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 2
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FESTAL GATHERING.
ing of this, or any audience of modern times, the difficulties experi- enced on this account.
It was almost impossible to collect enough in the year to pay the taxes. This difficulty was very much owing, so far as the older parts were concerned, to the Embargo which was then in force, restricting commerce and causing a stagnation in all departments of business, and though the newly settled parts had not much to sell, they felt severe- ly the effect of this state of things. We have seen the time when it would have been as difficult to raise five dollars as now it would be to raise as many hundred. Another difficulty existing in this Town particularly, was that the land was not owned by the inhabitants, but must be paid for from the products of the same to add to the capital of rich men living at a distance.
Another embarrassment was one to which allusion was made in the description of the natural features of the Town, viz .: the want of sufficient water power to propel mills and machinery, thus taking business away, and while other places were benefited, this Town was the loser. There was, however, a commendable degree of enter- prise among the people, and the crops were, for a number of years, abundant, compared with the area of ground cultivated, and the people relished highly what they had. For example-we have the Sweet Bough, Red Astrachan and Red Margaret, (exhibiting a speci- men of each) but neither of them tastes so delicious as some of those inferior apples first produced by our orchards.
Their hardships were also very much ameliorated by common par- ticipation and mutual sympathy. Hospitality prevailed and mutual dependence promoted harmony and fellow feeling. They met, ex- changed accounts of their trials, often with much humor and pleas- antry, and cheered each other on. If a log cabin was to be raised for some new comer they were all on the spot with strong arms and a hearty good will.
But we must attend to, several branches of history in order.
FIRST-CIVIL REGULATIONS OR GOVERNMENT.
When first settled, Homer, Solon, Cincinnatus and Virgil were in one town called Homer.
At the Town Meeting in 1797, it was resolved that the Township of Virgil shall constitute one highway district.
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FESTAL GATHERING.
In 1798, Virgil seems to have been represented, and James Knapp was chosen Assessor, Commissioner of Highways and Overseer of Highways, and returned eight names to be taxed for highway work. The poll tax was three days, and the number of days assessed was fifty-eight and one-half. At the Town Meeting in 1799, held at the house of Moses Hopkins, Virgil was honored with the office of Su- pervisor in the person of James Knapp; Wait Ball was chosen As- sessor; John E. Roe, Overseer of the Poor; Wait Ball, Commis- sioner of Highways, and Dana Miles, Overseer of Highways, and returned twenty-three names to be taxed.
Thus this Town continued with Homer through the year 1804, always having its proper proportion of office and privilege.
The Township of Virgil having been set off from Homer into a separate town, the inhabitants assembled in Town Meeting at the house of James Knapp, on the 2d day of April, 1805, and proceeded to choose John I. Gee, Moderator; Gideon Messenger, Town Clerk; Moses Rice, Supervisor; Abner Bruce, John Gee and Joseph Chap- lin, Assessors; John Glenny, George Wigant and John I. Gee, Commissioners of Highways ; Jonathan Edwards and Peter Powers, Poor Masters, and Shubel S. Marsh, Constable and Collector.
PATH MASTERS.
1 John Gee, 5 Comfort Bruce,
2 Isaac Elwell, 6 Alexander McNitt,
3 Samuel Carson,
7 Obadiah Glazier,
11 Elias Thompson,
12 Peter Gray,
13 Seth Jennings.
Moses Olmstead and Abial Brown, Fence Viewers.
Since the organization of the Town there have been forty-nine Town Meetings, at which the following persons have been elected Super- visors and Town Clerks, for the term specified respectively :
Moses Rice, Supervisor, 8 years, James Roe,
Ogden Gray, 2 years,
4 years, Enoch D. Branch, 1 year,
Gideon Messenger,
9 years, Moses Tyler, 1 year,
Joseph Reynolds,
9 years, John Green, 2 years,
Michael Frank,
2 years,
Dudley Benton, 1 year,
Sanford Bouton,
3 years, Page Green, 1 year,
Josiah Hart, 1 year,
M. B. Mynard, 1 year,
Timothy Green,
3 years,
H. J. Messenger, now in office.
10 Joseph Chaplin,
4 Jonathan Edwards, 8 James Wright,
9 Peter Powers,
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FESTAL GATHERING.
TOWN CLERKS.
