History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 90

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

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Hon. Henry W. De Puy, was born in Pompey, in 1820. He was a lawyer and a writer of con- siderable note; the author of " Kossuth and His Generals, with a Brief History of Hungary," with

an Introduction by Henry J. Raymond ; also " Louis Napoleon and His Times with a Memoir of the Bonaparte Family," and "Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Heroes of '76, with the Early History of Vermont."

Mr. DePuy was Consul to Carlsruhe and Sec- retary of Legation at Berlin. President Lincoln ap- pointed him Secretary of Nebraska, in which capacity he organized that Territory, and served as Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature. He died in New York, Feb. 2d, 1876.

Besides these, Hon. C. B. Sedgwick, Hon. Luther Rawson, Grace Greenwood (Sarah I. Clarke,) Hon. Charles Mason, since Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa, Hon. George H. Williams, United States Senator from Oregon, and International Arbitrator in the Alabama Claims Case, and Gen. H. W. Slocum, Major-General in the late War of the Rebellion, deserve to be mentioned among the citi- zens of Pompey who have attained to honorable and distinguished positions.

There are a host of others, scattered through the various relations of life, equally worthy of mention, did space permit. Biographical sketches, or at least some notice of most of the early and promi- nent citizens of the town, will be found in the "Re- union and History of Pompey," published in 1875, from which most of the matter for our present his- tory of the town has been drawn. Speaking of Pompey Hill, Mr. Clark says :

" This village was, within the memory of men still living, as prominent a place as any in the county. It gave more tone to the surrounding country and set- tlements, on account of its refinement and wealth, its intelligence and learning, than any place in the vicinity. People came here for legal advice ; they came here for medical advice ; to do their trading ; and they came here for fashions ; they came here for military parades, for political discussions, and for general consultations of a public nature ; they came here to engage in all the events incident to men in public life."

POMPEY ACADEMY.

The first movement for the establishment of Pompey Academy was made in the year 1800. The Trustees named in the original petition for a charter were the following : Ebenezer Butler, Jr., Timothy Jerome, William Stevens, Jeremiah Gould, Phineas Howell, Elihu Lewis, Dan Bradley, Com- fort Tyler, James Knapp, John Lamb, Elijah Rust, Deodatus Clark, Hezekiah Olcott, David Williams, Walter Colton, Joseph Smith, James Beebe, John Kidder.

The petition, accompanied by a subscription amounting to $1,315, was laid before the Board of

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

Regents of the University, at a meeting held in the Senate Chamber, at Albany, on the 17th of March, 1800, and was referred to a Committee of the Board, consisting of Judge Benson and Simeon De Witt, who reported at a subsequent meeting held on the 31st of March. 1800. At this meeting a resolution was passed referring the question of a suitable location for the Academy to the Board of Supervisors of the County of Onondaga, who, at a meeting on the first Tuesday in October, 1800, re- ported favorably to locating the Academy at Pom- pey Hill At a meeting held on the 23d of March, 1801, the Regents resolved to make the granting of a charter to the Academy conditional upon the crection of a suitable building for its usc.

The first building for the Academy was com- menced in or about 1803. William Lathrop was the builder. On the 20th of July, 1807, William Lathrop and George W. Wood entered into an agreement with Manoah P'ratt, Henry Seymour, and Samuel S. Baldwin, the Building Committee, to do certain specified carpenter work in completing the building, for the sum of $200, the same to be paid by the assignment of subscriptions which should be good and collectable. Mr. Wood soon after retired from the job, and Mr. Lathrop pro- ceeded with it for a time ; finally, March 2, 1810, he relinquished the unfinished part of the job, agreeing to accept $140, in full of what had been done. In July, 1810, a new subscription was raised, and in the same paper the committee en- tered into an agreement to procure the completion of the Academy for the sum of $450. In the autumn of 1810 the building for the Academy was completed and paid for, and there remained $1,450 to serve as an endowment for the yielding of the net annual revenue of Stoo, required to warrant the granting of a charter.

