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 96
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Limestone exists only in boulders upon the surface. Slate is quarried on the farm of Samuel S. Barger in the west part of the town. The soil is a clayey loam near the Lake, a gravelly loam upon the hills, and a mixture of clay and alluvion in the valleys. It is excellent in quality and very fertile.
The Cayuga Southern R. R. extends through the west border of the town, and the Utica, Ithaca and Elmira R. R. crosses the town a little east of the center.
The population of the town in 1875 was 2,418 ; of whom 2,229 were native ; 189 foreign ; 2,409 white ; and 9 colored. Its area was 24,342 acres ; of which 20,222 were improved ; 3,805 woodland ; and 315 otherwise unimproved.
The inhabitants of Genoa are mainly employed in agriculture. From the earliest settlement of the town they have been distinguished for their indus- try and thrift, and substantial and enduring wealth has been the result ; manifest alike in material, mental and moral progress.
A large portion of that extensive tract known as the " Indian Fields " lies in the central part of this town, and when the first white settlers came in, the Indians had under cultivation several hun- dred acres of cleared lands within this town. They had also upon this tract extensive burying grounds, one containing about forty acres. This was evidently the site of a large Indian village, probably one of the three mentioned by General Sullivan in his report of the Indian villages de- stroyed by a detachment of his army upon the east shore of Cayuga Lake. This detachment appears to have crossed this town in two divisions, one following the Indian trail adjacent to the lake, and the other passing through and deso- lating the Indian Fields. Fruit trees which escaped the hands of these destroyers were stand- ing when the first settlers came in. There is a tradition that the former division camped one night west of John M. King's, and that one of the soldiers died and was buried there. Numer- ous Indian relics have been found upon these fields and in other localities in the town. At East Genoa, near the center of lot 29, upon slightly elevated ground on the place on which Alex. Bothwell now lives, were plainly discerni-
ble, at an early day, the outlines of a circular cavity six to eight feet in depth and diameter, rudely walled up with stone, the bottom showing that it had been used for some purpose requiring a fire and had evidently been in use a long time. In close proximity to it have been discovered from time to time many stones wrought in differ- ent shapes, also beads and other ornaments made of clay, or some substance resembling terra cotta, and tomahawks. On the north part of this lot, a little north of East Genoa, were disclosed, on removing a beech stump, human remains buried in a sitting posture.
The first settler in Genoa was John Clark, who came from Washington county in 1791, and built his cabin a little north of the residence of Martyn H. Chase. A well dug by him remains to mark the spot. He subsequently removed to the north line, near the Indian Fields road, and after a few years to Ohio.
Ebenezer Hoskins and his brother-in-law, Mr. Fink, came in from New London in 1791 or '92. He was a ship cooper, and followed the sea about twenty years before he sought a home in the wilderness. He came all the way in his own boat, and brought his family and household goods with him. He landed at Paines Creek, and walked to Mr. Clark's. Ile sold his boat for $9, and with this and sixpence he had in his pocket on his arrival, he commenced life in the new set- tlement. He settled near the head of the gully, below Ogdens Corners, on the Jump farm. His cabin had neither floor, door nor window. The only protection in the doorway against storms, cold and enemies was a blanket. The beds were made of poles, and arranged one above the other on the sides of his hut. The foundation of the chimney yet remains. Hoskins removed after about four years to Lake Ridge, where he died in 1819. It is said that Aaron Kinney, the first missionary who visited this region, preached in Hoskins' house. Mrs. Adonijah Tillotson, Hos- kins' youngest daughter, is the only member of the family living in the town. Fink boarded with Hoskins. He did not bring his family, nor remain long. John Chilsey and his son Anselm, from Susquehanna, came in 1791 or '92, and bought 200 acres where the Presbyterian church in Genoa village stands. His house stood on the site of the second house east of the church. He died there.
