USA > New York > Onondaga County > Gazetteer and business directory of Onondaga County, N. Y., for 1868-9 > Part 8
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ter. Their market town was Albany, and their milling was done at Jamesville and Manlius, until a grist mill was built in 1806, by Esquire Merriman. Elias Thayer built the first frame house, in 1805, and Oliver Tuttle the next. It is a curious fact that the air of Otisco has a very forbidding odor in the nostrils of lawyers. Mr. John Thomas was the only one who tried his luck there, and after remaining but a short time, he left for Cortland, disgusted.
The 'first school was established in a log house, in 1804, but was shortly afterwards replaced by a frame. The first physician, Dr. J. S. Judd, came in 1806, and Dr. French in 1818. The " Wash- ington Religious Congregational Society of Otisco," at Otisco Cen- ter, was organized in 1804, by the Rev. Hugh Wallace. A house of worship was put up but not completed in 1807.
In connection with the town of Otisco, we must not forget a word to the memory of Wyllys Gaylord, the valuable contributor to the many scientific journals of the day, in this country, and to some of the most popular magazines of Europe. When he came with his father to Otisco, he was but nine years of age, having been born in 1792, in Bristol, Connecticut. His contributions to the newspaper press of the country for over twenty years, gave every variety of topic, literary, scientific, religious, miscellaneous, and occasionally poetry, all of which was of the highest order. He was the author of several prize essays, and it is thought that he never failed in gain- ing the ascendency in an attempt with a rival. He composed with great facility and correctness. From a drawing in an Encyclope- dia, he constructed an organ, which proved that besides having a correct idea of music, he must have had also a considerable amount of mechanical genius. IIe was connected with the old Genesee Far- mer and Albany Cultivator, from 1833 to 1844. Let us hope that some one capable of doing justice to his memory, will yet come forward as his historiographer and do justice to his name. He died at Howlett Hill, town of Camillus, Lime Rock Farm, March 27th, 1844, in the fifty-first year of his age.
In 1865 the town contained a population of 1,696 and an area of 15,500 acres. There are 12 school districts, employing 12 teach- ers, with an average attendance of 222 pupils. The amount ex- pended for school purposes in 1867 was 82,719.02.
POMPEY was formed in January, 1789. Fabius and a part of Onondaga were taken off in 1798, and Lafayette in 1825 .- It lies upon the east border of the County, south of the center. Its surface is principally occupied by the high rolling ridge which lies between the east branch of Limestone Creek and Butternut Creek. The highest summit is 906 feet above the surface of But- ternut Creek, near the Lafayette R. R. Station, 1,343 above the
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canal at Syracuse, and 1,743 feet above tide. The general ridge is subdivided into three ridges by the valleys of the two west branches of Limestone Creek. These valleys are 200 or 300 feet below the summits, and are bordered by steep hillsides. The streams that drain the south part of the town, flow in a southerly direction .- Pratt's Falls, upon the west branch of Limestone Creek, are 137 feet high, and within a few rods of them are several other fine cas- eades. Near the north line, upon the same creek, is a cascade of 100 feet. Just east of the county line, near Delphi, on the east branch of the same stream, are two other fine cascades. Carpen- ter's Pond, in the south-east part, covers an area of about 30 acres. The soil is a strong clayey loam. The Indian name of Pompey, or rather of that part known as Pompey Hill, was Ote-qe-ga ja-ke, a place of much grass, openings, or prairies. Another name given to this locality, about which there is much superstitious reserve, is Ote-queh-sah-he-eh,-the field of blood, or bloody ground, a place where many have been slain. It is said that no Indian ever visits this neighborhood.
Pompey Hill, (p. v.) on the summit of the ridge, contains four churches, the Pompey Academy, and a population of about 300. Water from one side of the roof of the hotel at this place, finds its way into the St. Lawrence, and from the other into the Chesapeake Bay. Delphi, ( p. v.) upon Limestone Creek, in the south-east eor- ner, contains three churches and about 250 inhabitants. Water- vale, ( p.v.) upon Limestone Creek, north of the center, contains a grist and saw mill, and 20 houses. Oran, (p. v.) in the north-east corner, contains a church and about 100 inhabitants. Pompey Cen- ter ( p. o.) (locally known as Green's Corners,) is a hamlet in the east part of the town. It has two edge tool factories and four grist mills.
