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 3
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FESTAL GATHERING.
The Town was afterwards divided into four companies, out of which there has also been for most of the time an independent com- pany. A company of riflemen was raised in about 1813, of which Joseph Reynolds was the first Captain. This company was after- wards disbanded. A company of artillery was organized in 1828- '29, of which Michael Frank was the first Captain. It continued prosperous for several years, but was ultimately disbanded. After- wards a company of infantry was raised, and John W. Morse was the first captain in uniform. This company was discontinued when military duty ceased to be called for.
MILLS, MACHINERY, ETC.
The first Saw Mill was built by Daniel Edwards, in 1801, nearly on the ground where Murdock's tannery is located. The first Grist Mill was built near where Tyler's mill now is, by Peter Vanderlyn and Nathaniel Knapp, in 1805. Hutching's grist mill, in the edge of Dryden, was built in 1809-mentioned because this Town was much interested in it. Previous to the building of mills in Homer and in this Town, several individuals practiced going to Ludlow's and carrying their grist upon their backs. Among these were Joseph Bailey and Enos Bouton. After a few years, and when these mills were built, persons could go with a horse, get grinding done and return the same day ; and the yellow horse of Mr. Luce has been known to pace off the hill six times in a week, for the fam- ily and neighbors. About 1814 or '15, Abner Bruce built a grist mill where the spring mill now is, owned by T. Green. It was burnt down in 1820, and rebuilt in a year or two. In 1827 it was bought by Josiah Byram, and occupied by him for carding and cloth dressing till his death, in 1842. It has since been fitted up at considerable expense, for a grist mill, and is doing a good business, and the own- er deserves credit for his enterprise and perseverance. A grist mill was built in 1814, by Nathan Heaton, in the south part of the Town, now called South Harford. A grist mill was also built in the east part in 1819, by a Mr. Vanderburg, which has done considerable business. Harvy Jennings also built a grist mill in the southeast part, near Orrin Day's, in 1833, which did some business till it was burnt in 1842.
The first wool carding by machinery was done by C. Baker, at his mill, (now Tyler's) in about 1814. In 1819, Henry Burgess com-
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menced wool carding and cloth dressing near the same place, taking water from the same dam. His building was afterwards removed to near the place now occupied for the same purpose, by H. P. Jones. In 1827, Josiah Byram commenced the same business in the building bought of Abner Bruce, as before mentioned.
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS, ETC.
The first child born in Town, was John, a son of Joseph Chaplin, who was drowned in the spring of 1798, aged two years. The first who lived to mature age was John Frank, one of our guests, in au- tumn, 1797. Next to him was James Gee, in March, 1798 ; Betsey N. Roe and B. F. Chaplin, in February, 1799, and Hiram Ball and Hiram Bouton, in the same year.
The first marriage, as nearly as we can ascertain, was solemnized between Ruhuff Whitney, of Dryden, and Susan, daughter of John Glenny, of this Town, as early as 1800. In the autumn of 1801, Truman Terry was married to Rebecca, daughter of Wait Ball.
The first death was that of a stranger passing through, who under- took to go from Ebenezer Brown's, in Milton, (now Lansing,) to Chaplin's, at the river. He became fatigued, lost his way, lay down with his pack under his head and died. This was in April, 1798, and only four or five persons could be got together. George Frank was present at the scene, and is also with us here to-day. They placed some timbers about him, for a protection from wild beasts, and left him. One of their number went to Homer to make the case known to Solomon Hubbard, Esq., and ask direction. His advice was, that, as there was no Coroner nearer than Pompey, the few inhabitants should get together and make such examination as they were able, and proceed accordingly. The next day they assembled and had as much of an examination as was practicable in the circumstances, concerning the cause of his decease, and it was agreed as before stated. They took some boards brought into Town by John E. Roe, for the purpose of making a table, and fastening them together in the form of a box, placed him in it and buried him in the grave which they had dug, and now his bones lie mouldering somewhere between this place and Timothy Green's, near the hill. His son came subsequently, said his father's name was Charles Huffman, and took some shoemaker's tools found with him at his death. The first death of an adult resident was that of Mary, wife of Derosel
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Gee and mother of John Gee, in March, 1802. Exercises at the funeral were singing and prayer.
