USA > New York > Oswego County > History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 57
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Charles Guernsey, priv., Co. C, 117th Regt. Killed Jane 1, 1861, at Cold Harbor.
Hezekiah Gilbert, priv., Co. A, 111th. Diod Jane 11, 1865.
Michael Guard, priv., 50th Engineers. Enlisted Feb. 13, 1863. David HI. Holmes, priv., Co. B. 110th. Enl'd Aug. 6, 1862 ; served three years; was in battles of Bisland, Port Hudson, etc.
Deender Harmon, mus., Co. K, 81st. Served three years : re-enlisted ; mustered out with regiment August 30, 1865.
Sylvanus Harris, sergt., Co. (, 24th Regt. Enlisted Dec. 31, 1863 ; was in battles of Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, l'etersburg, m.d Thatcher's Itun.
224
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
James Holmes. Enlisted December 19, 1864.
Chester Hare, private. Enlisted August 18, 1863.
Thomas Hardy, priv., Co. C, Ist Art. Enlisted Mareh 31, 1864.
Daniel Hilliher, private, 184th Regiment. Enlisted Ang. 26, 1864. Nathan Holmes, private, 193d Regiment. Enlisted April 7, 1865. Anson Hoag, private, Co. K, 81st Regiment.
George M. Ilaven, priv., Co. C, 147th Regt. Died March 7, 1863. Degrass Hanners, priv., Co. C, 147th Regt. Killed July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg.
Elias Hanners, priv., Co. C, 147th Regt. Died July 15, 1863, of wounds received nt Gettysburg.
Joseph Hogar, priv., Co. K, 81st Regt. Killed June 4, 1864, at Cold Harbor.
John Howell, priv., Co. G, 91st Pennsylvania. Died April 1, 1862. Delos D. Holmes, priv., Co. B, 110th Regt. Died March 1, 1864.
Lorenzo W. Horton, priv., Co. C, 147th Regt. Died Aug. 25, 1864, in rebel prison.
Erastus R. Holdridge, priv., Co. C, 147th Regt.
Delano D. Hollis, private, Co. B, 110th Regiment.
Sylvanus Holmes, Co. G, 24th Cavalry.
Thomas W. Henry, private. Enlisted August 27, 1864.
Orson Ingersoll, priv., Co. G, 184th. Enlisted August 24, 1864.
Isaae N. Ingersoll, priv., Co. E, 189th. Enlisted August 26, 1864.
Jesse A. Ingersoll, priv., Co. E, 14th U. S. Inf. Killed May 5, 1864, at Wilderness.
Franklin Ingersoll, priv., Co. E, 35th Wisconsin. Died Jan. 31, 1864. Eldridge W. Jones, priv., Co. G, 184th Regt. Enl'd Ang. 24, 1864. A. D. W. Jones, sergt., Co. C, 147th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 21, 1862 ; in battles of Gettysburg, Mile Run, Hay Market, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Hateher's Run, and others; wounded in the groin at Spottsylvania.
Charles H. Jones, priv., 81st Regt. Enl'd Sept. 4, 1861 ; dis. May, 1863. Elbridge W. Jones, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted August, 1864.
James A. Jones, private, Co. B, 110th Regiment.
Peter Kelly, private, Co. B, 110th Regiment. Eulisted Ang. 1, 1862. Thomas W. Kearney, private, 147th Regt. Enlisted March 31, 1864. Samuel J. Keeler, private, 184th Regt. Eulisted August 27, 1864. Samuel Keller, private, 9th Heavy Artillery.
Thos. Kernan, private, 14th Heavy Artillery.
Henry H. Lyman, Ist lieut. and udjt., 147th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 21, 1862; in battles of Gettysburg, Chaneellorsville, Wilderness; captured May 5, 1864; released March 1, 1865; promoted to 2d lient., Co. C, Feh. 24, 1863 ; to Ist lieut., Co. C, Jan. 8, 1864; to adj't., Jan. 17, 1861.
Frank S. Loomis, sergt., Co. D, 6th Cav. Enlisted Sept. 25, 1862; in battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, seeond Bull Run, West Point, Pottnw's Bridge, Mulvero Hill, and others.
G. Lampman, priv., Co. G, 184th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1864. Joseph H. Lamb, priv., Co. G, 184th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 25, 1864. Louis Lagerden, private. Enlisted Dee. 19, 1864; substitute. John Larkin, priv., Co. A, 9th Artillery. Enlisted Mareh 15, 1864. Charles D. Lathrop, priv., 81st Regt. Enlisted March 31, 1864. Lueius Lefever, priv., 193d Regt. Enlisted April 6, 1865.
