History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 62

Author: Clayton, W.W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 840


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Application was then made to the Board of Re- gents for a charter of incorporation, which was granted April 10, 1813. The members comprising the first board of trustees were Rev. Caleb Alexan- der, President ; Jasper Hopper, Secretary ; Joseph Forman, Dirck C. Lansing, Wm. H. Sabin, Joseph Swan, Thaddeus M. Wood, Gordon Needham, Ja- cobus DePuy, Cornelius Longstreet, Judson Webb, George Hall, Dan Bradley, Oliver R. Strong, Nicho- las Mickles, John Adams, Trustees.


The Academy building was erected in 1814 and


39


278


HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK


endowed by the State with a gift of a lot of land belonging to the Literature Fund, viz : Loty in the town of Lysander. For many years this Academy was an important educational institution and many distinguished men of the country owe to it obliga- tions for advantages received in its halls.


Rev. Caleb Alexander was the first Principal and to his exertions and influence the public was largely indebted for the establishment of the Academy. Through his influence the Fairfield Academy also was established.


Mr. Alexander was a man of extensive learning and varied acquirements, a fine conversationalist, and an author of some note. He was elected the first President of Hamilton College, but declined the situation. He died at Onondaga Hollow in April, 1828, aged seventy-two years.


By an act passed April 28, 1866, entitled “ An Act to consolidate Districts Nos, seven and twenty- eight in the town of Onondaga, County of Onon- daga, and to provide for the organization of a school and academy therein, and to enable said district to provide the necessary building therefor," (Vide Chap. 839 Session Laws of 1866, the present Onondaga Free School District was organized with the following named persons as Trustees : George B. Clark, M. Roland Markham, James Longstreet, Ralph Chafec, Thos. K. Clark, Richard R. Slocum, Nathaniel Bostwick, Cornell Crysler, Truman K. Fuller.


May 15, 1866, the " prudential " board of the academy transferred the entire control of the same to the above named Board of Trustees, in accord- ance with said act. The academy has been under the charge of the present Principal, Prof. O. W. Sturdevant, since 1872. From the last Regents' re- port we find the value of library and apparatus to be $1,000, and that of the balance of the property to be $15,100.


This academy is one of the "gymnasia " con- nected with the Syracuse University.


CHURCHES


FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ONONDAGA VAL- 1.I.Y .- This church was originally called the " United Church of Onondaga and Salina," parties living in both places being members. Clark says, " the First Presbyterian Society was established on the Hill, but the people finding it rather fatiguing to climb up there every Sunday, resolved to have a society and church nearer home. Accordingly, in November, 1809, the ' Onondaga Hollow Religious Society ' was organized."


Speaking of the society first formed on the Hill, he says :


" The First Presbyterian Society of Onondaga was formed on the Hill at the log tavern kept by Daniel Earll ; present, Joshua Forman, Jasper Hopper, John Ellis, Jonah Ellis, Jonas C. Baldwin, John Adams and Oliver R. Strong. The ministers previous to 1806, were : Rev. Messrs Higgins and Hely. Rev. Dirck C. Lansing was called and settled in 1806; Rev. Jabez Chadwick in 1811 ; since succeeded by Rev. Messrs. Burback, Prentiss, Bacon and Machin."


The succession of ministers since we have not been able to ascertain. Rev. O H. Seymour, pastor at the Valley, officiates also as pastor at the Hill. The church edifice still in use at the Hill was erected in 1819.


The church in the Hollow, now called the Valley.) which according to Mr. Clark was organized in November, 1809, was organized, according to the records, by the Presbytery of Geneva, N. Y, on the 20th of March, 18to. John Adams, Aaron Bellows, Nicholas Mickles, Thaddeus M. Wood and Joshua Forman were chosen Trustees. Joseph Swan was chosen Secretary. Rev. Mr. Davenport officiated as the first minister, the services being held in the school house. In November, 1810, Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, who had previously been pastor at the Hill, was called and remained in charge of the church till May, 1814. The records show that the present church building was occupied in 1815.


