USA > New York > Tompkins County > Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University > Part 11
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Horace King, in naming the early settlers who succeeded the Mc- Dowells, uses the following language :
I cannot tell the order after this in which the early inhabitants came in, and can only mention, as being among the first, the Davenports, who came in the second 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 Witt, who came here as agent of Mr. Simeon De Witt; Patchin, who built his cabin about half way between the Cascadilla and Fall Creeks; Abram and Henry Markle, the Sagers, the Brinks, who settled a short distance south of Eben- ezer Mack's late residence; Mr. William R. Collins, who built just across the inlet, west; Van Orman, Van Etten, Banfield, Shoemaker, Miller, Greene and Smith.
Mrs. Philes came 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. Buel (wife of Judge Buel, and whose maiden name was Enos), in a small house standing, until a very few years since, 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 afterwards printed.
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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
Of the foregoing, Nathaniel Davenport, from New Jersey, settled with his wife and four children on lot eighty-seven, just north of the Bloodgood tract, and built his cabin on the site of the stone house re- cently occupied by Mrs. Walter P. Williams. Their youngest child, Abram, married in 1798 Mary Johnson, daughter of Abram Johnson, a pioneer of 1791; this was the first marriage in what is now the city and town of Ithaca. Abram Johnson was a native of Staten Island, but came to Ithaca from the Mohawk Valley, and after a short stay in the village here settled on a farm a few miles south. He was the father of eight children, five of whom were sons. One of them, John, became an Ithaca merchant and was the second clerk of this county. Arthur S:, another son, lived in Ithaca, where he was prominent as a lawyer and held a number of official positions.
Benjamin Pelton settled on lot ninety-nine, the Fall Creek property, about 1797, his dwelling standing in the middle of what is now Aurora street, at the top of a high spur of gravel since leveled down. He ad- vertised in the Journal, March 4, 1819, that he had "opened a Scriv- iner's office at the Yellow House near Peter Demund's." Mr. Pelton's son, Richard W., became owner of a large farm on South Hill, now largely covered with residences. He was the first postmaster of Ithaca in 1804. Another son, Edmund G., was a prominent early attorney, and held the office of surrogate in 1821. Abram Markle came here before 1798, and in that year performed the first marriage ceremony, before noticed; he was then a justice of the peace.
David Quigg was a settler at Ithaca as early as the first year of the century and was the first regular merchant. An old account book of Lansing & Quigg shows that he was conducting a store in 1801. He probably came here from Spencer, where he had first settled. His first business was in a log building on the north side of the Cascadilla, near the intersection of the present Linn and University avenue. He soon afterwards removed his stock to a frame building on the corner of Seneca and Aurora streets. His first goods came by way of the Mo- hawk Valley from Albany, and by Wood Creek, Oneida Lake, up the Seneca River and Cayuga Lake. He received little cash in his early operations, but his profits were large. The late H. C. Goodwin1 wrote in 1853:
1 H. C. Goodwin, son of - Goodwin, of Lansing (from whom Goodwin's Point was named), published a little pamphlet in 1853 entitled " Ithaca asit was and Ithaca as it is." It is now very rare, the copy in hand being owned by Horace M. Hibbard.
101
TOWN OF ITHACA.
York rum cost twenty-six cents a gallon and sold for $1.25. Muscovado sugar cost nine cents a pound and commanded eighteen and three-fourths cents. At this time (1801-5) large quantities of maple sugar were made by the back settlers, so that one hogshead of muscovado supplied the retail trade for one year. At the same time loaf sugar was worth thirty-one cents. Salt commanded four dollars a barrel. Nails found a ready market at twenty-five cents a pound, and leather was not dull at thirty-eight cents. His wheat he forwarded by land carriage to Owego, then down the Susquehanna on arks to Baltimore, realizing fifty-six cents on the bushel. In 1807 he shipped some 21,000 bushels, and in 1808, '09 and '10 an average of 4,000 bushels. His cattle were driven to Philadelphia, where he received a profit of five dollars a head. Good cows were then worth $16 a head, oxen $50, and three year old steers about $18. Horses were worth from $75 to $80. There were no oats, buckwheat or corn grown for sale, and butter had not at this time been introduced into the market. The expense of conveying goods through this devious and singu- larly winding course (just described) was two dollars a hundred; or, if conveyed hither from New York with teams by way Catskill, the charges were four dollars per hundred pounds.
The late Josiah B. Williams, who came to this county in 1825, was early engaged in the transportation business over the route first alluded to. He often narrated to the writer his experiences on his trips, and vividly portrayed the arduous toil and extreme discomforts accompany- ing that occupation, which he followed for several years.
