History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 67

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798


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 67


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Dusty Lurach, Co. A, 24th Cav. Eal'd 1863; in battles of Wilder- ness, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg ; discharged Aug. 2, 1865.


Alfred Willis, Co. A, 24th Cav. EnI'd Feb. 15, 1863; at surrender of Petersburg ; discharged July 17, 1865.


Peter Demara, Co. A, 24th Cav. Enl'd 1863 ; killed before Petersburg. Fremont Ilutchins, 24th Cav. Enl'd Jan. 19, 1864; in battles of Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Lee's surrender.


James White, Cn. I, 24th Cav. Ealisted Dec. 30, 1863; in battles of Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg ; dis. June 5, 1865.


Wedey H. Kendrick, capt., Co. K, 50th Inf. Enl'd Oct. 22, 1861; at siege of Vicksburg and Atlanta ; dis. Sept. 16, 1864.


Charles N. Duell, Co. H, 9th II. Art. EnI'd Dec. 25, 1863; in battles of Cold Ilarbor and Winchester, and lost right leg at Cedur Creck, Oct. 19, 1864; discharged June 9, 1865.


Charles H. Lusk, Ca. G, 12th Cnv. Enl'd July 15, 1863; in skirmish at Bachelor's Creek, N. C., was regim'l clerk ; dis. Aug. 7, 1865. Heury B. Kendall, corp., Co. A, 12th Cav. Enl'd Aug. 14, 1864; in battle of Plymouth, N. C .; takco prisoner ; kept at Florence and Andersonville; discharged July 14, 1865.


George Gregg, sergt., Co. B, 12th Cav. Enlisted Aug. 31, 1862; dis- charged April, 1865, and died of disease, May 8, 1865.


Frank Sweet, sergt., Co. A, 12th Cav. Eul'd Aug. 13, 1862; in bat- tles Tarboro' and Newbern ; taken prisoner at I'lymouth; eight months a prisoner, five at Andersonvillo.


Charles D. Phelps, corp., Co. B, 3d Light Art. Enl'd Jan. 15, 1864 ; was in Hanly Hill and discharged July 13, 1865.


Winfield S. Taft, sergt., 11th Cav. Enl'd Jan. 18, 1862; did duty near Washington ; discharged Jan. 19, 1865.


Julius S. Gaft, Co. A, Ist Cav. EnI'd Dee., 1863; in battles of Spott- sylvania, Cold IIarbor, Petersburg, and Weldon R. R. ; discharged July 19, 1865.


Henry G. St. John, Co. K, 11th Cuv. Enlisted Sept. 5, 1862; dis- charged June 12, 1865.


Francis B. Bristol, Co. C, 75th laf. Eal'd Oct. 12, 1861 ; in battles of Pleasant Hill, Sabine Cross-Roads, and Winchester, Va. ; discharged Nov. 26, 1864.


Geurge N. Falley, capt., Co. C, 50th. Enlisted Aug. 10, 1861.


Joseph Robinson, 50th Engineers.


Frank Robinsoo, Co. E, Ist Light Art. Discharged June 16, 1865.


Hawley Van Camp, Co. F, Ist Light Art. Enl'd Dec. 28, 1863; dis. June 20, 1865.


Zachariah E. Clark, Co. K, 7th II. Art. Eal'd Dec. 31, 1863; in battles of Cold Harbor and Petersburg; died Aug. 22, 1864.


Henry T. Clark, Co. L, 12th Cav. Enl'd Dec. 20, 1863; disebarged Aug. 7, 1865.


Brazil Pepper, Co. F, Ist L. Art. Enl'd Feb. 29, '64 ; dis. June 20, '65. Henry J. Case, 12th Cav. Eul'd Aug. 15, 1862; taken pris. at Ply- mouth, N. C .; died at Andersonville, Aug. 19, 1864.


Truman Smith, Co. B, 12th Cav. Enl'd Sept. 17, '62 ; dis. July 19, '65. Ezra C. Salmon, Co. II, 97th Iuf. Drafted Aug., 1863; died Nov. 26, 1864, at Arlington Hospital, Va.


Anthony Roderiek, 12th Cav. Eol'd io 1862 ; discharged.


John Van Wick Hart, Co. A, 12th Cav. Enl'd July, 1863; disch.


