History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 79

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 79

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).

Mr. Wood was appointed First Judge of Cay- uga County, February 26th, 1810, succeeding Judge Phelps, and served in that capacity with credit to himself and the County, until March 13th, 1817. In 1811 he removed to Montville, where, in addition to his legal practice, he was extensively engaged in manufacturing enterprises. He built up there a village outrivaling in commercial and manufacturing importance Mor- avia, which, in turn, has far outstripped its rival. He died there September 8th, 1827, “ respected by those about him, leaving the reputation of having been a kind, charitable man, and a sym- pathizing neighbor, who was always ready to re- lieve the poor and distressed. It is related of him that in the year 1816, when almost a famine prevailed in the land, his mill was well stored with wheat and corn, and sordid, heartless men appeared, as in all like cases, and coming to him desired to purchase his store of grain for specu- lative purposes, and offered him a large sum in advance of what he paid, but he repelled all such proffers, and doled out his entire stock in small quantities to those living in the vicinity, and thus ministered to their necessities and satisfied them."*

Charlotte F., wife of Col. Edwin B. Morgan, of Aurora, is the only one of his children living. His wife, Paulina, who was born May 11th, 1764, died March 26th, 1840. Three sons, Seneca, Isaac and Thomas, practiced law in Aurora, Isaac, till.his death, April 13th, 1850. Thomas did not practice much on account of ill health. He died. February 20th, 1839. Seneca removed

* Paper prepared for the Moravia Historical Society, July 4th, 1876, by S. Edwin Day.

399

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

to Auburn and afterwards to Rochester, where he died March 12th, 1859.

Benjamin Howland, a Friend, who was born in Dartmouth, Mass., October 12th, 1754, came in from Saratoga county, with his family of six children, in 1798, and settled two 'miles west of Poplar Ridge, on 135 acres now owned by his son, Slocum Howland, and occupied by Daniel Dwyer. Benjamin Wilbur, also a Friend, accom- panied him and assisted in moving the family, furniture and live stock. He resided there till his death, September 23d, 1831, aged seventy- seven. Mary, his wife, was born September 4th, 1755, and died October 30th, 1840, aged eighty- five. His six children were, Sylvia, afterwards wife of Jethro Wood, Humphrey, Martha, after- wards wife of Wm. Heazlitt, Mary, afterwards wife of Thomas J. Alsop, Harmony and Slocum, the latter of whom is the only one living. Hum- phrey was largely and favorably known through all this section of country. He was born in Dartmouth, Mass., in 1780. About two years after his settlement here he engaged in practical surveying in Cayuga, Tompkins and Cortland counties, in the employ of Judge John Lawrence, of New York, Robert Troup, Samuel Parsons, Richard Hart and others. Judge Lawrence owned at that time some 100 military lots in the townships of Venice, Scipio and Ledyard. He acquired the agency for the Lawrence estate of New York city and several minor agencies. He afterwards became a large land-holder himself, owning Howland's Island, various tracts in other parts of the State, and a beautiful estate in Led- yard, where he lived, and died in December, 1862. The house in which he lived was built in 1810, and was then considered a palatial resi- dence. It is standing, and is occupied by Abram Taber. He was a Member of Assembly from this County in 1812. Slocum Howland was born September 20th, 1794. He is still living at Sherwood, in the town of Scipio, where, for more than half a century, he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits. His life-long philanthro- py and excellence of character have endeared him to the community in which he lives. They have been the crowning graces in his long and useful life. The grand-children of Benjamin Howland who are living are Phebe and Sarah, the latter the widow of Robert Underhill, both in Chicago, and Ann, wife of Benjamin Gould, in

Ledyard, children of Sylvia ; John and Benjamin Alsop, children of Mary, the former in Union, Wisconsin, and the latter in Maryland ; Mary, wife of John J. Thomas, of Union Springs, and Wm. Penn Howland, of New York, children of Humphrey ; William and Emily, with their father at Sherwood, and Benjamin, at Catskill, children of Slocum.

Eleazer Burnham, who was born in Shafts- bury, Vt., July 15th, 1780, settled at Aurora September 27th, 1798, and died there May 3d, 1867. He studied law in the office of Judge Walter Wood, with whom he formed a copart- nership about 1804, which continued till the lat- ter's removal to Montville. July 29th, 1807, he married Matilda Wood, the daughter of his legal preceptor. He practiced law till about 1825, when failing health compelled him to discontinue. He was County Surrogate from February 5th, 18II to February 26th, 1813, and again from February 28th, 1815, to June 7th, 1820. He was collector of Revenue at Aurora during the war of 1812, and was Member of Assembly in 1826. None of his family are living.

