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PIONEER  HISTORY 


OR, 


CORTLAND  COUNTY 


AND    THE 


BORDBR  WARS  OF  NEW  YORK. 

cf  rem  tbc  d-arlust  ^mo^  to  the  ^rtscnt  f  imr. 


BY    H.    C.    GOODWIN, 

AUTHOR  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  ''  JOHN  JACOB  ASTOB,"  "  LEGENDS  OF  POLAND,"  "  THE  ROSE 
OF   PROVINCE,"  ITHACA  AS  IT  WAS,  AND   ITHACA  AS  IT  IS,"  "  EDGAR  WENT- 
WORTH  ;    A    PRIZE    STORY     OF    THE    SECOND     AMERICAN     REVOLU- 
TION," "  CORRESPONDING  MEM.  OF  THE  ROYAL /HISTORICAL 
SOCIETY  OF    HAVANA,  DE   LA  CUBA,"  "  HON.  MEM. 
OP  MASSACHUSETTS  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY," 
"  CORRESPONDING     MEM.      STATE 
HISTORICAL  SOCIETY    OF 
WISCONSIN." 


NEW    YORK: 
A.    B.    BURDICK,    PUBLISHER, 

No.  8  SPRUCE  STREET. 

1859. 


Fizi 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  tiie  year  1855,  by 

DIXON  &   CASE, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


tDWARD    0.    JENKINS, 

^printer  S:  ^tcrrotspcr, 
No.  26  Fkankfort  Btkeet. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 

Page . 

Aboriginal,  French,  and  English  History,  -  -  -         9 

CHAPTER  II. 
Liadesay's  Patent— Cherry  Valley — British  Oppression,  -      24 

CHAPTER  III. 

Border  Wars — British  Influence — Battle  of  Oriskany — Siege  of 
Fort  Schuyler,  -  -  -  -  -  -  -      36 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Flight  of  St.  Leger — Brant  gathering  his  Forces— The  Massacre,    44 

CHAPTER  V. 
Sullivan's  Campaign — Interesting  Incidents,    -  -  -        51 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Pioneer  Movements — Indian  Reflections — Revenge — Destruc- 
tion of  the  Mohawk  Valley — Incidents,  -  -  -       72 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Revolution — Its  Effects  Upon  Emigration — Settlements — 
Incidents — The  Three  Points  from  which  Emigrants  pene- 
trated Central  New  York,        -  -  -  -  -      87 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Page. 
Organization  of  Cortland  County,  -  -  -  -       94 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Military  Tract,  -  -  -  -  -  -     103 

CHAPTER  X. 
Geology,  Mineralogy  and  Meteorology,  -  -  -  -    112 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Legend  of  Tioughnioga  Valley,  -----    122 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Early  Settlements  and  Organization  of  Towns,  -  -  -     132 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

General  Remarks  on  Early  History — Past  and  Present  com- 
pared,   ------..    273 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Hunting  Incidents,  .-.--.    307 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Literary  and  Benevolent  Institutions,    -  -  -  -    318 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Biographical  Sketches,     ---.-.     332 

Brief  Notices,     --.....    429 
Conclusion,  -------    454. 


DEDICATION. 


SURVIVING    PIONEERS 

AND    THE 

DESCENDANTS   OF  PIONEEES   OF  COETLAND   COUNTY; 

AND    ESPECIALLY   TO   THE 

VENERABLE  DR.  JOHN   MILLER, 

AND 

MAJOR -GEN'L   SAMUEL   G.   HATHEWAY, 


That  their  future  days  may  be  happy  and  pleasurable  as  those  of  the  past  have 
been  arduous,  honorable,  and  useful  ;  and  that  the  evening  of  their  lives  may 
draw  on,  gently  as  fades  the  light  of  day,  is  the  sincere  and  devoted  wish  of 
their  friend,  THE   AUTHOR. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

The  following  letter,  addressed  by  Hon.  Joseph  Rey- 
nolds, Prof.  Hyde  and  others  to  the  author  of  this  vol- 
ume, precludes  the  necessity  of  any  additional  prefatory 

remarks  : 

Cortland,  May  22d,  1858. 

H.  C.  Goodwin,  Esq. — Dear  Sir, — The  undersigned 
are  informed  that  3^011  are  now  engaged  in  writing  the 
history  of  "  Central  New  York,"  a  work  which  will, 
doubtless,  be  highly  valued,  and  read  with  pleasure  by 
those  familiar  with  the  efforts  jou  put  forth  to  obtain 
facts  relative  to  the  early  history  of  localities,  and  the 
graphic  manner  in  which  you  record  important  events. 

A  notice  of  the  fact  that  you  are  still  employed  in 
writing  upon  subjects  which  interest  tlie  public  gene- 
rally, induces  us  to  hope  that  you  will  revise  and  pub- 
lish in  book  form  the  history  of  ^'Cortland  County  and 
the  Border  Wars  of  New  York,"  in  order  that  our  citi- 


VI  CORRESPONDENCE. 

zens  may  be  able  to  preserve  the  matter  which  you  pre- 
sented to  them  in  one  of  our  county  papers  two  years 
since,  and  which  proved  to  be  highly  interesting  and 
instructive. 

We  are  of  opinion  that  the  work  would  meet  with  a 
ready  sale,  and  that  you  could  not  fail  to  secure  a 
worthy  compensation  for  your  labor.  It  is  with  the 
hope  that  you  may  be  induced  to  publish  the  history  in 
a  more  desirable  form  that  we  address  you,  believing 
that  by  so  doing  you  will  perform  a  service  ever  to  be 
remembered  by  the  citizens  of  our  county. 
We  are,  sir,  yours  respectfully, 

Joseph  Reynolds, 
Horatio  Ballard, 
Frederick  Hyde, 
HiHAM  Crandall, 
Edwin  F.  Gould. 


CHAPTER    I. 


"  First  in  the  race,  that  won  their  country's  fame." 

The  historian  is  sometimes  obliged  to  record  events, 
over  which,  if  truth  could  be  as  well  accommodated, 
he  would  gladly  cast  the  veil  of  forgetfulness,  nor  tor- 
ture public  sympathy  with  the  narration  of  scenes  that 
pain  even  while  they  instruct.  We  pity  even  the  ban- 
ditti of  Judea  whom  Herod's  soldiers  subdued  ;  for 
lawless  as  they  were,  their  women,  children,  and  all 
their  hopes  sank  into  the  same  ruin.  But  the  aborigi- 
nals of  America  come  up  in  the  annals  of  the  past, 
demanding  our  strongest  sympathy,  because  their  crime 
was  simply  the  accident  of  birth  ;  they  were  the  pos- 
sessors of  this  continent ;  its  untold  treasure  of  wealth 
invited  the  cupidity  of  strangers  from  the  eastern  climes, 
and  in  their  presence  the  proud  sons  of  the  forest  of 
•America  have  withered  away.  When  we  contemplate 
our  country  as  it  is,  filled  with  wealth  and  the  most 
wonderful  improvements  ;  when  we  consider  the  almost 
exhaustless  resources,  agricultural  and  mineral,  of  our 
land  ;  and  when  we  look  upon  our  educated,  active,  and 
indomitable  people,  with  the  Bible  for  their  code,  ready 
to  use  every  available  and  righteous  means  to  strengthen 
2 


10         ABOEIGIXAL,    FREXCH,    AND   ENGLISH    HISTORY. 

and  perpetuate  the  Republic,  and  increase  its  moral, 
social,  intellectual,  and  political  light  and  liberty,  we 
feel  that  in  the  inscrutable  providence  of  God,  the  red 
man's  period  in  time  has  about  elapsed,  and  soon  all 
that  will  remain  to  tell  that  he  ever  existed  will  be  the 
imperfect  record  left  by  us,  his  exterminators. 

To  us,  who,  from  this  time,  look  back  upon  the  events 
of  the  past,  it  does  not  look  strange  that  the  natives 
should  have  retired  before  the  more  powerful  whites, 
and  that  they  should  have  made  some  attempts  to  expel 
their  invaders.  Nor  docs  it  appear  strange,  that,  after 
having  seen  the  graves  of  their  dead  desecrated,  their 
homes  made  desolate,  and  their  ancient  forests  laid 
waste—  after  the  apprehension  had  at  last  reached  their 
darkened  minds  that  they  were  to  be  eventually  exter- 
minated, the}^  should  have  turned  on  their  persecutors, 
nerved  with  destruction,  and  armed  with  the  desire  for 
''  liberty  or  death."  S^mipathy  for  our  countrymen  who 
suffered  from  the  chafed,  desperate  people  whose  homes 
we  have  wrested  from  them,  and  whose  country  we 
have  appropriated  to  our  use,  should  never  mislead  us 
into  the  supposition  that  the  Indian  of  America  pos- 
sesses a  more  vindictive  nature  than  ourselves.  Could 
a  people  as  much  more  highly  cultivated  than  ourselves, 
as  the  early  settlers  were  better  informed  than  Indians, 
approach  our  shores,  and  by  friendship  at  first,  and- 
then  by  fraud,  theft,  the  deceitful  use  of  powerful  exhil- 
erating  drinks,  and  finally  by  force  of  arms,  get  pos- 
session of  all  our  eastern  cities  and  seaboard,  would  we 
quietly  relinquish  all  of  our  homes,  and  tamely  bend 
our  necks  to  the  conqueror's  yoke  ?  If  not,  then  learn 
to  appreciate  the  parallel  case  of  the  Indians. 


ABOEIGINAL,    FRENCH,    AND   ENGLISH    HISTORY.  11 

In  attempting  to  narrate  any  event  of  Indian  warfare, 
we  find  the  most  insurmountable  difficulties  arising, 
unless  we  bring  in  the  combined  events  that  prompted 
the  outrage  or  action.  The  truth  is,  the  aborigines 
have  no  historians  to  record  and  publish  to  the  world 
the  virtues,  the  sufferings,  or  the  heroism  of  their  race, 
and  from  this  fact  has  arisen  the  difficulty  of  presenting 
the  red  man  as  he  really  is.  As  the  night  retires  leav- 
ing no  trace  behind,  so  the  Indian  has  retired  from  his 
country.  As  the  day  drives  the  night  away,  and  then 
paints  a  variegated  dress  for  the  landscape,  so  the 
white  man  has  driven  away  his  feebler  neighbor,  and 
left  his  own  history. 

The  early  settlers  along  the  Atlantic  coast  had  many 
things  to  retard  their  progress.  The  woodland  abounded 
with  game,  and  the  rivers  and  creeks  with  fish,  but  the 
strong  desire  of  most  of  the  early  emigrants  to  become 
speedily  rich,  prompted  them  to  search  for  gold  and 
silver  ;  and  when  they  failed  in  this,  they  commenced  a 
course  of  fraud, — capturing  a  native,  in  some  instances, 
and  then  demanding  a  ransom  of  corn,  land,  and  skins. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  the  settlements  follow- 
ing such  a  course  were  very  soon  reduced  to  abject 
want.  The  disaffection  thus  generated  among  the  In- 
dians at  one  settlement,  soon  spread  through  nearly  the 
whole,  and  at  a  very  early  date  after  the  settlement  of 
our  country  commenced  l)y  the  whites,  the  Indians  be- 
came their  deadly  foes.  After  many  lives,  together 
with  much  time  and  money,  had  been  needlessly 
expended,  the  New  World  assumed  an  aspect  wholly 
changed  ;  people  of  industry,  enterprise,  and  morality 
flocked    to    our  shores,  anxious  to  obtain    the    neces- 


12         ABORIGINAL,    FEENCH,    AND    ENGLISH    HISTORY. 

saries  of  life  by  hardy  toil.  The  woodman's  axe  was 
heard,  and  soon  the  busy  hum  of  mills  and  machinery 
mingled  with  the  clatter  of  wagons,  the  ploughman's 
song,  and  the  lowing  of  herds. 

The  English  claimed  the  earliest  possession  of  this 
territory,  but  the  French,  no  less  willing  to  extend  their 
possessions  and  increase  their  power,  began  a  settle- 
ment in  the  north.  This  led  to  much  unpleasant  feel- 
ing, and  at  length  to  open  collision  between  the  settle- 
ments and  nations.  These  difficulties  were  all  appa- 
rently settled  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  in  April,  1713. 
The  apparent  peace  would  have  continued  a  permanent 
adjustment  undoubtedly,  but  for  the  ever  restless 
Jesuits.  These  zealots  imagined  that  the  Indians 
would  gladly  embrace  their  religious  dogmas,  and  that 
the  introduction  of  missionaries  among  them  would 
eventuate  in  fixing  Jesuitism  on  a  firmer  and  more  hon- 
orable basis.  Prompted  by  such  motives,  this  privileged 
sect  of  the  Roman  See  commenced  their  missionary 
efforts  among  the  Indians  with  a  zeal  peculiar  to  pro- 
pagandists. The  French,  and  especially  the  French 
colonists,  lent  aid  to  these  missionaries  and  their  abet- 
tors, who,  in  turn,  explored  the  wilds,  and  greatly  pro- 
moted the  interests  of  the  French  in  America,  and  by 
their  glowing  descriptions  stimulated  the  desire  of  the 
French  colonists  to  become  masters  of  the  trade,  and  if 
possible  of  the  continent  itself. 

The  fur  trade  presented  inducements  to  both  parties  ; 
and  to  reap  a  rich  return  from  it,  it  became  necessary 
to  win  and  retain  the  friendship  of  the  Indians.  The 
French,  prompted  by  their  subtlety,  won  many  Indians 
in  the  west  to  their  cause,  and  then  commenced  a  series 


ABORIGINAL,    FEENCH,    AND   ENGLISH    HISTORY.         13 

of  encroachments  upon  Nova  Scotia  in  the  east ;  Crown 
Point  in  the  north  and  west  ;  attempted  to  establish  a 
line  of  fortifications,  extending  from  the  head  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  the  Mississippi,  and  were  encroaching  far 
upon  Virginia,  while  the  English  colonists  had  the  un- 
pleasant prospect  before  them  of  being  surrounded  by 
a  belt  of  hostile  French  and  Indians,  closing  rapidly 
upon  them.  With  this  prospect  clearly  in  view,  they 
commenced  the  most  active  measures  to  counteract  the 
ruin  that  seemed  about  to  hurry  them  swiftly  along  the 
way  of  the  banished  aborigines.  Indian  agents  were 
appointed,  whose  duty  it  was  to  treat  with  them  ;  to 
make  them  valuable  presents  ;  to  redress  their  griev- 
ances, and  to  act  at  all  times  as  the  friend  of  the  red 
man.  These  efforts  of  the  English  to  establish  amicable 
relations  with  the  Indians,  were  crowned  with  happy 
results  ;  many  individual  Indians  became  firm  friends 
of  the  English,  and  eventually  a  majority  of  the  tribes 
were  found  warmly  attached  to  the  ever-conquering 
English  side. 

Among  the  Indian  agents.  Sir  William  Johnson's 
name  stands  first  among  those  with  whom  we  need 
trace  any  definite  connection  with  the  incidental  Indian 
history  of  which  we  shall  treat  in  future  chapters. 
This  gentleman  was  for  many  years  the  Superintendent- 
General  of  the  Indians,  and  by  his  friendship  and  wis- 
dom attached  the  Five  Nations  so  closely  to  him,  that 
he  exercised  an  almost  unlimited  control  over  them. 
After  the  death  of  his  amiable  wife,  he  received  to  his 
home    "Mary  Brant,"  sister  of  ''Joseph  Brant,*"  the 

*  Thayendanegea. 


14         ABORIGINAL,    FRENCH,    AND   ENGLISH    HISTOET. 

celebrated  captain  and  governor  of  the  Six  Nations, 
and  lived  with  her  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  that  affec- 
tion and  fidelity  consequent  upon  a  union  of  minds  con- 
genial, and  love  devoutly  pure.  This  union,  so  far  from 
being  an  insult  to  the  Indians,  was  doubtless  looked 
upon  as  a  mark  of  real  esteem.  When  an  Indian  be- 
comes a  warm  friend  of  a  white  man,  it  is  no  uncommon 
thing  for  him  to  bring  his  wife,  as  a  present,  thinking, 
unquestionably,  that  as  she  is  most  valuable  to  him,  so 
she  will  be  most  acceptable  to  his  friend.  Whether  this 
relationship  had  any  tendency  to  tighten  the  cords  of 
confidence  between  him  and  the  red  men  or  not,  we 
leave  the  reader  to  judge,  barely  remarking,  that  the 
influence  he  exerted  over  them  was  so  powerful,  that  it 
gave  the  controlling  motion  to  all  the  subsequent  events 
of  Indian  history  in  this  region  of -country. 

Sir  William  Johnson  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  the  year 
It  14.  In  1^34  he  came  to  this  country  to  superintend 
the  estate  of  his  uncle,  Sir  Peter  Warren.  His  resi- 
dence was  located  on  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk  river. 
He  soon  ingratiated  himself  into  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  the  Six  Nations.  He  studied  the  Indian  char- 
acter, became  master  of  their  language,  and  at  particu- 
lar seasons  assumed  their  dress,  invited  them  to  his 
house,  and  labored  on  all  suitable  occasions  to  extend 
to  them  that  attention  and  courtesy  so  well  calculated 
to  impress  them  with  peculiar  reverence.  He  was  stern 
and  unyielding  in  his  disposition,  yet  possessed  the 
superior  faculty  of  controlling  his  passions,  and  when 
occasion  required  was  conciliatory  and  courteous  to  the 
unlettered  aborigines  of  the  forest. 

During  the  French  war,  which  broke  out  in  1154,  he 


ABORIGINAL,    FEEXCH,    AND    ENGLISH   HISTORY.         15 

rendered  very  great  assistance  to  the  provincial  army. 
At  Lake  George,  where  he  held  the  post  of  Commander- 
in-Chief,  he  gained  a  most  brilliant  victor}''  over  the 
French  and  Indian  forces  of  Baron  Dieskau.  In  honor 
of  this  achievement,  the  House  of  Commons  voted  him 
a  bequest  of  £5,000  sterling.  The  king  most  graciously 
favored  him  with  the  title  of ''Baronet,  and  Superin- 
tendent of  Indian  Affairs."  Brigadier  Gen.  Prideaux 
fell  at  the  siege  of  Fort  Niagara,  when  Sir  William 
assumed  the  office  of  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  com- 
bined English  forces.  He  conducted  the  siege  with 
gallantry,  compelled  the  Fort  to  surrender,  and  took  the 
garrison  prisoners.  Under  his  command  were  1000 
Iroquois.  With  these  well-trained  warriors,  he  united 
with  the  forces  of  Gen.  Amherst,  at  Oswego,  in  1760, 
preparatory  to  his  expedition  into  Canada,  closing  his 
distinguished  military  career  at  Montreal. 

In  his  retirement  from  the  bloody  field  of  ''  glorious 
war,"  he  lived  like  an  eastern  lord,  supporting  much  of 
the  dignity  of  a  nobleman. 

He  died  in  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age,  and  was  in- 
terred under  the  "old  stone  church"  at  Johnstown.  In 
1806,  his  remains  were  ''taken  up  and  re-deposited." 
He  had  been  rather  seriousl}^  wounded  at  Lake  George, 
and  the  ball,  not  having  been  extracted,  was  found  in 
the  mingled  dust  of  the  brave  old  man. 

We  have  deemed  it  necessary  to  take  this  brief 
review  of  the  early  history  of  our  country,  that  we  might 
be  enabled  to  understand  why  the  Indians  of  the  con- 
federacy, and  many  other  tribes,  adopted  the  cause  of 
the  mother  country  during  the  Revolutionary  struggle, 
and  that  we  may  be  better  prepared  to  present  a  gene- 


16         ABORIGINAL,    FRENCH,    AND   ENGLISH    HISTORY. 

ral  sketch  of  the  border  wars  of  New  York,  waged  for 
the  supremacy  of  soil,  for  power  and  plunder. 

The  most  prominent  language  spoken  by  the  aborigi- 
nes was  the  Algonquin. 

They  believed  in  one  Supreme  God — the  Great  and 
Good  Spirit — the  Maker  of  Heaven  and  Earth — the 
Father  and  Master  of  life — the  Creator  of  every  animate 
being.  They  adored  him,  worshiped  him,  and  regarded 
him  as  the  author  of  all  good.  Different  tribes  knew 
him  by  different  names,  such  as  Kiethan^  Wbo7iancl, 
Ccmtanwoit  and  Mingo  Ishto.  He  lived  far  away  to 
the  warm  south-west,  amid  perennial  flowers,  golden 
fruit,  and  sweet-scented  zephyrs.  They  saw  him  in  the 
glassy  water,  foaming  surge,  sparkling  fire,  in  the  daz- 
zling sun,  silvery  moon,  and  radiant  stars. 

Among  tliem  were  many  gifted  and  eloquent  orators. 
Tall  and  majestic  in  appearance,  with  graceful  attitude 
and  noble  bearing,  they  united  in  extreme  harmony 
and  degree  both  action  and  sentiment.  Full  of  electri- 
fying emotion,  thrilling  ideas,  and  pulsating,  leaping 
words,  every  sentence  was  instinct  with  exuberant,  all- 
motioned,  panting  life.  They  would  fill  the  ear  with 
music,  the  mind  with  fire.  Their  speeches  were  like 
streams  of  swift-running  intellect,  charmed  and  poetized 
by  the  sweetest  flowers  and  fairest  thoughts. 

At  a  very  remote  period  in  the  annals  of  the  past,  the 
aborigines  had  penetrated  into  different  parts  of  the 
territory,  now  embraced  within  the  State  ;  and  as  early 
as  1535  had  erected  the  seat  of  their  empire  at  Ganen- 
Uiha,  or  Onondaga. 

In  1600,  tlie  Five  Confederative  Nations, — the  Mo- 
hawks, Oncidas,  Onondagas,  Cayugas,  and  Senecas, — 


ABORIGINAL,    FKEXCH,    AND    ENGLISH    HISTORY.  17 

had  become  very  numerous  and  warlike.  They  had 
gradually  spread  over  the  territory  extending  from  the 
borders  of  Vermont  and  central  western  New  York, 
from  the  great  northern  chain  of  lakes  to  the  head 
waters  of  the  Ohio,  the  Susquehanna,  and  the  Delaware. 
The  French  called  them  the  Iroquois,  and  the  English 
the  Five  Nations,  Their  war-paths  extended  beyond  the 
Connecticut,  the  Mississippi,  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

The  French  made  their  first  permanent  settlement  in 
Canada  during  the  year  1608.  Governor  Ohamplain  was 
the  guiding  spirit,  and  under  his  direction  and  efficient 
action,  Quebec  was  founded. 

From  1609  to  It 59,  central  and  western  New  York 
formed  a  portion  of  French  Canada,  or  New  France. 
The  St.  Lawrence  river  and  its  shores  had  been  ex- 
plored by  Cartier  and  portions  of  his  crew,  as  early  as 
August,  1535  ;  but  no  permanent  settlement  was  made 
previous  to  1608. 

The  French  looked  upon  the  aborigines  as  a  kind  of 
groveling  beings,  having  few  wants,  desires,  or  thoughts 
above  the  instinct  of  the  brute  creation,  and  labored  to 
locate  them  in  villages,  the  first  of  which  was  founded 
near  the  settlements  of  Montreal  and  Quebec.  But  the 
general  habits,  customs  and  sentiments  of  the  whites 
were  so  dissimilar  to  those  of  the  Indians,  that  the  at- 
tempt proved  a  failure.  The  presence  of  the  "  pale 
face"  tended  rather  to  corrupt  than  improve  the  natives. 
The  plan  was  therefore  abandoned,  and  another  mode 
adopted  to"  induce  them  to  favor  the  French,  while  they 
should  exhibit  their  hostility  to  the  English. 

In  1608,  the  Iroquois,  or  Five  Nations,  were  engaged 
in  a  bloody  and  exterminating  war  with  the  Adiron- 
2* 


18         ABOEIGINAL,    FRENCH,    AND   ENGLISH    HISTOEY. 

dacks,  a  confederacy  of  the  Algonqiiins.  They  had 
been  driven  from  their  possessions  and  hunting  grounds 
around  Montreal,  and  compelled  to  fly  for  safety  to  the 
southern  coast  of  Lake  Ontario,  but  in  turn  they  fell 
upon  their  invaders  with  the  ferocity  of  tigers,  and 
forced  them  to  abandon  their  lands,  situated  above  the 
Three  Rivers,  and  seek  a  rampart  behind  the  straits  of 
Quebec. 

Governor  Champlain,  unhappily  for  the  colonists,  and 
unwisely  for  himself,  entered  into  an  alliance  with  the 
Adirondacks,  furnishing  them  with  men  and  munitions 
of  war,  which  tended  strongly  to  turn  the  current  of 
success.  Their  pomp,  parade,  and  haughty  movements, 
their  glittering  armor  and  polished  steel,  waving  plumes 
and  richly  decorated  banners,  the  blaze  of  musketry  and 
the  roar  of  the  deep-mouthed  bellowing  cannon  that 
flashed  lightning  and  spouted  thunder,,  bewildered  their 
untutored  minds,  and  sent  horror  and  consternation 
among  the  combined  forces  of  the  Iroquois,  and  they 
were  as  a  consequence  defeated  in  several  battles,  and 
finally  driven  from  Canada.  Undismayed,  however,  by 
their  reverses,  they  turned  their  arms  against  the  Sata- 
naus  or  Shawnees,  defeated  them,  and  set  about  a 
renewal  of  the  contest  with  their  rival  foes. 

A  Dutch  ship  had  entered  the  Hudson  river,  having 
on  board  the  colonists  who  made  a  location  where  we 
now  see  the  city  of  Albany.  It  was  an  easy  task  to 
obtain  of  them  weapons  similar  to  those  which  had  been 
so  successfully  used  in  their  defeat  and  dishonor.  Be- 
ing now  fully  prepared  for  a  more  severe  contest  for 
power,  they  resumed  the  fight  with  their  old  enemies. 
Their  efforts  were  attended  with  the  fullest  success,  and 


ABORIGINAL,    FRENCH,    AND    ENGLISH    HISTORY.         19 

the  ■  Adirondacks  were  completely  annihilated.  Gov. 
Champlain,  too  late  to  retrieve  his  mistake,  learned 
that  he  and  his  friends  had  united  their  fortunes  with 
the  conquered  instead  of  the  conquerors.  This  action 
on  the  part  of  the  French  originated  that  bitter  enmity 
and  undying  hatred  which  for  a  long  period  existed 
between  them  and  the  Five  Confederated  Nations. 

From  this  time  the  confederacy  rapidly  rose  to  the 
first  power  east  of  the  Mississippi.  Their  war  parties 
ranged  from  Hudson's  Bay  on  the  north  to  the  moun- 
tains of  Tennessee  on  the  south,  from  the  Connecticut 
on  the  east  to  the  Mississippi  on  the  west  ;  and  every 
nation  within  these  vast  boundaries  trembled  at  the 
name  of  the  Akonoshioni,  or  united  people. 

During  the  reign  of  the  Dutch  governor,  Peter  Stuy- 
vesant,  the  province  of  New  York,  in  1644,  was  sur- 
rendered to  the  English,  who  exerted  themselves  to 
preserve  the  friendl}^  feelings  which  were  created  be- 
tween the  Five  Nations  and  the  Dutch,  through  the 
agency  of  the  latter,  who  were  so  opportune  in  lending 
that  species  of  arms  which  enabled  the  former  to  con- 
quer the  Adirondacks,  and  regain  their  former  honor, 
their  homes  and  hunting  grounds.  This  timely  aid  on 
the  part  of  the  Dutch,  enabled  the  hardy  German  to 
penetrate  with  safety  into  the  Indian  settlements,  and 
traffic  with  the  natives.  The  English  were  successful. 
They  called  conventions  at  Albany,  were  liberal,  and 
even  extravagant  in  distributing  among  the  Indians 
munitions  of  war,  merchandize,  and  various  gaudy  tin- 
selled trappings  of  fancy.  The  French,  unwilling  to 
see  the  English  reap  all  the  fame  and  glory  derived 
from  Indian  friei^dship,  redoubled  their  exertions  to  win 


20         ABORIGIXAL,    FREXCH,    AND   ENGLISH    HISTORY. 

their  favor  and  weaken  their  alliance  with  the  English. 
If  the  confederacy  could  be  dismembered,  they  presumed 
it  an  easy  matter  to  conquer  the  English, 

In  1665,  Courcelles,  Governor  of  Canada,  dispatched 
a  party  of  the  French  to  attack  the  Five  Nations  ;  but 
being  unaccustomed  to  long  and  secret  expeditions, 
they  lost  their  way  amid  the  wastes  of  snow  which 
retarded  their  progress,  benumbed  their  faculties,  and 
reduced  them  to  a  state  bordering  on  starvation,  and 
finally,  without  knowing  where  they  were,  made  a  stand 
at  Schenectady,  then  but  recently  founded.  Reduced 
by  cold,  starvation,  and  the  consequent  results  of  a 
rapid  march,  they  resembled  an  army  of  beggars  over 
which  the  buzzard  and  vulture  had  hovered,  and  were 
ready  to  descend  and  devour.  The  appetite  of  a  hyena 
would  hardly  have  been  satisfied  with  a  meal  from  their 
wasted  forms.  Many  Indians  were  then  in  the  village, 
and  could  have  easily  destroyed  them,  and  perhaps 
would,  had  not  the  friendly  aid  of  a  Dutchman  interfered, 
by  way  of  advice  and  artifice,  to  spare  them,  that  they 
might  be  the  more  fully  prepared  to  meet  and  contend 
with  a  stronger  foe,  which  he  contrived  to  make  them 
believe  was  advancing. 

The  French  were  not  so  anxious  to  instill  morality 
and  the  more  noble  lessons  of  virtue  into  the  minds  of 
the  savages,  as  they  were  to  make  allies  for  France. 
That  they  partially  succeeded  is  evident  from  the  fact 
that  they  induced  the  Caughnavvagas,  in  1671,  to  leave 
the  banks  of  the  Mohawk  and  locate  in  Canada.  French 
vanity,  and  their  advantages  of  polite  bearing,  were 
better  calculated  to  influence  the  native,  than  the  stiff, 
overbearing  pride  and  self-conceit  of  the  English  ;  and 


ABOEIGIXAL,    FEENCH,    AND   ENGLISH    HISTOKY.  21 

although  they  could  not  for  any  great  length  of  time 
retain  the  good  graces  of  the  Indians,  yet  it  is  recorded 
that  one  of  the  French  Jesuits  so  far  won  their  favor 
as  to  be  adopted  into  one  of  the  tribes,  and  was  after- 
wards chosen  a  sachem. 

The  Dinodadies,  a  tribe  who  were  in  alliance  with 
France,  were  at  war  with  the  Five  Nations  in  1688,  and 
by  treachery  and  falsehood  contrived  to  intercept  their 
ambassadors  while  on  their  way  to  hold  a  conference  in 
Canada,  and  with  a  cowardly  meanness  and  savage 
barbarity  peculiar  to  themselves,  killed  several  of  them, 
pretending  to  be  influenced  by  the  French  Governor, 
thus  violating  their  faith  and  making  their  enmity  still 
stronger,  and  the  breach  wider.  Resolved  upon  having 
vengeance,  they  soon  landed  1,200  Iroquois  warriors  at 
Montreal,  slew  1,000  French,  "  and  carried  away  twen- 
ty-six prisoners.  "  These,  after  being  subjected  to  their 
scoffs  and  jeers,  were  burned  alive.  The  French,  no 
less  willing  to  submit,  made  stealthy  incursions  into 
their  country,  and  during  the  dark  hours  of  night  ap- 
plied the  incendiary  torch  to  the  Indians'  home,  thus 
reducing  several  of  their  villages  to  ashes. 

In  1690  Schenectady  was  secretly  attacked  by  a  band 
of  French  and  Caughnawaga  Indians.  The  hour  chosen 
was  the  dead  of  night.  The  village  was  completely 
surrounded,  and  before  the  inhabitants  were  aware  of 
it  the  torch  had  been  applied,  and  every  dwelling  was 
being  devoured  by  the  devastating  element.  Then  com- 
menced the  sacrifice, — cruel,  unrelenting.  Murder  and 
rapine  went  hand  in  hand.  Infants  had  their  brains 
dashed  out,  or  with  fathers,  mothers,  brothers  and  sis- 
ters, were  cast  into  the  burning  dwellings,  while  the 


22         ABORIGINAL,    PEENCH,    AND   ENGLISH    HISTORY. 

red-hot  flames,  like  ten  thousand  fiery  serpents,  wreathed 
their  consuming  folds  around  them.  Sixty  persons  thus 
perished  to  appease  their  unhallowed  wrath,  while  thir- 
ty were  taken  captive.  The  few  that  escaped  the  awful 
massacre  fled  naked  through  the  drifting  snow  in  the 
direction  of  Albany.  Many  perished  on  the  way,  and 
twenty-five  of  the  unhappy  fugitives  lost  their  limbs. 

To  avenge  the  wrong,  a  party  of  young  Albanians 
united  with  a  tribe  of  the  Five  Nations,  and  pursued  the 
invaders,  overtook  them,  and  killed  and  captured  about 
thirty. 

Previous  to  this  inhuman  massacre,  the  colony  of 
New  York  had  not  been  regarded  as  being  in  any  im- 
mediate danger  of  an  attack  from  the  French.  The 
colonists  felt  more  especially  secure,  from  the  fact  that 
the  negociations  which  were  then  pending  in  Europe 
were  likely  to  bring  about  an  amicable  adjustment  of 
the  difficulties  originating  from  the  conflicting  claims 
of  the  two  rival  powers  in  the  New  World. 

The  red  leaguers  still  remained  firm  to  the  English 
cause,  and  exhibited  considerable  tact  and  ingenuity  in 
harrassing  their  enemies. 

In  ItOl  a  general  peace  was  concluded  between 
the  French  and  the  Five  Nations. 

In  the  year  It  12  the  Corees  and  Monecons,  or  Tusca- 
roras,  were  waging  a  cruel  and  bloody  war  against  the 
Carolinas.  They  were  defeated  with  great  loss,  and 
driven  from  their  country.  Thus  vanquished  in  their 
endeavors  to  subjugate  the  inhabitants  of  those  colonies, 
the  Tuscaroras  left  the  seat  of  their  ancient  renown 
and  journeyed  northward,  and  finally  united  their  desti- 
nies with  the  confederacy  of  the  Five  Nations,  receiving 


ABORIGINAL,    FRENCH,    AND   ENGLISH    HISTORY.         23 

a  tract  of  laud  to  dwell  on;  after  which  the  allied  pow- 
ers were  known  by  the  name  of  the  Six  Nations. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  eighteenth  century 
down  to  1150,  the  Jesuit  missionaries  were  very  success- 
ful in  influencing  the  Six  Nations  to  favor  their  cause. 
They  dazzled  their  uncultivated  minds  with  the  tinselled 
glare  of  Romish  ceremonies,  accommodated  themselves 
to  the  tastes  of  savages,  and  held  out  to  view  the  rich 
resources,  the  magnificent  splendor  of  their  king's 
golden  throne,  and  thus  ingratiated  themselves  so  far 
into  their  good  graces  as  to  succeed  in  obtaining  per- 
mission to  build  forts  in  their  territory  :  and  when  the 
last  French  war  broke  out  in  1754,  four  of  the  tribes  were 
found  raising  the  tomahawk  against  their  former 
friends,  the  British  coloaists;  and  yet,  singular  as  it 
may  appear,  before  the  last  decisive  blow  was  struck 
which  defeated  the  French  and  gave  power  and  domin- 
ion to  the  English,  the  red  men  had  abandoned  the 
French  and  the  "  magnificence  of  le  grand  monarque^'' 
and  were  once  more  allied  with  the  English. 


CHAPTER  II 


OPPRESSION. 

"  There  was  heard  the  sound  of  a  coming  foe, 
There  was  sent  through  Tryon  a  bended  bow, 
And  a  voice  was  heard  on  the  free  winds  far, 
As  the  strong  rose  up  at  the  sign  of  war." 

Gillies,  the  celebrated  historian,  presumes  that  men 
"  in  the  infancy  of  society''  were  "occupied  with  the 
business  of  the  present  hour,  forgetful  of  the  past,  and 
regardless  of  the  future."  There  may  have  been  in- 
stances where  the  truth  of  this  declaration  has  appeared 
evident.  We  however  doubt  its  general  application. 
Not  so  with  our  Pilgrim  Fathers^  who  two  hundred 
years  ago  braved  the  dangers  of  the  stormy  ocean, 
when  the  May  Flower  came  to  this  western  continent 
laden  with  the  destinies  of  this  great  nation.  They  left 
the  land  of  persecution,  where  religious  fanaticism  and 
political  tyranny  were  at  their  work  of  oppression,  that 
they  and  their  children  might  enjoy  the  rights  and  priv- 
ileges of  freemen  in  the  new  world  of  promise.  Not 
so  with  our  patriot  fathers,  who,  rather  than  endure  the 
injustice  of  British  tyrann}^  or  British  insolence,  made 
bare  their  bosoms  to  the  shafts  of  battle,  and  shrunk  not 
from  the  bloody  horrors  of  a  seven  years'  war.     Not  so 


lindesat's  patent.  25 

with  the  dauntless  champions,  who,  from  the  day  of  pe- 
ril when  they  wrestled  with  the  savage  for  his  birth- 
right, to  the  day  of  glory  when  they  proclaimed  a  new 
charter  to  man,  were  giving  a  new  nation  to  the  world. 
Not  so  with  the  annointed  few  who  came  to  sow  the 
good  seed,  to  grapple  with  infidelity  as  they  rallied 
around  the  banner  of  the  cross  and  descried  on  the  far- 
off  shore  of  the  heavenly  Canaan  that  celestial  diadem 
that  was  bought  with  the  hues  of  Calvary.  Not  so 
with  the  early  pioneers  of  our  country,  who  abandoned 
the  soft  endearments  of  home,  social  ties,  and  struggled 
to  form  new  settlements  in  the  wilderness,  where  before 
the  hand  of  civilization  had  not  contributed  its  strength 
to  rear  the  domestic  domicil.  They  toiled,  not  alone  for 
themselves,  but  for  their  children — for  posterity.  We 
glory  in  the  achievements  of  such  men.  We  take  pride 
in  witnessing  their  success.  They  are  the  great  bene- 
factors of  mankind — nature's  true  noblemen.  And  it 
will  be  our  humble  effort  "  to  rescue  from  oblivion  the 
names "  of  those  who  first  warred  with  the  mountain 
oak,  or  enriched  our  valleys  by  hardy  toil;  and  it  will 
be,  too,  our  province  and  pleasure  to  record  the  deeds  of 
those  stern  actors,  over  whose  labors  the  rust  of  time 
has  gathered,  and  over  whose  hallowed  dust  the  green 
turf  has  grown,  and  wild  flowers  have  sprung  up  in 
beautiful  luxuriance.  Nor  shall  we  pass  unmindful  by 
those  whose  whitened  locks  and  trembling  limbs  point 
like  sentinels  to  the  tomb.  We  should  cherish  their 
worth,  emulate  their  virtues, — for  they  toiled  that  we 
might  enjoy  the  rich  fruits  of  their  labor. 

Albany  county,  in  17tl,  embraced    all   the   northern 
and  western  part  of  the  province  of  New  York,  extend- 


M  LINDESAT'S    PATENT. 

ing  from  the  Hudson  river  to  the  Niagara.  Tryon 
county  was  organized  in  lTt2.  It  was  named  in  honor 
of  Sir  William  Tryon,  the  provincial  governor.  It  em- 
braced in  its  boundaries  a  very  large  territory  of  coun- 
try, containing  all  that  part  of  the  State  lying  west  of 
a  north  and  south  line  running  nearly  through  the 
centre  of  the  present  county  of  Schoharie.  The  county 
seat  was  at  Johnstown,  the  residence  of  Sir  Wm.  Johnson. 

By  examining  our  State  map,  it  will  be  seen  that 
Tryon  was  made  up  in  part  of  Franklin,  Hamilton,  Ful- 
ton, Montgomery,  Delaware,  Ulster,  Sullivan,  and 
Orange,  and  the  whole  of  St.  Lawrence,  Lewis,  Herki- 
mer, Otsego,  Broome,  Chenango,  Madison,  Cortland,  On- 
ondaga, Oneida,  Oswego,  Cayuga,  Wayne,  Seneca, 
Tompkins,  Schuyler,  Chemung,  Tioga,  Steuben,  Yates, 
Ontario,  Monroe,  Livingston,  Alleghany,  Cattaraugus, 
Genesee,  Orleans,  Niagara,  Erie,  and  Chautauque  coun- 
ties.    It  was  changed  to  Montgomery  in  1^84. 

The  boundary  between  the  British  and  Indian  terri- 
tory, as  agreed  upon  in  the  treaty  of  It 68,  run  from 
Fort  Stanwix,  near  Oneida  creek,  southward  to  the 
Susquehanna  and  Delaware. 

Various  portions  of  country  embraced  within  the 
boundary  lines  of  Tryon  county  have  been  hallowed  and 
consecrated  by  the  toils,  the  sacrifices  and  blood  of 
tiiose  who  fought  and  fell  in  freedom's  holy  cause.  The 
blood  chills  as  we  look  back  to  those  days  of  rapine  and 
carnage,  and  the  pulse  throbs  with  wild  emotion  as  we 
recur  to  the  stealthy  march  and  midnight  massacre — 
scenes  which  have  made  our  country  classic  to  those 
who  delight  in  the  recital  of  tales  which  send  the  blood 
curdling  to  the  heart. 


lindesay's  patent.  21 

We  see  the  long  defile  of  painted  savages  as  they 
wind  along  the  Indian  trail, — now  issuing  from  the  dark 
forest  upon  some  defenceless  settlement;  now  robbing 
some  happy  home  of  its  brightest  jewels,  or  applying 
the  midnight  torch  to  the  pioneer's  domicil,  while  sav- 
age yells  rend  the  heavens  and  mingle  in  horrid  discord 
with  the  groans  of  the  dying  who  have  fallen  by  the 
intruder's  hand. 

The  Revolutionary  struggle  has  lent  an  additional 
charm  to  those  battle  fields  where  freedom  and  tyranny 
met  and  struggled  for  the  mastery  ;  fields  hallowed  by 
time,  and  made  consecrate  by  the  uncoffined  bones  of 
many  a  brave  warrior.  No  country  presents  such 
scenes  of  grandeur  and  glory.  In  no  country  has  pas- 
sion stamped  its  vitality,  energy,  and  sublimity  more 
indelibly  in  popular  traditions  and  in  historic  reminis- 
cences. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  18th  century,  about  3000 
German  Palitinates,  under  the  protection  of  Queen 
Anne,  emigrated  to  this  country.  A  large  number  of 
them  made  locations  in  Pennsylvania,  while  a  few 
passed  from  Alban}^  by  way  of  the  Helderberg,  in  1713, 
to  the  rich  flats  which  border  Scoharie  creek.  Here, 
wearied  and  wayworn,  they  paused  for  rest.  Explora- 
tions were  made,  and  finally  a  settlement  agreed  upon. 
In  1*122,  the  country  bordering  the  Mohawk  had  become 
dotted  with  small  settlements,  and  the  footprints  of 
civilization  had  reached  the  German  Flats. 

In  1738  a  patent  was  granted  by  the  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  the  province  of  New  York  to  John  Linde- 
say,  Joseph  Roseboom,  Lendert  Gansevoort,  and  Sabrant 
Van  Schaick.     This  patent  contained    8,000    acres  of 


28  CHERRY    VALLEY. 

land,  situated  in  the  northern  part  of  the  [now]  county 
of  Otsego,  and  embraced  a  part  of  the  town  and  village 
of  Cherr}^  Valley. 

In  1739  Cherry  Valley  was  founded  by  John  Linde- 
say,  a  Scotch  emigrant.  In  a  few  years  improvements 
were  so  far  made  as  to  render  the  little  band  of  pioneers 
comparatively  comfortable,  though  they  had  endured 
the  horrors  of  an  almost  living,  lingering  death  by  star- 
vation. 

In  1740  the  snow  fell,  during  the  middle  winter 
month,  to  the  depth  of  several  feet,  precluding  all  in- 
tercourse or  communication  between  the  settlers  of 
Cherry  Valley  and  those  bordering  the  Mohawk.  Mr. 
Lindesay  and  famil}^  were  placed  in  a  most  critical  and 
truly  alarming  condition.  Unprepared  for  the  close  quar- 
ters to  which  the  severity  of  the  weather  had  reduced 
them, — without  food,  with  scanty  raiment,  and  none  of 
the  conveniences  which  were  calculated  to  encourage 
or  improve  their  unhappy  condition, — they  looked  on  all 
around  as  one  wide  waste  of  dreary,  blank  desolation. 
He  looked  upon  his  wife,  the  partner  of  his  early  love, 
and  as  he  saw  the  pearly  tear  start  from  her  once 
sparkling  eye,  and  steal  its  way  down  her  pallid  cheek, 
where  he  was  .wont  to  see  the  blush  of  vestal  modesty 
start,  he  inwardly  prayed  that  a  good  Providence  might 
protect,  and  that  the  angel  of  mercy  might  rend  aside 
the  curtain  that  hid  the  present  from  the  unknown 
future.  And  his  children — who  will  protect  and  answer 
to  their  appeals  for  food  ?  The  cold,  bleak  blast, 
as  it  comes  on  its  storm-beaten  pinions,  sweeping 
over  the  great  lakes  and  wide-spread  prairies,  moans 
and   howls    among  the  tops  of  the  forest   trees,   and 


CHERRY   VALLEY.  29 

sends  a  colder  chill  to  the  sinking  heart  of  the  stricken 
parent. 

'Tis  night  !  The  sky  is  filled  with  snow,  the  wind 
sings  its  sad  requiem.  Without,  all  is  cold  and  cheer- 
less. Within  the  frugal  home  of  our  ill-protected 
pioneer  sits  an  aged  Indian  of  the  Iroquois  tribe.  He 
is  listening  to  the  sad  tale  of  the  starving  family. 
Touched  with  pity,  the  tear  of  sympathy  steals  down 
his  furrowed  cheek.  His  majestic  form  rises  from  the 
oaken  chair.  He  is  resolved  to  alleviate  their  suffer- 
ings. He  pauses  but  a  moment  to  light  his  pipe,  or 
calumet  of  peace,  as  an  indication  of  friendship  with 
the  pale  face,  then  stroking  the  flaxen  hair  of  the  little 
infant  that  sat  upon  its  mother's  knee,  and  waving  a 
good-bye  with  his  brawny  hand,  he  left  the  confines  of 
the  pioneer's  little  empire  with  slow  and  measured 
pace.  His  course  is  in  the  direction  of  the  magnificent 
Mohawk. 

And  now,  amid  the  darkness  and  solitude  of  a  bleak 
winter's  night,  the  native  red  man,  dressed  in  the  simple 
Indian  garb,  wearing  heavy  snow-shoes,  is  wending  his 
lonelj^  way  to  his  rustic  home,  embosomed  amid  an  am- 
phitheatre of  hills  just  back  of  that  majestic  river. 
Could  we  have  fathomed  the  thoughts  of  that  "  aged 
hemlock,"  we  should  have  learned  that  his  mind  was 
deeply  impressed  with  the  forlorn  situation  of  his  white 
friends,  whose  relief  was  the  immediate  object  of  his 
night  march  through  the  drifting  snow.  His  sentiments 
and  grateful  emotions  were  akin  to  those  which  ac- 
tuated the  simple  aboriginals  long  before  their  minds 
were  polluted  with  the  inhumanity  of  the  transatlantic 
lords,  whose  object  was  the  subjugation  and  annihila- 


30  CHERRY    VALLEY. 

tion  of  the  red  men  of  the  wilderness.  In  due  time  the 
old  scarred  warrior  returned  laden  with  provisions, 
which  he  freely  presented  to  Mr.  Lindesay  and  family. 
With  what  grateful  emotions  thej^  were  received  can 
be  better  imagined  than  told. 

Mr.  Lindesay  was  deserving  of  the  Indian's  friend- 
ship, for  it  had  been  his  endeavor  to  cultivate  the  good 
will  of  his  tawny  brethren. 

The  old  Indian  made  him  frequent  visits  during  that 
long  and  unpropitious  winter,  and  continued  to  relieve 
the  wants  of  himself  and  family  —  an  act  worthy  of 
being  written  in  letters  of  living  light  on  the  tablets  of 
immortality. 

The  enterprising  and  spirit-stirring  Harpers  settled 
at  Harpersfield  in  It 68.  They  had  received  a  patent 
for  twenty-two  thousand  acres  of  land,  located  in  the 
present  county  of  Delaware. 

At  about  the  same  time  settlements  were  made  near 
Unadilla,  and  scattered  families  were  found  locating  in 
various  parts  of  the  "  plains," — at  Springfield,  Middle- 
field,*  Laurens,  and  Otego.f  The  population  of  Cherry 
Valley  fell  a  little  short  of  300,  and  the  whole  of  Tryon 
county  did  not  exceed  10,000  when  the  British  lion 
began  to  thunder  defiance  on  the  continent  of  America. 

As  yet  the  citizens  of  Tryon  county  had  made  no 
open  resistance  to  the  measures  of  the  crown  of  Great 
Britain,  political  or  ecclesiastical.  They  did,  however, 
believe  in  the  true  and  real  freedom  of  all  mankind — 
the  right  of  speech,  and  the  freedom  of  the  press — 
those  inherent  rights  which  are  God-given  and  inalieri- 

*  Early  called  Freetown  Martin.  t  Old  England  District. 


BRITISH    OPPRESSION.  31 

able.  They  justly  complained  of  the  course  which  had 
been  taken  by  the  British  authorities  to  incite,  with 
foreign  gold  and  foreign  rum,  the  ruthless  savage 
against  the  infant,  and  defenceless  matron.  They  had 
time  and  again  heard  the  Indian  war-whoop,  and  had 
vainly  sought  the  protection  of  the  dear  ones  at  home, 
for  in  that  horrid  yell  they  heard  the  doom  of  their 
wives  and  children. 

Enjoying  the  name  of  freemen,  they  felt  that  they 
were  becoming  mere  vassals  to  an  arbitrary  power. 
They  knew  that  the  hand  that  should  aid  and  assist 
them  was  wielding  an  influence  to  crush  and  destroy 
them.  They  were  sensible  that  the  parent  government 
had  stretched  a  rod  over  them,  and  had  threatened 
them  with  a  despot's  revenge  ;  and  long  before  the 
Revolutionary  curtain  rose  on  the  memorable  plains  of 
Lexington,  the  Tryon  county  freemen  were  found  en- 
gaged in  holding  meetings,  and  denouncing  the  arbi- 
trary measures  of  the  king  and  his  governors,  and  freely 
took  part  with  their  brethren  in  other  colonies  in  utter- 
ing their  opposition  to  the  Stamp  act,  and  various  other 
anti-republican  measures  which  had  emanated  from  the 
British  Parliament.  And  they  resolved  to  give  their 
adhesion  to  those  measures  which  finally  resulted  in 
the  calling  of  a  Congress,  which  convened  in  the  city 
of  New  York  in  1665. 

After  the  death  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  which  oc- 
curred in  the  midst  of  an  Indian  council,  held  at  Johns- 
town, July  11th,  n74,  the  difficulties  increased,  and 
rapine  and  massacre  were  of  more  frequent  occurrence. 
He  had  possessed  a  powerful  and  commanding  influence 
over  the  Indians,  and  displayed  an  administrative  gen- 


32  BRITISH   OPPRESSION. 

ills  superior  to  any  who  had  before  been  at  the  service 
of  the  British  government  in  America. 

Convened  at  this  war  council  were  a  large  number  of 
the  most  active  and  rebellious  spirits  of  the  Six  Nations, 
besides  numerous  high  civil  dignitaries  of  the  provinces 
of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

Sir  William  had  held  the  office  of  Superintendent  of 
Indian  affairs  for  the  northern  provinces  for  upwards 
of  twenty  years  ;  and,  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  his 
department  included  130,000  Indians,  more  than  one 
fifth  of  whom  were  "fighting  men."  The  Six  Nations 
numbered  about  10,000,  and  could  bring  into  action 
over  2,000  bold  and  skillful  warriors. 

Col.  Guy  Johnson,  son-in-law  of  Sir  William,  was  his 
successor  in  office.  But  he  was  a  man  of  an  entirely 
different  temperament,  possessing  but  a  small  share  of 
his  talent  and  judgment,  was  illiberal,  crafty,  full  of 
vain-glory,  and  delighted  in  playing  the  tyrant. 

The  political  elements  which,  for  a  long  time,  had 
been  gathering  in  the  eastern  provinces,  broke  forth  in 
a  spirit  of  angry  defiance,  which  was  hailed  by  the 
Tryon  county  friends  of  freedom  with  a  spirit  bordering 
on  enthusiasm.  They  exhibited  a  devoted  love  of 
country  worthy  of  freemen.  To  animate  their  New 
England  friends,  and  cheer  them  on  in  the  good  work 
of  reform,  they  forthwith  met  and  organized  an  associ- 
ation, the  avowed  object  of  which  was  to  diffuse  a  spirit 
of  opposition  to  the  kingly  sway  and  menacing  power 
of  British  tyranny  in  the  provinces  of  the  New  World. 
They  were  resolved  to  enjoy  the  freedom  of  their  own 
views,  and  assist  in  propagating  the  principles  of  equal 
and  exact  justice  to  all  men.     And  yet  they  knew  not 


BRITISH    OPPRESSION.  33 

but  that  they  would  be  hunted  down  with  savage  ven- 
geance, and  that  infamy  would  cling  unrelentingly  to 
their  names.  But  what  had  this  to  do  with  freemen? 
They  were  opposed  to  taxation  without  their  consei^t, 
and  were  resolved  to  cherish  the  sentiment  while  a 
single  "  arm  could  beat  the  larum  to  rebellion." 

Guy  Johnson  became  the  leader  of  the  loyalists. 
Discussions  sharp  and  spirited  took  place  between 
them,  until  finally  the  Colonel  discovered  the  deter- 
mined will  of  the  revolutionists,  and  becoming  satis- 
fied of  his  waning  influence,  abandoned  his  royal  palace 
at  Guy  Park,  and  with  a  formidable  band  of  torj^  and 
Indian  adherents,  such  as  Col.  Claus,  Brant,  and  the 
Butlers,  made  his  head-quarters  at  Fort  Stanwix,  sub- 
sequently at  Oswego,  and  finally  at  Montreal.  Here 
Sir  John  Johnson  followed  Avith  a  bodj^  of  three  hundred 
loyalists,  chiefly  Scotch. 

England,  excited  to  madness  by  the  daring  effort, 
covered  our  country  not  only  with  her  own  legions,  but 
the  insurrectionary  negro,  the  Hessian,  the  savage, 
and  the  dastardly  parricidal  American  tory,  all  ani- 
mated by  a  reckless  spirit  of  revenge,  blighting  our 
fair  fields  and  waging  a  cruel  war  against  the  helpless 
woman  and  innocent  child.  But  our  immense  forests, 
interminable  plains,  extensive  rivers,  with  the  exalted 
spirit  which  prompted  to  emigration,  had  imparted  to 
the  naturalized  American  a  principle  of  noble  indepen- 
dence, invincible  firmness,  and  a  daring  intrepidity, 
which  exhibited  to  astonished  Europe  a  picture  of  the 
moral  sublime. 

The  provincial  supporters  of  the  royal  throne  united 
with  the  home  government  in  the  determination,  black- 
3 


84  BRITISH   OPPRESSION". 

hearted  and  infamous,  cruel  and  cowardly  as  it  was,  of 
setting  ten  thousand  reckless,  pampered,  paid  savages 
upon  the  scattered  frontier  settlements  of  the  United 
Colonies,  to  glut  their  unhallowed  desire  for  blood,  to 
rob,  plunder,  and  massacre  the  defenceless  citizen,  to 
strike  terror  into  the  peaceful  and  unguarded  commu- 
nity of  republican  pioneers,  to  destroy  their  property, 
fire  their  dwellings,  tomahawk  and  scalp  the  weak,  the 
innocent  and  decrepit,  to  torture  their  prisoners  in  the 
most  barbarous  and  unrelenting  manner,  to  dig  out  their 
eyes,  cut  off  their  tongues,  or  roast  them  alive  in  the 
devouring  element  that  was  consuming  their  otherwise 
peaceful  homes  ;  and  as  the  red-hot  flames  lit  up  the 
heavens  with  a  lurid  glare,  to  yell  and  shout  like  incar- 
nate devils  over  their  work  of  devastation  and  death. 

The  Johnsons  were  in  possession  of  great  wealth,  and 
had  long  lived  in  princely  grandeur.  Allied  by  mar- 
riage to  families  of  foreign  birth  and  royal  blood,  and 
holding  important  posts  by  British  appointment,  shrewd, 
sagacious  and  artful,  they  were  found,  when  united  with 
the  Butlers,  fit  dispensers  of  massacre  to  the  northern 
frontiers. 

Little  thought  the  British  king  as  he  sat  upon  his 
throne  of  regal  grandeur,  fattening  on  the  blood  and 
bones  of  murdered  and  oppressed  humanity,  that  in 
prosecuting  and  urging  forward  the  bloody  frontier  wars 
of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  he  was  digging  his 
grave  of  moral  infamy,  or  that  the  haughty  foe,  after 
waging  for  years  a  cruel  and  unrelenting  warfare,  /as 
to  be  driven  from  our  shore  in  sullen  gloom  and  disap- 
pointment, having  lost  the  brightest  jewels  that  glit- 
tered in  his  crown  of  royalty.    He  did  not  for  a  moment 


BEinSH   OPPRESSION.  35 

presume  that  the  heroic  actors  against  whom  he  warred 
were  destined  to  gain  an  immortality  of  fame  and  glory, 
in  consequence  of  the  noble  and  exalted  stand  they  had 
taken  in  defense  of  home,  kindred,  and  country — that 
their  names  were  to  be  honored  through  successive 
generations, — the  penman's  theme  and  the  poet's  inspira- 
tion,— or  that  when  the  historian  should  write  his  coun- 
try's annals,  he  would  erect  to  them  a  monument,  at 
whose  base  the  falsehoods  and  prejudices  of  their  ene- 
mies should  wither,  and  around  whose  summit  the  light- 
nings of  immortality  would  play. 


CHAPTER     III. 

BORDER  WARS — BRITISH    INFLUENCE — BATTLE    OF   ORIS- 
KANY — SIEGE    OF    FORT  SCHUYLER. 

*'  Heard  ye  not  the  battle  horn  ? 
Reaper,  leave  thy  golden  corn, 
Leave  it  for  the  birds   of  heaven. 
Swords  must  flash,  and  shields  be  riven  ! 
Leave  it  for  the  winds  to  shed — 
Arm  I  ere  Tryon's  turf  grows  red  I 

'*  Mother  I  stay  thou  not  thy  boy  I 
He  must  learn  the  battle's  joy. 
Sister  !  bring  the  sword  and  spear, 
Give  thy  brother  word  of  cheer  ! 
Maiden  !  bid  thy  lover  part, 
Tryon  calls  the  strong  in  heart." 

Border  warfare,  in  all  ages  and  in  all  countries,  has 
presented  an  unrestrained  exhibition  of  human  passion; 
and  the  frontier  wars  of  New  York  exhibit  to  the  mor- 
alist one  of  the  darkest  pages  that  has  yet  seen  the 
light,  embodying  a  mass  of  depravity  and  misery,  which 
the  mind  of  man  contemplates  with  mingled  emotions 
of  amazement,  horror  and  disgust  ;  and  presenting  a 
picture  of  weakness  and  wickedness,  of  turpitude  and 
guilt,  which  has  few  parallels  in  any  work  of  fiction. 
Humanity  mourned  over  these  devastations  upon  the 
beauty  and  brightness  of  her  primeval  empire,  and  lifted 
aloud  her  voice  for  their  abatement. 


BORDER  WARFARE.  37 

The  British  possessed  a  very  decided  advantage  over 
the  colonists.  They  had  agents  who  were  appointed 
and  paid  by  the  king,  to  traffic  and  cooperate  with  the 
Indians  in  every  possible  way.  The  Indians  were 
taught  to  believe  that  the  king  was  their  natural  ruler 
and  protector  ;  that  it  was  the  object  and  intention  of 
the  colonists  to  defeat,  if  possible,  the  English,  and 
then  wage  an  exterminating  war  against  the  red  men; 
that,  unless  they  united  with  the  king's  people,  and 
assisted  in  conquering  the  revolutionists,  their  hunting 
grounds  would  be  taken  from  them,  their  villages  burnt, 
their  homes  pillaged,  and  themselves  tortured,  massa- 
cred, or  made  menial  slaves  to  wear  the  white  man's 
chains  and  the  tyrant's  fetters.  Presents  in  great  pro- 
fusion were  frequently  made  in  the  name  of  their  royal 
father,  to  these  unlettered  aborigines  ;  and  we  are  not 
surprised  that  a  favorable  impression  should  have  been 
made,  or  that  the  savages  were  preengaged  in  favor  of 
English  tyranny,  nor  do  we  regard  them  as  having  been 
alone  to  blame.  Far  from  it.  The  cupidity  and  base 
mendacity  of  the  royal  leaders  were  continually  urging 
forward  marauding  parties,  and  instigating  them  to 
massacre  and  blood  !  And  bitter  were  the  fruits  of  these 
unhallowed  attempts  in  Tryon  county. 

Though  the  stealthy  incursions  of  the  Indians  had 
been  severely  felt  by  the  inhabitants,  previous  to  the 
campaign  of  Itit,  they  were  afterwards  attended  with 
a  more  deadly  vengeance. 

In  July  of  that  year.  General  Herkimer  marched  to 
Unadilla  at  the  head  of  380  men  of  the  Tryon  county 
militia,  and  was  there  met  by  Brant,  having  with  him 
130  men.     A  conference  was  had  between  Gen.  Herki- 


38  BORDER   WARFARE. 

mer  and  Capt.  Brant,  which  finally  terminated  without 
lending  to  the  furtherance  of  the  American  or  Repub- 
lican cause,  leaving  no  doubt,  in  the  minds  of  those 
present,  of  the  determination  of  Brant  and  his  followers 
to  unite  their  destinies  with  the  tories. 

On  the  nth  of  July,  Gen.  Herkimer  issued  his  cele- 
brated proclamation.  It  breathed  the  true  spirit  of  the 
patriot,  and  was  worthy  of  having  emanated  from  the 
head  and  heart  of  the  gallant  hero  who  penned  it  •;  and 
it  was  very  generally  well  received,  notwithstanding 
the  tory  spirit  which  had  been  infused  into  the  minds  of 
a  number  of  influential  citizens,  through  the  agency  of 
the  Johnsons,  Col.  Claus,  and  Walter  Butler,  son  of  Col. 
John  Butler,  of  Wyoming  notoriety. 

When  Burgoyne,  with  his  well-disciplined  army  of  over 
7,500  regulars,  besides  Canadian  and  Indian  auxiliaries, 
was  rapidly  advancing  upon  Crown  Point,  he  detached 
Col.  St.  Leger  with  a  body  of  light  troops,  Canadians, 
Indians,  and  tories,  in  all  amounting  to  about  2,000,  by 
the  way  of  Oswego  and  the  Mohawk  river,  with  orders 
to  take  Fort  Schuyler,  and  join  him  as  he  advanced  to 
the  Hudson,  on  his  way  to  New  York. 

,  Eearly  in  August,  Gen.  St.  Leger  and  his  forces  ap- 
proached Fort  Schuyler  in  all  the  "pomp  and  parade" 
of  victorious  troops  fresh  from  the  tented  field  of  blood. 
The  fortification  was  a  rude  structure  formed  of  logs, 
and  located  on  a  well-selected  elevation  near  the  source 
of  the  Mohawk  river.  It  was  garrisoned  by  about  six 
hundred  continentals  under  the  order  and  control  of 
Col.  Gansevoort.  It  undoubtedly  appeared  to  St.  Leger 
as  an  undertaking  of  no  very  great  eifort  to  reduce  the 
fort  and  hang  the  rebels.     The  garlands  of  immortal 


BORDER   WARFARE.  39 

fame  were  to  cluster  around  his  brow,  and  his  name  to 
be  recorded  upon  the  fairest  page  of  English  history  ! 
Nodding  plumes  were  to  droop  and  wither  at  his  ap- 
proach, and  the  revolutionists  to  seek  mercy  at  the  feet 
of  the  king's  appointed  dignitary  I  But  how  sadly  was 
he  disappointed.  On  the  3d  he  invested  the  place  with 
about  two-thirds  of  his  army,  and  demanded  a  surrender 
of  the  fort.  The  reply  of  Gen.  Gansevoort  was,  that  he 
would  defend  it  to  the  last  extremity. 

Gen.  Herkimer,  with  800  troops,  had  marched  to  rein- 
force the  garrison.  During  the  forenoon  of  the  sixth 
day  he  sent  forward  a  messenger,  who  informed  the 
defenders  of  the  fort  that  he  was  within  eight  miles  of 
them,  and  expected  to  be  able  during  the  day  to  force  a 
passage  and  enter  the  garrison. 

Of  this  fact  Gen.  St.  Leger  had  been  by  some  means 
apprised,  and  forthwith  detached  a  strong  body  of  regu- 
lars and  Indians,  under  the  command  of  Brant  and 
Butler,  with  orders  to  ambuscade,  and  if  possible,  inter- 
cept and  cut  off  the  forces  of  Gen.  Herkimer.  The  plan 
was  adopted,  and  told  with  awful  and  heart-rending 
effect  upon  the  approaching  army.  The  spot  was  admi- 
rably chosen,  being  along  a  ravine  which  swept  through 
a  deep-cut  gorge  thickly  studded  with  the  "  dark  forest 
trees"  of  Oriskany. 

There  is  a  sublime  and  imposing  appearance  in  a  well- 
equipped  and  well-drilled  ami}'-.  You  see  generals  and 
their  aids  clad  in  rich  and  tasteful  uniform,  with  glitter- 
ing shields  and  nodding  plumes,  mounted  on  richly 
caparisoned  steeds,  giving  their  hurried  orders  as  the 
battalions  wheel  into  columns  and  prepare  for  the  deadly 
conflict.    To  see  the  two  opposing  forces  rapidly  closing 


40  BORDER   WARFARE. 

in  upon  each  other,  and  suddenly  swayed  back  like  the 
surging'  waves  of  the  ocean,  as  their  ranks  are  opened 
by  shot  or  chain  belched  from  the  mouths  of  brazen 
cannons,  is  indeed  an  awful  scene.  The  earth  trembles 
as  if  convulsed  by  some  mighty  volcanic  eruption,  and 
the  red-hot  balls  and  bursting  shells  resemble  so  many 
fiery  orbs  gemming  the  earth.  Not  so,  however,  in  the 
battle  scene  we  are  about  to  record. 

The  tory  and  savage  forces  were  crouched,  tiger-like, 
along  the  banks  of  the  ravine,  entirely  secluded  from 
the  sight  of  General  Herkimer  and  his  little  gallant 
army  of  well-tried  soldiers,  yet  ready  to  pounce  upon 
them  with  the  ferocity  of  hungry  hyenas.  The  heroic 
forces  of  Herkimer,  unapprised  of  danger,  were  moving 
along  the  winding  gorge,  but  were  suddenly  startled 
by  a  heavy  discharge  of  musketry,  followed  by  the 
war-whoop  of  the  painted  savages  and  royal  allies, 
who  came  rushing  down  the  banks,  screeching  and 
yelling  like  ten  thousand  demons  fresh  from  the  portals 
of  the  infernal  pit.  This  precipitate  movement  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy,  so  unexpected,  so  sudden,  and  so 
furious,  threw  the  army  of  Herkimer  into  considerable 
disorder.  Indeed,  the  greatest  consternation  spread 
throughout  the  ranks.  The  rear  division  of  the  column 
broke  and  fell  back  on  the  first  attack,  and  fled.  The 
forward  division  had  no  alternative  left  but  to  fight, 
and  gallantly  they  defended  themselves  in  the  unequal 
contest.  The  royal  troops  and  the  militia  became  so 
closely  pressed  together  as  to  be  unable  to  use  their 
fire-arms,  and  one  of  the  most  deadly  hand  to  hand 
conflicts  ensued  that  is  recorded  in  either  ancient  or 


BORDER   WARFARE.  41 

modern  history.  Confusion  and  carnage  reigned  su- 
preme, and  hundreds  fell,  pierced  to  the  heart  with  the 
deadly  steel.  The  earth  was  red  with  the  blood  of  the 
dead  and  dying,  and  the  purple  current  was  seen  min- 
gling with  the  crystal  element  as  it  swept  along  in  its 
hurrying  course.  Those  who  fled  at  the  first  onset, 
sought  for  safety  behind  trees,  from  which  they  poured 
the  most  raking  and  disastrous  shots  into  the  enemy's 
ranks.  But  the  wily  savages,  not  willing  to  be  out- 
managed,  especially  in  their  own  mode  of  fighting, 
watched  for  the  smoke  of  each  discharged  gun,  then 
suddenly  sallied  forth,  tomahawked  and  scalped  the 
unerring  marksman  before  he  had  time  to  reload.  This 
way  of  taking  scalps  was,  however,  soon  checked. 
Two  men  were  directed  to  take  a  position  behind  the 
forest  rampart,  and  while  the  one  should  bring  down 
his  foe,  the  other  to  reserve  his  charge  for  the  seeker  of 
scalps.  In  this  way  sad  havoc  was  made  with  the 
savage  foe. 

In  this  severe  struggle,  General  Herkimer's  loss  was 
computed  to  amount  to  four  hundred  men  ;  the  gallant 
leader  himself  was  found  among  the  slain.  Many  of 
the  most  active  political  characters  of  that  unfortunate 
portion  of  country  were  either  made  prisoners,  wounded, 
or  fell — gloriously  fell — in  the  defense  of  that  principle 
which  has  established  republics,  demolished  thrones, 
wrecked  kingdoms,  and  divided  empires.  Nor  was  the 
loss  less  severely  felt  by  the  allied  party.  The  dusky 
chieftain  mourned  the  fate  of  his  brave  warriors,  who 
lay  thick  as  autumn  leaves  around  him.  His  grief  was 
almost  bordering  on  despair.  He  wept  as  the  red  man 
was  unused  to  weep,  for  he  plainly  saw  the  wide-spread 
3* 


42  BOEDER   WARFARE. 

desolation  that  was  at  almost  every  point  staring  him 
in  the  face.  And  while  the  few  remaining  sons  of  the 
forest  bewailed  the  loss  of  their  friends,  and  exhibited 
the  deepest  sorrow  and  distress  of  mind,  as  they  saw 
the  result  of  their  inhumanity  in  the  mangled  forms,  in 
the  blasted  hopes,  in  the  unutterable  agony  of  the  fallen 
braves,  and,  while  their  doleful  yells  rent  the  air,  the  old 
scarred  chieftain  stood  still  and  motionless  as  the  sleep- 
ing marble.  His  countenance,  however,  soon  changed 
to  that  of  a  demon,  for  the  spirit  of  vengeance  was  at 
work  in  his  breast,  and  his  dark  eye  flashed  a  falcon 
glance  at  the  heroic  warriors  who  passed  hurriedly  by 
with  their  dead  and  dying,  who,  but  a  little  while  be- 
fore, were  flushed  with  manly  pride  and  noble  bearing. 
That  glance  was  indicative  of  his  deep  and  undying 
hatred  towards  the  Americans,  and  was  ominous  of 
future  devastation,  of  massacre,  and  blood. 

During  this  severe  contest  Col.  Willett  made  a  suc- 
cessful sally,  killed  a  number  of  the  enemy,  destroyed 
their  provisions,  carried  off  their  spoils  and  plunder,  and 
returned  to  the  fort  without  losing^  a  man. 

In  the  meantime  Arnold  had  been  dispatched  with  a 
respectable  force  of  Continentals  for  the  purpose  of 
preventing  a  junction  of  St.  Leger  with  General  Bur- 
goyne.  St.  Leger  had  become  aware  of  the  expected 
arrival  of  Arnold,  and  after  again  demanding,  in  the 
most  haughty  manner,  the  surrender  of  the  fort,  and 
meeting  with  the  same  patriotic  and  prompt  refusal, 
began  to  make  arrangements  for  its  destruction.  But 
just  at  this  important  crisis  of  affairs,  Arnold  appre- 
hended an  American  of  wealth  and  influence,  whom  he 
strongly   suspected   of   being    a   traitor.     He    agreed. 


BOEDER    WARFARE.  4c> 

however,  to  spare  his  life  and  fortune,  on  the  condition 
that  he  would  go  forthwith  to  the  Britisli  camp  before 
Fort  Schuj^er,  and  circulate  a  report  to  the  effect  that 
an  overwhelming  force  was  rapidl}^  approaching-.  The 
prisoner  consented  ;  and,  true  to  his  word,  entered  the 
camp,  and  very  greatly  magnified  the  force  that  was 
marching  against  it.  As  was  anticipated,  this  report 
spread  consternation  and  alarm  throughout  the  forces 
of  St.  Leger.  The  Indians  had  no  notion  of  remaining 
there  to  be  overpowered  by  Arnold.  They  had  rather 
take  scalps  than  to  be  marks  for  the  keen-e^^ed  revolu- 
tionists. St.  Leger  was  fully  satisfied  as  regarded  his 
strength  and  ability  to  defend  the  position  he  had 
taken,  as  also,  of  the  weakness  of  the  fort,  and  reluc- 
tantly listened  to  his  Indian  allies,  who  were  open  in 
avowing  their  disappointment.  They  had  presumed  it 
an  easy  matter  to  triumph  over  the  Americans,  and 
were  to  share  equally  with  the  British  in  the  division 
of  the  spoils  of  conquest.  Thus  defeated  and  deceived, 
they  resolved  to  fly  for  safety,  and  seek  tropliies  in 
another  quarter.  And  all  the  art  and  genius  of  Leger 
failed  to  detain  them.  Many  left,  and  the  remainder 
declared  they  would  if  the  siege  was  persevered  in. 
Thus  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  siege,  and,  on 
the  22d  of  August,  retired  in  great  confusion  ;  the 
tents  were  left  standing,  the  artillery  abandoned,  and 
the  greater  part  of  the  baggage,  ammunition,  and  pro- 
visions fell  into  the  hands  of  the  garrison,  a  detachment 
from  which  pursued  the  retreating  enemy  as  he  bent 
his  course  in  the  direction  of  Montreal. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

FLIGHT   OF   ST.   LEGER. — BRANT   GATHERING  HIS  FORCES. 
— THE   MASSACRE. 

"  Hark  !  hark  !  mevhinks  I  hear  some  melancholy  moan, 
Stealing  upon  my  listening  ear, 
As  tho'  some  departing  spirit  was  about 
To  soar,  amid  the  horrors  of  a  massacre  I 
Yes  I  the  savage  fiend,  with  glittering  knife, 
And  tomahawk,  reeking  with  infant  blood, 
Stands  in  awful  prospect  before  my  vision.  " 

The  circumstances  under  which  St,  Leger  made  his 
hurried  flight  from  Fort  Schuyler,  were  by  no  means 
flattering  to  his  vain-glorious  disposition.  He  had  the 
command  of  an  army  which  boasted  of  being  in  the  en- 
joyment of  the  full  powers  of  health,  discipline  and 
valor,  and  into  whose  minds  he  had  labored  to  infuse  a 
spirit  of  opposition  to  republican  liberty,  as  well  as  to 
prejudice  them  in  favor  of  the  crown  of  Great  Britain. 
He  had  endeavored  to  prove  that  the  government  of  the 
mother  country,  with  all  her  fading  splendors  of  an- 
archy, was  in  every  respect  superior  to  the  one  designed 
to  be  established  in  the  colonies.  He  was  peculiarly 
lavish  with  his  promises  to  all  who  would  assist  in 
redeeming  the  cause  of  the  king  from  the  usurpers,  and 
continue  submissive  to  his  arrogant  behests,  and  tyran- 
nic acts  of  his  minion  serfs  in  Parliament.  The  children 
of  the  colonists  were  to  receive  their  full  measure  of 


FLIGHT    OF    ST.    LEGEE.  46 

vengeance  and  wrath  from  the  ministers  of  justice,  who 
were  to  visit  with  devastation,  famine,  and  the  long 
train  of  unmitigated  horrors  of  a  scourging  war,  all 
who  refused  to  acknowledge  the  "  Divine  Right  of 
Kings."  Yet  after  having  exhausted  his  powers  in  rhe- 
torical flourishes,  begging,  promising  and  threatening 
those  under  his  command,  he  suddenly  abandons  the 
siege, and  retires  from  the  "field" in  the  utmost  confusion. 

The  Indians  continued  their  depredations,  for  mas- 
sacre and  murder  had  l)ecome  the  cherished  objects  of 
their  lives. 

In  the  summer  of  1*178  Brant  made  his  head  quarters 
at  Oquago,*  and  Unadilla,  and  gathered  around  him 
several  hundred  Indians  and  tories,  ready  for  any  emer- 
gency,— to  pillage  and  devastate  the  country. 

A  fort  was  erected  at  Cherry  Yalley  by  order  of  Gen- 
eral Lafayette,  and  became  a  retreat  when  the  incursions 
of  the  Indians  gave  alarm  to  the  surrounding  inhabi- 
tants. Brant  resolved  upon  its  destruction,  was  pre- 
pared for  an  attack,  and  was  only  prevented  by  being 
frightened  by  a  band  of  boys  who,  in  honor  of  their  pa- 
triotic fathers,  were  marching  out  in  the  direction  of 
Brant's  hiding  place,  where  they  were  to  engage  in  a 
sham  battle.  Brant,  presuming  it  to  be  an  approaching 
army,  discharged  a  few  scattering  shots,  killing  Lieut. 
Wormwood,  and  Capt.  Peter  Sitz,  and  decamped,  leav- 
ing the  bo3^s 

'•  To  beat  the  sheepskin,  blow  the  fife, 
And  march  in  Irainin'  order." 

In  July,Wyoming,  a  new  and  flourishing  settlement  on 
*  Now  Windsor. 


46  BRANT    GATHERING    HIS    FORCES. 

the  eastern  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  was  devastated 
and  laid  waste,  many  of  the  inhabitants  were  ruthless- 
ly murdered,  others  burned  at  the  stake,  or  tortured  in 
the  most  barbarous  and  unrelenting  manner. 

In  the  following  November,  Brant,  at  the  head  of  700 
warriors,  500  of  whom  were  his  own  men,  accompanied 
by  Capt.  Walter  Butler,  son  of  Col.  John  Butler,  the 
devastator  of  Wyoming,  who  had  obtained  200  Butler 
Rangers  of  his  father,  marched  upon  Cherry  Valley, 
where  was  perpetrated  one  of  the  most  inhuman  mas- 
sacres recorded  in  history,  and  which  proves  to  an  ab- 
solute certainty  the  tory  commander  to  be  a  most  im- 
placable enemy  to  freemen,  a  reckless  tyrant,  a  bar- 
barian well  suited  to  the  capacity  of  his  calling,  a  mid- 
night marauder,  and  wanton  ravager  of  the  inno- 
cent. 

Col.  Ichabod  Alden  was  in  command  of  the  fort,  and 
through  his  inexcusable  neglect  the  surrounding  inhab- 
itants did  not  take  shelter  in  the  fort,  as  he  had  pro- 
mised to  keep  scouts  out,  who,  in  case  of  danger,  would 
sound  the  alarm.  His  scouts  built  a  large  fire,  around 
which  they  were  enjo^dng  a  comfortable  nap.  Brant  and 
his  allies  fell  upon  them  just  before  daylight  had  dawn- 
ed on  the  ill-fated  settlement,  capturing  them,  and  mak- 
ing the  surprise  most  complete.  Back  settlers  were 
surprised  in  their  dwellings,  and  murdered  with  every 
circumstance  of  fiendish  barbarity.  The  village  was 
invested  in  all  parts  at  the  same  moment,  and  then 
ensued  a  scene  at  which  humanity  would  shudder  and 
angels  might  weep.  Fathers,  mothers,  brothers,  sisters 
and  friends,  were  inhumanly  tomahawked  and  scalped, 
to  appease  the  Indian  and  tory  spirit  of  revenge.    Even 


THE   MASSACRE.  47 

lisping  infancy  was  made  to  share  the  like  fate,  cruel 
and  barbarous  as  it  was. 

The  commander  of  the  rude  fortification,  refusing  to 
yield  to  the  usurper's  call  to  surrender,  fell  by  the  tom- 
ahawk. Brant  and  his  Mohawks  nerved  themselves 
for  the  scene  of  blood  and  woe  that  was  to  follow,  but 
were  less  furious,  less  depraved,  and  still  less  cruel, 
torturing  and  fiendlike,  than  were  the  Senecas ;  for  they, 
as  if  inspired  by  the  arch  demo7i  of  Hades,  sprung  upon 
the  innocent,  the  helpless  and  unoffending,  and  murder- 
ed them  without  exhibiting  one  touch  of  remorse,  or 
emotion  of  sympathy.  So,  too,  with  the  tory,  or  rene- 
gade allies^ — they  were  ripe  for  massa  ere  and  blood. 

The  troops  in  the  fort  made  a  gallant  and  noble 
defence ;  but  they  were  not  sufficiently  strong  to  make 
a  successful  sally  from  their  entrenchments. 

When  darkness  had  again  curtained  the  earth,  the 
invaders,  with  about  forty  prisoners,  were  hurrying  from 
the  scenes  of  devastation  and  death. 

The  next  day  a  detachment  of  militia  arrived  from 
the  Mohawk,  just  in  time  to  see  the  last  of  the  prowling 
foe  disappear  from  the  settlement.  To  them  the  cruel- 
ties and  disastrous  effects  were  exhibited  in  all  their 
hateful  and  sickening  deformities.  The  inhabitants  who 
escaped  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife,  fled  from 
their  homes,  seeking  the  protection  of  others  whose 
hearts  and  desires  were  with  the  advocates  and  sup- 
porters of  republican  freedom  and  entire  indepen- 
dence. 

A  volume  might  be  filled  with  incidents,  cold-blooded 
and  heart-chilling,  detailing  the  horrid  massacres 
where  whole  families  were  indiscriminately  murdered. 


48  THE   MASSACEE. 

Eobei't  Wells,  his  mother,  wife,  four  children,  his 
brother  and  sister,  with  three  domestics, — twelve  in  all, 
— were  cruelly  slaughtered  by  the  Indians,  leaving  only 
one  of  this  large  and  interesting  family  to  tell  the  fate  of 
the  others.  The  blood  runs  cold  as  we  contemplate  the 
inhumanity  exhibited  towards  Miss  Jane  Wells,  the 
sister,  an  amiable  and  worthy  young  lady,  who,  on  seeing 
her  brother  cut  down  while  bowed  in  prayer,  fled  from 
the  house  and  secreted  herself  behind  some  wood.  Pale 
and  trembling  with  fear,  she  was  discovered  by  a  Seneca 
Indian,  who,  as  he  approached  her,  very  coolly  wiped  the 
blood  from  the  glittering  steel  on  his  leggins,  and  sheathed 
it  by  his  side;  then  seized  her  by  the  arm  and  dragged  her 
from  her  covert.  Looking  up  imploringly  in  his  face,  and 
in  Indian  accents,  she  begged  him  to  spare  her  life. 
Vain  supplication  !  Raising  his  tomahawk,  yet  red 
with  the  blood  of  her  kindred,  he  buried  it  in  her 
brains. 

The  wife  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dunlap  was  cloven  down 
before  his  eyes,  and  he  barely  escaped,  through  the  in- 
terposition of  a  young  chief  of  the  Oquago  branch  of 
the  Mohawks. 

In  the  absence  of  William  Mitchell,  his  wife  and  four 
children  were  ruthlessly  murdered  by  the  cowardly 
assassins  ;  the  house  plundered  and  set  on  fire.  The 
husband  and  father  returned  just  in  time  to  put  out  the 
fire,  and  discover  the  faint  glimmerings  of  life  remaining 
in  one  of  his  children.  He  had  conveyed  it  to  the  door, 
and  was  in  the  act  of  stopping  the  flowing  blood,  when 
he  saw  to  his  horror  another  band  approaching  ;  he  hast- 
ily secluded  himself  from  sight,  and  there  beheld  a 
blood-thirsty  tory  extinguish  with  a  blow  of  his  hatchet 


THE   MASSACEE.  49 

the  last  spark  of  life  that  remained  in  the  breast  of  his 
child.     What  a  scene  to  meet  a  parent's  eye  1 

The  day  following  was  one  of  sorrow  and  sadness  to 
him.  Without  the  assistance  of  a  single  friendly  arm, 
he  conveyed  the  remains  of  his  dear  ones  to  the  Fort, 
where  they  were  entombed  in  the  "  cold  earth."  Who 
can  refrain  from  weeping  at  his  loss  !  What  eye  can 
remain  dry,  or  what  heart  untouched  1 

A  Mrs.  Campbell  and  her  four  children  were  taken 
prisoners  and  carried  away  into  captivity.  Long,  long 
years  of  suffering,  worse  than  death,  passed  away,  be- 
fore the  husband  and  father  learned  the  fate  of  his 
wretched  family. 

Many  escaped  to  the  mountains,  and  looking  down 
into  the  valle}''  saw  their  houses  wrapped  in  flames,  and 
heard  the  yells  of  the  savages  as  they  triumphed  in 
their  work  of  death. 

Girls  in  their  teens,  mothers  with  infants  at  the  breast, 
fled  to  the  woods  without  clothing,  and  for  twelve  or 
fifteen  hours  endured  the  most  excruciating  agony.  A 
cold  November  wind  whistled  through  the  tree-tops, 
and  moaned  over  the  mountain  gorges.  The  earth  was 
covered  with  snow,  and  a  drizzling  rain  added  to  the 
sufierings  of  the  fugitives. 

Retributive  justice  will,  however,  sooner  or  later, 
overtake  the  vile  oppressor.  Capt.  AValter  Butler,  the 
acknowledged  instigator  of  all  this  havoc,  was  captured 
at  Johnstown  in  1781.  He  had  been  defeated,  and  fled. 
Swimming  his  horse  across  the  river,  the  moment  he 
gained  the  shore  he  turned  and  defied  those  in  pursuit ; 
a  ball  from  one  of  the  Yankee  rifles  brought  him  to  the 
ground.     An  Indian  of  the  Oneida  tribe,  who  favored 


50  THE   MASSACRE. 

the  American  cause,  sprang  into  the  stream  and  swam 
across,  when  Butler  immediately  cried  for  quarter. 
But  the  old  chieftain  shouted  in  his  ear,  "  Sherry  Val- 
lej  \  Bemember  Sherry  Valley!"  and  instantly  clove 
his  skull  with  a  tomahawk.  Hastily  pulling-  off  his 
scalp,  he  held  it  up  to  the  gaze  of  his  followers  Avhile 
his  yet  bleeding  victim  was  gasping  out  his  death 
groans. 


CHAPTER    V. 

-INTERESTING  INCIDENTS. 

"  Go,  seek  the  covert  of  the  savage  foe, 
Disperse  them  at  thy  weal  or  woe." 

During  the  year  It  19,  General  Sulliv^fci  made  a  suc- 
cessful expedition  into  the  Indian  territory,  destroyed 
forty  of  their  towns,  and  put  the  enemy  to  flight. 

Influenced  by  the  numerous  presents  and  promises 
made  by  the  British  agents  and  tory  adherents,  and 
with  the  desire  to  plunder,  five  of  the  confederated  In- 
dian tribes  invaded  the  north-western  frontiers,  spread- 
ing devastation  and  death  wherever  they  went."^-  Their 
object  was  to  ravage,  burn,  and  kill.  To  check  the 
career  of  these  lawless  intruders,  and  to'  mete  out  to 
them  a  due  amount  of  retributive  justice,  Congress 
placed  three  thousand  continental  troops  under  the 
command  of  General  Sullivan. 

When  the  savage  allies  received  the  first  news  rela- 
tive to  the  projected  expedition  against  them,  they  im- 
mediately began  to  fortify  their  strongholds  and  prepare 
themselves  for  a  determined  resistance.  They  well 
knew  that  the  horrid  murders  and  midnight  massacres, 
in  addition  to  the  rapine  and  plunder  which  they  had 

*  The  Oneidas  alone  remained  favorable  to  the  American  cause. 


52  SULLIVAN'S    CAMPAIGN. 

committed,  were  laid  up  against  them,  and  that  if  unable 
to  withstand  the  force  which  was  marching  through  the 
wilderness,  they  would  be  indiscriminately  cut  down 
and  despoiled  of  their  country. 

General  Sullivan  marched  from  Easton,  Pennsylvania, 
and  arrived  with  his  army  at  Wyoming  on  the  24th  day 
of  June.  The  enemy  having  fled  before  him,  and  learn- 
ing that  they  were  committing  outrages  of  the  grossest 
character,  he  determined  to  pursue,  and  if  possible  drive 
them  from  the  country. 

On  the  31st  of  July  he  left,  with  his  forces,  for  the 
Indian  settlei^ents  farther  up  the  Susquehanna  and  its 
tributaries.  His  stores  and  artillery  were  conveyed  up 
the  river  in  one  hundred  and  fifty  boats,  and  presented 
a  grand  and  imposing  appearance.  The  lurking  sav- 
ages, who  still  hovered  about  the  country  for  the  sake 
of  plunder,  were  not  only  surprised  but  greatly  fright- 
ened, as  they  viewed  them  from  the  long  range  of 
mountains  which  bordered  the  majestic  Susquehanna. 
The  horses,  as  they  moved  along  in  single  file,  formed  a 
continuous  line  of  six  miles  in  length.  They  numbered 
about  two  thousand. 

The  forces  arrived  at  Tioga  Point  on  the  11th  of 
August,  and  were  joined  by  Gen.  Clinton  on  the  22d, 
he  having  marched  from  the  Mohawk  with  a  detachment 
of  one  thousand  troops,  thus  swelling  the  command  of 
General  Sullivan  to  four  thousand.  The  Indians  had 
taken  a  position  near  Newtown,  where  they  had  strongly 
entrenched  themselves,  determined  to  resist  the  advance 
of  Gen,  Sullivan.  Their  combined  forces  numbered  eight 
hundred  Indians  and  two  hundred  tories,  and  were 
commanded   by  Brant   and   Butler.      On  the  29th  the 


SULLIVAN'S   CAMPAIGN.  53 

Americans  were  drawn  up  before  their  breastworks, 
and  commenced  a  most  deadly  attack.  The  Indians 
withstood  the  fierce  shocks  of  a  terrible  cannonade  for 
upwards  of  two  hours,  making  the  most  determined 
efforts  at  resistance  recorded  in  our  country's  history. 
They  fought  with  desperation,  while  the  shot  and  chain 
from  the  well-drilled  forces  of  Sullivan  were  making 
terrible  havoc  in  their  ranks.  But  though  they  warred 
for  country  and  home,  and  sought  for  victory  as  a  last 
forlorn  hope  to  their  sinking  cause,  it  was  vain,  for  it 
was  impossible  to  withstand  the  perfect  shower  of  balls 
that  were  poured  in  among  them,  answered  by  the  cries 
and  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying.  The  tories 
faltered  ;  the  Indians  broke  and  made  a  precipitate  re- 
treat.    The  victory  was  achieved.  , 

The  contest  was  one  which  has  but  few  parallels. 
The  enemy  yielded,  inch  by  inch,  and  when  finally 
forced  at  the  point  of  the  ba'yonet  to  leave  their 
entrenchments  and  flee,  terror-stricken,  to  the  mountain 
gorges  or  almost  impassable  lagoons^  the  ground  they 
had  occupied  was  found  literally  drenched  with  the 
blood  of  the  fallen  victims.  Eleven  of  the  dead  re- 
mained upon  the  field,  and  fourteen  were  found  but 
partially  covered  with  leaves.  Two  canoes  were  very 
much  stained  with  blood,  and  their  trail,  even  in  the 
mind  of  Col.  Stone,  author  of  the  life  of  Brant,  exhibited 
"  the  most  indubitable  proof  that  a  portion  of  their  dead 
and  wounded  had  been  carried  off."  The  Americans 
lost,  according  to  the  highest  account  which  we  have 
found  on  record,  "  only  six  men,"  and  from  forty  to  fifty 
were  wounded.  Among  these  were  Major  Titcomb, 
Captain  Clayes,  and  Lieut.  M'Colley. 


54  SULLIVAN'S    CAIMPAIGN. 

The  Indians  who  had  escaped  the  terrible  fire  of  Sulli- 
van's artillery,  saw  with  horror  the  destruction  of  their 
orchards,  cornfields  and  cabins.  It  was  to  them  a  scene 
of  utter  desolation.  They  had,  it  is  true,  made  some 
preparation  to  intercept  and  cut  ofi'  the  progress  of 
Sullivan,  but  had  no  idea  that  such  a  formidable  force 
could  successfully  penetrate  through  an  almost  un- 
broken forest,  convey  their  heavy  baggage,  and  drive 
them  from  their  strongholds. 

Like  a  tornado  sweeping  over  the  country,  destroying 
everything  in  its  onward  march,  passed  the  army  of 
Generals  Sullivan  and  Clinton,  spreading  the  most  utter 
desolation  on  every  side. 

At  Knawaholce,  twenty  cabins  with  their  contents 
were  consumed.  The  corn,  which  looked  very  promising, 
was  also  destroyed. 

At  Catharine  Town, — the  home  of  Catharine  Montour, 
the  wife  of  the  stern  Canadesaga  chief,- — the  wigwams, 
orchards  and  cornfields  were  entirely  destroyed,  the 
inhabitants  having,  previous  to  the  approach  of  the 
army,  deserted  their  homes. 

Their  cluster  of  houses  on  the  east  side  of  Seneca 
lake,  and  near  the  old  Indian  Peach  Orchard,  in  the 
[now]  town  of  Hector,  shared  a  like  fate. 

The  army,  like  so  many  vultures,  hovered  for  an  hour 
about  Apple  Tree  Town,  leaving  nothing  but  desolation 
to  mark  the  destroyer's  course. 

Arriving  at  Kandaia,  an  old  town  of  twenty  houses, 
which  exhibited  considerable  taste,  the  warriors  paused 
for  a  short  time,  making  a  few  general  flourishes  in  true 
knight-errant  style.  The  houses,  as  represented  by 
one  who  shared  the  honors  and  privations  attending 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS.  55 

the  campaign,  were  large  and  elegant,  some  beautifully 
painted  ;  their  tombs  likewise,  especially  of  their  chief 
warriors. 

Still  the  army  strode  forward,  hoping  to  come  up  with 
the  retreating  foe.  But  they  were  not  to  be  so  easily 
caught. 

At  the  capital  of  the  Senecas,  Kanadesaga,  at  least 
something  like  a  flourish  at  resistance  was  expected  ; 
but  when  the  emboldened  army  drew  up  before  their 
entrenchments,  eager,  anxious,  thirsting  for  the  blood 
of  the  poor  unlettered  red  men,  lo  I  they,  too,  had  fled. 
But  in  their  sudden  flight  they  left  behind  them,  asleep, 
a  white  boy  of  seven  or  eight  years. 

Kanadesaga  was  located  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
north  of  the  present  flourishing  village  of  Geneva,  and 
contained  about  sixty  houses.  It  was  the  last  strong- 
hold of  the  Senecas,  though  destined  to  fall  into  the 
spoilers'  hands.  In  after  time,  however,  a  few  of  the 
surviving  remnants  of  that  once  powerful  and  far-famed 
tribe,  returned,  and  once  more  i>eared  their  rude  homes 
over  the  ashes  of  their  former  wigwams.  When  their 
lands  were  ceded  to  the  State,  it  was  explicitly  agreed 
that  this,  the  home  of  their  ancient  grandeur,  should 
never  be  cultivated  by  the  white  man's  hand.  "  Here," 
said  the  red  man,  "  sleep  our  fathers,  and  they  cannot 
rest  well  if  they  hear  the  plow  of  the  white  man  above 
them."  The  rude  traces  of  their  olden  fortress  are  still 
distinctly  visible. 

Near  the  shores  of  the  Canandaigua  lake,  another 
flourishing  settlement  was  approached  and  fired,  with 
many  of  the  products  of  Indian  toil.  There  were 
twenty-three  houses,  many  of  them  framed,  and  very 
elegantly  painted. 


56  INTEEESTING   INCIDENTS. 

From  this  place  the  army  moved  forward  to  Honcoye, 
a  small  town  of  about  ten  houses,  situated  near  Cone- 
sus  lake.  The  houses  were  fired  and  consumed.  Here 
General  Sullivan  left  a  portion  of  the  heavy  stores  and 
one  field-piece,  under  the  charge  of  a  competent  garri- 
son. He  had  no  doubt  but  that  the  Indians  would  show 
some  resistance  at  the  Genesee  Castle,  and  he  desired 
to  be  unencumbered  with  every  unnecessary  article. 
The  next  day  he  left  for  the  capital.  The  enemy  had 
held  a  council  of  war,  and  were  almost  unanimously 
in  favor  of  making  at  least  one  more  bold  stand  in  the 
defence  of  their  homes  and  their  hunting-grounds. 
Their  women  and  children  were  therefore  directed  to 
secrete  themselves  some  miles  ahead,  in  the  direction 
of  Fort  Niagara.  The  preliminaries  having  been  thus 
arranged,  the  warriors  prepared  for  the  contest.  They 
took  a  favorable  position  between  Honeoye  creek  and 
the  head  of  Conesus  lake,  near  what  is  now  called 
Henderson's  Flats.  They  had  carefully  ambushed, 
and  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  American  forces.  As 
soon  as  Sullivan's  advance  guard  reached  their  posi- 
tion, the  Indians  appeared  and  commenced  the  attack. 
It  was  in  the  main  a  rather  bloodless  eff"ort,  and  termi- 
nated in  the  enemy  taking  two  Oneida  Indians  prison- 
ers,— one  a  guide  to  Sullivan's  army.  He  had  on  several 
occasions  been  of  important  service  to  the  American 
force, — a  fact  fully  apparent  to  his  captors, — and  hence 
he  was  a  prisoner  of  consequence.  He  had  a  brother  in 
Butler's  corps,  who  in  the  early  progress  of  the  war 
had  endeavored  to  persuade  him  to  unite  his  destiny 
with  his  British  brethren.  But  to  no  purpose.  Soon 
after  the  prisoners  were  conducted  into  the  enemy's 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS.  57 

camp,  the  brothers  met — not,  however,  as  friends  who 
had  been  long  separated.  The  eldest  of  the  two,  deem- 
ing it  a  proper  time  to  vent  upon  his  weaker  brother 
the  envenomed  shafts  of  his  deep-  and  undying  malice, 
approached,  and  thus  addressed  him:  — 

"  Brother  !  You  have  merited  death  !  The  hatchet 
or  the  war-club  shall  finish  your  career  !  When  I  beg- 
ged of  you  to  follow  me  in  the  fortunes  of  war,  you  w^ere 
deaf  to  my  cries  :  you  spurned  my  entreaties  ! 

"  Brother  !  You  have  merited  death,  and  shall  have 
your  deserts  !  When  the  rebels  raised  their  hatchets 
to  fight  their  good  master,  3"0u  sharpened  your  knife, 
you  brightened  your  rifle,  and  led  on  our  foe  to  the  fields 
of  our  fathers  ! 

"Brother  !  You  have  merited  death,  and  shall  die  by 
our  hands  !  When  those  rebels  had  driven  us  from  the 
fields  of  our  fathers  to  seek  out  new  homes,  it  was  you 
who  could  dare  to  step  forth  as  their  pilot,  and  conduct 
them  even  to  the  doors  of  our  wigwams,  to  butcher  our 
children  and  put  us  to  death  !  No  crime  can  be  greater! 
But  though  you  have  merited  death,  and  shall  die  on 
this  spot,  my  hands  shall  not  be  stained  with  the  blood 
of  a  brother  !     Who  will  strike  ?" 

There  was  a  pause  of  one  moment — a  moment  of  aw^- 
ful  suspense  — and  the  next,  the  bright  hatchet  of  Little 
Beard  cleft  liis  skull,  and  his  spirit  passed  to  the  brighter 
land  of  promise. 

AYhile  at  Iloneoye,  General  Sullivan  detached  Lieut. 
William  Boyd,  of  the  Rifle  corps,  with  a  select  party 
of  twenty-six  men  to  reconnoitre  Little  Beard's  Town, 
(now  known  as  Leicester.)  On  arriving  at  the  settle- 
ment, the  party  discovered  that  the  Indians  were  absent, 
4 


58  INTERESTING   INCIDENTS. 

tlioug'h  certain  indications  led  tliem  to  presume  that  in 
all  probability  they  would  soon  return,  and  they  there- 
fore concluded  to  remain  sleeping  upon  their  arms. 

Just  after  Aurora  had  begun  to  ascend  the  eastern 
sky,  two  Indians  were  discovered  lurking  about  the 
place,  and  unfortunately  for  the  party,  were  instantly 
shot  and  hastily  scalped.  Considering  the  unsafe  posi- 
tion in  which  this  act  of  indiscretion  had  placed  them, 
they  determined  to  hasten  their  return  back  to  the  main 
army.  But  when  within  one  and  a  half  miles  of  Gen. 
Sullivan's  force,  their  progress  was  intercepted  by  the 
sudden  appearance  of  five  hundred  Indians,  and  nearly 
an  equal  number  of  tory  Rangers  ;  the  former  under 
command  of  Capt.  Brant,  and  the  latter  under  Col.  But- 
ler, of  infamous  memory.  We  have  been  told  by  one 
who  served  in  the  campaign,  that  these  border  pirates 
had  not  for  a  single  day  lost  sight  of  Sullivan's  army 
after  their  defeat  at  Newtown.  Boyd  and  his  party 
made  a  number  of  attempts  to  cut  their  way  through 
the  strong  lines  of  the  enemy,  but  were  unsuccessful. 
All  fell  save  Boyd  and  an  Oneida  Indian,  who  served  as 
pilot,  and  who  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  battle 
of  Oriskany.*  Boyd  and  Hauyerry  surrendered  and 
were  made  prisoners.  Under  the  direction  of  Butler  they 
were  conducted  to  Little  Beard's  castle.  Boyd  had  an 
interview  with  Brant,  who  promised  that  his  life  should 
be  spared.  But  he  was  unexpectedly  called  away.  In 
his  absence,  Butler  delivered  them  over  to  the  tender 
mercies  of  a  chosen  number  of  barbarians  that  would 
disgi*ace   any  army  and  blacken  the  character  of  any 

<*  They  were  buried  at  what  is  now  called  Groveland. 


INTERESTING    INCIDENTS.  59 

commander.  The  Indian  was  literally  hewn  to  pieces. 
But  the  fate  of  Lieut.  Boyd, — the  high-souled,  gallant 
Boyd, — was  of  a  more  terrible  and  disgusting-  character. 
The  heart  sickens  as  we  record  the  inhumanity  of  his 
captors.  We  read  of  no  parallel  in  the  records  of  an- 
cient wars,  when  bigotry  blotted  its  pathway  with  blood, 
or  when  tyrants,  clad  in  iron  mail,  waged  long  and  un- 
relenting wars,  severed  kingdoms  and  divided  empires, 
in  order  that  their  names  might  be  enrolled  on  the  scroll 
of  immortal  fame. 

He  was  disrobed  of  his  clothing,  his  hands  pin- 
ioned behind  him,  and  his  person  tied  with  a  hempen 
cord  to  a  small  tree.  Then  commenced  the  work  of 
torture,  Little  Beard  leading  the  way.  He  was  one  of 
those  reckless  wretches  whose  barbarity  did  much  to- 
wards injuring  the  English  cause,  as  well  as  in  tarnish- 
ing the  Indian  character.  Their  tomahawks  were 
whirled  over  his  head  with  great  fury,  accompanied 
with  horrid  yells,  until  the  tree  was  completely  hewed 
and  shivered  to  pieces.  Then,  like  so  many  infuriated 
demons,  they  approached  him,  brandishing  their  scalp- 
ing knives,  frantic  with  rage,  and  thirsting  for  his  blood. 
"  His  nails  were  pulled  out,  his  nose  cut  off,  one  of  his 
eyes  plucked  out,  and  his  tongue  cut  off."^  An  incision 
was  made  in  his  side,  from  which  protruded  an  intes- 
tine. This  was  immediately  attached  to  the  branch  of 
a  small  tree  ;  the  hempen  cord  loosened  from  his  pin- 
ioned arms  ;  and  now  goaded  and  scourged  by  means 
the  most  heartless,  he  was  compelled  to  march  round 
and  round  until  his  intestines  disappeared  from  his  body, 

^  Stone's  Life  of  Brant. 


60  INTERESTING   INCIDENTS. 

and  lie  fell  like  a  lump  of  clay  to  the  earth.  Then  louder, 
louder  were  the  yells  of  the  demoniac  devils — wilder, 
wilder  were  their  frantic  gesticulations,  for  on  his  brow 
they  saw  the  large  drops  of  sweat — his  lips  quivered, 
his  e^'^es  rolled  in  agony,  and  all  was  over, — for  Heaven 
in  mercy  had  thrown  the  sleep  of  death  over  the  gallant 
Boyd,  who  was  thus  horribly  scourged  in  his  passage  to 
the  tomb. 

Not  yet  satisfied,  they  added  still  another  act  of  fiend- 
ish ferocity  to  the  already  unparalleled  outrage.  His 
head  was  severed  from  his  body  and  attached  to  the 
end  of  a  pole,  with  the  expanded  jaws  of  a  dog  just 
above  it.  And  thus  it  was  exhibited  amidst  the  laughter 
and  jeers  of  the  more  than  half  intoxicated  tory  and 
Indian  faction. 

When  Gen.  Sullivan  learned  t^ie  fate  of  Lieut.  Boyd 
and  Hanyerry,  he  made  every  possible  efi'ort  to  ferret 
out  the  dastard  foe,  hoping  to  avenge  the  barbarous 
act. 

These  unfortunate  men,  as  reported  by  the  journalist 
of  Sullivan's  campaign,  were  found  in  Little  Beard's 
castle,  bearing  the  marks  of  the  most  inhuman  torture. 
Gen.  Sullivan  saw  them  respectably  buried  on  the  banks 
of  Beard's  Creek,  in  the  midst  of  a  number  of  Indian 
plum  trees.  In  1849  we  visited  the  place,  and  looked 
upon  the  humble  grave  made  consecrate  by  the  remains 
of  these  brave  and  heroic  men. 

The  Genesee  castle  as  well  as  their  town,  which  in- 
cluded one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  houses,  fell  into 
the  conquerer's  hands,  but  the  artful  foe  had  disappeared. 
Great  efforts  were  made  to  ferret  out  their  hiding-place, 
but  in  vain  ;  they  were  beyond  the  devastator's  power. 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS.  61 

Vast  quantities  of  corn,  beans  and  potatoes  were  col- 
lected and  placed  in  the  houses,  to  which  fire  was  ap- 
plied, and  they  were  consumed.  One  of  their  numerous 
orchards  contained  fifteen  hundred  trees.  But  they,  too, 
were  devastated  of  their  beauty. 

The  author  of  the  Journal  from  which  we  have  gath- 
ered our  materials  for  this  chapter,  lived  to  tell  us  in 
his  own  glowing  language  how  beautiful  and  Eden-like 
the  Genesee  valley,  with  its  rich  and  waving  products 
— the  result  of  Indian  toil — appeared  previous  to  its 
being  devastated  by  the  victorious  army. 

The  work  of  desolation  was  now  complete.  Forty  of 
the  Indian  towns  were  laid  in  ruins.  Not  a  house  was 
left  ;  and  the  poor  Indians  felt  that  the  ravagers'  hands 
were  upon  them,  for  they  had  not  left  even  food  enough 
to  sustain  an  infant's  life  for  twenty-four  hours. 

When  Gen.  Sullivan  arrived  on  his  return  march  at 
the  outlet  of  Seneca  lake,  he  detached  Col.  Zebulon 
Butler,  with  the  Rifle  corps  and  five  hundred  men,  to 
the  east  side  of  Cayuga  lake,  to  lay  waste  the  Indian 
settlements.  The  next  day,  and  while  encamped  near 
Kandaia,  Lieut.  Col.  Dearborn  was  detached  with  two 
hundred  men  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  settle- 
ment south  of  the  lake,  and  but  a  little  distant  from  the 
present  prospective  city  of  Ithaca. 

Col.  Butler  pushed  forward  with  his  forces,  and  faith- 
fully performed  the  task  assigned  him.  At  that  time 
the  natives  had  large  fields  of  corn,  which  presented  a 
most  luxuriant  growth,  and  of  which  the  Cayugas  were 
intending  to  garner  up  for  their  winter's  use.  Patches 
of  beans  and  potatoes  exhibited  the  like  promising  ap- 
pearance.   Nor  was  the  fruit  of  their  fine  apple  orchards 


62  INTERESTING   INCIDENTS. 

less  inviting  to  the  soldier's  eye,  or  gratifying  to  the 
Colonel's  taste.  Yet  these  trees  of  two  himdrecl  years' 
growth  were  felled  to  the  ground.  The  products  of  the 
field — of  hardy  toil — were  gathered  into  the  Indian's 
rude  dwellings  and  with  them  consumed  by  fire. 

Three  villages,  to  them  of  considerable  importance, 
one  of  which  was  the  capital  of  the  Cayugas,  were  lo- 
cated near  the  shore  of  that  magnificent  sheet  of  water. 
Smaller  settlements  were  scattered  along  the  banks  at 
various  distances  apart.  But  all,  all  were  destroyed. 
Their  cabins  and  castles  were  swept  away,  for  the  fatal 
element  from  the  "white  man's  torch"  was  communicated 
to  them,  and  soon  all  that  remained  to  tell  the  wander- 
ing pioneer,  as  his  eye  caught  sight  of  the  flames  as 
they  gleamed  heavenward,  was  a  mass  of  smouldering 
ruins.  Here  the  brave  but  unlettered  red  men  had 
lived  in  unadorned  peace  ;  and  their  council  fire  had 
burned  for  upwards  of  three  centuries,  serving  as  a 
beacon  light  to  the  returning  warriors. 

The  mission  of  Col.  Dearborn  was  alike  successfully 
performed.  Their  wigwams  were  consumed,  their 
maize  burned  up,  and  the  home  of  their  ancient  gran- 
deur made  desolate.  Truly  they  were  a  wandering  and 
stricken  people.  If  the  Indians  in  their  stealthy  marches 
had  been  cruel,  the  white  man  had  been  equally  so. 
The  one  had  oppressed  for  the  sake  of  gain,  while  the 
other  sought  revenge  as  a  just  retaliation  for  the  con- 
duct of  his  unmanly  oppressor. 