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William Clark, a surveyor, came in from Wash- ington county, early in the spring of 1792, and settled on the Indian Fields road, on a farm which forms a part of the farm now occupied by Amos J. Hewitt, and died there. He had two sons and two daughters, all of whom are dead. Gamaliel Terry, a Revolutionary soldier, came in from Salisbury, Conn., in 1792, and settled a half mile north of Genoa village, on the farm now occupied by Thomas Buck, where he died March 24th, 1806, aged 47. His wife also died there. His children moved west. Terry took up a large tract of land which has been cut up into several farms. David Armstrong and Amaziah Phillips came in from Goshen, Orange county, in 1792, by the northern water route. From Weeks Cor- ners,to which point an inferior road had been made from the lake, they cut a road to the east part of the town. Armstrong settled on lot 39, which he had previously purchased, a mile south of East Genoa, where Wm. Wilcox lives. He brought with him his family, consisting of his wife and eight children, viz : Enos, Francis, An- drew, Frank, James, John, Polly, afterwards wife of Wm. Clark, and another daughter, who after- wards became the wife of Stephen Hopkins, all of whom are dead. He.also brought with him the irons for a saw-mill, which he erected the fol- lowing year, (1793,) upon a little brook fed by a spring upon the lot, which would now scarcely drive a mill one month in the year ; but which, in connection with the annual freshets, then pro- duced a stream which could be relied upon at certain times. This was the first mill built in the town. Shortly after its erection, as his son Francis, who was attending the mill, was eating his breakfast, which had been sent to him, he was unceremoniously put to flight by the appearance of a bear, which at once proceeded to devour the remnant of the meal. While thus engaged, he stood upon the log, which was in motion, and when the saw struck one of his paws, he stood erect upon his hind feet and embraced the of- fending saw as though it was a living being, and speedily met his death. Armstrong continued to reside there till well advanced in years, when he went to live with a daughter residing in Gro- ton, and died there. His son, John, died in 1793, and was buried in the cemetery on lot 39. The place was then a wilderness, reached only by a foot or cattle path, but was thenceforth made sa-
cred as a place of burial by Mr. Armstrong's generosity, and the foot-path soon became the road to Beardsleys Corners. This is believed to be the first death of a settler in the town. Am- aziah Phillips settled near the center of lot 29, where Alex. Bothwell now lives, and was the first settler on the site of East Genoa. He died there many years ago. These pioneers took their grists to Seneca Falls, conveying them by means of a drag, consisting of a crotched pole, to the lake, and thence by raft. Thomas and Wm. Hewitt settled directly east of Genoa vil- lage in 1792.
Numerous settlements were made in 1793, and the character of the men who came made them important ones. Capt. Roger Moore, who was taken prisoner in the war of the Revolution, and sent to England with Col. Ethan Allen, came in 1793, and settled in the north-east edge of Genoa village, where Robert Miller now lives, and died there. He drew two military lots. He had three sons, Roger, Samuel and Heman, all of whom are dead. Two of Heman's daughters are living in Genoa, Harriet, widow of Silas Kemp, and Adelia. Samuel and Daniel Wilson, Alex. Henderson, Elder Whipple and Roswell Francis, came together from Fort Ann and Sa- lem, Washington county. Samuel Wilson set- tled a half mile south of East Genoa, where Rufus Strong now lives, and died there. His family consisted of James, Martha, afterwards wife of Alek Bothwell, Nancy, wife of Elihu Halladay, Olive, afterwards wife of John Guth- rie, Polly, afterwards wife of John Stevens, an early settler in Groton, Samuel R., and John, all of whom are dead. Samuel Wilson, a grand- son, is living at East Genoa. Daniel Wilson settled in the same locality, and he and his son, John, died on the same farm, the one occupied by Rufus Strong. Five grand-children are liv- ing, Samuel, and Mary Jane, wife of Samuel C. Branch, in Genoa, David, in Kansas, and John and William, in Nebraska. Henderson, who was a Scotchman, stopped, on his arrival, with David Armstrong. He cleaned out and moved into one of the latter's outbuildings, said to have been previously occupied by poultry. He was an American soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was taken prisoner and confined in Quebec, but escaped by jumping from a second-story window, with three others, one of whom broke
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his leg. He lived to an extreme old age. He purchased a farm on lot 38, a half mile west of Armstrong's.