Other settlers at Aurora previous to 1798 were Thomas Mumford, Glen Cuyler, Silas Marsh, attorneys, Dr. Frederick Delano, and Daniel Foote, the latter of whom was a merchant, all of whom are dead. A daughter of Foote's, Mary, widow of Charles Campbell, is living in Chicago. John Wood and Isaac Wood, with their families, and James Wood and sister came in from Wash- ington county, in 1799, and settled three miles south-east of Aurora. John, who died on the place where he settled, was the father of Jethro Wood, the inventor of the cast-iron plow, which was a vast improvement on the old " bull plow" then in use. The late Chas. P. Wood of Auburn, was a son of James Wood.

John Boughton came in from Connecticut, as early as 1799, and settled in Ledyard, about two miles north-west of Scipioville, on the farm now owned by Benjamin Gould, and occupied by Har- rison Johnson, where he died March 25th, 1824, aged 53 years and 10 months. Elder Alanson Boughton, a Baptist minister, who died a few years since at Moravia, was a son of his.

CHRISTOPHER MORGAN was born in Groton, October 15th, 1777, and educated in the com- mon schools of his native place. His father, Christopher, was a farmer. His mother, Deborah,

400

TOWN OF LEDYARD.

was a sister of Benjamin Ledyard. One of her brothers was a Colonel in the Continental army, and was in command of the fort at Groton, Conn., when attacked and captured by the traitor Ar- nold. After surrendering the fort and his sword he was run through with the latter in the hands of a British officer. His death was immediately revenged by his own men. Christopher came to Aurora in May, 1800, and immediately engaged in mercantile business. Members of this family have since been prominently identified with all of Aurora's valuable interests. July 15th, 1805, he married Nancy, daughter of John Barber of Groton, Conn., who was born August 29th, 1785, and died August 4th, 1864. Though an active politician and wielding great influence as the leading merchant of the County for a great many years he never accepted public office. He died October 4th, 1834. They had six children, all sons, Edwin B., Christopher, Henry, John, Geo. P., and Richard.

COL. EDWIN B. MORGAN was born in Aurora, May 2d, 1806, and educated at the Cayuga Lake Academy in that village. At the age of thirteen he became a clerk in his father's store, and at twenty-one succeeded him to the business. He was extensively engaged, in connection with his brothers, in merchandizing, boat building, and in buying and shipping wool, grain and pork. In 1850, during his absence in New York, he was made the Republican nominee for Congress, but was defeated by fourteen votes. He was elected to Congress in 1852, and again in 1854 and '56, the last time by 9,000 majority. He was one of the original proprietors of the New York Times, and has been president of the Times Association since the death of Mr. Raymond. He was one of the originators of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Ex- press, and its first president, which office he held for four years. He is still largely interested in that enterprise ; also in Adams & Co.'s, the American and United States Expresses, and vari- ous banks and railroads. He is one of the larg- est shareholders in the Oswego Starch Company, in which he is a director. He is president of Cayuga Lake Academy, an office he has held some twenty-five years, and has contributed liberally to its support. He was one of the original trustees· of Wells College, to which he gave $100,000 as an endowment fund, and has been its vice-president since that office was cre-

ated. He was a trustee of the State Agricultural College at Ovid, and The People's College at Havana ; and has been a trustee of Cornell Uni- versity, at Ithaca, since that institution was founded. He has been a trustee of Auburn Theological Seminary many years, and, in connec- tion with Wm. E. Dodge, erected the library building in connection with it. He also con- tributed $75,000 toward the construction of Mor- gan Hall. Though not a member, he has been a liberal contributor at different times to the Presbyterian Church at Aurora. He also con -. tributed largely toward Prof. Hartt's Brazilian explorations. He was one of the original trus- tees of the State Inebriate Asylum at Bingham- ton.

CHRISTOPHER MORGAN was born in Aurora, June 4th, 1808. He was fitted for college at the Academy at Aurora, and graduated at Yale Col- lege in 1828. He began his legal studies with Seneca Wood of Aurora, and finished them with Elijah Miller and Wm. H. Seward at Auburn. October 24th, 1832, he married Mary E., daugh- ter of the late Dr. Joseph T. Pitney of Auburn. He practiced his profession several years in con- nection with the late Ebenezer W. Arms. He was elected a Representative in Congress by the Whigs in 1837, and reelected in 1839. At the expiration of his second term he removed to Au- burn, and practiced law awhile in connection with Samuel Blatchford and Clarence A. Seward, who then resided there. From November 2d, 1847, to November 4th, 185 1, he was Secretary of State of New York. During his Secretaryship, as Superintendent of Public Schools he recom- mended and initiated our popular system of free schools.

