Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 15

Author: Bruce, Dwight H. (Dwight Hall), 1834-1908
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > New York > Onondaga County > Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II > Part 15

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Hannah, an Indian squaw, who died on the Reservation in 1861 at the age of 120 years, was probably the oldest person whose death occurred in Onondaga county. She was born, it is believed, in 1741, or earlier, and was honored with a notice in Harper's Weekly for March 23, 1861.

For several years a number of the progressive Indians on the Reser- vation have strongly favored the idea of citizenship, and themselves have taken the initiative. On May 3, 1882, a constitution was reported, providing for a president or chairman, clerk, treasurer, marshal, three peacemakers or judges, a school trustee, one pathmaster, and two poor- masters. A provision respecting the disposition of lands in severalty was declared to be dependent upon a three-fourths vote of the males and a three-fourths vote of the mothers of the nation. This constitu- tion was adopted at a meeting held May 6, when officers were elected as follows: Daniel La Forte, chairman; "Jaris Pierce, clerk; Orris

1068

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

Farmer, treasurer; Cornelius Johnson, marshal; Jimerson L. Johnson, Wilson Johnson, and John White, peacemakers; Simon Scanandoah, pathmaster; Joseph Isaacs, school trustee; Baptist Thomas and Wilson Reuben, poormasters. Various other resolutions were adopted at sub. sequent meetings, such as "putting a stop to Sabbath breaking," etc.

Photo. by Ryder.

AUNT DINAH. Plate Loaned by the H. J. Ormsbee Engraving Company.

The chiefs apparently did not favor civil government, and from August 3, 1883, to April 26, 1887, no meetings of this description occurred. On the latter date the old rules were substantially revived, but pro-

1069

THE ONONDAGA INDIANS.

vided for a governing body of twelve councilors. The Christian ele- ment controlled this and other gatherings of that year. October 15, 1889, the struggle was renewed, the constitution of 1882 being re- adopted. On the 21st a new constitution was reported and adopted, but this and subsequent acts looking to the enfranchisement of the On- ondagas, "The People of the Hills," promulgated by themselves after the manner of English governments, have fallen to pieces because of their inherent belief in Paganism and ancient tribal relations.

Here amid the beautiful hills and valleys of their fathers we leave this small remnant of a once proud and powerful nation. Here around the council fire of the Confederacy, where their historic career is slowly but surely drawing to an inglorious end, this little band is being borne one by one to the Happy Hunting Grounds of the Great Spirit, where immortalized souls of distinguished ancestors await their coming. No more striking example of supremacy and decline can be found in the annals of the world. Hundreds of years ago, when days were suns and months were moons, the Onondagas, the illustrious People of the Mountain, roamed at will over their vast domain, and numbered their warriors by the thousands. The forests and the beasts thereof, the streams, fish, and game, both great and small, were theirs by right of original occupation. The white man came with his dazzling arts and promises, encroached upon their hospitality, and reduced their lands and privileges piecemeal to insignificant proportions. Wars, famine and other causes wrought devastation, discouragement, and slow but steady decline, while the onward march of civilization gradually tore down their barriers of superstition and tribal practice until to-day ancient usages and customs exist more in tradition than in fact. Though still the distinguished center of what remains of the Iroquois League the Onondagas retain only a shadow of their former greatness and magnificence. Christianity is overpowering Paganism, and civil. izing influences are wiping out those romantic but uncouth attributes which formed the foundation of true Indian life.

1070

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

CHAPTER XLIX.

The Conclusion-General Historical Review-The Transformations of a Century -- The Old and the New-Centennial Celebration-Looking Forward-Was it a Benediction?

