History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 128

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 128
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 128
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 128
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 128

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).

Duvid A., Hallet, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; dischi. :June 9, 1865.

Elijah Smith, private, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 29, 1864; taken pris- oner Sept. 30, 1864, at Petersburg.

Cyrus Eastman, private, Co. A, 16th N. Y. Art. ; enl. Jan. 1, 1863; dischi. June 8, 1865.

William A. Hallett, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 22, 1862; disch. June 9, 1865.

Jolin Deputon, private, Co. A, 16th N. Y. Art. ; enl. Feb. 6, 1804 ; died April 25, 1864, of disease.

Irus Hanford, private, 16th N. Y. Art. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; died March 20, 1865, of disease.

Hiram Hanford, private, Co. B, 16th N. Y. Art. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; died Sept. 23, 1864, of disease.

Charles W. Sharve, privale, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt. ; enI. July 28, 1862; dischi. May 25, 1865.

Wir. H. Debell, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 1, 1862; killed in action Aug. 19, 1864.

Thomas Edson, private, Co. A, 16th N. Y. Art .; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; died June 30, 1864, of disease.

Orren L. Southwick, private, Co. C, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. August, 1864. Henry II. Richards, private, Co. A, 16th N. Y. Art. ; enl. Feb. 8, 1864.

Charles F'. Stodard, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 20, 1862; died Drc. 23, 1862, of diseaso.

Merritt M. Stodard, eorp., Co. A, 16th N. Y. Art .; enl. Jan. 5, 1863; disch. June 21,1865.

John Iloovor, private, Co. D, 16th N. Y. Art .; enl. Feb. 4, 1864; disch. July 13, 1865.

William F. Schutt, private, Co. A, 16th N. Y. Art .; enl. Jan. 4, 1863.

Charles II. Slocum, private, Co, K, 137th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Ang. 22, 1862 ; dischi. June 9, 1865.

Solomon R. Grant, Co. A, 109tl N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; diseli. June 8, 1865.

William B. Kinney, 2d lieut., Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 27, 1864 ; dischi, Jan. 31, 1865.

J. W. Vangelder, private, Co. E, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 29, 1864 ; disch. July 7, 1865.

John J. MeFull, private, Co. I, 6th N. Y. Art .; enl. Jan. 11, 1864. David Dorn, private, Co. M, 21st N. Y. Cav. ; enl. Dee. 28, 1863.

Ilavilla J. Dorn, private, Co. M, 21st N. Y. Cav .; enl. Dec. 28, 1863.

Hebron Mabee, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 2, 1862; died Feb. 21, 1864, of discase.

Osear L. Jennings, sergt., Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 18, 1864 ; diseh. June 8, 1865.

Julius Ostrander, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 10, 1862; died Nov. 22, 1864, of disease.

William Ostrander, private, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 29, 1864 ; taken prisoner at Petersburg; dled April 23, 1865.

Henry II. Hayeook, private, 137th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 23, 1862; wounded ; diseh. June 18, 1864.

James Cook, private, Co. I, 179th N.Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 30, 1864 ; taken prisoner at Petersburg; exchanged, and disch. May 24, 1865.

Jolin L. Martin, private, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 29, 1864; disch. June 8, 1865.

Saul Martin, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; dischi. June 8, 1$65.

William F. Roe, private, 137th N. Y. Regt; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; disch. June 8, 1865.

Moses Roe, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; diseh. June 8, 1865.

Theodore T. Angle, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 10, 1862 ; died, no date given.

Stanley O. Ward, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Ang. 22, 1862; disel. June 8, 1865.

George Ilauford, private, Co. 1, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 18, 1864; diseh. June 8, 1865.

John Taylor, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 4, 1862; disel. June 4, 1865.

Isaac Beers, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Aug. 19, 1862; disch. June 8, 1865.

Levi Ilollister, sergt., Co. A, 109tlı N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 9, 1862; disch. June 8, 1865.

James Gardner, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt .; eul. Aug. 27, 1862; disch. June 8, 1865.

