USA > New York > Cortland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Cortland County, N. Y., for 1869 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
81
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
Massachusetts, settled on lot 60 in 1803, and Ephraim Fairbanks settled on the same lot, on the farm now occupied by Joseph L. Burdick. Oliver Heart settled on lot 80 in 1806, on the farm now occupied by H. F. Boyce.
Mr. Joseph Sweatland kept the first inn in 1806, hanging his sign upon a tree; and Oliver Mix taught the first school, in the bar-room of the same tavern, in 1807. Tydaman Hull kept the first store, in 1806, where Mr. Neil now lives. Wanton Corey, aged twenty years, and Deborah Morse, aged seventeen, were the first couple married in town, in May, 1806. Garret Lockwood and Irene Cul- ver were married about the same time. Benoni Harris was the first Methodist minister who preached in the town, in ISOS. The sermon was preached in Slingerland's barn. Jabez Keep taught
school in Daniel Morse's log house in 1800, and Captain Thomas Queensbury, in Hollenbeck's barn, about the same time. Joseph Sweetland built the first grist mill, in the north-east part of the town, on lot 79, in 1805. John Corbet built the first saw mill about the year 1803. The first death in the town was that of Mrs. Susannah Potter, wife of Nathaniel Potter, in June, 1795. Mr. Potter, his daughter and a babe four months old, were all the per- sons present at her death. Mr. Potter went four miles for neigh- bors to lay out his wife, and took the door of their log house with which to make a coffin, that being the only material at hand suitable for the purpose. Wild animals were very numerous and the flocks and herds of the settlers frequently suffered from their depredations. It was necessary to yard them at night to protect them. Mr. John Hooker had a cow killed by wolves, and afterwards, having dug a pit to entrap the beasts, he caught seven, and received a bounty of $10.00 for them.
The population in 1865 was 1,447, and the area 25,737 acres.
FREETOWN was formed from Cincinnatus, April 21, ISIS, and embraces the north-west quarter of that town. In 1820 it was increased by the addition of lot 20 of Virgil. It lies upon the ridge between the Otselie and Thoughnioga Rivers, south-east of the center of the County. The surface is high and hilly, and in some parts much broken by the streams which flow north and south through narrow ravines. Forests still cover a considerable part of the more hilly portions. The soil is a clay loam and in some parts sandy and gravelly, better adapted to grazing than to grain.
Freetown Corners, (p. v.) situated near the center of the town, contains two churches and about twenty-five houses.
The town contains four churches, three saw mills and one cheese factory.
82
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
The first settler of this town was Robert Smith, a Revolutionary soldier, who drew lot No. 2 and moved on to it with his family in 1500, having previously erected a log cabin for their reception. Soon after Mr. Smith located on his lot, Caleb Sheapard and Da- vaid Monrose moved from the eastern part of the State and settled on lot 22. Mr. Monrose remained on his farm until his death in 1837. His son Daniel subsequently occupied the same farm. In 1802 William Smith, a native of Vermont, came from Great Bend, Penn., to Freetown, and settled on lot 25. In 1804 Gideon Chap- in located on lot 42, and erected soon after the first saw mill in the town. There is at present a larger one covering the same ground, under which is a run of mill stones for grinding feed. This is the only grist mill in the town. Gen. Sam'l G. Hathaway, originally from Freetown, Mass., removed from Chenango County and pur- chased the farm of Robert Smith, consisting of about three hundred acres. In 1806 Eleazer Fuller, from Northampton, Mass., settled on lot 12; and Rockwell Wildman and Isaac Robertson settled on lot 15, in 180S. Among the other early settlers were Jolin Acker, Henry Gardner, Charles and Curtis Richardson, William Tuthill, Jacob Hicks, Isaac Doty, John Backus and Aruna Eaton.
The first church (Baptist) was organized in 1810 by Elder Ca- leb Sheapard, the first preacher. Elder Sheapard resided in Lisle, Broome County. Benj. W. Capron was the first settled minister. Don A. Robertson was the first school teacher, and Peter McVean was the first merchant.
The early settlers of this town endured all the hardships and privations incident to the settlement of a new country, being desti- tute of roads, mills and other improvements, which they subse- quently enjoyed. The following description of a trip to mill is from " Goodwin's History of Cortland County."
