USA > New York > Onondaga County > Onondaga, or, Reminiscences of earlier and later times, being a series of historical sketches relative to Onondaga, with notes on the several towns in the county, and Oswego, Vol. II > Part 13
USA > New York > Oswego County > Onondaga, or, Reminiscences of earlier and later times, being a series of historical sketches relative to Onondaga, with notes on the several towns in the county, and Oswego, Vol. II > Part 13
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
GREAT ALARM IN 1794 .- In the early part of the spring and summer of 1794, there was a wonderful alarm and panic among the settlers of Onondaga County. It was occasioned mainly by the belligerent spirit of the Indians, manifesting itself in the northern and western parts of the State of New- York, and in the State of Ohio. The alarm was so great, and immediate danger so apparent, that many prudent persons buried their most valuable effects, and not a few were on the point of hastily leaving the country. To such a height were their fears excited, that it was thought the settlements in the vicinity of Onondaga, would be broken up. A meeting of the inhabitants of this part of the county was called at More- house's tavern, to consult and devise means for the public safety. Mr. Jonathan Russell was dispatched to Albany, with instructions to lay the situation of the settlement before the Governor of the State. After the return of Mr. Russell, a subsequent meeting was called of the inhabitants, and Gover- nor Clinton about the middle of May, dispatched General
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William North, General Stephen Van Rensselaer, and Adju- tant General David Van Horne, who were to call on the Baron Steuben, then at his residence in Oneida County. They four were to attend this meeting. These gentlemen, with others, had been recently appointed commissioners by the Legislature of the State of New-York, for the purpose of erecting such fortifications, as in their judgment should be deemed necessa- ry for the security of the western and northern frontier of the State. Twelve thousand pounds had been appropriated by the Legislature to defray any expenses thus made. The military force of the county were assembled at Morehouse's, and reviewed by the Baron and his associates, who proceeded to Salt Point, examined the position, advised the erection of a block house, and in company of a committee of public safe- ty, consisting of Moses De Witt, Isaac Van Vleck, Thomas Orman, Simon Phares, and John Danforth, proceeded to stake out the ground near the principal Salt Spring. They made sundry special military appointments, and gave directions for its speedy erection. Major Danforth and Major Moses De Witt, were commissioned to superintend the building of the block house, which was soon completed, under the immediate inspection of Mr. Cornelius Higgins, as master builder. It was built of substantial squared oak logs, with a high picket work around it of large cedar posts. The commissioners rep- resented to the people that there was great reason to appre- hend an Indian war ; and at one time the people became so much alarmed that they took refuge in what was then called Thompson's sugar bush, near where Dioclesian Alvord now re- sides, and there remained for three days and nights. Judge James Geddes thus speaks of this affair, in a MS. before us :
" The commissioners informed us that they had come to for- tify Three-River-Point and Salt Point. Myself and all my hands were summoned across the lake to be reviewed by Ba- ron Steuben. Having shook hands with all of us, and en- quired the place of our nativity, the Baron informed us of our danger, and admonished us to be on the look-out for Indians. How it happened, I cannot now well account for it, but I par-
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took of none of his fears, and all my hands remained perfect- ly tranquil. Not so with the people of Salt Point ; for while the block house and stockade was building before their eyes, at the expense and by authority of the State, it scemed that as loyal people they could be no less than afraid. And one afternoon terror took such hold of them that all the houses were emptied, and men, women and children all took to the woods, and spent that night and the following there for safe- ty. As none of my folks happened to go over to the Point for two days, the conclusion there, was that the Indians hav- ing found us, had proceeded no further, and that they owed their safety to our being between them and the point of dan- ger, for from the west they knew the Indians would come, and the attack would certainly be upon us first."
