USA > New York > Onondaga County > History of Onondaga County, New York > Part 77
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
himself and wife and twin sons, may be seen else- where in this work.
Mr. Dunham is a thorough farmer, a good citi- zen, and deservedly enjoys the esteem of all who know him.
FRENCH FAIRCHILD
Was born in Remsen, Oneida County, N. Y., on the twenty-fourth of September, 1811, and was a son of French and Anna [Hinckley] Fairchild. When four years old he moved with his mother to Herkimer County ; he received a good common school education, and remained at home until twenty- one years of age. On January 4, 1836, he married Mary Tanner, a daughter of William and Mary Tanner, of the town of Schuyler, Herkimer county, N. Y. She was born April 23, 1817, and has proved one of the best of help-meets. Mr. Fair- child attributes much of his success to her prudent and wise management. The fruit of their marriage was seven children, viz : William, Ransom and New- ton, who were born in Herkimer county, and Her- mon, George W., Mary A., and Hiram G., who were born in Onondaga County. All of the chil- dren are living and enjoying good health. After his marriage, Mr. Fairchild purchased a small farm in Herkimer county. In 1846 he sold it and removed to the town of Salina, Onondaga Co., where he settled on a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, formerly owned by his grandfather, Gorshorn Hinckley.
At the close of seven years' residence upon this farm, he sold it and removed to the town of Clay where he bought the farm of one hundred and forty- seven acres known as the Grover farm, upon which he now resides.
Mr. Fairchild has been a Republican since the formation of that party. In religious faith, he is a zealous Methodist, and has been for over forty years a staunch and liberal member of the M. E. Church. He is a quiet and unostentatious man, a good hus- band and father, and is respected by all who know him.
CICERO.
CICERO was originally Township number six of the Military Tract, and at the organization of the county was included in the town of Lysander. In 1807, it was erected into a town by itself, and included the present town of Clay till the latter was set off in
1827. Towards the south part of the town is an extensive swamp containing about four thousand acres, with but little timber, which has been con- sidered, except in a few spots, incapable of recovery to purposes of cultivation. It is a bog underneath
54*
338
HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
covered by a thick moss, over which a man can walk in the dry part of the season, and into which a sharp pole may be thrust to the depth of seven or eight feet. The deposit is a black decayed vege- table matter resting upon a bed of marl. It is not at all unlikely that this whole swamp may yet be drained and become the most valuable land in the country, as its elevation is twenty-five feet above the surface of the lake.
There are no streams of water of any note in the town, except the Oneida Lake and River on its northern boundary, and the Chittenango Creek lying along its eastern border. On this Creek is an excellent water-power at Bridgeport, part of which is in Cicero and part in Madison county. The surface of the town is usually level, the pre- vailing soil being of a rich sandy loam, and capable of a great variety of productions. The town was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber. chiefly pine, hemlock, beech and sugar-maple, with considerable cedar and tamarack in the swampy portions.
Cicero and Clay furnished for many years a large proportion of the barrels used for packing salt at Salina, Geddes, Liverpool and Syracuse. Such, indeed, was the attention given to coopering that for a long time the farming interests were in a great measure neglected. At length, however, the timber being exhausted, an impulse was given to the development of the resources of the soil. This has been followed up with an enterprise and a suc- cess which have made the town one of the first farming sections of Onondaga County. The lands are well improved, and the buildings show thrift and prosperity.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first white settler in the town of Cicero was a Mr. Dexter, a blacksmith, who settled opposite Fort Brewerton in 1790. Mr. Oliver Stevens, father of the late Judge John I .. Stevens, settled at the fort in 1780 He cultivated a garden on the south side of the river, to which he removed in a few years, and died there in 1813. Mr. Stevens was an Indian trader, and was induced to come here through the representations of his two brothers who had been soldiers at the garrison from 1756 to 1758. Hle carried on an extensive trade with the Indians in furs, peltry, &c, Fort Schuyler being at that time the great mart west of Albany. Mr. Stevens also kept a boatman's tavern, furnishing supplies and other necessaries to those who navi- gated the lake and rivers. Ile sometimes spent his winters at Salina, and there in 1So2 his son, Hon. John 1. Stevens, was born.
Ryal Bingham settled at Fort Brewerton in 1791, and subsequently removed to Salina, where he was appointed the first Justice of the Peace.
All the first settlements in the town of Cicero were made along the Oneida River and Lake. John Leach settled at Cicero Corners in 1802, and for several years kept a tavern in a small log cabin.
Elijah Loomis was the first settler at South Bay, on the lake shore, in 1804, where he purchased a lot on which he resided.
