History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 72

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 72

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).

"Central New Yorker -- By H. H. DeWolf. Six column folio. Weekly. Established April, 1865. Continued nine months.

"Temperance Union-By Park & Cheal. Four column quarto. Monthly. Devoted to temper- ance. Established in the spring of 1866. After a few numbers were issued it was removed to Jordan and published as the Pearly Fountain, May 30th, 1866.

"Union Springs Advertiser-By James B. Hoff. Four column folio. Weekly. Established June 14th, 1866. Has since been continued by the same proprietor, and is now a seven column folio."*

MANUFACTURES-The Cayuga Plaster Com- pany represents the most important manufactur- ing interest of the village. It is composed of C. T. Backus, James Fitch, R. B. Howland, B. Robinson and R. B. Robinson, and was organ- ized January Ist, 1874, for the purpose of min- ing, grinding and disposing of plaster rock. Its formation unified the plaster interests which were hitherto conducted by individuals and firms. The company operate the R. B. Howland and C. T. Backus quarries and buy the product of the Yawger, Richardson, Thompson and Fitch quar- ries, all of which, except the last two, which are one mile to the east, are upon the shore of the lake. They also own three plaster quarries in the north-central part of the town. They lease the Howland, Robinson & Co., Backus and Fitch plaster-mills ; and give employment to some fifty men in the quarries and mills about two-thirds of the year. The beds have already furnished hundreds of thousands of tons of plaster, and the supply seems to be inexhaustible. The product varies from 20,000 to 40,000 tons an- nually.

BANKS .- The First National Bank of Union Springs, was organized February 4th, 1864, and commenced business in April of that year, with a capital of $50,000, which was increased to $100,000, January 16th, 1865. The first direc- tors were Daniel Yawger, William H. Chase, John C. Yawger, John J. Thomas, Albert Beards- ley, William Clarke, Henry Yawger, Jr., Joseph B. Clarke and Byron Brown. The first officers were, John C. Yawger, President ; Albert Beards- ley, Vice-President ; and Benj. Howland, Cashier. Yawger was president till January 8th, 1867, and was succeeded by C. T. Backus, who still holds the office. Beardsley was vice-president till February 22d, 1864, and was succeeded April IIth, 1864, by John J. Thomas, who held the office till January 11th, 1870, when Philip H. Yawger was elected and still retains the office. Howland resigned the cashiership February 22d, 1864, when Albert Beardsley was appointed to that office and held it till January 8th, 1867, when he was succeeded by John C. Yawger, who held it till January 11th, 1870, when Beardsley was rëappointed. He resigned December 2d, 1873, and was succeeded by George W. Winegar, who held it till February 2d, 1875, when M. F. Backus, the present incumbent, was appointed. The

* Union Springs Advertiser.

368

TOWN OF SPRINGPORT.

dividends paid to stockholders have averaged eight per cent.

The following is a copy of the June, 1878, state- ment of the bank :

RESOURCES.

Loans and discounts $113,320 91

Overdrafts.

3,916 82

U. S. Bonds to secure circulation

100,000 00

Other stocks, bonds and mortgages_

12,196 41

Due from reserve agents.

1,617 40

Due from other National Banks

2,063 47

Current expenses and taxes paid.

1,758 33

Checks and other cash items

1,601 94

Bills of other banks.

5,379 00

Fractional currency (including nick- els and cents)

190 69

Specie

512 00

Legal tender notes.

4,500 00

Redemption fund with U. S. Treas- urer

3,700 00

Interest account

195 24

$250,952 21

LIABILITIES.

