USA > New York > Cortland County > Virgil > Festal gathering of the early settlers! and present inhabitants of the town of Virgil, Cortland County, N.Y., 1853 > Part 10
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John Green was long a resident here. His opportunity for edu- cation, like. nearly all our men, was found only in the common school. He commenced life with limited pecuniary means, but ad- vanced steadily till he became the owner of a large farm on Luce Hill, so called, now Lapeer, and has since exchanged and lived in several places ; still careful not to get out of hearing of Virgil, and now resides in Cortland. When he made the purchase of the farm on Luce Hill, it was a problem with lookers-on whether he would be able to meet the responsibilities. When the subject was up at a certain time, Josiah Blodgett, of the vicinity, remarked, "that he did not know; John was a squirmy fellow." By this expression the writer understood him to mean that he was a man of eminent forecast and sagacity. It is needless to say that he passed through the ordeal and owned the farm. He was Supervisor of the Town a year or more, where he acquitted himself with ability and to the accept- ance of the people. He has since engaged much in the purchase and sale of cattle, a very useful employment, inasmuch as it relieves the farmers of their surplus stock, and promotes life and interest in trade of all kinds, and greatly facilitates the circulation of money, thus inspiring hope and thrift throughout the community. He has
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bought and put upon the road to market, 1,750 head of cattle in one season ; has had the reputation of a fair dealer, and a man of integrity. The writer was associated with him in the settlement of one estate, being executors of Dr. Green, his father, which was done harmoniously and to the satisfaction of those interested.
Edmund Homer was the eldest of six children of a poor family, whose father was essentially insane. He was thus at a very early age, providentially charged with the care of a large family, with but very scanty means. With the aid of his kind and intelligent mother, with her labor, advice and encouragement, and with the help of the younger children as they grew up, he was able to save the family from severe suffering, and ultimately to place the whole in comfortable circumstances. The times were hard, and the war of 1812-'15 was upon the country, yet, about that time they went into the unbroken forest, three or four miles from the main settle- ment, on a high hill, a mile east from the " Girdle Road, " so called, and erected a log cabin. They had a chance to clear land, fence it and seed it down to good grass, and as a remuneration to have as many acres of forest. The question of subsistance while this pro- cess was going on, would seem to be in order. The trees were felled, made in heaps and burnt. The ashes were manufactured into salts, which brought ready money. This solved the question of provisions, at least in part. But there was industry and economy throughout. He took up the trade of the carpenter, which brought in some means, and soon the family were placed above want, and a large farm embracing the spot where the first rude shelter was built, was acquired, and he passed away some years since, much respected and lamented, leaving a handsome property to his successors. His aged mother has since come down to the grave, "like a shock of corn fully ripe. "
Dr. H. Bronson. The ancestors of Dr. Bronson came from Scot- land, in the early part of the eighteenth century, and settled in Con- necticut. Samuel Bronson is recorded as having a son, Elisha, born in 1718, the first probably born in this country. The same simple names seem to be repeated over and over in the family record, without the introduction of a second name, until we come to that of Horace Bronson, who was born in Catskill, N. Y., September 8th, 1796. Here his father and grandfather were merchants. From here they
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removed to Vernon, Oneida county, N. Y., when Horace was but four or five years old, and were known as thrifty farmers. It is said that he evinced a fondness for reading natural history, and was ready in common school studies, which was properly encouraged by his parents, who were competent to give him the best of parental discipline. He received his collegiate course in Hamilton College, his father having been an early donor to that institution. We can- not be certain with whom he pursued most of his private medical studies. It was common for him to speak of Dr. Noyes as his teacher in chemistry, and often did he refer to Dr. Hastings in con- nection with his medical studies. After he entered the medical col- lege the time between the lecture terms was much of it passed with Prof. Hadley, leaving him less time to; spend with a private prac- titioner as preceptor. He attended four full courses of medical lectures, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of the