About that time he became one of the Board of Trustees of the Asylum for the Insane at Utica, and held that position till near his death, which occurred in Auburn April 3d, 1877. He was mayor of Auburn in 1860. He leaves a widow, living in Auburn, and three married daugh- ters, two, (Cornelia, wife of C. Eugene Barber, and Mary, wife of William C. Barber,) living in Auburn, and one, (Frances A.,) in Berlin, Ger- many.

HENRY MORGAN was born at Aurora, Aug. 22d, 1810, and educated at the academy in that village, of which he is still a resident. He has been en- gaged in mercantile business at Aurora ; and is

RESIDENCE OF COL. E B. MORGAN. AURORA. CAYUGA Co NY.

40I

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

largely interested in mining operations in Cali- fornia, and in the manufacturing enterprises con- ducted by Sheldon & Co., and D. M. Osborne & Co., of Auburn. He was one of the originators of the U. S. telegraph.

JOHN MORGAN was born at Aurora September Ist, 1812, and died February 10th, 1840. He was educated at the academy in his native village, and a graduate of Hamilton College. He fol- lowed the vocation of a farmer, his farm being the land upon which Wells College and the residence of the late Henry Wells stand.

GEORGE P. MORGAN was born at Aurora May 29th, 1815, and was engaged in mercantile pur- suits in Union Springs, Skaneateles and Aurora. He now resides in New York.

RICHARD MORGAN, the genial merchant at Aurora, was born in that village March 21st, 1818.

Erastus Spalding and Philip Allen came in about 1800. Spalding settled at Levanna, where he kept at an early day the hotel now occupied by Melvin Bowen. He removed at an early day to Lockport, where his son Lyman was a promi- nent miller. Allen was a Quaker and came from Washington county with his family. Capt. Ste- phen Allen and his brother Theophilus, came from Salisbury, Conn., in 1802, and settled in the east part of the town, Stephen, on the farm now owned by Hicks Anthony, and Theophilus, on that now owned by Ira Fritts. Stephen Allen, Jr., took up a farm adjoining his father's on the east. Soon after coming here he married Phebe Cross, who came in with her brother Nathaniel from Baskin Ridge, N. J., a short time before and settled with him at Levanna, where George Utt now lives. The elder Allen died in the town June 30th, 1822, aged 64. None of his children are living. Stephen Allen, Jr., was Deputy County Clerk at Cayuga when he first came in, and was subsequently a teacher in the academy at Au- rora. He died at Levanna June 8th, 1858, aged seventy-seven. Three of his four children are living : William S., Walter W., and Maria, all in Ledyard. Nathaniel Cross was a single man when he first came. He afterwards mar- ried Eliza, daughter of Judge Joseph Allen, of New Jersey, to which State he subsequently removed with his wife and three children. Two of his children are living in Ledyard, William and Mary Allen Cross. Samuel Willets came 68-2

from New Jersey in 1804. He was a Quaker. He raised a large family, some of whom are still residents of this County.

An important addition to the settlements of this town was made in 1805, in the family of David Thomas, who settled on the tract of land known as the " great field," about two and one- half miles north-east of Aurora, previously taken up by Judge John Richardson, who settled orig- inally in Springport, in the history of which town mention is made of him.

David Thomas was born on the banks of the Schuylkill June 6th, 1776, and was mainly a self- educated man. In early life he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but found time in the inter- vals of those labors to acquire a knowledge of surveying and to become a thorough mathema- tician, being assisted in the latter studies, it is believed, by David Rittenhouse. He also gave much attention to botanical researches, in which science he became so proficient as to attract the attention and command the admiration of Prof. Barton of Philadelphia, who had designed honor- ing him with the name of a new species of plants, but discovered that the name had been previous- ly applied to another plant in honor of a Swiss gentleman named Thomas. He removed from his native place, near Phoenixville, Penn., to Ly- coming county in that State, in 1801, and from Lycoming to Ledyard in 1805. During his early settlement here he followed farming and survey- ing. In 1816, he made a tour of observation to Indiana, and in 1819 he published an account of these observations, which, coming to the notice of Gov. DeWitt Clinton, led to his appointment as Chief Engineer under the Canal Commission- ers in the spring of 1820. He superintended the construction of the Erie Canal between Rochester and Buffalo till its completion. He surveyed the long level between Rochester and Lockport, and was jeeringly told that he must not be in the country when the water was let in, as it would be dry at one end. In order to sat- isfy the Commissioners he directed two of his assistants to run two separate lines over the same route and when the work was completed there was a difference of a little less than two-thirds of an inch between theirs and his. After the com- pletion of the Erie Canal in the fall of 1825, he had the superintendence of the construction of the Cayuga and Seneca Canal. He was subse-

