Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 59

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1410

USA > New York > Oswego County > Landmarks of Oswego County, New York > Part 59

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In 1801 Asa Davis became the first settler on lot 90, and the first between Lamb's Corners and Mexico village. He was succeeded on the homestead by his son, Benjamin D., whose son, a soldier in the Rebellion, fell at New Orleans.

The first building in the town that was destroyed by fire was the log house occupied by Calvin Tiffany. It stood half a mile northeast of the depot, and was burned in February, 1801. Mr. Tiffany rebuilt on the site and was again burned out in 1807.

In 1803 Joseph Lamb, a surveyor, came from Connecticut and located at what has since been called " Lamb's Corners." John Lamb, his brother, followed in 1804 and settled on lot 91. David Lamb came here from Connecticut in 1803, and at an early day opened and kept a tavern. He was a substantial farmer and a prominent citizen.

In 1804 there was a large influx of settlers. Among them were Noah Smith, John Morton (on lot 65), Solomon Huntington (on lot 143), Oliver Richardson (on lot 95), and Jonathan Williams (on lot 105). Mr. Richardson was a native of Vermont, an energetic pio- neer, and the father of a family of sons who became prominent men and whose names were Oliver, jr., Reuben F., John M., Alvin, and Edward. John M. Richardson, born in 1798, was member of assembly in 1838, and later Alvin was similarly honored. John M. died June 15, 1876. Oliver Richardson, sr., was an iron forger by trade, but soon after com- ing here he built and for several years kept a tavern. He died in town, as did also Reuben F., the father of H. D. Richardson. Reuben F. Richardson was drafted in the War of 1812 and served at Sackett's Harbor. Noah Smith located near Prattham, and Mr. Huntington, father in law of Hon. Avery Skinner, lived and died in town.

Ebenezer Everts, accompanied by his sons Philo and Frederick, came to Mexico in 1804 and purchased a large tract of land in the northwest part of the town. Frederick located on lot 27. Samuel

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Everts, a brother of Ebenezer, came in with his family the same year. Leonard Ames was also a settler of this period, and with him came Peleg Brown and Daniel Eames. Mr. Ames died here in February, 1867, and was buried with Masonic honors. His son Orson was born in Connecticut in 1798 and accompanied the party thither. William C. Ames was born here March 9, 1807, and died January 4, 1881. Edwin Ames was born February 23, 1810, and died April 27, 1880.

Among the settlers of 1805 were Isaac Slack, Solomon Peck, and George Rickard. Mr. Slack came from Oneida county and located on lot 79; Nathaniel, his son, settled on lot 81 soon afterward. Mr. Peck was accompanied by his sons, Dennis, Solomon, Hopkins, and Samuel. Mr. Rickard took up a residence on lot 67, and soon afterwards the farm passed to George Kingsbury.

In 1806 there were living within two miles of the site of Mexico village the families of Calvin Tiffany, Phineas Davis, Samuel Cole, John King, Reuben Lay, John Morton, Leonard Ames, and Bailey Morton. At this time land sold for $3 to $4 per acre. Mr. Cole came in that year, settling on lot 54, and other arrivals were Capt. Stephen Douglass on lot 120, Guerdon Cone on lot 107, and Jonathan Elderkin. James, a son of Mr. Cone, afterwards located on lot 108. Elbert J. Cone was born in town in 1822. Samuel Cole was a Mason, and the father of Rev. Samuel Cole, and died in January, 1809. His was the first burial in the old Primitive cemetery, his funeral being conducted with Masonic ceremonies.

John Morton built a house on east hill and also a saw mill in 1804, and to the latter he soon added a rude grist mill. Dr. Tennant, the first physician in Mexico, settled at Colosse in 1806 and was later suc- ceeded by Dr. Sardius Brewster. The same year came Col. Sherman Hosmer. He became an officer in the war of 1812, had eight children, and died in 1877, aged ninety-one.

In March, 1807, Levi Mathews became a resident ; he died in August, 1889. Prior to 1807 James Tuller built the first frame house in town, between the two creeks. His son Simon, born in May, 1796, was long a merchant in Mexico village, and died in February, 1879.