The first death in town occurred in either 1790 or 1791, the precise date being unknown. It was that of Rachel Allen, who was either seventeen or eighteen years old, the daughter of a man who was then passing through Ithaca. She was buried on the hillside, where the cemetery was afterwards located.
Abram Markle came to Ithaca soon after the settlement, and in 1800 built the first frame house in the place. There was then a carpenter here named Delano, who had for an apprentice Luther Gere (who afterwards rose to influence and wealth), and they built the house. It was situated, and stood until recent years, just north of the Cascadilla, on the west side of the street, the second building from the mill. Mr. King says that probably Mr. Markle brought up a small store of goods, but could scarcely be considered a regular merchant.
Archer Green was in Ithaca before 1800, and it was probably in his log house, on the north side of the Cascadilla, that the first marriage was consummated, as before noted. Mr. Green was the first clerk of the county, and otherwise prominent in the community.
Mr. Goodwin became a historical writer of some note, and died recently in Homer, N. Y.
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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
According to Mr. Goodwin there were in Ithaca in 1806 about twelve houses, six being framed; and from that time onward the place grew and prospered, as further detailed in subsequent pages.
By the following personal notes it will be seen that those pioneers who have thus far been mentioned were called to fill town offices at an early day for the old town of Ulysses:
John Yaple, fence viewer, 1796-97.
Peter Dumond, overseer of highways, 1795 and 1798.
Robert McDowell, overseer of the poor, 1795; assessor, overscer 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; commissioner of highways, 1796. He subsequently held many other positions of re- sponsibility, 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 justice of the peace in 1800.
Henry Markle (farmer and innkeeper) was overseer of highways in 1800.
Isaac Patchen, assessor, 1795; and overseer of the poor, 1297 and 1798.
Abram Davenport, constable, 1797-98.
Benjamin Pelton, school commissioner, 1796; assessor. commissioner and overseer of highways, and commissioner of public lots, 1798.
Richard W. Pelton, constable and town clerk, 1798.
Richard Pangborn, constable, 1796.
Abram Johnson, assessor and commissioner of highways and public lots, 1798; overseer of highways, 1799; and inspector for senatorial election in Cayuga county in 1799, with Abram Markle, Jeremiah Jef- frey, and Joseph S. Sidney.
Joseph S. Sidney (miller), assessor, 1799, and school commissioner, 1801.
Jonas Whiting (farmer), commissioner of highways, 1799; super- visor, 1800.
103
TOWN OF ITHACA.
John Smith (distiller), pound-master, 1799, and town clerk, 1800. He was probably the "John Smith " named as "surveyor," in No- vember, 1800, to run out the public lots into parcels of 100 acres each.
Archer Green, in 1801, was delegate to the convention called to con- sider the question of the division of Cayuga county.
The town meetings of 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 Hanmer; 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.
The important features of history, as related wholly to the town of Ithaca, have been given in earlier chapters of general matter, or will be given a little further on in the continued history of Ithaca as village and city. It is sufficient here to say that the agricultural districts in this town were rapidly taken up after the beginning of the present century by a class of men and women who were possessed of the requi- site energy and perseverance to establish comfortable homes amid new scenes, and the requisite morality and intelligence to gladly aid in founding early schools and churches, and to so rear their sons and daughters that they would continue, as they have done, the good work begun by their fathers and mothers.
The following lists of town officials include the names of many of the early settlers and the later dwellers in the town, who were more or less conspicuous as private and as public citizens. The town of Ithaca was formed March 15, 1821, at the court house in Ithaca, and the fol- lowing officers elected: Supervisor, Nathan Herrick; town clerk, Isaac Beers; assessors, Caleb Davis, William P. Burdick, Richard Pew; col- lector, Ebenezer Vickery; overseers of poor, Jesse Merritt, Eliakim Dean; commissioners of highways, Moses Davenport, Joseph Pew, David Coddington; constables (appointed), Ebenezer Vickery, Amasa Woodruff; commissioners of schools, John Whiton, John Johnson, An- drew D. W. Bruyn; inspectors of schools, Benjamin Pelton, Reuben Judd, Isaac Beers; trustees of gospel and school lot, I uther Gere, Charles Humphrey, William T. Southworth; pound-master, David Curtis.
104
LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
The town was divided into thirty-seven road districts. The first ses- sion of the town board, at which bills were presented, was held March 26, 1822, and the amount audited was $70.95.
Following is a list of the supervisors from 1821 to the present time : 1821-24. Nathan Herrick.
