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 99
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109
Though Northville is not the theater of any manufacturing industry, it has not been utterly destitute of an effort to make it such. In 1836 some public-spirited citizens formed a stock com- pany and built a steam flouring-mill. Jonathan Borden was the chief stockholder and was made president. Darius Adams was treasurer. It was in operation several years, but did not pay, and is now used as a store-house.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GENOA, at Northville. We quote from a published ser- mon preached August 10th, 1873, by Rev. J. S. Jewell, the pastor of this Church, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.
" Quite a large proportion of the early inhabi- tants here were decidedly friendly to religious institutions ; while many of them were professedly the disciples of Christ, and members of churches in the places from which they came. In leaving the older settlements and established churches, and coming into the wilderness, they had no idea of leaving their religion and the benefits of the gospel behind. And it would seem that in the settlement of this part of the town, the hand of God was plainly manifest, in bringing together so
many of similar faith. so that they could so har- moniously join together in worshiping God."
We have already seen that Benjamin Close com- menced holding religious meetings in his house soon after the removal of his family here in the spring of 1793. These meetings were doubtless the first regularly established for public worship in the County. The devotions consisted in read- ing sermons, singing hymns, and prayer, and fre- quently partook of the nature of a Bible class, questions being asked and answered as freely as in any family or social gathering.
They were occasionally visited and encouraged by missionaries, but apparently very irregularly and not often. The earliest of these of whom we have any record is Aaron Kinne, who visited this section as early as 1793. Others, though three or four years later, were Seth Williston, Jedediah Bushnell, Salmon King, Jacob Cram, David Avery and Ezra Woodworth, the latter of whom, it ap- pears, came in June, 1798, and preached one- third of the time for five or six months. His labors seem to have prepared the way in some measure for the organization of a Church. The first meeting looking to this end was held at the house of Amos Lyon, who lived near Bell Cor- ners, July 9th, 1798. This meeting was attended by two missionaries, Rev. Ezra Woodworth, who acted as Moderator, and Rev. Mr. Hillyer, who acted as clerk. About twenty persons present presented certificates of membership from various Eastern churches. A committee consisting of John Tillotson, Silas Hutchinson, Stephen Peet, William Bradley, David Wilcox and Enoch Mer- ryman, was appointed to acquaint the professors of religion in the town of their designs, and also to draw up a confession of faith. An adjourned meeting was held at the same place, August 13th, 1798, when the Church was duly organized, and a confession of faith and covenant adopted. The ministers present and assisting were Reuben Parmlee, Ezra Woodworth and Jacob Cram.
The number who then entered into Church- fellowship was sixteen-ten males and six females -eight of whom were from Connecticut, and all of whom presented letters. Their names were Stephen Peet, Stephen Webb, Amos Lyon, Solo- mon Knapp, Silas Hutchinson, Benjamin Close, William Corwin, David Wilcox, William Bradley, Anna Corwin, Esther Peet, Jane Strong, Eliza- beth Moe, Ann Chittenden and Elizabeth Webb.
502
TOWN OF GENOA.
Two weeks after, nine others, who appear not to have been present at the former meeting, united by letter, among them John Tillotson and Annie, wife of Heman Bradley.
The Church was denominated the First Con- gregational Church in the town of Milton, and was the second one organized in the County, the first being the Baptist Church in Scipio, (now Ven- ice,) which was formed June 9th, 1795. Rev. Mr. Scott supplied them a few Sabbaths after Mr. Woodworth closed his labors, and in Feb- ruary, 1799, a call was extended to him, which, as well as one extended to Rev. Seth Williston in March, 1800, appears to have been declined.
After the organization, as before, the Society continued to worship in private houses and barns till 1802, when a log meeting-house was built, near the south-east corner of lot 14, a mile east and a mile south of Northville.
