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 29
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 29
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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
Where ehureh paths are by frequent feet outworn, Law eourt-yards weedy, silent and forlorn,
Where doetors foot it, and where farmers ride,
Where age abounds, and youth is multiplied, Where these signs are, they truly indicate, A happy people, and well governed State."
There is a richness and beauty unsurpassed, in the scenery as one looks from hill to hill-the fields laden with the golden harvest, and the woodlands giving shade and variety to the prospect. The Otisco Lake bounds the town on the west. It was called by the Indians, Otskah, sometimes Kaioongk. This lake is about five miles long, and one broad-a beautiful sheet of water, skirted by cultivated fields to the water's edge, variegated with woodland and pasture grounds. The red man
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anciently cast his lines and nets in the pure clear waters of the Otskah, and was rewarded for his labor, with abundance of trout and smaller fish. Recently his successors have in- troduced the perch and pickerel, which are becoming abun- dant. In former times, the Onondagas had a path from their village to this lake, whither they came to fish, and hunt the deer, as he came to quench his thirst at the brink.
There is a small, weak salt spring on the west side of the Otisco Lake, nearly opposite the village of Amber, on the margin where deer used to frequent, to obtain the cooling con- diment.
There are no quarries of good building stone in this town, the ledges of rocks are mostly red and brown shale. In the northern section of this town, on the road from Onondaga South Hollow to Otisco, is one of the most extensive depos- its of what is termed by Mr. Vanuxem, in the Geology of the third district of New-York, " Marcellus goniatite."
This singular deposit seems to be about ten feet deep, and exhibits at the points exposed to the surface, millions of spe- cimens of what are termed "horn rocks," from one to three inches in diameter, and from two to twelve inches long, slightly curved. These are isolated and can be picked up in any quantities. They are of adulterated, dark brown limestone, and are the remains of molusca deposited at some unknown period, and are worthy the attention of the geologist. The same strata appears in other parts of the town, though not as prominent. They lie underneath the red shale.
Statistics for the town of Otisco, taken from the census of 1845 :-
Number of inhabitants, 1701; subject to military duty, 127; voters, 400; aliens, 11; children attending common schools, 408; acres of improved land, 12899; grist mills, 1; saw mills, 8; woolen factory, 1; Tanneries, 2; Churches- Congregational, 1; Methodist, 1; common schools, 14; tav- erns, 2; stores, 4; farmers, 269; merchants, 4; manufactu- rers, 20; mechanics, 32; clergy 2; physicians, 3.
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SPAFFORD-was erected into a town in 1811, from portions of the townships of Sempronius, Marcellus and Tully. The boundaries have since been materially altered. At present, it is comprised of eight lots lying east of Skaneateles Lake, being part of the original township of Sempronius ; sixteen lots of the north-west part of the township of Tully, and thir- teen lots of the south part of the township of Marcellus. It is about ten miles long by three broad, running from north- west to south-east. This town received its name from Hora- tio Gates Spafford, L.L.D., author of the Gazetteer of New- York. The first settler within the present limits of the town, was Gilbert Palmer, who located himself on lot seventy-six, township of Marcellus, in the fall of 1794. He was a Revo- lutionary soldier, and served for the lot on which he settled. He came from Duchess or Westchester County, and died about ten years ago.
