USA > New York > Cortland County > Gazetteer and business directory of Cortland County, N. Y., for 1869 > Part 9
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To KEEP CIDER SWEET .- Put into each barrel. immediately after making, 12 1h. ground mu: tard. 2 oz. - alt and 2 oz pulver- ized chalk. Stir them in a little cider, pour them into the barrel, and shake up well.
AGUE CURE. - Procure 1 table-spoons of fresh mandrake root juice, (by pounding) and mix with the same quantity of molas- ees, and take in three equal doses. 2 hours a part, the whole to be taken 1 hour before the chill comes on. Tyle a swallow of some good bitters before me als. for a conple of weeks after the chill- are broken, and the cure will be permanent.
CURE FOR SALT RHEUM OR SCURVY .- Take of the pokeweed, nny tune in sum- mer ; pound it ; press out the jnice: strain it inte a pewter dish; eet it in the sun till it becomes a salve-then put it into an earth- en mne: add to it fresh water and bees wax suficient to make an ointment of com- mon consistency : sinmer the whole over a fire till thoroughly mixed. When cold, rib the part affected. The patient will al- most immediately experience its good ef- fects, and the most obstinate cases will be cured in three or four months. Tested .-- The juice of the ripe berries may be pre- p.red in the same way.
SUPERIOR PAINT-FOR BRICK HOUSES .- To lime whitewash, add for a fastener, sul- phate of zine, and share with any color you choose, as yellow ochre. Venetian red, etc. It outla-ts of paint.
FELONS .- Stir 1 oz. of Venice turpentine with & tea-spoonful of water, till it looks like candied Honey, and apply by spreading upon cloth and wrapping around the finger. If not too long delayed will enre in 6 hours.
A poke root poultice is also said to be a sure remedy.
WATER PROOF BLACKING AND HARNESS POLISH .- Take two and a half ounces gum shellac and half a pint of alcohol, and set in a warm place until dissolved : then add two and a half ounces Venice turpentine to neutralize the alcohol : add a tablespoon- Ful of lampblack. Apply with a fine sponge. It will give a good polish over oil or grease.
MOSQUITOS .-- To get rid of these tormen- tors, take a few hot coals. on a shovel, or a chating dish, and burn upon them some brown sugar in your bed-rooms and parlors, and you effectually banish or destroy every inosquito for the night.
CHEAP OUTSIDE PAINT .- Take two parts (in bulk) of water lime ground fine, one part (in bulk) of white lead ground in oil. Mix them thoroughly, by adding best boiled lin. seed oil, enough to prepare it to pass through a paint mill, after which temper with oil till it can be applied with a common paint brush. Make any color to suit. It will last three times as long as lead paint, and co-t not one-fourth as much. IT is Strenton.
CURE FOR A COUGH .- A strong decoction of the leaves of the pine, sweetened with loafengar. Take a wine-glass warm on zo- ing to bed, and half an hour before eating. three times a day. The above is sold as a cough syrup, and is doing wonderful cures, and it is sold at a great profit to the mann- facturers.
How to Judge a Horse.
A correspondent, contrary to old maxime, underinke- to jut lge the character of a horse by outward appearances, and offers the fol- lowing suggestions, the result of his close observation and long experience :
If the color be light sorrell, or chestnut, his feet, legs and face white, these are mark- of kindness. It he is broad and full between the eyes. he may be depended on a - a horse of good sense, and capable of be- ing tr .. in. d to anything.
As respects such horses. the more kindly you treat them the beffer you will be treat- el in return. Nor will a Fur-e of this de- seription stand a whip, if well fed.
If you want a safe horse. avoid one that is dish-faced. le may be so far senthe as not to -care ; but he will have too mach go- abend in him to be safe with everybody.
If you want a fool, but a horse of : reat bottom. get a deep bay, with hot a white hair about him. If his face is a little ca-h- (! "much the worse, let no man ride bitch a horse that is not an adept in riding - they are always tricky and unsafe.
If you want one that will never give ont. never bny a large, overgrown one.
A black horse cannot stand heat, nor a white oue cold.
