USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 50
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Hugh McFadden and Robert M. Stewart, from Argyle, Washington Co., came in the spring of 1816. Mc Fadden was a brother of Alexander and John W. McFadden. He settled on a farm adjoining that of Alexander's, and died in the town several years since. Stewart came on foot, arriving in the town on the 7th of May, and set- tled on twenty acres, on lot 27, near the center of the town. He was the first blacksmith in the town. His shop was about a mile east of Ster- ling Center. He busied himself at farming when not employed in the shop. He was a noted hunter.
John Winchell was a blacksmith at Fair Haven at an early day. He was fond of fishing and spent much time at that when not engaged in his shop. Joshua Barnes located on the creek below the bridge crossing the creek on the State road. He used to fish for salmon while his wife rowed their log canoe.
Big Bluff was, at an early day, a great cattle run in the summer, and was the scene of the destruction of a good many cattle. Its elevation secured it a breeze which attracted the cattle to the edge, whence they were frequently precipi- tated below from the caving of the embankment, which was then almost perpendicular. About 1820, an ox belonging to a Mr. Eno, who was an early settler upon the shore, was precipitated over the bluff and lodged on a ledge about half way down. It remained there several days before be- ing discovered. It was rescued alive by means of ropes, which served to guide it and prevent its falling while making the steep descent.
When the first settlers came the marshy tract bordering the lake was covered with cran- berry bushes, and the fruit was gathered in large quantities and marketed at Oswego and Onon- daga Hollow. A few years later they were killed by a rise in the water which covered all that tract. The water has receded somewhat, but the tract
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is subject to frequent inundation from the back- ing of the lake water. .
THE ASSOCIATED REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, the first church in the town, was organized at Sterling Valley in 1817 or'18, in the old log tav- ern kept by John Cooper, the most prominent ones then connected with it being David Mc- Farland and Samuel King, Elders, and John and George Cooper, John and Hugh McFadden and Isaac Turner. Their church edifice was built in 1828, and an addition built to it some two years since. The first settled pastor was Rev. David Curry, who maintained pastoral relations with the Church for fifty years, and died in the town a short time since, having previously given up the ministry. He was succeeded by Rev. John Edgar, who remained about ten years, and gave place to the present pastor, Rev. Mr. Hume, who entered upon his duties about two years since. The Church is in a prosperous con- dition and has a membership of 150. It has a flourishing Sunday school, with an attendance of about 125.
THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF STERLING CENTER, was organized about 1820, with some thirty members, among whom were Alex. Mc Crea, Alex. Mc Fadden, John Scott, Robt. M. Stewart, James Erwin, Thos. Cox, Samuel King and Andrew Galey. The organi- zation was effected in a school-house which stood where the Methodist church now stands. The first meetings were held in 1815, in a school- house in Sterling Valley, and were conducted by Revs. Alex. Milligan, Cannon and others. Even after the organization the meetings were held in the valley for many years. Their first house of worship was built in 1828. It is now owned by " Big" Smith, and used as a dwelling-house. In 1851, the present house in Sterling Center was erected, at a cost of $1,600. It will seat 250 per- sons. The first settled pastor was Rev. Wm. L. Roberts, who previously supplied the pulpit at an early day. He was succeeded by Rev. Matthew Wilkin in 1856, having served a faith- ful pastorate of thirty years. He removed to Ohio, where he died. Wilkin remained about twelve years, and was succeeded by Rev. Samuel R. Gilbreath, who remained only a year and a half, when he was appointed missionary to Assy- ria, where he died. The present pastor, Rev. J T. Allen, succeeded him in the fall of 1876. The
society numbers seventy ; and the attendance at Sabbath-school is about seventy-five.
THE M. E. CHURCH OF MARTVILLE was or- ganized about 1830, and built their house of wor- ship about 1842. The latter was torn down in 1875 with a view to rebuilding, but no building has yet been erected. Meetings are held in the school-house. The present pastor lives in Bethel, in the town of Ira.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF STERLING, at Ster- ling Center, was organized October 2d, 1841, in the school-house in Sterling Center. A society known by the above name was organized several years previously, at the house of Joseph Bunnell, one and one-half miles north-east of the Cen- ter, and a few years thereafter their place of meeting was changed to the town of Hannibal, after which it took the name of that town.