At the organization. March 20, 1810, the follow- ing persons were chosen and ordained Elders and Deacons :


Elders -Joseph Forman, Joseph Swan, Jason Wright, Abel Cadwell and Peter Bogardus.


Deacons .- Henry Bogardus and Aaron Bellows.


The first meeting of the Session was held April 18, 1810, and presided over by Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, afterwards the distinguished Dr. Lansing.


Some of the first members were : Joseph For- man, Judson Webb, (Elders and Deacons already given, Charlotte Hopper, Sally Mickles, Hannah Danforth, Sally Sabin, Agnes Conklin, William C. Gazley, William H. Sabin, Joseph W. Brewster, Richard Lord, Deborah Longstreet, Sarah Leaven- worth, Polly Raynor, Julia Pattison, Nicholas Mickles and John Ainsley. William H. Sabin, Esq., gave the land for the church and the academy. a beautiful, large plot.


The full list of pastors cannot be given, as the records of the church from 1831 to 1868.'9, have been lost or destroyed. Clark says Rev. Mr. Lan- sing was succeeded in the following order, by Rev. Ebenezer J. Leavenworth, Rev. Samuel T. Mills, Rev. James H. Mills, Rev. Washington Thatcher, Rev. Elijah Buck, Rev. Moses Ingalls, Rev. Abel


RESIDENCE OF GEORGE HALL. ONONDAGA. NEW YORK


GEORGE HALL.


MRS. RUTH R. HALL.


Photo. by W. V. Ranger, Syracuse.


GEORGE IIALL,


son of Shubael and Sarah Hall, was born in South Onondaga, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1805. His parents were natives from near Hartford, Conn., and were married Dec. 13, 1795. His father was born Sept. 24, 1771, and mother, Feb. 9, 1773. They emigrated to the county of Onondaga in February, 1799, being eighteen days on the road, coming on an ox-sled. They settled on the farm now owned by their sons, Shubael and George, some one-half mile south of what was formerly known as " Hall's Corners," now as " Navarino." They owned some two hundred and fifty acres of good land, which they gave to their children. They had three children,-Shubael, born in Con- necticut, Nov. 8, 1796, and came here with his parents in 1799 ; Sallie, born Sept. 16, 1800, and George, born Nov. 17, 1805, both of whom were born in Onondaga County, on the old farm. Shubael, Sr., died Feb. 27, 1826, and Mrs. Shubael IIall died March 27, 1841.


Mrs. Hall was a member of the Baptist church. In politics, Mr. Hall was a life-long Democrat. George Hall, having been reared a farmer, early learned those principles so necessary to success. He came in possession of his portion of his father's estate when he was twenty-one years of age, and to this he has kept constantly adding, until to-day he is pointed to as one of the most substantial farmers in the town.


He was married to Miss Ruth Rosette West, Dec. 25, 1827. She was born Aug. 13, 1806, in this State. They never had any children of their own, but took a boy by the name of Wesley Chrisler when he was but eight years of age; he married Miss Isabel Kent, a native of Michigan, Jan. 19, 1867, by whom two children, Ruth and Helen, were born ; he died July 29, 1874, in the thirty-seventh year of his age. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church for a great many years, doing all in their power to advance the cause of Christ by word and deed. After forty years of married life, Mrs. Hall died April 20, 1868.


The widow Christer and her two children are the only mem- bers of his family left beside himself. Mr. Hall is one of the best farmers in the county, and has some very fine farm build- ings which he has built, a view of which may be seen opposite. Mr. Hall has always been a Republican or a Whig in politics. Although bereft of his youthful companion, he seems to enjoy life well ; is hale and hearty as a man of fifty, though he is in the seventy-third year of his age.


He is one of the best men we have met in our travels through- out the town. He seems to be living with the fact ever in view that soon his Master will say, " It's enough ; come up higher."


VOLNEY KING.


MRS. VOLNEY KING.


VOLNEY KING.