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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.


David H. Case, Co. B, 24th Cav. Enl'd Apr. 21, '64; dis. June 26, '65. Milo S. Warner, Co. A, 24th Cav. EnI'd Mar. 25, '64 ; dis. Aug. 2, '65. Luther Warner, Co. A, 12th Cav. Enl'd Sept., 1862; taken pris. at Plymouth, and died at Andersonville, Jan. 7, 1865.


Albert P. Swart, corp., Co. I, 24th Cav. Enl'd Dec. 31, 1863; in battles of Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Weldon R. R .; discharged July 19, 1865.


John Swart, private, Co. I, 24th Cav. Enlisted Deo. 31, 1863; died Aug. 14, 1865.


Edmund R. Jones, Co. B, 12th Cav. Enl'd Sept, 6, 1862; in battle of Tarboro' ; dis. for disability ; re-enl'd corp., Co. H, 2d H. Art. ; discharged June 5, 1865.


Theodore Davis, Co. K, 9th H. Art. Eolisted Jan. 2, 1864; died in Washington, D. C.


S. Leman James, 24th Cav. Enl'd Dec. 31, 1863; dis. June 9, 1865. Alfred S. Roe, Co. A, 2d H. Art. Enl'd Jan., 1864; in battles of Cold Harbor and Monocacy ; discharged in Oct., 1865.


James A. Dunn, sergt., Co. A, 12th Cav. Enl'd Aug., 1862; thrown from horse and killed at Newbern, N. C., in Aug., 1863.


John B. Corry, private, Co. E, 24th Cav. Enlisted May 7, 1861; in battles of Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and Weldon R. R .; dis. Ang. 2, 1865.


Andrew J. Hand, 111th Inf. Enl'd July, 1862; in battle of Harper's Ferry and taken prisoner; discharged July, 1865.


John S. Tibballs, Co. A, 24th Cav. Eal'd Dec. 5, 1863; io battles of Five Forks und Hatcher's Run; discharged July 19, 1865. J. Ward Jasper, 12th Cav. Enl'd 1862; discharged Aug., 1862. Albert A. Rice, Co. I, 24th Cav. Enl'd Jan. 1, 1864; in battles of


Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and Weldon R. R. ; dis. July 19, 1865. Samuel Ferguson, sergt., 12th Cav. Disch. with regiment 1865.


Anson Heffron, 2d lieut., Co. E, 24th Cav. Eulisted Sept. 14, 1863; in hattles of Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Weldon R. R .; disch. for disability ; re-enlisted in Co. H, 79th Inf., March 15, 1865 ; discharged June 14, 1865.


Benjamin F. Parker, quartermast .- sergt., 12th Cav. Enlisted Aug. 21, 1862; died Oet. 24, 1864, of yellow fever.


George Simmons, captain, Co. D, 24th Cav. Enlisted Jan. 7, 1864; in battles of Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor; wounded at Petersburg; died Sept. 4, 1864.


Peter Conner, 16th Inf. Enlisted in April, 1865.


Wellington M. Lewis, lieut .- col., 89th Inf. Enlisted Oct. 11, 1861; prom. to capt. Oct. 5, 1862 ; to major Aprit 36, 1864 ; to lieut .- col. Aug. 9, 1864 ; in campaigns of Burnside in N. C. in 1861-62; with Butler in '64; under Grant before Petersb'g ; and in sev'ri battles. Cyrus Church, captain, Co. A, 12th Cav. Enlisted Aug., 1862; killed al Tarboro', while on a raid, July 26, 1863.


David Carroll, Co. A, 12th Cav. Enlisted Aug., 1862; killed at Tar- boro', July 20, 1863.


Hiram Read, Co. B, 12th Cav. Enlisted Aug. 20, 1862; in battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahanock Station, Cold Har- bor, Weldon R. R., and others; discharged on account of wounds received Nov. 28, 1864.


Noble D. Preston, captain, Co. A, 10th Reg. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1861 ; in battles of Bull Run, Yorktown; disch. for disab., June 30, '63. Charles W. Pauling, Co. A, 12th Inf. Enlisted April 30, 1861 ; killed in 2d Bull Run battle, Aug. 29, 1862.


