History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 64

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

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EDWARD JOHNSON, of Fayetteville, has a Pearl Barley Mill at Marcellus Falls.

MASONIC.

Morning Star Lodge No. 524, Marcellus, N. Y., in- stituted in 1862. Charter officers, E. P. Howe, W. M .; Henry C. Sarr, S. W .; John E. North, J. W. Officers for 1878: I. N. Sherman, W. M. ; R. E. Dorchester, S. W. ; Augustus Austin, J. W. ; Seth D. Gilbert, Sec.

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Y. M. C. A .- CHURCHES.

In the month of June, 1876, seven young men of Marcellus met and started a Sunday afternoon prayer meeting in a room over Irving Moses' store. The meetings were regularly attended with gratify- ing success. The increase of their numbers and the good influences arising from their holy work in- duced them to organize themselves into a perma- nent body for the purpose of accomplishing greater results. Accordingly, a Young Men's Christian Association was formed, on the 11th of February, 1876, at the Session Room of the Presbyterian Church of Marcellus, with a membership of twenty- two persons. A constitution was adopted on the 18th of February, and a meeting appointed on the 21st of February for the election of officers. At the annual meeting of the Association, February, 7, 1877, there were forty-three active members.

The work of the Association consists in holding gospel meetings, at different places in the town, and in Sunday School work. A Sunday morning Prayer Meeting is held at 9:30 A. M., which is doing noble work.

FIRST CHURCH OF MARCELLUS .- This church has been from its organization Presbyterian in its ecclesiastical relations, and at the same time Con- gregational in its internal policy and arrangement, having for the management of its affairs a standing committee instead of a regular church session. Its membership has been made up of different denom- inations, but chiefly of l'resbyterians and Congre- gationalists, who constituted the controlling religious element in the early settlement of Marcellus. There were a few Baptists and people of other religious proclivities among them ; but at the time of the first settlement, and for twenty years after- wards, they were sufficiently united practically to combine their strength and resources in providing for a common religious worship ; and on the 13th of October, 1801, they formed a church under the simple yet comprehensive title, "Church of Christ." A society was also formed under the name and style of the " Trustees of the Eastern Religious Society of Marcellus " in May, 1802, of which Dan Bradley, Martin Cossit, James C. Miller, Martin Goddard, Thomas North and Nathaniel Kelsey were Trustees.

Materials for a house of worship were set up at auction, and among the bidders were nearly all the inhabitants of the town at that time. The edifice was completed in 1803, and was the first church building in the County of Onondaga. "By way of renown it was then remarked that it was the only meeting house between New Hartford, Oneida

County, and the Pacific Ocean, which was literally the fact."

Rev. Seth Williston was missionary here in I Soo, and subsequently Rev. Caleb Alexander, who offi- ciated in organizing the society.

Among the original members of the church were the following named persons : Thomas, Mary, Lucy, Asahel and Hannah North, Thomas North, Jr., Samuel and Hannah Rice, James C. and Sarah Miller, Martin and Olive Cossit. Dan and Eunice Bradley, Samuel and Phebe Wheadon, Caleb Todd, and Thomas Cathcart.

Before the erection of the church edifice services were regularly held in Deacon Samuel Rice's tavern. At whatever inconvenience to themselves and to the throng of travelers stopping with them, Deacon and Mrs. Rice would have their large upper room made ready every Sabbath for the worship of God. And though the good Deacon could not write a sermon himself, he could read one with more eloquence of heart and voice than many a minister.

James C. Miller was the first clerk, and served the church for five years. To show his frank and honest Christian character, we insert the following passage entire from his records :

" Whereas, I did sometime in the month of April last suffer a few of the young people of my neigh- borbood to dance a short time at my house, which I now believe was, under existing circumstances, wrong and inconsistent with my engagement with this church ; 1 do therefore request my brethren charitably to believe that the offense was unpre- meditated, that it took place under circumstances not affording much opportunity for reflection, and that I had not the least intention to wound the feel- ings of any of my Christian friends, or to offend against the rules of the church. I now sincerely, and, I hope, humbly, confess that I have done wrong, have given occasion of offense to my breth- ren of this church and have dishonored my Chris- tian profession. I ask the forgiveness of this church and all my Christian friends, and for the future will endeavor to be more circumspect in my walk. [Signed,] JAS. C. MILLER."

Mr. Miller died in March, 1807, from an attack of typhus fever.

Of the eighteen original members only three ever removed their connection with the church. One of these died under 50 years of age, four be- tween 60 and 70, and four over So. Within the last seven years only ten members have died ; of these, eight were over 80 and one 73 years of age.