He was a Revolutionary soldier and received a pension from the Government. Martin Woodruff settled near him the same year. Their nearest neighbors were at Brewerton, five miles distant.
Captain John Shepard, who served in the Revo- lutionary war, drew Lot No. 11, of the township of Cicero, lying on the lake shore east of Brewerton. At an early day he took possession of his lot, sold part, cleared and cultivated the rest, and with his family lived upon it till his death, in 1824 He was the only man who occupied a lot in this town for which he served. He was the first Justice of the Peace in the town in 1804.
The first town meeting for the town of Cicero, (then including Clay, was held at the house of Patrick McGee, at Three River Point, in 1807. Moses Kinne was Moderator ; Thomas Pool was elected Supervisor, and Elijah Loomis, Town Clerk.
Isaac Cody was the first merchant in town. He erected a store at Cicero Corners in ISIS, filled it with goods, and did quite an extensive business. Samuel Warren opened the next store in 1825. Daniel Olcott was the first regular physician ; located in the town in 1817, and bad an extensive practice. Alexander Cook, Esq, settled in the town as the first practicing attorney, in 1841. In 1820 a postoffice was established at the Corners, Isaac Cody, Postmaster. The mail was then carried once a week on horseback.
BREWERTON.
The crossing of the Oneida River at the foot of the lake was a famous fishing ground of the Onon- daga Indians and the crossing place of the great north and south trail leading from the mouth of Salmon River to the Onondaga country. Here the Indians had a famous fishing village prior to the erection of any fort at this point, called Techiroguen. and the number of remains found in a mound near the sand-bank, on the north side of the river east of the plank road, show that it must have been a settlement of considerable permanence. LeMoyne mentions it in 1654 as on the south side of the river. while Charlevoix, in a map published in 1744,
14
PHOTO BY
W Y RANGER SYRACUSE
My Carter
RESIDENCE OF WM. H. CARTER, BREWERTON, N.Y.
339
HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
locates it on the north side ; showing that at some time between these dates its site had been changed to the north side of the river. Clark speaking of this place says : " It must have been the place of sepulchre for thousands. Whether these were slain in battle, or whether it has been a depository for the dead in time of peace, is not easy to de- termine, but from the fact that they are the bones of adult persons, and apparently all of males, it is highly probable that they are the relics of the vic- tims of war"
FORT BREWERTON.
The foot of Oneida Lake was a station of great importance not only to the Indians but also at a later period to the French and English. It was the key to the great thoroughfare from Oswego to the Mohawk Valley, and during the struggles for this territory between the English and the French was regarded by both nations as a desirable point to be occupied by a strong fortification. The French, through their missionaries, had gained some in- fluence over the Iroquois, and Frontenac had ob- tained their consent to build a fort in the Onondaga country ; but there is no evidence going to show that the French ever built or occupied a fort at this point.
The octagonal fort seen here by the early settlers, and known as " Fort Brewerton." was built by the English during the French War. In 1758, General Stanwix had erected a strong fortress at what is now Rome, N. Y. It was at the point where the portage was made from the Mohawk across to Wood Creek, connecting thence with Oneida Lake. The cost of this fort was $266,400. Also a stockade enclosure was erected at the same time as a defense against attacks by the Indians at the foot of the lake. After the reduction of Fort Frontenac by Colonel Bradstreet in 1758, he retook possession of the forts at Oswego, which were again garrisoned. At this time, General Abercrombie formed the design of erecting a substantial fort to command the entrance to Oneida Lake from the west, as it was already commanded on the east by Fort Stanwix. A detachment was accordingly sent from Oswego the following year to cooperate with one from Fort Stanwix; and Fort Brewerton was erected and named in honor of Captain Brewerton, whose name appears in the papers of that day as an active and meritorious officer. It was garrisoned during part of the summer of 1759 by Lieutenant-Colonel Bull, and was made a depot of military stores with a small garrison till the close of the French War, in 1762. During the Pontiac War, it was again gar- risoned by a company under Captain Mungo Camp.
--
bell, of the 55th Highlanders, and was a place of deposit for considerable military stores. In the spring of 1764, Capt. Thomas Morris was stationed here for a short time, and during the following summer proceeded to Niagara and Detroit.
Fort Brewerton was a favorite resting place for the troops passing and repassing from Fort Stanwix to Oswego and Niagara, and is often mentioned in the diary of Sir William Johnson and other English officers of that period. When the fort was built by the English it was considered of great conse- quence to the safety and protection of the frontier.
The fort was in a good state of preservation when first seen by the early settlers. Its site is on the north side of the river, a short distance northwest of the present Fort Brewerton House.