Addison Leadley, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted April 13, 1865. Seymour B. Moody, priv., Co. E, 10th Art. Enlisted Ang. 11, 1862. Henry H. Moody, corp., Co. E, 10th Art. Enl'd Aug. 8, 1862 ; in battle of Petersburg.
Delano G. Moody, priv., Co. G, 184th Regt. Enlisted Angust, 1864. A. N. Maltby, Ist sergt., Co. G, 184th Regt. Enlisted Ang. 22, 1864; promoted from 2d sergt. to orderly Nov. 1, 1864.
Ulrie Z. Maltby, priv., Co. G, 184th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 23, 1864. Judah Macy, priv., Co. I, 193d Regt. Enlisted March 8, 1865.
Theodore Maey, private, Co. I, 193d Regt. Enlisted Mareh 8, 1865. Stephen Monroe, priv., Co. E, 148th Regt. Enlisted Ang. 26, 1864. Oliver B. Mooney, priv., Co. E, 189th Regt. Enlisted Ang. 24, 1864. Henry M. Mason, priv., Co. G, 184th Regt. Enlisted Ang. 26, 1864. George Moon, priv., Co. G, 184th Regt. Enlisted August 24, 1864. Wm. Mandigo, priv. Enlisted Ang. 15, 1863 ; a substitute. Wm. Munderbueb, priv. Enlisted Aug. 18, 1863 ; a substitute. Henry Martin, priv., Co. A, 9th Art. Enlisted Mareh 15, 1864. Henry MeGrain, priv., Co. B, 181st Regt. Enlisted Mareh 15, 1864. Edward MeFee, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted Ang. 26, 1864. Andrew Mosher, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 29, 1864. Henry Milton, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted Ang. 25, 1864; substitute. Adelbert A. Mason, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted September 1, 1864.
Avery Mandigo, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted August, 1864.
Charles 1[. MeCorty, priv., Co. C, 147th Regt. Died May 4, 1863, at Chaneellorsville.
Merritt A. MeChesney, priv., Co. A, 147th Regt. Died Feb. 27, 1863, at Belle Plain, Virginia.
James M. Maxon, priv., Co. K, 81st Regt. Died November 11, 1862. Jas. M. MeChesney, priv., Co. A, 17th U. S. Inf. Died in rebel prison. George H. Morton, navy. Died.
Wm. MeLellan, Jr., priv., Co. A, 2d Art. Killed June 17, 1864, at Petersburg.
Ilenry Mellen. Enlisted August 25, 1863 ; quartermaster.
Stephen Monroe. Enlisted August 29, 1864.
John Nagle, private. In battles of Port Hudson, Donelsonville, Camp Bisland, Subin Cross-Roads, ete.
John Nieolson, priv., Co. C, 147th Regt. EnI'd Ang. 26, 1863.
George Nicolson, priv., Co. A, Ist Art. Enlisted Mareh, 1864; wounded on pieket duty ; died near Washington.
Albert L. Nelson, priv., Co. B, 110th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 6, 1862; in battles of Port Hudson, Franklin, Camp Bisland, Sabin Cross- Roads, and others.
Merritt Noyce, Co. G, 189th Regiment. Enlisted August 26, 1864.
F. M. Niles, priv., 37th Regt. Enlisted May 2, 1861; wounded at battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia ; discharged.
Porter M. Niles, navy. Eulisted September 1, 1864.
Clerland Newton, priv., 9th Cavalry. Enlisted Jan. 4, 1864.
Charles Oliver. Enlisted December 19, 1864; substitute.
George Omens, priv., 9th Cavalry. Enlisted January 4, 1864.
D. D. Owen, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted Sept. 1, 1864 ; promoted to Ist lient. ; discharged with regiment.
Jumes T. Outterson, enpt., 184th Regt. Enlisted August, 1864.
Charles Prododeit, priv., Co. B, 110th Regt. Enl'd Aug. 7, 1862 ; trans. to Ist La. Cnv .; mustered out July 13, 1865.
Dwight D. Porter, priv., Co. E, 189th Regt. Enlisted Ang. 27, 1864; mustered out with regiment.
David S. Prineell. Enlisted December 19, 1864; substitute.
John Perry. Enlisted December 19, 1864; substitute.
