History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 90

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 90

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ruary 24th, 1860, aged 86 years. His children who are living in Cayuga County are, Martha, wife of Amasa H. Dunbar, and Guernsey, a mer- chant, in Moravia.

John Keeler settled here in 18r3, first in a log house across the Inlet, below Mr. Dean's, where he lived one year, then upon the fifty acres now owned by his son, Morris Keeler, on Oak Hill, which was bought of John Stoyell for $1,000. He was the father of William, Israel, Morris and Thompson Keeler. He died July 7th, 1854, aged 71 years. Gad Camp had previously set- tled just west of the Inlet, near Camp's bridge. He died March 27th, 1840, aged 84. Allen Wood came in from Dutchess county about 1812, and settled at Montville, where he carried on the carpenter and joiner business several years. He afterwards bought the farm now owned by Mr. Atwood, a little north of the Quaker meeting- house. He subsequently moved to a farm about a mile north of Montville, where he died in 1854. Nine children are living, viz : John P., a mer- chant, Morgan L., Allen, Lucy A., widow of Lauren Townsend, and Deborah, wife of James Lester, in Moravia. the latter on the homestead; David L. and James H., hardware merchants in Central Square, Oswego county; Walter, a farmer in Brighton, Monroe county ; and Tem- perance, wife of Henry W. Locke, in Cattarau- gus county.

In 1815 or '16, George Clough had a tailor shop in. Amos Stoyell's house. At the same time Cyrus Loomis started a tannery on the site of the tan yard back of Alley's mill, and carried on boot and shoe making on the corner of Main and Mill streets, now occupied by Jennings & Parker. He also built a grist-mill on the site of Alley's mill, Warren Parsons doing the carpen- ter work. The water was taken from Dudley Loomis' tail-race in an open ditch to the west end of the present mill dam, thence in an open race across H. H. Alley's place, passing under the road in a circular flume, and again in an open race on the south side of Mill street, to the mill. Dudley Loomis came in 1816 and built carding works and a dam on the premises now owned by Wm. V. Walker. The works were burned in 1843. James Church, from Dutchess county, settled in 1816, in the north-east corner of the town, where Charles and Ira Chandler now live, and died there August 6th, 1855. Four chil-

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TOWN OF MORAVIA.

dren are living, viz : James, who is a hardware merchant at Kelloggsville, Eliza, wife of John Cuykendall, in Michigan, and Allen and Philetus, in Moravia.

About this time, or shortly previous, Elias Rogers commenced the manufacture of steel- yards at Moravia. He melted the iron used in casting the weights therefor over a blacksmith's forge, in a kettle prepared for the purpose. While thus engaged he was importuned by Jethro Wood, the inventor of the cast iron plow, to make patterns and castings of that invention, for which Wood had received letters patent July Ist, 1814. Rogers, sharing in the general incredulity which credited Wood with being visionary, reluctantly consented, and after the plow was finished, and demonstrated a success, by a trial made on land now owned by Abel Adams, south of the village, he entered into an arrangement to furnish Wood with castings for a year or two, from a furnace built by him for the purpose, on the west side of the creek and north side of the road, near the mill dam of Deacon John Stoyell, Sr. Expe- riencing some difficulty with regard to the water privilege, he removed to Montville, and built a log furnace a little north-west of the grist-mill, and commenced, in company with Isaac Watts Skinner, his brother-in-law, the manufacture of plows. This was soon burned down, and another was erected near the same site, and occupied a few years, when they removed to the foot of the falls, at the junction of Mill and Pierce creeks. A potash kettle was still used for reducing their blasts, which were conveyed by means of an open trough and emptied into an upright tube, without the aid of any other machinery. September Ist, 1819, Jethro Wood patented an improvement on his plow, and December 8th, 1821, Messrs. Rog- ers & Skinner entered into a contract with him to manufacture the plow under his patent to any extent they deemed advisable, in consideration of which they were to pay him one dollar for each set of castings. This contract was canceled June 24th, 1824. They continued the furnace there until the great freshet of July, 1833, completely destroyed the works, together with the factory dam and other property. May 13th, 1833, short- ly before the freshet, Rogers had formed a co- partnership with Geo. C. Lathrop for the pur- pose of making and vending cast iron plows and other iron castings. Rogers died December 20th, 1863, aged 75.

