USA > New York > Cortland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Cortland County, N. Y., for 1869 > Part 13
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DAVID R. LOCKE, known throughout the country as Petroleum V. Nasby, is a native of this town, and his father, Nathaniel Locke, still resides here.
PREBLE, named in honor of Commodore Edward Preble, was formed from Tully, upon the organization of Cortland County, April 8, 1808, and embraced the south-half of that town. Its size was diminished in IS15 by taking off the town of Scott. It is situated upon the north border of the County, west of the center. The surface is somewhat broken and diversified, consisting of the valley of the western branch of the Thoughnioga River, which is about two miles wide, and the ridges which rise on the east and west. Mount Topping, situated south-west of the village, is 1,700 feet above tide. The declivities of the hills are steep, and their summits in some instances sharp ridges. A valley extending northward, opens into the valley of Otisco Inlet. Several small lakes are situated in the north part of the town, and others similar
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are situated in the south part, known as Little York Lakes. The soil is a fine quality of gravelly loam.
Preble, (p. v.) situated on the Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad, contains two churches, a hotel, two general mer- chandise stores, one hardware and one drug store, one cooper shop, one school, employing two teachers; a harness shop, two black- sinith shops, one wagon shop and several other shops of various kinds, and about 400 inhabitants.
A Good Templar's Lodge was organized in July, 1868.
Preble Cheese Factory is located about a mile south-east of the village. It was built in 1863-4 by Moses and William Palmer. The building is 100 feet by 35, and two stories high, with an engine room 12 by 16 feet. The vats are heated by steam, and the milk of from 500 to 600 cows is used annually.
Baltimore and Preble Center are hamlets.
The first settlement of this town was made in 1796 by James Cravat and John Gill. Mr. Cravat was a native of Connecticut, but removed from Pompey Hill and located on lot 6S. In 1998 Harry Hill and Elijah Mason came in and settled on lots 87 and ?s. During the next two years Seth Trowbridge, Minnah Hyatt and Samuel Orvis settled on lot 59. Augustus Thorp located on lot 78 in 1801, and Jabez B. Phelps, John Osgood, Silas Topping and Samuel C. Buckelow settled in various locations in the town in 1802. Judge Phelps located on lot 88, practiced medicine for a time but subsequently turned his attention to polities, and was elected to various responsible offices. Lytle Ferguson, Amos Skeel and Jason Comstock came into the town in 1802-3, and John Callyer, Dr. Robert D. Taggart and Edward Cummings in 1804. Mr. Cummings came from Peterboro, N. H., and settled on lot 59. He purchased one hundred acres and reared a family of thirteen children. Among the other early settlers were Garret Van Hoesen and his sons, Garret, Francis and Albert, William Vandenburgh, John C. Hollenbeck and Richard Egbertson, most of whom were from Greene County.
The first school in this town was taught by Miss Ruth Thorp, in 1801. Previous to the establishment of a post-office at Preble Cor- ners, about 15!2. the settlers received their mail from Pompey Hill. The first birth in the town was that of Nancy Gill, October 25, 1796 ; the first marriage was that of Amos Bull aud Sally Ma- sou, in 1799; and the first death that of John Patterson, in 1798. The first gristmill was erected in 1806 by Samuel C. Woolson. In 1827 the building was taken down and the main part of the present mill erected on the original site. Amnos Skeel was the first super. visor and the first justice of the peace of the town; Garret Van Hoesen the first town clork, and Samuel Taggert the first constable.
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The first church was organized the 27th of August, 1801, consist- ing of eleven members. It was called the Congregational Church of Tully, but has since been designated as the First Presbyterian Church of Preble. It was formed chiefly through the instrumental- ity of Rev. Theodore Hinsdale and Joel Hale, missionaries from Connecticut. Rev. Matthew Harrison, the first pastor, commenced his labors in 1812.
The Baptist denomination was organized at an early period with fourteen members, under the labors of Elder Abbott.