Leonard Swansbrough, private; enl. 1863.

Ephraim Dunham, private, ('o. K, 137th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; died Nov. 18, 1862, of d.svase.

William Il. Griffin, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 22, 1862 ; , wounded Oct. 29, 1863; died from wound.

James B. Ilall, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; disch. Jan. 24, 1863, for disability.

Benjamin Clark, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 21, 1862; killed July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg.

Elijah Ryant, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Ang. 22, 1862 ; wounded July 3, 1863, at Gettysburg; died of said wound, July 17, 1863.

Joshua Westbrook, private, Co, K, 137th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; disch. June, 1865.

Charles Hayward, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt ; enl. Aug. 1, 1862; wounded June 17, 1864, at l'etersburg ; disch. May 13, 1865, on said wound.

David S. Briggs, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 8, 1862; died May 12, 1864, of disease.

Bennett T. Landon, sergeant, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 23, 1864 ; wounded April 2, 1865, at Petersburg; disch. June 28, 1865, on said wound.

Ilorace A. Todd, sergt., Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 3, 1862; wounded May, 1864, at Wilderness ; disch. May, 1865.

Mareus Cronce, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt. ; eul. Dee. 29, 1863; died, date not given.

Henry Cronee, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; di-ch. date not given.

John G. Knickels, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 8, 1862 ; killed May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania.

David Knickels, private, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Aug. 31, 1864 ; diseh. June 8, 1865.

William Crouce, private, Co. M, 50th N. Y. Eng .; enl. Jan, 3, 1863; diseh. Juno 13, 1865.

Charles F. Cronce, private, Co. M, 50th N. Y. Eng. ; enl. Jan. 2, 1863; disch. Inne 13, 1865.

Alvan Taggart, private, Co. 1, 1791h N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 30, 1864; diseli. June 4, 1865.

Daniel B. Carson, private, Co. 1, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 1864; wounded in action April 2, 1865; died April 13, 1865.

Timothy Intchins, private, Co. I, 16th N. Y. Art. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; disch. Ang. 23, 1805.

Timothy J. Intchias, private, Co. A, Gth N. Y. Art. ; enl. Jan. 4, 1864 ; disch. Ang. 24, 1865.

Jeremiah Thatcher, private, Co. B, 6th N. Y .. Art .; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; disch. Ang. 24, 1865.

Peter Westervelt, private, Co. D, 6th N. Y. Art .; eul. Jan. 4, 1864; died Feb. 24, 1865, ol disease.

Charles Baily, private, Co. I, 21st N. Y. Cav. ; enl. Dec. 1863.

Nathaniel Mabee, private, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 16, 1864; disch. .Inne 8, 1865.

Wentou Williams, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. August, 1862; disch. June, 1865.

Ebenezer Hayward.

474

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

Charles Whitmarsh, killed.

Joseph J. Starks ; disch. June, 1865.

S. W. Foster, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Ang. 2, 1862.

Michael E. Vanostrand, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 2, 1862.

Lorenzo II. Rice, private, Co. A, 109th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 8, 1862 ; disch. June, 1865.

Wm. Kirkendall, private, Co. K, 137th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Aug. 1862 ; disch. June, 1865.

David C. Marshall, 1st lieut., Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Aug. 29, 1864; disch. May 20, 1865.

Henry C. Weed, private, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Ang. 31, 1864 ; disch. June, 1865.

Charles Bradford, private, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Ang. 1864; wounded Sept. 30, 1864, at Petersburg; disch., date not given.

James G. Wilcox,* private, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 1864; disch. June 8, 1865.

William W. McEwen,* private, Co. I, 179th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 3, 1864; disch. June 8, 1865.

Wm. Howell,“ private, Co. I, 179th N Y. Regt .; enl. Aug. 1864; wonnded Sept. 30, 1864, at Petersburg; disch., date not given.

Isaac M. Ames, Jolin Strong, John Decker, Charles Tyler. These four men handed over to our supervisor at Owego, bounty paid by the town of Danby.