VILLAGE OF MORAVIA.

MORAVIA is pleasantly situated on the flats, near the junction of Mill Creek and the Inlet, about four miles from the lake, a little south-west of the center of the town. It is the principal sta- tion in the County, south of Auburn, on the S. C. R. R., which has contributed largely to its growth and prosperity. The village is increas- ing in population and business importance. It is estimated that an average of twenty buildings per annum have been erected here for the last five years. It is distant from Auburn eighteen miles. It contains five churches, (Baptist, Con- gregational, Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal and Roman Catholic,) an excellent free, graded union school, with academic department, two National banks, two printing offices, twenty-nine stores of various kinds, two hotels, two markets, (kept by Geo. W. Gifford and Paul & Childs,) three har- ness shops, (kept by D. C. Brown, Geo. D. Foot, agent for F. A. Tallman of Syracuse, and Line & Hopkins,) two tailor shops, (kept by Benjamin Allee and T. J. Green,) one photographer, (T. T. Tuttle, ) Hinman Bros', marble works, two cus- tom and flouring-mills, two carriage shops, six blacksmith shops, (kept by R. T. Mc Geer, C. W. Brigden, G. H. McGeer, Albert Morse, G. W. Boardman and Seth Loomis,) two lumber yards, (Lowe & Pulver and Foster & Barber, props.,) a foundry and machine shop, one saw-mill, three planing-mills, a cheese factory, a chair factory, and a population of about 1,500. The village was incorporated May Ist, 1837, and reincorpo- rated under a special act March 15th, 1859.

MERCHANTS. - The first merchant in the vil- lage was Cotton Skinner. His store stood on Church street, opposite the Congregational church. He formed a co-partnership in the mer- cantile business with Jabez Bradley, of Genoa, February 14th, 1804. He commenced merchan- dising within a few years after moving into the town, buying his goods at Utica.

Hon. Rowland Day, father of W. H. Day, opened a store in 1810, in the west end of Amos Stoyell's old house, which stood on the corner of Church and Main streets, in the back part of which he lived. Artemas Cady was clerk. In 1812 or '13 he erected the frame building, after- wards known as the "old yellow store." He was succeeded about 1835 by Samuel E. and William H. Day, his brother and son. After four

68 Fitas

Шишим Пиз

HON. WILLIAM TITUS. aldest child of Zadock and Anna Titus, was born in Sempronius, Cayuga Co., N. Y., July 21st, 1803. His father was born in Stillwater, Saratoga County, N. Y., November 13th, 1776, and in the winter of 1795, emigrated to the town of Sempronius, then in Onondaga County, with an ox team, bringing with him his mother and two sisters. He settled first about one and one-half miles north-east of Moravia, and removed in 1797 to lot 56, in the north-west part of the present town of Sempronius. He took up 127 acres a half mile north of Sayles Corners, and subsequently added thereto 50 acres. May 29th, 1801, he was united in marriage with Anna Greenfield. who came with her parents, William and Prudence [Hinckley] Greenfield and the latter's mother from the town of Gal- way, Saratoga County, N.Y. Zadock and Anna Titua were the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, all of whom were born upon the farm upon which Zadock settled in 1797. Zadock died November 6th, 1836, and his wife August 3d, 1860.