Lewis Pieree, priv., Co. A, 2d Art. Enlisted February 20, 1864. Leman Pieree, priv., Co. A, 2d Art. Enlisted February 20, 1864.
Henry H. Phillips, priv., Co. B, 8Ist Regt. Enlisted Mar. 28, 1864. Christmas Pill, priv., Co. I, 184th Regt. Enlisted Angust 8, 1864. W. A. Pulmerton, priv., 2d Mich. Served three years ; honorably dis. Richard Phillips, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted August 27, 1864. Franeis N. Potter, priv., Co. F, Ist N. Y. Art. Died May 1, 1864. Luke Potter, priv., Co. C, 147th Regt. Died February 12, 1863.
Charles Pettingal, priv., Co. E, 110th Regt. Died July 3, 1863.
George W. Potter, private, Co. B, 110th Regiment.
Willard Parker, 14th Heavy Artillery.
Richard Pratt, 14th Heavy Artillery.
W. H. Paddoek, Co. K, 8th Cavalry.
Wm. Pieree, 2d Heavy Artillery.
Wm. Person, 16th Infantry. Enlisted Mareh 28, 1864.
George Philbrick, private, Co. C, 147th Regiment.
Edward Parker, Ist lientenant, Co. C, 147th Regiment.
Chandler Pike, 16th Infantry. Enlisted February 27, 1862.
Randolph Rathbun, priv., Co. E, 189th Regt. Enl'd Aag. 27, 1864; mastered out with regiment.
Charles G. Russell, priv., Co. E, 189th Regt. Enlisted Ang. 26, 1864. John R. Russell. Enlisted December 19, 1864 ; a substitute.
John A. Robbins, priv., 9th Cavalry. Enlisted January 4, 1864.
Wm. Robbins, priv., Co. C, 147th Regt. Died May 11, 1863; Madi- son battle.
John A. Robbins, priv., Co. C, 147th Regt. Died March 20, 1864.
James H. Russell, priv., Co. E, 4th Minnesota Regt. Killed Oet. 5, 1864, at Altoona.
Henry D. Rogers, serg., Co. B, 110th Regt. Died April 26, 1863.
Richard Rohbins, priv., Co. B, 110th Regt. Died October 7, 1863. Jesse Robbins. Enlisted August 10, 1863.
James Robbins, Cu. B, 147th Regiment.
Hiram Russel, priv., 1st Light Artillery.
James Reynolds, priv., Co. K, 110th Reg't. Enlisted Ang., 1863 ; mustered out with regiment.
Thomas Salmon, priv., Co. H, 54th Inf. Enlisted Dee. 22, 1863 ; dis. for disability.
Dexter Sampson, priv., Co. K, 81st Regt. Enlisted Nuv. 1, 1861 ; re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864; in battles of Swift Creek, Pilot Hill,
FULTON
DAM.
OSWEGO FALLS.
SCENERY BELOW FULTON.
LITH. BY SCHEDA.
WINSOR, DEL.
OSWEGO FALLS VIEW ON OSWEGO RIVER, NEAR FULTON, N.Y.
225
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Drury's Bluff, Cold Harber, and others ; mastered out August 30, 1865.
Silas 11. Seymour, priv., Co. E, 189th. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1863; in battles Five Forks, Dabney's Mills, etc.
Irving Sherman, priv., Co. G, 184th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1864; mustered out with regiment.
Orgin Simpson. Enlisted Sept. 19, 1864; a substitute.
Geo. Sherman. Enlisted December 19, 1864 : a substitute.
Kimball Stockwell. Enlisted Deceaiber 19, 1864; a substitute. Michael Stratten, priv., Co. A, 9th Art. Enlisted March 15, 1864. Charles B. Spencer, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted August 27, 1864. D. M. Spencer, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 29, 1864. Gee. L. Sampson, priv., 148th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 29, 1864. John Short, priv., 42d Pa. Regt. Enlisted July 29, 1864. Garret D. Sweet, priv., Ce. I, 193d Regt. April 7, 1865.
Emery Sampson, priv., Co. B, 110th Regt. Eelisted Aug. 6, 1862; mustered out with regiment.
James L. Smith, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1864. Reuben Salshury, corp., Bat. G, N. Y. Art. Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
D. Aaron Spalsbury, priv., 94th. Killed Aug. 30, 1861, at Bull Run. Geo. W. Snew, priv., Co. A, 14th Brooklyn S. M. Died Jan. 20, 1862. Albert Stowell, priv., Co. C, 110th Regt. Died January 16, 1863. Erwin B. Shedd, priv., Co. H, Ist N. Y. Art. Died March 12, 1865. James F. Salmon, navy. Died Feb. 25, 1864, on b'rd U. S. st. De Soto. Nahum Soules, Co. B, 110th Regiment.