The early history of Pompey, as a part of the great whole, con- tributed well to the incidents so full of interest to the present gen- eration of the County. It was formerly one of the original divisions of the County when it was divided into townships. At that period it contained Fabius, Tully, and that part of the Onondaga Reser- vation lying south of the Great Genesee Road, and east of Onondaga Creek. It formerly included one hundred of the original lots, of which it has now only sixty-eight. The New England emigrant appears to have discovered its value, for most of the early settlers came from that section. Mr. John Wilcox was the first white set- tler in the township, who came out in the spring of 1789, with an Indian chief, from Oneida, for the purpose of exploring the country. He made selection of the lot on which he settled, known as the Has- kins farm, two miles north of Lafayette village. Here was an ex- tensive Indian orchard. Abel Olcutt came out the same spring, and made arrangements for pruning it. He spent the nights at the
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Onondaga Castle, three miles distant, there being no white people nearer than Danforth's or Morehouse's. He lodged in the cabin of Caw-hic-do-ta. Mr. Olcutt, in pruning the orchard, was a little amused at finding in each tree a collection of small brush, about the size of a bushel basket. Enquiring of his Indian friend if he could tell him something in relation to it, he said that after the Revolu- tionary war, the Indian settlement at that place was abandoned in consequence of the destruction of the corn fields, and a part of the Great Orchard, by Col. Van Schaick, in 1779; consequently the Indians, since the war, had not occupied or cultivated any of their land in that quarter, and the brush he found collected in the apple trees, was the work of bears, that, ascending the trees in Autumn, gathered in the slender branches loaded with apples, leisurely de- voured the fruit, while at the same time they deposited the branches under them. Some time after Mr. Wilcox had settled on his place and had gathered his harvest, which was abundant in hay and wheat, it was set on fire and the whole consumed in one night. He awoke in the morning to find out his desolation amid the smoking ruins. He suspected the Indians, and made a complaint to the principal Chief of the Onondagas, who, upon investigation, remarked to Mr. Wilcox with great nonchalance : "You dig up no more dead In- dian, no more will your stacks be burned." Indian graves, so often desecrated, were ever afterwards respected by the white settlers.
Among the first settlers were Ebenezer and Jesse Butler, from Harrington, Conn., who located on lot 65 in 1792. Jacob Hoar came the following spring. Sally Hoar was the first white child born in the town. The first town meeting held for Pompey was at the house of Ebenezer Butler, April 1st, 1794. Moses De Witt was chosen Supervisor, and Hezekiah Olcott, Town Clerk. The first religious society in the town of Pompey, and in the County of Onondaga, when it comprised the whole Military Tract, was or-
ganized 16th June, 1794. Ebenezer Butler Jr. and Allen Beach
presided at the meeting, which was held at Butler's tavern. The
first lawyer who settled in this town was Samuel Miles Hopkins, who made but a short stay. Dr. Samuel Beach was the first phy- sician in town, in 1798. The first school teacher was J. Gould .-- In 1811 the academy at Pompey Hill was erected. The first mills erected in this town were at Pratt's Falls, a grist mill in 1798, and a saw mill a year or two earlier. There are several stone quarries in the town, used for building purposes, mostly dark shale, which are not considered of a very durable kind.
The township of Pompey is noted for the many distinguished personages born here ; prominent among whom are Sarah J. Clark, (now Mrs. Sarah J. Lippincott, better known as Grace Green- wood,) Ex. Gov. Horatio Seymour, Charles Mason, formerly Com- missioner of Patents, and Erastus D. Palmer, the sculptor. The
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antiquities of the town of Pompey consist of forts and defences, mural remains, traces of villages, trading establishments, burying places, and sundry articles found scattered among them.
The census of 1865 gives the town a population of 3,502, and an area of 39,000 acres. The number of school districts is 26, the number of teachers employed 46, and the whole expense of the schools in 1867 was $4,930.57. The whole number of pupils is 1,197, and the average attendance 438.
SALINA .- The old town of Salina may be ranked among the most important towns of the County. The name was given by the Commissioners of the Land Office, and means a place where salt is made. In 1797, a law was passed authorizing the Surveyor Gener- al to lay out a portion of the Salt Springs Reservation for the pur- pose of making provision for the manufacture of salt. A portion of the marsh and upland was laid out on a map and named Salina.
At a very early period the territory embraced in the town of Salina attracted the attention of travelers, on account of the antici- pated value of the salt springs, and as the County advanced in re- sources and population, the predictions of the most sanguine were more than realized. At the organization of the County, in 1794, the town of Salina was comprehended in the original town of Man- lius and Marcellus, and after Onondaga was set off in 1798, and the township of Camillus was organized as a town, that portion of the Reservation not included in Onondaga, on the west side of the lake and creek, was attached to Camillus. At the organization of the town in 1809, a triangular piece of ground, containing nine and a half lots, was taken from the north-west corner of the township of Manlius, which, with the Salt Springs Reservation, made the town of Salina.