William Titus, the subject of this sketch, remained upon his father's farm till the spring of 1822. May 6th, 1812. when a little less than nine years old, he went to Auburn, fifteen miles, on horseback, to purchase a jug of molasses, the jug in one end of a bag and & stone in the other end to balance it across his horse. On returning he had the distinction of riding in company with Gen. Van Rensse- laer and staff. The General. his aids and two others rode leisurely along in a carrlage, accompanied by four others on borsaback all in full uniform, with sharp hats, red-faced coats and white vests, and riding and driving eight white horses. His mind was so much occupied with this unusual display that he unconsciously went four miles out of his way. It was now five o'clock in the afternoon, and as he thought of home, father and mother, and the distance to be traveled (12 to 14 miles) through a district he had never before seen. with threatening rain, it caused the tears to flow. But he kept on through darkness and rain, and when within about one and one-half miles from home he was overjoyed by a flash of light from the lan- tern of his father, with whom he arrived home at ten o'clock, to tell the tale of his sight-seeing and his aches from fatigue.

In the spring of 1822 young Titus commenced the study of med- icine with Dr. Silas N. Hall, then of Sempronius ; but failing health compelled him to relinquish it. The doctors having given up all hopes of his recovery be resolved to seek restoration to health by a visit to salt water. In this determination we see the ambition and resolute energy which made his subsequent life so conspicuous and useful. May 10th, 1823, he left home in charge of Otis Burgess, a

young man of his own aga. He was placed on s bed in a wagon with wooden springs. His friends bade him, as they supposed, a final good bye, believing that he would never return. Ha went first to Saratoga Springs, thence to Troy, N. Y., where, his health having somewhat improved, so that ha could walk two or three rods, he took passage on the sloop Thames, commanded by Capt. Underhill, and in seven days arrived in New York, about six weeks after Jeav- ing home, weak and emaciated. As soon as he was able, and before others thought he was, he went out to sea and fished and bathed. continuing this practice until September, when he returned home with health restored.

In June, 1824, he entered the store of L. & I. Fuller, st Kelloggs. ville, as clerk. There he lesrned to make whiskey and potash, and to sell merchandise on credit, the current medium nf the day. develop- ing the germs of a maturing genius, and somewhat astonishing his associates by bis successful innovations upon established customs. November 2d, 1825, the junior partner died. In September, 1824, he joined Radiant Lodge F. & A. M., of Sempronius. He was imme- diately mada secretary and remained such during his stay in the place, three years.

April 1st, 1826, he formed a copartnership for the sale nf merchan- dise with Luther Fuller and William Slade, under the title of Fuller, Slade & Titus, which continued one year, when he sold his interest to the late Daniel R. Rooks. May 4th, 1827, be removed to Ira Center and bought & lot and built a stora. While the building of the store was in progress he commenced raising blood. This resulted in extreme prostration and caused him to associate with himself as partner his brother John, under the name of W. & J. Titus. They filled their store in September.

January 22d, 1828, Mr. Titus was united in marriage with Clarissa J., eldest daughter of Thomas and Fanny [Johnson] West, who was born in Sempronius (now Moravia) in Cayuga County, October 26th. 1805. They commenced keeping house at Ira Center, March 4th, 1828. Mrs. Titus' parents were natives of Massachusetts. Her father was born in New Bedford, August lat, 1779, immigrated to Semproniue, now Moravia, in 1800, and died on the farm on which he then settled, in the present town of Moravia, March 9th, 1868, aged 88 years, seven months aud eight days. Her mother was born in Bucklin, June 28th, 1788, and died in Moravia, March 29th, 1856, aged 67 years, nine months and four days. They were married in Sempronius, March 15th, 1804, and had two daughters, Clarissa J. and Minerva M.

HON. WILLIAM TITUS.

Mr. and Mrs. Titus' only child, Thomas West Titus, was born Sep- tember 29th, 1829. He followed farming with the exception of a few years spent in mercantile business and in the Custom House, New York. December 29th, 1857, while residing in Ira, he married Josephine Tyler, who was born March 2d, 1834. He died in Moravia, May 11th, 1873, aged 43 years, seven months and twelve days, leaving two children, Mary I., born November 14th, 1859, and Grant W., born May 29th, 1864.

