History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 55

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762

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 55

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The river is spanned within the limits of the town by three bridges, two of wood and one of iron. The latter, in the south-east corner, con- nects Cato and Elbridge, and was built in 1868, at a cost of about $25,000, toward which Cayuga and Onondaga counties each contributed $5,000, the remainder being paid in equal shares by the towns of Cato and Elbridge. It replaced a wooden bridge owned by the Cato and Jordan Plank Road Company, and abandoned by them in 1866. The wooden bridge in the south-west part was sup- ported by the Plank Road Company, incorporated in 1848. Their charter having expired, the bridge became the property of the town.

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EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

The first settlement was made in. 1800, by Samson Lawrence, who located on lot 32, on the farm latterly owned by Asa Crossman. Andrew Stockwell, from Whitehall, N. Y., also settled in 1800, about a mile and a half south-east of Meri- dian, on the farm now owned by Charles Bloom- field. His marriage with Sybil Root, June 4th, 1804, was the first in the town ; and their daugh- ter Alvira, (who, in company with her mother, met with a tragic death about 1840, both being burned in the house of Chauncey Stockwell, a brother and son,) who was born May 4th, 1805, was the first white child born in that portion of Cayuga County lying north of Seneca River. His daughter Rebecca, who is living at Meridian, is the only survivor of the family.

In 1802, Joshua Chappell came with his wife, in company with John Watson, from Marcellus, and settled a half mile west of Cato village.

In May, 1803, settlements were made by Solo- mon Knapp, who located on lot 100, at Meacham's Corners, on the farm now occupied by William Cook, and by Alanson Sheldon on the same farm.

George Loveless and Abel Pasko settled in the south part of Meridian, in 1804. Solomon, a son of the former, is living about two miles south of that village, and Deacon Milton Pasko, a son of the latter, is living between Meridian and Cato.

Elihu Peck came from Pompey, in 1804, and settled on the farm now owned by Edgar Drew. His father, Captain Enoch Peck and his brother, Peter, also from Pompey, came in soon after. Enoch settled where Wm. Cook's house now stands, at Meacham's Corners. Peter, who was a bachelor and lived with his parents, took up a tract now owned by Isaac R. Merritt, in Ira. The Pecks sold to Joel Northrup, from Conn., and removed to Camillus, where their descendants are living. Northrup was wealthy and bought a large tract of land, covering a mile or more in extent. He brought in the first wag- on in the town. He was a bachelor when he came, but married soon after to Clarissa Dudley, sister of Elder Ira Dudley, by whom he had three children. Northrup remained here till his death, about 1814.

Settlements were made in 1805, by Platt Titus, from Onondaga county, at Cato, where he was the first settler and felled the first tree ; by Jesse

Elwell and Abner Hollister, at Meridian ; and by families named Cerow and Abrams, the former four and a half miles south of Meridian, and the latter, on the river, at the middle bridge, where, that year and for a good many years thereafter, he kept a ferry. Titus remained only two or three years, when he removed to the Taber farm one-half mile north of Meridian, in Ira, where he remained till 1833, when he removed to Hanni- bal, where he died in April, 1862. Elwell settled where the Meridian House now stands, and where he built, and kept till his death during the epi- demic of 1811, the first tavern, which was built of logs and covered with bark. He had a large family, all of whom are gone. His daughter Polly was the wife of Abner Hollister, who set- tled in the south part of Meridian, where Marcus Drew now lives. Hollister bought of A. C. Rice, of Onondaga county, for a nominal sum, a tract of about three hundred acres, known as " possession land," to which the title was for a long time in doubt. Hollister soon after went south, where he spent several years as overseer on a plantation and acquired considerable wealth. On his return he removed to Cato, where he built the first frame house about 1810, which now forms a part of the Railroad House in that vil- lage. Stephen Olcott settled on the farm now owned by Carter Hickok, as early as 1805, in which year he died, his death being the first in the town.

