History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 108

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112

USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 108
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 108
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 108
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 108

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).

In the year 1824, Mr. Van Orinan built the brick house where he had previously and finally settled, near Butter- milk Falls. He made the briek for this substantial though now old-fashioned structure, on the land now oeeupied by David Burt, his sons assisting in the manufacture.

George Sager eame with his mother (Margaret) and Simon, a younger brother, and settled on the lot which the former had purchased of Pangborn, about the year 1793. George was then thirty years of age, single, hardy, and enterprising, and was not long in winning the hand of Charity, daughter of Bezal Holley, who, with his family, had settled in the vieinity somewhat later than the Sagers and Van Ormans. Mr. Sager erected a double log cabin, in which he lived many years. He also built a frame barn of pine, which is yet sound, and forms part of the present ample accommodations of the farm.

A structure of such rare quality in that early day eould not be overlooked by those who had left behind, in their former homes, the school-house and the church. So it happened that nearly or quite eighty years ago a little body of worshipers eame together in the auditorium, or thresh- ing-floor, of this building and formed a elass, which for a considerable time was ably served by the Rev. Dr. Baker, of the Methodist denomination .*

In 1823, Mr. Sager built a large stone house (on or near the spot occupied previously by his double cabin), in which he lived the rest of his life. He died after reaching the unusual age of ninety-five years.

In the year 1791-93 the roads or great "turnpikes," mainly following an easterly and westerly direction, were being pushed forward into the wilderness, giving to the pioneers means of more frequent communication with their friends and kin in the older settlements. This was, indeed, a blessing which few ean realize who have never left the eom- forts that wait on civilization and populous neighborhoods, for the hardships and seelusions of forest life.

Earlier mention should, perhaps, have been made of the fact that a Mr. Lightfoot brought a boat-load of goods up the lake some time in the year 1791, and offered them for sale in a shanty erected by himself near the present " steam- boat-landing." The stoek consisted of a chest of tea, sack of coffee, some erockery and earthenware, a few dry-goods, a little hardware and eutlery, gunpowder, lead, and a barrel

or two of whisky. This last item, nearly equal in bulk to all the rest of his stock, doubtless found ready sale; but whether to the settlers alone or to the worshipers of the Great Spirit, or both, we shall never know.

These articles he exchanged chiefly for marten-, otter-, beaver-, fox-, bear-, and deer-skins; and continued the bus- iness for ten or twelve years without competition.

The families of Yaples, Dumond, and Hinepaw had the misfortune to lose their lands by reason of the carelessness or wickedness of their agent, who was to attend to the pay- ment of installments and taxes in Albany. In four or five years it passed out of their possession, and a part thereof finally came into the hands of Simeon De Witt.

Hinepaw removed to near the present village of Aurora, and Yaples and Dumond removed with their families, in 1795, into the north part of Danby, then Owego, Tioga County.

FURTHER ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST FAMILIES.

As much interest is felt eoneerning the later history of the early settlers, it is proper to give it place here, before becoming involved in the narration of later times and greater numbers.

Henry Yaple (changed probably from Japel) father of the pioneers, Jacob and Henry, and his wife, whose maiden name was Susannah Ciseo, were born in Holland. Their children were all born in what is now Lebanon Co., Pa.

JACOB YAPLE (born March 7, 1760), who had married Maria, a sister of Isaae and John Dumond, brought three children, as we have stated,-Philip, Mary, and Peter. Subsequently were born here six others,-Henry, Catha- rine, David, Betsy, Rachel, and Sarah.

Of the first three, Philip, the oldest, born Jan. 26, 1782, married, and had several children, of whom Horace, Peter, and William are, or lately were, living in the town of Caro- line. He died in 1814.

Mary, the second, born July 23, 1787, became the wife of Peter Bois. In an early day they removed to the West, where Mrs. Bois, surviving her husband, lived a long time with her son, Mr. Burling Bois, at Castalia, Erie Co., Ohio.

