
afterwards  replaced  by  a  frame  edifice,  now  owned  and 
occupied  b}^  Peter  Sittser,  in  front  of  wdiich  w^ere 
planted,  in  1800,  thirteen  poplars,  then  tender  shoots, 
and  recently  brought  into  the  country  by  the  wife  of 
the  old  hero,  in  her  apron.  The  poplars  have  since  at- 
tained a  lofty  stature,  and  are  now  conspicuous  objects 
on  the  lake  road  to  Auburn.  Mrs.  Van  Doren  died  a 
few  years  since,  at  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred 
and  three. 

Elder  David  Irish,  a  Baptist  minister,  who  preached 
the  first  gospel  sermon  in  Cayuga  County,  also  settled 
in  Aurelius  in  1Y94  Adam  Fries  visited  Auburn 
within  three  months  after  the  first  house  was  built,  but 
did  not  settle  till  179(3.  Major  Xoah  Olmsted  and 
2^nas  Iluggins  settled  at  this  place  in  1795.  The 
same  year  Gideon  Tyler  settled  near  Solomon  Tibbies, 
with  his  sons  Elliott,  Warren,  Salmon,  Amos,  and 
Gideon. 

The  first  irround  used  for  the  burial  of  the  dead  in 


THE    SKTTLEMENT   OF   AURELIUS.  55 

this  quarter  of  Aurelius  was  a  spot  on  tlie  top  of  the 
west  hill  of  this  place,  now  occupied  by  the  residence 
of  Nelson  Fitch,  on  the  east  corner  of  Washington  and 
Genesee  Streets.  The  first  man  who  died  in  the  local- 
ity— named  Kittle — was  interred  in  this  lot,  which 
was,  for  several  years,  the  common  burying-ground. 
In  1706,  another  cemetery  was  started  on  the  east  side 
of  North  Street.  Solomon  Tibbies  cleared  away  the 
trees  from  this  yard,  felling  them  with  the  tops  out  for 
convenience  in  cutting  up.  A  heavy  log  fence  was- 
then  laid  up,' inclosing  a  quarter  of  an  acre.  This  lot 
was  located  on  the  farm  of  Major  Noah  Olmsted,  and 
forms  the  north-west  corner  of  the  later  North  Street 
cemetery.  Gideon  Tyler,  a  little  fellow^  who  was  the 
playmate  of  James  Tibbies,  was  the  first  person  buried 
there. 

An  accumulation  of  settlers  about  the  junction  of 
the  mill  road  and  North  Street,  now  called  "  Harden- 
burgh's  Corners,"  began  in  1795,  and  was  the  direct 
result  of  the  operations  of  the  mill.  The  point  had 
become  a  profitable  center  for  merchants.  James 
O'Brien  came  to  the  farm,  erected  a  little  log  house 
upon  the  site  of  the  present  Town  Hall,  and  opened 
there  the  first  store  in  the  place,  which  he  kept  for  sev- 
eial  years.  Yery  soon  afterward  another  store  was 
opened  in  a  log  house,  standing  on  the  ground  covered 
by  the  session  house  of  tlie  First  Presbyterian  Churchy 
1)3'  Dr.  Samuel  Crossett,  a  gentleman  of  fine  talents 


54  HISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

and  great  public  spirit,  who  was  the  first  physician 
here.  Dr.  Ellis,  another  disciple  of  Esculapius,  settled 
here  about  the  same  time.  Samuel  Bristol  came  to 
the  Corners  in  1796  as  an  innkeeper,  and  o])ened  the 
first  public  house  in  a  log  cabin,  on  what  is  now  the 
corner  of  ]S"orth  and  Genesee  Streets.  The  inn  stood 
on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  Brown  &  Lee's  store. 
It  was  a  diminutive  establishment,  refreshments  being 
obtainable  there  in  moderate  quantities  only.  A  little 
store  was  kept  in  the  same  house.  Mr.  Bristol  kept 
the  tayern  for  several  years,  and  then  sold  out  to  John 
Treat,  of  Vermont.  Major  Walter  G.  J^ichols  also  set- 
tled in  1796.  He  succeeded  O'Brien  in  the  log  store 
at  the  corner  of  the  roads,  and  built  an  addition  to  the 
same  soon  after.  In  the  enlarged  house,  which  was 
partly  a  log  and  partly  a  frame  building,  and  was 
painted  yellow,  Major  Nichols  opened  the  fourth 
store  at  the  Corners,  and  John  Treat  kept  tavern.  Dr. 
Hackaliah  Burt  came  into  the  settlement  in  the  month 
of  March,  and  in  the  first  instance  was  a  clerk  for  Dr. 
Crossett,  of  whom  he  studied  medicine.  Soon  after,  he 
opened  an  ashery  on  the  north  bank  of  the  creek  a 
few  rods  below  North  Street,  which  he  operated  for 
several  years.  It  is  said  that  though  he  did  business 
at  the  Corners,  he  resided  till  1800  at  a  place  a  mile  or 
two  to  the  north,  so  that  he  might  escape  the  evil  (ef- 
fects expected  to  arise  from  the  swamps  here.  Dr. 
Burt  was  always  one  of  the  most  popular  men  of  the 


THE    SETTLEMENT   OF    AURELIUS.  55 

locality,  being  public  spirited,  enterprising,  and  courte- 
ous in  all  his  actions  and  relations.  Nehemiah  Smith 
arrived  in  the  neighborhood  the  same  year.  He  built 
a  log  house  on  the  west  side  of  Xorth  Street  hill,  upon 
the  very  spot  now  occupied  by  the  frame  residence  of 
Edward  L.  Skinner,  in  front  of  which  he  planted  a 
row  of  poplars.  St.  Clair  Smith  also  settled  in  Aure- 
lius   in  1796. 

Jehiel  Clark  of  Ballston  Springs,  Saratoga  County, 
settled  on  the  Owasco  Creek,  on  lot  Xo.  45,  in  1795. 
His  log  dam  was  built  the  same  year,  and  his  saw  and 
grist  mills  in  1798.  The  latter,  which  contained  two- 
runs  of  stone,  was  built  with  a  massive  frame,  capable 
of  defying  the  ravages  of  centuries.  It  has  since 
been  incorporated  into  the  Mayflower  grist  mill,  where 
its  heavy  beams  still  excite  the  wonder  of  the  stran- 
ger. Mr.  Clark  made  an  eflfort  to  start  a  city  at  thi& 
point,  and  at  one  time  seemed  in  a  fair  way  to  suc- 
ceed, for  the  nucleus  of  a  community  was  quickly 
formed  in  this  vicinity,  and  several  roads  which  were 
built  to  open  up  easy  access  to  his  mills,  and  tlie  mills 
themselves,  made  his  farm  quite  an  important  place. 
Three  roads  were  made  to  his  settlement.  One,  since 
unused,  came  from  the  neighborhood  of  Goodrich's 
tavern  on  North  Street,  crossing  the  stone  quarry  by 
means  of  a  stone  bridge,  the  ruins  of  which  are  still 
in  existence.  Another  was  a  continuation  of  this,  and 
seems  to  have  followed  tlie  ijjeneral  direction  of  Divi- 


56  HISTORY    OF    AUBL'RX. 

sion  Street  to  the  old  Genesee  road,  whence  it  passed 
on  to  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  It  was  termed, 
in  the  conveyances  of  the  day,  ''  The  road  running 
from  Jehiel  Clark's  mills  past  the  farm  of  Eldad 
Steel  to  Grover's  settlement."  Later,  it  was  known  by 
the  name  of  ''  Steel  Street."  The  third  was  called 
"  Clarksville  Street,"  and  is  identical  with  the  present 
Clark  Street.  It  intersected  Genesee  Street  at  the 
point  where  Brigg's  crockery  store  now  stands.  All 
three  were  for  many  years  of  the  same  character  as 
the  old  Genesee  road,  irregular,  crooked,  full  of  stumps, 
and  improved  only  in  the  miry  places  where  old-fash- 
ioned log  causeways  were  generally  laid. 

William  Bostwick  came  to  Hardenburgh's  Corners 
in  1798.  lie  was  a  master-builder  and  tavern-keeper 
by  occupation,  and,  having  formed  the  determination 
of  settling  in  this  place,  with  a  vigor  which  was  char- 
acteristic of  the  man,  he  immediately  built  himself  a 
house,  prepared  it  for  occupancy  and  returned  to 
Whitestown,  where  he  had  been  living  since  1793,  and 
made  arrangements  for  moving  out  his  family  and  fur- 
niture as  soon  as  the  weather  would  permit.  He  ar- 
rived in  Aurelius  the  second  time  in  February,  1799, 
having  made  the  journey  in  a  sleigh  with  his  family  of 
six.  His  residence  was  a  double  log-house,  white- 
washed iwside  and  out,  and  stood  on  the  ground  now 
occupied  by  the  east  end  of  the  Beach  block  of  stores. 
It  was  soon  afterward  opened  as  a  tavern.     The  oven 


THE   SETTLKMENT    OF    AURELIUS.  57 

of  tlie  establishment  stood  in  the  door-yard,  built 
against  a  stump.  Mr.  Bostwick  was  one  of  the  most 
stirring,  energetic  men  of  the  settlement.  Always 
self-reliant  and  devoted  to  the  cause  of  the  hamlet 
and  its  prosperity,  he  took  the  lead  in  all  important 
measures  of  that  early  day,  and  assisted  in  the  achieve- 
ment of  many  useful  public  works,  of  which  we  shall 
again  have  occasion  to  speak. 

Daniel  Hyde  arrived  in  1798,  built  a  house  north  of 
Crossett's  store,  on  the  lot  where  II.  L.  Knight  now 
lives,  and,  in  1802,  prepared  the  field  just  above  it  for 
a  tannery.  Elijah  Esty  bought  this  in  1805,  and 
stocked  and  worked  it  for  several  years.  After  the 
sale  of  the  tannery  lot,  Mr.  Hyde  formed  a  partnership 
with  Dr.  Burt,  bought  a  store  lot  on  the  north  side  of 
Genesee  Street,  reaching  from  within  a  few  rods  of 
North  Street  nearly  to  Clark,  and  opened  a  store  in  the 
old  log  tavern.  He  sold  his  interest  to  Dr.  Burt  two 
years  later,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  business  of 
milling.  Dr.  Burt  continued  the  business  on  the 
same  site,  though  he  afterwards  demolished  the  tavern, 
and  replaced  it  with  a  more  comely  edifice.  He  re- 
sided in  another  house  on  the  same  lot. 

The  new  Genesee  road  from  Utica  to  the  west  was 
constructed  to  this  place  in  1797,  the  section  between 
the  Corners  and  Onondaga  Hill  being  made  under 
contract,  by  Major  Walter  G.  Nichols.  It  is  now 
known  as  Franklin  Street. 


58  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

At  tlie  time  of  the  organization  of  the  militia  of 
Herkimer  County,  in  1793,  a  battalion  of  infantry  was 
formed,  by  the  State  authorities,  in  which  Captain 
Hardenburgh  was  commissioned  Major,  and  Noah 
Olmsted,  Adjutant.  Onondaga  County  was  set  off 
from  Herkimer  in  1794,  and  a  regiment  of  light  in- 
fantry was  ordered  to  be  organized  in  the  new  district. 

In  this  Noah  Olmsted  w^as  Lieutenant,  and  J.  L, 
Hardenburgli  and  Edward  Paine  were  Majors.  In 
1799,  when  Cayuga  County  was  formed.  Lieutenant 
Olmsted  became  Major  of  the  regiment.  Major  Harden- 
burgh, being  promoted  to  the  chief  command,  acquired 
the  title  of  Colonel,  by  which  he  is  popularly  known. 
He  retained  the  rank  till  his  death.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Colonel  John  Harris,  of  Cayuga. 

The  town  government  of  Aureliiis  was  not  orga- 
nized and  put  into  operation,  owing  to  the  great  size 
of  the  township,  and  the  lack  of  inhabitants,  until 
1794.  On  the  first  Tuesday  of  April  of  that  year,  the 
first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Colonel 
Hardenburgh.  The  settlers,  a  sturdy,  weather-beaten 
band,  gathered  in  the  log-cabin,  and  selected  their 
supervisor,  town  clerk,  committee  on  schools,  over- 
seers of  the  poor,  assessors,  commissioners  of  high- 
ways, constables,  path-masters,  fence  -  viewers,  col- 
lector, and  pound-keeper.  It  took  nearly  the  whole 
population  of  the  town  to  fill  the  offices.  The  yearly 
town  elections  w^ere,  from  this  date  till  1803,  held  at 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OB^    AURELIUS.  59 

Colonel  Hardenburgh's.  They  were  then  appointed 
either  at  Henry  Moore's  tavern,  out  on  the  openings^ 
at  Edward  Brockway's,  or  in  some  school-house.  The 
first  town  clerk  was  Colonel  I  lardenburgh.  The 
office  was  then  occupied,  till  the  town  of  Auburn  was- 
formed,  by  the  following :  Dr.  Samuel  Crossett  from 
1802  till  1803;  John  Ilaring,  till  1807;  Dr.  Hackaliah 
Burt,  till  1810;  John  Haring,  till  1811;  David  Brink- 
erhoff,  till  1813  ;  Nathaniel  Garrow,  till  1814 ;  David 
Brinkerhoff,  till  1822 ;  and  Daniel  Calkins,  till  1823. 
The  supervisors  are  given  on  another  page.  The  first 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Am-elius  was  Colonel  Har- 
denburgh. 

The  government  of  Cayuga  County  was  organized, 
May  28th,  1799,  at  the  Court  House,  at  Aurora,  by 
the  assembling  of  the  first  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the 
newly-erected  district.  The  Board,  in  full,  consisted, 
of  seven  members,  namely :  Joseph  Grover,  of  Aure- 
lius ;  Thomas  He  wit,  of  Milton  ;  Jacob  T.  C.  DeWitt, 
of  Sempronius ;  Silas  Halsey,  of  Ovid  ;  George  Bailey, 
of  Romulus  ;  Abraham  Mariele,  of  Ulysses ;  and  Wal- 
ter Wood,  of  Scipio.  The  settlement  and  division  of 
county  charges  w^itli  the  Supervisors  of  Onondaga 
County  was  the  principal  business  of  the  first  Super- 
visors of  Cayuga.  The  first  Board  of  the  county,  after 
the  formation  of  Seneca  County  from  its  western  part 
in  1804,  met  in  Scipio,  October  2d,  and  was  composed 
of  the  representatives  of  the  ten  towns.     Tliey  were 


60  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Joseph  Grover,  Jr.,  of  Anrelius  ;  Augustus  Chidsev,  of 
Scipio ;  Elijah  Price,  of  Ovvasco ;  Rufus  Sheldon,  of 
Brutus  ;  Silas  Bowker,  of  Locke  ;  Charles  Kellogg,  of 
;Semproaius  ;  Richard  Townlej,  of  Milton  ;  John  Ellis, 
«of  Dryden ;  John  C.  Barnes,  of  Cato  ;  and  Isaac  Smith, 
^of  Jefferson. 

Every  road  leading  to  Western  New  York  in  1800 
was  choked  with  emigrants,  bound  to  the  military  lands 
rand  the  valley  of  the  Genesee,  large  numbers  of 
whom  settled  by  the  side  of  the  old  Genesee  trail,  as 
they  were  able  to  obtain  suitable  farms.  The  oak 
■openings  in  the  present  town  of  Aurelius,  and  the 
fertile  towns  to  the  south,  were  tlien  competing  strongly 
for  settlers  with  the  densely- wooded,  and  therefore  less 
favored  valley  of  the  Owasco.  These  things  notwith- 
standing, the  nucleus  of  a  settlement  had  already  been 
formed  at  this  point.  Bristol's  tavern  on  the  knoll, 
and  Bostwick's  embowered  among  the  trees,  Clark's 
and  Hardenburgh's  grist  mills,  Hyde's  tannery,  Cros- 
•sett's,  O'Brien's,  and  Bristol's  stores,  Bart's  ashery, 
Goodrich's  tavern  on  North  Street,  and  about  a  dozen 
log  farm-houses,  formed  the  germ  of  the  future  city. 
Enrolled  as  residents  were  Colonel  Hardenburgh, 
James  O'Brien,  Samuel  Bristol,  John  Treat,  William 
Bostwick,  Daniel  Hyde,  Eldad  Steel,  Nehemiah 
Smith,  Dr.  Samuel  Crossett,  Dr.  Ellis,  Samuel  Haring, 
David  Snow,  Dr.  Burt,  Solomon  Tibbies,  Gideon 
Tyler,  Jehiel  Clark,  Joseph  Parish,  Barent  G.  Staats, 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AURELIUS.  61 

Moses    Bodell,  and    Friend    and    Benjamin    Phelps ; 
and  Harry  Freeman  and  Tom  Bramin,  the  slaves. 

The  cleared  ground  at  the  Corners  did  not,  in  1800, 
exceed  one  hundred  and  lifty  acres,  and  the  cultivated 
ground  was  embraced  by  a  few  small  gardens.     The 
place  was  not  a  paradise  at  this  time,  although  the 
surrounding  scenery  was  wild  and  imposing.     On  the 
contrary,  its  topograpliy  was  most  ungainly,  and  for 
mud  it  was  horrible.     A  succession  of  ridges,  bogs,  and 
rills  crossed  Genesee  Street  west  of  Bostwick's,  and  in 
fact  both  North  and  South  Streets  also ;  a  dismal  and 
dangerous  swamp  extended  from  the  crossing  of  the 
creek  westwards  for  nearly  half  a  mile,  and  stagnant 
pools  were  scattered  everywhere  through  the  woods. 
Each  pond  was  the  source  of  myi-iads  of  clamorous  frogs, 
who  with  the  wild  beasts  made  the  nights  hideous.     The 
roads  were  always  wet.     Winter  was  the  best  time  to 
travel,  and  cold  weather  always  stimulated  immigration. 
In  the  summer,  the  road  through  Auburn  was  the  worst 
between  Utica  and  Canandaigua,  a  reputation  which  it 
fully  sustained  for  over  thirty  years.     It  was  a  source 
of  great  discomfort  both  to  travelers    and    residents, 
and  in  conjunction  with  the  wet  lands  exercised  an  un- 
favorable influence  on  the  place.     The  latter,  indeed, 
came  near   proving  fatal  to  the  embryo    city,  many 
settlers  being  so  prejudiced  by  them  against  the  locality 
as  to  refuse  to  come  here  at  all,  and  some  once  estab- 
lished afterward  going  awny. 


62  11 1  STORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Wood-clio})piiig  was  the  leading  occupation  of  the 
pioneers  of  Auburn  for  many  ^^ears.  Tlie  trees  had 
to  be  felled  and  burned  before  orchards  could  be  planted 
or  grain  sown  ;  and  this  was  the  first  task,  therefore,  of 
every  settler.  In  it  the  slaves  took  an  active  part ;  for,, 
while  the  original  inhabitants  of  this  town  were  sturdy 
patriots  and  sincerely  attached  to  the  principles  of  free 
government,  it  must  be  remembered  that  such  as 
could  afford  it  were  owners  of  negro  slaves,  and  slave 
labor  was  employed  here  till  after  the  war  of  1812. 
The  founders  of  Auburn,  however,  were  kind  masters  ;. 
instances  of  cruelty  to  the  blacks  were  unknown. 
On  the  other  hand,  acts  of  the  greatest  generosity  were 
abundant,  and  the  negroes  were  often  permitted,  if  they 
chose,  to  earn  their  liberty  by  clearing  up  the  new  lands. 
Tom  Brainin  acquired  his  liberty  in  this  manner,  clear- 
ing away  for  Col.  Hardenburgh  the  woods  from  the 
eighty  acres  of  his  farm  lying  north  and  west  of  Gene- 
see and  Fulton  Streets,  which  were  afterwards  used  for 
an  orchard.  Tom's  free  papers  appear  on  the  pages  of 
the  old  town  book  of  Aurelius.     They  run  thus  : 

*'  To  all  persons  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  greeting : 
Know  ye  that  in  consideratien  of  the  sum  of  three  hundred 
dollars,  and  for  divers  other  good  and  sufficient  causes  and  con- 
siderations, we  hereunto  moving,  paid  and  given  by  Thomas 
Bramin,  a  black  man  (my  servant),  I,  John  L.  Hardenburgh,  of  the 
town  of  Aurelius,  in  the  county  of  Cayuga,  and  State  of  New 
York,  have  manumitted  and  set  free,  and  by  these  presents  do  man- 
umit, discharge,  and  set  free  the  said  Thomas ;  and  do  hereby,  for 


THE    SEITLEMENT    OF    AUKELIU.S.  6S 

myself,  my  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  for  ever, 
quit  claim  to  the  said  Thomas  and  to  his  further  service,  and  every 
part  thereof.  And  for  the  consideration  aforesaid,  I  do  hereby, 
for  myself,  my  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  con- 
fess and  acknowledge  the  said  Thomas  a  free  man  to  all  intents 
and  purposes  whatsoever,  and  fully  and  entirely  independent  of 
me,  my  heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  14th  day  of  April,  1803. 

John  L.  Hardenburgh. 

Witnesses:  Daniel  Cogswell,  Nathaniel  Garrow,  Simon  Hall. 

Among  these  old  records  appear  also  the  free  papers 
of  two  slaves  of  Peter  Hughes,  who,  by  the  waj, 
gained  their  freedom  in  the  same  manner  as  Tom 
Bramin.     This  is  the  record  : 

"  Whereas,  by  a  law  of  the  State  of  New  York,  passed  the  8th 
day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1801,  it  is  enacted  that  it 
shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  owner  of  an}-  slave  to  manumit 
the  same  by  obtaining  a  certificate  from  the  Overseers  of  the 
Poor  of  the  town  where  such  owners  reside  ;  now,  therefore, 
know  ye  that  we,  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  town  of  Auro- 
lius,  duly  appointed  for  the  year  1808,  on  the  application  of  Peter 
Hughes,  Esq.,  of  said  town,  to  manumit  two  certain  negro  slaven, 
to  wit :  one  by  the  name  of  Harry,  aged  thirty  years,  the  other  by 
the  name  of  Abraham,  aged  thirty-nine  x'-ears,  do,  in  consequence 
of  said  law  and  application,  and,  on  due  examination  of  said 
slaves,  agree  and  certify,  that  we  deem  the  said  negro  men  capable 
of  supporting  themselves  by  their  labor,  and  do,  by  these  presents, 
receive  the  said  negro  men  as  free  citizens  of  the  said  town  of 
Aurelius,  hereby  discharging  the  said  Peter  Hughes,  his  heirs,  ex- 
ecutors, and  administrators,  from  all  claims  which  the  said  town 
might  otherwise  have  on  the  said  Peter  Hughes,  or  his  estate,  on 
account  of  any  future  inability  of  said  negro  men. 


64  HIST(.)RY    OF    AUBURN. 

Givea  under  our  bauds   this  5th  day  of  December,  1808,  at 

Auburn. 

Zenas  Huggins,    )  Overseers  of 
x\lex'r  Pinnerk,  i"     the  Poor. 

The  birth  of  the  first  white  child  at  the  Corners  may 
be  chronicled  as  among  the  important  occurrences  of 
1798.  The  individual  who  had  the  honor  of  being  the 
pioneer  child  of  this  place  w^as  no  less  than  John  H.,, 
son  of  Colonel  Hardenburgh.  The  first  black  child 
was  the  son  of  Harry  Freeman,  and  the  first  white- 
girls  were  Harriet  and  Polly,  daughters  of  William 
Bostwick. 

Stages  were,  in  1800,  running  over  the  old  Genesee 

oad  once  a  week  ;  a  post-oftice  was  established  at  the 

3rs  that  year,  with  a  mail  every  fortnight.     Isaac 

wood,  of  Skaneateles,  and  Jason  Parker,  were  the 

mail    carriers.      Mr.  Parker    brought   the    bags 

/Ugh  this  part  of  the  line  on  horseback,  or,  w^hen  he 

;  nnable  to  come,  Mrs.  Parker,  and  left  the  mail 

tter  for  this  neighborhood  at  the  store  of  Dr.  Crossett, 

10  was  honored  with  the  position  of  first  postmaster. 

t   1804  the   mails  began  to  run   tw^ice   a  week,  and, 

•  hen  light,  were  occasionally  brought  by  the  father  of 

Ion.  Gerrit  Smith,  on  horseback.     A  daily  mail  was 

iot  received  till  1808. 

The  first  institution  of  learning  at  or  near  Harden- 
burgh's  Corners  was  located  in  1796,  on  the  west  side 
of  North  Street,  half-way  up  the  hill.  It  was  a  log 
house.     Benjamin  Phelps  was  the  first  schoolmaster ; 


THE    Sprrri.EMENT   OB^    AURELIl'S.  66 

Dr.  Burt  the  second.  Another  school  was  rnnnini];  at 
the  same  time  in  a  l(»ijc  cabin  on  the  soutli-east  corner  of 
the  present  Division  and  Genesee  Streets,  in  which  the 
bare-footed  urchins  of  Clark's  Village  and  vicinity  re- 
ceived tlieir  first  teachings  in  the  rudiments  of  knowl- 
edge. In  ISOl,  a  frame  school-house  was  erected;  at 
the  Corners,  to  the  no  small  lionor  of  the  inhabitants 
and  mental  profit  of  their  children.  This  little  build- 
ing, containing  one  room,  and  painted  yellow,  stood  in 
the  first  instance  on  the  east  side  of  South  Street,  but  on 
a  spot  which  is  now  the  center  of  that  street.  The 
road  coming  up  from  the  creek  did  not  pursue  at  that  time 
a  direct  course  southward,  but  ran  off  toward  Bostwick's 
tavern,  to  avoid  a  sharp  knoll  at  the  head  of  North 
Street,  and  then  turned  back  to  its  present  course  on 
the  other  side.  When  the  road  w^as  straightened  in 
after  years,  the  school-house  stood  in  the  way  and  was 
moved  to  the  west  corner  of  South  Street,  where  it  sub- 
sequently became  a  store.  Dr.  Steadman  w^as  the  first 
master  of  this  school.  David  Buck  succeeded  him, 
and,  in  1806,  Benjamin  Phelps.  Another  school  was 
opened  in  1801  in  a  log  building  on  the  north  side  of 
what  is  now  Franklin  Street,  between  llolley  and  Ful- 
ton Streets,  by  Benjamin  Phelps,  who  was  wont  to  ring 
a  cow-bell  to  assemble  his  pupils.  Tlie  school  was 
prosecuted  for  a  year  or  two,  after  which  the  house  was 
converted  into  a  residence. 

Tlie  crossing  of  the  outlet  on  Nortli  Street  was  im- 
3 


66  HISTORY    OF    AriJURN. 

proved  in  the  year  1800,  by  the  construction  of  a  log 
bridi^e — the  first  on  the  site  of  Auburn.  The  stream 
was  forded  by  teams  previous  to  this  date,  and  crossed 
by  pedestrians  by  means  of  the  trunk  of  a  tall  tree, 
felled  so  as  to  reach  from  bank  to  bank.  The  famed 
bridge  over  the  Cayuga  Lake  was  built  the  same  year, 
at  an  expense  of  $150,000,  by  John  Harris,  Thomas 
Morris,  AYillielmus  Mynderse,  Cliarles  Williamson, 
and  Jose})h  Annin,  associated  as  the  "  Manhattan 
Company." 

This  year  brought  to  the  hamlet  a  son  of  Vulcan, 
Daniel  Grant  by  name,  who  set  up  his  anvil  in  a  little 
shop  on  the  site  of  the  present  Columbian  block,  and 
who,  four  years  later,  opened  tlie  first  trip-hammer 
forge  here,  on  the  east  corner  of  Lumber  Lane  and 
"Genesee  Street ;  Zenas  Goodrich,  the  tavern-keeper ; 
Francis  Hunter,  the  farmer,  who  settled  just  east  of 
'"  the  big  elm ; "  and  Elijah  Esty,  the  tanner,  who  pur- 
chased, in  August,  1805,  and  operated  for  seven  years 
thereafter,  the  Hyde  tannery  on  North  Street.  It  was 
during  Mr.  Esty^s  occupancy  of  this  property,  that  the 
magnificent  elm  standing  on  the  side-walk  near  Semi- 
nary Street  was  planted  by  his  sister  Sally.  Barney 
Campbell  having  also  settled  here  in  1800,  erected  a 
little  distillery  on  the  north  bank  of  the  outlet,  on  the 
site  of  Selover's  planing  mill ;  he  operated  this  still  for 
:a  short  time,  and  then  transferred  it  to  other  parties. 
A  little  island,  then  lying  in  the  middle  of  tli'3  stream. 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AURELIL'S.  67 

"was  used  for  the  purposes  of  the  establisliment. 
Among  others  who  visited  Hardenburgh's  Corners  in 
quest  of  a  favorable  location,  this  year,  was  Aaron 
Hayden,  the  fuller,  to  whom  Colonel  Ilardenburgh 
offered  a  privilege  at  his  dam,  and  fifty  acres  of  land, 
if  he  would  settle  and  build  a  fulling  mill.  Mr. 
Hayden  declined  the  offer,  for  the  land  was  wet,  but 
settled  soon  after  at  Cold  Spring,  two  miles  north, 
where  he  erected  the  first  fulling  mill  in  Cayuga 
County.  Adam,  John,  and  Peter  Miller  settled  in 
that  part  of  the  town  of  Aurelius  now  known  as  Sen- 
nett,  and  Daniel  and  William  Miller  in  Owasco,  in 

1800,  also. 

Abner   Beach,  with   two  daughters,"  and    his  sons, 
Joseph  and  Peter,  came  into  the  county  in  February, 

1801,  and  moved  from  Owasco  into  his  new  house  on 
the  top  of  Franklin  Street  hill  on  the  Christmas-day 
following.  Daniel  Kellogg,  a  lawyer  of  vigorous  in- 
tellect, devoted  to  the  practice  of  his  profession — that 
branch  of  it  particularly  relating  to  land  titles — and 
in  after  years  a  prominent  and  useful  citizen  of  the 
town,  settled,  in  1801,  with  a  brother  lawyer,  Moses 
Sawyer.  Bradley  Tuttle  came  here  the  same  season, 
and,  after  clearing  away  for  Mr.  Bostwick  some  of  tlie 
trees  on  the  latter's  farm,  went  north  and  bought 
Goodrich's  tavern,  which  he  conducted  for  several 
years.  He  returned  to  tlie  village  afterward,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  enterprising 


68  HISTOKY    OF    AUBUKN. 

builders  of  the  place.  Eicliard  L.  Smith,  a  young  law- 
student,  also  settled  in  1801 ;  lie  was  subsequently 
District  Attorney,  and  editor  of  the  Auburn  Gazette. 

Among  the  settlers  of  1802,  were  Philip  and  Gideon 
Jenkins,  mill-wrights,  Ichabod  Marshall,  and  Captain 
Edward  Stevenson,  the  latter  of  whom  built  his  resi- 
dence on  the  east  side  of  Nortli  Street,  near  and  south 
of  the  outlet. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  settlement  were  so  aug- 
mented in  numbers  by  1802,  that  they  extended  a  call 
to  the  Rev.  David  Higgins  of  Pladdam,  Connecticut, 
who,  as  a  missionary,  had  been  holding  religious  serv- 
ices every  four  weeks  at  Aurelius,  Cayuga,  Grover's 
settlement,  and  Hardenburgh's  Corners,  to  officiate  here 
statedly.  The  call  was  accepted.  Mr.  Higgins  re- 
moved to  the  Corners,  and,  in  1803,  purchased  the 
farm  afterward  owned  by  Nathaniel  Garrow,  and  still 
later  by  Abijah  Fitch.  He  built  there  a  residence 
with  w^indows,  which  for  a  time  ^wfts- painted  blacky 
and  planted  on  the  lawn  in  November,  1806,  the  wil- 
lows whose  graceful  and  majestic  appearance  is  now 
the  admiration  of  our  citizens.  His  cono^resration  as- 
sembled  for  religious  worship  sometimes  in  the  school- 
house  on  the  corner  of  South  Street,  and,  at  others,  on 
the  threshing-floor  of  William  Bostwick's  large  barn. 
When  the  latter's  new  tavern  w^as  opened,  the  long 
room  was  tendered  to  Mr.  Higgins  for  Sunday  services, 
w^hich  he  accepted  and  used  for  many  years. 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AURELTUS.  69 

Cotemporaneous  witli  the  Presbyterian  missionary 
in  religions  work  in  Aurelius  was  Rev.  Davenport 
Phelps,  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  whose  occasional  ser- 
vices were  instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the  first 
regularly  formed  religious  society  of  the  hamlet,  liev. 
Philander  Chase,  afterward  Bishop  of  Ohio,  who  vis- 
ited the  Corners  as  a  missionary  twice,  performed  the 
first  baptisms  in  the  place,  administering  the  sacred 
rite  to  William,  Harriet,  and  Polly  Bostwick,  in  tlieir 
father's  log  tavern. 

Tlie  population  of  the  little  settlement  on  the 
Owasco  Outlet  was  augmented,  in  1803,  by  the  arrival 
of  Nathaniel  Garrow,  one  of  the  most  practical,  vig- 
orous, and  popular  men  that  ever  resided  in  this  city. 
He  was,  indeed,  as  one  of  our  old  citizens  says  of  him, 
''^  constitutionally  popular."  lie  came  into  the  county 
in  1796,  with  an  ax  on  his  shoulder,  and  one  shilling 
in  his  pocket,  all  he  owned  in  the  wide  world.  Wood- 
chopping,  and  trading  in  furs  with  the  settlements  on 
the  Mohawk,  was  his  occupation  for  years.  lie  was 
paid,  he  says,  his  first  earnings  in  deer-skins.  Com- 
ing to  Hardenburgh's  Corners,  he  bought  the  triangle 
now  enclosed  by  Genesee  and  North  Streets  and  the 
outlet,  and  went  into  the  business  of  distilling.  He 
became  able,  by  1813,  to  purchase  the  Higgins  farm, 
where  he  resided  till  the  day  of  his  death.  He  was 
an  honored  citizen,  and  held  from  time  to  time  vari- 
^ous   important    public   offices,  that   of    Congressman 


70  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

among  others.  John  G arrow  came  to  Aiirelius  in  1796,, 
and  settled  at  the  Half  Acre,  where  he  opened  a  store. 

The  great  Genesee  road,  or  Seneca  turnpike,  which 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century  was  the  principal  channel  of 
trade  and  communication  across  the  State  of  IMew 
York,  was  constructed  through  Cayuga  County  in 
1802  and  1803.  The  old  road  west  of  the  outlet  was 
adopted  by  the  new  company  without  alteration.  The 
line  east  was  located  tln-ough  the  woods  upon  a  new 
route,  to  accommodate  the  settlers  of  both  Skaneateles 
and  Hardenburgh's,  many  of  whom  were  large  stock- 
holders of  the  turnpike  company.  It  was  many  years 
before  this  road  was  in  a  condition  fit  for  rapid  travel.- 
The  stumps  w^ere  not  fully  removed  before  the  war  of 
1812,  and  as  the  path  was  but  just  wide  enough  to  let 
wagons  pass  through,  traveling  after  dark  was  long  a, 
perilous  business.  The  settlers/called  this  road  the 
"  mudpike."  A  prominent  landmark  on  the  road  was; 
a  gigantic  tree  standing  on  the  south  side  of  the  way,, 
at  the  present  east  line  of  the  corporation,  and  at  the^ 
corners  of  what  are  now  Genesee  Street  and  Seward 
Avenue,  which  was  for  fift}^  years  known  all  over  New 
York  as  the  "big  elm."  It  is  said  that  under  the^ 
spreading  branches  of  this  monarch  of  the  woods  was- 
a  favorite  stopping-place  with  the  Indians. 

The  broad  surface  of  a  strong  wooden  bridge,  built 
by  William  Bostwick  in  1802,  wdiere  the  Seneca  turn- 
pike crossed  the  outlet,  which  was  fourteen  rods  in 


THE    SETfLEMENT   OF    AURELIES.  71 

lengtli,  the  eastern  end  reaching  nearly  to  the  corner 
of  the  present  Market  Street,  was  one  of  the  most 
favorite  resorts  of  tlie  inhabitants  at  this  early  day,  for 
amusement,  in  the  town.  Quoits,  games  of  ball,  and 
foot-races,  were  the  popular  pastimes.  The  latter  sport 
was  entered  into  with  the  greatest  zest  by  everybody 
in  the  settlement.  Trials  of  speed  with  the  savages 
were  occasions  of  great  excitement.  The  native  run- 
ners, who  were  proverbially  fleet,  were  seldom  distanced 
in  the  race  by  any  of  the  whites,  but  Dr.  Burt ;  he  could 
generally  outstrip  them.  The  doctor  was  the  swiftest 
runner  here,  though  John  H.  Cumpston,  Henry  Am- 
merman,  Henry  Polhemus,  and  James  Minton,  w^ere 
generally  esteemed  as  having  few  equals  in  speed 
among  the  settlers.  The  starting-point  in  these  races 
was  always  the  top  of  the  hill  west  of  the  bridge  ;  the 
winning-post,  Hardenburgh's  mill.  Dr.  Burt's  racing 
qualities  won  for  him  the  immeasurable  respect  of  his 
savage  competitors,  and  a  band  of  Oneidas  insisted  one 
day  upon  conferring  on  him  the  honor  of  adoption  into 
their  tribe.  He  consented  after  much  solicitation,  and 
was  duly  clothed  with  the  prerogatives  of  an  Iroquois, 
with  considerable  ceremony.  He  was  placed  in  the 
center  of  a  circle  of  tlie  Indians,  who  joined  hands, 
said  something  very  edifying  in  their  own  dialect,  gave 
him  the  name  of  To-kon-a-hos,  and  then  all  shook 
hands  with  him,  pointing  up  to  the  sky,  and  repeating 
a  few  words  in  tlie  Oneida  tono^ue. 


72  HISTOKV    ('F    Al  BUKN. 

C(jl<->iiel  Uardenbiirgli's  gig  mill  gave  way,  in  1802,  to 
a  frame  building  a  story  and  a  half  liigli,  which  was 
erected  fur  the  proprietor  by  Philip  and  Gideon  Jenkins, 
builders.  The  new  mill  contained  one  run  of  stone 
only,  but  was  made  to  grind  thirty  bushels  of  grain 
daily.  In  1803,  another  run  of  stone  being  added,  it 
was  made  to  consume  one  hundred  and  thirty  bushels 
daily.  At  the  south-east  corner  of  the  building,  stood, 
for  many  years,  a  saw  mill,  which  was  first  operated  by 
Thomas  Morley.  A  fulling  mill  w^as  built  between  the 
grist  mill  and  the  bridge  in  1804,  by  Colonel  Ilarden- 
burgh.  It  was  leased  first  to  Ashbel  Treat,  afterward 
to  Levi  Gregory,  and  later  to  Gideon  G.  Jenkins. 

Colonel  Ilardenburgh  also  erected  about  this  time 
a  large  barn,  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  file 
factory.  The  frame  of  this  building,  wdiich  was  no 
fragile  aft'air,  was  so  heavy  that  the  settlers  were  called 
in  from  the  whole  township  to  assist  in  the  raising. 
The  occasion  was  one  of  great  festivity.  All  such 
were  among  our  forefathers.  The  Western  Luminary 
of  July  21st,  1807,  has  a  record  of  the  toasts  drank  at 
one  of  these  raisings,  some  of  which  are  unique.  The 
record  states  that,  ''  at  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town  of  Aurelius,  on  the  5th  instant,  after 
raising  a  barn  in  the  neighborhood,  the  following  toasts 
were  drank."  Toast  sixth  was,  "  The  tree  of  liberty 
— may  it  ever  remain  unbent  by  the  power  of  aristoc- 
racy."    Toast  eighth,  "  May  the  Congress  of  America 


THE  sprrrLKirKNT  of  ai'kelius.  T3 

ever  hold  out  the  olive-branch  in  the  riglit  liand,  while 
it  supports  the  shield  of  defense  in  the  left."  Toast 
fourteenth,  "  May  the  angel  of  freedom  ever  defend 
the  sons  of  liberty  from  tyranny  and  oppression,  and 
bear  their  souls  on  the  l)almv  wings  of  ])eace  to  endless 
joys."  Daniel  Griffith  volunteered  the  following : 
"  May  all  the  enemies  to  the  sons  of  liberty  in  Amer- 
ica become  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water." 
This  from  James  Bolton  :  "  The  husbandmen  of  Cay- 
uga— may  their  wheat  ever  have  the  preference  in  mar- 
ket, and  be  distributed  to  all  nations  by  the  sons  of 
commerce." 

Such  was  the  popular  passion,  in  these  simple  times, 
for  attending  house-raisings,  that  settlers  have  been 
known  to  go  from  Auburn  to  places  as  far  distant  as 
Marcellus,  for  no  other  purpose. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  pioneer  life 
in  Western  New  York  was  the  surprising  abundance  of 
game  that  surrounded  settlers  in  the  woods,  while  the 
woods  remained.  Deer,  squirrels,  bears,  and  wolves 
roamed  the  forest  in  almost  incredible  numbers,  and 
wild  fowl,  foxes,  rabbits,  and  raccoons  existed  in 
myriads.  In  the  wilder  regions  there  were  plenty  of 
panthers  also.  So  well  stocked  were  the  woods  in  the 
Owasco  valley  with  all  these  varieties  of  game,  that  the 
inhabitants  were  compelled  for  years  to  i)ractice  con- 
stant watcli fulness,  in  order  to  insure  the  safety  of 
their   families,  and  of  their   flocks  and   crops.     The 


74  HISTORY    OF    A.UBURN. 

cranberry  swamp  north  of  the  Indian  village,  which 
was  the  favorite  retreat  of  large  animals,  furnished  the 
settlers  largely  with  subsistence. 

The  wilderness  contained  no  animals  that  were  more 
dreaded,  at  first,  than  tlie  wolves  ;  for  these  were  gaunt, 
powerful,  red-haired  beasts,  hideous  in  appearance,  and 
dangerous  as  enemies,  and  inspired  such  terror  by  their 
numbers,  that  some  of  the  first  residents  of  the  town- 
ship built  their  cabins,  for  the  sake  of  security,  without 
doors,  making  the  windows,  with  the  aid  of  a  ladder, 
serve  all  the  purposes  of  entrance  and  exit.  The  im- 
portance of  destroying  the  wolves  led  to  the  adoption, 
at  the  Aurelius  town-meeting  in  April,  1797,  of  the 
following  resolution  :  "  Yoted,  that  any  person  who 
shall  produce  a  certificate  from  any  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  the  town  of  Aurelius,  certifying  that  lie  pro- 
duced the  head  of  a  full-growing  wolf,  and  make  oath 
before  such  Justice  that  the  same  was  taken  in  the 
town  of  Aurelius,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  the  sum 
of  three  pounds."  Tliese  animals  were  very  soon  ex- 
terminated or  driven  ofi*  by  the  hunters.  It  is  a  curious 
fact  that  nearly  three-quarters  of  the  taxes  paid  in 
Cayuga  County  for  the  first  few  years  of  its  existence 
were  for  bounties  on  wolf  and  bear  scalps. 

Panthers  were  rarely  seen  hereabouts,  yet  no  man 
durst  venture  into  the  lonely  parts  of  the  woods  with- 
out his  gun,  for  fear  of  meeting  them.  The  appearance 
of  one  of  these  monsters  during  tlie  building  of  the 


THE    SETfLEMENT    OF    AURELIUS.  75 

Genesee  Street  bridge,  in  1802,  created   great  excite- 
ment in  the  village.     A  boy  by  the  name  of  Samuel 
Warner,  a  brother-in-law  of  William  Bostwick,  had 
been  searching  for  his  cows  in  the  woods  on  tlie  west  side 
of  what  is  now  the  big  dam,  and  becoming  weary 
and  warm,  had  sat  down  to  rest  under  a  tree  on  the 
bank,  and  fallen  into  a  drowse.     The  lad,  still  in  a  sit- 
ting posture,  was  suddenly  roused  from  the  comfortable 
nap  he  was  taking  by  a  loud  growl  coming  from  over- 
head.    Looking  up,  he  saw  a  panther  on   the   lower 
branches  of  the  tree    against  which  he  was  leaning,, 
preparing  to  spring  down  upon  him.     lie  was  badly 
frightened.     Without  casting  a  look  behind,  he  sprang 
to  his  feet  and  ran  with  the  speed  of  the  wind  toward 
the  settlement,  stumbling  over  the  logs  and  through, 
the  brush,  and  hotly  pursued  by  the  panther.     The  lad 
outran  the  beast,  which  gave  up  the  chase  as  they 
neared  the  clearings.     As  soon  as  Warner  could  relate 
the  circumstances  to  the  settlers,  they  collected  all  the 
dogs  and  guns  in  the  village,  and,  led    by  William 
Bostwick,  chased  the  panther    back  into  the  woods. 
They  tracked    him  till  sunset,  but  could    not   come- 
up  with  him. 

Of  bears  there  was  no  end.  This  class  of  indigenes 
made  sad  work  with  the  crops,  and  often  came  boldly 
into  the  village.  The  bears  were  much  sought  after 
by  the  hunters,  who  prized  their  meat  highly,  it  being 
quite  palatable,  and    more    substantial   than  venison. 


76  HISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

Old  Prince,  a  negro  who  lived  in  a  hut  near  the  big 
elm  with  his  wife  Dilly,  a  Narragansett  squaw,  was 
once  visited  by  a  huge  specimen  of  this  genus  in  the 
evening.  The  bear  was  repulsed  and  treed  by  means 
of  firebrands,  and  sliot.  Dr.  Burt  once  encountered  a 
bear  in  the  hemlock  swamp,  and  was  forced  to  climb 
a  tree  standing  near  the  Burtis  brewery  for  safety. 
Another  of  the  race  once  made  a  nocturnal  descent  upon 
the  house  of  Daniel  Cogswell,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  outlet.  The  house  was  unfinished,  and  the  door 
was  closed  with  nothing  more  than  a  blanket.  Bruin 
pushed  this  aside  during  the  night,  and,  stepping  in, 
proceeded  to  rummage  the  cabin  for  provisions.  After 
licking  out  the  frying-kettle,  he  crept  under  the  bed, 
which,  containing  the  family,  was  suspended  in  the  air 
by  means  of  poles  resting  on  crotches  driven  into  the 
ground,  and  went  to  sleep.  He  departed  in  the  morn- 
ing, without  molesting  any  of  the  terrified  inmates  of 
the  bed,  all  of  whom  had  passed  a  sleepless  night, 
with  their  heads  under  the  clothes. 

The  deer,  whose  marked  partiality  for  wheat  troubled 
the  early  agriculturists  exceedingly,  were  countless. 
They  might  be  seen  at  all  times  around  the  clearings, 
browsing  upon  the  trees  cut  down  by  the  wood-chop- 
pers. Hunters  always  sought  these  places  for  deer, 
;and  seldom  returned  from  them  empty-handed.  It  was 
no  difficult  thing,  however,  for  experienced  woodsmen 
to  get  venison  in  any  part  of  the  forest. 


Tin-:    SE'lTLEMENT    OF    AURKLIl'.-^.  7T 

"^^^pTlie  S(]uirrels  were  a  great  pest.  Tlio  woods  teemed 
with  tlieni,  and  their  ravages  were  sometimes  of  the 
most  serious  nature.  They  have  been  known  to  enter 
immense  corn-tields  during  the  harvest  season  and  de- 
stroy the  grain  so  thoroughly  as  not  to  leave  an  ear  un- 
touched. Their  extermination  was  accordingly  a  mat- 
ter of  the  utmost  importance.  This  could  be  effected^ 
liowever,  only  by  grand  townshij)  hunts,  in  which  every 
man  that  owned  a  rilie  was  expected  to  engage.  These 
Imnts  w^ere  common  in  Cayuga  County  for  over  thirty 
years,  and  sometimes  lasted  a  week,  during  which  it 
was  the  aim  of  every  sportsman  to  obtain  the  largest 
number  of  scalps.  At  one  such  hunt  in  Sempronius, 
thirty  young  fellows  killed  one  thousand  and  forty- 
eight  squirrels  ;  at  one  in  Scipio,  four  thousand  and  two 
Imndred  were  killed  ;  one  in  Mentz  disposed  of  live 
thousand  and  three  hundred,  in  like  manner.  The  reader 
will  gain  a  better  idea  of  the  multitude  of  these  little 
animals  in  the  American  forests  sixty  years  ago,  when 
we  say  that  during  one  hunt  in  Berlin,  Yermont, 
twelve  thousand  and  four  hundred  squirrels  were  shot, 
and  in  tlie  course  of  another  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
fully  twenty  thousand. 

So  great  was  originally  the  al)undance  of  game  in 
the  township  of  Aurelius,  that  our  early  settlers  de- 
pended principally  upon  the  chase  foi-  aninuil  food. 
They  were,  however,  also  very  fund  of  tish,  and  re- 
sorted to  the  Cavuira  and  Seneca  Rivcr>  constantlv  to 


78  HISTOKY    OF  .  AUBUKN. 

obtain  them.  The  neighborhood  of  the  salt  springs  on 
Oayuga  River,  and  Mosquito  Point  on  the  Seneca,  was 
also  at  an  early  day  a  favorite  pasture-ground  for  the 
settlers'  herds.  It  was  a  common  thing  to  drive  cattle 
down  to  these  places  and  leave  them  there  during  the 
summer,  each  man's  cattle  being  distinguished  by  a 
peculiar  ear-mark,  which  he  had  previously  recorded 
as  his  own  in  the  town-book  of  Aurelius. 

The  new  Seneca  turnpike  wafted  many  fresh  set- 
tlers to  the  little  hamlet  at  the  Owasco  bridge.  John 
II.  Cumpston,  w^ho  bought  the  old  O'Brien  store  and 
carried  it  on  till  after  the  war  of  1812  ;  Silas  Hawley, 
the  stove-maker  and  tanner,  who  established  a  tannery 
where  the  Baptist  church  now  stands ;  and  Reuben 
Burgess,  the  first  hatter,  settled  in  1803.  The  second 
hatter,  Seth  Burgess,  began  business  in  180i  on  the 
present  east  corner  of  Seminary  Avenue  and  Genesee 
Street,  jnst  east  of  which,  the  following  year,  he  built 
his  residence.  Lyman  Paine  settled  in  180-1,  and 
opened  an  ashery  three  years  later  on  the  outlet,  near 
the  present  Cayuga  County  Bank.  Jacob  Doremus 
€ame  the  same  year  with  Mr.  Paine.  lie  started  a 
tannery  on  the  bank  of  the  creek,  just  east  of  the 
ashery,  and  built  a  store,  which  was  sold  in  1811  to 
Robert  Muir, 

Henry  Ammerman  settled  in  1801,  also.  He  came 
to  Cayuga  County,  in  1801,  from  the  southern  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  resided  for  a  few  years  on  a  farm  to 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AURELIUS.  id 

the  east  of  Owasco  Lake.  His  health  ])euig  poor,  he 
was  invited  to  come  to  this  place  by  Colonel  Harden- 
burgh,  and  engage  in  some  less  laborious  occupation 
than  farming.  An  offer  was  made  him  of  a  building 
lot,  and  tlie  lumber  for  a  house.  Keceiving  a  deed  for 
an  half-acre  lot,  now  the  site  of  the  Hudson  House,  he 
cleared  away  the  trees,  dug  up  the  stumps,  and  erected 
there  a  tavern,  into  which  he  moved  in  Xovember  of  the 
forementioned  year.  The  house  became  known  in  1806 
as  the  "  Farmers'  Inn."  It  was  a  favorite  stopping-place 
with  those  who  were  attending  court,  whether  jurors 
or  lawyers,  and  with  farmers.  It  was  purchased  about 
the  year  1816  by  Matthias  Hoifman,  and  afterward 
by  Timothy  Strong. 

Mr.  Ammerman  was  one  of  the  most  honorable  and 
valuable  men  of  the  village  during  his  residence  here, 
and  ever  sustained  a  reputation  for  enterprise,  good 
judgment,  and  integrity,  of  the  highest  order. 

John  Demaree  and  Ephraim  Lockhart  built  a  cabi- 
net shop  opposite  the  Farmers'  Inn,  in  180-1,  replacing 
it,  in  1806,  with  a  two-story  wooden  tavern.  The 
brick  cabinet-shop  east  thereof  was  erected  in  1815. 
Jeremiah  O'Callaghan  built  the  first  stone  house  here 
in  1805,  on  a  lane  that  has  since  grown  into  Seminary 
Avenue,  on  the  west  side,  and  just  north  of  Franklin 
Street.  This  house  fell  to  pieces  in  a  few  years,  the 
mortar  being  of  an  inferior  cpiality,  and  1)eing  washed 
out  by  the  rain.     A  goldsmith's  shop  was  opened  in 


80  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

1805,  by  Frederick  Young,  on  the  site  of  tlie  present 
jewelry  store  of  John  W.  Ilaight ;  this  was  afterward 
owned  by  Joseph  Davis,  and,  in  1814,  by  Jonathan 
Russell.  William  Cox,  the  first  tailor  ;  Anselm  S. 
llowland,  who  had  a  hat-store  west  of  Doremus'  tan- 
nery ;  Henry  Polhemus,  the  merchant  and  miller ; 
Zephaniah  Caswell,  tlie  law^yer;  John  Walker,  who, 
with  Silas  Hawley,  erected  the  first  carding  mill  on 
the  Owasco  Outlet,  in  the  year  of  his  arrival,  at  the 
west  end  of  Hardenburgh's  dam;  and  many  others, 
settled  in  1805. 

Kobert  and  John  Patty  began  business  at  the  Cor- 
ners in  1805,  on  the  west  side  of  Lumber  Lane,  near 
the  corner  of  Genesee  Street,  in  a  shop  which  was  long 
remembered  as  having  been  built  with  some  unseasoned 
boards  that  shrank  apart  on  drying,  and  permitted 
petty  larcenies  through  the  gaping  seams  in  the  sides 
of  the  building.  The  Messrs.  Patty  had  previously 
been  traveling  peddlers,  and  their  store  was  first 
stocked  with  the  contents  of  their  packs.  They  built 
an  ashery  soutli  of  their  store,  soon  after  their  settle- 
ment. In  1807,  they  started  a  tannery  in  the  lot  on 
the  corner  of  the  streets  adjoining  Hawley's,  which 
they  enlarged  from  time  to  time  till  it  became  a  large 
and  prosperous  establishment.  The  tan-bark  was 
ground  in  a  little  building  standing  near  the  dam 
across  the  way,  by  means  of  a  large  stone,  which  was 
made  to  roll  in  a  circle  upon  a  bed  of  stone,  and  was 


THE    SmTLEMKXT    OF    AUKELIUS.  81 

maintained  in  an  nprighr  position  by  an  axle  reaehini^ 
to  a  strong  post  in  tlie  center  of  the  bed. 

Watrons  Pomeroy,  the  carpenter,  settled  in  1805. 
His  first  lodgings  liere  was  a  log  cabin  on  the  eastern 
corner  of  Xortli  and  Genesee  Streets,  which  then  stood 
tenantless,  and  was  used  by  all  7iew-conier3  for  tempo- 
rary shelter.  He  built,  in  ISOS,  for  Jonathan  Russell, 
a  tavern  on  a  little  knoll,  now  the  site  of  the  Exchange 
block  of  stores.  lie  bought  the  tavern  himself  in  1809, 
but  sold  out  in  1810  to  Eobert  L.  Tracy,  and  after- 
ward kept  the  Willard  House,  an  inn  which  stood 
just  west  of  the  American  Hotel. 

Micajah  Benedict,  a  veteran  of  the  Revolution,  and 
a  personal  friend  of  the  gallant  LaFayette,  who  called 
him  Micajah  "  Pen-and-ink,"  settled  on  a  larm  on  the 
turnpike,  east  of  Hunter's,  in  May,  1805. 

William  Bostwick's  new  framed  tavern,  then  the 
admiration  of  the  whole  township,  was  erected  on  high 
ground  on  the  western  corner  of  Genesee,  and  what  is 
now  Exchange  Streets,  in  1803-1.  It  was  a  two-story 
building,  with  four  rooms  on  the  first  floor,  and  a 
piazza  in  front,  and  stood  on  a  foundation  of  lai*ge  flat 
stones,  quarried  from  the  bed  of  the  outlet,  set  up 
edgewise.  The  long  room  of  this  tavern  was  for  years 
the  only  hall  flt  for  exhibitions,  balls,  public  meetings, 
or  religious  worship,  in  the  place.  Canfleld  Coe  bought 
the  property  May  1st,  1816,  and  enlarged  it  by  bnild- 
ing  a  wing  on  the  east  side.  Emanuel  I).  Hudson  pur- 
4 


82  HISTORY    C»F    AUBURN. 

chased-  it  a  tew  years  later,  raised  the  roof,  built  the 
south  wing  and  the  two  ]>iazzas  in  front,  and  styled  it 
"  the  AVestern  Exchange/'  Tliis  old  tavern,  after  nu- 
merous improvements,  which  made  it  a  first-class  hotel, 
was  demolished  in  the  spring  of  18G8,  to  be  succeeded 
by  a  block  of  three  brick  stores. 

The  anniversary  of  national  independence  w^is  first 
celebrated  at  Ilardenburgh's  Corners  in  1804.  Bj  in- 
vitation and  previous  arrangement,  the  residents  of  the 
township  assembled  at  the  village  in  great  numbers 
early  in  the  day,  to  take  part  in  the  festivities,  and 
Captain  James  Wilson  came  down  from  Brutus  at  the 
head  of  a  band  of  militia  for  the  same  purpose.  The 
people  at  the  Corners,  having  made  all  possible  prepa- 
ration for  the  comfort  of  their  guests,  opened  the  day  by 
erecting  a  liberty-pole,  and  running  np  to  the  top  of 
it  a  piece  of  red  silk,  furnished  by  Daniel  Hyde,  in  lieu 
of  a  banner,  there  being  no  national  flag  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. Everything  seemed  propitious  for  a  gleeful 
celebration  ;  but  just  at  the  threshold  of  the  exercises 
trouble  occurred.  Political  feeling  ran  high  at  this  pe- 
riod between  the  two  great  parties  of  the  country,  both 
being  exceedingly  jealous  lest  the  other  should  be  swayed 
in  some  manner  by  either  British  or  French  influence, 
and  neither  of  them  being  slow  to  seize  npon  every 
chance  occurrence  as  evidence  of  the  justice  of  their 
fears  in  this  direction.  No  sooner  had  the  color  of 
the  fluttering   silk   at    the   head   of  the   liberty-pole 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AURELIUS.  83 

caught  tlie  attention  of  the  Democrats,  than  a  hul)bub 
ensued. 

Philip  Jenkins  was  dispatched  to  Colonel  Ilarden- 
burgh  with  the  information  that  a  British  flag  had  been 
raised  in  the  village.  The  Colonel  was  greatly  offend- 
ed, and  instantly  ordered  Captain  Wilson  to  take  his 
men  and  shoot  the  flag  down.  This  command  would 
have  been  executed,  had  not  a  parley  taken  place, 
which  ended  in  the  removal  of  tlie  offendini]!:  colors  be- 
fore  a  shot  had  been  fired.  This  circumstance  engen- 
dered bitter  feelings  and  broke  up  the  celebration. 
The  next  year,  a  national  flag  was  provided  in  antici- 
pation of  the  anniversary,  which  was  then  observed  in 
a  highly  patriotic  manner.  An  oration  was  delivered 
by  the  llov.  David  Iliggins  in  the  yellow  school-house, 
and  a  public  dinner  was  spread  for  the  yeomanr}-,  who 
accordingly  returned  home  after  it  was  finished  in  ex- 
cellent humor.  A  subsequent  anniversary  was  cele- 
brated in  Colonel  Ilardenburgirs  large  barn,  David 
Ilyde  delivering  the  oration. 

That  amelioration  and  refinement  were  making 
rapid  strides  in  the  midst  of  the  pioneers  in  1805,  is  evi- 
dent from  an  event  of  that  year  which  comes  down  to 
us  in  glowing  colors  through  all  who  took  part  in  it. 
This  was  a  grand  ball,  the  first  in  the  village,  and  at- 
tended by  guests  from  all  the  openings  for  miles  around. 
The  particulars  of  this  famous  ball,  which  was  held  on 
tlu!    Fourtli  of -^1%,  in  the  long   room  of  Bostwick's 


84  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

tavern,  ai*e  still  told  with  j^reat  minuteness,  and  we 
learn  that  Zephaniah  Caswell,  the  lawyer,  and  Miss 
Laura  Benedict,  now  Mrs.  James  Tibbies,  opened  the 
dance  with  "  monie  musk  "  in  graceful  style,  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  committee  of  ai-range- 
ments  vvas";  Dr.  Burt,  Daniel  Hyde,  John  II.  Cump- 
ston.  Dr.  Ellis,|and  Zephaniah  Caswell.  In  accordance 
with  the  simple  customs  of  the  times,  the  approach  of 
night  dispersed  the  dancers  to  their  homes. 

For  several  years  after  the  organization  of  the  origi- 
nal Cayuga  County,  the  village  of  Aurora,  which  was 
then  centra],  and  nearest  to  the  most  ]wpulous  towns, 
was  its  capital.  Though  not  designated  by  law  as 
the  county  seat,  it  was  the  place  in  which  the  courts 
were  held,  and  the  supervisors  convened,  and  was 
generally  regarded  as  the  leading  market  town  of  the 
county.  The  jail  of  the  district  was  located  at  Canan- 
daigua,  although  there  was  for  a  time  a  log  building 
at  Cayuga  that  was  used  for  the  imprisonment  of 
debtors.  The  growth  and  extent  of  the  county  neces- 
sitating a  division  of  its  territory,  a  law  was  passed  in 
ISOI:,  reducing  it  to  nearly  its  present  size.  Through 
the  influence  of  Amos  Rathburn,  of  Scipio,  and  John 
Grover,  of  Aurelius,  both  Federalists,  and  then  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislature,  the  law  was  made  to  contain 
provision  ibr  the  erection  of  the  court-housa  and 
jail  of  the  newly-defined  county  at  the  village  of 
ISlier wood's    Corner?^,    under    the    direction    of    John 


THE   SKTrLK>[KXT   (»F    AriiKLrrs.  85 

Tillottson,  Augustus  (yhidsey,  ainl  Jolni  (iI'ovlm*,  Jr., 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  wliicli  the  su])ervisors  were 
to  raise,  by  tax,  tlie  sum  of  fifteen  hundred  dolhirs. 

A  warm  controversy  arose  in  the  cuunty  over  tliis 
action  of  the  Legislatui-e.  Tlie  inconvenience  of  travel 
to  Sherwood's  Corners,  which  was  far  one  side  of  the 
territorial  center  of  the  county,  and  of  the  principal 
lines  of  intercommunication,  led  all  the  other  villages 
to  oppose  the  location  of  the  county  buildings  at  the 
forementioned  place,  and  to  assert  their  own  claims  to 
the  Ibonor  of  the  county  seat.  Jeliiel  Clark,  among 
others,  advocated  the  erection  of  the  court-house  at 
Clarksville ;  but  Hardenburgh's  Corners,  Caynga,  Le- 
vanna,  and  Aurora,  each  stoutly  contested  for  the 
prize.  The  three  commissioners  above  named  never 
acted  under  the  law  of  180i,  further  than  to  designate 
a  site  for  the  buildings  at  Sherwood's.  The  law  was 
revoked,  and,  on  the  16th  day  of  March,  1805,  Hon. 
Edward  Savage,  of  Washington  County,  Hon.  James 
Burt,  of  Orange  County,  both  then  State  Senators,  and 
Hon.  James  Hildreth,  of  Montgomery  County,  were 
appointed  to  explore  Cayuga  County,  and  decide  the 
location  of  its  capital. 

The  commissioners  discharged  this  duty  the  June 
following.  Hardenburgh's  Corners  was  chosen  as  the 
county  seat  for  its  centrality,  its  position  in  the  high- 
ways of  travel,  and  its  prospective  importance.  The 
commissioners   only  required   that   an    acre   of    land 


86  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

should  be  donated  for  the  site  of  the  public  buildings. 
They  selected  a  location  on  William  Bostwick's  farm, 
and  Dr.  Burt,  Henry  Ammerman,  John  H.  Cumpston? 
and  Daniel  Hyde,  agreed  that  the  State  should  receive 
a  deed  of  it,  which  promise  was  in  due  time  fulfilled. 
The  four  citizens  named  advanced  to  Mr.  Bostwick 
two  hundred  dollars  for  the  conveyance. 

The  southern  towns  were  exceedingly  dissatisfied  at 
the  location  of  the  county  seat  on  the  Owasco  Outlet, 
and  their  super\nsors,  by  refusing  to  appropriate  suita- 
ble funds,  delayed  the  building  of  the  court-house  for 
several  years.  The  citizens  of  this  place,  however, 
began  the  construction  of  that  building  with  their  own 
resources  ;  they  then  ]u-ocured  the  passage  of  a  law  im- 
posing a  fine  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  upon 
every  supervisor  refusing  to  levy  taxes  when  legally  re- 
quired, and  sued  six  of  the  obstreperous  ofiicials  under 
the  law.  A  compromise  was  thus  eftected.  The 
money  was  raised  to  finish  the  court-house,  and  the 
work  was  completed  in  1809,  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  John  Glover,  Stephen  Chase,  and  Noah  Olm- 
sted, at  an  expense  of  ten  thousand  dollars. 

The  first  court-house  was  a  strong  wooden  edifice, 
two  stories  high,  painted  white.  The  jail  and  jailor's 
apartments  were  contained  in  the  lower  story,  the 
walls  of  which  were  built  of  huge  upright  logs,  united 
witli  heavy  iron  spikes.  The  lawn  in  front  of  the 
!)uilding,  which  stood  a  few  feet  behind  the  site  of  the 


THE    SinTLPLMENT    OF    ArKELIUS.  87 

present  court-house,  was  a  convenient  and  })0])ular 
])lace  for  public  meetings. 

"  Coiirt-IIouse  Green,"  as  it  was  called,  was  often 
thus  used  in  pleasant  weather.  The  first  term  of 
court  ever  held  in  the  new  building  was  that  of  the 
General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  beginning  May  17th, 
1808,  lions.  Elijah  Price,  Barnabas  Smith,  Charles 
Kellogg,  and  William  C.  Bennet  being  the  presid- 
ing Justices.  The  name  of  Israel  Reeve  is  always  as- 
sociated ^\^th  the  first  court-house,  for  that  gentle- 
man occupied  the  post  of  jailor,  then  a  responsible  and 
much  esteemed  position,  for  over  eleven  years. 

Rapid  growth  at  Ilardenburgh's  Corners  began 
with  the  designation  of  the  village  as  the  capital  of 
the  county,  the  erection  of  the  public  buildings,  and 
the  removal  here  of  the  archives.  These  were  impor- 
tant measures.  They  overturned  a  settled  but  adverse 
condition  of  things  in  the  county,  and,  attracting 
hither  a  strong  corps  of  lawyers,  who  expected  to  re- 
side at  the  county  seat,  wherever  it  might  be,  brought 
to  the  village  a  most  valuable  class  of  citizens.  The 
village  gained  through  them  wealth  and  influence. 
The  honor  of  the  ultimate  success  of  these  measures 
must  be  ascribed,  in  no  small  degree,  to  the  Hon. 
Enos  T.  Throop,  who,  a  student  from  the  law  office  of 
the  lion.  James  Hildreth,  at  Albany,  had  settled  here 
in  the  spring  of  1806,  after  a  short  residence  and  ]irac- 
tice  in  the  town  of  Scipio.     ^Fr.  Throop  became  the 


88  HISTURY    OF    ArP.lRN. 

law  partner  of  Hon.  Josei)li  L.  llicliardson,  upon  his 
arrival  at  the  Corners.  lie  took  great  interest  in  the 
decision  of  the  county  seat  question,  and  was  the  prose- 
cuting attorney  in  the  successful  action  against  the 
hostile  supervisors.  lie  w^as  one  of  the  most  affable, 
energetic,  and  talented  men  in  tlie  community,  and  in 
later  years  won  his  way,  by  strict  integrity  and  ster- 
ling worth,  to  a  seat  in  Congress,  and  afterward  to  the 
s:ubernatorial  chair  of  this  State. 

When  the  State  commissioners  had  signified  to  the 
citizens  of  Ilardenburgh's  Corners  their  intention  to 
constitute  this  place  the  county  seat,  the  propriety  of 
a  more  dignified  and  manageable  name  for  the  village 
was  suggested.  The  subject  was  therefore  agitated. 
A  variety  of  views  being  disclosed,  a  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  was  assembled  at  Bostwick's  tavern  for  a 
decision  of  the  question,  and  the  matter  referred  to  a 
committee,  consisting  of  Dr.  Ellis,  Dr.  Samuel  Crossett, 
and  Moses  Sawyer.  Dr.  Crossett  suggested  the  adop- 
tion of  the  name  "  Auburn,"  which  the  committee  was 
disposed  to  accept,  and  accordingly  reported  to  the 
meeting.  But  the  ])rototype  of  the  poet's  Auburn, 
which  w^as  situated  in  the  county  of  Longford,  Ireland, 
in  a  parish  or  curacy  held  by  his  uncle,  twelve  miles 
north  of  the  railroad  that  traverses  the  island  from 
Galway  to  Dublin,  and  just  east  of  the  river  Shannon, 
was  not  only  the  loveliest,  but  the  most  neglected  vil- 
lage of  the  beautiful  plain  upon  which  it  stood,  and 


THE    SETTLEMENT   OF   AURELIUS.  bV? 

Colonel  Ilardenburirh  ami  several  others  C)p})ose(l  tlie 
adoption  of  the  couiniittee's  report,  on  the  ground  that 
the  name  "Auburn  "  was  synonynious  with  "  deserted 
vilkfj^e,"  and  would  injure  the  place.  In  lieu  of  Au- 
Lurn,  they  suggested  the  names  ''  Ilardenburgh  "  and 
"  Mount  Maria."  Captain  Edward  Wheeler  liked 
none  of  these,  but  was  in  favor  of  calling  the  place 
"  Centre."  A  strong  debate  ensued,  but  Auburn  was 
finally  chosen  by  a  very  large  majority  of  the  assembled 
inhabitants.  A  meeting  was  subsequently  called  to 
induce  the  people  to  reverse  this  decision;  but  they 
permitted  no  departure  from  their  first  action. 

Like  all  villages  on  main  routes  of  travel  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century,  Auburn  was  distinguished 
for  the  number  of  her  taverns.  It  was  the  tavern- 
keeping  age  of  the  country,  when  the  ceaseless  current 
of  emigration  and  transportation  wagons  across  the 
State  created  the  necessity  for  the  establishment  of 
public  houses  in  great  numbers,  not  only  in  the  villages 
which  were  the  depots  of  trade,  but  along  all  the  roads. 
Between  Auburn  and  Skaneateles  there  were  at  one 
time  nine  such  houses,  and  between  Auburn  and  Cay- 
uga, six.  Four  had  already  been  erected  in  Auburn 
by^  1805.  A  fifth  was  commenced  that  year.  This 
was  the  Auburn  Center  House,  which  was  begun  by 
William  Smith,  and  finished,  in  1806,  by  David  Horner. 

It  stood  facing  the  east  on  the  three-sided  lot  at  the 
corner  of  ^[arket  and  Genesee  Streets,  and  was  a  con- 


90  HISTORY    OF    AUBUEN, 

ppicuous  Imildiiig.  Here  in  early  days  many  of  the 
courts  were  lield.  The  long  room  was  in  constant 
nse  for  meetings  of  every  description  ;  the  tirst  Pres- 
byterian Society  was  organized  there,  and  the  first 
Sunday  school  for  white  children.  Hon.  Joseph  L. 
Kichardson,  who  removed  to  Auburn  from  Scipio  in 
1805,  began  the  practice  of  the  law  in  this  tavern,  in 
partnership  with  Enos  T.  Throop.  The  open  space 
under  the  front  veranda  of  the  building  was  used  in 
later  years  for  the  storage  of  fire  utensils  and  hooks 
and  ladders.  The  Center  House  passed  into  the  pos- 
session of  Charles  Reading  about  the  time  of  the  war. 
In  1816,  Henry  Ammerman  bought  it,  but  sold  it  soon 
after  to  Andrew  Brown,  of  AVoodstock,  Conn.,  who,  in 
1829,  conveyed  the  whole  property  to  Ezekiel  Williams. 
Being  then  removed  to  make  way  for  a  block  of  store- 
houses, the  old  tavern  was  placed  on  Fulton  Street, 
where  it  now  forms  the  residence  of  William  Lamey. 

The  ])rincipal  accession  to  the  population  of  the  vil- 
lage in  1806,  were  Dr.  Joseph  Cole  ;  John  Wagstaff, 
the  coppersmith;  Captaia  William  Clark,  the  farmer; 
Benjamin  Yard,  the  carpenter  and  joiner ;  Robert  Dill, 
the  greatest  land  owner,  and  one  of  the  most  public- 
spirited  men  of  the  place ;  Samuel  D.  Lockwood,  the 
law^yer  ;  Ccoi'ge  F.  Leitch,  the  merchant ;  Captain  Ed- 
w^ard  Allen, the  manufacturer;  Horace  Hills,  the  mer- 
chant ;  Daniel  Lounslniry  ;  Jonathan  Russel,  the  silver- 
fimitli ;  Clark  Cam]),  the  mill- wriglit ;  and  Reuben  Swift, 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AURELIUS.  91 

the  miller.  In  1807,  the  principal  new  settlers  were 
David  Brinkerhoff;  Colonel  John  Richardson,  the 
cabinet-maker  ;  Eenben  Porter ;  Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  the 
lawyer,  previously  of  Cayuga ;  Elijah  Jarvis ;  Elisha 
T.  Swift ;  and  Peter  Hughes,  then  the  County  Clerk. 
David  Hyde  settled  here  in  1808 ;  Hon.  William 
P>rown,  Hon.  John  II.  Peach,  and  Dr.  Joseph  T.  Pit- 
ney, in  1809;  and,  among  others,  Hon.  John  Porter,. 
Samuel  C.  Dunham,  and  Elisha  Pease,  in  1810. 

The  archives  of  Cayuga  County  were  removed  to 
Auburn  in  1807,  by  Peter  Hughes,  then  County  Clerk^ 
pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  law  of  April  3d  of 
that  year,  which,  among  other  things,  directed  the  con- 
struction of  a  fire-proof  clerk's  office  here,  under  the 
snpervision  of  three  county  commissioners.  The 
court-house  controversy  being  then  at  its  height,  no 
clerk's  office  could  be  built,  and  the  records  were 
kept  for  several  years  in  the  residence  of  Mr.  Hughes, 
built  in  1807.  This  house,  now  the  residence  of  Dr. 
Edward  Hall,  was,  when  erected,  surrounded  by  the 
original  forest.  A  stone  clerk's  office  was  tiually  built 
in  181 1-,  under  the  direction  of  Henry  xVnnnerman,. 
Dr.  Burt,  and  Henry  Moore,  at  an  ex])ense  of  eight 
hundred  dollars,  in  which  the  records  were  thereafter 
kept. 

The  establishment  of  a  newspapei'  was  the  chief 
event  of  1808.  Ilcniy  and  James  Pace,  two  an(;ient- 
looking,  dumpy  little  Englishmen,  had  begun,  on  the- 


V^Z  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKX. 

SOtli  of  April,  1806,  the  publication  of  a  paper  called 
"the  Gazette,  at  Aurora,  but,  slar\'ed  out  by  the  re- 
imoval  of  the  county  seat,  had  brought  tlieir  whole  office 
to  Auburn  as  a  more  profitable  Held  of  operation. 
"They  issued  here  a  new  weekly  paper,  entitled  the 
Weste7'7i  Federalist^  the  first  number  of  which  ap- 
peared on  the  7th  day  of  June,  1808.  It  was  printed 
'On  coarse,  bhie  paper,  ten  inches  wide  by  fifteen  long, 
in  a  little  office  standing  a  few  yards  west  of  the  pres- 
ent Cayuga  County  Bank.  Ev^ery thing  about  this 
office  seemed  the  dusky  relics  of  a  distant  age,  and  the 
type  was  really  so,  having  been  used  so  long  in  the  old 
world  before  it  came  to  America,  that  it  w'as  worn 
■down  nearly  to  the  "first  nick."  The  ^Yestern  Feder- 
^alist  was  generally  patronized  by  the  residents  of 
Auburn,  as  one  of  the  local  institutions,  though  its 
politics  offended  some. 

The  only  other  newspapers  in  the  county  at  this 
time,  were  the  Levanna  Gazette^  or  Onondaga  Ad- 
-^ertiser^  printed  by  E.  Delano,  Esq.,  the  first  issue  of 
which  bore  date  of  June  8th,  1798,  and  the  West- 
ern Luminary,  by  Ebenezer  Eaton,  established  at 
Watkins  Settlement,  March  24th,  1801. 

Seventeen  little  manufacturing  establishments,  scat- 
'tered  along  the  banks  of  the  Owasco  Outlet  in  1810, 
betokened  the  progress  of  local  improvements.  Of 
these,  there  w^ere  five  saw  mills,  four  grist  mills,  two 
tstills,  two   fulling   mills,  two   carding   machines,  one 


TIIK    SETTLEMENT    OF    AURELIl'S.  93 

smithy,  and  one  oil   mill.     The  iiuiuher  of  dams  in; 
and  near  Anhnrn,  was  six. 

Tlie  upper  dam  was  built  in  1807,  hy  Elijah  Swift, 
with  the  adjacent  saw  and  grist  mills.  An  attempt  liad 
been  made  two  years  before  by  a  settler  by  the  name 
of  John  Myers  t(^  Iniild  a  dam  some  thirty  or  forty 
rods  above  this,  but  Mr,  Myers  was  a  trespasser,  and 
his  dam  a  faihire,  so  that  the  latter  was  never  used. 
The  original  dam  on  the  site  of  the  big  dam  was 
bniltin  1808,  by  Daniel  Hyde,  the  owner  of  large  tracts 
of  land  contiguous  to  the  outlet,  on  both  sides.  Mr. 
Hyde  erected,  the  same  year,  an  extensive  grist  and 
saw  mill  on  the  east  bank  of  the  stream,  and,  in  1810, 
a  mill  standing  at  the  west  end  of  the  dam,  for  the 
manufacture  of  linseed  oil.  The  oil  mill  was  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1811,  but  was  soon  thereafter  rebuilt  by 
David  Ilyde  and  John  IT.  Beach,  the  purchasers  of 
all  of  Daniel  Hyde''s  property.  A  still  was  also  put 
into  operation  by  these  gentlemen  in  1812,  near  the  grist 
mill.  Robert  Dill's  log  dam  was  erected  in  1809,  on 
the  site  of  Barber's,  and  furnished  power  to  drive  the 
machinery  of  a  saw  mill  on  the  ground  now  occupied 
]>y  the  woolen  factory,  and  that  of  a  forge-shop  opposite,. 
both  of  which  establishments  were,  when  built,  situat- 
ed in  the  heart  of  dense  woods.  A  fulling  mill  was 
erected  in  1810,  near  the  saw  mill,  by  Mr.  Dill  and 
John  AValker  ;  it  stood  five  or  six  years,  aiul  was  then, 
with  the  adjoining  bnildinsT^s,  consumed  bv  tire.     Jehiel 


t9-i  HISTORY    OF    AlBUEN. 

Clark  liad  two  dams  at  Clarksville,  one  furnishing 
power  to  a  grist  mill,  and  the  lower  one  to  a  saw  mill. 
The  village  of  Auburn  was  visited  in  1810  by  two 
-celebrated  travelers,  both  of  whom  have  left  interesting 
statements  of  the  result  of  their  observations  here. 
De  Witt  Clinton  remained  in  the  village  long  enough 
to  gather  from  its  inhabitants  the  materials  for  the  fol- 
lowing sketch : 

"  Auburn  derives  its  name  from  Goldsmith.  It  contains  three 
tanneries,  three  distilleries,  one  coachmaker,  two  watchmakers, 
four  taverns,  two  tailors,  six  merchants,  three  shoemakers,  two 
potasheries,  two  wagonmakers,  three  blacksmiths,  two  chairmakers, 
three  saddlers,  three  physicians,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  and 
an  incorporated  library  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  volumes.  It 
is  the  county  town,  and  has  about  ninety  houses,  three  law  offices, 
a  post-office,  the  court-house,  and  the  county  clerk's  office.  It  is 
a  fine  growing  place,  and  is  indebted  to  its  hydraulic  works  and 
the  court-house  for  its  prosperity.  There  are  sixteen  lawyers  in 
Cayuga  County.  Auburn  has  no  church.  The  court-house  is 
used  for  divine  worship. 

"  It  is  situated  on  the  outlet  of  Owasco  Lake,  on  numbers  forty- 
six  and  forty-seven,  Aurelius.  One  hundred  acres  of  forty-six  be- 
long to  William  Bostwick,  inn-keeper,  and  the  remainder  to 
Robert  Dill.  The  former  has  asked  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
for  half-acre  lots,  the  court  house  being  on  his  land';  and  the  latter 
has  asked  three  hundred  dollars  for  a  water-lot  on  the  outlet, 
which  is  not  navigable.  Number  forty-seven  belongs  to  the  heirs 
of  John  H.  Hardenburgh,  and  covers  the  best  waters  of  the  outlet, 
and  a  fine,  rapid  stream.  Auburn  is  eight  miles  from  Cayuga  Lake, 
three  from  Owasco  Lake,  and  not  seventy-five  from  Utica,  Owasco 
Lake  is  twelve  miles  long  and  one  wide.  The  outlet  is  fourteen 
miles  long,  and  on  it  are  the  following  hydi-aulic  establishments : 


THE    SE'fTLlMKNT    C>F    AURKLIUS.  9;) 

nine  saw  mills,  two  carding  machines,  two  turners'  shops,  one  trip- 
hammer and  blacksmith  shop,  two  oil  mills,  live  grist  mills,  three 
fulling  mills,  one  bark  mill,  and  several  tanneries.  At  Ihe  lower 
falls,  Mr.  Dill  has  a  furnace,  in  which  he  uses  old  iron,  there  being 
no  iron  ore.  At  this  place  there  is  a  Federal  newspaper, 
published  by  Pace,  the  former  partner  of  James  Thompson  Cal- 
lender.  Pace  settled  first  at  Aurora,  being  attracted  there  by- 
Walter  Wood,  and,  being  starved  out,  he  came  here,  and  is  princi- 
pally supported  by  advertisements  of  mortgages,  which  must,  if 
there  be  a  paper  in  the  county  where  the  lands  lie,  be  printed  in 
it,  and  this  is  the  only  one  in  Cayuga  County. 

"  The  machine  for  picking  wool  (Jehiel  Clark's)  is  excellent. 
The  carding  machine  is  next  used,  and  turns  out  the  wool  in  com- 
plete rolls.  It  can  card  one  hundred  and  twelve  pounds  per  day  ; 
and  one  man  attends  both.  Four  shillings  per  pound  is  given  for 
wool.  Carding,  picking,  and  greasing  wool — the  grease  furnished 
by  the  owner  of  the  wool — is  eight  pence  per  pound.  There  are 
upwards  of  twenty  carding  machines  in  this  county,  and  great 
numbers  of  sheep  are  driven  to  the  New  York  markets.  The  lin- 
seed oil  mill  (Hyde  x&  Beach's)  can  express  fifteen  gallons  of  oil  in 
a  day,  and,  with  a  great  effort,  a  barrel.  The  flax-seed  is  broken 
by  two  mill-stones  placed  perpendicularly,  like  those  of  ba»-k 
mills,  and  following  each  other  in  succession.  Seed  costs  from 
two  to  seven  shillings  per  bushel,  and  each  bushel  produces  three 
or  four  quarts.  The  oil  sells  at  the  mill  for  nine  shillings  a  gallon. 
Oil  is  also  expressed  from  the  seed  of  the  sunflower.  One  bushel 
makes  two  gallons.  It  is  excellent  for  burning,  and  makes  no 
smoke.    Oil  is  also  made  here  from  palmi  chrisli. 

"At  a  mill  northwest  from  Auburn,  on  thirty-seven,  Aurelius,  a 
spring  rises  perpendicularly  out  of  the  level  earth.  It  produces 
two  hogsheads  a  minute,  and  immediately  forms  a  mill-stream. 
A  few  yards  below  itjs  a  fulling  mill  (Ilayden's).  The  water  is  un- 
commonly good  and  old.     I  tound  in  it  a  hon'^3'-combed  fossil 


96  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBUKN. 

like  those  at  tlie  sulpliur  springs  at  Cherry  Valley,  and  near  Geneva. 
This  spring  is  called  the  Cold  Spring.  There  are  two  or  three 
others  near  it,  and  the  creek  formed  by  them,  called  Cold  Spring- 
Creek,  contains  excellent  trout.  About  a  mile  from  the  Cold 
Spring  there  is  a  sulphur  spring,  (situated  on  the  Sears  farm,  and 
afterward  used  for  a  water-cure).  From  the  fossil  found  at  the 
Cold  Spring,  and  the  coldness  of  the  water,  it  must  run  over  sul- 
phur.   There  is  a  sulphur  spring  on  the  margin  of  Cayuga  Lake." 

The  accuracy  and  fullness  of  this  description  stamps 
its  author  as  an  observant  and  thoughtful  traveler. 
Mr.  Clinton  made  similar  notes  on  every  place  that  he 
visited,  a  fact  which  is  the  secret  of  his  wonderful 
familiarity  witli  the  resources  and  advantages  of  our 
State. 

The  second  of  the  forementioned  tourists  was  an 
Irish  gentleman,  by  the  name  of  John  B.  Melish,  who, 
in  a  volinne  of  "  Travels  through  the  United  States- 
during  the  years  1806,  1807,  1809,  1810,  and  1811,'' 
pnblished  at  Belfast,  Ireland,  on  the  1st  of  May,  1818, 
made  mention  of  Auburn  as  the  seat  of  justice  of 
Cayuga  Connty,  and  prophesied  its  future  greatness. 
His  sketcli  was  substantially  the  same  as  Clinton's, 
and  need  not  be  repeated.  Mr.  Melish  visited  nearly 
every  ])lace  of  note  in  this  State  and  the  country,  pur- 
suing his  travels  for  the  most  part  on  horseback. 

The  two  travelers  drew  a  pleasant  picture  of  the 
rising  village  of  Auburn.  The  houses  of  the  place 
had  increased  in  number  to  an  Imndred  ;  land  was  en- 
hancinof  in  value  :  the  inhabitants  were  moral  and  in- 


THE    SETiLEMENT    OF    AURELIUS.  97 

dustrious ;  clieerl'alii''ss  and  plenty  reigned;  there  was 
not  a  o^mg-sliop  in  the  viUage  ;  the  pco])Ie  were  devel- 
oping their  material  resources  ;  and  the  settlement  was 
gradually  acquiring  permanence  and  character. 

Thomas  AVilber,  the  cooper  ;  Tilliman  Beach,  and 
John  S.  Burt,  merchants ;  Chauncey  Dibble,  the  ma- 
chinist ;  Dr.  A.  M.  Bennett ;  and  Stephen  Yan  An- 
den,  the  tailor,  settled  in  Auburn,  and  Dr.  Joseph 
Clary,  in  Throopsville,  in  ISll. 

The  first  Congregational  Society  of  Auburn  was  or- 
ganized the  17th  day  of  September,  IS  10,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  citizens  of  the  village  and  vicinity,  held  at  the 
tavern  of  David  Horner;  at  which  Major  Bartholomew 
Van  Yalkenburg  presided,  and  Moses  Gilbert  was  sec- 
retary. Trustees  of  the  society  were  elected,  viz : 
Robert  Dill,  Henry  Ammerman,  Silas  Ilawley,  Moses- 
Gilbert,  and  Major  Noah  Olmsted.  The  church  was 
organized  the  next  year,  on  the  14th  day  of  July,  in 
the  long  room  of  the  same  tavern,  by  the  Rev.  David 
Uiggins  and  his  congregation.  The  record  of  this 
event  is  as  follows  : 

"  The  propriety  and  importance  of  an  establishment  of  tliis  na- 
ture having  been  a  subject  of  frequent  and  serious  conversation 
among  a  number  of  Individuals,  who  were  solicitous  that  it  might 
be  affected ;  and  having  sought  from  time  to  time  Divine  direc- 
tion In  a  measure  of  so  great  moment ;  having  also  conversed  to- 
gether on  the  essential  subjects  of  experimental,  practical,  and 
doctrinal  religion  ;  and  having  agreed  on  certain  articles  of  ftiith 
and  practice  to  be  adopted  by  tliem  a^  members  of  a  Christian 
5 


98  HISTORY    OF   AUBUKN, 

church;  the  following  persons  did,  on  the  Lord's  daj'-,  July  14th, 
1811,  come  together  in  the  time  of  public  worship,  openly  ac- 
knowledge, and  mutually  profess  the  succeeding  articles  of  the 
Christian  faith,  renew  their  covenant  with  God,  and  unite  in  a  re- 
lation together,  viz  :  Daniel  Herring,  Silas  Hawley,  Oliver  Lynch, 
Eunice  Higglns,  Sarah  Gilbert,  Betsey  Tyler,  Rachel  Parker,  Sa- 
rah Hawley,  Anna  Cogswell." 

Horace  Hills  was  chosen  clerk  of  tlie  chiircli,  Octo- 
ber 16th,  1811,  and  in  August,  1813,  Rev.  Hezekiah 
IS".  "Woodruff  was  installed  its  pastor.  The  Presbyte- 
rian mode  of  church  government  and  discipline  was 
unanimously  adopted,  August  5tli,  1814.  On  the  4th 
of  the  following  December,  John  Oliphant  and  Silas 
Hawley  were  ordained  elders.  The  congregation  met 
for  worship,  during  the  first  six  years  of  its  existence, 
in  the  court-house,  and  the  long  room  of  the  Center 
tavern. 

The  first  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  this  village 
was  organized  under  peculiar  circumstances,  and  was 
the  direct  result  of  an  intolerant  spirit  on  the  part  of 
the  Congregational  minister  then  presiding  over  the 
mixed  congregation  at  Hardenburgh's  Corners.  The 
minister  was  for  some  cause  absent  on  the  Lord's  day, 
and  William  Bostwick,  who,  notwithstanding  his  warm 
and  open  attachment  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  had  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  trustee  in  the  only  religious  or- 
ganization in  the  village,  in  order  to  promote  good 
order  and  sound  morals  here,  was  invited  to  read  the 
relii^ious  exercises  of  the  day.     Mr.  Bostwick  did  so, 


THE    SETTLEMENT   OF   AURELIL'S.  99 

reading,  with  the  aid  of  another  gentleman,  tlie  Epis- 
copal service,  and  a  sermon.  The  people  entertained 
no  thought  of  evil,  since  this  was  done  by  general  re- 
quest. But  the  following  Sunday  the  minister  again 
took  the  pulpit,  and  openly  and  severely  rebuked  the 
gentlemen  who  had  dared  to  make  use  of  the  Episco- 
Y)al  liturgy  in  his  congregation. 

The  Episcopal  members  of  the  church  withdrew 
after  this  assault  upon  their  cherished  principles,  and,  in 
July,  1805,  assembled  at  the  residence  of  Dr.  Hackaliah 
Burt,  and  organized  St.  Peter's  Church,  the  first  regu- 
larly formed  religious  society  of  Auburn.  There  were 
present  at  the  meeting  the  Rev.  Davenport  Phelps, 
Thomas  Jeftries,  Jeduthun  Iligley,  Timothy  Hatch, 
Ebenezer  Phelps,  John  Pierson,  Joel  Lake,  William 
Bostwick,  and  Dr.  Burt.  After  suitable  prayers.  Ma- 
jor William  J.  Yredenburgh  and  Dr.  Hackaliah  Burt 
were  elected  wardens;  and  Jonathan  Jeffries,  Jona- 
than Booth,  Timothy  Hatch,  AYilliam  Bostwick,  Jedu- 
thun Higley,  Joel  Lake,  John  Pierson,  and  Ebenezer 
Phelps,  vestrymen. 

The  congregation  enjoyed  the  occasional  ministra- 
tions of  the  Pev.  Mr.  Phelps  for  several  years,  meeting 
for  divine  service  in  the  long  room  of  Bostwick's  tav- 
ern. Mr.  Bostwick,  who  was  possessor  of  one  of  those 
curious,  old-fashioned  pitch-pipes,  in  use  at  this 
early  day,  and  then  the  only  instrument  of  the 
kind    in    the    village,  led,   witli    his   wife     and    throe 


100  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

daughters,  tlie  singing.  It  being  in  every  respect  de- 
sirable to  give  the  jonng  chnrcli  prominence  by 
building  a  sanctuary,  an  acre  lot  was  cleared  of  the 
trees  and  conveyed  to  the  society  by  Mr.  Bostwick^ 
who  was  enabled,  in  1811,  with  the  assistance  of  a  do- 
nation of  one  thousand  dollars  from  Trinity  Church,  in 
New  York,  and  the  warm  co-operation  of  his  fellow 
Episcopalians  in  the  village,  to  erect  a  small  but  strong 
and  graceful  wooden  church,  the  first  in  Auburn. 
The  building  was  not  finished  for  several  years,  the 
columns  in  the  interior  long  retaining  their  bark,  and 
the  seats  originally  in  use  being  of  no  more  elaborate 
make  than  benches  constructed  of  half-round  slabs  from 
the  saw  mill,  supported  by  six  stout  wooden  legs,  and 
destitute  of  both  backs  and  arms. 

When  this  church  w^as  nearly  finished,  the  workmen 
went  home  one  evening,  leaving  a  lightning-rod,  that 
they  had  been  putting  up  during  the  day,  disconnected 
with  the  ground.  In  the  depth  of  the  night  a  fearful 
storm  sprang  u]),  accompanied  with  heavy  thunder  and 
the  most  vivid  flashes  of  lightning.  The  church  was 
in  a  daUgerons  situation,  but  William  Bostwick,  awak- 
ened by  the  storm,  hurriedly  dressed,  and  with  his 
faithful  negro,  Albert  Ilagerman,  hastened  to  the 
building,  and  by  the  glare  of  the  flashes  of  lightning 
finished  the  connection  of  tlie  rods  with  the  ground, 
and  effected  by  his  daring  act  its  safety. 

The  leading  enterprise  of  1811  in  Aul)iirn  was  one 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AURELIUS.  101 

that  arose  out  of  tlie  feeble  and  inefficient  condition  of 
the  common  schools.  The  education  of  youth  was  a 
matter  of  deep  solicitude  with  the  prominent  men  of 
the  village,  who,  remarking  the  beneficial  influence  of 
good  schools  upon  society  in  the  larger  towms,  were 
led  to  suggest  the  erection  of  an  academy  in  this,  and 
to  support  the  ])roposition  with  offers  of  material  aid. 
The  project  was  first  generally  agitated  in  tlie  fall  of 
1810. 

A  public  meeting  was  called  to  ascertain  tlie  popular 
opinion  on  the  subject.  Kobert  Dill  addressed  this  meet- 
ing, and  signified  his  willingness  to  donate  a  school  site 
on  whichever  side  of  the  outlet  the  people  should  deem 
most  convenient ;  John  H.  Cumpston  offered  another 
site,  situated  at  the  head  of  Cumpston  Street ;  William 
Bostwick  was  disposed  to  give  a  lot  located  on  his 
farm  ;  and  John  II.  Hardenburgh  not  only  offered  the 
lot  now  occupied  by  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
but  labored  strenuously  to  induce  its  acceptance. 
Leaving  the  selection  of  a  site,  how^ever,  to  the  future, 
this  preliminary  meeting  resolved,  "  Tliat  an  academy 
would  not  only  be  conducive  to  the  happiness  and  pros- 
perity of  this  village,  but  of  great  and  lasting  benefit 
to  its  immediate  vicinity,  and  the  neighboring  and  ad- 
jacent towns  and  villages ;  "  and  appointed  William 
Bostwick,  Dr.  Ilackaliah  Burt,  and  David  Brinkerhoff,  a 
committee  to  solicit  subscriptions  to  a  building  fund.  It 
was  considered  ]n'udent  to  make  the  provision  that  sub- 


102 


HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 


scriptions  should  not  be  binding  till  one  hundred  and 
tifty  shares,  at  least,  of  twenty  dollars  each,  had  been 
subscribed. 

A  subscription  paper  was  started  by  this  very  influ- 
ential committee,  December  7th,  1810.  By  January 
5tli,  1811,  two  hundred  and  live  shares  were  reported 
as  taken.  The  roll  of  signatures  appended  to  this  pa- 
per, with  the  amount  of  the  several  subscriptions,  is 
here  inserted,  for  the  double  purpose  of  perpetuating  in 
full  the  record  of  a  public-spirited  act,  and  of  exhibiting 
the  names  of  the  residents  of  Auburn  in  1811,  many  of 
whom  we  have  not  yet  mentioned.  The  roll  is  a& 
follow^s : 


W^iUiam  Bor-twick, $200 

Robert  Dill, 400 

Joseph  Cole, 100 

Lyman  Paine, 40 

David  Buck, 40 

Elijah  E.<ty, 100 

David  Horner, 240 

John  H.  Cumpston, 40 

John  C.  Jeffries, 20 

Daniel  Grant, 20 

John  Patty, 20 

Jacob  Doremus, 20 

Henry  Pace,  20 

John  H.  Beach, 20 

David  Hyde, 40 

Eleazer  and  Horace  Hill?, 40 

John  S.  Burt, 20 

Bradley  Tuttle, 20 

Israel  Reeve, 40 

Ilackaliah  Burt, 60 

Robert  L.  Tracy, 40 


H.  Hughes, 20! 

J.  L.  Richardson, 40' 

Rufus  Wells, 20' 

Caleb  Wood  worth, 20' 

Edward  Stevenson, 20' 

Benj.  Phelps, 20 

David  Higgins, 40' 

John  Sawyer, 40' 

Edward  Allen, 20 

Abm.  Carpenter, 10 

Isaiah  Golding, 20 

William  Benton, 20 

Willis  Lathrop, 20 

Isaac  Patchen, 20 

Trowbridge  Allen, 20- 

Nathl.  Garrow, 20 

Nathan  Fish, 40 

Moses  Lyon, 20 

Reuben  Cross, 20 

Zenas  Huggins, 4Q) 

Abm.  Drake, 20 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AUEELIVS. 


103 


German  name,  unintelligible, ...  20 

Job  Shele. 20 

Samuel  Bennett, 40 

William  Gray, 20 

Adam  Fries  and  George  Peterson,  20 

Stephen  Close, ■. 20 

Jonathan  Russel, 40 

John  Demaree 20 

Henry  Ammerman, 40 

Wm.  W.  Cock, 20 

George  Hudson, 20 

Ephraim  Lockhart, 20 

Noah  Olmsted, 80 

Joseph  Grover, 40 

Isaac  Camp, 20 

Clark  Camp, 20 

Asa  Jackson, 20 

Jacob  Bogart 20 

Barth.  Van  Valkenburg 20 

Stephen  Moreland, 20 

James  Simson, 20 

Peter  Sedam 20 

Jacob  Van  Middlesworth 20 

Benjamin  K.  Yard, 40 

Wm.  Laton, 20 

Philip  Gardenier 20 

Eldad  Steel,  40 

Silas  Hawley 40 

And.  Van  Middlesworth, 20 

Jeremiah  OTallaghan, 20 

John  Peabody, 40 

Samuel  Crossett .•      40 

Reuben  Porter CO 

Seth  Burgess,  Jr.,  40 

Oliver  Lynch, 20 

Daniel  Miller, 20 

L.  S.  Lyon, 20 

Elihu  Fitch,  Jr., 20 

Abel  Shepherd,. 20 

Edward  Wheeler, 20 


Thomas  Wright 30 

Luther  Tibbies, 20 

Amos  Brown, 20 

David  Brinkerhoff, 40 

Nathan  Tibbies, 80 

Thomas  Jeffries 20 

Christopher  Jeffries, 20 

Harry  ^VTiite 20 

Ezekiel  Goodrich, 20 

D.  Low 20 

Friend  Phelps, 60 

Ephraim  Hammond, 20 

David  Eastman, 90 

James  Wilson, 20 

Moses  Treat, 20 

Eben'r  Higgins,  Jr., 20 

Jehiel  Clark, 120 

Daniel  Eldredge,  Jr., 20 

Henry  Montgomery, 20 

John  Stamp, 20 

Isaiah  Davis, 20 

Zenas  Goodrich, 20 

Elijah  Miller, 40 

E.  T.  Throop, 40 

Moses  Gilbert, 20 

Henry  H.  Muste, 20 

William  Cock, 20 

Wm.  J.  Wilcock, 30 

Zachariah  Cox 20 

Martin  Remington, 20 

Ebenr.  Healy 20 

Thomas  Morley 20 

Rufus  Sheldon, 20 

Daniel  Sennett, 20 

Dan*l  Sheldon 20 

Ebenezer  Phelps, 20 

Daniel  Curtice, 20 

Total $4,110 


104  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

The  "  Auburn  School  Association  "  was  formed  by 
a  majority  of  the  gentlemen  above  named,  January 
5th,  1811.  The  object  of  the  association  was  thus 
stated  in  its  Constitution  :  '^  The  subscribers,  taking 
into  consideration  the  necessity  of  literature  to  the 
welfare  of  society,  that  it  affords  nourishment  to  virtue, 
and  the  only  means  of  rational  and  social  happiness ; 
and  having  also  considered  that  the  present  state  of 
the  population  of  the  village  of  Auburn,  and  its  vicinity, 
requires  a  literary  institution,  equal  in  magnitude  to 
an  ordinary  academy,  which,  by  its  respectability, 
may  hereafter  induce  an  incorporation,  have  associated, 
and  hereby  do  associate  ourselves,  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  such  an  institution,  and  have  contributed,  for 
that  purpose,  the  sums  annexed  to  our  respective 
names." 

Land  offered  by  Mr.  Dill,  to  aid  the  institution,  was 
accepted  as  a  site  for  the  school;  and  Hon.  Elijah 
Miller,  David  Buck,  Major  ISToah  Olmsted,  Hon.  J.  L. 
Richardson,  John  H.  Cumpston,  John  Sawyer,  Jehiel 
Clark,  David  Horner,  and  David  Hyde  were  consti- 
tuted the  first  Board  of  Trustees,  and  invested  with 
authority  to  call  in  the  subscriptions  and  commence 
building.  A  deed  for  five  and  three-quarters  acres  of 
land  was  executed  by  Mr.  Dill,  January  31st,  1811,  to 
a  committee  of  trust,  consisting  of  Rev.  David  Hig- 
gins,  Elijah  Esty,  Thomas  Wright,  William  Bostwick, 
and  Dr.  Ilackaliali  Burt,  the  land  to  be  held  bv  them 


THE    SE'n'LEMENT    OF    AURELIUS.  105 

for  the  benefit  of  the  School  Association  until  it  was  in- 
corporated as  an  academy ;  but  it  was  stipulated  that 
when  the  incorporation  should  be  effected,  the  prop- 
erty was  to  be  conveyed  to  the  trustees  of  the  new 
organization.  The  property  was  so  subsequently  trans- 
ferred, September  15th,  1817.  The  academy  building 
was  erected  during  ISll,  by  Messrs.  Bradley  Tuttle  & 
Jehiel  Clark,  builders,  under  a  contract  with  the  trus- 
tees. It  was  finished  and  accepted,  February  3d, 
1812,  having  then  cost  upwards  of  four  thousand  dol- 
lars. Eobert  Dill  justly  deserves  the  principal  credit 
for  the  success  of  tliis  work.  He  was  the  great  patron 
of  the  institution,  donating  not  only  its  site,  and  pay- 
ing a  large  subscription,  but  gi^^ng  live  hundred  dol- 
lars beside.  Among  other  laborers,  however,  David 
Horner  was  remarkable  for  his  enthusiasm  and  high- 
minded  perseverance  in  the  cause  in  view,  and  was 
then,  as  in  later  years,  one  of  its  most  valued  supporters. 
The  Auburn  Academy,  standing  at  the  west  end  of 
the  broad,  well-shaded  field  that  ran  back  nearly  to 
the  present  State  Street,  was  a  plain,  old-fashioned, 
three-story  brick  building,  sixty  feet  long  by  twenty 
wide,  surmounted  by  an  oj^en  belfry.  The  walls  out- 
side were  penciled,  the  wood-work  was  white,  and  the 
shingled  roof  colored  brown.  The  first  two  stories 
were  divided  into  two  rooms  each,  by  a  hall  tlirough 
the  center  ;  tlie  upper  story  formed  one  large  room, 
into  tlie  sides  of  which  seats  wTre  fastened,  and  the 


106  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

floor  of  which  was  covered  with  long,  double  writing- 
desks,  with  benches  on  each  side.  The  primary  depart- 
ment was  on  the  first  floor.  The  various  rooms  were 
warmed  by  roaring  wood-fires  in  the  quaint  old  fire- 
places, the  large  room  having  one  of  these  at  each 
end.  The  writing-desks  were  furnished  with  tops  cov- 
ered with  loose  sand,  in  which  the  youthful  searchers 
after  knowledge  took  their  first  writing-lessons.  Dis- 
cipline was  maintained  with  the  ferule,  and  disorder 
punished  either  by  shutting  up  the  disobedient  in  a 
closet,  in  perfect  darkness,  or  by  subjecting  them  to 
solitary  confinement  in  a  deep  hole  left  by  the  build- 
ers in  the  wall,  next  the  fire-place. 

This  was  the  first  academy,  a  queer  old  building, 
with  queer  methods  of  instruction,  but  an  institution 
of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  rising  generation  of  the 
period.  The  traditions  concerning  it  are  innumerable. 
None,  perhaps,  are  so  amusing  as  those  relating  to  a  cer- 
tain desperately  maltreated  ram,  belonging  to  Dr.  Cole, 
who  lived  on  the  corner,  which  the  boys  attending  the 
schooHtook  great  delight  in  tormenting.  His  ramship 
is  said  to  have  not  only  retaliated  upon  his  tormentors, 
and  caused  many  exciting  scampera  among  the  boys, 
but,  upon  one  occasion,  frightened  the  scholars  in  the 
primary  department  nearly  out  of  their  wits,  by  bat- 
tering a  hole  through  the  door,  bounding  into  the  room, 
and  butting  out  the  occupants  right  and  left.  All  took 
to  the  top  of  the  desks,  where  they  were  obliged  to  re- 


THE    SETTLEMENT   OF  AURELIUS.  lOT 

main  till  some  of  the  larger  boys  came  in  and  cap- 
tured the  ram,  and  carried  him  off.  In  1816,  the  wind, 
entering  a  broken  window,  carried  coals  from  a  fire- 
place out  into  one  of  the  rooms,  and  the  building  was 
burned  tp  the  ground.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1823,  on  the 
same^site. 

Amono^  those  who  settled  in  Auburn  in  1812  were 
Dr.  Erastus  D.  Tuttle ;  Abraham  Gridley,  who  was  at 
first  a  clerk  in  Dr.  Burt's  store  ;  John  Oliphant,  one  of 
the  most  benevolent  and  useful  men  of  the  village ; 
Teri  Eogers,  and  Thadrach  and  Abel  Terry.  Thad- 
racli  Terry  established  a  wagon-maker's  shop  on  the  lot 
where  Isaac  S.  Allen  now  lives.  Abel  Terry,  who  was 
a  blacksmith,  went  into  business  on  the  opposite  side 
of  Genesee  Street,  on  a  large  lot  about  ten  rods  east  of 
St.  Peter's  Church,  building  an  house  and  shop  thereon. 
Major  Joseph  Colt,  Samuel  and  John  Dill,  and  Daniel 
Elliott,  the  latter  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  settled  in 
1813.  Ezekiel  Williams,  the  tanner,  an  enterprising 
citizen,  did  the  same  in  1814,  as  well  as  Sylvanus 
Noble,  the  hatter,  and  George  Casey,  gentleman  farmer. 
Mr.  Casey  proved  to  be  an  energetic  and  useful  citi- 
zen.    He  located  on  the  Clark  farm.  North  Street.. 

Attention  to  the  intellectual  cravings  of  the  people 
was  manifested  in  1812,  at  Auburn,  by  a  meeting  of 
prominent  men,  December  8th,  at  the  tavern  of 
Charles  Heading,  the  Center  House,  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  an  Auburn  Literary  Association,  which  sht^uld 


1.08  HISTORY   OF   AURUKN. 

establish  a  circulating  library  in  the  town.  Forty 
pounds  sterling  was  necessary  to  the  attainment  of 
this  object,  but  this  sum  ^vas  rapidly  subscribed.  An 
organization  was  therefore  effected.  John  Sawyer 
was  chosen  President  of  the  association,  and  Anselm 
H.  Ilowdand,  David  Brinkerhoff,  and  Eleazer  Hills, 
Trustees.  Mr.  Ilowland  was  also  first  librarian.  lie 
kept  the  books  in  his  hat-shop.  The  last  librarian  was 
Stephen  Yan  Anden.  Upon  the  dissolution  of  the  asso- 
ciation, the  books  were  mainly  scattered  around  among 
its  members,  though  some  passed  into  the  service  of 
the  common  schools. 

The  militia  of  the  township  of  Aurelius,  at  the  time 
when  the  injurious  course  pursued  by  England  toward 
American  commerce  and  American  seamen  had  left 
no  way  open  for  the  preservation  of  the  national  honor 
but  by  making  war,  and  when,  in  consequence.  Con- 
gress had  authorized  President  Madison  to  raise 
tw^enty-five  thousand  men  and  put  the  army  in  readi- 
ness, was,  as  ill  the  neighboring  townships,  in  a  state  of 
very  indifferent  preparation.  Pursuant  to  the  laws  of 
the  State  for  the  ors-anization  and  arrang-ement  of  the 
militia,  the  able-bodied  men  of  the  township,  of  whom 
there  w^as  enougli  to  form  a  regiment,  w^ere  indeed 
enrolled,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
John  Harris,  of  Cayuga.  They  lacked,  how^ever,  for 
the  most  part,  not  only  arms  and  uniforms,  but  instruc- 
tion and  discipline.      Three  times  a  year  only  were 


THE    SKITLKMKNT    OF    AURELIUS.  101> 

they  required  to  assemble  for  drill,  [Uid  though  over- 
flowing with  patriotism,  their  inexperience  was  so 
great  as  to  sometimes  render  their  general  trainings 
very  ridiculons  affairs.  Three  companies,  however, 
tiaving  their  head-(piartei's  at  Aubm*n,  were  in  tolera- 
bly good  condition. 

One  of  these,  a  company  of  light-horse,  independ- 
ent, appears  to  liave  been  the  first  military  organiza- 
tion that  was  formed  in  this  village.  It  was  raised  in 
1804,  by  Captain  Trowbridge  Allen.  Captain  James 
Simpson  was  afterward  its  leader,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Captain  Bradley  Tuttle,  wdio  was  in  command  at 
the  time  of  the  w^ar.  The  company  was  handsomely 
uniformed  with  dark  blue  coats  trimmed  with  red,  buff 
vests  and  pants,  cavalry  boots,  and  crested  head-pieces 
profusely  ornamented  with  plumes  and  horse-hair. 
Being  composed  of  fine  men — minute  men,  by  the 
way — it  was  deservedly  popular. 

Captain  Henry  Ammerman  commanded  the,  in- 
fantry company,  which  belonged  to  the  regular  militia, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  corps  in  the  regi- 
ment. The  company  w^as  set  off,  in  ISOG,  from  that 
of  Captan  James  Wilson,  of  Brutus,  w^ith  the  follow- 
ing officers :  Edward  Stevenson,  Captain  ;  Silas  Haw- 
ley,  Lieutenant,  and  John  Walker,  Ensign.  Jacob 
Doremus  succeeded  Lieutenant  Ilawley,  and  Henry 
Ammernuin  afterward  became  Ensign,  and  was  in 
time  |irunujted  to  tlie  Captaincy. 


110  HISTORY    OF   AUBUKN. 

The  third  Auburn  company  was  a  battery  of  artil- 
lery, which  had  been  organized  originally  under 
Thomas  Mumford,  of  ,Cayuga,  and  furnished  with  two 
brass  six-pounders,  to  be  used  as  field-pieces,  but  was 
now  under  the  command  of  Captain  John  II.  Cump- 
ston  and  Lieutenant  Hackaliali  Burt. 

War  having  been  declared  in  June,  1812,  and  the 
Oovernors  of  the  various  States  invited  to  muster  their 
forces  for  the  protection  of  their  respective  water- 
fronts, and  for  offensive  operations,  the  Aurelius  regi- 
ment was  assembled  upon  tlie  training-ground  on  the 
farm  of  Jesse  Heed,  near  the  openings,  two  miles  west 
of  Auburn,  and  volunteers  were  called  for  from  the 
ranks  and  the  line.  Enough  common  soldiers  re- 
sponded to  form  two  companies  at  once,  and  officers 
sufficient  to  command  a  regiment.  The  services  of  all 
the  latter  were  not  accepted.  The  two  companies 
were  placed  under  Captains  Henry  Brinkerhoff,  of  what 
is  now  Owasco,  and  Daniel  Eldridge,  of  Aurelius. 
After  suitable  preparation,  they  were  forwarded  to  the 
army  of  the  center,  under  General  Stephen  Yan  Rens- 
selaer, then  stationed  near  the  Niagara,  whither  also 
Captain  Cumpston  w^as  sent  with  his  battery.  The  in- 
fantry companies  were  present  at  the  demonstration 
made  by  the  republican  forces  on  Lewiston,  and  many 
of  the  men  and  officers,  having  volunteered  to  cross 
with  Colonels  Scott  and  Wool,  were  actively  engaged 
in  the  fight.     Among  these  were  Captain  Brinkerhoff 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AUKELIUS.  Ill 

and  Major  Noah  Olmsted,  the  latter  of  whom,  on  one 
occasion,  having  ascended  a  stump  to  reconnoiter,  was 
unceremoniously  dismounted  therefrom  by  its  being 
shot  away  from  under  his  feet  by  a  British  cannon-ball. 
The  American  troops  met  with  the  stroke  of  an  un- 
lucky planet.  Those  remaining  on  the  Xew  York  side 
were  suddenly  taken  with  ''  constitutional  scruples 
about  crossing  the  boundary,"  and  their  bretln-en  in 
Canada  were  accordingly  captured. 

Captain  Cumpston  arrived  in  camp  too  late  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  battle.  He  reported  to  General  Yan 
Rensselaer  as  it  was  progressing,  but  was  sent  to  take  up 
a  position  in  a  piece  of  woods,  where  he  remained  till 
the  affair  terminated.  The  battery,  however,  was  en- 
gaged in  several  subsequent  skirmishes,  during  one  of 
which  it  lost  one  gun.  After  a  short  but  honorable 
service  of  three  months,  it  returned  to  Auburn,  and 
was  discharged. 

During  1813  and  '14,  the  citizens  of  Auburn  saw- 
much  of  the  "  pomp  and  circumstance "  of  the  war. 
The  situation  of  the  village  upon  the  principal  through 
turnpike  of  the  State,  leading  over  Cayuga  Bridge, 
made  it  necessary  for  all  large  bodies  of  troops  passing  to 
and  from  the  western  frontier  to  marcli  through  its 
streets.  The  soldiers  of  Major-General  Brown,  of  Col- 
onel Winfield  Scott,  and  Generals  Yan  Rensselaer  and 
Izard,  called  to  Niai^ara,  Sackett's  IIar1)()r,  or  Platts- 
burg,  as  invasion  seemed  imminent  in  eitlier  quarter, 


112  HISTORY   OF    AUCUKN. 

repeatedly  moved  through  Auburn.  Oftentimes  they 
encamped  or  Imiched  here.  Tlie  farms  of  Micajah  Ben- 
edict and  Eldad  Steel,  the  latter  of  which  is  now  owned 
by  Charles  P.  Wood,  were  favorite  places  for  this  pur- 
pose. The  passage  of  munition  and  artillery  trains,  of 
wagons  carrying  marines,  and  squads  and  companies  of 
dragoons,  was  incessant.  The  constant  punching  of 
wheels  and  feet  necessarily  rendered  the  main  thorough- 
fare of  this  village  at  times  almost  impassable  for  its  mire. 
In  a  little  guUey  crossing  the  road  just  east  of  Exchange 
Street,  there  was  a  puddle  upon  which  teamsters  be- 
stowed anathemas  without  stint ;  for  the  stalling  of 
wagons  and  cannon  here  was  so  common  an  event  that 
the  inhabitants  were  obliged  to  keep  beams  and  rails 
constantly  by  the  side  of  the  road  to  aid  in  the  extrica- 
tion of  the  unlucky  carriages.  The  same  was  true  of 
other  parts  of  Genesee  Street.  The  continual  travel 
multiplied  taverns  and  lunch-houses  indefinitely. 

The  sudden  capture  and  burning  of  Buffalo  and 
Black  Rock,  in  the  winter  of  1813,  was  the  origin  of  a 
wide-spread  panic  in  Western  New  York.  Fugitives 
from  the  devastated  villages  brought  the  rumor  down 
the  road,  that  the  British  were  marching  into  the  inte- 
rior, to  prepare  the  inhabitants  for  which  couriers  were 
sent  off  in  all  directions.  The  news  came  to  Auburn 
in  the  evening,  and,  being  reported  on  the  street,  threw 
the  village  into  the  wildest  alarm.  The  nearness  of  the 
enemy  none  exactly  knew,  but  in  the  confusion  he  was 


THE    SETfLtMENT    OF    AURELICS.  113 

believed  to  be  close  at  hand.  Major  Olmsted,  who 
was  then  at  home,  immediately  ordered  out  the  mili- 
tary companies,  nnder  Captains  Tattle  and  Ammer- 
raan,  with  directions  to  march  at  break  of  day  toward 
Canandaigua. 

John  H.  Beach,  Enos  T.  Throop,  and  other  citizens, 
meanwhile,  hastened  through  the  village,  collecting 
arms  and  ammunition,  and  rousing  such  prominent  citi- 
zens as  had  retired  to  rest,  to  share  in  the  general  pre- 
paration. The  cavalry  company,  when  formed,  gal- 
loped westward  at  once.  At  sunrise  the  next  morning, 
the  people  gathered  on  the  top  of  the  west  hill  of  the  vil- 
lage, to  witness  the  departure  of  Captain  Ammerman's 
command,  the  ranks  of  which  were  so  swollen  by  new  re. 
cruits,  as  now  to  contain  about  two  hundred  men.  Many 
of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  the  place  were  among- 
the  volunteers.  The  company  marched  with  haste  to- 
Cayuga,  where  it  was  detained  till  the  following  day,  to 
allow  the  regiment  to  be  organized.  It  took  the  road 
again  next  morning,  thinking  to  meet  the  foe.  The 
foe,  however,  was  not  to  be  found,  so  the  ardent  volun- 
teers were  informed,  when  they  had  arrived  within 
four  miles  of  Canandaigua,  by  Colonel  Colt,  of  Geneva, 
and  John  II.  Beach,  of  Auburn,  who  had  ridden  ahead 
on  horseback,  to  ascertain  the  true  state  of  affairs.  The 
excursion  of  the  Auburn  troops  ended,  therefore,  harm- 
lessly. 

There  were,  besides  those  mentioned,  two  companies 
0 


114  HISTORY    OF    AlIBUKN. 

from  Auburn  that  did  gallant  service  in  tlie  war  of 
1812.  One  was  a  company  of  regulars  raised  by 
volunteering,  which  was  quartered,  during  its  stay  in 
the  village,  in  some  wooden  barracks  erected  on  the 
north  side  of  Genesee  Street,  near  the  present  residence 
of  Josiali  P.  Bailey.  The  recruiting  officer  used  a 
spot  of  dry  ground  on  the  bank  of  the  outlet,  the 
same  upon  which  Hugh  Watson's  brewery  was  after- 
ward built,  for  a  parade  ground.  This  company,  being 
conducted  to  Sackett's  Harbor,  had  the  honor  of  tak- 
ing part  in  General  Pike's  famous  expedition  against 
York,  Upper  Canada,  in  April,  1813.  During  the  de- 
barkation of  the  forces,  several  men  in  this  command 
were  shot,  among  whom  was  William  Carpenter,  of 
Am'elius.     He  was  pierced  with  five  balls. 

Captain  John — more  familiarly  known  as  Jack — 
Richardson,  led  a  company  of  rifles  from  this  place  to 
the  Niagara  frontier,  in  1814.  At  this  point,  during 
July  and  August,  there  occurred  some  of  the  hardest 
fighting  of  the  war.  The  rifle  company  appeared  in 
several  actions,  in  all  of  which  it  behaved  with  notice- 
able bravery.  It  was  also  with  General  Brown  at  the 
time  that  the  Americans  were  besieged  in  Fort  Erie, 
;and  it  covered  itself  with  glory  by  its  conduct  in  the 
sortie  of  the  17th  of  September.  General  Porter 
having  been  directed  to  destroy  a  certain  advanced 
work  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  a  block-house  and 
a  couj)le  of  bastions,  in  which  several   batteries  were 


THE    SEITLEMENT    OF   AUKELIUS.  115 

posted,  that  were  doing  considerable  damage  to  the 
fort,  he  took  a  detachment,  including  Captain  Kichard- 
son's  company,  surprised  the  enemy,  captured  their 
works,  with  a  thousand  prisoners  and  immense  stores, 
and  returned  ia  triumph.  As  the  Americans  were 
charging  toward  the  breastwork,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  affray,  Captain  Richardson  ran  in  advance  of  his 
men,  and  was  fired  upon  by  a  whole  platoon  of  the 
red-coats.  The  balls  whistled  all  around  him,  but  none 
touched  his  person.  The  principal  exploit  of  the 
Auburn  company  was  the  rescue  of  General  Porter, 
who  was  once  surrounded  by  the  enemy  and  captured. 
Lieutenant  Silas  Chatfield  perceived  the  capture,  and, 
leading  a  party  of  men  with  drawn  daggers,  he  rushed 
into  the  midst  of  the  action,  and  set  the  General  free. 
Captain  E-ichardson  was  afterwards  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Colonel. 

During  the  summer  of  1814,  the  people  of  Auburn 
were  once  badly  frightened.  A  large  number  of  the 
male  citizens  were  out  upon  the  lines,  and  all,  es- 
pecially the  women,  whose  husbands  or  protectors  were 
gone,  were  in  painful  anxiety  respecting  them,  and 
resting  under  more  or  less  of  apprehension,  that  the 
Jjritish  soldiery  might  yet  invade  the  State  from 
Canada.  The  twang  of  a  trumpet  was  one  day  heard 
i'rom  the  west  liilL  The  persons  who  first  heard  it  fled 
in  consternation  from  that  part  of  the  town  eastward, 
with  the  crv  that   the  I'ritish  were  c(.minu:,  doul)tiiiij; 


116  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

nut  that  [the  enemy  was  thus  suddenly  here  to  sack 
and  burn  the  town.  Without  pausing  for  reflec- 
tion upon  the  absurdity  of  tlie  idea,  a  number  of  oth- 
ers caught  the  alarm,  and,  rushing  for  their  valuables^ 
either  barred  themselves  within  doors,  or  ran  to  the 
woods  for  safety.  A  few  moments,  however,  revealed 
the  fact  tliat  these  twangs  i)roceeded  from  the  instru- 
ment of  one  Harry  Burns,  an  Irish  bugler,  who  had  de- 
serted from  the  English  army,  and  was  making  hi& 
way  on  foot  to  Albany,  with  a  permit  from  the  military 
authorities  at  Buffalo.  For,  after  sounding  a  few  war- 
notes,  he  struck  up  a  pleasant  melody,  trudged  down 
the  hill  to  Bostwick's  tavern,  and  called  for  his  dinner. 
The  fright  being  over,  the  sell  was  acknowledged  with 
some  chagrin,  and  plenty  of  asseverations  from  by- 
standers that  they  hadn't  believed  the  yarn,  any  of  the 
time.  Harry  recounted  his  adventures  in  the  evening 
to  the  curious  crowd  that  assembled  nightly  at  the  tav- 
ern, and  regaled  them  with  melodies  from  his  favorite 
bugle.     He  remained  in  Auburn  for  several  years. 