In 1807, Stephen Dudley, from Vermont, came with his family, consisting of seven sons and five daughters, and settled in the north-east part, on the farm now owned by his grandson J. Y. Dud- ley, son of Sardis Dudley, the latter of whom died on the old homestead in January, 1876. Stephen took up a State's hundred, of which he let his son Sardis have fifty, and to which both subse- quently added. He died in 1827, at Hannibal, to which town he removed in 1824 or '25. Three sons and one daughter survive him, viz: Lyman; James ; Ira, living at Meridian, who at present and for the past year has supplied the pulpit of the Baptist Church at Port Byron ; and Rebecca, widow of Abner Loomis. Solomon Woodworth settled in this or some previous year, on the river, and kept for several years the ferry where the iron bridge now is. He was a captain and did service in the war of 1812. A man named Fol- lett kept the ferry at the upper bridge at an early

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day. His descendants live on the farm on which he settled.

Dr. John Jakway came in about 1809, from Vermont, where he was a confrere of Ethan Al- len, of whose singularly rugged energy he largely partook. About 1812 he bought the improve- ments of Abner Hollister, at Cato, to which place he gave the name of Jakway's Corners, by which it was known for many years. He was the first permanent settler at that village. He was preceded by some squatters, among whom were John West and Barber Allen, whose im- provements he also bought.

Jakway was a bachelor and a confirmed infidel, and a man of generous impulses and marked idiosyncrasies.

Johnson Hall came in from Conway, N. H., about 1810, and settled at Meridian, where he died about 1840.

After the war, in 1815, the settlements were more rapid and important. Among those who came in that year were Wm. Ingham, Parsons P. Meacham and Michael Ogilsbie. Ingham was originally from Massachusetts, (but immedi- ately from Skaneateles,) whence he came as land agent for Elisha Williams of Hudson, Columbia county, who owned large tracts of military lands in this and Onondaga counties. This connection with Williams, which continued till the latter's death, and his subsidiary mercantile business, brought him into intimate relations with the early settlers, and his sterling integrity left its indelible impress on the character of the persons who set- tled here. On coming here he opened a store at Meridian, on the site of Webster's store, on the corner of Main and Oswego streets, now belong- ing to the Morley estate. His son, Wm. Smith Ingham, succeeded him in the mercantile busi- ness in 1831. Two grandchildren, sons of the latter, are living, viz .: Edgar I., who is connected with a mercantile agency in Indiana, and Albert C., who was for several years connected with the State Department of Agriculture of Wisconsin and prepared several volumes emanating there- from, and who is now living in Meridian, of which village he is the president. Meacham was also from Mass., and came in July, 1815. He is now living, aged eighty-three years, about a mile east of Meridian at what is known as Meacham's Cor- ners. He joined the Baptist Church in Meridian in 1831, since which time he has acted as its

clerk. Ogilsbie came in from New Jersey and settled where he now lives, about four and a half miles south-east of Meridian, opposite to where Samson Lawrence, the first settler, located. Eleazer Squires and a family named Spinning, both from New Jersey, settled about this year, (1815,) about a mile north of the iron bridge.

OFFICERS. -- The first town officers were elect- ed at a meeting held at the house of Israel Wolver- ton, March Ist, 1803, as follows : John C. Barnes, Supervisor; Alanson Sheldon, Clerk ; Israel Wol- verton, Archibald Green and Gilbert Jefferies, Assessors; Samuel Martin and Jacob Wiltsie, Overseers of the Poor; Ephraim Wetherell, Dan- iel Parker and Moses Farrand, Commissioners of Highways; James Perkins, Zadock Barnes and Gilbert Perkins, Pound Keepers ; William Patterson and Samson Lawrence, Fence Viewers; Theophilus Emerson, Constable ; Edward Wood, Constable and Collector.