Nathaniel Walker, Jno. King 2d, (father of Abram, Jno., Marquis D. and Edward P. King,) and two others came from Luzerne county, Pa., to Springport, in 1789. In May, 1790, Mr. King brought in his family and settled near the site of Union Springs, on the Indian Reservation. The following year he was dispossessed by the State, and in February, 1793, he came to Genoa. He built his log house near a spring west of Alanson B. King's, and remained there till the fall of 1794, when he moved to the south side of the gully, near Glenn W. King's. He afterwards built on the north side of the gully. He kept a public house for many years. The first road to the lake ran through his farm, north of the gully. He established the first ferry across the lake. At first it consisted simply of a skiff, but that soon gave place to sail boats. In 1818, James Kidder, Matthew N. Tillotson and David Ogden, Sr., built the first horse boat. It was of vast pro- portions, propelled by twelve horses and capable of carrying eight wagons and twenty horses at a load. The first steamboat on Cayuga Lake was the Enterprise. It was built in Ithaca in 1819, and made the first trip January Ist, 1820. The post office at Northville still perpetuates the name of that ferry, which derived its name from Mr. King, who was largely identified with the early enterprises and interests of this community. Nathaniel Walker, who was a brother-in-law of John King 2d, came in 1793 or the spring of 1794, and settled on the Jno. M. King farm. He removed after a few years to Ontario county. John King Ist, father of John King 2d came from Springport in 1794. His cabin stood near Alanson B. King's barn. His son David, who was unmarried and lived with him, owned, after his father's death, the north half of lot 12. His brother, John 2d, owned the south half and 112 acres in the north-east corner of lot 22, where his . son Abram lived. David, son of John King 2d, who was born December 16th, 1790, was prob- ably the first white child born in this county. The King family was a prominent one in the early history of this town. While many of the old families have removed or died out, the Kings have remained and become very numerous. They are without doubt one of the largest families in
southern Cayuga. They have been successful farmers, and but little inclined to trade or specu- lation. Their well-tilled farms and pleasant homes are monuments of their industry, and make Lake street one of the most beautiful sec- tions of the town. Mrs. David King, who died December 30th, 1876, aged 93, lived where her married life commenced seventy-cight years.
Jonathan Mead, who served seven years as a soldier in the Revolution, drew lot 5 in this town, and in 1792, he and his brother-in-law, John Moe, came to see it. In May, 1793, they and Benj. and Daniel Close came from Greenwich, Conn., and settled upon that lot. The former two brought their families with them. They started in April, and came on a schooner up the Hudson to Catskill, bringing with them a covered wagon and two yokes of oxen. From Catskill they com- pleted the journey by wagon. They came by the State road to Oxford and Owego, to which point that road was little better than marked trees, with some of the underbrush lopped out, while from Owego their's was the first wagon in this direc- tion. They found generous hospitality at the house of John Clark during the few days required to roll together some logs for a temporary home. The journey from Connecticut occupied twenty- six days, and Mrs. Abraham Wecks, daughter of Jonathan Mead, and who, though in her 92d year, is still in the enjoyment of health and strength, and the full possession of all her mental faculties, distinctly remembers how tiresome it was. Benj. Close put up a house and brought his family in that fall. In a letter written to his wife in May of that year, and sent back by his brother Daniel, he says : "We went about ten miles (i. e., to Aurora,) for our papers, and found there a Mr. Barber from Connecticut. They have plenty of peach-trees and some apple-trees. These must have been put out by the Indians."* Mr. Close had at that time four children, the youngest of whom, an infant, Mrs. Close carried all the way from Connecticut on horseback. They arrived in September, and were accompanied by John Weeks, who settled on 100 acres on the south
* A Sermon by Rev. J. S. Jewell, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Genoa, August 10th, 1873, to which, and to Mr. D. W. Adams of Northville, especially the latter, we take pleasure in ac- knowledging our indebtedness for much valuable information rela- tive to the early settlement of Genoa, particularly the western part. To Mr. H. Leavenworth, of East Genoa, our thanks are also due for information furnished.
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side of lot 5, given him by his brother-in-law Jonathan Mead. He built his cabin on a knoll about seventy rods north of the Kelly school house. He subsequently lived near J. Mead Weeks' present residence. Weeks Corners per- petuates his name. His son Abraham, who lived on the old homestead, was a worthy man and a deacon in the Presbyterian church when he died. His widow, as previously stated, still survives him. Jonathan Mead, after living here some years, moved to Clarkson, and died there.
John Moe built in 1800 or 1802 a frame house which still stands a little south of Lucas Moe's. It is claimed to be the second frame dwelling house built in the town. John Moe, who died six years ago, was a son of his. " He possessed rare business talent, a well-balanced mind, and strict integrity. For over half a century his name was a household word in all this section." Dr. Hiram Moe, another son, attained eminence in the medical profession in Groton. Their brothers, James and Lucas, are still living, the latter on the old homestead. Mary Moe, daugh- ter of John Moe, who was born March 20th, 1794, is said to have been the first white female child born in West Genoa.