George W. Wright, private, Co. C, 86tlı N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 9, 1861 ; wounded Nov. 27, 1863; died Nov. 29, 1863, of said wounds.

Henry H. McFall, private, Co. F, 76th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Dec. 14, 1861 ; killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg.

Lyman McFall, private, Co. F, 76th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Dec. 26, 1861; missing. John Hilliker, private, Co. G, 15th N. Y. Cav. ; enl. Ang. 27, 1862; disch. Ang. 9, 1865.

James Jefferson, private, Co. G, 15th N. Y. Cav. ; enl. Aug. 27, 1862.

John Bradford, private, Co. I, 32d N. Y. Regt .; enl. in 1861 ; wounded at Fred- ericksburg ; disch., no date given.

George II. Carpenter, corp., Co. D, 137th N. Y. Regt .; disch. June 20, 1865. Edward Marsh, private, Co. E, 64th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Sept. 5, 1861 ; disch., no date given.

Alford Ross, corp., Co. D, 137th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Ang. 18, 1862; d.sch. June 9, 1865.

Charles W. Schutt, private, Co. E, 64th N. Y. Regt .; enl Sept. 10, 1861 ; pro. to sergt. ; disch. Dec. 18, 1863; re-enl'd as sergt., same company and regi- ment, Dec. 19, 1863; pro. to capt. ; disch. July 24, 1865.

Levi Youngs, private, Co. E, 64th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Sept. 4, 1861; disch. Feb. 24, 1864; enl. in same company and regimeut, Feb. 25, 1864; disch. July 23, 1865.

Lafayette Perkins, private, Ist Vet. N. Y. Cav .; enl. Sept. 5, 1864; disch. June 8, 1865.

William D. Beers, private, Co. I, 32d N. Y. Regt. ; enl. in 1861; pro. to sergt .; disch. June 9, 1863.

Horace K. Dumond, private, Co. K, 64th N. Y. Regt .; enl. Oct. 1861 ; missing, July 2, 1863.

Charles H. Ryent, private, Co. K, 47th N. Y. Regt. ; died June 17, 1864, of wounds. E. Palinley Brown, Ist lieut., 159th N. Y. Regt. ; enl. Nov. 1863.

Thomas Kellcy, Maxaele Larove, Michael Mccarthy, Henry C. Monteath, Charles Matthews, John F. Johnson, Robert Gillispee, George H. Lynch, Thomas Dickenson, Michael McGrath, James Edwards, Edward Ragan, Christian Lonnson, James Bell, and Everest Wittenberglı, all enl. Jan. 1865.

Edward Hunt, George Wilson, George W. Sweeney, Clarence E. Owens, Lewis Knevsel, Robert Hazzell, Edwin Grader, John Lynch, and Henry Burns, all enl. Feb. 1865.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

SIMON LOOMIS

was born at Groton, Tompkins Co., N. Y., Dcc. 7, 1825. His father was Nathaniel Loomis, who was born at Tolland, Conn., April 30, 1790. By occupation he was a farmer and stone-mason. He served in the war of 1812, and evinced the same patriotic sentiments during the civil war as actuated his participation in the war with Great Britain, nearly half a century before. In politics he was a Whig, and on the organization of the Republican party became,

and until his death continued, one of its firm and sincere supporters. In 1811 he moved to the town of Groton, where he continued to reside the remainder of his life,-a period of fifty-four years. On the 5th of February, 1812, he married Anna, daughter of Puryer Reeves; she was