In looking backward a hundred years, to the time when on March 5, 1194, the county of Onondaga was erected, our thoughts and imagina- tion are prone to dwell upon that period, forgetful of the fact that the Republic itself had but just been born; that a little less than seven years previous the Constitution under which we still live, with some amend- ments added, had been adopted; that only five years previous George Washington had been inaugurated president on the balcony of what is now the sub-treasury building in Wall street, New York ; that the great struggle begun in 1689 between the French and the English to deter- mine which people should be masters of North America came to an end at that time, April 30, 1789. The Early Period of American history ends with the beginning of that contest; the Middle Period, of one hundred years' duration, began then. Incidents of both periods in their relation to this locality have been very fully treated, many of them for the first time brought out in connected form, in these volumes. The history of the country from 1789 to 1815 has been called the "Period of Weak- ness," for there was much turmoil, and the war of 1812 added greatly to the troubles and apprehensions of the people. For fifty years or more, beginning with the Revolution, there were wars and rumors of wars-rumors of war even in the near present-all disturbing elements in the nation's history, the more important of which may here be re- corded :

Wars,

From

The Revolution.

April 19, 1775

April 11, 1783

Soldiers. 309,781

Northwestern Indian

Sept. 19, 1790

Aug. 3, 1795

8,983

War with France

July 9, 1798

Sept. 30, 1800

4,593

War with Tripoli

June 10, 1801

June 4, 1805

3,330

Creek Indian War

July 27, 1813

Aug. 9, 1814

13,781

War of 1812

June 18, 1812

Feb. 27, 1815

576,622

Seminole Indian War

Nov. 20, 1817

Oct. 21, 1818

7,911

Black Hawk Indian War

. April 20, 1831

Sept. 30, 1832

6,465

1071

GENERAL SUMMARY.

Wars.

From

Soldiers.

Florida Indian War

Dec. 23, 1835

Aug. 14, 1843

41,122

Cherokee disturbance

1836

- 1837

9,494

Creek Indian War.

May 5, 1836

Sept. 30, 1837

13,418

Aroostook disturbance

1836

1839

1,500

War with Mexico

April 24, 1846

July 4, 1848

112,230

Apache War

1849

1855

2,561

Seminole Indian War

1856

1858

3,687

Civil War

April, 1861

Aug. 1865

12,772,408

When chaos was in a goodly degree finally superseded by a form and condition of government which seemed to promise stability with Wash- ington to administer it, the nation was feeble, only a third rate power. The total population of the Thirteen States numbered scarcely 4,000,- 000 and was thinly scattered. The population of Philadelphia was only about 42,000; that of New York, 33,000; Boston, 18,000; Baltimore, 13,000. Here and there about the sparsely settled country was an old manor, possessed of many comforts, not to say luxuries; while the or- dinary farmer was often glad to be possessed of an unpretentious home having a single floor and garret. In the center rose a great brick chimney with an oven attached for baking bread, or pies, or beans. If the home happened to be more than ordinarily spacious, then besides bed rooms there would be a "best room," but seldom known as parlor, opened only for weddings, funerals, Thanksgiving day and on other very rare occasions. There were the polished candlesticks and tallow candles; there the family portraits if any were possessed; there the few cherished books. But the pleasantest part of the house was the kitchen, where the great fireplace and swinging crane were most con- spicuous; bunches of herbs and strings of vegetables in their season hung about the ceilings to dry ; in the corner the spinning wheel. This was the family room where salted meats, potatoes and brown bread with the best of vegetables were served in common with the general comforts of rare home life. Does anybody doubt that there was hap- piness in those homes and times?

It was from such that the first settlers of Onondaga largely came, for there was a goodly degree of thrift in New England if some of the ter- ritory at one time had been sadly ravaged. These pioneers sacrificed more than we shall ever know, when they came here to endure .the great hardships incident to the settlement of a new country, where no conveniences were at hand, where the first lodging place was neces-

1 Total Confederate army about 600,000.

1072

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

sarily a rude, quickly constructed hut, not even in a clearing, so prec- ious was the time in which to provide a temporary home.

