USA > New York > Seneca County > Romulus > Centennial celebration of the official organization of the town of Romulus, Seneca county, New York > Part 4
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In these days of lightning express railroad trains and fast mails, it is interesting to learn of a mail service during Judge Sayre's early post-mastership, by carrier once a week from Geneva, on horseback, with the letters and mail carried in a very small bag, or at times in the vest or coat pocket of the mail carrier, and until the primitive mail carrier gave way to the stage line along
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Seneca Lake, from Geneva to Judge Sayre's and Lancaster or Ovid, and thence southward. This post-office was not removed to Romulus village until a number of years after its establishment, when the stage line from Geneva to Ithaca was also changed to an inland stage mail passing through Romulus village.
During the incumbency of Judge Sayre as supervisor, the county of Seneca was erected March 29, 1804 from Cayuga county, by Chapter 31, Laws of 1804.
The act erecting the county of Seneca, shrewdly drawn, directed the county seat to be located in the town Ovid, not more than four miles south from the north line of Ovid, and not less than three miles from the Seneca or Cayuga Lake, thus effectually shutting off the village of Lancaster, in the southwest corner of the town of Romulus, then a larger and much more promising village than Ovid.
This action of the Legislature gave much dissatisfaction in the town of Romulus, and at a special town meeting held June 9, 1804, a ringing set of resolutions were adopted, breathing the spirit and fire of the many Revolutionary sires, who were present at the meeting, to wit :
"Resolved, That the people conceiving it will be oppressive to them to raise and collect a tax this year for the purpose of building a Court House and Goal, in our country-do therefore, direct and require our Supervisor, Jolin Sayre, not to consent to or countenance the laying or levying a tax for the above mentioned purpose. We, the said people, intend petitioning the Legislature at their next session for a repeal of the law appropriating money for the above said purpose, until we feel ourselves better able to support such a tax, at which time we will also petition the Legis- lature to pass a law for the above said purpose. Any other mode in procuring a law for raising of money in a county for local. purposes, we conceive to be repugnant to the rights of a free people.
Resolved, That we, said people conceiving the place, appointed by law for the building of a Court House and Goal, as no ways convenient to the people of said county, do also intend petitioning the Legislature for redress in the premises, and do hereby request
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of John Sayre, whom it appears is appointed by law one of the commissioners for fixing the spot whereon to erect said buildings, not to act in that capacity, until we have applied for redress in the mode above prescribed."
The Legislature, however, failed to grant the request of the people of Romulus, and in 1805, having amended the law, so as to require the location of the county buildings on Military Lot Number Three, at Ovid Village, the question was then settled, by so locating there. The Board of Supervisors in October, 1804, however, voted to raise only one thousand dollars for a Court House and Jail, to which amount, additions were made by subse- quent Boards until the buildings were completed, in 1808.
Jonas Seely, born July 23, 1776,-succeeded to the office of supervisor, by election in April, 1808, and held the same by re- peated re-elections to and including the year 1814. He was again elected to the same office in 1822, 1826 and 1833. In 1821, (with Hon. Robert S. Rose, of Fayette), he was chosen to represent Seneca County as delegate in the Constitutional Convention held in this State, in that year,-and in 1823 and 1824 he was elected Member of Assembly from this county. In 1832, he was also elect- ed a Presidential Elector of this State, and voted, in the Electoral College, for Andrew Jackson for President of the United States.
Judge Seely served as a magistrate of Seneca County, and as an associate Judge for a number of years. He died Aug. 15, 1851, aged 75 years.
William W. Folwell was born at Southampton, Bucks Co., Pa., January 28, 1768. Mr. Folwell graduated at Brown Uni- versity, Providence, Rhode Island, in 1792, and possessed a thorough classical education. He removed to Romulus in 1807, settled near the centre of the town, and was elected supervisor in April, 1815, serving as such one year. He served as the president of the Ithaca and Geneva Turnpike company, incorporated in 1810, and was always an active and influential citizen. He died. Oct. 13, 1858, aged 90 years.