In 1790, many families came from Westmoreland, and settled at Salt Point. In 1792 and 1793, the settlers in the County suf- fered much for want of provisions, and on several occasions boats were sent from Salt Point to Kingston, by way of Oswego, to pro- cure provisions. Capt. Canute, trading from Salt Point to Albany by boat, brought provisions, groceries, &c., receiving for his pay young bears, wolves, coons, foxes, fawns, &c., all of which, at the time, were plenty in and around the swamps. Wild animals fre- quently visited the habitations and made themselves at home with the domestic animals. The country about Onondaga Lake, pre- vious to 1800, during the summer season, was extremely unhealthy. Fevers began early in July, and followed each other in such quick succession, that oftentimes there were scarcely well persons enough to minister to the wants of the sick. In 1793, there were but thirty persons at Salt Point, and nearly every one sick at the same time,
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except a man named Patrick Riley, a generous hearted fellow, who carried on Mr. Van Vleck's salt works. He drew all his own wood for a salt block, boiled salt every day and half the nights, and every alternate night watched with the sick, for a period of two months, without a single intermission. During the sickly season the In- dians were exceedingly kind and attentive, and furnished liberally to every family a supply of venison and fish, which added greatly to their comfort.
Abraham Van Vleck is supposed to be the first male child born in the County of Onondaga. About the time of his birth, 1792, an Indian had been drowned at the Oswego Falls by the upsetting of liis canoe, and the event bore so heavily on the friends of the deceased, that the son of Mr. Van Vleck was named by the Indians, Ne-un- hoo-tah, meaning " sorrow for one departed," and by this name he was known among the Indians, who always entertained for him a remarkable friendship, and gave to his father, in trust for him, a mile square of land at the outlet of the lake. The title was not re- cognized by the State.
It was customary in those days for the Indians to call all the prin- cipal families by their own names. Mr. Van Vleck was called Ka- hunk-a-ta-wah, meaning one "spry enough to skip over waters." Mrs. Van Vleck was called Con-o-soo-quah, "one of pleasant dis- position," and a daughter of Mr. Van Vleck (Mrs. O'Blennis,) was named Jo-an-te-no. Other members of the family also had their peculiar names, as well as `others of the settlers.
The town of Salina was incorporated in 1809, and the first town meeting held at the house of Cornelius Schoutens, March 11, of the same year. In 1798, the Surveyor General was directed to lay out the village of Salina, the act reading as follows: "Be it enacted, that the Superintendent shall, on the ground adjoining to the south- east side of Free street, so named on the map of the Salt Springs made by the Surveyor General, lay out a square for a village, con- sisting of sixteen blocks, each six chains square, (24 rods,) with intermediate streets, conforming to the streets laid down on the said map made by the Surveyor General, and divide each lot into four house lots, and deliver a map and description thereof to the Surveyor General, who, having approved thereof, shall thereupon proceed to advertise and sell, not exceeding thirty of said lots, in the manner prescribed by law for the sale of lots laid out at Oswo- go. Provided that none of the said lots shall be sold for a less sum than forty dollars, and provided also, that no lot on which there is a building of the value of fifty dollars, shall be liable to be sold, if the owner or occupant thereof shall agree to secure a deed therefor, and pay for the same at the average price of the lots sold as aforesaid.""
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The village was laid out in 1799, and sold on credit, and those who had not paid in 1801, had the time extended by law. It be- came an incorporated village, May 12th, 1824. At the election un- der the village charter, Fisher Curtis, Henry C. Rossiter, James Shankland and Jonathan R. Beach, were elected trustees.
The Presbyterian society of Salina was organized March 20, 1810. There were but nine members at the time. The next religious so- ciety was the Methodist, which was organized at an early day, but did not erect a house of worship, until 1829. St. John's Roman Catholic church, in the village of Salina, now Syracuse, was com- menced and enclosed in 1829,by the exertions of Thomas Mccarthy, James Lynch, and a few Roman Catholics, aided by the liberal do- nations of their Protestant fellow citizens. They also procured col- lections from friends in Utica, Albany and New York. The first resident priest was Father O'Donoghue, who was pastor for about six years ; he was succeeded by the Rev. James O'Donnell, who remained in charge for about four years ; after him came the Rev. Mr. Haes. St. Mary's German Catholic church was erected during the winter of 1844-5; clergymen, Rev. Messrs. Adelbert, Inama, Xavier, Roth and Theo. Nocthen.
