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 95
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lands in that section, had been used for grazing. The heavy indebtedness of most of his neighbors, who, by the most rigid economy and arduous labor, were scarcely able to live, soon convinced him that the agricultural methods then in vogue were not profitable. Being familiar with the dairy business, he purchased a number of cows, and commenced making butter for the New York market. The practice of his neighbors hitherto had been to make but little butter, and that was sold to the nearest store-keeper for six or eight cents per pound, store pay at that. The mer- chant packed together the different qualities of butter thus gathered and shipped it to New York or some nearer market, where it brought but an inferior price, and gained for Western New York an unenviable reputation for second-rate butter, which has taken years to overcome. Mr. Tut- hill's innovation upon the established customs of his neighbors provoked ridicule at first ; but his increasing prosperity demonstrated the wisdom of his course and the profitableness of the busi- ness, and induced one after another of his neigh- bors to follow his example, until this section of country has become famous for its large dairies and the excellent quality of butter marketed. Mr. Tuthill's sagacity was rewarded by a seat in the Assembly in 1848 and '49, where he displayed the qualities of an honest, practical and cautious legislator. In 1856 he removed to Moravia, where he now resides, aged 79 years.
EARLY SCHOOLS .- The first school in Sem- pronius was taught by Abel Meach, in a log building which stood on the old Titus farm, on lot 56, in 1800 and 1801. In 1802, the log building on the land owned by the First Baptist Church of Sempronius was erected and used for the double purpose of a school-house and meeting-house. Judge Cyrus Powers next taught two years, first in the winter of 1801-'2, in the building in which Meach taught, and afterwards in this new build- ing. A Scotchman named Jenkins, from Little Britain, an eccentric individual, succeeded Pow- ers as teacher, in 1804, and taught two or three years. In 1805, a frame school-house was built on Byron Burgess' land, opposite Barton Slade's or- chard, and in this Jenkins taught the latter part of his time. He was succeeded by David Pow- ers, brother of Cyrus, Gershom Powers, a cousin of Cyrus and David, Orrin Willis and Russel Johnson, about which time the school system of
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1812 went into operation, and the town was dis- tricted. In 1815, a school-house was built at Sayles Corners, and that was the first district school in the town of Sempronius, after the pas- sage of that act. John Richardson, who was a surveyor, and for four years a justice of the peace, taught in the district schools several years.
TOWN OFFICERS .- The first town meeting was held at the house of Ezekiel Sayles, on Tuesday, April 3d, 1798, John Stoyell, justice of the peace, presiding. The following officers were elected : John Stoyell, Supervisor ; Ezekiel Sayles, Clerk ; Moses Little and James Brinkerhoff, Assessors ; Jacob L. DeWitt, Ezekiel Sayles and Moses Cole, Road Commissioncrs ; Amos Stoyell and Isaac Selover, Constables and Collectors ; John Summerton, Poormaster; John Stoyell, Seth Burgess and Jacob L. DeWitt, School Commis- sioners ; Ezekiel Sayles, Pound Master ; Abra- ham Johnson, Henry Cuykendall, John Summer- ton, Winslow Perry, and Peleg Allen, Fence View- ers ; Moses Tuttle, Winslow Perry, Jonathan Eldridge, Zadoc Titus, George Parker, Henry Osterhout, James Brinkerhoff and Peleg Allen, Commissioners of Highways ; Gershom Morse, Cornelius Burlew and John Abbott, Commission- ers of Public Lots.
Officers in 1879 are :
Supervisor-Thomas D. Comerford.
Town Clerk-M. T. C. Brown.
Fustices of the Peace -- Julius Fitts, James Douglas, Orson L. Richardson, Daniel D. Rey- nolds.
Assessors-Abram Westfall, James A. Jones, John M. Slade.
Commissioner of Highways-Dorr Smith.
Overseer of the Poor-Calvin O. Mattison.