Henry M. Stantun, Co. C, 20th Cnv. Enlisted Aug., 1863; died at Norfolk, Va., Sept. 24, 1864.


Harold Danks, Ist lieut., Co. B, 12th Cav. Enlisted Aug. 15, 1862. Whole number of suldiers from Volney, five hundred and five.


MEXICO.


As Montgomery is often called the mother of counties, so might we properly speak of Mexico as the mother of towns ; for all the towns of Oswego county, as well as a score of others, have sprung from her prolific bosom.


As set forth in the general history of the county, Mexico, with all the surrounding towns, was originally contracted by the State authorities to John and Nicholas Roosevelt in 1791; the contract was transferred to George Scriba in 1792; and the latter received a patent in December, 1794. Previous to this last transaction, however, the town of Mexico was formed from Whitestown, Herkimer county, by an act of the legislature, dated April 10, 1792, which provided as follows : " And be it further enacted that all that part of Whitestown, aforesaid, bounded on the east by the east boundaries of the Military tract (so called), and a line drawn north from the mouth of Canaseraga creek across Oneida lake to Lake Ontario; south by Tioga county ; west by the west bounds of the townships Homer, Tully, Mar- cellus, Camillus, Lysander, and Hannibal of the said Mili- tary tract, and north by Lake Ontario, be enacted into a separate town, by the name of Mexico."


The bounds above given included all of the present counties of Onondaga and Cortland, with the western and central portions of Oswego County. The legislatures of that day, however, were evidently not very well informed regarding the geography of the frontier, as a line running north from the mouth of Canaseraga creek would not strike


Lake Ontario. The present town of Mexico was included within the original town of that name, but was as yet unoccupied by white men. The residents of the first Mexico were about all in what is now Onondaga county. So, when Onondaga county was formed in March, 1794, there were but three or four settlers left in Mexico, and the organization of that town fell through.


It was again organized by an act dated February 26, 1796. The Mexico of this date was bounded by Oneida lake, Oneida and Oswego rivers, Lake Ontario, and Black river from the mouth up as far as Lyons' Falls, or near that point, and then by a line between the present towns of Leyden and West Turin, in Lewis county, through the town of Lewis, in said county, to Fish creek, and down that stream to Oneida lake. No territory was taken off until 1799, when Camden was made a part of Oneida county. Watertown and Champion in Jefferson county, Lowville and Turin in Lewis county, and Redfield, were taken off in 1800. Next followed Loraine in Jefferson county, and Williamstown in this county, in 1804. Then came Fredericksburgh, afterwards Volney, in 1806; next Constantia, in 1808; New Haven, in 1813; and Parish, in 1828, which reduced it to its present limits.


The town is somewhat irregular in its outline, and lies near the centre, on the north boundary of the county. It is crossed in the north by the Rome, Ogdensburgh and Watertown railroad, Mexico being a station, and in the


EUGENE N. HILLS.


MRS. EUGENE N. HILLS.


RES. OF THE LATE EUGENE N. HILLS, MEXICO, OSWEGO CO.,N.Y.


263


HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.


northwest by the Syracuse Northern railroad, upon which Union Square is a station. Mexico is divided into nine- teen school districts, comprising one hundred and eighty- four lots, of about one hundred and sixty acres cach.


The surface is gently rolling, and well watered by numerous streams, the principal of which are the Little Salmon and Sage creeks; the former affording considerable water-power. There is scarcely a foot of waste or broken land in the town. The underlying rock is gray sandstone, covered deep with alluvial deposits. The soil consists of a clay, sand, and gravelly loam, and is very productive. Hay is the main crop; oats, barley, and pototocs, also pears and apples, are raised in considerable quantities. Butter and cheese are the principal produets, the stock-raising and dairying interest having greatly increased of late years. At present there are six cheese-factories in operation in the town, each doing an extensive business,-making an easy average of six hundred thousand pounds of whole-milk cheese per annum.


The manufacture of lumber, barrels, and leather is carried on to some extent. The town contains eighteen saw-mills, four grist-mills, and one tannery. The county fair-ground, insane asylum, poor-house, and treasurer's office are also situated here.


SETTLEMENT.