Some time in 1803, Rev. Jabez Chadwick com- menced serving them as a stated supply, and continued about two years. During this period the rapid increase in population had made a larger and more commodious house of worship desira- ble ; and out of the proposition to build a new edifice, grew a somewhat acrimonious contro- versy relative to its location, which ultimately re- sulted in a separation and the formation of a new church. Pending this unhappy discussion a project was set on foot to perfect a legal organ- ization, and a meeting was called for that purpose March 10th, 1804, at which an agreement was drawn and subscribed to by ninety-one individ- uals, upon whom, for the most part, says Rev. Mr. Jewell, "the burdens of society rested for more than a generation." This organization was completed at the house of Jabez Bradley, in May of that year, under the name of Union Society, and John Atwater, Benjamin Close, Jabez Brad- ley, James Milliken, Jonathan Brownell and Mat- thew Tillotson were the first trustees. At the same time a subscription for a meeting-house was drawn up, the heading to which is worthy of preservation. The following is a copy in part :
.
"We, the subscribers, do agree to pay the sums set opposite our names, in the time and manner following, viz : one-fourth part in neat cattle, by the Ist of October next ; one-fourth in good wheat or pork, at market price, by the Ist of January next ; one other fourth part in neat cattle, by the Ist of October, 1805; and the remaining one-fourth in good wheat or pork, by the Ist of January, 1806."
At a meeting of the society, May 20th, 1805, it was decided to build on lot 4, within forty rods of the south-west corner. June 5th, 1805, Jabez Bradley gave the society a lease of between three and four acres of land, as a site for the building, the lease to continue as long as the society wished to occupy the land for a house of worship. The house was raised in July of that year, and, though it was occupied for worship the following season, was not completed till some years afterwards, the pulpit and galleries not until the fall of 1816. " It was a fineand noble monument to the value of religion and religious teaching, here in a new coun- try, where few spires could then have been seen pointing heavenward. Its dimensions were about 45 by 60 feet, built with such style and finish as to attract the attention of strangers for many years." This building was their Sabbath home until 1846, when it was taken down, and a new one erected on the same ground, and dedicated July 8th, 1847. This, in turn, underwent ex- tensive repairs and was rebuilt, and dedicated in February, 1872. A neat chapel adjacent to it was erected at the same time, the whole involv- ing an expense of $11,000.
When it was found to be impossible to har- monize the conflicting views in regard to the lo- cation of the church edifice, an amicable separa- tion was mutually agreed upon. They accord- ingly procured the services of Rev. David Hig- gins, then pastor of the church in Aurelius, who administered to them the Lord's supper, Decem- ber 22d, 1805 ; after which twelve took letters of dismission to form a church in Lansingville, then called Teetertown. Those who withdrew were Caleb and Luther Lyon and their wives, Amos Lyon, Mrs. Ann Chittenden, Mrs. Jane Strong, Mrs. Charles Lyon, Caleb Lyon, Jr., Mrs. Re- becca Stives, Mrs. Ruth Conklin and Israel Lyon. The membership of this church after this exodus was sixty-four.
Rev. Wm. Clark was ordained and installed pastor of this church June 18th, 1806; the rela- tion was dissolved in February, 1808. After this Rev. Samuel Fuller preached for a time, and re- ceived a call to settle, but he ultimately declined the invitation. September 5th, 1809, a resolu- tion is recorded inviting Rev. Seth Smith to preach seven Sabbaths in addition to the five already supplied. Four weeks later, October 3d, a call was unanimously extended to him, at a salary of
503
NORTHVILLE.
$450, which was then considered very liberal. The names appended to the subscription list to raise this amount were 135 in number, and the sums subscribed varied from fifty cents to thirty dollars. Mr. Smith accepted this call and was installed January 24th, 1810. Such was the im- portance attached to this event that the church voted to observe Wednesday, January 10th, as a day of fasting and prayer, preparatory to the solemnities of the occasion.
Mr. Smith's pastorate was a long and useful one. It continued till his death, January 30th, 1849.