The Methodist Church was organized in 1827 by Calvin Win- slow; Rev. Mr. Sayers was the first regular preacher. Elder Puffer, commonly called "Old Chapter and Verse," was at one time the preacher at this place. It was said that if the Bible should be destroyed he could re-write every chapter, verse and even word in its proper place.
The population in 1865 was 1,267 and the area 16,114 acres.
SCOTT was formed from Preble, April 14, 1815, and named in honor of General Winfield Scott. It lies in the north-west corner of the County. Its surface is chiefly an upland, broken by two deep and narrow valleys which extend north and south through the town. The declivities of the hills are very steep and in some places precipitous. Cold Brook flows through the eastern valley and Factory Brook and Skaneateles Inlet through the western. Skaneateles Lake touches the north-west corner. The soil is chiefly a sandy and gravelly loam, better adapted to grazing than to tillage.
Scott Center, (Scott p. o.) situated near the center of the town, contains three churches, viz., Presbyterian, Methodist and Seventh Day Baptist, and about 300 inhabitants.
East Scott, (p. o.) in the north-east part, on Cold Brook, is a hamlet.
The mills of J. L. & L. IT. Comstock are situated on Skaneateles Inlet, about a mile from Scott. The gristmill is three stories high and contains three runs of stones. The gristmill and shingle mill of George Southwick is situated on Skaneateles Inlet. There are several other mills in various parts of the town.
The first permanent settlement was made in 1799 on Iot 82, by Peleg and Solomon Babcock and Asa Howard, from Leyden, Mass., and George Dennison, from Vermont. Cornish Messenger and Daniel Jakeway, from De Ruyter, settled on lot 92 in 1800, and Maxon Babcock upon lot $2 in 1801. Gershom Richardson and his two sons-in-law, by the name of Clark, came from Pompey and settled on lot 71, and Henry Burdick, from Colraine, Mass., on lot 72. John Gillet, from Connecticut, came here in 1805, and sub- sequently located on lot 84. Mr. Gillett was a justice of the peace for twenty years, associate judge for fifteen years, a member of the
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1869 1869.
LLEN. MAR
No. 1
MESSENGER
HALL BLOCK.
CORTLAND, N. Y.
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN
WALL PAPER, SHADES,
FANCY GOODS
A FULL LINE OF
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
-
AND
ALEX, MAHAN, NO. 1 MESSENGER HALL BLOCK. CORTLAND, N. Y.
AT THE ABOVE LOCATION THE CITIZENS OF CORTLAND AND ADJOIN- ING COUNTIES, CAN ALWAYS FEEL CONFIDENT OF FINDING A LARGE AND CHOICE SELECTION OF
MISCELLANEOUS BOOKS AND SCHOOL BOOKS,
AND A . ARGE STOCK OF
STATIONER 9
INITIAL PAPER STAMPEL IO ORDER. PEOPLE MAY ORDER BY MAIL JUST AS SAFELY AS IF PURCHASING IN PERSON
AT THE ABOVE NAMED STORE IS ALWAYS KEPT ONE OF THE MOST COMPLETE AND VARIEL STOCKE OF
WALL PAPER AND SHADES
IN THE STATE OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY DEALERS WILL FIND IT PROFITABLE TO CALL AS THE WHOLESALB RATES IN THIS DEPARTMENT ARE UNAPPROACHABLE
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE THE PROPRIETOR OF THE STORE HAS ADDED A FULL LINE OF
Musical Instruments and Sheet Music,
MAKING THIS A SEPARATE FRANCH AND AN AVIATION TO HIS REGU- LAR TRADE, T WILL FI . 8% AT ONCE THAT HIS PRICES WILL BE MADE TO SUIT ENTRY ONE FRI SO ONE GO TO A LARGER TOWN TO PURCHASE AN INSTRUMINI, WHERE EXPENSES ARE HIGH. AND DEAL. ERS DEPEND ENTIRELY FON HIELANGH FOR FROFITS WHEN THEY CAN DO BETTER NEAR .... ยท
ANY PERSON, WHETHER WEING TO PURCHASE OR NOT. MAY PASS A PLEASANT HOUR AT THEAFFICHE ALMIRING THE LARGE COLLECTION OF BEAUTIFUL CHROMOS AND FA NINGS STATUETTES AND GROUPS. COLLECTIONS OF RARE SHE: L CASES OF FIRES AND FINE GIFT BOOKS THIS STOCK CONSINING 4
FINE FANCY GOODS
OF EVERY DIMINUTION IS NI !! THE YEAR ROUND FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF FFP-CNSEE IR ! FEELING OR FIRTHDAY - RES.