Joseph Stubbs, 14th Heavy Artillery. Enlisted Dec. 21, 1863. Oren Stewart, priv., Co. C, 147th Regiment.
Hudson Spalding, priv., 94th Regiment. Enlisted Jae., 1862; hon- orably discharged after three years' service. Robt. Sherman, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1864. Ralph Sherman, Co. B, 110th Regiment.
Thaddeus W. Tyler, priv., Co. E, 184th Regt. Enl'd Ang. 24, 1864; mustered out with regiment.
Marshall Thompson, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted August 25, 1864. William Thompson, Co. C, 147th Regiment. Lafayette Taylor, private. Deserted. Henry Thomas, Co. K, 81st Regiment.
Luke Tryon, 1st Artillery.
John S. Wilcox, priv., Co. E, 189th. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1864; iu bat- tles llatcher's Run, Gravel Run, Five Forks; served nine months ; honorably discharged.
John M. Williams, priv. Enlisted May 10, 1861 ; in battles of Pitts- burg Landing, Stene River, Chiekamanga ; mustered out June, 1864; re-enlisted ; mustered out with regiment.
Wm. Webb, priv., Co. B, 110th Regt. Enlisted Aug., 1802; in battle of Camp Bisland ; minstered out Apr. 18, 1864.
Wm. H. Watkins, priv., Ce. B, 110th Regt. Enlisted Aug., 1862; served threo yoars; mustered out with regiment.
Charles N. Walworth, priv., Co. B, 110th Regiment. Enlisted Aug., 1862; discharged for phys. disability March 8, 1864.
John Wilson, priv., Co. B, 110th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 2, 1862; in battles of Port Hudson, Cump Bisland ; served 3 yrs ; hen. dis. Adelbert Warner, priv., Co. E, 189th Regt. Enlisted Ang. 27, 1864; mustered out with regt.
Wm. Walworth, priv., Co. E, 189th Regt. Mastered out with regt.
B. M. Woodruff, priv., Co. E, 189th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1864; mustered out with regiment.
Sylvanus Woleett, priv., Ce. E, 184th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1864 ; mustered out with regiment.
Allen B. Wescott, priv., Co. E, 189th Regt. Enlisted Aug., 1864. John Williams. Enlisted Dec. 19, 1864 ; a substitute.
Hiram Willard. Enlisted Dee. 19, 1861 ; a substitute. Lewis Wood, priv., Co. A, 2d Art. Enlisted March 7, 1864. David J. White, priv., 147th Regt. Eulisted March, 1864. Alpheus West, priv., 184th. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1864. Wm. Williams, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted Ang. 26, 1864. Simon P. Winen, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted Aug. 30, 1864. Frank D. Weaver, priv., 193d Regt. Eolisted April 11, 1865. Samuel Wood, priv., 184th Regt. Enlisted August 30, 1864. Robert Wells, priv., Cavalry. Died April 11, 1865.
Martin A. Wileox, priv., Ce. 1I, 16th Wis. Died Sept. 10, 1864. Edward White, priv., Co. B, 105th Regt. Killed Aug. 30, 1861, at
Bull Run.
Wm. C. Weed, priv., Co. B, 110th Regt. Died April 21, 1863. Burton White, priv., Co. E, 147th Regt. Died May 20, 1863. John Woleott, priv., 14th Heavy Artillery.
Brown M. Woodworth, priv., 189th Regiment.
VOLNEY.
IN March, 1806, a large tract of land was taken from the old town of Mexico (then belonging to Oneida county), known as the fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, and twenty-fourth townships of Scriba's patent, including the present towns of Scriba, Volney, Palermo, and Schroeppel. This extensive territory, when formed into a town, was called Fredericksburgh, the original name of the seventeenth township, in honor of Mr. Scriba's son, Frederick William. The fourteenth survey-township in- cluded the great part of the present town of Palermo, and was called Brugen. The fifteenth comprised the north part of the present town of Volney, and a narrow strip on the west side of Palermo. It was surveyed by Elijah Blake and Ebenezer Wright, in 1796, and called Mentz. The sixteenth, composed of the south part of Volney and west part of Schroeppel, was called Georgia, and was surveyed by Moses Wright, in 1796. The seventeenth was called Fredericksburgh, and was surveyed by Benjamin Winch and Miles Doolittle, in 1796. It was the largest township
of the six above named, and included the south half of the present town of Scriba and the west third of Volney. The eighteenth survey-township was called Oswego. It was surveyed by Elijah Blake, in 1794, and included that part of the present town of Scriba north of the base-line of Seriba's patent. The twenty-fourth township was called Erlang, and included the east part of Schroeppel, but the name of the surveyor we are not able to give. The two Wrights before named, Ebenezer and Moses, were cousins of Benjamin Wright, the chief surveyor of the patent. Ebenezer was a noted man in the history of the town, and will be noticed in the proper place.