"The early pioneers, in preference to going to Ludlowville or Chenango Forks to mill, usually went to Onondaga Hollow or Manlius Square, a distance of forty miles, fording ereeks and rivers, exposing themselves to cold and storms by night and day, being obliged to camp out two or three nights during their journey to and from mill, through an almost entire wilderness, filled with wolves, panthers and other ravenous beasts of prey. As there were then no roads, they traveled by marked trees, whiling away the dull hours of time by whistling or singing some merry tune, or telling some legendary tale which may have been preserved for centuries by Indian tradition. At night, tired and hungry, the jaded horses were tiel to a tree, and by the roots of some enormous oak or hem- lock the pioneers would find a resting place, with the bags for pil- lows and an Indian blanket for a covering ; and there, in the deep forest, surrounded by gaunt, howling wolves and poisonous reptiles, with the deep blue sky above all radiant with night's darkness, or
83
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
perchance o'erspread with tartarean blackness, while the harsh, hoarse thunders rolled and reverberated through the wide expanse ; now startled by a vivid flash of forked lightning as it leaps athwart the darkened sky, or shatters a proud old relic of the ancient wil- derness into a thousand pieces, would await the return of day to re- sume their journey. And thus they endured these privations until 1798, when a mill was erected at Homer, or a year later, when Mr. Hubbard, of Cortlandville, built the old Red Mill."
John Conger, from Washington County, settled on lot 12 in 1812, having purchased one hundred and five acres. In 1813 Aus- tin Waters removed from Saybrook, Connecticut, and located on the same lot, having purchased one hundred and five acres, all cov- ered with a heavy growth of timber.
Among the early incidents in the life of Gen. Samuel G. Hatha- way, is the following : Desiring to make somne addition to his stock of cattle, soon after he came to Freetown, he started for Caleb Sheapard's residence, about five miles distant, for the purpose of purchasing a calf. It was nearly night, and without coat or stock- ings, he started on his journey with no road but marked trees. He succeeded in obtaining the calf and started for home, leading his purchase by a rope halter. Darkness soon came on and he was unable to distinguish the marked trees, but hoping to come out all right, he continued to press forward. At length being satisfied that he was not in the right course, he stopped and began to make pre- parations for camping out for the night. These preparations con- sisted of tying his calf to a tree and lying upon the ground by its side. Here amidst the hooting of owls, the howling of wolves and the screaming of panthers, he passed the night. When morning dawned he found himself about two miles out of his way. Hastily untying his calf, he started for home, where he arrived in time for breakfast, and with a keen appetite for that most desirable meal.
In November, 1799, an old hunter was passing between the Ti- onghnioga River and Freetown Center, when, on ascending an ele- vation, he struck an Indian trail leading to the pine woods. Soon after entering upon this trail he heard a piercing scream as if com- ing from a female in distress. This was repeated and, as he quick- ened his pace, the sound became more distinct, and he could hear moaning, as if some one was suffering great pain. His anxiety was soon relieved however by seeing an enormous panther springing upon a deer that was struggling upon the ground and almost cov- ered with blood. The hunter was unarmed, and he hesitated a ino- ment undecided what to do, but concluded to hasten on his way rather than run the risk of furnishing the panther with any part of the meal he seemed to be taking from the deer. He had not pro- ceeded far before he was startled by what appeared to be the leap of a panther behind him. As he had a few pounds of fresh venison
84
GAZETTEEN OF TOWNS.
he picked up a heavy bludgeon and hastened on until he came to a large log, when he ent his venison into two or three pieces and throwing one into the mouth of the log and the others at a little distance from it, awaited the approach of the enraged beast. The moon was shining sufficiently to enable the hunter to see the pan- ther approach and attempt to enter the cavity of the log, when the hunter sprang upon him and with one blow laid the aminal almost powerless upon the ground. By repeating the blows the huge beast was soon dispatched, and the hunter hurriedly taking the hide from the body retraced his steps homeward. The next day a grand hunt was proposed which resulted in the death of three panthers, five wolves and six bears.
The population in 1568 was 942 and the area 15,265 acres.
HARFORD was formed from Virgil, May 2, 1845, and embraces the south-west quarter of that township and the south- west corner of the County. The surface consists of a high, broken udland, from 200 to 700 feet above the valleys, and from 1,500 to 1,200 feet above tide. The Owego Hills, in the central part, are the most elevated portions. The declivities are generally steep mel often rocky, and the summits are crowned with forests. A large part of the town is covered with forests. The streams are still brooks. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loain, producing oly moderately, and is better adapted to pasturage than to grain
Harford, (p. v.) situated a little south-west of the center of the town, contains two churches, viz., Methodist and Union, a school with two departments, a hotel, two stores, several mechanic shops, a Meat: saw mill and about 200 inhabitants. The village is on the line of the Southern Central Railroad, which is nearly completed. It is confidently expected that this will add materially to the pros- qu rity of the village.
