USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York > Part 35
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In 1810, the village contained six frame houses, and about one hundred inhabitants. It increased about one hundred in the suc- ceeding twelve years, and in 1833, there were over four hundred inhabitants. John Knapp established a large tannery in the place in 1830, and a large cotton mill was built by a company in the following year, both of which contributed greatly to the material prosperity of the place. In 1833 the village suffered from an inun- dation which destroyed considerable valuable property. About the year 1818, Jethro Wood, a resident of Moravia, constructed the first plow ever made of cast iron. Elias Rogers was at that time engaged in making steelyards in the village for which he cast weights, melting the iron over a blacksmith's fire in a kettle fixed for the purpose. Wood learned of this and called on Rogers to make a set of patterns for his newly invented plow. Rogers complied and afterwards yielded reluctantly to Mr. Wood's impor- tunities to cast him a plow. The thing was considered foolish and visionary-as have been most of the great reforms in mechanics- by all who heard of it, but the plow was finally cast over a black- smith's fire, on the premises of Elias Rogers. It was tried on a piece of land since owned by Abel Adams and was found to be a suc- cess, so far as the general principles involved in its construction were concerned. From this humble effort sprang up a large and flourishing manufacturing business, which became an important feature in the manufacturing interests of Moravia and the country at large. Arrangements were made whereby Mr. Rogers supplied the inventor with plow castings for a year or two, having built a furnace near the stone mill bridge, the machinery being driven by water drawn from the sawmill dam of Deacon John Stoyell. Getting into some difficulty regarding the water privilege, he re- moved to Montville, built a log furnace, and began with Mr. George
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Lathrop the manufacture of plows. This was the first regular establishment for the manufacture of cast iron plows, of which any account is given. This building was soon burned down and another one put up on the same site, and afterwards the location was changed to the foot of Montville Falls. Here the plow busi- ness began to be made a distinct branch of business, thousands being turned out annually. They sold at fifteen to eighteen dollars apiece, Wood receiving one dollar on each plow. This indefatigable firm continued their business up to 1833, when in the fearful storm of July in that year the establishment was swept away and the business connection of this firm with it ceased.
The village has several times suffered from floods, but still has held steadily on its way and is now the most important place in that section of the county. It contains two banks, four churches, machine shops, two good hotels, a printing office, an agricultural society, and several blocks of business houses.
Here are the names of some of the most prominent families: the Wrights, the Parkers, the Thomases, the Days, the Laws, and others from nearby towns who later found it pleasant to dwell among the Moravians.
One mile east of Moravia is the little village of Montville, where the stream has a fall of sixty feet furnishing a good water power that has been improved to some extent.
NILES.
Niles was formed from Sempronius, March 20, 1883. It lies southeast of the center of the county, between Owasco and Skane- ateles lakes. The surface consists mainly of a hilly and rolling upland, whose extreme summits lie seven hundred feet above Owasco Lake. Toward Owasco the declivities are gradual, but toward Skaneateles they are more abrupt. Dutch Hollow Brook flows north through near the center and is bordered by steep,
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high banks. On the highest point of land, three miles east of Owasco Lake, is a quarry of superior flagging stone. The soil is a gravelly and clayey loam.
Kelloggsville, in the southeast part contains two churches and about forty dwellings. New Hope, in the southeast part contains a church, grist mill, sawmill, and about a dozen dwell- ings; Niles in the north part, West Niles, Twelve Corners, and Nine Corners, are hamlets.
The first settlements were made in 1793, the earliest settlers being Garret Connover, and his sons John and Aaron, Isaac Selover, James Brinkerhoff, and William Bowen. The first child born was Sally Ammerman in 1798.
IRA.
Ira was formed from Cato, March 16, 1821, and a part re-annexed to that town in 1824. It is located on the east border of the county, north of the center. The streams are creeks and small brooks and the surface is rolling, the summits of the ridges rising seventy to seventy-five feet above the valleys and two hundred and twenty- five to two hundred and seventy-five feet above the level of Lake Ontario. Red sandstone underlies the soil, which is very pro- ductive, sandy loam.
Ira Centre, the only village, contains two churches and about one hundred and fifty inhabitants.
