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 18
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 18
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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
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building erected in the village. It stood about where the ditch is now, in front of the south-east corner of Charles Smith's storc. Ebenezer Calkins sold goods from a tempora- ry building, near the Limestone Factory boarding house. He traded principally with the Indians. Samuel Edwards kept the first school in the village, in Mr. Calkins' shop. The first school house was built of logs, in 1798, and stood just north of Midlar's mill. The first name given to the settlement was Liberty Square, by Charles Mulholland, in 1800 or 1801; it was at the raising of Mr. McLaren's barn. After the frame was up, those who assisted at the raising, paraded themselves on the front plate, named the village Liberty Square, gave three hearty cheers, and threw off a corked bottle of spirits. This is what, in those days, was called the christening of a place or building. There were but six dwellings here, at that time, one store and one tavern. The name Liberty Square, was retained but a short time, and soon became more gener- ally known by the name of Manlius Square. The distin- guished Ornithologist, Alexander Wilson, in his journal of a tour through western New-York, in November, 1804, mentions having spent a miserable night at a village called Manlius Square, of about thirty houses. There, he says, he was obliged to sing nearly the whole night, to drown the melancholy groans of his disconsolate companion, who could scarcely make his way through the snow and mud. He spent a day here, col- lecting specimens of birds, and other information. The an- nual meetings of the town of Manlius, after Onondaga was set off, were held at the house of John Delany, in Manlius Village, for three years, and afterwards, at the house of Cyrus Kinne, at the Corners, now Fayetteville.
Alvan Marslı settled here as a lawyer, in 1798, and Doct. Sturtevant, as a physician, in 1796. The next lawyers after Mr. Marsh, were R. R. Phelps, Abijah Yelverton, James O. Wattles, N. P. Randall, S. L. Edwards and others. Physi- cians, James Jackson and Walter Colton, who all became re- sidents from 1802 to 1806; afterwards, H. L. Granger, Wm.
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Taylor, H. B. Moore. Dr. Deodatus Clark resided in Manli- us, in 1812.
Sylvenus Tousley, commenced blacksmithing in 1800, and the Mullhollands were considered the principal land holders in the neighborhood. Merritt Clark and Moses Johnson, were merchants here, in 1806; and Azariah Smith, in 1807, com- menced the mercantile business, in company with John Meek- er, in the building now occupied by E. E. May as a dwelling. Mr. Meeker was an extensive trader at that time, having stores in different sections of the country, was then considered both prudent and sagacious, and the greatest merchant in western New-York. Mr. Meeker subsequently carried on a flourish- ing business in the old block, formerly standing a little west of the Episcopal church. Messrs. James & Cummings commenced trading in the building now occupied by Elijah Tryon, in 1805, and pursued a lucrative business for several years. The late Wm. Malcolm, of Syracuse, was a clerk to them. This build- ing was erected by Moses Johnson. Previous to 1806, Messrs. Ellis, Livingston, McDougald, McLaren and Dennison, were merchants on a small scale, in addition to those already before mentioned, and a man by the name of John Smith, kept a small assortment of wares about this time. The formidable name of John Smith was rather more common then than now. Manlius Village and vicinity, could boast of no less than four, and they were distinguished by the appellations of long John, blind John, eross John and John stout.
Mr. Johnson built the Red Mills in 1804, which were then considered a stupendous work. His interest in the mills and other property passed into the hands of Mr. William Gardner, well known to many of our citizens as Deacon Gardner, father of the late Lieutenant Governor, and Mrs. Elijah Rhoades. He prosecuted business on an extensive scale, purchased a patent right for the manufacturing of nails, and erected a nail factory at considerable cost. He was afterwards suc- ceeded by his sons, William and Charles.
Luther Bingham was appointed Post Master for Manlius in 1800; he kept the office at his house, which stood on the ground
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now occupied by Lyman Spear. He was succeeded by Rob- ert Wilson* in 1803, who kept the office for a number of years in the house which once stood where the widow Wil- liams now lives. Mr. Wilson was succeeded by Doctor Heze- kiah L. Granger, Nathan Williams, D. B. Bickford, Joseph Rhoades and John Grinnell, Esqrs.