In the fall of the year 1794, soon after his arrival, Mr. Palmer and his son, a youth of some sixteen years of age, went into the woods to chopping, for the purpose of making a clearing. Sometime in the afternoon, they felled a tree, and as it struck the ground, it bounded, swung around and caught the young man under it. The father at once mounted the log, cut it off, rolled it over and liberated his son. Upon ex- amination, one of his lower limbs was found to be badly crushed and mangled. He thereupon carried the youth to his log hut close at hand, and with all possible diligence made haste to his nearest neighbors, some three or four miles dis- tant, desiring them to go and minister to his son's necessities, while he should go to Whitestown for Dr. White. The neigh- bors sallied forth with such comfortable things as they thought might be acceptable in such a case ; but amidst the confusion, the dense forest and the darkness of the night which had just set in, they missed their way ; and after wandering about for a long time, gave over pursuit and returned home, leaving the poor sufferer alone to his fate. Early the next morning all hands again rallied, and in due time found the young man suffering the most extreme anguish from his mangled limb, and
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greatly benumbed with cold. They built a fire, made him comfortable with such palliatives as could be procured in the wilderness, and waited in patience the return of the parent. In the mean time he had proceeded rapidly on his journey on foot, and found Dr. White at Clinton. Here he engaged an Oneida Indian to pilot them through the woods by a nearer route than to follow the windings of the old road. Dr. White and Mr. Palmer were at sundry times fearful the Indian would lose the way ; and upon every expression of doubt on their part, the Indian would exclaim " me know;" and told them he would bring them out at a certain log which lay across the outlet at the foot of Otisco Lake. The Indian took the lead, and within forty-eight hours after the accident had hap- pened, the Indian brought them exactly to the log, exclaim- ing triumphantly, "me know." Here Mr. Palmer arrived on familiar ground, and at once proceeded to the cabin where he had left his son, whom they found greatly prostrated, and writhing under the most intense suffering. No time was lost. The case was thought desperate-the limb was amputated at once, half way from the knee to the thigh. The youth bore the pain with heroic fortitude, recovered and lived many years afterwards, always speaking in the highest terms, in praise of Dr. White.
The first settler in that part of the town taken from Tully was Jonathan Berry, and is still living a resident of the town. He first settled a short distance south of the village of Boro- dino, in March, 1803. In April the same year, Archibald Farr located himself on the south-west corner of lot number eleven.
To facilitate the progress of Mr. Farr's imigration, Berry sent his teams and men to clear out a road, that Farr might proceed to his place of destination. This was the first road attempted to be made within the limits of the town, and is the same that now leads from Spafford Corners to Borodino. The next year (1804) Isaac Hall settled on the farm now (1848) owned by Asael Roundey, Esq., near Spafford Cor- ners. This year the road was cleared out from Farr's on lot
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number eleven to the Corners, and the next year (1805) two men from Scott cut and cleared a road from the town of Scott to Spafford Corners. Their names were Elisha Sabins and John Babcock. They moved their goods on sleds, over logs and through the brush as best they could. The following year, 1806, several families took up their abode in this town and scattered themselves over its whole extent. On the road from Borodino to the town of Scott, lived Peter Knapp, Isaac Hall, John Babcock, Samuel Smith, Elisha Sabins, Otis Legg, Moses Legg, Archibald Farr, Jethro Bailey, Elias Davis, Abel Amadown, Job Lewis, Daniel Tinckham, - Whiting, and John Hullibut. In other parts of the town were Levi Foster, Benjamin Homer, James Williamson, Cornelius Williamson, Benjamin Stanton and John Woodward. James Bacon and Asael Roundey settled at Spafford Corners in 1807, by which time the town became generally settled. In September of 1806, Isaac Hall drove a wagon from Spafford Corners to Scott Corners for a load of boards, being the first wagon that had passed over that road. Elias Davis first made his way to his new home in this town from Skaneateles in a skiff, by rowing up the lake. He located a little south of the cen- ter.
The first frame dwelling was erected in 1807 by Samuel Conkling, on lot seventy-six, Marcellus.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Elisha Sa- bins, 1812, at which John Babcock was chosen Supervisor, and Sylvester Wheaton, Town Clerk ; Benjamin Stanton, Asael Roundy, Elijah Knapp, Assessors ; Asael Roundy, Adolphus French, Jonathan Berry, Commissioners of high ways. Annual meeting April, 1813, at the same place ; Asael Roundy, chosen Supervisor, and Asa Terry Town Clerk.
A Post Office was first established at Spafford Corners in 1814; Asahel Roundy, first Post Master. James Knapp, Joseph R. Berry, Thomas B. Anderson and Doctor Collins, have been successors to the office, in the foregoing order. The mail was first carried in a wagon through the town in 1827.
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Contract held by James H. Fargo, the route, from Jordan to Homer. Previously carried on foot and on horseback.
Jared Babcock was the first merchant in 1809, and Lanson Hotchkiss the second, 1810. Dr. Archibald Farr was the first practising physician in town, and also kept the first tav- ern, on lot number 11, Tully, in 1808. Other physicians have been Jeremiah B. Whiting, Zechariah Derby, John Collins, and some others. Never a lawyer located in this town.