Western District known as Fairfield Medical College, in 1819, and some time in the next two years, while on a visit to his former friend and acquaintance, Dr. Lewis Riggs, then living in Homer, he was advised by him to locate in the Town of Virgil, which he did soon after, and commenced the practice of his profession, where he remained until the close of his life, January 30th, 1874. He was received into the Medical Society of Cortland county in 1821. During the latter years of his life he did not attend its meetings so frequently as formerly, but always re- tained his interest in its prosperity, and never failed to urge upon the new and younger members the importance of identifying themselves with its history. He came into Town as above hinted, in 1820, and has remained here since, with the exception of a year or two, which he spent in Vernon, his native place. He was assiduous in his at- tentions to calls in his profession, and never failed to attend on ac- count of indigence in those who made their calls on him for medical aid. He was very forbearing to those whom he had aided, and lost much in the delinquency of his patients. He was generally ac- counted skillful and was very tenacious of what was termed the " regular practice." He was a good citizen and hospitable to his acquaintances and generous to the needy. He was a friend to the cause of education, and very fond, especially of the science of Geol- ogy, and collected a large amount of specimens of minerals. He
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was a strong friend of the temperance and kindred reformatory causes. He has sustained a good reputation as a man of integrity and honesty. He experienced the premonitory indications of his last sickness several years previous to the time when it came. It came in the spring and summer seasons of 1873, which terminated his valuable life on January 30th, 1874.
John Tyler came into Town in 1806. He has lived here and in the adjoining town of Dryden since. He has always had the repu- tation of unquestioned integrity. He has been a main pillar in the Free Will Baptist Church, of which he has been long a prominent member; and now, at the advanced age of eighty-two is a principal supporter of the interests of the Church, in Sabbath-school and prayer meeting devotions. He is remarkably healthy in appearance, doubtless owing in a good measure to his fidelity to temperance principles. It is hoped that his life may be prolonged yet for years to come. 1:
Hart Edwards, son of Rufus and Harriet O. Edwards, was born about 1846. He grew up a candid, thoughtful child, attentive to the instruction of his parents and teachers, an assiduous scholar in the Sabbath-school, and around whom the hopes and affections of parents and friends clustered. In early youth, however, he began to decline in health, and no relief being found, he soon passed away. Near the time of his departure, having some funds at his disposal, he proposed to bestow fifty dollars to replenish the Sabbath-school library in his native Town of Virgil. When about coming to this conclusion, he looked up to his mother, and asked, in childish sim- plicity-" Ma, do you think they will remember me if I do this ? ". We answer, Yes, we will remember you, dear Hart.
John Frank was born in the autumn of 1797, consequently is now more than eighty years of age. He was the first child born in Town, who lived to grow up. He was eminently familiar with the hard- ships of the early settlement of the new country. His opportunity for gaining an education was like that of other youth of the time, but being very studious he gained enough to make Ifis acquisitions respectable. Some fifty or more years since he commenced the study of medicine, being his own instructor. He commenced prac- ticing in his own way, which, we believe, is called Eclectic. He soon removed to Owego, where he has resided and practiced since.
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He has always enjoyed excellent health, and now, at his advanced age presents a remarkably fresh and vigorous. appearance. He has always sustained a reputation for unsullied integrity. He made pro- fession of religion in 1820, and attached himself to the Congrega- tional Church in this place, and still holds connection with that of the same name in Owego.
David R. Barton was born in this Town, and rose from a rather obscure origin to be somewhat eminent in his occupation. After rising to manhood he went to the county of Rockland, N. Y., and failing to find employment that suited him, he returned and settled in Rochester. There he came to be an efficient aid in the cause of ed- ucation, and engaged in building up and establishing an extensive and celebrated edge-tool factory. He died a few years since, leav- ing a very salutary influence to follow him.
. William Woodward, with poor advantages, became a school teach- er, and also a Justice of the Peace, in which office he was true to the temperance cause ; was a good clerk and accountant, and died a few years since, in Elmira.