Previously to 1806, when the public burying ground was deeded to the Town by George Wigant, persons were buried on the prem- ises where they died. The first grave-stone was erected to the mem- ory of James Roe, Esq., in about 1823.
TEMPERANCE, ANTI-SLAVERY, ETC.
The first distillery was erected in 1803 or '4, by James Wright. Intemperance prevailed, as in other places, till in 1829, six distill- eries were in operation. The moral and philanthropic in the com- munity became alarmed and inquired with solicitude what could be done to stay its ravages. Temperance societies began to be formed in different parts, and the inhabitants of this place, on consultation, agreed to meet and form a Temperance Society. The Fourth of July, 1829, was chosen as the time to organize such Society, and Michael Frank, our guest, to give the address, at the close of which a society was formed with about twenty members. And here let us pause and drop a tear in memory of our early, cordial friend and associate, Beebe L. Ball, the first President of that society, and while he lived, its firm, judicious and ardent supporter. In 1831, a society was instituted in that part now Harford; and one on Luce Hill, and another on Snider Hill, about the same time. The temperance cause has been promoted since, by various means and with great labor and expense, and much progress has been made, but much remains to be done before its triumph will be complete.
About the year 1832, several individuals became much aroused on the subject of Slavery. Their number was small,-the subject was one of great difficulty, but they read and diffused information on the subject, and acted according to their convictions. The cause progressed slowly, as every great reform must, till in 1844, the Lib- erty Party gave their candidate for the Presidency ninety-nine votes. Since that time various changes have taken place in the aspects of the cause, and great progress has been made.
SECULAR EMPLOYMENTS.
Agriculture, the foundation of all, has engaged the attention of most of the people. They have been employed in clearing away the forest and cultivating the earth, which has generally yielded good
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return. The implements used were those incident to the time. The plows were of the common rude kind till the year 1817, when the first cast iron plow was brought in and used by Esq. Ball. Some of the first settlers, of whom John M. Frank was one, cleaned their grain by throwing it across the barn floor with a small scoop shovel, and afterwards shaking it up in a hand fan made of a hollow log, when the refuse parts were brushed off with a quill. Afterwards a willow fan and riddle were used. It was very important that the grain should be cleaned, as there were no means of taking out dust at the mills, as there are now. Fanning mills soon came to be used; the first, however, that is recollected was about the year 1809. Con- siderable grain of the several kinds has been raised, and for some years past much attention has been given to the dairy, which in 1851, brought in a return of $25,000. Some of the people in an early day directed their attention to the cultivation of fruit, especially ap- ples. Very soon after his first settlement, Joseph Chaplin sowed the seeds for a nursery of natural fruit, and Enos Bouton did the same soon after, and most of the oldest orchards are from these nurseries. The first nursery of grafted fruit was put out by Nathan- iel Bouton, about 1808, and Oliver Ball did the same soon after.
The first barrel of cider made in Town, was by Enos Bouton, in 1818 or '19. The apples were bruised by a pestle hung to a spring sweep like that referred to in pounding corn. The pomace was pressed by a lever placed under a log, passing over the cheese, with a weight at the other end. It was sold for four dollars.
The first Merchant was Daniel Shelden, in about 1807 or '8. Next was Samuel L. Shelden, and next after him, Gideon Messenger. While he was in trade Joseph Reynolds set up a store in the village, since which there have been two stores in the village most of the time. William Snider, Hiram Bouton, G. V. Knapp, A. E. Heberd, Rufus Edwards and others have engaged in this business; and now we have the firm of Winslow & Slafter, and William Snider. The first in the part now Harford was Theodore E. Hart, in June, 1824. In the part called East Virgil, William Gray set up a store in 1834, and most of the time since there have been two stores in that vicini- ty. The early merchants carried wheat and other articles to Albany in wagons, and brought back such goods as the people could afford to buy. Doubtless they sometimes took money with them, but the
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sums must have been small. The mercantile interest has continually increased to the present time, so that in 1851 it was estimated that goods were sold at the stores in this Village to the amount of $30,000. It will be understood that this is but a portion of the purchases of the people in Town, as there are stores in other parts, and much trading-too much for the good of the people-is done out of Town.
