USA > New York > Tompkins County > Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University > Part 30
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Many of these carried on mercantile business in connection with their official business, and A. N. Ford, D. B. Gilbert & Son, Asa Phillips, and others, formerly kept stores. The present merchants are J. I. Ford and E. L. Freeland. Trout Brook Creamery is in this village, owned and operated by Truman & Thompson, of Owego. About 500 pounds of butter are made here daily.
A small grist mill is now operated by S. Hart about two miles from the village, and S. H. Akins has a planing mill and crate factory.
MOTT'S CORNERS .- This place was known in early years as Cantine's Mills, and its name was changed from Mott's Corners to Brookton in
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TOWN OF CAROLINE.
recent years. The village is situated on Six Mile Creek, near by sta- tions on the Elmira, Cortland and Northern Railroad and Caroline depot on the D., L. & W. Railroad. The settlement of Gen. John Cantine here, as well as others, has been quite fully detailed in pre- ceding pages. The building of the early mills at this point deter- mined its locality as a site for a village. The Upper Grist Mill, as it has been known, stands nearly opposite the site of the old Cantine Mill, which was built about the year 1800, and was burned in 1862, while owned by Joseph Chambers. The present mill was built by George White in 1865, and was sold by him to F. C. Cornell. This mill is not now running. It was at one time owned by William Mott 2d, as was also the mill on the present Voorhis site several years previous. The latter mill was destroyed by fire and rebuilt by David C. Roe in 1850. It passed through several hands to the Voorhises, father and sons, and was burnt in 1890 or 91. Fred E. Bates then became proprietor of the site and built thereon the present mill, and very soon after resold it to the Voorhis brothers. Daniel M. White and Fred E. Bates have two saw mills here.
There were formerly two woolen factories in operation at this place. A man named Losey for many years owned and carried on a gun fac- tory below Brookton. The business was originally started at Ta- ghanic Creek in Ulysses and removed to Brookton. They were followed by Mr. Lull and son, who changed the establishment into a factory for the manufacture of blankets. After a few years this was discontinued.
Former merchants here were George T. Sanders and John J. Bush. Stores are kept at present by Frank F. Mulks and E. M. Mills. Frank F. Mulks is postmaster.
CAROLINE POST-OFFICE .- This is a hamlet in the northeast part of the town, and is the locality that was first settled, as before described, by Capt. David Rich, Widow Earsley, Dr. Joseph Speed, and others. It was first known as "Yankee Settlement," and later as "Tobeytown," from Nathaniel Tobey, an early settler, who was the father of Nathan- iel M. Tobey. The post-office was first established here about 1819, and Dr. Speed was the first postmaster. Wallace W. Conrad is the present official and carries on the only store.
A saw mill was built here in 1822 by Henry Morgan and Isaac Goodale, which passed to possession of N. M. Tobey in 1865, and he rebuilt it. The present grist mill was built and is now operated by Francis Earsley.
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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
The upper mill was built by Mr. Tobey in 1835, on the west branch of Owego Creek. Mr. Tobey also built a steam grist mill there in 1854, which he successfully operated until 1863, when it was burned by an incendiary and not rebuilt.
CAROLINE CENTER .- This hamlet is situated near the center of the town, which fact gives it its name. It was in that vicinity that the pioneers Augustin and Hugh Boyer, William Jackson, Calvin Clark, Jonathan Snow, James Livermore, Alexander Stowell, John Taft, Abel Gates, Ezekiel Jewett, John Grout, Joel Rich (brother of Capt. David Rich), Jeremiah Kinney, Israel Paine, and others settled and lived; many of them have descendants still living in the town and county.
The post-office was established here about 1839, with Hiram S. Jones as postmaster. The present official is John Davis. There has never been any manufacturing of much account here. Robert E. Brink is the merchant.
Caroline Depot post-office was established in 1859, the year preceding the building of the depot there. Alvin Merrill, who was station agent, was the first postmaster. Slaterville, Brookton, and Caroline Center receive their supplies chiefly from this station. A store is kept by Dayton Conrad, and William B. Krum is postmaster.