In 1830 they associated with themselves in the business, Dr. Allen Benton, and the firm built a distillery and ashery and continued until William Titus sold his interest to his partners and removed to Owasco, where he sold merchandise in company with William Ful- Jer one year, increasing the business in that time from $8,000 to $15,000. During this period they packed 600 barrels of pork. In 1833 Mr. Titus bought a store and an acre of ground at Milan, of Hiram Becker, who became his partner in the mercantile business September 22d, 1836, and gave a half interest in the Miller grist mill in part payment of the goods. They did a heavy business under the name of Titus & Becker in merchandising, milling, buying and selling produce and supplying contractors on the Erie Railroad until May 24th, 1839, when they dissolved. They sold their goods to Isaac Cady and Grover Stoyell, to whom Mr. Titus also sold the real estate. While in company with Hiram Becker, in 1837, Mr. Titus imported two thoroughbred Devon cattle from Devonshire, England, a bull and heiler. These cattle proved to be of extra size and very fine and were of great value to the growers of stock in Cayuga County. This importation, while adding greatly to the improvement of the cattle of Cayuga County, was also a profitable financial venture on the part of Mr. Titus. He at this time also imported to Leicestershire sheep noted for their long combing wool and heavy weight. These after trial proved to bo undesirable for this section of the country and were discarded. In the fall of 1839, Mr. Titus, in company with Dr. Nathaniel Leavitt and Elondo Greenfield, opened another store in the south end of the village of Milan and did a general merchandising, milling and produce business until 1847. In 1840 the firm bought heavily of pork and butter in Ohio and this county. During this time Titus & Greenfield had a store in Northville, which, together with the flouring-mills at that place. they managed for two and a half years. June 10th. 1849, Mr. Titus moved to Ira and sold merchandise as agent for Juda Pierce till April 1st, 1852, In 1855 he was engaged in the milling business, shoemaking and farming at Han- nibal Center, Oswego County. This business, to which was added tanning and currying in 1856. blacksmithing in 1858, he continued till 1864. The tannery was burned January 6th, 1SES, and rebuilt the same year.

In June, 1864, he sold out bis mill and moved to Moravia in the winter of 1865, where, August 29th. 1864, he had purchased the stono mill property. The freshet of March 16th and 17th, 1865, swept away the high dem on Mill Creek at Morevia, together with all the bridges on that stream, and a mill shed and stabling of 80 feet. The dam was rebuilt by Mr. Titus in the summer of 1865. He also built a waste weir 150 feet long. seven feet wide and eight feet deep, cut into the solid rock, to afford an escape for the surplus water which accumulated during freshets and which had taken off a number of dams from the same site. The whole cost $5,400. About 13,000 loads of earth were used in making the dam. Immediately below and supporting the earth is a stone dam 10 feet wide, 22 feet high and about 100 feet long, making a sub- stantial improvement. In this year also (1865) he became interested in the Southern Central Railroad project and was a director in the company organization of that year and until the fall of 1870.

The towns of Moravia and Locke were assigned to him to canvass in the interest of that road, and he was expected to raise $106,000 in the former and $50,000 in the latter town in its aid Moravia sub- scribed $17,000 and bonded for 884,000. Locke subscribed $2 500 and honded for $47,500. The want of money and the opposition to the rnad rendered its chances quite hopeless. Hence Mr. Titus, with a firm belief in its final accomplishment and of ite great benefit to Moravia and the whole valley, with his characteristic perseverance and untiring energy, with others, labored incessantly till success to the undertaking was secured.