These sturdy settlers, possessed of indomitable will and persever- ance, were also men of keen instincts and saw from a distance the op- portunities which the new country offered for development and the material prosperity of those who would remove its dense forests and open its rich lands to the sun and to the energy and skill of the hus- bandman. There was a sort of mingling of the lives of white men with the lives and history of the Iroquois, for Indian life was far from being extinct; it was one of the dangers of the time. But the Indians were generally friendly even though they looked upon the encroach- ments of the white man with sadness, if not almost with despair; and it must be admitted that they bore great wrongs with much fortitude, as they saw their lands pass from them and they themselves gradually driven to accept the tender mercies of the State in exchange for what Nature had given them. Is it any wonder that their proud sensibili- ties have yielded to forces which they could not resist until those that are left are broken in spirit and ambition?

Taking into account the unusual trials and privations which beset the earlier settlers, the early growth and development of the county was astonishing; not least among the characteristics of the people, too, was their regard for church privileges and educational opportunities, though it will not be said that there was a oneness of purpose and desire in this regard, for there was now and then a settler whose only faith was in his strong arms, whose only desire for education was to know how to reap the largest benefits from his vocation.

What volumes of history are hidden in the early cemeteries! Could the wives and mothers resting in them but speak, what stories would they tell!

" But the glories so transcendent That around their memories cluster, And, on all their steps attendant, Make their darkened lives resplendent With such gleams of inward luster!"

The population of the county in 1794 will never be definitely known (see pages 191-92). It may have been 1,000 or more; it may have been less. But whatever it was it was made up of both men and women of bravery, determination, and intelligence.

But ninety-eight years later, when the last enumeration was made,

1073

GENERAL SUMMARY.

there was then at least 150 people as against each individual in 1794, the population of the county being 150,808, thus divided between the city and the towns: City, 92,283; towns, 58,525. But this enumera- tion was never accepted as being correct; it was considered as being much too low, proven in the city by the count of the directory enit- merators who found 100,170. This city population has been increased (1895) to about 120,000. The total vote cast for president in 1892 (33,908), also indicates errors in the enumeration. In 1895 the vote was: Republican, 17,368; Democratic. 12,999; Prohibition, 671; So- cialistic Labor, 610; Populist, 68. Total, 31,716. It was a State election, calling out a lighter vote than is given for president.

Spafford's Gazetteer, published in 1813, gives this distribution of population among the towns in 1810, also the total vote cast for sen- ator in that year, together with "Remarks" which follow the state- ment and refer to the towns mentioned as being related to them :

Towns. Population. Vote.

Camillus 2,378

Cicero 252

Chittenango Landing and Three River Point; 57 from Utica; 154 from Albany.

Fabius

1,865

134

Hannibal 692

Ancient Works ; 50 m. S. W. from Utica ; 147 from Albany. Oswego Village (Fulton), 30 houses, P. O .; 180 miles from Albany.

Lysander 624

20 m. N. W. from Onondaga, 17 from Oswego, 165 from Albany.

Manlius 3,127

234

Jamesville P. O. 35 houses and school; Manlius Village 85 houses and school; Eagle Village.

Marcellus 4,725

387

Skaneateles Village, 60 houses, P. O .; 9 Mile Creek or Marcellus Village, 34 houses.

Onondaga __ 3,745

291

Onondaga Hollow Village, 65 houses; West Hill, c. h. and 40 houses; 149 from Albany; Onondaga Castle. 7 m. S. from Onondaga; 50 m. W. from Utica.

Otisco

759

Pompey 5,669

484

Pompey Hill, 40 houses and academy, 146 m .; P. E. Hollow, 149 m. from Albany.

Salina 1,259

78 Salina Village, 90 houses and 80 salt works; Liverpool Village, 80 houses, P. O. erected in 1811.

Spafford

Tully 1,092

25,987 2,113

77 Tully Flats, 14 m. S. from Onondaga; 50 m. S. of W. from Utica. Pop., etc., included with Tully ; 13 m. S. from Onondaga.

This Gazetteer also gives the following statistics of manufactures and industries in 1810:

Number of looms, 1,016; number of yards of woolen cloth, average price 873 cents per yard, 107,470; number of yards of linen cloth, average price 373 cents per

135

Remarks.