The town officers elected in 1879 are : David E. Hunter, Supervisor; Chauncey Olmsted, Town Clerk; Charles Cowell, Justice of the Peace ; Daniel Sleight, Assessor ; Jas. L. Roades, Commissioner of Highways; Chauncey Olmsted and Leonard Mills, Overseers of the Poor; Eu- gene Deforest and I. W. Dudley, Inspectors of Election ; David M. Mills, Collector ; William S. Pearson, Theron C. Dudley, William H. Lock- wood, George W. Woolford and George Cool, Constables ; Charles Robinson, Game Constable.

The population of the town in 1875 was 2,095; of whom 1,900 were native ; 195, foreign ; 2,090, white ; and 5, colored. The area is 20,488 acres; of which 15,854, were improved ; 3,797, wood- land ; and 837, unimproved.

MERIDIAN.

Meridian is situated near the north line and is two miles east of Cato on the S. C. R. R., and eight miles north of Weedsport. It is a quiet, attractive and thrifty village of some 700 inhabi- tants, with nicely shaded streets and good walks. It was originally known as Cato Four Corners. The name was changed in 1849. It was incor- porated October 17th, 1854, and the first elec- tion was held November 9th of that year, at the Eagle House, when William Smith Ingham, Jonathan Hoyt, Edwin E. Dudley, Chauncey Olmsted and William H. Coppernoll, were elect- ed Trustees ; James Hickok, M. D. Drew and

PHOTO. BY SQUYER & WRIGHT AUBURN

M. D. DREW

RESIDENCE OF M. D. DREW, MERIDIAN, CAYUGA Co. N.Y.

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MERIDIAN.

Israel Phelps, Assessors ; Victor M. Wheeler, Clerk ; Charles Rockwell, Treasurer ; and Elias Tator, Collector. A new charter was obtained March 11th, 1876, under which M. D. Drew was elected President ; Abel West and John Sey- mour, Trustees for two years ; Daniel M. Wilson, Trustee for one year ; Cornelius Van Liew, Treas- urer ; and Albert G. Wheeler, Collector. Albert C. Ingham, the present president, was elected in 1877, and reelected in 1878. The others officers are, (1878) : J. Sprague Morley, Oakley S. Dudley and Daniel M. Wilson, Trustees and As- sessors ; Isaac R. Merritt, Treasurer ; and James Hickok, Collector.

Meridian contains two churches, (Baptist and Presbyterian,) a district school, two hotels, two general stores, two groceries, a hardware store and tin shop, two furniture and undertaking es- tablishments, in one of which drugs and books are kept, one millinery store, (Mrs. Vinal,) two shoe stores, one shoe shop, kept by James Wyatt, a foundry and machine shop,a tannery and saw, shingle and stave mill combined, a job print- ing office, of which J. Sprague Morley, the village lawyer, is proprietor, three blacksmith shops, kept by P. H. Smith. Jacob Cramer and Putvin & March, the latter of whom have also a carriage shop, kept by S. M. Chittenden, two harness shops, kept by Horace Wilson and G. D. Gillett, and a store in which groceries and notions are kept by C. M. Hungerford.

The first settlement at Meridian was made about 1804, in which year George Loveless and Abel Pasko located in the south part. The fol- lowing year Jesse Elwell and Abner Hollister settled in the village. Settlement progressed slowly till 1815, in which year William Ingham opened his store. After this and the removal of the obstacles to migration incident to the war of 1812, an industrious and thrifty class of people from the New England States and the eastern counties of this State were attracted here in con- siderable numbers by the great fertility of the soil in this locality. This influx created a de- mand for merchants and mechanics, and soon the nucleus of a village was established. In 1831, William Smith Ingham succeeded his father in the mercantile business and projected the estab- lishment on a much larger scale. This store of Ingham's gave the first great impetus to the growth of Meridian. It was followed by the es-

tablishment of a saw-mill and the greatest activ- ity in building enterprises it has ever experienced was then manifest. Its subsequent growth is largely attributable to the character of the men who have been engaged in business here, and the additions it has received from among the suc- cessful farmers of the locality, who in advanced life have exchanged the active duties of the farm for the social and other advantages of a quiet, orderly village. Its growth in the last ten years has been somewhat remarkable.