Inspectors of Election -- David D. Curtin, Jere- miah Nooning, Sylvenus Finch.
Collector -- John Dennis.
Constables-Francis M. Ferguson, Joseph R. Ellison, Hobert Holcomb.
Game Constable-James Douglas.
Commissioners of Excise-Daniel S. Sawzer, Adney Eaton, A. D. Lee.
DRESSERVILLE.
DRESSERVILLE is situated in the south part of the town, on a branch of Fall Brook, which fur- nishes a moderate water power, and is distant about six and one-half miles east of Moravia. It contains
a union free church, which was built about 1870, ยท a district school, a grist-mill, (built in 1870 by Messrs. Merchant & Campbell, on the site of one erected about 1828 by Artemas Dresser, contain- ing three run of stones and owned by H. H. Johnson,) a saw-mill, (which is owned by John White Dresser, son of Artemas Dresser, contains a set of log saws, two lath saws and a wood saw, which are operated by the creek, which has a fall of eleven feet, and which was built about 1840, on the site of the one first built, about 1816, by Artemas Dresser, the property having been re- tained in the family ever since,) two blacksmith shops, (kept by Bela Fowler and Theo. Rey- nolds,) a tanncry, (operated by E. A. Kenyon,) two stores and a population of IOI.
MERCHANTS. - Artemas Dresser opened a store about 1836, which was kept about two years by Benjamin Franklin Perry, who sold to J. G. Rhodes and Artemas Dresser, by whom it was continned two years, when Rhodes sold to Ver- nam Mather. Mather & Dresser did business five or six years. Arnold Swift bought the store after a few years, and put in a stock of goods. He carried on the business till his death, in 1865. Henry Herring, from Groton, opened a store about 1866, and sold after two or three years to Smith, from Niles, who died about a month afterward. His wife continued it about a year and sold to Manly Robinson and James Campbell, who run it about a year, when Campbell sold to John S. Allen, about 1875, and Robinson to Chas. Simmons, about the same time. Allen bought Simmons' interest October 11th, 1878, and continues the business. James H. Camp- bell, from McLean, opened a second store in April, 1878, which he still continues.
POSTMASTERS. - The first postmaster at Dress- erville was Arnold Swift, but we were unable to determine in what year he was appointed or how long he held the office. He was succeeded by J. G. Rhodes and Jehiel Mather, each of whom held the office four years. Joseph Dresser was then appointed, but held the office only one month before Jehiel Mather was reappointed, and continued till 1861, when Arnold Swift was again appointed, and the office was held by him till his death in 1865, and by his family till 1869, when Lyman M. Robinson was appointed, and was succeeded in 1875 by Lucius Fitts, the pres- ent incumbent.
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PHYSICIANS .- The first physician at Dresser- ville was Dr. Robbins, who came from Cortland county in 1844 and practiced ten or twelve years. Several physicians have stopped here for short periods, but not long enough to gain a residence. The present physician is W. A. Terry, who came in from Kentucky in the spring of 1878.
LAWYERS. - The first and only lawyer at Dress- erville is J. G. Rhodes, who was born at Marl- boro, Ulster county, January 19th, 1801 ; edu- cated in the district schools of Sempronius and Niles; studied law with Leonard O. Aiken and Jared M. Smith, of Moravia; was admitted in 1845, and commenced practice at Dresserville, where he has since resided.
One-half mile west of Dresserville is a grist- mill, with one feed run, saw-mill, with three saws, (log, lath and wood,) shingle-mill, and tub-cover turner, owned by Lucius Fitts, and propelled by water power, with a fall of fourteen feet.
SEMPRONIUS.
SEMPRONIUS is situated near the center of the town, about seven miles north-east of Moravia, and contains a Baptist church, a district school, a general store, one hotel, kept by Nathan Cow- ell, two blacksmith shops, kept by Wm. Whit- field and Charles Cutler, and a population of sixty- three. The place is locally known as " None- such," a name given by Dwight Kellogg.