The first knowledge we have of any thing like a congrega- tion of Episcopalians in this vicinity, is in the years 1798-99, &e., at which time the families of Messrs. David Green, John Roberts, Jonathan Hurd, - Ward, - Dodge and others, residents of the townships of Pompey and Manlius, used to as- semble at each others dwellings and conduct worship after the Episcopal manner. The Rev. Mr. Nash first preached twice as an Episcopalian clergyman at a private house (David Hib- bard's) in Pompey.
Rev. Davenport Phelps came on directly after, a Mission- ary, and often preached at Manlius, Eagle Village, Morehouse's Flats, and Onondaga, 1802, 1803, 1804, and 1806. In Janu- ary, 1804, the Episcopal Church was at first organized under the Rev. Davenport Phelps, Missionary. Rev. A. G. Bald- win, Missionary, 1809, Kev. Parker Adams, first Rector 1810, Rev. William A. Clark, 1811; church building erected 1813, since which the following clergy have had charge over it : Rev. Messrs. Clark, Pardee, Bulkley, Dyer, Hickox, Selkrig, Hol- lister, Pound, Appleton, Davis, Pise, and Gay.
* During the war of the Revolution, Robert Wilson accompanied his uncle, Captain Gregg, to Fort Schuyler, and was desirous of accompanying him at the time he was shot and scalped, but on account of his youth, (only thirteen years of age) and the apparent danger, was not permitted. He was appointed an ensign at the age of eighteen, and soon after received a lieutenant's commission, and served through the war-was at the taking of Cornwallis, and was ordered to su- perintend the receiving of the British standards, forty-eight in number. When the officers of the British army were drawn up to present their colors, as many American sergeants were directed to secure them. The British officers refused' to deliver thein into the hands of non-commissioned officers, and Colonol Hamilton, seeing the confusion and delay, ordered Lieutenant Wilson to receive them and pass them to the hands of the serjeants, which he did by passing between the two ranks from one end to the other, to the satisfaction of all. (Wilson's own re- lation to E. W. Clarke.)
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Several Congregational, Presbyterian and Baptist societies were organized in the town of Manlius, during the years 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802 and 1803 under the Rev. Hugh Wallace, Rev. Seth Williston, and Elders Campbell and Breed. The citizens of Manlius Village during those years, many of them attended meeting at the " Old Mills." The Presbyterian So- ciety in the village was organized at an early day, and erected their house of worship in 1816.
Their ministers have been Rev. Messrs. Davenport, John- son, Reed, Olds, Hopkins, Woodruff, Cushman, Kellogg, In- gersoll, Bates, Smith, Benedict, Slocum, Platt and Hastings. Baptist Society erected their house of worship 1827. Clergy, Rev. Messrs. Morton, Bellamy, McCarthy, Spalding, Smith.
The Methodist ministers in this place have been numerous, and subject to annual and biennial change, are not named.
The first wedding in the present town of Manlius, and in the village of Manlius, was Mr. Nicholas Phillips to Miss Caty Garlock, January 14, 1793. They were married by Moses De Witt, Esq.
FAYETTEVILLE .- Joshua Knowlton and Origen Eaton came here in 1791, and made some clearing. Cyrus Kinne, Esq., settled here the year following. Mr. Kinne was the first black- smith who carried on the business in the township, and for several years was quite a distinguished man.
In 1801, Carey Coats opened a tavern, and when he appli- ed for a license to the Board of Excise, stated upon oath, that he had two spare beds, and stable room for two span of hor- ses or two yoke of oxen. A license was rather reluctantly granted him. But it was afterwards positively ascertained that he had not beds sufficient comfortably to lodge even his- own family. The presiding officer of the Board of Excise, remonstrated with the new tavern keeper on the impropriety of his conduct. He asserted that he had told nothing but the truth, and referred the officer to his father-in-law, who said he was sure his son-in-law had two spare beds, for on the morn- ing on which he applied for a license, he saw him make two
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beds in his garden, and they must be spare, as he could not borrow seed in the neighborhood to sow them.
Jolın Delamater opened a store at this place in 1802. Cy- rus Kinne, Esq., built the first frame house in 1804. The set- tlement was for a long time called the Corners, or Manlius Four Corners, but after a Post Office was established, it re- ceived the name of Fayetteville, and was extensively known for several years to the traveling public as the village of four taverns, but no meeting house.
