History of Cayuga County, New York, Part 32

Author: Cayuga County Historical Society, Auburn, N.Y
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Auburn, N.Y. : s.n.
Number of Pages: 714


USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York > Part 32


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 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47


391


BENCH AND BAR


made cnvoy extraordinary, etc., to Spain, in which high position he is yet serving. Mr. Collier is the author of Collier on Bank- ruptcy, The Trusts, What Can We Do With Them? What Can They Do for Us?, Collier on the Civil Service Law, and editor of The American Bankruptcy Reports. He served for some time as special lecturer, in the New York Law School, on the law of bankruptcy and is a member of all the New York clubs, political and social. His location is at Madrid, Spain.


COLLINS, NOYES S. Born in Camden, Oneida County, N. Y., November 13, 1850; studied law at the Albany Law School, from which he graduated and was admitted to the bar at Syracuse, N. Y., in 1875, commencing practice in the village of Union Springs, this county, where he remained in active practice until the year 1885, when he removed to Palatka, Florida, and engaged in the banking business; he later removed to Lake City, in the same state, and there founded and for some time conducted, a local bank. The writer is informed that he is now engaged in the active practice of his profession at either Lake City or Palatka, Florida.


Cox, WILLIAM C. Born in Auburn, Cayuga County, N. Y. in 1846; educated in the public schools of the city and at a private school in Cornwall, Orange County, N. Y., near West Point. When the Civil War commenced he endeavored, unsuccessfully because of his age, to enlist in the Federal army and went to Philadelphia where he succeeded in getting into the navy and served one year. He returned to Auburn in 1863, and commenced the study of law in the Albany Law School after graduating from which he con- tinued his reading in the office of his father, Mr. James R. Cox, in Auburn, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He remained in Auburn until about 1882, when he removed to New York City where he is now engaged in practice with offices at No. 5 Cortlandt street.


DECKER, FRANK NORTON. Born in the town of Clay, Onondaga County, N. Y., February 14, 1882; educated in the public schools


392


HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY


of his town, the Baldwinsville grammar school and Phoenix High School, from which he graduated in 1902; obtained his legal educa- tion in the law department of Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., from which he graduated and was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in August, 1905. He practised for a time in our city the, removed to Phoenix, N. Y., where he now has an office although most of his time is devoted to his duties as managing clerk in the offices of Fowler, Crouch & Vann, in Syracuse. Mr Decker makes a specialty of corporation law, bankruptcy and surrogate's practice.


DUTTON, JOHN ANTHONY. Born in the town of Ira, near the village of Cato, county of Cayuga, N. Y., September 16, 1862; educated in the public schools of that town, including the Cato High School and at the Monroe Collegiate Institute at Elbridge, Onondaga County, from which he graduated in 1884; read law in the office of the Honorable Adelbert P. Rich, in Auburn, N. Y., after which he took a post graduate course in law in the New York- University Law School, from which he was graduated, and was admitted to practice in the State courts at Buffalo, N. Y., June 15, 1887, and later to practice in the Federal courts. He located in Auburn where he practised his profession until November. 1889, when he removed to the city of New York, where he is yet engaged in active practice with offices at No. 76 William street. He is the junior member of the law firm of Hurry & Dutton. Mr. Dutton is a Past Master of Chancellor Walworth Lodge, No. 271, Free and Accepted Masons; the present District Deputy Grand Master of the Fifth Masonic District; first vice-president of the Republican Club of the city of New York, and ex-president of the Patria Club of that city; a member of the bar associations of the city and state of New York and of the Federal Bar Association.


ELLIOTT, CHESTER M. Born at Milford, Otsego County, N. Y. : educated in its public schools; read law with Honorable Horace V. Howland, in the village of Port Byron this county; was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in October, 1874, and in 1895, was


393


BENCH AND BAR


admitted to practice in the courts of the states of Kentucky and West Virginia. Mr. Elliott commenced practice in Port Byron and later for some years practised in Syracuse, N. Y., being a mem- ber of the law firm of Northrup, Elliott & Northrup, and Notting- ham, Pierce & Elliott. Mr. Elliott was counsei for the People's Building, Loan and Savings Association, and the Eastern Building and Loan Association of Syracuse, from 1894 to 1898, during which time he tried cases for these companies in twenty-two different states; during the last three years he has been assistant solicitor for the Lawyers' Title Insurance and Trust Company, 37 Liberty street, New York City, from which position he resigned in December, 1907. He is now located at White Plains, N. Y., and is the senior member of the law firm of Elliott & Vander Roesh. Mr. Elliott makes a specialty of real estate and corporation law.