In a previous number it was stated that the Presbyterian Church in Town had received about three hundred members. Estimating that all the other churches had received twice that number, the whole amount would be nine hundred gathered together. They would constitute a rather large company. If to these are added those whose brief biographies have been given, and admitting that though not all these are experimental Christians, yet all in a measure controlled by the public/ sentiment created by the churches, the question may well arise: Have the churches lived, labored, strug- gled and prospered in vain ? Is it not worth while still to labor and strive for their success ?
NUMBER XXVII.
A FTER an interim of about three years, I resume the " Letters from Virgil." It was thought that about enough of biog- raphy had been written, but on further reflection I have concluded to give something additional. The first person of whom I will
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speak was a daughter of the writer. It might be thought that deli- cacy would forbid ; but the excuse of relationship does not satisfy those who desire to have it done, so I waive that consideration, and will give a few items in the history of Louisa Bouton, who died on the 11th of March 1846, aged twenty-one years. She manifested very early an ardent desire for education, and having a very sus- ceptible mind, her advancement was very rapid. Her opportunities for acquisition were rather limited, though they were the best that the family could afford, and she had the great privilege, as she esteemed it, of attending the academy at Homer during one term. Aside from this, her opportunities were only such as were afforded by the schools of her native Town. She commenced teaching in district schools when very young, and continued thus employed, with some interruptions, till she was taken with her last sickness in De- cember, 1845. She was very partial to the study of astronomy, and would frequently observe and admire the appearance and relation of the heavenly bodies, considering them as setting forth and pro- claiming the power, wisdom, skill, and goodness of the Great Archi- tect. She was early the subject of religious impressions, and made a public profession of religion, uniting with the church in which she was reared in the 16th year of her age. She was very much esteemed for her services in the church, Sabbath-school, etc., and was efficient in her labors for the promotion of the cause of temperance and kindred benevolent enterprises. She was filial, kind, and loving in her associations, and benevolent to all. She died in peace, greatly lamented. The funeral was attended by Rev. H. R. Dunham, of Cortland, of cherished memory in the church, who preached a ser- mon of tenderness and love from those expressive words, "Jesus wept."
Anna Sheerar, the daughter of John and Susanna Sheerar, was born about the year 1843. She grew up a kind, sprightly, loving girl, fond of books and reading, an attentive, diligent scholar in the common school and the Sabbath-school, and commenced carly as teacher in the former. She was an acceptable and successful teacher, and discharged the duties of the profession with great fidelity and zeal. Owing to her arduous labors and exposures in this calling, her health failed and she was for a time an invalid. She, however, recovered essentially, and was married to a Mr. Be-
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man, and settled in Pennsylvania, where she lived eminently beloved · for a few years, and then died very suddenly, to the great grief of her surviving parents, friends, and acquaintances generally. She had made profession of religion some years previous to her death, a profession which she adorned with a godly life and much activity in the service of her Divine Master:
Mary C. Leach, the daughter of Amos E. and Rebecca Leech, was born about the year 1845. Her advantages for education were only equal to those enjoyed by the average child of our town. She was studious, and gained such proficiency that at an early age she engaged in teaching, with acceptance. She attended with her school on the annual Town convention of schools held in some cen- tral and commodious place, where the teachers were not only ex- pected to make a display with their scholars, but to present some important exercises on their own account. On one such occasion the writer was present. When the turn of Miss Leech came, she concentrated what she had to say on the Power of a Word, its influ- ence for good or evil extending to the end of time. When once spoken it could not be recalled. How unspeakably important, then, that no word be uttered except wisely and appropriately. She pro- ceeded with other and like inferences, in a manner which made the exercise very impressive. She was the subject of religious impres- sions in early life, which resulted in a Christian profession and her uniting with the Congregational church, as did the other two young ladies whose biographies are set forth in this communication. She was exposed to the hardships of the teacher, and was feeble for several years in consequence of the same. She afterwards married a young man whose name was Dorward. Her health was never fully restored, and after lingering some few years, looking to her Saviour for support, she died about two years since in the triumph of the Christian faith.
