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 21
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 21
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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
It may not be uninteresting to the rising generation to be informed, that less than fifty-five years ago, such a vehicle as a horse wagon, was not in existence in this town or county, and the visiting was done mostly in winter on ox sleds ; and hap- py and rich indeed was he who could yoke a pair of oxen of his own, make his way through the woods with his wife and a child or two on the sled, on an evening's visit to a neighbor's, several miles distant. In fact, such a man was considered in rather opulent circumstances ; and too, it was no disparage- ment for the belles and beaux of that day to attend the sing- ing school or the spinning bec on the ox sled. After a few years a change came over this scene, the woods in a measure disappeared, the sun's rays began to kiss the naked ground, and more comfortable dwellings were introduced in place of the houses and barns of logs. At length a beautiful village appears, and is called Butler's Hill, afterwards, Pompey Hill ; and there was a time within the memory of many still living, when this same village of Pompey Hill, was as prominent a place as any in the county. It gave more tone to the sur- rounding settlements, on account of its refinement and wealth, its intelligence and learning, than any place in its vicinity. People came here for legal advice, they came here for medical advice, to do their trading, and they came here for fashions, they came here for military parades, for political discussions, and for general consultations of a public nature ; they came
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here to engage in all the amusements and duties incident to men of a public character.
Mr. Cobb, Esquire Beebe, Mr. Jones and the Newmans, occupied Newman's Hill, east from Pompey Hill ; and upon Pompey Hill were settled, Judge Butler, Captain Butler, Lilley the blacksmith, Esquire Bowers, Colonel Olcott, two or three families of the name of Hoar; and around about here were settled the Jeromes, the Durhams, the Pixleys, the Wilcoxes, the Judds, the Coes, the Bishops, the Conklins, the McEvers, the Fosters. Afterwards came the doctors, lawyers, merchants, ministers, tavern keepers, who altogether, formed the village. There was Parson Wallace, Col. Hop- kins, Mr. Catlin, Esq. Wood, Dr. Tibballs, Dr. Colton, Rus- sell Clark, Mr. Emmons, Seymour & Stone, Messrs. Bakers, Esq. Birdseye, afterwards the Wheatons and Marshes, and a host of others, whose names are equally entitled to respect.
As the country increased in population, and the forests were prostrated by the woodman's ax, the beasts of prey yielding the right of possession, retreated into the more unbroken re- gions, where the dwellings of men were not as frequent. In the town of Fabius, the next town south, an old bear lingered, apparently disputing the right of occupancy, with more te- nacity and boldness, than some of his more timorous associ- ates. And not unfrequently did he sally forth in the night, and make forcible entry into the pig pens and carry off some of the younger branches of the swine family, much to the an- noyance of the settlers. These depredations finally became so frequent that the neighbors held a consultation upon the means of ridding community of so obnoxious a visitor, and it was resolved that the next time he should commit another of his unlawful visits, it should be considered a just cause of ex- terminating war. Soon after this, there was a heavy fall of snow, and Bruin, probably considering this a serious admoni- tion, that it would soon be time for him to burrow up for win- ter, he sallied forth one night and entered the stye of a poor man, and took therefrom a porker, which the owner had in- tended to butcher in a few days to supply the necessities of
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his own family. This was no sooner known, than the male portion of the community, rallied to a man, and arming them- selves with guns, axes and pitchforks, calling to their aid the dogs of the neighborhood, set out upon the track, which in the snow was visible and plain. They soon started his bear- ship, who posted off, with all possible speed, towards Pompey Hill. The chase was a hot one, and attended on the way with frequent skirmishes, and more especially so between the bear and the dogs. In most of these the bear had the best of the battle, and had it not been for fresh dogs, that constantly supplied the places of the wounded and delinquent, the pur- suit would have been hopeless, for not a dog could be induced to renew the attack that had received one single salutation from this lord of the forest. The chase waxed warm, and Bruin at last became so pressed, and so fatigued with running in the snow, that as a last resort he threw himself into the public highway, and took the beaten track towards Pompey Hill. Among the citizens of Pompey Hill, who were engaged in this affair, was a deputy sheriff or constable. He carried in his breast pocket an enormous pocket-book, containing a large package of papers. This officer, at the head of his posse commitatus, stood ready to arrest the old bear as he en- tered the village, but Bruin, either doubting his jurisdiction, or disregarding the law against resisting the service of process, rose upon his hind feet the instant said officer tapped him on the nose with his stick, and seizing him with his fore paws, brought him forthwith to the ground, then opening his huge mouth, grabbed the officer in the side, and would no doubt have killed him on the spot, had it not happened that when the bear elosed his ponderous jaws, he grasped this enormous pocket-book, which completely filled his mouth. In the strug- gle, however, the bear inflicted quite a severe wound, held on to the pocket-book, and held the man fast, till another man approached with a sharp ax, who with a single stroke settled the edge deep into the brain of the enraged bear. Thus was the ferocious beast slain, and a valuable civil officer rescued from an unpleasant if not perilous situation. This occurrence
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took place in 1802 or '3, and is still a story of interest to the descendants of the participators in the scenes of that day.