Pastors .- Rev. Levi Parsons, the first pastor, was born in North Hampton, Mass, in 1779, and graduated at Williams College in 1801. He studied theology with Dr. Hyde. of Lee, Mass., and was

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

licensed to preach at Stockbridge, Mass., in 1806. As Missionary of the Berkshire Missionary Society, he visited the new settlements westward as far as Niagara, and settled at Marcellus in ·September, 1806. He was the second pastor in this whole region of country-Pompey having one (Rev. Mr. Wallace) a little eariier. He preached at Marcel- lus thirty-three years, except an interval of two years spent in Otisco. He died, widely known and respected, November 20, 1864, aged 85 years.

While Father Parsons was preaching in Otisco, Rev. Levi Griswold supplied his place.

The second settled pastor was Rev. John Tomp- kins, who served the church twenty-five years. What was to have been his quarter-centennial an- niversary was suddenly and mysteriously changed to his funeral service.

His successor, Rev. W. S. Franklin, of Syracuse, was pastor during a period of three years, and was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Dwight Scovel, who is now (1878) in the seventh year of his pastorate.

The original church edifice, erected in 1803, cost $1,500, including, perhaps, painting three years afterwards. In 1814 another bent was added and a steeple, and the house was newly painted at an ex- pense of $4,500, raised by selling the pews. In 1858, it was frescoed and painted ; and immediate- ly preceding the 75th anniversary, in October, 1876, it received a tin roof, was painted without and new- ly frescoed which, with a new pulpit and furni- ture and the liquidation of all debts, cost $1,600.

In 1845 the church numbered 162; in 1857, it was reduced by deaths and removals to 130; the revivals of 1858-'59, increased the membership to 170, the highest number ever attained. It fell afterwards to 144, and now (1878) numbers 149.

The Sunday School was organized June 14, 1818, and soon numbered 146 scholars. It was among the first Sunday Schools in the United States, a few only having been previously formed in New England. From the first it was carried on with deep interest, especially in memorizing Scripture ; several scholars committed in one year 1,000 verses each, and Dr. Franklin Bangs 3,000. The present number of scholars is 178 ; teachers, 19.

The church has furnished two missionaries to foreign countries, viz : Rev. Dan Bradley, Jr., for many years a missionary to Siam, and Rev. Geo. Todd, a returned missionary and now pastor at Arkport, N. Y. Also, as home ministers, Rev. Levi Parsons, D. D., son of the first pastor, settled at Mt. Morris, N. Y .; Rev. J. Edward Close, of Jordan, and Rev. James S. Baker, of Onondaga.

FIRST BAPTIST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF MARCEL- LUS-Located at Thorn Hill. At the time the church was organized it was called South Marcellus. The date of organization was September 1, 1815, at which 101 members constituted the Society. John Kneeland and Nathan Thompson, Deacons. Among the leading members were Samuel Conklin, Amasa Kneeland, Daniel Cody, Joshua Chandler, Amasa Sissons, Luther Manley, Salmon Hunt, John Hunt and David Fitzgerald. The first meeting-house was built in 1816, and stood a few rods southwest of the present edifice. The present edifice was completed in 1849-cost about $1,500. The fol- lowing have been pastors of the church : Rev. Elias Harman, 1808-'16; Rev. Salmon Morton, 1816-'19 ; Rev. J. B. Worden, 1810-'35 ; Rev. B. W. Capron, 1835-'40 ; Rev. Thos. Brown, 1840-'48 ; Rev. - Palmer, 1848-'50 ; Rev. Sylvester Gard- ner, 1850-'51 ; Rev. William Wilkins, 1851-'52 ; Rev. J. Baldwin, 1853-'54 ; Rev. A. Milen, 1855-'56 ; Rev. Hiram 'Powers, 1856-'59 ; Rev. Mr. Bowen, one month -died here, 1859 ; Rev. J. Suley, 1859-'60; Rev. Wm. Roney, 1860-'64 ; Rev. E. B. Hatch, 1864-'69; Rev. Wm. L. Goodspeed, 1870-'74 ; Rev. Wm. Haw, 1874-'76 ; Rev. P. Perry, 1877, present pastor.

Membership, 94 ; Sunday School, 112.

FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MAR- CELLUS .- The earliest meetings were held in a school-house in Marcellus ; afterwards, in the year 1816, in the house of Mr. David Holmes. The Society was not organized into a corporate body till Dec. 8, 1823, at the house of Stephen Cobb. The first class was formed in 1816 with sixteen mem- bers. The following persons were members of that class : David Holmes and wife, Temperance Holmes, Matilda Holmes, Susan Holmes, Thomas Pryor and wife, Joseph Gilson, Isaac B. Benham and wife, Polly Shepherd, Silas Bush and wife, John Rhoades and wife, and a Mrs. Hawley. The first church was built of stone, on the hill west of the village, the place now occupied by the Catholic Church as a cemetery. The second church was built of stone on the spot now occupied as a residence by Dr. Richards. The third church edifice was built of brick, in the year 1857, on the site of the present church. This edifice was burned January 25, 1877, and the present new and beautiful church was built the same year the former was destroyed by fire, at a cost of about $11,000, the stone of the old church forming the basement. This Society has been con- tinuously served by good and devoted pastors. From 1875 to 1878, Rev. Wm. Jones was pastor.

The present membership is about 200. Sunday

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

School has a membership of 150. Several mem- bers of this church have gone forth as ministers of the Gospel.

This Church was organized in 1823, under the name of " First Zion Society of Marcellus," while its members were Methodists, and the Society con- tinucd to regard itself-and was regarded by others -as a Methodist Church.

The name of the corporation was changed in September, 1877, on application to Judge Riegel, from " The First Zion Society of Marcellus," to " The First Methodist Episcopal Church."

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH, MARCELLUS .- In the year 1853, the first services of the Catholic Church in Marcellus, were held at the house of John McNally. The church was organized in 1854, and consisted of about twenty members, among whom were John McNally, John Glover, Patrick Mc Laughlin, John Kerwin, Michael Curtin, John Mc Donnell, Jeremiah Curtin and James McNally.

In 1853, Rev. Michael Haes, of Syracuse, was pastor. The following have since officiated : Rev. Wm. McCallian, 1854; Rev. Father Butler, Syra- cuse, 1862 ; Rev. F. J. Purcell, Skaneateles, 1873 ; Rev. J. J. Hayden, resident pastor, 1874 ; Rev. B. J. McDonough, present pastor, (1878 )

The number of families is about one hundred and fifty, with an attendance of one hundred at the Sunday School.

The pastoral residence was purchased in 1873. The church from the first has experienced an en- couraging and prosperous growth.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH OF MARCELLUS .- The facts contained in the following brief sketch of this church, have been kindly furnished by Mr. John H. Lloyd, present assistant in charge.

This church was organized in the year 1824. Meetings were regularly held in the school house of the village of Marcellus until 1827, when Mr. White generously gave the society the lot upon which the present church building stands. The

church was unfortunately burned down in the winter of 1867. Up to the year 1836, the society had no resident clergymen, but was in charge of St. James Church of Skaneateles.

The present church edifice was built under the charge of Rev. Robert M. Duff, Rector of St. James Church at Skaneateles, at a cost of $3,300 It is a plain wooden structure capable of seating comfort- ably about 250 persons, and has a fine organ valued at $600. The church is under the charge of St. Andrew's Associate Mission of Syracuse ; Rev. C. P. Jennings, Dean of St. Andrews, Rector ; Mr. John H. Lloyd, assistant in charge.

The present church officers are, viz : S. W., Newton G. Case; J. W., Lucius Moses ; Vestry- men, Orlando Beach, Myron H. Whiting, Dan Moses, Storms M. Griffin, Willis Case, Thad. C. Beach, James C. Sayre and Edwin Whitney. The church numbers forty families, forty communicants, Sunday School scholars, thirty-four ; teachers, six.

In connection with the history of the churches of Marcellus, we append the following brief sketch of the Methodist Chapel at Marcellus Falls.

The first Methodist class of the town of Mar- cellus was organized at Marcellus Falls. When the subject of building a church was agitated, the members at Marcellus Falls claimed that it should be located at Marcellus Falls, but the members residing at the village maintained that it ought to be built at Marcellus, because of its more central location. For some time there has not been a regular class. Services have, however, been held by the Methodist and Presbyterian ministers who preached alternately at least once a fortnight. A Sunday School and a prayer meeting have been regularly held and supported by the members of both Methodist and Presbyterian churches. A ladies sewing circle keeps in repair the commodious chapel and furnishes books for the Sunday School library and the choir, for which they have recently purchased a fine cabinet organ. -

SKANEATELES.

Skaneateles is the southern town on the west line of the county, and derives its name from the lake on both banks of which the southern portion of the town is situated. This lake is a beautiful sheet of water, extending from the northwestern corner of Cortland county, along the entire western boundary of the town of Spafford, and north to the center of

the town of Skaneateles. Its Indian name, according to some, signified " very long lake," according to others, " beautiful squaw." The outlet was called " Hananttoo," meaning " water running through thick hemlocks."