Mr. Smith was succeeded by Rev. N. D. Graves, who was installed September 5th, 1849, and served the church five years, resigning Sep- tember 5th, 1854. Rev. Amos Crocker followed in the spring of 1856, and remained till May, 1867. The present pastor, Rev. J. S. Jewell, commenced his labors with this church July Ist, 1868, having completed the tenth year of his ministry, which, with the hopeful spiritual con- dition of the church, is evidence of his accepta- bility and efficiency. Thus the shepherd's staff has changed hands but four times in the period of nearly seventy years.
The church was originally organized on Con- gregational principles. In 1804, on the organ- ization of the Middle Association, it was connect- ed with it ; but on the dissolution of that body in 18II, and the formation soon after of the Presby- tery of Cayuga, it became a constituent member of the latter body, and has thus remained to the present time. In 1820, the church adopted the Presbyterian form of government, electing as ruling elders, Wm. Bradley, Benjamin Close, Beriah King, Roswell Franklin and Adonijah Tillotson, who continued to exercise the functions of that office till 1831, when it again voted to be- come Congregational. In November, 1868, it once more, without a dissenting voice, became fully Presbyterian.
The present number of members is 140. The number of families in the congregation is about 100. The whole amount raised during the last ten years, including benevolent objects, is about $27,000. They have an interesting Sabbath school, at which the attendance is 150.
CALVARY CHURCH, (Episcopal,) at Northville, was organized in May, 1862, and at a meeting of the vestry, consisting of S. S. Mosher, D. K. Un-
derhill, James Howell, George Jackson, M. D. King, John Tillotson, James Niblo and B. F. Coleman, held Tuesday, May 15th, 1862, at the house of D. K. Underhill, Q. L. Beebe and An- drew Thorpe were elected wardens. Their church edifice was erected in 1862, at a cost of about $2,000, the land-about an acre-having been given by Mr. D. K. Underhill. It was conse- crated in 1863. The first rector was Rev. J. Leach, who was called May 22d, 1863, he having resign- ed the pastorate of St. Paul's church of Aurora. June 29th, 1863, a call was given to Rev. W. M. Beauchamp, who served them two years, and was succeeded by Rev. George G. Perrine, who re- mained about a year. For some time after Mr. Perrine left the pulpit was unsupplied. Rev. W. A. Casey, who was then and is still rector of St. Paul's church, Aurora, supplied the pulpit a year. After that the church had only occasional preach- ing till the summer of 1878. July Ist, of that year, Rev. J. Everist Cathell commenced his labors with them, and continued them during that and the two succeeding months. Rev. De- Witt C. Loop, the present pastor, entered upon this charge about the 1st of November, 1878. The church is in a feeble condition, but has a hopeful and useful prospective future. The mem- bership does not exceed a dozen, but there are some twenty who have been baptized awaiting the coming of the Bishop to be confirmed.
ST. MARY OF THE LAKE CHURCH, (Catholic,) at Northville, was organized in 1866, by Father McCool, at the house of the widow of Hugh Fal- lon, about a mile west of the village. It then consisted of about twenty-five heads of families, the most prominent of whom were the widow Fal- lon, Daniel Fallon, Patrick and Edward Reilly, Thomas and John McCormick, Michael and Ed- ward Burns, James Britt, Patrick Dullehan, Christopher Mulligan, Nicholas and Christopher Mulvany, John Mahony and John Kenny. Their church edifice was erected in 1868, at a cost of $2,400, through the efforts of Father McCool, who labored with them as pastor from 1866-'70. He was succeeded in the pastorate by Father Schmeltzer, who served them ten months; Father Eugene Pagani, who remained one year ; Father Archangel Paganini, who served them ten months; and Father Hugh Francis Rafferty, who has labored with them since June 15th, 1873. The present membership is about 450.
85-2
504
TOWN OF GENOA.
The earliest meetings of this denomination were held in the old red school-house in the vil- lage of Genoa, by Father Glennon, in 1852.