A  little  west  of  the  residence  of  Dr.  J.  F.  Burdick, 
and  where  he  now  has  a  flourishing-  peach  orchard, 
were  some  eighteen  or  twenty  cabins.  Here  lived  a 
tall,  swarthy  Indian  chief,  generally  known  among  the 


INTERESTIXG    INCIDENTS.  63 

warriors  of  the  Six  Nations,  as  Long  Jim,  with  whom 
he  was  a  great  favorite.  He  was  of  the  Mohawk  and 
Oneida  extraction,  and  possessed  man}^  of  the  more 
prominent  characteristics  for  which  the  two  tribes  have 
been  so  justly  celebrated,  lie  was  usually  kind,  benev- 
olent and  just,  but  if  insulted  without  proper  cause, 
would  assume  the  ferocity  of  a  tiger,  and  act  the  part 
of  a  demoniac  monster.  He  was  an  orator  and  a  war- 
rior, and  possessed  the  art  of  swaying  the  multitude 
at  his  will.  He  believed  in  witches,  hobgoblins  and 
wizards,  and  often  pretended  to  be  influenced  by  a  tute- 
lary goddess,  or  guardian  spirit.  Shrewd  and  artful, 
dignified  and  generous,  yet  at  times  deceptive  and 
malevolent,  he  studied  to  acquire  influence  and  power, 
and  in  most  of  his  marauding  depredations,  was  success- 
ful in  keeping  the  arcana  of  his  heart  as  in  a  "sealed 
fountain,"  His  unwritten  history  represents  him  as 
acting  a  conspicuous  part  in  numerous  tragical  events 
which  were  perpetrated  by  detached  parties  from  Bur- 
goyne's  army.  A  venerable  chief,  who  resides  on  the 
New  York  Indian  Reservation,  informed  us  that,  accord- 
ing to  the  tradition  of  his  tribe.  Long  Jim  was  the  main 
cause,  instigator,  and  perpetrator  of  the  bloody  massa- 
cre which  we  are  about  to  record. 

A  gentleman  of  character  and  fortune,  and  holding 
an  honorable  commission  in  the  British  army,  had  suc- 
ceeded in  winning  the  affections  of  Miss  Jane  M'Crea, 
a  young,  intelligent  and  lovely  girl,  over  wliose  head 
had  passed  scarce  seventeen  summers.  Her  father 
resided  near  Fort  Edward,  and  was  a  prominent  actor 
in  the  royal  cause.  Circumstances  having  required  the 
services    and    personal    attention    of    Mr.    Jones,    the 


64  INTERESTING   INCIDENTS. 

plighted  lover  of  Miss  M'Crea,  he  was  stationed  at  some 
distance  from  the  paternal  roof  of  her  father,  and 
becoming  exceedingly  anxious  for  her  safety,  offered 
various  rewards  as  inducements  to  the  Indians  who 
would  convey  her  in  safety  to  his  camp.  At  length  the 
bold  and  hazardous  enterprise  was  undertaken.  A  band 
of  Winnebagoes  set  out  for  the  home  of  the  expectant 
bride,  bearing  a  letter  from  the  intended  husband,  in 
which  he  had  made  a  faithful  record  of  his  unabated  love 
for  the  cherished  object  of  his  heart.  On  their  approach 
the  family  were  much  alarmed,  and  were  about  flying  in 
terror  from  the  house,  that  safety,  if  possible,  might  be 
found,  if  not  nearer,  at  least  in  the  fort.  But  just  at 
this  moment,  the  young  and  gallant  chief  of  the  band 
bade  his  followers  to  retire  a  little  ;  then  beckoning  to 
the  frightened  family,  he  held  up  the  affectionate  epistle, 
which  unfortunately  caught  the  attention  of  the  mother, 
who  readily  conjectured  the  object  of  their  mission.  A 
token  of  friendship  and  welcome  was  returned,  and  the 
Indians,  much  pleased  with  the  success  of  their  chief, 
laughed  heartily  as  they  approached  the  worth}^  matron, 
each  of  whom  she  shook  by  the  hand. 

The  seal  of  the  little  message  was  broken — the  con- 
tents read  and  hastily  considered — when  Miss  M'Crea 
prepared  herself  to  accompany  them  to  the  British 
camp. 

Thus  far  the  expedition  had  been  attended  with  the 
most  perfect  success,  and  they  set  out  on  their  return 
with  high  hopes  and  lofty  aspirations,  for  a  keg  of  Eug- 
lish  rum  was  the  price  to  be  paid  for  her  safe  escort  to 
the  fortress  of  her  lover  I 

But  when  about  half  way  back,  they  were  met  by  a 


INTERESTING    INCIDENTS.  65 

second  party  who  had  left  for  the  achievement  of  the 
same  purpose.  Long  Jim  was  the  controlling  spirit  of 
his  party,  and  was  desirous  of  obtaining  the  prize.  An 
altercation  ensued,  which  finally  rose  to  a  warm  dispute. 
Long  Jim,  unwilling  to  see  the  Winnebago  chieftain 
proceed  with  the  spotless  object  of  the  expedition,  and 
presuming  his  party  too  weak  to  take  her  by  force, 
suddenly  seized  her  by  the  hair  of  the  head,  pulled 
her  from  the  back  of  the  noble  steed,  and  with  one 
demoniac  stroke  from  the  fatal  tomahawk,  cleft  the 
scalp  from  the  head  of  the  fair  young  girl,  and  he  bore 
it  as  a  trophy  to  the  astonished  and  heart -stricken 
lover. 

This  reckless  and  cold-blooded  murder  called  forth  a 
stern  and  feeling  rebuke  from  Burgoyne  ;  and  well  it 
might,  for  it  had  a  strong  tendency  to  weaken  the  royal 
cause. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake,  where  the  Taughanic 
creek  empties  into  the  Tiohero,  or  Ca^aiga  lake,  the 
Indians  had  built  a  small  town,  and  were  growing  corn, 
beans  and  potatoes  on  the  rich  flats.  They  had,  also, 
apple  trees  of  two  and  a  half  centuries'  growth.  This 
little  town,  called  by  the  natives  after  the  stream  on 
which  it  was  located,  escaped  the  notice  of  Col.  Butler, 
in  consequence  of  his  having  passed  up  from  East  Cay- 
uga, by  way  of  Aurora  and  Lavana,  to  the  head  of  the 
Cayuga  settlements. 

There  was  another  settlement  about  six  miles  south- 
west of  Taughanic,  near  the  present  villag'e  of  Water- 
burg,  which,  from  its  back  location,  was  not  discovered 
by  either  of  the  detached  forces  which  General  Sullivan 

had  sent  out  to  make  havoc  with  the  Ladians'  property. 
4* 


66  INTERESTING   INCIDENTS. 

The  traces  of  a  remarkable  trench  enclosure  were 
distinctl}^  to  be  seen  in  1840,  when  the  author  last  vis- 
ited the  spot  made  consecrate  by  the  uncofSned  bones 
of  a  "  once  peculiar  people."  Near  by  was  the  burial 
place  of  their  dead.  At  an  earlier  period  many  of  the 
mounds  were  dug  open,  from  which  were  collected  nume- 
rous antiquated  articles  of  Indian  warfare,  and  which 
very  closely  resembled  those  used  in  a  former  age  by 
Europeans.  A  few  miles  distant,  William  Carman  found 
on  his  farm  a  number  of  human  bones,  while  he  was 
extracting  some  stumps  of  trees  of  over  two  hundred 
years'  growth.  These  olden  relics  were  presumed  by 
many  to  be  of  a  larger  race  of  people  than  the  Indians. 
The  presumption  is  possible,  as  there  is  much  evidence 
in  support  of  that  opinion.  We  have  seen  several  orna- 
ments, the  texture  and  workmanship  of  which  undoubt- 
edly belong  to  a  different  race,  and  probably  date  back 
to  a  remote  period  of  our  country'',  on  which  neither  tra- 
dition or  history  can  throw  any  light. 

But  to  return.  General  Sullivan,  after  having  sent 
sufficient  forces  to  cut  off  the  Indians  and  lay  waste  their 
settlements  bordering  the  Cayuga  lake,  marched  to 
"Catharine  Town,''  and  thence  up  the  Chemung  val- 
ley. Wearied  with  over-exertion,  he  paused  with  his 
gallant  troops  for  the  night  on  the  rich  flats  about  six 
miles  north  of  Newtown,  (now  Elmira,)  and  while  here 
encamped,  they  concluded  to  abandon  or  dispose  of 
about  four  hundred  of  their  horses,  in  consequence  of 
their  worn-out  and  galled  condition  ;  and  to  prevent 
their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  though  not  a 
Red  Roman  appeared  in  sight,  they  were  led  out  in  In- 
dian file  and  shot  down  ;  and  hence  originated  the  name 


INTERESTING    INCIDENTS.  67 

of  Horse  Heads — a  name  familiar  to  the  general  reader 
of  American  history. 

Arriving  at  Newto.wn,  they  received  a  heart-cheering 
salute  of  thirteen  guns  from  the  Fort  which  had  been 
thrown  up  by  Captain  Reid  and  his  force  of  two  hundred 
men,  who  had  been  left  in  charge  of  some  stores  which 
were  forwarded  from  Tioga  Point  for  the  support  of  Sul- 
livan's army.  While  here,  the  news  of  Spain  having 
declared  war  against  Great  Britain  was  reciiived  with 
unbounded  joy.  The  event  was  celebrated  in  a  man- 
ner which  was  well  calculated  to  animate  the  drooping 
spirits  of  those  who  had  periled  health,  happiness,  and 
fortune  in  the  support  of  American  liberty.  Five  large 
oxen,  one  for  each  brigade,  were  killed  and  roasted, 
which,  with  the  added  trimmings  and  double  rations, 
were  dispatched  in  a  way  at  once  interesting  and  agree- 
able. During  the  festive  proceedings,  cannons  were 
fired  at  intervals,  which  added  much  to  the  joy  of  the 
already  excited  heroes.  Here  Colonels  Butler  and  Dear- 
born united  with  the  main  army. 

.  Leaving  Newtown,  they  returned  by  way  of  Tioga 
Point  to  Wyoming,  where  they  arrived  on  the  7th  of 
October,  and  in  a  few  days  after  bent  their  course  for 
Easton,  and  from  thence  to  Morristown,  New  Jersey, 
where  they  took  up  their  winter  quarters. 

There  are  very  few  expeditions  on  record,  which 
proved  so  entirely  successful  in  their  general  results, 
and  which  so  fully  met  the  hopes  and  expectations  of 
the  people  and  of  Congress,  as  the  one  of  which  we  have 
just  given  a  hasty  sketch. 

The  burning  of  Moscow  was  a  terrible  blow  to  Napo- 
leon and  his  unrivaled  army,  and  which  forever  clouded 


68  INTERESTING   INCIDENTS. 

the  hopes  of  the  imperial  hero.  It  involved  the  sump- 
tuous palaces,  monuments,  and  miracles  of  art,  in  one 
common  flame.  The  devastation  of  the  Indian  country 
was  as  severe  a  chastisement  inflicted  upon  the  red  men, 
and  from  the  effects  of  which  they  never  wholly  recov- 
ered. Deprived  of  their  homes  and  provisions,  they 
were  of  necessit}^  dependent  upon  the  English  for  the 
necessaries  of  life.  Provisions  were  extremel}^  scarce 
and  high.  The  winter  was  unusually  severe,  and  hun- 
dreds "  took  the  scurvy  and  died." 

But  though  the  Indians  were  greatly  crippled,  they 
were  not  subdued  ;  though  defeated,  they  were  not  van- 
quished. They  still  made  stealthy  incursions  into  peace- 
able settlements,  the  history  of  whose  attacks  might  be 
Slimmed  up  in  the  fearful,  sad,  bloody,  but  brief  record — 
surprise — massacre — conflagration — retreat. 

As  in  the  past  so  in  the  future,  Brant  was  the  rul- 
ing spirit.  He  could  not  brook  the  thought  of  being 
subdued.  Disaster  and  defeat  tended  to  make  him  the 
more  daring  and  reckless.  Yet  Brant  possessed  many 
valuable  traits  of  character  —  was  often  humane  and 
benevolent.  But  we  do  not  propose  at  this  time  to  pen 
a  sketch  of  his  life — that  is  reserved  for  a  future  work, 
"  The  Indian  Chiefs  of  America."  As  often  as  he  was 
baffled  in  his  endeavors  to  retrieve  his  loss  upon  tlie 
embattled  field  of  glor}^,  or  failed  in  restoring  to  his 
nation  the  homes  and  hunting-g-rounds  of  their  fathers, 
so  often  did  the  old  chieftain  gather  his  long-abused 
and  often-betrayed  followers  around  him,  and  with  the 
envenomed  rage  of  the  famished  tiger,  wlien  brought 
to  bay  by  the  hunters,  make  another  and  still  another 
effort  to  regain  the  Indians'   dominion  —  the   Indians' 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS.  69 

ancient  residence.  If  it  was  his  custom  to  crouch  and 
hide  like  the  baited  lion,  it  was  but  to  leap  with  the 
greater  vengeance— to  dash  with  the  greater  force  upon 
his  antagonist — to  make  the  victory  more  easy — the 
tragedy  more  terrible. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  Gen.  Sullivan's  campaign,  a 
party  consisting  of  between  forty  and  fifty  Indians  and 
tories  were  found  ranging  about  the  wild  mountain 
gorges  of  Wyoming,  from  whose  dark  retreats  they 
stealthily  made  incursions,  committing  many  and  seri- 
ous depredations.  They  were  fit  subjects  for  plunder, 
rapine,  and  murder.  They  were  ripe  for  any  outrage, 
however  dark,  bloody,  and  heart-rending  it  might  be, 
and  it  is  doubtful  whether  a  more  cruel  and  unrelenting 
band  of  heartless  desperadoes  cin^sed  our  land  at  any 
time  during  the  long  and  painful  period  of  our  country's 
revolution.  They  delighted  in  having  an  opportunity 
to  wreak  vengeance  upon  an  American.  To  torture  by 
acts  the  most  barbarous,  seemed  to  be  the  highest  ob- 
ject of  their  ambition. 

Capt.  Bedlock,  who  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  fiendish 
massacre,  afterwards  fell  into  the  hands  of  these  heart- 
less wretches.  He  was  stripped  of  his  clothing,  had  his 
body  stuck  full  of  pine  splinters,  his  arms  closely  pin- 
ioned behind  him,  and  his  person  attached  by  cords  to 
a  small  tree.  Around  the  wretched  captive  was  then 
placed  a  mass  of  combustible  matter,  with  a  quantity 
of  pine  knots.  Now  commences  the  awful  sacrifice. 
The  fire  is  kindled  around  him,  and  when  the  terrific 
flames  began  to  wreathe  their  death  folds  around  his 
person,  his  two  companions,  Ransom  and  Durkee,  were 
thrown  into  the  middle  of  the  crackling  flames,  where 


70  INTERESTING    INCIDENTS. 

they  all  perished,  martyrs  to  freedom's  holy  cause.  An 
Indian,  who  figured  conspicuously  in  the  horrid  scene, 
told  us  in  1849  that  whenever  any  of  the  victims  at- 
tempted to  rise  from  the  faggot  and  flame,  they  were 
instantly  felled  to  the  earth,  and  held  down  by  means  of 
poles  and  rails. 

One  of  these  tories,  whose  mother  had  married  a  sec- 
ond husband,  butchered  with  his  own  hands  both  her, 
his  father-in-law,  his  sister,  and  their  infant  child- 
ren. 

Another  tory,  of  the  same  class,  exterminated  his 
whole  family, — mother,  brothers,  and  sisters, — and  then 
mingled  their  blood  in  one  common  carnage  with  that 
of  the  aged  father  and  husband. 

It  was,  too,  this  same  class  of  desperadoes  who,  not 
satisfied  with  effecting  these  heart-chilling  scenes  of 
massacre  and  blood,  fired  the  houses,  shot  and  destroyed 
their  cattle,  or  cut  out  their  tongues,  leaving  them  still 
alive  to  roam  the  fields  in  agony. 

To  protect  the  settlement  from  the  attacks  of  these 
piratical  mountaineers,  several  companies  were  called 
out,  with  orders  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to 
avenge  any  wrong  that  might  be  inflicted  upon  the 
peaceable  inhabitants  of  the  valle3^  One  of  the  com- 
panies had  marched  from  Nortliampton  county,  and  en- 
camped on  the  banks  of  one  of  the  tributary  streams  of 
the  Nescopeck  creek,  and  while  partaking  of  their  fru- 
gal repast,  were  surprised  by  these  barbarians,  who 
inhumanly  slew  eleven  of  the  company  and  severely 
wounded  two  others.  Recovering  from  the  terrible 
shock,  from  the  tempest  of  balls,  bludgeons,  and  toma- 
liawks,  the  Northampton  boys  returned  them  a  compli- 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS.  71 

nientary  salute  from  their  Yankee  rifles,  causing-  an 
equal  number  to  give  death  a  horrid  grin. 

Wyoming  will  ever  be  memorable  in  history,  for  there 
occurred  some  of  the  most  tragical  scenes  in  our  na- 
tional annals.  The  green  turf  has  been  made  classic 
and  consecrate,  and  will  ever  be  hallowed  in  the  imagi- 
nation of  the  heroic  bard,  for  there  are  entombed  the 
mouldering  bones  of  many  a  brave  warrior. 

The  ladies  of  Wilkesbarre,  influenced  by  the  true 
spirit  of  chivalry,  have  erected  a  monument  over  their 
sleeping  dust.  The  pyramidal  shaft  of  granite  stands 
a  memento  of  the  white  man's  sufferings  and  a  witness 
to  the  red  man's  cruelty. 


CHAPTER    YI, 

PIONEER   MOVEMENTS — INDIAN   REFLECTIONS — REVENGE 
— DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  MOHAWK  VALLEY — INCIDENTS. 

"  But  go,  rouse  your  warriors." 

The  red  men  saw,  as  with  prophetic  eye,  that  their 
hunting-grounds  were  soon  to  pass  into  the  control  of 
the  white  invaders.  They  saw  villages  spring  up,  as  if 
by  magic,  in  various  parts  of  their  dominion,  and  traders 
were  besieging  them  along  every  important  trail,  or 
offering  rich  inducements  wherever  the  council  fires 
blazed  as  beacon  lights  to  returning  warriors.  Mill 
sites  had  been  marked  wherever  the  aristocratic  adven- 
turer had  heard  a  cataract's  roar,  or  seen  a  leaping 
cascade.  The  merchant  and  commissioner  were  seduc- 
ing and  bribing  them  of  their  most  magnificent  forests. 
And  contrary  to  stipulation  and  expostulation,  emi- 
grants, like  the  frogs  of  Egypt,  were  coming  in  from 
every  quarter,  and  laying  the  corner  stones  for  royal 
palaces  and  cottage  homes.  British  lords  and  French 
Sebastians  saw  thousands  of  castle  builders  ready  for 
the  work  of  progress,  and  imagined  that  to  their  dream- 
ing vision  appeared  fields  of  rich  fertility.  Towns  and 
counties  were  being  carved  out  of  their  inheritance. 
The  sharp   crack  of  Yankee  rifles  was  heard   on  the 


INDIAN   EEFLECTIONS.  73 

mountain  tops,  while  New  England  axes  were  ringing 
in  the  valleys  of  Canisteo,  Chemnng,  Susquehanna, 
Wyoming,  Chenango,  Otsego,  Onondaga  and  Genesee. 
Ramparts  were  reared,  behind  which  the  invaders  might 
gather  and  concoct  plans  for  the  annihilation  of  the  na- 
tives. They  had  heard  the  roar  of  cannon  and  the  rattle 
of  grape  shot  under  the  bluffs  of  Ticonderoga.  The 
music  from  Montcalm  bugles,  and  Bradstreet  drums,  was 
still  ringing  in  their  ears.  They  saw  provincial  rangers, 
bloody  Britons,  and  French  chevaliers,  and  knew  that 
fire  and  grape  had  done  their  work  of  carnage  and  deso- 
lation at  Niagara,  Oswego,  and  Frontenac.  They  had 
seen  the  army  of  General  Sullivan  sweeping  over  their 
country  from  the  Delaware  to  the  Great  Council,  or 
Big  Tree  in  Genesee  Valley,  laying  waste  their  corn- 
fields, orchards  and  gardens.  Forty  of  their  towns  were 
smouldering  ruins.  Or,  if  they  turned  their  eyes  to 
their  rich  locations  bordering  the  Cayuga  lake,  nought 
but  desolation  greeted  their  vision,  for  Colonels  Butler 
and  Dearborn  had  despoiled  them  of  their  fondest 
hopes.  Colonel  Gansevoort  had  checked  their  ravages 
about  Fort  Schuyler,  and  Col.  Van  Schaick  carried  dis- 
aster among  the  Onondagas. 

These  expeditions,  though  attended  with  the  fullest 
success,  did  not  subdue  the  war  spirit  of  the  restless 
savages.  They  felt  that  they  had  been  greatly  wronged 
and  abused  by  the  "  pale  faces,"  who  had  thus  uncere- 
moniously deprived  them  of  their  birthright.  They 
determined  on  revenge,  for  they  were  unwilling  to  brook 
the  indignant  insult.  Their  council  fire  had  been  put 
out,  and  their  country  laid  waste.  Desolation  sat  in 
gloomy  silence,  while  the  hooting  owl  flapped  his  wings 


74c  REVENGE. 

over  their  deserted  homes,  marked  only  by  the  charred 
logs  of  their  demolished  cabins.  All  was  dreary  and 
desolate.  But  these  wrongs  were  to  be  avenged.  Hate, 
— bitter,  unrelenting  hate, — was  most  assiduously  culti- 
vated in  the  bosom  of  the  native  lords  of  the  forest. 
Though  defeated  and  driven  from  their  castles  and 
strongholds,  they  were  not  subdued  The  spirit,  though 
"  crushed,  would  rise  again"  with  renewed  vigor,  and 
the  haughty  and  stealthy  foe  was  determined  to 
crush  and  gloat  over  those  who  would  thus  wantonly 
deprive  them  of  their  rights — rights  marked  out  and 
defined  by  the  very  finger  of  the  Creator— guaranteed 
to  them  by  patent  or  deed,  by  the  Great  Jehovah. 

Nor  did  they  long  feel  thus  indignant,  before  an  oppor- 
tunity was  offered  to  wreak  vengeance  on  their  white 
oppressors. 

They  made  a  stealthy  march  into  the  Mohawk  valley, 
with  a  fixed  purpose  to  ravage,  burn  and  kill. 

The  inhabitants  of  that  ill-fated  region  were  regarded 
by  the  Indians  and  tories  as  enemies,  and  sad  and 
heart-rending  were  the  results  of  such  a  conclusion. 
Hordes  of  savages  and  loyalists  incessantly  emerged 
from  the  forests  and  mountain  gorges,  murdering  and 
scalping  all  whom  they  met.  Even  innocent  women 
and  lisping  infancy  were  cruelly  butchered  by  the 
marauding  assailants. 

The  whole  valley  was  rendered  most  desolate.  If 
a  single  dwelling  remained  to  be  seen,  it  was  like  a 
flowery  oasis  looming  up  in  the  wide  waste  of  ruin. 
What  a  sight  to  meet  the  eye  of  the  hardy,  industrious, 
yet  gloomy  and  despondent  pioneer  !  There  were  the 
smouldering   ruins,  the    charred    bones,  the   mangled 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS.  75 

bodies  of  domestic  animals,  and  the  blood-stained  marks 
of  ruthless  violence. 

There  were  many  brave  patriot  pioneers  who  fell  by 
the  tomahawk  or  the  Indian's  arrow,  and  were  left  to 
moulder  and  wither  in  the  desert  air.  But  their  names, 
their  virtues  and  heroic  acts,  have  been  embalmed  and 
consecrated  in  the  hearts  and  affections  of  a  grateful 
people.  The  orator  has  spoken  their  praise  ;  the  poet 
has  strung  anew  his  lyre,  and  breathed  forth  most  feel- 
ing and  tender  sympathies, 

"  Ah  !  where  are  the  soldiers  that  fought  there  of  yore  ? 
The  sod  is  upon  them,  they'll  struggle  no  more  ; 
The  hatchet  is  fallen,  the  red  man  is  low  : 
But  near  him  reposes  the  arm  of  his  foe. 

"  The  bugle  is  silent,  the  war-whoop  is  dead  ; 
There's  a  murmur  of  waters  and  woods  in  their  stead, 
And  the  raven  and  owl  chant  a  symphony  drear, 
From  the  dark  waving  pines  o'er  the  combatants'  bier. 

"The  light  of  the  sun  has  just  sunk  in  the  wave, 
And  a  long  time  ago  set  the  sun  of  the  brave. 
The  waters  complain,  as  they  roll  o'er  the  stones, 
And  the  rank  grass  encircles  a  few  scattered  bones. 

*'  The  names  of  the  fallen  the  traveler  leaves 
Cut  out  with  his  knife  in  the  bark  of  the  trees  ; 
But  little  avail  his  affectionate  arts. 
For  the  names  of  the  fallen  are  graved  in  our  hearts. 

"  The  voice  of  the  hunter  is  loud  on  the  breeze  ; 
There's  a  dashing  of  waters,  a  rustling  of  trees  ; 
And  the  jangling  of  armor  hath  all  passed  away, — 
No  gushing  of  life-blood  is  seen  there  to-day. 

*'  The  eye  that  was  sparkling,  no  longer  is  bright ; 
The  arm  of  the  mighty — death  conquered  its  might  ; 


76  INTERESTING   INCIDENTS. 

The  bosoms  that  once  for  their  country  beat  high, 
To  those  bosoms  the  sods  of  the  valley  are  nigh. 

*'  Sleep,  soldiers  of  merit !  sleep,  gallants  of  yore  ! 
The  hatchet  is  fallen,  the  struggle  is  o'er. 
While  the  fir-tree  is  green  and  the  wind  rolls  a  wave, 
The  tear-drop  shall  brighten  the  turf  of  the  brave." 

In  many  parts  of  the  Mohawk  valley,  the  inhabitants 
were  reduced  to  a  state  of  suffering  which  will  hardly 
admit  of  comparison.  Every  thing  in  the  line  of  prop- 
erty was  destroyed.  The  tories,  as  in  many  other 
instances,  were  more  cruel  and  barbarous  than  the 
savages.  It  was  their  object  and  desire  to  make  the 
ravages  most  complete.  They  were  not  satisfied  with 
burning,  plundering,  driving  off  and  killing  hundreds 
of  cattle  and  horses,  but  were  determined  on  drenching 
the  green  earth  with  the  blood  of  the  oppressed.  Many 
were  tortured  in  the  most  cruel  and  barbarous  manner. 
Some  were  burned  at  the  stake,  while  others  were 
merely  scalped  and  left  to  endure  the  pains  and  horrors 
of  a  living,  lingering  death. 

Col.  Fisher,  who  lived  near  Caughnawaga,  when  it 
was  burned  by  the  Indians,  made  a  most  noble  effort  at 
self-defence  in  his  own  house.  His  two  brothers  had 
fallen  by  his  side,  and  himself  being  closely  pressed  to 
the  wall  by  a  band  of  savages  and  painted  tories, 
whooping  and  yelling  like  incarnate  demons, — nerved 
with  desperation,  he  resolved  to  make  one  more  bold 
stroke  for  liberty.  At  a  single  discharge  of  his  rifle, 
two  of  the  enemy  fell  locked  in  the  embrace  of  death. 
Two  more  were  foiled  to  the  floor  b^^  well-directed  blows 
from  the  breech  of  his  gun,  while  a  fifth  was  made  crazy 
in  consequence  of  having  come  in  contact  with  a  bunch 


INTERESTING    INCIDENTS.  77 

of  bones  which  was  attached  to  the  extreme  end  of  his 
arm.  In  this  way  he  escaped  from  his  castle,  was  pur- 
sued by  the  infuriated  foe,  captured,  scalped,  and  left 
writhing  in  his  terrible  agonies.  The  day  after,  he  was 
discovered  by  a  friend  who  had  fled  to  the  mountains, 
and  was  conveyed  to  his  house,  where  he  received  every 
attention  which  circumstances  would  permit  ;  and  al- 
though the  wound  was  of  the  most  frightful  and  dan- 
gerous character,  he  survived  its  dreadful  pains,  recov- 
ered, and  lived  many  years  after  peace  had  been  restored 
to  his  country,  an  honorable  member  of  society,  as  well 
as  an  ornament  to  the  republic,  the  freedom  of  which 
he  so  dearly  loved. 

Lucretia  Mott  was  one  of  the  fifty  prisoners  taken 
after  the  burning  of  Schoharie.  She  fell  into  the  hands 
of  six  tories,  who  were  as  heartless  and  inhuman,  as 
reckless  and  perfidious,  as  the  mind  could  well  imagine. 
After  being  compelled  to  minister  to  their  menial  appe- 
tites, she  had  her  right  ear  cropped,  two  of  her  fingers 
amputated,  besides  other  barbarities  of  a  similar  char- 
acter. She  was  then  compelled  to  disrobe  herself  of 
her  clothing,  which  was  buried  in  her  presence,  after 
which  she  was  left  in  the  wilderness,  many  miles  from 
any  settlement,  with  no  companion  save  the  hooting 
owl,  howling  wolf  and  screeching  panther,  to  protect 
her  as  she  sought  out,  as  best  she  could,  her  way  to  the 
desolate  valley. 

Mr.  Sawyer  was  taken  prisoner  by  a  band  of  maraud- 
ing Indians,  who,  after  having  proceeded  with  him  sev- 
eral miles,  stopped  for  the  night  in  the  gloomy  recess  of 
a  mountain  gorge.  After  being,  as  they  presumed,  se- 
curely bound,  they  directed  him  to  lie  down  and  sleep 


78  INTERESTING   INCIDENTS. 

with  them.  As  he  had  been  a  terror  to  the  Indians,  he 
expected  little  else  than  cruel,  unrelenting  torture  at 
their  hands.  The  night  was  one  of  intense  darkness. 
The  moon  had  descended  beyond  the  western  hills  and 
"  gone  to  rest."  The  stars  put  on  their  weeds  of  mourn- 
ing, and  refused  to  give  their  light,  while  thunders 
rolled  and  lightnings  flashed  athwart  the  darkened  sky. 
The  vivid  flashes  of  lightning  gave  the  prisoner  an  op- 
portunity to  view  his  situation.  To  his  surprise  he 
found  means  to  loosen  his  hands.  This  was  effected  by 
carefully  reaching  his  pinioned  hands  to  the  nearest  In- 
dian, and  cautiously  taking  from  his  belt  his  scalping 
knife.  His  next  object  was  to  free  his  feet,  which  was 
soon  done.  He  then  with  great  care  looked  into  the 
face  of  each  of  the  seven  savages  by  whom  he  was 
surrounded,  and  found  them  in  a  sound  sleep.  Just  at 
this  auspicious  moment,  the  clouds  dispersed,  and  the 
stars  looked  out  from  their  hiding-places,  which  fully 
revealed  the  position  of  his  oppressors.  Carefull}^  taking 
from  the  belt  of  the  leader  of  the  band,  his  tomahawk, 
he  soon  dispatched  six  of  them,  and  mortally  wounded 
the  seventh.  Thus  having  effected  his  release,  he  bent 
his  course  for  a  distant  settlement,  which  he  hoped  the 
Indians  had  not  visited,  and  which  he  reached  during 
the  afternoon  of  the  next  day. 

The  heart  sickens  as  we  contemplate  some  of  the 
bloody  tragedies  and  inhuman  acts  which  were  perpe- 
trated by  these  marauding  parties.  We  have  read  many 
a  tale  of  horror,  where  revenge  had  instigated  the  fiend 
to  seek  out  his  victim  during  the  dark  hour  of  night, 
and  when  no  eye  could  witness  the  awful  deed,  save  the 
all-seeing  eye  of  Omnipotence,  plunge  the  dagger  to 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS.  79 

the  heart  of  her  whose  affections  he  was  unworthy  of 
possessing,  and  send  her  disembodied  spirit  uncalled  for 
into  the  presence  of  the  great  Eternal.  But  we  can  re- 
call no  act  so  chilling  to  the  heart,  so  dishonorable  to 
humanity,  as  the  one  which  we  are  about  to  sketch. 

A  family,  consisting  of  father,  mother  and  eight  chil- 
dren, residing  in  one  of  the  settlements  adjoining  Scho- 
harie, and  which  had  been  laid  in  smoking  ruins,  was 
massacred  with  every  attending  circumstance  of  heart- 
less cruelty.  Near  by  where  the  mother  lay  weltering 
in  her  heart's  blood,  was  a  cradle  containing  a  little 
babe.  An  old  Sachem  of  the  Iroquoy  tribe,  on  discov- 
ering it,  approached  the  cradle  with  his  hatchet  raised, 
with  intent  to  dispatch  it  with  a  blow.  A  cherub  smile 
played  over  its  innocent  face,  which  seemed  to  touch 
his  heart,  for  his  strong  arm  was  at  once  nerveless,  the 
hatchet  fell  from  his  hand,  and  he  bent  his  weather- 
beaten,  scarred  frame,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the 
little  innocent  in  his  arms,  and  pressing  its  tender  form 
to  his  breast.  But  before  he  had  time  to  effect  his  pur- 
pose, a  painted  tory,  who  had  a  far  less  feeling  heart 
than  his  savage  ally,  plunged  his  bayonet  in  its  bosom, 
and  raising  it  up  to  the  wall,  cried  out  in  tones  which 
none  but  the  incarnate  could  utter — "  This^  too^  is  a 
rebels 

Maria  Marshall  was  taken  captive  near  Oswego,  by 
a  party  of  savages  who  were  returning  from  one  of  their 
predatory  incursions  into  the  Mohawk  Valley,  where 
they  massacred  several  families,  and  burned  a  number 
of  houses. 

Arriving  within  a  few  miles  of  Oswego,  the  party 
divided  in  hopes  of  securing  more  convenient  quarters 


80  INTERESTING    INCIDENTS. 

for  the  night  with  some  of  the  scattered  settlers  who 
were  occupying  comfortable  dwellings  along  the  line  of 
their  ancient  war-path. 

Five  of  the  party  were  kindly  entertained  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Marshall.  The  family  consisted  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Marshall,  and  three  children,  the  j^oungest  of  whom  was 
but  nineteen  days  old.  After  being  freely  treated  with 
the  best  provisions  of  the  house,  they  retired  to  rest. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall,  presuming  upon  the  good  will 
of  the  Indians  in  return  for  their  generosity,  felt  secure, 
and  after  retiring  to  bed,  were  soon  wrapped  in  sound 
sleep.  But  they  had  mistaken  the  character  of  their 
visitors.  They  were  less  humane,  less  faithful  than 
their  charitable  fidelity  had  supposed.  The  hellish  plot 
of  massacre  had  been  conceived,  the  first  intimation  of 
which,  that  reached  the  ears  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall, 
was  the  crackling  of  the  burning  timbers.  The  faith- 
less foe  had  secretly  plundered  and  fired  the  house,  and 
were  now  ready  to  take  the  lives  of  those  whose  bounty 
they  had  so  liberally  shared. 

The  cowardly  assassins  had  taken  positions  on  the 
outside  of  the  house,  where  they  stood  with  uplifted 
hatchets,  ready  to  strike  down  whoever  might  attempt 
to  escape  from  within.  Suddenly  their  attention  was 
arrested  by  Mr.  Marshall,  who  was  hurrying  through 
the  huge  columns  of  smoke  and  flame,  holding  in  his 
arms  his  two  eldest  children.  Present!}^  he  sprang  from 
the  door,  and  was  cloven  down  with  the  tomahawk, 
wielded  by  the  strong  arm  of  an  athletic  savage.  In  a 
moment  the  father  and  his  precious  burthens  were  wel- 
tering in  their  blood,  and  writhing  in  the  agonies  of 
death.     Mrs.  Marshall,  with  feeble  step,  and  nearly  suf- 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS.  81 

focated  with  smoke,  reached  the  door  just  as  the  roof 
fell  in  with  a  terrible  crash.  Closely  folded  to  her  bo- 
som was  her  little  babe.  She  was  soon  surrounded  by 
her  inhuman  assailants  who  demanded  of  her  the  child, 
and  on  being  refused,  it  was  seized  by  one  of  the  Indi- 
ans, who  immediately  dashed  out  its  brains  on  the  door- 
step. This  most  detestable  and  horrible  requital  of 
evil  for  good  was  executed  with  a  shameless  barbarity 
alike  frightful  and  revolting  to  the  finest  feelings  of 
humanit3^ 

Mrs.  Marshall  was  made  prisoner,  and  securely  guard- 
ed by  two  of  the  Indians  while  the  others  secured  the 
plunder. 

Thus  having  completed  the  work  of  desolation,  the 
marauders  took  up  their  march  for  Canada.  When  they 
reached  Oswego,  their  number  was  increased  to  twenty- 
seven,  two  of  whom  were  female  captives.  On  the  fifth 
day,  one  of  them,  the  mother  of  the  other,  an  infirm  old 
lady,  gave  out  ;  she  could  go  no  further.  She  begged 
for  her  life,  but  it  was  denied  her,  for  at  that  moment  a 
tomahawk  went  whirling  through  the  air  on  its  mission 
of  death,  and  sunk  deep  into  the  brains  and  gore  of  the 
fallen  captive. 

The  destination  of  the  Indians  was  a  settlement  con- 
tiguous to  the  Three  Rivers,  near  where  the  Adiron- 
dacks,  early  in  the  seventeenth  century,  were  defeated 
in  a  bloody  and  exterminating  war  waged  against  them 
by  the  Five  Confederative  Nations. 

Notwithstanding  the  poor  health  of  Mrs.  Marshall, 
occasioned  by  h^r  recent  confinement,  she  was  forced 
to  travel  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  per  day,  which  occa- 
sioned still  greater  debility  of  bodily  powers,  as  well  as 
5 


8^-.  INTERESTING    INCIDENTS. 

tending  to  enervate  the  more  noble  powers  of  her  ex- 
alted mind. 

The  day  previous  to  the  expected  time  of  reaching 
the  Three  Rivers,  the  party  divided,  leaving  Mrs.  Mar- 
shall still  in  the  hands  of  her  original  captors.  Early 
in  the  evening  they  encamped  for  the  night  on  an  ele- 
vated spot  of  ground,  kindled  a  fire,  stacked  their  arms, 
partook  of  a  scanty  repast,  and  sought  rest  in  the  em- 
brace of  sleep.  The  savages  had  intimated  to  their 
captive  the  fact,  that  on  their  arrival  at  the  end  of  their 
destination,  she  was  to  be  delivered  to  one  of  the  grand 
sachems,  who  would  in  turn  give  her  in  marriage  to  a 
young  and  distinguished  brave  of  the  Iroquoy  nation. 
Shocked  at  the  idea  of  becoming  the  wife  of  an  Indian, 
she  could  hardly  refrain  from  shedding  tears,  and  other- 
wise bewailing  her  sad  fate.  Bereft  of  the  protecting 
arm  of  a  kind  husband,  mourning  the  loss  of  her  dear 
children,  all  of  whom  had  fallen  by  the  hands  of  the 
inhuman  monsters  who  were  preparing  to  fetter  her 
with  the  polluter's  chain,  far  away  from  country  and 
friends,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  forest  swarming 
with  ravenous  beasts  and  barbarous  savages,  and  in 
the  immediate  power  of  five  inhuman  Indians  who  had 
wrecked  her  happiness  and  blighted  her  fairest  hopes 
of  life,  she  resolved  upon  death,  or  deliverance  from  a 
bondage  more  to  be  deprecated  than  the  assassin's 
knife. 

She  cautiously  rose  from  the  cold,  damp  earth,  on 
which  she  had  vainly  endeavored  to  repose  her  weary 
limbs,  and  noiselessly  prepared  for  the  work  of  mas- 
sacre. / 

The  moon  was  careering  high  in  the  vaulted  dome. 


INTEEESTING   INCIDENTS.  83 

The  stars  looked  out  in  beauty  from  the  radiant  sky. 
The  wind  had  died  away.  Not  even  a  floating  zephyr 
was  heard  among  the  tall  trees.  All  was  silent  as  the 
grave. 

The  weapons  of  the  Indians  were  hastily  removed  out 
of  their  reach.  She  now  examined  the  guns  for  the 
purpose  of  selecting  two  to  assist  her  in  carrying  out 
the  bold  enterprise  in  which  she  had  so  determinedly 
engaged.  They  appeared  in  excellent  order.  There 
was  one  which  particularly  struck  her  fancy,  as  it  had 
two  barrels  and  was  therefore  better  suited  to  her  pur- 
pose than  two  of  the  ordinary  kind.  This,  and  a  keen- 
edged  hatchet,  she  deemed  sufficient  for  her  purpose. 
The  gun  was  placed  behind  a  tree  near  by  the  sleeping 
and  unconscious  foe.  The  hammers  were  drawn  back, 
that  each  load  might  the  more  readily  be  discharged. 
The  savages  were  arranged  in  a  row — their  usual  habit 
of  reposing.  Nerved  with  desperation,  she  seized  the 
tomahawk,  and  in  less  than  a  moment  had  buried  it  in 
the  brains  and  gore  of  three  of  the  depraved  wretches. 
She  then  flew  with  great  celerity  to  the  tree,  seized  her 
gun  and  shot  the  fourth  monster  as  he  approached  ;  he 
gave  one  terrific  yell,  and  all  with  him  was  over.  The 
fifth  and  last  of  her  captors,  unable  to  find  the  secreted 
weapons,  now  rushed  upon  her  with  his  scalping  knife  ; 
her  gun  having  missed  fire,  was  quickly  reversed  in 
her  hands,  and  with  a  well-directed  blow  from  the 
breech,  she  felled  him  to  the  earth,  and  with  her  hatchet 
gave  him  the  finishing  stroke,  for  he  too  was  quivering 
in  the  last  agonies  of  expiring  nature. 

Having  thus  exterminated  her  enemies,  she  lost  no 
time  in  retreating  from  the  scene  of  horror,  with  the 


84  INTERESTING   INCIDENTS. 

hope  of  securing  some  friendly  aid  that  might  enable 
her  once  more  to  return  to  her  friends  if  still  alive,  and 
to  her  home  made  desolate  by  savage  violence  and  in- 
human barbarity.  For  seven  long  days  she  wandered 
in  the  gloomy  forest  before  meeting  with  any  human 
being.  As  the  sun  was  about  retiring  beyond  the  west- 
ern horizon,  faint  from  want  of  food,  having  subsisted 
on  roots  and  plants,  she  was  about  to  lay  herself  down 
for  another  night's  rest,  when  she  was  suddenly  started 
by  the  wild  Indian  whoop,  and  looking  around,  saw,  to 
her  consternation,  a  number  of  savages  approaching 
the  little  mound  upon  which  she  reclined.  They  were 
of  the  Oneida  tribe,  and  were  on  terms  of  friendship 
with  the  colonists.  ''  Fear  not,  pale  face,"  said  a  young 
brave,  who  saw  the  agitation  and  forlorn  condition  of 
Mrs.  Marshall.  He  in  a  few  words  gave  her  to  under- 
stand that  his  party  was  humane  and  benevolent,  and 
would  not  in  the  least  do  her  harm.  She  related  to 
him  how  her  husband  and  children  had  been  sacrificed 
by  a  band  of  piratical  invaders  of  the  domestic  hearth. 
He  replied  that  he  was  going  to  pass  within  a  few  miles 
of  her  once  peaceful  abode,  and  that  if  she  would  place 
herself  under  his  care,  he  would  conduct  her  with  safety 
to  her  home. 

Thanking  him  for  his  generosity,  she  felt  most  happy 
in  being  thus  protected.  In  a  few  days  after  she  was 
in  the  midst  of  former  friends.  But  how  changed  I  Her 
home  presented  a  mere  mass  of  charred  ruins.  The 
hand  of  friendship  had  entombed  the  dear  ones  of  her 
bosom,  for  whom  she  had  mourned  and  wept  while  held 
in  cruel  and  unrelenting  captivity. 

There  are  many  recorded  incidents  establishing  the 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS.  85 

the  patriotic  character  of  the  early  pioneers,  one  of 
which  relates  particularly  to  Col.  Harper,  of  Harpers- 
field.  When  McDonald,  a  tory  who  had  acquired  con- 
siderable celebrity  for  his  daring-  deeds  of  cruelt3%  was 
ravaging  the  Dutch  settlements  of  Schoharie,  with  his 
three  hundred  tories  and  Indian  allies.  Col.  Harper, 
alarmed  at  the  sacrifice  of  life  and  property,  approached 
Col.  Yrooman,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Fort,  and 
very  feelingly  said,  "  What  shall  be  done  ?"  To  which 
the  Dutch  colonel  replied,  "  0,  nothing  at  all  ;  we  be  so 
weak  we  cannot  do  an^^thing."  But  Col.  Harper  was 
not  the  man  to  sit  down  in  quietness,  and  calmly  fold 
his  arms  while  the  country  around  him  was  being  rav- 
aged and  made  desolate.  He  called  for  his  horse,  and 
passed  with  an  undaunted  spirit  and  firm  resolve 
through  the  scattered  forces  of  the  enemy,  and  bent  his 
course  for  xilbany,  where  he  hoped  to  secure  assistance 
to  free  his  country  of  the  rude  despoilers.  Reaching 
Fox's  Creek,  he  stopped  for  the  night  at  a  tory  tavern. 
After  partaking  of  a  hasty  meal,  he  called  for  a  room 
and  retired  to  rest.  Soon  after,  the  Colonel  was  aroused 
by  a  loud  rap  at  the  door.  "  What  is  wanted  ?"  said 
Harper,  as  he  rose  from  his  bed.  "  We  wish  to  see  Col. 
Harper,"  was  the  quick  reply.  The  Colonel  very  coolly 
unlocked  the  door,  and  then  seated  himself  on  his  bed, 
with  pistols  and  sword  by  his  side.  Presently  four 
men  entered  and  closed  the  door.  "  Step  one  inch  over 
that  mark,"  said  the  Colonel,  ''  and  you  are  dead  men." 
They  stopped  and  showed  evident  signs  of  uneasiness. 
Not  finding  him,  as  they  presumed,  ready  to  bend  the 
obsequious  knee,  and  tremble  like  Belshazzar  of  old, 
they  left  his  room.     Again  he  closed  and  bolted  the 


86  INTERESTING    INCIDENTS. 

door,  and  seating  himself  on  the  bed,  quietly  awaited 
the  approach  of  day. 

Just  as  the  sunbeams  began  to  illuminate  the  orient 
sky,  he  ordered  his  horse,  though  the  house  was  sur- 
rounded with  savages,  and  was  soon  on  his  way  for 
Albany.  A  swarthy  old  Indian  pursued  him  to  the  very 
outskirts  of  the  place.  As  often  as  the  red  skin  pressed 
too  closely  upon  Col.  Harper,  his  speed  was  immediately 
checked  by  the  appearance  of  an  ill-looking  pistol,  which 
was  aimed  at  his  breast. 

Arriving  at  Albany,  he  held  a  conference  with  Col. 
Gansevoort,  which  resulted  in  accordance  with  his 
wishes.  A  squadron  of  horse  was  placed  under  his 
direction.  They  immediately  set  out  for  Schoharie, 
reaching  there  quite  early  in  the  morning.  The  citizens 
were  not  aware  of  Col.  Harper's  movements,  and  were 
greatly  surprised,  on  hearing  the  yells  and  shrieks  of 
the  enemy,  to  behold  him  with  his  troops  making  terri- 
ble havoc  in  their  ranks.  A  very  patriotic  and  success- 
ful sally  was  made  from  the  fort,  and  the  consequences 
were  so  alarmingly  disastrous  to  the  enemy,  that  they 
made  a  hasty  retreat  from  the  country. 


CHAPTER    YJI. 

THE  REVOLUTION — ITS  EFFECTS  UPON  EMIGRATION — 
SETTLEMENTS — INCIDENTS — THE  THREE  POINTS  FROM 
WHICH  EMIGRANTS   PENETRATED    CENTRAL  NEW  YORK. 

"I'll  note  'em  in  my  book  of  memory." 

The  Revolutionary  curtain  first  rose  upon  the  memo- 
rable soil  of  Lexington,  and  fell,  in  the  closing*  scene  of 
that  eventful  struggle  for  freedom  in  which  the  infant 
colonies  were  engaged,  on  the  blood-drenched  plains  of 
Yorktown.  Great  Britain,  in  her  endeavors  to  maintain 
and  extend  her  supremacy  over  the  primitive  soil  of  the 
New  World,  was  waging  a  war  of  oppression  against 
the  freemen  of  America,  who  were  kindling  fires  that 
were  to  light  them  as  they  hewed  their  way  through 
the  embattled  forces  of  his  royal  highness  King  George 
III.  The  Revolutionary  war  was  emphatically  a  strug- 
gle between  liberty  and  oppression.  On  the  east  side 
of  the  broad  waters  that  separated  the  two-  continents, 
sat  the  crowned  monarch,  arrayed  in  royal  splendor, 
devising  plans  for  the  subjugation  or  annihilation  of 
the  chivalrous  spirits  who  were  endeavoring  to  shake 
off  the  chains  and  manacles  of  the  oppressor.     The  col- 


88  SETTLEMENTS. 

onists  warred  for  their  liberties,  their  rights,  and  free 
institutions  ;  and  while  the  hostile  banners  of  victorious 
generals  were  approaching  the  surf-beaten  shore  of  "this 
land  of  the  oppressed,"  and  foreign  armies  were  seen 
marching  upon  Columbia's  soil,  they  were  rallying  to 
the  field  of  slaughter  with  gleaming  swords  and  glis- 
tening bayonets,  ready  to  strike  for  liberty  in  freedom's 
holy  cause.  During  this  struggle,  a  period  extending 
from  1*1*15  to  1783,  the  spirit  of  emigration  was  greatly 
impeded.  But  after  the  stormy  cloud  of  war  had  passed 
awa^s  and  the  tempest  of  revolution  had  ceased  to  give 
alarm  or  threaten  with  danger,  and  when  the  contending 
elements  were  no  longer  agitated,  and  the  incendiar3!''s 
torch,  which  not  unfrequently  was  applied  by  marauding 
parties  to  the  cottagers'  homes,  had  been  extinguished, 
the  sturdy  and  industrious  pioneers  again  began  to 
penetrate  beyond  the  confines  civilization. 

John  Doolittle,  originally  from  Connecticut,  was  the 
first  explorer  of  the  Oquago  valley,  having  made  a  per- 
manent settlement  near  the  present  valley  of  Windsor, 
early  in  1785.  At  this  time  the  Indians  were  living 
near  the  spot  where  he  erected  his  cabin. 

During  the  same  year  James  M'Master,  made  a  loca- 
tion on  the  rich  flats  which  border  the  classic  Susque- 
hanna, and  the  little  hamlet  which  soon  after  sprung  up 
as  if  by  magic  influence,  has  finally  become  the  beautiful 
and  enterprising  village  of  Owego. 

Capt.  Joseph  Leonard  was  the  pioneer  of  Broome 
valley,  having  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Binghamton  in 
1787. 

In  1789,  Peter  Hinepaw,  Jacob  Yaple,  and  Isaac  Du- 
mond  located  on  the  Ithaca  Flats.    They  were  employed 


SETTLEMENTS.  39 

nineteen  days  in  transporting  their  goods  from  Owego, 
a  distance  of  twenty-nine  miles. 

Col.  John  Hendy  was  the  pioneer  at  Elmira.  He 
erected  the  first  log  cabin  in  1788,  having  previously 
made  a  location  at  Tioga  Point.  His  daughter,  Rebecca, 
who  subsequently  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Gulp,  was  the 
first  white  child  that  ever  sat  on  the  banks  of  the  Che- 
mung river.  A  few  years  since  we  shook  the  withered 
and  fleshless  hand  of  the  old  lady,  then  trembling  on 
the  verge  of  four  score  years.  She  was  a  woman  of 
remarkable  mind  and  memory.  But  she  has  passed  the 
portals  of  death,  and  her  sainted  spirit  is  at  rest.  Col. 
Hendy  was  a  veteran  soldier  of  the  Eevolution,  and 
became  acquainted  with  the  soil  upon  which  he  located 
while  serving  under  Gen.  Sullivan  in  his  successful 
campaign  against  the  Indians.  He  possessed  great 
moral  courage  as  well  as  physical  strength.  In  his 
conflicts  with  the  Indians,  he  proved  a  more  than  equal 
opponent,  not  only  in  originating  schemes  of  artifice, 
but  in  carrying  his  plans  into  successful  operation. 
And  here  permit  us  to  relate  a  single  incident. 

An  Indian  who  had  oflered  an  unpardonable  insult  to 
Mrs.  Hendy,  had  been  turned  from  the  Colonel's  house, 
with  orders  never  to  cross  his  path  under  the  most 
severe  penalties.  A  few  weeks  after,  however,  the  old 
offender,  thirsting  for  revenge  upon  his  more  worthy 
rival  in  all  the  general  characteristics  that  constitute . 
the  man  of  moral  and  intellectual  worth,  had  taken  a 
secret  position  by  the  side  of  an  Indian  trail  which  ran 
nearly  parallel  with  one  of  the  little  tributaries  of  the 
Chemung,  and  along  which  he  expected  Mr.  Hendy 
would  pass  at  a  certain  hour  of  the  day.  Reaching  the 
5* 


90  SETTLEMENTS. 

secluded  spot  where  his  foe  was  crouched  by  the  side 
of  a  huge  old  oak,  he  was  suddenly  surprised  by  the 
swarthy  savage,  who  was  making  rapid  strides  towards 
him,  brandishing  his  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife,  and 
uttering  the  most  hideous  yells.  Col.  Hendy  was  un- 
armed, having  nothing  with  which  to  defend  himself 
save  a  walking  cane,  which  was  immediately  hurled 
with  great  force  at  the  Indian,  and  which,  quite  unex- 
pectedly to  his  copper-colored  highness,  made  a  most 
lasting  impression  on  a  very  prominent  organ  of  his 
face,  from  which  the  blood  spirted  as  he  measured  his 
length  upon  the  ground.  In  an  instant  Col.  Hendy  was 
by  the  side  of  his,  for  the  moment,  powerless  assailant, 
and  having  seized  his  weapons,  bade  him  in  the  most  au- 
thoritative tone  to  lie  still.  But  the  savage  determined 
on  one  more  effort  to  disarm  and  subdue  his  rival  con- 
queror. Quick  as  thought  he  sprang  to  his  feet  and 
grappled  the  Colonel,  but  was  again  brought  in  contact 
with  the  ground,  and  securely  bound,  certainly  to  his 
great  displeasure.  AVith  his  hands  pinioned  behind  him, 
he  was  marched  off  to  an  Indian  settlement  and  deliv- 
ered to  the  Sachem  of  the  tribe  to  which  he  belonged, 
and  from  which,  after  being  appropriately  dealt  with, 
he  was  banished  from  the  country.     But  to  return. 

Hon.  Hugh  White  made  the  first  location  at  Whites- 
town,  within  four  miles  of  Utica,  in  1784.  Mr.  White 
was  one  of  the  joint  proprietors  of  the  Sadquada  Patent. 
The  surrounding  country  was  then  a  perfect  wilderness, 
he  having  been  the  first  pioneer  who  had  ventured  to 
trespass  in  that  quarter  beyond  the  footprints  of  civil- 
ization. 

Ephraim  Webster,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  was 


SETTLEMENTS. 


91 


the  first  white  settler  in  Onondaga  county.  He  located 
in  Its 6,  and  soon  after  was  married  to  an  Indian  lady. 

In  1793,  Col.  John  L.  Hardenburgh  erected  a  log 
cabin  on  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Auburn,  and  up 
to  1800  the  place  was  known  by  the  name  of  Harden- 
burgh's  Corners. 

In  1789,  a  ferry  across  Cayuga  lake  was  established 
by  James  Bennet  and  John  Harris. 

The  Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase  of  2,600,000  acres 
of  land  for  the  sum  of  $100,000  was  made  in  1787.  The 
next  year,  Mr.  Phelps  left  his  home  in  Massachusetts 
for  the  purpose  of  exploring  this  hitherto  unexplored 
region.*  On  taking  leave  of  his  family  and  friends, 
they  were  found  unable  to  suppress  their  sobs  and  tears, 
for  they  had  but  little  expectation  of  meeting  him 
again.  The  vast  wilderness  comprised  in  this  Patent 
was  infested  with  various  Indian  tribes,  whose  war  tri- 
umphs had  signalized  them  for  deeds  of  cruelty  and 
blood.  At  or  near  the  present  village  of  Canandaigua, 
he  convened  the  Sachems  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  for  a 
nominal  sum  extinguished  their  title  to  his  land.  The 
territory  embraced  in  this  purchase  comprised  the  coun- 
ties of  Ontario,  Yates,  Steuben,  Genesee,  Alleghany,  Ni- 
agara, Chatauque,  Monroe,  Livingston,  Erie,  the  western 
half  of  Wayne,  and  a  portion  of  Orleans. 

In  1789  Canandaigua  received  its  first  white  inhabi- 
tant, Mr.  Phelps  having  erected  a  small  log  building,  in 
which  he  opened  a  land  office, — the  first  of  the  kind  in 
America. 

"  Mr.  Phelps  may  be  considered  the    Cecrojys  of  the 

«'■  General  Sullivan  and  his  army  had  passed  through  a  portion  of 
this  tract  in  1770,  and  gave  glowing  accounts  of  its  fertility. 


9a  SETTLEMENTS. 

Genesee  country.  Its  inhabitants  owe  a  mausoleum 
to  his  memory,  in  gratitude  for  his  having  pioneered  for 
them  the  wilderness  of  this  Canaan  of  the  West." 

Kanadesaga  (now  Geneva)  was  first  settled  in  1787. 
In  1798  the  State  Eoad,  leading  from  Utica  by  way  of 
Cayuga  Ferry  and  Canandaigua  to  the  Genesee  River 
at  Avon,  was  completed.  The  first  stage  coach  passed 
over  this  road  in  1779,  reaching  Avon  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  third  day.  After  the  completion  of  this  road, 
Geneva  improved  more  rapidly.  Still  another  great  im- 
pulse favoring  western  emigration,  is  attributable  to  the 
construction  of  the  Ithaca  and  Owego,  and  Ithaca  and 
Geneva  turnpikes,  the  former  of  which  was  completed 
in  1808,  and  the  latter  in  1811. 

In  1799  and  1800,  the  Cayuga  Bridge  was  built  by 
the  Manhattan  company,  at  an  expense  of  $150,000. 
Five  years  previous  to  the  undertaking  of  this  laudable 
enterprise,  the  surrounding  country  was  a  gloomy  for- 
est, inhabited  only  by  Indians.  The  present  bridge 
was  constructed  at  an  outlay  of  about  $15,000. 

In  1797.  Albany  was  made  the  Capital  of  the  State, 
and  in  1809-10  the  public  buildings  were  erected  ;  the 
State  House  was  first  used  by  the  legislature  in  1811. 

In  1792  Capt.  Williamson,  the  great  land  Mogul  of 
his  day,  settled  at  Bath.  In  1794  he  accepted  the 
agency  of  the  Pultney  estate,  and  soon  after  erected 
the  Geneva  Hotel. 

Rochester  received  its  first  white  inhabitant  in  1808. 
The  Wadsworths  located  at  Big  Tree  in  1790.  This  fa- 
mous council  tree  is  still  standing  near  Geneseo. 

The  Holland  Land  Company  purchased  their  immense 
tract  of  Land  west  of  the  Genesee  in  1792. 


SETTLEMENTS.  Va 

Thomas  Gallop  was  the  first  permanent  settler  at 
Chenango  Forks.     He  located  in  1786. 

Lisle  was  settled  in  1790.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Lampeer 
located  seven  miles  up  the  Tioughnioga  River. 

The  previous  year  (1791)  Amos  Todd  and  Joseph 
Beebe  planted  the  standard  of  civilization  within  the 
rugged  confines  of  Cortland  county. 

Thus  having  hastily  glanced  at  the  various  early  set- 
tlements, we  are  fully  prepared  to  reassert  the  fact 
previously  referred  to,  that  after  the  bloody  tide  of  rev- 
olution had  rolled  away,  and  the  national  elements  of 
the  opposing  forces  had  subsided,  giving  peace  to  the 
hitherto  oppressed  colonies,  emigration  increased  more 
rapidly,  and  settlements  became  more  permanent.  It 
will  also  be  most  readily  perceived,  that  the  pioneers 
penetrated  central  and  western  New  York  from  three 
quarters.  "  Pennsylvanians,  and  particularly  inhabi- 
tants of  the  region  of  Wyoming,  pushed  up  the  Susque- 
hanna to  Tioga  point,  whence  diverging,  some  made  set- 
tlements along  the  Chemung  and  Canisteo,  while  others 
established  themselves  on  the  east  branch  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna and  its  tributaries.  Adventurers  from  the 
easjt,  crossing  from  New  England  or  the  Hudson  River 
counties  to  Unadilla,  dropped  down  the  river  in  canoes 
and  settled  along  the  Susquehanna  or  Chemung,  or  trav- 
eled into  the  upper  Genesee.  Yet  another  band  took 
the  ancient  road  through  the  Mohawk  valley  to  Oneida 
lake,  then  on  to  Canadesaga,"  and  gradually  dispersed 
over  the  Genesee  country.  No  settlement  was,  however, 
made  at  Buffalo  until  1800. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

ORGANIZATION   OF   CORTLAND   COUNTY. 

'*  The  eye  explores  the  feats  of  other  days." 

It  is  a  duty  which  we  of  the  present  generation  owe 
to  the  memory  of  the  pioneers  of  civilization  in  the 
region  of  country  where  we  dwell,  to  gather  up  with 
care  whatever  records  of  the  times  there  are  left,  and, 
studying  them  well,  transmit  them  in  the  most  enduring 
form  to  succeeding  ages. 

In  taking  a  retrospective  view  of  the  past  history  of 
our  country,  we  observe  the  mighty  changes  which 
have  taken  place  since  the  territory  of  the  United  States 
was  an  unbroken  forest,  inhabited  only  by  the  rude 
aboriginals,  who  have  slowly  but  surely  yielded  to  the 
progressive  march  of  the  Europeans,  whose  advent  into 
this  western  world  "  was  their  misfortune." 

The  native  lords  of  the  wilderness  have  disappeared. 
Their  generations  sleep  in  our  cultivated  fields  ;  our 
harvests  wave  upon  their  hills,  and  nod  like  ancient 
plumes  in  their  luxuriant  valleys  ;  we  have  robbed  them 
of  their  homes  and  their  hunting-grounds,  and  despoiled 
them  of  their  ancient  greatness — their  former  glory. 

Nor  have  we  stopped  here  ;  in  numerous  instances, 
the  venerated  names  of  antiquity  have  been  chosen  to 


ORGANIZATION    OF   CORTLAND   COUNTY.  95 

take  the  place  of  the  more  expressive  titles  by  which 
they  knew  hill  and  valley,  lake  and  stream  ;  and  which, 
in  most  respects,  are    certainly  less   euphonious,   and 
wanting  in  agreeable  taste.     How  illy  do  the  appella- 
tions of  Spring   Mills,  Harloe's    Corners,  Middletown, 
Port   Royal,  Geneva,    Rochester,   Detroit,    and   Sleepy 
Hollow,  compare  with   the   sweet,  musical,   and   ever- 
classic  names  of  Unadilla,   Wyalusing,   Susquehanna, 
Cayuga,  Tuscarora,  or  Canisteo  ?      We   are   far  from 
favoring  the  custom  which  has  so  eagerly  sought  out 
and  applied  to  our  cities  and  smaller  towns  the  names 
of  heroes,  novelists,   and  poets.     What  knew  Homer, 
Virgil,  Scott,  or  Solon,  about  the  trials,  sufferings,  and 
toilsome  pursuits  of  the  progressive  spirits  of  go-ahead 
pioneers  ?      It  may  be  questionable    as  to  their  ever 
having   seen   a   stump,  raft,  or  side-hill   plow  I     They 
dreamed  mostly  of  castles  of  ivory  and  columns  of  glass. 
Hector,  Hannibal,  and  the   Grecian  conqueror,  thought 
but  of  crowns,  sceptres,  helmets,  and  glittering  plumes. 
The  idea  of  borrowing  names  from  the  ancient  republics, 
merely  on  account  of  their  bearing  a  classical  charac- 
ter, is  a  most  perfect  absurdity.    If  republican  freemen 
cherish  the  habits  and  customs  of  former  ages,  why  not 
reverence  with  peculiar  devotion   the    ancient  Indian 
custom  of  arraying  themselves   in  fantastic  costumes, 
and  dancing  a  grand  war-dance   around  a  stump,  in  a 
manner  at  once  ludicrous,  and  which  would  naturally 
lead  the  uninitiated  spectator  to  doubt  the  sanity  of  the 
grandiloquent  centre  of  attraction  ?     True,  we  would 
not  desire  to  see  the  American  people  achieving  laurels 
by  the  tomahawk,  scalping  knife,  or  deadly  arrow.    Wo 
certainly  may  with  perfect  safety  banish  from  among  us 


96  ORGANIZATION    OF   CORTLAND   COUNTY. 

their  ancient  relics  ;  yet,  regarding  them  as  the  origi- 
nal proprietors  of  this  western  continent,  we  think  it 
highly  proper  to  preserve  the  more  elegant  appellations 
of  the  Indians,  and  would  certainly  "  approve  the  taste 
that  would  restore  the  aboriginal  names  of  places,"  in 
all  cases  consistent  with  association,  and  which  would 
favorably  characterize  the  ancestry  of  the  red  men  of 
America. 

Scarce  seventy  years  have  passed  away  since  the 
territory  embraced  within  the  boundary  of  Cortland 
county  was  only  traversed  by  the  rude  Indian  hunters — 
warriors  of  proud  and  lofty  bearing — chieftains  who 
were  quietly  borne  upon  the  bosom  of  the  limpid  waters 
of  the  Tioughnioga,  and  with  far  more  pleasurable 
emotions  than  were  the  Goths  or  Vandals,  in  their  mem- 
orable passage  down  the  Hellespont.  Nearly  seventy 
years  have  passed  away  since  the  aboriginal  lords  of 
the  wilderness — the  Romans  of  the  West — here  pursued 
with  stealthy  step  and  faithful  quiver,  the  panther,  the 
wolf,  and  the  bear,  as  they  ranged  o'er 

"■  Eocky  dens  and  wooded  glens.'' 

Then  they  cautiously  trapped  the  moose,  the  otter,  the 
fox,  the  catamount,  and  the  lynx  ;  and  the  rapacious 
French  and  English  traders  received  their  pelts  and 
furs  in  exchange  for  powder,  lead,  tomahawks,  scalp- 
ing knives  and  blankets,  with  an  occasional  supply  of 
very  poor  rum.  Nearly  seventy  years  have  rolled  away 
since  the  first  echo  of  the  axe  of  civilization  was  heard 
in  Cortland  valley,  or  the  Yankee  rifle  laid  open  the 
skull  of  old  Grizzler,  as  he  sat  crouched  behind  his  rocky 
rampart  in  the   gloomy  mountain   gorge,  grinning  a 


OEGANIZATION   OF   CORTLAND   COUNTY.  97 

look  of  defiance  at  his  unwelcome  intruder.  Nearly 
seventy  years  have  passed  away  since  the  footprints  of 
civilization  first  appeared  in  the  Tioughnioga  valley. 
Nearly  seventy  years  have  winged  their  rapid  flight 
since,  in  this  wild  of  forest  trees, 

**  Art  built  her  dome  la  Nature's  silent  bowers, 
And  peace  and  gladness  crowned  the  pilgrim's  hours." 

The  long,  deep  silence  which  had  for  ages  pervaded 
these  luxuriant  valleys  and  rugged  hills  was  at  length 
broken,  for  the  "  woodman's  axe"  was  making  war  with 
the  stern  old  monarchs  o'er  whom  for  centuries  the 
thunders  had  rolled  and  the  lightnings  wheeled  in  awful 
grandeur.  For  ages  back,  the  wild  men  had  wandered 
o'er  them  in  the  pursuit  of  forest  game,  or  as  they  de- 
filed along  upon  the  war  path.  Battles  waged  for  power 
and  conquest  within  the  borders  of  our  county,  are 
neither  recorded  upon  the  historic  page,  nor  treasured 
up  in  our  county  archives.  There  are,  however,  some 
interesting  traditionary  relics  preserved  among  the 
aged  chieftains  of  the  Leni-Iienape  tribe,  which,  though 
not  conclusive  evidence  of  fact,  yet  they  measurably 
establish  the  probability  of  there  having  been,  during 
the  Sixteenth  century,  wars  of  the  most  cruel  and  unre- 
lenting character  waged  in  our  valley.  We  have  seen 
many  curiously-wrought  implements  of  Indian  warfare, 
now  in  preservation,  which  have  from  time  to  time  been 
turned  up  by  the  plough  of  the  progressive  agricultur- 
ist. We  have  seen  spear  heads,  chisels,  pestles,  ar- 
row points,  and  pipes  of  great  antiquity — leaden  crosses 
of  Maltese  shape,  referring  to  the  missions  of  the  Jes- 
uits— beads,  necklaces,  and  rings,  of  very  ancient  origin 


98  ORGANIZATION    OF    CORTLAND    COUNTY. 

— the  section  of  a  circle,  perforated  near  the  rim,  with 
very  small  holes, — and  last,  though  not  least,  of  ingen- 
ious construction,  is  a  bone  charger,  in  perfect  preserv- 
ation, and  the  same  as  was  used  by  the  Senecas  at  the 
tragical  conflict  in  168t,with  Marquis  De  Nonville,  in 
the  Genesee  valley. 

As  we  can  neither  give  record  to  the  bloody  acts  of 
crowned  heads  begirt  with  royal  gems, -or  describe  in 
glowing  colors  enormous  battlements  from  which 
emerged  warriors  clad  in  iron  mail,  with  bristling  bay- 
onets and  brazen  armor,  as  they  met  some  formidable 
foe  ready  to  contest  the  right  of  soil  on  which  they 
walked,  we  shall  have  to  content  ourselves  with  record- 
ing events  of  an  entirely  dissimilar  character.  True, 
the  swarthy  savages  were  occasionally  seen  ascending 
the  Tioughnioga,  or  trailing  along  the  war-path,  with  a 
frightful-looking  lot  of  scalps,  fresh  from  the  brows  of 
the  "  pale  faces,"  dangling  at  their  belts. 

The  history  of  Cortland  county  is  therefore  of  a 
pacific  character.  It  was  the  remark  of  a  celebrated 
author,  that  ''  that  country  is  the  happiest  which  fur- 
nishes the  fewest  materials  for  history."  Assuming  the 
truth  of  this  position,  we  shall  be  led  to  believe  that  a 
cultivation  of  the  arts  of  peace  are  certainly  more  con- 
ducive to  happiness,  than  a  recurrence  to  the  arbitrary 
acts  and  influences  of  war. 

Tryon  county,  as  we  have  already  remarked,  was  or- 
ganized in  1772. 

In  1784,  Tryon  was  changed  to  Montgomery,  in  order 
to  gratify  the  many  patriotic  citizens  who  were  thor- 
oughly opposed  to  longer  retaining  the  name  of  a  tory 
governor. 


OEGANIZATION    OF    CORTLAND    COUNTY.  99 

The  territory  at  this  time  embraced  within  its  boun- 
daries the  five  districts  known  by  the  names  of  Mohawk, 
Canajoharie,  Palatine,  German  Flats,  and  Kingsland. 

Herkimer  county  was  organised  from  territory  taken 
from  Montgomery,  in  1T91. 

Onondaga  county  was  organized  in  1*194.  It  was  taken 
from  the  western  part  of  Herkimer,  and  embraced  within 
its  limits  that  portion  of  the  Military  Tract,  which  at 
present  comprises  the  counties  of  Seneca,  Cayuga,  Cort- 
land, and  Onondaga,  with  portions  of  Tompkins  and 
Oswego. 

Cayuga  was  organized  from  Onondaga  in  1799. 

Seneca  "  "  Cayuga  in  1804. 

Cortland      "  "  Onondaga  in  1808. 

Oswego        "  "  Oneida  and  Onondaga  in  1816. 

Tompkins    "  "  Cayuga  and  Seneca  in  1817. 

Wayne         "  "  Ontario  and  Seneca  in  1823. 

The  principal  causes  which  led  to  the  organization  of 
Cortland  county,  will  be  found  in  the  following  inter- 
esting document, — the  original  petition  for  its  erection, 
— and  which  we  procured  through  the  politeness  of  Hon. 
G.  W.  Bradford,  from  the  archives  of  our  State. 

The  petition  was  originally  written  in  an  easy  and 
graceful  hand,  and  in  almost  ever}'-  instance  the  signa- 
tures were  the  autographs  of  the  signers. 

To  the  Honorable  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  Senate 
and  Assembly  convened.:  The  Petition  of  the  subscribers,  inhabi- 
tants of  the  towns  of  Fabius,  Tully,  Solon,  Homer,  Virgil,  and 
Cincinnatus,  humbly  sheweth  : — 

That  the  county  of  Onondaga  is  ninety-six  miles  in 
length,  and  at  an  average  breadth  about  twenty-five 


100  ORGANIZATION    OF   CORTLAND   COUNTY. 

miles  ;  that  from  the  extreme  of  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  said  county  to  the  court-house  is  sixty  miles, — 
which  operates  greatly  to  the  inconvenience  of  many  of 
3'-our  petitioners  in  giving  their  attendance  at  court. 
That  the  population  of  said  county  is  now  very  great, 
and  is  daily  increasing,  which  renders  it  impossible  for 
our  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  to  transact  with  due  expediency  the  legal  busi- 
ness of  said  county;  whereby  the  suitors  of  the  said 
courts  experience  great  delay  of  justice,  which,  in  the 
opinion  of  your  petitioners,  is  equivalent  to  a  denial  of 
justice.  That  your  petitioners  humbly  conceive  that  a 
division  of  the  said  county  will  be  of  signal  advantage  to 
the  inhabitants  of  the  said  towns  of  Solon,  Fabius,  Tully, 
Homer,  Virgil,  and  Cincinnatus,  and  also  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  northern  part  of  the  said  county. 

Your  Petitioners,  therefore,  humbly  pray  that  the  be- 
fore-mentioned towns  be  erected  into  a  new  county  by 
the  name  of  Courtlandt,  and  that  there  be  three  Courts 
of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace 
held  in  the  said  county  as  follows,  viz  :  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  April,  and  the  first  Tuesday  of  September 
and  December,  in  every  year,  after  the  due  organization 
of  the  said  county. 

And  your  Petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  will  ever  pray. 

Appended  to  the  petition  were  the  names  of  seven 
hundred  and  forty-seven  of  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  the  [then]  southern  portion  of  Onondaga  county,  who 
were  desirous  of  securing  a  division  of  the  same. 

The  petition  was,  on  the  4th  day  of  February  follow- 
ing, introduced  into  the  Senate  by  Hon.  John  Ballard,  a 


ORGANIZATION    OF   COETLAND    COUNTY.  lOl 

member  from  the  westero  district,  then  a  resident  of  the 
town  of  Homer,  and  was  referred  to  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Mr.  Ballard,  Mr.  Buel,  and  Mr.  Yates. 

The  next  day,  (Feb.  5th,)  Mr.  Ballard  reported  in  fa- 
vor of  the  petitioners,  and  presented  a  bill  to  that  effect, 
which  was  read  the  first  and  second  time,  and  referred 
to  a  Committee  of  the  Whole. 

It  was  again  called  up  in  Committee  of  the  Whole  on 
the  8th,  and  ordered  to  be  engrossed. 

On  the  10th  it  was  read  the  third  time,  and  passed  ; 
and  on  the  same  day  was  sent  to  the  Assembly  and 
read  the  first  time,  and  referred  to  the  Committee  of 
the  Whole. 

Several  of  the  northern  towns  of  Onondaga  remon- 
strated against  the  measure.  The  spirit  of  opposition 
was  cherished  and  cultivated  with  the  most  assiduous 
care.  Disunion  was  a  monster  of  hideous  form.  He 
was  a  creator  of  discord,  and  aimed  at  dividing  mem- 
bers of  the  social  compact.  He  was  apolitical  tyrant, — 
an  admirer  of  crowns,  sceptres  and  chains. 

But  remonstrances,  in  all  their  multifarious  forms, 
could  not  save  the  county  from  being  divided.  Even 
the  eloquence  and  profound  logic  of  the  gifted  member, 
the  Hon.  Joshua  Forman,  failed  to  prevent  its  dismem- 
berment. The  bill  finally  passed  the  Assembly,  and  be- 
came a  law  on  the  8th  day  of  April,  1808. 

We  select  such  portions  of  the  act  as  will  be  of  in- 
terest to  the  general  reader  : — 


102  ORGANIZATION    OF    CORTLAND    COUNTY. 

An  Act  to  Divide  the  County  of  Onondaga,  passed 
April  8,  1808. 

1.  Be  it  enacted  hy  the  xjeople  of  the  State  of  New 
YorJc^  represe7ited  in  Senate  and  Assembly,  That  all  that 
part  of  the  county  of  Onondaga,  to  wit :  Beginning  at 
the  south  corner  of  the  town  of  Cincinnatus,  and  thence 
running  north  along  the  east  line  of  the  towns  of  Cin- 
cinnatus, Solon  and  Fabius,  to  the  north-east  corner  of 
lot  No.  60,  in  said  town  of  Fabius,  thence  running  west 
along  the  north  line  of  that  tier  of  lots  through  the 
towns  of  Fabius  and  Tullj^  to  the  north-west  corner  of 
lot  No.  51  in  said  town  of  TuUy  ;  thence  south  along 
the  east  line  of  the  county  of  Cayuga,  to  the  south-east 
corner  of  the  towns  of  Virgil  and  Cincinnatus  to  the 
place  of  beginning,  shall  be  one  separate  and  distinct 
county,  and  shall  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of 
Cortland. 

2.  And  he  it  further  enacted^  That  the  Courts  in  and 
for  the  said  county,  shall  be  held  at  the  school-house 
on  lot  No.  45,  in  the  town  of  Homer. 

3.  And  he  it  further  enacted^  That  all  that  part  of 
the  town  of  Fabius,  situated  in  the  county  of  Cortland, 
shall  be  called  Truxton  ;  and  all  that  part  of  the  town 
of  Tully,  in  said  county  of  Cortland,  shall  be  called 
Preble. 

Additional  sections  provide  that  Cortland  shall  have 
one  member  of  Assembly,  and  that  it  shall  form  part  of 
the  Western  Senatorial  District,  and  part  of  the  Thir- 
teenth Congressional  District. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

MILITARY   TRACT. 

"  It  was  a  gloomy  wild  where  Indian  warriors  trod, 
Where  savage  minds  in  solitude  looked  up  to  Nature's  God." 

Cortland  county  was  named  in  honor  of  General 
Peter  Van  Cortlandt,  a  gentleman  who  was  extensively 
engaged  in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  land.  It  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Onondaga  county  ;  east  by  Madison 
and  Chenango  ;  south  by  Broome  and  Tioga  ;  and 
west  by  Tompkins  and  Cayuga. 

Its  area  is  a  fraction  over  500  square  miles,  and  con- 
tains about  820,000  acres,  forming  a  portion  of  the  high 
"  central  section  of  the  State."  Its  northern  boundary 
lies  on  the  dividing  ridge  which  separates  the  waters 
flowing  into  Lake  Ontario  and  the  tributaries  of  the 
Susquehanna  river.  The  surface  of  this  county  is  much 
diversified,  and  may  be  appropriately  divided  into  rich 
valleys  and  fertile  hills. 

The  territory  comprised  within  the  boundaries  of 
Cortland  county,  is  composed  of  four  whole  and  two 
half  townships  of  the  Military  Tract,  or  lands  granted 
by  the  State  of  New  York  to  the  soldiers  of  the  revo- 
lution. 

The   bloody  enormities    and   cruel  massacres  perpe- 


104  MILITARY   TRACT. 

trated  along  the  frontier  of  New  York,  by  the  tories 
and  Indian  allies,  during  the  stormy  period  of  our  coun- 
try's history,  and  more  particularly,  of  the  years  17 1 9 
and  1780,  and  the  neglect  of  several  other  States  to  fur- 
nish their  proportion  of  troops  for  the  protection  of  the 
lives  and  property  of  the  people,  caused  the  legislature 
of  1781  to  enact  a  law  requiring  the  enlistment  of  "  two 
regiments  for  the  defence  of  the  frontier  of  New  York." 
All  necessary  expenses  incurred  were  to  be  canceled 
by  the  United  States,  and  the  troops  were  to  be  em- 
ployed in  the  actual  service  of  the  country  for  the  *'  term 
of  three  years,  unless  sooner  discharged."  The  faith  of 
the  State  was  held  in  pledge  for  the  positive  payment 
for  such  services.  "  The  council  of  appointment^of  the 
State  of  New  York  was  to  commission  the  field-officers, 
and  the  Governor  of  the  State,  the  captains  and  sub- 
alterns." 

The  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  were  each 
to  receive  in  land,  as  soon  as  surveyed  by  the  Surveyor 
General,  600  acres, 

Major  General,  5,500      " 

Brigadier  General,  4,500      " 

Colonel,  2,500      " 

Lieut,  Colonel,  2,000      " 

Major,  2,000      " 

Captain,  1,500      *' 

Regimental  Surgeon,  1,500      " 

Chaplain,  2,000      " 

Subaltern,  1,000      " 

Surgeon's  Mate,  1.000      " 

The  act  above  referred  to  contained  a  clause  making 


•  MILITARY   TRACT.  105 

an  absolute  settlement  "  on  these  lands"  within  three 
years  from  the  close  of  the  war  necessary,  otherwise 
they  were  forfeited,  and  reverted  back  to  the  State. 

The  United  States  Congress  also  granted  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  to  each  of  these  soldiers  as  an  addi- 
tional compensation  for  their  valuable  services  in  their 
country's  defence.  OfiScers  of  the  different  grades  re- 
ceived larger  amounts,  according  to  their  commission  or 
rank. 

Major  General,  1,000  acres 

Brigadier  General,  900      " 

Colonel,  500       " 

Lieut.  Colonel,  450      " 

Major,  400      '' 

Captain,  300       " 

Lieutenant,  200      " 

Ensign,  150      " 

The  land  granted,  or  set  apart,  for  the  payment  of 
revolutionary  claims  in  accordance  with  the  act  of 
Congress,  was  located  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  Arrange- 
ments were  however  made  which  enabled  the  soldier  to 
draw  his  whole  quota  of  600  acres  in  one  body  in  New 
York,  on  condition  of  his  having  first  legally  relin- 
quished his  claim  to  the  100  acres  in  Ohio  ;  but  if  he 
neglected,  or  otherwise  felt  inclined,  the  sixth  part, 
which  his  patent  called  for,  reverted  to  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  hence  originated  the  term  of  "  State's 
Hundred."  If  notice  was  given,  $8  was  taxed  the  pa- 
tentee as  a  fee  for  surveying,  and  in  case  of  failure  in 
paying  that  amount,  fifty  acres  reverted  to  the  State, 
and  hence  again  arose  the  term  of  '*  Survey  Fifty." 
Commissioners  were  appointed  in  1784  to  grant  bounty 
6 


106 


ALILITARY    TRACT. 


land,  "  and  settle  individual  claims."  They  consisted  of 
the  Governor  and  Lieutenant  Governor,  Speaker  of  As- 
sembly, Secretary  of  State,  Attorney  General,  Treasurer 
and  Auditor. 

The  Military  Tract  was  especially  'set  apart  by  the 
legislature  of  1182,  as  bounty  lands  to  be  given  to  the 
soldiers  of  the  revolution.  The  tract  contained  1,680- 
000  acres,  and  embraced  within  its  boundaries  the  coun- 
ties of  Onondaga,  Cortland,  Cayuga,  Tompkins  and 
Seneca,  with  parts  of  Oswego  and  Wayne. 

The  Indian  title  was  extinguished  by  Treaty  of  Fort 
Stanwix,  Sept.  12th,  1788. 

The  tract  was  surveyed  by  act  of  Legislature  of  1189 
into  twenty-six  townships  of  one  square  mile,  and  each 
to  contain  one  hundred  lots  of  600  acres.  General 
Simeon  Dewitt,  assisted  by  Moses  Dewitt  and  Abram 
Hardenburgh,  "laid  out  the  whole  tract,"  the  former 
"  plotting,  and  mapping"  the  boundaries,  and  calculating 
its  area." 

We  annex  a  table  of  the  townships  as  originally 
named,  though  previously  known  only  by  the  number. 


TOWNSHIPS. 

fo.    1.  Lysander.         Nc 

.10.  Pompey. 

No.  19. 

Homer. 

"     2.  Hannibal. 

'    11.  Eomulus. 

"    20. 

Solon. 

"     3.  Cato. 

12.  Scipio. 

"   21. 

Hector. 

"     4.  Brutus.                ♦ 

13.  Sempronius. 

"    22. 

Ulysses. 

"     5.  Camillus. 

14.  Tully. 

"    23. 

Dryden. 

"     6.  Cicero. 

15.  Fabius. 

"    24. 

Virgil. 

"     7.  Manlius.              ' 

16.  Ovid. 

"    25. 

Cincinnatus 

"      8.  Aurelius. 

17.  Milton. 

"    26. 

Junius. 

"     9.  Marcellus. 

'   18.  Locke. 

In  1*191,   the   commissioners    decided  by  ballot  who 


MILITARY    TEACT.  107 

were  the  claimants  to  these  bounty  lands.  ''  Ninety- 
four  persons  drew  lots  in  each  township."  One  lot  was 
especial^  set  apart  for  the  promotion  of  literature,  and 
another  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  and  common 
schools.  There  still  remained  four  lots  in  each  town- 
ship to  be  disposed  of.  These  were  appropriated  to  the 
benefit  of  certain  officers,  and  to  such  as  had  drawn 
lots  which  were  measurably  covered  with  water. 

In  1792  township  number  twenty-seven  was  surveyed 
and  known  by  the  name  of  Galen.  This  grant  was 
made,  in  accordance  with  law,  to  the  Hospital  depart- 
ment. 

In  1796  it  was  found  that  there  were  yet  many  un- 
satisfied claims  for  bounty  lands,  and  consequently 
another  township  was  laid  out,  and  numbered  "  twenty- 
eight,"  which  satisfied  all  legal  claimants.  To  this  was 
appropriated  the  name  of  Sterling. 

The  act  relative  to  a  positive  settlement  in  three 
years  was  annulled,  and  the  time  extended  from  1*192 
to  1799. 

The  State,  in  disposing  of  its  bounty  lands,  conveyed 
them  by  an  instrument  called  a  Patent,  to  which  was 
attached  a  large  waxen  disc,  with  paper  on  each  side, 
bearing  the  arms  of  the  State  on  the  face,  and  an  im- 
pression on  the  back,  called  the  "  reverse." 

It  is,  perhaps,  well  known  to  the  general  reader,  that 
a  town  frequently  embraced  a  number  of  townships. 
Ulysses  originally  included  the  townships  of  Ulysses, 
Ithaca,  Enfield  and  Dryden.  Pompey  contained  the 
townships  of  Pompey,  Fabius  and  Tully.  Homer  em- 
braced that  of  Homer  and  Cortland.  Virgil  embraced 
Virgil,  Harford    and    Lapeer.      Cincinnatus    contained 


lOS  ailLITARY    TRACT. 

Cinciiinatns,  Marathon,  Freetown  and  Willet.  Solon 
embraced  Solon  and  Taylor.  Preble  contained  Preble 
and  Scott. 

A  township  embraced  one  hundred  lots,  though,  for 
lack  of  a  proper  understanding,  many  have  confounded 
the  terms  of  town  and  township  ;  and  we  notice  in- 
stances where  authors  have  substituted  the  one  for  the 
other. 

Previous  to  1792,  the  revolutionary  claimants  suf- 
fered materially  on  account  of  the  many  frauds  com- 
mitted by  a  lawless  band  of  land  pirates,  who,  in  order 
to  rob  the  hero  and  patriot  of  his  inheritance,  hesitated 
not  to  commit  the  most  open  and  glaring  forgeries. 
Numerous  fraudulent  conveyances  bore  anterior  dates, 
and  consequently  gave  rise  to  many  unpleasant  con- 
tests, as  well  as  bitter  recriminations.  In  some  in- 
stances, four  and  even  five  forged  conveyances  were 
held  by  as  many  different  individuals  for  the  same  lot 
of  land. 

In  some  cases  the  legal  claimants  were  deprived  of 
their  rights.  But  these  land-sharks  were  not  always 
aware  of  the  material  with  which  they  had  to  contend, 
and  occasionally  met  with  a  rebuke  and  discomfiture 
from  which  they  did  not  soon  recover.  Among  those 
gallant  spirits  who  braved  the  danger  of  revolution, 
and  who  were  unappalled  by  the  roar  of  British  cannon, 
and  the  menace  of  hostile  armies,  were  men  who  were 
not  easily  forced  or  ejected  from  their  possessions.  In 
the  eastern  part  of  Cortland  lived  one  who  was  an  asso- 
ciate with  the  chivalrous  sons  who  marched  to  Quebec 
when  winter's  awful  tempest  opposed  their  progress, 
and  who  crossed  the  ice-choked  Delaware,  regardless 


MILITARY   TRACT.  t09 

of  chilling  winds  and  angry  waves — again,  defying  the 
rage  of  battle  beneath  the  burning  sun  at  Monmouth — 
kindred  spirits  to  those  who  fought  at  Lexington,  Con- 
cord and  Bunker  Hill.  He  had  made  bare  his  bosom 
to  the  shafts  of  battle,  and  shrunk  not  from  the  horrors 
of  a  seven  years'  war.  After  locating  on  his  lot,  and  at 
a  time  when  hope  painted  to  his  eager  vision  long  years 
of  future  happiness,  he  was  called  upon  by  one  of  these 
gentlemen  Shylocks,  who  informed  him  that  he  held  a 
conveyance  of  his  lot,  and  that  he  was  the  only  legal 
owner,  and  gave  him  a  very  polite  invitation  to  evacu- 
ate his  possessions.  But  the  stern  old  patriot — the 
hero  of  man}''  battles,  and  who  carried  on  his  person 
the  certificates  of  his  valor — was  not  thus  hastily  to  be 
ejected  from  his  revolutionary  inheritance.  The  fire 
that  once  glowed  so  brightly  in  the  old  man's  eyes  on 
the  field  of  battle  was  rekindled,  and  he  would  sooner 
have  fallen  a  martyr  to  justice  and  right  than  have 
obsequiously  acquiesced  in  the  mandate  of  his  ungal- 
lant  oppressor.  The  conveyance  was  at  length  laid 
open  and  examined,  and  was  found  to  bear  a  date  prior 
to  that  of  his  own.     In  short,  it  was  a  forgery. 

When  the  defrauder  found  that  the  stern,  heroic  war- 
rior would  not  yield  to  his  demand,  he  threatened  him 
with  the  terrors  of  law,  and  the  cost  of  an  ejectment 
suit.  This,  however,  only  caused  a  smile  to  play  over 
the  face  of  the  worthy  pioneer  of  civilization.  He 
knew  that  he  had  fought  and  bled  upon  the  gory  plain  ; 
that  he  had  sacrificed  the  soft  endearments  of  home, 
discarded  honors,  and  rushed  to  the  "  tented  field,"  to 
strike  for  liberty  and  universal  freedom  ;  that  his  pos- 
sessions were  legally  bequeathed  him,   as  a  compara- 


110  MILITARY   TRACT. 

tively  small  gift  for  the  sacrifices  he  had  made  in  the 
cause  of  human  emancipation;  and  to  be  thus  deprived 
of  a  home  which  he  had  purchased  with  sacrifices  and 
blood,  would  not  comport  with  the  principle  for  which  he 
had  contended,  and  he  spurned  the  intruder  from  his 
presence. 

Instances  of  a  like  character  were  of  frequent  occur- 
rence. Some  yielded  without  making  scarcely  an  efibrt 
at  resistance. 

But  the  soldiers  suffered  from  other  circumstances, 
and  from  causes  over  which  they  had  no  control.  The 
long  interim  of  time  which  intervened  between  the  day 
of  promise  and  the  time  of  legal  assignment  of  bounty 
lands,  and  the  coldness  with  which  their  appeals  were 
received  by  the  State  government,  caused  many  to 
doubt  the  propriety  of  urging  their  claims,  and  in  num- 
erous instances  parted  with  their  patents  for  a  mere 
nominal  sum,  and  in  some  cases  for  an  amount  varying 
from  three  to  eight  dollars. 

The  act  of  '94  was  intended  to  prevent  future  frauds, 
and  unquestionably  had  the  desired  effect.  "All  deeds 
and  conveyances  executed  before  that  time,  or  pretend- 
ing to  be  so,  were  to  be  deposited  with  the  clerk  of  the 
county  of  Albany,  for  the  time  being,  and  all  such  as 
were  not  so  deposited  should  be  considered  fraudulent." 
This  put  a  stop  to  further  forgeries  ;  yet  the  courts 
were  pressed  with  suits  in  regard  to  contesting  claim- 
ants. Very  few  lots  were  quietly  settled  upon,  there 
being  two  or  more  pretended  owners.  Squatters  had 
to  be  ejected,  and  often  exorbitant  sums  paid  for  the 
mere  shadow  of  an  improvement.  The  disputes  became 
so  frequent,  so  unpleasant,  and  withal  so  injurious  to 


MILITARY    TRACT. 


Ill 


the  peace  and  comfort  of  the  Military'  Tract,  that,  in 
1797,  they  united  in  a  general  and  urgent  petition  for 
the  passage  of  an  act  whereby  all  difficulties  might  be 
settled,  and  the  controversial  war  ended.  The  petition 
was  heard  and  answered.  •  Commissioners  were  appoint- 
ed, "  with  full  powers  to  hear,  examine,  award,  and 
determine  all  disputes  respecting  the  titles  of  any  and 
all  the  military  bounty  lands."  Wrongs  of  long  stand- 
ing were  redressed,  and  justice  equitably  distributed. 

The  termination  of  these  vexed  questions  of  right 
gave  rise  to  a  more  liberal  and  happy  feeling  among 
the  pioneers,  and  resulted  in  a  more  speedy  settlement 
of  the  territory,  and  consequently  in  a  rapid  increase  of 
population. 

Cortland  county  is  at  present  divided  into  fifteen 
towns,  which  were  organized  as  follows  : 


Homer, 

1794 

Marathon,     . 

1818 

Solon, 

.     1798 

Willet,     . 

.     1818 

Virgil, 

1804 

Cortlandville, 

1829 

Cincinnatus,    . 

.     1804 

Harford, 

.     1845 

Preble, 

1808 

Lapeer, 

1845 

Truxtou, 

.     1808 

Taylor,     . 

.     1849 

Scott,  . 

1815 

Cuyler, 

1858 

Freetown, 

.     1818 

CHAPTER    X. 

GEOLOGY,  MINERALOGY    AND    METEOROLOGY. 


Nor  gold  nor  jeweled  gems  were  there, 

Yet  'neath  the  turf  were  mines  of  richest  store.' ' 


To  THOSE  who  read  the  book  of  Nature  with  due 
attention,  and  who  are  conversant  with  the  laws  of 
cause  and  effect,  the  study  of  Geology,  Mineralogy  and 
Meteorology  will  prove  not  only  interesting,  but  instruct- 
ive, and  they  will  necessarih^  be  led  to  inquire  into  those 
causes  and  influences  which  may  have  operated  at  a  very 
remote  period  of  time  in  giving  an  almost  entire  change 
to  the  general  appearance  of  the  earth's  surface.  In 
our  mind  there  is  no  question  as  to  the  fact  of  the 
ancient  ocean  having,  far  back  in  the  dim  distance  of 
the  past,  overspread  our  hills  and  valleys,  ebbing  and 
flowing  in  obedience  to  physical  laws,  and,  as  now, 
sending  her  storm-beaten  surf  against  the  huge  rocks 
that  line  the  mountain  gorge.  Then,  as  now,  it  was 
dotted  with  isles  and  sand-bars.  Then,  as  now,  there 
were  calms,  when  the  sun,  the  moon,  the  stars,  looked 
down  in  beauty  upon  its  glassy  surface.  Then,  as  now, 
the  rainbow  clasped  the  wide  expanse,  while  its  ever- 
varied  hues  were  reflected  far  beneath  the  gentle  wave- 


GEOLOGY.  113 

lets.  Then,  as  now,  the  zephyrs  played  o'er  its  un- 
fathomed  waters,  sending  its  undulating  swells  to  rip- 
ple along  the  beachen  shore,  "recording  its  history  in 
the  sands  beneath." 

The  Tioughnioga  river  has  its  source  near  the  south- 
ern line  of  Onondaga,  and  flows  southward,  with  its 
tributaries  watering  nearly  the  whole  of  Cortland 
county.     The  Otselic  is  its  main  branch. 

Geologically,  Cortland  does  not  present  as  great  a 
variety  of  specimens  as  some  of  the  other  counties  in 
the  district.* 

Slate  is  the  basis-rock  of  the  county.  The  Hamilton 
group,  extending  from  Onondaga,  enters  the  northern 
part  of  the  town  of  Truxton,  and  terminates  some 
distance  east  of  Tinker's  Falls. 

In  Preble,  Truxton,  and  parts  of  Homer,  are  found 
quantities  of  Genesee  slate.  These  generally  project 
from  the  hills  which  form  the  barriers  of  the  valley. 

The  Portage  and  Ithaca  groups  extend  over  the  towns 
of  Cortland  and  Solon,  the  larger  portion  of  Homer  and 
Scott,  "  and  the  terrace  between  Truxton  and  Solon." 
They  are  found  on  either  side  of  the  Tioughnioga,  but 
become  more  narrow  as  the}^  "  increase  in  thickness 
going  south.''  Some  fine  specimens  are  also  found 
along  the  borders  of  the  Otselic  in  Willet  and  Cincin- 
natus. 

These  groups  form  a  number  of  valuable  quarries, 
and  from  which  have  been  taken  large  quantities  of  stone 

*  This  (the  third)  Geological  district  is  composed  of  the  counties 
of  Montgomery,  Fulton,  Otsego,  Herkimer,  Oneida,  Lewis,  Oswego, 
Madison,   Onondaga,  Cayuga,  Cortland,  Chenango,  Broome,  Tioga, 
and  the  eastern  half  of  Tompkins. 
6* 


114  GEOLOGY. 

for  building  and  flagging  purposes.  A  short  distance 
above  Port  Watson  are  the  quarries  of  Messrs.  Miller  & 
Derby.  To  the  south  are  those  of  Messrs.  Stephens, 
Rose  and  Betts.  Between  Homer  and  Cortland  are 
Pierce  and  Rood's  quarries.  These  are  of  great  value, 
"and  furnish  nearly  all  the  flag-stones  used  in  Homer." 
The  lower  part  of  the  quarries  consists  of  flags  from  one 
to  six  inches  in  thickness  ;  not  so  smooth  or  straight  as 
those  of  Sherburne,  but  waved  like  the  slight  move- 
ments which  water  produces  upon  a  sandy  bottom. 
The  flags  contain  fucoids,  large  and  small,  some  of 
which  anastomose  and  are  smooth.  Above  these  layers 
there  is  a  line  of  concretion,  about  a  foot  or  more  in 
diameter,  with  shale.  On  the  top  of  these  are  slaty, 
broken  up,  and  decomposed  layers  of  shale  and  sand- 
stone, forming  the  refuse  of  the  quarry.  Some  of 
the  lower  layers  of  sandstone  contain  vegetable 
impressions,  and  show  small  accumulations  of  coal, 
owing  to  the  alteration  which  the  material  of  the 
plants  has  undergone."*  This  quarry  is  a  most  val- 
uable acquisition  to  the  mineral  wealth  of  Homer. 

Those  citizens  of  Homer  who  are  observant  of  objects 
about  them,  will  And  man}^  interesting  confirmations  in 
the  flag-stones  upon  which  they  walk,  of  the  truth  of 
the  above  observations.  The  beautiful  ripple  marks, 
everywhere  seen,  carry  us  back  to  the  time  when  these 
same  rocks  formed  the  soft  floors  of  shallow  Silurian 
seas. 

North  and  west  of  Homer,  are  other  valuable  quar- 
ries, in  one  of  which  a  variety  of  vegetable  impressions 

•"•  Sec  State  Geological  Report,  1842,  to  which  we  are  indebted 
for  many  interesting  facts. 


GEOLOGY.  115 

are  discernible — none,  liowever,  which  resemble  those 
noticed  by  us  in  the  quarry  above  referred  to. 

The  Chemung  group  covers  the  southwest  part  of 
Virgil.  This  is  the  highest  elevation  in  the  county. 
The  same  group  is  perceptible  on  the  lines  of  Freetown, 
Cincinnatus,  Willet  and  Marathon. 

There  are  three  marl  lakes  or  ponds  a  few  miles 
south  west  of  Cortland  village.  The  larger  one  covers 
an  area  of  fifteen  acres,  the  second  in  size,  six,  and  the 
third,  four.  When  freed  from  the  particles  of  vegetable 
matter,  it  presents  a  very  light  appearance,  and  is 
without  doubt  a  fair  species  of  carbonate  of  lime. 
Large  quantities  of  lime  are  annually  burnt  and  dis- 
posed of  at  the  kilns. 

Marl  is  also  found  in  smaller  deposits  in  Tully,  Pre- 
ble, and  the  northern  part  of  Homer.  It  will  at  some 
future  time  prove  to  be  of  great  importance  to  the 
county,  especially  as  a  manure. 

Bog  ore,  it  is  believed,  does  not  exist  in  this  county 
to  any  great  extent,  though  small  specimens  have  been 
found  in  some  of  the  swamps. 

Albite,  or  white  feld-spar,  exists  in  small  quantities 
in  Scott,  Fabius  and  Solon. 

We  have  two  or  three  specimens  of  amphibole,  or 
basaltic  hornblende,  gathered  from  the  northern  part  of 
the  county.  The  crystals  are  well-formed,  but  so  firmly 
imbedded  in  the  rock  as  to  render  it  difficult  to  detach 
them  v/ithout  marring  their  beauty. 

Calcareous  tufa  is  common  in  some  of  the  eastern 
localities  of  the  county. 

On  the  west  branch  of  the  Otselic  river  is   a  small 


116  TORNADOES. 

calcareo-sulphuroiis  spring,  the  water  of  which  is 
strongly  impregnated  with  the  mixed  ingredients  of  sul- 
phur and  lime. 

In  the  county  are  several  sulphur  springs,  some  emit- 
ting very  pure  particles  of  sulphur.  Little  York,  or 
Sulphur  lake,  a  few  miles  north  of  Homer,  is  slightly 
tinctured  with  sulphur. 

Tornadoes  are  classed  among  the  more  prominent 
meteorological  phenomena.  Their  course  is  invariably 
in  an  eastward  direction,  and,  unlike  that  of  a  whirl- 
wind, moving  "  in  a  circuit  round  its  axis,"  their  whirl 
is  always  to  the  left.  They  frequently  travel  at  the 
rate  of  a  hundred  miles  per  hour,  leaving  the  marks 
of  devastation  behind. 

On  the  13th  day  of  August,  1804,  a  tornado  swept 
over  the  northern  part  of  this  county,  and  in  its  mad- 
dened course  tore  up  trees,  demolished  buildings,  and 
blasted  the  pioneer's  hopes  of  a  plentiful  crop. 

Just  a  half  century  after,  Cortland  county  was  again 
visited  by  a  tornado.  Its  path  was  narrow,  j^et 
alarmingly  destructive.  Its  course  was  east  south-east, 
and  its  ravages  were  traceable  for  a  distance  exceeding 
250  miles.  A  little  previous  to  its  appearance,  cloud 
after  cloud  of  awful  blackness  rolled  up  iii  the  west, 
and  gradually  spread  over  the  sky,  until  finally  the 
whole  firmament  became  enveloped  in  almost  tartarean 
darkness.  Forked  lightnings  flashed  athwart  the  sky, 
or,  zig-zag,  leaped  from  apparent  spiral  columns  of  red- 
hot  wreathing  flames.  The  rain  poured  down  in  tor- 
rents. It  was  not  like  one  of  those  ever-drizzling  rains 
so  common  among  the  tropics,  but  more  like  a  perfect 


TORNADOES.  117 

avalanche.  The  rain  was  succeeded  by  a  violent  hail- 
storm, which  tended  greatly  to  cool  the  overheated 
atmosphere,  the  mercury  having  ascended  to  a  point 
unusual  for  this  latitude. 

The  tornado  entered  this  county  from  Locke,  and 
passed,  in  its  desolating  and  destructive  course,  within 
two  miles  of  Homer.  Having  gathered  fresh  strength 
in  crossing  the  valley,  it  rose  the  eastern  hills — those 
ancient  battlements  where  the  shadows  of  ages  have 
fallen  and  which  fearful  convulsions  have  shaken — with 
a  spirit  unawed  and  unbroken,  and  then  waged  war  with 
the  hitherto  unconquered  monarchs  of  400  years'  stand- 
ing, tearing  them  up  by  the  roots,  or  twisting  them  into 
splinters  as  Sampson  did  a  green  twig,  and  whirling 
their  shattered  fragments  in  almost  every  conceivable 
direction.  Indeed,  sad  havoc  was  made  with  the  forest 
trees.  But  the  ancient  dwellers  offered  no  opposition, 
for  the  storm-god  did  not  even  presume  upon  a  contest 
for  the  right  of  way.  His  course  was  onward,  and  woe 
to  the  giant  oak  that  came  within  the  whirling  folds  of 
the  destroyer. 

A  gentleman,  crossing  Cayuga  lake  in  a  small  boat 
at  the  time  of  this  occurrence,  describes  the  scene  as 
one  of  terrific  grandeur.  As  it  approached  the  water, 
it  leveled  every  impeding  obstacle.  The  roaring  of  the 
tornado,  the  sharp,  vivid  flashes  of  lightning,  and  the 
deafening  thunder,  were  to  him  really  alarming.  The 
water,  for  the  space  of  several  rods,  extending  across 
the  lake,  suddenly  became  elevated  a  number  of  feet, 
very  much  in  the  form  of  a  pier,  and  for  an  hour  or  more 
ebbed  and  flowed  with  the  same  regularity  as  is  ob- 
served in  the  ocean's  tide.     On,  on  sped  the  storm-god, 


118  TORNADOES. 

raving  and  howling  as  if  forced  forward  on  the  very 
wings  of  despair. 

There  were  several  remarkable  incidents  connected 
with  this  singularly  strange  and  destructive  visitor. 
In  the  town  of  Locke,  Cayuga  county,  a  brass  kettle 
was  caught  up  in  its  terrible  folds,  and  lodged,  some 
forty  rods  distant,  in  the  top  of  a  graceful  poplar.  A 
wagon-seat  was  carried  across  the  Tioughnioga  river, 
and  dashed  to  atoms.  A  barn  roof  was  divided,  and 
one-third  carried  away  without  materially  injuring  the 
remaining  two-thirds.  In  Chenango,  a  little  boy,  five 
or  six  years  old,  was  caught  up  and  carried  upwards  of 
thirty  rods,  and  safely  de])osited  by  the  side  of  a  hay- 
stack, having  escaped  with  only  a  rude  shaking.  An 
aged  matron,  stepping  to  the  door  to  shake  the  crumbs 
from  her  table-cloth,  had  it  rather  unceremoniously 
taken  from  her,  and  the  last  she  saw  of  her  favorite 
linen,  it  was  at  a  great  distance,  cutting  fantastic 
capers  in  "mid  air,"  being  under  the  immediate  con- 
trol of  the  storm-spirit. 

On  the  30th  day  of  September,  1858,  another  tornado 
visited  our  county.  Its  course,  from  Lake  Erie  to  the 
Atlantic,  was  wide  and  fearfully  marked  with  its  deso- 
lating effects.  In  various  places  its  strength  was 
divided,  and  it  traveled  in  diff'erent  lines  for  miles,  and 
when  again  united,  raved  and  roared  with  redoubled  fury. 

The  sky  was  shrouded  with  thick  and  sulphury  clouds > 
increasing  to  almost  pitchy  blackness.  Forked  light- 
nings flashed  athwart  the  sky,  and  deafening  thunders 
rolled  and  reverberated  amid  the  contending  elements. 
The  damage  to  property  was  immense.  Orchards  and 
forest  trees  were  alike  prostrated;  fences  were  blown 


METEOROLOGY.  .    119 

down,  houses  and  barns  unroofed,  and  in  some  instances 
entirely  destroyed.  We  visited  one  sugar-orchard  of 
two  thousand  trees,  all  of  which,  save  forty-nine,  were 
leveled  to  the  ground.  On  another  lot  we  saw  sixty 
acres  of  forest  trees  lying  in  every  conceivable  direc- 
tion. But  the  damage  was  so  great,  and  so  generally 
felt,  that  we  deem  an  extended  notice  unnecessary.  In 
the  evening  the  sky  was  almost  constantly  lit  up  with 
spiral  streaks  of  lightning,  accompanied  with  deafening 
thunder,  inconceivably  grand  and  awe-inspiring. 