Hurford Mills, (p. v.) commonly called South Harford, is situated in the south part, on Owego Creek, and contains a store, a tele- graph office, a wagon shop, a harness shop, a blacksmith shop, a Afost mill and saw mill, a steam saw mill, a school house and about twenty-five dwellings. The Christians have an organization here to church edifice. This denomination have a church in the ast part of the town, at Babcock's Hollow.
'The first settlement of this town was made in 1803 by Dorastus I WAS; Thomas Nichols, John Green and Cornelius Worden. I .. W.rattled in the south part of the town, then a perfect wilder- Wild beasts were plenty and for several years he was ob- Good to protect his sheep at night. Eber Burgess, L. Barnes, Gordon Burlingame, Nathan Heaton, Theodore E. Hart and Levi Moore, were among the other early settlers.
..... . . ...
... ....
..........
..........
.......
....
XAYMYYY
& West fayette St.,
SYRACUSE, N. Y.
A
parati.'
Office expreilly for
Job mating, in all its branches, CAN do its Work better and cheaper than any Newspaper Concern in existence. Such a One is mine. Sec next Page.
..
Syracute, January 1. 1860.
..
........
.... ... ..
..:
F
GOOD PRINTING is an Article that People are beginning to appreciate more than formerly. And it is an abfurd Idea that the Newfpapers at- tempt to make the Public believe. that they alone can make
beft Work.
6
..
......
.......
..........
...... ..... ..
.... ...........
fitt
" Juinis opibusqu
...
.......... .....
..... ..........
... .......
.. .. ..........
... ..
. .... ..........
.... ......
. .
. :
"ANIMIS OPIBUSQUE PARATI."
Smith,
PRINTER 2
the best fueil and careful Green- fion will do it.
Ta„ ¢
- will compare sperimen. irith ali such bousiers. ivy to do good tror! and expect to be
منا
1
F
1 THIRD FLOOR,
SYRACUSE, N. Y.
ĆA 85
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
Theodore E. Hart kept the first store. The first school was taught by Miss Betsey Curran, in 1807. The first birth was that of Dr. Charles Barnes ; the first marriage that of Obed Graves and Alice Munroe; and the first death that of Mrs. Dorastus De Wolf. Nathan Heaton built the first grist-mill in 1814, and Lewis Moore kept the first inn. Rev. Seth Williston was the first preacher, and the first religious services were held in 1804. The first church (Baptist) was organized in 1815. The first post-office was estab- lished in 1825, the place being then called Worthington, but was subsequently changed to Harford.
The first church edifice erected in this town was a Union church, erected in 1832-3 by Methodists, Congregationalists and Univer- salists. It was dedicated in the fall of 1833. Organizations of these denominations had existed for several years previous to the erection of the church. In 1857 the Methodists erected a church for themselves, and this is now the only church used regularly for church purposes in the town. Rev. I. Lord is the present pastor. The population in 1865 was 888, and its area 13,886 acres.
HOMER was forined March 5, 1794. Solon was taken off in 1798, Virgil in 1804 and Cortlandville in 1829. It lies upon the west border of the County, a little north of the center. The sur- face is uneven and consists of the valleys of the two branches of the Tionghnioga River and the ridges which border upon them. The valley of the western branch is about a mile in width and ele- vated 1,096 feet above tide. The eastern valley is narrower. The two valleys are separated by a ridge of hills from 200 to 500 feet above the river, and another similar ridge occupies the south-east- ern corner of the town. The western part of the town is a hilly upland, 1,500 to 1,600 feet above tide. The Tioughnioga receives Cold and Factory Brooks from the west, which are its chief tribu- taries. The valleys of these streams open into corresponding val- leys to the northward, through which flow streams emptying into Otisco and Skaneateles Lakes. The soil upon the river flats is a deep, rich alluvial loam, well adapted to tillage ; upon the highlands it is a sandy and gravelly loam, better adapted to pasturage.
Homer, (p. v.) incorporated May 11, 1835, is finely situated on the Tioughnioga River and is a station on the Syraense, Bingham- ton and New York Railroad. It contains four churches, an acade- my, a newspaper office, a bank, three hotels, several manufactories and about 2,000 inhabitants. The streets and walks are very broad and ornamented with beautiful shade trees, which add much to the general appearance of the village. There are many very pretty residences and some very fine business blocks. The main street extends nearly north and south, is about a mile in length and em- braces most of the business part of the village. Near the center of
F
86
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
the village is a beautiful park, upon the west side of which stand the Baptist, Methodist, Congregational and Episcopal churches, and the Cortland Academy, all facing the park. The streets are lighted with gas.