The  Cayuga  Patriot  Avas  established  in  Auburn  in 
1814.  It  was  the  first  competitor  of  the  Western 
Federalist.  Eepresenting  the  views  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  which  was  fast  rising  into  importance  in 
this  State,  and  contained  in  its  ranks  some  of  the 
finest  men  of  the  county  and  district,  it  was  well  re- 
ceived and  supported.  It  was  a  dusky-looking  little 
quarto  of  eight  pages,  and  was  ])rinted  in  a  shop  on 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    AUKELIUS,  117 

Lumber  Lane — an  old  street  following  an  Indian  trail, 
situated  between  what  is  now  Mechanic  Street  and  the 
creek.  In  this  office  the  Hon.  Tiiurlow  Weed  set 
type  for  several  months.  These  are  the  circumstan- 
ces, in  his  own  words  : 

"  Nor  shall  Ave  ever  forget  the  upper  story  of  a 
wagon-maker's  shop,  where  the  Cayuga  Patriot  was 
first  printed ;  for  there  we  worked,  and  laughed,  and 
played  away  most  of  the  winter  of  1814.  Samuel  A. 
Brown,  who  published  the  Patriot,  was  an  honest, 
amiable,  easy,  slip-shod  sort  of  a  man,  whose  patient, 
good-natured  wife  was  '  cut  from  the  same  piece.'  Mr. 
Brown,  the  year  before,  had  been  established  at  Al- 
bany, with  a  paper  called  the  Pepullican,^\\ndev  the 
auspices  of  Governor  Tompkins,  Chief-Justice  Spencer, 
and  other  distinguished  Kepublicans,  withVhom  Mr. 
Southwick,  of  the  Begiste)\  and  then  State'printer,  had 
quarreled.  The  enterprise,  like  everything  in  our  old 
friend  Brown's  hands,  failed,  and  he  next  found  him- 
self at  Auburn,  then  a  small  village,  without  a  side- 
walk or  a  pavement,  and,  save'JSackett's  Harbor,  the 
muddiest  place  we  ever  saw.  ^Ir.  and  ]\[rs.  Brown 
were  originals.  Neither  of  them,  so  far  as  we  remem 
her,  ever  lost  temper  or  even  fretted.  The  work  in  the 
office  was  always  behind-hand,  and  the  lioiise  always 
in  confusion.  The  paper  was  never^out  in  season,  and 
neither  breakfast  nor  dinner  were^ever  ready.  But  it 
was  all  the  same.     Subscribers  waited]  for  the  paper 


118  HISTOKY    OF   ACBUKN. 

till  it  was  printed,  and  we  waited  for  our  meals  till 
the  J  were  cooked.  The  office  was  always  full  of  loun- 
gers communicating  or  receiving  news ;  and  but  for 
an  amateur  type-setter,  Richard  Oliphant.  late  editor 
of  the  Oswego  Co^inty  Whig,  and  brother  of  the  editor 
of  the  Auhtirn  Journal,  to  whom  we  became  much 
attached,  and  who,  though  a  mere  boy,  used  to  do  a 
full  share  of  the  work,  the  business  would  have  fallen 
still  further  behind-liand." 

The  establishment  of  one  Democratic  newspaper 
was  followed  by  that  of  a  second,  called  the  Cayuga 
Tocsin;  but  there  was  no  room  for  the  latter,  and  it 
shortly  afterward  disappeared  from  circulation. 


AXNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGE.  119 


CHAPTER  TIL 

ANNALS       OF      THE       VILLAGE^. 

1815-1837. 

Auburn,  in  1815,  was  a  plain,  rather  Dntchy-looking 
villaore,  of  two  hundred  buildin<2:3.  Xumerous  well- 
traveled  public  roads  had,  by  the  enterprise  of  the 
founders  of  the  village,  been  built  to  and  through  the 
place,  constituting  it  a  market  for  the  surrounding 
towns.  Its  streets  were  full  of  activity,  and  emigrants 
were  now  flowing  in  so  fast,  that  land-owning  citizens 
were  meditating  and  opening  new  streets  to  provide 
for  the  fresh  demand  for  building  lots.  The  roads 
still  suifered  from  the  wear  of  the  war,  but  by  means 
of  the  avails  of  lotteries,  and  subscriptions  of  work, 
they  had  been  greatly  improved,  and  many  from  mere 
bridle-paths  had  become  respectable  thoroughfares. 
They  were  all  under  the  superintendence  of  the  high- 
way commissioners  of  the  township,  who  were  author- 
ized to  open  all  necessary  lines  of  travel,  and  discon- 
tinue such  as  were  useless. 

North  Street,  now  straightened  to  coincide  with  the 
western  boundaries  of  lots  No.  forty-seven  and  thirty- 
eight,  whose  crossing  at  the  creek  was  still  spanned  by 
the  old  log  bridge,  was  first  laid  out  in  1791 ;  South 


120  HISTOKV   OF    AUBURN. 

Street,  in  1795.  West  Genesee  Street  was  laid  out  in 
1791,  at  wliicli  time  East  Genesee  was  also  in  use,  though 
not  legally  erected  till  1802.  Owasco  Street  was  sur- 
veyed in  July,  1795  ;  Market  Street,  under  the  name 
of  Mill  road,  and  Franklin,  under  the  name  of  the  new 
Genesee  road,  in  1797  ;  and  Clark  Street  about  the  same 
time.  Division  Street,  and  the  highway  running  from 
the  Goodrich  tavern  on  North  Street  over  the  ledge  of 
limestone  rocks  to  Clarksville,  were  created  in  1799. 
The  latter  is  now  broken  up.  The  street  since  known 
as  Seminary  Avenue  was  opened  in  1805.  The  one 
now  termed  Seminary  Street,  as  well  as  that  called 
Fulton,  was  made  in  1806.  In  1794,  a  road  leaving 
^N'ortli  Street  within  a  few  rods  of  the  bridge  ran  down 
along  the  north  bank  of  the  outlet  to  Clarksville.  It 
was  the  road  to  the  salt  springs.  It  crossed  the  site  of 
the  prison,  and  at  that  point  ran  under  '*  the  arched  tree," 
as  it  was  called,  a  large  forest  tree  whose  top  had  been 
bent  down  and  become  fixed  in  the  ground,  making  an 
arch  quite  across  the  road.  This  highway,  straightened, 
was  legally  erected  September  15th,  1806.  Chapel 
Street,  surveyed  March  19th,  1811,  pursuing  a  direct 
course  from  Korth  Street  along  the  edge  of  the  Acad- 
emy grounds,  intersected  the  last  mentioned  on  the 
site  of  the  prison.  A  short  road  between  tliese  two,  a 
little  east  of  what  is  now  State  Street,  was  also  erected 
in  1811.  The  building  of  the  prison  altered  the  streets 
in  this  quarter  very  much.     Mechanic  Street,  which 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGK.  121 

finally  superseded  Lumber  Lane,  was  originally  "  the 
road  from  Swift's  mills  to  the  village  of  Auburn."  Its 
direction  was  not  completely  fixed  till  1821. 

The  village  was  already  a  promising  place,  with  an  in- 
dustrious population  of  one  thousand  souls,  who  found 
employment  in  the  mills,  in  the  business  of  clearing  new 
lands,  or  in  the  shops,  stores,  and  taverns  that  were 
plentifully  sprinkled  along  the  sides  of  Genesee  Street. 
This  was  the  principal  business  street,  being  the  most 
traveled,  in  spite  of  its  mud,  and  in  the  absence  of 
side  or  cross  walks.  Thirty  odd  stores  and  shops,  and 
no  less  than  six  taverns,  displayed  their  various  signs. 
There  were  but  five  brick  buildings  on  the  street.  The 
huge  chimneys  of  the  village  indicated  the  prevalence 
of  fire-places,  and  the  use  of  wood  for  fuel.  The  tav- 
erns, furnished  as  a  class  with,  commodious  piazzas  and 
large  barns,  w^ere  Demaree's,  the  Farmers'  Inn,  the 
Center  House,  Tracy's,  the  Western  Exchange,  and 
Pomeroy's. 

The  position  and  character  of  the  shops,  according 
to  the  best  authorities,  were,  beginning  at  the  east  hill, 
somewhat  as  follows  :  Chauncey  Dibble's  blacksmith- 
shop  stood  on  what  is  now  the  west  corner  of  John 
Street ;  Demaree's  cabinet-shop  adjoined  the  tavern ; 
next  west  was  the  little  post-office  ;  Seth  Burgess' 
hat-shop  occupied  the  corner  of  Seminary  Avenue, 
west  of  which  was  a  row  of  sheds  belonging  to  the 
mill  ;  the   store  of  George   Leitcli   stood   west  of  the 


122  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

sheds ;  Iljde  tfe  Beach  had  a  storj-and-a-half  wooden 
store,  just  over  the  bridge,  wliere  Doremus  once  had  a 
tannery  ;  Ansehn  T.  Rowland's  hat-shop  stood  next ; 
on  the  east  side  of  an  old  lane  that  ran  down  from 
the  street  toward  the  creek  was  posted  Philip  Garden- 
ier's  ;  next  beyond  which  were  Swift's  two  brick  stores, 
built  on  the  former  site  of  an  ashery,  and  succeeded 
in  after  times  by  the  Cayuga  County  Bank  ;  then  came 
Pace's  printing-office,  Russell's  goldsmith-shop,  John 
Oliphant's  tailor-shop,  all  wooden,  and,  on  the  corner, 
Eleazer  Hills'  grocery  store. 

Robert  and  John  Patty's  store  and  tannery  occupied 
the  west  corner  of  Mechanic  Street ;  Jeffries'  chair- 
shop,  in  w^hich  the  famous  Brigham  Young  once  made 
chairs,  stood  where  the  brick  block  is  now  ;  on  the  site 
of  the  Baptist  Church  was  Silas  Ilawley's  tannery ; 
two  brick  stores,  built  by  Joseph  Colt  and  Samuel 
Cumpston,  stood  about  fifty  feet  east  of  South  Street ; 
the  old  school-house  stood  on  the  opposite  corner,  and 
was  used  by  Edward  Stephenson  for  a  hat-shop  ;  near 
Exchange  Street  was  Cornelius  Irving's  saddler-shop, 
and,  on  the  corner,  the  drug-store  of  Abraham  Gridley 
and  Dr.  Ira  II.  Smith,  which  was  sold,  in  1816,  to 
Archy  Kasson. 

Horace  Hills  had  a  one-and-a-half  story  brick  store 
on  the  west  corner  of  N'orth  Street ;  next  w^as  Henry 
Porter's ;  Peter  Hughes'  yellow  variety-store,  Horace 
Hall's,  Dr.  Burt's  two-story  white  residence,  standing 


AXXALS    OF    TJIE    \^LLAGE.  123 

back  from  the  road,  and  his  story-and-a-half  green 
store,  where  the  west  end  of  the  Beach  block  stands,  fol- 
lowed ;  the  brown  office  of  Ebenezer  Iloskins,  magis- 
trate, stood  on  the  site  of  Groot's  store,  and  the  jewelry- 
shop  of  Samuel  Graves  and  James  Fitch,  where  C.  A, 
Smith's  is  now  ;  from  the  vacant  space  between  which 
and  Hoskin's  appeared  above  ground  tlie  sharp  roof  of 
an  ice-house ;  Bostwick's  large  Dutch  barn  came  next ; 
on  the  corner,  where  Briggs'  is  situated,  was  a  frame 
building,  furnished  with  a  pair  of  hay-scales,  of  that 
ancient  style  which  grappled  the  four  w^heels  of 
wagons,  lifted  them  bodily  into  the  air,  and  recorded 
their  weight  within  the  building  ;  Noble's  shop  stood 
on  the  west  corner  of  Clark  Street ;  next  was  Eldad 
Steel's  brick  building,  afterward  a  coffee-house  ; 
Joseph  Colt's  two-story  house  was  built  on  the  site  of 
the  First  National  Bank  ;  where  the  double  house, 
Nos.  157  and  159  Genesee  Street,  stands,  was  Abel 
Terry's  old  wagon-shop,  sold  in  1815  to  Horace 
Hills,  and  afterward  occupied  by  Horatio  Hanks,  the 
bell-fuunder,  whose  apprentice  was  the  famous  Andrew 
Meneely,  of  Troy ;  Thomas  Finn's  tailor-shop  was  built 
where  Jacob  11.  How  afterward  resided,  No.  1S9  ; 
Miller's  blacksmith-shop  stood  on  lot  No.  168,  and 
Thadrack  Terry's  wagon-shop  on  the  site  of  I.  S. 
Allen's  house,  next  above. 

Many  of  these  sho[)s  were  also  used  by  their  owners 
for  dwelliuirs.     In  soine,  tliat  were  mainly  residences. 


124  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

a  mechanic  frequently  carried  on  some  part  of  his  trade, 
headed  nails,  for  instance,  or,  as  in  the  case  of  a  house, 
179  Genesee  Street,  where  Mrs.  Ivison  now  lives,  per- 
formed carpenter  work.  In  the  cellar  of  the  last-named 
was  constructed  the  first  large  family  carriage  in  Au- 
burn. It  was  sold  by  Abel  Terry  to  Governor  Throop. 
Beyond  the  roomy,  conspicuous  house  of  Eobert  Dill,  on 
the  hill,  there  were,  in  1815,  no  residences  westward 
to  Division  Street,  except  those  of  Kathaniel  Garrow 
and  Eldad  Steel.  Between  Genesee  Street  and  the 
creek,  the  wilderness  was  unbroken.  A  thrifty  orchard 
occupied  the  field  between  Bost wick's  tavern  and  the 
court-house. 

The  improvements  upon  North  Street  were  Horace 
Hills'  new  frame  house,  now  standing  behind  II.  B. 
Perry's  meat-market ;  Dr.  Joseph  Cole's  residence,  on 
the  north  corner  of  Garden  Street  ;  ISTehemiah  Smith's, 
on  the  hill,  and  George  Casey's  beyond ;  and,  on  the 
east  side,  Cumpston's  store,  the  tanning  establishment, 
and  three  or  four  small  dwellings.  In  the  region  of 
"Water  Street  was  a  large  pasture,  which  was  a  famous 
ball-ground  with  the  boys. 

South  Street  boasted  few  attractions.  Peter  Fields 
had  a  silversmith-shop  near  the  corner,  on  the  east  side, 
Dr.  A.  M.  Bennett  resided  on  the  south  corner  of 
Cumpston  Street,  and  a  few  rods  above  was  situated 
Colonel  John  Richardson's  cabinet-shop.  Beyond,  the 
road  was  surrounded  with  corn-fields  and  farms.     Tlie 


ANXALS    OF    THE    VILLAGE.  125 

other  streets  were  either  very  thinly  or  uot  at  all  set- 
tled. Clark  and  Genesee  Streets  ran  intu  the  forest 
about  on  the  line  of  AVashin^ton  Street. 

The  great  swamp  through  which  State,  Dill,  and 
Water  Streets  were  afterward  run,  was  in  the  process 
of  drying  up.  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  had,  not 
long  before,  taken  a  favorable  opportunity,  entered  the 
Bwamp,  and  cut  down  and  burned  up  all  the  thickets 
and  trees  that  were  growing  there.  Exposed  to  the 
sun  and  wind,  the  morass  eventually  became  solid 
ground. 

Auburn  was  thus  in  1815  a  thriving  settlement,  not 
only  located  on  the  grand  highways  of  travel  and  trade, 
but  well  placed  in  the  heart  of  a  fertile  and  rapidly  fill- 
ing country.  Hundreds  of  acres  of  forest  land  were 
now  being  cleared  up  yearly  and  cultivated.  The 
village  itself  possessed  immense  undeveloped  resources, 
and  was  at  this  time  considerably  ahead  of  all  other 
large  settlements  in  AVestern  Xew  York.  Rochester 
was  a  mere  handful  of  log-houses  on  the  banks  of  the 
Genesee  Kiver.  Syracuse  was  a  farm,  where  Edward 
Fatten,  then  residing  at  Onondaga  Hill,  went  to  buy 
cattle  to  stock  his  meat-market.  Geneva  and  Canan- 
(laigua  were  small,  and,  in  point  of  growth,  nearly  sta- 
tionary. Auburn,  on  the  contrary,  though  sorely  in 
need  of  incorporation,  for  the  sake  of  improving  the 
streets  and  preventing  tires,  was  prosperous  and  grow- 


126  HISTORY    OF    ACBUKN. 

The  village  of  Auburn  was  legally  incorporated  by  the 
Legislature,  April  18th,  1815.  John  II.  Beach,  then 
Member  of  Assembly  of  this  district,  secured  the  pas- 
sage of  an  act,  by  the  terms  of  which  the  freeholders 
and  inhabitants  of  lot  No.  forty-seven,  Aurelius,  and  the 
eastern  half  of  forty-six,  were  constituted  a  body  cor- 
porate, with  perpetual  succession,  and  power  to  erect 
public  buildings,  procure  fire-engines  and  utensils, 
regulate  the  streets  and  sidewalks,  and  to  exercise  all 
needful  authority  for  the  preservation  of  good  order 
and  the  public  health.  The  officers  of  the  village  were 
tive  trustees,  three  assessors,  a  clerk,  a  treasurer,  and  a 
<;ollector,  who  were,  wdth  the  exception  of  the  collector, 
to  be  elected  on  the  first  Monday  in  May  of  each  year.  • 
The  town  of  Auburn  was  erected  March  28th,  1823, 
and  on  the  9th  of  March,  1836,  additional  powers  were 
conferred  upon  the  trustees,  and  the  bounds  of  the  vil- 
lage extended  to  those  of  the  town. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  village  of  Auburn 
Avas  composed  of  Joseph  Colt,  the  President,  Enos  T. 
Throop,  Bradley  Tuttle,  Lyman  Paine,  and  David 
Hyde,  who  met  monthly,  or  as  often  as  circumstances 
required,  at  the  office  ot  the  President.  The  duty  of 
putting  the  government  into  operation  they  discharged 
w4th  great  discretion.  They  proceeded  first,  to  the 
rare  satisfaction  of  the  citizens,  to  provide  some  means 
for  the  adequate  protection  of  property  in  the  village 
against  fire.     They  ordered  tliat  every  owner  of  real 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGE.  127 

estate  should  provide  each  of  his  hiiildings,  whether 
dwellings,  stores,  or  inechanics'  sliops,  with  a  ladder 
and  with  substantial  leathern  lire-buckets,  the  number 
of  the  latter  in  each  building  varying  from  one  to  five, 
according  to  the  number  of  fire-places  it  contained  ; 
the  penalty  for  non-observance  of  this  order  being  a 
fine  of  four  dollars  for  every  bucket  that  should  be 
lacking.  The  villagers  generally  furnished  their  build- 
ings with  the  required  implements.  But  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  saw  and  carding  mills  of  Samuel  Dill,  by 
fire,  on  the  21st  of  December,  1816,  admonished  the 
Trustees  of  the  necessity  for  more  positive  protective 
measures.  They  therefore  purchased  a  fire  engine, 
and  sent  a  teamster,  by  the  name  of  Gershom  Phelps, 
to  the  Hudson  River  to  get  it.  Previous  to  this,  there 
had  been  appointed,  pursuant  to  the  charter  of  the 
village,  four  fire-wardens,  into  whose  hands  had  been 
committed  the  management  of  affairs  at  fires ;  but 
that  they,  as  well  as  many  citizens,  were  inattentive 
to  duty,  seems  apparent  from  the  following 

NOTICE. 

"  A  fire-engine  for  the  use  of  this  village  has  been  purchased  in 
New  York  by  the  trustees.  It  is  now  at  Newburg.  A  team  has 
this  day  beeu  sent  for  it,  and  it  ma^^  be  expected  here  in  from 
eighteen  to  twenty  days.  On  its  arrival,  the  citizens  of  this  vil- 
lage will  be  called  upon  to  assemble  with  their  fire-buckets,  when 
all  deficiencies  of  this  article  will  be  noticed.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  late  loss  of  Judge  Dill's  property  by  fire  will  show  to  the 
citizens  of  this  village   tlie  necessity  of  being  watchful  and  pre- 


128  [IISTORV    OF    AUBURN^. 

pared  to  arrest  the  destructive  progress  of  this  devouring  element, 
should  it  break  out  within  our  bounds ;  and  not  again,  when  an 
alarm  of  fire  is  given  in  our  streets,  and  by  the  bells,  to  remain  at 
their  ease  or  their  labors,  (particularly  the  fire-wardens),  saying, 
we  can  do  no  good.  We  know  not  how  much  good  we  may  do, 
or  evil  prevent,  until  we  arrive  at  the  place  of  danger. — Dec.  23, 
1816." 

The  engine  arrived  in  January,  and  was  placed  in  a 
little  engine-house  on  Market  Street,  where  Lamey's 
tannery  now  stands,  and  was  intrusted  to  the  care  of 
a  company  of  about  twenty  of  the  substantial  men  of 
the  village,  of  which  Archy  Kasson  was  foreman. 
Robert  Muir  was  elected  foreman  in  1820 ;  Richard 
Steel,  in  1825  ;  and  Asa  Hunger,  in  1828.  The  ordi- 
nances in  relation  to  the  conduct  of  affairs  at  a  fire 
were,  that  the  president  of  the  village,  wearing  a  white 
belt,  a  badge  on  his  cap,  and  bearing  a  trumpet,  should 
have  the  general  management ;  the  trustees,  with 
white  belts  and  canes,  were  to  form  ranks  for  carrying 
water  ;  the  fire-wardens,  distinguished  by  white  belts, 
were  to  bring  fire-hooks,  ladders,  etc.,  to  aid  in  con- 
trolling the  fire,  and  to  gather  up  all  buckets  and 
utensils  that  should  be  left  on  hand  after  the  danger 
was  over ;  while  the  firemen,  wearing  leathern  hats, 
were  to  w^ork  the  engine  "  with  all  their  skill  and 
power." 

The  trustees  turned  their  attention  next  to  the 
subject  of  improving  the  streets,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1816  issued  their  first  order  tor  laying  sidewalks.    They 


ANNAf.S    OF    THE    VILLAGE.  129 

directed  the  construction  of  brick  or  plank  walks, 
eight  feet  in  width,  on  both  sides  of  Genesee  Street,  on 
the  west  side  of  North  Street,  and  on  tlie  north  side 
of  Center  Street.  Four  feet  in  width  was  the  orii^- 
inal  choice  of  the  Trustees,  but  Enos  T.  Throop  was 
in  favor  of  ample  walks,  and,  strenuously  opposing  that 
choice,  he  persuaded  the  Trustees  to  adopt  the  greater 
breadth.  The  principal  streets  were  then,  from  tiine 
to  time,  scraped,  repaired,  and  graded,  and  the  walks 
extended,  to  the  inexpressible  satisfaction  of  every 
dweller  in  the  village. 

After  the  erection  of  the  town  of  Anburn,  the 
streets  underwent  a  further  change,  ^he  hill  at  the 
corners  of  North  and  South  Streets  was  lowered  by 
successive  excavations  nearly  twelve  feet,  and  the  road 
near  the  adjacent  bridges  raised  about  eight  feet,  by 
means  of  earth  taken  from  the  cuttintrs.  This  im- 
provement  laid  bare  the  cellars  of  the  stores  of  Horace 
Hills,  Colt  &  Cumpston.  Dr.  Kichard  Steel,  and 
others,  at  the  top  of  the  hill,  which  w^ere  thereafter  oc- 
cupied as  first  floors  ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  buried 
the  first  stories  of  several  buildings  near  the  bridges, 
which  thus  became  cellars.  In  grading  Genesee  and 
South  Streets,  several  gullies  containing  little  water- 
courses were  filled  up,  and  the  streams  made  to  flow 
through  drains.  These,  with  a  variety  of  other  im- 
provements hereinafter  mentioned,  were  effected  about 
the  year  1827. 
7 


130  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

The  proposition  to  erect,  in  some  one  of  the  villages 
of  Western  l^ew  York,  a  new  prison,  had  been  under 
the  consideration  of  the  Legislature  for  several  years, 
and  the  necessity  for  such  an  institution  being  strongly 
urged  by  the  prison  authorities  of  the  State,  the  resolu- 
tion had  been  taken  to  build  it.  In  the  matter  of  its 
location,  which  was  for  a  time  an  open  question, 
Auburn  felt  the  deepest  interest.  It  was  desirable  that 
an  institution  so  well  calculated  to  confer  importance 
and  prosperity  on  any  place  should  be  built  here.  The 
claims  of  Cayuga  County  were  presented  in  the  Legis- 
lature by  John  H.  Beach,  then  our  Member  of  Assem- 
bly, who  was  undoubtedly  the  leading  spirit  in  the 
lower  house  in  1816.  The  government  of  the  State 
was  then  in  the  hands  of  the  Democratic  party,  for 
which  Cayuga  County,  though  once  strongly  Federal, 
had  risen  to  give  one  of  the  largest  majorities  of  any 
county  in  the  State.  Suffolk  and  Orange,  it  is  be- 
lieved, alone  exceeded  it.  When  the  question  of  locat-- 
ing  the  prison  was  agitated,  therefore,  Auburn  came 
favorably  into  view,  and  on  the  12th  of  April,  1816, 
three  of  our  citizens,  Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  James  Glover, 
and  Hon.  John  II.  Beach,  were  authorized  by  law  to 
build  that  institution  here.  Citizens  of  Auburn  had 
agreed  to  donate  a  site.  Two  such  were  proffered : 
one,  by  George  Casey,  situated  on  the  southern  bounds 
of  his  farm,  near  the  stone  quarry,  where  the  founda- 
tions might  have  been  laid  upon  the  solid  rock,  and 


ANNALS    OF   THE    VILLAGE.  131 

another,  by  Samuel  Dill,  David  Hyde,  John  II.  Beach, 
and  Ebenezer  S.  Beach,  on  the  bank  of  the  outlet,  at  a 
point  where,  by  constructing  a  dam  across  the  stream, 
a  valuable  water-power  was  obtainable.      The  latter 
site  was  accepted  by  the  commissioners,  on  account  of 
the  water-power,  and  a  deed  was  received  for  the  same 
on  the  22d  of  June.     Six  acres  and  twenty  perches 
were  conveyed  to  the  State,  with  sufficient  land  for  a 
six-rods-wide  road  on  three  sides  of  the  lot,  and  the 
privilege  of  building  a  dam,  and  using  half  the  water- 
power.     The  grant  of  laud  for  a  road  enabled  the  com- 
missioners to  shift  Garden  Street  to  the  north.     Plans 
for  the  prison  buildings  having  been  prepared  by  J.  O. 
Daniels,  Esq.,  Architect,  and  approved  by  the  Justice 
of  the  Court  of  Chancery,  William  Brittin,  a  compe- 
tent master-builder,  was  employed  to  carry  them  out. 
The  contractor  for  the  masonry  work  was  Isaac  Lytle, 
of  New  York,  who  brought  with  him  to  Auburn  as 
foreman,  Ralph  Da  Camp,  now  living  in  Aurelius. 

Foundations  for  the  stone  inclosure  were  ])ut  under 
way  immediately  ;  the  excavations  for  the  foundation 
of  the  south  wall  of  which  laid  bare,  it  is  said,  an  In- 
dian grave-yard,  large  quantities  of  human  bones  be- 
ing exhumed  by  tlie  workmen,  as  well  as  fragments  of 
pottery  and  Indian  utensils.  The  south-east  corner- 
stone of  the  wall  was  laid  June  28th,  by  Mr.  De  Camp, 
who  inclosed  therein  a  bottle  of  whiskey.  The  corner- 
stone of  the  main  buiklinjrs  was  laid  bv  David  Mills 


132  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

and  Henry  Roberts.  Twenty  thousand  dollars  were 
expended  the  first  season  on  the  work,  which  employed 
not  only  every  builder  in  Auburn  not  otherwise  en- 
gaged, but  large  numbers  from  abroad.  The  erection 
and  inclosure  of  the  main  building,  and  the  carrying 
up  of  the  outside  wall  to  the  height  of  four  feet,  were 
the  results  of  1816.  Mr.  Ly tie  then  found  it  necessary 
to  bring  on  to  Auburn  a  stock  of  grocery  supplies  for 
his  men,  and  to  have  a  business  office  near  the  prison. 
He  met  this  necessity,  in  1817,  by  building  the  three- 
story  tavern  on  the  north  corner  of  Chapel  and  State 
Streets,  called  the  Prison  Hotel,  which  stood  there  till 
Sunday,  August  20th,  1828,  when  it  was  burned  down. 
In  this  he  kept  a  store-house  and  office,  renting  the 
rest  of  the  building  to  Captain  Allen  Worden  for  a 
tavern,  whose  business,  with  that  of  the  Hixon  House, 
also  built  in  1817,  by  Thomas  Hixon,  on  the  site  of 
the  Auburn  Hotel,  arose  at  first  in  no  little  degree 
from  the  operations  of  the  prison. 

By  the  winter  of  1817,  the  south  wing  was  in  readi- 
ness for  the  reception  of  criminals,  of  whom  fifty-three 
were  then  received  from  the  jails  of  adjacent  counties, 
to  aid  the  work  of  construction.  Eighty-seven  more 
were  received  in  1818,  for  the  same  purpose.  Author- 
ity for  the  employment  of  convict  labor  in  building 
the  prison  was  conferred  on  tlie  State  commissioners 
in  April,  1817,  both  to  relieve  the  crowded  jails,  and 
to  save  the  wages  of  free  workmen.     The  practice  was, 


ANNALS    OF   THE    VILLAGE.  133 

however,  a  source  of  annoyance  from  the  start.  The 
criminals,  having  unrestrained  intercourse  witli  the 
workmen  and  mechanics,  notwithstanding  the  presence 
of  tlie  guards,  infected  them  with  sympatliy  for  the 
punishment  and  privations  the  former  were  enduring, 
and  led  to  the  most  turbulent  and  riotous  actions  on 
the  part  of  both.  An  incident  of  the  spring  of  1821 
exhibits  the  extent  of  the  evil  alluded  to.  It  having 
become  necessary  to  punish  three  disobedient  convicts 
by  whipping,  and  the  kee[)ers  refusing  to  perform  the 
repulsive  task,  a  blacksmith  by  the  name  of  Thompson 
was,  one  Saturday  eve,  called  in  to  do  the  work,  lie 
whipped  the  men,  was  paid  for  the  job,  and  then  left 
the  prison  for  his  home  in  the  village.  As  he  passed 
through  the  prison  gate,  he  was  seized  by  a  furious 
crowd  of  laborers,  tarred  from  head  to  foot,  and  borne 
through  the  streets  astride  a  rail.  The  ring-leader  of 
the  mob,  with  a  hen  under  his  arm,  walked  by  the  side 
of  the  unfortunate  Thompson,  and  plucking  handfuls 
of  feathers  from  the  screaming  fowl,  stuck  them  to  the 
blacksmith's  tarry  coat.  This  shocking  afiair  was  con- 
dignly  punished  as  a  riot.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
convicts,  stimulated  by  this  outside  sympathy,  learned 
to  be  rebellious,  transgressed  the  rules  of  the  shops  at 
every  opportunity,  and  set  fire  to  the  buildings,  and 
destroyed  their  w^ork,  wdienever  they  dared.  Fearful 
insurrections  in  other  prisons  were  not  then  uncommon  ; 
and  the  citizens  of  Auburn  were,  at  this  stage  of  the 


134  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

case,  oppressed  with  the  fear  that  tliey  might  be  called 
on  to  encounter  an  jrruption  of  criminals   into  the 
town.     This  sense  of  insecnrity  among  the  citizens  re- 
sulted in  the  organization  of  the  prison  guard,  after- 
ward  known  as  the  Auburn  guard,  in    1820,  under 
Captain  Joseph  Colt,  which  was  armed  and  equipped 
by  the  State,  and   provided  with  an  armory  in  the 
upper  story  of  the  stone  building  built  upon  and  within 
the  front  wall  of  the  prison,  in  the  northern  part,  to 
which  entrance  was  had  from  the  street  by  means  of 
a  staircase.      The  efficient  conduct  of  this  corps  in 
times  of  danger,  and  especially  during  the  burning  of 
the  north  wing  of  the  prison,  in  November,  1820,  w^hen 
it  was  called  upon  to  march  the  convicts  to  their  cells 
at  the  point  of  the  bayonet ;  and  increased  discipline 
in  the  prison  itself,  soon  removed  every  apprehension 
in  Auburn  pf  the  convicts'  breaking  out  and  making  a 
descent  on  the  village.     The  malice  of  the  prisoners 
led  to  another  precautionary  measure.     This  was  the 
formation,  the  same  year  as  the  above,  of  a  fire  com- 
pany among  the  citizens,  attached  to  the  prison.     The 
engine  which  this  company  used  was  purchased  by 
the  State,  and  was  kept  in  the  lower  story  of  the  prison 
armory,  a  door,  since  walled  up,  being  then  opened 
through  the  outside  wall  to  enable  citizens  to  use  the 
machine,  whenever  necessary  to  suppress  fires  in  the 
village.      Samuel   C.   Dunham  was   foreman  of  this 
company  for  a  year  or  twOj,  when  Truman  J.  McMas- 


ANNALS    OF    THp:    VILLAGE.  135 

ter  was  elected  to  tlie  post,  and  occupied  the  same  till 
1836. 

In  April,  1818,  the  State  commissioners  on  construc- 
tion transferred  the  government  of  the  prison  to  a 
Board  of  Inspectors,  appointed  by  the  Legislature,  con- 
sisting of  Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  Hon.  John  II.  Beach, 
James  Glover,  Archy  Kasson,  and  George  Casey. 
William  Brittin  was  by  this  Board  appointed  the  first 
agent  and  keeper  of  the  prison. 

The  prison  went  rapidly  forward  till  1823,  when  the 
massive  main  hall  and  wings,  and  extensive  wooden 
work-shops  for  the  coopers,  blacksmiths,  spinners,  and 
shoemakers,  severally,  and  an  inclosing  stone  wall 
twenty  feet  high,  had  been  completed  at  a  cost  of  four 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  cooper-shop  was  then 
situated  near  the  south  wall,  and  the  south  gate  was 
extensively  used.  *'  Copper  John,"  made  in  Auburn  by 
John  D.  Cray,  surmounted  the  pinnacle  of  the  central 
building.  The  north  wing,  which  had  been  fashioned 
to  effect  the  solitary  and  silent  confinement  of  the 
prisoners,  upon  the  plan  devised  by  that  excellent  man^ 
Mr.  Brittin,  then  contained  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
five  cells  only.  These  cells  were  seven  feet  long,  the 
same  high,  three  and  a  half  feet  wide,  and  were  sep- 
arated by  walls  of  solid  masonry  one  foot  thick  ;  they 
were  each  provided  with  a  ventilator,  and  secured  by 
strong,  iron-bound  wooden  doors,  with  grated  openings. 
They  were  arranged  in  a  block  five  stories  high — ac- 


136  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

cess  to  the  different  stories  being  had  by  stairs  and 
galleries  running  along  the  face  and  sides  of  the  block 
—  standing  within  an  inclosing  building,  which  it 
touched  only  at  the  roof.  An  area  ten  feet  wide  lay 
thus  between  the  cells  and  outer  walls,  the  patrols 
posted -e«  which  were  enabled  to  detect  the  slightest 
movements  of  the  prisoners,  and  foil  all  their  attempts 
to  escape,  or  to  communicate  with  each  other.  The 
south  wing  was  not,  in  1823,  much  used.  It  contained 
a  large  number  of  rooms,  holding  from  two  to  twenty 
men  each,  but,  upon  the  completion  of  the  north  wing, 
the  men  were  all  taken  out  and  subjected  to  solitary 
confinement  in  that  wing,  and  the  other  fell  into  dis- 
use, and  was  subsequently  rebuilt  on  the  new  plan. 

The  first  prison  dam  and  raceway  were  built  in 
1817,  the  prison,  as  authorized  by  the  terms  of  its 
deed,  using  half  the  power  gained  by  the  fall.  The 
Hon.  Gershom  Powers,  agent  of  the  prison,  having  pur- 
chased, in  1829,  the  premises  upon  the  opposite  side  of 
the  outlet,  situated-  between  Water  and  Prison  Streets, 
of  John  W.  Hubbard,  as  empowered  by  law,  erected 
immediately  thei'eafter  the  second  prison  dam,  which . 
was  durably  constructed  of  stone,  by  convicts  working 
under  the  eye  of  the  vigilant  prison-guards.  The 
State  gained  the  whole  power  of  the  dam  by  its  pur- 
chase. It  leased  the  surplus  po\ver  of  the  dam,  how- 
ever, for  many  years,  and  at  length  parted  with  its  prop- 
erty south  of  the  stream  to  purchasers  in  the  village. 


ANNAL^s    OF    THE   VILLAGE.  137 

An  enlargement  of  the  prison  grounds  was  made 
necessary  in  183i,  by  tlie  growth  of  the  institution. 
In  May  of  that  year,  the  title  to  twelve  acres  and  a 
fraction  of  the  land  lying  between  Factory,  now  Wall 
Street,  and  the  outlet,  west  of  tlie  prison  buildings, 
was  acquired  by  the  State  by  purchase  of  Jolm  B. 
Dill ;  an  area  of  live  hundred  feet  square  was  soon 
after  inclosed  and  shops  built  upon  it.  The  erection 
of  the  south  wall  involved  the  shifting  southward  of 
the  bed  of  the  creek  and  Barber's  dam,  whicli  was  sat- 
isfactorily done  at  the  expense  of  the  State.  Further 
improvements  and  erections  were  added  to  the  prison 
from  time  to  time,  but  a  full  description  of  Uie  same  is 
reserved  for  another  title. 

The  advantages  accruing  to  the  village  of  Auburn, 
from  the  location  therein  of  the  prison  of  Western  New 
York,  and  from  the  expenditure  of  the  moneys  neces- 
sary in  its  erection,  were  neither  few  nor  unimportant. 
On  the  contrary,  the  dignity  and  importance  of  Au- 
burn among  the  villages  of  the  State  were  immeasure- 
ably  enhanced ;  the  place  rose  into  general  notice,  and 
by  the  development  of  its  quarries,  water-power,  and 
resources,  its  citizens  acquired  wealth  and  prosperity, 
and  the  population  steadily  advanced  in  numbers,  not- 
withstanding certain  losses  hereafter  referred  to,  till  in 
only  ten  years  from  the  founding  of  the  prison  it  had 
fully  trebled  in  amount.  Many,  indeed,  were  the 
travelers  from  New  England,  seafaring  men   retiring 


138  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

from  a  perilous  life  on  the  wave,  printers,  editors, 
builders,  and  lawyers,  searching  Western  New  York 
for  a  place  to  spend  their  remaining  days  and  make 
their  fame  and  fortune  ;  and  many  were  the  emigrants 
bound  for  the  western  wilds,  who,  struck  with  the 
majesty  of  the  great  State  institution  at  Auburn,  and 
the  imposing  array  of  new  blocks,  seminaries,  and 
dwellings  then  being  built  in  this  village  in  conse- 
quence of  the  erection  of  the  prison,  were  led  to  ex- 
amine the  resources  and  character  of  the  place  and  its 
prospects,  and,  charmed  with  what  they  saw  and  heard 
here,  to  make  it  their  home.  Many,  too,  were  they, 
who,  brought  to  Auburn  to  aid  in  the  erection  of  the 
prison,  to  improve  the  town,  and  build  its  mills  and 
manufactories,  remained  in  the  place,  and  joined  its 
population,  and  helped  bring  it  to  that  state  of  pros- 
perity for  which  it  was  so  remarkable  at  the  time  of 
which  we  speak.  Money  was  plenty,  and  the  popula- 
tion generally  was  pervaded  with  vigor  and  cheerful- 
ness. 

Yet,  it  is  true  that  the  presence  of  the  prison  in  Au- 
burn was  attended  at  first  with  disadvantages,  and 
even  with  damage.  The  constant  apprehension  of  the 
citizens,  not  only  of  this  but  of  other  places,  that  felons 
and  females  discharged  from  the  prison  would  remain 
in  the  village,  to  the  corruption  of  society,  and  inse- 
curity of  property,  deterred  many  from  selecting  Au- 
burn for  a  place  of  residence.     But  the  erection  of 


ANNALS    OF   THE  VILLAGE.  139 

shops  in  the  prison,  and  the  employment  therein  ot  the 
convicts  at  custom  work,  was  a  still  more  unfortunate 
circumstance.  A  competition  between  convict  labor 
and  that  of  the  resident  mechanics  and  tradesmen  in 
the  viHage  ensued.  The  coopers,  tailors,  shoemakers, 
and  cabinet  makers,  were  all  oppressed  by  the  conse- 
quent decline  of  prices,  and  large  numbers  of  them 
were  compelled  to  withdraw  from  Auburn,  or  to  go 
into  other  avocations.  As  a  class,  the  tradesmen  were 
injured  by  the  introduction  of  convict  labor  to  Au- 
burn ;  as  a  class,  they  therefore  opposed  it,  and  all 
who  favored  it.  This  village  lost,  by  this  removal  of 
mechanics  to  other  places,  a  number  of  good  citizens, 
and  suffered  disagreeably  from  the  internal  commotion 
caused  by  the  injurious  complaints  of  those  that  re- 
mained, against  all  attempts  of  the  prison  authorities 
to  make  convict  labor  productive.  Business  and  the 
trades,  however,  multiplied  so  fast  in  the  rising  vil- 
lage, that  the  working  classes  were,  in  a  very  few 
years,  enabled  to  adjust  themselves  to  the  situation, 
and  earn  a  competent  support.  The  trouble  then 
ceased. 

One  enterprise  in  a  new  place  infallibly  begets 
others ;  and  scarcely  was  the  prison  in  Auburn  under 
way,  when  the  leading  business  men  of  the  town  began 
to  agitate  the  question  of  the  establishment  of  a  l>ank 
here,  a  measure  which  had  been  rendered  necessary  by 
the  heavy  disbursements  of  monx3y  by  the  State  com- 


140  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

missioners,  and  tlie  demand  by  citizens  for  the  use  of 
capital  to  develop  the  resources  of  the  town. 

The  proposition  originated  with  the  Hon.  John  H. 
Beach,  wlio,  with  Joseph  Colt,  Eleazer  Hills,  Daniel 
Kellogg,  Hon.  Enos  T.  Throop,  Nathaniel  Garrow, 
and  Hon.  Glen  Cujler,  and  associates,  made  applica- 
tion to  the  Legislature  of  1817  for  a  charter  for  the 
proposed  Auburn  Bank.  No  regular  Banks  of  deposit 
and  issue  were  in  operation  at  this  time  nearer  than 
those  at  Canandaigua  and  Utica ;  although  prominent 
merchants,  both  in  Auburn  and  the  surrounding  villa- 
ges, w^ere  in  many  cases  depositories  of  funds,  and  bank- 
ers for  their  customers  and  friends.  The  necessity  for 
a  Bank  in  Auburn  was  apparent.  Such  an  institution, 
by  the  style  of  the  Auburn  Bank,  was  therefore  char- 
tered, May  31st,  1817,  with  a  capital  of  $400,000,  the 
shares  being  fixed  at  fifty  dollars  each;  and  Squire 
Minor,  Samuel  D.  Lockwood,  N.  GaiTow,  Glen  Cuyler, 
and  James  Porter  were  authorized  to  receive  subscrip- 
tions to  the  same  at  Coe's  tavern.  The  books  were 
closed  on  the  26th  of  May.  It  had  been  the  wish  of 
Mr.  Beach  to  secure  the  advantages  of  the  Bank  to 
himself  and  associates,  who,  being  reliable  and  re- 
spected business  men,  were  as  much  entitled  to  them 
as  any.  But  no  monopoly  of  the  stock  of  the  Bank 
was  permitted  ;  the  business  men  of  the  towm  sub- 
scribed liberally,  and,  when  the  books  were  closed,  it 
was  discovered  that  twenty-one  thousand  eight  hun- 


ANNALS    OF    THE   VILLAGE.  141 

dired  and  three  shares  had  been  taken,  the  majority  of 
it  being  subscribed  by  the  competitors  of  Mr.  Beach, 
who  thus  controlled  the  Bank,  and,  notwithstanding, 
his  activity  in  securing  the  cliarter,  left  him  out  of  the 
management.  The  Bank  was  organized  in  July,  1817, 
by  the  election  of  directors,  viz  :  Thomas  Mumford, 
President  ;  Nathaniel  Garrow,  Archy  Kasson,  Joseph 
Colt,  Horace  Hills,  Walter  Weed,  George  F.  Leitch, 
Hon.  Enos  T.  Throop,  David  Brinkerhoff,  James 
Porter,  John  Bowman,  Hezekiah  Goodwin,  and  Wil- 
liam McCarthy.  James  S.  Seymour,  who  was  here 
soon  afterward  on  a  visit  from  the  east,  was  elected 
Cashier.  Mr.  Beach  was  indignant  at  the  unmerited 
treatment  he  had  received  at  the  hands  of  the  stock- 
holders, and  he  soon  put  the  Bank  in  such  awe  of  him, 
that  the  opposition  was  forced  to  compromise,  admit 
him  to  the  Board  of  Directors,  and,  in  1820,  elect 
Daniel  Kellogg  to  the  Presidency. 

The  patrons  of  the  bank  were  impatient  to  have  it 
commence  operations.  Mr.  Seymour,  therefore,  hav- 
ing accepted  the  trust  tendered  him,  procured  a  safe, 
opened  his  office  in  the  Western  Exchange,  and  used  all 
possible  activity  in  signing  the  Bank's  first  issue  of  bills, 
and  in  making  preparations  for  business.  A  room  was 
fitted  up  in  Demaree's  tavern  for  a  l)anking  office. 
The  shavings  and  rubbish  were  scarce  swept  from  the 
floor,  when  the  door  was  opened  the  first  time  for  busi- 
ness, and  customers  rushed  in   to  get  their  first  dis- 


14'2  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

oount.  The  corporation  erected  the  brick  banking 
house  in  which  it  has  ever  since  transacted  business,  in 
what  was  then  WiUiam  Bostwick's  flower-garden,  the 
following  year.  The  noble  elm  on  the  walk  in  front 
of  the  bank  was  planted  by  Mr.  Seymour.  In  1849, 
Oorydon  H.  Merriman  was  elected  Cashier,  and  Mr. 
Seymour,  President,  and  both  still  hold  the  same  posi- 
tions with  great  ability  and  honor. 

Prominent  citizens,  deeming  that  another  bank  was 
demanded  by  the  business  interest  of  Auburn,  made 
application,  in  1825,  to  the  Legislature  for  a  charter  for 
a  corporation,  to  be  known  as  "  The  Cayuga  County 
Bank."  The  request  of  the  petitioners  was  not  granted, 
liowever,  till  1833.  At  the  latter  date,  the  charter  was 
passed  by  the  Legislature,  wdio  authorized  Nathaniel 
"Garrow,  Hon.  Rowland  Day,  Hon.  Peter  Yawger, 
Hon.  George  B.  Throop,  John  Seymour,  Hon.  William 
H.  Noble,  Robert  Muir,  Charles  Pardee,  and  Sherman 
Bradley  to  receive  subscriptions  to  the  stock  of  the 
Bank.  The  subscription  books  were  opened  at  Coe's 
tavern,  in  April,  1833.  Such  was  the  confidence  of 
the  public  in  the  project,  that  subscriptions  were  in 
three  days  received  to  the  amount  of  a  million  and  a 
quarter  dollars.  The  authorized  capital,  however,  was 
no  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
The  stock  was  distributed  pro  rata  among  the  subscrib- 
ers, who  thereupon  organized  by  electing  their  first 
Board  of  Directors,     The  members  of  tlie  Board  were 


ANNALS    OF  THE    VILLAGE.  14:3 

Isaac  S.  Miller,  E.  Hills,  LeW  Lewis,  Stephen  Van 
Anden,  N.  Garrow,  Rowland  Day,  Peter  Yawger,  Geo. 
B.  Throop,  John  Seymour,  Wm.  II,  IS^oble,  Robert 
Muir,  Charles  Pardee,  and  Sherman  Beardsley.  The 
officers  were  Mr.  Garrow,  President;  Mr.  Throop, 
Cashier ;  and  Lewellyn  Jones,  Teller.  Josiah  N.  Starin, 
who  had  been  Teller  since  1835,  was  chosen  Cashier  in 
1841.  John  Beardsley  was  elected  President  in  1840. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Nelson  Beardsley  in  1843.  The 
banking-house  of  the  Company  was  durably  constructed 
of  cut  stone,  in  1833  and  '34,  by  Colonel  Charles  W. 
Pomeroy,  builder.     Business  opened  in  this  place. 

Alter  the  incorporation  of  the  village,  the  new  vigor 
that  pervaded  every  department  of  action,  led  to  the 
organization  of  religious  societies,  and  enabled  them 
to  erect  houses  of  worship. 

The  Trustees  of  the  Presbyterian  Society,  who  were 
then  John  II.  Cumpston,  William  Brown,  Silas  Ilaw- 
ley,  Reuben  Porter,  Henry  xlmmerman,  Moses  Gilbert, 
Bradley  Tuttle,  David  Horner,  and  Eleazer  Hills,  re- 
ceived the  donation  of  a  church  lot,  situated  at  the  corner 
of  Franklin  and  North  Streets,  from  the  heirs  of  Colonel 
Hardenburgh,  May  31st,  1814.  Upon  this  they  laid  the 
foundation  of  a  meeting-house,  in  1815.  The  finished 
building  was  consecrated  to  the  service  of  God,  March 
12th,  1817.  It  was  a  model  of  taste,  and  cost  nearly 
seventeen  thousand  dollars.  About  sixteen  thousand 
dollars  was  realized  by  the  first  sale  of   pews.     The 


144  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

first  elders  of  tlie  society  were  John  Oliphant  and 
Silas  Ilawley.  Its  pastors  were  as  follows  :  Rev. 
Hezekiah  N.  Woodruff,  from  April  16th,  1813,  to  Au- 
gust, 1816 ;  Rev.  Dirck  C.  Lansing,  from  E'ovember, 
1816,  to  June,  1829 — was  also  stated  supply  in  1842-3  ; 
Rev.  Josiah  Hopkins,  from  September,  1830,  to  April, 
1846 ;  Rev.  Henry  A.  Nelson,  from  July,  1846,  to  1856  ; 
Rev.  Charles  Hawley,  from  November  5th,  1857,  to  the 
])resent. 

The  Theological  Seminary  was  a  daring  enterprise 
of  1819.  Its  necessity  and  annals  are  found  under 
another  title. 

The  Methodists  of  Auburn,  having  become  suffi- 
ciently numerous  to  warrant  their  organization,  formed 
a  society,  April  28th,  1819,  and  built  a  snug  wooden 
chapel  on  Chapel  Street,  in  1821.  They  remained  in 
this  building  over  twelve  years.  Longing  for  addi- 
tional church  room,  two  prominent  members  of  the 
congregation,  John  Seymour  and  Tallmadge  Cherry, 
built  a  stone  church  on  the  south  corner  of  Water 
and  North  Streets,  at  their  own  expense,  in  1832.  It 
was  dedicated  February  6th,  1833,  and  sold  to  the 
society  the  following  year.  The  consecration  service 
was  conducted  by  Rev.  John  Dempster,  Rev.  Dr.  Bart- 
lett,  of  Aurora,  and  Rev.  M.  M.  Willett,  of  Weedsport. 

The  stone  church  was,  however,  after  having  been 
put  in  thorough  repair,  and  just  completely  paid  for, 
destroyed   by  fire,  in  April,  1867.     With  wonderful 


ANNALS    OF   THE   VILLAGE.  145 

vitality,  the  congregatiuii  were  raising  money  and 
planning  the  work  of  re-building  before  the  ruins 
ceased  to  smoke.  A  lot  costing  ten  thousand  dollars, 
at  the  west  corner  of  South  and  Exchange  Streets,  was 
immediately  purchased.  A  magnificent  brick  church 
was  erected  with  unparalleled  vigor  and  enterprise. 
The  dedication  took  place  January  7th,  1869.  To 
the  Eev.  "William  Searles,  the  pastor,  the  success  of 
this  work  is  mainly  due. 

The  Eoman  Catholics  of  this  place  organized  their 
first  religious  society,  August  3d,  1820.  It  was  called 
the  Fourth  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  the  Western 
District  of  New  York.  The  original  Trustees  were 
Hugh  Ward,  John  Conner,  James  Hickson,  Thomas 
Hickson,  and  David  Lawler.  After  holding  services  for 
several  years  in  the  court-house,  or  in  the  little  red  school, 
house  on  the  academy  green,  the  congregation,  which 
was  not  strong,  bought  the  abandoned  chapel  of  the 
Methodists,  and  dedicated  it  to  the  uses  of  their  religion, 
in  the  manner  prescribed  by  their  ancient  ritual.  This 
took  place  October  23d,  1834.  The  ceremony  was  per- 
formed by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Power,  Yicar-General,  assist- 
ed by  Rev.  F.  O'Donoghue,  resident  pastor.  Rev. 
Thomas  O'Flaherty  was  the  first  permanent  pastor.  He 
remained  here  from  September,  1845,  to  185G,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  M.  Kavanaugh,  Rev.  Michael  Cree- 
don,  and  Rev.  James  McGlew.  Mr.  O'Flaherty  re- 
turned in  May,  1864.  The  new  and  costly  church  of  this 
8 


146  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

flock  was  built  in  1860.     It  is  the  Clmrcli  of  the  Holj 
Family. 

The  Baptists  became  a  distinct  congregation,  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1819,  at  which  time  delegates  from  the  four 
Baptist  churches  of  Aurelius,  Mentz,  Brutus,  and 
Owasco,  met  here  in  council,  and  organized  the  new 
church.  The  foui-  country  churches  alluded  to  were 
founded,  by  Elder  David  Irish,  while  these  towns  were 
yet  a  wilderness.  Elder  Irish  preached  the  first  Protest- 
ant sermon  in  Cayuga  County,  at  Scipio,  in  1794.  The 
new  congregation  began  modestly  by  meeting  for  wor- 
ship in  public  buildings.  Their  brick  church,  at  the 
junction  of  South  and  Exchange  Streets,  w^as  built  in 
1825.  It  w^as  consecrated  February  15th,  1826.  The 
stone  church  on  Genesee  Street  w^as  built  in  1834. 
The  pastors  of  this  church  were  :  Elder  C.  P.  Wyckoff, 
from  June,  1820,  to  1830;  Kev.  John  Blain,  from 
1830  to  1833  ;  Rev.  I.  M.  Graves,  from  1833  to  1835 ; 
Elder  T.  S.  Parr,  from  1835  to  1839 ;  Rev.  James 
Johnson,  from  1839  to  1841 ;  Elder  A.  Pinney,  from 
1841  to  1843,  Elder  J.  S.  Backus,  from  1843  to  1850  ; 
Bev.  W.  P.  Pattison,  from  1850  to  1855 ;  Rev.  A.  M. 
Hopper,  from  March  1st,  1857,  to  July,  1860.  Rev. 
P.  P.  Bishop  took  charge  of  the  church  in  February, 
1861. 

The  Universalists  organized  in  the  school-house  on 
the  academy  green,  April  12th,  1821.  They  held 
public  worship  in]  the  court-house,  in'fthe   academy, 


ANNALS    OF   THE    VILLAG-E.  147 

and  various  other  public  places,  till  1834,  when  thej 
succeeded  the  Baptists  in  the  possession  of  the  brick 
church  on  South  Street.  They  had  previously  re- 
organized, April  24th,  1833.  The  present  Universal- 
ist  Church  was  erected  in  1847.  The  pastors  of  tl)i»^ 
denomination  were  as  follows  :  Rev.  Orestes  Ar.'Brown- 
son  ;  Rev.  George  W.  Montgomery,  from  lS34to  1844; 
Rev.  II.  L.  IIayw3j:df^i4-& ;  Rev.  J.  M.  Austin, 
from  1845-^0-^:85^^^^  W.  R.  G.  Mellen,  from  1851 
to  1855  ;  Rev.  D.  C.  Livermore,  1856-7  ;  Rev.  Day  K. 
Lee,  from  1858  to  1865  ;  Rev.  R.  Fisk,  September  Ist, 
1865. 

The  Cayuga  Bible  Society  was  formed  February 
23d,  1815,  at  a  large  public  meeting  at  the  court- 
house. The  Rev.  H.  N.  Woodruff  was  chosen  Presi- 
dent of  the  Society  ;  William  Brown  was  chosen  Vice- 
President  ;  Rev.  Seth  Smith,  Secretary  ;  Horace  Hills, 
Treasurer  ;  and  for  Directors,  Rev.  Royal  Phelps,  Rev. 
Levi  Parsons,  Rev.  Henry  Ford,  Rev.  Benjamin  Rice, 
and  Captain  Joseph  Rhodes.  The  American  Bible 
Society  was  organized  in  New  York,  May  11,  1816, 
by  delegates  from  the  societies  in  the  State ;  Cayuga 
being  represented  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Ford. 

The  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  of  Cayuga  County  was 
formed  June  12,  1817,  at  the  court-house.  Article 
second  of  its  constitution  states  that  "  the  object  of 
the  Society  is  the  gratuitous  distribution  of  the  sacred 
Scriptures,  withouk  note  or  comment,  in  the  versions 


148  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

commonly  used  by  Protestants,  among  the  poor  of  the 
county,  and  elsewhere,  as  its  funds  will  admit."  The 
officers  were  Walter  Wood,  President ;  Thomas  Mum- 
ford,  Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  Rev.  Seth  Smith,  and  James 
Glover,  Vice-Presidents;  Rev.  D.  C.  Lansing,  Corre- 
sponding Secretary;  George  W.  Warner,  Recording 
Secretary  ;  and  Horace  Hills,  Treasurer. 

The  Second  Presbyterian  Society  of  Auburn  was 
organized  December  11th,  1828,  by  members  of  the 
parent  church.  The  Trustees  were  Horace  Hills, 
Abijah  Fitch,  Ebenezer  Hoskins,  Henry  Tift,  Jabez 
Pease,  William  Brown,  and  Bradley  Tuttle.  The 
building  committee  consisted  of  John  Porter,  John 
Patty,  Asa  Munger,  and  Walter  Weed.  Plans  for 
the  church  were  prepared  by  John  I.  Hagaman,  a 
leading  architect  and  master-builder  of  the  town. 
The  corner-stone  was  laid  June  17th,  1829,  by  Drs. 
Mills  and  Richards,  of  the  Seminary  ;  and  the  church 
was  linished  and  dedicated  August  9th,  1830.  The 
first  elders  of  the  society  were  William  Brown,  Abijah 
Fitch,  John  I.  Hagaman,  Horace  Hills,  Truman  J. 
McMaster,  George  C.  Skinner,  and  Henry  Tift.  The 
Rev.  Daniel  C.  Axtell  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  new  congregation  JSTovember  10th, 
1830.  The  subsequent  pastors  were:  Rev.  L.  E. 
Lathrop,  D.D.,  from  November,  1836,  to  1851 ;  Rev. 
E.  D.  Morris,  from  May,  1852,  to  November,  1855 ; 
Rev.  Ezra  A.  Huntington,  D.D.,  1855  to  1858  ;  Rev. 


ANNAXS    OF    TffE    VILLAGE.  14:9 

Henry  Fowler,  September,  1858,  to  1861  ;  Rev  S.  W. 
Boardraan,  in  June,  1862. 

The  Gothic  church,  built  by  the  Episcopalians  in 
1811,  and  subsequently  enlarged  and  furnished  with  a 
new  organ  and  bell,  was,  in  1832,  a  few  weeks  after  the 
completion  of  the  improvements,  consumed  by  fire. 
The  church  was  framed  with  unusually  heavy  timbers, 
which  produced  an  intense  heat,  and  burned  for  a  long 
time  before  they  fell.  By  this  means,  the  bell,  sus- 
pended in  the  midst  of  the  flames,  was  melted  as  it 
liung,  and  dropped  in  among  the  ruins.  The  cooled 
metal  was  found  in  strange  shapes  in  the  ashes  of  the 
tower.  A  fragment  of  this  was  secured  by  Joshua  Burt, 
a  member  of  the  con2:re2:ation,  who  caused  it  to  be 
made  up  into  three  little  hand-bells,  of  beautiful  shape 
and  tone,  which  are  yet  pres^erved  as  mementos. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  stone  church  was  laid  Au- 
gust 10th,  1832.  The  new  edifice  was  dedicated 
August  8th,  1833.  The  rectors  of  the  church  from  the 
beginning  were  as  follows:  Rev.  Davenport  Phelps, 
missionary,  1803 ;  Rev.  AYilliam  A.  Clark,  1812 ; 
Rev.  D.  McDonald,  from  December,  1813,  to  February, 
1817 ;  Rev.  William  H.  Northrop,  181Y-18 ;  Rev.  Lucius 
Smith,  from  1819  to  1823  ;  Rev.  Samuel  Sitgreave,  from 
1824:  to  1826  ;  Rev.  J.  C.  Rudd,  D.D.,  from  December, 
1826,  to  1833  ;  Rev.  William  Lucas,  from]September, 
1833,  to  August,  1839 ;  Rev.  Charles  W.  Ilackley,  D.D., 
from  ]N"ovember,  1839,  to  April,  1810  ;    Rev.  William 


150  HISTORY   OF   AUBUKN. 

Cresswell,  D.D.,  from  1840  to  1844 ;  Eev.  Samuel  H. 
Coxe,  from  1844  to  1846  ;  Eev.  Walter  Ayrault,  from 
1847  to  1852  ;  Eev.  E.  H.  Cressy,  D.D.,from  1853  to 
1869  ;  Eev.  Charles  II.  Piatt,  from  1860  to  1861 ;  Eev. 
J.  W.  Pierson,  from  1861  to  Marcli,  1863 ;  Eev.  John 
Brainard,  November  1st,  1863. 

The  establishment  of  the  first  Sunday-schools  in 
Auburn  is  a  matter  of  honorable  record.  The  first 
school  was  organized  for  the  benefit  of  negroes,  at  the 
suggestion  of  Dr.  Ei chard  Steel,  an  apothecary  from 
Troy,  who  had  settled  here  in  1817.  Dr.  Steel  had  had 
two  years'  experience  in  a  school  for  colored  people  in 
Troy,  and  perceiving  the  necessity  for  such  an  enter- 
prise here,  he  communicated  his  views  on  the  subject 
to  the  Eev.  Dr.  Lansing,  and  to  a  deacon  of  his  con- 
gregation, the  ever-ready  Henry  Ammerman.  While 
both  coincided  with  him  as  to  the  desirableness  of  a 
Sabbath-school  for  negro  children,  and  even  for  aged 
negroes,  they  encountered  such  ridicule  and  secret  op- 
position in  the  town  by  proposing  it,  that  for  a  long  time 
they  found  no  one  who  would  brave  public  opinion,  and 
begin  the  work.  Dr.  Lansing,  not  daunted  by  ridicule,, 
however,  delivered,  one  day  in  1818,  an  eloquent  dis- 
course at  the  First  Church  on  the  subject  of  Sabbath- 
schools,  pleading  earnestly  for  volunteers  in  the  sacred 
cause.  Mr.  Ammerman,  Dr.  Steel,  and  Noble  D. 
Strong  arose  from  their^'places  in  the  meeting  and  ten- 
dered their  services.     They  agreed  to  begin  the  move- 


ANNALS   OF   TEIE   VILLAGE.  151 

ment.  Notwithstanding  the  derision  and  sneers  of  re- 
spected friends,  they  went  manfully  to  work.  In  the 
bumble  log  hut  of  Albert  Ilagerman,  the  former  slave 
of  William  Bostwick,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  outlet, 
west  of  ISTorth  Street,  Deacon  Amraerman  and  Dr. 
Steel  opened  the  first  Sabbath-school  in  Auburn,  a 
school  for  the  blacks,  which  proved  successful,  and  was 
a  blessing  to  many. 

The  following  year,  the  popular  sentiment  in  the 
Tillage  changed.  The  wind  blew  the  other  way.  All 
were  alive  to  the  importance  of  Sabbath-schools.  One 
for  the  children  of  the  whites  was  started  in  the  long 
room  of  the  Central  tavern.  Good  judges  looked  up 
the  families  of  the  poor  and  supplied  them  with  clothes, 
that  they  might  attend.  Teachers  flocked  forward, 
their  occupation  being  now  no  longer  regarded  as  a 
violation  of  the  day  of  rest.  The  Sunday-school  of 
St.  Peter's  Church  was  opened  in  1821,  by  Dr.  Burt 
and  WilKam  Bostwick. 

On  the  6th  day  of  February,  1817,  the  archives  of 
tlie  Cayuga  County  Medical  Society  w^ere  removed 
from  Aurora  to  Auburn,  where  they  have  since  re- 
mained, and  where,  with  very  few  exceptions,  the  sub- 
sequent meetings  of  the  society  have  been  held.  Th6 
society  was  then  eleven  years  old,  it  having  been  or- 
ganized in  Aurora,  on  the  7th  of  August,  1806,  by 
Drs.  Joseph  Cole,  William  C.  Bennett,  Silas  IIol- 
brook,  Frederick   Delano,  Barnabas  Smith,  Consider 


152  HISTORY    OF    AUBUIiN. 

King,  and  about  twentj-five  others,  and  held  its  pre- 
vious meetings  in  Ledyard  and  Scipio.  Drs.  Delano, 
McClung,  and  Smith  had  been,  and  Dr.  King  was 
President,  when  the  removal  took  place.  By  this  date, 
Drs.  Erastus  D.  Tuttle,  Ira  H.  Smith,  and  Joseph  T. 
Pitne}^  had  joined  it.  With  Dr.  Cole,  they  w^ere  in- 
fluential enough  to  bring  the  library,  archives,  etc., 
here.  At  a  meeting  of  the  society,  held  at  the  inn  of 
Canfield  Coe,  on  that  day,  Drs.  Joseph  Clary  and 
Campbell  Waldo,  of  Throopsville,  which,  np  to  this 
time,  had  been  expecting  to  be  the  principal  village 
of  the  county,  were  admitted  as  members.  The  ad- 
mission fee  was  fixed  at  five  dollars ;  diplomas,  the 
same.  Drs.  Cole,  Pitney,  and  Smith  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  propriety 
of  establishing  a  medical  school  in  Auburn. — See  Med- 
ical College^  1824. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  society  at  Coe's  tavern.  May 
6th,  1819,  a  petition  to  the  inspectors  of  the  Auburn 
prison,  asking  for  the  bodies  of  deceased  con\'icts  for 
dissection,  was  signed.  At  the  same  time,  the  society 
resolved  to  have  members  report  at  subsequent  meet- 
ings their  most  important  cases  in  physic  and  surgery. 
Dr.  Frederick  Delano  was  this  year  chosen  President. 
On  tlie  6th  of  January,  1820,  Dr.  Tuttle  was  made  a 
delegate  to  attend  the  next  meeting  of  the  State  Medi- 
cal Society,  with  instructions  to  ask  its  co-operation  in 
the  efibrt  to  get  a  medical  college  here  ;  and  the  sum 


ANNALS    OF    TIIK    VILLAGE.  153 

of  fifty  dollars  was  appropriated  to  pay  his  expenses. 
A  new  set  of  by-laws  was  adopted  May  4tli.  Dr. 
Cole  became  President  November  2d.  The  society  at 
this  time  was  taking  various  medical  publications,  and 
hearing  dissertations  from  one  or  more  of  its  members 
at  its  quarterly  meetings,  which  have  continued,  with 
an  interval  between  18i7  and  1864,  up  to  the  present 
time.  It  allowed  members  to  draw  books  from  the 
library,  and  take  them  home  to  read. 

Dr.  Cole  was  succeeded  as  President  by  Drs.  Delano, 
King,  Aspinwall,  Ilurd,  Waldo,  Smith,  Pitney,  Fitch, 
Eldredge,  Clary,  Doty,  Dodge,  Willard,  Palmer,  Gill- 
more,  Pearl,  and  Baker.  The  act  of  1841:,  authoriz- 
ing anybody  to  collect  pay  for  medical  services,  so  far 
disgusted  most  of  the  members  of  this  society,  that  on 
the  3d  of  June,  1847,  they  sold  their  library,  and  on 
the  1st  of  Jupe,  1848,  after  listening  to  an  address  from 
Dr.  Palmer,  adjourned  sine  die. 

After  an  interval  of  seventeen  years,  the  society  waj 
resuscitated  by  an  infusion  of  new  life  into  its  member- 
ship. On  the  31st  of  August,  1864,  Drs.  David  L. 
Dodge,  Hoffman,  Charles  E.  Yan  An  den,  James  D. 
Button,  Charles  A.  Hyde,  Alex.  Thompson,  Pichard- 
son,  Clark,  Gillmore,  Force,  Lansing  Briggs,  David 
Dimon,  Edward  Hall,  B.  Fosgate,  and  T.  S.  Brinker- 
hoff,  met  at  the  American  Hotel  in  this  city,  re-organ- 
ized, and  re-invested  the  society  with  all  its  former 
vigor  and  usefulness.     On  the  first  of  June,  1865,  the 


154  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

Bociety  adopted  a  new  schedule  of  prices,  on  the  report 
of  their  committee,  who  said,  "  that  inasmuch  as  there 
has  been  no  change  in  the  fees  for  over  twenty-five 
years,  and  as  during  that  time  the  value  of  all  that 
pertains  to  daily  life  as  well  as  to  the  profession  has 
more  than  doubled,  they  advise  the  adoption  of  the 
proposed  bill,  which  increases  the  former  rates  about 
fifty  per  cent."  At  the  meeting  held  June  6th,  1866, 
Dr.  T.  S.  BrinkerhofF  was  chosen  Secretary,  to  succeed 
Dr.  Blanchard  Fosgate,  who  had  held  the  position  for 
twenty-two  consecutive  years. 

The  month  of  July,  1817,  is  recollected  for  a  singular 
and  unprecedented  disturbance  in  the  waters  of  the 
Owasco  Outlet.  Without  apparent  cause,  the  stream 
one  day  suddenly  became  turbid,  the  water  turned 
green,  and  the  fish  died  in  immense  numbers,  and  were 
carried  down  its  rapid  current,  floating  on  the  sur- 
face for  a  week.  The  bridges  and  banks  were  thronged 
with  people,  who  came  to  see  this  marvelous  sight. 
Various  were  the  conjectures  as  to  the  source  of  the  phe- 
nomenon, but  to  ths  present  day  it  remains  a  mystery. 
It  was  asserted  by  the  wise  in  such  matters  that  the 
intense  heat  and  stillness  of  the  atmosphere,  for  it  was 
the  halcyon  days,  caused  a  poisonous  scum  to  form  on 
the  surface  of  the  lake,  which,  blown  by  the  south  wind, 
was  driven  into  the  outlet,  and  created  the  whole  disturb- 
ance. But  as  this  was  the  only  stream  thus  affected,  the 
explanation  was  not  generally  received  as  satisfactory. 


ANNALS   OF   THE   VILLAGE.  155 

The  enlightened  efforts  of  the  ''State  Society  for 
the  Promotion  of  the  Useful  Arts,"  to  encourage  scien- 
tific agriculture  in  New  York,  was  productive,  in  and 
about  1S18,  of  the  organization  of  numerous  county 
agricultural  societies.  The  "  Agricultural  Association 
of  Cayuga  County  "  was  formed  on  the  4th  day  of 
February  of  that  year,  at  the  house  of  Amos  Adams, 
in  Scipio,  by  a  large  meeting  of  farmers,  who  elected 
David  Thomas,  President ;  Silas  Ilulbrook,  Vice-Presi- 
dent ;  John  Tift,  Treasurer ;  and  Joshua  Baldwin,  Ke- 
cording  Secretary.  The  society  listened  to  its  first  an- 
nual address  from  President  Thomas,  September  Tth. 

The  first  Cayuga  County  cattle-show  and  fair  opened 
in.  Auburn  on  the  20th  of  October,  and  lasted  two 
days.  It  was  an  occasion  of  great  interest.  The  bells 
at  sunrise  rang  for  half  an  hour.  The  cattle  offered 
for  premiums  or  sale  were  placed  in  pens  prepared  for 
the  purpose,  on  the  farm  of  William  Bostwick,  south 
of  the  court-liouse.  Articles  of  domestic  manufac- 
ture, and  produce,  were  exhibited  in  the  store  of  Henry 
Porter.  In  the  forenoon  of  the  second  day,  a  proces- 
sion was  formed  in  front  of  the  court-house,  under  Na- 
thaniel Garrow,  the  sheriff,  Captain  Elam  Lynds  and 
Caj3tain  Henry  Porter,  marshals,  in  the  line  of  which 
was  a  plow,  drawn  by  two  yoke  of  oxen,  and  held  by 
Comfort  Tyler,  of  Seneca  Falls,  the  first  person  who 
broke  ground  with  a  plow  in  this  State  west  of  the 
county   of    Oneida.      Marching   to  the  Presbyterian 


156  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

Cliurcli,  the  procession,  after  prajers  and  hjmns,  was 
addrecsed  by  David  Thomas.  Prizes  were  then 
awarded.  These  were  twenty-five  in  number,  and 
consisted  of  seventesn  silver  cups,  and  eight  sets  of 
silver  tea-spoons,  valued  in  the  aggregate  at  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-one  ck)llars. 

Soon  after  the  fair,  the  society  received  large  acces- 
sions to  its  ranks,  and  became  a  large  and  prosperous 
organization.  The  second  fair,  held  in  the  fall  of 
1819,  at  Samuel  Oampston's  store,  was  attended  by 
an  enthusiastic  gathering  fi'om  every  quarter  of  the 
county.  These  fairs  were  held  annually  for  fifteen  or 
twenty  yeai-s,  at  about  v/hich  time  the  society  dis- 
solved. 

The  Columbian  Garden,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Columbian  block,  was  opened  in  1820,  with  an  amphi- 
theater for  circus  performances,  a  ten-pin  alley,  a  stage 
and  galleries  for  the  drama,  and  arrangements  for  fire- 
works and  music.  It  was  a  place  of  popular  resort  at 
all  times.  The  first  that  can  be  learned  of  it  is  tliat  it 
was  kept  by  one  Eiley,  and  afterward  by  William 
Buttre,  the  father  of  the  famous  engraver.  It  was 
finally  kept  by  Harlow  C.  Witherell,  of  Anti-Masonic 
notoriety.  It  was  discontinued  in  1836,  and  deniol- 
ished  by  Eobert  Cook  and  Thompson  Maxwell,  to 
make  way  for  the  Columbian  buildings.  The  upper 
story  of  the  new  block  was  constructed  for  the 
purpose  of  a  theater,  and  for  many  years  so  used. 


ANNALS    OF    THE  \TLLAGE.  15T 

When  this  Garden  was  abandoned,  Monsieur  Jacob 
Leonard  and  Charles  Bemie.  opened  the  Auburn 
Garden,  in  the  rear  of  a  restaurant  now  occupied  by 
Solomon  N.  Chappcl. 

Journalism  in  Auburn  kept  pace  with  the  growing 
wants  of  the  times.  In  Juno  of  1816,  the  Western 
Federalist  passed  into  the  hands  of  Thomas  M.  Skin- 
ner, an  enterprising  young  printer  from  Connecticut, 
and  his  partner,  William  Crosby ;  and  the  paper,  then 
conducted  with  great  ability,  was  issued  under  the 
style  of  the  Auburn  Gazette.  It  was  a  fine  weekly, 
devoted  to  the  policy  of  DeWitt  Clinton.  In  1819,  its 
name  was  changed  to  the  Rejpvhlican.  In  1824,  the 
Eepublican^  as  well  as  the  Cayuga  Patriot^  the  latter 
edited  by  the  Hon.  Ulysses  F.  Doubleday,  the  father 
of  General  Abner  Doubleday,  of  Fort  Sumter  fame,  re- 
ceived a  competition  in  the  form  of  the  Free  Press, 
a  weekly  sheet,  issued  by  Richard  Oliphant  from  an 
office  on  the  west  corner  of  South  and  Genesee  Streets. 
The  new  journal  was  the  largest  west  of  Albany  at 
the  time  of  its  first  issue,  having  five  large  columns  to 
the  page.  May  31st,  1826,  it  was  enlarged  one  column, 
and  July  22d,  1829,  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  a 
brother  of  the  former  editor,  Henry  Oliphant.  It  was 
an  organ  of  Eepublican  principles,  supported  John 
Quincy  Adams,  in  1828,  and  Henry  Clay,  in  1832,  and 
was  the  antagonist  of  the  Patriot,  on  the  opposite  cor- 
ner, whicli  was  thoroughly  Democratic,  and  withal  the 


158  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

mouth-piece  of  tlie  leading  politicians  in  Auburn. 
The  sanctum  of  the  editor  of  the  latter  paper  was,  in 
fact,  the  penetralia  of  Democracy.  In  that  spot, 
nightly,  did  the  officers  of  the  village  and  the  prison, 
and  their  friends,  congregate  to  discuss  politics  and 
arrange  the  plans  of  the  party  in  the  county.  In 
May,  1833,  the  Free  Press  and  the  BepuUican  were 
united,  and  published  from  the  east  corner  of  Genesee 
and  Hotel  Streets,  by  Oliphant  &  Skinner,  under  the 
title  of  the  Auburn  Journal.  It  was  always  a  brisk, 
acceptable  paper.  The  Repullican,  while  in  existence, 
was  also  an  able  journal.  Its  editor  in  1825,  G.  A. 
Oamage,  Esq.,  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  w^ritera 
€ver  connected  with  the  press  of  Auburn.  The  Cayuga 
Patriot  was  conducted,  in  1830,  by  Mr.  Doubleday 
and  Isaac  S.  Allen  ;  in  September,  1831,  it  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Allen,  who,  in  January,  1834,  asso- 
ciated Willet  Lounsbury  as  editor  with  himself,  and 
carried  on  the  paper  till  1843.  The  proprietors  then 
again  became  Doubleday  <fe  Allen. 

The  Cayuga  Democrat  was  started  in  1833,  by  Fred- 
erick Prince  ;  it  was  withdrawn  from  circulation  in 
1835.  The  earliest  of  the  many  ephemeral  publica- 
tions of  the  village  was  a  sheet  styled  the  Castigator, 
by  Captain  Caleb  Cudgel  &  Co.,  printed  in  1820,  bj 
James  M.  Miller,  in  an  office  next  east  of  the  store  of 
ijreorge  F.  Leitch. 

Dm*ing  the  period  we  have  just  been  considering, 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGE.  159 

valuable  improvements  liad  taken  place  on  tlieOwasco 
Outlet ;  several  extensive  mills  and  three  new  dams 
had  been  erected,  and  otliers  rebuilt  and  enlarged. 

The  foundations  of  the  Auburn  cotton-mill  were 
laid  at  the  lower  falls  in  the  year  1814,  by  Hon.  Elijah 
Miller  and  Hon.  John  H.  Beach,  in  a  lot  on  the  blufi', 
bought  by  them  of  Samuel  Dill  on  the  12th  of  Sep- 
tember. A  dam  was  built  in  the  stream,  and  the  estab- 
lishment was  put  into  operation  in  1817.  The  Auburn 
Manufacturing  Company,  of  which  Alvah  AVarden 
was  President,  and  Eobert  Wiltsie  was  Secretary,  pur- 
chased the  mill  in  1822,  and  began  the  manufacture 
of  a  superior  cotton  ticking,  that  held  for  years  the 
first  rank  in  American  markets.  The  Company  sold  the 
property,  May  1st,  1827,  to  Nathaniel  Garrow,  George 
B.  Throop,  and  Eobert  Muir,  wdio  soon  after  admitted 
Eleazer  Hills  to  partnership,  and  ran  the  mill  with  flat- 
tering success  for  several  years.  Becoming  involved, 
however,  in  the  financial  troubles  of  later  times,  they 
were  obliged  to  part  with  the  property  to  George  F. 
Leitch.  After  various  exchanges  of  title,  and  occa- 
sional stoppages  of  business,  the  title  to  the  mill  ves- 
ted, in  April,  1815,  in  Benjamin  W.  Bonney.  This  gen- 
tleman sold  to  Robert  Kesbit,  of  whom,  on  a  master's 
sale,  Corydon  H.  Merriman  subsequently  purchased. 
The  latter  sold  to  the  Auburn  Bank,  May  1st,  1853, 
and  that  corporation  transferred  the  mill,  the  same  day, 
to  Lorenzo  W.  Nye,  who   still  retains  the  ownershij). 


160  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Cotton  sheeting  and  cotton  bags  liave  since  been  manu- 
factured here,  with  great  profit  and  success. 

The  Auburn  Paper  Mill  was  built  on  tlie  south 
bank  of  the  outlet,  below  the  lower  falls,  by  Thomas 
M.  Skinner,  George  C.  Skinner,  and  Ebenezer  Hos- 
kins,  associated  as  Skinners  &  Iloskins,  during  the 
working  seasons  of  1828  and  1829,  for  the  purpose 
of  supplying  the  extraordinary  demand  at  this  time  in 
Western  jN^ew  York  for  paper  of  every  description. 
A  perpetual  lease  of  the  mill  site  was  purchased  of 
the  owners  of  the  cotton-mill  property,  who  agreed  to 
erect  and  maintain  in  repair  for  the  new  manufactory, 
a  dam  of  sufficient  height  to  turn  a  water-wheel  eight- 
een feet  in  diameter.  The  manufacture  of  paper  be- 
gan under  the  personal  supervision  of  George  C.  Skin- 
ner. An  excellent  article  was  produced,  which  sold 
extensively  in  all  the  western  counties  of  the  State. 
The  stringent  times  of  1837,  however,  embarrassed  the 
paper-makers  exceedingly,  and  they  were  glad  to  relin- 
quish their  lease  and  the  mill,  in  1839,  to  other  parties. 
The  Cayuga  County  Bank  received  the  title  to  the  pro- 
perty of  the  mill,  October  7th,  1840  ;  the  Bank  sub-let 
the  mill,  in  1841  and  1842,  to  Lorenzo  W.  Nye  and 
Charles  Eldred,  and,  subsequently,  to  David  Foot, 
David  S.  West,  Henry  Ivision,  Jr.,  and  Chauncey 
Markham. 

Mr.  West  purchased,  in  1847,  the  old  red  machine- 
shop  and  property,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  outlet, 


ANNAI.S    OF    THE    VILLAGE.  161 

and,  ill  181:8,  the  title  to  the  hinds  occupied  hy  the 
paper  mill,  subject  to  the  perpetual  lease.  Consolidat- 
ing with  the  lessees  of  the  mill,  he  then  organized,  on 
the  2d  day  of  July,  181:9,  the  Auburn  Paper  Company, 
the  first  trustees  of  which  were  David  S.  West,  Lorenzo 
W.  Xye,  David  Foote,  John  C.  Ivison,  Henry  Ivison, 
Jr.,  Aurelius  Wheeler,  Asahel  Cooley,  and  Russel  Chap- 
pel.  The  capital  of  the  company  was  $20,000.  Mr. 
Wheeler  was  elected  president.  Major  Sylvanus  II. 
Henry  was,  in  1853,  elected  manager  of  the  works,  and 
William  II.  Barnes,  superintendent  of  the  manufacture. 
The  capital  of  the  company  was  increased,  in  1854,  to 
$50,000,  the  shareholders  then  being  Josiah  X.  Starin, 
Alonzo  G.  Beardsley,  X.  C.  Miller,  Lorenzo  W.  Xye, 
S.  II.  Henry,  J.  Ives  Pai-sons,  ISToah  P.  Clark,  N.  D. 
Carhart,  and  William  II.  Barnes.  Mr.  Nye  was  elected 
president  in  1861;  E.  H.  Avery,  in  1862;  and  J.  K 
Starin,  in  1864.  The  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
January,  1868,  and  the  property  was  sold  the  following 
season  to  George  Casey,  who  now  contemplates  the 
speedy  erection  of  tool-works  thereon. 

These  two  mills  were  for  thirty  years  the  most  im- 
portant of  the  mannfacturing  institutions  of  Auburn, 
and  w^ere,  when  erected,  justly  viewed  with  pride, 
both  by  their  proprietors  and  the  citizens  of  the  town. 
The  march  of  improvement,  meanwhile,  was  visible 
all  along  the  outlet.  William  Ilayden  had  ])ut  into 
operation,  in  1815,  his  new  clothier  works,  in  the  old 
9 


162  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

fulling  mill  of  Jeliiel  Clark.  In  1817,  a  fine  new  grist 
mill  had  been  built  by  Latlian  Garlick,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  outlet,  at  the  foot  of  a  deep  gully  that 
crashes  the  bluff  at  the  then  southern  bounds  of  the 
village,  which  was  driven  by  power  accumulated  at 
the  twelve-feet  dam  built  opposite.  A  commodious 
stone  mill  had  been  erected  by  John  H.  Ilardenburgh, 
on  the  site  of  the  old  frame  mill,  and  the  wooden  dam 
replaced  by  a  new  one  of  stone,  five  rods  below.  A 
stone  machine-shop  had  also  been  erected  near  the  old 
dam,  in  which  Asaph  D.  Leonard  and  Alvah  Warden, 
then  the  proprietors  of  the  mill,  began,  in  1829,  the 
manufacture  of  burr  mill-stones.  The  old  red  fulling 
mill,  at  the  south  end  of  the  Ilardenburgh  dam,  had 
been,  about  the  same  time,  repaired,  re-painted,  and 
moved  across  the  stream  to  a  position  in  rear  of  the 
stone  mill,  where  it  still  remains.  It  then  contained 
two  fulling  mills,  four  single  carding  machines,  a 
picker,  a  napping  and  a  shearing  machine,  and  was 
owned  by  Colonel  Levi  Lewis.  A  steam  grist  mill 
had  been  built,  in  1831,  by  Walter  Weed,  in  his 
brick  building  on  the  eastern  corner  of  Genesee  and 
Owasco  Streets.  Four  boilers  were  necessary  to  drive 
the  mill-stones,  of  which  there  were  two  runs ;  the 
mill  produced  between  seventy-five  and  an  hun- 
dred barrels  of  flour  daily.  A  cotton-spinning  shop 
had  also  been  built,  near  the  southern  end  of  the 
prison  dam ;    this  building,   with   Abraham  Smolk's 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGE.  163 

carpenter-shop,  near  by,  was  burned  to  tlie  ground  in 
1829. 

The  original  Auburn  market  was  establislied  in 
1820,  upon  the  west  side  of  Xorth-Street  bridge,  over 
the  outlet,  the  site  of  which  was  purchased  by  the  cor- 
poration, of  Samuel  Dill,  September  7th,  1819.  Ed- 
ward Patten,  of  Onondaga  Hill,  opened  in  this  build- 
ing the  first  regular  meat-market  in  the  village.  In 
1836,  the  old  structure,  then  occupied  by  Edward  and 
John  E.  Patten  and  James  Lysk,  was  shattered  and 
partly  carried  away  by  a  freshet.  It  was  demolished 
by  the  authorities. 

On  the  first  of  June,  1825,  the  good  people  of  Au- 
burn were  gratified  by  a  visit  from  General  La  Fayette, 
whom  they  received  to  the  enjoyment  of  their  simple 
hospitalities,  in  as  pleasant  a  manner  as  the  short  time 
allowed  them  for  preparation  would  permit.  Informa- 
tion was  conveyed  to  the  committee  of  arrangements  the 
preceding  day,  that  the  venerable  soldier  was  approach- 
ing the  county.  Handbills  were  immediately  iesued, 
and  nineteen  guns  fired  to  give  notice  to  the  people  of 
the  distant  towns.  La  Fayette  was  ]>roudly  escorted 
from  Cayuga  to  Auburn  by  the  committee  in  car- 
riages, a  corps  of  cavalry  under  Captain  Cox,  and  a 
body  of  officers  on  horseback,  lie  rode  with  Judge 
Throoj)  in  a  barouche  drawn  by  six  magnificent 
chestnut  horses,  that  had  been  furnished  unseJicited  by 
Messrs.  Sherwood  &  Son,  proprietors  of  tlie  telegraj>li 


164  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

line  of  stages.  Evergreen  arches  were  erected  to  the 
welcome  and  lionor  of  the  ilhistrious  Frenchman,  on 
the  rising  ground  a  few  rods  west  of  Washington  Street, 
that  point  being  the  western  bounds  of  the  village. 
As  the  procession  arrived  and  ascended  this  hill,  it  was 
joyfully  greeted  by  the  cheers  of  a  large  number  of 
military  companies,  l^ree-masons,  and  Revolutioners, 
that  had  been  arranged  on  either  side  of  the  road  by 
General  Brinkerhoff,  Chief  Marshal  of  the  day,  and 
Colonels  Lewis  and  Gridley,  his  assistants  ;  and  a& 
the  carriages  passed  the  arch,  a  battery  posted  on  Fort 
Hill  fired  a  salute  of  twenty-four  guns.  The  bells  of 
tlie  village  struck  up  a  merry  peal,  and  the  populace, 
who  had  assembled  to  the  number  of  nearly  eight 
thousand,  surrounded  the  escort  with  the  most  enthusi- 
astic hurrahs.  "  If  here,  at  an  immense  distance'from 
the  sea-board,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "  and  in  the  center 
of  a  country  not  yet  reclaimed  from  the  wilderness 
when  La  Fayette's  sword  flashed  before  his  enemies,  as 
commander  of  the  then  northern  department,  we  could 
not  greet  him  with  the  splendor  and  pageantry  lavished 
upon  his  movements  in  our  populous  cities,  we  could 
at  least  present  him  with  the  homage  of  grateful  hearts, 
and  the  salutations  of  eager  hands,  pointing  in  every 
direction  to  fertility  and  luxuriance,  the  wonderful 
effect  of  his  romantic  toils  in  the  cause  of  liberty  and 
human  rights." 

Keacliing  tlie  Western  Exchange,  La  Fayette  recog- 


ANNALS    OF    THE  VILLAG  K.  165 

Tiized  ill  the  crowd  before  Iiim  the  wrinkled  face  of 
an  old  comrade,  the  aged  Major  Yan  Yal  ken  burg. 
Rushing  up  the  tavern  steps,  the  enthusiastic  French- 
man, to  the  great  amusement  of  tlie  people  near  by, 
caught  the  old  veteran  in  his  arms,  and  gave  him  a 
hearty  kiss.  Colonel  John  W.  Hulbert,  eminent  for 
his  abilities  as  a  lawyer,  and  as  M.  A.  from  this  dis- 
trict, then  addressed  the  General,  in  belialf  of  the  citi- 
zens, with  words  of  welcome.  The  reply  was  graceful 
and  unaffected.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  it  was  not 
preserved.  After  a  multitude  of  introductions  from 
the  eager  crowd,  the  committee  retired  with  the  Gen- 
eral and  a  number  of  prominent  gentlemen,  to  a  bower 
in  the  pleasant  field  behind  the  tavern,  where  they 
were  entertained  wdth  a  sumptuous  dinner.  Patriotic 
sentiments  were  toasted  frequently  during  the  repast, 
each  being  sainted  with  a  discharge  of  cannon.  La 
Fayette  was  pleased  to  offer :  "  Cayuga  County,  and 
Auburn  town — May  their  Republican  industry  and 
prosperity  more  and  more  give  a  splendid  lie  to  the 
enemies  of  liberty,  equality,  and  self-government." 
Tlie  General's  son,  George  Washington  La  Fayette, 
gave  :  "  A  Sovereign  whose  power  is  felt  only  when  it 
is  wanted, — the  People."  Toasts  were  also  offered  by 
General  La  Fayette's  suite,  and  by  Hon.  Wm.  IL 
Seward,  Colonel  Ilulbert,  Hon.  Gershom  Powers, 
Major  R.  L.  Smith,  and  others. 

After  the  dinner,  all  attended  a  brilliant  ]):ill  at  the 


166  UISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

assembly-room  in  Brown's  tavern,  which  was  filled 
with  the  beauty  and  grace  of  Auburn.  At  eleven 
o'clock,  the  General  entered  his  carriage,  and  set  out 
for  Syracuse,  followed  by  the  acclamations  of  the  citi- 
zens, and  their  prayers  for  his  continued  happiness. 

The  tour  of  the  heroic  friend  of  Washington  seems 
to  have  aroused  the  patriotism  and  revolutionary  recol- 
lections of  the  whole  American  people.  Fourth  of 
July,  1825,  memorable  for  the  foundation  of  the  Bun- 
ker Hill  monument,  whicli  La  Fayette  attended,  was 
everywhere  observed  with  unusual  pride  and  pomp. 
In  Auburn,  three  different  processions  paraded  the 
streets,  and  the  crowd  was  tremendous.  Every  can- 
non, and  bell,  and  band  of  music  in  the  village  was 
employed  to  contribute  to  the  general  enthusiasm. 
The  aged  veteran.  Major  John  Dill,  read  the  Declara- 
tion ;  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Seward,  R.  H.  Ranney,  and 
others,  delivered  addresses ;  and  dinner  and  fireworks 
w^ere  prepared,  and  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the  day's 
festivity. 

In  the  winter  of  1821:,  Dr.  Erastus  D.  Tuttle,  for 
nine  years  the  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  State 
prison,  a  gentleman  of  considerable  eminence  in  his 
profession,  undertook  to  establish  on  private  account, 
in  Auburn,  a  school  for  the  education  of  young  men 
in  medical  science,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  a  charter 
for  it  from  the  Legislature.  He  began  by  purchasing 
the  lot  next  west  of  the  Auburn  Bank,  and  erecting 


ANNALS    OF  THE    VILLAGE.  167 

upon  it  the  two-story  buildiiii^  still  standing  there.  He 
finished  off  the  upper  part  for  a  lecture-room,  lighted 
from  above,  and  the  lower  part  for  a  study  and  office. 
His  official  position  gave  him  facilities  for  obtaining 
human  subjects  for  dissection  and  anatomical  prepara- 
tion. In  that  building,  assisted  by  Professor  Douglass, 
of  Philadelphia,  he  lectured  to  a  class  of  about  a  dozen 
students,  the  ensuing  fall  and  winter.  On  the  21st  of 
January,  1S25,  at  a  public  meeting  at  the  Western  Ex- 
change, Dr.  Tuttle  acquainted  the  people  with  his 
views  on  the  subject  of  a  medical  college.  These 
views  w^ere  cordially  approved.  Drs.  Tuttle  and  Ira 
H.  Smith,  and  George  B.  Throop,  William  H.  Seward, 
and  Horace  Hills  were  accordingly  appointed  to  memo- 
rialize the  Legislature  on  the  subject,  and  obtain  a  char- 
ter. In  February,  it  was  announced  that  a  course  of 
lectures  on  anatomy,  chemistry,  and  materia  niedica, 
would  be  begun  at  once  by  Dr.  E.  D.  Tuttle,  Dr.  James 
Douglass,  Dr.  Jedediah  Smith,  and  Dr.  Ira  H.  Smith. 
These  lectures  were  delivered  to  a  class  of  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  students.  Dr.  Thomas  N.  Caulkins  acting  as 
demonstrator,  and  were  continued  at  various  dates  till 
1829,  when  for  a  short  time  attention  was  withdrawn 
from  the  enterprise  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Tuttle. 

Dr.  John  George  Morgan,  the  successor  of  Dr.  Tut- 
tle as  physician  of  the  prison,  associated  with  himself 
Dr.  Thomas  Spencer,  of  Manlius,  Onondaga  County, 
and  employing  Dr.  Frank  II.  Hamilton,  of  Auburn,  as 


168  HISTORY  OF  aubi:kn. 

demonstrator,  re-coinmenced  the  lectures  and  the  col- 
lege in  a  wooden  building  on  North  Street,  standing 
on  the  site  now  occupied  by  Drake's  restaurant.  The 
project,  however,  was  dropped  soon  after  and  never 
since  revived.  The  creation  of  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  Hobart  College  defeated  the  application  from 
Auburn  for  a  charter.  While  these  lectures  were  re- 
puted to  be  able  and  very  instructive,  and  not  sur- 
passed  at  that  day  by  any  delivered  in  any  medical 
college  in  the  State,  and  while  the  geographical  posi- 
tion of  Auburn  seemed  to  indicate  it  as  the  most 
eligible  point  in  Central  New  York  for  such  an  insti- 
tution, the  failure  to  obtain  a  charter  so  abated  all  in- 
terest in  the  matter  that  it  soon  died  out,  and  the  pro- 
ject was  forgotten. 

The  first  Auburn  J3and  was  organized  at  Brown's 
tavern,  —  known  also  as  Brown's  CoiFee-house  —  in 
December,  1825,  at  a  meeting  of  citizens,  who  con- 
tributed liberally  to  the  purchase  of  musical  instru- 
ments. 

A  religious  newspaper,  entitled  the  Gospel  3fes~ 
senge?',  was  started  in  Auburn  in  1826,  by  Rev.  John 
C.  Eudd,  D.D.,  the  distinguislied  rector  of  St.  Peter's 
Church.  The  paper  was  published  weekly  from  an 
office  in  the  south-west  corner  of  the  church-yard, 
which  had  previously  been  used  for  a  Lancastrian 
school.  It  was  perfectly  catholic  to  all  sects,  and  de- 
voted to  the  cause  of  the  gospel  and  female  education. 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGK.  169 

Dr.  Rudd,  who  liad  luid  twenty  ycaiV  experience 
as  an  instructor,  was  enabled  to  make  many  valuable 
suggestions  upon  the  interesting  topic  of  female  schools, 
which  in  after  years  bore  rich  fruit.  The  Gospel  Mes- 
senger \Yi\.i^  in  time  transferred  to  Geneva,  and  afterward 
to  Utica.  The  printing-office  was  demolished.  Its 
site  is  now  occupied  by  a  stately  magnolia. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1828,  a  society  was 
formed  in  Auburn  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  a  due 
obsei'vance  of  the  Sabbath,  under  the  auspices  of,  and 
auxiliary  to,  a  general  union  of  clergymen  and  business 
men,  associated  for  the  same  purpose,  in  the  city  of 
New  York:  Similar  societies  were  formed  that  year 
in  every  part  of  the  State,  whose  manner  of  promot- 
ing a  fit  observance  of  the  day  of  rest  was,  to  require 
their  members  to  witlidraw  their  support  from  all  lines 
of  conveyance  by  land  or  water  that  ran  on  that  day. 
They  strove  further  to  advance  observance  of  the 
Sabbath,  by  lending  their  aid  to  a  new  line  of  stages, 
then  just  started,  called  the  "  pioneer,"  that  ran  on 
six  days  of  the  w^eek  only ;  and  by  raising  by  subscrip- 
tion large  sums  of  money,  to  indemnify  the  proprietors 
of  the  new  line  against  loss  by  competition.  The 
societies  openly  avow^ed  the  design  of  breaking  down 
all  lines  of  conveyance  that  ran  on  Sunday.  It  was 
even  intimated  that  a  Christian  ])arty  in  politics  was 
to  be  organized  under  their  auspices.  Believing  that 
the  real   purposes  <»f  these  societies  were  mercenary, 


170  HISTORY    OP'    AUBURN. 

the  people  of  Cayuga  County  met  on  the  court-house 
green,  in  Auburn,  August  2Sth,  1828,  and  passed 
resohitions  expressive  of  their  great  indignation  at 
this  unwarrantable  interference  of  ministers  of  the 
gospel  in  secular  affairs.  A  thousand  people  were 
present.  Henry  Polhemus  was  chairman  of  the 
meeting;  Barnabus  Smith,  of  Scipio,  was  secretary. 
Archibald  Green,  William  H.  Seward,  and  Dr.  Camp- 
bell Waldo,  were  appointed  to  give  publicity  to  the 
proceedings,  and  such  a  powerful  rebuke  was  adminis- 
tered to  the  societies,  that  tliey  soon  thereafter  relin- 
quished their  efforts. 

The  Bank  Coffee-house  was  opened  when  the  pio- 
neer line  of  stages  came  through,  in  Eldad  Steel's 
brick  building,  opposite  the  Auburn  Bank,  by  Thomp- 
son Maxwell.  The  office  of  the  telegraph  line  of 
stages  was  kept  there  in  1828,  but  was  removed,  in 
1830,  to  a  handsome  new  hotel,  known  as  the  Ameri- 
can, erected  by  Messrs.  Isaac  &  John  M.  Sherwood, 
proprietors  of  the  line,  on  the  site  of  the  old  Willard 
tavern.  This  house,  built  originally  with  two  large 
piazzas  on  both  the  southern  and  eastern  fronts,  was 
opened  on  New  Year's  day,  1830,  with  a  sumptuous 
dinner  spread  by  Thomas  Noyes,  of  Rochester,  the 
lessee.  The  old  tavern  was  moved  to  the  northern 
side  of  Clark  Street,  near  Green,  w^here  it  still  stands. 

The  miserable  militia  system  in  force  in  this  State 
at  the  time  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  long  afterward, 


ANNALS    OF    THE  VILLAGE.  171 

having  fallen  into  popular  disesteeni,  measures  were 
taken  to  induce  the  Legislature  to  revise  all  the  laws 
on  the  subject,  and  to  adopt  others  more  ejffective 
and  equal  in  their  operations.  But  the  Legislature 
paid  no  attention  to  the  popular  voice  on  this  subject ; 
and,  in  Cayuga  County,  a  volunteer  militia  regiment 
of  artillery  was  organized,  to  express  the  disapproval 
of  the  people  in  a  stronger  light. 

Five  companies  were  raised  for  the  new  command  : 
one  in  Auburn,  by  Captain  William  IT.  Seward  and 
Lieutenant  Lyman  Ilinman,  and  the  others  in  Locke, 
Genoa,  Scipio,  and  Brutus.  The  regiment  was  or- 
ganized in  1 829,  as  the  33d  artillery,  with  the  follow- 
ing field  and  staff:  Colonel  William  H.  Seward, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  John  Wright,  Major  Lyman  Hin- 
man.  Adjutant  Oscar  S.  Burgess,  Quartermaster  John 
H.  Chedell,  Paymaster  Nelson  Beardsley,  Surgeon  F. 
L.  Markham,  and  Dr.  Blanchard  Fosgate,  Surgeon's- 
mate.  The  33d,  thus  commanded,  became  a  well  dis- 
ciplined and  efficient  corps.  Lyman  Hinman  succeed- 
ed to  the  Colonelcy  in  1833,  and  Charles  W.  Pomeroy 
in  1838. 

The  Auburn  battery  was  commanded,  after  the  pro- 
motion of  Captains  Seward  and  Ilinman,  by  Samuel  C. 
Dunham,  and  afterward  by  Joshua  L.  Jones ;  Egbert 
B.  Cumpston  and  Dudley  P.  G.  Everts  were  Lieuten- 
ants. The  gun-house  of  the  company  was  situated  on 
the  northern  side  of  Water  Street,  near  the  railroad. 


172  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

The  regiment,  liaving  answered  tlie  chief  end  of  its 
existence,  was  disbanded  in  1842. 

Parades  of  large  bodies  of  fantasticals,  called  fusi- 
leers,  were  also  instituted  in  every  part  of  the  State,  to 
manifest  the  popular  contempt  of  tlie  old  militia  system. 
Two  such  occurred  in  Auburn :  one  on  the  11th,  and 
the  other  on  the  18th  of  September,  1833. 

The  second  parade  of  the  fusileers  was  made  upon 
the  occasion  of  an  encampment  of  the  regular  militia, 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  Assembling  as 
cavalry,  the  fasileers  sallied  forth  from  Auburn,  in 
absurd  order  and  costumes,  and  approaching  the  camp, 
distracted  the  unfortunate  objects  of  their  derision  by 
their  ridiculous  parade  and  performances,  and  so  en- 
raged the  officers  of  the  militia,  that,  seizing  an  oppor- 
tunity when  the  fusileers  were  entangled  in  a  lane, 
they  fired  loud  volleys  of  cannon  for  their  benefit,  and 
stampeded  the  horses  of  tlie  whole  crowd.  The  scam- 
per of  the  luckless  fusileers  out  of  the  lane  is  said  to 
have  been  a  most  ludicrous  sight.  Their  mockery, 
however,  was  keenly  felt,  and  resulted  in  an  ultimate 
revision  of  the  odious  laws. 

The  census  of  1820  I'ep resented  the  population  of 
the  village  of  Auburn  as  two  thousand  two  hundred 
and  thirty-three — an  increase  of  one  hundred  per  cent, 
in  five  years.  In  1825,  the  population  was  reckoned 
as  being  two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty-two ; 
in  1830,  as  four  tliousand  four  hundred  and  eighty- 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGK.  ITS 

six;   and  in  1835,  as  five  thousand  three  liundred  and 
sixty-eight. 

This  vigorous  growth  of  the  population  of  the  vil- 
lage was  accompanied  with  a  corresponding  expansion 
of  the  village  itself.  Indeed,  Auburn,  in  the  flight  of 
the  fifteen  years  ending  with  1835,  was  wholly  changed 
in  appearance.  Temples,  store-houses,  and  mills,  ho- 
tels, public  buildings,  and  dwellings,  shot  up  into  the 
air  on  every  street,  mingling  with,  or  supplanting  old 
erections,  filling  the  streets  with  piles  of  brick,  stone, 
and  lumber,  and  throngs  of  w^orkmen  and  working 
teams,  and  developing  the  villakin  into  a  large,  thriv- 
ing, populous  market-town,  which  those  who  had  vis- 
ited it  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation,  were  unable  to 
recognize.  The  place  was  prosperous  beyond  prece- 
dent. Great  attention  had  been  given  to  the  grading 
and  ornamentation  of  the  streets.  These  were  leveled 
and  macadamized  ;  and  shade-trees  of  choice  varieties 
were  set  out  along  their  sides  by  public-spirited  citi- 
zens, who  formed  an  association  for  the  purpose,  each 
agreeing,  not  only  to  plant  trees  in  front  of  his  own 
house,  but  at  least  one  in  front  of  his  neighbor's.  The 
reduction  of  the  hill  at  the  head  of  North  Street,  in 
1829,  was  followed,  the  same  season,  by  the  pulling 
down  of  the  old  wooden  Genesee-Street  bridge.  It 
was  replaced  by  a  massive  stone  bridge,  supported  by 
a  single  arch,  wliich,  however,  sank  beneath  its  own 
weight,  the  moment  the  center  was  rcinovtMl  :  a  taste- 


17-i  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

fill  wooden  structure  was  then  erected  in  its  stead. 
The  I^orth-Street  bridge  was  raised  and  repaired,  and 
the  street  and  walks  raised,  in  1833. 

The  year  1829  was  one  of  the  great  building  years. 
It  gave  to  Auburn  the  Second  Church,  the  paper-mill, 
a  large  number  of  fine  dwellings  on  Grover  and  other 
streets,  the  American,  several  minor  shops  and  mills, 
and  six  fine  cut-stone  stores,  four  stories  in  height ; 
the  stores  being  built  on  the  site  of  the  old  Center 
House,  by  Ezekiel  Williams,  who  started,  in  the  west 
•end  of  the  block,  the  tannery  now  owned  by  William 
Lamey.  The  new  Episcopal  and  Methodist  Churches 
came  in  1832.  The  new  stone  county  jail  was  built 
in  rear  of  the  old  wooden  court-house,  by  Captain 
Bradley  Tuttle,  Truman  J.  McMaster,  and  Joshua 
Hoskins,  county  commissioners,  in  1833  ;  after  which 
the  old  jail,  built  in  the  court-house,  in  imitation  of  the 
Enslish,  was  discontinued.  This  was  another  s^reat 
building  year,  and  added  to  the  village  the  Demaree 
block  of  seven  cut-stone  store-houses,  now  known  as 
the  Auburn  House  block,  the  Cayuga  County  Bank 
building,  John  H.  ChedelFs  handsome  stone  block  of 
two  stores,  the  Hyde  &  Watrous  block,  and  numerous 
elegant  wooden  and  brick  dwellings.  The  new  Bap- 
tist Church  on  Genesee  Street  was  erected  in  1834. 
Eighty  new  residences  sprang  up  during  1835  ;  and 
a  spacious  four-story  cut-stone  block  of  eleven  store- 
houses was  built  bv  the  Hon.  William  H.  Seward, 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGK.  175 

Nelson  Beardsley,  Jared  L.  Ratlibun,  of  Albany,  Cal- 
vin Burr,  Nathan  Burr,  James  S.  Seymour,  Palmer 
Holley,  and  Cornelius  I),  and  Jacob  R.  DeReimer, 
between  South  andExchanrre  Streets.  This  block  was 
a  magnificent  addition  to  the  business  part  of  Auburn. 
Building  followed  building  in  the  happy  and  growing 
town.  In  1836,  the  people  were  in  a  frenzy  of  con- 
struction, and  public  works  received  general  attention. 
A  town-hall  and  market  had  been  authorized  July 
7tli,  1835,  by  the  passage  of  the  following  resolution, 
in  the  Board  of  Trustees  :  "  Resolved^  That  the  Trus- 
tees proceed  to  erect  a  building  for  a  market  and 
public  hall,  on  the  site  purchased  for  that  purpose 
(of  Allen  Warden),  said  building  to  be  105  feet  by  45 
feet,  the  Urst  story  to  be  of  cut-stone,  the  second  story 
to  be  of  natural-faced  stone,  except  the  corners  and 
the  window-caps  and  sills,  which  shall  be  cut ;  said 
building  to  be  furnished  with  a  cupola  suitable  to 
hang  a  bell  in  of  500  pounds  ;  the  whole  to  be  finished 
in  the  modern  style  of  Grecian  architecture."  John 
I.  Ilagaman,  an  excellent  architect  of  the  place,  hav- 
ing prepared  the  plans,  tlie  foundation  of  tlie  market 
was  laid,  in  the  spring  of  1836,  and  the  superstruc- 
ture carried  up  during  the  ensuing  season,  by  Colonel 
Charles  W.  Pomeroy,  contractor,  the  lower  story 
being  provided  with  stalls  for  the  butchers,  and  the 
upper  being  finished  as  an  exhibition  liall.  The  new 
court-house  was  al.-io  erected  in  1S36,  immediately  in 


176  HISTORY    OF    AUBL'RN. 

front  of  the  old  buildiiuj;,  at  an  expense  of  nearly  thirty 
thousand  dollars,  by  Bradley  Tiittle,  Truman  J.  Mc- 
Master,  and  Joshua  Iloskins.  When  projected,  it 
was  intended  to  crown  the  highest  point  of  the  new 
structure  with  a  statue  of  Justice,  and  adorn  the  front, 
under  the  porticos,  with  statues  of  Liberty  and  Tem- 
j^erance ;  but  this  part  of  tlie  design  has  never  been 
consummated.  The  architect  of  the  court-house  was 
John  I.  Hagaman,  who  submitted  tw^o  plans  for  the 
same  to  the  Supervisors,  both  well  adapted  to  the 
purposes  of  the  building,  and  creditable  to  the  au- 
thor. But  the  Supervisors  caused  a  new  design  to  be 
made,  embodying  and  uniting  parts  of  the  two  sub- 
mitted ;  building  thereafter,  they  presented  to  the 
county  a  museum  of  classic  architecture,  which, 
though  considered  at  the  time  as  a  prodigy  of  art,  has 
since  endured  just  censure.  The  Auburn  House  and 
Merchant's  Exchange  Association  was  formed  on  the 
21st  of  March,  183G,  with  a  capital  of  $25,000,  by 
forty-three  citizens  of  the  town,  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting,  from  the  three  central  stores  of  the  Demaree 
block,  an  hotel  and  public  exchange.  The  leading 
men  in  the  association  were  Ezekiel  Williams, 
Asaph  D.  Leonard,  Allen  Warden,  Walter  Weed, 
Nehemiah  D.  Carhart,  Henry  Polhemus,  Peter  P.  R. 
Hay  den,  George  B.  Tliroop,  Edward  Barber,  John  B. 
Dill,  Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr.,  and  Charles  Coventry. 
The  work  contemplated    by  these    gentlemen  was 


ANNALS    OF     i  UK    VILLAGE.  177 

performed  in  lSo6  and  1^38;  tliey  opened,  in  1839, 
one  of  the  finest  hotels  in  Western  New  Yorlv.  The 
organization  of  the  Female  Seminary  Association,  the 
improvement  of  the  Nortli-Street  cemetery,  and  the 
erection  of  the  Aubnrn  park,  were  incidents  of  1830. 
Tlie  park  was  donated  to  the  town,  September  12th, 
1836,  by  Hon.  Elijah  Miller.  The  triangle  inclosed 
by  Genesee,  South,  and  Exchange  Streets,  was  once 
offered  to  the  people  of  Auburn  for  the  same  purpose, 
by  William  Bostwick,  but  was  refused  on  account  of 
the  expense  of  leveling  and  fencing  it.  In  1836,  Au- 
burn was  almost  ready  to  graduate  from  its  village- 
hood  and  become  a  city. 

The  source  of  all  this  advancement  and  prosperity 
in  our  beautiful  place  was  exclusively  the  enterprise  of 
its  citizens,  who  were  thoroughly  pervaded  with  a 
passion  for  internal  improvements,  and  were,  during 
the  fifteen  years  in  view,  engaged  in  the  most  public- 
spirited  schemes  for  the  development  of  the  resources 
of  the  town,  and  for  its  adornment,  and  for  the  increase 
of  the  facilities  of  speedy  transportation  and  travel  to 
the  grand  marts  of  the  State  and  country ;  which 
schemes  now  demand  our  t^ttentlon. 

The  condition  of  the  routes  of  travel  between  the 
villages  and  settlements  of  the  Mohawk  valley,  and 
the  Genesee  country,  then  the  *'  tar  west,"  was  brought 
into  public  view  as  early  as  1791 .  Two  routes  then  ex- 
isted between  these  widely  separated  (listiict>:  one  bv 
10 


178  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

land,  through  the  woods,  the  terrible  and  perilous  Gene- 
see trail,  and  another  by  water,  through  the  Mohawk 
River,  Wood  Creek,  Oneida  Lake  and  River,  and  the 
Seneca  River  and  tributaries,  which  was  tedious  and 
dangerous.  The  improvement  of  these  and  other 
routes  for  the  benefit  of  trade  was  undertaken  during 
the  administration  of  Governor  George  Clinton.  In 
1791,  an  act  for  establishing  and  opening  '*  Lock  ISTavi- 
gation  "  within  New  York  was  passed  by  the  Legisla- 
ture of  the  State,  which  incorporated  two  *'  Inland 
Lock  Navigation  Companies  :  "  one  called  the  "  West- 
ern," being  authorized  to  open  navigation  between  the 
Hudson  River  and  the  lakes  of  Ontario  and  Seneca ; 
and  the  other,  known  as  the  "  Northern,'-  to  open 
navigation  to  Lake  Champlain.  The  latter  of  these 
companies  never  acted  under  its  charter.  The  former 
appointed  Elk  an  ah  Watson,  Philip  Schuyler,  and 
Goldsbrow  Banyar,  to  examine  the  state  of  the  Mohawk 
River  west  from  Schenectady  ;  and,  upon  their  report, 
made  in  July,  1792,  proceeded  to  improve  that  water- 
course, and  connect  it  with  Oneida  Lake.  A  canal  waa 
built  around  Little  Falls  by  their  contractor,  AYilliam 
Bostwick,  afterward  of  Auburn,  another  around  Ger- 
man Flats,  and  a  third,  a  mile  and  three-quarters  in 
length,  across  to  Wood  Creek.  Several  wooden  locks 
were  built  on  the  stream  last  mentioned.  Unable  to  pro- 
ceed further  toward  the  interior,  the  Company,  in  1808, 
surrendered  that  part  of  their  grant  west  of  Oneida 


ANNALS    OF    TlIK    VILLAGE.  179 

Lake  to  the  State.  The  colossal  scheme  of  a  canal, 
independent  of  the  rivers  and  lakes,  running  from  the 
Hudson  to  Lake  Erie,  was  projected  at  this  time,  as  a 
substitute  for  lock  navigation  ;  and,  receiving  the  sanc- 
tion of  the  public  men  of  the  State,  was  brought  before 
the  Legislature,  which  appointed,  on  the  15th  of 
March,  ISIO,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Gouverneur 
Morris,  Stephen  Yan  Eensselaer,  De  Witt  Clinton, 
Simeon  De  Witt,  William  North,  Thomas  Eddy,  and 
Peter  B.  Porter,  to  explore  a  route  for  the  same,  and 
report  upon  the  practicableness  of  constructing  it.  It 
was  upon  the  business  of  the  commission  that  De  Witt 
Clinton  visited  Auburn  in  1810.  In  1811,  Robert 
R.  Livingston  and  Robert  Fulton  were  added  to  the  com- 
mittee, which,  in  1812,  was  authorized  to  purchase  for 
the  State  all  the  rights,  works,  and  privileges  of  the 
AYestern  Inland  Lock  Navigation  Company.  In  1818, 
the  Seneca  Lock  Navigation  Company  was  incorpo- 
rated, and  proceeded  to  open  navigation  between  the 
Oswego  River  and  Cayuga  and  Seneca  Lakes,  through 
their  respective  outlets.  The  great  feasibility  and  ad- 
vantage of  constructing  a  canal  l)etween  Buffalo  and 
the  Hudson  having  been  reported  by  the  State  Commit- 
tee, five  Canal  Commissioners,  namely :  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer,  De  Witt  Clinton,  Joseph  Ellicott,  Samuel 
Young,  and  M}Ton  Ilolley,  were  appointed  A])ril  17th, 
1816,  to  survey,  locate,  and  build  it. 

The  citizens  of  iVuburn  took  the  liveliest  interest  in 


180  HISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

all  these  measures,  particularly  in  a  question  which 
arose  the  moment  that  the  construction  of  the  canal 
was  definitely  organized,  the  inevitable  question  of 
location.  To  secure  the  passage  of  the  canal  through 
this  village,  our  citizens  put  fortli  every  effort  to  give 
prominence  to  the  claims  of  the  place,  and  to  express 
their  approval  of  the  great  work.  According  to  the 
act  in  regard  to  the  improvement  of  internal  navigation, 
commissioners  were  to  be  appointed  in  every  city  or 
village,  near  or  through  which  the  canal  was  expected 
to  pass,  to  receive  subscriptions  to  the  same  in  land  or 
money.  Joseph  Colt,  then  president  of  the  village, 
Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  and  John  Ilaring,  then  village 
clerk,  accepted  the  appointment  from  Auburn,  and  used 
their  influence  in  its  favor.  The  citizens  publicly 
,  evinced  their  approbation  of  the  designs  of  the  Canal 
Commissioners,  at  a  meeting  at  Coe's  Hotel,  January 
23d,  1817,  of  which  Nathaniel  Garrow  was  chairman, 
and  Hon.  Glen  Cuyler,  secretary.  Hon.  Enos  T. 
Throop,  in  a  patriotic  speech,  stated  the  object  of  the 
meeting.  Mr.  Warner  submitted  recitals  to  the  effect 
that  though  a  few  years  past,  "  on  our  western  frontier, 
murder  had  '  bar'd  his  arm,'  and  across  the  interior  war 
had  chased  'the  red  dragons  of  her  iron  car,'"  the 
regions  through  which  "  these  Mediterranean  seas  were 
to  roll  their  waters  to  the  ocean,"  were  then  pervaded 
with  peace  and  prosperity  ;  and  that  patriotism  and  in- 
terest both  demanded,  tliat,  ]\y  the  construction  of  great 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGK.  181 

public  works  of  the  character  of  the  one  in  view,  tliat 
happy  epoch  should  l)e  hastened,  '*  when  civilization 
shall  subdue  barbarism ;  when  the  scalping-knife  of 
the  forest  shall  be  converted  into  a  spade  for  the  cul- 
tivated field ;  when  seats  of  science  and  temples  of  re- 
ligion shall  lift  their  spires  together  in  a  land  where 
now  the  wild  man  lurks  at  noon,  and  In-  nii!i;ht  the  mon- 
sters prowl ;  and  when  the  limits  of  (.'hristendom  to 
the  west  shall  be  co-extensive  with  the  continent." 
The  resolution  was  then  submitted,  and  unanimouslj 
adopted  by  the  meeting,  "  That  in  onr  opinion  the 
MOMENT  HAS  ARRIVED,  for  the  legislative  wisdom  of  our 
State  and  nation  to  see  that  this  canal  be  made." 

This  meeting,  wdiose  proceedings  were  given  great 
publicity,  failed,  however,  with  all  kindred  efforts,  in 
its  prime  object.  Various  considerations  impelled  the 
authorities  to  locate  that  section  of  the  canal  passing 
through  Cayuga  County,  on  a  route  seven  miles  north 
of  Auburn.  This  town  was  set  upon  a  hill  and  in  the 
midst  of  hills,  a  route  through  which  was,  if  not  im- 
practicable, at  least  circuitous  and  dltHcnlt.  It  was  a 
very  undesirable  port  upon  a  great  through  line  of 
travel.  A  circumstance,  not  without  influence,  was  the 
fact  that  Myron  Ilolley,  one  of  the  original  and  locat- 
ing Canal  Commissioners,  resided  at  Lyons,  and  was  in 
favor  of  the  northern  route.  It  has  been  intimated, 
further,  that  the  location  of  the  prison  of  Western 
New  York   had  much  to  do  with  tlie    location  of  the 


182  HISTORY   OF    AUBURN. 

canal,  tlie  former  having  been  granted  to  Auburn  on 
the  condition  that  tlie  village  would  resign  her  claims 
to  the  latter. 

The  completion  of  the  Erie  Canal  was  an  occasion 
of  public  rejoicing.  The  State  hailed  this  event  as  the 
dawn  of  a  new  and  brighter  era  in  its  history ;  and 
demonstrations  of  joy  broke  forth  spontaneously  along 
the  wdiole  line  of  the  canal  when  the  first  through 
boat  was  admitted  to  its  w^aters  from  Lake  Erie.  In 
these  demonstrations  Auburn  engaged.  At  a  meeting 
of  her  inhabitants  at  the  ITolt  &  Curtis  tavern,  Sep- 
tember 29th,  1825,  of  which  Dr.  Erastus  Humphreys 
was  chairman,  and  Hon.  William  H.  Seward,  secre- 
tary, a  committee,  consisting  of  Colonel  John  W.  Hul- 
bert,  Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  Dr.  Erastus  Ilumphreys,  Ste- 
phen W.  Hughes,  and  G.  A.  Gamage,  was  appointed 
to  proceed  to  Weedsport,  and  represent  her  in  the  cele- 
bration there.  The  packet-boat  Seneca  arrived  at 
Weedsport,  bearing  Governor  Clinton  and  suite,  on  the 
way  to  New  York,  on  the  morning  of  the  29th  of  Oc- 
tober, before  daybreak.  Auburn,  through  her  com- 
mittee, tendered  her  congratulations  to  his  excellency, 
and  the  boat,  after  a  short  delay,  passed  on  in  the 
midst  of  salutes,  bonfires,  and  fireworks,  toward  her 
destination. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  relative  to  the  middle  divi- 
sion of  the  Erie  Canal,  that  the  first  boat  used  thereon 
was  built  in  Auburn,  in  1822,  on  the  flat  through  w^hich 


ANNALS    OF    TIIK    VILLAGE.  183 

Water  Street  now  runs,  near  North  Street,  by  a  car- 
penter named  Howland,  who  was  the  grandfather  of 
the  eccentric  character  known  here  fiiniiliarlj  for  so 
many  years  as  Professor  Popple.  The  boat  was 
launched  at  Weedsport. 

No  sooner  had  it  been  announced  that  the  Grand 
Canal  was  a  fixed  fact,  than  the  subject  of  lateral  ca- 
nals, with  connecting  navigation  upon  the  lakes  of 
Western  New  York,  whose  general  direction  was  north 
and  south,  presented  itself  to  the  public  mind.  Some- 
body having  dreamed  of  such  a  canal  to  pass  through 
Auburn,  presented  the  idea  for  the  contemplation  of 
the  good  people  of  this  village.  The  launching  of 
a  steamboat  called  the  Experiment^  at  Ithaca,  May 
11th,  1820 — the  same  day  that  the  corner-stone  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  was  laid  in  Auburn — to  ply  be- 
tween the  villages  at  the  extremities  of  Cayuga  Lake, 
kindled  an  interest  in  the  matter  of  navigating  Owasco 
Lake,  and  of  extending  navigation  thereon  to  the  Grand 
Canal,  through  the  outlet  and  a  short  branch  canal. 
The  people  of  the  village  met  at  Coe's  tavern,  on  the 
14th  of  August,  1820,  to  deliberate  on  the  subject,  and 
resolved  to  apply  to  the  Canal  Commissioners  for  an 
engineer  to  survey  a  route  for  the  proposed  improve- 
ment, and  calculate  its  cost.  But  the  project  was  then 
generally  considered  visionary,  and  next  month  was 
abandoned. 