194 Gypsumburg, 60 m. W. from Utica; 157 from Albany.

1074

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

yard, 196,106; number of fulling mills and clothieries, 16; number of yards of cloth fulled and dressed, average price $1.25 per yard, 69,790; carding machines, 21; number of pounds of wool carded, average price of carding 50 cents per pound, 96,700; number of yards of cotton cloth, average price per yard 32 cents, 3,909; tanneries, 31; number of hides tanned of sole, upper leather, and calf skins, aver- age prices, $4.25 and $1.75, 8,931; breweries, 2; number of gallons, average price 17 cents per gallon, 7,732 ; distilleries, 26; number of gallons, average price per gallon 80 cents, 79,632 ; paper mills, 1; number reams of paper, average price $3 per ream, 1,600; hatteries, 10; number of hats, average price $2.50 each, 5,231; oil mills, 1, number of gallons of oil, average price, $1,25 per gallon, 300; blast and air furnaces, 1; number of tons of iron, average price $100 and $120 per ton, 138; bloomeries, 1; trip hammers, 2.

In 1821, there appears to have been in the county :

Fifty-nine slaves (23 of them in the town of Onondaga), 6,968 farmers, 1,640 manufac- turers ; 120 merchants and dealers, 208 school districts, 12,866 school children between 5 and 15 years of age, 145,747 acres of improved land, 35,359 cattle, 7,614 horses, 861.167 sheep, 333,375 yards cloth manufactured, 59 grist mills, 99 saw mills, 7 oil mills, 37 fulling mills, 48 carding machines, 4 cotton and woolen factories, 7 iron works, 8 trip hammers, 45 distilleries, 39 asheries, real estate taxed at $2,814,980, personal prop- erty at $137,420.

"The first settlement attempted within the present territory of Onondaga county," the same publication states, "was in the spring of 1788, when most of the then settled territory that now constitutes the Western District was comprised within Montgomery county. Onondaga county wasthen a small part of Whitestown, now redistricted, by the rapid progress of population, to a small area around Utica. In 1786 the population of Montgomery county was but 15,057, while the whole population of the State amounted to 238,896. Onondaga county has now 48 or 50 school houses, several churches or houses for public worship, an academy, 34 grain mills, 54 saw mills, 2 or 3 breweries, and too many distilleries. Salt is made here annually to the amount of near a half million bushels, from the salt springs of this county, which afford water more strongly impregnated than that of the ocean, more than 200 miles distant."

The States have grown in number from the "Original Thirteen " to forty-five. The population of the nation has increased from about 4,000,000 to about 70,000,000; the nation has risen to a first-class power and now only needs the best navy and coast defenses in the world to be able to assert its supremacy over any other nation, and perhaps com- bination of nations, of the world. There has been a mighty develop- ment for a single century ; what will the present century effect?

Perhaps a few statistics, condensed from statements in foregoing pages, relative to the growth and resources of Syracuse, will best of all indicate the development which the century has wrought locally. Even the site of the city, it will be remembered, was quite unknown to any but Indians, a very few white men, and armies of adventurers,

1075

GENERAL SUMMARY.