Samuel Blain, born at Warwick, Orange Co., N. Y., January 17, 1777, who was elected supervisor in April 1816, was another
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of the publie men of Romulus who long enjoyed the favor of his fellow citizens. He was re-elected supervisor from year to year to and including 1821, also in 1827, 1828 and 1829. After the town of Varick was taken from Romulus, he was chosen its supervisor in 1831, 1832, and 1833 Mr. Blain served in the war of 1812, and afterward arose to the rank of Colonel in the local militia. He served many yearsas a magistrate, and was elected Member of Assembly for this county, for the year 1830, and served in the Legislature, which erected the town of Varick. He died January 2, 1840, aged 63 years.
Matlier Marvin, was elected supervisor, at the town meeting of April, 1823, and again in 1825. Dr. Marvin was born at Lyme, Connecticut, in 1786. He removed to Romulus village about IS10, where he established himself as a medical practitioner, and subsequently also engaged there in mercantile business, afterward moving upon the Wade farm, on Military Lot Number 59. He served for a time in the war of 1812, and acted for a number of years as a magistrate and school inspector in Varick In 1828, he was elected county clerk, of Seneca County, and served a full tern in that capacity. He removed to Lodi, Michigan, in 1833, and died there April 8, 1862, aged 76 years.
Anthony Dey, elected supervisor in April, 1824, the oldest son of Dr. Philip Dey, was born near Paterson, New Jersey, February 6, 1781. He removed in 1806, to the town of Romulus, and there established a tannery on Military Lot Number 49, (one mile west of Lemmon's Corners in Varick). Varick postoffice, established Nov. 19, 1832, is now located near where the tannery stood, and locally known as Dey's Corners. Mr. Dey was elected the first supervisor of Varick in April, 1830, the town having received its name from Col. Richard Varick, a relative of the Dey family. In the fall of 1830, Mr. Dey removed to Seneca Falls, where he engaged in milling business. He died there Nov. 14, 1851, in the 70th year of his age.
It is not my purpose to continue the biographical sketches of supervisors chosen during the third period, after the division and the erection of Varick, in 1830. The records of the two towns will
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show, that the position of supervisor has very generally been held by capable business men, although for shorter terms than in the olden times. (See full list of Supervisors in Appendix C).
Nor has the town of Romulus been wanting in prominent men, in other positions of trust and responsibility.
John D. Coe, born at Ramapo, Orange (now Rockland) county, June 12, 1790, settled on Military Lot, No. 70, in Romu- lus, in 1816. He acted as magistrate and associate judge of the Seneca County courts for many years. In the years 1834 and 1835 he served Seneca county in the Assembly of this State. For a period of forty years, Judge Coe was the treasurer of the Seneca county agricultural society, and in the earlier years of his residence, his ability and experience as a surveyor, was frequently called into practice, in the sub-division of lands. He died in November, 1878, aged 88 years.
Helim Sutton, son of one of the early settlers, was born in Romulus, January 19, 1803. He was elected to serve in the Assembly at Albany, for the year 1844. He also held the office of supervisor of his town in 1854, and died near the spot where he was born, November 18, 1884, in the 82d year of his age.
Mr. Sutton was well known as a man of decided convictions and firmness, and an instance of his decision of character is related. By the statutes of this State, it is declared that "Seneca county is bounded on the west, by the west shore of Seneca Lake." While acting as one of the board of county excise commissioners, about 25 years before his death, with the late Jesse Abbott, of Varick, and another, a structure had been erected on the west side of Sen- eca Lake, near Dresden, outside of low water mark and connected with the main land adjoining, in which building it was proposed to engage in business, by evading the excise laws. Mr. Sutton insisted that the jurisdiction of Seneca county and Romulus, extending to the west shore of Seneca lake at the point in question, brought this building and the business transacted therein, under the control of his board, and the owner and manager of the same, was compelled to conform to the laws of the State.
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William T. Johnson, a son of one of the pioneers of Romulus, was born in the town, Dec. 22, 1803. He served as magistrate for a number of years, and supervisor in the years 1843 and 1844. He was elected to serve as Member of Assembly for this county, for the year 1864, and died in the town in which he was born, Feb. 3, 1890, in the 87th year of his age.
Peter J. Van Vleet, born in this county, March 2, 1815, and still living in the adjoining town of Ovid, served as supervisor of Romulus, in the years 1846, 1847, 1858, 1859 and 1860. While residing in this town, he was also elected to serve as Member of Assembly for this county, for the year 1862.