Slight mention has been made of some of our exports. In addi- tion to these we may be permitted to add that of barley, oats, eggs, and for many years past a large amount of oats has been carried to Ithaca, Syracuse and other places. It was rumored in the autumn of 1812 that oats could be exchanged at Ithaca for iron and other necessaries, and after much preparation and in the presence of sev- eral neighbors who came to offer their congratulations, an ox team set out for that place with a load, one Friday afternoon, and returned late on Saturday evening. Since that time a large amount of the article has been transported. This crop, however profitable it may be, is very exhausting to the soil, and we must abandon its cultivation for export, and direct our attention to the cultivation of other pro- duce.
It would be desirable to speak of the different mechanical depart- ments with their origin and progress, but as their beginnings were very small, and in most instances involved in obscurity, and were the result of stern necessity, it may be best not to make the attempt.
We will, however, state that the first frame building of much size, was the large house now standing on the elevation in this Village, owned by Shubel G. Ball, erected in 1804, by James Knapp, very much astonishing the natives, and with other causes ruining the man that built it. The first well of much depth was that near it, of more than forty feet deep, dug about the same time, and in which Seth Larabee, one of our citizens, came near losing his life, by its caving in.
The land surveying of the Town has been done by different indi- viduals, as Wait Ball and James Roe, who commenced almost with its first settlement. Afterwards Daniel L. Allen and Hiram Ball, and very recently Abiather Briggs have done business in this line; and in this vicinity for the last thirty years most of it has been done by the speaker.
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REMARKABLE EVENTS.
Several events have transpired that have caused great sensation for a time, and made a lasting impression on many minds. The first was that of a boy lost in the woods. In May, 1796, Daniel Chaplin, son of Joseph Chaplin, and father of Mrs. Gleason, now present, aged about fourteen years, set out to drive a cow to Mr. Frank, and took with him a few pounds of flour. The cow became refractory and turned out of the road, and in endeavoring to get her back he lost the road and wandered in the trackless wilderness. The cow returned home, thus giving notice that he was lost. An alarm was given and about fifty men assembed, which was a great number for so sparse a population. He was gone four days and three nights without food, and was found on the " Bridle Road, " in Dryden, by Aaron and James Knapp, of Homer. They ascertained who he was, and proceeded to help him home. He had the flour with him, but the weather having been rainy, it had become mouldy and they threw it away. He was very faint and weak, but being supported on each side he could walk, and they arrived at his father's house about midnight, where his mother had about thirty men in and about the house, and was preparing victuals for them to take in their search on the morrow. Mr. Chaplin was absent at the time. We shall not make the vain attempt to paint the scene, but leave it to our hearers to imagine the feelings of that mother, and the sensation caused by his arrival.
The next to be noticed was the great eclipse of the sun on the 16th of June, 1806, which, though not peculiar to this Town, made a deep impression, and was an event from which many others have been reckoned. Another event which produced general solemnity, was that of a sweeping sickness, which occurred in the winter and spring of 1813. In a very few weeks four heads of families in that thin population were removed by death. Their names were James Roe, Esq., Jacob Chatterton, William Gee, and Lydia, wife of Ben- jamin Glazier.
During the present year a death has occurred in Harford, once Virgil, of an individual which it would be well to notice in this con- nection. It was that of Henry Ballard, at the very advanced age of one hundred and nine years. It remains to notice that the sea -: son of 1816 was very unfruitful, generally denominated the cold
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season, fellowed by great scarcity of provisions, etc. In 1821 there was much suffering on acccount of scarcity of food for stock, and it was also a time of great pecuniary embarrassment. In 1836-'37 there was also a scant supply of provisions and a time of derange- ment in pecuniary matters, resulting from the insane speculations immediately preceeding, in which many engaged with that reckless- ness characteristic of those in haste to be rich. It is unnecessary to say that these last were events common to the whole country, and affecting this Town only as a constituent part of the same.