Gideon Messenger,
2 years,
William Woodard, 4 years,
Abner Bruce,
2 years,
A. E. Heberd,
4 years,
Moses Rice,
2 years, John Chamberlain, 2 years,
James Roe,
1 year, Norman Chamberlain, 4 years,
James Chatterton,
12 years,
Willard Chatterton, 3 years,
Alvan Ryan,
1 year, Wait Chamberlain,
1 year,
William Snider,
1 year,
Samuel Slafter,
1 year,
Kinne Grow,
1 year,
D. L. Bronson, 1 year,
Willard Chatterton, now in office.
James Glenny was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1802, and held the office several years. Wait Ball was soon after appointed to the same office, and continued in it for sixteen years in succession. Moses Rice also held that office for several years, about the same time. But our time will not admit of giving the names and terms of service of all who have been Justices of the Peace in the Town.
Joseph Reynolds, Josiah Hart, James Chatterton, Nathan Heaton, Platt F. Grow and Timothy Green have been Members of the As- sembly of this State, and Joseph Reynolds has been Member of Congress one term.
SECOND-THE RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE.
Soon after the first settlements were made, the people were visited by Missionaries who were faithful in looking to their spiritual wel- fare.
Among these were Rev. Messrs. Williston, Phelps and Johnson, Congregationalists, and Roots, Whipple and Cole, Baptists. There . were also Methodist ministers, who came in at an early day and preached and otherwise labored to promote the spiritual good of the people. The Universalists, also had occasional meetings, when they were addressed by Rev. Archelaus Green, a resident of the Town.
The first religious meetings by the people were commenced in 1802. Prayers were offered by Prince Freeman, of this Town, and James Wood, of Dryden. Singing was conducted by Moses Rice, and sermons read by James Glenny. Since that time religious meet- ings have been held every Sabbath, except in case of some violent storm or remarkable event. On .the 28th of February, 1805, the Congregational Church was formed with eight members, (one of whom, Mrs. L. Edwards, is still living,) by Rev. Seth Williston.
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FESTAL GATHERING.
The church was without stated preaching, several years. They felt severely their destitute condition, which will be seen by the following vote passed December 3d, 1806: "That the church will see to the satisfying of Rev. Dr. Darrow for two Sabbaths' service a year, at five dollars a Sabbath, to attend on sacramental occasions, and also to take the oversight of the church for the present." The church struggled on through various difficulties, with preaching part of the time, meeting in various places where they could, after the " Centre School House " was burnt, in 1818, till this house could be used for that purpose. This house was put up in 1821, but it was two or three years before it was enclosed and made comfortable, and the present seats were not built till 1831. Its location, near the bury- ing ground, was found inconvenient, and removed to this place in 1834. About two hundred and seventy persons have been added to the church, and it now embraces about seventy resident members. The ministers who have preached statedly to the church, are Rev. Messrs. Wallace, Hitchcock, Dunning, Robertson, Bliss, Chaffee, Headley, Walcott, Thacher, Bronson and Bates. Among these Messrs. Robertson, Chaffee and Thacher were pastors.
A Baptist Church was constituted in August, 1807. They held meetings in private houses, etc., and had preaching from Elders Bennett, of Homer, Powers and Robinson, and others of this place till about 1826 or '27, when it was disbanded, and reorganized June 23d, 1830. In 1831, their present meeting house was built. The ministers preaching steadily since its reorganization, have been Elders Andrews, Robinson, Clark, Ainsworth, Cole, Jones, Lyon and De Witt. Present number of members, sixty-nine.
The Methodists held meetings frequently, and had preaching from Rev. G. W. Densmore and others, previous to 1830. In that year there was much interest among them, and many were added to their number. In 1831, the chapel was built, and they have had as preach- ers since 1830, Rev. Messrs. Mason, Wood, Bronson, Harris, Meneir, Worthing, Hamilton, Porter, McDowell, Fox, Wire, Mynard, Hewitt, Torry and Ercanbrack. They have about seventy-two mem- bers.
The Free Baptist Church in the west part of the Town was or- ganized in 1822, with six members. They held meetings in " Ball's School House," so called, till they built their present meeting house,
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FESTAL GATHERING.
often called " The West Meeting House," in 1838. Its preachers have been Elders Daniels, Hills, Darling, Gardner, Dodge, Moulton, and others. The number of members at this time is eighty-three.
In about 1834, the Universalists formed a society, which increased to about thirty members, and continued their organization and meet- ings several years. Among the preachers who labored statedly with them, were Revs. Brown, Sanderson, Doolittle, Brown, Foster and . Bullard.
In the southwest part, now Harford, the first preaching was by . Rev. Seth Williston in 1804. Preaching by Methodist ministers in 1806 or '7.
The Baptists formed a church in that part about 1818, which has been ministered to by Elders Robinson, Miller, Gibbs and others. This church has always been small, though we are unable to give its numbers.