Peter, the third, born March 18, 1789, made his home in Danby ; he married Charity Beers for his first wife, and a widow Denton (Patience Quigg) for a second, and left Jacob, who still lives at the old homestead, near the Ithaca line, and is a thrifty farmer; and Elbert, born March 15, 1818, who lives at Barton, Tioga Co., and is also a farmer in good eircuinstances.

Henry was born Aug. 25, 1791, and was the first male child born in the town. He was twiee married, by his first wife, who was Sally Dykeman, having five children, of whom Eliza has long resided in Ithaca, the wife of Mr. Caleb Earl, and Perry, at Ripon, Cal., and is the owner of 800 aeres of the rich wheat-land of that State. By his second wife, who was Mary B. Burgess, he had one child, a daughter. With slight exceptions, he continued to reside in Danby until his death, which occurred Aug. 21, 1863. He died full of years, and honored by all who knew him. A man of positive character and unvarying integrity, he was esteemed accordingly. His portrait may be seen among the historie collections of Cornell University.

Among the members of this primitive church were the following : Cornelius Shoemaker, leader ; Margaret Sager, George Sager and wife, Simon Sager, William Van Orman and wife, Peter Fisher and wife, Walter Wood and wife, Edward Oliver and wife (a sister of Geo. Sager), - Williams and wife (parents of Levi Williams), Barney Gibbs and wife, and Isaac Tecter and wife.

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Catharine was born at Ithaca Dee. 24, 1792, and married Thomas Baker. They resided for a few years in Danby, and then removed to Illinois, where she died.

David was born Sept. 20, 1795, the year his parents removed to Danby. He married Susannah Blakesley, and continued to reside in that town until a few years before his death, when he removed to Iowa, to reside with his son. He died about two years ago.

Elizabeth was born Nov. 5, 1797, at Danby. Married Asa Upson, and thereafter resided in Steuben Co., N. Y., until her death, which occurred in the spring of 1878.

Rachel was born May 7, 1799. Married Miles Ham- mond, is now a widow, and was lately living at Davenport, Iowa. A considerable increase in the value of her farm has insured her an abundance of " this world's goods."

Sarah was born Oct. 6, 1801. Married John H. Stephens, and resides at Hornellsville, N. Y. She is yet vigorous, and tells with much spirit the story of her horse- back journeys to Ithaca many years ago.

Besides these were John, born in 1786, who died in in- fancy, and Nellie, born in 1806, who died when two years old.

Mr. Yaple, the father of this goodly family, died June 5, 1817, at the age of fifty-six.

JOHN YAPLE (brother of Jacob), who had come to the new home a single man, afterward married Rachel De Pue,* by whom he had four children :

Susannah, born at Ithaea in 1794, married William Dawson, and died, leaving two children,-Jane and Eliza.

Samuel, born in Danby, Nov. 29, 1796, was the first white male child born in that town. He married Maria Thompson, who was born in Berkeley Co., Va., in 1801, and is probably still living. Samuel died July 17, 1875, leaving three children.t

Jacob, born in 1799, married Adaline Bordman. Three children survive them.

John, born April 5, 1801, married Laura Morse, by whom he had fourteen children. It is believed that John and his wife are still living at Hallsville, Ross Co., Ohio.

John Yaple, Sr., died in 1846, at the age of eighty-one.

ISAAC DUMOND married a Miss Burrows, sister of the wife of his brother John. Isaac died in the winter of

Rachel De Pue (or Du P'ny) was born at Wyoming, Pa. Iler father settled there, and for many years was magistrate, by appoint- ment from the crown of Great Britain. The De Monds and the Du Pues were French Huguenots,-the Yaples Dutch Culvinists. The De Monds and Du Pues were refugees in Holland, from France. Hence the marriage unions between them and the Yuples .- Letter of Judge Alfred Yaple.

t Henry, born Oct. 28, 1827, married Margaret Ilnynes, and has four children.