In later years, James M. Martin, son of the late Win. Martin, of this town, born Oct. 20, 1839, (now of Rochester), represented this county in the Assembly for the year 1888. He also served as county treasurer of Seneca county by election, for a term of three years, 1873-1876.
William Halsey Kiune, born in Romulus, April 22, 1846, a grandson of one of the early settlers of this town, represented Seneca county in the Assembly for the year 1892. He has served as chairman of the Committee on orator, poet and historian of the Romulus centennial, and his committee selected for all of those positions, at the celebration to-day, persons born in the territory of the original town of Romulus.
From that portion of Romulus now in Varick, Orange W. Wilkinson, a native of Cayuga county, N. Y., born in 1806, was elected to serve in the Assembly of this State for the year 1840. Mr. Wilkinson served also as inspector of common schools and magistrate of the town, for many years. He died July 24, 1890, aged 84 years.
Robert R. Steele, was born in New Jersey, Dec. 12, 1805. He removed to this county, early in life, and engaged in mercantile pursuits, at Romulus village. He was elected supervisor of Varick in 1842, 1243 and 1850, and was appointed and served as county treasurer of this county, from 1844 to 1847. He was elected Member of Assembly for Seneca county for the years 1852 and 1870, and died in April 1881, aged 75 years. (See also Appen- dix F).
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The town of Romulus has also furnished incumbents for other prominent public positions, and in the active business walks of life, both within this county and in other counties and States.
The office of Sheriff of Seneca county, has been held by resi- dents of the town, in the persons of Nathaniel N. Hayt, Hugh Chapman and C. H. Swarthout.
Our presiding officer to-day, Mr. E. Seely Bartlett, has recently closed a term of three years, in the important and respon- sible position of County School Commissioner.
The office of County Clerk, has been held by Alvah Gregory, of Lancaster, by appointment, from April 1813 to Feby. 1815, and has been filled by election for full terms by Dr. Mathier Marvin of Romulus and Varick, and by Daniel H. Bryant and Calvin Willers, both of Varick.
Among a number of the sons of Romulus, who have else- where arisen to prominence, either in public or business life, a few may be mentioned.
Silas M. Burroughs, born July, ISIo, in this town, (a son of David Burroughs, an early resident here, and afterwards a resident of Orleans county, in this State), served that county as Member of Assembly in 1837, 1850, 1851, and 1853, and Representative in the 35th Congress of the United States, 1857 to 1859, and was re- elected to the 36th Congress, but died June 3, 1860, during the first year of that term.
David Burroughs removed to the town of Shelby, then Genesee, now Orleans county, in 1818, where he died in 1822, aged 45 years. In 1821 he was elected to and served as a delegate in the State Constitutional Convention, for Genesee county.
Jeptha H. Wade, was born on Military Lot No 59, in Romulus, (now in Variek), August II. 18II, a son of Jeptha Wade, an early resident and a surveyor. After an active and diversified experience in business life, he became president of the Western Union Telegraph company, a director of several banks and railroad companies, and one of the foremost and most wealthy citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, where he also was prominently iden- tified with measures tending to elevate the schools and promote
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the best interests of that city. He was not ambitious for public life, although at one time, his name was mentioned in connection with the nomination for Governor of Ohio. He died a few years ago.
Peter A. Dey, son of Anthony Dey, a former supervisor of Romulus, and first supervisor of Varick, was born at Dey's Corner's near Seneca lake, January 27, 1825. He graduated at Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., in 1844, just fifty years ago, and fitted himself for the profession of civil engineering, in which he became eminent, and having located in the State of Iowa, he was appointed chief engineer of the Union Pacific railroad during its construction. He was selected by the Legislature of Iowa, as one of the new Capitol commissioners and afterwards elected as a Rail- road commissioner of that State, which position he now holds- - having served his adopted State with zeal and fidelity.
Reuben C. Lemmon, (son of Charles Lemmon, an early settler, who served as supervisor of Varick in the years 1834, 1835 and 1836, and as magistrate for many years) was born on Military Lot Number 52, in that portion of Romulus, now in Varick, in May, 1825. Mr. Lemmon was educated to the legal profession, and removing to Toledo, Ohio, was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the fourth district of Ohio, a posi- tion (of extensive jurisdiction and powers), which he has held for three full terms, of five years each, and is now approaching the close of his fourth term. A few years ago, Judge Lemmon was elected and served as Grand Master of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, and enjoys in an eminent degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, by whom he has been thus repeatedly honored.