The fertility of the soil, the fine water-power, and other advantages afforded by this section, attracted the attention of explorers, and we find that at a very carly day the tide of civilization had set in, and but a few years elapsed ere the territory embraced within the present town of Mexico was dotted here and there by the homes of sturdy pioneers, who have left an honored memory and a respected posterity.


Tradition asserts that after Benjamin Wright surveyed the patent into townships in 1795 he reported to Mr. Scriba that township No. 20 (Mexico) was the best for soil, water, etc., in the patent. It will be kept in mind there were then two Mexicos,-the survey-township so named by Mr. Scriba (also called township No. 20) and the municipal town of Mexico before described. The present town corresponds closely to survey-township No. 20, but contains also small portions of townships 19 and 21.


This report, before referred to, induced Mr. S. to raise the price of his land there for several succeeding years ; in consequence of which its early settlement was greatly re- tarded. Many who came in here to purchase crossed the Oswego river and bought in Onondaga county. Besides, the sale was conditioned in this way : "There must be a forfeiture of this contract, unless four acres shall be cleared and sown the first year and an actual settlement made a short time after." Many made the clearing according to contract, but having nothing to sell and no means to pur- chase were unable to support their families and obliged to abandon their improvements.


The early history of this town, in its present limitations, is not marked by many remarkable reminiscences. It only presents the ordinary trials and incidents common to new settlements, remote from the comforts and conveniences of older portions of the country. Looking back from to-day to those pioneer times, we can but faintly picture in our minds the contrast existing between the present pleasant


homes, green pastures, and fertile fields, and those rude cabins of the forefathers, scattered far between through a mighty forest, where the wild beasts roamed in their fierceness.


During the year 1797, while being carried to Water- town, the early records of Mexico were lost, and conse- quently the names of many of the first settlers. The party having them in charge, being obliged to camp out in the woods overnight, accidentally left them behind. On resuming the journey the next day they were missed, but upon return could not be found.


In 1798 about twenty-five settlers had located in the present town of Mexico. Among those prior to that time were Benjamin Wright, Reuben Hamilton, Chipman Whea- don, Luke Mason, Captain Geerman, Archibald Fairfield, Sylvester Spencer, Greene Clark, Edmund and Levi Mat- thew, and Miles Doolittle.


In the autumn of 1799, while the number of inhab- itants was as yet very few, a distressing calamity befell then. At this time Vera Cruz (which included Mexico Point and Texas) was quite a promising place. At the mouth of the creek Mr. Scriba had put up a hotel, a store, and about six houses. Up the creek, and a few rods south of the Texas hotel, stood the grist- and saw-mill. Farther down and near a point Mr. S. had selected land as the location of a park for the future city. Captain Geerman had a ship-yard.


There was a great scarcity of food in the vicinity, and Captain Geerman and Welcome Spencer started in a small schooner for Kingston, Canada, after provisions. They arrived at that port, made their purchase, and set sail for home, but were never heard of after. The occupants of a boat passing Stony island soon after saw a light upon it, and reported the same to the colony. A conference was held, and it was concluded to send a party in pursuit.


Mr. Spencer (father of Welcome), who lived at the time on the John Tiffany place, Mr. Wheadon, Greene Clark, and Mr. Doolittle, all of whom lived near the Lamb school- house, and Nathaniel Rood, who lived just east of Richard Hamilton's present residence, were the persons selected to go. After a fruitless search they left for home, but on their return encountered a severe storm, and on rounding Stony point the boat capsized, and all found a watery grave. The scene was witnessed from the shore, but no help could be extended. Wheadon was a very active man, and hung to the boat for some time, and it was thought that he would save himself; but no aid could reach him, and a heavy wave finally washed him off.


But few can realize the extent of such a calamity in a newly-settled country, sparsely inhabited. It was a loss of numbers, where one man was a host. Among the surviv- ing male members of the settlement were Calvin Tiffany, Phineas Davis, and Colonel Parkhurst.


Soon after this calamity the number of families dwindled down to six. Calvin Tiffany, one of the earliest and most prosperous, had but one loaf of bread in his family for six months, subsisting principally upon cracked corn and an occasional piece of venison. A representative of one of the most energetic and enterprising of the families of this period related as a fact that "a sparseness of food was oft compensated by a substitution of slippery-elm bark, and


264


HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.


that he and his early brothers have eked out many a meal closing with a dessert of becch-nuts." Also that "the sov- ereign remedy for all physical ills in the medicinal practice of these days was butternut bark,-the one approved ca- thartic. Sick or well, old or young, on the opening of spring, drank copiously of a tea made from this bark, thus regulating the system, purifying the blood," etc.