On this occasion, Mr. Jonathan Russell, of Pompey, enlist- ed an independent volunteer company, called the " Grena- diers." Anson Jackson was his Lieutenant, and Jonathan Bond, Ensign. This company manned the block house, and were furnished with a field piece, (a six pounder,) with small arms, ammunition, rations, &c., from the Commissary's de- partment of the State of New-York, by order of Governor Clinton. A depot was established at Jeremiah Jackson's Mills, near Jamesville, and warlike implements and stores deposited there, and all male persons over fourteen years of age, were required to hold themselves in readiness for any emergency .* In addition to the permanent force of Capt. Russell's com- pany, which was to keep garrison, three men were drafted from each militia company then organized on the Military Tract, who were to arm themselves completely, from the de-
* Col. Jeremiah Jackson was at the taking of Quebec, under General Wolfe, in 1759. He afterwards married and settled in Massachusetts, and in the struggle for independence, entered the American army, with a Captain's commission, and served with credit to himself and country through a great part of the war. He had three sons with him. While in the army he made the acquaintance of Major Danforth, through whose instrumentality he was induced to move to this coun- ty in 1791, and become the purchaser of Danforth's mills. He subsequently moved to the town of Pompey, and died on his farm in what is since La Fayette, in 1802, and was buried with military honors.
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pot at Jackson's Mills, and in case of any sudden assault or attack, to proceed, without a moment's delay to the place to be defended .* They were styled "minute men," and kept up a show of force, long after affairs had assumed a peaceful aspect. On one occasion this alarm was greatly increased by the rejoicing at Fort Ontario, (then in possession of the Brit- ish,) on the 4th of June in that year, celebrating the birth- day of King George III. The roar of cannon fired at Oswe- go, was distinctly heard throughout the eastern part of the county ; many were almost distracted with fear, and went run- ning to and fro inquiring of every person they met whether
the enemy were in sight. Some were so much alarmed as to bid their friends farewell, as if never to see them more. News soon arrived of the true cause of the firing at Oswego, upon which the agonies of terror and despair were succeeded by the most frantic demonstrations of joy.
The immediate cause of the alarm which came so near an- nihilating the Onondaga settlement, was this: It seems that as soon as navigation had opened in the spring of 1794, Sir John Johnson, agent of Indian Affairs in Canada, had or- dered a boat-load of stores from Albany, consisting chiefly of groceries, apple-trees, shrubs, &c., with a variety of articles suitable for the comfort and advancement of the Mohawk set- tlement, then recently made upon Grand River. On the re- turn of this boat, a party of some thirty or forty men, way- laid it near Three-River-Point, and plundered it of its entire cargo, afterwards distributing it among themselves. Johnson was highly incensed at this premeditated insult and robbery. HIe hastened to Oswego, where the British garrison was still kept, and there related the story of his wrongs. This at once aronsed the ire of the British officers, and it was forthwith de- termined that Johnson and Brant should at once raise a body
* April 9th, 1 795, an act was passed granting to Jonathan Russell thirty pounds fifteen shillings, and to Comfort Tyler, three pounds four shillings, for services and expenses in transporting arms, ammunition, and one piece of ordnance from Fort Stanwix, to the Salt Springs, for the defense of the eastern part of the county of Onondaga.
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of soldiers and Indians in Canada, and in revenge, make a sudden descent upon the Onondaga settlement, where it was presumed most of the aggressors resided. Indians soon gath- ered in considerable numbers, in the vicinity of Niagara and Oswego, burning to revenge the wrongs of their favorite lead- ers. It was reported that five hundred Messasagues were al- ready on their way. At this time too, a number of disaffect- ed Onondagas had joined the western Indians against General Wayne. They had engaged some of these to co-operate with themselves, and had calculated, as a matter of course, that Wayne would be defeated as had been his predecessors, Gen- erals HIarmar and St. Clair. In case of that event, so confi- dently expected, they were all to return, and with the remain- ing Onondagas, assist the common enemy in the destruction of the Onondaga settlement. One thing more perhaps excit- ed these persons to commit the aggressive act complained of upon the boat. The British garrison at Oswego had assumed the right to levy and collect duties on all American boats passing that fortress, and had employed persons as spies to give notice of any boats which designed to "run" the fort. Several boats had been seized and confiscated. Two of these renegades had previously been publicly whipped at Salt Point. This state of things, as a matter of course, produced much angry excitement throughout the county. However, after some considerable tumultuous contention, satisfaction was ren- dered, and as far as possible, restitution made to the injured . parties in the case, which had the effect, in some degree, to restore a better state of feeling.
The participators in this affair kept concealed for a long time, fearing the vengeance of the laws; for the aggression was severely reprehended by a large majority of the inhabi- tants.