The first school house was built of logs on the north-west corner of lot number seventy-six, Marcellus, in 1803 ; the first teacher Miss Sally Packard. The first school at Spaf- ford Corners was kept in a log house in 1808, by Miss Han- nah Weston, (Mrs. Roundy.) There were no wagon roads at that time from Skaneateles, and she came out from that place and returned, after the close of her school, on horseback.
The first stated preacher was Elder Harman, who organi- zed a Methodist Church and Society at an early day. The Baptist Society and Church was organized in the Tully por- tion of the town in 1816; this organization was broken up in 1832. A Society and Church was organized in the Marcel- lus portion of the town in 1800. Methodist and Universalist Union Society house of worship, was erected in 1838, and Freewill Baptist the same year ; both were dedicated in 1840. Elder Kimberly, first preacher, Elders Benjamin Andrews, Boughton, Jacob W. Darling, &c., have been ministers. John Babcock was the first Justice of the Peace in this town, and Asahel Roundey, the second.
The first grist mill in town was erected by Dr. Archibald Farr, in 1808, and a saw mill by Josiah Walker, in 1810. Judge Walter Wood built a saw mill in 1811. The principal stream is called Cold Brook, the largest tributary of the Otisco Lake.
There is an excellent quarry of gray limestone in this town, suitable for building. It is the highest elevation in the coun- ty where that most excellent building material is found. This town in the main, may be termed hilly. The central portion has an extensive valley of fine fertile land, but the castern and
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western portions are uneven. The soil is principally a strong and productive loam. The timber consists of heavy maple, beech, basswood, butternut, hemlock, and some pine. It is well watered by springs and small brooks, and is well adapted to grazing.
In the north-east part of the town is a weak salt fountain, on the shore of the Otisco Lake, where salt has been made. There are extensive beds of what are termed horn rocks, along the shore of the Skaneateles Lake. There are also several sulphur springs in town, none of which afford any very great quantity of water, although highly impregnated with foreign substances. From the highest hills, the Skaneateles Lake may be seen stretching itself far away in the distance, on the west, to the north, and the Otisco on the cast, both of which are beautiful bodies of water, five miles apart, and bound the town on the west and east. Borodino is the principal vil- lage, containing a Post Office, two churches, several stores and about eight hundred inhabitants.
Statistics from the census of 1845, respecting the town of Spafford :-
Number of inhabitants, 1,977; subject to military duty, 220; voters, 484; aliens, 8; children attending Common Schools, 498; acres of improved land, 14,560; grist mills, 1; saw mills, 7; carding machines, 1; tanneries, 1; Church- es-Baptist, 1; Presbyterian, 1; Methodist, 2; common schools, 10; taverns, 4 ; stores, 5; farmers, 278; merchants, 7; manufacturers, 6; mechanics, 46; clergymen, 8; physi- cians, 3.
OSWEGO.
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฿ 23
VIEW OF OSWEGO AS IT APPEARED IN 1755.
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CHAPTER XVI.
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OSWEGO.
ERECTION OF A TRADING HOUSE AND FORT, BY GOVERNOR BURNET-GEN. SHIE- LEY-COL. MERCER-OPERATIONS OF COL. BRADSTREET-OSWEGO FALLS-BONE HILL -- OSWEGO TAKEN BY MONTCALM-INCIDENTS-ATTACKED BY THE BRITISH -- EARLY SETTLEMENT.
AT first it was not the design of this work to introduce the history of this important place in a distinct and extended manner. But at the suggestion of several gentlemen, who are well qualified to judge in these matters, the author was induced to visit Oswego, and other locations along the Oswego valley, and collect materials for a more full and minute notice of it than was originally intended .* This important and in- teresting locality is situated on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, on both sides of the Oswego River, in latitude 43º 28/ 03// north. It was called by the French, Chouaguen.
The French had established themselves in the Iroquois coun- try at an early period, by the erection of fortifications at Ni- agara and Ierondequot, while the English had no semblance of a fortification west of Schenectady. It soon became ap- parent that something should be done to retain possession of
* The author is under great obligation to E. W. Clarke, Esq., for the loan of his valuable manuscript giving much interesting information relative to Oswego Also to B. B. Burt, Esq., for books and papers upon the same subject, and also to Mr. Matthew McNair, one of the oldest residents of Oswego, for valuable verbal information.