If you want a gentle horse, get one with more or less white about the head: the more the better. Many persone cabinet the parti-colored horses belonging to the circuses, shows, &c., are selected for their oldity. But the selections thus made are on account of their great docility and gen- tlences.
Measurement of Hay in the Mow or Stack . - It is often de-irable. Where conveniences for weighing are not at handl, to purchase and sell hay by measure- ment. It is evident that no fixed rate will answer In all enses, as it would require more cubic feet at the top of a mow than at the bottom. The general rule adopted by those who have tested it, is 7& cubic feet of rulli Timothy hay, as taken from now er bottom of stack. The rule may be varied lør upper part of mow or stack according; to pres-ure.
62
TWENTY YEAR CALENDAR.
Almanac or Calendar for 20 Years.
CB
A
G
F
ED
C
B
A
GF
E
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
C
BA
G
E
D C
F
E
D
1874
1875
1876 11877
1878|1870
1
1880 1881
1882
1883
1' 8 15.22 29
Sun.
Sat.
Frid'y.
Thurs.
Wed.
Tues.
Mon.
2: 916 2330
Mon.
Sun.
Sat.
Frid'y.
Thurs.
Wed.
Tues.
3 10 17.24 31|
Tues.
Mon.
Sun.
Sat.
Frid'y.
Thurs.
Wed.
4 11 18.25 . . .
Wed.
Tues.
Mon.
Sun.
Sat.
Frid'y.
Thurs.
5 12 19.26
Thurs.
Wed.
Tues.
Mon.
Sun.
Sat.
Frid'y.
6 132027
Frid'y.
Thurs.
Wed.
Tues.
Mon.
Sun.
Sat.
7 142128 1 1
Sat.
Frid'y.
Thurs.
Wed.
Tues.
Mon.
Sun.
Jan. and Oct.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
May.
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
August.
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
Feb., Mar., Nov.
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
June.
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
Sept. & Dec.
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
April & July.
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
.
T'APLANATION .- Find the Year and observe the Letter above It; then took for the Month, and in a line with it And the Letter of the Year; above the Letter find the Day ; and the figures on the left, in the same line, are the days of the same name in the month.
Leap Years have two letters ; the first is need till the end of February, the second during the remainder of the year.
3
63
CORTLAND COUNTY.
CORTLAND COUNTY.
THIS COUNTY was formed from Onondaga, April 8, 1808, and embraces the original townships of Virgil, Cineinnnatus, Homer, Solon, and the south half of Tully and Fabius, in the south- east corner of the " Military Traet." It was named in honor of Pierre Van Cortlandt, the first Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York, and an extensive owner of lands upon the Military Tract. It lies near the center of the State, upon the northern spurs of the Alleghany Mountains, and just south of the watershed be- tween Susquehanna River and Lake Ontario. It contains an area of 455 square miles, and is centrally distant 120 miles from Al- bany. The surface is hilly and in some places broken, consisting chiefly of arable ridges with narrow valleys between them. The highlands are divided into three general ridges, extending in a northerly and southerly direction. The first of these ridges occu- pies the extreme eastern border of the County, and is bounded on the west by the valley of Otselic River ; the second lies between the Otselie and Toughnioga Rivers; and the third embraces all the highlands lying west of the Tioughnioga River. The highlands are all divided latterly by the valleys of small streams, and in some places they are little more than a collection of sharp ridges, separated by narrow ravines. The northern part of the County spreads out into a high plateau, broken by hills. This level has an average elevation of 1,100 to 1,200 feet above tide, and the ridges are from 200 to 500 feet higher. A broad plain ocenpies the cen- ter of the western part of the County, and into this most of the valleys of the tributaries of the Tioughnioga open. South of this the valleys contract until they become mere ravines. The highest points of the County are Mount Toppin, in Preble; the Truxton Hills and the Owego Hills, in Virgil and Harford; which attain an elevation of 1,600 to 2, 100 feet above tide.
64
CORTLAND COUNTY.