Benjamin Close did not leave his religion in Connecticut when he came. Soon after he ar- rived with his family, in the fall of 1793, he opened his house for public worship on the Sabbath, and those meetings were continued till the Presby- terian church was organized. He was one of the original sixteen who entered into church fel- lowship August 13th, 1798. He was elected deacon in 1806, and held that office thirty years. William and Rev. Reuben Close, sons of Benja- min, are living, the former on the homestead and the latter in Elmira.
Zadoc Weeks came in 1794, and settled on twenty-five acres given him by his father, in the south-west corner of lot 5, where Orliff Bourne now lives. In 1790, Gilbert, Jonathan, Thurs- ton and Perez Brownell came from Little Comp- ton, Rhode Island, and commenced work on the Indian Reservation, north of Aurora. They were dispossessed by the sheriff and built a cabin near R. N. Atwater's residence in Ledyard, one and one-half miles north of the south line. In the spring of 1791, Perez brought his family in. Jonathan brought his wife in 1792. Their father, Pardon Brownell, bought lot 23 in Genoa, and
gave Gilbert 200 acres on the east side, Thurs- ton, 200 on the west, and Perez, 200 in the mid- dle. Perez moved on his land in the spring of 1793. His house was west of J. G. Barger's stone quarry. Gilbert came and lived with him. Mrs. Brownell's sister Amy was a member of the family. November 4th, 1793, Gilbert and Amy were married. The marriage certificate is in the possession of their daughter, Mrs. Clarissa Chad- wick, and reads: "This certifies that Gilbert Brownell and Amy Grinnell were joined in mar- riage November 4th, 1793, by Aaron Kinne, minister of the gospel and missionary in the western settlements." " The incidents connected with this event are somewhat romantic. It seems a contract of marriage was made between them, but unfortunately there was neither civil officer nor settled minister who could make them one. It was agreed that when the missionary came they would be married. After weeks and months of delay Mr. Kinne called at Perez Brownell's. Gilbert was at work some distance from the house engaged in logging. Amy blew a conch shell, (now in possession of Mrs. Chadwick,) and called her soon-to-be-husband. Soiled and besmeared Gilbert came in and without change of raiment stood up before the man of God, and they were married. Immediately after the ceremony was performed he went back to his toil." This was probably the first marriage in the town. Gilbert built his house and lived a little south-east of J. G. Barger's residence. A few old apple trees mark the locality. Perez subsequently sold to Joseph Goodyear, and then Gilbert exchanged farms with Goodyear. Gilbert bought Thurston's lands, and eventually owned a large portion of lot 22. He lived and died where H. S. King lives. Of a family of nine children, three only remain, Ed- mund, Mrs. Clarissa Chadwick and Mrs. John H. Carter. Perez subsequently removed to Ohio and died there. Thurston went to Philadelphia. Jonathan remained in Ledyard. He built the house where Charles E. Slocum lives and died there. His daughters were reigning belles in their day and were much admired.
John, Eben, Daniel and Josiah Guthrie, who settled in Springport in 1790, came to this town about 1793, and lived near McGuigans Corners, about three miles south-west of Northville. John, who was a single man, worked out in Springport during the summer, and during the fall cut wild
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grass on the Owasco Flats, (Moravia,) where he wintered his employer's cattle. He afterward married Olive, daughter of Samuel Wilson, and removed to Groton. Eben settled where Wilson Merritt resides ; Daniel, south of Lake Ridge, on the McCormick farm ; and Josiah, where Jay At- water lives. Eben moved to Peru, O., about 1815.
Jabez Bradley came in the spring of 1792, from Lee, Massachusetts, and again in the fall of that year to see the Lake country. In 1793, he and his brother-in-law, Heman Bradley, came and boarded that summer with Jonathan Brownell. Jabez bought 200 acres on the south side of lot 90 in Ledyard. It was the land recently occu- pied by Edwin Buckhout and S. N. Franklin. They cleared part of it, planted corn, sowed some wheat, and started a nursery. In the fall Heman returned home, and Jabez bought 200 acres on the south side of lot 3 in Genoa, paying therefor $1.25 per acre. He came here and built his log house near the orchard west of S. C. Fessenden's, in Northville, where he was the first to break the forest, and which was known for years as Brad- leys Corners. The roof was made of elm bark. While there alone he received a very pleasant visit from Capt. Adonijah Tillotson and Phineas Rice, who had come to see the country. Mr. Bradley went to Lee that fall and returned in February, 1794, with his family, accompanied by Heman Bradley and his wife. They came with sleds and oxen. In 1800, Jabez built the house where his youngest son Walter G. resides. In 1812, the building of the S. C. Fessenden house was commenced. Jabez Bradley had great energy of character and was a valuable citizen. Within six weeks after he moved here he was elected one of the commissioners of high ways of the town of Milton, and reelected in 1795. The importance of this office is realized when we reflect that in April, 1794, there were but few if any highways laid out in this large township. The County rec- ords show that Mr. Bradley was a large land- holder. He owned 200 acres on lot 90 in Scipio, 640 acres on lot 3, in Milton, the west half of lot 4, the south half of 14, part of 35, and sev- eral lots in Locke, Moravia and Sempronius, making in all 3,000 acres or more. Some esti- mate of the extent of his farming operations may be made from the fact that August 2d, 1813, he sold to Monmouth Purdy, forty-four head of cat- tle at one time.