James Van Vleet, son of Jared Van Vleet, was born in Rom- ulus, in 1819. Removing to Michigan in early manhood, he was chosen county treasurer of Genesee county, and elected a Member of the Legislature of that State. He is still living, a respected res- ident of the city of Flint, Michigan.
John W. McMath, a grandson of Alla, and son of Col. Samu- el, and Mary Fleming McMath, was born in Romulus, June 3,
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1824. He removed with his parents to Michigan in 1827, gradu- ated at the University of Michigan, in 1850, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He has served in the position of prosecuting attorney and United States collector of customs at Mackinaw, and judge of probate, and city attorney of Bay City, Michigan. Judge McMath is still living in that city, and sends cordial greetings to the Romulus centennial.
A record of the family of Col. Samuel McMath, shows that of his nine children, one became a lawyer, Judge John W .; and one a clergyman, Rev. Robert McMath ; the others, becoming re- spected citizens in their western homes. Four of the grand-sons of Col. McMath, still living, have been admitted to the bar, and are now engaged in successful law practice in Western states.
Robert E. McMatlı, son of Alla McMath, (the latter a grand- son of the early settler, Alla McMath of Romulus), was born in Varick, April 28, 1833. He graduated at Williams College, Massachusetts, in 1857, and locating at St. Louis, Missouri, chose civil engineering as a profession, in which he attained a prominent rank-serving upon the United States Coast Survey and the Government work of improving the Mississippi River. In April, 1893, he was elected President of the Board of Public Improve- ments of the city of St. Louis, which position he now holds.
Walter S. Gurnee, born in Rockland county, N. Y., removed in his youth, with his widowed mother, (a sister of Judge John D. Coe), to the town of Romulus. In early manhood, he removed to Chicago, Illinois, and engaged there in active business pursuits. He was elected Mayor of Chicago, in March, 1851, and held that responsible position for a term of two years. He is still living at an advanced age, in the city of New York
Many of the sons of Romulus and Varick have been educated to the learned professions. Had it been possible to present a list of all the lawyers, clergymen, physicians and teachers in the higher educational institutions, who were born in these towns since the first settlement, or have resided therein, including those deceased, it would have been indeed interesting, but data at hand is insufficient to make up the same.
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The first permanently located physician in the town, was tin- doubtedly Dr. Ethan Watson, at Plymouth in 1807, who after- wards, about 1820, removed to Romulus Village. Other early physicians were Dr. Mather Marvin, Dr. Philip Dey, and Dr. Tompkins C. Delevan. The first clergymen who located in this town, were the early pastors at the Baptist and Presbyterian churches.
At the present time, fifteen attorneys at law, are known to be living, who were born in Romulus or Varick, headed by Judge R. C. Lemmon, of Ohio, and the venerable Edward B. Miller, now living among us.
In a literary and educational career, the sons of those towns are well represented. Headed by the names of President Wm W. Folwell, of the State University, Minneapolis, Prof. Isaac. P. Roberts, of Cornell University, Ithaca, and Prof. Carlton M. Ritter, of State Normal School, Chico, California, we have now the names of ten professors in colleges and high schools, who were reared in our midst.
Among the clergy, headed with the name of the vener- able Rev. Charles C. Carr, of Horseheads, (who has served 54 years in the ministry), we have now the names of sixteen for- mer residents of our locality.
The medical profession, too, is well represented, by fourteen former residents, now living, the most aged of whom, is the emi- nent physician, Dr. Cornelius C. Wyckoff, of Buffalo, N. Y.
I will not forget, here to mention among the sons of Romulus who have risen to conspicuous positions-Col. James P. Sanford, now of Wheaton, Illinois, born Nov. 11, 1837, on the north part of the Barna Swarthout farm, on Lot 94, (now a part of the State Hospital property) in Romulus, whose eminence as a traveler and as an eloquent and entertaining lecturer, is known and recognized in all parts of the Union, and who is here, as Orator of the day, upon this occasion. His volume of " Letters of Travel from dif- ferent Lands," was published in 1887.
Nothing speaks better for the people of a community than to have the reputation of being good patrons of churches and public
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schools. The pioneers of Romulus gave early attention to re- ligious observances and the building up of churches. It was not an unusual thing, for our early settlers to bring their families to church, in wagons or sleds drawn by oxen, while young people often came long distances on foot, carrying their only pair of Sin- day shoes, and putting on the same, before entering the place of worship.