Tioughnioga River constitutes the principal drainage of the County, flowing as it does through near the center. It enters the County by two branches, the eastern entering Cuyler from Madi- son County, and the western taking its rise in the small lakes in the northern part of Preble and the southern part of Onondaga County. The principal branches of the Tioughnioga are the Ot- selic, Trout, Cheningo aud Labrador Creeks, and Cold and Factory Brooks. Otselic flows through a deep valley in the castern part of the County, from Chenango County. The Skaneateles Inlet drains the north-western part of the County, the branches of Fall Creek the extreme western, and Owego Creek the south-western parts. Skaneateles Lake, bordering on the north western corner, is the largest body of water in the County. There are several sinall lakes in the northern part of the Tioughnioga Valley.
The Hamilton group of rocks enters the northern portions of the County; and towards the south, successively above this, ap- pear the Genesee slate and the Portage and Chemung groups. The Hamilton rocks consist of calcareous shale, with limestone and slate intermixed. Quarries of sandstone and limestone, affording excellent building material, are worked in Scott, Homer, Cortland- ville, and several other parts of the County. A short distance south-east from Cortlandville are several sinall lakes, containing deposits of marl, from which an excellent quality of lime is manu- fin tured. The soil upon the hills is chicfly a sandy or gravelly loam; and that of the valleys is of similar character, with a large mixture of disintegrated slate, shale and limestone.
This County is more elevated above tide than the regions north and west, and as a consequence has a colder elimate. The winters are longer, and the snow falls to a greater depth. Agriculture con- stitutes the chief occupation of the people. Spring grains are large- ly produced in the valleys, but the whole County is better adapted to pasturage than to tillage. Dairying and stock raising are car- ried on extensively. Considerable attention is being paid to the raising of wool. Fruits are produced to some extent, but are lia- ble to injury from frosts in the fall and spring. There is but little manufacturing carried on in the County.
The Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad extends through the County, along the valley of the Tioughnioga, conneet- ing with the New York & Erie at Binghamton, and with the New York Central at Syracuse. It has stations at Preble, Little York, Homer, Cortland, Blodgetts Mills, State Bridge and Mara- thon. The completion of this road has given an additional im- pulse to every branch of business, and has greatly increased the val- ue of farms by furnishing an easy, direct and rapid communication to the great markets of the country.
3
65
CORTLAND COUNTY.
It was evident to the carly settlers of this County that the Ti- oughnioga River, as a commercial highway, could never be made available to any great extent, and that other channels of communi- cation must be provided to encourage enterprise and promote the best interests of the inhabitants. State roads had been laid out and were improved to some extent, and the various towns were connected only by the imperfect roads which had succeeded the bridle paths through the forest, with marked trees as the only indi- cation that human footsteps had ever before pressed the soil. Pre- vious to the construction of the Erie Canal, the heavy goods of the merchants were brought up the Hudson River to Albany, and con- veyed by land to Schenectady ; thence up the Mohawk and through the canal at Little Falls to Rome; thence to Wood Creek, Oncida Lake, Seneca River, &e., a very roundabout way, from New York to Cortland. Sometimes goods were transported by land from Albany or Utica. Cattle were usually driven to Philadelphia, and potash was carried to New York or Montreal, for a market. Grain was shipped on arks down the Tioughnioga and Susquehanna to Baltimore. Though these modes of conveyance were very tedious they were the best available, and at an early day the people set about devising some more expeditious means of transportation. In 1826 the New York Legislature granted a charter for a railroad from Syracuse to Binghamton. This was the first charter ever granted by the Legislature of this State, The inhabitants of Cort- land County were greatly elated at the prospect of direct and speedy communication with the Erie Canal, which was completed in 1825. Their hopes were destined to be disappointed, and for more than a quarter of a century were not realized. In the mean time the population of the County had greatly increased and the commercial products had surpassed in amount the wildest dreams of the most sanguine. The West was so rapidly increasing in pop- ulation and resources that the Erie Canal was no longer deemed sufficient for the commercial interests of the east and west, and the New York and Erie Railroad was projected and fast approaching completion. The coal fields of Pennsylvania and the Great Lakes must be connected by some easy and cheap mode of transporta- tion, whose route would lie through this County and open to its in- habitants a great thoroughfare for the transfer of their products. Under these circumstances the project of a railroad to connect the sea-board with the Great Lakes was revived and a new charter ob- tained. Books were opened for subscription, and in 1850 a suffi- cient amount of stock had been obtained to warrant the necessary surveys to be made. Most of the active participants in this enter- prise were residents of Homer and Cortland. The road from Binghamton to Syracuse was commenced in 1852 and completed in 1854. The formal opening took place on the 18th and 19th of
£
66
CORTLAND COUNTY.