The  necessity  of  effecting  some  improvement  upon 


18-ir  HISTORY    OF    AUBtRN. 

the  Owasco  Outlet,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  an  un- 
failing supply  of  water  from  the  lake  for  hydraulic  pur- 
poses in  tliis  place,  and  the  necessity  of  maintaining  the 
position  of  Auburn  as  the  market-town  of  Cayuga 
County,  revived  discussion,  in  1822,  upon  tlie  topic  of 
the  lateral  canal.  It  was  proposed  to  construct  such  a 
canal  from  Port  Byron  to  the  Owasco  Outlet ;  to  so  im- 
prove the  outlet  that  easy  entrance  to  the  lake  might  be 
gained ;  and  to  connect  the  inlet  of  the  lake  with  the 
Susquehanna  Eiver  by  a  work  similar  to  the  one  pro- 
posed north  of  Auburn.  Action  in  the  matter  was 
first  taken  on  the  17th  of  jSTovember,  1825,  at  a  public 
meeting  at  Hudson's  hotel,  of  which  Hon.  Elijah 
Miller  was  chairman,  and  Hon.  John  Porter  was  secre- 
tary. A  committee,  consisting  of  Hon.  Elijah  Miller, 
Hon.  Gershom  Powers,  Lyman  Paine,  Roderick 
AYatson,  Elihu  Weed,  George  C.  E.  Thompson,  Jona- 
than Hussey,  Ebenezer  AYilliams,  and  Salmon  Cove, 
was  appointed  to  survey  the  ground  north  of  Auburn, 
ascertain  the  summit  level,  and  examine  the  project, 
with  regard  to  its  feasibility  and  cost.  The  eminent 
engineers,  David  Thomas  and  James  Geddes,  per- 
formed the  necessary  surveys,  and  reported  the  result 
of  their  investigations  to  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  in 
December.  Time  was  allowed  for  further  examina- 
tions. 

The   enterprise  lay   dormant   during   the   exciting 
campaign  and  State  election  of  1826,  but  was   the 


ANNALS    OF    THK    VII.LAGK.  185 

prominent  object  of  thouiilit  mid  Mttentiun  in  1827. 
It  was  put  into  the  bands  of  another  committee,  con- 
sisting of  Hon.  Wilbam  II.  Seward,  Ezekiel  Williams, 
Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  Hon.  John  H.  Beach,  Allen  War- 
den, John  Patty,  Horace  Hills,  Obed  Folger,  and 
George  C.  Skinner,  appointed  at  a  public  meeting  at 
the  Western  Exchange,  June  12t-h,  1827,  who  received 
instructions  to  report  as  soon  as  practicable  what  might 
be  done  in  the  matter,  especially  in  the  way  of  improv- 
ing and  developing  the  hydraulic  power  of  the  Owasco 
Outlet.  On  the  13th,  Elkanah  Watson,  one  of  the  pro- 
jectors of  the  canal  policy  of  this  State,  then  tempo- 
rarily in  Auburn,  was  induced  by  Mr.  Seward  to  visit 
the  outlet,  and  pronounce  an  opinion  on  the  contem- 
plated work.  His  views,  stated  at  length  in  writing, 
were,  that  the  improvement  was  one  of  immense  im- 
portance, and,  if  a  canal  or  railroad  should  be  con- 
structed in  connection  with  it,  either  to  Port  Byron  or 
Weed's  Basin,  would  double  the  population  of  Aubuni 
in  ten  years. 

The  committee  reported  on  the  21st  of  June  to  a 
numerously  attended  meeting  at  the  Western  Ex- 
change, of  which  Ezekiel  Williams  was  chairman, 
and  William  II.  Seward,  secretary,  that  George  T. 
Olmsted  had  been  employed  to  make  surveys  and  take 
levels ;  that  the  outlet,  which  had  a  descent  of  six 
inches  from  the  lake  to  Judge  Paine's  saw  mill,  might 
be  made  navigable  by  clearing  out  the  logs  and  flood- 


186  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

wood ;  that  a  canal  miglit  be  constructed  along  the 
west  bank  of  the  outlet  from  and  upon  the  level  of  the 
dam  at  Judge  Paine's,  and  terminating  at  the  old 
Walker  lot,  the  site  of  the  proposed  basin,  where  it 
would  be  forty-three  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  stream  ; 
that  a  dam  for  raising  the  level  of  the  lake  might  be 
safely  erected  at  Paine's ;  and  that  the  advantages  of 
the  proposed  improvement  were  the  supplying  of  the 
village  with  an  abundance  of  pure  water  for  house- 
hold purposes  and  the  prevention  of  fires,  the  facilities 
for  bringing  from  remote  and  otherwise  inaccessible 
parts  of  the  country  large  supplies  of  lumber  for  build- 
ing purposes,  and  grain  and  wool  for  the  mills,  and  the 
practicability  of  occupying  the  whole  length  of  the 
canal,  which  was  one  mile  and  seventy-two  rods,  with 
mills  and  manufactories,  to  be  propelled  by  water- 
power,  without  injury  to  navigation. 

The  report  of  the  committee  Avas  adopted.  The 
Hon.  John  Porter  having  been  appointed  on  the  com- 
mittee, to  fill  the  place  of  lion.  John  H.  Beach,  re- 
signed, that  body  was  organized  to  take  measures  for 
the  organization  of  a  company  to  effect  the  proposed 
improvement.  Books  for  subscriptions  to  the  capital 
of  such  a  company  were  opened  on  the  12th  day  of 
July.  By  the  31st,  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  was 
subscribed  thereon,  and  the  Auburn  and  Owasco 
Canal  Company  was  organized  the  same  day.  The 
following    named  gentlemen  were   elected  directors: 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGE.  18T 

Ezekiel  Williams,  president ;  Hon.  William  II.  Sew- 
ard, secretary;  Horace  Hill,  treasurer;  Archibald 
Green,  Lyman  Paine,  Samuel  Cumpston,  John  Patty, 
Hon.  Enos  T.  Throop,  Abijah  Fitch,  and  Allen  War- 
den. The  canal  committee  then  announced  the  forma- 
tion of  the  company,  and  that  it  was  ready  to  go  into 
operation.  Proposals  for  constructing  the  canal  were 
soon  afterward  advertised  for.  The  company  was  in- 
corporated April  21st,  1828. 

The  subject  of  communication  with  the  Erie  Canal 
was  then  again  revived.  It  was  proposed  to  effect  this- 
by  carrying  out  Mr.  Watson's  idea  of  a  railway.  Hon. 
Gershom  Powers  addressed  a  meeting  at  the  Western 
Exchange,  on  the  4th  of  February,  1828,  of  which 
Hon.  Elijah  Miller  was  chairman,  and  Ezekiel  Wil- 
liams, secretary,  on  the  subject  of  communication  with 
the  canal,  and  presented  a  resolution  in  the  following 
words  :  "  Resolved^  that  it  is  expedient  to  make  appli- 
cation to  the  Legislature  for  the  State  to  construct  a 
railroad  from  this  place  to  the  Erie  Canal,"  at  the 
State's  expense,  which  was  assented  to  with  perfect 
unanimity.  Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  Eleazer  Hills,  Hon.  J. 
L.  Eichardson,  Ambrose  Cock,  Lyman  Paine,  Hon. 
John  Porter,  Robert  Muir,  Bradley  Tuttle,  George  C. 
Skinner,  Hon.  W.  T.  Doubleday,  Abijah  Fitch,  Wil- 
liam H.  Seward,  Allen  Warden,  Jabez  Pease,  William 
Brown,  E.  Catlin,  Asa  Munger,  Gershom  Powers, 
Ebenezer  and  Ira  Hopkins,  Ezekiel  Williams,  Walter 


188  HISTORY    OF    ADBUKN. 

Weed,  Samuel  Cumpston,  Woodis  Rice,  Horace  Hills, 
and  Archibald  Green  were  constituted  a  committee  to 
memorialize  tlie  Legislature  on  the  subject.  The  com- 
mittee labored  in  due  time  and  brought  forth  a  peti- 
tion of  portentous  length,  which  was  forwarded  to  the 
lower  house  of  the  Legislature.  Tlie  project  met  with 
favor.  A  report  was  made  in  the  Assembly  upon  it  on 
the  26th  of  February,  which  recommended  the  con- 
struction of  the  proposed  railroad  by  the  State,  for  the 
following  reasons :  first,  that  it  was  desirable  that  the 
State  should  collect  accurate  information  on  the  sub- 
ject of  railroads,  which  were  then  just  beginning  to 
awaken  public  attention ;  secondly,  that  the  road  in 
view  would  extend  great  accommodations  to  a  remote 
and  productive  part  of  the  interior;  and  thirdly,  the 
pecuniary  benefits  to  accrue  to  the  State  from  the  busi- 
ness of  the  road,  and  as  connected  with  the  prison  at 
Auburn.  The  Assembly  committee  was  ordered  to 
prepare  a  bill. 

Action  in  both  the  canal  and  the  railroad  enterprise 
was,  however,  deferred  for  several  years,  political  strife 
and  other  business  projects  engaging  the  entire  atten- 
tion of  their  leading  men.  In  1833  the  millers  and 
business  men  of  Auburn  became  convinced  that  the 
interests  of  the  town  demanded  the  immediate  con- 
struction of  the  Auburn  and  Owasco  Canal,  both  for 
navigation  and  for  manufacturing  purposes ;  and  with 
the  aid  of  public  meetings  and  the  warm  co-operation 


ANNALS    OF    THE   VILLAGE.  189 

of  the  citizens  at  large,  they  obtained  in  January,  1834-^ 
a  new  charter,  the  necessary  amount  of  ca})ital,  and  an 
organization  composed  of  new,  energetic,  and  practical 
men.  A  review  of  the  merits  of  the  different  plan?^ 
for  effecting  the  purposes  of  the  company  resulted  in 
the  adoption  of  tlie  method  of  erecting,  in  the  gorge 
of  the  creek,  a  few  feet  below  the  Hyde  &  Beach  dam, 
a  new  stone  dam,  forty  feet  high,  and  of  constructing 
thence  to  the  Walker  lot,  along  the  western  bank, 
a  suitable  canaL  The  new  dam  was  expected  to  sub- 
merge both  Garlick's  and  Paine's,  and  set  back  water 
into  the  lake.     • 

The  Auburn  and  Owasco  Canal  Company  was  re-or- 
ganized on  the  1st  day  of  June,  1835,  by  sixteen  citi- 
zens of  Auburn,  whose  directors,  after  completing  ne- 
gotiations with  Henry  Polhemus,  Elijah  Miller,  John 
M.  Sherwood,  Amos  Underwood,  Nehemiah  D.  Car- 
hart,  and  John  C.  AVatkins,  for  the  riparian  lands  af- 
fected by  the  work,  and  for  certain  mills  at  the  Hyde 
&  Beach  and  the  Garlick  dams,  which  cost  in  all 
about  seventy  thousand  dollars,  resolved,  on  the  28th 
of  September,  "  that  tlie  foundation-stone  of  the 
dam,  to  be  erected  for  continuing  tlie  navigation  of 
the  Owasco  Lake  into  tlie  village  of  Auburn,  be  laid 
by  the  president  on  Wednesday,  the  1-1-th  day  of  Oc- 
tober next,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon  ;  and  that  If  on. 
William  11.  Seward  be  recpiested,  in  the  name  of  this 
company,  to  deliver  an  ad dnv^;  on  that  (K'caslon."'     Tlu' 


190  HISTORY   OF    AUBURN. 

directors  also  resolved,  "  that  Henry  Polhemus,  Amoi 
Underwood,  Hugh  Watson,  Stephen  A.  Goodwin,  and 
Oeorge  H.  Wood,  be  a  committee  on  the  part  of  this 
Board,  to  act  in  concert  with  any  committee  which 
may  be  appointed  by  our  fellow-citizens,  in  making 
the  proper  arrangements  for  the  occasion."  Also, 
*'  that  the  military  and  fire  companies,  the  president 
s,nd  trustees  of  the  village  of  Auburn,  the  president, 
directors,  and  stockholders  of  the  Aub.  &  Syr.  R.  R. 
Co.,  and  their  engineers,  the  mechanics,  millers,  and 
manufacturers  of  the  village  of  Auburn  and  vicinity,  the 
citizens  of  the  village  of  Auburn,  and  of  this  and  the 
adjoining  counties,  be  respectfully  invited  to  join  in 
the  celebration." 

In  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  company,  the 
citizens  of  the  town  appointed,  at  a  public  meeting 
held  October  1st,  a  committee,  representing  every 
trade  and  profession,  to  co-operate  with  and  aid  the  di- 
rectors' committee  in  ordering  matters  for  the  celebra- 
tion. It  comprised  the  following  :  Colonel  Charles  W. 
Pomeroy,  chairman ;  A.  G.  Bostwick,  Asa  C.  Munger, 
James  II.  Bostwick,  Robert  Cook,  Michael  S.  Myers, 
E.  II.  Johnson,  Asaph  D.  Leonard,  Robert  Muir, 
George  Casey,  Amasa  Curtice,  B.  White,  John  Rich- 
ardson, Cyrus  C.  Dennis,  Ezekiel  AVilliams,  Jolm  Sey- 
mour, A.  Munger,  Willet  Lounsbury,  Truman  J. 
McMaster,  II.  11.  Cooley,  Daniel  Hewson,  Hon.  John 
Porter,  W.  Holmes,  A.  L.  Cooper,  Daniel  F.  Cock. 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGK.  191 

At  the  break  of  a  beautiful  autumnal  day,  the  thun- 
der of  cannon  at  Auburn  heralded  the  approaching 
celebration.  The  villaij^e  and  adjoining  towns  were 
astir  early  in  the  morning,  and  the  ])eople  came  forth  in 
throngs  to  evince  their  sympathy  with  the  enterprising 
men  who  had  projected,  and  ap})arently  were  about  to 
consummate,  their  bold  design  of  a  canal  to  the  Owasco 
Lake.  An  immense  procession  was  formed  at  eleven 
o'clock,  in  front  of  the  American  hotel,  by  Colonel 
William  Goodwdn,  Marshal  of  the  day,  and  Major 
Royal  P.  Stowe,  his  assistant,  which  was  conducted 
through  Genesee  and  Mechanic  Streets  to  the  site  of 
the  contemplated,  dam,  under  escort  of  the  Auburn 
Guards,  the  Auburn  Artillery,  and  a  body  of  military 
officers  in  uniform.  Besides  the  officers  and  eniriueers 
of  the  Canal  Company,  and  of  the  A.  &  S.  11.  R. 
Company,  and  the  Trustees  of  Auburn,  there  appeared 
in  the  procession  the  Mechanics'  Association  of  Skan- 
eateles,  with  its  ensigns  and  flags,  the  mechanics,  man- 
ufacturers, and  millers  of  Auburn,  with  banners  and 
the  badges  of  their  respective  occupations,  the  trades, 
with  scarce  an  exception,  being  represented  and  ac- 
tively carried  on  upon  se])arate  cars,  handsomely  and 
appropriately  decorated,  each  drawn  by  four  horses. 
These  were  followed  by  the  tire  companies  of  Au- 
burn, the  Young  Men's  Literary  and  IScientiiic  Asso- 
ciation, the  clergy,  and  large  numbers  of  citizens. 
The  [H'inters  sti'uck  oil*  ancPdi.-tributcd  to  the  jK'opU', 


192  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

as  they  passed  along  in  tlie  procession,  the  tbllowing 
verses : 

Hail,  Euterpririe  !  whose  rising  sun, 

This  day  beams  forth  its  light 
The  Union's  "•loveliest  village"  on, 
Where  all  her  patriot  sons,  as  one, 

To  greet  thy  dawn,  unite. 

Well  may  thy  citizens  agree, 

With  joy,  to  celebrate  the  hour, 
In  which  is  turned  the  magic  key, 
That  opens.  Auburn  I  unto  thee, 

The  secret  sources  of  thy  power. 

Here  join  each  Trade,  Profession,  Art, 

Beneath  the  colors  of  the  free. 
With  unity  of  thought  and  heart, 
Renewed  impulses  to  impart. 

To  Enterprise  and  Industry. 

With  happiness,  and  health,  and  peace. 

By  smiling  heaven  blessed. 
Auburn  !  may  thy  proud  march  ne'er  cease 
Till  by  still  prosperous  increase, 
In  wealth,  in  numbers,  and  in  fame. 
Thou  earnest  to  thyself  the  name. 

Of  Fairest  City  op  the  West. 

Prayer  at  the  scene  of  the  cerenaony  was  ofiered  by 
the  Rev.  William  Lucas,  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 
A  noble  and  prophetic  address  was  then  delivered  to 
the  dense  throng  In  the  ravine,  by  the  Hon.  William  H. 
Seward.  At  the  close  of  the  address,  the  Hon.  Row- 
land Day,  of  Moravia,  deposited  in  the  corner-stone  of 
the  dam,  a  plate  inscribed  : 

"  THIS  CORNER-STONE 

OP   the 

AUBURN  AND  O WASCO  CANAL, 

Was  laid  Oct.  14th,  Anno  Domini,  1835, 

and  of  American  Independence, 

the  fiOth. 


ANNAL>    uF     J! IE    VILLAGF.  193 


DIKECTOKS   OK   THE    AlliLRN  AND    OWASCO    CANAL    COMPANY. 

John  M.  Sherwood,  Georpe  IT.  Wood, 

Elijah  Miller,  Nelson  Beard.?ley, 

Henry  Polhemus.  Xeheiniuh  D.  Carharl. 

Amos  Underwood.  Henry  Vatex. 

William  H.  Seward,  i 


TRUSTEES  OF   THE    VILLAGE   OF   ALBURN, 

el  S.  Mv 
H.  Ched( 
Bradley  Tattle 


Michael  S.  Mvers,  Charles  W.  Pomcroy, 

John  H.  Chedell,  Jes.se  Williird. 


Population  of  Aubuni,  5,368." 

And  tlie  stone  wiis  laid,  wliile  cannon  tlinnclcred  from 
both  banks  of  the  stream. 

A  h^rge  company  sat  down  in  tlie  afternoon  to  a 
snmptuons  dinuer  at  the  American,  over  wliich  the 
Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  assisted  bj  the  Hon.  Ulysses  F. 
Doublcday,  Hon.  John  Porter,  and  Col.  John  Richard- 
son presided.  According  to  cnstom,  the  dinner  was 
conclnded  with  wine  and  toasts,  the  latter  being,  on 
this  occasion,  unnsually  profuse  and  patriotic.  The 
4th  of  July  nnml)er  of  thirteen  led  the  way ;  volun- 
teers followed.     Amonir  them  were  the  followinir: 

'•Our  fellow-citizen,  Wm.  H.  Seward.— May  his  eloquent  address,  pro 
nonnced  to-day,  awaken  public  attention  to  the  capabilities  of  the  loveliest  vil- 
lage of  the  West." 

"  Education.— The  bulwark  of  our  Republic.  He  deserve?  the  best  of  the 
State  who  most  contributes  to  its  universal  diffusion." 

By  Hon.  Elijah  Miller.  "  Western  New  York.— By  the  bounty  of  the  State 
and  the  enterprise  of  her  citizens,  may  her  canals  and  railroads  be  multiplied 
in  the  ratio  of  her  increasing  population." 

By  Hon.  George  B.  Throop.  "  PtjBLic  Spirit.— Promoting  improvements  in 
all,  and  excluding  no  quarter  of  our  village,  comprehending  the  prosperity  of 
each  citizen,  trade,  class,  and  profession  of  our  population,  as  the  direct  means 
of  increasing  the  wealth,  importance,  and  enlargement  of  Auburn." 

By  Parliament  Bronson,  Esq.      "The  pam  op  the  Aubi'rn  and  Owasco 
Canal  Company.  —May  it  raise  a  fountain  from  which  will  flow  iibernl  streams 
of  profit  to  the  company,  and  of  pros|»erity  to  the  village." 
11 


194  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

By  Sherman  Beardsley,  Esq.  "The  Town  op  Auburn.— The  surrounding 
country  is  willing  to  pay  her  honors." 

By  Richard  L.  Smith,  Esq.  "  The  Owasco.— Let  us  float  on  her  calm  bosom 
and  lave  in  her  clear  waters." 

By  Lyman  L.  Wilkinson,  Esq.  "  Our  own  Village.— The  center  of  the 
State  of  New  York ;  her  local  advantages  justly  claim  for  her  the  distinction 
of  Capital." 

By  George  IL  Wood,  Esq.  "The  Farmers,  Mechanics,  and  Manufac 
TURER3.— The  bone  and  sinew  of  the  nation." 

By  Edward  E.  Marvine,  Esq.  "  Auburn  in  1845.-  The  key-stone  city  of  the 
State ;  with  20,000  inhabitants  ;  a  manufacturing  revenue  of  $4,000,000 ;  a  State 
House  ;  two  colleges,  and  no  poor-house." 

By  Nelson  Beardsley,  Esq.  "  Our  guests  from  neighboring  towns  and 
COUNTIES.— Their  attendance  on  this  occasion  evinces  a  liberal  and  magnani- 
mous'spirit,  which  we  ought  not  only  to  acknowledge,  but  to  reciprocate." 

The  festivities  of  the  day  ended  with  a  magnificent 
ball  at  the  Western  Exchange,  which  was  conducted, 
in  all  respects,  in  a  more  splendid  style  than  any  ever 
before  given  in  any  of  the  villages  of  Western  New 
York. 

The  building  of  the  big  dam  was  commenced  by 
Captain  Bradley  Tuttle,  the  contractor,  without  delay. 
By  the  middle  of  the  spring  of  1836,  the  stone  struc- 
ture had  been  raised  to  the  height  of  fifteen  feet,  and 
was  carried  up,  as  the  state  of  the  outlet  permitted,  till, 
in  the  fall  of  1839,  it  had  been  erected  to  the  height  of 
twenty-five  feet,  or  twice  the  height  of  the  old  wooden 
dam  near  by.  Garlick's  dam  was  submerged  in  the 
beautiful  pond  thus  formed ;  the  power  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  horses  w^as  gained  at  the  new  fall.  By  rais- 
ing the  big  dam  to  the  proposed  height  of  thirty-eight 
feet — which  was  necessary  to  eftect  navigation  to  the 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGE.  195 

lake — and  by  lowering  the  bed  of  the  outlet,  near  the 
lake,  two  feet,  it  was  expected  that  the  power  of  seven 
hundred  horses  would  be  gained.  While  the  dam 
was  being  constructed,  an  excavation  for  the  intended 
basin  of  the  canal  was  })rogressing  at  the  old  Walker 
lot,  to  wliich,  about  tlie  year  1830,  a  bridge  was  built 
from  the  opposite  side  of  the  outlet,  in  accordance  witli 
the  design  of  connecting  navigation  on  the  canal  and 
lake  with  railroad  communication  between  Auburn 
and  the  Erie  Canal ;  and  a  route  for  a  railroad  track  from 
the  bridge  to  the  A.  ^t  S.  R.  R.  depot  in  the  town  was 
marked  out.  The  scheme  of  navigation  on  tlie  outlet 
was,  however,  never  carried  out.  It  was  abandoned 
about  the  year  1840.  The  unwonted  stringency  of  the 
times  had  caused  public  interest  in  the  matter  to  drooj), 
while  the  gentlemen  who  had  embarked  their  ])rivate 
fortunes  in  the  erection  of  the  big  dam  and  the  im- 
provement of  the  water-power  of  the  outlet,  having 
suffered  heavy  losses  in  the  general  decline  of  prices 
in  1837,  were  unable  to  carry  their  noble  design  for- 
ward to  consummation.  Certain  movements,  moreover, 
in  Auburn  and  the  adjoining  towns,  looking  toward 
the  construction  of  railroads  through  the  productive 
grain  and  timber  regions,  which  it  had  been  expected 
to  reach  by  navigation  on  the  lake,  appeared  to  have 
removed  the  necessity  for  that  last  named  measure. 
Leaving  the  big  dam,  with  its  magnificent  hydraulic 
power,  as  it  stood    in    1831),  therefore,  tlie   Canal   Com- 


196  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

])any  sold  its  i)roperty  along  the  outlet,  namely :  two 
grist  mills,  having  four  runs  of  stone  each,  two  saw  mills, 
9even  dwellings  with  lots,  village  lots  to  the  extent  of 
one  hundred  and  eighteen  acres,  and  the  unoccupied 
liydraulic  privileges  of  the  upper  and  lower  dams  ; 
and  wound  up  its  affairs,  having  indeed  failed  to  ac- 
complish the  nominal  end  of  its  existence,  but  having, 
nevertheless,  performed  a  work  that  has  crowned  it 
with  honor,  and  the  city  of  Auburn  with  prosperity. 

The  movement  in  Auburn  for  building  a  railroad  to 
tlie  Erie  Canal  received  a  fresh  impulse  in  1831,  from 
the  proceedings  of  the  State  Kailroad  Convention  at 
Syracuse,  on  the  12th  of  October.  This  convention 
was  held  upon  the  invitation  of  the  citizens  of  Buffalo, 
to  discuss  the  propriety  of  constructing  a  railroad  from 
Buffalo  to  Schenectady,  passing  through  the  villages 
of  Utica  and  Salina,  and  was  attended  by  delegates 
from  all  the  principal  places  on  the  line  of  the  pro- 
posed road  ;  the  delegates  from  Auburn  being  Parlia- 
ment Bronson,  John  M.  Sherwood,  and  Nathaniel 
Garrow.  The  organization  of  a  company,  with  a 
capital  of  five  millions,  to  build  this  road,  which,  it 
was  the  prevalent  sentiment  in  the  convention,  should 
follow  the  route  of  the  Erie  Canal,  as  far  westward,  at 
least,  as  Hochester,  was  concluded  upon.  It  was  re- 
solved to  apply  to  the  Legislature  for  a  charter. 

Two  bad  w^agon-roads  were  at  this  time  the  only 
means  of  communication  with  the  Erie   Canal   from 


ANNALS    OF    THF    VILLA(>K.  197 

Auburn.  Since  the  Syracuse  coiiventum  did  not  ex- 
tend the  assurance  tliat  the  pro])osed  through  raih-oad 
should  be  constructed  tlir()Uiz;li  this  place,  the  necessity 
of  carryiui^  into  eft'ect  some  one  of  the  many  scliemes 
for  enabling  the  citizens  of  Auburn  to  phice  their 
manufactures  and  the  products  of  the  country  rapidly 
and  cheaply  on  the  canal,  for  shi[)ment  to  the  great 
markets,  forced  itself  u})on  the  attention  of  our  promi- 
nent men.  A  public  meeting  was  called  at  the  West- 
ern Exchange,  January  Otli,  1832.  It  was  resoh^ed, 
^' That  in  order  to  sustain  the  present  jtrosperous  and 
flourishing  condition  of  our  village,  and  to  jn-ovide  for 
its  continuity  and  augmentation,  an  application  be 
made  to  the  Legislature  of  this  State,  at  its  present 
session,  for  a  charter  to  construct  a  railroad  from  the 
village  of  Auburn  to  the  Erie  Canal,"  in  accordance 
with  which  an  application  was  made  for  a  charter, 
and  lion.  AYm.  II.  Seward,  tlien  in  the  State  Senate, 
procured  the  i)assage  of  the  same. 

But  the  Legislature  having  refused,  for  various  im- 
l>ortant  considerations,  the  request  of  the  Syracuse 
convention  to  incorporate  a  Buffalo  and  Schenectady 
railroad  company,  the  citizens  of  Auburn,  ready  to 
-j^rofit  thereby,  changed  their  plans,  and  conceived  the 
bold  design  of  constructing  a  railroad  from  this  point 
to  the  Erie  Canal  at  tlie  village  of  Syracuse,  which,  it 
was  believed,  would  have  all  the  advantages  of  the 
chartered  road  to  Port  lUron,  and  wonld   place  An- 


198  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

burn,  beyond  a  doubt,  upon  tlie  great  foreshadowed 
through  line  of  railroads  from  the  Hudson  River  to 
Lake  Erie.  Enterprises  of  such  magnitude  and  im- 
portance could,  at  that  early  day,  be  prosecuted  only 
with  the  aid  of  the  people.  To  them,  accordingly^ 
assembled  at  the  Western  Exchange,  on  the  2Tth  day 
of  December,  1833,  was  the  matter  submitted.  Cap- 
tain Bradley  Tuttle  took  the  chair  at  the  meeting,  and 
John  II.  Chedell  was  elected  secretary.  The  scheme 
of  the  railroad  to  Syracuse  was  presented  and  argued, 
and  was  cordially  indorsed  by  the  most  eminent  citi- 
zens of  the  town,  twenty-five  of  whom  were  designated 
as  a  managing  committee,  and  were  authorized  to 
take  efficient  measures  for  obtaining  a  charter  from 
the  Legislature,  and  for  the  organization  of  the  rail- 
road company. 

The  Auburn  &  Syracuse  Railroad  Company  was  in- 
coq^orated  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  May 
1st,  1834,  with  an  authorized  capital  of  $400,000.  It 
began  existence  under  inauspicious  circumstances.  The 
construction  of  the  railroad  from  Auburn  to  Syracuse 
.was,  from  the  broken  nature  of  the  ground  over  which 
a  large  part  of  it  must  necessarily  pass,  and  from  the 
retired  and  unfavorable  location  of  Auburn,  regarded 
in  many  places  as  an  act  of  unspeakable  folly.  Hun- 
dreds prophecied  the  total  failure  of  the  enterprise, 
predicting  that  every  dollar  invested  in  the  road 
would  be  a  positive  loss.     One  of  the  leading  citizens. 


ANNALS    OF    THE   VILLAGE.  199 

of  this  village,  Michael  S.  Myers,  Esq.,  visiting  Albany 
on  railroad  business,  met  at  that  distant  place  the  dis- 
couraging remark  from  an  eminent  friend,  that  it  was 
foolish  to  even  dream  of  a  railroad  poking  in  among 
the  hills  that  surrounded  Auburn.  Notwithstanding 
the  immense  and  palpable  advantages  of  the  road  to 
our  citizens,  they  too  were  infected  with  a  fear  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  construct  it,  or  make  it  pay  in 
any  manner  whatever.  They  feared  that  the  line 
could  not  compete  with  the  Grand  Canal.  Packet 
boats  for  the  rapid  carriage  of  passengers  were  then  in 
common  use  on  the  canal ;  and  traveling  upon  them 
was  so  comfortable  and  safe,  and  so  far  superior  to  the 
tiresome  old-time  method  of  traveling  in  the  stages,  that 
not  a  few  believed  that  the  ultimatum  was  reached, 
and  that  no  further  facilities  for  convenient  or  quick 
travel  were  of  any  possible  use.  It  may  also  be  re- 
marked that  proprietors  of  parallel  lines  of  stages  did 
not  view  the  railroad  with  favor. 

Subscription  books  WTre,  notwithstanding,  opened 
in  Auburn  at  the  Western  Exchange,  in  July,  and, 
nothing  having  then  been  done  toward  taking  the  stock 
of  the  company,  again  in  l^ovember,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Colonel  Levi  Lewis,  Captain  Bradley  Tuttle, 
Amos  Underwood,  Hon.  Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr.,  and 
Robert  Cook,  of  Auburn,  and  John  Wilkinson,  Henry 
Raynor,  George  Geddes,  and  Horace  White,  of  Syra- 
cuse, commissioners.     It  is  impossible  to  regard  the 


200  HISTOEY    OF    AITBURN. 

energy  and  liig'U-niinded  tenacity  of  purpose  displayed 
by  these  gentlemen,  and  the  lion.  Elijah  Miller  and 
other  faithful  co-operators  in  the  town,  in  their  efforts 
to  awaken  public  confidence  in  their  valuable  enter- 
prise, and  to  win  the  attention  and  substantial  support 
of  the  moneyed  men  of  the  region  travei'sed  by  the 
road,  without  sentiments  of  admiration.  Pushing 
ahead  in  the  face  of  all  discouragements,  they  labored 
incessantly  during  the  period  allowed  them  by  law  to 
obtain  subscriptions,  traveling  over  the  ground  be- 
tween Auburn  and  Syracuse  time  and  again,  stirring 
up  the  citizens  of  the  villages  and  towns  to  a  sense  of 
the  importance  of  the  work  in  hand,  and  bringing 
them  to  further  it  by  taking  stock.  It  was  no  easy 
task  they  had  undertaken,  but,  in  spite  of  all  im- 
pediments, they  mastered  it,  being  enabled  to  re- 
port, on  the  11th  of  December,  that  they  had  re- 
ceived subscriptions  to  the  full  amount  of  four  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars. 

Of  this  sum,  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  was 
raised  in  xVuburn  and  the  immediate  vicinity.  Organi- 
zation of  the  company  was  effected  on  the  20th  day 
of  January,  1835.  The  management  was  intrusted  to 
Hon.  Elijali  Miller,  president  ;  Asaph  D.  Leonard, 
secretary  ;  (^eorge  1>.  Throop,  treasurer  ;  Nathaniel 
Garrow,  John  M.  Sherwood,  Stephen  Yan  Anden, 
Dr.  Richard  Steel,  John  Seymour,  Abijah  Fitch,  Ed- 
ward E.  Marvin,  and  Allen  AVarden,  of  Auburn,  and 


AN\AI-S    OF    TIIK    VILLAGE.  201 

Vivus  W.  Smith  and  Henry  Itayiior,  uf  Syracuse,  di- 
rectors. 

The  surveys  and  examinations  prehminary  to  the 
location  of  the  route  of  the  road  were  made  under  tlie 
direction  of  the  accomplished  engineer,  Edwin  F. 
Johnson,  by  Levi  Williams,  Esq.,  his  assistant,  during 
the  summer  of  1835.  When  these  were  done,  Huorh 
Lee,  Esq.,  was  also  employed,  and  all  ]^roceeded  to 
prepare  the  work  for  tlie  contractors.  A  depot,  in 
appearance  not  unlike  a  political  wigwam  of  later 
times,  was  erected  near  the  south-east  corner  of  Van- 
Anden  and  State  Streets.  Work  upon  the  line  of  the 
road  was  begun  and  vigorousl}^  prosecuted  the  ensuing 
season,  under  the  supervision  of  Colonel  Levi  Lewis, 
the  superintendent.  The  incorporation  of  the  Auburn 
and  Rochester  Railroad  Compan}^  May  13th,  1836, 
with  a  capital  of  $2,000,000,  and  of  other  roads,  mak- 
ing a  complete  connection  between  Buffalo  and  Al- 
bany, the  same  year,  added  wings  to  the  building  of 
the  road  to  Syracuse,  which  was  opened  for  travel,  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  next  chapter,  in  the  year  1838. 

The  unusually  long  and  pleasant  Indian  summer  of 
1835,  so  favorably  remembered  by  our  citizens,  and  so 
propitious  for  the  ])ro3ecution  of  the  numerous  public 
works  then  under  way  in  the  town,  was  followed  by  a 
winter  that  opened  mildly,  and  was  at  iirst  accom- 
panied with  so  little  snow,  that  by  New  Year's  day, 
of  1836,  waiz;ons  were  in  general  use  in  lieu  of  sleii^^hs. 


202  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

But  the  montli  of  January,  of  tlie  latter  year,  was  as 
distinguislied  for  its  storms,  as  its  predecessors  for  their 
tranquillity.  On  Friday,  the  8th,  a  wet  snow  suddenly 
began  to  fall  in  dense,  large  flakes,  in  nearly  all  the 
Northern  States.  The  pent-up  storms  of  winter  seemed 
to  have  been  all  at  once  let  loose.  The  fleecy  element 
descended  in  dense  clouds,  without  cessation,  all  through 
Friday  night  and  Saturday,  filling  up  and  blockading 
all  the  roads,  and  burdening  the  roofs  of  the  villages 
till  they  groaned.  Baron  Munchausen  relates  that  he 
was  once  abroad  in  such  a  storm,  and  that  the  snow 
fell  in  such  vast  measure  that  he  passed  entirely  over 
the  city  to  which  he  was  bound,  in  the  dark,  and 
hitched  his  horse,  upon  losing  his  w^ay,  to  the  spire  of 
a  steeple  that  protruded  from  the  snow,  thinking  that 
it  was  a  horse-post.  Auburn  seemed  about  to  be 
buried  in  like  manner.  But  on  Sunday  the  storm 
abated,  with  four  feet  of  wet,  heavy  snow  on  the 
ground.  The  males  of  the  town  spent  a  large  part  of 
the  day  of  rest  on  the  house-tops.  The  roofs  generally 
"  gave  signs  of  woe,"  and  some  were  crushed  by  the 
masses  of  snow  that  had  accumulated  upon  them.  A 
perfect  embargo  upon  trade  and  travel  reigned  for 
days,  and  even  weeks.  The  stages  could  not  run  ;  the 
mails  could  only  be  sent  through  by  a  postman  ;  and 
such  citizens  of  the  town  and  the  country,  as  were  not 
60  fortunate  as  to  have  had  an  ample  supply  of  fuel  on 
hand  before  the  storm,  suffered  severely.     The  farm- 


ANNALS    OF    TUE    VILLAGE.  20^ 

ers,  shut  out  from  the  woods,  had  to  use  the  fuel  near- 
est to  them,  and  a  general  destruction  of  rail  and  board 
fences  was  the  consequence.  Baron  Munchausen 
further  relates,  in  continuation  of  his  account  of  the- 
extraordinary  snow-storm  mentioned  above,  having 
tied  his  horse  as  stated,  and  liimself  gone  to  sleep  in 
his  sleigh,  he  awoke  the  next  morning  to  find  that  a 
thaw  had  carried  off  all  the  snow  during  the  night,, 
leaving  him  and  his  establishment  dangling  in  mid  air,, 
while  the  populace  of  the  town  had  gathered  in  the 
streets  below,  and  were  gazing  at  his  extraordinary 
position.  Such  a  thaw  occurred  in  Kew  York,  in  the 
spring  of  1836.  The  vast  body  of  snow  that  covered  its 
surface  suddenly  melted,  about  the  N^ones  of  April, 
and  the  State  was  almost  inundated.  The  peaceful 
Owasco  raged  furiously  for  days.  Severe  damage  was 
inflicted  upon  hydraulic  w^orks  and  property.  Three 
dams  between  Genesee  Street  and  the  lake  were 
swept  away,  the  lower  story  of  the  mechanic's  hall  on 
Mechanic  Street  was  shattered,  and  the  old  wooden 
market  on  the  I^iorth-Street  bridge  was  undermined 
and  nearly  demolished.  The  canal  dam,  however,  re- 
mained sound. 

Among  the  numerous  projects  planned  in  Auburn, 
in  the  winter  of  1835,  was  one  for  the  establishment 
of  a  college  here,  under  the  auspices  and  control  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  proposition 
originated  at  a  meeting  of  the  Oneida  Conference  at 


204  HISTORY    OF    A'JIJUKN. 

Oswego,  ISeptember  25th,  1835.  Assuraiiccvs  of  wariri 
support  and  co-operation  in  the  luovemeiit  liaving 
been  received  from  several  eminent  declared  friends 
of  education  in  Auburn  and  other  places,  seven  of 
them,  namely,  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Seward,  Hon.  Nathaniel 
Garrow,  George  B.  Throop,  John  Seymour,  and  Rev. 
Zachariali  Paddock,  of  Auburn  ;  and  Rev.  George 
Peck  and  Rev.  Josiah  Keyes,  of  Cazenovia,  were  con- 
stituted a  committee  to  apply  to  the  Regents  of  the 
University  for  a  charter  for  the  college.  The  Genesee 
Conference,  on  the  14th  of  October,  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  co-operate,  namely :  Rev.  Samuel  Luckey, 
D.D.,  and  Augustus  A.  Bennett,  of  Lima ;  Rev.  Abner 
Chase,  of  Penn  Yan  ;  Rev.  John  B.  Alverson,  of 
Perry ;  Jonathan  Metcalf,  of  Seneca  Falls  ;  Dr.  Samuel 
Moore,  of  Palmyra ;  and  Dr.  O.  C.  Comstock,  of  Tru- 
mansburg.  The  commissioners  met  in  Auburn,  on 
the  23d  of  December,  for  counsel.  Messrs.  Garrow, 
Seward,  and  Throop  were  authorized  by  the  Board  to 
take  such  measures  as  they  might  deem  expedient, 
toward  obtaining  a  charter  from  the  Regents,  and  an 
endowment  from  the  Legislature.  It  being  delinitely 
proposed  to  erect  a  college  in  Auburn,  on  the  Dill 
farm,  on  the  north  side  of  Allen  Street,  a  few  rods 
east  of  Washington  Street,  which,  when  finished, 
would,  with  the  grounds,  cost  thirty  thousand  dollars, 
and  to  endow  the  same  with  fifty  thousand  dollars,  the 
Regents    readily  consented   to    charter    the   college, 


ANNALS    OF    THE  VILLAGK.  2t5 

when  l)ullt.  The  coiuniissioiiers,  therefore,  liaving^ 
matured  their  phiii!?,  invited  the  public  to  meet  them 
at  the  Methodist  church  in  Auburn,  August  25th. 
1836,  to  devise  means  to  carry  forward  tlie  work. 
Hon.  En  OS  T.  Throop  took  the  chair  at  tlie  meeting ; 
lion.  Ehjah  Millei",  IS^athaniel  Garrow,  Henry  Polhe- 
mus,  Hon.  Joseph  L.  Kichardson,  and  Isaac  L.  Miller 
were  elected  vlce-])residents ;  and  John  II.  Chedell 
and  Edward  E.  Marvine  w^ere  elected  secretaries. 
After  addresses  from  Gov.  Throop,  Mr.  Seward,  Geo. 
B.  Throop,  and  otliers,  subscriptions  Avere  asked  f<»r. 
and  eigliteen  tliousand  dollars  was  raised  on  the  spot. 
A  committee  aj^pointed  to  wait  on  the  citizens  of  the 
town,  and  request  their  aid  in  the  enterprise,  consisted 
of  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Seward,  John  H.  Chedell,  John  Dill, 
E.  E.  Marvine,  Hon.  John  Porter,  Dr.  Richard  Steel, 
Truman  J.  McMaster,  Clark  B.  Hotchkiss,  Bradley 
Tuttle,  Hiram  Bostwick,  Michael  S.  Myers,  Asaph  D. 
Leonard,  Nathaniel  (xarrow,  W.  S.  Palmer,  Amos 
Underwood,  and  Jolm  Seymour.  A  board  of  trustees 
was  organized  soon  afterward,  with  Mr.  (4.arro\v  as 
president,  and  Mr.  Seward,  secretary. 

The  Auburn  Ojllege  project  was  not  a  mere  myth, 
therefore,  as  some  have  supposed,  but  was  a  genuine 
undertaking,  which  was  begun  in  good  faith,  with 
every  prospect  of  success,  and  elicited  the  favor  and 
notice  of  some  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  the 
State.       Fortv    tliousjind     dollars    were    subscribed  to 


206  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

tlie  college  fund,  a  plan  for  the  college  buildings 
was  prepared,  a  site  of  ten  acres  was  donated,  and  all 
things  were,  in  the  winter  of  1836,  favorable  for  a  com- 
mencement of  the  work  of  building  in  the  spring. 
The  sad  embarrassments  of  1837,  however,  caused  the 
abandonment  of  the  enterprise,  though  it  was  with  re- 
luctant hearts  that  its  friends  finally  ceased  their 
<jfforts  to  prosecute  it  to  success. 

1836  was  the  most  memorable  year  in  the  annals  of 
the  village  of  Auburn.  No  year  ever  began  more  au- 
spiciously, or  terminated  more  joyfully,  or  was  regard- 
ed at  its  close  with  more  satisfaction  by  the  merchant, 
mechanic,  capitalist,  and  speculator.  It  was  a  period  of 
extraordinary  activity  in  every  department  of  business, 
and  of  visionary  speculation.  It  was  the  great  excited 
year  of  Auburn  history.  Real  estate  rose  to  five  and 
ten  times  its  former  value.  The  village  was  enlarged,  on 
paper,  to  the  bounds  of  the  township).  Lots  and  farms 
were  sold  at  fabulous  prices.  Costly  and  spacious  edi- 
fices were  erected  all  over  the  place,  and  new  and 
larger  ones  were  planned,  broad  boulevards  were  laid 
out  in  the  suburbs,  and  the  citizens  all  felt  rich,  and  all 
made  money  whether  they  bought  or  sold.  Under 
the  belief  that  the  village  was  soon  to  be  a  powerful 
manufacturing  town,  land  companies  were  formed,  and 
bought  up  all  the  outlying  lands  at  enormous  rates, 
and  public  works  were  projected  of  unprecedented 
magnitude.     The  trustees  of    the  corporation,  at  the 


ANNALS    OF    THE    VILLAGE.  207 

request  of  the  citizens,  caused  an  imposing  map  of 
the  town  to  be  engraved  and  printed,  displaying  at- 
tractive representations  of  the  Auburn  College,  the 
Prison,  the  Seminary,  and  other  public  buildings,  and 
of  numberless  broad  avenues  and  spacious  blocks  that 
one  may  now  searcli  Auburn  in  vain  to  find,  a  delinea- 
tion of  Eagle  Park,  as  it  was  intended  that  Fort  Hill 
should  in  the  future  be  known,  and  a  sketch  of  the 
beautiful  Owasco  Lake,  with  steamboats  floating  on  its 
placid  bosom,  and  numerous  vessels  passing  from  its 
surface  through  a  lock  into  a  great  canal. 


208  HIBTOKY    OF    AlBUKiN. 


CHAPTER  1\\ 

THK  GENERAL    PROGRESS    OF*  AUBURN    FROM    THE    TEVIE    OF 
THE  RANIC  TO  THE  PRESENT. 

1S37-1869. 

We  would  willingly  glance  once  more  at  the  liappy 
picture  presented  by  our  village  in  the  halcyon  days 
of  '36,  before  shouldering  our  burden  and  trudging 
down  the  dusty  and  crooked  road  of  our  history  to 
search  for  new^  scenes  and  new^  events.  We  shall  not 
again  see  our  people  so  joyous  and  elated,  nor  find 
a  year  wherein  so  much  w^as  planned  and  achieved 
for  the  public  good.  But  tlie  journey  is  long,  and  it 
is  not  our  purpose  to  linger  in  the  pleasant  places,  nor 
to  cull  many  flowers  by  the  w^ay,  but  rather  to  gather 
np  and  arrange  the  facts  wdiich  so  plentifully  bestrew 
our  course.     So  on  w^e  go  in  the  pursuit  of  facts. 

1836,  the  brightest  year  of  our  history,  saw,  upon 
its  closing  night,  the  streets  of  Auburn  illuminated  for 
the  first  time  wdtli  oil  lamps,  as  if  in  honor  of  its  de- 
parture. The  village  entered  peacefully  upon  anotlier 
year,  l^ever  were  its  people  more  prosperous  and 
contented,  never  were  tliere  so  few  among  them  that 
were  idle  or  needy,  never  was  the  future  more  inviting. 
Ambitious  citizens,  looking  through  the  vista  of  on- 


GE2JERAT.    PROGRESS.  209 

coming  years,  believed  tliat  they  saw  Auburn  at  no 
great  distance  a  miglitj  and  ^yealtlly  city,  spreading 
even  to  the  shores  of  the  Owasco,  and  2:litterinfr  with 
the  spires  of  magnificent  buildings,  among  which  was 
the  lofty  dome  of  the  Capitol.  But  already  was  that 
gathering  at  the  horizon,  which  sliould  reyerse  this 
picture.  Scarce  was  1S37  inaugurated,  before  a  finan- 
cial storm  of  unprecedented  severity  appeared  in  the 
sky,  and,  bursting,  swiftly  prostrated  the  prosperity  of 
Auburn,  yes,  and  of  the  State.  AVithout  the  ability 
to  stay  its  progress,  our  citizens  saw  the  storm  advance 
and  overtake  their  bright  schemes  one  by  one,  and 
leave  them  in  ruins.  In  the  ardor  of  enterprise  they 
had  laid  aside  the  clc^ak  of  caution,  and  were  unpre- 
pared for  the 'pw^&ig«.'^  'This  year  was,  therefore,  in 
Auburn,  a  period  of  business  reverses  and  calamities. 
But  misfortunes  are  gregarious ;  they  were  piloted  in 
the  present  case  by  a  conflagration. 

On  the  night  of  Saturday,  January  21st,  the  streets 
of  the  village  became  quiet  at  an  unusually  early  hour. 
It  was  bitterly  cold,  and  a  snow-storm  from  the  north- 
east was  raging  furiously.  A  deep  snow  covered  the 
ground.  Half  an  hour  before  midnight,  a  couple  of 
citizens,  making  their  way  through  the  storm  to  their 
lodgings,  discovered  a  strong  light  issuing  from  a  little 
wooden  building,  next  west  of  the  stone  hardware-store 
of  Hyde,  AVatrous  c^  Co.,  used  by  Xorman  Bennett  for 
the  sale  of  dry  goods.  Discovering  that  tlio  8h()[>  was 
12 


210  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

burning,  tlicy  gave  the  alarm.  The  bells  summoned  the 
citizens  of  the  town  and  the  fire  and  bucket  companies 
to  the  scene,  and  a  vigorous  attempt  was  made  to  arrest 
the  progress  of  the  fire.  The  intense  cold  prevented 
this.  The  water  in  the  hose  was  quickly  frozen,  and 
the  engines  rendered  useless ;  and  in  spite  of  the  best 
eflbrts  of  the  hook  and  ladder  men,  and  the  use  of  the 
buckets,  the  flames,  fanned  by  the  gale,  rolled  through 
the  wooden  row  west  of  the  starting-point  almost  as 
fast  as  a  man  could  walk.  In  three  hours,  fourteen 
buildings  were  in  ashes.  By  good  management,  the 
brick  stores  of  Steel  &  Groot,  and  Horace  Hills,  on 
the  corner  of  l^orth  Street,  w^ere  saved.  Those  con- 
sumed, in  order,  Avere  the  elegant  store  of  Hyde,  Wat- 
rous  &  Co.,  Norman  Bennett's  dry  goods  store,  Eras- 
tus  Pease's  shoe-shop,  H.  C.  Pease's  looking-glass  shop, 
.Maltbie  &  Camp's  wooden  dry  goods  store,  Daniel  F. 
'Cock's  comb  store,  Cooley  &  Kathbun's  brick  dry 
goods  store,  Munger  &  Perry's  dry  goods,  Benjamin 
Ashby's  grocery,  J.  S.  Bartlett  &  Co.'s  dry  goods,  T. 
M.  Hunt's  drug-store,  Upton,  Bennett  &  Co.'s  saddler- 
shop,  Bemis  &  Leonard's  restaurant,  and  D.  C.  Stew- 
art's dry  goods  store,  the  latter  being  demolished  with 
gunpowder  to  check  the  fire.  These  stores  were  foi" 
the  most  part  low  wooden  structures,  old,  and  highly 
inflammable ;  a  fire  among  which  would  have  been  diffi- 
cult to  control,  under  the  best  of  circumstances.  The 
glare  of  this'  conflagration  was  visible  nearly  twenty 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  211 

■miles.  The  heat  of  tlie  biirniiii:^  biiildinirs  was  intense, 
and  inflicted  considerable  damage  upon  tlie  Exchange 
block  across  the  way,  which  was  repeatedly  set  on  fire. 
The  total  losses  of  property  by  this  unfortunate 
event  were  estimated  at  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
The  inflammable  character  of  the  buildings  in  this  row, 
however,  having  long  before  excited  apprehension,  tlie 
merchants  occu])ying  them  had  generally  provided  for 
this  very  emergency  by  securing  large  amounts  of  in- 
surance both  on  their  wares  and  the  shops.  It  is  said 
that  a  few  of  the  store-keepers  were  gainers  by  the 
flre.  But  the  majovitysuff*ered  severely.  The  suspen- 
sion of  their  business,  with  their  losses,  and  the  ap- 
l^roach  of  hard  times  soon  afterwards,  was  a  stunning 
blow.  Few  were  able  to  sustain  their  misfortune,  and 
their  dejection  added  to  the  general  gloom  in  the  busi- 
ness circles  of  Auburn  during  the  ensuing  summer. 

This  flre  wa=;,  notwithstanding,  an  advantage  to 
Auburn.  It  was  time  that  the  north  side  of  Genesee 
Street  should  be  embellished  with  something  of  a 
higher  order  than  a  row  of  wooden  shops.  The  ob- 
])ortunity  was  now  afl'orded,  and  was  im]n*oved  with- 
out delay.  The  Arm  of  Hyde  &  Co.,  composed  of 
Joseph  B.  Hyde,  Jolm  L.  Watrous,  Albert  AValcott, 
Cyrus  C.  Dennis,  and  Thomas  M.  Hunt,  erected  at 
once  a  cut-stone  store-house  upon  the  old  foundations  ; 
and  Charles  Bemis,  "Monsieur  Jacob  Leonard,  and 
•^ohn     H.  n>cach     Ixv^inn    a    mairnificent    block,    four 


212  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBUKN. 

stories  in  heiglit,  in  tlie  western  part  of  the  burnt  dis- 
trict, the  moment  that  tlie  spring  opened.  The  west 
end  of  the  block  was  finished  in  Jul}-,  and  occupied  by 
its  energetic  proprietors  as  a  dining-hall  and  confec- 
tionary store.  The  rest  was  completed  soon  after- 
ward. The  whole  of  the  burnt  district  was  built  over 
in  a  very  few  years. 

The  premonitions  of  tlie  financial  storm  of  '37  were 
iirst  heard  upon  the  assembling  of  the  Legislature,  on  the 
first  Monday  of  January.  Most  of  the  Banks  in  ^le  State 
then  represented  to  that  body  that  they  w^ere  !in  distress 
by  reason  of  the  inability  of  their  customers  to  take  up 
their  discounted  paper ;  that  tliey  had  very  little 
specie  in  their  vaults,  and  were  unable  to  procure 
more,  from  the  fact  that  the  country  had  been  drained 
to  meet  balances  due  abroad  upon  an  excessive  import 
trade ;  and  that  they  could  not  redeem  their  bills  in 
specie  ;  and  they  requested  that  they  should  be  protected 
by  the  Legislature  in  suspending  specie  payments,  since 
they  would  otherwise  be  obliged  to  go  into  liquidation. 
The  extension  of  unlimited  credit  to  their  customers 
by  the  Banks,  and  by  all  dealers  in  merchandise, 
wholesale  and  retail,  had  been  a  characteristic  feature 
of  183(3.  This  disclosure  to  the  Legislature  informed  all 
debtors  that  they  had  nothing  more  to  expect  from  the 
Banks  ;  and  the  receipt  of  an  avalanche  of  lettei's  call- 
ing upon  them  for  payment  of  existing  indebtedness, 
apprised  them  that  the  day  of  reckoning  had  come. 


(GENERAL    PROGRESS.  !213 

On  tlie  lOtli  clay  of  May,  the  Banks  at  Albany  and 
New  York  suspended  specie  payments.  A  terrible 
panic  was  the  result.  Tlie  commotion,  not  confined 
to  the  great  cities,  was  immediately  felt  in  Auburn. 
Specie  vanished  from  circulation  in  a  moment.  It 
was  impossible  for  t!ie  Banks  here  to  withstand  a  pres- 
sure that  h'ld  mastered  the  monetary  institutions  of 
the  metropolis.  They  were  exceedin2;ly  distressed. 
They  accordingly  appealed  to  the  people  to  sustain 
them  in  following  the  example  of  the  Banks  in  New 
York.  The  trustees  of  the  corporation  met  at  their 
room  on  the  12th  to  consider  what  the  times  required 
them  to  do.  Ninety-six  merchants  and  business  men 
of  the  town  having  agreed  in  writing  to  receive  the 
bills  of  the  Auburn  Banks  at  par  at  their  stores,  the 
trustees  recommended  the  institutions  to  suspend  specie 
payments,  directing  that  their  bills  should  be  taken 
in  payment  of  all  village  taxes,  and  pledging  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  village  for  their  ultimate  redemp- 
tion. A  public  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  was  held 
at  the  town  hall,  the  same  day.  Eobert  Muir,  Pres- 
ident of  the  vQlage,  presided  ;  Stephen  A.  Goodwin 
was  secretary.  The  citizens  resolved  to  sustain  the 
Banks  of  the  place.  They  furthermore  appointed  a 
committee,  consisting  of  Nathaniel  Garrow,  Asaph  D. 
Leonard,  Warren  T.  Worden,  Ira  Hopkins,  and  Ste- 
phen A.  Goodwin,  to  impress  upon  the  Legislature  the 
necessity  of  restraining  the  Banks  of  the  State  from  issu- 


214  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

inir  one,  two,  and  three  dollar  notes,  and  to  ask  lenien- 
cy  for  tlie  action  of  the  Banks  here  in  suspending  re- 
demption of  their  bills  in  specie.  The  committee  was 
successful  in  its  eiforts.  Suspension  was  granted  for 
one  year. 

The  banking  institutions  of  Auburn  were  aided  in  a 
measure  by  this  action,  but  not  materially  the  people. 
During  the  month  of  May,  the  latter  found  themselves 
almost  entirely  deprived  of  any  circulating  medium  of 
a  denomination  less  than  live  dollars.  The  dearth  of 
the  means  of  making  small  change  closed  the  door,  for 
a  time,  upon  all  sorts  of  small  dealing  in  family  sup- 
plies, store  trade,  and  the  employment  of  wood-chop- 
pers and  day-laborers.  Wide-spread  sufiering  in  the 
village,  among  all  classes,  was  the  consequence.  Busi- 
ness w^as  almost  suspended.  The  trustees  found  them- 
selves, in  this  emergency,  impelled  to  provide  some 
remedy  for  the  popular  distress.  They  accordingly 
authorized  the  immediate  issue  of  eight  thousand  dol- 
lars in  checks  or  notes  of  the  size  of  one,  two,  and  three 
dollars,  and  sent  them  into  circulation  from  the  stores 
of  Robert  Muir,  Henry  Ivison,  Jr.,  and  Nehemiah  D. 
Oarhart,  retaining  the  funds  arising  from  their  sale  ex- 
pressly for  their  redemption.  Following  the  example  of 
other  companies,  the  Auburn  and  Syracuse  Railroad 
Company  ventured  at  the  same  time  to  issue  twenty 
thousand  dollars  in  checks,  on  its  own  treasurer,  of  de- 
nominations varying  between  twenty  cents  and  one  dol- 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  215 

lar,  with  tlie  assurance  that  the  merchants  of  Aubnrn 
would  receive  them  at  a  slight  discount  for  supplies ; 
and  paid  off  the  construction  hands  with  them  in  lieu  ot 
money.  Like  the  same  forms  of  currency  issued  in 
colonial  times,  these  checks  Avere  called  "  shinplasters." 
They  passed  readily  in  the  town  for  change.  The 
stringency  of  the  money  market  induced  an  issue  of 
shinplasters  from  many  other  parties,  on  their  private 
accounts.  During  the  summer,  Emanuel  D.  Hudson, 
then  a  contractor  for  furnishing  rations  to  convicts  in 
the  prison,  found  it  necessary  to  resort  to  an  issue  of 
checks  to  carry  on  his  business.  To  give  them  credit 
he  put  them  in  the  form  of  promissory  notes,  payable 
in  specie  on  demand,  when  presented  in  sums  of  five 
dollars  or  over,  at  his  office  on  Genesee  Street ;  and  he 
indicated  his  ability  to  pay  specie  for  them,  by  procur- 
ing five  hundred  dollars  worth  of  coin,  and  keeping  it 
well  ^displayed  in  his  front  window.  lie  issued  ten 
thousand  dollars  of  this  paper,  which  was  always  re- 
deemed in  gold  and  silver,  when  demanded,  and  had 
in  consequence  most  excellent  credit,  not  only  here, 
but  in  the  country  far  around.  The  Auburn  Paper 
Mill  Company,  also,  and  Asaph  D.  Leonard  &  Co., 
Charles  Coventry  &  Co.,  and  other  leading  milling  and 
business  houses,  imitated  the  example,  and  issued  simi- 
lar notes.  It  was  estimated  that  during  the  summer  of 
1837,  four-fifths  of  tlie  circulating  medium  in  xVuburn, 
then  amounting  to  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  con- 


216  HISTOKY    OF    AUBUKN. 

sisted  of  sliinplasters,  about  one-fourtli  of  wliieli  was  in 
time  lost  or  worn  out,  and  the  rest  faithfully  redeemed. 

The  long  continued  pressure  of  the  times  in  Auburn, 
and  the  scarcity  of  money,  resulted  in  a  ruinous  depre- 
ciation of  property.  A  part  at  least  of  the  pros})eritjr 
of  Auburn  was  fictitious.  The  gentlemen  who  had 
invested  their  fortunes  so  largely  in  real  estate,  at  high 
prices,  were  the  first  to  feel  the  severity  of  the  panic. 
Their  property  gradually  lost  its  value,  till,  in  many  in- 
stances, it  would  bring  no  more  than  one-sixth  of  what 
it  had  been  bought  for  twelve  months  before.  The 
reaction  left  capitalists  helpless  to  save  their  invest- 
ments. All  lost  large  sums  of  money,  and  many  made 
deplorable  failures.  JJusiness  was  checked  in  all  its 
departments.  A  general  reduction  of  expenses  by  the 
citizens  followed,  and  threw  large  numbers  of  work- 
men and  meclianics  out  of  employment,  and  suffered 
the  distress  of  the  times  to  fall  heavily  upon  all  the  in- 
dustrial classes. 

These  occurrences  gave  the  death-blow  to  enterprise 
in  Auburn.  All  schemes  requii'ing  the  outlay  of  large 
sums  of  money  became,  in  the  summer  of  1S3T,  business 
impossibilities.  The  leaders  in  the  generous  move- 
ments for  new  avenues,  boulevards,  and  parks,  in  the 
Auburn  College  project,  in  the  matter  of  canal  navi- 
gation to  the  Susquehanna,  and  in  a  scheme  for  erect- 
ing certain  woolen  and  fiouring  mills  on  the  outlet, 
became  deeply  involved  in  tlie  general  embarrassment ; 


GENERAL    PK0GKE6S.  217 

and  though  they  struggled  liard  to  maintain  them- 
selves, tliey  were  forced  to  give  up  all  of  these  enter- 
prises, except  the  railroad,  and  attend  to  extricating 
themselves  from  their  business  complications.  The 
formation  of  two  ])rojected  railroad  companies,  one  to 
connect  Auburn  with  Sodus  Bay,  and  the  other  to 
build  a  road  to  Ithaca,  was  abandoned  as  hopeless.  A 
company,  known  as  the  Auburn  Hydraulic  Associa- 
tion, composed  of  JSTathaniel  Garrow,  Dr.  Ricliard 
Steel,  John  Seymour,  George  B.  Throop,  and  their 
associates,  which  had  been  incorporated  for  the  pur- 
pose of  constructing  a  canal  from  Barber's  dam  west- 
ward, along  the  south  bank  of  the  outlet,  to  the  cotton 
mill,  for  hydraulic  purposes  and  to  work  a  stone 
quaiTy,  unable  to  proceed,  was  also  abandoned.  It  is 
not  necessary  to  enter  more  minutely  into  the  effects 
of  the  panic  in  xluburn,  to  show  the  fearful  reaction 
in  every  circle,  and  the  sudden  stop  to  which  every 
enterprise  was  brought  in  1837.  The  town  was  pros- 
trated ;  and  for  the  next  five  years  received  scarce  an 
accession  to  its  population  in  any  other  manner  than 
by  births.  It  was  quite  apparent  that  the  visions  of 
many  of  our  sanguine  citizens,  expressed  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  big-dam  celebration,  were  not  to  be  real- 
ized. 

The  town  hall  was  finished  in  ISoT,  at  a  cost  ot 
thirty  thousand  dollars.  By  ordinances  adopted  June 
15th,  all  the  butchers  of  the  village  were  required  to 


218  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

rent  stalls  in  the  lower  story  of  this  building,  and  ex- 
pose their  meats  for  sale  tliere.  Vegetable  wagons 
were  required  to  rendezvous  on  the  sides  of  the  square 
in  front  of  the  town  hall,  until  nine  o'clock  A.  M. 
A  village  officer,  styled  the  clerk  of  the  market,  was  ap- 
pointed to  enforce  the  market  laws  and  bring  suits  for 
their  non-observance.  The  market  system  continued 
in  force  in  Auburn  till  1845,  when  John  E.  Patten 
having  with  great  boldness  opened  a  market  in  another 
place  in  the  village,  a  question  arose  as  to  the  sound- 
ness of  the  town  ordinances  on  this  subject.  In  a  law- 
suit bi'ought  by  the  trustees  against  Mr.  Patten,  the 
courts  declared  these  ordinances  invalid,  and  the 
butchers  soon  afterward  left  the  market,  which  was 
then  for  several  years  unused,  except  occasionally  for 
the  packing  of  pork.  The  stalls  were  subsequently  re- 
moved, and  the  building  fitted  up  for  a  school. 

One  pleasant  day  during  the  summer  of  1837,  our 
community  was  painfully  excited  by  the  rumors  of  a 
distressing  accident  at  Owasco  Lake.  It  was  Satur- 
day, the  24tli  of  June.  Four  students  at  the  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  Hannibal  Smith,  of  Johnson,  "Wm.  P. 
Tuttle,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  Wm.  Woodbridge,  of  Stock- 
bridge,  Mass.,  and  Simeon  S.  Johnson,  of  Monroe 
County,  N.  Y.,  had  gone  out  with  a  lad  of  fifteen,  a 
son  of  II.  C.  Witherell,  for  a  sail.  They  were  floating 
upon  the  tranquil  bosom  of  the  lake,  about  half  a  mile 
from  the  shore,  when  they  were  suddenly  capsized  by 


GENERAL    PK0GRES8.  21^ 

a  white  squall,  and  all  sank  immediately  to  the  bot- 
tom, except  young  "Witherell,  who,  supported  by  au 
oar  and  the  rudder,  managed  to  reach  the  land  in 
safety.  Word  of  the  event  was  conveyed  at  once  ti> 
Auburn.  The  students  were  well  known  and  univer- 
sally respected.  A  large  number  of  citizens  set  out 
for  the  lake,  therefore,  without  delay,  and  began  a 
search  for  the  bodies,  which  was  not  remitted  till  the 
following  Saturday.  All  were  buried  at  the  North 
Street  cemetery,  on  the  2d  of  July.  The  address  of 
Dr.  Samuel  H.  Cox  on  this  occasion  is  still  remem- 
bered as  one  of  the  most  solemn  and  impressive  dis- 
courses ever  delivered  in  Auburn. 

June  of  1837  witnessed  the  opening  of  two  water- 
cure  establishments  near  this  village ;  one  on  the  farm 
of  oSTelson  Yan  Xess,  on  the  road  to  Cayuga,  and  four 
miles  west  of  Auburn,  and  the  other  on  the  property 
of  Isaac  Selover  and  David  Sears,  about  a  mile  north- 
east of  the  prison ;  as  well  as  the  opening  of  the  Au- 
burn Female  Seminary,  under  the  charge  of  E.  ITos- 
mer,  Esq.,  and  Lady,  on  the  corner  of  Genesee  and 
Washington  Streets.  The  latter  institution  drew  a 
large  attendance  from  the  first,  beginning  with  an 
hundred  and  forty  students.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1849. 

A  Presbyterian  convention,  called  in  consequence  of 
certain  acts  of  the  previous  General  Assembly  at  Phila- 
delphia, exscinding  the  Synods  of  Utica,  Geneva,  and 


^20  illSTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

Oenesee,  in  New  York,  and  Western  Eeserve,  in  Ohio, 
met  at  the  Preshyterian  Clmrch  in  Auburn,  Thursday, 
August  17th,  1837.  Present  were  representatives 
ii-om  the  districts  named,  and  others  symipathizing,  to 
the  number  of  about  two  hundred.  Dr.  Pichards,  of 
the  Seminary,  was  President  of  the  convention.  The 
Vice-Presidents  were  the  Rev.  I.  II.  Hotchkin  and  Dr. 
Penny ;  and  B.  C.  Johnson  and  Henry  Brown,  Esqs., 
Rev.  E,  T.  Edwards,  of  Rochester,  and  E.  W.  Chester, 
Esq.,  of  Cincinnati,  were  secretaries.  The  convention 
sat  by  adjournment  till  Monday,  and  adjourned  pre- 
cisely at  four  o'clock  P.  M.,  after  singing  the  137th 
Psalm.  A  Committee  of  Correspondence  was  created, 
with  Dr.  Richards  for  chairman,  to  act  till  the  next  ses- 
sion of  the  General  Assembly.  There  was  little  or  no 
superfluous  oratory  in  the  convention.  Everything 
spoken  was  an  arrow  shot  straight  to  the  mark.  Sev- 
eral discourses  came  from  divines  of  great  celebrity, 
such  as  Drs.  Beecher,  McAuley,  Hillyer,  Patton,  and 
Peters,  and  were  admirable  for  their  moderation,  lu- 
cidness,  and  eloquence. 

Business  and  travel  upon  the  railroad  to  Syracuse 
began  on  the  8th  of  January,  1838,  the  line  having 
then  been  finished  to  the  Erie  Canal,  a  distance  of 
twenty-three  miles  from  Auburn,  and  within  two  miles 
of  the  present  terminus.  The  freight  depot  was,  a 
year  or  two  later,  erected  upon  a  lot  donated  for  the 
purpose  by  Allen  Warden.     It  is  the  same  building 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  221 

now  used  by  Ed.  R.  Richardson  for  livery  purposes. 
The  track  between  the  two  depots,  wliich  was  hiid  in 
opposition  to  the  wishes  of  the  officers  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  ran  through  Garden  and  FrankHn 
Streets,  and  was  in  after  years  abandoned  and  taken 
up,  by  reason  uf  the  difficulty  of  rounding  its  sharp 
corner  with  loaded  cars.  The  present  passenger  and 
freight  depot  was  erected  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  roads  to  Rochester  and  to  Syracuse,  in  1841.  It 
was  once  proposed  to  build  the  depot  on  the  site  of 
the  old  Cohnubian  Garden.  The  church  opposite  de- 
feated this. 

The  first  excursion  train  to  Sja-acuse  left  Auburn 
on  January  the  Sth  before  mentioned.  It  was  drawn 
by  horses  nnder  a  contract  with  the  energetic  Colonel 
John  M.  Sherwood.  The  second  party  of  excursion- 
ists visited  Syracuse  June  Irth,  1839,  to  celebrate  the 
completion  of  the  road  the  whole  distance.  This  time 
the  trip  was  made  with  an  engine.  After  the  exchange 
of  preliminary  courtesies,  the  railroad  went  into  op- 
eration, and  met  with  a  degree  of  success  that  put  its 
old  adversaries  to  shame,  and  changed  their  opposition 
to  admiration.  It  was  in  fact  impossible  to  withhold 
wonder  of  the  things  accomplished  by  the  talent  and 
spirit  of  the  officers  of  the  railroad  company.  The 
impediments  that  tliey  had  overcome  in  laying  the 
road,  in  paying  their  workmen  (hiring  the  hard  times, 
in  removing  tlie  increduh'tv  of  tlic  public,  and  in  sur- 


t322  HISTORY   OF    AUBURN. 

mounting  the  embarrassments  of  inexperience,  were 
prodigious.  Some  of  these  were  unexpected,  and 
found  the  officers  unprepared.  But  the  raih^oad  men 
had  faith  and  resolution.  They  clearly  perceived  that 
the  original  idea  of  a  direct  road  from  Syracuse  to 
Rochester  would  be  a  distressing  calamity  to  this  town. 
Spurred  by  the  consciousness  that  the  sah^ation  of 
Auburn  depended  in  this  crisis  upon  the  spirit  of  her 
own  citizens,  they  clung  to  their  enterprise,  urged  it 
forward,  and  advocated  it  wdth  a  determination  that 
gained  the  road,  forced  the  people  of  Rochester  to  lay 
another — which  was  opened  November  4th,  1841 — 
between  that  place  and  this  to  secure  a  connection, 
and  wrought  the  happiest  results  in  reviving  the  busi- 
ness and  activity  of  the  place.  The  direct  road  was 
indeed  constructed  in  1850,  but  the  main  point  had  been 
gained,  and  the  new  line  was  then  of  no  small  benefit 
to  Auburn,  since  it  relieved  tlie  village  of  the  roar  of 
heavy  trains  that  were  merely  passing  through  without 
adding  a  jot  to  the  business  or  wealth  of  our  citizens. 
During  the  summer  and  winte:*  of  1838,  the  manage- 
ment of  the  prison  at  Auburn  arrested  public  attention. 
A  necessity  for  increased  discipline  in  this  institution 
had  led  to  the  appointment  of  a  veteran  of  the  war  of 
1812,  named  Captain  Elam  Lynds,  as  agent,  who,  in 
accordance  with  certain  notions,  peculiar  to  himself, 
had  changed  the  table  system  of  feeding  the  convicts 
to  that  of  eatino^  stinted  rations  in  their  cells,  without 


I 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  223 

knife  or  fork.  This  practice,  it  was  observed,  forced 
many  toothless  and  feeble  old  men  to  eat  their  food  in 
an  unnatural  manner,  and  in  a  state  unfit  for  digestion. 
The  privations  of  this  system  made  the  convicts  dis- 
orderly, and  rendered  the  free  use  of  the  lash  necessary 
to  enforce  the  rules  of  the  shops.  The  keepers  used 
this  merciless  correction  to  an  undue  extent.  The 
honest  sympathy  of  the  citizens  was  aroused.  Ilealtli 
and  humanity  declared  against  the  brutal  treatment 
of  the  convicts.  Petitions,  signed  by  eight  hundred 
persons,  were  laid  before  the  inspectors  of  the  ])rison 
at  their  stated  meeting  in  January,  1839,  requesting 
the  dismissal  of  the  agent.  These  petitions  were 
refused.  The  excitement  was  heightened  thereby. 
The  grand  jury  took  the  matter  in  hand,  and  indicted 
the  agent  of  the  prison  for  violently  and  inhumanly 
"  beating,  bruising,  wounding,  and  ill-treating"  the 
prisoners,  and  for  ''  causing  to  be  withheld  from  the 
convicts  a  quantity  of  food  necessary  to  their  healtli  and 
comfort."  The  indictment  was  quashed,  but  the  public 
mind  was  still  disturbed.  Two  public  meetings  were 
held  in  Auburn  to  devise  a  remedy  for  the  evils  in 
view.  l)Oth  passed  censorious  resolutions,  but  the  in- 
spectors chose  to  regard  them  as  political  merely,  and 
so  disregarded  them.  At  length  an  affair  occurred 
that  roused  tlie  community  to  a  dangerous  state  of 
exasperation.  A  convict,  by  the  name  of  Louis  Von 
Eck,  a  (rernian  pliysician,  wlio  had  ])!M'n  scnteiiccil  W^r 


22^:  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

forgeiy,  had  for  some  time  been  afflicted  with  a  disease 
of  the  kings,  and,  on  the  8th  of  April,  he  suddenly  ex- 
pired upon  a  bed  in  the  prison  hospital,  under  circum- 
stances that  seemed  to  require  legal  investigation.  A 
coroner's  jury  was  summoned  to  examine  the  case.  It 
then  became  known  that  Yon  Eck  had  been  the  victim 
of  repeated  floggings,  administered!  on  account  of  his 
complaints  of  sickness  and  inability  to  work,  nnder  the 
pretence  that  he  was  shamming ;  and  that  the  fatal 
termination  of  his  malady  had  been  hastened  by 
neglect  and  general  harsh  treatment.  These  facts 
created  a  violent  commotion  in  Auburn.  The  people 
were  indignant,  and  righteously ;  though  it  is  but 
justice  to  say,  that  the  intense  feeling  they  manifested 
against  the  officers  of  the  prison  was  unduly  heightened 
by  the  efforts  of  politicians,  who  were  w^orking  to  de- 
throne those  officers  for  party  ends. 

Whatever  the  cause  of  the  feeling,  the  people  were 
irresistible,  and  the  agent  and  two  inspectors  of  the 
prison  found  it  necessary  to  resign,  in  order  to  restore 
tranquillity.  Plon.  Joseph  L.  Richardson,  Seneca  B. 
Dennis,  Freeborn  ur.  Jewett,  Joshua  Iloskins,  and  Ho- 
ratio G.  Yan  Dusen,  then  composed  the  board.  The 
first  two  resigned,  and  Henry  Polhemus  and  Robert 
Cook  were  appointed  in  their  stead.  Dr.  ]N"oyes 
Palmer  was  appointed  agent  on  the  9tli  of  May,  1839. 
The  table  svstem  of  eating  w^as  then  resumed  in  the 
prison,  and  the  community  was  appeased. 


GEN]  HAL    PROGRESS.  225 

This  struggle,  however,  between  prison  discipline 
and  the  public,  infused  into  the  political  cani[)iiign  of 
the  fall  of  1S3S,  in  this  country,  an  unparalleled  bit- 
terness of  party  feeling,  and  created  the  necessity  of  a 
temporary  weekly  newspaper,  entitled  The  Corrector^ 
to  defend  the  prison  authorities.  The  Chronicles^  of 
the  prison,  ''  by  Ezra  the  Scrilje,''  an  anonymous 
periodical,  was  published  about  the  same  time  by  op- 
ponents of  a  severe  prison  system.  The  disturbance 
seems  to  have  been  comparatively  local,  but  it  lost  the 
election  for  the  Democratic  party  of  Cayuga  County. 

The  part  borne  by  the  people  of  Auburn  in  the 
Patriot  War  cannot  be  passed  by  in  silence.  The  Par- 
liaments of  both  the  Canadas  having  for  several  years 
disagreed  with  their  respective  Lieutenant-Governors 
on  vital  questions  of  reform,  which  there  at  last  seemed 
to  be  no  peaceable  way  to  settle,  a  revolutionary  pro- 
vincial convention  had  assembled  in  Toronto,  under 
the  lead  of  W.  L.  Mackenzie,  an  editor  of  that  city, 
Van  Egmont,  of  Kingston,  and  others,  and  had  put 
forth  an  address,  calling  upon  the  people  of  Canada  to 
rise,  and  remove  those  who  oppressed  the  country. 
The  convention  proposed  to  organize  a  new  and  more 
economical  government,  and  generally  ''  to  make 
crooked  paths  straight,  and  rough  places  plain.''  Mack- 
enzie proceeded  to  do  this  by  gathering  a  large  military 
force  in  the  provinces,  with  which  he  made  a  demonstra- 
tion on  Toronto  on  the  4th-7t]i  of  December,  1  s;^,7.  He- 
13 


226  HISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

ing  unexpectedly  discomfited,  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  to  raise,  if  possible,  a  force  sufiicient  to  compel  a 
submission  to  the  matters  complained  of  by  the  provincial 
convention.  In.  the  event  of  a  contumacious  refusal,  he 
proposed  to  subvert  the  Canadian  government.  He 
traversed  the  border  country,  all  the  way  from  Detroit  to 
St.  Albans,  appealing  in  various  ways  to  the  patriotic 
sympathies  of  the  American  people,  and  pointing  to 
numerous  insurrections  in  the  great  cities  of  the  Cana- 
das,  as  evidence  that  the  people  there  would  spring  to 
arms  the  moment  they  descried  the  approach  of  auxili- 
ary aid  from  the  States.  Mackenzie,  while  on  this 
j  ourney,  stopped  at  Auburn.  Making  the  acquaintance 
of  Colonel  John  Richardson,  Ebenezer  B.  Cobb,  Major 
Royal  P.  Stone,  Captain  John  T.  Baker,  Colonel 
Joshua  Ward,  Captain  Lawrence  White,  E.  Price  Sen- 
ter,  Thomas  F.  Monroe,  Asa  Priest,  Oliver  Lawton, 
Bemis  Woodbury,  Sidney  Somerick,  Gardener  Stone, 
and  H.  N.  Thompson,  he  induced  them,  with  about 
seven  hundred  others,  to  organize  a  lodge  here  of  patri- 
ots, self-styled  "  Reubens,"  pledged  to  come  to  the  as- 
sistance of  the  Canadians,  in  case  they  obtained  no  re- 
dress from  their  government  for  their  grievances. 
The  organization  was  a  secret  one.  Colonel  Ward  was 
the  first  presiding  officer.  Meetings  were  held  in  the 
upper  rooms  of  the  building  then  kept  by  Bemis  & 
Leonard  as  an  inn,  the  same  now  owned  by  Elmore 
P.  Ross,  and  kept  by  Solomon  IST,  Chappel.     Mackenzie 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  227 

brought  with  him,  for  adoption,  a  provisional  constitu- 
tion for  a  republican  government,  to  be  set  up  in 
Canada  in  the  event  of  a  successful  revolution.  The 
lodge  at  his  request  adopted  this  document,  and,  in 
March,  1838,  elected  Thomas  F.  Monroe  Member  of 
Congress,  to  represent  its  members  in  any  meeting 
of  the  provisional  Congress.  Mr.  Monroe  met  with 
that  body  soon  afterward,  in  a  session  held  in  Cleve- 
land. 

The  summer  of  1838  was  improved  by  the  lodges 
of  this  State  along  the  border,  in  effecting  a  military 
organization,  with  General  Von  Shoultz,  a  Polish  offi- 
cer, then  residing  at  Salina,  Onondaga  County,  for 
commander-in-chief;  Colonels  AYard,  Sutherland, 
Birgs,  Pierce,  and  Bill  Johnson,  were  commandants 
of  regiments.  A  rising  in  Canada  apprised  General 
Von  Shoultz  that  the  favorable  moment  had  arrived. 
He  accordingly  issued  orders  to  the  forces  within  his 
command,  to  assemble  at  Cape  Vincent  and  other 
points  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  on  the  Tth  day  of 
November,  which  was  tlie  third  day  of  the  annual  State 
election.  This  allowed  the  men  to  vote  before  leav- 
ing their  homes.  On  the  day  appointed.  Colonel 
Ward,  with  between  thirty  and  forty  members  of  the 
Heuben  lodge,  joined  a  large  body  of  Patriots  in  Os- 
wego, and  took  passage  with  them  in  two  lake  schoon- 
ers, both  bearing  the  name  of  Charlotte,  and  distin- 
guished  as   the   big  and  little,  to  Miller's   r>ay,  where 


228  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

• 

they  were  overtaken  by  Captains  Baker,  and  White,, 
from  Anbnrn,  and  numerons  others. 

On  Sunday,  the  10th  of  ]S"ovember,  this  party  re- 
ceived orders  from  the  commander  for  a  stealthy  as- 
sault that  night  on  the  Canadian  town  of  Prescott, 
which  Yon  Shoultz  had  been  assured  he  could  capture 
without  discovery  or  resistance.  The  order  was  re- 
sponded to  promptly,  and  the  Patriots,  in  tow  of  the 
steamer  United  'States,  proceeded  toward  Prescott, 
and  gained  the  wharf  in  perfect  silence.  But  as  the 
party  was  about  to  land,  an  alarm  gun  was  fired,  from 
which  Yon  Shoultz  perceived  that  the  movement  was 
discovered.  Withdrawing  his  transports,  therefore,' he 
dropped  down  to  Windmill  Point,  a  few  miles  be- 
low, and  landed  with  the  forces  on  the  little  Charlotte. 

The  big  Charlotte  ran  aground  at  this  critical  pe- 
riod, and  being  menaced  next  day  by  the  British  war 
steamer,  Exjperiment,  was  in  a  position  of  imminent 
danger.  The  United  States  tried  to  tow  the  schooner 
off,  but  the  tow-rope  broke  and  the  effort  failed.  The 
steamer  than  turned  upon  the  Experiment,  wdiich 
was  beginning  to  make  the  situation  uncomfortable  by 
a  vigorous  cannonade,  and  assayed  to  run  that  craft 
down,  and  would  have  done  so  had  not  a  cannon-ball 
from  the  latter  carried  away  her  pilot's  head,  and  forced 
her  to  run  ashore  at  Ogdensburg.  Tiie^  Paid  Pry  Xhen. 
made  an  effort  to  take  the  men  off  the  stranded 
schooner,  but  was  obliged  to  retire,  leaving  five  men 


genp:kal  pkogkesp.  229 

still  on  tlie  l)ig  Charlotte^  amonii;;  whom  were  CV>loiiel 
Ward,  E.  P.  Senter,  and  Sidney  Sonierick.  The  Ej:- 
periment  then  approached  the  schooner,  pouring  in  as 
she  advanced  a  hot  fire  of  grape  and  solid  shot,  which 
was  returned  with  musketry,  and  with  one  shot  from 
an  iron  six-pounder,  the  only  piece  of  ordnance  the 
schooner  carried.  That  shot  disabled  eleven  British 
soldiers.  The  Kqyerhnent  lied,  while  the  Charlotte^ 
loosened  by  the  jar,  quickly  joined  the  Patriot  forces 
at  Ogdensburg. 

A  body  of  about  two  hundred  men,  among  whom 
were  E.  Price  Senter,  Oliver  Lawton,  Asa  Priest,  and 
Bemis  Woodbury,  now  gathered  at  Windmill  Point, 
in  the  stone  mill,  and  in  another  stone  building  ad- 
jacent, and  waited  for  the  promised  uprising  of  the 
Canadians.  On  Tuesday,  the  position  was  assaulted 
by  an  overwhelming  force  of  Canadian  militia  and  reg- 
ulars ;  and  after  valiantly  defending  themselves  for 
several  hours,  and  killing  and  wounding  upwards  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  royalists,  the  Patriots  were 
compelled  to  surrender,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-six 
of  their  number  were  sent  to  Kingston,  for  trial  by 
court  martial.  The  four  Auburn  men  were  among 
the  prisoners.  Lawton  was  wounded.  The  rest  of 
the  Aul)urn  party  received  a  visit  soon  afterward 
from  Nathaniel  Garrow,  V.  S.  Marshal,  who  came 
down  from  Cape  Yincent  with  Colonel  Worth  of  the 
IT.  S.  Army,  and  Ji  (company  of  regulars.     Some  of  the 


230  HISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

Patriots  were  brought,  and  the  rest  induced,  to  return; 
home. 

This  ended  both  the  movement  against  Canada  from 
the  northern  frontier,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  Au- 
burn lodge.  The  prisoners  taken  at  Windmill  Point 
were  all  subsequently  tried  by  court  martial,  con- 
victed, and  sentenced  to  suffer  death.  But  after  the 
lapse  of  five  or  six  months,  and  at  the  request  of  Hon. 
William  H.  Seward,  then  Governor  of  the  State,  who 
made  an  appeal  to  the  clemency  of  the  royal  govern- 
ment in  their  behalf,  Senter  and  Lawton  were  par- 
doned, and  permitted  to  return  home,  while  the  sen- 
tences of  Woodbury  and  Priest  were  commuted  to 
banishment  for  twenty-five  years.  The  last  named 
died  on  shipboard  on  his  w^ay  to  Yan  Dieman's  Land. 
Woodbury  suffered  the  full  term  of  his  exile,  and  re- 
turned to  Cayuga  County  in  good  health  about  five 
years  ago. 

During  the  summer  following  these  events,  the 
Whigs  of  Auburn  were  thrown  one  day  into  an  extra- 
ordinary flutter,  by  rumors  of  the  approach  of  the  dis- 
tinguished statesman,  Henry  Clay.  The  eloquent 
Senator  was  then  making  a  tour  through  the  United 
States,  and  his  course  was  leading  him  toward  this 
village.  Preparations  for  his  entertainment  w^ere 
therefore  made  by  his  political  admirers,  a  large  dele- 
gation of  whom,  on  horseback  and  in  carriages,  was. 
sent  to  the  county  'line  at  Cayuga  bridge  to  greet  him. 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  231 

He  arrived  in  Auburn  July  20tli,  1839.  About  two 
thousand  of  the  lionest  yeomanry  of  the  county  -svere 
assembled  to  welcome  the  great  orator,  and  their 
hearty  hurrahs  must  have  convinced  him  of  their 
genuine  gratification.  Mr.  Clay  was  formally  received 
at  the  American  Hotel,  upon  a  little  platform  erected 
for  the  purpose,  by  Parliament  Bronson,  Esq.,  in  behalf 
of  the  citizens.  Mr.  Bronson  made  the  following 
address : 

"  Sm :  I  have  accepted  from  the  people  of  this  vilhige  the  grate- 
ful office  of  tendering  to  you,  in  their  behalf,  the  hospitalities  of  the 
place.  The  prominence  of  your  public  life,  for  the  last  thirty 
years,  has  rendered  your  name  familiar  to  all.  Your  principles 
of  public  policy  have  been  drawn  from  the  spirit  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, and  aim  at  the  'greatest  good  of  the  greatest  number.'  In 
advocating  and  defending  those  principles  through  all  the  vicissi- 
tudes of  hope  and  fear,  of  light  and  of  gloom,  you  have  exhibited 
a  perseverance  which  never  despaired  of  the  republic,  and  an 
ability  which  has  won  the  admiration  of  all.  Most  of  all.  Sir, 
have  we  admired  that  frank  and  fearless  independence,  that  un- 
bending integrity,  which  have  led  you,  under  all  circumstances, 
and  above  all  disguises,  boldly  to  maintain  the  convictions  of  your 
own  judgment,  regardless,  apparently,  of  all  personal  conse- 
quences to  yourself,  with  a  single  eye  to  your  country's  good. 
This  it  is  that  constitutes  the  patriot.  In  another  aspect.  Sir, 
you  have  merited,  in  a  pre-eminent  degree,  the  gratitude  of  your 
country.  More  than  once,  when  conflicting  interests  and  con- 
tendmg  passions  have  threatened  the  Union  with  disruption,  and 
brought  the  nation  seemingly  to  the  verge  of  fatal  convulsions, 
your  happy  influence  has  interposed,  and  calmed  the  raging  ele- 
ments, and  restored  the  wonted  blessings  of  peace  and  harmony. 
It  is  pleasing  to  render  the  homage  of  grateful  hearts  to  merit  so 


232  IlISTOKY    OF    AUBUKX. 

illustrious,  and  to  patriotism  so  pure  and  exalted.  Sir,  we  bid 
you  a  cordial  welcome  to  this  village.  We  welcome  you  as  the 
distinguished  friend  and  advocate  of  a  liberal  policy,  and  of  pro- 
tection to  the  cardinal  interests  of  the  country.  We  greet  you  as 
the  patriot  and  statesman,  wliom  mankind  have  delighted  to 
honor,  and  may  j'ou  long  continue  to  enjoy  that  well-earned 
fame,  alone  desirable,  which  'follows  the  pursuit  of  noble  ends 
by  noble  means.' 

"  Allow  me,  now,  Sir,  to  introduce  to  this  assembled  multitude, 
the  man  to  whose  mere  baptismal  name  no  title  could  impart 
additional  honor,  however  much  it  might  contribute  to  his  coun- 
try's glory — Henry  Clay." 

Mr.  Clay  replied,  alluding  in  his  peculiar  manner  to 
the  questions  of  the  past,  particularly  those  with  which 
his  name  was  connected,  and  dwelling  at  some  length 
upon  the  political  topics  of  the  day.  His  eloquent 
discourse  delighted  and  held  the  crowd  spell-bound  to 
the  close,  when  he  was  compelled  to  suffer  the  usual 
and  eminently  republican  infliction  of  a  general  hand- 
shaking. Mr.  Clay  remained  in  town  till  the  next 
morning  and  then  departed  for  Syracuse  wdth  a  large 
number  of  friends,  in  an  extra  train  of  five  coaches. 
The  character  of  his  reception  here  evidentl}^  reflected 
the  motives  of  the  great  statesman  in  making  this  tour 
through  the  States.  The  motives  were. plainly  of  a 
more  ambitious  nature  than  those  of  a  mere  traveler. 
White  this  celebration  was  truly  a  pleasant  episode  in 
our  town's  history,  its  splendor  was  nothing  compared 
with  that  of  a  demonstration  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  in  honor  of  the  President  of  the  republic. 


GENERAL    PlKMiKES.S.  233 

Martin  Van  Luren  was  tlic  lirst  of  the  Presidents 
that  ever  i)aid  Aul)urn  the  honor  of  a  visit.  AVlien  it 
became  known,  tlierefore.that  he  was  travelintr  throuMi 
the  republic,  and  that  lie  was  to  take  Auburn  in  his 
course,  the  unusual  honor  created  a  corres])onding  ex- 
citement in  the  town  and  in  the  cnimty.  Suitable 
measures  were  taken  to  extend  a  proper  reception  to 
the  distinguished  man.  Upon  the  9th  of  September, 
he  arrived  at  Auburn,  escorted  by  a  procession  a  mile 
and  a  half  long ;  and  was  greeted  with  the  thunder  of 
cannon,  and  the  deafening  cheers  of  five  thousand  peo- 
ple. After  a  march  througli  the  various  streets,  Mr. 
Van  Buren  was  addressed  at  the  American  Hotel,  by 
Mr.  Eathbun.  In  terms  of  sincere  pleasure  the  Presi 
dent  was  welcomed  to  Auburn,  and  introduced  to  the 
people,  wdio  testified  their  gratification  by  long-con- 
tinued cheers.  Mr.  Yan  Buren's  reply  has  been  pre- 
served.    He  said : 

"  You  could  not,  Sir,  have  added  more  effectually  to  the  gratifi- 
cation which  I  derive  from  the  proceedings  of  this  day,  than  by 
the  information  whicli  you  have  been  pleased  to  impart  to  nic, 
that  this  vast  assembly  of  citizens  is,  in  so  great  a  degree,  com- 
posed of  farmers,  mechanics,  and  laboring  men,  from  all  parts  of 
this  flourishing  county.  Certainly  no  liberal-minded  or  just  man 
will  contend  that  either  virtue  or  patriotism  are  confined  to  any 
particular  class  or  calling.  It  may,  nevertheless,  be  aflirmcd  with 
entire  confidence,  and  without  disparagement  to  others,  that  the 
farmers,  mechanics,  and  laboring  men  of  this  favored  land  consti- 
tute a  body  of  citizens,  on  whom  any  public  servant  may  implic- 
itly rely  for  a  just  and  fair  appreciation  of  Ids  oflicial  conduct,  our 


234  HISTORY   OF   AUBUKN. 

country  for  an  adequate  defense  in  every  emergency,  and  our  po- 
litical institutions  for  ample  security  against  every  combination 
that  can  be  formed  against  them.  There  are  influences  arising 
from  their  condition  and  pursuits,  which  beget  a  peculiarly  eager, 
disinterested  love  of  truth,  and  which  exempt  them,  in  a  good  de- 
gree, from  those  sudden  impulses,  to  which  those  who  move  in 
the  more  excitable  walks  of  life  are  more  frequently  liable,  and 
which,  though  sometimes  leading  to  great  actions,  are  oftener  the 
prolific  source  of  error  ;  and  they  are  from  these  causes  so  much 
better  enabled  to  make  a  deliberate  and  unprejudiced  application 
of  the  information  they  acquire,  that  their  decisions  are  always 
upright,  and,  if  erroneous,  never  long  adhered  to.  These  are, 
with  me,  not  the  impressions  of  the  day,  but  the  convictions  of 
my  public  life — convictions  which  have  been  present  and  consol- 
ing to  my  mind  in  many  trials.  Entertaining  such  opinions  of 
those  who,  with  a  mass  of  others  enjoying  also  my  entire  respect 
and  regard,  are  here  to  do  me  honor  as  the  constituted  head  of 
their  political  system,  and  the  representative  of  their  principles,, 
it  can  scarcely  be  necessary  to  say  how  deeply  I  feel,  and  how 
highly  I  estimate  the  very  favorable  opinion  which  you  have  ex- 
pressed, in  their  behalf,  of  my  public  career.  Allow  me.  Sir,  to 
return  to  them,  through  you,  my  sincerest  acknowledgements  for 
the  assurances  of  approbation  of  the  past,  and  of  support  for  the 
future,  w^hich  you  have  made  for  them.  The  former  is  before 
them ;  in  regard  to  the  latter,  my  views  have  been  again  and 
again  distinctly  and  fully  stated  to  my  countrymen.  They  need, 
I  trust,  no  further  evidence  to  satisfy  them,  that  opinions  con- 
scientiously entertained  will  be  supported  by  me,  with  deference 
certainly  to  the  conflicting  views  of  others,  but  with  that  fidelity 
and  steadiness  by  which  good  results  can  alone  be  accomplished. 
For  the  welcome  which  you  have  conveyed  to  me  in  behalf  of  my 
fellow-citizens  of  Cayuga,  here  assembled,  except  my  thanks,  with 
the  assurance  that  I  reciprocate  heartily  the  feelings  of  respect  and 
regard  which  you  have  expressed,  both  for  them  and  for  yourself.'* 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  235 

The  President,  having  liroiight  liis  remarks  to  a 
close,  saw  before  him  several  thousand  extended  hands 
demanding  the  time-honored  democratic  shake.  Giv- 
ing the  hard  lists  each  a  grip,  he  withdrew  to  the  ho- 
tel, and  received  calls  from  Hon.  ^Vm.  H.  Seward  and 
other  prominent  citizens  of  Auburn.  AVith  tlie  Presi- 
dent were  tlie  Secretary  of  War,  Poinsett,  and  Smith 
E.  Yan  Buren,  his  son,  who  were  the  guests  of  George 
B.  Throop.  The  party  left  for  Syracuse  the  following 
morning,  in  an  extra  train  of  the  best  cars  upon  the 
road. 

It  is  said  that  Auburn  was  more  crowded  with 
people  upon  the  occasion  of  this  visit,  than  upon  any 
since  the  memorable  day  when  La  Fayette  came  here  ; 
but  the  Whigs  stoutly,  though  good-humoredly,  main- 
tained that  the  immense  crowd  was  drawn  forth,  in 
part,  by  the  arrival  of  a  certain  menagerie  that  day, 
and  the  drill  of  a  regiment  of  cavalry. 

Glancing  over  the  leaves  of  our  town's  history  for 
the  three  vears  beojinnino*  with  the  summer  of  1839, 
there  will  be  observed  a  general  monotony  and  dull- 
ness pervading  all  business  and  financial  circles,  Avhich 
furnishes  a  touching  comment  upon  the  evils  of  specu- 
lation. Yet  enterprise  did  something  toward  repair- 
ing the  wasted  resources  and  trade  of  the  place ;  and 
the  railroad  to  Syracuse  contributed,  in  no  trilling  de- 
gree, to  sustain  tlie  drooping  courage  of  our  mer- 
chants, and   to  accelerate  the  return  of  better  times. 


23()  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

The  current  of  travel  through  the  vilhio-e  was  very 
large,  and  the  detention  of  passengers  liere,  arising 
from  the  necessary  trouble  of  shifting  from  the  cars  to 
the  coach,  or  vice  versa,  was  the  means  of  dropping 
many  a  dollar  into  the  coffers  of  our  business  men. 
Among  otlier  enterprises,  based  upon  the  business 
brought  in  b}^  the  railroad,  tlie  hotel,  called  the  Au- 
burn House,  may  be  mentioned  as  liaving  reached  a 
successful  conclusion.  The  house  was  thrown  open  to 
the  public,  by  Messrs.  A.  D.  Leonard  and  Robert 
Muir,  during  the  month  of  August,  1839,  and  was 
managed  under  the  direction  of  H.  A.  Chase,  of  Onon- 
daga. It  was  a  graceful,  w^ell-furnished  building, 
always  popular  and  deservedly  successful.  The  stone 
stores,  in  the  same  block  and  iipon  each  side,  were  en- 
titled the  Merchants'  Exchange. 

The  Presidential  campaign  of  1840,  one  of  the  most 
keenly  contested  in  the  history  of  the  republic,  was 
remarkable  for  the  frequency  and  enthusiasm  of  its  po- 
litical mass-meetings  and  processions.  The  Whigs  of 
JS'ew  York  were  supporting  the  Hon.  Wm.  II.  Seward 
for  a  second  term  of  the  Governorship  of  this  State ; 
and  the  unbounded  popularity  of  their  candidate  in 
Cayuga  County,  and  tlieir  admiration  for  the  hero  of 
Tippecanoe,  combined  to  render  the  campaign  here 
most  exciting.  A  Whig  carnival,  instituted  on  the 
2d  of  May,  for  the  ])urpose  of  "warming"  a  log 
cabin  that  had  been  erected  on  the  open  ground  at  the 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  237 

corner  of  Genesee  and  Market  Streets,  iiuw  the  site  of 
John  Percivars  piano  manufactory,  exceeded  all  that 
had  ever  before  occurred  in  Auburn  for  any  object. 
The  concourse  of  AVliigs  was  immense,  and  it  was  with 
no  small  amount  uf  hard  riding  up  and  down  the 
streets,  that  tliey  were  iinally  marshaled  into. line,  un- 
der the  guidance  of  Colonel  John  Richardson,  and  his 
assistants,  Benjamin  Ashby,  Stephen  O.  Day,  Philo  13. 
Barnum,  and  Colonel  G.  T.  Wilbur.  With  the  inspir- 
ing strains  of  three  tine  bands,  the  procession  made  the 
circuit  of  the  village,  displaying  a  forest  of  liberty- 
poles  and  l)anners,  and  several  very  extraordinary  ob- 
jects which  merit  fuller  notice.  First,  there  was  a 
loaf  of  '*  rye  and  Indian  "  bread,  seven  feet  long,  and 
two  and  a  half  wide,  weighing  five  hundred  and  fifty- 
one  pounds,  from  the  bakery  of  T.  Newcomb, 
mounted  on  a  wagon.  Then  there  was  a  log  cabin  of 
sugar  in  proper  colors,  the  "  logs  in  the  rough,"  the 
slat  chimney,  and  the  inevitable  old  hat  stufied  into  a 
broken  window,  being  represented  true  to  life.  And 
after  this  came,  at  suitable  distances  in  the  endless 
train  of  wagons,  fi\'e  genuine  old-fashioned  canoes, 
dubbed  severally  the  Plough  Boy^  the  Hero  of 
North  Bend^  or  some  similar  title  ap])ropriate  to 
the  campaign,  intermingled  with  barrels  of  hard  cider. 
The  procession  halted  at  the  cabin,  which  was  con- 
structed of  rough  logs  chinked  with  clay,  and  had  the 
usual  appointments  of  a  slab  roof,  slat  cliininoy,  and 


238  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

wooden  hinges,  wooden  latcli  and  tow-string,  stone 
fire-dogs  in  the  fire-place,  and  trammel  and  chain 
hooks.  The  ceilings  and  walls  were  garnished  with 
strings  of  dried  apples  and  pumpkins,  bunches  of  corn 
and  peppers,  coon-skins,  saddles,  muskets  and  shot-bags, 
and  with  pictures  of  Harrison,  La  Fayette,  and  other 
patriots,  and  a  copy  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. The  cabin  was  then  duly  "  warmed  ;  "  a  dinner 
-and  stump  speeches  followed,  and  the  Whigs  of  Cay- 
uga County  returned  to  their  homes  greatly  edified  by 
the  exercises  of  the  day. 

Skipping  for  the  moment  the  celebration  on  the  4th 
of  July,  two  other  immense  mass-meetings  of  the 
Whigs  will  be  mentioned.  One,  a  ratification  meeting, 
happened  to  fall  on  the  22d  of  August.  The  heavens 
were  falling  at  the  same  time,  but  failed  to  quench  the 
ardor  of  the  demonstration.  Six  thousand  people  gath- 
ered upon  Fort  Hill  to  listen  to  a  band  of  fine  orators, 
being  led  to  the  spot  in  procession  as  fast  as  they  arrived 
by  S.  O.  Day,  Marshal,  and  his  assistants,  Jesse  Segoine, 
Stephen  Van  Anden,  P.  B.  Barnum  and  others.  The 
meeting  organized  with  Alfred  Avery,  of  Genoa,  as 
president ;  Geo.  W.  Haynes,  Wm.  I.  Cornwell,  and 
Humphrey  Howland,  vice-presidents ;  and  Beiij.  F. 
Hall,  John  Niblo,  and  Geo.  Humphreys,  secretaries. 
The  masses  were  then  addressed  by  their  popular  M. 
C. — the  Hon.  Christopher  Morgan — by  Alfred  Kelley, 
of  Ohio,  and  the  witty  E.  D.  Culver,  of  Washington 


GENERAL    PROGKESS.  239 

County,  and  otliers.  After  the  adoption  of  fifteen  in- 
tensely Whig  resolutions,  reported  by  a  committee  of 
which  Jacob  R.  Howe  was  chairman,  the  meeting  dis- 
solved and  went  home.  Another  mass  convention  of 
a  similar  nature  assembled  in  October,  in  Auburn, 
and  was  addressed  at  the  Seminary  grounds  by  the 
Hon.  L.  C.  Tallmadge,  Wm.  C.  Rives,  of  Virginia,  and 
Hugh  T.  Legare,  of  S.  C. 

The  great  national  anniversary  was,  in  1840,  ob- 
served with  unusual  festivities ;  and  the  celebration, 
being  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Auburn  Lit- 
erary Association — a  popular  young  society  organized 
only  two  years  before,  and  affording  a  neutral  ground 
upon  which  both  political  parties  could  meet,  was  in 
every  respect  honorably  managed  and  worthy  of  the 
town.  A  large  procession  was  formed  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Charles  "W.  Pomeroy,  Marshal  of  the 
day.  This  was  graced  by,  among  other  things,  the 
fire-engines  of  the  village,  finely  adorned  for  the  occa- 
sion, and  the  fire  companies,  who  appeared  in  handsome 
new  uniforms  :  the  members  of  Co.  Xo.  1  being 
clothed  with  green  frock  coats  and  white  pants ;  No. 
3,  with  beautiful  suits  composed  of  cadet  caps,  blue 
coats,  and  white  pants  ;  and  those  of  No.  4,  a  company 
made  up  of  sturdy  mechanics,  being  dressed  in  tar- 
paulin hats,  red  shirts,  and  black  pants.  Revolutionary 
soldiers^  the  professors  of  the  Seminary  and  of  the 
Academy,  and  tlie  officers  of  the  corporation  were  as- 


240  HISTORY    OF   AUBUEN. 

signed  places  of  distinction.  Guns  were  tired,  the  bells 
rung,  the  letter  of  Adams  and  tlie  Declaration  read  by 
II.  Hills,  Jr.,  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  and  an 
eloquent  address  pronounced  by  Luman  Sherwood,  Esq. 
The  celebration  dinner  was  spread  at  the  Auburn 
House,  and  was  presided  over  by  Michael  S.  Myers. 
The  jubilee  closed  with  salutes  and  fireworks.  The  toasts 
drank  at  the  dinner  are  still  preserved.  From  about 
sixty,  four  are  culled  as  having  met  with  unusual  favor : 
One, — The  Fire  Departfnent :  The  only  Espian  phi- 
losophers that  can  make  rain  when  they  please, — drew 
forth  six  cheers  and  one  gun.  Another,  by  Colonel 
Pomeroy, — The  Fire  Companies,  Nos.l^^^and  4; 
while  the  w^ater-god  Neptune  contends  wdth  the  force 
of  Niagara's  streams,  Hope  beaming  with  smiles 
stimulates  both  to  exertion, — elicited  not  onlv  one  jrun, 
but  eighteen  cheers.  Then  this  toast  was  oifered — 
The  Auburn  Band :  The  bond  of  their  union  in  har- 
mony, the  result  genuine  notes  ;  may  their  harmony 
get  them  money  and  their  notes  current.  Thirty 
cheers  and  one  gun  established  the  popularity  of 
the  Auburn  Band.  This  sentiment  succeeded — The 
American  Bachelor :  A  ship  without  ballast,  a  mari- 
ner without  a  compass,  an  untamed  goat,  an  off  ox,  a 
magnet  without  a  loadstone,  a  one-horse  team,  a  bundle 
of  odd  ends  ;  may  his  pillow  be  lonely  and  drear,  the 
ague  throw  o'er  him  its  chill.  Dranh  with  cold  water ^ 
sitting,  and  in  silence. 


GENEK.VL    PROGRKSiS.  241 

The  x\iibiira  Literarv  Association  was  organized  by 
the  citizens  of  Anhurn   at  a  public  meeting,  held  at 
the  Western  Exchange  on  the  evening  of  the  12th  of 
Deceinber,  1S38,  pnrsnant  to  iirevions  notice.     Stephen 
A.  Goodwin  was  called   to  the  chair,  and  Seneca  B. 
Dennis  was  elected  secretary  of  the  meetino*.     A  dis- 
cussion  of  the  utility  and  purposes  of  the  proposed  or- 
ganization resulted  in  a  resolution  to  put  it  into  imme- 
diate operation,     A  draft  of   a  constitution  was  pre- 
sented by  Peter  IL  Myers,  and  adopted  by  the  meeting. 
Under   this   the    association   was    the   same   evenino: 
formed.     The  gentlemen  present  appended  their  sig- 
natures to  the  constitution,  and  new  members  were  re- 
quired to  do  the  same.     This  roll  soon  comprised  the 
names  of  nearly  all  the  prominent  citizens  of  Auburn. 
Among  the  active   members  of  the  association,  irom 
time    to    time,  were  G.  AV.  Foster,  P.  T.  Marshall, 
Michael    S.  Myers,  S.  A.  Hopkins,    Edward    Perry, 
Seneca  B.  Dennis,  Benjamin  E.  Hall,  Dr.  Erank  II. 
Hamilton.  Dr.  Blanchard   Eosgate,  Jacob  A.  Howe, 
Josiah   N.  Starin,  John   C.  Ivison,  Jacobj  R.  Howe, 
Joseph    C.   Hyatt,    Luman    Sherwood,    Dr.    Erastus 
Humphreys,  Owen    Munson,  Peter     II.  Myers,  Wil- 
liam Hopkins,  AVilliam   Ilichardson,  Edward  Ivison, 
Alonzo  G.  Beardsley,  James  C.  Derby,  Henry  Ivison, 
Jr.,  George  Pathbun,  E.  L.  Skinner,  Joseph  Osborne, 
Hon.  Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr.,  John  S.  C^hiry,  Eayette 
G.  Day,  Dr.   Lan.^ing  Briggs,  L.  E.  Carpenter,  CVrus 
14 


242  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

C.  Dennis,  Charles  P.  AYood,  Pliilo  II.  Perry,  John  P. 
Hulbert,  Corydoii  II.  Merriman,  F.  L.  Griswold, 
Gastroni  Biilkley,  Charles  W.  Pomeroy,  David  Wright, 
William  P.  Smith,  George  Underwood,  I.  A.  Robinson, 
L.  W.  Nye,  Levi  Johnson,  William  Allen,  Theo.  M. 
Pomeroy,  and  William  Hills. 

The  A.  L.  A.  organized  at  the  meeting  named 
above,  electing  a  full  set  of  officers,  namely :  Stephen 
A.  Goodwin,  president ;  Wm.  Richardson,  vice-presi- 
dent ;  Seneca  B.  Dennis,  secretary  ;  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin Hall,  reader ;  and  Dr.  F.  H.  Hamilton,  Peter  11. 
Myers,  Dr.  Erastus  Humphreys,  Wm.  Hopkins,  and 
S.  B.  Dennis,  executive  board.  The  officers  were 
elected  once  a  month  till  ISil.  The  presidents  to 
this  date,  consecutively,  were  Wm.  Richardson, 
Michael  S.  Myers,  Owen  Munson,  Thomas  Y.  Howe, 
Jr.,  Wm.  Hopkins,  Michael  S.  Myers.  The  associa- 
tion having,  on  the  ITth  of  April,  18-41,  become  incor- 
porated by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  obtained  through 
the  exertions  of  a  committee  composed  of  Benjamin 
F.  Hall,  Jacob  R.  Howe,  and  I.  T.  Marshall,  it  was 
organized  on  the  first  Monday  of  May,  at  the  Second 
Presbyterian  church,  with  the  following  officers :  Par- 
liament Bronson,  president ;  Amos  Gould  and  Willet 
Lounsbury,  vice-presidents ;  Edward  Ivison,  recording 
secretary ;  I.  H.  Wilson,  corresponding  secretary ;  and 
John  S.  Clary,  treasurer.  Michael  S.  Myers  was  the 
second  president  under  the  charter ;  Prof.  Wm.  Hop- 


GENEKAL    PROGKESS.  243 

kins,  tlie  third ;  and  Corydon  II.  Merrinian,  the 
fourth.  This  brings  us  down  to  the  summer  of  1848, 
when  the  regular  meetings  and  operations  of  the  soci- 
ety were,  for  a  time,  suspended.  They  were,  however, 
afterward  resumed  at  intervals,  and  the  association 
continued  to  exist,  w^th  more  or  less  efficiency  and 
usefulness,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion. 
The  war  deprived  it  of  many  of  its  active  members, 
and  its  operations  then  ceased. 

The  founders  of  the  A.  L.  A.  were  "desirous  of 
establishing  a  society,  the  object  of  whicli  should  be 
the  edification  and  improvement  of  its  members  in 
literature  and  science,  by  means  of  public  lectures, 
essays,  orations,  and  debates,"  and  of  "  establishing 
and  maintaining  a  library,  reading-room,  and  literary 
and  scientific  lectures,"  During  the  winter  succeed- 
ing their  organization,  they  met  weekly,  and  listened 
to  lectures,  essays,  and  poems,  delivered  in  most  cases 
by  their  own  members,  or  by  distinguished  residents 
of  Auburn  not  attached  to  their  society.  Tlie  second 
season,  debates  were  introduced  and  mingled  with  the 
lectures.  After  the  incorporation,  the  plans  of  the 
society  were  prosecuted  with  increasing  success.  De- 
bates were  had  upon  all  popular  topics,  and  law,  edu- 
cation, witchcraft.  Great  Britain,  man's  destiny, 
"  Where  there's  a  will,  there's  a  way,"  anatomy,  the 
arts,  religion,  ca])ital  ])unishment,  furnished  tliemes 
for  the  lectures.    For  nearly  ten  years  tlio  weekly  meet- 


*244  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

insTS  were  held  in  the  lecture-room  attached  to  John.' 
II.  Chedell's  museum,  and  were  always  numerously  at- 
tended by  the  citizens  of  the  town,  who  not  only  en- 
couraged the  society  by  their  attendance  upon  its  pub- 
lic exercises,  but  also  contributed  liberally  toward 
the  formation  of  its  library.  The  Executive  Commit- 
tee of  the  A.  L.  A.  was  accustomed  to  meet  at  the 
office  of  Dr.  Elanchard  Fosgate.  Among  the  number 
that  delivered  lectures  before  the  society,  at  diiferent 
times,  were  Dr.  L.  E.  Lathrop,  Salem  Town,  Hon. 
Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr.,  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  Prof.  Wm. 
Hopkins,  Dr.  Lansing  Briggs,  Willet  Lounsbury,, 
Francis  Adams,  Dr.  Elanchard  Fosgate,  Rev.  H.  A. 
Nelson,  Dr.  Charles  A.  Hyde,  William  Allen,  Eev. 
G.  W.  Montgomery,  Parliament  Bronson,  Pev.  Josiab 
Hopkins,  Wm.  W.  Shepard,  and  I.  T.  Marshall. 

The  meetings  of  the  association  were  generally  free 
to  all  who  chose  to  attend ;  their  audiences  usually 
tilled  the  room.  Considerable  expense  attended  these 
lectures,  but  the  mental  profit  of  the  members  was  very 
great.  Foreign  lecturers  were  sometimes  procured  for 
a  price,  in  which  case  an  admission  fee  of  one  shilling 
was  charged  upon  the  public ;  but  this  idea  forms  no 
part  of  the  original  purposes  of  the  A.  L.  A.  It  be- 
came, unfortunately,  in  time,  the  ruling  idea,  and  con- 
tinued, to  be  so  down  to  the  date  of  dissolution  of  the 
society.  The  practice,  however,  liad  much  to  do  with 
that  dissolution.     Tlie  discourses  of  great  men,  however 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  245 

great  a  source  of  iutellectiial  enjoyment  and  improve- 
ment to  those  who  are  educated,  are  not  well  calculated 
to  encourage  the  dull  minds,  or  develop  the  native 
talent  of  associations  like  the  one  in  view.  AVhile  per- 
sonal mental  improvement  was  steadily  pursued  by  de- 
bates, readings,  and  oratorical  exercises  from  its  own 
members,  the  A.  L.  A.  was  prosperous ;  but  when 
that  object  was  forgotten,  and  foreign  lecturers  and 
essapsts  were  employed  for  a  compensation  to  interest 
the  public,  which  was  then  admitted  to  the  meetings 
of  the  association  upon  the  payment  of  a  stated  fee, 
and  which  in  the  end  became  the  only  party  whom  it 
was  desirable  to  please,  the  membership  of  the  A.  L. 
A.  fell  away,  till  there  were  none  left  to  carry  it  on. 
The  archives  and  library  of  the  society  are  now  gather- 
ing mold  in  the  office  of  one  of  its  former  members. 

The  second  Agricultural  Society  of  Cayuga  County 
was  organized  July  22d,  1841,  at  a  numerous  meet- 
ing of  citizens  and  farmers  at  the  Western  Exchange, 
in  Auburn.  A  constitution  was  framed  and  adopted. 
Executive  and  administrative  officers  were  elected  for 
the  ensuing  year,  namely :  Humphrey  llowland,  presi- 
dent ;  John  M.  Sherwood,  vice-president ;  William 
Richardson,  secretary ;  and  John  B.  Dill,  treasurer. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  topics  of  inquiry  in  the 
annals  of  our  city  is  presented  by  the  attempts  for  the 
culture  of  the  "  nwrus  multicaulis^-  or  midberry  tree,  in 
>this  vicinity,  and  the  growth  and  manufacture  of  silk. 


246  HISTORY  OF  aubukn. 

The  subject  of  the  cultivation  of  the  mulberry  plant, . 
as  food  for  silk-worms,  and  the  production  of  cocoons 
therefrom,  had  been  receiving,  since  1830,  considerable 
attention  on  Long  Island,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  city  of  Patterson,  New  Jersey.  The  occupation 
was  meeting  with  flattering  success.  Some  of  the 
silk-makers  of  Long  Island  had  ventured  to  export  a 
small  quantity  of  raw  silk  to  Europe,  the  quality  of 
which  was  pronounced  excellent.  Silk  manufactories 
had,  in  consequence,  been  started  on  a  small  scale  in 
the  producing  regions,  which  had  established  the 
feasibility  of  silk-making  in  America.  The  novelty  of 
this  discovery,  and  the  well-known  profit  of  silk-mak- 
ing, were,  in  1838,  exciting  general  curiosity  and  inter- 
est. Several  periodicals  describing  the  process  of 
raising  cocoons,  and  reeling  the  raw  silk,  were  being 
put  into  extensive  circulation  in  this  State  ;  and  the 
public  had  finally  become  impressed  with  the  belief 
that  the  silk  manufacture  might  be  carried  on  in  the 
United  States  with  as  strong  an  assurance  of  success, 
as  in  the  most  favored  climes  of  the  Old  World. 

The  Legislature  of  'New  York  happened  at  this  time 
to  be  seeking  some  branch  of  industry  wherein  con- 
victs might  be  employed  without  competing  with  free 
American  mechanics.  The  manufacture  of  silk  in  the 
prisons  was  suggested  to  the  Legislature  by  Hon.  Wm. 
II.  Seward,  then  Governor  of  the  State,  as  well  calcu- 
lated to  obviate  the  objection  of  mechanics  to  convict- 


GENEEAL    PKOGKESS.  2i7 

labor,  and  the  prison  agents  were  accordingl}^  author- 
ized to  introduce  the  silk  business  forthwith  to  the  in- 
stitutions under  their  charge. 

There  was  at  this  time  a  gentleman  connected  with 
the  carpet-weaving  shop  in  the  Auburn  prison,  in 
partnership  w^ith  Josiah  Barber,  who  was  thoroughly 
conversant  with  the  art  of  making  silk,  having  been 
educated  therein  at  the  famous  manufactories  at  Pais- 
ley, and  having  subsequently  conducted  similar  fac- 
tories himself  in  England  and  in  Scotland ;  this  was 
John  Morrison,  Esq.,  a  native  of  Edinburgh.  Mr. 
Morrison  indorsed  many  of  the  printed  statements  of 
the  American  silk  producers.  Upon  his  suggestion,  the 
culture  of  the  mulberry  was  immediately  commenced 
in  and  about  Auburn,  the  production  of  cocoons  being, 
of  course,  preliminary  to  the  beginning  of  the  silk  busi- 
ness in  the  prison.  In  the  spring  of  1837,  David 
West,  convinced  of  the  feasibility  of  the  project,  pur- 
chased two  thousand  mulberry  buds,  at  thirty  cents 
apiece,  at  Price's  nursery,  on  Long  Island,  and,  when 
the  proper  time  arrived,  planted  them  on  a  farm  below 
Clarksville.  During  the  summer,  Asaph  D.  Leonard, 
Dr.  Erastus  Humphreys,  Charles  Coventr}^,  James  II. 
Bostwick,  Sylvester  Bradford,  xibijah  Fitch,  Stephen 
Yan  Anden,  Erastus  Pease,  and  others,  imitated  his 
example  by  setting  out  a  few  shrubs. 

AVith  every  prospect  for  a  fair  crop  of  leaves,  these 
gentlemen  then  procured  a  (piantity  of  the  eggs  of  the 


2J:S  mSTOKY    OF    AUBUKN. 

silk  wurin,  a  few  liuiidred  of  wliicli  were  sent  toMr. 
Pease  by  his  son  Lorenzo,  then  a  missionary  at 
Cyprus,  built  cocooneries,  and  began  the  experiment. 
Mr.  Morrison  aided  them  with  practical  advice,  and 
all  succeeded  admirably,  producing  healthy  worms, 
and  a  yield  of  prime  silk.  Part  of  this  w^as  reeled  and 
spun  at  home,  and  the  rest  was  sold  at  the  factories 
in  New  Jersey  and  Long  Island.  It  proved  to  be  a 
superior  article.  A  quantity  of  cocoons  sufficient  to 
warrant  the  opening  of  a  silk  department  in  the  prison 
was  not,  however,  yet  produced.  But  the  silk  raisers 
of  Auburn,  elated  with  their  first  success,  went  into 
the  business  soon  afterward  on  a  larger  scale ;  and  an 
impulse  was  given  to  silk  culture  all  over  the  State  by 
the  awarding  of  bounties  on  cocoons  by  the  Legislature, 
and  by  several  county  agricultural  societies. 

The  manufacture  of  sewini?  silk  was  commenced  at 
the  Auburn  prison,  as  an  experiment,  by  Henry  Polhe- 
mus,  the  agent,  on  the  20tli  of  May,  1S41.  A  single 
throwing  mill  was  put  into  operation  that  day  by  two 
convicts,  one  of  whom  turned  the  wheel,  and  the  other 
served  cocoons,  a  small  quantity  of  which  had  been 
purchased  in  the  vicinity  of  Auburn.  The  depart- 
ment having  been  placed  under  the  supervision  of 
John  Morrison,  the  agent  advertised  for  cocoons,  offer- 
ing to  pay  for  them  at  the  rate  of  from  three  to  four 
dollars  per  bushel,  in  cash.  Publicity  was  given  to  an 
estimate  of  the  profits  of  cocoon-raising,  by  which  it 


GKNKKAL    PROGRESS.  249 

• 

appeared  that,  at  a  moderate  calculation,  one  hundred 
bushels  of  cocoons  might  be  readily  obtained  from  every 
acre  of  mulberry  trees.  In  the  course  of  six  months, 
Mr.  Polhemus  set  uj^  in  the  ]>ris()n  four  throwinuj  mills 
more,  which  had  been  constructed  t]n-()Ui!;h  the  inventive 
genius  of  Aretas  A.  Sabin,  Esq.,  and  he  detailed  eight 
convicts  to  work  them.  The  supply  of  the  raw  mate- 
rial increasing,  five  ^mills  and  twelve  convicts  were 
added  to  the  silk  shop  in  May,  1812.  Tlie  nuichinery 
was  then  driven  by  the  application  of  water-power. 
Steam  was  introduced  in  August,  and  the  shop  was  still 
further  enlarged.  About  the  same  time  a  large  num- 
ber of  mulberry  trees  were  set  out  on  the  prison  lands, 
now  the  site  of  the  asylum. 

In  1843,  the  department  required  the  use  of  twelve 
throwing  mills,  furnished  with  sixty-four  spindles, 
twelve  bobbing  wheels,  twelve  stationary  wire  swifts, 
eight  pairs  of  horizontal  swifts,  six  pairs  of  upright 
swifts,  one  drying  rack,  two  quilling  milb,  one  set  of 
reeling  pins,  ten  seventy -two  inch  reels,  twelve  forty- 
four  inch  reels,  one  band  maker,  a  dye-house  with  ket- 
tles, and  the  labor  of  forty-one  convicts.  It  was  the 
fourth  shop  in  size  in  respect  to  the  number  of  its  em- 
ployes. 