There is a post-office in the town called White Church, over which William Hart presides.
Caroline Lodge, No. 681, F. & A. M., was instituted in November, 1867, with twenty-eight charter members. W. C. Gallagher, M.D., was the first W. M .; Moses Munson, S. W .; Job Norwood, J. W .; R. G. H. Speed, secretary; R. M. Wood, treasurer. The charter was re- ceived in June, 1868, when some slight changes in the list of officers occurred. The present chief officers are: Richard Leonard, W. M. ; C. L. Davis, S. W .; C. J. Hamilton, J. W .; W. K. Boice, treas. ; H. A. Davis, secretary; Leroy Heffron, S. D .; Bowne Mulks, J. D .; George Aldrich, S. M. C .; Leroy McWhorter, J. M. C .; R. G. H. Speed, chap- lain ; George E. Vandemark, marshal; Thomas Gibbs, tyler.
Speedsville Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M., was instituted June 11, 1851, and worked under a dispensation until June 19, 1852, when its charter was issued and thirteen members enrolled. The first W. M. was Robert H. S. Hyde; S. W., Thomas Band; J. W., Lyman King- man; secretary, Leonard Legg; treasurer, Robert E. Muir. The present chief officers are: Nelson Slater, W. M .; R. F. Abbey, S. W .; G. H. Nixon, J. W .; S. H. Boyer, treasurer; H. S. Akins, secretary;
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TOWN OF CAROLINE.
W. L. Keeny, S. D .; J. I. Ford, J. D. ; A. Bostwick, chaplain ; Collins Cartright, S. M. C .; F. M. Baker, J. M. C. ; C. A. Clark, marshal ; Mildan Mead, tyler.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS .- The first church organization in the town of Caroline was of the Dutch Reformed faith and was due to the efforts of Rev. Gerrit Mandeville. The date was some time in the year 1812; the early records of the church are not accessible, but among the original members were Joseph Chambers, Oakley Bush, the Widow Earsley, and others. Mr. Mandeville remained with the church nearly twenty-five years. A house of worship was built about 1820, which has been demolished, and the society is extinct.
THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH OF CAROLINE .- This church is in Slaterville and the class which preceded it was formed in 1813 with eight members, only one of whom was a man. The first pastor was John Griffin. The church organization was effected November 28, 1831, under the title, "The Garretson Society of the Methodist Epis- copal Church," but its subsequent incorporation was under its present name. The first regular pastor was Rev. George Harmon. The church building was commenced in 1832 and dedicated in 1834. It has been since enlarged and repaired. Rev. William H. Strang is the present pastor.
THE METHODIST CHURCH AT CAROLINE CENTER .- This society was organized about 1820, with thirteen members, by Rev. George Har- mon, above mentioned. In 1825 the society built a church at a cost of $1,000, which sufficed until 1866, when it was superseded by the pres- ent church. A. F. Brown is pastor.
THE METHODIST CHURCH AT SPEEDSVILLE .- A class was formed at Speedsville about the year 1820, which was followed in 1851 by a church organization. A house of worship was erected in the same year during the pastorate of Rev. William Lisbee.
A church was built at Speedsville in 1828 by the Methodists, Presby- terians and Universalists, who used it jointly until 1851. The Meth- odists now worship in their own church, and Rev. A. A. Brown is pastor.
ST. JOHN'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SPEEDSVILLE .- This society was originally organized as a church of the same name at Rich- ford, whence it was removed to Speedsville in 1842. Rev. George Watson was called as missionary, and Hiram Bliss and Towner Whiton were made wardens. Rev. C. W. NcNish is pastor.