In February, IS11, the final steps for the incor- poration of the school were taken. A petition numerously signed was sent to the Board of Regents. In this document the petitioners say :

" Your petitioners have at great expense pro- cured a suitable site, consisting of two acres of land, near the center of said town, and erected a large and commodious building, forty by fifty feet on the ground, two stories high and completely finished and painted inside and out, and paid for.

" Your petitioners have also procured a fund of $1,450, to be subscribed for the purpose of pro- ducing a net annual income for the support of the said institution, and that the same is well secured to Samuel S. Baldwin, Henry Seymour and Manoah P'ratt, as trustees, for the sole use of said academy, at an annual interest of seven per cent.

" Wherefore, your petitioners request that the

said academy may be incorporated and be subject to the visitation of the Regents of the University of the State of New York ; and they nominate for the first trustees of the said academy, the following persons, to wit : Henry Seymour, Semor Trustee, and Samuel S. Baldwin, Daniel Wood, Manoah Pratt, Ithamar Coc, Asa Wells, Hezekiah Clark, John Jerome, Silas P'ark, Jacobus DePuy, Daniel Allen, Chauncey Jerome, Daniel Tibbals, Joshua Johnson, Dirck C. Lansing, Benj. Sanford, Charles C, Mosley, W'm. J. Wilcox, Jonathan Stanley, Jr . Levi l'arsons, William Cook, Victory Birdseye, Jasper Hopper, James Geddes ; which persons we pray may be in- corporated by the name, style and description of ' Pompey Academy,' with a condition in the act of incorporation that the said principal sum of the said fund shall never be diminished or appropriated, and that the income of the said principal fund shall be applied only to the maintenance or salaries of the professors or tutors of the said Academy."

This petition was signed and sealed by sixty- three prominent citizens of the County ; it was drawn up by the late Victory Birdseye, and sworn to by Henry Seymour, before Daniel Wood, Justice of the Peace.

On the tith of March, 1811, by vote of the Regents, the Academy was incorporated by the name of " The Trustees of Pompey Academy." The persons named in the Petition were made Trustees by the Charter. At a meeting of the Trustees, held April 4, 1811, Henry Seymour was clected President, Victory Birdseye, Secretary, and Daniel Wood, Treasurer.

November 3. 1812, the following officers were chosen : Asa Wells, President ; Victory Birdseye, Secretary ; Daniel Wood, Treasurer ; Asa Wells, S. S. Baldwin and D. Wood, Prudential Committee.

October 6, 1813. the following officers were elected : Rev. J. Leonard, President ; V. Birdseye, Secretary : H. Seymour, Treasurer ; D. Wood, C. Jerome and D. Tibbals, Prudential Committee.

Henry Seymour remained Treasurer till January 10, 1821, when his duties as Canal Commissioner, to which he had been appointed March 24, 1819, compelled him to resign. He soon after removed to Utica, but he continued to be a Trustee of the Academy till October 30, 1833, and upon the ac- ceptance of his resignation, Mr. Samuel Baker was chosen in his place. Luther Marsh was chosen Treasurer in 1821, continuing till May 15, 1827, when Mr. V. Birdseye was elected to the office, which he held till his death, September 16. 1853. Levi Wells was then elected to the office, and held it till his death, March 31, 1872, when Dr. O. G. Dibble was chosen to succeed him.

The Academy building, as first erected was 40 by 50 feet, two stories, painted yellow, with its

ABRAHAM NORTHRUP.

MRS. ABRAHAM NORTHRUP.

PHOTOS BY W. V RANGER, SYRACUSE

Duvis. G. Hill [ LA FAYETTE. )

HOMER CASE

LOUISA G, CASE June 21 1056

EMILY I CASE MCH 9. 1875 33 YRS.

H.CASE

IN.CASE

HOMER CASE'S MONUMENT, POMPEY CEMETERY

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

gable fronting to the south, and had a hall ten feet wide running through the middle of the first floor.