Capital stock

$ 100,000 00

Surplus fund

20,000 00

Undivided profits

11,195 II

Circulation outstanding

89,800 00

Dividends unpaid

676 00

Individual deposits

28,134 27

Due to other National Banks

1,146 83

Total $250,952 21

SPRING MILLS, flouring, grist and plaster, are operated by Robert B. Howland, Dr. Benedict Robinson and R. B. Robinson, under the name of Howland, Robinson & Co. The grist-mill, which is constructed of stone, and is 65 by 84 feet, with four stories and basement, was built in 1840, by Geo. Howland of New Bedford, Mass., who, a few years previously, had purchased a large amount of property in and about the village, and who, by his enterprise and liberality, con- tributed largely to its prosperity. A plaster- mill was built at the same time, and both were operated under his direction, by his sons Charles and Augustus. After the death of George How- land, in 1852, the property was rented to J. & N. C. Simons, who run the mills five years. Si- mons & Robinson afterwards run them two years, when they came into the possession of the pres- ent proprietors. The original plaster-mill is now used as a store-house, a saw-mill built contiguous to it in 1842, having been converted into the present plaster-mill. The grist-mill contains five

run of stones, one of them a feed run. The works are located at the north or larger springs, which furnishes the motive power, with the exception of about four months in the year, when the water supply is scarce, and power is furnished by a fifty horse-power engine.

UNION SPRINGS MILLS, flouring, grist and saw, are owned and operated by Anthony & Co., (Gaylord Anthony and J. W. Perrine,) the for- mer of whom bought them of E. C. Bowen and Manson Backus October Ist, 1877, and admitted the latter March Ist, 1878. The grist-mill was built in 1836, by Philip Winegar, for a woolen factory, and was used as such till 1854, when it was changed into a grist-mill by the Beardsley Bros. It is a stone structure, with three stories and basement, and contains three run of stones, two for flour and one for feed. The motive pow- er is furnished by water and steam, which are used in connection, the former being supplied by the south spring, near which the mill is located, and the latter, by a thirty horse-power engine. In May, 1878, machinery was introduced for the manufacture of flour by the new process.

UNION SPRINGS AGRICULTURAL WORKS are owned by J. O. Spencer, who is engaged in the manufacture of the "Wide-awake" thrashers, sep- arators and steam engines, horse-powers and ag- ricultural implements, in which forty men are ein- ployed. The building was erected some twenty years ago by Wm., Henry and Lewis McFarland, who carried on the business some five years, when Lewis' interest was bought by his brothers, who continued the business till the death of Hen- ry, in August, 1869, after which it was carried on by Wm. till his death in May, 1874, when it was conducted by the administrator of the estate till the spring of 1875, at which time J. O. Spencer bought the property. In 1878 he built ten thrashing machines and twenty-five engines, the manufacture of engines having been commenced in 1878.

N. Y. CENTRAL PLANING MILL AND HUB WORKS are operated by Courtney Bros., (John F. and Charles E.,) who are also carpenters and builders and dealers in sash, doors, blinds and moldings. They commenced business March Ist, 1874, as builders, and added the other branches of their business March Ist, 1876. They occupy a wooden building erected by them in 1874, and are enlarging their facilities by the erection of a

PHOTO. BY R.R ABBOTT.

CHAS. E . COURTNEY.

JOHN F. COURTNEY.

NY CENTRAL PLANING MILL.

COURTNEY BROS. MILL. UNION SPRINGS. N.Y.

١٠٠

369

UNION SPRINGS.

new building 50 by So feet, the foundation for the main part of which is already laid. They give employment to ten men on an average, and make 5,000 to 6,000 sets of hubs and spokes per annum.

THE BRICK AND TILE WORKS owned by Dr. Benjamin Hoxie of Auburn, give employment to twelve men in the summer season, when in full operation, and have facilities for making 400,000 brick, or 350,000 tile per annum. The capacity of the kiln is 70,000 at one burning.