Simon Loomis

born March 14, 1792, and died Oct. 15, 1863. They raised a family of ten children, several of whom are now prominent citizens of the counties the history of which comprise this volume. After a long and useful life, Mr. Loomis died Jan. 13, 1865, respected by all who knew him. Simon Loomis, of whom we write more particularly, was born on the old homestead, and resided there many years. His business is farming, at which he has been quite successful. April 18, 1850, he married Hannah Eliza Stickle, who was born at Pine Plains, Dutchess Co., N. Y., May 16, 1813. She died May 20, 1871. For his second wife he married Miss E. R., daughter of Jay Watkins, who was born in Aurelius, Cayuga Co., N. Y., March 23, 1821. He was a farmer, and quite a prominent citizen ; was an active member of the Baptist Church, having joined that church at Rochester, in 1842. He was also a mem- ber in good standing of the Independent Order of Odd- Fellows. He died June 25, 1877. Mr. Watkins was a gentleman very generally known and much esteemed. He was honest and upright in his dealings with his fellow-men, and his character for personal integrity was always good. Like Nathaniel Loomis, his worth was largely appreciated, and his death cast a gloom over the entire community in which he lived so long, and in which he was so well known.

Mr. and Mrs. Simon Loomis have one daughter, Lena L. Loomis.

In March, 1864, Mr. Loomis removed to Danby, where he has since resided.

# Credited to the town of Caroline. Bounty paid by the town of Caroline.

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

475

Photo. by Tolles.

HI. D. MILLER.

Elasur Jay Con

CHAPTER LXIX.

DRYDEN.

THE town of Dryden extends from near the centre of the county to the east border. It is bounded on the north by Groton, on the east by Cortland County, south by the towns of Caroline and Danby, and on the west by Ithaea and Lansing. It is the largest town in the county, being nearly ten miles square, and is No. 23 of the original town- ships in the Military Traet. According to the census of 1875, it embraces a total area of 58,407 acres, of which 44,866 acres are improved. Total population of the town, 4553, of which 4319 were natives, and 234 foreign born ; 4539 white, and 14 colored ; there were 2289 . males, and 2264 females ; aliens, 78. Of the voting population there were 1378, of which 1277 were natives, 63 foreign born, and 38 aliens ; number of males of military age, 18, and under forty-five years of age, 872. Persons of school age, 556 males and 521 females. Number of land-owners, 984. Persons twenty-one years of age and upwards unable to read and write, 29.

The surface of the town north of the " Bridle Road" is rolling or moderately hilly, and that of the south part hilly and broken. The cast border forms the water-shed between the Tioughnioga River and Cayuga Lake. The highest ridge in the southeast part is 1800 feet above tide-water. Fall Creek, flowing southwest through near the centre of the town, is the principal water-course. It affords many fine water-privileges. Caseadilla Creek and other small streams take their rise in the south part, and are tributaries to Owego Creek. Dryden Lake is a pretty sheet of water, one mile long and about half a mile wide, lying in an ele- vated valley about two miles southeast of Dryden village. The Dryden springs, strongly impregnated with sulphur, magnesia, and iron, are situated one mile west of Dryden village. These springs have considerable notoriety for their

medieinal properties, and a large and substantial house is located here for the reception of guests. In the north part of the town is a large swamp covering an arca of several hundred aeres.

The soil in this town is of fine quality,-a fertile gravelly loam upon the uplands, and a rich alluvium in the valley of Fall Creek. All of it well adapted to the pursuits of agri- culture, in which occupation a large majority of the inhab- itants are engaged. The live-stock and the agricultural implements possessed by the people are of the best and most improved kind. Much attention is paid to stock- raising and wool-growing, and the people are particularly successful in the production of fine crops of hay, wheat, eorn, and oats. Fruit, also, abounds in large quantities.

This town was onee one of the best lumbering distriets in the county. The census of 1835 reported fifty one saw- mills. At the present time the number is small, and they are idle.

The vast forests of gigantie white pine, which but cighty years ago-within the memory of men now living here- covered all these hill-sides and valleys, have given place to the teeming acres of waving grain awaiting the approach of the thrifty husbandman. The echo of the pioneer's axe, and the rumble of the old stage-eoaeh as it rolled up to the tavern-door, have given way to the rattle of the improved reaper, and to the loud, shrill scream of the locomotive, as it dashes in and out of the town again before the traveler who alights from its train has reached the village eentre.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

The State of New York, in its generosity and during the good feeling pervading all elasses immediately after the successful termination of the war for American inde- pendenee, had, by an aet of the Legislature, passed Feb. 28, 1789, granted to such soldiers as had served for a eer- tain period land to the amount of 640 aeres cach, and had set apart this township, with other towns of the Military