A quarter of a mile east of the fort was built at the same time a mole of huge rocks extending about ten rods into the river, at the end of which was placed a sentry-box, where a sentinel was continu- ally posted to watch for enemies passing up the river. From this position the eye of the sentinel could com- mand a view of the river for a considerable distance.
Within the enclosure and around the old fort have been found quite a number of relics-warlike implements, blacksmith's forges, wrought nails, the remains of chimneys constructed of small, hard, red brick, &c. Many such relics were found by the early settlers, and have been exhumed from time to time.
THE OLD BLOCK-HOUSE.
On the site now occupied by the Fort Brewerton House, within the memory of many now living, stood an old dilapidated " block-house." This block- house had no connection with the old fort occupied during the French war, but was built at a later period for defense against an anticipated attack upon the settlement by the British and Indians dur- ing the disturbances upon the western frontiers, from 1790 to 1794. The British at this time held the garrison at Oswego. For the purpose of defending the settlements in Onondaga county, block-houses were erected at what were considered the most ex- posed points, one at Salina and another at Brewer- ton. Mr. Oliver Stevens, father of the late Judge J. L. Stevens, under commission from Governor Clinton, erected the latter, and it was made a de. pository of arms and munitions of war while the trouble lasted, and was afterwards used as a dwell- ing house till 1811, the military stores having been removed to Albany. The old block-house had a substantial gateway on the side next the river and was enclosed in pickets made of logs about twelve feet high and surrounded by a trench.
340
HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Patrick McGee settled at Brewerton in 1791 and erected the first frame house, which was occupied by him as a tavern, and afterwards by Jonathan Emmons. It stood near where the Brewerton House was afterwards erected and was a great place of resort for boatmen and townspeople.
The first school was kept at Brewerton in 1792. It was taught by Deacon George Ramsey, a Scotch Presbyterian. He died at Brewerton many years ago.
In the spring of 1804, when there were but few huts on the site of the present village, Jonathan Emmons settled on what is known as the Hoskins farm, Lot No. 9 Here he erected what has been termed the first " mill" in that region of country for grinding corn in a somewhat primitive style. It consisted of a white-oak stump hollowed out in the shape of a mortar, with a pestle made of an oaken block, to which a spring-pole was attached. The nearest mill on the south side of the lake was at Onondaga Hollow, eighteen miles distant. On the north side, at Rotterdam, Mr. Scriba, from Holland, had erected mills in 1800. The grist mill was sufficient to grind all the grain in the country for a hundred miles around.
In 1812, Jonathan Emmons opened as a tavern the house formerly built and kept by Patrick Mc- Gee. In 1813 he was authorized by the Legisla- ture to establish a ferry across the outlet of Oneida Lake at Brewerton, which he kept for many years. Mr. Emmons was the father of eighteen children, of whom the sixth, Samuel Emmons, (born Feb. 24, 1794) is now residing at Brewerton. In 1824, the first bridge was built across the Oneida River at Brewerton. The next, and present bridge, was built in 18.47.
The village of Brewerton was laid out by Orsamus Johnson, Daniel Wardwell, Miles W. Bennet and Harvey Baldwin, Esqs, in 1836. Its position at the foot of the lake is remarkably beautiful and healthy, and being surrounded by a fertile and thriving country, it has grown to be a village of considerable importance. Since 1873 it has been connected with Syracuse by railroad communica- tion, via the Syracuse Northern Railroad.
Brewerton was incorporated in 1872, the first election of officers occurring on the 9th of Sep- tember, when the following persons were chosen :
Hon. John L. Stevens, President : E. N. Em- mons, Clerk ; William H. Carter, William H. Sher- wood, D. H. Waterbury, William H. Merritt, Trustees.
The following have since served as I'residents of the village : John L. Stevens, 1873 ; F. A. Strong,
1874; Wm. H. Carter, 1875 ; B. M. Genung, 1876 ; A. N. Everson, 1877.
The officers for 1878 are : E. N. Emmons, Presi- dent ; George H. Smith. Clerk ; Milton Miller, Charles E. Waterbury, Monroe Pierce, Trustees ; Wm. H. Merritt, Collector ; James R. Loomis, Treasurer ; Thomas Hughs, Street Commissioner.
Brewerton has a graded school, occupying a brick building, erected in 1855, at a cost of $1,000. Two teachers are employed, and the average attendance is eighty.
BREWERTON LODGES.