The town of Skaneateles was formed from Mar- cellus February 26, 1830. The surface is rolling

RESIDENCE OF THE LATE JULIUS EARLL, SKANEATELES, NEW YORK

Photo, by Wildey, Skaneateles.

JUDGE HEZEKIAH EARLL.

The Earll family is of Welsh origin. The Earlls emigrated from Wales to Nova Scotia at quite an early day ; from thence were scattered in the different parts of New England, and in the eastern part of New York State, near Lake Champlain.

Daniel Earll came from Whitehall, Washington county, and settled at Onondaga Hollow in the year 1792. He had eight sons, hardy, enterprising men, who settled in different parts of the county, and became a powerful family in their many branches. The Earlls were generally farmers, owning consider- able land.

In the winter of 1794-5, Robert Earll and his brother, Abijah, came and settled on Lot 27, near Skaneateles. They did a good deal at a very early day for the opening of this region.

Robert Earll probably had a school opened before any in the village. He built at first a log house, but afterwards, though still at a very early day, the land-mark long known as the old " Red House." This was on the old Genesee road. It was by this road that a pathway was first opened to Skaneateles, and by it the earlier settlers came.

Daniel Earll, Sr., remained in the town of Onondaga until 1810, and after that lived near his sons Robert and Abijah until his death, which occurred in 1817, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Robert Earll had six sons, one of whom, Hezekiah, is the subject of the above sketch.

Hezekiah Earll was born about the year 1790. He has identified himself with the history of Onondaga County as one of its most successful business men. He was universally respected and beloved for his moral worth, manly virtues, and integrity of character. He engaged in many business enter- prises, though his principal occupation was farming. The latter years of his life he resided at the " Community Farm," about three miles from Skaneateles, where he died October 30, 1863.

He was for some years connected with the Auburn Exchange bank, and was at one time its president.

Judge Nehemiah H. Earll, eldest brother of Hezekiah Earll, has occupied several important stations in the official history of the county. Judge of Onondaga County common pleas from 1823 to 1831, superintendent of Salt Springs from 1831 to 1835, and member of the Twenty-sixth congress, 1841 and 1842.

Hezekiah Earll had seven children, three of whom died in infancy. His son, George H. Earll, at the death of his father inherited the homestead known as the " Community Farm," and was an enterprising and successful farmer. He died in 1873.

Julius Earll, eldest son of Hezekiah Earll, was born in the town of Skaneateles in 1818. In his youth he received a thorough academic education, and subsequently studied law in the office of Sandford & Moseley, and afterwards with Sherwood & Green, in Buffalo, and was admitted to the bar in due course of time. Instead of pursuing the practice of law he entered into the manufacturing business and was prominently identi- fied with that and other business interests which were uniformly successful. His life was a remarkably busy one. Strong common sense and unfaltering energy were his marked charac- teristics. He was a true and substantial friend to the working- men of Skaneateles and vicinity. Mr. Earll was also promi- nently identified with political affairs in Onondaga County. In politics he was a pronounced Democrat. He several times represented his district in State conventions, but never con- sented to accept a political office. At the time of his death he was president and principal stockholder of the Hart street paper company. He died, July 26, 1876, while still in middle age and in the midst of an active and prosperous life.

He left a widow, a son, and daughter, who still reside in Skan- cateles, his son being Julius II. Earll, of that placc.

RASOIR STRACHRI

MRS. A.J. EARLE

117.11

RESIDENCE OF A . J. EARLL. SKANEATEL,

PHOTO. BY W V RANCER SYRACUSE

A.J. EARLL.

ONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

or moderately hilly, and from the lake slopes beau- tifully upwards to a height from two to five hundred feet, affording, on both borders, some of the most beautiful sites for residences in the State, many of which are occupied by fine cottages and villas. The soil is principally a clay loam. The only stream in the town is the outlet of the lake, which has upon it numerous falls, furnishing an abundance of water . power. In 1840, a part of Spafford was annexed to this town.