SCHOOLS .- Oakwood Seminary is situated on the high ground immediately above the village, and commands an extensive view of the lake and surrounding scenery. It was established in 1858, and incorporated by the Regents in 1860. It is conducted under the auspices of the New York Yearly Meeting of (Orthodox) Friends. It has recently been much enlarged and improved, and is now capable of affording comfortable ac- commodations for over a hundred boarders. Its original corporate title was Friends' Academy. Its present name, adopted since the recent im- provements were made, is derived from the large oak grove forming a part of the several acres belonging to the institution. Since its 'origin several additions have been made to the buildings, all of which are of brick, mostly three stories high, and they are now treble their original size. Their entire length is about 160 feet. The young ladies' department is at one end, the young men's at the other, with lecture «citation rooms, cabinet and laboratory be- tween ; and with kitchen and dining room in the basement. The library comprises several hun- dred volumes ; the chemical, philosophical and optical apparatus, including an astronomical tele- scope costing $500, is valued at $2,000.

The following is the present value of the prop- erty of the institution, as reported to the Re- gents :

Value of buildings $24,240

Value of grounds. 6,000

Value of library, apparatus and furniture, 4,200

Among the instructors at the present time (1878) are Prof. E. Cook, Prof. J. L. Barton, Miss Irena L. Pope, Miss Theodosia G. Chaplin, and Miss M. E. Carpenter. J. J. Thomas, A. M., lectures on the natural sciences, and gives instruction in elocution.

HOWLAND SCHOOL .- This school was estab- lished in 1863, and maintained during the first

two years by the individual enterprise of R. B. Howland, who bought of Slocum Howland, for $6,000, the Philip Winegar homestead, and in the summer of that year built the east wing and the wooden addition on the south, the latter of which is used as a gymnasium and public hall. The school was opened in November, 1873. At the expiration of the two years, it was taken in charge by the trustees of the school fund left at his death by George Howland, father of R. B. Howland, of New Bedford, Mass., for the pur- pose of establishing a school in Cayuga County, and amounting to $50,000. About 1872, a four story brick addition was built, thus giving it a capacity to accommodate fifty boarders. The school is supported by the income from this fund and tuitions from the pupils, and has been kept open continuously till the fall of 1878, when it was temporarily closed. Until 1876, Mr. R. B. Howland had the immediate supervision of the school as agent for the board of trustees. In that year Dr. Henry Hartshorne, of Philadelphia, undertook its management. The school has had full collegiate courses, mathematics, the classics and the languages. The apparatus is valued at $1,500 ; and the library, which contains about 1,000 volumes, including a French Government work of sixteen folio volumes, containing copies of the historical paintings in the art gallery at Versailles, at $2,000. The school is confined exclusively to ladies. It was first conducted un- der the name of the Young Ladies' Institute, which was changed when it came under the man- agement of the trustees of the Howland school fund. It has attained a high degree of excellence and enjoys a good reputation for thorough work; but it languishes for want of proper support and patronage.

The UNION SPRINGS UNION SCHOOL was or- ganized under the general school law in 1860, by merging the two district schools then existing in the village. The building, a fine two-story brick structure, located on Green street, was erected in 1866, at a cost of $10,000. It will accommo- date 250 pupils. The apparatus connected with the school is valued at $200 ; and the library, which contains 500 volumes, at $500. The pres- ent teachers are Prof. J. F. Stewart, principal ; Miss Carrie Lawrence, principal of primary de- partment ; Miss Ellen Spickerman, assistant in senior department ; Miss Josephine Howland

370

TOWN OF SPRINGPORT.

and Miss May Hoagland, assistants in primary department.

The FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SPRING- PORT was formed September 7th, 1801, at the house of Ichabod Wilkinson, in the present town of Fleming, which house is still standing on what is known as the Culver farm, on the Poplar Ridge road. The house was then used as a tavern, and indeed the meetings were held for several years in taverns, which were the only houses large enough to accommodate the numbers who at- tended. The original members were : Samuel Culver, from Eyremont, Mass .; Gilbert Weed and his wife Abigail, from Greenfield, Saratoga Co .; Josiah Mix and his wife Rebecca, from Granville, Washington Co .; and Jacob Shaw, from Norton, Mass .; all of whom brought letters from the churches with which they had respec- tively been connected, and were organized as the First Church in Aurelius, of which this town was then a part, by Rev. Jacob Cram, a missionary sent to Western New York by the Massachusetts society. The first deacons were Gilbert Weed and Joseph Thayer, who were elected December 17th, 1802.