MERCHANTS. - Daniel M. Bristol, from Man- lius, was the first merchant, not only in Meridian, but in the town of Cato. He opened a store in 1806 and kept it till 1808, when he failed and re- moved to the western part of the State. His store, which was a log structure, stood about where Abel West's store now stands. Samuel Woodford, from Manlius, was the second mer- chant. He opened a store about 1808, first occu- pying Bristol's store, and afterwards removing to the locality of Webster's store. In 1811, Woodford built the first grist-mill in the town, on the outlet of Otter Lake. William Ingham, as previously stated, opened a store in 1815, and kept it till 1831, when he was succeeded by his son, William Smith Ingham, who was the first prominent merchant in Meridian. The latter continued business till his failure, in 1857. He was associated during this time with James Hickok from 1836-'41, with D. E. Havens from 1839-'45, with David Emerick, his son-in-law, from 1845-'52, in which latter year the two ad- mitted Chester Morley to partnership, and the business was conducted by them till their failure in 1857, under the firm name of Ingham, Emer- ick & Morley. In 1841, James Hickok, after dissolving his partnership with Mr. Ingham, formed a partnership with his brother, C. B. Hickok, under the firm name of J. & C. B. Hickok, and opened a general stock of goods. In 1848 he bought his brother's interest, and in 1865 changed his business to that of undertaker and dealer in furniture, books and drugs, which he still continues. James Hickok came into the town from Sterling in 1832, and was a clerk with Mr. Ingham till he entered into partnership with him. Madison E. Hollister did a mercantile bus- iness here from 1831-'33. The next merchant was a Mr. Huggins, from Madison county, who brought his goods in with him in 1836, and in

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1837 sold to Abel West, who has since done bus- iness here. Mr. West was associated three years with William A. VanDorn. In April, 1876, Mr. West admitted his son, Adelbert M. West, to partnership, and the business is now conducted by Abel West & Son.

The other merchants now doing business in Meridian are C. Van Liew, dealer in groceries and hardware, who came in from Lysander in 1862; A. G. Wheeler, dealer in boots and shoes, a native of Washington county, who came from Utica in the spring of 1845, and commenced his present business in April, 1864 ; Jas. Tack- ney, dealer in boots and shoes, who came in 1865, on being discharged from the army, having pre- vious to his enlistment lived in Syracuse, and who was associated as partner from 1868 to 1877 with John Seymour ; Delevan L. Spoor, hard- ware dealer, who came in from Earlville in the spring of 1874; and J. E. Phippens, grocer, from Jordan, and T. J. Webster, general mer- chant, from Auburn, both of whom came in 1877.

POSTMASTERS .- The first postmaster at Me- ridian was Wm. Ingham, who was appointed in 1819, and held the office continuously till 1831, in which year he resigned. He was succeeded by his son, Wm. Smith Ingham, who held the office till the spring of 1849, when Abel West was appointed. In 1852, Wm. Smith Ingham again became postmaster and continued such till his resignation in 1856, in which year Edward H. Shoff received the appointment. In 1860 Abel West received a second appointment, and in 1868 he was succeeded by James Hickok, who filled the office till 1874, when Chester Morley, Jr., the present incumbent, was appointed.

PHYSICIANS. - The first physician at Meridian was John W. Squyers, who practiced till about 1830, when he removed to Plainville, where he died. The next was Jonathan Boyd, who came in from Massachusetts in 1831, and died in 1833. He was succeeded in 1833 by A. M. Parsons, who practiced till 1835, when he removed to Michigan. Jacob K. Drew was contemporary with Drs. Squyers and Boyd. He came in from Vermont and practiced here till his death. John Plant came in from Maine in 1833, and bought out Dr. Skinner. He removed after about four years to Pennsylvania. H. B. Wright came in 1841 or '42, and died here in 1844. James T.