Volney King, son of Thomas and Ruth King, was born Nov. 9, 1800, in Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., N. Y. He is of English origin. His father was a native of Brattleborough, V't., and was born Oct. 16, 1770, and mother a native of Pitts- town, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and was born May 12, 1777. They settled in this county in November, 1805, in Marcellus. They came to Onondaga in the spring of 1813. They were mem- bers of the Baptist church. In politics was at first a Jefferson Democrat, and then a Whig. Thomas King died July 31, 1845, at Montrose, Lee Co., Iowa, and Mrs. T. King died at Palermo, this county, March 20, 1838. At the age of seventeen Volney King commenced to learn the carpenter and joiner trade, and this, together with farming, has been his life's work. He was married to Miss Salina Chapman, daughter of Capt. Amasa Chapman, of Marcellus, May 12, 1822. Mrs. King was born Ang. 21, 1800, in Marcellus. Her father, Captain Chapman, was a native of Ashford, Conn., and his wife, Hannah Amidon, also. They settled in Marcellus in 1799, and in 1801 removed to this town. They reared six children,- three sons and three daughters. Hon. Abner Chapman, whose portrait and biography graces the pages of another part of this work, is one of their sons. Captain Chapman was very fond


of military tactics, was a school-teacher for many years, and was one of the best readers in all this part of the State, being often called upon to read the Declaration of Independence on the fourth of July. He was n robust man, and of commanding appearance.


Mr. Volney King and wife have been married for more than fifty-six years, and for more than fifty years have been bright and shining lights in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. King has been class-leader for the greater part of this time, has been steward for many years, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school; and, more than all this, he has led the singing for more than sixty years until quite recently. Mr. King and wife have reared four children, three of whom are now living, and are following in the footsteps of their agent parents. For more than fifty years Mr. King has been a strong temperance man, and it is to such men as he and Hon. Abner Chapman, and others we might mention, that publie sentiment has been rightly controlled. Of his living children, two sons, Volney L. and George Thomas, are farmers in the town of Otisco, and one daughter, Salina .1., married a Methodist Episcopal preacher by the name of Rev. Thomas Harroun, now of Binghamton, N. Y.


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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


Cutler, Rev. Mr. Howell, Rev. George H. Hulin and Rev. William W. Collins. Those of recent years have been Rev. Elijah Bush, Rev. E. S. Davis, Rev. Joseph Rosenkrans, Rev. Mr. James, Rev. James S. Baker, and Rev. Henry N. Payne. Rev. O. H. Seymour, present pastor, began his labors here in May, 1878, and is also pastor of the church on the Hill.


The present membership is about 100 ; Sunday School 90.


A lecture room has been recently added to the rear of the church building, two-stories high, 35 by 40 feet, and paid for.


The rapid growth of Syracuse absorbed for a time the life of the Valley, but new life seems now to be slowly flowing back again.


THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ONONDAGA VALLEY .- Methodist Church services were first held at the Valley in the house of Mr. A. Pattison in 1816, under the pastorate of Rev. George Densmore. The members of the first so- ciety were Rev. George Taylor, A. Pattison, Clark W. Brownell, Ezra Hoyt, Ruth Hoyt, Ada Hoyt, Moses Hoyt, Keeler Hoyt, Caleb White, Bishop White, Benjamin D. Gardner, Nelson Palmer, Jonathan Knott, Sylvester Nobb, Nathaniel Root, Sally Rich, Phebe Vroman and Alonzo Webster.


The church building was erected in or near 1825. Trustees-Rev. G. Taylor, A. Pattison and Clark W. Brownell. In 1847 a dwelling house was purchased adjoining the church lot, at a cost of about $200. Among the earliest ministers were Manly Tooker, 1823 ; Eben L. North, 1825.


The membership of the society is now 38. Valuation of church about $1,500, and parsonage about the same. Present pastor, J. J. Turton.


THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY on the Reservation Hill, town of Onondaga, was founded about 1819 or 1820, by Aaron Preston, a local preacher. The church building was not erected till some few years afterward.