October, amidst bon-fires, illuminations and every demonstration of joy. The length of the road is eighty miles and its cost about one and a quarter millions of dollars. For some time the Direc- tors of the Syracuse & Binghainton Road were unable to make any satisfactory arrangements with the Oswego & Syracuse Road, and a charter was granted for another broad gage road on the east side of Onondaga Lake, but on account of financial embarrassments the road was not constructed. Recently a third rail has been laid on the Oswego & Syracuse Road, and now freight from Oswego can be shipped direct to New York and all points on the New York & Erie Road without change of cars. The coal trade is of vast im- portance to this road, as will be evident to any casual observer of the coal yards of Syracuse and other places on the line.
The County Seat is located at the village of Cortland. The Court House is a substantial brick building, located upon the cor- ner of Court and Church streets. The Jail is of hewn stone and stands in the rear of the Court House; and the Clerk's Office is a brick structure standing on the west side of Main street. The County Courts were first held at the school house, on lot 45, in Homer. By an act of April 5, 1810, Joseph L. Richardson, of Auburn, Nathan Smith, of Herkimer, and Nathaniel Locke, of Che- nango, were appointed commissioners to select a site for a Court House, and $2,000 were appropriated for the erection of the build- ing. The first County Officers were John Keep, First Judge ; Wil- liam Mallory, Sheriff ; and John Mcwhorter, Surrogate. The County Poor House is situated upon a farm about three miles north-east of Cortland Village.
The first newspaper published in Cortland County was
Thc Cortland Courier, established at Jlomer in 1810, by James and Samuel Pereival. In 1812, H. R. Bender and R. Washburne became the proprietors, and changed its name to
The Farmers Journal. In 1813, Jesse Searl became its proprie- tor, and issued it as
The Cortland Repository, and continued it till 1825, when Milton A. Kinney became its proprietor and changed its name to
The Cortland Observer. In 1833 it passed into the hands of S. S. Bradford, and in 1836 into those of Mr. Holmes, by whom its maine was changed to
The Homer Eagle. In 1837 it was united with the Cortland Re- publican, and issued by R. A. Reid as
The Republican and Eagle, and continued until 1852. C. B. Gould then became proprietor and changed it to
The Cortland County Whig. In 1856 J. R. Dixon became pro- prietor and issued it as
THE CORTLAND COUNTY REPUBLICAN, and has con- tinued its publication to the present time.
67
CORTLAND COUNTY.
The Protestant Sentinel was started at Homer in 1831, by John Maxon, and continued until 1833.
The Cortland Republican was started in 1815, at Cortland Vil- lage, by James Percival, and was continued by him, by Osborn & Campbell, and by Campbell Brothers, until 1821.
The Western Courier was founded at Homer in 1821, by Roberts & Hull, and was soon after removed to Cortland Village. In 1824 it appeared as
The Cortland Journal, and in 1832 as
The Cortland Advocate. It was published successively by C. W. GiII, H. S. Randall and David Fairchild, and in 1845 it was styled
The Cortland Democrat. It was subsequently published by Seth Haight and HI. G. Crouch, and by A. P. Cole, who changed it to
The Cortland Gazette in 1837.
The Cortland Chronicle was started in 1828 by Reed & Osborn. It was sold to R. A. Reed in 1832, and by him called
The Anti-Masonic Republican. In 1833 it was issued as
The Cortland Republican, and in 1837 it was united with The Homer Eagle.
