History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 67

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 67

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).

This joint purchase was afterwards divided between the owners, and Deacon Healy added to his farm by subsequent purchases.

Having, during the summer and autumn of 1793, made provision for the comfort and support of a family, he returned to Newton and was united in marriage with Miss Eunice Crossman, sister of Deacon Phineas Crossman, December 31st, of that year. On the 18th of February following. they "set out " for their new home which they reached in thirteen days.

Mr. Healy was very energetic and availed himself of the advan- tages which his situation afforded. Soon after he came in, the great flow of emigration to Western and Central New York was at its height. He was on one of the thoroughfares over which the emi- grants passed, and for whose accommodation he opened a "tavern," and also a supply store for the settlers, or travelers, which was liberally patronized, the "bar " especially sn. Every one at that time drank intoxicants, dominie, deacons and professors alike. To treat and be treated, or, if alone, to take the solitary ** nip " when at the tavern, was a universal rule, demanded by the social usages of the time.

Mrs. Healy died in what was then Brutus, now Sennett, Septem- her 16th, 1810. They had eight children, including two pairs of twins. They were Lyman W., boro July 12th, 1796 ; John Mason, May Ist, 1798 ; Nathaniel, October 2d. 1799 ; infant son and daugh- ter. April 30th, 1804; Ebenezer and Sally, January 29th, 1806 ; Eliza, October 24th, 1808, Mr. Healy's second marriage was to Anna Leonard, March 11th, 1811. They had one son, George, born Octo- ber 19th, 1812.

Deacon Healy was a sincere, devoted and very liberal member of the Baptist Church. In his barn, erected in 1796, now standing and owned by his grandson, Philo W. Healy, the Baptist Association was formed in 1801, and its members were always free and wel-

come guests at his house. His son George reports that bis father has kept on occasions of such assemblages fully one hundred borges and an equal number of persons free of charge. He was a life member of the Home and Foreign Missionary and Bible Societies. His religions and benevolent contributions were said to equal those of the rest of the society of which he was a member. He was for many years overseer of the poor, and was complimented by com- missions in the military from Governors Jay and Geo. Clinton,

Two only of his children are living : Col. Geo, Healy, in Roches- ter, Minn., and Eliza H., widow of Henry Davis, living with her nephew P. W. Healy, in Auburn, Six of his grand-children survive, of whom three are residents in this vicinity, viz : Mrs. Thomas Bently in Weedsport, and Philo W. in Auburn, children of John Mason, and Timothy B., son of Lyman W. in Jordan.

JOHN MASON HEALY.

JOHN MASON HEALY was the second son of Ebenezer Healy, and was born May 1st, 1798. He was brought up in the orderly, indus- trious and systematic habits which reigned in his father's house- hold. On April 25th, 1824, he married in Auburn, Miss Sally West, daughter of Philo and Jerusha West. Their children were Philo W., born December 16th, 1824; Jerusha H., September 15th, 1826 ; Eliza J., December 12th, 1828.

On his marriage be settled on a new farm in Genoa. He had pre- viously for some yeare worked on that farm during the summer and engaged during the winters in teaching. He removed to Sennett in 1826, and settled on a farm on lots 99 aud 100, containing 135 acres. In 1830, he removed to a farm of 92 acres on lot 99. In 1861, he sold to his son Philo W. Healy, and removed to Sennett village, where he died July 27th, 1877, aged about seventy-nine years.

Mr. Healy, though having decided political opinione was not par- tisan. He was a consistent and firm friend of the freedom of the slaves and an advocate of temperance reform by moral suasion. He was a careful and reliable business man, and enjoyed in a high degree the confidence of his neighbore. He was frequently entrus- ted with offices in his town, and the drafting of contracts and other papers for acquaintances. He acted as executor or administrator of a large number of estates. a confidence justified by his nuiform care, prudence and fair dealing. He was a regular, and during the latter part of his life a liberal contributor to the church. His only son, Philo W., fully maintains the established reputation of the family for integrity, industry and thrift. He owns a part-126 acres, of the old homestead of his grandfather. The house, built of brick in 1805, he has rebuilt in modern style. It ie a rare in- stance in which the third generation here hold an ancestral cstate. Mr. Healy was united in marriage with Miss Hester A. Lawrence, of Weedsport, daughter of Daniel Lawrence, April 13th, 1859. They have two sons and two daughters. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Healy purchased and refitted a beautiful home, on North street, in the city of Auburn. His object in doing so was to avail himself of the excellent schools, for the education of bis children.