1825. Andrew D, W. Bruyn.
1856-58. William S. Hoyt.
1826. Ben Johnson.
1859. John Gauntlett.
1827-34. Ira Tillotson.
1860. Henry F. Hibbard,
1835. Julius Ackley.
1836. 1ra Tillotson, until September (resigned).
Joseph Esty, appointed Septem- ber.
1837. Amos Hixson.
1838. John James Speed, jr.
1839. Jacob M. McCormick.
1840. Jeremiah S. Beebe.
1841. Horace Mack.
1842. Amasa Dana.
1843-44. Joseph S. Hixson.
1845. Samuel Giles.
1880-81. Alexander Frear.
1882-86. Richard A. Crozier.
1846-48. William Andrus.
1849. Frederick Deming.
1850. Nathan T. Williams.
1851. Frederick Deming.
1852. Jonathan B. Gosman.
1853-54. Stephen B. Cushing.
1894. A. O. Hart.
CITY.
1889. R. A. Crozier.
1893. E. S. Carpenter.
1889. Horace M. Hibbard.
1893. L. G. Todd.
1890. A. G. Genung.
1893. T. S. Thompson.
1890. R. Wolf.
1895. J. E. Van Natta.
1891. R. A. Crozier.
1894. C. F. Hottes.
1891. R. Wolf.
1894. L. G. Todd.
1892. A. G. Genung.
1892. George W. Frost.
1894. T. S. Thompson. 1894. WV. P. Harrington.
1861. John Gauntlett.
1862. John L. Whiton.
1863. Philip J. Partenheimer.
1864-65. Alonzo B. Cornell.
1866. Joseph M. Lyon.
1867. William L. Bostwick.
1868. David L. Burt.
1869-71. Howard C. Williams.
1872-73. Charles W. Bates.
1873-77. David L. Burt, elected Novem- ber. 1878-79. Pierce Pearson.
1887-88. George W. Frost.
1889-90. Nicholas Pearson.
1891-92. Charles M. Titus.
1893. Nicholas Pearson.
1855. Benjamin G. Ferris.
Following are the principal town officers for the years 1894: Amos O. Hart, supervisor, Forest Home; Hugh T. Burtt, town clerk, Ithaca; Lyle Nelson, collector, Ithaca; Lockwood F. Colegrove, justice of the peacc, Ithaca; Alfred Hasbrouck, justice of the peace, Ithaca; Edgar Masters, constable, Ithaca; Mathew Sharp, constable, Ithaca; Charles Brown, constable, Ithaca; William Van Order, constable, Ithaca; Charles Boyer, constable, Ithaca.
105
TOWN OF ITHACA.
STATISTICAL. - The bills for county expenses audited by the Board of Supervisors of 1893, and allowed, including the supervisors' service bill, amounted to $12, 145.61. The gross amount of the town audits as allowed was $25,897.91. The whole amount expended for the care of the poor of the county for the year was $4,008.67. The total disburse- ments by the county treasurer were $107,355.34. Other statistical mat- ters are noticed in the succeeding town histories.
CORPORATIONS.
ASSESSED VALUE OF REAL ESTATE.
AMOUNT OF TAX.
ITHACA, TOWN-Elmira, Cortland and Northern R. R. Co.
$18,100
$271.50
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Co.
24,000
360.00
Lehigh Valley R. R. Co.
30,000
450.00
Lehigh Valley R. R. Co., Auburn Branch
11,280
169.20
Western Union Telegraph Company.
2,000
30.00
American Telegraph and Telephone Company
1,000
15.00
Ithaca Water Works Company
1,500
22.50
The Brush-Swan Electric Light Company
300
4.50
ITHACA, CITY-Alpha Psi Society
5,000
91.00
Alpha Delta Phi Society.
5,000
91.00
Cornell Athletic Association
1,000
18.20
Delta Upsilon Society
2,700
49.14
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western R. R. Co.
12,923
235.20
Elmira, Cortland and Northern R. R. Co ..
3,000
54.60
Geneva, Ithaca and Sayre R. R. Co.
23,173
421.75
Geneva, Ithaca and Sayre R. R. Co., Cayuga Division
8,725
158.80
Cayuga Lake Transportation Co.
4,000
72.80
Ithaca Calendar Clock Company
5,000
91.00
Ithaca Gas Light Company -
10,000
182.00
Ithaca Gun Company
3,000
54.60
Ithaca Opera Company
1,000
18.20
Ithaca Water Works Company
9,500
172.90
Ithaca Street Railway Company
7,500
136.50
Ithaca Savings Bank.