The  advertisement  of  Mr.  Polhemus,  offering  to  pay 
a  good  cash  price  for  all  cocoons  and  raw  silk  that 
should  be  presented  at  the  Auburn  prison,  made  that 
institution    the  principal   casli   market  of  the   United 


250  HISTORY    OF    AUBUliN.  ' 

States,  for  the  articles  named.  The  certainty  of  a 
market  was  a  powerful  incentive  to  production,  and 
liundreds  of  farmers,  giving  up  large  fields  for  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  mulberry,  plunged  into  the  business  of 
silk-raising.  Cocooneries  were  built  in  and  about 
Auburn  by  those  who  were  operating  on  an  extensive 
scale ;  those  who  were  not,  occupied  their  barns,  wood- 
houses,  garrets,  nay,  even  their  parlors,  for  the  breeding 
and  feeding  of  worms.  Like  the  real-estate  furor,  the  silk 
enterprise  took  the  form  of  a  spasmodic  mania,  ungov- 
erned  by  any  reason  whatever.  Men  counted  their 
eggs  as  full-grown  worms,  their  buds  as  full-grown 
trees,  and  both,  by  the  thousands,  tens  of  thousands, 
and  millions.  Eggs  and  plants  soon  sold  at  fabulous 
prices.  Twigs  of  the  mulberry,  containing  a  single 
bud,  brought  a  dollar  apiece.  Everybody  must  have  a 
few  worms  and  a  few  bushels  of  cocoons  for  sale, 
Kaw  silk,  therefore,  came  to  the  prison  in  rapidly  in- 
creasing quantities  from  every  direction.  Tennessee. 
'New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  Maryland  sent 
in  large  supplies,  and  there  was  scarce  a  county  in 
Western  Eew  York  that  did  not  do  the  same. 

The  progress  of  the  experiment  of  the  silk  manufac- 
ture at  the  Auburn  prison  was  watched  with  curiosity 
and  interest  in  all  the  United  States.  It  was  a  well- 
known  fact,  that  this  branch  of  industry  had  enriched 
every  nation  in  which  it  had  ever  been  prosecuted  to 
any  great  extent.     Tlie  first  success  of  the  experiment 


f  GENEKAL   PROGRESS.  251 

was  therefore  received  witli  genuine  gratification  by 
the  people  of  this  country.  The  |)rison  produced  a 
soft,  strong,  brilliant,  and  even  silk,  equal  in  some  re- 
spects to  the  foreign-made  article,  and  superior  in 
others,  which  sold  readily  at  seven  dollars  [per  pound, 
or  at  an  advance  of  twenty-tive  per  cent,  on  the  cost 
of  manufacture.  These  results  were  obtained  under 
all  the  disadvantages  of  inexperience  and  imperfect 
machinery ;  and  the  manufacture  of  silk  then  appeared 
to  be  no  longer  an  experiment,  but  a  successful  and  lu- 
crative occupation. 

The  continuance  of  the  business  on  the  part  of  the 
prison  at  Auburn  without  loss,  became,  however,  about 
the  year  1S45,  problematical.  The  merchants  of  Xew 
York  city,  who  might  have  taken  just  pride,  or  even 
consideied  it  their  duty,  to  encourage  the  manufacture 
of  silk  in  this  country,  took  ground  instead  against 
the  American  articles,  excited  a  prejudice  against  it  in 
the  market,  and  ruined  its  sale.  In  a  few  months,  its 
value  fell  from  seven  dollars  a  pound  to  five.  It  was 
also  beginning  to  be  observed  that  tlie  peculiarities  of 
prison  labor  were  unsuited  to  silk  manufacture  ;  for 
this  branch  of  industiy  requires  operatives  possessing 
delicate  touch  and  skillful  management.  The  male 
convicts  who  work  under  compulsion  as  a  punishment, 
and  are  continually  cominii:  and  oroinn:  as  their  terms 
expire,  cannot  possess  these  requisites ;  and  it  hud  be- 
come impossible  to  obtain   female  opcrativet^,  by  the 


252  llIt^TORY    OF    AUBURN. 

law  of  1S42,  pntvidin^^  for  [the  iin])risoiiment  of  all 
lemale  convicts  at  Mount  Pleasant.  And  the  famous 
wonts  riudticaidls  speculation  occurred,  which  in- 
jured the  production  of  the  raw  material  to  a  great 
extent,  causing  many  to  leave  the  business,  and  dimin- 
ishing tlie  supply  of  cocoons.  This  speculation  was 
the  ingenious  device  of  some  down-east  peo})le  to 
make  money.  The  demand  for  mulberry  plants  and 
€Uttings  having  become  enormous,  these  men  procured 
vast  quantities  of  the  slips  of  forest  trees,  and  sold 
them  tliroughout  the  country  for  the  genuine  article. 

These  considerations  at -length  led  the  officers  of 
the  Auburn  prison  to  decline  to  purchase  a  farther 
supply  of  cocoons  or  reeled  silk,  and  to  close  out  the 
silk  shop  under  their  charge.  The  step  was  taken 
with  reluctance,  for  it  was  well  known  that  in  an- 
nihilating the  main  cash  market  for  silk  in  the  north- 
ern States,  many  private  fortunes  would  thereby  be 
ruined,  and  the  death-blow  would  be  given  to  an  en- 
terprise in  which  the  American  people  felt  the  deep- 
est interest.  The  effort  was  relinquished  here  within 
^YQ  years  of  its  commencement. 

Temperance  was,  in  1S41,  the  object  of  one  of  the 
most  powerful  movements  for  reform  ever  organized 
in  Cayuga  County.  For  forty  years  distilling  had 
been  one  of  the  most  lucrative  branches  of  business  in 
its  principal  villages,  especially  in  Auburn.  Here, 
whiskey  was  extensively  consumed,  and,  having  always 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  255 

a  high  market  value,  ^vas  in  early  times  used  even  as  a* 
substitute  fur  money.  Portions  of  the  finest  lands  in. 
the  heart  of  our  city  were  sold  repeatedly  for  a  barrel 
or  an  half-barrel,  as  the  case  might  be,  of  this  commod- 
ity. The  Samson  of  the  settlement  in  its  early  days 
was  wont  to  exhibit  his  strength  by  grasping  a  barrel 
full  of  whiskey,  by  the  chines,  lift  it  to  his  lips,  and 
drink  from  the  bung-hole.  The  prevalence  of  the 
habit  of  intemperance  was  deplorable.  To  resist  its 
progress,  reform  its  victims,  and  relieve  the  suftering 
families  of  inebriates,  were  the  purposes  of  the  temper- 
ance movement  of  1S41. 

An  active,  hard-working  society  was  organized  for 
the  county,  which  struck  boldly  at  the  use  of  intoxi- 
cating beverages,  in  whatever  place  or  manner.  The 
practice  of  drinking  toasts  at  the  pnblic  dinners  on  the 
4th  of  July  gaining  the  society's  attention,  a  celebra- 
tion of  that  anniversary  in  '41  was  organized  and  con- 
ducted under  its  auspices,  in  order  that  the  example 
might  be  set  of  observing  the  great  jubilee  of  the  civil 
year  without  the  use  of  alcohol.  The  citizens  also  had 
a  celebration  tliat  day,  l)ut  the  temperance  procession 
was  the  largest  and  most  enthusiastic.  The  letter  ot 
Adams,  and  the  Declaration,  were  read  to  at  least  five 
thousand  people  at  the  Seminary  grounds,  by  I.  T. 
Marshall,  and  orations  were  delivered  by  E.  C.  Delevan 
and  Francis  Adams.  At  the  dinner  at  the  Auburn 
House,  David  AVriglit,  Esq.,  ])rcsident  of  the  day,  read 


254:  HISTORY  OF  auburn. 

the  toasts,  which  were  for  tlie  first  time  in  Auburn 
drank  witli  pure  water. 

Popular  interest  in  the  mov^ement  was  kindled  du- 
ring the  winter  of  1841-2.  Not  onl)^  was  a  temper- 
ance society  for  male  citizens  formed  in  Auburn,  but 
one  for  the  women,  and  a  reform  society.  The  wives 
of  the  clergymen  of  the  place  were  the  officers  of  the 
female  societies.  All  were  efficient,  well-organized 
bodies.  By  their  persistent  effijrts,  a  fervor  for  reform 
sprang  up  all  through  the  county,  and  was  the  cause  of 
an  immense  temperance  mass-meeting  and  celebration 
in  Auburn  on  the  1st  of  February,  1842.  A  proces- 
sion was  formed,  which  was  composed  of  the  Auburn 
and  the  Skaneateles  brass  bands,  the  Auburn  Guards, 
under  Captain  Jesse  Segoine,  the  fire  companies,  the 
officers  of  the  village,  dignitaries,  and  hundreds  of 
citizens  from  nearly  every  town  in  the  county,  with 
wagons,  banners,  and  emblems.  There  was  speak- 
ing during  the  day  and  evening  at  four  different 
churches. 

The  law  was  invoked,  meanwhile,  to  prevent  unau- 
thorized liquor  vending,  and  the  efforts  of  the  trustees, 
the  poormaster,  the  courts,  and  the  temperance  socie- 
ties of  Auburn,  were  united  for  the  furtherance  of 
the  purposes  of  the  reformers.  These  efforts  were 
crowned  with  success.  The  societies  were  enlarged 
and  strengthened,  many  almost  hopeless  inebriates 
were  reclaimed,  stills  were  closed,  to  be  replaced  with 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  255 

mills,  and  the  order  and  morality  of  the  town  ^^'as  per- 
ceptibly increased. 

Conspicuous  at  this  time  for  its  deeds  of  mercy  was 
an  organization  of  ladies,  known  as  the  Martha  Wash- 
ington Society,  of  Auburn,  which  had  been  formed  in 
1835,  with  the  design  of  alleviating  the  wants  of  the 
suffering  families  of  the  intemperate,  though  its  oper- 
ations were  being  conducted,  in  1811,  on  the  more  ex- 
tended scale  of  general  benevolence.  It  was  the  pur- 
pose of  the  members,  who  were  ladies  of  the  highest 
standing  and  refinement,  "  to  seek  all  persons  in  dis- 
tress, and  to  assist  the  poor  and  destitute,"  with  per- 
fect catholicity  toward  the  needy  of  all  religious  de- 
nominations. This  purpose  "was  effected  in  a  syste- 
matic manner  by  intrusting  its  execution  to  faithful 
officers  and  managers.  The  town  was  separated  into 
districts,  which  it  was  the  duties  of  the  members  of  a 
visiting  committee  to  canvass  in  person,  in  order  to 
discover  and  examine  all  cases  of  misfortune,  and  de- 
termine those  to  which  the  society  should  extend  as- 
sistance. Every  case  was  relieved  as  far  as  it  was  pos- 
sible. 

The  society  met  during  the  winter  season  weekly, 
in  a  room  over  Hugh  McClallen's  gun-shop,  on  North 
Street,  where  the  reports  of  the  visiting  committee 
were  received,  applications  for  aid  from  the  poor  were 
heard,  and  garments  were  prepared  for  the  benefit  of, 
those  in  need  of  them.     Contributions  in  monev,  cloth- 


256  IIISTOKY    OF    ALBURN. 

ing,  food,  and  fuel,  from  tlie  charitable  in  the  town, 
were  either  sent  or  reported  to  these  meetings.  The 
duty  of  preparing  sewing-work  for  the  ladies  at  the 
society's  rooms  was  imposed -upon  a  wardrobe  com- 
mittee, which  was  also  empowered  to  see  that  the  fin- 
ished garments  were  in  readiness  for  distribution.  In 
later  times,  the  society  held  its  meetings  in  either  the 
session-room  of  the  First  Church,  the  court-house,  or 
Markham  Hall. 

With  the  Thanksgiving  donations  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian churches  at  their  disposal,  the  ladies  of  the  society 
always  began  their  work  of  benevolence  at  the  ap- 
proach of  cold,  weather ;  and,  at  all  times,  in  the 
depths  of  the  most  bitter  winters,  they  were  even 
found  in  the  hovels  of  the  lower  classes,  ministering 
both  to  the  physical  and  spiritual  wants  of  their  in- 
mates, comforting  the  neglected,  clothing  all  that  were 
willing  to  attend  church,  and  many  that  were  not,  and 
supplying  Bibles,  money,  food,  or  fuel,  as  the  circum- 
stances seemed  to  require.  They  thus  distributed 
thousands  of  dollars  among  the  sufFering  poor.. 

A  period  of  unusual  distress  in  the  winter  of  184:2-3, 
caused  by  an  unusual  stringency  of  the  times,  that 
threw  large  numbers  of  poor  people  out  of  employ- 
ment, called  upon  the  charitable  of  all  denominations 
to  devise  means  of  relief.  The  ladies  of  the  Ttlartha 
Washington  Society,  accordingly,  aided  l)y  large  num- 
bers of  the  citizens,  decorated  the  town  hall  in  beaiiti- 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  267 

fill  style  with  evergreens,  and  opened  a  fair  and  exhi- 
bition there  on  the  5th  of  January,  IStto,  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  poor.  The  xVnburn  Band  volunteered  its 
services.  A  large  fund  was  realized,  and  was  applied 
as  intended,  by  a  committee  of  ladies  representing  all 
the  churches  of  the  town. 

The  Martha  Washington  Society  has  carried  on  its 
purpose  of  benevolence  down  to  the  present  day,  with 
ever-increasing  efficiency  and  usefulness.  Its  mem- 
bership is  large — one  hundred  and  upw^ard — and  its 
officers  are  influential  and  untiring.  Both  officers  and 
members  have  rendered  themselves  eminent  in  Auburn 
for  their  unaffected  piety  and  unceasing  endeavors  in 
behalf  of  the  unfortunate.  They  now  employ,  in  the 
person  of  Miss  Amanda  Irish,  a  most  invaluable  agent 
and  assistant.  This  lady,  who  is  also  an  agent  of  the 
Bible  Society,  devotes  her  whole  time  to  visiting  the 
poor,  reading  the  Bible  to  them,  and  lightening  their 
wants  by  the  application  of  such  funds  and  articles  as 
the  society  is  able  to  place  at  her  command.  Her 
labors,  like  those  of  the  organization  of  which  she  is 
a  member,  are  perfectly  unostentatious,  but  incessant, 
and  are  highly  esteemed  by  the  lowly  in  Auburn. 

The  lady  who  had  the  honor  to  be  the  first  president 
of  the  M.  ^V.  Society  was  Mrs.  L.  E.  Lathrop.  The 
second  was  Mrs.  Myron  C.  Eeed.  Mrs.  Isaac  Selover 
was  elected  to  the  position  in  1848;  Mrs.  Daniel  Ilew- 
son,  in  1854;  Miss  Amanda  Irish,  in  1858  ;  and  Mrs. 
15 


258  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBUKN. 

Charles  M.  Howlet,  in  1SG6.  The  office  of  treasurer 
was  successively  filled  by  Mrs.  I.  F.  Terrill,  Mrs. 
Hewson,  Mrs.  D.  P.  AVallis,  Mrs.  James  Hyde,  Mrs. 
C.  P.  AYilliams,  Mrs.  AV.  E.  Hewson,  Mrs.  M.  M.  Otis, 
Miss  Mary  Steel,  Miss  Georgia  L.  Osborne,  and  Mrs. 
E.  C.  Selover.  Tlie  secretaries  were  Mrs.  Joseph  T. 
Pitney,  Mrs.  Terrill,  Mrs.  A.  T.  Onti^i,  Mrs.  Horace 
T.  Cook,  Mrs.  Morris,  Mrs.  Hyde,  and  Miss  Fannie  P. 
Olmsted.  The  organization  for  1868-9  is:  Mrs.  Isaac 
Selover,  president ;  Mrs.  H.  T.  Cook,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Che- 
dell,  vice-presidents ;  Miss  Fanny  P.  Olmsted,  secre 
tary ;  Miss  Georgia  L.  Osborne,  treasurer ;  Mrs.  C.  M. 
Howlet,  Mrs.  T.  M.  Hunt,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Bailey,  and  Mrs. 
I.  F.  Terrill,  wardrobe  committee. 

Among  the  wardrobe  and  managing  committees 
were  from  time  to  time  the  following :  Mrs.  Henry 
Mills,  Mrs.  TenEyck,  Mrs.  L.  A.  Millard,  Mrs.  M.  L. 
Perrine,  Mrs.  Dibble,  Mrs.  James  Camp,  Mrs.  James 
P.  Cox,  Mrs.  H.  L.  Knight,  Mrs.  Crane,  Mrs.  Mar- 
shall, Mrs.  T.  M.  Hunt,  Mrs.  Congden,  Mrs.  Alvah 
Worden,  Mrs.  Charles  P.  Wood,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Chedell, 
Mrs.  A.  H.  Goss,  Mrs.  J.  Ives  Parsons,  Mrs.  G.  H. 
Letchworth,  Mrs.  Thomas  Nelson,  Mrs.  J.  T.  Bartlett, 
Mrs.  Mellen,  Mrs.  E.  E.  Marvin  e,  Mrs.  Ilosmer,  Mrs. 
Stone,  Mrs.  O.  F.  Knapp,  Mrs.  H.  Wilson,  Mrs.  Miles 
Perry,  Mrs.  Charles  Pomeroy,  Mrs.  Charles  A.  Lee, 
Mrs.  S.  L.  Bradley,  Mrs.  W.  E.  Hewson,  Mrs.  Horace 
T.  Cook,  Mrs.  Ab*m  Groot,  Mrs.  Day  K.  Lee,  Mrs. 


GENEEAL    PROGRESS.  259 

Theodore  Dimon,  Mrs.  K.  Watson,  Mrs.  Bailey,  Mrs. 
Yan  Anden,  Mrs.  N.  P.  Clark,  Mrs.  E.  G.  Knight, 
Mrs.  T.  M.  Pomeroy,  Mrs.  Charles  Pomeroy,  Mrs.  P). 
A.  Tiittle,  Mrs.  S.  M.  Hopkins,  Mrs.  John  Brainard, 
Mrs.  Miles  Perry,  Mrs.  Kufus  Sargent,  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Wilkie,  Mrs.  P.  Bronson,  Mrs.  Gorton  Allen,  Mrs. 
Jesse  Smith,  Mrs.  C.  II.  Merriman,  Mrs.  J.  N.  Stariii, 
Mrs.  Jesse  Segoine,  Mrs.  Schoonmaker,  Mrs.  F.  G. 
Day,  Mrs.  Wier,  Mrs.  II.  G.  Thornton,  Mrs.  George 
Morgan,  Mrs.  II.  Lindsley,  Mrs.  John  Choate,  Mrs. 
Steel,  Mrs.  Moses,  Mrs.  Jas.  Seymour,  Mrs.  E.  L. 
Ford,  Miss  Lizzie  Hall,  Mrs.  H.  Swift. 

A  pleasant  incident  of  the  summer  of  184:3  was  an 
enthusiastic  ovation  hy  the  people  of  Auhurn  to  the 
venerable  John  Quincy  Adams,  which  was  of  the  same 
spontaneous  character  as  that  accorded  to  the  illustrious 
La  Fayette,  in  1825.  The  "  old  man  eloquent,"  return- 
ing to  his  home  from  a  ramble  in  Canada,  had  been 
received  in  the  cities  of  Buffalo  and  Rochester  witli 
the  most  unexpected  and  splendid  demonstrations  of 
public  esteem  ;  and  veneration  and  patriotism  roused 
the  people  here  to  pay  him  similar  honors.  The  news 
of  his  approach  arrived  on  the  evening  of  Thursday, 
July' 26th.  Tlie  citizens,  gathering  the  next  morning, 
authorized  the  Hon.  AVm.  11.  Seward,  Hon.  Poscoe 
Conkling,  Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  Luman  Slierwood,  P. 
H.  Perry,  Stephen  A.  Goodwin,  James  C.  Wood,  and 
J.  L.  Doty,  to  tender  to  Mr.  Adams  tlie  hospitalities  of  the 


260  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

place.  The  coinniittee  proceeded  immediately  to  Canan- 
daigua,  to  meet  Mr.  Adams,  witli  wliom  it  returned  at 
lialf-past  nine  in  the  evening.  The  party  was  met 
at  the  depot  by  the  lion.  Ulysses  F.  Doubleday,  Parlia- 
ment Bronson,  Abijah  Fitch,  Michael  S.  Myers,  and 
Geo.  H.  Wood,  the  committee  of  arrangements,  who, 
nnder  escort  of  the  military  band,  the  fire  companies, 
bearing  torches,  and  a  procession  of  citizens,  conducted 
it  to  the  residence  of  Governor  Seward.  With  rous- 
ing cheers,  the  crowd  here  bade  the  Ex-President 
good  night,  and  dispersed.  At  six  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, Mr.  Adams  visited  the  State  Prison,  then  in  charge 
of  Mr.  Doubleday,  the  agent,  Avith  whom  he  had 
formed  an  acquaintance,  wliile  a  fellow-member  of 
Congress.  A  few  hours  later  he  went  with  the  com- 
mittee to  the  First  Church,  where  he  was  eloquently 
welcomed  to  Auburn  by  Governor  Seward.  Mr. 
Adams'  reply  was  listened  to  w^ith  fixed  attention. 
Keceiving  at  its  close  the  final  salutations  of  the  dense 
throng  of  citizens  in  the  church,  he  went  to  the  Amer- 
ican Hotel,  where  for  an  hour  he  was  accessible  to  all 
who  chose  to  visit  him.  Tlie  Auburn  Guards  and  a 
large  body  of  citizens  then  accompanied  him  to  Syracuse. 
The  population  of  Auburn,  in  1845,  was  six  thousand 
one  hundred  and  seventy -one.  Our  citizens  were  then 
entering  upon  a  new  career  of  activity  and  internal  im- 
provements. Particular  attention  was  being  paid  to 
the  mending  and  beautifying  of  the  streets. 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  261 

One  of  the  measures  of  the  trustees  of  the  corpora- 
tion in  this  direction  occasioned  a  sensation.  It  had 
been  found  necessary  to  reduce  the  hill  on  Seminary 
Street,  the  highest  part  of  wliich  was  the  section  in 
front  of  the  Seminary,  in  order  to  make  it  convenient 
for  travel.  A  deep  excavation  was  made  in  the  road- 
bed at  the  top  of  the  rising  ground,  and  the  trustees 
found  themselves  obliged  to  order  the  destruction  of  a 
row  of  beautiful  elms  on  the  sidewalk,  that  had  been 
planted  in  the  infancy  of  the  Seminary,  with  the  per- 
sonal assistance  of  the  lamented  Dr.  James  Ilichards. 
The  act  was  strongly  opposed  in  many  parts  of  the 
town,  for  it  was  esteemed  as  almost  sacrilege  to  cut 
down  what  many  regarded  as  the  monuments  of  an 
eminent  and  respected  man. 

A  young  gentleman  of  a  bold  and  poetic  turn  of 
mind  "  opened  the  armory  of  his  indignation  "  at  this 
point,  and  discharged  at  the  town  authorities,  through 
the  columns  of  the  Aiihirn  Journal — June  25th,  1845 
— a  well-directed  shaft,  in  the  following  words  : 

THE   DIRGE  OP  THE  ELMS. 

One  night  in  June,  in  lovely  June, 
Beneath  the  fair,  the  bright  full  moon, 
I  wandered  forth  in  listless  mood, 
Nor  turned  until  I  musing  stood 
Where,  a  thrifty  and  noble  band, 
The  fairest  Ehns  of  Auburn  stand. 
All  faintly  breathed  the  evening  breeze. 
Stirring  the  leaves  of  those  young  trees 
Doomed  to  wither  and  to  fall 
Beneath  the  axeman's  weapon,  all. 
Lo  !  on  my  ear  there  fell  a  sound 
Like  voices,  still  and  small,  around. 


262  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

I  knew  it  was  the  ruHtliiig  leaf. 
And  yet  it  seemed  a  wail  of  grief; 
I  lititened,  still,  until  I  heard 
Clearly  each  mysterious  word 
Of  all  that  wild  and  plaintive  song, 
Borne  by  the  zephyr's  wing  along. 

Oh,  well  attuned  mu?t  be  the  ear, 
If  daily,  nightly,  we  would  hear 
Mute  nature's  tongueles^s  eloquence. 
Mayhap,  by  some  such  liner  sense, 
Unknown  to  mortal  ear  or  eye, 
Those  trees  had  learnt  from  passers-by 
Their  fate,  and  conscious  of  the  ban 
Upon  them,  thus  their  song  began. 

Farewell,  thou  moon,  farewell,  ye  skies  I 
Farewell,  thou  moist,  green  earth ! 

Farewell,  thou  light  that  softly  lies 
Where  the  dew-drop  has  its  birth. 

Farewell,  ye  long  and  sunny  days, 
That  smiled  on  us  so  brightly ; 

Farewell,  thou  breeze,  that  ever  plays 
With  tossing  boughs  so  lightly. 

Farewell,  ye  lovers  and  ye  loved, 
Whose  whisperings  oft  we  hear, 

As  'neath  our  shade  ye  fondly  roved, 
And,  in  sooth,  thought  none  were  near. 

Farewell !  'Tis  bitter  thus  to  die 

E'er  half  our  race  is  run, 
To  fall,  our  life-blood  beating  high. 

And  our  leafy  plumage  on. 

Ten  fair,  young,  happy  elms  are  we, 
Mute,  senseless  though  we  seem : 

At  eve  we  weep,  but  laugh  in  glee. 
When  morning  breaks  our  dreams. 

Spare,  brother  of  the  dust,  oh  spare  ! 

If  ye  love  us  not,  oh  save 
For  his  sake,  who  planted  us  with  care, 

Long  e'er  he  passed  to  his  grave. 

Will  ye  disturb  his  ashes  cold  ? 

Are  there  not  still  others  left 
V*^ho  love  his  memory,  and  hold 

Us  more  dear,  since  they're  bereft? 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  263 

Alas  !  that  mercy  shall  we  find, 

Which  mail  to  man  will  never  deign ! 
Raise  loud  thy  note,  oh  gentle  wind  ! 

Breathe  no  more  this  mournful  strain. 

Thus  rose  and  fell  the  fitful  song. 
That  gently  spoke  of  cruel  wrong. 
And  mildly  urged  its  sorrowing  plea ; 
Vain  help  were  found  if  sought  from  me  I 
I  looked  around ;  the  moon  had  passed, 
Darkly  the  sky  was  overcast, 
Louder  sang  the  rising  breeze. 
And  wildly  shook  the  swaying  trees. 
They  breathed  no  gentle,  dying  moans. 
But  shrieked  aloud  in  fiercer  tones. 
I  listened,  half  in  doubt  and  fear. 
While  words  like  these  fell  on  my  ear:— 

"  Ho !  heartless  contractors  for  public  works ! 

Ho  !  tasteless,  soulless  corporation  I 
Ye  Goths,  ye  vandals,  ye  barbarous  Turks  ! 

Ye  intenially  improving  nation  ! 
Whether  better  or  worse,  come,  hear  your  curse, 

And  listen  to  your  condemnation. 
Ho  !  leveling  tyrants  of  one  brief  hour ! 

Who  war  with  nature,  her  beauty  deface, 
Go  !  do  your  worst,  exert  your  insect  power. 

Leave  no  vestige  of  nature  or  grace. 
Fell  the  forest,  wither  the  flower, 

And  make  of  the  world  a  wearisome  waste. 

May  phrenzy  seize  your  restless  brains. 

To  wander  in  fancy  be  ye  cursed, 
For  ever  to  wander  o'er  scorching  plains, 

Where  no  fount  shall  gush  to  slake  your  thirst, 
Nor  shade  to  ease  your  burning  pains. 

Thus,  thus,  ye  vandals,  be  ye  cursed. 

Nay  more,  may  hissing  dragons  'round  you  stand. 
And  lash  you,  aye,  with  a  scorpion  scourge, 

While  you  level  for  ever  the  hills  of  sand 
Which  the  hot  simoon  on  high  shall  surge. 

Ceaseless  be  the  work  that  long  you've  planned. 
And  endless  your  curse  as  mournful  our  dirge." 

Hon.  John  C.  Hulbert,  then  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  village,  already  harassed  by  the  unjust  remarks 
of  the  people  beyond   expression,  resented  this  open 


264:  HISTORY    OF    AUBIKN. 

attack  witliuut  cereinonv.  He  instantly  sued  the  edi- 
tor of  tlie  Journal  for  permitting  a  libelous  publica- 
tion. The  suit  was  ultimately  withdrawn ;  but  the 
decision  of  the  act  put  the  fault-tinders  to  silence,  and 
the  work  proceeded  without  further  trouble. 

The  new  vigor  imparted  to  wool-growing  and  the 
manuftxcture  of  woolen  goods  in  America  by  the  tar- 
iff of  1842,  and  the  consequent  preparations  for  the 
erection  of  woolen  factories  in  great  numbers  in  the 
States  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  interested  the 
citizens  of  Auburn  afresh,  in  1844,  in  the  long-talked- 
of,  but  then  unaccomplished  scheme,  of  erecting  a 
woolen  factory  here,  and  of  putting  into  use  some  part 
of  the  vast  and  idle  water-power  of  the  Owasco  Out- 
let. 

It  was  also  beginning  to  be  observed  that  the  ab- 
sence of  a  market  for  wool  in  Auburn  was  highly  inju- 
rious to  the  interests  of  the  town,  and  of  the  wool- 
growers  of  the  county ;  and  that  though  this  place 
was  situated  in  the  heart  of  a  fertile  and  productive 
agricultural  district,  and  was  singled  out  by  its  easy 
access,  immense  water-power,  and  facilities  for  build- 
ing, as  well  adapted  to  become  an  extensive  manufac- 
turing town,  that  that  end  would  never  be  attained 
without  the  aid  of  enterprise,  the  erection  of  mills, 
and  the  making  employment  for  the  population. 

The  advantages  of  the  proposed  factory  were  laid 
before  a  few  prominent  citizens  of  Auburn,  at  a  meet- 


GENKKAL    PROGRESS.  265 

ing  at  the  Western  Exchange,  in  the  niontli  of  March, 
1844,  by  the  Hon.  Wm.  II.  Seward,  and  others,  whose 
argnments  on  the  snhject  were  so  convincing,  that  it 
was  ^resolv^ed  to  make  immediate  efforts  to  erect  a 
woolen  mill  here,  and  Mr.  Seward,  Eleazer  Hills,  and 
Amos  Underwood  were  instructed  to  prepare  articles 
of  association  for  a  manufacturing  incorporation,  with 
a  capital  of  $100,000.  The  company  known  as  the 
Cayuga  Factory  was  formed  on  the  1st  day  of  April, 
by  Hon.  Wm.  II.  Seward,  John  M.  Sherwood,  Amos 
Underwood,  William  C.  Beardsley,  Captain  Bradley 
Tuttle,  Sherman  Beardsley,  Abijah  Fitch,  and  Charles 
W.  Pomeroy.  Joseph  Wadsworth  and  George  C.  E. 
Thompson  were  admitted  to  the  company  a  few  days 
afterward. 

The  project  of  these  gentlemen  was  viewed  by  oiu* 
citizens  generally  with  great  favor,  but  they  w^ere  not, 
in  1844,  prepared  to  support  it  with  their  investments. 
The  amount  of  capital  required  was  large,  and  it  was 
necessary  that  the  profit  of  the  mill  should  be  clearly 
apparent.  In  February,  1845,  the  Hon.  Christopher 
Morgan,  D.  C.  Stewart,  and  Horace  Hotchkiss,  were 
requested  to  lend  their  aid  in  the  matter  of  obtaining 
subscriptions  toward  the  factory.  They  were  inter- 
ested in  the  enterprise,  and  on  the  26th  they  complied 
with  the  request  of  the  citizens,  by  publishing  an  ad- 
dress on  the  subject,  which  was  sent  all  over  the  coun- 
ty.    This  pa})er  set  forth  the  abundance  of  indolent 


266  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

water-power  in  Auburn,  the  superior  quality  of  Cay- 
uga County  wool,  of  which  there  was  then  annually 
produced  nearly  four  hundred  thousand  pounds,  the 
benefits  which  would  accrue  to  this  community  from 
the  operation  of  the  factory,  the  augmentation  of  the 
village  to  be  caused  thereby,  and  the  large  dividends 
then  being  paid  by  well-known  woolen  factories  to  their 
stockholders.  The  address  was  well-timed  and  ser- 
viceable. A  large  amount  of  money  was  speedily  sub- 
scribed toward  the  stock  of  the  proposed  company,  most 
of  which  was  contributed  with  the  excellent  motive  of 
aiding  an  object  that  tended  to  promote  the  common 
prosperity.  The  movement,  however,  was  suffered  to 
come  to  a  stand  during  the  summer,  wliere  it  remained 
for  two  years. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1847,  an  informal  meeting 
of  those  interested  in  the  woolen  mill  project  was  held 
in  a  back  room  of  the  Western  Exchange,  upon  the  re- 
quest of  Harvey  Baldwin,  of  Syracuse,  and  Dr.  C.  D. 
Mclntyre,  of  Albany,  both  of  whom  were  large  owners 
in  the  power  of  the  big  dam,  and  contiguous  property, 
and  who  jointly  proposed  to  furnish  a  mill  site  at  a 
nominal  price,  and  subscribe  twenty  thousand  dollars 
toward  the  stock  of  a  woolen  company,  provided  that 
the  people  of  Auburn  would  now  put  forth  their  ener- 
gies, organize  a  company,  and  build  a  mill.  The  meet- 
ing was  composed  of  business  men,  accustomed  to  act 
promptly,  and  sixteen  thousand  dollars  was   pledged 


GENEKAL    PEOGRESS.  26T 

by  them  toward  the  object  on  the  spot.  It  was  pro- 
posed, in  the  first  instance,  to  form  a  company  with  a 
capital  of  $40,000.  But  on  the  20th  of  February  the 
shareholders  rrfet,  and  raised  the  capital  of  the  com- 
pany to  $100,000.  They  then  organized  as  the  Auburn 
Woolen  Company,  with  the  following  officers :  Hon, 
John  Porter,  president ;  Henry  G.  EUsw^orth,  manu- 
facturer ;  and  Dr.  Joseph  T.  Pitney,  John  H.  Chedell,. 
Abijah  Fitch,  E.  P.  Williams,  William  C.  Beardsley, 
Captain  Bradley  Tuttle,  and  Dr.  C.  D.  McTntyre,  di- 
rectors. 

A  site  for  the  mill  was  purchased  of  the  Auburn  and 
Owasco  Canal  Company,  with  one-third  of  the  hydrau- 
lic power  of  the  dam,  on  the  1st  of  March.  The  erec- 
tion of  the  main  mill,  which  is  elsewhere  at  length  de- 
scribed, was  begun  the  same  year.  When  completed,, 
the  cost  of  this  building  was  found  too  far  in  excess  oi 
the  original  estimates.  In  order  to  stock  the  establish- 
ment with  machinery,  therefore,  and  erect  other  neces- 
sary works,  it  became  necessary  to  enlarge  the  capital 
of  the  company.  This  was  done  September  8th,  1851, 
by  the  stockholders,  who  met  at  the  call  of  John  Por- 
ter, John  L.  Watrous,  Parliament  Bronson,  James 
Mclntyre,  Charles  Bemis,  and  Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr., 
then  directors.     The  stock  was  increased  to  $158,400. 

The  mill  went  into  operation  at  once.  For  a  while, 
it  seemed  to  realize  the  expectations  of  its  founders  in 
every  respect.     A  market  was  created  in  Auburn  for 


268  HISTORY   OF   AUBUKN. 

wool,  business  was  stimulated,  and  tlie  importation  of  a 
large  number  of  operatives  to  work  tbe  factory,  con- 
siderably expanded  tbe  population  of  tbe  town.  But 
a  dull  season  came  on,  and  tbe  company  suffered  lieavy 
losses  in  its  business,  wbicb  obliged  it  to  suspend  ope- 
rations ;  and  its  property  passed  soon  afterward,  by 
sale  at  a  great  sacrifice,  into  the  possession  of  Samuel 
Harris  and  bis  partner,  Mr.  Fitten,  botb  of  Pbiladel- 
pliia.  Tbe  mill  did  not  prove  to  be  a  profitable  in- 
vestment for  tbese  parties.  They  sold  it  to  Samuel  L. 
Bush  and  Mr.  Munkitterick,  who,  in  1859,  transferred 
it  to  C.  N.  Fearing.  Mr.  Bush,  however,  remained  at 
the  mill  as  manager  till  the  spring  of  1863. 

On  the  7th  day  of  February  of  that  year,  the  second 
Auburn  Woolen  Company  was  organized,  with  a  capi- 
tal of  $100,000,  for  the  term  of  twenty  years.  Mr. 
Fearing  was  elected  president  of  the  corporation.  He 
was  associated  with  Benjamin  L.  Swan,  Jr.,  and  "Wil- 
liam Gray  Wise,  as  trustee.  The  capital  of  the  com- 
pany was  increased  May  4th,  1864,  to  $200,000. 

Since  1863  the  woolen  mill  has  been  conducted  un- 
der the  efficient  management  of  Mr.  Wise,  the  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  company.  S.  R .  Eathbone  was 
superintendent  at  the  mill  from  the  time  of  Mr.  Wise's 
appointment  till  the  early  part  1868,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Samuel  Laurie.  Under  the  prudent 
supervision  of  these  gentlemen,  the  company  is  now 
able  to  manufacture  a  prime  quality  of  goods,  the  de- 


GENERAL    FKOGRESS.  269 

mand  for  which  it  is  impossible  tosup})ly,  and  to  make 
a  handsome  profit  on  its  investments. 

The  month  of  March,  1846,  was  the  dawn  of  a  new 
era  for  journalism  in  Auburn.  Hitherto  the  chief 
perplexity  of  the  editors  of  all  country  newspapers 
had  been,  how  to  obtain  the  news.  In  early  times, 
when  the  stages  were  the  only  news-carriers,  and 
events  transpiring  at  the  seaboard  were  two  week& 
old  before  they  were  heard  of  in  Auburn,  the  journals 
of  the  great  cities  and  the  letters  of  correspondents 
were  the  principal  sources  of  information.  The  mails 
were  always  sufficiently  meager.  An  intelligent  trav- 
eler, therefore,  fresh  from  the  city,  was  regarded  by 
editors,  and  indeed  by  people  generally,  somewhat  as 
a  messenger  of  light.  Should  he  chance  to  stop  at  a 
tavern,  where  everybody  was  accustomed  to  gather  to 
learn  what  news  might  be  brought  by  the  stage,  he 
would  always  be  surrounded  by  citizens  and  plied 
with  questions,  till,  as  was  often  the  case,  he  would  be 
forced  to  go  to  bed  to  escape  their  endless  queries. 
(It  is  easy  to  see  where  Yankee  inquisitiveness  origin- 
ated.) Country  newspapers  could  scarcely  compete 
with  the  papers  of  New  York  and  Albany  for  the 
subscriptions  of  the  active  business  men  in  the  villages 
in  which  tliey  were  printed,  on  account  of  the  una- 
voidable tardiness  of  the  editors  in  laying  before  their 
readers  the  state  of  tlie  markets  and  the  important  oc- 
currences of  the  day. 


270  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

The  canals  and  railroads  aided  newspapers  in  the 
interior  by  increasing  the  rapidity  with  which  news 
might  he  obtained.  Semi-weeklies  and  extras  began 
to  be  largely  issued,  in  1838,  by  the  presses  of  Auburn, 
to  keep  pace  with  the  progress  of  the  times.  But  the 
prosperity  of  these  papers  really  began  with  the  con- 
struction of  the  telegraph,  in  184:6.  Lines  of  the 
wires  were  brought  to  Auburn  from  the  east  in  May 
of  this  year,  and  were  thrown  open  for  use  on  the  25th. 
Our  editors  were  then  put  in  possession  of  intelligence 
from  the  seats  of  commerce  and  government  as  soon 
as  the  papers  in  the  city.  With  commendable  public 
spirit  and  enterprise,  they  anticipated  the  completion  of 
the  telegraph  by  arranging  with  the  Syracuse  and 
Utica  papers  for  receiving  the  news  temporarily,  and, 
in  March,  issuing,  for  the  first  time  in  Auburn,  daily 
gazettes.  These  were  published  respectively  from  the 
offices  of  the  Cayuga  Patriot  and  the  Auhurn  Adver- 
tiser. Both  were  modest  little  five-column  sheets, 
about  the  size  of  the  original  Western  Federalist. 
From  that  time  the  local  papers  of  Auburn  rapidly 
gained  ground  in  the  esteem  of  business  men  and 
residents  of  the  town.  They  now  occupy  a  command- 
ing position,  and  overshadow  the  prints  of  all  daily 
presses  outside  of  the  metropolis. 

The  State  Fair  of  1846  was,  at  the  urgent  request  of 
our  citizens  and  of  the  County  Agricultural  Society, 
held  in  Auburn.     The  field  prepared  for  the  purpose 


GENERAL    PROGKESS.  271 

was  that  upon  the  top  of  the  Capitol  hill,  forming  part 
of  the  old  Beach  form,  where  ample  wooden  buildings 
had  been  erected  on  all  sides  for  the  use^of  exhibitions. 
The  fair  opened  on  the  15th  of  September,  and  lasted 
three  days,  during  wdiich  the  w^eather  was  warm  and 
most  auspicious.  The  town  was  far  more  crowded  than 
at  any  other  time  in  its  historj^  People  poured  into  its 
streets  by  every  route  and  line  of  conveyance.  The 
railroads  were  burdened  beyond  precedent.  A  train 
from  Cayuga,  with  fifteen  hundred  people  on  board, 
could  not  ascend  tlie  heavy  grades,  but  stuck  fast  near 
the  Shunpike,  and  the  travelers  had  to  walk  in  to  the 
town.  N'o  State  Fair  had  yet  drawn  so  large  an  at- 
tendance. It  was  estimated  tliat  there  were  no  less 
than  thirty  thousand  people  in  Auburn  at  the  time 
of  highest  pressure. 

Traveling  shows,  stages,  wagons,  eating  stands,  and 
droves  of  splendid  cattle,  thronged  every  avenue  lead- 
ing to  the  grounds.  The  places  of  amusement,  the 
public  halls,  and  the  court-house,  were  all  open  at  night, 
and  crowds  of  people  w^ere  entertained  there  with 
speeches  and  exhibitions.  On  the  last  day,  tlie  annual 
address  was  delivered  on  the  hill,  by  Samuel  Stevens, 
Esq.,  of  Albany. 

The  disposition  of  the  masses  at  night  was  pi'ovided 
for  by  lines  of  wagons  and  stages  to  all  the  surround- 
ing villages,  and  by  special  trains  on  the  railroad  to 
the  towns  l)etween  (xeneva  and  Svracuse.     Everv  tav- 


272  HISTORV    OF    AUBURN. 

erii  in  Auburn,  and  many  private  dwellings,  were 
crammed  to  their  utmost  capacity. 

Auburn  was  chartered  as  a  city  on  the  21st  day  of 
March,  ISiS,  having  then  nearly  eighty-five  hundred 
inhabitants.  A  charter  election  took  place  on  the  first 
Tuesday  of  April,  at  which  Cyrus  C.  Dennis,  a  public- 
spirited  and  energetic  citizen,  was  elected  the  first 
mayor. 

Brighter  days  dawned  on  Auburn  after  the  incor- 
poration. The  general  despondency  that  had  per- 
vaded the  town  since  1837,  and  stagnated  business  of 
every  sort,  was  now  succeeded  by  an  equally  general 
reanimation. 

Laws  to  increase  the  usefulness  and  infiuence  of  the 
common  schools  of  Auburn  were  passed  about  the 
year  1850.  They  properly  introduce  the  interesting 
subject  of  public  instruction.  The  importance  given 
to  this  subject,  by  the  just  celebrity  of  the  institutions 
built  in  Auburn  to  difiuse  knowledge  amongst  the 
young,  will  afford  all  needful  apology  for  beginning 
an  account  of  them  at  the  beginning,  notwithstanding 
that  this  embraces  many  particulars  in  relation  to  ob- 
solete systems  and  extinct  schools  in  Auburn,  which 
are,  in  fact,  valuable  only  for  the  sake  of  complete- 
ness, and  to  inform  the  curious. 

The  earliest  encouragement  given  to  common 
schools,  in  this  State,  was  contained  in  a  provision  of 
the  law  of  1789,  regulating  the  survey  and  disposition 


GEN]  KAL    PKOGRESF.  273 

of  the  waste  public  lands.  The  State  admitted,  even 
at  this  early  day,  the  iaiperative  nature  of  its  duty  to 
aid  education,  l)y  devoting  two  lots  of  six  hundred 
acres  each,  in  every  township  of  ten  miles  square,  to 
the  support  of  literature,  and  of  the  gospel  and  schools. 
And,  further,  by  the  passage  of  a  law,  in  1795,  upon 
the  advice  of  the  Regents  of  the  University,  author- 
izing the  annual  appropriation,  for  live  years,  of  twenty 
thousand  pounds  sterling,  to  maintain,  throughout  its 
territory,  schools  wherein  cliildren  might  be  taught 
such  "  branches  of  knowledge  as  are  most  useful  and 
necessary  to  complete  a  good  English  education.'' 

With  rare  zeal  for  the  mental  welfare  of  their  sons 
and  daughters,  the  few  scattered  male  settlers  of  Aure- 
lius  assembled  from  the  various  openings  in  the  gloomy 
forests  that  overspread  the  township,  in  April,  1796,  at 
the  house  of  Colonel  Hardenburgli,  and  took  their  first 
efficient  action  in  relation  to  schools,  being  encouraged 
to  the  same  by  the  laws  above  alluded  to.  A  "  town 
committee  on  schools  "  was  appointed,  consisting  of 
Ezekiel  Crane,  Joseph  Grover,  John  L.  Ilardenburgh, 
and  Elijah  Price,  'into  whose  hands  was  put  the  whole 
management  of  school  lands  and  moneys,  and  the  over- 
sight of  school-houses.  Town  committees  of  this  na- 
ture were  annually  elected  till  1812,  when  they  were 
succeeded  by  officers  of  another  title.  Upon  the  Aure- 
lius  committee  there  were,  at  different  times,  such  en- 
terprising men   as   Dr.    Samuel   Crossett,  Walter  D. 

le 


274  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Nicoll,  William  Bostwick,  Moses  Gilbert,  Edward 
Wheeler,  David  Back,  Win.  C.  Bennett,  Noah  Tay- 
lor, Jabez  Gould,  and  Moses  Weed,  Jr.  The  litera- 
ture, and  gospel,  and  school  lots  of  Aurelius,  were  not 
designated  till  September  28tli,  1796.  They  were  then, 
however,  specified  l)y  the  supervisors  of  Onondaga 
County — Aurelius  being  represented  in  the  Board  by 
Elijah  Price — as  lots  number  thirty-six  and  sixty,  re- 
spectively. 

School-houses  were,  soon  after  this  event,  built  in  or 
near  all  the  principal  clearings  in  the  township.  Four 
stood  on  the  site  of  Auburn.  These  were  the  little 
buildings  mentioned  in  chapter  second  as  standing  on 
!N"orth  Street  hill,  on  the  south-east  corner  of  Division 
and  Genesee  Streets,  on  the  south-west  corner  of  South 
and  Genesee  Streets,  and  on  Franklin  Street.  The 
cost  of  erecting  and  maintaining  these  very  inexpen- 
sive structures  was  borne  by  the  neighborhoods  in 
which  they  were  situated.  The  teacher  was  not,  in 
these  simple  times,  usually  an  overpaid  man,  nor  was 
he  scrupulous  as  to  the  manner  in  which  he  was  paid. 
He  rarely,  if  ever,  saw  cash,  but  was  content  to  receive 
his  wages  in  boarding  around,  and  in  available  pro- 
duce of  the  farm.  He  conducted  the  school  on  what- 
ever plan  he  chose,  but  was  seldom  employed  except 
during  the  winter  months. 

This  method  of  extending  the  rudiments  of  educa- 
tion to  the  children  of  the  masses  was  well-meant,  but 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  275 

inefficient ;  in  consideration  of  which,  the  Legishiture, 
in  1805,  passed  an  act  for  the  appropriation  of  the 
avails  of  the  sale  of  live  hundred  thousand  acres  of 
the  public  lands,  as  a  permanent  fund  for  supporting 
and  encouraging  the  schools.  The  moneys  were  to  be 
permitted  to  accumulate  till  the  annual  interest  should 
exceed  $50,000.  That  interest  was  then  to  be  annu- 
ally distributed  amongst  the  school  districts.  The 
benefit  of  this  act  was  not  immediate,  so  that  the  com- 
mon schools  came  to  be  very  much  neglected.  They 
gradually  fell  into  disrepute  among  the  wealthier 
classes;  and  the  result  of  this,  in  Auburn,  was  the  for- 
mation of  a  multitude  of  private  and  select  schools,  an<] 
the  establishment  of  the  first  Auburn  Academy,  in 
which  there  was  a  department  for  every  age  and  grade 
of  scholars  below  those  of  a  collecce. 

In  1811,  the  Legislature  appointed  Jedediah  Peck, 
Samuel  Russel,  John  Murray,  Jr.,  Roger  Skinner,  and 
Kobert  Macomb,  as  a  committee,  to  devise  a  school  sys- 
tem suitable  to  the  wants  of  the  expanding  population 
of  the  State.  An  act  based  upon  their  re])ort  was 
passed  June  19th,  1812 ;  but  was  revised  April  15th, 
1814,  to  give  it  greater  efficiency.  The  general  out- 
lines of  the  system  thus  adopted,  which  was  framed 
with  the  view  of  placing  within  the  reach  of  every 
youth  in  New  York,  between  the  ages  of  five  and 
twenty-one,  the  means  of  acquiring  the  first  principles 
of  knowledij^e,  and  whicli  reinaiiied  in  use  with  no  im- 


276  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN.  ' 

portant  alteration  for  nearly  forty  years,  were  these : 
The  school  moneys  wore  to  be  apportioned  amongst 
the  counties  according  to  their  population,  by  an  officer 
called  the  State  Superintendent.     The  treasurers  of 
the  counties  were  to  receive  the  county  moneys,  and  pay 
them  over  to  the  town  school-commissioners,  three  of 
whom  were  to  be  annually  elected  at  every  town-meet- 
ing.     The  commissioners  were  authorized  to  divide 
the  towns  into  convenient  districts  and  neighborhoods, 
which  they  might  alter  or  modify  as  it  was  necessary, 
and  distribute  to  them  the  public  moneys  of  the  town. 
Teachers  were  to  be  examined  and  licensed  by  inspec- 
tors, elected  not  to  exceed   six  in  number  in  every 
town.       Wlierever  districts  were  formed  by  the  com- 
missioners, the  people  residing  therein  were  required  to 
assemble  on  due  notice,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing 
three  trustees,  a  clerk,  and  a  collector,  of  designating 
a  site  for  a  school-house,  and  of  levying  a  tax  to  build 
the  same.     The  trustees  employed  the  teacher,  paying 
their  wages  from  the  public  moneys,  if  sufficient,  and  if 
not,  from  moneys  raised  by  a  rate-bill  or  tax  upon  the 
families  sending  children  to  school.      They  were  also 
authorized  to  collect  taxesflevied  at  district  meetings, 
provide  fuel  and  repairs  for  the  school,  and  to  exoner- 
;ite,  at  their  discretion,  from  the  payment  of  all  sums 
due  for  tuition,  repairs  to  the  school,  etc,,  all  families 
that  were  in  feeble  circumstances. 

This  was  a  salutary  and  well-timed  law,  and  was 


GENERAL    PKOGKESf^ .  Zii 

generally  approved.  The  first  board  of  commissioners 
elected  in  Anreliiis,  pursuant  to  its  provision,  consisted 
of  John  Grover,  Zenas  Iluggins,  and  Cromwell  Ben- 
nett ;  and  the  first  board  of  trustees,  of  Hon.  Elijah 
Miller,  Hon.  John  IT.  Beach,  David  Hyde,  Keuben  S. 
Morris,  and  Stephen  Wheaton.  In  18 14-,  under  the 
revised  law,  Zenas  Huggins,  Ephraim  Hammond,  and 
Nathaniel  Millard,  then  recently  elected  commission- 
ers, laid  off  the  township  into  twenty-four  districts, 
subsequently  increased  to  thirty-one,  recording  their 
boundaries  in  the  old  town-book.  Auburn,  not  then 
incorporated,  was  at  first  included  in  district  No.  9, 
which  comprised  all  of  what  is  now  the  city,  north  of 
Judge  Richardson's  farm.  All  west  and  south  of  the 
creek  became,  in  1816,  No.  2G.  In  1817,  that  part  of 
the  village  east  of  the  outlet  and  a  line  drawn  there- 
from through  Seminary  Avenue  to  the  village  line,  was 
set  apart  as  district  No.  30.  Upon  the  petition  of 
Wm.  Bostwick,  Dr.  Hackaliah  Burt,  Asa  Munger, 
and  John  Patty,  district  No.  26  was,  after  certain 
changes,  converted,  in  July,  1822,  into  No.  29. 
Meanwhile,  the  people  were  organizing  and  building 
school-houses.  Several  were  erected  in  and  around 
Auburn,  though  two  only  attained  any  prominence. 
These  were  the  Bell  school-house,  on  East — now  Ful- 
ton— Street,  built  in  1818,  and  containing  the  only 
school-bell  in  the  village,  and  the  school-house  on  the 
south-west  corner  of  the  Episcopal  church-yard,  after- 


278  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

ward  used  as  a  printing-office.  Both  these  schools 
were  built  of  brick,  contained  one  room  each,  and  were 
conducted  upon  the  Lancastrian  system  of  instruction. 
In  1822,  they  were  jointly  under  the  care  of  Abijali 
Keeler,  Dr.  Burt,  Wm.  Bostwick,  Abner  Beach,  and 
James  Little,  trustees,  under  whose  able  administra- 
tion they  became  popular,  numerously  attended,  and 
efficient  institutions. 

Tlie  town  of  Auburn  having  been  separated  from 
Aurelius  in  1823,  a  new  arrangement  of  districts  was 
soon  afterward  made  for  the  convenience  of  the  village 
people.  Dr.  Richard  Steel  and  James  Fitch,  com- 
missioners, in  the  month  of  December,  designated  dis- 
trict No.  30  as  new  district  No.  1,  and  'No.  29  as  No. 
'2.  They  then  created  No.  3  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  tow^n.  Erastus  Pease,  Theodore  Spencer,  and  Asa 
Munger,  commissioners  in  1825,  changed  that  part  of 
the  village  proper  north  of  the  creek,  and  west  of  No. 
1,  to  No.  4.  No.  6  was  set  off  from  No.  2  in  1827,  it 
being  all  east  of  State,  Exchange,  and  South  Streets. 
The  stone  school-house  at  Clarksville  w^as  built  in  No. 
9,  in  1824,  by  Edward  Allen,  Hermon  Eldredge,  and 
Kingsley  Mason,  trustees.  A  small  brick  school  in 
No.  4,  on  North  Street,  was  erected  in  1827.  Jabez 
Pease,  John  Patty,  and  Eseck  C.  Bradford  erected  a 
similar  one  in  No.  6,  in  1828,  on  School  Street. 

The  act  of  April  17th,  1838,  appropriating  the  in- 
come of  the  United  States  deposit  fund,  or  at  least 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  279 

$165,000  thereof,  for  the  general  good  of  the  common 
schools,  and  the  purchase  of  libraries  of  sound,  mis- 
cellaneous Avorks,  in  eacli  district,  was  a  valuable  assis- 
tance in  gaining  for  these  institutions  tlie  esteem  and 
support  of  wealthy  people. 

Real  improvement  in  the  cliaracter  and  condition  of 
the  public  schools  of  this  city  and  county  was  first 
made  under  the  efficient  administration  of  ElHott  G. 
Storke,  of  Brutus,  county  superintendent,  and  Philo 
H.  Perry,  town  superintendent  of  Auburn,  both  of 
whom  were  elected  in  1843.  The  thorough  investiga- 
tions of  Mr.  Storke  disclosed  the  fact  that  there  were 
at  that  time,  in  this  county,  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  district  schools,  and  in  this  city  four ;  that  one  only 
of  the  whole  number  contained  more  rooms  than  one, 
that  the  buildings  were  rudely  built  and  painfully 
out  of  repair,  that  the  upper  classes  refused  to  allow 
their  children  to  be  taught  in  such  uncomfortable  and 
unhealthy  places,  and  that,  in  many  instances,  the  chil- 
dren of  the  lower  classes  remained  at  home  because 
the  parents  were  unable  to  incur  the  expense  of  tuition 
at  the  school,  and  shunned  the  reproach  contained  in  the 
idea  of  being  exonerated  from  that  expense  by  the  dis- 
trict trustees.  These  evils  were  traceable  to  the  apathy, 
or  conservatism,  of  the  people  of  the  various  districts 
in  relation  to  the  schools ;  and  being  reiterated  from 
every  quarter  of  the  State,  gained  at  last  the  attention 
of  the  Legislature,  and  their  definite  and  positive  action. 


280  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

District  school-house  No.  2  was  erected  in  1843-4, 
bv  Charles  W.  Pomeroy,  Isaac  S.  Allen,  and  Benja- 
min F.  Hall,  trustees.  "  There  bein2:  a  lar^-e  number 
of  colored  children  resident  in  the  town,  for  whom  no 
school  had  hitherto  been  provided,  wlio  were  excluded 
from  most  if  not  all  the  public  schools  by  reason  of 
popular  prejudice  and  violence,"  a  district  was  created 
for  their  especial  benefit,  in  September,  1846,  by 
Charles  A.  Parsons,  the  successor  of  Mr.  Perry  as 
town  superintendent.  The  district  embraced  the 
whole  town.  Its  trustees,  in  1846,  were  John  R.  Hop- 
kins, Daniel  Hewson,  and  Charles  Griffin ;  subse- 
quently they  were  Israel  F.  Terrill,  Joseph  W.  Quincy, 
and  Jacob  Jordan.  The  school  was  established  in  the 
wooden  building  on  AVashington  Street,  since  used  as 
the  African  church.  It  was  discontinued  in  1851, 
and  the  children  of  negroes  have,  to  the  present,  at- 
tended the  other  public  schools  of  the  city  uninter- 
ruptedly. The  office  of  county  superintendent  being 
abolished  March  13th,  1847,  Cayuga  was  deprived  of 
one  of  its  most  efficient  school  officers  in  the  person  of 
Mr.  Storke. 

Levi  Johnson  was  elected  city  superintendent  in 
1848,  and  the  same  year  re-arranged  the  districts  of 
the  city,  limiting  the  number  to  five,  and  dissolving  all 
joint  districts  and  neighborhoods.  Mr.  Johnson  dis- 
charged his  official  duties  with  great  ability  and  dis- 
cretion till  1856,  wlien,  declining  a  re-appointment,  he 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  281 

devoted  himself  to  the  manas^ement  of  his  own  affairs, 
and  was  then  succeeded  by  Charles  P.  Williams,  who 
retained  the  position  for  ten  years.  To  Mr.  Williams 
the  citizens  of  Auburn  are  indebted  for  a  zealous  ad- 
ministration, and  well-directed  efforts  in  the  business 
of  systematizing  and  elevating  their  schools  toward  the 
eminent  position  they  now  occupy. 

The  act  extending  free  and  gratuitous  education  to 
the  pupils  of  all  the  public  schools  of  this  State  was 
passed  March  26th,  1849.  It  was  ratified  at  a  popu- 
lar election  by  a  vote  of  243,872  against  91,951,  or  by 
fifty-five  counties  against  four.  Its  propriety  being 
afterward  challenged  by  a  restless  aristocratic  element 
in  the  State,  the  act  was  again  submitted  to  the  peo- 
ple, its  faults  having  first  been  thoroughly  ventilated, 
and  in  Xovember,  1850,  the  people  sustained  their  for- 
mer decision  by  a  majority  of  25,000  votes. 

The  free-school  system  of  Auburn  had  its  origin  in 
the  law  of  1849.  lion.  Christopher  Morgan,  of  Auburn, 
was  at  this  time  Secretary  of  State,  and  ex-officio  su- 
perintendent of  schools.  Section  seven  of  the  act  pro- 
vided that,  in  ^'  each  city  where  free  and  gratuitous  edu- 
cation was  not  already  established,  laws  and  ordinan- 
ces might,  and  should  without  delay  be  passed,  provid- 
ing fur  and  securing  and  sustaining  the  system  in  each  of 
their  common,  public,  ward,  or  district  schools."  This 
feature  of  the  law  was  presented  to  the  Common  Council 
of  this  city  in  January,  1850,  by  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  in 


HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 


behalf  of  Lewis  Paddoek,  Esq.,  then  principal  of  district 
school  ^^o.  1,  who  has  the  honor  of  beginning  the  Au- 
burn free-school  movement,  and  led  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  Hon.  Theodore  Pomeroy,  then  city  clerk,  and 
the  veteran  teacher,  Levi  Johnson,  as  a  committee  to 
draft  a  special  free  school  law  for  Auburn.  This 
law  was  duly  drawn,  and  \vas  passed  by  the  Legisla- 
ture on  the  10th  of  April,  1850.  It  created  a  Board  of 
Education,  composed  of  one  trustee  from  each  school 
district,  elected  annually,  one  commissioner  from  each 
ward  of  the  city,  the  mayor,  who  was  ex-officio  presi- 
dent of  the  board,  and  the  city  superintendent,  who 
was  also  ex-officio  clerk  of  the  board.  The  board,  thus 
constituted,  was  invested  with  supreme  control  of  the 
districts,  schools,  and  teachers,  and  the  disbursement 
of  school  moneys.  The  Common  Council  was  empow- 
ered to  raise,  by  tax,  a  sum  sufficient  to  discharge  the 
expense  of  carrying  on  the  schools,  and  to  raise  yearly, 
upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
three  thousand  dollars  for  building  purposes.  The  lat- 
ter amount  was  extended,  in  1864,  to  eight  thousand. 
To  the  trustees  was  committed  the  care  of  the  school- 
houses  and  property  of  their  respective  districts. 

On  the  21st  of  May,  1850,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
several  districts  in  Auburn  met  and  elected  their  first 
trustees  under  the  new  act.  These  gentlemen  assem- 
bled at  the  town  hall  on  the  28th,  together  with  four 
commissi (jners,  dul}^  appointed  by  the  Common  Council, 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  285 

and  the  mayor  and  city  superintendent,  and  organized 
the  first  Board  of  Education.  The  board  consisted  of 
his  Honor,  Anrelian  Conkling,  mayor  ;  Levi  Johnson, 
superintendent  and  clerk ;  S.  W.  Arnett,  Dr.  B.  Fos- 
gate,  I.  S.  Marshall,  and  C.  P.  Williams,  commission- 
ers ;  and  E.  AV.  Ketchell,  Isaac  S.  Allen,  Z.  M.  Mason, 
J.  S.  Bartlett,  and  Isaac  Sisson,  Jr.,  trustees.  Since 
this  first  organization,  there  have  been  connected  with 
the  board,  in  the  capacity  of  trustee  or  commissioner, 
the  following  friends  of  education  :  Ilarman  Woodruff', 
J.  E.  Hopkins,  C.  N.  Tuttle,  Wm.  H.  Yan  Tuyle,  H. 
N.  Thompson,  Josiah  Letchworth,  C.  L.  Sittser,  Henry 
M.  Stone,  Benj.  F.  Hall,  Dorr  Hamlin,  C.  L.  Wheaton, 
Miles  Perry,  E.  G.  Storke,  J.  W.  Haiglit,  Chas.  Car- 
penter, William  Laniey,  James  E.  Tyler,  T.  J.  Ken- 
nedy, S.  L.  Bradley,  Lewis  Paddock,  Benj.  B.  Snow, 
B.  A.  Tuttle,  and  Joseph  Osborn. 

Ordinances  for  the  regulation  and  management  of 
the  schools  were  adopted  August  3d,  1850.  These 
secured  a  thorough  uniformity,  throughout  the  city,  of 
modes  of  instruction  and  text-books,  directed  the  sep- 
aration of  the  sexes  in  the  schools,  limited  the  school 
year  to  forty-five  weeks,  and  prescribed  the  course  of 
studies.  They  laid  the  foundation  of  that  system  of 
free  education  in  Auburn,  which,  modified  and  im- 
proved from  time  to  time,  has  now  attained  a  perfec- 
tion and  usefulness  not  excelled  in  Western  KewYork, 
and  of  which  this  city  is  deservedly  proud. 


284:  HISTORY    OP^    AUBURN. 

The  free-scliool  law  met  at  the  oiit-et  the  intense 
opposition  of  the  conservative  element  of  Auburn 
fiociety.  But  its  advantages  were  so  apparent,  that  it 
soon  won  its  way  to  the  regard  of  all  liberal-minded 
men,  and  enlisted  their  support.  New  and  costly 
school-houses  were  then  erected  successively  in  each  of 
the  five  districts,  and  furnished  with  modern  and  ele- 
gant desks,  benches,  libraries,  and  conveniences.  The 
new  No.  1  supplanted  the  old  in  1850-1 ;  the  new  No. 
4  was  built  on  the  east  side  of  North  Street  in  1851 ; 
No.  5  was  erected  on  the  corner  of  Seymour  and 
Washington  Streets  the  same  year ;  the  new  No.  2  was 
built  in  1852 ;  and  the  new  No.  3,  on  the  corner  oi 
Grover  and  Mechanic  Streets,  in  1857  ;  a  more  modem 
and  commodious  school  was  built  in  No.  4,  on  Seymour 
Street,  in  1866 ;  No.  1  was  enlarged  in  1867-8.  The 
school-houses  of  Auburn,  as  a  class,  are  now  the  finest 
of  its  public  buildings. 

The  High  School  of  Auburn  was  authorized  in 
March,  1866,  by  the  following  amendment  to  the  free- 
school  act :  "  The  said  Board  (of  Education)  shall 
have  power  to  establish,  organize,  and  maintain  a 
classical  department  or  school  under  their  charge  in 
the  city  of  Auburn,  and  purchase  a  site,  and  erect  a 
building  therefor  in  their  discretion,  and  said  classical 
department  or  school  shall  be  known  as  the  Auburn 
Academic  High  School ;  and  the  said  Board  of  Edu- 
cation of  the  city  of  Auburn,  and  their  successors  in 


GENERAL   PROGRESS.  285 

office,  are  hereby  constituted  a  body  corporate  fur  tliat 
purpose,  under  that  name ;  which  department  or  school 
shall  be  subject  to  the  visitation  of  the  Eegents  of  the 
University  of  this  State,  and  to  all  laws  and  regulations 
applicable  to  the  incorporated  academies  thereof,  and 
shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  such  academies, 
and  to  share  in  the  distribution  of  the  moneys  of  the 
literature  fund  of  this  State,  as  the  said  academies 
thereof.  The  said  board  shall  have  the  power,  with 
the  consent  of  two-thirds  of  the  trustees  of  the  Au- 
burn Academy,  to  use  and  occupy  the  said  Auburn 
Academy  property  for  the  purposes  of  said  Academic 
High  School ;  and  with  the  consent  of  two-thirds  ot 
the  trustees  of  said  academy,  they  may  take  a  trans- 
fer of  said  property,  known  as  the  Auburn  Academy 
propert}^,  to  the  said  Auburn  Academic  High  School ; 
and  thereafter  the  same  shall  be  nsed  and  occupied  as 
an  Academic  High  School,  pursuant  to  the  provisions- 
of  this  act.  And  tuition  in  said  Academic  High  School 
shall  be  for  ever  without  charge  to  all  children  residing 
in  the  city  of  Auburn."  This  project,  which  had  long 
been  a  subject  of  meditation  with  some  of  the  school 
authorities  here,  was  first  distinctly  presented  to  the 
Board  of  Education  by  a  resolution  adopted  March 
10th,  1856,  by  the  inhabitants  of  school  district  No.  1, 
at  an  annual  meeting,  which  was  laid  before  the  Board 
by  Josiah  Letchworth,  the  trustee.  No  action  was 
taken  at  this  time  in  the  matter,  but  in  October,  1863, 


286  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

the  trufctees  of  the  Auburn  Academy  signified  to  the 
Board  their  interest  in  the  establishment  of  a  High 
School,  and  agreed  to  co-Oi)erate,  if  the  project  was 
undertaken.  The  matter  was  then  generally  agitated. 
In  the  winter  of  1865-6,  enterprising  men  took  the 
movement  in  charge,  and  secured  the  law  that  enabled 
them  to  carry  it  into  effect.  The  Principal  of  the 
Higli  School  was  by  the  law  made  secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Education.  To  this  important  and  respon- 
sible position,  Warren  Iligley,  A.M.,  of  Auburn,  was 
elected  in  the  spring  of  1866.  The  herculean  task  of 
-classifying  and  grading  the  pupils  of  tlie  district 
schools  was  instantly  undertaken  by  Mr.  Higley,  as 
preliminary  to  the  opening  of  the  Pligh  School.  The 
task  accomplished,  or  partially  so,  the  High  School 
went  into  operation  in  January,  1867,  commencing 
with  seventy-seven  scholars.  The  institution  was  a 
success  from  the  beginning,  and,  without  question,  ex- 
ceeded all  that  had  ever  been  claimed  for  it  by  the 
most  sanguine  of  its  friends.  This  result,  however,  is 
justly  attributed,  not  only  to  the  excellence  of  the 
plan  upon  which  this  school  is  conducted,  but  to  the 
signal  ability  and  painstaking  efforts  of  its  Principal, 
Mr.  Iligley.  To  him,  more  than  to  any  other  man,  is 
the  successful  establishment  of  the  Auburn  High 
School  due.  To  the  regret  of  the  people  of  Auburn, 
Mr.  Iligley  relinquished  the  position  of  Principal  in 
the  spring  of  1868.     He  was  succeeded  by  Prof.  E.  A. 


GENERAL   PROGRESS.  28T 

Charlton,  of  Schenectady,  a  orentleman  of  great  repu- 
tation and  ability. 

The  Auburn  Female  Seminary,  situated  on  the 
north-east  corner  of  Genesee  and  AYashington  Streets, 
after  being  prosperously  conducted  for  ten  years,  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1849.  The  necessity  of  seeking 
educational  advantages  for  their  daughters  at  distant 
schools,  then  befell  the  inhabitants  of  this  place.  This 
being  attended  with  great  expense  and  inconvenience, 
gave  rise  to  the  project  of  establishing  another  institu- 
tion here  for  female  education,  to  be,  liowever,  of  a 
higher  order  than  the  one  destroyed,  and  on  a  more 
extensive  scale.  The  importance  of  the  work  secured 
the  co-operation  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Auburn  ; 
and  an  act  incorporating  tlie  Auburn  Female  Uni- 
versity, was  linally  secured  in  the  Legislature,  in 
1852,  by  the  Hon.  Geo.  Underwood,  then  M.  A.  The 
only  Auburn  trustees  were,  however,  Harvey  A. 
Sackett,  upon  whose  representations  the  project  was 
undertaken,  E.  E.  Marvine,  Z.  M.  Mason,  James  C. 
Derby,  I.  F.  Terrill,  John  II.  Chedell,  and  William 
Hosmer,  the  remaining  seventeen  being  appointed 
from  the  friends  of  education  in  other  places.  A  feel- 
ing of  local  pride  was  thus  aroused,  which  led  to  an 
amendment  of  the  act  of  incorporation,  and  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  following  board  of  trustees :  Nathan 
S.  S.  Beman,  Isaac  N.  Wyckoff,  Henry  Mandeville, 
Geo.  W.  Patterson,  Ferdinand  C.  D.  IMcKav,  IMatthew 


niSTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 


L.  r.  Thompson,  j  ]Sr.  Beardsley,  John  II.  Cliedell, 
Benjamin  F.  Hall,  Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr.,  I.  F.  Ter- 
rill,  John  W.  Haight,  Charles  P.  Wood,  E.  E.  Mar- 
vine,  John  Cm-tis,  James  0.  Derby,  Z.  M.  Mason, 
Charles  F.  Coffin,  and  Henry  Underwood.  The  erec- 
tion of  the  University  buildings,  on  the  land  lying  at 
the  north-east  corner  of  North  and  Lansing  Streets, 
now  owned  by  Judge  Humphreys,  w^as  contemplated. 
A  large  subscription  was  raised  in  the  city,  to  aid  the 
work.  Mr.  Sackett  even  started  a  school,  in  anticipa- 
tion of  the  speedy  accomplishment  of  the  project.. 
This  gentleman,  however,  subsequently  joined  with 
others  to  have  the  location  of  the  University  changed 
from  this  city,  and  at  length  succeeded  in  having  it  so 
changed  to  Elmira,  where  the  institution  was  soon 
afterward  built. 

The  movement  for  the  erection  of  this  University  in 
Auburn  attracted  general  attention  in  the  State  ;  and 
in  the  winter  of  1853,  by  invitation  of  the  Rev.  Henry 
A.  Nelson,  Mortimer  L.  Browne,  Esq.,  then  teaching  in 
Syracuse,  accompanied  by  E.  J.  Hamilton,  from  Bath, 
N.  Y.,  came  to  this  city,  with  a  view  of  entering  into 
the  movement.  Several  meetings  for  consultation 
with  prominent  citizens  were  held  at  the  office  of  Hon.. 
George  Underwood.  An  unusual  stringency  in  finan- 
cial affairs  occurring  soon  after,  the  gentlemen  named 
abandoned  the  idea  of  opening  a  school  in  Auburn, 
Mr,  Browne  receivhig  and  accepting  the  appointment 


GKNERAL   PROGRESS. 

of  superintendent  «»f  public  schools  in  SjTacuse,  and 
Mr.  Hamilton  beinir  called  to  the  principalship  of  the 
High  School  at  Oswego. 

In  the  winter  of  1854,  Winthrop  Tappan,  Esq.,  a 
young  gentleman  of  ability,  from  Augusta,  Maine, 
visited  Auburn  in  pursuance  of  a  design  of  carrying  out 
the  long-talked-of  project  of  a  female  school.  Find- 
ing the  citizens  disposed  to  lend  him  their  aid,  he 
opened  a  school  at  once  in  Corning  Hall  block. 
Meeting  with  great  success,  Mr.  Tappan  visited  Syra- 
cuse the  following  spring,  and  proposed  to  Mr.  Brown 
an  associate  principalship  of  the  school  he  had  founded,, 
which  he  called  the  Auburn  Young  Ladies'  Institute. 
The  school  was  to  be  transferred  to  the  city  hall,  when 
that  building  should  be  remodeled  and  adapted  to  edu- 
cational purposes.  Mr.  Brown  accordingly  resigned 
his  position  in  Syracuse,  and  in  May,  1855,  accepted 
that  offered  by  Mr.  Tappan.  During  the  three  years 
of  the  joint  principalship  of  these  gentlemen,  the  In- 
stitute was  essentially  a  day-school,  few  boardei^s  being 
received  into  their  families.  In  the  spring  of  1858, 
Mr.  Tappan  retired  from  the  Institute,  which  has  since 
been  conducted  under  the  sole  management  and  con- 
trol of  his  associate.  In  1859,  Mr.  Brown  purchased 
the  property  on  North  Street,  known  as  the  Good- 
win Place,  and  so  enlarged  and  improved  it,  as  to 
provide  pleasant  and  convenient  accomuKxlations  for 
about  twenty-five  young  ladies,  who  sliould  become 
17 


290  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

members  of  his  family  and  attendants  at  the  Institute. 
The  grounds  connected  with  his  residence  were  beau- 
tifully laid  out  and  adorned  with  choice  shrubbery. 
A  prominent  feature  of  this  school  is  the  attention 
that  has  ever  been  given  to  the  physical  culture  of  its 
pupils,  saddle  and  carriage  horses  being  gratuitously 
provided  for  theii  use,  and  regular  exercise  in  the  open 
air  being  enjoined  upon  all.  The  latter  is  insured  by 
the  separation  of  the  home  from  the  day-school.  With 
regard  to  the  studies  pursued  at  the  Young  Ladies'  In- 
stitute, it  will  be  sufficient  to  state  that  Mr.  Brown 
aims  in  his  plan  at  usefulness  rather  than  display,  at 
thorough  mental  training,  and  at  "  refinement  of  man- 
ners, and  permanent  excellence  of  character."  The 
Institute  has  been  uniforndy  prosperous,  and  has  cer- 
tainly won  for  itself  a  deservedly  high  reputation, 
both  at  home  and  abroad,  for  thorough  and  elegant 
culture,  and  for  positive  and  elevating  religious  influ- 
ences. It  does  not  share  the  school  appropriations  of 
the  State,  since  it  is  not  under  the  care  of  the  Regents 
of  the  University  ;  neither  has  it  asked  nor  received 
assistance  from  the  citizens  of  Auburn.  Its  success  is 
due  solely  to  intrinsic  merit. 

The  great  natural  capabilities  of  the  bold  eminence 
known  as  the  Fort  Hill,  in  the  western  part  of  Auburn, 
which,  by  reason  of  the  beauty  of  its  groves,  its  promi- 
nence as  a  point  of  observation,  and  the  enchanting 
vicAVs  of  the  villages  and  lakes  of  the  county,  that 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  291 

might  be  caiiglit  from  its  top,  formerly  caused  many 
of  our  citizens  to  indulge  the  hope  that  the  hill  might 
ultimately  be  converted  into  a  })ark,  came,  about  the 
years  1845  and  '50,  to  be  the  subject  of  more  general 
remark.  At  the  dates  mentioned,  the  hill  was  visited 
by  the  antiquarians,  Henry  II.  Schoolcraft  and  E.  G. 
Squier,  respectively,  who  caused  it  to  be  surv^eyed  by 
James  II.  Bostwick,  mapi)cd  and  described,  and 
brought  before  the  public  as  possessing  a  great  histori- 
cal interest.  The  hill  had,  in  the  flight  of  time,  become 
the  property  of  Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr.,  of  Auburn,  and 
George  W.  Hatch,  of  New  York,  and  lay,  gathering 
rust,  being  used  for  none  other  than  the  common 
chance  occurrences  of  the  village,  such  as  a  target 
shoot,  a  political  convention,  or  the  celebration  of  the 
national  anniversary.  As  the  thoughts  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, however,  reverted  to  the  mysterious  associations 
connected  with  the  venerable  fortification  in  the  grove, 
and  to  the  memory  of  the  ancient  builders,  respect  for 
both  led  them  to  demand  that  this  earthwork  should 
be  saved  from  the  hand  of  innovation,  and  itself  and 
recollections  perpetuated  by  a  devotion  of  the  grounds 
to  some  ])u1)lic  purpose.  Mingled  with  this  idea,  were 
other  considerations.  The  old  cemetery  on  North 
Street  had,  by  the  vicissitudes  of  over  half  a  century, 
become  crowded  with  the  graves  of  the  dead,  and 
more  room  for  another  cemetery  was  required.  Fort 
Hill  was  fitted  l)y  nature  for  just  this  purpose. 


292  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

On  the  15tli  day  of  May,  1851,  Thomas  Y.  Howe, 
Jr.,  Wm.  C.  Beardsley,  Michael  S.  Myers,  Hugo  B. 
Kathbun,  John  L.  "Watrons,  Josiah  N.  Starin,  George 
Underwood,  and  George  W.  Hatch,  met  at  the  office 
of  Mr.  Howe,  and  organized  the  Fort  Hill  Cemetery 
Association  of  Auburn,  under  the  State  law  of  April 
27th,  1817,  providing  for  the  incorporation  of  such 
bodies.  The  number  of  trustees  of  the  association  be- 
ing fixed  at  twelve,  the  following  were  duly  chosen  as 
such :  Enos  T.  Throop  Martin,  Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr., 
James  C.  Derby,  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  William  C. 
Beardsley,  Isaac  S.  Allen,  Cyrus  C.  Dennis,  Zebina 
M.  Mason,  Nelson  Beardsley,  John  II.  Chedell,  M.  S. 
Myers,  and  John  W.  Haight.  The  trustees  were  then 
separated  by  lot  into  three  classes,  in  order  that  one- 
third  of  the  Board  might  be  elected  thereafter  annual- 
ly. A  conveyance  of  the  hill  was  received  by  the 
association  from  Messrs.  Howe  and  Hatch,  for  the 
nominal  sum  of  one  dollar,  and  certain  other  considera- 
tions therein  expressed,  on  the  25th  day  of  August, 
1851. 

The  grounds  having  been  inclosed  and  partially 
cleared  of  rubbish  by  Messrs.  Hall  and  Derby,  com- 
mitteemen, the  receiving  vault  constructed,  and  the 
cemetery  received  several  occupants,  the  hill  was  for- 
mally consecrated  to  tlie  purpose  of  tlie  burial  of  hu- 
man remains  on  the  7th  of  July,  1852.  Michael  S. 
Myers  pronounced  the  introductory  address  in  the  pres- 


GENERAL    PROGRESS. 

ence  of  an  interested  concourse  of  the  people,  which 
was  followed  by  the  singing  of  an  ode  composed  by 
Henry  Oliphant.  The  Eev.  W.  A.  (1.  Mellen  read 
selections  from  the  Scriptures  ;  these  in  turn  were  fol- 
lowed by  an  ode  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  J.  M,  Aus- 
tin. The  exercises  were  closed  by  an  impressive  ad- 
dress from  the  Rev.  Laurens  P.  Ilickok,  president  of 
the  Auburn  Theological  Seminary. 

The  preliminaries  over,  the  trustees  addressed  them- 
selves to  the  business  of  improving  the  hill.  Lots 
were  laid  out  in  every  direction,  convenient  drives  and 
walks  built,  the  lawns  were  cleared  of  brush,  and  all 
withered  trees  and  branches  removed.  The  hill  was 
divided  into  sections,  each  of  which  received  an  ap- 
propriate name.  The  rude  old  embankment,  over- 
grown with  turf,  was  carefully  preserved.  Upon  a 
slight  mound  in  the  center  of  the  fort,  wdiicli  had  long 
attracted  public  attention,  and  was  supposed  to  be  the 
remains  of  an  ancient  earthen  altar,  there  was  erected, 
in  1852,  through  the  efforts  of  one  of  the  trustees,  a 
monument,  fifty-six  feet  high,  of  dark  limestone,*as  a 
mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  celebrated  Tah- 
gah-jute,  or  Logan.  The  northern  face  of  this  shaft 
bears  a  marble  slab  w^ith  the  inscription,  "  Who  is 
there  to  mourn  for  Logan?"  About  the  monument 
there  was  planted,  in  the  spring  of  1853,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  the  writer,  a  quantity  of  ivy  vines,  taken 
from  the  walls  of   the  old  Episcopal  Church.      The 


294  HISTORY  OF  auburn. 

trustees,  availing  themselves  of  the  experience  of  the 
authorities  of  Greenwood  Cemetery,  in  New  York, 
counseled  taste,  variety,  and  durability,  in  all  inclo- 
sures  and  monuments.  Ordinances  were  adopted  for 
their  protection,  and  for  the  perfect  seclusion  of  the 
grounds.  The  Legislature  provided  that  no  public 
highway  should  ever  be  laid  out  across  the  hill. 

The  council-ground  is  situated  in  the  foreground  of 
the  cemetery,  and  upon  the  left  of  the  winding  road 
by  which  visitors  attain  the  top  of  the  hill.  It  is  a 
beautiful  open  lawn,  sloping  gently  eastward  from  the 
old  fort,  and  lies  upon  the  northern  brow  of  the  height. 
It  is  the  only  spot  on  the  hill  which  presents  a  view  of 
Owasco  Lake.  "  It  was  termed  the  council-ground  by 
the  topographer  of  the  cemetery,  on  account  of  the 
general  impression  that  it  was  the  spot  where  the  an- 
cient Cayugas  assembled  for  deliberation." 

Mount  Auburn  is  the  name  given  to  the  ^bold  bluff 
or  mount  on  the  right  of  the  entrance  road,  or  Cayuga 
Avenue,  as  it  is  called,  on  the  northern  front  of  the 
cemetery.  The  city,  with  its  groves  and  gardens,  lies 
spread  out  at  the  feet  of  the  observer  from  this  point, 
in  the  midst  of  charming  scenes,  which  extend  in  every 
direction  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  It  was  originally 
the  intention  of  the  founders  of  the  cemetery  to  erect 
a  tower  upon  the  summit  of  this  section  for  the  pur- 
poses of  observation. 

That  section  of  the  cemetery  which  is  circumscribed 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  295 

by  the  old  pentagessiraal  fortification  is  termed  Fort 
Alleffban.  The  arrano;ement  of  tlie  burial  lots  and 
walks  conform  to  tlie  circular  shape  of  the  fort,  and  to 
the  position  of  the  lofty  monument  which  adorns  its 
center. 

Mount  Vernon  lies  west  of  Fort  Alleghan.  It  is  an 
elevated  but  secluded  point,  may  be  conveniently  ap- 
proached by  drives  and  walks,  and  appears  to  have 
been  used  in  times  past  by  the  savages  themselves  as 
a  burial-ground.  The  skeletons  of  numerous  aborigi- 
nes have  been  exhumed  here,  all  being  found  in  a  sit- 
ting posture.  The  section  is  named  from  some  resem- 
blance that  it  bears  to  the  grounds  about  the  tomb  of 
Washington. 

Laurel  Hill  is  a  projecting  spur  of  the  hill,  lying 
directly  south  of  the  last-named  section,  and  is  a  spot 
remarkable  for  its  natural  beauty. 

Mount  Hope  is  the  style  of  an  eminence  selected 
by  Geo.  W.  Hatch,  as  the  site  of  a  monument,  which 
he  proposed  to  erect  to  Hope.  It  is  situated  on  the 
southern  declivity  of  the  hill. 

The  three  glens,  called  respectively  Glen  Haven, 
Glen  Cove,  and  Glen  Alpine,  lie  beyond  the  table  of 
the  hill,  upon  its  southern  face.  They  are  all  seques- 
tered and  romantic  spots,  surrounded  by  the  most 
beautiful  scenes.  They  are  esteemed  choice  places  for 
burial  purposes.  The  three  glens  are  termed  "  the 
poetry  of  the  cemetery  grounds.'' 


296  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Tlie  nioveineiit  of  the  mill-owners  of  Auburn,  forty 
years  ago,  for  improving,  deepening,  and  cleaning  out 
the  channel  of  the  Owasco  Outlet,  aimed  not  only  at 
preparing  the  stream  for  navigation,  and  making  its 
great  hydraulic  power  usable,  but  at  storing  up  in  the 
lake,  b}^  means  of  gates  or  dams,  the  surplus  waters  of 
the  rainy  season,  for  the  use  of  the  mills  at  the  twenty 
or  more  dams  on  the  stream,  in  the  autumnal  months. 

One  hundred  thousand  acres,  according  to  the  care- 
ful estimates  of  the  accomplished  engineer,  Wm.  B. 
Yedder,  Esq.,  shed  their  w^aters  into  the  Owasco  Lake, 
including  the  area  of  the  lake  itself,  wdiich  is  seventy- 
four  hundred  acres.  Upon  the  surface  of  this  tract 
there  falls  annually  a  quantity  of  rain  and  snow  (melt- 
ed), shown  by  observations  taken  regularly,  for  twenty 
years,  at  the  academy  in  the  city  of  Auburn,  to  aver- 
age thirty-five  and  six-tenths  inches  in  depth.  The 
greatest  rain-fall  recorded  during  this  period  w^as  fifty 
inches  in  depth  ;  the  least,  twenty-one.  The  total 
average  available  yield  of  water,  per  year,  is  about 
4,500,000,000  cubic  feet.  Kow,  could  this  yearly  sup- 
ply be  stored  up  in  the  lake,  as  it  falls,  and  be  per- 
mitted to  flow  forth  at  a  uniform  rate,  an  average  daily 
yield  w^ould  be  obtained,  at  the  dams  on  the  outlet,  of 
12,300,000  cubic  feet,  or  8,540  cubic  feet  per  minute. 
This  is  an  ample  allowance  for  turning  all  the  water- 
wheels  in  Auburn. 

But,  at  the  time  mentioned,  the  daily  draft  upon 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  297 

the  lake  was  not  in  any  manner  controlled.  The  top 
of  the  upper  dam  was  a  foot  and  an  half  below  mean 
high-water  mark.  The  lake  regularly  discharged  the 
surplus  waters,  accumulated  in  tlie  spring,  during  that 
season  and  the  summer,  at  a  ra])id  rate  through  an 
open  outlet,  and  its  surface  fell,  at  the  approach  of 
autumn,  to  the  level  of  a  sand-bar  at  its  foot,  when  the 
flow  ceased,  or  nearly  so.  A  period  of  live  months, 
varying  somewhat  in  length  with  the  season,  was 
therefore  unfailingly  brought  around,  when  the  current 
of  the  outlet  became  so  sluggish  and  feeble  as  to  be  in- 
sufficient to  drive  the  machinery  of  the  manufactories 
at  the  dams  fully,  thereby  causing  many  injurious  in- 
terruptions and  suspensions  in  manufacturing. 

In  January,  1830,  Henry  Polhemus,  Asaph  D. 
Leonard,  and  Allen  Warden,  three  of  the  principal 
millers  of  Auburn,  determined  to  apply  to  the  Legisla- 
ture for  an  act  which  should  enable  them  to  remedy 
the  difficulty  by  giving  them  power  to  erect  a  gate  in 
the  outlet  near  the  lake,  and  to  maintain  an  average 
depth  of  water  on  the  shallows  at  the  foot  of  the  lake 
of  twenty  inclies  during  the  entire  year.  They  gave 
public  notice  of  their  intention  to  apply  for  this  law. 
The  movements  of  the  Auburn  and  Owasco  Canal 
Company  promising  to  effect  the  desired  end,  by.  deep- 
ening the  outlet  at  its  head,  the  gentlemen  mentioned 
left  it  fur  the  company  to  accomplish.  l>ut  it  was 
overlooked  in  the  conuilications  of  business  affairs  tliat 


HISTORY    iW   AUBURN. 


followed  close  after  the  erection  of  the  big  dam,  and 
the  millers  again  took  it  in  hand. 

In  184-7,  the  regular  recurrence  of  a  season  of  low 
water  in  autumn  was  perceived  to  inHict  great  damage 
on  three  important  public  interests ;  that  is  to  say  :  the 
mills  along  the  stream ;  the  Erie  Canal,  of  which  the 
Owasco  was  a  feeder ;  and  the  State  prison,  which 
furnished  hydraulic  power,  by  agreement,  to  certain 
contractors,  and  which  drew  water  for  culinary  pur- 
poses from  the  State  dam.  The  dry  season,  by  ren- 
dering the  water  in  this  dam  impure,  unfitted  it  for 
use,  and,  in  fact,  made  it  so  offensive  that  the  citizens 
at  one  time  petitioned  the  Legislature  to  have  the  dam 
removed. 

The  deed  to  the  Auburn  Woolen  Company  of  a  site 
and  privilege  at  the  big  dam,  dated  March  1st,  1847, 
conveyed  the  right  to  the  company  of  drawing  down 
the  water  at  the  upper  dam,  whenever  the  creek  was 
low,  provided  that  it  should  by  its  agents  so  deepen  the 
bed  of  the  stream  above  the  last-named  point,  that  there 
should  be  a  flow  four  feet  in  depth  from  the  lake. 
An  examination  of  the  outlet  during  the  summer  of 
'47,  by  the  agent  of  tlie  woolen  company,  and  by 
Josiah  Barber,  and  William  Beach  &  Co.,  parties  who 
were  equally  interested  in  the  condition  of  the  stream, 
revealed  impediments  in  several  places  in  its  channel 
and  the  serious  obstruction  at  its  head  in  the  shape  of 
the  sand-bar,  which  was  some  thirteen  hundred  feet 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  299^ 

wide.  x\n  improvement  was  undertaken  by  these  par- 
ties at  their  own  expense.  The  bottom  of  the  creek 
was  lowered  four  feet  below  the  level  of  the  top  of  the 
dam,  by  blasting  out  the  rock  for  a  tliousand  feet  up 
stream  from  the  dam,  and  by  the  removal  of  certain 
smaller  quantities  of  stone  and  debris -ai±ti  some  of  tlie 
bends  abovB.  At  tlie  same  time,  the  formation  of  an 
artificial  channel  througli  the  sand-bar,  from  the  mouth 
of  the  outlet  to  deep  water,  was  attempted  under  the 
supervision  of  E.  P.  Williams.  Hows  of  piles  were 
driven  into  the  bar  each  side  of  tlie  channel,  which  it 
was  proposed  to  board  up,  to  prevent  the  return  of  the 
sand  after  the  excavation  had  taken  place.  The  futil- 
ity of  the  latter  proceeding  was,  however,  so  quickly 
demonstrated,  that  it  was  not  perfected.  The  treach- 
erous nature  of  the  bar  precluded  the  possibility  of 
permanence  in  fliis  part  of  the  work.  The  improve- 
ment was  therefore  left  at  this  point,  the  gentlemen 
named  above  having  expended  upon  it  the  sum  of  nine 
thousand  dollars.  The  State  subsequently  paid  one 
thousand  dollars  for  the  benefit  conferred  by  the  im- 
provement upon  the  water-power  at  the  prison. 

For  the  grand  improvement  of  1852-'5,  the  manu- 
facturers of  Auburn  are  indebted,  in  no  small  degree^ 
to  the  gentlemen  who,  in  the  year  first  stated,  were  roll- 
ing the  ball  for  a  water-works  company.  The  forma- 
tion of  such  a  company  was  opposed,  as  tending  to  dimin- 
ish an  already  scanty  supply  of  water  (during  autumn) 


300  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

in  the  outlet.  The  necessities  of  the  Port  Byron  level 
of  the  Erie  Canal  required  that  the  flow  of  the  Owasco 
should  not  fail  in  the  dry  season.  A  fourth  interest 
liad  then  arisen  in  the  matter  of  improving  the  outlet, 
and  its  influence  aided  materially  in  securing,  on  the 
9th  day  of  April,  1852,  the  passage  of  the  following 
law :  "  The  sum  of  seven  thousand  dollars,  or  so  much 
thereof  as  may  be  necessary  for  that  purpose,  is  hereby 
appropriated,  and  shall  be  paid  by  the  comptrollers  out 
of  any  moneys  in  the  treasury,  for  the  removal  of  the  bar 
at  the  foot  of  the  Owasco  Lake,  and  the  imxprovement 
of  the  outlet  of  said  lake ;  the  sum  appropriated  for 
this  purpose  shall  be  expended  and  applied  under  the 
supervision  and  direction  of  the  agent  of  the  State 
prison  at  Auburn,  and  the  mayor  of  said  city."  On 
the  loth,  a  law  was  passed  making  it  the  duty  of  the 
State  engineer  and  surveyor,  then  the  Hon.  William 
J.  McAlpine,  to  cause  to  be  made  the  necessary  maps 
and  estimates. 

William  B.  Yedder,  resident  engineer  of  the  middle 
division  of  the  N.  Y.  S.  Canals,  was  detailed  to  per- 
form preliminary  work.  Having  surveyed  the  outlet, 
and  the  foot  of  the  lake,  and  made  all  necessary  ex- 
aminations, he,  on  the  30th  of  August,  furnished  the 
mayor,  the  agent,  and  the  commissioners,  with  a  report 
embodying  the  results  of  his  surveys,  with  maps,  and 
suggestions  in  relation  to  the  manner  of  the  proposed 
improvement,  and  estimates  of  the  cost  of  eight  differ- 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  301 

ent  modes  of  effecting  the  same,  the  eight  modes,  how- 
ever, being  simply  variations  of  three  distinct  i)hins  for 
producing  a  more  uniform  discharge  of  water  from  the 
lake,  and  of  increasing  the  flowage  of  the  outlet  in  the 
fall  of  the  year.     These  plans  were,  viz : 

Firstly,  Such  excavations  in  the  bed  and  banks  of 
the  outlet  as  should  make  its  channel  forty  feet  wide, 
with  a  bottom,  from  the  lake  to  the  upper  dam,  four 
feet  below  the  level  of  the  top  of  the  dam,  and  the 
cutting  of  a  new  channel  twenty -five  feet  wide  on  the 
bottom,  from  the  head  of  the  outlet  through  the  sand- 
bar to  deep  water  in  the  Jake. 

Secondly,  the  removal  of  obstructions  in  the  creek, 
as  by  the  first  plan,  and  the  excavation  of  an  entirely 
new  channel  across  Hubbard's  Point,  and  thence  on 
through  the  sand-bar  to  deep  water  as  before  ;  and 

Thirdly,  the  building  of  banks  along  the  shores  of 
the  lake  at  the  foot,  and  a^Jtt^  in  the  creek,  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  the  surface  of  the  lake  three  feet 
above  low- water  mark. 

The  first  two  plans  were  designed  to  gain  command 
of  some  portion  of  the  vast  stores  of  water  in  the  lake 
that  remained  when  its  surface  had  fallen  to  the  level 
of  the  sand  bar,  upon  which  no  draft  could  otherwise 
be  made ;  and  which,  in  case  of  being  drawn  down, 
could  be  replaced  at  the  next  wet  season.  The  third 
plan  proposed  to  furnish  storage  for  all  tlie  waters  that 
ran  into  tlic  lake,  control  them,  and  ciiablo  mill-own- 


302  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

ers  to  use  them  when  needed,  by  throwing  open  the 
gates  in  the  creek. 

After  a  thorough  examination  of  Mr.  Yedder^s  re- 
port, the  Auburn  commissioners  decided  to  open  the 
channel  of  the  creek  by  clearing  away  all  logs,  flood- 
wood  and  debris,  so  as  to  give  a  four-feet  flow ;  to  dig 
a  channel  through  Hubbard's  Point  to  the  lake,  four 
feet  in  depth,  and  twenty-eight  in  width  on  the  bot- 
tom, the  sides  being  faced  with  stone;  to  excavate 
across  the  bar  a  similar  channel,  protected  on  either 
side  by  moles  or  banks  made  from  the  earth  and  mate- 
rials taken  out  of  the  cuts,  covered  with  stone  as  rip- 
rap, and  provided  at  the  outward  ends  with  piers  foi* 
ice  and  water-breakers;  to  close  the  old  channel  with 
a  bank  ;  and  to  erect  a  flood-gate  near  the  junction  of 
the  new  channel  and  the  outlet. 

Colonel  Olivar  C  Hubbard,  of  Owasco,  c(^iiveyed  to 
the  commissioners  the  necessary  right  of  way,  and  con- 
tracted to  perform  the  work.  It  was  then  the  time  of 
low-water.  Operations  began,  therefore,  at  once.  The 
total  length  of  the  new  channel  from  the  verge  of  the 
sand-bar  to  the  outlet  was  estimated  at  about  twenty- 
three  hundred  and  eighty  feet.  Of  this  ten  hundred 
and  twenty  feet  were  excavated  in  1652-3.  Seven 
hundred  and  sixty-two  more  were  dug,  in  ISoi,  under 
contract,  by  the  eminent  engineer,  James  H.  Ledlie. 
Oofler  dams  were  erected  to  protect  the  cuttings 
<luring  the  periods  of  liigh-water,  and  the    State    a])- 


GENERAI.    PROGRESS.  303 

propriated  six  thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-live 
dollars  further  toward  the  completion  of  the  work. 

The  improvement,  though  then  unlinislied,  was  of 
extraordinary  value  to  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1S54. 
The  suiVimer  had  been  excessively  warm  and  dry,  and 
many  small  streams  utterly  failed  in  the  severity  of  the 
drought.  To  preserve  continued  navigation  upon 
our  State  Canals,  was  a  subject  of  the  deepest  per- 
plexity. Boats  were  frequently  detained  by  low  water 
on  some  of  the  levels,  and  great  losses  resulted  thereby 
both  to  traders  and  the  State.  The  stoppage  of  a 
single  day  was  at  this  busy  season  disastrous.  The 
Canal  Commissioners  allude,  in  their  annual  report  to 
the  Legislature,  in  January,  1855,  to  the  difficulty  they 
experienced  of  obtaining  water  at  the  Port  Byron 
level  They  exhausted  all  the  reservoirs  at  their  com- 
mand, and  then  they  ordered  the  commissioners  at 
Auburn  to  throw  open  the  new  cut  at  the  Owasco  Lake, 
in  order  to  relieve  the  canal.  This  was  their  last  re- 
source. The  channel  in  the  sand-bar  was  cut  down  to 
maintain  the  supply,  and  navigation  was  thus  preserv- 
ed uninterrupted.  It  is  certain  that  the  State  wfs 
saved  in  tliis  manner  at  least  the  sum  of  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars. 

The  Canal  Commissioners  finished  tho  work  on  the 
outlet  in  1855,  with  the  aid  of  an  additional  ai)[)n)pri- 
ation  of  ten  thousand  dolhirs.  Two  i'uatures  of  the 
original  design  were  not  carried  (»ut.     The  raising  of 


304:  UISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

the  surface  of  the  h\ke,  by  means  of  a  gate,  three  feet 
above  low-water  mark,  it  was  discovered,  would  over- 
flow three  hundred  acres  of  timber  land  at  the  head  of 
the  lake  ;  by  raising  it  five  feet,  five  hundred  acres  of 
timber,  and  eighty  acres  of  meadow  land  would  be 
overflowed,  the  level  of  the  swamp  being  but  two  and 
one  half  feet  above  low- water  mark.  The  gate,  there- 
fore, was  not  built,  as  intended,  nor  was  the  old  chan- 
nel, above  its  junction  with  the  new,  closed. 

An  act  of  April  15th,  1857,  authorized  the  Canal 
Commissioners  to  appropriate,  whenever  they  chose,  the 
upper  dam  on  the  outlet  to  the  use  of  the  State,  and 
raise  it  to  a  height  sufticient  to  efl^ct  all  the  purposes 
of  a  gate  in  the  channel.  This  was  never  done  bj 
them  in  any  permanent  manner.  But  they  are  now 
causing  the  new  channel  to  be  deepened  and  enlarged, 
and  cleared  of  quicksand  in  a  way  which  will  render 
the  raising  of  the  dam  entirely  unnecessary.  The 
present  improvement  was  begun  in  November,  1868,. 
by  contractors  from  the  city  of  Syracuse. 

The  formation,  by  wealthy  citizens,  of  a  stock  com- 
pany to  secure  the  advantages  of  a  steady  and  ample 
supply  of  pure  water  to  the  city  of  Aul.)nrn,  by  laying 
subterranean  pipes  from  some  spring  or  reservoir  to 
and  through  every  street  and  ward,  was  attempted  in 
1851,  by  the  enterprising  Hon.  Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr., 
who  had  succeeded  in  obtaining  from  the  Legislature, 
on  the  19th  of  April,  a  charter  investing  himself,  and 


GPLNi  i:al  progress.  1^05 

General  Joliii  II.  Clie^lell,  Abijah  Fitcli,  Daniel  Ilew- 
son,  Samuel  I'latclifor.l,  Hon.  Anrelian  Conkling,  Cy- 
rus C.  Dennis,  John  Tatty,  ^Vm.  B.  Wood,  John  E. 
Patten,  George  Clapp,  Hon.  John  Porter,  Isaac  S. 
Allen,  Edwin  E.  Marvine,  John  Curtis,  and  Benjamin 
Ashby,  with  needful  authority  in  the  ])i*ennses. 

This  was  an  old  but  untried  scheme.  It  had  at- 
tracted attention  in  Auburn  twenty  years  before,  aris- 
ing primarily  out  of  the  necessities  of  the  State  pris- 
on. That  institution  had  been,  up  to  1822,  furnished 
with  water,  by  means  of  a  forcing-pump,  from  the 
adjoining  pond  in  the  outlet.  But  the  pond  became 
stagnant  every  warm  season,  and  in  winter  it  froze. 
Pure  water  was  urgently  needed.  Search  was  made 
for  a  spring  near  by.  One  being  found  on  the  lands 
of  Dr.  Joseph  Cole,  (jn  Xorth  Street,  an  expensive 
aqueduct  of  tamarack  logs,  bound  with  iron,  was  laid 
therefrom  to  the  prison.  This  spring  was,  for  many 
years,  the  principal  resource  of  the  prison  for  whole- 
some water.  In  1829,  the  surveys  that  were  being 
made  upon  the  outlet  for  tliose  having  in  view  the  ca- 
nal project,  had  reference  also  to  the  matter  of  laying 
pipes  from  the  proposed  canal,  if  it  should  be  built  on 
the  level  <jf  the  lake,  down  to  the  prison,  and  where- 
ever  needed  in  the  t(jwn,  to  meet  the  imperative  de- 
mand for  g(jo(l  water.  But  it  was  estinuited  that 
water  from  tlie  level  referred  t<)  would  no  more  than 
run  into  the  second  ^tory  of  the  Western  Exchange, 
18 


306  HISTOriY    OF    AUBURN. 

and,  as  the  custom  of  the  prison  alone  would  not  sup- 
port a  company,  the  enterprise  had  failed. 

Mr.  Howe's  company  encountered  the  opposition  of 
every  interest  affected  by  the  state  of  the  Owasco  Out- 
let. It  was  not  till  the  improvement  upon  that  stream 
had  been  fully  completed  that  a  second  attempt  could 
be  made. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1859,  the  Legislature  gave  the 
Auburn  Water- Works  Compan}^  a  new  and  ^ample 
charter,  designating  the  following  gentlemen  as  the 
first  Board  of  Directors :  William  Beach,  Theo.  Di- 
mon,  Benj.  F.  Hall,  George  W.  Peck,  Franklin  L. 
Sheldon,  Albert  H.  Goss,  William  H.  Carpenter,  John 
S.  Clark,  and  Paul  D.  Cornell.  The  company  was 
not  to  be  dissolved  by  reason  of  any  failure  to  hold  an 
annual  election  on  the  day  appointed ;  an  election  on 
any  subsequent  day  was  to  be  valid,  if  held  in  proper 
form.  The  directors  were  unable  to  organize  for  active 
operations  until  the  spring  of  1863.  A  quorum  then 
met  in  the  ofhce  of  Mr.  Goss,  and,  as  empowered  by  the 
charter,  filled  the  places  of  absent  and  deceased  mem- 
bers of  the  board,  and  paved  the  w^ay  for  work.  It 
was  resolved,  on  the  15th  of  December,  to  open  books 
for  subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  company. 
The  whole,  amounting  to  $100,000,  was  taken  in  twelve 
liours.  An  election  resulted  in  the  choice  of  directors, 
as  follows  :  Edward  II.  Avery,  president ;  Albert  H. 
Goss,  secretarv  and    treasurer  ;  Elmore   P.   Boss,  S. 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  307 

AYillard,  M.D.,  Tlieo.  M.  Pomeroy,  Cyrus  C.  Deiinir^, 
Josiali  Barber,  Harmon  AVoodriiff,  and  Georo^e  W. 
Peck. 

The  great  obstacle  that  the  project  liad  thus  far  en- 
countered was  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  a  sufficient 
-elevation  for  a  reservoir.  Fort  Hill,  the  east  hill,  the 
old  camp-ground  on  Moravia  Street,  and  the  first  hill 
in  Fleming,  on  the  South  Street  road,  had  severally 
been  inspected  for  a  location,  and  found  to  possess 
none  suitable  for  the  purpose.  A  set  of  works  at 
Lockport,  erected  by  B.  Holley  &  Co.,  that  employed 
pum})s  instead  of  reserv^oirs,  gained  the  attention  of  the 
company  at  this  point.  A  committee  was  sent  to  ex- 
amine them.  They  were  workin<>;  admirably,  and  the 
directors  were  strongly  recommended  to  adopt  the 
new  system,  for  it  was  well  adapted  to  overcome  the 
only  obstacle  to  the  entire  consummation  of  their  pur- 
poses. This  was  accordingly  done.  The  construction 
of  the  pump  and  superintendent's  house,  the  dam,  and 
raceway  of  the  company  was  commenced  in  April, 
1864.  In  August,  Messrs.  Holley  &  Co.  began  put- 
ting in  the  machinery  and  works.  A  call  for  the  pay- 
ment in  part  of  subscriptions  of  stock  was  made  Sep- 
tember Tth. 

The  laying  of  the  mains  was  commenced  in  Septem- 
ber, 1865,  under  contract,  by  the  Xew  Jersey  Compa- 
ny, which  employed  pipes  of  ])oiler  iron,  coated  within 
and  witliout  witli  its  own  patent    cement,  an   ex])eri- 


o08  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBUliN. 

ment  witli  lug  pipes  having  demonstrated  tlieir  unfit- 
ness for  the  purpose.  The  work  was  vigorously  prose- 
cuted till  the  month  of  December,  when  the  water  was 
turned  on  at  the  pump-house,  and  distributed  through 
the  principal  streets  of  the  city,  through  22,930  feet  of 
mains.  Both  pipes  and  works  were  tested,  and  proved 
sound.  In  186G,  18,048  feet  of  mains  were  laid,  in 
addition  to  the  above ;  in  1867,  26,804  feet  more ;  and 
in  1868,  sufficient  to  make  the  total  length  of  main 
pipe  laid  about  fourteen  miles. 

The  Water- Works  Company  is  now  in  the  full  tide 
of  successful  operation.  Its  pipes  underlie  every  ward 
and  district  of  our  city,  atlbrd  an  unfailing  and  copious 
supply  of  spring- water  at  thousands  cf  faucets,  for  do- 
mestic purposes,  keep,  during  the  summer,  scores  of 
fountains  in  ])erpetual  play,  and,  at  one  hundred  and 
thirty-live  street  hydrants,  furnishes  the  prompt  and 
certain  means  of  extinguishing  the  most  dangerous 
iires.  The  attractions  of  residence,  and  the  security  ot 
property,  in  Auburn,  have  been  so  happily  increased 
in  this  manner,  that  the  Water- Works  (Company  is 
entitled  to,  and  has  indee<l  won  the  golden  opinions 
of  all  our  citizens. 

The  corporation  known  as  the  Auburn  Gas-Light 
Company  was  formed  on  the  11th  day  of  January, 
1850,  Avith  a  capital  of  $20,000,  by  Eowland  E.  Eus- 
sell,  C^aptain  George  B.  Chase,  Benjamin  F.  Hall, 
Adam  Miller,  Philip  R  Freoff,  Wm.   IT.  Van  Tuyl, 


OENERAL    rKOGKE>s.  309 

Thomas  Iloadlev,  J.  8.  IJowen,  Albert  G.  Smitli, 
Thomas  Y.  Ilowe,  Jr.,  I.  F.  Terrill,  Andrew  Johnson, 

E.  B.  Cobb,  H.  G.  Ellsworth,  Z.  M.  IVfa^oii,  Horatio 
Robinson,  and  Paul  D.  Cornell,  to  eni:;ap;e  in  the  manu- 
facture of  gsi=,  for  the  purposes  of  illumination  for  the 
period  of  fifty  years,  by  taking  tiie  legal  steps  set  forth 
in  the  general  law  of  February  IGth,  1848,  as  necessary 
to  the  formation  of  such  companies.  The  first  Board  of 
Directors,  composed  of  Captain  George  B.  Chase,  Z.  M. 
Mason,  P.  P.  Freoff,  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  Paul  T).  Cor- 
nell, II.  G.  Ellsworth,  AVm.  II.  Yan  Tuyl,  Adarn  Mil- 
ler, and  P.  T.  Pussell,  met  at   the  office  of   Benjamin 

F.  Hall,  in  Auburn,  on  the  14:tli  of  January,  and  or- 
ganized, electing  Mr.  Chase  for  president;  Mr.  Hall, 
secretary ;  Mr.  Mason,  treasurer ;  and  Thomas  Iload- 
ley,  engineer  and  superintendent. 

Illuminating  gas  w^as  first  manufactured  in  Auburn 
at  the  mills  of  the  Auburn  Woolen  Company,  where 
works  were  erected  and  the  whole  process  tested,  un- 
der the  direction  of  Thonuis  Iloadley  and  Michael 
Kavanagh.  The  advantages  of  this  means  of  illumi- 
nation being  shown  to  be  great,  the  proposition  was 
made  to  introduce  it  to  the  city  by  Mr.  Hall.  Mr. 
Iloadley,  and  Captain  Chase,  and  met  with  such  uni- 
versal satisfaction,  that  the  company  to  effect  it  was 
formed  without  the  slightest  difficulty. 

From  amongst  the  large  number  of  hydro-carbons 
iised   at  the  time  in  other  cities  for  the  generation  of 


310  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

light  gas,  all  more  or  less  costly,  the  blubber  and  sedi- 
ment of  sperm  oil,  a  concrete  fat  technically  called 
"  whale's  foots,"  was  selected  by  the  directors  as  capa- 
ble of  producing  the  richest,  piu-est,  and  cheapest  gas ; 
to  bargain  for  a  supply  of  which.  Captain  Chase,  fa- 
miliar with  all  things  pertaining  to  the  sea,  was  imme- 
diately dispatched  to  Nantucket.  A  contract  for  a 
regular  supply  of  the  raw  material  for  ten  years,  at 
fifty  cents  a  gallon,  was  easily  made.  The  gas  factory 
was  built  during  the  summer  on  ground  lying  opposite 
the  prison,  purchased  from  the  State.  The  site  was 
the  lowest  within  convenient  distance  of  the  chief 
business  streets  of  the  city.  The  retort  and  gas  houses 
were  both  frame  buildings.  The  machinery  and  works 
were  put  in  under  the  personal  supervision  of  that 
practical  and  competent  engineer,  Mr.  Iloadley,  whose 
long  experience  in  gas-making,  not  only  at  the  woolen 
mills,  but  in  'New  York  and  England,  rendered  his 
services  very  valuable  to  the  company.  One  bench  oi 
three  retorts,  and  a  gas-holder  with  a  capacity  of  six 
thousand  cubic  feet,  w^as  the  extent  of  the  factory. 
Michael  Kavanagh,  the  veteran  gas-maker  of  Auburn, 
was  employed  to  conduct  the  manufacture. 

At  this  point,  tlie  usual  strong  repugnance  to  the  use 
of  gas,  founded  upon  a  mistaken  notion  that  it  was  dan- 
gerous and  unwholesome,  was  manifested  in  Auburn. 
This  repugnance  was  of  course  in  no  respect  lessened 
by  the  general  indifference  and  disfavor  with  which; 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  311 

gas  was  regarded  by  a  number  of  wortliy  citizens,  who 
perceived  that  the  new  innovation  upon  the  customs 
of  their  forefathers  was  about  to  consign  girandoles 
and  snuffers  to  the  company  of  things  gone  by,  and 
echpse  the  candle  and  oil  business.  The  sentiment, 
however,  gave  way  as  the  public  became  better  in- 
formed as  to  the  properties  of  gas.  During  August, 
1850,  a  main  conductor  pipe  was  laid  in  State  Street, 
running  from  the  works  north  to  the  prison,  and  south 
to  the  head  of  the  street,  and  thence  do^vn  Genesee  to 
the  bridge.  On  the  evening  of  September  1st,  the  gas 
was  turned  on  for  the  first  time,  and  lit  in  the  prison 
and  the  stores,  at  two  hundred  lamps.  The  gas  was  a 
nearly  inodorous,  highly  carbureted  compound,  con- 
taining about  twenty-two  per  cent,  of  oleliant  gas,  and 
emitted  at  each  two-feet  burner  the  light  of  twenty- 
tliree  mold  tallow  candles.  Seven  cubic  feet  of  this 
gas  was  produced  from  every  pound  of  blubber,  and 
though  then  worth  ten  dollars  per  thousand  cubic  feet, 
cost  only  one-tenth  the  price  of  candles.  The  people 
admired  its  light,  and  pronounced  it  good. 

A  defect  in  that  machine  at  the  works,  called  the 
mixer,  led  to  an  unfortunate  accident,  the  very  first 
night  of  active  operations.  When  the  flow  from  the 
works  into  the  city  was  stopped  by  putting  out  the 
lights,  the  mixer  was  reversed,  and  threw  the  gas  back 
into  the  retort-house,  where  it  ignited,  and  destroyed 
the  buildings.     This  unfortunate  affair  was  a  jicavy 


312  HISTORY    OF    AUlilTliN. 

blow  at  the  infant  enterprise.  With  remarkable  vigor, 
liowever,  the  company  re-erected  the  Avorks  at  once. 
The  machinery  was  restored,  and  the  wliole  factory 
made  stronger  and  better  than  before.  The  gas  was 
asain  turned  on  on  the  1st  of  October. 

Notwithstanding  tlie  conceded  superiority  of  oil  gas 
over  any  other,  the  company  made  no  money  in  its  pro- 
duction. In  the  course  of  certain  experiments,  made  by 
the  engineer  with  the  hydro-carbons,  with  the  view  of 
commencing  manufacture  from  a  less  expensive  ma- 
terial, it  was  satisfactorily  shown  that  gas  might  be 
made  from  rosin,  a  material  then  widely  used  for  the 
purpose,  cheaper  than  from  whale's  foots.  The  rosin 
was  easily  obtainable  at  the  cost  of  thirteen  or  fourteen 
shillings  per  barrel  of  three  hundred  and  ten  pounds, 
each  pound  of  which  was  capable  of  generating  six  cu- 
bic feet  c>f  a  gas  that  was  worth  eight  dollars  per 
thousand.  The  gas  needed  little  purification,  burned 
with  a  vivid  light,  and  without  smoke,  and  required 
little  or  no  change  in  the  works  for  its  manufacture. 
The  way  for  a  change  from  oil  to  rosin  being  prepared, 
by  a  report  from  the  Nantucket  dealers  that  they  were 
unable  to  furnish  whale's  foots  on  the  original  terms, 
the  directors  authorized  the  change  in  the  spring  of 
1851,  and  communicated  tlie  fact  to  the  secretary  of 
the  company,  then  in  Washington,  who  visited  the 
pine  country  of  North  Carolina,  and  made  aiTange- 
ments  for  supplying  the  factory  with  rosin. 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  313 

The  ])opii]ar  })rejudice  against  illuiuination  ])y  means 
of  gas  was  sliort-lived.  During  the  summer  of  1851, 
the  main  pipes  were  extended  from  the  gas-works  in 
various  directions  tlirough  the  ])rincipal  sti'cets  of  the 
city,  and  branches  were  carried  into  most  of  the  public 
buildings,  stores,  and  lai'ge  residences.  The  safety  of 
the  new  light,  its  brilliance,  and  the  immense  amount 
of  labor  that  it  saved,  especially  in  lighting  the  streets, 
insured  its  success.  The  business  of  the  company 
grew  rapidly,  though  the  large  sums  of  money  necessa- 
rily invested  by  it,  in  laying  pipes  through  the  city, 
and  enlarging  its  works,  jirevented  for  several  years 
the  payment  of  dividends  to  shareholders.  From  time 
to  time,  the  capital  was  increased,  and  the  company's 
range  of  operations  was  at  length  extended,  by  begin- 
ning the  manufacture  of  varnish,  lamp-black,  and  nap- 
that  from  the  refuse  of  the  retorts. 

The  new  works  for  making  gas  from  coal  were 
erected  a  few  rods  south  of  the  original  buildings, 
in  1860,  to  gratify  the  desire  of  the  public  for  a 
cheaper  gas  than  that  manufactured  from  rosin.  The 
company  urged  the  numerous  objections  against  the 
use  of  coal  gas  in  vain.  The  people  were  satisfied  that 
it  was  cheaper  to  use  a  diluted  gas,  and  they  threat- 
ened to  form  a  competing  company  in  case  they  could 
be  supplied  with  it  in  no  other  way.  An  entirely  new 
and  enlarged  set  of  works  were  accordingly  built,  at  a 
cost  of  about  fifty  thousand  dollars.     They  now  con- 


314  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

tain  twenty-two  clay  retorts,  each  holding  a  charge  of 
fifteen  hundred  }3ounds  of  coal,  which  are  arranged  in 
Bix  benches,  and  are  capable  of  producing  fifty  thousand 
cubic  feet  of  gas  daily.  The  gas-holder  has  a  capacity 
of  thirty-five  thousand  cubic  feet.  The  works  are 
under  the  experienced  direction  of  Mr.  Kavanagh  and 
his  assistants,  Daniel  Tehan  and  Patrick  McCartin,  who 
have  been  connected  with  the  business  nearly  from  the 
commencement.  The  oversight  of  the  business  is  in- 
trusted to  Henry  S.  Dunning,  superintendent,  and 
David  M.  Dunning,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The 
daily  consinnption  of  gas  in  the  city  varies  with  the 
season  and  the  weather.  The  average  consumption  in 
the  summer  is  fifteen  thousand  cubic  feet  a  night ;  in 
winter  it  is  thirty-five  thousand.  Leakages  amount  to 
ten  or  fifteen  per  cent.  The  gas  is  burned  at  about  ten 
thousand  lamps. 

The  history  of  railroad  projects  in  Auburn  comprises 
sketches  of  twelve  different  schemes  for  ci*eating  direct 
lines  of  railroad  communication  betw^een  Auburn  and 
other  cities  or  other  channels  of  trade,  the  building  of 
which,  w^itli  the  cheapness  of  manufacturing  here,  it 
was  expected,  would  make  Auburn,  in  fact,  the  market 
town  of  the  whole  of  Cayuga  County,  and  by  means 
of  which  her  manufactures  and  the  productions  of  the 
county  might  be  quickly  carried  to  their  appropriate 
markets. 

Part  of  this  history  has  already  been  given.     Yet,  it 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  315 

is  presumed  that  a  connected  account  of  the  origin, 
progress,  and  issue  of  each  of  the  different  projects  will 
not,  in  this  place,  prove  unuseful  or  uninteresting,  for 
the  record  is  full  of  exhibitions  of  honorable  public 
spirit  on  the  part  of  our  citizens,  and  instances  of  ear- 
nest, self-sacrificing  woi-k,  which,  though  not  always 
successful,  are  lit  to  be  remembered  by  the  people  of 
this  city. 

One  of  the  first  effects  of  the  completion  of  the  Erie 
Canal,  in  1825,  was  the  giving  a  powerful  impetus  to 
the  carrying  trade  upon  the  inland  lakes  in  the  in- 
terior of  New  York.  Sloops  and  sailing  vessels  had, 
from  the  times  of  the  pioneers,  filled  these  lakes,  and 
flatboats  and  canoes  their  outlets  and  tributaries,  trad- 
ing in  salt,  lumber,  furs,  and  provisions,  with  the  pop- 
ulous regions  on  the  Susquehanna  and  the  Mohawk. 
All  heavy  movements  of  freight  in  the  interior,  were 
either  to,  or  from  the  canal,  forward  from  '25,  and 
large  accessions  to  the  trade  on  the  lakes  followed. 

Private  enterprise  spontaneously  undertook  to  con- 
nect these  natural  water-lines  with  the  canal  on  the 
north,  and  the  Susquehanna  on  the  south.  Railways 
from  Ithaca  to  Owego,  from  Canandaigua  to  the  canal, 
from  the  same  village  to  Geneva,  and  from  Auburn  to 
the  canal,  and  a  canal  from  Owasco  Lake  to  the  Sus- 
quehanna, were  projected  as  early  as  1827 ;  and  the 
Legislatures  of  1828  and  '29  were  besieged  for  char- 
ters for  them,  and  f(jr  innumerable  other  lines  of  north 


316  HISTORV    OF    AUHURX. 

and  Boiitli  railways  and  canals.  Many  ol'  these  were 
granted,  and  among  them,  charters  for  the  canal  and 
the  railroad  conceived  in  Auburn. 

The  Port  Byron  and  Auhnrn  llailway  Comj)any 
was  incorporated,  April  17th,  1829,  with  a  capital  of 
$50,000,  and  was  vested  with  the  "  sole  and  exclusive 
right  to  construct  a^  single  or  double  railroad  or  way 
from  the  Erie  Canal,"  at  Port  I>yr()n,  to  the  village 
of  Auburn,  the  terminus  at  this  end  to  l)e  at  some 
point  near  by  the  State  prison.  Tt  was  empowered 
to  use  either  steam  or  horse-power  on  the  road,  and 
collect  for  every  ton  of  goods  transported  over  the  line 
a  toll  of  six  cents  per  mile,  and  for  passengers,  four 
cents  per  mile.  Hon.  John  II.  Beach  and  Abijah 
Fitch,  of  Auburn,  John  Ilaring,  of  Mentz,  and  Denni- 
son  Robison,  Horace  Perkins,  and  John  I.  Tremper, 
were  designated  as  subscription  commissioners.  A 
line  for  the  road  w^as  surveyed  ;  but  it  was  found  that 
the  ascent  from  Port  Byron  was  very  heavy — some- 
thing over  three  hundred  feet.  This  was  a  formidable 
obstacle,  and,  joined  with  the  great  labor  of  -ordiaaBFy-^ 
things  for  the  construction  of  the  road,  when  there 
were  no  models  in  America,  except  the  little  Quincy 
road  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  unfinished  line  be- 
tween Albany  and  Schenectady,  it  stopped  the  enter- 
prise. 