402

TOWN OF LEDYARD.

quently engaged on the Welland Canal, but re- linquished that appointment after the expiration of one year, because of the personal inconven- ience to which it subjected him. The year pre- vious to his appointment as Chief Engineer on the Canals he was appointed by the U. S. Gov- ernment to examine the harbor at Buffalo. Af- ter closing his official services with this State, the Government of Pennsylvania requested Gov. Clinton to recommend to them some one com- petent to take charge of the canals of that State. He at once named David Thomas, who was thereupon tendered the position and privileged to name his salary, but the failing health of his wife induced him to decline the honor.

In 1853, he removed to Union Springs and spent there the rest of his days. The latter part of his life was devoted to horticulture, floricul- ture and pomology, and, doubtless, was prolonged by the gentle exercise and mental occupation they afforded. He aided largely in improving the variety of fruits and flowers in the section where he resided. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, refinement and culture. He was elected honorary member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York in 1823; and corresponding member of the Horticultural Society of London in 1824, and of the Linnaan Society of Paris, in 1826.

He was a liberal contributor to the Gencsce Farmer of Rochester, the first agricultural paper that brought agricultural literature to the homes of the common people. The first six volumes contained 800 articles from his pen. He also delivered numerous addresses before agricultural societies. He was frequently tendered the honor of a nomination to public office, including the Assem- bly and State Senate, but he invariably declined. He died November 5th, 1859, having been pre- ceded by his wife in 1833. In 1843 he married Ednah D., the widow of Dr. Isaac W. Smith, of Lockport, who died May 11th, 1878, aged eighty- four. Three of his eight children, four of whom were born after his removal to this County, are living, Mary T., widow of George Spencer in Germantown, Philadelphia, John J., in Union Springs, and Joseph, in Philadelphia.

John J. Thomas, A. M., has pursued a great diversity of vocations in life. He has written for the Press forty-four years, and is now associate editor of the Country Gentleman. He is the

author of several works, whose merit has secured for them an extensive circulation. He, like his father, has devoted much attention to horticul- ture and pomology. He published the Ameri- can Fruit Culturist, which appeared first in 1846, and has passed through twenty editions. In 1854, he commenced a serial publication, entitled Rural Affairs, which he has since continued in annual numbers, and which has had a circulation of 30,000. He is also the author of a work on Farm Machinery, which was first written as a prize essay while he was residing with his father's family, and won the $200 prize offered by the Trustees of the Wadsworth Fund for essays on applied science, for schools. From that essay a work was afterwards prepared to compete for a prize of $100 offered by the New York State Agricultural Society, on science applied to agri- culture. It received the prize and was published in the transactions of the Society. It met the eyes of the Harpers, who proposed to publish it in book form, with additions, which they accord- ingly did. Mr. Thomas is an honorary member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society ; of the Worcester Horticultural Society ; of the Pennsyl- vania Fruit Growers' Society ; of the Horticultural Society of Indiana; and First President of the Horticultural Society of New York.

Dr. Consider King, who was born in Roches- ter, Mass., in 1774, moved in from Columbia county this same year, (1805,) and settled at Ledyard, in the house next north of the church in that village. He boarded with Benjamin Avery, whose daughter Lydia he subsequently married.

Joseph Talcott came from Dutchess county in 1806, and settled one and one-half miles south- east of Aurora. He died in the near neighbor- hood of that locality in 1853. He was a highly esteemed citizen, an earnest advocate of temper- ance, and a friend to universal education. He often visited the common schools, giving good counsel to the teachers and encouragement to the scholars. He published a monthly religious pamphlet entitled The Friendly Visitant, for young people, which was printed in 1834 by Thomas Skinner, now a resident of Auburn. He had two sons and two daughters. Richard, the eldest · son, was long a resident of Skaneateles, where he died a few years ago. His eldest daughter, Hannah, was the late wife of Slocum

403

AURORA VILLAGE.

Howland. His other daughter, Phebe, never married. His family, and that of David Thomas, were Friends.

