History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 75

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

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A ride through the town of Van Buren will show a finely improved country both in respect to lands and buildings, the houses being neat and substan- tial, and the barns capacious, well underpinned with stone, finished outside with clapboards, painted, and often surmounted with cupolas or towers, which render them sightly and attractive.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first temporary settlement was made in the

town by John Dunn, who settled on Lot No. 12, about one mile south of Baldwinsville in 1789. He made a small clearing, and subsequently, after the death of his wife, left the country. John McHarrie, Sen., came from the State of Maryland and settled on the south bank of the Seneca River, (Lot No. 7) in the latter part of 1789. John McHarrie, Jr., became a resident of the town (then included in Camillus) in 1794, and Mary and Lydia McHarrie soon after. They all rest in the Baldwinsville Cemetery, and were the first persons buried in that ground.

David Haynes and Joseph Wilson were early settlers in the town, probably as early as 1790, or soon after. David Haynes came from Salina. His son, Col. Thaddeus Haynes, still lives on almost the same spot occupied by his father, and is now (1878) one of the oldest residents of Van Buren.

Col. Gabriel Tappan settled in Van Buren Feb- ruary 18, 1796. He was a prominent citizen and father of Wallace Tappan, Esq., of Baldwinsville. William Lindsay, 1795 ; Jacob and Chester Molby, the Delanos ; Asher, John, Stephen, Abraham and William Tappan, about 1797 : Reuben Smith, 1800 ; John and William Lakin, James and John Williams, and Ira Barnes, soon after 1800 ; James Wells, 1 803.

In about 1800, or soon after, Eleazer Dunham, Amos, Seth and Heman Warner founded Warner's ·Settlement, and Benjamin Bolton located at Jack's Reefs. The latter place, we are informed, took its name from a colored man known as "Jack," who lived near the rapids at an early day and assisted boatmen in transferring their freight. Gilbert Totten settled at Jack's Reefs, in the town of Van- Buren, in 1810. He subsequently owned consider- able land at the Reefs, and raised a large family.

Charles H. Toll, Phineas Barnes, Isaac Earll and Jonathan Skinner, also settled in town about the year 1810, and about 1812 Nicholas Vader, Cyrus H. Kingsley and Nathaniel Cornell.

At this period the country was entirely new and presented few attractions for settlers, most of the people preferring the higher grounds of the towns of Camillus and Marcellus. The farmers who had

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. NEW YORK.

flocks were often obliged to fold them in high enclosures during the night for their protection against the wolves which prowled around in the forests in great numbers, and whose savage propen- sities, whetted by hunger, made them very destruc- tive. Bears were common and deer very plenty, having been driven from the higher grounds south by the clearing up of the lands.

The first village or hamlet founded in the town was at the point now called lonia, the name being given it by the postoffice established here in 1816 -the first postoffice in the town, Charles H. Toll. Postmaster. Phineas Barnes erected the first frame house here in iSos, and Isaac Earll and Charles H. Toll soon after erected others. Oliver and Job Nichols were afterwards l'ostmasters. The build- ing of the Erie Canal attracted business to Canton (now Memphis) and destroyed the prospects of Ionia.

The first town meeting for VanBuren was held at the house of Eleazer Dunham, March 26, 1829, at which Gabriel Tappan was elected Supervisor, and Abel Tryon, Town Clerk.

The first lawyer was Theodore Popell, in 1818; the second, Medad Curtis, in 1829. The first physician, Dr. Jonathan S. Buell, settled at Ionia in 1812; the second, Dr. William Laughlin, at Canton, (now Memphis, in 1815.

In this town, a mile and a half south of the river at Baldwinsville and on the left side of the road to Warner's, is the site of an old stockade fort. It is on a low, oval hill, which rises on the south side of a small stream flowing into Crooked Brook. Col. Thaddeus Haynes, Mr. J. Wells, and others, describe the circular line of post-holes, which were so close together as almost to form a ditch, until the ground was cleared and plowed. The palisades had fallen outward, and the bark of many still remained The circle had an opening on the north, with a path down the steep bank to the water. Charred corn, arrow-heads, stone and clay pipes, and pottery, were plowed up. In 1878, every lodge could yet be traced.

