USA > New York > Oswego County > History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
Gc 974.701 Os9j 1128822
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01152 7832
A. F. EATON, OSWEGO, N. Y.
SALMON RIVER FALLS, PULASKI, N.Y.
1789.
HISTORY OF
.
OSWEGO COUNTY,
NEW YORK.
WITH
Illustrations and Biographical Shetcheg
SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
974.701
PUBLISHED BY L. H. EVERTS & CO., 714-16 Filbert Street, Philadelphia.
07
1877.
79 10650 15
CONTENTS. 1128822
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY.
PAOE
I .- Introductory . 9,10
II .- A Raid in 1615 10, 11
III .- The Iroquois
IV .- Jesuits and Colonists 13-15
V .- Do La Barre and Garangula 15-17
VI .- Count Frontense's Expedition 18, 19
VII .- From 1697 to 1753 . 19-24
24-35
VIII .- The " Old French War"
IX .- From 1761 to 1775 .
X .- The Revolution 41-55
XI .- From 1783 to 1800 . 55-62
XII .- From 1801 to 1812 .
62-69
XIII .- The War of 1812
69-72
XIV .- From 1815 to 1830 .
XV .- From 1831 to 1861 .
72-75
75-115
XXX. Since the War . . 116, 117
XXXI .- The Press of Oswego County .
117-121
XXXII .- County Buildings . 121, 122
XXXIII .- The State Normal School
. 122-125
XXXIV .- The Common Schools .
125
XXXV .- Religion and Temperance
. 126-129
XXXVI .- Medical Societies
. 129-131
XXXVII .- Agricultural Societies
XXXVIII .- The National Guard 131
XXXIX .- Oswego County Civil List
. 132-135
OSWEGO CITY.
History of Oswego City
View of Oswego Harbor
Residence of lIon. G. B. Sloan
Thomas Kingsford
Thomsen Kingsford
Elias Root
Leonard Amos, with Portrait and Biography 146
148
Delos De Wolf
¥
150
Edwin Allen .
Edwin W. Clarke .
Joseph Hover 152
154
16 and Portrait of B. B. Burt
156
Orville Robinson, with Portraits . 158
"Farm Retreat," Residence of Thomson Kingsford .
160
St. Paul's Church and School
=
164
Rosidenee of E. G. Jones .
R. Gordon
O. M. Bond .
171
First National Bank Building
City Savings
Mannister Wort's Block
=
171
Residence of Luther Wright, with portrait and biography between 186, 187
Portrait and Biography of Alvin Bronson facing 142
Sylvester Doolittle
Cheney Ames .
172
IIon. A. P. Grant = 173
View of Kingsford's Starch-Factory (steel) . between 174, 175
Portraits of Thomas and Thomson Kingsford (steel) 174, 175 Portrait and Biography of R. Oliphant facing 176 Portraits of Myron Pardee and wife, with biography 178
Portrait of Judge W. F. Allen (steol)
IIon. Elias Root (steel) .
S. Batos, with biography .
.
183
Frederick T. Carrington (stecl) facing 184
Portraits of E. G. Jones and wife
185
Portrait of Wm. S. Malcolm Mrs. Catharine Van Rensselaer Cochran
185
Portrait and Biography of John B. Edwards 187
¥ Colonel Edward M. Paine 188
188
189
Portrait and Biography of IIon. B. Doolittle
II. Murray
facing 190
180
Biography of Judge W. F. Allen
B. B. Burt .
Hon. Elias Root . 182
Frederick T. Carrington
184
Moses P. Neal 184
185
Wm. S. Malcolm . 185
Mrs. Catharine V. R. Cochran
190
= Orville Robinson .
Mrs. Lucretia Robinson
191
Military Record .
TOWN OF OSWEGO.
History of the Town of Oswego
Residence of Eli Wilder (double page) between 200, 201
Levi Pease (double page) 202, 203 Portraits of Nathan Lewis and wife, with biography . 204
Stock Farm and Portrait of, Thos. G. Thompson (and Agrieul- 204 Residence of William Clark tural Fair Grounds) 204,205
205
Biography of Eli Wilder .
Levi Pease .
205
Military Record
TOWN OF RICHILAND.
History of the Town of Richland . 208
View of Court-House, Pulaski
Pulaski Academy .