The first scattering settlers of this neighborhood were of the Baptist denomination. A Church of this Society was formed as early as 1800. Rev. Father Campbell was one of the first Baptist ministers who officiated here. Rev. Elder Breed was also a devoted laborer on this ground. The usual place for religious meetings was the school-house, in what is commonly called the Upper District. The Presbyterian was the first house of worship, erected in the year 1829, by the combined efforts of all. The session-room was first finished and used for religious purposes by all denominations. The Presbyterian house of worship was dedicated in the winter of 1830, and admitted into the Presbytery the same year, with the name and title of the "Presbyterian Church at Fayette- ville." The Rev. Mr. Cushman, of Manlius, was untiring in his efforts to build up the Society in this place, usually offi- ciating on Sunday evenings. The same room was frequently occupied by Elder Breed, who at an earlier day had preached statedly at the school-house.
The Methodist Society also held their meetings at the school-house, and at the session-room of the Presbyterian house. The several houses of worship, as they now exist, were erected and completed during the years from 1829 to '33, ex- cept the Methodist Episcopal Society, which was built in 1836, in exchange for the building first erected by them, and subse- quently sold to the Trustees of the Academy.
The Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in the year 1830 ; a building erected in 1831, and consecrated in 1832. Settled Clergymen have been, Rev. Messrs. Northrup, Engle,
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Windsor, Fenner, Bartlett, Hickox, Pise. These four reli- gious denominations are very well sustained.
A work of considerable magnitude has been commenced by the citizens of Fayetteville, and is nearly completed, which, when finished, may be the means of making that village a large manufacturing town. A dike or canal has been formed to receive all the water flowing in the Limestone Creek. It commences at Hall's mill, and leads to the village. A reser- voir surrounding a beautiful artificial island, has been exca- vated sufficient to contain a large body of water, near and above the projected mill sites. A small but very durable stream, called the Bishop Brook, has been turned from its natural channel, and led into the village by means of logs of large bore, which will yield a power capable of turning ma- chinery of considerable magnitude.
Fayetteville, for many years, has been an excellent location for the purchase of grain, particularly barley. In former years it was not excelled by any place in the State in the first purchase of that staple article. For the last two or three years there has been some falling off, owing to the partial fail- ure of the erop in this and the adjacent towns.
SATAN'S KINGDOM-once eminently distinguished for the belligerent, litigious and pugnacious character of its inhabi- tants, took its then very significant name from a man who was continually at variance with his neighbors. After a long course of law proceedings with another neighbor, in which both had the worst of the case, one declared he would be king of the country. The other told him he was no more fit for a king to reign over that place, than Satan himself. The bystanders spontaneously declared the first, King Satan, and the settle- ment, from this time forward, was called Satan's Kingdom, which appellation it richly merited, and by which it was ap- propriately designated for a number of years. In 1814, the inhabitants called a meeting at the school-house, and resolved to change the name of Satan's Kingdom, to Pleasant Valley, and it was further resolved that the proceedings should be published in the Manlius Times, and that Mr. Smith Burton
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should be requested to accompany the same with a suitable poetic exposition of the reasons for changing the name. Ac- cordingly the proceedings were published with the following verse :
" Since the King no longer sits on his Throne, We, his name no longer will own; But around the standard, we will rally, Of peace, and call the place Pleasant Valley."
KIRKVILLE .- The settlement at Kirkville was commenced with the building of the canal. Mr. Cunningham opened a tavern there, and others gradually clustered around. In 1822, Edward Kirkland, a son of the late Hon. Joseph Kirkland, of Utica, settled on a large farm half a mile north-east of this settlement, and in 1824, was appointed Post Master. The settlement and Post Office were named Kirkville, in honor of him. Mr. Kirkland built the basin at his own expense, on the hecl path side of the canal, put up a large store, and did con- siderable business there for a time.
BRIDGEPORT .- Messrs. Isaac and John Delamater made a settlement at the Chittenango Rifts or Rapids, as the place was then called, in 1802. Judge John Knowles, John Adams, Esq., and others, settled in that neighborhood about the same time. There is a sudden fall in the Chittenango Creek here of about ten feet, which yields an immense water power, which is very little employed. It is a famous place for taking suck- ers and other fish, early in the spring, and from this circum- stance has been denominated the sucker bank. It was once a great place for taking salmon. It was not uncommon to take them from the nets weighing from twelve to twenty-five pounds. Before bridges were erected they were taken as high up as the Chittenango Falls, twenty miles above the outlet. Schooners of two hundred tons have been built and launched for the lake trade at Bridgeport, previous to the building of the canal.