The State has constructed a dam across the out- let of the Lake for the purpose of retaining the water for the Jordan level of the Erie Canal. This forms a vast reservoir, eighteen miles long by from one to two miles broad and four feet deep, from which to draw during the dry season. Formerly, before the State improvements on the limestone bed of the stream, some three miles north of the village, in dry seasons, fully one half of the water used to disappear in the fissures of the rocks. In order to save the water the State has expended large sums of money. The channel has been turned and the bottom chinked with small stone, clay and grout, so that, since this was done, there has been but little waste. The lake is the highest in the county, some two hundred feet higher than Otisco and one hun- dred higher than Owasco, on either side of it. It is situated among the shale above the limestone stratum, and is mainly fed by springs which are not impregnated with lime : hence the water is pure, soft and limpid, and has been highly valued by manu- facturers for washing and cleansing wool and other manufacturing materials.

EARLY SETTLERS.

According to Clark's Onondaga, the settlers in this town came in as follows : John Thompson, the first white man, with his family, within the present limits of the town, in 1793; a Mr. Robinson in 1794 ; from this till 1796, Lovell Gibbs, Jonathan Hall and Winston Day. Mr. Gibbs kept the first tavern in a log house. In 1797, and soon after, came Warren Hecox, James Porter, Dr. Munger, Dr. Samuel Porter, Elnathan Andrews, John Legg, Moses Loss, John Briggs, Nathan Kelsey, Wm. J. Vredenburg, Isaac Sherwood and Dr. Benedict. Then came the Kelloggs and Earlls, from 1802 to 1810.

Daniel Earll, with his brother Nehemiah, came from Washington County and settled at Onondaga Hollow, in 1792. Nehemiah, who had one daugh- ter, died in 1808. Daniel Earll had the following named sons, viz : Jonas, Daniel, Nathaniel, Robert, Benjamin, Watson, Nehemiah and Abijah. The two youngest, Nehemiah and Abijah, came to Onon-

daga with their father. Robert and Benjamin removed with their families to Onondaga in the winter of 1794-5, and remained there about a year. Afterwards, Robert, Benjamin, Watson and Abijah removed to Marcellus ; Robert and Abijah settled on Lot No. 27, and the other two on Lot No. 11, in the same town.

In 1802, Jonas Earll came from Washington County and settled on Lot No. 19, Marcellus. He had three sons-Solomon, Jonas, Jr., and David. Solomon died many years ago. Jonas, Jr., died in October, 1846, and Jonas, Sen., in October, 1847, at the advanced age of 96 Jonas Earll, Jr., was one of the leading political men of the county for more than twenty years, and held many important offices of trust. He was a member of Assembly in 1820 and 1821, and Senator from 1822 to 1827, a member of the XXth and XXIst Congresses, from 1826 to 1830, for several years Sheriff of the County and Postmaster at Syracuse from 1837 to 1841.

Robert Earll had six sons, viz : Isaac, Robert, Nehemiah H., lIezekiah, Hiram and Ira. Robert, Sen., died in 1834, and his son Ira about the same time. The other sons remained residents of the county, except Robert Jr, who removed to Wyom- ing county. Judge Nehemiah H. Earll occupied several important stations in the official history of the county. He was Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas from 1823 to 1831 ; Superintendent of the Salt Springs from 1831 to 1835, and Member of the XXVIth Congress, in 1841 and 1842.

Daniel Earll, Sen., remained in the town of On- ondaga till 1810, when he removed to Marcellus (now Skaneateles) and lived near his sons Robert and Abijah until his death, which occurred in 1817, aged 88. This numerous and influential family were of Massachusetts origin.

Charles Pardee is said to have been the first white child born in the town of Skaneateles. He died at his residence in the village of Skaneateles, April 10, 1878, aged 82 years, which would make his birth to have occurred in 1796. He was a prominent man, and during his active business life was thoroughly identified with nearly every interest of his native town.

One of the most distinguished citizens of the county, viz : Daniel Kellogg, Esq., became a resi- dent of Skaneateles in the spring of 1803. He was born in Williamstown, Mass., April 19, 1780. After spending two years as a student in Williams College, he studied law in the office of Abraham Van Vechten, Esq, of Albany, and was admitted to the Bar in October, 1800. In 1801, he began

42*

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the practice of law in the village of Auburn, then a hamlet of only a few scattering houses. In 1802 he married in that place Miss Laura Hyde, and in 1803, removed to Skaneateles. Ile soon became famous both as a lawyer and financier. In 1813 he was appointed District-Attorney for the counties of Onondaga, Cayuga, Chenango and Cortland, and clischarged the duties of the office with signal ability for three years. Elected President of the Bank of Auburn in 1818, he held that important financial station till his death, which occurred May 4. 1836. Cut off in the full vigor of his mental powers, when many years of active usefulness might have reasonably been anticipated, his death was regarded as a public calamity, especially by business men who knew and could appreciate his worth.

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History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 64

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

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