SOCIETIES .- Genoa Lodge No. 213, F. & A. M. was organized August 11th, 1813, at the house of Simeon P. Strong, in Teetertown (Lansing- ville). William Miner, Lemuel Powers, John Bow- ker, Samuel Knapp, Darius Adams, Curtis Gal- pin, Simeon P. Strong, Belding Kellogg, Martin Kellogg, Ithmar Kellogg, Levi Roath, H. West, Abner Brannis and Samuel R. Wilson, who were members of Sylvan Lodge, Massachusetts, Eagle Lodge, Seneca county, and Scipio Lodge, Aurora, were the charter members. This was the fourth lodge in the County, the first having been organ- ized in Aurora, March 22d, 1797, the second at Moravia, in 1810, and the third, (Morning Star Lodge, now dead,) near Bolt's Corners, in the present town of Scipio, in 1811. It died during the anti-masonic times, and was reorganized as No. 421, January 29th, 1857. The charter men- bers then were J. M. White, Geo. Fritts, J. H. Pickard, G. W. Gunn, Darius Adams, David Og- den and B. A. Shepard. The lodge now num- bers about ninety members. Since the rëor- ganization meetings have been held in the rooms formerly occupied by the Odd Fellows, in the steam mill building.
THE NORTHVILLE TEMPERANCE SOCIETY was formed in August, 1828, in which year, in the west half of Genoa, there were two distilleries, four licensed hotels, and four stores, selling an- nually about 250 barrels of ardent spirits. Only eighteen individuals in the town could be induced to sign the pledge, and notwithstanding the So- ciety first met with violent opposition, in the fifth year after its organization not a license was granted in the town. The old Society died years ago, but the work has been continued, and to- day there are in West Genoa two Good Templar Lodges and two Rechabite Tents.
FIVE CORNERS.
FIVE CORNERS is situated in the south part of the town, west of the center, nearly equi-distant from Genoa and Northville. It contains one church,(Presbyterian)a district-school, one general store, one hardware store, two blacksmith shops, (kept by John Beardsley and William Starr,) a shoe shop, (kept by Aaron Wood,) a wagon shop, (kept by Anson Lyon,) a paint shop, (kept by James Remer,) and about seventy inhabitants.
MERCHANTS .- The first merchants were Israel and Amasa Lyon and David Crocker, who com- menced business under the name of I. & A. Lyon & Co., about 1814. After a few years it went into the hands of Mr. Crocker, who admitted to part- nership a man named Swift, his brother-in-law, with whom he did business several years. Al- fred and Samuel Husted, brothers, opened a store about 1823, and did business a few years, when they removed their goods to Auburn. Samuel C. Lyon kept a store a good many years, until his death September 12th, 1870. Charles Barger opened a store soon after Lyon's death, and after two years formed a copartnership with P. Price. He failed about a year after. James Nostrand and a man named Hunt came in from Moravia in November, 1875, Hunt left after a few months, and Nostrand did business here till the latter part of November, 1878, when he sold his goods at auction. A. E. Robinson, from Sher- wood, general merchant, commenced business in December, 1876, in company with George E. Sanford, with whom he was connected till Octo- ber 18th, 1877. John Starr, hardware merchant, commenced business in the spring of 1877.
POSTMASTERS .- The first postmaster at Five Corners was Lewis Seymour, who was appointed about 1830. He was succeeded by John Milli- ken, who held the office in 1836, Rebecca Ferris, Allen Palmer, who held it in 1842 and '46, Sam- uel C. Lyon, who held it in 1851, Fulton Good- year, who held it in 1854, Samuel C. Lyon, who held it as early as 1857, and until his death in 1870, Daniel Bacon, who held it about a year, Charles Barger, who held it from 1872-'75, Jo- seph Goodyear,who held it from 1875 till his death in April, 1878, and A. E. Robinson, the present incumbent, who was appointed April 29th, 1878.