In 1834 the old building was vacated and the new one commenced, which was finished and opened in the fall of 1835, the school, meantime, being taught in the district school house. The Preceptor's house was completed in May, 1836 .*

EARLY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.

The first school kept in Pompey was in a log house near the present residence of Mr. Daniel Kellogg. It was taught by Miss Lucy Jerome, afterwards wife of Judge James Geddes. The first house erected for school purposes was a frame building located in the forks of the road on the village green in 1798. In the rear of this was the first burying ground. The house was afterwards moved north to near the present site of Mr. Gott's office, and was occupied till the Academy building was erected. (See History of the Pompey Academy.) Among the early common school teachers were Miss Hepsabah Beebe, Mr. Lyman Pitcher and Mr. James Robinson. The latter first taught English Grammar to a few of his most advanced pupils. The interest of education has always been felt to be an important one by the people of Pompey. School No. 3, Pompey, was taught by Levi Jerome from December 4, 1799, to March 4, 1800; and among his pupils were many prominent heads of the early families of the town.

CHURCHES.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF POMPEY was organized October 19th, 1796, by Rev. Ammi R. Robins, pastor of the church at Norfolk, Con- necticut. The church was originally composed of twenty-two members, as follows :

Ebenezer Butler, Daniel McKeyes, Moses Lilly, James Olcott, Benjamin Butler, Joseph Shattuck, Ichabod Lathrop, John Jerome, Selah Cook, True- worthy Cook, Levi Jerome, Desire Butler, Dorathy Butler, Molly Jerome, Lucy Cook, Truelove Cook, Amarilla Jerome, Lucy Jerome, Susanna Carrol, Hannah Griffes, Zeruiah Catlin, Louisa Butler.

In 1797 there is no record of the officiating minister. In July, 1798, we have the name of Rev. Mr. Hallier, and in October, the name of Rev. Mr. Williston. July 19, 1799, Rev. Joseph Gilbert was chosen moderator. August 14, 1801, we have the first record of the labors of Rev. Hugh Wallis. October 15, 1802, he received a unani- mous call and was installed January 5, 1803. The first association of ministers and churches on the

Military Tract, was organized June, 1803. Rev. Mr. Wallis resigned January 10, 1809.

In October, 1810, the Presbytery of Onondaga was formed whereby this church became a member of Presbytery on the plan of Union. The first notice of any Thanksgiving service occurs as early as November, 1805. The following April there was the observance of the fast day so long customary with the churches of New England.

October 19, 1812, Rev. Jabez Chadwick entered upon the duties of pastor. The year 1813 was signalized as the most prosperous year of his ministry and in some respects the most prosperous year in the whole history of the church.

December 3, 1814, the church met to consider the question whether the labor of collecting hay and grain on the Sabbath in a catching season is a profanation of the day. The question being dis- cussed at very considerable length was unanimously decided in the affirmative.

The church building was erected in the sum- mer of 1817, but was not finished and dedicated until January 20, 1819, at which time Rev. Jabez Chadwick was installed pastor of this church. For about ten years previous to the erection of this church the public services were held in the old Pom- pey Academy.

March 31, 1822, the church extended a call to Mr. E. S. Barrows to become their pastor and he was ordained and installed September 10th, of the same year. Mr. Barrows was an able and success- ful pastor and accomplished a most blessed work during his ministry. He was dismissed October 6,

1828.

March 22, 1829, Rev. B. B. Stockton became pastor. During his ministry fifty-eight persons were added to the church, forty-six in 1831.

Rev. James B. Shaw, now Dr. Shaw, of Roch- ester, became pastor November 6, 1832 ; for two years he served the church with great acceptance and ability. There were received during his short but most popular ministry sixty-eight persons, fifty during the memorable year of 1833.