Forty-one members were dismissed from the church in Hannibal to form this. The first pas- tor was Rev. T. H. Green, who perfected the or- ganization. During the first year of the exist- ence of the society twenty-five were added to its membership by baptism, ten by letter, and one by experience. The building of their church edi- fice was commenced in the spring of 1842, but owing to pecuniary embarrassments and the loss by fire of a quantity of lumber, which was a seri- ous hindrance, it was not completed till 1845, the first meeting being held in it on the first Sabbath in April of that year. In January, 1845, the pas- tor was assisted by Revs. I. Lawton and D. Foot, in a series of revival meetings, which re- sulted in the addition of eleven by baptism and fifteen by letter. Elder Green closed his labors with the church May 26th, 1850, and was im- mediately succeeded by Rev. A. R. Palmer, who was granted a letter of dismission July 5th, 1851. During the remaining half of 1851, the church was ministered to by Elders M. Shaw, Plumb, Green and I. R. Nesbit, the latter from Roch- ester University. The pulpit was afterwards filled for a short time by Elder Peevit, who ten- dered his resignation March 6th, 1852. June 6th, 1852, a call was extended to Elder G. A. Ames, and September 12th, 1852, he commenced his labors among them. He was succeeded April 5th, 1856, by Elder Ira Dudley ; and in August, 1858, by Rev. Samuel Smith. Septem- ber 17th, 1859, a call was extended to Rev. Thomas H. Green ; and in October, 1864, to
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CHURCHES.
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Rev. J. P. Simmons, the latter of whom main- tained pastoral relations with them fourteen years. He left in the spring of 1878, and his place has not yet been filled. The present mem- bership is eighty ; and the attendance at Sabbath school, about thirty.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH, at Sterling Cen- ter, was organized in 1856, with about thirty members, among whom were John N. Smith, Isaac M. Hoppin and family, and Mrs. Rhoda Duel. Previous to this, an organization had existed and fallen into decay, and mectings were held by circuit preachers during a period of sev- eral years. Rev. David B. Smith, father of Gary Smith, was one of the carly preachers. Their house of worship was erected in 1860, at a cost of about $2,000, and will seat about three hun- dred persons. Previous to the building of the church, meetings were held in the school-house ; and, during one summer, by invitation of the Baptists, in the church of that society. At its organization, the church became an appointment on the Fair Haven charge. It 1869 it separated from that charge, and attached to itself Martville as a second appointment. It then first became known as Sterling charge. In 1872, Martville was detached, since which time the church has stood alone. Following is a list of the pastors since the organization in 1856, with the year in which they came to the charge : Hiram Wood- ruff, 1856; Samuel Salisbury, 1858; E. W. Pierce, 1860 ; -- Paddock, 1862; O. C. Lathrop, 1863 ; J. Barns, 1864; F. A. O'Far- rell, 1866; D. Stone, 1868 ; A. Miller, 1869 ; R. O. Beebe, 1870; P. T. Hughston, 1871 ; R. Houghton, 1873 ; Z. Wilcox, 1876; George P. Avery, the present one, 1877. In 1869, during the pastorate of Allen Miller, but under the evangelical labors of D. W. Thurston, of Syra- cuse, and H. Giles, a remarkable revival occurred in this church, which resulted in the conversion of about a hundred and in adding sixty to the membership.
THE ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH, at Mart- ville, was organized August 17th, 1873, with six- ty-seven members, among whom were A. H. Dunbar, John Tappan, D. R. Childs, Wm. H. Barr, S. Stum, S. H. Bradford, Oliver Blanchard, George Timeson, S. D. Crofoot, Nelson Palmer, Orin Barnes and Elkany Baker, and as the re- sult of a series of a meetings, during a period of
six weeks, held in a tent, and conducted by El- ders M. R. Miles and B. P. Stevens, who at- tracted large numbers, some from great distances, and expounded the doctrines peculiar to this de- nomination, which "were new and strange to many who listened," and with such effect as to convert between thirty and forty individuals. In 1875 they built their church edifice, at a cost of $2,300, and dedicated it Aug. 15th of that year, the sermon being preached by W. J. Hobbs, of Honeoye Falls, N. Y. Elder M. R. Miles was called to the pastorate in 1874, and served them that and the two succeeding years. In 1877, Elder James E. Wells, of Ontario, N. Y., ac- cepted a call from this Church, and served them with such acceptance as to be chosen pastor in 1878. The membership June 15th, 1878, was ninety. There is a large and interesting Sunday school, of which James Barnes has been super- intendent for a number of years. The attend- ance at the school is eighty-six. Communion is observed once a quarter. The form of govern- ment is Congregational.