The Liberty Herald (semi-monthly,) was published at Cortland Village in IS-14 and 1845, by E. F. Graham.
The True .American and Religious Examiner was started in 1815, at Cortland Village, by C. B. Gould. The next year it passed into the hands of S. R. Ward, and was issued by him as
The True American, and continued until 1848.
The Republican Banner was started in 1858 by C. D. Van Slyck and P. II. Bateson.
The South Cortland Luminary was published in 1840, at South Cortland, by M. Reynolds.
The Morning Star was published at MeGrawville in 1850, and The Central Reformer in 1858 .*
The Military Tract, of which this County forms a part, consisted of twenty-six townships, granted by the Legislature of the State of New York to soldiers of the Revolutionary war. Each township was ten miles square and contained one hundred lots. Each non- commissioned officer and private was entitled to 500 acres, to be drawn by lot. Congress subsequently passed an act granting 100 acres to each soldier, the laud appropriated for this purpose being located in Ohio. Arrangements were made allowing the soldiers from this State to draw the whole 600 acres here, on their relin- quishing all claim to the Ohio lands; but if the soldier neglected to do this, one-sixth part of what his patent called for reverted to the State, and subsequently became known as the "State's Ilun- dred." Certain lots in each township were set apart for the sup-
*For farther history of the Press in Cortland County, sec Errata, following the Intro- duction.
68
CORTLAND COUNTY.
port of the Gospel and schools. Lots 69, 76 and 81, in the town- ship of Tully ; 55 and 59, in Fabins ; 4, 34, 70, 85, 93, 98, in Ho- mer; 22, 25, 30, 41, 64, 93, in Solon; 20, 36, 51, 86, 91, 99, in Virgil; and 1, 16, 37, 49, 53 and 62, in Cincinnatus, were set apart for the foregoing purpose.
The first settlements of the County were made at Homer in 1791, in Virgil and Cortlandville in 1794, and in other towns before the commencement of the present century. Being remote from the great routes of travel, its settlement advanced more slowly than the more distant Genesee Valley, whose fertility attracted the pio- neers of this remote region. The early settlers were from the Eastern States, and their habits of industry and frugality, as well as their religious principles, have been impressed upon the present generation, and are seen in their schools, academies and churches, which forin so prominent a feature in the County. The early set- tlers were not entirely free from fear of Indian massacres, which had so often desolated the homes of other settlers, and seut a thrill of horror through their hearts alinost as great as if actual hostilities were being carried on. The wild beasts often robbed them of a portion of their flocks and herds as well as of their growing crops, and long weary journeys were made to mill and to market. over roads impassable to all except the most daring. But these difficul- ties have passed away, mills have sprung up in all parts, good roads intersect the County in all directions, and the Iron Horse has placed the citizens within a few hours ride of the great metropolis of the nation ; all this has been accomplished within little more than half a century.
The Cortland County Agricultural Society was organized on the first day of October, 1838, with the following officers: William Berry, President; Jesse Ives, Vice President; Cephas Comstock, Vice President ; C. P. Jacobs, Secretary ; Heury S. Randall, Cor- responding Secretary ; Rufus Boies, Treasurer; Paris Barber, Jo- seph Reynolds, Chas. MeKnight, Israel Boies, Morris Miller, Ches- ter II. Harris, Executive Committee. The first Fair was held in Cortland Village on the first Wednesday of September, 1839.
The following table will exhibit the names of the Presidents, as they were elected from year to year, the receipts of the Society, expenditures, &c. :
1810. John Miller .... Receipts, $ 65.00 .. Expend's $ 75,00
1511, Jesse Ives ..
37,00 .. .. 104,00
1>12, Dann Hibbard ..
128.00 .. 125,00
1>13, William Randall 6 115.00 .. 197,00
1844, J. Barber. 66 18.00 .. 140,00
1845, Rufus Boies. . ..
. ...
185,00 .. 173.00
1846, H. S. Randall .. .. 160,00 .. 168.00 ..
128,00
18.17, Amos Rice ... . .