" Though Squire Bradley was not a member of the church, he was prominent in all matters connected with it. The first church was erected in 1805. When we remember that it was in the early years of settlement, that the pioneers, (with scarcely one exception,) were poor, and but few of them living in frame houses, we realize how liberal they were and how great the sacrifices they made to build that wonderful old church edi- fice. There is no event connected with our local history which reflects greater honor on the noble men who united in that great work."
At the dedication of the new church in 1847, Rev. Seth Smith, in referring to the building of the first one said, " On entering upon the work they were much encouraged and aided by their truly enterprising and public-spirited associate, Jabez Bradley, Esq., who, in addition to the time, labor and money which he freely devoted, gen- erously and gratuitously gave to the Society a lease of between three and four acres of land as the site of the building." Mr. Bradley died February 20th, 1817, in his 52d year. Dan, son of Jabez Bradley, born May ist, 1794, is sup- posed to be the first male child born in Milton.
Heman Bradley bought of Jabez eighty acres in the south-west corner of lot 3, the land now owned by James Brown and the Anthony Covert estate. He lived there several years and sold to Matthew N. Tillotson. In December, 1801, he received of Jabez a deed of the farm now owned by the widow of Jonah Reynolds. He died there in August, 1844. He was a kind-hearted, hon- est man, and his wife a model woman. Eli Brad- ley, father of Heman, Medad and Miles, came in 1794 or '5, and Medad and Miles about the same time. Medad was a butcher and stock-dealer. Miles married Chloe Allen and bought the farm now owned by Dan Bradley. He was a carpen- ter and farmer and died in 1825.
Capt. Adonijah Tillotson, Gen. John Tillotson and Col. Matthew Tillotson were originally from Farmington, Conn. About 1792 they came to Whitestown, which they expected to make their home. In 1793 Capt. Adonijah Tillotson and Phineas Rice, a brother-in-law, came in prospect- ing, selected lot 13, and returned to Whitestown. In the winter of 1793 Gen. John Tillotson went to New York city and bought that lot. In di- viding it John had 300 acres on the north side, Adonijah, 200 in the south-west corner, and Rice,
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140 in the south-east corner. Adonijah and wife came in the spring of 1794, arriving May 25th. They came in a bateau, the journey from Onei- da county occupying seven days. He built a little south of Adonijab Tillotson's residence. Gen. John and Rice came in soon after. Rice settled near where Joseph Fenner lives. He subsequently sold his land to John Atwater and bought the farm now owned by John Stephenson. In 1804 he engaged in mercantile business with a Mr. Knapp, on the east side of the highway, a little north-east of Mr. Fenner's house. The store is said have been the first frame building in the town. It was afterwards removed to North- ville and now forms a part of Richard Ryder's residence in that village. Mr. Rice was unfortu- nate and moved to Steuben county, where he died. John Tillotson settled near the creek, south of Calvin Jump's. He was a noted man in Church, State and Society. He was one of the original members of the Presbyterian church at Northville, and his name appears frequently in the early history. In April, 1795, he was elected supervisor and was rëelected in 1796, '7 and'S. In 1804 he was appointed by the Leg- islature one of the commissioners to locate the Court House in this county, the south-east cor- ner of lot 46 in Scipio being selected. In 1813 he was an Associate Judge. He is described as a large, powerful man, commanding in person, and a general favorite with all classes. Col. Mat- thew N. Tillotson came the same year and set- tled where B. F. Slocum lives. He owned at one time the south half of lot two. He was identified with many public enterprises and was largely interested in the fifth great western turn- pike. He died June 11th, 1857. Dr. Adoni- jah, John and Mary, children of Capt. Adonijah Tillotson, are all that are left here of those three families.
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