MERCHANTS .- The first merchant at Sempro- nius, the first also in the town, was John Histed, from Stillwater, who opened a store in 1810, in a log building, which occupied the site of the pres- ent tavern, and was used for a tavern as well as a store, both being kept by him. He also kept an ashery. His brother, Deacon Histed, came in with him and settled in the north part of the town of Niles, where John C. Derby now lives. He sold out about 1818-'20, and removed to Erie, Pa., where he died. About 1819, Judge Chas. Kel- logg and his son, Dwight, bought out Histed, who went west, and opened a more pretentious store, which they kept till 1834, when they sold to Hobert & Perry, who did business about two
. years. Austin & Sumner, from Homer, suc- ceeded Hobert & Perry, but staid only a year or two. William and Barton Slade opened a store about 1837, and did business five or six years. Philip H. Van Schoick was engaged in mercantile business here from 1850-'6. William
Adams, who came in possession of a portion of Van Schoick's goods, did business a short time. William Atwater did business a few years and failed during the war. David Brown and Wm. Moseman opened a store in 1862. At Brown's death, November 8th, 1863, Moseman bought his interest, and about 1864 sold to Dorr Smith, who did business two years, the last year in com- pany with Allen Kenyon, when he sold to James Bell, who after some two years traded with Wm. Moseman. Moseman kept it about a year and traded back with James Bell, who kept it till June 22d, 1874, when he sold to Edmond C. Mott, who is a native of the town, and still car- ries on the business.
POSTMASTERS .- The post-office at Sempronius was established as East Sempronius, about 1824, and the name probably changed after the divi- sion of the town in 1833. Abel Heald was the first postmaster, and held the office a great many years, as late as 1854. He was succeeded by Philip H. Van Schoick, who held it but a short time. Walter W. Sabin held the office as early as 1857, and probably in 1856, about which time Van Schoick removed to Moravia. Marcus Brown succeeded Sabin after about three years, and held it two years, till about 1861, when James Bell was appointed. He was succeeded by James Douglass, who was in turn succeeded by James Bell, who held the office till the spring of 1878, when James Douglass, the present in- cumbent, was again appointed.
PHYSICIANS .- The first physician at Sempro- nius was Hiram Stoyell, who studied medicine with Dr. Abel Baker at Kelloggsville, and prac- ticed here from 1828 till about 1834. Dr. Har- ris came in about a year, and Dr. Cole shortly, before Stoyell left. The latter staid about a year.
Silas N. Hall was the first physician in the town. He studied during the war of 1812 with Dr. Consider King of Venice, and commenced practice here about 1815, remaining till 1827. He joined the County Medical Society, Novem- ber 5th, 1818. Enos Bradley, who joined the County Medical Society, August 7th, 1828, bought out Hall and practiced about a year. Hall settled one and one-half miles north-west of Sempronius, on the farm owned by Henry Hatha- way, and Bradley, in the same place.
CHURCHES. - The First Baptist Church of
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Sempronius. Many of the first settlers in Sem- pronius came from Stillwater, Saratoga county, and were members of the Baptist Church there. At an early period their efforts were directed to the establishment here of those religious advan- tages they had enjoyed at home. Early in 1797 they commenced to hold religious exercises, meeting each Sabbath for conference and prayer. Sunday, February 4th, 1798, they were visited by Elder David Irish, of the First Church in Scipio, now Venice, at which time ten converts related their experience and were baptized, viz : John Titus, Jonathan Burgess, Ezekiel Sayles, Jr., Harvey Burgess, Ira Abbott, Mary Burgess, Sarah Abbott, Olive Burgess, Phebe Summer- ton and Polly Titus.