The excuse offered for so flagrant an act, was this : the British cruisers had continued the search and scizure of Ameri- can vessels and the impressment of American seamen, after the preliminary articles of peace were agreed upon between the United States and Great Britain, in 1782. The subject
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of granting letters of marque and reprisal, was a measure strongly advocated by many well disposed persons of that day ; and a report had spread through this country, that the Congress of the United States had already granted these pri- vileges to certain individuals, and that several were already commissioned in the privateering service. Under this belief, and properly to resent the seizures made at Oswego, this party commissioned themselves, and presumed the seizure of British goods, would be sanctioned by the people and authori- ties of the United States; but in this they were sadly mista- ken. However, the fears of the inhabitants were quieted by the successful and energetic campaign of General Wayne in Ohio, and the destruction of the Indian settlements in that quarter, the same year; and confidence was fully restored throughout the country, by the timely settlement of differ- ences between the United States and Great Britain, by Mr. Jay's treaty the following year, and the final removal of the British garrison from Oswego; since which, the alarm of war has not interrupted the prosperity of Onondaga.
There is oftentimes a singularity in the closing scenes of the lives of distinguished men ; and it may not be unworthy of remark, that Frederick William Augustus, Baron de Steu- ben, once an Aid-de-Camp to Frederick the Great, King of Prussia ; and Quartermaster General, Chevalier of the Order of Merit, Grand Marshal of the Court of Hohenzollen, Colo- nel in the Cirele of Suabia, Knight of the Order of Fidelity, Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the Prince of Baden, Major General in the armies of the United States, and In- spector General of the same-the fortunate soldier of fifty battles, an admirer of freedom, the friend of Washington, the man of virtue, fidelity and honor, performed his last mili- tary service in reviewing a few score of unarmed, half clad militia, and in selecting a site for a block house, for the de- fense of the frontier of New-York, in the county of Onondaga, at Salt Point, in 1794. The Baron died at his residence in Steuben, Oneida County, November, 1795.
affectionate Baldwin
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TOWNS .- LYSANDER .- DR. BALDWIN.
DR. JONAS C. BALDWIN, was the second son of Captain Samuel Baldwin, of Windsor, Berkshire County, Massachu- setts, and was born in that town, on the 3d of June, 1768.
The name and family are among the most ancient in this country. The name is of Saxon origin, and the family records trace their genealogy as far back as the fourteenth century ; at which time, some of their remote ancestors were settled at a place known as Baldwinstine, on the River Rhine, in Ger- many. Sometime during that century, they removed to Kent, in England ; and from there emigrated with Davenport, Whit- field and others, in. 1639, to Milford, Connecticut, thence to Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, thence to Wind- sor, Berkshire County.
The immediate ancestor of Dr. Baldwin, was a Captain in the Revolutionary army, and was distinguished for his gal- lantry and soldierlike bearing. He was a man of eminent piety and benevolence, and died at Windsor, at an advanced age.
The grandfather of Dr. Baldwin, was a clergyman in Bos- ton, with whom Dr. B. lived for several years, in the early part of his life. He afterwards returned to Windsor, was educated at William's College, Berkshire County, at which place he commenced the study of medicine, and finished his professional studies with the late Dr. Willard, of Albany, and with whom for a time he practiced in his profession. While in Albany, he received the appointment of Physician and Sur- geon to the "Inland Lock Navigation Company," who were at the time engaged, with several hundred laborers, in con- structing the canal and locks at Little Falls. At this place he remained, until the completion of that work.
From Little Falls, Dr. Baldwin with his family, in 1797, removed to the town of Ovid, Sencca County, where he owned a Military Lot, on which he settled, and where he continued until the year 1801 or 1802, when he removed to Onondaga East Hill, at which place he resided, on a large tract of land, most of which he had purchased of the State. Here he re- mained until the spring of 1807, when he removed to Lysan-
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der, and founded the village of Baldwinsville, where he con- tinued to reside the remainder of his life.
During his residence at Little Falls, Dr. Baldwin purchased a farm, brought it under a fine state of cultivation, and erected upon it a good house and other buildings.