Major Case, while at work on the highway, in this town, in the month of June, 1800, was attacked by a large bear. Hav- ing an ax in his hands, he made a pass with it at the enraged animal, who dexterously knocked the weapon to one side with his paw, and seizing the man by the breast brought him to the ground inflicting several severe wounds on different parts of his body. While thus engaged, another man came up and dis- patched the bear with an ax. Major Case lingered for near a year ; his wounds would not heal, and he at length died from their effects.
POMPEY HOLLOW, DELPHI, &c .- This highly fertile and in- teresting valley, which borders on the east line of the county, is ten miles in length by about two in width, and contains near twelve thousand acres of land. It was eagerly sought, at an early period of the settlement of the town of Pompey, as a locality suitable for the most extensive and profitable opera- tions of the agriculturist. The uniform prosperity which has attended the proprietors of the soil of this favored spot, is sufficient evidence, that the judgment of those who first loca- ted here, was not misplaced ; and the wealth, affluence and comfort, which is now every where apparent, is a sure indica- tion that industry, frugality and thrift, still hold a high place among the present occupants of this beautiful valley. It is watered its entire length by the east branch of the Limestone Creek, which takes its rise in the towns of Cazenovia, De Ruyter and Fabius. Upon this stream are numerous saw mills, two grist mills, an extensive woolen factory, and clothing works of smaller magnitude. The first settlers who came here were Samnel Draper and James McClure, in 1792. They were followed almost immediately by Ozias Burr, Messrs. Wright, Cook, Atwell, Allen, Elihu Barber, John Lamb, Capt. Peck, Daniel Thomas and others, most of whom were from the New England States. The land of this valley, like much of that in other parts of the town of Pompey, had to be cleared of heavy timber, consisting of elm, oak, ash, maple, basswood,
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&c., interspersed with pine, cedar and hemlock. Like the pio- neers of all new settlements, the first years of their sojourn were spent under exceedingly great discouragements. They relied, for the first year or two, entirely on provisions brought along with them from the east. Among the first things ac- complished, was the opening of a school the following season, (1793) in a log school house, erected on the line between the farm of Esquire Cook and Esquire Burr, and Mr. Charles Merriman was engaged as a teacher. He continued his use- ful vocation here for several successive years, with deserved success and well-merited approbation. At a subsequent peri- od, a log school house was erected near where the Baptist house of worship now stands, in the village of Delphi, and Shubal Marsh was engaged in teaching it. Hon. Joshua A. Spencer, President Jesse Peck, of Dickinson College, Dr. Amos Westcott, Professor of Dental Surgery, Baltimore Col- lege, Rev. Albert Peck, the celebrated Methodist Preacher, and Le Roy Morgan, Esq., District Attorney for Onondaga, have severally, at different periods, taught this school.
The village of Delphi, at the south end of this valley, be- gan to be settled quite early, say 1797 and 1798, by Mr. Savage, Daniel Hubbard, William Shankland, David Sweet and others. Dr. Ely kept a tavern here in 1804, succeeded by Mr. Hubbard, who was the first merchant in the place. Schuyler Van Rensselaer, Esq., was the first lawyer, who lo- lated here in 1805. Post Office established 1809; Mr. Van Rensselaer, Post Master ; afterwards succeeded by Col. Elisha Litchfield. The first Baptist Church in Pompey, was organi- zed here in 1803, Elder Baker first pastor. Their present house of worship was completed 1819, and the Methodist house of worship the same year.
