USA > New York > Seneca County > Romulus > Centennial celebration of the official organization of the town of Romulus, Seneca county, New York > Part 3
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The original territory includes seven towns of Seneca county- Romulus, Varick, Fayette, Junius, Waterloo, Seneca Falls and Tyre -- and the towns of Galen, Savannah, Wolcott, Butler, Rose
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and Huron in Wayne county. This large area, comprising a tract of land nearly one-half as large as one of the small States of the Union, now has a population of 36,400 of whom 20,700 reside in Seneca county, including fully three-fourths of the population of this county. (See abstract of patents in Appendix A).
It is sad to think, that the once powerful Cayuga tribe of In- dians, does not to-day own a foot of the soil of this State -- while only the Onondaga, Oneida and Tuscarora tribes of the Six Na- tions still hold small reservations of land in this State, under their own names. The Senecas, once the most populous and warlike of the tribes of the Six Nations, now live, indeed, upon State reser- vations, which however no longer bear their name.
In the legislative records of this State, may be found a peti- tion for relief, from some of the early pioneer settlers between Cayuga and Seneca lakes, in which they set forth, that they made settlements upon the Military Tract, then unallotted, in the year 1788, six years before the organization of the town of Romulus. (See copy of Petition, in Appendix).
The names of David Wisner, Anthony, John and Nathaniel Swarthout and David Depue, are included in the petition, and they may undoubtedly be regarded as the earliest settlers, within the territory of the present town of Romulus. The Swarthouts located on Military Lot 94, David Wisner on Lot 95, and David Depue near the center of the town.
The names of James Cooley and James King, also appear in the Petition, but their places of location cannot be ascertained, and it may possibly have been in the Varick part of the town.
The earliest permanent settlements were made along the west shore of the town, along or near Seneca Lake, with a few settlements along Cayuga lake, on Military Lots 71 and 78.
In 1789 (the year in which the machinery of the government of the United States under its Constitution, was set in motion, and George Washington was inaugurated as the first President) and from year to year, up to the official organization of the town in 1794, there were gradual additions made to the pioneer settlers, from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Orange and other eastern counties of this State, Long Island, &c. Among the settlers dir-
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ing this period, may be mentioned Abraham Brown, John Flem- ing, James Finch, James Alexander, Alla McMath, Stephen Mil- ler, Benjamin Sutton, James McKnight, William Seely, Benajah Boardman, William Winter, Timothy Cone aud Captain Andrew Smith, some of whom have no descendants now left in the town.
Early in the year of organization, 1794, came John Sayre and Haynes Bartlett. The first named, settled on Lot 72 and the latter located a farm on Lot 65 near Seneca lake, which has been in possession of his descendants to this date, and his grandson, our presiding officer to-day, now lives upon the spot where his grand- father first located. In the interval from 1794 to 1800, large ac- cessions were made to the population of the town, of whom a few pioneers will be named:
Isaac Johnson, Joseph Wyckoff, Elijah and Ephraim Kinne, Joseph Hunt, Thomas Blain, Jonas Seely, Joshua Hallock, Capt. Abel Frisbie, Bastian Williams, Ezekiel Hays, John Stone, Sam- nel Waldron, Asa Smith, with the Huff, Bainbridge, Bailey, Finton, Denton, Yerkes, Shattuck and Brewster families.
In that part of Romulus now in Varick, the permanent set- tlement began it is believed a year or two later. Benjamin Dey who surveyed the military tract in 1790, became an owner of several lots therein and it is supposed, located upon Military Lot 49, in 1791 or 1792, having erected the first frame house in town, already in 1794. Other early settlers in the territory of Varick, prior to 1800, were James Cooley, Peter Basını, Jacob Lowden, Frederick Kistler, John King, Jr., James King, James Barr, Joseph Haynes, Robert White, Andrew McKnight, James Ben- nett, John Williams, Samuel Falkinburg, with the Hood, Hatha- way, Beach, Karr and Woodruff families.
Soon after the opening of the present century, population rapidly increased and more than doubled in the first decade. Among the early settlers after 1800 may be mentioned: Dr. Ethan Watson, Wm. W. Folwell, Mather Marvin, Ezra Miller, Ira Gid- dings, Jared Van Vleet, and the Baldridge, Bryant, Hayt, Sharp, Coe, Gurnee, Doremns, McLafferty, Warne, Van Duyn, Marsh, Terhune and Burton familiesin Romulusand David Harris, William Blain, James Monroe, Skillman Doughty, Josepli Darrow, Jeptha
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Wade, David Edwards, and the Lemmon, Jacobus, Steele, Bur- roughs, Christopher, Roberts, Crane, King, Wilcox, Hinkley, Emens, Allen, Abbott, Sample, Hunt, Ayres, Ludlum, Mann, Am- brose, and McDuffee families, in the Varick portion of the town.