345

SENNETT VILLAGE.

POSTMASTERS. - The first postmaster was prob- ably Rufus Sheldon, who was appointed about 1806, and held the office till 1826, when he was succeeded by Dr. Curtis C. Cady, who held it till 1841, in which year Holman Fisher was ap- pointed, and after four years, was succeeded by Stephen Spooner, who held it four years, when N. B. Van Slyke, who also held it four years, was appointed, and was succeeded by Holman Fisher, who served a second term of four years. E. D. Fellows was postmaster a short time, and was succeeded by D. F. Buten, in 1861, Mrs. C. L. Sheldon, the present incumbent, who was ap- pointed December 13th, 1864, acting as deputy.

PHYSICIANS .- Noah Beman was probably the first physician. He came as early as 1805, and practiced till his death, September 25th, 1823. Curtis C. Cady came in from Hinsdale, Mass., in 1815, and practiced till his death, January 18th, 1862 ; from 1823 to 1833, in company with Syl- vester Willard, who at the expiration of the ten years, removed to Connecticut, whence he came, and is now living in Auburn. A Dr. Cur- tis came in about 1833, and practiced some four years. Benjamin T. Wright came from the eastern part of the State in 1838, and practiced till his death, March 13th, 1844. Curtis C. Cady, Jr., the present physician, commenced practicing in 1841. He belongs to the allopathic school. George McCarthy came in from Throop about 1845, and after practicing three years removed to Lysander. Nelson C. Powers came in from Mottville about 1846, and practiced two years. He subsequently practiced in Syracuse, where he died a few years ago. D. O. K. Strong came in from Owasco about 1855, and practiced four or five years. Dr. Snyder, who practiced uroscopy, came in from Ohio about 1850, and staid about two years. Dr. Morris, who made chronic dis- eases a specialty, came in from Syracuse about 1854, and practiced three or four years, when he removed to Auburn, where he died.

MANUFACTURES .- The Sennett Cheese Manu- facturing Company was incorporated October 21st, 1869, with $3,300 capital. The first trus- tees were : Wm. Sheldon, Albert W. Bowen, J. M. Healy, ( President ; ) Horace Sunderlin and P. W. Healy, ( Secretary and Treasurer. ) The present officers are : William Sheldon, President, and P. W. Healy, Secretary and Treas- urer, who, together with A. W. Bowen, and M.

W. and E. M. Sheldon, are the Trustees. They are making 240 pounds of cheese per day.

SENNETT BAPTIST CHURCHI was organized Sep- tember 12th, 1799, as the Third Baptist Church in Aurelius, and Thomas Morley represented them in the Scipio General Conference, of which they became a member, September 25th, 1799. In 1801 they experienced a revival, by which fifty-one were added to their number, making their total membership at that time eighty-six. In this year the Cayuga Baptist As- sociation was organized in the barn of Ebenezer Healy. The delegates attending that meeting were Manasseh French, Messrs. Squire, Manro, Thomas Morley, Smitten Irish, John Jeffries, Is- rael Clapp and Isaac Barnum. Up to 1803, the average annual increase was thirty-one.

In 1808, Elder Manasseh French, who had served them as pastor since 1800, was excluded from the Church ; but in 1810, on confessing his fault, the nature of which is not indicated, he was restored to fellowship. Their next pastor was Israel Craw, who entered upon his duties in 1808, and under whose ministry three seasons of revival were enjoyed, and ninety-eight added to the membership of the Church. In 1813, Elder Craw was dismissed with thirty-five members to form the First Church in Camillus ( now El- bridge.) This was the second colony from this Society, the first, comprising forty members, having left in 1803, to form the Church in Throopsville.

Joel Butler succeeded Elder Craw in the pas- torate in 1813, and remained one year, during which time forty-eight were added to the mem- bership. Silas Barns entered upon the pastorate in 1815, and he, too, remained only one year. He was succeeded in 1816 by John S. Twiss, who served them till 1830. The only general revival which occurred during his pastorate was in 1821, when ninety-eight were added to their number.

In 1831, the Church, though without a pastor, added 115 members by baptism. Toward the close of that year or early in 1832, Isaac Bucklin became their pastor ; but his selection proved a most unhappy one for the prosperity of the Church, as difficulties arose which necessitated his expulsion in 1833. In the early part of 1833, Thos. Brown commenced his labors with them, and in April of that year he was ordained pastor. A revival immediately followed, resulting in the

346

TOWN OF AURELIUS.

addition of twenty-one to their number, and the restoration of harmony in the Church. He closed his labors with them in 1836, in which year he was succeeded by Jno, H. Dudley, who remained till 1840. During the second year of his pastor- ate, he was assisted in a protracted meeting by Elder Jacob Knapp, which was blessed by the addition of sixty-seven by baptism.

