History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 74

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

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After the fire the Chapter was rechartered at the same time as Seneca River Lodge.

ODD-FELLOWSHIP.

In the year 1845, Hon. Daniel T. Jones, O. B. llerrick, Charles Il. Weed, John W. Smith and William A. Wilson, qualified themselves to organize Mohegan Lodge, No. 129, I. O. O. F. The lodge was organized with the following officers :

Daniel T. Jones, N. G .; Charles HI. Weed, V. G. ; John W. Smith, Secretary ; William A. Wilson, Treasurer.

The first meetings were held in a room in the old Seneca Hotel ; afterwards suitable rooms were fitted up in the "old brick store," which were occupied till 1874, in which year the hall in the Union Hall Block was fitted up. The new lodge room was dedicated by the Rt. Worthy Grand Master, John W. Stebbins, assisted by Hon. Schuyler Colfax.

In 1850, the Lodge was renumbered 33. Later the Lodge received its present number, 29. The

original Lodge consisted of six, who were all charter members. There have been received by initiations and otherwise 433 members, and its present membership is 95.

The names of the present officers are as follows : John McGonegal, N. G .; Miles Smith, V. G .; R. Richardson, Treas .: John F. Genung, Sec'y ; James Bolton, l'erm. Secy.

JUDGE OTIS BIGELOW was born in Worcester, Mass , Feb. 1, 1785. His father, Asahel Bigelow, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution.

Judge Bigelow graduated at Balston Spa Acad- emy, in Saratoga County, at an early age, and soon after commenced the study of law. At the break- ing out of the last war with England in 1812, young Bigelow joined the volunteer militia of Saratoga county and vicinity. and marched to Sackett's Har- bor and served one year. In the spring of 1813 he came from there to Baldwinsville and commenced the business of a merchant, and continued in that business successfully until 1863. At that time and for a number of years previous, he was the oldest merchant in the county.

On the 27th of December, 1813, he was married to Miss Mary Payne, of Fort Miller, by whom he had ten children, five of whom survive him. Judge Bigelow was appointed a Justice of the Peace in March, 1821, and acted as such for many years. He had a clear knowledge of the principles of law-as a proof of which, his opinions and advice were, until within the last ten years previous to his death, very often sought by persons involved, or about to be involved in litigation.

He was the third Postmaster at Baldwinsville, appointed in 1828, and remained such for twelve successive years, under the administrations of Presi- dents Jackson and Van Buren. In 1828 he was appointed Judge of Onondaga County, and held that office ten years. In 1831, he was elected a member of the Assembly for this county.

His golden wedding was duly celebrated Decem- ber 27, 1863. His religious views were those of the Presbyterian order, and he was a regular attend- ant of that church, although not a member, from its organization in Baldwinsville, until disabled by his final sickness, and died in the faith of the Gospel. As a merchant and man of business, he was remark- ably shrewd and successful, and was at the time of his decease one of the wealthiest men in the county. No man was more energetic, untiring and system- atic in business. He was a good financier, of sound judgment in matters of business and of strong common sense ; true, he was strict in exacting what was his due, but exceedingly lenient toward those

PHOTO BY SKINNER FULTON

FREDERICK W FENNER

Prom . WY RANGEP STRACUSE

MAS ELLEN S. FERNER

RESIDENCE OF MRS. F. W. FENNER, LYSANDER, ONONDAGA CO. NEW YORK

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

who were unfortunate and unable to pay. His for- tune was not acquired by speculation, nor any sudden investment ; his gains were sure and constant. In short, he was an honorable man, and honored, re- spected and esteemed by those who knew him best.