The  data  we  possess  relative  to  our  climate  is  limit- 
ed to  the  results  of  a  few  observations.  We  have  been 
favored  with  the  reading  of  a  valuable  and  interesting 
Report  on  Vital  Statistics,  made  to  the  Medical  Asso- 
ciation of  Southern  Central  New  York,  by  Doctor  C. 
Green,  from  w^hich  we  make  the  following  brief  outline 
of  interesting  facts: 

The  climate  of  Cortland  county  is  characterized,  in 
common  with  that  of  southern  central  New  York,  by 
great  variability.  The  region  of  the  State,  south  and 
south-west  of  the  Mohawk  valley,  including  Onondaga 
and  Cortland  counties,  shows,  according  to  the  report 
of  Dr.  Emmons,  a  lower  reduction  of  temperature  by 
four  degrees  to  eleven  degrees  than  the  average  of  the 
State,  and  autumnal  frosts  occur  earlier  b}^  four  to  thir- 
teen days.  The  physical  features  of  the  county  would 
indicate  that  our  climate  would  at  least  be  colder  than 
the  western  portion  of  the  State  in  the  same  latitude. 
The  geological  features  of  our  county  are  interesting  in 
relation  to  the  succession  of  hill  and  dale,  their  relative 
elevation,  and  the  elevation  above  tide  water.  These 
valleys  are  cut  through  the  Portage  and  Chemung  group 
of  rocks.    The  hills  bounding  these  valleys  are  generally 


120  METEOROLOGY. 

of  such  shape  that  they  can  be  cultivated  to  their  sum- 
mits, and  vary  in  height  above  the  valleys  from  two 
hundred  to  six  hundred  feet.  The  valleys,  geologically 
speaking,  are  those  of  denudation,  being  scooped  out  of 
the  rocks  above  mentioned.  The  bottoms  are  filled  to 
an  unknown  depth  with  drift  made  up  of  the  detritus 
and  boulders  of  the  northern  rocks,  as  well  as  of  the 
rocks  in  which  they  are  situated.  These  valleys  are  of 
moderate  width,  and  have  no  inconsiderable  elevation 
above  the  ocean.  The  valley  in  which  Homer  is  situ- 
ated is  at  that  place  1096  feet  above  tide  water.  This 
elevation  will  account  in  a  measure  for  the  difference 
in  the  climate  between  this  and  the  western  portion  of 
the  State,  especially  from  Cayuga  lake  westward. 
While  Homer  has  the  elevation  just  noticed,  Ithaca  is 
situated  only  four  hundred  and  seventeen  feet  above 
tide — a  difference  in  altitude  of  six  hundred  and  seventy- 
nine  feet.  The  mean  temperature  of  Homer  is  forty- 
four  degrees  seventeen  minutes,  while  that  of  Ithaca, 
with  a  difference  in  latitude  of  only  eleven  minutes  of  a 
degree,  is  forty-seven  degrees  eighty-eight  minutes, 
thereby  giving  a  difference  in  mean  temperature  of 
three  degrees  seventy-one  minutes.  The  annual  range 
of  the  thermometer  in  Homer,  for  1845,  was  one  hundred 
and  four  degrees, "while  that  of  Ithaca  was  ninety-two. 
The  daily  range  of  temperature  is  one  of  the  most 
marked  characteristics  of  our  climate,  and  this  is  espe- 
cially true  of  the  late  summer  and  early  autumnal 
months.  The  vicissitudes  of  weather  are  very  sudden 
and  extreme,  but  the  change  in  the  daily  temperature 
which  exerts  the  most  striking  influence  on  the  health 
of  community,  in  our  summer  and  autumnal  months,  is, 
the  rapid  depression  of  the  mercury  on  the  approach  of 


METEOROLOGY.  121 

nig-ht-fall  There  is  often,  in  August  and  September,  a 
change,  from  two  o'clock  to  ten  o'clock  P.  M.,  of  from 
twenty  to  thirty-five  degrees.  It  will  be  readily  seen 
that  if  the  body  is  not  prepared  to  resist  the  influence 
of  these  changes,  disease  must  result.  The  following 
table,  prepared  from  observations  taken  in  Homer  in 
1851,  shows  the  monthly  mean  of  the  daily  range  of  the 
thermometer  : 

Jan.  Feb.  March.  April.  May.  June. 

13.35        11.42         15.06        13.43        17.77        16.40 

July.  August.  Sept.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec. 

17.12        20.33        20.23        15.09  8.53        10.3 

In  order  to  maintain  an  equable  condition  of  the  sys- 
tem, it  becomes  necessary  to  change  clothing  as  often 
as  the  weather  changes,  or  at  least  wear  next  to  the 
surface  of  the  body  those  materials  which  do  not  con- 
duct heat  rapidly. 

The  following  table  will  give  some  idea  of  the  climate 
of  our  county.  The  table  was  compiled  from  the  records 
made  b}^  E.  C.  Reed,  Esq.,  the  Meteorological  observer 
of  the  Smithsonian  institute,  of  Homer  : 


No.inches  High- 

Lovv- 

Hig:hest 

Lowest 

1 

rain  and 

est  p'1 

;  est  p't 

Range, 

point  of 

point  of 

Range. 

Direct'nCloud- 

melted 

of 

of 

'     barom- 

barom- 

■wind, i 

ness. 

1853 

snow. 

ther. 

ther. 

eter. 

eter. 

May, 

4.69 

80 

33 

47 

29.132 

28.408 

.724 

N.  W. 

5 

June, 

4.00 

88 

47 

41 

29.121 

28.517 

.604 

N.  W. 

4 

July, 

2.28 

83 

47 

36 

29  046 

28.555 

.491 

S. 

4 

Aug., 

3.59 

89 

43 

46 

29.007 

28.405 

.602 

s. 

4 

Sept., 

4.72 

83 

32 

61 

29.085 

28.278 

.807 

s. 

4 

Oct., 

4.56 

68 

24 

44 

29.191 

28.336 

,855 

s. 

4 

Nov., 

3.15 

63 

6 

57 

29.333 

28.347 

.986 

s. 

7 

Dec, 

1.76 

44 

-2 

46 

29.042 

27.974 

1.068 

s. 

7 

1854. 
Jan., 

2.60 

54 

-5 

59 

29.268 

28.039 

1.229 

s. 

7 

Feb., 

4.46 

48 

_2 

50 

29.275 

28.202 

1.073 

S.  E. 

6 

March 

I,  3.34 

60 

3 

57 

29.094 

27.997 

1.097 

N.   W. 

7 

April, 

5.84 

69 

16 

53 

29.312 

28.271 

1.041 

N.  W. 

6 

CHAPTER    XI. 

LEGEND    OF   TIOUGHNIOGA   VALLEY. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  a  tale  or  some  legend  old, 
Of  the  forest  wild  or  the  streamlet  cold, 
Where  the  Indian,  hound,  or  the  arrow  iiew, 
Or  the  true  hearts  pledged  their  love  anew?" 

There  are  many  interesting  and  instructive  legendary 
reminiscences  treasured  in  the  memory  of  the  young 
braves  and  chieftains  of  the  scattered  remnants  of  the 
Delaware  tribe.  They  are  particularly  fond  of  rehears- 
ing the  unwritten  incidents  which  form  the  only  perfect 
memorial  of  the  ancient  history  of  their  nation.  The 
one  which  we  are  about  to  narrate  was  gathered  from 
a  source  which  entitles  it  to  a  place  in  our  history,  and 
the  various  corroborating  facts  derived  from  the  tradi- 
tions of  the  early  Indian  occupants  of  the  Wyoming 
valley,  clothe  it  with  a  garb  of  undoubted  realit3\ 

At  a  period  far  back  in  the  annals  of  the  heroic  past, 
there  were  numerous  Indian  settlements  clustered  along 
the  banks  of  the  classic  Wyoming,  the  majestic  Susque- 
hanna, the  serpentine  Chenango,  and  the  ever  to  be  ad- 
mired Tioughnioga.  Near  the  mouth  of  Cold  Brook,  a 
small  tributary  of  the  Tioughnioga,  the  Indians  had 
established  a  small  settlement.  The  wigwams  were 
rudely  constructed,  yet  sufficiently  comfortable  to  answer 


LEGEND    OF   TIOUGHNIOGA   VALLEY.  123 

the  requirements  of  these  red  dwellers  of  the  forest. 
They  belonged  to  the  Leni-Lenape  or  Delaware  tribe, 
which  originally  came  from  the  eastern  shores  of  the 
North  American  continent.  They  were  a  warlike  people, 
proud  and  ambitious,  bold  and  resolute.  Early  in  the 
sixteenth  century,  they  separated  by  common  consent 
from  a  branch  of  the  parent  tribe,  which  had  previously 
settled  in  the  Wyoming  valley.  Here  they  came  seeking 
repose  by  the  side  of  the  beautiful  stream  that  flowed 
through  the  picturesque  Tioughnioga.  They  were  supe- 
rior hunters,  and  lived  chiefly  by  fishing  or  upon  the 
success  of  the  chase.  As  their  numbers  increased  and 
their  hopes  brightened,  the  Mingoes,  who  were  scattered 
along  the  shores  of  the  great  northern  chain  of  lakes, 
became  more  or  less  jealous  of  the  surrounding  tribes, 
whom  they  endeavored  to  bring  under  their  subjection, 
while  they  extended  their  jurisdiction  over  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  their  more  feeble  neighbors. 

The  impulses  of  the  Lenapes  were  warm  and  ardent 
— their  enthusiasm  extravagant,  usually  leading  to  laud- 
able ends.  They  frequently  suifered  from  the  incursions 
of  predatory  parties  of  Mingoes,  who  sought  by  stealth 
to  lessen  their  means  of  enjo^^ment,  or,  if  possible, 
arouse  in  them  a  spirit  of  revenge,  that  they  might  find 
in  it  a  pretext  for  making  war  against  them,  and  thereby 
exterminate  or  make  them  yield  to  their  dictatorial  no- 
tions of  right.  The  aggressions  of  the  Mingoes  were 
carried  on  to  the  last  point  of  forbearance,  adding  insult 
to  insult,  until  finall}^  the  cry  for  revenge  was  only  to 
be  appeased  by  blood.  The  old  chief  was  disabled  by 
various  infirmities  from  directing  or  taking  part  in  the 
inevitable  struggle  for  which  the  Lenapes  were  prepar- 


1@4  LEGEND    OF   TIOUGHNIOGA   VALLEY. 

ing.  He  had  fought  in  many  a  severe  battle,  and  had 
particularly  distinguished  himself  in  the  fierce  and 
bloody  wars  waged  against  the  AUigewi  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, as  well  as  in  the  devastating  incursions  against 
the  Mengwes.  The  scars  upon  his  person  were  so  many 
certificates  of  his  valor  ;  and  when  he  saw  the  storm 
rising  and  heard  the  elements  muttering,  his  soul  went 
up  to  the  abode  of  the  Great  Spirit,  invoking  the  as- 
sistance of  the  strong  arm  of  Right  in  behalf  of  the 
oppressed.  He  called  to  his  presence  Ke-no-tah,  a 
young  and  aspiring  brave,  and  thus  addressed  him  : 

'*  I  am  an  old  warrior,  but  can  no  more  go  out  to  bat- 
tle. When  the  moon  went  down,  crimsoned  with  the 
blood  of  my  people  who  fell  on  the  shores  of  the  Great 
Waters,  I  was  borne,  from  the  victorious  battle-ground 
covered  with  my  blood.  My  father  and  brothers  were 
among  the  slain,  and  I  wept  that  my  pierced  limbs 
would  no  longer  sustain  this  now  Avithered  and  decay- 
ing body,  for  my  heart  thirsted  for  blood.  I  was  then 
young  and  strong,  and  could  strike  for  the  hearth-stone 
of  my  cabin.  A  few  moons  more,  and  this  branchless 
tree  will  have  fallen  to  the  ground.  The  night  is  dark 
and  the  wind  rages — a  storm  is  gathering  about  the 
Great  Lakes.  Our  enemies  will  soon  be  upon  us,  and 
Ke-no-tah  must  nerve  his  right  arm  to  crush  the  de- 
stroyer." 

The  dark  eyes  of  the  3^oung  brave  flashed  a  falcon 
glance  upon  the  venerable  chieftain,  as  his  tall  and 
manly  form  assumed  a  still  more  noble  and  dignified 
appearance.  "Give  me,"  said  he,  ''command  of  the 
braves,  and  we  will  go  out  to  battle — we  will   consume 


LEGEND    OF   TIOUGttNIOGA   VALLEY.  125 

our  enemies — we  will  drink  their  blood  and  devastate 
their  homes." 

A  council  of  warriors  was  convened,  before  whom  the 
powerful  eloquence  of  Ke-no-tah  was  poured  out  like 
a  wild  gushing  torrent,  and  he  was  at  once  chosen  chief 
to  lead  the  young  and  impetuous  braves  to  battle.  He 
had  on  several  occasions  evinced  the  true,  native  war 
spirit,  having  never  faltered,  not  even  when  surrounded 
with  darkness  and  danger,  and,  if  the  safety  of  his 
people  required  it,  his  blood  should  be  poured  out  upon 
the  red  altar  which  the  Mingoes  had  erected. 

The  sun  had  appeared  in  the  orient  sky,  and  his 
chariot  wheels  were  fast  approaching  the  zenith  of  the 
heavens.  The  dark  green  foliage  clothed  the  ancient 
forest  trees,  the  sweetest  incense  rose  from  the  dewy 
flowers  and  was  borne  upon  the  balmy  zephyrs,  hill  and 
dale  were  made  vocal  with  the  native  songsters  of  the 
woods,  the  water  of  the  beautiful  river  lay  calm  and 
smooth,  and  pure  as  a  transparent  sheet  of  glass,  the 
antlered  deer  bounded  over  the  hills,  while  at  various 
intervals  tlie  scream  of  the  wild  bird  was  heard  in  the 
distance.  All  was  peace  and  quietness  in  the  little  set- 
tlement. Suddenly,  however,  "  the  scene  was  changed." 
Three  painted  savages  from  the  northern  lakes  ap- 
peared at  the  wigwam  of  the  aged  Sachem  Conduca, 
demanding  a  surrender  of  their  cabins,  their  arms  of 
defence,  and  their  hunting-grounds.  Altahalah,  the 
youngest  daughter  of  Conduca,  unnoticed  by  the  in- 
vaders of  her  quiet  home,  silently  withdrew  from  their 
presence,  and  hastily  throwing  her  blanket  over  her 
shoulders,  she  bounded  with  the  speed  of  a  youg  nfawn 
to  the  home  of  Ke-no-tah,  to  whom  she  had  been  prom- 
ised in  marriage. 


126  LEGEND    OF   TIOUGHNIOGA    VALLEY. 

"Brother  !  brother  !  they  have  come  ! — Fly  !  fly  to 
the  home  of  Conduca  !"  It  was  enough  ;  the  young 
brave,  snatching  his  tomahawk  and  war-club,  hastened 
to  the  relief  of  the  worthy  and  much-loved  chieftain. 
When  he  entered  the  cabin  he  found  the  Mingoes  mak- 
ing loud  threats  against  the  peaceful  settlement,  and 
intimating  that  unless  a  general  surrender  was  made 
blood  would  be  spilt.  This  brought  Ke-no-tah  to 
his  feet.  The  muscles  of  his  face  became  suddenly 
swollen  with  passion,  and  his  eyes  flashed  defiance  as 
he  thus  addressed  himself  to  the  foremost  speaker  : 

"  Talk  not  to  me  of  blood  ;  it  is  my  delight.  It  is  the 
element  upon  which  I  live.  I  was  not  born  like  other 
warriors.  I  was  never  dandled  upon  the  lap  of  a  moth- 
er. A  dark  cloud  came  over  the  high  hills,  and  from 
that  cloud  a  thunderbolt  was  hurled  against  a  large 
pine  tree,  shivering  it  to  the  stump,  and  from  that  stump 
I  sprung  up  completely  equipped  for  war.  Blood  is  my 
delight  I  Vengeance  is  mine  I"  Such  was  the  effect  of 
his  eloquence  and  manner  that  the  Mingoes  absolutely 
quailed  before  him.  Thus  finding  all  attempts  at  bring- 
ing the  Lenapes  to  their  desired  terms,  they  left  mutter- 
ing curses  upon  the  heads  of   Conduca  and  Ke-no-tah. 

The  day  declined.  The  sable  shades  of  night  had 
curtained  the  earth,  and  the  hollow  murmurs  of  the 
storm-beaten  tempest  were  heard  advancing  ;  anon  the 
muttering  thunder  told  the  name  of  God,  and  the  light- 
ning's flaming  wing  pointed  to  his  dwelling-place.  But 
hark  !  what  wild  scream  was  borne  upon  the  midnight 
air  ?  It  was  the  Indian  war-whoop,  and  it  fell  like  a 
death  knell  upon  the  ear  of  Altahalah.  The  Mingoes 
had    suddenly   fallen   upon   the  little   settlement,    and 


LEGEND    OF   TIOUGHNIOGA    VALLEY.  127 

though  but  partially  prepared  to  make  a  resolute  re- 
sistance, were  not  to  be  defeated  without  one  gallant 
effort  forcountry  and  home, — aye,  for  their  lives.  The 
far-seeing  eye  of  Ke-no-tah  had  watched  their  approach, 
and  he  had  already  gathered  the  young  braves,  as  well 
as  many  of  th  e  old  scarred  warriors,  around,him.  At  the 
first  shrill  whoop  of  the  invaders,  Ke-no-tah  and  his 
brave  warriors  rushed  like  fierce  blood-hounds  from 
their  retreat,  and  fell  like  a  thundering  avalanche  upon 
the  Mingoes,— whose  spring  was  like  the  hungry  pan- 
ther as  he  leaps  upon  his  prey,  and  whose  deafening 
war-whoop  was  death  !  The  contest  was  short  but  'ter- 
rible. The  two  forces  fought  with  the  fierceness  of  ti- 
gers, and  when  the  battle-cry  had  ceased,  and  all  was 
still  save  the  low  wailing  of  the  wounded  and  dying, 
it  was  found  that  the  Mingoes  had  fled,  leaving  the 
greater  number  of  their  well-trained  warriors  locked  in 
the  icy  hue  of  death.  The  Lenapes  had  suffered  se- 
verely, as  but  few  remained  to  tell  the  tale  of  the 
horrid  butchery.  The  banner  of  Ke-no-tah  had  tri- 
umphed. 

The  full-orbed  moon  rent  her  mantle  of  darkness  and 
looked  down  upon  the  work  of  carnage,  where  many  a 
brave  and  ardent  defender  of  his  rights  had  fallen.  At 
this  moment  Altahalah  was  discovered,  clasping  in  her 
arms  the  lifeless  form  of  Conduca,  and  silently  wiping 
the  congealed  blood  from  his  wounds.  Her  face  was 
deadly  pale,  and  a  cold  tremor  ran  over  her  whole 
frame. 

Relaxing  her  hold  on  Conduca,  and  looking  down 
upon  his  livid  features,  she  exclaimed,  "  Oh  !  my  father, 
my  father,  has  the  Great  Spirit  called  thee  hence  to  his 


128  LEGEND    OF   TIOUGHNIOGA   VALLEY. 

fairer  hunting-ground  in  the  brighter  land  of  promise? 
or,  hast  thou  fallen  by  the  hand  of  the  usurper,  whose 
pointed  arrow  cleft  thy  warm  heart  ?" 

"  Calm  thyself,"  said  Ke-no-tah  ;  "the  great  Spirit  has 
smiled  upon  the  soul  of  the  brave  Conduca,  and  the 
strong  arm  of  thy  friend  will  protect  thee." 

A  shriek  burst  from  Altahalah,  for  at  that  moment  a 
powerful,  athletic  savage,  who  had  secretly  stolen  to  her 
side,  had  seized  her  and  was  fast  disappearing  in  the 
deep,  dark  wilds.  Pursuit  was  immediately  made,  but 
the  almost  impenetrable  thicket  into  which  he  had 
darted  with  the  seeming  celerity  of  a  winged  spirit, 
very  greatly  impeded  their  progress,  and  it  was  only 
occasionally  that  they  were  revealed  to  their  pursuers 
by  the  sudden  flashes  of  lightning  that  glared  through 
the  trees.  The  pursuit  was  continued  until  nearly 
morning,  when  all  signs  and  traces  of  their  flight  were 
entirely  lost.  Returning  to  the  place  of  massacre,  what 
a  heart-rending  scene  met  their  sight  !  Many  of  the 
dead  and  dying  were  still  lying  where  they  fell,  pierced 
by  the  fatal  arrow,  or  the  hunting-knife,  or  still  more 
murderous  tomahawk. 

"The  gaunt  wolf, 
Scenting  the  place  of  slaughter,  Wth  his  long 
And  most  offensive  howl  did  ask  for  blood," 

for  they  had  come  howling  like  so  man^^  demons  to  feast 
and  surfeit  upon  the  remains  of  the  slain.  It  was  with 
difficulty  that  they  were  driven  back  to  the  hills,  or 
destroyed,  that  the  wounded  might  be  protected  and 
the  dead  removed  for  sepulchre. 

The  last  mournful  rites  having  been  paid  to  the  dead, 


LEGEND    OF   TIOUGHNIOGA    VALLEY.  129 

and  such  protection  prepared  for  the  few  remaining 
disabled  and  infirm  warriors,  with  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren, as  the  limited  means  allowed,  Ke-no-tah  gathered 
his  bold  and  intrepid  warriors  who  had  escaped  in  the 
saugninar}^  conflict,  and,  putting  himself  at  their  head, 
again  sallied  forth  into  the  unbroken  wilderness  to  seek 
and  recover  the  fair  captive.  Daj^s,  weeks  and  months 
were  spent,  but  without  avail.  Once,  however,  Ke-no- 
tah  supposed  that  Altahalah  was  almost  within  his  out- 
stretched arms.  Descending  a  deep  ravine,  just  as 
night  had  curtained  the  earth,  a  sudden  flash  of  light- 
ning gleamed  across  the  dark  mountain  pass,  and  ex- 
hibited to  view  the  reclining  fugitives.  Slowly,  but 
silently,  they  pursued  their  way  until  they  had 
approached  within  a  few  yards  of  the  hated  foes.  Pres- 
ently another  flash  of  lightning  glared  fully  upon 
them.  There  they  were,  sleeping  upon  the  green  ver- 
dure of  the  hill-side;  but  Altahalah  was  not  there.  Was 
she  dead,  or  had  she  flown  as  the  young  dove  wings 
its  way  from  the  talons  of  the  eagle  ?  These  were 
questions  which  their  unlettered  minds  could  not  solve. 
But  they  resolved  that  the  score  of  usurpers  should  die 
at  their  hands,  and  they  were  true  to  their  determina- 
tion,— for  when  the  next  flash  of  lightning  sent  its  livid 
glare  caver  their  dark  features,  they  were  cold,  ghastly, 
dead! 

Ke-no-tah  called  Altahalah,  but  he  heard  no  responsive 
answer;  and  the  horrid  thought  that  she  might  be  dead, 
or  dying  by  starvation  in  the  wild  wilderness,  came 
rushing  upon  his  bewildered  and  maddened  brain,  and 
in  his  frenzied  moments  he  smote  his  forehead  in  agony. 

The  Tioughnioga  valley  was  deserted,  for  the  red 
7 


130  LEGEND    OF   TIOUGHNIOGA   VALLEY. 

men  had  abandoned  their  homes  made  desolate  by  the 
ruthless  barbarity  of  the  unfriendl}^  Mingoes,  and  had 
joined  the  Monceys  whose  council-fires  burned  at  Mini- 
sink  on  the  Makerisk-kiskon,  or  Delaware  river. 

-  The  evening  shades  were  gathering  their  misty  folds 
over  the  earth.  The  orient  moonbeams  sent  a  golden 
hue  through  the  tall  tree-tops,  and  the  dark  shadows  of 
the  gnarled  oaks  looked  like  huge  monsters,  as  they 
loomed  over  the  calm,  still  water.  A  dusky  maiden 
reclined  by  the  side  of  her  native  river,  which  lay  as  a 
polished  mirror  upon  the  wild  bosom  of  nature.  Her 
sweet  voice,  like  an  seolian  harp,  chanted  the  favorite  air 
of  her  noble  brave.  She  heard  the  tramp  of  the  fleet- 
bounding  deer,  the  hoot  of  the  old  gray  owl,  and  the 
sharp,  terrific  scream  of  the  panther.  She  saw  their 
eyes  glaring  like  fiery  meteors  in  the  thick  underbrush 
near  where  she  had  selected  for  the  night  her  moss- 
covered  couch.  Her  hair  hung  in  long  dark  braids  over 
her  uncovered  shoulders;  her  eyes  were  black  as  the 
raven's  plumage  ;  her  complexion  of  the  purest  olive, 
and  her  whole  form  of  the  most  perfect  beauty  and  sym- 
metry. 

Now  she  gazes  upon  a  little  cloud  that  is  peering  o'er 
yonder  misty  peak.  A  gentle  breeze  ripples  the  glassy 
waters  ;  the  cloud  increases  with  terrific  blackness ; 
the  wind  sweeps  by  with  tempestuous  force  ;  the  moon 
is  veiled  from  sight ;  one-half  of  the  blue  expanse  is 
palled  in  the  tapestry  of  gloom,  and  the  other  half  ex- 
hibits clouds  of  ever}^  shape,  now  piled  like  Alps  on 
Alps  in  snow-white  purity,  now  bathed  in  purple,  pink 
and  gold ;  afar,  the  rumbling  thunder  is  heard,  and 
sharp  flashes  of  lightning    leap    like  tongues  of   fire 


LEGEND    OF   TIOUGHNIOGA   VALLEY.  131 

athwart  the  darkened  sky  :  the  rain  pours  down  in  tor- 
rents. But  'tis  passed  ;  delightful  coolness  fills  the  air, 
and  all  nature  is  refreshed.  She  gazed  down  the  river, 
and  her  quick  ear  caught  the  sound  of  oars,  for  at  that 
moment  a  canoe  was  gliding  through  the  gentle  wave- 
lets. Her  eagle  eye  discerned  at  a  glance  the  richly 
ornamented  crest  and  white  plume  of  her  favorite  chief. 
Nearer  and  nearer  it  approached  the  shore — a  stroke 
more — the  young  and  devoted  sachem  leaped  upon  the 
shore,  and  Altahalah  was  in  the  arms  of  Ke-no-tah,  her 
lover. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

EARLY   SETTLEMENTS   AND    ORGANIZATION   OF   TOWNS. 

"  Their  fortress  was  the  good  greenwood, 
Their  tent  the  cypress  tree ; 
They  knew  the  forest  'round  them, 
As  seamen  know  the  sea." 

It  is  a  characteristic  principle  of  the  correct  histo- 
rian, to  describe  with  the  most  perfect  minuteness,  the 
origin,  or  first  feeble  beginnings  of  a  new  settlement. 
These  are  usually  read  with  more  than  ordinary  interest, 
and  especially  if  the  pioneers  suffered  many  and  great 
inconveniences.  In  most  instances,  those  progressive 
spirits  possessed  many  of  the  self-sacrificing  traits  of 
character,  kindred  to  those  which  contributed  most  es- 
sentially in  providing  the  blessings  of  freedom  which 
we  now  enjoy.  They  labored  not  alone  for  themselves, 
but  for  their  children,  friends,  and  country.  It  was  no 
easy  task  to  abandon  the  hearth-stone  of  their  boyish 
days,  the  endearments  of  social  ties,  cultivated  associ- 
ations and  the  many  luxuries  common  to  settlements 
that  have  long  prospered  under  the  progressive  spirit 
of  civilization.  It  required  something  more  than  mere 
passive  beings  to  convert  these  valleys  into  fruitful 
fields,  or  cause  these  rugged  hills  to  yield  forth  the  rich 
products  of  a  virgin  soil. 


SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION.  133 

The  early  pioneers  possessed  something  more  than 
mere  negative  characters.  They  were  bold,  enterpris- 
ing men,  well  suited  to  the  task  of  preparing  a  lodgment 
in  the  wilderness.  Nay,  they  were  stern  realities.  The 
law  of  progress  was  most  legibly  stamped  upon  their 
characters.  They  exerted  all  their  energies  to  the  fur- 
therance of  the  general  improvements  of  the  age  in 
which  they  lived  —  whose  forward  movements  were 
steady  and  firm  as 

*'  The  eternal  step  of  progress  beats 
To  the  great  anthem,  calm  and  slow, 
Which  God  repeats  " 

We  love  to  study  and  contemplate  the  attributes  of 
character  which  so  peculiarly  distinguished  these  brave 
and  devoted  pioneers,  for  great  achievements  succeeded 
their  bold  efforts  for  the  extension  of  civilization.  We 
delight  in  recurring  to  their  history,  for  their  good  deeds 
and  noble  enterprises  should  forever  live  fresh  and  green 
in  our  memories,  and  stimulate  us  to  deeds  of  patriot- 
ism, philanthropy,  and  a  devotional  fellow  feeling  worthy 
the  descendants  of  those  who  warred  with  the  mountain 
oak,  when  thej^  struck  their  tents  in  the  wilderness  and 
grappled  with  stern  adversity  for  the  mastery.  Their 
triumphs  were  of  the  noblest  character,  achieved  by 
men  whose  native  dignity  and  determined  will  made 
them  what  they  really  were — Nature's  true  noblemen. 
They  were  kind  and  courteous,  possessing  none  of  that 
apish  pride  so  common  among  those  of  more  refined 
regions.  Their  law  of  courtesy  consisted  of  justice  and 
equal  rights.  They  loved  truth,  took  pleasure  in  assist- 
ing each  other,  laboring  to  increase  the  happiness  of 


134  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

those  around  them.  They  lived  not  merely  for  the  sake 
of  living,  but  that  good  might  result  from  their  labors 
in  the  field  of  enterprise.  To  slumber  on  in  undisturbed 
repose,  or  waste  their  time  forgetful  of  the  object  of 
their  creation,  or  the  duties  of  active  men  —  to  live, 
breathe  and  move  as  though  the  world's  prosperity  and 
adversity  to  them  were  alike — to  stand  as  marble  stat- 
ues in  the  great  waste  of  time,  or  voluptuous  monu- 
ments of  ease  and  indifference,  they  regarded  with  the 
most  utter  abhorrence.  Such  men  have  been  the  forlorn 
hope  of  marching  armies  and  tottering  empires.  Such 
were  the  ever-conquering  spirits  whom  Napoleon  held 
in  reserve  to  strike  the  blow  that  should  send  conster- 
nation and  death  through  the  ranks  of  his  iron-clad 
opponents.  Such  were  the  resistless  and  stern  actors 
who,  in  the  bloody  conflict  which  gave  an  immortality 
to  Wellington  for  his  heroism  upon  the  field  of  Water- 
loo, hewed  their  way  to  victory  or  death.  Such  were 
the  champions  of  heroic  valor,  who  left  the  sunny 
plains  of  Italy,  camped  along  the  banks  of  the  noble 
Tiber,  and  finally  put  forth  an  impulse  that  gave  a 
historic  immortality  to  the  seven-hilled  city,  over  which 
was  reared  the  standard  of  ancient  Rome.  Such  were 
the  daring  men  of  our  country's  Revolution,  who,  amid 
death  and  desolation,  strove  to  erect  the  temple  of 
Liberty  and  Independence.  Such  were  the  men  who 
converted  our  hills  and  valleys  into  green  pastures  and 
fruitful  fields. 

The  hardy  adventurers  who  first  struck  their  tents 
along  the  banks  of  the  Tioughnioga,  or  reared  their 
rustic  cabins  on  our  hill-sides,  were  subject  to  incidents 
common  to  all  pioneers,  and  which,  to  them,  were  full  of 


SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION.  135 

point  and  interest.  Many  of  them  suftered  severely 
during  their  long  and  weary  journey  to  their  forest 
home.  Looking  back  through  the  dim  distance  of  the 
past,  we  behold  a  little  company  of  bold  spirits  slowly 
winding  along  the  banks  of  the  majestic  Hudson. 
Day  after  day  they  toil  onward  :  night  after  night 
they  sleep  in  a  Connecticut  covered  wagon,  or  retire  to 
rest  beneath  the  branches  of  some  huge  umbrageous 
tree,  or  near  by  some  sparkling  fount  or  limpid  rill. 
They  have  left  home  and  friends  behind,  and,  like  the 
pilgrims  who  braved  the  dangers  of  the  stormy  ocean, 
have  resolved  to  seek  a  home  in  the  new  land  of  promise. 
Some  of  ihe  number,  having  never  seen  an  Indian,  and 
being  unacquainted  with  their  pacific  character,  were 
constantly  tortured  with  the  idea  of  being  massacred, 
or  perhaps  carried  away  into  hopeless  captivity.  They 
had  read  the  murderous  tales  drawn  from  the  bloody 
scenes  of  the  border  wars  of  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  had  listened  to  the  startling  incidents  con- 
nected with  the  heroic  struggles  of  King  Philip — scenes 
of  devastation  and  blood,  the  bare  recital  of  which 
sends  the  blood  curdling  to  the  heart.  As  they  approach- 
ed the  Mohawk  valley,  they  were  met  by  half  a  dozen 
Oneidas,  who,  in  a  most  decorous  and  courteous  manner, 
inquired  with  regard  to  their  health  and  destination. 
Their  manner,  at  once  so  agreeable,  struck  the  ladies 
with  astonishment.  The  warm  shake  of  the  red  man's 
hand  became  in  after  time  associated  with  some  of  the 
•most  interesting  incidents  connected  with  their  adven- 
turous wanderings. 

'Tis  night.     They  have  paused   for  repose  in  a  dense 
wilderness,  and  their  camp  fire  is  already  blazing  by  the 


136  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

side  of  a  majestic  old  oak.  The  last  quart  of  Indian 
meal  is  hastily  converted  into  journey  cake,  the  time- 
worn  tea-pot  is  replenished  with  a  few  leaves  of  old  hy- 
son, and  the  only  remaining  venison  shank  assists  in 
the  preparation  of  a  plain,  but  wholesome  dish  of  soup. 
The  end  board  of  a  wagon  serves  for  a  table,  being  ele- 
vated on  a  little  hillock,  around  which  the  company 
gather  to  partake  of  the  simple  repast.  The  hoot  of  the 
old  gray  owl  is  heard  in  the  distance,  while  the  howl 
of  the  wolf  and  the  scream  of  the  panther  mingle  their 
discordant  notes  in  the  mountain  gorge.  Vapory  clouds 
had  o'erspread  the  face  of  heaven  and  shut  out  from 
view  night's  diadem.  Far  to  the  northward  was  heard 
the  rumbling  thunder,  and  anon  the  forked  lightnings 
dashed  athwart  the  aerial  sky.  But  look  !  the  electric 
fluid  has  descended  and  shattered  a  sycamore  of  three 
centuries'  growth  into  a  thousand  fragments  ;  suddenly 
the  little  band  grouped  about  the  table  are  startled  by 
the  well-known  bark  of  the  old  house-dog.  At  a  few 
rods  distant  are  seen  two  globes,  of  fire-like  brilliancy. 
The  unerring  gun  is  seized,  and  quick  is  heard  the  sharp 
report  of  the  Yankee  rifle,  succeeded  by  death-like 
screeches,  as  some  unknown  form  bounded  away  in  the 
thicket.  But  hark  !  the  death-struggles  of  the  huge 
monster  are  heard.  A  torch  is  snatched  from  the  camp 
fire.  The  Yankee  rifle  is  reloaded  with  a  double  charge, 
and  three  of  the  adventurers  go  in  pursuit  of  the  wound- 
ed animal.  They  had  not  proceeded  over  ten  or  fifteen 
rods,  before  they  came  upon  an  enormous  panther  wel- 
tering in  his  blood.  The  shot  had  taken  fatal  effect. 
Another  report  of  the  rifle  was  heard,  and  all  was  still. 
A  quarter  of  an  hour  after,  the  animal  lay  stretched  out 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  137 

before  the  camp  fire,  and  was  found  by  measurement  to 
exceed  nine  feet  in  length. 

An  hour  after,  the  clouds  had  disappeared,  and  the 
stars 

"That  point  with  radiant  fingers 
Thro'  each  dark  greenwood  bough,'' 

looked  out  in  beauty  from  the  vaulted  sky, 

*'  Girt  with  Omnipotence,  with  radiance  crowned 
Of  majesty  Divine.'' 

Before  the  sun  had  flung  forth  his  flaming  beams  along 
the  orient  sky,  the  little  band  of  brave  pioneers  were 
toiling  onward,  having  disrobed  the  panther,  and  left 
his  skinless  form  to  the  protecting  care  of  the  hungry 
hyena  and  rapacious  vulture.  They  passed  with  entire 
safety  through  Indian  settlements,  receiving  the  frank 
expressions  of  friendship  whenever  met  by  any  of  the 
roving  natives,  who,  although  unwilling  to  give  up 
their  hunting-grounds  without  a  satisfactory  equivalent, 
would  not  condescend  to  offer  insult,  or  treat  with  con- 
tempt or  indiflference  their  more  powerful  rivals.  They 
subsisted  for  several  days  almost  entirely  on  the  wild 
game  of  the  woods.  An  old  lady,  relating  to  us  the 
hardships  through  which  they  passed,  remarked,  that 
"  had  it  not  been  for  the  deer  that  roamed  at  large,  they 
should  have  suffered  still  more  severely,  and  perhaps 
even  unto  death,  as  roots  and  venison  were  their  only 
food  for  many  a  long  and  gloomy  day,"  And  the  tea»s 
came  in  the  eyes  of  this  sairited  mother  of  Israel,  as  she 
told  her  tale  of  privation,  suffering  and  sorrow. 

There  were  several  families  that  came  in  during  the 

0y^» 


138  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

winter  season,  and  were  consequently  subjected  to  un- 
usual hardships.  The  great  depth  of  snow  that  fre- 
quently fell  impeded  their  progress.  The  Indian  trails 
were  often  entirely  hidden  from  sight.  Then  again, 
another  great  difficulty  interposed  almost  insurmount- 
able barriers.  Many  miles  had  to  be  traversed,  without 
roads,  and  in  a  dense  unbroken  wilderness.  Much  of 
the  country  through  which  the  pioneers  passed  presented 
a  very  level  surface,  which,  when  covered  with  forest 
trees,  was  wet  and  swampy,  and  from  which  arose  the 
foul  miasma  which  not  unfrequently  generated  disease, — 
if  not  fevers  of  a  malignant  cast,  at  least  those  horrid 
ague  chills,  which  often  undermine  the  strongest  consti- 
tution, and  lead  the  unhappy  victim  to  prostrate  the 
system  still  lower  with  the  thousand  nostrums  and 
humbug  panaceas  of  the  day.  There  were  numerous 
instances  where  their  progress  was  obstructed  by  vari 
"ous  obstacles,  and  to  an  extent  to  preclude  their  making 
over  five  or  six  miles  per  day;  and  we  have  been  informed 
of  an  instance,  where  the  company,  for  several  successive 
days,  did  not  exceed  three.  To  us,  in  these  days  of 
progress  and  steam,  it  seems  like  making  slow  headway 
if  we  do  not  exceed  twenty-five  miles  per  hour. 

But  the  idea  of  being  in  a  dense  forest,  with  little 
suffering  children  pleading  for  food,  without  having  the 
power  to  satisfy  those  wants,  is  most  horrible.  And  yet 
such  occurrences  were  experienced  by  some  of  the  first 
settlers  of  this  county.  What  mighty  changes  have 
been  wrought  by  the  finger  of  time  !  What  stupendous 
obstacles  have  been  overcome.  The  heavy  forest  trees, 
over  which  for  centuries  the  lurid  lightning  wheeled  in 
awful  grandeur,  and  through  which  the  untamed  whirl- 


SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION.  139 

wind  swept — those  mighty  forest  oaks  which  defied  the 
the  blast  and  the  storm,  have  been  removed.  The  rock- 
ribbed  ridges  have  been  converted  into  productive  pas- 
tures, and  the  pestiferous  marshes  of  the  Mohawk  now 
form  one  of  the  finest  and  most  valuable  agricultural 
districts  in  that  region  of  country.  The  Indian  trails 
have  disappeared,  and  in  their  pla-ces  have  been  substi- 
tuted excellent  roads.  The  terrific  howl  of  the  wolf 
has  given  place  to  the  sharp,  shrill  scream  of  the  locomo- 
tive whistle.  An  enterprising  population  is  located  in 
the  valleys  and  scattered  over  the  hills.  Wealth  has 
sprung  up  in  almost  every  department  of  business,  and 
Mammon  stands,  with  brazen  front,  contending  for  power 
and  place. 

A  New  Englander,  on  his  way  to  this  land  of  promise, 
who  had  passed  in  safety  through  the  northern  wilder- 
ness, undismayed  at  the  growl  of  the  bear,  the  howl  of 
the  wolf,  or  the  frightful  scream  of  the  great  northern 
panther,  had  arrived  within  a  few  miles  of  Manlius,  when 
suddenly  his  dream  was  changed  to  positive  reality. 
A  man  of  surly,  dark  features,  tall,  erect  and  command- 
ing figure,  presented  himself  before  the  astonished  New 
Englander,  and  very  politely  demanded  his  money.  To 
this  unexpected  appeal  the  Yankee  demurred.  He  did 
not  discover  the  means  by  which  he  was  to  receive  any 
benefit  from  such  a  kind  of  procedure,  and  frankly  told 
the  supposed  wild  man  of  the  woods  that  he  had  no 
money  for  him,  and  threatened  him  with  a  severe  caning 
if  he  did  not  depart  and  leave  him  to  proceed  on  his 
journey.  But  the  French  trader  (for  such  he  undoubt- 
edly was)  was  not  so  easily  to  be  put  off.  Summoning 
all  his  commanding  powers,  he,  in  a  tone  the  most  au- 


140  SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION. 

thoritative,  again  demanded  the  granite  rocks.  But 
the  reply  was  equally  autlioritative,  that  he  could  have 
none.  Then  said  the  highwayman,  '"'  give  me  the  hand 
of  your  beautiful  daughter — ctmor  vincit  omnia.'''"^  But 
the  stern  old  man  thundered  in  his  ear  in  tones  the  most 
indignant,  "  avaunt  !  scoundrel,  avaunt  !"  Still  the 
higwayman  persisted  in  his  unjust  demands,  brandish- 
ing a  large  hunting-knife  over  the  head  of  the  unarmed 
pioneer.  Suddenly,  however,  the  scene  chauged,  for 
the  invincible  New  Englander  siezed  a  bludgeon  of 
wood,  and  in  an  attitude  at  once  threatening  and  alarm- 
ing, made  for  the  wretch  who  hoped  to  wrest  from  the 
worthy  man,  not  only  his  treasure  of  gold,  but  the  idol 
of  his  heart ;  but  his  shadow  was  fast  disappearing  in 
the  thicket  before  him,  from  which  he  did  not  again 
venture  for  the  purpose  of  molesting  the  stern  old  man 
of  the  granite  hills  of  New  England. 

The  timber  was  generally  of  heavy  growth,  a  fact  going 
far  to  sustain  the  generally  conceived  opinion,  that  the 
Indians  had  not  for  at  least  two  centuries  made  any 
very  successful  attempt  at  cultivating  any  portion  of 
the  Homer  flats.  True,  we  have  the  opinion  of  an  aged 
Oneida  sachem,  and  also  some  traditionary  evidence, 
which  go  far  towards  establishing  the  fact  of  there  hav- 
ing been,  anterior  to  the  sixteenth  century,  a  race  of  red 
men  located  along  the  western  shore  of  the  Tioughnioga 
river,  and  that  by  intestine  broils  and  internal  commo- 
tions they  were  entirely  destroyed.  There  have  been 
instances  in  which  arrow  points  have  been  found  imbed- 
ded in  the  hearts  of  trees  of  great  age, — at  least  the 

*  Love  constraineth  all  things. 


SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION.  141 

concentric  circles  would  indicate  that  they  were  of  more 
than  four  hundred  years'  growth. 

During  the  spring  of  1855,  while  engaged  in  excavat- 
ing a  mound  of  earth,  v/e  were  surprised  on  finding  that 
it  contained  specimens  of  charcoal,  in  a  perfectly  sound 
state.  There  were  also  fragments  of  mouldering  bones, 
and  singularly  wrought  impressions  on  the  surface  of 
dark,  slatish-colored  stones.  How,  when,  or  by  whom 
these  deposits  were  made,  are  questions  which  we  leave 
for  geologists  to  solve. 

The  heavy  growth  of  forest  trees  was  a  great  draw- 
back to  the  more  rapid  improvement  of  this  section  of 
country.  At  the  time  the  first  permanent  settler  located  in 
the  county  of  Cortland,  the  Phelps  and  Ghoram  tract  was 
being  rapidly  settled.  The  Indian  title  to  the  Genesee 
country  had  been  extinguished  prior  to  that  of  the  Mili- 
tary Tract.  And  the  inducements  to  settle  on  the  for- 
mer were  much  greater  than  those  held  out  in  behalf  of 
the  latter.  Individuals,  natives  of  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut,  were  personally  interested  in  the  Phelps 
and  Ghoram  purchase,  and  consequently  possessed  con- 
siderable influence  over  the  greater  proportion  of  those 
who  migrated  from  the  New  England  States  ;  and  in 
1790  about  fifty  townships  had  been  sold.  A  monster, 
hideous  to  the  sight  of  the  Six  Nations,  sat  in  his  den 
of  unhewn  logs  at  Canandaigua,  cutting  up  the  rich 
hunting-grounds  of  the  Senecas  into  gores  and  town- 
ships, and  disposing  of  them  at  a  mere  nominal  price, 
which  of  course  had  a  strong  tendency  to  facilitate 
the  more  rapid  settlement  of  the  Genesee  country. 
Many  of  the  original  claimants  to  military  lands  were 
dead  :  others  had  disposed  of  their  right,  which,  perhaps 


142  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

in  turn,  had  been  transferred  to  a  third,  fourth,  or  fifth 
purchaser,  which  in  the  end  gave  rise  to  many  litigated 
contests  before  the  titles  were  permanently  settled. 

Aside  from  the  manj^  privations  and  hardships  endured 
by  the  early  adventurers  in  reaching  their  various  points 
of  destination,  they  were  subjected  to  many  and  great 
inconveniences  after  they  had  arrived  at  their  new 
homes, — having  no  floors  to  their  dwellings,  save  such 
as  were  constructed  from  split  logs  ;  using  blocks  for 
chairs,  poles  tied  at  the  ends  with  bark  for  bedsteads, 
and  bark  for  bedcords  ;  chips  for  plates,  paper  for  win- 
dows, sap  troughs  for  cradles,  and  so  on  to  the  end  of 
the  chapter. 

The  first  crop  of  grain  grown  by  the  primitive  settlers 
was  a  half  acre  of  corn,  one  third  of  which  was  eaten 
while  green.  The  small  amount  of  meal  brought  with 
them  at  the  time  of  moving  had  already  been  consumed, 
and  of  necessity  they  had  to  resort  to  various  expedi- 
ents to  sustain  life  and  drive  away  hunger,  and  as  a 
substitute  for  the  more  favorite  and  substantial  food, 
they  dug  ground  nuts,  and  many  nutritious  roots,  and 
after  boiling  them  for  a  length  of  time,  ate  them  with  a 
relish  quite  unknown  to  that  class  of  "  upper  tens"  of 
the  present  day  who  are  living  in  castles  of  ivory,  or 
mammoth  structures  which  have  been  reared  by  the 
productive  labor  of  others.  In  the  settlement  of  wes- 
tern, or  central  southern  New  York,  we  have  heard  of 
but  a  single  instance  in  which  this  mode  of  living  was 
surpassed,  and  that  was  by  Oliver  Crocker,  who  in  an 
early  day  came  into  Broome  county  with  a  pack  on  his 
back,  and,  while  engaged  in  "clearing  his  land,  lived  for 
some  time  on  roots  and  beech  leaves."     He  was  at  this 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  143 

time  only  eighteen  years  of  age — had  been  for  two  years 
in  the  employment  of  Elder  Joshua  Whitney,  when  he 
found  himself  able  to  purchase  four  hundred  acres  of 
land.  He  became  a  very  enterprising  and  wealthy  man, 
yet  held  a  most  perfect  abhorrence  of  that  species  of 
popularity  which  is  purchased  at  the  shrine  of  gold. 
His  property  did  not  lift  him  above  the  common  level 
of  humanity. 

As  soon  as  the  corn  had  become  partially  ripe,  a 
quantity  was  gathered,  and  after. drying,  was,  by  means 
of  a  stump  hollowed  out  for  a  mortar,  and  a  pestle  hung 
to  a  well-sweep,  pounded  into  coarse  meal,  which  by 
boiling  was  coverted  into  samp  or  hominy — a  most 
excellent  and  healthy  dish. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Morse,  the  pioneer  of  Cuyler,  lived 
the  greater  part  of  one  summer,  on  greens,  and  yet  did 
not  repine,  but  looked  forward  for  better  days. 

There  were  resolute,  determined  actors,  with  strong 
arms,  at  war  with  the  ancient  forest  trees.  The  wilder- 
ness was  doomed  to  disappear.  Migrators  were  launch- 
ing their  frail  crafts  upon  the  Hudson,  forcing  their 
canoes  along  the  Mohawk,  Unadilla,  and  Susquehanna, 
eagerly  pushing  forward,  with  a  longing  wish  for  a 
glimpse  of  the  Onondaga,  Chenango,  and  Tioughnioga. 
The  panther,  the  wolf,  the  bear,  the  deer,  and  the  thou- 
sand homogeneous  tribes  of  "fur  and  bristles,  were  re- 
treating to  the  swamps  and  miniature  mountain  passes 
with  a  present  prospect  of  safety  from  the  leaden  mis- 
siles of  New  England  rifles.  The  proud  old  Romans, 
the  native  dwellers  of  the  woods,  began  to  exhibit 
strong  symptoms  of  jealousy  towards  the  "  pale  faces," 
who  were  thus  encroaching  on  their  rights  ;  and  even 


144  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

"barbarism  drew  its  fantastic  blanket  over  its  shoul- 
ders, and,  clutching  its  curiously-wrought  tomahawk,' 
was  seen  "  withdrawing  to  other  solitudes,  jingling  its 
brazen  ornaments  and  whooping  as  it  went."  Improve- 
ments rapidly  increased,  and  settlements  multiplied. 
The  soil  being  rich  and  productive,  other  crops  came  in, 
were  harvested,  and  converted  into  wholesome  food.  At 
this  time  there  were  no  roads,  save  such  as  were  made 
by  following  the  Indian  trails,  removing  the  larger  logs, 
cutting  away  saplings  and  under-brush  barely  sufficient 
to  admit  of  the  passage  of  a  team.  Eight  to  ten  days 
were  required  to  effect  a  commercial  intercourse  with 
Chenango  Forks,  forty  miles  south  ;  six  to  eight  with 
Ludlowville,  twenty-five  miles  west  ;  and  about  an  equal 
number  with  Manlius  square,  thirty  miles  north,  at 
which  place  they  procured  salt  and  grinding.  At 
the  former  and  latter,  they  purchased  tobacco,  and  lin- 
sey-woolsey, while  for  axes  they  went  to  Cazenovia. 
Tea  was  an  unbearable  extravagance.  True,  a  few  of 
the  more  thoughtful  had  laid  in  a  small  quantity,  before 
leaving  the  "  land  of  steady  habits,"  and  this  was  re- 
sorted to  only  on  extra  occasions.  An  elderly  lady  told 
us  of  a  long  expedition  made  by  her  husband  to  Ithaca, 
and  how  her  heart  was  gladdened  on  his  return,  on 
learning  that  he  had  purchased  a  whole  half  pound  of 
JBohea.     It  was  indeed  a  luxury. 

But  now  that  the  delicious  article  was  obtained,  its 
stimulating  and  soul-cheering  effects  must  be  enjoyed. 
The  whole  neighborhood  received  an  invitation  to  come 
in  and  spend  the  afternoon  in  a  social  chat,  and  testify 
to  its  merits.  The  afternoon  came,  and  with  it  the  com- 
pany.     The  daughter,  a   flaxen-haired  girl  of  sixteen 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  145 

summers,  not  forgetful  of  the  generous  sympathies  that 
prevailed  among  the  primitive  settlers,  had,  in  the  mean- 
time, contrived  to  despatch  a  special  messenger,  bearing 
an  affectionate  billet-doux,  to  her  dear  devoted  friend 
John, — a  very  worthy  young  man  of  another  settlement, 
— requesting  his  presence^  inasmuch  as  they  were  in- 
tending to  have  a  kind  of  glorification  over  the  choice 
beverage.  She  was  entirely  free  from  deceit,  dishon- 
esty, haughty  pride  and  fashionable  idleness,  and 
frankly  told  her  friend  that  her  mother  was  in  want  of 
a  tea-pot,  and  hoped,  inasmuch  as  his  mother  had  one  of 
revolutionary  memory,  and  which  had  been  used  by  his 
grandfather  in  the  camp,  that  he  would  do  her  the 
favor  to  bring  the  article  with  him.  John  came,  and, 
true  to  the  desired  courtesy,  brought  along  the  old  war 
relic,  and  placing  it  on  the  slab  table,  very  coolly  re- 
marked that  he  was  somewhat  given  to  dreaming,  and 
that  in  one  of  his  favorite  reveries  he  had  dreamed  that 
a  party  of  friends  were  to  be  convened  at  the  double  log 
house  ;  and  presuming  that  the  olden  trophy  of  a  passing 
age  might  be  serviceable,  had,  at  the  risk  of  being 
laughed  at,  obeyed  the  direction  given  him  in  his  noc- 
turnal visitation. 

The  explanation  of  John  was  received  with  a  hearty 
laugh,  and  a  grateful  expression  of  remembrance  on  the 
part  of  the  mother.  Not  one  of  the  company  ventured 
to  whisper  a  suspicious  thought.  They  could  not  be  so 
unkind.  The  visit  was  really  enjoyed,  and  the  Boliea 
proved  a  most  valuable  auxiliary  in  giving  life  and 
spirit  to  the  frequent  interchange  of  sentiments. 

We  were  told  by  Mr.  Lilly,  that  at  a  later  day,  him- 
self and  brother  went  on  foot  to  Genoa  and  Scipio,  to 


146  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

reap  wheat.  They  labored  five  and  a  half  days  each, 
and  earned  eleven  bushels  ;  threshed  and  carried  it  to 
mill,  one  mile  east  of  Moravia. 

^  AVe  have  been  told  of  numerous  instances  of  a  like 
persevering  industry  and  kindly  attention  to  the  wants 
of  the  dear  devoted  ones  at  home — of  the  father  or  eld- 
est son  setting  out  with  a  sack  of  grain  on  his  shoulder, 
for  a  journey  of  twenty-five,  and  even  forty  miles,  to  a 
mill,  in  order  to  secure  the  wherewith  to  supply  the 
place  of  the  fast  disappearing  loaf.  It  was,  however,  a 
prevailing  custom,  when  necessity  did  not  demand  more 
immediate  attention,  for  one  who  was  blessed  with  a 
team  to  take  the  grists  for  a  whole  neighborhood — an 
act  evincing  a  generosity  of  sympathy  peculiar  to  new 
settlements. 

A  grist-mill  at  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles  was  of 
valuable  consideration,  when  compared  with  a  mortar 
and  pestle. 

Linsey-woolsey  was  a  great  achievement  when  al- 
lowed to  take  the  place  of  buckskin  pants  and  jacket 
coats.  Glass  windows  were  regarded  as  a  very  great 
improvement  over  those  fashioned  from  paper.  A  ser- 
vice of  earthen  ware,  when  allowed  to  supplant  the  place 
of  chips  and  wooden  trenchers,  was  a  luxury  most  ar- 
dently desired  ;  and  when  a  cherry  table  graced  the 
kitchen,  it  was  looked  upon  as  a  mark  of  increasing 
prosperity.  A  wagon  with  wooden  springs  attached 
to  the  seat,  was  procured  at  a  most  exorbitant  price, 
and  was  regarded  as  a  luxury  to  be  enjoyed  only  by  the 
few.  A  horse  was  almost  deified.  They  had  but  few 
barns,  and  these  were  rude  huts,  their  grain  being 
stacked  out  door,  winnowed  by  the  breeze  of  heaven, 


SETTLEMENT  AND   ORGANIZATION.  147 

placed  into  sacks -and  swung  across  the  beams  of  the 
kitchen.  Stairs  were  not  yet  thought  of,  and  a  garret 
floor  was  shrouded  in  their  undreamed  of  philosopliy. 
If  they  were  not  the  days  of  gentility  and  refinement, 
they  were  at  least  th^  days  of  lustihood,  generosity,  and 
good  fellowship.  Respectability  did  not  then  consist 
in  wealth  alone,  and  a  mean  and  beastly  selfishness 
would  have  been  despised,  even  though  clothed  in  "silk 
and  faring  sumptuously."  Indeed,  greatness  of  charac- 
ter did  not  consist  in  fine  houses  and  broad  acres. 
Forced  smiles  and  hypocritical  pretensions,  were  re- 
served for  older,  and  perchance,  more  refined  regions. 
Land  sharks,  money  shavers,  and  political  gamblers, 
were  not  of  their  order.  They  possessed  not  only  mus- 
cles, sinews  and  bones,  but  a  fleshy  form,  containing  a 
human  soul.  They  were  not  automatons — they  could 
appreciate  a  good  act,  and  return  a  favor  without  ac- 
companying it  with  a  grudge. 

Previous  to  1791,  the  territory  now  comprised  within 
the  county  of  Cortland  was  known  to  the  whites  only 
by  charts  and  maps,  and  though  forming  a  constituent 
portion  of  the  State  of  New  York,  was  regarded,  on  ac- 
count of  its  location,  of  but  minor  importance. 

Homer. — In  1789,  Amos  Todd  and  Joseph  Beebe  mi- 
grated from  New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  located  at  Wind- 
sor, Broome  co.,  N.  Y.  In  1791  they  removed  from  Wind- 
sor, and  were  the  first  of  the  noble  pioneers  who  planted 
the  standard  of  civilization  in  the  Tioughnioga  Valley. 

These  enterprising  spirits  were  accompanied  by  only 
one  lady, — the  sister  of  Mr.  Todd,  and  wife  of  Mr.  Beebe. 

We  shall  not  stop  here  to  recount  the  various  degrees 


148  SETTLEMENT   AKD   OEGANIZATION. 

of  unremitting  toil,  privation  and  effort  through  which 
they  passed  in  their  journey  to  their  new  and  uninviting 
home. 

Mr.  Beebe  erected  his  house  north  of  Homer  village? 
near  the  upper  bridge,  on  ground  now  occupied  by 
the  residence  of  Joseph  Burt.  In  our  mind  there  is  no 
doubt  existing  with  reference  to  the  locality  of  Mr. 
Beebe's  house.  His  son  Spencer,  who,  in  1852,  died  in 
a  prayer  meeting  at  Harrison  Yalle}^  Pa.,  has  left  some 
early  reminiscences  and  data,  together  with  a  map, 
which  accurately  describes  the  Tioughnioga,  and  marks 
the  location  of  the  first  four  dwellings  erected  west  of 
the  river.  These  are  now  in  the  hands  of  the  writer. 
The  edifice  would  illy  compare  with  those  now  occupy- 
ing the  adjacent  grounds.  It  was  in  the  main  composed 
of  poles,  twelve  by  fifteen  feet.  Before  this  temporary 
abode  had  been  completed,  their  team  strayed  away  in 
the  woods.  Leaving  Mrs.  Beebe  alone,  they  set  out  in 
its  pursuit.  She  had  no  protection  except  the  four  walls 
of  poles,  without  floor  or  roof,  and  simply  a  blanket 
stuck  up  with  forks  to  cover  the  space  intended  for  a 
door.  The  husband  and  brother  were  absent  three  daj^s 
and  nights,  and  during  the  long  and  lonely  hours,  Mrs. 
Beebe  maintained  a  tranquil  mind  and  received  no  an- 
noyance, save  such  as  was  caused  by  the  howling 
wolf  and  screaming  panther,  of  whose  rapacity  for 
blood  she  had  often  heard,  and  whose  terrible  yells  made 
night  hideous  and  tenfold  more  alarming  to  the  tender 
feelings  of  a  sensitive  female.  She  received  but  one 
call,  and  that  was  from  a  wolf,  who,  being  rather  timid, 
only  displaced  the  blanket  sufficient  to  introduce  his 
phiz  and  take  a  look  at  her  ladyship. 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  149 

During  the  following  winter,  Messrs.  Beebe  and  Todd 
returned  to  Windsor  for  their  effects,  and  were  snow- 
bound for  six  weeks.  Mrs.  Beebe  remained  at  home, 
the  sole  occupant  of  her  palace  of  poles.  She  must 
have  been  blessed  with  more  than  ordinary  courage 
and  fortitude.  Probably  but  few  women  in  these  days 
of  modern  refinement,  similarly  situated,  would  exhibit 
an  equal  amount  of  patience  and  force  of  character. 
Let  us  not  be  understood  as  wishing  to  speak  dispara- 
gingly of  the  females  of  the  present  day  :  far  from  it. 
Circumstances  give  an  entire  change  to  human  charac- 
ter. The  elements  of  which  it  is  composed,  are  vari- 
ously operated  upon.  Other  circumstances  might  have 
made  Lord  Byron  a  Washington,  or  Washington  a  By- 
ron.    Education,  properly  considered,  is  everything. 

It  was  a  cold  day  in  the  middle  of  winter.  Their 
goods  were  closely  stowed  away  in  their  little  craft,  and 
as  they  "  pulled  away  from  tlie  shore,"  and  bent  their 
course  homeward,  a  farewell  shout  echoed  from  shore  to 
shore. 

Arriving  at  Binghamton,  they  were  joined  by  John 
Miller,  Esq.,  father  of  deacon  Daniel  Miller,  whose  com- 
pany was  very  acceptable  to  these  half  land,  half  water 
craftsmen.*  The  men  took  turns  in  directing  the  course 
of  the  boat,  while  the  others  followed  on  foot  along  the 
shore  of  the  river,  removing  obstructions,  and  driving 
the  cattle.  When  the  stream  was  too  shallow,  the  boat 
was  drawn   across  the  rifts  with  their  oxen,  and  then 


*  Mr.  Miller  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  He  lies  entombed  a 
short  distance  south-cast  of  the  County  House,  where  four  genera- 
tions of  the  Millers  "  sleep." 


150  SETTLEMENT   AND    OKGANIZATION. 

again  set  afloat  upon  the  watery  element.  Then  the 
facilities  for  moving  goods  were  in  wide  contrast  with 
those  of  the  present  day.  Then  they  were  not  even  fa- 
vored with  a  common  highway  over  which  to  transport 
their  property,  but  were  gratified  in  having  the  power 
to  lend  a  strong  arm  in  propelling  a  common  Indian  ca- 
noe. Now,  in  addition  to  the  various  other  facilities, 
we  have  the  powerful  aid  of  the  Iron  horse,  whose  limbs 
are  steel  and  whose  lungs  are  fire,  and  by  whose  gen- 
erous assistance  the  rich  treasures  of  the  East  and  the 
valuable  products  of  the  West  are  unladen  in  the  very 
lap  of  the  fertile  valley  through  which  he  passes,  belch- 
ing fire  and   smoke. 

The  brave  and  hardy  pioneers  are  approaching  their 
new  home.  There  stands  the  humble  cabin,  containing 
the  soul  and  centre  of  Mr.  Beebe's  felicity.  In  the  door 
appears  the  young  and  cherished  wife  of  fond  affection, 
ready  to  greet  her  more  than  "  noble  lord" — her  gen- 
erous hearted  husband.  She  is  a  high-souled,  noble- 
hearted  woman,  worth  more  than  gaudy  gems  or  golden 
crowns.  For  six  long  weeks  she  has  been  a  lonely  in- 
habitant of  the  valley,  and  during  the  stormy  days  and 
darksome  nights,  she  was  truly  "monarch  of  all"  she 
'*  surveyed."  And  now  she  rushes  from  her  forest  pal- 
ace, with  heart  all  kind,  and  eyes  all  bright,  with  form 
and  mien  glowing  in  the  sunlight  of  pure  affection,  ra- 
diant with  hope  and  beauty,  as  though  just  baptized  in 
the  sparkling  fountain  of  ever  blooming  youth. 

The  sable  shades  of  night  have  curtained  the  earth. 
The  moon  rolls  high  in  the  vaulted  dome — the  stars  look 
out  in  beauty  from  the  radiant  sky  ;  and  joy  reigns  in 
the  cottager's  home,— for  peace   and  gladness  dwell  in 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  151 

the  breasts  of  all  as  they  gather  around  the  social 
board  to  partake  of  the  frugal  repast  prepared  by  the 
hand  of  her  who  had  left  the  home  of  cherished  friends 
to  become  the  copartner  of  him  who  had  reared  the  seat 
of  his  chosen  empire  amidst  the  stillness  of  the  prime- 
val forest. 

Mr.  Miller  made  some  explorations  of  the  country 
bordering  East  and  West  River,  and  then  returned  to 
his  home  near  the  noble  Susquehanna.  In  the  spring 
('92)  Mr.  Miller,  John  House,  James  Matthews,  James 
Moore,  Silas  and  Daniel  Miller,  came  in  from  Bingham- 
ton.  Camping  at  the  forks  of  East  and  West  Kiver, 
they  built  a  fire  against  a  large  oak  tree,  a  portion  of 
which  is  still  remaining.  Here  the  women  remained, 
while  their  husbands  went  forward  and  erected  cabins 
for  their  temporary  residence. 

Squire  Miller,  located  on  lot  56,  erected  a  house  near 
the  willow  trees  ; — almost  every  person  has  been  made 
acquainted  with  their  history — how  the  original  sprout 
was  purloined  from  its  parent  tree  by  Dea.  Miller,  when 
returning  on  horseback  from  a  visit  to  his  friends  in 
New  Jersey,  giving  great  offence  to  its  owner,  and  how 
it  served  its  new  possessor  in  the  capacity  of  a  riding 
whip — was  afterwards  stuck  in  the  ground,  where  it 
took  root,  sent  out  numerous  branches,  some  of  which 
have  grown  to  fine  trees, — ornaments  to  the  ground  on 
which  they  stand.  Mr.  Matthews  built  on  the  upper 
end  of  the  same  lot.  Mr.  House  about  eight  rods  north- 
west of  the  residence  of  Ebenezer  Cole.  Mr.  Moore 
near  the  bridge  south  of  the  Cotton  Factory. 

Darius  Kinne}^  came  from  Brimfield,  Massachusetts,  in 
1193,  and  located  on  East  River.     About  this  time,  Mr. 


152  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

Beebe  abandoned  his  place  of  poles,  and  settled  on  the 
premises  of  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Todd,  on  lot  42,  west 
of  the  village. 

Roderick  Owen  came  from  Lebanon,  N.  Y.,  and  locat- 
ed about  one  hundred  rods  south-east  of  the  residence 
of  Dr.  Jones. 

The  Ballards  were  from  Holland,  Mass.  John  first 
located  on  the  east  side  of  the  Tioughnioga  ;  three  years 
after,  settled  on  the  farm  at  present  owned  by  Paris 
Barber.  It  was  owned  at  this  time  byCapt.  David  Rus- 
sel,  who  had  but  recently  located,  and  erected  a  double 
log  house  near  the  north-west  corner  of  Mr.  Barber's 
orchard. 

Another  company  came  in  by  way  of  Cazenovia 
through  Truxton,  in  1194,  pioneered  by  Jonathan  Hub- 
bard, and  Col.  Moses  Hopkins.  The  former  of  these 
settled  on  ground  now  covered  by  Cortland  village,  and 
the  latter  one  mile  west,  on  lot  64. 

During  the  year  1195,  several  companies  came  in  by 
way  of  Manlius  and  Truxton.  Thomas  L.  and  Jacob 
Bishop  came  in  from  Brimfield,  and  located  on  lands 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  Noali  Hitchcock.  In  an 
early  day  it  was  known  by  the  name  of  the  Vanderlyn 
farm.     Lot  25. 

Thomas  Wilcox  came  from  Whitestown,  N.  Y.,  and 
located  on  Lot  64,  where  Joshua  Ballard  now  lives. 

Zebulon  Keene  located  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Mr.  Sheffield.  John  Stone,  originally  from  Brimfield, 
settled  on  the  Albert  Barker  farm,  lot  25.  Joshua  At- 
water,  father  of  Ezra  and  Joseph,  located  on  lot  13. 

Libeus  Andrews  came  from  Hartford,  Conn.,  purchased 
and  settled  on  land  south  of  Mr.  Kingsbury,  lot  56. 


SETTLEMENT    AND    OEGANIZATION.  153 

John  Keep,  Solomon  and  John  Hubbard  came  in  from 
Massachusetts,  and  selected  various  locations.  Mr. 
Keep  made  a  permanent  settlement  on  lot  56,  and  built 
the  original  pari  of  the  County  House.  Solomon  settled 
on  lot  25,  and  John  on  lot  26,  where  his  son  Lyman 
now  resides.  His  house,  when  originally  erected,  was 
regarded  as  being  by  far  the  most  expensive  dwelling 
in  the  county,  and  was  denominated  a  "  mammoth." 
The  influence  and  enterprising  efforts  of  these  gentle- 
men, in  after  years,  proved  of  valuable  importance. 

On  rolls  the  tide  of  progress.  The  spirit  of  enter- 
prise is  awakened,  and  the  brave  pioneers  come  pouring 
in  with  warm  hearts  and  strong  hands,  resolved  to  make 
war  with  the  forest  oak,  or  grapple  with  stern  adversity 
in  the  dark  hour  of  peril. 

Thomas  G.  Ebenezer  and  Charles  Alvord  came  in  from 
Farmington,  Conn.,  and  settled  in  the  north-west  part 
of  the  town,  on  lot  13.  The  former  drew  lot  56.  When 
he  reached  Manlius,  he  was  met  by  a  couple  of  land- 
sharks,  who,  on  learning  the  lot  upon  which  the  old  hero 
was  intending  to  settle,  very  coolly  informed  him  that 
they  had  been  to  Homer,  and  that  they  were  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  position  of  his  land,  and  could  assure 
him  that  it  was  an  exceedingly  poor,  wet  lot,  the  greater 
part  of  it  being  covered  with  water.  In  short,  he  was, 
by  means  the  most  deceptive,  induced  to  part  with  six 
hundred  acres  of  most  valuable  land  for  the  trifling  sum 
of  a  few  dollars!  Jacob  B.  Alvord  resides  on  lot  13 — 
his  farm  is  on  lot  12. 

In  not  Joshua  Ballard  came  in  from  Holland,  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  selected  a  location  on  lot  45.  We  shall 
refer  to  him  in  a  subsequent  chapter. 


154  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

John  Albright,  the  pioneer  of  East  Homer,  located  on 
the  lot  he  drew  for  Revolutionary  services. 

Asa  White  and  Caleb  Keep  migrated  from  Monson, 
Mass.  The  former  located  on  lot  45  ;  erected  his  liouse 
on  ground  now  covered  by  the  residence  of  Jedediah 
Barber.  He  purchased  and  completed  the  first  grist-mill 
in  the  county,  in  1798.  The  latter  bought  and  settled  on 
the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Noah  Hitchcock, 
a  grandson  of  Mr.  Keep. 

During  the  year  1798,  a  very  considerable  accession 
was  made  by  persons  settling  in  various  parts  of  the 
town,  and  more  especially  along  the  borders  of  East 
and  West  rivers. 

Stephen  Knapp  came  in  with  his  brother-in-law  from 
Goshen,  Orange  co.,  N.  Y.,  to  explore  the  country.  His 
father  having  been  killed  during  the  Revolutionary 
struggle  by  the  Indians  on  the  Delaware  river,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Lackawaxen,  left  him  to  carve  out  his  own 
fortune  ;  and  he  sought  this  w^ild  region  of  country  for 
that  laudable  purpose.  His  mother,  having  some  little 
means,  which  was  placed  in  his  care,  a  purchase  was 
made  through  Judge  Thompson,  of  lots  55  and  84. 
Returning  to  Goshen,  he  early  made  preparations  for 
moving  to  Homer  ;  but  circumstances  over  which  he  had 
no  control,  delayed  his  departure  until  1198.  He  came 
by  the  way  of  Poughkeepsie,  Shonkunk,  Kingston,  head 
waters  of  Schoharie  ;  followed  down  the  river  to  Pratts- 
ville  ;  thence  to  Harpersfield  ;  crossed  Wattles  Ferry  ; 
thence  to  Oxford  ;  thence  to  Solon,  afterwards  called 
Hatheway's  Corners.  Here  he  followed  the  Salt  Road 
about  two  miles  to  Squire  Bingham's  ;  thence  over  the 
hills  to  Judge  John  Keep's  ;  thence  to  Mr.  Matthews' 


SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION".  155 

on  lot  56  ;  and  thence  to  Hon,  John  Ballard's.  Here 
Mr.  Knapp  and  his  friends  remained  for  some  time,  dur- 
ing which  period  his  brother  Daniel  purchased  the  farm 
of  Capt.  Russell. 

Soon  after  this  sale,  Mr.  Ballard  located  in  the  village. 
Mr.  Russell  died  with  the  small  pox. 

Mr.  Knapp  is  still  living,  a  venerable  relic  of  a  for- 
mer age.  Neither  marhle  nor  fulsome  epitaph  will  be 
necessary  to  perpetuate  his  memory. 

The  Hobarts  were  from  Monson,  Mass.  Daniel,  father 
of  Alpheus,  located  on  lot  43  ;  Samuel  on  15  and  16. 
Gideon  settled  with  his  father,  and  remained  on  the 
same  farm  until  his  death,  April  30th,  185T.  The  farm 
is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Manly  Hobart. 

Titus  Stebbins,  from  the  same  town,  settled  on  lot  43. 

Samuel  Hotchkiss,  from  New  Haven,  Conn.,  located 
on  lot  44. 

Dr.  Lewis  S.  Owen  came  from  Albany,  and  after  a 
general  survey  of  the  country,  located  on  lot  66.  Here 
he  remained  three  j^ears,  when  he  moved  to  Homer  vil- 
lage and  erected  a  house  on  the  ground  now  occupied 
by  his  son,  Dr.  Robert  Owen,  lot  45. 

Deacon  Noah  Hitchcock  came  in  from  Brimfield,  and 
located  on  lot  25.  He  was  a  kind,  generous-hearted 
man,  and  in  brief,  a  prominent  and  useful  citizen. 

The  venerable  Zenas  Lilly  came  from  Brimfield,  and 
located  on  lot  33,  wliere  he  lived  about  twelve  j^ears, 
when  he  sold  to  Messrs.  Tubbs  and  Keep,  and  settled 
on  Factory  Hill.  Some  years  after,  he  disposed  of  his 
property  and  settled  in  Lenox,  but  subsequently  returned 
to  Homer  and  located  on  lots  34-5.  His  history  is 
closely  identified  with  the  history  of  Cortland  county. 


156  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

Timothy  Treat,  Enos  Stimson,  William  Lucas,  and 
Asahel  Miner  were  from  different  parts,  and  selected 
various  locations.  Mr.  Treat  was  from  Berkshire,  Mass.; 
he  settled  about  eighty  rods  north  of  the  former  resi- 
dence of  John  Barker,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Bowen.  Fam- 
ily consisted  of  parents  and  eight  children.  The  third, 
a  daughter,  married  Stephen  Knapp.  Mr.  Stimson  was 
from  Monson  ;  he  settled  on  the  ground  now  occupied 
by  the  elegant  residence  of  Jacob  Schermerhorn.  He 
reared  a  small  house  and  hung  out  a  landlord's  sign. 
The  next  spring  the  people  were  greatly  alarmed  on 
account  of  the  small ^^ox,  which  had  made  its  appearance 
in  the  valley.  Several  took  it,  and  died.  His  wife  and 
children  went  to  Aaron  Knapp's,  in  Cortland ville,  and 
were  vaccinated,  which,  as  we  arc  told,  caused  clear 
cases  of  small  pox,  but  soon  recovered,  and  were  able 
to  return  home. 

An  incident  occurred  during  the  absence  of  Mrs.  Stim- 
son, showing  most  distinctly  the  influence  of  ardent  spir- 
its upon  the  Indian  character.  Twelve  Onondaga  In- 
dians called  one  evening  at  Mr.  Stimson's,  drank  freely, 
got  highly  exhilarated,  called  for  more  liquor  in  their 
own  familiar  way — "  Tegoye  czeethgath"  and  "  Ne- 
gauqh,"* — were  repeatedly  refused,  and  told  that  more 
w^ould  do  them  injury.  But  no,  they  had  got  a  taste, 
were  ardently  inspired,  would  not  listen  to  reason. 
They  became  uncivil,  deranged,  and  threatened  Mr. 
Stimson  with  violence.  Retreating  as  they  approached 
him  in  a  menacing  attitude,  he  sought  safety  up  stairs, 
cautiously  pulling  the  stair-ladder  after  him.     The  sav- 

*  Have  you  rum  and  wine,  or  firewater  ? 


SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION.  157 

ages  were  noisy  and  qnarelsome,  as  might  be  expected, 
having  made  themselves  perfectly  free  with  the  aqua 
rnorhi  et  inortis*  of  the  bar,  even  draining  the  bottles  to 
the  ver}^  dregs.  But  the  midnight  revel,  the  baccha- 
nalian orgies  not  yet  ended,  for  their  brains  had  been 
fired  until  the  poor  degraded  beings  reeled  with  delir- 
ium. They  were  bound  to  the  car  of  Bacchus,  which 
for  centuries  back  has  creaked  and  groaned  beneath  its 
burden  of  blasted  hopes,  crushed  affections,  and  de- 
praved humanity  ;  aye,  with  the  blood  of  hundreds  and 
thousands  of  wasted  wrecks  and  ghastly  skeletons.  Not 
content  with  emptying  the  rum,  gin,  and  whiskey  de- 
canters, an  old  sachem  seized  a  bottle  containing 79^'cr<x, 
swallowed  a  portion  of  its  contents,  and  hastily  passed 
it  to  a  young  brave  who  drank  its  very  dregs.  This 
had  a  powerful  and  most  alarming  effect,  for  they  came 
very  near  dying. 

Just  at  this,  and  to  them  inauspicious  moment,  and 
while  some  were  guarding  the  garret  port-hole  through 
which  the  landlord  had  made  a  hurried  retreat,  and 
others  were  bending  over  the  victims  of  supposed  poi- 
son, an  aged  Indian,  at  least  half  ''  sea  over,"  stepped 
hurriedly  from  the  door,  and  mistaking  a  well-curb  for 
a  fence,  leaped  over  and  brought  suddenly  up  in  the 
bottom  of  Mr.  Stimson's  well.  This  was  rather  a  severe 
shock  to  his  spiritual  feelings,  and  though  famed  as  a 
conjuror,  he  was  too  drunk  to  conjure  up  a  plan  by 
which  to  escape  from  his  unpleasant  quarters.  His  po- 
sition was  truly  an  uninteresting  one.  The  element 
which  surrounded  him  was  of  an  entirely  different  char- 

^  Poison  water  of  death. 


158  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

acter  from  the  one  that  was  influencing  within.  And 
now,  while  whooping-,  yelling,  cursing  and  swearing 
was  going  on  in  thp  house,  the  old  Roman  was  alike 
interestingly  employed  in  the  well.  At  length,  assist- 
ance came  to  his  relief,  and  hj  the  aid  of  a  blanket, 
which  was  let  down  to  the  periled  one,  he  was  drawn 
Tip  from  the  watery  depths  below. 

The  next  morning,  Maj.  Stimson,  under  certain  prom- 
ises, was  permitted  to  come  down  and  take  possession 
of  his  house.  The  Indians  were  not  so  spiritually  in- 
fluenced. The  onedium  operating  between  them  and  the 
bottle  had  become  inoperative.  Spooks,  hobgoblins, 
witches,  wizards,  and  the  whole  infernal  train  of  delir- 
ium devils  had  disappeared  from  among  them.  A  few 
made  attempts  at  cheerfulness,  while  others  exhibited 
only  symptoms  of  suUenness.  The  old  chieftain  felt 
mortified  at  his  conduct,  while  the  professed  juggler 
had  not  courage  enough  left  to  enable  him  to  attempt 
any  more  of  his  tricks  at  legerdemain. 

William  Lucas  and  Asahel  Miner  were  from  Wood- 
bury, Conn.  The  former  located  on  lot  35  ;  the  farm  is 
now  owned  by  Samuel  Babcock.  He  erected  a  portion 
of  Mr.  Babcock's  present  residence.  He  was  an  ex- 
ceedingly active,  useful  and  prominent  citizen — what  a 
living  witness  has  defined  as  one  of  the  very  best  of 
men.  His  four  surviving  children  reside  in  Ohio.  The 
latter  settled  on  the  Lucas  Welch  farm.  He  was  the 
first  sheriff  of  Cortland  county,  having  been  appointed 
April  8,  1808.  Martin  Miner,  his  son,  resides  in  the  vil- 
lage. 

Col.  Benajah  Tubbs  came  in  from  Washington  county, 
and  located  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Geo. 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  159 

Phillips  store.  He  early  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade, 
and  continued  the  business  for  many  years. 

John  and  Richard  Bishop  were  from  Brimfield.  The 
former  settled  south  of  the  Yanderlyn  farm,  while  the 
latter  located  immediately  opposite  Mr.  Hammel  Thomp- 
son. He  afterwards  built  a  one-storj^  house,  where  Mr. 
Thompson  now  lives.  Asaph  H.  Carpenter,  some  time 
after,  added  another  story.  Under  the  care  of  Mr. 
Thompson  it  has  been  made  a  ver}''  pleasant  resi- 
dence. 

After  1800,  the  town  began  to  settle  more  rapidl3^ 
Those  who  had  previously  located  had  passed  the  Rubi- 
con, and  with  a  determined  will,  quite  superior  to  that 
which  prompted  Caesar  to  cross  the  threshold  of  his  own 
province  for  the  express  purpose  of  reducing  Italy  to 
his  power,  had  labored  nobly  in  the  cause  of  human  im- 
provement, and  were  already  in  the  partial  enjoyment 
of  its  blessings.  We  regret  that  our  limits  will  not 
allow  of  our  recording  the  name  and  place  of  settlement 
of  every  pioneer.  From  1800,  we  can  only  locate  a  few 
in  the  various  sections  of  the  town. 

Ephraim  P.  Sumner  came  in  from  Connecticut  in  1800, 
and  located  on  lot  47,  where  his  son  E.  P.  Sumner  now 
lives.  He  purchased  two  hundred  acres  ;  died  1843  ; 
Mrs.  Sumner,  1840  ;  reared  ten  children — eight  now 
living. 

jSoah  Carpenter  came  in  from  Pomfret,  Windham  co., 
Conn.,  and  located  on  lot  16.  His  son,  Asaph  H.  Car- 
penter, who  now  resides  on  the  original  premises,  had 
the  honor  of  being  first  arrayed  in  bib  and  tucker  while 
his  parents  were  journeying  to  this  land  of  promise. 
He  was,  however,  more  fortunate  than  the  Saviour,  for 


160  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

He,  being  "  cradled  in  a  manger,"  had  "  not  whereon  to 
lay  his  head." 

Peter  Vanderlyn,  father  of  Jacob,  came  from  Ulster 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  purchased  one  hundred  acres.  He 
drove  in  fifty  head  of  sheep,  the  first  in  the  town  ;  also 
several  head  of  cattle,  and  the  first  lumber  wagon.  He 
built  the  first  fanning  mill  that  was  used  in  the 
county;  the  wings  were  made  of  cloth,  and  it  proved 
a  valuable  acquisition  in  the  department  of  saving 
labor. 

Thomas,  Nathan,  and  Samuel  Stone  were  from  Brim- 
field.     They  located  on  lot  46. 

Waterman  and  Levi  Phillips  were  from  Connecticut. 
The  former  located  on  lot  69,  near  where  Trout  creek 
empties  into  the  Tioughnioga.  He  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  seven  acres.  He  now  resides  in  the  village  ; 
is  eighty-one  years  old.  His  sons  are  Jefferson,  Abel 
K.,  and  George.  The  latter  located  on  lot  16.  He  came 
in  with  an  ox  team  and  one  horse  ;  purchased  fifty  acres, 
and  subsequently  ninetyrseven  more.  His  surviving 
sons  are  Levi,  on  lot  28  ;  Charles,  at  Nanticoke  ;  Oren, 
on  the  homestead  ;  and  Erastus,  in  the  village.  Mr. 
Phillips  died  in  1845,  aged  seventy-eight  years  ;  and  his 
widow  in  1850,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 

Several  additional  settlements  were  opened  during 
1801.  Seth  Keep,  originally  from  Massachusetts,  mi- 
grated to  Homer  from  Vermont,  and  located  on  the 
north-east  corner  of  lot  33. 

Gad  Hitchcock  came  from  Monson,  ^lass.,  and  settled 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Albert  Barker.  „  His  son, 
Horace  Hitchcock,  is  an  active  and  worthy  citizen,  re- 
siding in  the  village. 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  101 

John  Coats  located  within  a  few  rods  of  the  Congre- 
gational church,  in  1802. 

During  the  same  year,  Dea.  Thomas  ChoUar  came  in 
from  Windham,  Conn.;  remained  some  three  j^ears,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  made  various  explorations  of  the 
country,  in  order  that  he  might  judge  correctly  with 
reference  to  the  soil,  as  well  as  the  general  advantages 
which  were  likely  to  be  realized  by  those  who  thus 
early  plunged  into  the  wilderness,  enduring  privation, 
and  struggling  against  forest  and  flood,  disease  and 
death.  In  the  latter  part  of  1804  he  selected  a  location 
on  lot  It,  and  settled  on  it  in  1809. 

Asa  Kendall,  father  of  Abner  N.  Kendall,  was  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  but  removed  to  Homer  from  Pompey, 
and  located  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Dea.  Conger. 
He  purchased  fifty  acres. 

In  1803,  Jacob  Sanders,  Moses  Butterfield,  Levi  Bowen, 
and  Elijah  Pierce,  father  of  Justin  M.  Pierce,  came  in 
and  located.  Sanders  removed  from  Swansey,  Mass., 
and  settled  on  lot  56.  He  reared  an  intelligent  family 
of  ten  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  living,  and  in 
good  circumstances.  Butterfield  was  from  Canterbury, 
Conn.  ;  he  located  on  lot  4T,  where  Charles  Kiiigsbur^^ 
now  resides.  The  farm  at  present  embraces  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  acres.  Mr.  Butterfield  died  in  1820. 
Bowen  settled  on  lot  1,  where  E.  P.  Stickney  now  re- 
sides ;  he  was  from  Woodstock,  Conn.  He  purchased 
ninet3''-six  acres  ;  died  in  1832,  leaving  eight  children — 
five  now  living.     Pierce  came  from  Brimfield. 

Elie  Sherman  came  from  Brimfield  in  1803,  and  settled 
on  lot  47.     He  is  now  enjoying  good  health,  and  is  in 
the  full  possession  of  his  faculties — age,  seventy-seven, 
8* 


162  SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION. 

Abel  Kinney,  from  Brimfiekl,  settled  in  1804  on  lot  6. 

Capt.  Daniel  Crandall,  from  Massachusetts,  located  in 
1805  on  lot  38.     He  died  in  185t. 

Capt.  Zeplianiah  Hicks,  originally  of  Rhode  Island, 
migrated  from  Connecticut  in  1805,  and  located  on  the 
south-east  corner  of  State's  Hundred,  lot  17.  His  house 
stood  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  dwelling  of 
Norman  Southworth.  Capt.  Hicks  was  an  active,  ener- 
getic, high-minded  man;  generous,  humane,  obliging,  and 
courteous.  His  hale,  prompt,  manly  greeting  gained  for 
him  the  good  will  of  his  neighbors,  and  gave  him  much 
influence  in  the  occasional  pioneer  gatherings.  The  influ- 
ence of  Dea.  Chollar  was  much  the  same.  It  is  related  of 
these  men,  that  when  a  question  of  right  was  to  be  de- 
cided the  appeal  was  usually  made  to  them  ;  the  deacon 
having  given  an  affirmative  decision,  the  almost  uni- 
versal response  would  be,  "  That 's  right,  Deacon  Chol- 
lar ;  ain't  it  so,  Capt.  Ilicks  ?" 

The  Captain  removed  in  1835  to  Ingham,  Michigan, 
where  he  still  resides,  a  venerable  relic  of  the  "  olden 
time." 

Jacob  Hicks,  his  son,  who  at  the  time  of  his  migra- 
tion to  Homer  was  but  two  years  old,  is  settled  on  lot 
27.  His  advent  on  to  the  Hill  dates  farther  back  than 
that  of  any  remaining  settler.  His  eldest  daughter, 
Nanc}^  is  the  wife  of  Silas  Elbridge  Mann,  a  prominent 
citizen  and  hardware  merchant  of  Jordan. 

In  1806,  Col.  David  Coye,  from  Royalton,  Vermont, 
and  Lemuel  Bates,  from  Cincinnati,  came  in  and  located. 
The  former  settled  on  lot  45,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
purchased  the  first  acre  sold  for  a  village  lot.  He  fol- 
lowed his  trade,  that  of  joiner.  In  1815,  he  purchased  one 
hundred  acres  on  lot  44.     The  rear  of  his  dwelling  was 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  163 

erected  in  1808;  the  front  in  1826.  His  shop,  one  story 
and  a-half,  twenty  by  thirty-five,  stood  on  the  ground 
occupied  by  Newton's  store.  He  has  filled  several 
prominent  offices  ;  among  others,  that  of  sheriff.  He 
has  reared  a  family  of  eleven  children — seven  now  liv- 
ing-. Two  reside  in  Missouri  ;  one  in  Buffalo  ;  one  in 
San  Francisco  ;  one  married  Caleb  Sherman,  and  another 
Francis  De  Long,  of  Lockport ;  Mary,  the  youngest,  is 
still  at  home.  The  latter  settled  on  lot  26.  His  sons 
are  Joseph  and  Ransford,  The  former  lives  in  Little 
York  ;  the  latter  on  the  forks  of  the  road  above  Homer 
village. 

William  Shearer  came  from  Washington  county  in 
1801,  and  located  on  lot  36.  His  son  Reuben  lives  on 
the  original  premises.  Mrs.  Shearer  was  an  early 
schoolmate  of  Hon.  Samuel  Nelson,  and  remembers  him 
as  a  youth  of  warm  and  generous  impulses. 

Stephen  and  Joel  R.  Briggs,  Ariel  Tickner  and  Eras- 
tus  Hayes  were  originally  from  Otsego  county.  They 
located  in  1807  on  lot  50.  The  former  died  in  1844. 
His  widow  survives  him  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  She 
resides  with  her  son,  Jabez  Briggs.  Mr.  Tickner  died 
some  years  previous.  Joel  R.  Briggs  lives  on  lot  38, 
in  Homer,  and  Mr.  Hayes  resides  in  Spafford. 

Deacon  Ira  Brown  came  in  from  Brimfield,  in  1808, 
and  located  on  lot  24.  He  now  resides  in  Cortlandville. 
He  has  reared  a  respectable  family,  and  accumulated  a 
good  property. 

Joseph  Bean,  father  of  Jeremiah,  of  Cincinnatus, 
and  Samuel,  of  Homer,  located  in  1809.  He  purchased 
one  hundred  acres.  During  the  same  year,  Noah  R. 
Smith  and  Matthias  Cook  came  in  and  located.  The 
former  came  in  from  Middletown,  and  settled  on  lot  45. 


164  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

He  has  been  a  prompt,  active,  and  influential  citizen  ; 
has  filled  several  important  offices  b}'^  appointment  and 
election  ;  was  appointed  sheriff  in  1819.  The  latter 
came  from  Albany,  and  entered  into  the  hatting  busi- 
ness, which  he  continued  successfully  for  many  years. 
He  was  at  one  time  a  copartner  in  trade  with  Col. 
Benajah  Tubbs.  He  was  appointed  county  clerk  in 
1821,  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature  in  1824,  and 
was  chosen  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  the  first  election  of 
such  office  by  the  people.    ,j 

Deacon  Jesse  Ives  and  Andrew  Burr  came  in  during 
the  year  1810.  Mr.  Ives  was  from  Litchfield,  Conn.  He 
located  on  lot  16,  and  purchased  originally  ninety  acres 
of  land.  He  was  emphatically  a  man  of  progress — an 
industrious  and  enterprising  farmer,  and  his  genial  and 
excellent  qualities  made  him  universally  respected  and 
beloved.     He  died  Nov.  2t,  185T,  aged  81  years. 

Mr.  Burr  was  from  Sharon,  Conn.  He  originally  lo- 
cated on  the  ground  now  occupied  and  owned  by  Wil- 
liam Kingsbury.  He  early  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  leather,  but  subsequently  sold  his  tannery  to  Willam 
Kingsbury,  who  located  in  1816,  and  went  into  the  sad- 
dlery and  harness  business,  which  he  carried  on  for 
thirty  years.  He  has  erected  several  dwellings,  and 
otherwise  labored  to  improve  and  advance  the  interests 
of  the  village.  The  rear  portion  of  his  dwelling  is 
composed  of  the  original  or  first  cliurch  which  was 
erected  in  Homer.  The  front  part  was  erected  in  1812 
for  a  house  of  public  entertainment,  and  was  called  the 
**  Mansion  House.'' 

Richard  Graham  and  Henry  Corl  came  in  and  located 
in  1811.  The  former  was  from  Herkimer  county,  and 
settled  on  lot  28.     The  latter  was  originally  from  Sche- 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  165 

nectady,  but  came  in  from  Locke,  Cayuga  co.,  and  set- 
tled on  lot  8,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then 
removed  to  the  Abel  Owen  farm,  now  owned  by  Dr. 
Jones.  Here  he  remained  two  years,  and  then  settled 
on  the  Hill,  which  now  bears  his  name.  He  purchased 
120  acres.  He  is  now  18  years  old — has  raised  a  fam- 
ily of  nine  children,  all  now  living. 

During  the  war  of  1812-15,  the  progress  of  settlement 
was  greatly  interrupted.  The  settlements  were,  how- 
ever, frequently  visited  by  a  kind  of  floating  population, 
having  no  fixed  purposes,  but  would  come  and  go  like 
the  waves  of  the  ocean. 

George  W.  Samson,  from  Plympton,  Mass.,  located  in 
1812  on  lot  28  ;  remained  four  years,  and  then  settled  on 
lot  19,  being  the  first  settler  on  the  lot.  He  erected  the 
Mt.  Etam  Stand  in  1824,  and  went  into  it  the  next  year  ; 
commenced  keeping  a  house  of  entertainment  in  182t— 
in  Home'r  village  in  1839.  He  possesses  considerable 
native  talent,  great  vivacity,  blended  with  wit  and  gen- 
erous s^mipathy. 

James  Hull  came  from  Norfolk,  Conn.,  about  1815, 
and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Willis  Alvord. 
He  now  resides  in  the  village.  His  industrious  habits, 
and  moral  and  social  sentiments,  entitle  him  to  a  just  and 
honorable  mention  in  tlie  pioneer  annals  of  Homer. 

Erastus  Goodell,  father  of  C.  B.  and  Erastus,  Jr.,  came 
in  from  Sturbridge,  Mass.,  in  1816,  and  located  on  State's 
Hundred,  lot  t.  He  originally  purchased  50  acres  ;  has 
now,  with  an  additional  purchase,  owned  by  his  son  Eras- 
tus, 130  acres.  His  land  was  entirely  tjovered  with  a 
heavy  growth  of  timber,  when  he  came  upon  it.  He  first 
erected  a  small  house  in  the  hollow  east  of  his  barn, 
but  soon  after  put  up  a  log  house  on  the  ground  now 


166  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

covered  by  his  present  residence.  The  latter  was 
erected  in  1834.  His  son,  C.  B.  Goodell,  owns  the  Jo- 
seph Bates  farm. 

William  Andrews  came  from  Fabius,  Onondaga  co., 
in  1817.  From  1820  to  1843  he  served  in  the  capacity 
of  constable  and  under  sheriff,  and  in  1831  was  elected 
sheriff,  on  a  union  ticket  between  the  liberal  portion  of 
the  Jackson  and  Clintonian  men.  The  opposing  candi- 
date was  Martin  Keep.  Mr.  Andrews  is  a  prominent 
and  influential  citizen. 

Daniel  Josling,  from  Windham,  Conn.,  located  in  1818 
on  lot  IT.  Kenneth  A.  Scudder,  from  Monmouth,  N.  J., 
settled  in  1813  in  Herkimer  county,  and  subsequently 
removed  to  Homer  and  located  on  lot  18.  He  reared  a 
family  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  He 
died  in  1843,  aged  tt.  His  widow  survives  him  at  the 
age  of  76. 

Having  thus  presented  a  general  outline  view  of  the 
earl}^  settlement  of  Homer,  dating  from  1791  to  1818, 
we  shall  proceed  to  exhibit  some  important  dates  and 
facts  connected  with  its  history,  interspersed  with  inter- 
esting incidents  bearing  upon  the  political,  moral,  so- 
cial and  religious  character  of  the  noble  spirits  of  other 
days. 

The  town  of  Homer  was  organized  March  5  th,  1794, 
and,  as  we  have  previously  stated,  originally  embraced 
the  townships  of  Homer  and  Cortland.  The  town  offi- 
cers were  not,  however,  limited  to  the  town  limits,  but 
Virgil  and  Solon  were  permitted  to  share  in  their  selec- 
tion, and  as  sucli  we  give  tlieir  names  as  though  they 
had  really  belonged  to  Homer.  The  territory  has  a 
broken  and  diversified  surface — presenting  to  the  ob- 
server the  rugged  hill  and  fertile  valley.     The  soil  is 


SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION.  16T 

generall}^  g'ood, — consisting  of  clay,  sandy  and  gravelly 
loam,  while  flats  of  rich  alluvion  border  East  and  West 
River. 

The  political  temperature  of  the  early  pioneers  at  the 
time  of  the  erection  of  the  town,  stood  at  about  zero, 
as  will  appear  evident  from  the  perusal  of  the  following 
document,  which  is  copied  from  the  town  records. 


'    [■  ss  : 


State  of  New  York 
Onondaga  County. 

Whereas  the  town  of  Homer,  in  said  county,  on  the 
5th  day  of  April  did  neglect  to  appoint  the  necessary 
town  oflScers  for  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  ninety-five  : 

And  whereas,  by  a  law  passed  on  the  7th  day  of 
March,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-eight, 
directing  three  justices  of  the  peace  of  said  county, 
to  nominate,  and  under  their  hand  and  seals  appoint 
such  officers  as  under  said  act  is  necessary,  therefore, 
we,  Asa  Danforth,  Hezekiah  Scott  and  Daniel  Keeler, 
three  of  the  justices  of  the  peace,  appointed  in  and 
for  said  county,  nominate  and  by  these  presents  do  ap- 
point,''' 

For  SKjyervisor, — John  Miller. 

Toion  Cleric, — Peter  Ingersoll. 

Assessors, — Thomas  L.  Bishop,  Moses  Hopkins,  Joseph 
Beebe,  Daniel  Miner,  Roderick  Beebe. 

Commissi onei's  of  Highioays, — Samuel  Benedict,  Da- 
vid Russel,  Moses  Hopkins. 

'■'  At  this  time  Justices  were  appointed  at  Albany,  by  the  Council 
of  appointment. 


168  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

Overseers  of  the  Poor^ — Joseph  Beebe,  Christopher 
Whitney. 

ConstahU  and  Collector, — Jolm  House, 

Signed,  Asa  Danforth, 

Hezekiah  Scott. 
Daniel  Keeler. 

The  meeting  at  which  these  appointments  were  made 
was  held  at  Squire  Miller's  on  the  9th  of  April,  1195. 

The  first  annual  town  meeting  for  the  election  of  offi- 
cers, was  held  at  Mr.  Miller's  house  on  the  8th  of  April, 
1196.     The  following  were  the  successful- candidates. 

Supervisor, — John  Miller. 

Toi07i  ClerJc, — Peter  Ingersoll. 

Assessors, — Ezra  Rockwell,  Billy  Trowbridge,  Daniel 
Miner,  Francis  Strong,  David  Russel,  Jacob  Bishop. 

Collectors, — Roderick  Beebe,  Barzilla  Russel. 

Overseers  of  the  Poor, — Zera  Beebe,  Ozias  Strong. 

Coon.  Highways, — Zera  Beebe,  Thomas  L.  Bishop, 
Oliver  Tuthill. 

Constables^ — Barzilla  Russel,  Roderick  Beebe. 

Overseers  of  Highioays,  —  William  Tuthill,  Ebenezer 
Jones,  Zera  Beebe,  Samuel  C.  Benedict,  Joseph  Beebe, 
Solomon  Hubbard,  John  Morse. 

Fence  Vieivers,  —  Elnathan  Baker,  George  Strow- 
bridge,  Johnson  Bingham,  David  Jackson,  John  House, 
Moses  Hopkins. 

If  the  officers  of  those  da3^s  were  not  selec*ted  with 
the  regularity  that  attends  our  elections  at  the  present 
time,  they  were  at  least  chosen  with  less  of  bitterness 
engendered  by  political  knaves  and  unprincipled  dema- 
gogues.    The  contests  for  political  preferences  contin- 


SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION.  169 

ued  to  be  mild  and  conciliatory  for  many  years.  In  1800, 
however,  the  political  elements  throughout  the  State 
were  greatly  agitated,  and  in  that  severe  struggle  for 
power,  the  pioneers  exhibited  some  symptoms  of  excite- 
ment, and  shared,  to  a  degree,  in  the  general  fever  that 
pervaded  the  country. 

In  1196,  it  was  agreed  by  vote,  "  that  every  man  make 
his  own  pound.  That  hogs  run  at  large  without  yokes 
or  rings. 

That  fences  be  made  four  feet  and  one  half  high,  and 
not  to  exceed  four  inches  between  logs  or  poles." 

In  1197,  it  was  agreed  by  a  unanimous  vote,  "that 
every  man  in  the  town  may  provide  his  own  pound  for 
every  creature  that  does  him  damage,  and  yet  be  enti- 
tled to  damage  the  same  as  at  the  town  pound.  That 
hogs  be  free  commoners. 

That  three  feet  of  sound  fence  shall  not  be  more  than 
five  inches  between  earth,  logs  or  grass." 

In  1198,  it  was  voted,  "that  one  inch  more  of  space 
be  allowed  between  earth  and  wood." 

A  citizen  of  the  town  was  not  allowed  to  bring  in  or 
receive  cattle  from  another  town  to  keep  for  any  period 
of  time,  under  penalty  of  one  dollar. 

If  some  of  these  requirements  were  enacted  and 
strictly  adhered  to,  at  this  time  we  do  not  question  their 
beneficial  results.  At  least  there  would  be  less  wrang- 
ling and  bitter  neighborhood  recriminations  in  conse- 
quence of  poor  fences  and  disorderly  cattle. 

In  1191  the  town  of  Homer  was  divided  into  high- 
way districts.  Amos  Todd  and  Johnson  Bingham  were 
Commissioners  of  highways. 

1798.  A  wolf  scalp  commanded   a  premium  of  from 


170  SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION. 

five  to  ten  dollars,  according  to  size  ;  bear,  five  dollars  ; 
panther,  ten  dollars  ;  and  foxes,  fifty  cents. 

In  1797  Homer  contained  ninety -t\s'0  inhabitants. 
Valuation  of  property  reduced  to  dollars,  $,6,670. 

On  Wednesday,  the  27th  of  May,  1794,  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Onondaga  county, 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Hon.  Asa  Danforth,  in  the  town 
of  Manlius.  Homer  had  not  at  that  time  been  organ- 
ized, and  consequently  was  not  represented.  The  Board, 
however,  made  an  estimate  at  random  of  the  valuation 
of  ^'property  and  proportion  of  tax  for  the  towns  of  Pom- 
pey,  Ulysses,  Lysander  and  Homer.  The  latter  was 
estimated  at  £500,  and  the  proportion  of  tax  at  £6,  5s. 

The  pioneers  of  Homer  were  a  people  who  revered 
the  Bible,  and  valued  its  ordinances.  They  brought 
with  them  corresponding  habits.  When  six  families 
had  arrived  in  town,  (1793,)  they  all  convened  npon  the 
Sabbath  day  and  commenced  public  religious  worship. 
From  that  day  to  the  present  time,  (1859,)  this  divine 
reverence  has  been  continued  on  the  Sabbath,  and  wc 
are  assured  from  the  most  positive  authority  that 
there  has  occurred  but  one  omission.  This  is  a  fact  of 
marked  significa,nce,  bearing  upon  the  character  of  the 
people  and  the  prosperity  of  the  settlement.  It  was  a 
common  saying,  as  emigrant  families  came  from  New 
England  on  to  the  Military  Tract,  if  you  wish  to  settle 
among  "  religionists,"  go  to  Homer.  The  first  sermon 
in  the  town  was  pronounced  by  a  missionary,  who  in  a 
later  period  was  Kev.  Dr.  Hilliard,  of  New  Jersey.  This 
discourse  was  delivered  in  the  open  air  under  a  large 
tree  upon  the  Hill,  about  one  hundred  rods  north-east 
from  the  present  dwelling  of  Eleazar  Kingsbury.     The 


SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION.  171 

people  were  collected  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  build- 
ing, and  before  the  work  had  proceeded  far,  it  was  cur- 
rently reported  among  the  company  that  a  missionary 
was  lending  a  willing  hand  in  the  work  of  progress, 
and  soon  a  voice  was  heard  calling  out  "  a  sermon,  a 
sermon."  Upon  which  a  very  polite  invitation  was  ex- 
tended to  the  Rev.  Doctor  of  Divinit^^to  favor  them  with 
a  discourse,  and  in  answer  to  which  he  preached  a  most 
thrilling  and  heart-feeling  discourse.  The  next  sermon 
was  preached  by  Elder  Peter  P.  Roots,  of  the  Baptist 
denomination,  in  Mr.  Baker's  barn,  from  tlie  text,  "  Faith, 
Hope  and  Charity," 

The  present  generation  in  Plomer  will  do  well  to  pause 
and  look  in  upon  these  six  families,  on  this  memorable 
day  of  their  first  worship,  and  intelligently  meditate 
upon  the  results  of  this  movement,  and  gratefully  em- 
balm their  names  as  the  benefactors  of  the  township. 
The  standard  then  erected  has  not  yet  been  taken  down. 
The  banner  then  unfurled  still  waves,  bearing  on  its 
ample  folds,  Grace  and  Glory.  The  incense  of  prayer 
from  this  little  band  was  an  offering  accepted  of  God. 
The  communication  then  and  thus  opened  between  Him 
and  the  people  has  not  since  been  closed.  Our  God 
will  keep  his  covenant  forever. 

The  varying  views  of  these  pioneers,  touching  relig- 
ious doctrine  and  practice,  delayed  for  several  years  the 
formation  of  a  Church.  But  their  frequent  consultations 
and  protracted  discussions  were  in  good  feeling,  and 
they  could  all  happily  meet  for  worship  on  common 
ground.  But  a  church  organization  was  a  necessity 
that  would  not  stand  in  waiting  without  jeopardy  to 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  community.    At  length  relief 


172  SETTLEMENT  AND   OKGANIZATION. 

came  through  the  sagacity  of  a  woman.  The  wife  of 
Lieutenant  Hobart,  and  the  mother  of  Deacon  Jacob 
Hobart,  of  undying  memory  in  the  annals  of  Homer, 
with  deep  feeling  intelligently  weighed  her  responsi- 
bility in  this  matter.  But  as  the  custom  then  was,  and 
still  is,  that  females  must  be  silent  partners  in  business 
matters,  she  earnestly  pressed  upon  her  husband  that 
delay  should  terminate,  and  procured  from  him  a  pledge 
that  a  meeting  for  consultation  should  be  called,  and 
that  he  should  move  that  those  who  were  so  far  agreed 
that  they  could  walk  together  in  church  order,  should 
at  once  unite  in  the  organization  of  a  Church.  It  is  not 
known  whom  she  prevailed  upon  to  second  the  move- 
ment.    This  done,  she  waited  before  God  for  the  result. 

This  movement  was  sustained,  and  on  the  12th  day 
of  October,  1801,  the  Congregational  church  of  Homer 
was  organized  by  the  Rev.  Hugh  Wallace,  of  Solon, 
and  the  members  resolved  to  maintain  a  Monthly  Church 
Conference.  Thus  early,  on  the  banks  of  the  Tioughni- 
oga,  and  in  the  centre  of  Homer,  was  kindled  a  beacon 
light,  to  reveal  to  the  teeming  population  in  a  wide  cir- 
cuit, danger  and  duty  in  reference  to  their  religious, 
intellectual  and  social  interests. 

In  February,  1803,  Rev.  Nathan  B.  Darrow  became 
the  pastor  of  this  church,  and  this  connection  closed  in 
October,  1808.  In  October,  1809,  Rev.  Elnathan  Walker 
became  the  pastor.  He  was  removed  by  death  in  June, 
1820.  His  remains  were  entombed  in  the  public  ceme- 
tery, and  the  hallowed  spot  was  subsequently  marked 
by  an  appropriate  marble  monument,  bearing  the  follow- 
ing inscription  : 


SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATIOlSr.  173 

@^  Ij  i  s    iWo  n  XX  m  t\xi 

IS  ERECTED  BY  AN  AFFECTIONATE  PEOPLE,  AS 

THE  LAST 

TESTIMONY  OF  RESPECT  TO  THEIR 

BELOVED    PASTOE. 

His  daughter,  Tryphena,  married  the  Rev.  C.  H.  Reed, 
of  Richmond,  Virginia,  one  of  the  most  able  and  elo- 
quent men  of  the  age.  Mr.  Reed  is  not  only  a  sound 
and  really  able  speaker,  but  he  is  most  emphatically  an 
independent  and  accomplished  orator.  His  address  at 
the  Atlantic  Cable  Jubilee  in  Homer  was  full  of  bold, 
pointed  Southern  sentiments  ;  and  yet,  proclaimed  as 
they  were  before  a  Northern  audience  holding  in  the 
main  opposite  views,  were  listened  to  with  marked  at- 
tention, and  elicited,  at  the  conclusion,  spontaneous  ap- 
plause. 

But  to  return  from  the  digression.  In  June,  1821, 
Rev.  John  Keep  was  called  to  perform  pastoral  labors 
for  this  church,  and,  like  a  pious  herald  of  the  cross, 
continued  ministering  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  peo- 
ple until  1833,  when  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio. 

The  harmony  and  enterprise  of  the  Congregational 
Church  and  Society  happily  resulted  in  the  dedication 
of  a  spacious  and  commodious  house  for  public  religious 
worship  by  the  Middle  Association  of  Ministers.  Ser- 
mon by  Rev.  Mr.  Darrow,  June,  1807.  During  1824, 
this  "  Meeting  House"  received  the  addition  of  an  orna- 
mental front,  a  convenient  vestibule,  and  extensive 
interior  improvements.  Its  completion  was  commemo- 
rated by  public  religious  exercises  on  the  23d  day  of 


174  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

December.  Sermon  by  the  pastor,  Eev.  John  Keep,  from 
the  text,  "  Eejoice  with  trembling."  This  was  one  of 
his  most  happy  and  brilliant  efforts.  Strong,  argumen- 
tative, yet  tonchingly  eloquent.  When  the  reasons 
given  for  rejoicing  had  nearl}^  reached  their  culmina- 
tion, the  large,  well-trained  choir,  accompanied  by  a 
full-toned  organ,  interrupted  the  speaker  by  the  anthem 
chorus — 

"  Oh,  be  joyful  in  God,  all  ye  lands." 

The  early  pioneers  brought  with  them  the  religious 
sentiments  of  the  New  England  people,  and  early  en- 
gaged in  public  religious  w^orship.  Their  meetings 
were  without  "  denominational  distinction,"  being  at- 
tended by  the  religionists  without  regard  to  order  or 
sect.  Those  holding  to  the  Congregational  sentiments 
were  most  numerous,  and  put  forth  the  first  active 
efforts  for  the  formation  of  a  church,  and  although  they 
succeeded  in  forming  the  first  "  Religious  Society  in  the 
town  of  Homer,  in  1799,"  they  were  nine  days  later  in 
the  organization  of  the  Congregational  Church,  than  the 
Baptists  were  in  the  organization  of  their  church,  which 
was  formed  October  3d,  1801.  For  a  number  of  years 
the  Baptists  were  not  favored  with  regular  or  stated 
preaching.  There  were,  however,  occasional  sermons 
pronounced  by  Rev.  Joseph  Cornell,  James  Bacon,  Peter 
P.  Roots,  and  Rufus  Freeman.  Rev.  Alfred  Bennett, 
became  the  first  permanent  pastor. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in 
1833.  Nelson  Rounds  was  the  first  preacher.  The  Cal- 
vary Church  in  1831. 