At a meeting held the following Sunday, it was resolved to organize a Church, and articles of faith and covenant were adopted. Saturday, February 24th, 1798, a council, composed of delegates from the First Church in Scipio, the Second Church in Aurelius and the Churches in Milton and Pompey, was convened at their re- quest at the house of Joel Burgess, and after a suitable examination they were recognized as a regularly constituted Church. The original mem- bers, in addition to those baptized by Elder Irish, were Seth Burgess, John Summerton, Henry Persoll, Jotham Bassett, Joel Burgess, Ezekiel Sayles, Abraham Sayles, Rebecca Sum- merton, Sarah Sayles, Rhoda Titus, Hannah Burgess and Phebe Taylor, "old professors." March 7th following they arranged with the Second Church in Aurelius to meet by delega- tion at the house of Elder John Lesuer, and jointly secured his services as pastor, to preach one-half the time to each Church, up to the last Saturday in August next following, each Church agreeing to pay him twelve bushels of grain and fifty pounds of meat for a half years' salary.
The Church united with the Scipio General Conference at the time of its formation in 1799, and was one of the Churches constituting the Cayuga Baptist Association in 1801.
Elder Lesuer continued his labors with this Church till 1804, and succeeded in increasing the membership to fifty-seven. He was succeeded October 27th, 1804, by Elder Robert Niles, whose labors were closed by death January 24th, 1816. Under his faithful and judicious labors, the Church gradually increased in numbers and
strength, but enjoyed no general revival till 1816.
Elder Niles was succeeded in the pastorate by Moses Wares, who entered upon his labors in 1817. His settlement proved unfortunate for the church, which soon became involved in serious difficulties, and resulted in his exclusion from their body. Elder Nathaniel L. Moore, their next pastor, took the pastoral care in 1819, and continued till 1824. In 1821, the members of this church living in the south-east part of the town petitioned to be set off as a separate church and were constituted, in 1822, the Second Baptist Church in Sempronius. Elder H. Gaston suc- ceeded Elder Moore in the pastorate in 1824 and continued till 1828. In 1827, up to which time the church enjoyed peace and union, the agita- tions growing out of the subject of Masonry com- menced and continued to work inharmony for a long series of years. Church fellowship was set aside, and discipline became the order of the day. Elder A. Dennison succeeded to the pastorate in 1828, and continued till 1831. He was followed in 1832 by Daniel Dye, who continued till 1835, during which time about forty were baptized. N. L. Moore again became the pastor in 1835 and remained till 1839, when he was succeeded by S. Wright, who remained only one year. The church seems to have been without a pastor from this time until 1844, when D. D. Chittenden became the pastor, he likewise remaining but one year. The next pastor appears to be Bishop Ames, who entered upon his labors in 1848, and closed them in May, 1851. He was followed by N. L. Moore from the church in Milan, whom he also succeeded, remaining one year. Ames was the last pastor the church had. From 1827, the church dwindled and gradually lost its vital energy.
December 29th, 1809, the church decided to become incorporated, and January 25th, 1810, Thaddeus Histed, Isaac Dunning and Ezekiel Sayles were elected the first trustees. The in- corporation was perfected February Ist, 1810. The first church edifice erected by this Society was built in 1810. It was a frame structure and stood near the cemetery in the north edge of Sempronius. It was burned in 1837. Their next house was built in 1842, in Kelloggsville, and is now occupied by the Methodist Society in that village, to whom it was deeded in 1861. Previous to the building of the first house, meet-
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ings were held in the log house which stood on the land bought by the Society of a Mr. Quack- enbush, of Albany, and was used both for religious services and school purposes. Immedi- ately after the sale of their house in 1861, the Society disbanded and the members joined other churches.
The Second Baptist Church of Christ in Sempro- nius. At a meeting of the members of the First Baptist Church of Sempronius living in the south- east part of the town, held at the house of Hub- bard Spencer, October 17th, 1821, a petition was presented to that church requesting leave to form a separate church, which was signed by Bradley Cutler, Ichabod Perry, Ira Rooks, Asa Spencer, Hubbard Spencer, James Perry, Joseph Griffin, Eli Atwater, Sally Spencer, Betsey Perry, Eleanor Perry, Bathsheba Spencer, Dinah Griffin, Phebe Atwater, Mindwell Warren, Louisa Spencer and Phebe Spencer.