The first settlements were made by David, Eleazur and Andrew Stockwell, three brothers, from Whitehall, who settled on lot 58; William Patterson on lot 32, and Henry Conrad (a German) on the same lot, all in 1805. Among others who were early settled in this town, we may mention Daniel Parker, on lot 69, John C. Barnes, and Reverend Silas Barnes on lot 70 and Zadoc Barnes on lot 83, all from Marcellus, and Edward Wood from Sennett, on lot 89; in 1802, Archibald and Charles Green, on lot 70; in 1803, Eli Mattison and Abraham Wiley, from Connecticut on lot 34; Henry
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Ferris and his son Augustus, from Saratoga County on lot 71 in 1804 and Thomas Barnes from Washington County at Ira Corners in 1805. David Stockwell kept the first inn, in 1800; Dr. Squire, the first physician, taught the first school in 1805; Samuel and Israel Phelps kept the first store at Ira Corners in 1813, and John Hooker erected the first grist mill in 1818. The first child born was Polly, daughter of David Stockwell, in April, 1802. The first marriage was that of Eleazur Stockwell and Margaret Noble, March 7, 1802, and the first death that of the wife of Reverend Silas Barnes, in 1802. The first church, Congregational, was formed at Ira Corners, July 7, 1807, by Reverend Francis Pomeroy. Reverend Silas Barnes was the first preacher.
SCIPIO.
Scipio was one of the original towns, having been formed March 5, 1794. Sempronious was taken off in 1799; a part of Marcellus (Onondaga County) in 1804. Ledyard, Venice and a part of Spring- port in 1823. It is located on the west shore of Owasco Lake, south of the center of the county and has a rolling surface, the high- est summits being five hundred feet above the lake, a steep bluff twenty to fifty feet high extends along the lake and from its sum- mit the land slopes gradually upward for about a mile. The streams are nothing but mere brooks and the soil is a clayey loam.
Scipio Center, contains two churches and about one hundred inhabitants; Scipioville near the west line is about the same size as also is Sherwoods near the southwest corner. The Square in the northwest part, and Bolts Corners, in the south part are hamlets.
In 1790, the first settlements were made, Elisha Durkee, Henry Watkins, Gilbert and Alanson Tracy, Samuel Branch, Ebenezer Witter, and Gideon Allen, being the pioneers. The first child born was Betsy Durkee, December 9, 1790. The first marriage was that of William Allen and Betsy Watkins, June 25, 1793. William
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Daniels taught the first school in 1798, and Doctor Strong kept the first store in 1808. The first religious services were held by Elder David Irish in 1794 and the first church (Baptist), was formed the same year.
FLEMING.
Fleming was taken from Aurelius March 28, 1823, and named after Colonel (later General by courtesy) George Fleming an officer of the Revolution, who had settled in Scipio, died in 1820 and was buried in the North Street Cemetery, Auburn. It lies south of the center of the county, and west of the foot of Owasco Lake. It has a rolling surface, inclining toward the north and east. The slope of the lake banks continues upward about three-fourths of a mile. The highest parts of the town are one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet above the lake and eight hundred to one thousand feet above tide. Cram and Wheeler creeks are the main streams. The soil is a gravelly loam with occasional intermixture of clay and sand.
Fleming, near the central part, is a small village. Owasco Lake is a Lehigh Valley railroad station.
The first settlements were made in 1790-1; among the early settlers were Bergaman Irish, Joseph Grover, Edward Wheeler, Ichabod and Abel Wilkinson, and James Harrington. The first birth was that of Aurelius Wheeler, in 1791, and the first death that of Mrs. West, in 1792. John Herring taught the first school, in 1794; Abel Wilkinson kept the first inn, in 1792, and Joseph Grover kept the first store in 1797. The first religious services were held by Elder Daniel Irish, (Baptist) about the year 1794.
SEMPRONIUS.
Sempronius was formed March 9, 1799, and a part annexed to Marcellus (Onondaga County), March 24, 1804, and Moravia and Niles, March, 1833. It lies on Skaneateles Lake, in the southeast
28
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part of the county. From the valley formed by the lake and Inlet' the hills rise abruptly to a height of eight hundred to one thousand feet, and from their summits the surface spreads out into a rolling and hilly upland, the highest points being seventeen hundred feet above tide. Mill Brook flowing west, Bear Swamp Brook north and Fall Brook south, have worn deep valleys in the deep deposits and shale. The soil is a good quality of clayey, sandy and gravelly loam, mixed with disintegrated slate and limestone.