In 1868 he acquired a half interest in the first grocery store in Moravia, hie partner being Chas. A. Hinman, and the firm name, Hinman & Titus. In this year and the following the Union block. of which he was the projector and prime mover wee built. It is & fine brick structure, 78 by 80 feet, on the corner of Mein and Church streets. It contains three stories and was erected et & coet of about $23,000. He disposed of his interest in it in the spring of 1874. In 1870 he engaged In the lumber, coal, sash and blind trade in Moravia, with David H. Foster as junior partner, and continued till 1874, when he sold his interest in the business to Hiram Graves for a farm of 212 acres in Venice, which he operated three years from 1874, building, fencing end ditching. He remained on the farm sum- mers, returning to Moravia winters. During this period. in 1871, he proposed and assisted in buying a lot and building upon it a Baptist meeting house in Moravia. In January, 1877, be traded the farm with John Seymour. of Meridian, for his steam tannery. sew and feed mills et that place. Mr. Titue has largely increased that business and is now engaged in it, associated with Charles G. Alward.

It is thus seen that Mr. Titus has been actively and variously en- gaged, and each business enterprise with which he has been con- nected has felt the energizing impulse of his vigorous intellect, indomitable will, well-directed energy and perseverance. In nearly every instance he has been at the head and the moving spirit of the enterprise.

Mr. Titus' political life has been a conscientious aud conspicuous one. He has never voted any other than the Democratic ticket. The energy, ability and probity which characterized his business career soon brought him prominently before the public and made him the honored recipient of many responsible civil trusts. In 1829, at the age of 26, he was made assessor of the town of Ire, where he was then engaged in mercantile business, an office to which he was also elected the following year. In 1831, when but 28 years of age, he was elected delegate to the Democratic State Convention held at Herkimer. In that same year he also held the offices of commissioner of schools, sealer of weights and measures, and road commissioner in that town; and in 1833, that of town clerk. In 1836 he received the appointment of postmaster at Milan, under Postmaster General Barry, and held that office 11 or 12 years In 1811 he was elected supervisor of the town of Locke, and served on the committees on Sheriff's Bills, Equalization, Constable's Bills. a special committee, and Will Tax, of all of which, except the last, he was chairman. The following year he represented this County iu the Assembly, serving as chairman of the Committee on Trade and Manufactures. In 1850 and '51 he was azain elected town clerk in Ira, holding also the former year the office of overseer of highways in thet town. April 1st, 1852, he was appointed warden of Auburn State Prison. When the split in the Democratic party occurred in 1842, the oppos- ing factions heing designated as Barnburners and lunkers, Mr. Titus allied himself with the former party, which opposed the annexation of Texas, with the slavery clause. In 1:52 he wes a delegate to the Stete Convention thet nominated Horatio Seymour for Governor, and was on the commitee appointed to settle the right to a seat between John VanBuren and Rufus H. Peckham, delegates from Albany County. In 1851 the opposite party had a majority in the Board of Prison Inspectors, and in Jao- uary of that year Mr. Titus was superseded in the office of warden by Col. Levi Lewis, the choice of the Hunkers, but was assured ou retiring that the discipline was never better. In 1854 Mr. Titu's was appointed by Heman J. Redfield a clerk in the Custom House at New York and placed in chirge of the books of the ocean steamers. His health failing, his son received the appointment to that place and retained it over four years, Mr. Titus retiring to Hannibal Center.

In 1856 Mr. Titus was appointed by Postmaster General James Campbell postmaster at Hannibal Center and held the office six years. He secured the establishment of that office while a member of the State Legislature in 1845, and the establishment of a daily mail there in 1859. In 1860 he was appointed marsbal of the U. S. Census for Hannibal, Oswego County, N. Y. In 1862 he was put in nomination for Congress in the 22d District. then embracing Oswego and Madison Counties, in opposition to D. C. Littlejohn, who was elected.

HON. WILLIAM TITUS.

During his residence in Oswego County he took a strong and active interest in politics serving as chairman in many conventions and devoting much time in the interest of Stephen A. Douglass for the presidency. He was president of the Douglass Club, and has now a hickory cane presented him on one occasion during that canvass.