Alfred, born July 16, 1830, lives at Cincinnati, and has for a con- siderable time held the position of judge of the Superior Court of the State of Ohio. To him we are indebted for much concerning this family history.

William Ross married Elizabeth Me Donald, and has three children. He and his brother Henry both reside at Adelphi, Ross Co., Ohio.

# Mrs. Yaple, it is said, never reached a hundred pounds in weight, and yet was able to present the world with the following formidable inuster-roll of children, aside from three who died in infancy : Seth, Miles, Allen, Mary, Jacob, Samuel, John, Aaron De Pue, Rachel, Maria, and William. Allen was killed at the battle of Gettysburg.

1803, and was buried in King's Cemetery. His family consisted of the following :

Peter, the eldest, married Jane, a daughter of Abram Johnson, and had Amanda, Isaac, Jane (who died), another Jane, and Charlotte. He lived to be an old man, and died in Danby.

Abram, married Mary, the widow of Abram Davenport (also a daughter of Abram Johnson), and had Cynthia, Caroline, and Ebenezer. Lived nearly all his days in Danby, and died there at an advanced age.

Jenny, born at Kingston in 1789, married Zera Whitney, and, inheriting the pioneer spirit and courage, moved West about twenty years ago, and is probably still living. Has children,-Peter, Osear, Ruth Ann, and others.

Polly was born at Ithaca, in April, 1791. She was twice married. Her first husband was Ebenezer Sanders, by whom she had four children ; her second William Davis, by whom she had two children. Mrs. Davis died at the West.

Catharine, the fifth and youngest, was born at Ithaca in October, 1793. Married Mr. Amasa Woodruff, and re- sided in Danby until her death. Had one child.

JOHN DUMOND, one of the original settlers, had but lately been married to Jane Barrows-July, 1789, at Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y .- when he joined the band of pioneers who finally settled at the head of Cayuga Lake.

March 10, 1791, Mrs. Dumond "presented to the world the first child born within the limits of Towpkins County," then Montgomery County. This child, "Sally," in the became the wife of Benjamin Skeels, who, with his family, removed from Danby to the State of Indiana in May, 1846. At the last accounts Mrs. Skeels was living in Lodi, Sandusky Co., Ohio, having outlived her husband.

MRS. SALLY SKEELS.

Mary, the second child, was born Sept. 2, 1793, in Ith- aca. She married Daniel H. Jopp, and also removed to the West, and about two years since died at Green Spring, Ohio, having borne ten children.

Isaac, the third child, born in what is now Danby, Aug. 12, 1795, has always resided near the old homestead.

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Until the spring of the present year for many years he had lived with his son John, his only living child. John, fol- lowing the lead of many of his kith and kin, lately emi- grated to Kansas, sinee which time Isaac has lived at West Danby with his grandson, Mareus Dumond.

John, the fourth child, was born at the old Danby home- stead, Sept. 23, 1799, and resides now on the farm where he has passed nearly all his days. An only son, Sylvester, is living with him.

Betsy, the youngest child, died at the age of twelve years ; was born in Danby, in 1803. John, the father, died in Danby, May 22, 1839, aged seventy-two. Jane, the mother, died at the home of her son Isaac, in Danby, Dee. 9, 1845, her eighty-fourth birthday.

Of all the early settlers who made the vale of Ithaca their home, none have through their descendants become more intimately and continuously identified with its mate- rial and social interests than ROBERT MCDOWELL, the son of John MeDowell, who with his family emigrated to this country from Scotland. John was born in the year 1760, and at the early age of nineteen married Margaret McCor- mick, who came with her father, John McCormick, from Scotland to America about the period of the Revolution.

Besides the five children, previously named, who came in with the family, there were subsequently born at the new home two others, Robert and Henry. Robert, born March 10, 1790, died at the age of seventeen years; Henry, born May 15, 1792, died in August of the same year.

Jane, the oldest, who had come with her father to aid in putting in the crops, was born Nov. 22, 1780. She be- eame the wife of Richard W. Pelton, who having entered the service as a volunteer in the war of 1812, died between Batavia and Buffalo while yet a soldier. One child by this marriage seems to have died in infaney, July 1, 1811.