The  charter   of  the  Auburn   and   Canal   Pailwaj 
Company  left  the  location  of  the  northern  termiims  of 


GKNKRAL    TKOGKESS.  31T 

the  line  discretionary  with  tlie  director.-.  Tlie  compa- 
ny was  incorporated  on  tlie  24th  day  <>f  A])ril,  1832, 
in  connection  with  a  fresh  eftbrt,  in  Auburn,  to  build 
the  Owasco  Canal.  It  drew  to  it.s  support  men  of 
high  standing  in  this  connnunity,  among  whom  were 
Hon.  John  Porter,  Hon.  Wm.  II.  Seward,  Caj)tain 
Bradley  Tuttle,  Nathaniel  Garrow,  .Vmbrose  Cock, 
John  Patty,  Stephen  Van  x\nden,  xVbijah  Fitch,  Cap- 
tain George  P.  Chase,  Ira  Hopkins,  and  I.  S.  Miller. 
This  road  would,  undoubtedly,  have  been  built  at 
once,  to  either  Port  Pyron  or  Weedsport,  had  not  its 
friends  found  that  a  connection  with  the  canal  at  the 
village  of  Syracuse  was  nmch  more  profitable. 

That  it  will  eventually  be  built,  down  the  gorge  of 
the  Owasco  Outlet  to  Throopsville  and  Port  Pyron, 
may  be  safely  inferred  from  two  facts  :  the  mill-owners 
in  both  places  have  found  it  necessary;  and  a  company 
of  energetic  men  has  been  organized,  with  a  capital  of 
$400,000,  to  carry  it  through.  This  company  was 
formed  in  January,  1SG9,  with  the  following  manage- 
ment :  AVilliam  Ilayden,  of  Auburn,  president;  G.  II. 
Bardwell,  of  Philadelphia,  vice-president  ;  11.  S. 
Punting,  of  New  York,  secretary  and  treasurer;  II. 
A.  AVainwright,  T.  !>.  Bunting,  Charles  A.  Stetson, 
Jr.,  Howard  Bunting,  Cliarks  A.  Wilson,  Franklin 
P]llis,  L.  I).  Hutchlus,  of  New  Voik  ;  J.  C.  Ivorr,  of 
Philadelphia;  Bol>crt  A.  Packei',  of  Wilkesbarrc  ;  and 
S.  I*.  l\«'iidi-i('k.  of  Poi-t  I>vi'oTi,  directors. 


318  HISTORY    OF    A.UBUEN. 

Forty  thousand  dollars  have  already  been  subscribed 
toward  its  stock,  which  is  about  one-half  of  what  the 
contractors  ask  to  be  raised  before  they  commence 
work.  The  contractors  guarantee  to  finish  the  road 
in  one  hundred  days  after  they  break  ground.  A 
speedy  commencement  is  anticipated,  additional  sub- 
scriptions being  received  daily.  The  object  of  the 
road  is  the  development  of  large  and  unoccupied 
hydraulic  privileges  on  the  Owasco  Outlet,  and  good 
communication  with  the  Erie  Canal.  Many  of  its 
friends  anticipate  its  continuance,  at  no  distant  day, 
through  the  towns  of  Conquest,  Butler,  Wolcott,  and 
Huron,  to  Big  Sodus  Bay,  and,  if  sufficient  induce- 
ments are  offered,  its  extension  southwards,  over  the 
so-called  Murdock  line,  toward  the  coal-fields  of 
Pennsylvania. 

The  Auburn  and  Syracuse  E.  R.  Co.,  formed  in 
Auburn  under  a  law  dated  May  1st,  1834,  with  a  capi- 
tal of  $400,000— subsequently  increased  to  $600,000— 
laid  a  track  composed  of  wooden  ribbons  to  Syracuse,  a 
distance  of  twenty-five  and  three-fourths  miles,  which 
was  operated  from  January  8th,  1838,  to  June,  1839, 
by  means  of  horse-power.  Tlie  road  was  finished  at 
the  last-named  date,  with  the  aid  of  a  loan  of  $200,- 
000  from  the  State.  Iron  rails  then  replaced  the 
wooden  ones,  and  locomotives  the  horses. 

The  Auburn  and  Rochester  B.  11.  Co.  was  chartered 
on   tlie  13th  of  May,  1836,  with  a  capital  of  $2,000, 


GENERAL    TKOGRESS.  319 

000.  The  stock  was  largely  taken  by  the  energetic 
capitalists  of  Boston,  who,  with  great  foresight,  were 
aiming  to  connect  their  city  by  a  direct  line  of  rail- 
roads with  Lake  Erie  and  its  vast  commerce.  The 
road  was  built  from  Eochester  eastward,  and  was  com- 
pleted to  Auburn,  and  thrown  open  to  traders  and 
travelers  on  the  4tli  of  November,  184:1.  It  accommo- 
dated the  residents  of  an  immense  district  in  the  inte- 
rior of  the  State,  by  toi^hing,  as  by  law  ordered,  the 
northern  extremity  of  tlioae  line  navigable  lakes.  It 
also  formed,  with  others  chartered  in  1836,  a  con- 
nected line  of  railroads  from  Buffalo  to  Albany. 

All  railroad  projects  in  Auburn,  subsequent  to  the 
last  mentioned,  bore  reference  to  the  construction  of 
roads  from  this  city  to  Lake  Ontario  on  the  north,  and 
the  New  York  and  Erie  Eailroad  on  the  south. 

The  first  of  these  originated  in  the  village  of  Ithaca, 
whose  people,  after  trying  in  vain  to  raise  the  funds 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  road  to  Geneva,  invited 
the  co-operation  of  tlie  citizens  of  Auburn  in  the 
scheme  of  a  line  between  Ithaca  and  this  place.  A 
charter  for  a  company,  under  the  style  of  the  Ithaca 
and  Auburn  R.  R.  Co.,  was  obtained  on  the  21st  of 
May,  in  183G,  a  year  prolific  beyond  parallel  in  railroad 
schemes,  the  capital  stock  being  fixed  at  $500,000. 
The  company  was  required  to  lay  its  track  through  the 
villages  of  Groton  1  Follow,  Milan,  and  Moravia,  and 
to  finish   it  in  four  vears.     Natiianii'I  (Jarrow.  (T(.'oi-i;e 


320  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBUKN. 

11  Throo]),  Dr.  llicluird  Steel,  Chauncey  L.  Grant, 
Lewis  Moss,  Sylvanus  J^anied,  Hiram  Becker,  Minos 
McGorani,  David  D.  Spencer,  John  Giles,  ITislom 
Bennett,  and  Franklin  AVillonghby,  were  the  incorpo- 
rators. 

Dnring  the  fall  and  winter  of  1836,  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Aubnrn  planned  a  road  to  Little  Sodus  Bay,  to 
be  built  and  operated  in  connection  with  the  one  to 
Ithaca,  when  made.  A  petition  for  a  charter  w^as  cir- 
culated through  the  town,  and  arrangements  were 
made  for  carrying  it  before  the  Legislature. 

The  bankruptcy  and  ruin  of  the  following  year 
ended  both  projects  suddenly. 

About  the  year  1846,  the  rapid  progress  of  the  Kew 
York  and  Erie  Railroad  toward  completion  w\as  the 
subject  of  much  comment  in  all  places  of  size  on  the 
chain  of  roads  through  Northern  and  Central  New 
York.  The  officers  of  the  northern  roads  were 
then  discussing  the  propriety  of  consolidating  and 
straightening  their  lines,  to  prepare  for  competi- 
tion. The  bearing  of  all  these  movements  on  the 
welfare  of  Auburn  was  a  matter  of  the  deepest  inter- 
est to  her  citizens.  The  office  of  lion.  T.  Y.  Howe,  Jr., 
then  the  treasurer  of  the  Auburn  and  Syracuse  R.  R. 
Co.,  was  the  place  where  all  these  questions  were  dis- 
cussed by  railroad  men.  From  this  point  emanated 
numerous  theories  as  to  what  was  demanded  by  the 
times,  for  the  niaintenarice  aiul  enrichment  of  our  city.. 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  321 

Communication  with  tlie  Erie  railway  was  there  re- 
vived as  practicable  and  profitable.  An  olFer  was  made 
abont  this  time  by  the  Cayuga  and  Susquehanna  K.  R. 
Co.,  to  relay  its  track  and  fit  it  for  an  increased  amount 
of  business,  if  the  citizens  of  Cayuga  County  would 
construct  a  new  line  from  Auburn  to  some  point  on 
its  road.  The  laying  a  road  between  Auburn  and 
Ithaca  by  way  of  the  valley  of  Salmon  Creek  ceemed  in 
every  respect  feasible. 

A  company  was  formed  to  efiect  the  line  early  in  1848, 
by  Hon.  Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr.,  General  John  II.  Che- 
dell,  Rowland  T.  Russell,  Alfred  Avery,  Samuel  Bull, 
Edwin  Avery,  \Villiam  Beach,  John  T.  Rathbun,  Ira 
Hopkins,  Ebenezer  Mack,  Worthington  Smith,  Ezra 
W.  Bateman,  Slocum  IIoAvland,  Leonard  Searing, 
Henry  W.  Sage,  Henry  S.  Walbridge,  Nathan  T.  Wil^ 
liams,  Hiram  S.  Farrar,  John  Thompson,  Moses  F. 
Fell,  Lyman  Murdock,  George  Rathbun,  and  others, 
under  the  general  railroad  law.  An  act  declaring 
the  public  utility  of  the  road  was  passed  on  the  11th 
of  April.  Several  public  meetings  were  held  in  Au- 
burn to  promote  subscriptions  to  the  stock  of  the  com- 
])any.  But  a  ])altry  sum  was  obtained.  The  Cayuga 
and  Susquehanna  road  failing  to  construct  the  new  or 
double  track  agreed  to,  the  enterprise  made  no  further 
advance. 

It  was  next  alleged  that  a  road  to  Binghamton  was 
highly  desirable,  both  from  the  connections  that  could 
19 


322  HISTORY   OF    AUBURN. 

be  made  at  that  village,  and  from  the  fact  that  the  dis- 
tance to  Kew  York  from  Auburn  would  be  twenty 
miles  shorter  than  by  any  other  route  existing  or  pro- 
posed. This  idea  had  its  sa^  It  prevailed  to  such  an 
extent  that  a  company  was  formed  to  eftectuate  it. 
An  act  of  the  6th  of  March,  1849,  declaring  the 
public  use  of  the  proposed  line,  mentions  the  following 
incorporators  :  Samuel  Blatchford,  Hon.  George 
Underwood,  Gen.  John  II.  Chedell,  Benjamin  F.  Hall, 
Erastus  Case,  Abijah  Fitch,  Cliarles  F.  Coffin,  Hon.  T. 
Y.  Howe,  Jr.,  Cyrus  C.  Dennis,  Josiah  Barber,  David 
"Wright,  Daniel  Hewson  and  John  L.  Watrous.  The 
ecberne  was,  however,  impracticable,  and  soon  took  its 
place  among  the  unfulfilled  good  intentions  of  the 
people  of  Auburn. 

In  1852,  a  passive  belief  among  our  citizens  in  the 
usefulness  of  a  railroad  which  should  connect  Auburn 
directly  with  the  iron  and  coal  regions  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, with  the  vast  lumber  regions  of  Canada,  and  the 
commerce  on  the  great  lakes,  gave  way  to  a  settled 
conviction  that  the  true  interests  of  this  city  im- 
peratively demanded  its  immediate  construction. 

The  Legislature  having  empowered  the  authorities 
of  Auburn  to  loan  $100,000  to  any  company  that 
should  build  a  railroad  from  Lake  Ontario  to  any  point 
on  the  Erie  road,  and  having  also  empowered  the 
towns  along  the  line  severally  to  loan  the  company 
the  sum  of  $25,000,  a  meeting  of  the  people  of  Ca- 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  323 

ynga  County  was  called  and  held  at  the  court-liouse  in 
Auburn,  April  20th,  1S52,  to  take  action  in  the  matter. 
A  committee,  composed  of  John  M.  Sherwood,  Joshua 
Burt,  George  B.  Chase,  Gen.  Isaac  Bell,  David  Hume, 
Robert  Cook,  Benjamin  F.  Ilall,  Hiram  S.  Farrar, 
Moses  T.  Fell,  Lyman  Murdock,  and  Worthington 
Smitli,  was  appointed  to  collect  the  arguments  in  favor 
of  the  contemplated  road  for  the  public  information. 
An  able  report  was  soon  after  made  and  published. 
It  was  distributed  widely  in  pamphlet  form. 

The  articles  of  association  of  the  Lake  Ontario,  xVu- 
burn,  and  Kew  York  Eailroad  Company  were  adopted  at 
a  numerously  attended  adjourned  meeting  at  the  Auburn 
court-house,  on  the  2d  day  of  July,  1852.  They  were 
"filed  with  tlie  Secretary  of  State  on  the  23d  of  August. 
The  Company  organized,  with  a  capital  of  §1,500,000, 
electing  the  following  earnest  and  enterprising  direct- 
ors :  IIoli.  Tho's  Y.  Howe,  Jr.,  president;  Benj.  F. 
Hall,  secretary ;  Joshua  Burt,  treasurer ;  Rowland 
F.  Russell,  Worthington  Smith,  Hiram  S.  Farrar, 
Moses  T.  Fell,  Oliver  C.  Crocker,  Lyman  Murdock, 
Gen.  Isaac  Bell,  David  Cook,  and  Robert  Hume. 

Levi  Williams,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of  great  reputation 
and  experience  as  an  engineer,  was  employed  to  sur- 
vey the  road,  the  termini  being  Fair  Haven  and  Pugs- 
ley's  station.  A  feasible  route  was  selected  early  in 
August,  and,  on  tlie  21:th,  contracts  were  made  with 
Andrew  J.  Hacklcv,  Marcus  Ilungerford,  Jason  Can- 


324  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

dee,  John  A.  Dodge,  and  Henry  D.  Dennison,  for  the 
performance  of  tlie  grading  and  mason-work.  Eights 
of  way  were  obtained,  through  tlie  agency  of  commit- 
tees, for  fifty-six  out  of  the  seventy-three  miles  in  the 
length  of  the  road.  Construction  was  pushed  energet- 
ically from  the  fall  of  1852  till  the  winter  of  '54.  The 
sum  of  $375,000  had  then  been  expended  upon  the  line, 
thirty-four  miles  of  which  were  fenced,  graded,  and 
ready  for  the  rails.  The  entrance  to  the  harbor  at 
Fail'  Haven  had  at  the  same  time  been  improved,  by 
means  of  an  U.  S.  appropriation  of  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars, under  the  super\dsion  of  Lieut.  Col.  Turnbull.  of 
the  Topographical  Engineers. 

The  natural  obstacles  in  the  w^ay  of  the  construction 
of  the  Lake  Ontario,  Auburn,  and  New  York  Railroad 
were  very  slight ;  the  financial  obstacles  were  formida- 
ble. The  finance  committee  of  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors, in  summing  up  the  resources  for  continuing  the 
work,  found  that  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  of  original  subscriptions  to  the  stock  were 
uncoUectable,  save  by  compulsion.  The  times  were 
stringent  and  the  money-market  close.  The  contrac- 
tors were  pressing  for  payment  of  arrears.  Two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  in  addition  to  a  small  amount 
of  still  unpaid  but  reliable  subscriptions,  was  impera- 
tively needed  to  advance  the  work  to  completion. 

The  crisis  called  forth  the  prompt  and  earnest  ef- 
forts of  every  friend  of  the  enterprise.     A  meeting  of 


GENERAL    PROGREv'^S.  325 

the  stockholders  was  held  in  Auburn,  on  the  Otli  of 
I^ovember,  to  cou^ider  the  affairs  of  the  company  and 
provide  for  the  prosecution  of  the  work.  General 
Phineas  Hurd  presided.  The  situation  was  thoroughly 
discussed.  It  was  unanimously  resolved  that  the  work 
must  go  on.  Five  stockholders  from  every  town  on 
the  line  of  tlie  road  were  appointed  to  solicit  further 
subscriptions,  and  the  directors  were  authorized  to  sue 
for  all  arrears  of  payments  on  stock,  and  declare  delin- 
quent subscriptions  forfeited.  The  directors,  however, 
were  loth  to  resort  to  these  summary  measures,  and 
the}^  did  so  in  very  few  instances.  They  could  not 
postpone  the  catastrophe.  Ketrenchment  was  the  cry, 
and  then,  suspension.  The  company  was  obliged  to 
succumb  in  March,  1855. 

The  directors  at  this  date  were  Abijah  Fitch,  presi- 
dent ;  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  secretary  and  treasurer  ;  Rob- 
ert Hume,  General  Isaac  Bell,  Adam  Miller,  Hon. 
Christopher  Morgan,  William  Beach,  Franklin  L.  Shel- 
don, Lyman  Murdoch,  Moses  T.  Fell,  Joseph  Petti tt, 
Darius  Cole,  and  Eichard  G.  Brownell.  They  reluc- 
tantly prepared  for  the  appointment  of  a  receiver. 
The  report  of  the  chief  engineer,  Orville  C.  Hartwell, 
embodying  the  details  of  the  existing  condition  of  the 
road,  and  its  prospects,  was  published  for  future  use ; 
and  a  mortgage  u])on  the  road-bed  and  riglits  of  way 
was  executed  to  General  Isaac  Bell,  to  secure  him  and 
others  for  loans  made  use  of  in  construction.     Joshua 


326  HISTORY  OF  auburn. 

Burt  was  soon  afterward  appointed  receiver,  and  the- 
company  dissolved.  Its  property  passed  into  the 
hands  of  General  Bell. 

Tlie  second  Lake  Ontario,  Auburn,  and  New  York 
R.  R.  Co.  ^vas  organized  in  1856,  for  the  object  of 
finishing  the  urgently  needed  road.  The  directors 
were  Nathan  C.  Piatt,  president ;  Gen.  Isaac  Bell, 
vice-president ;  John  C.  Kayser,  secretary  ;  Adam  W. 
Spies,  Alexander  Fraser,  of  New  York  ;  Frederick 
Klett  and  James  S.  Keen,  of  Philadelphia ;  Charles 
P.  Wood,  Elmore  P.  Ross,  Dr.  Richard  Steel,  and 
Adam  Miller,  of  Auburn ;  D.  E.  Havens,  of  Weeds' 
port ;  Lyman  Murdock,  of  Venice.  Stockholders  in 
the  old  company  were  allowed  to  save  their  subscrip- 
tions by  taking  an  equal  amount  of  stock  in  the  new. 
Work  w^as  re-commenced  on  the  line,  and  the  grading 
north  of  the  Seneca  River  was  nearly  completed.  Af- 
ter the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war,  nothing  further 
could  be  or  was  accomplished  for  a  number  of  years. 
There  had  been,  in  1862,  spent  upon  the  line,  in  all, 
the  sum  of  $149,511. 

The  project  of  finishing  the  road  as  originally  de- 
signed, from  the  harbor  of  Fair  Haven  to  Pugsley's 
station,  was  at  length  agitated  byllon.  George  I.  Post, 
of  Sterling.*  But  the  people  of  Moravia,  Groton, 
and  Dryden,  feeling  at  this  time  the  need  of  a  rail- 

*  For  the  following  notes  on  the  Southern  Central  the  author  is  indebted  to- 
J.  Milton  Brown,  Esq.,  first  assistant  engineer  of  the  Auburn  division  of  the 
road. 


GENERAL   PROGRESS.  327 

road,  requested  the  above  named  gentlemen,  with  Cy- 
rus C.  Dennis,  a  resident  of  Auburn,  of  great  railroad 
experience  and  practical  ability,  to  first  explore  the 
valley  in  which  those  towns  were  situated,  with  an  eye 
to  the  expediency  of  building  the  railroad  therein. 
Accordingly,  they  started  on  an  exploring  expedition, 
passed  through  the  valley  through  which  now  runs  the 
Southern  Central,  examined  the  country  from  an  engi- 
neering point  of  view,  and  ascertained  the  feeling  of 
the  inhabitants  toward  the  project  of  the  road.  The 
result  was  decidedly  favorable.  They  found  that  the 
road  could  be  built  w^ith  a  minimum  amount  of  capi- 
tal, that  the  grades  would  be  easy,  and  that  the  towns 
would  assist  heartily  in  raising  stock,  and  would  fur- 
nish a  large  local  business  after  the  road  was  built.  It 
remained  only  to  present  to  the  people  the  advantages 
of  connection  with  the  various  coal  and  commercial 
regions  of  the  south,  and  the  manufacturing  and  pro- 
ducing regions  of  the  north  and  west,  to  insure  their 
general  interest  and  co-operation. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  1865,  a  meeting  was  held  in 
Owego.  Hon.  Thomas  Farrington  presided.  Ad- 
dresses were  delivered  by  Messrs.  J.  W.  Dwiglit,  J. 
W.  Montgomery,  of  Dryden ;  C.  C.  Dennis,  George  I. 
Post,  of  Auburn ;  John  J.  Taylor,  Lyman  Truman,  of 
Owego;  and  Wm.  S.  Lincoln,  of  Newark  Valley;  and 
it  was  decided  to  hold  a  railroad  convention  at  Au- 
burn.    The  meeting  appointed  Hon.  George  I.  Post 


HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

a  committee  to  call  the  same,  whicli  he  did,  on  the  6th 
of  the  following  month.  The  convention  was  held  on 
the  day  appointed,  Charles  P.  Wood,  of  Auhurn,  being 
chairman,  and  II.  IS".  Lockwood,  of  Victory,  and  T.  C. 
Piatt,  of  Owego,  secretaries.  Ileports  were  received 
from  Owego,  Newark  Yalley,  Berkshire,  Eichford,  Har- 
ford, Dryden,  Groton,  Moravia,  Auburn,  Weedsport, 
Cato,  Conquest,  and  Sterling.  J.  N.  Knapp  moved  that 
the  meeting  proceed  to  organize  a  company  to  build 
on  the  proposed  route.  A  committee  was  accordingly 
appointed  to  determine  what  action  should  be  taken 
in  the  matter.  Auburn  being  represented  therein  by 
John  'N.  Knapp,  Josiah  Barber,  C.  C.  Dennis,  Wm. 
H.  Seward,  Jr.,  and  ^Ym,  Gray  Wise.  A  report  in 
favor  of  the  immediate  organization  of  a  railroad  com- 
pany being  received  by  the  meeting,  the  following 
gentlemen  were  elected  its  directors  :  John  J.  Taylor, 
Thomas  C.  Piatt,  of  Owego ;  Wm.  S.  Lincoln,  of 
Newark  Yalley  ;  Hiram  W.  Sears,  of  Dryden ;  Ililand 
K.  Clark,  of  Groton  ;  Wm.  Titus,  of  Moravia ;  Charles 
P.  Wood,  Wm.  H.  Seward,  Jr.,  Cyrus  C.  Dennis, 
Wm.  C.  Barber,  George  J.  Letch  worth,  of  Auburn ; 
John  T.  Knapp,  of  Cato ;  and  George  I.  Post,  of  Ster- 
ling. C.  C.  Dennis,  in  response  to  the  call  of  the 
meeting,  gave  the  road  the  name  of  the  Southern 
Central. 

Messrs.  M.  Goodrich,  George  I.  Post,  and  H.  W. 
Sears  were  designated  a  committee  to  draw  up  arti- 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  329 

cles  of  association ;  and  George  I.  Post,  John  J.  Tay- 
lor, and  C.  S.  Kich,  a  committee  to  prepare  a  memo- 
rial, settins^  fortli  the  feasibility  and  advantages  of  the 
proposed  road,  which  memorial  was  afterward  ably 
prepared  and  published. 

After  the  convention  had  adjourned,  the  directore 
met,  and  elected  Cyrus  C.  Dennis  president ;  John  J. 
Taylor,  vice-president ;  Wm.  11.  Seward,  Jr.,  treasurer ; 
and  George  1.  Post,  secretary. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board,  held  October  27th,  1865, 
it  was  resolved  to  raise  funds  for  a  preliminary  survey, 
and  negotiate  for  the  old  road-bed.  Books  of  subscrip- 
tion to  the  capital  stock  of  the  company  were  opened 
January  4th,  1866.  The  subscription,  on  the  29th  of 
December,  1866,  amounted  to  $106,400,  and  on  the 
16th  of  November,  1867,  to  §1,868,250. 

Fred.  E.  Knight,  Esq.,  of  Cortland,  who,  as  Chief 
Engineer,  had  superintended  a  survey  of  the  route,  is- 
sued an  able  report  to  the  directors,  January  4th, 
1866.  This  report,  among  various  other  things,  set 
forth  the  convenience  of  the  harbor  of  Fair  Haven,  enu- 
merated the  sources  of  business  to  tlie  road,  and  gave 
the  advantages  afforded  by  and  to  the  towns  and  villa- 
ges through  which  the  road  would  pass.  It  also  sliowed, 
from  actual  measurement,  that  the  grades  were  remark- 
ably light,  and  tlie  curves  easy.  Mr.  Knight  estimated 
the  cost  of  the  road,  including  equipments,  to  be  $2,992,- 
642,  or  the  average  cost  ])er  mile,  $30,413,— tlic  dis- 


330  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

tance  from  Fair  Haven  to  Owego  being  ninetj-eiglit 
and  four-tenths  miles.  This  estimate  was  based  upon 
a  survey  that  contemplated  running  on  the  east  side  of 
Owasco  Lake.  The  route  was  afterwards  changed  to 
the  west  side,  which  w^as  found  to  be  still  more  favor- 
able. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1866,  the  Legislature,  to  facili- 
tate the  construction  of  the  Southern  Central  Railroad, 
passed  an  act  to  authorize  towns  to  subscribe  to  its 
capital  stock.  The  act  permitted  subscriptions  to  any 
amount  within  fifteen  per  cent,  of  the  assessed  valua- 
tion of  the  taxable  property  of  the  towns,  whenever  the 
consent  of  tax-payers,  representing  more  than  one-half 
of  that  taxable  property  should  be  obtained.  This  con- 
sent was  obtained  from  the  tax-payers  of  Auburn,  and 
certified  to  on  the  9th  of  August,  1867,  the  amount  ol 
stock  to  be  taken  by  the  city  being  $500,000.  In  ac- 
cordance with  the  provisions  of  the  act,  Adam  Miller, 
Elmore  P.  Eoss,  and  Charles  P.  Wood,  were  designat- 
ed by  the  Hon.  Wm.  E.  Hughitt,  County  Judge,  as 
commissioners  to  issue  the  bonds.  Mr.  Eoss  having, 
subsequently,  retired  from  the  board,  Josiah  Barber 
was  appointed  in  his  stead.  The  first  bonds  were  is- 
sued in  the  fall  of  1867.  The  subscriptions  of  stock 
then  amounted  to  $2,000,000,  It  had  been  deemed 
prudent  by  our  tax-payers  that  no  bonds  should  be  is- 
sued until  a  perfectly  reliable  basis  of  that  amount  had 
been  secured. 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  331 

The  Presidency  of  the  Southern  Central  was  left 
vacant  in  the  spring  of  1866,  by  the  death  of  C.  C. 
Dennis,  an  officer  universally  respected  for  his  integ- 
rity, and  driving,  energetic  spirit. 

J.  Lewis  Grant,  Esq.,  was  unanimously  elected  to 
the  vacant  post,  June  19th,  1866.  At  tlie  time  of 
entering  on  his  connection  with  this  company,  Mr. 
Grant  had  had  more  than  twenty  years'  experience  in 
railroad  matters.  A  blacksmith  and  machinist  by 
trade,  he  had  become  connected  witli  the  Xew  York 
Central  Kailroad  in  1841,  in  the  capacity  of  freight 
conductor.  He  was  afterward  locomotive  engineer, 
and  had  risen  through  every  grade  of  office  to  that  of 
Superintendent.  In  this  capacity,  he  had  managed  the 
Rome  and  Cape  Vincent  Eailroad,  the  Xorthern  Rail- 
way of  Canada,  and  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  and 
with  marked  ability.  He  had  found  the  Canadian 
road  on  the  verge  of  bankruptcy ;  but  he  left  it  one 
of  the  best  paying  lines  in  the  Province.  The  accept- 
ance by  Mr.  Grant  of  the  presidency  of  the  Southern 
Central  was  therefore  hailed  witli  general  satisfac- 
tion. 

Having  obtained  the  services  of  Ed.  F.  Swort,  Esq.y 
of  the  Brocton  and  Corry  Railroad,  an  engineer  of 
the  very  best  reputation  and  ability,  Mr.  Grant  started 
south,  in  company  with  Geo.  L  Post,  to  examine  the 
old  Lake  Ontario,  or  Murdock  line.  At  Venice,  Lyman 
Murdock,  formerly  a  director  in  the  L.  ().,  A.,  iSc  N.  Y. 


332  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

R.  E.  Co.,  joined  the  party,  which  proceeded  to  Ithaca 
via  Lansing.  On  consulting  with  influential  men  along 
the  route,  it  was  discovered  that  little  faith  remained 
in  the  success  of  the  old  road,  and  that,  wdth  the  ex- 
ception of  the  exertions  put  forth  by  a  few  of  its 
hfeaviest  stockholders,  no  effort  would  be  made  to  com- 
plete it.  it  was  found,  furthermore,  that  only  a  por- 
tion of  the  lightest  work  had  been  done  ;  that  at  Fall, 
Cascadilla,  and  Six  Mile  Creeks,  bridges  w^ould  have 
to  be  constructed  which  alone  would  cost  more  than 
many  miles  of  road  through  tlie  more  favorable 
-country  on  the  line  of  the  Southerii  Central,  Adding 
to  this  tlie  fact  that  the  people  of  Itliaca  refused  all  aid 
whatever  to  a  road  north,  till  the  branch  south  of  them 
to  AVaverly  via  Spencer  should  be  completed,  it  was 
readily  seen  that  there  was  every  reason  for  adhering 
to  the  Southern  Central,  for  wdiich  so  much  had 
already  been  done,  letting  further  operations  develop 
the  Murdock  line.  The  latter  was  not,  however, 
without  earnest  supporters,  who  continued  a  somewhat 
heated  advocacy  of  its  merits,  long  after  the  completion 
of  the  road  on  the  other  route  had  become  an  acknowl- 
edged fact. 

On  the  15th  of  May,  1867,  a  law  was  passed  by  the 
Legislature,  exempting  the  town  bonds,  issued  in  favor 
of  the  road,  from  taxation  for  ten  years  from  tlie  date 
of  issue,  provided  that  the  road  should  be  put  in  run- 
ning order  within  three  years  from  the  date  of  the  act. 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  335 

About  tlie  middle  of  June,  '  67,  an  engineering- 
party  was  organized,  for  active  operations  ;  various 
lines  were  surveyed  through  the  city  of  Auburn,  and 
the  line  located  from  Seneca  Hiver  to  Dryden.  A  sec- 
ond party  located  the  line  from  Dryden  to  Owego, 
the  construction  of  wliicli  was  commenced  in  Novem- 
ber, '67,  by  Donald  Robertson,  contractor,  under  Fred. 
E.  Knight,  Chief  Engineer.  North  of  Auburn,  the 
road-bed  of  L.  O.  A.  and  N.  Y.  R.  R.  was  used,  the  rights 
and  franchises  of  the  old  compan}^  having  been  pur- 
chased in  July,  '67. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Southern 
Central  on  the  2d  of  September,  1S68,  directors 
were  elected  for  the  ensuing 'year,  namely  ;  J.  Lewis 
Grant,  president  ;  John  J.  Taylor,  vice-president  ; 
Wm.  II.  Seward,  Jr.,  treasurer  ;  Hon.  Homer  N. 
Lockwood,  secretary  ;  David  M.  Osborne,  General 
John  II.  Chedell,  Nelson  Eeardsley,  Wm.  C.  Barber, 
Harmon  Woodruff,  T.  C.  Piatt,  C.  L.  Rich,  J.  W. 
Dwight,  Hiland  K.  Clark,  and  John  T.  Knapp. 

A  great  deal  of  work  lias  been  done  all  along  the 
line  since  the  beginning  of  active  operations.  It  is 
confidently  expected  that  trains  will  run  from  Seneca 
River  to  Owego  before  the  close  of  the  working  season 
of  1869. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1861-5,  which  had 
given  a  powerful  stimulus  to  many  kinds  of  business, 
but  none  perhaps  to  such  a  degree  as  to  those  of  the 


334:  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

"Carrying  trades,  enormous  profits  were  made  by  the 
various  express  companies  of  this  country,  and  compe- 
tition was  tlius  awakened.  The  Bankers'  express — a 
company  in  which  the  stock  was  taken  by  bankers, 
■and  the  business  limited  to  the  carrying  of  money  and 
vahiables — was  organized  in  the  autumn  of  1865,  but 
soon  became  merged  into  the  old  companies. 

It  was  then  thought  by  some  of  the  citizens  of  Au- 
'burn,  that  an  opportunity  was  offered  to  establish,  with 
success,  a  new  company,  based  somewhat  upon  the 
<jo-operative  system  of  labor :  that,  as  the  merchants 
•of  the  United  States  were  the  principal  patrons  of  the 
express,  a  plan,  which  should  unite  them  as  stock- 
holders in  a  business  in  which  they  themselves  were  the 
largest  customers,  would  secure  eminent  success. 

Accordingly,  in  the  spring  of  1866,  the  Merchants' 
Union  Express  was  organized,  with  Elmore  P.  Ross, 
president;  William  II.  Seward,  Jr.,  vice-president; 
John  N.  Knapp,  secretary ;  William  C  Beardsley, 
treasurer ;  Hon.  Theodore  M.  Pomeroy,  attorney ;  an 
Executive  Board,  viz  :  Major-General  II.  W.  Slocum, 
Elmore  P.  Ross,  Elliott  G.  Storke,  William  C.  Beards- 
ley,  Clinton  T.  Backus,  AVilliam  II.  Seward,  Jr.,  and 
John  A.  Green,  Jr. ;  and  a  Board  of  sixteen  Trustees, 
or  Directors,  namely :  C.  B.  Farwell ;  Clinton  Briggs, 
of  Chicago ;  John  Xazro,  of  Milwaukee ;  T.  D.  Mc- 
Millan, of  Cleveland ;  W.  E.  Schwertz,  of  Pittsbury  ; 
Henry  Lewis,  T.  A.  Caldwell,  of  Philadelphia ;  Theo- 


GENERAL    PROGRESS.  335 

dore  M.  Pomeroy,  of  Auburn  ;  John  How,  Barton 
Able,  of  St.  Louis ;  M.  I.  Mills,  of  Detroit ;  L.  C. 
Hopkins,  G.  T.  Steadman,  of  Cincinnati ;  and  Aaron 
Brinkerhoff,  J.  Trumbull  Smith,  and  W.  A.  Budd,  of 
New  York. 

The  capital  was  placed  nominally  at  twenty  millions 
of  dollars,  but  the  stock  was  to  be  assessed  only  to  such 
an  extent  as  the  necessities  of  the  business  required. 
As  was  anticipated,  the  stock  was  speedily  taken  ;  so 
great  was  the  demand,  that  the  amount  to  be  sub- 
scribed by  a  single  merchant  was  limited,  and  so  thor- 
oughly was  the  stock  distributed,  that  the  company 
boasted  of  its  ten  thousand  stockholders. 

Though  harassed  by  its  rivals  on  every  side,  and 
retarded  bv  the  mai^nitude  of  the  undertakinor,  such 
was  the  energy  displayed,  that  on  the  first  of  October, 
1866,  the  company  was  running  its  cars  over  the  prin- 
cipal railways,  and  before  the  commencement  of  1867, 
Auburn  became  the  center  of  a  net-work  of  express 
lines,  which  extended  into  every  city  and  nearly  every 
town  of  the  northern  States.  The  number  of  persons 
in  its  employ  exceeded  three  thousand.  The  business 
done  by  the  company  became  enormous ;  but,  owing  to 
the  depressed  rates  of  compensation,  occasioned  by  the 
deadly  competition  with  other  lines,  the  losses  were  as 
enormous.  Like  the  venerable  lady,  who  vended  her 
wares  at  a  price  below  the  cost  of  production,  and  only 
made  herself  good  by  the  amount  of  sale^  which  she 


336  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

made,  so  were  the  losses  of  the  company  proportion- 
ately greater,  as  the  amount  of  business  transacted  was 
larger. 

Such  a  ruinous  competition  could  not  be  sustained 
by  either  side ;  and,  after  the  capital  of  every  company 
had  been  greatly  impaired,  a  compromise  was  effected. 
Although  the  losses  were  greatly  diminished,  it  was 
found  necessary,  to  ensure  a  profitable  business  and 
even  a  continuance  of  existence,  for  the  four  com- 
panies who  were  at  this  time  dividing  losses  and  pro- 
fits, to  reduce  to  a  still  greater  degree  their  expenses. 
To  accomplish  this,  on  the  first  of  December,  1868,  a 
union  of  the  American  with  the  Merchants'  Union  was 
made,  under  the  style  of  the  American  Merchants'  Un- 
ion Express  Company. 

The  history  of  the  company  has  thus  been  briefly 
outlined  down  to  the  present  time.  It  would  not  be 
too  much  to  say,  that  no  other  project  has  caused  the 
name  of  Auburn  to  be  so  widely  known,  or  has  cen- 
tered here  so  much  of  foreign  interest.  The  number 
of  persons  to  whom  it  has  given  employment,  and  the 
large  sums  of  money  which  it  has  here  received,  han- 
dled, and  disbursed,  have,  without  a  doubt,  materially 
advanced  the  interests  of  our  city.  And  when  we  con- 
sider the  immense  capital  of  the  Merchants'  Union  Ex- 
press Company,  its  ten  thousand  stockholders,  its  three 
thousand  employes,  and  its  extensive  business,  we 
may  safely  assert  that  the  company  has  made  good  its 


<il>.KKAL    PROGRKSS.  337 

claims  to  le  the  grandest  enterprii-e  ol'  which  Auburn 
can  boast. 

Tlie  celebi-ated  0(-\vego  starch  factory,  though  locat- 
ed in  a  neighboi-ing  city,  may  with  great  pnjpriety  be 
included  with  the  enterprises  of  the  citizens  of  Au- 
burn. Here  the  company  was  organized,  here  the 
tmstees — with  the  exception  of  Thomas  Ivingsford, 
Esq. — reside,  and  here  all  the  iinancial  and  official 
business  of  the  company  has  always  been  transacted. 

In  March,  1848,  four  citizens  of  Auburn  united  with 
Mr.  Kingsford  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing 
starch ;  and  these,  with  others,  were  organized  on  the 
first  day  of  April,  under  an  act  of  the  Legislature, 
passed  February  16th,  1848.  Their  names  were,  viz  : 
S.  Willard,  M.  D.,  Erastus  Case,  Xelson  Beardsley, 
Alonzo  G.  Beardsley,  Ivoswell  Curtis,  Albert  11.  Goss, 
Theodore  P.  Case,  Thomas  Ivingsford,  and  Augustus 
Pettibone.  Dr.  Wilhird  was  elected  president  of  the 
company,  a  position  which  he  still  retains.  A.  G. 
Beardsley,  Esq.,  w^as  secretary  from  the  first  organiza- 
tion, and  has  been  treasurer  for  the  last  twelve  years, 
before  which  that  officer's  duties  were  performed  by 
the  president. 

Mr.  Kingsford  was,  in  1848,  a  resident  of  the  State 
of  New  Jersey,  and  fiivorably  known  as  a  mjinufac- 
turer  of  an  unequaled  quality  of  starch  from  corn  by 
a  process  wdiich  his  own  inventive  skill  had  originated, 
the  secret  of  \\hi('h  he  retained.  Pi'ior  to  liis  experi- 
20 


338  PUSTORl'    OF    xiUBUKN. 

meats  with  cum,  lirst  begun  in  1842,  the  starch  of 
trade  liad  been  manufactured  from  wheat  or  from 
potatoes.  A  factory  was  built  at  Oswego  by  the  newly 
organized  company,  which  at  the  time  w^as  considered 
unusually  large  ;  Mr.  Kingsford  and  son  were  put  in 
charge.  At  lirst,  the  stockholders  were  but  few,  and 
the  capital  only  $50,000.  Now,  there  are  more  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  stockholders,  scattered  over 
several  States,  the  majority,  however,  being  in  Au- 
burn ;  the  buildings  are  more  than  quadrupled,  and 
the  capital  stock  is  nine  times  the  amount  wath  which 
the  company  commenced. 

The  factory  is  concededly  the  largest  manufacturing 
establishment  of  its  kind  known  of  in  the  world. 
Without  personal  inspection,  it  is  difficult  to  obtain  a 
correct  idea  of  its  magnitude,  its  capacity,  and  the 
amount  of  its  productions.  The  original  structure  of 
wood  has  been  succeeded  by  several  immense  build- 
ings, composed  of  brick,  stone,  and  iron.  The  main 
building  is  515  feet  long,  by  200  feet  wide,  varying 
from  two  stories  high  to  seven  stories.  It  has  478,000 
feet  of  flooring,  being  more  than  sufficient  to  cover 
eleven  acres.  There  are  675  cisterns,  having  an  aggre- 
gate capacity  of  3,000,000  gallons,  for  the  purpose  of 
cleansing  the  starch  from  every  conceivable  impurity. 
The  length  of  gutters  for  distributing  starch,  while  in 
a  fluid  state,  to  various  parts  of  the  works,  is  more  than 
four  miles.     There  are  fifty  large  force-pumps  for  the 


GENERAL    PKOGRESS.  3o9 

eiipplj  of  water,  and  for  conveying  the  starch  while  in 
solution,  which  are  capable  of  elevating  600,000  gal- 
lons per  hour,  and,  as  a  protection  against  lire,  several 
of  these  pumps  are  arranged  to  force  through  iire-hose 
125,000  gallons  per  hour,  with  sufficient  power  to 
throw  eighteen  streams  of  water  over  the  top  of  the 
seven-story  building.  The  pumps,  which  are  worked 
by  w^ater-power,  are  connected  with  two  and  a  quarter 
miles  of  water  pipe,  varying  in  size  from  sixteen  inches 
to  two  inches  in  diameter.  One  pump  alone  cost  six 
$1,000,  and  will  throw  a  barrel  of  water  at  a  stroke. 

For  grinding  the  grain,  there  are  twenty  pairs  of  burr 
stones,  and  six  pairs  of  very  heavy  iron  rollers,  with 
tw^o  miles  of  shafting,  connected  by  1,311  gear-wheels. 
There  are  over  twenty  miles  of  steam  |)ipe  for  drying 
starch,  and  warming  the  building. 

The  power  of  this  establishment  consists  of  ten  tur- 
bine wheels  of  50  horse-power  each,  and  a  steam  en- 
gine of  200  horse-power.  Its  capacity  is  equal  to  the 
production  of  twenty  tons  of  starch  per  day,  which,  at 
ten  hours  for  a  day,  is  an  average  of  one  ton  of  starch 
for  each  half-hour.  The  factory  furnishes  employment 
for  500  operatives.  250,000  pounds  of  wrapping  pa- 
per, and  3,500,000  feet  of  lumber,  are  required  annu- 
ally for  packing  and  boxing  the  starch.  The  box  fac- 
tory, an  imposing  brick  structure,  is  owned  by  Messrs. 
Kingsford  &  Son,  who,  by  the  recent  improvements 
in  machinery,  are  able,'^by  one  operation,  to  cut,  mi- 


340  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

ter,  and  dove-tail  the  boards,  so  that  no  naihng  is  re- 
quired for  the  boxes,  except  the  top  and  bottom.  A 
large  amount  of  the  best  grades  of  starch  is'packed  in 
paper  boxes,  the  material  of  which  is  cut  and  prepared 
by  machinery.  About  20,000  of  these  paper  boxes 
are  made  daily.  The  packing  of  these  boxes  is  per- 
formed by  exceedingly  ingenious  machinery,  of  recent 
invention,  which,  with  simulated  intelligence,  by  one 
operation,  packs  with  uniform  shape,  and  weighs  watli 
reliable  accuracy. 

The  introduction  of  this  great  improvement  in  the 
manufacture  of  starch  by  Messrs.  Kingsford  &  Son,  is 
an  era  in  American  manufacture.  Previous  to  this  in- 
vention, the  starch  made  in  the  United  States  was  of 
a  very  inferior  quality.  We  were  dejDendent  on  for-, 
eign  production  for  our  supply  of  a  good  article.  E^ow^ 
not  only  have  all  importations  ceased,  but  foreign  na- 
tions purchase  largely  of  the  Oswego  starch.  Orders 
come  from  every  part  of  Europe,  from  South  America^ 
and  Africa,  and  even  from  China  and  the  Pacdfic  isles. 
At  the  World's  Fair,  held  in  Europe,  with  the  whole 
world  for  competitors,  the  superior  quality  of  the 
Oswego  starch  was  frankly  conceded  by  an  award  of 
a  gold  medal,  in  testimony  of  its  highest  order  of 
merit.  Prize  medals  were  also  won  from  the  Ameri- 
can Institute,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  from  the  New 
York  State  Agricultural  Society,  and  from  Boston, 
Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  and  Montreal. 


THK    AUIJUKN    PRISON.  341 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE    ATBUKN     I'KlsoN. 


The  history  of  this  celebrated  institution,  and  of  the 
finished  system  of  prison  discipline  "which  has  made  it 
and  this  city  famous  throughout  the  whole  civilized 
world,  is  a  topic  worthy  of  the  most  able  mind  and 
pen.  Embodying,  as  it  necessarily  does,  some  account 
of  the  origin,  principles,  and  changes  of  the  whole 
penitentiary  system  of  this  State,  and  a  description  of 
the  most  perfect  plan  of  punishment  ever  conceived  in 
this  country  or  any  other,  the  subject  is  one  of  consid- 
erable importance.  It  is,  furthermore,  one  of  nnusual 
interest  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  city,  since  their  lead- 
ing men  were  at  diiferent  times  connected  with  the 
prison  in  an  otKcial  capacity,  and,  by  their  thoughts 
and  experiments,  aided  materially  in  maturing  and 
giving  the  Auburn  system  efficiency.  It  is  strange 
that  no  one  of  these  eminent  men  should  have  written 
the  history  of  the  prison.  Such,  however,  is  the  case. 
The  outlines  of  the  subject  are,  therefore,  here  pre- 
sented. 

The  criminal  code  in  existence  in  this  State  at  the 
time  of  the  bcixinning  of  its  re}»ul)lican  government 


S42  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

had  many  inhuniaii  and  sanguinary  features.  The 
most  common  offenses  were  punished  by  lashes  at  a 
public  whipping-post,  by  branding,  by  the  stocks,  and 
by  many  unusual  and  degrading  sentences,  w^hile  six- 
teen heinous  crimes,  at  least,  w^ere  punished  by  death. 
Philanthropists  throughout  the  State  and  country  had 
detected  the  errors  of  this  rigorous  code,  and  were 
aiming  to  elfect  a  radical  change  in  the  whole  system, 
by  reducing  the  number  of  capital  crimes,  and  abolish- 
ing cruel  and  disgraceful  punishments.  The  reformers 
claimed  that  cruel  punishments  were  never  useful. 
For,  they  said,  such  corrections  are  practically  a  retal- 
iation, upon  an  offender,  of  the  violence  or  injury  he 
has  committed  upon  a  fellow-man.  They  have  the 
nature  of  revenge,  and  certainly  do  not  dispose  their 
victim  to  abandon  vicious  habits,  nor  can  they,  in  this 
respect,  be  sustained  by  just  statesmen,  who  make 
laws  to  remedy  evils,  and  not  to  gratify  personal  ani- 
mosities. The  philanthropists  represented  that  society 
only  required  that  the  punishments  should  be  of  a 
character  to  intimidate  rog^iies  from  the  further  com- 
mission of  crime,  for  then  the  whole  object  of  punish- 
ment would  be  accomplished ;  and  that  any  correction 
which  publicly  disgraced  a  man,  or  which,  without 
putting  him  to  open  shame,  left  in  his  heart  a  desire 
for  revenge,  was  a  perfect  failure,  so  far  as  its  great 
end  was  concerned,  since  it  only  stimulated  the  man 
to  further  crimes,  instead  of  animatina:  him  to  retrieve 


THE    AUBURN    PRISON.  34-3 

his  character,  and  reform  his  life.  They  lu'ged  tliat 
the  self-respect  of  the  criminal  should,  in  every  in- 
stance, be  preserved.  These  men  were  better  under- 
stood when  they  drew  aside  the  cnrtain  that  covered 
the  infamous  management  of  many  of  the  prisons  and 
jails  of  this  country  and  of  England.  Their  revela- 
tions Jed  intelligent  men  everywhere  to  think  that 
there  was  a  necessity  for  reformation  in  the  criminal 
code,  and  eventually  effected  great  changes  in  the 
penal  institutions  of  America.  The  horrors  of  the 
dismal  Jersey  prison-house  had  made  the  people  of  this 
republic  sensitive  on  the  subject  of  prisons.  They 
therefore  recoiled  from  everything  in  the  prevailing  sys- 
tem of  punishments  that  bore  the  semblance  of  cruelty. 
Within  a  very  short  time  after  the  close  of  the  Eevolu- 
tionary  War,  they  had  abolished  the  lash,  the  brand, 
and  the  stocks,  and  had  greatly  restricted  the  use  of 
the  scaffold.  The  history  of  the  prisons  of  New  York 
commences  at  this  point. 

Governor  Jay,  in  his  annual  message  of  January, 
1796,  recommended  the  immediate  erection  of  estab- 
lishments for  the  detention  and  reformation  of  crimi- 
nals, upon  the  plan  already  being  tried  at  Philadelphia, 
of  confinement  and  hard  labor.  General  Schuyler 
framed  a  law  accordingly,  authorizing  the  construction 
of  prisons  at  Albany  and  New  York,  which  was  passed. 
The  Albany  prisc>n  was  never  built,  but  the  one  at 
New  York,  kiKnvn  as  Newgate,  was  commenced  with- 


3:14  HISTOKl'    OF    A.UBITKN. 

out  delay,  and  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  crimi- 
nals in  November,  1797. 

The  system  first  adopted  here  was  in  strict  accord 
with  the  sentiment  of  the  times,  beyond  which  it  was 
at  no  date  advisable  to  go.  The  prison  was  a  guarded 
stronghold  within  which  the  criminals  were  immured 
and  employed  at  hard  labor  in  the  various  branches  of 
industr}^  to  wliicli  they  were  accustomed.  The  disci- 
pline was  mild,  and  aimed  to  reform  and  elevate  the 
criminal.  Food  was  not  stinted,  nor  the  work  excess- 
ive ;  pay  for  overwork  was  generally  allowed.  The 
convicts  were  confined  at  night  in  apartments  holding 
from  ten  to  twenty  men.  The  effect  of  the  prison 
upon  the  vicious  classes  of  society  w^as  for  many  years 
so  salutary  as  to  win  high  encomiums  from  public  men ; 
but  familiarity  invariably  breeds  contempt,  and  a  bet- 
ter acquaintance  with  its  operations  rubbed  off  what- 
ever terror  it  had  excited  in  the  minds  of  felons.  In 
1803,  the  officers  of  tliat'^  institution  reported  that  ^'  no 
penal  system  in  any  State  was  less  expensive,  or  more 
fully  answered  the  intentions  'Tof  its  founders.  They 
say,  liowever,  in  the  next  breath,  "  there  will  soon  be 
a  want  of  room."  The  |)rison  was  seven  years  old, 
yet  crime  was  increasing.  Its  halls  were  speedily 
filled,  and  then  packed,  in  which  condition  they  be- 
came the  class-rooms  of  infamy  and  vice.  The  unre- 
strained intercourse  between  the  hardened  and  de- 
praved inmates  of  tiio  cells  destroyed  every  remaining 


THE    AUBURN    I'RISON.  345 

vestiire  ot  virtue  in  their  breasts.  Tlie  vouiiir,  for 
whom,  under  more  |)roi)itious  circumstances,  there 
might  have  heen  hope  of  reformation,  were  educated 
by  veteran  offenders  in  all  tlie  arts  and  practices  of 
criminality,  and  returned  upon  tlieir  discharge  to 
society  as  graduates  from  a  college  of  crime.  Felons 
multiplied  with  inconceivable  ra])idity.  By  1808  the 
com'ts  were  sending  such  large  numbers  of  men  to  the 
prison,  that  the  exercise  of  the  pardoning  power  by  the 
Governor  had  become  necessary  to  make  room  for 
them.  In  1809,  the  number  of  pardons  and  commit- 
ments was  ecpial,  and  the  suggestion  was  first  made  of 
a  new  prison  in  the  interior  of  the  State.  The  erec- 
tion of  this  institution  was  hastened  by  the  alarm  felt 
in  the  city  concerning  the  semi-annual  visit  of  the 
Judges,  by  which  the  best  of  the  criminals  were  sorted 
out  as  fit  for  pardon,  and  let  loose  ui)on  society  all  at 
once. 

Notwithstanding  the  admitted  defects  of  the  New- 
gate system,  the  Auburn  prison  was  founded  in  1816, 
upon  precisely  the  same  plan.  Haste  in  its  construc- 
tion was  used  in  order  to  relieve  the  crowded  prisons 
and  jails  of  the  State.  Its  first  involuntary  occupants 
were  taken  from  the  county  jails  of  the  interior  to  aid 
the  work  ot  erection.  The  main  building  and  south 
wing  weie  finished  in  1818,  and  contained  sixty-one 
double  cells  and  twenty-eight  apartments,  holding 
from  ten  to  tweiitv  each,  into  which  the  convicts  were 


346  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

put  as  fast  as  they  arrived.  Workshops  were  erected 
in  1819-20,  and  the  men  were  employed  in  them  at 
custom  work.  Women  were  also  received  here  from 
the  first.  They  were  confined  indiscriminately  in  a 
Uirge  room  in  tlie  south  wing. 

These  were  the  precise  features  of  the  punishment 
at  ]^[ewgate,  and  met  with  precisely  the  same  result. 
The  freshly  committed  convict  was  only  too  certain  to 
leave  behind  him  as  he  stepped  into  the  polluted  at- 
mosphere of  his  crowded  cell  all  remaining  decency 
and  virtue.  He  was  thoroughly^corrupted  during  Ms 
stay  by  contact  with  other  felons,  and  he  left  the  prison 
confirmed  in  viciousness.  Insubordination  in  the 
work-shops  was  frequent,  and  two  damaging  fires 
warned  the  authorities  of  the  evils  of  looseness  in 
discipline. 

The  attainment  of  a  successful  prison  sj-stem  seemed 
at  this  point  problematical.  The  authorities  were  al- 
most in  despair.  The  necessity  of  making  punishment 
sufficiently  terrible  to  arrest  men  in  a  career  of  vice, 
and  the  refusal  of  the  public  to  assent  to  any  disci- 
pline that  was  over-despotic  or  cruel,  were  the  horns 
of  a  strong  dilemma.  The  people  were  averse  to  se- 
verity, for  cruelty  was  only  a  step  beyond,  yet  if  the 
prison  experience  of  the  convict  did  not  restrain  him 
from  further  crime,  the  prison  would  be  simply  a  house 
of  detention,  and  the  end  of  punishment  lost.  Refor- 
mation had  been  declared  to  be  the  object  of  the  abol- 


THE    AUBURN    PRIi=i()N.  34T 

ishment  of  barbarous  punish rnents,  and  the  adoption 
of  a  mild  system.  The  law  had  recognized  the  impor- 
tance of  reformation  by  allowing  every  convict  a  Bible 
and^every  prison  a  chaplain.  But  u])on  a  close  search- 
ing of  the  operations  of  the  mild  system,  the  Legisla- 
ture of  this  State  were  unable  to  discover  that  they 
were  beneficial.  An  examination  of  the  prisons  of 
New  York  and  the  one  at  Philadelphia  in  1817,  led 
Messrs.  Burt,  Radcliff,  and  Taylor,  who  had  been  con- 
stituted a  committee  for  the  purpose,  to  express  the 
deliberate  conviction  that  the  prison  system  of  New 
York  failed  in  its. great  object.  In  1S18,  tlie  Board  of 
Inspectors  at  Newgate  reported  tliat  that  institution 
was  "  far,  very  far  from  answering  the  end  intended  : '' 
that  a  mild  system  seldom  reclaimed  the  vicious,  and 
that  a  better  one  must  be  devised.  ''  not  a  mere  plan 
of  good  living  and  light  punishment,  but  of  dread  and 
terror  ;  "  and  that  '  though  the  prisoners  were  the 
"  most  abandoned  and  profligate  of  mankind,"  and 
steeled  against  virtue,  two  hundred  and  eighty  of  them 
had  to  be  pardoned  to  make  way  for  three  hundred 
freshly  committed.  A  subsequent  legislative  commit- 
tee declared  "  tliat  u[)on  the  whole  view  of  our  State 
prison  system  as  hitherto  conducted,  they  were  com- 
pelled to  adopt  the  conclusion  that  so  far  as  reforma- 
tion was  concerned,  it  had  wholly  failed  ;  and  not  only 
60,  but  that  it  operated  with  alarming  etKca(;y  to  in- 
crease, diffuse,  an<l    extend    the    love  of  vice,"  and   a 


348  HISTORY    OF    AUIJURN. 


knowledge  of  the  secret  devices  of  villainy  ;  that  it 
obviously  had  no  tendency  to  prevent  crime.  Further, 
that  the  system  having  after  twenty-five  years  of  trial 
signally  failed,  and  "  having  for  that  time  spent  our 
sympathies  and  resources  on  the  comfort  of  criminals, 
it  was  now  our  duty  to  look  to  and  protect  the  inno- 
cent.'' Tlie  committee  "  asserted  the  right  of  society 
to  protect  itself  by  any  such  means  as  may  be  most 
efficient ;  and  they  deny  that  the  criminal  who  makes 
war  upon  mankind  has  in  this  respect  any  rights  which 
are  not  subordinate  to  the  rights  of  the  injured  com- 
munity." 

Since  it  was  evident  that  the  existing  system  of  mild 
punishments  did  not  discourage  vice  or  lessen  the  num- 
ber of  criminals,  further  demonstration  of  its  liurtful 
effects  seemed  scarcely  necessary.  Nor  was  it  neces- 
sary. The  astonishing  multiplication  of  crimes,  and 
the  vastly  increased  losses  of  property  throughout  the 
State  by  felonies  and  malicious  mischief,  showed  clearly 
enough  that  the  rights  of  the  "  injured  conmiunity  " 
were  now  boldly  trampled  on  to  an  unprecedented  ex- 
tent. The  cause  of  the  trouble  Avas  indiscriminate 
confinement  in  the  prisons,  and  general  looseness  of 
discipline.  Legislators  determined  to  strike  at  the 
root  of  the  evil  and  resort  if  necessary  to  the  rigorous 
penalties  in  force  in  colonial  days.  They  first  made 
the  experiment  of  solitarj^  confinement. 

The  change  from  indiscriminate  confinement,  though 


THK    AUBURN    PRISON.  34^ 

not  an  original  suggestion  of  the  stjiresinen  ot*  Xew 
York,  was  autliorizcd  by  tlieni  in  iSli),  and  was  made 
for  the  first  time  in  America  at  the  Auburn  j)risun 
early  in  1821.  The  north  wing  was  constructed  on  a 
plan  elsewhere  described,  that  permitted  the  locking  u}> 
of  the  convicts  at  night  in  se})arate  and  solitary  cells, 
between  which  there  was  no  chance  of  connnunication 
without  the  certainty  of  detection  and  punishment,  and 
from  which  it  was  impossible  to  escape.  Separation 
at  night  was  attended  with  hard  labor  during  the  day 
in  large  shops,  in  a  compulsory  silence  that  was  main- 
tained by  the  presence  of  vigilant  keepers,  who  were 
empowered  to  inflict  lashes  for  every  offense  against 
order  or  the  rules. 

William  Brittin,  the  first  agent  of  the  Auburn  prison 
and  the  designer  of  the  arrangement  of  solitary  cells, 
died  in  1821,  and  was  succeeded  by  Captain  Elam  Lynds, 
a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812,  who  lent  his  aid  to  the 
perfection  of  the  new  system.  Captain  Lynds  was  a 
soldierly  man  and  a  strict  disciplinarian.  lie  intro- 
duced the  plan  of  marching  the  convicts  to  and  from 
the  shops,  invented  by  John  D.  Cray,  in  single  tiles 
with  the  lock  step,  lie  encouraged  the  use  of  the 
whip  to  maintain  a  perfect  submission  to  tlie  rules,  and 
took  every  step  allowed  by  law  to  make  the  institution 
a  terror  to  evil-doers.  Ilis  measures  were,  however, 
not  overcharged  with  severity,  though  the  bold  course  he 
y)ursued  was  calculatcMl  to  oj)pres>  convict^  th(M*etofore 


350  mSTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

unused  to  strict  obedience.  Among  other  things, 
Captain  Lynds  substituted  the  practice  of  serving  the 
convicts'  meals  in  their  cells  for  the  previous  custom  of 
marching  them  to  a  commonj  mess-room  and  giving 
them  their  rations  there.  This  change  created  discon- 
tent among  the  men.  At  the  common  table,  they  often 
t^hared  their  food  with  each  other,  thus  equalizing  the 
Avants  of  large  and  small  eaters.  They  could  not  do 
this  in  the  cell  system,  and  many  suifered  from  hunger. 
All  complaints  made  in  consequence  were  answered 
with  the  argument  that  the  crimes  of  the  convicts  de- 
served the  severest  punishment,  which  it  was  not  their 
keepers'  business  to  mitigate. 

The  classification  of  criminals  was  a  measure  au- 
thorized in  the  spring  of  1821,  in  imitation  of  the  plan 
pursued  by  the  authorities  at  the  Philadelphia  prison. 
The  criminals  were  to  be  separated  into  three  classes, 
with  different  degrees  of  punishment.  The  most 
dangerous  and  impenitent,  those  particularly  wlio 
were  serving  out  a  second  or  third  sentence,  composed 
the  first  class,  which  was  doomed  to  constant  confine- 
ment, in  silent  and  solitary  cells,  with  no  companion 
but  their  own  thoughts  and,  if  the  keeper  saw  fit  to 
allow  it,  their  Bible.  The  second  class  was  to  be  se- 
lected from  the  less  incorrigible  ofienders,  and  alter- 
nately placed  in  solitary  confinement,  and  allowed  la- 
bor as  a  recreation.  The  third  and  most  hopeful  set 
was  to  be  permitted  to  work  out  tlie  sentence  of  hard 


THE    ACI3URN    I'lilSON.  351 

labor  by  day,  tmd  seclusion  by  night,  a,s  bad  previ- 
ously been  tlie  case  with  all.  Tlie  second  and  third 
classes,  however,  were  united  as  a  third  class.  The 
separation  of  the  lirst  chiss  from  the  body  of  the  con- 
victs took  place  on  Christmas-day  of  1821.  Eighty- 
three  of  tlie  most  hardened  prisoners  were  committed 
to  silence  and  solitude,  in  cells  where  they  might 
neither  see  nor  hear  any  but  distant  and  chance  occur- 
rences, and  where  they  were  never  visited  except  by 
the  physician  or  chaplain,  or  by  a  convict  bearing  the 
stated  meal.  Tlie  punishment  of  these  men  was 
dreadful.  In  less  than  a  year  five  of  the  eighty-three 
had  died,  one  became  an  idiot,  another,  when  his  door 
was  opened  for  some  chance  purpose,  dashed  himself 
headlong  from  the  gallery  into  the  fearful  area  below, 
and  the  rest,  with  haggard  looks  and  despairing  voices, 
begged  pitifully  to  be  taken  back  to  the  shops  and  set 
to  work.  This  was  suffering  a})plied  l)otli  to  the  l)ody 
and  mind. 

The  Assembly  of  New  York,  in  1824,  ai)pointed 
Samuel  II.  Hopkins,  George  Tibbits,  and  Stephen 
Allen,  to  consider  the  whole  subject  of  punishments 
and  prisons  in  this  State,  and  report  suitable  amend- 
ments to  the  existing  system  for  the  consideration  of 
the  Legislature.  The  committee  spent  the  ensuing 
summer  in  the  task,  during  which  it  sent  Captain 
Lynds  off  to  New  England  to  look  uj)  and  study  the 
prison  systems  prevailing  in  that  region,  and  ascertain 


362  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

their  advantages.  The  coinrnittee's  report  was  laid 
before  the  Legislature  in  January,  1825.  It  contained 
several  important  suggestions.  Foremost  was  a  rec- 
ommendation for  the  repeal  of  the  solitary  confinement 
law,  based  upon  the  injurious  effects  of  such  confine- 
ment on  its  subject.  The  committee  exhibited  the 
debilitating  and  lamentable  results  of  the  ver}^  first 
experiment  in  this  direction,  and  argued  tliat  though 
the  punishment  was  indeed  terrible  it  failed  to  improve 
the  morals  of  the  criminal,  and  it  was  one  of  those  un- 
necessary severities  which  disturbed  the  public  mind. 
The  expense  of  maintaining  convicts  in  idleness  was 
another  important  consideration.  The  committee 
therefore  urged  that  every  convict  should  be  employed 
at  hard  labor,  for  the  sake  of  both  economy  and  health. 
A  less  generous  use  of  the  pardoning  power,  general 
economy  in  administration,  and  the  management  of, 
convict  labor  so  as  to  make  it  productive  were  also- 
suggested  as  needful  and  proper,  A  previous  legisla- 
tive committee  had  recommended  a  course  directly 
opposite  to  the  one  now  proposed,  believing  that  the- 
entire  abandonment  of  lal)or  as  an  engine  of  punish- 
ment was  the  only  means  of  preventing  crime.  One 
of  the  present  committee  entertained  the  same  view.. 
But  economy  Avas  desirable,  and  the  Legislature  accord- 
ingly sent  the  inmates  of  tlie  solitary  cells  back  to 
work.  The  famous  Auburn  system  tlien  began  to  re- 
ceive a  careful  triah 


'Tin:  AUBURN  rRi60N.  353 

A&  the  State  could  not  with  advantage,  or  without 
exciting  the  dangerous  cry  of  "  monopoly,"  manufac- 
ture on  its  own  account,  it  was  contrived  that  the  labor 
of  the  convicts  in  the  State  prisons  should  be  leased  to 
contractors,  who  should  pay  therefor  a  reasonable  and 
stated  sum.  The  convicts  at  first  performed  custom 
work.  In  1S21,  the  first  contract  in  the  Auburn 
prison  was  let  to  Samuel  0.  Dunham,  who  took  five 
men  and  began  the  manufacture  of  tools,  in  which  he 
was  associated  the  following  year  with  Truman  J. 
McMaster.  The  contract  was  afterward  held  by 
McMaster  &  Garrow.  The  cooper-shop  and  a  few 
men  were  let,  in  1824:.  to  Allen  Warden,  the  tailor-shop 
to  Stephen  Yan'Anden,  and  the  shoe-shop  to  Erastus 
and  Jabez  Pease.  The  machine-shop  was  leased  by 
Worden  &  Wilkie,  to  supply  their  cotton-factory  in 
the  village  with  machinery  and  repairs,  and  subse- 
quently by  Muir,  Throop,  &  Garrow  with  the  same 
view.  Brown  &  Guilford  rented  the  hame-shop  in 
1828,  and  Talmadge  Cherry,  the  cabinet-shop,  in  1826. 
The  introduction  and  department  of  the  contract  sys- 
tem was  attended  with  considerable  embarrassment. 
The  increased  discipline  of  the  prison  necessary  to 
prevent  convicts  maliciously  spoiling  their  work  was 
distasteful  to  the  public.  But  the  competition  be- 
tween convict  and  free  labor  was  still  more  so,  and  all 
who  employed  it  lost  popularity.  The  whole  s^-stem 
of  convict  labor,  therefore,  fell  into  a  disrepute,  which 
21 


354  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

lasted  nearly  twenty  years.  The  agent  of  the  prison 
was  at  times  taxed  to  the  uttermost  to  keep  the  con- 
victs busy,  and  some  of  the  contracts  were  taken  by 
merchants  of  Anburn,  onl}^  upon  his  personal  solicita- 
tion, and  then  with  great  reluctance. 

While  the  mass  of  the  people,  who  looked  upon  the 
workings  of  the  great  prisons  only  from  a  distance, 
were,  in  1825,  as  fearful  as  ever  that  the  convicts  would 
be  treated  in  them  in  a  relentless  and  despotic  manner, 
an  event  occurred  in  Auburn  which  marks  the  dif- 
ferent  feelings   with   which    men   equally   averse  to 
cruelty  regard  criminals,  after  having  had  daily  charge 
of  them  for  a  few  years.     The  positive  refusal  of  the 
keepers  of  the  prison  to  whip  three  certain  disobedient 
prisoners,  in  the  spring  of  1821,  will  be  remembered  as 
an  instance  of  their  horror  of  severity.     Four  years' 
experience  taught  the  keepers,  however,  a  valuable  les- 
son— the  necessity  of  punishment  for  ever}^  infraction 
of  the  rules ;  and  in  December,  1825,  so  blunted  had 
their  sensibilities   become   by  constant  contact  with 
the  degraded  and  vicious  beings  in  the  shops,  that  a  fe- 
male prisoner  was  whipped  in  a  heartless  and  violent 
manner,  and  died  from  the  effect  of  the  blows.     This 
was  Rachel  Welch,  whose  body  was  conveyed  to  the 
Auburn  Medical  College  for  dissection.     The  commu- 
nity was  greatly  agitated  by  this  affair,  and  examin- 
ing committees  from  the  Legislature  were  appointed 
to  give  it  a  thorough  investigation.     The  excitement 


THE    AUBURN'    PRISON.  355 

was,  however,  soothed  soon  afterwards  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  Hon.  Gershoni  Powers,  of  Anburn,  to  the 
agency  of  the  prison,  liis  severe  predecessor  being  re- 
!noved  to  anotlier  sphere  of  dnty. 

During  Mr.  Powers'  administration,  the  balance 
was  nearly  obtained  between  a  necessary  severity  of 
<liscipline  in  the  prison,  and  the  demands  of  an  nnduly 
sympathetic  public.  The  practice  of  admitting  visit- 
-rs  to  the  prison,  under  a  slight  tax  to  pay  for  the 
*ime  of  the  keepers  who  showed  them  the  buildings, 
was  encouraged.  Avenues  were  so  arranged  that 
the  visitors  could  pass  around  the  entire  establishment 
without  being  seen,  and  look  down,  through  openings 
in  a  partition  wall,  upon  the  operations  of  the  shops. 
Mr.  Powers,  in  a  letter  to  the  Legislature,  Nov.  17th. 
1828,  claimed  that  this  constant  exposure  of  the  prison 
to  the  public  eye  had  a  salutary  influence,  by  keeping 
up  the  vigilance  and  faithfulness  of  the  officers,  and 
by  removing  from  the  public  the  suspicion  of  mal- 
practice or  cruelty,  which  would  arise  if  the  workings 
of  the  institution  were  concealed. 

The  government  of  the  prison  was  placed,  in  1818, 
in  the  hands  of  a  local  board  of  five  inspectors,  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor  and  Senate  for  two  years, 
which,  in  turn,  appointed  all  the  other  officers  of  the 
institution,  and  maintained  a  general  supervision  over 
its  conduct  and  affairs.  The  officers,  to  the  lowest, 
liolding  their  ])ositions  independently  of  each  otlier, 


366  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

were  responsible  directly  to  the  board,  and  were  ex- 
empt from  interference  in  the  fearless  performance  of 
their  duties.     The  members  of  the  Board  of  Inspectors^ 
taken  from  the  village  at  large,  were  selected  as  men 
in  whom  the  public  had  the  highest  confidence,  and 
on  whom  they  could  safely  rely  for  the  prevention  of 
abuses.     The  agent  and  keeper  was  the  chief  executive 
in  the  management  of  the  prison.     lie  was  allowed  a 
deputy  and  clerk.     The  other  officers  w^ere  the  turn- 
keys, or  keepers,  and  guards.     The  agent  reported  an- 
nually to  the  Board  of  Inspectors  the  general  statistics 
of  the  institution.     The  board  transmitted  a  similar 
report   to   the   Legislature,    at   every   winter   session. 
This  form  of  government  was  in  every  respect  satis- 
factory to  the  public,  and  worked  well.     The  failure 
of  an  attempt  to  change  it,  so  as  to  subserve  political 
ends,  may  be  recorded  as  among  the  incidents  of  1828. 
Mr.  Powers,  having  been  elected  to  Congress  in  the 
fall  of  1828,  was  succeeded  b}^  other  agents :  first,  Levi 
Lewis,  and  then  John   G  arrow,  who  conducted   the 
prison  as  they  found  it,  with  increasing  satisfaction  to 
the  community  and  State  as  well  as  philanthropists, 
till  1838,  when  Captain  Elam  Lynds  w^as  again  placed 
in  charge.     With  his  characteristic  vigor,  this  officer, 
believing  the  discipline  too  lax,  reversed  parts  of  the 
system   which   was   winning   the   admiration   of  our 
statesmen,  and  sent  the  convicts,  as  once  before,  to 
their  cells  to  eat  their  food,  instead  of  at  the  tables. 


TIIK    ACBUKN    PRIS(tX.  357 

He  pushed  this  phin  liirther  by  refusing  them  either 
kniv^evS  or  forks.  This  was  deemed  to  be  cruelty.  The 
indignation  of  tlie  ])eople  was  kindled.  Public  meet- 
ings were  held.  Tlie  Board  of  Inspectors  were  be- 
sieged with  i^etitions  and  remonstrances,  and  Captain 
Lynds  was  even  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  for  inhu- 
manity. The  excitement  was  aggravated  by  the  suffo- 
cation of  a  prisoner,  who  could  not.  un<.lcr  the  new 
order  of  things,  satisfy  his  hunger,  and  wlio,  in  a  hasty 
attenij^t  to  steal  and  swallow  a  piece  of  meat,  was 
strangled.  The  public  were  not  to  be  withstood ;  Cap- 
tain Lynds  resigned,  as  well  as  some  of  the  inspectors. 
Dr.  Noj'es  Pahner  took  the  post  of  agent  on  tlie  9th 
ot  May,  1839,  and  renewed  the  table  system  of  feed- 
ing, settling  thereby,  from  that  date,  a  vexatious  ques- 
tion. 

Philanthropy  now  prompted  an  attempt  to  abolish 
the  use  of  the  cat-o'-nine-tails.  In  April,  1838,  before 
Captain  Lynds  resigned,  one  Louis  Yon  Eck,  a  German, 
had  been  severely  punished  for  shamming  sick,  as  it 
was  said,  and  he  died.  Perhaps  the  fault  was  only  an 
error  of  the  physician's  judgment  in  failing  to  detect 
the  presence  of  disease  in  the  convict's  system,  yet  Yon 
Eck  had  been  kicked  and  whipped  and  otherwise 
abused,  till  a  fever  produced  liis  deatii.  The  instru- 
ment used  for  Hogging  was  composed  of  a  handle  like 
the  butt  of  a  raw-hide  whip,  two  feet  and  one  inch 
long,  to  which  was  attached  by  one  corner  a  triangular 


358  HISTORY    OF    AUIJUKN. 

piece  of  strong  leather.  To  the  side  of  this  triangle, 
opposite  the  liandle,  were  fastened  six  strands  of  waxed 
shoe-thread,  eighteen  and  a  half  inches  long,  and  one- 
tenth  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  Six  blows  with  this  in- 
strnment  npon  the  uncovered  back  had  been  fixed  by 
law  as  tlie  limit  for  any  one  oifense.  The  limit  was 
never  adhered  to,  and  the  fact  was  so  apparent  in  the 
case  of  Yon  Eck,  that  the  reformers  nltimately  suc- 
ceeded, in  December,  1847,  in  securing  a  law  forbid- 
ding the  use  of  the  whip  or  blows  of  any  kind  except 
in  self-defense.  The  shower-bath  plan  of  punishment 
was  then  inventedj.by  Dr. ^Joseph  T.  Pitney,  of  Auburn. 
It  was  believed  to  be  a  humane,  though  severe,  inflic- 
tion, and  was  tried  as  an  experiment  before  the  whip 
was  laid  aside.  Its  first  application  in  the  Auburn 
prison  was  made  April  15th,  1842.  It  seemed  to  work 
well,  being  in  its  application  less  forbidding  to  the 
keeper,  saving  both  his  and  the  convict's  self-respect. 
It  is  now  the  only  form  of  corporal  punishment  per- 
mitted by  law. 

The  settlement  of  popidar  opposition  to  convict  la- 
bor at  the  Auburn  prison  remains  to  be  noted.  This 
opposition  sprang  up  with  the  origin  of  the  institution 
amongst  the  mechanics  of  Auburn  and  other  villages, 
who  dreaded,  and  did  actually  at  the  very  first  suiFer 
a  loss  of  their  basiness.  The  cooper,  shoe,  tailor,  and 
cabinet-shops,  as  early  as  1825,  injured  a  large  number 
of    industrious    mechanics    in    Auburn,  and    obliged 


THE    AUBUKN    PRISON.  359 

many  of  tlieui  to  embark  in  new  modes  of  earnini>j  a 
support.  The  whole  damage  done  to  business  fell,  of 
course,  in  the  outset,  upon  Auburn.  But  as  the  availa- 
ble labor  in  the  prison  gained  extent,  and  tools,  ma- 
chines, carpets,  liames,  and  saddles,  began  to  be  pro- 
duced in  quantities,  complaints  were  made  in  all  quar- 
ters of  the  State  concerning  this  "  monopoly,  "  as  me- 
chanics were  pleased  to  stigmatize  it.  In  justice  to  the 
tradesmen,  various  attempts  were  made  to  protect  their 
interests.  The  State  could  not  aftbrd  to  sustain  prison- 
ers in  idleness.  Xor  could  mechanics  withstand  the 
competition.  A  resolution,  therefore,  passed  the  Legis- 
lature in  1835,  directing  the  agent  here  to  report  on  the 
probability  and  profit  of  carrying  on  in  the  prison  the 
manufacture  of  such  articles  as  were  then  furnished  to 
the  United  States  exclusively  by  importation.  The 
manufacture  of  one  such  article — silk — was  authorized 
definitely.  John  Garrow,  then  agent,  did  not  see  fit  to 
commence  the  business,  however,  and  the  matter 
rested  till  1841.  In  May  of  that  year,  Henry  Polhe- 
mus,  an  untiring,  devoted  gentleman,  and  the  succes- 
sor of  Mr.  Garrow,  began  the  silk  business  as  an  ex- 
periment, and  resolved  to  give  it  a  fair  and  impartial 
examination.  He  did  so.  The  test  was  continued  for 
three  or  four  years.  But  the  pursuit  proved  to  be  un- 
remunerative  and  was  abandoned.  The  number  of 
men  employed  in  the  silk-shop  at  one  time  ranged  as 
high  as  f^rty. 


360  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

By  1845,  however,  the  necessity  for  any  legislative 
protection  had  passed.  The  circumstances  of  the  case 
were  then  materially  changed.  When  the  introduc- 
tion of  coerced  labor  to  Auburn  threw  into  the  mai'- 
ket  the  available  services  of  several  hundred  additional 
hands,  the  population  of  the  village  was  little  more 
than  a  thousand.  What  would  not  have  been  per- 
ceived in  a  large  city  was  a  crushing  blow  to  the  labor- 
ing classes  here.  An  exodus  of  mechanics  from  Au- 
burn followed,  and  their  grievances  kindled  the  wide- 
spread aversion  to  convict  labor.  But  during  the  lapse 
of  twenty-five  years,  other  tradesmen  had  entered  the 
field,  and  the  population  of  the  county  and  State  had 
expanded  so  largely,  that  the  labor  of  the  five  hundred 
inmates  of  the  penitentiary  had  lost  its  injurious  influ- 
ence. The  mechanic  interest  had  then  adjusted  itself 
to  the  situation,  and  was  no  longer  ranged  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  economical  and  reasonable  system  of  the 
Auburn  prison. 

The  troubles  attending  the  development  of  that  sys- 
tem having  been  at  last  removed,  it  went  into  unmo- 
lested operation.  To  the  present  day  agents  of  all 
grades  of  ability,  of  difterent  temperaments,  and  of  all 
political  creeds,  have  conducted  the  Auburn  prison 
with  unvarying  success,  and  have  achieved  for  its 
peculiar  principles  a  lasting  fame.  Twenty  States  or 
more  of  this  republic  have  already  adopted  the  Au- 
burn system  in  their  prisons,  and  various  foreign  na- 


THE    A.Ur.rKN     J'KISON.  361 

tions  have  erected  establishments  in  close  imitation  of 
them.  Xo  system  more  economical  has  yet  been 
discovered  :  nor  has  any  been  found  which,  when 
well  carried  out,  better  answers  the  great  end  of  pun- 
ishment. A  description  of  the  plan  and  workings  of 
the  prison  will  not  be  considered  improper. 

The  Auburn  prison  occupies  an  area  of  500,000 
square  feet,  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Owasco  Outlet, 
from  which  it  derives  a  valuable  water-power.  It  faces 
State  Street,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  wall  three  thou- 
sand feet  long,  four  feet  thick,  and  varying  as  it  stands 
near  or  distant  from  the  inner  buildings  from  twelve 
to  thirty-five  feet  in  height.  The  walls  are  manned 
during  the  day  by  guards. 

The  prison  buildings  are  arranged  in  the  form  of  a 
hollow  square,'at  such  distances  from  the  outer  walls  as 
to  render  unobserved  communication  with  them  highly 
improbable.  They  consist  of  a  central  building,  with 
wings  which,  being  L-shaped,  run  back  at  right  angles  to 
the  rear,  and  unite  with  rows  of  shops  extending  west- 
ward some  twenty-five  rods.  A  long  brick  shop 
stands  at  the  west  end  of  the  yard,  parallel  to  the 
main  building,  and  completes  the  square.  In  the 
center  is  a  large,  level,  commodious  yard.  The  main 
building  is  fifty-six  feet  high ;  the  wings  are  forty-five. 
The  first  contains  the  agent's  apartments  and  oftice, 
the  inspectors'  room,  the  clerks'  oftice,  and  the  keep- 
ers' hall.     The  whole  front  is  throe  hundred  and  eisrhtv- 


362  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

seven  feet.  The  north  wing,  as  finished  in  1823,  is 
three  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long  by  forty-live  wide ; 
it  contains  five  hundred  and  lifty  cells  and  five  dun- 
geons. An  addition  now  being  built  upon  its  rear 
will  enlarge  the  number  of  cells  by  about  three  hun- 
dred. The  south  wing  is  two  hundred  and  three  feet 
long  by  fifty-three  wide,  and  contains  four  hundred 
and  forty-two  cells.  Forming  part  of  this  wing  is  the 
building  containing  the  hospital,  chapel,  and  mess- 
room,  built  in  1860.  From  the  end  of  the  north  wing 
is  built  tlie  tool -shop.  It  is  two  hundred  and  fourteen 
feet  long  by  thirty-seven  deep,  is  two  stories  high  and 
made  of  brick.  It  employs  about  ninety  men.  Ad- 
joining is  the  hame-shop,  a  structure  of  the  same  char- 
acter. Its  dimensions  are  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  feet  by  forty.  It  employs  about  an  hundred  con- 
victs. The  machine-shop,  a  brick  building,  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty  feet  long  and  sixty  deep,  and  two 
stories  high,  is  added  to  the  end  of  tlie  south  wing. 
It  furnishes  work  to  ninety-seven  men.  The  cabinet- 
shop  stands  next  to  this,  and  opposite  the  hame-shop  ; 
is  three  hundred  and  thirty  feet  long  by  fifty  wide  ;  gives 
employment  to  about  sixty-eight  men,  and  contains 
the  State  tailor-shop,  waste-room,  etc.  The  shoe-shop, 
filling  the  west  end  of  the  square,  is  two  hundred  and 
forty  feet  long  by  fifty  wide,  is  three  stories  high  and 
employs  from  two  to  three  hundred  men.  These 
shops  all  stand  about  seventy -five  feet  distant  from  the 


THE    AUBUliX    PRISON.  365 

outside  walls,  leaving  an  open  space  of  tliat  width 
around  tlie^  greater  part  of  the  bnildings,  to  which 
access  is  had  from  the  inner  yard  by  means  of  arched 
carriage-ways.  In  this  open  space,  on  the  north  and 
soutli  sides  of  the  prison,  tliere  stand  other  shops  re- 
moved from  the  wall  between  thirty  and  forty-tive  feet, 
and,  with  but  one  exception,  all  only  one  story  high. 
The  first  of  the^e  is  a  sash-and-blind  shop.  It  is  two 
hundred  and  forty  feet  long  and  thirty-nine  deep. 
Sixty  convicts  work  there.  Joining  this  and  running 
westward  is  a  long  brick  building,  once  used  for  the 
tool-shop,  now  occupied  partly  as  a  store-house  and 
partly  by  the  hame  contractors.  Between  the  south 
wing  and  wall  stand  the  foundry  and  axle-tree  shop. 
The  former  is  attached  to  the  machine  contract ;  the 
latter  is  two  stories  high  and  employs  ninety-six  men. 
The  control  of  the  prison,  vested,  in  1818,  in  a  local 
board  of  five  inspectors,  having  full  power  to  appoint 
and  remove,  was,  by  the  new  State  Constitution  ot 
1 846,  intrusted  to  a  general  board  of  three  inspectors, 
who  were  to  act  for  the  whole  State.  The  first  board 
under  the  new  law  was  elected  in  jN^ovember,  18-17, 
and  qualified  the  January  following.  The  inspectors 
were  chosen  for  one,  two,  and  three  years  respectively. 
The  term  of  one  member  of  the  board,  therefore,  ex- 
pires annually,  and  a  successor  is  annually  elected. 
Every  January  tlie  inspectors  meet  and  organize,  by 
electing  one  of  their  number  ])resi(l(Mit.     Tliey  divide 


364  HISTORY    OF    AUIJURX. 

the  prisons  between  them  every  four  month-?,  in  order 
that  each  inspector  may  have  tlie  special  oversight  of 
some  one  establishment,  wln'ch  he  is  required  to  visit 
and  examine  at  least  seven  days  in  each  month.  The 
board,  as  a  whole,  visits  all  the  prisons  four  times  a 
year,  and  makes  appointments  of  all  their  executive 
and  administrative  offices.  The  agent,  cliaplain,  and 
physician  of  each  prison  report  to  the  board  annually 
the  condition  and  health  of  the  estabUshment  under 
their  charge.  A  general  report  is  submitted  by  the 
inspectors  to  the  Legislature,  at  the  beginning  of  every 
winter  session. 

The  Constitution  adopted  by  the  State  convention  of 
1867,  contemplates  a  change  in  this  form  ot  govern- 
ment. It  proposes  to  substitute  a  board  of  five  com- 
missioners for  the  prison  inspectors,  one  to  be  elected 
annually,  wdio  shall  serve  without  salary,  their  actual 
expenses,  however,  being  paid  by  the  State,  and  shall 
have  power  to  appoint  the  chief  officers  of  the  several 
prisons.  The  choice  of  subordinate  officers  is  vested 
by  this  instrument  in  the  agents. 

The  convict's  life  begins  with  an  entry  upon  the 
books  of  the  prison  of  his  name,  age,  nativity  and 
occupation.  The  physician  examines  him  and  re- 
cords his  full  descriptive  list.  Robed  in  a  striped  suit, 
he  is  tlien  shaven  and  shorn,  and  conducted  to  his  cell. 
His  punishment  follows.  He  is  assigned  a  trade,  and 
loses  his  individuality  at  once  in  tlie  work-shops. 


TIIK    AUBURN    PRISON.  365^ 

The  daily  roiitiiie  uf  the  prison  begins  at  (hiwn,  by 
the  gathering  of  tlie  keepers  and  guards  in  the  keepers' 
hall,  from  which  at  a  given  signal  they  proceed  to  the- 
galleries  and  walls,  and  ])rei)are  to  open  the  prison. 
The  guards  that  have  kept  watch  during  the  night  in 
the  white-washed  halls,  retire.  A  bell  wakes  the  men. 
The  keepers  pass  through  the  galleries,  unlocking  the 
cells  of  the  company  which  they  severally  command. 
As  they  return  down  the  galleries,  they  unlatch  the 
doors  in  order ;  the  prisoners  throw  open  the  doors  as 
the  keepers  pass,  step  out,  and  fall  into  their  place  in 
the  long  file  forming  in  the  area.  After  breakfast  in  a 
common  mess-room,  at  tables  so  arranged  that  the  men 
all  look  in  one  direction,  in  order  that  they  may  not  ex- 
change either  signs  or  words,  they  are  marched  to  the 
shops  and  employed  at  hard  labor  during  the  day,  under 
the  superintendence  of  the  contractors  or  their  em- 
ployes. The  keepers  are  always  present.  Half  an  hour 
is  allowed  at  noon  for  dinner.  Xo  conversation  or  in- 
tercommunication is  allowed  between  the  ])risonei*s  ex- 
cept by  special  permission,  and  then  only  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  keeper.  The  men  are  thus  completely  iso- 
lated. Friends  sometimes  work  for  months  in  the 
same  building  without  a  suspicion  of  the  fact.  At  the 
approach  of  night  the  convicts  are  marched  directly  to 
their  cells,  in  which  they  are  safely  secured  before  the 
gathering  shades  of  evening  make  it  possible  for  any  to 
secrete  themselves  and  escape.     On    Sunday  there  is 


366  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

religious  instruction  to  such  convicts  as  choose,  in  the 
•chapel.  Dis^ine  service  is  also  held  there.  Those  that 
desire  may  draw  books  from  the  large  prison  library. 

Offenders  against  .good  order  are  punished  according 
to  their  extent,  by  giving  the  transgressor  the  ball  and 
-<3hain  or  the  yoke  to  wear,  by  solitary  confinement  in 
the  dungeon,  or  by  tlie  sliower-bath.  The  shower- 
batli  is  applied  only  in  the  presence  of  the  deputy- 
keeper.  The  subject  is  confined  in  a  sitting  posture 
in  the  bath  by  stocks  and  straps,  and  is  showered  with 
<3old  water  from  a  large  sprinkler  with  a  foil  of  about 
two  feet.  It  is  seldom  necessary  to  resort  to  this  pun- 
ishment more  than  once. 

The  splendid  buildings  and  extensive  grounds  of  the 
State  Asylum  for  insane  criminals  are  contiguous  to 
the  prison  upon  the  west. 

The  disadvantages  attending  the  treatment  of  luna- 
tic convicts  at  the  institution  at  Utica,  or  in  the  ordi- 
nary prison  hospitals,  long  ago  rendered  it  desu-able 
that  an  establishment  should  be  erected  for  their  exclu- 
sive use.  The  prison  inspectors  had  been  directed,  in 
1855,  to  remove  all  the  insane  from  the  Utica  Asylum 
that  had  been  sent  there  from  the  prison,  their  pres- 
ence at  the  institution  being  regarded  with  great  dis- 
favor by  the  friends  of  its  other  inmates,  and  there  be- 
ing no  sufficient  means  within  command  of  the  officers 
of  the  asylum  to  prevent  their  escape.  The  inspectors, 
in  their  annual  report  to  the  Legislature  of  1856,  re- 


THK    AUBCTiN    PRISON.  oG? 

quested  tliat  suitable  buildings  miirlit  be  erected  for 
the  insane  from  all  tlie  prisons  of  the  State,  in  tlie 
lar^e  lot  belono:in2:  to  the  State,  in  rear  of  the  Auburn 
prison. 

The  request  was  repeated  in  1S5T.  The  erection 
was  then  authorized,  and  twenty  thousand  dollars 
appropriated  to  begin  the  work.  Tlie  inspectors, 
having  obtained  valuable  suggestions  as  to  the  plan  of 
the  proposed  institution  from  Dr.  John  C.  Gray,'pu- 
perintendent  at  lltica,  intrusted  the  whole  supervision 
of  the  work  of  construction  to  Colonel  Lewis,  the  ef- 
iicient  agent  of  the  Auburn  prison.  A\"m.  II.  Van 
Tuyl  w^as  employed  as  architect,  and  Jolin  Vander- 
heyden  took  the  contract  for  the  masonry. 

The  foundation  of  the  asylum  was  laid  in  June, 
1857,  and  the  main  building,  west  wing,  and  transept 
erected  thereon  before  the  close  of  the  season.  The 
entire  superstructure  was  completed,  or  nearly  so,  in 
the  most  substantial  manner,  by  the  winter  of  1858. 
A  large  part  of  the  stone  and  roofing  was  taken  from 
a  large,  unfinished  stone  building,  that  had  been  put 
up  in  the  prison  yards  some  years  before,  for  a  mess- 
room,  chapel,  hospital,  and  kitchen,  which,  being  illy 
adapted  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  designed,  liad 
never  been  used,  and  was  now  demolished  for  the  sake 
of  putting  its  material  into  the  new  building. 

The  asylum  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  patients 
on  the  secondTday  of  February,  1859,  under  the  able 


HISTORY    OF    AUBURK. 

medical  superintendence  of  Dr.  Edward  Hall,  of 
Northern  Yermont,  who,  the  absence  of  precedents- 
notwithstanding — tliis  institution  being  the  first  and 
only  one  of  the  kind  in  the  United  States — discharged 
the  duty  of  beginning  its  system  of  treatment  in  so  ju- 
dicious a  manner,  as  to  win  the  favorable  notice  and 
congratulations  of  the  State  authorities.  Dr.  Charles 
A.  Van  Anden,  of  Auburn,  then  lately  the  efficient 
physician  of  the  prison,  succeeded  to  the  management 
of  the  asylum  in  1862.  He  has  conducted  its  opera- 
tions to  the  present  day  with  marked  ability  and  suc- 
cess. 

A  law  having  been  passed  in  the  Legislature  of 
1867,  directing  the  removal  of  insane  female  convicts 
from  Utica  and  Sing  Sing  to  Auburn,  Dr.  Yan  Anden 
has  recommended  the  purchase  of  lands  lying  west  of 
the  State  property,  and  provision  for  an  enlargement 
of  the  asylum,  which  will  probably  soon  be  done. 

The  institution  is  located  on  a  handsome  lot  five 
hundred  feet  square,  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall  twelve 
feet  high.  It  consists  of  a  main  building  forty-four 
feet  wide  and  sixty  deep,  with  wings  one  hundred  feet 
long  and  twenty-seven  deep,  and  transepts  twenty-five 
feet  wide  by  sixty-six  deep.  The  front  of  these  buildings 
is  stone,  while  the  side  and  rear  walls  are  durably  con- 
structed of  brick.  Behind  these  stand  a  collection  of 
smaller  buildings,  occupied  severally  as  a  conservatory, 
a  chapel,  dining-room,  carpenter  and  blacksmith-shop, 


THE    AUBURN    PRIi^ON.  369 

ice-liou:^e,  boiler-house,  tool-room,  barii>,  aiid  ironing- 
room.  The  apartments  and  office  of  the  medical  su- 
perintendent, the  kitchen  and  patients'  dining-rooms, 
are  situated  in  the  main  building.  The  insane  are 
lodged  in  the  wings  and  transepts.  Their  rooms,  sixty- 
four  in  number,  open  upon  the  various  halls,  of  which 
there  are  fuur  one  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  eight 
twentj-tive  feet  in  length.  The  inmates  of  the  asy- 
lum are  carefully  watched  and  treated.  They  are 
allowed  to  cultivate  the  liower  and  ve^-etable  gardens 
for  recreation.  From  tlie  sunnnit  of  the  asylum  an 
excellent  view  may  be  had  of  both  the  city  and  the 
prison.  The  latter  appears  in  all  its  magnitude,  and 
the  observer  is  no  less  impressed  with  its  massiveness 
and  extent  by  this  general  view,  than  when  standing 
in  the  midst  of  the  lofty  buildings  looking  at  them 
from  below. 


22 


370  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 


CHAPTER  YI. 


THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMIN^^Y. 


The  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Central  and  Western  New  York  is  plea- 
santly located  on  elevated  ground,  in  the  northern  part 
of  Auburn,  amongst  fine  residences  and  well- shaded 
streets.  The  grounds  are  ample  and  level  and  ten  or 
twelve  feet  higher  than  Seminary  Street,  opposite 
whose  junction  with  Seminary  Avenue  they  are  situ- 
ated. Two  handsome  houses  west  of  and  adjacent  to 
tlie  Seminary  are  occupied  by  Drs.  Hall  and  Hunting- 
ton, professors.  The  Seminary  buildings  are  ivy-cov- 
ered, substantial  limestone  structures,  with  a  total 
front  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  feet,  and  consist  of 
a  central  building  with  wings  and  one  transept.  The 
wings  are  three  stories  high,  the  other  parts  of  the  in- 
stitution four.  The  Seminary  bell  hangs  in  a  belfry 
on  the  top  of  the  main  buildings.  A  promenade  en- 
circling this  belfry  affords  an  enchanting  view  of  the 
city.  The  gorge  of  the  outlet,  the  valley  of  the 
Owasco,  and  the  outlying  farms  appear  to  great  ad- 
vantage, and  Fort  Hill,  rising  majestically  over  the 
town,  looks   like  an  oriental   hanging  garden.      The 


THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY.  371 

four  Seminary  buildings  are  severally  called,  in  lioiK.i- 
of  distinguished  patrons  of  the  institution,  Theo,  I*. 
Case,  lion.  Win.  E.  Dodge,  Dr.  S.  AYillard,  and  Peter 
Douglass  Halls.  Through  each,  in  every  story,  a  hall 
runs  from  front  to  rear,  around  which  are  arranged 
the  reading,  lecture,  and  students'  rooms.  The  base- 
ment contains  the  stewards'  rooms.  The  first  two 
stories  of  central  hall  are  iinished  as  a  chapel,  and 
above  this  are  a  class-room  and  a  reading-room,  fur- 
nished with  all  the  leading  theological  and  literary 
gazettes  of  the  day.  The  western  hall  contains  two 
class-rooms  and  the  Seminary  library,  as  well  as  nu- 
merous rooms  for  the  young  theologians.  There  are 
now  over  ten  thousand  volumes  in  the  library,  which 
range  in  size  from  the  tiny  octodecimo  to  the  ponder- 
ous folio.  Many  printed  on  vellum  are  of  the  greatest 
antiquity  and  value. 

A  specimen  of  the  famous  sculptures  of  Xineveh  is 
exhibited  in  the  library.  A  large  slab  of  dingy  mar- 
ble bears  the  image  of  a  Ninevite  in  low  relief,  and  a 
profusion  of  sentences  in  the  mysterious  arrow-writing 
of  that  race.  One  of  the  lecture-rooms  in  this  hall 
contains  the  museum,  a  collection  of  imi»lements,  curi- 
osities, and  geological  rarities  from  pagan  lands,  where 
graduates  of  the  seminary  have  gone  to  preach  the 
Gospel.  The  work-sho])  and  gymnasium  stand  in 
rear  of  the  western  part  of  the  seminary.  A  iine  view 
of  the  whole  of  these  buildings  and  the  broad  grounds 


372  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

is  presented  in  one  of  the  landscapes  accompanying; 
this  woriv.  The  seminary  is,  by  its  elevated  and  de- 
tached position,  the  most  cons})icnons  pnhlic  building- 
in  Auburn. 

Tlie  annals  of  this  institution  possess  general  inter- 
est to  the  inhabitants  of  our  city.  Its  influence  on  the 
place,  the  county,  even  the  State  itself,  in  molding 
the  character  and  religious  faith  of  the  people,  has 
been  incalculable.  Its  growth  was  slow,  but  from  its 
foundation  it  has  diffused  the  most  substantial  bless- 
ings in  this  community,  by  inspiring  a  love  of  order, 
by  teaching  and  assisting  the  poor,  by  missionary 
work  in  the  prison  and  surrounding  towns,  and  by 
stimulating  the  formation  of  societies  in  the  city,  to 
whose  self-sacrificing  labors  the  success  of  nearly  all  of 
our  charitable  and  missionary  establishments  may  be 
safely  ascribed. 

Notwithstanding  the  pressing  religious  wants  of  the 
American  people,  there  was,  when  the  present  century 
opened,  but  one  school  in  the  United  States  where 
young  men  might  regularly  fit  themselves  for  the 
Gospel  ministry.  This  school  was  established  by  the 
Rev.  John  Mason,  D.D.,  of  Isew  York  city,  who  had 
then  recently  returned  from  Europe  with  a  large  col- 
lection of  theological  w^prks  suited  to  his  purpose,  and 
was  modestly  making  his  first  experiment  in  the  me- 
tropolis. Tiie  student  of  theology,  previous  to  this 
time,  had   l)een  compelled    to  seek  the  learnino;  and 


Tin-:    TIIEOLOUICAL    SEMINARY.  373 

culture  needed  in  his  calling  eitliei-  in  private,  at  the 
feet  of  some  favorite  and  eminent  divine,  or  in  the 
schools  of  the  Old  World.  He  Avas  now  enabled  to 
prepare  himself  for  the  ministry  in  a  better  manner ; 
and  Dr.  Mason  was  soon  surrounded  by  a  goodly 
number  of  young  men,  seeking  his  masterly  instruc- 
tions. 

The  Theological  Seminary  at  Anduver,  Ma?s. — the 
first  in  tlie  United  States — was  founded  in  180S.  The 
Princeton  Seminary,  and  Union  Theo.  Seminary 
in  Virginia,  were  erected  four  years  later,  and  the 
General  Tlieo.  Seminary  of  the  Prot.  Episcopal  Church 
was  built  at  Xew  York  in  1817.  Yet  such  was  the 
enormous  expansion  of  the  population  of  the  country 
during  this  period,  that  it  was  impossible  to  provide 
the  new  settlements,  or  even  the  old,  with  religious 
teachers  as  fast  as  the  times  demanded.  A  vast  army 
of  emigrants  was  daily  landing  on  the  shores  and 
pouring  across  the  States  toward  the  far  west,  where 
villages  and  new  States  were  being  called  into  exist- 
ence as  if  by  magic  ;  and  the  cry  came  out  of  the 
Avilderness, ''  Send  ns  the  word  of  God."  Few  divines, 
however,  came  out  into  the  new  country  except  as  mis- 
sionaries, and  the  labors  of  these  extended  over  such 
large  districts,  and  their  stay  was  generally  so  short,  that 
there  was  now  great  danger  that  the  pulpits  of  many  of 
the  new  settlements  would  be  filled  by  an  ignorant  and 
uneducated   ministi'v,  to   meet  the  urowinir  demand. 


374  HISTORY  OF  auburn. 

Many  a  pulpit  already  established  was  vacant,  and 
there  were  none  to  fill  them.  The  graduates  of  the 
Seminaries  were  generally  detained  in  the  Eastern 
States.  The  Presbyterian  Church  viewed  the  state  of 
things  in  Western  New  York  with  some  anxiety. 
Here  was  a  wide  field  for  religious  work,  but  the  labor- 
ers therein  were  few.  Tlie  Lord  of  the  harvest, 
however,  provided  a  way  at  this  critical  time  to  raise 
lip  laborers  and  gather  the  harvest. 

Colonel  Samuel  Bellamy,  of  Skaneateles,  and  Colonel 
John  Lincklaen,  of  Cazenovia,  both  prominent  and 
active  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  vari- 
ous others  of  the  same  persuasion,  were  led  at  different 
times  to  converse  on  the  ffreat  dearth  of  ministers  in 
this  part  of  JN'ew  York,  and  finally,  in  1817,  to  suggest 
the  erection  at  some  convenient  point  of  a  new  semin- 
ary of  sufiicient  size  to  include  a  suitable  academical 
course  for  preparation.  The  measure  was  first  publicly 
advocated  by  these  gentlemen  at  an  annual  meeting 
of  the  Synod  of  Geneva,  held  at  Rochester  in  February, 
1818.  Its  necessity  and  propriety  were  ably  sustained. 
The  proposition,  however,  took  the  synod  by  surprisCy 
and  its  members  were  not  at  first  fully  prepared  to 
give  it  their  support.  Indeed,  although  it  was  gener- 
ally conceded  that  the  times  demanded  the  seminary, 
considerable  opposition  was  manifested  to  the  project. 
Many  prominent  gentlemen  were  apprehensive  that 
the  Presbyterians  were  not  strong  enough  to  endow 


THE    TlIEOLOGirAL    SE^;INAln^  375 

and  support  the  pro})osed  institution.  (Jtliers  feared 
that  tlie  General  ^Vssenibly  would  regard  it  as  liostile 
to  the  interests  of  the  Princeton  Seminary,  over  which 
that  body  maintained  supervision.  After  debating  the 
matter  for  two  days,  it  was  deemed  a  judicious  course 
to  temper  the  resolution  in  lavor  of  the  proposed  sem- 
inary witli  the  provision  that  it  be  first  referred  to  the 
General  Assembly  for  advice.  A  committee  composed 
of  two  ministers  and  one  layman  from  each  Presbytery 
of  the  synod  was  appointed  to  carry  the  resolution  into 
effect.  The  committee  was  also  instructed  to  sound 
the  people  on  the  subject  of  the  seminary,  and,  if  it 
thought  |,best,  to  acquire  funds  and  receive  proposals 
for  the  location  and  erection  of  the  buildings. 

The  General  Assembly  convened  in  May,  1818. 
Having  discussed  the  resolution  of  the  Geneva  Synod, 
it  paid  that  body  a  high  compliment  by  referring  back 
the  whole  proposition  for  the  "  establishment  of  the 
academical  and  theological  seminary,  believing  that 
said  synod  are  the  best  judges  of  what  may  be  their 
duty  in  this  important  matter."  Thus  assured  of  the 
favor  of  the  General  Assembly,  the  committees  of  the 
synod  met  at  Canandaigua  in  June,  and,  viewing  the 
enterprise  in  the  new  light  thrown  upon  it  by  a  can- 
vass of  the  district,  gave  it  their  sober  consideration. 
It  was  resolved  that  the  seminary  should  be  established 
without  delay.  The  notion  of  the  academic  course 
wai  dropped,  as  calculated  to  eml)arrass  rather  than 


376  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

assist,  but  decisive  measures  were  undertaken  to  for- 
ward the  main  object.  The  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee requested  the  moderator  to  convoke  a  special  meet- 
ing of  the  synod,  which  he  had  been  authorized  to  do, 
and  subscription  papers  were  immediately  started. 

The  synod  assembled  at  Auburn,  August  15th, 
1818.  The  attendance  of  delegates  was  unusually 
large,  there  being  present  fifty-eight  ministers  and 
forty-five  elders  regularly  accredited  to  the  various 
Presbyteries.  Several  distinguished  divines  from 
other  districts  met  with  the  convention  ;  among  them 
were  Rev.  Henry  Davis,  D.D.,  president  of  Hamilton 
College;  Eev.  Thomas  McCauley,  LL.D.,  of  Albany  ; 
Rev.  Oliver  Eastman,  of  the  Union  Asso.,  Mass. ; 
Rev.  David  D.  Field,  of  the  xlsso.  of  Middlesex,  Conn. ; 
and  Rev.  Daniel  D.  Hopkins,  of  Hudson,  ]N.  Y.  The 
synod  had  but  one  object  in  view ;  no  time  was  lost 
therefore.  After  a  brief  discussion  it  was  resolved  al- 
most unanimously  by  the  synod,  *'  immediately  to  es- 
tablish a  theological  seminary  within  its  bounds."  A 
committee  of  ten  reported  a  plan  for  carrying  the  reso- 
lution into  effect.  Assurances  of  great  assistance  from 
Cayuga  County  having  been  received,  the  seminary 
was  located  in  the  village  of  Auburn,  upon  the  express 
stipulation  that  the  subscriptions  in  the  county  should 
be  no  less  than  $35,000,  and  that  ten  acres  should  be 
donated  for  a  site.  Before  this  action  should  be  con- 
sidered final,  the  subscri])tions  were  to  be  approved  by 


THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMLNAKV 


377 


the  s^'iiod.  It  war^  considered  i)rnde)it  to  provide  that 
the  seminary  sliould  not  begin  operations  till  the  sum 
of  1^50,000  had  either  been  raised  or  actually  promised. 
Colonel  John  Lincklaen,  of  Cazenovia,  Horace  IIIIIb, 
of  Auburn,  and  Thomas  Mumford,  of  Cayuga,  were 
constituted  trustees,  with  power  to  hold  the  property 
of  the  seminary,  till  provision  for  the  purpose  was 
made  by  law.  Committees  were  appointed  to  canvass 
the  Presbyteries  of  Cayuga,  Onondaga,  Geneva,  On- 
tario, Bath,  and  Niagara,  as  well  as  tlie  State  at  large 
and  other  States. 

The  sum  needed  to  locate  the  seminary  in  tliis  city 
was  promptly  subscribed.  The  amount  raised  here 
and  in  the  innnediate  vicinity  toward  that  sum  was 
over  sixteen  thousand  dollars,  as  shown  by  the  follow- 
ing list : 


Thomas  Mumford, $2,n0O 

N.  Garrow  &  R.  S.  Beach 2,000 

David  Hyde  &  John  U.  Beach, .   2,000 

Rev.  D.  C.  Lansing 1,000 

Horace  Hills, 600 

Robert  <fc  John  Patty, (JOO 

Henry  Ammerman, . , 5 JO 

Walter  Wood, 500 

Eleazer  Hills, 500 

IHram  Lodge, 500 

Ezekiel  Williamn 500 

Jotfcph  Colt, 300 

William  Brown. 225 

Erastus  Pease, 200 


John  &  Salmon  G.  G rover, fSOO 

Ira  Hopkins 300 

Stephen  Van  Anden, SOO 

Sam.  B.  Hickox 150 

Ebcnezer  Hoskins, 100 

G.  &  P.  Holly 100 

T.  &  E.  D.  Cherry 100 

Lawrence  White, 100 

E.  D.  Shultis, 100 

Micajah  Benedict, 100 

Joseph  Rhodes, 100 

O.  Reynolds 100 

Ebenezer  Gould, 100 

Smallrr  sub^-criptions 3.».'«) 


Asa  Munger, 800    1 

At  a  convention  of   the  svnod  at   (icneva  in   Vuh- 


378  HISTORY    OF    ArnURN. 

niary,  1819,  it  was  accordiDgly  resolved,  upon  the  rec- 
ommendation .  of  a  committee  appointed  to  examine 
the  Cayuga  County  subscriptions,  that  tlie  seminary 
be  definitely  located  at  Anbnrn.  A  plan  for  the 
seminary  buildings,  and  a  draught  of  an  act  of  incor- 
poration were  submitted  and  approved.  lie  v.  D.  C. 
Lansing,  Rev.  Levi  Parsons,  Rev.  Benjamin  B.  Stock- 
ton, Thomas  Mumford,  William  Brown,  David  Hyde, 
and  John  Lincklaen  w^ere  then  elected  a  prudential 
committee,  with  authority  to  secure  the  passages  of 
the  act  of  incorporation,  and  begin  the  work  of  con- 
struction. They  also  received  power  to  control  all  the 
funds  in  the  treasury,  buy  necessary  lands,  appoint  and 
pay  subscription  agents,  and  notify  the  moderator 
whenever  they  desired  to  convoke  the  synod. 

The  heirs  of  Colonel  Ilardenburgh  having  contrib- 
uted six  acres  of  land,  and  Glen  Cuyler  two  more  ad- 
joining, for  a  site,  ground  was  broken  thereon  on  the 
30th  of  November,  1819.  The  first  plow  that  en- 
tered the  soil  on  the  line  traced  out  for  the  foundation 
was  guided  l)y  the  hand  of  Dr.  Lansing.  A  prayer 
was  offered  on  this  occasion  by  the  Rev.  William 
Johnson,  now  of  Owasco,  and  Dr.  Lansing  delivered 
an  earnest  and  impressive  address.  The  citizens 
meanwhile  had  gathered  with  teams  and  tools  to  spend 
a  day  in  gratuitous  work.  The  ceremonies  being  con- 
cluded, labor  began,  and  was  continued  till  the  rigor- 
ous weathei'  in  December  caused  a  tem])orary  suspen- 


THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY.  379^ 

sion.  Work  was  renewed  in  the  spring  by  means  of 
subscriptions  of  money,  labor,  and  materials,  prompt 
payment  of  wliicli  was  provided  for  by  the  energetic 
Captain  Bradley  Tuttle,  who  had  l)ecn  appointed  agent 
for  collecting  them. 

The  charter  of  the  seminary,  ])a.s>ed  April  l-lth, 
1S20,  nominated  the  first  Board  of  Trustees,  as  follows  : 
Colonel  John  Lincklaen,  Hon.  Glen  Cuyler,  Rev. 
Henry  Davis,  D.  D.,  David  Hyde,  Thaddeus  Edwards, 
Henry  McXeil,  Rev.  Levi  Parsons,  Rev.  Benjamin  B. 
Stockton,  Rev.  Dirck  C.  Lansing,  D.  D.,  Rev.  AVilliam 
Wisner,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Henry  Axtel,  D.  D.,  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Fitch,  D.  D.,  Rev.  David  Higgins,  Rev. 
Seth  Smith,  and  William  Brown,  Esq.  The  trustees 
were  directed  to  assemble  at  Auburn  for  organization 
on  the  second  Wednesday  of  July,  1S20,  and  divide 
themselves  into  classes,  in  such  manner  that  the  terms 
of  ofiice  of  five  members  should  expire  annually  on 
the  first  Wednesday  of  September.  The  charter  pro- 
vided that  vacancies  should  be  filled  by  election,  by  a 
Board  of  Commissioners  to  be  composed  of  two  cler- 
gymen and  one  layman  from  each  of  the  Presbyteries 
of  Cayuga,TS[iagara,  Genesee,  Rochester,  Bath,  Geneva, 
Onondaga,  Oneida,  Ontario,  and  St.  Lawrence.  The 
commissioners  were  invested  with  the  general  superin- 
tendence and  control  of  the  seminary,  the  power  t<> 
appoint  professors,  tutors  and  other  officers  of  the  in- 
stitution, to  fix  their  salaries,  and  to  direct  the  disburse- 


380  HISTORY    OF    AUBIKN. 

meiit  of  all  funds.  The  immediate  care  of  the  semi- 
nary, and  the  management  of  its  property  was  com- 
mitted to  the  trustees,  whose  action,  however,  was  to 
be  always  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  commis- 
sioners. In  view  of  the  grant  of  powers  by  the  charter, 
the  State  made  the  usual  reservation,  that  no  student 
of  any  Christian  denomination  should  be  debarred 
the  privileges  of  the  Seminary  on  account  of  his  religi- 
ous belief.  The  control  of  the  Seminary  being  by 
the  act  of  incorporation  extended  to  many  Presbyteries 
outside  of  the  Synod  of  Geneva,  its  influence  was  ju- 
diciously and  happily  extended. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  seminary  was  laid  with 
great  formality  on  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  May 
11th,  1820.  Immediately  after  dinner,  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  proceeded  to  the 
grounds  to  assist  in  making  necessary  preparations  for 
the  occasion,  nothing  daunted  by  the  inauspicious 
weather,  or  even  by  a  slight  rain  which  was  slowly 
dropping  from  the  clouds.  All  things  w^ere  in  readi- 
ness by  five  o'clock.  At  that  hour,  the  venerable 
Samuel  Bellamy,  who  had  been  tendered  the  honor  of 
laying  the  stone,  arrived  on  the  ground  in  his  carriage. 
The  citizens  respectfully  formed  ranks  to  receive  him. 
Being  conducted  to  the  spot  where  the  stone  was  to 
be  laid,  by  David  Hyde  and  William  Brown,  he  laid 
his  hand  on  the  massive  block,  and  deposited  it  in  its 
place.     He  then  addressed   the  citizens  ])riefly,  in   a 


TilE    TlfKOLOGRAL    SEMINARY.  381 

v(>icc  treiiuiloiis  witli   a^L^e,  and   placed  in  a  cavity  in 
the  corner-stone  a  silver  ])late  inscribed  as  follows : 

This  medal  deposited  by  Colonel  Samuel  Bellamy,  of  Skaneateles. 
T!ie  n;ime  of  Colonel  John  Lincklaen,of  Cazenoria,  is  in- 
scribed in  honor  of  being  one  of  the  first 
projoctoi-s  and  advocates  of 
this  institution. 
"  Beloved,  I  lay  in  Zion  a  Chief  Corner-Stone,  elect,  precious." 
"  Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday, 
to-day,  and  forever." 

The  long,  thick  plate  of  lead  laid  over  tliis  to  pro- 
tect it,  was  inscribed, 

•'  Hoc  aedificium  conditum,  perdocere  adaloscentes    in   llerum 

Divinarum  scientiam,  Anno  Domini 

MDCCCXX." 

An  address  by  the  Kev.  B.  B.  Stockton,  and  bene- 
diction by  Dr.  Lansing  conchided  the  exercises. 

The  Seminary  bnildings  were  vigorously  advanced 
during  1820  and  '21.  The  grounds  were  also  improved 
and  enlarged  by  purchase  of  several  acres,  parts  of 
which  were  afterward  sold,  leaving,  as  at  present,  about 
twelve  acres  in  possession  of  the  trustees. 

The  board  of  commissioners,  viz :  Eev.  ]\Iiles  P. 
Squiers  and  David  M.  Smith,  of  the  Niagara  Pres- 
bytery ;  Rev.  Calvin  Colton,  of  Genesee ;  Hev.  Alan- 
son  Darwin,  Eev.  Chauncey  Cook  and  Dr.  Azel  Ens- 
worth,  of  Rochester ;  Rev.  Ezekiel  J.  Chapman  and 
Rev.  Julius  Steele,  of  Ontario ;  Rev.  Evan  Johns, 
Rev.  Stephen   Porter   and  Thomas  ^Mnmford,  of  Ge- 


'SS'I  HISTOKV    OF    AUBUKN. 

neva;  lie  v.  Caleb  Alexander  and  Daniel  C.  Hopkins, 
of  Onondaga;  Kev.  Samuel  Parker  and  Col.  Sam. 
Bellamy,  of  Cavnga  ;  lie  v.  James  II.  Hotchkin  and 
Kobert  Porter,  of  Bath ;  Hav.  Israel  Brainard  and 
Bev.  Jolm  Frost,  of  Oneida ;  and  the  trustees  before 
named,  severally  convened  at  Lyncli's  tav^ern — after 
ward  the  National — in  Anburn,  July  12th,  1820. 

The  trustees  organized  with  Bev.  Dr.  Davis,  presi- 
dent ;  Dr.  Lansing,  vice-president ;  William  Brown, 
secretary ;  and  David  Hyde,  treasurer.  Both  bodies 
transacted  a  large  amount  of  business.  Fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars  were  placed  at  the  command  of  the  trus- 
tees, to  complete  the  seminary  on  the  plan  proposed  by 
Dr.  Lansing,  Bev.  B.  B.  Stockton,  David  Plyde,  Wm. 
Brown,  and  Thaddeus  Edwards,  the  prudential  com- 
mittee ;  and,  in  the  board  of  commissioners,  a  choice 
was  made  of  the  Bev.  James  Bichards,  D.  D.,  of 
Newark,  N.  J.,  for  the  professorship  of  theology. 

Dr.  Bichards  having  declined  the  trust  tendered 
him  by  the  commissioners,  they  assembled  to  consider 
the  propriety  of  appointing  the  remaining  portion  of 
the  faculty.  Holding  the  chair  of  theology  in  abey- 
ance, they  elected  Bev.  Henry  Mills,  D.  D.,  of  Wood- 
bridge,  N.  J.,  professor  of  Biblical  criticism  and  Orien- 
tal languages  ;  Bev.  Matthew  LaBue  Perrine,  D.  D., 
of  N.  Y.,  professor  of  ecclesiastical  history  and  church 
polity  ;  and  Bev.  Dirck  C.  Lansing,  D.  D.,  of  Auburn, 
professor  of  sacred  rhetoric.     Dr.  Perrine,  being  at  the 


THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY.  383 

time  ill  Auburn,  accepted  the  offer  made  liim,  and, 
upon  the  request  of  the  commissioners,  agreed  to  as- 
sume tlie  duties  of  the  professor  of  didactic  theok)gy, 
until  that  position  was  regularly  filled.  Drs.  Mills 
and  Lansing  also  accepted,  the  latter  with  the  gener- 
ous declaration  tliat  his  services  should  be  rendered 
gratuitously. 

Public  announcement  was  therefore  made  that  the 
seminary  was  ready  for  a  commencement.  The  second 
Wednesday  of  the  following  October  was  designated 
as  the  day  when  its  doors  would  be  opened  f  )r  the  ad- 
mission of  students. 

Meanwhile  energy  was  exerted  to  finish  and  furnish 
at  least  one  building  by  the  date  assigned.  When  the 
regular  subscriptions  were  nearly  called  in  or  exhausted, 
the  working  committees  were  compelled  to  resort  to 
various  expedients  to  acquire  funds  for  carrying  on  the 
work.  Churches  and  congregations  were  led  by  them 
to  contribute  tlie  means  to  finish  particular  parts  of 
the  seminary  buildings.  No  less  than  fifteen  associ- 
ations were  formed  in  the  State  to  cultivate  lands  for 
the  benefit  of  the  institution,  and  numerous  farmers 
were  indiiced  to  set  aside  their  crops  for  the  same 
purpose. 

The  eastern  counties  of  the  State  sent  on  large  dona- 
tions also,  in  money.  Books  came  from  all  directions, 
even  from  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey.  Thus,  by 
noble  and  incessant  endeavor,  the  object  was  attained. 


384  HISTORY    OF    A.UBURN. 

The   iiuiiu    building   nnd  west  wing  of  the  seminary 
were  read}^  to  be-  occupied  by  the  iirst  of  October. 

On  Tuesday,  the  9th,  the  Board  of  Commission- 
ers met  at  Auburn  for  the  transaction  of  current  busi- 
ness. On  the  following  da}^,  after  interesting,  though 
protracted  exercises,  Professors  Mills,  Perrine,  and  Lan- 
sing w^ere  solemnly  inducted  into  office,  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  and  attentive  audience.  Pev.  Caleb  Alexan- 
der first  delivered  a  pleasant  discourse,  setting  forth  the 
whole  history  and  progress  of  the  seminary,  and 
its  prospects.  The  object  of  the  meeting  was  then 
formally  stated  by  Pev.  James  II.  Hotchkin,  presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  who  afterward 
read,  in  the  hearing  of  all  present,  the  following  for- 
mula : 

''  In  presence  of  the  omniscient  and  heart-search- 
ing God,  I  do  solemnly  affirm  and  declare  that  I  be- 
lieve the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments 
to  be  the  word  of  God,  and  the  only  infallible  rule  of 
faith  and  practice ;  that  I  do  receive  and  adopt  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Catechisms  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  as  con- 
taining the  system  of  doctrines  taught  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures  ;  that  I  do  approve  of  the  government  and 
discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  prescribed  in 
the  Forms  of  Government  and  Discipline  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  these  United  States  ;  and  I  do  sol- 
emnly promise  to  maintain  with  zeal  and  fidelity  the 


THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY.  385 

trutlis  of  the  Gospel,  aiul  to  be  faitliful  and  diligent 
in  all  such  duties  as  may  devolve  on  nie  as  a  [>rofessor 
in  this  seminary,  according  to  the  best  of  my  knowl- 
edge and  abilities.*' 

To  this  formula  the  professors  severally  gave  a  dis- 
tinct assent,  and  their  signatures.  Having  then  re- 
ceived a  charge  from  the  Eev,  Ebenezer  Fitch,  D.D., 
they  delivered  their  inaugural  addresses,  which  con- 
cluded the  ceremony. 

The  seminary  opened  in  October,  1820,  with  eleven 
students.  The  Presbyterian  Church,  generally,  hailed 
this  event  as  the  kindling  of  a  great  beacon-fire  in  a 
w^ilderness  of  spiritual  gloom,  devoutly  believing  that 
the  seminary  would  prove  a  source  of  great  si^iritual 
safety  and  blessing  to  the  vast  and  neglected  frontier 
population  of  our  country ;  and  would,  moreover,  illu- 
minate with  the  grand  doctrines  of  Christianity  all 
who  dwelt  within  reach  of  its  beams.  Ordinances 
w^ere  adopted,  soon  after  commencement,  by  the  com- 
missioners, providing,  among  other  things,  that  every 
professor  in  the  institution  must  be  "  an  ordained 
minister  of  the  Presbyterian  or  Congregational 
Church,  and  must  sustain  the  character  of  a  learned, 
judicious,  and  orthodox  divine  and  a  devout  Chris- 
tian," and  who,  l)efore  he  could  be  eligible  to  perform 
the  duties  of  his  office,  must  agree  to  and  sign  the  for- 
mula once  l)efore  cited.  Of  students,  no  more  was 
required  than  evidence  of  good  morals,  gO(-»d  natural 
23 


386  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

talents,  and  of  having  passed  through  a  regnUir  course 
of  academical  study. 