Thus died three shining lights in the same small church, within a few years, in youth, with the hopes of their associates resting upon them for great usefulness in the promotion of the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world.
One object in grouping together these three biographies is to set forth in one view the evils resulting from the practice that then
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obtained of female teachers " boarding round," as every one of these girls contracted the disease of which she died from exposures inci- dent to this practice. It was generally made a condition in the contract in taking a school for the winter, that the teacher should be carried to the school-house in stormy weather and bad traveling ; but it was often difficult to secure the performance of the contract. Hence the lamentable consequence in the sickness and death of the teacher, as in the cases herein stated.
De Ette Chamberlain was about the age of Anna Shecrar, and the intimacy between them was very strong. She was an accept- able school teacher, and died a short time after the death of her friend Anna. She made early profession of religion. So it may be said that they were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their deaths they were not far separated.
NUMBER XXVIII.
I will give another biographical sketch or two, which I think will be found to contain something of interest.
S. D. Storrs was the son of Deacon Jesse Storrs, of Virgil, and grew up with the ordinary opportunities of common school educa- tion. On arriving at majority, he felt desirous of greater educa- tional privileges, and entered a school called the Virgil Literary Institute, in the same Town, whose design was to give to common school teachers an opportunity to become better versed in the branches taught in the common schools ; and, generally, to afford to those who wished a chance for improvement. There he engaged earnestly in the studies pursued, and, at the approach of winter, en- gaged in teaching a common school in the Town. The time had now come to determine on his vocation for life. He opened his mind to his teacher, manifesting his desire to attain a thorough education, but felt the scantiness of his means. The answer of the teacher was, that he could say that in his youth he had himself the
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samne desire, but was held back by the same reason. He now wished that he had exerted himself and gained an education. This answer decided him to proceed and engage in the struggle. He taught school, cultivated fruit-trees, and employed himself in winters and in vacations, thus gaining means to defray his expenses at the Acad- emy at Homer. There, his circumstances being known, he was aided by occasional loans by Jedediah Barber, Dr. Bradford and per- haps others. Though offered aid by. benevolent societies, he uni- formly declined the same during the whole course of his study, that he might be free to pursue the calling that seemed best to him when he should leave school. He entered college in New England, where he supported himself in part by the cultivation of a nursery of fruit- trees, and took a thorough course in the college and in the Theo- logical Seminary. To be prepared for usefulness in life was the one object which he had in mind, and since entering the ministry he has found use for his mental and physical powers, and has never regret- ted the years spent in study. During the three years spent in the Seminary, the troubles in Kansas commenced, and, with three of his classmates, he chose that state as the field for labor in the mission work. In pursuance of his design, he went thither, arriving in Oct., 1857, and, with the exception of two years with the Congregational church in Atchison, after they became self-sustaining, and one year in South-Western Iowa, he has been wholly engaged in mission work in that State. Since the 15th of January, 1872, he has been Superintendent of Missions in Kansas, under the care of the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society, and has 130 churches under his care. During the year 1875, he traveled about 25,000 miles in the dis- charge of the duties involved. He has been in the ministry nearly twenty years, and is about fifty-seven years of age. It is to be hoped that his usefulness may be long continued.