Rev. Ethan Smith commenced his labors some time during the latter part of 1834, but must have remained less than one year, for September 23, 1835, Rev. John Gridley commenced his ministry, and was installed October 25, 1836. Rev. Asa Rand commenced his ministry December 29, 1837, and remained about four years. During his minis- try thirty-nine were received.

Rev. Mr. Wheelock succeeded Mr. Rand in the spring of 1842, and remained at least two years. February 26, 1845, Rev. Clinton Clark was ordained

* For list of Principals and Teachers in the Academy, see Pompey Reunion, pp. 151-'53. .

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and installed pastor, and served the church till December 26, 18447.

November 5, 1848, Rev. S. P. M. Hastings as- sumed pastoral charge. During the six years and ten months of his ministry there were added to the church ninety-eight members. He was at his own request dismissed November 26, 1855. Among those who united with the church during his labors and have since entered the ministry were Rev. Hiram C. Hayden, D. D, pastor of the First Pres- byterian Church, Cleveland, Ohio, and Rev. Delos E. Wells, of Aurora, Ill., one of the promising and rising men of the West, and Rev. Carlos Swift, an honored minister in the Baptist church. This use- ful pastor has lately entered into rest. Rev. E. P. Smith succeeded Mr. Hastings, but only remained six months. He left the reputation of a godly and earnest minister. He was for several years Com- missioner among the Indians and afterwards elected President of Howard University, which position he held at the time of his recent death.

July 6, 1856, Rev. A. A. Graley became pastor ; his ministry continued six years, and there were added to the church twenty-three members.

November 1, 1862, Rev. J. Il. Moran commenced his labors for the term of one year, and was fol- lowed February 21, 1864, by Rev. Nathan Bos- worth. There were added to the church during the two years and two months of his ministry, fifty- three. Mr. Bosworth will long be held in grateful remembrance for devotion to his work. He closed his labors April 22. 1866.

October 1, 1866, Rev. R. S. Eggleston com- menced his ministerial work. He was uniformly acceptable to the congregation and closed his labors October 1, 1868.

April 9, 1870, Rev. Alvin Cooper commenced his labors and continued until August 1, 1871.

February 15, 1872, Rev. J. Petrie, present pastor commenced his labors.

It will be of interest to know that the whole number of members of this church from the be- ginning is 909. The deacons of the church who served the longest and will be held in most grate. ful remembrance are Levi Jerome, Israel Woodford Elijah Wells and Samuel Baker, now called to their reward, and A. H. Wells, who is still among the living. Deacon Jerome was the carly clerk of the church, and the history of its organization and its records for a number of years are in his handwrit- ing. He was evidently an active member of the church and was frequently its delegate to Presby- tery and Association. He united with this church at its organization, and departed this life June 11th,

1838, and was seventy-seven years old on the day of his death. He was a deacon of this church nearly thirty-nine years, though in the closing years of his life not in active service.

Daniel Dunham, the colleague of Levi Jerome, united with this church July 12th, 1799, by letter, from the second church in Lebanon, Conn. As he is called deacon in the record of his admission, it is fair to presume that he held the office previous to his removal here. He was elected deacon of this church December 27th, 1799, and probably dis- missed sometime between 1809 and 1812, as his name does not appear on the records subsequent to this date.

Ithamer Coe united with this church by letter April Ist, 1803, from what was then called the church in Clinton settlement, now the beautiful Village of Clinton. He was dismissed by letter to the church in Volney, March 9, 1816. Ezra Hart was received as a member of this church December 29th, 1799. His first notice as deacon of this church occurs January 13th, 1813. He was dis- missed by letter December 31st, IS18.

Israel Woodford united with this church by letter from the church in Farrington, Conn., Sep- tember, 1812 ; he was chosen deacon of this church April 4th, 1818, and died January Ist, 1852, eighty- three years of age. Elijah Wells united with this church on profession of his faith, February 2d, 1814: was elected deacon April 4th, 1St8; the colleague of Israel Woodford, and died 1830, at fifty-five years of age.