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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
In 1891 an Episcopal Society was organized at Slaterville, and in the spring of 1894 they finished a beautiful church at a cost of $3, 500. Memorial windows were presented by Moses Bull in memory of his wife and daughter; by Mrs. Mary F. Tobey, in memory of Simon and Sally Andrews (her father and mother); and by Mrs. William P. Speed, in memory of her husband and her sons, Joseph and Daniel. " The pastor is Rev. C. W. McNish.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. - A Universalist Society was organized April 26, 1827, with twenty-seven members and Rev. N. Doolittle pastor. A new organization was effected in 1870 under the name of the "Universalist Church of Speedsville," with forty-three members and Rev. A. O. Warren pastor. The original society joined with the Methodists and Presbyterians, as before stated, in building a church. The Universalists eventually purchased the building.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CAROLINE .- This society was organ- ized in 1814 with fourteen members and Rev. Pliny Sabin pastor. In 1848 a house of worship was erected; this was removed in 1863 and a neat building erected at Brookton, which was dedicated January 11, 1864; its cost was $2,500. The society also owns a parsonage. The pastor is Rev. William A. House.
In 1892 a Methodist Society was organized at Caroline, and a church was built in 1894 at a cost of about $1,500. Rev. Charles Northrop is pastor.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- This society is at Brookton and was or- ganized March 28, 1868, and incorporated in the following month. The original membership was fifty-five, a number of whom were from the Methodist Society of that place and the Reformed church. The first pastor was Rev. William S. Hills. In 1868 a handsome church was erected at a cost of about $5,000. The pastor is Rev. Sherman More- land.
In 1814 a Baptist (Old School) church was organized, over which Rev. John Sawyer was pastor. The house of worship was built in 1843. This society is not now in existence.
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TOWN OF DANBY.
CHAPTER XVI.
TOWN OF DANBY.
THE reader of the preceding history of Ithaca in this volume has learned of the coming to that place in 1789 of the Dumonds and Yaples from Ulster county, and their primitive improvements on land to which they supposed their title would continue to be good and sufficient. In that supposition they were mistaken; for through the non-payment of taxes in Albany by an agent they lost their title, and in 1295 the party, consisting of Isaac and John Dumond and Jacob and John Yaple, formed some kind of a partnership agreement and pushed on into what is now the town of Danby and there took up farms. The partnership continued several years after the first settlement. Many others of the pioneers of the northern and northwestern parts of this town were also from Ulster county and vicinity, while many of those who located at what became the so called " Beers Settlement " at South Danby were from Fairfield county, Conn. The Dumonds and Yaples, undismaycd by their discouraging experience at Ithaca, plunged energetically into the task of making new homes. They were met by numerous obstacles, of course, being forced to cut their way through the woods to the lo- cality, to construct their own roads, and to build their log houses with- out the aid of neighbors. The tract where those worthy pioneers settled is included in the farms now or recently owned by John Sea- man, James Comfort, the widow of Henry Yaple, and a son of David Yaple. Several descendants of both the pioneer families are now resi- dent in this county. Isaac Dumond, son of John, was the first white child born in the town, August 12, 1795, and lived on the homestead to a venerable age.
The pioneers in the "Beers Settlement " district (South Danby) were Dr. Lewis Becrs, one of the very early physicians of the county, and his brother, Jabez Beers, who came in from Stratford, Fairfield county, Conn., in the spring of 1797. They settled on the farms now owned by E. L. B. Curtis and John Hall respectively. Mr. Curtis is a grandson of Dr. Beers. The doctor was accompanied by his wife
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and two indentured young men named William R. Collins (afterwards for many years a prominent citizen of Ithaca), aged sixteen years, and . Joseph Judson, aged fifteen. The latter was a prosperous farmer of Danby.
Jabez Beers had a wife and family, and his daughter named Harriet became the wife of John Scott, of Ithaca.
Dr. Lewis Beers became a conspicuous figure in the early history of the county. He built the first frame house in the town in 1801. He was chosen the first justice of the peace of the town, receiving his war- rant in 1807 from Governor Daniel D. Tompkins. In the same year he was appointed first judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In this office he was succeeded by his brother Jabez. The latter was also elected to the Assembly at a later date. Dr. Beers was the first and only president of the old Owego and Ithaca Turnpike Company, assum- ing the office in 1812 and continuing in it until the road became a pub- lic highway in 1841. He was founder and first pastor of the " New Jerusalem Church," or Swedenborgian, which faith he adopted about 1813. After a long, honorable and useful life he died September 4, 1849, at the age of eighty-one years.