James Scoville, Joseph Bartholomew, Roswell and Asael Barnes, were among the first settlers at Oran before 1798. Mr. Bartholomew built the first log house, a part of which was formed by a large hemlock tree. He also erected the first frame house in 1799, and in it kept the first tavern. A school was soon established in a log school house, and missionaries
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from Connecticut ministered to their spiritual wants. The first was the Rev. Mr. Perry, who preached in James Scoville's barn, and in other barns in the neighborhood. Mr. Wallace, Mr. Stoddard and Mr. Rawson, all Congregationalists, preached here.
Rev. Hugh Wallace organized the society in Oran, 27th January, 1806. The society was re-organized under the title of the "Second Congregational Society of the town of Pom- pey," 6th October, 1806, when Punderson Avery, Jedediah Cleveland and Joseph Bartholomew, were elected Trustees, Lemuel Hall and Jedediah Cleveland, presiding at the meeting.
The first frame house of worship in the town of Pompey, was erected by this society in 1807 and '8, being the third house of worship erected in the county. The following Rev. gentlemen have occasionally or statedly officiated here. Rev. Messrs. Rawson, Davenport and Baldwin, were settled here ; Rev. Messrs. Leonard and Chadwick, and several Baptist and Methodist Clergymen, have occasionally officiated. The Uni- versalist Society now hold and occasionally occupy the house, and furnish a large part of the congregation. The building is apparently fast going to decay.
Dr. Daniel Dennison first commenced the practice of medi- cine at this place, in 1814, and is still at his post healing the sick and comforting the dying. Previously, Drs. Ward, Weed and Fisk, of Eagle Village, had officiated as physicians at this place. No lawyer has ever resided at Oran. Messrs. Dela- mater opened the first store of note here about the year 1810, and did a flourishing business.
In 1798, this valley was visited by myriads of caterpillars, which totally stript the forests of their foliage, and attacked the smaller vegetables with great voracity, doing considerable damage to the tender corn. They however disappeared in the month of June, vegetation revived, and the crops were plenteous. These insects were so numerous, that they con- gregated in heaps, on the eaves and chimnies of the houses at evening, and when fires were kindled in the morning, were very troublesome, often spinning down the low stick chimnies
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into the cookery, and when their day was over, in such quan- tities had they accumulated that the atmosphere was complete- ly tainted with their decaying remains.
A little east of the village of Delphi, are two very beauti- ful waterfalls, on the Limestone Creek. They are separated by a deep rocky gorge, of some twenty rods in extent, about thirty yards broad at the top, and not more than eight or ten at bottom, through which the water rushes with great force. The upper fall may be about forty feet in height, and nearly perpendicular, very little broken, and situated as it is among this wild mountain scenery, conveys to the mind an idea of sublimity and grandeur, exciting both wonder and astonish- ment. The lower fall is about fifty feet, and the water leaps over the abrupt and rocky precipice, with a charming mixture of the picturesque and sublime. The high banks of bare dark brown shale, with occasionally an evergreen shrub growing out of the perpendicular precipice, serves to vary the effect, and give life to the boldness and imagery of the scene.
Statistics of Pompey from census of 1845 :-
Number of inhabitants, 4,112; subject to military duty, 257; voters, 977 ; aliens, 36 ; paupers, 6; children attending Common Schools, 1,029; acres of improved land, 30,951; grist mills, 3; saw mills, 11; oil mills, 2; fulling mills, 1 ; carding machines, 1; woolen factory, 1; trip hammer, 1; asheries, 1; tanneries, 5; Churches-Baptist, 3; Presbyte- rian, 3; Episcopal, 1; Methodist, 4 ; Universalist, 1; Roman Catholic, private, 1; Academy, 1; Common Schools, 26; Se- lect Schools, 1; taverns, 8; retail stores, 5; merchants, 9; manufacturers, 26 ; farmers, 775 ; mechanics, 88; clergymen, 9; physicians, 6; lawyers, 5.
ANTIQUITIES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF POMPEY .- The antiqui- ties of the township of Pompey, consist mainly of earthern forts and defenses-mural remains, traces of villages, trading establishments, burying places and sundry articles found scat- tered among them. These things, it is our intention briefly to notice.