ENTS
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
Legislature and Presidential Elector, all of which offices he filled to the general satisfaction of. the public and with credit to himself. Jacob Smith, from Delphi, located on lot 81, and Daniel Double- day on lot 85, where he spent a long and prosperous life. In 1805 Elisha Sabins and John Babcock cleared a road from Scott's cor- ners to Babeock's corners. They transported their goods to their new homes ou sleds. The next year Isaac Hall passed over the road with a wagon and a load of lumber. Game was very abund- ant, bears were very troublesome to the farmers, destroying their corn and in other respects proving themselves very troublesome neighbors. Deer were also very numerous, and one of the early settlers relates that he went to the woods to cut a broom-stick, ac- companied by a large dog. The snow was deep and the crust sufli- ciently hard to bear a man. Before he had secured his broom-stick he had killed seven deer.
The first merchant in the town was Nathan Babcock ; the first inn keeper, James Babcock, and the first postinaster, John Gillett. The first birth was that of Harriet Babeock ; the first marriage that of Solomon Babcock and Amy Morgan, in 1802. There being no person near who was authorized to marry, the parties went to Ho- mer on horseback, attended church and then called on Esquire Bishop, who performed the ceremony for thein. The first death was that of an infant daughter of Peleg Babcock. The first school was taught by Amy Morgan. The first post-master at East Scott was Alvin Kellogg, of whom Ex-President Filhnore learned his trade, that of a clothier. The first ordained preacher was Elder Town.
The town of Scott was greatly harrassed by the depredations of bears, and in March, 1799, three persons started in pursuit. One of the hunters soon gave out and the other two continued the trail leading towards Skaneateles Lake. The snow was deep and these two soon gave up the chase and returned by a circuitous route, hop- ing to meet with an old bear that had wintered in the neighbor- hood of the hunters' home. As they approached the den ofthe .Id depredator he was discovered and both hunters discharged their guns, but only wounded the bear. He hastily left for other quar- ters and was pursued all day, and, after camping out near Skaneste- les Lake, they drove the bear into a clearing some eight miles from home, where they killed him and took off his hide, out of which they made each of them a cap, which served to commemorate the event. The population in 1865 was 1,149 and its area 12,928 acres.
SOLON was formed from Homer. March 9, 1798. It em- braced the original military township, No. 20. Its original area was diminished April 4, Istl, by amiexing a part to Truxton, and, in 1849, by the formation of Taylor. It is an interior town, lying G
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near the center of the County. The surface is broken and diversi- fied by numerous narrow valleys of small streams which flow through it. The hills upon the east border are from 1,400 to 1,500 feet in height above tide. Many of the highest summits are eov- cred with forests and are too rough for cultivation. Trout Brook flows in a westerly direction through near the center of the town, in a narrow, fertile valley. The soil is a gravelly loam, better adapted to grazing than to the raising of grain.
Solon, (p. v.) situated in the central part of the town, contains two churches, a hotel, a store, several shops and about 100 inhab- itants.