PHYSICIANS .- The first physician was Thomas Lyon, who located here about the beginning of the century and remained a few years. There does not appear to have been any physician after that until about 1841, when D. A. Force came here. He practiced until the California gold- fever broke out, when he repaired thither. He resumed practice here about four years afterwards and continued till about 1853, when he went to Genoa. Dr. Green, from Lansing, Tompkins county, practiced here one year during the war, and went to Michigan. Wm. Davis, also from Lansing, practiced some five or six years from
505
EAST GENOA.
about 1868. He, too, went west. George E. Sanford, from Michigan, who joined the County Medical Society while a resident of this place, November 10th, 1875, is still practicing here.
THE FIRST FREE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF GENOA, at Five Corners, was organized Jan- uary Ist, 1831, as the Congregational Church of Lansing and Genoa, by thirteen male and twenty- five female "seceders" from the Presbyterian church of Lansingville. January 11th, 1831, Levi Palmer and Caleb Lyon, Jr., were elected deacons. January 7th, 1834, the present name was adopted.
The first pastor was Rev. Jabez Chadwick, by whom the church was organized. He resigned January 31st, 1835, to take effect March 27th, 1835. He was succeeded by Zenas Covall, who was dismissed October 11th, 1836. The name of S. Hawley appears March 11th, 1837, but whether as pastor or temporary supply the records do not show. Rev. Mr. Leckner closed his labors with them January 16th, 1838, but how long he served them does not appear. Rev. A. C. Lord commenced his labors with them in April, 1838, and Ezra C. Smith, March 20th, 1840. Mr. Smith was voted out of the pulpit April 6th, 1842. Rev. Wm. S. Franklin began to supply the pulpit September 18th, 1842. November 14th, 1843, he received a call to become their pastor, and was installed January 9th, 1844. Sep- tember 8th, 1864, after a pastorate of twenty- two years, Mr. Franklin requested the church to unite with him in asking the Presbytery to dis- solve the pastoral relation. He preached his farewell sermon September 25th, 1864. C. A. Conant assumed the pastoral care April Ist, 1865, and closed his labors with them July Ist, 1871. During his pastorate, March 3d, 1871, the church adopted the Presbyterian form of government, but retained their name. In November, 1871, a call was extended to A. O. Peloubet, who en- tered upon the pastoral duties January Ist, 1872. He preached his farewell sermon April 27th, 1873. In July, 1873, a call was given to Nathan B. Knapp, who was installed pastor Oc- tober 7th, 1873, and ministered to their spiritual wants until December 9th, 1877, since which time the pulpit has been supplied by various in- dividuals. The present membership is forty- five.
The first meetings were held in an addition
built to the school-house at the corners, at the time of the organization. This, however, soon ceased to afford the needed accommodation. Soon after the organization, during Mr. Chad- wick's pastorate, a fruitful revival was experi- enced, and the membership so largely increased thereby, as to make the demand for a larger and more commodious house of worship imperative. This resulted in the erection of the present edi- fice, which was dedicated February 26th, 1835.
March 9th, 1842, the Lansingville church, (from which the original members of this church withdrew, because of a preference for the Con- gregational form of government,) dissolved and united with this.
EAST GENOA.
EAST GENOA is situated in the south-east part of the town, about two and one-half miles south- east of Genoa, and four miles south-west of Milan. It contains one church, (M. E.,) a dis- trict school, a store, blacksmith shop, (kept by Joseph Duck,) and some forty inhabitants.