The  Universalist  Church  was  formed  in  1839, 


SETTLEMENT    AND   OEGAN*ATION.  175 

The  Advent  Church  was  organized  December,  1848. 
John  Smith  and  Joseph  L.  Clapp,  deacons. 

The  officiating  clergymen  are  Albert  Bigelow,  of  the 
Congregational  ;  C.  A.  Clark,  of  the  Baptist ;  and  Hiram 
Gee,  of  the  Methodist. 

In  1810  the  population  of  Homer  was  2,975 
1814 
1820 
1825 
1830 
1835 
1840 
1845 
1850 
1855 

The  early  tradition  of  Homer,  in  many  instances,  is 
very  obscure.  In  all  cases  we  have  adopted  such  evi- 
dence and  facts  as  we  have  believed  to  bo  the  most 
authentic,  to  the  exclusion  of  every  item  of  doubtful 
character.  The  first  house  was  erected  on  the  bank  of 
the  Tioughnioga,  in  1791,  by  Joseph  Bebee.  The  first 
improvements  were  made  the  same  j^ear  by  Amos  Todd, 
west  of  Homer  village.  The  first  frame  house  was  built 
for  Dr.  Lewis  S.  Owen.  In  1799,  the  first  frame  barn 
was  built  for  Col.  Moses  Hopkins,  on  lot  64,  and  is  still 
standing.  The  first  school-house  Avas  built  in  1798, 
about  twelve  rods  beyond  wliere  tlie  railroad  crosses 
the  road  leading  to  little  York,  and  the  second  one  on 
the  north-east  corner  of  the  Green.  The  first  grist- 
mill was  erected  by  Asa  White,  John  Hubbard,  and 
John  Keep,  in  1798.  Hooker  Ballard  was  the  first  tailor  ; 


it 

4,046 

11 

5,504 

<< 

.  6,128 

<( 

3,307 

(( 

3,584 

u 

3,572 

IC 

3,602 

<( 

3,836 

(< 

3,785 

176  settl:^ent  and  oeganizatiox. 

Matthias  Cook,  the  first  hatter  ;  Aaron  Knapp,  the  first 
carpenter ;  Joshua  Ballard,  the  first  school-teacher ; 
John  Osborn,  the  first  permanent  silversmith.  Eleazar 
Bishop,  the  first  blacksmith  ;  Rev.  Nathan  B.  Darrow, 
the  first  stated  preacher  ;  Townsend  Ross,  the  first 
attorney  and  post-master  ;  Luther  Rice,  the  first  physi- 
cian ;  Maj.  Stimson,  the  first  inn-keeper  ;  John  Coates, 
the  first  merchant  ;  Prof.  W.  P.  Beck,  the  first  Daguer- 
reian  artist.  He  built  the  first  Daguerreian  carriage  in 
the  State  ;  and  is  an  accomplished  artist. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Thomas  Gould  Al- 
vord.  She  died  in  1795.  The  first  male  child  born  in 
town  was  Homer  Moore.  '  The  first  female  child  was 
Betsey  House.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Zadock 
Strong  and  widow  Russel.  The  parties  intended  to  have 
been  married  by  Squire  Stoyell,  of  Moravia  Flats,  but  be- 
ing disappointed,  they  went  to  Ludlowville  on  horseback, 
and  were  united  in  the  sacred  bands  by  Squire  Ludlow. 

In  1*198,  forty  dollars  and  seventy-eight  cents  were 
appropriated  for  the  use  of  common  schools  in  the  town 
of  Homer. 

The  first  "burying  ground"  was  on  a  little  knoll, 
about  thirty  rods  west  of  the  factory. 

The  are  but  four  of  the  old  veteran  pioneers  now  liv- 
ing, who  came  into  Homer  previous  to  1800,  viz.:  widow 
Moses  Hopkins,  age  seventy-nine  ;  Stephen  Knapp,  age 
eighty-one  ;  Zenas  Lilly,  age  ninety ;  Alpheus  Hobart, 
eighty-four.  The  two  first  are  in  the  enjoyment  of  their 
usual  good  health,  and  in  the  full  possession  of  their 
intellectual  faculties.  Mr.  Lill^'  and  Mr.  Hobart  are 
slowly  but  surely  wearing  away  with  tlie  infirmities  of 
age  ;  and  yet  they  arc  calmly  and  serenely  awaiting 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  177 

the  hour  to  depart.     Ma^^  they  go  down  to  the  silent 
tomb  alike  honored  and  respected. 

The  venerable  pioneers  are  fast  passing  away,  and  soon 
it  may  be  said  of  them,  "  they  have  been,  but  are  not." 

SoLOX. — This  town  originally  comprised  the  military 
township  No.  20,  and  was  organized  March  9,  1798. 

It  was  subsequently  reduced  by  attaching  'the  four 
northern  tiers  of  lots  to  Truxton,  and  in  1849,  by  the 
erection  of  the  town  of  Taylor. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  considerably  broken  and 
diversified.  The  hills  are  generally  arable,  and  the 
valleys  rich  and  productive.  Some  of  the  long  ridges, 
or  druidical  elevations,  covered  with  the  deep,  thick  foli- 
age of  the  olden  forest  trees,  present  a  wild,  picturesque 
and  pleasing  aspect.  In  brief,  the  town  is  well  adapted 
to  grazing.     The  staple  products  are  butter  and  cheese. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  was  made  in  Solon 
in  1794,  by  Roderick  Beebe  and  Johnson  Bingham.  The 
former  located  on  lot  75,  on  that  portion  which  is  usu- 
ally called  Mount  Roderick.  He  was  originally  from 
Massachusetts.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
but  came  in  from  Vermont,  and  located  on  lot  62.  He 
purchased  550  acres,  reared  eight  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  living.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  about 
twenty  j^ears,  and  associate  Judge  for  a  long  time. 
Died  1842,  aged  79  ;  his  widow  survives  him  at  the  age 
of  95,  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health. 

William  Galpin,   from  New  Jersey,  located   in   1797, 
on  lot  47.      His  stay  was  brief,  owing  to  the  fact  of  his 
having  purchased  and  accepted  a  forged  title.     He  sub- 
sequently settled  in  Pompey. 
9 


178  SETTLEMENT    AXD    OEGANIZATIOX. 

It  may  be  well  to  remark  here,  that  the  early  settle- 
ments were  mainly  made  in  the  northern  and  eastern 
portions  of  the  town  ;  these  are  noticed  in  the  history 
of  Trnxton  and  Taylor. 

In  1799,  John  Welch  came  from  Wyoming,  and  locat- 
ed a  little  to  the  south  of  Roderick  Beebe.  He  re- 
mained a  few  years,  and  removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Col.  Elijah  Wheeler,  came  in  from  New  Haven,  Conn., 
in  1801,  and  located  on  lot  100.  He  originally  pur- 
chased 100  acres. 

The  venerable  Capt.  Stephen  N.  Peck,  from.  Stanford, 
Dutchess  CO.,  N.  Y.,  located  in  Solon,  lot  62,  in  March, 
1804.  He  purchased  92  acres,  and  subsequently,  con- 
siderably increased  the  area  of  his  land.  He  survives 
at  the  age  of  80  years,  more  than  usually  exempt  from 
the  infirmities  of  age. 

Garret  Pritchard  came  from  Litchfield  county,  Conn., 
in  1807,  and  located  on  lot  74.  He  came  in  with  a  pack 
on  his  back,  having  but  $16,50  in  money.  He  went  to 
wol-k  with  a  determination  to  carve  out  a  fortune,  and 
he  has  most  fully  succeeded.  His  father,  haviug  come 
in  the  previous  year  under  greatl}^  embarrassed  circum- 
stances, found  it  very  difficult  to  pixy  back  arrearages, 
and  yet  succeed  in  a  new  country.  His  son,  however, 
had  the  nerve  and  muscle  to  accomplish  both.  He 
earned  and  paid  $500  for  his  father  ;  after  which  he 
located  where  he  now  lives,  on  lot  75.  He  owns  up- 
wards of  500  acres  of  land,  and  is  pleasantlj^  and  fa- 
vorably situated. 

During  the  same  yeav,  Richard  Maybury,  from  Lu- 
zerne, Pa.,  came  in  and  located  on  State's  Hundred,  lot 
53.     Purchased  100  acres.     He  was  an  industrious  and 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  179 

worthy  man,  and  has  left  several  intelligent  and  valua- 
ble representatives.  His  children  are  Lewis,  John,  Jo- 
siah  J.,  Elizabeth,  Nancy,  and  Deacon  Samuel. 

Henry  L.  Randall,  from  Sharon,  Conn.,  located  jn  1808, 
on  lot  74:.  He  moved  in  with  a  two  horse  team,  bring- 
ing with  him  a  few  of  the  necessary  articles  for  immedi- 
ate use  in  his  new  home.  He  is  now  81  years  of  age, 
enjoying  in  a  remarkable  degree  his  physical  and  intel- 
lectual faculties.  He  has  remained  for  a  full  half  cen- 
tury where  he  first  settled  ;  has  reared  a  family  of  five 
children — Henry,  David,  William,  Linus  and  Orrin — 
the  three  former  accompanied  him  from  his  Xew  Eng- 
land home. 

Jonathan  Rundall,  from  Sharon,  Conn.,  located  on  lot 
74.  Ebenezer  Blake,  from  Stoddard,  New  Hampshire, 
settled  on  lot  84.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  American 
revolution,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  ;  drew 
his  land  in  Ohio, 

In  1810,  the  taxable  property  of  Solon,  as  returned, 
was  $99,612,  and  there  were  110  Senatorial  electors. 

In  1800  the  population  of  Solon  was      370 

1810  "  "  1,263 

1814  "  "  717 

1820  ''  "  1,262 

1825  '*  "  1,781 

1830  "  *'  2,033 

1835  "  "  2,103 

1840  ''  "  2,311 

1845  "  "  2,426 

1850  '*  *'  1,150 

1855  "  "  1,057 


180  SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION. 

Virgil.^ — The  town  of  Virgil,  named  in  honor  of  the 
distinguished  Roman  Poet,  Virgil,  and  to  whom  many 
classical  allusions  are  made,  was  organized  April  8th, 
1804.  It  was  No.  24  of  the  Military  townships,  surveyed 
in  n90.  The  town  presents  a  broken  and  diversified  as- 
pect, and  to  the  general  observer,  exhibits  a  great  vari- 
ety of  picturesque  scenery.  Much  attention  is  being 
paid  to  the  dairy  business—the  soil  being  better  adapt- 
ed to  grass  than  to  the  growing  of  grain. 

The  citizens  generally  are  prosperous  and  happy. 
The  town,  politically,  morally  and  socially,  holds  an  im- 
portant and  commanding  influence  in  the  county,  and 
compares  well  with  that  description  given  in  the  ancient 
Chinese  aphorism  : — 

"  Where  spades  grow  bright,  and  idle  swords  grow  dull, 
Where  jails  are  empty,  and  where  barns  are  full. 
Where  church  paths  are  by  frequent  feet  outworn. 
Law  court-yards  weedy,  silent  and  forlorn, 
Where  doctors  foot  it,  and  where  farmers  ride. 
Where  age  abounds,  and  youth  is  multiplied. 
Where  these  signs  are,  they  truly  indicate 
A  happy  people,  and  well  governed  State.'' 

After  the  tide  of  revolution  had  rolled  awa3^  and  the 
people  were  becoming  comparatively  happy,  conflicting 
claims  and  unpleasant  controversies  were  renewed, 
having  a  strong  tendency  to  create  bitter  recriminations 
between  inhabitants  of  adjoining"  States,  and  especially 
those  of  New  Hampshire,  Connecticut,  Massachusetts 
and  New  York. 

The  controversy  pending  the  conflicting  claims  of  the 
two  latter  States,  grew  out  of  an  antiquated  and  pre- 
tended or  supposed  right  on  the  part  of  Massachusetts 


SEITLEME^T   AXl)    ORGANIZATION.  181 

to  a  certain  portion  of  land  l^'ing  within  the  boundaries 
of  New  York. 

In  1786,  the  question  at  issue  was  finally  settled  by 
an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  differences  of  opinion, 
through  the  united  exertions  of  Commissioners  duly  ap- 
pointed, and  clothed  with  the  Confederative  power  to 
arrange  the  matter  in  controversy,  and  thus  silence  the 
clamor  w^hich  had  for  a  long  time  tended  to  create  un- 
pleasant remarks,  as  well  as  to  weaken  the  bonds  of 
fraternal  fellowship.  The  Commissioners  granted  to 
Massachusetts  6,144,000  acres  of  land,  known  as  the 
Genesee  country.  This  tract  comprised  all  the  land  of 
the  State  west  of  a  line  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Great  Sodus  Bay  on  Lake  Ontario,  and  running  due 
south,  through  the  middle  of  Seneca  lake,  to  the  north 
line  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  excepting  one  mile  in 
width,  the  whole  length  of  Niagara  river,  which  was 
ceded  to  New  York.  Another  tract,  afterwards  known 
as  the  Massachusetts  Ten  Townships,  embracing  230,400 
acres  of  land,  lying  between  the  Owego  and  Che- 
nango rivers,  was  also  ceded,  without  the  least  equiva- 
lent, to  Massachusetts,  reserving  to  New  York  barely 
the  right  of  sovereignty.  The  former,  as  we  have  pre- 
viously stated,  was  sold  by  Massachusetts  to  Oliver 
Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorham,  for  the  sum  of  $1,000,000. 
The  latter  was  purchased  by  John  Brown  &  Co.,  for  a 
fraction  over  $3,300. 

It  will  be  observed  that  we  have  heretofore  spoken 
of  Virgil  as  township  No.  24  of  military  lands,  granted 
to  the  soldiers  of  the  Pevolution.  It  should,  however, 
be  noted  in  this  place,  that  the  whole  of  the  town  of 
Virgil  did  not  originally  belong  to  the   military  grant. 


182  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

A  strip  of  about  1^  miles  in  width  from  east  to  west, 
across  its  southern  side,  was  taken  from  the  Ten  Town- 
ship grant  to  Massachusetts. 

Joseph  Chaplin,  the  first  permanent  settler,  (whose 
name  has  occurred  in  previous  chapters,)  located  on  lot 
No.  50,  in  It 92,  but  did  not  move  on  his  family  until  two 
years  later.  His  rude  log  house  was  erected  during 
the  time  he  was  engaged  in  exploring  and  surveying 
the  route  for  the  Oxford  and  Cayuga  lake  road,  prepar- 
atory to  his  engaging  in  the  enterprise  of  constructing 
the  work  with  which  he  had  been  entrusted  * 

John  M,  Frank  settled  with  his  family  on  lot  43, 
which  had  been  granted  him  for  services  in  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution,  in  November,  1795. 

In  1796,  John  Gee,  from  Wyoming,  Pa.,  moved  on  to 
lot  21,  having  the  previous  year  erected  his  dwelling, 
and  made  some  other  preparations  for  the  more  conven- 
ient reception  of  his  family.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution,  and  was  well  worthy  of  the  heroic  title.  His 
house  was  composed  of  logs  12  by  16.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  himself,  wife,  father,  mother,  and  six  children. 
Some  of  Mr.  Gee's  descendants  still  occupy  the  original 
premises. 

Johe  E.  Roe  moved  in  from  Ulster  county  during  the 
winter  of  1797-8.  The  ground  was  covered  with  a 
heavy  body  of  snow,  just  then  dissolving  beneath  the 
warm  nxys  of  the  sun.  The  journey  from  the  old  hearth- 
stone was  made  in  a  sleigh,  which  contained  a  few  of 
the  more  costly  effects  for  the  new  house.  Among  these 
were  a  few  fancy,  or  flag-bottomed  chairs,  which,  unfor- 

*  This  road  was  sixty  miles  in  length. 


,  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  183 

tnnately,  were  greatly  lessened  in  value  as  well  as  for 
service,  on  account  of  the  bottoms  holding  out  a  strong 
temptation  to  the  horses,  which  were  tied  to  the  sleigh, 
without  food,  wliile  the  family  were  resting  for  the 
night  at  Mr.  Chaplin's,  then  within  a  few  miles  of  their 
destined  place  of  abode.  The  temptation  was  too 
strong,  and  consequently  the  chairs  were  freed  of  their 
flags,  though  a  rather  poor  substitute  for  hay. 

A  bridge  had  not  yet  been  erected,  consequeiitly  the 
few  that  crossed  the  river  were  in  the  habit  of  using  a 
small  canoe  belonging  to  Mr.  Chaplin.  The  high  water, 
which  had  suddenly  risen  from  the  effects  of  the  dis- 
solving snow,  to  their  great  surprise  had  carried  away 
their  little  water  craft.  The  horses  could  swim  the 
stream,  but  as  for  Mrs.  Roe,  her  case  was  one  of  doubt- 
ful result.  But  the  pioneers  were  full  of  expedients. 
They  were  men  of  enterprise  ;  and  when  they  formed  a 
plan,  or  resolved  upon  a  measure,  they  usually  had  the 
will  and  the  power  to  carry  those  plans  into  practical 
operation.  The  residence  of  Mr.  Chaplin  was  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  they  must  either  secure 
shelter  as  best  they  could,  where  they  were,  for  it  was 
near  sunset,  or  manage  some  way  to  get  over  the  swol- 
len stream.  As  a  final  resort,  a  hog-trough  belonging 
to  Mr.  Chaplin  was  floated  over,  and  Mrs.  Roe,  with  the 
courage  of  an  experienced  tar — a  true  son  of  the  ocean, 
— seated  herself  in  the  frail  craft,  and  passed  over  with 
entire  safety.  Mr.  Roe  and  his  team  next  made  an 
effort  at  crossing,  and  though  it  was  hard  swimming, 
the  horses  succeeded  in  reaching  the  opposite  shore 
without  injury.  A  three  year  old  heifer,  the  only  cow 
they  possessed,  and  which  had  followed  the  sleigh  from 


184  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

Ulster,  was  still  behind.  But  she  had  no  notion  of  being 
left,  and  after  making  a  few  flourishes  with  her  head, 
leaped  into  the  water,  and  tlfter  a  powerful  effort,  stood 
on  terra  firma,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river. 

The  next  morning  they  set  out  for  their  intended 
home  ;  the  weather  was  unpleasant,  and  the  snow  still 
quite  deep  ;  and  besides  this,  there  was  no  track  to  fol- 
low, and  in  truth,  we  might  as  well  saj^,  no  road.  It 
was  a  long  and  tedious  day,  for  the  sun  was  just  disap- 
pearing behind  the  ancient  hills  as  they  drew  near  their 
uninviting  house,  the  body  of  which  had  been  put  up  by 
Mr.  Roe  the  previous  spring.  He  had  hewed  and  put 
down  a  plank  floor,  and  prepared  bark  for  the  roof, 
which,  according  to  an  arrangement,  was  to  have  been 
put  on  by  an  individual  who  resided  in  Homer.  But, 
contrary  to  his  expectation,  Mr.  Roe  found  his  house  in 
the  precise  state  of  completion  in  which  he  had  left  it. 
He  had  triumphed  over  every  other  obstacle,  and  was 
not  now  to  be  disheartened,  though  greatly  disappoint- 
ed. The  snow  was  full  two  feet  deep  in  the  house  ; 
this,  however,  was  soon  shoveled  out,  or  at  least  a  por- 
tion of  it.  A  fire  w^as  built  against  the  logs,  and  thus 
commenced  their  first  unpropitious  attempts  at  house- 
keeping in  their  long  looked  for,  and  at  length  inauspi- 
cious achievement,  in  their  forest  home. 

The  next  year,  (1198,)  there  were  a  number  of  addi- 
tional families  who  came  in  and  settled  in  different  parts 
of  the  town.  Among  these  were  James  Bright,  James 
Knapp,  Bailey,  John  and  James  Glcnny,  and  Wait  Ball. 

In  1799,  Enos  Bouton,  Dana  Miles,  John  Lucas,  Henry 
Wells,  Jared  Thorn,  and  Primus  Gault  came  in  and  se- 
lected locations. 


SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION.  185 

During  the  year  1800,  James  Wright,  John  Calvert, 
James  Sherwood,  Peter  Jones,  Seth  Larabee,  John  Ellis, 
Oren  Jones,  Moses  Rice,  Abial  Brown,  Jason  Crawford 
and  Moses  Stevens  were  added  to  the  new  settlements. 

In  1801,  Daniel  Edwards,  Nathaniel  Boutin,  Prince 
Freeman  and  James  Clark  came  in  and  settled  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  town. 

In  1802  the  settlement  was  increased  by  Jonathan 
Edwards,  Samuel  Carson,  Alexander  Hunter,  George 
Wright,  Abner  and  Ezra  Bruce,  William  Lincoln,  and 
Peter  Gray  ;  and  in  1803,  Moses  Olmstead,  Peter  Pow- 
ers, John  I.  Gee,  Andrew  Van  Buskirk  and  Dorastus 
DeWolf. 

In  18i)4,  Silas  Lincoln,  Alexander  M'Nist,  Obadiah 
Gilbert,  Lemuel  Barnes,  Peter  Tanner  and  Jeremiah 
Shevalier  came  in,  selecting  locations  in  different  parts 
of  the  town. 

In  1805,  Isaac  Barton,  Jotham  Glazier,  Simeon  Luce, 
Zophar  Moore,  Oliver  Ball  and  Isaac  Elwell  became 
resident  settlers  ;  and  the  next  year  John  Hill,  John 
Green,  Zachariah  Squires  land  others  came  in  and  lo- 
cated. 

From  this  time  the  settlements  increased  more  rapidly. 
The  soil,  though  not  of  the  very  best  quality,  was  not 
of  the  most  inferior  kind.  Perseverance  and  a  strictly 
economical  mode  of  living  produced  w^onderful  results. 
It  required  active  and  laborious  exertions  to  subdue  the 
wild  forest  and  convert  the  wilderness  into  fruitful  and 
productive  fields.  Had  the  virgin  soil  yielded  various 
valuable  productions  like  many  portions  of  the  sunny 
South,  without  any  effort  on  the  part  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  soil,  and  where  indoljcnce  is  most  proverbial 
9* 


186  SETTLEMENT    AXD    OKGAXIZATIOX. 

among'  the  people,  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  settle- 
ments would  undoubtedly  have  exhibited  less  energy, 
less  enterprise,  and  would,  as  a  natural  result,  have 
been  indolent  and  imbecile.  The  case  was,  however, 
quite  the  contrary.  The  pioneers  of  that  early  period, 
and  those  who  warred  with  the  old  forest  monarchs  who 
had  reigned  from  three  to  five  and  even  six  hundred 
years  on  the  Virgil  hills  and  valleys,  were  composed  of 
materials  that  could  brook  misfortune,  discouragement, 
and  the  numerous  trials  and  hardsliips,  the  natural  re- 
sults of  the  first  attempts  of  planting  new  settlements 
in  a  wild  and  almost  unbroken  wilderness,  swarming 
with  voracious  animals,  eager,  anxious  to  lap  their 
tongues  in  the  warm  blood  of  some  unfortunate  victim. 
The  word  "discouragement''  did  not  belong  to  their 
vocabulary.  What  know  we  of  the  present  day  of  the 
toils,  privations,  and  sufferings,  through  which  our 
fathers  and  mothers  passed,  when  they  thus  early  struck 
their  tents  in  the  forest,  deprived  of  the  many  luxuries 
and  conveniences  wdiich  we  so  freely  and  fully  enjoy  1 
They  did  not  repine,  though  they  of  necessity  were  com- 
pelled to  erect  their  houses  of  logs,  cover  them  with 
bark,  split  logs  for  their  rtide  floors,  using  paper  win- 
dows, wooden  trenchers,  pine  slab  tables,  crack  their 
grain  in  a  mortar,  or  journey  forty  or  fifty  miles  to  a 
grist-mill  ;  and  then,  perhaps,  if  not  fortunate  enough 
to  have  a  span  of  horses,  which  few  did,  trail  along  with 
a  yoke  of  oxen,  attached  to  a  dray,  loaded  with  a  small 
quantity  of  corn  or  wheat,  Avinding  by  w^ay  of  an  Indian 
footpath  around  the  sedgy  marsh,  fording  streams,  as- 
cending the  hill-side,  and  again  descending  into  the 
valley,  camping  out  night  after  night ;  or,  peradventure, 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  187 

if  still  less  fortunate,  impelled  by  the  wants  of  the  dear 
ones  at  home,  with  three  pecks  of  corn  thrown  over  his 
shoulder,  and  a  cold  lunch  in  his  pocket,  he  starts  off 
on  a  wandering  tour  to  a  mill  at  Chenango  Point,  Lud- 
lowville,  or  Manlius  Square. 

When  Mr.  Agar  came  into  the  town  and  located  near 
the  little  streamlet  that  runs  gurgling  through  the 
rocky  ledge,  leaping  the  cascade,  and  dancing  in  the 
sunlight  as  it  enters  the  Tioughnioga,  he  had  but  a  cow, 
an  axe  and  an  auger  to  help  himself  with.  Mrs.  Agar 
was,  if  possible,  quite  as  poorly  provided  with  articles 
for  housekeeping.  Instead  of  marble  tables,  foreign 
sofas,  rosewood  chairs,  Brussels  carpets,  etc.,  Mrs.  Agar's 
furniture  consisted  of  a  hewed  slab  elevated  on  four  legs 
for  a  table,  square  blocks  for  chairs,  and  a  corn  husk 
rug  in  lieu  of  an  elegant  carpet.  Chips  served  the  pur- 
pose of  plates,  and  a  bake  kettle  for  an  oven,  dish  ket- 
tle, water  and  milk-pail,  as  well  as  for  soup-dish,  a  fry- 
ing-pan and  a  coffee-pot.  And  yet  we  are  told  that  they 
enjoyed  life  and  finally  became  wealthy.  While  reflect- 
ing on  the  inventive  power  of  this  self-sacrificing  wo- 
man, we  cannot  help  comparing  her  genius  with  that 
of  Joseph  Chamberlain,  who  emigrated  from  Herkimer 
county  in  1806,  and  located  in  Steuben.  He  was  the 
owner  of  a  dog,  a  cow,  and  an  axe.  He  did  not  possess 
a  single  article  generally  used  about  the  kitchen,  or 
upon  the  most  common  table.  But  he  had  both  tact  and 
genius  ;  and  these  were  speedily  brought  into  requisi- 
tion. His  cow  must  be  milked,  but  into  what  kind  of  a 
vessel  was  a  problem  which  he  alone  seemed  prepared 
to  solve.  Near  his  cabin  might  have  been  seen  the  trunk 
of  a  common-sized  tree.     Into  this  he  had  cut  a  small 


188  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

notch,  or  basio.     Morning  and  night  he  would  drive  his. 
cow  astride   of  this   log   and  milk  her  into  this  rudely 
constructed  vessel.     Standing  at  a  little  distance,  the 
observer  might  see  him  crumb  his  roasted  bread  into  the 
milk,  which  he  ate  with  a  wooden  spoon. 

There  are  many  touching  incidents  connected  with 
the  early  history  of  Virgil,  which  might  be  both  inter- 
esting and  instructive,  as  they  exhibit  most  fully  the 
noble  independence  and  moral  greatness  of  the  early 
pioneers,  and  evince  most  evidently  the  necessity  for 
decisive  action  in  all  great  enterprises,  whether  moral, 
social,  or  political.  We  regret  that  our  limits  will  not 
allow  of  extended  comments. 

The  first  town  m.eeting  after  Virgil  was  organized 
(1804),  was  held  at  the  house  of  James  Knapp,  on  the 
2d  of  April,  1805,  when  the  following  officers  were  duly 
elected  : 

Supervisor, — Moses  Rice. 

Tovyn  Clerk, — Gideon  Messenger. 

Assessors, — Abner  Bruce,  John  Gee,  Joseph  Chap- 
lin. 

Commissione7's  of  Highxoays — John  Glenny,  George 
Wigant,  John  I.  Gee. 

Poor  Masters, — Jonathan  Edwards,  Peter  Powers, 

Constable  and  Collector, — Shubel  S.  Marsh. 

Fence  Vieioers, — Moses  Olmstead,  Abial  Brown. 

The  fixst  Justice  of  the  Peace  was  James  Glenny.  He 
was  appointed  in  1802  by  the  Commissioners  of  appoint- 
ment at  Albany. 

The  first  post-office  was  established  in  1808,  and 
Zophar  Moore  appointed  post-master. 

The  first  school-house  was  erected  in  1799,  near  the 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  189 

present  residence  of  J.  C.  Hutchings.  Charles  Joyce 
was  the  first  teacher. 

The  first  merchant  was  Daniel  Shelden.  When  the 
news  of  the  arrival  of  his  goods  spread  through  the  set- 
tlement, it  was  received  with  great  interest,  and  consid- 
ered as  an  important  event  in  the  annals  of  Virgil. 

The  first  saw-mill  was  built  by  Daniel  Edwards,  in 
1801. 

The  first  grist-mill  was  erected  in  1805,  by  Peter 
Vanderlyn  and  Nathaniel  Knapp.  The  erection  of  this 
mill  was  regarded  as  a  work  of  valuable  importance. 
The  inhabitants  had  previously  been  compelled  to  pro- 
cure the  grinding  of  their  grain  at  Chenango  Point, 
(now  Binghamton,)  or  Ludlowville,  near  the  east  shore 
of  the  Cayuga  lake.  We  have  heard  of  numerous  in- 
stances of  individuals  carrying  the  grain  upon  their 
backs  to  the  latter  place,  a  distance  of  twenty-four 
miles. 

The  first  carding  machine  was  put  in  operation  by  a 
Mr.  Baker,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1814. 

The  first  public  burying  ground  was  deeded  to  the 
town  in  1806,  by  George  Wigant.  The  first  tombstone 
was  erected  in  1823,  to  the  memory  of  an  esteemed  and 
worthy  citizen,  James  Koe. 

The  first  cider  was  made  by  Enos  Bouton  in  1819.  It 
commanded  four  dollars  per  barrel.  The  apples  were 
bruised  by  a  pestle  hung  to  a  "spring  sweep  ;"  and  the 
juice  was  extracted  by  means  of  a  very  simple  lever 
press. 

The  inhabitants  seem  to  have  taken  considerable  in- 
terest in  elevating  the  standard  of  education.  There 
were    gentlemen  with  warm   hearts   and  active   minds 


190  SETTLEMEN^T   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

laboring  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  school-room. 
A  grammar  school  was  first  taught  in  1819,  by  Henry 
J.  Hall. 

In  183t  the  *'  Literary  Institute"  was  organized.  It 
continued  until.  1845,  having  been  successfully  taught 
byN.  Bouton  and  William^E.  Gee.  Various  other  schools 
flourished  from  time  to  time. 

The  "  Virgil  Library"  was  established  in  1807,  and 
another,  with  a  capital  of  two  hundred  dollars,  was  or- 
ganized under  the  name  of  the  "  Virgil  Union  Library," 
in  1814. 

The  first  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  1822. 

The  first  religious  meeting  was  held  in  1802. 

The  Congregational  organization  was  completed  Feb. 
28,1805.  There  were  then  eight  members.  Rev..  Seth 
Williston  presided. 

The  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  180t. 

The  Free  or  Open  Communion  Baptist  in  the  south- 
cast  part  of  the  town,  was  constituted  in  1820  ;  and  that 
of  the  Free  Baptist  Church  in  the  west  part,  was  or- 
ganized in  1822. 

The  Methodist  organization  took  place  in  1826  or 
1827.     Their  church  was  built  in  1831. 

The  Universalists  organized  into  an  Association  in 
1831. 

The  Christian  Church  was  formed,  in  1828. 

The  first  physician  was  Elijah  Hartson. 

The  first  child  born  in  town  was  a  son  of  Mr.  Chaplin. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  a  stranger,  Charles  Huff- 
man, who  died  in  April,  1798,  in  the  woods,  while  at- 
tempting to  travel  from  Ebenezer  Brown's,  in  Lansing, 
(then  Milton,)  to  Mr.  Chaplin's. 


SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION.  191 

The  first  death  of  a  resident  settler  was  that  of  Mrs. 
Derosel  Gee,  in  March,  1802.  She  was  the  wife  of  one  of 
the  heroic  soldiers  of  the  French  Revolution  of  lt54-63. 
He  was  a  man  of  iron  frame  and  active  mind,  and  could 
repeat  tales  of  the  tented  field,  of  blood  and  carnage, 
that  would  never  fail  to  send  the  blood  curdling  to  the 
heart. 

The  first  marriage  occurred  in  1800.  The  parties 
were  Ruluff  Whitney,  of  Dryden,  and  Susan  Glenny,  of 
Virgil.  The  event  was  regarded  with  more  than  usual 
interest,  and  formed  an  era,  or  starting  point,  from 
which  future  events  were  to  be  dated.  And  it  is 
worthy  of  remark,  that  when  we  were  collecting  our 
historical  materials,  we  frequently  met  with  individuals, 
who,  when  interrogated  with  reference  to  certain  points, 
would  immediately  refer  to  the  marriage  of  Miss  Glenny 
in  1800,  and  then  figure  backward  or  forward,  as  the 
case  might  be,  and  thus  arrive  at  what  they  concluded 
to  be  positive  periods  of  time,  or  certain  points  of  fact. 

In  the  autumn  of  1853  a  Town  Agricultural  Society 
was  organized,  and  held  its  first  annual  Fair  in  1854. 
The  result  was  commensurate  with  its  importance.  In 
1857  it  was  reorganized,  according  to  the  act  of  1855, 
passed  to  facilitate  and  encourage  the  formation  of 
Agricultural  Societies.  During  that  year  a  beautiful 
piece  of  ground  was  obtained  on  a  lease,  and  a  fence, 
enclosing  upwards  of  four  acres  in  a  square  form,  was 
erected  ;  as  also,  a  building  for  the  exhibition  of  dairy 
products,  home  manufactures,  and  needlo-work.  The 
building  has  since  been  enlarged  ^d  improved.  A 
spirit  of  enterprise  has  been  awakened  in  the  town,  and 
its   example  has  been  followed  by  some  surrounding 


192  SETTLEMEXT    AND    ORGANIZATION. 

towns    and    localities,     in    the    formation    of    similar 
societies. 

In  1846  Virgil  was  divided  into  three  towns  ;  the 
north  half  constituted  one,  and  retained  the  original 
name.  The  south  half  was  formed  into  two  ;  the  w^est 
received  the  name  of  Harford,  and  the  east  that  of 
Lapeer.  Since  that  time  a  part  of  Virgil  has  been  set 
to  Cortlandville,  and  another  part,  consisting  of  lot  No. 
20,  has  been  attached  to  Freetown.* 

In  1810,  six  years  after  its  organization,  the  popula- 
tion  numbered  913.  There  were  seventy-seven  Senato- 
rial electors,  and  the  whole  amount  of  taxable  property 
was  $84,351. 

In  1198  the  population  of  Vigil  was  30 

1810  "  "  906 

l,43t 
2,411 
3,317 
3,912 
4,291 
4,502 
4,541 
2,410 
2,231 

CiNciNNATUs  was  ouc  of  the  original  townships  (No. 
25,)  of  the  Military  Tract  ;  located  by  act  of  Legisla- 
ture of  New  York,  in  1786,  to  which  reference  was 
made  in  a  previous  chapter.  It  originally  contained 
100  lots,  or  04,0(jlli  acres  of  land.    It  was  organized  April 

*  See  Festive  Gathering  of  Early  Settlers,  by  Hon.  Nathan  Boiiton, 
the  able  and  popular  pioneer  annalist  of  Virgil — page  31. 


1814 

1820 

1825 

1830 

1835 

1840 

1845 

1850 

1855 

SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION.  193 

8th,  ]  804,  and  retained  its  original  limits  until  April 
21st,  1818,  when  it  was  reduced  by  the  erection  of  Free- 
town, Willet  and  Marathon.  Freetown  was  taken  from 
the  north-west  quarter,  Willet  from  the  south-east,  and 
Marathon  from  the  western  portion  of  the  township. 

The  settlement  of  Cincinnatus  commenced  in  1195. 
The  inducements  were  not  of  that  flattering  character 
which  were  calculated  to  attract  the  earlier  attention 
of  intelligent  and  enterprising  pioneers.  The  lands 
were  not  regarded  as  being  of  the  most  productive 
character.  In  this  respect,-  however,  great  changes 
have  resulted  from  the  labors  of  industrious  agricultur- 
ists. And  although  the  general  quality  of  the  soil  does 
not  equal  the  rich  flats  washed  by  the  glassy  waters  of 
the  Tioughnioga,  or  surpass  the  more  elevated  lands  of 
Homer,  Preble,  or  Scott ;  yet  it  is  quite  certain  that  great 
improvements  have  been  made,  and  that  farmers  are 
reaping  the  rich  rewards  that  spring  from  the  indus- 
trious pursuits  of  life.  Much  of  the  surface  of  this 
town  is  hilly,  though  by  no  means  mountainous.  The 
soil  is  of  various  qualities,  generally  better  adapted  to 
grass  than  grain,  a  fact  which  appears  to  be  well  un- 
derstood by  the  dairymen,  for  we  have  the  most  positive 
authority  for  asserting  that  some  of  the  very  best  speci- 
mens of  butter,  which  find  their  wa}^  into  Washington 
Market,  New- York,  are  made  in  Cincinnatus. 

Previous  to  1798,  when  a  grist-mill  was  erected  at 
Homer,  the  citizens  of  Cincinnatus  were  in  the  habit  of 
going  to  Chenango  Forks,  Ludlowprille,  or  Manlius 
Square,  with  drays  loaded  with  wheat  and  corn,  drawn 
by  oxen,  to  get  their  grinding  done.  If  the  reader 
desires    to    understand    how   these    drays   were   con- 


194  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

structed,  it  will  only  be  necessary  for  us  to  state  that 
they  were  made  from  the  crotches  of  trees,  having  a 
few  boards  or  cross  pieces  attached  to  them  by  means 
of  pins.  They  were  usually  from  six  to  eight  feet  in 
length,  and,  as  we  are  informed,  from  eight  to  ten 
bushels  made  a  very  respectable  load.  In  more  modern 
times,  the  drag«,  and  even  stone-boats,  were  similarly 
constructed. 

The  settlement  of  Cincinnatus  commenced  in  lt95, 
under  the  auspices  of  John  Kingman,  Thadeus  Rock- 
well, Zurial  Raymond,  Dr.  John  McWhorter,  Ezra  Rock- 
well, and  Samuel  Vining.  Mr.  Kingman  was  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Wethersfield,  October  5, 17tO. 
With  an  ordinary  education,  he  left  home  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  and  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  with  Mr. 
McGee,  an  Irishman,  who  carried  on  the  business  in 
Sheffield.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  came  to  Cincin- 
natus, and  located  where  he  now  lives,  on  lot  19.  He 
had  never  worked  at  farming,  and  consequently  pur- 
chased originally  only  fifteen  acres.  He  possessed  a 
strong  physical  frame,  and  was  an  active  and  energetic 
man.  He  busied  himself  in  clearing  his  land  in  the  day- 
time, and  in  making  shoes  and  boots  during  the  early 
portion  of  the  night  ;  in  this  way  he  paid  for  much 
of  his  hired  help.  He  subsequently  made  different  pur- 
chases, until  he  had  secured  150  acres — which  is  now 
owned  by  his  sons  Charles,  George,  and  John.  In  a 
military  capacity,  he  rose  from  2nd  Corporal  in  a  compa- 
ny of  infantry  to  Colonel.  He  was  supervisor  of  Cincin- 
natus for  eleven  successive  years  ;  and  held  numerous 
other  town  offices.  He  has  reared  a  very  intelligent 
family  of  children  :  Leroy  W.  resides  in  Owego,  Tioga 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  195 

county ;  Lyman,  in  Groton,  Tompkins  county ;  and 
Oliver,  Charles,  and  George  I.,  at  Cincinnatus.  All 
have  been  merchants  ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that 
neither  of  them  ever  failed  in  business,  and  are  there- 
fore enjoying  the  well-earned  fruits  of  their  own  indus- 
tr3^  Oliver,  John  and  George  have  been  members  of  the 
Legislature  ;  the  former  was  an  associate  Judge  from 
1828  to  1846.  Leroy,  at  the  time  of  writing,  is  the  popu- 
lar county  clerk  of  Tioga  county.  The  Rockwells  were 
from  Lenox,  Massachusetts.  Ezra  first  located  in  Solon, 
now  Taylor,  in  1793,  but  in  '95  removed  to  Cincinnatus 
and  settled  on  lot  19 — purchased  100  acres.  Thadeus 
settled  on  lot  9.  Mr.  Raymond  was  from  Williamstown, 
Massachusetts.  He  located  on  lot  29,  on  a  revolution- 
ary claim,  which  he  had  the  fortune  to  secure  through 
his  wife,  Widow  Young.  Dr.  McWhorter  came  in  from 
Oxford,  Chenango  county.  He  married  the  step-daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  Raymond,  a  very  interesting  and  accom- 
plished lady.  This  was  the  first  wedding  that  occurred 
in  Cincinnatus.  Thomas  Rockwell  told  us  that  at  the 
time  referred  to,  there  was  no  person  there  authorized 
to  marry,  and  consequently  a  clergyman  was  employed 
to  come  from  Oxford  and  officiate.  This  done,  another 
difficulty  arose,  but  was  easily  overcome.  The  clergy- 
man had  no  authorit^^  to  marry  out  of  the  county  of  Che- 
nango ;  and  hence  the  company,  pioneered  by  Thos. 
Rockwell,  marched  out  and  as  they  supposed  crossed 
over  the  border  line  into  Chenango,  but,  in  reality,  had 
not  reached  the  then  limits  of  Onondaga.  They  had, 
however,  approached  a  romantic  spot,  such  as  the  mar- 
vellous would  presume  to  be  the  retreat  of  sylphs  and 
nymphs  ;  and  there,  beneath  the  pavilioned  sky,  in  the 


196  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

midst  of  the  unbroken  forest,  on  a  beautiful  moss-cov- 
ered heath,  the  happy  couple  were  duly  and  appropri- 
ately married.  Dr.  McWhorter  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability  ;  was  an  active  and  prominent  politi- 
cian, and  was  at  different  periods  elevated  to  responsible 
positions.  From  1804  to  November  8,  1808,  he  was 
a  member  of  the  New  York  Assembly.  He  also  held,  by 
appointment,  the  office  of  surrogate.  He  reared  a  large 
family  of  children  ;  three  are  now  living.  One  is  the 
wife  of  Burton  Wakeman,  son  of  Judge  Wakeman,  of 
Pitcher, — a  gentleman  of  respectability  and  fortune. 
Another  daughter  resides  on  the  Genesee  Flats,  and 
a  son,  Zurial  McWhorter,  near  Buffalo. 

Phineas  Sergeant,  from  Oxford,  in  1196  came  to  Cin- 
cinnatus,  and  was  employed  as  a  kind  of  general  job 
ber. 

Charles  De  Belle  was  from  Berksliire,  Massachusetts. 
He  located  in  It 97,  on  lot  9.  He  died  in  1854.  Mrs. 
De  Belle  is  still  living,  and  is  remarkably  active  and 
healthy.  She  is  eighty-three  years  old,  yet  frequently 
walks  upwards  of  a  mile — not  of  necessity,  but  from 
preference — to  visit  her  brother,  Thomas  Rockwell,  of 
Taylor.  Mr.  De  Belle  left  five  children,  all  in  good  cir- 
cumstances. Their  names  are  Truman,  Polly,  Sophro- 
nia,  Francis,  and  John. 

Jesse  Locke,  from  Oxford,  settled  about  1800,  on  lot 
19.  Of  his  family  or  fortune  in  life,  we  have  no  partic- 
ulars. 

The  Wj^oming  Indians  occasionally  visited  the  valley, 
(Otselic,)  during  the  few  first  years  after  the  settlement 
commenced.  The  Onondagas  and  Oneidas,  also,  made 
periodical  visits.    In  1796,  forty  of  the  Oneidas  camped 


SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION.  197 

on  the  ground  occupied  by  the  Brick  store  ;  and  during 
the  fall  and  winter  they  killed  forty-two  bears.  The 
oil  they  preserved  in  some  of  the  larger  intestines,  and 
used  it  in  cooking  their  meats.  Soon  after  Col.  King- 
man began  to  improve  his  land  they  erected  their  cab- 
ins farther  down  the  river.  He  informed  us  that  they 
were  very  peaceable,  and  well  disposed  towards  their 
white  neighbors. 

The  inhabitants  exhibited  considerable  public  spirit 
in  their  efforts  to  establish  and  render  beneficial  the 
common  schools,  which  claimed  their  early  attention. 
Public  religious  worship  did  not  commence  at  as  early 
a  period  as  in  many  of  the  sister  towns.  This,  however, 
w^as  not  owing  to  any  lack  of  moral  culture  or  religious 
belief  on  the  part  of  the  people,  but  should  be  ascribed 
to  circumstances  beyond  their  control. 

The  Union  Congregational  Society  of  Cincinnatus  and 
Solon  was  organized  November  18th,  1822.     The  trus-. 
tees  were    John  L.   Boyd,   Barak    Niles,   John   Covert.  J 
Clerk,  Barak  Niles.    Presiding  officers,  Oliver  Kingman, 
Barak  Niles. 

The  first  sermon  ever  preached  within  the  original 
limits  of  Cincinnatus,  was  pronounced  by  Dr.  Williston, 
of  the  Congregational  order.  It  was  delivered  in  a  log 
barn,  from  the  text,  "  Hear  ye." 

James  Tanner  was  the  first  merchant.  The  first  mil- 
ler, Benjamin  Wilson.  The  first  store  was  erected  by 
Col,  John  Kingman,  on  ground  now  covered  by  the 
Brick  store.  The  first  school-house  was  built  by  Mr. 
Kingman,  and  stood  a  short  distance  south  of  his  house. 
The  first  frame  house  was  erected  for  Dr.  John  M'Whor- 
ter,  about  1802.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss 
Hepsy  Beebe. 


198 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 


In  1810  the  population  of  Cincinn 

atus 

was 

1,525 

1814 

1,614 

1820 

885 

1825 

],057 

1830 

1,308 

1835 

1,018 

1840 

1,301 

1845 

1,195 

1850. 

1,206 

1855 

1,119 

Much  of  the  matter  rightfully  belonging  to  Cincinna- 
tus,  will  be  found  in  our  sketches  of  Freetown,  AVillet, 
and  Marathon. 


Preble  was  organized  April  8,  1808,  from  the  original 
south  half  of  the  old  military  to wu ship  of  Tully.  In 
1815  it  was  reduced  to  its  present  limits  by  the  erection 
of  the  town  of  Scott. 

The  standard  of  civilization  was  first  erected  in  the 
town  of  Preble,  in  1796,  by  James  Cravat  and  John 
Gill.  The  former  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  but  mi- 
grated from  Pompey  Hill,  and  located  on  lot  68.  The 
latter  located  on  lot  *I6.  Samuel  and  Robert  Cravath 
came  from  Norfolk,  Conn,  in  1197,  and  settled  on  lot  68. 
Harry  Hill  and  Elijah  Mason  came  in  during  the  year 
1198.  The  former  was  from  Montgomery  co.,  N.  Y., 
and  located  on  lot  87,  which  he  drew  for  Revolutionary 
services.  The  latter,  settled  on  lot  78.  Seth  Trow- 
bridge, from  Montgomery  county,  located  in  the  early 
part  of  1799  on  lot  59  ;  and  during  the  next  3^ear,  Sam- 
uel Trowbridge,  Miimah  Hyatt,  and  Samuel  Orvis  settled 
on  the  same  lot.     Trowbridge  served  in  the  Revolution 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  199 

and  drew  the  lot.  Widow  Trowbridge,  of  Homer,  mother 
of  Mrs.  Oliver  Glover,  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Hyatt. 
Mr.  Orvis  was  from  Norfolk,  Conn.  He  subsequently 
removed  to  Prattsburg,  Steuben  county,  where  he  died  in 
1851,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-eight  years.  His 
surviving  children  are  Reuben  S.,  now  living  in  Hast- 
ings, Oswego  count3^  Phebe,  (Lee,)  Clarissa  and  Eliza 
reside  at  Prattsburg. 

In  1801,  Augustus  Thorp  located  on  lot  78.  In  1802 
Jabez  B.  Phelps,  John  Osgood,  Silas  Topping,  and  Sam- 
uel C.  Buckelow  came  in  and  sel-ected  various  locations. 
Judge  Phelps  was  originally  from  Hebron,  Conn.,  but 
came  to  Preble  from  Cazenovia.  He  located  on  lot 
88.  For  the  first  few  years  he  practised  medicine,  and 
was  honored  with  the  title  of  Doctor,  but  he  subse- 
quently turned  his  attontion  to  politics,  and  was  at  dif- 
ferent periods  elevated  to  important  positions,  and 
creditably  filled  the  office  of  Associate  Judge,  Surrogate, 
and  member  of  Assembly.  He  died  December  20th, 
1850,  aged  seventy -four  years.  His  widow  is  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age,  and  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  excellent 
health.  Mr.  Phelps  reared  ten  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  now  living — three  in  Ohio.  Sophronia  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Clark  of  Groton  ;  Laura  Jane  is  Mrs.  Dr. 
Burdick  ;  Augusta  is  Mrs.  Harry  Hobart,  of  Truxton  ; 
Lydia  married  Dr.  Alfred  Hall,  of  Navarino,  Onondaga 
county  ;  Amanda  is  tlie  wife  of  Hon.  Ezekiel  Chew,  of 
Richland,  Ohio  ;  Abram  J.,  of  Newark,  in  the  same 
State  ;  Lydia,  wife  of  Dr.  Hall,  of  Onondaga  ;  and 
Calvin  B.,  of  Chrysoline,  Ohio. 

Osgood  settled  on  lot  t7,  Buckelow  on  67,  and  Top- 
ping on  96.    In  1802,  Lytle  Ferguson,  from  Montgomery 


200  SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION. 

county,  located  on  lot  65.  He  purchased  one  hundred 
and  nineteen  acres;  reared  seven  children — six  of  whom 
survive  him.  His  sons  are  Michael,  William,  Thomas, 
Elias,  and  Lytle. 

In  1803,  Amos  Skeel  and  Jason  Comstock  came  in 
from  Schenectady  county,  and  selected  locations.  The 
former  settled  on  lot  59.  He  was  an  industrious  and 
valuable  citizen.  He  died  in  1842,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years.  His  widow  survived  him  eleven  years,  and 
died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight.  He  was  the 
father  of  Hon.  Ira  Skeel,  as  also  of  William  W.  The 
former  lives  in  Preble  ;  the  latter  has  but  recently  re- 
move4  to  Homer.  His  son  William  is  at  present  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  public  officer  of  Jefferson  county,  Mis- 
souri. Mr,  Comstock  located  on  lot  58.  His  daughter 
Saloma  is  the  wife  of  D.  G.  Duncan.  In  1804,  John 
Callyer,  Dr.  Robert  D.  Taggart,  and  Edward  Cummings, 
selected  locations.  Callyer,  father  of  Casper  Callyer, 
came  from  Greene  county,  and  settled  on  lot  58.  Tag- 
gart came  from  Colerain,  and  located  on  lot  59.  He  was 
an  exceedingly  active  and  prominent  man.  Cummings, 
came  in  from  Peterboro,  N.  H,,  and  settled  on  lot  59. 
He  purchased  one  hundred  acres,  and  reared  a  respect> 
able  family  of  thirteen  children — eleven  of  which  are 
now  living — seven  of  whom  are  sons  residing  in  Preble. 

In  1806  several  additional  settlements  were  made. 
Garret  Van  Hoesen  and  his  sons — Garret,  Francis  and 
Albert — came  in  from  Greene  county  and  located  on 
lot  68.  He  purchased  of  James  Cravat,  the  original 
settler  of  the  lot,  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  at  twelve 
dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre.  Garret  and  Francis  are 
still  living  on  the  lot ;  the  former  at  the  advanced  age 


SETTLEMENT   AND    OKGANIZATION.  201 

of  ninety,  and  the  latter  at  eighty-two  years.  William 
Vaudenburgh,  from  the  same  county,  located  on  lot  17- 
.He  was  the  father  of  Lambert  and  Richard  :  the  latter 
lives  on  lot  85  in  Scott.  John  0.  HoUenbeck  and  Rich- 
ard Egbertson,  also  from  Greene  county,  located  about 
the  same  time  on  lot  58.  Mr.  HoUenbeck  left  two  sons, 
— Abram  and  John, — and  one  daughter.  John  occupies 
the  homestead.  The  daughter,  Mary,  is  now  widow  Bee- 
man,  of  Tully.  A  daughter  of  Mr.  Egbertson  is  the  wife 
of  David  Beeman.  Tunis  Van  Camp,  from  Schoharie 
county,  located  on  lot  69.  The  farm  is  now  owned  by 
Frederick  Poor.     His  son  John  lives  in  Tully. 

In  180T,  Rier  Van  Patten,  from  Schenectady,  located 
on  lot  56.  His  children  are  Mrs.  Martin  Vanderwarker, 
Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Hobart,  Asenath,  now  widow  Egbert- 
son,  John  K.  and  James  S.  The  latter  lives  in  St. 
Charles,  Illinois. 

The  town  of  Preble  presents  a  broken  and  diversified 
aspect.  The  western  portion  exhibits  several  abrupt 
and  high  elevations,  the  highest  point  of  which  is  Mount 
Topping.  There  are  numerous  legendary  reminiscences 
treasured  up  in  the  minds  of  some  of  the  old  sachems 
of  the  Iroquois  tribe,  which  give  a  somewhat  prominent 
feature  to  this  rugged  miniature  mountain.  Here  the 
bear,  the  wolf,  and  the  panther  were  driven  from  their 
strongholds,  or  made  to  pay  a  forfeiture  of  their  lives 
for  their  unbecoming  temerity.  An  old  scarred  warrior, 
of  the  seventeenth  century,  having  pitched  his  hunting 
camp  at  the  eastern  base  of  this  high  point  of  land,  was" 
suddenl}^  aroused  from  a  sound  sleep,  about  the  middle 
of  a  cold  December  night,  by  the  scream  of  an  enormous 
panther,  which  had  been  attacked  by  a  dr^ve  of  hungry 
10 


202  SETTLEMENT   AXD    OEGAIOZATION. 

wolves.  Springing  from  his  pallet  of  dried  skins,  and 
seizing  his  French  rifle,  which  had  been  given  him  by  a 
young  Adirondack  chieftain,  and  which  had  often  before 
done  him  good  service,  and  creeping  stealthily  to  the 
door,  which  he  opened  with  the  utmost  care,  to  his  sur- 
prise he  beheld  the  fiery  orbs  of  three  ferocious  animals. 
Levelling  Long  Tom,  a  leaden  missile  made  a  death 
lodgment  in  the  brain  of  the  panther.  The  wolves  re- 
treated a  few  rods,  and  as  hastily  returned,  for  they  had 
already  got  a  scent  of  the  fresh  blood  that  freely  flowed 
from  the  dead  animal,  now  secured  within  the  unadorned 
walls  of  the  hunter's  tent.  The  purple  current  was 
soon  lapped  up,  and  then  the  midnight  air  resounded 
with  the  discordant  howls  of  the  more  than  half  enraged 
wolves. 

But  hark  !  the  terrific  howl  is  answered  from  Mount 
Topping,  and  reechoed  in  mournful  expression  as  it  dies 
away  on  the  other  side  of  the  Tioughnioga.  And  now, 
while  the  hungry  pack  are  hurrying  down  the  mountain 
glade,  the  unterrified  red  man  sits  smoking  his  pipe, 
with  all  the  coolness  of  a  Roman  knight.  A  few  mo- 
ments elapse,  and  they  have  snufi'ed  the  scent  of  blood, 
and  are  yelling  around  the  pent-up  confines  of  the  stern 
old  man.  The  muzzle  of  Long  Tom  presently  appears 
emerging  from  the  port  hole,  belching  fire  and  lead;  and 
though  he  spoke  in  an  authoritative  tone,  and  silenced 
forever  the  voice  of  ©ne,  he  did  not  frighten  away  the 
voracious  clan.  But  Long  Tom  continued  to  emerge  at 
various  intervals  from  the  unnoticed  embrasures,  until 
seven  wolves  were  weltering  in  their  blood.  A  few 
escaped  with  broken  limbs  to  the  mountain  gorge. 

The  first  school  which  had  any  important  bearing  on 


SETTLEMENT   AND   OKGANIZATION.  203 

the  moral  habits  and  intellectual  training  of  the  chil- 
dren, was  taught  by  Miss  Ruth  Thorp,  in  1801.  Under 
the  old  organization,  when  Preble  was  a  part  of  Tully, 
Moses  Nash  furnished  the  settlers  with  goods  from  his 
little  store,  established  at  Tully  Village  in  1803.  Two 
years  after,  he  was  succeeded  by  John  Meeker,  who 
greatly  extended  the  limits  of  commercial  intercourse 
with  the  hardy  pioneers  of  the  country.  A  public  house 
was  opened  in  1802.  In  1803,  when  Tully  was  orga  - 
ized,  several  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  portion  of  the 
town  of  Tully,  afterwards  comprised  in  the  town  of 
Preble,  were  elected  to  responsible  town  offices.  Among 
these  were  the  Cravaths.  Mr.  Nash,  after  disposing  of 
his  mercantile  interest,  located  in  Indiana,  and  at  a 
later  period  came  within  one  vote  of  an  election  to  the 
gubernatorial  chair  of  that  State. 

Previous  to  the  establishment  of  a  post-office  at  Preble 
Corners,  about  1812,  the  then  central  point  of  Tully,  the 
settlers  received  their  letters,  papers,  &c.,  from  Pompey 
Hill.  The  first  dwelling-house  was  erected  by  James 
Cravath,  in  1798. 

In  1804,  public  religious  worship  was  commenced  by 
the  organization  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Tully, 
and  consisted  of  eleven  members.  It  was  organized 
through  the  active  and  zealous  efforts  of  the  Reverends 
Theodore  Hinsdale  and  Joel  Hale,  who  were  missiona- 
ries from  Connecticut.  This  association,  at  a  subsequent 
period,  assumed  the  name  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Preble.  In  its  infancy  it  was  connected  with 
the  Middle  Association  ;  but,  on  the  dissolution  of  that 
organization,  it  was  assigned  to  the  Presbytery  of  On- 
ondaga, and  at  a  still  later  period,  to  that  of  Cortland. 


204  SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION. 

Rev.  Matthew  Harrison,  its  first  pastor,  entered  upon 
his  labors  in  1812.  Reverends  Enoch  Bouton,  L.  Weld, 
A.  P.  Clark,  G.  K.  Clark, W.  Jones,  B.  F.  Foltse,  E.  H.  Pay- 
son,  and  W.  W.  Collins,  severally  ministered  to  the  spirit- 
ual wants  of  the  people  up  to  1825,  when  there  were 
seventy-seven  members.  Three  years  after,  the  number 
had  increased  to  one  hundred  and  nineteen.  Twelve 
years  later,  there  were  two  hundred  and  ten  members. 
The  next  year  (1841)  eighty  of  its  members  withdrew 
and  finally  organized  themselves  under  the  appellation 
of  the  "  First  Free  Church"  in  Preble,  and  might  prop- 
erly be  termed  Unionists. 

The  Baptist  Association,  organized  at  an  early  period 
with  but  fourteen  members,  owes  its  origin  to  Elder 
Abbott,  the  first  spiritual  teacher  of  that  order,  who 
labored  ardently  in  his  eiforts  to  impart  public  religious 
instruction.  The  church  is  now  under  the  charge  of 
Elder  Capron. 

The  Methodist  organization  dates  back  to  182t,  and 
was  formed  by  Calvin  Winslow.  Elder  Sayers  was  the 
first  stated  preacher.  He  was  followed  by  the  ever  to 
be  remembered  Elder  Puffer,  who  was  appropriately 
termed  "  Old  Chapter  and  Verse."  It  was  a  custom  of 
his  to  omit  naming  any  chapter  or  verse  upon  which 
his  public  discourses  were  based.  We  recollect  of  his 
telling  us,  in  our  earlier  days,  that,  if  the  Bible,  through 
some  unexpected  revolution,  should  be  destroyed,  he 
could  re-write  every  chapter,  verse,  and  even  word, 
in  their  appropriate  order  and  place. 

The  dairy  business  is  being  regarded  with  much 
more  attention  than  in  former  years ;  and  consequently, 
the  high  lands  are  greatly  improved,  not  only  in  value, 


SETTLEMENT  AND   OEGANIZATION.  205 

but  in  their  general  appearance.  The  rich  Preble  Flats 
are  hardly  surpassed,  for  fertility  and  beauty,  by  any  in 
the  county. 

From  the  highest  elevation  of  Mount  Topping,  portions 
of  Onondaga,  Cayuga,  and  Tompkins  may  be  seen, 
with  their  varying  scenery,  blending  the  beauties  of 
rich  productive  fields  with  the  more  rugged  features  of 
nature.  Standing  on  that  lofty  point,  the  observer  may 
have  a  fine  view  of  Homer,  Preble,  and  Tully  Flats — 
lands  that  will  compare  favorably  with  any  in  the  State* 
And  there,  too,  he  may  view  with  admiration  and  won- 
der the  work  of  Deity,  as  exhibited  in  the  numerous 
ridges  and  long  sloping  valleys,  the  rounded  knolls  and 
picturesque  dales,  all  richly  diversified,  and  producing 
in  abundance  the  various  crops  common  to  the  country. 
Indeed,  there  are  many  magnificent  views  to  be  taken 
from  this  rugged  point,  as  it  looms  up  in  all  its  ancient 
grandeur.  We  were  most  agreeably  surprised  with  our 
visit  to  this  olden  spot  of  Indian  warfare,  where  the  red 
man  contested  the  right  of  inheritance  with  the  wild 
beasts  of  the  mountain  glen,  or  forest  glade.  Had  we, 
in  our  childhood,  given  a  willing  ear  to  the  marvellous, 
when  one  of  our  far-famed  orators  endeavored  to  instil 
into  our  mind  the  fanciful  stories  of  fairy  lore,  we 
should,  we  opine,  not  hesitate  to  imagine  that  the  re- 
treat of  sylphs  and  nymphs  was  somewhere  about  this 
romantic  mount. 

Amos  Skeel  was  the  first  supervisor  and  justice  of  the 
peace  ;  Garret  Van  Hoesen,  the  first  town  clerk  ;  Sam- 
uel Taggart,  the  first  constable. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Amos  Bull  to  Sally 
Mason,  in  1199.     The  first  birth,  Nancy  Gill,  October 


206  SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION. 

25,  1196.  The  first  death  was  that  of  John  Patterson, 
1198.  The  first  permanent  merchant  was  Noah  Parsons, 
at  Preble  Centre,  181T.  The  first  grist-mill  was  erected 
in  1806,  by  Samuel  C.  Woolston,  a  native  of  Montgom- 
ery county.  In  182t  the  building  was  taken  down,  and 
the  main  part  of  the  present  mill  erected  on  the  original 
site.  In  1853,  the  mill  property  and  farm,  comprising 
two  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  were  purchased  by 
W.  E.  Tallman,  formerly  an  enterprising  citizen  of  Tully. 
The  mill  was  thoroughly  renovated  and  improved  by 
the  replacing  of  new  bolts  and  an  additional  run  of 
stone.  He  has  extended  a  line  of  shafting  to  his  barn,  a 
distance  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  feet,  where  the 
power  is  used  for  threshing,  separating  grain,  elevating 
straw,  shelling  corn,  and  sawing  wood,  requiring  less 
than  half  the  usual  number  of  hands  to  do  the  same 
amount  of  work.  What  a  vast  amount  of  hard  labor  is 
thus  saved  I  What  an  improvement  is  thus  suggested 
to  other  mill  proprietors !  Mr.  Tallman  has  also  re- 
cently purchased  a  water-power  about  thirty-eight  rods 
below  the  mill  ;  and  he  is  new  engaged  in  running 
a  shaft  back  to  his  mill  (six  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
feet),  where  it  will  be  connected  with  an  extra  run  of 
stone,  thus  enabling  him  to  use  a  portion  of  the  water  a 
second  time, — another  important  suggestion  to  mill- 
owners  ;  and  it  is  with  this  view  that  we  have  thus 
freely  spoken  with  reference  to  this  valuable  mill  prop- 
erty, as  well  as  to  the  enterprising  efiforts  of  Mr. 
Tallman. 


SETTLEMENT  AND    ORGANIZATION.  207 

In  1810  the  population  of  Preble  was  1,179 

1814  "  "  1,311 

1820  "  "  1,25*1 

1825  "  "  l,32t 

1830  *'  "  1,435 

1835  ''  "  1,408 

1840  *'  "  1,247 

1845  "  "  1,325 

1850  "  *'  1,312 

1855  "  "  1,219 

In  1810  there  were  in  Preble  ninety-four  Senatorial 
electors  ;  the  taxable  property  $54,710. 

Truxton. — The  town  of  Truxton  was  organized  from 
the  south  half  of  the  military  town  of  Fabius,  April  8, 
1808.  It  also  embraces  four  tiers  of  lots  taken  from  the 
north  part  of  Solon. 

As  we  look  back  over  the  dim  vestiges  of  the  past, 
and  behold  the  hardy  pioneer  of  civilization- penetrating 
the  boundary  line  which  now  marks  the  northern  limits 
of  Cortland  county,  we  feel  that  his  was  a  hazardous 
effort,  and  that  a  great  amount  of  energy  must  have 
been  embraced  in  his  enterprising  and  wild,  romantic 
character.  Doubts  and  fears  had  little  or  no  influence 
upon  his  mind,  for  he  was  one  of  those  energetic  char- 
acters of  quick  and  discerning  mind, — and  bold,  resolute 
actors  who,  when  having  resolved  upon  a  purpose, 
allow  no  mere  probable  contingency  to  deter  them 
from  the  accomplishment  of  the  enterprise.  The  foot- 
prints of  civilization  had  not  then  penetrated  into  this 
then  dense  wilderness.  True,  the  French  traders  had 
visited  the  Indians  in  their  rude  cabins,  and  even  estab- 


208  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

lished  trading-posts  ;  but  these  had  disappeared  with 
time  and  change,  and  the  confines  of  the  now  county  of 
Cortland  were  invaded  only  by  the  red  man  in  his  hunt- 
ing garb,  or  as  he  went  forth  upon  some  stealthy  march. 
The  panther,  the  wolf,  the  bear,  and  the  deer,  roamed 
free  as  the  mountain  bird,  without  dreaming  of  the  hor- 
rid crusade  that  was  about  to  be  waged  against  them. 
Yet  through  the  deep,  thick  forest  of  hemlock,  maple, 
elm,  and  basswood,  wandered  the  bold,  resolute  pioneer, 
Samuel  C.  Benedict,  who,  in  the  fall  of  1793,  located  on 
lot  12.  He  erected  a  log-citadel,  and  christened  it — 
"  Home." 

In  1T94  Nathaniel  Potter,  Jonah  Stiles,  Christopher 
Whitney,  David  Morse  and  Benjamin  Brown  came  in 
and  selected  various  locations.  Potter  was  from  Sara- 
toga county,  New  York.  He  purchased  lots  7t,  86,  and 
96.  He  erected  a  small  house  on  lot  96,  near  the  State 
bridge.  In  July,  1798,  he  was  suddenly  killed  by  the 
fall  of  a  tree.  Stiles  came  from  Ruport,  Vermont,  and 
located  on  lot  4.  He  purchased  one  hundred  acres,  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  Samuel  Freeman.  He  died  in 
1840.  His  daughter  Julia  married  John  Wicks  ;  Sophia, 
Alexander  Forbes,  of  Litchfield,  Ohio  ;  Jonah  lives  at 
Seville,  in  the  same  State  ;  Samuel,  at  Franklin,  in  Dela- 
ware county,  New  York  ;  and  Otis,  near  Almiron  W. 
Crain's  Wool  Exchange,  at  Stilesville.  Whitney  mi- 
grated from  the  east,  and  located  on  lot  3.  One  of  his 
daughters  is  widow  Moses  Hopkins.  Morse  came 
from  New  Jersey,  and  settled  on  lot  87.  He  served  his 
country  in  the  revolution,  and  drew  the  lot  where  he 
settled,  now  in  part  covered  by  the  village  of  Cuyler, 
where  his  two  surviving  sons,  David  and  Joseph,  now 


SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION.  209 

reside.  Brown  was  from  Connecticut.  He  located  on 
lot  5t.  His  surviving  children  are  Abner,  Alvin,  and 
Wesley. 

John  Shedd  located  early  in  lt9t  on  lot  63.  During 
the  same  year  Nathaniel  E.  James  and  Charles  Stewart, 
came  in.  The  former  located  on  lot  63 ;  and  the  latter, 
from  Colerain,  Massachusetts,  drew  and  settled  on 
State's  Hundred,  lot  93. 

In  It 98  a  number  of  additional  settlers  came  in  and 
located.  Robert  McNight  and  John  Jeffrey  were  from 
Monmouth,  New  Jersey,  and  settled  on  lot  2  ;  Charles 
McNight,  a  son,  lives  on  the  homestead.  Billy  Trow- 
bridge, from  Westchester  county,  New  York,  settled  on 
lot  5.  He  filled  several  respectable  county  offices  ;  was 
twice  elected  to  the  State  Assembly,  and  for  one  term 
held  the  office  of  sheriff.  His  sons  John,  Levi,  and  Hub- 
bard, reside  at  Detroit,  and  Smith,  in  Syracuse.  Ste- 
phen Hedges,  from  Troy,  located  on  lot  93.  Increase  M. 
Hooker  was  a  native  of  Bennington,  Vermont.  He  was 
with  Ethan  Allen  during  a  portion  of  the  Revolution, 
and  witnessed  the  terrible  conflict  at  Bennington,  Au- 
gust 16,  lltt.  He  married  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and 
some  years  after  moved  to  Greene  county,  N.  Y.  In 
179t,  removed  to  Solon,  on  lot  88  ;  and  the  next  year 
came  to  Truxton,  and  settled  on  lot  94.  Soon  after,  he 
purchased  a  grist-mill  of  Joseph  Sweetland.  It  was 
covered  with  elm  bark,  and  contained  one  run  of  stone. 
It  was  rebuilt  in  1816  by  his  sons.  In  1842  he  removed 
to  New  Jersey.  In  1848  he  visited  his  son  in  Illinois, 
and  on  his  return  died  at  Onondaga  Hollow.  He  reared 
five  children  :  two  now  living,  John  H.,  and  Harley  ; 
the  former  lives  in  Newbrunswick,  N.  J.,  and  the  latter 
10* 


210  SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION. 

in  Rockton,  III.  John  H.  Hooker  recently  told  us  that 
he  visited  Onondaga  county  when  there  was  but  one 
house  at  Manlius,  one  at  Pompey,  and  one  at  Onondaga 
Hollow. 

John  Miller,  from  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  located  in 
1801  on  lot  93. 

Hugh  and  William  Stewart,  from  Colerain,  Mass., 
settled  in  1803  on  lot  4. 

Lewis  Wicks  came  from  Saratoga  county,  in  1804, 
and  located  on  lot  13. 

The  Pierces  were  from  Colerain.  Zebulon  migrated 
in  1805,  and  located  on  lot  34.  He  reared  a  family  of 
eleven  children — four  now  living. 

Judah  settled  in  1806  on  lot  12.  He  left  eight  chil- 
dren— three  reside  at  the  West.  Ethan  lives  on  the 
homestead.  Mr.  Pierce  accumulated  a  large  property  ; 
was  an  influential  citizen.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy. 

Dea.  James  Bell  was  from  Ruport,  Vt.  He  migrated 
to  Truxton  in  the  winter  of  1812,  and  located  on  lot  95. 
In  1821  he  removed  to  Medina  county,  Ohio.  He  was  a 
most  excellent  citizen,  and  reared  an  interesting  family. 
His  sons,  James  and  Jacob,  are  active  and  prominent 
politicians  ;  the  former  has  occupied  a  seat  in  the  Ohio 
Legislature. 

In  1814  Asa  Babcock,  originally  from  Rhode  Island, 
came  in  from  Madison  county,  N.  Y.,  and  went  into  the 
mercantile  trade,  which  he  continued  for  a  period  of 
forty-three  years.  With  the  sands  of  life  running  low, 
he  calmly  awaits  his  summons  to  depart. 

Asa  Campbell  was  a  native  of  Hampden  county, 
Mass.     He  came  in  and  settled  (1816)  on  the  farm  now 


SETTLEMENT  AND   ORGANIZATION.  211 

owned  by  Jennings  Bennett.  The  widow  and  daughter 
reside  in  the  village. 

Stephen  Ambler  came  in  from  New  Berlin  in  1818> 
and  located  on  lot  83.  He  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twelve  acres ;  reared  nine  children — four  now  living  ; 
two  sons  in  Cuba. 

The  settlement  was  visited  quite  early  by  itinerant 
missionaries,  and  public  religious  worship  was  insti- 
tuted in  1801,  through  the  laudable  exertions  of  Rev. 
Hugh  Wallis. 

The  first  post-office  was  established  in  1199,  and  Ste- 
phen Hedges  appointed  post-master  ;  he  was  also  the 
first  merchant.  John  Miller,  the  first  physician.  The 
first  miller  was  Joseph  Sweetland.  The  first  child  born 
was  Stephen  Potter,  in  1194.  The  first  death  was  that 
of  the  father,  Nathaniel  Potter,  already  referred  to. 

In  the  earlier  town  organization,  this  town  belonged 
to  Pompey,  which  was  organized  in  1194,  and  included 
the  townships  of  Pompey,  Fabius,  and  Tully  ;  and  also, 
"  part  of  the  Onondaga  Reservation,  lying  south  of  the 
great  Genesee  Road,  and  east  of  Onondaga  Creek." 
Fabius  was  erected  from  Pompey  in  1198,  and  at  that 
time  included  two  military  townships, — Fabius  and 
Tully, — and  comprised  the  present  towns  of  Fabius, 
Tully,  Truxton,  Preble  and  Scott,  with  portions  of  Spaf- 
ford  and  Otisco. 

The  pioneers  of  the  town  of  Truxton  labored  early 
and  late  to  procure  a  support  for  themselves  and  fami- 
lies. The  luxuries  they  enjoyed  were  the  real  necessa- 
ries of  subsistence.  They  dealt  only  with  the  stern  re- 
alities of  life.  The  follies  and  fooleries  of  our  times 
were  unknown  to  the  primitive  settlers.  They  studied 
nature  as  she  really  was,   rather   than  in  what  they 


213  SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION. 

would  have  her  to  be.  When  success  had  so  far 
crowned  their  laborious  efforts  as  to  enable  them  to 
spare  a  portion  of  their  products,  they  did  not  deem  it  a 
hard  task  to  place  the  scanty  surplus  on  an  ox  sled, 
and,  taking  an  Indian  trail,  or  such  road  as  had  been 
cut  through  the  wilderness  by  wandering  emigrants, 
thus  trudge  on  from  day  to  day,  until  they  reached 
Utica,  Whitestown  or  Herkimer,  where  they  exchanged 
them  for  the  substantials  of  the  farm  and  the  kitchen. 
The  exchange  did  not  then,  as  in  these  days  of  refine- 
ment, consist  of  satins,  silks  and  lawns  for  their 
daughters,  but  in  a  few  yards  of  linsey-woolsey  ;  an 
axe,  bush-hook,  grub-hoe,  and  last,  though  perhaps  not 
least  thought  of,  a  half-pound  of  old  Bohea,  which  was 
always  received  by  the  happy  matron  with  a  smile  as 
sweet  as  the  lively  lay  she  sang. 

The  surface  of  the  town  of  Truxton  presents  a  broken 
and  diversified  aspect.  The  Truxton  Flats  are,  however, 
very  beautiful,  rich,  and  abundant  in  agricultural  ele- 
ments ;  yet  they  are  unquestionably  better  adapted  to 
the  growing  of  the  coarser  grains,  though  wheat  is  pro- 
duced to  a  limited  extent. 

In  1810  the  population  of  Truxton  was    1,031 


1814 

(( 

I.t68 

1820 

<< 

2,956 

1825 

11 

3,325 

1830 

(( 

3,885 

1835 

(< 

3,112 

1840 

u 

3,658 

1845 

a 

3,58t 

1850 

<< 

3,623 

1855 

<( 

tt   . 

3,444 

SETTLEMENT   AND   OKGANIZATION.  213 

In  1810  there  were  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  Sen- 
atorial electors  ;  and  the  taxable  property  was  assessed 
at  $4t,6t3.  The  village  contained  twenty  houses.  The 
town  is  well  watered,  and  especially  by  branches  of  the 
Tionghnioga,  which  have  their  origin  in  the  town. 

The  streams  of  Truxton  afford  many  excellent  mill- 
seats,  which  in  most  instances  are  used  to  good  advan- 
tage, placing  her  in  the  front  rank  of  manufacturing 
towns  in  the  county.  There  are  five  grist-mills,  several 
saw-mills,  a  large  sash  and  blind  factory,  a  firkin  and 
tub  factory,  and  a  Wool  Exchange.  The  latter  we  pro- 
pose to  briefly  notice.  In  1809  Jonah  Stiles  and  Alvin 
Pease  erected  a  grist-mill,  the  second  one  in  the  town. 
In  1810  they  erected  a  carding  machine.  These  sub. 
sequentl}^  passed  into  the  hands  of  Otis  and  Jonas 
Stiles  ;  the  latter,  however,  soon  sold  out  to  Samuel 
Stiles  ;  and  finally,  the  latter  interest  was  purchased  by 
Otis,  who,  in  1814,  added  to  his  business  another  branch, 
— that  of  cloth  dressing.  A  few  years  previous,  Jacob 
Otis  commenced  cloth  dressing,  but  he  discontinued  it 
in  1820.  In  1826,  Mr.  Stiles  rebuilt,  and  engaged  more 
largely  in  the  manufacture  of  cloth.  In  1831,  he  added 
the  improved  machinery.  In  1838,  Almiron  W.  Grain  be- 
came an  active  partner,  and  in  1848  sole  proprietor. 
In  1854  Perry  P.  Grain  became  a  partner.  In  1826 
the  business  of  exchanging  cloth  for  wool  was  com- 
menced, and  has  been  gradually  increasing  until  the 
present  time.  The  sum  total  of  exchange  during  the 
year  1858,  amounted  to  25,000  pounds  of  wool.     We  re- 

NoTE.— Since  the  main  portion  of  our  history  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  publisher,  the  recently  organized  town  of  Cuyler  has 
been  formed  from  the  east  half  of  Truxton. 


214  SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION. 

gard  the  wool  exchange  business  as  one  of  great  prac- 
tical importance  to  the  wool-growers  of  Cortland  county, 
for  while  they  get  their  cloth  at  a  reduced  price,  they 
receive  an  advance  profit  on  their  wool,  making  the  ex- 
change a  profitable  investment. 

Scott. — The  town  of  .Scott  was  erected  from  the  west 
part  of  Preble,  April  14,  1815. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  was  made  in  this  town 
in  1199.  There  had,  however,  been  a  rude  hunter  within 
its  boundaries  as  early  as  1795.  He  erected  a  bark 
shanty,  and  lived  by  hunting, — a  kind  of  employment  for 
which  he  seemed  peculiarly  fitted,  and  to  which  he  was 
greatly  attached.  He  spent  about  one  year  and  a  half 
in  the  deep  solitude  of  that  unbroken  wilderness,  when 
he  was  joined  by  a  half-breed  Indian,  originally  from 
Three  River  Point,  Canada  ;  and  in  a  few  months  after, 
they  gathered  up  their  peltry  and  furs,  and  made  their 
way  to  a  French  trading  post,  then  established  near 
Whitestown,  where  they  made  a  profitable  disposition 
of  their  effects,  and  then  sought,  if  possible,  a  still  more 
gloomy  retreat  in  the  wilds  of  the  far  West.  He  was 
an  eccentric  and  original  genius,  constitutionally  fitted 
for  the  rude  life  he  lived.  His  birth-place  is  not  known, 
though  it  is  evident  from  certain  excentricities  of 
character  that  he  was  of  French  extraction.  An  In- 
dian of  the  Leni  tribe,  from  whom  we  gather  these 
facts,  and  who  occasionally  visits  the  Oneidas,  relates 
many  characteristic  anecdotes  touching  this  singularly 
strange,  yet  interesting  original.  Years  after,  he  was 
seen  standing  upon  the  bank  of  the  great  Father  of 
Waters, — the  majestic  Mississippi.     There  was  heard  a 


SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION.  215 

shriek,  a  plunge, — the  waves  closed  over  the  lone  hunter, 
and  all  that  was  mortal  had  disappeared  forever.  And 
when  the  horror-stricken  Indian,  who  had  watched  his 
movements,  called  for  the  white  man  of  the  woods,  the 
evil  genius  that  had  wrecked  his  hopes  in  early  life  and 
made  him  a  wanderer,  answered  : — 

"  Where  the  dark  tide  runs  strongest, 
The  cliff  rises  steep  ; 
Where  the  wild  waters  eddy, 
I  have  rocked  him  to  sleep. 

"  His  sleep  is  so  strong, 

That  the  rush  of  the  stream, 
When  the  wild  winds  are  abroad, 
Cannot  waken  his  dream.' ' 

During  the  year  lt99,  several  settlements  were  made. 
Peleg  Babcock,  accompanied  by  his  brothers  Solomon 
and  Asa  Howard,  came  in  from  Leyden,  Massachusetts, 
and  selected  locations.  Peleg  settled  on  the  south  part 
of  lot  82.  Solomon  located  on  the  north-west  part  of 
the  same  lot,  while  Howard  stuck  his  post  a  little  to 
the  east  of  Solomon.  About  the  same  time  George 
Dennison,  from  Vermont,  pitched  his  tent  on  the  west 
part  of  the  lot,  making  the  fourth  settler  on  No.  82. 
Cornish  Messenger  and  Daniel  Jakeway  came  in  from 
De  Ruyter  in  1800,  and  settled  on  lot  92.  In  1801 
Maxon  Babcock  came  in  from  Leyden,  and  located  on 
the  north-east  corner  of  lot  82.  Ghershon  Richardson, 
and  his  two  sons-in-law  by  the  name  of  Clark,  came 
from  Pompey,  Onondaga  co.,  and  located  on  lot  71.  In 
1802,  Henry  Burdick,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  mi- 
grated from  Colerain,  Massachusetts,  and  located  on 
lot  72.  He  purchased  originally,  in  company  with  John 
Babcock,  109  acres.     He  was  an  active  and  prominent 


216  SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION. 

pioneer  in  his  locality,  and  now,  at  the  venerable  age  of 
78  years,  lives  retired  from  the  toil  and  bustle  of  life. 
His  youngest  son,  A.  B.  Burdick,  of  New  York,  is  the 
enterprising  publisher  of  this  work. 

Jared  Babcock  came  in  during  the  year  1804,  and 
spent  some  three  or  four  years.  In  1809  he  was  enlisted 
in  the  mercantile  trade  in  Spafford,  being  the  first  mer- 
chant in  that  place.  He  subsequently  moved  to  Ho- 
mer, where  he  still  resides. 

John  Gillet,  from  Norfolk,  Connecticut,  located  during 
the  same  year  (1805),  but  did  not  purchase  until  1807 
or '8,  when  he  selected  100  acres  on  lot  84.  The  farm 
has  been  increased  at  different  periods,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  embraces  nearly  300  acres.  He  has  already 
passed  through  a  long,  busy  and  prosperous  life — a  life 
of  activity,  of  public  employment,  and  of  private  enter- 
prise. He  filled  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
a  period  of  twenty  years ;  that  of  supervisor  and  other 
town  offices,  at  various  times  ;  was  associate  judge  of 
the  county  court  for  fifteen  successive  years,  and  also 
member  of  the  legislature,  and  presidential  elector. 

Jacob  Smith,  from  Delphi,  located  in  1806,  on  lot  84. 
His  original  purchase  was  50  acres  :  -he,  however,  made 
subsequent  additions  until  he  had  secured  105  acres, 
which  he  has  but  recently  disposed  of  with  a  view  of 
locating  at  Little  York. 

In  1806  Daniel  Doubleday  migrated  from  Lebanon, 
Connecticut,  and  located  in  the  town  of  Homer.  In 
1809  he  removed  to  Scott,  and  settled  on  lot  85.  He 
has  reared  a  respectable  family,  accumulated  a  good 
property,  and  now,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-two, 
rejoices  in  having  spent  a  long  life  in  an  honored 
and  productive  employment.     Mr.  Doubleday  is  in  the 


SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION.  217 

enjoyment  of  remarkable  health,  and  in  the  full  posses- 
sion of  his  mental  and  physical  faculties. 

During  1805,  Elisha  Sabins  and  John  Babcock  cut  and 
cleared  a  road  from  Scott  Corners  (then  called  Bab- 
cock's  Corners,)  to  Spafford  Corners.  They  transported 
their  goods  to  their  new  home  on  sleds,  and  found  it  a 
rather  difficult  task.  The  next  year,  Isaac  Hall,  of  the 
latter  place,  passed  over  the  road  with  a  wagon,  and 
after  purchasing  a  load  of  lumber  at  Babcock's  settle- 
ment, placed  it  on  his  wagon  and  conveyed  it  to  his 
home  in  Spafford. 

In  the  summer  of  '99,  Solomon  Babcock  tells  us  that  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  making  frequent  visits  to  his  brother's 
cornfield,  accompanied  by  a  small  dog,  for  the  purpose 
of  frightening  away  the  bears,  they  being  very  trouble- 
some and  destructive  to  the  corn  crop.  It  was  a  com- 
mon occurrence  to  find  a  half  dozen  in  at  a  time,  and  to 
him  it  was  rather  amusing  to  see  how  they  would 
hurry  away  at  the  mere  sight  or  bark  of  the  little 
fellow. 

Early  in  the  month  of  March,  he  went  into  the  woods 
for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  birch  broom-stick.  The 
snow  was  some  three  feet  deep,  and  the  crust  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  bear  up  a  man.  A  strong,  active, 
fierce  and  well-trained  dog,  belonging  to  his  brother 
Peleg,  bore  him  company,  and  before  the  trunk  of  the 
little  sapling  was  secured  he  had  actually  killed  seven 
deer. 

The  first  ordained  preacher  was  Elder  Town.  The 
first  persons  baptized  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Solomon  Bab- 
cock— the  former  in  Homer,  and  the  latter  in  Scott.  The 
first   merchant  was  Nathan  Babcock.     The   first  inn- 


218  SETTLEMENT  AND   ORGANIZATION. 

keeper  was  James  Babcock.  The  first  post-master,  John 
Gillett.  The  first  marriage,  Solomon  Babcock  to  Amy- 
Morgan.  This  occurred  in  the  Fall  of  1802.  There 
being  no  authorized  person  at  hand  to  marry,  the  parties 
came  to  Homer  on  horseback,  and  after  attending  church, 
went  to  Squire  Bishop's  on  East  Hill,  where  they  were 
appropriately  married.  The  first  child  born  in  town 
was  Harriet  Babcock.  The  first  death  was  an  infant 
daughter  of  Peleg  Babcock. 

Public  religious  worship  commenced  about  the  year 
1806  or  "T. 

The  Close  Communion  Baptists,  the  Seventh  Day  Bap- 
tists, the  Presbyterians,  and  the  Methodists,  have  each 
a  convenient  house  for  religious  worship. 

The  first  post-master  of  East  Scott  was  Alvin  Kellogg. 
It  was  with  this  gentleman  that  Ex-President  Fillmore 
learned  his  trade, — that  of  clothier. 

The  town  of  Scott,  though  containing  much  broken 
land,  is  favored  with  many  most  excellent  farms.  It  is 
not,  however,  a  grain  growing  town.  The  land  being 
generally  better  adapted  to  grazing,  the  agriculturists 
are  found  adopting  the  more  reasonable  and  productive 
pursuit  of  increasing  their  means  in  the  dairy  business. 
In  1820  the  population  of  Scott  was  'TIS 
1825  "  "  "         1,006 

1830  "  "  "         1,452 

1835  "  "  "         1,504 

1840  "  "  "         1,332 

1845  "  "  "         1,368 

1850  "  "  "         1,290 

1855  "  "  "         1,293 


SETTLEMENT  AND   OEGANIZATION.  219 

Freetown  was  organized  April  21st,  1818.  It  com- 
prises the  north-western  quarter  of  the  old  military 
township  of  Cincinnatus,  and  lot  No.  20  from  the  eastern 
part  of  Virgil.  The  soil  is  a  clay  loam,  better  adapted 
to  grazing  than  grain  growing  ;  but  more  recently  has 
produced  good  crops  of  corn,  oats,  barley,  flax,  and  po- 
tatoes ;  wheat  not  being  grown  here  to  any  consider- 
able extent.  Freetown  is  situated  on  a  ridge  between 
the  Tioughnioga  and  Otselic  rivers,  and  was  settled  prin- 
cipally by  emigrants  from  the  north  and  eastern  por- 
tions of  the  State.  The  inhabitants  are  an  honest,  in- 
dustrious, hardy  race  of  men.  The  early  settlement  of 
this  town  was  attended  with  deprivations,  hardships 
and  discouragements  that  required  the  energies  and 
fortitude  of  a  class  which  none  but  pioneers  in  a  new 
country  are  capable  of  exercising  and  enduring. 

The  early  pioneers,  in  preference  to  going  to  Ludlow- 
ville  or  Chenango  Forks,  to  mill,  usually  went  to  Onon- 
daga Hollow,  or  Manlius  Square,  a  distance  of  forty 
miles,  fording  creeks  and  rivers,  exposing  themselves 
to  cold  and  storms  by  night  and  day,  being  obliged  to 
camp  out  two  or  three  nights  during  their  journey  to 
and  from  the  mill,  through  an  almost  entire  wilderness, 
filled  with  wolves,  panthers,  and  other  ravenous  beasts 
of  prey.  As  there  were  then  no  roads,  they  traveled 
by  marked  trees,  .whiling  away  the  dull  hours  of  time 
by  whistling  or  singing  some  merry  tune,  or  in  telling 
some  legendary  tale  which  may  have  been  preserved 
for  centuries  by  Indian  tradition.  At  night,  tired  and 
hungry,  the  jaded  horses  were  tied  to  a  tree,  and,  by  the 
roots  of  some  enormous  oak  or  hemlock,  the  pioneers 
would  find   a  resting-place,  with  the  bags  for  pillows 


220  SETTLEMENT   AND   OEGANIZATION. 

and  an  Indian  blanket  for  a  covering  ;  and  there,  in  the 
deep  forest,  surrounded  with  gaunt,  howling  wolves, 
and  poisonous  reptiles,  with  the  "  deep  blue  sky  above," 
all  radiant  with  night's  diadems,  or  perchance  o'erspread 
with  tartarean  blackness,  while  the  harsh,  hoarse  thun- 
ders rolled  and  reverberated  through  the  wide  expanse  ; 
now  startled  by  a  vivid  flash  of  forked  lightning  as  it 
leaps  athwart  the  darkened  sky,  or  shatters  a  proud  old 
relic  of  the  ancient  wilderness  into  a  thousand  pieces, 
would  await  the  return  of  day  to  resume  their  journey. 
And  thus  they  endured  these  attendant  privations  until 
1798,  when  a  mill  was  erected  at  Homer, — or  a  year 
later,  when  Mr.  Hubbard,  of  Cortlandville,  built  the  old 
Ked  Mill,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Mudge. 

Robert  Smith,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  was  the  first 
settler.  He  drew  lot  No.  2,  and  moved  on  to  it  with  his 
family  in  1800,  having  only  previously  prepared  a  mere 
cabin  of  logs  for  their  reception.  He  was  originally 
from  one  of  the  New  England  States.  He  made  a  small 
improvement  on  his  lot,  and  after  struggling  through 
many  severe  hardships,  and  enduring  the  privations 
incident  to  most  new  settlements,  sold  to  Samuel  G. 
Hatheway.  Some  of  Mr.  Smith's  descendants  are  now 
living  in  Marathon. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Smith  located  on  his  lot,  Caleb  Sheop- 
ard  and  David  H.  Monrose  moved  from  the  eastern  part 
of  the  State,  and  settled  with  their  families  on  lot  22. 
Mr.  Sheopard,  several  years  since,  removed  to  Michigan. 
Mr.  Monrose  remained  on  his  farm  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1837.  His  son  Daniel  occupies  the  old 
homestead. 

William  Smith,  a  native  of  Vermont,  migrated  from 


SETTLEMENT   AND   OEGANIZATION.  221 

Great  Bend,  Pa.,  to  Freetown  in  1802,  and  located  on 
lot  25.  He  made  various  small  purchases  of  land  until 
his  farm  numbered  some  one  hundred  and  sixty-five 
acres.  In  1835  he  disposed  of  his  property  and  settled 
in  the  tov^n  of  Cortlandville,  where  he  now  resides. 
His  step-mother,  Eunice  Smith,  lives  with  him,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  95.  Mr.  Smith  has  held  most  of  the 
town  offices,  besides  several  military  positions.  Of  his 
nine  children  eight  are  living. 

In  1804  Gideon  Chapin  located  on  lot  42,  and  erected 
soon  after  the  first  saw-mill  in  the  town.  There  is  at 
present  one  of  a  larger  size  covering  the  same  ground. 

In  1805  Gen.  Samuel  G.  Hatheway,  originally  from 
Freetown,  Mass.,  removed  from  Chenango  county  and 
located  on  lot  2,  having  purchased  the  Robert  Smith 
farm,  which  consisted  of  about  three  hundred  acres. 
The  General  was  a  man  of  energy  and  enterprise,  as 
was  evidenced  in  the  rapid  improvement  of  his  farm. 
He  can  now  relate  many  interesting  anecdotes  touching 
his  early  life.  Soon  after  he  came  into  Freetown,  he 
desired  to  make  some  addition  to  his  stock  of  cattle, 
and  hearing  that  Caleb  Sheopard,  near  the  Salt  Road, 
about  five  miles  distant,  had  a  calf  to  sell,  made  ar- 
rangements to  procure  it.  He  started  from  home  near 
evening,  having  previously  completed  his  day's  work, 
for  Mr.  Sheopard's,  with  a  rope  halter  in  his  hand  with 
which  he  intended  to  lead  his  calf,  if  successful  in  a 
purchase  ;  and  thus  equipped,  without  coat  or  stock- 
ings, he  plodded  his  course  through  the  woods,  by  way 
of  marked  trees,  there  being  no  road.  He  succeeded  in 
obtaining  the  calf,  and  started  for  home  ;  but  night 
coming  on,  and  it  being  much  darker  than  he   antici- 


222  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

pated,  and  carelessly  hurrying  along  with  his  treasure 
by  his  side,  he  soon  found  himself  unable  to  distinguish 
the  glazed  trees,  but  still  persevered,  hoping  to  come 
out  right.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  he  found 
he  was  out  of  the  right  course,  and  concluding  that  for 
the  present  he  was  lost,  very  calmly  set  about  camping 
out  for  the  night.  He  fastened  the  calf  to  a  tree,  and, 
reposing  by  its  side,  was  delighted  through  the  long 
and  darksome  night  by  the  hooting  of  owls,  howling  of 
wolves,  screaming  of  panthers,  and  other  music  of  a  like 
interesting  character.  At  length  morning  dawned,  and, 
as  Aurora  flung  her  gorgeous  rays  over  the  dense  forest, 
revealed  to  his  eager  gaze  his  position  on  the  Pine 
Ridge,  one  or  two  miles  out  of  his  way.  His  calf  was 
hastily  detached  from  the  tree,  and  he  again  set  out  for 
home,  which  he  reached  at  an  early  hour,  having  a 
sharp  appetite  for  his  breakfast,  and  much  to  the  grati- 
fication of  his  anxiously  awaiting  mother. 

Eleazer  Fuller  came  from  Northampton,  Mass.,  in  1806, 
and  settled  on  lot  12.  He  purchased  one  hundred  acres. 
He  reared  a  family  of  four  children  ;  a  daughter,  with 
whom  he  lives,  is  the  wife  of  William  Mantanye.  His 
son,  Austin  Fuller,  is  Auditor  of  Indiana,  residing  at 
Springfield.  Mr.  Fuller  is  seventy-five  years  old,  and 
is,  at  the  time  of  writing,  greatly  afflicted  with  a  can- 
cerous ulcer,  which  must  eventually  terminate  his  life. 

In  1808,  Rockwell  Wildman  and  Isaac  Robertson 
came  in  and  selected  locations.  The  former  migrated 
from  the  north,  and  settled  on  lot  15.  He  died  in  1855. 
His  children  occupy  the  original  premises.  The  latter 
came  from  Connecticut,  but  was  not  permitted  to  enjoy 
for  more  than  a  few  brief  seasons  the  fruits  of  his  labor  ; 


SETTLEMENT  AND   ORGANIZATION.  223 

he  died  in  1811  ;  his  wife  in  1815.  He  left  eleven  chil- 
dren— three  are  now  living. 

In  1809,  John  Aker,  father  of  Abram,  came  from  Al- 
bany county  and  selected  a  location. 

Henry  Gardner,  from  Plainfield,  N.  Y.,  came  in  dur- 
ing the  same  year  and  settled  on  lot  32.  He  purchased 
one  hundred  acres  ;  died  in  Illinois  in  1858  ;  age  eighty 
years  ;  left  seven  children — all  now  living.  Mrs.  Gard- 
ner died  in  1852. 

At  about  this  time,  or  perhaps  a  little  subsequent, 
Charles  and  Curtiss  Richardson,  William  Tuthill,  Jacob 
Hicks,  Isaac  Doty,  John  Backus  and  Aruna  Eaton  came 
in  and  selected  various  locations.  Curtiss  Richardson 
lives  with  his  son  William,  in  Canandaigua. 

John  Conger  migrated  from  Granville,  Washington 
county,  in  1812,  and  located  on  lot  12.  He  purchased 
one  hundred  and  five  acres.  Fifty  acres  have  been 
added  to  the  farm, which  is  now  owned  by  Hugh  M'Kevitt. 

Mr.  Conger  was  an  enterprising,  public-spirited  man, 
and  creditably  discharged  the  duties  of  several  town 
oflSces.  He  died  in  1836,  aged  55.  Mrs.  Conger,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  seventy-five,  is  remarkably  healthy  and 
active.  Mr.  Conger  was  the  father  of  five  sons  and  four 
daughters — Joseph,  Samuel,  Harmon  S.,  Bemon  S.,  and 
Damon.  Malina  married  David  Gardner,  of  Harvors, 
Illinois  ;  Mary  is  now  widow  Crosby ;  Esther  is  the 
wife  of  Ransford  Palmer,  of  Cortland  ;  and  Rhoda  is 
Mrs.  J.  M.  Barclay,  of  La  Cross,  Minesota. 

In  1813,  Austin  Waters  removed  from  Saybrook, 
Conn.,  and  located  on  the  same  lot.  He  purchased  one 
hundred  and  five  acres,  which  was  entirely  covered 
with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber.     Having  but  limited 


224  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

means,  and  indeed  notliing  but  his  ambitious  desire  to 
achieve  something  in  the  way  of  human  progress,  he 
perserved  in  his  toilsome  efforts,  and  kept  from  yield- 
ing to  the  numerous  discouragements  with  which  he 
was  surrounded.  He  resolved  to  succeed,  and  he  tri- 
umphed over  all  difficulties  ;  and  he  lives,  at  the  vener- 
able age  of  eighty  years,  to  see  Freetown  one  of  the 
most  productive  dairy  towns  in  the  county. 

Walton  Swetland,  a  native  of  Conn.,  migrated  from 
Granville  in  1814,  and  settled  on  the  Trip  farm,  on  lot 
22.  He  made  several  purchases,  until  he  had  secured 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres.  He  attended 
to  the  clearing  and  cultivating  his  land  until  1838,  when 
he  disposed  of  it  with  a  view  of  entering  into  another 
branch  of  business.  In  1846  he  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile trade,  and  up  to  the  present  time  has  continued  the 
business  with  general  success.  He  has  filled  various 
town  offices,  among  which  are  those  of  School  Inspec- 
tor, Superintendent,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  The 
latter  office  he  has  held  for  twenty-eight  years,  and  still 
continues  to  officiate  in  that  position.  He  was  appointed 
an  Associate  Judge  in  1844,  and  held  the  office  for  a 
number  of  years.  From  a  corporal  in  a  company  of 
infantry,  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  major. 

Judge  Swetland  resides  at  Freetown  Corners ;  is 
about  sixty-five  years  old  ;  and  is  still  an  active,  useful 
and  prominent  citizen. 

Geo.  I.  Wavle,from  Montgomery  county,  N.  Y.,  located 
in  1814  on  lot  4,  where  his  son  James  now  resides.  He 
purchased  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  He  was  an 
industrious  and  honorable  citizen.  He  died  in  1825, 
leaving  a  respectable  family  of  children. 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  225 

During  the  early  period  of  settlement,  Freetown  was 
regarded  as  being  rather  cold  and  sterile,  and  frequently 
the  prospects  of  the  settler  were  blasted  by  early  frosts, 
whioh  cut  down  the  crops  before  they  came  to  maturity ; 
but  more  recently,  frosts  have  not  been  as  frequent,  and 
for  several  years  past,  as  good  crops  of  corn  have  been 
raised  as  in  most  other  towns  of  the  county.  But  the 
attention  of  agriculturists  is  being  more  generally 
turned  to  dairying,  in  which  they  succeed  much  better 
than  in  their  laborious  efforts  to  grow  grain,  the  soil 
being  better  adapted  to  this  department  of  productive 
employment  than  to  any  other  branch  of  industry. 

The  first  clergyman  who  statedly  preached  in  Free- 
town, was  Elder  Sheopard  ;  he  was  of  the  Baptist  order, 
and  resided  in  the  town  of  Lisle,  Broome  county.  Elder 
Benjamin  W.  Capron  was  the  first  preacher  who  made  a 
permanent  residence  in  this  town.  Don  A.  Robertson 
was  the  first  school  teacher  ;  his  father  came  into  town 
soon  after  General  Hatheway,  and  reared  a  large  family 
of  sons.  Peter  McYean  was  the  first  merchant.  He 
located  at  what  is  now  called  Freetown  Corners,  con- 
tinued in  the  business  a  short  time,  and  was  succeeded 
by  John  M.  and  Sylvester  M.  Roe  from  the  town  of 
Virgil. 

In  1820  the  population  of  Freetown  was      663 

1825  "  "  sn 

1830  "  "  1,051 

1835  ''  "  962 

1840  "  ''  950 

1845  "  *-'-  925 

1850  "  "  1,035 

1855  "  "  955 
11 


226  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

Perhaps  no  town  in  the  county  was  settled  under 
more  discouraging  circumstances  than  Freetown.  It 
was  decidedly  "  a  hard  town,"  the  citizens  were  gene- 
rally poor,  and  were  necessarily  subjected  to  more  hard- 
ships and  privations  than  under  other  circumstances 
would  have  been  endured.  Settlers  came  in  slowly, 
and  at  no  time  made  very  rapid  progress  ;  even  as  late 
as  1828,  when  Reuben  Northrop  came  in  from  Washing- 
ton county  and  located  on  lot  20,  what  now  constitutes 
his  valuable  farm  was  an  entire  wilderness.  But  the 
industrious  and  persevering  habits  of  the  citizens  have 
wrought  a  most  favorable  change  ;  and  Freetown  has 
become  prosperous  and  influential.  The  inhabitants  are 
intelligent,  affable,  and  courteous. 

Marathon. — The  territory  embraced  within  the  bound- 
aries of  Marathon,*  was  set  off  from  the  south-west 
quarter  of  Cincinnatus,  April  21,  1818,  and  organized 
into  a  town  under  the  name  of  Harrison,  in  honor  of 
Gen.  Harrison,  of  the  late  war,  but  was  subsequently 
changed  to  Marathon,  on  account  of  there  being  another 
town  of  the  same  name  in  the  State.  The  first  actual 
settlers  of  this  town  were  Dr.  Japheth  Hunt  and  wife, 
both  aged  people,  two  sons,  James  and  William,  and 
three  daughters,  Betsey,  Nancy,  and  Hannah.  The  ad- 
vanced age  of  the  parents  disqualified  them  as  pioneers 
of  a  new  country,  and  unfitted  them  to  encounter  the 
hardships  and  privations  incident  to  such  an  enterprise. 
Their  children,  however,  were  of  mature  age,  of  robust 
constitutions,  and  possessed  energy  of  character,  which 

*  Communicated  by  Dr.  S.  M.  Hunt. 


SETTLEMENT   AND    OKGANIZATION.  227 

enabled  them  to  accomplish  the  laborious  duties  which 
now  devolved  upon  them.  They  entered  the  valley 
of  the  Tioughnioga  from  the  south,  in'  canoes,  in  the 
year  It 94,  and  located  on  a  piece  of  land  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river,  about  a  mile  south  of  the  present  vil- 
lage of  Marathon,  since  known  as  the  Comstock  farm 
and  now  owned  by  Edward  Moore.  Their  log  house 
was  erected  a  few  miles  north  of  Mr.  Moore's  barn,  on  a 
knoll,  or  rolling  piece  of  ground,  immediately  west,  and 
near  the  present  highway.  Upon  this  rising  ground 
were  discovered  a  great  number  of  excavations  or  de- 
pressions, of  a  circular  form,  in  close  proximity,  render- 
ing the  surface  of  the  ground  uneven.  Each  of  these 
depressions,  upon  examination,  was  found  to  contain 
human  bones,  which  had,  apparently,  been  deposited 
there  for  several  preceding  centuries.  Upon  removing 
the  road  a  few  j^ears  since,  from  the  top  to  the  base  of 
this  hill,  some  of  these  depressions  were  opened  by  the 
plough,  and  were  found  to  contain  not  only  human 
bones,  but  several  curiously  carved  vessels  or  pots,  of  a 
substance  resembling  clay,  probably  wrought  by  the 
Indians  to  contain  succotash,  or  boiled  corn  and  beans, — 
deposited  in  the  gravs,  as  is  their  custom,  to  supply 
their  departed  friends  in  their  journey  to  the  world  of 
spirits. 

About  the  time  that  Dr.  Hunt's  family  settled  here,  a 
road  was  surveyed  and  partially  cut  through  the  wilder- 
ness from  the  south,  near  the  river,  until  passing  their 
land,  when  diverging  from  the  stream,  it  crossed  the 
south  line  of  lot  number  72,  about  three  fourths  of  a 
mile  east  of  the  village  of  Marathon,  and  continuing  in 
a  northerly  direction,  intersected  the  State  road  at  the 


228  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

farm  recently  owned  by  Mr.  Charles  Richardson,  of 
Freetown,  and  extending  north  to  its  terminus  at  the 
salt  works,  whi^h  gave  it  the  name  of  the  Salt  Road. 

Another  road,  about  this  period,  was  surveyed  and 
partially  opened  as  a  State  road,  by  the  way  of  Oxford 
westerly  through  the  centre  of  the  town  subsequently 
organized  as  Cincinnatus,  and  consequently  on  the  north 
line  of  the  present  town  of  Marathon,  and  crossing  the 
river  at  Chaplin's  ford,  now  known  as  State  Bridge, 
and  thence  westerly  through  the  county  by  Virgil 
Corners. 

Dr.  Hunt  was  an  emigrant  from  one  of  the  New  Eng- 
land States,  and  had  served  his  country  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  in  the  capacity  of  surgeon.  He  died 
March  tth,  1808,  at  the  advanced  age  of  97,  and  was 
the  first  person  buried  in  the  east  burying  ground  of 
Marathon.  His  son  William  married  Anna,  daughter  of 
Matthew  Oole,  an  early  settler  on  a  farm  south,  adjoin- 
ing the  county  line,  being  the  present  residence  of  Ool. 
Lucian  E.  Crain.  His  son  James  was  never  married, 
and  died  at  Genoa,  Cayuga  county.  His  daughter, 
Nancy,  married  Abram  Smith,  and  died  about  forty-five 
years  since,  leaving  three  children,  who  are  yet  living 
in  the  town  of  Virgil.  Betsey  Hunt  married  Oliver 
Mack,  of  Genoa,  and  Hannah,  the  youngest  daughter, 
married  Nathan  Thorp,  of  the  same  place.  Wm.  Hunt, 
some  time  after  the  death  of  his  father,  sold  the  farm 
and  located  again  two  miles  north  of  Marathon  village, 
where  Stephen  Johnson  now  resides,  but  finally  emi- 
grated with  his  sisters  from  Genoa  to  the  "  Far  West," 
to  some  part  of  Indiana.  In  the  latter  part  of  tlie  win- 
ter of  1196,  John,  the  eldest  son  of  Dr.  Hunt,  who  had 


SETTLEMENT   AND   OEGANIZATION.  229 

married  Lydia,  the  daughter  of  Major  Samuel  Mallory, 
of  Hillsdale,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  was  induced  to 
move  from  that  place  into  the  new  country  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  his  father's  residence.  A  man  with  horses  and 
sleigh  was  employed  to  bring  his  effects,  and  family, 
which  then  comprised  himself  and  wife,  one  daughter 
three  years  of  age,  and  a  son  of  six  months.  After  sev- 
eral days'  travel  over  the  rough  roads,  they  arrived  at 
Oxford,  a  new  settlement  on  the  Chenango  river,  where 
their  teamster  left  them  and  turned  back  in  consequence 
of  poor  sleighing  produced  by  a  thaw.  Mr.  Hunt  hav- 
ing one  horse  of  his  own,  harnessed  him  to  a  hastily 
constructed  sled,  and  placing  a  bed  and  a  few  necessary 
articles  of  furniture  and  provisions,  with  his  wife  and 
children  thereon,  started  westwardly  by  the  wa^'-  of  the 
State  road  for  the  place  of  his  destination.  The  first 
day  they  proceeded  about  seventeen  miles  into  the  wil- 
derness on  this  rough  road,  passing  over  several  of  the 
smaller  logs  which  had  not  yet  been  removed  from  the 
path,  when  night  overtook  them  in  a  dense  forest,  which 
soon  became  vocal  with  the  sounds  of  wild  animals. 
Fortunately,  they  soon  came  to  a  log  cabin,  recently 
erected,  covered  with  bark,  and  having  a  floor  of  slats 
split  from  logs,  with  a  place  for  an  entrance,  but  desti- 
tute of  a  door  to  exclude  the  air.  By  means  of  his  gun 
and  tinder,  he  kindled  a  fire  ;  and,  placing  his  horse  close 
to  the  opening,  with  his  provender  in  the  sled,  which 
served  for  a  manger,  and  having  hung  up  a  blanket  at 
the  entrance,  and  placed  their  bed  on  the  floor,  being 
very  weary,  he  retired  to.  rest,  and  slept  comfortably 
through  the  night.  But  his  wife,  unaccustomed  to  such 
privations,  was  less  inclined  to  sleep.    The  howling  of 


230  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

the  wolves  also  annoyed  her,  and  she  wondered  how  her 
husband  could  sleep  so  composedly  in  such  a  dismal 
place.  The  next  morning  they  resumed  their  journey, 
and  before  noon  came  to  the  Otselic  river,  and  were 
cheered  with  the  sight  of  a  house  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  stream.  This  proved  to  be  the  residence  of  Wm. 
Tuthill,  who  kindly  assisted  them  in  crossing  the  river, 
and  hospitably  entertained  them  till  the  next  day.  This 
was  at  a  farm  subsequently  owned  by  Ebenezer  Critten- 
den. From  this  place  they  traveled  west,  till  they  came 
to  the  intersection  of  the  Salt  road,  when  turning  south 
along  the  latter  path  at  a  distance  of  four  miles,  they 
found  the  new  home  of  his  parents  and  family.  His 
goods  were  subsequently  brought  in  canoes  from  Ox- 
ford, down  the  Chenango  river  to  the  Forks,  and  then 
up  this  branch,  then  generally  called  the  Onondaga,  to 
their  new  location. 