Pliny Porter, united with this church April 16th, 1817, on profession of his faith ; was elected deacon July 16th, 1831, and died November ist, 1840, at fifty-three years of age. Abraham Northrup united with this church on profession of his faith January Ist, 1813 : was elected deacon December 22d, 1834, and died November 7th, 1846, at seventy- two years of age.

Asa H. Wells united with this church November 30th, 1826; was elected deacon Dec. 22d, 1834, at the same time with Abraham Northrup, and was acting deacon forty years. Samuel Baker united with this church November 22d, 1826 ; was elected deacon April 26th, 1840, and died August Sth, 1874. The present deacons of the church, George Wells and I. L. Woodford, were elected soon after Deacon Baker's death.

Mrs. Debby Judd, united with the church March 18th, 1802. She died not long since at the Sand- wich Islands. Rev. Artemas Bishop, who was born in Pompey, and, was to some extent assisted in his education for the ministry by this church, was an

PHOTOS BY M. B. ISHAM, SYRACUSE .

ELIJAH WESTON. MRS.MARANDA WESTON

RESIDENCE OF JUSTIN F. GATES, POMPEY, ONONDAGA COUNTY, N. Y.

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

honored missionary to the Sandwich Islands, and died only a few years since at a ripe old age.

The Bible presented by Mrs. Henry Seymour, mother of ex-Governor Horatio Seymour, at the dedication of the church, is still in a good state of preservation. At a late visit of Governor Seymour to his friends at Pompey, it was suggested that this precious Bible should be presented to him as a family relic, and the clerk of the church was in- structed to write accordingly. Mr. Seymour wrote a beautiful and characteristic reply thanking the church for their kind offer, but said that he had come to the conclusion that the cherished Bible should remain in the possession of the church and continue its mission of blessing, to be read by the successive pastors of the future as it had been read by the preceding pastors of the past.

The bell presented by Hon. Henry Seymour to the church and society for their first house of wor- ship has not been so fortunate as to endure to the present, but was broken quite a number of years since, and has been twice replaced.

The present membership of the church is 130 ; attendance at the Sunday school about 100.

CHURCH OF DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, Pompey .- This church originated in a separation from the Baptist Church of Pompey under the ministry of Rev. J. I. Lowell, in the year 1834. Mr. Lowell, at the time of his settlement as pastor of the Baptist Church, was known to hold views differing some- what from that body, particularly with reference to certain beliefs and usages of the Baptists which he held to be unscriptural and sanctioned only by human authority. Believing in the all-sufficient authority and guidance of the Bible in all matters pertaining to religion, Mr. Lowell earnestly sought to conform his teachings to that standard, irrespective of-the cry of " heresy " that might be raised against him. He was, however, very soon pronounced a " Camp- bellite," as similar views about that time began to be promulgated by the late distinguished theologian, Alexander Campbell, of Virginia. The adherents to this so-called "new doctrine " at Pompey were among the most intelligent and estimable men and women of the Baptist Church ; nevertheless, for the sole cause of their honestly holding views differing from the rest of the church, quite a number, in May, 1834, were excluded from fellowship. These, together with several converted under Mr. Lowell's ministry, naturally desiring religious affiliation and . communion, were drawn together in a separate body, and on the 3d of May, 1834, as the records show, "The First Congregation of Disciples of

Christ, of Pompey," was organized with twenty- eight members, as follows :

Calvin Peck, Asa Wells, Thomas M. King, Alson Nearing, Charles Little, Malcom Bennett, A. H. Squires, Uriel Wilson, Jr., Samuel Talbot, Harry Knapp, Willard Hayden, Darius Wilson, Jacob Bush, Alvin Talbot, J. I. Lowell, Mary P. Lowell, Eliza Nearing, Polly Wilson, Mary A. Bush, Tem- perance Wilson, Paulina Talbot, Mindwell Thomas, Harriet Pratt, Catherine Bennett, Betsey Wright, Rhoda Parsons, Polly Thomas, Mary Knapp.