Mrs. Pelton subsequently became the second wife of Areher Green, a man of much prominence in the local affairs of that day, whom she outlived many years. She died Feb. 26, 1856, in her seventy-sixth year.

Hannah, the second child of Robert and Margaret Me- Dowell, was born in May, 1782, and died at the age of ten years.

Euphius, the third child, was born at Kingston, Pa., May 26, 1784. On the tenth day of August, 1806, she married Nicoll Halsey,* then of Ovid, county of Seneca.

# If romance be permissible, it may be stated that this carly court- ship on the plain of Ithaca was the indirect result of a misfortune that had overtaken a guest of Nicoll's father (Silas Ilalsey, Jr.), in Ovid, in the year 1794.

In that year Nicoll was sent by his father to conduct a man named Ball on his way towards Owego. Each mounted a horse, and, as there was no road, followed the course indicated by marked trees. At the end of the first day they reached Nathaniel Davenport's, near the licad of the lake (Cayuga), where the stone house now stands. This house is the secoud built on this ground since the first cabin was erected by Mr. Davenport. Their horses were pastured a while in the woods, and then tied to a tree for the night. In the morning there was like feed for the horses, and a continuation of their journey to the " Half-Way House," over a sled-road. Here Nicoll left his companion, and returned as he had comc.

The only houses on the route were the following : Elisha Guille- dat's, two or three miles from his father's ; two or three at Trumans- burg; Samuel Weyburn's, at Goodwin's Point; the houses of John

With her husband she removed to the town of Ulysses in the year 1808, and settled at the place which afterwards took the family name, and where the whole of a busy and fruitful life was spent.

Mrs. Halsey had ten children, t of whom eight reached maturity and six are still living. Three of the sons, Robert, William, and Henry, have been active among the prominent business men of Ithaca, and their way has been marked by much of public spirit in the midst of their large private enterprises.

The last two, with their families, are still residents of Ithaea, whose population is near ten thousand, where their mother in her girlhood could hardly have eounted a score, all pioneers.

John, the fourth child, born April, 1786, was killed while in the service, at the battle of Queenstown, in November, 1812. He married Jane Norton, who, as his widow, drew the pay for his serviee as a soldier.

Daniel, born May 3, 1788, died March 16, 1799.

Robert, born at Ithaca, March 10, 1790, died in March, 1807.

Henry, born at Ithaea, May 15, 1792, died in August the same year.

The graves of all the children, except Euphius and John, are still to be seen in the cemetery at Ithaca, as are also those of the father and mother. Robert, the father, died June 1, 1802, at the age of forty-two. His wife, Margaret, survived him, and passed the last twenty-seven years of her life at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Nicoll Halsey. She died April 28, 1835, in her seventy-sixth year.

NATHANIEL DAVENPORT,

from New Jersey, came with his wife and four children, and settled on lot 87, lying just north of the Abraham

Rogers and Nathaniel Davenport; and a few houses at the head of the lake. One of the latter was of course Mr. McDowell's; and it is at least possible that Nicoll and Euphius theu met for the first time, he being then twelve and she ten years of age.

¡ Hannah, born June 4, 1807; married Oliver C. Comstock, Jr., Feb. 4, 1829.

Robert, born Aug. 7, 1809; married Sarah Stewart, Dec. 31, 1834; removed to New York City about twenty years ago, where he yet lives.

William, born April 27, 1811; married Mary E. Butler, May 13, 1839, who died in 1840; he muarricd, Aug. 27, 1844, Eliza Gosman, daughter of Hon. Jonathan B. Gosman, an early settler in Danby, and long an honored citizen and journalist of Ithaca.

Richard Pelton, born March 14, 1813; died Jan. 26, 1836.

Emma Jane, born Nov. 13, 1815 ; died Jan. 26, 1816.