20,000
364.00
Ithaca Board of Trade
700
12.74
Kappa Alpha Association
2,700
49.14
New York and Pennsylvania Telegraph and Telephone Co ._
1,000
18.20
Psi Upsilon Association
2,500
45.50
Phi Kappa Psi Society
500
9.20
The Brush-Swan Electric Light Co.
2,800
50.96
Theta Delta Chi Society
2,500
45.50
The Autophone Company
3,500
63.70
The American Telephone and Telegraph Co.
400
7.28
Tompkins County National Bank.
7,400
134.68
Town and Gown Society
3.000
54.60
United Glass Works Company
5,000
91.00
Western Union Telegraph Company
400
7.28
Zeta Psi Society
7,000
127.40
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106
LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
ITHACA VILLAGE.
We left our account of early Ithaca when, in 1806, it had about a dozen houses; but it had enjoyed a post-office then for two years and doubtless felt itself considerable of a settlement. One of the half dozen frame structures stood, according to Mr. King, on the site of the vil- lage hall, and another where the old Tompkins House stood, and there a Mr. Vrooman kept a public house which he called the Ithaca Hotel. Another was on the southeast corner of Aurora and Seneca streets, and in it Luther Gere afterwards kept a tavern. It was in the year just mentioned that the little village received its name, from Simeon De Witt, after the ancient city of Ithaca in the Ionian Sea.
There were elements of growth apparent in and around Ithaca even at that early day, its location at the head of Cayuga Lake being one of them. In 1808 the turnpike to Owego was laid out and its improve- ment begun, and three years later the road to Geneva was constructed. These and the other early highways contributed to the prosperity of the place. The first religious society, the Presbyterian, had existed since 1805, and it is pleasant to record the fact that in 1806 the first library was established by the purchase of about $300 in books, which subsequently became the property of the "Ithaca Lyceum," and still later of the " Minerva Society," which was connected with the acad- emy.
By the close of the first decade of the century, Ithaca was looked upon as one of the most thriving and promising villages in the State.
This little village was the hope and pride of Simeon De Witt, who intended it for his future home, and who may appropriately be consid- ered its founder. Before he gave it its name it had been varicusly called " The Flats," or "The City," or "Sodom," according to the choice of different commentators. Mr. De Witt, as is well known, was a conspicuous figure in the early annals of the State. 1
1 To his memory Mr. King has paid the following tribute:
"In 1778 he was appointed assistant geographer in the army of the Revolution ; and in 1780, on the death of Robert Erskine, was appointed chief geographer. In 1796 General Washington proffered to him the office of surveyor-general to the United States, which, 'from the force of circumstances,'he declined. In 1784 he was appointed surveyor-general of this State, succeeding therein Gen. Philip Schuy- ler; and in 1798 became Regent of the University. Both of these offices he held to the time of his death, in December, 1834, through all the political revolutions and changes that occurred. In 1829 he was chosen Chancellor of the University, and
AMAPY ATTILACA.
Inthe de enige l'hypera
ATREFT
1
3
33
AURORA
STREET
29.
2.7
24
28
2,5
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3
26
STREET
31
36
3y
38
3,9
41
42
43
44
SENECA
1,5
School 48 Lot
1.86
1.792
194
-
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19
2:0
11 22
STREET
30%
108
LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
He held among other high positions the office of surveyor-general of the State from the year 1794 to the date of his death, December 3, 1834. He became early possessed of a large tract of land covering a part of the village site, which he improved and sold off at various times.
Lot No. 92 of Ulysses, which became the site of a part of Ithaca vil- lage and Cornell University, was drawn by Benjamin Gilbert, a lieu- tenant. Lot 88, locally called "Renwick," was drawn by Andrew Moody, a captain of cavalry ; and lot 81 by Major-General Alexander McDougall. Derrick Schuyler, an ensign in the Second Regiment, drew lots 5? and 78, upon the latter of which his brother, John H. Schuyler, settled in 1811; it is on the Hector road on West Hill. John H. Schuyler was the father of George W. and Philip C. Schuyler.
The following is from Sackett's Minutes of the Military Townships, in relation to lot 94, which formed that part of Ithaca bounded by Tioga street on the west, Eddy street on the east, and north and south by the north and south city lines:
ULYSSES 94.
Drawn by Hendrick Loux, private in the 1st N. Y. Regiment.
Claimed by Jeremiah Van Rensselaer.
(1) Patent to Hendrick Loux dated July 6, 1790, for 600 acres.