A little distance from Sterling are Kevill's grist, cider and shingle-mills and apple-jelly fac- tory, all of which were built and are owned and conducted by William Kevill. The grist-mill was built in 1851, contains three run of stones, and has a capacity of 200 bushels per day. The cider-mill was built in 1861, contains three presses, and expresses the juice usually from 10,000 to 15,000 bushels of apples per season. The shin- gle-mill was also built the latter year. It con- tains one self-setting machine, with a capacity of 5,000 shingles per day, and is in operation only about four months in the year. All three are propelled by water. The jelly factory has a ca- pacity of 400 pounds of jelly per day. This is a new industry, having been established here in 1870, and is developing into a large business. The jellies manufactured from apples are reputed to be superior to all others.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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JAMES HUNTER.
JAMES HUNTER was born in Ireland in 1796. His early youth was passed on his father's farm,
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where he acquired the habits of industry that marked his subsequent life. His educational ad- vantages were somewhat limited, but being at- tentive and studious he obtained a good common education. Ambitious to acquire a competency he left his native land at the age of nineteen and sailed for America. He found a home in Balti- more, Md., where he learned the stone-cutter's trade. He advanced rapidly in his business and became ere long foreman for a prominent firm. In 1826 he married Miss Isabella Crockett. This union resulted happily, and to them were born five children, four of whom are living. In 1838 he came with his family to Sterling, where he purchased a farm on lot No. 8. There he spent the balance of his life and died November 4th, 1851. He was an honest and useful member of society, and his children and friends still cherish his memory. His wife still survives him at the good old age of eighty years.
JOHN HUNTER.
JOHN HUNTER is the oldest child of the late James Hunter and was born in Baltimore, Md., in the year 1828. In 1830, he came with his father to Sterling, where, during his youth, he was employed through the summer months, while his winters were passed in the district schools in a faithful effort to obtain an education. He was not permitted after the age of 18 to con- tinue his studies in school.
The demand for barrels in this fruit-growing country seemed to open to him the cooper trade, and for two years after he had reached the age of 20, he was engaged in that business. When 22 years old he returned to his native State and was for one year occupied as a stone cutter in a soap- stone quarry.
In the summer of 1850, Mr. Hunter was em- ployed on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, in the capacity of foreman, thus commencing his career on public works, which he has carried on so extensively in after years. After one year's service on the O. & A. Railroad he went to Fauquier county, Va., where he accepted a simi- lar position on the famous Manassas Gap Rail- road. In 1852 Mr. Hunter made a contract (his first,) with the last named road, for con- structing a certain distance and was engaged on that road as contractor till the spring of 1858. He then returned to Sterling, where he has since resided.
Soon after his return he purchased the flour- ing and saw-mills, at Sterling Valley, which he operated till quite recently, carrying on at the same time an extensive lumber business. In 1859 he built the store at Sterling Valley. After the war of the Rebellion his brother, James, became
his partner in the mercantile business. The firm of John Hunter & Co. is widely and favora- bly known, their house being one of the most prominent in their section of the County.
In 1871, Mr. Hunter contracted for the grad- ing and masonry on about seven miles of the Lake Ontario Shore Railroad. Since that time he has built, and laid the track on about 70 miles of that road, now a part of the Rome & Water- town Railroad.
In 1873 he did the grading and masonry on 38 miles of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. He also built the Railroad bridge over the Oswego river at Oswego, N. Y., and the tunnel through the Park in that city. Mr. Hunter was one of the contractors for grad- ing and building the locks on sections 8 and 9 on the Welland Canal enlargement. This work was commenced in 1874 and completed in 1878. He had also a half interest in the contract for enlarging the Lachine Canal. At the present writing (September, 1878,) Mr. Hunter is en- gaged on his largest and most difficult con- tract, the widening and deepening of the new canal at Port Colborne, the building of the new entrance lock and race-way at that place, and the building of a new aqueduct across the Chippewa River, which is the most extensive and difficult work on the Welland Canal enlargement. The estimated cost of the work on the two sec- tions, is nearly one and a half million dollars.
Mr. Hunter was united in marriage to Miss Mary Conrad, April 10, 1855. To them eight children have been born. All are living but one.
For twenty years Mr. Hunter has been a mem- ber of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, in which, for 18 years, he has been a ruling elder. A view of his beautiful home, together with a steel portrait of himself, appears in this work.