when the county was erected. Rising out of the mire and forest of scarcely a century ago, there is now a city five by four and one-half miles in dimensions, with 250 miles of streets, several hundred in num- ber. Many of them follow old Indian trails, but, curiously enough, but very few of them have Indian names. Of churches, of all de- nominations there are eighty-four, and twenty-nine missions, having a total seating capacity of about 50,000. The Syracuse University is at the head of educational advantages, with its 104 professors and tutors and registry of students of about 1,000; its library of 60,000 volumes ; its observatory ; its valuation of about $2,000,000. Of free schools there are thirty-one including the High School; all the handsome buildings being of brick. There is a total enrollment of about 17,000 children, with an average daily attendance of nearly 13,000. The City library contains almost 30,000 volumes. The assessors' valuation of the city is $61,334,450; the cost of maintenance of the municipal government, $1,000,000. There are nine commercial banks having an aggregate capital of $1,705,000 and surplus of $1,200,000, and two savings banks, with assets of $20,000,000 and surplus of more than $2,000,000; one trust and deposit company with a capital of $100,000 and surplus of about the same amount. Of the 250 incorporated companies, the Solvay Process Company, manufacturers of soda ash, with its 2,500 employees leads them all. Among the manufacturing establishments almost every industry is represented, and their products are sold in almost every civilized country. There are 130 miles of water mains and 1,200 fire hydrants. Thirty-four newspapers (six daily) and periodicals are published. Sixty-seven miles of track are included in the street rail- way system, and 150 railroad trains arrive in and depart from the city daily. Constituted a village in 1826, incorporated as a city in 1847, it is now the fifth city in the State. The Onondaga County Orphan Asy- lum, St. Vincent de Paul Orphan Asylum, the House of Providence, House of the Good Shepherd (hospital), St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Ann's Maternity Hospital, Women's and Children's Hospital, Old Ladies' Home, the Employment Society, German Hospital, Needlework Guild, Women's Union, Shelter for Fallen Women, Bureau of Labor and Charity, Women's Aid Society, many circles of King's Daughters, Dea- coness' Home, Charity's Daughters, Society for the Prevention of Crit- elty to Animals, are principal among the many charities The Govern- ment Court House and Post-office, built of Onondaga limestone; the County Court House, also of limestone ; the City Hall, of the same ma-

1076

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

terial; the county clerk's and surrogate's department; the First Pres- byterian, St. Paul's and St. Mary's churches, the Onondaga County and Syracuse Savings Bank buildings, the Kirk Building, the Granger block, Bastable block, Dey's and McCarthy's buildings and the Wiet- ing block are among the most imposing structures. The College of Liberal Arts (of limestone) and the college of Fine Arts (of brick) stand by themselves on an eminence in the southeastern part. There are also many expensive private residences, not a few of them presenting perfect architectural appearance. But this will suffice to, in a general way, indicate the character and resources of the city, to show what enterprising men have created out of the wilderness. This growth may not be typical of the growth of the county at large, for an increase in the population of many of the towns ceased years ago when the city began to assume importance.

Harvey Baldwin, the first mayor of Syracuse, in a speech he made in 1846, forecast the future of the city in such an amazing manner that he was for the time ridiculed; but there came a change of sentiment, and his prophecy really made him mayor in 1848. He was not wide of the truth when he said:

"Were we permitted to indulge in visions of the future, I would present a view of our village or city, as it is to appear hereafter, when all of us who are now on the busy stage of life shall be slumbering with our fathers. It is universally conceded that we are to become the great inland town of the State, and next in size and im- portance to New York and Buffalo-that we are to go on by rapid strides, increasing in population, until we shall number from 100,000 to 200,000. All bordering territory will have been brought into a high and perfect state of cultivation, and our beautiful lake, on all its beautiful shores and borders, will present a view of one continuous villa, ornamented with its shady groves and hanging gardens, and connected by a wide and splendid avenue that shall encircle its entire waters, and furnish a delight- ful drive to the gay and prosperous citizens of the town, who will, toward the close of each summer's day, throng it for pleasure, relaxation or the improvement of health."

1077

A STATEMENT OF THE AGGREGATE VALUATIONS OF REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL ESTATE AND AMOUNT OF TAXES LEVIED IN THE SEVERAL TOWNS AND WARDS IN THE COUNTY OF ONONDAGA AS MADE BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AT THEIR

ANNUAL MEETING NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1895.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

TOWNS.

estate of corporations.

Equalized value of real estate, in-

cluding village property and real

Total assessed value of personal

Assessed value of personal prop-

Equalized aggregate valuation, real

Amount of Town Taxes.

Amount of County Taxes.

Amount of State Tax for Schools.

and Amount of State Taxes for Canal General

Stenographers and Shore In-

Amount of State Tax for State

Care of Insane.

Aggregate Taxation.

Camillus.

21,500 $ 2,212,363 $ 2, 106,959 $

335,600 $

2,142,559 $ 1,739 96 $

1,083 83 $ 1,925 35 $

2,759 17 $ - 2,041 57 $ 12,549 88

Cicero.