The  seminary  course  requires  a  residence  of  three 
years.  The  studies  are  now  as  follows :  Junior  Year, 
— Hebrew  Language  ;  Canon  of  the  Scriptures ;  Bibli- 
cal criticism  and  interpretation ;  Lectures  on  the  Physi- 
cal Geography  of  Palestine  —  on  Jewish  Antiquities 
— on  Llistorical  Geography  and  Sacred  Chronology ; 
Church  History  begun;  Natural  Theology;  Mental 
Philosophy.  Middle  Year. — Evidences  of  Christian- 
ity ;  Inspiration  of  the  Scriptures ;  Christian  Theology ; 
Explanation  and  proof  of  the  Assembly's  shorter  Cate- 
chism and  the  Westminster  Confession ;  Hebrew  and 
Greek  Exegesis ;  Composition  of  Sermons ;  Criticism 
of  plans ;  Church  History.  Senior  Year. — Lectures 
on  Preaching ;  Criticism  of  Plans  and  Sermons  ;  Pas- 
toral Theology  ;  Church  Polity  and  History  ;  Hebrew 
and  Greek  Exegesis;  Composition  and  Declamation 
through  the  whole  course. 

In  1823,  an  empty  treasury  nearty  brought  the 
affairs  of  the  seminary  to  a  stand.  ]^o  advance  could 
be  made  with  the  work  of  building,  nor  could  the  insti- 
tution long  maintain  credit  or  standing,  without  addi- 
tional funds.  At  this  crisis,  Dr.  Lansing  took  the  stage 
to  !N"ew  York,  and  made  an  earnest  appeal,  in  person, 
to  several  wealthy  men  there,  for  help.  The  response 
was  far  more  liberal  than  he  had  dared  to  anticipate. 

Arthur  Tappan  promised  Dr.  Lansing  to  endow  the 


THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY.  3vST 

professorship  of  theology  w'nh  the  sum  of  fifteen 
thousand  dollars,  upon  the  understanding  that  Dr. 
Eichards  would  be  re-elected  to  that  position.  This 
inunilicent  grant,  which  established  the  i^ernianence 
of  the  Seminary  at  Auburn,  was  nuiue  in  writing, 
August  15tli  1S23,  in  the  following  words: 

*' The  founder  of  the  Professorship  of  Christian  The- 
ology in  the  Theo.  Seminary  at  Auburn,  in  the  State  of 
Xew  York,  being  induced  to  endow  this  Professorship 
from  a  sense  of  the  importance  not  only  of  a  pious  but 
of  a  well-educated  ministry,  for  the  edification  of  the 
church,  the  spread  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  conversion 
and  salvation  of  man;  from  a  conviction  of  the  expe- 
diency and  utility  of  institutions  devoted  to  the  educa- 
tion of  pious  young  men  for  the  Gospel  ministry ;  and 
Irom  the  belief  that  this  Seminary,  in  its  plan  and  lo- 
cation, is  well  calculated  to  answer  the  beneficial  |)ur- 
poses  of  such  an  institution,  and  that  its  prospects  of 
success  depend  upon  the  immediate  establishment  of  this 
professorship  upon  the  basis  of  a  permanent  fund  ;  and 
humbly  aiming  in  this  transaction  to  promote  in  tlie 
church  the  irlorv  of  God ;  he  does  hereby  jrive,  assio-n, 
and  set  over  unto  the  Trustees  of  the  Theological  Sem- 
inary in  Auburn,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  to  their 
successors  in  office,  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars 
in  trust,  as  a  capital  fund,  for  the  purpose  of  maintain- 
ing a  Professorship  of  Christian  Theology  in  said  Sem- 
inary, forever.     *  *  "^'  Xo  Professor  shall  ever  be  j^lnced 


388  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

or  suffered  to  continue  on  this  Foundation,  who  does, 
not  hold  the  system  of  Faith  which  the  ordinances  ot 
tlie  Seminary  at  present  require  every  Professor  to  hold ; 
and  if  any  time  hereafter,  any  Professor  on  this  Found- 
ation shall  in  any  im})ortant  article  differ  from  the 
said  system  of  Faith,  and  especially  if  such  Professor 
shall  not  fully  believe  and  teach  the  true  and  proper 
divinity  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  personality  ot 
the  Holy  Spirit,  the  total  depravity  of  man  in  his  nat- 
ural state,  and  the  eternal  punishment  of  the  wicked, 
then  the  Founder  of  this  Professorship  reserves  to 
himself"  the  right  to  retain  the  fund,  etc. 

The  commissioners  accepted  this  grant,  with  the 
conditions,  on  the  10th  of  September.  The  same  day, 
they  unanimously  invited  Dr.  Richards  to  accept  the 
newly-endowed  chair.  The  invitation  was  accepted 
and  the  doctor  was  inducted  to  office  October  29th. 

The  struggling  institution  was  further  relieved  by 
large  sums  of  money  raised  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  H. 
Cox,  D.D.,  who  visited  nearly  every  prominent  city 
and  town  of  the  State  for  the  purpose. 

The  2:enerous  labors  of  its  friends  brous^ht  the  semi- 
nary  to  a  gratifying  state  of  prosperity.  The  number 
of  students  increased  rapidly,  and  soon  every  room  was 
filled,  and  an  enlargement  was  demanded.  On  the 
13th  of  January,  1824,  a  convention  of  thirty  delegates 
from  the  Presbyterian  churches  of  AYestern  New  York 
assembled  in  the  library  room  of  the  seminary  to  pro- 


Tlir:    THK()L()(rICAL    .SKMINAKV.  .'^89 

vide  lor  obtainiiii!;  the  means.  It  belli:;'  euiisidered 
necessary  to  raise  twenty  tliou-'.and  dollars  fur  the 
enlargement,  for  buildiiiii:  professors'  houses,  and  other 
kindred  objects,  agents  were  ap]X)inted  to  solicit  con- 
tributions in  every  county  in  tliis  part  of  tlie  State. 
Their  exertions  were  bounteously  rewarded,  and  funds 
were  obtained  to  build  the  east  wing  of  tlie  institution, 
whicli  was  finished  in  182* ».  The  western  transept 
was  erected  in  1S29,  by  Isaa<i  and  Isaac  A.  Seloyer. 

Dr.  Lansiiig  retired  from  the  professorship  of  sacred 
rhetoric  in  August,  1820,  his  resignation  being  laid 
before  tlie  connnissioners,  and  reluctantly  accepted,  on 
the  10th.  The  board  paid  Dr.  Lansing  the  following 
testimony  of  their  appreciation  of  the  value  of  his  la- 
bors for  the  seminary  :  '^  Eesolved,  that  this  board, 
in  behalf  of  this  Christian  community,  and  in  its  own 
behalf,  does,  in  the  exercise  of  Christian  aiiection  and 
respectful  gratitude,  record  the  name  cf  D.  C.  Lansing 
among  the  founders  of  this  seminary,  and  as  one  ot 
the  prime  and  most  efficient  agents  in  measures  which 
liave  led  to  its  establishment,  and  its  present  pleas- 
ing and  flourisliing  condition  ;  and  they  devoutly 
implore  for  him,  on  his  retirement,  the  blessing  of 
Heaven,  as  well  as  the  sublime  satisfaction  of  witness- 
ing the  rising  reputation  and  the  extraordiiuiry  influ- 
ence of  an  institution,  which  has  hitherto  taken  so 
deep  hold  upon  his  heart,  and  which  has  been  so  emi- 
nently blessed  by  his  efforts.'* 


390  IIISTOIIY    OF    AUBUKN. 

For  nine  years,  his  cliair  remained  vacant  ;  but  it 
was  endowed  in  1829,  by  Col.  Samuel  Bellamy,  with 
property  amonntiiii^  to  seven  thousand  two  hundred 
dollars  ;  and,  in  1832,  by  Thaddeus  Edwards,  with  four 
thousand  dollars,  the  two  sums  being  united  for  the 
support  of  the  Bellamy  and  Edwards  Professorship  for 
Sacred  Rhetoric  and  Pastoral  Theology.  Dr.  Samuel 
II.  Cox,  Pastor  of  the  Spring  Street  Presbyterian 
Church  in  New  York,  assumed  the  duties  of  this  pro- 
fessorship on  the  16th  of  June,  1835. 

The  history  of  the  seminary  from  this  date  is  little 
more  than  a  record  of  changes  among  the  eminent  di- 
vines who  have  at  times  presided  over  its  various  de- 
partments.    These  will  be  briefly  noted. 

The  institution  having  been  deprived,  in  February, 
1836,  by  death,  of  the  venerable  and  valued  Dr. 
Perrine,  the  Pev.  Luther  Ilalsey,  D.  D.,  then  pro 
lessor  of  eclesiastical  history  in  the  Western  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Alleghanytown,  was  elected  to 
succeed  him,  and  was  installed  in  the  fall  of  1837. 

Dr.  Cox  soon  afterward  found  himself  compelled  to> 
resign  by  reason  of  his  pecuniary  emban-assmentSy 
though  he  did  so  with  great  reluctance.  His  loss  was 
keenly  felt  by  the  seminary,  for  he  had  been  one  of 
its  most  untiring  and  efficient  officers.  Pev.  Baxter 
Dickinson,  D.  D.,  of  Lane  Theological  Seminary,  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  supplied  his  place  in  August,  1840. 

Dr.  Pichards  departed  this  life  on  the  2d  of  Au- 


thp:  theological  skmlxaky.  391 

gust,  18^1:3.  Dr.  Ilalseysoon  after  this  event  tendered 
his  resignation  to  the  commissioners.  Tlie  board 
could  not,  in  justice  to  the  seminary,  accept  it  at  once, 
but  did  so  in  tlie  spring  of  1814.  Two  professors — 
Drs.  Dickinson  and  Mills — only  were  left.  A  division 
of  sentiment  in  the  country  on  the  slavery  questi(»n,  in 
which  the  students  and  managers  of  the  seminary 
shared,  caused,  at  this  critical  period,  an  alarming 
falling  off  in  the  classes. 

Jl  The  Eev.  Laurens  P.  Ilickok,  D.  D.,  was  tendered 
the  Richards  professorship  of  Christian  theology  in 
1844.  Accepting,  he  was  inducted  with  tlie  usual 
solemnities,  in  January,  1845. 

Dr.  Dickinson  retired  from  the  chair  of  sacred  rhe- 
toric in  1847,  having  occupied  it  with  marked  ability 
for  seven  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John 
Fero  Smith,  D.  D. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1847,  the  Rev.  Samuel  M. 
Hopkins,  D.  D.,  assumed  the  duties  of  teacher  of 
ecclesiastical  history,  with  the  view  of  promotion  to 
the  professorship  of  that  department,  should  the  way 
be  prepared. 

The  Rev.  W.  G.  T.  Shedd,  as  professor  of  sacred 
rhetoric,  and  Rev.  Clement  Long,  D.  D.,  as  professor  of 
Christian  theology,  subsequently  labored  here  for  a 
short  time. 

In  1854,  the  prospects  and  condition  of  the  semi- 
nary appeared  so  discouraging  that  every  member  of 


392  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

the  faculty  except  Dr.  Hopkins  resigned.  This  dis- 
astrous circumstance  closed  the  doors  of  the  semi- 
nary. 

In  1855,  operations  were  resumed.  A  new  faculty 
was  elected  and  installed,  and  the  halls  of  the  institu- 
tion were  again  opened  for  the  admission  of  students. 

The  new  professors  were  Hev.  Edwin  Hall,  D.  D., 
professor  of  Christian  theology ;  Rev.  Jonathon  B. 
Condit,  D.  D.,  professor  of  sacred  rhetoric  and  pasto- 
ral theology ;  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Hopkins,  D.  D.,  profes- 
sor of  ecclesiastical  history  and  church  polity  ;  and 
Rev,  E.  A.  Huntington,  D.  D.,  professor  of  Biblical 
criticism.  The  same  organization  exists  at  the  present 
day,  with  the  single  exception  that  an  adjunct  profes- 
sor of  Hebrew,  Rev.  J.  E.  Pierce,  A.  M.,  is  now  at- 
tached to  the  department  last  named,  the  chair  having 
been  created  and  endowed  through  the  instrumentality 
of  Professor  Huntington. 

The  career  of  the  seminary  since  the  resumption  has 
been  one  of  steady  growth  and  prosperity.  Several 
energetic  and  untiring  spirits,  eminent  among  whom 
was  the  late  Frederick  Starr,  Jr.,  created  a  fresh  and 
deep  interest  in  its  welfare,  and  induced  wealthy 
men  to  place  such  sums  at  the  disposal  of  the  trustees, 
as  to  fully  endow  every  professorship,  and  make  the 
institution  independent  and  self-sustaining.  The  per- 
sonal property  of  the  seminary  now  amounts  to  about 
$200,000,  five-eighths   of    which  consists   of    endow- 


THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY.  393 

ments  of  professorships  ;  the  revenue  of  tlic  remainder 
is  appropriated  to  tlie  assistance  of  students  and  con- 
tingent expenses. 

The  nnml^er  of  students  now  enjoying  the  privileges 
of  the  institution  is  between  iifty  and  sixty.  This  is 
the  average  attendance. 

The  Theological  Seminary  of  Central  and  Western 
New  York  has  now  been  in  existence  for  the  period 
of  forty-eight  years.  It  was  in  the  outset  the  bold 
conception  of  a  few  stirring  men,  who  were  alive  to 
the  wants  of  their  times,  and  the  needs  of  the  country. 
How  they  succeeded  in  carrying  forward  their  design 
till  crowned  with  success  will,  humanly  speaking,  al- 
ways be  a  wonder.  Success  could  never  have  been 
possible,  considering  the  condition  of  Western  New 
York  in  1820,  had  that  been  other  than  a  happy, 
busy,  money-making  period,  or  had  the  enterprise 
been  in  the  hands  of  any  less  zealous  men,  or  had  its 
necessity  been  any  less  apparent.  Nevertheless,  its 
final  erection  and  endowment  Nvere  by  no  means  the 
brilliant  achievements  of  a  day  or  the  monuments  of 
the  lil)erality  of  a  few  distinguished  patrons.  ( )n  the 
contrary,  this  seminary  is  the  fruit  of  years  of  toil, 
and  of  the  contributions  of  hundreds  of  earnest  workers 
and  co-o])erators.  It  is  the  result  of  the  accumulation 
of  small  things,  and  finds  therein  its  chief  strength. 

This  was  the  first  Synodical  Seminary  In  the  United 
States.     Projected  for  tlie  sim])le  liurposc  of  furnish- 


394  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBCEN. 

ing  the  new  settlements  of  our  country  with  educated 
religious  teachers,  it  has  answered  the  great  end  of  its 
existence,  and  the  desire  of  its  founders ;  exerting  a 
powerful  influence  in  organizing  society,  and  infusing 
into  the  rising  communities  of  what  was  then  the 
frontier  a  strong  religious  sentiment.  Over  nine  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  young  men  have  received  its  instruc- 
tions. Twenty-six  of  these  have  already  received  the 
degree  of  D.  1).  The  Auburn  students  have  always 
turned  tow^ard  the  new  settlements,  following  them 
year  by  year  as  they  have  stretched  across  the  conti- 
nent toward,  over,  and  beyond  the  country  of  the  buf- 
falo. In  late  years  large  numbers  of  them  have  gone 
into  foreign  lands  as  missionaries,  to  China  and  India 
particularly ;  so  that  to-day  there  is  scarce  a  section 
of  our  republic,  or  a  clime  inhabited  by  civilized  man, 
in  which  a  graduate  of  the  Auburn  Seminary  is  not 
preaching  the  blessed  Gospel  of  Christ. 


THE    KECOKD    OF    THE    WAR.  395 


CHAPTEll  Vn. 

TilK    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR    IN    AUIJURN 

IStJO-lSCo. 

The  Soutliern  States  had  for  many  years  threatened 
secession  from  tlie  Federal  Union,  if^  at  any  time,  the 
slave-power  should  lose  its  ascendency  in  tlie  national 
government.  The  presidential  election  of  1860  afford- 
ed these  States  an  opportunity  of  sliowino;  tlieir  hon- 
esty, by  placing  in  power  their  political  opponents. 
Nothing  then  apparently  prevented  the  promised  out- 
break, but  the  want  of  the  assurance  that  the  military 
power  of  the  nation  would  not  be  wielded  against  it. 
That  assurance  was  given,  when  Congress  assembled 
in  December,  by  the  President,  in  his  annual  message. 

The  politicians  of  the  South  prepared  openly  to^ 
carry  out  their  long-cherished  scheme  of  disunion.  So 
often,  however,  liad  the  South  tlireatened  disunion, 
without  ever,  in  fact,  attempting  it,  tliat,  like  the 
sliepherd  in  the  fable,  who  falsely  re])orted  the  ap- 
proach of  wolves  for  his  own  amusement,  it  had  lost 
much  of  its  former  reputation  for  veracity.  Tlie  peo- 
ple of  the  north,  at  large,  did  not  believe  the  South  to 
be  in    earnest.       Some,  notwithstandinir,  did   believe 


390  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

that  secesBion  was  at  last  actually  intended,  and  that  a 
fearful  contest  was  at  our  very  doors.  Prominent  citi- 
zens of  Auburn,  after  becoming  acquainted  with  the 
contents  of  the  President's  message,  partook  of  this 
fear. 

Perceiving  the  unreadiness  of  the  Xorth  to  furnish 
the  government  with  proper  military  aid  in  the  en- 
forcement of  the  laws  of  the  country  in  the  South, 
should  it  be  suddenly  needed,  and  believing  that  the 
threats  of  secession  were  "  an  avowal  of  contemplated 
treason,  which  it  was  the  imperative  duty  of  an  indig- 
nant people  sternly  to  rebuke,  and  for  ever  silence,'' 
some  Auburnians  made  the  proposition  to  arm  the 
State,  as  Massachusetts  was  doing,  and  arouse  the  peo- 
ple. The  matter  was  regarded  with  favor  by  well- 
known  military  men  here,  and  by  numerous  members 
of  the  Wide-Awake  clubs  of  the  city,  the  latter  of 
whom  volunteered  to  throw  down  the  torch  and  take 
up  the  musket,  if  it  was  necessary  to  save  the  Union. 

These  matters  w^ere  the  subjects  of  open  discussion. 
They  resulted  in  an  address  to  the  supervisors  of  this 
county,  then  in  session  at  the  court-house,  on  the  after- 
noon of  Saturday,  December  8th,  by  a  patriotic  resi- 
dent of  the  city,  who  invited  the  board  to  unite  in  a 
petition  to  the  Governor  to  prepare  the  State  forces 
for  an  emergency.  The  supervisors,  willing  to  consider 
the  matter,  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of  John 
S.  Clark,  William  Kevill,  William  G.  Wayne,  Sanford 


THH    KKCOltl)    OF    THE    WAK.  39T 

Gilibrd,  N.  C.  ISinions,  and  8.  C.  Lyuii,  to  report  meas- 
ures proper  to  preserve  tlie  Union  of  the  States,  tor  tlie 
action  of  the  board. 

The  Auhurn  Daily  Union  of  the  same  day  eoutains 
the  followiiii^  item : 

"Notes  of  Preparation. — Jt  looks  now  as  if  the 
Union  olHce  is  to  become  a  recruiting  station  in  good 
earnest.  Some  fifteen  or  twenty  oflers  to  enlist  were 
made  yesterday  by  the  Wide- Awakes,  accompanied  by 
the  proposition  to  raise  one  or  more  regiments  to  |)ut 
down  secession,  and  that  their  services  ])e  tendered  to 
the  Governor  at  once." 

The  public  mind,  however,  was  reposing  in  wonted 
security.  Neither  the  people  of  Auburn  nor  the  lead- 
ing journals  of  the  State,  could  discern  the  necessity 
for  the  proposed  action.  Many  became  exceedingly 
alarmed  lest  the  supervisors  should  immediately  de- 
clare w-ar,  and  the  movement  was  denounced  as  pre- 
mature and  insane.  The  supervisors'  committee  re- 
ported that  it  could  not  find  snflicient  cause  for  action. 
But  the  honor  remains  to  Auburn  of  being  the  fore- 
most of  the  cities  of  this  patriotic  State,  to  announce 
the  impending  danger  of  the  country,  and  call  for  the 
raising  of  troops. 

The  certainty  of  war  was  a  fact  so  well  understood 
by  New-Year's-day  of  18G1,  that  several  of  the  North- 
ern States  passed  laws  to  discipline  and  equip  their 
militia.      The  citizens  of  New  York  anxiouslv  urired 


398  HISTORY    OF    AUJJL'KN. 

the  speedy  enlistment  of  volunteer  forces,  that  this 
State  also  might  be  in  readiness  for  a  sudden  call. 
Many  of  them  tendered  their  services  to  the  Executive 
of  the  State.  The  first  of  tliese  offers  from  Auburn 
was  made  by  Terence  J.  Kennedy,  Esq.,  a  captain  of 
artillery  in  the  militia  of  nearly  twenty  years  experi- 
ence, whose  letter  to  the  Governor  bears  date  the  11th 
of  January.  Solomon  Giles,  of  Weedsport,  and  others, 
offered  their  services  soon  after. 

The  door  was  closed  against  the  hope  that  the  evils 
of  the  nation  might  be  cured  by  peaceful  remedies,  by 
the  secession  of  seven  of  the  Southern  States,  and  the 
organization  of  a  provisional  rebel  government.  The 
iipathy  of  our  Legislatures  and  public  men  in  the 
spring  of  1861,  was,  to  an  active  and  enthusiastic  mind, 
appalling.  There  were  many  in  this  county  who, 
longed  to  act  as  tlie  crisis  appeared  to  demand.  Fore- 
most among  these  was  Captain  T.  J.  Kennedy,  who, 
imbued  w^ith  some  of  that  Jacksonian  spirit  that  dares 
to  take  responsibility,  determined  to  break  ground  in 
Auburn  in  the  matter  of  volunteering.  After  consul- 
tation wdth  friends,  this  gentleman  drew  up,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  printed  blanks,  an  enlistment  paper,  in  the  fol- 
lowing words  :  "  We,  the  undersigned,  hereby  pledge 
our  words  of  lionor  to  associate  ourselves  together  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a  light  artillery  company,  to 
serve  for  three  months,  or  as  long  as  the  war  shall 
last ;  "  and  having  signed  it  himself,  began  to  recruit 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  399 

on  the  2 J  dav  of  April,  from  bis  business  office  on 
State  Street.  John  Poison  signed  the  paper  next. 
These^  therefore^  were  the  first  two  men  who  enlisted  in 
Cayuga  County  to  put  down  the  rehelUon. 

Captain  Kennedy  was  in  advance  of  tbe  ])eople,  and 
found  it  a  slow  matter  to  raise  bis  company  of  volun- 
teer militia.  Having,  bowever,  obtained  seven  men., 
be  procured  tbe  keys  of  tbe  State  armory  bere,  and 
opened  a  recruiting  office  in  tbat  building  about  tbe 
Stb  of  April.  Handbills  were  tben  sent  to  Jordan, 
Port  P>yron,  AYeedsport,  Seneca  Falls,  Skaneateles, 
Springport,  and  Aurora,  calling  upon  patriots  to  come 
forward  and  enlist,  and  recruiting  sergeants  were  sta- 
tioned in  eacb  place.  Tbe  movement  met  with  ridi- 
cule from  every  quarter,  but  tbe  captain  knew  wbat 
be  was  about.  lie  persevered.  By  tbe  12tb  of  April, 
be  had  secured  a  full  company  of  soldiei's.  J>y  the 
15th,  he  had  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  men  drilling 
in  detachments  on  the  streets  ol  Auburn.  The  gen- 
eral government  had  not  yet  called  for  troops,  nor 
did  tbe  mass  of  the  people  yet  suppose  them  to  be 
needed. 

Tbe  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter,  and  tbe  call  of  tbe 
President  for  seventy-live  thousand  men,  roused  our 
citizens  to  a  sense  of  the  peril  of  the  republic.  Cap- 
tain Kennedy's  course  was  trium})bantly  vindicated  by 
these  events,  his  views  as  to  tbe  necessity  for  troo])s 
sustained,  and  tbe  brave  and  inde]>cndent  inainier  in 


400  mSTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

which  he  had  acted  upon  his  convictions  placed  in  the 
most  favorable  light. 

Auburn  was,  after  the  President's  call,  the  scene  of 
energetic  preparation  for  the  coming  conflict.  The 
board  of  ofticers  of  the  -l-Oth  light  infantry,  militia, 
assembled  at  their  armory  on  Tuesday,  the  16th,  to  de- 
vise a  proper  plan  for  action.  It  was  resolved  that  the 
four  Auburn  companies  of  the  command,  namely : 
Co.  A,  Captain  John  T.  Baker ;  Co.  C,  Captain  Peter 
Swift ;  Co.  D,  Captain  Charles  II.  Stewart ;  and  Co. 
E,  Captain  O'Neill ;  should  be  recruited  to  the  full  size 
of  one  hundred  men  each,  and  six  new  companies 
should  be  raised  immediately ;  and  "  That,  when  or- 
ganized, this  regiment  will  promptly  respond  to  any  call 
that  may  be  made  upon  it,  l)y  the  Commander-in- 
chief,  for  military  aid  in  support  of  the  Constitution 
and  the  laws  of  the  United  States."  John  B.  Rich- 
ardson was  then  Colonel  of  the  49th  ;  John  A.  Dodge. 
Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Thaddeus  B.  Barber,  Major  ;  and 
Henry  M.  Stone,  Adjutant.  The  armory  was  thrown 
open  at  once  to  receive  enlistments,  and  officers  were 
detailed  to  attend  there  day  and  evening.  The  officers 
of  the  regiment  engaged  in  an  earnest  and  honorable 
effort  to  put  the  command  on  a  sound  war-footing. 

A  law,  passed  by  the  Legislature  the  same  day  that 
the  forementioned  resolve  was  taken,  authorizing  the 
enlistment  of  thirty  thousand  volunteer  militia  for  the 
term  of  two  years,  and  appropriating  three  millions  of 


V 


THK  KKcoiJi)  <.F    riii;  WAi:.  401 

(iullars  l'.>i'  their  0(|iii[)nieiit,  rendered  the  attempt  to 
resuscitate  tlie  49ih  fruitless.  Its  active  members  saw 
the  futility  of  tlieir  efforts,  and  tlirew  themselves 
promptly  into  the  business  of  forming  conq^anies  under 
the  new  law.  Captain  John  T.  Baker,  the  po])iilar  com- 
mander of  the  old  Auburn  (xuard,  tirst  began  the  pa- 
triotic labor  of  gathering  recruits  for  a  rifle  cor])s  on 
the  ITtli  of  April. 

In  response  to  a  letter  to  Governor  Morgan,  Captain 
Kennedy  having  been  informed  that  it  was  impossible 
to  obtain  guns  for  his  proposed  battery,  he  communi- 
cated the  fact  to  his  men,  and  invited  them  to  follow 
him  as  riliemen.  [Many  were  unwilling  to  enter  any 
branch  of  the  service  i)ut  that  for  which  thev  had  oriiri- 
nally  enlisted.  Forty  were  resolved  to  serve  their 
country  in  any  capacity.  With  this  number  as  a 
basis,  the  captain  began  to  form  a  company  of  rifle- 
men, and  was  again  enabled  to  report  at  Albany  the 
tirst  full  corps  from  Auburn, 

The  populace  of  the  city  assembled  at  the  court- 
house on  the  evening  of  Saturday,  the  20th,  to  deter- 
mine how  they  could  best  aid  the  work  of  volunteer- 
ing. The  tlirong  that  had  filled  the  court-room  was 
called  to  order  by  lion.  George  num|)hreys,  the 
mayor,  who  took  the  chair.  The  earnest  co-operation 
of  the  people  in  the  movements  for  recruiting  in  the 
city  was  then  eloquently  invoked  by  General  Jesse 
Segoine,  C.  S.  Burtis,  Cyrus  C.  Dennis,  lion.  Theodore 
24 


402  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

M.  Pomeroj,  Dr.  S.  Willard,  Dr.  Richard  Steel,  Rev. 
Day  K.  Lee,  K.  B.  Lansing,  and  others,  whose  patriotic 
utterances  were  greeted  with  cheers  both  long  and 
hearty.  In  the  midst  of  the  wildest  enthusiasm,  and  the 
most  deafening  applause,  the  meeting  then  resolved 

"  That  vje^  as  citizens  of  Auhuni^  ivill  waintain  the 
Government  of  the  United  States,  with  all  the  force 
and  means  that  we  j^ossess  /"  and  immediately  pro- 
ceeded to  make  provision  for  the  support  of  the  fami- 
lies of  such  volunteers  as  sliould  suffer  want  l)y  their 
absence  in  the  army.  A  volunteer  fund  was  author- 
ized, and  four  thousand  dollars  subscribed  thereto  on 
the  spot.  Hon.  George  Humphreys,  General  John  H. 
Chedell,  and  Chai-les  P.  Wood,  were  empowered  to 
disburse  it.  A  mass-meeting  having  been  called  for 
the  24th,  the  meeting  then  adjourned. 

Upon  Sunday,  the  21st,  Auburn  was  pervaded  with 
uncontrollable  excitement.  The  sacred  day  was  opened 
at  sunrise  by  the  unwonted  sound  of  the  firing  of  can- 
non. The  streets  were  filled  during  the  day  with  de- 
tachments of  troops  under  arms,  drilling  under  their 
respective  commanders,  and  the  various  recruiting 
officers  were  surrounded  with  throngs  of  excited  peo- 
ple, pressing  forward  to  enroll  their  names  among  the 
volunteers.  The  Stars  and  Stripes  fluttered  from  every 
pinnacle  and  tower,  from  windows,  and  across  the 
streets,  and  were  displayed  in  many  of  the  churche&. 
The  pulpits  of  the  city,  without  exception,  appealed 


THK    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  4-08 

in  the  most  thrillino;  terms  to  the  }>eople  to  sustain  tlie 
governinent  in  the  momentous  crisis  throngh  which  it 
was  passing.  At  tlie  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  the 
reverend  orator  dechared  that  no  one  shouhl  enter  his 
door  or  take  him  by  tlie  hand  who  was  not  for  tlie 
Union,  and  the  people  burst  forth  into  prolonged  a])- 
plause.  At  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  the  Irishmen 
were  entreated  to  spring  to  arms,  and  defend  the 
republic  ;  and  sixty  men  left  the  church  in  a  body, 
marched  to  the  armory,  and  enlisted  under  Ca})tain 
Owen  Gavigan.  When  night  fell  Ki)on  the  town,  three 
full  companies  of  volunteers  were  awaiting  orders  to 
march. 

Captain  Kennedy's  comj)any,  however,  was  more 
than  full.  Seventy-seven  was  by  the  order  of  the  Ad- 
jutant-General the  maximum  of  a  company,  and  the 
Captain  had  one  hundred  and  thirty-three.  The  ex- 
cess was  transferred  to  a  company  then  formhig  un- 
der Captain  Theodore  H.  Schenck. 

John  Amnion  began  recruiting  for  a  fifth  command 
about  the  21st.  Captain  Charles  IT.  Stewart,  of  the 
Willard  Guards,  paraded  his  corps  on  the  2-l:th.  and,  in 
a  speech  to  them  from  the  steps  of  the  Western  Ex- 
change, declared  his  intention  to  tender  his  services  to 
the  government  at  once.  He  marched  his  men  to  the 
armory,  began  recruiting,  and  before  night  had  raised 
men  enough  to  organize  a  company. 

Simultaneously  with  the  efforts  for  the  formation  of 


404  1I18T()KY    OF    AUIJURN. 

the  six  v^olunteer  coiu[)Mnies  in  Auburn,  were  those  for 
the  organization  of  four  more  in  the  county  and  dis- 
trict at  large,  by  Solomon  Giles,  of  Weedsport,  James 
E.  Ashcroft,  of  Seneca  Palls,  Nelson  T.  Stephens,  of 
Moravia,  and  James  11.  Angel,  of  Union  Springs,  re- 
spectively. 

The  ])roceedings  of  tlie  mass-meeting  at  tlie  court- 
house on  the  24th  of  A:)ril  were  the  most  unqualified 
assurance  of  the  thorough  union  of  the  citizens  of  Au- 
burn, without  regard  to  class,  party,  or  creed,  on  the 
question  of  suppressing  the  rebellion.  If  our  people 
had  been  slow  to  anticipate  the  attempted  destruction 
of  our  national  fabric,  they  were  now  to  a  man  resolved 
to  defend  the  union  of  the  States  against  the  assaults  of 
its  foes  at  any  cost  and  all  hazards.  The  logic  of  se- 
cession as  a  remedy  for  their  asserted  evils  was  so 
sadly  against  the  Southern  States,  that  the  Democratic 
party  in  Auburn  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  the 
Republicans  in  upholding  the  enforcement  of  the  laws, 
and  the  maintenance  of  the  Federal  union. 

Hon.  John  Porter  presided  at  the  meeting.  When 
the  applause  that  filled  the  room,  as  he  took  the  chair, 
had  subsided,  lie  addressed  the  dense  crowd  before 
him  briefij,  declaring  that  the  South  alone  was  re- 
sponsible for  the  terrible  resort  to  arms,  and  he 
thanked  God  that  in  this  crisis  all  party  ties  were  ig- 
nored. The  companies  of  Captains  Kennedy,  Baker, 
Stewart,  and  Amnion,   then  entered  the  court-room, 


THE    RE(^ORI)    OF    THE    WAK.  405 

and  were  assigned  a  positiun  in  the  center.  Michael 
S.  Myers,  Theo.  M.  Pomeroy,  John  11.  C'hedell, 
Charles  P.  Wood,  Edwarl  11.  ^^vevy,  William  P'osgate, 
and  George  J.  Letch w^ortli,  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  prepare  resohitions.  During  their  absence 
Clarence  A.  Seward  and  Eev.  T>.  I.  Ives  were  called 
to  the  stand,  and  made  rousing  speeches.  Ilesolutions 
were  reported  and  adopted,  viz  :j 

"  Resolved,  That  in  pressing  secession  to  a  violent  and  bloody  is- 
sue, the  South  has  taught  the  North  an  invaluable  lesson— that 
the  capacity  of  the  people  of  the  United  States  is  not  lost,  for  rising 
instantly  and  en  masse  above  all  considerations  of  party  and  self, 
they  maintain  fully  the  reputation  so  well  earned,  and  so  freely 
given  to  the  Fathers  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  franiers  of  our  be- 
loved Constitution. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  preservation  of  the  Union  and  the  Consti- 
tution presents  no  debatable  question  to  the  loyal  citizens  of 
the  Empire  State,  and  that  the  ready  and  earnest  enlistment  of 
our  volunteers  furnishes  an  appropriate  expression  of  the  senti- 
ments of  the  county  of  Cayuga. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  all  traitors  to  the  Union  our  ex- 
tremest  sympathy,  when  they  meet  upon  the  battle-fields  of  Mary- 
land the  '  aid  and  comfort '  expected  fi*om  the  loyal  States. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  can  at  this  time  and  on  this  occasion  only 
reiterate  the  sentiments  expressed  upon  the  organization  of  this 
meeting,  by  our  Representative  in  Congress,  that  upon  this  issue 
we  are  one,  and  that  we  are  for  affirmative  and  positive  action  ;  and 
we  call  upon  our  Administration  to  move  energetically  and  de- 
cidedly, or  they  will  be  in  danger  of  being  overrun  by  a  determined 
and  patriotic  people. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  lliis  hour  of  our  country's  peril,  we  know  no 
flag  but  the  flag  of  our  Fathers,  and  in  one  solid  phalanx  we  will 


406  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

march  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes — the  Banner  of  our  Union — to 
victory  or  death." 

Speeches  were  made  by  Messrs.  Myers,  Pomeroyy 
and  Fosgate,  Captains  Kennedy,  Baker,  Stewart,  and 
Amnion,  and  by  ^Ym.  Allen,  George  Eathbun,  and 
others ;  and,  after  the  appointment  of  one  man  from 
every  town  of  Caynga  County,  to  act  in  concert  with 
the  committee  of  this  city  in  raising  and  applying  the 
volunteer  fund,  the  mass-meeting  adjourned. 

After  providing  liberally  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
soldiers'  families,  our  citizens  sought  ways  in  which 
they  might  further  testify  their  patriotism  and  sympa- 
thy with  the  troops.  The  presentation  of  swc^rds,, 
revolvers,  and  military  trappings,  became  then  the 
popular  passion.  The  Sons  of  Temperance  placed  a 
splendid  brace  of  pistols,  with  rosewood  cases,  in  the 
hands  of  Captain  Baker  on  the  22d  ;  and  on  the  same 
day,  that  officer  was  publicly  presented  with  a  sword, 
in  behalf  of  Major  Barber,  who  had  received  the  same 
from  the  Auburn  Guard,  when  he  was  its  captain, 
and  Baker  his  lieutenant.  Captain  Kennedy  was  pre- 
sented with  a  brace  of  pistols,  at  the  Armory,  on  the 
23d.  E.  G.  Storke,  Esq.,  made  the  address,  in  which, 
among  other  things,  he  said :  "  You,  Sir,  was  among 
the  first  to  hear,  and  the  readiest  to  respond  to  the 
patriotic  call.  Home,  family,  friends,  with  all  their 
endearing  associations,  could  not  hold  you  back.  A 
prosperous  business,  dependent  for  its  success  on  you 


THE    UECORD    OF    THE    WAH.  407 

alone,  could  not  liold  you  Itack.  Dut,  witli  jijacrity 
and  enthusiasm,  you  Avere  iirst  at  the  muster,  as  no 
doubt  you  will  be  in  the  coming  encounter."  Mr. 
Storke's  words  were  emphasized  by  the  spontaneous 
applause  of  every  citizen  present.  Captain  Gavigan, 
Captain  Sclienck,  and  their  lieutenants  and  under- 
officers,  all  were  furnished  witli  swords  and  revolvers 
by  their  admirers  and  friends.  Xor  was  the  Helmet 
of  Salvation  unthought  of.  Captain  Kennedy  received 
a  nu\gnilicent  Bible  from  the  Board  of  Education  ot 
Auburn,  of  which  he  had  been  a  member,  and  his  men 
were  given  one  apiece.  Captain  Stewart  was  present- 
ed publicly  with  a  handsome  copy  of  the  Book,  in 
front  of  the  Western  Exchange,  on  the  27th,  by  Dr. 
Huntington,  of  the  seminary,  in  behalf  of  the  ladies  of 
the  city. 

The  volunteer  companies  of  this  county  and  district 
were  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  State,  upon  presen- 
tation of  the  proper  papers,  by  Brigadier-General  Jesse 
Segoine.  Although  Captain  Kennedy  had  been  iirst 
in  the  field,  and  had  enlisted  and  reported  the  first  full 
company  of  men,  singularly  enough  he  was  anticipated 
in  the  date  of  muster  by  a  competitor.  Captain  Baker 
was  mustered  first,  and  thus  gained  for  his  company 
the  right  of  the  Cayuga  regiment.  Captain  Kennedy's 
company,  however,  gained  the  left.  Baker  was  mus- 
tered on  the  21st;  Kennedy  on  the  24tli.  Captains 
Gaviiran's  and  SclienckV  commands  were  mustered  the 


408  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

day  following,  and  Captain  Ashcroft's  at  Stneca  Falls, 
on  tlie  26tli.  The  Adjutant-General  liaving  been  in- 
formed of  the  readiness  of  these  five  companies  to 
march,  directed  them  to  do  so  at  once,  and  to  report  to 
Brigadier-General  Yan  Yalkenburg,  at  the  depot  at 
Elmira. 

Governor  Morgan's  call  for  twenty-one  additional 
regiments  of  volunteers  was  issued  on  the  25th  day  of 
A])ri]. 

Monday,  April  20th,  1S61,  was  a  day  to  be  remem- 
bered in  Auburn.  Tt  had  been  announced  that  the 
battalion  w^as  about  to  move,  and  the  people  of  the 
city  and  county  were  pervaded  with  intense  feeling, 
as  tliey  were  thus  summoned  to  lay  their  iirst  oblation 
on  the  altar  of  the  country.  Hearts  beat  quick  that 
day,  and  in  the  city  all  classes  forsook  their  employ- 
ments, and  thronged  the  streets.  Stores  were  closed, 
business  was  suspended,  the  schools  were  dismissed,  and 
few  residences  were  not  totally  vacated.  The  country, 
too,  was  alive,  and  at  an  early  hour  in  tlie  morning,  ve- 
hicles of  every  description  might  have  been  seen  rap- 
idly driving  toward  the  city.  From  every  road  they 
came  and  jammed  the  main  streets  of  the  town,  till  the 
press  was  almost  intolerable.  Every  one  was  talka- 
tive and  anxious.  The  wind  kissed  every  inch  of  bunt-. 
ing  in  the  city.  Patriotic  people  were  decked  with 
badges  and  cockades.  Soldiers  and  officers  dashed  about 
here  and  there  in  the  hottest  liaste  ;  everything  was  tur- 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  409 

moil  and  confusion.  The  streets  in  the  vicinity  of  Bak- 
er's cigar  store  and  the  Armory,  where  the  companies 
were  forming,  were  choked  with  crowds  of  people.  Cap- 
tain Schenck's  company  was  first  formed  ;  marching  up 
State  Street,  it  halted  in  front  of  the  Western  Ex- 
change, where  it  was  soon  joined  by  Captain  Kennedy. 
The  latter  was  here  presented  with  a  Yalua])le  regula- 
tion sword  in  the  name  of  George  Clapp  and  other  citi- 
zens, by  General  Jesse  Segoine  ;  this  oliicer,  by  the  way, 
was  also  presented  priv^ately  before  his  departure  with 
the  sword  of  the  late  Major  Doty,  by  that  gentleman's 
widow. 

Joining  Baker  and  Gavigan,  the  companies  were 
then  formed  in  colunm,  and  marched,  under  escort  of 
the  Auburn  Band  and  the  Auburn  and  Willard 
Guards,  through  North  and  Chapel  Streets,  to  the  de- 
pot. Twenty  days  before,  these  brave  men  had  been 
quietly  engaged  in  the  shop  or  on  the  farm  in  the  pur- 
suits of  peace.  They  now  were  pressing  forward,  im- 
pelled by  the  purest  patriotism,  to  encounter  the  hor- 
rors and  })rivati<)ns  of  war.  Never  had  the  people 
been  so  profoundly  stirred  as  upon  this  day,  never  did 
men  before  in  Auburn  receive  such  an  ovation  as  met 
the  volunteers  during  their  departure.  At  every  turn 
the  most  tumultuous  cheers  and  shouts  rent  the  air ; 
handkerchiefs,  hats,  canes,  and  flags,  were  frantically 
waved  in  siilute ;  and  blessings  and  cries  of  God  speed 
came  from  every  lip.     As  the  column   a]>])roached  the 


410  UISTORY    OF    AUIiUKN. 

depot,  that  edifice  was  found  to  be  in  the  possession  of 
an  immense  crowd  of  people.  State  and  Chapel 
Streets  were  ])acked  for  rods  ;  the  prison  wall  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road  was  covered  ;  and  the  interior 
of  the  depot  was  a  dense  mass  of  excited  citizens  and 
relatives,  gathered  to  catch  a  last  glimpse  of  their 
brave  boys  in  the  ranks.  A  position  in  the  center  of 
the  depot  was  attained  with  great  difficulty.  The 
train  appeared  a  little  after  two  o'clock  pushing  its 
way  slowly  into  the  building,  with  four  cars  attached 
for  the  men,  which  were  instantly  filled.  Hands  were 
shaken  and  kissed  through  the  windows,  and  final 
farewells  were  hurriedly  exchanged.  Then,  with  the 
booming  of  cannon,  and  amidst  the  enthusiastic  cheers 
of  eight  thousand  people,  the  train  moved  off,  bearing 
the  Auburn  boys  westward  on  their  Avay  to  Elmira, 
while  the  vast  crowd  slowly  moved  away  through  the 
various  streets  homeward. 

Captains  Stewart  and  Amnion  remained  in  Auburn 
awaiting  orders  to  move.  Their  companies  were  at 
length  duly  organized,  and  mustered  on  the  6th  of 
May,  and  soon  afterward  joined  the  regiment  at  the 
general  rendezvous.  They  were  followed  immediately 
by  the  others. 

The  first  Cayuga  regiment  was  organized,  and 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  the 
term  of  three  months,  on  the  22d  of  May.  It  re- 
ceived the  title  of  the  "  19th  K.  Y.  S.  Yolunteers." 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  411 

The   field,  staff,   and   company  officers  were  tlien   a?, 
follows : 

Colonel,  John  S.  Clark. 

Lieut-Col,  Clarence  A.  SewarcL 

Major,  James  H.  Ledlie. 

Adjutant,  Henry  M.  Stone. 

Surgeon,  Theodore  Dimon. 

Quartermaster,  John  Chedell. 

Q.  M.  Sergeant,  Dennis  Shell. 

Serge&nt- Major,  Charles  Tomliuson. 

Company  Officers. 

Company  ^.— Capt.  John  T.  Baker;  Lieut.  Charles  White; 
Ensign,  Martin  Laughlin  ;  Sergeants,  Charles  Tomlinson  ;  John 
T.  Potter  ;  David  McCreery  ;  and  Barnett  Nagle. 

Co.  B. — Capt,  T.  J.  Kennedy  ;  Lieut.  John  Poison  ;  Ensign, 
Henry  C.  Day  ;  Sergeants,  Andrew  Cowan,  William  H.  Gault* 
David  C.  Hutchinson,  and  William  H.  Barnes. 

Co.  C. — Capt.  James  E.  Ashcroft ;  Lieut.  Samuel  Clark  Day ; 
Ensign,  Charles  B.  Randolph  ;  Sergeants,  Charles  C.  Graves,  Adol- 
phus  W.  Newton,  Alonzo  Jordan,  and  Edward  Manning. 

Co.  D. — Capt.  Owen  Gavigan  ;  Lieut.  William  Boyle  ;  Ensign, 
Luke  Brannack  ;  Sergeants,  f*atrick  Dwyer,  Daniel  Dowling, 
Patrick  Handlen,  and  Daniel  McCartin. 

Co.  ^.— Capt.  Theodore  H.  Schenck  ;  Lieut.  David  A.  Taylor ; 
Ensign,  Edward  C.  Burtis  ;  Sergeants,  Henry  F.  Rider,  Austin 
Haynes,  Charles  A.  Henry,  and  James  Harris. 

Co.  F. — Capt.  Nelson  T.  Stephens;  Lieut.  Watson  C.  Squire; 
Ensign,  Edward  D.  Parker;  Sergeants,  Edgar  B.  Warren,  David 
F.  Bothwell,  Barna  C.  Goodridge,  and  Robert  Haynes. 

Co.  6r'.— Capt.  Charles  H.  Stewart;  Lieut.  John  Wall;  Ensign, 
Antonio  E.  Robinson;  Sergeants,  Lewis  Mowers,  John  White, 
Charles  B.  Quick,  and  George  E.  Sherwood. 

C<?.  7/.— Capt.  Solomon  Giles  ;   Lieut.  Augustus  Field;    Eusign, 


4rl2  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Marquis  D.  Nichols ;  Sergeants,  Charles  M.  Whiteside,  William 
A.  Hedges,  Willis  Watson,  and  Montraville  M,  Hedges. 

Co.  I. — Capt.  John  H.  Amnion  ;  Lieut.  George  W.  Thomas  ; 
Ensign,  Randolph  B.  Kimberly ;  Sergeants,  Horace  Silsby,  William 
A.  Kelsey,  Thomas  J.  Lormore,  and  James  S.  Fuller. 

Co.  K. — Capt.  James  R,  Angel ;  Lieut.  A.  H.  Carr ;  Ensign, 
Lester  W.  Fosting.  ' 

Two  days  after  its  muster  into  the  service,  the  19th 
regiment  received  nniforms  from  the  State,  the  quality 
and  appearance  of  which  was  positive  evidence  that  a 
monstrous  fraud  had  been-  perpetrated  by  the  con- 
tractors. ]^ot  only  were  our  brave  boys  intensely  dis- 
gusted with  their  shoddy  garments,  but  the  citizens  of 
Auburn  also ;  and  the  latter  held  a  public  indignation- 
meeting  at  the  court-house  on  the  evening  of  May 
31st,  to  devise  some  practical  means  of  remedy  for  the 
shameful  treatment  of  tlie  regiment.  Dr.  Kichard 
Steel  was  chairman  of  the  meetinoj  •  E.  B.  Lansino: 
and  G.  AV.  Allen  were  secretaries.  The  speakers  were 
Benjamin  F.  Hall,  Wm.  Allen,  Theodore  M.  Pome- 
roy,  and  Rev.  B.  I.  Ives.  A  committee,  composed  of 
Charles  P.  Wood,  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  and  C.  P.  Wil- 
liams, reported  resolutions,  deploring  the  wrongs  of  the 
soldiers,  and  proposing  the  appointment  of  a  commit- 
tee to  demand  in  person,  of  the  State  Military  Board, 
that  decent  clothing  should  be  purchased  the  19th 
regiment  without  delay.  Theodore  M.  Pomeroy  and 
Wm.  C.  Beardsley  were  delegated  to  perform  this 
duty,  which  tliey  did  at  once,  and  laid  before  an  ad- 


THE    RKCORD    OF    THE    WAK.  413 

journed  meetini!:,  held  June  4tli,  the  ]ti'oiiiise  of  the 
military  authorities  at  Albany,  to  dress  the  19th  as 
soon  as  practicable  in  pro])er  nnitbrnis. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Afonday,  the  third  nf  June,  a 
large  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  from  Auburn 
departed  upon  the  cars  for  Elmira,  with  a  stand  of 
colors  prepared  by  the  former  for  the  19th,  to  perform 
the  ceremony  of  presentation.  Among  the  ladies 
were  Mrs,  C.  II.  Merrinian,  Mrs.  Wm.  II.  Seward,  Jr., 
Mrs.  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  Mrs.  George  Underwood,  Mrs. 
Theodore  Dimon,  and  Mrs.  Henry  Morgan.  The  Hags 
were  delivered  to  the  regiment  on  the  fourth.  Hon. 
Charles  C.  D wight  presented  the  regimental,  and  Ben- 
jamin F .  Hall  the  national  colors,  which  were  soon 
after  borne  b\^  the  command  to  the  theater  of  active 
military  operations. 

The  general  government,  convinced  by  the  disas- 
trous defeat  of  the  Federal  armies  at  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  July  21st,  1861,  of  the  hopelessness  of  the 
promised  peace  in  ninety  days,  and,  by  the  expiration 
of  the  terms  of  service  and  the  preparation  to  return 
home  of  the  three  months'  volunteers,  of  the  necessity 
for  fresh  supplies  of  troops,  appealed  after  the  battle  to 
the  Governors  of  the  loyal  States  for  additional  aid. 
New  York  was  requested  to  furnish  twenty-five  thou- 
sand three  years'  men.  Governor  Morgan's  proclama- 
tion, dated  July  25th,  stated  this  fact,  and  announced 
that  twenty-four  regiments  of  infantry  would  be  im- 


414  FIISTOKY    OF    A.UBUKN. 

mediately  raised  in  this  State,  as  well  as  one  of  artil- 
lery, and  six  independent  batteries  of  four  guns  each. 
Cayuga  County  responded  in  a  noble  manner  to  this 
call. 

Prominent  citizens  determined  to  unite  their  efforts, 
and  send  forth  at  once  a  second  regiment.  On  the 
afternoon  of  Monday,  September  2d,  1861,  a  large 
number  of  gentlemen  met  at  the  ^-^^^srican  Hotel  in 
this  city  to  devise  the  best  means  of  efi'ecting  the  de- 
sired end.  Charles  P.  Wood  presided.  Dr.  Sylvester 
Willard  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting.  Colonel  John 
A.  Dodge,  upon  whose  proposition  to  raise  and  com- 
mand the  second  regiment  the  whole  movement  w^as 
based,  being  then  introduced,  unfolded  to  the  meeting 
his  plans.  He  stated  that  he  had  been  solicited  to  take 
the  lead  in  this  enterprise,  and  had  resolved  to  do  so, 
and  to  tender  his  services  to  the  President  through  the 
Governor  of  the  State.  In  view  of  the  frauds  and  ill 
usage  put  upon  our  first  regiment,  still  keenly  felt  by 
our  citizens,  the  colonel  proposed  to  raise,  equip,  and 
drill  the  new  command  here,  marching,  when  called, 
directly  from  Auburn  to  the  front.  This  plan  was 
feasible,  since  the  Governor  had  power  to  commission 
and  detail  officers  to  all  such  special  duties.  Many 
valuable  men  had  agreed  to  join  the  colonel  in  form- 
ing his  regiment.  He  therefore  asked  that  a  com- 
mittee of  citizens  might  be  appointed  to  act  with  him 
and  his  officers,   and  another,  to  go  to  Albany  and 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  415 

make  the  arranirements  necessary  for  carryinj^  his 
proposition  into  effect.  He  further  stated  tliat  while 
funds  wouhl  he  wanted  for  the  transportation  of  re- 
cruits, it  was  liis  desire  that  none  should  be  raised  to 
support  tlie  families  of  liis  men,  for  he  preferred  that 
they  should,  if  possible,  be  those  alone  who  could  leave 
their  families  in  comfortable  circuinstaiu-es.  The  fol- 
lowino;  resolutions  were  then  adopted  : 

*'  llesolved,  That  Colonel  Jolin  A.  Dodge  has  our  full  and  hearty 
sympathy  in  his  project,  and  that  we  will  give  him  our  most 
earnest  co-operation  in  forwarding  to  a  successful  result  the 
undertaking  he  has  initiated  with  such  patriotic  devotion. 

"  Eesohed,  That  an  Executive  Committee  of  nine  be  appointed 
to  act  with  Colonel  Dodge  and  others  who  may  unite  with  him, 
and  such  committee  is  authorized  to  adopt  such  measures  as  in 
their  judgment  ma}'  be  best  calculated  to  carry  out  the  determi- 
nation expressed  in  the  first  Resolution. 

An  executive  committee,  composed  of  Dr.  8.  Wil- 
lard,  Hon.  Theodore  M.  Pomeroy,  Wm.  C.  Beardsley, 
Charles  P.  Wood,  Elmore  P.  Koss,  Samuel  L.  Busli, 
Wm.  Allen,  John  11.  Chedell,  and  Micliael  S.  Myers, 
was  at  once  elected.  The  occasion  called  forth  earnest 
remarks  from  T.  M.  Pomeroy,  Charles  C.  Dwight, 
Wm.  Ilart,  E.  B.  Lansing,  and  Edward  A.  Thomas. 
No  time  was  lost.  The  same  afternoon,  the  executive 
committee  organized,  and  empowered  Messrs.  Wil- 
lard,  Pomeroy,  Beardsley,  and  Dodge  to  proceed  at 
once  to  Albany,  in  pursuance  of  the  ])atrioti(*  design 
of  the  ])rclimin:iry  meeting.     On  the  Saturday  follow- 


416  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

ing,  the  committee  had  the  satisfaction  of  announcing 
publicly  that  Auburn  had  been  made  a  depot  for 
troops,  and  that  Colonel  I^odge  had  been  commissionect 
to  raise  in  this  county  a  second  regiment  of  volun- 
teers, which  would  be  fed,  equiped,  and  drilled  at 
this  post,  in  a  camp  soon  to  be  provided  by  the  proper 
authorities.  The  manifest  care  and  foresight  dis- 
played in  these  preliminary  measures  by  Colonel 
Dodge  naturally  won  for  him  the  most  nnlimited  con- 
fidence of  the  people  of  this  county.  The  array  of 
talent  and  wealth  pledged  to  his  support  in  the  per- 
sons of  the  executive  committee,  was  perjiaps  the 
highest  possible  assurance  that  could  be  given  of  his 
patriotism,  prudence,  and  courage.  These  things 
strengthened  him  materially  in  his  enterprise,  bring- 
ing around  his  standard  a  higher  order  of  men  than 
could  have  been  reached  under  any  other  circum- 
stances. 

Recruiting  for  the  new  regiment  was  instantly  be- 
gun. Authority  to  raise  companies  was  successively 
conferred  upon  Hon.  Charles  C.  Dwight,  William 
Hart,  John  Clioate,  William  H.  Cray,  and  Clinton  D. 
McDougall,  of  Auburn,  Luther  Goodrich,  of  Meridian, 
Edward  A.  Thomas,  of  Springport,  and  Charles  Hay  den, 
of  Port  Byron.  These  gentlemen,  who  were  in  the 
main  unfamiliar  with  the  profession  of  arms,  were  all 
eminent  and  honored  citizens  of  this  county.  They 
took  the  field  together  as  early  as  September  7th,  and 


THE    KKCORD    OF    TIIK    WAR.  417 

appealed  in  the  most  tbreible  terms  tt)  the  loyal  and 
Union-loving  citizens  of  Cayuga  to  rally  to  the  defence 
of  their  imperiled  country. 

The  most  vigorous  measures  were  employed  to 
ai'ouse  and  warm  the  counti*y.  llecruiting  sergeants 
were  sent  into  every  town,  glowing  handbills  decorated 
every  public  building  and  tavern,  rousing  war-meet- 
ings were  held  in  every  community,  and  earnest  and 
talented  orators  took  the  stump,  and  traveled  night 
and  day  from  one  village  to  another,  calling  upon  the 
able-bodied  to  come  forward  and  take  up  the  sword. 

General  Jesse  Segoine,  of  this  city,  was  one  of  the  most 
untiring  and  successful  <>f  these  stump  speakers,  and 
did  more  than  any  other  one  man  to  stir  up  the  enthusi- 
asm and  loyalty  of  our  county.  His  sonorous  voice, 
and  his  martial  bearing,  and  his  active  mind,  fitted  him 
for  just  this  work.  Understanding  human  nature  well, 
he  w^ore  his  Generars  uniform  at  public  meetings,  and 
found  the  flash  of  his  brass  buttons  no  inconsidera- 
ble help,  lie,  at  one  time,  made  war  speeches  for 
sixty-three  nights  iu  succession,  in  this  and  five  of  the 
adjacent  counties,  sending  home  from  each  meeting 
the  avails  of  his  efforts  in  volunteers. 

The  eifect  of  these  measures  was  magical.  The  re- 
cruiting oflicers  met  in  every  quarter  the  warmest  en- 
thusiasm. Men  of  every  profession  and  employment 
sprang  into  the  ranks,  and  built  up  companies  at  a 
word.  There  was  of  course  a  race  for  the  right  of  the 
25 


418  HISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

resriment.  It  seemed  in  the  beii-iiiiiiiiix  to  be  within 
easy  reach  of  either  Mr.  D wight  or  Mr.  Hart,  the  ex- 
tensive' reputation  of  each  promising  well  for  the  quick 
formation  of  their  respective  commands.  The  position, 
however,  was  gained  by  Mr.  McDougall,  who  reported 
his  company  to  Colonel  Dodge  on  the  10th  of  Septem- 
ber, and  thus  became  captain  of  Company  A.  On  the 
12th  of  September  a  Port  Byron  compan^^  under  Tru- 
man K.  Fuller,  and  an  Auburn  company,  under  Wil- 
liam H.  Cray,  reported,  and  became  respectively  Com- 
panies B  and  C.  Under  the  excitement  of  the  hour, 
again  did  Auburn  throw"  out  her  banners ;  her  streets 
were  again  filled  with  the  sounds  of  preparation.  In  a 
few  days,  further  companies  were  organized  and  re- 
ported, and  the  work  w^ent  handsomely  on  till,  on  the  Tth 
of  October,  Lansing  Porter  had  presented  Colonel 
Dodge  the  ninth  company  of  his  command.  Mr.  Hart, 
who  was  among  the  original  number  of  recruiting  offi- 
cers, having  been  tendered  the  chaplaincy  of  the  old 
19th,  had  withdrawn  from  the  field,  giving  the  men  he 
had  raised  to  Captain  Cray. 

The  unprecedented  rapidity  wdth  which  the  com- 
panies of  the  second  Cayuga  regiment  w^ere  formed 
made  it  impossible  for  their  commanding  officers  to  pro- 
vide barracks  at  the  post  as  soon  as  they  were  needed. 
It  was  necessary,  however,  to  keep  the  volunteers  in 
Auburn  for  the  purposes  of  instruction  and  drill. 
Every  available  room,  therefore,  in  the  hotels  and  tav- 


thp:  rkcokt)  of  the  wak.  419 

«rns  was  secured  to  lod^-e  recruits.  Hut  tlie  i>ressui-»' 
^continued  to  increase,  <in<l,  evei'v  l)(>;u-dln<^-]iouse  be- 
ing full,  patriotic  citizens  iinally  tlirew  open  their  resi- 
dences, and  extended  tlieir  hospitality  to  snch  soldiers 
as  could  not  be  accommodated  elsewhere.  A  commodi- 
ous and  convenient  lot  for  a  camj*  was  at  lenirtli  obtain- 
ed, situated  on  the  east  side  of  Moravia  Street.  On  tlu' 
23d  of  September,  Colonel  Dodge  went  to  Albany  t<> 
get,  if  possible,  such  tents  and  camp  equipage  as  wouhl 
enable  him  to  go  into  camp  without  delay.  Failing  in 
this,  he  hastened  lionie  witli  his  full  couuuissiou  as 
colonel  to  urge  on  the  erection  of  the  l)arracks,  wliicli 
liad  then  tinally  been  commenced  by  means  of  moneys 
advanced  by  Dr.  AVillard,  and  other  prominent  gentle- 
men of  the  cit}',  and  by  the  banks.  The  guard-house 
had  been  put  up,  and  ground  broken  tor  the  kitchen. 
These  were  finished,  and  the  company  quarters  i)ut 
under  way  by  the  first  of  October.  The  latter  were 
ready  for  occupancy  by  the  12th. 

The  regiment  marched  into  camp  tor  the  first  time 
on  Monday,  the  14th  of  Octol)er.  Tt  then  munbered 
about  seven  liundred  and  fifty  men.  Comparative 
«]uiet  was  restored  to  the  city. 

The  members  of  this  gallant  corps  were  now  the 
recipients  of  every  favor  that  the  ingennity  of  their 
friends  could  suggest.  Money,  swords,  ])istols,  horses, 
books,  cakes,  pies  and  camj)  equipage,  were  lavished 
with  an  open  hand.     The  gift  of  a  magnificent  sword 


420  UlSTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

to  Captain  McDoiigall,  by  the  xVubuni  Literary  Asso- 
(tiatioii,  tliroTigh  Benjamin  B.  Snow,  Esq. ^  one  of  its 
honored  members,  on  tlie  23d  of  October,  was  one 
instance  of  the  many. 

Arms  and  nniforms  liaving  been  issued  to  tlie  Tothy 
it  was  daily  and  constantly  drilled  in  all  the  evolu- 
tions of  the  company  and  battalion,  and  made  fast 
advances  toward  perfect  efficiency.  Its  officers,  liav- 
ins:  the  advantao;e  of  the  instructions  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Merritt,  a  young  officer  direct  from  the  mili- 
tary academy  at  West  Point,  were  enabled  to  bring 
the  men  to  a  state  of  high  discipline,  that  won  Hatter- 
ing  encomiums  from  the  ])ress  of  Kew  York  when  the 
regiment  came  to  march  tlirough  that  city,  on  its  way 
to  the  front. 

Meanwhile,  active  efforts  for  the  enlistment  of  the 
tenth  company  of  the  regiment  were  being  put  forth 
in  the  city,  by  E.  Kellogg  Beach,  Esq.,  who  was  meet- 
ing with  flattering  success,  lie  was  assigned  quarters 
at  the  barracks,  on  tlie  2d  of  ]^ovember,  with  thirty 
men,  as  captain  of  Company  K.  lie  was,  however, 
unable  to  bring  the  command  to  the  required  size,  and 
suffered  it  to  be  consolidated  with  Company  I,  Cap- 
tain Porter.  Lieutenant  "Wm.  II.  Stevenson,  of  Com- 
pany B,  was  then  detailed  l)y  Colonel  Dodge  to  re- 
cruit for  Company  K. 

The  regiment  was  designated  the  Toth  N.  Y.  S. 
Volunteers,  on   the   14th  of  November,  per   special 


TiJE  kp:(Xh:i)  of  tiik  war.  421 

order  Xo.  4-85  of  the  Adjutaiit-Geiieriil  of  the  ^tate. 
It  was  directed  to  report  to  Brigadier-General  Rath- 
bone,  for  muster  into  tlie  IJjiited  States'  service,  at 
New  York. 

Thouij^h  comfortably  housed,  and  blessed  witli  an 
abundance  of  wholesome  rations,  the  75th,  while  in 
camp  in  Aubuni,  began  to  suffer  the  little  inconven- 
iences, and  cravings,  and  distresses,  which  the  soldier 
invariably  encounters.  The  men  wanted  towels,  and 
clean  linen,  butter  on  their  bread,  and  cream  in  their 
coffee,  and  rare  bits  ad  infinitintt.  They  bravely  con- 
quered these  wants  day  by  day,  but  their  hungry  souls 
found  relief,  more  than  once,  in  the  kind  ministrations 
of  friends.  Xever  were  their  teeth  gnashed  more  joy- 
fully, than  upon  a  certain  occasion,  when  every  man 
in  tlie  regiment  was  presented  with  a  wliole  pumpkin 
pie,  the  gift  of  the  patriotic  ladies  of  Owasco.  The 
T5th  ate  a  thousand  pies  that  day,  and  l)lessed 
Owasco. 

The  colors  of  the  T5th  regiment  were  obtained 
through  the  ])atriotic  exertions  of  two  young  ladies  of 
this  city— Miss  Sarah  Dill,  and  ^liss  Helen  ]\r.  IJart- 
lett.  The  ladies  collected  in  person  all  the  means  and 
materials  needed  for  their  object,  and  sacrificed  time 
and  ease,  till  the  silken  tokens  of  their  loyalty  were 
ready  for  i)resentation.  One  of  the  flags  was  wrought 
by  the  skillful  fingers  of  Miss  Dill  herself;  the  other 
was  made    by  Tiffany  c^  Co.,  of  Xew    ^'ork. 


422  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBUKN. 

The  colors  were  presented  to  the  75th  on  tlie  ufter- 
iiooii  of  Thursday,  Xovember  21st.  Tlie  regiment 
having  been  conducted  to  Genesee  {Street,  was  formed 
in  double  cohnnn,  closed  in  mass,  in  front  of  the  court- 
house. The  hidies  appeared  in  a  carriage,  and  with 
the  standards  in  tlieir  hands  took  a  position  on  the 
stone  steps  of  the  buihliiig.  Colonel  Dodge  and  staff 
liaving  then  advanced  to  tlie  front,  were  eloquently 
addressed  by  Hon.  T.  M.  Pomero}^  in  behalf  of  the 
donors,  and  presented  w  ith  the  colors.  After  a  brief 
reply  by  Colonel  Dodge^w^ithftJie'expression  of  grate- 
ful thanks,  cheers  long  and  hearty  were  given  for  the 
75th,  and  for  the  hidies  of  Auburn,  and  Cayuga 
County,  and  the  75th  returned  to  the  barracks. 

Orders  to  mai'ch  were  received  the  same  day.  On 
the  30th  day  of  November,  1861,  two  days  after 
Thanksgiving,  the  75th  l)roke  up  tlieir  camp  at  Auburn 
and  pre])ared  to  move.  Tlie  lieavy  fall  rains,  and  the 
continual  travel  on  all  the  avenues  leading  to  the 
c^amp,  had  tilled  the  latter  with  a  deep,  sticky  mud, 
through  which  the  regiment  was  forced  to  pass,  at 
nine  and  an  half  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  its  way  to  the  depot. 
To  this  point  it  was  preceded  and  followed  by  im- 
mense crowds  of  people,  anxious  to  bid  the  departing 
volunteers  God  speed.  Assembled  in  the  depot,  the 
regiment  was  briefly  addressed  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Con- 
dit.  A  special  train  of  eighteenipassenger  and  four 
baggage  cars  was  moved  up  and  an  attempt  made  to 


THE    KKC<>Kn    OF    THK    WAH.  4:25 

board  it.  Tlie  pressure  of  tlie  lar^e  ci'uwd  and  the 
reluctant  farewells  of  friends  made  this  a  dithcult  feat. 
However,  after  a  scene  of  indescribable  confusion,  the 
soldiers  were  extricated,  and  secured  on  board  the 
train,  and  then  with  the  thunder  of  cannon  and  amidst 
the  "sWldest  hurrahs,  the  cars  moved  away,  and  the 
Toth  New  York  had  gone  forth  upon  its  mission.  It 
took  from  this  and  from  Seneca  County  nine  hundred 
men,  the  very  llower  of  our  })opulation,  the  bravest 
and  best  in  constitution  and  character.  Its  orojaniza- 
tion  was  then  as  follows  : 

Colonel,  John  A.  Dodge. 
Lieut-Col.,  Robert  B.  Merritt. 
Adjutant,  E.  B.  Lansing. 
Surgeon,  Michael  D.  Benedict. 
Quartermaster,  Lewis  E.  Carpenter. 
Chaplain,  Thomas  B.  Hudson. 
Company  Officers. 
Company  ^.— Capt.  Clinton  D.  McDougall ;  1st  Lieiits.  Robert 
B.  Men-itt,  James  II.  Ilinman  ;    2nd  Lieute.  Erastus  E.  Brown, 
Benjamin  F.  Thiirber. 

Co.  ^.— Capt.  Tnmian  K.  Fuller;    1st  Lieut.  William   Henry- 
Stevenson  ;  2nd  Lieut.  Anson  Tuller. 

(Jo.  C'.— Capt.   William   H.  Cray  ;     1st  Lieut.  Charles  Wilson 
Draw  ;  2ud  Lieut.  Augustus  W.  Benedict. 

Co.  i>.— Capt.  Charles  C.  Dwight ;   1st  Lieut.  Andrew  Y.  Com- 
ing ;    2nd  Lieut.  George  D.  Robinson. 

Co.  X— Capt.   Luther  Goodrich;    1st  Lieut.    William   Lewis 
Stanford ;    2nd  Lieut.  Francis  Asbury  Hopping. 

Co.  >'.— Capt.  Henry  Bates  Fitch ;    Ist  Lieut.   William   Eliaa 
Avery  ;    2ad  Lieut.  Horace  B.  Fitch. 


424  HISTORY    OF    AUBURX. 

Co.  G^.— Capt.  John  E.  Saveiy;  1st  Lieut.  Lewis  E.  Carpenter, 
2iid  Lieut.  William  D.  Hamilton. 

Co.  //.— Capt.  John  Choate  ;  1st  Lieut.  Elbridge  G.  Miles  ;  3ud 
Lieut.  James  E.  Whiteside. 

Co.  I. — Capt.  Lansing  Porter  ;  1st  Lieut.  E.  B.  Lansing;  2ud 
Lieut.  William  H.  Hosmer. 

Reacliing  Albany,  tlie  regiment  bad  tbe  bonor  to  be 
ordered  to  proceed  at  once  to  tbe  important  post  of 
Fort  Pickens.  Tbere  it  remained  till  tbe  rebels  bad 
evacuated  Pensacola,  wben  it  was  sent  to  Louisiana,  in 
wbicb  State  it  engaged  in  several  battles  witb  distin- 
guisbed  braverv.  Afterward,  in  front  of  Port  Hudson, 
and  tben  again  in  tbe  Sbenandoab  Yalley  in  Yirginia, 
it  fouo;bt  under  tbe  flas:  of  tbe  Union  witb  valor  and  witb 
success. 

Having  now  followed  tlie  T5tb  from  its  conception 
to  its  departure  for  active  duty,  it  will  be  well  to  re- 
trace tbe  time  reviewed,  and  sketcb  briefly  tbe  eftorts 
in  Auburn  for  tbe  enlistment  of  troops  in  otber  com- 
mands. 

Tbe  July  call  for  twenty-live  tbousand  men  bad  pro- 
vided for  tbe  equipment  of  six  independent  batteries 
of  artillery.  Tbe  command  of  sucb  a  battery  was  tbe 
original  idea  of  Captain  T.  J.  Kennedy,  of  tbe  19tb  reg- 
iment. Obtaining  permission  to  leave  bis  regiment 
and  raise  one  of  tbe  six,  be  opened  a  recruiting  office 
in  Auburn  September  Otli.  By  tbe  2d  of  November 
be  bad  mustered  into  bis  command  one  bundred  and 
twenty-fi^^e  men,  raised  notwitbstanding  tbe  unusual 


'niK  up:(;<)Rd  ok  the  war.  425 

popularity  of  the  75th,  recruits  for  which  were  every- 
where being  actively  sought.  Upon  the  23d,  his  com- 
pany, called  Kennedy's  1st  Light  Battery,  X.  Y.  S.  Y., 
was  sworn  into  the  U.  S.  service  by  Captain  J.  C. 
Peterson,  of  the  15th  U.  S.  Infantry,  for  the  term  of 
three  years.  Its  officers  were  as  follows  :  Captain,  T. 
J.  Kennedy ;  1st  Lieutenants,  Andrew  Cowan,  Wil- 
liam P.  Wright ;  2nd  Lieutenant,  James  A.  Wood- 
ruff. Six  towns  had  each  supplied  recruits  to  man 
one  gun,  viz  :  Yenice,  under  Sergeant  II.  C.  Yaughn  ; 
Boonesville,  Lewis  County,  under  Sergeant  Nathaniel 
Thompson  ;  Niles,  under  Sergeant  Orsamus  Yan  Etten  ; 
Auburn,  Sergeant  James  R.  Wood  ;  Milan,  Sergeant 
Jonathan  E.  Johnson ;  and  Aurora,  Sergeant  Henry 
S.  Steele.  Captain  Kennedy  was  able  to  clothe  his  men 
here.  He  left  Auburn  on  the  evening  of  Monday,  De- 
cember 2nd,  and  at  the  head  of  his  gallant  band  fought 
many  bloody  bf.ttles  in  the  fields  of  Alrginia  and  Xorth 
Carolina. 

Captain  Solomon  Giles  made  the  next  etlurt  fur  men, 
in  favor  of  the  19th,  at  a  pul)lic  meeting  at  the  court- 
house, Deceml)er  5th,  which  he  addressed.  The  ohl 
organization  wanted  nearly  three  hundred  men  to  make 
its  maximum,  and  our  citizens  were  earnestly  invoked 
to  step  f  )rward  and  till  its  depleted  raid^s.  lion. 
George  Humphreys  and  John  Ts".  Knap]>  made  spirited 
speeches.  But  the  enlistments  were  few.  Ilecruiting 
lagged.     Tlirougli  January  scarce  anytliiiig  was  done. 


4:26  ,  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

No  detachments  were  forwarded  from  Auburn  till 
the  Ttli  of  February,  when  Lieutenants  Boyle  and 
Allen  went  to  the  front  with  fifty  men  for  the  3d  Ar- 
tillery, into  which  the  19th  had  meanwhile  been  con- 
verted. Lieutenant  William  A.  Kirby,  of  the  3d,  left 
Auburn  'March  11th  for  his  connnand,  at  tlie  head  of 
forty  men. 

The  surrender  of  Fort  Donelson,  announced  in  Au- 
burn February  17th,  was  the  occasion  of  a  general  jubi- 
lee. Flags  were  displayed,  cannons  fii'ed,  and  bon- 
fires kindled ;  at  noon,  all  the  bells  in  town  rang  out  a 
merry  peal,  and  the  powerful  whistle  at  the  car-shop 
blew  for  an  hour  steadily  during  the  discharge  of  a  na- 
tional salute  of  one  hundred  guns.  The  cheering 
successes  at  Shiloh  and  Island  No.  10,  and  at 
Newbern,  and  the  repossession  of  New  Orleans  by 
Farragut  soon  after  found  a  similar  joyful  echo  in 
Auburn. 

In  the  midst  of  the  pleasant  feeling  excited  by  these 
events,  there  occurred  an  incident,  which  showed  very 
happily  the  high  consideration  entertained  in  this  com- 
munit}^  for  one  of  its  loyal  members.  On  the  evening 
of  Saturday,  May  24:th,  a  number  of  prominent  gentle- 
men gathered  in  the  ofiice  of  the  Aichicni  Daily  Adver- 
tiser^ among  whom  was  General  Jesse  Segoine.  The 
meeting  was  called  to  order,  and  General  John  Chedell 
invited  to  take  the  chair.  D.  P.  AVallace  was  made  sec- 
retary.    Benjamin  B.  Snow  then  arose  and  read  a  let- 


TIJE    RECORD    OF    TliK    WAR.  427 

ter  tliat  had  beeii  lianded  to  hlin  in  an  open  envelop, 
runninii;    tlnis  : 

Fort  Pickens,  Florida,  April,  1862. 
Major-General  Jesse  IScgoine,  Auburn,  N.  Y. — 

Dear  Sir  :  I  am  commissioned  by  the  officers  of  the  fiekL 
statf,  and  line  of  the  75th  regiment,  N.  Y.  V.,  to  forward  to  your  ac- 
ceptance the  accompanying  cane.  They  beg  you  will  accept  it 
as  a  slight  testimonial  of  their  personal  regard  for  you  as  a  neigh- 
bor and  friend,  and  of  their  appreciation  of  your  zealous  and  dis- 
interested labors  in  behalf  of  the  organization  of  the  regiment  to 
which  they  belong.  The  work  of  raising  a  second  regiment  in 
Cayuga  County  at  the  time  when  this  was  proposed,  and  under  all 
the  circumstances  of  discouragement  which  then  existed,  was  no 
easy  work.  By  many  it  was  deemed  impracticable.  Your  faith 
in  the  accomplishment  never  faltered,  and  your  zeal  failed  not.  By 
your  eloquent  public  appeals,  and  your  personal  solicitations,  by 
your  kind  words  of  encouragement  to  officers  and  men,  by  your 
valuable  instructions  in  the  art  of  the  soldier,  at  all  times  freely 
given,  by  your  constant  display  of  interest  in  our  welfare  as  a  reg- 
iment, and  as  individuals,  you  aided  much  to  fill  our  ranks,  to  en- 
courage our  hearts,  and  to  promote  our  skill  and  efficiency  as  sol- 
diers, and  by  all  these  acts,  you  gained  our  lasting  gratitude  and 
»'.steem. 

It  is  in  testimony  of  these  feelings,  that  we  otfer  you  the  little 
i^ift  accompanying  this  note.  We  know  you  will  not  measure  the 
feelings  which  prompt  it  by  the  value  of  the  gift.  We  wished  it 
to  be  something  associated  with  the  island  where  we  have  been 
so  long  stationed,  and  which  has  been  the  theater,  if  not  of  our  ex- 
ploits, at  least,  of  the  trial  of  our  faith,  patience,  and  endurance; 
;ind  you  will  readily  understand  that  the  resources  of  this  island 
atibrd  no  great  variety  of  appropriate  gift**.  This  cane,  if  not 
strictly  a  "  natural  product"  of  Santa  Rosa,  was  at  least  found  here 
in  its  rough  state,  and  manufactured  on  the  island. 


428  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

Begging  you  to  accept  it  with  the  heartfelt  wishes  of  us  all  for 
your  long-continued  health,  welfare,  and  happiness,  I  have  the 
honor  to  remain,  in  behalf  of  the  officers  of  the  75th, 

Very  respectfully  and  sincerely  your  obedient  servant, 

Charles  C.  Dwight,  Captain  75th  Regiment  N.  Y.  V. 

Mr.  Snow  then  presented  a  rich,  dark-colored  cane, 
mounted  by  Tiffany  &  Co.,  of  Kew  York,  bearing 
this  inscription  :  "Major- General  Jesse  Segoine,  from 
the  officers  of  the  75th  Ivegiment,  at  Santa  Kosa  Island, 
Florida,  1862."  The  surprise  was  complete  ;  but  the 
General  rallied  and  made  a  neat  reply,  and  pledged  a 
continuance  of  liis  efforts  for  the  honor  c>f  Cayuga 
County,  and  the  welfare  of  the  Union. 

Early  in  July,  1862,  news  came  from  the  armv  of 
the  Potomac  that  stirred  the  heart  of  every  patriot 
with  such  grief  and  anxiety,  that  when,  on  the  1st  of 
July,  the  President  sent  out  his  appeal  for  three  hun- 
dred thousand  additional  three  years  volunteers,  and 
on  the  2d,  that  appeal  was  re-echoed  by  Gov.  Morgan, 
few  believed,  under  the  universal  discouragement,  that 
a  soldier  could  be  raised.  Put  in  this  city,  several 
military  men  and  citizens,  with  indomitable  energy 
and  hope,  instantly  revived  the  idea  of  a  third  Cayuga 
regiment,  proposed  the  November  before,  and  pre- 
pared themselyes  to  raise  it.  It  is  impossible  here  to 
enter  minutely  into  the  story  of  the  achievements  of 
the  summer  and  fall  of  1S62  in  Auburn,  notwithstand- 
ing the  numerous  instances   of  lofty  ])atriotism    and 


THE    RECORD    <)F    THE    \VAi:.  429 

self-sacriticiiii;'  devotion  to  tlie  l'ni(jn  Aviili  wliicli  they 
iiboiind.  AVe  can  at  l»est  )io  more  tlian  sketcli  tlieir 
leading  features. 

Hitherto  tlie  work  of  enlistment  had  been  done  by 
the  patriotic  citizens  of  the  State  in  and  for  the  vari- 
ous counties.  There  was  now  framed  a  system  of  do- 
ing it  in  and  f  >r  military  districts,  into  which  the 
State  was  divided,  by  means  of  the  influence  and  ef- 
forts of  district  military  committees.  For  tlie  Dis- 
trict of  Cayuga  and  Wayne,  Gov.  Morgan  appointed 
the  following  connnittee  :  AVm.  V.  Beardsley,  S.  Wil- 
lard,  M.  D.,  Wm.  II.  Seward,  Jr.,  and  X.  T.  Stephens, 
of  Auburn;  Hon.  C.  M.  Abbott,  of  ]N'ile<;  and  Hon. 
E.  B,  Morgan  and  Smith  Anthony,  of  Aurora ;  in 
whose  hands  was  lodged  the  supreme  control  of  all 
eftbrts  to  recruit  in  the  district.  A  majority  of  the 
committee  met  the  morning  of  July  Sth,  with  its 
chairman,  Mr.  Beardsley,  to  agree  upon  measures  nec- 
essary to  raise  a  new  regiment.  Having  been  author- 
ized to  increase  their  own  number,  they  did  so,  and 
sent  E.  B.  Morgan  and  J.  K.  Knapp  to  Wayne  County 
to  procure  active  members  to  be  added  to  the  com- 
mittee from  that  region.  They  were  furnished  on  the 
10th  with  the  names  of  W.  H.  Adams,  Joseph  Wel- 
ling, and  S.  B.  Gavitt,  of  Lyons ;  G.  W.  Cowles,  of 
Clyde ;  and  J.  E.  Walker,  Pomeroy,  Tucker,  and  W. 
C.  Nottingham,  of  Palmyra.  A  joint  meeting  was 
held  at  Port   Hyron.  Saturday,  July  12th,  when  the 


430  IflSTOKV    (IF    AUIiUKN. 

gcTitlemen  above  named,  as  well  as  S.  K.  Williams,  E. 
N.  Thomas,  L.  S.  Ketchum,  Geo.  W.  Cuyler,  Wm.  T. 
Barne}",  Willis  T.  Gaylord,  of  Wayne,  and  Tlieo.  M. 
Pomeroy,  Henry  W.  D\vi2;lit,  Wm.  A.  lialsey,  Geo. 
B.  Gillespie,  Wm.  F.  Robinson,  A.  L.  Smith,  W.  IIos- 
ford,  Charles  Near,  Pliilo  Camp,  Anizi  AVood,  Wm. 
C  Cramer,  and  David  J.  Yan  Auken,  of  Cayuga 
County,  were  added  to  the  committee.  A  resolution 
was  passed  approving  the  call  for  300,000  men.  In 
pursuance  of  a  request  from  the  Governor  that  the 
name  of  some  person  iit  for  a  regimental  commander 
should  be  forwarded  to  him  at  once,  the  subject  was 
introduced  and  discussed.  The  choice  of  the  commit- 
tee fell  upon  General  Segoine,  then  the  most  popular  war 
man  in  this  county,  who  was  at  the  time  in  the  town 
of  Summerhill,  working  hard  with  Capt.  E.  A.  Thom- 
as, to  fill  up  the  latter  officer's  company.  Sub-commit- 
tees were  appointed  to  make  aiTangements  for  war 
meetings  in  the  various  towns :  for  Cayuga,  were  J. 
N.  Knapp,  N.  C.  Simons,  and  Wm.  A.  TIalsey ;  for 
Wayne,  J.  E.  Walker,  S.  B.  Gavitt,  and  G.  W. 
Cowles.  The  care  of  the  finance  in  Cayuga  County 
was  intrusted  to  E.  B.  Morgan,  S.  Willard,  and  Charles 
P.  Wood,  and  in  Wayne,  to  S.  K.  Williams,  S.  B. 
Gavitt,  and  E.  JST.  Thomas,  who  were  empowered  to 
incur  a  liability  in  each  county  of  two  thousand  dol- 
lars. A  mass-meeting  was  appointed  at  Auburn  for 
the   ITth,  and  another  at  Lyons,  on  the  19th.     Each 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  431 

town  was  assigned  a  certain  specified  part  of  the  labor 
to  perform,  and  a  certain  number  of  men  to  raise  for 
the  new  regiment.  The  quotas  assigned  to  the  wards 
of  Auburn,  in  their  numerical  order,  were  28,  24, 'il, 
and  37— lln  in  all. 

Springport  was  first  in  the  lield.  Dr.  Silas  A.  Tre- 
mainemakino;  a  commencement  in  the  work  of  recruit- 
ing  on  Monday,  July  14tli.  The  ball,  however,  did  not 
fairly  begin  to  roll  till  an  enthusiastic  war-meeting  at 
Auburn,  on  the  17th,  had  revived  once  more  the  droop- 
ing spirits  of  onr  people.  Delegations  attended  this 
meeting  from  the  various  country  towns,  especially 
from  those  south,  which,  assembling  in  procession  on 
the  day  ap})ointed,  were  led  by  Gen.  Segoine  from  the 
court  house  to  the  park.  After  an  eloquent  prayer 
by  Dr.  Condit,  Major  l>eardsley  introduced  Gen.  8e- 
goine  with  a  few  happy  remarks.  Gen.  Segoine  on 
advancing  was  enthusiastically  cheered.  With  a 
thrilling  speech,  lie  admonished  the  people  of  their 
duty,  and  then  gave  way  for  the  meeting  to  organize. 
This  was  done  in  due  form.  Itesolutions  submitted 
by  J.  N.  Knapp,  E.  B.  Morgan,  and  Wm.  Allen,  endors 
ing  the  Union  and  the  Constitution,  and  tlie  call  for 
300,000  men,  denouncing  secession  as  treason,  and  dis- 
loyalty as  a  crime,  offering  to  snstain  the  sn]X'rvis(H-s 
of  this  county  in  raising  a  bounty  of  fifty  dollars  for 
each  volunteer  to  the  new  regiment,  and  reconnnend- 
ing  an   a])pro])rlation  to  cover  that  charge,  ms  well   nt^ 


432  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

three  tliousand  dollars  more  to  detVay  incidental  ex- 
penses, were  adopted. 

Theo.  M.  Pomeroy  spoke  for  half  an  hour.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Warner,  of  Weedsport,  made  a  spirited  ap- 
peal, under  the  influence  of  which  several  young  men 
sprang  forward  and  enlisted  on  the  spot.  The  assembly 
was  hereby  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  enthu- 
siasm. An  offer  by  E.  E.  Marvine,  of  this  city,  often 
dollars  apiece  for  ten  volunteers  was  greeted  with  long 
and  loud  applause.  Among  other  speakers  that  suc- 
ceeded, E.  1).  Morgan  appeared  upon  the  platform, 
and  said  that  he  was  authorized  to  offer  to  the  first 
company  that  should  be  formed  under  the  present  call 
a  bounty  of  two  hundred  dollars,  one  hundred  to  the 
second,  and  fifty  to  the  third.  He  declined  to  an- 
nounce the  name  of  the  au|;hor  of  the  ofter,  but  Gen. 
Segoine  took  the  responsibility  of  stating  that  it  was- 
none  other  than  that  of  Mr.  Morgan  himself.  The 
statement  met  with  tremendous  cheering.  Other 
w^arm  and  hopeful  speeches  followed,  after  wdiich  the 
crowd  dispersed,  and  the  people  returned  to  their 
homes.  The  eloquence  of  the  speakers  and  the  gen- 
erosity of  our  wealthy  men  made  their  impression. 
The  despondent  were  encouraged,  the  indifferent  were 
aroused.  No  longer  was  the  fearful  reverse  upon  the 
Chickahominy  considered  the  death-blow  of  the  Un- 
ion, but  faith  and  resolution  again  took  the  place  of 
grief  and  alarm. 


THE    RECORD    OF    TIU:    WAU.  433 

Tlie  ]»ress,  public  lueii,  and  tlie  M-ar  coininittee,  la- 
bored assiduously  to  fail  tbc  glow  of  entlnisiasni  with 
which  the  people  were  now  inspired,  into  atlame.  Mr!' 
Heardsley,  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  was  untiring 
and  self-sacrificins^  in  his  efforts  to  carry  on  the  ffood 
work.  Recruiting  otticcs  wei'e  o])ened  in  Auburn  by 
Captains  E.  A.  Thomas,  Lewis  W.  Husk,  and  Ezra  II. 
Xorthroj),  and  the  (-(Hinty  rang  with  their  a])])eals  for 
troops. 

It  having  been  rcj^orted  that  certain  persons  in  the 
community  were  disconraging  enlistments,  the  com- 
mandant of  the  post  issued  on  the  18th  a  peremptory 
proclamation,  declaring  that  all  persons  detected  in  this 
act  should  l)e  arrested,  and  visited  with  the  penalty  of 
the  law.  Its  bold  Ume  electrified  the  district.  Every- 
where recruiting  received  the  most  powerful  impnlse. 
In  Wayne  Comity,  particularly,  the  most  intense  ex- 
citement sprang  up.  Though  second  in  the  field,  the 
captains  of  that  region  were  first  at  the  muster.  By 
the  26th  of  July,  Seneca  B.  Smith  reported  the  first 
full  company  of  men,  for  which,  when  the  regiment 
was  organized,  he  was  rewarded  with  the  ])ost  of  ma- 
jor. John  S.  Coe  reported  cpiickly  afterwards  with  a 
company  that  Avas  lettered  B.  In  Auburn,  for  some 
strange  reason,  enlistments  w^ere  slow,  although  in 
Wayne  County  the  work  was  going  on  splendidly. 
Capt.  Thomas  indeed  reported  immediately  to  Gen. 
Segoine,  and  obtained  for  his  command  the  letter  C. 
26 


4:34  HISTORY    OF    ACEUKN, 

But  tlie  city  did  not  wake  up  to  a  vigorous  perform- 
ance of  its  duty  till  spurred  to  do  so  by  an  immense 
war-meeting  in  front  of  the  Western  Exchange.  The 
people  were  then  tired  with  proper  enthusiasm,  and 
began  to  take  vigorous  action.  Gov.  Morgan  had  on 
the  ITth  offered  a  bount}^  of  fifty  dollars  to  every  ac- 
cepted volunteer.  The  United  States  was  offering 
one  hundred  dollars  more.  The  different  wards  of 
Auburn  now  offered  an  additional  local  bounty  of 
twenty-five  dollars,  a  sum  which  was  raised  by  private 
subscription,  and  faithfully  paid. 

The  unwearied  exertions,  however,  of  the  officers  and 
speakers  were  the  main  causes  of  the  rapid  enlistments 
that  now  began.  A  stream  of  volunteers  now  set  in 
from  both  counties.  Four  companies  came  down 
from  Wayne,  and  Captains  Husk  and  Northrop  report- 
ed from  Cayuga.  Capt.  Sidney  Mead  next  brought  to 
camp  a  baud  of  sturdy  farmers  from  Moravia,  and 
finally,  Capt.  Tremaine's  company  from  Springport, 
which,  though  the  first  begun,  was  the  last  organized, 
joined  the  regiment  and  the  command  was  full.  The 
bulk  of  this  regiment  was  raised  in  twelve  days,  the 
whole  of  it  in  seventeen.  Upon  the  20th  of  August, 
1862,  it  was  mustered  into  the  service  for  three  years 
or  during  the  war,  as  the  111th  N.  Y.  \^.  Its  organ- 
ization was  then  as  follows  : 

Colonel,  Jesse  Segoine. 
Major,  Seneca  B.  Smith. 


THE    RECOKB    OF    THE    WAR.  435 

Lieut-Col,  Clinton  D.  :McUougall. 
Adjutant,  Henry  11.  Segoine. 
Surgeon,  Wm.  Yosburgh. 
Quartermaster,  James  Trulan. 
Line  Officers. 

Company  ^.— Capt.  Aaron  P.  Seely  ;    1st  Lieut.  Samuel  B.  Me- 
Intyre  ;  2d  Lieut.  Ezra  A.  Hibbard. 

Co.  P.— Capt.  John  S.  Coe ;   1st  Lieut.  Jacob  T.  Van  Buskirk  ; 
-2d  Lieut.  John  Tremper, 

(Jo.  C'.—Capt.  Ed.  A.  Thomas  ;    1st  Lieut.  Ira  Jones  ;  2d  Lieut. 
Theo.  Lainpson. 

Co.  D. — Capt,  Sebastian  D.  Holmes;    1st  Lie  it.    ILisseltine  S. 
Moore  ;  2d  Lieut.  Erastus  M.  Granger. 

Co.  E. — Capt.  Isaac  ]\[.  Lusk;  1st  Lieut.  Andrew  1).  Soverill 
2d  Lieut.  Jolin  A.  Lanig. 

Co.  F. — Capt.  Benj.  W.  Thompson  ;   1st  Lieut.  Robert  C.  Perry  ; 
2d  Lieut.  John  H.  Drake. 

Co.  (r.— Capt.  Lewis  W.  Husk ;   1st  Lieut.  John  I.  Brinkerhoff 
Jr. ;  2d  Lieut.  Edgar  J.  Hueston. 

Co.  //.—Capt.  Ezra  H.  Northop ;    1st  Lieut.   Frank   Rich :   2d 
Lieut.  Reuben  J.  Myers. 

Cb. /—Capt.  Sidney  Mead ;  1st  Lieut.  Merrill  W.  ^lurdock  ;  2d 
Lieut.  Arthur  W.  Marshall. 

Co.  A".— Capt.  S.  A.  Tremaine ;  1st  Lieut.  Geo.  M.  Smith ;  2d 
Lieut.  A,  B.  Capron. 

Upon  the  4tli  of  August,  1862,  a  further  call  of 
300,000  three  years'  men  was  made  by  the  United 
States  Government,  with  the  admonition  that  a  draft 
would  be  inforced  if  the  country  did  not  respond  by 
volunteering.  Few  in  this  district  believed  that  sneli 
an  alternative  would  be  necessary  here.  The  men 
who    had   raised   the   llltli    had    morel v    broken    the 


43G  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

ground.  The  tide  of  volunteering  that  set  in  with  the 
lirst  of  August  never  ebbed  nor  abated  ;  on  the  contrary, 
it  swelled  to  an  unprecedented  extent.  The  formation 
of  a  new  regiment  appeared  to  be  scarcely  the  work  of 
a  week. 

On  Thursday,  the  Sth  of  August,  there  occurred  in 
Auburn  an  incident  of  intense  interest.  Capt.  James 
W.  Snyder,  of  Wayne  County,  had  formed  a  company  of 
infantry.  It  Avas  full,  but  the  men  kept  on  coming. 
He  took  them  all.  In  a  few  days,  he  had  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  men  under  his  command.  They  en- 
tered Auburn  in  a  train  of  about  twenty  wagons  by 
way  of  State  Street,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  day  men- 
tioned. Their  arrival  created  the  most  unparalleled 
furor.  Saluted  with  cannon,  with  flags,  and  the 
spontaneous  cheers  of  thousands  of  people  who  came 
out  to  greet  them,  they  were  conducted  through  the 
principal  streets  of  the  city  by  Lieut.  J.  ]N".  Ivnapp,  ad- 
jutant of  the  post,  and  after  the  most  triumphant  ova- 
tion ever  yet  bestowed  on  the  same  number  of  men  in 
this  place,  they  were  led  to  tlie  barracks,  and  assigned 
their  quarters.  Upon  the  spur  of  the  moment,  a  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  Wm.  II.  Seward,  Jr.,  Gen.  Se- 
goine,  ]^.  T.  Stephens,  and  a  gentleman  from  Wayne 
County,  took  the  cars  to  Albany  to  obtain  the  authori- 
ty to  raise  another  regiment.  Having  transacted  the 
business  in  just  fifteen  minutes,  they  returned  Friday 
evening  w^ith  this  order  : 


THE    KKCOKD    ('F    Tilt:    WAK.  437 

GE^•E1{AL   IlEAD-QUAinEKS,  S.  N.  Y. 

Albany,  Aug.  o,  18G2. 
Special  Orders,  JS'o.  410. 

The  Regimental  camp  established  in  the  2oth  Senatorial  Dis- 
trict is  hereby  continued,  and  a  second  Regiment  of  Infantrj'  is 
hereby  authorized  in  said  District.  General  Jesse  Scgoine,  Col- 
onel of  the  Regiment  now  quartered  there,  will  act  as  Comman- 
dant of  the  Camp. 

By  order  of  tlie  Commander-in-Chief 

Thomas  IIilliiouse,  Adj. Gen. 

Tlie  ii(tl)le  band  of  Capt.  Snyder  was  now  divided 
into  two  companies,  Ca])t.  Truman  Gregory  receiving 
command  of  the  surplus  men.  Tlie  two  companies 
became  respectively  A  and  B  of  the  new  regiment. 

The  military  committee  met  to  consider  the  subject 
of  a  ])roper  commander  for  the  newly-authorized 
corps.  The  claims  of  Wayne  County  demanding  at- 
tention, the  name  of  Joseph  Welling,  a  member  of  the 
committee  from  that  county,  was  accepted,  and  for- 
warded to  the  Governor.  Col.  Wellinoj  received  his 
commission  in  due  time.  There  were  in  Aul)urn,  on 
the  Sth,  three  hundred  men  already  for  his  command. 
Upon  the  12th  a  company  of  ninety  men  was  tele- 
graplied  from  Wayne  as  being  ready  to  start  for  Au- 
burn. V>y  the  14th,  other  comj^anies  had  reported 
sufficient  to  swell  the  number  of  recruits  to  seven  hun- 
dred, which  made  the  regiment  an  assured  success.  In 
this  city  everything  was  bustle  and  activity.  The  wards 
were  i)Uttiiig  forth  their  best  efforts,  by  means  of  c(»m- 


438  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

inittees,  to  escape  the  impending  evil.  Charles  Bur- 
gess and  others  were  making  up  companies  in  town. 
The  citizens  turned  in  and  helped.  Many  that  could 
not  give  time,  gave  money  liberally.  Generous  dona- 
tions from  wealthy  residents  enabled  the  w^ards  to  offer 
local  bounties  of  fifty  dollars  to  married,  and  thirty-five 
to  single  men.  The  time  arrived  for  the  expected  con- 
scription. But  the  authorities  were  not  ready.  It  was 
postponed  till  September  3d,  with  the  announcement 
that  the  government  was  now  desirous  of  filling  up  the 
decimated  ranks  of  the  old  regiments,  and  that  if  a 
draft  was  to  be  made,  it  would  be  made  first  of  all  for 
their  benefit. 

There  were  now  quartered  at  the  barracks  a  larger 
number  of  men  than  ever  before.  The  immense 
crowds  that  daily  visited  the  camp,  and  swarmed 
through  the  city,  and  the  impossibility  of  exercising 
the  proper  control  of  the  undisciplined  troops,  made  it 
necessary  to  call  on  the  Auburn  militia  for  assistance 
in  guarding  the  camp.  This  duty  was  performed  on 
the  night  of  the  19th  by  the  Auburn,  Willard,  and 
Shell  Guards.  The  contracted  accommodations  having 
made  a  new  building  necessary,  a  rough  wooden  bar- 
rack, with  a  capacity  of  five  hundred,  was  erected  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  case.  Boom  in  abun- 
dance was,  however,  soon  obtained. 

August  21st,  the  day  after  muster  into  the  U.  S. 
service,  the  111th  moved  from  the  camp  at  Auburn. 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAli.  439 

At  three  P.  M.,  one  tliuusand  and  twcHty-toiir  stroii*:;, 
they  marched  to  tlie  Western  E.\c]iani;*e,  o-corted  by 
tlie  Auburn  Band,  and  tlie  tliree  Aubui-n  companies 
of  the  49th,  under  Col.  llichardson.  They  were  here 
presented  witli  tlieir  colors,  purchased  at  the  expense 
of  Nelson  Beardsley  and  ]Sathan  IhuT,  thnmuh  IJon. 
C.  Morgan,  after  an  appropriate  address  and  response. 
Then,  through  clouds  of  dust  and  under  a  blazing  sun, 
they  repaired  to  the  depot,  where  the  largest  crowd 
that  had  gathered  in  Auburn  since  the  beginning  of 
the  war,  had  collected  to  witness  their  departure.  At 
live  P.  M.,  the  train  of  twenty-two  cars,  with  two 
locomotives,  moved  out  of  the  depot  amid  the  deafen- 
ing cheers  and  salutes  of  the  multitude,  carrying  on  its 
way  to  the  front  one  of  the  most  splendid  regiments 
of  Xew  York  State. 

Colonel  Welling  continued  the  Auburn  post  under  the 
name  of  Camp  Ilalleck,  of  which  J.  X.  Knapp  was  ad- 
jutant. The  major  part  of  a  regiment,  as  already 
stated,  was  already  on  hand,  and  such  success  crowned 
the  continued  eftbrts  of  his  officers,  that  by  the  2r)th  of 
August,  eighteen  days  after  the  issue  of  the  order  au- 
thorizing the  formation  of  the  corps,  ten  full  compan- 
ies had  l)een  mustered  in,  and  the  regiment  was  organ- 
ized. September  19th  it  was  mustered  into  the  P.  8. 
service,  as  the  138th  N.  Y.  Y.  Half  of  the  organization 
was  from  each  count}'.  The  officers  were  : 
Colonel,  Joseph  Wollinu^. 


44:0  HISTOUV    OF    AUBURN. 

Lieutenant- Colonel,  Wra.  H.  Seward,  Jr. 
Major,  Edward  P.  Taft. 
Adjutant,  Wra.  R.  Wassou. 
Sergeant- Major,  Lyman  C.  Comstock. 
Quartermaster,  Henry  P.  Knowles. 

LINE  OFFICERS. 

Company  yl.— Capt.  James  W.  Snyder ;  1st  Lieut.  James  H. 
Hyde  ;  2d  Lieut.  Rufus  M.  Campbell. 

Co.  i>.— Capt.  Truman  Gregory;  1st  Lieut.  Nelson  F.  Strick- 
land ;  2d  Lieut.  Wm.  E.  Greenwood. 

Co.  C.—Capt.  Loyal  W.  Aklen  ;  1st  Lieut.  Harvey  Follett ;  2d 
Lieut.  Marshal  B.  Burk. 

Co.  D. — Capt.  Charles  L.  Lyon  ;  1st  Lieut.  Anson  S.  Wood :  2d 
Lieut.  Samuel  C.  Redgrave. 

Co.  ^.— Capt.  Selah  Cornwell ;  1st  Lieut.  Seth  F.  Swift;  2d 
Lieut.  Geo.  C.  Stoyell. 

Co.  F.—Qui])t  Charles  Burgess  ;  1st  Lieut.  George  W.  Bacon  ;  2d 
Lieut.  Sullivan  B.  Lamereaux. 

Co.  6r.— Capt.  Wm.  Wood;  1st  Lieut.  Wm.  Haw  ley ;  2d  Lieut. 
Seymour  Woodward. 

Co.  /Z— Capt.  John  L.  Crane;  1st  Lieut.  Tunis  Vosburg;  2d 
Lieut.  Daniel  B.  Harmon. 

Co.  I. — Capt.  Hugh  Hughes ;  Isl  Lieut.  Orson  Howard  ;  2d  Lieut. 
Philip  R.  Freeoff. 

Co.  7i.— Capt.  Irwin  Squyer ;  1st  Lieut.  Dennis  E.  Flynn ;  2d 
Lieut.  George  P.  Krupp. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Cayuga  County  con- 
vened August  22d,  18()2,  to  consider  the  propriety 
of  offering,  in  order  to  stimulate  recruiting,  a  bounty 
to  our  voltmteers.  xV  resohition  was  reported  in  favor 
of  giving  one  hundred  dollars  to  every  man  who 
should  enlist  Ijetween  August  23d  and  September  3d, 


thp:  recoki)  of  tiik  wai:.  441 

at  which  hitter  date  tlie  draft  was  ex[>ected  tu  take 
place.  An  amendment  making  it  fifty  dolhirs  pre- 
vailed. The  county  treasurer  was  empowered  to  issue 
bonds  to  raise  the  bounty.  Auburn  then  girded  herself 
for  ''  coming  in  out  of  the  draft."  Upon  an  agreement 
signed  by  forty-two  of  the  principal  merchants  of  the 
city,  that  their  stores  should  be  closed  after  four  o'clock 
P.  M.  of  each  day,  until  the  3d,  in  order  that  tlie  undi- 
vided attention  of  all  might  be  given  to  the  business 
of  recruiting  for  the  army,  Mayor  George  Humphreys 
issued  a  ])roclamation,  August  25th,  invoking  all  good 
citizens  to  engage  in  this  movement,  and  urge  on  the 
work.  The  stores  were  therefore  closed  on  the  26th 
after  four  P.  M.,  and  for  several  days  thereafter.  En- 
thusiastic war-meetings  were  held  in  the  street,  with 
music  and  bonlires.  Platforms  Avere  erected  for  the 
speakers,  and  near  tliem  the  tents  of  recruiting  officers. 
On  the  forenoon  of  the  2Sth  a  meeting  of  tlie  busi- 
ness men  was  held,  of  which  Charles  A.  Lee  was  chair- 
man, and  AVilliam  II.  Arnett,  secretary.  The  object 
was  to  ap|K)int  ward  committees  to  facilitate  recruit- 
ing, procure  music  ibr  the  meetings,  and  rai?e  funds  to 
continue  the  bounties.  For  this  ])urpose,  there  were 
appointed  in  the  First  "Ward,  I.  L.  Scovill,  E.  B.  Par- 
melee,  and  William  II.  Arnett;  in  the  Second  Ward, 
William  P..  PJioades,  II.  J.  Sartwcll,  and  D.  Wethcrby  : 
in  tlie  Third,  Xelson  Fitch,  S.  Lockwood,  and  E.  P>. 
Cobb  :  and  in  the  Foui-th,  IF.  r>ro(>ks,  John  Elliot,  and 


442  HISTORV    OF    AUBURN. 

11  A.  Tuttle ;  who  were  solicited  to  act  at  once  and 
decisively. 

The  same  day  a  full  company  of  one  hnndred  and 
one  men  was  reported  from  Wayne  County  by  tele- 
graph as  awaiting   transportation. 

The  war  committee,  having  resolved  to  raise 
another  regiment  that  this  district  might  escape  the 
draft,  met  at  Port  Byron,  and  elected  Captain  Charles 
C.  Dwight  of  the  75th,  then  at  New  Orleans,  Colonel 
of  the  new  command.  J.  B.  Yan  Petten,  of  Wayne 
County,  Chaplain  of  the  34th,  was  chosen  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  and  William  11.  Sentell,  of  the  44th,  Ellsworth 
Pegiment,  Major. 

The  harmony  of  the  action  which  had  characterized 
the  former  meetings  of  the  w^ar  committee  was  dis- 
turbed at  this  by  party  rivalry,  insomuch  that,  on  the 
30th,  the  chairman,  William  C.  Beardsley,  forwarded  to 
Governor  Morgan  his  resignation.  Upon  the  2d,  the 
reply  came :  "  The  Governor  regrets  that  any  cir- 
cumstance should  have  arisen  to  mar  the  harmony 
existing  in  an  organization  which  has  rendered  so  im- 
portant service  to  the  country,  and  cannot  accept  your 
resignation.  Y^our  services  cannot  he  dispensed  loith 
at  present.''^  Through  the  urgent  solici  tation  of  friends, 
Mr.  Beardsley  was  persuaded  to  remain  in  the  position 
of  chairman  of  the  war  committee. 

War  meetings  were  now  daily  held  in  this  city,  with 
unfailing    enthusiasm   tor   the   Union.      Enlistments, 


THE    R?:CORD    OF    THE    AVAK.  443 

however,  were  not  excessive.  A  great  meeting  wa:> 
held  at  the  park  on  Snnday,  the  31st,  at  wliich  Rev.  Dr. 
Hawlej,  Herrick  Jolnison,  and  Eev.  ]>.  I.  Ives,  made 
macrniiicent  addresses.  When  the  dav  had  arrived  for 
the  draft,  Cayuga  Conn ty  had  raised,  since  the  July 
call,  over  fonrteen  hundred  men.  Three  Inmdred  more 
would  fill  her  quota.  To  obtain  these,  the  supervisoi*s 
met  and  increased  the  county  bounty  to  one  hundred 
dollars.  Colonel  Dwight  had  already  four  companies 
mustered  into  his  regiment.  But  these  were  from 
Wayne  County.  Cayuga  seemed  drained  and  the 
draft  was  impending.  The  war  committee  now  made 
a  final  thrilling  appeal. 

ONCE  MORE  TO  THE  BREACH. 

LAST  APPEAL  OF  THE  WAR  COMMITTEE. 

PATRIOTS  OF  WAYNE  AND  CAYUGA. 

Only  a  few  clnjs  remain  to  complete  the  work  so  (jloriovshj  com- 
menced. 

i'ou  have  nobly  responded  to  the  call  of  our  bleeding  and  out. 
raged  country.  Already,  within  a  few  weeks,  more  than  two 
thousand  of  your  citizens  have  left  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  indus- 
try, and  have  volunteered  to  beat  back  the  traitor  hordes  that  as- 
sail our  national  life.  More  must  join  tbem.  The  crisis  is 
UPON  us !  The  national  peril  is  imminent.  If  you  would  save 
our  country  from  further  desolation,  and  from  ultimate  ruin — if 
you  would  preserve  the  priceless  boon  of  freedom  for  yourselves 
and  for  your  descendants,  if  you  would  save  the  lives  of  the  noble 
men  already  in  the  field,  if  you  would  put  a  speedy  close  to  the 
inexpressible  horrors  of  civil  strife,  and  again  enjoy  the  pros- 
perity and  all  the  blessings  of  peace,  order,  and  good  govfrnment. 


444  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

rusb,  rush  to  the  aid  of  our  imperiled  cguutry  !  Let  not  an  hour 
be  lost !  FILL  YOUR  QUOTAS  AT  ONCE !  And  even  then  do  not 
falter  in  your  patriotic  labors.  Add  to  your  quotas,  and  thus  in- 
crease the  honor  of  your  community.  He  who  does  most  in  a 
crisis  like  the  present,  best  attests  his  patriotism  and  love  of 
country.  The  national  necessities  admit  of  no  delay.  The  auda- 
cious insurgents  will  acknowledge  none  other  than  the  stern  logic 
of  POWER ;  and  they  must  be  made  to  feel  its  irresistible  force. 

There  is  now  no  middle  ground.  We  must  triumph  or  become 
the  vassals  of  a  most  violent  and  unrelenting  despotism.  We 
must  subdue  the  insurgents,  and  force  them  to  observe  the  Consti- 
tution and  Laws  of  the  country,  or  drive  them  from  the  soil  which 
has  too  long  been  polluted  with  their  traitor  feet.  The  sturdy 
Northmen  are  fully  aroused.  They  come  forth  in  their  resolute 
might  to  assert  their  love  of  free  government,  and  to  defend  it 
from  the  assaults  of  either  internal  or  external  foes.  Will  Cayuga 
or  Wayne  falter  in  the  noble  work  ?  Shall  a  single  conscript 
from  these  counties  stand  beside  the  patriot  volunteers  already  in 
the  field  ?  We,  in  their  behalf,  emphatically  answer,  never  ! 
Patriots  of  Wayne  and  Cayuga,  "  once  more  to  the  breach,"  and 
put  forth  one  more  vigorous  and  overwhelming  effort  to  rescue 
the  great  cause  of  all  from  the  dangers  impending. 

"  Wm.  C.  Beardsley,  Chairman. 
AVjl  H.  Seward,  Jr.,  Sec." 

Hopeful  signs  of  activity  beiiui;  elicited  bv  this  ap- 
peal, the  draft  was  again  postponed. 

The  13Sth  broke  camp,  and  quietly  departed  for  the 
front  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  September  12th,  by 
special  train.  Having  been  summoned  to  march  in 
haste,  they  passed  through  the  city  at  an  hour  when 
the  streets  were  comparatively  empty,   and,   embark- 


THE    KKCORl)    OF    THE    WAR.  445 

ini;-,  were  off  l)efoie  tlie   citizoHS  were  ^eHemlly   ap- 
jn'ised  of  the  inovenient. 

Colonel  Dwiglit's  regiment,  now  known  as  the  160th, 
increased  l\y  slow  degrees.  That  officer  arrived  in 
Aubnrn  from  tlie  Sonth  upon  the  evening  of  October 
20th,  and  was  met  at  tlie  de])ot  by  the  battalion,  nnder 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Van  Tetten,  and  by  a  large  crowd 
of  citizens.  Introduced  for  the  lirst  time  to  liis  com- 
mand, he  was  received  with  rousing  cheers,  and  re- 
plied to  them  in  a  few  happy  remarks.  The  following 
day,  he  took  command  of  the  barracks,  noAv  bearing 
the  name  o{  Cfarap  Wayne.  By  the  2Sth  the  quota  of 
Auburn  was  full,  and  recruiting  virtually  ceased  in 
this  place. 

The  colors  of  the  ICOth  were  presented  to  that  regi- 
ment November  11th,  through  Adjutant  J.  K.  Knapp, 
who  made  the  presentation  speech.  On  the  ISth,  at 
four  P.  M.,  having  been  enlarged  by  the  accession  of 
two  companies  from  Buffalo,  the  160th,  eight  hun- 
dred strong,  left  Auburn  upon  the  cars  for  New  York, 
amid  the  salutations  of  an  immense  throng  of  people. 
It  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for 
three  years,  at  New  York,  November  21st,  1862.  The 
organization  w^as  as  follows  : 

dolond,  Charles  C.  Dwight. 

Lieuterumt- Colonel^  John  B.  Vau  Pcttcn. 

Mijor,  Wm.  11.  Sentell. 

Adjutant,  Gorton  W.  Allen. 

Surgeon,  Cyms  Powers. 


446  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  David  W.  Armstroug. 
Chaplain,  Wm.  Putman. 
Quartermaster y  Dighton  H.  Winans. 

LINE   OFPICEES. 

Company  J..— Capt.  Wm.  Potter ;  1st  Lieut.  Wm.  J.  Van  Deusen  ; 
■2d  Lieut.  James  B.  Vaughn. 

Co.  5.— Capt.  H.  P.  Underbill ;  1st  Lieut.  L.  L.  Whcelock  ;  2d 
Lieut.  James  Kelle5^ 

Co.  (7.— Capt.  B.  R.  Rogers ;  1st  Lieut.  Robert  B.  Ennis ;  2d 
Lieut.  James  V.  D.  Westfall. 

Co.  Z).— Capt.  J.  D.  Burrerd  ;  1st  Lieut.  Myron  H.  Shirts ;  2d 
Lieut.  E.  H.  Sentell. 

Co.  E. — Capt.  Henry  Moore  ;  1st  Lieut.  James  Gray ;  2d  Lieut. 
Nicholas  McDonough. 

Co.  F. — Capt.  Josiah  C.  Jewett ;  1st  Lieut.  Gideon  F.  Moorey  ; 
2d  Lieut.  Edwin  Kirby. 

Co.  G^.— Capt.  Malcolm  AVright;  1st  Lieut.  Horace  Silsby ;  2d 
Lieut.  A.  S.  Stillman. 

Co.  II. — Capt.  Daniel  S.  Vaughan;  1st  Lieut.  Charles  R.  Cattord; 
2d  Lieut.  Miles  I.  Jones. 

Co.  I. — Capt.  Allen  L.  Burr  ;  1st  Lieut.  Sir  Newton  Dexter  ;  2d 
Lieut.  Robert  R.  Seelej^ 

Co.  K. — Capt.  Lewis  B.  Hunt ;  1st  Lieut.  George  L.  Merrill ;  2d 
Lieut.  John  H,  Shaver. 

Tlie  barracks  were  left  in  charge  of  Brig. -Gen.  John 
li.  Chedell,  who  assumed  command  November  11th. 
He  was  relieved  on  the  1st  of  December  by  Major 
T^orthrop,  of  the  97th  N.  Y.  S.  Yolunteers.  Adjutant 
Knapp  retired  from  the  service  soon  afterward,  hav- 
ing borne  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  three  regiments.  Eecruiting  ended  in  the 
25th  Senatorial  district  for  1862. 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  -i-l-T 

The  honorable  achievements  of  this  year  will  ever 
remain  the  boast  of  our  citizens  and  the  pride  of  the 
members  of  the  war  committee.  The  unexampled  fi- 
delity and  unwearied  efforts  of  the  latter  saved  the 
listrict  from  conscription,  and  gave  to  the  country 
three  noble  regiments  of  loyal  volunteers.  To  Mr. 
Eeardsley,  the  chairman  of  the  connnittee,  the  utmost 
honor  is  due.  With  a  fearless  disregard  of  all  party  con- 
siderations, he  threw  himself  into  the  front  rank  of  the 
active  war  men  of  the  county,  and  labored  assiduously 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  He  assumed  the 
clerical  work  of  the  committee,  which  was  immense, 
and  gave  his  private  clerks  continual  employment  for 
months.  Through  him  officially  -were  all  recommen- 
dations for  commissions  made,  while  to  him  personally 
did  many  a  brave  officer  and  soldier  incur  a  lieavy 
debt  of  gratitude  for  substantial  aid  both  before  and 
after  departure  for  the  armj-.  For  his  invaluable  ser- 
vices he  was  once  publicl}^  thanked  by  Secretary  Sew- 
ard. 

The  w^ar  committee  was  discharged  early  in  1863  by 
Gov.  Horatio  Seymour.  A  smaller  committee  was 
subsequently  ap})ointed  by  him,  composed  of  William 
C.  Beardsley,  Elmore  P.  Ross,  and  Benjamin  J>. 
Snow. 

The  Loyal  National  League  or  Union  League  of  Au- 
burn, was  formed  at  a  public  meeting  of  the  loyal 
citizens  of  the  city,  held  at  the  court-house  March  l2r)th, 


448  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

1863,  as  one  of  a  system  of  organizations  in  all  the 
Northern  States,  for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  and 
encouraging  Union  men  in  the  work  of  crushing  the 
rebellion.  It  was  required  that  every  member  should 
sign  the  following  pledge:  '*  We,  the  undersigned, 
citizens  of  the  United  States,  hereby  associate  our- 
selves under  the  name  and  title  of  the  Loyal  National 
League.  We  pledge  ourselves  to  an  unconditional 
loyalty  to  the  government  of  the  United  States,  to  an 
unwavering  support  of  its  efforts  to  suppress  the  re- 
bellion ;  and  to  spare  no  endeavor  to  maintain  unim- 
paired the  national  unity,  both  in  principle  and  in  terri- 
torial boundary.  The  primary  object  of  this  league 
is  and  shall  be  to  bind  together  all  loyal  men,  of  all 
trades  and  professions,  in  a  common  union  to  main- 
tain the  power,  glory,  and  integrity  of  the  Union."  The 
first  permanent  organization  of  the  league  was  as 
follows :  Cyrus  C.  Dennis,  president ;  N.  D.  Car- 
hart  and  George  W.  Leonard,  vice-presidents,  1st 
Ward ;  Jonas  White,  Jr.,  and  John  S.  Fowler,  vice- 
presidents,  2d  Ward  ;  C.  G.  Briggs  and  William  C. 
Barber,  vice-presidents,  3rd  Ward ;  Eli  Gallup  and 
C.  Eugene  Barber,  vice-presidents,  4th  Ward ;  J.  N. 
Knapp,  corresponding  secretary;  and  William  H. 
Meaker,  recording  secretary. 

Laws,  providing  for  the  enrolment  of  all  the  males 
of  the  republic,  by  Congressional  Districts,  into  a  na- 
tional militia,  under  the  supervision,  and  by  means  of 


THE   EECORD   OF   THE    WAK.  449 

boards,    cuiiiposed  of  a   provost   marshal,    a   cuinniis- 
sioner  of  enrolment,  and  an  examining  surgeon,  npon 
which  the  President  might  draw  from  time  to  time, 
liaving  first  given  fifty  days  notice,  for  material  to  fill 
tlie  Federal  armies,  were  passed  hy  Congress   in   the 
spring  of  1S63.     In  accordance  with   which  John   X. 
Knaj^p,  of  Anbnrn,  was  a])pointed  in  April,  1SG3,  pro- 
vost marshal  of  the  24th  Congressional  District  of  Xew 
York,  comprising  the  counties  of  Cayuga,  Seneca,  and 
AYayne;  James  M.  Servis,  of  Wayne  County,  commis- 
sioner ;  and  Dr.  Davis,  uf  Seneca  Falls,  surgeon.  An  en- 
rolment of  Cayuga  and  Wayne  Counties,  that  had  been 
efiected  dui-ing  the  fall  of  1S62,  under  Colonel  John 
M.  Sherwood,  commissioner,  and  Edward  Hall,  M.  D., 
examining  surgeon,  was  now  revised,  and  carried  on 
through  the    entire  district,  by  the  newly  appointed 
Board. 

Returns  at  the  ofiice  of  the  Provost  Marshal  Gene- 
ral, in  May,  indicated  that  the  number  of  the  available 
aghting  men  of  the  nation,  between  the  ages  of  twenty 
and  forty-five,  was  3,500,000.  Upon  this  magnificent 
body  of  reserves,  a  draft  was  ordered,  to  take  place  in 
July,  the  call  being  intended  to  supply  the  places  of 
a  large  number  of  the  two  years  veterans,  whose  terms 
of  service  were  about  to  expire. 

While  the  enrolment  was  progressing,  the  tran(|uil- 
ity  that  then  pervaded  Auburn,  as  in  times  of  peace,, 
was  one  day  broken  by  the  sudden  ai-rival  from  the 
27 


450  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

seat    of  war  of  four   hundred    and    tliirtj   swarthy, 
weather-beaten  soldiers  of  the  old   19th,  under  Cap- 
tains   Wall  and   Gavigan,    and  Lieutenants     Fuller, 
Sherwood,     Tomlinson,     Potter,     Randolph,     Bojle,      | 
Brannick,  Dwyer,  J.  Fred.  Dennis,  and  others,  bearing 
a  familiar,  but  now  tattered  flag,  to  be  mustered  out  of 
the  service.     The  citizens,  not  being  apprised  of  their 
approach  till  too  late,  w^ere  unable  to  greet  them  in  a 
manner  suited  to  their  wishes.     The  storm  of  cheers, 
and  demonstrations  of  joy,  however,  that  arose  from 
the  assemblage  of  citizens   and  military  and  fire  com- 
panies at  the  depot,  and  the  eloquent  and  heartfelt 
address  in  their  behalf,  by  J.  'N.  Knapp,  at  the  AVestern 
Exchange,  must  have  convinced  the  returning  volun- 
teers  that  they  were  welcome.      They  arrived  May 
26th.     On   the  29th,  the  regiment  paraded  and  was 
addressed  in  front  of  the  court-house,  with  a  glowing 
speech  from  Hon.  William  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of 
State.     The  men  were  paid  off   at  the    court-house, 
and  mustered  out  June  6th. 