In 1809 Edmund Wheeler settled on a farm, where he long lived, and died in 1820. He served in the war of 1812 and had eight chil-

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dren, of whom Charles E. was born in 1815. Thomas Webb came to Mexico in 1812, but war prospects sent him back to Whitestown, where he remained until 1820, when he came again and made a permanent settlement and died January 4, 1885.

Loring Webb was also an early comer. Oliver C Whitney came here with his parents in 1812, he being then six years old. For forty- three years he was a class leader and for nearly forty eight years steward of the M. E. Church. He died in November, 1879. Ebenezer G. Whitney, when three years of age, accompanied his parents hither and died November 8, 1881.

The war of 1812 checked the tide of immigration, and scarcely a settler came in until its close. Those who had braved pioneer life were in constant fear of molestation, and a few resolved to seek safer homes by removal. Many, if not all, of the able-bodied men in town were called out as soldiers, and the boom of cannon occasionally reached the ears of those who were left. Added to this was an epidemic that strongly resembled Asiatic cholera. It raged severely during the year 1812, and many died for want of proper care. Before this, as well as afterwards, the settlers experienced the usual diseases arising from miasmatic swamps and decomposition of vegetable matter.

Henry L. Cole, who was born in Rome, N. Y., in 1815, came here with his parents in 1816 ; served as magistrate about twenty years; and died September 15, 1886. Enoch M. Ferris came in 1816, and Aaron Green, a mason, in 1817. In 1820 the population was 1,590. During this year almost every family furnished one or more victims to the ravages of a fatal form of dysentery, and this and other diseases incident to a new country " probably carried off more than one-half of all who located here during the first twenty years."1 Prior to 1820 Nathaniel Butler, a jeweler, became a settler and owned a tract of land in Mexico village. He was the father of Rawson A. Butler, for many years a merchant and postmaster there.

During the next decade, came Daniel Letson, 1828; Silas Wilmarth, 1824, died in 1880; Josiah Alexander, father of Solomon (a shoemaker), who settled near Colosse about 1822, moved to Mexico village in 1862, and died January 29, 1872 ; Edwin C. Knight, a mason, 1824; Elisha Hamilton, 1829, died in March, 1884; Reuben Rice,

1 Crisfield Johnson's History.

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1830; Anson Gustin, 1828; Nehemiah P. Webb, born 1801, came here in 1823, and died November 20, 1885; William Webb, a carpenter, 1825 ; Charles L. Webb, 1825, died in November, 1885; Samuel H. and Benjamin S. Stone, merchants, 1826; Reuben Sherman, 1827; C. F. Tuller, 1829; Joseph R. Dawley, 1830, died in 1880; Philip Smith, hatter, 1824; Richard Hamilton, 1823, died March 16, 1882 ; Solomon Doolittle, who was blind from childhood, 1828; Joshua Wadley, sr., 1829; Simeon Parkhurst, shoe dealer, 1828 ; John C. Norton, 1829; Horace B. Whitney, a shoemaker, 1830.

Hon. Avery Skinner was born in Westmoreland, N. H., June 9, 1796, was the brother of Hiram, and the fourth of a family of nine children. In 1816 he came on horseback to Watertown, N. Y., and in the spring of 1823 settled in Union Square, where he died November 24, 1876. He gave the place its name, erected the first tavern, established a mail route, and was appointed the first postmaster, serving as such until his death. In 1831, and again in 1832, he was elected member of assembly, and from 1838 to 1844 was State senator. In 1846 he was defeated for Congress by William Duer. In 1826 he was appointed county treasurer, and held the office twelve years, and from 1828 to 1839 he was by appointment one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas. He was always a Democrat, ever highly respected, and reared a family of prominent sons and daughters. He was an original promoter of the Syracuse Northern Railroad, of which he was also a director.