Dresserville on Mill Brook, in the south part, containing about thirty-five dwellings, is a small village. Glen Haven, is a celebrated water cure establishment near the head of Skaneateles Lake. It is beautifully situated in the midst of romantic scenery, and is supplied with pure, soft spring water.
The first settlement was made in 1794, by Ezekiel Sayles, Jotham Bassett and Seth Burgess. Benjamin Sayles was the first child born, in 1794. The first marriage was that of Samuel Rin and Matilda Summerston, and the first death that of Samuel Rin. Cyrus Powers taught the first school in 1800; John Husted kept the first inn and store, and Artemas Dresser erected the first mill. The first church (Baptist) was formed February 29, 1798, Reverend John Lasure being the first preacher.
LOCKE
Locke was formed from Milton (now Genoa) February 20' 1802; Summer Hill was set off in 1831. It lies in the south part of the county, on the high ridges bordering on Owasco Inlet, which flows through it near the center, in a narrow valley bordered by hills ranging from two hundred to four hundred feet above its level. The summits widen out into a beautiful undulating region, with a mean elevation of one thousand feet above tide. The soil consists of a gravelly loam, interspersed with clay.
Milan village three miles south of Moravia on a branch of Owasco Inlet, near the center of the town, is a smart little hamlet containing
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several stores and mechanics' shops, and two churches. Centerville is a hamlet. Ezra Carpenter, James Cook, James Durell, and Solomon Love made the first settlement, in 1790. A daughter of James Durell was the first child born The first store was kept at Milan by Aaron Kellogg; James Cook was the first innkeeper; Mr. Durell erected the first grist mill, and Lyman Brown the first factory, in 1810. The first Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1819. Traces of an Indian burial ground are still visible, cover- ing about two acres of ground, between two deep gulfs, half a mile west of Milan. The graves are distributed in rows east and west. This is one of the very few relics of the aborigines extant in this historic region.
OWASCO.
Owasco was formed from Aurelius, March 30, 1802. It lies southeast of the center of the county, and east of the foot of Owasco Lake. The surface is rolling, with a northeasterly inclination. It slopes gradually upward from the lake, till the highest summits reach an elevation of five hundred feet. The only streams are Miller's Brook in the north part and Owasco Creek (Dutch Hollow Brook) flowing west across the south part. The soil consists of a clayey loam.
This town was, during the latter years of his life, the home of Ex-Governor Enos T. Throop, who lived to the advanced age of eighty-three in the enjoyment of health and activity crowned with the clustering honors of a long life of public usefulness, after most of his political compeers had passed from the scenes of earth.
Along in the 70's he died, and was buried in St. Peter's church- yard, Auburn, a short time before the laying away in the nearby Fort Hill Cemetery of another Auburnian, William H. Seward, another ex-governor of the Empire State.
"Willow Brook" the old Throop homestead which had years before been deeded to E. T. Throop Martin, a nephew of the ex-
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governor, has long been historic ground, for it was a sort of Mecca for some of our nation's most eminent men have entered in and trod its grounds and floors. Notably in one day in the late 60's Secretary Seward piloted President Andrew Johnson's presidential party of which were General Ulysses S. Grant, Admiral Farragut, General Sheridan, General Custer, and eminent Americans, the Mexican minister, and several other noted foreigners. Here Martin Van Buren, once president of the United States, used to come up to see Enos of "old chum" memory, and in later years it was the home of Generals Upton and Alexander, and other officers of the regular army whose names are conspicious in Civil War history.
Owasco village in the southeast corner contains three churches, one Reformed Dutch, one Methodist Episcopal, and one Baptist, about seventy-five houses, a town hall, school-house, but no tavern. It is a pleasant village with population made up mostly of retired farmers who have moved in to spend their last days.
The first settlements were made in 1792, the pioneers being Samuel and Benjamin De Ruy, Moses Cartwright, and Jacob and Roeliff Brinkerhoff. The first inn was kept by Cornelius Delmater, in 1800; James Burrows kept the first store, in 1807; and David Bovier built the first mill, in 1798. The first church was formed in 1798, by Reverend Abram Brokaw
SENNETT
The town of Sennett was formed from Brutus, March 19, 1827, and was named from Judge Daniel Sennett, an early pioneer. A portion of Throop was taken off in 1859. It lies on the east border af the county, near the center, and has a level or gently undulating surface, the ridges rising in long gradual slopes, fifty to one hundred feet above the valleys. Small brooks are the only streams. The soil is a deep, fertile, clayey and sandy loam, and is under a high state of cultivation.