Frequent allusion has been made to the division of the Town. It had long been evident to discriminating minds that this event must take place at some time, but the different interests involved and the condition of political parties delayed it till 1846. It was. then divided into three towns; the north half constituted one and retained the original name. The south half was formed into two; the west part receiving the name of Harford, and the east that of Lapeer. Since that time a part of Virgil has been set to Cortlandville, and another part consisting of lot No. 20, has been attached to Freetown. Thus Virgil, from being one-fourth part of one town in 1796, has become the whole of three, and a part of two others. The popula- tion has increased from thirty in 1798, to 4541 in 1845, and 2410 in 1850, after the division. Stock taken on the Syracuse and Bing- hamton railroad amounts to $11,100. Other statistics have been given in their proper places.
It may be our duty, as it is certainly a pleasure, to advert briefly to the names of numerous individuals who emigrated from this Town, as well as to some who remain in it, as by their varied talent, intel- ligence and usefulness, doing honor to the place of their birth, or where they spent their childhood and youth and received most of their education. We rejoice to greet our guests at this "Festive Gathering," as among the number to whom allusion has been made. We have among them Colonel Frank, a native of this Town, who has exerted a great and salutary influence in the State of his adoption. Not a State when he emigrated thither, but a Territory where laws were to be enacted, forms of government adopted and the foundations of prosperity laid in the institutions to be founded and perpetuated in that wide region that must eventually bear great sway in our national councils. He has done much to promote the cause of education and
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to ameliorate the condition of the indigent. . And being one of the three individuals appointed to revise the statutes of the State, those relating to common schools and support of the poor were particu- larly assigned to him, and bear strong evidence of his intelligence and philanthropy. We have here Judge Reynolds, who, though past the season of youth when he settled here, spent many years with us, and during a large portion of the time sustained the repu- tation of a prompt, intelligent and impartial Justice of the Peace, and was also Judge of the County Court.
We have also with us Drs. Hyde, Frank and Benton, who have respectively arrived at a good degree of eminence in their profession where they reside. Here are also John M. Roe, the successful merchant ; William Woodard, the ready accountant; William E. Gee, the persevering and successful instructor of youth; R. O. Rey- nolds, the talented and eloquent attorney, and Horace L. Green, a young and promising practioner at law in Marathon. In addition to' this we may say that Dr. Bronson, yet a resident here, has prac- ticed his profession to general acceptance more than thirty years, and has had six students of medicine, all of whom have been suc- cessful in practice where they have been located, viz .: William Hun- ter, in Jasper, Steuben county; James Ball, in Michigan; Marsena Terry, in Savanna, Steuben county; J. W. Jones, at Horseheads, Chemung county ; Frederick Hyde, in Cortland village, and John B. Benton, in Spencer, Tioga county. The two latter are among our guests to whom reference has been made. To this list we may add the names of Dr. Shevalier, of Truxton; George Graham, of Jasper, Steuben county, the intelligent and persevering advocate of educa- tion and temperance; Theodore E. Hart, the successful merchant and banker, of Canandaigua, and many others. Honorable mention should also be made of Carlo M. Woods, son of Dr. Woods, who died when he was very young, leaving him a slender child to strug- gle with poverty and the various difficulties incident to his con- dition. He was a studious and successful scholar, learned the trade of a printer, went to Illinois, set up a paper published in Quincy, and has since been clerk of Adams county, and is now clerk of the Supreme and District Courts of Quincy District. We may be pardoned if we allude to the name of one, long a resident here, now sleeping in the dust-Nathaniel Bouton, the projector of the
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New York and Erie railroad, who continued to advocate the same till an influence was awakened that resulted in its construction and completion. This Town has furnished, at least, two individual youth who have attended through a course of instruction in the State Nor- mal School, and have prosecuted their studies with a degree of self application and success, creditable to themselves and gratifying to their friends. The persons to whom reference has been made are A. P. Smith, present with us, and Sabrina Chamberlain, now in Ohio. It is, however, a delicate matter to speak of persons in Town, and to discriminate between those perhaps equally meritorious, and as there has been as much presented as could reasonably be expected, it only remains for me to take affectionate leave of the audience, deeply grateful for the patient and kind attention given during the long time occupied with this address.