Cortland Academy was incorporated February 4, 1819. The course of study includes all the branches usually taught in the common schools, in our best academies, and most of the studies pursued in our colleges. The library numbers over fifteen hun- dred volumes of choice works in the various departments of litera- ture and science. The philosophical and chemical apparatus is am- ple for illustrating the principles of these sciences. The geological and mineralogical cabinet has been much enlarged by the liberality of the President of the Academy, and now includes a complete suit of rocks and minerals of this State, and many foreign specimens of great beauty and value. The library, apparatus and cabinet are ar- ranged in a room which has been elegantly fitted up by the citizens of the village and is always open to visitors. A new edifice is in process of erection which will be an ornament to the village and an honor to its projectors. The new edifice occupies the site of the old one, is of briek, ninety-six feet long, and its greatest width seventy-two feet. The corners of the end projections and of the central tower are of hewn stone. The main entrance in the tower is finished in the same way and arched. The windows are all sur- mounted by cut stone. The lower story is for the heating apparat- us and for chemical and lecture rooms. The second story is for the library, the cabinet, the mathematical and two large study rooms. The third story is for chapel and four study and recitation rooms. A Mansard roof gives room in the fourth story for two ante-rooms and a large hall with a central height of twenty-six feet. There are two rear entrances with stair-cases communicating with every story. George Almy is the architeet.
The village contains two public halls.
Barber's Hall is seventy-five feet by eighty, finished in the most elaborate style and capable of seating 1,000 persons. It is one of the finest halls in Central New York.
Wheadon Hall is forty by fifty feet in size and capable of seating about 700 or 800 people.
Homer Flouring and Gristmill is situated on the west bank of the Tioughnioga River, near the center of the village. It is owned by Messrs. Darby & Son, and is capable of grinding about 300 bushels per day.
An Oil Mill, located in the south-west part of the village, is do- ing a good business.
The Edge Tool Manufactory of R. Blanshan & Co., upon the east bank of the river, is run by steam and manufactures all kinds of edge tools of an excellent quality.
87
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
A Marble Factory, near the depot, turns out very nice work. A Brewery, upon " Brewery Hill," is doing a fair business.
A Flax and Cordage Mill is located a little outside of the corpo- ration, owned by John L. Boorum. This mill produces about a tun of cotton cordage per day, and manufactures the flax from about 1,000 acres per year, valued at forty dollars per acre. There are fifteen tenant houses connected with the factory which employs about thirty-five hands.
Glen Wood Cemetery occupies an elevated position about half a mile west of the village. The grounds include about thirty acres, are laid out with much taste and overlook the villages of Homer and Cortland, and a large extent of surrounding country. The Cemetery is under the control of an association organized February 21, 1862.
Homer Mechanical Brass Band was organized in 1865, and fur- nishes music for all occasions.
East Homer, (p. v.) situated in the east part of the town, near the Tioughnioga River, contains a church (M. E.,) a hotel, a blacksmith shop, a carpenter and wagon shop, a school house and about 150 inhabitants. The church was erected in 1841 and dedi- cated in 1842. Rev. HI. Hawley was the first pastor.
Hibbard's Butter and Cheese Factory is situated about one-half mile north-east of East Homer. The building was erected in 1866 and is thirty feet by one hundred and twenty, and two stories high. The milk of from 300 to 500 cows is used, and from 20,000 to 37,- 000 pounds of butter, and from 55,000 to 100,000 pounds of cheese are made annually. The heating of the vats and the churning are done by steain. Twenty churns can be run at a time and thirty cheeses pressed.
Carpenterville, situated on the east branch of the Tioughnioga River, about four miles from Cortland Village, contains a gristmill, a sawmill, a wagon shop, a blacksmith shop, two turning shops and about a dozen houses.
Mr. V. Carpenter, on lot 47, has a fine trout pond, well stocked with fish of all sizes from the smallest size to two pounds in weight.
Little York, (p. v.) situated on the west branch of Thoughnioga River, in the north part of the town, contains a hotel, a store, a very fine school house, a gristinill, a sawmill, a peg factory, & wagon shop and about twenty dwellings.
Homer Cheese Factory is situated about one and a half miles from Homer Village, it was erected in 1864 and uses the milk of from 600 to 1200 cows. The building is 175 feet by 32, and two stories high. In 1865, 573,808 pounds of cheese were made ; in 1866, 382,579 pounds; and in 1867, 253,571 pounds were made.