D. McFarland succeeded E. Dudley in the pastorate in 1840, and remained with them till 1843, in which year I. Bennett became the pas- tor. During Elder Bennett's pastorate a revival was experienced which resulted in the addition of sixty by baptism. He was succeeded in 1845 by E. Marshall, who served them two years. S. Adsit Jr., their next pastor, entered upon his duties August Ist, 1847, and continued them till 1854, on the first of April of which year A. Wil- kins assumed the pastoral care, which he resigned March 28th, 1863.

N. R. Everts entered upon the duties of pas- tor with this Church June Ist, 1863. He re- signed November 24th, 1867, and united with the Church at Seneca Falls. Their next pastor was Wm. Dunbar, who commenced his labors with them December Ist, 1867, and closed them April 3d, 1870. He was succeeded by Stephen V. Marsh, from the Church at Waterloo, who entered upon the pastorate July 3d, 1870, and resigned April Ist, 1873. P. D. Root commenced his ministrations with this Church June 29th, 1873, and was granted a letter of dismission Septem- ber 2d, 1876. He was succeeded by Jno. Henry Mason, who begun his labors in October, 1876, and was accepted to the pastorate April 29th, 1877. He is the present pastor. Their present church edifice, which is a fine brick structure, was commenced May Ist, 1874 ; finished Jan- uary 12th, 1875 ; and dedicated January 14th, 1875. Its cost was about $13,000. The present membership is about 200. They have a Sabbath- school which is numerously attended.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SEN- NETT was organized in 1805, as the First Con- gregational Church of Brutus. The pulpit was supplied till about 1820, when Jephthah Poole became their pastor and continued five or six years. After a like period he was rëcalled and ministered to them about four years, the pulpit being supplied during his absence. During his pastorate an interesting and powerful revival oc-

curred, which resulted in the addition of over sixty to their membership at one time. Mr. Poole was succeeded by Henry Boyington, who served them about five years. A period elapsed during which they were without a pastor, the pulpit be- ing filled by supplies, until Mr. Boyington was recalled. His second stay covered a period of about two years.

Their next pastor was a Mr. Griswold, who labored with them three years. He was suc- ceeded by Charles Anderson, whose pastorate covered a period of twenty-five years. He went to Springport. Samuel S. Goss supplied them one year, when Thomas Campbell was called and served them three years, one year before being installed as pastor. They were next supplied a part of a year by Professors from Auburn Theo- logical Seminary. J. G. Smith ministered to them two and a half years, but was not installed. Charles Anderson, their former pastor, was then recalled, and continued his labors with them till the spring of 1877, since which time they have been supplied by - - Burnley, a student in Auburn Theological Seminary.

Their first house of worship was built about 1820; the present one in 1848, at a cost of $4,000, and was dedicated in January, 1849. The present membership is about 100. The Sabbath School, in which their hopes are cen- tered, has an average attendance of seventy-five.

CHAPTER XLI.

TOWN OF AURELIUS.

A URELIUS lies near the center of the west border of the County, at the foot of Cayuga Lake, which, with Seneca River, forms its western boundary. The northern boundary is formed by Montezuma and Throop, the east- ern, by Auburn and Fleming, and the southern, by Fleming and Springport. It was formed Janu- ary 27th, 1789, and originally embraced all that part of the County lying north of the prolonga- tion of the south line of Fleming. Brutus, Cato, Jefferson, (now Mentz,) and Owasco were set off March 30th, 1802 ; Auburn and Fleming, March 28th, 1823; a part of Springport, January 30th,

[Photo hy Ernsberger & Ray.]

ELISHA SEDGWICK AUSTIN.

ELISHA SEDGWICK AUSTIN was born in the town of Owasco, Cayuga County, on the 7th of November, 1800. He is a son of Henry and Prudence [Ensigu] Austin, who were natives of Sheffield, whence they moved to Cayuga County, and settled in what is now the town of Owasco about the year 1795. The father died in An- gust, 1829, and the mother about the year 1815. Thay had ten chil- dreo: Harriet, born August 16th, 1792; Henry, born October 20th, 1794; Ebenezer Ensign, born May 2d, 1796; Warran, born March 8th, 1798; Elisha Sedgwick, born November 7th, 1800; Kellogg, horn July 18th, 1802; Prudence, born May 19th, 1804; James, born November 16th, 1807; John, born July 26th, 1810.