While at Ovid, he cleared up most of his lot, erected a mill, established a store, and put up several buildings. At Onon- daga, he cleared up and improved several farms on his tract of land, brought into the country from Connecticut, large flocks of sheep, which, at that early period, were greatly needed ; many of which, were put out among the less wealthy class of farmers, who at that time, were unable to purchase for themselves; and, in various other ways employed his means (which at that period were more ample than those of any other man in the county,) in promoting his own and the public interests.
His efforts at Baldwinsville, are detailed in the history of that place, and to which the reader is referred.
There was a service which he rendered during the war of 1812, which ought not to be overlooked. Baldwinsville be- ing on the direct route to the frontier, and only twenty-four miles distant ; he, perceiving the great want of effective fire- arms, procured a loan from Governor Tompkins, of several hundred stand, which he issued to such as were not provided, and who were on their way to meet the enemy, who were daily expected at Oswego, taking for each stand so delivered a re- ceipt. This duty he continued to discharge without pay ; and, at the close of the war, returned the arms to the Government. He also built a large flotilla of boats, which were in the service of the United States, during most of the war. He was in the battle at Oswego, and commanded a body of men at the at- tack upon that place, at which time he received a slight wound in the head.
In stature, Dr. Baldwin was considerably above the ordi- nary size, well built, compact, strong, muscular and active. His complexion florid, his hair of a sandy tinge, his counte- nance frank, open and benevolent, and his manners easy.
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Those who remember him, before age and disease had com- menced their ravages, speak of him as an uncommonly good looking man. When occasion required, he was resolute, firm and brave ; and, in his ordinary intercourse, was mild, bland, sometimes playful, and always obliging. He was among the early, most prominent, active and enterprising settlers of this county.
He died at Onondaga East Hill, (whither he had gone from Baldwinsville on a visit,) on the 3d day of March, 1827, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.
There are many of the friends of Dr. Baldwin, who knew him well and intimately, who still survive him. The testi- mony which they bear respecting him, is concurrent and uni- form. All agree, that he was a man of indomitable energy, great enterprise, and unbounded benevolence, ardent in tem- perament, and strong in his attachments ; and that both he and Mrs. Baldwin, who was a lady of uncommon endowments and eminent piety, were admirably calculated for the severe and arduous duties which devolved upon them in the settle- ment of a wilderness country. Both were members of the Baptist Church ; and dying within fourteen days of each other, were buried in one grave, in the cemetery at Baldwinsville, on the north side of the river.
Few persons leave the stage and scenes of their usefulness, so universally beloved in life, and fewer are as much lamented in their death.
LYSANDER .- This was one of the original eleven towns of the county of Onondaga, at the time of its organization in 1794, and was number one of the Military Townships. It then embraced the townships of Lysander, Hannibal and Ci- cero, and the first town meeting was by law directed to be held at the house of Ryal Bingham, then residing at Three-River- Point. Hannibal, now in Oswego County, was taken from it in 1806, and Cicero in 1807. In 1816, when the county of Oswego was organized, thirty-three lots of the township of Lysander were included in the county of Oswego, and town
B 11
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of Granby, which leaves but sixty-seven lots in the present town of Lysander. It is situated in the north-west corner of the county. The earliest settlers in this town are nearly as follows : Ryal Bingham, near Three-River-Point, in 1793 ; Jonathan Palmer, near the centre of the town, same year ; Reuben Smith. Adam Emerick, Elijah and Solomon Toll, Col. Thomas Farrington, Elijah Mann, John McHarrie, William Lindsey, Ebenezer Wells, James Cowan, Abner and Manly Vickery, Job Loomis, John P. Schuyler, all came in about the year 1800, some of them a year or two previous. Jacobus De Puy cleared off about fifty acres in 1805 and '6, on the north side of the river at Baldwinsville, and put it into wheat.
This town at first, owing in a measure to the unhealthiness of the location, was not very rapidly settled, but as clearings were made, and improvements extended, its settlement in- creased with greater celerity.
As the flourishing village of Baldwinsville, and its rise and progress constitute what have been the principal business events connected with the early history of this town, we shall in a measure confine our remarks to the village and vicinity.