Matters  at  the  provost  marshal's  office  being  in 
readiness,  on  the  23d  of  July,  about  three  weeks  after 
the  splendid  victories  at  Yicksbnrg  and  Gettysburg, 
a  draft  for  the  quota  of  the  24th  district  was  com- 
menced at  the  court-house.  The  famous  riot  was  at 
the  time  raging  in  I^ew  York  city.  Forcible  resist- 
ance,  and  the  mobbing  of  the  provost  marshal's  office 
having  been  threatened  here,  by  certain  irresponsible 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  451 

parties,  in  case  a  draft  should  be  enforced,  the  citizens 
were  impelled  by  prudence  to  i)lace  the  arniurv  under 
guard,  and  to  organize  a  special  police  force  of  t\V(» 
hundred  men,  and  the  old  19th  was  invited  by  the 
common  council  to  remain  in  Auburn  till  the  draft 
was  over.  These  precautions,  fortunately,  ])r()ved  t-. 
be  needless.  The  draft  was  carried  on  for  tln-ee  davs, 
without  disturbance.  So  groundless,  indeed,  were  the 
fears  of  an  insurrection,  in  this  loyal  and  order-lovinir 
city,  that  the  conscription  was  received  l)v  the  elect 
with  the  most  unsliaken  good  humor.  And,  on  the 
evening  of  Thursday,  the  23d,  they  formed  a  procession, 
numbering  about  two  thousand,  with  banners  and 
transparencies,  and  paraded  the  principal  streets,  with 
cheers  for  the  government,  and  "  the  man  that  drafted 
them." 

The  sutlering  condition  of  numerous  families  of  vol- 
unteers in  this  city,  and  the  likelihood  that  the  draft 
would  cause  distress  to  others,  were  pressed,  during  the 
summer  of  1863,  upon  public  notice.  The  Citizen.-' 
Volunteer  Fund  being  exhausted,  the  connnon  coun- 
cil was  led  to  create  another  for  the  same  object.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  board,  August  3d,  1SG3,  Alderman 
John  S.  Fowler  introduced  the  following  preaml>le  and 
resolutions : 

WiiEKEAS,  In  the  operation  of  the  act  of  Coni,^ress,  passed  Marcli 
VA,  1863,  commonly  known  as  the  Conscript  Act,  there  are  fami- 
lies in  this  citj'  likely  to  he  left  witliout  the  necessary  means  of 


452  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN . 

support,  as  are  also  some  families  of  volunteers  now  in  the  mili- 
tary service  of  the  United  States  ;  therefore, 

"  Benoked,  That  this  Board  hereby  appropriates  the  sum  of  five 
thousand  dollars  and  such  other  sums  as  may  from  time  to  time 
be  deemed  necessary  to  aid  in  the  support  of  families  whose  mem- 
bers have  volunteered,  and  are  now  in  military  service,  or  may 
hereafter  be  drafted  into  such  service  from  this  city  ;  the  moneys 
so  appropriated  to  constitute  a  separate  fund  to  be  known  as  the 
Soldiers'  Relief  Fund,  in  accordance  with  Chapter  514,  laws  of 
1863,  of  the  State  of  New  York." 

Tlie  fund  created  by  this  resolution  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  Thomas  Douglass,  city  treasurer,  who 
disbursed  the  whole  of  it  to  the^^needy,  during  the  en- 
suing winter  and  summer.  It  may  be  remarked  that 
five  thousand  dollars  was  added  to  this  fund  by  an  or- 
der of  the  common  council,  dated  August  16th,  1864, 
and  six  hundred  more  on  a  later  occasion. 

The  examination  of  conscripts  took  place  at  Corning 
Hall.  The  men  came  in  from  every  part  of  the  dis- 
trict, in  companies,  with  wagons,  and  often  with  ban- 
ners and  bands  of  music. 

The  avails  of  this  draft  was  commutation  money, 
however,  instead  of  soldiers.  A  provision  of  the  law 
of  Congress  had  secured  to  drafted  men  the  privilege  of 
exemption,  on  the  payment  of  three  hundred  dollars  to 
the  government.  Four  hundred  and  fifty  men  only  were 
sent  to  tlie  front  by  the  provost  marshal  under  this  draft. 

The  same  failure  to  obtain  the  required  number  of 
men  occurred  in  the  country  at  large. 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  4-53 

A  call  was  therefore  made  by  the  President,  October 
17th,  1863,  for  300,000  men,  and  the  Governor  of 
New  York  was  informed  tliat  this  State  was  expected 
to  put  in  the  iield,  by  January  4th,  its  quota  of  108,058 
soldiers.  The  quota  of  this  county  was  soon  after  an- 
nounced to  be  seven  hundred  and  sixteen  men ;  that 
of  the  city,  one  hundred  and  fifty-four. 

Our  supervisoi's,  havino;  received  assurances  from 
Washington,  that  if  tliis  county  tilled  its  quota  by  vol- 
unteering, no  draft  would  be  made  upon  its  citizens  to 
till  the  quota  of  other  counties,  passed  a  resolution  re- 
questing the  various  towns  to  hold  special  town  meet- 
ings on  the  12th,  and  vote  upon  the  propriety  of  pay- 
ing a  bounty  of  three  hundred  dollars  to  volunteers 
imder  the  last  call,  the  bounties  to  be  a  county  charge. 

Forty-nine  hundred  votes  were  cast  on  the  day  ap- 
pointed, two  hundred  and  forty  only  of  which  were  oj)- 
posed  to  the  measure.  The  supervisors,  therefore,  on 
the  IGtli  of  December,  1863,  authorized  the  payment, 
to  recruits  enlisting  to  the  credit  of  this  county,  of  a 
bounty  of  three  hundred  dollars.  Horace  T.  Cook, 
county  treasurer,  was  empowered  to  issue  bonds,  to  be 
paid  in  one  or  two  years,  to  the  amount  of  $220,000, 
in  order  to  raise  the  required  funds. 

Recruiting  under  Governor  Seymour's  war  commit- 
tee was  carried  on  by  agents,  who  were  i)aid  the  sum 
of  twenty-five   dollars   for   every  accepted  volunteer. 

Four  of  these  agents  were  appointed  b}-  this  county, 


464  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

Tianiely :  Ca[)tain  John  II.  Ammon,  Captain  William 
B.  Klioades,  Lieutenant  Martin  Lauglilin,  and  Sylves- 
ter Schenck.  These  gentlemen  labored  hard,  and,  in 
a  week's  time,  recruits  began  to  be  received  at  the  rate 
of  sixty  or  seventy  each  day.  No  new  organizations 
were  formed,  the  men  all  going  into  the  old  regiments 
of  the  county  and  vicinity.  All  enlistments  were 
made  through  the  office  of  the  provost  marshal,  and 
such  was  the  jam  at  this  point  through  December  and 
January,  that  a  guard  of  veterans  was  detailed  tS  pre- 
serve order.  About  the  10th  of  January,  after  a  month 
of  incessant  labor,  the  26th  district  had  filled  its  quota. 

On  the  first  of  February,  1864,  the  nation  was 
called  upon  to  furnish  200,000  men,  in  addition  to  the 
last  levy  of  300,000.  The  quota  of  Auburn  was  one 
hundred  and  five ;  that  of  the  county,  four  hundred 
and  ninety-three.  The  recruiting  agents  worked  vig- 
orously, and  the  quotas  were  all  raised  by  volunteering, 
in  twenty  days. 

The  enlistment  of  recruits  to  represent  individuals 
not  liable  to  draft  was  the  popular  passion  in  the  early 
part  of  1864.  It  was  one  of  the  many  devices  used  to 
swell  the  army  with  good  men. 

The  c(»mmand  of  the  camp  at  Auburn  was  transfer- 
red in  February,  1864,  to  Major  Henry  Y.  Colt,  104th 
N.  Y.  Y. 

The  powers  conferred  upon  the  President  of  the 
United  States  by  the  conscription  law  were  twice  re- 


THE    KECORD    OF    THE    AVAR.  455 

sorted   to  in  ISG-l.     In  the  lirst  instance,  a   call  was 
made  July  IStli,  for  500,000  one  year's  men,  to  be  im- 
mediately raised,  if  possible  by  volunteering,  but  by  a 
draft  at  the  expiration  of  the  lifty  days  allowed  by  law^ 
if  the  soldiers  were  not  otherwise  obtained.     The  quota 
of  the  21th  district  w^as  twenty-six  hundred  and  thirty  ; 
of  the  county,  it  was  eleven  hundred  and  seventy-four. 
Recognizing  the  importance  of  a  prompt  response  to- 
the  appeals  for  troops  at  that  eventful  period  of  the 
war,  the  w^ards  of  this  city  with  great  decision  deter- 
mined to  raise  the  handful  of  men  assigned  to  them  at 
once.     Each  ward  took  substantially  the  same  course. 
The  Board  of  Supervisors  having,  at  the  motion  of 
William  J.  Moses,  agreed  to  grant  a  bounty  of  three 
hundred  dollars  to  every  able-bodied  recruit,  the  wards 
held  public  meetings,  and  appointed  Avar  committees, 
which  they  authorized  to  raise  money,  enlist  soldiers, 
and  perform  all  duties  incident  to  the  business  of  till- 
ing the  quotas.     The  active  men  of  these  committees 
were,  in  the  First  Ward,  John  M.  Ilurd,  Emory  Os- 
borne, William  Lamey,  and  Henry  Lewis  ;  in  the  Sec- 
ond, Benjamin  B.  Snow,   Hichard  C.  Steel,  William 
B.  Woodin,  E.  II.  Avery,  John  S.  Fowler,  and  William 
P.  Robinson  ;  in  the  Third,  Elbridge  G.  Miles,  William 
E.  Ilughitt,  William  J.  Moses,  John  Clioate,  John  S. 
Brown,  Orlando  Lewis,  E.  A.  Thomas,   Rollin  Tracy, 
and  Charles  F.  Durston  ;  and,  in  the  Fourth,  Myron 
Cowel,  Truman  Cowel,  and  Chester  Weir. 


456  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKX. 

On  the  IGtli  of  Augnstj  the  common  coimcil  author- 
ized the  general  haw  of  Fel)ruary  9th,  1864,  of  two 
hundred  dollars  to  every  soldier  enlisting  to  the  credit  of 
the  city.  On  the  19th,  the  supervisors  again  convened 
and  raised  the  county  bounties  to  $600  for  one  year 
men,  $650  for  two  years  men,  and  $700  for  three  years 
men.  The  action  of  the  city  bounty  ordinance  was 
then  suspended  by  Mayor  C.  G.  Briggs.  That  ordi- 
nance was  soon  afterward  revoked,  and  in  lieu  thereof 
anotlier  was  passed  authorizing  the  payment  to  the  cit}' 
volunteers,  after  the  wards  should  have  enlisted  fifty  per 
cent,  of  their  quotas,  oi*  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars. 

The  Ward  Committees,  upon  whose  activity  de- 
pended the  question  of  conscription  in  Auburn,  were 
now  at  work.  Recruiting  cabins  were  built  at  various 
places  in  the  streets,  committee-men  attended  with 
drums  and  flags,  war-meetings  w^ere  held  at  the  court- 
house and  in  the  streets,  huge  placards  met  the  eye  at 
every  turn,  bon-fires  illumined  the  town  at  night,  and 
finance  committees  ransacked  the  place  for  subscribers 
to  the  bounty  funds.  The  town,  also,  was  full  of  recruit 
brokers,  wdio  furnished  volunteers  or  substitutes  at 
prices  ranging  from  seven  to  twelve  luindred  dollars. 

The  yield  of  soldiers  was  large.  They  came  to  Au- 
burn from  all  the  neighboring  towns,  many  of  them 
from  the  work-shops  of  Seneca  Falls.  The  First  Ward 
of  this  city  did  handsomely,  furnishing  from  its  own  in- 


THE    KECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  457 

habitants  fifty  fine  fellows  for  a  company  then  being 
raised  by  Captain  Kussell.  The  Second  Ward  was  out 
of  the  draft  by  August  25th,  and  the  Third,  in  nine 
days  from  the  time  it  commenced  ^vork.  The  fitly 
days  allowed  for  volunteering  elapsed  September  5th, 
but  there  was  no  conscription  in  the  25th  district.  It 
had  then  nearly  filled  its  quota.  By  tlie  lOtli  it  had 
entirely. 

The  second  call  of  1864,  made  December  I'Jtli,  was 
the  last  of  the  war.  300,000  men  were  wanted,  but 
the  hearts  of  our  war  men  sank  when  they  heard  the 
call.  Auburn  was  in  feeling  and  in  fact  well  drained. 
^ot  only  had  our  citizens  expended  in  cash,  for  ward 
bounties  under  the  July  call,  the  sum  of  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars,  but  the  city  had  incurred  a  liability  of 
twenty-five  thousand  and  twenty-five  dollars  for  city 
bounties,  and  a  debt  of  about  ninety  thousand  dollars 
for  county  bounties.  And  such  was  the  terrible  na- 
ture of  the  struggle  in  the  field,  that  an  enthusiastic 
volunteer  was  not  to  be  found. 

Slowly  and  wearily  did  recruiting  again  begin  in 
Auburn,  under  the  direction  of  ward  committees,  cho- 
sen as  follows :  First  Ward,  John  M.  Ilurd,  William 
Lamey,  and  E.  C.  Selover;  Second  Ward,  Eichard  C. 
Steel,  E.  II.  Avery,  Albert  II.  Goss,  Benjamin  B. 
Snow,  William  11  Woodin,  and  John  S.  Fowler  ;  Third 
Ward,  John  Choate,  Charles  A.  Myers,  John  S.  Brown, 
E.  G.  Miles,  Kollin  Traev,  Enos  r>ostwick,  Josiah  Fieru, 


458  inSTOKY  OF  aubukn. 

Charles  Wellner,  William  J.  Moses,  and  William  H, 
Stevenson ;  Fourth  Ward,  Myron  Cowel,  and  Chester 
Weir. 

Five  new  infantry  regiments  were  ordered  to  be 
raised  in  this  State,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  B.  Van 
Petten,  of  the  160th,  was  detached  to  recruit  one  at 
the  Anburn  post. 

The  supervisors  oftered  a  bounty  to  three  years  vol- 
unteers, on  the  18th  of  January,  1865,  of  live  hundred 
dollars,  and  the  city  authorities,  a  premium  of  one  hun- 
dred dollars  hand  money.  The  county  bounty  w^as 
changed,  on  the  16th  of  February,  to  $300  for  one  year 
men,  $400  for  two,  and  $600  for  three  years  men  ;  and 
$250  were  voted  for  drafted  men. 

The  city  committees  labored  incessantly,  and  at  the 
greatest  sacrifice  of  time  and  means,  to  save  Auburn 
from  the  draft.  Though  the  men  they  furnished  were 
in  only  too  many  instances  mere  mercenaries,  who 
were  after  the  bounties  and  that  alone,  they  did  the 
best  they  could  under  the  circumstances,  and  are  enti- 
tled to  the  lasting  esteem  and  gratitude  of  the  people 
of  Auburn. 

The  office  of  the  provost  marshal  of  the  24th  dis- 
trict of  New  York  was  transferred  January  1st,  1865, 
upon  the  resignation  of  Captain  John  l!^.  Knapp,  to 
Captain  Benjamin  B.  Snow.  The  headquarters  then 
occupied  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  stories  of  the 
two  buildinojs  at  the  west  end  of  the  Exchange  block, 


THE    RECOKD    OF    THE    WAR.  459 

Oil  Genesee  Street.  Volunteering  continued  at  this 
office  through  the  months  of  January  and  February, 
lagging  at  times,  and  at  others  accelerated  by  dread  of 
the  draft,  or  by  reports  of  the  successes  of  the  armies 
in  the  field.  The  193d  regiment,  forming  at  the  Au- 
burn post,  received  the  largest  proportion  of  those  en- 
listing here.  Many  of  the  privates  of  this  command 
were  genuine  patriots.  More  were  not,  and,  l)y  the 
1st  of  March,  were  deserting  from  the  camp  in  the 
night,  in  squads  of  thirty  and  forty  at  a  time. 

The  24th  district,  this  time,  did  not  get  out  of  the 
draft.  In  Auburn,  three  wards  were  doing  splendid- 
ly, but  the  fourth,  scarce  anything.  Several  country 
towns  were  wofully  behind.  Captain  Snow,  there- 
fore, could  no  longer  delay  the  conscription.  The 
second  draft  in  Cayuga  County  began  at  the  court- 
house in  Auburn,  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.,  of  March  15th, 
1865.  Luckless  Owasco,  chosen  by  lot  from  the  deii- 
cient  towns,  was  drawn  from  first,  and  Sodus  next. 
In  due  time,  a  draft  was  also  made  from  the  fourth 
ward  of  Auburn.  This  business  was  carried  on  with 
occasional  interruptions,  for  about  ten  days — two  or 
tliree  hours  being  drawn  from  each  day.  Whenever 
recruiting  was  sufiiciently  brisk  to  keep  the  employes 
of  the  provost  marshal's  oftice  busy,  drafting  was  dis- 
continued ;  when  it  lagged,  drafting  was  resumed. 
Conscripts  began  to  report  at  headquarters  the  last  of 
March.     Such  as  were  accepted  received  a  sliort  fur- 


460  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 

lough,  to  enable  them  to  wind  np  their  affairs  prepara- 
tory to  a  march  to  the  front.  The  men  thus  obtained 
were  a  splendid  material  for  the  armies.  Sound, 
hearty  farmers  and  mechanics,  they  accepted  their  fate, 
when  once  determined,  with  pleasant  faces  and  reso- 
lute hearts,  and,  donning  uniforms,  went  cheerfully 
forward  to  take  up  arms  for  the  government.  Squads 
of  from  twenty  to  forty  at  a  time  left  Auburn  for 
Elmira,  till  several  hundred  had  been  credited  to  the 
24:th  district. 

Upon  the  second  of  April,  volunteering  received  a 
powerful  impulse,  from  the  news  of  the  fall  of  Kich- 
mond.  Within  a  few  days  thereafter  the  193d 
regiment,  still  in  camp  here,  had  more  than  a  thousand 
men  on  the  rolls,  some  being  received  from  Oswego 
and  other  places,  and  was  fully  organized  with  the 
following  officers : 

Colonel,  J.  B.  Van  Petten. 
Lieut- Col,"  John  C.  Gilmore.,' 
Major,  Alford  Morton. 
Adjutant,  Thurlow  B.  Wasson. 
Quartermaster,  Charles  H.  Bailey. 
Surgeon,  David  H.  Armstrong. 
CMplain,  W.  Dempster  Chase. 

Captains : — John  Jones,  Edwin  C.  Knapp,  William  H.  Porter, 
Archibald  H.  Preston,  Joel  Reed,  James  H.  Hitchcock,  Sidney  W. 
Ainsworth,  Orin  D.  Staplin,  Wm.  Jj.  Yeckley,  and  Wm.  H. 
Harris.] 

Under  the  stimulus   imparted  to  volunteering    by 


THE    KKCORD    OF    THE    WAK.  461 

the  brilliant  successes  of  the  Federal  armies  in  Vir- 
ginia, two  of  the  wards  of  tlie  city  quickly  filled 
their  <|Uotas,  and  the  others  were  doing  splendidly, 
when,  on  the  14th  of  April,  four  years  exactly  from 
the  day  that  the  tidings  of  the  evacuation  of  Fort 
Sumter  reached  Auburn,  the  following  order  was 
borne  over  the  telegraph  wires  : 

Elmira,  April  14,  1865. 
Capt.  Benjamin  B.  Snow, 

Pro.  Mar.,  24tli  Dist.,  N.  Y. 

Discontinue  drafting  and  recruiting  till  farther  orders. 

S.  B.  Ha\'3ian,  a.  a.  p.  M.  Gen.,  W.  D.  N.  Y. 

The  fact  was  announced  upon  the  street,  and  filled 
the  city  with  powerful  excitement.  A  few  volunteers 
were  in  the  act  of  signing  enlistment  papers,  in  the 
mustering  room  of  the  provost  marshal's  olfice.  These 
were  instantly  shown  down  into  the  street,  and  the 
office  closed  against  further  applications.  The  bounty 
brokers  and  recruiting  agents  indulged  in  expressions 
ot  the  wildest  joy,  rushing  here  and  there,  and 
tearing  down  their  signs  and  placards,  amidst  the 
shouts  of  the  populace.  The  drafted  men,  honest 
fellows,  many  of  them  already  w^earing  the  army  blue, 
being  fully  prepared  to  go  to  the  front,  were  the  only 
ones  who  w^ere  discontented  by  the  changed  as])ect  of 
affairs.  They,  indeed,  could  scarcely  conceal  their 
disappointment. 

This  was  the  close  of  tlie  war  in  Auburn.     An  order 


462  HISTORY  OF  aubukn. 

arrived   on  the   25th,    directing   the  discharge  of  all 
conscripts    not    forwarded     to    general     rendezvous. 

Thenceforward,  nothing  remained  to  be  done  at  the 
office  of  the  provost  marshal,  but  to  prepare  for  a  final 
winding  up.  The  office  was  transferred  to  Syracuse 
in  October,  and  soon  after  consolidated  with  all  others 
in  Washington.  Captain  Snow  received  an  honorable 
discharge  from  the  laborious  and  responsible  position, 
the  duties  of  which  he  had  discharged  for  nine  months 
with  signal  ability  and  integrity. 

When  our  city  rested  from  her  labors  at  the  close  of 
the  rebellion,  she  had  expended  directly  in  the  enlist- 
ment of  troops,  for  city  bounties,  expenses,  hand 
money,  and  relief  to  soldier's  families,  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  thousand  dollars. 

The  number  of  soldiers  furnished  from  her  actual 
residents  was  as  foUow^s:  Recruits  to  the  19th 
regiment,  112;  3d  artillery,  117;  T5th  infantry,  49 ; 
111th  infantry,  37;  138th  infantry,  24;  160th 
infantry,  15  ;  193d  infantry,  IS ;  9th  artillery,  51 ; 
scattering,  202  ;  total,  625. 

Commissions  were  held  by  a  large  proportion  of 
these,  viz: 

Brigadier-Generals,  J.  H.  Lecllie,  Clinton  D.  McDoiigall, 
John  S.  Clark,  and  William  H.  Seward,  Jr. 

Colonels,  Charles  H.  Stewart,  Terence  J.  Kenned}^,  John  A. 
Dodge,  Jesse  Segoine,  Clarence  A.  Seward,  Charles  C.  Dwight, 
Lewis  W.  Husk,  and  Edwin  P.  Taft. 

Lteut-Colonels,  Henry  M.  Stone,  and  Wni.  M.  Hosnier. 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAR.  463 

Majors,  Theodore  H.  Sclienck,  Win.  II.  Wassoii,  Charles  Bur- 
gess, Sullivan  B.  Lamoreaux,  Lewis  E.  Carpenter,  Benjamin  F. 
Thurber,  James  H.  Hinman,  and  Sidney  Mead. 

Surgeons,  Theodore  Dimon,  David  II.  Armstrong,  Charles  L. 
George,  and  John  I.  Brinkerhoff. 

Chaplains,  William  Hart,  Ilenrv  Fowler,  Thomas  B.  Hudson, 
Simon  S.  Goss,  and  John  E.  Worth. 

Captains,  John  T,  Baker,  Owen  Gavigau,  John  II.  Ammon, 
John  Wall,  and  Charles  White,  of  the  19th  Inf. ;  George  E.  Ashby. 
William  M.  Kirby,  William  A.  Kelsey.and  Samuel  P.  Russell,  of  the 
3d  Art'y ;  William  H.  Cray,  Henry  B.  Fitch,  John  Choate,  Charles 
W.  Crocker,  John  E.  Savery,  Elbridge  G.  Miles,  and  William  II. 
Stevenson,  of  the  Toth  Inf  ;  Edward  A.  Thomas,  Ezra  H.  Northrop, 
Robert  E.  Perry,  Jerome  M.  Lattin,  John  I.  Laing,  and  Edgar  J. 
Hueston,  of  the  111th  Inf.;  Edwin  Kirby,  of  the  IGOth  Inf  ;  Cap- 
tain Adams  Merrimau,  and  Andrew  Cowan,  of  the  1st  Light  Batt'y. 

First  Lieuts.,  Martin  Laughlin,  Charles  Tomlinson,  Edgar  H. 
Titus,  William  Boyle,  Luke  Brannack,  John  Stevenson,  Jr.,  David 
W.  Stewart,  George  H.  Crocker,  Antoine  E.  Robinson,  George  W. 
Leonard,  Jay  E.  Storke,  George  E.  Sherwood,  and  Frederick  W. 
Prince,  of  the  3d  Art'y ;  Seth  F.  Swift,  George  P.  Knapp,  Lyman 
C.  Comstock,  and  Lendall  H .  Bigelow,  of  the  9th  Art'y ;  John 
Poison,  J.  Fred.  Dennis,  and  Randolph  R.  Kimberly,  of  the  19th 
Inf;  Edward  B.  Lansing,  James  K.  Warden,  Horace  B.  Fitch,  and 
Frederick  Cossum,  of  the  7oth  Inf.;  Henry  H.  Segoinc  and  Roland 
R.  Dennis,  of  the  111th  Inf;  Gorton  W.  Allen,  and  Stephen  G. 
Hopkins  of  the  IGOth  Inf;  Thurlow  B.  Wasson,  Dexter  Smith, 
and  George  D.  Lanehart,  of  the  193d  Inf;  and  William  P.  Wright, 
of  the  1st  Light  Batt'y. 

Second  Lieuts.,  Richard  J.  Allen,  Patrick  Dwyer,  JMartin  Web- 
.^ter,  George  II.  Wright,  John  O'Neil,  and  James  O.  Woodruff,  of 
the  3d  Art'y ;  Charles  E.  Patten,  and  Charles  H.  Hitchcock,  of 
the  111th  luf 


464  HISTORY   OF   AUEUEN. 

The  formation  of  societies  of  ladies  in  Anburn, 
for  tlie  purpose  of  alleviating  the  sufferings  of  our 
gallant  armies  while  in  the  field,  is  a  subject  worthy 
of  honorable  mention. 

When  protracted  war  had  become  a  fixed  fact,  and 
camp   life  had  shown  that  exposure  and  disease  were 
enemies   far.  more   terrible    and    destructive   to    our 
soldiers  than   the  national  foes  themselves,  and  that 
the   preservation   of  the  comfort   and  health  of   the 
northern  armies    was  therefore  a  matter  of  the  most 
vital  importance  to  the   country,   the  ladies   of  the 
Good  Samaritan  Society  of  this  city  were  assembled 
by   their    president,    Mrs.    Alvah    Warden,    at    the 
residence    of   the    Rev.   Day    K.    Lee,    in  order   to 
determine  how   they   might   aid  the  humane  efforts 
of  the    Sanitary   Commission    for    the    good  of  our 
volunteers.     A  series   of  meetings   at   Corning  Hall 
was  resolved  upon,    in   order    to    prepare    flannels, 
havelocks,   medicines,  and   delicacies  for    use  in  the 
hospital  and  camp.     These  meetings  were  held  and 
were    attended    by   the    loyal    women  of  the   town 
generally.     Large  quantities  of  sanitary  stores  were, 
by  this  means,  collected  and  forwarded  to  the  army. 
Among  the  articles  that  were  most  urgently  needed 
for  the  soldiers  during  the  fall  of  1861  w^ere  blankets. 
Mrs.  Frances  Seward,  wife  of  Secretary  Seward,  saw 
upon  one  occasion  large  bodies  of  volunteers  sleeping 
in  the  open  air  on  the  ground  near  the  city  of  Wash- 


THE    RECORD    OF    THE    WAK.  465 

ino;ton,  without  the  slightest  covering  or  protection. 
Finding,  upon  her  return  to  Auburn,  directly  after- 
wards, that  the  Good  Samaritan  Society  could  not  do 
all  that  the  times  seemed  to  require  of  the  ladies  of 
this  city,  she  originated,  and  directed  the  preliminary 
steps  toward  the  organization  of,  another  association, 
known  as  the  Ladies'  Union  Society,  in  which,  how- 
ever, her  modesty  forbade  her  taking  any  prominent  po- 
sition. Quarter-master-General  M.  C.  Meigs  had 
been,  from  the  iirst  of  October,  appealing  to  the  loyal 
families  of  the  country  for  contributions  of  blankets 
from  their  suq^lus  stores.  Mrs.  Seward  desired  to 
press  this  matter  panicularly. 

Accordingly,  a  committee,  composed  of  Mrs.  Benja- 
min F.  Ilall,  Mrs.  Xiles  Perry,  and  Mrs.  William  H. 
Seward,  Jr.,  issued  a  card  to  the  public,  and,  referring 
to  General  Meigs'  call,  invited  all  wdio  were  so  dis- 
posed to  bring  their  surplus  blankets,  if  weighing  not 
less  than  four  pounds,  to  Corning  Hall,  whence  they 
should  be  forw\arded  for  the  nse  of  the  troops.  Large 
numbers  of  blankets  were  sent  into  the  hall ;  but  most 
of  these  were  diverted  from  the  use  of  the  soldiers  in 
the  field,  to  the  75th,  then  forming  at  the  camp  in  Au- 
burn. A  call,  signed  by  Mrs.  Harmon  Woodruff,  Mrs. 
Miles  Perry,  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  was  then 
made  for  the  formation  of  the  society.  Pursuant 
thereto  a  large  number  of  ladies  met  at  the  rooms  of 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  October  21st,  ISGl,  and  organized 
28 


4:66  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

the  Ladies'  Union  Aid  Society.  Mrs.  Worden '  was 
tendered  the  presidency.  Her  duties  in  a  similar  posi- 
tion in  the  Good  Samaritan  Society  caused  her  to  de- 
cline it.  Mrs.  David  Hewson  was  then  elected  presi- 
dent ;  Mrs.  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  vice-president ;  Mrs. 
O.  F.  Knapp,  treasurer ;  and  Mrs.  P.  P.  Bishop,  sec- 
retary. A  large  committee  was  appointed  to  meet  at 
the  rooms  every  Thursday  with  the  members  of  the  soci- 
ety, to  plan  the  work,  and  assist  in  its  execution.  The 
committee  consisted  of  Mrs.  E.  N.  Pomeroy,  Mrs.  J. 
'N.  Starin,  Mrs.  T.  Nelson,  Mrs.  William  H.  Hosmer, 
Mrs.  James  R.  Cox,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Merriman,  Mrs.  H.  L. 
Knight,  Mrs.  M.  L.  Kerr,  Mrs.  Maltby,  Mrs.  S.  C. 
Lester,  Mrs.  Stahlnecker,  Mrs.  Day  K.  Lee,  Mrs.  C. 
Mc:N'eil,  Mrs.  Samuel  Titus,  and  Mrs.  C.  Miller.  The 
membership  of  the  society  was  soon  over  an  hun- 
dred. 

Meetings  at  the  beginning  were  generously  permit- 
ted to  be  held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  After- 
ward, at  different  times,  they  were  held  in  a  room, 
over  the  Auburn  City  Bank,  on  the  corner  of  ]N^orth 
Street,    belono-ino;   to  Messrs.   Brown  &   Lee,  whose 

7  O         CD  ■ 

constant  encouragement  of  the  object  of  the  organiza- 
tion is  a  matter  of  grateful  remembrance,  and  also  in 
one  of  the  rooms  in  the  basement  of  the  2d  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  They  were  usually  held  once  a  week, 
but  in  times  of  pressing  want,  as  at  the  close  of  a  great 
battle,  the  ladies  assembled  semi-weekly  or  even  daily. 


THE   RECORD   OF   THE    WAR.  467 

and  made  up  and  sent  on  box  after  box  of  the  sanitary, 
hospital,  and  other  stores,  then  so  necessary.  It  will  be 
proper  to  say  that  in  the  faithful  promotion  of  the  physi- 
cal welfare  of  the  national  troops,  in  the  incessant 
devotion  of  time  and  means  to  the  work  of  the  Aid 
Society,  and  in  the  amount  of  work  actually  accom- 
plished by  them,  Mrs.  Titus,  Mrs.  C.  II.  Merriman, 
and  Mrs.  Ilewson  were,  amongst  an  hundred  noble 
women,  unapproachable. 

The  labors  of  the  aid  societies  of  Auburn  ended 
only  with  the  disbandment  of  the  Federal  armies.  The 
Good  Samaritans  were  indefatigable  to  the  last  mo- 
ment, and  the  Ladies'  Union  Aid  Society  ceased  only 
when  they  had  come  to  realize  the  return  of  peace. 
A  statement  of  the  articles  sent  to  the  army  is  here 
given.  They  were  230  second-hand  shirts,  1277 
sheets,  2100  cotton  shirts,  640  flannel  shirts,  71  surgi- 
cal shirts,  92  flannel  wrappers,  1324  pairs  cotton 
drawers,  467  pairs  flannel  drawers,  261  arm  slings, 
67  eye-shades,  1216  pairs  of  socks,  223  blankets, 
spreads,  and  quilts,  62  bed-sacks,  538  pillows,  862 
pillow-cases,  448  pairs  of  slippers,  2689  towels,  3097 
pocket  handkerchiefs,  142  dressing-gowns,  7480  com- 
fort-bags, 2889  rolls  of  bandages,  58  coats,  58  vests, 
47  pairs  of  pants,  502  pairs  of  mittens,  1776  bottles 
and  cans  of  wine,  jelly,  etc.,  1  cask  of  wine,  2  cases 
of  claret,  31  bottles  of  blackberry  syrup,  1  barrel  of 
elderberry  ^•inegar,  100  cans  and  jars  of  pickles,  to- 


468  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

matoes,  etc.,  9  barrels  of  pickles,  two  barrels  of  eggs, 
1,701  pounds,  four  barrels,  and  four  boxes  of  dried 
fruit,  21  bushels  of  dried  apples,  140  papers  of  corn 
starch,  farina,  cocoa,  etc.,  102  cakes  and  bars  of  soap^ 
120  tin  cups,  50  bottles  of  cologne,  7  barrels  of  lint^ 
boxes  of  the  same  without  number,  a  very  large 
quantity  of  linen  and  cotton  compresses,  776  books, 
58  fans,  28  brushes,  3  yards  of  oiled  silk,  numerous 
sponges,  32  pounds  of  pepper,  1  piece  of  flannel,  have- 
locks  costing  $140,  60  yards  of  new  cloths,  sundries 
amounting  to  $100,  freight  equal  to  $124,  and  fom- 
flags  costing  $395.  To  this  list  should  be  added 
three  competent  female  nurses  fitted  out  and  sent  to 
minister  to  the  sufferers  at  the  front.  Money  was 
raised  to  the  amount  of  $5,313.  Yet  this  can  not  be 
said  to  be  the  whole  of  the  good  work  done  by  the 
Ladies'  Union  Aid  Society  of  Auburn.  Their  minis- 
trations to  the  sick  amongst  the  soldiers  quartered  in 
our  city  constitute  no  small  portion  of  their  honor- 
able record.  For  heroic  zeal  and  earnest  attention  to 
both  the  bodily  and  spiritual  wants  of  the  inmates'  of 
the  camp,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Merriman,  Miss  Ella  Marvine, 
and  Mrs.  S.  Titus  are  entitled  to  particular  mention. 
N^orwere  the  indigent  families  of  volunteers  neglected 
by  them  in  the  general  effort.  Their  necessities 
were,  as  far  as  possible,  cheerfully  met  and  removed. 
The  society  met  for  the  last  time  in  the  lecture-room 
of  the  2d  Presbyterian  Church,  July  6th,  1865.    , 


THE    KECOllD    OF    THE    WAK.  469 

Those  who  had  for  four  years  toiled  so  laithfully 
for  the  comfort  of  both  their  own  boys  and  dear  ones 
in  the  field  and  those  of  others,  and  who,  now  that  the 
weary  war  was  over,  had  laid  down  the  needle  and  the 
bandage  to  welcome  back  such  of  the  heroes  as  had 
been  spared  in  the  struggle,  met  once  more,  to  review 
the  fruits  of  their  labor,  to  receive  the  blessings  of  the 
community,  and  then  to  disband.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Boardman,  Dr.  Willard,  Rev.  Henry  Fowler,  Rev. 
Dr.  Ilawley,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Condit,  each  took  the  floor 
on  this  occasion  in  eulogy  of  the  devotion  and  cour- 
age of  the  association.  Reports,  giving  summaries  of 
the  things  done  by  the  society,  were  read,  and  resolu- 
tions, expressive  of  the  gratitude  of  the  citizens  and 
soldiers,  were  adopted.  Mrs.  Merriman,  then  presi- 
dent of  the  society,  and  Mrs.  Titus,  then  vice-presi- 
dent, each  received  a  token  of  the  public  appreci- 
ation of  their  extraordinary  labors.  The  former  was 
presented  with  a  memorial  paintings  executed  by  Mrs. 
Murdock ;  the  latter,  with  a  bust  of  President  Lin- 
coln. With  the  adjournment  of  the  meeting  the  Aid 
Society  dissolved. 


i:70  HISTORY   OF   AUBURN. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


AUBURN   IN   1869. 


The  City  of  Auburn  is  planted  on  the  eminences  that 
bound  the  basin  of  the  Owasco  Lake  on  the  north,  at 
the  point  where  the  outlet,  breaking  through  the  hills, 
leaps  down  a  succession  of  natural  and  artificial  falls, 
and  affords  a  water-power,  tha;t,  in  many  respects,  is 
the  most  magnificent  in  the  State.  The  latitude  of  the 
city  is  K.  42  deg.  53  min.,  and  the  longitude  0  deg. 
33  min.,  E.  from  Washington.  Lake  Ontario  lies 
thirty  miles  to  the  north.  A  densely  populated  farm- 
ing region,  widely  known  for  natural  beauty  and  pro- 
ductiveness of  soil,  surrounds  the  city,  and  furnishes  it 
with  a  large  trade. 

The  distance  to  Albany  is  174  miles  ;  to  Boston,  374 
to  Rochester,  78  ;    to  Buffalo,  147  ;    to  Chicago,  685 
to  St.  Louis,  874 ;  to  Detroit,  735  ;    to  Toronto,  237 
to  Montreal,  via  Lake  Champlain,  385 ;  and  to  Quebec, 
554.     To  New  York,  by  way  of  Albany,  the  distance 
is  318  miles ;  by  Cayuga  Lake,  and  Erie  R.  R.,  317; 
and  by  Southern  Central  and  connections,  394.     To 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  via  S.    C.  R.  R.  it  is  374 
miles ;   to  Washington,  by  the  same,  the   distance  i& 


AUBUKN    IN    l.%0,  471 

400  miles,  but,  bj  way  of  Seneca  Lake  and  Xortliern 
Central  R.  E.,  no  more  than  3S4. 

Area  of  Auburn  3,600  acres.  Assessed  value  of  real 
estate  (not  including  Ttli  ward)  $3,035,125  ;  personal, 
S2,251,730.  Bonded  debt,  in  aid  of  old  L.  O.,  A.,  & 
N.  Y.  E.  E.,  $100,000  ;  loan  to  the  S.  C.  E.  E.,  8500,- 
000.     Floating  debt  none. 

The  Owasco  Outlet,  at  a  distance  of  two  miles  from 
the  lake,  runs  into  the  city  with  a  northerly  course, 
makes  an  abrupt  turn  in  the  heart  of  the  town,  and 
runs  out  directly  w^estward.  Substantial  framed  bridges 
are  thrown  across  the  stream  at  six  different  points. 
The  ground  descends  toward  the  outlet  in  every  part 
of  the  city  proper  ;  the  drainage  is  therefore  excellent. 
The  principal  part  of  the  town  lies  in  the  valley  of  this 
stream.  The  plain  upon  the  bold  hill  that  bounds  the 
valley  on  the  north  and  east  contains,  however,  some  fine 
residences  and  important  public  institutions  ;  it  is  now 
being  generally  occupied  by  the  new  dwellings  of  our 
growing  manufacturing  population.  The  region  of  ele- 
gant residences  immediately  surrounds  the  beautiful 
eminence  known  as  Fort  Hill,  whose  groves  and  green 
sides  have  aided  our  landscape  gardeners  in  an  extra- 
ordinary degree. 

Beds  of  blue  and  gray  limestone  and  Oriskany  sand- 
stone underlie  every  part  of  Auburn,  and  croj)  out 
from  the  hill-sides,  and  along  the  bed  and  banks  of  the 
outlet.     The  quarries  of  building,  paving,  and  water- 


472  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

limestone  are  valuable  and  inexhaustible.  The  blue 
limestone  has  a  peculiar  tendency  to  assume  a  fissured 
character,  the  fissures  crossing  at  right  angles  and  cor- 
responding in  direction  with  the  cardinal  points  of  the 
compass. 

The  city  is  laid  out  with  considerable  though  not  en- 
tire regularity.  Ninet}^  or  more  streets  subdivide  its 
area  into  blocks,  wliich,  among  the  residences,  are  gen- 
erally rectangular  in  sliape,  but  in  tlie  business  parts 
of  the  city  polygons  of  every  description.  The  irregu- 
lar arrangement  of  the  ]:»rincipal  thoroughfares  may  be 
ascribed  to  the  early  importance  given  to  Auburn  by 
the  timely  enterprise  of  our  first  citizens  in  erecting 
and  maintaining  a  bridge  over  the  outlet  on  North 
Street.  It  will  be  observed,  by  glancing  at  the  map, 
that  all  the  grand  turnpikes  laid  out  across  the  site  of 
Auburn  meet  at  or  near  this  bridge,  which  was  for 
many  years  the  only  point  on  the  whole  stream  where 
a  crossing  might  be  aftected  with  a  loaded  wagon. 

This  was  a  circumstance  of  great  moment,  when  the 
chief  highways  of  the  country  were  being  located  and 
opened.  The  Owasco  bridge  governed  the  location  of 
North,  South,  Genesee,  Franklin,  Clark,  and  Garden 
Streets,  and,  therefore,  the  plan  of  Auburn.  The 
cross  streets  have  all  been  put  in  at  right  angles  to  the 
main  avenues. 

The  streets  are  dry,  straight,  and  comparatively 
level.     So  many  changes  have  been  made  in  the  grade 


AUBUKN   IX    1S09.  473 

and  character  of  the  streets  since  the  incorporation  of 
Auburn,  that  many  of  tlieni  are  quite  beyond  recogni- 
tion by  those  who  saw  them  in  their  virgin  state.  A 
most  ■  fortunate  change,  truly  ;  for,  if  the  testimony  of 
the  most  ancient  inhabitants  is  worthy  of  belief,  this 
N-irgin  state  of  the  Auburn  roads  caused  our  village 
much  disquietude  of  mind  and  spirits,  as  well  as  the 
surrounding  country  ;  since,  in  spring  and  fall,  the  peo- 
ple were  summoned  daily,  nay,  almost  hourly,  not 
only  to  extract  teams,  wagons,  and  cattle  from  some 
one  of  the  numerous  frog-ponds  and  miry  places  in  the 
streets  of  the  place,  but  to  endure  the  vituperations  of 
their  owners,  which  were  always,  by  the  way,  bestowed 
so  heartily,  that,  on  a  quiet  day,  those  living  in  the  next 
towns  could  plainly  hear  them  ;  whereas,  the  city  now 
reposes  amongst  her  hills  undisturbed,  in  the  serene  con- 
sciousness that  she  has  elevated  morality  in  the  com- 
munity, and  ameliorated  the  condition  of  the  traveling 
world  and  her  citizens,  by  burying  the  pools,  leveling 
the  hillocks,  draining  the  soil,  and  providing  spacious, 
straight,  well-paved  thoroughfares.  Eows  of  hand- 
some elms,  maples,  poplars,  and  sycamores,  now  adorn 
every  street.  Auburn,  indeed,  is  the  city  of  shade- 
trees. 

The  residences  of  the  place  are,  for  the  most  part, 
solid  and  elegant  structures  of  brick  and  wood,  and 
stand  in  the  midst  of  lawns,  conservatories,  fountains, 
choice  shrul)l)crv,  and   other  evidences  of  taste.     The 


474  HISTORY   OF   AUBUKN. 

business  blocks  are  massive  cut-stone  and  brick  edi- 
fices, with  handsome  fronts  and  costly  interiors,  and 
are  generally  four  stories  high.  The  public  buildings 
and  works  are  of  superior  finish  and  architecture. 
Auburn  fully  maintains  the  reputation  for  beauty 
accorded  to  her  modest  little  namesake  in  Europe, 
despite  the  ugliness  of  ancient  rookeries  in  some 
of  the  older  streets,  and  the  drawbacks  in  this 
direction  that  attend  an  extensive  manufacturing 
town. 

The  number  of  buildings  in  the  city  is  3,154,  of 
which  there  are  2,226  residences,  (174  of  the  same 
having  been  built  in  1868),  602  barns,  221  stores  and 
shops,  13  churches,  7  banking-houses,  41  mills  and 
manufactories,  6  school-houses,  6  wagon-shops,  4 
carpenter-shops,  1  theological  seminary,  2  concert 
halls,  6  hotels  and  taverns,  4  fire-engine  houses,  1 
prison,  1  court-house,  1  jail,  1  town  hall,  and  11 
miscellaneous  buildings. 

PUBLIC  BUILDmOS. 

The  Prison  of  Western  New  York  is  the  first 
object  that  greets  the  eye  of  the  traveler  arriving 
in  Auburn.  It  is  visited  daily  by  crowds  of  people 
from  every  part  of  the  United  States,  who  are 
conducted  through  the  various  shops  and  buildings 
at  stated  times  by  keepers.  It  now  contains  and 
employs    at    hard    labor   about    nine    hundred     and 


AUBURN   IN    1869.  475 

fifty  convicts,  whose  services  are  let  to  contractors  at 
the  average  rate  of  five  shillings  per  capita  per  day. 
The  shops  are  six  in  number,  namely  :  The  hame, 
shoe,  tool,  machine,  cabinet,  and  sash  and  blind.  An 
important  benefit  accrues  to  the  city  from  the  large 
amount  of  cheap  labor  brought  in  by  the  prison,  and 
the  large  sums  annually  expended  by  the  institution 
for  salaries  and  supplies,  which  latter  range  between 
two  hundred,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars. — The  Theological  Seminary^  elsewhere  fully 
described,  contains  much  that  is  rare,  precious,  and 
ancient,  and  the  visitor  is  fully  repaid  for  inspecting 
it. — The  Orphan  Asylum^  standing  at  the  corners  of 
Walnut,  Bradford,  and  Owasco  Streets,  is  a  fine^ 
three-story  brick  building,  surrounded  by  large,  well- 
kept  gardens,  and  grounds  handsomely  adorned  with 
slirubbery  and  shade-trees,  enclosed  by  a  high  lattice 
fence.  The  original  asylum  was  opened  in  1852,, 
in  a  wooden  house  on  the  east  side  of  J  ames  Street,, 
by  means  of  the  untiring  and  benevolent  exertions 
of  Mrs.  Harriet  T.  Pitney,  a  lady  whose  long 
experience  and  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Sunday- 
schools  conv-inced  her  of  the  urgent  necessity  of  a 
home  in  Auburn  for  orphan  children,  and  whose  con- 
victions led  her  to  undertake  its  establishment.  She 
was  wannly  supported  in  this  work  by  Mrs.  Mary 
Ann  Eobinson,  Mrs.  Maria  Eeed,  Mrs.  Del)orah  A. 
Bronson,  Mrs.  Melita  Chedell,  Mrs.  Abl)y    Warden, 


476  HISTORY   OF    AUBCKN. 

Mrs.  Andalusia  Starin,  Mrs.  Harriet  S.  Conkling, 
and  other  benevolent  ladies,  many  of  whose  names 
appear  npon  the  first  Board  of  Managers.  The 
present  site  of  the  asylmn,  with  a  w^ooden  house 
thereon,  was  purchased  in  1854.  The  brick  building- 
was  erected  in  1857 ;  its  predecessor  w^as  moved  off, 
and  now  forms  the  residence  of  Lewis  Paddock,  on 
Canal  Street.  The  comfortable  school-rooms,  and 
well  ventilated  and  orderly  dormitories,  are  creditable 
both  to  the  competent  matron,  Mrs.  Rogers,  and  to 
the  city.  The  asylum  now  affords  a  home  and  gram- 
mar-school education  to  eighty  children. — The  State 
Armory^  at  the  corner  of  Dill  and  State  Streets,  is  a 
strong  and  capacious  building  of  brick,  containing  a 
drill-room  in  the  second  story,  seventy-five  feet  long 
by  forty  wide,  and,  in  the  first  story,  tliree  company 
rooms  and  the  headquarters  of  the  4:9th  regiment,  S. 
N.  G.  Two  brass  six  pounders  are  posted  here.  A 
bill  is  now  pending  in  the  legislature  to  authorize  the 
sale  of  this  property,  and  the  erection  of  a  new 
armory  in  another  quarter  of  the  city. 

THE  CHURCHES. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Churchy  at  the  corner  of 
Franklin  and  J^orth  Streets,  is  now  being  demolished, 
and  replaced  with  an  elegant  limestone  structure, 
fronting  the  last-mentioned  street.  The  session - 
house,   now    nearly    completed,    cost    $25,000 ;    the 


AUBUKN    IN   1869.  477 

entire  building  will  cost  $100,000.  llev.  Charles 
Hawlej,  D.D.,  Pastor.  —  T/ie  Second  Preshyterian 
Church  is  a  lofty,  cut-stone  building,  of  Ionic  archi- 
tecture, seating  eight  hundred  and  fifty  peo])le.  The 
basement  contains  a  session  and  a  lecture-room. 
The  church  cost  $17,000.  Eev.  S.  TV.  Boardman, 
Pastor. — The  Central  Church  congregation  separated 
from  the  last-mentioned  in  185G,  and  with  great  enter- 
prise laid  the  foundation  of  an  imposing  church,  and 
built  the  superstructure  the  height  of  the  basement 
story.  This,  being  roofed,  has  since  constituted  the 
house  of  worsliip  for  the  society.  It  is  proposed  and 
intended  to  erect  a  new  and  entire  church  on  the 
west  side  of  William  Street  the  coming  season.  Rev. 
Henry  Fowler,  Pastor. — The  Church  of  the  Holy 
Family  stands  on  the  west  side  of  North  Street^ 
above  Chapel.  It  is  well  built  of  brick  in  the 
I^orman  style  of  architecture,  with  a  handsomely 
painted  interior,  and  seats  twelve  hundred  people. 
The  cost  was  $30,000.  Eev.  Thomas  OTlaherty, 
Pastor. — aS'i^.  Maryh  Churchy  (Roman  Catholic),  was 
organized  in  the  summer  of  1SG8,  w^itli  Rev.  T.  A. 
Maher,  Pastor.  A  temporary  wooden  chapel  has 
been  erected  on  the  corner  of  Clark  and  Green 
Streets. — The  Baptist  Church  is  a  plain,  but  sub- 
stantial stone  edifice,  standing  on  Genesee  Street, 
between  South  and  Mechanic.  Nine  hundred  people 
may  worship  here  at  once.     Rev.  TV.  II.  Maynard, 


478  HISTORY   OF    A.UBURN. 

Pastor. — St.  Peter's  Chwch,  (Protestant  Episcopal), 
is  situated  on  a  fine  lot  on  West  Genesee  Street  in  the 
midst  of  handsome  shade  trees,  and  the  monuments  of 
the  dead.  The  location  has  few,  if  any,  superiors  in 
Western  New  York.  The  old  stone,  ivy-covered 
church  has  been  removed,  and  a  larger  structure  partly 
completed  in  its  place.  A  chapel  at  the  north-west 
corner  of  the  church  has  been  constructed  from  the 
remains  of  the  old  building.  Kev.  John  Brainard, 
Pector. — St.  John's  CJmrch^  (Protestant  Episcopal), 
was  organized  April  13tli,  1868,  at  school-house  No. 
1,  Fulton  Street,  where  weekly  religious  services  have 
since  been  held,  by  the  young  congregation.  The  parish 
contemplate  the  erection,  during  the  working  season  of 
1869,  of  a  fine  lime-stone  church,  after  plans  prepared  by 
George  Casey,  Esq.,  on  a  site  lying  at  the  corners  of  Gen- 
esee, Fulton  and  Hofiinan  Streets,  donated  for  the  pur- 
pose by  General  John  H.  Chedell.  The  design  of  estab- 
lishing an  Episcopal  Church  in  the  eastern  part  of  Au- 
burn was  conceived  in  1854,  by  Kev.  E.  H.  Cressy,  then 
rector  of  St.  Peter's,  w^ho  laid  his  project  before  the 
Kev.  Mr.  (now  Bishop)  A.  Cleveland  Coxe  for 
advice.  Upon  the  recommendation  of  the  latter,  the 
Kev.  John  M.  Guion  came  to  Auburn  with  the  dis- 
tinct purpose  of  forming  a  new  parish  here,  of  which 
he  should  be  the  rector,  relying  upon  the  chaplaincy 
of  the  Auburn  prison,  which  Dr.  Cressy  was  able  to 
obtain  for  him,  for  a  portion  of  his  support.     Kegular 


AUBUEN    IN    1S69.  479 

religious  services  had  already  been  commenced  in  a 
large  room,  in  the  second  story  of  the  Williams  block, 
over  what  is  now  Kerr  &  Devitt's,  the  rent  of  which 
was  being  paid  by  Dr.  Cressy  and  A.  Hamilton  Burt. 
These  services  were  continued  by  Dr.  Guion  for  the 
space  of  five  months,  when  they  were  relinquished,  the 
Doctor  being  called  away  to  another  and  more  prom- 
isino:  field  of  usefulness.  The  ultimate  formation  of 
the  new  parish  was,  however,  continually  clierished 
by  a  few  of  the  enterprising  spirits  of  the  old  congre- 
gation, and  has  finally  been  by  them  secured.  The 
first  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  this  church  w^ere  as 
follows:  Harvey  Wilson  and  William  Lamey,  war- 
dens ;  John  M.  Ilurd,  George  F.  Brown,  I.  L.  Scovill, 
Henry  Hall,  Charles  M.  Knight,  William  F.  Gibbs, 
Edward  C.  Marvine,  and  Kufus  Sargent,  vestrymen. 
— The  Universalist  Church  is  a  spacious  brick  edifice, 
standing  at  the  corner  of  South  and  Cumpston 
Streets ;  it  accommodates  nine  hundred  and  fifty 
people.  Eev.  J.  G.  Bartholomew,  Pastor. — The  First 
Methodist  Churchy  situated  on  South  Street,  at  the 
liead  of  Exchange,  is  a  monument  of  the  most  won- 
derful spirit  and  enterprise  ever  exhibited  by  a 
religious  society  in  Auburn.  The  congregation,  after 
worshipping  for  thirty  years  in  the  old  stone  church 
on  the  corner  of  North  and  Water  Streets,  lost  tlieir 
sanctuary  by  fire.  Tlie  circumstance  was  dishearten- 
ing.    Tlie   churcli   liad  just   been   ymt    in    tliorongli 


480  HISTORY    OF   AUBURN. 

repair,  and  an  old  and  exhausting  burden  of  debt 
discharged,  to  meet  wliich  the  society  had  been 
obliged  to  put  forth  their  most  active  exertions,  and 
endure  many  personal  sacrifices.  This  was  in  the 
summer  of  1867.  But  by  January,  1868,  the  new 
church  site  had  been  purchased,  the  foundation  of  the 
church  laid  thereon,  and  the  session-house  finished, 
and  made  ready  for  occupancy.  A  year  later,  the 
whole  edifice  was  fully  completed  and  consecrated. 
Eev.  William  Searles,  Pastor. — The  Wall  Street 
Methodist  Church  stands  at  the  head  of  Washington 
Street.  Kev.  S.  M.  Fisk,  Pastor. — The  I>isciples 
Church,  Kev.  Aimer  M.  Collins,  is  located  on  Division 
street,  between  Seymour  and  Yan-Anden.  St.  Al- 
phonsus  Church,  (Poman  Catholic),  is  situated  on 
Water .  Street.  Kev.  Charles  A.  Yogi,  Pastor.  The 
Churches  of  Auburn  will  seat,  when  all  in  process  of 
construction  are  completed,  ten  thousand  people. 

THE    SCHOOLS. 

There  are  five  handsomely  constructed  brick  public- 
school  buildings  in  the  city,  all  built,  with  but  one  ex- 
ception, on  the  highlands  towards  the  suburbs.  Six- 
teen hundred  children  are  taught  in  them  the  ele- 
ments of  a  good  English  education,  by  a  corps  of  thir- 
ty-two teachers,  whose  qualifications  are  the  subject 
of  critical  examination  before  appointment.  Each 
school    contains   a  primary,  an   intermediate,  and   a 


AUBURN    IN    18G9.  481 

senior  department,  tlie  pupils  in  each  of  Avliich  are 
classified  and  pursue  a  graduated  course  of  studies. 
The  scholar  is  admitted  at  the  age  of  six ;  he  gradu- 
ates in  seven  years  to  the  Free  Academy  or  High 
School,  when  a  four  years'  course  of  advanced  studies 
is  begun.  Boys  are  prepared  for  college  here  at  the 
end  of  the  third  year.  The  public  school  libraries  of 
the  city  have  recently  been  consolidated  and  placed 
in  the  High  School,  where  all  who  desire  books  repair 
on  Friday  to  draw  them.  The  school  at  the  orphan 
asylum  is  also  a  free  scliool,  and  under  the  care  of  the 
Board  of  Education.  Xumerous  select  and  private 
educational  institutions  are  also  in  operation  in  the 
city,  among  w^hich  may  be  mentioned  the  Young  La- 
dies' Institute,  in  the  old  town  hall  building,  and  the 
Roman  Catholic  school,  in  the  chapel  of  the  church 
of  the  Holy  Family. 

POINTS    OF    VIEWS. 

Fort  Hill  and  the  cupola  of  the  court-house  are  the 
favorite  observatories.  From  both  a  wide  prospect  is 
unfolded  to  the  eye,  and  the  western  part  of  the 
town  and  the  farms  outlying  appear  to  the  best  possi- 
ble advantage.  The  views  from  the  towers  of  other 
public  buildings  have  attractive  features.  But  the 
city,  from  the  majority  of  these  ])oints,  appears  to  the 
observer  little  else  than  a  confusion  of  steeples, 
house-tops,  and  trees.  The  school-house  on  Fulton 
29 


482  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Street  coiumaiids  the  fineBt  view  of  the  city  in  Au- 
buiii.  ]t  is  the  only  point,  in  fact,  from  which  the 
w^hole  of  the  city  can  be  seen  at  once.  The  conrse 
of  the  principal  streets  maj^  be  clearly  traced,  the  creek 
and  the  mills  are  all  in  sight,  the  public  buildings 
appear  in  an  admirable  light,  and  the  gaze  wanders 
away  westward  from  the  city  over  groves  and  farms, 
till  it  rests  upon  the  towering  ridges  lying  back  of 
Seneca  Lake.  A  striking  view  of  the  position  of  the 
city  on  the  hills  is  seen  from  the  road  that  leads 
north  along  the  top  of  the  west  bank  of  the  outlet 
towards  Throopsville,  at  a  point  about  half  a  mile 
north  of  the  Clark  Street  road.  The  observer  at  this 
point  is  lower  than  the  city,  which  appears  built 
upon  a  mountain.  From  the  high  hill  on  the  road 
to  Skaneateles,  two  miles  east  of  Auburn,  the  city 
is  seen  in  quite  another,  but  not  less  charming  aspect, 
appearing  to  be  buried  in  a  valle^^  These  three 
views  should  be  seen  by  eveiy  resident  of  Auburn 
and  every  traveler. 

Altitude  of  the  east  hill  of  Auburn  above  Lake 
Ontario,  475  feet ;  above  tide-water  760  feet ;  or  361 
feet  higher  than  the  level  of  the  Erie  Canal  at 
Weedsport.  Altitude  of  the  Owasco  Lake  above 
tide-water,   758   feet. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

Two  brisk  dailies  and  five  weeklies  constitute  the 


AUI5UKX    IX    186;».  4S3 

newspaper  prevss  ot  Auburn;  The  Auhiam  DaH>/ 
Advertiser  ( Republican  ),  established  in  the  proprie- 
torship of  O.  F.  Kna])p  and  George  AY.  Peck,  in  1850: 
George  AV.  Peck,  senior,  andCharles  A.  Caulkins,  city 
editors. — Tlie  Auhuni  Morning  News  {'R^).),  an  out- 
spoken, vigorous  sheet,  established  in  July,  ISOS,  by 
Dennis  Bro's  &  Co.,  and  conducted  by  William  II. 
Barnes,  senior,  Charles  A.  Warden,  city,  and  The- 
odore H.  Schenck,  literary  editor. — The  Auhurn  Week- 
hj  Democrat  (Dem.),  published  and  edited  by  Charles 
F.  Durston  &  Co.,  at  the  printing  establishment  of  Wil- 
liam J.  Moses.  Begun  in  1857  by  Stone  tfe  Ilawes  ; 
discontinued  in  1862  ;  revived  in  September,  186S. 
The  Auhurn  Journal  and  Weekly  C^"n?wi,  printed  by 
Ivnapp  &  Peck.  The  Auhurn  Weeldy  JV^eivs,  by  Dennis 
r>ro's  6z  Co. — The  Nortliern  Christian  Advocate,  a  re- 
ligious weekly  published  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  General  Conference  by  William 
J.  Moses.  Pwev.  D.  D.  Lore,  D.  D.,  editor.  —  The 
Northern  Indeijendent^  weekly,  also  a  Methodist 
sheet,  edited  and  published  by  the  Be  v.  William  IIos- 
mer.  To  these  may  be  added  the  Orchestra  Peri- 
odical^ by  Dennis  Bro's  h  Co.,  and  the  Orjdunis 
Friend,  edited  by  ]\rrs.  James  W.  Wilkie. 

MANLKACTIKES. 

The  thrift  and  past  jn'Ogress  of  Auburn  result  quite 
exclusivelv  from  our  natural  a(lvantac:es  of  great  water- 


484  HISTORY    OF    ALBLRN. 

power,  ill  tlie  Owasco  Outlet.  The  city's  future  pros- 
perity must  depend  largely  upon  the  perfect  develop- 
ment of  this  power,  concerning  whose  vastness  few, 
even  at  this  day,  have  any  adequate  idea. 

The  outlet  is  a  crooked  but  rapid  stream,  with  an 
average  How  that  produces  the  power  of  eighteen 
horses  for  every  foot  of  fall  at  the  dams,  of  which  there 
are  ten  in  the  city  and  suburbs.  One  hundred  and 
sixty-two  feet  of  fall  are  distributed  at  these  damg^ 
about  as  follows :  upper  dam  10  feet ;  big  dam  25 
feet  ;  Hall  &  Lewis  dam,  10  feet ;  prison,  8  feet ;  Bar- 
ber's, 25  feet ;  Nye's,  25  feet :  Casey's,  18  feet ;  Hay- 
den's,  11  feet ;  Wadsworth's,  12  feet ;  and  Hall's,  20 
feet.  The  rapids  make  the  total  descent,  from  the  up- 
per dam  to  Hall's,  180  feet. 

The  average  power  of  2,900  horses  is  available  in  the 
city  for  manufacturing  purposes  ;  less  than  half  of  this  is 
now  employed.  That  which  is  in  use  performs  the  la- 
bor of  6,500  men,  though  capable  of  performing  twice 
that  amount,  by  running  the  mills  all  day,  and  gives 
labor  to  about  2,000.  The  manufactures  of  the  city, 
as  a  whole,  employ  2,500  mechanics  and  operatives, 
and  900  convicts. 

There  are  in  Auburn  4  mowing-machine  works,  5 
agricultural  tool  works,  4  woolen  mills,  4  breweries,  3 
flouring  mills,  2  saw  inills,  2  plane  and  plane  iron 
manufactories  ;  2  sash,  blind,  and  door  works ;  7  ma- 
chine-shops, 4  wagon-shops,  5  clothing  manufactories. 


AUBURN    IX    1S69.  485 

2  liine-kilns,  1  paper-bag  manutactory,  2  carnage  hard- 
ware manufactories,  1  cotton-mill,  2  tanneries,  5  slioe 
manufactories,  4  confection aries,  2  cabinet- ware  facto- 
ries, 1  leathern  glove  and  mitten  factory,  1  laundry- 
machine  works,  4  factories  of  reaper-grinders,  1  wire 
card  mill,  1  file  works,  3  marble-shops,  5  cigar  and  to- 
bacco manufactories,  1  candle  f^ictory,  1  patent  medi- 
cine factory,  4  printing  establishments,  2  planing  mills, 
and  1  patent  corn  sheller  factory. 

Many  of  these  establishments,  which  from  their  mag- 
nitude and  importance  invite  especial  attention,  are  of 
recent  origin,  and  have  not  been  included  or  mentioned 
in  any  of  the  previous  chapters  of  this  work.  Historical 
and  descriptive  sketches  of  the  principal  manufactories 
are  introduced. 

The  works  of  the  Atchirn  Tool  ComjpauTj  stand  on 
the  precipitous  east  bank  of  the  outlet,  below  the  big 
dam,  at  the  water's  edge.  The  character  of  the  ground 
enables  the  workmen  to  enter  the  building  through 
the  third  story.  Sixty  men  are  here  employed  on  wa- 
ges exceeding  $2,500  per  month,  in  the  manufticture  of 
planes  and  plane  irons.  An  additional  force  of  twenty 
is  engaged  every  fall  and  winter  in  making  skates. 
The  best  raw  material  in  the  market  is  used  at  these 
works,  and  the  workmen  are  fine  mechanics ;  the  pro- 
ductions rank  high,  therefore,  in  the  Tnited  States, 
and  are  in  constant  demand.  A  large  lot  on  the  higli 
ojround  above  the  works,  frontino^  Owasco  Street,  con- 


486  TIISTOKY    OF    AUBUKN. 

tains  the  company's  otiice  and  packing  I'ouni,  the  dry 
ing  house,  storage  slieds,  and  hiinber  yard. 

Tlie  practical  management  of  the  business  is  en- 
trusted to  George  Casey  &  Sons,  whose  experience  as 
tool-makers  is  now  of  more  than  twenty  years'  stand- 
ing. Mr.  Casey  began  the  manufacture  of  tools  in 
the  Auburn  prison,  in  1847,  with  Josiah  Douglass, 
Adam  Miller,  and  George  W.  Leonard,  his  partners. 
Through  his  own  mechanical  ingenuity  the  machinery 
<jf  the  shop  was  improved  from  time  to  time  in  many 
valuable  particulars  ;  and  his  famous  invention  for 
making  the  throats  in  plane  blocks  by  machinery  was 
perfected  while  a  member  of  this  iirm.  The  tool  con- 
tract: was  taken,  in  1857,  by  another  Iirm,  composed  of 
Mr.  Casey,  Abijali  Fitch,  Nelson  Fitch,  Noah  P.  Clark^ 
Josiah  M.  Starin,  Alonzo  G.  Beardsle}^,  and  F.  L. 
kSheldon,  who  with  others,  formed,  in  1862  the  stock 
company  which  has  since  carried  on  the  business. 

The  directors  of  the  company  are :  George  Casey, 
president ;  Abijah  Fitch,  A.  G.  Eeardsley,  J.  'N.  Starin, 
Theodore  M.  Pomeroy,  and  N.  P.  Clark.  Kelson  Fitch 
is  secretary,  and  Nicholas  Casey,  treasurer.  Francis 
Casey,  overseer  at  the  works.  The  business  was  trans- 
ferred from  the  prison  to  the  present  buildings  in 
1866. 

The  celebrated  /Steel  Tempering  Work^  of  Ileynolds, 
Barber  &  Co. — N.  B.  Eeynolds.  Samuel  F.  Keynolds. 
C.  Eugene  Barbei',  and  AVilliam  C.  Barber — occupy 


AUBrKN    IN    1S09.  487 

two  large  strong  buildings,  one  uf  l)rick,  the  (jtlier 
of  stone,  standing  on  the  west  hank  of  the  ontlet, 
twenty  or  thirty  rods  below  the  big  dam.  Here  are 
inannfactnred  plane  irons  and  steel  knife  sections  for 
reapers  and  mowers ;  the  latter  being  tempered  by  a 
peculiar  process,  invented  by  Asa  R.  Reynolds,  Esq. 
This  process,  after  a  trial  of  ten  years,  has  been  per- 
fected ;  with  their  new  machinery,  and  the  labor  of 
forty-live  competent  mechanics,  the  proprietors  of  the 
works  are  now  able  to  produce  3,000  linished  sections 
])er  day.  Tlie  manufacture  of  plane  irons  was  com- 
menced as  an  experiment  in  1867,  but  has  since  grown 
up  into  a  regular  and  successful  business. 

The  Reynolds  process  of  tempering  is  one  of  the 
most  wonderful  inventions  of  the  nineteenth  centui'y. 
It  is  both  rapid  and  simple,  yet  is  based  upon  a  scien- 
tilic  principle  that  defies  investigation. 

Strong  wooden  beams  sixteen  feet  in  length  are  sup- 
ported at  the  ends  by  the  heavy  stone  side  walls  of  the 
factory,  and  sustain  upon  their  centers  ponderous  an- 
vils constructed  from  the  wheel  shafts  of  a  large 
steamer.  Above  the  anvils  are  suspended,  by  means 
of  powerful  machinery,  hammers  weighing  not  less 
than  tw^o  tons  each,  and  so  shaped  on  the  striking  sur- 
face, that  the  blow  of  the  hammers  falls  only  on  the 
cutting  edges  of  the  sections,  in  a  strip  five-eighths  of 
an  inch  wide;  the  u])per  surface  of  the  anvils  being 
^ha]'ed    to  correspond.     The  sections   are  laid    on  the 


488  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

anvils  red  hot ;  the  hammers  fall ;  a  reactionary  blow 
is  given  by  means  of  the  vibrating  beam  upon  v^^hich 
the  anvils  rest ;  the  edges  of  the  section  remain  in  the 
pressure  of  the  cold  metals  for  eight  seconds  ;  the  cen- 
tral portion  is  meanwhile  being  rapidly  cooled  bj  pow- 
erful streams  of  cold  air  from  two  metallic  nozzles ; 
the  hammer  rises,  and  the  section  is  then  removed, 
perfectly  tempered,  and  the  operation  is  renewed  with 
another.  Six  sections  may  be  tempered  thus  per  min- 
ute, and  so  uniform  and  reliable  is  the  process,  that,  ot 
over  one  thousand  tempered  and  ground  in  presence  of 
the  committee  appointed  at  the  National  Implement 
Trial,  held  in  Auburn  in  1866,  not  one  was  fjund 
cracked  or  imperfect,  or  showed  any  trace  of  fissure 
whatever. 

The  Auburn  AgTicvltuTal  Worlts^  situated  near  the 
last-mentioned  factory,  on  the  north,  produce,  under 
the  proprietorship  of  J.  Monroe  Alden,  Milton  Alden, 
and  George  J.  Letchworth,  some  of  the  finest  imple- 
ments in  the  country.  Alden's  thill  horse-hoe  gained 
the  gold  medal  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  1866,  and  the  com- 
pany's horse-rake,  Hollingworth's  patent,  was  awarded 
a  similar  medal  at  the  national  implement  trial  in  Au- 
burn the  same  year.     The  works  employ  seventy  men. 

The  mowing  machine  manufactory  of  D.  M.  Osborne 
'<&  Co.,  on  Genesee  Street,  corner  of  Mechanic,  has  no 
rival  in  its  department  of  industry,  for  size  or  complete- 
ness of  appointment,  either  in  Auburn,  or  in  America. 


AUBURN    IN    ISfiO. 


48^ 


^  A  vast  pile  of  tall,  substaiitial  brick  buildings, 
covering  an  acre  and  a  quarter  of  ground,  constitute 
the  work.  These  buildings  are  seven  in  nuniber.  In 
the  first  of  these,  standing  on  the  corner  of  the  street, 
used  as  a  machine  sho]^  prior  to  occupancy  by  tlie 
present  proprietors,  the  business  of  tlie  fimi  com- 
menced. The  business  expanding  enormously  during 
the  five  years  immediately  following  1859,  the  other 
buildings  were  erected  one  after  the  other,  as  the 
necessity  for  more  room  arose,  on  the  tongue  of  land 
between  Mechanic  street  and  the  outlet,  once  the 
site  of  certain  carding,  fulling,  and  saw  mills  else- 
where described.  The  dimensions  of  the  different 
shops,  which  are  severally  distinguished  by  their 
numbers,  are  as  follows:  Xo.  1,  four  stories  high, 
sixty-six  feet  by  forty,  used  as  an  office  and  sample 
room,  and  containing  in  the  second,  third,  and  fourth 
stories  the  Morning  JVews  establishment ;  Xo.  2, 
three  stories  in  height,  fifty-nine  feet  by  forty-eight, 
used  as  a  wood-shop ;  No.  3,  containing  the  store- 
house, paint-sho]),  and  shipping-room,  four  stories 
and  an  half  high,  one  hundred  and  fourteen  feet  by 
seventy-six  ;  Xo.  4,  four  stories  high,  with  two  base- 
ments, one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  feet  by  fifty,  used  as 
a  machine-shop;  No.  5,  the  blacksmith  shop,  one  story 
high,  same  ground  plan  as  latter  ;  No.  6,  the  malleable 
iron  works,  one  hundred  and  thirteen  feet  by  ninety; 
and   No.  7,  the  foundrv,  one  hundred  and    ninetv-two 


490  IITSTOKY    OF    AUEUKN. 

feet  by  sixty-six.  The  liunber  yard  and  dryiiior  hoii^^ 
stand  op})osite  the  works  on  the  west  side  of  Mechanic 
Street. 

The  manufactory  of  the  combined  i-eaper  and 
mower,  invented  by  William  II.  Xirby,  at  BnfFalo,  in 
1856,  was  commenced  in  Auburn  in  1858,  by  David 
M.  Osborne  and  O.  S.  Ilolbrook,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Osborne  &  Holbrook,  for  wdiom  Orrin  H. 
Burdick,  Esq.,  made  by  contract  one  hundred  and  fifty 
machines,  employing  only  twelve  men  in  the  work. 
Mr.  Ilolbrook  parted  with  his  interest  in  tlie  busi- 
ness in  August,  1858,  which  was  then  carried  on  by 
Cyrus  C.  Dennis,  D.  M.  Osborne,  and  Charles  P. 
Wood,  of  Auburn,  under  the  style  of  D.  M.  Osborne 
ik  Co.  Two  hundred  mowers  were  built  during  1858, 
The  war  then  broke  out,  labor  became  scarce,  and  the 
demand  for  mowers  great ;  and  the  establishment 
began  to  be  enlarged.  Mr.  Wood  retired  from  the 
partnership  in  1862,  and  Mr.  Dennis,  by  death,  in 
1866.  The  firm  is  now  composed  of  D.  M.  Osborne, 
John  II.  Osborne,  and  Orrin  11.  Burdick.  The  prod- 
uct of  the  works  during  1868  was  fifty-thre^  hundred 
machines.  The  business  now  consumes  3,000,000 
pounds  of  pig  iron  per  annum,  500,000  pounds  of 
bar  iron  and  steel,  and  400,000  feet  of  lumber.  From 
250  to  325  men  are  employed,  who  are  paid  monthly 
between  eight  and  twelve  thousand  dollars. 

It   is   the  boast  of  the  proprietors  of  tliis  peerlest^ 


AUBL'KN    IN    1S69.  491 

establisliiiient,  that  every  part  oi'  their  iiiachnies^ 
however  small,  is  made  at  their  own  works,  aiul 
made  well.  Outside  manufactories  have  no  share 
in  the  construction  of  the  Kirby,  and  the  public  is 
therefore  insured  against  unsound  wood  work,  infe- 
rior knives,  and  imperfect  castings,  in  these  ma- 
chines. The  works  are  complete,  a  remark,  it  is  be- 
lieved, that  can  be  made  of  no  similar  establishment 
in  the  country.  The  proprietors  contemplate  a  further 
enlargement  of  their  manufactory  the  coming  season 
by  erecting  several  brick  three-story  stores  over  the 
outlet,  fronting  the  bridge. 

The  works  of  the  celebrated  Cayuga  Chief  Manu- 
facturing Company  are  located  by  the  side  of  the 
X.  Y.  C.  Eailroad  track,  opposite  the  State  prison. 
The  buildings  consist  of  a  spacious,  three-story  brick 
work-shop,  fifty-two  feet  by  two  hundred  and  fifty,, 
with  a  basement ;  a  blacksmith-shop,  forty  feet  by 
one  hundred;  a  foundry,  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
by  sixty ;  and  an  engine  and  boiler  house  ( for  the 
machinery  of  the  works  is  driven  by  steam  power)^ 
and  the  most  advantageously  situated  with  re- 
spect to  conveniences  for  shipping  of  any  in  ^the 
city.  They  were  erected  in  1863-4,  and  employ  two 
hundred  hands,  whose  labor  costs  the  company 
annually    the   sum    of  $90,000. 

This  business  originated  in    tlie    machine   shop    of 
the  prison   in  isOl  with   Franklin  L.  Sheldon,  Alonzo 


492  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

G.  B^ardsley,  and  Gary  S.  Burtis,  acting  in  partner- 
ship, under  the  style  of  Sheldon  &  Co. ;  the  firm  en- 
firaofine:  in  the  manufacture  of  a  mower,  called  the 
"  Cayuga  Chief,"  invented  by  Cyrenus  Wheeler,  Jr., 
now  of  this  city,  and  making  four  hundred  machines 
the  first  year.  The  firm  was  changed  to  Burtis  & 
Beardsley  in  1863,  and  the  erection  of  the  works 
outside  of  the  prison  undertaken.  The  Cayuga 
Chief  was  largely  manufactured  in  the  new  buildings 
during  1865  and  ^QQ,  and  also  by  certain  parties  in 
Aurora,  as  well  as  by  F.  L.  Sheldon,  C.  Eugene 
Barber,  Henry  Morgan,  Calvin  Young,  and  Charles 
L.  Sheldon  in  the  prison.  The  manufacturing  com- 
pany was  formed  in  1867,  with  a  capital  of  $400,000, 
the  directors  being  Cyrenus  Wheeler,  Jr.,  president ; 
Alonzo  G.  Beardsley,  treasurer ;  William  Hills, 
Secretary  ;  Cary  S.  Burtis,  and  Henry  Morgan. 

The  annual  product  of  the  works  is  now  upwards 
ot  four  thousand  machines,  which  are  being  exten- 
sively used  in  every  grain-growing  region  of  the 
United  States.  The  annual  consumption  of  iron 
and  steel  is  2,800,000  pounds;  of  lumber,  500,000 
feet. 

The  establishment  of  the  Dodge  <&  Stevenson 
Manufacturing  Comjpany  consists  of  seven  commo- 
dious brick  buildings,  conveniently  arranged,  be- 
tween Owasco  Outlet  and  the  E".  Y.  C.  Kailroad 
track,  with  dimensions  as  follows :     The  main  build- 


AUBURN    IX    1869.  493 

ing,  a  stout  structure  three  stories  liigli  with  a  base- 
ment, one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  by  forty,  stand- 
ing with  tlie  gable  to  the  road  ;  the  foundry  adjoin- 
ing in  the  rear,  forty-five  feet  by  one  hundred  and 
seventy ;  the  blacksmitli  shop,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  long;  and  three  ample  store-houses,  two  hun- 
dred feet  long.  A  smaller  building  is  the  "  extra" 
department.  The  process  of  manufacture  at  these 
works  does  not  difter  substantially  from  that  at  the 
other  factories  in  the  city,  save  as  it  is  distinguished 
by  remarkable  system.  The  castings  called  into 
existence  at  the  foundry,  being  first  well  rubbed  of 
the  sand,  and  polished  by  vigorous  attrition  in  re- 
volving iron  cylinders,  travel  through  tlie  main 
buildings,  and  pass  from  room  to  room,  till  com- 
pletely smoothed,  drilled,  turned,  and  set  up,  they 
arrive  wdtli  the  wood  work  in  the  paint  shop  in  the 
upper  story,  where  they  are  finished  and  prepared 
for  market.  In  busy  seasons  one  hundred  machines 
are  made  a  week.  The  works  employ  two  hundred 
and  sixty  workmen,  who  receive  monthly  wages 
to  the  amount  of  $12,000. 

The  foundation  of  this  business  was  laid  in  the 
Auburn  prison  in  1858,  by  Messrs.  John  A.  Dodge, 
Elmore  P.  Ross,  and  Col.  Charles  W.  Pomeroy, 
who  began  with  twenty-five  convicts  the  manufac- 
ture of  agricultural  implements,  among  which  was 
a   mowing  machine   of  C.    Wheeler,  Jr.'s,  invention. 


494  HI8T0KY    OF    AUBUKN. 

Thirty  inacliiiies  were  made  in  1858.  A  different 
machine  was  made  the  following  year,  and  that 
branch  of  tlie  business  became  so  profitable  tliat 
all  else  was  dropped.  The  mowing  machine  at 
once  engrossed  the  whole  attention  of  the  firm.  The 
number  manufactured  annually  increased,  and  in 
1864  the  business,  at  that  time  and  since  1861 
being  prosecuted  by  Col.  Dodge,  John  Stevenson, 
and  Jacob  Polhemus,  was  transferred  to  the  build- 
ings then  newly  erected  by  Josiah  Barber,  in  which 
it  has  since  augmented  to  an  extraordinary  extent. 
The  same  year,  the  firm  began  the  construction  and 
sale  of  the  Dodge  Harvester,  a  veiy  popular  machine 
invented  by  Col.  Dodge,  making  five  hundred  the 
first  season.  In  March,  1866,  the  business  passed 
into  the  ownership  of  a  stock  company,  called 
the  Dodge  &  Stevenson  Manufacturing  Company, 
having  a  capital  of  $250,000,  which  was  increased 
in  the  fall  of  1868  to  $500,000.  Col.  John  A. 
Dodge  w^as  elected  president  of  the  company. 

The  mills  of  the  veteran  w^oolen  manufacturer, 
Josiah  Barber  and  William  C.  and  George  E.  Bar- 
ber^ his  sons,  occupy  the  property  on  which  was 
formerly  built  the  saw  and  carding  mills  of  Samuel 
Dill.  Josiah  Barber  began  the  manufacture  of 
carpets  in  the  weave  shop  of  the  Auburn  pi-ison  in 
1832,  in  company  witli  the  experienced  mechanic, 
John  London,  and  with  Avhom  he  remained  in  part- 


AL^BURN    IN    1S<}0.  495 

nerslii]>  i\n'  several  years.  In  l^i4U,  Mr.  Barber 
Imiiglit  the  dam  wliicli  bears  his  name,  witli  a  large 
tract  of  the  contiguous  lauds,  from  a  land  company 
that  had  suffered  severely  by  the  overspeculation  and 
panic  of  1S36-7,  and  built  thereon  a  woolen  mill, 
which  he  rented  from  time  to  time  to  different  iirms, 
among  which  were  Xehemiah  D.  Carliart  6z  Co., 
and  Barber,  Dennis  ct  Co.,  and  which  he  finally 
entered  himself,  and  operated  with  his  sons.  The 
establishment  comprises  two  extensive  four-story 
brick  buildings,  termed  respectively  the  north  and 
south  mills,  and  a  large  dye-house.  Upon  the  rear 
of  the  south  mill  a  fine  edifice  is  now  being  built 
fur  the  manufacture  of  the  "  clover  leaf''  plane-irons 
of  Reynolds,  Barber  ct  Co.,  and  upon  the  grounds 
north  of  the  north  mill  another  is  being  prepared 
for  the  use  of  parties  making  patent  grinders  for 
sharpening  reaper  knives,  and  Brinkerhoff 's  corn- 
shellers.  The  woolen  mill  requires  the  work  of  about 
275  hands.  The  monthly  pay-roll  amounts  to  ^5,000. 
It  is  a  feixteen-sett  mill,  eight  setts  making  carpets, 
and  eight  flannels,  tweeds  and  plain  cassimeres ; 
23,000  yards  of  the  latter  are  ]>roduced  per  month, 
and  al)out  10,000  yards  of  thi-ee-ply  and  ingrain 
carpets.  The  raw  material  is  lH)Ught  in  the  West 
and  South. 

The  Aiihinm   Cotton  2/J/t,  wliich  was  burnt  to  tlie 
iijround  on  the  first  dav  of  April,  l>^r)0,  was  at  the  time 


490  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

of  the  lire  being  conducted  by  C  M.  liowlett  and  Jo- 
siah  P.  Bailey.  The  mill  stood  at  the  head  of  a  deep 
and  picturesque  ravine,  through  which  the  Owasco 
takes  its  course  northward  for  miles,  and  on  its  very 
verge,  and  was  a  massive  stone  building  four  stories 
high.  Three  sets  of  hands  w^ere  required  to  run  the 
mill,  which  was  in  operation  day  and  night.  Seventy- 
iive  were  employed,  and  paid  monthly  about  $1,500. 
The  product  of  the  factory  was  seamless  bags  exclu- 
sively ;  the  average  result  of  a  month's  work  was  20,000 
bags,  the  average  consumption  of  cotton  in  the  same  time 
25,000  pounds.  The  goods  were  the  best  in  the  coun- 
try, and  were  sold  by  the  J.  M.  Ilurd  Paper  Bag  Com- 
pany, of  Auburn. 

The  agricultural  tool  works  of  the  E.  (J.  Titttle  Manu- 
facturing Comjpany  are  located  in  the  future  7th  Ward 
of  Auburn,  on  the  west  side  of  Division  Street,  corner 
of  Clark.  The  two  large  brick  buildings  that  compose 
the  works  were  begun  in  June,  1867,  and  finished,  at 
a  cost  of  over  $120,000,  in  January,  1868,  at  which 
date  business  commenced. 

The  company  was  organized  in  the  early  part  of  1867, 
with  a  capital  of  $300,000,  and  the  following  officers  : 
Charles  P.  Wood,  president ;  Israel  F.  Terrill,  vice- 
president  ;  Delos  M.  Keeler,  secretary  and  treasurer ; 
James  Henderson,  agent ;  and  E.  C.  Tuttle,  superin- 
tendent. The  business  expands  every  year,  and  now 
engages  sixty  workmen,  at  a  monthly  salary  of  $4,000. 


AT  BURN    IN    1869.  497 

Hoes,  rakes,  spadinir-forks,  ])itch-torks,  potato-liuuks, 
and  scythes,  are  produced  at  tlie  rate  of  one  liundred 
dozen  i)er  day  ;  the  wooden  liandles  of  the  tools  are 
made  in  the  company*.-  factory  at  Iloneoye.  The  goods 
are  durable  and  liiglily  finished.  They  sell  extensively 
in  Europe  and  Australia,  as  well  as  in  America. 

The  present  management  of  the  company's  affairs  is 
in  the  hands  of  directors,  elected  January  18th,  1869, 
namely  :  Charles  P.  Wood,  I.  F.  Terrill,  S.  L.  Bradley, 
George  ^V.  Leonard,  Albert  II.  Goss,  II.  J.  Sartwell, 
Lorenzo  W.  Nye,  E.  C.  Tnttle,  and  Richard  C.  Steel. 

The  woolen  mill  of  William  Ilayden  and  Richard 
T.  Morgan,  acting  under  the  firm  name  of  William 
ITayden  c6  6b.,  stands  at  the  east  end  of  a  dam  that 
was  built  in  1862,  on  the  site  of  the  original  log-dam 
of  Jehiel  Clark.  A  mill  was  erected  in  1810,  for  card- 
ing and  custom  weaving,  which  was  rented  in  1815  to 
William  Ilayden,  the  first  manufacturer  of  woolen 
goods  by  machinery  in  Cayuga  County.  The  old  mill 
was  torn  down  in  1866,  and  replaced  with  a  three-story 
stone  and  brick  building,  thirty-five  feet  by  seventy- 
five.  The  new  mill  is  rented  to  William  Ilayden,  who 
is  the  son  of  ^Ir.  Clarke's  lessee,  and  Mr.  Morgan. 
The  business  gives  employment  to  twenty-five  hands, 
consumes  65,000  pounds  of  wool  anntlally,  and  pro- 
duces about  the  same  number  of  yards  of  woolen  goods. 
The  mill  contains  the  largest  two  spinning-jacks  in  the 
county,  having  each  two  hundred  and  sixty-four  spindles. 
:'.0 


498  HISTORY    OF    A.UBUKN. 

The  Saythe  Works  of  David  AVadsworth  and  JN^elson 
Fitcli  are  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  outlet, 
below  llayden's,  on  the  site  of  an  old  trip-hanimer  and 
forge-sho}),  once  owned  by  Eldridge  &  Murphy. 

The  l)usiiiess  of  tliis  firm  originated  in  the  year 
1818,  in  a  little  machine-shop  that  stood  on  the 
ground  now  occupied  by  the  Dodge  &  Stephenson 
mowing-machine  works.  Joseph  Wadsworth,  father 
of  David  Wadsworth,  was  the  manufacturer  here  of 
scythes  and  axes,  one  thousand  dozen  of  which  was 
the  annual  production.  The  business  was  transferred 
to  Clarksville  in  1833.  The  new  works  are  fine 
stone  buildings  arranged  on  three  sides  of  a  hollow 
square,  which  have  been  erected  since  1860.  They 
employ  forty-five  workmen  at  monthly  wages  of 
$3,000 ;  the  amount  of  capital  required  in  the  busi- 
ness is  $100,000 ;  the  product  of  the  works,  about 
forty-five  dozen  of  scythes  and  hay  and  corn  knives 
per  day. 

The  manufactory  of  Patent  GTinders  for  sharpen- 
ing reaper  knives  is  one  of  recent  establishment,  but 
bids  fair  to  soon  attain  considerable  importance. 
Prior  to  the  fall  of  1868,  there  were  three  patent 
grinder  companies  in  Auburn,  namely :  the  Stephen- 
soii  ManufaciMTing  Company ^  of  which  William  C. 
Barber  was  president ;  James  D.  Button,  vice-presi- 
dent ;  E.G.  Knight,  treasurer ;  and  William  P. 
Robinson,  secretary ;  which  was   making  a  harvester 


AUBURN    IN    1860.  499 

cutter  sharpener,  invented  by  William  IT.  Stevenson, 
of  this  city,  the  salesrooms  of  the  company  being 
at  No.  49,  in  the  Curtis  buildings,  State  Street ; — 
Richardson  d;  Co.,  a  firm  composed  of  Henry  Kich- 
ardson  and  Bradley  A.  Tuttle,  manufacturers  of 
Scott's  Patent  Grinders,  ofHce  No.  77  State  Street ; — 
and  Hoaijland,  Peahody  cJ&  Co.,  who  were  selling 
Hoagland's  improv^ed  machine  for  grinding  mower 
and  reaper  knives.  The  three  companies  consoli- 
dated in  September,  1868,  adopting  the  style  of  the 
Faritiers^  Manufacturing  Company,  and  organized 
with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  and  the  following  officei^s : 
William  C.  Barber,  president ;  Josiah  Y.  Hoagland, 
vice-president;  Horace  L.  Knight,  secretary  and 
treasurer;  and  Charles  Hichardson,  superintendent. 
The  farmers'  grinder  will  be  manufactured  the 
coming  season  in  the  new  works  now  being  erected 
adjacent  to  Barber's  woolen  mills. 

The  Ilussey  combined  patent  reaper  and  mower 
manufactory,  started  near  the  big  dam,  is  another  of 
the  peculiar  institutions  of  Auburn.  The  proprietors 
are  Thomas  R.  Ilussey  and  Isaac  W.  Quick.  The 
works  employ  some  forty  or  fifty  men,  and  prodiu*e 
a  machine  that  is  undoubtedly  the  best  grass,  grain, 
and  clover  harvester  in  use. 

Barher,  Sheldon  d;  Co.,{C  Eugene  Barber,  Frank- 
lin L.  Sheldon,  Charles  L.  Sheldon,  and  Henry 
Morgan)  have  in  the    machine-shop    of   the    Auburn 


500  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

prison  the  largest  manufactory  of  line  iron  and  steel 
axles  in  the  world.  The  firm  commenced  business 
in  the  fall  of  1865,  and  now  employs  one  hundred 
men.  The  factory  is  'extensive  and  complete,  con- 
taining four  trip  hammers,  fifty  lathes,  four  boring 
machines,  and  drills  and  planes  innumerable.  There 
are  daily  produced  one  hundred  sets  of  the  anchor 
brand  axle  for  carriages,  coaches,  stages,  and  express 
wagons,  which  find  a  ready  market  in  every  part  of 
the  United  States,  from  Maine  to  California,  and 
are  now  beginning  to  be  demanded  in  foreign  lands. 
The  business  consumes  650  tons  of  fine  grade  iron 
and  steel,  150  tons  of  fine  grade  cast  iron  for  boxes, 
8  tons  of  malleable  iron,  and  an  immense  quantity 
of  leather  for  washers,  annually.  The  process  of 
manufacture  is  peculiar  and  interesting ;  it  is  cheer- 
fully shown  to  visitors  by  the  courteous  proprietors 
of  the  works. 

Manufacturing  is  now  employing  more  men  and  more 
capital  than  all  other  branches  of  business  in  Auburn 
combined.  It  scatters  among  the  working  classes 
annually  the  sum  of  $1,500,000  for  wages  alone, 
while,  for  stock  and  machinery,  it  makes  use  of 
$3,000,000  and  upwards  in  the  same  time.  It  fur- 
nishes the  means  of  support  to  eight  thousand  souls, 
or  to  more  than  one-half  of  our  population.  It  con- 
sumes annually  the  following  vast  amount  of  raw 
material:  1,565,000  pounds  of  wool,  300,000  pounds 


AUBURN    IN    1869,  501 

of  cotton,  15,000,000  pounds  of  pig  and  bar  iron 
and  steel,  3,000  tons  of  coal,  350,000  bnsliels  of 
grain,  and  several  million  feet  of  lumber.  A  better 
idea  of  the  vastness  of  our  manufactures  will  be 
obtained  by  the  following  carefully  compiled  table 
of  the  market  values  of  articles  made  here  during 
the  year  1808  : 

Mowing  Machines, $2,470,000 

Illuminating  Gas, 40,000. 

Ale  and  Beer, 00,000 

Agricultural  Tools  and  Implements, 310,000 

Woolen  Goods, 1,418,000 

Planes, 175,000 

Sash,  Blinds,  and  Doors, 40,000 

Iron  and  Steel  Axles, 180,000 

Machinery   and    Castings, G0,000 

Carriages  and  Sleighs, 40,000 

Gent's  Clothing 170,000 

Cabinet  Ware, 05,000 

Carriage  Hardware, 115,000 

Cotton  Goods, 120,000 

Flour, 750,000 

Confectionery,  Pastry,  etc., 110,000 

Paper  Bags, 100,000 

Tobacco  and  Cigars, 80,000 

Lijne, 13,000 

Leather, 10,000 

Leather  Gloves  and  Mittens, 30,000 

Laundry  Machines, 20,000 

Mowing  Machine  Knife-Sections, 40,000 

Reaper  Grinders, 65,000 

Files, 40,000 


602  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Machine  Cards, 40,000 

Harness  and  Trunks,  13,000 

Boots  and  Shoes, 275,000 

Tin  Ware, 20,000 

Marble  Monuments,  Grave-Stones,  etc.,. . .  18,000 

and  other  articles  of  lesser  value,  which  will  make  the 
aggregate  value  of  all  goods  manufactured  in  the  city 
during  the  year  mentioned  upwards  of  six  millions 
nine  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

A  comparison  of  the  results  of  last  year  with  the 
total  product  of  the  manufactures  of  the  city  in  1835, 
which  was  valued  at  less  than  a  million  and  a  half, 
and  with  the  total  value  of  the  manufactures  of  Cayuga 
County  ten  years  ago,  which  was  less  than  three  mil- 
lions and  a  half,  will  show  the  wonderful  recent  growth 
of  mechanical  pursuits  in  Auburn. 

POPULATION. 

The  census  of  1865  rated  the  population  of  our  city 
at  twelve  thousand  live  hundred  and  sixty-seven  ;  by  a 
careful  calculation  of  the  accessions  to  the  population 
since  that  time,  it  appears  that  Auburn  now  contains 
fifteen  thousand  inhabitants,  exclusive  of  the  inmates 
of  the  prison.  The  foreign  element  is  strong  here,  the 
manufactures  attracting  large  numbers  of  Germans  and 
Irishmen,  of  whom  together  there  are  about  six  thou- 
sand souls. 

What  the  people  do  is  a  question  readily  answered. 
Eighteen  of  our  residents  are  clergymen,  38  la wy el's, 


AUBURN    IN    l.%9.  508 

27  physicians,  35  teachers,  65  inanufactnrers,  85  bank- 
ei*s  and  capitalists,  200  retail  dealers,  203  clerks,  190 
cai-j.)enters  and  cabinet-makers,  lOS  printei*s,  74  masons, 
stone-cutters,  and  quarry-men,  35  produce  dealei's,  42 
shoemakers,  55  blacksmiths,  2,130  mechanics  and 
workmen,  450  operatives,  girls  and  boys,  and  300  sew- 
ing women, 

THE     CLIMATE. 

The  climate  of  Auburn  is  in  no  great  respect  dissim- 
ilar to  that  which  is  common  to  all  parts  of  Western 
New  York.  The  winds  prevail  from  the  north  and 
west ;  these  bring  cool,  clear  weather,  but  are  generally 
preceded  by  heavy  storms.  The  soutli  winds  are  wet 
and  chilling.  The  average  yearly  rain  fall  is  exactly 
that  of  the  temperate  zone  the  world  round,  35.60 
inches.  The  maximum  fall  is  50  inches  ;  the  mini- 
mum, 21.  The  temperature  of  the  atmosphere  varies 
from  24  deg.  below  zero,  to  the  extreme  of  100  deg. 
above,  passing  over  an  annual  range  of  124  deg.  The 
average  temperature  is  46  deg.  99  min.,  or  30  min. 
warmer  than  the  average  of  the  State  ;  sudden  and  se- 
vere changes  are  not  uncommon,  tlie  thermometer  indi- 
cating often  a  difference  of  thirty  degrees  in  twelve 
hours.  The  average  time  from  the  blossoming  of  the 
apple-tree  to  the  iirst  killing  frost  is  said  to  be  about 
one  hundred  and  seventy-live  days. 

The  healtli  ui'  tlie  city  is  remarkable.     Notwitlistand- 


504  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

iug  the  origiimi  wetness  of  the  territory  on  wliicli  Aii- 
burn  stands,  arising  from  tlie  numberless  springs  to 
which  the  hills  give  birth,  and  the  lowness  of  lands 
along  the  outlet,  the  city  has  never  been  visited  by  any 
contagious  or  epidemic  disease  whatever,  for  over  fifty 
years.  The  cholera  has  raged  I'epeatedly  in  the  State, 
on  all  sides  of  us,  but  has  never  once  visited  the  city. 
Indeed,  in  1S32,  Auburn  was  the  asylum  of  terror- 
stricken  people  from  districts  infected  by  the  famous 
pestilence  of  that  year.  The  average  number  of  deaths, 
annually,  to  the  number  of  the  living,  is  one  to  ninety- 
eight.  The  mortality  is  the  greatest  in  tlie  spring,  the 
least  in  the  winter.  Diseases  spring  in  the  greatest 
measure  from  the  changes  of  the  weather,  the  damp- 
ness of  the  atmosphere,  and  from  careless  exposure. 
Out  of  every  hundred  deaths,  7  rise  from  diseases  of 
the  heart,  9  from  diseases  of  the  brain,  14  from  fevers, 
15  from  atfections  of  the  bowels,  and  55  from  consum]>- 
tion  and  diseases  of  the  throat  and  lungs. 

The  morality  of  Auburn  is  the  subject  of  universal 
remark.  We  are  absolutely  without  a  lawless  element 
in  our  population,  and  open  wickedness  is  a  thing 
that  we  are  happily  free  from.  The  existence  of  nu- 
merous and  powerful  temperance  and  benevolent  socie- 
ties in  the  town  ])romotes  good  order  in  no  small 
degree. 

In  point  of  healthy  and  rational  amusements  we  are 
not  deficient.     The  neii]:hl)orhood  of  beautiful  lakes, 


AUBURN    IN    If^O.  505 

whose  waters  teem  with  delicious  tish,  and  which  are 
surrounded  by  the  most  inspiring  scenery,  affords  the 
unfailing  means  of  relaxation  and  ]»loasure.  The 
M'oods  are  full  of  game,  the  roads  are  good  in  sununer 
and  winter,  and  invite  to  riding  and  sleighing  j^arties, 
and  the  }>onds  at  the  last-named  season  call  the  city  out 
a  skating.  Two  fine,  large  concert-halls  are  constantly 
in  use,  and  tlie  night  without  an  entertainnu'iit  at  one 
or  botli  is  an  exception  to  the  rule. 

Conclusion. — These  hasty  sketches  of  Auhurii  in 
1869,  are  given  with  the  hope  that  they  will  afford  to 
the  reader  "  a  view  of  tlie  thing."  The  statistics  they 
contain  cannot  fail  to  he  matters  of  interest  to  resi- 
dents, and  of  the  utmost  importance  to  future  settlers. 
They  tell  more  eloquently  than  words  the  present  con- 
dition of  our  city,  the  character  of  our  business  and 
])eople,  and  the  desirableness  of  a  residence  in  our 
midst. 

The  past  and  the  present  have  thus  been  laid  before 
the  reader  in  a  plain  and,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  a  satisfac- 
tory way.  The  future  alone  remains  to  be  told.  But 
this  is  the  province, of  the  prophet,  and  not  of  the  his- 
torian. Our  duty  is  already  discharged.  We  cannot, 
however,  resist  the  desire  to  answer  a  secret  fear  which 
some  of  our  citizens  have  entertained,  that  our  city  has 
at  last  attained  its  growth.  Nothing  could  be  more 
absurd  than  this  fear. 

Auburn,  indeed,  has  no  mines,  and  little  connnerce, 


606  HISTORY    OF    ALBUKN. 

and  tlie  local  business  atforded  by  the  neighboring 
towns,  tlioiigh  a  powerful  auxiliary  to  growth,  will  not 
probably  make  any  larger  additions  to  our  fifteen  thou- 
sand inhabitants.  The  question  of  future  growth  and 
importance  hangs,  therefore,  principally  on  the  develop- 
ment of  onr  water-power,  and  the  employment  of  the 
people  in  the  mills.  But  this  water-power  is  now  no 
more  than  half  developed,  and  that  half  is  in  use  less 
than  half  the  time.  It  is  possible  to  employ  in  the 
business  of  manufacturing  four  times  the  number  of 
men  that  are  so  employed  at  present. 

The  reduction  in  the  cost  of  living  and  the  stimulus 
to  enterprise  which  the  completion  of  the  Southern 
Central  Railroad  will  effect,  and  the  strength  to  be  im- 
parted to  the  city  by  the  passage  of  a  bill,  now  pend- 
ing in  the  Legislature,  to  enlarge  its  territory  by  annex- 
ing a  tract  to  the  western  border  half  a  mile  in  width, 
must  also  be  taken  into  account.  An  indication  of  the 
growth  of  last  year  was  the  erection  of  over  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  new  buildings ;  an  indication  of  our 
prospects  in  the  future  is  the  fact  that  the  erection  of 
nearly  two  hundred  more  the  present  season  is  intended. 
There  is  no  apparent  reason  why  Auburn  should  halt 
in  her  progress  till  lier  jjopulation  should  exceed  fifty 
thousand,  nor  why  that  result  should  not  be  attained 
within  twenty  years. 


CIVIL    LIST.  50T 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CIVIL  LIST  OF  AUBURN  AND  CAYUGA  COUNTY. 
TRUSTEES    OF    AUBURN. 

The  Act  of  the  Legislature  incorporating  the  village 
of  Auburn,  passed  April  18th,  1815,  provided  for  the 
annual  election  of  five  trustees  of  the  village,  and  a 
Clerk  to  record  their  proceedings;  said  trustees  to 
elect  a  president  from  their  own  number.  Owing  to- 
the  fact  tliat  the  Board  of  Trustees  had  no  regular 
place  of  meeting,  and  tliat  no  systematic  record  of 
tlieir  proceedings  was  kept  for  many  years,  it  has  been 
nearly  or  quite  impossible  to  obtain  a  complete  list  of 
tlie  village  officers  previous  to  1835. 

1835. — Michael  S.  Myers,  President;  Jesse  Willard,  Charles  W. 
Pomero}^  Bradley  Tuttle.  John  H.  Chedell,  Trustees  ;  Daniel  An- 
drus,  Clerk. 

March  9th,  183H,  the  village  charter  was  so  amended 
as  to  divide  the  village  into  four  wards,  and  to  provide 
for  the  election  of  two  trustees  from  each  ward,  and 
a  president  exclusive ;  the  time  of  holding  the  annual 
election  w^as  clianged  to  the  lirst  Tuesday  of  April. 

1836.— Isaac  S.  Miller,  President ;  Isaac  Selover,  George  Casey, 
Henry  Polhemu.s,  Warren  T.  Worden,  John  II.  Chedell,  Robert 
Cook,  Bradley  Tuttle,  John  B.  Dill,  Trustees;  Daniel   Andrus, 


508  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Clerk.  18o7. — Robert  Muir,  Presideut ;  Henry  Polhemus,  Warren 
T,  Worden,  Thomas  F.  Muuroe,  John  Hepburn,  John  H.  Chedell, 
Stephen  A.  Goodwin,  Ira  Hopkins,  Henry  Ivisou,  Jr.,  Trustees  ; 
Peter  H.  Myers,  Clerk.  1838.— John.  H.  Beach,  President;  Ne- 
hemiah  D.  Carhart,  Ebenezer  B.  Cobb,  Peter  G.  Fosdick, 
Thomas  F.  Munroe,  George  C.  Skinner,  Daniel  D.  Thomas,  George 
H.  Wood,  Daniel  Hewson,  Trusteed;  William  Fosgate,  Clerk. 
1839.— Allen  Warden,  President ;  Nehemiah  D.  Carhart,  Thomas 
F.  Munroe,  Martin  Smith,  Amos  Gould,  Daniel  Plewson,  Edward 
E.  Marvine,  William  H.  Van  Tuyl,  John  Loudon,  Trustees;  Fred- 
eric Prince,  Clerk.  1840.— Cyrus  C.  Dennis,  President;  Emory 
Osborne,  Satterlee  Warden,  ^Martin  Smith,  George  O.  Murfey,  Ed- 
ward E.  Marvine,  John  L.  Watrous,  George  B.  Chase,  John  Hep- 
burn, Trustees;  Frederic  Prince,  Clerk.  1841.— Cyrus  C.  Dennis, 
President;  James  AVillson,  Avery  Babbitt,  Martin  Smith,  Joshua 
Burt,  Ira  Curtis,  William  C.  Beardsley,  George  B.  Chase,  William 
H.  Van  Tuyl,  Trustees  ;  Frederic  Prince,  Clerk.  1842.— Cyrus  C. 
Dennis,  President;  Emory  Osborne,  Elisha  Miller,  William 
Woods,  William  P.  Smith,  Daniel  Hewson,  John  Morrison,  Philo 
Halliday,  Daniel  Woodworth,  Trustees;  Jacob  R.  How,  Clerk. 
1843.~John  L.  Watrous,  President;  Gilbert  C.  Milligan,  Gerrilt 
N.  Orton,  John  Knapp,  John  B.  Gaylord,  Walter  G.  Simpson, 
James  E.  T^der,  Chester  Fanning,  David  Foot,  Trustees ;  Jacob 
R.  How,  Clerk.  1844.— George  B.  Chase,  President;  George 
Casey,  George  B.  Markham,  Josiah  Douglass,  Horace  L.  Knight, 
Sherman  Beardsley,  William  Osborne,  Lawrence  White,  William 
H.  Van  Tuyl,  Trustees  ;  Jacob  R.  How,  Clerk.  1845.— George  B. 
Chase,  President;  George  B.  Markham,  Edward  N.  Kitchell, 
Adam  Miller,  Alexander  Hamilton  Burt,  John  P.  Hulbert,  John 
Curtis,  Matthew  Sittser,  Lewis  Walker,  Trustees:  Jacob  R.  How, 
Clerk.  1846.— Ethan  A.  Warden,  President ;  Nehemiah  D.  Car- 
hart, James  Congdon,  Josiah  Sherwood,  Zebina  M.  Mason,  Benja- 
min F.  Hall,  Harrison  S.  Dickinson,  David  Mills,  E.  P.  Williams, 
Trustees ;  Jacob  R.  How,  Clerk.     1847.— Daniel  Hewson,  Presi- 


CIVIL    LIST.  50^ 

dent;  Cbauncey  \V.  Markham,  Joseph  Morris,  Josiah  Sherwood, 
Zebina  M.  Mason,  Rowland  F.  Russell,  Andrew  V.  M.  Suydam, 
Theron  Green,  Daniel  Woodworth,  Trustees ;  Theodore  M. 
Pomeroy,  Clerk. 

Auburn  was  incorporated  as  a  city  March  21st,  1848, 
upon  petition  of  the  village  trustees.  The  administra- 
tion thenceforward  consisted  of  a  mayor  and  common 
council,  the  latter  composed  of  eight  aldermen,  two 
from  each  ward.  The  election  of  these  officers  is  held 
upon  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  of  March. 

1848.— Mayor :  Cyrus  C.  Dennis.  Clerk :  Theodore  M.  Pome- 
roy. Aldermen :  Shubael  Cottle,  Joseph  Morris,  Joshua  Burt, 
Charles  F.  Coffin,  Edward  Barber,  John  B.  Gaylord,  Stephen  S. 
Austin,  Wheaton  Sanders. 

1849.— Mayor:  Daniel  Hewson.  Clerk:  Theodore  M.  Pome- 
roy. Aldermen :  Stephen  S.  Austin,  Edward  Barber,  Charles  F. 
Coffin,  Shubael  Cottle,  James  Mclntyre,  Robert  Nisbet,  Jesse  Se- 
goine,  Lewis  E.  Carpenter. 

1850.— Mayor:  Aurelian  Conkliu.  Clerk:  Theodore  M.  Pome- 
roy. Aldermen :  Lewis  E.  Carpenter,  James  Mclntyre,  Robert 
Nisbet,  James  V.  Bowen,  Joshua  Burt,  William  H.  Foster,  Row- 
land F.  Russell,  Ebenezer  Allen. 

1851.— Mayor:  Aurelian  Conklin.  Clerk  :  William  F.  Segoine. 
Aldermen :  Joshua  Burt,  James  V.  Bowen,  Rowland  F.  Russell, 
Ethan  Allen,  J.  V.  Palmer,  Silas  L.  Bradley,  John  Maurow,  Jesse 
S.  Eggleston. 

1852.— Mayor :  Benjamin  F.  Hall.  Clerk :  Frederic  Prince.  Al- 
dermen :  Silas  L.  Bradley,  J.  V.  Palmer,  Charles  Wheaton,  George 
B.  Markham,  Aretas  A.  Sabin,  John  Curtis,  Rowland  F.  Russell, 
Daniel  C.  Goodrich. 

1853.— Mayor :  Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr.  Clerk  :  Frederic  Prince. 
Aldermen  :  Rowland  F.  Russell,  Daniel  C.  Goodrich,  George  B. 


.^10  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Markham,  Henry  G.  Ellsworth,  Philip  R.  Freeoff,  Lyman  O.  Sher- 
wood, Daniel  W.  Thorpe,  John  Curtis. 

1854. — Mayors :  *  George  Underwood  and  Joshua  Burt.  Clerk  : 
Frederic  Prince.  Aldermen :  John  Curtis,  Philip  R.  Freeoff,  Dan- 
iel W.  Thorpe,  Nehemiah  D.  Carhart,  Lewis  Paddock,  Isaac  Lewis, 
William  Shapcott,  David  Madden. 

1855._Mayor:  John L.  Watrous.  Clerk:  Frederic  Prince.  Al- 
dermen :  David  Madden,  Walter  J.  Simpson,  John  Curtis,  Monroe 
Hamlin,  Sylvanus  H.  Henry,  Daniel  W.  Thorpe,  Isaac  Lewis, 
William  Shapcott. 

1856. — Mayor :  Sylvanus  H.  Henry.  Clerk  :  Frederic  Prince. 
Aldermen:  John  Curtis,  Monroe  Hamlin,  Daniel  W.  Thorpe, 
Adam  Miller,  Samuel  Smith,  Eli  Gallup,  Erastus  Case,  Charles  H. 
Oarlock. 

1857. — Mayor  :  Lansingh  Briggs.  Clerk  :  James  Seymour.  Alder- 
men :  Eli  Gallup,  Samuel  Smith,  Adam  Miller,  Charles  H  Garlock, 
Watson  B.  Lynch,  Jacob  S.  Gray,  David  P.  Greeno,  Erastus  Case. 

1858, — Mayor :  Lansingh  Briggs.  Clerk  :  Theodore  H.  Schenck. 
Aldermen:  Charles  H.  Garlock,  Watson  B.  Lynch,  David  P. 
Greeno,  Jacob  S.  Gray,  Henry  Lewis,  Lovell  H.  Baldwin,  George 
I.  Post,  Stephen  S.  Austin. 

1859. — IMayor :  Lansingh  Briggs.  Clerk:  Theodore  H.  Schenck. 
Aldermen:  Henry  Lewis,  Thomas  McCrea,  Lovell  H.  Baldwin, 
Jacob  S.  Gray,  Charles  H.  Garlock,  George  I.  Post,  Stephen  S. 
Austin,  James  E.  Tyler. 

1860. — Mayor :  Christopher  Morgan.  Clerk  :  Amasa  B.  Ham- 
lin. Aldermen :  Josiah  Y.  Hoaglan,  Albert  H.  Goss,  Charles  G. 
Briggs,  Eli  Gallup,  Charles  H.  Garlock,  Jacob  S.  Gray,  Thomas 
McCrea,James  E.  Tyler. 

1861. — Mayor:  George  Humphreys.  Clerk:  William  H.  Mea- 
ker.    Aldermen :  David  H.  Schoonmaker,  Charles  Bemis,  William 

*  George  Underwood  having  resigned  the  office  of  Mayor  before  the  expira- 
tion of  his  temi,  Joshua  Burt  was  chosen  at  a  special  election  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy. 


CIVIL    LIST.  511 

H.  Kelsey,  Eli  Gallup,  William  Joliuson,  Tlionms  McCrea,  Joha 
y.  Fowler,  Charles  G.  Briggs. 

1862. — Mayor  :  George  Humphreys.  Clerk  :  Amasa  B.  Hamlin. 
Aldermeu  :  James  Tibbcls,  John  S.  Fowler,  Charles  G.  Briggs, 
Eli  Gallup,  Charles  Bemis,  William  H.  Kelsey,  David  11.  Schcx>n- 
maker,  William  Johnson. 

1863.— Mayor ;  Jonas  White,  Jr.  Clerk  -.  Charles  E.  Cootes. 
Aldermen :  Henry  Lewis,  William  H.  Kelsey,  William  Johnson, 
Charles  G.  Briggs,  Edward  C.  Hall,  John  S.  Fowler,  Eli  Gallup. 
James  Tibbels. 

1864.— Mayor:  Charles  G.  Briggs.  Clerk:  Charles  F.  Durston. 
Aldermen  :  James  Tibbels,  John  S.  Fowler,  Charles  A.  Warden, 
Eli  Gallup,  Henry  Lewis,  Edward  C.  Hall,  William  PL  Kelsey^ 
William  Johnson. 

1865. — Mayor  :  George  Humphreys.  Clerk :  Daniel  O.  Sullivan. 
Aldermen :  Edward  C.  Selover,  Morris  M.  Olmsted,  Andrew  W. 
Johnson,  Elbridge  G.  Miles,  Eli  Gallup,  Daniel  W.  Thorpe,  John 
S.  Fowler,  Charles  A.  Warden. 

1866. — Mayor  :  John  S.  Fowler.  Clerk  :  James  Lyon.  Alder- 
men :  Edward  C.  Selover,  Emory  Osborne,  Andrew  W.  Johnson , 
Dorr  Hamlin,  John  Cboate,  John  S.  Brown,  Eli  Gallup,  Daniel  W. 
Thorpe. 

1867. — Mayor  :  John  S.  Fowler.  Clerk :  James  Lyon.  Alder- 
men :  John  S.  Brown,  John  Choate,  Eli  Gallup,  Dorr  Hamlin, 
John  M.  Hurd,  Andrew  W.  Johnson,  Emory  Osborne,  Luther  S. 
Goodrich. 

1868.— Mayor  :  James  E.  Tyler.  Clerk :  All)ert  L.  Sisson.  Al- 
dermen :  John  M.  Hurd,  Joseph  Osborne,  Dorr  Hamlin,  Andrew 
W.  Johnson,  John  S.  Brown,  John  Choate,  Luther  S.  Goodrich, 
Eli  Gallup. 

1869.— Mayor:  John  M.  Hurd.  Clerk:  Sereno  E.  Payne.  Al- 
dermen: George  Bench,  Joseph  Osborne,  Dorr  Hamlin,  E.  D. 
Woodruff,  John  S.  Brown,  John  Choate,  Luther  Goodrich,  Eli  P. 
Babcock. 


512  history  of  aubukx. 

postmast;er8. 

A  Post  Office  was  established  at  Auburn  by  the 
General  Government  in  the  year  1800. 

Dr.  Samuel  Crossett,  1800-9 ;  Enos  B.  Throop,  1809-15  ;  George 
B.  Throop,  1815-33  ;  Hiram  Bostwick,  1833-37 ;  George  Rathbun, 
1837^1;  William  C.  Beardsley,  1841-45;  Amos  S.  Ratlibun, 
1845-47;  Michael  S.  Myers,  1847-49;  Ethan  A.  Warden,  1849-55; 
Elmore  P.  Ross,  1855-57 ;  Charles  W.  Pomeroy,  1857-61 ;  Wil- 
liam Allen,  1861-69 ;  Clinton  D.  McDougall,  1869. 

SUPERVISORS. 

Inasmuch  as  the  town  of  Auburn  was  not  set  oif 
imtil  March,  1823,  the  list  of  the  supervisors  of  Au- 
relius,  in  which  it  was  included,  is  given  up  to  that 
date.  Supervisors  are  chosen  annually  at  the  spring 
elections. 

Elijah  Price,  1796-97  ;  Joseph  Grover,  1797-1801 ;  John  L.  Har- 
denbiirgh,  1801-02 ;  John  Grover,  1802-  03 ;  John  Grover,  Jr., 
1803-07 ;  John  Grover,  1807-10 ;  William  C.  Bennett,  1810-14  ;  Na- 
thaniel Garrow,  1814-15 ;  William  C.  Bennett,  1815-18 ;  Nathaniel 
Wisner,  1818-20 ;  William  C.  Bennett,  1820-22 ;  David  Brinker- 
hoff,  1822-23;  John  Grover,  1823-24;  Elijah  Miller,  1824r-26 ; 
Lyman  Payne,  1826-29 ;  Nathaniel  Garrow,  1829-32 ;  George  B. 
Throop,  1832-34;  John  Richardson,  1834-35;  George  Rathbun, 
1835-36:  Nathaniel  Garrow,  1835-37;  Isaac  S.  Miller,  1837-38 , ' 
Henry  Polhemus,  1838-40;  John  Richardson,  1840-43 ;  Stephen 
S.  Robinson,  1843-44;  Henry  Ivison,  Jr.,  1844-45;  Ira  Hopkins, 
1845-46  ;  Henry  Ivison,  Jr.,  1846-47 ;  William  Beach,  1847. 

The  city  charter,  granted  March  21st,  184^,  divided 
Auburn  into  four  wards,  and  provided  for  the  annual 
election  of  a  supervisor  from  each, 
f  1848.— John  Richardson,  John  Olmsted,  Josiah  M.  Starin,  Wil- 


CIVIL    LIST.  513 

liam  Beach.  1849. — Emory  Osborne,  John  Olmsted,  George  Un- 
derwood, William  Beach.  1850. — Emory  Osborne,  John  Olmsted, 
George  Underwood,  Elisha  K.  Fanning.  1851. — Emory  Osborne, 
Daniel  Hewson,  William  How,  Lansingh  Briggs.  1852.— Adam 
Miller,  Henry  Underwood,  William  How,  Terence  J.  Kennedy. 
1853. — Adam  Miller,  Henry  Underwood,  Charles  T.  Ferris,  John 
S.  Clary.  1854. — Adam  Miller,  Henry  Underwood,  Charles  T. 
Ferris,  John  S.  Claiy.  1855.— Silas  W.  Arnett,  John  A.  Dodge, 
Charles  N.  Tattle,  C.  S.  Trowbridge.  1856.— Harvey  Wilson, 
Charles  C.  Dwight,  David  L.  Dodge,  C.  S.  Trowbridge.  1857.— 
Delos  M.  Keeler,  Charles  C.  Dwight,  Charles  G.  Briggs,  Stephen 
S.  Austin.  1858.— Adam  Miller,  Charles  C.  Dwight,  Charles  G. 
Briggs,  Samuel  Lock  wood.  1859. — Adam  Miller,  John  Olmsted, 
William  Hills,  Samuel  Lockwood.  I860.— Adam  Miller,  C.  W. 
Boyce,  Wm.  Miller,  C.  Eugene  Barber.  1861.— Adam  Miller, 
Wm.  P.  Robinson,  William  E.  Hughitt,  C.  Eugene  Barber.  1862. 
—Adam  Miller,  Wm.  P.  Robinson,  Wm.  E.  Hughitt,  C.  Eugene 
Barber.  1863.— Adam  Miller,  Daniel  Hewson,  Wm.  J.  Moses, 
Myron  Cowell.  1864. — Adam  Miller,  Daniel  Hewson,  Wm.  J. 
Moses,  MjTon  Cowell.  1865. — John  M.  Hurd,  Daniel  Hewson, 
E.  A.  Tliomas,  Myron  Cowell.  1866.— John  M.  Hurd,  Daniel 
Hewson,  E.  A.  Thomas,  David  W.  Barnes.  1867.— E.  C.  Selover, 
Daniel  Hewson,  John  T.  Baker,  David  W.  Barnes.  1868.— Rol- 
lin  Tracey,  Richard  C.  Steel,  John  T.  Baker,  Gordon  S.  Fanning, 
1869.— Rollin  Tracey,  Richard  C.  Steel,  John  T.  Baker,  Gordon  S. 
Fanning. 

INSPECTORS    OF   AUBURN    PRISON. 

The  first  Board  of  Inspectors  of  tlie  Auburn  Prison 
was  appointed  by  law  April  20th,  1818.  By  an  act  of 
the  Legislature,  passed  April  2d,  1819,  the  Governor 
and  the  Council  of  Appointment  were  authorized  to 
appoint  the  inspectors.  The  power  of  appointment 
31 


514:  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN.  * 

was  vested  in  the  Governor  and  Senate  A]>ri]  lOtli,  1823 
Inasmuch  as  the  Inspectors  of  State  prisons  have  been 
chosen  from  the  State  at  large  since  the  revision  of  tlie 
State  Constitution,  in  1845,  the  list  of  inspectors  since 
that  date  loses  its  local  interest,  and  is  here  omitted. 

BeDJamin  Ashby,  Feb.  7, 1840;  Jolm  H.  Beach,  April  20,  1818  ; 
Samuel  Brown,  March  2,  1843 ;  Artemas  Cady,  April  IG,  1822  ; 
George  Casey,  April  20,  1818 ;  Samuel  Cumpston,  Feb.  13,  1821 ; 
Robert  Cook,  April  23,  1839  ;  Seneca  B.  Dennis,  April  10, 1838  ; 
Ulysses  F.  Doubleday,  Feb.  25,  1838 ;  Charles  D.  Fitch,  May  3, 
1845 ;  Peter  G.  Fosdick,  Feb.  7,  1840 ;  James  Glover,  April  20, 
1818  ;  John  Garrow,  Feb.  25, 1834  ;  Samuel  Gilmore,  May  3, 1845  ; 
Stephen  A.  Goodwin,  March  2, 1843  ;  John  H.  Hardenburgh,  March 
28,  1828 ;  Joshua  Haskins,  Apr.  10,  1838 ;  Horace  Hills,  Feb.  13, 
1821 ;  March  13, 1824 ;  Apr.  3, 1830  ;  Apr.  6, 1832 ;  Hai-vey  Hinman, 
Apr.  6, 1832 ;  Thos.  Y.  Howe,  Jr.,  Feb.  25, 1834 ;  Ellery  A.  Howland, 
Feb.  7, 1840 ;  Henry  Ivison,  Jr.,  April  18, 1840 ;  Freeborn  G.  Jewett, 
April  10, 1838;  Archy  Kasson,  April  20, 1818 ';  Lounsbury  Willet, 
April  10, 1838 ;  Harvey  Lyon,  Feb.  7, 1840 ;  Elijah  Miller,  April 
20,  1818 ;  Michael  S.  Myers,  March  2, 1843 ;  William  H.  Noble, 
March  2,  1843 .  Eleazer  R.  Palmer,  May  3, 1845  ;  Gershom  Pow- 
ers, Feb.  IS,  1821 ;  April  2,  1830  ;  Henry  Polhemus,  May  8,  1839 ; 
John  Porter,  April  6, 1832  ;  Joseph  L.  Richardson,  April  10, 1838  ; 
Woodin  Rice,  March  13, 1824 ;  April  16, 1827 ;  Luman  Sherwood, 
May  3, 1845  ;  Bradley  Tuttle,  April  6,  1832  ;  Feb.  25,  1834  ;  Ho- 
ratio Van  Dusen,  April  10, 1838 ;  Walter  Weed,  Feb.  13,  1821 ; 
March  13,1824;  April  16, 1827 ;  April  2,1830;  Elijah  Wheeler, 
March  2,  1843;  Ezekiel  Williams,  Feb.  13,  1821 ;  March  13, 1824  ; 
April  16,  1827 ;  April  24,  1830 ;  April  6,  1832 ;  Feb.  25,  1834 ; 
Jared  Wilson,  May  10, 1845. 