In the spring of 1805 Dr. Beers returned to his former home and brought back his aged parents, who were cared for by him until their death. His father died in Danby, January 3, 1816, and his mother April 10, 1817.
In 1796 Elias Deyo became a resident of the town and for ten years was the only settler of foreign birth. He was a German.
David Clark located in the Beers Settlement neighborhood in 1801, and Lewis Beardsley in 1802, on the farm now occupied by Stockton B. Judson. Benjamin Jennings came in the latter year. Oscar Jen-
nings was his son, and the late Benjamin Jennings his grandson. He was from Cornwall, Conn., and settled on the farm now occupied by the family of William Buckland. Benjamin Jennings was member of assembly in 1822 and 1837, and a prominent and useful citizen.
Deacon Hezekiah Clark, John Pumpelly and Philo Hawes came to the town in 1803, and Benijah Ticknor in 1804. Abner Beers, jr., came in 1804, and Nathan Beers in 1805. In the latter year Joseph Judson purchased the farm which remained in the family many years.
Comfort Butler, Nathan and Seymour H. Adams, and David Smith, with their families, came to the town in 1806 and became reliable citizens in the growing community. Seneca Howland came in 1807.
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TOWN OF DANBY.
Settlement in the town continued steadily, though not rapidly, until the war of 1812-15. Elbert Curtis, M. D., came from Stratford, Conn., in 1809, and settled where his son, E. L. B. Curtis, now resides. He later bought the Jabez Beers homestead and lived there to 1857, when he removed to Ithaca and died there November 3, 1866, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was a prominent and useful citizen ; was mem- ber of assembly in 1838, and held various town offices.
Selick Bates and Charles Wright settled in the town in 1812. The former removed to the town of Caroline; his daughter married Charles Wright's son, Abraham.
In the northern and northwestern parts of the town, returning to the year 1804, we find that Thomas, John, William, Abraham, James and Samuel Swarthout located there. They were from Ulster county, N. Y., became useful citizens, reared families, and still have many de- scendants in the town.
Peter Davis and his son William arrived in the same year (1804) and soon afterwards John Masterson, Spencer Eaton and Jacob Wise. John Miller came in 1805. John Elyea, the pioneer of this name in the town, came in 1813.
Moses Barker settled in the western part of the town in 1814 on the farm owned in recent years by his son-in-law, G. A. Todd. A few years later James Briggs settled on a farm about half a mile from West Danby post-office, and his brother Isaac located about a mile distant.
In the southern part of the town Moses Banfield settled in 1802 on the farm occupied in recent times by George J. Bratt. His son Isaac was a leading citizen of the town. Aaron Bennett came to this part of the town in 1806, and Amos Hall, grandfather of Albert Hall, came about the year 1807 and settled where the widow of Albert now lives. Amos's sons, Leonard and Silas, followed their father hither two years later. The first named son was father of Albert.
Isaac Jennings came in from Saratoga county in 1815, settled where William Smiley lived in recent years. Others who located in the town in later years, and prior to 1840, were Dr. Aaron Tibbetts, who was a leading physician more than forty years; Simon Loomis, Jackson Graves, Elihu Keeler (father of Charles Keeler), and many others who will be mentioned a little further on.
The first birth in this town was that of Isaac Dumond, son of John, which occurred Angust 12, 1795. Isaac lived in the town to a great
38
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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
age. The first death was that of Mrs. Rogers, wife of Joseph Rogers, who was a tenant of Dumond's; her death took place about the year 1797.
The pioneers made early arrangements for the simple education of their children, as far as possible, and a school house was erected at the Beers Settlement about the beginning of the century, and within a year or two afterwards another was built in the Dumond and Yaple neigh- borhood. Joseph Judson was the first teacher. Some of the Danby children had attended school prior to this in a log school house in the town of Ithaca.