November 2d, 1821, the request was granted. November 15th, 1821, "the members of the Bap- tist Church of Christ residing in the town of Sempronius," assembled at the house of Eli At- water and organized and adopted as their name the "Second Baptist Church of Christ in Sem- pronius." December 13th, 1821, they arranged with Nathaniel L. Moore to preach every fourth Sabbath for $35, "to be paid in produce at the year's end, and averaged on the brethren by equality."
This church was fellowshiped by a council con- vened for the purpose at the house of Eli At- water, January 23d, 1822, attended by Elder Alfred Bennett and John Keep, of the Church in Homer ; Elder Philander Kelsey and Deacon Zadoc Bate- man, of the First Church in Scipio; Elder Na- thaniel L. Moore, James Ball, Peleg Slade and Asaph Stow, of the First Church in Sempronius ; and Peter DeWitt and Ebenezer Andrews, of the Church in Locke. There were present at this council as members, seven men and six women, viz., Bradley Cutler, Asa Spencer, Hubbard Spencer, Ichabod Perry. James Perry, Eli At- water, Joseph Griffin, Bathsheba Spencer, Sally Spencer, Eleanor Perry, Phebe Atwater, Louisa Spencer and Phebe Spencer.
December 6th, 1822, the hand of fellowship was withdrawn from Ira Rooks, " for denying the doctrine of eternal or endless punishment of the wicked."
November 15th, 1823, they decided to build a log meeting-house twenty-four feet square, and Asa Spencer, Bradley Cutler and Eli Atwater were appointed a committee to procure a site and superintend the building of said house. October 15th, 1825, the committee reported that $30.83 had been expended for materials used in its con- struction. November 29th, 1826, the church assembled in the meeting-house. This is the first record of a meeting being held there.
September 8th, 1827, it was " Resolved, That we disfellowship Free Masonry, and that we will not receive into this Church, nor admit to com- munion any brother that frequents masonic lodges or advocates masonic principles."
Up to January 12th, 1828, the Church enjoyed the ministrations of Elder Moore every fourth Sunday. At that time Brother Wm. Smith was requested "to improve his gift in the Church three- fourths of the time for the present." February 6th, 1830, Avery Dennison, though not ordained, was engaged to serve them three-fourths time. April 16th, 1831, Elder Moore commenced to serve them half the time; and August 30th, 1834, he was granted a letter of recommendation and dismission. December 6th, 1834, they en- gaged Levi Farnsworth to preach two months from that date. He commenced his labors the third Sunday in February, 1835.
Eli Atwater served the Church as clerk fiom the date of its organization till January 2d, 1836, when, having been appointed deacon, he was re- leased at his own request. Daniel Brown suc- ceeded him in the clerkship, and performed the duties of that office till September 8th, 1860.
Elder Farnsworth was granted a letter of rec- ommendation and dismission February 27th, 1836. July 16th, 1836, a call was extended to Thomas W. Colby, from Butler. April 18th, 1837, they resolved to organize under the statute, and to build a meeting-house. February Ist, 1840, a call was extended to Benjamin W. Capron. Sep- tember 5th, 1840, it was resolved that the first Wednesday in October be set apart for dedica- ting the new meeting-house. Elder Capron preached his farewell sermon March 30th, 1845. Calls were extended June 14th, 1845, to Bishop Ames ; October 17th, 1846, to Benjamin An- drews ; and April 18th, 1847, to George S. Car- penter, who served about a year. Bishop Ames filled the pulpit during the summer of 1848.