One of the most noted localities of this kind, is the one on the
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farm of Isaac P. Jobs, usually called "Indian Hill." Upon this spot have been found, perhaps a greater variety of articles, positively indieating the residence, at some early period, of Europeans, than on any other in the vicinity. It is in the town of Pompey, two miles south of Manlius Village, situated on one of the most beautiful elevations, imaginable. As you approach it on the road from the south, the ascent is gradual, backed by an extensive level. On the west, is a deep gulf, made by the west branch of the Limestone Creek. On the east, is a deep ravine, through which flows a small stream, whose banks are very bold. The whole length of this elevation, bearing the strongest evidence of having been inhabited, may be nearly a mile, and it is from one hundred to one hundred and fifty rods wide. To the north, is a beautiful slope, ex- tending some thirty or forty rods, when it takes a rapid fall of fifty or more feet. Then a plain of some thirty or forty acres, spreads itself out in full view from the hill. Upon this level were several acres literally covered with graves.
A brass medal was found near this place, in 1821, by John Watson. It was without date, on one side of it was a figure of Louis XIV, king of France and Navarre. On the reverse side, was represented a field, with three flowers de luce, support- ing a royal crown, surrounded by the name of Nalf Lanfar & Co. It was about the size of a Spanish pistareen, had been compressed between dies-characters and letters distinet. It was given to the Hon. Samuel L. Mitchell, to grace his col- lection of curious relies and coins.
When the first settlers came here in 1791, '92, '93, this ground was covered with thorns, wild plumtrees and other shrubs, indicating that it had been cleared and cultivated at some previous time. When it was first cultivated in these lat- ter times, gun barrels, sword blades, hatehets, knives, axes, clay pipes, copper kettles, brass chains, beads of glass, pew- ter plates, rings for the fingers, ear and nose jewels, lead balls, iron gate hangings, copper coins, tools for working wood and iron, and other articles used by civilized men and unknown to savages, together with human bones, were frequently found on
t
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or near the earth's surface. Many of our early settlers, now living, distinctly recollect the appearance of the enclosure en- titled "the fort," upon and about which, trees had grown to a considerable size. Its carthern walls were then some four ยท or five feet high, having evidently been considerably lessened by the ravages of time. It was circular, and from three hun- dred to three hundred and fifty feet in diameter. There was but one gateway, and that quite narrow. In 1801, Mr. John Hatch ploughed up three muskets and a blunderbuss. They were found near together, the stocks decayed, the barrels flat- tened as if with the head of an ax, plainly bearing the inden- tations of that instrument. There are traditionary notions prevailing with some of the inhabitants in this vicinity, that the mutilation of these arms in this manner was by the Indians, who did it that the sound of the guns might not kill them. It is supposed that they were ignorant of the true cause of the weapon's power of destructiveness. This conclusion is prob- ably erroneous, as nearly all the gun barrels have been found flattened at their muzzles, and the more reasonable inference is, that it was the work of victorious parties who were unable to secure them by removal, and did it to prevent their again becoming useful in the hands of their enemies.
The guns usually found, are of a heavy make, with large bell-shaped muzzles ; those seen by the author were evidently of English manufacture. The copper coins were French, though so much corroded, that the marks and dates could not be deciphered. Several pits where corn had been stored were . visible. In one of these pits a large quantity of charred corn was found. Probably on the breaking up of the establishment, the lodge which contained it was burned over it, and thus prepared the mass for the state of preservation in which it was found. At every plowing something new is brought to light. Not long since a curiously wrought brass chain, two and a half feet long and one inch and a half wide, was found. Its appearance was as if it had recently been subjected to fire, the most prominent parts newly polished. A curious brass im- age was recently found there, probably a part of some Romish
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priest's collection. Many of these relics were found by Mr. Jobs or his workmen, and several are now in his possession. The soil upon this ridge, where undoubtedly once flourished an extensive Indian village, and European trading establish- ments, has the appearance of rich garden mold recently ma- nured. Large spots of very dark mold may still be seen at regular intervals, a few yards apart, in which are mingled ashes and charcoal, and these, probably, mark the site of the cabins or houses once standing over them. De Witt Clinton visited this place and others of a similar nature in 1815 or 1816, made many inquiries, and gathered a variety of relics, some of which were presented to the New-York Historical Society. Among them were a small bell without a clapper, piece of a large bell, a gold finger ring, sword blade, bayo- net, &c.