476

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

Tract, for such purpose. We believe that but very few of the original owners of these lots availed themselves to any extent of the bounty of the State and settled here perma- nently. In consequence of the long period which elapsed previous to the issuing of the patent, very many of the soldiers disposed of their lots for a mere trifle. Taking advantage of their necessities, the land-sharks and specula- tors reaped all the benefits that the State had intended to confer upon the veterans of the Revolution. These lots of 640 acres each were often sold for from five to ten dollars. The lot of one square mile, belonging to Henry Dakin, three miles west of Dryden village, was once sold for a coat, hat, one drink of rum, and one dollar in money. And the soldier who sold lot No. 9, in this township, for a great-coat has descendants living in the town to-day,-most worthy and creditable citizens, too.

Again, others of the soldiers were unscrupulous in the disposal of their claims, selling them to two or more differ- cnt parties. This was the cause of much dispute and liti- gation in the days of the early settlement, inany of the bona fide settlers having to pay for their lands the second time.

In consequence of such a wide-spread disposition of these grants, or patents, the owners of them were finally to be found in all the. settled localities of the Eastern and Middle States. Therefore, unlike the settlement of many other sections of which this history speaks, the early settlers of the town of Dryden came here not in groups or colonies, front any one point in an older-settled region, but from different towns and counties of the States of Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the eastern counties of this State.

To facilitate the settlement of these lands, a road was projected that should run through from Oxford, Chenango Co., to the head of Cayuga Lake, or, in other words, con- nect Oxford with Ithaca, the distance being about sixty niles.

This work was intrusted to Joseph Chaplin, the con- tractor, May 5, 1792. The work of cutting and clearing was accomplished in the years 1793 and 1794, but not to Ithaca, as it was agreed to have been done.

Mr. Chaplin had completed his work as far as the town of Virgil, Cortland Co., when, meeting some settlers from Keeder's Ferry, they persuaded him to cut the road through to that point, as it contained a greater amount of inhabitants than Ithaca. After having accomplished his work thus far (to Keeder's Ferry), the contractor presented his bill to the Legislature. It was rejected, upon the ground that he had not fulfilled his contract. In 1795, Mr. Chaplin continued his work, and the road now crossing the town of Dryden from east to west, known as the " Bridle Road," was com- pleted the same year to Ithaca. Mr. Chaplin then returned to the Legislature, and drew the amount stipulated to be paid in the contract.

It is possible that during the time intervening between the completion of this highway and the spring of 1797, some one or more adventurous pioneers had begun a home here in the wilderness; but, in the absence of any such claim, it is generally conceded that Amos Sweet was the first settler in the town of Dryden. He came from the

East, and in the spring of 1797, accompanied by his mother, brother, wife, and two children, settled on the site of Dryden village, and erected a log house just back of where now resides Mr. Alvin Cole. This house was ten feet square, built of logs about twelve inches in diameter, and eight logs high ; these were halved together at the ends, and the cracks chinked with split sticks and mud. The roof was supported by poles, covered with bark stripped from the elm and basswood. At one corner of the roof an opening

was left for the smoke to pass out. The fireplace was made by placing several large, hard head-stones leaning up against the logs for the back, and several others of the same kind formed the hearth by laying them flat upon the split logs which formed the floor. As there were no glass or sash in those days, the only window consisted of an open- ing cut through the logs about eighteen inches square. This in cold weather was covered with coarse paper, greased over to admit the light. The door and other fixtures of the house were in keeping with what we have already described. In this little house, built without nails, and with benches fastened to the sides of the house in place of chairs, eating from wooden trenchers, on slab tables, did this family of pioneers live, and to all appearance were happy, until about the year 1801, when Mr. Swect, having some difficulty with Nathaniel Shelden in respect to his land, was compelled to leave it, through some fraudulent means on the part of Shelden. Soon after this Mr. Sweet was taken sick and died, and his remains, together with those of his mother and two children, were buried directly across the street from the Dryden Springs Hotel.