Fort Brewerton Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M. Chartered January to, 1852. Charter officers- John Baum, W. M .; H. V. Keller, S. W .; James J Anderson, J. W .: with thirteen charter mem- bers. Regular communications, first and third Wednesday evenings in each month, third story, Everson & Loomis' Block, State street. Present officers F. A. Strong, W. M .; Wm. H. Merritt, S. W .; M. Pierce, J. W .; J. R. Loomis, Treas .; E. E. Binn, Sec'y ; A. Dickson, Tyler.
Brewerton Lodge I. O. of G. T., No. 51. In- stituted January 5, 1875, with fifteen charter mem- bers. Among the most active may be named C. D. Walkup, Lodge Deputy ; V. E. Campbell, Miss Phoebe Klock and Miss Clara Van Warmer. This lodge, though young is active and vigorous, and for several years has held the Silver Gavel over all the lodges in the State. Officers-V. E. Campbell, W. C. T .; Almira Cummins, W. V. T .; Miss Aggie Campbell, W. S. Regular meetings every Saturday evening.
In 1846 a line of steamers, consisting of four boats, named after the four counties bordering on the lake, viz : the Oneida, Oswego, Madison and Onondaga, was put upon the lake and river by a company at Oswego. Henry Guest was the first agent, and afterwards William HI. Carter, who with Mr. Cushing purchased the remaining boats. The Oswego is still run by Mr. Carter.
THE PLANK ROAD.
In 1812 the Legislature passed an act to cut a road from Salina to Brewerton through the center of the town. The expense was advanced by the State, and a tax laid on the lands contiguous to defray it. The inhabitants got a poor road for what a good one should have cost. In 1845, an act was passed authorizing the company to construct a plank, tim- ber, or hard surface road, from Salina to Central Square, through Cicero, from south to north. In 1846, a plank road was completed, being the first of the kind constructed in the United States. The
Photos, by W. V. Ranger, Syracuse.
SAMUEL EMMONS.
IIANNAN EMMONS.
SAMUEL EMMONS.
Samuel Emmons, the oldest settler in the town of Cicero living at the present time, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in the town of Nassau, Rensselaer county, N. Y., on February 26, 1794, being the son of Jonathan and Mary Em- mons, who removed to the town of Cicero, Onondaga County, in the year 1804, taking his family with him, where he settled on lot 10, purchasing six hundred acres of land, part of which is still in possession of the family. His early life was passed on his father's farm, and he obtained his education at the district school, the country being at that time a perfect wilderness. The only playmates he had were the young savages of the forest.
Ile was married, January 1, 1818, to Hannah, daughter of Ebenezer Loomis, who was one of the earliest settlers of Oswego county. Their union was blessed with six children, all of whom are living at the present time,-Cynthia M., born September 5, 1818; Almeda, November 16, 1820; Lucretia, April 28, 1824; Leonard Franklin, February 24, 1827; Han- nah C., August 12, 1833; Jonathan, May 7, 1836,-all of whom were born in the town of Cicero.
Mrs. Emmons passed away from earth, December 9, 1836, leaving a family and a large circle of friends to mourn her loss. Mr. Emmons, not wishing to take the responsibility solely on himself of raising and educating his family of ehil- dren, was again married, October 22, 1837, to Harriet Auringer, -she being born August 14, 1818, in the town of Clifton Park, Saratoga county, N. Y.,-who is the present companion of his declining years. lie was a member of the Whig party during the existence of their glorious old organization, and, on the formation of the Republican party, allied himself with that, and still remains so connected. He is a member of the Baptist church, and believes in open communion.
Mr. Emmons in life has been a thorough-going farmer, and, by industry and economy, has succeeded in saving enough of this world's wealth to enable himself and wife to live at ease. Also, by strict regard to the rules of health, he is to-day, although in his eighty-fourth year, as aetive as a man in the prime of life, and is looked up to by friends and neighbors as a worthy representative of a generation of mankind, the majority of which has long since passed away.
I'huto, by P 11. Benedi 1, Symeuse.
HON. ASA EASTWOOD.
MRS. MARY EASTWOOD.
HON. ASA EASTWOOD.
Hon. Asn Eastwood was born at Allentown, N. J., Feb. 20, 1751, being the son of Lewis Eastwood, who was a tanner and currier by trade, and who, in pursuit of work. removed to various loenlities, and in the year 1794 became a resident of the city of New York. Ass had fow opportunities of obtaining an education, the lack of which, in his later years, he much regretted. In 1800, during the war with France, Ain, in company with his brother John, shipped on board the I'nited States frigate " Constellation;" they returned in the summer of Is01.