In April, 1811, the eighteenth township, with a part of the seventeenth, was formed into a town by itself, and called Scriba, after the patentee. At the same time, the name of Fredericksburgh was dropped, and the remaining territory was called Volney, in honor of the celebrated French philosopher of that name, who visited this locality in 1808. This gentleman, in making a voyage from
226
HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Montreal, encountered a terrible storm on the lake, by which he lost many of his papers, and came near losing his life.
On arriving at Oswego, he came directly up the river to Oswego falls, and put up with Noah A. Whitney for a few days, to re-write what he had lost, and recover from the effects of his perilous journey. Mr. Whitney was so charmed with his guest that, when the next town was to be named, he proposed that it should be called Volney, and the suggestion was adopted. In April, 1832, Palermo and Schroeppel were taken off, leaving Volney at its present size ; with one hundred and seventy lots situated in three survey-townships,-eighty-three in the fifteenth, forty-six in the seventeenth, and forty-one in the sixteenth.
The town is watered by several small streams, the largest of which is Black creek. This rises in the north part of the town, runs northwest into the town of New Haven, then through Seriba, afterwards back into Volney, and, finally, into the Oswego river near Battle island. The creek runs through two or three lakes, and has several saw-mills upon it, of which we will mention Peck's, at Peck's Mills, Stone's, in Scriba, and Van Buren's, near Oswego river.
The second stream in size is Spafford's, which rises in the town of Schroeppel, runs northwesterly, on the cast border of Fulton, and empties into the Oswego river, just below the village. The six-mile creek rises near the centre of Volney, and runs southeasterly, through the hamlet of Gilbert's Mills, into the Oneida river. Bell creek rises in town, and runs south past Hull's Corners into the six-mile creek, about two miles north of its mouth.
The Oswego river is on the west border of the town for about ten miles, and furnishes an immense amount of water- power for manufacturing purposes. Prior to the completion of the Erie canal, the transportation by water between Schenectady and Oswego was only interrupted by a " carry- ing-place" of about one mile between the Mohawk river and Wood creek, near Rome, and the " portage" at Oswego falls, of about the same distanee. This portage, at an early day, caused the two celebrated places to grow up, called the " Upper Landing" and " Lower Landing." They were situated at the head and foot of the rapids, about one mile apart, the present village of Fulton being about midway between the two places.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The first permanent settler of the present town of Volney was Daniel Masters, who located at the " Upper Landing" in 1793. He was a blacksmith by trade, and occupied a house near Bradstreet's fort. His business at the anvil could not have been very driving, as the settlers in the vieinity were very scarce, only two or three families having settled on the opposite side of the river the year previous. Mr. Masters made himself very conspicuous in one thing at least, the making of spear-heads, for which he received the invariable price of one dollar each in silver. He was a con- stable of the great town of Mexico in 1800, and a path- master of the same town in 1803.
He kept the first hotel within the present town of Vol- ney as early as 1794. After a few years he moved to an island near Sackett's Harbor, and died there.
The second settler was Lawrence Van Valkenburgh,
from Chatham, Columbia county, New York, familiarly called " the major," who located about two miles below the present village of Fulton, at what is now called the " Orchard Loek," in 1795. His family consisted of him- self, his wife, his son Abraham and his wife, and a younger son named James. The latter was killed at Salina at an early date, leaving no descendants. The former was the father of Colonel Ephraim Van Valkenburgh, late of Ful- ton, who was the first white child born in town, in 1796. The Van Valkenburghs bought six hundred acres of land, and built their house on the point, a little southwest of the " Orchard Lock." All that remains now to show where the house stood is the cellar.
The major kept a public-house licre from about the first, this being a convenient stopping-place in going from Oswego to " Salt Point," and returning, Syracuse not being thought of at that time.