Warren, Prudence, John and Elisha Sedgwick ara all that are now living.

Sadgwick, the subject of this record, has always followed farm- ing. Uutil he was twenty-six years of age his time was spent en the farm at home, his schouling being such only as the primitive character of the district afforded. In early life he became so inured to self-reliance and habits of industry as to make his subse- quant years a worthy record in the history of Cayuga County.

At the age of twenty-six he purchased one hundred and fourteen acres of land on lots 31 and 2t in the town of Sennett and settled thereon, and there he still resides. Ha added by purchase from time to time until ha owned a little more than four hundred acres. The life of a farmer usually embraces but few startling incidents, but Mr. Austin has performed its duties with such industry and good judgment as to secure the respect of all who knew him, and now as his life, already lengthaned several years beyond the allotted three scora and ten, is drawing towards its close, he can look back over its varied shadows and sunshine, its struggles and its triumphs, with a aatisfaction coming from a life well spent, and await with composure the inevitable hour which comes to all the living.

Politically Mr. Austin has always been a Democrat.

He has held the office of Supervisor of his town for one term and has been Assessor also, but has always preferred the quiet life of his farm te the strifas and competitions of the office seekar.

Ha has never become a member of any church, but hes attended and most liberally given io aid and support of the Baptist Church

in Seguett. These working in the interest of that Church and the cause of christianity and humanity were never turned away empty handed.

On the 27th of January, 1824, Mr. Austin married Abigail, daugh- ter of Elder Elkanah Comstock, of the town of Owasco. She was born October 10th, 1801, and died of ceosumption, March 30th, 1828. The fruit of their union was one child, Martha, born Novem- ber 23d, 1825; married to Benjamin Cutler Leonard, of Sennett, October 10th, 1849.

Juna 17th, 1829. Mr. Austin married Harriet Harvey, of Marcellus, Onondaga county, N. Y. She was born June 24th. 1811. Sea is the daughter of Medad and Anna [Buell] Harvey, natives of Vermont. Her parents died at au advanced age, tbe dates of which cannot be obtained. They reared a family of twelve children, Harriet baing the ninth. Their names are here given: Paul. Lucinda, Rheda, Samuel, Sarah, John, Electa, Leonard, Harriet, Isabella, Dorwin and Medad, eight of whom are yet living. For nearly fifty years Mts. Austin has been truly a help-meet te her husband. She ia gentle. industrious and frugal, and distinguished for her general benevolence and her untiring devotion to her family. She ia dis- creet, and possesses excellent judgment as well as every qualifica- tien that adorns a wife nad mother. Nearly half a century ago she united by letter with the Baptist Church in Sennett, aud hes been a deveted and earnest member thereof during all that time.

To Mr. Austiu, by hie present wife, have been born four children. Their names and dates of birth ere given below: Harvey, born June 7th, 1830, married Margaret L. Wright of Elbridge, Onondaga county, N. Y., February 2d, 1860; Abigail, born August 23d, 1832, died December 5th, 1836; Joho S., born July 23d, 1×35, married Ruth A. Sunderlin of Sennett, October 19th, 1859; Sanford, boro August 23d, 1838, married to Elize Jeline of Auburn, N. Y., in November, 1863.

Mr. Austin is the architect of his own fortuna. By honest deal- ing. prudent management and indafatigable industry, he has ac- cumulated a large property. Ha occupies an honorable position among the leading men of his town, and by his kindness and genial ways has secured the confidence and esteem of his fel- low citizens.

347

GEOLOGICAL FORMATION.

1823; a part of Throop, April 8th, 1859; and the 7th ward of Auburn, in 1869.

The surface is rolling and inclines to the north and west. The principal streams are Owasco Outlet, which crosses the north-east corner, and Cayuga Brook, which flows north through the eastern part. A few smaller streams rise in the town, but none of them afford any water privi- lege within the limits of the town, though there are some valuable mill sites on the Outlet in the west edge of Auburn. There is not a saw or grist-mill in the town. There was formerly a saw-mill in the north-west corner of the town, on the farm owned by Lewis Baker, and another near the center of the town, on the site of the plaster-mill of Peter Shank, which was kept in operation as long as there was sufficient timber to pay for running it.