Generally the Indians frequented rapids which were important as fords and fishing stations. Hence the rapids along the Oneida, Oswego and Seneca Rivers are marked with the remains of In- dian town sites. There are several about the vil- lage of Baldwinsville : one at Float Bridge : an- other on the hill north of the village ; one at the lock, and another a mile west, on the farm of C. H. Emerick, Lot No. 78, in Lysander. On the Van Buren side, there was one where several skeletons have been found, between Seneca

and McHarrie streets ; another was far up Syra- cuse street towards the river ; and a large village may be traced at the water's edge on the southwest corporation line, exhibiting a few traces of European intercourse.

On the west side of Dead Creek, formerly called Camp Creek, from the Indian's camps, was a small settlement, and there are evidences of a grave yard near the Indian orchard, farther west. This orchard was in a ravine near the river on Lot No. 3, Van Buren, and the last trees were cut down about 1873.

Above the latter spot, at the foot of Bishop's Reefs is a curious pre-historic work, which has been over- flowed ever since the building of the Baldwinsville dam. It is a stone fish-weir, on the Van Buren side, and opposite U. M. Kelley's, Lot No. 75, Lysander. It runs down stream on the south shore two hundred and five feet, with a depth of two feet; then returns at a sharp angle, three hundred and twenty-five feet up the river, forming an angle like the letter V. To this must be added twenty-five feet more, making an obtuse angle to the south. North of this begins another wall, running down one hundred and forty-five feet, and returning one hundred and sixty feet. These are rough measurements made from a boat in 1877. The walls are well laid, of large and small stones, and the south one reaches the surface only in ex- tremely low water : the north one is even then a foot beneath the surface. The total length is about eight hundred and sixty fect. Several others, partly destroyed, are to be seen some miles above.

The valley of the Seneca is rich in relics of the stone age. Many beautiful and characteristic pipes have been found, formed in many ages and of varying forms and materials. Many fine ar. ticles might be described from the valuable col- lections of Messrs. Bigelow and Perkins, of Bald- winsville, and those now in the Connecticut Historical Rooms. With a view to fuller preser- vation, about seven hundred articles have been drawn and described by Rev. W. M. Beauchamp, of Baldwinsville, with their history as far as it could be ascertained.

We may add to this general enumeration, stone plummets and cups, sinkers, pestles, hammers, gouges with a cross groove on the back, pierced tablets of many forms, stone clubs, and other mas- sive things as yet unnamed. Two copper arrows have been found in the west part of Lysander, both having hafts instead of sockets. The last, which is very fine, was hoed up in 1876, on Judge Voorhees'

VEA

Photo. by W. V. Ranger, Syracuse.

A. W. BINGHAM.

Ilauto. by W. V. Ranger, Sy racuse.

Henry Daball

This gentleman is a lineal descendant of the Daboll family of Connertient, who have been noted for over a century as mathe- maticians and scholars. All of us who have lived to fifty years of age remember Daboll's Arithmetic as among the standard school-books of our boyhood days. Nathan Daboll, the author of this arithmetic, was a brother of the grandfather of the sub- jert of this record. The book was revised and republished by Nathan Daboll, A.M., son of the author, and is still in use in eastern Connecticut. The descendants of Nathan Daboll have for more than a century kept a nautical academy, for instruction in navigation and kindred sciences, at Groton, Conn., and have published a series of almanacs for the last hundred years or more.

Henry Daboll is the oldest son of Jonathan and Betsey (Thomas) Daboll, and was born in Canaan, Litchfield! Co., Conn., May 6, 1812. His father and mother died in Connecticut, the former Aug. 21, 1856, the latter Oct. 18, 1855, and were buried in the town of Canaan, Litchfield county. In early life Henry was bred to the occupation of a mechanic, and divided his time between that and teaching school till thirty years of age. He has been from boyhood of a studious and inquiring turn of mind, and most of his education has been acquired in the school of experience and self-culture.

On Nov. 9, 1841, he married Miss Charlotte Goodwin, of Salisbury, Conn., and the following year came to the town of Van Buren, and settled on the farm where he now lives. He had visited the place and purchased the farm prior to his mar- riage. The enterprise of Mr. Daboll in ridding this farm of the pine stumps which covered it at the time of his settlement here is well known in the neighborhood, which was generally benefited by his example. He led the way to this improvement, being the first to inaugurate the use of the stumping-machine, that important benefactor of the farmers on the pine lands.

In 1962, Mr. Daboll was elected justice of the peace, and held the office une term. He was connected with the Farmers' Joint Stock Insurance Company, of Meridian, N. Y., in the capacity of president and director, during the period of its existence. It was discontinued in April, 1877. He has also held the office of notary public for the last ten or twelve years, and has been active in educational and church matters, having been for thirty years a warden of Christ church, Jordan, und assisted in building two churches in that parish.