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He was succeeded by V. Hull, who commenced his labors October Ist, 1848. March 14th, 1849, a call was given to A. Boughton, who closed his labors April Ist, 1858. They seem to have been without a regular pastor from that time till the third Sunday in November, 1858, when Nathan Whitney commenced his labors, though Elder Ames was invited to supply the pulpit as much as he could. Elder Whitney closed his labors December 10th, 1858. A. Boughton supplied the pulpit till June Ist, 1860. September 8th, 1860, a call was extended to Roswell Corbett, who served them six months. June 17th, 1861, a call was given to A. T. Boynton, who closed his labors the last Sunday in March, 1865. He was immediately succeeded by Albert Cole. May 11th, 1867, Elder Jones, of Scott, a Sabba- tarian, was engaged half the time. March 16th, 1868, a call was extended to Wm. Wilkins, of Summer Hill, who was dismissed April 8th, 1871. Alanson Boughton labored with them from June 10th, 1871, to August 9th, 1873. A. W. Coon of Scott, a Sabbatarian, is the present pastor. The present membership is fifty.
GLEN HAVEN WATER CURE AND SUMMER RE- SORT, at Glen Haven, located on the east line of the town, at the head of Skaneateles Lake, has acquired a favorable notoriety from its delight- ful situation, picturesque scenery, for its sa- lubrity and excellent accommodations.
It is now conducted by Dr. Wm. C. Thomas, John H. Mourin and James A. Schermerhorn. There are eighteen buildings, including a main three-story building and eight good-sized cot- tages, neatly and comfortably furnished, which af- ford accommodations for two hundred patients and boarders. During the summer it is connected daily with the Auburn Branch of the N. Y. C. R. R. by boat at Skaneateles and thence by rail to Skaneateles Junction, and with the D., L. & W. R. R. by stage at Homer, ten miles distant. It is supplied with an abundance of pure soft water which descends from the hill rising, imme- diately in its rear, to the height of 1,000 feet above the Lake.
Samuel Scott was the first settler at the Glen ; but the property was owned by David Hall of Skaneateles, who built a part of the Glen Haven House for a hotel, and sold it to Dr. Gleason and Miss Gilbert, who converted it into a water-cure in 1845. The establishment was burned about
1853. After a few years Dr. Jackson was ad- mitted to partnership and subsequently succeeded to the business. Wm. L. Chaplain succeeded Dr. Jackson and married Miss Gilbert, who from the first was connected with and had a control- ing interest in the establishment, and gave the place its name. It subsequently passed into the hands of Thomas & King ; the former of whom is a member of the present firm.
CHAPTER LI.
TOWN OF GENOA.
G ENOA was organized as Milton by the X Court of General Sessions, January 27th, 1789, and its name changed April 6th, 1808. It originally embraced the towns of Locke, Summer Hill, and Groton in Tompkins county, which were set off as Locke, February 20th, 1802 ; and Lan- sing in Tompkins county, which was set off on the erection of that county, April 7th, 1817. It derives its name from Genoa in Piedmont, Italy. It lies upon Cayuga Lake, which forms its west- ern boundary, and in the south-west corner of the County. It is bounded on the north by Ledyard and Venice, on the east by Locke, and on the south by Lansing. Its shape is oblong, being ten miles long from east to west and four miles across from north to south.
The surface though having a general inclina- tion toward the Lake, is beautifully diversified and presents some highly picturesque scenery. The principal indentations are the valleys of the Salmon Creek and its western branch the Little Salmon, which streams flow south through the central part of the town and unite near the south line, and are the only ones of any considerable importance. "The land along the shore, rising rather abruptly a mile inland, abounds in deep ravines, sporting slender streams, whirling and eddying over the shale rock, of which the base of the soil is formed. From thence to the summit ridge, the rolling surface rises gradually to an elevation of 600 feet above the Lake."
Eastward from the summit ridge, "the decliv- ities appear in rapid succession, often abruptly, 50 to 150 feet, to Little Salmon Creek. The east
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EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
branch, Big Salmon, is divided from the west branch by beautifully rolling lands, known as the ' Indian Fields.'"
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