Margaret, born May 24, 1817; married Dr. Madison Mills, Dec. 23, 1840.

Emma, born Oct. 10, 1819; married Dr. Henry Sayles, Oct. 17, 1839, an esteemed citizen and physiciau of Ithaca. Many years ago they removed to Elmira, where they have since resided.

Henry, born Aug. 24, 1821; married Mary Ann Batty, July 15, 1844.

Warren, born Aug. 22, 1823; unmarried.

Mortimer Nicoll, born Sept. 22, 1826; died Feh. 20, 1828.

¿ Horace King, in naming the early settlers who succeeded the McDowells, uses the following language: " I cannot tell the order after this in which the early inhabitants came in, and can only men- tion, as being among the first, the Davenports, who came in the secoud or third year, and settled on the hill west; the Blooms, who came in the third year, and settled where their descendants still remain (in Lansing, near the Ithaca line) ; . . . Francis King, who came in the fifth year, and located two miles south, upon the hill; Moses De

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Bloodgood tract, in the year 1791. Mrs. Davenport's maiden name was Margaret Lyon. Their children were Peter, Henry, Catharine, and Abram.

Mr. Davenport built his cabin on the spot occupied by its second successor, the stone house now the property of Mrs. Walter Williams.

Abram, the youngest of the children, married, in 1798, Mary Johnson, then eighteen years of age, daughter of Abram Johnson, who came in 1791 with his family. This marriage was the first within the limits of the village and town of Ithaca. Ama, a daughter by this union, born in 1801, married Mr. George Philes, Sept. 29, 1819. Mrs. Philes has survived her husband many years, and is still a resident of Ithaca .* Her father died in 1803, and her mother subsequently married Abrain Dumond (second child of Isaac, one of the three first settlers), whom she survived, and died March 4, 1868.

Henry, second child of Nathaniel, succeeded to the homestead, which has since passed from the possession of the family.

Peter had another portion of the farm which is now owned by his grandson, Moses.

ABRAM JOHNSONt came to Ithaca with his family in 1791. He was a native of Staten Island; his wife of Newburgh, N. Y. They removed from the city of New York to the valley of the Mohawk, and from there to Ithaca. After a short stay in the village they removed to a farm two or three miles south, near the present Danby line. Their children were George W., Jane, Mary, James, Keziah, Ebenezer, John, and Arthur S. Of these, Mary, born in 1780, married first, Abram Davenport ; second, Abram Dumond, as previously mentioned; Jane married Peter, the eldest son of Jacob Yaple; Colonel John be- came a merchant in Ithaca, and was the second clerk of Tompkins County, the last one appointed under the first constitution, Feb. 14, 1821. Arthur S. remained in Ithaca during his life, and was called to many public positions. He was a lawyer; several times elected justice of the peace ; was elected county treasurer in 1819; county clerk in 1834 ; surrogate in 1838 ; district attorney in 1847 ; special county judge and surrogate in 1862. He was honored also with the post of secretary of the Moral Socicty when at the zenith of its famc.

The old records of the town of Ulysses show that many of the early settlers whom we have thus far mentioned took an active part in public affairs, and were called to fill many offices of importance in that day. We give the following

as among the earliest of those recorded, who were elected at " town-meeting" in the respective years :

John Yaple, Fence- Viewer, 1796-97.

Peter Dumond, Overseer of Highways, 1795 and 1798.

Robert Mc Dowell, Oversecr of the Poor, 1795 ; Assessor, Overseer of Highways, and School Commissioner, 1796, holding the last-named office several years; Commissioner of Highways and of "Public Lots" in 1798; and Justice of the Peace in 1800.

William Van Orman, Assessor and Fence-Viewer, 1795; Commissioner of Highways, Fence-Viewer, and School Trustee, 1796 ; and Overseer of the Poor, 1799.

Nathaniel Davenport, Overseer of the Poor, 1795; Conimissioner of Highways, 1796. He subsequently held many other positions of responsibility, as did also his son, Henry Davenport, who, in the year 1800, was recorded in a list of jurors as a " miller."