Beginning with the early years of the century and indeed dur- ing the first quarter thereof, there were large additions made to the population of Romulus (chiefly in the part thereof in Varick) of families of Pennsylvania-Germans of the name Gambee, Frantz, Gamber, Kuney, Leisenring, Fatzinger, Pontius, Goodman, Erns- berger, Stahl, Lautenschlager, Crobauglı, Blasser, Deal, Ritter, Acker, Lerch, Vost, Braun, Miller and Bergstresser, forming with their descendants, a valuable accession to the population.
With such an admixture of sturdy settlers, as the Scotch, Irish and Germans of Pennsylvania, the Dutch of New Jersey and Long Island, with a sprinkling of Yankees-thie early population was made up-and the characteristics of their descendants have been maintained, as those of a frugal, industrious, hospitable, conserva- tive and reliable people-not subject to frequent fluctuations and changes, but cautious, stable and trustworthy in all the relations of life, public and private.
I will not forget to give credit here, and honor due, to the many patriots of the Revolutionary war, who settled in Romulus -an important element in its make up, being constituted by this sturdy, patriotic people, many of whose descendants now inhabit the town. I regret, that I cannot present a full roster, containing their names
Well may it be said of many of these Revolutionary fathers :
" They left the ploughshare in the mould, Their flocks and herds without a fold, The sickle in the unshorn grain, The corn, half garnered on the plain, And mustered in their simple dress, For wrongs to seek a stern redress,
To right those wrongs, come weal, come woe, To perish, or o'ercome the foe."
It is difficult in the absence of any sytem of registration, to give with accuracy, a satisfactory account of the early births, mar- riages and deaths in Romulus, prior to say 1800.
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It is believed that the first female child of the pioneer settlers, born in town, was Elcy Fleming, daughter of John Fleming, born July 21, 1791, and the first male child, George Alexander, a son of James, born March 10, in the same year. Other early births were those of Stephen R. Miller iu 1792, Eliza Sutton and Samuel Fleming in 1793, Arazina Cone, in 1794, Kezia Bartlett, in 1795 and Eliza Sayre in 1796. John Williams, born in 1796, it is be- lieved, was the first child born upon the West Cayuga Reservation along Cayuga lake, in the town of Varick. A daughter and a son of Benajalı Boardman, born in 1791 and 1793 respectively, in this county, should, it is believed, be added to this list.
Information as to early marriages, is very meagre. The lack of local ciergy, perhaps led to postponments, and certainly did not tend to promote marriages. The first marriage of which we have knowledge, was that of Timothy Cone and Mary Gorham, daugh- ter of Jabez Gorham, in 1793. The marriage of Elizabeth Mc- Math to Mahlon Bainbridge, took place Dec. 22, 1796. Other early marriages were those of Elijah Kinne and Hester Wisner, in 1797, Eliphalet Shattuck and Jane Wiley and John Stone and Philinda Shattuck in 1798, and of Isaac Johnson and Mary Thurs- ton in 1799.
Many early burials were made in private family burial grounds, at an early day, and headstones in the old cemetery at Willard, formerly Lancaster, date back to 1795. There were also early interments at the Romulus Baptist church cemetery and in the cemetery at Romulus village, commencing early in this cen- tury.
The first death in town of which any trace lias been obtained, is that of Jesse Fleming, April 29, 1795. Margaret McMatlı died in July of the same year, aged 21 years, and Archibald Mc- Math on September, 1796, aged 18 years. Joshua Reeves, a pio- neer settler died in 1797, and his will was proven by the surrogate of Onondaga County, before the erection of Cayuga county.
Other deaths of prominent pioneer settlers in the early history of the town, were those of John Fleming in 1800, Win. Seeley in 1803, Alla McMath in 1804, James Alexander in 1805 and James McKnight in 1808.
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The history of Romulus gives many instances of longevity, to which its salubrious air, from its location between the lakes, and the occupation and simple habits of its people, have doubtless contributed.
A notable instance may be mentioned in the person of Mrs. Arazina Cone Fleming-a daughter of Timothy Cone and his wife Mary Gorham. She was born in Romulus, October 9, 1794, and her husband, Robert Fleming, an estimable citizen, to whom she was married Dec. 7, 1826, died in the town, Feby. 3, 1858.