HENDRICK, HON. PETER A. Born in Penn Yan, Yates County, N. Y., July 8, 1856; educated in the public schools and academy at Penn Yan, and at Fordham University from which he graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1878 and A. M. in 1880, and from which he received the degree of LL. D. in 1908; read law in the offices of Pingree & Durston in Auburn and was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y. in 1880, in which year he commenced practice in Auburn which he continued for six years-during two of which he served as city attorney-when he removed to New York City where he has since practised, being the junior member of the law firm of Durnin & Hendrick. In November, 1906, Mr. Hendrick was elected a justice of the Supreme Court with a majority of 83,000 and took office January 1, 1907.


HICKS, FREDERICK CHARLES. Born in the City of Auburn, N. Y. October 14, 1875; educated in its public schools-graduating from its high school in 1894-Colgate University from which he graduated with the degree of Ph. B. in 1898: Brown University from which he graduated with the degree of A. M. in 1907; studied law at Georgetown (D. C.) Law School from which he was graduated with


394


HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY


the degree of LL. B. in 1901; admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y. in 1900. He commenced practice in Auburn in November, 1904, which he continued until July of the following year. Mr. Hicks served as special examiner, New York State Department of Public Instruction in 1896-7-8; assistant chief, Division of Maps and Charts, Library of Congress 1898-1904. He is now the librarian of the United States Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island which position he has filled since July, 1905. Mr. Hicks is the editor of Selected Official Documents of the South African Republic and Great Britain and A Typographical Description of Virginia, Penn- sylvania, Maryland, Etc., Reprinted from the Original Edition of 1778; author of articles and reviews in Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, American Journal of International Law, American Political Science Review and the Library Journal. He is a member of the District of Columbia bar; Rhode Island Library Association; American Society of Inter- national Law and American Political Science Association.


KNAPP, CHARLES R. Born in the City of Auburn, N. Y. ; edu- cated in its public schools and at Yale College from which he was graduated in 1895; studied law in the law department of Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., from which he graduated and was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in July, 1899. He com- menced practice in Auburn from which city he removed to the city of New York where he now resides. He is not now practising.


KNAPP, JAMES T. Born in Syracuse, Onondaga County, N. Y., March 4, 1880; education common school; studied law at the Albany Law School from which he graduated in 1901, continued reading in the offices of Hiscock, Doheny, Williams & Cowie in Syracuse and was admitted to practice in the courts of the state at Albany, N. Y., in January, 1902, and to practice in Federal courts in 1904. Mr. Knapp commenced practice in the city of Syracuse removing to Auburn in the spring of 1905, where he continued practice until August, 1906 when he removed to Waterloo, Iowa,


395


BENCH AND BAR


where he is now pursuing his profession. He is the junior member of the firm of Pike & Knapp.


RICH, BURT T. Born in Cato, Cayuga County, N. Y., October 8, 1872 ; educated in the public schools of Cato, the Auburn High School and Fairfield Seminary; read law in the office of Honorable Adelbert P. Rich, finishing his studies in the Albany Law School from which he graduated and was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in June, 1896, commencing practice in Auburn the same year which he continued until about three years ago when he went to the city of New York where he filled the position of assistant attor- ney of the New York City Railway Company until a few weeks ago when he resigned and became associated with the law firm of Townsend & Wynne, Bank of Commerce Building, No. 31 Nassau street, New York. He is yet a member of the firm of Rich & Rich of our city.


ROOT, FRANCIS S. Born in the village of Port Byron, Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1869; common school education; studied law in the law department of Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., from which he graduated, and was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in 1895, commencing practice in Buffalo, N. Y., which he continued until 1898, when he removed to Port Byron, this county, where he practised until 1905, when he removed to the city of New York and is now located at No. 119 Nassau street. He served as presi- dent of the village of Port Byron, justice of the peace, and member of its School Board. Mr. Root makes a specialty of real estate law.