The first permanent settlement was made in 1794 by Roderick Beebe and Johnson Bingham. The former settled on lot 75 and the latter on lot 62. Mr. Bingham purchased 550 acres, reared a large family of children and died at the age of 79. Col. Elijah Wheeler, from New Haven, Conn., located on lot 100 in 1801. Garret Pritchard, from Litchfield, Conn., located on lot 74 in 1807. He came with a pack on his back, having only $16.50 in money. His father came in the previous year under very embarrassing eir- cuinstances, but the son, with the nerve and energy which charac- terized many of the early settlers, determined to succeed. After earning and paying $: 00 for his father, he located on lot 75, where he became a prosperous farmer. Henry L. Randall came from Sharon, Conn., in Is08, and located on lot 74. He came with a two-horse team, bringing a few necessary articles for immediate use. Ile resided for more than fifty years on the same lot and reared a large family, two of whom, William Randall and Eliza Stephens, now reside in the town. Jonathan Rundall also located ou lot 74, and Ebenezer Blake on 84. The latter was a soldier of the Revolution and fought at the battle of Bunker Hill. Luke Cass, from New Hampshire, settled on lot 51, where F. L. Boyce now lives. Columbus Cass, son of Luke, came with his father and now lives on lot 61. In 1812 Eben Wilcox built the gristmill now owned by Philo F. Moses : it has two runs of stones and is a flour- ing and custom mill. Stephen N. Peck, with his wife and two chil- dren, came from Dutchess County in 1805. He located on lot 62, and is still living at the age of ninety years and retains to a good degree all his faculties. Lyman Peck, E. Burlingham, Platt and John Peck, now live in town. Russell Warren settled on lot 51, where M. O'Brien now lives, in 1817. Four of his children, viz., Pierce, Ransom, Alfred and Polly Gilbert, now reside in town. Samnel Gilbert and Stephen Pendleton, Revolutionary soldiers, settled and died here. Josiah Bean, from New Hampshire, settled on lot 72, where Quigley now lives. Lydia Randall, his daughter, now lives in town. Luke Chapin, the father of Hiram Chapin, now living in town, came from Massachusetts in 1805 and settled on
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lot 42. Joel Rankin, from Massachusetts, also settled on lot 42 in 1807; his daughter Margaret is the wife of Amos Pritchard. In 1805 Gen. S. G. Hathaway, from Massachusetts, settled on lot 71, and in 1819 removed to lot 73, where his widow and son, Calvin L., and two daughters, Lavinia and Elizabeth, now live.
When the Great Rebellion broke out the patriotic people of So- lon volunteered freely, and many of their number sealed their de- votion to their country with their blood. The following are the names of those who gave their lives in the defense of Republican Liberty : Lucius Randall, son of Orrin Randall, was killed at Gravelly Run, March 29th, 1865; Orrin Reed was killed in the same battle; John Cahill died in a rebel prison ; Dayton Harvey, son of Chillis Harvey, died from wounds received in battle at Get- tysburg; and John Stevens, son of Jacob Stevens, died in Libby Prison; Job Gillett died in a hospital ; Dennis B. Ilicks died of wounds received in the service; Edwin Fish died in hospital at Hilton Head, and - Walker died at home; James Atwood died in war, and Adelbert Taylor died in Washington. The memory of the patriotic dead will be fresh in the hearts of all loyal men when monuments of marble shall have crumbled in the dust.
In 1807 Richard Maybury came from Luzerne, Penn., and settled on lot 53 of the " States Hundred." He is represented as an in- dustrious and worthy man. Among other early settlers were Ben- jamin and Lewis Beebe, Daniel Porter, Zerah Tinker, Elisha John- son and Noah Greeley.
The first birth was that of a daughter of Johnson Bingham ; the first marriage that of Robert Smith and Amy Smith ; the first death was that of Lydia Bingham, May 9th, 1798; Johnson Bing- ham died June 8th, 1843, aged eighty, and his wife, Annie, died November 14th, 1865, aged 102 years, eleven months and twenty- five days. A short time before her death she was able to knit and walk about the house. The first school was taught by Roxana Beebe and Lydianna Stewart, in 1804. Benjamin Tubbs kept the first store ; Lewis Beebe the first tavern, and Noah Greeley built the first mill. The first church was organized in 1804 by Rev. Josiah Butler, the first preacher.