It was my pleasure, a few days ago, to see and converse with Mrs. Fleming, who resides at South Waterloo, in this county, upon the territory of the military township of Romulus: I found her bright and cheerful, with faculties very little impaired, and but for an accident which befell her some months ago, she would be present with us to-day, (as she is in spirit), to celebrate her own centennial, as well as that of the town of her birth. Were she here, what a remarkable reminder of the events of a century past, would she present to us ! In her absence, she sends cor- dial greetings, and salutations to the old town of Romulus .* All honor to the worthy centennarian !
The earliest families removing here from Pennsylvania, by primitive conveyance by water and on land, in the covered Penn- sylvania wagons, described by someone, as the "ark" or "ship of our inland commerce," usually came to Newtown (Elmira) and thence to the head of Seneca or Cayuga lake, or came the entire way by wagon.
Others coming from Long Island and the Eastern States, came by flat boats or bateaux, up the Hudson and Mohawk rivers, crossing by portage to Wood Creek and Oneida lake to Seneca river, and ascending the same to the foot of Cayuga or Seneca lake.
It would, indeed be curious to know, what kind of craft was employed upon our lakes in those days, by our pioneers ; perhaps a primitive flat-boat or dug out canoe.
* At this stage of the address the entire audience arose, in honor of Mrs. Fleming, and m recognition and acknowledgment of her salutation.
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CENTENNIAL OF ROMULUS.
The Documentary History of the State of New York, makes mention, however, that in 1792, a small boat and canoe were ply- ing at the foot of Seneca lake, and at Geneva, in 1796, a sailing sloop of forty tons burthen was launched upon the same lake, for freighting purposes.
Elkanah Watson of Albany, N. Y., who was an early pur- chaser of soldier's titles to lands in the military township of Rom- ulus, visited here in September 1791, crossing Cayuga lake at the Cayuga ferry, in a boat, in which he came up the Mohawk river and by portage to Seneca river and up the same to Cayuga lake. He mentions that he sailed northward to Seneca river, and passed up the same to Geneva, having been assisted in passing Seneca Falls by Job Smith, then located there, at the carrying place around the Falls!
Mr. Watson in the published journal of his tour, of 1791, in speaking of Cayuga lake, says "I was delighted on entering this charming lake. The shores on each side swell into gentle emi- nences ; but our view south was obstructed by a point of land pro- jecting from each shore."
In his journal under date of Sep. 29, 1791, he speaks of his approach by Seneca river to Seneca lake, on the evening of that day, in this eloquent and prophetic language -- "The sun was just setting as we entered the lake, which opened upon us like a new creation rising to our view in picturesque and romantic beauty. Our prospect extended south, over a bold sheet of water. The tops of the hills and trees were just tinged with the rays of the de- parting sun ; the evening was serene ; and my mind involuntarily expanded, in anticipating the time when the borders of the lake will be stripped of nature's livery, and in its place will be rich en- closures, pleasant villas, numerous flocks, herds, etc., and it will be inhabited by a happy race of people, enjoying the rich fruits of their own labors and the luxury of sweet liberty and indepen- dence, approaching to a millennial state."
Mr. Watson, adds in his journal, that on the day following -- September 21, 1891, he re-embarked and traversed the lake obliquely to Appletown, (where his relatives the late Dr. Ethan
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Watson, settled about fifteen years afterward) eleven miles by his water route from Geneva. Arriving at Appletown, he says,- "We pitched our tent on a fine tract of land. It contains exten- sive orchards of scattered old trees, the only fruit trees of the country. Here Sullivan's conquering army wreaked its ven- geance, by destroying orchards, corn, wigwams, &c. Many of the trees are girdled; and marks of the destroying axe of the soldiery are yet to be seen in every direction." Mr. Watson returned Sept. 23d, overland from Appletown, by an Indian path, to Cayuga ferry, a distance of seventeen miles.
My audience will pardon me, if I give further extracts from Mr. Watson's journal of 1791, descriptive of the charming lakes which wash respectively, the east and west shores of our town.