It is underlaid by the gypsum of the Onon- daga salt group, which crops out in various lo- calities on the shore of the lake, notably on the farm of Daniel Yawger in the south part, on the farm of John Larue in the north part, and at the bridge, in each of which localities it has been quarried, first, at the latter place, about seventy years ago. It is generally, however, too deeply covered with drift, and has associated with it too much of the shale of this group to be profitably worked in competition with the quarries to the south, in Springport, where it has less superin- cumbent matter and is freer from shaly impuri- ties. It is not improbable that the first plaster dug and used in Cayuga County was obtained at Cayuga Bridge. A ledge of limestone extends diagonally across the town in a north-east and south-west direction. It is a continuation of the same ledge which is quarried so extensively in Au- burn, both for burning and for building purposes. Upon the road a little west of Aurelius and upon either side to the north and south it crops out upon the surface and covers a large area. It also forms the bed of Cayuga Brook a little west of Auburn. It is used for building purposes, usually for rough work, and was formerly burned.

Numerous springs issue from these limestone and gypsum formations, some of them possessing mineral properties which constitute them valua- ble medicaments. Near Aurelius station, on the farm of Mrs. Dr. Hannah Lilly, is a sulphur spring, which was discovered and a bath house built some forty years ago. On the farms of

Henry Willard in Cayuga, Jno. M. Mersereau, about two miles north of that village, on the ad- joining farm of Daniel Anthony, and on that of Lucius and Wm. Baldwin in the same locality, are springs which qualitative analyses of the first and last show to possess similar constituents. The following is the result of a complete analysis of the water from the Willard spring, made by Dr. S. A. Lattimore, Prof. of Chemistry in Roch- ester University, showing the contents of a U. S. gallon :

Sulphate of magnesia 37. 15 grains.

Sulphate of lime 94.16

Carbonate of lime 18.20

Chloride of sodium 2.12

Oxide of iron

.04

Alumina

trace.

Silica

Total number of grains 151.67

The soil is for the most part a heavy clay and gravelly loam, being admirably adapted to grain culture, to which it is mainly devoted. It is strictly an agricultural town and is one of the best in the County. Says Spafford, in his Ga- zetteer of 1824, " the inhabitants are principally employed in agriculture, and many of them enjoy a great degree of opulence. It is hardly possi- ble to conceive a more enviable situation than theirs, thus blessed in a most delightful country."

The Auburn branch of the N. Y. C. R. R. crosses the town in a tortuous course from east to west, and crosses the lake at Cayuga. The Cayuga and Seneca Lake Canal extends through the west part north of Cayuga, along the lake and river, and connects with the Erie Canal at Mon- tezuma.

The population of the town in 1875 was 1,978, of whom 1,610 were native, 368 foreign, 1,972 white, and 6 colored. The area is 18,870 acres, 16,614 of which are improved, 1,314 woodland, and 942, otherwise unimproved.

The first settlers in Aurelius were squatters on the Reservation of the Cayuga Indians, which in- cluded one hundred square miles, and extended on both sides of the lake from Aurora to Monte- zuma. 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 per- petual annuity of $500. In 1794 the Cayugas

59-2

348

TOWN OF AURELIUS.

relinquished their claims to this reservation, with the exception of two plots in Springport, one of two miles square, upon the lake, a little south of Union Springs, and the other of one mile square, three or four miles north-east of that village. The first settler was Col. John Harris, who came in from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1789, and settled three-fourths of a mile south of Cayuga, on the farm now owned by Cyrus H. Davis, then called, and now known by the oldest residents of the town, as the Indian orchard, some of the trees of which are still standing there. Harris kept there the first ferry across Cayuga Lake, in conjunction with James Bennett, who settled at the same time upon 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 contracted the first marriage in 1789, with Mary, daughter of John Richardson, who came in the same year as Harris, and settled on the site of the village, where Edwin H. Whit- ney, Esq., now lives. He removed after several years to Wabash, Indiana. A son of Harris, Jno. Harris, Jr., who was born in 1790, was the first child born in the town. Harris opened the first store in 1789, and the first inn in 1790.

The early settlers in this locality generally came by water route, making a long and tedious journey. Those who came on foot or with teams found, for much of the way, no roads better than Indian trails or paths designated by means of blazed trees.

About 1795, Hon. Joseph Annin, one of the proprietors of Cayuga village, and the first Sher- iff of Cayuga County, settled where the widow of David Kyle now lives. He removed to Mil- ton ( now Genoa, ) and subsequently to Onon- daga Hollow, where he died in 1815. His re- mains were brought to Cayuga for interment. While residing at Genoa he represented the western district in the State Senate in 1803, '4, '5 and 6.

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.

History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 67

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