SEARLES, THEODORE J. Born in the village of Weedsport, Cayuga County, N. Y., May 20, 1851 ; educated in the public schools of Ithaca, N. Y., and Brown's Business School in Auburn; read law in the office of Honorable John T. M. Davie, and with the Honorable Edwin A. Thomas in Auburn, and Beach & Bailey in Rome, Oneida County, N. Y. Admitted to the bar at Buffalo, N. Y., June 7, 1872, in which year he commenced the practice of his profession in our


396


HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY


city and continued the same until 1899, when he abandoned law and after a course of study, entered the ministry, filling the pulpits of the Presbyterian churches at Rose, Wayne County, N. Y., for five years, and Corfield, for two years. He is now located at Ontario Center, Wayne County, and serving as the pastor of the Presbyterian Church at that place.


SNOW, BENJAMIN BRADFORD. Born in Orleans, Barnstable County, Mass., January 4, 1830; educated in the public schools and at Hamilton College, from which he was graduated in 1850; read law in the offices of Allen & Pomeroy in Auburn, N. Y., after receiv- ing a special course in law, the last year of his college course, under the instruction of Professor Theodore Dwight; admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in December, 1852, and the following year commenced the practice of his profession in Auburn, which he con- tinued for about three years when he was appointed deputy county clerk and served until 1859 when he was elected county clerk which office he filled until 1865. He never resumed practice after his election as county clerk. He was provost-marshal of the Congres- sional district composed of the counties of Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne in 1864-5, and superintendent of the public schools of our city from 1870 to 1901, in October of which year he removed to the city of Rochester, N. Y., where he now resides. The high reputation enjoyed by our public schools throughout the state is due in a great degree to the marked ability and untiring energy of Mr. Snow during his thirty-one years of service as superintendent.


TURNER, JAMES ELI. Born in Cato, this county, August 23, 1872; educated in the public schools of that town, the Cato Union School and Weedsport Academy from the latter of which he gradu- ated in 1890; read law in the offices of Honorable William B. Woodin in Auburn and Charles F. Rich, Esq., in Cato, finishing his studies in the law department of Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1894, and admitted to the bar the same year at Rochester, N. Y. He commenced practice in the village of


397


BENCH AND BAR


Cato which he continued until about one year ago when he removed to the city of New York being now located at No. 1 Madison avenue. He served as justice of the peace of his town and special surrogate of the county. Mr. Turner is a member of Cato Lodge No. 141, Free and Accepted Masons of which lodge he is a Past Master.


WARREN, LYMAN E. Born in Cortland, Cortland County, N. Y. September 4, 1848; common school education; read law in the office of Honorable Horatio Ballard in Cortland and was admitted to practice in the courts of the state at Binghamton, N. Y., in Novem- ber, 1869, and later to practice in the Federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States, and the courts of Connecticut and New Jersey. He commenced practice in our county in 1883, and removed to the city of New York in January, 1888, where he is now located at No. 261 Broadway. While in Auburn, he was a partner of the late Senator Woodin, and for many years after com- mencing practice in New York a member of the law firm of Warren, Warren & O'Beirne. He is now alone; practice general.


WILCOX, DUDLEY K. A son of Senator Wilcox, was born in the City of Auburn, August 2, 1878; educated in the public schools of that city-graduating from its High School-and at Cornell Univer- sity, Ithaca, N. Y., from the law department of which he was graduated and admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., com- mencing the practice of his profession in Auburn which he con- tinued until May, 1906, when he removed to Thurman, Colorado, where he is now located, doing a general practice.


WORDEN, WARREN A. A son of the late Warren T. Worden, was born in the City of Auburn, N. Y. July 14, 1847; educated in its public schools and at Hobart College, Geneva, from which he was graduated in 1869, with the degree of M. A .; read law in the office of his father Warren T. Worden, Esq., in Auburn and was admitted to practice in the State courts at Syracuse, N. Y. in 1871, to the United States District and Circuit courts in 1871; the Supreme


398


HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY


Court of the United States in 1873; the courts of the state of Wash- ington in 1891, and to the United States District and Circuit courts of that state in 1892. From 1871 to 1876, he practised his profes- sion in the City of Auburn ; from 1877 to 1885, he served as United States Consul and then located in Tacoma, Wash., where he yet is, serving as a United States master in chancery and referee in bankruptcy.


BOYLE, WILLIAM M. In New York City. Am unable to learn his address.


PARKER, JOSEPH. At No. 3321 Davenport street, Omaha, Neb.


RAEISH, JAMES A. With Wilson, Cobb & Ryan, Third National Bank Building, Syracuse, N. Y.


