USA > New York > Tompkins County > Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University > Part 27
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The fire department in Dryden was established in 1874 by the pur- chase of a fire engine, and reorganized to adopt itself to the new water supply in November, 1893. There is now a fire company in three divi- sions, and with the following officers: Chief engineer, D. K. Mont- gomery; foreman, J. Dolph Ross; first assistant, George Wickham; second assistant, David Odell; president, James C. Lorimer ; secretary, Clarkson T. Davies; treasurer, John H. Pratt. There are, besides the engine purchased in 1874, three hose carts; 1,500 feet of hose, ladders, etc. The village hall building was erected on South street in 1876, and accommodates the fire apparatus, a lock-up, hall, etc.
Within the past few years the citizens of Dryden village have shown an enthusiasm and public spirit which might well be emulated by other similar places. The project of supplying the village with water had received considerable discussion prior to 1892, in which year it took on definite shape. The project involved bringing a supply of pure spring water by gravity through a pipe from a point about two and a half miles northeast of the village, the piping of the streets and erection of hydrants. A commission was formed in the spring of 1892, with John H. Kennedy, president (an office which he has since held), and the enterprise was rapidly and successfully pushed ahcad to completion. The cost was about $25,000, and at the present time there is scarcely a building in the corporation that is not protected from fire by a hydrant, while the citizens and their families have an ample supply of excellent water for all necessary purposes. The other members of the water commission are George E. Monroe and A. M. Clark. In this connec- tion, it should be stated that the public square is being handsomely im- proved, and a fountain is to be erected at a cost of $1,250, the generous gift of Andrew Albright, a former resident of the town, and one of a family who have long been prominent.
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VILLAGE OF DRYDEN.
Another important addition to the attractions of the village is a new opera house, built in 1893, by a stock company, in which most of the leading citizens became members.
SOUTHWORTH LIBRARY .- This beneficent institution is the result of a gift made in 1881 by the late Jennie MeGraw Fiske, of $30,000, for the erection of a suitable building and maintenance of a public library. The following were named as the trustees: Jeremiah W. Dwight, J. J. Montgomery, M. D. McElheny, J. E. McElheny. The library was incorporated April 25, 1883, under the name of the Southworth Library Association, with the following officers: J. W. Dwight, president; J. E. McElheny, vice-president; H. B. Napier, secretary; H. B. Lord, treasurer. In 1884 the trustees bought the Merritt Baucus property, which they remodeled for a library building. This was used until 1893, when the trustees purchased the H. W. Sears property on Main street, and contracted to have erected a handsome stone structure, to cost $15,000, including the cost of the real estate. The present board of trustees are J. E. McElheny, president; J. J. Montgomery, vice- president; John W. Dwight, G. M. Rockwell, D. R. Montgomery, D. E. Bower, D. Willard Fiske. H. B. Lord is treasurer, and Cora L. Holden, librarian. The building will be completed during 1894. The library has now about 5,000 volumes, and the income of the remaining $15,000 will be expended annually in the purchase of additional books. This library is of inestimable benefit to the village.
At the noted Dryden Sulphur Springs a sanitarium has been con- ducted more than a quarter of a century by Miss S. S. Nivison, M. D., where a large and well appointed building has been the temporary home for invalids from all parts of the country, and large numbers have gone from it cured of obstinate maladies.
MERCANTILE INTERESTS. - The village of Dryden has always liberally supported several good stores, the proprietors of which have carried on business in an enterprising and at the same time a prudent manner. Business failures have therefore been of very rare occurrence. The former firms of Sears & Baucus, Edward Fitts, Bower & Miller, and others, have in past years furnished excellent examples of successful country merchants. At the present time D. T. Wheeler & Co. carry on a large trade in the store formerly occupied by Sears & Baucus. J. B. Fulkerson and O. J. Hill are successful general merchants. Cyrus French, who long conducted an extensive hardware trade, recently sold out to French Brothers; and the Baker Brothers are large dealers in groceries.
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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
A manufacturing business which promises success has recently been inaugurated by Barnard & Allen for the production of the Barnard washing machine.