John  Hunt  purchased  one  hundred  acres  out  of  the 
south-west  corner  of  lot  No.  ^2,  and  moved  his  family 
there,  being  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  upon  which 
land  a  large  portion  of  Marathon  village  is  located.  Here 
his  second  son,  Samuel  M.  Hunt,  was  born,  October  30th, 
1798,  being  the  first  child  born  in  this  town.  When  a 
young  man,  he  chose  the  profession  of  medicine,  and 
pursued  that  study  with  Dr.  P.  B.  Brooks,  now  of  Bing- 
hamton.  He  has  practised  medicine  for  thirty  years, 
principally  in  Broome  county  ;  but  for  three  years  past, 
he  has  been  located  in  Marathon  village,  on  the  same 
premises  formerly  the  residence  of  his  parents.  As 
early  as  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  John 
Hunt  was  appointed  bj^  the  Governor  and  Council  a 
justice  of  the  peace  ;  which  office  he  held  by  successive 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  231 

appoiutments  to  the  period  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
August  8,  1815,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  His  widow  is 
still  living,  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  her  age.  Their 
eldest  daughter  married  Mr.  Charles  Richardson,  of 
Freetown,  and  is  now  residing  in  the  village  of  Mara- 
thon. Two  other  daughters  are  yet  living.  Four  oth- 
ers of  their  children  lived  to  be  married  and  settled  in 
this  section  of  country,  but  are  now  deceased.  Abram 
Brink  with  his  family  moved  into  the  present  bounds  of 
this  village  in  the  spring  of  1800,  and  located  a  few 
rods  south  of  Mr.  Hunt's,  on  the  north  part  of  lot  No. 
82,  then  State  land.  He  came  from  the  present  town  of 
Union,  below  Binghamton,  on  the  Susquehanna  river, 
bringing  his  family  and  furniture  in  a  canoe.  He  was 
a  son  of  Captain  William  Brink,  a  patriot  of  the  Revo- 
lution, who  had  suffered  much  by  the  depredations  of 
tories  in  the  war  at  Wyoming,  and  subsequently  lost  a 
great  amount  of  property  by  the  great  ice-flood  in  that 
valley.  Abram  Brink  was  a  robust  and  industrious  cit. 
izen,  and  a  valuable  pioneer  in  clearing  up  the  rugged 
wilderness,  and  preparing  it  for  the  residence  of  poster- 
ity. He  kept  the  first  tavern  ever  licensed  in  this  town, 
from  the  commencement  of  the  present  century  up  to 
the  time  of  his  decease  in  1824.  Intoxicating  liquors, 
as  a  beverage,  were  at  that  time  considered  as  neces- 
sary as  fqod  in  a  tavern  for  the  refreshment  of  guests. 
And  although  their  deleterious  effects  were  visible,  not 
only  in  occasional  carousals,  but  in  the  physical,  moral 
and  mental  prostration  of  all  who  indulged  in  the  pota- 
tion, yet  the  traffic  was  for  a  long  period  sustained  by 
public  sentiment  and  by  the  laws  of  the  State.  Mr. 
Brink  was  succeeded  in  the  tavern  by  his  only  surviv- 


282  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

ing  son,  Chester,  for  a  few  years,  when,  influenced  by 
a  strong  aversion  to  dealing  in  intoxicating  liquors,  he 
relinquished  the  business  and  employed  himself  in  culti- 
vating and  improving  the  same  farm,  and  some  other 
adjoining  lands,  which  he  had  acquired  by  purchase. 
A  few  years  previous  to  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Brink  here,  a 
family  by  the  name  of  Alford  had  settled  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  south,  on  the  State's  lot,  and  some 
years  after  sold  out  to  Daniel  Huntly,  a  son  of  Deacon 
William  Huntly,  who  resided  for  several  years  on  the 
next  farm  south,  now  owned  by  Patrick  Mallory,  jr.  A 
man  by  the  name  of  Lee  also  lived  a  few  years  on  the 
premises  of  Mr.  Alford,  having  married  his  daughter. 
At  the  close  of  the  last  century,  a  traveler  from  the 
north,  in  passing'  down  this  valley,  after  leaving  the 
ford-way  at  Chaplin's,  would  find  the  following  residents 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river  : — First,  the  family  of  Mr. 
Hunt ;  2d,  Mr.  Brink  ;  3d,  Mr.  Alford  and  Mr.  Lee  ; 
next  Dr.  Hunt  ;  and  lastly,  Mr.  Cole,  in  this  county. 
South  and  near  the  county  line  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  was  the  residence  of  Gen.  Samuel  Coe,  and 
directly  opposite,  on  the  west  bank,  was  the  house  of 
Jonathan  Cowdrey. 

Soon  after  this  period  John  S.  Squires  located  on  a 
farm  south  of  Mr.  Alford,  but  shortly  after  purchased  a 
farm  in  the  present  town  of  Lapeer,  and  removed  his 
family  there  into  the  forest  at  quite  a  distance  from 
neighbors  ;  it  being  the  same  farm  where  his  son,  Dan 
C.  Squires,  now  resides.  About  the  year  1800,  Ebene- 
zer  Carlej^  moved  into  this  town  from  Unadilla,  and 
located  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  where  his  son  Alan- 
son  now   resides.      He  was  commissioned   Captain  of 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  233 

Militia  company  No.  1,  organized  in  this  section  of  the 
country.  He  had  a  large  family  of  children.  Ezekiel 
C.  became  a  Captain  of  the  militia,  and  also  held  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  Of  this  large  family  none 
are  now  living  except  two  brothers,  Alanson  and  Orin. 
Alanson  Carley,  Esq.,  has  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  of  this  town  for  several  years,  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Legislature,  and  has  served  as  sheriff  of 
this  county  for  three  years.  Orin  Carley  is  now  resid- 
ing in  Broome  county.  It  would  be  a  difficult  task, 
at  this  remote  period,  to  ascertain  the  precise  date  of 
the  arrival  of  each  family  of  the  first  settlers  here,  as 
far  back  as  the  close  of  the  last  century,  or  the  regular 
order  as  to  the  priority  of  time,  in  every  case,  when 
they  entered  this  valley.  In  February  of  the  year  1805, 
Patrick  Mallory,  (who  some  years  after  became  a  Cap- 
tain of  militia)  a  brother  of  Esq.  Hunt's  wife,  arrived 
here  with  his  wife  and  one  child,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
one  mile  north  of  Marathon  village,  now  the  residence 
of  G.  Pennoyer.  He  resided  a  few  weeks  with  his  sis- 
ter's family,  while  erecting  a  log  house  for  the  recep- 
tion of  his  own.  This  was  early  in  the  spring,  when 
each  family  was  actively  employed  in  manufacturing  ma- 
ple sugar.  To  secure  a  supply  of  such  an  important  arti- 
cle for  domestic  use,  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  tap 
his  trees  prior  to  finishing  his  house.  The  farm  was 
situated  mostly  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  his 
maple  trees  were  on  the  flat,  directly  across  the  stream. 
Being  busily  engaged  one  day,  assisted  by  his  wife,  in 
gathering  and  boiling  sap,  they  were  detained  till  ap- 
proaching darkness  reminded  them  that  it  was  time  to 
start  for  home.  They  then  entered  their  canoe,  and  had 
11* 


234  SETTLEMENT    AND    OEGANIZATION. 

just  reached  the  eastern  shore  and  found  the  narrow 
path  that  led  down  the  stream  to  Mr.  Hunt's,  when,  to 
then*  surprise  and  consternation,  their  ears  were  saluted 
with  the  most  clamorous,  violent  and  discordant  sounds, 
directly  across  the  river,  they  had  ever  heard.  The 
woods  were  apparently  full  of  monsters  in  pursuit  of 
them,  as  their  intended  victims,  and  engaged  in  fiendish 
strife  respecting  the  several  shares  of  the  spoils.  How 
to  escape  from  these  monstrous  cannibals  was  the  sub- 
ject of  anxious  thought  and  hasty  deliberation.  Mrs. 
Mallory  advised  a  rapid  retreat ;  but  her  husband, 
being  a  very  stout  man,  and  wishing  to  retain  his 
reputation  for  bravery,  had  a  great  aversion  to  "an 
attack  in  the  rear."  He  therefore  firmly  grasped  his 
axe,  which  he  carried  in  his .  hand  as  an  instrument 
of  defence,  and  cautiously  followed  his  wife,  who  alter- 
nately ran  forward  a  few  rods  with  speed,  and  then  fell 
back  again,  urging  him  to  make  a  more  rapid  progress. 
Notwithstanding  the  Captain's  resolute  intention,  it  is 
probable  that  the  march  was  not  very  slow  ;  and 
they  soon  reached  the  house  of  their  friends  without  suf- 
fering an  attack,  and  gave  the  alarm  of  the  approach- 
ing enemy.  But  thej^  were  soon  relieved  of  their  fears, 
though  somewhat  mortified  to  learn  that  these  savage 
monsters  were  nothing  more  than  a  class  of  nocturnal 
birds  called  owls,  incapable  of  injuring  either  man  or 
beast. 


SETTLEMENT    AND    OKGANIZATION.  235 

In  1820  the  population  of  Marathon  was     80 1 


1825 
1830 
1835 
1840 
1845 
1850 
1855 


873 
895 
986 
1,063 
1,080 
1,149 
1,341 


Thus  it  will  be  seen  from  the  above  table  of  census 
reports,  that  the  town  of  Marathon  has  been  steadily 
increasing  in  population,  unlike  the  fluctuating  or  peri- 
odical changes  referred  to  in  some  other  towns  of 
this  county.  The  soil  is  generally  productive,  and  when 
considered  in  connection  with  other  facilities,  natural 
and  internal,  we  do  not  wonder  at  its  progress. 

We  cheerfully  give  place  to  the  following  exceed- 
ingly interesting  letter  from  Hon.  Thurlow  Weed.  Mr. 
Weed  resided  in  the  western  part  of  Cincinnatus — now 
Marathon  : 

"  Albany,  May  16th,  1858. 
"H.  C.  Goodwin,  Esq.: 

"  My  Dear  Sir, — Your  letter  of  30th  of  April  has  re- 
mained quite  too  long  unanswered,  partly  on  account 
of  severe  illness  in  my  family,  but  mainly  because  your 
kind  and  not  unusual  request  embarasses  me.  Several 
applications  similar  in  character,  from  book-makers,  I 
have  simply  declined,  because,  first,  there  is  nothing  in 
my  life  entitled  to  historic  attention  ;  and  second,  if 
any  of  its  events  were  worthy  such  attention,  it  is 
neither  proper  or  becoming  in  me  to  furnish  the  materi- 
als.    So  strong  are  my  convictions  of  propriety  in  this 


236  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

regard,  that  many  years  ago,  after  declining  to  furnish 
information  relating  to  myself,  asked  for  by  the  late 
Jabez  D.  Hammond,  I  declined  also  to  read  in  manu 
script  what  he  had  prepared.  The  consequence  of  that 
refusal  is,  that  I  go  down  to  posterity — if  Hammond's 
Political  History  outlives  the  present  generation — as  a 
^drummer  in  the  war  of  1812.'  Now  I  am  entitled  to 
no  such  distinction  ;  for  I  never  learned  and  never 
could  learn  a  note  or  stave  of  music.  I  remember  to 
have  gone,  when  a  boy,  once  or  twice  to  an  evening 
singing-school,  but  after  unavailing  attempts  at  qua- 
vers and  semi-quavers,  the  teacher  snatched  the  gamut 
from  my  hand  and  turned  me  out  of  the  class.  I  will, 
however,  in  this  instance,  depart  so  far  from  my  usual 
practice  as  will  allow  me  to  furnish  you  the  dates  you 
desire — though  in  doing  so,  I  feel  as  I  suppose  one 
should  feel  in  robbing  a  henroost.  I  will  now  give  you 
some  '  reminiscences'  connected  with  my  early  residence 
in  Cortland  county. 

"In  the  winter  of  1808,  my  father, — an  honest,  hard- 
working man, — whose  industry,  subject  to  the  various 
draw-backs  of  sickness  and  ill-luck,  which  the  poor  only 
can  understand,  enabled  him  to  furnish  but  a  scanty 
support  for  his  family,  in  the  hope  of  '  bettering  his  condi- 
tion,' removed  to  Cincinnatus,  in  Cortland  county,  where 
Nathan  Weed,  his  youngest  brother,  resided.  We  were 
settled  in  a  log  house,  upon  a  small  clearing,  about  a 
mile  from  the  Onondaga  river — or  for  the  purpose  of 
fixing  our  locality — I  had  better  say  about  that  distance 
from  '  Brink's  tavern.'  Cincinnatus  then,  whatever  may 
be  it  present  condition,  was  in  its  almost  wilderness  state. 
I  have  not  been  there  in  half  a  century,  and  am  told  that 


SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION.  237 

there  are  no  forests,  or  land-marks,  or  monuments,  by 
which  I  conlcl  recall  or  identify  the  localities  of  which  my 
mind  retains  familiar  and  distinct  impressions.  Inhab- 
itants were  then  *  few  and  far  between.'  Our  nearest 
neighbor  was  Mr.  Gridley,  a  farmer,  rather  'well-to-do 
in  the  world,'  who  would  work  hard  through  '  planting/ 
or  '  hoeing,'  or  '  harvesting,'  and  then  seek  indemnity  in 
a  week  or  ten  days'  '  spree'  on  new,  raw  whiskey.  The 
most  fore-handed  family  in  the  neighborhood  was  that 
of  Captain  Carley,  (one  member  of  which,  Alanson,then 
a  boy  of  my  own  age,  was,  some  years  since,  a  respected 
member  of  the  Legislature,)  among  whose  luxuries,  as  I 
remember,  was  a  young  apple  orchard,  and  the  only 
*  bearing'  orchard  within  a  circuit  of  several  miles. 

*'My  first  employment  was  in  attendance  upon  an 
ashery.  The  process  of  extracting  lye  from  ashes,  and 
of  boiling  the  lye  into  black  salts,  was  common-place 
enough  ;  but  when  the  melting  down  into  potash 
came,  all  was  bustle  and  excitement.  This  labor  was 
succeeded,  when  the  spring  had  advanced  far  enough, 
by  the  duties  of  the  '  sap-bush.'  This  is  a  season  to 
which  the  farmers'  sons  and  daughters  look  forward  with 
agreeable  anticipations.  In  that  employment,  toil  is 
more  than  literally  sweetened.  The  occupation  and  its 
associations  are  healthful  and  beneficial.  When  your 
troughs  are  dug  out  (of  bass-wood,  for  there  were  no 
buckets  in  those  days)  your  trees  tapped,  your  sap 
gathered,  your  wood  cut,  and  your  fires  fed, — there 
is  leisure  either  for  reading  or  '  sparking.'  And  what 
youthful  denizens  of  the  sap-bush  will  ever  forget,  while 
'  sugaring-off,'  their  share  in  the  transparent  and  de- 
licious streaks  of  candy  congealed  and  cooled  in  snow  I 


238  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

*'  Many  a  farmer's  son  has  found  his  best  opportuni- 
ties for  mental  improvement  in  his  intervals  of  leisure 
while  'tending  sap-bush.'  Such,  at  any  rate,  was  my 
own  experience.  At  night  you  had  only  to  feed  the 
kettles  and  keep  up  your  fires — the  sap  having  been 
gathered  and  the  wood  cut  *  before  dark.'  During  the 
day  we  would  also  lay  in  a  good  stock  of  '  fat  pine, 
by  the  light  of  which,  blazing  brightly  in  front  of  the 
sugar-house,  in  the  posture  the  serpent  was  condemned 
to  assume  as  a  penalty  for  tempting  our  great  first 
grandmother,  I  have  passed  many  and  many  a  delight- 
ful night  in  reading.  I  remember  in  this  way  to  have 
read  a  history  of  the  French  Revolution,  and  to  have 
obtained  from  it  a  better  and  more  enduring  knowledge 
of  its  events  and  horrors,  and  of  the  actors  in  that  great 
national  tragedy,  than  I  have  received  from  all  subse- 
quent readings.  I  remember  also  how  happy  I  was  in 
being  able  to  borrow  the  book  of  a  Mr.  Keyes,  after  a 
two  mile  tramp  through  the  snow,  shoeless,  my  feet 
swaddled  in  remnants  of  a  rag-carpet. 

"Though  but  a  boy,  I  was  large,  healthy,  strong,  not 
lazy,  and  therefore  ambitious  'to  keep  up  my  row'  in 
planting,  hilling,  and  hoeing  potatoes  and  corn.  The 
principal  employment  of  the  farmers  of  Cincinnatus, 
fifty  years  ago,  was  in  clearing  their  land.  Cattle,  dur- 
ing the  winter,  for  the  want  of  'fodder,'  were  turned 
out  to  '  browse'  in  the  'slashings.'  As  the  work  of  clear- 
ing the  land  was  too  heavy  for  men  single-handed,  chop- 
ping and  logging  'bees' were  modes  resorted  to  for 
aggregating  labor.  These  seasons  of  hard  work  were 
rendered  exciting  and  festive  by  the  indispensable  gal- 
lon bottle  of  whiskey.     There  were  '  bees'  also  for  log 


SETTLEMENT    AND    ORGANIZATION.  239 

house  raisings.  After  the  loggings,  and  as  the  spring 
opened,  came  the  burning  of  the  log  and  brush-heaps, 
and  the  gathering  of  the  ashes. 

''  But  little  wheat  was  grown  there  then,  and  that 
little  was  harvested  with  the  sickle,  the  ground  being 
too  rough  and  stumpy  for  cradling. 

"Our  first  acquisition  in  the  way  of  'live  stock'  was 
a  rooster  and  four  hens  ;  and  I  remember  with  what  a 
gush  of  gladness  I  was  awakened  at  break  of  day  the 
next  morning  by  the  loud,  defiant  voice  of  Chanticleer  ; 
and  when,  several  days  afterwards,  I  found  a  real  hen's 
nest  in  a  brush-heap,  with  eggs  in  it,  I  cackled  almost 
as  boisterously  as  the  feathered  mother  whom  I  had  sur- 
prised in  the  feat  of  parturition. 

"The  settlers  employed  in  clearing  and  '  bettering' 
their  land,  raised  just  enough  to  live  on  *  from  hand  to 
mouth.'  Their  principal,  and  indeed  only  reliance  for 
the  purchase  of  necessaries  from  '  the  store,'  was  upon 
their  '  black  salts.'  For  these  the  merchants  always 
paid  '  the  highest  price  in  cash  or  goods.' 

"  I  remember  the  stir  which  a  'new  store,'  established 
in  Lisle,  (some  seven  or  eight  miles  down  the  river,) 
by  the  Rathbones  from  Oxford,  created  in  our  neighbor- 
hood. It  was  '  all  the  talk'  for  several  weeks,  and  until 
a  party  of  house-wives,  by  clubbing  with  their  products, 
fitted  out  an  expedition.  Vehicles  and  horses  were 
scarce,  but  it  was  finally  arranged  ;  A,  furnishing  a 
wagon,  B,  a  horse,  C,  a  mare,  and  D,  a  boy  to  drive. 
Six  matrons,  with  a  commodity  of  black  salts,  tow  cloth, 
flax,  and  maple  sugar,  went  their  way  rejoicing,  and 
returned  triumphantly  at  sun-set  with  fragrant  Bohea 
for  themselves,  plug  tobacco  for  their  husbands,  flashy 


240  SETTLEMENT  AND   ORGANIZATION. 

calico  for  the  children,  gay  ribbons  for  the  girls,  jack- 
knives  for  the  boys,  crockery  for  the  cupboard,  and 
snuff  for  '  Grannie.'  This  expedition  was  a  theme  for 
much  gossip.  The  wonders  of  the  '  new  store'  were  de- 
scribed to  staring  eyes  and  open  mouths.  The  merchant 
and  his  clerk  were  criticised  in  their  deportment,  man- 
ners, and  dress.  The  former  wore  shiny  boots  with 
tassels, — the  latter,  a  ruffle  shirt, — and  both  smelt  of 
pomatum  I  I  do  not  believe  that  the  word  '  dandy'  had 
then  been  invented,  or  it  would  have  certainly  come  in 
play  on  that  occasion.  Thirty  years  afterwards  I 
laughed  over  all  this  with  my  old  friend,  Gen.  Ransom 
Rathbun,  the  veritable  proprietor  of  that  '  new  store.' 

''The  grinding  for  our  neighborhood  was  done  at 
'  Hunt's  mill,'  which  on  one  occasion  was  disabled  by 
some  defect  in  the  flume  or  dam,  and  then  we  were 
compelled  to  go  with  our  grists  either  to  Homer  or  to 
*  Chenango  Forks.' 

"  I  recollect,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  to  have  seen 
boys  riding  with  a  bushel  of  corn,  (bare-back,  with  a 
tow  halter,)  to  the  distillery,  and  returning  with  the 
gallon  bottle  of  whiskey,  balanced  by  a  stone  in  the 
other  end  of  the  bag. 

"  In  the  autumn  following  our  removal  to  Cincinnatus, 
I  had  '  worked  out'  and  earned  leather  (sole  and  upper) 
enough  for  a  pair  of  shoes,  which  were  to  be  made  by  a 
son  of  Crispin,  (deacon  Badger,  if  I  remember  rightly,) 
who  lived  on  the  river  a  mile  and  a  half  away.  The 
Deacon,  I  doubt  not,  has  gone  to  his  rest,  and  I  forgive 
him  the  fibs  he  told,  and  the  dozen  journeys  I  made 
barefooted  over  the  frozen  and  '  hubby'  road  in  Decem- 
ber before  the  shoes  were  done. 


SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION.  241 

"  I  attended  one  regimental  review,  or  '  general  train- 
ing/ as  it  was  called.  It  was  an  eminently  primitive 
one.  Among  the  officers  were  two  chapeaux,  to  which 
Capt.  Carley,  one  of  the  two,  added  a  sword  and  sash  ; 
four  feathers  standing  erect  upon  felt  hats  ;  fifteen  or 
twenty  muskets  ;  half-a-dozen  rifles  ;  two  hoarse  drums, 
and  as  many  '  spirit-stirring  fifes.'  Of  rank  and  file  there 
were  about  two  hundred  and  fifty.  In  the  way  of  re- 
freshments there  was  gingerbread,  blackberry  pies,  and 
whiskey.  But  there  were  neither  '  sweat-leather,'  '  little 
jokers,'  or  other  institutions  of  that  character,  upon  the 
ground.  Having,  before  leaving  Catskill,  seen  with  my 
own  eyes  a  live  Governor  (Morgan  Lewis)  review  a 
whole  brigade,  I  regarded  that  training  as  a  decided 
failure. 

"There  were  no  events  at  all  startling,  during  my 
residence  at  Cincinnatus  ; — no  murders,  no  suicides, 
no  drownings,  no  robberies,  no  elopements,  no  'babes 
lost  in  the  woods,'  occurred  to  astonish  the  natives. 
A  recruiting  sergeant  came  along  (it  was  in  embargo 
times),  and  three  or  four  idle  fellows  (Herrings  and 
Wilders  by  name,  I  think,)  "listed'  and  marched  off. 

"There  were  neither  churches  nor  'stated  preaching' 
in  town.  A  Methodist  minister  came  occasionally  and 
held  meetings  in  private  houses,  or  at  the  school-house. 
In  the  winter  there  was  a  school  on  the  river  ;  and  the 
master,  who  '  boarded  round,'  must  have  '  had  a  good 
time  of  it'  on  Johnny-cake  for  breakfast,  lean  salt  pork 
for  dinner,  and  samp  and  milk  for  supper. 

"There  were  but  few  amusements  in  those  days,  and 
but  little  of  leisure  or  disposition  to  indulge  in  them. 
Those  that  I  remember  as  most  pleasant  and  exciting, 


242  SETTLEMENT   AND    OKGANIZATION. 

were  'huskings'  and  *  coon-hunts.'  There  was  fun,  too, 
in  smoking  '  woodchucks '  out  of  their  holes. 

"  During  my  residence  there,  Mr.  Wattles  moved  into 
the  neighborhood.  He  came,  I  think,  from  what  was 
then  called  *  The  Triangle,'  somewhere  in  Chenango  co., 
and  was  a  sub  Land-agent.  They  were,  for  that  region, 
rather  '  stylish'  people,  and  became  obnoxious  to  a  good 
deal  of  remark.  One  thing  that  excited  especial  indig- 
nation was,  that  persons  going  to  the  house  were  asked 
to  clean  their  shoes  at  the  door,  a  scraper  having  been 
placed  there  for  that  purpose.  A  maiden  lady  (Miss 
Theodosia  Wattles)  rendered  herself  especially  ob- 
noxious to  the  spinster  neighbors,  by  'dressing  up' 
week-day  afternoons.  They  all  agreed  in  saying  she 
was  a  'proud,  stuck-up  thing.'  In  those  days,  'go-to- 
meeting  clothes'  were  reserved  for  Sundays. 

"'Leeks'  were  the  bane  of  my  life,  in  Cincinnatus. 
They  tainted  everything,  but  especially  the  milk  and 
butter.  Such  was  my  aversion  to  •  leeky  milk,'  that  to 
this  day  I  cannot  endure  milk  in  any  form. 

"  In  the  fall  and  winter,  corn-shelling  furnished  even- 
ing occupation.  The  ears  were  shelled  either  with  a 
cob,  or  the  handle  of  a  frying-pan.  There  have  been 
improvements,  since,  in  that  as  in  other  departments  of 
agriculture  ! 

"  Such  are,  in  a  crude  form,  some  of  my  recollections 
of  life  in  Cincinnatus,  half  a  century  ago.  That  town, 
then  very  large,  has  since  been  sub-divided  into  three 
or  four  towns.  Upon  the  farm  of  my  old  friends,  the 
Carleys,  the  large  and  flourishing  village  of  Marathon 
has  grown  up.  And  then,  too,  a  substantial  bridge  has 
taken  the  place  of  the  '  dug  out'  in  which  we  used  to 


SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION,  243 

cross  the  river.  Of  the  sprinkling  of  inhabitants  who 
had  then  just  commenced  subduing  the  forests,  and  in- 
sinuating scanty  deposits  of  seed  between  the  stumps 
and  roots,  but  few,  of  course,  survive.  The  settlers 
were  industrious,  honest,  law-abiding,  and,  with  few 
exceptions,  temperate  citizens.  The  friendly  neighbor- 
hood relations,  so  necessary  in  a  new  country,  existed 
there.  All  tried  not  only  to  take  care  of  themselves,  but 
to  help  their  neighbors.  Farming  implements  and 
household  articles  were  pretty  much  enjoyed  in  common. 
Everybody  'lent'  what  they  possessed,  and  'borrowed^ 
whatever  the}^  wanted. 

"  You  must  judge  whether  these  hastily  written  recol- 
lections of  Cincinnatus  would  at  all  interest  the  few  old 
inhabitants  remaining  there  ;  and  having  so  judged, 
you  are  at  liberty  to  put  them  into  your  book,  or  into 
the  fire. 

"  Very  truly  yours, 

"  Thurlow  Weed." 

WiLLET. — The  town  of  Willet  was  organized  from 
the  south-east  quarter  of  Cincinnatus,  April  21,  1818. 
The  general  surface  of  the  town  is  broken  and  hilly,  yet 
by  no  means  mountainous.  The  soil  is  generally  better 
adapted  to  grazing  than  the  culture  of  grain.  Its  agri- 
culture, however,  is  respectable.  The  town  is  watered 
by  the  Otselic,  or  main  branch  of  the  Tioughnioga  river. 
It  was  named  in  honor  of  Col.  Marinus  Willett,  who  ac- 
quired an  honorable  fame  while  second  in  command  at 
Fort  Stanwix,  in  17t7,  and  who  made  a  most  gallant 
sally  upon  the  forces  of  Sir  John  Johnson,  capturing 
their  stores,  baggage,  and  ammunition.     He  drew  lot 


244  SETTLEMENT  AND   ORGANIZATION. 

No.  88  of  the  old  allotments  of  the  town  of  Cincinnatus. 
It  was  located  in  the  south-east  quarter  of  the  township, 
and  when  the  original  tract  was  carved  into  four  towns, 
the  hero  was  honored  by  the  conferring  of  his  name 
upon  that  portion  which  contained  the  land  granted  him 
as  a  partial  reward  for  his  valuable  and  heroic  services. 
We  cannot  but  respect  those  stern  actors,  who,  in  the 
early  settlement  of  Willet,  evinced  a  determination, 
worthy  of  being  recorded  in  the  enduring  annals  of  our 
country.  They  warred  not  for  fame  and  glory,  but  for 
the  improvement  of  the  moral  and  social  condition  of 
those  around  them.  They  struck  their  cabins  in  the 
unbroken  forest,  and  endured  privation  and  toil,  with 
the  hope  of  securing  for  themselves  and  families  a  home 
upon  which  they  might  erect  their  little  citadels,  dedi- 
cated to  happiness  and  social  enjoyment.  They  did  not 
expect  the  huge  "  hemlock  to  snap  off  like  icicles,"  or 
the  ancient  hills  to  become  at  once  pleasure-gardens  or 
fruitful  fields.  They  did  not  anticipate  that  ease  and 
affluence  were  to  be  achieved  without  effort,  toil,  and 
privation.  No  !  no  !  they  were  men  of  an  entirely  dif- 
ferent character  ;  and  when  they  determined  upon  a 
plan,  or  resolved  to  perform  a  duty,  their  wills  became 
fixed  facts. 

Ebenezer  Crittenden  settled  in  Willet  in  1797.  He 
had  married  at  Binghamton,  and  in  order  to  get  to 
Willet,  himself,  wife  and  one  child  shipped  on  board 
his  little  craft,  and  by  the  help  of  the  paddle  and  setting- 
pole,  at  length  arrived  at  his  intended  home,  without 
shelter — the  trees  and  elements  excepted.  Then  with 
his  axe  he  cut  some  crotches,  and  with  some  poles 
formed  his  tent,  covering  it  with  bed-clothes.    This  was 


settle:ment  and  organization.  245 

his  dwelling  until  he  could  build  a  log  house,  which  he 
did  in  the  following  manner  : — he  cut  such  logs  as  he 
could  handle,  and  enough  for  sides  and  gable  ends,  as 
he  had  no  boards  ;  he  then  laid  them  up,  then  raised 
two  pairs  of  rafters,  one  at  each  end  ;  then  let  in  girts  or 
ribs  from  one  pair  to  the  other,  in  order  to  hold  the 
shingles,  which  he  made  by  splitting  them  out  with  his 
axe  and  putting  them  on  with  pegs.  As  there  was  no 
grist-mill,  he  built  him  a  little  one  by  digging  a  hole  in 
a  big  stump  and  erecting  a  spring  pole,  in  order  to 
assist  his  wife  in  making  short-cakes  ;  while  his  gun 
was  his  meat-barrel,  and  the  Otselic  his  drink. 

Benjamin  Wilson  was  originally  from  Westchester,  N. 
Y.,  and  from  Oxford  ;  an  emigrant  and  pioneer  to  Willet, 
in  1806  or  ' t.  John  Fisher,  from  England,  Jonathan  Gaz- 
lay,  from  Dutchess  co.,  Thomas  Leach,  from  Madison  co., 
all  date  their  immigration  the  same  year  as  Benjamin 
Wilson. 

Jabez  Johnson,  from  Vermont,  and  Phineas  Sargent, 
origin  unknown,  both  located  in  1807. 

Ebenezer  Andrews,  from  Massachusetts,  in  1808. 

Joseph  Merritt,  from  Westchester,  N.  Y.,  Solomon 
Smith,  origin  unknown,  Daniel  Roberts,  from  Madison 
CO.,  John  Covert,  from  Windham,  Greene  co.,  William 
Greene,  from  Kent  co.,  R.  I.,  Ira  Burlingame,  from  Oxford, 
Chenango  co.,  N.  Y.,  Altitius  Burlingame,  from  Kent  co., 
R.  I.,  and  Edward  Nickerson,  from  Cape  Cod,  Mass.,  all 
located  in  the  year  1809.  Arnold  Thomas,  from  North 
Kingston,  Washington  co.,  R.  I.,  in  1810. 

Solomon  Dodge,  from  Vermont,  after  resting  at  Oxford 

.  for  a  space,  entered  the  town  as  a  resident  in  1811.     In 

the  year  1816,  Samuel  Dyer,  from  North  Kingstown,  R.I. 


246  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORCJANIZATIOX. 

John  and  his  brother  Peter  Eaton,  from  Cherry  Valley, 
N.  Y.,  Samuel  and  Abraham  Canfield,  from  Orange  co,, 
N.  Y.,  entered  and  located  as  pioneers,  to  battle  with  the 
dense  forest  and  privations  of  the  wilderness. 

In  the  language  of  one  whose  memory  is  true  to  the 
events  of  an  eventful  age,  "  Death  erected  his  monument 
of  claims  to  all  of  mortality,  in  the  newly  begun  settle- 
ment, in  the  year  1812,  by  taking  the  wife  of  Solomon 
Smith." 

The  first  birth,  in  the  town  of  Willet,  was  a  child  of 
Ebenezer  Crittenden.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of 
Solomon  Smith.     This  occurred  in  1813. 

In  1807  or  '8,  Benjamin  Wilson  built  a  grfst-mill,  and 
also  a  saw-mill. 

John  Fisher  built  a  saw-mill  in  1808,  and  about  the 
same  time  Jabez  Johnson  built  another.  Wilson  built 
his  mills  on  the  waters  of  the  Otselic,  in  the  north  part 
of  the  town,  as  may  well  be  proved  by  most  of  the  learned 
judges,  lawyers,  and  wearied  jurors  of  the  county  :  and 
of  such  importance  has  the  building  of  those  mills  been 
in  the  legal  movements  of  the  human  mind,  that  could 
they  all  be  written  as  were  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles, 
they  might  well  be  entitled  the  books  of  experiment  in 
uncertainty.  Fisher's  mill  was  also  built  on  the  waters 
of  the  Otselic,  in  the  south-west  part  of  the  town.  And 
Johnson's  mill,  on  the  outlet  of  the  Bloody-pond,  so 
called,  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  town. 

Benjamin  Wilson  erected  a  clothing-mill  near  his 
grist-mill,  in  180t,  and  Isaac  Smith  attended  as  the 
workman.  He  erected  a  blacksmith's  shop  in  1810  or 
'11.     In  1808  he  kept  a  public  house. 

The  first  school-house  was  erected  in   1814.      Thus, 


SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION.  247 

from  the  workings  of  mind  around  the  nucleus  of  labor, 
progression  pushed  forward,  expanded,  absorbed,  as- 
similated, and  increased  the  embryonic  town  of  Willet, 
until,  in  1818,  legislatively  speaking,  it  was  fully  born, 
baptised,  and  named,  although  a  feeble  infant  town,  as 
being  regarded  in  the  legal  freehold  power. 

John  S.  Dyer,  son  of  Samuel  Dyer,  built  a  store  in  1834, 
a  second  in  1837,  and  a  third  one  in  1848  ;  also  a  public 
house,  or  inn,  which  has  since  been  enlarged.  Samuel 
Dyer  was  appointed  the  first  post-master,  in  1823.  The 
Methodists  formed  a  class,  and  appointed  a  class-leader, 
in  1815  or '16.  The  Baptists  organized  in  1821  ;  the 
Congregationalists  in  1852. 

The  first  Town  Meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Ben- 
jamin Wilson,  1819.  Altitius  Burlingame  officiated  as 
Moderator  ;  William  Throop,  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
And  the  following  persons  were  elected  as  official  ser- 
vants of  the  town  for  the  term  of  one  year  : 

Su2:>ervisor^ — William  Throop. 

Toion  Clerk^ — Samuel  Dyer. 

Assessors^ — W.  Throop,  John  Eaton,  Benjamin  Green. 

Collector^ — Joseph  Nickerson. 

Overseers  of  the  Poor^ — Altitius  Burlingame,  and 
Henry  Sawdy. 

Gommissio7iers  of  Highways^ — Benjamin  T.  Green, 
John  Briggs,  John  Eaton. 

Commissioners  of  Schools,— John  Briggs,  Benjamin  T. 
Green,  Abner  Wilbur. 

Constables, — Joseph  Nickerson,  John  Campbell. 

Commissioners  of  Lands, — Benjamin  T.  Green,  Altitius 
Burlingame,  Peter  Eaton. 

Inspectors  of  Common  Schools, — W.  Throop,  Orlando 


248  SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION. 

Salisbury,  John  Corbett,  Anson  T.  Burt,  Bicknell  Free- 
man, Samuel  Dyer. 

Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures^ — Altitius  Burlin- 
game.* 

In  1818,  Arnold  Thomas  and  his  much-esteemed  wife 
were  drowned  in  the  Otselic  river,  at  or  near  the  termi- 
nation of  the  Ox-bow.  Mrs.  Thomas  was  a  sister  of 
Altitius  Burlingame.  They  were  endeavoring  to  cross 
the  river,  on  an  illy-constructed  raft,  with  a  design  to 
attend  a  prayer-meeting.  Miss  Hannah  Corpse,  Nelly 
Miller,  and  Mr.  Burlingame,  were  in  company  with  the 
unfortunate  couple.  Mr.  Burlingame,  being  an  excellent 
swimmer,  succeeded  in  saving  himself  and  the  two 
young  ladies.  The  bodies  were  recovered  from  the 
watery  element,  and  now  repose  in  one  grave,  sacred 
to  their  memory,  in  Mr.  Burlingame's  orchard. 

We  have  previously  referred  to  the  spirit  of  enterprise 
as  exhibited  by  the  agriculturists  of  Willet.  A  laud- 
able attention  to  the  improvement  of  stock,  to  agricul- 
ture and  domestic  manufacture,  marks  the  efforts  of  the 
more  active  producers  of  wealth. 

The  increase  of  population,  with  a  single  exception, 
has  been  slow,  yet  certain. 

In  1820  the  population  of  Willet  was      ,431 
1825  "  "  508 

1830  "  "  804 

1835  "  "  T23 

1840  "  "  812 

1845  "  "  921 

1850  "  "  923 

1855  "  "  925 

*  Communicated  by  Altitius  Burlingame. 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  249 

CoRTLANDViLLE  was  Organized  from  the  southern  part 
of  the  town  of  Homer,  April  11th,  1829. 

The  surface  of  the  territory  is,  in  some  parts,  hilly,  in 
others  quite  level,  or  but  gently  undulating.  Flats  of 
rich  alluvion  border  the  Tiouglmioga  river  iu  its  course 
through  the  valley.  The  more  elevated  lands  are  inter- 
spersed with  gravelly  and  argillaceous  loam. 

Much  of  the  early  history  »of  Cortlandville  rightfully 
belongs  to  the  original  military  town  of  Homer,  and  is, 
therefore,  comprehended  in  that  portion  of  our  history. 

The  timber  of  Cortlandville  was  unusually  heavy,  and 
embraced  the  various  kinds  w^hich  are  yet  to  be  seen 
dotting  the  surface  of  hill  and  valley.  Beech,  maple, 
elni  and  hemlock  were,  however,  the  most  abundant. 
The  beautiful  and  tasteful  grounds  of  the'  Messrs.  Ran- 
dall and  Reynolds,  were  covered  with  a  most  luxuriant 
forest  of  lofty  elms.  Indeed,  nothing  in  the  forest  line 
could  be  more  enchantingly  alluring.  Stretching  far  to 
the  south-west,  these  olden  elms,  that  had  for  centuries 
towered  in  lofty  grandeur,  defying  the  whirlwind  and 
the  storm,  are  described  by  the  western  warriors  as 
greatly  rivalling  in  forest  grandeur  anything  they  ever 
saw  in  the  wide-spread  territory  once  claimed  and  ac- 
kowledged  as  originally  belonging  to  the  Six  Nations. 

The  early  pioneers  located  in  the  dense  forests,  erected 
their  rude  and  unadorned  cabins,  hoping  for  the  sure 
rewards  of  industr^^  perseverance  and  economy.  But 
they  were  often  subjected  to  great  inconvenience  and 
suffering,  for  the  want  of  the  necessary  articles  of  hus- 
bandry, and  also,  those  of  subsistence.  We  have  been 
told  of  instances  of  whole  families  living  for  successive 
weeks  upon  turnips  and  salt  ;  of  others  who  boiled 
12 


250  SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

roots  gathered  in  the  forest,  and  ate  them  with  a  relish 
which  is  unknown  to  the  epicurean  lords  of  the  present 
day.  To  them  a  mess  of  parsley  presented  by  a  neigh- 
boring hand  was  regarded  as  an  act  of  marked  and 
generous  attention  to  their  wants. 

Grain  and  potatoes  were  not  to  be  had  in  the  country. 
David  Merrick  sent  his  team  through  the  woods  to 
Geneva  by  a  neighbor,  to  whom  he  gave  five  dollars, 
just  enough  to  purchase  two  bushels  of  wheat.  It  was 
procured  and  ground  ;  but  on  the  return,  one  of  the 
bags  was  torn  open  by  coming  in  contact  with  a  tree, 
and  the  flour  of  one  bushel  was  lost;  the  remainder  was 
emptied  on  its  arrival  by  Mrs.  Merrick  into  a  four  quart 
pan.  Union  and  a  sympathy  of  feeling  prevailed  among 
the  settlers,  which  tended  greatly- to  encourage  and 
btace  them  for  the  coming  conflicts  arising  from  misfor- 
tune and  the  common  ills  peculiar  to  pioneer  life.  The 
settlers  were  mostly  from  the  New  England  States,  and 
brought  with  them  their  high  regard  for  religion,  moral- 
ity, and  common  honesty  of  purpose.  In  these  da3^s  of 
cupidity  and  heartless  knavery,  too  much  respect  is 
paid  to  land  pirates  and  vampyre  shylocks.  Not  so  in 
the  early  times  of  the  pioneers.  A  mean  act,  coming 
from  whatever  source,  was  treated  with  contempt  ;  the 
general  desire  of  the  people  being  to  extend  favors,  and, 
if  possible,  to  lighten  the  afflicting  providences  of  all 
to  whom  they  could  possibly  extend  a  helping  hand. 
True,  there  was  an  occasional  exception  ;  and  these 
were  always  marked  by  the  upright  and  deserving. 
•  The  pioneer  settler  of  Cortlandville  was  John  Miller, 
a  native  of  New  Jersey:  He  moved  in  from  Bingham- 
ton  in   lt92,  and  located  on  lot  56.     Mv.  Miller  v*^as  a 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  251 

man  of  character  and  influence,  and  held  several  impor- 
tant town  ofSces. 

In  1794,  Jonathan  Hubbard  and  Col.  Moses  Hopkins 
came  in  and  located.    • 

The  former  selected  a  location  amid  the  stately  elms 
that  stood  on  the  ground  now  covered  by  Cortland  Vil- 
lage, while  the  latter  erected  his  palace  of  poles  one 
mile  west,  on  lot  64,  which  is  at  present  occupied  by 
his  venerable  widow,  and  her  son  Hiram  Hopkins  and 
family.  They  came  in  by  way  of  Cazenovia  and  Trux- 
ton. 

Thomas  Wilcox,  from  Whitestown,  located  early  in 
1195  on  lot  64.  Reuben  Doud,  on  lot  15.  He  was  origi- 
nally from  New  Haven,  Conn.  James  Scott,  John  Morse, 
and  Levi  Lee  located  on  the  same  lot.  Dr.  Lewis  S. 
Owen,  from  Albany,  on  lot  66.  He  built  the  first  frame 
house  in  Cortland  county.  It  is  at  present  occupied  by 
widow  William  Mallery.  It  is  situated  a  few  rods  west 
of  the  residence  of  llussel  Hubbard. 

During  the  years  1796-7,  several  accessions  were 
made — located  in  various  parts  of  the  town.  Aaron 
Knapp  settled  on  the  Roger  farm,  lot  55.  Enoch  Hotch- 
kiss,  on  76.  The  venerable  Samuel  Crittenden  and 
Eber  Stone,  from  Connecticut,  located  on  lot  66.  They 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  The  boundary 
line  between  them  run  in  a  direct  line  with  Main  street, 
Cortland  Village.  Mr.  Crittenden  was  located  on  the 
east  side,  and  erected  a  house  on  ground  a  little  east  of 
the  post-office.  He  came  in  with  an  ox  team,  and  was 
twenty-five  days  on  the  road.  He  has  lived  to  see  the 
surrounding  country  endowed  with  religious  and  literary 
institutions,  and  blessed  with  all  the  evidences  of  sub- 


252  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

stantial  wealth,  intelligence  and  enterprise.  He  is  now 
an  honored  citizen  of  Groton,  Tompkins  connty. 

In  1798,  Samuel  Ingles  and  his  son  Samuel,  Jr.,  came 
from  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  and  located  on  lot  t5. 
During  the  year  180(1,  Wilmot  Sperry  came  from  Wood- 
bridge,  Conn.,  and  located  on  lot  13.  William  Mallery, 
from  Columbia  county,  settled  in  1802.  He  was  a  man 
of  substantial  worth,  and  filled  various  offices  in  the  gift 
of  his  friends.  He  died  in  1837.  John  A.  Freer,  father  of 
Anthony  and  Stephen  D.  Freer,  came  from  Dutchess  co., 
N.  Y.,  and  located  on  lot  74.  James  T.  Hotchkiss,  from 
WoodbridgOj  settled  in  1803  on  lot  54.  He  was  an  ac- 
tive participant  in  the  war  of  1812-15.  He  was  one  of 
Gen.  Dearborn's  Life  Guards,  and  fell  at  the  battle  of 
Queenstown  in  1813.  Of  his  eight  children,  seven  are 
now  living — six  in  Cortlandvilie.  His  daughter  Fanny 
married  Daniel  Hamlin,  of  Summer  Hill. 

Nathan  Blodget,  from  Massachusetts,  located  in  1805  ; 
purchased  on  lots  65  and  66  ;  died  in  1845  ;  left  five 
children — Loren,  Lewis,  Franklin,  Lydia  and  Elizabeth. 
In  1808,  John  Ingles  located  on  lot  74.  Lemuel  and 
Jacob  Cady  were  from  Massachusetts,  and  located  on  lot 
73.  John  Wicks  on  72.  Edmund  Mallery  on  74,  The 
latter  came  from  Dutchess  county.  William  and  Ros- 
well  Randall  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  but  came  to 
Cortland  from  Madison  county  about  1812. 

Samuel  M'Graw,  from  whom  M'Grawville  derived  its 
name,  migrated  from  New  Haven,  Conn.,  to  Cortlandvilie 
in  1803,  and  located  on  lot  87.  He  purchased  100  acres. 
In  1809  he  removed  to  M'Grawville,  and  purchased 
about  two  hundred  acres.  There  were  at  this  time  but 
three  families  settled  within  the  vicinity  of  the  present 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  253 

village.  He  reared  a  large  and  interesting  family, — 
eight  sons  and  four  daughters, — eight  of  whom  are  now 
living.  He  died  in  February,  1836.  His  widow,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  j^ears,  survives  him,  and  is  still  liv- 
ing on  the  homestead,  enjoying  remarkably  good  health. 
His  son  Harry,  father  of  Hon.  P.  H.  M'Graw,  was  for 
many  years  a  merchant  in  the  village.  He  died  in 
1849. 

Capt.  Rufus  Boies  came  in  from  Blandfort,  Mass.,  in 
1812,  and  located  on  lot  54,  where  Linus  Stillman  now 
lives.  His  original  purchase  was  but  fifty  acres  ;  he, 
however,  increased  the  farm  to  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
acres.  He  is  now,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one, 
living  in  the  village  with  his  son  Israel  Boies.  In  his 
subsequent  life,  he  has  shown  himself  a  man  of  the  ut- 
most integrity  of  character,  kind-hearted  and  intelli- 
gent ;  and  his  worth  as  a  man  has  been  fully  appreci- 
ated. 

Others  settled  at  early  periods  on  various  lots  :  the 
dates  of  location  being  doubtful,  we  therefore  do  not 
name  them.  Sylvanus  Hopkins  and  Capt.  Strong  set- 
tled on  lot  82.  Nathan  and  James  Knapp  on  84.  Elea- 
nor Richmond,  with  her  step-son,  on  the  west  part  of  the 
same  lot.  Gilbert  Budd  and  Jeremiah  Chase,  on  74. 
John  Calvert,  from  Washington  county,  on  lot  82.  John 
McFarlan,  John  M'Nish,  and  Archibald  Turner  are  be- 
lieved to  have  moved  from  the  same  county.  John  Still- 
man,  Elisha  Crosby  and  Lemuel  Ingles  settled  on  lot  65. 

David  Merrick  came  from  Massachusetts  in  1800,  and 
located  on  lot  44.  In  the  year  179t,  he  came  to  Whites- 
town  to  purchase  a  tavern  stand  and  one  hundred  acres 
of  land,  then  valued  at  three  hundred  dollars.      His 


254  SETTLEaiENT   AND    OEGANIZATION. 

means  being"  limited,  he  jSnally  concluded  not  to  piir- 
cbase,  and  returned  home.  The  next  year  he  visited 
Whitestown  again,  for  the  express  purpose  of  closing  a 
bargain,  but  the  property  was  then  valued  at  ten  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  consequently  he  did  not  secure  it, 
and  came  on  to  Homer  ;  a  few  years  after,  having  been 
ejected  from  his  premises  three  times,  and  being  threat- 
ened with  a  fourth,  he  concluded  to  leave,  and  moved  to 
Little  York.  In  1810,  he  located  in  Cortlandville,  on 
lot  65. 

Danforth  Merrick,  son  of  David,  informed  us  that  he 
drew  saw  logs  to  Homer  during  the  winter  of  1800. 
There  was  then  no  road — at  least  only  such  as  had  been 
made  by  merely  underbrushing  through.  The  mud  and 
snow  was  two  feet  deep,  and  as  they  had  to  ring  the 
top  end,  around  which  they  fastened  the  log  chain, 
"  noosing  the  logs"  as  they  called  it,  he  could  draw  but 
two  per  day. 

In  the  dwelling  where  he  now  resides,  he  kept  tavern 
for  twenty  years. 

At  this  period,  (1800,)  a  road  had  been  cut  through 
to  Virgil  Corners  to  intersect  the  State  road.  Another 
had  been  cut  through  to^X-ocke— now  Groton  ;  a  third 
to  M'Grawville  ;  a  fourth  to  Truxton,  and,  as  above 
noted,  a  fifth  to  Homer. 

The  first  barrel  of  cider  drank  in  town  was  brought 
in  by  Mr.  Lyon,  who  some  years  after  was  murdered 
in  Palmer,  Mass. 

The  first  public  house  was  kept  by  Samuel  Ingles,  in 
1810,  on  ground  now  covered  by  the  Barnard  Block. 

The  first  school-house  stood  on  ground  now  covered 
by  the  Eagle  hotel. 


SETTLEMENT   AND   ORGANIZATION.  255 

The  first  gTist-mill  was  erected  by  Jonathan  Hubbard, 
in  17t9. 

The  first  merchant  was  Lemuel  Ingles  ;  he  sold  g-oods 
in  a  small  house  near  the  present  residence  of  H.  P. 
Goodrich. 

We  have  in  another  portion  of  our  history  referred  to 
the  early  religious  efforts  of  the  pioneers  of  Cortland- 
ville.  The  first  church  organization  occurred  in  1801. 
This  may  be  said  to  have  been  a  union  effort,  for  the 
meetings  were  held  in  Homer,  Cortland,  Port  Watson, 
and  on  the  East  river,  near  the  County  House.  The 
Baptist  Church  was  erected  in  1811,  and  dedicated  in 
June,  1812.  It  was  located  within  the  present  limits  of 
Cortlandville,  about  one  "  half  mile  north  of  the  old  Court 
House."  In  the  autumn  of  1825,  efforts  were  made  by 
the  association  to  secure  a  more  advantageous  change 
in  the  location  of  church  organizations,  which  happily 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  a  church  in  Homer  and 
M'Grawville,  "leaving  the  Mother  Church  in  the  centre.'"* 
Soon  after,  three  new  churches  were  erected,  one  in  each 
of  the  villages  referred  to. 

During  the  same  year,  a  Presbyterian  Church  was 
organized  in  Cortlandville,  which  rapidly  increased  in 
numbers  and  in  influence. 

The  first  Methodist  meeting  occurred  in  1804,  at  the 
house  of  Jonathan  Hubbard,  the  former  residence  of 
Samuel  Crittenden.  A  discourse  was  pronounced  by 
Rev.  Samuel  Hill,  of  the  Philadelphia  Circuit,  and  sub- 
sequently a  class  v\^as  formed.  It  was  undoubtedly 
small  as  to   numbers,  for  at  the  tim.e  of  which  we  now 

*  See  Discourse  by  Rev.  Alfred  Bennet,  1844. 


256  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

write,  there  were  but  four  houses  within  the  present 
limits  of  Cortland  Village.  The  Universalists,  or  Free 
Thinkers,  and  Catholic  organizations  are  of  more 
recent  date.  The  former  have  a  large  and  elegant 
church. 

In  1830  the  population  of  Cortlandville  was  3,673 
1835  "  "  3,715 

1840  "  "  3,799 

1845  "  '*  4,111 

1850  "  '/  4,173 

1855  "  "  4,423 

Lapeer  was  organized  from  the  east  part  of  Virgil, 
May  2,  1845. 

The  first  settler  in  this  town  was  Primus  Grant,  a 
colored  man;  he  purchased  on  lot  594,  and  settled  on 
it  in  1799.  He  was  a  native  of  Guinea,  and  the  farm 
has  always  been  called  Guinea.  He  lived  a  number  of 
years  on  his  lot,  and  when  he  died  was  buried  on  one  of 
the  high  bluffs  that  overlook  the  stream  known  as  the 
Big  Brook. 

Peter  Gray,  a  native  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  was 
the  first  white  settler  ;  he  came  from  Ulster  (now  Sulli- 
van CO.)  in  July,  1802,  and  located  on  lot  70.  His  widow 
still  survives,  and  is  believed  to  be  the  oldest  person 
now  living  in  the  town, — age  84  years.  His  son,  Ogden 
Gray,  resides  on  the  original  premises.  He  left  a  re- 
spectable family  of  children,  the  youngest  of  whom  is 
the  wife  of  Dan  C.  Squires. 

Seth  Jennings,  from  Connecticut,  settled,  in  1803,  on 
lot  597,  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  Hariy  Jennings, 
his  son,  who  now  resides  in  Harford,  owns  the  farm. 


SETTLEMENT    AND    OEGANIZATION.  257 

Mr.  Jenning-s  left  several  cliildren,  some  of  whom  are 
still  living  in  the  town, 

Timothy  Robertson,  from  the  same  State,  came  in 
about  the  same  time,  and  lived  for  a  brief  period  with 
Mr.  Jennings.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war  ;  was  with  Montgomery  at  the  storming  of  Quebec, 
in  nt5.  He  fought  valiantly  while  the  brave  and 
heroic  sons,  martyrs  to  American  liberty,  were  falling 
around  him.  His  son,  Eliphalet,  the  only  remaining 
descendant,  is  now  living  in  Lapeer. 

Thomas  Kingsbury  and  Robert  H.  Wheeler  settled 
in  the  south-east  part  of  the  town,  in  1804.  The  former 
was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  drew  a  pension.  One 
of  his  daughters  married  Marvin  Balch,  who  resides  on 
the  homestead.  The  latter  has  no  living  representative 
in  the  town.     They  w^ere  natives  of  Connecticut. 

Simeon  Luce,  father  of  Martin  Luce,  of  Virgil,  located 
on  lot  57,  in  1805  ;  and  is  believed  to  have  kept  the 
first  tavern  in  the  town.  He  was  an  ingenious  mechanic, 
and  an  industrious  and  valuable  citizen.  He  died  at  an 
extreme  old  age,  leaving  a  numerous  posterity. 

Zachariah  Squires  and  Robert  Smith  settled,  in  1806, 
on  lot  to.  The  former  was  the  father  of  Col.  William 
Squires,  now  residing  in  the  town  of  Marathon.  The 
latter  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  held 
a  commission  from  the  Commander-in-Chief,  General 
George  Washington.  He  drew  a  pension  a  number  of 
years.     His  children  still  reside  in  Lapeer. 

John  S.  Squires  and  James  Richards  located  in  1807. 

The  former  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  but  removed 

from  Lisle,  Broome  go.,  and  settled  on  lot  68.     The  farm 

is  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Dan  C.  Squires.     He  left 

12=^ 


258  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

a  numerous  family,  of  which  James  S.  Squires,  of  Cort- 
land, is  the  young-est.  Mr.  Richards  settled  on  lot  79, 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Erastus  Johnson. 

There  were  sixteen  soldiers  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
who  settled  in  Lapeer,  and  all  but  one  died  there. 

A  number  of  the  soldiers  of  the  last  war  with  Great 
Britain,  resided  in  Lapeer,  and  drew  land-warrants,  or 
pensions,  or  both.  In  1813,,  a  volunteer  company  was 
organized,  of  which  Simeon  West  was  captain,  John  S. 
Squires  lieutenant,  and  William  Powers  ensign.  The 
service  of  this  company  was  tendered  the  Government, 
and  those  composing  it  were  to  be ,  regarded  as  minute- 
men,  to  be  mustered  into  active,  service  on  a  day's  notice  ; 
but  happily  their  service  was  not  needed. 

Among  the  earliesf  clergymen  who  preached  in  La- 
peer, were  the  Rev.  Mr.  Harrison,  and  Dr.  AVilliston,  of 
the  Presbyterian  ;  Mr.  Sheopard,  of  the  Baptist,  and  Mr. 
Densmore,  of  the  Methodist.  All  of  them  were  mission- 
aries, or  traveling  preachers.  The  latter  organized  a 
class.  Other  religious  associations  were  subsequently 
formed, — that  of  the  Baptist,  in  1820  ;  the  Presbyterian, 
in  18^6  or 'T  ;  and  the  Christians  during  the  latter  year. 

The  first  child  born  in  Lapeer  was  John  Gray,  son  of 
Peter  Gray,  in  1803.  He  died  in  Minesota,  al>:  *-,  two 
years  since.  The  first  death  was  that  of  Robert  C. 
Squires,  9th  of  May,  1809,  aged  about  two  years.  He  was 
a  son  of  John  S.  Squires.  The  first  marriage  is  believed 
to  have  been  that  of  James  Parker  to  Miss  Lucy  Wood. 

Bimeon  Luce  erected  the  first  grist-mill,  in  1827.  The 
first  saw-mill  was  erected  by  Samuel  and  John  Gee,  in 
1825.  Messrs.  Nickels  and  Turpening  were  the  first 
merchants,  and  commenced  trading  about  1834  or  '5. 


SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION.  259 

The  first  post-master  was  Royal  Johnson.     He  was  ap- 
pointed in  1849,  and  still  continues  to  hold  the  office. 

A  few  rods  to  the  south  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  H. 
Geniing-,  was,  at  a  former  period,  an  Indian  camping- 
ground.  Tliis  was  on  a  bluif  overlooking  and  close  to 
the  Big  Brook.  From  the  banks  of  this  stream  flowed 
beautiful  rivulets  of  cool  transparent  water.  Here,  too, 
were  immense  forests  of  elms,  bass  wood,  maple,  and 
other  timber,  the  favorite  resort  of  the  black  bear,  once 
so  plenty  in  Cortland  county.  Deers,  too,  roamed  the 
hills  and  valleys.  The  wolf  and  pantliter  made  night 
hideous  with  their  discordant  notes  of  revelry.  From 
the  camping-ground  the  Indians  daily  radiated  in  quest 
of  game  and  fish,  and  at  night  returned  to  their  cabins 
loaded  with  peltry — the  products  of  the  chase. 
In  1850  the  population  of  Lapeer  was  822. 
1855  "  "  "        150. 

Harford  was  organized  from  the  west  part  of  Virgil, 
May  2,  1345.  The  first  settlement  in  this  town  was 
made  in  1803.  Dorastus  De  Wolf,  Thomas  Nichols,  John 
Green,  and  Cornelius  Worden,  were  the  pioneers  who 
first  selected  locations  and  became  permanent  settlers 
of  tht  ^^n  of  Harford.  De  Wolf  settled  in  the  south 
part  ot  the  town,  then  a  perfect  wilderness.  Wolves 
were  very  plentiful,  and,  as  a  consequence,  he  had  to 
protect  his  sheep  at  night  for  about  twelve  or  thirteen 
years.  Bears,  also,  were  in  abundance.  Deer  were 
frequently  seen  in  droves.  Occasionally  an  elk  was 
seen  in  the  valleys.  Foxes  and  martins,  wild-cats  and 
opossums,  were  numerous,  but  a  beaver  was  seldom 
seen. 


260  SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION. 

Eev.  Seth  Williston  was  the  first  preacher  who 
directed  public  religious  worship.  The  first  meeting 
occurred  in  1804. 

The  first  physician  was  Dr.  Fox. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  1801,  by  Miss  Betsey 
Curran. 

The  first  post-office  was  established  in  1825,  and  at 
that  time  called  AVorthington,  but  was  subsequently 
changed  to  Harford. 

The  first  merchant  was  Theodore  E.  Hart.  He  com- 
menced business  in  1824. 

In  1845  the  population  of  Harford  was    921 
1850  "  "  949 

1855  '*  "  926 

Taylor  was  erected  from  Solon,  December  5,  1849. 

The  surface,  soil,  timber,  and  agricultural  advantages 
are  so  similar  to  the  adjoining  towns,  that  we  do  not 
regard  it  as  necessary  to  present  any  separate  detail. 
It  is  watered  in  the  south-east  corner  by  the  Otselic 
creek,  but  is  in  the  main  deficient  of  water  power.  The 
timber  is  generally  maple,  beach,  elm,  butternut,  bass- 
wood  and  hemlock.  The  arable  land  is  at  least  in  the 
usual  proportion  of  other  towns  ;  the  town  is  however 
better  adapted  for  grazing  and  the  dairy  branch  of  pro- 
ductive industry,  than  for  the  producing  of  grain  crops. 

The  first  permanent  pioneers  of  the  town  of  Taylor 
were  Ezra  Rockwell,  and  his  sons  Thomas,  and  Ezra,  Jr. 
They  were  from  Lenox,  Mass.  The  father  had  served 
in  the  Revolution,  and  drew  lot  18,  on  which  they 
located  in  1193. 

In   1195  Thomas  Rockwell  went  to  Cincinnatus  and 


SETTLEMENT   AND    ORGANIZATION.  261 

purchased  one  hundred  acres  on  lots  9  and  19.  He  set- 
tled on  the  former,  where  he  remained  for  thirty-two 
years,  and  then  removed  to  Taylor  and  located  on  lot 
100.  He  purchased  six  acres  on  which  the  village  of 
Taylor,  familiarly  known  as  Bangall,  now  stands.  He 
also  purchased  one  hundred  and  seven  acres  on  lot  99. 
His  house  originally  stood  on  the  ground  now  covered 
by  the  public  house  kept  by  E.  W.  Fish.  He  has 
cleared  four  farms,  erected  several  dwellings,  and,  with 
Leonard  Holmes,  built  the  tavern,  about  1818.  Mr. 
Holmes  kept  the  house  a  number  of  years.  He  now 
resides  on  lot  86.  •  Mr.  Rockwell  is  now  eighty-one 
years  old,  straight  and  active  as  a  man  of  thirty. 

The  Beebes  were  originally  from  Connecticut.  Rod- 
eric  located  on  Mt.  Roderic,  lot  15,  in  the  spring  of  1194. 
He  is  described  as  being  an  active,  hardy  and  indus- 
trious man,  capable  of  enduring  great  privation  and 
fatigue.  The  venerable  Orellana  Beebe  migrated  from 
New  Haven  in  1196,  and  settled  on  lot  1  in  Solon,  now 
Truxton.  He  remained  there  two  years,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Taylor,  and  located  on  lot  100.  He  survives 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  remarkably 
active  and  healthy.  Mrs.  Beebe  is  eighty-four,  blind, 
and  very  infirm.  Ira  Rockwell  married  his  youngest 
daughter. 

Increase  M.  Hooker,  a  native  of  Vermont,  located  on 
lot  88,  in  1191.     He  removed  the  next  year  to  Truxton. 

Lewis  Hawley,  from  Huntington,  Conn.,  located  on 
the  Howe  farm  in  Pitcher,  in  1805.  He  remained  but  a 
brief  period,  and  then  came  to  Taylor  and  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Ebenezer  C.  Wicks.  One  or  two 
years  after  he  settled  on  the  Orrin  Randall  farm,  where 


263  SETTLEMEXT    A^^)    Or.GAXIZATION-. 

he  remained  two  years,  when  he  was  attacked  with  the 
Ohio  fever,  and  started  for  the  then  Great  West.  Bnt 
the  snow  having  suddenly  disappeared,  he  was  unable 
to  proceed  farther  than  Bath.  The  next  fiill  he  removed 
to  Lisle,  and  the  spring-  following  returned  to  Taylor, 
and  settled  on  lot  78.  He  subsequently  purchased  one 
hundred  acres  on  lot  77,  where  he  died  January  15, 
1858.  He  was  an  industrious,  active,  and  valuable  citi- 
zen. He  reared  a  family  of  seven  children — all  living. 
Lewis  T.,  resides  in  Syracuse ;  Jiwnes  T.  on  lot  87. 
Sarah  Ann  is  the  wife  of  John  Biger  ;  Francis,  on  the 
homestead  ;  Hirara  L.,  at  Liverpool,. Onondaga  county  ; 
Cyrus  M.  is  an  active,  practising  attorney  in  Chicago ; 
John  H.,  in  Kansas. 

John  L.  Boyd  and  John  Phelps  migrated  from  Sar- 
atoga county.  The  former  located  on  lot  98,  in  1811, 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  nineteen  acres.  He 
subsequently  made  an  additional  purchase  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty-one  acres.  The  latter  settled  on  lot  86, 
and  purchased  eighty-six  acres.  He  now  has  two  hun- 
dred and  twelve.  When  Mr.  Phelps  located  on  his  land, 
the  country  around  him  was  entirely  covered  with  tim- 
ber ;  or  to  use  his  own  language,  "it  was  a  dense  will 
derness."  By  economy  and  persevering  industry,  he 
has  accumulated  a  respectable  competence. 

In  1814,  David  Wire,  originally  of  Connecticut,  lo- 
cated on  lot  100.  He  has  reared  a  family  of  eleven 
children — five  living.  His  father,  Thomas  Wire,  was  a 
native  of  England  ;  was  kidnapped  in  London  when 
but  seven  years  old,  and  sold  in  Boston,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  commencement  of  the  French  and 
English  war.     He  was  then  impressed  in  the  English 


SETTLEMENT   AND    OEGANIZATION.  263 

service  for  a  period  of  six  years.  He  subsequQjitly  set- 
tled in  Connecticut.  When  the  American  Revolution 
broke  out,  he  entered  the  army  by  enlistment,  and  served 
throughout  the  war. 

The  early  pioneers  were  not  unfrequently  subjected 
to  hardships  and  privation.  Provisions, — the  real  sub- 
stantials  of  life, — were  scarce,  and  the  prospect  of  pro- 
curing them  from  a  distance  was  often  precarious  and 
uncertain.  Orellana  Beebe  told  us  that  during  one  of 
those  periods  of  scarcity,  he  and  his  son,  Koakland,  went 
to  Genoa,  Caywga  county,  to  purchase  wheat,  which  he 
obtained,  and  had  ground  at  Squire  Bradley's  mill. 
The  next  spring  he  was  equally  as  much  in  want,  and 
being  very  anxious  to  get  in  a  small  crop  of  corn,  said 
to  his  son,  then  only  ten  years  old,  "  Koakland,  can  you 
take  the  horse  to-morrow  and  go  to  Genoa  and  get  some 
grain  or  flour  ?"  The  boy's  answer  was,  "  I  can  try." 
The  necessary  preparations  were  made,  and  at  early 
dawn  he  was  on  his  way.  He  took  with  him  three  bags, 
each  one  containing  eight  pounds  of  maple  sugar,  with 
which  to  pay  for  his  wheat,  at  the  rate  of  one  dollar,  or 
eight  pounds  to  the  bushel.  Almost  the  entire  distance 
(forty  miles)  was  traversed  by  marked  trees.  He 
reached  his  destination  just  at  evening,  and  immediately 
inquired  of  Mr.  Bradley  if  he  could  accommodate  him 
with  the  grain.  A  negative  answer  brought  tears  into 
the  lad's  eyes,  for  he  felt  most  keenly  the  disappoint- 
ment. Mr.  Bradley,  however,  quieted  his  feelings  by 
generously  offering  to  take  care  of  him  and  his  horse 
until  morning  free  of  charge,  when  he  would  open  a 
barrel  and  let  him  have  the  value  of  the  sugar  in  flour — 
one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds.    Morning  dawned,  and 


264  SETTLEMENT    AND    OEGANIZATION. 

the  boy -was  duly  prepared  to  start  on  bis  return  for 
home.  He  reached  Judge  Bingham's,  at  the  Salt  road, 
just  at  the  close  of  day,  and,  though  contrary  to  his  will, 
was  prevailed  upon  to  remain  until  morning,  the  Judge 
telling  him  that  it  would  not  be  possible  for  him  to 
continue  his  way  by  glazed  trees.  At  about  ten  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon  of  the  next  day  he  reached  home  in 
Safety,  much  gratified  with  his  trip.  That  boy  had  the 
nerve  and  the  muscle  of  a  man. 

William  Blackman  was  the  first  blacksmith  ;  Hiram 
Eockwell,  the  first  merchant  ;  Ezra  Rockwell,  the  first 
post-master.  The  ofiice  was  established  in  1834.  Mr. 
Rockwell  continued  in  the  ofiice  for  fifteen  successive 
years,  and  is  at  present  the  recipient  of  its  perquisites, 
having  recently  been  reappointed.  Barak  Niles,  the  first 
school  teacher.  The  first  saw-mill  was  erected  in  1812, 
by  Thomas  Rockwell.  A  portion  of  the  old  mill  forms 
a  part  of  the  one  now  owned  by  Hiel  Tanner.  The  first 
grist-mill,  by  Messrs.  Wells  &  Lord.  The  first  mission- 
ary was  Dr.  WilHston.  The  first  settled  minister,  Ruben 
Hurd.  The  first  birth  was  that  of  Polly  H.  Beebe,  now 
-widow  Rockwell,  of  Wisconsin. 

In  1850  the  population  of  Taylor  was  1,232 
1855  *'  "  1,201 

There  are  but  few  who  fully  appreciate  the  beauty 
and  loveliness  of  the  Tioughnioga  Valley.  The  strife 
for  rivalry  and  gain  hangs  like  a  fated  incubus  upon 
the  minds  of  the  people,  preventing  them  from  viewing 
with  admiration,  hill,  dale,  and  vallc}^,  which  appear 
spread  out  like  a  splendid  panorama.  Indeed,  we  have 
often  wondered  how  little  the  citizens  were  impressed 


VILLAGES.  205 

with  the  natural  hcanties  and  advantages  with  which 
they  are  surrounded.  Descending  from  an  elevated 
point  into  the  valley,  we  have  beheld  a  luxuriance 
of  unrivaled  richness.  Plere  was  the  green  herbage — 
yonder  the  golden  tinge.  An  occasional  old  monarch — 
a  proud  relic  of  three  centuries,  towered  aloft  in  his 
glorious  majesty,  while  to  the  westward  of  the  glassy 
waters*  of  the  Tioughnioga  river,*  our  eyes  rested  upon 
the  fertile  uplands,  dotted  with  the  neat  white  cottage 
residences  of  thriving  agriculturists.  The  quiet  rural 
village  of  Homer,f  nestled  in  the  lap  of  the  luxuriant 
valley;  the  numerous  glittei'lng  spires  rearing  their 
points  towards  the  azure  zenith,  and  the  ever-varied 
beauties  of  the  surrounding  landscape,  complete  a  view 
rivaled  only  in  the  more  rugged  and  picturesque  scenes 
of  nature. 

Homer  is  beautifully  located  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Tioughnioga  river,  and  is  regarded  as  being  one  of  the 
handsomest  villages  in  the  State, 

In  1800  there  were  six  houses  within  the  limits  of 
the  corporation. 

Whole  number  of  its  inhabitants,  June  1st,  1855 — 
1625.     Increase  since  1848—225. 

The  various  branches  of  business  indicate  a  healthful 
progression. 

The  present  aggregate  of  business  transacted  in  the 
village,  we  have  not  endeavored  to  arrive  at.  It  is 
perhaps  sufficient  to   say  that  the  merchants,  grocers 

*  The  Tioughnioga  river,  as  called  by  the  Indians  0-nan-no-gi-is- 
ka,  signified  Shagbark  Hickory. 

f  Homer,  as  called  Te-wis-ta-no-ont-sa-ne-ha,  signified  the  place 
of  the  silversmith. 


'iijQ  VILLAGES. 

and  mechanics  arc  doing  a  larger  business  than  at  any 
previons  time. 

The  first  merchant  in  Homer  was  John  Coats.  His 
store  stood  on  ground  near  Harrop's  sign-post. 

The  first  permanent  merchant  was  Jedediah  Barber. 
He  came  into  Homer  in  1811,  but  did  not  engage  in  the 
mercantile  trade  until  1818.  The  original  part  of  the 
Great  \Yestern  store,  twenty-two  by  thirty  feet,  was 
erected  at  about  that  period.  lie  entered  into  business 
with  exceedingly  limited  means,  but  by  industry,  perse- 
verance and  economy,  he  was  eminently  successful,  and 
finally  became  the  heaviest  dealer  in  tlie  Tioughnioga 
valley,  carved  his  way  to  fortune,  and  established  a 
financial  reputation  unrivaled  in  the  county.  He  has 
done  more  to  improve  and  beautify  the  village  of  Homer 
than  any  other  man.  The  monuments  of  his  memory 
are  scattered  all  around  the  village  in  the  numerous 
buildings  of  various  classes  he  has  caused  to  be  erected, 
or  contributed  to  rear,  and  they  will  long  remain  more 
honorable  and  enduring  memorials  than  any  marble 
column  which  might  be  erected  over  his  final  resting- 
place.  His  name  is  identified  with  the  history  of  the 
Tioughnioga  valley,  and  will  only  cease  to  be  remem- 
bered when  the  spirit  of  enterprise  no  longer  exists. 

William  Sherman,  the  second  pioneer  merchant,  came 
into  Homer  durino:  the  summer  of  1815.  He  located  near 
the  cooper  shop.  Soon  after,  he  erected  a  machine  shop 
for  the  manufacture  of  nails, — the  first  of  the  kind  in  the 
State  of  Xew  York, — the  machinerj'-  being  so  arranged 
as  to  feed,  cut,  head  and  stamp  without  assistance.  On 
the  head  of  each  nail  was  stamped  the  letter  S.  Four- 
penny   nails  were   tlicn   worth   twenty-five    cents    per 


VILLAGE  S.  2G7 

pound.  Iron  was  exceedingly  high.  The  manufactur- 
ing of  oil  was  another  branch  of  productive  employ- 
ment in  which  Mr.  Sherman  engaged.  In  182t  he  erected 
the  "  Eomer  Exchange"  store,  in  which  for  a  period  of 
nearly  thirty  years  he  conducted  a  heavy  mercantile 
trade.  John  Sherman,  and  also  his  son  William,  now 
deceased,  were  at  different  periods  his  active  partners 
in  business. 

The  original  part  of  the  store  occupied  by  Geo.  W. 
Phillips,  was  erected  in  1819  by  Benajah  Tubbs.  It  has 
been  successively  owned  by  Thadeus  Archer,  Horace 
White,  Marsena  Ballard,  Amos  Graves,  and  at  present 
by  Giles  Chittenden,  Esq.  The  brick  part  is  thirty-six 
by  forty-six.  Mr.  White  added  improvements  to  an 
amount  of  $1,200  ;  Mr.  Chittenden,  by  an  increase  of 
land,  other  buildings,  and  improvements  to  the  store,  to 
an  amount  exceeding  $1,300.  The  brick  part  cost 
about  $4,000. 

The  store  occupied  by  C.  0.  Newton,  was  erected  at  a 
later  period. 

The  first  furnace  was  built  in  1826  ;  it  was  of  a  very 
limited  structure,  the  blowing  done  by  a  horse  attached 
to  a  plunge  bellows.  It  stood  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  street,  and  a  little  to  the  north  of  the  foundry  of 
Messrs.  J.  W.  &  A.  Stone,  sons  of  Deacon  Nathan  Stone, 
of  pioneer  memory.  It  ceased  to  be  operated  in  1838. 
During  this  year  Jacob  Saunders  erected  a  foundry  on 
the  west  side  of  the  street ;  it  was  destroyed  by  fire 
during  the  fall  of  1844.  Damage,  $2,000.  Insurance, 
$1,000.  It  was  immediately  rebuilt,  so  that  in  six 
weeks  from  the  day  of  its  destruction,  a  blast  was 
made. 


268  VILLAGES. 

The  first  eng-iiic  was  of  six-horse  power.  The  one  at 
present  in  use  rates  somewhat  higher. 

The  foundry  was  purchased  by  the  Messrs.  Stone, 
March  1,  1853. 

The  buildings  cover  one  acre  of  ground.  The  furnace 
is  forty  by  forty  feet.  The  machine  shop  is  twenty-six 
by  thirty-six. 

Their  business  is  one  of  increasing  importance.  They 
melt  upwards  of  one  hundred  tons  of  iron  per  year. 

The  grist-mill  of  Messrs.  Cogswell  &  A¥ilcox,  was  put 
up  in  1834.  This  is  located  on  the  ground  occupied 
by  the  first  mill  erected  in  the  county  in  1798,  by  John 
Hubbard,  Asa 'White,  and  John  Keep. 

The  Homer  Cotton  Mills  of  J.  0.  Pearce  &  Co.  were 
erected  in  1834,  and  put  in  operation  in  1835.  The 
main  building  is  fifty  by  one  hundred  feet.  The  ma- 
chinery is  propelled  by  steam  and  water.  The  engine 
is  of  thirty  horse  power,  and  was  manufactured  in 
Eaton,  Madison  county,  N.  Y.,  by  A.  N.  Wood  &  Co. 
Number  of  spindles,  2,400  ;  looms,  50. 

In  1836  the  amount  manufactured  in  dollars,  $1,000. 
In  1855,  $30,000. 

The  planing  mill  and  carpenter  shop  of  Mr.  George 
W.  Almy  was  erected  in  1853.  The  building  is  thirty 
by  sixty  feet,  and  two  stories  high.  The  machinery  is 
propelled  by  a  steam  engine  of  fifteen  and  a  half  horse 
power.  During  the  past  year  (1855)  Mr.  Almy  has 
planed  two  hundred  thousand  feet  of  lumber.  The 
planing  and  matching  is  done  with  a  correctness  and 
smoothness  which  makes  it  a  most  valuable  auxiliary  in 
the  department  of  saving  labor. 

In  1855,  the  population  of  Homer  was  1,625. 


VILLAGES.  269 

Cortland. — The  valley  of  Tioughnioga  is  unrivaled  in 
Leauty — in  wild,  picturesque  scenery.  The  quiet  vales 
of  central  New  York  present  few,  if  any,  more  attractive 
scenes  than  are  to  be  found  in  our  own  broad  valley. 
These  exhibit  all  the  grand  requisites  for  the  most 
varied  and  sublime  spectacles.  The  forest-fringed  hills 
with  their  impenetrable  depths,  present  the  varied 
shades  of  green  and  yellow,  with  an  occasional  tinge  of 
orange  and  vermillion  ;  while  the  young  and  tender 
leaves  glisten  in  the  morning  frost,  or  sparkle  amid 
the  fresh  dewdrops  kissed  by  the  soft  rays  of  the 
orient  sun. 

"  Here,  in  this  lovely  valley,  the  quiet  village  of  Cort- 
land is  situated,  about  three  miles  from  its  twin  sister, 
Homer  ;  and  through  it  a  beautiful  stream  passes  with 
murmuring  music  on  its  journey  to  the  Susquehanna, 
which  adds  a  new  charm  to  the  romantic  and  seques- 
tered spot.  This  beautiful  village  exhibits  much  enter- 
prise, united  with  social  comfort  ;  for  the  undisturbed 
retirement  of  the  location  invites  hither,  during  the 
summer,  many  of  that  class  of  citizens  who  prefer  seclu- 
sion to  the  bustle  of  cit}^  life." 

Cortland  Village  was  incorporated  November  5,  1853, 
under  the  act  passed  in  1841,  providing  for  the  procure- 
ment of  village  incorporations  by  an  order  from  the  Court 
of  Sessions  and  a  vote  of  the  citizens. 

Cortland  contains  many  attractive  and  costly  private 
residences,  among  which  are  those  of  W.  R.  Randall, 
Roswell  Randall,  Joseph  Reynolds,  W.  0.  Barnard  and 
G.  N.  Woodward.  The  first  mentioned  was  built  by 
William  Randall,  now  deceased,  father  of  the  present 
occupant  of  the  estate.     The  premises  upon  which  the 


*JIO  VIU.A«-iES. 

1)1111111112:  staiulv^.  comprisos  about  six  acros  oflaiul.  Tlio 
portion  fronting"  Main  stroot  is  boaniit\illy  laid  out  in 
llowor  plots,  ilottod  hero  and  there  with  evergreens  and 
stately  shade  trees.  There  are  winding'  graveled  walks, 
on  either  side  of  wliieh  are  beds  of  tlowers,  seleeted 
and  enltivated  with  great  care.  In  tlie  roar  of  the  ele- 
gant mansion  is  an  extensive  greenhonse  filled  with  a 
superb  collection  of  cactns-roscs,  and  tlowers  of  almost 
every  variety  and  hue,  besides  orange  and  lemon  trees. 
In  spring*  time  the  various  buds  and  blossoms  that  ap- 
pear are  most  grateful  to  the  eye,  and  impart  a  most 
healthful  and  cheering  intluenee.  roeiieally.  '•  myriads" 
of  happy  songsters  liU  the  air  with  their  melodious 
strains,  making  the  delightful  g-ronnds  appear  like  a 
Paradise  of  delight.  There  are  very  few  more  attrac- 
tive residences  in  the  State. 

The  village  contains  four  churches,  one  academy,  a 
number  of  first  class  hotels,  stores,  groceries,  manufac- 
turing establishments,  and  warehouses. 

The  "  Kandall  Bank"  commenced  doing  business  De- 
cember 3,  ISoo. 

Capital,  $50,000;  deposits  March  S,  ISoG,  8S0,718; 
amount  of  business  transacted  during  the  year  1855, 
§4,S10,()S5  ^25.  William  K.  Kandall,  Tresident;  Jonathan 
Hubbard,  Cashier. 

Tlie  large  and  extensive  hardware,  agricultural  and 
seed  store  of  Mr.  S.  D.  Freer,  is  situated  on  Port  Wat- 
son street.  The  building  is  appropriately  divided  into 
necessary  apartments,  among  which  are  the  foundry, 
machine,  blacksmith,  wood,  and  tin  shops.  It  is  thirty- 
six  by  one  hundred  and  forty  feet.  The  original  portion 
was  erected  in  1S3G— rebuilt  in  1S4S. 


VILLAGES.  271 

The  grist-mill — tlic  second  one  in  the  county — was 
erected  in  1*199,  by  Jonathan  Hubbard  ;  is  at  present 
owned  by  Ebenezer  !Mudge.  Orir^inally  it  contained 
only  two  runs  of  stone  ;  but  during  the  improvements 
which  were  made  a  few  years  since,  two  more  were  ad- 
ded, making  it  one  of  the  largest  and  best  mills  in  the 
county.  The  greater  portion  of  the  wheat  that  is 
ground  at  this  mill  is  purchased  in  the  -northern  and 
southern  portions  of  the  State,  as  also  from  the  southern 
part  of  Canada.  During  the  past  year  there  were 
ground  at  this  mill  about  twenty-eight  thousand  bushels 
of  wheat. 

There  were  shipped  from  the  Cortland  Railroad  sta- 
tion, from  April  1,  18.55,  to  March  24,  18.5G,to  the  differ- 
ent stations  on  the  Syracuse,  Binghamton  and  N. 
Y.  Railroad,  five  millions  eight  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  thousand  one  hundred  pounds  of  freight. 

We  have  elsewhere  remarked  with  reference  to  the 
productive  results  of  the  dairy  business — a  prominent 
branch  of  agriculture,  which  has  already  superseded 
the  others  in  practical  importance.  The  amount  of  but- 
ter purchased  and  shipped  by  gentlemen  in  Cortland, 
reaches  an  aggregate  amount  which  is  certainly  exces- 
sively large.  The  amount  paid  out  in  1855  by  James 
Van  Yalon,  J.  D.  Schermerhorn,  James  S.  Squires,  and 
J.  A.  Graham,  exceeded  $249,000. 

Cortland  is  a  pleasant  and  prosperous  village,  with  a 
population  (as  per  census  of  1855)  of  1,576  persons. 
There  are  few  villages  in  central  New  York,  more 
favorably  located,  or  in  which  may  be  found  a  more 
active  and  energetic  class  of  enlightened  citizens.     In 


272  VILLAGES. 

1813  Port  Watson  niiuibered  twenty-five  inhabitants, 
and  Cortland,  twelve. 

Marathon  is  remarkable  for  its  health  and  beauty,  is 
pleasantly  situated  on  the  Tioughnioga  river,  and  is 
surrounded  by  a  densely  peopled,  rich,  and  highl}^  culti- 
vated country.  It  has  a  ready  and  cheap  communi- 
cation, not  only  with  middle  and  western  New  York  ; 
but  with  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  the  Canadas,  and  indeed 
with  the  ever  prosperous  and  growing  West,  by  rail- 
road, canal,  and  the  great  chain  of  northern  lakes.  The 
mass  of  its  inhabitants  are  characterized  for  morality 
and  intelligence,  sobriety,  industry,  and  enterprise. 

The  positive  proof  of  her  prosperity  may  be  seen  in 
the  result  of  the  numerous  transforming  influences 
which  for  the  last  few  years  have  attended  her  healthful 
growth  and  permanent  strength — in  the  newly  erected 
public  and  private  residences,  as  well  as  the  commodi- 
ous and  truly  valuable  mercantile  and  mechanical 
establishments.  That  Marathon  is  exceedingly  "  fa- 
vorably located,  both  in  regard  to  the  value  of  the 
country  by  which  it  is  surrounded,  an4  the  area  likely 
to  be  tributary  to  its  business  interests,"  is  no  longer  a 
question  admitting  of  a  doubt. 

Of  the  village  of  M'Grawville,  we  have  remarked  in 
another  place.  Cincinnatus,  Truxton,  East  Homer, 
Preble  Centre,  and  Scott  Corners,  are  pleasant  and 
prosperous  villages. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

GENERAL   REMARKS    ON    EARLY   HISTORY — PAST   AND 
PRESENT   COMPARED. 

Times  cliansje — one  age  succeeds  another, 

And  pining  want  and  grim  despair 
Are  left  behind,  and  fairer,  brighter 

Scenes  the  pioneers  do  view. 

The  history  of  Cortland  county  from  the  day  when 
Amos  Todd  first  planted  the  standard  of  civilization  in 
this  then  "  western  wilderness,"  is  but  a  record  of  such 
incidents  as  the  faithful  annalist  is  usually  called  to 
record  of  the  rural  or  gradually  improving  agricultural 
districts  of  a  naturally  rich  and  fertile  country.  The 
early  pioneers  were  mostly  from  the  New  England  States, 
and  were  imbued  with  the  Puritan  habits  of  their  fathers. 
In  1800,  this  inland,  obscure,  and  almost  inaccessible 
region  had  become  dotted  with  log  cabins  and  small 
clearings.  The  burning  of  huge  log-heaps  served  as  land- 
marks to  guide  the  weary  wanderer  or  returning  hunter, 
as  he  neared  the  rustic  home  of  the  pilgrim  pioneers. 
Clouds  of  smoke  ascended  from  hill  and  valley  as  the 
old  forest  monarchs  bowed  before  the  invincible  axmen. 
The  wilderness  vanished  before  the  hand  of  civilization. 
It  was  scathed  with  fire,  and  rutlilessly  torn  with  iron 
13 


274  GENERAL   REMARKS. 

harrows.  AYliile  the  lowlands  were  being  brought  into 
suitable  culture  for  corn,  wheat,  and  potatoes,  the  cru- 
saders ascended  the  hillsides  and  even  made  war  with 
the  hemlock  highlands.  This  was  the  heroic  age — an 
age  of  iron  fortitude  and  persevering  industr3^  The 
pioneers  went  forth  armed  with  the  conquering  axe,  im- 
pressed with  a  determined  will,  and  inspired  with  a 
devotional  feeling  for  home  and  country.  Years  of  toil 
and  privation  succeeded,  and  occasionally  penury  and 
want  communed  together.  Instances  of  this  character, 
however,  were  not  often  allowed  to  be  repeated,  without 
an  effort  at  prevention  ;  for  the  liberal  hand  of  the  more 
fortunate  brother  did  not  withhold  the  alleviating  chari- 
ties, especially  if  the  means  were  in  his  power.  Unlike 
their  modern  rivals  in  wealth — the  golden  barons  of  the 
present  day,  who  are  hoarding  up  means  to  procure 
Grecian,  Gothic,  and  Italian  finery — they  were  most 
happy  in  relieving  the  wants  of  their  industrious  neigh- 
bor. Unlike  the  present  day,  the  means  of  subsistence 
were  scant,  and  not  easily  obtained  from  a  distance, 
and  consequently  want  was  not  a  stranger,  even  in  the 
Tioughnioga  valley.  As  settlements  increased,  and 
improvements  spread,  hope  and  joy  began  to  realize  the 
anticipated  benefits  which  they  saw  in  their  day  dreams 
and  nightly  visions.  The  products  of  a  generous  soil 
were  garnered  in  their  various  depositories,  and  peace 
and  gladness  reigned  in  the  pioneer's  home. 

What  a  change  has  been  wrought  in  fifty  years  ? 
Then  the  majority  of  tlie  inhabitants  were  found  located 
in  our  valleys.  How  changed  the  scene  !  Now  the 
majority  are  found  upon  the  more  elevated  lands.  The 
huge  log-heaps,  sending  forth  thoir  red-hot  flames,  like 


GENERAL   KEMAEKS.  275 

fiery  serpents  coiling  around  some  proud  old  monarch, 
eating  out  its  very  vitals,  the  charred  stumps,  and  rough 
brush  fences,  are  no  more  seen  as  in  days  past.  The 
change  is  hardly  to  be  realized.  Then  a  thousand  un- 
sightly scenes  met  the  laborer's  eye — the  timber  was 
felled  in  every  conceivable  form,  or  as  best  suited  the 
purpose  for  the  more  ready  application  of  the  crusader's 
torch.  Here  and  there  were  seen  half-haggled  outlines, 
and  blackened  trunks  of  stately  trees,  while  the  sun, 
half  hid  from  sight,  only  occasionallj^  glimmered  through 
the  thick  hemlock  boughs,  as  the  rosy-cheeked  maiden 
wandered  in  pursuit  of  the  favorite  cow,  listening  to 
catch  the  well-known  sound  of  the  tinkling  bell,  so  fre- 
quently heard  by  the  brave  old  pioneer.  Now  beautiful 
and  well-cultivated  farms,  bedecked  with  the  tranquil 
abode  of  the  husbandman,  mark  the  rapidly-improving 
aspect  of  the  once  hated  and  shunned  highlands.  Val- 
uable horses  and  fine  fleshy  cattle  graze  upon  the  pro- 
ductive meadows.  A  thousand  lights  are  seen  at  night 
from  the  windows  of  tasteful  and  elegant  mansions. 
Carriage  wheels  rapidly  roll  upon  the  roads  where  once 
were  seen  only  the  Indian  trails.  The  cheering  light 
of  science  has  ascended  the  hillside,  and  education 
erected  her  standard  on  the  liigher  summit.  A  hundred 
school-houses,  within  whose  walls  literature  and  learn- 
ing love  to  linger,  as  in  some  royal  academic  edifice, 
send  forth  an  intellectual  influence  of  far  more  service 
than  the  entrenched  embattlements  of  a  thousand  war- 
riors. 

An  intelligent  and  enterprising  population  of  twenty- 
four  thousand  souls  are  now  living  within  the  bounda- 
ries of  Cortland  county.     Mills  and  machinery  are  add' 


2T6  GENERAL    IlEMAKKS. 

ing"  wealth  and  elegance,  while  the  agriculturists  are 
turning  up  the  golden  sands  of  an  almost  unrivaled  soil, 
and  the  dairymen  are  shipping  to  eastern  markets  heavy 
consignments  of  butter  and  cheese.  The  heavy  goods 
of  our  merchants  are  not  now,  as  once,  "dragged  in 
logy  wagons"  from  Albany  and  Utica, ,  but  the  huge 
monster,  clothed  in  iron  mail  and  steel  clad  armor, \belch- 
ing  fire  and  smoke,  rushes  with  wild  discordant  shriek 
over  the  iron  rails  which  are  laid  down  through  our 
valley,  forcing,  as  with  superhuman  speed,  heavj^  trains 
laden  with  every  variety  of  merchandize  for  the  retail 
trade — the  sugars  from  the  islands  of  the  ocean,  the 
teas  of  China,  the  silks  of  Calcutta,  and  the  thousands 
of  valuable  products  from  oriental  looms  and  spindles. 
The  Republican^  Gazette  and  Banner  enter  weekly  almost 
every  dwelling,  even  in  the  rural  districts. 

There  has  been  a  uniform  indifference,  and  an  almost 
entire  absence  of  correct  information,  through  the  west- 
ern divisions  of  our  State  in  regard  to  a  correct  knowl- 
edge of  this  county,  as  well  as  with  respect  to  the 
intelligence  and  rapidly  increasing  wealth  of  the  inhab- 
itants ;  and  we  are  very  sure  that  no  other  portion  has 
been  so  generally  misunderstood  and  decidedly  misrep- 
resented. Indeed,  Cortland  county  has  been  singularly 
unfortunate  in  this  particular.  And  yet,  through  the 
active  and  enterprising  exertions  of  her  citizens,  she  is 
quietly  and  rapidly  growing  to  be  second  to  none  in  the 
State  in  all  the  elements  of  wealth  and  prosperity.  Her 
agricultural  resources  and  lumber  trade  are  of  consider- 
able importance.  The  dairy  business  has  increased  to 
an  almost  unparalleled  extent.  Beside  the  home  con- 
sumption, we  have,  for  several  j^ears,  sent  to  eastern 


GEXEKAL    REMARKS.  277 

markets  large  quantities  of  butter  and  cheese — of  the 
former,  upwards  of  $400,000  worth.  There  were  shipped 
from  the  three  stations — Homer,  Cortland  and  Mara- 
thon— during-  the  past  j^ear,  1,500,000  pounds  of  butter. 
There  is  still  another  item  of  increasing  magnitude. 
We  refer  to  the  sale  of  cattle.  There  cannot  be  less 
than  $220,000  worth  of  cattle  driven  out  of  the  county 
annually.  Our  grain  fields,  though  not  in  all  re- 
spects equal  to  Tompkins,  Yates,  Ontario  and  Monroe, 
yet  are  generally  very  productive,  while  the  grass 
lands  are  matters  of  astonishment  to  every  one.  We 
frequently  cut  from  two  to  three  tons  of  ha}^  per  acre. 
We  refer  now  more  particularly  to  the  back  and  hill 
lands,  which  in  times  past  have  been  regarded,  by  cer- 
tain descriptive  geographers  of  our  State,  as  being  only 
suited  to  the  growth  of  "  wild  Yankees  and  tall  hem- 
locks." 

But  "we  were  not  aware  until  recently  that  the 
waters  of  the  Tioughnioga  had  ever  been  the  highway  of 
so  much  commerce  as  to  render  it  a  part  of  the  journalist's 
duty  to  publish  a  "  marine  repol't."  We  knew  that  great 
quantities  of  whiskey,  grain,  potatoes  and  other  pro- 
ducts of  this  wild  region,  were  *'  sent  down  the  river" 
to  Harrisburgh  and  Baltimore  ;  but  we  did  not  suppose 
the  commerce  was  of  so  much  importance  as  the  follow- 
ing would  indicate.     We  copy  literally  :* 

INLAND     NAVIGATION. 

Port  Watson. 

Tlighivater — Monday,  Qth  inst. 
Cleared. 
Bark  Exporter,  G.  Rice,  master,  for  Harrisburgh,  laden  with  cheese 
and  gypsum. 

'•'  See  "  Cortland  Democrat^'  of  August  2,  1855. 


?}7S  GENERAL   EEMAKKS. 

Bark  Crazij  Jane,  L.  Rice,  gypsum,  for  Harrisburgh. 

"  Dutch  7^/-flrfer,Shapley,  gypsum,  " 

"  Xavi(ja(or,  Parsons,  gypsum,  Columbia. 

"  Brother  Joiiathan,  Taylor,  gypsum,  Columbia. 

"  Gold  Iliir.tcr,  Sherwood,  "  " 

"  Indian  Chief,  Billings,  "  •• 

"  Besohition,  May,  gypsum,  Marietta. 

"  Perseverance,  Wakefield,  gypsum,  Marietta. 

"■  riuvnix,  "  " 

"  Enterprise,  *'  '♦ 

''  Lazy  Tom,  "  " 

*'  Sour  Kroiit.  "  " 

*•  Yankee  Rogue,  *'  *' 

We  doubt  not  tbe  memory  of  oiir  venerable  friend, 
Major  Shapley,  whose  recollection  is  not  altogether 
dimmed  b}^  age,  of  "  hair-breadth  'scapes"  from  sh'ip- 
wreck,  of  the  dangers  of  "  taking  in"  too  much  freight — 
of  passages  over  dams,  and  other  adventures  incident 
to  the  life  of  the  Susquehanna  raftsmen — will  be 
greatly  refreshed  by  the  foregoing  list.  But  the  glory 
of  the  Tioughnioga  has  departed — the  "  ship  j-ard"  of 
Port  Watson  has  gone  to  decay — the  earth  whereon 
those  jolly  barks  were  built,  is  now  made  to  yield  to  the 
labors  of  the  gardener  and  husbandman — the  contest 
between  nature  and  art  has  resulted  adversel}^  to  the 
former,  and  the  raftsman's  song  has  given  place  to  the 
shrill  scream  of  the  steam  whistle,  and  the  products  of 
our  county  are  whirled  to  other  markets,  at  a  speed 
somewhat  greater  than  two  or  three  miles  per  hour. 
Many  an  "old  craft"  has  smoked  his  last  pipe  and 
uttered  his  last  oath  ;  and  those  who  are  left  behind 
cling  closer  to  the  chimney  corner  as  the  frosts  of  age 
gather  around  them,  while  they  recount  to  incredulous 


GENERAL    KEMARKS.  'ZiV 

3^oiith  the  deeds  which  wrought  the  hut  into  tlie  uuiu- 
sion — the  forest  into  the  hamlet — and  extended  to  their 
descendants  the  benefits  of  schools,  religion,  and  the 
comforts  and  refinements  which  prosperity  and  wealth 
produce. 

The  few  remaining  relics  of  the  "  olden  time"  are 
now  trembling  on  the  verge  of  an  hundred  years,  and 
treading,  as  it  were,  the  confines  of  another  world.  As 
they  look  back  upon  the  mighty  changes  which  time 
and  industry  have  wrought,  they  seem  overwhelmed 
and  bewildered.  But,  after  resting  a  moment  to  collect 
their  scattered  thoughts,  they  enter  into  a  warm  and 
interesting  disquisition  on  the  moral  and  industrial  hab- 
its of  the  present  generation,  as  compared  with  the 
more  active  and  laborious  life  of  their  fathers.  They 
feel  conscious  that  a  very  great  change  has  taken  place 
in  the  moral  and  social  habits  of  the  people,  and  that 
although  the  age  in  which  we  live  is  marked  by  the 
hand  of  progress,  and  an  enlightened  civilization,  they 
do  not  perceive  the  same  union  of  sentiment  pervading 
the  various  associations,  or  cementing  the  more  endear- 
ing ties  of  fraternal  friendship.  When'  they  first  landed 
from  their  canoes  upon  the  banks  of  the  Tioughnioga, 
they  regarded  themselves  as  being  beyond  the  bounda- 
ries of  civilization,  and  as  having  cast  their  destiny 
in  the  far  distant  West.  Thej^  can  hardly  comprehend 
the  means  by  which  new  territories  are  settled  and  ad- 
mitted into  the  union  of  confederated  States,  with  an 
energetic  population  of  two  years'  growth,  christened 
with  the  name  of  "  State." 

The  inhabitants  of  this  county  are,  in  many  respects, 
quite  dissimilar  to  those  of  some  of  the  sister  counties 


280  GENERAL    REMARKS. 

of  tlie  State,  being'  principally  made  up  of  Connecticut 
and  Massachusetts  people,  or  their  descendants,  though 
there  is  an  occasional  sprinkling  of  the  Dutch  ;  yet  the 
peculiar  characteristics  of  the  universal  Yankee  are 
predominant.  The  agriculturists  are  proverbial  for 
their  frugality  and  propensity  to  hoard  money,  yet 
with  extremely  few  exceptions,  are  affable,  courteous, 
and  dignified  in  their  deportment. 

Our  merchants,  too,  as  a  class,  are  a  very  wortliy  por- 
tion of  community — intelligent,  high-minded  and  honor- 
able, and  such  as  would  be  creditable  to  any  country. 
Many  of  them  are  in  the  enjoyment  of  considerable 
wealth,  honorably  acquired. 

And  last  though  not  least,  the  clergy  deserve  a  pass- 
ing notice  : — distinguished  alike  for  liberality  of  senti- 
ment, generosity  of  purpose,  and  commanding  powers 
of  mind.  The  religious  sentiments,  greatly  liberalized 
by  the  descendants  of  the  pilgrims,  and  cultivated  by 
the  early  pioneers  of  Cortland,  are  properly  appreciated 
by  the  enlightened  clergymen  who  conduct  public  re- 
ligious worship  in  our  various  temples  of  Christianity. 

Of  the  legal  fraternity  we  have  remarked  in  another 
place. 

The  first  military  organization,  embracing  portions  of 
the  territory  of  this  count3^,  dates  back  to  1^96.  In 
March,  1194,  after  the  erection  of  Onondaga  county  from 
Herkimer,  various  appointments  were  made  for  the  new 
count}'  ;  and  especially  for  the  battalions,  of  Majors 
John  L.  Hardenburgh,  Moses  De  Witt  and  Asa  Dan- 
forth.  The  latter  battalion,  in  1796,  was  made  a  regi- 
ment, and  comprised  the  townships  of  Hannibal,  Lysan- 
dcr,  Cicero,  Manlius,   Pompey,  Fabius,  Solon,  Cincinna- 


GENERAL    EEMAKKS.  281 

tus,  Tull}^  Yirgil,  Camillus,  Sempronius,  Locke,  Dryden, 
aud  the  "  Onondaga  Reservation."  Asa  Danforth  was 
made  Lieutenant  Colonel  Commandant. 

The  act  of  April  8,  1808,  authorizing  the  erection  of 
Cortland  county,  provided  for  the  holding  of  three 
courts  of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace,  which  were  to  be  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  of 
April,  and  the  first  Tuesdays  of  September  and  Decem- 
ber, in  every  year  after  the  due  organization  of  tlie 
county.  These  Courts  were  to  have  the  same  jurisdic- 
tion, powers,  and  authorities  as  the  Courts  of  Common 
Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  in  the  other 
counties  of  the  State  have  in  their  respective  counties. 
Suits  previously  commenced,  however,  were  not  to  be 
affected  so  as  to  work  a  wrong  or  prejudice  to  any  of 
the  parties  ;  nor  were  any  criminal  or  other  proceed- 
ings on  the  part  of  the  State  to  be  in  the  least  affected  ; 
but  on  the  contrary,  all  such  civil  and  criminal  proceed- 
ings were  to  be  prosecuted  to  trial,  judgment,  and  exe- 
cution. The  act  also  provided  that  the  Courts  "should 
be  held  at  the  school-house  on  lot  No.  45,  in  the  town 
of  Homer."  John  Keep  received  the  appointment  of 
first  Judge,  xVpril  3d,  1810. 

Cortland  county  was  made  to  form  a  part  of  the 
Western  Senatorial  District,  and  part  of  the  Thirteenth 
Congressional  District,  and  was  entitled  to  one  member 
of  Assembly,  and  so  continued  to  be  up  to  1823,  when 
Daniel  Sherwood  and  John  Gillett  were  elected.  By  a 
change  of  Representation,  in  1846,  Cortland  was  re- 
duced to  one  member,  and  in  1847  Timothy  Green  was 
elected  to  a  seat  in  the  Assembly.  Ephraim  Fish,  the 
13* 


282  GENERAL    REMARKS. 

first  member,  was  elected  in  1810,  and  took  his  seat  at  the 
opening  of  the  33d  Session. 

The  first  court-house  was  erected  on  a  commanding- 
eminence  west  of  Cortland  Village.  Various  sites  were 
examined  by  the  locating  commissioners,  there  being 
numerous  interests  operating  upon  the  minds  of  the 
people  in  the  different  localities.  Homer,  Cortland, 
Port  Watson  and  M'Grawville,  were  equally  interested 
in  securing  the  location  of  the  public  buildings,  and  the 
good  citizens  were,  apparently,  equally  certain  of  suc- 
cess. The  commissioners,  however,  after  examining 
the  different  locations,  and  listening  to  the  fervent 
and  eloquent  appeals  of  interested  individuals,  finally 
stuck  the  stake  at  the  south-west  corner  of  where  the 
venerable  old  relic  of  a  passing  age  now  stands,  "  soli- 
tary and  alone,"  a  monument  of  other  days  and  of  the 
yet  remembered  differences  of  an  excited  people.  The 
decision,  as  was  naturally  expected,  did  not  meet  with 
the  general  approbation  of  the  community.  A  ludicrous 
representation  of  the  commanding  structure,  and  of 
some  of  the  opposing  interests,  was  prepared  by  a 
wag,  which  was  rendered,  from  existing  circumstances, 
somewhat  amusing.  The  "  was  to  be"  elegant  and 
dignified  edifice  appeared  quite  accurately  drawn  on 
old-fashioned  foolscap,  rearing  aloft  its  bold  outlines  of 
pine  and  hemlock,  and  looking  down  with  defiant  scorn 
on  the  outraged  citizens  of  Homer  and  Port  Watson. 
Two  lines  of  heavy  cordage  were  attached  to  it  ;  one 
leading  to  Homer,  the  other  to  Port  Watson ;  and  to 
each  of  these  ropes  were  clinched  the  firm  hands,  as 
with  a  tiger's  grasp,  of  several  of  the  prominent  and 


GENERAL    REMARKS.  283 

most  influential  leaders  of  the  aggrieved  parties.  There 
they  stood,  pulling  as  if  for  life,  resolved  upon  at  least 
bringing  the  stupendous  fabric  to  their  notions  of  right, 
inasmucli  as  they  had  failed  in  securing  the  good  will 
and  approbating  judgment  of  the  self-willed  commis- 
sioners. If  they  could  not  bring  them  to  correct  judg- 
ment, they  could,  at  least,  pull  the  magnificent  structure 
down.  But  look  again.  On  the  other  side  of  the  legal 
inle,  stands  William  Mallory,  grasping  a  still  heavier 
piece  of  cordage,  determined  on  contesting  the  skill 
and  strength  of  the  opposing  forces.  There  he  stands, 
a  proud  representative  of  the  immortal  Wallace,  of 
enormous  form  and  determined  will.  His  heels  are  im- 
bedded in  the  earth,  as  he  braces  himself  to  the  work 
of  preservation. 

But  the  scene  was  suddenly  changed  on  turning  the 
paper  over,  though  the  ludicrous  picture  was  measura- 
bly the  same.  There  it  stood,  an  unyielding  mass  of 
timber, — of  tenons  and  mortises.  There  stood  the  vener- 
able Mallory,  holding  on  to  his  undissevered  rope, 
while  a  smile,  peculiar  to  him  alone,  played  over  his 
flushed  countenance.  But  where  were  his  hitherto  un- 
yielding opponents  ?  Their  cords  had  parted,  and  forced 
them  into  the  unpleasant  attitude  of  turning  double 
semi-circles  down  the  declivated  pathway. 

The  venerable  pile  that  in  former  days 

"O'eiiooked  the  town  and  drew  the  sight," 

long  since  failed  to  attract  attention  or  gratify  the 
pride  of  an  enlightened  and  prosperous  people.  And  iu 
order  to  properly  secure  the  ends  of  justice,  the  old 
structure  was   condemned   and   pronounced  ''  unsafe," 


284  GENERAL    REMARKS. 

and  measures  were  taken,  which  in  due  time  resulted  in 
the  erection  of  the  present  court-house,  which  was 
completed  in  1836. 

The  clerk's  office  was  erected  in  1819.  The  first 
county  clerk  was  John  Ballard,  who  was  appointed 
April  8,  1808. 