PLAINVILLE,

Originally called Wilson's Corners, is a small village in the western part of the town of Lysander. William Wilson, Sen., was the first settler in 1806. Around him were settled A. B. Scofield, Silas Sco- field, Simon Town and David Carroll, in 1810. In 1813, came Peter Voorhees, who died in 1816, and his son, Col. J. L. Voorhees, who became promi- nent in the neighborhood, and noted as a man of large business enterprises in Baldwinsville and Syra- cuse. Abram Daily, Marvin Adams, and Ruleph Schenck, father of Dr. B. B. Schenck, settled in the neighborhood in 1815, or near that date, and John Bratt, in 1816.

A postoffice was established here in 1821. At that time the settlers suggested the name of " Farm- ersville," but there being a postoffice already of that name, Plainville was given by the Department. A weekly mail was received at that time, passing from the village of Camillus to Lysander and back. The office was at first kept by Mr. Stoddard a mile and a half south of Plainville. Following him as Postmasters were Simon Town, John Buck, Dr. B. B. Schenck, Lyman Norton, Esq., and Dr. B. B. Schenck, again, in 1862, who is present Post- master.

The first schools were taught in log houses in the vicinity ; the first school house being erected in 1819, in which Amos Adams was the first teacher, and Samuel Richards his successor. The school is District No. 5, town of Lysander. It has now two departments, employing one teacher in each, and a brick school house which was erected in 1874. A second frame school house was also built for the district in 1841, but gave place to the new brick building.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, Plainville, originated in the labors of Eld. Obediah E. Morrill, and was organized in 1820. Elder Morrill continued about twenty years to minister to his flock and was suc- ceeded by Eld. E. J. Reynolds for about seven or eight years, who was followed by Elders A. E Doty and John C. Waggoner ; the latter died in 1852. The church edifice (frame) was built in 1831; burnt April, 1852 ; replaced in 1854 by present brick structure. For the past nine years services have continued uninterruptedly. Present pastor Rev. Ezra McAlpine.

Dr. B. B. Schenck has controlled the medical practice here for thirty-nine years, up to June, 1876, when he gave place to Richard B. Sullivan, M. D., a graduate of New York Homeopathic Medical College.

Plainville has one dry goods store (started in 1830,) one blacksmith and wagon shop (1833) and one shoemaker's shop.

MEMORANDA OF THE WILSON FAMILY .- The present William Wilson belongs to the third gene- ration of William Wilsons, who have lived at " Wilson's Corners," now Plainville. William Wil- son, the grandfather, who was a Christian preacher, came here from Vermont in 1806, when his son, who was known as William Wilson, Sen., was ten years of age. The latter was married twice-first, April 14, 1816, to Polly Shepherd, by whom he had three children who lived to maturity, two of whom are still living. His first wife died December, 1825, and he married July 4, 1826, Hannah Clyne, for his second wife, by whom he had eight children, his oldest son and name-sake, William, is his suc- cessor on the old homestead, where he was born July 3, 1828, and has acquired the reputation of one of the most energetic and successful farmers in this section of country.

FREDERICK W. FENNER .- Born in Pompey, N. Y., in 1811 ; came to Lysander with his father's family when six years of age ; married June 26, 1834, to Miss Ellen S. Schenck, of Lysander, daughter of Ruleph and Elisie Schenck, and sister of B. B. Schenck, M. D., of Plainville. The fruit of this marriage was six children, four of whom survive, and two are deceased-the oldest and the youngest child. The youngest son living remains on the place with his mother. One daughter is en- gaged in teaching in the public schools in Carroll- ton, Ill. Sarah E. Fenner, another daughter, mar- ried S. A. Vedder, and resides in the same city. Mr. Fenner died February 24, 1875, suddenly of pneumonia which was epidemic at that time. He purchased a farm in the town of Lysander where he built a fine residence, and added largely to the amount of land and improvements, leaving behind him at his death one of the finest farm properties in this region of country, as a lasting monument to his industry and excellent taste. He has also left evidences of his moral worth, having been a promi- nent temperance man, and largely identified with the educational interests of his town. He was its first School Superintendent, appointed by the Governor, and also held the office of Town Clerk for one term. As a devoted, earnest advocate of reform and friend to the poor, Mr. Fenner had few superiors,

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and he has left behind him a record eminently worthy of emulation.