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the country claimed by the English, and make a show of re- sistance to overawe the French, and inspire the Five Nations with confidence, and to show them that the English were ca- pable and willing to maintain their rights. Col. Romer had explored the country of the Five Nations in 1700 and 1701, and reported that at the mouth of the Onondagas' River, was the most suitable place for the erection of a fort.
Gov. Burnet, in his anxiety to secure the trade of the In- dians in 1721, got an act passed by the Colonial Legislature, prohibiting the sale of goods to the French, under severe pen- alties, with the design of drawing all the Indian trade to New- York. In order fully to carry out his designs, to keep the French within their proper limits, and to inspire the Five Na- tions with a becoming respect for the power of the English, he commenced the erection of a trading house at Oswego in 1722, on the west side of the river. The benefits of this policy were immediately apparent. In 1723, fifty-seven ca- noes went from Albany to that place, and returned loaded with furs and skins, among which were seven hundred and thirty-eight packs of beaver and deer skins. The jealousy and indignation of the French was aroused by the doings of Gov. Burnet. They at once set about repairing the fort at Niagara, and gathered materials for the erection of a trading house at that place, thus securing the western entrance to the lake, as they had the eastern, by the erection of Fort Fron- tenac. In 1725, Baron Longueil, the Governor of Canada, went in person to Onondaga, to obtain permission to erect the store house at Niagara. He obtained their consent, but the other nations disavowed the act, and sent messengers to Niagara requiring. the French immediately to desist. Gov. Burnet remonstrated against these encroachments of the French. He also called a council of the Five Nations con- juring them to give an explicit declaration of their sentiments relative to the French encroachments at Niagara. Their answer is truly expressive,-" We come to you, howling, and this is the reason why we howl; because the Governor of Canada encroaches on our lands, and builds thereon." Gov-
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ernor Burnet improved this season of disaffection towards the French, to secure a grant confirming a grant made in 1701, which had ceded to the English, the lands of the Five Nations, south of Lakes Erie and Ontario. The grant conveyed all their lands in trust from the Oswego to Cayahoga River. Not- withstanding the remonstrances of Governor Burnet, the French completed their works at Niagara with as little delay as possible. Governor Burnet still complained of the want of faith in the French, in building Fort Niagara, and to keep pace with them, obtained an appropriation from the Colonial Assembly, in 1726, of three hundred pounds, for the purpose of building a fort at Oswego, and on the 9th of May, 1727, makes the following report: "I have this spring sent up workmen to build a stone house of strength at a place called Oswego, at the mouth of the Onondagas' River. I have ob- tained the consent of the Five Nations to build it, and being informed that a party of ninety French were going to Niag- ara, I suspected they might have orders to interrupt this work. I have therefore sent up a detachment of sixty soldiers, with a captain and two lieutenants, to protect the building from any harm the French might offer." The Governor proposes to keep an officer and twenty men in garrison to protect the works against the French. Three hundred pounds had been provided to build the fort, but it was not near enough, and the Governor who had become warmly enlisted in the matter, fur- nished the residue on his own responsibility.
On the 24th of August, 1727, Governor Burnet reported the fort at Oswego as finished, and says, "this new house at Oswego will make a stand that will embolden the Five Na- tions, and one that cannot be taken without heavy cannon, the walls being four feet thick, of good stone, and the French cannot bring heavy cannon against it."
The trading house and fort built at Oswego, by Governor Burnet, was situated on the west side of the river directly on . the bank of the lake. The ground was elevated about forty feet above the level of the lake; the bank being of rock and hard-pan, almost perpendicular. The building was of stone,
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about eighty feet square, except that the eastern side was cir- cular. It was provided with port holes and a deep well. The ascent to it from the south, was by a flight of stone steps, the remains of which have been visible till within a few years. The carthen embankment of the fort, with its palisades, was about two hundred feet west of the trading house, and slight traces of it were to be seen till within a recent period. This bluff, with its grassy surface, formed a favorite promenade for the citizens of Oswego, until the hand of innovation and im- provement, within the last ten years, has leveled it for useful purposes. When the foundation of the flag staff at the old fort was removed, there was found at the bottom of it a flat piece of red sand stone, upon which was engraved this inscrip- tion-" GLIUNA, 1727." It lay exposed for a few days, and was finally stolen by the captain of a lake schooner.