The  county  house,  with  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight 
acres  of  land,  was  purchased  in  1836,  for  $5,000.  The 
house  was  originally  erected  by  John  Keep,  at  a  very 
early  day.  It  has  been  enlarged  and  variously  im- 
proved at  different  periods. 

At  the  time  of  our  visit  to  the  county -house,  there 
were  in  all  fifty-one  paupers.  The  average  number  for 
several  years  past,  as  shown  by  the  keeper's  book,  is  a 
fraction  over  fifty-eight. 

The  ages  of  those  bending  under  the  weight  of  years, 
were  variously  classed  as  follows  ;  two,  fifty-five — one, 
sixty-six — two,  sixty-nine  —  two,  seventy -nine  —  three, 
eighty-five — four,  eighty-nine — and  one,  ninety-two  years. 

Randall  Bank,  organized  December  3,  1853.  Capital 
$50,000.  William  R.  Randall,  Banker.  Jonathan  Hub- 
bard, Cashier. 

The  Cortland  Count}^  Medical  Society  was  organized 
in  1808.     The  officers  and  members  were  as  follows  : 

Lewis  S.  Owen,  Homer,  President. 

John  Miller,  Truxton,  V.  President. 

Jesse  Searl,  Homer,  Secretary. 

Robert  D.  Taggart,  Preble,  Treasurer. 

Luther  Rice,  Homer. 

Allen  Barney,  Homer. 

Ezra  Pannell,  Truxton. 

Elijah  G.  Wheeler. 


GENERAL   EEMAKKS.  285 

Dr.  John  Miller,  of  Truxton,  is  the  only  living  member 
of  its  original  organization.  The  Association,  with  oc- 
casional amendments  of  by-laws,  has  been  continued 
to  the  present  day. 

The  Cortland  County  Agricultural  Society  was  organ- 
ized October  1,  1838.  William  Berry,  President  ;  Jesse 
Ives  and  C.  Comstock,  Vice  Presidents  ;  C.  P.  Jacobs, 
Eecording  Secretary  ;  H.  S.  Randall,  Corresponding 
Secretary  ;  Rufus  Boies,  Treasurer  ;  Paris  Barber,  C. 
McKnight,  Israel  Boies,  Morris  Miller,  and  C.  H.  Harris, 
Executive  Committee. 

The  Union  Agricultural  Society  of  Truxton,  Willet, 
Marathon,  and  Lapeer,  was  organized  in  the  winter  of 
1856. 

The  post-offices  organized  at  various  periods,  are  as 
follows  : 

Blodget  Mills,  Willet, 

Cincinnatus,  Cortland  Village, 

Cuyler,  East  Freetown, 

East  Homer,  East  Scott, 

East  Virgil,  Freetown  Corners, 

Galatia  Valley,  Harford, 

Homer,  Kinney's  Settlement, 

Lapeer,  Little  York, 

M'Grawville,  Marathon, 

Messengerville,  Preble, 

Scott,  Solon, 

South  Cortland,  Taylor, 

Texas  Valley,  Truxton, 

Union  Valley,  Virgil. 


286 


GENERAL   REMAEKS. 


County  Judges. 

John   K'cep,  appointed 

April 

3, 

1810. 

Fed. 

William  Mallory,       " 

Jan. 

31, 

1823. 

Buch. 

Joseph  Reynolds,      " 

March 

9, 

1833. 

Jack. 

Henry  Stephens,        " 

May 

n, 

1838. 

Dem. 

Daniel  Ilawkes,  elected 

June, 

184Y. 

Whig. 

Lewis  Kingsley,        " 

Nov. 

1, 

1851. 

Whig. 

R.  Holland  Duell,      " 

Nov. 

6, 

1855. 

Rep. 

County  Clerks 

John  Ballard,  appointed  April 

8, 

1808. 

Dem. 

Reuben  Washburn,  '*" 

ti 

3, 

1810. 

Fed. 

John  Ballard, 

March 

4, 

1811. 

Dem. 

Mead  Merrill,             " 

April 

2, 

1813. 

Fed. 

William  Mallery,       " 

March 

2, 

1815. 

Dem. 

Joshua  Ballard,          " 

July 

1, 

1819. 

Clin. 

Matthias  Cook, 

Feb. 

14, 

1821. 

Clin. 

Sam'l  Hotchkiss,  jr.,  elc( 

3ted 

1822. 

B. 

Orin  Stimson,               '' 

1834. 

Whig 

Gideon  C.  Babcock,  '' 

1840. 

Whig. 

Sam'l  Hotchkiss,  jr.,  " 

1843. 

Dem. 

Rufus  A.  Reed, 

1849. 

Whig. 

Rufiis  A.  Reed, 

1852. 

Whig. 

Rufus  A.  Reed, 

1855. 

Rep. 

Allis  W.  Ogden, 

1858. 

Rep. 

District  Attorney, 

s. 

Augustus  A.  Donnelly, 

1819. 

Clin. 

Edward  C.  Reed, 

1827. 

Dem. 

William  H.  Shankland, 

1836. 

Jack. 

Horatio  Ballard, 

1844. 

Dem. 

Augustus  S.  Ballard, 

1847. 

Whig. 

GENERAL    KEMAEKS. 


287 


R.  Holland  Ducll, 

1850. 

Whig. 

Edward  C.  Reed,  appointed 

1856. 

Dem. 

Abram  P.  Smith,  elected 

1856. 

Rep. 

County  Treasurers. 

Justin  M.  Pierce, 

Nov. 

1848. 

Whig. 

Edwin  F.  Gould, 

ti 

1851. 

Whig. 

Isaac  M.  Seaman, 

n 

1854. 

Whig. 

Horace  L.  Green, 

a 

1857. 

Rep. 

School  Commissioners. 

Noah  C.  Dady,  appo 

inted  June 

10, 

1856. 

Amer. 

Dan  C.  Squires, 

" 

June 

10, 

1856. 

Dem. 

Noah    C.   Dady,    elected 

185T. 

Amer. 

Daniel  E.  Whitmon 

3, 

1857. 

Rep. 

Sheriffs. 

Asahel  Minor, 

x\pril 

8, 

1808. 

Dem. 

Wm.  Mallery,  appointed 

June 

9, 

,  1808. 

Dem. 

Joshua  Ballard, 

(( 

April 

3, 

,  1810. 

Dem. 

Billy  Trowbridge, 

11 

Mar. 

25, 

1814. 

Dem. 

William  Stewart, 

u 

<( 

2 

1815. 

Dem. 

Noah  R.  Smith, 

It 

Feb. 

13,' 

1819. 

Clin. 

Moses  Hopkins, 

a 

i( 

12, 

1821. 

Buck. 

Moses  Hopkins,  elected 

1822. 

Buck. 

David  Coye, 

a 

1825. 

Buck. 

Adin  Webb, 

11 

1828. 

Antima. 

William  Andrews, 

u 

1831. 

Union. 

Gilmore  Kinney, 

ii 

1834. 

Whig. 

E.  W.  Edgcomb, 

i( 

1837. 

Whig. 

Alanson  Carley, 

(C 

1840. 

Whig. 

Christian  Etz, 

li 

1843. 

Dem. 

George  Ross, 

n 

1846. 

Dem. 

288 


GENERAL    EEMARKS. 


J.  C.  Pomero}', 

elected 

1849. 

Whicr 

Frederick  Ives, 

n 

1852. 

AVhig 

John  S.  Samson, 

(I 

1855. 

Rep. 

Silas  Baldwin, 

it 

1858. 

Rep. 

Surrogates.* 

John  McWhorter, 

app'd 

April 

8 

1808. 

Dem. 

Mead  Merrill, 

<< 

3, 

1810. 

Fed. 

Luther  F.  Stevens 

> 

March 

4, 

1811. 

Dem. 

Adin  Webb, 

<< 

9, 

1816. 

Fed. 

Jabez  B.  Phelps, 

li 

2t 

1823. 

B. 

Charles  W.  Lynde 

) 

April 

15, 

1828. 

Dem. 

Townsend  Ross, 

March 

9, 

1832. 

Jack. 

Anthony  Freer, 

May 

4, 

1836. 

J. 

Adin  Webb, 

li 

4, 

1840. 

Whig. 

Anthony  Freer, 

(( 

4, 

1844. 

Dem. 

Members  of 

Assembly. 

Ephraim  Fish, 

glected 

1810. 

Dem. 

Billy  Trowbridge, 

(( 

1811. 

Dem. 

<<            << 

ii 

1812. 

Dem. 

<<            <( 

ct 

1813. 

Dem. 

William  Mallery, 

11 

1814. 

Dem. 

S.  G.  Hatheway, 

<< 

1815. 

Dem. 

Joseph  Reynolds, 

(( 

18J6. 

Dem. 

John  Miller, 

li 

1817. 

Dem. 

S.  G.  Hatheway, 

'< 

1818. 

Dem. 

Joseph  Reynolds, 

<< 

1819. 

Dem. 

John  Miller, 

(( 

1820. 

C. 

John  Osborn, 

(( 

1821. 

B. 

*  Since  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  1846,  this 
been  merged  in  that  of  the  County  Judge. 


ice  has 


GENEEAL   KEMAEKS.  289 


Daniel  Sherwood,  el 

ected 

1822. 

B. 

<(             (( 

u 

1823. 

B. 

John  Gillett, 

«' 

1823. 

B. 

Matthias  Cook, 

it 

1824. 

C. 

William  Barto,  jr., 

it 

1824. 

C. 

Josiah  Hart, 

'< 

1825. 

B. 

J.  Chatterton, 

(( 

1825. 

C. 

John  Lynde, 

<( 

1826. 

B. 

Augustus  A.Donnelly/' 

1826. 

C. 

Nathan  Dayton, 

<( 

1827. 

B. 

Cephas  Conistock, 

t« 

1827. 

C. 

Nathan  Dayton, 

(< 

1828. 

D. 

John  L.  Boyd, 

it 

1828. 

D. 

Gideon  Curtis, 

u 

1829. 

Antima 

Alanson  Carley, 

(( 

A. 

Henry  Stephens, 

il 

1830. 

W. 

Chauncey  Keep, 

it 

W. 

Fredus  Howard, 

i  I 

1831. 

Jack. 

Charles  Richardson, 

it 

J. 

Andrew  Dickson, 

it 

1832. 

J. 

J.  L.  Woods, 

it 

J. 

David  Mathews, 

a 

1833. 

W. 

Enos  S.  Halbert, 

(( 

W. 

Oliver  Kingman, 

<( 

1834. 

J. 

S.  Bogardus, 

(( 

J. 

Barak  Niles, 

<( 

1835. 

w. 

Aaron  Brown, 

(( 

w. 

Chauncey  Keep, 

(( 

1836. 

w. 

Cephas  Comstock, 

(( 

w. 

Josiah  Hine, 

it 

1837. 

w. 

John  Thomas, 

ii. 

AV. 

John  Osgood, 

11 

1838. 

W. 

290  GENERAL    llEIsIxVEIvS. 


David  Mathews,  e 

lected 

1838. 

W 

G.  S.  Green, 

11 

1839. 

w. 

George  Issacs, 

tc 

w. 

Jabez  B.  Phelps, 

il 

1840. 

w. 

William  Barnes, 

11 

w. 

Nathan  Heaton, 

tt 

1841. 

w. 

Lovel  G.  Mickels, 

a 

w. 

Oren  Stimson, 

(( 

1842. 

w. 

Jesse  Ives, 

n 

w. 

H.  M'Graw, 

u 

1843. 

w. 

George  N.  Niles, 

a 

r>. 

J.  Kingman,  jr., 

u 

1844. 

D. 

Piatt  F.  Grow, 

n 

I). 

John  Pierce  2nd, 

<( 

1845. 

D. 

Geo.  J.  J.  Barber, 

a 

w. 

Amos  Graves, 

(( 

1846. 

D. 

John  Miller, 

a 

w. 

Timothy  Green, 

i( 

1847. 

w. 

James  Gomstock, 

a 

1848. 

w. 

Ira  Skeel, 

" 

1849. 

w. 

Lewis  Kingsley, 

(< 

1850. 

w. 

Alvan  Kellog, 

(( 

1851. 

w. 

Geo.  W.  Bradford, 

i( 

1852. 

w, 

Ashbel  Patterson, 

a 

1853. 

D. 

John  H.  Knapp, 

11 

1854. 

w. 

Geo.  J.  Kingman, 

c; 

1855. 

p. 

Joseph  At  water, 

(< 

1856. 

p. 

Nathan  Bouton, 

('. 

1857. 

p. 

Arthur  Holmes, 

<« 

1858. 

p. 

The  interest  manifested  by  numerous  prominent  po- 
litical actors,  w^ith  reference  to  our  full  and  complete 


GEXEEAL   KEMARKS. 


291 


table  of  coniity  officers,  from  its  organization  in  1808  to 
the  present  time,  with  the  names  of  the  various  parties 
to  which  they  were  attached,  has  induced  us  to  add  a 
comprehensive  list  of  State,  Congressional,  and  Sena- 
torial members  which  have  been  chosen  from  this 
county. 

Secretary  of  Statr. 

Henry  S.  Randall,  Cortland,  elected  1851.     Dem. 
Representatives  in  Congress. 

Elected.  Session. 

John  Miller,  Truxton, 

Edward  C.  Reed,  Homer, 

Sam'l  G.  Hatheway,  Solon, 

Joseph  Reynolds,  Virgil, 

Lewis  Riggs,  Homer, 

Harmon  S.  Conger,  Cortland,  1846 

Harmon  S.  Conger,         *' 

R.  Holland  Duell, 


William  Mallery,  Cortland, 
Samuel  G.  Hatheway,  Solon, 
Chas.  W.  Lynde,  Homer, 
Wm.  Bartlit,  Cortland, 
Geo.  W.  Bradford,  Homer, 
Geo.  W.  Bradford,       " 


1824 

19. 

C. 

1830 

22. 

D. 

1832 

23. 

J. 

1834 

24. 

J. 

1840 

27. 

I). 

1846 

30. 

W. 

1848 

31. 

W. 

1858 

36. 

R. 

3RK  Senate. 

Elected. 

Session. 

1818 

40. 

D. 

1822 

46. 

B. 

1880 

54. 

w. 

1841 

65. 

D. 

1853 

17. 

w. 

1855 

78. 

W. 

In  1855  there  were  in  the  county  3,388  farmers  and 
agriculturists,  95  merchants,  56  clergymen,  20  lawyers, 
49  doctors,  32  inns,  184  school-houses,  6,426  names  of 
pupils   on   teachers'  lists — average   attendance,  4,157. 


293  GENEEAL   REMARKS. 

No.  of  cburches,  51 — valued  at  $99,900.  Real  estate  on 
which  they  are  located,  valued  $18,100.  Salaries  of 
clergymen,  $lt,164.  Argricultural  products,  1,212,074 
bushels.  Value  of  orchard  products,  $24,613.  Value 
of  market  gardens,  $508.  Gallons  wine,  81.  Dairy 
products,  3,081,936  lbs.  Tons  of  hay,  56,769.  Clover 
seed,  866  bushels.  Other  grass  seeds,  1,585  bushels. 
Hops,  10,327  lbs.  Flax  seed,  1,978  bushels.  Wool, 
120,793  lbs.  Maple  sugar,  521,052  lbs.  Maple  molasses, 
2,769  gallons.  Beeswax  and  honey,  24,360  lbs.  Cloth, 
21,800  yds.  Common  school  libraries,  184.  Number  of 
volumes  in  Dist.  School  libraries,  19,669.  Aggregate 
population,  24,957.  There  were  245  persons  who  could 
neither  read  nor  write  ;  there  were  95  who  could  read, 
but  not  write.  Number  of  colored  persons,  30.  Owners 
of  land,  4,212.  The  oldest  person  residing  in  the  county 
(1855)  was  Margaret  Berry,  of  Taylor,  age  106  years. 

In  1840  there  were  seventy-nine  persons  entitled  to 
pensions  for  Revolutionary  or  military  services.  Of 
these,  twelve  resided  in  Truxton,  fifteen  in  Cortland, 
eleven  in  Homer,  eight  in  Preble,  two  in  Scott,  fifteen 
in  Virgil,  two  in  Solon,  six  in  Cincinnatus,  two  in  Mara- 
thon, three  in  Freetown,  and  four  in  Willet.  In  1855 
there  were  none  reported. 

Assessed  Valuation  of  Real  Estate  for  1855, 

$5,352,153  00 
Assessed  valuation  of  personal  prop- 
erty,                                                           530,691  00 
Aggregate  taxation,  1855,                            29,909  49 
Military  tax,                 do.                                     543  00 


GENERAL   REMARKS.  293 

Incorporated  Companies  Liable  to  Taxation. 

Syracuse,  Bingbamton  and  New  York  Railroad,  and 
Randall  Bank. 

Assessed  valuation  of  Sj'racuse,  Bingbamton  and  New- 
York  Railroad,  in  tbe  towns  tbrough  whicb  it  passes,  is 
as  follows  : 


Cortlandville, 

$30,000 

Homer, 

30,000 

Lapeer, 

1,000 

Maratbon, 

18,000 

Preble, 

30,000 

Virgil, 

5,000 

Assessed  valuation  of  Randall  Bank, 

50,000 

It  is  a  matter  of  no  little  astonisbment  to  tbe  enter- 
prising and  progressive  tourist,  as  be  visits  our  county, 
— witb  194,136  acres  of  improved  land,  ber  beautiful 
farms,  green  pastures,  watered  by  lovely  streams,  and 
ber  quiet  picturesque  villages  located  in  ber  rich  val- 
leys, like  gems  in  a  golden  casket, — tbat  so  little  atten- 
tion sbould  be  given  to  tbe  growing  of  fruit.  In  1855, 
tbe  Marshals  reported  tbe  number  of  busbels  of  apples 
grown  in  Tompkins  county  at  417,757  ;  in  Cayuga, 
522,751  ;  in  Cbenango,  553,554  ;  in  Onondaga,  624,545  ; 
and  in  Cortland,  351,975.  The  reader  will  readily  per- 
ceive tbat  Cortland  county  falls  ftir  behind  either  of  the 
sister  counties  above  quoted.  Our  soil  and  climate  is 
not  as  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  the  peach  and 
quince  ;  but  we  believe  tbat  all  tbe  prominent  fruits 
may  be  equally  well  grown  here. 

The  wealth  of  our   county  does   not  lie  in  jewelled 


294  GEXEKAL   REMARKS. 

skulls  and  golden  shrines,  but  in  a  commerce  which 
enriches  our  agricultural  producers. 

The  neglect  in  the  culture  of  the  apple  is  attributable 
to  several  causes,  but  mainly  to  the  want  of  good, 
healthy  nurseries.  Until  within  a  few  years,  no  perma- 
nent nursery  had  been  provided  from  which  to  secure 
the  various  trees  for  transplanting  into  orchards.  A 
second,  and  most  excellent  reason  is,  that  the  people 
have  been  sadly  imposed  upon  by  men  of  little  or  no 
experience  in  the  science  of  grafting.  The  permanent 
nursery  of  Messrs.  D.  C.  Hobart  and  E.  H.  Knapp,  in 
the  town  of  Homer,  comprising  about  thirty  thousand 
grafted  trees,  of  the  most  choice  varieties,  must  event- 
ually add  greatly  to  the  wealth  of  the  county,  as  well 
as  to  the  convenience  and  comfort  of  those  who  pur- 
chase and  propagate  the  more  desirable  qualities  of 
fruit. 

The  first  and  only  death-penalty  inflicted  in  Cortland 
county,  occurred  September  2d,  1853,  upon  the  person  of 
Patrick  O'Donohue,  for  the  murder  of  Mrs.  Jane  Ann 
Kinney,  of  Truxton,  September  3d,  1852.  The  particu- 
lars attending  tlie  bloody  tragedy  are  briefly  as  follows: 
His  daughter  Elizabeth,  a  girl  of  ten  years,  had  been 
forbidden  to  visit  the  house  of  Mrs.  Kinney.  Bat  con- 
trary to  the  expressed  wish  of  the  father,  the  little  girl 
had  disobeyed  ;  and  to  escape  the  vengeance  of  his 
fiend-like  temper,  her  two  elder  sisters  secreted  her  in 
a  ledge  of  ragged  rocks,  and  then  informed  their  father 
that  she  had  been  stolen  away.  O'Donohue  hastened 
from  his  work  in  the  woods,  accompanied  by  his  wife 
and  two  or  three  other  children,  all  in  a  high  state  of 
excitement.     He  was  falsely  made  to  believe  that  tlie 


GEJs^ERAIi   EEMARKS.  295 

abductor  was  no  other  than  the  husband  of  Mrs.  Kinney, 
whom  he  presumed  to  be  his  enemy. 

Little  did  the  daughters  think  of  the  sad  and  mourn- 
ful tragedy  that  was  soon  to  follow  their  improper  de- 
ception. Little  did  they  presume  that  their  indiscretion 
was  so  soon  to  lead  the  father  to  imbue  his  hands  in 
the  heart's  blood  of  an  unwarned  and  unprotected  mother 
and  child  ;  that  murder — black-hearted  and  fiond-like 
murder — was  to  be  the  result  of  their  inconsiderate 
conduct,  and  in  a  few  short  hours  to  send  the  life  cur- 
rent curdling  to  the  heart  of  a  whole  community.  What 
a  reflection  to  be  forced  upon  the  mind  of  the  erring- 
girls — sad,  mournful,  and  truly  tragical  ! — a  lesson  to 
the  young  written  in  the  warm  blood  of  the  innocent. 

A  search  for  the  little  girl  was  instituted,  between  the 
father  and  son,  the  former  carrying  a  loaded  gun.  The 
search  was  not  a  prolonged  one,  as  it  was  given  up 
about  the  middle  of  the  forenoon.  At  about  this  time 
Mrs.  Kinney,  and  her  daughter,  Amanda  Jane,  were  on 
their  way  to  the  residence  of  a  neighboring  family,  and 
of  necessity  had  to  pass  the  house  of  O'Donohue.  Just 
as  they  drew  near  the  gate  leading  to  the  barn,  they 
were  met  by  the  murderer,  who  angrily  asked  Mrs. 
Kinney  if  she  had  seen  Elizabeth.  Receiving  a  nega- 
tive answer,  he  flew  into  a  terrible  passion,  leveled  his 
gun  and  fired  at  Mrs.  Kinney;  the  contents  of  the  deadly 
weapon,  however,  merely  glazed  her  side,  causing  her 
to  reel  or  stagger.  His  uncontrolled  temper  now  raged 
with  greater  fury  in  his  unrelenting  and  fiendish  breast. 
Hastily  reversing  the  position  of  his  gun,  he  struck  her 
several  blov/s  with  the  butt  end,  the  second  of  which 
dislocated  her  neck,  causing  immediate  death.    Not  yet 


296  GENERAL    REMARKS. 

satisfied,  but  like  a  demon  hot  from  the  infernal  pit,  he 
flew  at  the  daughter,  who  in  the  mean  time  had  fallen 
from  fright,  and  plunged  a  bayonet  into  her  body,  from 
which  spirted  the  vital  current  of  life.  And  although 
the  fatal  instrument  was  seized  by  the  wounded  and 
dying  girl,  it  was  quickly  wrested  from  her  grasp,  and 
with  a  desperation  scarcely  equaled  in  the  bloody 
records  of  crime,  was  again  and  again  plunged  into  her 
body.  And  while  the  younger  victim  of  O'Donohue's 
cruelty  was  yet  weltering  in  her  warm  heart's  blood, 
Charles  McKnight,  who  had  left  his  house  at  or  about 
10  o'clock  A.  M.,  for  the  purpose  of  superintending  some 
work,  was  attracted  by  certain  suspicious  actions  of 
the  murderer's  son  to  the  place  where  the  horrid  deed 
was  committed.  A  most  revolting  and  heart-sickening 
scene  at  once  met  his  sight.  There  lay  the  wife,  the 
mother, — bleeding,  ghastly,  dead  !  A  few  feet  distant 
lay  the  mangled  form  of  the  daughter,  struggling  in  the 
terrible  agonies  of  expiring  nature.  He  heard  her  death 
groans,  and  saw  her  raise  her  hand,  wet  with  her  own 
blood,  to  wipe  the  death  damps  from  her  marble  brow. 

When  Mr.  McKnight  first  approached  the  spot  where 
the  fatal  tragedy  was  enacted,  his  life  was  threatened 
by  O'Donohue  ;  yet  he  managed  to  get  a  fair  view  of 
the  murdered  victims.  The  heartless  wretch  still  thirsted 
for  more  blood,  and  called  to  his  wife  to  bring  him  some 
caps  that  he  might  assassinate  another  of  his  presup- 
posed enemies,  and  add  still  another  blot  to  his  soul 
already  crimsoned  with  the  darkest  hues  of  crime. 

Before  leaving  him,  Mr.  McKnight  advised  him  to  go 
to  the  village  and  give  himself  up  to  the  proper  author- 
ities, presuming  him  to  be  crazy  ;   and  as  men  laboring 


GENERAL   REMARKS.  297 

under  the  horrible  malady  of  a  diseased  mind  were 
not  always  responsible  for  their  acts,  perhaps  he  might 
not  be  hung.  The  advice,  it  would  seem,  was  finally 
accepted,  for  O'Donohue,  with  his  wife  and  son,  did 
pass  over  the  hills  to  the  village,  where  he  was  finally 
arrested.  But  before  leaving,  under  a  fresh  impulse  of 
Satan,  and  as  if  to  make  his  work  of  assassination  more 
doubly  certain,  he  returned  to  the  bleeding,  ghastly, 
and  death -struggling  victim,  and  again  plunged  the 
crimsoned  steel  into  her  breast. 

Grim  scowls  pass'd  o'er  his  dusky  face 
Like  shadows  in  the  midaight  sky  ; 
Each  fiend-like  passion  mark'd  its  trace 
By  muttered  oath  or  deep-drawn  sigh  ; 
With  rolling  eye, 
And  stifled  breath, 
He  thought  of  blood,  revenge,  and  death. 

He  was  indicted  at  the  October  term  of  the  County 
Court,  1852,  and  tried  at  the  following  July  Court  of 
03^er  and  Terminer, — Hon.  Schuyler  Crippin,  one  of  the 
justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  presiding,  with  asso- 
ciates John  S.  Dyer  and  Noah  H.  Osborne.  R.  H.  Duell, 
District  Attorney,  and  Gen.  Nye,  appeared  on  behalf  of 
the  people.    Horatio  Ballard  and  Daniel  Gott,  counsel. 

The  charge  of  the  Judge  was  able,  forcible  and  point- 
ed. The  Jury,  after  an  absence  of  forty  minutes,  re- 
turned into  Court  with  a  verdict  of  "  Guilty  of  Murder." 

The  records  of  the  Court  contain  entry  of  his  sen- 
tence, [Aug.  3d,  1853.] 

The  sentence  was  duly  executed,  and  the  spirit  of 
O'Donohue  was  ushered  uncalled  for  into  the  presence 
of  his  Maker,  wreaking  with  the  blood  of  the  innocent. 
14 


298  GENERAL  REMARKS. 

After  the  last  and  final  struggle  between  the  Ameri- 
can Republic  and  the  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  the 
pioneers  of  the  Tioughnioga  valley,  and  indeed  of  the 
yet  infant  county  of  Cortland,  began  to  look  forward  to 
the  successful  achievement  of  such  measures  as  the 
wisdom  of  our  State  legislature  might  devise  for  the 
better  development  of  science  and  the  progress  of 
art. 

It  was  most  evident  that  the  Tioughnioga  river,  as  a 
commercial  highway,  could  never  be  available  to  any 
great  extent,  and  that  other  channels  of  communication 
must  be  provided  in  order  to  encourage  enterprise  and 
reward  adventure.  State  roads  bad  been  laid  out  and 
were  measurably  improved  ;  and  the  county  had  been 
cut  up  into  gores  or  townships,  while  each  of  these  was 
made  to  resemble  an  imperfect  checker  board,  being 
variously  marked  out  by  "  bridle  paths,"  or  to  say  the 
least,  very  undesirable  roads.  Yet  poor  as  they  were, 
the  brave  pioneers  regarded  them  as  acquisitions  of 
great  importance.  Post  horses  and  post  coaches  once, 
and  finally  twice  a  week,  gladdened  the  sight  of  the" 
toil-worn  laborer.  The  Erie  Canal,  commenced  in  181T 
and  completed  in  1825,  established  a  more  direct  line 
of  communication  with  the  eastern  cities.  Previous  to 
this,  the  heavy  goods  of  our  merchants  were  brought 
up  to  Albany  by  way  of  the  North  river  ;  were  then 
conveyed  by  land  to  Schenectady  ;  then  through  the 
canal  at  Little  Falls  ;  then  through  Wood  creek,  Oneida 
lake,  Onondaga  river'  and  the  Tioughnioga,  or  were 
transported  by  land-carriage  from  Albany  or  Utica. 

Cattle  were  usually  driven  to  the  Philadelphia  market; 
potash  was  sent  to  New  York  or  Montreal  ;  wheat  was 


GENERAL   REMARKS.  299 

shipped  on  rafts  and  arks  down  the  Tioughnioga  and 
Susquehanna  to  Baltimore. 

In  1826  there  was  a  charter  granted  by  the  New 
York  legislature  for  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from 
Syracuse  to  Binghamton.  This  was  the  first  charter 
ever  granted  by  the  legislature  of  this  State.  Inter- 
nally shut  out  from  the  natural  adv^antages  or  the  more 
remote  benefits  of  artificial  communication  with  which 
other  sections  of  country  were  blessed,  the  citizens 
located  on  the  rich  flats  of  Cortland,  Homer  and  Preble, 
were  made  thrice  joyful  in  their  exultations  of  success. 
The  toils,  the  sacrifices,  and  the  cost  of  building  a  rail- 
road had  not,  however,  been  fully  considered  or  counted, 
and  hence  the  active  projectors  were  doomed,  like  the 
inexperienced  alchemist,  to  see  their  golden  dreams 
fade  away. 

As  the  country  increased  in  population  and  produc- 
tive resources,  renewed  efforts  were  made  to  revive  or 
obtain  a  new  charter.  But  up  to  1848-9  nothing  of  im- 
portance took  place. 

In  the  mean  time  the  growing  West  had  become  popu- 
lous, while  her  commercial  products  were  of  an  almost 
unlimited  magnitude.  Trade  east  and  west  had  mate- 
rially increased,  as  the  various  avenues  of  communica- 
tion fully  evinced.  The  store-houses  contiguous  to  the 
great  northern  lakes  were  filled  to  their  utmost  capacity 
with  the  valuable  products  of  the  fertile  fields  of  a  rich 
and  vigorous  soil.  The  Erie  canal,  then  the  most  pow- 
erful artery  of  trade  in  the  Union,  and  though  practi- 
cally of  very  great  importance,  was  found  to  be  insuf- 
ficient for  the  demands.  The  New  York  and  Erie  Rail- 
road was  projected  and  was  rapidly  hurrying  to  com- 


300  GENERAL  EEMAEKS. 

pletion,  while  connecting  links  were  put  under  contract, 
or  completed,  with,  in  many  instances,  '*'  only  a  remote 
possibility  of  appropriating"  a  very  small  portion  of 
that  constantly  increasing  trade.  The  coal  fields  of  the 
Lackawanna  valley  were  laid  open,  and  the  black  dia- 
monds, which  were  really  of  more  importance  than  the 
bloated  mines  of  the  Pacific  coast,  were  exhumed,  and 
a  railroad  was  projected  and  completed,  which  united 
them  with  the  Erie  road  at  Great  Bend,  fifteen  miles 
from  Binghamton.  The  city  of  Oswego  sat  like  a  golden 
gem  upon  the  shore  of  the  lake,  bearing  the  proud  ap- 
pellation of  "  Ontario's  maritime  port."  Syracuse,  the 
central  city,  was  admirably  spread  out  like  a  great 
heart  in  the  centre  of  the  State,  with  her  salt  springs  to 
"  preserve  and  enrich  the  empire."  And  the  village  of 
Binghamton,  with  her  ten  thousand  enterprising  inhab- 
itants, sat  queenlike  upon  the  classic  shores  of  the 
beautiful  Susquehanna  and  Chenango,  "  receiving  trib- 
ute and  homage  from  both."  These  important  locations 
were  regarded  with  very  great  favor,  and  especially, 
when  glancing  at  the  map  of  the  United  States,  it  ap- 
peared positively  evident  that  they  were  located  within 
the  most  eligible  and  certainly  the  best  commercial 
route  from  the  seaboard  to  the  great  lakes  of  the  west. 
The  result  thus  far  most  amply  verifies  the  conclusion. 
A  few  of  the  original  charter  petitioners  went  to  work 
with  renewed  energies.  The  legislature  was  again  pe- 
titioned, and  a  second  charter  granted.  Meetings  were 
called  in  various  sections,  and  the  people  were  ably  and 
eloquently  addressed  with  reference  to  the  propriety  of 
immediate  action  in  behalf  of  the  laudable  enterprise. 
Books  were  opened  for  subscription,  and  early  in  1850 


GENERAL   REMARKS.  301 

the  footings  seemed  to  warrant  the  necessary  survey 
to  be  made.  Thus  encouraged,  the  enterprising  actors, 
most  of  whom  resided  in  the  growing  villages  of  Homer 
and  Cortland,  redoubled  their  exertions,  and  with  their 
shoulders  at  the  wheel,  determined  to  push  on  the  car  of 
progress.  W.  B.  Gilbert,  Esq.,  an  accomplished,  and 
indeed  one  of  the  most  competent  and  energetic  engi- 
neers in  the  State,  was  employed  to  make  the  necessary 
survey. 

It  is  not  our  province  to  refer  to  all  the  opposing 
influences  that  were  brought  to  bear  against  the  speed}^ 
organization  of  the  Company,  or  the  immediate  construc- 
tion of  the  road — of  the  difficulties  and  delays  attending 
the  former — the  almost  unexampled  stringent  monetary 
pressure  threatening  to  arrest  the  latter.  These  are 
already  matters  of  history.  They  have  been  set  forth 
in  the  more  than  thrilling  eloquence  of  a  Baldwin,  or 
the  persuasive  and  touching  language  of  a  Lawrence. 
The  shock,  though  it  swept  over  our  country  like  the 
destroying  host  of  Attila  over  the  plains  of  Italy,  ar- 
resting the  progressive  labors  "  of  most  other  compa- 
nies that  were  struggling  into  being,"  happily  had  be- 
come too  much  weakened  to  produce  a^suspension,  and 
the  work  went  steadily  on  "  from  its  commencement  in 
1852  to  its  completion  in  1854."  Great  credit  is  awarded 
to  the  various  efficient  actors  in  Cortland  county,  for  to 
them  belongs  the  honor  of  having  revived  or  called  up 
from  the  tomb  of  the  Capulets  the  old  exploded  sympa- 
thies which  finally  terminated  in  securing  for  the  project 
enough  of  popular  sentiment  to  place  the  completion  of 
the  road  beyond  a  reasonable  doubt.  Nor  were  the 
active  efforts  of  prominent  citizens  of  Binghamton,  Syr- 


302  GENERAL   REMARKS. 

acuse  and  Oswego  unimportant  or  unappreciated.  Their 
highly  valued  influence  was  productive  of  the  most 
favorable  results,  and  when  their  purse  strings  were 
unloosed,  or  their  bank  deposits  called  forth,  the 
cheering  word  of  "  liberality"  was  echoed  and  re- 
echoed from  one  end  of  the  Tioughnioga  valley  to  the 
other. 

The  road  having  been  completed,  a  formal  opening  to 
the  public  took  place  on  the  18th  and-  19th  of  October, 
1854.  Returning  from  an  eastern  tour,  with  our  family, 
we  joined  the  excursion  party  at  Binghamton.  The 
train  consisted  of  twenty-seven  passenger  cars,  which 
were  crowded  to  such  an  extent  that  it  was  impossible 
for  only  a  portion  to  be  seated.  It  was  reported  by  the 
editor  of  the  Railroad  Journal  as  a  "  perfect  jam,  the 
people  numbering  twenty  thousand."  Our  estimate  fell 
somewhat  short  of  this  round  number.  The  display  at 
the  various  stations  presented  a  somewhat  truthful  con- 
ception of  the  joy  of  the  citizens.  From  every  church 
that  had  a  bell  went  forth  a  joyous  welcome  ;  cannons 
were  fired  ;  and  bonfires  and  illuminations  signalized 
the  auspicious  event. 

The  road  passes  through  one  of  the  most  delightful 
and  productive  valleys  in  the  State.  The  scenery  on 
either  side  is  picturesque  and  beautiful. 

The  stockholders  number  about  two  thousand. 

The  total  cost  of  the  road  up  to  November  5th,  1855, 
is  reported  by  Mr.  Gilbert  to  be  $2,2t4,394  33.  Its 
length  is  eighty  miles. 

Aggregate  miles  run  by  all  engines  during  the  year, 
212,777.  Number  of  passengers  carried  in  the  cars, 
234,560.     Amount  of  earnings  for  the  same  number  of 


GENEEAL   KEMARKS.  303 

months  is  reported  at  $159,489  91.  Expense  of  oper- 
ating the  road,  $136,981  62. 

It  will  be  readily  seen  that  the  earnings  fall  consid- 
erably short  of  the  original  estimates.  This  seeming 
failure  is  satisfactorily  accounted  for  by  the  Superin- 
tendent. In  our  mind  there  is  no  depreciation  of  real 
value.  We  never  supposed  that  the  estimates  would 
be  reached  under  the  existing  circumstances. 

The  Lake  trade  has  been  realized  only  to  a  limited 
extent. 

"  When  this  work  was  projected,  the  invariable  and 
strong  argument  used  for  its  construction,  in  reference 
to  profitable  results,  was  a  continuous  line  to  Lake  On- 
tario, by  which  alone  it  could  derive  the  benefits  of  that 
trade. 

"  The  Directors  having  been  unable  to  attain  this, 
through  the  existing  road  from  Syracuse  to  the  lake, 
another  Company  was  organized  under  the  General  Act, 
for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a  broad  guage  road  on 
the  east  side  of  Onondaga  lake  and  the  Oswego  river. 
But  the  necessity  of  an  arrangement  with  the  holders 
of  Mortgage  Bonds  of  the  Company,  whereby  they  could 
agree  to  withold  action  under  the  existing  mortgages 
during  the  construction  of  the  new  road,  suspended 
operations. 

"  Up  to  1855  no  agreement  had  been  effected,  which 
the  Directors  regretted,  as  the  delay  increased  the 
financial  embarrassment  under  which  the  Company 
labored." 

In  1856  the  stockholders  were  unable  to  complete 
the  road  to  Oswego,  as  contemplated,  or  even  to  the 
Erie  Canal,  for  the  delivery  of  coal  and  other  freight,  or 


304  GENERAL   KEMAEKS. 

to  meet  their  bonded  and  other  debts,  and  consequently 
the  bondholders  were  obliged  to  foreclose  and  sell  the 
road  in  October  of  the  same  year.  The  Company  was 
subsequently  reorganized,  the  road  finished,  and  ex- 
tended to  the  Erie  Canal,  and  the  track  and  machinery 
put  in  perfect  repair.  There  was  also  an  arrangement 
made  at  Binghamton  with  the  New  York  and  Erie  Rail- 
road Compan}^,  to  accommodate  the  cars  of  the  Dela- 
ware, Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad  Company,  for 
the  transportation  of  their  coal  and  other  freight,  mak- 
ing the  Syracuse,  Binghamton  and  New  York  Railroad 
the  proper  channel  for  the  transportation  of  their  coal 
to  the  Erie  Canal  at  Syracuse,  and  to  Lake  Ontario  at 
Oswego,  the  Oanadas  and  the  great  west. 

Since  the  road  has  been  thus  reorganized,  it  has  al- 
ready proven  profitable  as  an  investment  to  the  holders 
thereof,  having,  as  we  understand,  paid  the  interest  on 
its  cost,  and  will  be,  as  it  is  designed,  extended  to 
Lake  Ontario,  at  Oswego,  forming  a  continuous  line  of 
broad  guage  road  to  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  and 
in  the  event  prove  one  of  the  best  routes  for  travel  and 
freight,  and  will  realize  all  that  was  predicted  or  ex- 
pected by  its  early  friends  as  a  richly  remunerating 
investment. 

The  Syracuse,  Binghamton,  and  New  York  Railroad 
may,  with  propriety,  be  regarded  as  an  invaluable  link 
in  the  chain  of  communication  between  Lake  Ontario 
and  the  Atlantic  cities. 

The  lake  trade  is  immense,  and  must  continue  to  be 
for  all  future  time.  The  inexhaustible  resources  of  the 
great  west,  with  her  fertile  fields,  her  agricultural  and 
mineral  productions,  and  the  vast  amount  of  eastern 


GENERAL   REMARKS.  305 

merchandise  that  is  necessary  to  meet  her  unprecedented 
increase  of  population — the  greater  portion  of  which 
must  pass  east  or  west  through  the  State  of  New  York. 

"  The  value  of  foreign  imports  from  Canada  at  the 
port  of  Oswego  was  in  1845  $41,313,  and  in  1855  it  was 
over  $6,000,000.  The  whole  value  of  import  and  export 
trade  with  Canada  in  1845  was  $2,350,409,  and  in  1855, 
over  $12,000,000. 

"Under  the  operation  of  the  Reciprocity  treaty,  the 
trade  both  ways  with  Canada  has  more  than  doubled  in 
1855  over  the  preceding  year,  1854.  In  1845  the  whole 
foreign  and  domestic  trade  of  Oswego,  imports  and 
exports,  did  not  exceed  $8,000,000,  and  in  1855  it 
amounted  to  over  $40,000,000.  The  tonnage  of  vessels 
enrolled  and  licensed  at  this  port  shows  a  corresponding 
increase."* 

The  free-trade  principle  of  Canada  gives  to  the  port 
of  Oswego  a  powerful  increase  of  business. 

"  For  six  months  ending  September  30th  last,  the 
duties  chargeable  on  imports  arriving  at  Oswego,  and 
going  east  in  bond,  were  $186,009  87,  in  addition,  the 
value  of  these  bonded  imports  being  $930,107  49."f 

The  flour  of  Oswego,  the  salt,  gypsum,  water  and 
quick  lime,  and  marble  of  Onondaga — the  vast  agricul- 
tural products  of  a  wide  and  fertile  surrounding  country, 
with  the  iron  and  coal  of  the  Lackawanna  and  Wyoming 
valleys,  will  give  to  the  Syracuse,  Binghamton  and  New 
York  Railroad  an  amount  of  local  tonnage  which  will 
surpass  that  of  any  other  road  of  the  same  length  in 
the  Union. 

*  J.  M.  Schermerhorn's  Eeport,  1855. 
t  W.  B.  Gilbert's  Keport,  1855. 
14* 


806  GENERAL   REMARKS. 

The  coal  trade  is  to  be  one  of  great  importance.  If 
in  the  single  city  of  Syracuse  2,000  cords  of  wood  are 
used  per  day  for  the  manufacture  of  salt,  and  otherwise, 
at  five  dollars  per  cord,  what  are  we  to  presume  will  be 
the  sum  total  of  the  coal  that  will  be  conveyed  over  the 
road  when  properly  connected  with  Oswego  ? 

The  road  is  regarded  as  being  one  of  the  best  built 
and  equipped  in  the  State. 

The  agents  have  uniformly  been  enterprising  and  ac- 
tive business  men  ;  the  conductors  attentive,  obliging, 
and  gentlemanly. 

The  retirement  of  the  able  and  courteous  president, 
Hon.  Henry  Stephens,  was  widely  regretted,  yet  his 
post  has  been  admirably  filled  in  the  person  of  Jacob 
M.  Schermerhorn,  Esq.,  to  whose  unremitting  and  labo- 
rious exertions  the  Company  are  mainly  indebted  for 
the  final  completion,  and  the  present  prosperity  of  the 
road.  No  man  ever  labored  harder.  No  man  ever  suc- 
ceeded under  more,  if  under  equally,  discouraging  cir- 
cumstances.    He  should  have  his  reward. 


CHAPTER    XIY. 

HUNTING  INCIDENTS, 

Hound-like  Ihey  scent  the  track". 

In  previous  chapters  we  have  incidentally  referred  to 
the  various  species  of  animals  that  inhabited  the  wil- 
derness, and  against  whom  the  pioneers  waged  a 
crusade,  even  with  musket  ball  and  rapier  knife.  The 
repose  of  the  settlers  was  frequently  disturbed  by  the 
terrific  howl  of  the  wolf,  the  piercing  scream  of  the 
great  northern  panther,  and  the  unfriendly  growl  of  the 
old  shaggy  black  bear  of  the  hemlock  forest.  The 
flocks  and  herds  were  often  preyed  upon  to  an  alarming 
extent,  and  the  bold  pioneers  were  not  unfrequently 
placed  in  imminent  peril.  They  had  left  the  happy 
hearth-stones  of  their  native  land,  and  had  pitched  their 
tents  in  the  valleys  and  on  the  hill-sides  of  this  then 
western  boundary  of  civilization  ;  and,  unpleasant  as  it 
was,  were  of  necessity  compelled  to  wage  an  exter- 
minating war  against  these  more  than  savage  beasts  of 
prey.  The  heart  chills  at  the  recital  of  the  often  nar- 
row escapes  from  the  jaws  of  the  gaunt,  hungry 
wolf,  the  more  prowling,  rapacious  panther,  or  the 
unsociable  hug  of   the  unterrified,  snarling  old  bear. 


308  HUNTING   INCrDENTS. 

The  tender-hearted  might  shrink  back  at  the  howl  of  a 
single  wolf,  even  in  the  day  time  ;  but  it  took  a  whole 
clan,  headed  by  a  huge  grizzly  chorister,  whose  dis- 
cordant howls,  snaps,  and  snarls  made  night — dark, 
tartarean  night — tenfold  more  hideous,  to  make  the 
veteran  forest  hunter  quail,  or  feel  for  the  particular 
location  of  his  heart.  The  women,  too, — the  bold  repub- 
lican women, — were  occasionally  called  upon  to  exercise 
all  the  energies  of  a  bold  and  noble  spirit.  We  are 
told  of  one  who  was  pursued  for  a  distance  through 
a  winding  and  unfrequented  glen,  by  a  panther,  whose 
long,  greedy  proportions  told  too  truly  of  his  powerful 
strength.  If  she  hastened  her  step,  the  animal  did  the 
same.  If  she  stopped  short,  he  instinctively  squatted  as 
if  preparing  to  leap  upon  his  unarmed  victim.  She  saw 
her  peril,  and  resolved  to  make  one  bold  effort  at  deliv- 
erance. Seizing  a  bludgeon  of  wood,  she  flew  at  him 
in  a  menacing  attitude,  uttering  several  successive 
screams  as  she  dealt  him  a  severe  blow  on  that  point 
of  the  proboscis  which  brought  forth  a  hasty  snuff  and 
a  sneeze,  and  turning  upon  his  well-practised  and  flip- 
pant heels,  he  made  a  number  of  enormous  leaps,  and 
then  seated  himself  in  the  branches  of  a  partially  de- 
cayed hemlock.  Eemembering  that  she  was  near  the 
cabin  of  a  successful  and  fearless  hunter,  she  screamed 
with  all  her  might  for  the  bow-legged  marksman.  The 
animal  not  particularly  relishing  his  treatment  from  the 
hand  of  the  fair  patroness,  began  to  exhibit  the  most 
unmistakable  evidence  of  a  preparation  to  leap  upon 
the  bold  defender  of  her  forest  rights.  A  moment  more, 
and  he  hoped  to  gorge  his  ferocious  rapacity  with  her 
warm  heart's  blood.     But  the  sharp  crack  of  a  rifle  was 


HUNTING   INCIDENTS.  309 

heard  some  twenty  rods  distant,  just  as  he  drew  himself 
back  to  leap,  and  the  next  moment  the  long  proportions 
of  the  mountain  veteran  were  stretched  dead  at  her  feet. 
In  the  trunk  of  the  decaying  ancient  telic,  a  couple  of 
nursling  ^^ painters'''  were  found.  But  in  the  very  in- 
stant of  leaving  with  them,  the  father,  an  old  crippled 
martyr,  who  had  snuffed  upon  the  breeze  the  fresh  scent 
of  blood,  was  rapidly  approaching.  Another  leaden 
•missile,  hurled  from  the  old  blue^  barrel,  brought  him  to 
the  ground.  But  he  was  not  yet  prepared  to  yield,  for 
the  victory  was  not  yet  achieved.  The  hunter  suc- 
ceeded in  only  partially  reloading  his  gun  before  the 
maddened  animal  had  sprung  to  his  feet,  and  was  ready 
for  a  contest  or  measurement  of  strength.  The  youth- 
ful matron  stood  by  the  side  of  her  deliverer,  resolving 
to  share  in  the  glory  of  victory,  or  die  with  him  in  a 
noble  effort  at  resistance.  On  he  came,  ten  times  more 
ferocious,  but  was  defiantly  met  with  such  a  succession 
of  blows  as  to  induce  him  to  retreat  and  take  a  posi- 
tion in  a  small  tree,  where  he  might  look  contempt  upon 
his  assailants.  The  old  blue  barrel  was  again  leveled 
with  unerring  aim,  and  in  an  instant  the  panther's 
brains  were  lying  at  the  base  of  the  tree. 

At  an  early  day,  and  at  a  period  when  Marathon  was 
yet  a  wilderness,  and  when  but  a  few  families  were 
located  within  her  rugged  confines,  the  bears,  wolves 
and  panthers  made  terrible  havoc  with  the  stock  and 
poultry  of  the  but  partially  protected  and  often  unarmed 
pioneers.  During  the  latter  part  of  November,  1799,  an 
old  hunter,  and  native  of  Long  Island,  was  passing 
through  the  country  lying  between  the  Tioughnioga 
river   and  what   is   now  known  as  Freetown  Centre. 


310  HUNTING   INCIDENTS. 

Ascending  the  rugged  elevation,  lie  struck  an  Indian 
trail  leading  in  a  direct  line  for  the  "  pine  woods."  He 
had,  however,  proceeded  but  a  short  distance  before  he 
heard  a  sharp,  piercing  scream,  as  if  coming  from  a 
female  in  distress.  In  a  moment  it  was  repeated  again 
and  again.  Hurrying  forward  he  soon  heard  it  much 
plainer,  and  at  intervals  could  distinctly  hear  moaning, 
as  if  coming  from  some  object  in  nature  that  was  suf- 
fering from  the  infliction  of  some  horrible  treatment. ' 
His  anxiety  was  soon  relieved,  for  just  as  he  reached 
the  summit  of  a  little  elevation,  perhaps  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  west  of  the  "panther  forest,"  he  saw  to  his 
astonishment  an  enormous  panther  spring  upon  a  deer 
that  was  floundering  upon  the  ground,  and  almost  cov- 
ered with  blood.  The  old  and  unarmed  hunter  paused 
for  a  moment,  that  he  might  observe  the  movements  of 
the  half-enraged  animal,  and  the  better  concentrate  his 
scattered  thoughts  ;  and  was  pained  to  hear  the  moans  of 
the  wounded  and  dying  deer,  as  the  panther  screamed 
and  then  suddenly  sprang  upon  his  pre}'',  burying  his 
claws  in  the  sides  of  the  deer,  and  his  tusks  in  the  neck, 
tearing  the  flesh  from  the  body.  He  knew  it  would  be 
very  unsafe  for  him  to  attack  the  panther,  as  he  was 
but  partially  gorged  with  blood,  and  he  therefore  chose 
the  better  part  of  valor  and  hurried  on  his  way  ;  but  he 
was  suddenly  startled  by  a  noise  behind  him  which  ap- 
peared like  the  sudden  springs  of  a  panther.  Remember- 
ing that  he  had  a  few  pounds  of  fresh  venison  which  he 
was  carrying  to  a  sick  friend,  and  knowing  the  danger 
of  an  encounter  with  such  an  animal,  he  picked  up  a 
heavy  bludgeon  of  wood  and  quickened  his  steps  until 
he  came  to  the  "mammoth  log  ;''  then  hastily  cutting 


HUNTING   INCIDENTS.  311 

his  venison  into  three  parts,  he  threw  one  piece  just 
into  the  mouth  of  the  log,  and  the  balance  at  a  short 
distance  from  each  side  of  it.  He  had  hardly  taken 
a  position  to  await  his  approach,  before  he  saw  the 
bloody  panther  within  a  few  feet  of  him.  It  was  now 
night,  but  luckily  the  moon  rolled  forth  from  behind  a 
dark  cloud  as  he  saw  the  animal  nearing  the  huge 
opening  which  he  endeavored  to  enter,  for  he  had 
scented  the  fresh  meat.  The  old  man  suddenly  sprang 
to  his  feet  and  dealt  the  animal  a  heavy  blow  on  the 
back,  which  rendered  him  partially  power!ess.  The 
panther  drew  back,  uttering  a  horrible  groan,  which 
was  followed  by  several  screams  ;  these  were,  however, 
soon  silenced  by  a  few  more  well-directed  blows. 

His  hide  was  hurriedly  stripped  from  his  body,  and 
the  dauntless  pioneer  retraced  his  steps,  arriving  home 
near  midnight. 

The  next  day  a  grand  hunt  was  proposed  and  entered 
into,  which  resulted  in  the  death  of  three  panthers,  five 
wolves,  and  six  bears.  Three  of  the  wolves,  however, 
were  not  taken  until  the  morning  of  the  second  day,  when 
they  were  holed  near  Chenango  Forks,  and  hastily 
despatched. 

Three  persons  started  out  in  March  of  1799  in  pursuit 
of  bears,  which  had  committed  unwarrantable  depreda- 
tions in  the  town  of  Scott.  One  of  them  soon  gave  out 
and  returned,  but  the  other  two  continued  the  pursuit, 
the  trail  leading  in  the  direction  of  Skaneateles  lake  ; 
but  the. snow  being  very  deep,  they,  too,  finally  gave 
up,  and  concluded  to  return  home  by  a  circuitous  route, 
in  the  hope  of  meeting  with  an  old  bear  which  had 
wintered  within  a  mile  or  so  of  their  home.     As  they 


312  HUNTING    INCIDENTS. 

approached  the  place  of  concealment  he  was  discovered. 
Both  hunters  immediately  discharged  their  guns,  but 
only  wounded  the  bear.  He  hastily  left  for  other  quar- 
ters, followed  b}''  his  pursuers,  who  after  camping  out 
near  Skaneateles  lake  for  the  night,  drove  him  into  a 
clearing  some  eight  miles  from  home,  in  Sempronius, 
where  they  took  off  his  ,hide,  out  of  which  they  made 
each  of  them  a  cap,  as  they  had  lost  theirs  the  day  be- 
fore, and  were  therefore  hatless. 

There  are  numerous  instances  showing  the  firmness 
and  forethought  of  many  a  matron  lady.  A  single  ex- 
ample will  suffice  t)  exhibit  them  in  their  proper  light : 
David  Scofield,  of  Virgil,  informed  us  that  when  he  was 
but  a  lad,  and  while  playing  upon  a  brush  fence,  he 
accidentally  fell  off  into  the  brush.  He  was  immedi- 
ately seized  by  a  bear  about  two-thirds  grown,  who 
hastened  away  with  him.  It  being  near  the  house 
of  his  father,  his  aged  grandmother  observed  them,  and 
hastily  snatching  up  a  hot  loaf  of  bread  hurried  to  his 
relief;  and  just  as  he  was  entering  his  den  she  threw 
him  the  bread,  at  which  he  dropped  the  child  and 
secured  the  warm  loaf,  of  which  he  made  a  hearty  meal. 

Wolves  frequently  followed  the  hunter's  trail  in 
droves,  making  the  night  hideous  with  frightful,  fiend- 
ish howling.  There  is,  perhaps,  no  other  animal  which 
exhibits  so  much  of  the  real  demon,  as  the  half-starved, 
lean,  lank  wolf,  as  he  pursues  his  intended  prey,  eager 
and  anxious  to  surfeit  on  the  warm,  gurgling  blood, 
of  which  he  is  particularly  fond.  We  repeat,  upon  the 
authority  of  one  who  frequently  engaged  in  the  chase, — 
not  merely  for  the  sake  of  stilling  their  "  eternal  snap- 
ping and  snarling,"  but  because  he  liked  the  sport, — 


HUNTING   INCIDENTS.  313 

a  case  in  point,  which,  though  it  did  not  tend  to  immor- 
talize his  name,  gave  him  great  credit  for  the  courage 
which  prompted  the  encounter.  He  had  been  out  on 
the  border  line  of  Cortland  and  Chenango  ;  and  while 
returning  upon  his  almost  indistinct  trail  through  the 
snow,  he  was  followed  by  a  hungry  gang  of  wolves. 
He  was  met  by  a  huge  panther,  who  appeared  deter- 
mined to  contest  the  right  of  soil  on  which  they  had 
thus  unexpectedly  met.  With  the  wolves  snapping  at 
his  heels  in  the  rear,  while  the  unterrified  panther  had 
blockaded  his  advance  progress,  he  paused  but  a  mo- 
ment's time  for  reflection.  The  moon,  peering  out  from 
behind  a  dark  cloud,  enabled  him  to  draw  a  close  sight 
upon  the  barrel  of  his  unerring  rifle,  when  suddenly 
a  leaden  missile  went  whizzing  through  the  panther's 
brain.  A  moment  more,  and  the  whole  pack  of  wolves 
had  seized  upon  the  dead  animal  and  were  lapping  up 
the  blood  and  brains  that  were  scattered  around  him. 
Taking  advantage  of  this  propitious  moment,  he  hastily 
took  refuge  some  thirty  feet  high  in  the  branches  of  a 
bushy  hemlock.  Here  he  resolved  to  remain  until 
morning,  or  conquer  in  the  unequal  contest.  Hastily 
loading  his  gun,  he  again  brought  it  to  such  a  level  as 
would  enable  him  to  see  with  exactness  the  forward 
sight,  when  the  rifle  cracked  again,  and  the  bloody 
ghosts  of  two  of  the  ferocious  wolves  had  departed  ; 
and  thus  he  continued  until  he  had  impartially  extended 
the  same  treatment  to  three  more  of  the  gang.  The 
others  becoming  alarmed  at  the  frequent  reports  of  the 
death-dealing  weapon,  made  a  hasty  retreat  for  the 
unexplored  lagoon. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  present  century,   the 


314  HUNTING   INCIDENTS. 

antlered  deer  bounded  through  the  forest,  not  doubting 
their  right  to  the  supremacy  of  the  territorj^  through 
which  they  thus  proudly  ranged.  They  were  almost  as 
numerous  as  the  dairjniien's  cattle  are  at  the  present 
day.  Authority  of  the  most  positive  character  might 
be  referred  to  in  support  of  the  truthfulness  of  our 
assertion.  Twentj^,  and  even  thirty,  noble  bucks  have 
been  counted  in  a  drove,  as  they  swept  through  the 
woods  pursued  by  the  hunter's  well-trained  dogs.  One 
old  hunter,  a  Frenchman,  whose  home  was  among  the 
Wyoming  hills,  came  to  this  county  to  spend  the  winter 
with  a  brother,  and  during  his  stay  killed  upwards  of 
two  hundred  deer.  We  have  been  told  by  the  grey- 
haired  veterans  of  those  stern  days  of  toil  and  trial,  of 
numerous  instances  of  a  hunter  sallying  out  at  day- 
break, and  before  the  hour  of  nine  in  the  forenoon  re- 
turning for  lunch,  having  slain  five,  seven,  and  even  as 
high  as  ten  deer. 

Notv/ithstanding  the  horrid  crusade  that  has  been 
waged  for  upwards  of  half  a  century  against  the  grace- 
ful, sprightl}^  bounding  deer,  his  progeny  has  not  been 
fully  exterminated,  for  even  to  this  day,  (1855,)  an  occa- 
sional buck,  bearing  aloft*  his  noble  antlers,  may  be 
seen  bounding  through  the  southern  limits  of  this 
county.  During  the  past  autumn  and  early  part  of  the 
winter,  several  were  killed  on  and  about  Michigan  Hill, 
in  the  town  of  Harford. 

We  remember  how  in  our  boyhood's  days  our  young 
and  ardent  mind  was  inspired  by  the  marvelous  tales 
told  by  the  hunters  of  our  native  county  ;  and  we 
have  always  had  a  strong  desire  to  bring  down  a  noble 
buck.     But  of  the  numerous  droves  that  we  have  seen 


HUNTING   INCIDENTS.  31 5 

shaking  their  horns  in  the  wild  gorges  of  the  North 
American  forest,  or  as  they  tossed  them  aloft  while 
they  swept  over  the  flowery  glades  of  the  sunny  South, 
it  has  failed  to  be  our  luck  to  bring  a  rifle  to  bear 
directly  upon  them.  The  various  interesting  incidents 
told  us  b}^  the  stern  veteran  pioneers,  would  more  than 
fill  a  volume  of  the  size  it  is  our  province  to  write. 
And  however  interested  they  may  have  been  in  repeat- 
ing them,  we  have  seldom  heard  one  told  with  more 
felicitous  feeling  than  one  which  is  related  by  Charles 
Hotchkiss,  of  Virgil. 

A  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Turpening  came  up 
from  Newburg,  and  felt  very  desirous  to  take  a  hunt. 
Mr.  Hotchkiss  told  him  that  it  would  be  very  unsafe  for 
him  to  proceed  alone,  for  if  he  should  happen  to  kill  a 
deer  it  would  bleat,  and  that  would  arouse  every  deer 
in  hearing  distance,  and  that  they  would  assuredly  kill 
him.  His  brothers,  however,  persuaded  him  to  go. 
Having  equipped  himself  in  hunting  order,  he  sallied 
forth  for  glorious  war.  Approaching  the  deer-lick  south 
of  Virgil  Corners,  he  espied  a  young  fawn  just  upon  its 
outskirts.  Keeping  one  eye  on  the  gun  and  the  other 
on  the  deer,  he  waited  for  the  appearance  of  more,  but 
not  being  gratified  with  their  approach,  he  blazed  away. 
As  the  gun  cracked  the  fawn  leaped  several  feet  from 
the  ground,  gave  a  bleat,  as  is  usual,  and  fell  dead. 
Presuming  the  story  of  Mr.  Hotchkiss  to  be  true,  and 
expecting  a  whole  clan  of  mad,  frightened  deer  to  be 
upon  him  with  their  bloody  antlers  poised  to  gore  him 
to  the  heart,  he  hurriedly  made  tracks  for  home,  strip- 
ping off  hat,  coat,  vest  and  boots,  and  hurling  them  to 
the  ground  ;  puffing  and  blowing  for  the  want  of  breath. 


316  HUNTING   INCIDENTS. 

and  with  impeded  powers  of  locomotion,  he  entered 
the  pioneer's  home  declaring  that  every  deer  in  the 
lick  was  at  his  heels,  frothing  and  foaming  ;  and  that 
they  had  gored  him  almost  to  death. 

John  H.  Hooker,  son  of  Increase  M.  Hooker,  an  early 
pioneer  of  Truxton,  now  residing  in  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  recently  related  to  us  some  interesting  incidents 
with  reference  to  trapping  the  various  animals  of  the 
wilderness.  One  plan  was  to  dig  a  pit  about  six  feet 
wide  by  twelve  deep.  Around  this  a  pen,  or  kind  of 
curb,  would  be  raised  from  two  to  three  feet  high.  Over 
the  pit  a  pan  would  be  placed,  balanced  properly,  so 
that  when  an  animal  should  spring  upon  it  for  the  pur- 
pose of  obtaining  the  bait,  which  was  appropriately 
hung  above  it,  the  pan  would  turn  and  precipitate  the 
monster  into  the  pit.  In  this  wa}^  Mr.  Hooker  and  two 
other  gentlemen  caught  in  one  night  the  very  respect- 
able number  of  five  wolves.  They  were  lassoed  in 
the  morning  and  led  round  and  exhibited  to  the  neigh- 
bors, after  which  they  were  dispatched. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Hooker  was  watching  at  a  deer-lick,  and 
in  consequence  of  the  almost  impenetrable  darkness, 
was  compelled  to  remain  all  night  in  the  woods,  a  dis- 
tance of  five  miles  from  his  father's  log  cabin.  During 
the  night  he  heard  the  approach  of  an  animal,  and  pres- 
ently discovered,  a  few  feet  from  him,  two  balls  re- 
sembling liquid  fire.  The  animal  undoubtedly  antici- 
pated a  warm  meal.  Mr.  Hooker,  not  a  little  excited, 
raised  his  unerring  rifle,  looked  quickly  over  the  barrel, 
and  fired.  The  monster  gave  a  piercing  scream  and 
bounded  away  in  the  darkness.  He  was  found  at  a 
little  distance  with  his  under  jaw  broken,  and  dead. 


HUNTING   INCIDENTS.  317 

Mr.  Hooker  was  much  surprised  on  finding  that  he  had 
killed  a  panther  nine  and  a  half  feet  in  length.  It  was 
not  an  uncommon  circumstance  for  him  to  be  followed 
by  panthers  and  wolves  when  in  pursuit  of  his  father's 
cattle.  On  one  occasion  he  made  a  rather  hasty  flight 
from  the  sugar  bush.  A  panther  had  made  him  a  visit 
and  desired  to  contest  the  right  of  soil  ;  Mr.  Hooker, 
however,  preferred  to  defer  the  matter,  and,  as  he  in- 
formed us,  if  ever  he  made  tracks  he  made  them  then, 
and  he  presumed  them  to  be  few  and  far  between,  for 
he  could  distinctly  hear  every  jump  of  the  huge  mon- 
ster behind  him,  and  he  was  only  relieved  when  within 
a  few  rods  of  the  house  by  the  watchful  and  ever  trusty 
old  dog. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

LITERARY   AND    BENEVOLENT   INSTITUTIONS. 
"  I'll  note  'em  in  my  bock  of  memory." 

There  are  but  few,  if  any,  counties  in  the  State  at 
present  in  the  enjoyment  of  greater  educational  facili- 
ties than  Cortland  county.  The  Cortland  and  Cortland- 
ville  Academies — the  former  located  at  Homer  and  the 
latter  at  Cortland  Village — are  enjoying  a  good  degree 
of  prosperity.  The  New  York  Central  College,  located 
at  M'Grawville,  has  had  a  somewhat  chequered  exist- 
ence, and  the  Cincinnatus  Academy,  located  in  Cincinna- 
tus,  is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

The  light  of  the  sun  was  scarcely  let  in  through  the 
dense  forests  of  Homer,  upon  its  extended  and  fertile 
plains,  ere  the  light  of  science  sent  its  genial  rays 
among  her  people. 

The  first  settlers,  being  chiefly  from  Connecticut, 
brought  with  their  books  and  their  love  of  books,  their 
school-master  and  their  high  regard  for  literary  institu- 
tions. 

Among  the  earlier  school-teachers  of  Homer  was  Maj. 
Adin  Webb.  The  active  business  men  and  the  efficient 
housewives  now  living  in  Homer  look  upon  that  venerable 


LITERARY    AND   BENEVOLENT   INSTITUTIONS.  319 

priest  of  Minerva — still  bearing  high  alike  his  whitened 
locks  and  his  golden  honors — with  mingled  feelings  of 
gratitude  and  reverence. 

From  the  common  school,  which  he  so  long  and  so 
successfully  taught  on  the  spacious  common  in  the  cen- 
tre of  the  village,  grew  the  Cortland  Academy,  which 
has  been,  for  forty  years,  nestled  among  the  churches 
which  adorn  the  same  Common,  and  whose  graceful 
spires  so  significantly  point  to  the  same  great  Source  of 
Light  and  Love,  as  does  the  less  pretending  spire  of  the 
academic  edifice. 

Cortland  Academy  was  incorporated  by  the  Regents 
of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York  on  the  2d 
day  of  February,  1819.  The  first  trustees  were  Dr. 
Lewis  S.  Owen,  Hon.  John  Miller,  John  Osborn,  David 
Coye,  Chauncey  Keep,  Hon.  Townsend  Ross,  Rufus 
Boies,  N.  R.  Smith,  Elnathan  Walker,  Andrew  Dickson, 
Matthias  Cook,  Reuben  Washburn,  Jesse  Searl,  Martin 
Keep,  Benasjah  Tubbs,  David  Jones,  and  George  Rice. 

Of  the  original  trustees,  David  Coye,  Rufus  Boies  and 
Noah  R.  Smith  have  continued  to  serve  as  trustees — the 
places  of  the  others  having  been  made  vacant  by  death 
or  by  resignation. 

The  present  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  are 
Jedediah  Barber,  President ;  Hon.  E.  C.  Reed,  Secretary  ; 
Noah  R.  Smith,  Treasurer  ;  David  Coye,  Rufus  Boies, 
Hon.  Geo.  W.Bradford,  Hammond  Short,  John  Sherman, 
Prof.  S.  B.  Woolworth,  Hon.  Geo.  J.  J.  Barber,  Wm.  An- 
drews, Ira  Bowen,  Caleb  Cook,  Geo.  Cook,  C.  H.  Whea- 
don,  Rev.  C.  A.  Clark,  Noah  Hitchcock,  Thomas  D. 
Chollar,  J.  M.  Schermerhorn,  Giles  Chittenden,  Esq., 
Wm.  T.  Hicok,  Manly  Hobart,  and  Rev.  Albert  Bigelow. 


820  LITERARY   AND   BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS. 

The  late  Rev.  Alfred  Bennett,  Joshua  Ballard,  Charles 
W.  L^mde,  C.  Chamberlain,  A.  Donnelly,  Tilly  Lynde, 
and  Horace  White,  also  served  as  Trustees. 

The  first  Principal,  under  the  charter,  was  Oren  Catlin. 
He  was,  also,  the  sole  teacher.  To  him  succeeded  suc- 
cessively Mr.  Eanny,  Noble  D.  Strong,  Charles  Avery, 

A.  M.,  Franklin  Sherrill,  Oliver  S.  Taylor,  M.  D.,  Samuel 

B.  Woolworth,   A.M.,  (now  LL.  D.),   and  S.  W.  Clark, 
A.M. 

Since  1821  there  has  been  a  Female  Department  con- 
nected with  the  Academy,  under  the  supervision,  suc- 
cessively, of  Flavilla  Ballard,  Caroline  R.  Hale,  Melona 
D.  Moulton,  Elizabeth  Steele,  Harriette  A.  Dellay,  Cath- 
arine A.  Coleman,  Mary  Bascom,  Mary  S.  Patterson, 
Helen  H.  Palmer,  Esther  L.  Brown,  Anna  J.  Hawley, 
and  Harriet  S.  Gunn. 

Since  1830  the  Musical  Department  has  been  con- 
tinued under  the  supervision  and  instruction  of  Frances 
RoUo,  Harriet  Foot,  Julia  A.  Gillingham,  Abigail  F. 
Moulton,  Maria  L.  Reston,  Mary  Fessenden,  Sarah  E. 
Reed,  J.  M.  Palmer,  and  Isabella  Livingston  Brunsch- 
weiler. 

Of  the  Assistant  Teachers  there  have  served  in  the 
Department  of  Ancient  Languages,  Abel  F.  Kinney, 
A.  M.,  Charles  E.  Washburn,  A.  M.,  (now,  also,  M.  D.,) 
Henry  A.  Nelson,  A.  M.,  Ezra  S.  Gallup,  A.  M.,  J.  M. 
Woolworth,  A.  M.,  and  Heman  H.  Sanford,  A.  M. 

In  the  Department  of  Mathematics,  A.  F.  Ranney, 
A.  M.,  Geo.  R.  Huntington,  L.  S.  Pomeroy,  A.  M.,  Alvin 
Lathorp,  A.  M.,  W.  H.  Lacey,  E.  M.  Rollo,  A.  M.,  A.  J. 
Kneeland,  Louis  A.  Miller,  Charles  S.  Lawrence,  and 
Joseph  R.  Dixon,  A.  M. 


LITERARY   AND   BENEVOLENT   INSTITUTIONS.  321 

In  the  Department  of  Modern  Languages,  Augustus 
Maasberg,  and  Oscar  M.  Faulhaber, 

In  the  English  Department,  there  have  been  eighteen 
different  teachers. 

At  the  present  term,  (1859),  the  various  departments 
are  filled  by  the  following  : 

Teachers, 

Stephen  W.  Clark,  A.  M,,  Principal  ;  Miss  Harriet  S. 
Gunn,  Preceptress  ;  Heman  H.  Sandford,  A.  M.,  Lan- 
guages ;  Frederick  B.  Downes,  A.  M.,  Mathematics  ; 
Miss  Harriet  Taylor,  Modern  Languages  ;  James  S. 
Foster,  Natural  Sciences  ;  Miss  Lucy  B.  Gunn,  Eng- 
lish Department  ;  Mrs.  Mary  Lund  and  Miss  Harriet 
D.  Gaylord,  Instrumental  and  Vocal  Music  ;  Almon  H. 
Benedict,  Penmanship. 

Of  the  sixty-six  teachers  who  have  been  connected 
with  the  Academy,  two  only  have  died  while  at  service. 
The  first  was  Abel  F.  Kinney,  "  a  man  who  will  not 
cease  to  be  loved  and  venerated  so  long  as  any  live  who 
felt  the  power  of  his  soul,  and  observed  the  strong  fel- 
lowship which  existed  between  his  principles  and  his 
life.  It  was  his  rare  privilege  to  say,  on  his  death-bed, 
that  he  7iever  received  the  slightest  insult  from  any  pupil 
— a  fact  which  those  whom  he  taught  may  remember 
with  gratitude,  and  which  his  biographer  may  record  as 
eloquent  praise  on  his  character  as  an  instructor.  Mr. 
Kinney  commenced  teaching  before  he  was  twenty  years 
of  age,  and  died  before  he  was  thirty-five.  Most  of  his 
life  as  a  teacher  was  spent  in  Cortland  Academy,  and 
few  persons  have  done  more  to  make  it  what  it  is. 
Within  our  village  burial  ground  his  pupils  have  placed 
15 


322  LITERARY    AKD   BENE\^OLENT   INSTITUTIOIN'S. 

a  marble  monnment  to  his  memory.  But  still  richer 
memorials  of  him  are  to  be  fonnd  in  the  personal 
recollections  of  those  who  knew  him,  and  in  the 
Wednesday  evening  meetings  for  prayer  which  he  es- 
tablished. 

The  other  was  Louis  A.  Miller,  a  mathematician  of 
rare  promise,  and  a  teacher  of  remarkable  tact  and 
energy.  Beautiful  and  appropriate  monuments,  the 
offerings  of  grateful  pupils,  mark  the  resting-places  of 
their  dust  in  the  village  cemetery  of  Homer. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Academy  more  than 
eight  thousand  different  students  have  been  instructed 
in  it.  Of  these  many  are  numbered  amon^  the  most 
distinguished  men  in  the  State,  in  the  Church,  and  in 
the  various  professions  of  science  and  art.  "  Many  are 
now  occupying  places  of  usefulness  and  honor  in  their 
own  country ;  others  have  gone  to  show  the  benighted 
millions  of  heathen  lands  the  way  of  life,  and  others 
have  gone  to  the  land  of  rest  and  seraphic  bliss,  which 
knows  no  change,  and  where  dwell  the  good,  the  pure, 
and  the  great.^' 

Among  the  various  Academies  of  the  State,  the  Cort- 
land Academy  has  been  uniformly  distinguished  for  its 
giving  decided  prominence  to  its  Classical  Department. 
During  the  last  three  years  the  average  number  of 
pupils  in  the  department  of  Ancient  Languages  has  been 
eighty,  while  the  average  number  in  attendance  in  all 
the  departments  has  been  240. 

The  number  of  students  annually  reported  to  the  Re- 
gents of  the  University,  "  as  having  pursued,  for  four 
months  or  upwards,  classical  studies  or  the  higher  bran- 
ches of  English  education,"  has  increased  in  each  sue- 


LITERARY   AND   BENEVOLENT   INSTITUTIONS.  323 

cessivo  year  to  the  present  time — the  report  of  1858 
showing  642  students  thus  reported  : 

The  growth   of  the  Academy  has  been  gradual  and 
healthful.     The  assets  of  the  corporation  are, 


Value  of  land  and  building,     . 

$5,100 

'*       "                    library, 

995 

"       *'                    apparatus,  . 

1,243 

"       "                    other  property, 

.       6,3t5 

Total,         .         .         .     $13,n3 

Its  annual  income  for  1858  from  tuition  bills,  litera- 
ture fund,  and  interest,  was  .         .         .     $4,449  58 
Annual  expenditure,      ....  4,208  *I8 

The  Cortland  Academy  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the 
public  square.  It  embraces  various  apartments  for 
study  and  recitations,  a  well-selected  library,  philosophi- 
cal apparatus,  and  every  facility  needed  to  impart  a 
good,  thorough,  and  practical  education.  Indeed,  it  is 
with  much  pleasure  that  we  refer  to  Prof.  S.  W.  Clark, 
the  gentlemanly  and  accomplished  Principal,  and  his 
able  and  competent  assistants,  under  whose  faithful  dis- 
charge of  duties  the  Academy  is  made  an  ornament  to 
the  place,  as  well  as  one  of  the  best  educational  Aca- 
demic Institutions  in  our  State. 

The  Cortlandville  Academy  was  incorporated  by  the 
Regents  of  the  University  in  the  year  1842,  and  com- 
menced in  August  of  that  year. 

The  original  officers  were  Joseph  Reynolds,  President ; 
Henry  S.  Randall,  Secretary  ;  Joel  B.  Hibbard,  Treasurer. 
The  Trustees  were  J.  Reynolds,  Wm.  Elder,  H.  S.  Ran- 


324  LITERARY   AND   BENEVOLENT   INSTITUTIONS. 

dall,  Wm.  Bartlit,  James  S.  Leach,  John  J.  Adams,  Jno. 
Thomas,  W.  R.  Randall,  Asahel  P.  Lyman,  Frederick 
Hyde,  J.  B.  Hibbard,  Horatio  Ballard,  Henry  Stephens, 
Abram  Mudge,  James  C.  Pomeroy,  Clark  Pendleton,  An- 
son Fairchild,  Parker  Crosby,  L.  S.  Pomeroy,  and  Otis 
Stimson. 

Among  the  first  instructors  were  Joseph  R.  Dixon, 
A.  M.,  Principal;  Henry  E.  Ranney,  Assistant  ;  Miss  C. 
Ann  Hamlin,  Preceptress  ;  Miss  Fanny  M.  Nelson,  As- 
sistant ;  Miss  Sarah  M.  Parker,  Assistant  during  third 
term  ;  Miss  Mary  E.  Mills,  Teacher  of  Music. 

The  number  of  pupils  reported  August  1,  1848,  was 
216. 

The  Trustees  made  a  very  flattering  report,  and  an- 
ticipated increasing  prosperity.  They  congratulated 
themselves  upon  their  good  fortune  in  being  able  to  re- 
tain their  very  able  and  popular  Principal,  Joseph  R. 
Dixon.  Mr.  D.  continued  Principal  for  four  successive 
years. 

The  present  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  are 
Frederick  Hyde,  President ;  J.  A.  Schermerhorn,  Secre- 
tary ;  Morgan  L.  Webb,  Treasurer  ;  Joseph  Reynolds, 
Henry  S.  Randall,  John  J.  Adams,  Horatio  Ballard, 
Henry  Stephens,  James  0.  Pomeroy,  D.  R.  Hubbard, 
Henry  Brewer,  Ebenezer  Mudge,  Horace  Dibble,  Hamil- 
ton Putnam,  Henry  Bowen,  W.  O.  Barnard,  Madison 
Woodruff,  Martin  Sanders,  Rufus  A.  Reed,  James  S. 
Squires,  W.  P.  Randall,  Thomas  Keator,  R.  H.  Duell, 
and  George  Bridge. 


LITERARY   AND    BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS.  325 

Teachers. 

Henry  Carver,  A.  M.,  Principal  ;  Miss  Maria  S.  Welch, 
Preceptress  ;  Ridgway  Rowley,  Languages  ;  Miss  Mary 
M.  Bartlit,  Primary  Department  ;  Frederick  Hyde,  M.  B., 
Lecturer  ;  Mrs.  F.  R.  Mudge,  Instrumental  and  Vocal 
Music  ;  Mrs.  A.  R.  Bowen,  Drawing  and  Painting. 

The  Academy  is  large  and  conveniently  arranged,  and 
is  located  in  a  healthy  and  pleasant  part  of  Cortland 
Village,  and  the  students  in  attendance  number  about 
150. 

The  Institution  is  furnished  with  a  new  Philosophical 
and  Chemical  Apparatus,  an  extensive  Library,  and  all 
the  necessary  means  to  impart  a  healthful  and  practical 
education.  The  prospects  were,  perhaps,  at  no  time 
more  flattering  than  at  the  present. 

Prof.  Carver,  the  accomplished  Principal  and  instructor 
in  Natural  and  Moral  Science  and  the  Higher  Mathe- 
matics, is  deservedly  worthy  of  his  well-earned  reputa- 
tion. His  zealous  and  active  efforts  to  promote  and 
advance  the  interests  of  the  Academy  are  justly  and 
fully  appreciated. 

The  well-arranged  lectures  of  Prof.  Hyde  on  Anatomy 
and  Physiology,  are  like  the  sands  which  descend  with 
La  Plata's  rushing  torrent,  rich  with  golden  ore.  They 
are,  indeed,  of  marked  importance  to  the  Institution. 

And  it  is  but  just  to  add  that  the  Assistant  Corps  of 
Instructors  are  admirably  fitted  for  their  various  posi- 
tions ;  hence  the  xVcademy  will  flourish,  and  continue  to 
rank  among  the  best  educational  institutions  in  the 
State. 

New  YorJc  Central  College. — In  1846  the  attention  of 


326  LITERAEY   AND   BENEVOLENT  INSTrTUTIONS. 

gentlemen  of  enlarged  views  and  liberal  sentiments, 
residing  in  this  and  other  States,  was  turned  to  the  ne- 
cessity of  establishing  a  Collegiate  Institution  which 
should  be  entirely  free  from  sectarianism,  while  the  ten- 
dency of  its  teachings  should  be  favorable  toward  a 
true  hearty  Christianity.  They  felt  that  the  opportunity 
to  gain  a  liberal  education  should  be  extended  to  all  as 
impartially  as  are  the  light  and  air,  and  that  the  minds 
of  students  should  rather  be  made  free  and  independent, 
than  moulded  according  to  creeds  or  the  dicta  of  fashion. 
They  reflected  long  and  earnestly  upon  the  subject,  and 
finally  resolved  to  found  an  Institution  of  Learning,  in 
which  character,  not  circumstances,  color,  or  sex,  should 
be  the  basis  of  respect  ;  in  which  the  course  of  study 
should  be  full  and  useful  to  those  who  looked  forward 
to  a  life  in  one  of  the  learned  professions,  as  well  as  to 
those  who  expected  to  devote  their  lives  to  honorable 
toil  ;  in  which  labor  should  be  regarded  as  eminently 
honorable,  and  facilities  for  engaging  in  it  should  be 
furnished  as  fully  as  practicable  ;  in  which  the  minds  of 
students  should  be  untrammeled  by  the  restriction  of 
the  freedom  of  speech,  and  undarkened  by  the  shadow 
of  some  great  name ;  in  which  the  most  noble  life  of 
usefulness,  and  practical,  impartial  Christianity,  and 
every  incitement  to  such  a  life  should  be  placed  before 
the  student.  Calling  upon  those  who  sympathised  with 
them  in  their  effort  for  assistance,  they  raised  an  amount 
of  money  sufficient  to  found  an  Institution,  and  on  the 
12th  day  of  April,  1848,  a  charter  was  granted  by  the 
Legislature  to  New  York  Central  College,  located  at 
M'Grawville,  and  on  the  5th  of  September  following  it 
was  opened  to  students.     The  buildings  were  large  and 


LITERARY   AND   BENEVOLEI^rT   INSTITUTIONS.  327 

commodious,  and  to  which  was  connected  a  farm  of 
167  acres,  upon  which  students  could  labor  for  a  fixed 
compensation,  or,  if  preferred,  might  rent  pieces  of  land 
to  cultivate  for  themselves. 

The  number  of  students  at  first  was  small,  and  has 
not  at  any  time  been  large.  Everything  that  an  able 
faculty  could  do  to  advanc-e  the  interests  of  the  Institu- 
tion has  been  done,  and  j^et  the  College  has  net  pros- 
pered. Its  friends  arc  discouraged,  and  the  Board  of 
Directors  disheartened.  Present  appearances  indicate 
that  the  College  will  either  pass  into  the  hands  of  its  col- 
ored friends,  or  be  purchased  by  the  citizens  of  M'Graw- 
ville,  and  be  renovated  and  reorganised  into  a  seminary 
or  academic  institution,  or  finally  cease  to  exist  as  a 
College, 

Prof.  Leonard  O.  Calkins,  the  hitherto  active  and 
efficient  Principal,  has  resigned  his  position,  arfcl  entered 
an  eminent  law  school  in  Albany,  with  a  design  to  fit 
himself  for  the  bar.  Ho  is  a  finished  scholar,  an  accom- 
plished orator,  and  a  true  gentloman  -  a  deep  thinker, 
of  active  temperament,  and  is  in  all  respects  admirably 
qualified  to  fill  the  position  to  which  he  now  aspires-, 
and  we  doabt  not  he  will  prove  an  ornament  t-©  the  legal 
profession. 

CiNciNNATus  Academy  owes  its  origin  to  the  spir- 
ited efforts  of  a  few  of  the  citizens  of  Cincinnatiis, 
through  whose  exertions  a  meeting  was  held  in  Decem- 
ber, 1855,  when  a  committee  was  appointed  to  solicit 
subscription  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  suitable  build- 
ing for  an  academic  school.  A  sufficient  sum  having 
been  obtained,  and  plans  and  stipulations  adopted,  a 
building  was  erected  by  George  L.  Cole,     It  is  delight- 


828  LITERARY    AND   BENEVOLENT   INSTITUTIONS. 

fully  situated  iu  a  retired  part  of  the  village  of  Cincin- 
natus,  in  the  Otselic  valley,  and  commands  a  beautiful 
view  of  the  surrounding-  country.  It  is  by  far  the  most 
tasty  educational  edifice  in  the  county.  The  rooms  are 
spacious  and  airy,  and  are  arranged  with  a  due  regard 
to  comfort  and  convenience.  In  short,  the  building  is 
in  all  respects  an  ornament  to  the  town,  and  especially 
to  the  villag-e  in  which  it  is  located.  And  while  it  is 
honorable  to  the  taste  and  enterprise  of  its  founders,  it 
reflects  great  credit  on  tlie  architect. 

On  the  19th  day  of  December,  1856,  the  Academy 
was  first  occupied  as  a  school-room.  Prof.  Hatch,  Prin- 
cipal, was  a  gTadnate  of  Madison  University.  Miss 
Mary  T.  Gleason,  Preceptress,  and  Miss  Mary  Winters, 
Assistant.  The  school  opened  with  the  most  flattering 
auspices,  but  for  a  variety  of  reasons,  at  the  close  of 
the  first  term  Mr.  Hatch  resig-ned  his  position,  and  was 
succeeded  by  A.  P.  Kelsey,  A.  B. 

In  April,  1857,  the  Academy  w^as  incorporated  by  the 
Eegents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

Miss  Gleason  continued  in  her  position  as  Preceptress 
until  the  Hth  of  March,  1858,  when  in  consequence  of 
the  illness  of  her  friends  she  resigned,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Miss  A.  A.  Field,  a  g-raduate  of  Oneida  Con- 
ference Seminary. 

The  institution  is  indebted  to  the  liberality  of  the 
citizens  of  the  village  for  a  select  library,  consisting  of 
160  volumes,  valued  at  $180  ;  as  also  for  a  philosophical 
and  chemical  apparatus.  The  entire  property  owned  by 
the  corporation  is  $3,654  08.  The  entire  income  for  the 
past  academic  year,  ending  September  Tth,  1858,  was 
$1,232  26.     The  number  of  diflerent  pupils  in  attend- 


LITERARY  AND  BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS.         329 

ance  during  the  year  was  151  ;  tuition  bills  made  out 
for  the  same  time,  24 1. 

The  present  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  are — 
Jeremiah  Bean,  President  ;  Benjamin  F.  Tillinghast, 
Secretary;  John  Kingman,  Jr.,  Treasurer  ;  Peleg  Holmes, 
Matthew  G.  Lee,  Waite  Wells,  Israel  Gee,  K.  R.  Moore, 
Oliver  Kingman,  John  Potter,  Adna  Warner,  Dayton 
Kingman,  Jacob  A.  Ressegieu  ;  A.  P,  Kelsey,  Register. 

Teachers. 

Ambrose  P.  Kelsey,  A.  B.,  Principal  ;  Miss  A.  A.  Field, 
Preceptress  ;  Miss  Cornelia  J.  Button,  Assistant  ;  Frank 
Place,  Mathematics  ;  Miss  Cornelia  Kingman,  Music  ; 
Almon  H.  Benedict,  Penmanship. 

The  first  apportionment  of  the  Regents  was  $1 15  35  ; 
that  of  the  present  year  is  $184  34.  There  has  been 
also  apportioned  the  sum  of  $60  for  the  purchase  of 
apparatus. 

In  November  last  this  institution  was  selected  by  the 
Regents  of  the  University  to  instruct  a  class  in  common 
school  teaching,  and  the  class  is  now  in  process  of 
instruction. 

At  the  time  of  our  visit  to  the  Academy,  there  were 
eighty  students  in  attendance,  and  the  various  exer- 
cises were  conducted  with  marked  success.  At  the  date 
of  writing  the  number  in  attendance  is  much  larger. 
The  career  of  the  institution  thus  far  has  been  of  unex- 
ampled prosperity.  Not  an  instance  of  discipline  has 
yet  occurred.  And  from  the  character  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  we  cannot  doubt  but  that  it  will  continue  to 
increase  in  popularity.  They  will  use  every  laudable 
effort  to  promote  its  prosperity,  and  furnish  every  facility 
15* 


330       LiTEEAET  A>T>  BEs-i:voLi:5T  rs'siiiL  iio:?fs. 

which  the  ability  and  talents  of  competent  teachers  can 
impart. 

Prof.  Kelsev  graduated  with  high  honors  in  1856. 
He  is  a  self-made  man.  having  been  deprived  by  death 
of  his  father  when  bat  five  years  old  ;  he  early  learned 
to  depend  npon  his  own  energies  for  success  in  life,  and 
bracing  himself  for  a  career  of  emulation,  he  has  grad- 
ually carved  his  way  to  his  present  honored  position. 
With  the  faithful  and  accomplished  principal  at  its  head, 
the  Cincinnatus  Academy  will  soon  rank  among  the 
best  educational  institutions  in  the  State.  Indeed,  we 
believe  that  with  the  experienced  and  highly  competent 
teachers,  and  the  valuable  philosophical  and  chemical 
apparatus,  the  academy  offers  every  facility  needed  to 
impart  a  good,  thorough,  and  practical  education. 

The  Academy  is  entirely  free  from  that  baneful  spe- 
cies of  aristocracy  so  common  in  older  institutions,  and 
hence  should  be  vigilantly  guarded,  that  the  pernicious 
influence  so  seriously  felt  in  other  localities  may  not  be 
permitted  to  enter  its  honored  halls. 

Odd  Fellows. 
This  Order  was  founded  in  Cortlandville,  February 
16th,  18-tT,  by  the  institution  of  a  Lodge  ;  and  again  at 
Homer,  March  30th,  1847,  and  now  numbers  six  lodges, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  statistics  : 


I«lg«. 

Xo. 

P.  frt. 

Xeab'i. 

BeecJiM.. 

K.  G's. 

Tkm^adog*, 

50 

8 

37 

102  26 

Frank  Goodjear. 

Homer, 

280 

20 

67 

136  50 

0.  Porter. 

Pieblc. 

409 

8 

19 

65  00 

H.  iL  Tan  Bn*iA. 

MmOioa, 

415 

4 

24 

171  00 

John  H.  Preston- 

M-GrawTflk, 

459 

8 

2S 

75  92 

Leander  B.  Palmer. 

Virgil, 

4€5 

7 

15 

SI  88 

Henry  Lace. 

LITSaiAET   AXD    BEXEVOLE^-T    IX5TITmOX5.  331 

AsTROESSA  Encampment,  No.  19. 

The  ERcampment  is  a  higher  branch  of  the  Order, 
having  a  separate  organization,  but  receiving  its  char- 
acter from  the  Grand  Encampment,  and  is  otherwise 
responsible  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  United  States. 
Its  charter  was  granted  Jannary,  1^4:8,  and  was  insti- 
tuted February  i2th,  1848. 

D.  Hawkes,  R.  0.  Reynolds,  Seth  Haight,  J,  S.  Leach, 
J.  D.  Clark,  E.  M.  Leal,  L.  Reynolds,  charter  members. 

J.  S.  Leach,  D.  Hawkes,  E.  M.  Leal,  L,  Reynolds,  R.  0, 
tleynolds,  A.  G.  Bennett,  G.  K*  Stiles,  J.  Freeman,  1.  M, 
Seaman,  J.  B.  Fairchild,  Z.  C.  Allis,  S.  R.  Hunter,  K 
P.  Goodrich,  J.  Price,  TV.  0.  Barnard,  W.  S.  CopelaJid, 
P.  G.  P's. 

This  branch  of  the  Order  is  in  a  very  flourishing  con- 
dition. "  The  door  of  the  Patriarch's  tent  is  never  closed 
to  the  needy  or  distressed." 

Cherishing  the  principles  of  love,  purity  and  fidelity, 
temperance,  benevolence  and  mutual  aid,  a  galaxy  of 
unrivaled  briliants,  the  members  of  the  various  lodges 
have  extended  to  the  needy  and  distressed  the  more 
substantial  means  of  comfort  and  social  union. 

In  September,  1854,  a  Masonic  Lodge  was  instituted 
in  Homer  by  dispensation  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  the  Hon.  Ashbel  Patterson  was 
appointed  W.  M.,  Cornelius  R  Gould,  S.  W.,  and  Lymaa 
Reynolds,  J.  W. 

This  lodge,  under  the  most  favorable  auspices,  i-s 
ificreasing  in  numbers  and  in  means  of  usefulness,  and 
we  have  no  reason  to  doubt  that  a  long  course  of  pros- 
perity is  open  before  it. 


CHAPTER    XVI, 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

"  Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  uiS, 
We  can  make  our  lives  sublime  ; 
And,  departing,  leave  behind  us, 
Footprints  on  the  sands  of  time." 

It  is  one  of  the  pleasurable  duties  of  the  annalist  to 
record  the  names  and  services  of  the  most  active  and 
energetic  characters  who  have  taken  part  in  forming 
new  settlements^  originating  and  reducing  to  system- 
atized order  sUch  plans  and  measures  as  appeared  best 
calculated  to  secure  union  and  harmony  among  the  va- 
rious discordant  elements  of  which  society  is  composed, 
to  extend  civilization  and  dignify  virtuous  character. 
A  due  appreciation  of  the  blessings  of  civil  and  relig- 
ious liberty  that  surround  us,  urges  us  to  laudable 
efforts  to  perpetuate  those  privileges,  and  contemplate 
the  circumstances  that  tended  most  largely  to  make  us 
thus  happy  and  prosperous.  The  noble  spirits  of  other 
days  who  devoted  their  best  energies  to  the  achieve- 
ment of  the  means  of  happiness  with  which  we  are  sur- 
rounded, are  deserving  of  our  warmest  gratitude.  We 
honor  them  for  what  they  were  while  living,  and  now 
that  they  are  dead,  regret  that  we  can  only  pay  them 
just  homage  by  recording  their  worthy  efforts  in  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  33S 

furtherance  of  the  progressive  improvements  of  the 
times  in  which  they  labored,  and  in  emulating  their 
cherished  virtues.  And  to  those  who  still  survive  the 
stern  strife  of  the  enterprising  and  brave  pioneer,  we 
extend  our  warmest  and  heartfelt  congratulations.  It 
is  not  our  province  to  record  their  names  or  virtues  in 
marble  or  in  brass,  in  poetry  or  in  eloquence  ;  but  we 
will  hope  to  make  a  plain  yet  faithful  record  of  a  few 
of  the  more  prominent  characteristics  which  marked 
their  course  through  life.  True  history  is  but  a  simple 
and  unvarnished  record  of  men's  actions.  The  few 
usually  originate  measures  of  public  policy  which  are 
adopted  by  the  many,  and  when  the  projectors  of  those 
measures  devotedly  cherish  a  sympathy  of  feeling  for 
those  whom  they  are  calculated  mostly  to  aifect,  do  their 
acts  reflect  credit  upon  themselves,  and  inspire  us  with 
a  regard  for  their  worthy  efforts.  The  few  names  we 
have  selected  are  such  as  best  presented  us  with  posi- 
tive data  regarding  their  lives.  True,  it  has  been  diffi- 
cult for  us  to  discriminate  between  the  many  who  ap- 
peared equally  worthy  of  a  brief  notice  from  us^  and  of 
whom  we  should  have  been  pleased  to  have  recorded 
their  generous  efforts  in  the  popular  enterprises  of  the 
day,  did  not  circumstances  and  the  limits  of  oitr  work 
preclude  the  possibility  of  extending  to  any  great  length 
our  biographical  sketches.  We  shall,  therefore,  be  par- 
doned for  selecting  a  few  names  only  from  among  those 
who  have  labored  equally,  ardently  and  devotedly  for 
the  advancement  of  our  happiness  and  prosperity. 

Tom  Antone,  was  born  at  Oquaga,  (now  Windsor,) 
in  July,  mo.  This  place  has  been  made  famous  in 
history   on   account   of    its   having   been   the    ancient 


S34  BrOGEAPHICALi 

dwelling-place  of  a  respectable  tribe  of  Indians-^the 
proud  old  Romans  of  the  wilderness.  Being  located 
upon  the  Susquehanna  river,  and  but  a  little  distant 
from  "the  north-east  angle  of  the  Great  Bend,"  it  natu- 
rally became  a  half-way  resting-place  for  the  Six  Na- 
tions, as  they  passed  and  repassed  upon  the  war-path, 
or  as  they  more  frequently  propelled  their  canoes  be*- 
tween  the  Mohawk  and  Wyoming  Valleys. 

The  father  of  young  Antone  was  a  chief  of  great  and 
commanding  influence  ;  and  he  reared  his  son  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  strictest  precepts  of  right.  He  was 
undoubtedly  of  French  extraction,  as  many  of  his  natu-- 
ral  eccentricities  were  peculiarly  French.  He  bore 
upon  his  person  the  certifieates  of  his  valor,  for  he  had 
distinguished  himself  in  many  a  hard-fought  battle. 
His  flesh  had  been  cleft  with  arrows,  and  his  bones  had 
been  shattered  with  leaden  missiles.  In  1794,  though 
his  hair  had  become  whitened  by  the  frosts  of  time, 
and  his  form  bent  with  age,  he  bade  adieu  to  the  valley 
ef  Ohnaquaga,  and  united  with  his  brethren  in  arms  in 
Ohio,  who  were  preparing  to  make  a  bold  defence 
against  the  invading  force  of  General  Wayne. 

At  about  this  time,  Tom  came  into  the  Tioughnioga 
valley,  and  erected  his  rude  wigwam  a  little  to  the 
east,  yet  within  sight  of  the  present  village  of  Cort- 
land. His  disposition  was  antagonistic  to  that  of  his 
father,  who,  when  around  the  camp  fire,  took  pride  in 
telling  his  shrewd  and  often  comic  yarns,  or  practical 
jokes.  On  the  contrary,  Tom  was  strictly  taciturn— a 
stern,  cold  Roman  hunter.  His  path  liad  been  crossed 
by  a  northern  trapper,  whose  polished  steel  pierced  the 
heart  of  his  young  and  cherished  princess*  and  slie  fell 


a  bloody  sacrifice  to  his  heartless  inhumanity.  Re- 
venge, hatred  deep  and  undying,  settled  upon  his  hith^ 
erto  generous  mind,  and  he  resolved  to  avenge  the 
wrong  by  pouring  out  the  blood  of  his  fiendish  foe. 
Numerous  instances  are  related  of  his  cruelties  inflicted 
upon  wild  beasts,  in  imitation  of  the  horrible  tortures 
which  were  to  be  visited  upon  the  person  of  the  mur* 
derous  trapper. 

And  yet,  Antone  possessed  many  fine  traits  of  char- 
acter, among  which  stood  preeminent  an  idolatrous 
affection  for  her  whom  he  called  "  wife."  His  love,  like 
the  generous  sympathies  of  the  heart,  was  warm  and 
ardent*  Indeed,  we  might  describe  it  as  being  purely 
reverential.  He  hoped  entirely  to  exclude  himself  from 
the  association  of  **  the  pale  face,''  unless  he  could 
destroy  the  foe  who  had  wrecked  his  happiness.  As 
the  refining  hand  of  civilization  appeared  in  front  of 
his  cabin,  he  drew  his  blanket  more  closely  about  his 
person,  and  was  seen  retreating  back  into  the  wilder- 
ness. The  New  Englanders,  with  their  rifles,  strode 
manfully  through  the  Tioughnioga  valley,  or  ascended 
the  hillside  in  pursuit  of  game,  without  receiving  the 
slightest  insult  from  their  savage  brethren.  Antone 
would  have  regarded  their  conduct  with  the  greatest 
displeasure,  had  they  conducted  otherwise  than  in  ac- 
cordance with  his  expressed  wishes.  He  loved  fame — 
he  loved  glory  ;  but  he  would  purchase  neither  on  any 
other  terms  but  such  as  justice  dictated,  or  honor  re- 
quired. His  hate,  really,  was  directed  or  cherished 
against  only  one  person,  and  that  was  the  murderer  of 
her  who  had  strewed  his  youthful  path  with  the  fairest 
of  flowers. 


KOGEAPHICAL. 

Leaving  Tioughnioga  valley,  he  struck  forward  in 
the  wilderness  in  a  direct  line  for  the  highest  elevation 
bordering  the  majestic  Mohawk.  Here  by  mere  acci- 
dent he  caught  sight  of  his  mortal  enemy.  The  war- 
whoop  was  instantly  echoed  from  hill  to  hill,  and  An- 
tone  leaped  from  the  threshold  of  his  cabin  and  darted 
forward  in  hot  pursuit  of  the  fast  disappearing  and 
hated  destroyer  of  his  happiness.  The  pursuit  was 
continued  to  the  shores  of  Ontario,  beyond  the  thunder- 
ing Niagara,  around  the  southern  coast  of  Lake  Erie, 
to  the  banks  of  the  Great  Father  of  waters,  where  he 
left  the  coward's  heart  upon  the  sandy  beach,  a  foul  and 
fetid  thing. 

He  fought  under  the  brave  Tah-wan-nyes*  at  the  ter- 
rible massacre  of  Wyoming.  He  was  at  the  Genesee 
Castle  on  the  approach  of  General  Sullivan,  and  fled 
just  in  time  to  escape  the  vengeance  of  the  troops. 
Standing  at  a  little  distance,  his  eyes  beheld  its  utter 
annihilation.  But  his  proud  and  noble  spirit  did  not 
break.  His  mind  went  back  to  the  achievements  and 
wide  desolation  which  marked  the  course  of  his  breth- 
ren when  they  swept  along  the  majestic  Mohawk,  bear- 
ing the  torch  of  conflagration  ;  and  his  dark  eye  saw 
the  ghastly  spirit  of  massacre,  charred  and  blackened, 
while  the  voice  of  lamentation  was  heard  throughout 
the  settlement  of  Cherry  Valley.  He  clenched  his  toma- 
hawk with  a  firm  grasp,  and  with  his  long  knife  sheathed 
at  his  side,  went  forth  to  battle  for  glory  and  conquest 
in  the  fairer  fields  of  the  "  sunny  South." 

And  still  Antoue  lives  ;  and  he  who  visits  the  West- 

*  Gov.  Black  Snake, 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  337 

ern  Reservation  may  look  upon  his  stooping"  form,  and 
behold  his  unblenching  eyes  as  they  glare  upon  the 
objects  around  liim. 

lie  was  never  cowardly — never  unmerciful,  unless 
driven  to  the  adoption  of  measures  which,  under  other 
circumstances  than  such  as  those  tending  to  utter  exter- 
mination, he  would  have  despised  and  detested. 

Joshua  Ballard  was  born  in  the  town  of  Holland, 
Massachusetts,  July  21,  1114.  His  early  literary  ad- 
vantages were  respectable,  and  by  a  close  application 
to  study  he  became  an  excellent  scholar.  The  various 
refining  influences  under  which  he  was  reared  were 
well  calculated  to  fix  their  impress  upon  his  naturally 
generous  and  impulsive  heart.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one,  (lt97,)  he  left  his  native  town  and  selected  a  loca- 
tion in  the  town  of  Homer.  The  next  year  he  returned 
and  moved  in  his  young  and  interesting  wife,  who  hav- 
ing enjoyed  similar  advantages  in  obtaining  an  English 
education,  and  in  cultivating  the  moral  and  social  vir- 
tues, was  rendered  an  agreeable  and  cherished  com- 
panion. They  came  in  by  way  of  Cazenovia.  Their 
entry  into  the  town  of  Homer,  then  a  mere  "  dot  in  the 
wilderness,"  on  horseback,  and  by  a  scarcely  discernible 
"  bridle-path,"  was  hailed  by  the  firm-anchored  forester 
with  sensations  of  heart-felt  joy.  He  originally  pur- 
chased about  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  but  subse- 
quently made  several  valuable  additions.  He  was  affa- 
ble and  courteous  in  his  deportment.  In  intellect  he 
afforded  a  rare  combination  of  excellence.  His  judg- 
ment was  sound  and  active.  He  read  much — thought 
much,  and  as  a  natural  consequence,  usually  arrived  at 
correct  conclusions.     He  became  an  active  participant 


^8  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

in  the  political  strifes  of  the  day,  and  few,  if  any,  in 
our  county,  have  acquired  a  greater  or  a  more  correct 
reputation  as  a  practical  thinking  man.  And  few,  per- 
haps, if  any,  for  upwards  of  half  a  century  have  been 
more  intimately  connected  with  public  affairs, — political 
or  progressive, — than  Mr.  Ballard  ;  and  the  numerous 
offices  of  trust  and  emolument  to  which  he  was  at 
various  periods  elevated,  furnish  the  most  positive  evi- 
dence of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  as  a  just  and 
worthy  citizen. 

He  taught  the  first  school  in  the  old  town  of  Ilomer, 
was  one  of  the  *•  projectors  and  directors  of  the  Fifth 
Great  Western  Turnpike  Company,  whose  road  was 
built  at  an  early  day  through  this  county.  The  Cort- 
land Academy  owes  much  of  its  present  as  well  as  past 
high  reputation  to  the  early  exertions  of  Mr.  Ballard, 
who  was  one  of  its  founders  and  most  permanent  sup- 
porters. He  was  also  a  firm  pillar  in  the  Congrega- 
tional church  of  Homer,  of  which  he  became  a  member 
in  1813.  He  was  appointed  Sheriff,  April  30,  1810. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Legislature  of  1816. 
He  was  appointed  County  Clerk,  July  7,  1819,  soon 
after  which  he  located  in  Cortlandville.  He  also  held 
most  of  the  important  town  offices  in  Homer  and  Cort- 
land. Atone  period  of  his  life  he  took  quite  an  interest 
in  military'  affairs.  He  raised  the  first  company  of 
cavalry  in  the  countj^,  and  was  appointed  its  captain  : 
and  afterwards  held  the  office  of  Brigadier  Major  and 
Inspector. 

The  greater  portion  of  his  life,  however,  was  spent  in 
agricultural  and  mercantile  pursuits.  The  impulses  of 
Lis  heart  were  warm  and  ardent.    His  philanthropy  gave 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  3S9 

ample  evidence  of  a  fellow  feeling  and  sympathetic 
nature.  Place  and  station  never  swayed  nor  influenced 
him  from  the  path  of  duty.  Kind  and  generous,  his 
social  and  beneficent  sympathies  were  always  favor- 
able to  the  unfortunate  or  oppressed.  Frank  and  open, 
having  no  concealments,  he  was  never  charged  with 
being  time-serving.  He  never  trimmed  his  sail  to 
catch  the  popular  breeze,  but  rather  sought  honest 
defeat  than  corrupt  success. 

He  died  January  10,  1855,  having  reached  fourscore 
years.  His  illness  was  short  but  severe,  yet  his  dying 
moments  were  like  those  of  a  child  sinking  into  a  calm 
and  pleasant  sleep,  and  his  approach  to  the  tomb  was 
like  that  of  one 

**  Who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
Around  him,  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams." 

The  hand  that  once  aided  in  subduing  the  hoary 
growth  of  forest  trees,  and  in  planting  and  rearing  the 
early  germs  of  civilization,  is  cold  and  nerveless.  The 
tongue  that  often  spoke  fervently  and  eloquently,  is 
mute  and  dumb  in  the  cold  chamber  of  the  grave.  The 
reflection,  pleasing  and  grateful,  is  forced  upon  the 
mind,  and  we  justly  exclaim — 

"He  was  the  noblest  Roman  of  them  all ; 
His  life  was  gentle  ;  and  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him,  that  Nature  might  stand  up 
And  say  to  all  the  world,  this  was  a  man." 

John  Albright,  the  pioneer  of  East  Homer,  was  the 
son  of  a  plain  republican,  who  was  originally  from  the 
land  of  the  liberty-loving  Tell.  Of  his  ancestors  we 
know  but  little — of  his  birth-place,  nothing.      Nor  have 


340  BIOGEAPHICAL. 

we  any  definite  information  regarding  his  early  advan- 
tages ;  but,  from  his  limited  knowledge  of  letters,  we 
are  left  to  conclude  that  thefy  were  not  of  the  most  flat- 
tering character.  His  father  died  a  little  previous  to 
the  Revolution.  He  had,  however,  some  time  before 
been  apprenticed  to  the  tailoring  business,  to  a  gentle- 
man whose  only  son  was  drafted  at  the  commencement 
of  hostilities  into  the  American  service.  The  young 
man  not  appreciating  this  favor,  and  his  father  not  rel- 
ishing the  idea  of  his  son  being  made  a  mark  for  Brit- 
ish fusileers,  consented,  after  due  reflection,  that  young 
Albright,  who  had  offered  to  volunteer,  might  go  in  his 
son's  place.  The  matter  being  thus  settled,  John 
Albright,  then  only  in  his  sixteenth  year,  with  a  heart 
full  of  patriotism  which  neither  difficulty  nor  danger 
could  chill,  entered  into  the  service  of  his  country,  and 
went  forth  to  win  laurels  upon  the  ensanguined  field  of 
military  glory.  We  have  not  the  records  at  hand  from 
which  to  glean  the  name  of  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  detachment  to  which  he  was  at  first  connected. 
Numerous  commissions  were  tendered  him,  but  de- 
clined. In  the  office  of  Quarter  Master  he  officiated  for 
some  time.  He  remained  in  active  service  until  the 
fall  of  Montgomery,  when  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
British  and  carried  to  New  York.  He  remained  there 
eleven  months,  sufi'ering  all  the  hardships  to  which 
prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  were  exposed  ;  but 
his  uniform  good  behavior  and  honorable  deportment 
won  for  him  many  friends.  At  the  time  he  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  he  had  an  excellent  dog,  to  which 
he  was  much  attached.  After  repeated  efforts  the  dog 
was  separated  from  his  master,  and  taken  possession  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  341 

by  a  British  officer.  He  was  occasionally^  permitted  to 
visit  his  sister  Elizabeth,  who  was  living  in  the  family 
of  an  English  surgeon.  Just  before  he  was  exchanged 
he  was  on  his  way  thither,  and  was  very  much  startled 
by  something  springing  suddenly  upon  his  back  ;  turn- 
ing quickly  around  he  was  greatly  surprised  at  behold- 
ing his  own  dog,  the  officer  then  being  at  head-quarters. 
At  the  time  the  animal  was  taken  in  custody  the  officer 
requested  Mr.  Albright  to  tell  his  name,  which,  for  cer- 
tain reasons,  he  refused.  But  finally,  being  assured 
that  n©  harm  should  occur  to  him  in  consequence,  he 
told  him  that  his  name  was  Liberty — a  name  that  was 
dear  to  the  oppressed,  though  hateful  to  tyrants. 