The Methodists have had meetings and an organization in the same locality, and have participated in the erection of the meeting house, and have at times been prosperous.
The Christians were organized into a church about 1828, and have held their meetings in the vicinity of South Harford. They have had stated preaching by Elders Rouse, Gould, Dodge, Holiday, Grimes, Wade, Burlingame, Wescott, Hitchcock and others. Num- ber of members we are unable to state.
The Congregational Church, of Harford, was organized September 28, 1831, with thirteen members; and in 1832, a house of worship was built by that society, in connection with the Methodists and Universalists. They have had stated preaching by Rev. Messrs. Ripley, Gaylord, Baker and Lord; and in 1846, when the Town was set off, had fifty-four members.
The Universalists formed a society in about 1831, which has num- bered as high as forty-three members. They aided in building the house of worship above alluded to, and own a part of it. They have had stated preaching from Rev. Messrs. Chase, Doolittle, Whiston, Barry, Rounsville, Brown and others.
A church of Free or Open Communion Baptists, was formed in the southeast part of the Town, in about 1820, by Elder Lake, em- bracing members also residing in Marathon and Lisle. Their preach- ers have. been Elders Lake, Hart and Matthews. The number of
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FESTAL GATHERING.
members rose at one time to nearly eighty. The Methodists had frequent meetings near the centre of that quarter of the Town, and have had at times, considerable religious interest among them. We are not able, however, to state their numbers.
There is also a church of the Christian order in that part, holding their meetings in the school house near Dann C. Squires'. They have been ministered to by Elder Hitchcock and others,-we cannot state their numbers.
There was also a church organized in the east part of the Town in about 1830, of the Congregational order by Rev. Eleazar Luce. It was ministered to by Rev. Messrs. Luce, Axtell, Chaffee and others; and in 1837, had thirty-one members. . It has since been dissolved. The Methodists have also long had a branch of their church in East Virgil, and have had preaching a portion of the time. In 1844, a house of worship was erected at the place called Gridley Hollow, by the union of the several denominations residing in that vicinity. The years 1813, '20, '30 and '31, were signalized as sea- sons of special religious interest, and many were added to the differ- ent churches.
The first infants baptized, were Betsey N. and Sylvester M. Roe, by Rev. W. Mandeville, in the autumn of 1802. The first adult was Mrs. Zeruiah, wife of Peter Powers, in 1803, by Elder Whipple. In common with other locatities there have been societies with us for the promotion of the various benevolent objects of the day,-such as Bible, Missionary and Tract Societies. These have been success- ful in a good degree, in promoting the several objects for which they were instituted, and it may be safely estimated that the Bible Society bas been instrumental in keeping the families in Town supplied with the Bible by means of funds received from its inhabitants.
LAW.
And here we have to confess that there never has been resident in Town a regularly bred lawyer, but we have had those that have been able to advocate the rights of the people before the courts in Town, and some in other places. James Wright, a revolutionary soldier, was the first who acted in this capacity, and since his time there has been several who have engaged in that business; and now we have Messrs. Green and Grow, who are probably the ablest advo-
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FESTAL GATHERING.
cates in that department that we have ever had.
MEDICAL.
The first physician was Elijah Hartson. Since he left we had in this part of the Town, Drs. Moore, Green, Worden, Woods and . Ryan, before 1820. Dr. Bronson came in 1820, and has been here ever since, except the short time he was at Vernon. During that time Dr. C. P. Weaver was here, and from 1841 to '48 we had Drs. Wilson and Robinson. Now our three physicians are Drs. Bronson, Fitch and Ball. The physicians in the part now Harford, have been Fox, Owen, Terry, Houghteling, Davis, Shipman and others.
EDUCATION.
The inhabitants were early awake to the importance of education, and were resolved that their children should have all the means in their power to provide for its acquisition. Accordingly in 1799, the few that were here came together and built a school house near where the Thorn Tree now stands, easterly from the residence of J. C. Hutchings. The first teacher was Charles Joyce, who taught two or three weeks. Another named Hatch, continued a short time, and left suddenly. Next Rebecca Ball, daughter of Wait Ball, taught two summers.
After her, Abigail, sister to Rebecca, was employed one term. The first school near the village was taught by Mrs. L. Edwards in her own house. Afterwards Moses Rice taught in the Remington house in the winter of 1804-5. The first school taught in the part now Harford, was by Betsey Curran in the winter of 1806-7, in the house of Abner Rounsville.