At the close of Mr. Bouton's address, the choir sang the follow- ing:
FAREWELL; TO-NIGHT WE PART. Our happy homes of childhood days, We now remember well; And memory often fondly strays, To where it used to dwell. Hurrah ! hurrah ! la, la, la, la, la, la ; May music gladden every heart; Hurrah ! hurrah ! la, la, la. la, la, la; Farewell, farewell, to night we part.
Those joyous hours of childish life, Were pleasanter by far, Than scenes like these with pleasures rife, Where friends and strangers are.' Hurrah, etc.
From friendly throngs in stranger land, A few fond hearts we find; Yet can they cheer this little band, . Like homes we've left behind. Hurrah, etc.
Afternoon Bæercişes.
A FTER dinner the assembly repaired to the hall, when the Presi- dent of the day took the chair, supported by Vice-Presidents J. W. Morse, Rufus Edwards, Horace Bronson and Joel Hancock. The President then announced that the meeting was in order, and called on Dr. Hyde to offer some remarks adapted to the occasion, who arose and addressed the meeting as follows:
MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN :- I regret that it is not my priv- ilege to claim, in common with my warm friends assembled around me on this festive occasion, this portion of earth as the place of my nativity.
So large a portion of the events of my youth occurred in your Town that it would he strange should I not share liberally with you in the ebullition of warm-heartedness so characteristic of this signal meeting. It has been my fortune to have mingled somewhat in pub- lic assemblages, but I am quite certain that in all my life I never witnessed such spontaneous out-gushings of happy feelings as flow through this kindred gathering. It is here that heart beats to heart, voice responds to voice, and even the big tears well profusely out from their fountains as the friendly and long stranger-hand goes forth unbidden to grasp with firm clench its kindred. I would, therefore, that my words could give utterance to the feeling of my heart, and proclaim with my friends here, that these beautiful and majestic old hills, which so grandly begirt the green plain on which we are assembled, were mine, too, by birth.
There is a holy charm which hovers around one's birth-place which cannot be resisted. Sir, while fraternizing so liberally with this joy- ous group, it produces in me a vivid renewal of all the sacred asso- ciations which cluster around my own dear native earth-spot. But a little way over these eastern hills, and down the valley of the limpid
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and curling Tioughnioga to its junction with its more eastern and quiet tributary-the Otselic-is the spot of all others the most prec- ious to me, the earliest home of my birth. I never near this hal- lowed place, but my heart throbs with emotions which compel me to linger and look on this small but precious item of earthly heritage, and the scenery around it, with increasing pleasure.
I will not trespass further upon the precious moments of this in- terview, as they are more properly yours than mine, but will ask permission, before I take my seat, to introduce the following letter received from your former fellow-townsman, Dr. Marsena Terry.
SAVANNA, August 15th, 1853.
Dr. Hyde :
DEAR SIR :- Your kind invitation to attend a "Jubilee " at Virgil, on the 25th of August, inst., was duly received. I wish here to as- sure you of my hearty co-operation and approval of the sentiments, and that nothing would be more consonant with my feelings than the opportunity of meeting, and that, too, at Virgil,-within the im- mediate circle of my nativity, my old friends of that Town, whose acquaintance I still cherish and hold in high esteem.
And while I desire to express to you my thanks for this courte- ous and friendly invitation, I am compelled to acknowledge a total inability to fulfill my ardent desires to be among you. May you have a good time, a great time, and a time altogether.
Respectfully yours,
M. TERRY.
1 now offer you the following sentiment, and take great pleasure in calling upon our ardent friend, Dr. Benton, for a speech, whose warm heart I am quite sure is already restive to give utterance to its emotions.
The primitive fathers and mothers of Virgil :
May their children never forget to bestow upon them the grateful homage of filial hearts, and may they in return always have cause to be proud of their progeny.
Dr. Benton then responded to the call as follows:
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :- I arise to respond to the call of my distinguished friend, Dr. Hyde. The sentiment he has just offered is one well worthy of him; and had it been over- looked or forgotten, our meeting to-day would have been wanting in one element of enjoyment, which, as much as any other, has made this occasion sacred to us all.
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