Between 1830 and 1840, the following became settlers in the town :

David P. Taylor, 1835; Henry C. Peck, merchant, 1834; Sylvester R. Spooner, 1840 ; Theodore J. Wheeler, 1838; John and James B. Driggs, 1839; Stephen Kenyon and David Nichols, 1838; William Penfield, blacksmith, 1839; George A. Penfield, 1839 ; Samuel Smith, cooper, 1836; Sardius E. Ball, 1835; William O. Ball, 1840, died Octo- ber 27, 1886 ; Holland Wilder, blacksmith, and Horace W. Southworth, 1836; Sterling Newell, lumber dealer, and Richard Quigg, 1836.

From 1840 to 1850 came, among others, John McCann (butcher), 1844, died in 1880; John W. Blakesly, 1850, died in 1879; Henry Hallock, 1842; Francis Villiard (carpenter), 1841; Charles Kirby (tailor), 1849; Lawrence Stevens (carpenter), 1843 ; Peter Sandhovel, 1842 ; J. R. Drake (produce dealer), 1850; Russell Burlingham, 1844; Noah Hosford, 1842. A few other residents of the town of whom some- thing has been learned are : Elijah Hills, who became a settler in 1816; his son, Eugene N., who was born in 1821 and died in 1876; Joseph Remington, who settled at South Mexico about 1820. He was the father of Leroy and Benjamin Remington. Henry Webb located in Colosse,

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THE TOWN OF MEXICO.

in 1825, where he was a successful merchant; he removed to Mexico village in 1841, and died in 1882. Harmon Halsey, the father of Grove Halsey, came to the town about 1820. Eldad Smith, a tinsmith by trade, located in Union Square in 1824, and moved thence to Mexico village in 1833. He was a hardware merchant there, and died in May, 1885, leaving five children. Bradley Higgins, born in Connecticut in 1794, came to Richland in 1835, to Mexico in 1847, and died April 30, 1885. Luther H. Conklin was born in 1823, and for many years was prom- inently identified with the town and county, serving the latter as treasurer from 1858 until his death in December, 1878. Jones D. Clark, born in 1818, came here in 1844, and died in June, 1890.

Among those who were born in this town, with the dates of their re- spective births, may be mentioned :

William A. Davis, 1807, died May 19, 1871; Orville Roberts, 1809; Edmond Wheeler, 1815; Riley O. Whitney, carpenter, 1819; Justice P. Cunningham, 1820; Edwin Emory, carpenter, 1821; Stebbins Orvis, William O. Johnson (grocer, died in May, 1881), 1822 ; Leander Tuller, Jesse H. Halladay, 1823; John A. Rickard, 1827; Her- mon C. Ames, Dwight Smith, 1828; John Whipple, 1831; Frank Saladin, 1833; John M. Aldrich, mason, Fred J. A. Webb, 1834; George W. Stone, 1836; Gardner S. Tuller, 1838 ; Edwin L. Huntington, druggist, 1839 ; William H. Penfield, 1841.

Luther Calkins settled on what became the old plank road in this town in 1826; he was the father of James, who was born in 1812. John Bennett, born in Chenango county in 1802, came here in 1823, and for thirty years followed merchant tailoring. He was keeper of the county poor farm four years, and died February 25, 1877. Dennison Ladd came to Oswego county about 1824 and died in 1859. His son, John W., was born in Mexico in 1832, and for several years followed school teaching. Orrin Rose, an early comer, died in 1887; and Joseph C. Vorce, another early settler, died in 1876. Alexander Virgil located in Richland when a young man, whence he finally removed to this town, settling where his son James now lives. He died in 1892. L. L. Virgil, supervisor and merchant, died July 2, 1885.