About a mile north of Green Point, were formerly the remains of a fortification, probably erected by the French in some of their visits to the Onondaga Valley. In the account given by the Jesuit Fathers of the location of the French fortification and the colony and mission establishment at the same time, it is probably the fort erected by Mons. Dablon, in 1665. "The spring of fresh water, and the salt fountain eighty or a hundred feet distant," would seem to properly locate it. Although there is no salt spring "issuing from the same hill," yet half a century ago there was one there, and we may safely point to where Mons. Dablon established his fort in 1665. The prospect described by the several missionaries as being surpassingly beautiful, is still entitled to the same praise. The " spring of pure, fresh water," bubbles up with the same freshness now that it did two hundred years ago, and is as useful in slaking the thirst of the evening rambler, as it was to cool the lips of the tented soldier, the pilgrim priest, or the wandering savage. When the white people came to settle in the neighborhood of Salina, this ground was covered with small trees of a uniform size, indicating that at no very distant day it had been destitute of timber.
Liverpool, ( p. v.) on the east bank of Onondaga Lake, on the west line of the town, was incorporated April 20, 1830. It con- tains four churches, a graded school with five teachers, a steam saw mill and stave factory, and a large number of salt works. The steam saw mill of the Onondaga Salt Company contains one up- right saw, capable of cutting 3,500 feet of lumber daily, one cross cut and three circular saws. The stave machine cuts about 15,000
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feet per day. There are several cooper shops in the village that employ from 50 to 60 men in the salt making season. The popu- lation of the village in 1865 was 1,526. The amount of salt made on the whole Reservation in 1867 was 7,595,565 bushels. Liver- pool was laid out as a village by the Surveyor General, and named Liverpool by the Commissioners of the Land Office. Previous to this it was called Little Ireland. The first settler at Liverpool was Jonathan Danforth, in 1794. He was soon followed by Patrick Riley, Joseph Gordon, James Armstrong and Charles Morgan. John O'Blennis at this time (1794) was making salt at Green Point.
The first school kept at Liverpool was by a man named Conner, who met his scholars in his own salt house, who, like Archimedes, taught while he carried on the business of making salt. His school was then considered the best in the County, and was denominated the " High School;" it was patronized by the inhabitants of Salina, and Onondaga Hollow. "Ascension church," Liverpool, was or- ganized in 1840, and their church edifice erected in 1841; Messrs. Gillespie, Appleton and Goodale, clergymen.
The first licensed tavern keeper we find in the town of Salina, was Mr. Gilchrist, whose house stood near where the inspector's office is now ; others of the same business soon followed, and Sa- lina became noted for the excellency of its taverns. Mr. Ryal Bingham was the first justice of the peace at Salt Point. In 1796 or 1797, he moved there from Three River Point. It is related of this squire that a man was once brought before him for stealing, when he adjudged him 50 lashes, and failing to find an officer who was willing to carry out his mandate, executed it himself.
The census of 1865 gives the town a population of 2,754, and an area of 8,446 acres.
SKANEATELES, an Indian name, signifying " beautiful squaw," was formed from Marcellus, Feb. 25, 1830. A part of Spafford was annexed in 1840. It is the south town of the west line of the County. The surface is rolling or moderately hilly .- Skaneateles Lake divides the south half of the town into two nearly equal parts. From the lake the land slopes beautifully upward to a height of from 200 to 500 feet. The highlands upon both bor- ders overlooking the lake, furnish a great number of sites for country residences, which in beauty of situation have no superior in the State. Many of these are occupied by fine cottages and villages. Skaneateles Outlet, flowing north, is the principal stream. Upon it are numerous falls, furnishing an abundance of water pow- er. The soil is principally a clay loam.
Skaneateles, ( p. v.) was incorporated April 19, 1833. It is situ- ated at the outlet of the lake of the same name, and is one of the
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most beautiful villages in the State. It contains six churches, three graded schools, two banks, a newspaper office and several manufactories. The carriage factory of John Packwood is a large establishment. There is also a large distillery and flouring mill in the village. About a year ago a railroad was constructed from the village to the "Junction," on the N. Y. C. R. R., and is now in suc- cessful operation, adding greatly to the convenience of manufac- turers along the line, and to the citizens generally. Manda- na (p. o.) is a hamlet in the south-west part of the town. Mottville (p. v.) is situated on the outlet, two miles below the lake, and contains one church, a hotel, a school house, a wagon shop, and several manufactories. The Mottville Woolen Mill is 100 by 40 feet, and three stories high. It contains twelve Crompton looms, and manufactures shawls. There is also a large flouring mill, a distillery, and, a short distance above, on the outlet, is a paper mill, running four engines and making about 3000 pounds a day. Kellogg's Mills is a little village about one and a half miles be- low Skaneateles. It contains a factory and about twenty houses. The factory turns out about 700 yards of cassimere daily. The flouring mill of Joel Thayer & Co., opposite the depot, grinds about 500 bushels a day.