Mr. and Mrs. Daboll have had a family of five children,- two sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Henry H. Daboll, is married, and lives on a farm adjoining the homestead; the eldest daughter, Mary, married Isaac E. Burdick, principal of the Prescott school, Syracuse.

MRS. DNROLL. is of the ancient Goodwin family, of Saxon origin, who trace their lineage back to Harold tiodwin, the Saxon king of England. The family are quite numerous in this country and considerably noted for their literary talents. Mrs. Daboll is a poet, a religious sentimentalist, and at heart a prae- tical Christian philanthropist, delighting in affording sympathy, comfort, and aid to the poor and sorrowing. She writes much, many of her pieces having been published in magazines and newspapers, and she will probably yet be known more widely by her literary works. The writer of this, from his knowledge of the writings of Mrs. Daboll, is pleased to bear this testimony to her literary talents and Christian character, while at the same time she is eminently devoted to domestic duties and the affairs of her household.

For many years Mr. and Mrs. Daboll have kept a record of each day's events, of things which have transpired within their knowledge and observation, and it has proven, in many instances, to be a collection of useful memoranda.

1 1

"SHADED COTTAGE", RESIDENCE OF HENRY DABOLL, MEMPHIS, ONONDAGA COUNTY, N. Y.

Photos, by W. V Ranger, Sy Tim une.

EMELINE J. BINGHAM.

HORACE B. BINGHAM.

Horace B. Bingham was born in North Coventry, Tolland Co., Conn., April 10, 1799. His early life was spent in alternately attending school and assisting his father. He married, March 10, 1821, Miss Redline Jones, of Adrian. Tolland Co., Conn. In 1936, Mr. Bingham left his eastern home and moved with his family to Van Buren, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and in the following year purchased the farm upon which he spent the thirty remaining years of his life.

Descended from New England ancestors, he possessed in a high degree the industry and rigid moral characteristics of that people. I'pright and circumspect in all his business trans- netions, he earned the esteem and confidence of his nesociales. He passed away Nov. 19, 1567, leaving to his children the legacy of a spotless character and holy life. Mrs. Bingham, now in her seventy-fifth year, is living with her only son, A. W. Bingham, the chlest of three children, who resides upon

the old homestead. He received the advantages of a gowned common-school education, and was at an early age called into public life.

He has held a prominent position in the Odd Fellow and Grand Lodges in the districts of Onondaga and Cayuga, and has been connected with the lodge at Baldwinsville for twenty- five years.

December 18, IST7, he was appointed inspector of the Onondaga County penitentiary for a term of three years, and in that capacity proves to be one of the ablest and must conscientious officials that could have been appointed. He has held many other important public positions, the duties of which he discharged with equal acceptance. In all his business transactions he endeavors to do that which is strictly just, and thus far has had the good fortune to pass through life without a stain resting upon his character.

RESIDENCE OF A.W.BINGHAM, VANBUREN, ONONDAGA CO., N. Y.

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

farm, lot 74. The occasional polished slate arrows are of great interest, and seem peculiar to this re- gion. Broken pottery, highly ornamented, is abund- ant, but perfect vessels are rare. Some were four- teen inches in diameter, and often very thin. Others were of curious forms. The flint implements are of the usual types, mixed with some forms new to science. They comprise arrows of the finest and coarsest finish and material, lance-heads, knives, scrapers, drills, &c., many of which are made of the hornstone so abundant in our corniferous lime- stone.

In 1878, Mr. Justice Stephens, of Van Buren, in working up a hemlock log, came to the marks of a cutting tool, outside of which were two hundred and fifty-four rings of growth. This would date back to 1624, a little over thirty years before the Onon- dagas are known to have received steel axes from the French. The wood is charred, according to the Indian custom, and the several marks correspond with those of stone axes. This was on Lot 2, Van Buren, not far from the old stone fish-weir. About the same time a similar cut was found in a tree in Lysander overgrown with two hundred and forty rings .*

That part of the village of Baldwinsville which lies on the south side of the Seneca River, is in- cluded in the town of Van Buren. It was origin- ally called " Macksville" from the McHarries, the first settlers. Both " Macksville " and " Colum- bia," (the original village on the Lysander side of the river,) have long since been absorbed in the flourishing village of Baldwinsville. That por- tion of the village situated in Van Buren is well laid out, occupies a beautiful site, and contains some of the most desirable residence property within the corporation.

MEMPHIS.