After  being  exchanged  he  again  entered  into  the 
service  of  his  country,  and  continued  an  efficient  actor 
until  after  the  taking  of  Fort  Stanwix.  Soon  after  this 
event,  he  and  a  few  other  soldiers,  being  engaged  at  a 
short  distance  from  the  main  army  in  picking  berries, 
were  surprised  and  taken  prisoners  by  a  company  of 
tories  and  Indians,  and  were  conducted  to  Canada.  We 
regret  that  we  are  able  to  give  but  a  few  of  the  inter- 
esting incidents  connected  with  his  second  captivity. 
During  his  toilsome  march  to  Canada  he  was  compelled 
to  carry  a  heavy  pack  ;  his  shoes  having  become  worth- 
less, were  left  on  the  way  ;  and  his  feet,  already  blis- 
tered and  torn,  became  so  very  sore  that  he  could  be 
tracked  by  his  own  blood.  There  were  in  the  company 
an  old  Indian  and  an  aged  squaw,  whom  he  had  previ- 
ously known, — the  former  he  had  befriended  ;  the  latter 
called  him  "  son,"  while  he  courteously  called  her 
"mother."  They  were  consequently  his  friends.  The 
young  Indians  appeared  to  take  pride  in  vexing  and  tor- 


64^1  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

luring  the  prisoners.  One  of  them  sought  every  oppor- 
tunity to  follow  close  behind  Mr.  Albright,  and  tread  upon 
his  lacerated,  bleeding  heels.  He  feared  to  make  any  re- 
sistance, lest  it  should  offend  the  chief  and  other  influ- 
ential Indians.  But  the  repeated  cruelties  inflicted  upon 
him  at  length  exhausted  his  patience  and  forbearance  ; 
he  turned  suddenly  upon  his  persecutor,  and  with  one 
powerful  and  well-directed  blow  of  his  fist  laid  him  at 
full  length  upon  the  ground.  As  was  natural,  he  ex- 
pected to  meet  the  indignant  frowns  of  the  Indians, 
but  to  his  surprise  they  clapped  their  hands  and 
laughed  most  heartily  ;  then,  approaching  him,  they 
slapped  him  on  the  shoulder  and  exclaimed,  "  brave 
man  !  brave  man  I" 

At  another  time  the  march  had  been  so  rapid  and 
protracted,  and  his  pack  so  heavy,  that  he  thought  he 
must  sink  and  die  under  it.  He  at  length  threw  it 
down,  declaring  that  he  would  carry  it  no  farther. 
Again  he  expected  to  meet  the  angry  displeasure  of  his 
enemies,  and  perhaps  be  tomahawked  on  the  spot  ; 
but,  after  they  had  uttered  some  angry  words  and  ex- 
hibited many  fearful  gesticulations,  an  Indian  was 
ordered  to  take  up  his  burden,  and  he  was  permitted  to 
proceed  unmolested.  When  they  encamped  for  the 
night  he  was  tied  to  a  tree,  and  during  the  absence  of 
his  protector,  an  Indian,  whose  hate  seemed  unrelenting, 
threw  his  tomahawk  at  him,  which  fortunately  missed 
him  and  spent  its  force  in  a  tree  not  more  than  three 
inches  from  his  head.  He  was  finally  obliged  to  run 
the  gauntlet.  Then  his  face  was  painted  jet  black, 
indicating  that  his  death  had  been  determined  on.  But 
the  squaw  whom  he  called  "  mother"  obtained  access 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  343 

to  him,  and  removed  the  filthy  composition  from  his  face  ; 
and,  through  her  influence,  he  escaped  with  only  a  few 
lacerating  blows  upon  his  back.  Reaching  the  point  of 
destination,  he  was  thrown  into  the  prison,  the  damp- 
ness of  which  soon  brought  on  a  fever.  He  was 
attended  by  a  British  physician,  who  gave  him  such 
large  doses  of  calomel  that  the  most  fearful  result 
was  anticipated.  His  tongue  became  excessively 
swollen,  and  protruded  from  his  mouth  ;  but  by  the  kind 
interposition  and  skill  of  a  French  physician  he  was 
saved.  After  suflfering  every  species  of  cruelty  and 
hardship  for  nearly  a  year,  he  was  again  exchanged 
and  returned  to  active  service,  in  which  he  continued 
until  the  announcement  of  peace. 

He  was  certainly  a  brave  and  heroic  man,  displaying 
the  true  characteristics  of  the  reflecting  and  devoted 
soldier  ;  not  the  least  of  which  were  exhibited  while 
accompanying  General  Sullivan  during  most  of  his  skir- 
mishes with  the  Indians  and  tories. 

He  married  a  young  lady  by  the  name  of  Catharine 
Smith.  They  spent  several  years  in  the  city,  but  at  length 
concluded  to  exchange  the  pleasures  of  city  life  for 
those  of  a  more  rural  character  ;  and  with  his  cherished 
wife,  four  daughters,  and  aged  mother-in-law,  he  left 
with  the  determination  to  locate  on  the  land  which  had 
been  assigned  by  his  country  for  services  in  her  cause. 
He  stopped  and  remained  a  year  and  a  half  at  Charles- 
town,  a  little  west  of  Schenectady.  During  this  time, 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  on  horseback,  he  came  on  and 
explored  his  *'  military"  lot ;  after  determining  to  oc- 
cupy it,  they  returned  to  Charlestown  and  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1*197.     On  the  12th  of  March,  they 


344  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

reached  Mr.  Benedict's  house  in  Truxton,  where  they 
remained  until  Mr.  Albright  could  erect  a  small  house 
on  his  lot.  It  was  of  the  most  primitive  character, 
being  composed  of  logs  covered  with  bark. 

His  nearest  neighbors  were  Mr.  Benedict,  on  the  east, 
near  where  Judah  Pierce  now  lives  ;  and  John  Miller, 
on  the  west,  where  the  willow  trees  have  since  grown. 
Toil  and  privation  discouraged  him  not ;  he  had  already 
passed  through  the  trying  scenes  of  life.  Necessity  com- 
pelled him  to  go  to  mill  a  distance  of  forty  miles  ;  there 
being  no  road,  he  had  to  pick  his  way  by  marked  trees. 
He  was  unaccustomed  to  agricultural  pursuits,  having 
no  knowledge  of  farming,  or  the  best  mode  to  adopt  in 
order  to  clear  the  heavy  growth  of  forest  trees  prepara- 
tory to  fitting  the  soil  for  the  more  common  crops.  Help 
was  difficult  to  obtain, — his  children  all  being  girls, 
who  from  the  nature  of  things  could  be  of  but  little 
service  to  him, — and  consequently  he  had  to  rely  on  his 
own  strong  arms  and  resolute  will  to  sustain  and  ac- 
complish what  in  the  future  crowned  his  persevering 
efforts.  As  his  daughters  grew  up,  they  learned  to  do 
most  kinds  of  out-door  work  ;  and  we  are  told,  upon  ex- 
cellent authority,  that  his  mother-in-law,  then  sixty-five 
years  of  age,  and  who  had  previously  known  nothing  of 
country  life,  soon  learned  to  chop,  and  would  fell  from 
six  to  eigiit  old  foresters  in  a  day.  Wolves  and  bears 
were  plenty.  But  he  paid  little  attention  to  hunting, 
save  when  rambling  through  the  woods  in  pursuit  of 
his  cattle  ;  then  his  gun  was  his  constant  companion 
and  trusty  friend.  At  one  time  he  discovered  five  bears 
in  a  tree  gathering  nuts,  two  of  which  he  managed  to 
bring  down,  and  which  served  as  a  very  good  substi- 
tute for  beef. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  345 

As  a  neighbor  and  friend  he  was  universally  es- 
teemed. His  benevolence  was  proverbial.  Previous  to 
his  locating-  in  East  Homer,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church.  In  1808  his  house  was 
opened  for  religious  meetings.  Subsequent!}"  himself 
and  wife  united  with  the  Methodist  order,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  meetings  were  held  beneath  the  roof  that 
sheltered  the  pioneer  family  from  the  storm-beaten  blast. 
Favoring  circumstances  led  others  to  locate  near  him, 
among  the  first  of  whom  were  James  White,  Samuel 
Greggs,  David  Lindley,  and  Samuel  Grandall. 

Mr.  Albright  lived  on  the  most  intimate  terms  with 
his  neighbors,  and  to  many  he  extended  the  hand  of  a 
father's  friendship.  If  at  any  time  they  were  in  pecuni- 
ary difiScult}^  they  hesitated  not  in  appealing  to  him 
with  an  almost  positive  certainty  of  obtaining  relief. 
He  pursued  an  elevated  course  of  action,  entering  into 
none  of  the  speculations  so  common  to  new  settlements  ; 
and  although  he  did  not  amass  any  great  wealth,  yet 
he  secured  a  reasonable  competence,  from  which  he 
could  draw. 

Asa  White  was  born  in  Monson,  Mass.,  in  the  year 
17*14.  His  educational  advantages  were  such  as  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  State  afforded.  He  early 
exhibited  those  traits  of  character  which  peculiarly  dis- 
tinguish the  business  man.  Inheriting  the  energy  and 
active  habits  of  his  father,  he  soon  learned  to  rely  upon 
his  own  efforts  for  self-advancement  in  the  world,  and 
thus  by  persevering  industry,  econora}^,  and  a  just  ap- 
preciation of  an  emulous  reputation,  he  became  the  ar- 
tificer of  his  own  fortune  and  the  moulder  of  his  own 
character.  In  1798,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  he  emi- 
16 


346  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

grated  to  Homer  and  located  on  lot  45.  He  erected  a 
house  on  the  site  now  covered  by  the  residence  of  Jed- 
ediah  Barber.  The  farm  is  the  same  as  now  occupied 
by  him,  except  that  Barber  has  added  to  it  on  the  north 
two  small  pieces  of  land  which  were  known  in  an  early 
day  as  Maj.  Stimson's  orchard,  and  Judge  Ross'  pasture. 
There  has  been  sold  from  it  the  plot  of  ground  lying 
between  Main  street  and  the  creek,  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  Stimson  tavern  property,  and  on  the  south 
by  what  was  known  as  Dr.  Owen's  orchard. 

He  was  married  in  1800  to  Miss  ClaricyKeep,  daugh- 
ter of  Caleb  Keep,  who  purchased  and  settled  in  1798 
on  the  farm  now'  occupied  by  Noah  Hitchcock. 

At  the  date  of  Mr.  White's  advent  into  Homer,  a  grist- 
mill frame  had  been  raised  and  was  partially  enclosed. 
The  proprietors  were  Solomon  Hubbard  and  John  Keep. 
The  interest  of  the  latter  was  purchased  by  Mr.  White, 
and  the  enterprise  speedily  pushed  to  a  final  comple- 
tion. The  bur-stones,  or  rather  rock-stones,  were  pro- 
cured from  the  bank-  east  of  the  residence  of  Lyman 
Hubbard,  and  were  drawn  by  thirteen  yoke  of  cattle  to 
their  place  of  productive  labor.  The  bolts  were  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  White,  of  Utica.  The  mill,  though  fin- 
ished as  originally  designed,  produced  only  a  very  ordi- 
nary specimen  of  flour.  But  as  there  was  no  other  mill  in 
the  county,  the  people,  sensitive  of  their  wants,  were  not 
disposed  to  find  fault.  The  interest  of  Mr.  Hubbard  was 
subsequently  purchased  by  Mr.  White,  and  the  mill  was 
thoroughly  renovated  and  improved.  When  it  was  fully 
completed,  the  people  believed  that  they  had  reached  a 
great  attainment.  In  it  they  held  their  public  meetings, 
their  Sabbath  worship,  and  social  gatherings.    Here  the 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  347 

young  folks  held  their  balls.  We  have  in  our  possession 
a  record  dating  back  to  that  period.  Mr.  White  was  a 
manager  of  one  of  these  entertainments.  The  managers 
were  placed  in  a  rather  unpleasant  predicament.  Nei- 
ther rum  nor  molasses  was  to  be  had  in  town.  And  as 
a  failure  to  procure  such  a  desideratum  would  be  an 
unpardonable  lack  of  gallantry  in  gentlemen,  a  special 
messenger  was  sent  post-haste  thirty-three  miles  to 
Manlius  Square  for  a  gallon  of  rum  and  a  half  gallon  of 
molasses,  from  which  they  made  blackstrap  for  the 
company.  The  Maine  Law  had  not  then  passed.  The 
grist-mill,  now  owned  by  Messrs.  Cogswell  and  Wilcox, 
covers  the  site  of  the  original  or  first  mill  erected  in  the 
county.  The  various  kinds  of  grain  ground  at  this  mill 
exceeds  thirty-one  thousand  bushels  per  year.  It  is  a 
fitting  landmark  or  memorial  to  be  situated  on  the 
original  site  of  the  first  mill  erected  in  the  Tioughnioga 
valley,  whereby  the  people  may  be  the  better  enabled 
to  point  out  the  spot  where  the  olden  relic  stood.  If 
the  primitive  settlers  "  rejoiced  over  the  final  comple- 
tion of  White's  mill,"  with  its  single  run  of  stone,  how 
much  more  should  their  descendants  rejoice  at  having  a 
first-class  mill,  with  its  four  runs  of  stones  in  constant 
operation,  producing  the  very  best  quality  of  flour  ? 

Mr.  White  was  the  owner  of  three-fourths  of  the  first 
cotton  factory  erected  west  of  Utica.  It  stood  on  the 
ground  opposite  the  present  building.  It  was  built  in 
1813-14,  and  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  25th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1815. 

Mr.  White  possessed  many  valuable  traits  of  charac- 
ter, and  v.^as  especially  serviceable  in  giving  the  em- 
bryo village  an  auspicious  commencement.      He  pes- 


348  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

sessed  a  clear,  vig-oroiis  intellect,  strong  phj^sical  en- 
ergy, and  eminent  business  talents.  His  manners  were 
modest,  his  habits  social,  and  his  temper  genial  and  for- 
giving.    He  died  December  22d,  1843,  aged  69  years. 

*'  As  weary,  worn-out  winds  expire, 
Or  night-dews  fall  gently  to  the  ground, 
So  calm  his  exit." 

Mrs.  White   deceased  February  23d,  1849,  aged  t5 

years. 

'  *  A  light  has  gone  from  out  the  sky, 
A  star  has  left  its  sphere." 

They  lie  entombed  in  the  new  cemetery  at  Cortland 
Village,  where  an  appropriate  monument,  reared  by  the 
hand  of  fond  affection,  marks  the  place  of  their  sepul- 
chre. 

Horace  and  Hamilton  White,  two  of  the  most  wealthy 
and  enterprising  citizens  of  the  Central  City,  are  his 
sons.  They  have  passed  through  a  career  of  active  life, 
public  employment  and  private  enterprise,  having  but 
few  parallels  ;  and  they  are  everywhere  regarded  with 
marked  consideration  and  respect.  Their  educational 
privileges  ended  before  they  had  reached  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  and  yet  they  are  gentlemen  of  education, 
— self-made  men, — eminent  in  all  the  varied  business 
relations  of  life.  Their  generous  sympathies  for  the 
poor  and  friendless,  their  liberal  bestowments  in  behalf 
of  literary,  benevolent,  and  religious  associations,  and 
their  kind  proffers  of  pecuniary  aid  to  the  really  worthy, 
who  were  just  entering  upon  the  active  duties  of  life, 
stamp  them  as  men  of  eminently  appreciative  character, 
and  it  would  be  well  for  the  young  and  enterprising  to 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  349 

study  their  history,  and  like  them  learn  to  depend  upon 
their  own  reliant  powers  for  success  in  life.  Horace 
went  from  home  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  and  en- 
gaged for  a  limited  period  in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk, 
with  Horace  Hill,  of  Auburn.  In  1816  he  was  engaged 
in  a  store  in  which  his  father  had  an  interest,  in  the 
cit}'"  of  Albany.  He  was  subsequently  employed  by 
Jedediah  Barber,  of  Homer,  in  whose  store  he  remained 
about  ten  years.  Here  he  acquired  a  business  reputa- 
tion unusual  for  young  men  at  his  age.  His  health 
finally  failed,  in  consequence  of  which  he  retired  to  a 
small  farm,  a  portion  of  which  is  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Schermerhorn.  Here  he  was  employed  for  several  years 
in  cultivating  the  soil  and  in  regaining  his  health.  In 
1838  he  removed  to  Syracuse,  where,  in  connection  with 
others,  he  assisted  in  establishing  the  Bank  of  Syracuse, 
of  which  he  was  cashier  until  his  health  made  it  neces- 
sary for  him  to  resign  the  active  duties.  He  is  now 
vice-president  of  the  institution. 

The  first  great  feat  in  the  career  of  Hamilton  White 
occurred  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  in  successfully  teaching 
a  District  school,  in  what  was  then  known  as  the  new 
district,  in  the  west  part  of  the  now  town  of  Cortland- 
ville,  at  the  enormous  price  of  nine  dollars  per  month, 
with  the  pleasure  of  boarding  round.  In  the  spring  he 
emerged  from  the  log  school-house  without  mar  or 
blemish,  and  withal  greatly  encouraged  with  his  achieve- 
ment. His  success  encouraged  him,  and  hence  he  con- 
tinued in  that  employment,  teaching  two  more  winters 
and  one  summer.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  went  from 
home  and  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  William 
Randall  &  Co.,  in  Cortland  Village,  with  whom  he  re- 


350  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

mained  two  years — the  first  year  receiving  six  dollars 
per  month.  He  subsequently  spent  four  or  five  years 
in  the  employment  of  Messrs.  Webb  and  Edgcomb.  In 
the  spring  of  1836  he  went  to  Lockport,  where  he  re- 
mained until  August,  1839,  when  he  removed  to  Syra- 
cuse to  assume  the  duties  of  cashier  of  the  Onondaga 
County  Bank.  His  success  in  the  District  school,  behind 
the  counter  and  in  the  counting-room,  prepared  him  for 
a  career  of  extraordinary  usefulness  and  enterprise. 
Mr.  White  is  now  engaged  in  business  as  a  private 
banker  on  his  own  account. 

Nathaniel  Bouton,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Virgil, 
was  born  in  Pound  Ridge,  Westchester  county,  New 
York,  October  4th,  1778.  The  family  were  suffering 
from  the  war  of  the  Revolution  ;  and  at  its  close,  found 
themselves  in  deep  poverty.  The  schools  for  children 
and  youth  of  that  time  were  inferior,  and  furnished  but 
scanty  means  of  instruction  ;  and  many  grew  up  and  en- 
tered the  scenes  of  active  life  and  assumed  its  respon- 
sibilities, with  a  very  limited  education.  The  subject 
of  this  narrative  experienced  the  inconveniences  inci- 
dent to  the  times  ;  yet,  by  the  assiduous  improvement 
of  his  opportunities,  he  acquired  what  was  then  called 
a  "good  common  school  education."  In  the  spring  of 
1799,  in  the  twenty-first  year  of  his  age,  he  set  out  on 
foot  for  the  western  country,  intending  to  remain  during 
the  season,  engaging  in  some  employment  that  should 
offer,  and  view  the  country.  He  came  to  Solon,  and 
remained  a  short  time  with  Mr.  Samuel  Benedict.  He 
afterwards  came  to  Homer,  and  labored  with  a  Mr.  Lee, 
and  aided  him  in  clearing  a  part  of  the  ground  now 
occupied  by  Cortland  Village.     His  next  stay  was  with 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  351 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Brown,  in  Milton  (now  Lansing),  where 
he  was  engaged  in  chopping  by  the  job.  At  the  close 
of  the  season  he  passed  through  Virgil,  where  a 
brother  of  his  had  settled  the  same  year,  and  returned 
to  the  place  of  his  nativity.  On  the  22nd  of  March, 
1801,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eachel  Stevens,  of  New 
Canaan,  Fairfield  county,  Connecticut.  Soon  after,  he 
came  to  Virgil  and  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  joining  that  of  his  brother  Enos,  to  whom  allusion 
has  been  made.  He  commenced  immediately  to  fell  the 
trees  on  a  spot  next  the  "  Bridle  road,"  so  called,  which 
passed  through  it.  Near  the  close  of  summer  he  put 
up  the  body  of  a  log  cabin,  and  returned  to  Connecticut. 
Preparations  were  then  made,  and  he  and  his  wife,  ac- 
companied by  his  younger  brother — who  came  to  take 
back  the  team — commenced  their  journey  through  al- 
most impassable  roads,  to  their  new  home  in  the  wilder- 
ness, at  which  they  arrived  late  in  October.  Mr.  Bouton 
and  his  family  participated  in  the  various  hardships,  priva- 
tions, exposures  and  struggles  incident  to  the  settlement 
of  this  region  and  common  to  the  early  pioneers,  which 
have  been  sufficiently  set  forth  in  the  biographies 
already  given.  They  began  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of 
life  and  to  entertain  hopes  of  future  prosperity,  when, 
on  the  25th  of  February,  1805,  Mrs.  Bouton  was  sud- 
denly taken  away  by  death,  leaving  to  her  surviving 
companion  the  cares,  maintenance  and  instruction  of 
four  children.  The  dispensation  was  afflictive  ;  but  he 
was  sustained  under  it,  and  was  enabled  to  keep  his 
interesting  charge  together,  and  provide  for  their  care 
and  support.  He  was  subsequently  married  to  Miss 
Lydia  Stevens,  sister  of  his  deceased  wife.     Mr.  Bouton 


353  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

was  much  engaged  in  agricnltnre,  and  especially  in  the 
department  of  fruit,  being-  the  first  in  town  to  put  out  a 
nursery  of  grafted  fruit  trees,  which  was  as  early  as  1808 
or  '9.  He  was  also  ardently  engaged  in  the  subject  of  in- 
ternal improvements,  which  led  him  to  suggest  plans  that 
by  many  were  deemed  visionary.  In  182*1  the  idea 
occurred  to  him  that  a  railroad  might  be  constructed 
from  the  city  of  New  York  to  Lake  Erie.  Whenever  he 
proposed  this  plan,  he  was  met  with  objections  that 
would  have  disheartened  one  less  decided,  or  less 
assured  of  its  feasibility.  He  made  a  journey  through 
most  of  the  length  of  the  route,  and  was  confirmed  in 
his  opinion.  He  procured  a  piece  to  be  written  setting 
forth  the  plan,  sketching  the  proposed  route,  with  argu- 
ments to  establish  its  practicability,  and  the  advantage 
it  would  be  to  the  people  of  the  State,  and  especially  to 
the  city  of  New  York  and  the  southern  tier  of  counties. 
This  communication  was  published  in  the  Cortland  Oh- 
server^  in  February,  1828.  It  was  copied  by  a  few 
other  papers  ;  and  soon  the  project  gained  so  much 
public  attention  that  conventions  were  called  to  con- 
sider it.  After  many  long  and  arduous  struggles,  its 
friends  succeeded  in  completing  the  New  York  and 
Erie  Rail  Road,  which  has  opened  the  way  for  the  con- 
struction of  numerous  railroads  that  now  checker  the 
State  and  furnish  facilities  to  nearly  all  parts,  for  the 
accommodation  of  passengers  and  the  ready  transmis- 
sion of  freight.  Mr.  Bouton  was  a  firm  friend  of  educa- 
tion and  did  what  he  could  for  its  promotion,  and  se- 
cured to  his  family  all  the  opportunities  within  his 
means  of  suppl3\  He  encouraged  the  establishment  of 
meetings  for  religious  worship,  in  1802 — when  they  were 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  353 

first  instituted, — and  was  ever  after  a  constant  attendant 
and  a  firm  and  generous  supporter  of  all  the  institutions 
of  religion.  He  did  not,  however,  see  his  way  clear  to 
make  a  public  profession  of  religion  till  1831 ;  when, 
in  a  season  of  religious  interest,  he  and  his  companion 
came  forward  and  united  with  the  Congregational  church, 
of  which  they  remained  consistent  members  until  their 
death.  He  was  ready  for  every  reform  as  it  presented 
itself,  and  was  especially  an  early  and  earnest  advo- 
cate of  the  Temperance  and  Anti-slavery  causes.  His 
unwearied  advocacy  of  these  reforms  sometimes  pro- 
voked hostility,  and  caused  it  to  be  said  by  some  that 
he  had  many  enemies, — which  might  be  comparatively 
true,  as  few  who  have  been  faithful  and  constant  in 
support  of  these  reforms  have  escaped  censure.  Early 
in  December,  1846,  he  took  a  violent  cold,  which  brought 
on  a  fever  which  terminated  his  life.  When  he  saw  that 
he  should  not  probably  recover,  he  set  himself  to  adjust 
his  temporal  affairs,  which  he  did  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
family,  and  waited  with  great  composure  the  summons 
that  should  call  him  away.  His  peaceful  death  occurred 
on  the  fourth  of  January,  1847,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year 
of  his  age. 

Mr.  Bouton  reared  an  intelligent  family  of  children, 
.among  whom  we  take  pleasure  in  referring  to  Deacon 
Nathan  Bouton,  an  enterprising  and  highly  valued  citi- 
zen of  Virgil. 

John  Miller  descended  from  the  English  stock  of 
Millers,  some  of  whom  figured  largely  in  the  political 
annals  of  England  two  centuries  since  ;  and  others,  at 
a  later  period,  were  the  ardent  supporters  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution.  With  the  latter  class  Mr.  Miller  was 
16* 


354  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

more  immediately  connected.  He  was  born  in  Amenia, 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  10,  1174. 

Of  his  early  j^ears  we  know  but  little.  His  attend- 
ance at  the  district  school  did  not  exceed  one  yeav  ;  he 
however  continued  to  pursue  his  studies,  reljnng  upon 
his  own  exertions  for  success  in  the  worthy  effort.  His 
classical  advantages  were  also  limited,  he  having  been 
enabled  to  spend  but  a  like  period  in  a  private  classical 
school  in  Kent,  Conn.,  under  the  charge  of  Barzilla  Slos- 
son,  a  most  excellent  classical  scholar,  and  a  thorough 
disciplinarian. 

He  commenced  his  medical  studies  in  Dutchess 
county,  in  1793,  and  completed  them  in  Washington 
county,  in  1195.  He  attended  one  course  of  lectures  in 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  listened  to 
the  valuable  instructions  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Benja- 
min Rush. 

Dr.  Miller  was  originally  blest  with  a  remarkable 
mind  and  memory  ;  and  many  of  the  most  valuable  im- 
pressions which  he  acquired  while  listening  to  this  pro- 
found and  unrivaled  lecturer,  have  remained  with  him 
through  his  long  and  useful  life. 

Immediately  after  his  return  from  the  university  he 
became  a  partner  of  his  friend  and  preceptor,  Jonathan 
Moshcr,  in  Easton,  Washington  county,  with  whom  he 
remained  till  1801.  It  was  his  original  intention  to 
settle  in  Geneva,  where  he  had  made  an  arrangement  to 
become  a  partner  in  the  practice  of  medicine  with  a  dis- 
tinguished practitioner  who  had  preceded  him  there, 
and  who  had  already  secured  a  very  lucrative  practice. 
Circumstances,  however,  over  which  he  had  no  control, 
precluded  the  final  consummation  of  the  arrangement. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  355 

The  connection  was  therefore  dissolved,  and  Dr.  Miller 
made  an  immediate  and  permanent  location  in  Truxton.* 
He  soon  acquired  a  very  extensive  ride,  extending  into 
Homer,  Solon,  De  Ruyter,  Pompey,  Tulley,  and  Onon- 
daga Hollow,  attending  in  the  families  of  Joshua  For- 
man,  Thadeus  Wood,  Asa  Danforth,  and  Jasper  Hop- 
per. 

Previous  to  his  engaging'  in  the  study  of  medicine 
his  health  had  been  exceedingly  good,  and  so  continued 
for  two  years  after,  when  an  accident  occurred  which 
deprived  him  of  that  important  blessing.  He  became 
ghastly  pale  and  emaciated  ;  his  friends  regarded  him 
as  a  more  complete  subject  for  the  anatomical  knife, 
than  for  the  performance  of  even  the  slightest  labor. 
And  yet,  enfeebled,  disorganized  as  he  was,  he  had 
determined  to  accept  a  commission  of  Second  Sur- 
geon in  the  American  Navy,  and  risk  his  hopes  of  life, 
fame  and  fortune  in  the  Tripoli  an  war.  And  he  may 
well  thank  his  friend  and  protector,  Dr.  Eush,  for  with- 
holding his  consent  from  the  precarious  enterprise,  oth- 
erwise his  bones  might  have  been  bleaching  upon  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  or  whitening  on  the  plains 
of  Tripoli.  The  advice  of  Dr.  Rush  was  given  in  can- 
dor and  kindness,  and  had  a  most  favorable  impression 
on  the  mind  of  Mr.  Miller.  He  was  invited  to  the  Doc- 
tor's home,  where  he  was  received  by  Mrs.  Rush  with 
appreciative  attention.  Here  he  had  access  to  a  very 
large  medical  library,  in  which  he  spent  the  greater 
portion  of  his  time.  He,  however,  occasionally  accom- 
panied Dr.  Rush  into  the  country  on  his  professional 
visits — a  distance,  sometimes,  exceeding   fifty  miles. 

»  Then  Fabius. 


356  BlOGRAPHICiLL, 

His  hitherto  clouded  mind  gradually  gave  way  to  glee 
and  gladness  ;  and,  to  use  his  own  expressive  language, 
in  six  weeks  he  was  a  new  man. 

Ardently  attached  to  his  profession,  prompt  and  at- 
tentive to  his  patients,  he  soon  acquired  the  most  ex- 
tensive practice  ever  secured  by  any  practitioner  in  the 
county. 

When  the  Cortland  County  Medical  Association  was 
organized  in  1808,  Dr.  Miller  was  chosen  Vice-president, 
and  subsequently  succeeded  Dr.  Lewis  S.  Owen  to  the 
office  of  President.  He  is  the  only  living  member  of 
the  original  organization.  In  February  of  that  year  he 
was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  State  Medical 
Society. 

He  was  married  in  1805  to  Miss  Phebe  Adriance,  of 
Troy,  a  lady  of  rare  accomplishments,  and  of  great  moral 
worth. 

In  1805  he  was  appointed  post-master,  and  retained 
the  office  for  twenty  consecutive  years. 

He  was  appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1812.  and 
continued  in  the  administration  of  its  duties  until  1821. 

He  served  with  eminent  ability  in  the  New  York 
Assembly  during  the  years  181T-20  and  '45. 

In  1824  he  was  chosen  a  Representative  in  the  United 
States  Congress. 

In  1846  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  State  Con- 
stitutional Convention,  and  during  the  entire  session 
exerted  a  commanding  influence  over  that  deliberative 
body. 

Dr.  Miller  moulded  his  own  character,  and  has  been 
the  architect  of  his  own  fortune.  He  has  ever  possessed 
a  strong  and  vigorous  mind,  a  clear  and  retentive  mem- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  357 

ory;  an  unnsual  degree  of  energy  and  vivacity,  blended 
with  wit  and  generous  sympathy. 

lie  loved  his  friends,  his  profession,  and  his  country; 
and  ardently  labored  for  the  improvement  of  each.  He 
was  free  and  frank  in  manner  ;  generous  and  friendly 
in  disposition,  engaging  in  address,  of  active  tempera- 
ment, and  indeed  possessed  all  the  social  qualities  of 
the  gentleman,  and  the  stirring  energies  of  the  man  of 
business. 

Dr.  Miller  located  on  lot  93  ;  he  did  not,  however, 
purchase  until  1806,  when  he  selected  450  acres  at  six 
dollars  per  acre.  He  still  retains  150  acres  of  the  orig- 
inal purchase.  He  also  owns  two  hundred  acres  of  a 
later  purchase,  on  lot  64.  He  continued  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession  up  to  1830  when  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  agriculture. 

His  great  energy,  determined  will,  and  prompt  action 
in  every  emergency  of  life,  stamps  him  as  a  man  of  no 
ordinary  character.  His  great  power  of  endurance  en- 
abled him  to  undergo  incredible  fatigue  in  his  laborious 
practice.  When  the  roads  were  almost  impassable,  and 
the  nights  fearfull}^  dark,  he  has  been  known  to  travel 
by  torchlight  through  the  wilderness,  a  distance  of  sev- 
eral miles,  even  though  he  had  no  hope  of  reward  for 
his  professional  visit.  At  a  later  period,  when  his  ride 
extended  over  a  large  portion  of  Cortland  and  Onondaga 
counties,  he  rode  in  one  day  upwards  of  fifty-five  miles, 
making  thirty-three  calls  upon  the  sick. 

But  the  energetic  perseverance  of  Dr.  Miller  was  not 
alone  confined  to  his  professional  duties  ;  it  was  exhib- 
ited in  the  more  extended  sphere  of  business,  and  in  the 
social  relations  of  life. 


358  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The  venerable  patriarch,  now  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-four  years,  is  enjoying  in  a  remarkable  degree 
his  phj^sical  and  mental  powers  ;  is  still  a  man  of  unu- 
sual vigor. 

Of  the  Doctor's  surviving  children,  one  daughter,  the 
wife  of  Alfred  Purdy,  resides  in  Truxton  ;  another  is  the 
wife  of  Rev.  Henry  Riley,  residing  at  Montrose,  Pa.  ; 
and  Morris,  his  son,  is  located  at  Momentz,  Illinois. 

Deacon  Thomas  Chollar  was  born  at  Pomfret,  Wind- 
ham CO.,  Conn.,  October  24,  1778.  In  his  youth  he  re- 
ceived such  advantges  as  his  native  town  afforded. 
The  Puritan  habits  of  the  people  were  well  calculated 
to  prove  serviceable  to  a  young  man  possessing  the 
many  benevolent  and  social  traits  of  character  that 
were  assiduously  cultivated  by  Mr.  Chollar.  It  was  his 
pride  and  pleasure  to  emulate  the  virtues  of  the  great 
and  good. 

Mr.  Chollar  came  to  Cortland  county  in  February, 
1802,  having  but  partially  considered  the  privations  of 
pioneer  life — of  the  toils  of  the  industrious  settler  while 
contending  with  the  rugged  wilderness  of  nature  ;  the 
almost  insurmountable  difiSculties  to  be  overcome  ;  the 
ills,  the  suffering  and  perils  that  often  occur  to  those 
who  venture  beyond  the  boundary  of  civilization  there 
to  rear  a  domicil  and  a  home.  After  viewing  various 
portions  of  the  unclaimed  wilderness  he  selected  a  lot 
which  is  at  present  known  as  the  Northrop  farm,  in  the 
south-east  part  of  the  town.  He  was  not,  however,  fully 
pleased  with  the  location,  and  soon  after  disposed  of  it. 
At  different  intervals  of  time  he  extended  his  examina- 
tions, but  did  not  make  a  positive  and  permanent  selec- 
tion until  the  latter  part  of  1804,  when  he  made  choice 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  359 

of  seventy  acres,  being  a  part  of  lot  No.  1^.  Soon  after, 
he  returned  to  his  native  home  in  Connecticut,  where 
he  remained  for  nearly  five  years.  He  was  married 
March  5th,  1805,  to  Miss  Sally  B.  Dresser,  a  young  lady 
who  in  after  life  adorned  and  dignified  the  name  of  wife 
and  mother. 

He  returned  with  his  family  to  Homer  in  1809,  and 
lived  one  year  near  the  County  House,  after  which  he 
moved  on  to  his  place  and  commenced  its  improvement. 
Abram  Franklin  drew  the  lot,  for  services  rendered  in 
the  Revolutionary  struggle.  He  sold  it  to  Henry  Frank- 
lin by  whom  it  was  subsequently  transferred  to  a  Mr. 
Cushman.  The  purchase  price  paid  by  Mr.  Chollar  was 
$3  25  per  acre.  His  disposition  was  not  of  that  unset- 
tled kind  which  continually  seeks  for  change,  as  is  suf- 
ficiently evidenced  in  the  fact  of  his  having  spent  nearly 
a  half  century  on  the  very  spot  where  he  first  perma- 
nently located,  living  an  honored  life,  and  exhibiting 
the  various  virtues  which  fully  adorn  and  dignify  the 
Christian  character.  His  conversion  occurred  while  in 
Connecticut.  He  united  with  the  Baptist  Church,  in 
May,  1810  ;  was  chosen  deacon  in  1812,  and  discharged 
its  duties  with  eminent  ability  and  usefulness  until 
1841,  when  a  decline  of  health  precluded  the  further 
performance  of  the  required  services. 

In  the  truthful,  eloquent  and  admirable  funeral  dis- 
course of  Deacon  Chollar,  pronounced  by  Elder  Harvey, 
occurred  the  following  tributary  remark: 

"  He  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity  in  the  business 
relations  of  life.  The  apostolic  injunction,  '  owe  no  man 
anything,'  perhaps  has  seldom  been  more  strictly  ob- 
served.    No  man  ever  had  occasion  to  complain  of  mis- 


15« 


Tja;  mte^  «A  Id 


ab  «f 


362  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

broke  it  at  his  Saviour's  feet,  and  the  incense  of  his 
heart  went  up  with  it. 

When  bowed  with  age  and  sickness,  still  he  "  gloried 
in  his  infirmity,"  that  the  power  of  "  Christ  might  rest 
upon  him,"  and  although  he  felt  with  the  Apostle  "  that 
to  depart  and  be  with  Christ  is  far  better,"  yet  he  hum- 
bly resolved  with  patient  Job,  "  All  the  days  of  my  ap- 
pointed time  will  I  wait  until  my  change  come."  In 
his  house  the  weary  herald  of  the  cross  has  often  found 
refreshment,  and  his  heart  has  ever  been  opened  to  the 
destitute  ;  so  that  while  we  mourn  his  loss,  which  is 
severely  felt  by  his  relatives  and  friends  and  the  church 
of  Christ,  we  joy  upon  the  reflection  that  our  loss  is 
infinitely  his  gain.  "Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in 
the  Lord — they  rest  from  their  labors." 

The  fond  wish  of  this  aged  disciple  has  been  realized — 
the  pilgrim  has  safely  passed  through  the  waves  of  Jor- 
dan, and  has  reached  the  promised  land  of  life  and 
peace  eternal. 

And  while  we  contemplate  the  bright  example  he  has 
left  behind  him — his  faithful  profession  of  the  Christian 
verity — his  conscientious  discharge  of  relative  duties — 
his  ardent  desire  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  the  glory 
of  God  :  in  a  word,  his  life  of  unspotted  holiness,  and 
his  death  of  sainted  serenity,  and  then  turn  to  his  glo- 
rious resting-place  in  the  presence  of  his  Saviour  and 
bis  God — we  pause,  and  seem  to  say  : 

He  now  holds  converse  with  the  Patriarchs 
Of  old — with  Prophets,  who  foretold  of  all 
That  since  has  shaken  empires,  and  made  way 
For  the  dominion  of  the  Prince  of  Peace. 
His  voice  unites  with  David's  in  the  song 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  363 

Of  "  Praise  the  Lord  " — with  David's  harp,  his  harp 
In  concert  joins  the  chorus  of  the  skies. 
He  sits  with  the  Apostles,  and  recounts 
The  eternal  wonders  of  redeeming  love. 

Deacon  Chollar  was  one  of  those  who  are  justly 
termed  "the  Light  of  the  World."  And  that  same  light 
which  he  had  so  steadily  emitted  during  his  Christian 
life  for  the  illumination  of  others,  shone  not  less  brightly 
at  the  hour  of  death. 

He  reared  a  numerous  family  of  children,  among 
whom  is  Dea.  Thomas  D.  Chollar,  of  Homer. 

Mrs.  Chollar,  the  aged  sainted  mother  of  Israel,  still 
lives,  her  "  lamp  trimmed  and  burning,'^  like  a  beacon 
light  to  the  world  of  happiness,  aged  80  3'ears. 

Deacon  Asa  Bennett  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Ct.,  July 
10,  1178.  His  education  was  strictly  moral.  He  was 
early  taught  to  fear  God  and  to  attend  to  the  external 
forms  of  religion,  and  the  parental  instruction  and 
prayer  bestowed  upon  his  youthful  mind  exerted  a  sal- 
utary influence  upon  his  subsequent  life. 

At  about  the  age  of  sixteen  he  embraced  the  Christian 
religion,  and  in  1800  evinced  his  catholicity  of  spirit  by 
uniting  with  the  Baptist  church,  in  Hampton,  Ct.  He 
removed  to  Homer  in  1803,  and  united  in  1806  with  the 
church  of  the  same  faith,  of  which  he  became  an  active 
and  influential  member.  Early  in  1807  he  was  chosen 
Deacon,  though  not  ordained  until.  1815.  His  Christian 
character  was  well  calculated  to  command  respect  and 
veneration,  and  most  eminently  fitted  him  for  the  high 
duties  of  Deacon,  which  relation  he  sustained  to  the 
church  until  the  insatiate  archer.  Death,  sped  his  shaft, 
and  the  venerable  pillar  was  called  to  his  eternal  home. 


364  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

His  house  was  a  home  for  the  preachers,  and  a  place 
for  the  people  of  God  to  meet.  He  gathered  in  and 
"  built  up  souls,"  who  will  no  doubt  mingle  their  joys 
with  his  in  Heaven. 

He  was  affable  and  courteous,  and  in  all  the  benevo- 
lent associations  of  the  day  he  exhibited  a  zealous  and 
enterprising  spirit.  His  chief  study  seemed  to  be  the 
eternal  welfare  of  his  brethren.  And  while  his  hand 
was  engaged  in  dispensing  blessings,  his  prayers  were 
ascending  to  the  Throne  of  Grace  for  the  redemption  of 
his  fellow  beings. 

He  was  a  subject  of  long  and  severe  affliction.  But 
up  to  the  hour  of  dissolution  he  evinced  all  the  powers 
of  patience  and  resignation  to  the  will  of  his  Divine 
Preserver. 

Eld.  Alfred  Bennett  was  born  Sept.  26,  1780,  in 
Mansfield,  Windham  co.,  Ct.  He  received  an  early  re- 
ligious education,  and  for  which  he  always  felt  deeply 
indebted  to  his  pious  parents.  The  buds  of  a  bright  in- 
telligence were  early  put  forth,  hopefully  indicating  a 
rich  development  of  mind  ;  the  spring  of  youthful  piety 
had  begun  to  flow  along  the  opening  channels  of  the 
tender  heart  with  much  assurance  of  high  excellence  of 
Christian  character  and  deep  devotion  to  his  Maker.  A 
mild  and  ardent  temperament,  warm  social  virtues, 
buoyant  spirit,  and  winning  address,  tempered  and  re- 
fined through  the  chastening  influence  of  his  early  edu- 
cation, made  him  a  great  favorite,  and  entwined  hira 
closely  about  the  hearts  of  his  devoted  parents  and 
friends,  and  prepared  him  for  the  higher  duties  of  moral 
excellence  just  as  he  was  entering  the  stage  of  rational 
life. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  365 

In  1800  he  united  with  the  Baptist  church  in  Hampton, 
some  fifteen  miles  distant  from  his  home.  Here  he  mar- 
ried, in  1802,  Miss  Rhoda  Grow. 

In  1803  he  located  in  the  town  of  Homer.  His  dwell- 
ing was  a  rude  structure  composed  of  logs  ;  the  external 
and  internal  appearances  were  not  of  the  most  inviting 
character.  Yet  to  the  early  pioneers  these  unhewed 
tenements  were  of  valuable  importance,  and  contained 
within  their  limited  enclosures  as  much  moral  virtue 
and  social  benevolence  as  ever  flourished  within  the 
gorgeous  citadels  of  crowned  monarchs.  The  valley 
was  yet  a  comparative  wilderness,  the  hills  a  dense  forest, 
visited  only  by  the  fearless  hunter  and  wandering  sav- 
age. Here  Mr.  Bennett,  with  a  strong  arm  and  a  reso- 
lute will,  engaged  in  felling  the  forest.  In  April,  1805, 
he  became  deeply  exercised  upon  the  subject  of  the 
Christian  ministry,  and  finally  gave  himself  up  to  God 
and  the  church,  and  commenced  his  labors  as  an  itinerant 
preacher.  He  was  ordained  Feb.,  180t.  His  subse- 
quent labors  were  arduous,  but  he  appeared  to  be  hap- 
pily adapted  for  the  promotion  of  the  cause  in  which  he 
embarked  ;  he  labored  with  remarkable  ability  and 
eminent  success.  As  a  preacher  his  talents  were  respect- 
able, but  in  the  gift  of  exhortation  few  persons  excelled 
him  ;  his  appeals  were  made  to  the  hearts  of  his  hearers 
with  remarkable  effect. 

He  died  May  10,  1851. 

The  demise  of  this  good  man  was  a  loss  never  to  be 
repaired  ;  and  although  it  fell  with  peculiar  weight  upon 
his  family  and  near  friends,  yet  the  Baptist  church  of 
Homer,  over  which  he  long  presided,  and  the  poor, 
shared  very  largely  in  the  bereavement,  for  in  him  they 
always  found  a  constant  and  untiring  friend. 


366  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The  closing  period  of  his  life  was  calm  as  a  peaceful 
river.  His  inspiring  hope  of  immortality  found  expres- 
sion in  the  triumphant  language  of  "  Glory  !  Glory  I " 

Malachi  Church,  was  born  in  Brattleborough,  Ver- 
mont, May  15th,  1769.  He  enjoyed  very  limited  advan- 
tages for  literary  pursuits  ;  yet,  by  diligent  application, 
he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  elementary  branches 
which  qualified  him  for  the  practical  duties  or  business 
transactions  of  public  life.  A  portion  of  his  time,  when 
a  young  man,  was  occupied  in  cultivating  the  soil,  and 
in  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  blacksmith's  trade. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  married  Lucy 
Blakeslee,  and  reared  a  large  family  of  children — four 
sons  and  six  daughters.  In  the  winter  of  1804-5,  he 
emigrated  to  the  present  town  of  Bainbridge,  Chenango 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  September  of  1805  he  removed  to 
that  part  of  the  Tiouglmioga  valley  now  included  in  the 
town  of  Marathon,  a  distance  of  about  forty  miles. 
This  journey  was  accomplished  in  three  days  with  hard 
toil.  Here  he  found  but  a  few  scattering  residents, 
and  no  reasonable  encouragement  was  presented  to  the 
patronage  of  a  mechanic.  Hence  it  became  necessary, 
as  the  means  of  supporting  his  family,  to  engage  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  in  clearing  and  cultivating  the  soil. 
The  lands  lying  in  the  valley  being  more  feasible  of 
tillage,  were  first  cleared  and  improved  ;  but  gradu- 
ally, as  other  settlers  arrived,  the  contiguous  hill  lands 
were  taken  up  ;  but  the  process  of  cutting  and  burning 
up  the  heavy  timber  and  fitting  the  land  for  growing 
crops  was  a  work  of  severe  toil  and  of  slow  progress. 

Mills  for  sawing  lumber  for  building,  and  for  grinding 
grain,  were  greatly  needed,  but  for  the  want  of  adequate 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  ;  367 

means  none  were  erected  till  the  year  1810.  These 
structures  called  into  requisition  the  aid  of  mechanics. 
The  first  framed  edifices  were  erected  on  the  land  where 
Marathon  village  is  now  located.  Mr.  Church,  some  ten 
or  twelve  years  after  his  arrival  here,  built  a  frame 
house  and  shop  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  a  few  rods 
from  the  present  railroad  depot ;  where,  assisted  by  his 
sons,  he  successfully  carried  on  the  blacksmithing  busi- 
ness for  several  years.  About  the  year  1815  Mr. 
Church  was  solicited  to  become  a  candidate  for  the 
office  of  Jystice  of  the  Peace  ;  and  although  a  large 
majority  of  the  inhabitants  were  opposed  to  his  political 
opinions,  yet  entertaining  a  high  regard  for  impartial- 
ity, integrity,  and  capacity,  his  name  was  presented  as 
the  unanimous  choice  of  the  people.  It  will  be  recol- 
lected that  all  judicial  officers  at  that  time  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  ;  and  when  a  petition  was  pre- 
sented for  the  appointment  of  an  individual  by  constit- 
uents known  to  be  favorable  to  the  State  administra- 
tion, there  could  be  no  hesitancy'-  in  complying  with  the 
wishes  of  the  petitioners.  Mr.  Church  was  accordingly 
duly  appointed,  and  held  the  office  for  quite  a  number 
of  years,  discharging  the  duties  thereof  with  ability 
equal  to  the  confidence  which  the  public  had  reposed  in 
him.  In  the  year  1823  Mr.  Church  made  a  public  pro- 
fession of  religion  and  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  for  his  zeal  in  the  cause,  his  talents  and 
christian  character,  he  was  soon  after  appointed  a  dea- 
con of  the  church, — an  office  which  he  filled  with  honor 
to  the  cause  by  an  exemplary  life  to  the  time  of  his 
decease,  which  occurred  November  20th,  1846,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-seven  years.     His  widow  survived  him 


368  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

a  few  years.  At  his  death,  he  left  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  His  sons  were  all  distinguished  for  military 
talent,  and  each  of  whom  received  a  Colonel's  commis- 
sion ;  three  of  them  also  served  as  Justices  of  the  Peace. 
His  daughters  were,  by  marriage,  connected  with  re- 
spectable families. 

Major  Adin  Webb  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  Wind- 
ham county,  Conn.  His  father,  Christopher  Webb,  was 
an  industrious  and  enterprising  agriculturist.  At  an 
early  period  of  the  American  Revolution  he  embarked 
in  the  arduous  struggle,  and  devoted  his  best  energies 
to  the  acquisition  of  liberty  and  an  equality  of  rights. 
He  held  the  ofi&ce  of  Sergeant,  and  discharged  with 
marked  ability  its  responsible  duties.  He  was  with  his 
brethren  in  arms  during  the  cold  and  stormy  winter  so 
memorable  in  history,  when  they  were  encamped  on  the 
hills  back  of  Morristown,  suffering  the  most  severe  pri- 
vations ;  half  fed,  half  clothed,  and  much  less  than  half 
paid.  His  bravery  and  heroic  devotion  to  his  country 
was  exhibited  on  various  occasions,  and  especially  in 
the  bloody  conflict  at  Bennington,  and  in  the  capture 
of  Burgoyne,  near  Stillwater.  He  died  a  professor 
of  religion,  March  1,  183*7. 

Adin  Webb,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  born 
March  31,  ItSO.  While  still  a  mere  child,  his  father 
concluded  to  change  his  place  of  residence,  and  located 
at  Canterbury,  where  he  remained  until  June  4,  1804. 

His  early  literary  advantages  were'  respectable,  hav- 
ing received  a  good  academic  education.  He  was  reared 
to  the  business  of  agriculture,  though  he  frequently 
engaged  in  teaching  school.  He  taught,  eight  winters 
in  Connecticut — the  first  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  369 

Modest  and  iiDpretending  in  his  manners — strictly 
correct  in  gentlemanly  deportment — diligent  in  the  pur- 
suit of  his  various  duties,  he  secured  the  esteem  of  his 
pupils,  and  cnjo3^ed  a  large  share  of  the  best  affections 
of  his  near  friends. 

He  was  married  October  15,  1800,  to  Miss  Deborah 
Carter,  in  whose  person  were  united  in  the  extremest 
sense  the  various  accomplishments  of  an  intellectual 
lady.  She  too,  was  devoted  to  the  profession  of  teaching. 
He  removed  with  his  parents  in  1804  to  Cazenovia,  N. 
Y.  He  came  in  with  an  ox  team,  by  way  of  Hartford, 
Albany,  Utica,  Whitestown,  Westmoreland,  and  Lenox, 
Approaching  near  Manlius,  he  turned  to  the  left  and 
bore  to  the  head  of  Cazenovia  lake,  where  his  father 
purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land. 

He  spent  one  year  and  a  half  with  his  father,  and 
then,  through  the  urgent  solicitations  of  a  friend,  was 
induced  to  come  to  Homer  and  take  a  school  for  a  term 
of  four  months,  as  also  a  singing-school.  Gratified  with 
his  success,  and  pleased  with  the  attractive  beauties  of 
the  county,  he  concluded  to  locate.  And  it  is  certainly 
complimentary  of  him  to  remark,  that  with  one  excep' 
tion  he  taught  seventeen  successive  years. 

In  1808  he  erected  a  dwelling-house  on  ground  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  Barber's  new  block.  A  few  years 
after  he  disposed  of  it  and  purchased  a  lot  of  Captain 
Hezekiah  Roberts,  and  erected  a  dwelling  on  ground  at 
present  covered  by  the  Baptist  church.  Subsequently 
he  sold  this  to  Chauncey  Keep,  and  spent  two  years  in 
the  vicinity  of  Mr.  Kingsbury's.  He  next  purchased  a 
situation  of  Mr.  Asa  Kendall,  where  he  lived  until  1823, 
when  he  removed  to  Cortland. 
17 


370  BIOGKAPinCAL. 

In  1826  he  purchased  a  lot  on  which  now  stands  the 
jewehy  store  of  Mr.  Stiles. 

At  this  time  he  entered  into  copartnership  with  Mr. 
Eleazar  W.  Edgcomb,  in  the  mercantile  business.  The 
copartnership  continued  about  ten  years,  when  the  lat- 
ter  disposed  of  his  interest  to  Mr.  Calvin  Bishop.  These 
gentlemen  were  sons-in-law  of  Mr.  Webb.  He  con- 
tinued for  about  fifteen  j^ears  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
mercantile  trade. 

In  1809  he  was  elected  Town  Clerk  of  the  old  town  of 
Homer,  and  continued  in  the  discharge  of  its  duties  for 
twenty  years. 

He  was  appointed  Surrogate  in  1816,  and  held  the 
ofiSce  till  1823. 

In  182*1  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  ;  and  in 
1828  elevated  to  the  responsible  ofSce  of  Sheriff. 

In  1840  he  was  elected  Surrogate,  and  served  the 
people  for  four  years. 

In  1845  he  was  elected  Town  Clerk  of  Cortlandville, 
and  continued  to  discharge  its  duties  till  1856. 

His  inclinations  partook  but  little  of  a  military  cast ; 
yet  in  1809  he  was  elected  a  Lieutenant.  The  next 
spring  he  was  chosen  Captain,  in  place  of  Benjamin  An- 
drews. He  served  four  j^ears,  and  was  then  elected 
2nd  Major. 

He  joined  the  Congregational  church  in  Homer  in 
1813,  and  led  the  choir  for  fifteen  successive  years. 

In  1823  he  united  by  letter  with  a  church  of  the  same 
order  in  Cortland. 

In  private  life  he  has  ever  exhibited  the  true  charac- 
teristics of  a  gentleman.  In  his  public  career  he  has 
adorned  and  dignified  his  position,  alike  creditable  to 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  3T1 

himself  and  his  country.  A  true  pattern  of  integrity 
aifd  worth,  he  is  revered,  not  as  a  laurel-crowned  hero, 
but  as  a  noble  specimen  of  the  Great  Architect.     If 

"  'Tis  infamy  to  die  and  not  be  missed," 

Major  Webb  will  go  down  to  the  tomb  an  honored  relic 
of  an  iron  age,  leaving  behind  him  an  unblemished  rep- 
utation, which,  like  the  cruse  of  oil,  will  gladden  many 
a  cherished  heart. 

The  habits  of  Major  Webb  have  been  most  remarka- 
bly correct.  The  numerous  exhilirating  beverages, 
alike  destructive  to  the  physical  and  the  mental  facul- 
ties, have  had  little  or  no  influence  over  him.  He  has 
usually  risen  early,  and  always  been  active  and  ener- 
getic ;  and  to  those  influences  he  attributes  much  of  his 
usually  excellent  health. 

We  doubt  whether  there  is  another  individual  in 
the  county  who  has  more  warm  personal  friends,  or 
whose  sympathies  and  virtues  have  taken  a  more  last- 
ing hold  upon  the  affections  of  the  people. 

And  now,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-eight,  he 
exhibits  the  activity  and  sprightliness  of  the  man  of 
sixty. 

Mrs.  Webb  died  February  21,  1850. 

Samuel  Gilbert  Hatheway  was  born  in  Freetown, 
Bristol  county,  Mass.,  July  18,  1*180.  He  is  descended 
from  those  Gilberts  of  whom  Sir  Humphrey  was  one, 
and  from  the  Puritans,  Bradford  and  Alden.  He  was 
the  youngest  son  of  Shadrach  and  Hannah  (Chase) 
Hatheway.  His  only  brother  was  lost  at  sea  with  the 
vessel  he  commanded.  His  sister  married  and  died  in 
New  England.     The  father  deceased  while  the  son  was 


372  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

yet  in  infancy,  and  soon  after  he  was  placed  under  the 
care  of  his  paternal  grandfather,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained for  a  period  of  nine  years.  His  early  education 
was  derived  principally  from  the  primary  schools  of  his 
native  State.  He  possessed  great  energy  of  character, 
a  clear,  active  mind,  and  was  resolved  to  succeed  in 
life,  and  hence  he  achieved  a  triumph  over  every  dif- 
ficulty. His  early  habits  of  industry  were  in  after  time 
exhibited  in  the  unbending  perseverance  of  the  young 
New  England  farmer.  His  self-reliant  powers  were  re- 
garded with  almost  idolatrous  respect.  His  energy  was 
his  capital,  and  he  invested  it  with  pleasure  in  approved 
pursuits.  The  limited  amount  of  learning  which  he  ac- 
quired in  the  common  schools  was  subsequently  greatly 
enlarged  by  private  study  and  extensive  reading. 
Thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  he  first  presumed  that 
the  mariner's  life  would  be  congenial  with  his  feelings, 
but,  after  making  a  voyage  to  the  West  Indies,  he 
readily  concluded  that  it  would  neither  promote  his  in- 
terest nor  be  propitious  to  his  feelings. 

In  1803  Mr.  Hatheway  migrated  to  Chenango  county, 
designing  to  make  a  permanent  residence  ;  he  was  not, 
however,  well  pleased  with  the  country,  and  after  spend- 
ing two  years  in  the  settlement,  removed  to  Cincinnatus, 
(now  Freetown),  and  located  on  lot  No.  2.  Soon  after, 
his  mother,  a  woman  of  great  mental  and  physical 
energy,  joined  him,  and  remained  with  him  until  her 
death,  which  occurred  Aug.  14,  1826.  He  purchased 
300  acres  of  Robert  Smith,  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 
Mr.  Smith  drew  the  lot  and  had  located  on  it  some  ten 
years  previous.  At  this  time  Mr.  Hatheway  was  eight 
miles  distant  from  his  nearest  neighbor  on  the  south, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  373 

four  to  the  north,  and  about  a  like  number  to  the  east 
and  west. 

In  1819  he  removed  to  Solon,  and  settled  on  the 
eastern  part  of  lot  tl.  Here  he  remained  until  1842, 
when  his  buildings  were  devastated  by  fire,  and  he 
changed  his  residence  to  his  present  location  on  lot  73. 

In  1810  he  was  appointed  by  the  Council  of  Appoint- 
ment, Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  oflSce  he  has  held 
forty-eight  successive  years.  He  has  also  been  honored 
with  every  ofiBce  from  Supervisor  down  to  Commissioner 
of  Highways. 

In  1814,  and  again  in  1818,  he  was  elected  to  the 
New  York  Assembly.  These  were  periods  of  marked 
importance  in  the  political  annals  of  our  State,  and  Mr. 
Hatheway  fully  sustained  the  confidence  reposed  in  him 
by  his  party  and  friends. 

In  1822  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  in 
1882  chosen  a  Representative  from  the  22d  District  to 
the  United  States  Congress. 

His  early  tastes  led  him  into  political  life,  and  he 
soon  acquired  great  influence  in  the  Democratic  party. 
A  deep  thinker  and  of  active  temperament,  he  was  well 
calculated  to  plan  and  execute  whatever  business  of  a 
political  and  social  nature  he  might  undertake.  Few 
citizens,  if  any,  in  the  county,  have  acquired  an  equal 
influence  in  the  control  of  party  movements,  or  who 
could  with  so  much  exactness  predict  its  majorities.  It 
is  believed  that  he  has  in  no  instance  swayed  from  his 
political  predilections,  •  and  has  never  compromised  a 
right  for  the  achievement  of  a  temporary  success. 

In  1852  he  was  elected  a  Presidential  elector.  In 
1804  he  voted  for  Thomas  Jefferson  at  his  second  elec- 


374  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

tion  to  the  Presidency,  and  has  voted  for  every  Demo- 
cratic candidate  since. 

He  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  Con- 
vention at  Cincinnati,  in  June,  1856,  when  James  Bu- 
chanan was  chosen  as  the  national  standard-bearer  of 
the  party  he  represented. 

In  1808  he  received  a  captain's  commission  in  a  bat- 
tallion  of  infantry,  under  the  command  of  Major  John 
Kingman.  He  was  appointed  Major  in  1814,  and  Lieut. 
Colonel  by  Gov.  Tompkins  in  1816  ;  Colonel  in  1819  ; 
Brigadier  General  in  1820,  by  Gov.  Clinton  ;  Major 
General  in  1823,  by  Gov.  Yates.  The  last  appointment 
he  still  holds. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1846,  an  Act  was  passed  by  the 
Legislature  of  New  York,  for  the  encouragement  of  the 
formation  of  uniform  companies,  and  to  provide  for  the 
enrollment  of  the  militia.  In  accordance  with  this  Act, 
Gov.  Wright,  on  the  21st  of  October  of  that  year, 
directed  Major  General  Hatheway  to  divide  the  Sixth 
Military  Division  into  two  brigade  districts,  accord- 
ing to  representative  population  as  ascertained  by  the 
State  census  of  1845,  and  as  required  by  section  3d  of 
that  law. 

The  duty  was  promptly  attended  to.  He  divided  the 
division  into  two  brigade  districts,  as  follows  :  the  first 
he  composed  of  the  counties  of  Oneida  and  Oswego, 
and  the  towns  of  Sterling,  Victory,  Ira,  Cato,  and  Con- 
quest, in  the  county  of  Cayuga,  and  the  towns  of  Ly- 
sander,  Van  Buren,  Claj^  and  Cicero,  in  the  county  of 
Onondaga  ;  and  the  second,  of  the  counties  of  Cortland, 
Tompkins,  and  the  remaining  towns  of  the  counties  of 
Cayuga  and  Onondaga. 


BIOGEAPIIICAL,  375 

The  Report  was  fully  approved  by  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  and  was  regarded  as  an  improvement  on  the 
original  suggestion  of  the  Adjutant-General,  R.  E. 
Temple. 

Under  the  direction  of  Gov.  Young,  General  Hathe- 
way  divided  the  Sixth  Division  into  four  Brigade  Dis- 
tricts, according  to  representative  population. 

Previous  to  the  passage  of  the  Act  referred  to,  the 
State  was  composed  of  thirty-two  divisions — two  brig- 
ades in  each.     The  new  law  reduced  them  to  eight. 

The  Sixth  Division  was  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Oneida,  Oswego,  Onondaga,  Cayuga,  Cortland,  and 
Tompkins. 

General  Hatheway,  being  the  oldest  Major  General 
in  the  Sixth  Division,  was  retained  ;  thus  extending  to 
him  a  compliment,  not  only  for  his  venerated  worth  as 
a  man,  but  for  his  zealous  efforts  as  an  officer. 

During  the  entire  period  of  a  half  centur}^.  General 
Hatheway  has  witnessed  the  gradual  increase  of  the 
country  from  a  wilderness  to  a  populous  and  prosperous 
district ;  and  he  has  during  the  same  period  been  inti- 
mately concerned  with  its  business  and  its  interests. 

In  the  various  civil  and  military  capacities,  he  has 
been  equally  useful.  His  persevering  energy  rendered 
him  valuable  as  a  public  officer,  and  prosperous  in  his 
private  affairs.  He  has  accumulated  a  very  large  prop- 
erty. His  land  consists  of  upwards  of  3000  acres. 
The  Home  Farm  between  eleven  and  twelve  hundred. 
His  elegant  residence  was  erected  in  1844-5. 

General  Hatheway  was  married  October,  1808,  to 
Miss  Sally  Emerson,  of  Solon.  She  died  April  28,  1832. 
Mrs.  Hatheway  was  a  lady  of  education  and  refinement, 


376  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

and  possessed  many  eminent  qualities.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  where  she  passed  her  married  life 
still  speak  of  her  many  virtues,  her  genial  kindness, 
and  her  untiring  energy. 

In  November,  1848,  Mr.  Hathcway  was  again  united 
in  marriage  to  an  educated  and  refined  lady,  in  the 
person  of  Miss  Catherine  Saxton,  of  Groton. 

General  Hatheway  is  the  father  of  eleven  children — 
of  the  six  sons,  two  only  survive.  Colonel  S.  G.  Hathe- 
w^ay,  Jr.,  is  a  prominent  attorney  and  politician,  resid- 
ing at  Elmira,  Colonel  C.  L.  Hatheway,  his  fourth  son, 
is  the  active  man  of  business  at  home.  The  accom- 
plished and  so  much  lamented  Major  John  S.  Hatheway, 
of  the  United  States  Army,  was  the  second  son.  George 
R.,  the  third  son,  was  just  admitted  to  the  bar,  when 
his  career  of  promise  ended.  Charles  R.,  the  fifth  son, 
was  still  a  student.  The  sixth  son  died  in  childhood. 
Of  his  five  daughters,  three  are  living. 

And  now  General  Hatheway,  at  the  venerated  age  of 
seventy-eight  years,  exhibits  a  remarkable  degree  of 
health,  energy  and  vivacity  ; 

"  His  age  like  a  lusty  winter,  frosty,  but  kizidly." 

Thurlow  Weed  w^as  born  in  Cairo,  Green  co.,  N.  Y., 
Nov.  15,  1791,  and  at  the  age  of  eleven  years  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Cincinnatus.  In  his  youth  he  failed 
to  enjoy  the  advantages  of  a  good  education.  The 
limited  means  of  his  father  required  the  most  laborious 
.exertions  to  support  his  family  w^ith  even  a  moderate 
degree  of  respectability.  His  educational  privileges 
were  therefore  as  ample  as  the  circumstances  of  his 
parents  would  permit.     He  attended  school  "one  quar- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  377 

ter"  in  Catskill,  "part  of  a  winter  term"  in  Oincin- 
natus,  and  "  three  months  "  in  Onondaga  Hollow,  pay- 
ing for  board  and  schooling,  in  the  latter  place,  by 
working  in  the  garden,  chopping  wood,  and  doing 
chores,  morning  and  evening,  for  Jasper  Hopper.  He 
possessed  a  healthy,  vigorons  physical  constitution,  and 
an  inflexible,  abiding  determination  to  excel.  Though 
he  was  for  the  brief  period  of  his  minority  doomed  to 
constant  physical  toil  ;  and  though  he  might  for  a  time 
be  tossed  about  by  the  fickle  breezes  of  external  cir- 
cumstances, he  would  at  least  make  efforts  to  take  that 
elevated  rank  to  which  it  was  his  right  and  his  duty  to 
aspire.  He  felt  the  pressure  of  poverty  ;  he  knew  the 
extent  of  his  father's  purse  ;  he  possessed  talents, 
genius,  and  self-confidence,  and  he  resolved  to  accom- 
plish his  purpose.  He  was  never  reckless,  never  an 
idler,  and  always  conscious  of  his  ability  or  self-reliant 
powers  to  advance.  If  he  relinquished  one  enterprise, 
it  was  but  to  achieve  another. 

In  the  summer  of  1806  he  was  employed  in  the  capac- 
ity of  cook  and  cabin  boy  on  board  the  sloop  Ranger, 
Captain  Gager,  of  Catskill,  and  on  board  the  sloop 
Jefferson,  Captain  Bogardus,  in  1807.  In  the  winter  of 
1808  his  father  removed  to  Cincinnatus,  and  our  young 
aspirant  found  himself  quartered  in  an  ashery,  where 
he  learned  the  mystery  of  converting  lye  into  black 
salts.  During  the  winter  of  180t  he  first  worked  in  the 
printing  office  of  Macky  Croswell,  at  Catskill,  and  was 
honored  with  the  title  of  '^  Printer'' s  DevilP  In  1811 
he  was  employed  in  the  "  Lynx "  office,  at  Onondaga 
Hollow.  The  next  year  he  was  engaged  as  a  half-way 
journeyman  in  the  ofiice  of  Thomas  Walker,  of  Utica, 
17* 


378  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

and  worked  on  the  ''  Columbian  Gazette  ;"  and  in  1813, 
for  Colonel  William  L.  Stone,  on  the  "  Herkimer  Ameri- 
can." From  this  time  until  1815,  he  was  eraplo^^ed  for 
short  periods,  at  full  pay,  in  offices  at  Auburn,  Spring 
Mills,  Sangersfield,  Cazenovia,  and  Cooperstown  ;  and 
for  longer  terms  in  Utica  and  Herkimer,  when  he  went 
to  Albany,  and  New  York,  working  as  a  journeyman 
until  1819.  He  then  went  to  Norwich,  Chenango  co., 
and  established  a  weekly  newspaper  entitled  "  The 
Agriculturist."  In  1821  he  removed  to  Manlius,  Onon- 
daga CO.,  and  established  the  "  Onondaga  County  Repub- 
ican."  In  1822  he  removed  to  Rochester,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  the  office  of  Everard  Peck,  for  whom  he  worked 
two  years,  when  he  purchased  his  paper,  the  "  Roches- 
ter Telegraph."  Mr.  Weed  took  strong  ground  in  favor 
of  De  Witt  Clinton,  who  was  elected  Governor  in  the 
November  election  of  1824,  and  again  in  1826.  After 
the  abduction  of  William  Morgan,  in  1827,  he  discon- 
tinued the  "  Telegraph,"  and  commenced  the  publica- 
tion of  the  "  Anti-Masonic  Enquirer,"  which  soon  became 
the  leading  anti-masonic  paper  of  the  State.  The  "  Tele- 
graph," under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Weed,  had  exerted 
a  commanding  and  wide-spread  influence.  The  control- 
ling power  of  the  "  Enquirer"  was  far  greater.  Over 
the  party  of  which  it  was  the  great  head,  its  influence 
was  almost  unlimited.  In  1830  he  removed  to  Albany, 
and  established  the  "  Evening  Journal,"  which  for  up- 
wards of  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  conducted  with 
signal  ability  and  success. 

During  the  last  clash  at  arms  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States,  Mr.  Weed  exhibited  an  inclina- 
tion for  a  more  intimate  association  with  the  valorous 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  379 

spirits  who  warred  for  fame,  glory  and  independence. 
In  the  winter  of  1813  he  volunteered,  and  served  six 
weeks  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Ashbel  Seward's  company, 
then  stationed  at  Adams,  Jefferson  county.  Nothing  of 
particular  importance  occurred,  and  he  was  discharged 
when  the  apprehensions  of  an  attack  from  the  British,  a 
body  of  which  were  supposed  to  be  preparing  to  cross 
on  the  ice,  had  subsided.  He  was  a  private  three  months 
in  Lieut.  Ellis'  company  of  Artillery  from  Utica,  and 
stationed  at  Brownville,  in  the  same  county.  The  regi- 
ment was  commanded  by  Col.  Metcalf,  of  Cooperstown. 
Mr.  Weed  also  served  at  Sackett's  Harbor  as  Quarter 
Master  Sergeant  in  Col.  Myer's  regiment,  of  Herkimer, 
from  August  till  October. 

In  1824,  and  again  in  1829,  he  was  elected  to  the  As- 
sembly from  the  County  of  Monroe.  He  made  an  active 
and  influential  member. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Catharine  Ostrander,  of 
Cooperstown,  in  April,  1818. 

In  1843  Mr.  Weed  took  a  tour  to  Europe,  visiting 
England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  Wales,  France  and  Belgium. 
In  1852  he  took  a  second  tour,  and  extended  his  visit  to 
Switzerland,  Germany,  Saxony,  Austria,  Sardinia  and 
Italy.  During  his  travels  he  furnished  for  the  columns 
of  the  Evening  Journal  a  series  of  exceedingly  interest- 
ing and  valuable  letters,  which  were  extensively  copied 
throughout  the  State,  and  indeed  throughout  the  Union. 
They  exhibited  a  complete  daguerreotype  of  the  habits, 
customs  and  national  characteristics  of  the  people  of 
those  countries. 

Mr.  Weed  possesses  a  strong,  clear  and  well-balanced 
mind.     His  career  thus  far  has  been  an  eventful  one. 


380  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

From  the  cook  and  cabin  boy  on  board  the  sloops  Ranger 
and  Jefferson,  he  worked  his  way  to  a  position  the  most 
worthy,  dignified  and  appreciable.  From  the  black  salt 
manufacturer  of  Cincinnatus,  or  the  young  salt  boiler 
of  Salina,  we  see  him  gradually  progressing  in  the  scale 
of  the  ascending  series,  until  he  has  reached  the  highest 
round  in  the  ladder  of  political  sagacity  and  editorial 
preferment.  The  chore-boy  of  Jasper  Hopper  becomes 
repeatedly  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  State  printer, 
and  unrivaled  political  editor  of  the  Empire  State. 
The  youthful  volunteer  in  the  second  struggle  for  free- 
dom escapes  the  maelstrom  of  voluptuous  dissipation, 
and  becomes  a  self-made  great  man  ;  great  in  intellect, 
and  great  in  the  achievement  of  an  enviable  reputation. 
Had  he  vacillated  and  3'ielded  to  the  numerous  discour- 
agements with  which  he  was  surrounded,  he  would  never 
have  taken  his  station  in  bright  conspicuity  in  the  an- 
nals of  the  world.  His  resolution  and  firmness  of  char- 
acter saved  him.  He  not  only  astonished  his  friends 
with  the  extent  and  variety  of  his  attainments,  but  he 
astonished  even  himself.  He  did  not  look  for  superior 
mental  manifestations  without  effort  or  active  exertion, 
any  more  than  he  did  for  manifestations  of  physical 
power  without  constant  exercise  of  the  physical  sj'stem. 
The  skill  of  the  mariner  is  unknown  to  the  world,  and 
even  to  himself,  until  he  finds  occasion  to  spread  his  can 
vas  to  the  fury  of  the  tempest — until  his  vessel  plunges 
amidst  the  foaming,  boisterous  billows — until  he  comes 
in  fearful  contact  with  the  angry  elements  of  the  mighty 
deep.  The  same  is  true  of  all  the  numerous  conflicts  of 
the  human  mind  ;  and  resolution  and  decision  are  the 
only  sure  guaranty  of  success  and  ultimate  triumph. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  381 

The  illustrious  intellects  from  Homer  down — the  giant 
minds  who  rise  above  their  fellow-men,  and  stretch  out 
their  hands  to  each  other  across  the  interval  of  ages, 
transmitting  to  succeeding  generations  the  torch  of  sci- 
ence, poetry  and  art,  have  achieved  their  greatness  of 
character  through  the  active  propelling  agency  of  these 
progressive  elements.  They  have  distributed  the  ener- 
gies of  the  soul  through  every  fibre,  shred  and  muscle 
of  the  human  brain  ;  have  given  god-like  energy  to  the 
human  character  ;  filled  the  fair  temples  of  fame,  leveled 
forests,  and  converted  the  nations  of  the  earth  from 
savagism  and  barbarity  to  a  higher  state  of  moral  and 
intellectual  greatness.  Resolution  and  decision  are 
traits  of  character  which  we  admire,  and  which  we  love 
to  contemplate.  We  pay  them  homage  in  Xerxes  and 
Alexander — in  Hannibal,  Scipio  and  Napoleon — in  Nero 
and  Caligula.  Indeed,  we  can  scarcely  contemplate 
them  even  in  a  demon  without  doing  it  involuntary 
reverence.  It  is  inconsistent  with  the  nature  of  mind 
that  it  should  rise  to  greatness  and  distinction  without 
unceasing  effort.  Hannibal's  name  is  immortal,  because 
the  towering  Alps,  whose  lofty  peaks  penetrated  the 
clouds  of  heaven,  could  not  successfully  resist  the  en- 
ergies of  his  mind.  He  fearlessly  marched  with  his 
invincible  host  over  those  rugged  and  dangerous  steeps, 
where  mortal  foot  had  never  trod  before.  Thurlow 
Weed,  through  a  like  unceasing  effort,  has  braved  the 
ills  of  poverty,  voluptuous  excitement,  a  tliousand 
threatening  disasters,  and  slowly  carved  his  way  to 
wealth  and  greatness. 

John  L,  Boyd  was  born  in  Charlton,  Saratoga  count}', 
N.  Y.,  October  16th,  1783.    His  educational  advantages 


382  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

were  limited  to  the  common  schools,  where  he  acquired 
the  rudiments  of  his  education,  and  such  scholarship  as 
the  transient  opportunities  of  the  country  afforded.  He 
had,  however,  early  laid  a  good  foundation  for  a  prac- 
tical education,  which  in  due  time  was  honorably  com- 
pleted. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  left  the  parental  roof  and 
the  common  pursuits  of  the  youth  of  that  time,  and  was 
for  the  succeeding  four  3^ears  in  the  employ  of  William 
S.  Packer,  an  established  hatter  in  Galway.  Having 
closed  his  apprenticeship,  he  entered  into  the  hatting 
business  on  his  own  account,  but  discontinued  the  en- 
terprise at  the  end  of  one  year  and  a  half.  Soon  after, 
he  was  employed  by  James  Hamilton,  and  continued  in 
his  service  in  the  capacity  of  bar-keeper  for  about  two 
years,  when  he  removed  with  his  father  to  Irondequoit, 
Monroe  county.  Here  he  had  hoped  to  secure  perma- 
nent employment,  but  failiug  in  the  effort,  he  engaged 
with  a  Mr.  Seymour,  and  spent  two  months  in  surveying 
the  large  tract  of  land  lying  between  Rochester  and 
Lake  Ontario.  He  was  subsequently  employed  in  the 
store  of  Messrs.  Tryon  and  Adams,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  and-  then  returned  to  Saratoga  county,  and 
was  for  a  like  period  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
We  next  find  Mr.  Boyd  in  Albany,  employed  in  the  for- 
warding house  of  Hugh  and  Hamilton  Boyd.  At  this 
period  (1808,)  the  embargo  made  a  serious  change  in 
commercial  affairs,  and  darkened  for  a  time  our  politcal 
horizon.  The  restraining  influence  extended  beyond  the 
shipping  interest,  and,  indeed,  paralized  almost  every 
branch  of  industry.  The  forwarding  business  was  in 
the  main  closed,  or  very  greatly  limited,  and  in  conse- 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  383 

queuce  Mr.  Boyd  again  returned  to  his  agricultural 
labors — an  avocation  in  which  he  has  since  continued. 

Mr.  Boyd  was  married  in  1809  to  Miss  Electa  Bacon, 
of  Williamstown,  Mass.,  an  early  class-mate  of  Mrs. 
Col.  Canfield  in  the  Litchfield  Academy.  He  removed 
to  Solon  in  1811  ;  purchased  119  acres  on  lot  98.  He 
subsequently  added  251  acres  to  his  farm,  and  at  pres- 
ent retains  225. 

In  1812  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  in  a  company  of 
Infantry,  commanded  by  Capt.  Hedges,  of  Truxton.  He 
afterwards  rose  to  the  rank  of  Colonel. 

Previous  to  1821  he  received  two  commissions  of  ap- 
pointment to  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  but  de- 
clined the  honors.  After  the  revision  of  the  State  Con- 
stitution, he  was  repeatedly  elected  to  the  same  office, 
as  also  various  other  responsible  positions  in  the  gift 
of  the  people. 

In  1827  Col.  Boyd  was  elected  to  the  New  York  Leg- 
islature, and  made  an  active  and  efficient  member.  His 
first  vote  was  cast  for  Thomas  Jefferson  at  his  second 
election  in  1804. 

In  1823  he  united  with  the  Union  Congregational 
Society  of  Cincinnatus  and  Solon,  and  has  since  filled 
numerous  prominent  positions  in  the  church,  serving  for 
many  years  in  the  capacity  of  deacon.  He  was  a  zeal- 
ous pioneer  in  the  early  temperance  reformation,  and, 
indeed,  an  active  participant  in  most  of  the  social  re- 
forms of  the  day  ;  and  has  successfully  discharged  the 
duties  of  Sabbath  school  superintendent  for  upwards  of 
twent3^-eight  years. 

He  has  reared  an  intelligent  family  of  nine  children. 
Louise  M.  is  the  wife  of  James  Thompson,  Esq.,  Cashier 


384  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

of  the  Camden,  White  Creek  Valley  Bank.  John  W. 
is  an  honored  member  of  the  Wisconsin  State  Senate — 
now  serving  a  second  term. 

Colonel  Boyd  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man.  Stout- 
hearted and  sanguine,  he  felt  that  if  blessed  with  health 
and  the  ordinary  advantages  common  to  the  pioneer 
period  in  which  he  was  reared,  he  could  succeed  in  life 
and  ultimately  carve  out  for  himself  a  respectable  com- 
petency. His  early  reverses  and  embarrassments,  in- 
stead of  impairing  his  youthful  energy,  served  but  to 
stimulate  him  to  greater  activity.  And  when  he  had 
accumulated  by  honest  industry  and  untiring  energy  a 
small  fund,  with  his  young  and  interesting  wifo  he 
sought  this  wild  region  of  country,  and  became  an  occu- 
pant of  a  log  cabin.  Here  they  spent  many  years  of 
primitive  happiness — though,  strictly  speaking,  they 
were  years  of  unremitting  toil  and  privation.  Sur- 
rounded by  the  deep,  dark  forests  ;  undismayed  by  the 
howl  of  the  wolf,  or  the  panther's  scream,  he  grasped 

"  The  axe,  that  wondrous  instrument 
That,  like  the  talisman,  transforms 
Deserts  to  fields  and  cities," 

and  with  a  strong  arm  and  a  resolute  will  he  went 
forth  to  war  with  the  stern  old  monarchs  of  the  forest. 
His  Utopian  dream  has  been  realized  ;  his  enterprise 
fully  rewarded  ;  and  now,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five, 
we  find  him  surrounded  with  broad  and  productive 
fields,  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  all  the  conveniences  and 
comforts  of  life,  an  honored  pioneer  of  an  iron  age  ;  still 
living  upon  the  ground  where  his  primitive  cabin  was 
reared,  and  still  cultivating  the  soil  over  which,  previ- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  385 

ous  to  his  early  adventure  the  footprints  of  civilization 
had  scarce  traversed  the  trail  of  the  red  man  ; 

"  Where  nothing  dwelt  but  beasts  of  prey, 
Or  men  as  wild  and  fierce  as  they.'' 

Joseph  Eeynolds  was  bom  in  Easton,  "Washington 
CO.,  N.  Y.,  September  14,  1785.  Some  years  after,  his 
father  removed  to  Galway,  Saratoga  co.,  from  which 
place  Mr.  Reynolds  migrated  to  Virgil,  in  1809.  He  was 
eight  days  on  the  road.  With  his  wallet  of  bread  and 
cheese  on  his  shoulder,  he  left  his  home  for  the  promised 
land  of  the  Tioughnioga  valley.  He  drove  in  two  cows; 
and,  as  j^et  having  no  land,  or  provision  made  for  their 
keeping,  he  gave  the  milk  of  one  for  the  keeping  of 
both.  Having  made  the  necessary  arrangements  for 
his  young  family,  he  engaged  himself  in  clearing  land 
for  his  neighbors,  at  the  rate  of  seventy-five  cents  per 
day. 

In  the  spring  of  1810  Mr.  Reynolds  purchased  a  small 
farm,  mostly  on  credit  ;  and,  with  a  determination  to 
prosper  through  the  means  of  honest  labor,  commenced 
felling  the  forest  trees,  that  the  virgin  soil  might  yield 
to  the  hand  of  productive  toil.  Success  followed  his 
industrious  and  economical  pursuits. 

In  1814  he  was  elected  to  the  oJBfice  of  constable. 
Soon  after,  a  company  of  riflemen  was  organized,  and  he 
was  made  Captain.  The  company  proposed  entering  into 
the  service  of  the  country  in  opposition  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  Great  Britain.  Having  been  reported  to  the 
proper  quarter  as  being  fully  equipped  and  ready  to 
march,  they  were  in  turn  directed  to  remain  as  "minute 
men,"  lest  a  sally  might  be  made  on  Salt  Point  by  way 


386  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

of  Oswego.  Peace  was  however  declared  before  the 
fierce  wa,r-spirits  were  crowned  with  laurels.  The  organ- 
ization was  discontinued.  In  181T  he  was  appointed 
Major  ;  in  1818,  Colonel  ;  and  in  1823  he  was  chosen 
Brigadier  General.  This  post  he  held  with  much  credit 
for  seven  years. 

In  1815  he  was  appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the 
town  of  Virgil,  by  the  Old  Council  of  Appointment,  and 
held  the  office  for  about  twenty-three  years.  After  the 
Council  of  Appointment  was  abolished,  he  was  elected 
by  the  Democratic  party,  to  which  he  has  ever  been 
attached. 

In  1818  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  without  op- 
position :  such  an  election  has  not  happened  in  the 
county  since.  He  was  present  when  the  division  of 
parties  took  place  ;  a  portion  of  the  Democrats  or  Re- 
publicans went  over  to  the  Clintonian  part3^  The 
parties  stood  divided — fifty-one  Clintonians,  headed  by 
Obadiah  Germain  ;  forty-four  Bucktails,  headed  by  Wm. 
Thompson  ;  and  twenty-eight  Federalists,  headed  by 
Wm.  A.  Duer.  After  two  days  balloting  the  Clintoni- 
ans and  Federals  fused,  and  elected  Mr.  Germain, 
Speaker. 

In  1821  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  Cortland  count}'', 
which  office  he  filled  for  nearly  eighteen  j^ears — five  of 
which  he  occupied  the  honorable  position  of  first 
Judge. 

In  1825  he  was  elected  Supervisor,  and  continued  to 
discharge  its  duties  until  1835. 

In  1832  he  was  elected  a  Presidential  Elector,  and 
cast  his  vote  for  the  Democratic  candidate. 

In  1834  he  was  elected  to  the  24th  Congress  of  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  387 

United  States,  from  the  counties  of  Tioga,  Tompkins 
and  Cortland. 

In  1839  he  came  to  Cortland  Village,  and  erected  the 
splendid  residence  which  he  now  occupies. 

Judge  Reynolds  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man — a 
man  of  character  and  influence.  There  are  but  few  who 
have  made  greater  exertions  in  early  life — who  have 
labored  harder,  or  who,  through  self-exertion,  have 
carved  their  way  to  fortune,  honor,  and  just  respect- 
ability. 

William  Randall  was  born  in  the  year  1182.  His 
brother,  General  Roswell  Randall,  was  born  in  It 86. 
Their  father,  Robert  Randall,  was  a  native  of  Stonington, 
Connecticut.  William  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits. 
Roswell  obtained  a  superior  education,  and  studied  law 
with  Stephen  0.  Ranegan,  of  Oxford.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  but  never  practised.  The  brothers  engaged 
in  merchandise  together  in  Madison  county,  but  re- 
moved to  Cortland  Village  about  the  yeixv  1812,  where 
they  continued  the  business.  Their  store  was  on  the  site 
now  occupied  by  that  of  James  S.  Squires.  They  were 
highly  successful  in  trade,  which  continued  for  a  num- 
ber of  3^ears.  They  at  length  dissolved  their  partner- 
ship, and  William  erected  a  store,  which  is  now  the 
Randall  Bank.  Roswell  built  the  Eagle  Store,  now  un 
occupied.  When  they  finally  discontinued  the  mercan- 
tile trade,  the  former  engaged  in  banking  and  farming, 
and  the  latter  in  cultivating  his  farm.  William  Randall 
was  emphatically  a  man  of  mark  in  his  day.  He  pos- 
sessed a  clear,  strong,  and  vigorous  intellect,  a  firm  and 
resolute  mind,  a  warm  and  generous  heart,  and  was,  in 
short,  a  valued  citizen.     He  died  December  23,  1850. 


388  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Koswell  Randall  was  an  early  Post-master  of  Cort- 
land Village,  and  has  honorably  filled  various  other 
positions.  His  military  rank  of  Brigadier-General  was 
attained  through  the  several  gradations,  commencing 
with  fourth  Corporal.  He  was  much  admired  as  a  mili- 
taiy  officer.  And  now,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two,  with 
his  physical  and  mental  constitution  unimpaired,  has  but 
partially  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  life. 

William  and  Roswell  Randall  were  energetic  business 
men.  The  monuments  of  their  memory  m?i-y  be  seen  in 
the  elegant  residences,  erected  at  their  expense,  which 
adorn  and  beautify  the  village. 

George  W.  Bradford  was  born  in  Cooperstown,  Otsego 
county,  N.  Y.,  May  9,  It 96.  He  is  of  English  descent, 
and  of  the  sixth  generation  from  Governor  William 
Bradford,  one  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  who,  in  1620,  on 
board  of  the  May  Flower,  braved  the  waves  of  the 
stormy  ocean,  preferring  to  seek  an  asylum  in  the  rude 
wilds  of  America  rather  than  endure  the  persecution  of 
religious  fanatics  and  political  tyrants  in  the  land  of 
his  birth,  and  who  for  twenty  years  was  the  great  head 
or  ruling  spirit  of  the  PI}' mouth  Colony.  The  ancestors 
of  Dr.  Bradford  were  of  families  of  distinction  in  the 
early  annals  of  Massachusetts. 

His  father  was  an  agriculturist  and  manufacturer, 
and  gave  his  son  the  advantages  of  a  common  school 
education.  He  early  impressed  upon  his  mind  the 
actual  necessity  of  self-reliance  ;  and  this  has  ever  been 
an  element  in  his  character. 

In  1812,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  was  sent  to  the 
academy  of  Woodstock,  Ct,  and  placed  under  the  charge 
of  the  principal,  the  venerable  Rinaldo  Burleigh,  father 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 

of  Wm.  H.  and  C.  C.  Burleigh,  whose  literary  achieve- 
ments have  made  them  ornaments  to  the  age  in  which 
they  live. 

In  1814  he  entered  a  classical  school  at  Clinton,  N. 
Y.,  and  became  a  classmate  of  the  Hon.  Gerrit  Smith. 
He  pursued  his  classical  studies  until  failing  health 
required  a  relaxation  from  his  studies.  He  abandoned 
for  a  time  the  study  of  Caesar,  Virgil,  Livy,  Sallust  and 
Cicero,  and  made  a  general  tour  through  the  States  and 
the  Canadas,  occupying  about  one  year  of  time.  Hav- 
ing regained  his  health,  in  1816  he  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  Thomas  Fuller,  of  Cooperstown, 
and  completed  his  professional  studies  in  1820.  In  the 
same  year  he  was  licensed  to  practice  medicine  by  the 
Medical  Association  of  Otsego  county,  and  soon  after 
located  in  Homer,  where  he  united  with  the  Cortland 
Medical  Association,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  soon  acquired  a  varied  and  extensive 
practice,  and  devoted  all  his  energies  exclusively  to  it. 

In  1846  he  was  elected  a  permanent  member  of  the 
State  Medical  Society,  and  received  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
in  the  same  year.  In  184Y  he  was  made  a  member  of 
the  American  Medical  Association.  In  1856  he  was 
elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  Wisconsin  State 
Historical  Society,  and  of  the  American  Association  for 
the  Advancement  of  Science  in  1856. 

In  1858  the  Faculty  of  Genesee  College  conferred  on 
him  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M. 

Dr.  Bradford  held  a  commission  in  the  Medical  Staff 
of  the  Militia  of  this  State,  under  Major  General  Hathe- 
way,  from  1821  to  1832,  occupying  the  different  grades 
from   Surgeon's  Mate  of  the  Regiment  to  Hospital  Sur- 


390  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

geon  of  the  Division.  In  the  fall  of  1851  he  was  elected 
to  the  Assembly  of  this  State,  and  in  1853  he  was 
elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  State  Senate,  and  in  1855  he 
was  reelected  by  a  very  large  and  increased  majority. 
He  served  the  three  terms  with  great  credit  to  himself 
and  his  constituents.  He  was  Chairman  of  one  of  the 
important  Committees  of  the  House,  and  of  two  Stand- 
ing and  one  Select  Committee  of  the  Senate. 

"  The  interests  of  education,  and  the  benevolent  insti- 
tutions of  the  State,  found  in  Senator  Bradford  a  warm 
supporter."* 

He  made  an  active  and  industrious  member,  having 
been  absent  only  on  one  occasion — an  evening  session — 
during  the  whole  five  years  of  his  legislative  labors  ; 
and  his  absence  at  that  time  was  caused  by  a  detention 
of  the  cars.  He  framed  and  introduced  several  very 
important  bills,  among  which  we  may  mention  the  one 
for  the  appointment  of  Commissioners  of  Common 
Schools.  Few  Senators  were  more  generally  respected 
or  possessed  more  influence  among  the  members. 

In  the  Congregational  church  (of  which  he  became  a 
member  in  1832),  in  the  Temperance  Reform,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  County  Bible  Society,  he  w^as  especially 
active.  For  the  last  thirty-four  years  he  has  served 
in  the  capacity  of  Secretary  of  the  Medical  Associa- 
tion. 

The  Cortland  Academy  owes  its  prosperity  in  no 
small  degree  to  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Bradford,  whose  ambi- 
tion has  been  to  make  it  what  it  really  is,  a  "  model 
institution."    For  the  last  thirty  years  he  has  discharged 

*'  Senator  Kelley's  letter. 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  391 

the  duties  of  Trustee.  In  the  sick  room  he  has  ever  ex- 
hibited a  kind  and  generous  sympathy  ;  to  the  poor  and 
friendless  he  has  been  liberal  and  just. 

His  reading  is  varied  and  extensive.  In  the  science 
of  Botany,  Geology,  Mineralogy,  and  Zoology,  he  be- 
came a  proficient. 

He  was  married  in  1818  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Walker,  of 
Middlefield.  Of  their  three  children — daughters — only 
one  is  now  living, — the  wife  of  William  W.  Northrop,  of 
New  York.  Mrs.  Northrop  is  a  lady  of  extensive  read- 
ing and  of  liberal  education.  She  reads  fluently  in 
seven  different  languages. 

Dr.  Bradford  is  at  present  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  in  which  capacity  he  has  been  abun- 
dantly successful. 

Samuel  Nelson  was  born  in  Hebron,  Washington  co., 
New  York,  Nov.  10,  1792.  His  parents  were  John 
Kogers  Nelson  and  Jane  M'Carter  ;  both  of  Irish 
descent.  Their  ancestors  emigrated  from  the  north  of 
Ireland  to  Salem,  New  York,  about  the  year  It 60. 
They  came  over  in  company  with  their  clergyman,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Clark,  a  protestant  of  the  strictest  Presbyte- 
rian faith. 

John  Rogers  Nelson  married  Miss  Jane  M'Carter  at 
the  close  of  the  Revolution,  and  settled  in  Hebron. 
They  were  among  the  early  pioneers  in  the  settlement 
of  that  town, — its  organization  having  occurred  in 
March,  1188.  Their  eldest  son,  John  Jay  Nelson,  only 
brother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  resides  on  the 
original  premises. 

Samuel  Nelson  was  at  an  early  age  sent  to  the  dis- 
trict school,  where  he  made  the  usual  progress  in  the 


392  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

primary  branches.  He  fitted  for  college  at  a  classical 
school  in  Salem,  taught  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gross  ;  and  at 
the  Granville  Academy,  having  for  its  principal  the 
distinguished  Salem  Town.  He  entered  Middleberry 
College,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Davis,  principal,  in  the  spring  of 
1811,  and  graduated  in  August,  1813,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one.  Adopting  the  legal  profession,  he  studied 
law  in  Salem,  under  two  eminent  lawyers, — Messrs. 
Savage  and  Woods, — with  whom  he  remained  upwards 
of  two  years  ; — the  senior  partner  being  the  late  dis- 
tinguished Chief  Justice  of  New  York. 

In  1816,  Judge  Woods,  the  junior  partner,  removed 
to  Madison  county,  where  he  settled  in  his  profession. 
He  was  accompanied  by  Mr.  Nelson,  who,  at  the  Janu- 
ary term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  ISH,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  Soon  after,  he  came  to  this  county  and  located 
in  Cortland  Village,  where  he  entered  into  the  practice 
of  law. 

Cortland,  though  a  small  village,  had  become  the 
coiAity  seat.  The  leading  members  of  the  bar  were 
Oliver  Wisewell,  Henry  Stephens,  Samuel  S.  Baldwin, 
Townsend  Ross,  Edward  C.  Reed,  and  Augustus  Don- 
nelly. They  commenced  their  profession  unaided  by 
fortune  or  legal  reputation.  They,  however,  belonged 
to  a  class  of  progressionists  which  seldom  fail  of  ulti- 
mate success.  Their  intercourse  was  of  the  most 
friendly  character.  The  principle  of  exclusiveness  was 
not  in  those  days  cultivated,  for  selfishness  was  de- 
tested and  discarded.  In  the  southern  portion  of  the 
county  Messrs.  Nelson  and  Stephens  held  the  exclu- 
sive sway  in  the  practice  under  what  was  then  termed 
the  Ten  Pound  Act,  which  was  limited  to  the  jurisdic- 


BIOGRAPHICA.L.  393 

tioii  of  Justices  Courts.  And  here  was  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  their  professional  ability  and  legal  fame.  Mr. 
Stephens  had  already  acquired  some  notoriety  as  an 
able  and  successful  lawyer.  He  defended  the  first  suit 
brought  by  Mr.  Nelson  in  the  Common  Pleas.  It  was 
on  a  stock  note.  The  declaration  contained  a  special 
count,  and  the  common  counts  for  goods  sold  and  de- 
livered. Stephens  demurred  to  the  special  count,  and 
put  in  the  general  issue  to  the  common  counts.  Hon. 
John  Keep  occupied  the  bench.  The  demurrer  was  first 
argued,  and  a  decision  rendered  against  Mr.  Nelson, 
followed  by  an  execution  for  costs, — which  very  much 
astonished  and  chagrined  him.  At  least,  he  felt  that  it 
was  a  most  unfavorable  beginning.  However,  in  his 
despair  he  sought  relief  in  his  library,  and  soon  dis- 
covered that  it  was  erroneous  practice  to  enter  up 
judgment  and  issue  execution  for  costs  op  the  demurrer 
until  the  trial  of  the  issue  of  fact,  and  the  whole  case 
is  disposed  of  Hence  Mr.  Nelson  obtained  an  order 
to  stay  proceedings  on  the  execution,  and  at  the  next 
term  of  court  moved  to  set  aside  the  execution  for 
irregularity,  which,  with  costs,  was  granted.  He  also 
tried  the  issue  of  fact,  and  recovered  his  suit  ;  collected 
the  note  and  costs,  without  having  to  pay  any.  This 
Judge  Nelson  remembers  as  having  been  regarded  at 
the  time  as  quite  an  achievement ;  and  he  has  not  since 
forgotten  the  practice. 

The  above  incident  fully  illustrates  how  law  may  be 
learned  even  before  courts  not  initiated  into  its  myste- 
ries. 

The  triumph  of  Mr.  Nelson  was  of  marked  signifi- 
pance.  It  measurably  established  his  reputation  ;  gave 
18 


394  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

him  a  higher  position  among  his  legal  compeers,  and 
opened  for  him  a  future  bright  and  promising.  If  he 
was  not  actually  "born  a  lawyer" — if  he  did  not  be- 
come a  Hercules  at  a  single  stride,  he  at  least  rose 
rapidly  in  his  profession,  gathered  fresh  laurels,  luxu- 
riant in  their  growth,  and  which  have  neither  been 
dimmed  by  the  frosts  of  time,  nor  soiled  by  the  touch 
of  an  enemy.  His  open-hearted  frankness,  liberal  views 
and  impassioned  eloquence  ;  his  well-balanced  mind 
and  generous  impulses, — eminently  fitted  him  for  the 
position  he  so  creditably  occupied,  and  combined  to 
make  him  an  ornament  to  the  profession  and  a  blessing 
to  his  country.  Indeed,  few  young  men  of  that  day 
ranked  higher,  or  received  a  more  liberal  share  of  busi- 
ness. The  talents,  ability,  and  stern  integrity  which 
he  displayed  on  all  occasions,  made  him  a  favorite  with 
the  people,  from  whom  he  afterwards  received  nume- 
rous political  and  social  honors. 

In  the  winter  of  1820-1,  be  was  appointed  by  the 
Legislature  a  presidential  elector,  and  he  voted  at  the 
Electoral  College  at  Albany,  for  James  Monroe,  when 
chosen  for  the  second  term. 

During  the  latter  year  he  received  the  appointment 
of  Post-master  at  Cortland  Village.  The  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances attending  the  appointment  are  worthy  of  at 
least  a  passing  notice.  At  that  time  Major  Roswcll 
Randall  was  the  incumbent.  Young  Nelson  was,  through 
the  kindness  of  the  Major,  boarding  in  his  family, — and 
the  appointment,  being  entirely  unexpected  by  either, 
greatly  perplexed  Mr.  Nelson,  inasmuch  as  it  left  the 
implication  that  he  had  been  undermining  his  friend 
while    enjoying   his    hospitality.      He,   however,  knew 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  395 

nothing  about  the  appointment  until  he  received  the 
commission  through  the  post-oflSce.  Hon.  Elisha  Litch- 
field, of  Onondaga  county,  was  then  a  member  of  Con- 
gress, and  had,  without  consulting  Mr.  Nelson,  procured 
the  appointment. 

He  was  a  delegate  in  the  Convention  of  1821  for  the 
revision  of  the  State  Constitution,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  deliberations  of  that  intelligent  body.  He 
advocated  the  abolition  of  the  property  qualification, 
which  was  upheld  and  defended  by  Chancellor  Kent 
and  Chief  Justice  Spencer.  Unlike  them,  he  could  not 
see  why  men,  because  they  might  not  possess  a  dollar's 
worth  of  real  estate,  were  the  less  competent  to  exer- 
cise or  enjoy  the  inalienable  rights  of  citizens. 

In  April,  1823,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Yates 
one  of  the  Circuit  Judges  under  the  new  Constitution, 
which  had  the  previous  year  been  ratified  by  a  majority 
of  33,330  votes.  The  court  was  composed  of  the  coun- 
ties of  Otsego,  Delaware,  Chenango,  Broome,  Cortland, 
Tompkins,  Tioga,  and  Steuben. 

Having  sustained  himself  throughout  his  eight  years' 
service  upon  the  bench,  with  ability  and  honor,  he  was 
on  the  first  day  of  February,  1831,  appointed  by  Govern- 
or Throop  the  successor  of  Hon.  William  L.  Marcy  on 
the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  New 
York, — Judge  Marcy  having  been  elected  to  the  United 
States  Senate. 

On  the  31st  day  of  August,  183*1,  he  was  appointed 
by  Governor  Marcy  and  the  Senate,  Chief  Justice  of 
the  State  of  New  York, — Judge  Savage  having  resigned 
that  honorable  position.  Judge  Nelson  remained  in 
that  office  until  1845,  when  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 


396  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

dent  Tyler  and  the  Senate,  the  successor  of  Judge 
Thompson,  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States.  Judge  Thompson  had  adorned  and 
dignified  the  office  for  a  period  exceeding  thirty-eight 
years — "one  of  the  longest  and  most  honorable  judicial 
careers  on  record."*  And  yet,  Judge  Nelson  has  thus 
far  filled  the  seat  made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Judge 
Thompson,  in  a  degree  so  clearly  eminent  as  to  place 
him  in  the  front  rank  of  legal  ability  and  judicial  fame. 

During  his  absence  from  Otsego  county,  in  1846,  he 
was  appointed  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention, 
which  convened  at  Albany  on  the  first  day  of  June  of 
that  year,  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the  Constitution  ; 
but  the  duties  of  his  office  as  Associate  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  and  impaired 
health,  precluded  his  attending  the  Convention  only  for 
a  brief  portion  of  the  time  it  was  in  session. 

Judge  Nelson  received  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  from 
Columbia  College,  New  York  city  ;  from  Middlebmy 
College,  Vermont,  his  alma  mater,  as  well  as  from 
Geneva  College. 

Mr.  Nelson  has  been  twice  married.  In  the  fall  of 
1819,  he  married  Miss  Pamela  Woods,  eldest  daughter 
of  Judge  Woods,  of  Madison  co.  The  union  proved  a 
very  happy  and  agreeable  one.  The  tie  that  bound 
them  was  not,  however,  permitted  to  remain  unbroken. 
Death,  the  dread  foe,  envious  of  mortal  bliss,  ''marked 
her  for  his  own."  She  died  in  the  summer  of  1822. 
Her  disease  was  consumption  ;  and  she  bore  her  pro- 
tracted sufiering  with  resignation,  and  looked  forward 

*  Van  Santvord's  Life  of  Judge  Thompson. 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  397 

to  an  exchange  of  worlds  with  Christian  peace  and 
hope. 

In  April,  1825,  Mr.  Nelson  was  again  united  in  mar- 
riage to  a  lady  of  superior  mind,  genial  temper  and 
social  worth,  in  the  person  of  Miss  Catharine  A.  Rus- 
sell, only  daughter  of  Judge  Russell,  of  Cooperstown, 
where  they  now  reside. 

In  the  character  of  Judge  Nelson  we  find  much  to 
admire;  a  combination  of  valuable  characteristics  which 
are  seldom  found  united  in  one  person.  Originally  en- 
dowed with  genius  and  moral  sensibility;  with  a  grasp 
of  intellect  which  seized  as  by  intuition  those  stores  of 
knowledge  which  others  could  acquire  only  by  painful 
application,  and  with  a  full,  rich  flow  of  social  feeling 
which  early  rendered  him  the  fascinating  centre  of  an 
extended  circle  of  friendship,  he  braced  himself  for  a 
career  of  emulation,  and  at  once  became  an  example 
and  an  ornament  to  the  legal  profession. 

In  all  the  positions  in  which  he  has  been  called  to  act, 
he  has  distinguished  himself  with  marked  ability. 

His  career  upon  the  bench  has  been  characterized  by 
honesty,  firmness,  discretion,  and  liberal  equity.  His 
disposition  of  questions,  even  of  the  most  embarrassing 
character,  and  involving  the  greatest  responsibility, 
meets  the  general  approbation  of  the  bar  and  the  bench. 
His  opinions  are  clear,  comprehensive  and  manly,  and 
are  pronounced  with  the  scrupulous  fidelity,  the  discre- 
tion and  candor  of  a  conscientious  jurist.  His  great 
learning,  eloquence  and  genius  have  secured  him  a  pre- 
eminence in  the  profession  and  practice  of  law  ;  and  by 
his  persevering  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  office  he 
has  amassed  a  princely  fortune. 


398  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Ira  Harris  was  born  in  Charleston,  Montgomery  co., 
N.  Y.,  May  31st,  1802.  His  parents  removed  to  Cort- 
land county,  in  1808,  and  located  upont  lie  Preble  flats. 
He  remained  with  his  father  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age,  alternately  working  upon  the  farm  and 
attending  the  district  school.  He  advanced  rapidly  in 
his  studies,  and  devoured  in  the  intervals  of  farm  labor 
every  work  of  interest  that  he  could  conveniently  pro- 
cure. In  1815  he  entered  the  Academy  in  Homer, 
where  he  pursued  his  preparatory  collegiate  studies. 
In  September,  1822,  he  entered  the  Junior  class  in  Union 
College,  and  graduated  with  the  first  honors,  in  1824. 

Having  determined  to  pursue  the  legal  profession,  he 
made  the  necessary  arrangements,  and  at  once  entered 
the  office  of  Augustus  Donnelly,  in  Cortland  Village, 
with  whom  he  remained  one  year.  His  affable  deport- 
ment, social  habits,  well-disciplined  mind,  and  unremit- 
ting attention  to  his  studies,  secured  him  many  friends, 
and  most  especially  the  good  will  of  Donnelly.  He  left 
Cortland  with  a  view  of  obtaining  better  advantages 
for  the  prosecution  of  his  studies.  His  destination  was 
Albany.  Thither  he  went,  an  entire  stranger,  carrying 
with  him  a  voluntary  letter  of  introduction  from  his 
friend  Donnelly  to  the  late  Chief  Justice  Spencer,  whose 
office  he  entered  ;  and  during  the  two  succeeding  years, 
completed  his  professional  studies.  Thus,  in  three  years 
after  graduating,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  the  city. 

He  had  been  a  diligent  and  laborious  student,  and 
had  fully  qualified  himself  for  his  new  position  in  life. 
He  was  ambitious  and  persevering,  and  soon  laid  the 
foundation  for  his  future  eminence. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  399 

' '  On  Fame's  high  hill  he  saw 
The  laurel  spread  its  everlasting  green, 
And  wished  to  climb." 

The  splendor  of  his  genius,  and  the  maii}^  noble  and 
dignified  traits  of  character  for  which  he  soon  became 
distinguished,  served  in  an  eminent  degree  to  enlarge 
his  sphere  of  acquaintance,  and  urge  him  forward  in 
his  onward  and  upward  career  to  fame  and  fortune. 
His  careful  preparation  of  authorities,  his  honesty  of 
purpose,  his  chasteness  of  language,  and  his  oratorical 
powers,  were  well  calculated  to  make  him  successful. 
Business  accumulated  on  his  hands,  and  his  reputation 
increased  with  each  succeeding  year,  until  at  length  he 
occupied  a  proud  and  even  an  enviable  position  among 
the  most  distinguished  veterans  of  the  Albany  bar. 
He  was 

"  The  forest-born  Demosthenes 
Whose  thunders  shook  the  Philip  of  the  seas." 