The manufacturing of Skaneateles is extended along the outlet; from the village to the Junction, and cannot well be described in connection with either of the villages without the liability of giving one village more than its due, or another less. The "Skaneateles Iron Works", is a joint stock company, with a capital of $100,000, located near the railroad, and is doing a large business. The prin- cipal business is the manufacture of bolts, rivets, washers, spikes, &c., from scrap iron. The Company have also a large rolling mill, and a forging shop for fifty fires. The Cement Mill of G. H. EarlI & Co. has five kilns for burning the stone, and is capable of grind- ing 200 barrels per day. Among other manufactories, we may mention the Marysville woolen factory, several paper mills, chair factories, sash and blind factories, &c., all in a flourishing condi- tion.
The first settler was John Thompson, a scotchman, who located upon lot 18, in 1793. Among other early settlers were Mr. Robinson, James Watson, Lovel Gibbs, Jonathan Hall and Win- ston Day, in 1796. Warren Hecox, James and Samuel Por- ter, Dr. Munger, Elnathan Andrews, John Legg, Moses Loss, John Briggs, Nathan Kelsey, William J. Vredenburgh, Isaac Sherwood, Dr. Benedict, and families by the name of Kellogg and Earll, came soon after. Captain Wm. Thomas came in 1796, and Hezekiah Earll and Samuel Greenman in 1797. The first child born was Richard P. Watson, June 1, 1796, and the first death that of Ne- hemiah Earll, in 180S. James Porter kept the first inn, and Win-
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ston Day the first store, in 1797. Judge Jedediah Sawyer built the first saw and grist mills, in 1796.
The census of 1865 gives the town a population of 4,128, and an area of 23,600 acres. The town is divided into twenty school dis- tricts, employing twenty-two teachers, with an average attendance of 450 pupils. The amount expended for school purposes in 1867 was $6,960.46.
SPAFFORD was formed from Tully, April 8th, 1911. Parts of Skaneateles were taken off in 1840. It lies upon the east bank of Skaneateles Lake, and is the west town on the south line of the County. Its surface consists principally of a high ridge between Skaneateles and Otisco Lakes, abruptly descending to the valleys on cach side, and gradually declining toward the north. The highest summit, Ripley Hill, is 1,122 feet above Skaneateles Lake, and 1,982 above tide. Otisco Inlet is a small stream flow- ing through the valley, which extends south from Otisco Lake. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam.
Borodino, (p. v.) in the north part of the town, contains two churches, several mechanic shops and about 30 houses. Spafford, (p. r.) near the center, contains two churches and about 35 houses. Viest of the village is a valuable stone quarry. Spafford Hollow is a post office.
The first settlers were Gilbert Palmer and his son John, who lo- cated on lot 76, in 1794. Among the other early settlers were Jonathan Berry, Archibald Farr, Warren Kneeland, M. Harvey, Isaac Hall, Elisha Sabins, John Babcock, Peter Knapp, Samuel Smith, Otis and Moses Legg, Jethro Bailey, Elias Davis, Abel Ama- don, Job Lewis, Daniel Tinkham, John Hullibut, Levi Foster, Benj. Horner, James and Cornelius Williamson, Benj. Stanton, John Woodward, James Bacon and Asahel Roundy. The town was called after Horatio Gates Spafford, author of the first Gazetteer of New York.
The first child born in the town was Alvah Palmer; the first marriage that of Elisha Freeman and Phoebe Smith; and the first death that of Benjamin Chaffee, in August, 1801. Sally Packard taught the first school, in 1803 ; Jared Babcock kept the first store, in 1809; Archibald Farr kept the first irn, and built the first grist mill, in 1808; and Josiah Walker built the first saw mill, in 1810. The first church was formed at an early day. Elder Harmon was the first preacher. A post office was first established at Spafford Corners, in 1814. Asahel Roundy was the first post master. Ja- cob Babcock was the first merchant, in 1809. Dr. Farr was the first physician in town, and also kept the first tavern, on lot No. 11, Tully, in 1808.
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