Meetings had previously been held in this sec- tion for some years by missionaries. As early as 1795, Rev. David Thatcher, of the Presbytery of Orange, passed through this section seeking out families and preaching as he had opportunity. In 1798, Rev. Asa Hillyer of the same Presby- tery, passed through and labored here. About the same time Rev. Aaron Condit, pastor at Hammond, N. J., and his elder, Silas Ball, made a missionary tour on horseback by way of Owe- go, and visited this section. After him came Rev. Dr. Perrine from the Presbytery of New Brunswick, threading his way through a con- tinuous forest by means of blazed trees. In 1798 also the General Association of Connecti- cut sent out Rev. Seth Williston, and in 1799, Revs. Jedediah Bushnell and Solomon King. After this passing missionaries labored occa- sionally until the summer of 1801, when Rev. David Higgins, pastor at North Lyme, Conn., visited this section and labored with so much sat- isfaction to the church that they gave him a call in 1802. In the summer of that year Mr. Hig- gins moved in with his family of seven children and a favorite house servant, stopping first at Cayuga. The journey was made in a covered

wagon, over logways, through streams, and most of the way through an unbroken forest.

The society was incorporated as the First Con- gregational Society of Aurelius, May 21st, 1802, at a meeting held at the house of Henry Moore, the old tavern stand one mile south of the Half Acre. The first trustees were, Thomas Mum- ford, Henry Moore, Josiah Taylor, Hezekiah Goodwin, Moses Lyon, Jesse Davis, Joseph Gro- ver, John Grover and William Bostwick. The oldest member at present is the widow of William VanSickle, whose membership covers a period of fifty-seven years.

This was one of the Churches which united in forming the Middle Association ; and on the dis- solution of that body it became an integral part of the Presbytery of Cayuga. In October, 1822, it forsook all the features of a Congregational Church, and elected the following elders at its first session : Ebenezer Higgins, George McFar- land, Alexander Thompson and Henry H. Hig- gins, who were ordained the 3d of November fol- lowing, except Alexander Thompson, who de- clined. Ebenezer Higgins and George McFar- land were duly set apart as deacons. At its or- ganization this Church accommodated a territory which to-day contains not less than eleven Pres- byterian Churches, with an aggregate of 2,176 members, viz: the Churches of Springport, Sennett, Scipio, Cayuga, Port Byron, Scipioville, Weedsport and the First, Second, Central and Calvary Churches of Auburn. Meetings were accordingly held once in four weeks at four dif- ferent places, viz : at Hardenbergh's Corners, Cayuga, Grover's Settlement and at Henry Moore's south of the Half Acre. In July, 1806, Isaac Treat, Timothy Hatch, Moses Treat, Eb- enezer Hamlin, Abel B. Munro, Huldah Ham- lin, Mahala Treat, Darius Treat, Matilda Mun- roe and Welty Carrier withdrew to form the present Church of Sennett. In July, 1811, Silas Hawley and wife, Daniel Herring, Rachel Par- ker, Anna Cogswell, Betsey Tyler, Eunice Hig- gins and Sarah Gilbert were dismissed to form the First Church at Auburn. In June, 1819, Thomas Mumford, Mary G. Mumford, Lovisa Willard, Roxilla Richardson, Molly Shaw and Sally Hallock withdrew to form the First Presby- terian Church of Cayuga.

The first church edifice erected and finished for use was the stone meeting-house about two

371

UNION SPRINGS-CHURCHES.

miles north of Union Springs, near Thompson's plaster-mills. This was built in 1816. The first recorded meeting held in it was July 29th, 1817. It was used by the Church till the pres- ent house was erected in 1840. A house had been partially built at the Half Acre in 1809, but it was not finished, and although a few meetings were held in it, it was soon abandoned and sold to Hezekiah Goodwin, who moved it to his place west of the Half Acre and used it as a barn.