The old Dryden House, which was successfully conducted for a great many years by Peter Mineah, is now in the hands of Henry Wavle. In the year 1870 J. H. Cole built the Grove House, and has successfully conducted it ever since.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY .- The Dryden Agricultural Society was or- ganized in 1856, and its success has been much more pronounced than that of most similar town organizations. A spirit of emulation has been developed among the farmers of the town which has brought forth excellent results in the raising of stock and the growing of vari- ous products. The first officers of the society were: Elias W. Cady, president; Jeremiah Snyder, vice-president; David P. Goodhue, treas- urer; Otis E. Wood, secretary. The grounds are situated in the eastern part of the village and comprise eighteen acres, with suitable build- ings.
Following is a list of the principal officers of the society from the beginning :
YEAR. PRESIDENT.
SECRETARY.
TREASURER.
1856 Elias W. Cady.
Otis E. Wood.
D. B. Goodhue.
1857
Smith Robertson.
Otis E. Wood.
D. B. Goodhue.
1858 John P. Hart.
Alviras Snyder.
T. J. McElheny.
1859 John P. Hart.
Alviras Snyder.
T. J. McElheny.
1860 Alviras Snyder.
Luther Griswold.
T. J. McElheny.
1861 P. V. Snyder.
M. Van Valkenburg.
Eli A. Spear.
1862 Chas. Givens.
A. F. Houpt.
Eli A. Spear.
1863 Chas. Givens.
A. F. Houpt.
Eli A. Spear.
1864 Jacob Albright.
Simeon Snyder.
D. P. Gardner.
1865 Nathan Bouton.
W. S. Moffat.
Eli A. Spear.
1866
Nathan Bouton.
Henry H. Houpt.
Eli A. Spear.
1867 C. Bartholomew.
Eli A. Spear.
1868 Luther Griswold.
C. D. Bouton. Alviras Snyder. Alviras Snyder.
Eli A. Spear.
1869 Robert Purvis.
Eli A. Spear.
1870 A. B. La Mont.
John H. Kennedy.
Eli A. Spear.
1871
Charles Cady.
George E. Monroe.
Eli A. Spear.
1872 Lemi Grover.
George E. Monroe.
Walker Marsh.
1873 1874 R. W. Barnum.
Alviras Snyder. W. E. Osmun.
I. P. Ferguson.
I. P. Ferguson.
1875 O. W. Wheeler.
W. E. Osmun.
I. P. Ferguson.
1876 G. M. Lupton.
W. E. Osmun.
I. P. Ferguson.
1877 G. M. Lupton.
IV. H. Goodwin.
W. I. Baucus.
Lemi Grover.
Benjamin Sheldon
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VILLAGE OF DRYDEN.
YEAR. PRESIDENT.
SECRETARY.
TREASURER.
1878 G. M. Lupton.
W. H. Goodwin.
WV. I. Baucus.
1879 G. M. Lupton.
W. H. Goodwin.
W. I. Baucus.
1880 G. M. Lupton.
W. H. Goodwin.
David E. Bower.
1881 G. M. Lupton.
W. H. Goodwin.
IV. I. Baucus.
1882 G. M. Lupton.
W. H. Goodwin.
IV. I. Baucus.
1883 Martin E. Tripp.
George E. Monroe.
J. B. Fulkerson.
1884 G. M. Lupton.
1885 G. M. Rockwell.
1886 John H. Kennedy.
Jesse B. Wilson.
David E. Bower.
1887 Theron Johnson.
Jesse B. Wilson.
David E. Bower.
1888 Benjamin Sheldon.
Jesse B. Wilson. Jesse B. Wilson.
David E. Bower.
1889 Benjamin Sheldon. 1890 Chester D. Burch.
Jesse B. Wilson.
Dewitt T. Wheeler.
1891 Chester D. Burch.
Jesse B. Wilson.
Dewitt T. Wheeler.
1892 Chester D. Burch.
Jesse B. Wilson.
Dewitt T. Wheeler.
1893 Chester D. Burch.
Jesse B. Wilson.