The organization of the town of Danby did not take place until Feb- ruary 22, 1811, when it was taken from the town of Spencer, Tioga county, and it was annexed to Tompkins county, March 22, 1822. On the 29th of April, 1839, a small part of the town of Caroline was an- nexed to Danby.
The first town meeting was held on the 12th day of March, 1811, and the following officers elected: Stephen Beers, jr., supervisor; Uri Hill, town clerk; Nathan Adams. Aaron Bennett and Benjamin Jennings, assessors; John Yaple, Seymour H. Adams and Hudson Jennings, commissioners of highways: Jacob Yaple and Stephen Beers, overseers of the poor; Birdsey Clark, constable and collector; Hudson Jennings, constable; Lewis Beardsley, Hezekiah Clark, John Dumond and John Yaple, fence viewers and damage appraisers; Hezekiah Clark, pound- master.
It was voted at this meeting to "locate the town pound in the ensu- ing year on the corner of the section where it crosses the turnpike, one half of which to be on Esquire Beers's land. Dr. Lewis Beers agrees to build said pound at his own expense."
Following is a list of the supervisors of the town from the beginning to the present time; the list contains the names of many early settlers already mentioned, as well as later prominent residents of the town:
Stephen Beers, jr., five years. Benjamin Jennings, eleven years. Elbert Curtis. Jonathan B. Gosman. Harley Lord. Benjamin Jennings. Chester W. Lord, two years. Alexander Gastin. Elbert Curtis.
Miles C. Mix. Sherman Miller.
Elbert Curtis.
Andrew Taylor, two years.
Frederick Beers.
Elbert Curtis.
Eli Beers.
Andrew Taylor. Chester W. Lord, two years.
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TOWN OF DANBY.
Eleazur Taylor.
Lyttleton F Clark, two years.
Francis Nourse.
William A. Mandeville, two years.
Gideon Tuthill, two years.
Levi Curtis, three years.
Eli Beers.
Elbert L. B. Curtis, two years.
Francis Nourse, two years.
Josiah Hawes, eight years.
Elbert L. B. Curtis.
John E. Beers, twelve years.
Francis Nourse.
Frank A. Todd.
Frederick Beers.
John E. Beers, two years.
Lemuel Jennings.
F. A. Todd, 1892-3.
Elbert Curtis. Dioclesian A. Marsh.
Henry Hutchings, 1894.
This town, as the reader has learned, was among the foremost to re- spond to the call of the country in the struggle for the perpetuation of a free government. It is also most commendable that the people upon the successful close of that great contest at once took steps to properly honor the memory of those who sacrificed or imperiled their lives for the good of their country. To this end the "Soldiers' Monument As- sociation of the town of Danby" was organized on the 4th of July, 1866. The directors were Charles B. Keeler, president; E. L. B. Cur- tis, Levi C. Beers, John L. Hance, and Rev. Warren Mayo. About $1,900 were raised by entertainments of various kinds, which was in- creased to $3,000 by vote of the people, and E. L. B. Curtis, John L. Hance and Josiah Hawes were given authority to negotiate for the erection of a suitable monument. The result of this noble action stands in a beautiful marble shaft twenty-nine feet high, which was raised with appropriate ceremonies. On it are the names and date of death of forty-five men who gave up their lives in the war.
The town has always been chiefly a grain and stock growing district, and now ranks among the foremost in this respect. The farmers are, as a rule, well-to-do, and pursue their business on advanced methods. Some farmers are giving attention to milk production and a fine milk depot and ice house was built at West Danby in 1893.
Following are the principal officers of the town for 1894: Henry Hutchings, supervisor, West Danby; William H. Baker, town clerk, Danby; Frank D. Smiley, collector, Dánby; Jacob Wise, justice of the peace, Danby ; Charles E. Bruce, constable, Danby ; Jerry Dorn, con- stable, South Danby; Clarence H. Slocum, constable, Caroline Depot ; Simeon D. Sincebaugh, constable, West Danby; Nelson C. Williams, commissioner of highways, Danby.