La Fayette Alfred was born here October 19, 1818. He was prom- inently identified with public affairs, and served as president and for several years as postmaster of Mexico village, and also as deputy col- lector of internal revenue. He died in Fulton in May, 1885. Ranslow L. Alfred was born in this town December 22, 1809. George W. Pruyn,

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born in Oneida county in 1830, came here with his parents in 1837, followed harness making, and died January 24, 1881. Moses W. Pruyn died in 1883. Henry and Daniel Austin, twin brothers, born in Ver- mont in 1800, came to Mexico in 1825, and took 160 acres, a part of which is now owned by Daniel, son of Henry. Benjamin Midlam, a native of England, settled here in 1826, and died in 1877. His son, Edwin, has been a justice of the peace since 1860. Daniel Menter came in 1835, accompanied by his son, Ebenezer E. William J. Menter, several years supervisor, died August 20, 1881. Stephen Gardner was an early settler, and died in 1879. His son, Nicholas W., resides on the homestead. Marcus Gillett located in town in 1836; he had fourteen children, and died here. Joel Gillett settled about 1840 on the farm now occupied by his son, Everett. Alvin Lawrence was long an active man in town, serving as president of the Oswego County Agricul- tural Society and one term as sheriff. He also kept hotel, and died in August, 1882. Bezaleel Thayer settled in Mexico village in June, 1819. He was born in Otsego county in 1795, and died here July 20, 1875. Hiram Walker was also a prominent resident. Born in Whiting, Vt., February 9, 1804, he became treasurer of Oswego county in 1845, superintendent of the poor in 1848, and again in 1853, and died April 6, 1883. Louis Kenyon came with his family from the eastern part of the State prior to 1820, and died here in 1886. Of his eight sons, Joseph settled on the farm now occupied by Edwin, son of Joseph. Samuel Manwaren came from Vermont to Mexico about 1805. and died leaving six sons and two daughters. James, the third child, was born in 1795 and served as a volunteer substitute in the war of 1812. He became a Thompsonian physician, and practiced until his death in 1874. Samuel, jr., born in 1788, had nine children, and died in 1872. John C. Taylor was born in Litchfield, Herkimer county, February 25, 1831 ; came here with his father, David P., in 1835, and died in the town December 6, 1887. He held several local offices, was for some time a school teacher, and for more than twenty years a druggist in Mexico village, being succeeded by his son, Curtiss. In 1856 he mar- ried Ann J. Cooper, who, with three of their seven children, survives him.

Benjamin Dennis, a native of Vermont, came to this town about 1818,

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and died in 1875, aged eighty-one. He had seven children. Aaron Killam, also a native of Vermont, was an early settler, and died in June, 1873. H. P. Perkins was born in Palermo in 1835, and for thirty years has been engaged in the manufacture of cheese boxes in Mexico. He also has a feed and cider mill. D. P. Smith, born in Vermont in 1800, came to this county in 1833, and died in March, 1861.

Almeron Thomas was born in Rutland, N. Y., June 22, 1812, and during the most of his active life was a miller. About 1850 he pur- chased a grist mill at Pulaski, which he traded in 1855 for a farm in Mexico. Later he became proprietor of the Railroad (formerly the Sandhovel) Mills, and the Toronto Mills, in Mexico village, and also a mill at Parish, another at West Amboy, and still another at Holmesville. During his life he owned seventeen different milling establishments. The mill in Mexico village is now conducted by his son, Frederick A., who recently succeeded his brother, Amos C. Thomas.

Samuel H. Stone, born in Vermont in 1818, came here with his father, Isaac, in November, 1826, and died in 1887. He was first a clerk, and then long time a merchant, and for two terms following 1848 was county treasurer. A son, Vincent S., died in 1891, and his mother followed in 1892. Mr. Stone was a brother of Benjamin S., who has, perhaps, been longer identified with the business interests of Mexico village than any other man now living.

William Cook was one of the earliest settlers of the town. He was seven years in the Revolution, and came from Hartford, Conn., taking up 160 acres, on a part of which his grandson, Ansel S. Cook, now re- sides. His only son was Allen. William Halsey, a shoemaker, came to Prattham in 1832, and died in 1861. Edward Halsey is now, at the age of seventy-eight, still a resident of that hamlet. Solomon Tilla- paugh, born in Montgomery county in 1805, came to Mexico when a young man. His son, Rev. H. H. Tillapaugh, was born in 1840 on the farm he occupies ; his wife is a daughter of Daniel Austin.