The first settlement of this town, and of Cortland County, was made in 1791, by Spencer Beebe and his brother-in-law, Amos
88
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
Todd. They emigrated from New Haven, Conn., in 1789, and lo- cated at Windsor, Broome County. In the fall of 1791 they settled a little north of Homer Village. Mrs. Beebe was the only female who accompanied them. Their first residence was composed of poles and was twelve by fifteen feet. Previous to its completion their team straved away and Messrs. Beebe and Todd both went in pursuit, leaving Mrs. B. alone for three days, with no protection but the four walls of their cabin, without roof or floor, and only a blanket fastened by forks for a door. Without, the howling wolf and screaming panther made night hideous. During the following winter the husband and the brother of Mrs. Beebe again left her to return to Windsor for their goods, and were snow-bound for six weeks, during which time she was the sole occupant of her lonely cabin and the only human being within a circuit of thirty miles. Their goods were brought up the river in a boat. At Binghamton they were joined by John Miller, who assisted them in removing obstructions and propelling the boat. Where the water was too shallow for the boat it was drawn across by the oxen. Mr. Todd located on lot 42. In the spring of 1792 John House, James Mat- thews, James Moore, Silas and Daniel Miller, came from Bingham- ton. Squire Miller located on lot 56 and Mr. Matthews on the same lot. Darius Kinney came from Brimfield, Mass., in 1793. and lo- cated on the east river. Thomas L. and Jacob Bishop located on lot 25 in 1795, and Thomas Wilcox on lot 61. John Keep, Solo- mon and John Hubbard. came from Massachusetts and settled, Mr. Keep on lot 56, Solomon Hubbard on lot 25, and John on lot 26.
The first male child born in the town was Homer Moore, and the first female, Betsey House. The first death was that of Mrs. Thomas Gould Alvord, in 1995: and the first marriage that of Za- doe Strong and Widow Russell. The first school house was built a little north of Homer village in 1798, and the first teacher was Joshua Ballard. Enos Stimson kept the first inn and John Coats the first store. Jedediah Barber was the first permanent and suc- cessful merchant. The first gristmill was built in 1798 by John Keep, Solomon Hubbard and Asa White. Luther Rice was the first physician and Townsend Ross was the first lawyer and post- master. Prof. W. B. Beck was the first daguerreian artist and built the first daguerreian carriage in the State.
In 179S forty dollars and seventy-eight cents were appropriated for the common schools of the town. The annual town meeting was held at Mr. Miller's house, April 8, 1796. John Miller was elected supervisor and Peter Ingersoll town clerk. In 1796 it was voted ' that every man make his own pound. That hogs run at large without yokes or rings. That fences be made four feet and a half high, and not to exceed four inches between logs or poles.' In 1997
89
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
it was agreed by a unanimons vote ' that every man in the town may provide his own pound for every creature that does him dam- age, and yet be entitled to damage the same as at the town pound, and that hogs be free commoners.' In 198 a wolf's sealp com- manded a premium of from five to ten dollars, according to size ; that of a bear, five dollars; a panther ten dollars, and fox fifty cents. The population of Homer in 1797 was ninety-two.
In 1815 William Sherman came to Homer and erected a ma- chine shop for the manufacture of nails, the machinery being so constructed as to feed, cut, head and stamp the letter S on the head ofeach nail, without any hand work. This was the first of the kind in the State of New York. Iron was very high at that time and fourpenny nails were worth twenty-five cents a pound. Mr. Sher- inan also engaged in the manufacture of oil. In 1827 he erected the " Homer Exchange" store in which for nearly thirty years he conducted a heavy mercantile trade.
John Hubbard, the father of Simon Hubbard, was one of the early settlers; he located here in 1794. The first millstone ever used in Cortland County was taken from the farm now owned by Simon Hubbard. The place from which it was taken is distinctly visible at this time. William Blashfield came from Hampden County, Mass., in 1802, and helped to clear the land upon which Homer village is located. Mr. Blashfield died in 1864, upon the farm where he had lived for forty-seven years. Mrs. Electa Ho- bert came in 1800, and has lived sixty years upon the same farm, known as the Hobert farin. Mr. Gideon Hobart, whose name was formerly Hoar, came to this town in 1799, with an ox team, from Brimfield, Mass .. Harvey Fairbanks, one of the early settlers, is still alive, and has lived for fifty three years on the same farm. The valley in which he now lives was a wilderness which he helped to clear. William Walter came from Litchfield, Conn., in ISUS, and has since lived upon the farm upon which he first settled. On lot 13 is a small but finely situated cemetery, called the Atwater burying ground, the land having been given by Mr. Atwater. Some of the most distinguished of the early settlers are buried here ; among them Thomas G., Ebenezer and Charles Alvord, and others.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.