STATISTICS .- Number of acres of land in the town, as shown by the supervisors' report of 1893, 33,286; assessed valuation of real estate,
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LANDMARKS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
including village property and real estate of corporations, $625,254; total assessed valuation of personal property, $43,000; amount of town taxes, $1,331.79; amount of county taxes, $1,502.09; aggregate tax- ation, $4,339.09 ; rate of tax on $1 valuation, .0065. Corporations-D., L. & W. Railroad Co., assessed value of real estate, $8,000; amount of tax, $52; G., I. & S. Railroad Co., assessed value of real estate, $32,- 000; amount of tax (including tax on the company's telegraph line), $211.25; N. Y. & P. Telephone Co., assessed value of real estate, $500; amount of tax, $3.25; WV. U. Telegraph Co., assessed value of real estate, $150; amount of tax, $0.98; Ithaca Water Works Co., assessed value of real estate, $1,200; amount of tax, $7.80.
DANBY VILLAGE .- This village covers the site of the Beers Settle- ment on the old Ithaca and Owego turnpike, six miles from Ithaca. Here the first dwelling was erected by Elias Deyo as early as 1798. The more prominent early settlers in this vicinity were Abner Beers, David Clark, Hezekiah Clark, John Pumpelly, Hudson and Benjamin Jennings, Letis Beardsley, Erastus Bierce, Uri Clark, and Stephen Beers, several of whom have been mentioned. About the year 1806 Abner Beers opened the first store here in a log building, since which early date various merchants have traded here.
The first mills in this town were erected by the Dumonds and Yaples, a saw mill in 1797 and a grist mill in 1799. They were on Buttermilk Creek on land that was undivided between the two families. The Elm Tree flouring and saw mills at Danby were erected by a stock com- pany composed of Messrs. Ellis, Johnson, Beers and De Forrest in 1853. About three years later the company sold the property to Thomas J. Phillips. He added steam power, and conducted the busi- ness until December 15, 1868, when the mill was burned. The site remained vacant until 1878, when Frazier & Krum built the new mills; these were sold to W. R. Gunderman in 1880. He successfully oper- ated them until 1889, when they were again burned, and Mr. Gunder- inan removed to Ithaca, where he operates a grist mill and general storehouse business.
The first post-office was established at Danby in 1801-2, at the resi- dence of Dr. Lewis Beers, who was appointed postmaster. In 1811-12 it was removed to the residence of Jabez Beers, and about the year 1827 was removed to the village and Hudson Jennings was made post- master. The present official is Henry Beardsley.
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TOWN OF DANBY.
The first public house in the village was kept by Deacon Hezekiah Clark in 1811 in what was in late years the residence of Levi C. Beers. Prior to that date Dr. Beers entertained travelers at his house.
Henry S. Beardsley and Charles Ostrander now carry on stores in the village, and the saw mill on the site of the old Judson mill is in the Jennings estate. T. H. Howell and Josiah Hawes formerly had stores here.
The Danby Rural Cemetery Association was incorporated July 1, 1871. Land for the cemetery was donated by E. L. B. Curtis. A board of trustees has charge of the affairs of the association.
WEST DANBY .- This hamlet is situated on the Cayuga Inlet, and is a station on the Geneva and Sayre Branch of the Lehigh Valley Rail- road. The first settlement here was made by Moses Barker in 1814. The first dwelling was built by Jared Patchen, who owned the land but was not an actual settler. James Grimes occupied the house as a tenant. John Patchen came to this locality in 1823, purchased a farm, and reared a family. He was father of Ira Patchen. William Hugg was a settler here about the year 1816. Ira Patchen built and opened a store about 1850, and carried on business more than thirty years. There has never been any manufacturing of account. A saw mill is located here which is now owned by John Banfield. The Novelty Works, for the manufacture of yard sticks, sign boards, etc., are con- ducted by D. A. Beach. Fairbrother & Co. have a store, and F. A. Fairbrother is postmaster. A. J. Tupper is the other merchant of the village.
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