Hough, Davis Conger and S. M. Brown, were contemporary with Dr. Wright. Hough prac- ticed here till 1850, and Conger some six years. Brown, who was from the town of Ontario, Wayne Co., practiced here several years and is now living in Ira. Wm. O. Luce, from Auburn, but imme- diately from Ira, came about 1850, and removed to Elbridge about 1863, and subsequently to Au- burn, where he now lives. E. L. Evarts came in from Ira about 1858, and moved to Buffalo about the year 1868. He is now practicing at Cato. E. P. Baker bought out Dr. Luce, and removed about five years ago to Aurora, where he now lives. Dr. Bartlett came in from the army in 1869, having previously resided in Wis- consin, and is still practicing here. He belongs to the homeopathic school. Lewis Tice, from Brockport, practiced here from 1858-'62. He removed to New York city and died there. E. S. Forman, allopath, came in from Sterling about five years ago and is still practicing there.

MEMBERS OF THE BAR .- The first lawyer at Meridian was Madison Young, who came from N. H., in 1843, and practiced here about ten years. James W. Bonta, a native of this town, practiced here about a year, about 1856, in Jus- tices' court, but was never admitted to the bar. J. Sprague Morley, the present lawyer, came in with his father from Pompey, in March, 1832. He graduated from Hobart college in 1846, and practiced law at Jamesville, Onondaga county, in company with Isaac W. Brewster, from 1849 till November, 1853, when he commenced prac- tice here.

MANUFACTURERS .- There are but three manu- facturing establishments in Meridian,

Daniel W. Wilson, founder and machinist, is a native of Cato, and commenced business in 1866. In 1870, Chauncy L. Hickok became his partner, but remained only four years. The works were erected in 1833, by David Rockwell, and enlarged to their present size, with the ex- ception of the upper story, about thirty-five years · ago. The chief articles of manufacture are agri- cultural implements. The motive power is sup- plied by a twenty horse-power engine.

Titus & Alward, (Wm. Titus of Moravia and Chas. G. Alward, of Venice,) proprietors of the tannery and saw, feed, stave and shingle mill, all combined, bought the property of John Seymour, and commenced business January Ist, 1877. The

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MERIDIAN -- CHURCHES.

works were originally built for a grist-mill, in 1853, by a stock company, at a cost of $ 10,000. In 1858, John Seymour bought it, and in 1860 he converted the grist-mill into a tannery. The saw-mill was built at the same time as the grist- mill. The motive power is furnished by a twen- ty-five horse-power engine. The capital invested is $15,000. The works give employment to six men, and turn out 3,000 sides of leather and 500,- 000 feet of lumber per annum.

S. M. Chittenden came in from Plainville and opened his carriage works in 1876.

HOTELS. - The first hotel at Meridian was kept by Jesse Elwell, on the site of the Meridian House. About 1818 he sold to Abner Hollis- ter, who that year built the lower portion of the front part of the present house. He closed it in 1830 and occupied it as a dwelling till his death March 14th, 1852, when it was sold to Wm. Smith Ingham, who rented it in 1853, to Lucius M. Hol- lister, son of.Abner, who kept it as a temperance house one year. Chas. Austin kept it as a tem- perance house one year, and was succeeded by Isaac Upham and Benjamin Daratt, who bought the hotel of Ingham, and enlarged it to its pres- ent size. It subsequently became the property of Timby and Daratt, who, in 1860, sold it to the present occupant, Isaac R. Merritt, who had previously kept a hotel ten years in Victory. A second hotel, the Hunt House, was started by Solomon Loveless, who also kept a blacksmith shop. Gideon Acker bought it in 1840 and sold it after four or five years to his cousin, Cyrus Acker, who subsequently sold to another cousin, Abram Acker, by whom it was repaired and kept till about 1850, when it was again bought by Cy- rus Acker, who sold it to Julius Whiting. Whit- ing sold it about 1858 to Lewis Van Auken, who rented it to Isaac Curtis, by whom it was kept five years, when D. D. Burchard bought it and kept it till about five years ago, when it was sold to satisfy a mortgage to Garrett Mowl, by whom it was sold in 1874 to the present proprietor, John A. Hunt, who came in the preceding year from Ira. This hotel was formerly known as the Eagle Hotel.