In the fall of 1798 the families of Ezekiel Sanford, David Foot, and Ebenezer Clauson settled at: " Willow Glen." A single yoke of oxen, hauling a heavy, roughly- made ox-sled of the olden time, brought these three fami- lies- consisting of Ezekiel Sanford, his wife, and one son, David Foot, his wife, and four daughters, and Ebenezer Clauson, his wife, one son, and two daughters; in all, four- teen persons-and all their household goods from the Che- nango River. The distance of sixty miles was made by traveling but a few miles each day. The oxen meanwhile, and during the winter following, subsisted on green boughs cut from the neighboring trees. After arriving here, they cut an opening in the forest, and building small huts, cov- ered them with pine and hemlock boughs, and by this means, game and fish being very abundant, they were ena- bled to pass the first winter very comfortably. .. Ezekiel Sanford settled opposite the residence of Hon. Elias W. Cady ; David Foot built his hut directly across the road from where Joshua Phillips formerly lived ; while Ebenezer Clauson :settled with his family upon the opposite corner, formerly owned by Samuel Rowland.

In the summer of 1798, George Robertson came in from Saratoga County, and began an improvement on lot 53, a tract of 640 acres, which he had bought and paid for be- fore coming here. He earned the money by days' work, working at the carpenter trade in Saratoga. He felled the trees on a few acres of land, built a small log house, and then returned to his home. Early in the spring of 1799, the party, consisting of himself, his wife, two small chil- dren, his brother, Philip S. Robertson, and Jared Benja-

DAVID J. BAKER

MRS. DAVID J. BAKER.

RESIDENCE OF DAVID J. BAKER, DRYDEN , TOMPKINS CO., N. Y.

LITH. BY L. H. EVERTS, PHILA.

478

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

are the sons, John J., who lives on the homestead, and Warren D. Ellis, of Varna.

Judge John Ellis, after remaining in Virgil until 1800, came to Dryden and settled on the farm now owned by B. Lamont. From the time of his settlement here until his death, Judge Ellis was without exception the most promi- nent man in the town. Of a large and commanding pres- ence, keen and quick in using all the intellectual powers which he possessed, one of the first judges of the Court of Common Pleas appointed in the then new county of Tomp- kins, a member of the State Legislature in the years 1831 and 1832, and supervisor of his town for the period of twenty-eight years, he earned the title by which he was known in all the surrounding country, viz., "John Ellis, King of Dryden." He also during the war of 1812 and 1814 took the field in 1813, in command of the second Dryden company,* and continued there until the close of the war. Of his family of ten children, two only are living at the present time, viz., John Ellis, who resides in the northeast part of the town, and Lydia, wife of Warren D. Ellis, of Varna.

Among those who settled here in 1801 was Joel Hull, from Massachusetts, who took up part of the farm now owned by Samuel Rowland's family. Being a gentleman of mueh intelligence, a surveyor, merchant, the first town clerk elected, and the one to whom all applied for advice in regard to points of law, the drawing up of deeds and other papers needed by the people in the transaction of business, he figured largely in the early history of the settle- ment. He was also ensign of the first military company formed in the town, of which George Robertson was eap- tain. He built a small addition to his house for a store. His stock in trade, which he bought at Aurora, consisted of one chest of real old bohea tea, so much esteemed in the early days, which he sold at one dollar per pound, a quantity of Cavendish tobacco at three shillings per pound, and two or three rolls of pig-tail tobacco at three cents per yard, eash. As money was scarce in those days, it was generally understood that one bushel of ashes would buy one yard of pig-tail. He also kept a keg of whisky, two or three pieces of calieo, and some narrow sheetings, which eonsti- tuted about all his stock on hand. In later years he en- gaged more extensively in business and failed. The ehroni- cler of old relates that he was neither a hunter nor a shingle- maker, which was a very rare thing in those days, as almost every settler followed one or both occupations. He was a successful hunter with the axe, however, as the following story will show.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 128

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