Their eldest son, James B, resides in Delphi, in this county, where he is engaged in mercantile business

LYSANDER.

Lysander, a small unincorporated village situated on lots 43 and 44, eight miles northwest of Bald- winsville, and four and one-half miles west of Lam- son's Station on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. It was first settled about the year 1810-'11, and went by the name of Vickery's Settlement, a family or two by that name having located here. About the year 1817, Chauncey Betts, and his brother-in law, Mr. Skinner, located here and set up a store and built and carried on a small distillery, and a potash manufactory. A few years later his brother, Jared Betts, moved in, and their father, Nathan Betts, a Revolutionary pen- sioner, who lived to the advanced age of ninety- four years. At this time it began to be called Bett's Corners, and went by that name until a post- office was established ; they then gave it the name of Lysander, which name it retains to the present day.

The village now contains about seventy dwell- ing houses, two churches, Methodist and Congrega- tional, two stores, general merchandise, kept by L. W. & I. E. Connell and W. C. Winchel & Co., a hardware store and tin shop combined, kept by Britton & Wooster, a blacksmith shop, two wagon shops, a hotel kept by Elijah Lake, a shoe shop, harness shop, two millinery shops, two physicians, (George McCarthy, located in 1846 ; Leslie Martin, located in 1867 ;) a foundry and a churn factory.

Among the earlier merchants was Chas. Royce, who held the office of Justice of the Peace ; Dr. George Morley, who was also a Justice of the Peace, later was succeeded by John Halsted : also Jos. P. Bunn, Clark Berry and Richard L. Smith, who was elected about 1857, and has continued in office to the present time. Cornelius C. Hubbard moved in from Montgomery County at an early day, set up a store, and held the office of Postmaster. Among those that have held the office since were Chauncey Betts, Willard P. Bump, George A. Allen, Barclay Wooster, H. W. Andrews, William Culun, Rich- ard L. Smith, Sara C. Winchel, who holds the office at the present time.

Others of the earlier settlers were Richard Smith, Richard Lusk, Grover Buel, Abram Van Doren, John Slauson, George W. Brown, Isaac and Alfred Smith, who were successful farmers.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF LYSANDER. The first church was organized here on the 19th of October. 1820, by the Rev. John Davenport, and called " The Second Presbyterian Church of Lysander." It then consisted of nine members : W'm. Townsend, Aaron F. Vedder, Margaret Saf- ford, Harvey Smith, Altie Voorhees, Thos. Ambler, Catherine Ambler, Henry Perine and Charlotte Smith. Meetings were held in the school house and at the residences of individuals in the neigh- borhood. The ministers that officiated at that time were Rev. S. V. Barnes, Rev. Mr. Cushman, Rev. Horatio Lombard, Rev. Mr. Clark, Rev. Mr. Bogue, Rev. Asahel Bronson and Rev. E. C. Beach.

On the first of March, 1828, the " First Protest- ant Reformed Dutch Church" was organized by the Rev. James Stevenson. Aaron F. Vedder and David L. Relyea were chosen Elders, and Alonzo North and George Curtis, Deacons. They, to- gether with the Presbyterian Church, erected a church for their joint use and occupancy, which was the first church erected in this vicinity. This jointure did not work smoothly, and was not produc- tive of the results anticipated by its founders, and in the year 1833, the Presbyterians erected a house of worship of their own, and the Rev. Ebenezer C. Beach was settled as pastor Jan. 1, 1834, and went at the work zealously and effectually, until the eleventh of April, . 1858, when he was, through infirmity, com- pelled to resign, having become very deaf and totally blind. The church was very successful under his ministrations, and reached during the time a mem- bership of upwards of three hundred. He was succeeded by Rev. Joshua B. Hall, 1859-'64. Rev. W'm. K. Powers settled in 1865 ; Rev. Samuel L. Merrell 1867 '75. Among the prominent members of the church were Chauncey Betts, W'm. Townsend, Justus Townsend, Sperry Bouton, Asa Benedict, Henry Perine, Benjamin F. Davis and Noadiah Hart, the latter two of whom are still living.