21,100

1,532,260

1,489,931

186,150

1,676,0811

2,276 61

2,495 78

1,176 66

1,686 24'

1,247 69

8,882 98

Clay.

29,500

1.741,255

1,949,394

74,800

2,024,194

2,999 18

3,014 15

1,421 05

2,036 34

1,506 82

10,977 84

Dewitt. Elbridge.

22,200

2,464,820

2,636,799

301,450

301,450|

2,938,249

3,699 44

1,375 21

2,062 75

2,955 831

2,187 26

15,250 19

Fabius

30,000

835,650

984,689

63,250

1,047,939'

1,131 36

1,560 44

735 68

1,054 28'

780 10

5,261 86

Geddes.

5,160

3,557,000

3,757,836

81,000

$1,000

3,838,836.

3,217 01

5.716 25

2,695 00

3,862 10

2.857 671

18,348 03

La Fayette

22,200

1,027,680

1,277,451

135,150

1,412,601

2,503 32

2,103 44

991 68

1,421 16|

1,051 55.

8,071 15

Lysander.

38,000

2,731,965

225,188

300,100

3,525, 288

5,192 10

5,249 32

2, 174 87

3,546 65

2,624 24

19,087 23

Manlius

30,300

2,701,010

3,046,671

280,150

3,326,821

10,113 72

1,953 83

2,335 54

3,346 98:

2,476 52

23,226 59

Marcellus

18,900

1,203,0001

1,173,232

100,200

1,273, 132

2,101 81

1,896 22

893 99

1,281 14:

947 95

7,121 14

Onondaga.

39,500

2,910,605

3,198,0441

173,200

3,371,244

8,946 14

5,019 98

2,366 72

3,391 68

2,509 57

22,234 09

Otsego ..

15,260

521,460

582,981

32,050

615,031

1,186 70

915 83

431 77

618 76

457 82

3,610 88

Pompey

39,900

1,500,950

1,621,069

128,000.

128,000

1,749,069

2,003 45

2,604 48

1,927 90

1.759 66

1,302 02

8,897 51

Skaneateles

23,600

2,357,250

2,274,304

453,250

153,250

2,227,554

2,330 12

4,061 47

1,911 82

2,744 07

2,030 40

13,080 88

Spafford.

18.160

553,200

653,478

73,050

726,528.

714 37

1,081 83

510 04

730 93

540 83

3,578 00

Tully ..

15,600

746,500

925,052

52,900

977,952

1,241 30

1,456 22

686 55

983 87

728 00

5,095 94

Van Buren.

21,600

2,191,060|

2,329,837

140,100

2,469,937

3,232 78

3,677 88

1,733 97

2,484 891

1,838 66

12,968 18

Syracuse ..

9,164

61,407,215

58,190,865|

3,478,585

3,143,585

61,334,450

5,905 26

91,830 08

43,058 82

62,043 25

45,907 13

248,744 54

Assessed value of real estate, in-

cluding village property and real

estate of corporations.

property.

all purposes.

and personal.

5,810 49

4,526 55

2,134 10

3,058 29

2,262 91

17,792 34

23,400

2,666,928

2,910,525

120,350

129,350

3,039,875

1,542,025;

11,861 52

2,296 17

1,082 55

1,551 38

1,147 90

17,939 52

Salina ..

8,446

1,296,159

1,524,0:25

18,000

erty subject to local taxation for

Purposes, also

spectors Tax, if any.

Acres of land.

153, 490 $ 96,158,330 $ 96, 158,330 $ 6,536,335 $ 6,201,335 $ 102,359,665 $78,176 97 $152,919 01 $71,859 81 $ 103,316 67 $ 76,446 611$482,719 07

Total

1078

ONONDAGA'S CENTENNIAL.

Following is a statement of the purposes for which a tax was levied by the Board of Supervisors, December 14, 1895 (also showing the ex- isting county offices), together with the resources of that year:

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Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II, Part 15

Author: Bruce, Dwight H. (Dwight Hall), 1834-1908 Publication date: 1896 Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston History Company Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Bruce, Dwight H. (Dwight Hall), 1834-1908
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1094