1894 Chester I). Burch.
Jesse B. Wilson.
Dewitt T. Wheeler. Dewitt T. Wheeler.
Dryden Lodge, No. 471, F. and A. M., was organized March 20, 1859. This lodge has always had a large membership among whom have been numbered most of the leading citizens of the town. The officers for 1894 are as follows: W. M., J. Dolph Ross; S. W., Adelbert M. Clark; J. W., Frank S. Jennings; treasurer, Isaac P. Ferguson; sec., O. J. Hill; S. D., Jesse B. Wilson; J. D., Chester D. Burch ; chaplain, M. E. Tripp; tiler, Chas. B. Tanner.
Dryden Lodge No. 390, I. O. O. F., was organized May 15, 1815. The officers for 1894 are: N. G., Wm. McKee; V. G., D. Clarke Ballard; sec., C. D. Griswold; treasurer, R. M. West; permanent sec., H. F. Pratt; chaplain, Daniel Bartholomew; past grand, Dr. G. L. Rood.
ETNA VILLAGE .- This small village is situated on Fall Creek, a little west of the center of the town, and is a station on the E., C. & N. Rail- road. It was known in early years as "Miller's Settlement " from William Miller, who settled here about the beginning of the century. Later it was called "Columbia," and retained that name until the post- office was established. A grist mill and saw mill have been in opera- tion here many years. and now carried on by George H. Houtz. There are two hotels in the village, one of which is under proprietorship of John E. Coy, and the other of Hiram A. Root. A store is kept by Coggs- well Brothers. There are the usual complement of shops, and a church noticed elsewhere.
George E. Monroe.
A. M. Clark.
J. B. Fulkerson. David E. Bower.
Dewitt T. Wheeler.
264
LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
FREEVILLE. - This is a small incorporated village on Fall Creek and at the junction of the E., C. & N. and the Southern Central Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroads. A small mercantile business, a mill, and ordinary shops, with a hotel, constituted the business of this place until the building of the railroads, when a period of greater activity began. Otis E. Wood became the owner of a large tract of land and other property here and made great efforts to bring on a period of growth which might result in a prosperous village. It cannot be said that his anticipations have been fully realized. Mark E. Holton built and has long conducted the Junction House, a prosperous hotel, and the older hotel, for many years in the hands of the Shaver family, is now con- ducted by George I. Shaver. Stores are now kept by Albert L. Willey, as successor of Samuel B. Willey, the first merchant; Roe & Sutfin es- tablished a store in 1889 (H. W. Roe and W. E. Sutfin).
James M. Carr is postmaster. A manufactory of cathedral window glass was established a few years ago by C. Tondeur, which is now in operation, and has met with a fair degree of success. The following village officers were elected March 20, 1894: President, W. J. Shaver; trustees, A. L. Willey (two years), S. S. Hoff (one year); treasurer, F. R. Willey ; collector, David Robinson ; police justice, N. H. Thompson.
VARNA .-- This is another hamlet on Fall Creek, near the western border of the town, and a station on the E., C. & N. Railroad. A grist mill has been in operation here many years and passed through many hands. It is now operated by the Crutts Brothers, sons of Jacob Crutts, one of the early settlers. A grocery is kept by P. W. Mynard, and Robert Smiley is postmaster. A general store is kept by Eugene Van Duzen.
Malloryville is a hamlet in the northeast part of the town on Fall Creek. It is not a post village. The old red mill is located a little below the place, and a pail factory is now operated by Elijah Watson. A firkin and tub factory is carried on by Elder E R. Wade, and an- other was established by George E. Watson, now of Freeville, which is conducted by his son, G. M. Watson.
West Dryden is a small hamlet in the western part of the town with a post-office.
CHURCHES.