During this time the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church continued and was very successful. Rev. Aaron A. Marcellus, first pastor, 1830-'31 ; Rev. Melancthon B. Williams, 1834-'37 ; Rev. William J. Bradford, 1849-'56; Rev. F. V. Van Vranken, 1861-'65; Rev. J. Henry Endus, 1866-'69; Rev. J. F. Shaw, 1869-'70 ; Rev. Wm. A. Wurts, 1872-'76. Deaths and removals had so reduced the member- ship of both of these churches, and differing only in the non-essential particular of church govern- ment, on the third of May, 1877. His Honor, Geo. A. Hardin, carried an order to be entered uniting and consolidating the two corporations into one, under the name and title of "The Congregational

RESIDENCE AND TOBACCO BARNS OF WM WILSON, PLAINVILLE, ONONDAGA COUNTY, N. Y.

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Church and Society of Lysander." On the 18th of December following, Henry T. Sell, a young man, graduate of Wesleyan University, class of 1873, Yale Theological Seminary 1877, was ordained and installed as pastor, and the new church now num- bers about one hundred and twenty-five families ; one hundred and sixty communicants, and a mem- bership of two hundred and fifty. Sunday School upwards of three hundred.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF LYSANDER. -In 1830 or 1831, Rev. Elijah Barnes and Rev. Benjamin Rider were appointed to the Lysander circuit which at that time embraced Amboy, War- ner Settlement, Cold Spring, New Bridge, Ira, Hard- scrabble Wellington, State Road, Palmertown, Horton Settlement and Oswego Bitter. Through the united labors of these two men a " class " was organized at Betts Corners, now Lysander P. O., which has since grown into the present flourishing society. Obedient Slauson and wife, John Slauson and wife, and G. W. Brown and wife are thought to be the members of the first class organized. In later years this circuit was reduced to Lysander, Little Utica, Hull's Corners, Bowen's Corners and Coday's School House, but at present it embraces only Lysander and Little Utica. Previous to An- son Fuller's pastorate in 1844, the society held their religious services in private houses and school houses, but in this year a very comfortable church was erected which was completed and dedicated the following year. In 1849, a parsonage was pur- chased. In 1855, the church was repaired and en- larged, and in 1872 was again repaired and is now an ornament to the society.

The following named ministers have served the church at different times :

Rev. Elijah Barnes, Rev. Benj. Rider, Rev. Wm. Mekoon, Rev. Miles H. Gaylord, Rev. Burrows Holmes, Rev. J C Steward, Rev. L. L. Adkins, Rev. Turner Van Tassel, Rev. Allen H. Tiloton, Rev. Rowland Soule, Rev. J. Kilpatrick, Rev. Moses Lyon, Rev. Ebenezer Arnold, Rev. F. Hancock, Rev. L. L. Adkins, Rev. Josiah Arnold, Rev. J. T. Alden, Rev. Anson Fuller, Rev. Joseph Lamb, Rev. R. M. West, Rev. Almon Chapin, Rev. Royal Houghton, Rev. Harris Kinsley, Rev. John R. Lewis, Rev. K. M. Roe, Rev. David Stone, Rev. Wm. Morse. Rev. H. Skeel, Rev. I. Turney, Rev. Joseph Smidley, Rev. S. B. Crozier, Rev. Geo. C. Wood, Rev. G. W. Foster, Rev. Wm. C. Mc- Donald, Rev. P. H. Wiles, Rev. E J. Bush, Rev. J. Hond, Rev. Fred. Devit and Rev. H. B. Smith.

The above seemingly large list of pastors is ac- counted for by the fact that in the early days of the Methodist church, it was customary for two preach- ers to travel together as colleagues, and this plan

was continued in this circuit during the first twelve years.