SYMONDS, Jos. H. A. In New York City: I understand in the office of District-Attorney Jerome.


TRACY, ROLLIN. At No. 52 Broadway, New York City.


WHITNEY. MARK L. Unable to secure any information.


CHAPTER XXI.


TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.


AURELIUS.


Aurelius was formed January 27, 1789. Brutus, Owasco, Cato and Jefferson (now Mentz) were set off March 30, 1802; Auburn and Fleming in 1823; a part of Springport in 1833-and part of Throop, in 1859. It lies near the center of the western border of the county, on Cayuga Lake, and has a rolling surface, which inclines to the north and west. Owasco Outlet runs through the northeast corner, and Cayuga Brook and Crane Creek with several other small streams rise in the town. These afford a num- ber of excellent water privileges along Owasco Outlet. For the most part the soil is a heavy clay and gravelly loam.


399


TOWNS OF THE COUNTY


Cayuga village is on Cayuga Lake two miles south of the Outlet and was incorporated in 1858. It is an important station on the New York Central Railroad and is connected with Ithaca, at the head of the lake, by a daily line of steamers. The tourist leaving Cayuga for a trip through the lake is sure of beholding some of the most charming scenery afforded by any section of the state. Cayuga contains about five hundred inhabitants.


The celebrated Cayuga bridge, one mile, eight rods long, was built across the lake at this point in 1797, by Swartwood & Damen of New York and Joseph Annin and others of Cayuga. It fell in 1804, was rebuilt in 1812-13 and finally abandoned in 1857. Until the canal was finished the road leading across this bridge was the grand highway of emigration. The county seat was located here on the first organization of the county. The Indians here made a treaty with the governor of the state, in 1794, selling their reserva- tions with the exception of four square miles on the shore near Lavona.


Cayuga is one of the earliest settled villages in the county and from a very early period possessed extraordinary mercantile and commercial advantages, from its location on the great thoroughfare of travel and emigration from east to west, and the seat of one of the most magnificent local enterprises of its time-the Cayuga bridge. But the want of mill sites, of which it is entirely destitute, has been a serious hindrance to its growth; and thus we find that to-day its business is practically confined to the nature of its im- mediate population. A more delightful residence one could scarcely desire.


The first merchant was John Harris, who opened a store in 1789, and kept it till 1814. His store stood on the lot next south of the Presbyterian church. He sold his stock to Elisha Hills from Au- burn and removed to the west side of the lake. Hills kept store about ten years and sold out. Dr. William Harrison opened a store about 1806; he kept it about ten years, selling out and


400


HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY


returning to Whitestown, whence he came. Daniel McIntosh, a Scotchman from Albany County, opened a store about 1800, and kept it until about 1836, when he sold to his son John who con- tinued till about 1860.


Dean Mumford opened a store about 1800, and kept it about eight or ten years and sold out when he removed to Seneca Falls. Dr. De Mun kept a drugstore at a very early date and was the first man to experiment with gypsum in Cayuga. He pulverized it in a mortar. Emory W "ard opened . store about 1812-14, and kept it until his room. 1 to Auburn about 1819. Loring Willard kept store a short ie about 1816-1 ;. Erastus Partridge opened a store about 182) ; about 1840 he admitted E. H. Waldo to partner- ship and removed with his family to Seneca Falls, when he engaged in the banking business, retaining his interest here until 1850. Samuel Fitch ausu . .. W. Shank bought out Partridge & Cook and kept store some three years. 1 L. De Camp, opened a store in 1843, and i ... . . vill 1846. Dr. John A. Thompson opened a store about 184, and kept it four or five years. Pomeroy & Messere1. opened a store in 1848, and after about two years sold out to Messereau, who continued the business for two or three years.


The first physician was William Franklin who came in 1797 and practised until his death in 1804. The next was Jonathan Whit- ney, who came in 1798 and practised until his death in 1858. Nathaniel Kellogg came in about 1813, and practised a few years; he died in Mount Morris many years after. Doctor Voght practised here several years and removed to New York. Noyes Palmer from Cazenovia practised a few years and died in Springport years after- ward. Doctor Cox practised here a few years and removed to Gene- see County in 1837. John F. Todd succeeded Palmer in 1836 and practised till 1841. Isaac Shaw practised from 1844 till 1855. Andrew S. Cummings came in 1841 and practised over forty years, dying in the 80's. Doctor Seward came in 1844 and stayed one


SAMUEL V. KENNEDY


I F


401


TOWNS OF THE COUNTY


year and then removed to Liverpool, where he practised for over forty years. Daniel Hutchins came and stayed two years.