The French Governor was highly exasperated at what he con- ceived to be an encroachment of the English, ordered the works to be abandoned within fifteen days, and demolished. To this the English Governor gave no heed, whereupon the Governor of Canada sought to have the dispute settled by the two crowns, and in the mean time to have the place abandoned, but to this proposition Governor Burnet would not consent.
The French Governor, the Marquis Beauharnois, upon this, sent a summons for the garrison to relinquish the fort within a fortnight, with all arms, munitions and effects, and retire within their own dominions, or his vengeance would follow.
In 1728, Governor Burnet was succeeded by Mr. John Montgomery, a Scotch gentleman, who carly held a treaty with the Six Nations, for a renewal of the ancient covenant chain. He gave them rich presents, and engaged them in the defense of Oswego. The French had made their threats that the fort at Oswego should be destroyed the ensuing spring. This design becoming known, the garrison was re-enforced by a detachment from the independent companies of the province, and the Indians also prepared to render their assistance in the protection of the fort. The French, no way desirous of com- mencing hostilities or continuing them in time of peace, finally
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abandoned their intended invasion, and for a number of years gave the garrison no further trouble. From this time until the year 1754, the fort at Oswego was usually garrisoned by a lieutenant and twenty-five men, besides traders, who usually spent the summer in the vicinity of the fort, collecting furs, and who returned to Albany in autumn, to make sale of them.
During all this time Oswego was considered the most im- portant military post in the colony of New-York, and the only one on the western frontier. Its support was an object of great moment to the government, and annual appropriations were made by the Colonial Assembly for that purpose. In 1732, Governor Cosby represented that the fort at Oswego was in a ruinous condition, and requested that means might be granted to put it in order. The House of Assembly insti- tuted inquiries, and learned that the fort had been formerly victualed by Harmanus Wendle, and that Capt. Jacob Glen, in behalf of Capts. John Schuyler, John Depuyster and John Junian Cast, had undertaken to victual his majesty's troops at Oswego for three years, at the rate of four hundred and fifty- six pounds per annum.
In April, 1733, a petition was presented from forty-eight traders at Oswego, complaining of the commandant of the garrison for laying improper restrictions upon their trade. The House went into an investigation of the matter, and re- quested the Governor to appoint David A. Schuyler, or some other person who understood the Indian trade and language, to reside at Oswego as a commissary.
Nothing of importance seems to have occurred during the remainder of Governor Cosby's administration, which termi- nated with his life, in March, 1736. His successor, Lieuten- ant Governor Clarke, was no less impressed with the import- ance of sustaining this military post, than his predecessor had been.
So late as June 19th, 1743, the trading house at Oswego was not fully completed, and Governor Clarke complains in a letter to the board of trade, of the dilatory character of the director of the work.
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It seems duties were charged on goods passing at Oswego, at this time, for in a letter it is stated that " the Assembly re- fuses to pay the bateau men out of any other fund but the Oswego duties."*
The French Governor of Quebec, Beauharnois, complains bitterly in a letter to Governor Clarke, of Capt. Congreve, at Oswego, on account of the detention of French boats, and the Governor complains to Captain Congreve in the following terms : "I am truly sorry to hear so many complaints of your conduct at Oswego. I hope for better things, but am now in fear that if some better care be not taken, that the gar- rison will all desert or perish for want of provisions, of which I am told there is no manner of economy. It behooves you sir, to be very circumspect, and I earnestly recommend that you keep good discipline, and to take care of the provisions and for the security of the house and garrison."t
In 1744, new difficulties broke out between France and Eng- land, upon which, the Colonial government turned their atten- tion to this fortress. Cannon, ammunition and troops were forwarded ; an interpreter was sent among the Indians, sev- eral of whom were engaged as scouts, to watch the movements of the French. The traders at Oswego entirely abandoned the place, upon the first intimation of the war.
By the treaty of Aix La Chapelle in 1748, peace was again restored between the two nations, and continued until the breaking out of the " Old French War," in 1753. It was during this contest of six years which terminated with the conquest of Canada and the capture of Quebec, in 1759, that the most important and interesting events in the history of Oswego as a military post, transpired.
In 1755 Gen. Shirley conducted an expedition designed for the capture of Forts Frontenac and Niagara. He reached Oswego late in August with fifteen hundred men, of whom one hundred and twenty were Indians and militia, and the
* London Documents, vol. 27, p. 81.
# Lox. Docs., Vol. 25., p. 262.
.
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