208
Residence and Land-Office of Charles HI. Cross, with portrait and biography between 210, 211
Portrait of Thomas W. Dixon (steel)
214
Residence of S. H. Fellows
J. G. and G. W. White
214
First Congregational Church Building, with portraits of Simon Meacham and Rev. James Douglas facing 217
Residence of Jas. N. Betts, M.D., with portrait opposite and portrait of Don A. King 46 219
faeing 220
Portrait of Robert L. Ingersoll (steel) Biography of “ 220
220
16 Captain Ira Doane
" James N. Betts, M.D. 220
221
16 Don A. King
222
Portrait and Biography of William Strong of Ansel Brown
222
View of Salmon River House, Pulaski opposite
222
Box and Bett's Block, Pulaski .
= 223
Military Record
TOWN OF VOLNEY.
llistory of the Town of Volney
-
225
facing
225
Views on Oswego River, near Fulton
PAGE
facing
180
182
11-13
.€ 185
Daniel E. Taylor
Lucius B. Croeker
190
1 81
200
between 201, 205
199
facing 136
138
140
" 140
144
152
16
Thomas S. Mott
168
168
171
171
Neal's Block (and Masonic Temple) .
143
Residence of Capt. Ira Doane, with portraits
223
facing 208
facing 212
162
218
222
205
XVI. to XXIX .- Oswego in the Rebellion
35-38
38-41
. 125, 126
.
192
CHAPTER
4
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Portrait and Biography of Lovwell Johnson (steel) . opposite 226
Willard Johnson (steel)
227
Residenee of J. H. Distin, with portraits . F. Vant,
Samnel Hart,
Wm. D. Patterson .
231
Residences of John E. Potter and Alexander Potter, with per-
traits
faeing
300
Residence of Ilon. John Parker, with portraits
303
66 Jas. J. Montague 303
S. C. Davis . 303
Property of S. C. Davis and Son
opposite
304
Portraits of the Davis family
305
Military Record .
. 304
TOWN OF HANNIBAL.
History of the Town of Hannibal
. 307
Residence of Norman Titus
facing 307
C. S. Chamberlain 307
E. S. Tallman (double page) between 308,309 Jonas Shutts, with portraits (double page) between 310, 31I
Biography of Jonas Shutts . 311
Residence of Avery Green, with portraits
faeing 312
Military Record .
. 312
TOWN OF PALERMO.
History of the Town of Palermo . 316
Residence and Store of D. II. Trimble, with portraits facing 316
Factory and Hotel of W. H. Hannan opposite 318
Residence of J. F. Lansing
319
Frederick C. Church
319
= W. S. Lansing, with portraits facing 320
= D. L. Brown 321
Portraits of Almon Mason and wife
321
Portrait of Dr. Addison Beckwith
321
Biography of Isaac N. Lansing 320
Almon Mason
321
Biography of David L. Brown
321
Military Record
321
TOWN OF SCHROEPPEL.
Residence and Factory of S. N. Gustin (double page), between 268, 269 History of the Town of Schroeppel . 324 Carriage Manufactory of Lewis Miller facing 270 Residence and Portrait of Alonzo Utley faeing 324
of W. H. Rice .
324
274 Residence of Nelson Corey (double page) between 326, 327
Portraits of Andrew Gilbert and wife Stephen Griffith ¥
330
Portrait of E. L. Jennings
330
" J. M. Williams 330
Residence of R. Sutton, with portraits 334
Biography of Reuben Sutton
334
Military Record
334
TOWN OF NEW HAVEN.
History of the Town of New Haven. . 339
Premises of Orlando R. Cumminga . facing 339
Portrait of Seth Severance, with biography opposito 310
A. W. Severance, 341
Portraits and Biography of A. II. Barton and wife
342
Residence of Edward W. Robinson, with portraits .
343
Views at Captain llenry Daggett's, with portraits (double page) . between 344, 345
Portrait of Norman Rowe, with biography " 344, 345
Residonce of M. S. Lindall, with portrait . " 344, 345
Portrait of L. Cummings . . 345
Biography of Captain Henry J. Daggett
345
Military Record
. 345
TOWN OF AMBOY.
Ilistory of the Town of Amuhoy . 348
Portraits of F. M. Tousley and wife .
facing 348
PAGE
TOWN OF ORWELL.