HARTSVILLE-received its name from a Mr. Hart, who made a purchase of the water power at that place in 1811. He contemplated erecting glass works, flouring mill, &c., but
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finally sold to James A. Sherwood, who did not carry out the contemplated improvements.
EAGLE VILLAGE .- James Foster settled at this place on lot eighty-eight, in 1790, and directly opened a tavern, the first in the present town of Manlius. It was very early resorted to by others as a desirable place of residence, and once ear- nestly contested the palm for superiority with Manlius Village. Eagle Village could once boast of four physicians, three mer- chants, and two lawyers. Charles Mosely set up a store in 1793, where Giles Everson now lives. Elias Stilwell owned quite a large tract of land in the neighborhood at this time. A Mr. Staniford opened a tavern there soon after. Finally the store was abandoned, and Mr. Mosely traded awhile at Eagle Village, and eventually settled at Manlius Village, having spent a short time as clerk in Mr. Calkins' store near where the Limestone Factory now stands. Dr. Ward was the first settled physician in the present town of Manlius, and a Dr. Moore soon after. Dr. Smith Weed was then a very re- spectable physician, and had an extensive practice. Dr. Fisk and Dr. Washburn once did a respectable business, and re- sided here; and the facetious Dr. Jonas Fay once purchased a lot here with intent to reside upon it, but did not. Charles B. Bristol commenced trading here as a merchant in 1804, and did a very extensive business. During the war of 1812, he acted as a distributing commissary, built the stone distille- ry in 1809; put up the first threshing machine in town or county ; kept the finest garden in the county ; drove the best team of eight horses known on the road, and for five or six years was considered one of the first merchants in the county. Amos P. Granger first commenced business at Eagle Village. Mr. Walker opened a law office in 1804. Asa Rice, a lawyer, kept an office there. Hon. James R. Lawrence was a clerk to him. A Mr. Smith afterwards kept a law office here for a short time, and also a Mr. Townsend. Jared Ludington open- ed a shoe shop in 1800. Libbeus Foster opened a tavern in 1794, in the house now occupied by Gershom Sherwood. It soon became one of the most celebrated taverns in western
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New-York. It contained a grand masonic hall, a grand danc- ing hall, and many other things to correspond.
In 1811, the Eagle Village Library was incorporated ; about two hundred and fifty volumes were purchased, and afterwards some additions were made. This is one of the oldest circulat- ing libraries in the county, and probably contains as good a collection of rare and valuable standard works, considering its numbers, as can be found in the English language. It was here that the first school was kept in the town of Manlius, by Samuel Edwards, in James Foster's barn. He had eight shil- lings per quarter per scholar, and boarded among the inhabi- tants. At this place occurred one of the most singular wed- dings on record. It was upon a training day, first Monday in June, 1795. A company training was held at Foster's ta- vern. The company were paraded in the open yard in front of Foster's house, a hollow square was formed, within which the wedding party marched and stood, and Cyrus Kinne, Esq., united, in the bonds of holy wedlock, Mr. Billy McKee and Miss Jenny Mulholland. Considering the simplicity of the times, the rare occurrence of such an event, the elevated posi- tion of the high contracting parties, and the practices then prevalent on such occasions, we cannot but infer, that the wit- nesses and all present must have had a most splendid jollifica- tion.
OLD MILLS .- In 1792 or '93, Elijah Phillips leased the property known as the old mills, the common, &c., of a Mr. Hamilton of Albany, for the term of sixty years. In '93, Mr. Phillips, David Williams, Aaron Wood and Walter Wor- den, erected a saw mill here, the first built in the present town of Manlius. David Williams soon sold his share, one- fourth, to Phineas Stevens, for sixty acres of land. In 1796, Butler & Phillips erected a grist mill, a little above the bridge, the stones and gearing having been previously provided by Mr. Hamilton. Clothing works and an oil mill were put in op- eration by Deacon Dunham afterwards, and a Mr. Jones kept a small store there, and Wm. Warner another, in 1811.