The church prospered. By the end of the year 1835 the membership had reached ninety-three.

In 1837 the society built the house in which they worshiped till 1868, when a new church was built, the old one having been sold for the use of the district school, in place of the school house which was burned down on the night of February 11, 1868.

The first pastor of the church was J. I. Lowell ; the first Elders, Calvin Peck, Asa Wells and Thos. M. King ; Deacons, Alson Nearing and Charles Little ; Treasurer, Malcom Bennett ; Clerk, A. H. Squires.

The following ministers have served the church as pastors :

J. M. Bartlett, M. H. Clapp, M. H. Slosson, H. M. Selmser, J. M. Shepard, Andrew J. Smith, W. T. Horner, L. Southmayd. J. B. Marshall, J. C. Goodrich, A. S. Hale, William Grimes, and W. H. Woolery, the present pastor.

WATERVALE.

WATERVALE, a village situated on the west branch of Limestone Creek, about four miles northeast of Pompey Hill, was settled by Col. James Carr about the year 1809. Mr. Carr built the first saw-mill erected on the stream in this vicinity. He was soon followed, about the same year, or in 1810, by Willoughby Millard, who, almost simultaneously with Mr. Carr, erected the second saw-mill. The place was first called Carr Hollow, then Hemlock Hollow, also Slab Hollow, on account of the great quantities of slabs made by the mills.

Ansil Judd settled in the Hollow in 1812, and built the first wool-carding and cloth-dressing estab- lishment in town. The postoffice was established here in 1820, Ansil Judd, Postmaster. Selecting the new name for the place, Mr. Judd announced it poetically as follows :

" The hemlocks are gone, The slabs are set sail, And we'll call it Slab Hollow No more, but WATERVALE."

Mr. George Ostrander, who settled in the place about 1815, built a distillery of considerable dimen- sions for that early day. He used about ten

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HISTORY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, NEW YORK

bushels of grain per day. For a considerable time Benjamin Wheeler carried on the business of tan- ning and shoemaking. The first store was opened by Ira Curtis, who also, for many years kept the first hotel. William C. Fargo, O. Abbott, Benjamin Patten and V. R. Taylor, were among the first settlers.

Anson Sprague, in 18:8, settled on the farm on which, in 1820, was found by Philo Cleveland the celebrated Monumental Stone. See Antiquities of the County. )

DELPHI.

This place, formerly called " Pompey Four Cor- ners," was changed to "Delphi" by some of the early settlers familiar with the classic scenes of Italy. It is situated in the beautiful valley of the Limestone Creek, about six miles east-by-south of Pompey Hill.

The Pompey " Reunion " gives the name of El- nathan Griffith, a gentleman ninety years of age, residing at Delphi, formerly a resident of the town of Fabius, as authority on the early settlement. Sam- uel Sherwood, probably the first settler in this local- ity, settled on Lot No. 84, about one mile north- west of the present village, in 1795. He came from Saratoga county, and was a Major-General of militia. Rufus Sheldon, father of a very talented family, among whom is Harvey Sheldon, Esq., of New York, settled near Gen. Sherwood's in the year 1800 ; Elijah Hill, 1798 or 1799: Col. Ensign Hill, 1800 ; James McClure, 1802 ; Samuel Draper, 1803 ; Ozias Burr and William Cook, 1802. The former was Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

Capt. Theophilus Tracy, who settled a half mile south-east of the village, erected the first grist mill on Limestone Creek, or rather put up the frame, about 1803. He sold to Moses Savage, who em- ployed Elnathan Griffith, who was a mill-wright, to complete the mill. The two run of French Burr stones, which cost $100, and were brought from Al- bany by teams sent thither with loads of wheat, are still running in the mill. In 1825 or '30 Deacon Moses Savage built the grist mill now owned by Edgar Pratt.

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History of Onondaga County, New York, Part 90

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