This important village is situated in the towns of Lysander and Van Buren, on both sides of the Seneca River, five miles west of the outlet of Onondaga Lake, about twelve miles north-west from Syracuse, and in point of business, wealth and population, ranks next to it. Its name is derived from its founder, Dr. Jonas C. Baldwin, who commenced opera- tions here in the spring of 1807; at which time it was named " Columbia," which name it bore until the establishment of a Post Office in 1815, when the name was changed by the Post Master General (in consequence of there being another Post Town of the same name in the State) to " Baldwin's Bridge." But the name Baldwinsville, being preferred by the inhabitants, it was substituted by the Post Office Depart- ment, which name it has since continued to bear.
The site of that part of the village located on the north bank of the river, was selected as a desirable place of resi- dence by Mrs. Baldwin, in 1797, while the family were on
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their way to Ovid, Seneca County, by way of the Mohawk River, Wood Creek, Oneida Lake and River, Seneca River and Cayuga Lake, to their newly selected home. At that time this was the only route of communication between the eastern and western portions of the State. Mrs. Baldwin, having left her comfortable home at Little Falls with regret, was assured by her husband that he would purchase the first place on their route, which she might select. On their way up the placid waters of the Seneca, rounding into the charm- ing bay now just below the village, on a clear autumnal morn- ing, they were charmed with the delightful prospect here pre- sented. Every thing wore the air of solitude, yet there was something, after all, exceedingly attractive in the scene. They gazed upon it with admiration, and Mrs. Baldwin involunta- rily exclaimed, "how beautiful ;" then addressing herself to her husband, remarked, " if our property lay here, remote from settlements and lonely as it is, I should be willing to stop and take up my residence for life." That day was employed in getting their boat over the rapids. Their leisure time was spent in examining more minutely the prospect they had so much admired in the morning. The result was, that both were confirmed in their first impressions relating to this charm- ing spot. The following night they lodged with a Mr. Me- Harrie, who had then settled on the south bank of the river, some forty rods above where the dam now joins that shore. From Mr. McHarrie, Dr. Baldwin learned who was the owner of the favorite lot on the opposite side of the river. The fol- lowing year, (1798,) Dr. Baldwin went to Philadelphia to the owner and purchased it; since which he and his descendants have continued its owners. After residing a few years at Ovid, he sold his property there and came to Onondaga. In. the mean time, settlers had located in different parts of the. town of Lysander, and north part of Camillus, now Van Bu- ren, and finding themselves in need of mills, and knowing MeHarrie's rifts to be an excellent water power, these scatter- ing settlers assembled, drew up a memorial, and sent it on by a strong delegation, in the spring of 1807, to. Dr. Baldwin,
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then residing at Onondaga, urging him, in the strongest terms, to improve his water power in the erection of mills upon those rapids. He had contemplated doing this at some future pe- riod, but not so soon by five or six years. Finally, yielding to entreaty, he resolved forthwith to enter upon the work. He immediately collected a number of laborers and mechan- ics, and proceeded at once by way of Onondaga Lake and Seneca River, (there being no roads,) to the place of destina- tion. Previous to this, he had made arrangements for the erection of a suitable log cabin for himself and workmen, but upon arrival, he found only a couple of large cribs, without roofs or floors. The site of these structures was on the bank of the river, at the point where the canal above the pond leads from it. They were soon converted into comfortable dwellings. This double cabin was one of the first erected in this part of the town.
Supposing that a small stream, which empties into the river just below the site of the old lock, would, with the addition of so much water as might be thrown into it, by a race and wing dam extending into the river, be sufficient to drive his mills, he commenced the erection of a grist and saw mill at that point. All hands applied themselves most assiduously to the work, and every thing moved prosperously on, till about the middle of August, when what has since been known as the sickly season, commenced. Within one week every mechanic and laborer was attacked with a malignant fever. Not one escaped, except a Revolutionary soldier known as " Uncle Bill Johnson," (recently deceased,) and Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin. These were the only persons who left Onondaga in the spring in health, who did not fall victims to that disease. The log cabins were converted into hospitals, and the whole time of those who escaped, was taken up in attending upon the sick, and burying the dead. The work was of course for a time suspended, but as soon as possible a new set of hands were employed to prosecute it, and before they had been engaged a fortnight, every man was attacked with this direful dis- ease. The season was now too far advanced for further
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