The first members were Aaron Connell and wife, Thorn Dubois and wife, Mrs. Mary Barnum, John Woodward and wife, Benjamin Snow and wife, Cor- nelius Miller and wife.


The society worshiped in the school house till 1847, when the present church building was erected at a cost of about $1,600. Present membership 38. This church has been closely connected with the society at the Valley. The same preacher usually supplies both places. Present pastor, J. J. Turton.


ONONDAGA BAPTIST CHURCH .- This church is located in the southwest part of the town of Onon-


daga. Among the early settlers of this section of the country were a few brethren and sisters of the Baptist faith from different churches of the land. They were like sheep without a shepherd and literally scattered in the wilderness. Their love for their common Lord soon drew them together into prayer and conference meetings, by which they be- came better acquainted and encouraged to make an effort to raise the standard of the Lord in a perma- nent way.


On the 4th of July, 1811, a few disciples met at the log house of James Redway, in Otisco, and there formed themselves into a church conference for the purpose of becoming organized into a church as soon as practicable. April 11, 1812, they voted to call a council on the second Wednes- day in June, in order to be recognized as a Baptist Church. The council was composed as follows : Sempronius, Elder Robert Niles and Brother Enos Phillips ; Owasco, Elder Elkanah Comstock ; Aurelius, Brother S. Tucker ; Marcellus, Elder Harmon, Brethren Skeels, Hurd, Fitzgerald, Ses- sions, Kneeland and Chapman ; First Church of Onondaga, (then at Howlett Hill,) Brethren War- ren and Richmond.


The council met in Ephraim Hall's barn (now Austin G. Wyckoff's) at Navarino, and organized by choosing Elder Niles, Moderator, and Peter Warren, Clerk. After due deliberation the council voted unanimously to fellowship the conference as a Church of Jesus Christ. The number constituting the church at that time was twenty-four, prominent among whom were Sylvester Olney, Silas Church, Solomon Draper, Mrs. Sarah Hall and Sally Red- way.


The pastors of this church, in the order named, have been as follows: Rev. Elkanah Comstock, IS12, served three years ; Rev. Israel Hodge, two years ; Kev. Solomon Gardner, 1820-'29, (a period of marked prosperity for the church) ; Rev. D. D. Chittenden, 1829-'32, (94 added to the church) ; Rev. E. P. Die preached a short time in 1833 ; Rev. William Powers, 1834-'37; Rev. Mr. Holt, 1837 ; Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, 1838; Rev. N. Camp, 1839-'41 ; Rev. A. P. Howell, 1841-'43 ; Rev. Barton Capron, 1843-'49 ; Rev. A. H. Trow, 1849 -'50; Rev. L. W. Nichols, 1850-'52 ; Rev. N. Camp, (second pastorate) 1853-'55 ; Rev. H. A. Sizer, 1856-'58 ; Rev. W. H. Delano, 1859-'60 ; Rev. Daniel Reese, 1860-'64 ; Rev. Samuel Smith, 1864-'67 ; Rev. Levi Reynolds, 1867-'69 ; Rev. Jacob Smith, 1869-'72 ; Rev. L. Q. Griffin, 1872 -'76. The last named was succeeded by Rev. Charles Coon, the present pastor.


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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK


The first Deacons were Sylvester Olney and Silas Church ; then followed Aaron Case and Henry Gallaspie ; then S. Kenyon and James Rowe, Sen. Deacon James Rowe, Sen., was baptized and united with the church October 8, 1820, was chosen Clerk at the next annual meeting, and served nine years, was elected Deacon in 1830 and filled the office till the time of his death, January 7, 1873. He was an efficient and faithful member for over half a century. Born in Stillwater, Saratoga County, October 2, 1773, he came to Onondaga in 1806, was a resident of the town sixty-seven years, and all that time owned and occupied the same farm. He died in the 100th year of his age.


Among the old and earnest members of the church are E. B. Wright, Superintendent of the Sunday School; who has been a member for twenty-one years ; Lyman Gardner, who united with the church in 1822, and served as Deacon twenty six years ; James Rowe, Jr., who has served the church in the capacity of Clerk since 1852, has been a member since 1844.