This village was formerly called Canton. It is near the southern line of the town of Van Buren, on the Erie Canal and the New York Central Railroad. It has two churches, two hotels, one dry goods and grocery store, one canal grocery, two wagon and three blacksmith shops, four millinery shops or stores, a postoffice and American Express office.

The postoffice was removed here from Ionia in 1828. The name Canton was rejected by the de- partment on account of there being another Canton in St. Lawrence county, and gradually it was dropped as the name of the place, Memphis being now generally substituted in its stead.

The Hotels are : Headquarters, by T. H. Wilkes, and Memphis House, by Lindsay & Johnson.

William Lakin was an old resident of the village, and resided here till his death in 1864. He was the father of John Lakin, one of the first merchants of the village, and for many years a prominent man. William Lakin was Deputy Sheriff, member of As- sembly, and held the office of Justice of the Peace for a long time.

Others of the early merchants were David Lytle and Isaac Hill, and of a later date, John D. Norton, Joseph Glass, Barrett & Brown, and Toll, Lusk & Co.

BAPTIST CHURCH OF MEMPHIS .- This society was first organized at Warners in 1815, with a membership of about twenty, and known as the Second Baptist Church of Camillus. At that time a large territory was embraced under this organiza- tion, and from 1815 to until 1834 meetings were held at the school houses and private houses in various places within the boundaries of the church. The earliest meetings, however, were held in the Warner Settlement school house. Among the original members may be mentioned the Warners, Bentleys, Weavers, Tabors and Marshalls. In 1834 a church edifice was built at a cost of $2,500 in Canton, now Memphis, and for a long period this society enjoyed a prosperous and flourishing con- dition. Among the most prominent and influential members who were added to the society at this time were the Hills, Halsteds, Auyers, Glasses and many others whose names we are unable to ascertain.

The following pastors have served this church at different times :

Rev. B. Dowsit, Rev. J. P. Parsons, Rev. Ira Dudley, Rev. T. Brown, Rev. Erastus Miner, Rev. John Roscoe, Rev. L. C. Bates, Rev. - Johns- ton, Rev. J. J. Fuller, Rev. N. Camp, Rev. M. H. DeWitt, Rev. Wm. A. Wells, Rev. B. Newton, Rev. J. Smith. Present pastor Rev. Wm. A. Wells.

The present membership numbers twenty-seven ; the average attendance at Sunday School, thirty.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT MEMPHIS was organized in 1818 in the town of Camillus, which then embraced Van Buren, Elbridge, &c. It was formerly located at " Ionia," but was removed to Memphis in 1868. The number of original mem- bers was thirty-five, among whom Elder Elijah Shaw, Abraham Wood, Daniel Godfrey, John Cox and Stephen Daniels were prominent. The first house of worship was built at " Ionia," a half mile or near that distance north of Memphis, in 1829, at a cost of $1,200. The second edifice was erected in Memphis in 1868, and cost $2,500.

The following named clergymen have officiated as pastors :

* Notes by Rev. W. M. Beauchamp, Baldwinsville, N. Y. 52*

MRS MARY F.WORMUTH

MOSES WORMUTH

RES.OF THE LATE MOSES WORMUTH. NOW OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY GEORGE B. WORMUTH, VAN BUREN, ONONDAGA CO .NY

PHOTO BY BONTA & CURTISS SYR

PHOTO. BY BONTA & CURTISS. SYRACUSE .

GEORGE ECKER.

MRS. GEORGE ECKER.

RESIDENCE OF GEORGE ECKER, VAN BUREN, ONONDAGA COUNTY, N. Y.

MRS RUSSEL FOSTER

RUSSEL FOSTER

RESIDENCE OF RUSSEL FOSTER, VAN BUREN, ONONDAGA CONY

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

took various jobs of chopping cord wood, felling timber, &c., up to about the time of his marriage, being married December 28, 1817, to Martha, daugh- ter of Elihu Peck, of Van Buren. He has had nine children, three sons and six daughters, seven of whom (three sons and four daughters) are now living.

The story of Mr. Cornell's life may be briefly told. He has been a hard working, industrious, persevering man, having begun life without capital, supported and raised a large and respectable family, endured and overcome the privations and hardships of pioneer life, and through all this has maintained a character for honesty and integrity eminently worthy of the confidence and estecm in which he is held by all who know him. He has been for many years a prominent member of the Christian Church.