He  continued  to  practice  in  the  city  for  twenty  years, 
gathering  fresh  laurels  and  achieving  new  victories, 
until  called  by  the  voice  of  his  friends  to  occupy  a 
higher  and  a  more  responsible  position. 

On  the  first  of  July,  1847,  he  took  his  seat  upon  the 
bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  having,  in  the  organization 
of  the  Judiciary  of  the  Constitution  of  1846,  been  elected 
and  drawn  for  the  term  of  four  years.  His  arguments 
were  clear,  strong  and  logical,  and  tended  greatly  to 
enhance  his  reputation.  In  1851  he  was  reelected  for 
the  term  of  eight  years. 

At  tlie  general  elections  in  the  years  1844  and  1845 
he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly.     He  at  once  became  a 


400  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

leading  member  of  the  house,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  its  debates.  His  arguments  were  lucid  and  logical, 
and  frequently  exhibited  the  marks  of  the  gifted  orator, 
not  surpassed  **  by  the  brilliant  efforts  of  Ames,  or  the 
impassioned  appeals  of  Hamilton." 

In  the  spring  of  1846  he  was  elected  to  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention,  which  convened  in  Albany  on  the  first 
da}'-  of  June  for  the  purpose  of  revising  our  State  Con- 
stitution. He  was  the  only  member  from  the  city,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  its  deliberations.  His  mind  ap- 
pears to  have  been  admirably  adapted  to  the  details  of 
the  business  which  of  necessity  came  before  the  con- 
vention. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  he  was  elected  to 
the  State  Senate,  but  resigned  his  seat  in  1847,  when 
elevated  to  the  Supreme  Bench. 

Judge  Harris  has  ever  taken  a  deep  interest  in  all 
matters  connected  with  education.  He  has  been  a  trus- 
tee in  most  of  the  literary  institutions  in  the  city, — in 
Union  College,  as  also  in  the  University  at  Rochester, 
in  the  founding  of  -which  he  was  actively  engaged. 
His  philanthropy  is  far-reaching.  All  the  impulses  of 
his  heart  are  drawn  out  in  sympathy  for  the  oppressed 
and  the  friendless.  He  possesses  a  large  share  of  legal 
experience,  and  hence  the  general  correctness  of  his 
conclusions.  Upon  legal  points,  involving  questions 
of  right  and  wrong,  his  opinions  have  seldom  been  at 
fault  ;  and  his  suggestions  have  invariably  been  just 
and  valuable.  Indeed,  he  has  discharged  the  duties  of 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  with  signal  satisfaction 
both  to  the  bar  and  to  the  public.  His  decisions  com- 
mand great  respect,  and  are  regarded  as  the  end  of  the 
law. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  401 

In  intellect,  Judge  Harris  affords  a  rare  combination 
of  excellence.  Traversing,  as  by  enchantment,  the  path 
of  public  confidence  and  renown,  he  has  gained  those 
honored  halls,  where  his  graceful  manner,  impressive 
diction,  and  logical  acumen  have  given  him  a  position 
among  the  most  attractive  and  eloquent  men  of  the  age. 
Nor  is  his  history  yet  fully  written  ;  the  future  annal- 
ist will  erect  to  his  memory  a  more  enduring  memorial. 

William  H.  Shankland,  late  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  N.  Y.,  in  the 
year  1804,  and  is  of  Scottish  descent.  His  parents 
removed  to  Pompey,  Onondaga  county,  in  1808.  He 
received  his  English  education  in  the  primary  or  com- 
mon schools  of  Onondaga,  and  his  classical  in  the  Acad- 
emy at  Pompey  Hill.  The  late  Joshua  Spencer,  of  Utica, 
was  his  teacher  for  three  successive  years.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court,  in  May,  1821,  and 
during  the  same  year  commenced  the  practice  of  law 
in  Cortland  Village.  Mr.  Shankland  was  married,  in 
February,  1828,  to«AIiss  Lucia  Emeline  Clark,  of  Onon- 
daga county,  N.  Y.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Shankland  was 
elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  four  years.  In  1836  he  was  appointed  District 
Attorney,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  oflSce  for 
eight  successive  years  with  marked  ability  and  success, 
when  he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Horatio  Bal- 
lard. In  184T  he  was  elected  one  of  the  Justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court  under  the  new  Constitution  ;  and  in 
1849  he  was  reelected  to  the  same  office  for  the  term  of 
eight  years.  His  faithfulness  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  was  proverbial  ;  and  the  urbanity  of  his  manners 
added  to  his  constant  patience  and  good  humor,  all 
18* 


402  BIOGBAPHICAI,. 

regulated  by  a  well-trained  mind,  a  qnick  perception 
and  sonnd  judgment,  enabled  him  to  di^ify  the  bench. 
His  clear,  logical  and  nicely  discriminating  powers  of 
mind  are  prominently  exhibited  in  all  of  his  important 
decisions.  He  is  now  residing  in  the  city  of  Syracuse, 
where  he  is  devoting  himself  to  his  profession  with  all 
the  ardor,  enthasiam  and  vigor  of  youth. 

Jndge  Shankland  has  ever  been  regarded  as  an  able 
lawyer  in  both  branches  of  the  profession, — as  a  coun- 
sellor and  as  an  advocate.  He  is  remarkably  indnstri- 
0113  and  persevering:  possesses  a  high  order  of  business 
talents,  a  thorough  education,  a  clear,  vigorous  intellect, 
and  he  is  in  brief  fitted  to  adorn  and  dignify  any  posi- 
tion to  which  he  may  aspire.  He  is  a  man  of  highly 
courteous  and  pleasing  manners — of  fine  personal  ap- 
pearance :  and  no  Judge  ever  presided  on  the  bench 
with  a  greater  union  of  amenity  and  dignity. 

But  what  adds  the  greatest  lustre  to  his  fame  may 
be  recorded  in  a  single  line.  JS'e  i*  a  adf-rruj/le  rrvo^n. 
His  talents,  integrity  and  personal  merit  have  given 
him  a  position  among  his  V^rethren  of  the  bench  and  the 
bar,  2^}0V(i  which  ambition  itself  cannot  wish  to  rise. 

HiBAM  Gbat  was  bom  in  Salem,  Washington  county, 
N.  Y.,  April  20,  1802.  He  early  exhibited  great  activ- 
ity of  mind  and  energy  of  character.  His  preparatory 
collegiate  studies  were  pursued  at  the  Washington 
Academy ,'in  Salem.  In  1818  he  entered  the  Sophomore 
class  in  Union  College,  and  graduated  with  the  usual 
honors,  m  July,  1821.  In  tJje  early  part  of  his  senior 
year  he  entered  the  law  office  of  the  late  Chief  Justice 
Savage,  and  studied  during  the  vacations. 

On  tlie   12th  of  February,   1821,  Judge  Savage  re- 


BiOGRArmcAL.  '  403 

ccivcd  the  appointment  of  Comptroller,  and  at  about  tlic 
time  he  entered  upon  his  duties  Mr.  Gra^^came  to  Cort- 
land, and  entered  the  office  of  Messrs.  Nelson  and  Pay- 
ton.  On  the  2 1st  of  April,  1S23,  Mr.  Xelson  was  ap- 
pointed Circuit  Judge  of  the  Sixth  District.  Soon  after 
the  appointment  of  Nelson,  Dayton  and  Woods  formed  a 
copartnership,  and  Mr.  Gray  continued  his  studies  in 
their  office  until  the  October  Term,  18:23,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  practice.  In  the  following-  December  he 
went  to  Dryden  and  opened  an  office,  where  he  remained 
until  April,  1824,  when  he  returned  .to  Cortland  county, 
and  became  a  partner  of  Judge  Ross,  in  Homer.  He 
subsequently  went  to  Elmira  and  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  lie  made  an  active  and  energetic 
lawyer,  and  rose  rapidly  in  professional  eminence.  He 
possessed  a  heart  full  of  tender  sensibilities  and  gene- 
rous impulses  ;  Avas  never  repulsive,  ajid  hence  was 
easily  approached.  His  political  affinities  were  always 
Democratic,  and  to  that  party  he  early  became  attached, 
and  was  soon  regarded  as  an  active  and  prominent  poli- 
tician. In  1S3(.>  he  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Congress.  He  made  a  ready  and  able  debater — a  prom- 
inent and  efficient  member  of  that  distinguished  bod3\ 
On  the  13th  day  of  January,  184(>,  Mr.  Gray  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Wright.  Circuit  Judge  of  the  Sixth 
Judicial  District,  and  served  under  the  Constitution  of 
1846  until  the  election  in  June,  1847,  when  he  was 
elected  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court — and 
he  drew  for  four  years.  He  was  reelected  November 
4,  1851.  His  term  will  expire  June  1, 1800  ;  after  wliich 
he  will  retire  with  an  honorable  and  a  well-earned  fame, 
to  private  occupation. 


404  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

In  person,  Judge  Gray  is  prepossessing  ;  in  stature, 
noble  and  commanding,  with  a  frame  robust,  vigorous 
and  athletic.  Social  in  his  manners,  chaste  and  happy 
in  his  colloquial  and  conversational  powers,  with  a 
strong,  vigorous  and  well-balanced  mind,  he  exhibits 
a  combination  of  characteristics  seldom  found  united  in 
one  man. 

His  range  of  reading  has  been  varied  and  extensive. 
As  a  lawyer,  he  has  ever  exhibited  a  devoted  attach- 
ment to  his  profession.  His  intellect  has  adorned  it  ; 
and  his  scrupulous  integrity  given  it  honor  and  respect. 
As  a  Judge,  he  has  proven  himself  eminently  qualified 
to  wear  the  ermine  ; — is  distinguished  for  the  correct- 
ness of  his  opinions,  and  the  firmness  with  which  his 
decisions  are  made.  In  brief,  he  is  regarded  by  his 
brethren  in  the  profession,  and  the  public,  as  an  eloquent 
advocate  and  a  profound  Jurist. 

Lewis  Kingsley  was  born  at  the  upper  village  in 
Cincinnatus,  December  15,  1823.  In  182t  his  father 
removed  to  the  lower  village,  where  he  remained  until 
his  death,  in  January,  185T,  having  been  a  resident  of 
the  county  about  thirty-six  years — twenty-five  of  which 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business. 
The  first  rudiments  of  the  education  of  his  son  Lewis, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  were  acquired  at  the  com- 
mon school.  He  afterwards  attended  select  schools, 
taught  by  A.  H.  Benedict  and  R.  K.  Bourne,  and  subse- 
quently he  attended  one  term  in  the  Sherburne  Acade- 
my, where  his  schooling  ended.  He  had,  however,  laid 
the  foundation  of  a  good  classical  education,  which  he 
afterw^ards  continued  to  improve.  In  June,  1843,  he 
commenced    the    study   of  law  with    Barak   Niles,    in 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  405 

Cincinnatus,  with  whom  he  remained  until  October, 
1844. 

Hoping  to  obtain  better  advantages  for  study,  he  left 
Cincinnatus  and  entered  the  law  office  of  Benjamin  F. 
Rexford,  of  Norwich,  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  July,  1846,  when  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  by  the  old  Supreme  Court,  then  being 
held  in  Utica.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year  Mr.  Kingsley 
entered  into  partnership  with  Judge  Niles,  in  Cincinna- 
tus, with  whom  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1848,  when 
the  Judge  went  to  Pennsylvania  to  reside.  Mr.  Kingsley 
continued  the  practice  alone  for  upwards  of  a  j^ear, 
when  he  became  a  partner  of  Samuel  C.  Graves,  and  re- 
mained with  him  until  1851,  when  his  official  position 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  change  his  residence  for 
that  of  Cortland  Village. 

In  the  spring  of  1848  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of 
Cincinnatus.  In  1849  he  declined  a  re-nomination  ;  but 
contrary  to  his  wishes  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
Town  Clerk.  At  the  November  election  of  the  same 
year,  he  was  elected  to  the  New  York  Assembly  ;  and 
in  1851  he  was  chosen  County  Judge  and  Surrogate. 
In  January,  1856,  he  removed  to  Norwich,  Chenango  co., 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Benjamin  F.  Rexford, 
with  whom  he  still  remains. 

Judge  Kingsley  possesses  a  sound  judgment,  dis- 
criminating mind,  frank  and  manly  urbanity,  a  warm 
heart,  and  a  generous  and  self-sacrificing  spirit.  His 
habits  of  life  have  ever  been  active  and  enterprising. 
As  a  citizen,  he  has  been  held  in  high  respect.  As  a 
politician,  his  opinions  have  always  been  the  result  of 
his   own  judgment   and    reflections ;    and   when   once 


406  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

formed,  he  has  been  open  and  free  in  their  expression, — 
never  swerving  for  expediency  or  party  considerations. 

As  a  lawyer,  he  has  ever  exhibited  a  high  opinion  of 
the  dignity  of  the  profession,  possessing  the  true  esprit 
dn  corps: — invariably  accurate  in  his  preparation  of 
causes,  and  energetic  and  persevering  in  their  prosecu- 
tion. 

As  Judge  and  Surrogate,  he  discharged  the  duties 
with  fidelity,  ability,  and  to  general  acceptance. 

And  in  all  the  varied  relations  of  life.  Judge  Kings- 
ley  has  adorned  and  dignified  his  position. 

Eev.  E.  G.  Holland,  a  gentleman  of  enlarged,  liberal 
views,  and  of  great  intelligence,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Solon,  Cortland  co.,  N.  Y.,  April  14,  1817.  His  edu- 
cational advantages,  up  to  fourteen  years  of  age,  were 
such  as  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town  afforded. 
His  father,  however,  was  a  man  of  enlarged  reading  and 
of  excellent  education.  He  had  also  given  much  atten- 
tion to  the  subject  of  teaching ;  and  was  therefore  pre- 
pared to  impart  to  his  son  the  advantages  of  home  tui- 
tion. He  was  early  instructed  in  the  various  branches 
of  good  husbandry.  His  inclinations,  however,  induced 
him  to  turn  his  attention  from  that  of  the  republican 
farmer  to  the  more  agreeable  literary  pursuit ;  hence 
he  adopted  the  sentiment  of  the  immortal  bard,  and 
resolved  to 

'*  Drink  deep,  or  taste  not  the  Pierian  Spring." 

Modest  and  unpretending  in  his  manners,  with  the 
purest  rectitude  of  principle,  prompt  and  energetic,  with 
warm  social  habits  and  gentlemanly  demeanor,  he  was 
alike   respected  and  cherished  in  the  circle  in  which 


'J- 


/^^^^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  407 

he  moved.  He  early  exhibited  a  strong  attachment  to 
his  books,  and  the  scintillations  emitted  from  his  well- 
developed  brain  attracted  to  his  side  the  intelligent  and 
refined,  by  whom  he  was  regarded  with  peculiar  interest  ; 
for  they  saw  in  him  the  embodiment  of  a  young  immortal 
genius  just  bursting  into  the  full  fruition  of  glorious 
manhood. 

His  progress  in  study  surprised  even  his  most  inti- 
mate friends.  Xo  question  was  so  abstruse  but  he 
mastered  i\.  Xo  lesson  too  difficult  for  Iiim  to  accom- 
plish. His  aspirations  led  from  the  dull,  prosaic  paths 
of  Yifo,  and  he  sought  for  pleasure  amid  the  flowery 
dales  and  classic  fields  through  which  the  pure  bright 
streams  of  knowledge  flowed. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  entered  the  academy  in  Ho- 
mer, where  he  studied  the  classics,  Xatural  Philosophy, 
Chemistry,  and  Mathematics.  The  Grammar  of  the 
English  language  had  been  his  favorite  study,  from  the 
age  often  years  ;  and  when  he  commenced  the  classics, 
five  difterent  systems  of  the  English  grammar  were 
familiar  to  him.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  was  fully 
prepared  for  college  ;  but  was  dissuaded  from  taking  the 
college  routine,  partly  from  the  conviction  that  it  oft^n 
sacrifices  individuality,  and  partly  from  the  opportunity 
offered  to  pursue  his  studies  in  private.  Therefore  the 
college  course,  which  oflers  so  many  real  honors  to 
others,  presents  none  to  him.  It  has  been  a  fundamen- 
tal idea  of  his  life,  that  man's  education  is  never  com- 
pleted ;  that  Nature,  Experience,  Consciousness,  and 
the  Great  Masters,  are  the  Four  Faculties  in  the  Uni- 
versity which  is  world-wide,  and  wiser  than  all  Profes- 
siQual  Chairs.  In  this  he  has  sought  to  study  :  entered 
years  since,  but  has  not  as  yet  graduated. 


408  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The  profession  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Holland  is  Literature 
and  the  Christian  Ministry.  Holding  the  religious  sen- 
timent to  be  universal  in  humanity,  and  believing  that 
in  Christianity  it  has  found  its  highest  and  noblest  ex- 
pression, it  has  not  been  the  sectarian  form  of  faith  to 
which  he  has  been  attached.  It  is  Christianity  radiating 
from  its  Divine  Centre,  the  Christ, — as  agreeing  with  the 
laws  of  the  human  spirit,  its  wants,  weaknesses,  and 
aspirations, — as  harmonizing  with  all  the  truths  of  the 
external  universe.  It  is  in  this  form  that  he  has  repre- 
sented the  faith  of  Christianity.  Sects  he  has  regarded 
as  being  valuable,  as  fragments  of  Truth, — the  catho- 
licity so  much  desired  being  an  attainment  of  the  Future, 
not  of  the  Present.  We  do  not  therefore  regard  him  as 
being  represented  by  any  particular  sect.  He  confides 
in  the  Church  of  the  Future,  in  which  all  sectarian  paths 
shall  finally  end. 

Mr.  Holland  has  contributed  several  exceedingly  val- 
uable volumes  to  American  literature, — one,  the  leading 
subjects  of  which  are  the  Life  and  Teachings  of  Confu- 
cius, the  Chinese  moral  philosopher  ;  the  Moral  Genius 
and  Literature  of  William  Ellery  Channing  ;  a  Review  of 
William  Kinkade  on  Natural  Theology,  with  essays  on 
the  Nature  and  Characteristics  of  Genius  ;  the  Elements 
and  Laws  of  Beauty  ;  the  Infinite  Harmony  which  per- 
vades Nature  and  reveals  in  the  Ages  of  History;  the 
Immortal  Life,  as  evinced  by  Analogies  of  Nature  and 
the  Facts  of  Consciousness  ;  and  Human  Rights  as 
based  in  Human  Nature.  The  essay  on  Channing  was 
in  1856  translated  into  the  German  language,  and  was 
published  by  Bernard  Shultze,  a  publisher  at  Leipsic. 
It  was  favorably  received  by  the  German  press  ;  and,  in 


BIOGEAPHICAL.  409 

connection  with  Channing^'s  M^orks,  and  separately,  was 
sent  over  the  States  of  Germany. 

In  1855  Mr.  Holland  visited  Europe  ;  he  sailed  from 
New  York,  June  10th,  in  the  Germania,  destined  for 
Hamburg,  one  of  the  wealthy  free  towns  of  Germany, 
pleasantly  situated  on  both  sides  of  the  Elbe.  While 
here  he  visited  the  tomb  of  the  German  poet,  Klopstock, 
at  Ottensen  ;  his  house  and  studio  in  Hamburg — remi- 
niscences of  the  harbinger  of  the  modern  German  poetic 
literature.  His  stay  here  was  brief ;  lie  did  not,  how- 
ever, leave  without  seeing  German  civilization  in  its 
most  attractive  phases.  He  spent  two  months  in  Berlin 
studying  German  literature,  and  German  manners  and 
life  as  reflected  in  that  metropolis  ;  studying  the  works 
of  art  there  so  numerously  accumulated  ;  making  the 
acquaintance  of  Alexander  Von  Humboldt ;  Prof.  Rauch, 
the  famed  sculptor  ;  Dr.  Karl  Ritter,  and  other  German 
celebrities,  by  whom  he  was  most  generously  treated. 

In  September  he  visited  Dresden,  its  picture  galleries, 
its  varied  objects  of  interest,  as  also  its  neighboring 
scenery. 

From  Dresden  he  went  to  Leipsic,  the  chief  book  mart 
of  the  nation  ;  Weimar,  famed  as  the  residence  of 
Goethe,  Schiller,  Wieland  and  Herder.  He  was  greatly 
interested  with  the  reminiscences  of  the  old  "  German 
Athens  ;"  went  to  Frankfort-on-the-Main  ;  Heidelberg, 
one  of  the  old  University  towns  of  Baden,  renowned  for 
its  sufferings  in  past  wars,  for  its  grand  old  ruins  whose 
interest  is  never  exhausted,  for  its  University,  and  it 
may  be  added,  for  the  exceeding  beauty  of  the  region 
about  it.  Here  he  remained  one  year,  and  during  his 
studies  in  German  literature  he  gave  two  courses  of 


410  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

lectures  on  American  literature  to  the  citizens  of  Hei- 
delberg— the  first  consisting  of  five,  and  the  second  of 
seven  lectures,  in  which  the  romance  writers,  the  poets, 
historians,  orators  and  eminent  thinkers  of  the  country 
were  represented.  The  most  eminent  men  of  the  city 
were  conspicuous  in  securing  these  valuable  lectures. 
In  Bonn  he  gave  a  course  of  nine  lectures  on  American 
literature,  landscape  and  institutions.  The  press,  with- 
out distinction,  referred  to  his  lectures  in  the  most  fa- 
vorable terms.  The  BadisJie  Landeszeitung ,  of  April 
3d,  1856,  said  :  "  We  have  been  much  pleased  with  the 
lectures  of  Mr.  Holland,  from  America,  which  he  gave 
here  on  American  literature.  These  lectures  prove  how 
much  the  Americans  have  advanced  in  the  poetic  art, 
and  in  philosophy,  and  that  the  saying  of  an  important 
author  is  true,  viz.:  that  the  American  literature,  though 
a  youth  in  years,  is  a  giant  in  form  and  vigor."  The 
Conner  Zeitung^  of  September,  1856,  said,  "The  writings 
of  Mr.  Holland  are  highly  important  and  instructive. 
In  style  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  they  may  be 
compared  favorably  to  those  of  Von  Humboldt.  His 
present  course  of  lectures  furnishes  a  rare  opportu- 
nity to  those  who  can  appreciate  a  discourse  in  Eng- 
lish." 

He  also  visited  Cologne,  Belgium  and  France,  remain- 
ing some  months  in  Paris  ;  the  Isle  of  Wight  ;  England, 
in  her  chief  towns  ;  spent  one  year  and  a  half  in  Lon- 
don, a  part  of  the  time  being  engaged  in  study  at  the 
British  Museum,  and  in  giving  lectures  on  American 
themes.  Passing  to  Scotland,  he  visited  Glasgow,  A}^'- 
shirc,  the  Highlands,  and  the  scenery  of  the  Clyde  ;  as 
also  Edinboro'  and  its  attractive  scenes  ;  and  finally 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  411 

completed  his  journey  with  making  a  tour  through  Erin- 
gobragh. 

His  lectures  in  London  were  highly  lauded  by  the 
English  press.  The  London  Chrojiide,  the  Morning 
Advertiser^  The  Illustrated  Ncics^  The  Star,  and  the 
Journal  of  Arts  and  Sciences^  were  prominent  among 
the  papers  which  thus  favorably  noticed  him. 

While  in  Great  Britain  he  made  the  acquaintance  of 
Thomas  Carlyle,  by  whom  he  was  kindly  received  ;  of 
poet  Mackay,  Geo.  Combe,  as  also  various  personages 
of  the  English  nobility. 

In  July,  1858,  Mr.  Holland  returned  to  New  York  in 
the  steamer  Indian  Empire,  after  a  three  j^ears'  resi- 
dence in  Europe. 

He  remembers  with  reverential  pride  his  native  State, 
native  county,  and  especially  his  native  town.  He  pos- 
sesses a  richly-endowed  mind,  is  a  bold,  vigorous  and 
original  writer,  and  always  takes  pleasure  in  dealing 
with  practical  themes.  Indeed,  he  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  remarkable  men  of  the  age, — "one  of  the 
few  that  were  not  born  to  die." 

Mr.  Holland  is  at  present  settled  at  Irvington,  New 
Jerse}^,  though  his  address  is  151  Tenth  street.  New 
York. 

Stephen  W.  Clark,  A.  M.,  the  present  Principal  of 
Cortland  Academy,  third  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Clark, 
and  younger  brother  of  Myron  H.  Clark,  ex-governor  of 
New  York,  was  born  in  Naples,  N.  Y.,  April  24th,  1810. 
After  having  spent  his  earlier  j^ears  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  his  native  town,  and  in  the  capacity  of  a  mer- 
cantile clerk  in  Canandaigua,  lie  completed  his  prepara- 
tory studies  in  Franklin  Academy,  Prattsburgh,  N.  Y., 


412  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

and  entered  Amherst  College  in  1833.  Here,  under  the 
care  and  instruction  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Hitchcock,  he 
became  specially  devoted  to  the  study  of  the  Natural 
Sciences. 

Having  graduated  with  the  usual  honors  in  1837,  he 
immediately  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession, which  he  has  pursued  without  intermission  to 
the  present  time,  as  Principal  successively  of  Groton 
Academy,  Monroe  Collegiate  Institute,  East  Bloomfield 
Academy,  and  Cortland  Academy — a  period  of  twenty- 
two  years.  He  has  been  from  his  youth  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church. 

In  addition  to  Prof.  Clark's  labors  as  instructor,  he 
has  written  several  popular  and  exceedingly  valuable 
school  books,  among  which  are  "x\nalysis  of  the  English 
Language,"  ''Etymological  Chart"  and  "A  Practical 
Grammar,  in  which  words,  phrases  and  sentences  are 
classified  according  to  their  offices,  and  their  various 
relations  to  one  another  ;  illustrated  by  a  complete  sys- 
tem of  Diagrams," 

These  works,  published  by  one  of  the  most  enterpris- 
ing and  successful  houses  in  New  York,  have  already 
reached  a  wide  circulation,  and  have  become  deservedly 
popular  throughout  the  Union. 

His  "English  Grammar"  has  already  reached  a  cir- 
culation of  30,000  per  annum.  In  accordance  with  the 
recommendations  of  Superintendents  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion of  various  States,  it  has  been  adopted  as  the  text 
book  on  Grammar,  and  it  is  rapidly  finding  its  way  into 
every  State  in  the  American  Republic.  "  This  original 
production  will  doubtless  become  an  indispensable  aux- 
iliary to  restore  the  English  Language  to  its  appropri- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  413 

ate  rank  in  our  system  of  education.  Indeed,  we  are 
tempted  to  assert  that  it  foretells  the  dawn  of  a  brighter 
age  to  our  mother  tongue."* 

Successful  as  Professor  Chirk  has  been  as  an  author, 
still  he  regards  his  chosen  profession  as  a  Teacher  as 
his  greatest  business  in  life.  To  this  he  devotes  his  un- 
divided attention  and  untiring  energies  ;  and  the  suc- 
cess which  attends  his  efforts  gives  evidence  of  his 
efficiency  as  a  faithful  Principal,  and  of  his  talents  as 
an  instructor.  Cortland  Academy  stands  second  to  no 
other  sub-collegiate  institution  in  the  State  of  New 
York. 

Professor  Clark  possesses  a  sound  judgment,  discrim- 
inating mind,  frank  and  manly  urbanity  of  deportment, 
high  moral  and  social  virtues,  and  a  large-hearted  gen- 
erosity which  endears  him  to  the  students,  creating 
emotions  which  are  always  favorable  to  a  healthful  prog- 
ress in  study.  His  mode  of  government  is  calm  and 
conciliatory,  and  may  with  propriety  be  embodied  in  a 
single  word,  that  of  kindness,  which  in  influencing,  con- 
trolling or  directing  the  young  aspiring  mind  is  of  more 
valuable  importance  than  all  the  tyrant  exactions  of 
pseudo  pedagogues,  and  may  prove  of  a  more  lasting 
benefit  to  the  country  than  all  the  golden  sands  of  the 
Pacific  coast.  Happily  would  it  be  for  our  country  were 
the  various  academic  and  collegiate  institutes  favored 
with  as  justly  popular  and  courteous  a  principal  as  Pro- 
fessor Clark. 

De  Witt  Clinton  Glover,  the  eldest  son  of  Daniel  and 
Rhoda  Gage  Glover,  was  born  in  De  Ruyter,  Madison 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  the  year  ISlT^f 

*  Southern  Literary  Gazette.       f  Communicated  by  a  lady. 


414  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

His  early  advantages  were  such  as  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  place  afforded  ;  but  while  he  loved 
the  pursuits  of  literature,  as  tending  to  ennoble  and 
purify  the  mind,  he  was  not,  strictly  speaking,  a  student. 
Other  aims  possessed  his  soul ;  hopes,  visions,  and  as- 
pirations, such  as  haunt  the  pillow  of  Genius  alone, 
were  his  daily  visitants.  A  quiet,  sensitive  and  shrink- 
ing boy,  he  shunned  the  boisterous  sports  and  the  noisy 
haunts  of  his  comrades,  and  walked  alone,  and  adored 
as  one  who  has 

"Longings,  yearnings,  strivings 
For  the  good  he  comprehends  not." 

A  love  of  the  beautiful  in  all  its  forms  was  a 
marked  element  of  his  nature,  and  sometimes  the  bright 
visions  that  thronged  his  brain,  took  form  and  sem- 
blance upon  paper.  Well  do  I  remember,  when  a  child, 
he  took  me  to  his  studio,  and  (himself  but  little  else 
than  a  child)  showed  to  me,  in  his  boyish  confidence, 
some  of  the  sketches  he  had  made.  He  had  a  room  in 
his  father's  house  where  he  sat  hour  by  hour  (when  the 
green  fields  and  sunshine  tempted  other  boys  abroad) 
at  work  upon  some  cherished  task.  Reared  amid  the 
seclusion  and  comparative  isolation  of  a  country  village, 
(for  it  will  be  remembered  that  the  march  of  improve- 
ments did  not  then  keep  pace  with  steam,)  he  was  denied 
those  outward  helps  which  are  now  offered  to  the  stu- 
dent in  ever}''  career  in  our  republic  ;  and  by  the  force 
of  his  own  genius  alone  he  leaped  over  obstacles  and 
accomplished  results  which  many  have  vainly  striven  to 
attain,  though  surrounded  by  abundant  aid  and  powerful 
He  not  only  showed  himself  an  artist  in  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  415 

delineations  upon  paper,  but  even  in  boyhood,  alone  and 
unassisted,  he  commenced  engraving  upon  wood  and 
steel.  Engraving  for  a  pastime  finally  became  a  pas- 
sion, and  by  the  advice  of  some  judges  who  pronounced 
upon  his  work,  he  adopted  it  as  a  profession.  He  exe- 
cuted orders  for  a  time  at  home,  but  feeling  himself  in 
too  contracted  a  sphere,  he  went  to  New  York  and  en- 
tered the  studio  of  J.  W.  Casilear,  the  eminent  designer 
and  engraver,  where  he  made  rapid  progress. 

That  he  excelled  in  the  department  of  art  he  chose 
for  himself,  the  works  he  left  behind  him,  as  well  as  the 
unqualified  praise  of  his  employers,  abundantly  testify. 

In  the  midst  of  this  career  of  hope  and  promise  his 
health  failed  him,  and  he  was  forced  to  return  to  his 
native  valley,  in  the  hope  that  rest  might  restore  his 
shattered  frame  to  its  early  vigor  ;  but  alas  !  neither 
yearning  love,  fervent  prayers,  nor  gentle  ministrations 
could  stay  the  footsteps  of  the  Destroying  Angel,  and  on 
the  3d  of  January,  1836,  he  sank  beneath  his  fatal  and 
insidious  malady,  trusting,  as  he  said,  "that  he  had 
made  his  peace  with  God."  Let  us  hope  that  the  noble 
talents  which  were  here  but  expanding  into  flower,  hav- 
ing been  transplanted  to  the  celestial  gardens,  may 
have  ripened,  and  borne  rich  fruit  to  the  glory  of  the 
Great  Husbandman. 

Francis  B.  Carpenter  was  born  in  Homer,  Cortland 
county,  Kew  York,  August  6th,  1830.  His  father,  Asaph 
H.  Carpenter,  made  his  advent  into  Homer  in  1800. 
His  general  characteristics  are  strictly  Puritan,  and 
they  exhibit  in  a  striking  manner  the  self-reliant  energy 
of  the  pilgrim  spirit. 

The  educational  advantaores  of  Francis  were  limited 


416  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

to  the  common  school,  and  one  term  at  the  academy. 
He  early  manifested  a  desire  to  become  an  artist,  and 
hence  exhibited  an  aversion  to  farm  labor, — not  that 
he  regarded  it  as  a  disreputable  employment,  but  be- 
cause he  wished  to  become  master  of  the  limner's  art. 
His  father  objected  to  his  pursuing  it  as  a  profession, 
presuming  that  the  success  of  his  son  in  life  would  be 
better  promoted  by  felling  trees  and  in  cultivating  the 
soil.  But  the  genius  which  shone  in  young  Carpenter's 
face  pictured  a  brighter  future  than  this.  He  regarded 
agriculture  as  Tallyrand  did  the  princess  of  Courlande, 
and  would  have  made  the  same  remark,  'You  have 
but  one  fault,  you  are  perfectly  unendurable."  He  pre- 
ferred to  delineate  character  with  the  pencil  and  brush, 
or  chalk  ideal  landscapes  upon  the  fences  and  farm  build- 
ings. William  Tell,  in  the  act  of  shooting  the  apple 
from  his  son's  head,  and  the  capture  of  Major  Andre, 
were  among  the  first  subjects  which  our  young  artist 
delineated  in  the  vivid  colors  of  chalk,  brick  dust,  white 
lead  and  lampblack.  The  father  little  thought  that  in 
opposing  the  natural  desire  of  his  son  he  was  for  a 
time  smothering  that  genius  which  has  since  made  him 
famous,  and  crowned  his  aspirations  with  a  victory  of 
more  value  than  the  achievements  of  the  laureled  war- 
rior. And  the  triumph  is  the  more  gratifying  because 
achieved  while  unaided  by  fortune  or  family  distinction. 
Indeed,  it  is  doubtful  whether  there  is  another  artist  in 
America  who,  through  his  self-reliant  energy,  has  so 
successfully  conquered  parental  opposition,  overleaped 
the  barriers  of  poverty  and  prejudice,  and  in  so  brief  a 
period  carved  his  way  to  Fame's  temple. 

His   mother,  "ever  sympathizing  and   appreciative,'^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  417 

sat  for  his  first  bold  effort  at  portrait  painting.  And  it 
is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  likeness,  though  wanting 
the  artistic  finish  of  the  experienced  limner,  was  yet  so 
striking,  that  the  father  was  reluctantly  compelled  to 
acknowledge  its  truthfulness  ;  he  was  never  afterward 
heard  to  utter  his  oft-repeated  expression  concerning 
*'  the  boy's  nonsense,"  and  was  himself  the  next  sitter 
for  a  picture. 

Soon  after  the  completion  of  the  portrait  of  his  father, 
he  entered  the  studio  of  Sandford  Thayer,  of  Syracuse, 
with  whom  he  remained  about  five  months,  making 
rapid  progress,  and  acquiring  a  still  more  exalted  opin- 
ion of  the  profession. 

During  Mr.  Carpenter's  stay  in  Syracuse,  Mr.  Elliott, 
the  distinguished  artist,  made  a  professional  visit  there. 
He  perceived  the  genius  of  the  beardless  boy,  and 
kindly  imparted  to  him  all  the  knowledge  within  his 
power ;  especially  with  reference  to  his  mode  of  col- 
oring. 

In  1846,  Mr.  Carpenter,  having  returned  to  Homer, 
before  he  reached  his  sixteenth  birthday  opened  a 
studio  in  the  village.  Relying  upon  his  own  exertions, 
independent  of  parental  aid,  he  bravely  launched  his 
little  bark  upon  the  great  sea  of  life.  The  citizens  were 
suspicious  of  his  ability,  and  hence  gave  him  but  slight 
employment ;  and  it  was  long  before  he  could  see  a  clear 
sky  in  the  ideal  world  he  had  fancifully  created.  The 
current  of  prejudice,  however,  soon  turned  in  his  favor. 
The  first  ten  dollars  which  he  received  from  any  one 
source,  was  presented  to  him  by  Hon.  Henry  S.  Ean- 
dall,  as  a  partial  remuneration  for  preparing  some 
drawings,  with  which  he  designed  to  "illustrate  liis 
19 


418  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

valuable  work  on  sheep  liusbaDcIry."  Mr.  Randall  sub- 
sequently sat  for  his  portrait. 

From  this  time  forward,  he  I'ose  rapidly  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  previous  to  his  locating  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  in  the  autumn  of  1850,  he  painted,  among  other 
portraits,  those  of  the  nine  surviving  original  trustees 
of  the  Cortland  Academy.  They  were  remarkably  cor- 
rect, and  were  consequently  regarded  with  much  favor. 
He  subsequently  executed  and  sent  to  the  American 
Art  Union  several  ideal  pictures,  all  of  which  were 
purchased  at  appreciative  prices.  The  first  of  these 
was  one  of  twelve  which  were  selected  from  four  hun- 
dred pictures,  and  purchased  by  the  managers  of  the 
Association. 

Mr.  Carpenter's  success  in  the  city  has  been  com- 
mensurate with  his  talents  and  genius.  He  has  been  at 
various  times  commissioned  to  paint  the  portraits  of 
some  of  our  most  distinguished  men  ;  among  tliese  we 
may  mention  those  of  Ex-Presidents  Tyler,  Fillmore, 
and  Franklin  Pierce  ;  William  L.  Marcy,  Lewis  Cass, 
"William  H.  Seward,  Sam.  Houston,  Salmon  P.  Chase, 
and  Caleb  Cushing.  The  press  of  the  country  have 
given  these  pictures  a  wide  notoriety.  His  crowning 
effort,  however,  is  the  recent  admirable  portrait  of 
Henry  Ward  Beecher. 

"  The  portraits  by  this  artist  are  remarkable  chiefly  for 
their  subtle  mentality;  for  their  faithful  rendering  of  the 
inward  life  and  disposition.  His  studio  is  hung  around 
with  statesmen  and  men  of  power,  whose  characters 
can  be  read  as  if  the  men  themselves,  in  their  most 
expressive  moods,  stood  before  you  ;  and  among  them 
i\\\   tliis   face   of  Beecher   shines   like   an    opal  among 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  419 

dull  and  hueless  stones  ;  like  a  passion-flower  among 
bloomless  shrubs."* 

Mr.  Carpenter  enjoys  in  an  eminent  degree  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  his  early  friends,  and  of  all  who 
know  him.  He  is  a  man  of  delicate  sensibility,  of  a 
lively  and  poetic  fancy,  and  of  unsullied  purity  of  char- 
acter. He  possesses  a  noble,  impulsive,  and  generous 
heart,  which  is  ever  alive  to  the  good  of  those  with 
whom  he  is  associated.  Lloyd  Glover,  of  whom  men- 
tion is  made  in  this  work,  was  one  of  his  earliest  and 
most  sympathizing  friends.  Their  acquaintance  began 
about  the  time  young  Carpenter  commenced  painting, 
and  very  soon  ripened  into  the  warmest  friendship.  Mr. 
Glover's  generous  sympathy  and  proffers  of  pecuniary 
aid,  though  his  own  means  were  limited,  were  especially 
grateful  at  this  period,  to  the  young  artist.  He  found 
also  in  Elliot  Reed,  another  engraver,  a  kindred  spirit  ; 
and  the  intimacy  between  the  trio  was  remarkable. 
They  were  felicitously  termed  the  "Three  Graces" — 
Poetry,  Painting,  and  Sculpture. 

Mr.  Carpenter  was  married,  in  August,  1851,  to  Miss 
Augusta  H.  Prentiss,  only  daughter  of  Mrs.  Frances 
RoUo  Prentiss,  formerly  of  Oortlandville. 

Lloyd  Glover. — Among  those  who  have  gone  out 
from  Homer,  and  who  do  honor  to  their  native  place,  no 
one  is  more  cheerfully  mentioned  than  the  subject  of 
this  notice.  He  was  born  in  the  village  of  Re  Ruyter, 
in  July,  182G.  His  father,  Mr.  Daniel  Glover,  appreciat- 
ing the  educational  advantages  of  Homer,  removed  there 
the  year  following,  and  has  since  been  numbered 
among  its  worthy  and  respected  citizens.  He  pursued 
*  iV.  Y.  Evening  Post. 


420  BIOGRAPHICAL. 

for  several  years  the  occupation  of  an  amateur  agricult- 
uralist ;  his  sons  devoting  their  time  to  study.  Lloyd, 
the  youngest,  was  christened  De  Lloyd  Gage  Glover,  but 
after  he  became  an  engraver,  the  similarity  of  the  ini- 
tials with  that  of  an  elder  brother,  who  was  also  an  en- 
graver, induced  him  to  obtain — while  yet  a  minor — his 
father's  consent  to  change  his  name  to  its  present  form. 
His  academic  course  extended  through  several  years,  and 
he  left  the  venerated  halls  of  that  valued  institution,  an 
able  scholar,  with  the  highest  written  encomiums  of 
Prof.  Woolworth,  who,  in  public  as  well  as  private 
circles,  has  ever  delighted  to  mention  his  pupil  with  honor 
As  a  youth,  he  was  ingenuous  and  generous — the  friend 
and  defender  of  the  weak — quick  to  resent  and  punish 
an  affront,  yet  magnanimous  and  upright.  He  was  full  of 
hilarity  and  boyish  exuberance  of  feeling,  and  evinced 
much  shrewdness  in  planning  roguery  for  his  mate's  ; 
which,  however,  was  harmlessly  humorous.  Like  his 
father,  he  possessed  remarkable  physical  strength  and 
courage  ;  and  his  excessive  vitality  prompted  him  to 
give  frequent  demonstrations  of  the  same  ;  but  the  nat- 
ural 'goodness  of  his  disposition  restrained  him  from 
anything  like  quarrelsomeness.  His  strength  was  fre- 
quently displayed  in  the  novel  method  of  friendly  hat- 
ties,  at  the  odds  of  the  best  two  against  himself ;  and 
he  often  challenged  the  school  en  masse,  to  ''throw" 
him  by  united  effort ;  and  in  such  contests  his  back  was 
never  known  to  touch  the  sod.  His  pranks  with  his 
most  intimate  friend  and  companion,  Elliot,  son  of 
Judge  Reed,  who  was  ever  ready  to  join  him  in  any 
undertaking,  however  hazardous,  will  not  be  soon  for- 
gotten.     On  horseback  they  would  roam  fields,  leap 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  421 

fences,  scale  aclivities,  explore  ravines,  and  swim 
streams  ;  and  it  is  on  record,  that  on  one  of  these  expe- 
ditions both  horses  and  riders  came  near  being  drowned. 
"  The  boy  was  father  to  the  man."  He  exhibited  at  an 
early  age  much  natural  taste  for  engraving,  and  at 
eighteen  went  to  Boston  for  the  purpose  of  prosecuting 
his  studies  in  that  art.  He  made  rapid  progress  ;  and 
has  attained  consummate  skill  in  his  vocation,  second 
perhaps  to  no  one  in  the  profession.  Successful  in  his 
business,  which  required  but  little  capital,  he  embarked 
to  some  extent  in  commercial  enterprise  ;  and  has  se- 
cured the  important  position  of  commercial  agent  for 
the  American  Guano  Company  for  the  New  England 
States.  He  has  since  served  as  a  Director  in  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  same  Association. 

He  was  for  several  years  engaged  in  the  business  of 
Bank  Note  engraving,  as  the  head  of  the  New  England 
branch  of  the  eminent  house  of  Danforth,  Wright 
&Co. 

Aside  from  his  skill  as  an  artist,  and  his  staid  probity 
as  a  business  man,  he  is  esteemed  for  all  those  qualities 
which  distinguish  the  true  gentleman, — hospitable,* 
courteous,  liberal  and  generous  to  a  fault,  the  life  of 
the  social  circle,  and  fond  of  all  manly  sports  and  pas- 
times, particularly  of  yachting.  At  his  residence  at  Lynn 
Beach,  by  the  "  ocean  and  its  sounding  shore," — the 
beauties  of  which  he  has  so  well  described, — his  poeti- 
cal taste  greatly  developed,  and  there  his  best  pieces 
were  composed.  He  loves  the  Poets,  and  revels  with 
them,  especially  when  genial  friends  are  his  guests. 

He  remembers  Homer  and  its  associations  with  the 
most  affectionate  regard.     In  one  of  his  poems  he  pays, 


422  BIOGEAPHICAL. 

in  the  following  stanzas,  a  beautiful  tribute  to  the  wind- 
ing stream  which  is  the  pride  of  the  valley. 

"  Tioughnioga  !  on  thy  buoyant  breast, 

In  boyhood's  time,  how  often  have  I  lain  ; 
Calm,  as  a  mother  with  her  babe  at  rest, 

Thou  bore  me  by  thy  banks   sweet-scented  train. 
Tioughnioga  !  Mistress  of  the  plain  ! 

Thy  cherished  name  is  melody  to  me  ! 
E'en  though  thy  waters  evermore  complain, 
Like  spirit  tones,  of  times  no  more  to  be, 
Oft  let  me  greet  thee  still  with  manhood's  kindling  'ee.'' 

Mr.  Glover  married  Yaeilette  Emogene,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Hitchcock,  Esq.,  of  Strong,  Maine.  He  won, 
in  her,  a  lady  highly  esteemed  for  the  graces  of  her 
mind  and  person,  and  for  her  true  womanly  character.* 

The  various  poems  which  he  has  delivered  before 
literary  associations,  stamp  him  as  a  man  of  superior 
powers  of  mind.  His  "Jubilee  Poem,"  a  youthful  effort, 
pronounced  at  the  Academy,  July  8,  1846,  is  intimately 
associated  with  the  history  of  the  Tioughnioga  Valley. 
For  elevation  of  style,  nervous  energy,  strong  imgina- 
«tion  without  the  too  common  fault  of  excessive  and  far- 
fetched metaphor,  together  with  an  easy,  natural  and 
unlabored  pathos,  it  may  challenge  comparison  with  any 
effort  of  a  similar  character.  It  will  be  read  with  pleas- 
ure by  Mr.  Glover's  numerous  friends,  and,  indeed,  by 
all  who  can  properly  appreciate  true  poetic  excellence. 

The  circumstances  which  led  to  its  production  are 
worthy  of  a  brief  narration.  Prof.  Otis,  of  Indiana,  had 
been  appointed  Poet  of  the  "Jubilee."  He  was  pre- 
vented, however,  from  fulfilling  the  engagement,  and  Prof. 

^  Mrs.  Glover  died  January  6th,  1859. 


BIOGKAPHICAL.  423 

Wool  worth  was  made  aware  of  the  fact  only  a  day  or  two 
previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  auspicious  occasion.  Our 
young  friend,  then  an  apprentice  in  Boston,  had  returned 
to  Homer  to  participate  in  the  festivities,  and  learned 
the  evening-  previous  to  the  opening  exercises  that  Mr, 
Otis  would  not  be  present,  and  he  secretly  resolved  to 
supply  his  place.  During  the  night  he  produced  the 
poem.  Determining  to  let  its  fate  be  decided  by  its 
merits,  he  sent  it  anonymously  to  Principal  Woolwortb, 
who  was  struck  with  its  beauties  and  its  appropriate- 
ness to  the  occasion,  and  requested  the  bearer  to  name 
its  author,  which  was  properly  declined.  Mr.  Wool- 
worth  returned  a  befitting  expression  of  his  sentiments, 
informing  him  that  the  poem  was  accepted,  and  would 
be  read  at  the  Jubilee,  and  desired  an  interview  with  the 
author.  The  young  poet  acknowledged  himself  the  au- 
thor of  the  production,  warmly  thanking  his  honored 
teacher  for  former  encouragement,  attributing  whatever 
merit  he  possessed  to  his  influence  and  approbation. 
Mr.  Woolworth,  by  this  heartfelt  tribute,  was  quite  over- 
come, and  evinced  deep  emotion.  In  his  speech  at  the 
Pavilion  he  made  honorable  mention  of  the  poet,  and  the 
circumstances  which  called  forth  the  poem.  Mr.  Glov- 
er's modest  appreciation  of  his  effort  induced  him  to 
withhold  his  assent  to  its  publication  in  the  Jubilee 
pamphlet ;  but,  having  at  length  overcome  his  objec- 
tions, we  now  have  the  pleasure,  for  the  first  time,  of 
presenting  it  to  the  public. 

We  have  dwelt  at  some  length  upon  the  peculiarities 
of  Mr.  Glover,  believing  that  our  beautiful  region  will 
yet  be  hallowed  by  his  muse,  and  cherished  by  kindred 
minds  for  his  sake. 


424  JUBILEE   POEM. 


JUBILEE    POEM. 

Read  at  the  Jubilee  at  Cortland  Academy,  July  6th,  1846. 

Friends  of  our  common  country  !  here  3'e  stand 

Once  more  among  the  scenes  your  childhood  knew, 
In  the  fair  bosom  of  a  happy  land, 

Beneath  your  native  skies  of  gold  and  blue  ! 
Like  joyful  pilgrims  when  the  shrine  is  won, 

When  bosoms  swell  and  tears  impulsive  start, 
Ye  come  with  love  warm  as  this  summer  sun, 

To  this  loved  spot,  this  Mecca  of  the  heart ! 

Ye  may  have  roved  your  long  and  weary  way 

O'er  the  broad  prairies  of  the  distant  west, 
Where  varied  scenes  cheer  not  the  long,  long  day 

Of  death-like  silence  and  oppressive  rest. 
Where  evil  spirits  hold  their  hideous  courts. 

And  range  with  furies  on  the  midnight  air, 
Breathing  fierce  lightnings  at  their  hellish  sports,* 

And  leave  their  smouldering  tracks  of  blackness  there. 

Ye  may  have  roved  afar  'neath  other  skies, — 

Where  the  dark  ocean  beats  a  frowning  shore  ; 
Where  Nature's  noblest  works  in  grandeur  rise  ; 

In  Art's  fair  temples  or  in  courts  of  lore  : 
But  here,  upon  your  own  prolific  soil, 

How  fair  the  landscapes  to  your  sight  unfold, 
Teeming  with  increase  for  the  sons  of  toil 

In  many  a  bounteous  field  of  green  and  gold. 

*  An  Indian  superstition  regarding  the  prairie  fires. 


JUBILEE   POEM.  425 

Like  loving  halos  ling' ring  round  the  spot, 

Here  dwell  the  memories  of  the  cherished  past, 
Of  scenes  and  joys  which  ne'er  can  he  forgot, 

Too  dear  to  die,  too  beautiful  to  last. 
No  dread  simoon  upon  the  breeze's  breath 

Is  blasting  through  Tioughnioga's  vale, — 
No  fell  disease,  the  herald  stern  of  death, 

Doth  seek  its  prey  in  this  delicious  dale. 

Again  ye  view  each  well-remembered  place, 

Dear  in  the  morning  of  your  youthful  years, 
Again  behold  each  loved  familiar  face, 

And  well-known  voices  greet  your  gladdened  ears. 
Yet  all  is  changed  unto  our  stranger  view, — 

Time  hath  not  spared,  Dame  Nature  wends  her  way, 
And  many  a  form  hath  passed  away,  like  dew 

Before  the  glory  of  the  king  of  day. 

Where  is  the  good  man  Chamberlain  ?  and  where 

Our  friend  from  thy  cool  shades,  O  willow  tree  ! 
"Where  are  the  bands  that  knew  our  mother's  care, 

This  faithful  mother  of  the  good  and  free. 
In  death's  embrace  lamented  Lacy  sleeps, 

And  Kinney  lives  but  in  each  bleeding  breast, 
Affection  mourns,  and  pity,  drooping,  weeps 

Where  Curtis*  lies  beside  the  "  Dove  at  rest." 

In  their  last  mansion  sleep  the  brothers  Lynde,f 
Lulled  by  the  murmurs  of  Lake  Erie's  wave ; 


*  Over  the  remains  of  this  lamented  young  man  and  his  sister  is  reared  a  monu- 
ment on  which  is  inscribed,  at  the  base, 

"a  law  student  who  lived  by  the  law  of  love." 
And  opposite, 

"a  doate  at  rest." 
Sweetly  indicative  of  the  character  of  the  girl  to  whom  reference  is  here  made. 

t  The  brothers  Lynde,  with  all  that  talents,  education  and  wealth  could  bestow, 
perished  at  the  burning  of  the  steamer  Erie,  on  Lake  Erie. 

19* 


426 


CR  Ae  hrmhist  o€  jmmg  Benny's 
De  Witt,*  tfie  diDd  «tf  Genne,  Idaiid  a.  gnre. 

Feaoetothedeqpos!  loTed,  regretted  tlirang ! 
Gnoi  be  tlMar  MODOKj  to  oar  latest  jean ! 

lb 


Tike  piZrrii::;  a:  our  eopiiNB  tean. 

O.  from  ~OT  &des, 

Xe'er  : :_;  _  -r  ic  a^  ihese  : 

Willi  tis  thev  Irre  " 


...  .-_.      .1, 

-  ^^edlingB  €^. 
:Tre 


ht. 


JUBILIX   POEM. 


427 


With  antlers  high,  and  n-^strll  widely  spread. 

And  quireriag  nerve,  that  form  of  beauty  stood. 
And  snuffed  the  breeze  from  o'er  the  stranger's  head. 

Then  plunged,  like  lightning,  through  the  pathless  wood  ! 
And  where  above  is  reared  the  gilded  vane 

O'er  the  fair  verdure  of  the  velvet  green 
And  the  wide  spreading  populated  plain. 

The  wigwam  of  the  Indiiin  brave  was  seen. 

Yet.  when  upon  this  new-lK)m.  sacred  spot 

The  men  of  wisdom  and  and  of  goodness  trod. 
Their  own  great  cares  and  hardships  they  foi^ot. 

And  built  a  house  wherein  to  worship  God  1 
Thanks,  thanks,  brave  Sires  1  your  children  sing  your  praise 

Amid  the  shades  of  your  own  fragrant  bowers. 
And  long  they'll  chant  the  soul-inspiring  lays. 

And  strew  your  pathway  with  life's  sweetest  flowers  I 

Here.  too.  the  women  who  hath  cheered  them  on 

Through  dread  and  darkness,  and  through  sorrow's  night, 
With  pictured  scenes  of  bliss,  and  laurels  won, 

And  dawning  glories  of  a  future  light : 
Still  then  for  us.  amid  unnumbered  woes, 

'^hen  hope  seemed  oft  the  shadow  of  despair, 
They  bravely  wrought,  until  in  beauty  rose 

(To  truth  and  learning  reared i  this  temple  fair  ! 

0  noble,  noble  Woman  !  thine  the  power 

To  sculpture  on  the  immortal,  towering  mind  : 
Man  rules  with  wisdom  the  tumultuous  hour  ; 

Thine  is  his  wisdom  and  thy  love  combined. 
Pnanks.  thanks,  ye  noble  Mothers  1  grateful  tears 

Still  thank  and  bless  ye  o'er  and  o'er  again  : 
Full  be  the  measure  of  your  blissful  years, 

Unknown  by  sorrow,  free  from  every  pain ! 

There  is  a  charm  which  binds  the  wandering  one 
As  by  ten  thousand  bands  of  meikle  might. 


428  JUBILEE  POEM. 

Tho'  he  doth  wander  'neath  the  tropic  sun, 

Or  in  the  dismal  gloom  of  polar  night ; 
Tho'  he  doth  bask  amid  ambrosial  groves 

Where  fields  like  magic  and  enchantment  bloom, 
Or  drink  his  full  of  oriental  loves, 

Or  lave  his  breast  in  India's  rich  perfume. 

Or  when  the  Syren  lures  with  winsome  smiles, 

And  artful  glances  and  bewitching  grace, 
And  with  her  honeyed  tongue  each  sense  beguiles, 

To  prove  each  beauty  of  her  borrowed  face  ; 
Or  when  Ambition  twines  the  laurel  wreath, 

And  Wealth  and  Fortune  deck  his  form  with  gold, 
Or  when  a  captive,  bound  with  chains  beneath 

The  gloomy  walls  of  dungeons  stern  and  old, — 

'Tis  the  charm  of  his  childhood,  the  light  of  his  home 

That  binds  him  and  keeps  him  where'er  he  may  roam, 

This  the  voice  of  its  spirit,  so  calm  and  so  still, 

That  teaches  him  honor  and  shields  him  from  ill : 

Then  we'll  love  our  dear  home,  tho'  Time's  flowing  wave 

Is  evermore  bearing  us  on  to  the  grave  ; 

Its  loves  and  its  joys  like  green  islands  shall  be, 

Mid  the  surging  of  life's  tempestuous  sea, 

And  when  from  on  high  the  dread  summons  shall  come, 

Our  watchword  from  earth  shall  be  "  Heaven  and  Home  !' 


BEIEF   NOTICES.  429 


BRIEF   NOTICES. 


Among  the  first  lawyers  who  located  in  the  county, 
were  Townsend  Ross,  Luther  F.  Stephens,  Oliver  Wise- 
well,  and  Samuel  S.  Baldwin.  Ross  and  Stephens  set- 
tled in  Homer,  and  Wisewell  and  Baldwin  in  Cortland. 
Ross  was  an  uneducated  man  ;  but  what  he  lacked  in 
this  point  was  amply  made  up  in  tact  and  genius.  He 
had  a  clear  head,  was  shrewd,  witty  and  sarcastic,  and 
in  short,  he  was  an  able  and  successful  lawyer.  Ste- 
phens was  cool  and  calculating.  He  died  at  Seneca 
Falls.  Wisewell  was  educated  for  a  clergyman,  and 
followed  for  a  time  that  honored  profession.  He  had 
his  faults  to  a  liberal  degree,  and  yet  he  possessed 
many  good  and  liberal  traits  of  character.  Baldwin 
was  prompt  and  energetic  ;  but  his  habits  of  inebria- 
tion rendered  him.  less  valuable  to  society  and  to  him- 
self than  he  otherwise  would  have  been.  The  profligate 
habits  of  his  wife,  though  a  beautiful  and  otherwise  an 
accomplished  woman,  tended  to  the  perversion  of  the 
more  noble  faculties  of  the  mind. 

Henry  Stephens,  from  Wareham,  Mass.,  located  in 
Cortland  Village,  in  1814,  and  immediately  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  possessed  energy 
and  integrity  of  purpose,  a  fearless  self-reliance,  a  well- 
regulated  ambition,  and  a  just  and  definite  end  in  view. 
He  was  appointed  Judge  in  May,  1838,  and  honorably 
filled  the  position  until  June,  184t,  when  he  was  sue- 


430  BRIEF   NOTICES. 

ceeded  by  Daniel  Hawkes.  Judge  Stephens  has  filled 
various  other  public  positions  ;  and  has  devoted  his 
best  energies  to  the  furtherance  of  the  numerous  public 
improvements  of  the  county.  He  filled  with  eminent 
ability  the  first  presidency  of  the  Syracuse,  Bingham- 
ton  and  New  York  Railroad. 

Edward  C.  Reed  came  in  from  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.,  in 
April,  1816.  He  entered  into  partnership  with  Ross,  in 
Homer,  where  he  still  remains.  He  made  an  excellent 
office  lawyer,  and  a  valuable  citizen.  Mr.  Reed  has 
creditably  filled  various  influential  positions,  among 
which  are  those  of  District  Attorney,  County  Judge, 
and  Member  of  Congress. 

Samuel  Nelson  came  in  from  Madison  county,  and 
settled  in  Cortland  Village  in  181*1.  He  had  been  an 
industrious  and  energetic  student,  and  hence  he  early 
acquired  a  successful  and  lucrative  practice.  His  im- 
passioned eloquence  and  finely  rounded  periods  were 
regarded  as  a  fair  offset  to  the  tact,  genius,  and  scath- 
ing sarcasm  of  Stephens. 

Not  long  after  Nelson's  arrival  came  Augustus  Don- 
nelly and  Rufus  H.  Beach,  who  became  joint  partners 
in  the  profession.  Donnelly  was  a  large,  portly  man, 
of  commanding  presence  and  elegant  manners.  He 
died  in  Homer. 

Next  came  Nathan  Dayton,  Jonathan  L.  Woods, 
Daniel  J.  Betts,  John  Thomas,  and  Hiram  Gray.  Day- 
ton was  born  in  Granville,  Washington  co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
August,  1794.  He  had  been  well-educated  and  well- 
trained.  He  studied  with  Messrs.  Sheperd  and  Barber, 
in  his  native  village,  until  October,  1819,  when  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  soon  after  settled  in  Truxton, 


BRIEF   NOTICES.  431 

but  subsequently  located  in  Cortland,  where,  after  a 
year's  residence  and  an  ordinary  practice,  he  became  a 
partner  of  Samuel  Nelson,  and  immediately  found  the 
area  of  his  practice  greatly  enlarged.  He  was  after- 
wards a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  District  Attorney,  and 
Member  of  Assembly.  In  1831  he  removed  to  Lock- 
port.  Here  he  rose  rapidly  in  the  profession,  and  has 
at  different  periods  held  the  office  of  first  Judge  of 
Niagara  county.  Circuit  Judge  of  the  Eighth  Circuit 
District,  and  County  Clerk  ;  the  latter  office  he  still 
holds.  Judge  Dayton  has  ever  been  an  active  and  en- 
terprising man,  universally  respected  in  and  out  of  the 
profession.  Woods  became  his  law  partner  in  Cortland, 
where  he  gained  an  honorable  reputation  as  a  legal 
adviser.  His  personal  appearance,  genial  temper  and 
courteous  demeanor  weighed  strongly  in  his  favor,  and 
certainly  made  him  many  warm  friends.  In  1831  he 
was  elected  to  the  Assembly,  a  position  which  he  hon- 
ored. He  too  went  to  Lockport,  where  he  became  de- 
servedly popular.  He  also  rose  to  the  office  of  Judge. — 
Betts  was  well-educated,  and  possessed  many  attractive 
qualities,  and  was,  in  short,  a  general  favorite.  His 
brilliant  career  w^as,  however,  soon  cut  short.  He  died 
in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness. — Thomas  migrated  from 
Connecticut.  He  soon  established  a  just  and  apprecia- 
tive reputation.  He  now  resides  in  Syracuse. — Gray 
came  from  Washington  county,  and  completed  his  stud- 
ies with  Nelson,  Dayton  and  Woods.  He  is  now  one  of 
the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State. 

William  H.  Shankland,  originally  from  Montgomery 
CO.,  located  in  Cortland  in  1827,  where  he  soon  acquired 
an  excellent  practice.  He  made  an  able  legal  adviser 
and  an  eloquent  advocate. 


432  BRIEF   NOTICES. 

Horatio  Ballard  commenced  reading  law  in  the  office 
of  Henry  Stephens,  in  1822,  and  completed  his  studies 
with  Judge  Jewett,  at  Skaneateles.  He  was  admitted 
as  an  Attorney  to  the  Supreme  Court,  in  August,  1828  ; 
as  Counsellor,  in  May,  1831  ;  and  soon  afterwards  ad- 
rSitted  as  Solicitor  and  Counsellor  in  Chancery.  He 
became  a  partner  of  Stephens,  and  on  the  elevation  of 
the  latter  to  the  bench,  he  succeeded  him  to  the  leader- 
ship at  the  bar.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  great  purity  of 
character,  and  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  indus- 
trious, energetic,  and  thorough-read  lawyers  in  the 
county. 

Samuel  N.  Perkins,  also,  studied  with  Stephens,  but 
at  what  particular  period  the  author  is  not  informed. 
He  made  a  fair,  average  lawyer.  He  lies  entombed  in 
the  Cortland  Cemetery. 

Next  came  Joseph  D.  P.  Freer,  Daniel  Hawkes,  and 
James  S.  Leach.  Freer  studied  with  Dayton  and  Woods. 
He  was  well  read  in  the  profession.  He,  too,  died  early, 
— Hawkes  studied  with  Stephens  and  Ballard.  He  had 
been  well-educated,  and  was  a  thorough  student.  He 
succeeded  Stephens  to  the  bench.  Disease  fixed  its 
fatal  grasp  upon  him,  and  he  found  an  early  grave. — 
Leach  was  born  in  Sangerfield,  Oneida  co.,  August, 
1812.  He  was  educated  on  a  farm  until  sixteen  years 
old.  Spent  two  years  at  Union  Academy,  and  a  like 
number  at  a  mathematical  school  at  Clinton.  He  stud- 
ied with  Shankland,  in  Cortland,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1835.  He  entered  into  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Cortland,  where  he  remained  until  1850, 
when  he  removed  to  Syracuse.  He  has  tact,  energy 
and  genius,  yet  he  takes  the  world  easy,  and  neither 


BEIEF   NOTICES.  433 

mourns  over  his  past  or  present  achievements,  but  is 
looking  steadily  forward  to  what  he  terms  the  glorious 
future.  He  is  now  a  prominent  practising  lawyer  in 
the  central  city,  and  is  highly  respected  in  and  out  of 
the  profession. 

Henry  S.  Randall  was  born  in  Madison  co.,  in  1811. 
Received  his  academic  education  in  Cortland  Academy, 
under  Prof.  Avery  and  Dr.  Taylor.  Graduated  at 
Union  College  in  1830.  Studied  with  Stephens  and  Betts, 
and  was  admitted  as  an  Attorney  in  1884;  as  Coun- 
sellor and  Solicitor  in  1844.  Mr.  Randall  has  not, 
however,  practiced  his  profession.  He  served  for  seve- 
ral years  as  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  State  Agri- 
cultural Society,  and  first  moved  in  the  Executive  Board 
to  hold  a  State  Fair.  At  one  period  he  devoted  con- 
siderable attention  to  farming,  and  at  another,  filled 
with  credit  and  ability  the  editorial  chair. 

In  1839  he  was  appointed  by  the  Secretary  of  State 
a  visitor  of  Common  Schools,  and  although  he  received 
no  compensation  for  the  arduous  labor,  he  entered  at 
once  upon  the  duties  of  the  office,  and  visited  and  re- 
ported to  the  Secretary  the  condition  of  all  the  schools 
in  the  county.  He  is  the  author  of  several  valuable 
agricultural  works  ;  of  one  of  these  37,000  copies  had 
been  sold  several  years  since. 

In  1843-4  he  held  the  office  of  Superintendent  of 
Common  Schools,  and  his  admirable  reports  were  of 
great  value. 

In  1851  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  State,  and  en- 
tered upon  the  duties  of  the  office  Jan.  1,  1852.  He 
filled  the  office  with  acknowledged  ability  and  success. 
He  was  subsequently  employed  for  several  years  in 


434  BRIEF   NOTICES. 

gathering  the  materials  and  writing  the  life  of  Thomas 
Jefferson,  which  has  been  but  recently  issued,  in  three 
elegant  octavo  volumes.  It  is  unquestionably^  the  most 
perfect  biograph}'  ever  written  of  this  truly  great  man  ; 
is  an  honor  to  our  national  literature,  and  will,  as  it 
deservedly  should,  remain  a  standard  work  for  all  future 
time. 

Isaac  A.  Gates  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Scott.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Supreme  Court,  in  1841,  and  is  now 
a  prominent  practicing  lawyer  in  Homer. 

Lewis  Kingsley  is  a  native  of  Cincinnatus.  He  stud- 
ied with  Barak  Niles  and  Benjamin  F.  Rexford,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice,  in  1846.  He  now  resides  iu 
Norwich. 

Hiram  Crandall  came  from  Plymouth,  Chenango  co. 
He  was  educated  at  Homer ;  studied  law  with  William 
H.  Shankland,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Supreme  Court, 
and  Court  of  Chancery,  in  January,  1846.  He  entered 
into  practice  with  Shankland,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  the  latter  was  elevated  to  the  Supreme  Bench, 
when  he  became  a  partner  of  Eobert  0.  Reynolds,  and 
continued  with  him  until  his  decease,  in  Sept.,  1855. 
Mr.  Crandall  possesses  good  legal  abilities,  is  prudent 
and  cautious — two  excellent  qualities  in  an  honorable 
attorue3^  In  a  military  capacity  he  has  risen  from 
third  Sergeant  to  Lieut.  Colonel.  He  is  now  the  popular 
and  courteous  Post-master  in  Cortland  Village. 

Samuel  C.  Graves  commenced  reading  law  in  the 
office  of  Judge  Reed,  in  1844  ;  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice, in  1848,  and  soon  after  formed  a  law  partnership 
with  Lewis  Kingsley,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
1851,  when  the  firm  was  dissolved,  preparatory  to  Mr. 


BRIEF    NOTICES.  435 

Kingsley's  removal  to  Cortland  to  assume  the  duties  of 
County  Judge.  Mr.  Graves  is  fitted  to  adorn  either 
branch  of  the  profession. 

R.  Holland  Duell  was  born  in  the  town  of  Warren, 
Herkimer  co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1823.  His  education  was 
derived  from  the  common  school,  with  the  exception  of 
one  or  two  years'  attendance  at  the  Syracuse  Academy. 
He  entered  the  law  office  of  Charles  B.  Sedgwick,  of 
Syracuse,  in  March,  1842,  and  remained  with  him  until 
his  admission  to  the  bar  in  July,  1845.  Commenced 
practice  at  Fabius,  Onondaga  co.,  during  the  same 
month,  and  remained  there  until  July,  1847,  when  he 
came  to  Cortland  Village,  and  formed  a  law  partner- 
ship with  Judge  Stephens.  In  Nov.,  1850,  he  was 
elected  District  Attorney  of  Cortland  county,  and  in 
Nov.,  1853,  was  reelected  to  the  same  office.  In  Nov., 
1855,  was  elected  County  Judge  and  Surrogate,  and  in 
1858  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  36th  Congress,  from 
the  21st  district,  to  succeed  Henry  Bennett. 

Judge  Duell  is  possessed  of  finely  developed  talents, 
remarkable  shrewdness,  tact,  and  address,  and  in  short, 
exhibits  all  the  elements  of  an  accomplished  legislator. 

James  A.  Schermerhorn  is  a  native  of  Schenectady. 
He  was  educated  in  Cortland  Academy  and  Geneva 
College.  He  read  law  w^th  Daniel  Hawkes,  in  Cortland 
Tillage,  and  was  admitted  an  Attorney  at  Law  and  So- 
licitor in  Chancery,  at  the  quarterly  term  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  1847.  Mr.  Schermerhorn  is  a  well-read  lawyer  ; 
he  however  excels  chiefly  in  the  first  branch  of  the  pro- 
fession,— as  a  legal  adviser, — not  caring  to  shine  in  the 
capacity  of  an  advocate. 

Edwin  F.  Gould  was  reared  in  Cherry  Valley.     He 


436  BEIEF    NOTICES. 

received  an  academic  education  ;  studied  law  with 
Shankland  &  Leach  ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the 
General  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  held  at  Ithaca, 
July  4,  1848,  and  commenced  practice  in  Cortland  Vil- 
lage. Mr.  Gould  is  an  accomplished  writer  and  an  elo- 
quent speaker.  As  editor  of  the  Central  Kew  Yorker ^ 
published  at  De  Ruyter  ;  Madison  County  Journal,  at 
Hamilton  ;  Cortland  County  'Whig,  at  Homer,  and  the 
Cortland  American,  at  Cortland  Village,  he  exhibited 
a  clear,  vigorous  intellect. 

George  A.  White  is  a  native  of  Cortland,  where  he 
was  reared  and  educated.  He  studied  law  with  J.  D. 
P.  Freer,  and  was  admitted  to  practice,  in  January, 
1848.  He  commenced  practice  in  Homer,  but  sub- 
sequently returned  to  Cortland,  where  he  has  since 
remained.  Mr.  White  has  secured  a  very  lucrative 
practice,  and  it  is  not  saying  too  much,  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  lawyer.  With  care  and  application  to 
his  profession  he  may  rank  with  the  first  class  lawyers 
in  the  State. 

Horace  L.  Green  is  a  native  of  VirgiL  He  was  edu- 
cated at  Cortland — studied  law  with  Stephens  &  Du- 
ell — was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1852,  and  commenced 
practice  in  Marathon — was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  1854 — removed  to  Cortland  in  1856,  where  he  has 
since  continued  to  practice.  In  1857  he  was  elected 
County  Treasurer — an  office  which  be  has  thus  far  filled 
to  the  general  satisfaction  of  all  parties.  He  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  good  habits,  fair  legal  acquirements,  and  is 
deserving  of  great  credit  for  his  early  political  achieve- 
ment. 

A.  P.  Smith  is  also  a  native  of  Virgil.     He  was  born 


BRIEF    NOTICES.  43T 

in  the  3^ear  1831  ;  received  his  academic  education  in 
Cortland  ;  graduated  at  the  State  Normal  School,  in 
1853  ;  commenced  the  study  of  law  Tvith  H.  L.  Green, 
at  Marathon,  and  completed  his  studies  with  Horatio 
Ballard  ;  was  admitted  to  practice,  at  the  January  term 
of  Supreme  Court,  1856,  and  at  the  November  election 
of  the  same  year,  was  elected  District  Attorney  of  Cort- 
land county.  Mr.  Smith  was  an  industrious  and  energetic 
student.  His  career  in  the  past  has  been  eminently 
successful— the  future  is  bright  and  promising. 

Charles  Foster  is  a  native  of  Lansingburgh,  Rensa- 
laer  co.,  N.  Y.  He  fitted  for  college  at  the  Pompey 
Academy,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1844.  He 
read  law  in  the  office  of  Victory  Birdseye,  at  Pompey, 
one  year  ;  six  months  in  the  law  school  at  New  Haven  ; 
one  year  in  the  ofiice  of  B.  D.  and  G.  Noxon,  Syracuse, 
and  fiuall}^  completed  his  studies  in  the  ofiBce  of  Wood 
&  Birdseye,  at  Albany.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  as 
Attorney,  Solicitor  and  Counsellor  at  Catskill,  in  the  fall 
of  1847.  He  commenced  practicing  in  Pompey,  in  the 
office  of  Daniel  Gott.  In  Jan.,  1853,  he  located  in  Cort- 
land Village,  where  he  continues  in  practice.  Mr.  Fos- 
ter possesses  fine  talents,  tact  and  energy,  with  a  fair 
prospect  of  professional  success  and  eminence. 

M.  M.  Waters  is  a  native  of  Truxton.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  school,  with  a  brief  attendance  at 
the  De  Ruyter  Academy.  He  studied  his  profession 
with  Reynolds  &  Crandall  ;  was  admitted  to  practice, 
in  Januar}^,  1856.  His  business  habits,  unyielding 
energy  and  close  application  to  study,  are  sure  precur- 
sors of  eminence  in  the  future. — Alvah  D.  Waters  was 
educated  at  Cazenovia  ;  read  law  in  his  brother's  office, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  in  November,  1858. 


43^  BRIEF   yOTICES. 

r  ijii  S.  Barber,  from  Br<X)iue  couiitT,  was  educated 
&:  jT.iaca  :  read  law  in  tLe  office  of  M.  M.  Waters  ;  was 
admitted  to  practice,  in  January,  1858,  at  Binghamton, 
and  soon  after  opened  an  office  in  Cortland  Village. 
Toe  bealtb  of  Mr.  Barber  incapacitates  bim  for  close  ap- 
plication to  his  profession- 
William  Henry  Warren  studied  with  Ballard,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice,  in  November,  1858.  He  is 
indnstrious,  possessed  of  a  good  mind,  and  has  a 
laudable  ambition  to  succeed  in  the  practice- 

OliTer  Porter  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice, in  Delaware  county.  He  opened  an  office  in 
Homer,  in  1855,  and  is  now  doing  a  successful  and 
prosperous  business. 

Alans  on  Coats  was  the  first  permanent  lawyer  in 
Truxton  ;  Palmer  &  Williams  succeeded.  Coats,  though 
not  decidedly  brilliant,  is  nevertheless  a  good  legal 
adviser.  He  went  early  to  Syracuse,  but  subsequently 
returned  to  Truxton,  where  he  still  resides.  Damon 
Coats,  a  practicing  attorney  in  Syracuse,  is  his  son. — 
Palmer  k  Williams  were  not  very  successful — went 
west,  vrhere  the  latter  soon  after  died. 

Amos  L.  Kinney  received  his  academic  education  at 
Homer  ;  collegiate,  at  Hamilton  ;  graduated  in  1843. 
He  studied  with  Alanson  Coats,  and  was  admitt/.d  to 
practice,  in  1848.  He  is  pleasantly  situated  at  Truxton 
Village. 

Barak  Xiles  located  in  Cincinnatus,  previous  to  1820. 
He-  po— CftSed  a  good  legal  mind,  and  was  a  fair,  aver- 
ag^e  advocate.  He  was  for  several  years  an  Associat*^ 
Juu;je,  and  was  much  respected-  He  removed  in  1848 
t/j  PeDnsylvania. 


BKUET    XOTIOES.  4o9 

Roswell  K.  Bourne  is  a  native  of  Otselic,  Chenango 
county.  He  was  educated  at  Cazenovia  ;  studied  with 
Judg-o  Niles  :  was  admitted  at  the  General  Term  of 
Supreme  Court  held  at  Utica,  July,  1S44.  He  com- 
menced practice  at  Pitcher,  but  subsequently  located  at 
Cincinnatus,  where  he  still  continues  in  the  practice  of 
law.  Mr.  Bourne  is  a  man  of  indomitable  energy  and 
force  of  character,  and  is  every  way  fitted  to  dig-nify 
and  adorn  the  profession. 

Ira  L.  Little  was  born  in  Wallkill,  Orang-e  co.,  X* 
Y.,  July  26,  1S30.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  Uni- 
versity ;  studied  with  Benjamin  S.  Bentley,  of  Montrose, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  that 
State,  in  1852.  In  1S54  he  located  in  Bing-hamtou, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
this  State,  at  the  general  term  of  1855,  and  soon  after 
removed  to  Marathon,  where  he  has  since  practiced 
with  a  good  degree  of  success.  Mr.  Little  is  possessed 
of  a  superior  education,  fine  literary  attainments  :  is  a 
well-read  lawyer,  and  a  worthy  citizen.  As  a  maga- 
zine writer  he  has  won  an  appreciable  reputation. 
Many  of  his  poetical  contributions  have  boon  regarded 
as  gems  of  superior  beauty. 

George  B.  Jones  is  a  native  of  Columbia  county.  X. 
Y.  He  was  educated  at  Cazenovia  and  Homer  ;  stud- 
ied his  profession  with  Horatio  Ballard,  of  Cortland,  and 
with  Southerland  &  McLellan,  in  Hudson,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar.  May  9,  1S4S.  In  April  1S49.  he  opened 
an  office  in  M'Grawville,  but  has  recently  located  in 
Cortland  Village.  He  possesses  great  energy  of  char- 
acter, and  hence  applies  himself  with  untiring  perse- 
verance to  the  duties  of  his  vocation. 


440  Z.2.-.7-   .-■.■::■.-:-. 

^     -    ^     "   -    '"  -  jin   jij  Preble,  May  11, 

1  r :  studied  with  Jodge 

}  r  Crandaii  ;  was  admitted  to  prac- 

.-;   ^...,    ^    --     *    May,  1856,  aod  commenced 

:  Frehhr  In  October   he  removed  to 

ng  city  on 

.,   ...,._..;..  only  a  lim- 

::  Hence  he  tamed  his  attention  in  the 
m^ib  to  >  mg  in- 

land;  anc  ...  .      ._  he  ac- 

cumulated a  "  respectable  little  fortune."  After  visiting 
St.  Paul,  MineapoUs,  a  ral  other  places  of  im- 

portaBce,  he  re^nbarke  native  land,  on  the  14th 

of  May,  1857,  and  arrived  at  Preble  on  the  17th  of  the 
same  numtii,  where  be  ia  now  doing  a  good  business  in 
Idb  profession. 

Luther  W.  Griswold,  Darius  Alien,  Orscm  A.  and 
Gavett  Z,  House,  ahw  studied  with  Reynolds  &  Cran- 
dalL  Griswold  is  the  able  and  popular  Judge  of  Min- 
neshick  co.,  Iowa.  Allen  is  engaged  in  a  flourishing 
practice  in  Penn  Yan,  Yates  co.,  X.  Y.  Orson  A.  House 
is  now  doing  a  prosperous  business  in  New  York,  as  a 
menb^  of  the  firm  erf"  Bergen  A;  House.  Gavett  Z. 
House,  formf^  editor  of  the  I/n/de/i  X^^.a,  is  now  prac- 
ti&ng  his  profession  in  Buffalo. 

Samo^  G.  Hatiiewaj,  Jr^  studied  with  hixyvm  k 
Woods.  He  possessed  a  calm,  discriminating,  well- 
balanced,  intellect^  and  rose  rapidly  in  both  branches  of 
the  prolessioB.  He  became  an  early  partner  of  Judge 
Gray,  in  Elmira,  where  he  still  remains,  and  is  unques- 
tionably one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in  the  State.  Chief 
Justice  Joseph  S.  Boswortli,  of  the  city  of  New  York, 


BRIEF    NOTICES.  441 

the  able  and  distiDguished  lawyer — the  profound  jurist 
and  enlig-htened  citizen — the  man  who  has  risen  meteor- 
like, resplendent  in  g-enius,  reflecting  honor  upon  his  na- 
tive coiuiti/  of  Cortland;  the  late  Robert  0.  Reynolds,  the 
brilliant  orator  and  gifted  advocate  ;  Gardner  Knapp, 
the  polished  student  and  acute  observer — studied 
with  Stephens  t?c  Ballard.  H.  S.  Fuller.  Charles  G. 
King,  Hon.  H.  S.  Conger,  Jerome  Rowe,  William  Marsh, 
Augustus  L.  Ballard,  and  Ira  D.  Warren,  studied  with 
Horatio  Ballard.  Mr.  Ballard  retired  a  few  years  since 
from  the  profession  he  honored,  and  is  now  settled  at 
Lakeland,  Minesota.  Mr.  Warren  is  now  in  a  lucra- 
tive practice  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  is  one  of  the 
firm  of  Cutler,  Pennington  &  Warren.  He  is  a  gentle- 
man of  rare  abilities,  well  read  in  his  profession,  which 
he  pursues  with  great  zeal,  industry  and  success,  and 
will  undoubtedly  become  very  eminent  as  an  advocate 
Robert  Stewart,  now  Governor  of  Missouri,  Hon.  H.  L. 
Punham  of  Indiana,  Hon.  A.  P.  Lanning  of  Buftalo,  and 
W.  H.  Mallory,  studied  with  AVm.  H.  Shankland.  Hon. 
Levi  F.  Bo  wen,  a  native  of  Homer,  studied  with  Joseph 
P.  Morse,  a  distinguished  lawyer  of  Lockport.  Mr. 
Bowen  has  been  elevated  to  various  honored  positions, 
having  creditably  filled  the  offices  of  Judge  and  Surro- 
gate of  Niagara  county,  and  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  Eighth  Judicial  District.  Morse  studied 
in  Cortland  with  Pay  ton  &  Woods.  He  was  a  man  of 
ability.  Judge  Ira  Harris  studied  with  Augustus  Don- 
nelly.* 

Perhaps  no  individual  has  done  more  for  the  welfare 
of  the  children  and  youth  of  this  country,  than  Profes- 
sor Chas.  W.  Saunders,  the  well-known  author  of  iUo 
20 


442  BEIEF    NOTICES. 

popular  series  of  school-books  that  bear  his  name.  He 
resided  in  the  town  of  Cortlandville  for  almost  thirty- 
years,  and  spent  much  time  in  teaching.  He  is  the 
author  of  twenty-five  different  works,  all  of  which  have 
been  stereotyped  from  the  manuscript.  His  text  books 
have  given  him  a  just  and  an  enviable  reputation. 

Among  those  who  were  born  and  educated  in  Cort- 
land county,  and  who  have  not  already  been  mentioned, 
and  who  by  their  talents  and  industry  have  risen  to 
high  positions,  we  ma^^  briefly  notice  John  M,  Keep,  son 
of  General  Martin  Keep,  late  of  Homer,  who  is  now  a  dis- 
tinguished Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Wisconsin. 
William  Keep,  son  of  Hon.  Chauncey  Keep,  is  a  promi- 
nent banker  at  Buffalo,  residing  at  Lockport.  Austin 
Fuller,  of  Freetown,  is  the  popular  State  Auditor  of  In- 
diana. A.  L.  Pritchard,  son  of  Garret  Pritchard,  of 
Solon,  formerly  a  practicing  lawyer  in  New  Berlin, 
Chenango  co.,  N.  Y.,  is  at  present  extensively  engaged 
in  the  banking  business  in  Wisconsin,  residing  at  Wa- 
tertown.  He  is  a  zealous  and  prominent  citizen,  highly 
respected  for  his  active  efforts  in  improving  the  place, 
having  done  more  than  any  other  person  towards  beau- 
tifying the  town.  Rev.  William  C.  Boyce,  son  of  Colo- 
nel Obadiah  Boyce,  is  the  efficient  Principal  of  the 
Aurora  Academy.  Augustus  A.  Boyce  (another  son) 
is  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Northern  District  of 
New  York,  residing  in  Utica,  Charles  H.  Hunt,  son  of 
Dr.  S.  M.  Hunt,  of  Marathon,  is  District  Attorney  of  the 
United  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 
John  W.  Hunt  (another  son)  graduated  as  a  physician, 
and  moved  to  Wisconsin  in  1849,  and  has  for  the  greater 
])ortion  of  the  time  been  Assistant  Secretary  of  State, 


BRIEF    NOTICES.  443 

residing  at  Madison.  Dr.  Ray  Hunt  (also  a  son  of  Dr. 
Hunt)  is  residing  at  Madison,  and  is  the  Chief  Clerk  in 
the  same  office. 

Charles  H.  Salisbury,  son  of  Nathan  Salisbury,  of 
Scott,  studied  medicine,  and  graduated  at  the  Albany 
Medical  College.  He  was  for  several  years  employed 
as  an  assistant  to  Dr.  Emmons,  of  Albany,  in  a  chemical 
analysis  of  the  soil  and  vegetable  productions  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  State,  and  the  results  are  published  in 
the  agricultural  parts  of  the  Natural  History  of  the 
State.  He  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  analytical 
chemists  of  the  State.  He  now  resides  in  Ohio.  His 
brother,  Charles  Salisbury,  has  acquired  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  portrait  painter.  He  lived  several  years 
in  the  cit^^  of  Albany,  pursuing  his  profession  with  em- 
inent success. 

DeLay  Glover,  son  of  Daniel  Glover,  of  Homer,  has 
acquired  a  well-earned  fame  as  a  historical  engraver. 
He  resides  in  Syracuse. 

Hon.  Arthur  Holmes  and  Alls  W.  Ogdcn  :  the  former 
a  resident  of  Cortlandville,  is  at  present  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  New  York  Assembly  ;  the  latter  was  born  and 
reared  in  Homer,  and  is  the  successor  of  the  Hon.  Rufus 
A.  Reed,  to  the  office  of  County  Clerk. 

There  were  seven  delegates — emigrants  from  Cort- 
land county — honored  with  seats  in  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  Wisconsin.  One  of  them  was  Michael 
Frank,  formerly  of  Virgil. 

Of  the  physicians  and  surgeons  who  have  at  various 
times  commenced  the  practice  of  their  profession  in  the 
county,  we  can  only  notice  a  few,  many  of  them  having 
remained  scarce   long   enough  to  acquire  a  residence. 


444  BRIEF   NOTICES. 

John  McWhorter,  the  pioneer  physician,  was  a  native 
of  Washington  county,  in  this  State,  and  located  in 
Cincinnatus  in  1T95,  He  was  an  excellent  physician, 
but  did  not  confine  himself  entirely  to  the  practice.  He 
entered  into  the  political  arena,  and  was  honored  with 
numerous  ofificial  positions. 

Lewis  S.  Owen  was  a  native  of  New  Lebanon,  Colum- 
bia CO.,  N.  Y.  He  studied  medicine  with  Drs.  Stringer 
and  McClellan  of  Albany  ;  removed  to  Homer  in  1799, 
and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was 
eminently  qualified  for  the  position  he  occupied.  John 
Miller,  from  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  settled  in  Trux- 
ton,  in  180L  His  medical  studies  were  pursued  in 
Dutchess  and  Washington  counties,  under  the  direction 
of  eminent  practitioners.  He  attended  lectures  in  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  then. under  the  direction  of 
Drs.  Rush  and  Shipper.  Robert  D.  Taggart  was  a  na- 
tive of  Colerain,  and  studied  his  profession  with  Dr. 
Ross,  in  his  native  town.  He  located  in  Preble  in  1804. 
He  remained  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  for 
about  twenty-seven  years,  when  he  removed  to  Port 
Byron.  He  possessed  a  clear  judgment ;  was  regarded 
as  a  man  of  great  moral  worth,  and  eminent  in  his  pro- 
fession. Elijah  J.  AVheeler  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
where  he  acquired  his  medical  knowledge.  He  pos- 
sessed a  strong,  vigorous  intellect  ;  was  well  educated, 
and  eminently  qualified  to  honor  the  medical  profession. 
He  located  in  Solon  in  1805.  His  early  habits  of  ine- 
briation retarded  his  usefulness,  and  greatly  afflicted 
his  young  and  intelligent  family  of  children,  and  with- 
ered and  blasted  the  once  brilliant  prospects  of  his  wife. 
Jesse  Searl  was  from  Southampton,  Mass,  His  medical 
studies  were  pursued  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Woodbridge, 


BRIEF    NOTICES.  445 

of  the  same  town.  He  settled  in  Homer  in  1804,  and 
went  into  practice,  but  subsequently  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  politics,  and  engaged  in  conducting  the  CorU 
land  JRepoutory.  His  medical  knowledge  was  good, 
his  literary  acquirements  superior  ;  and,  in  brief,  he 
was  an  excellent  citizen  and  an  influential  man.  Miles 
Goodyear  was  born  in  Hampden,  New  Haven  co.,  Conn. ; 
graduated  at  Yale  College  ;  studied  medicine  with  Pro- 
fessor Eli  Ives,  of  New  Haven  ;  came  to  Cortland 
in  the  latter  part  of  1816,  and  was  soon  engaged 
in  an  extensive  practice.  His  education  was  supe- 
rior ;  his  medicinal  knowledge  extensive  ;  his  habits 
social  ;  his  temper  genial  and  forgiving  ;  and  hence  he 
acquired  warm  friends  in  and  out  of  the  profession.  Dr. 
Goodyear  has  been  engaged  in  continuous  practice  for 
a  period  exceeding  forty-two  years — years  of  usefulness 
and  of  eminence— rendering  service  alike  to  the  poor 
and  the  rich, — a  noble  and  dignified  trait  in  the  charac- 
ter of  the  worthy  practitioner.  He  is  still  devotedly 
attached  to  the  profession,  and  ardently  labors  to  alle- 
viate the  sufferings  of  the  sick. 

Lewis  Riggs  is  a  native  of  Norfolk,  Conn.  His  medi- 
cal instructor  was  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Woodward,  of  Litch- 
field. He  received  his  license  from  the  State  Medical 
Society,  in  1812.  He  emigrated  to  Homer  in  1818.  As 
a  practitioner,  he  has  been  prudent,  skilful  and  success- 
ful. In  addition  to  his  local  offices,  he  has  been  elected 
to  and  served  in  the  United  States  Congress.  He 
erected  the  Superior  Mills  in  1838.  His  history  is 
closely  identified  with  the  history  of  the  county  ;  and 
he  has  in  all  respects  maintained  an  upright  and  valu- 
able reputation. 
20* 


446  BRIEF    IfOTICES. 

Robert  C.  Owen  was  born  in  Homer  in  1802,  educated 
at  Cortland  Academy,  studied  his  profession  with  his 
father.  Dr.  Lewis  S.  Owen,  and  Piatt  Williams,  of 
Albany,  and  graduated  at  the  Harvard  University,  Bos- 
ton, in  1820.  He  was  for  thirt^^-eight  years  a  prominent 
practitioner  in  Homer,  but  for  the  last  eight  years  has 
been,  in  the  main,  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  the 
profession. 

George  W.  Bradford  is  a  native  of  Otsego  county. 
He  received  an  academic  education  ;  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.  Thomas  Fuller,  of  Cooperstown  ;  was  licensed 
in  1820  by  the  Otsego  County  Medical  Association,  and 
soon  after  commenced  practice  in  Homer,  where  he  still 
remains  in  the  active  duties  of  his  profession. 

Horace  Bronson  was  born  in  Catskill,  Greene  co.,  N, 
Y.  His  classical  studies  were  pursued  under  the  charge 
of  Rev.  C.  Bushnell,  and  his  medical  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
Lewis  Riggs.  He  attended  medical  lectures  at  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  the  Western 
District,  where  he  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He 
subsequently  spent  one  season  with  Prof.  Noj^es,  of 
Hamilton  College,  and  another  with  Dr.  Seth  Hastings, 
of  Clinton,  Oneida  co.  He  came  to  Virgil  in  1821, 
where  he  has,  with  the  exception  of  a  brief  period, 
remained  in  practice.  Dr.  Bronson  has  been  eminently 
successful  in  the  profession,  discharging  all  its  onerous 
duties,  and  devoting  his  best  energies  to  the  advance- 
ment of  medical  science,  and  to  the  perpetuity  of  a  just 
appreciation  of  the  high  duties  of  the  worthy  physician. 
Hence  he  has  gained  the  kind  respect  and  affectionate 
regard  of  a  long  list  of  devoted  friends. 

Azariah  Blanchard  came  in  soon  after  Dr.  Bronson 


BRIEF   NOTICES.  447 

and  settled  in  Trnxton,  Trhere  he  remained  many  years, 
and  "  enjoyed  to  an  eminent  degree  the  confidence  of  a 
large  part  of  the  popuUition  of  that  town,  and  who, 
deservedly,  was  considered  one  of  our  most  intelligent 
physicians."  *  Dr.  Blanchard  is  now  a  respectable  and 
influential  citizen  of  Wisconsin. 

Phineas  H.  Burdick  received  an  academic  education. 
Commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  1823,  with  Dr. 
Hubbard  Smith,  of  De  Ruyter,  and  completed  them  in 
the  office  of  Dr.  Jehial  Sterns,  of  Pompey  ;  attended 
lectures  at  Castleton,  Vermont,  in  1826,  and  was  licensed 
by  the  Medical  Society  of  Onondaga  county  in  182*7. 
He  commenced  practice  in  Scott,  May,  182*1,  and 
removed  to  Preble,  January,  1823.  He  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  M.  D.  from  the  State  Medical 
Society  in  1851,  and  became  a  permanent  member  of 
the  association  in  1853.  He  has  ever  been  regarded  as 
an  excellent  physician,  and  maintained  a  prominent 
position  among  his  medical  brethren.  He  has  an  exten- 
sive practice,  in  which  he  appears  eminently  successful. 
.  Samuel  M.  Hunt  was  born  in  Marathon,  Oct.  30,  1^98, 
being  the  first  child  born  in  that  town.  His  first  recol- 
lection of  attending  school  was  in  a  long  barn,  and  sub- 
sequently at  a  log  school-house,  with  windows  of  oiled 
paper  as  a  substitute  for  glass.  His  classical  studies 
were  pursued  at  the  Cortland  Academy,  commencing  in 
1819  ;  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  P.  B.  Brooks,  of  Bing- 
hamton,  was  licensed  by  the  Medical  Society  of  Che- 
nango county  in  1823,  of  which  Dr.  Henry  Mitchel  was 
then  President.  lie  commenced  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine at  Sharp's  Corners,  on  the  Otselic  River,  now  Tri^ 
*  Hon.  George  W.  Bradford's  Semi-Centennial  Address. 


448  BRIEF    NOTICES. 

angle,  Broome  count}'-  ;  has  practiced  mostly  in  Lisle, 
Union  and  Maine  of  that  county.  He  served  in  the 
capacity  *of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Maine  for  about  ten 
years,  and  for  five  years  as  Justice  of  Sessions  for 
Broome  county.  Dr.  Hunt  has  acquired  considerable 
eminence  in  the  profession  ;  has  been  active  in  favor- 
ing the  various  benevolent  reforms,  as,  also,  in  forward- 
ing the  educational  interests  of  the  county.  His  chil- 
dren have  enjoyed  the  benefits  derived  from  our 
academic  institutes,  some  of  whom  have  emigrated  to 
other  parts,  and  are  now  elevated  to  high  public  posi- 
tions. 

George  W.  Maxon  studied  his  profession  with  Drs. 
Palmer  and  Haven  of  Oneida  county,  and  E.  S.  Bailey 
of  Madison,  and  completed  his  studies  with  Samuel  R. 
Clark,  with  whom  he  practiced  one  year.  He  removed 
to  Scott  in  ^lay,  1832,  where  he  remains  in  a  lucrative 
practice. 

Frederick  Hyde  was  born  in  Lisle,  Broome  county  ; 
received  a  common  school  education  ;  studied  medicine 
in  the  office  of  Dr.  Hiram  Moe,  Lansing,  Tompkins  co., 
and  Dr.  Horace  Bronson,  of  Virgil.  He  attended  three 
years  in  Fairfield  Medical  College,  and  graduated  in 
1836.  The  Faculty  embraced  an  amount  of  learning 
and  talent  perhaps  unequalled  in  the  State,  and  we 
therefore  record  with  pleasure  the  names  of  Drs.  Wes- 
tel  Willoughby,  James  McNaugliton,  James  Hadley, 
Theodoric  Romeyn  Beck,  and  John  De  Lamater.  He 
commenced  practice  in  Cortland,  February,  1836.  In 
1854  he  received  a  professorship  in  Geneva  Medical 
College,  whicli  lie  still  holds.  Dr.  Hyde  possesses  a 
clear,  strong,  vigorous  mind,  and  is   a  ready,  cool   and 


BRIEF   NOTICES.  449 

skilful  surgical  operator.  Hence  it  is  with  pleasure 
that  we  speak  of  him  as  having  acquired  considerable 
eminence  in  the  several  branches  of  medical  and  surgi- 
cal science. 

John  H.  Knapp  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Fair- 
field, Conn.  His  academical  education  was  received  in 
the  Sherburne  Academy  ;  studied  his  profession  with 
Drs.  Devillo  White  and  Elijah  S.  Lyman  ;  was  licensed 
by  the  Chenango  Medical  Society  on  the  22d  day  of 
April,  1843,  and  located  in  Marathon.  In  1845  he 
removed  to  Etna,  Tompkins  county,  where  he  practiced 
until  1849,  when  he  removed  to  Harford,  where  he  now 
resides,  and  is  engaged  in  the  active  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession. Dr.  Knapp  has  held  various  local  offices,  and 
was  in  1854  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  New  York  Assem- 
bly. He  has  by  his  own  exertions  carved  his  way  to  his 
present  honored  position,  enjoying  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  a  very  large  circle  of  friends.  If  he  has 
enjoyed  much  of  the  sunshine  of  this  fleeting  life,  he 
has  also  passed  through  the  fiery  ordeal  of  affliction, 
having  but  recently  buried  his  fourth  and  last  child. 

Homer  0.  Jewett  was  born  in  Madison  county,  in  1819  ; 
studied  his  profession  with  Dr.  Shipman  ;  graduated  at 
the  Medical  University  in  New  York,  in  1843  ;  com- 
menced practice  at  Summerhill  ;  came  to  Cortland  in 
1849,  where  he  has  since  remained  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  is  eminently  qualified  for  his  position, 
and  is  regarded  as  an  able  and  successful  practitioner, 
enjo3nng  a  large  medical  practice. 

Caleb  Green  was  born  at  La  Fa3^ette,  Onondago  co., 
N.  Y.,  in  1819  ;  his  medical  pupilage  was  spent  under 
the  tutorship  of  Prof.  Frank  H.  Hamilton,  of  Rochester, 


450  BRIEF   NOTICES. 

N.  Y.  He  graduated  at  Geneva  Medical  College,  in 
January,  1844  ;  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  Homer,  in  March  of  the  same  year.  He  was  elected 
Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  General  Pathology  in 
Geneva  Medical  College  in  1855,  and  resigned  his  pro- 
fessorship in  1858.  He  is  now  engaged  in  a  lucrative 
practice  in  Homer.  Possessed  of  an  active,  well-bal- 
anced mind,  a  thorough  knowledge  of  disease  in  all  its 
various  types  and  phases,  of  medicines,  their  virtue, 
power,  and  use,  he  is  ever  prepared  to  act  wisely,  cau- 
tiously, and  successfully,  having  a  fixed  purpose  in 
view — the  restoration  of  the  sick.  His  surgical  skill 
has  rendered  him  justly  eminent. 

Eleazer  H.  Barnes  is  a  native  of  Broome  county,  N. 
Y.;  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  E.  Barnes,  late  of  Gen- 
eva ;  attended  lectures  at  Geneva  Medical  College  in 
1837-8,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  commenced 
practicing  as  a  partner  with  Dr.  E.  Lyman,  at  Great 
Bend,  Pa.  In  1839  he  removed  to  Marathon,  where  he 
has  since  been  an  active  practitioner. 

Theo.  C.  Pomeroy  was  reared  in  Otisco,  N.  Y.;  edu- 
cated at  Hamilton  College  ;  studied  with  Drs.  Goodyear 
and  Hyde,  and  graduated  at  Geneva  Medical  College 
in  1844,  and  is  now  practicing  his  profession  in  Cortland 
with  a  good  degree  of  success. 

William  W.  Bradford  is  a  native  of  Pitcher,  N.  Y.; 
acquired  his  education  at  the  common  school  and  the 
Fayette ville  Academy  ;  attended  lectures  at  Laporte, 
Indiana,  with  Dr.  A.  B.  Shipman,  formerly  of  this  county, 
holding  the  Professorship  of  Surgery  in  the  Indiana 
Medical  College,  from  whom  he  derived  much  valuable 
knowledge  ;  also,  attended  two  course  of  lectures  at 


BKIEF    NOTICES.  451 

Castleton,  Vermont,  and  graduated  18th  of  June,  1851  ; 
practiced  successfully  six  years  in  Lysander  ;  came  to 
Marathon  in  the  fall  of  1851,  where  he  is  now  jDcrma- 
nently  located  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery. 

A.  D.  Reed  was  reared  in  Delaware  county,  educated 
at  Roxbury  ;  studied  with  Sherman  Street  ;  attended 
lectures,  and  was  licensed  at  Castleton,  Vermont,  in 
1848,  and  is  now  engaged  in  successful  practice  in 
Cincinnatus. 

Scepter  Smith  is  a  native  of  Marathon  ;  was  educated 
at  the  Cortland  Academy  ;  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
Taylor  in  Alleghany,  and  was  licensed  in  1848  by  the 
Alleghany  Medical  Society.  In  1851  he  partially  retired 
from  the  practice  of  medicine  and  turned  his  attention 
to  the  profession  of  dentistry,  in  which  he  has  become 
eminently  skilful.  He  removed  to  Scott  Centre  in  1851, 
where  he  is  now  doing  an  excellent  business. 
"^  J.  C.  Nelson  was  educated  in  Owego  ;  attended  three 
courses  of  lectures  in  Geneva  Medical  College,  and 
graduated  in  1848.  He  spent  three  years  under  the 
tutorship  of  that  most  eminent  physician.  Dr.  Thomas 
Spencer  ;  settled  in  Truxton  in  March,  1848.  Dr.  Nel- 
son is  an  active,  energetic  man,  engaged  in  an  exten- 
sive and  eminently  successful  practice. 

Charles  M.  Kingman  is  a  native  of  Cincinnatus.  He 
received  an  academic  education  ;  studied  with  Dr.  F. 
F.  Maybury,  formerly  of  Solon,  now  a  prominent  and 
skilful  physician  in  Morrisville,  Madison  co.,  N.  Y.  Dr. 
Kingman  graduated  at  Geneva  Medical  College  in  1846, 
and  commenced  practice  in  M'Grawville,  where  he  is 
much  respected  as  a  physician. 

Charles  S.  Richardson  is  a  native  of  Cayuga  county  ; 


452  BRIEF   NOTICES. 

studied  with  Dr.  George  W.  Bradford,  and  graduated  at 
the  Medical  Department  of  tlie  Albany  University  in 
1856  ;  commenced  practice  in  Homer  in  1857.  Dr.  Rich- 
ardson is  a  young  man  of  excellent  habits,  is  persevering, 
and,  in  brief,  is  well  qualified  to  excel  in  the  profession. 

William  R.  Brown  settled  in  Homer  in  1845,  having 
removed  from  Oneida  county.  He  graduated  at  Fair- 
field College,  and  subsequently  engaged  in  the  homoeo- 
pathic art  of  curing  disease.  He  is  a  gentleman  of 
good  abilities,  and  is  engaged  in  a  good  business  prac- 
tice. 

Jay  Ball  attended  lectures  in  Geneva  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  graduated  in  the  Medical  University  of  New 
York  City  in  1848.  He  was  at  this  time  under  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  In  1853  he  commenced  in  Homer 
the  homoeopathic  practice  of  medicine,  where  he  still 
remains. 

H.  C.  Gazlaj^  graduated  at  the  Eclectic  College  in 
Syracuse,  and  commenced  practice  in  Truxton  in  1841. 
He  subsequently  removed  to  Fabius,  where  he  practiced 
until  1847,  when  he  returned  to  Truxton.  In  1851  he 
came  to  Homer,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  is  now  a  partner  in  practice  with  Dr.  Ezra 
Loomis.  He  possesses  an  active  intellect,  is  energetic 
and  skilful,  and  has  the  necessary  elements  of  success. 

Henry  A.  Bollcs  is  a  native  of  Litchfield,  Conn.  He 
studied  his  profession  Avith  Drs.  Loomis  and  Hobart ; 
was  licensed  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  in  Syracuse, 
and  commenced  practice  in  McLean,  Tompkins  county, 
in  1852.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Cortland,  and  is 
at  present  engaged  in  a  lucrative  practice. 
V    There  are  a  number  of   other  prominent  physicians 


BKIEF   NOTICES.  453 

residing  in  the  county  :  among  these  we  may  mention 
Dr.  Lyman  Eldrege,  of  Cincinnatus  ;  Henry  C.  Hen- 
drick,  of  M'Grawville;  Squire  Jones,  of  Homer;  Frank- 
lin Goodyear,  of  Cortland;  William  Fitch,  of  Virgil;  and 
Dr.  Hubbard,  of  Scott. 


CONCLUSION. 

Our  history  now  draws  to  a  close,  and  is  given  to 
the  reader  in  as  perfect  a  form  as  the  circumstances  of 
the  times  will  permit. 

We  have  in  no  instance  given  publicity  to  statements 
of  suspicious  or  doubtful  character  ;  and  we  have  in  all 
cases  aimed  to  be  impartial.  Of  the  moral,  social, 
political,  educational,  and  religious  associations,  we 
have  spoken  frankly  and  feelingly.  Of  the  local  inter- 
ests and  natural  advantages  we  have  remarked  as 
became  our  position,  and  in  so  doing  we  have  hoped  to 
do  ample  justice  to  the  resources  of  the  count}^  Tra- 
ditions extending  back  for  three  centuries  have  been 
favorably  regarded  only  when  they  were  supported  by 
the  most  warrantable  chain  of  circumstances. 

In  the  prosecution  of  our  enterprise  we  have  been 
materially  favored  by  the  voluntary  assistance  of  gen- 
tlemen of  acknowledged  worth  and  ability  ;  by  the 
reading  of  written  memoranda  and  valuable  data,  and 
by  a  free  access  to  their  extensive  and  well-selected 
libraries.  To  Hon.  Henry  S.  Randall,  for  the  liberal 
gift  of  voluminous  publications,  and  other  promoting 
circumstances  ;  Dr.  E.  B.  O'Callaghan,  author  of  the 
"  Documentary  History-  of  New  York,"  Hon.  Elias  W. 
Leavenworth,  for  valuable  publications,  Hon.  "William 


CONCLUSION.  455 

H.  Seward,  of  the  United  States  Senate,  Hon .  Charles 
P.  Avery,  late  of  Owego,  now  of  Michigan,  and  Hon. 
Gideon  J.  Tucker,  Secretary  of  State,  for  an  exceedingly 
valuable  work,  we  return  our  acknowledgments. 

To  enumerate  the  names  of  the  numerous  gentlemen 
who  have  given  us  verbal  statements  and  interesting 
incidents,  would  be  hardly  possible.  We  are,  however, 
none  the  less  thankful  for  their  favors  and  solicitous 
expressions,  tending  to  enhance  the  value,  correctness 
and  truthfulness  of  our  labors.  To  the  Hon.  George 
W.  Bradford,  for  various  State  documents,  Rufus  A. 
Reed,  Esq.,  for  access  to  the  county  archives,  Hon. 
Joseph  Reynolds,  Dr.  H.  S.  Hunt,  Hon.  Walter  Sweet- 
land,  Rev.  John  Keep,  and  Hon.  Harvey  Baldwin,  are 
we  especially  indebted. 

It  is  also  our  pleasurable  duty  to  tender  our  recipro- 
cal acknowledgments  to  Dr.  Franklin  B.  Hough,  author 
of  the  "  History  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Franklin  Coun- 
ties," Hon.  Joshua  V.  H.  Clark,  author  of  an  admirably 
well  written  histor}^  of  Onondaga  county.  Deacon  Na- 
than Boughton,  the  practical  annalist  of  the  town  of 
Virgil,  Hon.  Dan  C.  Squires,  of  Lapeer,  for  valuable 
notes  on  that  town,  Messrs.  Edwin  F.  and  Cornelius  B. 
Gould,  late  editors  and  proprietors  of  the  Cortland 
County  Whig,  Mr.  Joseph  R.  Dixon,  of  the  Cortland 
County  Republican,  Myron  S.  Barnes  and  Anson  Spencer, 
the  former  of  the  Mt.  Morris  Independent  Watchinan^  and 
the  latter  of  the  American  Citizen^  Ithaca  ;  Messrs.  A. 
G.  Chester  and  C.  P.  Cole, — the  former  of  the  Syracuse 
Journal,  and  the  latter,  of  the  Cortland  Gazette.  To 
Hon.  Henry  Stephens,  late  President,  and  Superintend- 
ent, William  B.  Gilbert,  Esq.,  of  the  Syracuse,  Bingham- 


456  CONCLUSION. 

ton,  and  New  York  Railroad,  are  we  sensibly  indebted, 
for  the  favorable  facilities  and  kind  courtesies  which 
they  have  freely  extended  to  us. 

In  brief,  we  return  our  grateful  acknowledgments 
to  all  friends,  and  for  the  present,  bid  them  an  affection- 
ate Adieu. 


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