The First Baptist church of Dryden was organized February 29, 1804, at the dwelling of William Miller in Etna. The little hamlet was
265
VILLAGE OF DRYDEN.
known as "Miller's Settlement." Samuel Hemmingway was chosen deacon, and John Wickham, clerk. Among the original members were Francis Miller, Elijah Dimmick, Silas Brown, Ebenezer Brown, Nathan- iel Luther, Job Carr, Ziba Randall, Timothy Owens, Jonathan Dun- ham, Henry Dunham, Joshua Jay, Abraham Woodcock, Nathan Dunham, Joel Whipple, Samuel Skillinger, Morris Bailey, Orpha Luther, Asher Wickham, Mehitable Carr, Betsy Brown, Abigail Dim- mick, Mary Owens, Lucy Dunham and Katie Woodcock.
Services were held in various places until 1832, when a union edifice was erected. This society has had no services for some time past, but they are to be renewed soon.
On the 17th of February, 1808, the Rev. Jabez Chadwick, assisted by Elder Ebenezer Brown, organized the Presbyterian church of Dryden village. The names of the corporate members were James Wood, Stephen Myreh, Benjamin Simons, Derick Sutfin, Abraham Griswold, Juliana Turpening, Aseneth Griswold, Isabell Simons, Rebecca Myreh, Sarah Wood, Elizabeth Tappen, Jerusha Taylor (as they appeared in the record). During the first nine years there was no regular pastor or stated supply, but various ministers and missionaries occupied the pul- pit. In 1816 Rev. Jeremiah Osborn became pastor. The first meet- ings were held in Thomas Southworth's barn at Willow Glen, and in 1818 in Elias W. Cady's barn. The church building was begun in 1821, and when it was finished Rev. Reuben Hurd was installed pastor. It has been changed and improved in later years. About this time the society changed from the Congregational to the Presbyterian form. The present pastor of the church is Rev. Fred. L. Hiller.
A young Methodist itinerant, who was passing through Dryden in 1816, stopped and was induced to hold services in the school house. He did so, and went to several dwellings, exhorting the people. This was the beginning of Methodism in the town. His name was Rev. Alvin Torrey, and his zeal soon resulted in the organization of a class. Selden Marvin, Edward Hunting, and Abraham Tanner were among the original members. The conference of 1831 organized a new cir- cuit from the Cayuga, Caroline and Berkshire cireuits, naming it the Dryden circuit, and Revs. Mr. Colbourn and M. Adams were appointed preachers. A great revival followed and the house of worship was built in 1832. The next conference made the circuit a station, and Rev. J. T. Peck became the first pastor in charge. The pastorate has, of course, changed numerous times since, and Rev. J. W. Terry is the 34
266
ยท LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
present pastor. The church built in 1832 was burned in December 22, 1873, and the present edifice was erected in the following year at a cost of about $11,000.
The First Methodist church of Etna was organized April 13, 1835, and the meetings were held for a time in the village school house. In 1837 the church edifice was built at a cost of about $2,000. The first trustees were James Freeman, Alvah Carr, Michael Vanderhoof, Rich- ard Bryant, Thomas J. Watkins, Oliver Baker and John H. Porter. The present pastor is Rev. P. J. Riegel.
The First Methodist church of Varna was formed January 5, 1842, at the village school house. Hoffman Steenburg, William Cobb, Robert C. Hunt, Benjamin Davenport, George Emmons, John Munson and Isaac Seamans were chosen the first trustees. At the next regular meeting it was determined to build a church. A subscription paper was circulated, and in 1843 the building was finished at a cost of $1,500. It was repaired in 1874 at a cost of $400. The present pastor is Rev. P. J. Riegel.
The Methodist church of West Dryden was organized from a class which had been formed in 1811. This class was composed of Samuel Fox and his wife, David Case and wife, Selden Andrus and wife, and one other person. The first meetings were held in the house of Sam- uel Fox, and later in the large school house at Fox's Corners. Circuit preachers occupied the pulpit. In 1832 the church was built at a cost of $2,200. The first trustees were Lemuel Sperry, Thomas George and William George. The present pastor is Rev. Thomas C. Roskelly.
The Methodist church at Freeville was formed at an early day, but a reorganization was effected in 1876. The church was built in 1842 and a parsonage in 1878, Rev. Thomas C. Roskelly is the present pastor.
267
TOWN OF CAROLINE.