He moved upon his farm in 1820, having then but twenty acres ; adding to this from time to time, he had finally a farm of one hundred and forty acres. Mrs. Cornell died in 1873. His health becoming impaired, and being no longer able to work his farm, he purchased a residence in the village of Bald- winsville, to which he removed in 1875, and the year following sold his farm, thus freeing himself from the cares and responsibilities of active business.

RUSSEL FOSTER was born in the town of Pom- pey, July 24, 1806, and remained in that town about three years, removing to the town of Van Buren (then Camillus) with his parents, who settled a little east of where he now resides. Here he remained on his father's farm till twenty-one years of age, when feeling a desire to procure a home and enter upon a career for himself, he purchased jointly with his brother Heman 220 acres of land, including the present homestead, then a dense forest. He and his brother set to work to clear the land, which was an undertaking of no small magnitude, requir- ing energy, perseverance and physical endurance, such as marked in an eminent degree the pioneers of the country. The training which Mr. Foster had received during his minority on his father's farm, and his natural energy and determination, ad- mirably fitted him for the work of carving out of the unimproved wilderness the beautiful and com- fortable home which now in his old age rewards his toil and industry. The two brothers worked to- gether with a common purpose and interest for nine years, when they divided the farm, each taking one hundred and ten acres.

In December, 1827, Mr. Foster was married to Margaret Hall, who lived only sixteen months. He married Miss Lucinda Vanyea, his present wife, in October, 1830.

Mr. Foster has been more successful than many, for by his industry and economy he has added largely to his original purchase of lands and erected fine buildings, having one of the finest grain-pro- ducing farms in this section of the country. He has held the office of Overseer of the Poor four years in his town, and enjoys in a large degree the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens, among whom he has lived an upright and exemplary life from boyhood, and is now in the quiet enjoyment of a home in which he has spent fifty-two years of his life.

COL. GABRIEL TAPPAN was born in Morristown, New Jersey, June 20th, 1783. He died August 4, 1865. He came into the county February 18, 1796. His life covered a period verging on eighty-three years. He early immigrated to Onondaga County and was one of its first pioneer settlers, hav- ing lived nearly seventy years within its limits. He was the first Supervisor of the town of Van Buren. In after years he was many times rëelected by his neighbors to fill that position. He was appointed one of the commissioners (1829) to set off the town of Van Buren from the then large town of Camillus. He was appointed by the Legis- lature as commissioner to carry out many important trusts. He acted as arbitrator in numerous cases to adjust difficulties among men. He did much for the improvement of Onondaga County in ameliorat- ing the condition of its roads, building anew many bridges, and urging on new settlements in Van- Buren, which to-day are the gardens of the great State of New York. He conceived the idea which was most satisfactorily carried out of building the bridge across "Dead Creek" flats towards the northern part of the town, which in after years be- came of inestimable value to the farmers of the western portion of Van Buren. He did perhaps as much as any other man in building up the interests and improving the condition of the now thriving village of Baldwinsville. He was foremost in secur- ing and putting to good use the valuable water privileges which Baldwinsville now enjoys, he hav- ing constructed, through the assistance cf John Mc- Harrie and Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin, the dam across the Seneca River at an early day. With his own ax he opened nearly fifty miles of road through a dense wilderness, many places through swamps and over other barriers. In 1833, he represented the First Assembly District of Onondaga County in the Assembly ; and his record as a legislator was eminently satisfactory to his constituents. He took a very active part in the military affairs of the country. He was a veteran of the war of 1812.

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

Two hundred of his fellow-men called him out to serve as their Captain in the war of 1812 and '13. He served his country faithfully at Oswego and elsewhere as Captain of the militia. Subsequently he received the title of Colonel, and for many years was the head of a militia regiment in the county. His familiarity with military matters was most creditable, he having received a very good military education for the times. For a period of sixty- five years he was an active business man.

He married Lydia Mcllarrie in about the year ISO5, by whom he had twelve children, seven of whom are now living. When he first came to Van- Buren, he located on " Dead Creek." and occupied for his wilderness home a rude brush tent, and his bed was made of hemlock boughs laid on the ground. His food was salted raw pork and bread.

His companion was his ax. His night visitors were howling wolves, varied by the frequent visitations of panthers, bears, &c. He lived to see the close of the great rebellion, and no man was more gratified than he when Abraham Lincoln read his famous Eman- cipation Proclamation, announcing to forty millions of people that slavery was forever abolished in the United States. He was liberal, kind to the poor ; and it can be said of him that "he made the wilderness blossom as the rose," and kept pace with the fore- most men of his time in agricultural improvements, valuable to himself and to his neighbors as well.

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History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 75

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