Abram Markle, Town Clerk, 1795, and both Supervisor and Town Clerk for several years thereafter. He was Jus- tice of the Peace in 1800.

Henry Markle (farmer and innkeeper), was Overseer of High ways in 1800.

Isaac Patchen, Assessor, 1795; and Overseer of the Poor, 1797 and 1798.

Abram Davenport, Constable, 1797-98.

Benjamin Pelton, School Commissioner, 1796 ; Assessor, Commissioner and Overseer of Highways, and Commis- sioner of Public Lots, 1798.

Richard W. Pelton, Constable and Town Clerk, 1798. Richard Pangborn, Constable, 1796.

Abram Johnson, Assessor and Commissioner of High- ways and Public Lots, 1798; Overseer of Highways, 1799; and Inspector for Senatorial Election in Cayuga County in 1799, with Abram Markle, Jeremiah Jeffrey, and Joseph S. Sidney.

Joseph S. Sidney (miller), Assessor, 1799, and School Commissioner, 1801.

Jonas Whiting (farmer), Commissioner of Highways, 1799; Supervisor, 1800.

John Smith (distiller), Poundmaster, 1799, and Town Clerk, 1800. He was probably the " John Smith" named as " surveyor," in November, 1800, to run out the public lots into parcels of 100 acres each.

Archer Green, in 1801, was delegate to the convention called to consider the question of the division of Cayuga County.

The town-meetings for the town of Ulysses from 1795 to 1817 were held within the limits of the present town of Ithaca, viz .: In 1795, at the house of Peter Hinepaw; in 1796, at the house of Nathaniel Davenport; in 1797, at the house of Jabez Haniner; in 1798, at the house of -; in 1799, at the house of Abram Markle; from 1800 to 1803 inclusive, at the house of Nathaniel Davenport ; from 1804 to 1817, when Ithaca was set off, at the house of Moses Davenport, son of Nathaniel.

OTHER PIONEERS.

Benjamin Pelton settled on lot 94, on what is known as the " Fall Creek Property," about the year 1797. His house stood in the centre of Aurora Street,-since opened,

Witt, who came here as agent of Mr. Simeon De Witt; Patchin, who built his cabin about half-way between the Caseadilla and Fall Creek ; . . . Abram and Henry Markle, the Sagors, . . . the Brinks, who settled a short distanco south of Ebenezer Mack's late residenco; Mr. William R. Collins . .. Rector, who built just across the Inlet, west; Van Orman, Van Etten, Banfield, Shoemaker, Miller, Green, and Smith."

* Mrs. Philes eame to the " Flats" to reside in 1813, Mr. Dumond then having a house on the southeast corner of Mill and Tioga Streets. The first school she attended was kept by Mrs. Buol (wife of Judge Buel, and whose maiden namo was Enos), in the small house now standing on the southeast corner of Mill and Aurora Streets.

+ Governor Clinton mentions Abram Johnson, whom he saw at Ithaca, as formerly a sergeant in Clinton's brigade, and the author of a song on the storming of Fort Montgomery, which was aftorwards printed.

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-on the top of the high spur of gravel then existing at that point, and was a conspicuous object viewed from the Hotel. Like most of the dwellings of that day, it was small and of one story. He announced March 4, 1819, in the Journal that he had " opened a Scrivener's office at the Yellow House* near Peter I. Dumond's."

Benjamin Pelton had several children, of whom Richard W., who married Jane McDowell, became the owner of an extensive farm on the south hill, which included the prem- ises now owned by Frederick and William Andrus, and Mrs. McGraw ; and Edmund Genet, succeeded his brother in the ownership of these premises, and built the house lately occupied by Mrs. McGraw, and now being replaced by a modern brick structure. Richard W. was postmaster at Ithaca in 1804. Edmund G. held the office of surrogate in 1821, and was likewise many years an attorney and justice of the peace.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 108

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 1112

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112