168,00
-
£
69
CORTLAND COUNTY.
1848, Jas. S. Lcach ...
210,00 ..
172,00
1849, Peter Walrod ..
296,00. .
214,00
1850, Hiram Hopkins
260,00 .. 66 207.00
1851, N. Hitchcock, jr
= 311,00 ..
263,00
1852, Anthony Freer.
445,00 ..
66
571,00
1833, Paris Barber. ..
574.00 .. 670,00 ..
779,00
1855, G. J. J. Barber
1455,00 ..
1029,00
1856, Israel Boies ....
1305,00. .
66
762,00
1857, A. Chamberlain
1032.00 ..
66
1007.00
1858. S. D. Freer .... 66
2121,00 ..
2658,00
1859, M. Hobert .....
1678,00 ..
1586.00
ISCO, W. P. Randall. .
1938,00 ..
1583,00
1861, W. E. Talman.
1010.00 ..
938,00
1866, H. Van Hoesen
2387,00. .
172.1,42
The Cortland County Medical Society was organized August 10, 1SOS, at which time Dr. Lewis S. Owen was chosen President ; Dr. John Miller, Vice President; Dr. Jesse Searl, Secretary : Dr. Robert D. Taggart, Treasurer. Dr. Owen held the office of Presi- dent from 150s until 1892, having been elected annually up to that time. Dr. Searl held the office of Secretary until 1820. In 1820 Dr. Lewis Riggs was chosen Secretary, and hell the office for three years. In 1>23 Dr. Searl was again elected and held the office for two years. In 1825 Dr. George W. Bradford was elected and has held the office ever since. The following is a list of the Presidents of the Society, as they have been elected, up to the present time :
In 1822. John Lynde ; 1823, Lewis S. Owen; 1824, Miles Good- year; 1825, Lewis Riggs ; 1827, Jesse Searl ; IS28, A. Blanchard; 1830, Levi Boies ; 1SB1, Miles Goodyear ; 1:32, Horace Bronson ; 1833, Lewis Riges; 1831, Miles Goodyear; 1841, A. B. Shipman ; 1842, Miles Goodyear; 1843, A. B. Smith : 1845, Horace Bron- son ; Isto, Lyman Eldridge; 1847, Miles Goodyear ; 1844s, P. HI. Burdick ; 1519, Frederick Hyde; 1851, P. H. Burdick ; 1852, Ca- leb Green ; 1853. C. M. Kingman; 1854, Geo. W. Maxson; 1:55. L. J. Keean ; 1-56, Geo. W. Bradford; 1857, William Fitch; 1838, John Miller : 1-59. Frederick Hyde; 1860, Chas. M. King- man ; 1861, John H. Knapp; 1862, Caleb Green ; 1863. William Fitch; 1864, Seneca Beebe; 1866, D. W. Warner; 1867, John HI. Knapp.
We are indebted to Geo. W. Bradford, the Secretary, for the statistics in relation to the Medical Society.
When the tocsin of war sounded in April, 1861, the inhabitants of Cortland County were engaged in the peaceful pursuits of agricul- ture. Like the great mass of American citizens, war had no charms for them. But when the Stars and Stripes, the emblem of our Na- E
182,00
1854, F. H. Hibbard.
70
CORTLAND COUNTY.
tion's freedom and glory, was stricken down by traitor hands, the descendants of Revolutionary sires "rallied around the Flag," and from every hill-top and every valley went forth the cry, " The Un- ion, it must and shall be preserved." "The census reports about one thousand as having volunteered to leave the comforts of home and the society of friends for the camp and the battle-field, that they inight preserve to their posterity the blessings of civil and religious liberty bequeathed to us by our fathers. Nearly one-fourth of that number are reported as having been killed in battle or died from injuries received while in the service. While shafts of marble and granite arise to commemorate the deeds of our fallen countrymen, let us who survive see to it that we do not allow the enemies of our country to gain at the ballot-box what they failed to gain upon the battle-field, but that " Union and Liberty, now and forever, one and inseparable," may ever be inscribed on our Nation's banner.
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