One object of the writer of these letters is to give encouragement to young men in enterprise and thrift ; and in looking over the Town, his mind has seemed to settle, for a specimen, on our young merch- ant, W. A. Holton. He was born and raised in this Town, with no remarkable advantages for education. His father died while he was yet young, consequently the care of his rearing and education rested on his mother. He was inclined to study, and made such acquisi-
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tions that he taught six terms in school with acceptance. He was, however, partial to the mercantile profession, and went into partner- ship with a merchant in the place, Mr. A. H. Peckham, and con- tinued with him three years, when they separated. The writer met him afterwards on the road, when he said it was in his mind to build a store on the ground vacated, or soon to be so, which B. J. Jones had occupied. He wished to put up a building that would be an honor to the place and convenient and commodious for the pur- pose designed. He said it would take all his means to build the store, and that he should have to take credit to supply the same with goods. He proceeded, and built an elegant store house and filled it with goods, has had a fair portion of the Town trade, sus- tains the reputation of a fair dealer, and is likely, so far as we can see, to be able to cancel his indebtedness in the near future. He has been honored by the people of the Town with the offices of Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace. He is about thirty years of age.
James H. Shults, son of David Shults, was also reared in this Town. He grew up with the ordinary facilities for acquiring an education. He became desirous of making acquisitions in educa- tion, and progressed so well that he graduated at the Normal School, and ultimately was placed in the same institution as a Professor, which position he occupied for a year or two, when he was induced to resign his place, with a view to accept a call to the principalship and chair of Latin and Greek in the Cleveland (Ohio) High School, at a salary of $2,000, and will leave very soon to take up his resi- dence in that city. This resignation of his position in the Cortland · Normal School is much regretted.
Though it may be thought that the list of eminent individuals, named in previous numbers, as former or present residents of our Town, has been rather exhaustive, yet there are those remaining that I would have noticed but for want of space. Among these is Dr. Miller, of East Virgil, the lecturer on physiology, and the ven- erable N. R. Locke, formerly our Postmaster, and father of Nasby, the editor of the Toledo Blade.
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NUMBER XXIX.
W HAT I have written of distinguished personages of our Town, closes what I had designed to say on that sub- ject-not that the list could not be extended, but it has not been my intention to exhaust the subject, but to leave something to be said by others.
The question now arises, Why should Virgil and other rural dis- tricts produce a greater number of eminent individuals in propor- tion to the population than cities and large villages ? No one who has given much thought to this question will doubt the fact implied. If you, or any one, should go to Syracuse and trace to their origin, the distinguished men there, it will be found that a large percentage of the same have come from Pompey ; and the like will be the result of any investigation that shall be made from New York, Philadel- phia, Washington and all the large cities and villages in our country. Why is this ? Do not the cities and villages furnish greater facili- ties to the youth to become eminent than the rural towns and dis- tricts ? Certainly. The question then returns-What makes the difference ? A short incident said to have occurred in some of the past ages will illustrate this point, and lead to a true solution. It is said that a certain king had a wise counselor whose services he highly valued, and felt that his aid in the government was indispen- sable. This counsellor asked of the king permission to be absent a year or two. .. The king remonstrated. " The minister answered, he had a son who had arrived at an age that required that he should give him the learning and instruction indispensable to his usefulness and respectability in future life; and he wanted the time asked for to give him the learning and discipline so necessary for him. The king said, Go! but take my son along that he may share the same opportunity. At the time appointed, the wise man returned with the lads, and presented them to the king: The king proceeded to examine the two young men, when he found that his own son was greatly inferior in acquisitions to the son of the councelor. He inquired for the cause. The councelor answered that they had shared, equally, in his instructions ; but he said that while his own son had improved his opportunities, sensible that he must depend upon his own efforts for success and advancement in life, he could
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not conceal from the son of the king, the fact that the people would be dependent on him, instead of his being dependent on the people, for success and distinction in life. The children and youth in cities and villages fail, in a majority of cases to appreciate their privileges, and allow those from the rural districts to outstrip them in the race for advancement and distinction. They are de- ceived and flattered by their position, shirk their lessons and ex- aminations held to test their progress, and leave school greatly in the rear of those with fewer facilities; and find, when too late, their irretrievable loss. Here is another illustration of a remark in a preceding number, "that the merit of success is in proportion to obstacles overcome."
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