History of the Town of Orwell .
.
297
228 Residence of I. W. Bennett
facing
297
James J. Montague 298
John Washburn 66
298
D. W. Gardner
Mrs. L. E. Loomis, with portraits
24I
Elias Thomas, with portraits
242
Biography of Hon. John Parker
303
Charles G. Bacon, M.D., with portrait . 243
Portraits of Ira Carrier and wife, with biography Farm View of Ira Carrier .
244
.
facing 244
Portraits of Colonel John Gasper and wives 245
Ira Ives and wife, with biography 245
Thomas Hubbard and wife, with biography
Residence of Thomas Hubbard, Esq.
facing 246
Portraits of Walter Wilber and wife, with biography
Timothy Pratt and wife, with biography
248
Residence of John W. Pratt, with portraits .
facing 248
Portraits of Aaron G. Fish and wife, with biography
249
Portrait of Lyman Patterson, with biography . 250
Portraits of Holsey Hubbard and wife, with biography faeing 250
William Engell and wife, with biography 251
Portrait of Isaae Markham, and biography of Jason S. Markham 252 Residenee of Jason S. Markham, with portraita facing 252
Portraits of Freeman Gasper and wife, with biography 253
Portrait of F. W. Squires, with biography . 254
Hon. Ransom H. Tyler, with biography . faeing 254
Biography of Dr. Ransom Howard, with portraits . opposite 255
L. E. Loomis 24I
John H. Distin 241
Elias Thomas 242
Dr. Charles G. Bacon 243
Samuel Hart
254
Military Record .
TOWN OF MEXICO.
History of the Town of Mexico 262
.
Residenec of the late Eugene N. Hills, with portraits facing 262
L. H. Conklin 264
J. B. Driggs
264
Phineas Davis 266
= 272
Portrait and Biography of IIon. Avery Skinner Ebenezer E. Menter
273
Residence of Mrs. Dr. C. D. Snell
facing 275
Toronto and Stato Mills 275
275
Biography of Eugene N. Hills . 276
Military Record
276
TOWN OF ALBION.
Ilistory of the Town of Albion 278
Residence of D. R. Averill (double page) between 278, 279
Portrait and Biography of Aaron Fuller .
281
=
Military Record . " Thomas Henderson
282
TOWN OF CONSTANTIA.
Ilistory of the Town of Constantia . 287
Portraita and Biography of the Bernhard family facing 290
Residence and Portrait of IIon. William II. Baker
" 292
. Biography of Hon. W. II. Baker 292
Portraits of Rov. Christopher Martin and wifo faeing
293
Henry Winn and wife .
293
Portrait of Ephraim Cleveland
293
293
Biography of Christopher Martin Ilenry Winn 29
Residenec of Patrick Hopkins facing 297
Military Record . . 294
229
230
facing 234
246
. 247
255
View of Grace Church
324
Howard House .
faeing 330
Portrait and Biography of Dr. C. D. Snell
282
5
CONTENTS.
Portraits of D. J. Wilson and wifo
facing 348
Portrait of F. Laing .
348
Philip IIess
" 3-18
" George D. Wells, with biography
. 350
Biography of Thomas Laing
350
Residence of John Jamieson, with portrait
facing
351
Portrait of Charles Leigh, with biography
351
. Biography of John Jamieson 351
Rosidenee of II. and N. Leigh
facing 353
Military Rocord
351
TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN.
History of the Town of Williamstown 353
View of Lake and Mill at Kasoag .
facing 353
Residence of Edwin Comstock, with portraits 355
and Hotel of C. S. Sage, with portraits opposite 356
A. Orton and William Steele, with portraits 357
Biography of Hon. Chauncey S. Sage 356
Ashbel Orton
356
Military Record .
TOWN OF HASTINGS.
History of the Town of Hastings 358 .
Residence of William B. Parkhurst, with portraits
facing 358
D. D. Drake, M.D.
" 360
Robert Elliott
360
Leonard Snow
362
Military Record .
365
TOWN OF WEST MONROE.
History of the Town of West Monroe 367
Military Record . 369 Military Record . 408
TOWN OF BOYLSTON.
History of the Town of Boylston
. 370
Residence of William Wart, with portraits facing 370
Biography of William Wart
. 373
Military Record .
.
373
TOWN OF SANDY CREEK.