The present membership of this society is about one hundred.

JOHN HALSTED, EsQ., son of Jonas Halsted, was born in Ulster County, N. Y., in 1800, He was brought to this county the same year on horseback in his mother's arms in the dead of winter. His father located at Geddes with the design of making salt ; remained till spring, and moved to Aurelius, Cayuga County ; thence in the spring of 1804 to Ohio, where he died, and the subject of this sketch began living with his grandfather, in the town of Lysander, whom he assisted in clearing up his farm from a wilderness, and with whom he remained till his death, at the age of eighty years.

Mr. Halsted then purchased a farm, Lot No. 53, town of Lysander, where he lived in a log cabin, and began a career which has resulted in the most eminent success. By industry and economy he has accumulated a handsome property, and was succes- sively elected Town Assessor and Justice of the Peace. In 1869 he sold his farm, and has since made his residence with Mrs. Van Derveer in Ly- sander. Although retired from active business, his mental faculties are still unimpaired, and he is living in the quiet enjoyment of the fruits of his industry and economy.

JOHN VAN DERVEER was born in Montgomery County in 1803, and came to this county in 1825. In 1839 he married Electa Cole, and took up a new farm where his widow, Mrs. Electa Van Derveer, now resides. He died in 1867, aged sixty-three years. Mrs. Van Derveer was born in Cayuga County in 1810, and came to Lysander in 1815. Since the decease of her husband she has conducted her home farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, on which she has made valuable improve- ments, and has also a farm in Cayuga County.

HARVEY H. Russ was born in the town of Van- Buren, Onondaga County, N. Y., April 15, 1833, and was brought up on a farm, receiving a common school education. In 1858, he married Miss Ruth Betts, of Lysander, and has one child living. In 1865, he purchased the place where he now resides -one hundred acres of rich alluvial land, as fine as can be found in the county-on which, in 1 867, he began experimenting in hop raising ; planting six- teen acres. Under his judicious management the business has proved quite successful.

Mr. Russ, by both his paternal and maternal ancestors, is a descendant of some of the oldest families of Pompe,. His grandfather was one of

summary Dechent

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

the first settlers in that town. Polly Russ, his aunt, was born in Pompey in 1793. John Hatch, his maternal grandfather, was one of the first settlers at " Indian Hill," in the town of Pompey, and moved there from Vermont in an ox cart.

Mr. Russ's father, Ralph Russ, settled in the town of Van Buren in 1827.

LITTLE UTICA.

The first settlers of this place were Reuben Coffin, John Butler, Benjamin Rathbun, Sanford Dunham, John HI. Lamson, James Ends, who was Justice of the Peace ; Elijah Fairbanks, who kept the first store in the place ; Peter Earll, Samuel White, Lucius Gunn, B. M. Ells, Nicholas and Carmi Harrington, Ezra Baker, who was a physician living one mile from the place. Dunham & Baker built a saw-mill on the outlet of Beaver Lake in 1825, and a saw mill standing on the same site is now doing business. A postoffice was established in 1832, then called Paynesville : Noah Payne, who then kept a store, was postmaster. Some ten or fifteen years after, the name of the postoffice was changed to Little Utica.

Little U'tica has one store, two blacksmith shops, a hotel, a cigar factory, saw-mill, cheese factory, and some very good dwelling houses.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, LITTLE UTICA. -The first Methodist class of this place originated in the conversion of Mr. George Kellogg, through the instrumentality of Rev. Mr. Rundall, of Fulton, who paid the former a visit during an attack of ill- ness, and preached several times in the neighbor- hood. Mr. Kellogg and several others were con- verted ; a great revival ensued at the village of Lysander, in which the people of Little Utica took a part ; a class was formed, September 24, 1832, called the " Palmertown Class," of which George Kellogg was appointed leader. The names of the more prominent members are as follows : George Kellogg and wife, Sally Coffin, Ransom Foster and wife, Asahel Fuller and wife, William Fancher and wife, Jonathan Palmer and wife, Zenas Curtiss and wife, and John Bogardus and wife. For names of ministers, see Lysander M. E. Church. )

The conversion of William Fancher, about the time of the organization of this class, was an event of no little importance to the church. Mr. Fancher

was a young man of promise, the son of a local preacher. and began at once to exercise his gifts in public services. He soon became class-leader, hold- ing class and prayer meetings in which many were converted, and has continued an earnest worker ever since.