The population in 1865 was 995 and its area 18,930 acres.
TAYLOR was formed from Solon, December 5, 1849, and named in honor of Gen. Zachary Taylor. It lies near the center of the east border. The surface is an upland and very hilly and broken. The declivities are steep, some of them precipitous. rising from 600 to 800 feet above the valleys. Mount Roderick, lying partly in this town and partly in Solon, is the highest point. The streams are small brooks and flow in a southerly direction, most of
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them into Otselic Creek. Taylor Pond is a small body of water in the central part. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam.
Taylor, (p. v.) situated in the south-east part of the town, on Pond Brook, contains a sawmill and about twenty-five houses.
Union Valley, (p. v.) in the north-east part, contains a church, a store, a hotel, several shops and about twenty-five houses.
About three miles west of Taylor is a large creamery, using the milk of 145 cows. The building is 108 feet by 26. Both steam and horse power are used in the establishment. At Taylor Pond are a grist and a sawinill. There are several other mills and cheese factories in various parts of the town.
The first permanent settlement was made by Ezra Rockwell and his sons, Ezra and Thomas. They came from Lenox, Mass., in 1793, and located on lot 78. Mr. Rockwell, Sr., served in the Revolution and drew the lot upon which he settled. In 1795 Thomas Rockwell removed to Cincinnatus, and after a residence of thirty-two years, returned to Taylor and located on lot 100. Or- ellana Beebe came from New Haven in 1796 and located on lot ?, in Solon, where he remained two years and then removed to Tay- lor and located on lot 100. Lewis Hawley, from Huntington, Conn., removed to Pitcher in 1805, and soon after to Taylor. Af- ter living in several different places he purchased 100 acres of lot 77, where he resided until his death in I858. John L. Boyd and John Phelps came from Saratoga County in 1811 ; the former lo- cated on lot 98, the latter on lot 86. In 1814 David Wire, from Connectient, located on lot 100. His father, Thomas Wire, was a native of England, was kidnapped in London when seven years old and sold in Boston, where he remained until the commencement of the French and English war. Ile was then impressed into the English service for six years. He subsequently settled in Comee- ticut, and when the war of the Revolution broke out, enlisted and served until its close.
The first merchant in the place was Thomas Rockwell, and the first post-master, Ezra Rockwell. Barak Niles was the first school teacher; the first sawmill was erected in 1812 by Thomas Rock- well, and the first gristmill by Messrs. Wells & Lord. The first birth was that of Polly H. Beebe ; the first marriage that of Asaph Butler and Lucy Beebe: and the first death that of Zerah Beebe in 1800. The first missionary was Dr. Williston and the first settled minister was Reuben Hurd.
The early pioneers were frequently subjected to great hardships from the scarcity of provisions, and the uncertainty of procuring them even by making long journeys. During one of the seasons of scarcity, Orellana Beebe and his son Koakland went to Genoa, Cayuga County, to purchase wheat, which he afterwards had ground at Esquire Bradley's mill. The next spring, being equally
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in want, and not wishing to spend the time to go himself, as he was anxious to get in a erop of corn, asked his son, then only ten years old, if he could go and get some grain or flour. "I can try," was the boy's reply, and forthwith preparations were made and at an early hour in the morning he was on his way. He took with him three bags, each containing eight pounds of maple sugar, with which to pay for his wheat, at the rate of eight pounds for a bushel. llis only guide through the dense forest was marked trees. Ile reached his destination at night and inquired of Mr. Bradley if he could let him have the grain. On receiving a negative reply the boy burst into tears, but was soon quieted on being told by Mr. Bradley that he would give him the value of his sugar in flour, and keep him and his horse over night free of charge. Early in the morning the boy set out on his return home. When he reached Judge Bingham's, at the salt road, it was nearly dark, and the Judge persuaded him to stay over night as it would be impossible for him to find his way by marked trees. About ten o'clock the next morning he arrived at home greatly pleased with his trip.
The population in 1865 was 1,167 and its area 17,645 acres.