The first newspaper printed in the county of Onondaga,
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was entitled the "Derne Gazette," and was published by Abraham Romyen, in the village of Manlius. The first num- ber was issued in the spring of 1806; but not receiving suffi- cient patronage and support, it was discontinued, after it had been published a little more than a year. The cause of the failure of the "Gazette" was mainly owing to the fact, that at the time it was established, there being no other paper in the county, its editor refused to publish any political arti- cles, except those of his own particular partizans of the old Federal school. Party feeling ran high in those days, and those who took sides with the Democrats, refused to patron- ize the paper at all, because its columns were not open to free discussion. The whole reading community then being small, one-half of it could not sustain Mr. Romyen. Another cir- cumstance undoubtedly contributed to hasten its downfall. In the violence and bitterness occasioned by party feeling, and in taking a reckless course in wilfully vilifying and scan- dalizing respectable candidates for office of the Democratic ranks, Mr. Romyen subjected himself to libel suits, which were decided against him. These things brought the "Ga- zette" into bad repute, it became odious to many ; and to cap the climax, it was sarcastically styled the " Darn'd Gazette."
At the time the " Gazette" was established, an effort was made to change the name of the village of Manlius to that of Derne. At first the citizens acquiesced in the plan ; but owing to circumstances just related, and the fact that Mr. Romyen proved to be a blustering swaggering sort of man, his paper became unpopular, as did the name by which it was known. It is thought by those few now living and acquainted with the circumstances, that had he proved himself a man of stamina and been liberal in his views and to his patrons, the village of Manlius would now be called " Derne." A news- paper called the " Herald of the Times," was next published by Leonard Kellogg. The first number was issued Tuesday, May 24th, 1808 ; terms two dollars per annum, or one dollar and fifty cents in advance. The size of the sheet was about ten by seventeen inches. One whole page of the " Herald of the
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Times" was open to the essays and effusions of the Democrats, and another to the Federals, allowing each party a fair chance in the strife. Four or five years afterwards, a newspaper was published at Onondaga called the "Lynx," when Mr. Kellogg changed the name of his paper, and it was called " The Man- lius Times." Mr. Kellogg was a Federalist, and his paper after this was conducted under Federal principles. Mr. Kel- logg's was a well conducted paper, its politics were high toned of the Pickering School.
Mr. Kellogg commanded an independent rifle corps, which was ordered into service in 1812 or 1813. This company was at the battle of Queenston, and were among the few brave militia who crossed the river. This company behaved with great gallantry during the engagement, and received the ap- probation and thanks of the commanding general.
Lieutenant William Gardner, and Ensign Grosvenor were his associates. The rank and file were mostly from Manlius Village and vicinity.
After a lapse of time, James Beardsley was admitted a part- ner with Mr. Kellogg, who afterwards had the principal man- agement of it.
After Mr. Kellogg retired from the office, Seneca Hale be- came a partner. The interest in the office was soon after transferred to Daniel Clark, who changed the name to " Onon- daga Herald," first number issued October 28th, 1818. It was afterwards called "The Times," published weekly. It was continued about three years, after which the " Onondaga County Republican" was edited and published by Thurlow Weed, now editor of the Albany Evening Journal. The first number was issued June 27th, 1821. Mr. Weed continued his paper about three years. The " Onondaga Republican was next published by Laurin Dewy, first number issued 27th October, 1824. The "Manlius Repository" succeeded it and reached its fifth volume under the direction of Luman A. Miller, and for a time under Mr. Stillson. Mr. Fonda pub- lished the " Onondaga Flag" a very short time.
The only stream of water of any magnitude in this town is
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the Limestone Creek, which runs from south to north across its whole extent, till it forms a junction with the Chittenango, at Matthews' Mills. Upon this stream are many saw mills and grist mills, one woolen factory and two cotton factories, the only ones of the kind in the county. It may be said of this stream as of many others, that during the summer months, the quantity of water passing through its channel, is not near as great as it was twenty years ago, owing probably to the clearing up and draining of numerous little swamps at its source, which once acted as reservoirs, and fed it by gradual drainage during the heat of summer, and the soil is not as re- tentive of moisture since it has been cleared as it was when in a state of nature.
There are two incorporated academies in town for male and female pupils, both enjoying their proper proportion of the Literature Fund, and subject to the visitation of the Regents of the University. Considering that these academies are lo- cated in country villages, they are well sustained by the com- munities which surround them.
There are twenty-four school districts and joint districts in town, and from reports of Common School Superintendents, the attention which is paid to this important branch of edu- cation, is highly creditable to the inhabitants, and much im- preved within the last few years.
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