MERCHANTS .- The first merchant was Elihu Halladay, who opened a small store previous to 1800, in a log house which stood on the site of Horace Leavenworth's residence, which he kept some two years and failed, the failure involving the loss of his farm. He bought his goods at Aurora. This is said to have been the first store in the town. The next was John Leavenworth, who opened a store as early as 1805 and kept it till 1813. Elihu Washburn opened one soon af- ter Leavenworth, about twenty rods south of the Corners. He afterwards built the present store, and did business several years. Thomas Hicks kept a store previous to 1808. Pearl P. Lane opened a grocery about 1824. He kept it about one and one-half years and failed. Wm. P. Thornton opened a store in 1826, and kept it a few years, when James Morgan succeeded him and kept it till the fall of 1841, when he sold to Alex. Bothwell, who kept it six and one-half years and sold to Samuel Close, who, after four or five years, sold to G. J. Hollenbeck, who kept it about a year and a half. He then sold to Charles Wil- cox and Abram Osmun, who kept it two years, and sold to Charles Manchester, who kept it a like period, when he closed out and removed to Ithaca. Daniel Carver opened a store in another location about 1830. He kept it but a year or
506
TOWN OF GENOA.
two, and then closed out. There was no mer- chant here after Manchester left (about 1863) until the fall of 1877, when Sullivan W. Ladd came in from Summer Hill and opened a store, which he still continues.
POSTMASTERS. - The post-office at East Genoa was established in 1827, with Wm. P. Thornton as postmaster. He held it one or two years, till his removal to Fleming, and was succeeded by Abram K. Truman, who held the office in 1831. Samuel Branch next held it eight or ten years, as early as 1836 and as late as 1842. He was succeeded by Heman Holden, who held it till 1844, when Alexander Bothwell was appointed and held it some four and one-half years. Samuel Close succeeded him and held it during his con- tinuance in mercantile business, as late as 1851. Gibson J. Hollenbeck held the office in 1854, and was followed by George Hollenbeck. Horace Leavenworth received the appointment June 2d, 1856, and held it some three years. Abram Osmun held the office in 1859, and was succeed- ed after two years by J. M. Snyder, who held it four or five years and was removed. Alexander Bothwell next held it two years and resigned, when J. M. Snyder was again appointed. He continued in office till the fall of 1875, when Alexander Bothwell was again appointed, and still holds the office.
THE FIRST M. E. CHURCH, at East Genoa, was organized in 1837, at the school-house on lot 40, with the following named members : Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Potter, Mr. and Mrs. Wm, Gibbs, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Thayer, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Shangle, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Boyce, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Bothwell, Peter Bower, Levi Clark, and Mrs. Henry Young. The earliest meetings by members of this denomination were held about 1835 or '6. Their house of worship was erected in 1849, at a cost of $2,000, and is free to other denominations when not occupied by the Methodists.
The successive pastors who have had charge of the spiritual interests of this Society, as far as they can be gleaned from the records, are: Revs. Sylvester Minier and Wm. Perne, who formed the first class and served them two years, but at what time does not appear ; H. C. Hall, in 1845; Doctor Humphrey and C. W. Harris, in 1846; Dewitt C. Olmsted, in 1847; A. Benjamin, in 1848 and '9 ; D. Lampkin, in 1850 ; J. W. Steele,
in 1851 and '2 ; (Rev. Mr. Spickerman and Alvin Lake ;) Reuben Fox, in 1855 ; Wm. Adams, in 1859 and '60 ; S. Minier, in 1861 ; Letto Barnes, in 1862; F. D. Higgins, in 1863 ; D. Potter, in 1864 and '5 ; David Davies, in 1866; Rev. Mr. Knight, in 1867; Rev. Mr. Coles, in 1868; D. C. Dutcher, in 1869; F. Weatherwax, in 1870 and '71 ; P. W. Minard, in 1872; M. P. Murphy, in 1873 ; E. House, in 1874, '5 and '6 ; O.Comp- ton, in 1877; O. Compton, J. B. Wilson, Wm. Walker and Frank Wheeler, in 1878, the latter of whom is the present pastor. He entered upon his labors in the fall of 1878. The church was not prosperous for some years, and the records for that period, if any exist, have not come under our observation. The church is in a feeble con- dition, its membership numbering sixteen to twenty. The attendance at Sabbath school is from twenty to thirty.
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.