TRUXTON, named in honor of Commodore Thomas Trux- ton, was formed from Fabius, April 8, 1808, and embraced the south half of that military township. The north four tiers of lots of Solon were annexed April 4, 1811. Cuyler was formed from the east part of the town, November 18, 1858. It lies upon the north border of the County, east of the center. The surface is chiefly a broken upland, divided into ridges which have a northerly and sontherly direction. The east branch of the Tioughinioga River en- ters the town near the center of the east border and flows westerly until it reaches near the center, then south-westerly until it leaves the town. The other streams are its tributaries, Westcott and Stewart Brook, and Labrador Creek, from the north ; and Cheningo Creek and Trout Brook from the south. The Truxton Hills are the highest in the County. Nearly the whole surface north of the river is divided by sharp ridges with steep declivities. Labrador Pond. upon the north border, is noted for the wild and picturesque scenery which surrounds it. Tinker's Falls is a beautiful caseade upon a small brook that flows into the outlet of this pond from the east. The soil is chiefly a gravelly loam, well adapted to grazing.
Truston, (p. v.) situated in the central part of the town, contains three churches, viz., Baptist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic, a United States Armory, two hotels, two planing mills, a firkin fac- tory and a cheese box factory.
Cheaingo, in the south part of the town, on Cheningo Creek, con- tains a school house, a grocery, a blacksmith shop and about a dozen houses.
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Manchester Mills, on the Tioughnioga River, contains a flouring mill with three runs of stones, and a saw mill, manufacturing lath, shingles, pickets, &c.
Tubville contains the woolen factory of A. W. Crain & Son, em- ploying about a dozen hands, and a saw mill owned by Alvin & Hamilton.
The town is largely engaged in the dairy business, several cheese factories being located in various parts of the town. Truxton cheese factory is situated about half a mile east of the village. Willow Grove grist mill is near the same place.
Beattie's Cheese Factory No. 1 is situated about two miles south of the village, and No. 2 is about a mile south-west of Cheningo. Cheddar cheese is manufactured at these factories.
The first settlement was made in 1793 by Samuel Benedict, on lot 12. The next year Jonah Stiles and Christopher Whitney came in and located. Stiles was from Vermont and located on lot 4, and Whitney on lot 3. John Shedd, Nathaniel E. James and Charles Stewart, came in during the year 1797; the first two located on lot 63, the last on lot 93. In 1798 Robert Me Night and John Jeffrey, from New Jersey, located on lot 2, and Billy Trowbridge, from Westchester County, on lot 5. Mr. T. was a member of the Leg- islature for two terms, held the office of Sheriff one term, and was clected to several other county offices. Increase M. Hooker, a na- tive of Vermont, settled on lot 94 in 1798; he had previously spent one year in Solon. He was a soldier of the Revolution and was present at the battle of Bennington and other conflicts during that war. John Miller, from Dutchess County, located on lot 93 in 1801, and Hugh and William Stewart, from Massachusetts, on lot 4 in 1803. Other early settlers were Zebulon and Judah Pierce, Deaeon James Bell and Asa Babcock
The first post-office was established in 1799, and Stephen Hedges was the first post-master; John Miller was the first physician ; Stephen Hedges the first merchant, and Joseph Sweetland the first miller. The first child born was Stephen Potter, in 1794; and the first death that of Nathaniel Potter, the father. The State Gazet- teer reports the first birth to be that of a child of Samuel Benediet, and the first death that of a child in the same family. A. W. Ba- ker tanght the first school in 1799, and Bowen Brewster kept the first inn in 1801. James Stiles settled in the town in 1796 ; his daugh- ter Julia, then two years old, subsequently married John Wicks, who left her a widow at the age of sixty-five. She is now living with her son, John Wicks, and is supposed to be the oldest settler now liv- ing in the town.
The first church (Baptist) was organized in 1806, by Rev. Rufus Freeman. The church edifice was erected in 1818. The present number of members is 200. The Presbyterian Church
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