(2) Deed from Hendrick Loux, the patentee, to Jeremiah Van Rensselaer dated January 26, 1792. Deposited, acknowledged, entered and recorded in the secretary's office.
Hendrick Loux, on oath, says that he was a private soldier in the army and be- longed to the First Regiment, commanded by Col. Goose Van Schaick till the war was over, and that he sold his land to Jeremiah Van Rensselaer and never sold it to John De Witt or any other person, and never gave John De Witt any deed.
Awarded 600 acres to Jeremiah Van Rensselaer.
was also for several years canal commissioner. The duties of every office that he held were discharged faithfully and ably. These facts have made him known to the country, and have given celebrity to his name.
" In private intercourse he was affable and amiable, just in all his dealings, and beloved in all his associations. One who knew him well has said that he was 'a scholar, a patriot and a Christian.' His relations to this village [Ithaca] give us right to claim more than a general distinction through him. He was founder, sponser and friend of Ithaca. He died here, and the place where his body reposes is known to all of us. He has monument and memorial in the flourishing and beautiful village that his grave overlooks, and it will testify of him when you and I and generations yet unborn shall have passed away."
The remains of Mr. De Witt were removed some forty years ago to Albany and reinterred.
109
VILLAGE OF ITHACA.
This tract, as well as others of the early subdivisions, is clearly shown on the accompanying maps.
The plot of the village was formed almost wholly by streets follow- ng nearly the cardinal points, and intersecting very nearly at right angles. This plot contained certain portions designated then, or sub- sequently, as parks, of which De Witt Park is most central. Mr. De Witt encouraged settlement by the liberal terms offered in the sale of his lands. It was his long cherished desire to build a residence on the east hill overlooking the village; but he dicd before this was accom- plished, and was buried near the spot, on the south bank of the Cas- cadilla, where a few pines still stand, through whose heavy fronds the wind makes ceaseless requiem. His grave was on the rear of the lot the front of which on Buffalo street is now occupied by residences of C. H. White and Henry Stewart.
It is said that beneath these pines he made his first encampment while prosecuting the survey (about the year 1796-97) for his map of the State. His remains lay long unhonored by a distinctive monument, and were finally removed from Ithaca to Albany.
The present corporation of Ithaca is composed of Lot 94, of the mil- itary tract, and the Abraham Bloodgood location.
Lot 94 of the military tract was allotted to a soldier of the Revolu- tion, by name Hendrick Loux, by whom it was conveyed to a Mr. Van Rensselaer, who conveyed to "Robert McDowell of Mohawk." McDowell conveyed the north part, 170 acres, to Benjamin Pelton in 1797, or thereabouts. Mr. Pelton sold his portion to Phineas Bennett. The southern portion, lying chiefly on the South Hill and south of the Six Mile Creek, became the property of the Peltons. The middle por- tion, except about fourteen acres, was purchased by Simeon Dc. Witt.
Of the fourteen acres, ten were purchased by Gen. John Smith, and embraced nearly all the lands on the flats lying east of the old Owego Turnpike (Aurora street) and south of the Jericho Turnpike, as first laid out; and four acres became the property of John McDowell, a son, and Richard W. Pelton, and Nicoll Halsey, son-in-law of Robert McDowell. The four acres embraced the block on which now stands the Ithaca Hotel, and the small piece which has since become South Tioga street. The portion of State street on the north of the four acres was then vil- lage lot 32, the street not then existing, April 6, 1808, this four acres was conveyed by the three owners to Luther Gere and John M. Pear- son for $100; and July 31, 1810, Luther Gere conveyed to Aurelia,
112
110
LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
widow of John M. Pearson, one and onc-half acres from the west side thereof. Subsequently said Aurelia (then the wife of Caleb B. Drake, esq.) conveyed what is now South Tioga street, to Simeon De Witt, who opened it to the public, and conveyed to Aurelia, in payment thereof, village lot 62 next west. Lot 92 is bounded on the west by the west line of Tioga street in the village of Ithaca.
The Abraham Bloodgood tract lies west of the west line of Tioga street, and contains 1,400 acres, for which a certificate of location was issued to him November 1, 1789. The title passed to Gen. Simeon De Witt, who afterwards conveyed to Francis A. Bloodgood the 400 acres which lies south of the central line of Clinton street, and of that line continued. A small portion of this was sold to actual settlers by Mr. Bloodgood; the remainder was divided into lots, some of which passed to non-resident capitalists. The title was finally concentrated in Messrs. John McGraw and Charles M. Titus, who purchased the prop- erty in 1868.
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