THOMAS HUNTER.
THOMAS HUNTER, the fourth child of James Hunter, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the IIth of September, 1834. He came to Cayuga with his parents in 1838, and lived at home with them until after his father's death. He attended the district school winters till the age of twelve years, and from that time to the age of nineteen his attendance at school amounted to nine- ty-three days. In 1852 Mr. Hunter went to Virginia and worked on the Manassas Gap Rail- road for his brother John, who was a contractor on that line, for one dollar a day. In the fall of 1853 he returned to Sterling and attended school during the winter and went back to Virginia in spring of 1854. He remained there till June, 1857, when he again returned to Sterling, and, in connection with his brother John, bought the
RESIDENCE OF JOHN HUNTER, STERLING VALLEY, N.Y.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
grist and saw-mill at Sterling Valley. He took charge of and run the mills till Sept., 1860, when he went back to Virginia, where he remained until the war broke out in 1861, working for his uncle, who was a contractor on the Manassas Gap Railroad. Hostilities put a stop to further work on that road and Mr. Hunter, like many other northern men, was virtually a prisoner dur- ing the first few weeks of the war. He was called by the rebel authorities before the court to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America. He obeyed the summons, but declined to take the oath. He was also en- rolled in the State militia and ordered to muster, which he refused to do. On the morning of the 8th of August he started for the Potomac river with a view to escaping through the rebel lines, and in the vicinity of Lovettsville, Virginia, he was so fortunate as to meet Captain T. J. Ken- nedy, of Auburn, N. Y., in command of a de- tachment of the 19th N. Y. Volunteers, which was raised in Cayuga County. Mr. Hunter reached Sterling with seven and a half dollars and the clothes on his back, which comprised his earthly possessions. From that time he dates his start in life. After about one year's rest in Ster- ling he enlisted as a private in the roth N. Y. Volunteers, company " F," the 7th day of August, 1862. He was commissioned 2d lieutenant the 10th of September, 1862, and promoted to captain the 19th of April, 1864. In 1864 his regiment was ordered to garrison Fort Jefferson at Dry Tor- tugas, and Captain Hunter was detached and sent to St. Vincent Island, Florida. While there he organized a regiment of Union refugees and deserters from the rebel army, which was known as the 2d Florida cavalry.
Mr. Hunter remained with his regiment until it was mustered out of service on the 30th day of August, 1865. He then came again to Ster- ling, where he was engaged with his brother John in the lumbering business until 1871.
In the last named year he, in company with his brother John, took a contract to grade a por- tion of the road bed of the Southern Central Railroad. They also contracted for the grading, masonry and bridge building of five miles of the Lake Ontario Shore Railroad. In 1872, they built-about the same distance. In 1873, they contracted with the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. Company, for grading and masonry for the third and fourth tracks of that line between Syracuse and Clyde, a distance of thirty-five miles. In 1874, they built the R. &. W. R. R., from On- tario to Charlotte, entire distance eighteen miles. In 1875 and 1876, they built on the same road "rom Kendall to Lewiston, sixty-five miles. The same year they built the substructure of the rail- road bridge over the Oswego river. In 1877, they did the track laying and ballasting of the Syracuse, Geneva & Corning Railroad. In Sep-
tember, 1877, they took the contract for the en- largement of sections 27 and 35 of the Welland Ship Canal in Canada, which includes the build- ing of the aqueduct across the Chippewa River and the lift lock from the river to the canal, also the guard lock at the Lake Erie end. This con- tract includes a large amount of rock and earth excavation. The total estimated cost of these two sections is one and a half millions of dollars.
In the year 1867, Mr. Hunter married Marga- ret Ann Duguid. She is the daughter of Alex- ander and Maria Duguid. Her father is a native of Schenectady county, and her mother of Wash- ington county. Mrs. Hunter was born in 1841, August 3Ist. They have had four children, all of whom are living.
·In politics Mr. Hunter is a staunch Republi- can, and takes a deep and lively interest in the affairs of his town and county. He is not a member of any religious organization, but attends the Reformed Presbyterian church.
Mr. Hunter is preeminently a self-made man. Beginning life with only his natural resources and the limited education afforded by the district schools of his town for his capital, he has worked himself up step by step to an altitude in business attained by but few in a generation. He is a man of quick perception and strong convictions, frank and fearless in their expression, and ener- getic in their execution. He possesses strong common sense, and uncommon sagacity in busi- ness ; ever ready to meet and strong to overcome the difficulties in the way of self-made men. He is a good neighbor and warm friend, and has, in the fullest, the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
WILLIAM IRWIN.