The Legislature had appropriated one lot in this Town to the sup- port of the gospel and schools, and when the school law took effect in 1813, the rent was added to the funds derived from the State, and has since been available for this purpose. In that year William Powers, Oliver Ball and Gideon Messenger, School Commissioners, divided the Town into seven school districts. The first grammar school was taught in 1819 by Henry J. Hall, in the east part of the double log house of John I. Gee, located were T. L. Lincoln, Esq., now lives. This was the first effort of systematic instruction in that science in the Town. It continued four weeks with thirteen schol- ars. Their names were Beebe L. Ball, Stephen S. Powers, James Ball, John M. Roe, John Harris, William L. Gee, Nathan Bouton,
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FESTAL GATHERING.
Rufus and Harriet Edwards, Lemira Byram, Marietta Chaplin and Sally and Lucy Messenger. Of this number eight are living by latest accounts, and four are present.
From 1837 to 1845, a school called the "Literary Institute," was taught one-half of each year by N. Bouton and William E. Gee, which was in a good degree successful. It was afterwards continued about two years by A. F. Frye. Other select schools have been taught since at different times. There have also been such schools in the part now Harford. One by Erving Taintor, and another by a lady, some time afterwards. There was also a select school taught by Jesse Storrs in the part now Lapeer, which continued several terms. There was a great scarcity of reading matter in the early settlement. Newspapers were scarce and dear; the usual price $2 per annum, with less than half the reading matter we now have, at double the price. (The speaker here exhibited a copy of a county paper published in 1829, with five columns on a page.) To remedy this defect, in part, the inhabitants set up a library called the " Vir- gil Library," with thirty shares of one dollar each, and a very good selection of books was procured in about 1807. Another library was established about 1814, with a capital of $200, called the " Vir- gil Union Library." At present the necessity for such libraries is superceded by their establishment in each school district. Books and papers are also plenty and cheap.
The first Sabbath School was instituted in 1822, in connection with the Congregational Church. Since that time Sabbath schools have been conducted in the different churches and neighborhoods with various degrees of success to the present time.
Allusion has been made to the kind of cradles in which some of us were lulled to rest in our infancy, but it is not to be presumed that it was always done without a lullaby. Probably none of us can remem- ber that used for ourselves, but the singing that made the first per- manent impression on the mind of the speaker, was the following words :
Where shall our country turn its eye? What help remains beneath the sky ? Our friend, protector, strength and trust, Lies low and mouldering in the dust.
This is a part of the lamentation of a bereaved people, at the death of the Father of his Country. When individuals met who
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FESTAL GATHERING.
could sing they frequently engaged in this exercise, when the asso- ciations connected with it would lead their minds back to the place of their nativity, and bring up affecting remembrances of precious friends and scenes long past. The first Singing School was taught by Moses Rice, in the winter of 1805-6. Since that time this depart- ment of science and mental and moral improvement has received much attention, and we, to-day, enjoy the rich privilege of listening to delightful music in words eminently adapted to this thrilling oc- casion. The sacred music of this place is now in the care of Messrs. Slafter, Adamy and Sheerar.
The department of roads now claims our attention. The first road passing through the Town, was the "State Road." A road was slightly cut through from near this Village, in the direction of the head of the lake, called the "Bridle Road." The next was one laid from the State Road, commencing near the present dwelling house of William Bell, and taking a northeasterly direction till it intersected the road from Port Watson to Solon, laid July 2d, 1798. The next from the State Road on lot No. 24, southwesterly to near where the "".West Meeting House " now is, and turned and went over to John Gee's, and continued on to the State Road. Soon after, a road was laid from the State Road, near the residence of L. V. Terpenning, past where Hiram Lament lives, and came out on the present road, near Thomas Stanbro's, and continued on to Homer. In 1801, this road was altered and run nearly where it now is, past Purvis', Morse's, etc. About the same time a road was laid from where the Village now is, southerly over Owego Hill, and the road leading from Mr. Frank's nearly as it now runs, intersect- ing the road leading to Gee's at the West Meeting House, was laid soon afterwards. The road from Cortlandville to Virgil, where it now is, was laid in 1806, and that over Luce Hill nearly at the same time. The State Road from Chaplin's this way was rather rugged, and it early occurred to the inhabitants that much of the hill might be saved hy a road that might be constructed from the State Road near the residence of Daniel Price, passing down the stream to Vanderburg's mill, continuing on past the saw mill of A. Van Bus- kirk, intersecting the State Road near the house of Joseph Chaplin. This road was laid in 1818, through to the grist mill. This road re- quired much labor and expense to make it passable, and must neces-
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FESTAL GATHERING.
sarily be a work of time. It was, however, cut and worked through, so that it was traveled in 1833, and remains a lasting monument to the energy and perseverance of Reuben Gridley, who was princi- pally instrumental in its construction, though aided very much by funds appropriated by the Town.