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Sennett village is a station on the Auburn branch of the New York Central Railroad, and contains two churches and about fifty houses. This village was the early home of two of Cayuga County's millionaires, (Dr. Sylvester Willard and Lyman Soule), who became residents and later public benefactors of Auburn.
The first settlement was made in 1794, by Ebenezer Healy, Joseph Atwell, Thomas Morley and Thomas Morley Jr., from Connecticut, on lot 21. Judge Daniel Sennett, Amos Bennett, Jacob, Rufus, and Daniel Sheldon from Connecticut, settled on lot 99, in 1795. In 1797, Jacob Hicks, a Revolutionary soldier, having drawn lot 99, settled on it. Benjamin Miller, also a Revolutionary soldier, settled on lot 17, and Jabez Remmington and Hezekiah Freeman from Vermont, on lots 21 and 10. The first child born was Sally Smith, in 1795 ; the first marriage that of Nehemiah Smith and Mindevill Morley, in 1794, and the first death that of Thomas Morley, in 1795. Betsey Morley taught the first school, in 1795; Joseph Atwell kept the first inn, in the same year, and Sheldon & Lathrop kept the first store
The first church (Baptist) was formed September 12, 1799, by Reverend Manasseh French who was the first preacher.
The First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1805 as the First Congregational Church of Brutus.
SPRINGPORT
Springport was formed from Scipio and Aurelius, January 30, 1823. It lies on the east shore of Cayuga Lake southwest of the center of the county. The surface rises in gradual slopes from the lake shore to the eastern border where it attains an elevation of four hundred to five hundred feet. Valuable beds of waterlime and plaster and limestone quarries exist on the shore of the lake and along the ravines, and are extensively worked. Two immense springs flow from the ground in the village, furnishing a valuable water power, and giving the name to both town and village. They
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are about ten rods apart, and from the waters of the larger a mill pond covering several acres has been formed, affording water power sufficient to run a flouring mill with six run of stone, a plaster mill, sawmill and various other machinery. The water of the smaller spring propels the machinery of a planing mill, sawmill, and tannery. The soil is of a superior quality, being of a sandy and gravelly loam, in places mixed with clay.
The lake is so deep as to rarely freeze over, and the warmth of the water modifies the intensity of the winter frosts, essentially. Both climate and soil are admirably adapted to fruit growing to which considerable attention is paid.
The culture of grapes is carried on in some parts of the town with signal success.
Union Springs village, is beautifully situated on Cayuga Lake south of the center of the town and on its western border, and derives its name from the springs before referred to. Much specu- lation has been indulged in as to the origin of these springs, but nothing satisfactory and conclusive has yet been determined as to their source. It has been thought that they come from Owasco Lake, which is considerably higher than Cayuga Lake, but geologists claim that the formation of the rocks in that locality will not admit of such a theory. A singular circumstance exists in the fact that from two to four miles east of Cayuga Lake, large streams have been found forty-five feet under ground running from east to west.
Edward Richardson dammed up the north spring about 1790; and a log grist mill was built there not long after; but the other spring was not used until several years thereafter.
The view of the town approaching toward the lake is remarkably beautiful as also is the view approaching from the lake; opposite the village lies the little island of Frontenac.
The island is three-quarters of a mile from the village, contains about an acre of land and was used as a place of burial by the Indians who inhabited the country around. Street has immortal-
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ized the little isle in one of his most musical and delightful poems entitled "Frontenac."
Sweet Sylvan Lake! one single gem
Is in thy liquid diadem ; No sister hath this little Isle
To give its beauty smile for smile, With it to hear the blue birds sing-
"Wake, leaves and flowers, here comes the spring" With it to weave for summers tread,
Mosses beneath and bowers overhead,
With it to flash to gorgeous skies
The opal pomp of autumn's dyes, And when the winter's tempests blow To shrink beneath his robes of snow.