History of the Town of Sandy Creek . 374
High School Building
facing 374
Residence of William Bishop, with portraits
376
Orin R. Earl, with portrait .
378
Gilbert N. Ilarding
380
" Ilon. A. S. Warner, with portraits
382
Biography of Hon. Oren R. Earl
382
" Andrew S. Warner
382
Residence of Julia K. Robbins, with portraits
facing 383
Biography of Benjamin G. Robbins . ¥ Julius S. Robbins
383
" William Bishop
383
Residence of J. S. Robbins
facing 384
The Salisbury Honse
66
384
Portrait and Biography of Hon. Azariah Wart of J. Lyman Bulkley
384
Military Record .
. 384
TOWN OF GRANBY.
History of the Town of Granby 388
Residence of Wm. W. Palmer, with portraits
facing 388
Calvin French, with portraits
389
Farm View and Residence of Thos. R. Wright, with portraits, between 390, 391
Farm and Residence of Jasper H. Whitcomb, with portraits
(double page) .
between 392, 393
Residence of Felix M. Rice, with portraits facing 394
395
John C. Wells,
396
397
TOWN OF SCRIBA.
History of the Town of Seriba . . 412
Residenco of Geo. Fradenburgh
facing
412
¥ Russell Turner, with portrait opposite 414
Philo II. Burnham, “ 415
Portrait of Thomas Askew, with biography
416
.
Daniel Ilall (2d), facing 416
Erastus Stone . . 417
Biography of Erastus Stone
417
Portrait of Robert Simpson, with biography Geo. W. Snyder, M.D., 418
Portraits of James Church and wife, "
facing 418
=
Rev. Geo. Blossom and wife, with biography
419
Philo Burnham and wives,
420
Military Record
421
TOWN OF REDFIELD.
History of the Town of Redfield 423
Residence of James Petrie, with portrait facing 424
Biography of James Petrie · 428
Military Record .
. 428
TOWN OF PARISH.
History of the Town of Parish . 429
Portrait of Lientenant-Colonel Melzar Richards, with hiog- raphy facing 429
Residence of llon. Ilarvey Palmer, with portraits = 132
Biography of Hon. Harvey Palmor . 432
Military Record .
. 432
MISCELLANEOUS.
List of Citizens who assisted in the publication of the Ilistory of Oswego County, with personals . . 434
Outline Map of Oswego County
facing
9
View of Salmon River Falls (vignette)
facing title-page.
.
facing 308
W. B. Gaylord, with portraits 399
Portrait of Asa Phillips, with hiography . . 400
Residence of Morgan Blakeman, with portraits facing 400
Lewis II. Hutchins, 46
401
Portraits of Aaron Stranahan ond wife, with biography . . 402
Residence of Aaron Stranahan . facing 102
Wmn. H. Tompkins, with portraits . 403 Portrait of David Willcox, with biography 404 .
Residence of Milo Wilcox, with portraits . facing 404
= Dan. S. Shattuck, 405
II. II. Merriam,
406
= Mrs. Isoae Bogardus,
407
Jesse Reynolds,
opposite 408
Jackson Reynolds,
409
J. H. Langdon facing 412
396
Isaac Bogardus . 306
Jobn I. Walradt facing 397
¥ William B. Gaylord
399
Jackson Reynolds . Morgan Blakeman
400
Seth Paine .* 401
403
= Jasper II. Whitcomb
403
= Dan. S. Shattuck Calvin French
405
H. H. Merriam
406
John Palmer .
406
David Hutchins
406
Jesse Reynolds
407
PAGE
Portraits of Benjamin Wells and wife, with biography = Benj. B. Piorce 398 . 397
Residenco of I. F. Pierce, with portrait . .
.
Oliver Paine,
Mrs. M. Howell
384
William Jay Stevens
380
405
William H. Tompkins
309
Biography of John C. Wells
. 357
PAUL
383
418
.
HISTORY
OF
OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK
BY CRISFIELD JOHNSON.
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY.
Plan of the Work-Sources of Information-List of Books Examined -Acknowledgments of Aid-Closing Remarks.
THE plan of this work comprises :
First, a connected history of the events of general im- portance or interest which have occurred in the territory now comprising the county of Oswego, or in which residents of that county have been actors, from the advent of Cham- plain in 1615 down to the second year of the second century of American Independence.