The present membership of the church is 73; attendance at the Sunday School about So.


The first church edifice was erected in 1822-'23, timber and shingles being obtained from the pine woods of Dryden, now in Tompkins county. The Building Committee was David Chaffee, William Willett and James Rowe, Sen The church cost $1,300, and the dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Sylvanus Haynes, of Elbridge. The first stove used in the house was put upon the tops of the seats. In 1834 a parsonage was erected ; in 1858 sheds were built the whole length of the church lot ; in 187t the church was thoroughly re- modeled in conformity with modern style, and was rededicated November 2, Rev. H. J Eddy, D. D., uf Syracuse, preaching the sermon. The cost of repairs and refitting the church was $2,000. Building Committee-W. C. Fish, E. B. Wright and David Hunt.


FIRST M. E. CHURCH, ONONDAGA HILL .- The edifice of this church was erected in 1874 at a cost (including parsonage) of about $6,000. The Trus- tees at that time were John McClarence, Richard Cradock, Henry Raynor, Monroe Mathewson, and Cicero Fowler. All of the above Trustees now officiate, except Cicero Fowler, deceased, his place being supplied by the election of Asa Strong. The society was organized and the church built under the administration of Rev. Frederick DeWitt, who remained pastor till 1876, and was succeeded by Rev. William Curtis, who remained a little over one year, and was compelled to resign on account


of ill health. The present pastor, Rev. Abner Fancher, commenced his services in the fall of 1877. The church numbers about So ; Sunday School about 100.


METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CEDARVALE. -This church was built about 1840, and regular services have ever since been held in it. Among the carly members were R. Kenyon and wife, Vol- ney King, Ezra Lownsbury, John Evans and wife, Thomas C. Kenyon; Augustus C. Kenyon, and Alexander Browning. Among the clergymen who have officiated are Revs Messrs. Youngman, Bush, Tooke, Cowles, and the present pastor, Rev. D. WV. Sherman. The church is prosperous and has a well-attended Sunday School.


THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH at Howlett Hill was built by the Baptists, and was used by them until about 1849 or'50. The lot had been deeded to them by Leonard Caton upon condition that, when they abandoned it, it should revert to him or his heirs, which it did. Mr. Caton then deeded it to the Uni- versalist Society upon the same condition, and it was repaired and refitted by the latter. The first officiat- ing Universalist clergyman was Rev. Nelson Brown, who had preached for the society a number of years previous in the school house and who remained a long time with the society. He was succeeded by Rev. James M. McMaster, Rev. J. M. Austin, Rev. E. C. Sweetser, and other pastors of the Church in Syra- cuse. Dr. Green was the first Universalist who preached at this place, out of whose efforts grew the society. It was organized with John T. Robinson as President, and Wheeler Truesdell as Secretary, who, with John Case, B Hl. Case, J. Q. Robinson, Chas. Land, Giles Case, David Robinson, Eliphas Case and Eusephus Lawrence, were prominent in its or- ganization and maintenance. The society at pres- ent numbers about twenty.


The church has been occupied by the Episco- palians for about three years, being supplied by clergymen from Marcellus, who hold services nearly every Sunday afternoon.


THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SOUTH ONONDAGA. - This Church was organized about the year 1816. Among the first prominent members were Wilson Newman, Phebe Bradley, Volney King, Salina King his wife, Joseph O. Seeley, Ros- well Kenyon, Francis Hamilton and Sterling Cole. The first meetings were held in the school house on the " corner."