Frontenac was deeded to Union Springs by the Commissioners of the Land Office acting under the provisions of the legislative enactment, on condition that it should be kept and maintained as a park and pleasure ground; relics of Indian warfare and the chase, with many human human bones, are still found on it. Not long after the deed was granted the villagers held a public meeting and settled a plan, for the improvement of the island. The underbrush was cleared away, gravel walks made and seats provided, making it a charming retreat.
Like most of the early setled towns in the county this owed its location and subsequent growth to its water power. The first mill was erected about the time Hardenbergh's mills were put up in Auburn, and previous to this some of the early settlers had to go eighty miles to get their grists ground. The first permanent settle- ment was made by James Carr, Frederick Gearhart, Thomas Thomp- son, William S. Burling, Dr. John Mosher, Dr. Stephen Mosher, John Earl, William Barker, and Captain Cozzens, all of whom
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settled about the same time, 1800. The first school in town was kept near Union Springs by Anos Comely; Thomas Collins was the first innkeeper, and Laban Hoskins and Walter Low were the first storekeepers, in or about 1810.
Mr. Winnegar located in the place in 1810, and in 1830 started a factory. Five years later a woolen mill was put up on the south pond. From the date of the first settlement the growth of the town became sure and steady, owing to its water power, and the large gypsum and limestone quarries near by.
Sometime previous to 1835, George Howland of New Bedford erected the flouring mill at the north pond. The mill is built of limestone, four stories high with six run of stone; adjoining it is a sawmill and a plaster mill, the three being connected with the lake by a canal so that the products of all can be shipped without trouble and expense of cartage.
There are five churches in the village, viz. : First Presbyterian, Reverend Mr. Foss; Methodist Episcopal, Reverend E. E. Benson ; First Baptist, Reverend W. W. Wilber; Grace Episcopal, W. H. Casey, rector; St. Michael's Roman Catholic, J. F. Milligan, pastor.
When the Cayugas sold their lands to the State they refused to part with a strip four miles wide, running from Aurora to Monte- zuma. In 1789, William Richardson and several others had settled on this Reservation; the Indians entered complaint against them, and the powers of the State compelled the intruders to seek else- where for place of settlement. Thus the land in this locality was not settled permanently, as the section lying farther to the south.
STERLING.
Sterling, named from William Alexander, Lord Sterling of Revolutionary memory, was formed from Cato, June 19, 1812. It lies in the extreme north part of the county on Lake Ontario and has a rolling surface, with a trifling inclination toward the north. The summits of the ridges stand two hundred to three hun-
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dred feet above the lake, and Big Bluff on the lake shore has about the same elevation. Little Sodus Creek with its branches flowing into little Sodus Bay, and Cartwright Brook, flowing into Blind Sodus Bay are the streams. Little Sodus Bay is about two miles long and one wide, and is one of the best natural harbors on the south shore of the lake; a swamp covering several acres, extends along the lake shore east of the bay, and another lies on the south border of the town. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam, and in some places is stoney and difficult to cultivate. Outcrops of Medina sandstone and Oneida conglomerate are quarried in the town for building purposes. The former is extensively used for the under- pinning of houses and farm buildings; and it has been observed that hogs are fond of licking the stone whenever they have access to them. It causes them to foam at the mouth, and hence they can be fattened only with difficulty.
The Southern Central Railroad crosses the town diagonally from south to north, its northern terminus being Little Sodus Bay.
The Lake Ontario Shore Railroad crosses it in the northern part from east to west.
Fair Haven, a prosperous village of over one thousand inhabi- tants, is situated in the northwest corner of the town on Little Sodus Bay and is the terminus of the Southern Central Railroad. It contains three churches, a union school, printing office, several stores and two hotels.
The village extends the whole length of the bay, and to some distance above it. The gently sloping shores of the bay, which is a pretty sheet of water, present many fine sites for residences.
Several coal companies are doing business at this place, and heavy shipments of coal are made to Canadian ports.
Sterling Centre is situated on Little Sodus Creek, in the central part of the town, and is two miles northeast of Sterling Junction, and one mile east of Sterling Valley station. It has a population of about three hundred and contains three churches, a union
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school, four stores, one hotel, one tannery, one grist mill, a furnace, three blacksmith shops, a harness shop, tin shop and shoe shop.
Sterling Valley is situated on the north branch of Little Sodus Creek, one and one-third miles north of Sterling Valley station. It contains one church, several manufacturing and mercantile establishments, with a population of nearly two hundred.
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