Roswell Towsley and John Bowen eame in about 1810, the former from Manlius, and the latter from Dartmouth, Mass. Towsley settled at Aurora, where he built, in 1817, the first steam flouring-mill west of the Hudson. It stands near the depot, west of the hotel, and is now used as a store-house. It was in operation only about a year when Towsley failed, became deranged and was sent to the asylum in New York, where he died. He was an enterprising man, and had also a tan- nery, a large blacksmith shop, a shoe shop and a furnace, in the latter of which, it is claimed, Je- thro Wood's first plow was cast .* Bowen settled a little north-east of Aurora, where his grandsons Jesse and Alfred now live. The latter are sons of Benjamin Bowen, who succeeded his father on the farm, on which both died, Benjamin, July 26th, 1854, aged 58.

Benjamin Traey came in at an early day and settled about two miles north-west of Seipioville, in Ledyard, where he died Oct. 27th, 1804, aged sixty-four. Olive, his wife, died October 7th, 1831, aged eighty-nine. Josiah Bowen came from Massachusetts about 1814, and settled in Ledyard, a little west of Sherwood. He after- wards removed to the next farm west and died there July 23d, 1846. He was born December 18th, 1785. His son Sayles J. Bowen, resides in Washington, D. C., of which city he was for- merly mayor, and postmaster during the war.

TOWN OFFICERS .- The first town meeting was held the first Tuesday in April, 1823, and the following named officers were elected : Jedediah Morgan, (who was a Member of the State Senate while a resident of Aurora in 1825-'26,) Super- visor ; Joshua Baldwin, Clerk; Jonathan Rich- mond, Ozias B. Culver and Jeremiah Turner, Assessors ; Zebedee MeComber, Joshua Bald- win and James Wood, Commissioners of High- ways ; Wm. Culver and Jeremiah Turner, Over- seers of the Poor; James Wood, Philo Sperry and Orange Culver, Commissioners of Common Schools;

Solomon Strong, Luther Lakin and James Swan, Inspectors of Common Schools ; Ansel Crowell and Glen Cuyler, Constables ; Ansel Crowell, Collector ; Benj. Avery, Poundmaster ; Abial Mosher, Josiah Phelps and Ephraim C. Marsh, Fence Viewers.

The present officers (1879) are :

Supervisor-Hicks Anthony.

Town Clerk-Evans W. Mosher.

Fustices of Peace-Wm. Peckham, N. L. Za- briskie, H. J. Mallory and W. M. Wright.

Assessors-Wm. Judge, Seneca Boyce and Howard Smith.

Overseers of the Poor- Howard Chase and Samuel T. Hoyt.

Inspectors of Election -C. C. White, Jr., O. C. Tooker and Daniel Dwyer.

Collector-M. M. Palmer.

Constables -M. M. Palmer, O. F. VanMarter, James Smith and W. M. Bowen.

Game Constable-John MeGordon.

AURORA VILLAGE.

Aurora is situated on the east shore of Cayuga Lake, which at this point attains its greatest width, of four miles, and is distant by rail from Cayuga, on the N. Y. C. Railroad, twelve miles. Its name, which is an ideal one, supposed to have originated with Gen. Benj. Ledyard, is suggestive of the resplendent beauty of its landscapes when bathed in the first rays of the morning sun.

This village is famed for its delightful situation and picturesque scenery, in which it surpasses all the lake villages in Central and Western New York, whose natural attractions have made them so well and favorably known. It is a center of wealth, culture and refinement, and art has vied with nature in heightening and intensifying its scenic beauty. Its charming bay, handsomely shaded streets, magnificent dwellings and ornate public buildings, have often inspired the talent of the artist and been made the subject of some exquisite paintings.

Aurora has been the home, among others not elsewhere noted, of Palmer, the distinguished sculptor, and Charles Elliott, the artist, the for- mer of whom still favors it occasionally with his presence. Many of the private residences and public buildings are ornamented with the elegant productions of their genius. It was also the home of the late Henry Wells, who acquired a world-

* It is proper to state that Moravia claims the honor of having cast the first cast-iron plow. Bills are extant which shuw that Messrs. Ragers & Cu., founders of that village, sent plow castings to Jonathan Swan, of Aurora, in 1817, and a letter from Jethro Wood, bearing date of Scipio, April 8th, 1818, addressed to that firm, substantiates the fact that they were engaged in casting them ; but we are not aware that there is conclusive proof tu establish either claim,

404

TOWN OF LEDYARD.

wide celebrity in the express business, and whose generous benefaction in the founding of the col- lege which bears his name, will be an enduring monument to remind the citizens of Aurora of his many noble qualities. He died in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, December roth, 1878.

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 79

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