On Sept. 24th, he started up Cayuga lake, by boat. He says : "We landed occasionally ; noticed distant smoke and here and there a log hut embosomed in the venerable forest. In the southi- west quarter, the township of Ovid made its appearance. It rises beautifully from the shore toward the centre. The tops of the trees resemble waving fields of wheat, at a distance. The mapof the world does not exhibit, in any other country, two lakes equal in magnitude to the Seneca and Cayuga, so singularly and happily situated. What a fertile theme for poets, painters, philosophers and travelers, for the last two thousand years, had they been found in Italy! "
Speaking of the country between the lakes, Mr. Watson adds : "In general, except toward the south, the country lying between these beautiful lakes, rises gradually in symmetry from the opposite shores toward the centre, producing a pleasing effect. Whenever it reaches a cultivated state, by the vigorous arm of freemen, it will become the 'Paradise of America.' Nothing can exceed the beauty of the country on the west shore of Cayuga lake, viewed at about five miles from its entrance, including both the Cayuga Reservation and the town of Ovid, which bear a strong resemblance to the west shore of Seneca lake. The tops of the trees were in beautiful uniformity, the symmetry being in no manner broken by hills of great magnitude, except in one place,
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where there is a small cluster of white pines, overlooking all the adjacent regions."
Mr. Watson concludes his glowing description with this elo- quent peroration : "In a word, I almost deplored the short span of human life, that I cannot witness the happiness of those blessed generations of Americans, yet unborn, who are destined to inherit these delightful regions. "
It will not detract from Mr. Watson's really poetic prose description, if we quote the lines of a poem addressed to Seneca lake, and applicable as well to Cayuga :
"On thy fair bosom, silver lake, The wild swan spreads his snowy sail, And round his breast the ripples break, As down he bears before the gale."
"On thy fair bosom, waveless stream, The dipping paddle echoes far,
And flashes in the moonlight gleamn, And bright reflects the polar star.
"The waves along the pebly shore, As blows the north wind, heave their foanı,
And curl around the dashing oar, As late the boatman hies him home.
"How sweet, at set of sun to view, Thy golden mirror spreading wide,
And see the mist of mantling blue Float round the distant mountain's side !
"At midnight hour, as shines the 10011, A sheet of silvery spreads below,
And swift she cuts, at highest 110011, Light clouds, like wreaths of purest snow.
"On thy fair bosom, silver lake, O ! I could ever sweep the oar, When early birds at morning wake, And evening tells us toil is o'er."
-- Percival.
Mr. Watson again visited Seneca county in 1818, as the guest of Colonel Wilhelmus Mynderse of Seneca Falls, and then already witnessed many marvelous changes-notably the opening of canal
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locks at that village, at the time of his visit. He died at Port Kent, N. Y., December 5th, 1842, aged 85 years.
The Civil History of Romulus may be properly divided into three periods :
1. From its organization in 1794 to its first division, March 14, 1800.
2. From March 1800 to February 6, 1830.
3. From February 1830, to the present time.
The act of 1794, erecting the town of Romulus, provided for holding the first town meeting at the house of Benajah Boardman, and we must suppose that it was accordingly held there.
It has been well said, in substance, that the town meeting is deserving of especial consideration, since here are, or should be, practiced, pure Democratic-Republican methods. Here all meet on the same level. Here is free speech, without fear or favor. The people of the town meet once a year, to confer together for the general good, to discuss questions affecting taxation, the pub- lic schools, roads and bridges, the support of the poor and the election of town officers.
The first town meeting held in town, April 1, 1794, elected as its chief officer-Supervisor, Benajah Boardman, and William Winter as Town Clerk and the town records have, it is gratifying to say, been preserved complete to this date. At the election of 1794, there were also elected three Assessors, three Highway Commissioners, two Overseers of poor, two constables, two pound keepers, two fence viewers, a Collector and five Overseers of Highways.
Mr. Boardman was re-elected Supervisor in 1795, at a town meeting held at James McKnight's, (on the shore of Seneca Lake, where C. C. Pontins now resides), and again in 1796.
The following facts have been gathered as to his life :
Benajah Boardman was born at Newington, town of Wethers- field, Connecticut, May 14, 1749. He was twice married and was the father of nine children.
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He removed to Newtown (Elmira) at an early day, where one of his daughters was born, April 17, 1789. Soon afterward lie removed to Ovid or its vicinity, where he was interested in a primitive grist mill, one of the first in the county, erected in 1793, on Lot Number Two, Ovid, a little west of Ovid Village. One of his daughters, Lucy, was there born, November 23, 1791, and a son, Benajah, his youngest child, was also born there, October 14, 1793.