Second, special and statistical matter relating to the county at large, and intended chiefly for reference.
Third, histories of the city of Oswego and of each town in the county, including notices of early settlers, and sketches of churches, lodges, and other local organizations.
Fourth, biographical sketches and personal records.
The general history is intended to follow strictly the chronological order from 1615 to 1877, confining itself to the territory of the present county and the acts of its resi- dents, referring to outside matters only so far as may be necessary to show the connection of events, telling the story not only of battles and sieges, in which this county has been extremely prolific, but of pioneer struggles and modern development, and not disdaining the use of anecdote and reminiscence to give vivacity to the picture. The other portions of the work must necessarily be arranged according to the subjects of which they treat.
That portion of the general history pertaining to the period previous to the beginning of settlement was derived entirely from books; the later portion is partly from books, but largely from personal recollections, contemporary records, newspaper articles, etc. All these sources have also been utilized in compiling the special sketches and town histories.
The books which we have consulted, and to which we desire to acknowledge our indebtedness, are the Documentary and Colonial Histories of New York, Colden's History of the Five Nations, Smith's History of New York, Morgan's
League of the Iroquois, Squier's Antiquities, Schoolcraft's Report on Indian Affairs, Stone's Life and Times of Sir William Johnson, Pouchot's Memoir of the War of 1754- 60, Lossing's Life of Schuyler, Bishop Timon's History of Missions in Western New York, Stone's Life and Times of Joseph Brant, Mrs. Grant's Memoirs of an American Lady, Bancroft's History of the United States, Cooper's Pathfinder, Clark's Onondaga, Turner's History of the Holland Pur- chase, Ketchum's History of Buffalo and the Senecas, Hough's History of Jefferson County, Hammond's Political History of New York, the New York Civil List, French's New York Gazetteer, numerous directories of Oswego, and several minor works.
Many of the volumes above named are the property of B. B. Burt, Esq., of Oswego, to whom we are indebted for their use, and whose knowledge of local history has enabled him to give us much valuable information regarding the subject of our labors. We are also especially indebted to F. W. Squiers, Esq., of North Volney, for assistance regarding early records and events after the settlement of the county. The Hon. Alvin Bronson, of Oswego, having been a resident there since 1810, having during the greater part of that time been active in commercial and political life, and having entered with form scarce bent and memory scarce dimmed upon his ninety-fifth year, has been able to furnish us much information not attainable from any other person.
We regret that it is impracticable to mention all those who have kindly enlightened us on minor points, but as they number many hundreds, scattered through every town in the county and every ward in the city, we are obliged to confine ourselves to a general expression of thanks to these numerous aiders of our enterprise.
Of the manner in which the work is executed it were idle to speak at any length here. It must stand or fall on its Dwn merits. Doubtless, between the frequent obscurity of the subject, and the numerous and often conflicting au- thorities to be consulted, occasional inaccuracies have crept in. Doubtless some things have been omitted, as worthy of attention as others which have been included ; yet we are certain there is an immense amount of information re-
2
9
10
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
garding Oswego County within this volume, and we trust it is so arranged and presented that our patrons and their children and their children's children will long turn to these pages to learn the story of their own and their fathers' home.
CHAPTER II.
A RAID IN 1615.
Champlain in Oswego County-His previous Action-Attack on the Onondagas-Champlain Wounded-The Retreat.
HUNDREDS upon hundreds of almost naked savages, painted and plumed for war, gliding with stealthy step amid the tangled vines and beneath the autumn-tinted leaves of an American forest, armed with the bows and arrows, the war-clubs and the stone tomahawks, which had been the weapons of their ancestors from immemorial time, in whose midst marched a band of ten Europeans, equipped with arquebuse, and pistol, and cutlass, led by one wbose mien betokened the habit of command and whose eye flashed with the fire of his adventurous spirit,-such was the scene to be witnessed in the early days of October, 1615, in the central portion of the territory now composing the county of Oswego.
Doubtless the same ground had previously seen many an Indian war-party on its errand of slaughter, but never before had it been pressed by the foot of the Caucasian. Samuel Champlain was then leading through Oswego County the first white men who ever visited any part of the Empire State west of the immediate vicinity of Hudson river. The period of his advent here was only a hundred and twenty-three years after the discovery of America by Columbus, eighty-one years after Cartier had sailed up the St. Lawrence to Montreal, making some fruitless efforts at colonization, twelve years after Champlain himself had founded the colony of Canada, nine years after Henry Iludson had discovered the noble river which bears his name, and five years before the Pilgrim Fathers landed on Plymouth rock. .