THE FARMERS' JOINT STOCK INSURANCE COM- PANY, at Meridian, was organized in April, 1861, with a capital of $50,000. The first officers were Robert Bloomfield, of Cato, president ; Chauncey B. Laird of Elbridge, Daniel G. Smith of Lysan- 50-2

der, and Homer Lockwood of Victory, vice- presidents ; Abel West of Meridian, secretary ; and Cyrus Dudley of Meridian, treasurer. The company did a good business in the early part of its existence, but latterly much difficulty was experienced in .collecting premiums. A sharp competition existed in the class of risks to which, by the terms of their charter, they were restrict- ed, (viz : farm property,) and these, together with their cumbrous organization, rendcred it impossi- ble to continue business without suffering im- pairment of their capital. They therefore dis- solved February 6th, 1877, at which time the offi- cers were Henry Daboll of Memphis, president ; Homer N. Lockwood of Auburn, David Sutfin and Jabez H. Norton of Lysander, vice-presi- dents ; G. H. Lawrence of Meridian, secretary ; and Marcus D. Drew of Meridian, treasurer. Fol- lowing is an abstract of their report to the Insur- ance Department May Ist, 1878: Total prem- iums received to date, $923,734 ; dividends de- clared since business was commenced, $100,625; losses paid from date of organization, $577,481.

SCHOOLS .- Although the school at Meridian is a district school, it is graded and furnishes ex- cellent instruction. The principal is A. E. Ringee, who is assisted by Misses Franc Foote and S. E. Meacham, the latter of whom has taught in this school some twenty-five years, all the time in the primary department.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY OF MERIDIAN was organized October 26th, 1810, with twenty-two members, but, owing to the loss of their early records, the names of the following only can be ascertained : D. Parker and wife, C. Green and wife, A. Pasko and wife, J. Root and wife, H. Ferris and wife, Nancy Carr and Seviah Flemman. Their first pastor was Rev. Daniel Palmer, who commenced his labors as a licentiate, but was afterwards ordained pastor, and remained wtih them four years. Their first revival occurred in 1812, in which year sixteen were added to their number, but it continued and increased in interest till ninety-two converts were added. B. Seamans, a licentiate, succeeded Palmer in 1815, and remained one year.

The Church was without a pastor from this time till the spring of 1820, when Orlando Mack settled with them. A revival immediately fol- lowed, but he was smitten with death in its midst, August 12th, 1820. Jeremy F. Tallman

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became the pastor in March, 1821, and remained thirteen years. In 1821 and 1822 revivals were enjoyed, sixteen being added in the former and eleven in the latter year.

From 1822 to 1829 darkness and gloom rested upon the church. During those seven years only one baptism occurred. In 1829 they awoke from their lethargy, and a revival was commenced which culminated in 1831, in which year one hundred and seven were added to the member- ship. Elder Tallman closed his labors in May, 1834, and was immediately succeeded by S. Knapp. In this and the preceding year the doctrines of the Campbellites made sad inroads in their membership, thirty-four having been ex- cluded for espousing them.

Though the early part of Elder Knapp's pas- torate was full of discouragements, the latter portion was not without compensating encour- agements. In 1835 a season of revival was be- gun which continued with increased fervor during that and the two succeding years, and resulted in the addition of one hundred and sixty-six to their membership. Elder Knapp closed his labors with them in March, 1838, and was suc- ceeded the next month by J. W. Spoor, who re- mained till July, 1840. During his pastorate fifty-five were added to the church by baptism.

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History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 55

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 762

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762