WILLIAM IRWIN, father of Sophia Jewett, James C. Irwin, George B. Irwin, Esther E. and Minnie E. Irwin, was born in Washington coun- ty, March 3d, 1799. He came to the town of Sterling in 1816. He took up sixty acres of land on lot No. 3. He was married in 1833 to Betsey Irwin, who was also a native of Washing- ton county, where she was born in 1812. She came to this county in the year of her marriage.
Mr. Irwin died May 8th, 1876. His wife is still living with her son, James C. Irwin.
HUGH DUGAN.
HUGH DUGAN, son of John and Margaret Dugan, was born in Ireland in 1841. He came to this country with his parents in 1849. The family settled in Sterling, where the father died in 1863.
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Hugh became a farmer at an early age, and by close application to business finds himself, while comparatively young, the owner of one of the most productive farms in the town of Sterling, consisting of 102 acres. A view of his residence is shown on another page.
JOHN IRELAND.
JOHN IRELAND, a native of the State of Penn- sylvania, was born in 1793, and came to Sterling, Cayuga County, in 1814. He died in 1868. His wife, Polly Rasmussen, was born in Genesee coun- ty, in 1796, and came to this town about the year 1815. They were married in 1816, and have had six children, four boys and two girls, William, Andrew, John, Joseph, Catharine and Margaret Jane. Mrs. Ireland is still living, wonderfully active for one of her years.
PETER VAN PETTEN.
PETER VAN PETTEN was born in Washington county in 1797. He came to this County in 1824 and settled on lot No. 34, in the town of Sterling. In 1820 he married Miss Catherine Myers, a native of Albany county, where she was born in 1803. Eleven children were born to them, nine of whom are still living. Mrs. Van- Petten died November 3d, 1877. Mr. Van Pet- ten is still living with his son George.
JACOB VAN PETTEN.
JACOB VAN PETTEN is the oldest child of Nicho- las N. and Mary A. Van Petten. His father was a native of New York State and was born June 3d, 1800. He came to the town of Sterling in 1817. He married Miss Mary Grinnell, of Al- bany county, who was born May 14th, 1809. Mr. Van Petten was for many years a much esteemed citizen of this town, and died July 9th, 1876. His aged wife still survives him,
Jacob Van Petten was born in the town of Sterling, August 25th, 1828. His youth was passed at home in working on his father's farm during the summers, and attending the district school winters. ' At the age of 21 or 22 he left home and began life for himself, working for the two years following a farm "on shares." After that he spent another year at home. Then he was employed by the contractors on the South- ern Central Railroad as foreman, during the year 1853. From that time to the present Mr. Van- Petten has been exclusively engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits. The spring of 1855 he pur- chased 48 acres of land, on lot number 67, town of Sterling. He has from time to time added to his original purchase until now his farm lands comprise 360 acres. October 25th, 1855, he married Miss Margaret A., daughter of William and Maria Follett. To them four children were born. His wifedied May 13th, 1863. Mr. Van- Petten lost his wife and three children, all within two years. October 4th, 1863, he was united in marriage to his present wife, Miss Nancy J., daugh- ter of Ashley and Julia A. Bowen, of the town of Ira, Cayuga County.
In politics Mr. Van Petten is an earnest Re- publican. Three times has he been elected su- pervisor of the town, serving during the years 1871-'2-'3. He has often served his town and . party on committees and in other capacities.
He is in every sense a self-made man and has, by his own unaided efforts, risen to the prominent and influential position he holds in society. An engraving of his beautiful home adorns this work.
JOHN UPCRAFT.
The town of Sterling can boast of few, if any, farms so well improved as Lake View farm. Those who knew the place twenty-one years ago would not recognize it to-day. It has changed from a neglected, dilapidated place to, perhaps, the model farm of the town. Its present owner, John Upcraft, Esq., was born in Norfolk county, England, in 1830. He was the third child of Henry Upcraft. He came with his father to this country in 1840, and located in the city of Os- wego, where for three years he was employed by the late F. T. Carrington and Myron Pardee. He left their employ and was a lumberman for the next three years. Then for a long period (18 years) he was engaged in mercantile busi- ness and farming, for Fitzhugh and Littlejohn.
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