The exact locality of Mr. Boardman's first residence in Rom- ulus, can not now be positively ascertained, and it is possible, that his residence, attributed to the town of Ovid, was all the time across the line in Romulus, or upon Lot Number 72, which he purchased as early as September, 1790. He is known later on, to have resided at Boardmansburgh, near the center of the present town of Fayette and several years after the erection of that town, was elected its Supervisor, in 1803. He also served many years as a magistrate and was always an active and enterprising citizen. Late in life, he removed from the Burgh to a farm north of Canoga Village, and near Cayuga lake, in the town of Fayette, where he died after a brief illness from a prevailing disease known at the time as "The Epidemic" (and which at first baffled the skill of physicians) February 27, 1813, aged sixty-four years. He was buried in the cemetery at the Burgh, near where he had long re- sided, and it is to be regretted, that 10 head stone marks the place of his interment.
At the town meeting held April 4, 1797, George Bailey was elected Supervisor, and he was re-elected as such in 1798 and 1799. In the latter year, the county of Cayuga was erected, (Chapter 26, Laws of 1799) and Romulus became a town of that cottnty. The number of overseers of highways had increased from five in 1794, to seventeen, in 1799, showing marked attention to the laying out and improvement of the public roads.
The immense territorial area of Romulus was divided by the Legislature, by Chapter 24, passed March 14, 1800, and the town of Washington, (Fayette), was formed therefrom, which included all of the territory of Romulus north of the present town
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of Varick. I11 1803, Feby. 12, by Chapter Seven, Laws of that year, the town of Junius was erected, comprising all the original territory of Romulus, north of the present boundaries of Fayette.
During the period from 1794 to 1799, but few important ques- tions were considered at the town meetings of Romulus.
I11 April, 1798, it was Resolved that William Brewster, Dan- iel Sayre and Benjamin Dey be a Committee to examine into the state of the taxes which have been collected in this town previous to town meeting,"
The town meeting of 1797, voted a bounty of three pounds (63) for the scalp of each wolf killed in town, and in 1798 a bounty of twenty shillings was voted for the scalp of each bear so killed. The early settlers occasionally encountered wolves, panthers and bears, and thrilling adventures and narrow escapes are related, but the town records show no disbursements for wolf or bear scalps.
The town meeting of 1799, voted in favor of dividing the town, and George Bailey, Benjamin Dey and Benajah Boardman, were appointed a committee to determine where the line shall rull.
A special town meeting held Nov. 26, 1799, for the purpose of choosing three delegates to meet a convention of Delegates in the newly erected county of Cayuga, elected Jolin Sayre, William Brewster, and George Bailey. The same town meeting took the unusual precaution, to elect James McKnight, Asa Smith, Walter Watrous and Phineas Tuthill, a committee to give instructions to such delegates to Cayuga.
The town meeting from year to year, also adopted resolutions declaring swine to be free commoners. Pound Masters were elected, and marks to distinguish sheep and cattle when estray, were recorded in the Town Clerk's Office, as early as April, 1794.
At the town meeting of 1799, the first trustees of the gospel and school lot of the town were elected, to wit: Benjamin Dey, Daniel Sayre and Col. Wilhelmus Mynderse. The last named, resided at the falls of the Seneca River, where he died January 30, 1838, aged seventy years,
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George Bailey was again chosen supervisor of Romulus under its reduced territorial area, at the town meeting held in April 1800, but died before the expiration of his term, and John Sayre was chosen to fill his vacancy Sept 2, 1800.
It is a matter of regret, that upon diligent inquiry, no facts can be ascertained, in the history of George Bailey, one of the earliest settlers at Lancaster, on Seneca Lake, for a time also called in his honor, Baileytown-and who it is believed was a patriot soldier of the revolutionary war.
During the period from 1800 to 1830, the town was served by six persons as supervisors, three of which number were chosen to serve during an aggregate term of 25 years, one for two years, and two for one year each.
The long tenure and continuance of the public men of this town, in official position, and in the confidence of their constitu- ency, seems to have been thus early established.
Judge John Sayre, born at Blooming Grove, Orange Co., N. Y., July 24, 1767, was at the town meeting in April, 1801, again chosen supervisor, and continued such, by repeated elections to and including 1808. He again filled the same office in 1830, 1831 and 1832.
He was elected the first Member of Assembly from Seneca County (he being then also supervisor) in 1804, again in 1808, and later in life, was a third time chosen, in 1831. He served also as surrogate of the county from Feb. 1811 to April 1813, and as county treasurer from Oct. 1817 to Oct. 1821. He was a inag- istrate and served as associate judge of Seneca County Courts, for many years, also as loan commissioner for this county, and was the first post-master of Romulus postoffice, established Oct. 16, 1802. He died-March 4, 1848, in the Sist year of his age.
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