Prominent among other residents of the town, are recalled the names of Marcus D. Richardson, of Colosse, who died in October, 1889; Will- iam A. Tillapaugh, who was born here in 1838; Joseph Simons, who died in September, 1890; James R. Law, born in 1812, who died in town; George F. Mason, a cooper, who came in 1855 ; Leander Tuller, 74

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who was born in Mexico in 1822; Amasa Decker, who came in 1814, and died in 1879; William Goit; Charles Tiffany, sr., who died in June, 1868 ; and Col. Sherman Hosmer, whose death occurred June 1, 1877.

In the vicinity of Colosse quite a French settlement sprang up after about 1840. Many of its members came from the eastern part of France. A few were natives of Alsace-Lorraine. All arrived in poor circumstances, yet by thrift and perseverance they have generally acquired comfortable homes. One of the most prominent of these set- tlers is Peter Gray, who came in 1842. He became a merchant and the owner of a saw mill, but by trade, at which he first engaged, was a wagonmaker and a carpenter. His son James is now a merchant of Colosse, succeeding his father in business in 1890.

Among the French families that Mr. Gray found here in 1842, were Frederick Le Clair, Mr. Lande, and Mr. Shapny. Francis Le Clair died in 1887. Among other settlers in the neighborhood have been Francis Henry, Francis Matty, George and Peter Boigeol, George Tourot and his father, John Perot, Jacob Racine, Fred Pettit, Francis and Louis Lorombarderer, George Rollen, Antoine Salladin (father of of George), Telfus Boprey, and Frederick and George Beley. The set- tlement now consists of about sixty families, all good, substantial citi- zens

The first burial place in town was the Primitive Cemetery, located on the hill west of Mexico village. The plot was given for the purpose by George Scriba, and the first person buried therein was Samuel Cole, as previously stated, in January, 1809. In 1838 the Mexico Village Cemetery was opened, and the first to be placed in its sacred dust were the remains of Luther H. Conklin, in September of that year. The first trustees were John Bennett, James S. Chandler, and Calvin Goodwin. Additional land was annexed May 11, 1861, and April 1, 1873. The present trustees are George Goodwin, Benjamin S. Stone, James B. Driggs, and E. L. Huntington.

The population has been as follows: In 1830, 2,671 ; 1835, 3,138; 1840, 3,799; 1845, 3,768; 1850, 4,221 ; 1855, 4,022 ; 1860, 4,074; 1865, 3,828; 1870, 3,802 ; 1875, 3,813; 1880, 3,687; 1890, 3,404.

To the war of the Rebellion the town sent a large number of her citizens. Among those who attained commissioned offices were Earl

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THE TOWN OF MEXICO.

Law, Nelson Ames, George Barse, F. B. Gregory, and S. D. King, all of whom became captains. John Fletcher was a surgeon in the 2d Massa- chusetts Cavalry. In September, 1863, the Freedmen's Relief Associa- tion was organized in Mexico, with Cyrus Whitney as president, and during the remainder of the war performed many laudable acts in relieving suffering and hardship. In May, 1883, Post Melzar Richards, No. 367, G. A. R., was organized, with M. L. Wright as the first commander. June 28, 1877, the Soldier's Monument Association was formed, with these officers : Luther H. Conklin, president; C. L. Webb, secretary ; H. C. Peck, treasurer; executive committee, J. M. Hood, E. L. Hunting- ton, La Fayette Alfred, Phineas Davis, Asa L. Sampson, and Lewis Miller. The object was the erection of a suitable memorial in the village ceme- tery, but nothing was done until 1888, when the town voted $2,000 for the purpose. The monument was erected in 1889, and dedicated on July 4, of that year. It is thirty-four feet high, and cost complete $2,689.34. Upon it are chiseled the names of seventy-one soldiers who were killed in battle or died in service, and the names of 315 vete- rans who entered the service from this town.

Supervisors' statistics of 1894 : Assessed valuation of real estate, $1,206,570, equalized, $1,247,756 ; personal property, $74,400 ; railroads, nine and one-half miles, $95,000; town tax, $4,469.42; county tax, $7,404.07; total tax levy, $14,631.61; ratio of tax on $100, $1.14; dog tax, $95.50. In the two election districts into which the town is divided 750 votes were polled in November, 1894.