The church edifice was erected in 1834, and was repaired in 1857, and again in 18,5. It is now a plain, neat and comfortable church, with large and interested congregations and a membership of one hundred and twenty. Present pastor, Rev. H. B. Smith.

JACKSONVILLE,

Originally called " Palmertown," became the seat of a postoffice under the administration of Jas. K. Polk. It was then called " Polkville P. O." Dur- ing the last administration of President Lincoln the postoffice was removed to Little Utica. It is a small hamlet at the cross-roads west of Little Utica, con- taining a carriage, joiner and undertaker's estab- lishment, conducted by Alanson Fancher & Son, a country store, Allen & Lewis, proprietors, a cider mill, boot and shoe shop of W. A. Wright, and tan- nery, by B. Hazard.

Jonathan Palmer was the first settler, and built the first house in the place on Lot 36, which he drew as a bounty for his services in the Revolutionary war. He served through the war with six brothers, and was a pioneer in Lysander when the country was a wilderness. His brother, Nathaniel, now settled on part of his original land, while stationed on the Hudson during the Revolution, assisted in drawing a chain across that river to intercept the progress of the British.

WHITE CHAPEL OF THE M. E. CHURCH, Cok Spring .- Mr. George White and others were the founders of the society about the time of the first settlement of the town of Lysander. Religious services were held here the earliest in the town, in a school house where the church now stands.

The present edifice was erected in 1861, being built by Silas Nichols, of Baldwinsville, and costing $1,400. The present membership is about one hundred ; Sunday school in summer of about fifty scholars.

The present pastor, Rev. Frank Andrews, resides in Liverpool, with which charge White Chapel is connected.

TO BY W.H.LYON, BALDWINSVILLE

MRS. H. H.Russ.

PHOTO BY W. H. LYON, BALDW

H. H. Russ.

RES. & HOP FARM OF H. H. RUSS, LYSANDER, ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK .

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

VAN BUREN.

VAN BUREN was organized in 1829, and received its name from Hon. Martin Van Buren, then newly elected Governor of the State of New York. The territory embraced in it was originally part of the township of Camillus, of the Military Tract, and included in the town of Marcellus from the organi- 'zation of the county in 1794 to the organization of the town of Camillus in 1799. On the 26th of March, 1829, it was taken from the northern part of Camillus and organized into the town of Van Buren. Gabriel Tappan was one of the Commis- sioners appointed to effect the formation of the new town.

The surface of the town is somewhat level com- pared with the southern portions of the county, yet it is in many places beautifully undulating, and the land, especially the valleys of the small streams, rich and productive. Perhaps there is no section of the county, of an equal number of square miles, better adapted to agricultural purposes or contain- ing less waste land. The sandy loam chiefly pre- vails, alternating with clay loam, some muck and beds of marl and calcarious tufa, and affording a wide range of productions, among which wheat, corn, fruit and tobacco take the lead. The town has long been noted for its excellent crops of wheat and corn. The best land, perhaps, for the produc- tion of the latter crop is that in the vicinity of Jack's Reefs, while the best wheat land is that characterized by an outcrop of the red clay shales in the northwest part of the town. The proportion of clay soil as compared with the sandy and gravel- ly loam is very small. In the immediate vicinity of Baldwinsville the soil is chiefly sandy, while in the more eastern portion it is gravelly loam intermixed with small stones and boulders.

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History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 74

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