\GENTS    OF    AUBURN    PRISON. 
William   Brittin,   April,  1818;    Capt.  Elam  Lynds,  February, 


■  <1VIL    LI^T.  515 

1822  ;  Richtiid  Goodell,  — ,  182.J  ;  lion.  Oershoni  Powt-is,  — ,  18--3G  ; 
Col.  Levi  Lewis,  November,  1829  ;  John  Garrow,  June,  lyiJC  ; 
Capt.  Elam  Lynds,  May,  1838 ;  Dr.  Xoyes  Palmer,  June,  18:30 ; 
Henry  Polbemus,  — ,  1841 ;  John  Beardsle}'',  March,  1843  ;  Russell 
Chappell,  July,  1845;  Abraham  Gridley,  January,  1848;  Henry 
Underwood,  January,  1840 ;  Benjamin  Ashby,  March,  1850;  Col. 
Chas.  W.  Pomeroy,  April,  1851 ;  Col.  Levi  Lewis,  May,  1854 ; 
Thomas  Kirkpatrick,  January,  1860 ;  David  B.  McNeil,  January, 
1864;  John  H.  Conklin,  February,  1865;  Morgan  Augsbury,  Au- 
gust, 1866  ;  A.  G.  Salisbury,  — ,  1868;  Allen  Ross,  January,  18f;!(. 

TRUSTEES    OF    THIO    AlBUKN    THEOLOGICAL    SlOMLXAin. 

1820. — John  Linklaeu,*  Glen  Cnyler,*  Rev.  Hering  Davis,* 
David  Hyde,*  Thaddeus  Edwards,*  Henry  McNeil,  Rev.  Levi 
Parsons,*  Rev.  Benj.B.  Stockton,*  Rev.  Dirck  C.  Lansing,  D.  D  .  * 
Rev.  William  Wisner,  D.  D.,  *  Rev.  Henry  Axtell,  D.  D.,*  liev. 
Ebenezer  Fitch,  D.  D.,  *  Rev.  David  Higgins,*  Rev.  Seth  Smith,* 
William  Brown.*  1821.— Bradley  Tuttle,*  Col.  Samuel  Bellamy,* 
Hon.  Nathaniel  W.  Howell.*  1822.— Hon.  John  H.  Beach.* 
1823:— Eleazer  Hills.*  1825.— Henry  Dwight.*  1828.— Horace 
Hills.  1829. — Rev.  Henry  P.  Strong,*  James  S.  Seymour,  Hon. 
Hiram  F.  Mather.  1830.— T.  ]\Iarshall.  1832.— Rev.  Josiah  IL)p- 
kins,  D.  D.  1833.— Rev.  John  Keep,  Hon.  S.  M.  Hopkins, 
LL.  D.*  1834.— Hon.  John  Porter,  Hon.  Gerritt  Smith,  ]k*v. 
Sereno  E.  Dwight,  D.  D.*  1835.— Abi.jah  Fitch.  1838.— Rev. 
Miles  P.  Squier,  D.  D.,  *  Jabez  Goodell,*  Nathan  Munro.*  1839.— 
Rev.  L.  E.  Lathrop,  D.  D.,  *  Rev.  Washington  Thatcher.*  1840.— 
Rev.  Simeon  North,  LL.  D.,  Richard  Steel.  1841.— Azariah 
Smith,  Simeon  Benjamin.  1842.— Aristarchus  Champion.  1843.— 
Hon.  Asher  Sampson.*  1845. — Benjamin  B.  Johnson,  John  .J. 
Knox.  1846.— Hon.  Abner  Ilollister,*  Sylvester  Willard.  1848.— 
Hiram  H.  Seelye,*  Hon.  Elijah  Rhodes.*  1849.— Rev.  Willlani 
H.  Spencer  *  Rev.  Samuel  Gridley,  D.  D.     1851.— Rev.  Timotliy 


*Since  deceased. 


516  III^TOUY    OF    AUBUKN. 

Stillman,  D.  D.,  Rev.  P.  H.  Fowler,  D.  D.  1852.— Rev.  R  W. 
Condit,  D.  D.  18o4.— Alfred  Cobb.  1855.— Rev.  Henry  Kendall, 
Albert  T.  Chester,  D.  D.,  Hon.  Frederic  T.  Starr.  1857.— NicoU 
H.  Deering,  M.  D.  1858.— Rev.  J.  B.  bhaw,  D.  D.,  Rev.  A.  W. 
Cowles,  D.  D.  I860.— S.  W.  Fisher,  D.  D.  1803.— John  Fisher, 
Esq.,of  Batavia,  Rev.  W.  C.  Wisner.f  1865. — Rev.  Levi  Parsons,:|: 
Mount  Morris. 

THE  SHEUIFFS  OF  CAYUGA  COUNTY. 

Sheriffs  were  originally  appointed  every  year  by  the 
Council  of  Appointment.  No  person  could  hold  the 
office  more  than  four  successive  years,  nor  could  he 
hold  any  other  office  at  the  same  time.  It  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  previous  to  March  8th,  1799,  the 
present  County  of  Cayuga  formed  part  of  the  old 
County  of  Onondaga. 

Onondaga  County. — John  Harris,  appointed  March  14,  1794  ; 
Abiather  Hull.  February  9, 1796  ;  Comfort  Tyler,  February  17, 
1798. 

Cayuga  County. — Joseph  Ammin,  appointed  March  14,  1799 ; 
Peter  Hughes,  August  10,  1801  ;  Solomon^Buell,^January  13, 1804; 
Jacob  S.  C.  DeWitt,  March  13,  1806;  Jonathan  Richmond,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1808  ;  Zenas  Goodrich,  February  11, 1812  ;  Charles  H. 
Morrell,  March  3,  1813 ;  Nathaniel  Garrow, ^February  28,  1815 ; 
Archibald  Green,  February  13,  1819  ;  Nathaniel  Garrow,  Feb- 
ruary 12, 1821. 

Since  1821  sheriffs  have  been  elected  for  a  term  of 
three  years,  and  are  ineligible  to  tlie  same  office  for 
the  term  next  succeeding. 

t  Vice  father,  resigned. 

t  Son  of  the  original  Tnietee,  Rev.  Levi  Pardons. 


CIVIL    LIS']'.  517 

Nathaniel  Garrow,  elected  Novemher,  1S33;  Archibald  Green, 
November,  1825  ;  Peleg  Gallup,  November,  1828 ;  Peter  Langer, 
November,  1831 ;  Warren  Parsons,  November,  1834;  George  II. 
(Jarr,*  March  30, 1838 ;  Hiram  Rathbun,  November,  1838  ;  George 
H.  Carr,  November,  1841  ;  Augustus  Petlibone,  November,  1844  ; 
Joseph  P.  Swift,  November,  1847 ;  Stephen  Fancher,  November, 
1850;  John  S.  Knapp,t  December,  1853 ;  John  S.  Knapp,  Novem- 
ber, 1853.;  Edwin  B.  Hoskins,  November,  1856;  Daniel  D.  Buck, 
November,  1859  ;  James  Mead,  November,  1802  ;  Sydney  Mead, 
November,  1865 ;  John  E.  Saverj'-,  November,  1808. 

TUK  CLEliKS    OF    CAYUGA  COU^'TY. 

According  to  the  act  of  February  12tli,  1796,  it  wari 
declared  to  be  the  diitv  of  the  County  Clerk  to  keep 
the  County  Records,  and  act  as  Clerk  of  the  Inferior 
Court  of  Common  Pleas.  In  1821,  his  term  of  office 
was  fixed  at  three  years,  and  his  seal  declared  to  be  tlie 
seal  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  and,  in  1847,  the 
County  Clerks  were  declared  to  be  Clerks  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  and  their  seals  the  seals  of  the  Supreme 
Court. 

Onondaga  County.— Benjamin  Ledyard,  appointed  March  14, 
1794. 

Cayuga  County. — Benjamin  Ledyard,  appointed  ]March  14, 
1799 ;  Peter  Hughes,  January  3,  1804 ;  Enos  T.  '1  hroop,  February 
5,  1811;  Elijah  Miller,  February  26,  1813;  Enos  T.  Throop, 
February  13,  1815 ;  James  Glover,  March  2,  1819 ;  George  B. 
Throop,  February  14,  1821 ;  George  B.  Throop,  November  — , 
1822;  Abraham  Gridley,  November —,  1825 ;  Michael  S.  Myers, 
November  — ,  1828  ;  Wm.  Richardson,  November  — ,  1837 ;  Philip 

•  Vice  Pardons  deceased.  t  Vice  T'ancher  deceased. 


518  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

Van  Arsdale,  November  — ,  184o  ;  Ebeuezer  B.  Cobb,  November 
— ,  1846  ;  Edwin  B.  Marvin,  November  — ,  1852 ;  Benjamin  B. 
Snow,  November  — ,  1858 ;  John  S.  Laneliart,  November  — ,  1854. 

DISTRICT  A'rrORNEYS. 

Tlie  office  of  District  Attorney  was  created  April 
4tli,  1801,  at  which  tune  the  State  was  divided  into 
seven  districts.  The  Seventh  District  inckided  the 
Counties  of  Cayuga,  Onondaga,  Ontario,  Steuben,  Tio- 
ga, Alleghany  from  1806,  Broome  from  1806,  Seneca 
from  1804,  Genesee  from  1802,  Chatauqua  and  Ni- 
agara from  1808,  and  Cattaraugus  from  1808.  A  law 
passed  the  21st  of  April,  1818,  made  each  county 
a  district.  From  1821  to  1817,  the  attorneys  were 
appointed  by  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  in  each 
county.     Since  1817  tliey  have  been  elected  triennially. 

William  Stuart,  appointed  March  2,  1802 ;  Daniel  W.  Lewis, 
March  9, 1810 ;  William  Stuart,  February  12, 1811 ;  Vincent  Mat- 
thew, March  12,  1813:  Daniel  Conger,  April  17,  1815;  Joseph  L. 
liichardson,  June  11, 1818  ;  John  Porter,  February  14, 1821 ;  Theo- 
dore Spencer,  —  14,  1828  ;  Richard  L.  Smith,  January  21, 1832; 
Michael  S.  Myers,  January  25, 1838 ;  Dennison  Robinson,  January 
27, 1841 ;  Luman  Sherwood,  June  3, 1844  ;  Ebenezer  W\  Ames, 
January  — ,  1847 .  Theodore  M.  Pomerpy,  November  — ,  1850  ; 
Solomon  Giles,  November  — ,  1856 ;  George  I.  Post,  November 
— ,  1859 :  Richard  C.  Steel,  November  --,  1862  ;  William  B.  Mills, 
November  — ,  1867. 

J  U  D I  C  1  A  n  Y  . 

SUKROGATES. 

In  1787  tlie  appointment  of  surrogates  was  author- 


CIVIL    LIST.  519 

ized  in  every  county  by  the  council  of  appointment. 
There  was  an  appeal  from  their  decisions  to  the  Judge 
and  Courts  of  Probates,  who  also  held  jurisdiction  in 
cases  of  decease  out  of  the  State,  or  of  non-residents 
within  the  State.  This  court  was  abolished  March  21, 
1823.  Under  the  constitution  of  1821,  the  Surrogates 
were  appointed  for  four  years  by  the  Governor  and 
Senate.  Appeals  from  their  decisions  were  then  made 
to  tlie  Chancellor.  The  office  of  surrogate  was  made 
elective  in  181:0,  though  it  was  abolished  in  counties 
having  a  population  exceeding  40,000,  in  which 
cases  the  duties  were  performed  by  tlie  County 
Judge. 

ONONDAGA    SUKKOGATES. 

Moses  DeWitt,  appointed  March  14,  1794 ;  Thomas  Mumford, 
Oct.  1, 1797. 

CAYUGA  SURROGATES. 
Glen  Cuj^ler,  appointed  March  14, 1799  ;  Eleazer  Burnham,  Feb- 
ruary 5, 1811 ;  Glen  Cuyler,  February  26, 1813 ;  Eleazer  Bui-nham, 
Feb.  28, 1815  ;  Seneca  Wood,  June  7,  1820 ;  Benj.  L.  Cuyler,  Feb- 
ruary 14, 1821 ;  John  Porter,  March  12, 1828 ;  Thomas  Y.  Howe, 
Jr.,  March  18, 1836  ;  George  H.  Wood,  April  14, 1840;  Charles  B. 
Perry,  February  15,  1844 ;  Jacob  R.  How,  June,  1847 ;  William 
i>.  Woodiu,  November,  1859. 

SPECIAL  SURROGATES. 

Tlie  constitution  of  181:6  authorized  the  Legislature, 
u})on  the  a[)plication  of  a  Board  of  Supervisors,  to  pro- 
vide for  the  election  of  not  exceeding  two  olHcers  in 


520  HISTOKY    OF    AUBCEN. 

any  one  county,  to  perforin  the  duties  of  Surrogate  and 
County  Judge  in  case  of  inability  to  act  or  vacancy. 

Solomon  Giles,  elected  November,  1852  ;  Campbell  W.  Haynes, 
November,  1855  ;  John  S.  M.  Davie,  November,  1861  ;  John  S.  M. 
Davie,  November,  18G4. 

FIRST  JUDGES. 

Uuder  the  tlr^t  constitution  the  number  of  judges 
and  assistant  justices  in  different  counties  varied  great- 
ly. March  27th,  1818,  the  number  was  limited  to  five. 
By  the  revised  constitution  of  1S21,  the  first  judges 
were  appointed  by  the  Governor  and  Senate  for  a  term 
of  five  years. 

Seth  Phelps,  appointed  March  14,  1794 ;  Walter  Wood,  Febru- 
ary 26,  1810;  Elijah  Miller,  March  13,  1817;  Gershom  Powers, 
January  31, 1823  ;  Jos.  L.  Richardson,  January  8, 1827. 

COUNTY  JUDGES. 

The  constitution  of  1846  made  the  ofhce  of  county 
judge  elective,  and  his  term  of  office  four  years. 

John  P.  Hulbert,  elected  June,  1847 ;  George  Humphreys,  No- 
vember, 1851 ;  Charles  C.  Dvvight,  November,  1859 ;  William 
Hughitt,  November,  1863. 

SPECIAL  JUDGES. 

The  constitution  of  1846  authorized  the  Legislature, 
mpon  the  application  of  a  Board  of  Supervisors,  to  pro- 
vide for  the  election  of  not  exceeding  two  officers  in 
anyone  county,  to  perform  the  duties  of  County  Judge 
and  Surrogate  in  case  of  inability  to  act  or  vacancy. 

Charles  J.  Hulbert,  elected  November,  1852 ;  Fayette  G.  Day, 
JSTovember,  1857 ;  Amzi  Wood,  November,  1863. 


CIVIL    LIST.  521 

L  E  G  I  S  L  A  T  U  R  E. 


SENATORIAL    DISTRICTS. 


Under  the  first  constitution,  the  State  Senate  con- 
sisted of  twentj-fonr  members,  apportioned  among 
four  great  districts.  Members  were  chosen  for  tlie  pe- 
riod of  four  years  cacli.  After  the  fir^t  election  they 
were  so  divided  that  the  term  of  six  members  expired 
every  year.  An  additional  Senator  was  aUowed  each 
district,  when  its  census  showed  an  increase  of  its  elec- 
tors of  one  twenty-fourth.  The  census  of  1797  made 
the  number  forty-three;  but  in  ISOl,  it  was  fixed  at 
thirty-two.  The  County  of  Cayuga  was  included  in 
what  was  called  the  Western  District.  So  extensive 
was  this  district,  that  of  all  its  members,  elected  pre- 
vious to  1821,  but  two  or  three  were  from  this  County. 
The  list  up  to  that  date,  therefore,  possevsses  little  or  no 
local  interest. 

The  constitution  of  1821  divided  the  State  into 
eight  senatorial  districts,  each  having  four  Senators. 
One  Senator  was  elected  every  year,  and  his  term  of 
oflace  was  four  years.  The  Seventh  District  comprised 
the  counties  of  Cayuga,  Onondaga,  Ontario,  and  Sen- 
eca. To  these  were  added,  Yates,  Feb.  5th,  1823  : 
Wayne,  Aju-il  1 1th,  1823  :  and  Cortland,  May  23, 1836. 


SENATORS. 


1823.— Silas  Bowkcr,   Bryan  Green,  Jesse    Clark,  Jonas  Earll, 
Jr.      1824.— Silas  Bowker,  Bryan  Green,  Jesse   Clark,  Jedediah 


522  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

Morgan.  1825.— Jesse  Clark,  Jeclediah  Morgan,  Jonas  Earll,  Jr., 
John  C.  Spencer.  1826.— Jonas  Earll,  Jr.,  Jedediah  Morgan, 
John  C.  Spencer,  Truman  Hart.  1827.— Victory  Birdseye,  John  C. 
Spencer,  Truman  Hart,  William  M.  Oliver.  1828.— John  C.  Spen- 
cer, Truman  Hart,  William  M.  Oliver,  George  B.  Throop.  1829.— 
Truman  Hart,  William  M.  Oliver,  George  B.  Throop,  Hiram  F. 
Mather.  1830.— William  M.  Oliver,  George  B.  Throop,  Hiram  F. 
Mather,  Thomas  Armstrong.  1831.— George  B.  Throop,  Hiram 
F.  Mather,  Thomas  Armstrong,  William  H.  Seward.  1832.— Hi- 
ram F.  Mather,  Thomas  Armstrong,  William  H.  Seward,  Jehiel 
H.  Halsey.  1833. — Thomas  Armstrong,  William  H.  Seward,  Je- 
hiel H.  Halsey,  Samuel  L.  Edwards.  1834.— William  H.  Seward, 
Jehiel  H.  Halsey,  Samuel  L.  Edwards,  Thomas  Armstrong.  1835. 
— Jehiel  H.  Halsey,  Samuel  L.  Edwards,  Thomas  Armstrong, 
Chester  Loomis.  1836. — Samuel  L.  Edwards,  Thomas  Armstrong, 
Cliester  Loomis,  John  Beardsley.  1837. — Thomas  Armstrong, 
Chester  Loomis,  John  Beardsley,  Samuel  L.  Edwards.  1838. — 
Chester  Loomis,  John  Beardsley,  Samuel  L.  Edwards,  John  May- 
nard.  1839.— John  Beardsley,  Samuel  L.  Edwards,  John  May- 
nard,  Robert  C.  Nicholas.  1840. — John  Maynard,  Samuel  L.  Ed- 
wards, Robert  C.  Nicholas,  Mark  H.  Sibley.  1841.— John  May- 
nard, Robert  C.  Nicholas,  Mark  H.  Sibley,  Elijah  Rhoades.  1842 
— Robert  C.  Nicholas,  Elijah  Rhoades,  Lyman  Sherwood,  William 
Bartlet.  1843.— Lyman  Sherwood,  Elijah  Rhoades,  William  Bart- 
let^  John  Forter.  1844.— Elijah  Rhoades,  William  Bartlet,  John 
Porter,  Albert  Lester.  1845.— William  Bartlet,  John  Porter,  Al- 
bert Lester,  Henry  J.  Sedgwick.  1848.— John  Porter,  Albert  Les- 
ter, Henry  J.  Sedgwick,  Richard  H.  Williams.  1847.— Albert 
Lester,  Henry  J.  Sedgwick,  Richard  H.  Williams,  Abraham  Grid- 
ley. 

The  constitution  of  184:7  made  thirty-two  senatorial 
districts,  in  which  one  member  was  elected  every  other 
year  for  si   term  of  two  years.     At  first  Caynga  and 


civn.  LIST.  523 

AVayiie  Counties  constituted  the   Twenty- Fourth.  Dis- 
trict^ but  in  1867  it  was  changed  to  Twenty- Fifth. 

Wm.  J.  Corawell,  1847 ;  AYilliam  Beach,  1849-1851 ;  William 
Clark,  1853;  Samuel  C.  Cuyler,  1855;  Alex.  B.  Williams,  1857- 
1859 ;  Channcey  M.  Abbott,  1861  ;  Stephen  K.  Williams,  1863, 
1865,  1867. 

MEMBERS  OF  ASSE^IUL^'. 

The  asseniljly  has  always  been  cliosen  annually.  It 
consisted  at  first  of  seventy  members,  witli  the  power 
t<»  increase  one  with  every  one-seventieth  increase  of 
tlie  number  of  electors,  until  it  should  reach  three  hun- 
dred. When  the  constitution  was  amended  in  1801, 
the  number  had  reached  one  hundred  and  eiirht,  but 
was  reduced  to  one  hundred,  with  a  provision  that  it 
should  be  increased  after  each  septennial  census,  at  the 
rate  of  two  annually,  until  the  numl)er  reached  one 
hundred  and  fifty.  In  1821  the  number  of  members 
was  fixed  at  one  huufb'ed  and  twentv-eiii^ht.  Owdnoc  to 
the  several  divisions  of  the  county,  and  to  the  occasional 
re-ap])ortionments,  the  representation  of  Cayuga  has 
varied  at  times  from  one  to  four  members.  At  present 
Cayuga  County  sends  two  members  to  the  Assembly. 

ONONDAGA. 
1797.— Silas  Halsey,  Comfort  Tyler.     1798.— Sihis  Halsey,  Com- 
fort Tyler.     1799.— Edwurd  Paine,  Jolin  Richardson. 

**  CAYUrJA. 

1800.— Silas  Halsey.  1801.— Silas  Halsey.  1802.— Salmon  Buell. 
1803.— Salmon  Buell,  Silas  Halsey,  Tliomas  Hewitt.  1804.— Silas 
Halsey,  Thomas   Hewitt,  Amos  llathbiin.     1805.— John  Orover. 


52i  HISTORY   OF   Aunuux. 

Jr.,  Amos  Ratlibun.  180G. — John  Grover,  Jr.,  Amos  Ratlibun. 
1807.— John  Grover,  Jr.,  Atnos  Ratlibun.  1808.— Elijah  Price, 
Richard  Townley.  1809. — Henry  Bloom,  Ebeiiezer  Hewitt,  Chas. 
Kellogg.  1810.— Henry  Bloom,  Charles  Kellogg,  Stephen  Close. 
1811.— Stephen  Close,  Ebenezer  Hewitt,  Elisha  Durkee,  1812.— 
Stephen  Close,  Humphrey  Howland,  Thos.  Ludlow.  18153. — Wm  C. 
Bennett,  Thomas  Ludlow,  Wm.  Satlerlee.  1814.— William  C. 
Bennett,  William  Satterlee,  Silas  Bowker.  1815. — John  H.  Beach 
Silas  Bowker,  Barnabas  Smith.  1816.— John  H.  Beach,  John 
Brown,  Jr.,  John  McFadden,  Barnabas  Smith.  1817. — John  H. 
Beach,  John  Brown,  Jr.,  John  McFadden,  Rowland  Day.  1818. 
—William  Clark,  2d,  Thatcher  L  Ferris,  Isaac  Smith.  1819.— 
William  Allen,  Elijah  Devoe,  Henry  Polhemus.  1820. — William 
Allen,  Samuel  Dill,.  John  Haring.  1821. — John  Haring,  Charles 
Kellogg,  Henry  Polhemus.  1822.— Samuel  Dill,  Charles  Kellogg, 
Ephraim  C.  Marsh.  1823. — Josiah  Bevier,  Elijah  Drake,  John 
Jackway,  John  O'Hara.  1824. — Josiah  Bevier,  Silas  Bowker, 
Asahel  Fitch,  Augustus  F.  Ferris.  1825.— Elijah  Devoe,  Roswell 
Enos,  John  W.  Hulbert,  Ephraim  C.  Marsh.  1826.— Eleazer 
Burnham,  Aaron  Dennis,  Thatcher  I.  Ferris,  Campbell  Waldo. 
1827.— James  Kenyon,  Gardner  Kortright,  Andrew  Preston,  Peter 
Yawger.  1828. — Henry  R.  Brinkerhoff,  Philo  Sperry,  Gardner, 
Kortright,  William  H.  Noble.  1829.— Henry  R.  Brinkerhoff, 
William  H.  Noble,  Wing  Taber,  Ephraim  Hammond.  1830.— 
Ephraim  Hammond,  Solomon  Love,  William  H.  Noble,  Richard 
L.  Smith.  1831. — Solomon  Love,  Elias  Manchester,  George  S. 
Tilford,  Peter  Yawger.  1832.  -John  Beardsley,  George  H.  Brin- 
kerhoff, John  W.  Sawder,  George  S.  Tilford.  1833.— John  Beards- 
ley,  George  H.  Brinkerhoff,  John  W.  Sawyer,  Simon  Lathrop. 
1834, — Dennis  Arnold,  Cornelius  Cuykendall,  Andrew  Groom, 
Noj'-es  Palmer.  1835. — Cornelius  Cuykendall|^ Andrew  Groom, 
Noyes  Palmer,  Andrews  Preston.  1836. — Dennis  Arnold,  Charles 
E.  Shepard,  Richard  L.  Smith,  William  Wilbur.  1837.— Curtis  C. 
Cady,  Charles  E.  Shepard,  William  Wilbur.     1838.— Henry  R. 


CIVIL    LIST.  525 

Filley,  Is-iac  S.  Miller,  Nathan  G.  Morgan.  1839.— Nathan  G. 
Morgan,  Henry  R.  Filley,  John  3IcIntosh.  1840. — Artemus  Cady, 
John  W.  McFatlden,  Andrews  Preston.  1841. — Darius  Adams, 
Osman  Rhoadcs,  John  W.  ^McFadden.  1842.— Jolin  L.  Cuyler, 
Vincent  Kenyon,  Alvarez  Tapper.  184o.— Vincenl  Kenyon,  Al- 
fred Lyon,  Darius  Monroe.  1844. — A.shbel  Aveiy,  Benj.  F.  Hall, 
Robert  Uume.  184-5. — David  Gould,  Leonard  Searing,  Wni.  Titus. 
1846.— Samuel  Bell,  Wm.  J.  Cornwall,  John  S.  Ratlibun.  1847.— 
Samuel  Bell,  Wm.  J.  Cornwell,  John  S.  Rathbun.  1848.— Ebene- 
zer  Curtis,  John  I.  Brinkerhoff,  Hector  C.  Tuthill.  1849.— Jame& 
D.  Button,  John  L  Brinkerhoff,  Hector  C.  Tuthill.  1850.— Hiram 
Coon,  John  Richardson,  Ashbel  Avery.  1851. — Levi  Colvin,  Geo. 
Underwood,  Delos  Bradley.  1852.— William  Hayden,  George 
Underwood,  Delos  Bradley.  1853. — William  Hayden,  Terence  J. 
Kenned}',  Mathias  Hutchinson.  1854. — Justus  Townsend,  Mosely 
Hutchinson,  Mathias  Hutchinson.  1855. — Moore  Conger,  David 
L.  Dodge,  William  B.  Woodin.  1856. — Sordis  Dudley,  Leonard 
Simons,  Tolbert  Powers.  1857. — James  J.  Owen,  Theodore  M. 
Pomeroy,  Hiram  Tifft.  1858.— David  B.  Baldwin,  Chauucey  M. 
Abbott.  1859.— William  W.  Payne,  Chauncey  M.  Abbott.  1860. 
—William  W.  Payne,  Allen  D.  Morgan.  1861.— Heman  Benton, 
Smith  Anthony.  1862. — William  A.  Halsey,  Smith  Anthony. 
1868.— George  I.  Post,  Wm.  P.  Robinson.  1864.— Benjamin  M. 
Close,  Wm.  P.  Robinson. — 1865. — Benjamin  M.  Close,  John  L. 
Parker.  1866.— Homer  N.  Lockwood,  John  L.  Parker.  1867.— 
Homer  N.  Lockwood,  John  L.  Parker.  1868.— Charles  H.  Weed, 
Sanford  Gifford.     1869.— Charles  H.  Weed,  Sanford  Gifford. 

DKLKdATKS  TO  CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTIONS. 

Tlie  first  constitutional  convention  was  held  at  Al- 
bany, October  13-2Tth,  ISO].  The  delcijjate  to  this 
convention  from  Cayuo;a  County  was  the  Member  of 
Assembly,  Silas  Ilalsey. 


526  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

The  constitutional  convention  of  1821  assembled  at 
Albany,  August  28tli,  and  adjourned  ]N"ovember  lOtli. 
The  County  of  Cayuga  sent  three  delegates  to  this 
Convention.  The  delegate  whose  name  is  marked 
thus  (j^)  did  not  sign  the  constitution. 

David  Briukerhoff,  Rowland  Day, *  Augustus  F.  Ferris. 

Agreeably  to  tlie  expression  of  popular  will  in  the 
election  of  November  6th,  181:5,  an  act  was  passed 
by  the  Legislature,  April  22d,  1846,  calling  the  third 
constitutional  convention,  which  met  accordingly,  June 
1st,  and  adjourned  November  9th,  1846.  To  this  con- 
vention also  Cayuga  County  sent  three  delegates,  viz  : 

Daniel  JoLn  Shaw,  Elisha  W.  Sheldon,  Peter  Yawger. 

The  question  of  holding  a  fourtli  constitutional 
convention  having  been  submitted  to  the  people  of 
the  State  of  New  York  November  6th,  1866,  and  de- 
cided in  the  affirmative,  the  said  convention  was 
called  in  the  usual  manner,  viz  :  by  a  special  act  of 
the  Legislature,  passed  March  29th,  1867  ;  and  met  at 
Albany,  June  3d,  1867,  and  adjourned  sine  die,  in 
February,  1868,  witliout  completing  its  work.  As  in 
former  cases,  Cayuga  County  sent  one  delegate  from 
each  of  its  assembly  districts. 

Hon.  Charles  C.  Dwight,  Hon.  George  Rathbim. 
PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTORS. 

The  Federal  Constitution  provides  that  the  Presi- 
dent and  Vice-President  shall  be  chosen  by  elect(  r  ^ 


CIVIL    LIST.  527 

appointed  in  sncli  manner  as  tlie  Legislatures  of  the 
respective  States  shall  direct,  and  the  number  shall  be 
equal  to  the  number  of  senators  and  representatives. 
In  accordance  with  an  act  passed  April  12th,  1792,  the 
electors  from  this  State  were,  till  1S25,  ap])ointed  by 
the  Legislature  itself  The  names  only  of  elector  re- 
siding in  and  re]n"esenting  Cayuga  County  are  given. 

1812.— Jotham  Jayue.  1816.— Richard  Townley.  IS'M.— Elea- 
zer  Burnham. 

Since  March  15th,  1825,  electors  have  been  chosen, 
one  from  each  Congressional  District  and  two  at  large, 
by  a  general  ticket,  o]\  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  tirst 
Monday  in  Xovember. 

1828.— Asaph  Strong.  1832.— Seth  Thomas.  1832.— Nathaniel 
GaiTOw.*  1836.— Peleg  Slade.  1840.— Albert  Crane.  1844.— 
Daniel  Hibbard.  1848.— Stephen  Fancher.  1852.— William  V. 
Beardsley.  1856.— Eleazer  Burnham.  I860.— William  Van  Mar- 
ter.    1864.— John  E.  Seeley.     1868.— Hector  C.  Tuthill. 

REPRESENTATIVES  IN  CONGRESS. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  directs  that  a 
census  be  taken  eveiy  ten  years,  and  that  after  each 
enumeration  Congress  shall  apportion  the  representa- 
tion among  the  several  States.  As  soon  as  practicable, 
after  each  apportionment,  the  Legislature  divide  the 
State  into  Congressional  Districts.  The  divisions, 
dates  thereof,  and  numbers  of  the  Districts  in  which 
Cayuga  County  has  been  involved,  are  set  tbrth  in  the 
foUowiiior  table. 

o 

*  Elector  at  large. 


628  HJiSTuRT    OF    AUBUKN. 

March  28,  1797. — Cayuga  (1799),  Onondaga,  Ontario,  Steuben, 
and  Tioga  Counties,  district  No.  10. 

March  30, 1802.— Cayuga,  Genesee,  Ontario,  Steuben,  No.  17. 

March  20,  1804. — Alleghany  (1806),  Cayuga,  Genesee,  Ontario, 
Steuben,  No.  17. 

March  8, 1806.— Cayuga,  Seneca,  Steuben,  Tioga,  No.  14. 

June  1, 1812,— (two  members),  Cayuga,  Seneca,  Steuben,  Tioga, 
Tompkins  (1817),  No.  20. 

April  17, 1822.— Cayuga,  No.  24. 

September  6, 1842.— Cayuga,  Cortland,  No.  25. 

July  19, 1851.— Cayuga,  Wayne,  No.  25. 

April  23, 1862.— Cayuga,  Seneca,  Wayne,  No.  24. 

Representatives  hold  their  office  two  years.  Each 
new  congress  commences  on  the  4th  of  March  every 
odd  year.  The  election  in  this  State  is  held  on  the 
general  election  day  preceding. 

1797.— Hezekiah  L.  Hosmer.  1799.— William  Cooper.  1801.— 
Thomas  Morris.  1803.— Oliver  Phelps.  1805.— Silas  Halsey. 
1807. -John  Harris.  1809.— Vincent  Matthew.  1811.— Daniel 
Avery.  1813. — Daniel  Avery,  Oliver  C.  Comstock.  1815. — Enos 
T.  Throop,  Oliver  C.  Comstock.  1817.— Daniel  Cruger,  Oliver  C. 
Comstock.  1819. — Caleb  Baker,  Jonathan  Richmond.  1821. — 
David  Woodcock.  1823.— Rowland  Day.  1825.— Charles  Kel- 
logg. 1827.— Nathaniel  Garrow.  1829.— Gershom  Powers.  1831. 
Ulysses  F.  Doubleday.  1833.— Rowland  Day.  1835.— Ulysses  F. 
Doubleday.  1837.— William  H.  Noble.  1839.— Christopher  Mor- 
gan. 1841. — Christopher  Morgan.  1843. — George  Rathbun.  1845. 
— George  Rathbun.  1847.— Harmon  S.  Conger.  1849. — Harmon 
8.  Conger.  1851.— Thomas  Y.  Howe,  Jr.  1853.— Edwin  B.  Mor- 
gan. 1855.— Edwin  B.  Morgan.  1856.— Edwin  B.  Morgan.  1859. 
—Martin  Butterfield.  1861.— Theodore  M.  Pomeroy.  1863.— 
Theodore  M.  Pomeroy.  1865.— Theodore  M.  Pomeroy.  1867. — 
Theodore  M.  Pomeroy.     1869, — George  W.  Cowles. 


BIOGRAPHIES.  529 


CHAPTER  X. 

BIOGRAPHIES    OF   CITIZENS    OF    ALBURN. 

Hon.  AVilliajm  Henry  Seward  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Florida,  Orange  County,  ]S"ew  York,  May 
16th,  ISOl.  His  fondness  for  learning  and  his  earnest 
perseverance  while  young,  obtained  for  him  a  superior 
education.  He  attended  several  schools  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  father's  residence,  until  he  was  nine  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  was  sent  to  the  Farmers'  Hall 
Academy,  at  Goshen.  At  this  school,  which  already 
boasted  of  having  had  Daniel  Webster  and  Aaron 
Burr  for  pupils,  and  at  an  academy  afterwards  estab- 
lished in  Florida,  he  pursued  his  studies  till  the  year 
1816.  He  then  applied  for  admission  to  Union  Col- 
lege, Schenectady,  and,  though  qualified  for  the  Junior 
class,  was  induced  to  enter  as  Sophomore.  His  col- 
leo;e  career  was  brilliant.  His  favorite  studies  were 
rhetoric,  moral  philosophy,  and  the  ancient  classics ; 
and  as  a  general  rule  he  rose  early  in  the  morning  to 
prepare  his  lessons  for  the  ensuing  day.  Six  months 
of  his  Senior  year,  1819,  he  spent  in  the  Southern 
States  as  a  teacher;  and  the  scenes  of  cruelty  and 
wretchedness  he  beheld  while  there  wrought  into  his 
character  that  strong  hostility  to  every  form  of  op- 
32 


530  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

pression,  that  has  ever  marked  his  public  career.  He 
was  graduated  from  college  with  great  distinction  at 
the  age  of  nineteen.  Shortly  after  taking  his  degree, 
he  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  law,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court,  at  TJtica,  in 
1822. 

In  January,  1823,  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Au- 
burn, and  formed  a  business  connection  with  Hon. 
Elijah  Miller,  a  distinguished  member  of  the  legal 
profession,  and  at  that  time  First  Judge  of  Cayuga 
County.  The  following  year  Mr.  Seward  married 
Frances  Adeline,  daughter  of  Judge  Miller.  Mr. 
Seward  met  with  several  formidable  competitors  at 
the  Auburn  bar  in  the  early  part  of  his  practice  ;  but 
their  superiority,  instead  of  discouraging  him,  only 
roused  him  to  emulation ;  and  by  his  talent,  rigid 
self-discipline,  and  habits  of  industry,  he  soon  raised 
himself  to  a  station  held  only  by  the  first  lawyers  of 
the  Union. 

Mr.  Seward  presided  over  the  memorable  Young 
Men's  Convention,  held  at  Utica,  August  12th,  1828, 
and  performed  the  duties  of  his  position  with  remarka- 
ble dignity,  courtesy  and  decision.  The  Anti-Masonic 
party  having,  in  1830,  nominated  him  Senator  for  the 
7th  district,  he  w^as  elected  by  a  handsome  majority, 
notwithstanding  that  the  district  had  the  previous  year 
given  a  heavy  Jackson  majority.  About  the  1st  of 
June,  1833,  he  set  out  for  a  trip  through  Europe,  in 


BIOGRAPHIES.  531 

company  with  his  father.  During  tiiis  trip  he  con- 
tributed letters  of  foreign  travel  to  the  Albany  Evening 
Journal.  lie  returned  in  time  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
Senate  for  the  session  of  1834.  In  the  fall  of  this 
year  he  was  nominated  by  the  Whigs  to  the  Governor- 
ship of  New  York,  but  failed  to  be  elected. 

Mr.  Seward  has  always  been  liberal  in  his  religious 
views,  cherishing  a  strong  attachment  for  the  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  Church.  He  united  with  this  church  at 
St.  Peter's,  Auburn,  in  the  year  1837. 

Being  once  more  nominated  Governor  in  1838,  he 
was,  in  a  closely-contested  campaign,  triumphantly 
elected  ;  and  upon  the  expiration  of  his  term,  in  1840, 
he  was  returned  to  the  office.  When  he  withdrew 
from  the  gubernatorial  chair,  in  1843,  he  devoted  him- 
self to  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  continued  the 
same  with  distinction  for  the  six  ensuing  years.  The 
legislature  chose  Governor  Seward  IT.  S.  Senator  in 
1849,  in  the  place  of  Hon.,  now  General  John  A.  Dix, 
whose  term  was  about  expiring.  He  remained  in  the 
Senate  twelve  years,  being  re-elected  in  1855.  In 
the  spring  of  1858  he  undertook  a  journey  to  and 
tlirough  Palestine,  returning  early  in  1850.  When 
President  Lincoln  formed  his  cabinet  in  1861,  he  called 
Governor  Seward  to  the  charge  of  the  State  Depart- 
ment, retaining  him  in  that  position  upon  his  re-elec- 
tion in  1865.  On  the  night  of  the  14th  of  April,  1865, 
when    the  lamented  Lincoln  wa,s  assassinated,  an    at- 


532  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

tempt  Avas  also  made  upon  Secretary  Seward's  life^ 
which  ahnost  proved  successful.  But  a  gracious  Prov- 
idence spared  him  to  the  nation,  and  for  four  years 
more  he  administered  the  affairs  of  the  State  Depart- 
ment with  that  faithfulness  and  ability  which  has  ever 
marked  his  career  while  in  the  service  of  the  country. 
He  has,  therefore,  performed  the  duties  of  his  office, 
not  only  with  greater  distinction  and  success,  but  for  a 
longer  period  than  any  former  premier  of  this  nation. 
Secretary  Seward's  career  of  nearly  fifty  years  as  a 
citizen,  member  of  the  legal  profession,  and  a  public 
man,  has  been  that  of  a  talented,  public-spirited 
Christian.  In  private  life,  he  has  always  been  known 
as  affectionate,  generous,  and  enterprising.  He  w^as 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Auburn  and  Owasco  Canal 
project,  in  1827,  and  at  the  laying  of  the  corner- 
stone of  the  canal  dam,  in  1835,  he  delivered  an  ora- 
tion, which  is  given  in  an  earlier  part  of  this  work. 
He  took  a  leading  part  in  all  the  entei-prises  of  the  day 
for  many  years,  the  Auburn  Woolen  Company  in  1845, 
among  the  others.  In  1857,  he  donated  to  the  city 
land  for  a  highway,  from  Owasco  Street  to  the  creek, 
and  from  the  creek  to  Mechanic  Street,  a  short  dis- 
tance above^the  big  dam,  on  condition  of  the  city  build- 
ing a  bridge  across  the  stream  at  that  point.  He  gave 
his  further  support  to  the  measure,  and  addressed  the 
common  council  in  furtherance  of  the  project.  A 
novel  sight,  indeed ;  Senator  of  the  United^[States  of 


liKKrKAPHIES.  533 

America,  })leadiiig  before  the  coiuiuuii  cuiiiicil  of  this 
little  city  for  public  improvement.  To  his  success  in 
the  matter  the  red  bridge  now  testifies.  The  honor 
and  esteem  in  wliich  he  is  held  by  liis  fellow-citizens 
were  demonstrated  by  the  reception  tliey  *i:ave  him  on 
his  return  from  the  Holy  Land  in  1859.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  city  and  country  round  turned  out  en  masi<e  / 
immense  arches,  decked  with  evergreens  and  flowers, 
were  erected  in  various  ])laces  between  the  \X.  Tl.  depot 
and  his  residence;  cannon  fired  and  bells  rung  ;  a  dep- 
utation of  citizens  waited  upon  Governor  Seward  on 
ids  arrival  and  escorted  him  to  the  house ;  bands  of 
music  attended,  the  crowds  cheered  vociferously,  and 
waved  their  handkerchiefs,  and  a  hundred  or  more 
lads  thronged  round  the  Governor's  carriage  with  ban- 
ners inscribed  :  "  God  bless  Governor  Seward,"  "  Wel- 
come home,  Governor  Seward,"  ''Long  live  Governor 
Seward."  This  was  the  greatest  ovation  Auburn  ever 
tendered  one  of  her  own  citizens.  They  would  have 
again  met  him  with  a  reception  on  his  late  return  from 
Washington,  had  he  not  absolutely  declined  it.  His 
fellow- citizens  -showed  their  high  appreciation  of  his 
comprehension,  judgment  and  foresight,  by  besieging 
him,  u])on  his  every  return  from  Washington  during  the 
the  war,  for  a  speech — an  exposition  of  the  issues  c>f  the 
hour. 

During   the   comparatively  few  years   of  his    pro- 
fessional practice,   Mr.    Seward  distinguished  himself 


534  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

as  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  United  States. 
Hostility  to  oppression  and  love  of  liberty  and  jus- 
tice were  leading  traits  of  his  character.  As  a  pro- 
fessional rule  he  gave  his  assistance  to  the  weaker 
party,  and  never  but  once  took  sides  against  the 
accused.  His  peculiar  aptitude  for  mechanical  and 
scientific  subjects  obtained  him  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive practice  in  patent  cases.  But  what  was  alone 
sufficient  to  render  Mr.  Seward's  name  illustrious 
was  the  part  he  took  in  the  famous  trials  of  Wyatt 
and  Freeman.  In  1845,  one  Wyatt,  a  convict  at 
the  State  prison,  was  indicted  for  the  murder  of  a 
fellows-convict.  •  The  day  before  the  trial,  Wyatt 
called  upon  Mr.  Seward  for  help,  and  he  under- 
took Wyatt's  defense.  The  case  was  evidently  one 
of  moral  insanity,  and  Mr.  Seward  at  his  own  expense 
summoned  many  capable  witnesses,  that  the  case 
might  be  fairly  presented  to  the  jury.  After  an 
exciting  trial  the  jury  disagreed.  Before  a  second 
trial,  a  released  negro  convict,  William  Freeman 
by  name,  committed  one  of  the  most  atrocious 
murders  recorded  in  the  annals  of  crime — that  of 
a  whole  family  in  cold  blood.  Upon  his  capture^ 
which  was  immediate,  he  acknowledged  his  guilt 
with  idiotic  indifference  and  irrepressible  shouts  of 
laughter.  The  public  was  fearfully  excited  by  this 
crime.  It  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that 
Freeman     was     protected    from    their    hands.     The 


BIOGRAPHIES.  OdO 

Governor  uf  the  State,  Hon.  Silas  Wright,  ordered 
a  special  term  of  court  for  the  trials  of  Wyatt 
and  Freeman.  In  the  case  of  Wyatt,  jurors  were 
chosen  who  owned  to  having  formed  an  opinion  ; 
and,  as  might  liave  been  expected,  the  prisoner  was 
found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  death,  Mr.  Seward 
spent  upon  this  case  four  weeks  of  hard  labor 
without  the  slightest  pecuniary  compensation,  but 
rather  at  considerable  private  expense.  Tlie  trial  of 
B'reeman  now  came  on. 

Public  excitement  was  raised  to  the  highest  degree 
of  intensity.  No  other  cause  being  apparent  for 
the  commission  of  his  crime,  the  people  believed 
it  to  be  that  he  had  heard  Mr.  Seward's  argument 
in  the  lirst  trial  of  Wyatt,  and  was  impressed 
with  some  idea  of  the  irresponsibility  of  one  who  is 
insane.  When  the  indictment  was  read  to  the  pris- 
oner, and  he  was  asked  whether  or  no  he  was  guilty, 
he  replied  with  a  stupidity  that  astonished  even 
those  who  wished  his  death.  After  the  court  had 
asked  if  he  had  counsel,  a  death-like  stillness  reigned 
for  a  moment,  aud  then  Mv.  Seward  stepped  for- 
ward and  volunteered  to  defend  him.  In  bar  of  a 
trial  he  oifered  the  plea  of  insanity,  and  the  trial 
was  directed  to  proceed  on  this  question.  A  jury 
was  drawn  under  circumstances  similar  to  that  by 
which  Wyatt  was  tried.  David  Wright,  Esq.,  vol- 
unteered to  assist  in  the  defense.     Attorney-General 


536  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

Martin  Van  Bureii  conducted  the  prosecution.  For 
two  weeks  Mr.  Seward  contested  the  sanity  of 
Freeman  with  such  energy  and  perseverance  as  to 
draw  plaudits  from  his  most  violent  opponents. 
When  the  case  was  submitted  to  the  jury,  eleven 
decided  he  was  guilty,  but  one  that  he  was  not. 
The  court,  with  that  irregularity  which  had  already 
characterized  its  proceedings,  received  the  verdict 
and  pronounced  upon  the  prisoner,  who  was  utterly 
unconscious  of  what  was  going  on,  the  sentence  of 
death.  To  this  proceeding  Mr.  Seward  entered  an 
earnest  protest ;  and  in  a  short  time  he  obtained 
an  order  for  a  new  trial.  But  the  Judge  before  whom 
he  was  tried  and  condemned,  declared  the  prisoner 
incompetent  for  a  second  trial ;  and  after  tlie  expi- 
ration of  a  few  weeks,  Freeman  committed  suicide 
in  jail, — another  convincing  proof  of  his  insanity. 
A  post-morte7n  examination  revealed  the  fact  that 
Freeman's  brain  was  badly  diseased,  thereby  most 
triumphantly  substantiating  Mr.  Seward's  plea.  The 
undaunted  perseverance  w^ith  which  Mr.  Seward 
defended  that  poor  demented  negro,  in  the  face  of 
popular  clamor  and  prejudice,  gained  for  him  a 
reputation,  which  will  last  as  long  as  this  nation 
preserves  the  principles  of  justice  and  liberty,  upon 
which  it  is  founded. 

It  remains  to  speak  briefly  of  Mr.  Sew^ard's  political 
career.     Previous  to  the  decline  of  the  National  Ee- 


BIOGRAPHIES.  537 

publican  party,  in  182S,  lie  was  a  iiiember  oi'  that  [»arty  ; 
thenceforward  a  Whig  and  Anti-Mason  until  the  revi- 
val of  the  Republican  party,  in  1856.  In  the  various 
posts  of  public  trust  and  honor  which  ho  has  held — 
State  Senator,  Governor,  United  States  Senator,  and 
Cabinet  officer — he  has  ever  proved  himself  the  foe  of 
injustice  and  oppression,  at  home  and  abroad,  and  the 
friend  of  liberty,  universal  sutFrage,  the  interests  of 
education,  internal  improvement,  and  national  exten- 
sion ;  and  now,  in  a  ripe  old  age,  he  is  loved  and  hon- 
ored as  one  of  the  truest  citizens  and  noblest  statesmen 
this  country  ever  produced. 

Doctor  Ilackaliah  Burt  was  born  at  iJridgefield, 
Conn.,  in  the  year  1773.  In  his  native  place  he  studied 
medicine,  though  physic  and  surgery,  as  practiced  in 
those  days,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  congenial  to 
his  taste. 

He  came  tu  this  place  in  March,  171U5,  three  yeai-s 
subsequently  to  the  first  white  settlement,  made  by 
Colonel  John  II.  Ilardenburgh.  At  the  time  Dr. 
Burt  came  to  this  country,  there  could  not  have  been 
more  than  half-a-dozen  families  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  forests  around  were  the  abode  of  savages,  and  there 
was  hardly  a  sufficient  clearing  to  mark  it  as  the  habi- 
tation of  civilized  man.  The  motive  which  led  young 
Burt  to  this  region  is  unknown  ;  but  was  probably  the 
love  of  adventure,  which  so  often  tempts  the  mind  of 
youth  to  seek  a  fortune  in  an  untried  sphere.     When 


538  HISTORY    OF    AUBURK. 

he  cointnenced  life  in  the  new  settlement  of  Harden- 
burgh's  Corners,  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
furnishing  supplies  to  the  Indians  forming  a  large  share 
of  his  trade.  He  joined,  at  various  periods,  partner- 
ship with  Dr.  Crossett,  Dan  Hyde,  and  a  younger 
brother.  His  place  of  business  was  a  little  west  of 
where  the  Baptist  Church  now  stands ;  but  he  subse- 
quently removed  to  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  store 
of  P.  C.  Woodruff  &  Co. 

In  1801,  he  returned  to  Connecticut,  and,  at  his  na- 
tive place,  wooed  and  won  Eunice,  daughter  of  Epene- 
tus  Howe.  It  was  not  till  the  following  year,  how- 
ever, that  he  brought  his  wife  to  share  with  him  the 
trials  of  a  pioneer's  life.  He  then  purchased  a  large 
farm  on  the  east  of  South  Street,  and  on  the  northern 
boundary  laid  out  Grover  Street.  Upon  the  borders 
of  this  tract,  whose  southern  limit  was  Swift  Street, 
and  eastern  line.  Mechanic  and  Moravia  Streets,  now 
stand  some  of  the  finest  residences  of  the  city.  In 
1813,  Dr.  Burt  erected  and  moved  into  what  was  then 
considered  a  handsome  house.  No.  51  South  Street, 
which  building  stands  to  the  present  day,  and  in  which 
he  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his  life. 

Dr.  Burt  adapted  himself  to  the  wants  of  the  com- 
munity by  serving  in  various  public  offices,  the  duties 
of  which  he  performed  with  ability.  In  the  war  of 
1812-15  he  held  a  commission  as  Lieutenant,  serving 
thus  his  country  in  the  double  capacity  of  physician 


BIOGRAPHIES.  539 

and  soldier.  l>ut  it  was  in  his  reli<^"ious  life  that  he 
displayed  his  greatest  strength  of  character.  lie  was 
a  stanch  Episcopalian.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
united  with  the  cluirch,  and  has  been  heard  to  say 
that,  as  he  left  the  ])aternal  roof,  the  parting  injunction 
was,  ''  Hold  fast  the  profession  of  the  faith."  How- 
far  this  counsel  was  heeded,  the  church  in  Auburn  can 
testify.  In  1805,  the  society  of  St.  Peter-s  Church  wan 
organized  at  Dr.  Burt's  house,  at  which  time  he  wa& 
elected  warden,  an  office  he  held  for  thirty-four  con- 
secutive years.  Through  all  trials  attendant  upon 
scantiness  of  the  number  and  resources  of  St.  Peter's, 
lie  remained  its  steadfast  friend  ;  laboring  with  untir- 
ing zeal,  until  his  efforts  resulted  in  the  successful  com- 
pletion of  a  house  of  worship.  Dr.  Bm-t  several  times- 
represented  this  church  in  diocesan  convention,  previ- 
ous to  the  division  of  this  diocese. 

Dr.  Burt  lived  to  fine  old  age — long  enough  to 
behold  his  forest  home  become  a  large  and  prosper- 
ous city.  His  death  occurred  February  3d,  1859.  The 
partner  of  his  long  life  survived  him  but  a  few 
months.  Their  remains  lie  interred  in  St.  Peter'$? 
church-yard. 

To  Dr.  Burt,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Auburn^ 
we  are  indebted  as  one  of  the  founders  of  this  large, 
beautiful,  and  rapidly-growing  city.  He  was  educated 
in  the  stern  school  of  Connecticut  morals,  with  habits 
of  industry,  strict  integrity,  and  a  high  moral  sense  of 


540  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

right,  which  through  life  funned  the  basis  of  every 
action.  Of  this  latter  trait  of  character  the  following 
incident  is  related.  When  the  speculating  mania  of  '36 
was  at  its  height,  a  company  in  Boston  negotiated 
with  him  for  land,  at  what  was  considered  an  inflated 
value.  When  this  mania  collapsed  and  the  land  re- 
sumed its  former  value,  the  Doctor,  unsolicited,  and 
from  his  own  conscious  sense  of  right,  released  the 
contracting  parties  from  a  large  share  of  the  stipu- 
lated sum. 

Nathaniel  Garroio  was  born  at  Barnstable,  Mass., 
April  26th,  1780.  While  yet  a  lad  he  followed  the 
sea  for  several  years.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  came 
to  this  county,  with  an  ax  on  his  shoulder  and  a 
shilling  in  his  pocket,  as  his  sole  possessions.  He 
labored  in  clearing  away  the  forests,  w^hich  then 
overspread  the  now  fertile  fields  of  this  vicinity,  en- 
dured the  trials  of  pioneer  life,  and,  in  company 
with  other  settlers,  carried  on  an  exchange  of  com- 
modities with  the  far-off  settlements  of  the  Mohawk. 
It  is  said  that  his  first  labor  here  was  paid  for  bj 
half  the  skins  of  the  deer  killed  by  his  companions. 
He  received  no  early  education,  but  had  a  vigorous 
understandinp;,  and  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  which 
stamped  him  one  of  ISI^ature's  noblemen.  In  public 
and  private  life  he  enjoyed  the  affection  and  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow-citizens. 

From  the  age  of  twenty-one  to  twenty-five  he  re- 


lilOGRAPHIES.  541 

ceived  several  coniiiiissioiis  fruin  tlie  Governoi*s  of 
the  State.  About  1S09  or  '10  he  was  made,  hy  the 
Council  of  Appointment,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  In 
the  same  way,  in  1815,  he  became  Sheriff  of  Cayu- 
ga County,  which  office  he  held,  with  one  or  two  in- 
terruptions, until  the  alteration  of  the  Constitution. 
During  his  official  life,  he  gave  many  evidences  of 
humanity  and  benevolence,  even  to  a  fault,  in  the 
duties  of  his  office,  when  imprisonment  for  del)t — 
that  blot  upon  our  statute  books — was  allowed,  and 
when  the  county  was  comparatively  new.  J>y  his 
money,  counsel,  and  sympathy,  he  alleviated  the  misfor- 
tunes of  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  No  one 
in  affliction  appealed  to  him  in  vain.  For  many  years 
Mr.  Garrow  was  a  trustee  of  the  village.  lie  was 
at  various  times  director  of  the  Cayuga  County 
Bank  and  Bank  of  Auburn.  In  1827  he  took  an 
interest  in  the  cotton  mills  at  Clarksville,  in  com- 
pany with  the  Hon.  George  B.  Throop  and  Robert 
Muir.  The  following  year  he  was  elected  Repre- 
sentative in  Congress  for  this  district.  In  1832  he 
was  chosen  Presidential  Elector.  lie  was  appoint- 
ed marshal  of  the  district  in  1837,  and  received  a 
re-aj)pointment  a  lew  days  before  his  death.  About 
this  time  he  lost  his  fortune  in  land  speculation. 
The  many  other  posts  of  contidence  and  honor, 
which  he  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfac- 
tion  to  his  fellow-citizens,  showed  how   well    known 


54:2  HISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

and    appreciated    he    was,  and   how    «:]-eat   was  the 
vigor  and  activity   of  his  mind. 

Mr.  Garrow  was  engaged  in  all  benevolent  enter 
prises  for  the  welfare  of  society.  lie  was  a  lite 
member  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  and  con- 
tributed largely  to  Hamilton  College  and  the  Au- 
burn Theological  Seminary.  In  1831  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  cliurch  of  this  city,  and  con- 
tributed $8,000  to  the  erection  of  a  church  edi- 
fice. To  all  objects  of  charity  and  benevolence  he  was, 
when  fortune  permitted,  a  cheerful  giver ;  when 
worldly  possessions  passed  away,  it  ^vas  a  constant 
source  of  grief  that  he  could  not  relieve  the  necessi- 
ties  of  those   in    want. 

On  the  evening  of  March  3d,  1841,  having  spent 
the  day  in  his  ordinary  employment,  he  suddenly 
died.  The  trustees  of  the  village  met  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  5th  and  passed  resolutions  expressive  of 
regret  at  the  loss  the  village  had  sustained,  and  of 
their  determination  to  attend  the  funeral  in  a  body. 
The  several  Fire  Companies,  likewise,  and  the  Au- 
burn Guards  and  Auburn  Band,  respectively,  met, 
passed  resolutions  of  grief,  and  agreed  to  attend 
the  funeral. 

Hon.  Gecrrge  TJnderwood  was  boi-n  at  Cooperstown, 
]Sr.  Y.,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1816.  In  the  third  year 
of  his  age  he  came  to  Auburn  with  his  father,  and,  as 
he  grew  to  manhood,  became  identified  w^ith  the  pros- 


BIOGRAPHIES.    •  543 

perity  of  the  place.  He  entered  Hamilton  College  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  ;  but  ill  health  repeatedly  interrupted 
his  studies,  and  he  spent  seven  years  in  the  completion 
of  his  under-graduate  course.  His  life  as  a  student 
was  a  laborious  one.  Having  in  view  the  profession  of 
a  lawyer,  he  made  present  studies  minister  to  his  future 
career.  He  was  graduated  with  the  second  honor  in 
the  class  of  '38 — a  class  containing  names  already 
marked  with  distinction.  Several  years  later  he  testi- 
fied his  devotion  to  Alma  Mater  by  the  endowment 
of  a  prize  competition  in  chemistry. 

Upon  his  return  to  Auburn,  Mr.  Underwood  applied 
himself  to  the  study  and  practice  of  law.  He  soon  at- 
tained high  standing,  and  for  the  rest  of  his  life  ranked 
among  the  prominent  members  of  the  bar  of  this  Judi- 
cial District.  His  peculiar  excellence  was  that  of  a 
corporation  lawyer ;  he  was  for  many  years  attorney 
for  the  Auburn  and  Syracuse  Railroad  Company.  Tlie 
confidence  and  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his 
fellow-citizens  was  evinced,  in  a  measure,  by  his  first 
and  second  election  to  the  Assembly,  in  1850  and  '51, 
and  to  the  mayoralty  in  1854.  Politics  as  such,  how- 
ever, were  not  to  his  taste.  As  he  took  his  seat  in  the 
Assembly,  he  playfully  remarked  that  he  hoped  to  pass 
a  winter  in  Albany  without  detriment  to  his  morals  or 
his  patriotism.  Mr.  Underwood  was  a  friend  of  public 
enterprise,  particularly  of  institutions  of  learning. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  attempt  to  establish  the 


544  IIISTORV    OF    A.UBURN. 

Auburn  Female  Colleire,  in  1852  and  '53,  jnost  of 
the  meetino^s  to  discuss  the  project  being  held  in  his 
office. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  luiited  with  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city,  April  1st,  1855,  and 
being  a  few  months  later  chosen  an  elder,  became  a 
valued  member  of  the  session. 

The  burden  of  professional  business  rendering  him 
more  susceptible  to  the  inroads  of  disease,  he  was  at 
length  compelled  to  lay  aside  his  duties  and  seek  a  cli- 
mate better  suited  to  his  health.  He  spent  the  winter 
of  1848-9  in  South  Carolina  and  Havana.  Receiving 
no  apparent  benefit,  he  returned  to  Auburn  about  the 
first  of  May  in  a  rapid  decline.  The  grasp  of  his  mal- 
ady, pulmonary  consumption,  could  not  be  loosed,  and 
on  the  evening  of  the  25th  he  departed  this  life. 

On  the  following  day,  the  Bar  of  Cayuga  held  a 
meeting  at  the  court-house,  and,  in  resolutions  passed 
thereat,  paid  a  fitting  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  de- 
ceased. Beside  his  family,  Mr.  Underwood  left  behind 
him  a  large  circle  of  personal  friends ;  and  at  his  death 
Auburn  lost  one  of  her  most  honored  citizens ;  the 
legal  profession,  a  valuable  member ;  and  the  commu- 
nity, a  firm  and  steadfast  friend  of  every  enterprise 
calculated  to  benefit  the  people  or  advance  the  pros- 
perity of  the  place. 

liev.  George  Morgan  Hills ^  Eector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Syracuse,  New  York,  is  the  youngest  son  of 


EIOGIIAI'HIES.  545 

Horace  Hills,  an  early  and  prominent  citizen  of  Au- 
burn, and  was  born  in  the  then  village,  October  10th, 
1825.  He  was  prepared  for  college  in  select  schools 
and  under  private  tutors,  and  very  early  evinced  great 
promise  in  oratory  and  belles-letters.  When  he  was 
fom-teen  years  of  age,  he  removed  with  his  parents 
from  Auburn  t<j  the  city  of  ]^ew  York.  At  seven- 
teen, he  set  to  music  what  is  believed  to  have  been  the 
tirst  "  Christmas  Carol  "  sung  in  this  country. 

He  was  graduated  with  distinction  at  Trinity  Col- 
lege, Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1847 ;  his  oration  at 
the  commencement  being  so  marked  for  vigorous  and 
manly  thought,  as  well  as  beauty  of  diction,  that  at 
the  request  of  several  distinguished  literary  gentlemen 
it  was  published.  Immediately  after  his  graduation, 
he  was  admitted  a  candidate  for  holy  orders  in  the 
Diocese  of  Western  JSTew  York.  After  three  years' 
study  in  divinity,  he  received  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  from  his  Alma  Mater,  and  was  ordained  a  deacon 
l)y  the  Eight  Eev.  Bishop  DeLancy.  Mr.  Hills  took 
charge  at  once  of  Grace  Church,  Lyons,  Wayne 
County,  New  York.  In  one  year,  he  was  ordained  to 
the  priesthood,  by  the  same  Bisho[>. 

He  remained  at  Lyons  till  called  to  the  rectorship  of 
Trinity  Church,  Watertown,  New  York.  In  1857,  he 
took  charge  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Syracuse,  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  influential  congregations  in  the  State, 
which  he  still  continues  to  hold.  He  made,  in  1861, 
?,3 


546  HISTORY   OF    AUBUKN. 

an  extensive  tour  in  Europe,  which  occupied  nearly  a 
year.  His  contributions  every  week  to  the  columns  of 
the  Gospel  3fe^senger^  of  letters  of  foreign  tra^'el,  are 
still  remembered  by  tlie  thousands  of  subscribers  to 
that  paper  for  elegant  diction,  and  evidences  of  an  un- 
commonly observing  mind. 

In  1862  he  was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  General 
Theological  Seminary  of  the  United  States,  and  was 
subsequently  placed  by  that  corporation  on  the  "  com- 
mittee for  the  examination  of  students."  In  1863,  he 
was  chosen  by  the  convention  of  the  Diocese  of  West- 
ern New  York  as  one  of  the  four  clergymen  to  repre- 
sent the  diocese  in  the  General  Convention  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States. 
Five  years  later,  at  the  organization  of  the  Diocese  of 
Central  New  York,  he  was  chosen  president  of  the 
first  standing  committee  of  the  diocese ;  and,  at  the 
special  convention  of  the  same,  held  January  13th, 
1869,  he  was  among  those  prominently  balloted  for,  as 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese. 

Mr.  Hills,  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  endowed  with  a 
vigorous,  well-disciplined  mind,  and  a  genial  disposi- 
tion, occupies  a  position  in  the  ministry  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church  in  this  country,  of  which  his  native  city 
may  wxll  be  proud.  Widely  known  for  his  church- 
manlike views,  and  as  a  sound,  talented,  and  accom- 
plished divine,  always  promoting  church-extension  and 
missionary  work,  he  is  universally  respected  and  ad- 


bio(;raphies.  54-Y 

mired.  In  the  }nilpit  he  lias  few  j)eers  ;  his  style  is  fa- 
mous for  its  force,  perspicuity,  and  grace  ;  and  he  is 
no  less  convincing  in  argument  than  attractive  in  de- 
livery. 

Among  his  published  addresses  and  sermons,  the 
most  widely  known  are  "  The  Wise  Master-Builder, — 
a  sermon  commemorative  of  Bishop  DeLancy  ;  "  "A 
Step  Between  us  and  Death, — at  the  burial-service  of 
the  wife  of  General  John  A.  Green,  Jr.;"  'SV 
Mother  in  Israel, — at  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Mary  II. 
Pennell ;  "  and,  ^'  The  Becord  of  the  Past,  an  Incen- 
tive for  the  Future, — the  sermon  preached  at  the  last 
convention  of  the  undivided  Diocese  of  AVestern  Xew 
York." 

Cyrus  Curtis  Dennis  was  ijorn  in  Scipio,  Cayuga 
County,  May  6th,  1S06.  At  an  early  age  he  learned 
the  art  of  civil  engineering,  and  ]:>racticed  under 
the  distinguished  surveyor,  David  Thomas,  Esq., 
along  the  route  of  the  Erie  Canal  and  its  western 
branches,  during  the  construction  of  the  same.  In 
182C>  he  engaged  in  an  iron  foundry,  at  Ithaca, 
in  company  with  Benjamin  Vail. 

Coming  to  Auburn  in  1833,  he  became  a  member 
jf  the  tirni  of  Hyde,  Watrous  6c  Co.,  and  went  into 
the  hardware  business.  The  following  year,  in  con- 
nection with  his  brothers-in-law,  Charles  V.  AVc>od 
and  David  II.  Thomas,  he  established  the  well-known 
Commercial  Iron  Works,  on  State  Street.     Mr.  Dennis 


648  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

took  an  active  interest  in  tlie  Auburn  and  Syracuse^ 
and  Auburn  and  Rochester  Railroads,  and  was  in 
c>ne  or  both  a  director  for  several  years.  For  these 
companies  and  i\)r  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  Co. 
he  manufactured  large  quantities  of  iron  work  and 
machinery. 

Mr.  Dennis  was  president  of  the  village  of  Auburn 
during  the  years  1840,  '41  and  '42 ;  and  was  the 
first  mayor  of  the  city,  being  elected  in  1848. 

The  next  year  he  associated  himself  with  Josiah 
Barber  in  the  manufacture  of  carpets.  Receiving, 
in  1851,  the  appointment  of  superintendent  of  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad,  of  which  road  he  had  pre- 
viously been  a  director,  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  Buffalo.  The  duties  of  this  position  he  performed 
with  great  ability  for  a  period  of  five  years,  within 
which  time  occurred  the  great  excitement  at  Erie. 
Afterward,  for  more  than  a  year,  he  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  Mad  River  and  Lake  Erie  R.  R. 
Upon  his  resignation  of  this  position  he  removed 
to  Bufialo  and  engaged  in  an  iron  foundry  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Moore  &  Purdie. 

In  the  spring  of  1859,  Mr.  Dennis  returned  to 
Auburn,  and  associating  himself  with  D.  Munson 
Osborne,  Esq.,  under  the  title  of  D.  M.  Osborne  & 
Co.,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Kirby  Mower 
and  Reaper.  The  business  rapidly  increasing 
from  the  first,  the  buildings  were  largely  and  rapidly 


BioaRAriiiE?.  549 

extended,  and  the  establishment  is  now  well  known 
as  one  of  the  nio-^t  extensive  and  important  manu- 
factories in  the  whole  world. 

When  the  Auburn  Water- Works  Company  was 
organized  under  its  second  charter,  in  1803,  ^[r. 
Dennis  was  chosen  one  of  the  directors  of  the  same. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  died  at  his  residence 
on  West  Genesee  Street,  June  1st,  1866.  During 
the  last  year  of  his  life  he  was  deeply  interested  in 
tlie  Southern  Central  Eailroad,  of  which  he  was  the 
first  president.  The  friends  of  the  enterprise  expected 
much  from  him  in  this  important  work,  his  practical 
knowledge  of  civil  engineering,  and  high  reinitation 
as  a  railroad  man,  securing  to  it  a  greater  degree  of 
-confidence  than  it  had  ever  before  possessed. 

Mr.  Dennis  exhibited  a  high  order  of  intelligence, 
and  sustained  an  unsullied  reputation  for  integrity 
and  virtue.  He  was  proverbially  known  as  an  u])- 
right,  straightforward,  out-spoken,  clear-headed,  en- 
terprising, generous,  and  patriotic  citizen,  and  there 
never  was  a  business  man  in  the  whole  community 
whose  loss  was  more  deeply  felt  than  his. 

Isaac  Sherwood  was  born  at  Willianistown,  Massa- 
chusetts, October  13th,  1760.  Of  his  early  life  we 
have  no  details.  lie  was  married  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  Captain  Amaria  Babbitt,  of  Ashford,  in  the  same 
State ;  and  shortly  after  taking  his  departure  from  his 
native  place,  he  settled  at  Norway,  Herkimer  County, 


550  HISTiJRY    OF    AUBURN. 

tlien  belonging  to  the  tract  of  land  known  as  the  Eoyal 
Grant. 

Determining  a  few  years  later  to  remove  thence,  he 
surveyed  the  Susquehanna  and  lake  countries,  and, 
after  some  hesitation,  decided  to  find  a  home  in  the 
latter.  In  1798,  consequently,  he  came  to  Cayuga 
County,  and  located  in  Aurelius,  on  military  lot  No. 
36,  at  the  west  end  of  what  was  then  termed  the  Long 
Crossway  :  better  known  in  later  times  as  Corduroy. 

In  the  year  1804,  having  formed  a  co-partnership 
with  Winston  Day,  of  Skaneateles,  in  the  mercantile 
business,  he  removed  thither.  In  1810  he  opened  a 
public  house  in  this  village,  and  the  following  year 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  semi-weekly  line  of  stages 
from  Albany  to  Canandaigua ;  in  consec\uence  of 
which  connection,  their  trips  were  increased  to  thrice- 
w^eekly.  Upon  the  declaration  of  war  in  1812,  the 
route  was  extended  from  Canandaigua  to  Buffalo, 
and  their  trips  were  then  made  daily.  In  1824,  in  con- 
nection with  Messrs.  Jason  Parker,  of  Utica,  and 
Thomas  Powell,  of  Schenectady,  he  contracted  with 
the  Government  to  carry  the  mails  daily  from  Albany 
to  Kochester,  Buffalo,  and  Niagara  Falls,  via  the 
Ridge  Road.  These  contracts  having  been  previously 
let  in  sections  of  the  route,  the  first  contract  for 
carrying  through  mails  from  Albany  to  Buffalo  daily, 
was  made  and  executed  by  Isaac  Sherwood.  In 
the  spring   of  1829,  with    his   son — well   known    a& 


BIOGRAPHIES.  561 

Colonel  John  M.  Sherwood,  now  residing  in  Phelps, 
Ontario  County — he  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
American  Hotel,  on  the  ground  previously  owned 
by  James  Glover,  Emory  Willard,  and  A.  V.  M. 
Suydani.  The  hotel,  being  completed,  was  formally 
opened  January  1st,  1830,  by  Thomas  Noyes,  sub- 
t«equently  leased  to  Joshua  L.  Jones,  and  afterward 
occupied  by  William  B.  Wood. 

In  the  year  1833,  Mr.  Sherwood  removed  to  Auburn. 
After  the  decease  of  Parker  and  Powell,  his  partners, 
the  building  and  completion  of  the  Erie  Canal  devel- 
oped the  resources  of  the  State  to  such  an  extent,  as  to 
render  it  necessary  for  him  to  associate  with  himself 
other  gentlemen,  in  order  to  meet  the  increased  de- 
mands of  transportation  ;  but  the  principal  manage- 
ment of  the  business  devolved  upon  himself  till  1840, 
the   time  of  his  death. 

Doctor  Joseph  Clary  w^as  born  at  Conway,  Massachu- 
setts, December  ISth,  1787;  and  died  at  Throopsville, 
May  25th,  1863,  in  the  seventy-sixth  year  of  his  age. 
While  yet  quite  young,  he  removed  with  his  father, 
Abel  Claiy,  to  Adams,  Jefferson  County,  in  this  State. 
He  studied  medicine  at  New  Hartford,  and  commenced 
its  practice  at  the  age  of  twenty-live.  Not  possessing  a 
strong  constitution,  physicians  advised  him  to  seek  a 
change  of  climate  and  establish  for  himself  a  country 
practice,  where  he  would  have  plenty  of  horseback  ex- 
ercise.    They  furthermore  recommended  him  to  select 


552  HISTOtlY    OF    AUBUEN. 

a  fever  and  ague  region.  Setting  out  on  a  tour  of  in- 
spection, he  came  to  Auburn,  then  Ilardenburgh's  Cor- 
ners ;  but  not  being  satisfied  with  the  locality,  he  pro- 
ceeded as  far  west  as  Rochester.  The  population  of 
this  place  being  small,  he  returned  to  Auburn,  and 
finally  settled  at  Throopsville,  three  miles  north  of 
this  place,  in  1812.  Here  he  resided  until  the  time  of 
his  death.  The  good  old  age  to  which  he  had  attained 
shows  liow  far  a  temperate,  cheerful,  and  active  life 
will  go  to  supply  the  want  of  a  good  constitution. 

Dr.  Clary  was  for  half  a  century  the  principal  phy- 
sician of  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  lived.  He  vis- 
ited his  patients  with  regularity,  and  preserved  the  en- 
thusiasm of  youth  to  the  last  fortnight  of  his  life.  A 
man  of  larger  ambition  and  less  merit  would  have 
sought  a  wider  sphere  ;  but  his  characteristic  modesty 
made  him  content  with  the  place  of  his  first  choice, 
although  the  changes  of  fifty  years  were  constantly 
opening  more  inviting  fields  for  the  exercise  of  his  tal- 
ents. It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  he  could  have 
found  a  more  useful  sphere,  or  associations  and  social 
fellowship  more  congenial  to  his  taste.  He  attained  a 
high  standing  in  his  profession,  was  distinguished  for 
his  careful  analysis  of  symptoms,  and  was  rarely  mis- 
taken in  the  nature  or  location  of  the  disease.  He  pos- 
sessed in  a  high  degree  the  moral  qualifications  of  a  phy- 
sician ;  and  by  his  virtues  and  consistent  piety  won 
universal  confidence. 


BIOGRAPHIES.  553 

Though  Dr.  Clary  was  not  a  resident  of  this  place, 
the  proximity  of  his  residence,  tlie  nature  of  his  calling, 
and  his  attractive  social  qualities  made  him  extensively 
known  and  highly  esteemed,  both  in  Auburn  and  the 
rest  of  the  county.  His  two  sons,  John  S.  Clary  and 
James  A.  Clary,  however,  are  residents  of  this  city,  and 
are  respected  as  able  business  men,  and  loyal,  gener- 
ous, and  enterprising  citizens.  Dr.  Clary  united  with 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Auburn  at  an  early 
period,  and  was  for  many  years  one  of  its  ruling  elders. 
His  extensive  practice  as  a  physician  did  not  inteifere 
with  the  punctual  and  diligent  discharge  of  his  duties 
as  a  Christian,  or  in  regular  attendance  upon  public 
worship. 

He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  late  struggle  in  the 
land,  and  presented  a  calm  and  loyal  confidence  in  the 
issue. 

His  sickness  was  brief  Having  attended  service  on 
the  Sabbath,  and  visited  those  of  his  patients  with  re- 
gard to  whom  he  was  most  solicitous,  he  was  taken 
violently  ill  of  a  fever,  and  died  early  in  the  following 
week.  His  remains  were  followed  to  the  grave  by  a 
large  concourse  of  people,  who  sincerely  mourned  his 
departure.  It  was  a  solemn  and  impressive  scene,  and 
a  fitting  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  de- 
ceased. 

Horace  Hills  was  born  in  East  Hartford,  Conn.. 
October  31st,  17ST.      His  youth  was    passed  in  the 


554  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

family  of  his  uncle,  Dr.  William  Porter,  of  Hadiey, 
Mass. 

In  May,  1809,  he  came  to  Auburn,  and  began  the 
mercantile  business,  in  which  he  was  successfully  en- 
gaged for  thirty  years.  From  earliest  manhood  he  was 
an  earnest  supporter  of  the  jniblic  services  of  Christian 
worship,  and  always  gave  liberally  of  his  time  and 
means  for  religious  purposes.  In  1810,  he  encouraged 
and  aided  the  building  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  the 
first  house  of  worship  in  the  village.  He  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Society,  in  1815, 
and  one  of  the  Second  Presybterian  Society,  in  1828  ; 
in  both  of  which  churches  he  held  the  office  of  ruling 
elder  for  many  years.  lie  was  also  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Theological  Seminary,  of  which  he  was 
trustee.  He  was  at  one  time  president  of  the  village, 
and  was  long  one  of  the  inspectors  of  the  Auburn 
State  prison,  under  appointment  from  the  Governors  of 
the  State.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  introduce  the 
cultivation  of  choice  fruits  and  flowers,  and  to  give 
the  village  its  rural  adornments  of  trees  and  shrubbery. 
Shortly  after  his  removal  to  Auburn,  he  married  Miss 
Almira  Wilcox,  of  East  Guilford,  Conn.,  whose  domes- 
tic and  social  virtues  graced  his  home  for  nearly  half  a 
century.  Their  united  influence  was  always  felt  in  the 
cause  of  refined  and  Christian  education.  Their  sur- 
viving children  are  two  sons,  the  Rev.  Horace  Hills,  Jr., 
and  the  Rev.  George  Morgan  Hills,  clergyman  of  the 


BIOI^KAPHIES.  555 

Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  three  daughters, 
the  founders  of  the  church  scliool  for  young  ladies  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.  For  tlie  last  twenty-two  yeai-s,  Mr. 
Hills  has  resided  in  Buffalo,  where  lie  still  enjoys  a 
"  green  old  age." 

Robert  Muir  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  born  at 
Kilwinning,  on  the  25th  of  March,  1790.     At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  came  to  this  country  with  George  Leitch,  a 
prominent  and  early  merchant  of  this  place,  and  became 
known  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  then  village  of  Auburn, 
as  his  clerk.     A  few  years  later  he  established  himself 
in  the  mercantile  business,  and  soon  won  the  enviable 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  exact  and  honorable 
of  merchants.    In  1822,  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Bennett^ 
of  this  village,  who,  with  her  virtues,  domestic  and  so- 
cial, graced  his  family  circle  until  her  death,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1864.     Their  family  of  two  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters still  survive.     In  1827,  he  associated  with  himself 
the  late  Hon.  Kathaniel  Garrow,  George  B.  Throop, 
and  Eleazer  Hills,  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth, 
in  the  old  factory  at  Throopsville — an   institution  of 
great  value  to  this  community — and  afterward  became 
sole  proprietor  of  the  business.     At  the  same  time  he 
continued  the  sale  of  dry-goods  and  produce  in  a  store, 
which  many  of  our  citizens  remember  as  standing  on 
the  north  side  of  Genesee  Street,  just  west  of  the 
bridge.     In  the  year  18-11,  he  met  with  one  of  those 
reverses  of  fortune,   which  often  overtake  the  ablest 


556  HISTORY    OF    AffBUKX. 

and  most  clear-headed  business  men,  and  lost  a  large 
fortune.  Undaunted  by  this  great  calamity,  he  con- 
tinued his  mercantile  business,  though  upon  a  reduced 
scale,  until  the  close  of  his  life.  Although  a  Presby- 
terian from  the  associations  of  youth,  he  gave  his  sup- 
port to  St.  Peter's  Church  in  this  city,  and  aided  in 
the  rebuilding  of  the  church  edifice,  when  destroyed 
by  lire  in  1832.  He  was  by  habit,  education,  and  sen- 
timent, a  religious  man. 

Mr.  Muir  died  at  his  residence  in  this  city,  February 
17th,  1868,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-eight.  By 
his  death  Auburn  lost  one  of  her  worthiest,  most  vener- 
able, and  highly  respected  citizens.  For  more  than 
half  a  century  he  was  known  as  one  of  the  most  exact, 
honorable,  and  intelligent  merchants.  Five  and  twenty 
years  ago,  his  name  was  associated  with  every  en- 
terprise calculated  to  build  up  the  interests  of  the 
town.  He  possessed  the  confidence  of  the  community 
and  surrounding  farmers  to  a  degree  unsurpassed  by 
any  other  individual.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  social 
qualities;  and  his  cheerful  temper  continued  to  the 
<;lose  of  his  life,  though  for  several  years  the  infirmities 
of  age  impaired  his  physical  activity. 

James  S.  Seymour^  president  of  the  National  Bank 
of  Auburn,  and  now  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  hon- 
ored citizens  of  our  place,  was  born  at  the  city  of 
Hartford,  Conn.,  in  April,  1791.  He  received  a  com- 
mon school  education  in  the  old  red  school-house,  an 


BIOciRAPHIES.  55T 

institution  well  remembered  by  the  people  of  that 
place.  While  a  youth  he  was  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile 
establishment  in  his  native  town  for  some  time,  which 
lie  left  to  enter  the  Hartford  Bank,  where  he  remained 
six  years,  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office  with  the 
care  and  precision  which  have  ever  distinguished  him 
as  a  banker.  During  1816,  seeking  a  temporary  relief 
from  business,  he  visited  Western  New  York,  where 
he  had  two  brothers  residing,  one  at  Canandaigua, 
cashier  of  the  bank  there,  the  other  in  Buffalo.  In  his 
travels  he  met,  at  Utica,  John  II.  Beach,  Esq.,  of  Au- 
burn, who  was  away  from  town  on  business  relating 
to  the  bank,  then  lately  established  under  the  auspices 
of  himself  and  his  Auburn  friends.  On  his  return 
from  the  West,  Mr.  Seymour  stopped,  by  invitation, 
at  Auburn.  A  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  Au- 
burn Bank  was  called  as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  he 
was  in  town,  and  he  was  appointed  cashier.  The 
stockholders  had  made  their  first  payment  on  their 
subscriptions  and  Avere  anxious  to  have  the  bank  run- 
ning. Mr.  Seymour  w^as  undecided  until  after  his  re- 
turn home.  He  ultimatel}^  accepted,  returned  to  Au- 
burn, and  began  the  operation  of  the  celebrated  insti- 
tution, with  which  he  has  now  been  connected  in  an 
official  capacity  for  over  fifty  years. 

Mr.  Se3Mnour  has  never  taken  part  in  j^ulitical  strife, 
and  therefore  can  boast  of  no  civic  honors.  ITe  holds, 
however,  the  responsible  position  of   president  of    a 


558  HISTuKY    OF    AUBURN. 

bank ;  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Theological  Seminary, 
is  now  a  trustee  of  the  U.  S.  Life  and  Trust  Co.,  of 
New  York,  and  president  of  trustees  of  Cayuga 
County  Orphan  Asylum,  of  wliich  institution  he  was 
one  of  the  originators.  His  name  has  been  connected 
with  every  charitable  and  philanthropic  movement 
that  has  engaged  the  attention  of  the  people  of  Au- 
burn during  his  residence  here. 

Cwptain  George  Broimi  Chase  was  born  at  Nan- 
tucket, Massachusetts,  April  7th,  1785,  and  like  most 
of  his  playmates  was  trained  for  the  sea.  At  the  age 
of  thirteen  he  sailed  as  cabin-boy  with  his  uncle,  John 
Brown,  upon  a  three  years'  voyage  to  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
In  1802  he  made  another  voyage  of  two  years  to  the 
South  Pacific,  in  the  capacity  of  second  mate,  during 
which  he  became  proficient  in  harpooning  whales, 
which  was  considered  a  great  accomplishment.  From 
that  time  forward,  to  1821:,  he  commanded  several  fine 
whaling  ships,  and  in  that  service  was  very  successful. 
During  that  period  of  his  life  he  married  in  Nan- 
tucket. In  1821  a  splendid  ship  was  built  expressly 
for  him  at  Middletown,  Connecticut,  and  at  its  launch- 
ing his  wife  named  it  the  Alexander^  with  the  usual 
ceremony  of  cracking  a  bottle  of  wine  upon  its  stern. 
In  this  vessel  he  made  his  last  voyage,  setting  sail  the 
18th  of  August,  1821,  and  arriving  in  port  May  3d, 
1824.  Tliis  cruise  was  made  to  the  coast  of  Japan, 
where  he  took  2,970  barrels  of  sperm,  (700  of  it  in  25 


BIOGRAJ'HIES.  559 

days)  and  a  large  quantity  of  whale-bone.  Upon  lii^ 
retui'n  to  Nantucket,  he  found  that  his  wife  and  daugh- 
ter had  died  during  hi^  al)sence.  He  then  retired  from 
the  sea. 

In  1S25  he  removed,  with  the  surviving  members  oi^ 
his  family,  to  the  city  of  Hudson  ;  but  during  his  first 
winter's  residence  at  this  place  he  was  burnt  out  by  a 
disastrous  fire,  and  in  the  following  spring  he  returned 
to  JS^antucket.  Early  in  1S27  he  came  to  Auburn  witli 
his  family,  and  bought  tlie  Casey  farm,  of  150  acres,  on 
North  Street,  a  portion  of  wliich  is  now  occupied  by 
his  son,  George  H.  Chase ;  and  with  a  brief  interval 
in  1837  and  '38,  resided  there  until  his  death. 

Captain  Chase  had  the  sternness  of  manner  and 
energy  of  a  vigorous  sea  captain,  mingled  with  a 
high  sense  of  lionor  and  generous  hospitality.  His 
love  of  genial  company  was  remarkable.  He  w^as 
positive  in  all  his  characteristics.  Ilis  antipathies 
were  strong,  but  were  not  stronger  than  liis  attach- 
ments. He  was  naturally  enterprising.  Finding 
upon  his  farm  an  excellent  stone-quarry,  lie  suggested 
a  more  general  use  of  stone  for  buildings,  side- 
walks, and  streets,  than  had  ever  been  made  of  it 
before.  Macadamized  streets  here  are  chiefly 
owing  to  Ins  timely  hints  of  their  value.  He  served 
the  puljlic  in  various  capacities.  He  was  trustee 
of  his  ward  under  the  viHage  charter  in  181-0 
and  '1:1,  and    ]>re.-ident    of    the   village   in    ISll   and 


560  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

'45.  He  was  one  of  the  originators  of  the  Auburn 
'Gas-light  Company,  and  was  president  of  that  or- 
ganization from  its  formation,  February  16th,  1848, 
to  tlie  time  of  his  deatli,  January  29th,  1853.  His 
remains  now  repose  in  a  vault  built  by  himself  du- 
ring his  life  time  in  the  North  Street  cemetery. 

George  Casey  was  born  in  Pougbkeepsie,  Dutcli- 
ess  County,  September  20tli,  1772.  Marrying,  at 
the  age  of  eighteen,  Jane,  daughter  of  ]\Ir.  Christo- 
pher Dutcher,  of  that  county,  he  thus  early  entered 
the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  active  life,  settled 
upon  a  farm  in  Dover  ( then  Fowling ),  in  a  beau- 
tiful and  fertile  region,  and  devoted  himself  to  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  the  engrossing  interest  of  his  life. 
He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  political  issues  of 
the  day,  and  was  called  to  fill  several  official  sta- 
tions. He  served  in  the  capacity  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  twelve  or  thirteen  years.  He  was  elected 
supervisor  of  his  town,  and  at  one  or  more  sessions 
of  the  board  was  its  presiding  officer.  He  was  one 
of  the  assistant  Justices  of  the  county  court.  In 
1807  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Assembly,  for 
the  session  of  1808,  in  a  canvass  of  unusual  interest, 
involving  among  other  questions  the  local  one  of  the 
division  of  the  county — Dutchess  at  that  time  rank- 
ing next  to  New  York  in  point  of  wealth,  popula- 
tion and  resources.  This  subject  became  one  of  the 
most   exciting   and  engrossing  topics  of  the   session. 


BIOGRAPHIES.  561 

After  a  long,  sharp  contest,  tlio  measure,  to  wliicli 
Mr.  Casey  was  opposed,  was  carried  throng! i.  In 
this,  and  other  subjects  which  came  before  the  house 
during  that  session,  he  took  a  prominent  part,  be- 
ing associated  with  such  prominent  and  leading  men 
of  the  State  as  Elisha  Williams,  Stephen  Van  Rens- 
selaer, Thomas  R.  Gold,  Abraham  Van  Vechten, 
Sylvanus  Miller,  and  others.  In  1809  he  received 
the  appointment  of  })Ostmaster  at  Dover  from 
Gideon  Granger,  the  Postmaster  General,  which 
position  he  held  until  liis  removal  from  the  county. 

Attracted  thither  by  the  glowing  accounts  of  the 
richness  and  resources  of  the  western  part  of  the  State, 
its  beauty  and  fertility,  its  charming  lakes  and  pleas- 
ant streams,  its  forest  scenery,  here  and  there  checkered 
with  cultivation,  its  landscapes  of  gentle  swells  and 
pleasant  valleys,  and  its  genial  and  invigorating  cli- 
mate, Mr.  Casey,  in  the  fall  of  1813,  removed  with 
his  family  to  Auburn  (then  Aurelius),  settling  on  a 
farm  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town.  In  no  region 
more  healthy  and  inviting  could  he  have  selected  a 
spot  for  his  future  labors  and  comfort.  The  sun  never 
shone  on  a  lovelier  or  more  fertile  tract — with  its  stately 
growth  of  hickories,  its  giant  maples  and  spreading 
beeches,  its  towering  elms  and  lindens,  with  springs 
and  streams  of  the  purest  water,  and  the  ])lacid 
OwascOjgem  of  the  western  lakes,  gleaming  in  the  dis- 
tance. The  county  was  a  wilderness — the  quiet  little 
34 


562  IIISTOKY    OF    AUBURN. 

hamlet  of  Ilardenburgli's  Corners,  the  only  feature  of 
bustle  and  activity,  nestling  in  the  forest. 

Uopn  the  passage  of  the  Act  of  the  Legislature,  in 
1819,  for  erecting  the  Auburn  prison,  Mr.  Casey  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  first  Board  of  Inspectors,  the  other  mem- 
bers being  Judge  Miller,  Judge  Glover,  John  H.  Beach, 
^nd  A.  Kasson.  To  the  work  of  organizing  the  insti- 
tution, its  discipline,  employment  of  convicts,  selection 
.of  officials,  its  records  and  statistics,  and  the  adoption 
of  means  looking  as  well  to  the  reformation  of  the  of- 
fenders as  their  punishment,  he,  with  his  associates  in 
the  board,  gave  much  thought,  patient  study  and 
unwearied  attention. 

Mr.  Casey  took  a  prominent  interest  in  the  subject 
•of  education  and  the  establishment'  of  schools  and 
academies.  He  became  a  zealous  inquirer  on  re- 
ligious subjects,  and  w^as  an  incessant  Bible  reader. 
Making  the  study  of  the  Scriptures  his  delight,  he 
learned  whole  chapters  and  pages  ot  its  contents.  In 
religious  discussion,  in  which  he  frequently  mingled, 
he  was  ever  ready  with  apt  quotation  from  the  sacred 
writings.  At  such  times,  however,  he  refrained  from 
bitterness  and  caustic  expression.  His  religious  views 
were  broad  and  independent,  believing  that  the  doc- 
trine of  universal  salvation  was  right  and  Scriptural, 
and  that  the  Divine  Government,  in  its  dealings  w4th 
men,  was  one  of  infinite  goodness,  mercy  and  com- 
passion. 


DIOGKAPHIES.  563 

With  courteous,  dlgnitied  deportuient,  refined  man- 
ners, and  polished  address,  he  was  exceedingly  phiin, 
preferring  the  garb  of  homespun  to  the  adornments  of 
fashion,  lie  detested  foppery  in  all  its  phases,  and  on 
one  occasion  required  his  eldest  son,  then  a  stripling  of 
ten,  to  rehearse  in  the  presence  of  its  venerable  author, 
William  Ray,  the  ]^oem  on  the  '"  Pluughboy  and  the 
Dandy."  llis  simplicity  of  dress  accorded  with  the 
truthfulness  and  sincerity  of  his  character.  lie  had  a 
theory  that  if  a  man  possessed  merit,  he  had  but  to 
bide  his  time,  and  wait  for  the  appreciation  and  re- 
ward which  was  sure  to  come.  A  mistaken  theory, 
perhaps,  as  he  considered  not  the  scorns  and  buffets, 

"  Which  patient  merit  of  the  unworthy  takes, — " 
and  that  success  in  life,  in  the  race  for  honor  and   dis- 
tinction, is  as  much  due  to  pretension^and  clap-trap, 
as  to  solid  worth  and  unostentatious  desert. 

While  a  resident  of  Auburn,  Mr.  Casey  took  no 
prominent  part  in  politics.  He  gave  his  time  mainly 
to  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  his  farm.  Hav- 
ing sold  his  estate,  he  removed,  in  1829,  to  Oswego, 
whither  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Jehiel  Clark,  with  her  hus- 
band and  family,  had  gone  the  previous  year,  lie  then 
purchased  a  large  farm  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Ontario. 
Tie  was  elected  and  served  as  one  of  the  magistrates.  <.)f 
the  town.  Soon  after,  he  sold  his" farm  and  removed  to 
Williamson,  Wayne  County,  where  his  son-in-law, 
Charles  M.   Nichols,   was  engai^ed   in  the  mercantile 


564  inSTORY    OF    AUBURN, 

business.     Hence,  after  an   absence  of  two  years,  he 
returned  to  Auburn. 

In  1835,  about  which  time  his  daughters,  Mrs.  Hop- 
kins and  Mrs.  Nichols,  had  witli  their  families  re- 
moved tliither,  he  made  a  journey  to  Michigan.  lie 
there  purchased  several  hundred  acres  of  Government 
lands  in  ]\^alamazoo  and  Calhoun  Counties,  then  re- 
garded as  the  best  of  territory.  He  traveled  much 
alone  on  horseback  over  the  prairies  and  through  the 
wilderness.  Exposure  to  malaria  brought  on  a  fever, 
and  on  reaching  Detroit  he  'was  prostrated  with  dis- 
ease. Although  kindly  attended  and  faithfully  minis- 
tered to  in  the  house  of  a  friend,  whom,  by  the  way,  he 
had  known  in  Auburn,  he  died  on  the  16th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1835,  after  a  long  life  of  physical  and  mental 
labor.  His  end  was  peace — his  record  in  life  that  of 
an  honest  man.  His  remains  were  deposited  in  the 
cemetery  at  Detroit,  whence,  twenty-three  years  later, 
they  were  removed  by  his  son  George  to  Auburn,  and 
there  deposited  in  the  North  Street  cemetery,  beside 
those  of  his  faithful  and  devoted  wife,  who  survived 
him  until  1843. 

Of  his  eleven  children  four  survive  :  Mr.  George 
Casey  and  Mrs.  Wm.  Yan  Tuyl,  of  Auburn,  John  M. 
Casey,  of  Oswego,  and  Mrs.  Hopkins,  of  Charleston, 
Michigan. 

Joseph  L.  Richardson  was  born  in  Frederick  Co., 
Maryland,  in   the   year  1776,  and   came   to  Cayuga 


BIOGRAPHIES.  565 

County  in  1S02.  He  studied  law  at  Aurora,  settled 
at  Auburn  in  1S05,  and  the  following  year  entered 
into  co-partnership  with  Enos  T.  Throop,  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law,  Mr.  Richardson  was  instrumental  in  the 
removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Aurora  to  Auburn, 
and  also  an  effective  advocate  of  the  selection  of  tliis 
place  as  the  site  of  the  State  prison,  of  which  he  was 
for  many  years  inspector.  He  was  District  Attorney 
at  a  time  when  this  Judicial  District  comprised  a  great 
portion  of  Western  New  York.  In  the  war  of  1812, 
he  lield  the  position  of  paymaster  of  the  army,  with 
the  rank  of  Major.  In  the  year  1827  he  was  ap- 
pointed First  Judge  of  Cayuga  County,  a  i)osition  he 
held  until  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution,  in 
1846,  a  period  of  iiearl}^  twenty  years. 

Judge  Hichardson  died  at  his  residence  in  this  city, 
in  the  month  of  April,  1853.  The  preamble  and  reso- 
lutions adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the  bar  of  Cayuga 
Count}',  held  therefor,  comprise  a  brief  and  appropri- 
ate summary  of  his  character  : 

"  Whereas,  The  recent  dispensation  of  Providence  has  removed 
from  among  us,  in  the  full  maturity  of  years,  our  distinguished 
elder  brother,  the  Hon.  Joseph  L.  Richardson,  a  pioneer  in  the 
early  settlement  of  the  county,  a  prominent  citizen,  a  strong- 
minded  and  vigorous  Judge,  the  oldest  and  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished members  of  the  bar  of  Cayuga,  the  cotempornry,  in  his 
prime,  and  compeer  of  Spencer  and  his  associates  : 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  our  distinguished  fellow-citizen 
and  brother,  rdthough  not  gathered  until  "  fidly  ripe  for  the  har- 


560  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

vest,"  yet  retiiinini^-  in  a  remarkable  degree  the  vigor  of  intellect 
and  force  of  character  which  marked  his  prime,  the  bar  of  Cayuga 
County  has  lost  one  of  its  ablest  members. 

jResolmd,  That  in  temperance  of  living,  in  strictest  regard  of  the 
n\oral  and  social  requirements  of  the  citizen,  in  the  high-toned 
and  fearless  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a  Judge,  in  the  vigorous  and 
intelligent  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a  member  of  the  bar,  in  the 
strength  of  his  personal  attachments,  in  the  purity  of  his  domes- 
tic life,  the  deceased  has  set  us  an  example  well  worthy  of  imita- 
tion." 

Iloii.  John  Beardsley  was  born  at  Soutlibury,  New 
Haven  Co.,  Conn.,  on  the  9th  of  November,  1783. 
From  the  1st  of  October,  1798,  the  time  of  his  father's 
death,  he  was  obliged  to  rely  for  support  and  success 
in  the  w^orld  mainly  on  his  own  exertions.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1804,  the  wife  who  now  survives  him.  In  the 
month  of  March,  1808,  he  removed  to  this  county, 
and  purchased  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Scipio.  At 
this  time  he  opened  a  store  in  that  town,  and,  for  the 
period  of  eighteen  years,  carried  on  mercantile  and 
farming  business  together.  During  that  period  he  was 
several  times  elected  to  various  local  offices,  such  as 
Supervisor  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  On  the  23d  of 
March,  1820,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Clinton 
and  the  Council  of  Appointment,  one  of  the  Associate 
Judges  of  Cayuga  County,  and  sat  as  Judge  with  the 
Hon.  Elijah  Miller,  First  Judge,  so  called,  until  the 
31st  of  January,  1823,  when  both  of  them  gave  way  to 
appointees  under  a  new  constitution.     In  years  1832 


BIOGRAPHIES.  56T 

and  '33,  he  represented  tliis  county  in  tlie  Assembly  ; 
and  in  the  fall  of  '35,  he  was  elected  to  tlie  State  Sen- 
ate Irom  the  Seventh  District.  The  following  year  he 
removed  his  residence  to  Auburn,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  in  the  mansion  on  Genesee  Street, 
now  occupied  by  his  widow.  In  1S40,  he  became  the 
President  of  the  Cayuga  County  Bank,  which  position 
he  held  until  the  29th  of  March,  1843  ;  resigning  it  to 
enter  upon  the  duties  of  agent  of  the  prison.  These 
he  discharged  with  great  faithfulness,  until  his  retire- 
ment in  1835.  Tlie  agency  of  the  Auburn  prison  was 
the  last  official  position  which  he  held. 

Judge  Beardsley  was  a  self-made,  industrious,  up- 
right, substantial,  thrifty  man,  wdio  was  held  in  very 
high  estimation  by  the  community,  and  particularly 
by  his  Democratic  friends,  lie  was  by  nature  and 
habit  a  good  financier ;  and  by  strict  attention  to  bus- 
iness, while  he  pretended  to  be  engaged  in  it,  he 
amassed  a  handsome  property.  As  a  neighbor,  he  was 
sociable,  genial,  accommodating,  and  kind.  As  a  citi- 
zen, lie  was  clear-sighted,  sound-minded,  well-judging, 
and  just.  And  as  a  legislator  and  public  officer,  he 
was  faithful  to  all  trusts,  careful,  considerate,  and 
wise.  His  management  of  the  State  prison  elicited 
very  higli  commendations  in  every  section  of  the 
State. 

Upon  his  retirement  from  the  position  of  agent  of 
the  prison,  he  devoted  his  time  to  the  cultivation  of 


568  HISTOilV    OF    AUBUKN. 

his  tann,  until  phj'sical  infirmities  obliged  liim  to  give 
up  all  business.  lie  was  ever  fond  of  agricultural  pur- 
suits. 

He  died  May  11th,  1857,  in  the  seventy-fourth  year 
of  his  age.  His  remains  are  interred  in  Fort  Hill 
cemetery. 

John  I.  Ilagaman  was  l)orn  at  Nine  Partners, 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  the  21st  of  March,  1792.  At 
an  early  age  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Lodi,  Seneca 
County,  and  was,  on  attaining  a  suitable  age,  appren- 
ticed to  John  Goltry,  Esq.,  in  the  trade  of  a  carpenter 
and  joiner.  His  early  and  passionate  fondness  for 
architecture,  however,  led  him  to  buy  off  his  time  be- 
fore the  expiration  of  his  apprenticeship  and  devote 
himself  to  the  study  of  his  favorite  art.  He  soon  es- 
tablished himself  in  the  business  of  a  master-builder 
and  cabinet-maker.  In  1820  he  went  to  Groton, 
Cortland  Co.,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  church 
which  he  had  designed  for  that  village.  He  came  to 
Auburn  in  October  of  the  following  year,  and  opened 
a  school  of  architectural  design.  The  principal  works 
that  he  performed  in  this  place  were  the  enlargement 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  the  designing  and 
erection  of  the  Second  Church  edifice  in  1830,  the 
preparation  of  the  plans  of  the  present  court-house  and 
town  hall,  and  the  building  of  many  of  the  stores  and 
private  residences  of  the  place.  The  village  map  of 
'36  was  projected  by  him,  and  he  furnished  the  eleva- 


BlOGK\l'HIES.  569 

tions  of  the  jniblic  buildings  for  the  ciigravino\s  issued 
with  it.  For  many  years  lie  was  foreman  in  the 
stone-cutting  shop  at  the  prison,  superintending  the 
dressing  of  plain  and  ornamental  huilding-stone  for 
edifices  of  this  and  many  other  towns  in  the  State. 

Almost  immediately  after  his  removal  to  Auburn, 
Mr.  Ilagaman  was  ordained  deacon  in  the  First  Church. 
He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  organization  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Society,  by  which  he  was  chosen 
elder.  For  many  years  he  was  leader  of  the  choir  in 
that  church,  and  he  conducted  a  singing-school — in 
those  days  an  institution  of  much  greater  im])ortance 
than  in  later  times. 

In  184:3,  he  returned  to  Lodi,  where  he  held  his 
nominal  residence  during  the  rest  of  his  life.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  employed  by  the  Erie  Jvailroad 
Co.,  and  three  or  four  years  later  by  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Railroad  Company,  to  ])roject  bridges  and 
design  depots.  He  remained  in  their  service  until  his 
death,  in  October,  1853. 

Deacon  Ilagaman  was  always  known  as  a  generous, 
patriotic,  virtuous,  and  intelligent  man,  and  led  a  most 
exemplary  Christian  life.  Being  exceedingly  tender- 
hearted, he  was  greath^  pained  by  the  severe  prison 
discipline  of  his  time  ;  and  he  often  carried  in  his 
pockets,  to  the  convicts  under  him,  medicine  and  other 
little  article-,  for  tlie  relief  of  their  sufferings,  lie  en- 
tertained a  deep  love  for  music  and  tlie  fine  arts.     The 


570  •         HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

high  degree  of  excellence  he  attained  in  the  profession 
of  an  architect  showed  his  great  devotion  to  it.  Ex- 
tremely fond  of  study  and  reading,  he  accnmulated  a 
large  and  valuable  library  of  architectural  works.  He 
was  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  his  re- 
moval from  Auburn  and  subsequent  death  were  deeply 
regretted  by  the  community. 

The  surviving  members  of  his  family  are  Mrs.  J. 
Kutsen  How  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  F.  Hall,  of  this  city ; 
Mrs.  John  Tloss,  of  Yincennes,  Ind. ;  Mrs.  Stephen  T. 
Owen,  of  Big  Flats,  I^.  Y. ;  and  Mrs.  E.  Stuart  Wil- 
son, of  Brockport,  N.  Y. 

Colonel  John  Ricliardson  was  born  in  Tanney  town- 
ship, Frederick  County,  Maryland,  on  the  19tli  of  De- 
cember, 1780  ;  and  died  in  Auburn,  April  20th,  1849, 
in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age.  During  his  youth 
he  resided  at  Baltimore,  where  he  learned  and  became 
proficient  in  cabinet-making — a  trade  he  followed 
through  life.  Upon  his  arrival  at  majority,  he  removed 
to  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  there  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness. While  resident  at  this  place  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  unfortunate  Blennerhassett,  and 
through  him,  with  Aaron  Burr.  By  the  latter  he  was 
solicited  to  join  a  secret  expedition  being  then  fitted 
out — for  what  purpose,  it  is  not  entirely  known,  even 
at  the  present  day  ;  but  sus}>ecting  treasonable  designs, 
he  declined  having  anything  to  do  with  it,  thereby  in- 
curring the  wrath  of  Blennerhassett.     After  remaining 


BIOGRAPHIES.  571' 

several  years  in  Marietta,  lie  descended  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Rivers  to  New  Orleans,  with  a  large  stock 
of  furniture.  Having  disposed  of  the  same  satisfacto- 
rily, he  took  ship  for  Philadelphia,  in  search  of  a  loca- 
tion better  suited  to  his  mind.  Thence  he  came  to 
Cayuga  County  ;  and,  after  a  short  stay  in  tlie  town  of 
Scipio,  came  and  settled  at  Auburn  in  1809. 

When,  in  1812,  a  call  was  made  for  troops  to  defend 
the  frontier,  he  was  among  the  first  to  respond.  Hav- 
ing raised  a  volunteer  rifle  company,  of  which  he  was 
chosen  captain,  he  soon  entered  actual  service.  He 
was  engaged  at  Fort  Erie  and  Chippewa,  where  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  for  his  presence  of  mind  and  daring. 
His  gallant  conduct  drew  warm  encomiums  from  his 
superior  oflicers ;  and  he  was  subsequently  promoted  to  • 
the  rank  of  Colonel. 

Upon  his  return,  lie  resumed  his  trade  of  cabinet- 
making,  which  he  pursued,  sometimes  alone  in  busi- 
ness, sometimes  in  partnership  with  others,  during 
the  remaining  years  of  his  life. 

Colonel  Richardson  was  possessed  of  many  shin- 
ing qualities.  He  was  a  steadfast  friend,  an  enter- 
l)rising  and  patriotic  citizen,  and  a  generous,  hon- 
orable, and  honest  man.  The  duties  of  the  various 
]nilitary  and  civil  positions  which  he  held,  he  per- 
formed with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  his  fellow-citizens.  During  his  residence  ol 
nearly   forty    years   in    Auburn,    he    was    universallv 


572  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

known    and  esteemed ;  and   his   death   was  sincerely 
regretted  by   the  community. 

Col.  John  W.  Ilulhert  was  born  at  Alford,  Berk- 
shire Comity,  Massachusetts,  in  the  year  1770.  He 
was  the  son  of  an  eminent  physician  and  accom- 
plished gentleman,  and  was  one  of  a  large  family 
of  children.  In  1793  he  was  admitted  to  the  Jun- 
ior class  in  Harvard  University,  Cambridge,  and 
graduated  with  honors  in  1795.  While  in  college 
he  was  presented  by  the  Faculty  with  a  copy  of 
"  Blair's  Lectures,"  for  his  proficiency  in  rhetoric 
and  belles-lettres. 

He  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  1797,  and 
soon  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  profession. 
A  distinguished  member  of  the  Berkshire  bar, 
writing  to  a  friend  in  this  city,  spoke  of  him  as 
"  the  brightest  ornament  of  the  bar  for  honor, 
wit,  and  elocpience."  Mr.  Hulbert  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Pittsfield,  in  the  western  part  of  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  pursued  his  profession  with 
2:reat  distinction  and  success,  until  he  came  to  New 
York.  In  1805  he  was  elected  to  the  Massachu- 
setts House  of  Representatives,  and  during  its  ses- 
sion took  a  prominent  part  in  the  debates  of  that 
assembly.  He  was  the  cotemporary  and  associate 
of  such  distinguished  patriots  and  orators  as  Harri- 
son G.  Otis  and  Fisher  Ames.  In  1814  he  was 
elected   to  Congress  from  Massachusetts,    and  during 


BIOGKAl'IllKS.  573 

his  term  of  office  disj)l;iyed  forensic  eloquence,  for 
wliicli   lie   was    justly  celebrated. 

Mr.  Ilulbert,  or  as  he  was  more  generally  known, 
Colonel  Ilulbert,  came  to  this  place  in  1817.  Here,  as 
at  the  place  of  his  former  residence,  he  ranked  fore- 
most in  his  profession.  He  devoted  his  time  to  family, 
friends,  and  clients,  rescuing  the  condemned  from  pun- 
ishment, and  protecting  w^idows  and  orphans — often 
without  hope  of  reward.  Never  but  once  did  he  fail 
to  arrest  the  hand  of  the  executioner.  In  the  fall  of 
1821:,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Assembly  from  this 
county.  The  following  year,  when  La  Fayette 
passed  through  Auburn,  he  addressed  him  on  behalf 
of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  died  of  apoplexy  Oc- 
tober 19th,  1831. 

Colonel  Ilulbert  was  the  most  brilliant  and  emi- 
nent member  of  the  Auburn  bai*.  He  was  ever  dis- 
tinguished for  his  benevolence,  amiability  of  manners, 
inflexible  honor,  unwavering  integrity,  and  his  faithful 
and  punctual  discharge  of  duty.  In  political  senti- 
ment he  was  a  Federalist  of  the  Washington  school. 
Wliile  he  was  in  Congress,  a  then  leading  paper  of 
Philadelphia  said  of  him :  "  There  is  something  in 
everything  uttered  by  Mr.  Ilulbert,  that  reaches  the 
heart  of  his  auditors  or  readers.  He  is  an  honor  to 
his  State,  and  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  Con- 
gress. He  is  a  Federalist  of  the  right  stamp.  Were 
all  Federalists  like  him,  Federalism  would  never  have 


.'574  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

incurred  the  opposition  of  the  people."  The  grief 
felt  at  Colonel  Hiilbert's  death  was  testified  by  the 
^community  in  a  larger  funeral  than  was  ever  be- 
fore held  in  Auburn. 

Hon.  Enos  ThoTripson  Throojj  was  bc>rn  at  Johns- 
town, Montgomery  County,  ]^ew  York,  August  21st, 
1784.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  went  to  Albany,  and 
^commenced  the  study  of  the  classics  and  law  in  the 
^office  of  George  Metcalfe,  an  eminent  lawyer  of 
Johnstown,  who  had  a  few  months  before  removed 
to  the  State  capital.  Completing  his  studies  under 
other  instructors  and  with  other  connections,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Albany,  January,  1806.  Two 
months  later  he  came  to  Cayuga  County,  but  did  not 
fix  his  residence  at  Auburn  until  November  of  tlie 
same  year.  The  controversy  concerning  the  location 
of  the  county  seat  was  then  at  its  height,  and  Mr. 
Throop  was  instrumental  in  effecting  the  selection  of 
Auburn  for  that  purpose.  The  following  year  he  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  the  Hon.  Joseph  L.  Kich- 
ard^on — afterward,  for  many  years.  First  Judge  of 
this  county.  This  business  connection  was  dissolved 
in  1811,  upon  his  appointment  to  the  office  of  county 
clerk.  About  this  time  he  purchased  the  mill  prop- 
erty at  the  village  now  called  Tliroopsville ;  shortly 
after  which  purchase  the  inhabitants,  at  a  public  meet- 
ing, named  the  place  Throopsville  in  compliment  to 
him.     In  the  fall  of  1814  he  was  elected  to  Consfress 


BIOGRAPHIKS.  575 

from  this  district.  Mr.  Tliruc>]>  liad  been  ui)pused  to 
the  election  of  Gov.  Clinton  in  the  campaigns  of  1S17 
and  '19.  Upon  Clinton's  re-election,  in  1819,  it  was  in- 
timated to  Mr.  Tliroop,  that,  nnless  his  0})position 
ceased,  he  would  be  removed  from  the  ofiice  of  countv 
clerk  ;  but  the  intimation  not  being  heeded,  his  re- 
moval followed.  In  April,  IS1J8,  lie  was  appointed 
Circuit  Judge  for  the  Tth  District,  which  position  he 
held  until  the  ftill  of  1828,  when,  receiving  the  nomi- 
nation for  Lieutenant-Governor,  with  Mr.  Van  Buren 
nt  the  head  of  the  ticket,  he  resigned,  in  order  to  ren- 
der himself  eligible  to  the  latter  office.  In  the  en- 
suing campaign  he  was  ti-iumphantly  elected.  Mr. 
Van  Buren  resigned  the  Governorship  in  March,  1829, 
in  order  to  accept  a  position  in  the  cabinet  at  Washing- 
ton, and  Mr.  Throop  then  became  Governor.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1830.  In  the  winter  of  1833  the  posi- 
tion of  naval  officer  of  the  port  of  Xew  York  was 
tendered  him  by  President  Jackson  and  accepted. 
This  office  he  retained  till  1838,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed cliarcfe  (T affaires  to  the  kingdoms  of  the  two 
Sicilies,  l^pon  the  election  of  Harrison  he  resigned, 
returned  home,  and  retired  from  public  life.  Betak- 
ing himself  to  his  quiet  retreat  on  Owasco  Lake — 
Willovj  Broolc — he  sought  among  agricultural  pur- 
suits the  rest  and  happiness  best  fitted  to  grace  his  de- 
clining years.  A  few  years  later  he  tran>ferred  his 
property  to   hi>   ne])hc-\v,  lb>n.   K.   T.  T.  ^Martin,  and 


576  HISTORY    OF    AUBUKN. 

removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Kalamazoo,  Midi.,  where 
he  indulged  his  rural  taste  by  purchasing,  clearing,  and 
cultivating  a  large  farm.  lie  subsequently  returned  to 
Willow  Brool\  to  spend  tlie  remaining  years  of  his 
life. 

Gov.  Throop  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this 
place,  and  one  of  the  most  active  citizens  of  that  early 
day.  He  was  a  member  of  the  iirst  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  village.  He  was  instrumental  in  changing  the 
politics  of  the  county  from  Federalism  to  Democracy. 
He  was  the  second  postmaster  of  Auburn ;  and  he 
took  an  active  part  in  the  establishment  of  the  Bank  of 
Auburn.  To  Gov.  Throop  the  author  of  ''  The  Lives 
of  the  Governors  of  I^ew  York "  pays  this  well- 
deserved  tribute : 

"  Starting  in  life  without  adventitious  aid,  self-reli- 
ant, enterj^rising,  and  persevering,  he  achieved  for 
himself  an  honorable  fortune.  Force  of  character  and 
energy  of  purpose  enabled  him  to  triumph  over  every 
obstacle  that  impeded  his  way  to  distinction.  Integ- 
rity, without  spot  or  guile,  w^as  the  polar  star  that 
guided  his  footsteps.  He  has  filled,  in  every  instance 
with  credit,  several  of  the  most  important  offices  in 
the  State^and  under  the  General  Government,  and  now, 
as  he  approaches  the  close  of  his  well-spent  life,  he 
presents  an  example  to  the  young  men  of  New  York, 
worthy  of  imitation  and  full  of  encouragement." 

Deacon  Henry  Amerman    was    born    in   Adams 


BIOGRAPniP:S.  O  i  I 

County,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1 770.  He  was  of 
Dutch  descent,  his  mother  being  great-granddaughter 
of  Simon  Van  Arsdell,  of  New  Amsterdam — one  of 
those  honest  Dutchmen  mentiuned  l)y  Irving,  ''wll(»^e 
hand  weisrhed  one  i)0und  and  i\nA  wciijhcd  two."  In 
1801  he  came,  in  company  with  six  other  families, 
from  his  native  place,  to  Owasco,  in  this  county.  Here 
he  secured  a  little  unused  log  cabin,  fifteen  feet  by 
twelve,  which,  witli  the  assistance  of  his  brothers,  who 
had  removed  thither  three  years  before,  he  soon  })laced 
in  a  habitable  condition.  I>efore  the  ensuing  wintei- 
set  in,  he  purchased  a  piece  of  land,  cleared  it,  and 
erected  thereon  a  frame  dwelling,  twenty-six  by 
eighteen  feet,  wdiere  he  resided  until  180-1,  when  he  came 
to  Auburn.  Having  obtained  a  lot  of  Colonel  Harden- 
burgli,  upon  the  south  side  of  Genesee  Street,  and  east 
of  the  mills,  he  built  a  new  frame  house,  and  moved 
into  it  with  his  family  in  November.  Hardenburglrs 
Corners,  at  this  time,  gave  little  promise  of  becoming 
a  large  city.  Mr.  Amerman's  w^as  the  eighth  frame 
building  in  tlie  })lace.  He  now^  established  himself  in 
the  business  of  a  saddle  and  harness-maker,  many  of 
his  customers  being  Indians  from  the  cam})  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  })rison.  In  18(>6  he  converted  his  resi- 
dence and  shop  into  a  tavern,  and  commenced  keeping 
boarders.  The  same  ^^ear  Colonel  Ilardenburgh  died, 
and  Mr.  Amerman  was  appointed/jne  of  the  administra- 
tors of  his  estate.  His  duties  were  \ery  arduous,  as 
35 


578  HISTORY    OF    AUBURN. 

the  affairs  of  the  deceased  were  left  in  an  extremely 
complicated  condition. 

In  1809,  he  was  chosen  captain  of  the  Auburn  mili- 
tia company  ;  and  in  the  War  of  1812-14,  he  marched 
out  as  far  as  Canandaigua  at  the  head  of  his  company, 
though  he  did  not  see  active  service. 

Mr.  Amerman  was  one  of  the  four  who  pledged 
the  commissioners  that  the  land  for  the  original  court- 
house should  be  free  of  expense  to  the  county.  He 
saw  the  site  of  that  edifice  staked  out.  He  attended 
the  meeting  at  which  the  name  of  Auburn  was  chosen 
for  this  place.  Having  sold  his  property  in  1816, 
he  purchased  and  removed  to  the  Center  House,  where 
he  kept  tavern  until  1822.  While  he  was  landlord  of 
the  Center  House,  the  long  room  of  that  tavern  was 
used  for  many  public  meetings — meetings  for  the  dis- 
cussion of  public  enterprises,  prayer-meetings,  confer- 
ences. Sabbath  schools,  and  singing  schools.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  the  first  Sunday  school  organized  west  of 
Albany  was  held  at  the  Center  House.  In  1817  Mr. 
Amerman  was  chosen  one  of  the  elders  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Auburn,  in  the  organization 
of  which  he  had  taken  a  part.  He  witnessed  the  lay- 
ing of  the  corner-stone  of  the  edifice  of  that  society, 
and  boarded  many  of  the  workmen  engaged  in  its  con- 
struction. For  a  number  of  years  he  was  Overseer  of 
the  Poor  of  this  place,  performing  the  arduous  duties 
of  his  ofiice  with  signal  faithfulness  and  ability.     Upon 


BIOGRA.PHIES.  579 

liis  disposal  of  the  Center  House,  he  removed  to  a 
house  on  Garden  Street,  which  stood  on  a  piece  of  land 
now  occupied  bj  the  soutli-eastern  corner  of  the  N.  Y. 
G.  K.  R.  depot.  After  a  residence  of  five  years  in  this 
house,  he  purchased  a  farm  near  Centreport,  about 
seven  miles  north  of  Auburn,  and  removed  thither 
with  his  family.  Here  he  has  spent  the  subsequent 
years  of  his  life,  living  to  a  ripe  old  age,  and  enjoying 
in  this,  his  93d  year,  the  use  of  his  faculties  to  a  re- 
markable degree. 

Deacon  Amerman  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Auburn — the  oldest  now  surviving.  During  his  resi- 
dence of  twenty-three  years  in  this  place,  he  was  ever 
known  as  an  enterprising,  energetic,  kind-hearted,  pa- 
triotic, honest,  and  honorable  citizen  ;  and  nothing  has 
lie  since  done,  in  his  quiet  rural  life,  to  forfeit  that 
well-deserved  reputation. 


THE    END. 


EEEAl^A. 

The  reader  will  be  pleased  to  correct  the  folluwino; 
mistakes  and  omissions  with  his  pen. 

Page  34,  Sth  line— For  "  double,"  read  "  both." 
"      85,  14th  "   —For  "  were,"  read  "  was." 
"      38,  24th  "  — Insert  "  and  resulted,"  after  "  County." 
"      49,  24th  "   —For  "  branch,"  read  "  bank." 
"      68,  19th  "   —For  "  was,"  read  "  were." 
"      83,    8th  "  —For  "  July,"  read  "  June." 

"  107,    6th  "  —For  "  same,"  read  "  present." 

"  136,    6th  "  —For  "  on,"  read  "  in." 

"  136,  21st  "   —For  "  Hubbard,"  read  "  Hulbert." 

"  163,  11th  "  —For  "  Alvah"  read  "  Allen." 

"  209,  15th"  — For  "  revelation,"  read  "  revulsion." 

"  299,    6th  "  — For  "  and  some,"  read  "  in  some." 

"  301,  18th  "  —For  "gap,"  read  "gate." 

"  316,   21st  "   — For  "  ordinary,"  read  "  ordering." 

"  319,  10th  "   —For  "  these,"  read  "  three." 

"  322,    4th  "  —For  "  say,"  read  "  day." 

"  456,      2d  "  — Insert  "  the  payment  of  a    bounty,"  after 

"  1864." 

"  512,  28th  "   —For  "  1846,"  read  "  1848." 
Whenever  the  name  "  Daniel  Hyde  "  occurs,  read  "  Dan  Hyde.' 


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