The first school in town was taught by Sanford Douglass at Colosse, in 1806, and the first in Mexico village by Harriet Easton in 1811 in Shuball Alfred's barn. Other early teachers were Isaac Douglass and John Howard.

The first record of public schools in Mexico is as follows :

At a special town meeting held at the house of Calvin Tiffany, June 3, 1813, in com- pliance with the act for the establishment of common schools, Stuteley Palmer, Peter Pratt, and Jonathan Wing were chosen commissioners of common schools in said town, and Timothy Norton, Dennison Palmer, Elijah Everts, William D. Wightman, Joseph Bailey, and Elias Brewster, inspectors of said schools. Voted, to allow the school commissioners seventy-five cents per day for their services, and to raise by tax on said town for the use of said schools, sixty dollars.

School districts were also formed. The first school house was a log structure, erected near the site formerly occupied by the East Presby .

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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

terian church. The town now contains nineteen school districts, locally designated as follows: No. I, Texas; 2, North Church ; 3, Arthur ; 4, Fort Eleazer ; 5, Union Square ; 6, Miller ; 7, 8, and 9, Mexico village, consolidated July 27, 1869, and generally known as Union School District No. 8; 10, Prattham ; IT, Eddy; 12, South Mexico; 13, Lamb's Corners ; 14, Grafton Square ; 15, French street ; 16, Colosse ; 17, Popple Ridge ; 18, Villiard ; 19, Kenyon. These were taught during 1892-93 by twenty- three teachers and attended by 530 scholars. The school buildings and sites are valued at $11,700; assessed valuation of the districts, $1,227,026; public money received from the State, $2,793.43; raised by local tax, $3,639.22.

Mexico Military Academy .- April 13. 1826, the Rensselaer Oswego Academy was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature. The first Board of Trustees consisted of Elias Brewster, president ; Avery Skinner, secretary ; Peter Pratt, treasurer ; Chester Hayden, Moses P. Hatch, Nathaniel Butler, David R. Dixon, James Abel, Seth Sever- ance, Orris Hart, Hastings Curtiss, Samuel Emery, George B. Davis, John A. l'ayne, William Williams, Myron W. Southworth, Henry Williams, and Oliver Ayer.

The first meeting occurred June 10, 1826, and the first election took place " at the Slack school house," May 9, 1827. There was consider- able rivalry between Mexico village and Prattham as to the location of the building. A site was finally selected between the two places and material procured, but the advocates of the present site secured a change.

A brick structure was erected and school opened early in 1827 with John Howard, principal and Laura Fish, preceptress. In 1835 a wooden building was built in front of the old brick edifice, and thenceforward the academy was regarded as one of the most successful in the State. This frame structure did service until 1855, when it was removed and converted into, and ever since used as, a carriage factory by Lewis Miller. On the site the present brick structure was erected, the building committee being Benjamin S. Stone, Dr. Benjamin E. Bowen, Leonard Ames, and James S. Chandler. Prior to this, Rev. Thomas A. Webb, from the pulpit and elsewhere, exerted a powerful influence in favor of advanced education, and largely through him en-

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thusiasm was created which made the erection of this substantial struc- ture possible. It is 100 by 50 feet, three stories high, and heated by hot water, and lighted by electricity. May 9, 1845, the name was changed to the Mexico Academy, and in 1893 it was again changed to the Mexico Military Academy, which it now bears, the latter being adopted in consequence of the addition of a military system of discipline. It is non-sectarian, and affords five courses of study, viz .: English, Aca- demic, Classical, Commercial, and Civil Engineering, The military de- partment is under the inspection of the War Department, and instruc- tion in military tactics is given by an officer of the United States Army. The library contains about 1,600 volumes, and there are also philosoph- ical apparatus, geological cabinet, and chemical laboratory. The acad- emy is under the visitation of the Board of Regents, and at present has an attendance of about 125 students.

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Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 59

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1410

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1410