The house above referred to was composed of three com- partments, the two extremes being built of logs, and the centre being a frame. The frame part was used for dances, town-meetings, and other public gatherings.
The first town-meeting of Fredericksburgh was hield at this house, and will be noticed in the proper place. Major Van Valkenburgh made this his permanent residence until his death, about 1828.
His son Abraham was quite a prominent man of the carly times, having held various offices in the town of Mexico from 1798 until Fredericksburgh was formed, in 1806. He was licensed to keep a public-hause as early as 1797, as will be seen by the following, which is a true copy of the original, now among the records of Mexico :
"STATE OF NEW YORK, )
" HERKIMER COUNTY.
" Be it remembered, that on the eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, Abraham Van Valkenburgh, of the town of Mexico, in the county aforesaid, innholder, came before one John Meyer, Esq., one of the justices assigned to keep the peace in and for said county, and acknowledged himself to be indebted unto the people of this State in the sum of fifty pounds lawful money of the said State, to be levied on his goods and chattels, lands and tenements, to the use of the people of said State, in case default shall be made, in the condition following: The condition of this recognizance is such that if the above-bounden Abraham Van Valken- burgh, during the time he shall keep an inn or tavern, shall not keep a disorderly inn or tavern, or suffer or per- mit any cock-fighting, gaming, or playing with cards or dice, or keep any billiard-table or other gaming-table, or shuffle-board, within the inn or tavern by him to be kept, or within any out-house, yard, or garden thereunto belong- ing, then this recognizance to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.
" Acknowledged before me June 8, 1797. " JOHN MEYER, Justice of the peace."
Mr. Meyer, who resided at Rotterdam (now Constantia), was the first supervisor of the town of Mexico, and was the first justice of the peace in what is now Oswego County.
.
Louwill Johnson
HON. LOVWELL JOHNSON.
THE subject of this sketch, from all that can be gathered from his associates in life, stood far up the scale in all that pertains to true manhood, respected and honored by all who knew him. Judicious counsel to his fellow-men, a friend to the destitute, self- reliant, a modest ambition, and although a peer in society, yet gentlemanly in all his ways.
Lovwell was the eldest son of Isaac and Dinah Johnson, and was born in Gill, Franklin county, Massachusetts, February 25, 1783; was a lineal descendant in the eighth generation of Wil- liam Johnson, who emigrated from the city of London, England, very soon after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, 1620, and settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Ile was one of a family of twelve children, and as in the early days of the country's history means for procuring an education were very limited, he only received little instruction from books while a boy ; but the father and mother, by care and judicions use of the means at hand, secured to their children well-grounded moral habits, and laid the foundation for lives of culture and usefulness.
So much did the desire for knowledge increase with the eldest son, that, while working on the anvil and at the forge, his book was before him, and this earnestness of purpose and self-depend- ence characterized his whole life.
While quite a young man he acquired sufficient education to teach school, and going to Hoosick, New York, engaged in teach- ing, and during his leisure hours began the study of law, which afterward became his favorite theme.
In the year 1819 he came to Oswego County, and after teach- ing one term of school at Mexico, bought a farm in the town of Volney (now Palermo), and commenced farming, and at the same time practiced as an attorney at the bar. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the State of New York in 1829.
As a lawyer he manifested clearness of perception, sound com- mon sense, and indefatigable perseverance. He would no doubt have obtained a wide celebrity as a lawyer had not his increasing
prosperity demanded his principal attention. Was simple in his habits, abhorred laziness, and was intolerant of fraud; energetic in business, prompt and remarkably exact in the performance of his slightest promises.
Never seeking a public office, yet he held severally the offices of County Superintendent of the Poor, Justice of the Peace, Super- visor, and Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Was the first postmaster appointed in the town of Palermo, and held the office until he removed to Fulton, in the year 1839.
One very marked feature of his life was the interest he al- ways took in securing the proper titles to lands to those who were about to lose them from some defect or other in their deeds from chartered companies. A Jeffersonian Democrat in politics, always firm in the support of the constitution and laws, yet differ- ing with some of his party on the subject of masters relative to their slaves. He was very active as a politician, yet regarding principles as sacred and nnyielding, but men changeable. In middle life he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and continued a member of that body until his death, which took place August 12, 1859. ITis house being always open to strangers, he gave liberally for both church and school interest, and assisted others to obtain, through competent teachers, what he secured only by labor and privation. His counsels were much sought by all who knew him, and in the village where he spent the meridian and eve of life was very highly respected.
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