CHAPTER XV.
TOWN OF CAROLINE.
ON the 4th of August, 1791, John W. Watkins, Royal Flint and their associates, mostly resident in and about New York city, filed with the secretary of state a proposal to purchase all the ungranted lands of the State lying between the military townships on the north and the town- ship of Chemung on the south, the Owego River on the east, and the pre-emption line on the west. The pre-emption line was the east line of the lands granted to Massachusetts in settlement of a long dispute over State boundaries.
The offer was accepted by the commissioners of the Land Office, a board consisting of the principal State officers and of which Governor George Clinton was at that time president. A survey was directed to be made under the supervision of the surveyor-general, whose return was filed April 7, 1794.
His arithmetic made the territory amount to 336, 880 acres. Several reservations were made, but their area was not included in the above aggregate. A patent therefor was issued, dated June 25, 1794, to John W. Watkins, who very soon conveyed by deed to Royal Flint and associates their respective shares in the deal, as interest appeared. The names of Watkins and Flint having been first affixed to the formal proposal to purchase, the tract took the name of the Watkins and Flint purchase and comprised a tract thirty-five miles in length by fifteen in width. The price paid by the syndicate was three shillings and four pence per acre.
Very soon after the deal had been consummated, two men named Johnson became the proprietors of a very large part of it, probably nearly or quite one-third, and including most or all that part of it now in Tompkins county. They were Robert C. and Samuel W. Johnson, of Stratford, in Connecticut. The "Johnson Lands," as they were called, included, with some few reservations, the towns of Caroline, Danby and Newfield, or the southern tier of the county of Tompkins.
James Pumpelly, a surveyor from Connecticut, settled at Owego and
268
LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
became their resident agent and business manager in the laying out, subdivision and mapping of the territory for sale to actual settlers, and in some instances in considerable quantities to smaller speculators. Many large purchases were conducted in this manner, notably those of the Beers in Danby, and the Speeds, Boyers, Hydes and Patillos in Caroline, who thus bought in the aggregate a number of thousand acres.
The name of Samuel W. Johnson was borne on the annual tax-rolls of one or more towns until some time in 1849-50, and Johnson was an occasional visitor to the region and would return east with a small drove of live stock taken in payment for land, as the great majority of set- tlers bought by "article," so called. Of James Pumpelly, the cele- brated land agent of this region in pioneer days, it may be said that he was of Italian descent. His dealings with the settlers were always honorable, courteous, and very methodical and exact. His land office in the stone building close beside the Susquehanna at Owego was a famous place in its day.
The town of Caroline occupies the southeast corner of Tompkins county and contains 34,523 acres. 1 Its surface is upland, broken by irregular ridges running northeast and southwest. The soil is gravelly and calcareous loam, the latter chiefly in the southern part, and is adapted to grazing and grain growing. The dairying interest in the town has been extensively and profitably developed in recent years. The streams are Six Mile Creek and Owego Creek, the latter forming the eastern boundary, and their branches. The deep valleys of these streams are generally bordered by lofty and steep hills.
This town was organized February ?2, 1811,2 when it was set off from Spencer, but did not become a part of Tompkins county until March 22, 1823. It received its name in honor of a daughter of Dr. Joseph Speed, one of the pioneers.
Settlement in Caroline was begun by Captain David Rich, originally from the western part of Massachusetts, but later from Vermont where
1 January 1, 1887, seven lots of 600 acres each were taken from Dryden and added to Caroline, making the area as above.
2 In 1810, the year before the division, Spencer contained 3,128 inhabitants. In 1814, three years after the division of Spencer into five separate towns, the popula- tion of each was as follows: Caroline, 905; Danby, 1,200; Newfield, 982. These were set off to Tompkins county. Candor, 1,098; Spencer, 670; the last two remain- ing a part of Tioga county.
269
TOWN OF CAROLINE.
he had kept a tavern, who came to the east part of the town in 1495, by way of New Jersey ( where he made a short stay), Apalachin (Tioga county), and thence up the Owego Creek. He purchased between 100 and 200 acres, and his deed is the first recorded to an actual settler in Caroline. He had been a tavern keeper before his removal to this town, and followed the same business here, first in a log house and later where his son, Orin P. Rich now lives. He held several town offices, and died, aged ninety-two, in 1852.