The official organization of the Romulus Baptist church dates back to 1795, and will next year have reached a full century of organized existence. This religious Society, the oldest in Seneca county, had its first church edifice commenced in .1808, during the ministry of Rev. John Caton, a revolutionary patriot, who was met and recognized by General La Fay- ette, upon the occasion of his visit to this county, in June, 1825. It has sent out a number of clergymen and men hon- ored in all the walks of life. Rev. Dr. Lewis Halsey in his History of the Seneca Baptist Association, has devoted an interesting chapter to the history of this church.
The present official organization of the Romulus Presbyterian church, dates back to 1802, and its first church was completed in 1809, when Rev. Chas. Mosher was its pastor. As early as 1795, a number of Presbyterians of this locality, were visited by mis- sionaries and a partial organization was effected, which, however, was not completed. The present capacious church was dedicated in 1838. The records of the church, contains the names of many of the pioneers and leading citizens of Romulus. It has sent out into the ministry, a number of its young men, and its member- ship is represented in many States of the union. It has been re- markable for long pastorates, that of Rev. Morris Barton, of twenty years, and of the present incumbent, Rev. J. W. Jacks, already twenty-two years.
At the village of Bearytown, on the line of Varick and Fay- ette, an early religious society of Pennsylvania German people, many of whom were residents of Romulus, was organized in 1809, although served by pastors occasionally, as early as 1803. The first log church was completed soon after its organization, and the
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services therein were then and for many years thereafter, held in the German language and a German day school was taught by Wm. Merkel and others, in connection therewith. There are still living, a number of persons who received German instruction at this School, and the early records of this Church, in the German language, have been carefully preserved. The present substan- tial stone structure of the Reformed church succeeded the log church, in 1824. One of the pastors of this church, Rev. Dr. Diedrich Willers, a resident of Varick, served this church from April, 1821, to January 1882, a period of over sixty years. (See also appendix F).
The official organization of the Methodist Episcopal church at McDuffeetown, bears date December 5, 1816, although services had been held in the neighborhood, in the schoolhouse and dwell- ings of members, as far back as 1810. The first church edifice was completed in 1832 and the present church edifice in 1883. This church, has also sent into the ministry, several of its members.
There are at the present time in the territory of Romulus and Varick, in addition to the early churches named, one additional Methodist Episcopal church (at Bearytown), four Protestant Epis- copal churches, one Wesleyan Methodist, (Varick,) and one Roman Catholic church, all erected in the past fifty years. Sunday schools have been established in connection with the several churches, and at a number of school houses. There are persons yet living, who remember hearing the zealous and somewhat eccentric Lor- enzo Dow preach, in a grove in this town, nearly seventy-five years ago.
In the early history of this State but little was accomplished in the way of organizing a uniform comumnon school system until the year 1812. Prior to that time, schools were principally select or private schools, supported by specific amount per scholar, per quarter, or by rate bill, in proportion to the number of days attend- ance of each scholar. As early as 1789, provision had been made by the Legislature, for setting apart one lot of 600 acres of land, in each of the townships of the Military Tract, for the support of gos- pel and schools and one further lot of equal acreage in aid of liter- ature. The supervisors of the county of Onondaga, Sept. 28, 1796,
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set apart Lot 50, Romulus, for gospel and schools and lot 55 for literature. Both of these lots are situated on Seneca lake, ad- joining each other, in the present town of Varick, and some of the early settlements, were made on the same. The literature lot fell to Union College, Schenectady, and was subdivided by Hon. Joseph Annin and contracted to Frederick Kistler, Jacob Lowdon, and five others, May 14, 1804, and deeded in 1809 and 1811. The gospel and school lot was surveyed and subdivided into four farms in 1817, by John D. Coe, and deeded June 16, 1817, by Trustees of Gospel and School Lot-the annual income therefrom, having in previous years, been applied very generally, in aid of schools. The avails from the sale of this lot, were originally apportioned between Romulus and Fayette, but upon the organization of Var- ick the portion of the first named town was divided and $2,842,81 of principal was allotted to Varick, the principal of the Romulus school fund, after such division, being $3 521.13.
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