In 1866, the second year of his resider ce in Moravia, he was elected trustee of that village, and by the Board, its president. He inaug- urated a system of village improvements, which, by reason of the expense they involved, created an opposition to his policy ; but he was sustained by the enterprising portion of the citizens and reelected, on a test question. the following year to the same posi- tions. On the organization of the Board of Education in the school district embracing Moravia, December 29th, 1868, he was elected one of its members, an office he held continuously for seven years, till his removal to his farm in Venice, three years as chairman of the Board, to which position he was elected in 1872. He was a member of the Board during the selection and purchase of the additions to the site and the erection of the Union School building in Moravia. In 1869 he was reelected village trustee by an increased majority and was again president of the village, he being the only one having held that position more than two terms.

Mr. Titus became a member of the First Baptist Church of Sem-

pronius, December 3d, 1815, in his thirteenth year and remained with them thirteen yeara. In 1828 he took a letter of commendation to the Baptist Church of Cato. When about to offer his letter to the church (the same day) he heard some utterances of a very dis- courteous, unchristianlike character fall from the lips of a prom- inent member towards the Masons, of whom he was one. He paused and has his letter to this day. He has always been a firm believer in the Christian religion and generous in sustaining the cause. He is now a member of St. John the Baptist Chapter No. 30, of Moravia, also of the Lodge of Master Masons No. 41, of Moravia.

Thursday, February 7th, 1878, Mr. Titus lost his wife by death. She had suffered several years from impaired health. She lived to the ripe age of 72 years, having survived every member of her father's family and her only son ; her parents and only sister, Mrs. Elondo Greenfield, having died many years before. She was a woman of great personal worth, kind and charitable, and highly esteemed by those who knew her best. She clung tenaciously through life to the religious faith imbibed from the early training of her parents, who were Friends, and worshiped in the old log house, the predecessor of the Quaker Meeting House, located on the place now owned by Mr. Hector Tuthill. She " expressed clearly her trust in the Redeemer of men, her need of his saving blood, but in accord with the views of her early religious training never united " with any church.

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VILLAGE OF MORAVIA.

or five years Sheldon C. Pritchard was admitted to partnership, and continued two or three years, when they closed.

A man named DeWitt opened a store in 1810, in Aunt Cady's north room, and soon after pur- chased nearly all the land lying east of Main, between Church and Congress streets, and ex- tending east to the foot of the hill. He built and occupied a stone building, on the second floor of which he put up grain bins, leaving a space of a few feet through the center east and west, which was occupied by the Masons as a lodge room. He continued business till his death by drowning in Cayuga Lake, together with his wife and fam- ily, a few years after. Soon after commencing, Jesse Millard became his partner, and continued the business till his removal to Milan, when he sold to George Ward, who had previously become his partner. Ward was from Durham, Conn. He lived where C. L. Jennings now lives. He built the house now occupied by L. O. Aiken, and soon after a store on the same lot. He con- tinued till the spring of 1830, when he removed his goods to Pennyville, in Niles. George W. Jewett succeeded Ward in the same store and closed out in 1831. Eli Palmer opened a store on the south-east corner of Church and Factory streets, in 1821, and kept it till about 1828. He also kept an ashery and pearling works. The Cadys built the store next north of the old tavern about 1817, and a man named Rice put some goods into it and kept it two or three years, when he sold to Artemas Cady, who continued it, in company with his son, Stoyell Cady, after the latter became of age, till their removal to Roch- ester, in the spring of 1846, having built and occupied in the meantime the brick store on the corner of Main and Cayuga streets. Wm. A. Richmond filled up the store occupied by Ward, and Wm. C. Beardsley, of Auburn, was his clerk. He afterwards bought the building on the south-east corner of Church and Main streets, erected and occupied by George W. Bowen as the first grocery, in 1821. August 19th, 1824, Thomas L. Knapp bought the store on the corner of Main and Mill streets, together with the shoe- shop, mill and tannery. William Lotridge was foreman in the shoe store, and Josiah Letch- worth, late of Auburn, was foreman of the harness business.

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History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 90

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