The primitive settlements in Mexico were confined to that part of the town formerly known as Vera Cruz, now as Mexico Point. This entire region, from the mouth of Salmon creek as far back as Texas, was laid out in city lots, and it was supposed for some time that this point could be made one of the best harbors on the lake. The mouth of the creek was picred out and an immense amount of labor expended ; all has proved a total loss from the fact that the bars of Mexico will not allow the passage of heavy-draft ships. The renowned Robinson Crusoe is not the only man who has built, at great expense, a craft too far inland even to be launched; he has many illustrious imitators even down to the present day.


This point early became the resort of skillful and suc- cessful smugglers. Its isolation facilitated their operations. Tradition, we are sorry to say, implicates some of the early settlers in this contraband business. A fire about 1820 destroyed the place.


Nathaniel Rood, an esteemed pioneer, and the first white settler within the present limits of the corporation of the village of Mexico, came into the Vera Cruz neighborhood in the spring of 1799, built his log cabin, which was sit- uated about thirty rods cast of the residence of R. Hamil- ton, and commenced improvements. As before stated, in this year he became a victim with others to the lake calanı- ity. The first marriage was that of his widow and Richard Gafford, in 1800 ; and the first birth that of his son Tru- man, August 19, 1799. The latter died a resident of the town in April, 1877.


The pioneers of lot 55 were Martin Kellogg, Joel Savage, Asa Beebe, and Calvin Tiffany. The former, in 1804, pro- cured a title to the place adjoining Peter Pratt's subsequent farm. He spent several months in clearing land and get- ting in crops, boarding with "Esquire Hamilton," and brought his family on in 1805. Joel Savage, three years a soldier in the war for American Independence, was a native of Middletown, Connecticut, where he was born in 1761.


Mr. Tiffany, a worthy pioneer from the same State, lo- cating here in 1800, was the primitive settler of the lot. He came in with Phineas Davis the year previous, and until then had jointly occupied with him the rude log house. His house was a nucleus for the beginnings of church his- tory, as well as that of schools in the town. He kept a tavern here as early as 1810. The old " Primitive Ceme- tery," situated on the hill west of his place, was founded at a very early date, Mr. Scriba having given the land therefor, and Samuel Cole, who died in January, 1809, father of the Rev. Samuel Cole, was the first victim of death gathered in its now sacred dust. Mr. Cole was a Mason, and was buried with Masonic honors. This was the only cemetery until 1838.


Mr. Tiffany and Mr. Davis, accompanied by their wives,


parted with friends and left their homes in Connecticut the last week in January, 1799, arriving at Mexico the 21st day of February. The journey was made on a sled drawn by two yoke of oxen. Mr. Davis, an estimable citizen, died io 1844, upon the place taken up by him, and now occupied by his son Phineas. Mrs. Davis lived to the ripe age of ninety-seven years.


Many of the pioneers of this town were from eastern counties of this State, although Connecticut and Massachu- setts were also well represented by those who turned their backs upon the " land of steady habits," determined to make new homes in the wilderness. In 1804, Ebenezer Everts, accompanied by his sons Frederick and Philo (the former locating on lot 27), came into town, and purchased quite a tract of land in the northwest part of the town. His brother Samuel and his family settled this year on the farm which has continued in the possession of his heirs, and which, with a vestige of the old house still standing upon it, is well known as the " Uncle Walter Everts farm." Elijah Everts settled on lot 18; his brothers, Walter, Samuel, and Luther, also took up farms at an early day.


At this time " Esquire Hamilton" (Reuben), a prominent citizen, who settled prior to 1798, was living in a log house on the place known as the Lamb farm, and now owned by Isaac Burlingham. Asa Davis was the first settler on lot 90, where he located in 1801. At this time he was the only resident between Mexico village and Lamb's Corners. A son, Benjamin, occupies the homestead.