In 1495 Widow Earsley came into the town with her ten children. and at the same date with Captain David Rich. The maiden name of Mrs. Earsley was Maria Johnson. Her native country was Holland, from which she came to this country with her parents when twelve years of age. She married Francis Earsley, who was born in Ireland of English parents and was by trade a weaver. He lived at Roxbury, Essex county, N. J., after arriving in this country, and became a farmer. He served with one of his wife's brothers during the Revolu- tionary war, and died in 1790, leaving him surviving a widow and ten children, the youngest of whom were two twin girls only nine months old. In company with her brother and her eldest son she set out on horseback to find a new home in the summer of 1194. In her travels she met one Simmons Perkins, a surveyor who made a map of Town- ship No. 11, of the Watkins and Flint purchase. In company with Perkins and six others, among whom were her son, her son-in- law, and her brother, Zacheus Johnson, she prospected for land. They camped out in the woods nights. One day as they were crossing the little brook which still meanders through the fields, Mrs. Earsley said, "This is my home." She bought the land, 100 acres, at $3.00 per acre. They removed from New Jersey to Union, remained there four weeks, and went to Apalachin, where they lived till coming to this their new home. During this time the eldest daughter, Nelly, married Beniah Barney. In the fall the eldest son, John, came and built a cabin on the land. Mrs. Earsley traveled over the route between her new home in the forest and the old one in New Jersey twice. She rode in all over 500 miles on horseback. The family when it left New Jersey consisted of the mother and ten children, five boys and five girls, the eldest of whom married and remained at Apalachin. In the spring they came with oxen and sleigh, the snow being quite deep. They arrived on the ground March 4, 1795.
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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
Mrs. Earsley was the first to locate and make preparation for a home, but Captain Rich was the first to arrive on the ground in the spring, which he did one week previously. His land joined hers on the east. The two settled in what was at that time the extreme northeast limit of the old township of Owego, in Tioga county.
The next settlers in the town were Thomas Tracy and his son Ben- jamin, who, in 1797, located near the site of the Charles P. Tobcy dwelling. They were from Western Massachusetts originally, but came here from near the present village of Apalachin. After seven or eight years Thomas Tracy sold out to Samuel Rounsvell, who kept bachelor hall here many years, and Rounsvell sold to Walter J. Thomas about 1832. The son returned to their old home near Apalachin and reared a family. General B. F. Tracy, ex-secretary of the navy, is his son. A brother of Thomas Tracy, named Prince Tracy, also settled in Caroline a few years later than Thomas, but after the War of 1812 sold out to the Schoonmaker family and left the town.
The next settler in Caroline, and a member of a family who became very conspicuous, was John Cantine, jr., a son of General John Cantine, of Ulster county, N. Y. The .Cantine family were from Marbletown, Ulster county, and of Huguenot descent. General Cantine gained his military title by honorable service in the militia of the Revolution. He also was at times member of the Assembly, of the State Senate and of Congress, and was associated with most of the eminent men of New York State of those stirring times. The last few years of his life were passed at the home of his son, John, and a married daughter (Mrs. Chambers) at Brookton (Mott's Corners), where he died April 30, 1808. He became as early as 1767 identified with the then wild lands of the province of New York. After the close of the Revolutionary War, many adventurous parties from Eastern New York penetrated the in- terior wilderness and settled along the Susquehanna, Chemung and Tioga Rivers in advance of all surveys and allotments of the lands. Many of them were entitled to military bounty lands, and some con- flicts arose over titles. In 1788 the Legislature appointed commission- ers to settle all these disputes in this region. General Cantine, General James Clinton and John Hathorn werc named, and were known as the "Chemung Commissioners." In laying out and surveying the lands of Chemung township (before Tioga county was formed), they made large selections of land in this and other localities for themselves and their friends. One of these selections was a tract of 3,200 acres, now
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