There is an extensive burying place contiguous, where sev- eral acres were once covered with graves of men, women and children. The skeletons were universally found buried in a sitting posture, facing the east, with some domestic utensil or weapon of war between the thigh bones. They are usually found two or three feet below the surface. The skull and bones of the body are uniformly sunk to a level with the legs. From appearances, the bodies, after being placed in their graves, were covered with brush previous to casting the earth upon them. Trees of two hundred years growth, once stood over some of these graves.
This and all the other burying places have been resorted to by antiquaries and others, more curious than considerate, for the purpose of obtaining Indian skeletons. To so great an extent has this rude practice been carried, that perhaps at this time it would be difficult to find one by seeking-as if it could be no harm to rob an Indian's grave. These noble men have gone ; their generations sleep in our cultivated fields ; our har- vests wave upon their hills ; we have robbed them of all else, and we should at least spare their places of sepulchre. Many years ago, when the settlements were first made, a man, whose name deserves not to be remembered, made a regular business
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of disinterring the bones contained in the Indian graves, ta- king whatever was found in them to himself. Hundreds of skeletons have been removed for anatomical purposes, and to enlarge the cabinets of the curious. In this unhallowed bu- siness he amassed several hundred dollars' worth of property. The Indians, who are remarkable for their regard for the dead, who, though Pagan in their worship, are shining examples for Christians to follow, in respect to the violation of these sacred deposits, were at one time on the point of unceremoniously chastising him in a most summary manner. He eluded their vengeance and never dared visit the country afterwards.
There is another place of considerable importance, called " the castle," near David Williams', Pompey, one mile from " Indian Hill." In former years it was owned by Michael Bourse, who collected a great variety of trinkets, consisting of beads, precious "stone ornaments," &c. In 1815, a brass medal was found, on one side of which was an equestrian im- age with a drawn sword, and on the other, William, Prince of Orange, with a crest or coat of arms ; the date was oblitera- ted. William, Prince of Orange, flourished in 1689, and was quite conspicuous in the affairs of New-York for several years previous. This medal may have been a present by him to some distinguished chief. In that neighborhood, a bass wood tree was felled, and an ineffectual attempt made to split the first twelve feet into rails. It was found impossible to open it at all, when, upon farther examination, a large chain was found encircling it, over which one hundred and seventy-eight concentric circles had formed, representing as many years. A large hemlock tree was discovered with three distinet cuts of an ax, over which one hundred and seventy-nine of these granular circles had formed. Now subtract one hundred and seventy-eight from 1815, the time when these examinations were made, and we have the date 1637, as the time when these marks were supposed to have been made, at which time, it is reasonable to suppose, the neighborhood was inhabited by Europeans. A mortar dug out of solid roek may be seen at the brook near by, holding nearly a peck. In the steep banks
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of this brook are numerous evidences of its having been the scene of a hard fought battle. Articles of war, such as gun- barrels and bullets, have been found, and also knives, axes, &c., upon this particular spot. The regular appearance of four laid out streets for a considerable extent, was once very discernable, and small hillocks where corn had evidently been cultivated could be traced for a long distance. Weapons and implements anciently used by the Indians were frequently found by farmers in plowing their fields, consisting of arrow- heads, axes, hatchets, gouges, pestles, &c., made of flint, gran- ite and hornblend, nicely cut and finely polished. David Williams at one time plowed up the skeleton of a man, and found with it a small brass kettle filled with corn and beans, in a tolerable state of preservation. The kettle was used in his family for domestic purposes several years. A gun barrel was found leaning against a tree, with two-thirds of its top imbeded therein. Wood had made over it about twelve inches. Fragments of the lock were found with it. A box was dis- covered below the surface of the earth, supposed to have been buried in a hurried manner. It was so far preserved as to show plainly that it had been made of riven planks of ash, partial- ly smoothed with an ax. It contained cloths' of red and blue colors ; the folds could plainly be seen, and parts were so sound as to admit of being raised without falling asunder. Lead clasps, bearing French marks upon them, were contained in the box.
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