About this period, Joseph Lamb, a surveyor, became a pioneer on the G. Wheeler place. Later, Samuel Emery, Z. and L. Butterfield, and E. Griffith settled in this neigli- borhood. John Lamb, a brother of Joseph, purchased a portion of lot 91 in 1804. Most conspicuons among the settlers in this locality was David Lamb, who emigrated to this place from Connecticut in 1803. He was a good farmer, and a well-qualified business man. At an early day he kept a hotel here. A Mr. Ward was an carly settler on lot 32.


In 1804 the number of forest homes became considerably increased. Among those who settled in that year were the following? Noah Smith, who located in the Peter Pratt and Joel Savage neighborhood; Bailey Morton, brother of John, on lot 65; Solomon Huntington, an esteemed citizen (fatlıcr- in-law of Hon. Avery Skinner), who became the proprietor of lot 143, where he resided until his death ; his son, Her- bert, now a wealthy merchant in Wisconsin ; Oliver Riclı- ardson, a native of Oneida county, and an energetic pioneer, who selected lot 95 as the place for his home, and there raised a prominent family. His sons were Oliver, Reuben, John M., Alvin, and Edward. John M. represented bis district in the legislature in 1838, which honor was also conferred recently upon his brother Alvin.


About this time, Elisha Huntington located on lot 139. In 1801, Asa Davis, whose grandson and namesake (son of B. D. Davis) fell a soldier at New Orleans, located on the place where the latter now resides. Daniel Ames, Peleg Brown, and Reuben Lay were also pioneers of that year. Lot 79 was settled, in 1805, by Israel Slack, from Oneida county. His son, Nathaniel, early located on lot 81. Sol- omon Peck, accompanied by his sons Dennis, Solomon, Hop-


RESIDENCE of L.H. CONKLIN, MEXICO, N. Y.


RESIDENCE OF J. B. DRIGGS . MEXICO, NEW YORK.


265


IHISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.


kins, and Samuel, and by George Rickard, came into town in 1805. The latter took up land on lot 67, which place was soon after owned by George Kingsbury. David R. Dixon and Deacon Root were early residents on lot 66.


Dr. Tennant located near Colosse in 1806. He was the first physician in that vicinity, and was succeeded by Dr. Brewster. Jonathan Elderkin, who settled northeast of Grafton Corners, and Samuel Cole, on lot 54, were pioneers of this year. Also Captain Stephen Douglass, on lot 120, and Guerdon Cone, on lot 107. The title of the latter remained in the family until recently. James, a son, sub- sequently took up a farm on lot 108.


Prominent among the settlers of 1806 was Colonel Sher- man Hosmer. He is now the only surviving member of the early settlement, and tells of going through an unbroken forest to Oswego Falls, near Fulton, with a small company of young ladies and gentlemen on foot and on horseback to attend a ball, the ladies carrying their " finery" and putting it on after their arrival there. Isaac Higby early located on lot 145, and across the road from him, on lot 144, was Lewis Meade.


In 1808 a Mr. Wing commenced improvements on lot 152. The place south of Colosse, now owned by Mr. Jenny, was settled in 1798, by Colonel Jonathan Parkhurst, Jong one of the most prominent citizens of the town. Jona- than Williams settled on lot 105 in 1804. Sage Williams, his son, early located on lot 118. Comfort Allen was a pioneer on lot 160, south of Colosse; a Frenchman, by the name of Tasher, became an early neighbor. A Mr. Harvey commeneed improvements at an early day on lot 153, and Mr. Cook on the place now owned by his grandson, Anson. Lucius Webb was also among the enterprising spirits of those times. He commenced his rustic home about two miles south of Mexico village, but afterwards located on lot 86. Lot 35 was early settled by a Mr. Manwarren. Wil- liam, his son, took up the farm adjoining on the north.


Judge Avery Skinner, a prominent man not only in the town, but the county, and to some extent in the State, was also identified in the pioneer history of Mexico. He kept the first hotel at Union Square, where he erected his domi- cile about 1810. Mr. Skinner afterwards held numerous official positions, and was at one time a State senator. The names of Benjamin Gilbert, Benjamin Winch, and Simon King, at the mouth of Salmon creek, and of Isaac Bur- lingham, Hezekiah Stanley, and John Miles, in other parts of the town, appear upon the assessment roll of 1798.




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