The following named clergymen have preached in this church for stated periods : Rev. David Higgins, whose installation October 6th, 1802, "was," says Hotchkin, " the first instance of such an occurrence on the Military Tract," Joshua Lane, Reuben Porter, Medad Pomeroy, Enoch Boughton, H. Carlisle, L. D. Howell, Timothy Stillman, Richard Williams, John Clark. L. D. Howell, S. Raymond, - Page, J. Hop- kins, T. B. Hudson, N. A. Prince, Charles An- derson, Myron Adams, A. F. Lyle, R. L. Back- man, J. C. Long, E. B. Cobb. The Church has received since its organization 500 members, and has at present 92. Rev. E. B. Cobb is a tempo- rary supply. The elders are, E. Curry, A. Walk- er, Wm. H. VanSickle, J. B. Pierson and H. Yaw- ger ; deacons, D. Everett and A. W. Allen, to the latter of whom, who is also the clerk, we are indebted for the history of this Church.

FRIENDS-Among the early settlers in this lo- cality were many who belonged to the Society of Friends. They commenced to hold meetings as early as 1803 or '4, and in 1816 erected the meet- ing-house now used by the Hicksite Friends in the east part of the village. Among the earliest associates of this society were Elisha Southwick, James Barker, Elihu Eldredge, Samuel Jenney, Wm. Burling, Arnold Comstock, - - Rowley, John Fish, Laban Hoskins, Eseck Mosher, James S. Allen, Wm. Knowles and Wm. Taber. At the time of the great separation which took place in the society in 1828, the members of this society accepted the doctrines of Elias Hicks, of Long Island, and have since borne the distinc- tive name of Hicksite Friends. Their present membership is about forty. Their house is a quaint old building, very suggestive of the rigid customs which characterized this society at an earlier day.

At a later period several persons known as Orthodox Friends moved into the place, and 63-2

about 1844, established a society of that denom- ination, the name being used to denote those who reject the doctrines of Elias Hicks in contra- distinction from those who accept them. Among the persons earliest connected with this society were Charles W. Howland and family, l'hebe Field, who was then the minister of the society, David Anthony and family, and Henry Robin- son. Their meetings were held in a private house four or five years, until their first house of worship was erected on the site of the present Episcopal Church. Their present house was erected twenty to twenty-two years ago. It is a wooden structure, with stone basement, situ- ated on Cayuga street, in the lower part of the village, and is valued at $3,500. The present number of members is about thirty. The min- isters are R. B. Howland and Mary H. Thomas, both residents of the village. Connected with it is a small Sabbath School, with some dozen chil- dren in attendance.

" The chief points of difference in these two organizations, was," says Mr. J. J. Thomas, " that, while the Orthodox adopted, as a requirement, the belief similar in its main points, to that of other ' evangelical' denominations, the Hicksites mostly adopted the sentiments of the Unitarians or Universalists ;" or as Mr. Edward Eldredge, a prominent member of the Hicksite Society, more specifically expresses it, the Orthodox be- lieve in the trinity and the efficacy of vicarious atonement, while the Hicksites believe in the unity of the deity and disbelieve in vicarious atonement.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF UNION SPRINGS Was founded as the Second Baptist Church in Aurelius. A few members connected with the First Baptist Church in Aurelius, (now Fleming,) and some from the United Scipio Church met at the house of John Nutt for deliberation November 4th, 1813. Gilbert Weed was chosen moderator and Henry Crane, clerk. They adopted articles of faith and covenant and voted to invite a council of sister churches to meet with them on the 18th of the same month. This council was composed of delegates from the churches of Aurelius, Mentz, Scipio and United Scipio, and met at the school-house about two and one-half miles north- east of the village. Elder John Jeffries was chosen moderator, and Samuel Taylor, clerk. After examination, the hand of fellowship was

372

TOWN OF SPRINGPORT.

extended to the new church, which consisted of eight males and sixteen females. At a church meeting held the 27th of the same month, they resolved to hold meetings every Sabbath, and to engage Elder Abner Wakely to labor with them for one year. Ichabod Clark and Gilbert Weed were chosen deacons, and Henry Crane, clerk. Elder Wakely soon commenced his labors, and, although the engagement was not renewed, he continued to supply them a part of the time after the expiration of the year. During his connec- tion with them he baptized fourteen and received sixteen by letter, and left them with fifty mem- bers.