Previous to 1808 there was no Post Office in Town, and all intel- ligence was transmitted by means of distant offices, or sent by indi- viduals who might be going in the direction desired, which was at- tended with much delay and uncertainty. In that year a post office was established, and Zophar Moore appointed Post Master, and the mail was carried for some time by a man traveling on foot; after- wards it was carried on horseback for several years. An office was established in the southwest part of the Town, in 1825 or '26, first named Worthington, afterwards changed to Harford, and Theodore E. Hart was appointed Post Master. An office was also located in the east part, called East Virgil, in 1845, and William Gray appoint- ed Post Master.
MILITARY.
Among the early settlers a large portion were soldiers of the French and Revolutionary wars. Derosel Gee, Thomas Nichols and John Smith were engaged in the French war, so called, of 1754-'63. The following are names of the Revolutionary soldiers who have lived in the Town :
Joseph Bailey, Silas Lincoln
Stephen Kelly,
John Gee, Jason Crawford, Oliver Hopkins,
Seth Larabee,
David Robinson,
William Parker,
John M. Frank,
Altamont Donaldson, David Crowell,
Dana Miles,
Abner Baker, Robert Smith,
James Knapp,
Isaac Tillotson,
Nathan Smith,
James Wright,
Moses Stevens, Henry Turck,
Nicholas Brown,
George Barlow, Nathan Walker,
Robert Ryan.
Simeon Leroy, Jeremiah Chasc,
Samuel Sole, Asa Parker,
James Sherwood,
John Stanbro,
Thomas Nichols,
Enoch Smith, John Snider, Thomas Russell,
Cornelius Lament, Elisha Brewer, Thomas Kingsbury, Adam Kingman, '
Lemuel Barnes,
Joel Morten,
Seth Bouton,
John Green,
Moses Rice,
Benjamin Glazier,
George Totman, Elias Thomson, Epaphras Shelden.
David Darling,
Jonathan Skeel,
3
Timothy Robertson,
John Smith,
.
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FESTAL GATHERING.
Of these Jeremiah Chase, Simeon Leroy, George Totman, Joel Morten, John Gee, Elisher Brewer, Cornelius Lament, John Stanbro, Enoch Smith, Thomas Kingsbury an ! Stephen Kelly, were living in Town in 1840. Of this number John Gee is now the only survivor.
The scenes of the war through which they had recently passed were fresh in their minds, and it is not strange that much of a mil- itary spirit should exist among the people. Consequently the call for the performance of military duty was soon made, and the call was responded to by five men, of whom Gideon Messenger was one, going to Homer to train under Captain Moses Hopkins. Captain Hopkins had previously held lower rank, but had exerted himself to get up a company of forty-five, by enlisting old men and boys to obviate the necessity of going to Marcellus to attend company drills. Soon the soldiers in Virgil were permitted to train in Town, and the first meeting for that purpose was held at the house of James Knapp, where M. B. Mynard now lives, under the command of Captain John Ellis, afterwards Judge Ellis, of Dryden. The Captains after him were successively, Abial Brown, James Wright, Geo. Wigant and Joseph Chaplin. The company was then divided, and William Lincoln commanded the east company, and Enoch Allen the west. This was the condition of the military interest at the commencement of the war of 1812-'15. Levies of troops were made and the com- panies in this Town were called on for five or six men. In the west company a sufficient number enlisted,-their names were John Rus- sell, Moses Woolfeen and Henry Green. The east company drafted for three, and John E. Roe, Daniel Price and Ira Lincoln were drawn. John E. Roe procured a substitute. Daniel Price went and served three months, and Ira Lincoln was excused on account of ill health. At another muster David Snider was drawn and went, serving three months, the usual time for militia. There have also been living in the Town several others who were soldiers in that war. Among these were Joel Hancock, Edmund H. Robinson, Jacob Bronson, Barnabas Baker, Zachariah Low, John D. Barnes, Thomas Foster, Ezekiel Miller, Reuben Gridley, John Fisher, Isaac Ayers, Gurdin Hall, Daniel Short, Uriah Harvey, Joseph Miller, Joseph Terwillegar and Edward Griswold. There was a company of aged men and invalids organized in 1813, after the example set in the time of the Revolution. Of this company Simeon West was Captain, John S. Squires, Lieutenant, and William Powers, Ensign.
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