He was married, Sept 28, 1501, to Mary, daughter of Benjamin Dosry, of Rockaway, Long Island, of which place she was a native. She was born July 20, 1782. Their union was blessed with eleven children, via., William, born in turen's to., N. Y., Ang 18, 150%; Benjamin, July 17, 1805 ; Mary, Aug 20, 1MM (died Sept. 17, 1874 ; Elizabeth, Ang. 11, 1808 (died Det. 21, 1816); Lewis, April 20, 1810 (died Feb, 1, 1%); Lucinda, July 4, 1812 died Jan. 12, 1857); John, Oct. 18, 1811; all of whom, except William, were born in New York city ; Elisha, born in Brooklyn, Nov. 16, 1516 ( was murdered in Louisiana, April 25, 1574) ; Samuel Ass, born July 16, 1819; Nelson Perry, Feb. 1 1822; Enos, June 2, 1826. The last three named were born in Cierro, Onondaga Co , N. Y. In 1817, Mr. Eastwood removed from New York city to Onondaga County, where he engaged in the grocery trade. Ile hold the office of con-table for a number of yours, being first ebbeted in 1507.
Un removing to this county be located in the town of fierro, and purchased a farm of one hundred and seven aeres, which is still in the possession of the firmly. Not having much taste for farming, he devoted much of his time to outside business He was greatly interested in, and worked energetically for, the welfare of the Agricultural meciety of this county, and was always foremost in introducing improvements, having brought the first wagon and thrashing-machine into the town of Cicero.
Mr. Eastwood was a Democrat of the Jefferson school. He was appointed March 18, 1821, by the governor, to the office of justies of the pence, and in the same year was elected a delegate to the
State convention to revise the constitution. In 1822 be removed with u part of his family to New York city, and was granted the " freedom of the city" by Stephen Allen, the mayor at that time May 13, 182%, he was elected one of the sachems of the Tammany society. In 1525 he returned to Onondaga County, and engaged for a short time in the salt business, erecting works at Salina. He was elected to the assembly in November, 1832, which was the last office held by him. He co-operated with the Democratic party until 1456, when, being opposed to the extension of slavery, he joined the Republican ranks, and ever afterwards acted with that party.
Of all the rever-es in life which had been the lot of Mr. Eastwood to meet, nono was so hard to bear as the loss of his loving wife, who lind been his companion for over sixty years ; she passed away April 16, 1562. Ile survived his wife for n number of years, but was called to his last home Feb. 25, 1570, having attained to the age of eighty-nine years. And (as a leading paper says of him) in all his official positions, and in every trust confided to him, he discharged his duties in such manner as to win the confidence and respect of all associated with him. In private life Mr. Eastwood was above reprouch. Hi- principles were high and honorable, his hnbits correct and exemplary, and his influence in society always beneficial to good morals. His long and eventful life, his public career, his ripe experience, and his intercourse with cultivatil mind-, gave him n refnement of manner, great fluency, and rich- ness in conversational qualities, that made his company very attractive and interesting. In his Inst sickness, realizing that his career was finished, he closed his business affairs, sent invitations for his old associates to be present at his funeral, and then, an n weary child in the arms of its mother, he fell asleep in death, to awaken in an immortal and glorious life. He was a regular attend ant of the Universalist church of Cicero, and had long cherished un undoubting faith in Christ ns the Saviour of the workl, and passed many of his last years in its peaceful light. He was prom- montly connected with the Masonic order, which was well repre- sented nt his funeral.
Photo. by Bouta & Curtiss, Syracuse.
Photo. by B. F. Howland & Co., Syracuse.
ORSAMUS JOHNSON.
DOROTHY JOHNSON.
ORSAMUS JOHNSON.
The sons of Massachusetts are found in every State in the Union, hailing as they do from a State which early had the reputation of being foremost in producing men of cdueation and culture; in removing to other localities they carried the same characteristics with them. The subject of this sketch was born among the hills of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 27, 1800, being the son of Jacob and Aehsah Johnson, whose family consisted of four children. At the early age of three months his father removed to the town of Pompey, Onon- daga County, where he carried on the business of farming until his death in the year 1812. Mr. Johnson's early life was passed on his father's farm, aud teaching in the district schools until his marriage, in 1826, with Dorothy, daughter of Erastus Mark- ham, of Fabius, who was born June 18, 1805. About three years after his marriage he removed to Central Square, Oswego county, where he carried on the business of keeping publie- house ; he resided there about three years, when he removed to Brewerton, in the town of Cicero, where he pursued the same business till 1846, when he turned his attention to farming, which has been his occupation in life up to the present time. By his marriage with his first wife he had three children : Helen, who was born December 23, 1827, and was married to Lyman Barber, April 10, 1849, and who passed away, mourned by all who knew her, November 23, 1865; she was the mother
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.