In September, 1814, they joined the Associa- tion. In the summer of that year they com- menced the erection of a meeting-house two miles north-east of the village, which was not completed till the summer of 1818. In February, 1816, Elder Warner Lake, of Harpersfield, Dela- ware county, became the pastor, and in the sum- mer following seventeen were added by baptism. In 1819, sixty-six members were added.

Elder Lake closed his ministry with this church in the spring of 1830. He was highly esteemed. He did not receive a full support from the church ; but labored upon his farm a portion of the time, from which he accumulated a competency.

Elder Jacob Fisk took the pastoral charge of this church in the spring of 1830, and closed his labors with them in the winter of 1832, from which time they had no settled pastor until March, 1834, when Elder Samuel Wood settled with them, and remained till August, 1837. In the summer of 1838, the services of Elder Chas. E. Wilson were engaged for six months. Elder O. B. Call became the pastor in February, 1839, and remained three years. Elder E. Marshall succeeded Elder Call, and continued his pastor- ate about two and a half years. Brother Justus Ask labored with them in the ministry one year, and Brother R. Persons another. Elder O. Montague became the pastor in April, 1847, and continued with them three years. During the first year of his ministry their meeting-house, which was old and uncomfortable, was repaired and fitted up in a neat and convenient manner ; and during the second year the congregation was much increased.

In July, 1850, Elder Thomas H. Greene be-

came the pastor, and closed his labors in the fall of 1852. He was succeeded by B. C. Crandall, who continued till November, 1854. The church seems to have been without a pastor from that time until the first Sunday in May, 1857, when S. S. St. John commenced his labors. He re- mained till March 12th, 1859, when Elder S. Adsit took the pastoral charge, and continued till April Ist, 1861. Edgar Smith became the pastor April 7th, 1860, and, having served them "very acceptably," closed his labors with them, in con- sequence of ill and failing health, April 13th, 1867. He joined the church in Auburn, and died there September 28th, 1878. During the first year of his pastorate, in 1861, their church edifice was removed from its original location, near the residence of Curtis Coe, to the village. It was remodeled at an expense of $1,500 to $2,000, and rëdedicated August 7th of that year.

From the time that Elder Smith left till Sep- tember following the pulpit was supplied by casual comers, for a few weeks during the latter part of the time by Ezra Clark. B. B. Gibbs assumed their pastoral care November 10th, 1867, and labored with them till April 22d, 1871. December, 1871, A. C. Ferguson commenced his labors with them, and continued until their church was burned, April 13th, 1873, since which time they have had no pastor. The church numbers at present thirty-three members.

The FIRST CHRISTIAN SOCIETY OF SPRING- PORT, at Union Springs, was incorporated Feb- ruary 4th, 1839. The first trustees were Elisha Vallance, Abram Burlew, Charles E. Hoagland, George W. Truesdell, Preserved Tripp, Noah P. Blanding and Porter B. Bristol. The land for their house of worship, which was erected in 1839, was bought of William Smith and Abby B., his wife, and George P. Morgan, May 4th, 1839, for $200. An organization seems to have existed and regular meetings to have been held before the incorporation was effected, but the records furnish no means of determining defi- nitely in regard to them. The first settled pas- tor was Melancy Wade, but when he began or closed his labors does not appear. Meetings were held then in the house now owned and occupied by Alanson Beam, on the corner of Cayuga and Homer streets. Mr. Wade was suc- ceeded in the pastorate by John W. Guthrie,

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History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 72

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