From his first arrival in America, Champlain, eager to ingratiate himself with his neighbors, the Hurons, had aided them in their wars against their most dreaded focs, the far-famed Iroquois. Six years previous to the time in question he had led a band of the northern Indians along the shore of the lake which has received his name, and had engaged in battle with the Five Nations on the outskirts of their territory, thus arousing their deadly enmity-trans- mitted through many generations-against all the inhabit- ants of New France.
At length he and his Huron allies had determined to strike at the very centre of the great confederacy. With ten trusty companions he had sought the principal villages of the Ilurons, situated on the lake of the same name. There he had been promised that twenty-five hundred war- riors should assemble to attack the Iroquois. What number actually congregated at the rendezvous is unknown, but it was undoubtedly large for an Indian war-party, and with
the aid of the terrible fire-arms of the white men they hoped to gain an easy victory over their dreaded and de- tested rivals. From the Huron country the whole party had made a portage with their canoes to the head-waters of the river Trent, had passed down its tortuous channel and through the bay of Quinté to Lake Ontario (never before seen by a white man), had crossed that beautiful inland sea, and had landed somewhere on its eastern shore.
At what precise point they disembarked cannot be ascer- tained from the meagre account which Champlain has left. Most authorities have located it at or near the mouth of Stony creek, in Jefferson county ; but one or two have be- lieved that Sandy Creek bay, Oswego county, more nearly accords with the facts stated by Champlain. At all events, as soon as they landed, the Indians carefully concealed their canoes, and set out in the direction of the enemy. For four French leagues (about ten miles) they marched along a sandy beach beside a beautiful country adorned with prairies and small lakes, crossed by numcrous streams and by what Champlain calls two small rivers, which, if Sandy Creek bay was the landing-place, must have been Salmon river and Salmon creck.
Then the whole body struck boldly into the forest to seek the home of their foes. There is no reasonable doubt but that their object was to attack the main village of the Onondagas, situated on or near Onondaga lake. Other tribes and other localities have been suggested, but none that so well satisfies the description of Champlain. For three or four days the Huron warriors and their French companions pursued their devious and tedious way, guided only by the general knowledge which the former possessed of the location of their enemies. It was not until the fourth day after leaving their canoes, being the 9th of October, that they crossed Oneida river, at or near the site of Fort Brewerton, catching a glimpse of the beautiful Oneida lake, where Champlain, even in his hurried passage, noted the immense number of fish which inhabited the stream, making it the favorite fishing-place of the Onon- dagas.
Thenceforth their course was outside the present bounds of the county of Oswego, and it is not our purpose to give a minute description of events which have happened beyond those bounds, unless residents of the county were the chief actors in them. Barely enough will be related regarding such matters to show the connection in the chain of events. Suffice it to say, then, that Champlain's expedition was entirely unsuccessful. He arrived before the enemy's prin- cipal village on the 10th of October, and found it so well defended by four rows of interlaced palisades that, notwith- standing the number of his followers, notwithstanding the fire-arms of the Frenchmen and his own gallant leadership, he could not induce his undisciplined Hurons to make the persistent efforts necessary to success. After a spirited but irregular assault, in which Champlain himself was twice severely wounded and many of his warriors were also in- jured by the arrows of the Onondagas, and after vainly waiting several days for a friendly tribe which was expected from the south, the IIurons, in spite of their leader's re- monstrances, on the 16th of October turned their steps towards home. The Onondagas pursued them a short
11
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
distance, but were soon driven back by the French arque- busiers.
But little over a week after the long cortege swept through the forests of Oswego County, full of savage pride and war- like hope, it came hastening back defeated and forlorn, each wounded warrior being borne on the back of one of his fellows, in a rude wieker-basket. Champlain himself was thus carried, suffering severely from his wound, and still more so from the cramped condition to which he was confined by his basket ambulance. As soon as he could possibly bear his weight, he preferred to hobble with halting steps over the hills than to remain pent up in the basket, which he describes as a perfect hell.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.