The church was supplied by itinerant preachers, among whom were Eben L. North (now postmas- ter at the village,) Father Aylesworth, Elder Puffer, Rev. John P. Newman, (now pastor of the Metro-


-


MRS REBECCA WYCKOFF


AUSTIN G WYCKOFF


RESIDENCE or AUSTIN G.WYCKOFF, NAVARINO. N Y


28 1


HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


politan Church at Washington, D. C.) In 1827, a church edifice was built by the united efforts of the Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, and Universalist Societies, and was occupied alternately by them. About the year 1837, the present Methodist Epis- copal house of worship was built at a cost of $1,600. Rev. Dr. Bowen preached the dedication sermon. It is a plain brick structure, of the modern style of architecture, and has a seating capacity of about three hundred. The first trustees of the new church were Wilson Newman, Volney King and Leonard Hodgkins. The pulpit was supplied as before by itinerant clergymen. For the past twelve years the church has had resident pastors. The present pastor is Rev. D. W. Sherman ; present membership 80 ; attendance at Sunday School about 100 ; Superintendent of the Sunday School, Charles Quick. The present Trustees are Leonard Hodgkins, Moses M. Dwelle and Wm. L. Fisk.


Several members of this church have gone forth into the world and occupied prominent and useful positions. Mary Seeley went forth as a missionary to China ; Rachel C. Newman is Preceptress of Cazenovia Seminary ; Rev. E. Lansing Newman is now pastor of the North Street Church at Roches- ter, New York. This is the only church organiza- tion at South Onondaga and the only church in which regular divine services have been held for several years past.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


JARED W. PARSONS,


Son of Jared and Electa Parsons, was born May 22, 1820, in Otisco, Onondaga County, N. Y. His father was the son of Noah and Sarah Parsons, and was born in West Hampton, Mass., April 10, 1783, and settled in this county at Otisco, in 1802. He married Miss Electa Wales, of West Hampton, Mass., in the spring of 1807, by whom he had four children. Miss E. Wales, now Mrs. Jared Parsons, Sr., was born in 1785. Jared Parsons, Sr., held several important offices in Otisco, such as Loan Com., Justice of the Peace, and Supervisor. In 1843 he removed to South Onondaga, where he continued to live with the subject of this sketch till his death, which occurred May 29. 1866, in the eighty-third year of his age. His wife was a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church at Otisco. She died March 17, 1863, in the 78th year of her age.


In politics, Mr. Parsons was first a Whig, and then a Republican upon the organization of the lat- ter party.


Jared W. Parsons, is of English origin ; his forefathers came from England at a very early period and settled at Windsor, Conn., and removed thence to Springfield, and from thence to North- ampton, Mass. He continued to live with his pa- rents till their death, and then came in possession of the " old homestead," by paying the heirs their proportion. The farm in the town of Onondaga contained at first some three hundred acres, and to this he has added one hundred more, making him one of the largest farmers in the town. He has a fine home ; the buildings are all good and his land is in a fine state of cultivation.


Mr. Parsons was married to Miss Rachel M. Swan, of Fabius, Sept. 29, 1840. Mrs. Parsons was born June 9, 1821, and died October 8, 1874. She was a worthy and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Parsons were born five children, viz : Almira, Electa A., Rose E., Jared Ives and Nellie C. Parsons. In politics, Mr Parsons has always affiliated with the Republican party since its organization. He has been twice Supervisor of his town, and has always been in favor of good schools. Though not a mem- ber of any church, he contributes to the support of the one in his neighborhood. He is now in very poor health, and to his only son, Jared Ives, he has given the control of the "old homestead."


A. G. WYCKOFF.


Among the many men whose names appear upon the page of local history, none is more highly respec- ted by his neighbors than the subject of this sketch. He is the son of Jonathan and Sarah Wyckoff and was born April II, 1813, at Charleston, Montgom- ery County, N. Y., and immigrated to this county, in company with his parents, in 1815, and settled near Skaneateles. He was reared a farmer and continued to work for his father till he was thirty-two years of age, receiving $100 a year after his majority. Dur- ing this time he was married to Miss Rebecca Eg- gleston, of Skaneateles, October 9, 1839. She was born April 3, 1818, in Skaneateles. Her parents settled there in 1801. Mr. and Mrs. Wyckoff have reared four children, namely, Helen A., Jonathan, Austanie R., and Austin G., Jr., all of whom lived to be men and women. Helen A. died July 18, 1865. In 1845, Mr. Wyckoff settled in the town of Onondaga, on the place he now owns. He has




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