The first lawyer was Elijah Miller, father-in-law of Governor Seward, who practised here till the court house was located at Au- burn, when he removed there. Thomas Mumford came in 1795 and practised till his death about 1830. Reuben S. Morris came in 1800. Wm. Sisson studied with Thomas Mumford and practised two or three years. There has not been any lawyer in Cayuga since the death of Thomas Mumford.


The Presbyterians were the first religious body to cultivate this field in a spiritual sense. The Presbyterian church of Cayuga was organized May 30, 1319 in the school-house. In 1821, during the pastorate of Reverend Midad Pomeroy a meeting-house, a small plain wooden structure without a steeple, was built and dedicated February 26, 1823, Mr. Pomeroy serving as pastor until 1833, when he resigned, but in 1840 he was installed as pastor for the second time and rer d until 1852.


In 1854, Reve. 1 Timothy Hopkins succeeded and remained till 1860. During his pastorate the church was repaired and cushioned, an organ purchased, and the parsonage bought.


This church has been from the first self-sustaining and although never rich it has contributed freely and regularly to spread the Gospel at home and abroad.


The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Cayuga was organized in 1830 by Reverend Mr. Moore, a local preacher. Their present house which is a fine brick structure was built in 1868, at a cost of about $9,000. Thei ยท parsonage was built in 1870 at a cost of $3,000, including the land.


St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1853 by Reverend John Toucey with some ninety members. Right Rev. Thomas A. Hendricks, now Bishop of Cebu (Phillipine Islands), was once pastor of this church for several years, in the 80's


26


402


HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY


St. Luke's Episcopal Church was organized in 1871 by James A. Brown, the first pastor who remained till 1873. This church edifice was built in 1871 at a cost of $5,500.


Fosterville in the north part of the county contains a church and about twenty houses. Aurelius in the southeast part is a small hamlet.


The first settlers in Aurelius were squatters on the reservation of the Cayuga Indians, which included one hundred square miles and extended on both sides of the lake from Aurora to Montezuma. This reservation was made in 1789, in which year the Cayugas relinquished their claims to all other lands in this state by a treaty held at Albany, the consideration being $500 down, $1,500 to be paid the following June and a perpetual annuity of $500. In 1794 the Cayugas relinquished their claims to this reservation with the excep- tion of two plots in Springport, one of two miles square upon the lake a little south of Union Springs, and the other one mile square, three or four miles northeast of that village. The first settler was Colonel John Harris, who came from Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania in 1789, and settled three-fourths of a mile south of Cayuga on a farm later called Old Indian orchard or Davis farm; some of the trees were standing as late as the 90's. Harris kept there the first ferry across Cayuga Lake in conjunction with James Bennett who settled at the same time on the opposite side of the lake. He was an Indian interpreter and acted as such at the time of the treaty at Cayuga in 1794, at which time he moved to the site of the village where he kept a tavern on the site of the Titus House. Harris con- tracted the first marriage in 1789, with Mary, daughter of John Richardson who came here the same year as Harris and settled on the site of the village, later the Squire Whitney place. He removed after several years to Wabash, Indiana. A son of Harris, John Jr., born in 1790, was the first child born in Aurelius. Harris opened the first store in 1789 and the first inn in 1790.


403


TOWNS OF THE COUNTY


About 1796, Honorable Joseph Annin, one of the proprietors of Cayuga and the first sheriff of Cayuga County, settled where what is now the Kyle place. He removed to Milton (now Genoa) and subsequently to Onondaga Hollow where he died in 1815. His remains were brought to Cayuga for interment. While in Genoa he was state senator in 1803-4-5-6.


Hugh Buckley settled about 1796 at the head of the old bridge where he kept the gate, a tavern and the first jail in Cayuga County. The latter was a log structure and was built against the bank of the lake, the top being on a level with the embankment. The prisoners were let down through a trap door in the top. Its use as a jail was authorized March 25, 1800. The following year Buckley added to his already numerous vocations that of teaching, he being the first school teacher in the town. He subsequently kept a tavern and died of the epidemic in 1813.


Dr. Jonathan Whitney came in from Stockbridge, Mass., in 1798 and settled at Cayuga on the Lake road on what was after the Madame Lalliette place.




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.